Burt’s Bees Renewal Intensive Firming Serum Review

Pros:

Promises to be 98.9% natural (though I doubt it reading the looong list of ingredients)

Cons:

Does not get absorbed immediately.

More:

This is my first encounter with this American brand. I was not surprised finding out that it is roughly 50% cheaper in the US then in Europe (as all things American usually are, hmm thats you Kiehl’s that I am talking about), and spending a month in the US last winter I really indulged. I have only owned two serums before, and had great results, really noticing my skin going through a transformation, becoming smoother and looking more airbrushed. This is my first low budget serum and therefore my expectations were pretty low, and still I managed to get disappointed.

The serum is very sticky, gets absorbed slowly and does not mix well with the skin cream you apply on top. I have tried using different facial creams as top layers, and felt greasy each time. My skin gets irritated from this piling of products, something I have not experienced with my previous serums. My skin looks ok, but no wa wa voooom results, such as those I experienced previously. Actually I feel like my wrinkles have become more visible when using this serum (which is probably not true but still), in other words, this serum was just not worth my money.

Overall:

Value for money: 

Does what it promises: 

Tried this product yourself? Rate it below (“Rate this”). If you have any comments, feel free to add them as well (“Leave a reply”).

Murad: Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture

 

Pros:

Very hydrating.

Cons:

Expensive. No sunscreen.

More:

This moisturising cream from Murad is especially good for very dry skin. I’m in my mid-twenties and my skin is sensitive and needs a lot of moisture, but if I use a too rich cream during the daytime, it’s like my skin doesn’t absorb it all and my face can get that “shiny” look, which I’m not a fan of. This happens when I use this cream. Therefore, I only use this when I have a chill-day without makeup.

The Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture is described my Murad as “A super-rich, anti-aging moisturizer formulated to relieve dry, dehydrated skin and restore youthful resilience and tone.” and it claims to lock in moisture for eight hours.

I definitely agree that the cream is ultra-moisturising, and I love to use it once a week and when my skin needs rescue.

I can highly recommend this cream when you get into you late 40’s and thereafter to get the skin the moisture it needs.

Besides being too moisturising for me to use in my every day and being expensive, another con is that this cream does not contain any protection from the sun. Therefore, you have to apply sunscreen after using this cream as day cream. Which means you have to go out another expensive cream. I like simplicity, so I don’t like that constellation. On the other hand, that means that you can use this cream as a night cream as well, which is nice.

All in all, this product is great for giving your skin the moisture it needs. If you have very dry skin or you want a good anti-age cream, this is the cream for you. If you have a more combined/sensitive skin (like me) and your under 40, this cream is probably best as a once-in-a-while go-to when you need that extra moisture for your skin.

Overall: 

Value for money: 

Does what it promises: 

Tried this product yourself? Rate it below (“Rate this”). If you have any comments, feel free to add them as well (“Leave a reply”).

Rudolph Care: Acai Body Lotion

 

Pros:

Organic and free from harmful ingredients. Softens and hydrates skin.

Cons:

Glass bottle with pump: Not handy to travel with.

More:

I will start out by repeating what I wrote in an earlier review on a Rudolph Care product:

I have said it before, and I will say it again: I’m a fan of Rudolph Care. I love that they make products without harmful ingredients or chemicals. I think this is something that the entire beauty industry should focus a lot more on: We apply these products to our biggest absorbing organ (our skin) several times a day. I.e. when using products with perfume, chemicals and what-have-you, we feed our body with toxics, and the consequences is starting to show around the world. Okay, enough of me preaching (I just wish there were more ‘healthy’ products out there).

The Acai Body Lotion is a really nice lotion with a light smell. The bottle has a pump function that easily provides me with the lotion I need. The lotion is easy to apply to skin as it is not too thick. The skin is left soft and hydrated without feeling greasy. The Acai berry should help against signs of ageing.

Rudolph Care claims that the lotion can be used for sensitive, irritated and dry skin. Even for skin with a rash. This is also my experience. Here’s an example: My boyfriend and his sister has a tendency to get red spots/rash on their upper arms (I think they’re called something special, but I don’t remember the word). The Rudolph Care Acai Body Lotion is the only lotion that makes that rash go away.

I like to have one lotion that I just know works and that is good for my skin and my health. This one is my favourite when it comes to that, and you can actually use it for your hair if it’s a bit dry. Just apply a little to the ends…

 

Overall: 

Value for money: 

Does what it promises: 

 

Tried this product yourself? Rate it below (“Rate this”). If you have any comments, feel free to add them as well (“Leave a reply”).

GIVEAWAY

We’re ready with the third and last giveaway for now! This is your last chance to win an energizing oxygen facial mask from Emma S. worth €38. We have given out a facial mask for the past two Mondays – if you haven’t already won, don’t worry. You have yet another chance…

How to participate: Leave a comment on this post with your e-mail address or your Twitter handle (pssst… it’s a plus if you “like” us on Facebook or tweet about us).

The Ageless Oxygen Mask is described as “An energizing and rehydrating mask with functional ingredients that enriches the skin with moisture and oxygen. Oxygen is important for skin cell rejuvenation and your skin will feel softer and smoother. Gives your skin a more even appearance and a feeling of increased suppleness. A real energy booster for your complexion!”

Emma S. is a Swedish skincare brand with focus on quality. They believe that skincare should be simple, effective and give visible results. All of their products are free from parabens and mineral oils.

The winner will be announced in the commentary field to this post.

Remember that likes and posts on Facebook, some tweets or perhaps something third to get you noticed is always good if you want to win. This is just a small tip to increase your chances. Good luck!

GIVEAWAY

We’re ready for the second of three giveaways! Once more, you can win an energizing oxygen facial mask from Emma S. worth €38. We like this brand a lot. We give out a facial mask to a lucky reader every Monday, for three Mondays. This is only the second Monday, so even if you don’t win today, you still have another shot next Monday!

How to participate: Leave a comment on this post with your e-mail address or your Twitter handle (pssst… it’s a plus if you “like” us on Facebook or tweet about us). The winner will be contacted by email or twitter. The competition is open internationally.

The Ageless Oxygen Mask is supposedly enegizing and rehydrating. It enriches the skin with moisture and oxygen. The oxygen helps skin cell rejuvenation so that the skin will feel softer and smoother. The skin will get a more even appearance and feel energized. (Okay, so the above is what Emma S. says about the mask. We are currently testing it to check out whether it’s true or not, so we can’t promise anything).

Emma S. is a Swedish skincare brand with focus on quality. They believe that skincare should be simple, effective and give visible results. All of their products are free from parabens and mineral oils.

The winner will be announced in the commentary field to this post.

The best of luck! May the best (wo)man win! (or the luckiest…)

GIVEAWAY

It’s giveaway-time! Win an energizing oxygen facial mask from Emma S. worth €38. We give out a facial mask to a lucky reader every Monday, for three Mondays. Starting today!

How to participate: Leave a comment on this post with your e-mail address or your Twitter handle (pssst… it’s a plus if you “like” us on Facebook or tweet about us).

The Ageless Oxygen Mask is described as “An energizing and rehydrating mask with functional ingredients that enriches the skin with moisture and oxygen. Oxygen is important for skin cell rejuvenation and your skin will feel softer and smoother. Gives your skin a more even appearance and a feeling of increased suppleness. A real energy booster for your complexion!”

Emma S. is a Swedish skincare brand with focus on quality. They believe that skincare should be simple, effective and give visible results. All of their products are free from parabens and mineral oils.

The winner will be announced in the commentary field to this post.

Good luck to each and every one of you!

Review of Caviar (Alterna) Dry Shampoo

 

Pros:

Free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates & synthetic colour. Travel size.

Cons:

Makes my hair grey/white. Hard to “distribute” evenly in hair.

More:

This dry shampoo from Caviar, Alterna comes in powder-form in a handy plastic bottle with 75g. I like that the bottle is small enough to have in carry-on luggage when travelling – most dry shampoos doesn’t comply with this, and it’s especially when I’m travelling that I need my dry shampoo nearby.

To apply the dry shampoo powder, you take off the top and press or shake the bottle so that the powder comes out. This is a bit hard to do because the powder tends to come in “lumps” and, hence, is not distributed evenly. Furthermore, my hair is brown and the powder is white. This means that if I apply a bit too much or do not even it out, the dry shampoo will colour my hair grey/white, which doesn’t look good!!! This has happened to me more than a couple of times and it’s really annoying because I can’t just brush it out, it really sits there, making me look like I’ve got grey hair…

A little trick: I’ve started applying the dry shampoo in the evening before I go to sleep. Then it gets “rubbed in” my scalp over night and the risks of getting grey hair is smaller.

It promises to refresh and re-energise my hair without water – I would say that it could do a better job doing just that.

Overall, I like that it comes in a small bottle and that it’s free from all kinds of bad ingredients, however, I don’t like that it’s so hard to distribute evenly to hair, and that it colours my hair grey. I would probably not get it again.

 

Overall: 

Value for money: 

Does what it promises: 

 

Tried this product yourself? Rate it below (“Rate this”). If you have any comments, feel free to add them as well (“Leave a reply”).

Murad Perfecting Day Cream Review

 

Pros:

I like that it’s very hydrating. It’s also nice that it has build-in sun protection (SPF 30).

Cons:

If it gets into contact with my eyes, they get watery and irritated for a while, which is pretty annoing. Murad is relatively expensive.

More:

Okay, so I didn’t know whether to give this product three or four stars. I ended up giving it four stars because I would use this product in my everyday routine again after finishing this tube – I probably wouldn’t with a three star product.

It has a nice, not too overwhelming smell, it is nice ‘n easy to apply to face and it feels like it moisturises just right. It is absorbed in the skin quickly and afterwards it feels like you have a nice and soft “shield” on your skin.

The biggest minuses for me is the price, that it proclaims to do almost too much good and that it is not fragrance & parabene free and organic.

Overall: 

Value for money: 

Does what it promises: 

Tried this product yourself? Rate it below (“Rate this”). If you have any comments, feel free to add them as well (“Leave a reply”).