My Briar Rose

I'm starting out my revival first blog post with some products that I am late to the bandwagon on. Background: I was one of the original testers of the Inhibitif product line back in 2013 when the brand was basically brand new. I think this was right before Shoppers Drug Mart started to carry the line. I would go to their office on Queen St. E in downtown Toronto once a week and they would take some progress photos and film some video Q&As. It was pretty cool and I met the founder of the company during that time. The product worked amazingly well and I was pretty blown away by their whole office space and lab that they had at the time. After that was over I'm not really sure why I never paid close attention to what they were doing because if I did I probably could have saved myself years of trial and error, breakouts, angry skin, and wasted money. Fast forward to last year with the media coverage of the founder and my sisters growing interest in the brand and I finally ma...

I had previously reviewed the two mineral foundations that were included in the 7 piece kit so now here is my update on the rest of the kits contents! Sorry its sooo late after the first post but things have been crazy hectic the last little while! First lets talk about the mineral glow bronzer. It looks very dark in the jar so I was afraid to test it out on a day where I had to do makeup for work or to go out just in case it looked really fake on me. I chose to try it out on a day that I didn't have any plans to go anywhere and didn't have to go to work that way I could wash it off as soon as I was finished if it looked bad. I do think it is slightly dark for people with very fair complexions like mine...it works ok if you blend it really well but then my face doesn't really match the rest of my skin especially in the winter, so right now I am not sure really if I like it or not. I will probably have to wait and try it again in the summer to see if I can get it to better m...

Yesterday I was excited to open the mailbox and find a package from Intelligent Beauty containing my Raw Minerals 7 Piece Discovery Kit. The kit included: two mineral foundations one in Light 1 (picture on the left) and the other in Light 3 (on the right), Mineral Glow Bronzer, Active Veil SPF 18, Foundation Brush, Concealer Brush, and a Retractable Brush. They send you two different shades of foundation so that you can choose which best matches your skin or so you can combine the two so you can make the shade that does match. I already knew upon looking at the two shades that I was the Light 1 but I tried the Light 3 today just to see what it looked like. The light 3 is very orange on me because I am so pale I am for sure the Light 1, so my sister benefits because she has a bit darker skin tone than me and the Light 3 matches her perfectly. The foundation looks great on though. It goes on smooth and a little goes a long way for sure you only need a tiny dab or else you overdo it. I fi...

I am sooo sorry this review took so long to make it here! Awhile ago I was asked if I would like to review some products from Skin Free which is a company that uses 100% natural and non-toxic ingredients in their products. I did a review on the soap awhile ago when I had first received the package so now its time to finish reviewing the rest of the things I received and have been using for the past little while. I love that these products have no harmful or harsh chemicals in them since I think I have figured out that is what is breaking me out to begin with! Since I have started using natural remedies or natural products I have noticed my skin looks clearer and more healthy and I haven't had much problems with acne since except for the occasional few pimples due to hormones. First is the Skin Free Niaouli Scrub for Blemish Prone Skin. I love this product! It smells sort of like menthol which I love with a hint of vanilla and it goes on really nice. It is kind of messy but I don...

I started using this a few weeks ago when I ran out of other face washes to use. I'm not really sure about this stuff at the moment. It has its ups and downs. I am thinking at this point more downs than ups but am finishing off the rest of the bottle since it was just a sample sized bottle or one of those gift with purchase trial sizes. I find it really really runny, well that was expected since it said it was cleansing milk but I really don't like that its so runny and milky in consistency . It makes it really hard to apply on your face without making a mess or wasting a lot of it down the sink. This stuff also burns! At least it did to my skin it started out as a nice tingle then started burning after a few seconds as I was applying more to the rest of my face. I couldn't wash it off quick enough. Not sure if I am allergic to something in it or if thats what it does to everyone, or if I just have really sensitive skin, but I didn't like that feeling. The only positive...

Ok so I received this as well as a few other products from this company awhile ago but so far have only used the soap, since I am still testing out the other acne products for a little bit. I have been using this soap since I received it on the third and it doesn't even look like I have really used it at all. It seems to last a long time because right now it looks basically brand new. At first I wasn't sure if I should try the soap because I thought it might be too moisturizing for me since its supposed to clear up eczema so I was going to pass it on to my mom who has very dry skin to use. I decided to give it a try anyway and if it wasn't for me then I was going to pass it on to someone here that could use it. I actually really like this soap. I was kind of afraid to use it when I got it because its supposed to be extra moisturizing and my skin does not need the extra moisture! I have such oily skin usually that I can't use anything that even has the word moisture in i...

Ok so my last post on this was the 9 th so its time for another update I believe. So far so good with the acne. My whole face is actually pretty clear. I would say about 98% of my face is clear with no acne. My chin area still has a bit and I do have one on my forehead but it sure beats the full out forehead and chin acne that I used to have! Plus this time of the month is the worst usually for acne so I am glad that I haven't had the full breakout that I normally get around that time of the month. Though I do think that is the contributing factor in the bit of acne I have right now because my face was almost 100% clear the last time I updated. I have stopped using the hydrating lotion though because I found it made my skin too oily and I found I had to powder more often and blot my forehead a lot. So I stopped using it and probably won't unless I find the other treatments are starting to dry my skin out then I will start. I also rarely use the spot treatment since I haven...

I was supposed to be posting weekly updates but I realize its been more like two! I have been so busy with work and trying to get my laptop and wireless up and running in the short amount of spare time I do have now that I just haven't had time till now. The laptop still isn't functional I had to exchange the first because the touch pad mouse didn't work and now this one I have to wait till we get a wireless company to come out and see how much it will cost to get both computers set up with wireless. Ok so on to the review...I have been using all four steps of the Clear Remedy system for close to two weeks now and I must say that I have noticed an improvement in my skin! I didn't see results in three days like they claim, but my skin was pretty bad so I really wasn't expecting a fast fix anyway. After about a week I started noticing the difference. My existing pimples have started to dry up and disappear and I haven't seen any new breakouts form since I have s...

Ok so I was suckered into buying this stuff a few months ago when it was out because it was a limited edition product and wouldn't be around for long. Plus I loved the smell but I love most of the scents that they have at The Body Shop. I usually wouldn't spend $25 on something for myself especially not when its just a jar of body butter. I guess I must have been in a spending mood, and besides it was bought with Christmas money so free to me. I have to say its well worth the money I spent! I love the smell of it which is what really got me to seriously consider buying it, even though I had a ton of similar products at home. The smell doesn't fade at all and it lasts all day until you shower it off. Not like a few other body butters I have bought that lost their smell a few hours after applying. It goes on really nice and doesn't leave any after greasy feel at all. Also a little goes a long way especially since I don't have dry skin. Instead its the opposite very ve...

I was at work yesterday morning again in the post office when yet another big box showed up for me! The products that were in the box were also packaged really well but with packing peanuts. At first I had no idea what I was getting because in my giant mess of things that is life at the moment I had totally forgotten about another product to test and review on the blog! I couldn't wait to tear into the box. It was a pretty big box for the three things in it but at least they were very well protected which I would rather have then leaking broken products even if it means going to the post office to pick up parcels (though now I don't have to since I work there!). Ok so a little about the products that I received . These products are by Skin Free . They are an American based company but are expanding into Canada with the help of distributors. Which is great because that was my first question when I replied to their email was that I was in Canada and did they ship here. They sel...

Well I just recently got a job at the local post office well part time post office, other part doing a makeup/skincare line, but am in training so full time at the post office for now. Imagine my surprise when I see a fairly large box with my name on it! I was excited but had to wait till I started putting packages into the system before I could see who it was from. Right away I knew it was my Clear Remedy products to test when I saw that it came from Intelligant Beauty. I have to say that when I got home and could open it I was so surprised to see that it was actually packaged really really well so that it wouldn't get damaged! It's a good thing they used a larger box and packed it full of what I call grass haha (no it wasn't actually grass but I made a huge mess with it ripping into the package), the one whole side of the box was all squished in acordian style. Lovely, thank you postal services. Everything in the box was fine though because of all the extra precautions t...

The other day I received an email from Intelligent Beauty. They asked me if I was interested in testing out a 60 day supply of Clear Remedy Acne Treatment and writing a review. Of course I agreed! I have been struggling with acne for the last two years (ever since I turned 18). Almost everything I have tried has failed to impress me so far. The only exception being tea tree oil which I currently use and it helps a bit but I still get acne outbreaks more than I would like. When I receive the product I will be doing weekly updates on my skin and if its improving and any other details that need to be noted, and maybe if I am brave enough perhaps a before and after picture?! So first some basics about the Clear Remedy Line: Clear Remedy attacks and fights acne at the source and is clinically proven to heal existing blemishes and to help prevent future breakouts. Clear Remedy is effective as result of a 3-step system, which delivers a propriety combination of 13 functional ingred...

I tried the drying mask out a few nights ago because I had some bad acne I desperately wanted to clear up before starting theatre shows so I started using the drying mask the same night I recieved the products to test. Let me tell you this mask smells soooooooo bad its horrible. The smell makes me nausous so I just dabbed it on the acne that I wanted to dry up. I doubt I could have stood the smell of the sulfur for 20 minutes on my entire face. It made it smell less strong that way but it still smelled pretty bad. With that aside, the mask works amazingly well. It dried up all the acne and it actually was almost completely healed the next day. It was all dry and flaked away. I have never had anything work that fast before. It also made my skin soft not rough and flaky but nice. I really wish it didn't smell as bad or I would actually purchase it but the smell is just such a huge turn off its so bad you can almost taste it, yet it works so amazingly well that I am torn. It's to...

I received a coupon for a free bottle of the new dove body wash when it was first coming out. I picked up the energizing lemongrass and grapefruit scent since it was the only one that smelled appealing to me. I did enjoy this product it went on nice and lathered well. The scent was subtle and not overpowering and I found that it left my skin feeling clean and soft. There were some scrubbing beads in the body wash that I could have done without though, since most seemed to stick in my body puff anyway and those took forever to try and clean out. Also I found that the label on the outside of the body flaked after getting wet and I ended up covered in the label after picking it up and it seemed to stick to my hands. It is pretty pricey for a small bottle so I doubt I would purchase it again without either a really good coupon or a really good sale. Pros Scent was subtle and not overpowering lathered well left my skin feeling clean and soft Cons could have done without the beads since most...

Like the previous post stated I got the sample sized packet of the Pore Unclogging Scrub to try out as well. I quite like this product too because it is gentle on your skin, and it left my skin really soft and smooth and free of oil for a long time after washing my face. The beads in the scrub aren't too harsh and weren't sharp like some other scrubs that I have used. The scrub is a little harsh though if you use it daily. I noticed after awhile my skin was starting to get dry scaley patches where I had acne clearing up. I guess you could say this stuff works too well! It works great if you use it a few times a week but I really wouldn't recommend it for daily use since it left my very very very oily skin dried out, which I have never had happen before ever! It costs about the same as the cleanser so it is a bit pricey compared to other brands but worth it, especially since you will have the scrub even longer if you can only use it a couple times a week. Pros left my skin s...

I got a sample sized packet of the Biore Ice Cleanser as well as the Pore Unclogging Scrub awhile ago in the mail when they had a promotion to sign up for a free sample, I believe it was when they first came out with these. I hadn't tried it till a few days ago because I am always nervous to try new products in case they break me out badly or something. I know I should probably do a test area first but I usually just use it and see what happens. I can honestly say that I really like the Ice Cleanser, it makes my skin really soft without leaving it greasy. You can feel the "ice" of the product too it tingles a little not uncomfortable burning tingle like some products do, but you can feel the coolness of it with the gentle tingle that makes it feel like its working. It also keeps my face smooth and clean feeling for most of the day which is nice since I have really oily skin that normally is oily almost immediately after I finish washing my face. It is a little pricey whe...

The Body Shop is offering a free skincare kit with a $30 value to anyone that purchases $35 or more between now and May 27th! You can choose from Aloe Best for sensitive skin $30 Value, Tea Tree Best for oily and blemish-prone skin $30 Value, Vitamin E Best for all skin types $30 Value. This offer is available in store or online! The Body Shop Online Fine Print of the offer: * Offer valid for a free, skincare starter kit with any $35 purchase (excluding gift cards) while supplies last. Purchase of LYB card not included in offer. All discounts will appear on final receipt when package arrives. One per customer. Offer valid on select starter kits only. Valid only at participating The Body Shop stores in Canada and at thebodyshop.ca. Valid May 11th - 27th at thebodyshop.ca and participating stores. I'm thinking of going and getting a few things just to get the tea tree oil starter kit! I have been wanting to try all of the tea tree oil products but that would be pretty pricey this wou...

I found this product about a month ago in Walmart for around $3.00 for a 200ml pump bottle. I am not sure if that was a sale price or the regular price but I picked it up to try any way since I love St. Ives products. This particular cleanser contains tea tree oil as the acne treatment ingredient vs. salicylic acid which is usually in the cleansers I use. I actually like this version of the cleanser much better then what I was currently using since it seems to be more effective. I like that its gentle enough to use daily but provides enough of the tea tree oil treatment to improve my skin without overly drying it out. It actually makes my skin really nice and soft to touch, plus it keeps my oily skin away for most of the day without the use of powder! That is one of the benefits I really like since I have really oily skin and most cleansers don't work as well, or they leave my skin feeling like wax and like I never washed my face at all. I have noticed a big improvement since switc...

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You should wash all brushes that you use on a regular basis at least once a week if you use them less often then once a day you can go a couple weeks without washing them. I do mine about once a month depending on how often I actually use them since I don't do makeup that often. When washing your brushes you should use a mild shampoo (baby shampoo works best) then roll the brush in your hands till it lathers then rinse under luke warm water. Rinse well until the water runs clear (you will notice all the makeup tinting the water when you first start rinsing the brush). Reshape the bristles and lay the brush horizontal to dry (like on the counter) with the bristles hanging over the edge to dry. If you want to you can wipe the brushes off with baby wipes daily to prevent makeup build up then throughly wash them every month. Over washing can wear out your brushes faster and cause the glue to wear away causing the bristles to fall out. Don't use any product that contains alcohol/per...