Review: NeoStrata Toning Solution Level 2

Toners have never been a part of my skin care routine before, but now that I have incorporated them, I don't feel like my skin would be the same without them. My first ever toner was NeoStrata Toning Solution Level 2. This is a product that I continue to use every other day after I've finished cleansing and before applying moisturizer.

Toners in general are meant to further cleanse the skin by unclogging and shrinking the appearance of pores. There are many different types of toners, many designed for specific skin types. This NeoStrata toner is formulated for acne-prone skin, but is probably a bad idea for those with sensitive or dry skin. Its ingredients include 2% of the acne-fighting Salycilic Acid as well as 10% of the AHA Glycolic Acid, which acts to remove dead skin cells. 10% Glycolic Acid is a high amount, and may be too much without building up a tolerance for Glycolic Acid first.

This product was recommended to me by a Sales Associate at Shoppers, and I purchased it blindly, without doing any prior research on Glycolic Acid or reviews on this product more specifically. I also followed her instructions, which were to use 1-2 times daily. She didn't believe that I would need to build up a tolerance level. She was dead wrong! After using the product the first few times I got a tingly, clean feeling both during and after application. My skin felt extremely soft after, and I could notice a difference in the size and redness of my blemishes. It seemed to be working! However, after about the fifth day of using this product in both my morning and nightly routine, my face felt like it was on fire and was the most unflattering shade of tomato red. I moisturized the heck out of my face, which seemed to calm matters, so I just decided to give the toner a break. The next day, my face was severely dry, even though I had moisturized quite a bit the day before. My skin was flaking everywhere, and with flaking skin it is impossible to cover with makeup, as it just gets all caught on your flakes! The only good part about this was that my acne seemed to be drying out as well. I went back to Shoppers to ask for a hydrating moisturizer that could hopefully shed some of the flakes ASAP. A different Sales Associate asked me what had caused the flaking, and when I told her about the Toner and how often I had been applying it without previously being exposed to lower amounts of Glycolic Acid, I thought she was going to have a heart attack. She lectured me in great detail about how much damage I could do to my skin when I hadn't built up a tolerance to Glycolics and was literally stripping my skin. I hope that I have learned my lesson through both embarassment of the dry, flaky, red skin and through her schooling!

Now that I know how to use the product properly, I find it absolutely amazing. I don't like to use the term "Holy Grail" loosely, but I feel like this is definitely going to be a lifelong product for me. I now use the product every other day, and if my skin is feeling dry I will skip it altogether. I have not experienced any further stinging, redness or dryness from this product. It seems to really help with fading my blemishes and actually reduces the redness from my current breakouts. Most of all I love how fresh and clean my face feels after using this product. It makes me want to just forget putting anything else on my skin!

This product is available for purchase at Shoppers Drug Mart for $29.00, as well as through the NeoStrata website. It comes in a 100ml bottle, which dispenses the product in small amounts. I like to use cleansing pads that have a bit of exfoliation on one side when applying, but that's just a personal choice. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone who is dealing with acne or the occasional breakout. Just remember, do not forget to build up a tolerance to Glycolics!

Review: Normaderm Daily Anti-Acne Hydrating Lotion by Vichy

I have just started a new skin-care routine recently, as I have given up on my Benzamycin prescription cream, which really dried out my skin. I have been on the hunt for products that will keep my skin looking and feeling clean, clear and hydrated. Vichy products were recommended to me by a very knowledgable sales associate at Shoppers who really seemed to understand my skin type.

A little about my skin: I have suffered from mild to moderate acne breakouts throughout my teens and into my twenties. Around my time of the month or when my stress levels are higher I tend to see worse flare-ups. As often as I cleanse my face and use acne-spot treatments and/or masks, these flare-ups just aren't prevented. My skin type I would say is combination, but in the winter it tends to get dried out easily. A product of these flare-ups are dark spots and scarring, which are more than a little embarassing and can be difficult to conceal.

As you may know by now, I really don't like to purchase a product until I have read extensive reviews about its effectiveness. I do keep in mind that every skin type is different and a product is likely to receive mixed reviews based on differing needs of the users. So, instead of purchasing right away, I went home and did my research.

Vichy markets this product as a daily oil-free moisturizer that is clinically proven to tackle acne and blemishes, minimize the size of pores, and improve skin texture after 4 weeks. Its main acne-fighting ingredients are 1% Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid and LHA.

Basically all reviews on the Vichy website attested to its effectiveness, however I ran into quite a few negative reviews on outside websites. Most of the negative comments were in response to its inability to act as a base for makeup. Because my main concern was with combatting my current and future breakouts, and not how well this product would sit under my foundation, I decided to try it out.

I have actually been using this product both daily and nightly. I apply it after I cleanse and tone. It comes out of a pump-bottle as a gel-like cream. It is really easy to apply and absorbs into the skin quite quickly. I wouldn't say that it gives my skin any type of glow, but it does look hydrated. I would also recommend to use a bit less of this product than you would of your normal moisturizer, as only a thin well-distributed layer is needed. Also, if you apply more than is needed, the excess will not absorb, and tends to pill or flake.

This product really makes your skin feel hydrated and doesn't sting or even tingle, even though there are acne-fighting ingredients in it. It also doesn't have a medicinal smell to it, it just smells pretty fresh, like greenery. Most acne-fighting treatments I have previously applied to my skin give off a white tinge and make my skin feel tight and dry, so this is a nice alternative.

So far, I've experienced clearer looking skin. I have noticed that some of my dark and more reddish blemishes have started to fade. However, I can't be entirely certain if this is due to this one product or the combination of my new skin care routine. I would like to think that this is a helpful addition.

It's one major downfall, however, is, like other reviewers have claimed, that it is not made to have makeup applied overtop of it. I have even tried to just spot my light concealer on top of blemishes that are obviously still visible. This just causes the moisturizer beneath to pill and flake off. This is fine for the days that I do not choose to wear concealer or foundation on top of my moisturizer, however, for the days that I do, I will not be using this product. I may just stick to using this as a nightly product entirely.

This product is relatively reasonable to purchase. I bought it on sale at Shoppers Drug Mart for $23.50, however, I believe it is around $27-$28 regularly. It comes in a 1.7fl oz. bottle, which should last me for a few months. I will definitely be repurchasing this product, unless I come across something that claims to be more effective.

Review: Clarins Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm

Another of my more recent purchases, and another positive review! I am new to Clarins products. I recently toured their website while looking for some new skin care products, and really enjoyed their online personal "Beauty Consultation" which recommends skin care products based on your skin type. Upon further browsing of their site, I came across this little guy and decided to read some further reviews, which were, for the most part, extremely positive.

Now, one thing you should know about me is that I have extremely chapped lips, especially in the winter time. This means I am constantly reapplying my lip moisturizer. I have been using Carmex multiple times daily for approximately 7 years now, and without fail it has always come through for me. However, I for some reason have been unable to find Carmex anywhere lately and I had just about squeezed out the last of my supply.

The Clarins website advertises this lip moisturizer as helping to heal dry, chapped, and weather-roughened lips, which was exactly what I was experiencing. It also boasted the benefits of the natural ingredients Rose Wax, Ceramide 3, Shea Butter and Natural Rice Oil, all combined to ultimately combat the grand canyon cracks in my lips.

I really don't like trying out lip products when I go to Shopper's or to Sephora, so I didn't really test this product out before purchasing. (Closet germaphobe here!) However, the sales assistant assured me that I would not be disappointed in this product.

The balm itself is a light rosy pink shade, which looks quite clear once you apply it. You can just smell a hint of rose when you open the tube, but it's not too strong. (I definitely prefer this scent over the icky smell of Carmex!) This also helps when you accidentally get some inside of your mouth, as it doesn't taste like anything toxic, but rather like any type of sweet lip gloss.

I don't like using this applicator right on my lips, so I squeeze some out onto my fingers to apply onto my lips. It has a bit of a sticky consistency, but overall it feels like a gloss on your lips. It has a really pretty sheen to it, and you definitely can't tell it's a lip balm.

When I first applied this product, my lips were extremely dry and chapped, and it felt like the product was sitting on top of my lips instead of penetrating them to remoisturize from within. I guess I shouldn't have expected any immediate results though, since my lips were in such a desperate condition. I reapplied before I went to bed, and to my amazement, when I woke up the next morning I felt like I had aquired a new set of lips. They were extremely smooth and felt hydrated. This has now replaced Carmex as my go-to lip moisturizer.

One downfall of this product is the price point. Whereas Carmex is extremely inexpensive, a 0.45oz tube of Clarins Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm will cost you around $28. I expect that this tube will last me a few months though, and I much prefer feeling as though I am wearing a gloss as opposed to a boring old lip balm. (I have to keep using lip moisturizers year round, so you can see where I could get bored of the continuity of lip balms.) I also feel like this treatment is great for blending with other lip products for when I'm sprucing up my makeup routine, where other lip treatments really don't. Overall, this is definitely going to be a product that I continue to repurchase. If you're looking to add this to your makeup bag, you can purchase at your local Shoppers Drug Mart, Sephora, or The Bay.

Review: Benefit High Beam

Benefit High Beam is one of my more recent purchases. I bought this product after reading some really positive reviews about it on Makeup Alley. I have just discovered the absolute fabulousness that is Contouring and Highlighting (a little late to the game, I know) and it has absolutely changed my life. I have also incurred a somewhat unhealthy obsession with highlighters. I guess I'm just making up for lost time! Anyways, I decided to head to my local Shopper's Drug Mart and check this one out for myself. It was absolute love at first swatch!

My skin has very pink undertones, so this beautiful silky pink colour was beautiful on my skin. It really reflects the light well without being too overdramatic. I find that it is perfect for everyday wear, as it just gives a subtle ethereal glow. I use it just below my eyes, just on top of my cheekbones, as well as on my brow bones and just above my brow. I did use it once to highlight the top of my nose, but it just didn't look right, so I nixxed that idea.

I really love the fact that this is a liquid product, as I tend to prefer using liquid products for no other reason than they just seem to apply nicely onto my skin. The only thing I do not enjoy about this product is its applicator. I don't like feeling like I am applying nailpolish to my skin. Also, I find that the brush applicator supplies an excess amount of product, which, if it is all used, can transition your look from subtle glow to a pinky light show. (Not pretty). I tend to apply the product to the back of my hand first instead of directly to my face. That way I am not applying in excess.

The price of the product is fairly reasonable, in my opinion, for a higher-end product. I paid $30 for this 0.45oz bottle (it's about the size of a regular nail polish) at Shopper's Drug Mart. However, you can also purchase for the same price at Sephora. I really feel like this product will last me a long time though, so per use it really doesn't seem to be that costly. If you're just looking to try this product out, you can definitely find sample size bottles in a few of Benefit Cosmetic's kits. (That way you can also test out some of their other great products!) However, if you do decide to splurge on the regular size bottle, I can almost guarantee that you won't be disappointed!

P.S. I'm really looking forward to trying out Benefit's Sun Beam this summer, once I get over my intro-to-summer sunburn and develop a bit of a golden glow!

Welcome to Beauty Empathy!

Hi Guys!

Welcome to my blog!

It's definitely a continuous journey trying to find that "perfect" or "Holy Grail" product that works like magic. (It can also be quite an expensive quest!) Before I splurge on a new product I really like to read reviews from multiple sources in order to avoid making a purchase that I may ultimately regret. I'm sure I'm not the only one with drawers overflowing with products that I have tried and ultimately disregarded!

I am also writing these reviews with the knowledge that a product that I may absolutely love may be useless to you, or a product that I have no use for has changed your life!  That being said, I hope you find my musings helpful and feel free to share your own experiences or any questions you may have in the comments section!