Month: February 2021

Ilia Lip Wrap Hydrating Mask Review

~ Michele Raiyne ~ Leave a comment

The Lip Wrap Hydrating Mask from Ilia is a lip treatment that claims to gently exfoliate, nourish and hydrate the lips while providing a soft, smooth, plumped feeling.

Ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mango Butter Dimer Dilinoleyl Esters/Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Polyglyceryl-10 Decaoleate, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaoleate, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaisostearate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Cera Alba/Beeswax/Cire d’abeille, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Hydroxystearic Acid, Aroma, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Lactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract, Silica, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide).

Salicornia herbacea extract is said to improve hydration up to 6000% for smooth and supple lips. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, drawing moisture to the lips. Papaya enzymes gently exfoliate the skin, improving absorption of other ingredients. Plant butters and oils nourish and soften the lips over time. Undaria pinnatifida extract is a type of seaweed that is hydrating and soothing and acts as an antioxidant. Geraniol, limonene and linalool are fragrance ingredients.

Directions: Apply a thin layer during the day and/or before bed as a lip mask. Can be worn under lipstick. Due to the gentle exfoliating properties, the lip treatment can be applied up to a few times per day.

Ilia Lip Wrap is a balm-like treatment that has a bit of a herbal scent/taste. It feels nice on the lips initially, not too heavy. It makes the lips a bit shiny, but not sticky. I’ve used for 2 weeks thus far, two to three times a day, in the morning, sometimes afternoon, and as an overnight mask. My lips are generally dry and can get flakiness.

A number of times I’ve applied this, after about 15 to 20 minutes, the lip balm seemed to soak in really fast, leaving my lips feeling much drier with quite a bit of flakiness. The lips look smoother and little plumper while the balm is applied, but there are no real short or longer term benefits. As an overnight mask, the Lip Wrap does not last on the lips until morning. In the 2-week photo above, my lips look and feel drier with dry surface skin and a couple cracks, worse off than in the before photo. The lips are not smoothed, nourished, hydrated, plumped or exfoliated. Lip Wrap gives similar results to the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, although feels nicer on the lips.

I would stick with my must-have lip balm Quench from My Best Face Skin Care. As an overnight treatment, I layer squalane oil over Quench for soft, hydrated lips the next morning.

I will not repurchase Ilia Lip Wrap Hydrating Mask.

The Inkey List Peptide Moisturizer Review

~ Michele Raiyne ~ 1 Comment

The Inkey List’s Peptide Moisturizer is a peptide cream that claims to hydrate, support collagen, improve fine lines, wrinkles, firmness and elasticity. This is said to be a rich cream for dry skin.

Ingredients: Aqua (Water/Eau), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Gluconate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-37, Maltodextrin, Pentapeptide-48

The Peptide Moisturizer contains 2% Royal Epigen P5 that nurtures skin to help decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and a 1% peptide solution to support that skin’s moisture barrier for radiant skin. The product contains humectants, emollients and occlusive ingredients.

Directions: Morning and evening, apply a pea-sized amount to face and neck after cleansing and preferred serums.

The moisturizer is labeled for dry skin, however, I have oily/combination (in colder temperatures)/dehydrated skin. I have used this for 3 months thus far as my morning moisturizer, and sometimes in the evening.

Peptide Moisturizer comes in a jar with a pump and has no added scent, but smells a bit medicinal (this smell lasts a few minutes and does not bother me). This is a medium-thick cream, described as “rich,” though I’m not sure I would actually describe it as such; I think it is generally similar to an average cream moisturizer. It spreads nicely over the skin. After initially applying, this product feels relatively moisturizing on oilier areas of the skin, particularly my nose, with a silky layer on the skin, however, on drier areas like my chin, I need to apply a couple layers. Foundation does not apply as nicely over this as other moisturizers I have used. The moisture lasts only 3 to 4 hours and I feel like I need to reapply. If I put some other hydrating or moisturizing serum underneath, my skin feels moisturized all day. For this purpose, I’ve used Indeed Labs’ Hydraluron Moisture Serum, Cosrx Snail Mucin Essence and surprisingly, the Vichy vitamin C serum ampoule seems to provide extra hydration as well; my skin feels more moisturized and protected than with the peptide cream alone just over a toner. I’m not sure if this is because Peptide Moisturizer does not have enough moisture or hydration for the skin or if it is ineffective in preventing water loss (and I have combination skin). Interestingly, it is stated on the jar to use hyaluronic acid under the moisturizer to draw in the peptides. I also need to use more than the recommended amount; I use one pea size for the face and one for the neck, with an extra layer or two on drier areas.

I’ve not seen any difference to fine lines and wrinkles or radiance to the skin, though I doubt 3 months is enough time to improve fine lines, and there are other better products targeted to those issues. My skin feels a little softer though.

I’ve seen this recommended as a dupe for Drunk Elephant’s Protini; I disagree. Protini provides more hydration/moisture, lasts all day on its own and leaves the skin feeling plump, bouncy and silky with a general improvement in texture and complexion. If Protini was not so expensive, I would continue purchasing.

Peptide Moisturizer from The Inkey List is just okay (surprisingly rather ineffective on drier areas of my face). The price is good. I might use this as a summer moisturizer for the face and neck (other than my T-zone which would be too oily), but would need a more moisturizing/hydrating and protecting product for fall and winter.

Thanks for reading.

Indeed Laboratories Eysilix II Review

~ Michele Raiyne ~ Leave a comment

Indeed Labs’ Eysilix II eye cream is formulated with ceramides, peptides and probiotics and claims to reduce puffiness, dark circles, crow’s feet, fine lines and wrinkles while brightening, lifting and smoothing the eye area.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua / Eau), Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Arachidyl Alcohol, Phenyl Trimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Behenyl Alcohol, Peg-100 Stearate, Palmitoyl Glycine, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Polysilicone-11, Caprylyl Glycol, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Tribehenin, Panthenol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Xanthan Gum, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil Unsaponifiables, Camelia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Disodium Edta, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Punica Granatum Extract, Polysorbate 80, Ceramide Ng, Peg-10 Rapeseed Sterol, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Glucose, Lactobacillus Ferment, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Caffeine, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Pantolactone, Potassium Sorbate, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12.

A few key ingredients; Neodermyl and Uplevity trigger/increase collagen and elastin, Dermaxyl repairs skin’s natural barrier function, Revital-Eyes is a complex of probiotics, green tea extract, pomegranate extract and caffeine that protects the skin from environmental damage and diminishes dark circles and puffiness.

Directions: After cleansing, pat a small amount around eye contour in the morning and evening.

I have fine lines and wrinkles around my eyes and puffiness and dark circles (I suspect the dark circles are hereditary, so an eye cream is unlikely to improve those). I have used Eysilix II for 5 months thus far. Eysilix II has no scent.

Having used the same before photo for the Indeed Labs eyelash serum as eye cream (I started both products at the same time), I did not realize the undereye is a bit blurry/smoothed, so unfortunately, the before photo is not really helpful. In any case, Eysilix spreads easily and leaves a silky, smooth, protective layer over the skin that lasts until it is washed off in the morning/evening. My undereye feels more moisturized and smooth. The eyes looked maybe a bit brighter in the morning, but I would not say that there was really any significant improvement in fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness or dark circles. I have used a number of eye creams and have yet to find one that provides significant noticeable improvement (though the eye cream by Your Best Face Skincare worked quite well for my husband). Eysilix is a good moisturizer, however. I’ve seen here and there online that eye creams do not work and are just expensive moisturizers; based on my results with a few different eye creams, I wonder if that is true, though I think if an eye cream has peptides and actives, it would have potential.

I am going to finish the tube of Indeed Labs Eysilix II and will not repurchase. Next I am going to order the Retinol Eye Cream from the Inkey List. I expect (hope) retinol will help the fine lines and wrinkles.

Thanks for reading.