Jafra Royal Jelly

I'll admit - I never heard of Jafra before this opportunity came in front on me on CrowdTap. But as I dug in and did a little research, I found it had a lot of rave reviews. This gave me high hopes, and got me excited to try this new (to me) regimen out!

I read through all the materials when I received my package. I received five of the Royal Jelly products; Gentle Cleansing Milk, Spot Serum w/vitamin C, Global Longevity Eye Crème, Royal Jelly Global Longevity Crème, and Royal Jelly Solar Protection Fluid. So, I received a whole new regimen to try out for 30 days (or longer, if I desire).

So, it's been 30 days. I have mixed feelings about this regimen. Maybe I set the bar too high for a 30 day run. Or maybe it's just over-hyped. It's probably somewhere between those two scenarios. So I'm going to run though each product with my thoughts, as briefly as possible. This is not to say everyone has this experience... just look at my blog subtitle.

First off, the Cleansing Milk. I get that it's a GENTLE Cleansing Milk. But I didn't feel like it was cleaning at all. Maybe I've gotten used to those cleansers that foam, tingle, or otherwise feel 'soapy' as they clean. The Cleansing Milk is SO thick, though! It felt more like I was massaging some sort of mask on, then rinsing it off. It didn't feel like it was cleaning, so much as it was just treating. I found myself wanting to cleanse with something else, before using this (but I resisted). So this was not a favorite product for me.

Next on the regimen was the Spot Serum. This one, I liked. At least in the way it went on. It went on so light, and absorbed almost instantly, without feeling sticky! Big plus in my book - I find so many serums that feel sticky! So it was super easy to apply, and didn't feel like it impeded the other cremes going on next. Now, was far as results go, the 30 days didn't give me noticeable improvements. But to be fair, I am a fair skinned, freckly girl, and have been since I was really little. This serum does claim to help prevent future spots, so it may be doing something unseen. I'll likely keep going through this bottle, at least, and see where it gets me.

The Longevity Eye Crème goes on next for me. I've been using an eye creme of another brand for years, and like to think it's why my under-eye area doesn't look worse. So I'm a believer in Eye Cremes. This one, I think I even saw some actual improvements, though minor, in my fine lines under my eyes. But there is one negative I found with this creme... if it's hot out, it melts (for lack of a better term). When I first used it, we were still having some nice spring weather - not too hot. But the later part of my trial, we were getting near 90's, and if I so much as started to glisten, I found my eyes starting to burn. I've never had this happen before!! On days when I was indoors all day, I was fine. But if I was in the heat, without fail, it would happen. So not sure how you want to take that piece of info... personally, I'd like to use this eye creme some more... but maybe only on days I know I'm inside?

The biggest surprise for me was the Global Longevity Crème. It's a true creme, in its form - comes in a little tub and is very thick. But it goes on very light! It has a very pleasant scent, as well, which since this goes on your entire face and neck, is a good thing. It absorbs relatively quickly, and for me, left a dewy look to my skin. I'm not a fan of the dewy look, but if I'm going to bed or just hanging around the house, I can leave it like that. Results weren't too measurable for me... but again, maybe 30 days isn't enough?

Finally, the Solar Protection Fluid. My biggest qualm with this is that it's not multi-functional. Well, not in the way I'm used to - like as part of the Longevity Creme, rather than a separate step. It does claim to also help with existing sun damage, but again, I haven't been able to see much spot reduction yet. That said, I do LOVE that this is SPF 50! It's very lightweight and easy to apply - almost too easy! The first time I applied too much and have a white face with the extra lotion! You truly only need a little bit, and that would get my whole face, my ears, and I'd wipe the extra still on my chest and/or shoulders. This is an easy add, no matter the brand of regimen you have. Not many have as high as an SPF 50 rating, so if you take one thing from this blog, take that.

So... mixed bag of feelings. And I do believe the results are due to my skin type and issues (oilier, lots of freckles, etc). This particular blog entry rings true of my subtitle... this is MY opinion, and my results probably differ from yours. That said, if you can sample this, it might be worth your while - this can be an expensive line of products to buy if you're not sure. But for a brand I never heard of before this, I was pleasantly surprised with what I did get.

Uplifting Miracle Worker by Philosophy

I had the opportunity to try Uplifting Miracle Worker by Philosophy over the past couple of weeks, thanks for CrowdTap.

I'll be the first to admit, I'm always skeptical about various creams like this... so many promises, but how many will be met? I know Philosophy is a good brand - I've used some of their 'fun' seasonal products around Christmas, like the peppermint wash. But it wasn't until recently that I really started to freak out about the way my face was starting to look more aged. I use a good lotion... but not one that 'treats' specifically... just something to keep it glowing healthy. And for those purpose, it has worked. So to try something to help uplift some of the problem areas I'm seeing... well, that was a no brainer to try out.

So I started using this cream early in the month. It didn't replace anything in routing, rather, I added it to my nightly ritual. To start, it felt really good going on. It didn't take much for full facial and neck coverage, which make the price tag more bearable, because this will last for awhile, using it daily. I know the price tag has made me shy away from trying new products! Second thing I notice was the cool feeling you get initially - just like it says on the jar - cool-lift! It even has a nice, fresh, clean scent that was just light enough to hit the senses, So my initial thoughts were pretty positive on it.

Fast forward a couple of week. I'd love to say I saw overwhelming results. But with most products, the 'real' results aren't instant. But I am seeing some slight changes that, without me trying to find something, I might miss. For example, I feel like each night I apply, my skin feels a little tighter than the night before. I also see a slight reduction in the size of my pores on either side of my nose... this is a big deal for me, because this was one of the things I recently noticed was seemingly worse than it was when I was younger.

Final verdict? I like this stuff. I'm going to keep it in my routine, because I'm anxious to see what other results will come through. And maybe I'll even add it to my morning routine, in addition, which it says you can do... or I'll just keep it in my night routine. We'll see. One thing I can say to those out there debating, though... don't let the price scare you off. This one is worth the try, for the price.

Aveeno® Ultra Calming® Nourishing Night Cream

In recent years, I've become a bigger fan of the Aveeno brand. Not that I didn't like the brand before... just really never tried it until I was able to sample some products through CrowdTap. I've even gotten my husband on one of their shampoos - it's the only one he likes to use now!

That said, my most recent 'try me!' opportunity came in the form of their Ultra Calming Nourishing Night Cream. I've tried night creams before, but it's just not a habit I've quite gotten into - which is bad. I always felt like they were too heavy for me. Well, as fate would have it, right before I received my sample in the mail, I had this rough, dry patch of skin area on my cheek, due to the change in weather and turning on the heat. It was annoying, more than anything, but it was also the perfect opportunity to try this stuff out!

One thing I can say, is that if I can feel a product doing something when I put it on, I will be much more likely to continue to use it. With any product, I feel like true visual effects are hard to see on yourself, since you see the change occur so gradually But if you can feel something happening... well, I can that something to pay attention to. And that was the case when I out on this face lotion... un not just the dry area referenced above, in other areas, I fell it almost tingle, if you well... basically, feel it absorbing, as it didn't leave my face with a heavy lotion feel.

And after using it for about a week or so, the dry, rough spot was gone! So I would call that a successful trial run! This is a lotion I could get behind to use nightly. It didn't exactly what I hoped it would do, without and of the side issues I don't want. Avenue wins again!

Kleenex Pocket Packs

Sometimes it's the little things...

True story... A group of coworkers and Ii were going out to lunch when right when we got there, one of them sneezed and, well, more came out of her nose than she would've liked. Thankfully, I had a Kleenex Pocket Pack in my car to give her really quick before anyone (but me) noticed. She was beyond grateful, and that moment alone made having them worthwhile.

I say that because at times, when cleaning out my car, i thought about taking them out. When was I going to need them. I cold always just grab a napkin somewhere. But I'd always end up throwing them back in the console somewhere.

Kleenex Pocket Packs have been around for as long as I can remember. But they've revamped them a bit... brightened up the packaging and gave them some fun blurbs on them. Just some little things to make you smile when you need one... or need to give one to someone else. And make them smile. My little story above is a perfect example of why they exist, too... just those moments when you need to share a little love!

So take it from someone who has first hand help someone in need with the simple gift of a tissue... it's such a small thing to keep on hand, but it can make a huge different for someone one day!

Vichy Idealia

Let me start by saying I'm a Vichy fan. I've only tried the basic stuff up until this point, and it's just one of those brands that feels refreshing going on. The products I've used are light and smell awesome!

That said, when I had the opportunity to try Vichy's Idealia, I was pretty excited and probably set the bar a little higher than I typically would for a new product. Now, to be up front, I don't have a lot of what I would consider extreme issue with my skin. I have some freckled cheeks and the occasional hormonal breakouts... and sure, some annoyances to me that other wouldn't consider issues. But nothing crazy.

So I did an 8-Day challenge, using Vichy Idealist morning and night. The product, itself, just like other products by Vichy, was very nice... felt good, smelled awesome, and almost refreshed my face as I put it on. It was a nice scent to fall asleep to, which was a bonus for me.

I took some pictures before and after... but the pictures don't really convey the results, I think. Which, while were evident to me, may not be evident to others. In other words, it wasn't an immense change for me - mostly a texture and feel to my skin. This does not make it a failure. I think, in the big scheme of things, it's a good product. And, quite honestly, if I used it longer, I might see more results. Or, if I had some reoccurring redness or dark spots or dullness, it probably helps greatly. But I didn't have those issues when I tried it.

So... my overall thoughts on it... like all Vichy products I've tried, it has all the elements of a great product, meaning it goes on the skin great and can fit right in your routine easily. This one is likely more beneficial if you have the dark spots, dullness, etc. on your face and it's a concern to you. If you don't have a lot of those types of issues, you might be disappointed in the visual results (minimal), but that does not mean you're not getting results from the inside out. For the price you pay, just make sure you understand what you expect the results to be. Regardless, I don't think it would be a bad thing to have as part of your routine.

LaRoche-Posay Effaclar DUO

Something clicked with my hormones recently that has caused my skin to go crazy - oily, dry, breaking out like I never did even as a teenager... it has sucked!! why was my tried and true skin care routine no longer working for me?? So I've been on a search for something to help me out. I wasn't ready to go the medical route, since there are so many over the counter items, but I also didn't want to spend money on a product I didn't know about.

Luckily, I have found the wonderful world of free samples can, once again, fill this void of knowledge. And in this particular quest, I found LaRoche-Posay Effaclar DUO. This has even won awards this year, so there's even a backing (besides me) out there.

I had quite a few doubts since before this particular product, I had tried a few others, which just weren't good enough. They either dried out my skin too much, or just didn't work (up to my standards, at least). None have been anything worth writing about, good or bad. Until now. One use overnight and I saw a dramatic difference! ONE USE! I used the sample up and was quickly on the search to buy this product. Though in the week long use of the sample, I did learn I couldn't use it the recommended 'up to' of 2 times a day (morning and night). But as long as I stuck with the directed 'thin layer' before I went to bed, it worked great!

So this is a must buy if you have issues with breaking out, even in short bursts. It's not the cheapest thing on the market, but you only need such a little bit of it (pea sized) for each use, the tube should last for awhile!

Osmotics Cosmeceuticals Blue Copper 5 Firming Elasticity Repair

We all wish for 'a miracle overnight' when it comes to our facial skin tone and appearance. If we could only stay young forever!

We hear about various elements and minerals that are good for our skin. Osmotics Cosmeceuticals Blue Copper 5 Firming Elasticity Repair brings that to us (if we desire). This anti-aging moisturizer is packed with skin-repairing powerhouses. Copper PCA jumpstarts collagen synthesis, which is proven to decline as we age. Antioxidants like vitamins A and E, along with powerful carnosine combat harmful free radicals to prevent future aging while helping your skin retain moisture for a dewy, soft, line-free complexion. Plus, allantoin soothes and calms irritated complexions, making this cream great for rosacea sufferers. But does it really work?

While I don't have a lot of the aging issues yet (I like to think my skin care regimen has something to do with NOT seeing those deep wrinkles yet), I can say it did give a very dewy look when I woke up after the first night. And my skin did feel softer after just one use. But the one thing I couldn't quite wrap my hands around was the scent... the copper infusion treatment smells like, well, copper!

So this is something you may want to make a judgement for yourself, if you're up for spending some cash. But what girl doesn't want to spend a little money to make her skin look better? It just depends on where you're at in the need for it. Not a bad product, by all means... I'm just not ready for it!

Boscia BB Cream

BB creams see to be the latest rage in beauty. In general, they've been out there for awhile, seemingly becoming popular in Asia before hitting it big in the US. Their popularity has soared because, lets face it, we love products that do more than one thing!

Boscia BB Cream touts that it has a botanical, more natural formula. Which is good, right? Like many BB Creams, it creates a lustrous, flawless finish as it hydrates, firms and soothes the skin. It also helps diminish the appearance of pores, fine lines and uneven skin tone while providing long-wearing, natural coverage that conceals imperfections. That last part is key... this one actually DOES conceal. It's a self adjusting shade that is *supposedly* good for all skin tones... I can't make the call on that, but this is what I can tell you... it does work.

The one oddity I found about this was that it's almost too thick - it doesn't spread easily, at least initially. It stays think, i n patches, until you rub over it a few more time than you'd expect you'd have to. It does cover great, though! But since it covers, it feel like it covers. It doesn't feel as lightweight as I'd like. So I guess what it comes down to is whether or not you need the full coverage. If so, this is a good BB Cream for you. If you don't have any flaws to hide, something with less coverage might need to be found elsewhere for you.

Stila One Step Bronze

There are so many primers and creams and tinted moisturizers and such on the market that it can get confusing on what to put on your face first. It can also be intimidating to try something new, especially if it strays much from your normal routine.

Stila has become a brand I like to try new things from (at least to me). There stuff seems to be innovative without being too crazy and intimidating. This latest find, however, was one of the more 'edgy' ones, at least for me. Stila One Step Bronze just looks intimidating, to start. All sorts of bronze colors swirled in a clear liquid. What is this stuff??

Well, it does a lot, it seems. Get this... this revolutionary new formula contains three illuminating bronzers: Matte bronze with copper undertone - to bronze, Bronze with pink undertone - to enhance skin tone and illuminate, and Kitten - to brighten, illuminate and help diminish the appearance of sun spots. But even further along, this primer, illuminating, bronzing, color-correcting skincare serum contains Stila's Youth Revival Bio-Available Mineral Complex that instantly: Reduces imperfections, Improves skin texture, Diminishes the look of fine lines & wrinkles, Minimizes pores, Hydrates, balances and nourishes the skin, and Controls oil production.

Wow... that's a mouthful! In short, though, it's almost like a BB Cream. But not quite. There's something slightly lighter about it. The first time I used it, I used too much and quickly learned that one quick pump is plenty! It give that dewy, sun-kissed look without covering up your skin with a layer of color. In other words, it doesn't conceal. But it doesn't claim to, either.

This is one of those products that grew on me. The first time I used it (too much of it), I shook my head and put it on the shelf for a bit before using it again. But once I figured out how much to use and how to make it work with my make-up routine, I became sold on the little extras it did. This is worth it if you have the space in your routing for it, even if it's not everyday.

LA Fresh Eco Beauty Facial Cleanser

Convenience is the way of our society nowadays. While every girl knows it's important to wash your face every night and get all you make-up off before going to bed, we all can get a little rushed, or just lazy. So whenever I see an opportunity to short cut, I have to check it out.

One sure way to cut some time off of the night time ritual is a make-up remover in a wipe form. The LA Fresh Facial Cleanser wipes do just that. Truth be told, I don't that there's much difference between these and other make-up remover wipes on the market. But regardless, these are a great thing to have on hand.

One big plus LA Fresh has is the fact that they sell packages of individual wrapped wipes. This makes for a great way to travel without getting bogged down with bottles of beauty care. For that reason alone, this become high on my list of 'good buys' that I have... and the price is right, too.

BeFine Gentle Cleanser

I've had the opportunity to try a few different BeFine products now, which I've loved, but the BeFine Gentle Cleanser left me wanting more.

It has several claims of helping rejuvenate you skin and such, which may be all well and true, but it was like water. Literally. Typically, cleaners foam or come in a gel or lotion/creme like form that you can see as it goes on and feel it as you cleanse - some sort of texture. But this... it had the consistency of water and I couldn't tell when I have put it on my face or if I still had some left in/on my hands. Which really bummed me out.

On the plus side, it smelled nice and it did leave a nice tingle on the skin... but even with that, I wasn't left satisfied my skin was cleansed. So I gotta say, unless I just got a bad sample, I can't say I'd recommend this particular product, even though everything else I've tried from BeFine has been awesome.

Simple Refreshing Facial Wash Gel

There's a lot of products out there claiming that they doing it better than the other guy - we all know that. Then you have the group that says it's good for those with sensitive skin. Shouldn't all facial care products be good for sensitive skin? Apparently not. But recently, a new line of products have hit the market in the US called Simple. Sounds simple, right?

I have a theory that we have become over obsessed with how a product is 'supposed to' feel. Case in point - in order for a face wash to be effective, your skin should be taut after you rinse. Or you should feel it tingling as you wash. I don't think this is really the case, though... and in order to really test Simple Refreshing Facial Wash Gel, you need to break away from that thought process. And I say this from experience.

When I first used it, I felt nothing while I washed, and nothing after I rinsed. So initially, my thought was, "This stuff doesn't do anything!" Of course, I didn't end it there. I still used it to get a good sense of how it worked. And that's when I realized we've been brainwashed as to how we *think* we know something's working. If one of our senses doesn't sense something, then of course it's not working, right?

Wrong. After a few times using it, I actually did notice something... my skin was a bit softer and a lot less irritated. Go figure! And I felt nothing along the way! Score!

Luckily, they gave me a big enough sample to last awhile... but I think I might stash it and use that for travel. This just might be worth enough of buying a full size before the sample's gone!

Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution

I have lots of freckles on my face. I've had freckles for as longs as I can remember. I think it just came with being blonde and growing up in FL. And probably having a wee bit of Irish in me. They've never bothered me and I've never wished them away. But sometimes they seem to have a mind of their own when they get in the sun, some of them darkening, others not, giving me an almost blotchy look. But that's what foundation is for, right? To help mute and matte things a bit.

So when I received a sample of Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution in my Birchbox last month, I figured it was worth a shot to see if it did anything to these areas. While you can use it everywhere to even skin tone and to impart overall radiance and luminosity to your skin, I chose to do areas just on my cheeks since I had such a small sample.

While I didn't see jaw dropping results, there's was some lightening of some of the underlying skin tones that caused the blotchiness (leaving the freckles there to pop all on their own). This surprised me, but then it may just have been a coincidence to me not being in the sun too much lately. Which leaves me on the fence a bit. But I think it's worth exploring a little further and maybe even focusing on some of it's other claims, as well (like reducing the appearance of scars, etc.). I could see where you might get the results they note on their website, though, which take up to 8 weeks to see.

Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum

Everyone has some blemish issues on their face, even if it's only once in blue moon. For us women, something seems to pop us about once a month (unless you're one of those perfect models out there). The biggest issue with the treatments out there is that they often seem to irritate and cause more issues... even more blemishes! So a viscous cycles continues... And it sucks.

Low and behold, with all the natural products popping up on the shelves nowadays, one was bound to be for fighting blemishes! Enter Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum, a powerful organic fruit acid complex with salicylic acid from willow bark unclogs pores, reduces breakouts and lightens scars while organic aloe, CoQ10 and fat-soluble Vitamin C renew the skin for a healthy, clear complexion.

As always, I'm a skeptic about 'natural' products. I love the idea of them, but so many have failed to meet my expectations. I've thought about lowering my expectations, but I can't do that. Keep the bar high, otherwise you settle for mediocrity.

But I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised by this product. The biggest plus I saw was no irritation! While it didn't work overnight, it DID work! And there were some small instances (literally) where it DID work overnight! This one's going on my 'To Buy" list!

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse OR Multi-Usage Dry Oil Shimmer

Sometimes, I just get a little something fun in my Birchbox that you just have to love. Or at least have a little fun with.

Recently, I received a sample of Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse® OR Multi-Usage Dry Oil Shimmer in my box. Initially, i thought is was just your typical shimmer gel to slather on before heading out at night. But then I learned that it was much more!

This is from a French skincare company and it has six essential oils, plus Vitamin E, to leave face, body, and even hair soft and silky. Better yet, microscopic flecks of golden shimmer deliver a subtle glow to where ever you put it! And it's not that obvious "I have shimmer gel on" look... it truly is subtle! It even smells good!

So this was definitely a fun surprise for me! I want to learn more about the company as a whole before I run out and get something so specific, but it seems they have a lot going on in the skincare world, so I don't think it's a fly by the night type of company. But this will stay on my radar!

Borghese CuraForte Moisture Intensifier

During the winter, your skin gets dry. At least mine does... And while I hate when my hands get dry or my legs get itchy, I really hate when my faces seems dried out and feels all tight. Usually, just making sure I moisturize in the morning and at night, I can manage to get through without too much though. But some days I just want to lie face down in the sink of water in hopes that my skin will suck up the moisture!

Enter Borghese CuraForte Moisture Intensifier. This is an interesting concept. Essentially, it a primer for your moisturizer... supposedly, it intensifies and maximizes the skin's capacity to hold moisture by 200%. Sounds all well and good, right? Naturally, I wanted to try it out almost immediately, as we seem to finally be having winter here.

After a few days of using it, I can't say I saw too much of a difference in how my skin felt, day to day. But I think this is one of those products that you have to use for awhile to appreciate it... and my sample doesn't give me that much, unfortunately. It is one more step in your facial care routine, so if you already have a lot going on, it's a step I see being skipped over. But it does seem to have some research behind it that might be legit.

I don't think I'm ready to jump on this bandwagon, yet. Maybe one day... but it didn't do enough for me this go around.

Biore Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser

When it comes to cleansers, you really never can be sure what you're going to get until you use it. Sometimes they dry your face, sometime they feel like they do nothing, sometimes you can really feel a deep clean.

The Biore Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser is the later of them... hence the name.

I've always thought Biore was a great brand... it always seemed to work well, so I expected nothing less when I tried this. It was a good time of the month to try it, too - my normal cleanser wasn't cutting it lately. So it was as good of a time as any to try it out.

It feels just like it says. At first, it didn't seem like anything - I was afraid I'd be disappointed. But then the 'ice' hit and it felt so refreshing! And when I rinsed, it felt even better, leaving that cool feeling behind. And after the two washed I had as a sample, it even helped!

So I might be buying this sometime soon, just to have as back-up. It's nice to find something that you can buy off the shelf at Target and not have to go to a beauty county in a department store for great results!

Burt's Bees Radiance Day Lotion

You may find I post a lot of facial lotions on here.  It's because I'm determined to find one I'm in love with.  I've found eye creams, night lotions, lip treatments, etc. that I think are great and I love them, and I've even found day lotions that I like... but I haven't found 'the one' that I can't live without.

Enter Burt's Bees Radiance Day Lotion.  I know there are a lot of Burt's Bees lovers out there.  I do like some of their products, too, but I'm not totally convinced about the overall brand.  So when I got this sample to try, I once again tried to open my mind about it and the brand as a whole.

First off, it's SPF 15.  Good, but not great in the realm of facial sunscreen.  Unfortunately, like most lotions that have sun protection, it goes on like sunscreen (I've found very few that don't act like a sunscreen when applied), which I hate.  It feels greasy and takes forever to absorb.  But it does smell nice.  But the greasy/stickiness just stayed around on my skin too long.  It didn't feel  like it absorbed until I put my foundation powder on... which I makes me assume it was my powder that did the absorbing, at that point.  No telling, I guess.

So the search for 'the one' lotion will continue because his definitely is not it.  It didn't feel as if it really did anything extraordinary for my skin and, in fact, I think it even irritated it the first day I used it (the sample was big enough for more than one day's trial).  So a "no-go" on this for me.

Pangea Organics Facial Cream

I have really been back and forth on this one, and I'm still kind of on the fence.  But I have enough thoughts on it to make a post... maybe this'll even help me out, one way or another.

What's in the name says it all... "Organic".  And I think that's the only thing that has kept me wishy-washy about this product.  Because it's organic, it smells organic, which isn't always a smell one can deal with in the morning.  It has a list on organic ingredients that do great things for skin, from grape leaves to ginger and peppermint.  All those mixed together give it its own unique scent, which some days I kind of like, others I just grin and bear it.

But I can't argue the fact on how it works - it is a great moisturizer and I can see and feel a different when I use it.  So in that respect, it's a great facial cream.  Though it doesn't always absorb easily, which I found odd.  Sometime, it seemed to have that 'sunscreen effect' where it just leaves while streaks across your skin instead of absorbing.  But if I kept rubbing it in, it'd get there.

Unfortunately, I can really set a bottom line on Pangea Organics Facial Cream.  I like it, but I don't.  Luckily, this was one of the products I got in a Birchbox, so it's a premium size sample, and I still have more to try.  Which I will continue to do until it's gone.  Pangea Organics has a full line of products, and I hope to try some more out to get a feel for the brand.  

I guess if I had to set a bottom line, it'd be that unless you're dead set on organic products, there are other moisturizers out there.  But if you want organic products, this could be a good product for you.  I know... not much of a one way or another type decision.  But I think you get the drift.

Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel

I'm never sure about any kind of gel moisturizer.  In my past experience, I've just never liked them.  But I tried to go into this product with an open mind.

Well, despite my trying to be positive, I didn't like it.  The gel part, to begin with, felt sticky going on, and it seems to take awhile soak in/dry.  It did smell good, though, so that's a positive.  But after getting past the 'gel' part of it,I pushed on through the rest of the day to see if the 24-hour moisture was really there.  I applied the rest of my make-up, as usual, in order to truly test it in 'real' conditions.

My skin is not very dry to begin with, luckily.  It can get dry in the winter, but we're not there yet.  So I was a little disappointed when my skin seems a little dry and tight about halfway through the day.  It felt more like a dried gel then it did a moisturizer.

I can see where this might be better for someone who has slightly more oily skin (or maybe my skin is drier than I thought).  But for me at this point in my skin's life, it's a no-go.  I'll stick with my lotions.