Review: B. Kamins Vegetable Cleanser

After purchasing this product, it took me a few months to finish my other facial cleansing products before starting to use this.  Sadly, I think this was another not so great product by B. Kamins.  It doesn't do what it claims such as cleansing the face and removing makeup.  I can make this claim because I use my Hitachi Face Crie Ion Cleansing Machine after using this B. Kamins cleanser and I can see my foundation on the cotton pad.  And because this product doesn't do a great job on face cleansing, my pores were clogged for the past few month and caused my breakout.  =(

The scent:  A light chemical, plastic scent since it's fragrance free.

Consistency:  Not thick.  Doesn't create foam after contact with water.

Application:  I use another makeup removing product before using this facial cleanser.  Then I squirt some product onto my Shiseido Facial Exfoliating Brush or Clarisonic and exfoliate my face.

Packaging:  No additional cardboard box packaging.  When I bought it, it just came in the bottle.  The bottle is recyclable.  Therefore they promote eco-friendly activities.

What it claims:  "A vegetable based cleanser and makeup remover that dissolves and removes impurities from the face and delicate eye area.  Clarifying, soothing and moisturizing ingredients help improve skin smoothness, elasticity and radiance.  Oil, fragrance and color free, this gentle formula is ideal for cleansing sensitive skin types, especially post-microdermabrasion and laser-treated skin."

Thoughts / Results:  I felt this product didn't do much for me.  Definitely not worth the money.  It makes a lot of nice claims but it didn't remove the impurities on my skin.  Compared to the Bobbi Brown Cleansing Oil, I find the cleansing oil did a LOT better.  If I go to the MAC warehouse sale and they still sell the product there, I think I'd pick up a few more bottles.  My skin was smooth, clean and soft when I was using the Bobbi Brown Cleansing Oil.  =(  And it's not like that anymore ='(.  So comparatively, this product didn't do as well as others and it didn't live up to its own claim.  I guess it's such a gentle formula that it didn't do anything for me.

Since this product is so gentle, I wouldn't recommend using it at night after removing makeup.  It's better used in the morning when you're just removing the excess oil on your skin from the build up during the night.  But honestly, you're better off using Cetaphil from the drug store that costs less than $15 compared to $38 for this bottle.

Cost: $38 CAD @Murale

Product: B. Kamins Vegetable Cleanser
Rating: 1 / 5

Pros:
- Attempts to remove makeup
- Fragrance free
- Gentle formula

Cons:
- Doesn't remove all makeup
- Doesn't cleanse face well if makeup isn't fully removed
- Because doesn't cleanse well, it doesn't unclog pores
- Doesn't improve skin smoothness, elasticity and radiance

Review: AHA + BHA Daily Peel Pads

What's AHA and BHA? AHA and BHA stands for alpha and beta hydroxy acids, respectively.  They are also widely known as salicylic acid.  They are used as chemical peels of the skin which - when applied - dissolves or exfoliates the outer layer of our skin.  Essentially it speeds up the turnover of our outer layer of skin, removes dry dead skin cells and skin blemishes and in turn, improves our skin texture - soft, youthful-looking, minimizing fine lines, etc.  It is usually recommended to use these chemical peels daily because your body or your skin reacts to the dissolving of the skin by thickening it - a defense mechanism your body naturally performs.  
Now I bought these pads earlier this year - when it was still winter - to remove the dry skin on my nose area.  But I haven't been consistently using them since: (1) it wasn't winter, so my skin was AS dry; (2) I was just too lazy to keep up with using it every other day as recommended by the sales associate; (3) my skin itched after application.

The scent:
Smells like chemicals.  Not particularly strong, not a light scent either.

Application:
I wash my face with a cleanser first then apply the "Step 1 - Cleanse" pad, wait a minute for it to do its work on my skin then follow up with the "Step 2 - Peel" pad, wait another minute and apply my moisturizer.  In circular motions, I do go over my whole face with the pads but I concentrate more on my T-zone area where they tends to be more oily areas and more dry skin. 

Step 1 - Cleanse pad

Step 2 - Peel pad

Packaging:
It comes in two separate containers, each soaked with different solutions - Step 1 has the cleansing solution; Step 2 has the peeling effect solution.  The pads are made of thin cotton - one side is bumpy while the other is smooth.  I use the bumpy sides of the peel pads.

What it claims:
"A sophisticated 2-step daily peel formulated with alpha and beta hydroxy acids to exfoliate dead skin cells and help increase cellular turnover.  Step 1 cleanses skin and better prepares it for improved effectiveness of Step 2 - the peel.  This advanced formula helps to minimize the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and age spots, create more even skin tone and increase skin brightness and clarity. Skin feels revitalized and fresh, and stays moisturized thanks to hydrating ingredients that help prevent skin from over drying.  Results are softer, smoother and more radiant-looking skin."

Thoughts / Results:
One of the reasons I don't use these peel pads that often because I don't feel these peel pads work amazingly well.  My skin doesn't feel exceptionally softer.  I was told this B. Kamins AHA + BHA Daily Peel Pads works just like the B. Kamins Bamboo and Rice Facial Polisher but I find the polisher works a lot better.  It claims to give softer, smoother and more radiant-looking skin but I feel none of those results apply to me.  My skin isn't any softer and when compared to the polisher, the polisher does a more evident and better job.
Now I don't have a problem with the Step 1 - Cleanser pad, but the Step 2 - Peel pad cause itchy sensation on my skin.  I guess I can describe it as irritation.  However, the packaging does claim this product does gives a 'tingling sensation that may be felt is a sign that the product is active on the skin.'  Then again, it's a itchy sensation that I feel, not a tingling one.
My skin doesn't appear more radiant or bright after using this product. Though I do feel that it works on pimples.  I had a few pimples then I rub the pads over those areas and the next day, the pimple started to get smaller and disappear.
I do feel my skin has thickened overtime after using this product as I had a few milia formed on my cheeks and around the jaw.

Cost:
$59 CAD

Product: B. Kamins AHA + BHA Daily Peel Pads
Rating: 3 / 5

Pros:
- Helps relieve and diminish pimples
- I do feel the itchy sensation, meaning the chemical peels ARE reacting to skin

Cons:
- I do feel my skin has thicken as I find more milia formed on my cheeks and along my jaw line
- doesn't make my skin more radiant or bright

Review: B. Kamins Bamboo and Rice Facial Polisher

This is definitely one of those GWP that I've never expected to be love using.  Usually, I don't expect much out of samples and GWP because I think they're usually products that are either new and need to draw people's attention or they're products rated as not-so-good and companies need to get rid of them.  But for this product I have to say "O-M-G".  Ok fine, maybe I've exaggerated a bit there.  But honestly, I did feel a difference the first time I tried this exfoliating product.  Again, keep in mind these are thoughts of my own. So what may work on me, may or may not work well on you.  My skin leans more towards to not-so-sensitive side but I do have Rosacea cheeks.

The consistency:

It looks creamy but not thick.  Feels light.  There are little crushed up pieces of rice that does exfoliating job.

The smell:

It's got this minty sort of smell.  It's not irritating, but not the most pleasant smell either.  It's tolerable.

Application:

I squirted about a dime-size out on my 3rd and 4th finger and in circular motion, I rubbed it first around my nose and worked my way out.  After a good 2-3 minute rub, I cleansed my face with warm water.  Then carried on with my usual skincare routine - toner, hydrating serum, and moisturizer.

What it claims to do:

"A gentle, polishing, textured cleanser which helps to clarify and refine sallow, thickened, sun-damaged, mottled or acneic complexions.  Combines, natural fine-milled bamboo, tiny rice beads, our super-moisturizing Bio-Maple(TM) compound and gentle tensio-active sudsuing agents for a luxurious at-home spa experience.  Helps to exfoliate dead skin cells, refine pores and improve skin texture for a more even and brillant complexion."

"For all skin types.  A clarifying treatment"

End results:

My skin felt softer, seemed brighter.  I don't have prominent hyperpigmentation from sunspots or blotches of darker spots but I do have a few sunspots / brown spots and it doesn't seem to have helped diminish its appearance.  Maybe with longer use of it, but for now, I don't see a difference.  I do use it on and off.  The lady at Murale who included this product in my purchase told me to use it every other day, but I haven't which would probably explain why I don't see a difference in diminish/reducing appearance of sunspots.

Since my skin felt softer, clearly the product does what it claims in terms of "exfoliate dead skin cells."  I also did notice my pores near my nose have been less prominent, so it did do it's job in the "refine pores" department.  And finally, I do see the brightening complexion result.

Product:  B. Kamins Bamboo and Rice Facial Polisher

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Pros:

- Skin brightening

- Skin feels soft

- Refines pores

Cons:

- Haven't seen the effect of clarifying and refining sun-damaged areas

Haul: @Sephora - B. kamins, Dior, Tarte

Yesterday, I stopped by Sherway Gardens and Yorkdale Mall to go to Sephora and make good use of their 15% off sale.  =)  But oh dear, I def made some major damage to my wallet yesterday.  Then again I'll def stop spending for the next month or so.  I may be going to the next Shiseido warehouse sale and the Lisa's Cosmetics sale, but even if I go, I'll probably not spend anything on myself.  Anyways, back to what I spent on yesterday.

I originally wanted to pick up the Fusion Beauty Anti-Redness Primer but I tried it on my hands and it doesn't really neutralize the redness as well as the Makeup Forever one.  For some reason, I never thought of picking up a bottle of Makeup Forever Green Primer when I was Sherway Gardens.  So by the time I went to Yorkdale's Sephora, they didn't have any left.  =(  I might pick up a bottle the next time I go by a Sephora.

Anyways, I def did pick up the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Blissful.  This cost me $33 CAD but with additional 15% off, it came up to $28.05 CAD.  I chose Blissful over Tipsy because the colour is more settle and not too corally.  As much as I love coral, the colour just doesn't look too flattering on my skintone.  =(

Next I bought a Dior Addict Ultra Gloss in 256 Negligee Pink.  It's a pretty nude pink, very glossy and no shimmers.  I've never owned any Dior lip products so I thought I might as well splurge a little money on a Dior lip gloss.  It cost me $31 CAD but with additional 15% off, it came to $26.35 CAD.

Finally, I picked up a B. Kamins skincare set.  LOL I think I'm starting to love their products because of the Bamboo & Rice Facial Polisher.  The makeup artist @Yorkdale's Sephora recommended me this product because she saw me picking up a jar of Nurture Me by Ole Henrikson that is designed for rosacea cheeks - in other words, my broken capillaries.  She recommended I'd try out the B. Kamins because it's more of a complete set that will last me a month to try out and she gave me a small sample of the Nurture Me cream.  But I mainly got sold by the B. Kamins set because she put on the 'Soothing Skin Concentrate' on my hand and because it's teal-coloured, I immediately saw the difference it made.
Anyways, this skincare set cost me $65 CAD but with additional 15% off, it came up $55.25 CAD.

In additional, the cash gave me some samples - Dior One Essential and Lancome Genefique Youth Activating Concentrate.  She asked if I wanted to redeem a 500-point perk.  I had to decide between a Boscia skincare set and a Smashbox makeup set.  So I decided on the Smashbox one.  =)

All in all, like I said, my shopping trip has majorly damaged my wallet.  I'll have to build some self-control for the next month or so.

SO, reviews will def be coming soon.

Haul: B. Kamins

A few weeks ago, I spent ~$80 at Murale on B. Kamins skincare products.  B. Kamins is a Canadian brand skincare company.  Their rep used their machine to analyze my skin and she told me I have a lot of dry skin - which I find totally true.  Part of the reason for my dry skin is the winter weather and the daily use of Shiseido Brightening Cleansing Foam.  I'm still have my small tube of Cleansing Foam from the Shiseido Skincare set I reviewed a few months ago.  But I've only been using it once every week since then.  Now onto my purchase.  I bought the Vegetable Cleanser for $38 CAD and AHA+BHA Daily Peel Pads for $59 CAD.  Since Murale is a Shoppers Drug Mart company, they accept SDM Optimum card and I redeemed a $30 value of points. =) So it lowered my cost to $79.61 CAD.

As a side gift, they gave me a full-sized Bamboo and Rice Facial Polisher which would normally retail for $45 CAD.  Oh and she gave me a sample-sized tube of Maple Body Lotion.

I haven't used the two skincare products that I bought, but I did use their gift products.  I can already tell you I am super surprised at the Bamboo and Rice Facial Polisher - I'll write a review on this soon.  ;)
But in terms of the Maple Body Lotion, I'm not too fond of it.  Its scent is a little too strong and it lasts a long time on my hands.  It is moisturizing though.  However some people may not be bothered by the scent as it is more of a baby scent.