Belitae Organics Fresh-C Vitamin C Serum

Belitae Organics Fresh-C Vitamin C Serum - $16.95 US

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

I am a lover of Vitamin C hands down.  Ever since I heard of topical Vitamin C for the face, I have never looked back.  I wrote a review about Vitamin C for my blog a few months back.  Click here if you want to learn more about the benefits of Vitamin C.  

Recently Valentia Skincare contacted Everything Beauty and Beyond to review their Even Glow Serum. - See more at: http://everythingbeautyandbeyond.blogspot.ca/2014/05/review-of-week-valentia-even-glow-serum.html#sthash.KkN1JvLD.dpuf

Recently, Belitae contacted Everything Beauty and Beyond to review their Belitae Organics Fresh-C Vitamin C Serum.  I have to say, one of the things that caught my eye about this serum was the packaging.  I know that may sound dumb, but still, packaging is what first sells right?! Before we start looking at ingredients!  Come on, you know what I am talking about!!

Since I use Vitamin C throughout the year, I like to try out a few in order to see what works and what doesn't.  When I received this Vitamin C the package was a lovely white and bright yellow with a ton of information on the back. Their Amazon site states:

"Belitae's FRESH-C Vitamin C Serum is formulated with the proven highly active form of Vit C called "STAY C-50". This Vitamin C goes to work deep in the layers of your skin where it is converted to Ascorbic Acid by your cells providing the added benefit of remaining fresh in the bottle until absorbed by your skin.  Our Vitamin C is proven to stimulate collagen production restoring your skin to a more youthful appearance. Vitamin C is known for it's ability to protect your skin from daily UV damage and will gradually fade sun spots and brighten skin. Made in the USA in our advanced FDA certified facility 98% natural and 72% organic ingredients - cruelty free, phalate free, paraben free, gluten free".

The directions state that after washing your face use 2-3 drops on both your face and neck.  Then after it absorbs into your skin, apply your moisturizer.  Pretty simple and basically the same directions as all the other Vitamin C that I tired.

First thing I noticed about this Vitamin C is that it came in a dark blue bottle (which was a first for me) with a droplet.  The liquid was crystal clear and had no smell.  I found it interesting that it stated that it would never oxidize because normally Vitamin C is an antioxidant and that is just what happens anywhere between 3-6 months from when you open it.   Nonetheless, I have only had this bottle for a month, so I guess I will wait and see. 

I started using it everyday for two weeks.  Since I normally use Vitamin C from other manufacturers, I simply swapped this out for my normal one.  The results I achieved with this Vitamin C were great! It continued to help with lightening up any and all dark spots.  My complexion looked bright and my premature wrinkles were kept at bay.  It felt very silky and smooth and absorbs rather quickly into the skin without any nasty film or stickiness.  I really like this Vitamin C and the feel of its formula. 

However I will say this.  The ONLY thing that I didn't like about this product is that it contains Witch Hazel.  Which in my own personal (amature) opinion is not an ingredient I would use.  I refuse to use or even apply a product anywhere on body that contains alochol or Witch Hazel.  However for the sake of testing I gave it a chance.  While the rest of the ingredients are great, however there should never be any real reason why a product should have alochol or Witch Hazel in it.  These two ingredients cause collagen breakdown in the face.  I would really employ the company to remove this product and use another product that is not damaging to the skin if their are looking to add antibacterial  properties for acne pron skin or to help reduce redness and control oil.  However with all that being said, this ingredient was much lower on the list so the amount of witch hazel used might be minimal to produce any real damaging affect.  Nonetheless you would have to contact the company in order to find this information out.    

Beside that, I did find this product very helpful! However a lot of people are ok with using Witch Hazel in their normal skincare routine which is fine for them.  So if that is use, then you would be happy to know that Belitae is doing a free giveaway to one lucky person who would like to receive this product for free!  So below are the rules for the giveaway!

Recently Valentia Skincare contacted Everything Beauty and Beyond to review their Even Glow Serum. - See more at: http://everythingbeautyandbeyond.blogspot.ca/2014/05/review-of-week-valentia-even-glow-serum.html#sthash.KkN1JvLD.dpuf

Recently Valentia Skincare contacted Everything Beauty and Beyond to review their Even Glow Serum. - See more at: http://everythingbeautyandbeyond.blogspot.ca/2014/05/review-of-week-valentia-even-glow-serum.html#sthash.KkN1JvLD.dpuf

Recently Valentia Skincare contacted Everything Beauty and Beyond to review their Even Glow Serum. - See more at: http://everythingbeautyandbeyond.blogspot.ca/2014/05/review-of-week-valentia-even-glow-serum.html#sthash.KkN1JvLD.dpuf

In order to win this free full size bottle you need to do 4 things!

1. Subscribe to my blog!
2.  Follow me on Twitter @Daymr
3. Make a comment below on how you feel this Vitamin C would help your facial needs!
4. Once I pick my winner I will privately email you so that you can send me your contact info!

For everyone else, the company is offering a 25% off their bottle of Vitamin C.  In order to get this deal, simply click here on Belitae Organics Fresh-C Vitamin C Serum and add it to your cart.  When checking out, it will ask you how do you want to pay.  Scroll down and click on Amazon's promotion code link and type in the code 3TJ5W9NE to receive 25% off the price.  So that means your cost for this bottle will only be  $12.71 (minus shipping and taxes)! I don't know how long this promotion is on for as this bottle normal cost $68.00, so get it while its hot!

One final note.  When using Vitamin C; though it works great to protect you against sun and free radical cell damage, you MUST wear sunscreen everyday.  Vitamin C makes you skin very sensitive to sun rays. So make sure you are using an SPF 30 and up that is UVA/UVB Board Spectrum protection.  If not, then you will eventually get a "lovely" red sunburn effect look which for sure will hurt.  So keep this mind when using ANY Vitamin C. 

Keep Smiling!

Dayana!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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Monday Madness: The Benefits of Maracuja (Passion Fruit) Oil!

So with the craze of Argan oil being out on the market and being dubbed as "magic liquid gold" Tarte decided to join that bang wagon and bring out their Maracjua oil which is really and also known as Passion Fruit Oil.   At first when I heard of it, I really didn't bat an eyelash as I was already using Josie Maran and Poppy Austin's Argan Oil.  However being the researcher that I am, I decide to look up the product and really see what its all about.   Hell I mean for $55 to almost $90 a bottle this better shine and work like Argan oil in my opinion!

So what is Tarte's Maracuja oil? Well it is actually nothing more then 100% Passion Fruit Oil.  So the bigger question really is, what is Passion Fruit Oil?  

Passion Fruit (aka Maracujá oil) is an egg-shaped tropical fruit that is small in size and comes in either a yellowish or purplish color.  When cracked open, inside the fruit are as many as 250-300 small, hard pitted seeds.   The oil comes from these seeds when crushed for extraction.  Passion fruit seed oil is high in vitamin A, C and potassium which helps to keep the skin healthy and glowing.  Passion fruit seed oil also works as an antibacterial for acne prone skin and other facial issues.  It also helps to reduce swelling and irritation of the skin when inflamed by acne and can also help to reduce sebum secretion which for many is overly active especially in the T-zone area.  Passion Fruit Oil contains ascorbic acid, β-carotene, calcium, flavanoids, phosphorus, and potassium which is all good and healthy for the skin.  

When buying Passion Fruit Oil for your skincare routine, remember just like Argan Oil, there are a few things you need to consider.

Ingredients

Passion Fruit Oil should only say 100% Organic Passion Fruit (aka Chinola, Passiflora incarnata, Maracujá or Parcha) oil.  It should be cold pressed and unrefined/undiluted.  The color should be yellow and have a light fruity aroma to it.  If it has anything else mixed in to it, then don't buy it.  It is not 100% Passion Fruit Oil and it has been tainted with other chemicals or added fillers that are not needed.   The majority of all Passion Fruit Oil comes from Brazil.  So if you bottle says harvested in Canada..pffts...put it down and walk out.

Packaging

Since Passion Fruit Oil is rich in vitamin A and C; it is considered to be an antioxidant therefore it will breakdown when exposed to air and light.  Its best you buy it in a bottle that's opaque or dark and that comes with a droplet in order to avoid you contaminating the oil with the germs from your hands. When not in use, make sure to store it away in a cool dry place (not your bathroom) to keep it away from light and constant room temperature changes. 

Scent

Passion Fruit Oil should have somewhat of a sorta of fruity scent.  It by far should not be overpowering like a Pina Colada scent, but it should have a very mild well...passion fruit scent.  However if it has no scent, then again put the bottle down.  No scent means its been filtered and/or cooked at some point which would render the product useless anyway.

Price

The million dollar question. Just how much does this 100% organic cold press unfiltered oil cost? You be surprised to find out...not much. A one ounce bottle should start on or about $6.00. However the price tag that Tarte is selling it for is just as outrageous as Josie Maran 1oz Argan Oil. This is an oil that you can find at any health food store or order it online.   As long as the product you are getting says the ingredients listed at above, then you should be fine.  Just because you order it online doesn't make it any better or worse then buying it in a store.  What you want to do is also research the company you are buying it from and make sure the product is legit.  Googling it, is what it really comes down to.   I bought a one ounce bottle for $6.00 from Garden of Wisdom online and I am more then happy with the product.  I recommend you look around before you blow unnecessary money for something that can be bought anywhere else in its purest form for a few dollars!

Keep Smiling!

Dayana

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Monday Madness: Sigma Beauty F80 Flat Kabuki Brush vs. Blank Canvas Cosmetics F20 Flat Buffer Brush

I love my Blank Canvas Cosmetics (BCC) makeup brushes!  I actually don't use anything else but them.  I have just about every brush from their collection and talk about them ALL the time!  I first heard of BCC when I was trying to buy Sigma Beauty brushes.  When it came time to cash out, I realized I was being charged a ridiculous amount of money to ship a few brushes to Canada.  So I canceled that order and went on the hunt for new brushes.  One day while watching youtube I saw Sinead from The Makeup Chair talking about their brushes.  So I checked them out and realized that a set of 15 brushes was costing me $6.00 bucks to ship.  SOLD! I bought them right away.  Funny thing was with Sigma I was going to spend $80 bucks till I saw the $30 dollar shipping charge.  With BCC I ended up spending $130 with shipping, taxes and all!

Nonetheless people constantly talk about Sigma's F80 Flat Kabuki Brush.  So being the curious person that I am, I went online to Amazon.com and bought the brush from one of their authorized dealers for the same price you can get it from Sigma's website but with no shipping charge.  SOLD!

So in this blog I am going to compare the two as I know people are always wondering the million dollar question.  Which one is better and/or are they comparable!

BCC F20 Flat Buffer Brush

BCC F20 brush comes in two colors.  Hot pink and black handle.  Some dared to call it a dupe of the Sigma F80 brush.  Let me tell you this is no dupe.  This is a stand alone brush that holds its own weight.   It has a dense head, strong soft bristles and hardly sheds if ever.  The brush retails for $21.30 CDN on their website.  

Sigma Beauty F80 Flat Kabuki Brush

The Sigma Beauty F80 Flat Kabuki Brush has a shorter handle, big dense bristle head and I haven't seen any shedding so far though I have washed it a few times now. The bristles are very soft to the touch and just like the BCC F20 brush, it doesn't pick up to much product so that it doesn't absorb to much into the brush. This brush retails for $21.00 US on their website.

Comparison

I decided to take an "arial" view of the brushes so you can see how they stack up.  The top one that looks unwashed (but really is clean) is the Sigma F80 and the bottom one is the BCC F20.  If you look closely, the Sigma F80 does have a denser head then the BCC F20 brush.  However after using both time and time again, I saw no difference in the final application of my foundation.  These both brushes are  made with the same Kabuki hair type material which allows you to get that airbrush look that you only see on the cover of a magazine.  While the Sigma brush is shorter then the BCC they both physical feel and handle the same.  While the Sigma bristles are longer then the BCC, nonetheless they both provided the same excellent service of applying foundation evenly and buffed in well.

However with all that being said, I would still buy the BCC F20 and here is why.  Shipping on the Sigma F80 brush cost me $8.00 and that is coming from the USA.  Shipping on the BCC F20 brush cost me $2.28 and that is coming from Ireland.  Come on people!! Somethings not right here when it cost more to ship across the border then it does from around the world!!  At the end of the day, if the price of shipping is going to cost me almost as much as another brush, then I might as well get my money's worth and go with a product that will offer me more for way less!!

Whatever brush you decide to buy will give you the same result, however I am sticking with my BCC F20. I currently own two of these and I have to say I am in love!!

Keep Smiling!

Dayana

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