Vichy Purete Thermale Soothing Cleansing Milk

I bought this while on the hunt for a gentle cleanser that could also remove makeup. After having tried and loved Vichy's Idealia Life Serum (review here), I decided to go with this cleanser, as it was a company I was slightly familiar with. The Vichy section at Shoppers had a ton of different cleansers, but I ultimately went with this Dry/Sensitive Skin version.

Vichy's Purete Thermale Soothing Cleansing Milk claims to "perfectly cleanse and remove face make-up, leaving skin soothed, soft, and comfortable. Tested on sensitive skin, allergy tested, non-comedogenic, non-greasy, paraben free, and respects skins pH." Looking on their website, it seems they have slightly reformulated this cleanser or have a different version for the USA which includes shea butter plant extracts, and vitamin C, however mine does not.

Thoughts: One thing I love about this is that it did not irritate or break out my skin. It is very gentle on my face and leaves my face feeling clean and moisturized. It's as if it is cleansing the skin without stripping the natural oils from your face. This cleanser claims to remove makeup while cleansing the face. While it does remove foundation, it takes quite a few cotton pads and some time, so I'd recommend taking off makeup first. I like to remove my makeup with makeup wipes or micellar solutions first, then use this as a final step. It is like a milk/cream cleanser, and is meant to be used dry with a cotton pad. But I actually like to use it as a regular face wash. I just massage it into my face, and then rinse it off with water. I feel like it leaves a residue when not washed off, so I feel obligated to do so. Ooh, I also like that the bottle includes an expiry date! It was very helpful at the time of purchase.

Ingredients: "WATER • GLYCERIN • ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE • ISOPROPYL PALMITATE • BUTYLENE GLYCOL • ISODODECANE • PEG-100 STEARATE • CARBOMER • GLYCERYL STEARATE • SODIUM HYDROXIDE • PHENOXYETHANOL • CHONDRUS CRISPUS (CARRAGEENAN) • DISODIUM EDTA • CAPRYLYL GLYCOL • XANTHAN GUM • MYRTRIMONIUM BROMIDE • CETYL ALCOHOL • FRAGRANCE"

I would definitely recommend this for sensitive or easily dried out skin, as long as you do not react to fragrance. I purchased this on sale for I believe, about $15 +tax. I believe the regular price is about $18-20 which I think is reasonable for a gentle cleanser. It has lasted me quite a while (since the beginning of winter, I believe) and I have only gotten a little more than halfway through it.

Metallic Eyes Spring Giveaway [Closed]

Going through my stash of beauty stuff, I realize I own quite a few palettes that I have hoarded and left in my drawer, just sitting around untouched. So even though spring hasn't quite started here, I'm going to start it off with a small eyeshadow themed giveaway! 

The winner will receive:

• MAC Guilty Passions Pigment Set: 4 Tenderly Warm Crushed Metallic Pigments: Ever Elegant, Silk Stocking, Darling Coquette, Rose Light
• Lorac Multiplex 3D Eye Shadow Palette

The giveaway is open worldwide! I wanted to be able to finally give everyone a chance to win, as my previous giveaways have been held within Canada only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Terms & Conditions: Open worldwide. Please make sure your country regulations allow for the importation of these products. I am not responsible for lost/damaged items, but I will be as careful as I can in the shipment process. Must be of legal age or have parental permission. Must follow me on either GFC or Bloglovin to be eligible. Winner must respond within 72 hours (3 days) or another winner will be chosen.

Good Luck! :)

Garnier Fructis Damage Eraser Review

A couple of weeks ago I received this surprise box from Influenster & L'Oreal (shown below)! In the box came 3 tiny, unbranded bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and split-end serum. Us Canadians that received the box were instructed to test out the 3 bottles, and guess what brand it was! For those of you that don't know, L'Oreal actually owns many brands both domestically and internationally. L'Oreal's haircare brands consist of Garnier, Kerastase, Redken, Matrix, Pureology, and of course, L'Oreal.

Garnier Fructis Damage Eraser: Shampoo, Conditioner, Split-End Serum/Bandage, & Strength Reconstructing Butter

I originally had no idea the mystery brand was Garnier until a huge box appeared on my doorstep! I had only speculated it to be Garnier, because of guesses on Twitter. For some reason, the products were so much fun to test in the tiny bottles when the brand was unknown!

Packaging & Scent: So the first thing that I love and have to point out is the packaging. The bright orange bottles and metallic green font is easy to spot, and one can definitely tell it is a new product. I do wish the Strength Reconstructing Butter came in the same kind of bottle as the Spit-End Serum though.... using those tubs in the shower is a tricky one for me. I am also in love with the scent and colour of this line. They all have the same tropical fruity scent, and are coloured a very pale yellow, like the inside of a banana!

Benefits & Claims: Ok so what are the real benefits of this line? The Damage Eraser line is intended to reconstruct hair strength by 90% from root to tip and prevent future damage with Phyto-Keratin Complex, and Cupuacu Butter. Looking at the ingredients list, I like that this product contains actual oils and proteins to help strengthen your hair and protect it.

My Experience: When using these products, I didn't really notice much of a difference in comparison to other standard hair care products (wow, am I bad at reviewing hair products?). I did notice a bit of frizz when using the Reconstructing Butter however. I loved using the Split-End Serum; my ends felt smoother, but not greasy or weighed down at all. Having dyed hair, I didn't notice any colour bleeding when using this shampoo as compared to others, which is good, and I see it as being gentle for your hair. Something that I wish this product had, would be volume! My hair was lacking volume after using the shampoo, which is something that will probably prevent me from using this on a daily basis. Of course, you could always use a volumizing spray/mousse after the shower to make up for the lack of volume. The Reconstructing Butter is a much thicker version of the conditioner, and I'd suggest using it as a replacement for the conditioner, every other week or so.

Overall, I enjoyed using the Damage Eraser line and would think about repurchasing when I am finished using up these products. I like that the line is affordable, and easy to find, but also contains beneficial ingredients. I also support the fact that they are using new "Eco-Fructis Bottles" that contain 30% recycled plastic and can be recycled after use!

Ooh, and all the products in this post are currently on sale at well.ca for $5.99 each! 

I received these products from Influenster & Garnier. My opinion is always 100% honest no matter what.