trudiannracquel

Category: two-minute reviews

  • Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Cream

    This is one of two eye creams I’ve ever used. I have been using it religiously since the beginning of October. As of writing this blog post on the last day of February I have just started to see the bottom of the container.

    The Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Cream also has vitamin C, which, if you’ve read my previous blog post about the Sephora Vitamin C Serum, you know I credit Vitamin C to helping fade my dark acne marks. It also contains collagen, which according to this article is suitable for maintaining elasticity. At 0.5 ounces, it’s probably the most expensive part of my morning skincare. It costs $56, but I guess it’s worth it if you only purchase it two or three times per year.

    It doesn’t have a smell. And the texture is like Jergens Lotion (which is a weird comparison). It’s not thick and it spreads super easily. Immediately after applying, it leaves my under eyes illuminated and moisturized. And if I tap under my eyes after about 30 minutes, it feels very soft and smooth. I haven’t paid attention to its behaviour under concealer because I haven’t worn concealer in months.

    According to the Sephora website, it’s good for anti-aging (I’m 30, but I’m also Black, so…), dryness, dark circles and dullness/uneven texture.

    As you saw in the video, I applied it with my index finger and rubbed it with my ring finger. I heard that this was the most gentle pressure you can apply, and the skin under your eyes is very sensitive to pressure. I also bring it above my eyelids and to my brow bone. According to this random skincare post, I made a mistake by applying it to my eyelids.

    If you want to check out a post that’s supposed to be dermatologist-approved on how to correctly apply eye cream, check this out.

    Overall, I give this a 2.5/5. It’s expensive, and there are probably other ones that will give me the same results (or even) better for cheaper. I’ve seen countless ones on the Sephora website, at the drugstore and even in Walmart. I will probably try another one when this is done. If you have any recommendations, let me know in a comment!

  • SEPHORA Glow Serum: Glow + Strengthen Vitamin C Serum

    This serum has been a skincare staple since I discovered it last year. It has helped to lighten the dark marks on my cheeks, and I have been struggling with those for several years. I used to have acne all along my jawline and anything with Vitamin C has helped tremendously.

    The SEPHORA Vitamin C Serum costs $ 27 CAD for 1 ounce and as you can see in the demo below, you don’t need much to cover your entire face. A little goes a long way. I use about three drops each morning for my entire face and it’s an excellent base for any moisturizers you layer on top. It’s one of the more affordable options for skincare on the Sephora site.

    According to the website, it’s great for dryness, which I can confirm since the lower half of my face is dry. It also contains Vitamin E and claims to help increase radiance and even skin tone. Suitable for all skin types, it boasts a vegan and clean tag on Sephora, an added bonus if you have sensitive skin. It has no weird smells and leaves your skin slightly sticky (which I believe is what most serums do). I use it after face wash but before any moisturizers.

    Overall, I give it a 5/5. Affordable and efficient. If you have any other vitamin c serums that you use religiously that’s helped darkness, let me know in a comment below.

  • TULA – The Cult Classic Purifying Face Cleanser

    I got this as a sample from one of my many Sephora orders sometime last year. I decided to try it because I ran out of my regular face cleanser and didn’t feel like purchasing anything yet. I’m also trying to finish all my skincare samples before committing to new ones because…they expire, and I didn’t know!

    The TULA Cult Classic Face Cleanser has a very…clean smell. The first time I used it, I thought to myself, “this smells like a chemical.” It smells like regular bar soap, but eventually you get used to it.

    It’s lasted me about three weeks so far, and this tiny sample is one fluid ounce. The smallest size you can purchase is 1.67 fluid ounces, which is not too bad. I think it lasts such a short time because I use it morning and night. I’m guessing that the smallest size and only using it as your morning cleanser would stretch it to about 3 months worth of product. At $16CAD, that’s not too bad, in my opinion. That is like the price of something you get at Walmart.

    I have combination, acne-prone skin. Everything from my cheekbones up is super oily everything below is dry in the wonter and normal in the summer. It’s advertised as suitable for oily, dry, combo and normal skin, and I would agree. After about 30 minutes without moisturizer though, it does get a bit drying.

    Overall, I give it 3.75/5 stars. I think it’s great for those just starting to dip their toes in the skincare game. I think it kept my acne at bay, it didn’t dry me out too much and it worked well with the rest of my skincare routine.

    In a comment, let me know if you’ve tried this before and your experience! If you hated it, which simple face cleanser has been your saviour? I’m always looking for good recommendations.