{Review} Cosmedicine Healthy Cleanse Foaming Cleanser & Toner in One

Hey there! This review is for a skin care product. I've really been into skin care lately because all the stress and lack of sleep from uni had my skin breaking out really bad. My focus has been on cleansing my skin very well every single day, and removing all makeup. And any product that makes my skin care routine easier and less time consuming is a good idea to me. That's why, when I spotted this cleanser at TJ Maxx several months back for only around five or six dollars, I didn't hesitate to try it.

Now,  I know Cosmedicine is a brand that isn't as widely used simply because it is a more expensive brand. That being said, I think they pulled out of Sephora and a lot of their products were available at Marshall's and TJ Maxx for a while. I think you could probably find some of their products on sale online. They make a lot of products I don't see from other brands, which is why I've been loving trying out some of their stuff at a discount.

The product I'm reviewing today is their Foaming Cleanser & Toner in One. According to the container it "Cleanses away excess oil, dirt, and makeup, removes mascara, doesn't sting eyes." That's a tall order. I don't know if you can tell, but I've actually pretty much finished this product. There is the barest amount in there for me to pump out for this review, but then I'm tossing it.

One thing I love about this product is the dispenser. It is a foam dispenser that is very sanitary and user friendly. I love how light foam cleansers feel on my skin. And if you wanted to, you could probably recycle this product and use it to store your own foaming cleanser. Simply put about an inch of regular liquid cleanser and fill the rest with water. Give it a shake and you're good to go. You can do this with any foaming container, and that's how I reuse my Bath & Body Works foaming soap containers. Not only is it more Earth friendly, but it's also much cheaper too!

The actual foam is very light. Given the manufacturers claim that it will remove makeup, I was a bit unsure at first because it seems very light.

How well does it work? Well is certainly doesn't remove mascara, waterproof or not, that's for sure. That doesn't really bother me because I always, regardless of my cleanser, use my Almay Moisturizing Liquid Eye Makeup Remover. It's my favorite, I'm on my fourth or fifth bottle and I'm not looking for a replacement. As as far as face makeup is concerned, this will remove it all. When I used my regular toner after to see how much of the foundation, concealer, powder, and bronzer was removed, the cotton pad came away clean which is great. It also claims not to sting eyes, but even when I tried removing my mascara with it, I kept my eyes firmly shut. I am a contact wearer with sensitive eyes and I've already had one infection, I'm not looking for another, thank you very much.

As far as this product being a cleanser and a toner, I really can't say much about that claim. I don't regularly use a plain toner. If I do use a toner, I tend to go for more of the astringent ones. They are the only ones I feel really make a difference when I use them. Other toners, while they feel good, don't really do much for my skin. If I don't use them for a week, I really can't tell the difference. That being said, my skin did not feel tight at all after I used it, so perhaps it's just a little bit more moisturizing than the average foaming cleanser.

All in all, this is not a bad cleanser. It got my skin clean, but I can say that I probably wouldn't purchase it for full price. It felt really refreshing, removed my face makeup, didn't have any noxious odor, but that's it. I think I would have liked this product more if the manufacturer hadn't made all of those claims on the package. I review a product based on those claims, and because of that little blurb on the container I find this product lacking. Had it been marketed as a regular cleanser I think I would have reviewed it a bit more positively.

Info:

Price: $24.99 (full price for 4.2 fl oz)

Ingredients: Purified Water, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Cyclomethicone, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben.

{Review} The Body Shop Cucumber Cleansing Milk & Freshening Water

I was at the Body Shop several weeks ago and they had a great promotion going on: get any two items from the Originals line for $10. That's not a huge savings, only a few dollars, but I'd been eyeing the two items above, the Cucumber Cleansing Milk and Freshening Water for a while now and figured it couldn't really hurt to give them a try.


First off, they both smell absolutely delicious!!! Like the most fake but delicious cucumbers you could ever smell. TBS says that the cleansing milk will cleanse skin and lightly moisturize. It does that, and a bit more.


It is a light cream cleanser, more runny than a typical cream cleanser.


I know people with oily skin are probably cringing right now, but honestly if you want to do without a moisturizer during the day, using this in the morning might just work for you.

What this cleanser is good at is helping remove base makeup when washing your face. IT IS NOT AN EYE MAKEUP REMOVER!!! I was reading reviews on TBS website and people were saying that they use this to remove waterproof mascara and stuff, but trust me on this one, you do not want this near your eyes. With a cheapie face brush (TBS sells one for $3, Sephora has one for $5) this cleaning milk will get rid of most of your foundation and concealer without drying out your face. It rinses off, but it does tend to leave a film like most cream cleansers (and cleansing milks) do.

I've been using this mostly in place of my Noxema, which I finished a couple of weeks back (stay tuned for many empties at the end of the month!). I just massage a generous amount of this cleanser onto my face and neck for about one minute, tissue off, and the cleanse with my normal cleanser. I'm not rally a big fan of the film this cleanser leaves, but to remove base makeup it is perfect. And I've even used it to shave my legs a few times, too! Very handy.

A word of warning: both of these products are HEAVILY scented. I don't have very sensitive skin, but every now and then it does make even my skin itch. If you have sensitive or dry itchy skin these are not the products for you.


The Cucumber Freshening Water is a cooling and soothing toner. To be perfectly honest, other than feel nice, it didn't do much for my skin at all. I used it following the cleansing milk to make sure all of my makeup was off, but it didn't really moisturize, exfoliate, clean pores, or anything like that that other toners claim to do.

Unfortunately, this toner doesn't really sooth my skin at all. TBS claims that this toner will not dry out, but it did dry my skin a bit, especially around the nose. And it does,surprisingly, for a product advertised for sensitive skin, contain alcohol. As I mentioned above, it is very heavily scented so the first few times I used it it irritated my skin quite a bit and made me itch. What I later did was add about a teaspoon of glycerine to it. It no longer irritates or dries my skin out, but if you have sensitive or dry skin I would still really stay away from products that are as heavily scented as these.


This toner comes with a flip top but I usually just unscrew the top, otherwise I end up wasting a lot of product.


In conclusion, for the price these were average products, but definitely not meant for sensitive skins like TBS claims. If you do have sensitive skin TBS has a great aloe line that will probably work a lot better for you.

Have you tried these? If yes, how did they work for you?

Info:

Price: $5.99 ea (retail)

Ingredients:

Cleansing Milk: Water (Solvent/Diluent), Glycerin (Humectant), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Emollient), Cetyl Alcohol (Emulsifier), Stearic Acid (Emulsifier), Triethanolamine (pH Adjuster), Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil (Emollient/Skin Conditioner), Benzyl Alcohol (Preservative), Lanolin (Emollient), Phenoxyethanol (Preservative), Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus) Juice (Natural Additive), Fragrance (Fragrance), Hexyl Cinnamal (Fragrance Ingredient), Geraniol (Fragrance Ingredient), Butylphenyl Methylpropional (Fragrance Ingredient), Citronellol (Fragrance Ingredient), Linalool (Fragrance Ingredient), Hydroxycitronellal (Fragrance Ingredient), Benzyl Salicylate (Fragrance Ingredient), Green 5 (Colour), Yellow 5 (Colour).

Freshening Water: Water (Solvent/Diluent), Rosa Centifolia Flower Water (Natural Additive), Polysorbate 20 (Emulsifier), Sodium PCA (Humectant), Alcohol Denat. (Solvent/Diluent), Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus) Juice (Natural Additive), Benzyl Alcohol (Preservative), Fragrance (Fragrance), Hexyl Cinnamal (Fragrance Ingredient), Glycerin (Humectant), Citric Acid (pH Adjuster), Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract (Natural Additive), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Geraniol (Fragrance Ingredient), Methylparaben (Preservative), Butylphenyl Methylpropional (Fragrance Ingredient), Butylparaben (Preservative), Ethylparaben (Preservative), Isobutylparaben (Preservative), Propylparaben (Preservative).

{Favorites} March 2011

Not a lot this month, but more than a few cheap and effective goodies!

1. Skin Care

Noxema Deep Cleansing Cream and L'Oreal Skin Genesis Deep Purifying Foaming Cleanser.

I've really really been trying to get my skin looking as great as I can, that's why most of the RIP posts lately have been filled with skin care items. I've really been just wearing less makeup and being more conciencious with my skin care routines, making sure to almost never skip it.

L'Oreal Skin Genesis Deep Purifying Foaming Cream Cleanser

I wouldn't say that this cleanser is foaming. It does lather, but not enough to qualify as a foaming cleanser. That makes this cleanser so different from others I've tried is that it contains clay. I've been washing my face with this cleanser for the past month and every two nights or so I leave it on as a mask for about 15 minutes before washing it off. It really cleans out my face and since the clays are a little abrasive, it gives me a good dose of exfoliation as well. It's just a really good all in one cleanser.

Noxema Deep Cleansing Cream

Now, I know that the idea of a cold cream type product seems very old fashioned, but I have to say that I've seen a drastic improvement in my skin ever since I started first taking off all of my face makeup and only then cleansing. As good as a face wipe is, it's not going to dissolve all of my makeup. If I just use a face wipe to clean my face and then use a bit of toner on a cotton pad, the cotton pad almost always ends up with makeup that I've missed on it. If I do the same but use Noxema instead, my makeup is completely gone. There will be nothing on the cotton pad, and that really leaves my skin cleaner when I finish with my cleanser.

Noxema Deep Cleansing Cream

How I use it (and I will have a full review posted soon), is I scoop a little bit out with my hands and massage it into my face and neck after I've removed my eye makeup with a liquid eye makeup remover. I make sure to get the hair line and neck very well because I apply makeup there but tend to neglect the area when cleaning. At first the cream feels thick, but it gets thin very very quickly. Because it is oil based it will dissolve all of the makeup, everything. I then use a cotton pad or a face wipe to remove it, but you can also wash it off. I love how clean but moisturized my face feels after using this stuff.

L to R: Noxema and L'Oreal.

Although the texture of Noxema seems solid in the tub it thins out as your hands warm the product and spreads very easily. ANd if you zoom in you can see the little particles in the L'Oreal cleanser.

2. Makeup

Sally Hansen Carmindy Fast Fix Concealer All Over Neutralizer, NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Powder in Translucent, MAC MSF in Petticoat, Benefit High Beam, Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Nude Blush, Shiseido Color Stick in Champagne Flush, and Chanel Glossimer in Seashell.

NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Powder in Translucent and MAC MSF in Petticoat.

I picked up the pressed version of NYC Smooth Skin Loose Powder because while I love the loose version, it simply isn't convenient for every day use. I was really surprised with the pressed version as well. It goes on almost invisible (not completely, but doesn't really add too much coverage) and doesn't look cakey or anything like that. I usually use the loose version in the morning just after applying my makeup and take the pressed version with me to go for touch ups. And because the case isn't as sturdy as more expensive drugstore powders, I make sure to keep it in a makeup pouch. It hasn't cracked/opened on me yet, but I don't want to risk it.

MAC's Petticoat MSF I bought last year around the time that Pret-A-Papier collection came out. At first I was absolutely in love, but after a while I kinda forgot about it. I found it again a few weeks ago when I was cleaning out my vanity and fell in love again. I even found a better way to wear it. I used to just use it as blush, but now I layer it over my bronzer and it gives the most natural finish and keeps my bronzer from looking too matte. I'll show you pics of this later.

And how stunning is the veining!?

Benefit High Beam, Shiseido Color Stick in Champagne Flush, and Sally Hansen Carmindy Fast Fix Concealer All Over Neutralizer.

Whenever I'm breaking out because of stress I try to focus on concealing and illuminating, highlighting the good areas on my skin and concealing the bad. I found the Sally Hansen Carmindy concealer at the Dollar Store (I'll post a haul in a bit) and I love it!!! I completely gets out the red or the purple!!! It can look a bit heavy so I only really use it on pimples, not all over the face.

L to R: Shiseido Color Stick in Champagne Flush and Benefit High Beam.

I love these two highlighters. I actually bought both of them because I couldn't ever find the Boots No. 7 Highlighting Lotion at Target, and I actually found the Shiseido one at TJMaxx for around $16! I usually just use them in the inner corners, cheekbones, and the cupids bow. I find that the pink highlighters don't work on the brow for me. They just end up looking unnatural. I use the Shiseido one when I need a more subtle highlight and the Benefit one when I want a little bit more oomph.

And I love the packaging of the Shiseido one!!! So chic and pretty!

Sally Hansen Carmindy Fast Fix Concealer All Over Neutralizer.

I've always been a bit skeptic about color correcting concealers. Before this one, just about every single one would look unnatural, even under regular concealer or foundation. This one doesn't. It blends in seamlessly and looks barely there, even without regular concealer over it. It doesn't look too yellow either, which I like. I actually wanted the lavender version of this concealer, but they didn't have it :(

L to R: Chanel Glossimer in Seashell and Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Nude Blush.

I've been wearing one of these every single day. That says a lot because I'm not really much of a lip person. I easily get annoyed with something sticky or something that transfers easily. For me, Nude Blush is the perfect my-lips-but-better color. It barely shows up but evens out my lips and gives me just a bit more color. Oddly enough, it also makes my eyes look bluer, which I love!

L to R: Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Nude Blush and Chanel Glossimer in Seashell.

I love the formulas of both as well. Nude Blush smells like watermelon and goes on very thin, almost like a thin balm. It's very moisturizing. The formula of the Chanel Glossimers is unlike any other lip gloss I've ever used. It's more gel than liquid, a bit thicker but not sticky and always very shiny!!!

Swatches:

Top to bottom: Chanel Glossimer in Seashell and Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Nude Blush.

Top to bottom: Benefit High Beam and Shiseido Color Stick in Champagne Flush.

Sally Hansen Carmindy Fast Fix Concealer All Over Neutralizer.

It looks a lot more yellow than it actually is when blended out. I'll do a full review to show just how well it works!!!

Top To bottom: NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Powder in Translucent, MAC MSF in Petticoat: lightest shade, middle shade, darkest shade, and all swirled together.

That's it for March. No special perfume and you already saw my hair favorites earlier! Hauls and reviews coming up!

{Empties+Review} Estee Lauder Perfectly Clean Splash Away Foaming Cleanser

I finished another product! YAY!!! Wow, I've really just been going through everything super quickly this month. This time, it's a skin care product, a cleanser. I actually got this as a gift from my mom, along with a couple of other things. It is Estee Lauder's Perfectly Clean Splash Away Foaming Cleanser for normal or combo skin. I told my mom how I really love thick, foamy cleansers like the Shiseido one, and she was nice enough to get me something similar to try out! And let me tell you, this cleanser is heavy duty. It will make your skin squeaky clean! And it feels as thick as shaving cream, lol!

Again, this one is for normal or combo skin. I know they also make one for oily skin (in the greenish tube) and one for dry or sensitive, I don't remember which, in the pink tube. I'm planning on trying out the one for oily skin soon!

If you've never tried a high end foaming cleanser before, you must get a sample! YOU MUST!!! I don't know how they do it, but the foam is so thick, and rich. It works up into the most luxurious feeling lather, almost like foaming cream. And it gets every bit of dirt, oil, or left behind makeup off of your face.

The dispenser is a simple squeeze tube.

Can you see how thick it is!?

Spread out:

Look at that texture!!!

And with water:

This is on the back of my hand so it's not as thick, but if you really use both your hands to work it you can get a really nice and thick lather going!!!

I've been using this for the past month to cleanse morning and night. It is a great basic cleanser. It cleans your face, and that's about it. Estee Lauder claims that this product rebalances your skin, but I personally don't think so. I do love how when I use this, my face feels very very clean. There is no film or tightness left behind like with some other cleansers. And the texture of this cleanser is like nothing else (except maybe the Shiseido cleansers, haha!). No gel or cream cleanser can compare to the luxurious feeling this cleanser has.

And because it foams a lot you need the tiniest amount each time you cleanse. I used a pea size amount morning and night and that was more than enough to get my entire face! 4.2 oz doesn't seem like much, but it's lasted me months.

As far as negatives go, if you have dry skin this may be a bit drying on you. Even if you just have normal skin with a bit of dryness here and there, it may be a bit too drying. I have oily skin so I don't have a problem with this cleanser taking all the oil off of my face. And the prices, $20, may be a bit high for some. It is $15 cheaper than the Shiseido one I like. It all depends on how much you can spend. but I really think this one is worth the price!

Pros:

-Really thick and foamy.

-Cleans the face very well.

-Doesn't leave behind a film/tight feeling.

-A little goes a really long way because it foams.

Cons:

-Price.

-Doesn't "rebalance" anything.

-May be too drying for dry to normal skins.

Info:

Price: $20

Ingredients: Water (Aqua Purificata), Purified Potassium Myristate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Behenate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Potassium Palmate, Potassium Laurate, Potassium Stearate, Polygala Senega Root Extract, Nymphaea Alba Root Extract, Berberis Vulgaris Extract, Dipotassium Gylcyrrhizate, Caffeine, Sodium PCA, Sodium Myalluronate, Trehalose, Sucrose, Urea, Cetearyl Alcohol, Peg-3 Distearate, PolyQuaternium-51, Fragrance (Parfum), Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben (iln24031)

Disclosure: The product featured in this post was given to me as a gift for the purpose of my personal use. if you have any further questions about disclosure, don't hesitate to ask in comments.

{Tip Thursday} 3 Great Skin Care Trade Ins To Save You $$$

This week is all about saving money in the long run, and there are several items in your skincare routine that you can trade in for cheaper products without sacrificing quality or effectiveness.

1. Makeup wipes for baby wipes. Baby wipes are dirt cheap, are larger, and clean as well as a lot of facial towelettes. I use them in conjunction with my Almay Moisturizing Liquid Makeup Remover. I use a cotton bud soaked in it to remove most of the eye makeup and then I wipe the residue away with my a wipe. I used to use the Ponds ones, but at $6 for 30, it gets expensive fast. Just make sure you choose baby wipes that are hypoallergenic and noncomedogenic and scent free.

2. High end cleanser for drugstore cleanser. The cleansing part of the skincare routine is one the drugstores have mastered. You may not find a moisturizer, scrub or a toner of equal quality, but I can say with certainty that you should be able to find a cheaper alternative for your high end cleanser for much less. I really like Estee Lauders Perfectly Clean cleanser for normal or combo skin or any of the Shiseido foaming cleansers. But at over $30 each, that got expensive fast. I've been using Olays 7-in-1 Anti-aging Revitalizing Foaming Cleanser. At $10, it's a third of the cost and just as effective.

3. High end sunblock for drugstore sunblock. While I know people always advise us to spend more on a sunblock, I feel that drugstore brands like Neutrogena have finally matched the high end product. I used to love the Shiseido's Extra Smooth Sun Protection Lotion, SPF 38. But with daily use the $34 bottle goes fast. I recently discovered Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Daily Liquid Sunblock, SPF 55 (or 70 if you prefer). It's $12.99 and amazing! It's a liquid sunblock that goes on very smooth and non greasy. I feel comfortable wearing it under makeup and a moisturizer because the formula is so thin. I highly recommend this one and will be reviewing it soon.

That's it for now! Just three. I hope some of these tips help you save some much needed $$$!

{Review} The Body Shop Tea Tree Blackhead Exfoliating Wash

If you remember from my Black Friday haul, I purchased a lot of stuff from The Body Shop, several items being from the tea tree oil line aimed at fighting acne. Tea tree oil is an essential oil that is naturally antimicrobial, so it can kill the bacteria that causes acne. Although it isn't as effective as other anti acne treatments such as salicylic acid or benzol peroxide, it has fewer side effects like burning, itching, or drying. If you have mild acne acne, this may be a great option for you!


I know a lot of people worry when they read that the abrasive in the exfoliate is a crushed apricot core, but this exfoliate doesn't have that much abrasive in it at all. It's nothing like the St. Ives Apricot Scrub which is packed with abrasive. This is much gentler and shouldn't irritate skin too much. Unless you have very sensitive skin there is no reason why you wouldn't be able to use this daily.


The packaging is just a simple squeeze tube.

The product:

As you can see it is a VERY BRIGHT shade of green. And those aren't beeds, they're all different sizes.


As you can see, there isn't a lot of abrasive in the scrub, so if you wanted to you could use this daily, unless you have very sensitive skin. I like it. It's not the greatest acne scrub, but it's not the worst. I like that it's gentile. I've used so many acne cleansers that completely strip the skin leaving it dry, tight, and red. I think this is more of a cleanser than a scrub, though, because it doesn't have very much abrasive in it and the exfoliation is at a minimum. As for clearing blackheads, it does get rid of some of them, but definitely not all. I've been using this for several weeks and while I do think it helps keep my acne under control, it hasn't gotten rid of all my blackheads. I do have fewer blackheads, so there is that. I like how it leaves the skin feeling very very clean but not stripped while still treating acne. That's the biggie for me with this one. It's not much of a scrub, but it is a great cleanser. And at $13 it's not priced unreasonably at all. I've paid a lot more for a cleanser that hasn't performed this well.

Pros:
-Good cleanser.
-Gently treats acne.
-Not too horrible price.
-Not harsh on skin like acids can be.

Cons:
-Not really a scrub.
-Not as effective at treating acne as stronger acids.

Info:

Price: $13

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Steareth-21, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Propanediol, Silica, Stearic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Palmitic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Seed Powder, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Panthenol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Myristic Acid, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Lauric Acid, Limonene, Leptospermum Petersonii (Lemon Tea Tree) Oil, Tocopherol, Caramel, Yellow 5, Blue 1.

Disclosure: The product featured in this post was purchased by me for the purpose of my personal use. If you have any questions about disclosure don't hesitate to ask in comments!