Review: Dr. Sebagh Purifying Mask Anti-Pollution

First a disclaimer:
I'm not even going to pretend that I did or would ever pay $80 for a face mask. I would absolutely pay $80 for a facial (I've actually paid more than $80) but with the facial, you get the whole experience and with this face mask, I slapped it on in old pajamas and crawled into my non-spa bed with my pink head wrap thing and an iced tea and watched You Tube videos - not quite the same. I got this for a steal off of SpaceNK and since I'm stuck in bed recovering from a surgical procedure (and my face has been a hot mess), I thought I'd give it a whirl.

I don't know much about Dr. Sebagh - I'll give you that. I know he's a Dermatologist and I believe he is a Dermatologist to the stars, which gives him the ability to charge $80 for face masks among other things. His line is sold at exclusive high end retailers like Barneys New York and SpaceNK London. I actually really like the slightly clinical looking packaging but I know that would annoy others due to the price point.

The Dr. Sebagh Purifying Mask Anti-Pollution promises to "refine and refresh the skin whilst providing deep cleansing to the skin" [verbatim except I changed the tense]. Whilst may be my favourite word ever (see what I did there? I'm a bit delirious, sue me).

Anyway, the mask comes out a whitish cream and I liberally put it all over my face and relaxed for 10 minutes per the instructions. When the mask was first applied, I felt a slight tightening sensation, likely due to the kaolin clay. It was your standard clay mask hardening effect and not unpleasant. The mask doesn't burn or tingle which is great since I didn't do a spot test and my skin can be quite sensitive. It easily removed with warm water and a muslin cloth.

Afterwards, my skin felt soft and smooth but not dried out which is unusual with these types of masks. I'm going to have to thank Dr. Sebagh for adding oils to the mask and not causing my skin to dry out like the Sahara. All in all, very pleasant. Fairly quick for a mask and low key but very expensive.

Would I ever tell you to part with $80 of your hard earned money and buy this mask? No. I'm not a mask person but I couldn't resist the bargain myself.

For a mask, it's pretty darn good.

Disclosure: Don't hate me, but I got this for $12, yup.

Review: Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil

On with the "need to try something new bug." I recently placed an order at Tatcha for some blotting papers and also received an adorable 15ml sample of their cleansing oil. The Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil generally retails for $48 and comes with 5.5oz of product.

My sample came with a dropper which isn't my favorite since it's very hard to see exactly where I'm dropping without my glasses. Sample packaging aside, I found this oil effectively removed most makeup as it claims. I also found it weightless on the skin, and it doesn't leave any sort of residue. It didn't effortlessly remove waterproof mascara which is fine since I don't mind using and buying the Makeup Forever Sens'eyes remover which does make it effortless!

While this is nice, I'm not sure if I'd purchase as I tend to prefer the balm cleansers. However, if you are sensitive to mineral oils, this might be one to try as that ingredient (among others) is missing from the list.

Actives: Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Algae Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract.
Formulated without: Mineral Oil, Synthetic Colors, Synthetic Fragrances, Sulfate Detergents, Parabens, PEGs, PPGs, Urea, DEA, TEA or Phthalates.

*For those that don't mind cheaper ingredients and prefer a cheaper price point, check my review on the The Body Shop version here*

Review: Nuxe Reve De Miel Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm

Oh Nuxe! I so wanted to love your Reve de Miel. I tried the stick version and just wasn't impressed. Then I ordered the pot and even though I hate pots, I thought - "ok, now it'll wow me". Well, it's good, don't get me wrong. It comes in a frosted glass jar which is very elegant and it makes my lips feel moisturized in the morning, but it's in a pot. And that means I need to stick my finger (or designated non grimy object) into it to apply. And well, that means I only really get to use it at night or on the weekends (since I'm too rushed to do it in the morning - my own fault of course) and I don't get home until late (darn you DC traffic).

So it's good, yes. And you can get it for less expensive on international sites like feel unique ($15.68 btw) but I wish Nuxe would put this formula in the tube. I mean, it can't be that hard, right?

 

I may re-buy, but not because I enjoy using potted balms!

*tip: Make sure to really rub it in upon application like you would a lip scrub

Review: The Body Shop Moisture White Shisho Make-up Cleansing Oil

You know that bug you sometimes get where you just want to try something new? I am still in love with my balm cleansers. I've loved each one I've tried but I thought I'd mix it up with something different: cleansing oils. Cleansing oils have been a big thing for several years but I just never got into it. Now that I've tried and loved balm cleansers, cleansing oils seemed to be the next logical step. I recently purchased The Body Shop's Moisture White Shisho Make-up Cleansing Oil. At $15 for 4.2oz and often on sale, this cleansing oil is a good one to try and it won't break the bank.

Now, it's not all natural, it has added fragrance (a lighter version of TBS Moonflower - my favorite from their old lineup) and it comes in a standard white plastic bottle, but it's pretty darn good. Like balm cleansers, you apply on dry skin, massage and then add warm water, and most if not all of your makeup dissolves away (it easily removed my eye makeup - even waterproof mascara though it required a bit more effort, concealer and my Studio Fix Powder but ymmv). The flip cap squeeze bottle made it easy to dispense the right amount. It's pretty low frills but I found it quite effective and I'd repurchase, especially with a sale!
 
Full Ingredients Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Emollient), PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Isohexadecane (Emollient/Solvent), Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil (Emollient/Skin Conditioner), Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate (Surfactant - Emulsifying Agent), Water (Solvent/Diluent), Fragrance (Fragrance), Perilla Ocymoides Seed Oil (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Antioxidant), Butylphenyl Methylpropional (Fragrance Ingredient), Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract (Conditioning Agent, Humectant), Citric Acid (pH Adjuster).

NOTD: Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Sparkly Rose + Revlon Powder Puff

This Nail of The Day includes Walgreens clearance as you can see from the slightly obnoxious "reduced price" sticker on Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Sparkly Rose. I had a hell of a time trying to photograph this polish. It's so complex with the shifting rose/coral sparkles, though quite beautiful. Since I intended to use it sheer, I layered Revlon Power Puff underneath, perfect since it's a suede and dries quickly. Before you think I'm lying about the Rose, look at the bottle picture below. 

Anyway, as I mentioned actually photographing this was a pain. I took several pictures and none really gave the awesome duochrome flash the polish gives, which is one of the reasons I chose it as just a flash at work is better than full on glitter bomb!

You can kind of see from the pinky that with just a little movement, the pink flash goes away.

Anyway, I think I've bored you enough with my manicure today. I hope everyone in the US has a wonderful Mother's Day!

Fourth Blogiversary Giveaway Winner!

Today, I have the winner of the Nume Flat Iron from my Blogiversary Giveaway!

Congratulations to... *drum roll*

Jennifer D.

Jennifer, you should have already received an e-mail from me requesting your address. 

 

Thank you all for supporting Jeweled Thumb. More giveaways will be upcoming. 

May Birchbox (2013)

I'm quite happy with this Birchbox, even with the foil packet as it's a full ounce!

Inside:

Cargo Water Resistant Blush in Bali 08oz/2.5 grams (full size $26)
Coola Classic Face SPF 30 moisturizer .23oz/7ml (full size 1.7oz|$36)  ~$4.90 worth
Marvis Classic Mint Toothpaste .5floz/10ml (retail size 25ml|$6) ~ $2.50 worth
Miss Jessie's Jelly Soft Curls 1floz/29ml (full size 8.5oz|$14) ~ $1.60 worth
and a pen?   $0.00 worth

Aside from the pen, I'm pleased with this box and I love the baby Cargo blush (though I can't find the weight to do a "worth" comparison. What did you get in your May Birchbox?

Disclosure: Referral link included.

NOTD: Revlon Colorstay #020 Pale Cashmere plus extras

I mentioned on my initial NOTD post, that once I got some tip wear, I would be doing a glitter coat to revive my manicure. Surprisingly enough, Pale Cashmere has lasted pretty well but I did want to update it and when I had trouble falling asleep Sunday evening, it was the perfect opportunity. I took Sinful Colors Show Stopping and Revlon Glimmer Gloss in Pina Colada Pop. I think it is subtle enough for the office but definitely refreshed the manicure. I 'm pretty happy with the longevity of the initial Revlon application and this will prolong the manicure to lasting well over a week!

April Empties (2013)

Happy May, everyone! I managed to use up quite a few products in April which makes me extremely happy, though I still have a pesky powder foundation that I use at least 5 days a week and hit pan on in December and it still isn't finished (maybe this will wind up in my May empties?). Nonetheless, here are my empties for April.

Philip B Anti-Flake Relief Shampoo - In case you couldn't already tell, I love this shampoo. It's great for my flaky dry scalp. It's somewhat ridiculously priced, but that's ok since I love it. I recently stocked up at the recent spacenk sale so I won't be running out again anytime soon!
Phyto scalp stimulant Elixir Universel - This was a sample in one of the recent Sephora sample bags. It smells horrendous but it really calmed my scalp down as I was having a bit of a psoriasis outbreak due to the weather change. I actually bought the full size as it is significantly safer than using my prescription ointment.
*NuNaat Intensive Hair Mask - I really love this stuff and I was sad to see it go, weird scent and all. It does a great job of moisturizing my hair and I can definitely tell a different when I use it. I've linked a twit-pic of how nice my hair looked after usage, with no extra leave in products. I believe I mentioned in my review that I've seen some of the range in stores, but not this particular product line. I haven't really seen it online either, otherwise I'd repurchase.

Bath & Body Works Twilight Wood Shea Enriched Shower Gel - Lovely scent. Not the most moisturizing shower gel I've ever used but then again, that's what lotion is for! This is the small 3oz size which I love since I tend to get bored easily.
LaRocca Cellular Gold Hydrating Body Balm - This came in a Beauty Army box, I think. It is super rich and emollient and smells like Sunkist Fruit Gems, yum! This takes forever to sink in, so I preferred it at night with a nice comfy pair of flannel pajamas. I'm not sure I'd buy the big size because not only is it pricey but it's a very particular type of product (definitely can't be used in the summer as you'd stick to everything!).
The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Lip Care Stick - An oldie but a goodie! As I've said before, I love the majority of the lip balms from The Body Shop and this is no exception. Reasonably priced, not too waxy nor oily, just perfect. 
MAC Microfine Refinisher - A discontinued but lovely product. I have only another tube before it's gone for good which is unfortunate as it's so nice.

Olay Wet Cleansing Towelettes - These are ok and I got them for an excellent price at the drugstore. My only complaint was they made my eyes water which is weird since they have no alcohol. I think I have another pack but I'm not sure I'd repurchase.

So there you have it. What did you finish in April? If you have a post about your empties, please link it below!


* Disclosure: Item(s) starred were sent for review.