Sparkled Beauty

Yes, my Honey Treasures (Garnier Whole Blends Honey Treasures shampoo and conditioner I received for review) are basking in the sun. This kinda sets the tone of this post appropriately, because it has been a beautiful experience with this duo.

What it is: to heal and protect, Honey Treasures is a blend of:
- Honey: rich in sugar, offers deep nourishment to the hair without weighing it down, smells great.
- Royal jelly (bee's milk): very high in vitamin B - over-treated hair's best friend
- Propolis: a natural resin produced by bees (to protect and fill gaps in their beehives), to form a protective barrier and heal damaged hair.

The texture: very creamy, rinses out smooth. The hair feels luxurious after, not mentioning the light sweet honey scent, with a hint of citrus (invigorating). With a bit of texturizing spray when the hair is half (air) dry, it stays soft and bouncy for 2 days after wash. I don't notice much of extra shine, which might depend on how often you wash your hair.

Packaging: beautifully done, bright and cheerful colours, decorative leaf patterns at the cap opening.

Not for those who are scent sensitive, the Honey Treasures line is an indulgence, even better when it is a drugstore line. I enjoy washing my hair more with it.

Ingredients:
- Repairing shampoo: Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamide Mea, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Chloride, Honey, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Fumaric Acid, Royal Jelly, Carbomer Glycerin, Dimethicone, etc.

- Repairing conditioner: Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Amodimethicone, Honey, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Royal Jelly, Glycerin, Trideceth-6, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Alcohol, Propolis Extract, etc.

Garnier Whole Blends, Honey Treasures specifically, is paraben free, with gentle and effective sulfates. The packaging is made with recycle PET with 30% post-consumer recycled waste. The bottles shown here are 370ml, $5.99 each. The larger 650ml size is $8.99 and treatments are $8.99.

There are also other lines to suit your hair type and needs:
- Coconut Water (Quenches & Softens)
- Coconut Oil & Cocoa Butter (Tames & Controls Frizz)
- Argan Oil & Cranberry (Protects color & Reveals radiance), my next purchase
- Avocado Oil & Shea Butter (Deeply Nourishes & Replenishes)
- Green Apple & Green Tea (Revitalizes & Boosts Shine).

Don't let the name fool you, this is NOT the regular micellar water you know!

Garnier has recently brought out 2 Skin Active Micellar water options. The regular version (with pink cap) is comparable to others in the market, but the waterproof version (blue cap, pictured) is different and unique!

Please ignore the odd angle of the shot. I wanted to show you the view from above where the 2 layers of liquid are most visible. Yes, this is a dual-phase micellar water, the first I have known of.

By definition, this is an all-in-one cleansing water to dissolve waterproof makeup, cleanse and refresh face, eyes and lips without rubbing or rinsing.

You already know the science behind micellar water - the micelles capture and lift away dirt, oil and makeup without stripping the skin, leaving it clean and refreshed. And all the micellar waters I tried manage to clean the skin quite well, more or less toward waterproof makeup.

I don't wear waterproof mascara all the time, but waterproof/ long-lasting eyeliners very often. Removing them is a tough task, so I would not mind to repeat the process with an extra cotton pad.

Having said that, with a micellar water that makes specific claim to tackle waterproof makeup, I will hold it on higher standard while testing, naturally.

I grabbed myself a bottle the moment I found it on the shelf. Love that it is big and heavy. Basic packaging - plastic bottle with a flip top that closes tightly.

As with any dual-phase makeup remover, the liquid in the bottle needs to be shaken well before use.

And the result, to me, is great. It does everything a good micellar water does, still takes 2 cotton pads for the eyes but like I said, I don't mind that. The biggest winning factor is the $ value (see below).

The after-feel is a tiny bit more oily than a pure micellar water but not noticeable. If you are not used to dual-phase makeup removers however, you might feel differently.

Ingredients: Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isohexadecane, Decyl Glucoside, Dipotassium Phosphate, Disodium Edta, Hexylene Glycol, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Potassium Phosphate, Sodium Chloride (F.I.L.: C179887/1).

Ingredients for the pink capped version, for reference: Water, Hexylene Glycol, Glycerin, Bht, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Disodium Edta, Poloxamer 184, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide (F.I.L.: C179884/1).

The product is oil/ alcohol/ fragrance free, suitable for all skin types, including sensitive. The bottle is 400ml, twice the size of most micellar waters for the same price - $8.97 at Walmart. I already bought a backup of it!

Let's change things up a bit to fit the festive occasion that is the new year :) We put to the test Garnier Color Styler in Blue Burst and Pink Pop I received before we went on vacation.

Color Stylers are supposed to be intense wash-out/ commitment-free colours with colour coat technology, enriched with clay, to create a thin colour coat on the surface of the hair fiber without damaging it. Can be done to the ponytail, streaks, tie & dye or bun.

When completely dry, the colours were said not to rub off or stain your clothes, and would last 2 shampoos or longer depending on the amount applied and the hair type.

Left: the content inside - a bottle of colour, a pair of reusable gloves and an instruction leaflet. Right: the "galaxy" of colours left on the gloves after we used both colours.

Instructions: Shake the bottle, squeeze the colour on the gloved hand, rub and apply. Once dry, brush.

I do like how easy the colours are to use. The box does indicate that colours would show up differently depending on hair tone, so I did not expect a hot pink with Pink Pop on Squirt's dark brown hair. Blue Burst also looked much deeper than the bright navy when it came out of the bottle.

All in all, if you have dark hair, expect an iridescent, fairy effect rather than intense colours as mentioned on the packaging. Also note that the colours are more visible in sun light and very subtle indoor. They do take a few hours to be completely dry (the hair feels a bit stiffer) or would come off on your hand if you touch your hair before that. No noticeable transfer on the clothes though.

Garnier Color Stylers add some temporary colour fun to your hair but experiment with them a head of time as the finish colours might surprise you :) The bottle is 50ml, good for more than 2 uses, retails around $10. There are also Purple Mania, Bronze Attitude and Red Temptation.

Near the end of last month, I spotted a coupon for the new Garnier Skin Naturals 2-in-1 eye makeup remover but couldn't find the product on the shelf. Garnier kindly offered to send me a bottle to try.

This is the dual phased type of makeup remover, needs to be shaken up (clear liquid and light purple oil layer) before using.

The formula is enriched with Arginine, supposedly leaving a protective layer on the lashes, leaving them shiny and supple.

I like the thin and compact packaging, with tightly closed flip top, easy to travel with.

Instructions: shake the bottle, add a few drops to a cotton pad, hold against the eyes for a few seconds, wipe gently without rubbing.

Happy to find the product not leaving a greasy feeling nor blurring out my vision. If you are used to the water-like feeling of micellar products, you will possibly detect a very very light feel of the oil in the formula, but not oily by any means.

It does a great job removing my eyeshadows and about 90% of water resistant liners and mascaras. A follow up with a second cotton pad is recommended if you wear waterproof products. I do not notice any lashes coming off on to the cotton pad.

No concern about the purple tint in the oil transferring to your eyes. The product is almost invisible on the cotton pad. No scent detected.

Ingredients: Water, Isododecane, Isopropyl Palmitate, Undecane, Arginine, CI 60725, Citric Acid, Dipotassium Phosphate, Disodium Edta, Hexylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Octyldodecyl Xyloside, Polyaminopropyl Biduanide, Potassium Phosphate, Sodiumchloride, Tridecane (F.I.L. C176875/1).

I would recommend this eye makeup remover, especially if you travel a lot. Suitable for contact lense wearers, the product is 125ml, retails $10.99.

A late start of the week for me today, but let's talk the cuteness of Garnier Ultra-Lift Miracle sleeping cream package I received. Great presentation, the velvet box, the sleeping mask and the candle are icing on top.

Garnier Ultra-Lift Miracle sleeping cream is an anti-aging and anti-fatigue cream, with the restorative and refreshing power of a mask - inspired by the sleeping packs in Asia, rich in water, have light and fresh, non-sticky texture. It works at night to capitalize on skin's absorptive and regenerative properties when at rest.

The active ingredients:
- LHA: boost radiance
- Adenosine: helps to combat the signs of aging caused by fatigue
- Extract of Albizia: an antioxidant that combats dull skin tone and uneveness, reduces wrinkles
- Hyaluronic acid: hydrating
- Extract of Ruscus: boosts skin's microcirculation
- Jojoba oil: strengthens the skin's natural barriers
- Lavender essential oil: helps improve the quality of sleep and combat the signs of aging.

The polymer in the formula holds the active ingredients within the cream's texture until it comes in contact with the skin, leaving an ultra-flexible film. Left on the skin over night, the film helps the active ingredients to penetrate the skin.

I was fascinated by the texture of the cream (see below). Yes, it is a cream but holds a punch, like a hair elastic :) On my finger (and on the face), it feels smooth almost instantly. The dip on the cream surface flats out after a few hours, so you always have a like-new jar to come back to the next night.

Besides the first impression, I appreciate what the cream does on my skin. During the month of testing, I woke up in the morning feeling refreshed. Like it claims, it is the feeling after masking, all night and the morning after.

Ingredients: Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil/Jojoba Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Dimer Dilinoleate, Ropanediol, Alcohol Denat., Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Octyldodecanol, Adenosine, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, etc.

Garnier also releases Ultra-Lift Miracle sleeping cream for eyes. It is a little different from the sleeping cream for face, as it is a gel, infused with lavender essential oil, caffeine and rare plant extracts. It works nightly to revitalize eyes for a younger, rested look.

The eye cream claims to hydrate and smooth the eye area, which I agree. The fighting dark circle effect does take longer time to work.

Ingredients: Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., BIS-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Lycerin, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, etc.

Here are the texture of the creams. I do wish the eye cream is white too, as with the skin colour, being discharged from a tube, I could not see how much product was on my skin. Most of the time, it was either too little or too much.


Not much of a before and after type of pictures but a bare face and a made-up face that I was equally happy with :)

Garnier Ultra-Lift Miracle sleeping cream night cream and eye cream is $24.99 each, available now. And Canadians, enter the Sleeping cream giveaway. 10 of you will have a chance to test this duo out yourself :)

It was a good round of Influenster Vox Box when they peaked testers' curiosity with a MysteryBrand box.

At the beginning of the month, Influenster sent out a box containing 3 hair care samples under the L'Oreal umbrella of 25 brands: a shampoo, a conditioner and a split-end serum for distressed, damaged hair (50ml each). We were encouraged to make guesses of the actual brand that makes them.

I was having some issue with my mail box, didn't get to test out the samples long before my blogger friends' disclosed the brand. So that was that :)

And the second box arrived, confirming the brand and revealing the product line - Garnier Fructis Damage Eraser.

The line features the Phyto-Keratin complex (a natural protein source with active fruit concentrate) and Cupuacu butter (a superfruit with protecting lipids) to reconstruct and preserve strength for strong hair that looks rejuvenated.

The packaging is eye catching with orange and green theme, and the scent is quite good and refreshing.

The basic first: Fortifying shampoo and conditioner in traditional 384ml bottles.

The duo does the job very well. The conditioner is very smooth and dense, like a hair butter almost and not the runny liquid kind. I was very impressed.

My hair feels soft (but not the softest I have seen) and light. The brushing every morning yield a little less fallouts, which gives me hope. I have been losing hair so much, it is not even funny.

Also, I am not sure these products are colour safe, so I did not use them as often as suggested.

Ingredients for shampoo: Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Coca-midopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Chloride, Amodimethicone, CI 19140, CI 15985, Guarhydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, etc.

Ingredients for conditioner: Aqua, Cetearyl Alcohol, Paraffinum Liquidum, Behentrimonium Chloride, CI 19140, CI 15985, Niacinamide, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Saccharumofficinarum Extract, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, etc.

Now the Split End Bandage (125ml) is interesting! Advertised as a product to help prevent split ends, not cure them, the serum is meant to be applied on towel-dried hair to damaged areas, without a rinse afterward.

I use the product to the ends of my hair every time I wash it. The texture is that of a typical conditioner, smooths out easily on the hair. The pump 9with a locking mechanism) makes it easier too.

I do have a history with split ends if I don't have a trim often enough (which I don't), so I use the Bandage as often as I could, hoping it would prevent the issue. Time will tell. For now, my ends look as healthy as the rest of the strands :)

Ingredients: Aqua, CI 19140, CI 15985, CI 17200, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Niacinamide, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Saccharumofficinarum Extract, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolized Soy Protein, Hydrolized Wheat Protein, etc.

And lastly, the Strength Reconstructing butter, a hair mask of sort, that comes in a 250ml jar. Plenty for your hair :)

As suggested, I apply the butter after shampooing, from root to tip, leave on about 5 minutes and rinse. Not very different from how I use the conditioner.

The butter is thicker than the conditioner and is meant to do more intense work. It feels more like a special treat to the hair, not just routine washing. Depending on the hair condition, I alternate them.

Ingredients (with a few repeats compared to those of the conditioner above): Aqua, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Amodimethicone, Candelilla Cera, Cetyl Esters, Glycerin, CI 19140, CI 15985, Niacinamide, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Saccharumofficinarum Extract, etc.

All in all, Damage Eraser is a good hair care line. Long term effects are to be further confirmed, but the products work well for what they are advertised to do during the testing period. I hope they work for you too, if you decide to give them a try.

Don't worry, it's a quick post today, not a long one like last week's :)

Stocked up on some essentials at The Body Shop's 5/$50 sale. I got the Extra Virgin Minerals liquid foundation x 2 (reg. $25), Wise Woman Vitality serum ($36), Spa Fit Firming & Toning gel cream massager ($30) and a Honey bronzing powder ($20). After the $15 off $40 coupon and my LYB discount, I paid $31.50.

Went to Shoppers for their x20 point event and 40% off Garnier sale on Saturday with some coupons I saved from a previous display. I got:

 - From the Pure Control line: Targeted Anti-spot Tinted corrector and Targeted Acne Gel treatment, reg. $14.99 each

- From the new Ultra-Lift line: Targeted Line Smoother (Tightener + Cream) and 2-in-1 Wrinkle Reducer (Serum + Moisturizer), reg $24.99 each.

If you missed out on x20 points, there's a coupon for $10 off $50 tomorrow. Also found a $10 off $50 coupon on today's Metro (Halifax) newspaper, good until Friday.

L'Oreal Miss Pop collection (LE, renamed from Miss Candy collection in the US) has arrived at Lawtons.

The gellies nail polish are $6.99, not on sale, but I was excited to grab 3 of the 6 shades. Regret to say, the Infallible eyeshadows did not make it to this display. Unless there is a separate one for them later, Canadians will have to settle with an incomplete LE collection.

A comparison between Miss Pop and Miss Candy collection:
- 6 vs. 8 gellies nail polish. We missed out on the yellow and deep purple shades
- 2 vs. 4 Le Gloss glosses. 1 colour was gone from the display already, so I can only confirm the orange shade
- 0 vs. 4 Infallible eyeshadows!!! FYI, the colours available in the US are Cherie Merie, With a Twist, Dive Right In and Strawberry Blonde
- 2 vs. 3 Nail Lingerie nail strips.

Bath & Body Works had a $20 off $50 coupon on FB for the weekend (better than the regular $10 off $30 on their receipts), so I bought a few things.

The 3-wick candles were 2/$30.50, I bought Espresso Bar and Lemoncello from the La Dolce Vita collection. BBW did a really good job in capturing the scents in these.

Not pictured, but the fragrance mists were on sale at $8 (reg. $14.50) and B3G2F sale. I got:
- Rio Rumberry (x2), Bali Mango, Aruba Coconut (from the Island Paradise collection, available every year), and
- Capri Seaside Citrus (from the Italy collection).

I only paid $34.50 for 7 items :) A note, prices of most items at BBW (Canada) will go up by 50 cents today, the SA told me. Not a huge increase, but it was good to know.

Also found some fun spring clothing items at Winners. No new makeup/ nail polish to report, except for a lonely Smashbox Be Legendary lipstick in Black Plum for $8.99 (reg retail $22). Now we know that besides eye palettes and blushes I posted about in the last Weekend finds, there are lipsticks :)

The sun continues to hang out in the sky in the last few days, I feel blessed. Almost forgot how beautiful Halifax is in the sun until I saw some pictures on twitter under hashtag #omgthesun lol. Have a great week, everyone!