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Philosophy Time In A Bottle

August 22, 2013 4 Comments

When I was at my cousins house in Guelph talking about skin care products and what we all use on our faces and bodies, we got to talking about how women aren’t aging as quickly any more. People in their 60’s look like they’re in their late 40’s. It’s all because we’re starting to take better care of ourselves, eat right, and keep skin hydrated and of course, limit sun exposure. (Side note: I have yet to go to the beach this summer. I really do love the beach, but haven’t had an opportunity to lay on one yet.)

This new product by Philosophy called Time In A Bottle was recently launched. I first heard about it when I sat down with the representatives from Philosophy in June, when they were doing an early launch at Sephora in the Eaton Centre.

Since I’m no stranger to Philosophy products I wanted to learn more about it. I mean, look at the hoard of products I have from them already. I could open my own skin care store!

I sat down with a few of the women who were demonstrating the product and getting skin analysis’ done. I should’ve really kept my skin analysis because it would’ve been helpful to your to see. But it was gross looking, so I chucked it out a few days after I got home from Toronto.

Time In A Bottle is quite the expensive serum and since I have a huge love for Philosophy products I asked if I could review this one. Thus, the sample sized bottles shown in the pictures.

The full sized Time In A Bottle comes in two separate containers. One being the product, the other being the activator. Apparently it maximizes its benefits that way. Who knows. I think it’s neat marketing on their part to make it feel extra special.Â Note: you only have three months to use up the bottle after mixing it.

Why I wanted to use it:
If you’re concerned with age spots, you can reduce them with the vitamin C to the power of 8. (C8 for short).

How to use:
Cleans your skin, apply Time In A Bottle, and follow through with your regular routine after that. Mine would be putting on more Philosophy products: Hope In A Jar moisturizer, then Miracle Eye Cream that I purchased in June.

Sometimes you can get a little discoloration in your face from skin damage, or even pregnancies. I’ve applied it morning and night. Like most Philosophy products, it works on my skin. It doesn’t sting, or have a scentÂ â€” just absorbs perfectly into my skin.

Have I noticed a difference after using the two product samples up?

Well let me say this much. I do like hydrating my skin and keeping it quenched. Plus, at my age you’re not going to tell a significant difference as I don’t have large pores, noticeable wrinkles or much sun damage. I mean my skin texture is smoother and even though I don’t have…. saggy skin or anything my face feels a bit firmer. Is that weird?

Will I be buying the full sized product of it? No, not at this time. I’m going to keep using Philosophy products but it’s much too far out of my price range, and I already moisturize my skin twice a day with Philosophy product, so I think I’m on the right skin-care road.

How often do you moisturize?

What kind of skin care do you use?

Daily, Hair, Photos, Reviews

KÃ©rastase Elixir Ultime

March 19, 2012 4 Comments

I gave you a brief overview of my hair care routine last week and today I’m elaborating on the hair serum I love to use.

Ever since I decided to stop damaging my hair with the hair straightener every morning I’ve gone to other options to make my hair sleek and shiny on a daily basis.

I’ve written about my hair care routine but wanted to single out one product in particular that I can’t seem to live without. Now I know that’s going to sound absurd but I’ve been telling all my friends and co-worker’s how I’ve been getting nicely tamed hair without the use of a flat iron.

It’s two products put together basically. A boar bristle hair brush, and a hair serum.

I’ve been using hair serums for a number of years but until recently I don’t think I was using them to their full potential. I’ve tried plenty in the past such as Aveda’s smoothing serum (not shown), Aveda’s balm,Â Joico Kpak, Macadamia Nut, and two KÃ©rastase products that I received in my monthly subscription boxes.

Now? I’m all about the KÃ©rastase.Â I first heard aboutÂ KÃ©rastase Elixir Ultime from Fleur, a very well known makeup guru on YouTube a few years ago. I trust everything she raves about regarding products. I naively thought it was only available in the UK. That is, until I received a sample of it in my beauty subscription boxes. KÃ©rastase is said to give nourishment, shine, softness and condition the hair.

The packaging is great but not as eye catching as I think it could be. The serum is housed in a 125ml plastic bottle with a pump at the top.

On the backside of the box it gives the ingredients and instructions. I didn’t realize you could use this elixir on your hair before you shampoo as a pre cleanse treatment. I’m almost afraid to use it before hand since I was my hair 2-3 times per week and I don’t want to “waste” my hair cleansing routine and have oily hair. Has anyone tried this?

Â How I use the product. After I shampoo and condition my hair I immediately put my damp uncombed hair up in a towel and let it dry that way. If you rush this process you’ll get noticeably frizzy staticy hair. Trust me on this, you need to let the towel soak up all the damp wet hair. Your hair is at a brittle stage when its wet as it breaks easier. I leave my hair in the towel til I get dressed and off it comes when I’m about to do my makeup. I comb through my hair using a wooden wide tooth comb (spoken about here) and then put in a quarter of a pump of the KÃ©rastase Elixir. The texture of the elixir is quite runny in consistency, so a little will go a long way and this 125ml bottle will last me a good year or more. I clip my hair up and continue onto my makeup routine. After that’s done I blow dry my hair and when it’s fully dry, I add one more pump of the elixir to my hair and I’m finished.

As for recommending it to you guys? If you’re willing to shell out the $42 Canadian for this product, I would say go for it. I mean, it does giveÂ you shiny, sleek hair. Plus the elixir is silicone free so it feels weightless on the hair, which is one of the top contenders in a product that I look for, as I do have pretty fine limp hair. I can say for certain that the KÃ©rastase Elixir feels much better on my hair than the Macadamia Nut serum, which weighed my hair down.

Where to buy?Â It’s sold only at salons, and you can find one near you atÂ www.kerastase.ca. I also found it on Amazon but it seems to be much pricier on there than in salon’s. The only con to this serum is the price. If I had to choose what product would be the most similar that I tried, it would be the Aveda smoothing fluid in the blue bottle. It has 25ml less than the KÃ©rastase but it’s $26 compared to roughly $42.

Overall I give this product two thumbs up. A weightless product that works well in my fine, limp hair and whenever I use it at the roots very sparingly (not even a pump, just the leftovers from the ends) it keeps my hair looking volumized from the blow drying and styling I did.

You know those radio shows that tell answers and they want you to call in with the questions? A few days ago the radio show host said a woman thinks about this, an average of 43 times during the run of a day. I completely agree (though 43 is a little excessive) about the answer. It’s her hair! I swear, whenever I wash my hair and use the serum, I can’t stop feeling it.

How often do you use your hair styling products such as your straightener, or blow dryer? Do you use a hair serum?