Reviews and Other Stuff

skin

The Inkey List Review

the inkey list salicylic acid cleanser review

 

Hey-lo! Iโ€™ve always wanted to do this review because Iโ€™m sure youโ€™re wondering what I think about The Inkey List brand. Youโ€™re probably curious if Iโ€™m a big fan of single-ingredient skincare products, or do I prefer the multitasking ones? My answer is โ€œit dependsโ€. When thereโ€™s a specific skincare concern that I want to address, I like to use a single-ingredient product. But when Iโ€™m crazy busy, I like to use some skincare multitaskers.

 

The Inkey List is a brand Iโ€™ve been using to supplement my skincare needs for more than a year. They have several exciting products that mostly contain a single ingredient targeted to a specific skincare concern or to simply enhance the skin. I havenโ€™t tried all of them yet, but I certainly have tried a couple of them already. Here are my thoughts.

 

the inkey list kaolin clay mask review

 

Brighten-i Eye Cream โ€“ I like this eye cream for the price, but after going through the whole tube, I didnโ€™t really find any dramatic effect on my undereyes. I also did not notice any depuffing effect from this. However, this product did not exacerbate my sleepless undereye circles. So, this is still a good deal.

 

Bakuchiol โ€“ Truly a great alternative to Retinol, but may not be as effective. This product does a good job of refining my skin’s texture without the irritation that Retinol gives. However, this does not provide the same glowy effect that Retinol does. I do like that this does not have any strong scent and is way safer to use than Retinol. I also recommend the one from Alpyn Beauty Melt Moisturizer, which also contains Bakuchiol and a good alternative to Retinol.

 

the inkey list bakuchiol review

 

Alpha Arbutin โ€“ I donโ€™t use this much, but many folks swear by this product. Alpha Arbutin can reduce the appearance of dark spots and hyper-pigmentation. While I havenโ€™t had any of these issues lately since I mostly stay indoor, what I do notice is that my skin feels so smooth after using this. I should investigate this further and see how this compares to Bakuchiol. Also, this product does not have any strong scent, which is excellent.

 

Salicylic Acid Cleanser โ€“ Iโ€™m not sure if you noticed, but itโ€™s quite a challenge to look for an excellent salicylic acid cleanser nowadays. The drugstore ones do not really work for me, and my face ends up being oily after a few hours. This Inkey List salicylic acid cleanser is one of the few that I found that really mattifies my face.

 

the inkey list collagen booster review

 

Kaolin Clay โ€“ Wondering whatโ€™s a good clay face mask for oily skin? Kaolin clay, yes. This mask is on the milder side, which means that the texture is way smoother than most clay face masks out there. I like this product because this does not irritate my skin, and this does not feel too stripping. However, I wouldnโ€™t recommend this as a weekly or biweekly exfoliating mask because this feels more like an everyday face mask.

 

Collagen Booster โ€“ Think of this product as a framework that will keep the facial skin together, like some kind of scaffolding, lol. Collagen peptides are good for maintaining skin elasticity, but our skin tends to lose it as we age (quoting Healthline on this) or if we are under stress (oxidative stress). Therefore, itโ€™s very important that we replenish the collagen loss to avoid skin sagging. So, if ever you find yourself feeling like youโ€™re losing collagen from learning how to write grants ๐Ÿ˜€ (wink wink), you gotta use this.

 

the inkey list alpha arbutin review

 

Overall, I love this brand, especially the price. I donโ€™t think you can find several other brands like this that donโ€™t skip on ingredients’ potency while making the price affordable for everyone. I can only think of โ€œThe Ordinaryโ€, which is also a great skincare brand when it comes to quality and affordability. I will be reviewing that brand soon. So, stay tuned.

 

What do you think of The Inkey List? Yay or Nay?

 

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Samaya Skincare Kapha Hydrating Cleanser & Anti-Ageing Cream Review

Samaya Skincare Kapha Hydrating Cleanser & Anti-Ageing Cream review

 

Hey guys. A few months ago, I talked about one of my favorite skincare finds that caters to natural and clean ingredients – the Samaya Skincare. Apart from creating products that blend the benefit of nature, they’re also based on Ayurvedic principles. You can read more about their background and skincare principles in my previous review HERE. In that review, I mentioned that my Dosha and overall skin constitution totally belongs to the Kapha range. The products in the Kapha range mostly have a nice soothing earthy scent and they work really well in restoring the natural balance of my skin. Recently, I had a chance to try the Kapha Anti-Ageing Cream and the Hydrating Cleanser. Here are my thoughts.

 

Samaya Kapha Anti-Ageing Cream Review

 

Samaya Kapha Anti-Ageing Cream Review

 

Kapha Anti-Ageing Cream (50 ml: ยฃ89) – This moisturizer has a lightweight feel with a soothing earthy scent. It feels very spa-like and it goes on creamy. The packaging is in a thick glass and it’s very easy to use. I love that my skin absorbs this easily and it leaves no sticky residue nor any whitish film. I don’t find the scent obtrusive at all and it’s actually quite relaxing. For my oily-prone skin, this works really well in maintaining its moisture and it doesn’t exacerbate the oiliness. For me, this is just what I need as a perfect everyday moisturizer because its consistency feels just right, that is, not too thick and not too thin. On top of that, it really makes my skin supple to the touch. Some of its main ingredients are Aloe Leaf Extract, Vitamin E, Ashwagandha Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, and Sandalwood Oil to mention a few.

 

Samaya Kapha Hydrating Cleanser

 

Samaya Kapha Hydrating Cleanser Review

 

Kapha Hydrating Cleanser (100 ml: ยฃ70.80) – The first thing that came to mind when I first tried this cleanser was how hydrating this cleanser felt. It is probably one of the most moisturizing and creamiest cleansers I’ve ever tried, and it’s just what I needed from a skin-drying long-hour flight. My skin suffers from blotchiness and dry spots whenever I’m on the plane too long, and also when I’m adjusting to my destination’s climate, air quality, and weather/temperature. It’s often during these times that I think a nice creamy cleanser will do the job in bringing back hydration to my skin. Oh well, thank goodness I think I now have a creamy cleanser to love. This Samaya Kapha Hydrating Cleanser will not only be good for my long-haul flights, but I can also see a lot of usage of this product in the coming Winter when my skin will get very dry. Additionally, this cleanser gently removes makeup and it works for sensitive or even oily skin, but if you tend to have dry skin, then this product is definitely meant for you.

 

This creamy cleanser comes in a tall, slim, heavy, glass bottle and its pump has been recently redesigned. In this review, I received the old pump design but I never really had a dispensing issue from it. Some of its ingredients are Turmeric Root Oil (Anti-inflammatory/Antioxidant), Saccharide Isomerate (lasting hydration), Gotu Koala Oil (stimulates collagen production), Sandalwood Oil (softening) and so much more.

 

Samaya Ayurveda Review

 

 

Overall, these two all-natural Ayurvedic products from the Samaya Kapha range of skincare are very well-done and they both deserve to be a staple in everyone’s daily skincare routine simply because they truly deliver and their ingredients are fab.

 

For more information about the Samaya Ayurveda Skincare, please visit their website samayaayurveda.com

 

* Products provided by Samaya Ayurveda Skincare. The reviews, photos, and opinions herein are solely mine.

 

 

VII Code T2 Oxygen Eye Cream O3.0 & O2.0 Oxygen Hydrating Eye Spray Review

VII Code O2.0 Oxygen Hydrating Eye Spray

 

Hi All! I’ve been in the market for some good quality eye creams that could potentially help to hydrate my undereyes which suffered from extreme dryness this last Winter. My skin, lately, seemed to have gone through a lot due to the lack of moisture in the air and that has caused some dry patches and roughness especially around the eye area. So, when VII Code reached out to me to try their eye cream and eye spray, I was totally glad because, to be honest, it’s really kind of hard to find the ideal eye cream for your skin type or for any specific undereye skincare concern. Since I had a good experience with VII Code’s O2M Oxygen Eye Mask for Dark Circles before, which you can read HERE, I had a hunch that I will enjoy their T2 Oxygen Eye Cream and also their latest product, the Oxygen Hydrating Eye Spray immediately.

 

VII Code T2 Oxygen Eye Cream O3.0

 

VII Code T2 Oxygen Eye Cream O3.0

 

T2 Oxygen Eye Cream O3.0 (5 ml: $99) – This anti-aging eye cream comes in a beautiful blue packaging that looks unique and sleek. I love looking at its decorative shape that sort of stands out in my sea of skincare products. Upon initial testing, this eye cream has a nice floral scent that goes away after a few minutes of application. It feels really silky and creamy but not sticky and it goes on smooth on my undereyes. My skin absorbs this easily without any residue. The following day, I noticed immediate hydration on my undereye area. It no longer feels rough and it didn’t look very dry. My concealer and foundation adhere well with this eye cream without emphasizing any dry areas. Another thing I love about this is the fact that this is great for my sensitive eyes. I never noticed any burns or stings no matter how much I applied this product close to my eyes. Also, this eye cream comes with its Crescent Activation Strip which doubles as a spatula and as an eye massager. I love it because it conforms to the shape of the eyes and it sorts of stimulates the blood flow around that area.

 

VII Code T2 Oxygen Eye Cream O3.0 review

 

You can use this eye cream in the evening after cleansing your face, or you can also use this in the morning before applying your makeup. For maximum hydration, you can also supplement this eye cream with VII Code’s Oxygen Eye Mask, available HERE.

 

VII Code T2 Oxygen Eye Cream O3.0 how to apply

 

Per VII Code’s website, these are the following ingredients of this particular eye cream.

 

Elderberries: Anti-oxidant content maintains the skin cells, leaving you with glowing, younger skin.

Jojoba Oil: Not only firms and keeps your skin hydrated, but also useful in lessening the appearance of skin wrinkles. Rich in antioxidants, which help regenerate the skin cells.

Evening Primrose: Boosts blood circulation, which is helpful to treat tired skin and eyes and is especially effective in removing wrinkles.

 

VII Code O2.0 Oxygen Hydrating Eye Spray

 

O2.0 Oxygen Hydrating Eye Spray (5 ml: $23) – This is VII Code’s latest eye product and yes you read it right, it’s an eye spray and it has several interesting ingredients that promote undereye skin hydration and nutrition like: Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamins, Minerals, Amino Acids, Glycerin, Red Algae Extract, and an active marine ingredient from the Mediterranean Sea.

 

Will all those ingredients, I find this eye spray to be very mild, very fluid, clear, non-sticky, and unscented. Therefore, this is great for those with sensitive skin and sensitive eyes. I personally like this a lot because this product does not only maintain undereye hydration, it also feels rejuvenating around the eyes, kinda like an eye/face mist. To use: You can spray this immediately to the eye area (with eyes closed) for a distance of about 15 cm and gently pat the mist around your undereyes for full absorption. Also, you can spray this on a cotton pad and gently press it on your eye area for a very refreshing feel.

 

Vii Code review

 

Overall, I had a great experience testing these VII Code T2 Oxygen Eye Cream and the O2.0 Oxygen Hydrating Eye Spray. I find these to be beneficial undereye products that suit sensitive skin and with a spa-level feel. These addressed my undereye skincare concern and for that, I’m really grateful.

 

For more information about these eye products, check out viicode.com (they offer Free Shipping) or you can also purchase these at Amazon

 

 

(Disclosure: Sponsored by VII Code. The reviews, photos, and opinions herein are solely mine)