COVERGIRL + Olay Simply Ageless 3-in1 Foundation (from BzzAgent)

I'm always looking for new and great makeup options, and I was looking forward to trying COVERGIRL + Olay Simply Ageless 3-in1 Foundation. BzzAgent sent me a package with product in it for me to try and give some feedback! COVERGIRL is a great name, as is Olay, and the two together should be great, right? 

Yeah, not so much. 



But let's go through this in some type of order:

Product Claim (from Covergirl.ca)
"COVERGIRL meets Olay science with a product that instantly reduces the look of wrinkles, evens skin tones and delivers firming hydration with the Simply Ageless 3-in-1 foundation." Sounds good, but this product has no built in SPF to help with sun protection. One would think that something that helps protect from aging would help with one of the largest aging factors: sun exposure. 

Product Appearance
The packaging is nice and simple, however I am not a fan of pump action foundation in general. This is a very wasteful way to package makeup, as you usually end up leaving a lot of the product in the bottle when the pump stops bringing up product. Moving parts leave a lot of room for failure. (note, while using this the pump never failed. I can't speak to this other than previous experiences...)

Initial Feel
Pumping a small amount on my finger, the appearance is very thick and rich, but slightly grainy (purely visual). When I smooth it on to my wrist, it provides smooth, even coverage. I was glad the graininess from the visual assessment smoothed right out. The colour, though, is quite dark for an ivory. 

Application
It goes on very smooth! I was impressed by this, actually. It applies nicely and feels cool on the skin.

First Looks
Honestly, I know it's going for a moisturized, dewy look, but I think it just looks waxy on the skin. Almost plasticy. This look doesn't go away in the first hour, so it never really dries. And yes, the colour is off. Apparently Ivory is too dark for me. I'm fair, but this is crazy.

As the Day Wears On...
Well, the good with the bad. Yes, it's moisturizing. The moisturizing, though, looks greasy on the face. It never actually sets either. I'm a smiler, and while I don't have permanent wrinkles, the do form when I laugh. Because the makeup never sets properly, when the wrinkles form as I smile, the makeup clumps together and stays that way when my face relaxes. Hello, fake wrinkles. I don't need help getting wrinkles before my time. Anything that touches my face is now covered in makeup. I try to avoid hugging people and those I hug it becomes a Cirque du Soleil performance keeping my face away.

At the End of the Day
I spent so much time trying to smooth the makeup under my eyes that it's nearly gone at the end of the day. I actually wished I had backup concealer in my purse, which I haven't had to use in a long while with better makeup choices. 

Long Story Short
Would I buy this again or recommend it to a friend. No. I wouldn't. It was too much work, and the product wasn't the best for me. I am still a COVERGIRL and Olay fan, but not for this particular product.

Lise Watier Hydraforce - Glam Sense Box

I love the Glam Sense Program! The newest product that they have asked me to try is the Lise Watier Hydraforce Hydra-Protective Comforting Cream. They also sent a sensor that plugged into my phone that used a free app to test the hydration of my skin, but the first one didn't work properly. By the time the new one came out, I only got to test my skin once, so I'll just have to review the product itself. 

The product to test!

So how was it? Smooooooth! It was really nice to put on in the morning. The cream, made for normal to dry skin, contains Gaspe algae extract, which keeps skin hydrated through the day. 

It was really nice to put on, and didn't leave skin feeling greasy, which is always a worry with new face creams. It's light, but powerful and really does the job! There's really no scent to it, so that means there's no drying perfumes! It didn't effect my foundation primer or change the look of my makeup though the day, and keeps my skin soft and smooth. It really holds up well!

Great stuff! I would pick this up again! 

Teeez Read My Lips Lipstick (Glam Sense Box)

I'm so excited to be part of a new review program called Glam Sense! They send free products my way, and I review them for them. It's a beautiful partnership. Brought to us by the awesome people at TopBox, you know you're going to be getting some great stuff from them! 

My first Glam Sense Box came this week! Let's break this puppy open!

Yaaaaassss! What treat is in here?!

And the product is...

LIPSTICK! YES!

Teeez and Glam Sense have sent me a full sized tube of Teeze Read My Lips Lipstick in Red Roulette. There was much #teezings and I'm loving it! Nice! Packed with pigment, this long wearing lipstick is supposed to last me up to 8 hours! Considering it's December, I decide to give this lipstick the ultimate challenge: a Staff Christmas Party. Loaded with eating, drinking, cheek kissing and talking, it will get a work out.

Time to Party!

So initial thoughts, it goes on smooth and is nice to look at. Touching my lips I do get lipstick on my finger, so I'm worried about longevity. It didn't really impact the colour on the lips, but if it's making a break for it already, I'm not throwing caution to the wind. I pop the lipstick in my clutch, just in case a touch up is needed. I'm in love with the colour and can't wait to rock it! 

Later that night, there's lipstick everywhere. Everywhere! Glass, cheeks, napkins, fingers... just everywhere! And yet it's still there on my lips. I don't know if the product is mysteriously multiplying on my lips as it's being wiped off, but it's still going strong. 

I do end up making it the whole night (approximately 9 hours of wear time), without reapplying, which seems like a small miracle, because this lipstick is on EVERYTHING. And it's very red, so it's hard to miss. White napkins. Red. Wine glass. Red. I just can't even describe it. It looks like a murder scene around me, but I still have red on my lips. 

End of the night. Not bad...

Honestly, I love that the colour is still there on my lips. It's definitely not as strong or as vibrant as when I first put it on, with most of the wear in the center of the lips (which is a high traffic area at a food and drink event), but considering the food and drink and schmoozing, the wear is impressive. The only thing that would keep me from buying this day to day is the fact that I spent the entire event worried about smudging, staining, or leaving a little piece of myself behind on EVERYTHING. Maybe with a colour that is more to what I normally wear day to day (which is just a little darker and rosier than my normal lip colour), I would consider picking this up. I also think it would wear more evenly. One thing I do notice is that at the end of the night, when I'm taking off my makeup, my lips aren't as dry as they normally are after a long wear lipstick application...

Thanks to Glam Sense and Teeez for letting me get my hands on this product to try out their Read My Lips Lipstick!

COVERGIRL Super Sized Mascara (from BzzAgent)

I received a retail sized tube of COVERGIRL's new Super Sizer Mascara in Very Black from BzzAgent and COVERGIRL. For more information on BzzAgent and their program, please visit their website. They are so encouraging of try before you buy and encourage open, honest feedback! 

About me: 
I love makeup. I do full makeup every day, because I honestly enjoy it. I don't feel put together if I'm not completely done with makeup, right down to mascara. While I'm not a pro, I can hold my own and am very comfortable trying new products. My blonde hair means I have very light eyelashes, but, thankfully, they are full and long. I don't need much help in the mascara department other than to darken them. I usually use items that are either Black or Very Black.

About the product: 
From COVERGIRL.com - "The Super Sizer by LashBlast Mascara gives you 400% more corner-to-corner volume for full, fanned out lashes. Our amazing Lash Styler transforms even small lashes— just twirl as you apply it to your lashes for an instantly Super Sized lash look. Opthalmologically tested, suitable for those who wear contact lenses."
Current Retail Price (Walmart.ca) - $6.97
Available colours - Black, Black-Brown & Very Black

Packaging:
The product packaging looks awesome. With teal and vibrant green, it's eye catching on the shelf. The only thing that puts me off is the standard, blah, shape of the tube. Another line by COVERGIRL features a more ergonomically friendly tube that fits nice in the hand and is easy to twirl on the lashes, so this one is lack luster in that regard. 

Packaging is bright and playful

So for this product, there is a three step process to follow...
Step 1: Place the Lash Styler’s narrow core and short bristles right at the base of your lashes
Step 2: Pull the Lash Styler through the lashes from root to tip, twirling or rotating a bit as you go

Step 3: Sculpt and style the lashes until you reach super-sized, corner-to-corner volume!

Unpackaging:
The tube is just like any other product in this type of cardboard/plastic combo packaging, but it eventually lets the product loose! I open the tube, and the first thing I think is... where is the rest of the brush? The comb part of the brush is very long, but the bristles are very tiny. I guess this is to get in the very corners of the eye. In my opinion, if you want to use short bristles, do a little feature at the end of the brush, but leave the rest longer so they separate the lashes. But I can't make this judgement for sure until I try it, can I?! 

Opening the tube

Testing:
To give you an idea of what I'm working with, here's my eye with just foundation...

With everything up until mascara...

And with COVERGIRL Super Sizer Mascara (I can't lie, this is one of the few days where I actually got the application right...).

I'm not green when it comes to mascara. I can twirl the brush like a pro. But it seems that no matter how much I shimmy and twirl the wand, it doesn't catch my lashes like it should. They just don't want to settle into the tiny little brush fibers of the wand. Once in a blue moon, I would get it right, but 90% of the time, I would get blocky, gross lashes that I took a kleenex to, to wipe the makeup off before I could move on with my regular mascara.


Results:
Honestly, it's a lot more work compared to my regular mascara, with results I don't really care for. My lashes end up very stiff and heavy, and I can feel them all day, similar to wearing false eyelashes (which are honestly more easy to apply than this mascara). The brush doesn't separate the lash nearly as well as I would have liked, most days, and left my lashes blocky more often than not. It takes forever to dry and I had to be careful not to smear it all over my eyelids while it set. Honestly, I'd rather put on false eyelashes daily to get the same effect... it would be so much easier (in fact it is, as I use to do it!)

Secret Clear Gel Clinical Antiperspirant/Deodorant (from BzzAgent)

I received a trial sized tube/stick of Secret Clinical Antiperspirant/Deodorant Clear Gel in 'Completely Clean' scent from the good people over at BzzAgent. If you haven't already checked them out, click here and do it! 

Note: Some people in the trial got the Invisible Solid, and some got the Clear Gel. I am only reviewing the Clear Gel.

About me:
I'm a girl, and I sweat. There! I said it! LOL

But really, I enjoy being physically active, so I'm always looking for something with a little bit more protection than the average, light use antiperspirant. I usually stay away from gel products for underarms, as I feel they don't dry properly and I don't feel protected. Normally I purchase invisible solids in very VERY light, or unscented varieties. 

About the Product:
From Secret.com: Goes on clear, stays clear throughout the day.
Odor-fighting capsules absorb odor all day long.
Offers 4X protection from stress sweat*
Sport Fresh scent: Designed with athletes in mind
Available in four unique scents: Powder Protection, Sport Fresh, Completely Clean and Ooh-La-La-Lavender
Current Retail Price (via WalMart.ca): $7.99

Packaging: 
In whites, greys and blues, it looks clean and simple. 

The box

Text on the box states: 

• Claims that it 'Adapts & Repsonds' with 'Customized Protection', with a '100% Confidence Guaranteed' cash back program within 60 days of purchase. 
• This product is formulated for 'Any woman who wants a product that adapts to her unique body changes and responds for customized protection". 
• It is supposed to go on clear and provide 48 hour odour protection through the busy day. 

The stick itself is very clean and clear, with a clinical feel. It's very appropriate for the product. It's not overbearing or girly, it's just simple. 

The stick

The one thing it doesn't state on the package is the % of the active ingredient, Aluminum Zirconium Octachlorohydrex Gly. But a bit of digging and a look at the ingredients list at Secret.com, and it is 20%. I usually like to purchase products with around 20-21%, so this is well within range. A lot of 'Clinical' products will have 14-15%, which is no more than a regular deodorant. This one actually has some kick behind it. 

Directions: 
"Secret's Clinical formula was designed to be activated at night to take advantage of your body's natural temperature variations. Apply 2-3 clicks of product to underarms at night for extra effective wetness protection." 

Okay. I can handle this. 

The Test: 
Well, at the end of the day, I put on the antiperspirant. It feels weird because I'm a morning person, normally, but for the sake of the trial I'll go with it! First impression: COLD! So cold! 

It doesn't have a very strong scent to it, but what is there is chemically. I hope it dies down overnight. I'm sensitive to scents and having something this strong on me all day will drive me insane! 


My pajamas are loose enough that the trial area can breathe, and I get ready for bed. I can't lie, I had moments of feeling like the SNL character Mary Catherine Gallagher for the next while while I waited for sleep to decide I was done for the day, as every once and a while I had my hands checking my armpits if they had dried. By the time I went to sleep an hour or so later, they still had not. 

By the time I woke up in the morning, it was finally dry. The smell is gone and I go about my normal routine, sans my regular antiperspirant. It's weird, but I go with it. 

The Results:
Half way through the day, I'm breaking into my emergency stash of antiperspirant at work. I have 0 confidence that I'm not going to sweat through my shirt, even though I wore something airy. 

Conclusion: 

If I was given a chance to try the invisible solid option of this antiperspirant, I would give it a go, applying at night and probably in the morning, but this one, as it is, is a firm no, since I can't apply it in the morning without leaving huge wet marks on my shirt. 

Secret Scent Expressions does not hold up well (from BzzAgent)

I received one Secret Outlast® Clear Gel in Oh-La-La Lavender for free from BzzAgent and Secret. For more information on the BzzAgent program, please visit their website. They're an awesome consumer review group, and a lot of fun!


There are a few things I want to know about antiperspirants/deodorants prior to using, including the percentage of active ingredients, how long it's supposed to last and what it will smell like, if anything. I'll cover this all below.

Packaging: It's girly and doesn't have much information on it. The aluminium (active ingredient) content is nowhere to be found on the product, so I assume it is around 14-15%, which is on the low/general end of the products. I usually look for 20-21% for effective anti-perspiration support. The packaging is glittery, purple and very feminine.

Scent: STRONG! I don't like lavender to begin with and this is VERY strong. I am sensitive to perfume, and usually don't have trouble with deodorant/antiperspirant, but this one seems very focused on covering ALL scents/smells. I wouldn't want to wear an eau du toilette on top of it.

Application: Directions say add 2-3 clicks as needed. 2 clicks worth of this gel is a LOT! Wow!

This is about 3 clicks. There is a LOT of product.

But that's what it says, so I do it. I put it on my underarms, and it's cold, wet and unpleasant. I fear putting on my clothes right way, and stand there with my arms in the air waiting for it to dry a bit. A couple of minutes later, it's still not dry but I put on my top. I smell like bad laundry soap, and feel like I'm sweating before I even do anything that day.

Protection: There is little to no protection through the day. My office is quite warm and I'm sweating through the antiperspirant right away. Like I originally thought, there is very little active ingredient in this product and I'm left uncomfortable with things until noon when I run home, wash this product off and put on my regular antiperspirant. If it doesn't last the morning, the 48 hour claim isn't even close to true if you sweat at all.

Overall Thoughts: This went right in the garbage.

Footner Exfoliating Socks (from Bescot Health)

Footner Exfoliating Socks

How I Got Them

I was made aware of a testing opportunity through their website and made my interest known via email. A few weeks later they emailed saying there were socks on the way! Easy! 

A couple of weeks later, I had an envelope in my hand that contained a shiny silver package with the socks in it, and a sample of ReSkin, a re-usable blister prevention bandage. I haven't used it yet, and I can't really understand how it's reusable, but that's not why we're here, is it? 

Nope! It's because of SOCKS!

The Product

There's really not a lot of information on the package. The front has the product name, footner exfoliating socks, and a little shield saying it's dermatologically tested. 

The back has pictographic instructions which show:

1. cutting the top off something foot shaped
2. putting your foot in
3. leaving it on for an hour
4. washing your feet off under water 
5. feeling how wonderful your feet are now

It also states the contents: 2 x 20ml, and Ingredients: Aqua, Alochol Denat, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Glycerine Butylene Glycol, Canola Oil Polydexterose, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lactate, Lactic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Glycolic Acid, Methylparaben, Collagen and Parfum

That's a LOT of chemicals. I can see from the contents (alcohol and acids) that it will probably soften the skin by eating away the top layer of skin, then soften with the aloe, canola polydexterose and collagen. It's nothing worse than what I've spilled on my own self in organic chem, so I'll try it out. 

I also determine I don't want to get this stuff on my clothes and change into something that won't go near my feet. 

The Testing 

Okay, so lets do this. 

While we're here for the socks, I will mention that the nail polish on my toes is a gel polish, and is much harder than a regular nail polish. I have to soak it in 100% acetone to get it off, and this stuff stays nice for a couple months on my toes. This will be important to know later.

I open the package and pull out two plastic, foot-shaped sealed baggies that contain a clear gel.

Out come the scissors. I cut the top off and the first thing I smell is the alcohol. It's very strong. The cut piece is leaking from the gel trapped up there and I quickly throw it out. On to the foot it goes. It's cold, as expected, but warms up before I can really think to complain. It's big for my feet and doesn't really touch the toes, so I wrap it up and put an elastic around. Then repeat the process for the other foot.

And we wait.

I can't lie. It's hard for me to sit for an hour. These socks are not built for walking around in, so I chill out and read a bit. Once and a while I feel a little bit of pain in my feet and around the 45 minute mark I get a bit of a bigger pain in my right heel. I tough it out and go the full hour. I can't lie; I was looking forward to talking these off. 

While I was waiting, I did more product research. I usually like just using the package for information, since that is what most of the regular users would use, but was feeling a little out of the loop, so I hit up the website. It reads in the information section "Footner Exfoliating Socks activate the skin's own natural peeling effect, causing the upper layer of the skin to peel off, thereby removing the hard skin build up. The exfoliation process begins 5-10 days after wearing the socks and lasts for a total of 5-10 days. After just one 60-minute application of the socks, your feet will exfoliate the hard, dead skin and leave you with baby soft feet."

Wait. Whoa. I have a week and a half to 20 days of foot peeling to look forward to?! I really hope that it doesn't mean I'll have to cover ugly feet. We don't have that long of a summer, and I'd like to wear my open toe pumps as long as possible!

Anyway, time was up, so I washed up. As soon as water hit my feet there was another strong wash of alcohol smell. I immediately notice that my nail polish has lifted and will be coming off tonight. It's unfortunate because I just did them two weeks ago, and had another month and a half left out of the colour before I had to do them again. Oh well.

At this point in time, my feet don't look any different, other than the lack of toenail polish. But the packaging says it can take 5-10 days before the exfoliation process will start to take place.

So, more waiting. 

Days Later...

A few days later and my feet really don't look any different. I'm still sporting my pumps. 

Normally in the summer I'm a socks free and heels kind of girl, but for my work, occasionally I have to do socks and runners all day. 6 days after my initial Footner Sock use, it was a running shoe day, all day. I really didn't think anything of it, because my feet by this point in time didn't look any different than they did before I tried the socks. I went about my business, ran around for 16 hours and eventually made it home. I started to remove my socks and stopped about half way through because it looked like my feet exploded in there, with skin flakes galore! I put the sock back on and take the entire process over to the bathtub, where I sat on the edge and started over. After shaking out my socks (eeeeeeew!), and scrubbing my feet a bit to get rid of all of the hangy bits, I'm hoping to see beautiful, soft skin. 

It looks normal.

Utterly normal.

The peeling only happened the one day, and that was the extent of it, so at least I wasn't forced into premature socks!

The Verdict

After soaking my feet in chemicals, acids and whatnot, dealing with my feet exploding in my runners, and having to change my socks in the bathtub, I really didn't see a difference in my feet versus regular care and exfoliation that can be done with a pumice stone in the shower. 

While I do appreciate the opportunity to try and review this new product, I'm afraid that I will not be purchasing this item in the future.