InstaNatural Retinol Moisturizer

I received this product at a discount for an honest and unbiased review.

InstaNatural contacted me via email, once again, if I wanted to try and review their Advanced Action Retinol moisturizer and of course I accepted. It claims to repair and restore skin with ingredients such as jojoba oil, shea butter, green tea, vitamin c, hyaluronic acid, and the star of the show 2.5% retinol (vitamin A.)

Right of the bat I detect no scent. Good for those who are not fans of scented moisturizers. It comes in a 3.4 fluid oz. opaque pump tube. I like that it is in this form because it keeps the product clean from debris and helps keep the retinol from breaking down.

Retinol is another name for vitamin A and is an antioxidant which helps prevent wrinkles and increase collagen production. It is effective at managing acne and eczema and can improve the look of wrinkles and discoloration. Along with anti-aging properties, Retinol can also, in time, improve pore function and size with topical use. Hello, why didn't I learn this sooner? 

I've been using this product for about a month now and unfortunately I forgot to take before and after pictures (bird brain I am) but, I couldn't agree more with the claims of this moisturizer. I have noticed a restored firmness and, dare I say, thickness. I use it at night only due to the fact that I prefer my daytime moisturizer to contain an SPF content which this moisturizer does not have. You definitely need some sun protection during the day, however, since exposure to daylight can make the retinol unstable.

I love my morning skin thanks to this product. My face looks brighter and glowy in the morning not to mention how much better it looks! I'm just about to hit 30 so I'm not battling full on wrinkles just yet, but I have noticed the fine lines around my eyes and mouth are much less noticeable. My skin is hydrated and feels "bouncy" and firm. I have yet to notice much difference my pores, but I plan on continuing the use of retinol products so I'm crossing my fingers!

It is recommended (by paulaschoice.com) that retinol be used at night and only every other day or so to help skin get "acquainted" with retinol. You can also use an AHA exfoliant to help treat skin damage more effectively.

The product comes out creamy and thick. I dot some on key areas of my face and then gently start swirling it upwards around my face. Once the product has warmed up, I like to pat it gently on problem areas. It's very easy to work with, but it does dry down to a tacky feel quite quickly so work fast! Just a small pump goes a long way. In the picture I used too much (newb.)

This is my first retinol product and I'm sold. I'm not getting any younger and I will fight and prevent older skin with this in my arsenal. Here's to younger looking skin for as long as possible! 

Ingredients: Organic Aloe Vera, Organic Sunflower Oil, Retinol, Palm Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Vitamin C (Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate), Vegan Hyaluronic Acid, Organic Jojoba Oil, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Shea Butter, Wildcrafted Green Tea, Wildcrafted Propolis, Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate), Vitamin B5 (Panthenol), Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid. 

Buy directly from InstaNatural here or Amazon here.

InstaNatural Dead Sea Mud Mask

I received this product at a discount in exchange for my honest and unbiased feedback.

I am a self-proclaimed skincare addict and facial masks are a must have/do for me several times a week. When I received an email from InstaNatural about this product I immediately jumped on and replied YES! 

It is a very hefty and very generous amount at 16 oz. in a tub. It has no scent that I can detect which is pleasant since you leave it on for 10-15 minutes as per instructions. I don't have a sensitive nose and I've yet to slather on a mask that causes me to want to retch at its scent, but it's also nice to smell anything at all.This mask as a facial treatment claims to absorb excess oil, dirt, and toxins as well as expunge acne, pimples, and blackheads. It also helps restore an even skin tone for a smoother complexion. It can also be used on your body and it claims to help soothe aches and pains as well. I have yet to test this part out, but I may do so in the future.

All pictures can be clicked to enlarge.

It is a dark gray color with a gelatin-like texture. When you hold the jar and shake, the product inside feels "bouncy" like gelatin. 

Here is my skin before being cleaned at the end of a long day. Busy mother of three definitely takes its toll! 

After a shower and clean skin, my pores are much more apparent because of the removal of dirt, grime, and a slick layer of oil (yes, my skin is SUPER oily!)

I slathered on a thin layer of the product on my face. It feels a tiny bit grainy, like salt granules, but it's almost undetectable and I don't think it will exfoliate the skin. I do like to keep product instructions in mind, but I don't have sensitive skin and I'm very oily so most of the time I will leave a face mask on for a few more minutes than stated. For the purpose of this review I did leave it on for exactly 15 minutes.

At the end of the 15 minutes and right before I rinsed the mask off. It definitely gets hard so do not have your 10-year-old tell you a funny story because laughing or smiling will hurt a little. It dries to a light gray color with the same ashy and hard texture as clay masks (because this is mud.) Your pores and blackheads become a lot more noticeable as the product works to get into those pores and clear them out.  I HATE those disgusting blackheads on my nose! 

Once rinsed and dried off. I do notice smaller and more toned pores. I don't see that it did much on my nose but on my cheek area I see the mask has "cleaned" them out and they don't look as deep and dark. My face doesn't look as slick and dirty. 

My complexion does look a lot smoother. I did notice my skin was soft and felt silky to the touch. I even noticed a bit of brightening and my skin tone definitely seemed more even and healthy looking. If skin could squeak when polished, this is what my skin would have done here. I love that just cleaned feeling.

The rest of my face. Again, more bright and even. I forgot to moisturize my lips pre-picture (and post exfoliation,) so sorry about the zombie lips. Moles and dark spots are more apparent, but that's what happens when the skin in brightened. 

A small amount of the product on my finger. Shiny and jelly like, it applies quite slick, but it's easy to use just a small amount because of this. It has a thin consistency and it is a bit watery. I do thoroughly like this product. It boasts a slew of natural and organic ingredients, it is easy to use and makes my skin feel refreshed and renewed. Definitely an at-home-spa luxury treatment and I didn't have to leave my recliner!

Ingredients are Pure Dead Sea Mud, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Aloe Vera Juice, Organic Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Jojoba Oil, Hickory Bark Extract, Organic Calendula Oil, Filtered Water, Xanthan Gum.

Buy the product here or on Amazon here. 

Small Haus of Gloi Purchase

I recently purchased a couple of items I have been itching to try from Haus of Gloi. They are an indie bath and body company providing vegan products. I have heard so many great things about this company and its products for a while now and decided to give a go.

The products I bought are mini 2 oz. jars of Peach Mama Pumpkin Butter and Absinthe Bubbling Scrub.

All pictures can be clicked to enlarge.

A sample was provided with my order. A small vial of First Blush Perfume Oil.

Tahitian vanilla bean, white tea, lavender and peach.

You can definitely feel the summer in this one. The peach scent is the one that lingers the most on me, but OH LORD does this smell wonderful. It smells warm, light, and fruity.

Peach Mama Pumpkin Butter

Peach nectar and a host of resins: offertory frankincense, styrax, copaiba balsam and ambered labdanum absolute. Warmed with cassia and a barely audible breath of black patchouli.

I wish I could smell the peach more since it's in the name. It smells warm and you get a strong whiff of the patchouli. Overall, it is a pleasant woodsy scent and the butter itself is silky, luscious, and creamy. I like to slather this on after a shower on problem dry or flaky skin. The paper seen on the top edge is from the seal that did not come off cleanly. No biggie.

Absinthe Bubbling Scrub

Hauntingly herbal. Wormwood and anise swim in a creamy green sea of lemon balm and soft glowing mints. A hefty lump of sugar and the tiniest drop of suggestive deep green moss.

I LOVE this sugar scrub. The sugar breaks up easily and does not cause pain or irritation. My skin definitely feels smoother and softer after a shower. It bubbles up easily and nicely it's actually fun to use, tee hee. I just take a couple of fingers, scoop some out, and start lathering up all over. The scent, however, is a different story. Although not completely unpleasant to my nose, I do get a lot musky mint wafting from the scrub. The lemon gets left behind though, and do like my skin smelling clean and "fresh" because of the lemon. Caution though, do not get water into the product as it tends to get hard.

I got my products right in the TAT so no complaints about the shipping. I didn't have to inquire about my order so I can't really remark on the service. Sizes on these products offered are 2 oz. mini jar (which is what I ordered) and 6 oz. full size jar. I am definitely looking forward to repurchasing from Haus of Gloi.

Beautiful Mess

Today I decided to depot my L.A. Colors Shimmering Loose Shadows info 10g pots I got from eBay.  Needless to say, I felt like your typical cliché title was a good choice here.

All pictures can be clicked to enlarge.

The finished product. Honestly, all I did was watch a bunch of how-to Youtube videos and did what most of them did. Now I can clearly see the color and access the product easily without the weird scratchy brush in the way.

Up & Up Makeup Brushes

I took a trip to Target for diapers, mainly, and I always sail down the makeup aisle to see if anything tickles my fancy. Today, my fancy was tickled.

Since I have started using mineral foundation, I decided I need a better powder brush that doesn't exfoliate while I apply my makeup. Thanks but no thanks scratchy brush. I picked up a retractable powder brush and I noticed the "buy one, get second 25% off" sign right above it. Why not take advantage of that?! Not to mention the extra discounts with Target's Cartwheel app and our Red card.

 

The powder brush is large and fluffy, however, not very dense. It is oh so soft though. I picture myself drifting off into la-la land as I swirl the soft, pillowy bristles on my face. I actually like it quite a bit since it is a retractable brush, I can essentially squish the bristles together by pulling up on the retractable part and making the brush a bit denser. I also really like it's aesthetic bullet-like case. 

The concealer set includes a rounded tip brush and an angled tip brush. Both are very soft and surprisingly dense. I love their small size for precision since the ones I have used in the past have been too big. They fit perfectly under the eye area for buffing concealer and can cover blemishes and discoloration flawlessly.

I have yet to see any colors other than the light gunmetal gray they all tote. If any other colors are spotted, I will be sure to buy. All in all I am very happy with this purchase. I will definitely be buying more Up&Up brushes in the future.