SHEGLAM Lip Service Scrub Set review

SHEGLAM Lip Service Scrub Set

 

The winter months are here! My lips are dry as a result of excessive use of my heater. I found this Lip Service Scrub Set on Shein and thought my lips could use some scrubbing and conditioning. This set comes with a lip scrub and a lip mask and it retails for $8 Canadian (approximately $6.50 USD). 

The packaging makes it impossible to take a legible picture

The back gives a product into and the ingredients. I will type out what it says here.

Product intro:

Oh hey there, smooth talker. Score the smoothest, most polished pout with our two-step mask + scrub set. The lip scrub softens and exfoliates dead skin with its vitamin E, shea butter, and jojoba oil formula, and the mask moisturizes and reduces fine lines. Hint: smooth lips = smoother lipstick application!

Zoetop Business Co., Limited, which is based in Hong Kong, is the manufacturer and is made in China.

Instructions:

Use 2-3 times a week

1. apply the lip scrub on dry lips to scrub away the dead skin on lips, let sit for 2-3 minutes then remove with a damp towel then wash off with warm water.  
2. apply the lip mask on your lips and leave it on for 10 - 20 mins. Wash or remove with a towel.
3. apply lip balm or vaseline.

Pout Perfect Lip Scrub

SHEGLAM lip scrub

This has a very heavy artificial watermelon scent. 

It has a weird caramelized sugar texture and once you apply it on the lips, the sugar bits melt onto your lips by the warmth of your skin. The scrub is a bit abrasive but it will not scratch your lips. The "sugar" is much sharper than the sugar you have at home (it is similar to seared sugar coating you find on creme brulees).

This tastes sweet but it has a very bitter artificial sugar aftertaste... I didn't really like it.

I think it did a great job removing the dead skin from my lips (without hurting them). This definitely works better than a homemade sugar scrub.

List of ingredients:

Pout Perfect Lip Scrub: Stevioside, Petrolatum, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Microcrystalline Wax, Paraffinum Liquidum, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, BHT, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, CI 15850, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499. 

Smooth Moves Lip Mask

SHEGLAM lip mask

The lip mask has a soft scent and is not overpowering at all (I find it tough to pinpoint what the scent is). It is very thick. The applicator was very useful when applying. A little goes a long way. I made the mistake of applying it like a lip gloss but then realized you do not need a lot, a bit of the mask is more than enough, you just need to spread it out with the applicator.

The lip mask felt very moisturizing and I felt my lips soften. Although it looks like lip gloss on your lips, I found it is better to not use it as one as the product does not stay properly on the lips and will shift.

List of ingredients:

Polyisobutene, Octyldodecanol, Diisostearyl Malate, Hydroxystearic Acid, Microcrystalline Wax, Polyethylene, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Fragrance, Aqua, BHT, Citral, Limonene, Geraniol, Citronellol.

Verdict:

I like this lip scrub and mask set. It does a perfect job making my lips smooth. The only downside was how bitter and unpleasant the scrub was. 

score: 9.8/10
website: https://ca.shein.com/SHEGLAM-Lip-Service-Scrub-Set-p-2170619-cat-2262.html?scici=Search~~EditSearch~~1~~lip_20scrub~~~~0

Comparison: Kirkland's Almond Covered Vanilla Ice Cream Bars vs Haagen Dazs Vanilla Almond Chocolate Bars

 

I finally got my hands on Kirkland's almond chocolate and vanilla ice cream bars and loved it! Kirkland's version has been very popular because of the cheaper price tag. I went on a lot of community forums and they have insisted that these two are very similar. So I decided to test out Kirkland's version against Haagen Daz's (which I have loved for many many years) for you.

I was surprised as to how identical the taste was... but I noted some key differences. here's what they are:

	Haagan Daz's	Kirkland's
Almond count	a bit more than Kirkland's	______________________
Creaminess of Vanilla	___________________	Creamier and richer than Haagan Daz's, also tastes milkier
Chocolate	___________________	Chocolate is darker and richer than Haagan Daz's
Calories	290 (88 ml)	280 (91 ml)

Taste is subjective... so if having more almonds is what you prefer, then Haagan Daz's Vanilla Milk Chocolate Almond bars would be better for you.

If you prefer a creamier, milkier vanilla bar taste and like darker and richer chocolate, then Kirkland's would be your go-to. (I was extremely surprised how Kirkland's version has a lower calorie count! :O)

Price: (in CAD at Costco)

Haagan Daz's Vanilla Almond Chocolate Bars (contains 9 bars per box) $9.49

Kirkland's Chocolate Almond Covered Vanilla Ice Cream Bars (contains 18 bars per box) $9.99

edit (November 17, 2021): I checked at Costco today and it seems their prices were raised (possibly because of inflation)

updated prices (as of November 17, 2021):

Haagan Daz's Vanilla Almond Chocolate Bars (contains 9 bars per box) $14.49

Kirkland's Chocolate Almond Covered Vanilla Ice Cream Bars (contains 18 bars per box) $14.99

I'll let you decide, but for me (since the almond count doesn't really bother me), I think it is quite obvious that Kirkland's is the clear winner here :D

Let me know your thoughts :D

RW Garcia Sweet Beetroot Crackers review

I was very excited to try these out (I found them at Costco). Beetroots are known for being healthy but I have never been a fan of their earthly taste, so I was very excited to see them being turned into crackers.

The description says these are gluten-free beetroot crackers

RW GARCIA 3 SEED ORGANIC SWEET BEETROOT CRACKERS bring something new to the table. Great with any topping - our nutritious ingredients include Beetroot, stone ground white maize, and a trio of seeds blended together to make a delicious gluten-free cracker. Enjoy!

 These are made in the USA.

Don't be fooled by the name like I was. These sweet beetroot crackers are actually corn chips in disguise. There is 6% of beetroot in these. The ingredients do not raise any red flags though. There aren't preservatives. 

Ingredients: 

Organic stone ground white corn, Organic sunflower oil, Organic beetroot (6%), Organic black sesame seeds (2%), Organic flax seeds (2%), Organic ground paprika, Organic chia seeds (2%), Organic onion powder, Salt. 

There is good nutrition value to these chips, too. Aside from the slightly higher "Fat" content, I was happy to hear that there was a good presence of Protein, potassium, sodium, calcium, and iron. 

impressions:

• taste like regular corn chips
• great for dips (and anything that works well with corn chips like salsa)
• healthy
• not sweet at all

I was a bit disappointed that they didn't indicate clearly that these were corn chips. I wish they warned us instead of letting us find out ourselves when there only contains 6% of beetroot. 

Aside from that, I really like these "beetroot chips", I like how they were able to incorporate beet, flaxseed, chia, flax seeds, and black sesame seeds into the chips (I can see them, but the taste is overpowered by the corn taste).

score: 7.5/10 (for misleading advertisement)
website: https://rwgarcia.com/products/organic-artisan-crackers/

(小林サカムケア) Kobayashi Liquid Bandage review

This is a product I both love and hate,  it hurts but it works. This is possibly one of the best liquid bandages I have used. It does a really great job on bigger scratches and open wounds. 

It is also waterproof and after the initial pain, if you have completely sealed your wound properly, there will be no more pain. You are free to wash dishes, wash your hair, etc. this liquid film will protect your wound from being exposed and will heal it. 

the applicator (which looks like a nail polish brush)

 I really like the applicator, it is a brush and easily controls how much product you "drip" or "brush" onto/into your wound. I found the best way is the fill up your wound (which is extremely painful) and seal it off. The liquid bandage will dry up into a film.

impressions:

• smells like nail polish
• hurts like **** on open wounds
• works very well especially on open wounds and heals right after the hardened liquid peels or falls off
• do not use on eczema!! (I tried and it was a nightmare peeling the film from every piece of flaky skin)

I said do not use on eczema... the only exception when you are using on eczema (skin) is to make sure the film dries only on the crack and nowhere else.

I highly recommend this liquid bandage, it has helped me heal a lot of cuts, cracks, and wounds. And despite the pain and pungent smell (nail polish-like odor), I don't see any issues with this product.

Score: 8.8/10
Website: https://www.kobayashi.co.jp/brand/sakamucare/

Shein Eyeshadow Makeup Palettes review

Shein SHEGLAM eyeshadow palettes

 Shein has been known for their fast fashion but did you know they have a cult following for their makeup? I didn't. It wasn't until I saw an ad that located me in their makeup section that I realize how popular their makeup is. They have their own beauty influencers and there are a few very popular palettes. 

SHEGLAM Afterglow Palette

I am very picky when it comes to makeup because I have very sensitive skin. So far, I only allow Chanel, YSL, and Addiction palettes to touch my face. These are the only ones that give me desired pigments and don't cause rashes or stings.

SHEGLAM ARTISTRY Palette - BURNT

My palettes came with several foam protectors to make sure that the transport will not damage the product. When my Shein palettes arrived I noticed how luxurious they felt and each had a magnetic closing. They were much bigger than they looked in the pictures. The only downside is that none of them had a mirror. 

SHEGLAM COLOR ME CORAL Palette

Based on the size and no mirror, I can safely assume that these are meant to be used at home and not for quick fixes outside. They can barely fit in my clutch. They also do not include any brushes or any spaces to store brushes in the cases.

very well packaged

Here are some of my initial thoughts:

• very pigmented and buttery/creamy consistency
• good colour payoff
• blendable
• very long-lasting (at least 5-6 hours!)
• shimmers (very sparkly ones, not the metallic ones) are bad (e.g. Lift Off)
• no rashes, no stings!
• some colours might look different on you than how it looks on the pan

shimmers like lift-off (from Artistry - Burnt) are moist and my brush and fingers couldn't pick it up (the only one I didn't like)

All of the colours except for Lift Off were good. The colour payoffs were really good and they were long-lasting. I wore the others for over 5-6 hours and I didn't need to touch up! I am extremely impressed.

There is a slight con, though, that some colours appear darker in the pan than they do on your skin. 

Shein eyeshadow palettes are great! I love them and they are super affordable. Each palette is around $10 USD. I haven't looked into what they contained but they did not irritate my super sensitive skin. 

In a later post, I will give a review of each individual palette :)

Overall score: 9.3/10

Websites:
 - SHEGLAM Artistry - Burnt: https://ca.shein.com/SHEGLAM-ARTISTRY-Palette-BURNT-p-831312-cat-1863.html

 - SHEGLAM Afterglow: https://ca.shein.com/SHEGLAM-AFTERGLOW-Palette-p-1481084-cat-1863.html

 - SHEGLAM Colour Me Coral Palette: https://ca.shein.com/SHEGLAM-COLOR-ME-CORAL-Palette-p-2256088-cat-1863.html

Nail Art Stainless Steel Dead Skin Remover Fork review

This has been a life-changer for me. I have been struggling with dead skin that grows on the edges of my nails since high school. When I tried to pick them, it either doesn't budge or when it does, it will create a sharp piece of dead skin...

I decided to give this tool a try and I was amazed as to how it sliced my dead skin like slicing cheese!

Be careful to not get too excited and over slice your skin (like I did...) they will hurt, and sometimes if you skin your dead skin deep enough, it will bleed. 
 

If you want to look for this tool, use these or a combination of these keywords on eBay, Amazon, or Shein: Nail Art Stainless Steel Dead skin remover fork

L'Oreal 8 Second(es) wonder water review

 

so....I've finally got a haircut!!! (yeah!!) I managed to get rid of all the kinks, split ends, and dried-out pieces so my hair is back to how and what it should be! But that doesn't mean my hair care stops there... 

After my haircut, while shopping, I came across this product, L'Oreal 8 Second(es) wonder water. The packaging caught my attention. 

The Product

This is an at-home hair treatment. It only takes 8 seconds to visibly transform your hair from the first use. This product contains moisturizing agents and amino acids. It is formulated to target damaged hair by forming thin layers called "lamellas" that smooth the hair's surface with no weigh down. 

Instructions:

1. Apply directly to wet hair.
2. Massage for 8 seconds.
3. Rinse out, avoiding contact with eyes. 

Frequency of use: Use 2–3 times a week on wet hair after shampoo. 

1 dose for fine to medium hair. 2–3 doses for thick to curly hair. Add 1 more dose if you have long hair.

This product contains 200ml, and each dose is around 20ml, so it is good for 10 uses. 

I have typical thin Asian hair, so a dose is more than enough for me. 

impressions:

• it heats up a little (as the instructions say) 
• I was not a fan of the smell (coconut)
• the product was easy to apply because of the narrow tip applicator
• temporary results

I appreciate that the product heats up (a little). It helps me feel where I have missed a spot and it lets me know that the product is working.

Artificial Coconut scents never worked for me, whether it is skincare, haircare, food, etc. I think something about my natural aura doesn't work well with coconut, so I instantly was a little taken back. But if you like coconut, then go for it!

This product is a bit of a miss. It provides temporary results and they only last for 2 days. It didn't improve my hair nor fix any damages. If you are heading out to a party and in need of having temporary results, then this is the product for you. 

Score: 6.8/10

Website: https://www.lorealparis.ca/en-ca/wonder-water/8-second-wonder-water-lamellar-rinse-out