Body Merry Retinol Surge Moisturizer Review

Body Merry Retinol Surge Moisturizer - $20.99

I received this product as part of an advertorial. 

I was recently contacted by Body Merry to try out and review their Retinol Surge Moisturizer.  This facial cream contains 2.5% retinol, hyaluronic acid, Vitamin E + B5, green tea; plus other great ingredients.  

I am a straight up beauty junkie and have tons of makeup and face creams lying around my bathroom counter.  However I get bored quickly.  While I understand that it takes time to see results, but I also can tell when something is not working or will cause issues to my sensitive skin.   The fact that this contains 2.5 retinol concerned me.  However in the name of beauty we try it all!! This cream came in perfect timing since the winter weather season is upon us.  However depending where you live, depends on how bad this dreadful cold winter causes damage to your skin.   I have been using this moisturizer for about 2-3 weeks and I must say I have seen some improvement.   

The cream comes in a plastic bottle with no see-through panel which is important.  Since retinol is Vitamin A in a less concentrated form (vs. retinoids), air and light cause it to break down.   Another plus point is that it comes in a pump form which is great to allow minimal air into the bottle and eliminates bacteria getting in from our hands.   I love anything pump form because I get the amount of product I need without the mess.  However what really sold me on this moisturizer (as if the other stuff I mentioned wasn't as awesome) is that its thicker than your average moisturizers, especially for this time of the year when your skin needs all the reinforcement it can get. 

After using this cream I noticed that my face feels softer and didn't feel dried out with this horrid winter weather!  My skin felt and looked more plumped out and very smooth.  I had no peeling or burning sensation that comes with using retinol.  It dried quickly so I was able to apply my makeup right after and it did not have a strong smell either. 

 It also works well if you layer a serums on your face before using this to get that extra punch.  Vitamin C serums works great to give retinol an added punch.  (Click here to read more about the added benefits of vitamin C).  However with all being said, when using any sort of retinol products you MUST use a sunscreen.  Retinol just like Vitamin C makes your face more sensitive to the sun.   If you are using any of these products and not protecting your face with sunscreen, you 1. are causing greater damage to your face 2. will actually get a sunburn and 3. will make any skin issue you have worse. 

 Fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and so on are also causes by sun exposure and not just aging or acne.   If you don't use a sunscreen that offers broadband protection (UVA and UVB) then don't buy this or anything else as you are just wasting your money and constantly will be reversing the work that these products are meant to do on your skin.  

Over all I was happy with the product and would recommend it to my beauties.

Stay Pretty & Forever Young!

Jenny

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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VoilaVe Total Youth Eye Gel Review

VoilaVe Total Youth Eye Gel - $21.95

I have been using VoilaVe skincare line since about the middle of this year and have not been disappointed one bit!  I was recently asked to review their Total Youth Eye Gel, and let me tell you it could not of come at a better time!

I am 33 years old, with three kids under the age of four and another one on the way which is due in March/April!  Needless to say I don't get much sleep....ever.  Since the day my first child was born I can't remember having a full night's rest without waking up constantly in the middle of the night to take care of one of my children.  Nonetheless no matter what type of parent you are and no matter how much you do for your kids, nothing can get you back your years that you lose due to lack of sleep.  Don't get me wrong I am use to working 14-16 hour shift as an intern and then as a therapist in my own practice. I know what its like to work 7 days a week around the clock,  sleep very little, eat very little and still look like you are in your twenties!  However all you need to do is become a parent to never sleep again!

I naturally, by genetics, have dark under eye circles.  My two year old daughter has them as well.  Normally with dark under eye circles, very little besides surgery can really correct that issues.  However puffiness, dull eye skin, swelling, wrinkles and redness can totally be helped if a great eye cream is applied to the area.  However with that being said, not all eye creams actually do what they claim to do.  Most eye creams are great moisturizers.   However if you are looking to correct under eye issues, then you need more then just a cream to see a difference in that area.   You actually need a cream that is load with certain type of ingredients that are clinically proven to show results.  

VoilaVe Total Youth Eye Gel is made with organic ingredients and contains plant stem  cells, matrixyl 3000 to help tighten and firm the skin, hyaluronic acid to help plump out the skin and diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles, cucumber and aloe to help smooth the skin and reduces puffiness and swelling, vitamin E; and other great ingredients to cause a difference underneath your eyes!

The product is bottled in an air tight and non see through pump which is great to help keep the product stable and free from bacteria that is transferred from our fingers to the cream when we stick our hands in jars.   It dispense just the right amount with one pump.  A little goes a long way since your under eye area is small.  

I used this product for about three weeks, and while it hasn't been able to get me back my years of lost sleep (can't have it all) it has been able to help reduce the swelling and puffiness around my eyes I get from water retention due to lack of sleep.  It has improved the looked of my starting crows feet around my eyes (gasp!!) and it has help plump out my skin and keep it conditioned and bright looking.  While my dark under eye circles will always exist, nonetheless lack of sleep just makes them look worse.  This under eye cream really has made a difference on my eyes!  It never stung my eyes, or had a smell to it.  It never irritated or burned my skin either.  I once tried an eye gel that peeled the skin underneath my eyes right off and turned them yellow!!  Needless to say, I am careful with any eye cream I try!  Thankfully this eye is formulated right with no adverse affects to my eyes.

I am grateful to see a company that is able to offer an eye cream that does just more than condition the skin.  This cream is truly worth the try if you ask me!

Keep Smiling!

Dayana

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VoilaVe Triple Action Vitamin C Serum

VoilaVe Triple Action Vitamin C Serum - $19.95 US

VoliaVe is an amazing company that I have had the privilege of working with by trying out their products the last few months! I am a total skincare junkie to the point where I am always on the look out for the next best quality product.  However throughout the years I have been greatly disappointed by a lot of high end and low end brands with their level of quality.  One thing I except from skincare companies is honesty and transparency with their ingredients on all their products.  I hate seeing companies that claim to be all natural, and yet upon a further look at their product list, you find things like alcohol, fragrances, witch hazel and fillers which really affect the health of your skin.

I particularly enjoy VoilaVe products because of their honesty and integrity to their consumers. So far all their products that I have used from them contain no alcohol, fillers, binders or fragrances (to name a new) in their bottles.  What you see and read is what you get.  Many of their products are certified organic, none are tested on animals and all their products are made in the USA.

I was recently sent a nice size bottle of their VoilaVe Triple Action Vitamin C Serum.  Now I was really curious in trying this out because I had never heard of a "triple action" vitamin C serum.  In my whole time of being a beauty blogger and learning about skincare products, I didn't really know how many different possible levels of vitamin C that existed.  Nonetheless VoliaVe was able to bottle this in one, PLUS it also contains hyaluronic acid which is awesome.  I remember thinking when I was waiting for this product in the mail "man if only it contained hyaluronic acid it would so totally rock!"  When I finally got the bottle and read the ingredients I was excited!!

This product comes in a long 1oz bottle in a pump action form which I thought was amazing.  You see, normally vitamin C comes (or should come) in the form of a dark opaque bottle with a droplet.  However the only problem with that, is that its a race against time before the vitamin C which is an antioxidant goes bad.  Normally you have about three months to use up a bottle of vitamin C before it loses it full effect.  So in this case bigger is not always better.  Antioxidants breakdown with light and air.  However VoilaVe vitamin C was packaged in a air tight pump action container with the companies logo and information wrapped around the bottle to protect it from light.  I thought this was brilliant because that meant I wasn't acting like a speed devil using useless amounts of vitamin C in order to finish it up quickly.  

The serum comes in a clear form and you honestly need only one drop for your whole face.  The pump action is very controlled so that a large amount does not dispense causing waste.  It glides on smoothly on the skin and absorbs quickly with no residue left behind.  This serum works great for those who have uneven skin tone, dryness and dull looking complexions. It helps with redness on the face and acne scars to name a few.  The hyaluronic acid helps to plump out the skin, diminish the looks of fine lines and wrinkles, and smooth out your skin.  VoilaVe also produces a Hyaluronic Acid on its own which is really worth looking into.  (Click here to read that review). 

After using this product for almost three weeks, I have to say I am totally pleased!  Everything this product claims to do it has done.  My face really feels the changes in the look and texture because of this product.  This products contains to even out my skin tone, reduce the redness around my nose and plump out my skin with a healthy looking glow!

 I have yet to end up with bad results or any allergic reaction from any of their products.  I honestly cannot say enough about this company and the amazing quality of products they put out.  I am thinking of self appointing myself as their official spokesperson in Canada! But shsss, don't tell them I said that!!  :-)

Keep Smiling!

Dayana             

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Dr Song 20% Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid + Vitamin E Review

Dr Song 20% Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid + Vitamin E $9.99 US

I received this product as part of an advertorial 

I’ve been looking for a vitamin C serum that I could commit to.  I have used many vitamin C serum in the past.  However, as soon as I found one negative thing about the product and I would be on the lookout  for the next best thing. I look for the convenience in everything I use because my time is so limited (Sad but true).  As much as I would love to invest hours on my beautiful face, the reality is I can't.  Now, with that said when I received the bottle of Dr. Song 20% vitamin C & E serum with Hyaluronic Acid I was skeptical to say the least.  However, I decided to give it a try and to my great surprise I instantly loved it!!! 

First, I can apply the perfect amount needed because it comes with a dropper and not a pump so no serum goes wasted or unused.   Secondly, as soon as I apply the serum to my face it takes seconds to dry which means I can apply my moisturizer or makeup without waiting. I also appreciate there’s no strong odor and it also applies nicely and doesn’t leave an oily feeling to my skin. 

After about a week of using this product I could really feel a difference.  My skin feels firmer and also looks vibrant! I know I love this product because I make it a habit to use it in the morning and at night after I wash my face.

I really like this product and will continue to use it till the bottle runs out!

Jenny

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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VoilaVe 100% Pure LH Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum

VoilaVe 100% Pure LH Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum - $24.95 US

When you end up getting two degrees from grad school (yes my friends, I am not just a pretty face but a pretty brain), the one thing you become good at is research.  My first internship landed me in a medical clinic where I worked for four years day in and day out seeing patients.  Working along side fellow colleagues (medical doctors) you learn all sorts of neat things.  From what types of meds you should take, should you ever catch a blood infection (thank God I listen that day, it saved my life two years later) down to all sort of stuff in dermatology.  In this area I truly listened and abused my colleagues for their knowledge (thank you Sam!).  

I get asked by companies all the time to do reviews on their skincare products and I turn down a lot of them.  Actually more than half.  The reason is because many of the ingredients that they have in their skincare lines suck.  I don't have any other nice grad school term to use here.  Again, after learning how to do proper research to graduate (twice) you realize that not everything that you put on your  face should be there.  I always ask a company FIRST for their list of ingredients before I agree to try out the product.  When VoilaVe contacted Everything Beauty and Beyond to first review their Argan Oil, I was truly impressed with the manufacturing of that product (click here to read that review).

When they asked me again to try out their VoilaVe LH Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum, it was like Christmas in August!  Since I started writing this blog I started research on all the "new" and "old" type of serums and oils that are currently on the market.  I realized that Hyaluronic Acid had some components that truly made me go "OMG I need to try that!!"   However the majority of the companies I researched that sold Hyaluronic Acid, sold it in some adulterated and perverted form that I was NOT willing to use on my face.  That is until VoliaVe contacted me!

Now what is Hyaluronic Acid you ask? Good question! Let me tell you!! Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is found naturally in the human body and seen in high dosages in babies.  Have you ever wondered why babies and small children always look like they have beautiful supple plumpy skin?  Well its because of the hyaluronic acid in their system. Its a major component of skin tissue that give babies this beautiful plushy effect.  Skin in general holds about fifty percent of your body’s hyaluronic acid in it. However as we get older we lose a lot of it and thus aging takes it toll.  Hyaluronic Acid plumps and moisturizes skin and helps to heal and comfort it when its suffered damage.  Hyaluronic Acid also prevent fine lines and wrinkles from forming and helps by retaining moisture in the skin and creating a cushion like effect to help plump out the lines as we age.  Needless to say, this is some good stuff!

However with all being said, HA only works when it formulated properly and is not diluted or adulterated with alochol, dyes or fragrances. VoilaVe Hyaluronic Acid serum is truly a work of science.  Their HA is formulated with low and high molecular structures which allow the serum to not only sit on the skin but to actually sink in.  It delivers a good amount of hydration to the skin by plumping it out and helping to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It contains no fillers, dilutions, parabens, alcohol (to many HA do), fragrances and is dye free.

When this arrived to my house I was so excited to use it.  I have only ever used one HA product for two weeks before I found out it had witch hazel and I threw it right out.  So trying this product was like a breath of fresh air in a HA world that I lost hope in!  It came in a dark bottle with a droplet.  The product was completely clear with no odor which I loved.  Again I don't believe fragrances or dyes should be in ANY skincare.  The consistency of the product reminder me almost of a hand sanitizer or clear gel soap.  It was very interesting to say the least.  Since it was a bit thick and slippery, all I needed was literally one drop for my entire face.  I was amazed at that.  Normally when I use Argan or Maracuja oil, I need at least two drops to cover my face and four drops for my Vitamin C serum.  So this was awesome that all it took was one drop to do it all!  Since this is not an oil but a serum, I didn't have any issues with greasiness, clogged pores or breakouts.  It dried very quickly on my face and by the time I hit the pillow it was well adsorbed into my skin. 

Now let's talk about results! You need AT LEAST 30 days for improvements to be seen.  I used it twice a day everyday for two weeks.  One drop in the morning and at night.  Since I take very good care of my skin and don't have any real wrinkles yet except on my forehead, I was amazed on how this made my skin feel.  It really plumped it out, made it smooth and soft like glass and really helped with my forehead.  That part really amazed me.   It even helped with certain dry spots I get on my skin on the side of my mouth from time to time.   

I actually plan on continuing to use this HA serum.  It is the best so far that I have found that is actually well formulated and meets all my standard do's and don't on skincare ingredients.  

I am very impressed with this company to say the least.  I still use their Argan Oil and even use it on my two year old daughters hair when I wash it!  So if you are in the market for a new Hyaluronic Acid serum, then for sure give this company a try!

Keep Smiling!

Dayana

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Day by Day Beauty Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Day by Day Beauty Hyaluronic Acid Serum - $18.50

Disclosure: I got this product as part of advertorial

I have been dying to try hyaluronic acid (HA) for the longest but was afraid of all the companies that add fillers and binders to it. So when Day by Day Beauty contacted Everything Beauty and Beyond to try out their product, I was happy. However with that being said, I first read the ingredient list before trying it out. This serum comes infused with Vitamin C and E in a small size bottle. Vitamin C is awesome as a topical serum for the face and have many lovely properties to it. (If you want to learn more about Vitamin C then click here for my review on vit c!) It comes with a security seal at the top of the bottle plus the pump is enclosed in a plastic bag for leak proof shipping.

The serum is gel like with a clear color. It has very little to no order and doesn't feel greasy or heavy after application. The bottle I will admit is small, but a little does go a look way. Since it is a gel like consistency, it glides over your face with no problem and spreads easy and thinly.

Now for all those who have no clue what hyaluronic acid is, allow me to elaborate. Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is found naturally in the human body and seen in high dosages in babies. Ever wondered why babies and small children always look like they have beautiful supple plumpy skin? Well its because of the hyaluronic acid in their system. Its a major component of skin tissue that give babies this beautiful plushy effect. Skin in general holds about fifty percent of your body’s hyaluronic acid in it. However as we get older we lose a lot of it and thus aging takes it toll. Hyaluronic Acid plumps and moisturizes skin as well as it helps to heal and comfort it when its suffered damage. Hyaluronic Acid also prevent fine lines and wrinkles from forming and helps by retaining moisture in the skin and creating a cushion like effect to help plump out the lines as we age.

I have been using this serum for almost three weeks now and I have to say I'm amazed by the benefits I have gotten from it. This serum helps to even out skin tone, plump up the skin and give a nice glowy complexion. It didn't irritate my face and the smell which was very light and faint dissipated very quickly.

The ONLY thing I didn't like about this serum is that it contains witch hazel and if you read my blog you know I don't like using anything with witch hazel in it. Witch hazel and alochol dry out the skin and in my opinion have no place in skincare products. However I will give the company the benefit of the doubt for the moment. They do put ALL the ingredients right on their bottle so they are responsible in making the customer away of what they are getting which I highly respect. I have big issues with companies who hide their product ingredients.  So for sure they get a gold star in that area for me!

Nonetheless, I believe there are better products out there to substitute for witch hazel. So while this product is great, I am not sure I would re-buy it simply because of the witch hazel. However everything else sold me!  So if you don't mind having witch hazel in your skincare products, then this surely is for you!

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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Product of The Week: Poppy Austin Vitamin C Serum

Poppy Austin Vitamin C Serum - $29.95 US 

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

First let me start by saying I LOVE anything that Poppy Austin makes. So when Poppy Austin contacted Everything Beauty and Beyond to try out their Vitamin C serum I literally almost cried. And I am not saying that because they sent me a free bottle of Vitamin C.  Before I was even contacted by them I was already using their Argan Oil for my face and hair and loved it!! I love them because 1. They sell the real deal. Their products (vitamin C and Argan Oil) are all natural with nothing added or taken away.  2. The dollar amount for the size of product you get is amazing!  Their Argan oil for example is priced at $29.00 US versus their competitor which is $85 US for a much smaller bottle! Ok back to the Vitamin C review here!

One thing that I love about this product is that it contains Hyaluronic Acid.  Now I know a bunch of you out there use face serums and creams and have absolutely no clue what you are putting on your face. tsk tsk! You should ALWAYS read the back of the packaging label and google what the main ingredients are before applying it on your face.  Things like witch hazel, alochol, parabens, fragrances and perfume should never be applied to face or found in your facial products.  This are all signs of potential irritants for your skin.

So when I saw that Poppy Austin Vitamin C serum also had hyaluronic acid and jojoba oil I knew I had to try it.  When it arrived to my house I started using it every morning after my skincare routine but before I applied my sunscreen and makeup.  I have to say my skin looks and feels amazing.  I noticed that I was getting fine lines forming on the top of my forehead (gasp!!) and was trying desperately to get rid of them.  When I started using this product, I noticed that they diminished a bit and really looked less noticeable.  While we all know that nothing you do (expect a face lift) will get rid of lines and wrinkles, however there are things we can use like hyaluronic acid that can really help to mask them.  And yes this works like any other product; if you stop using it then your lines will 're-appear'.  So lets talk about the ingredients.  

Hyaluronic Acid is found naturally in the human body and seen tremendously in babies.   Ever wondered why babies and small children always look like they have beautiful supple plumpy skin?  Well its because of hyaluronic acid.  Its a major component of skin tissue that give babies this effect.  Skin in general holds about fifty percent of your body’s hyaluronic acid in it.  However as we get older we loss a lot of it and thus aging takes it toll.  Hyaluronic Acid  plumps and moisturizes skin as well as it helps to heal and comfort it when its damaged. Hyaluronic Acid also prevent fine lines and wrinkles from forming and helps the skin by retaining moisture and creating a cushion to help plump them out as we age.

Another thing that I love about this product as stated earlier is that it contains jojoba oil.  Jojoba oil is actually not an oil but a wax ester.  Because it is a wax ester it is hypothesized that jojoba oil is very comparable to human skin oil which manipulates the skin into thinking it has produced enough and balances out oil production.  Thus helping to give you only the added oil you need for your face and stopping the over production of sebum.  It is also not an antioxidant so it won't expire or go bad in a few months.  It is stable in that regard.  It also adsorbs well into the skin and doesn't leave it sticky, greasy or just plain nasty. 

Finally, the seller for me here was the Vitamin C.  Vitamin C is an antioxidant that is used to protect and help the face from wrinkles, sun damage, signs of aging, dark spots and brighten your complexion amongst other great benefits. Vitamin C can also help to prevent or treat hyperigmentation, defend against free radicals and brighten your skin. However with all the advantages of vitamin C, the only draw back is that because it is an antioxidant, it oxidizes itself very quickly and once this happens, it is no longer good. You will be able to tell by the color when this happens to your product. It normally starts off clear and then turns yellow.   

Poppy Austin has created an awesome youtube which clearly explains this products and the benefits of it.  Check out their Vitamin C Serum video on YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87qfKFHZmIQ.  However, you can also click below and watch directly from this blog!  In any case, it is extremely informative on what to look for when buy vitamin C serum and/or hyaluronic acid!!

Based on all these amazing properties is while I love love this product.  That and the product comes in a serum form in a dark bottle with a droplet in order to help it for oxidizing and bacteria.  Once Vitamin C hits air and light it starts to breakdown, so its good to see that Poppy Austin nailed it by packaging it correctly!

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.  Feel free to click here on my blog all about vitamin  C and how to properly care for your skin when using this product.

Lastly (and I swear this time) Vitamin C can be used by men and women.  So go ahead guys...give it a try! You won't regret it!

I just love Poppy Austin and plan to try out more of their products! 

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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