Project Pan Them All | February Empties

Hi ladies! I know, my last post was two weeks ago, but here is my excuse - I recently started TSW (topical steroid withdrawal), which prevents my body from functioning normally - I can barely eat and sleep, I can't work, and some days, I can't even walk properly. I am planning to write a whole post about this, but in the meantime, please bear with the lack of posts.

Before realizing I was suffering from TSW, I tried all kinds of body lotions, creams and butters to moisturize my red, itchy, irritated skin, but nothing would do, not even Basil Lemon Extra Moisturizing Body Butter for dry skin, that I used to love thanks to its great creamy texture and it's fresh and sweet smell.

Containing 1/3 nourishing milk, Uriage Crème Lavante Soap-Free Liquid Cleanser is one of the most gentle product I have used on my poor TSW skin. I really enjoy the pleasant light, fresh and "clean" fragrance of this cleanser, but its texture is not really consistent, which makes it hard to dispense the proper amount of product, despite the convenient pump packaging. I have to use a fair amount of product to produce a fine, creamy, easy-to-rinse foam, but I guess that for a soap-free cleanser, it's fairly good. I loved how this prodct never left my skin parched after showering.

When I realized that nothing worked to soothe my TSW skin, I dug out Dr Hess Udder Ointment to use it as a protective layer on my skin, since its texture actually reminds me a little of Vaseline. It is not especially moisturizing but it did make my skin a bit more comfortable for a few hours.

I kept hearing about the wonders of coconut oil but I have always loathed oily products on my skin - it just drives me crazy! When I received Adara Organic Virgin Coconut Oil to try, I had no choice but to use it to properly test it... yes, it does soothe and moisturize my skin greatly, but still, that oily texture... yuck! To be honest, I quickly forgot about it and put it away. But recently, since starting the TSW process, my skin could not tolerate any moisturizer so I looked for natural alternatives, and I realized it was the time to give another chance to coconut oil. Which I did, but it did not work wonders - my skin is so raw and sensitive that it just won't tolerate anything - which bring me to MW (moisturizer withdrawal), which I will talk about more in another post.

I still can't believe how Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Deep Hydrating Treatment worked wonders on saving my hair! It has a great creamy texture so it does not make a mess in the shower, and you really don't need a lot of product at once. My hair was left incredibly smooth, soft, shiny and easily manageable!

KORRES Quercetin & Oak Collection

Hi ladies! After trying, falling in love and sadly using up both KORRES Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Night Cream and Eye Cream, I was very excited to be given the opportunity to try a few other products from this collection!

I had never used something like the Instant Wrinkle Filler ($57.00) before so I was very curious about it, and I must say I am quite impressed! This product is a targeted treatment that visibly smooths fine lines and deep wrinkles for more youthful looking skin. Altough I am not struggling with deep wrinkles yet, I have some annoying expression lines around my eyes and mouth, but this filler does an amazing job at smoothing them, leaving my skin super soft! The precision tip is perfectly designed to apply this antiaging treatment directly to problem areas and the formula quickly absorbs for comfortable, all-day wear alone or under makeup.

Since I am struggling with very dry skin due to eczema, a serum is an essential to me, and I actually really like the Antiwrinkle & Firming Face Serum ($69.00), which is claimed to visibly improve skin texture while rejuvenating dull, aging skin. Did you know that quercetin and oak is the first natural, clinically proven alternative to retinol? An ultra-powerful antioxidant derived from the oak tree, it works fast to help minimize the signs of aging and keep skin looking younger. This serum also contains myrtle extract to improve skin elasticity, mourera fluviatilis to help maintain the skin's water levels, hyaluronic acid to help skin retain moisture and appear smoother, and hexapeptide to improve firmness. I really like how fast this product is absorbed into the skin, so that I can quickly follow with my day cream.

The Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Day Cream With Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 15 ($59.00) is probably one of the most moisturizing day cream I have tried! It reduces the appearance of aging while improving skin softness, smoothness, and firmness, and protecting skin with broad spectrum SPF 15. This cream also contains mourera fluviatilis extract which offers moisture binding properties to help maintain the skin's water levels while shea butter, in combination with sweet almond and hazelnut oils, nourishes and helps skin keep in moisture. I really use the thiniest quantity of product with each application but I have to make sure to really massage it in if I don't want to be left with random white patches on my face. I love how my skin imediately feels soothed, soft and smooth, and I don't feel the need to re-apply thorough the day.

KORRES products are available at selected Shoppers Drug Mart and Sephora retailers nationwide.

Disclaimer: One or more products were sent to me for consideration to review. I am not affiliated with this company and the fact that the products were free absolutely does not influence my opinion.

Project Pan Them All | January Empties

I am pretty proud of myself since I seem to be on a roll with all of those empties! Next month might be disappointing since I just started using a few new products but oh well, you can't have it all every time, right?

I like to spray Marc Anthony Salon Expert Keratin Miracle Frizz-Smoother Leave-in evenly on my damp hair to ensure easy detangling and super smooth hair - it never fails to leave it incredibly soft, hydrated and manageable. I have been using it every time I wash my hair since I got it, and I can really certify that it is a miracle product! This is really my favorite product of the Salon Expert range and I am wondering if I will ever find an alternative that is just as great.

Elin Bianco Treatment Mask has been absolutely wonderful to revive my dry hair, especially after coming back from Europe this summer, since I did not bring any conditioner and I did not look after my hair at all for a whole month... or two. The texture is amazingly perfect - it feels thick, almost like a styling paste, so it never makes a mess in the shower. My hair was left incredibly soft and smooth after the first use!

When I first started using MAKE UP FOR EVER Smoky Extravagant, I found the formula to be way too wet for my liking - there was so much product on the brush that I had to wipe it on a tissue before each use and between each coat! Also, the mascara took forever to dry. I was happy to see the formula improve after a few weeks though, and I was left with volumized, lengthened and defined lashes that actually held a curl all day - and I have the straightest lashes ever! - after only one coat. I like to build up to three coats with this mascara for maximum effect, but be careful because it tends to start clumping at the third coat.

KORRES Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Eye Cream is probably my all-time favorite eye cream, since it's almost a miracle for me to have found a rich and extremely moisturizing eye cream that doesn't give me milia! I can't comment on the dark circles and pufiness claims though since I mainly use eye cream as a prevention but also to keep my delicate eye area moisturized as it gets eczema flare-ups very easily.

I am usually very happy with their body butters, but The Body Shop Brazil Nut Body Butter has been such a let down! It failed to calm my itchy and dry skin caused by eczema and it did not even seem to moisturize it, although it is said to be formulated for dry skin... even pure aloe vera did a better job than this product! Huge disappointment.

I have not tried a lot of their cleansers but LUSH Let The Good Times Roll was a pleasant surprise! Since I have dry and eczema-prone skin, I was happy to learn that, despite providing deep exfoliation, Let the Good Times Roll is gentle enough for everyone to use - my skin was not left tight or drier, instead, I could feel it being super soft and refreshed! Did you know that this best-seller was a holiday product that’s now a permanent part of LUSH's cleansers range?

Another product I was recommended for my eczema by the doctor I consulted when I had my monstruous allergic reaction after I went swimming in a supposedly radioactive lake this summer is Pro-Derm PostX2, which is supposed to be a miraculous moisturizer... but of course, I did not notice any improvment. Another almost $70 thrown out the window... thanks eczema.

I was given Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion* some times ago but I did not want to use it since it is not cruelty-free, but I must admit it came in handy - at least temporarily - to calm those rashes I was struggling with after my adventure in the radioactive lake. It did relieve my itchy and extra dry skin thanks to cooling menthol and colloidal oatmeal, but with ingredients such as parabens and alcohol, I knew this was not a long-term solution, so whn I ran out, I purchased some aloe vera as a more natural replacement.

I asked a pharmacist which supplement was recommended for vegetarians and he told me that plant foods do not contain vitamin B12, but that as a lacto-ovo-vegetarian, I could obtain most of mine from milk, dairy products, and eggs. The requirement for vitamin B12 is very low, but it is essential, so I decided to give Jamieson B12 a try anyway. I also purchased Jamieson Vita-Vim Vegetarian which I seem to prefer since it provides a full complement of nutrients necessary to support daily metabolic processes, and allows one to optimally use food to help generate energy, combat fatigue, and resist infection. 

In my attempt to soothe my eczema flare-ups, I decided to try Uremol 20 Intense Relief Moisturizing Cream since I have heard urea has been clinically shown to temporarily relieve minor skin irritation and soothe dry, itcy skin. It was not very effective though since it burned my skin so much when I applied it! Once again, aloe vera seems to do a better job than this chemical-filled product.

KORRES Wild Rose Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial, was great for my dry skin. I absolutely love the weightless soufflé texture that instantly melts into my skin to leave it extremely smooth, soft and moistured by morning, and best of all, this product won't leave your face - or pillow, or hair! - even the slightest greasy!

*Please note that Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion is NOT cruelty-free

Project Pan Them All | August/September Empties

Hi ladies! Since I have been away in France in August and I really did not bring much with me, I was not really able to use up a lot of products, so I combined my August and September empties.

Yes, the mouthwatering cotton candy, sweet vanilla and bubblegum scent of LUSH Snow Fairy Shower Gel is simply intoxicating and I could not have asked for something better in this department, but the letdown is that, despite its fairly consistent texture, the shower gel requires tons of product to get an adequate leather, which is a real shame considering how overpriced this product is! Appart from the scent - which is not as strong in the shower as it is in the bottle - I can't justify the price of Snow Fairy and I won't be repurchasing it.

I was recommended Pro-Derm Hydrogel from the doctor I consulted when I had my monstruous allergic reaction after I went swimming in a supposedly radioactive lake (don't ask...). Made with a synergy of plant and marine ingredients to ensure exceptional efficiency, Hydrogel is claimed to rapidly soothe sensible skin. Its usage is recommended after aesthetics interventions or to regenerate the skin’s protective film after bathing, showering or shaving. I did not find it especially moisturizing and I was disappointed with how fast I used it ip, especially given its expensive price - around $60!

The first time I tried KORRES Yoghurt Instant Soothing Gel on my dry skin, I actually jumped in surprise because it made my skin sting so much! Fortunately, my skin calmed down after a few minutes, and when I applied the gel again the following morning, everything was OK this time - weird! While this gel does soothe and calm my dry and irritated skin, I did not notice any "light cooling effect" and while my skin did feel nourished and moisturized, it failed to completely relieve my very dry skin. 

Having never used an exfoliating moisturizer before, I did not know what to expect from Jergens Replenishing Vitamin E Gentle Exfoliating Moisturizer but I was not impressed - it is really light and watery and it did not even seem to moisturize my dry skin at all.

Burt's Bees Nourishing Lip Balm with Mango Butter is the lip balm I mostly relied on when I was in France, and it did not disappoint! I really prefer it over the original beeswax lipbalm, which seems to dry my lips even more. This mango butter version goes on much more smoothly and not waxy at all, and I could still feel it on my lips after quite some times, which means I did not feel the urge to constantly re-apply it.

I must say I am not a huge fan of peel off face masks for some reasons - maybe because none of them are really moisturizing on my dry skin? Montagne Jeunesse Prickly Pear Peel Off is no exception, but it did smell sooooo fruity and yummy!

Project Pan Them All | January Empties

Hi ladies! I am pretty proud of myself for using up so many products these days - we are a near the end of February and I have already used up twelve products this month, which is amazing to me and it feels so liberating! I am a bit late with my January empties - as always - so enough about February and let me share with you my thoughts about some recent empties!

You may have noticed that I have a real bad habit of clinging to my LUSH products as if they were treasures meant to be kept forever - I never shop at LUSH and most of the products I have were gifts, so I should not feel guilty about using them up, but I still do! Anyway, I was glad to have finally managed to use up LUSH Fluffy Egg Bath Bomb which was a limited-edition Easter product. It was so big that I manage to get, what, five baths out of it? I am not even kidding! OK, it has been around for so long that by the end, it barely smelled anything, but I remember it smelled sweet, a bit like candy. 

I enjoyed my experience with LUSH Golden Wonder Bath Bomb solely because it managed to turn my bath an amazing gorgeous deep blue teal color completed with a layer of gold shimmers. I was disappointed that this bath bomb barely smelled something once thrown in the bath, and also, that the orange oil did not leave my skin smooth or moisturized. For around $7, this is not worth it for me!

I still can't believe that I have finally used up my big 500ml bottle of LUSH Glögg Shower Gel - this stuff is pricey, but it does last an amazingly long time!It lathers well so you only need a small quantity of product and it smells of Coca-Cola to me - not a scent I would have gone for if I had smelled it in the store but I have grown to actually like it since it is different, with a nice warming, spicy twist.

Earthen InstantPeel is a product that will probably never cease to amaze me - it's really super easy to use and I still think it's truly awesome to be able to actually see the peels of dead skin, it's like a proof that the product is working. I have never used something like this before! This product is great for dry and sensitive skin as it didn't leave my face irritated or even drier - I could feel my skin being softer and smoother. The only things I dislike about this product is the price - at $10 an application, it can be getting quite pricey - and the messy packaging.

I might be the only girl in the blogosphere who is not totally smitten by Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant - I don't understand what I am doing wrong, but this stuff just does nothing for me! Once mixed with a little water, I did get a paste, but it vanished as soon as it touched my face, without the slightest abrasive feeling. I did enjoy the citrusy smell though!

Body butter is an essential for my dry and eczema-prone skin, and I know exactly what I want - thick, easy to spread, quickly absorbed and long-lasting moisture. If I applied MJ's Soap Shop Tangerine Body Butter too heavily on the areas of my body where my skin was not parched or prone to eczema, I was left with super oily skin and that oil just transfered to everything I touched - clothes, furnitures, even the dog! That beaing said, I have to disagree with the fast-absorbing claim in the description as, even when I was careful to use only a very small quantity of product on my super dehydrated skin, it took some time to sink in, but that is not a real problem for me because I shower at night before going to bed so the body has plenty of time to properly sink in. I was also a little disappointed that the butter doesn't provide long lasting moisture, because I stil feel the need to apply moisturizer in the morning to prevent my skin from getting itchy and dry through the day.

When I first started using St Moriz 'Dark' Instant Self Tanning Mousse, I was completely blown away because it appeared to be everything I was looking for - inexpensive, easy to use and provides a deep, natural golden brown tan that is never orange. I quickly realized it was not perfect though - it looks a bit muddy and unatural on my face, it applies incredibly patchy on my spots of eczema, and it wears off after only two days. I guess it's OK for the price though, since it is probably the cheapest self tanner available!

I always prefer to use a serum and a moisturizer and I really liked KORRES Wild Rose Face and Eye Brightening and Line Smoothing Serum, which smells amazing - just like real roses! - and really keeps my face moisturized all day. The clever pump bottle always dispense the exact right amount of product I need to cover my whole face and as soon as I'm finished applying the serum, it is already absorbed and I am ready to follow with my day cream! I love how this serum leaves my face slightly tightened and feeling fresh.

Burt's Bees Soap Bark & Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream is probably the first cream cleanser I have tried and I am convinced! I love how thick and creamy it is, and my skin feels fresh after use, but it sometimes still feel a little oily, as if it wasn't completely clean, especially when I wear foundation or BB Cream - nothing that can't be fixed with a little toner though. This cleanser tends to  dry me out a bit if I use it every day though.

It seems I have had this tube of Noxzema Continuous Clean Microbead Cleanser with Vitamin C forever, and I much as I appreciate how fresh it leaves my face after use, it feels so liberating to have finally used it up! It also has a super nice citrusy smell that never fails to wake me up in the morning.

I was a bit disappointed by Boots Botanics Body Overnight Hand & Nail Cream because since it has such a nice and thick consistency, I expected it to be really moisturizing, but it did not help at all with my eczema, which never fails to frustrate me! It also leaves my hands a bit greasy but this is no big deal since I use it only at night.

CLOSED - Holiday Giveaway #3 | Get Hydrated With KORRES This Winter!‏

As the holidays approach, the cold weather wreaks havoc on our skin. From dryness to flaking, it often feels like a challenge to keep skin supple and nourished all winter long. Have no fear – KORRES wants to arm you with hydrating, gentle and effective skincare products to combat winter weather and keep your skin looking vibrant!

To brighten up your winter and to help you get into the Holiday spirit, KORRES wants to treat one of Gaby's Beauty Blog reader to a prize pack featuring the Yoghurt products that I have featured in this post!

Rules:

• This giveaway is open to Canadian residents only (sorry!)
• You have to follow Gaby's Beauty Blog either via GFC, bloglovin or Hellocotton (you don't need to have a blog)
• Giveaway/freebie "hunters" or blogs made solely for giveaways will be disqualified (my giveaways are to thank the lovely ladies who truly read my blog!)
• This giveaway ends on December 25, at  12:01 am.

To enter (mandatory):

• Fill out the Rafflecopter form at the bottom of this post

Good luck!!!

Please wait for the Rafflecopter form to load!

a Rafflecopter giveaway This giveaway is sponsored by KORRES.

KORRES Yoghurt Collection

Inspired by the long-lived Greek tradition of applying yoghurt onto sunburned skin, the development of the KORRES Yoghurt line took over three years and it still remains their global-first, as this was the first time edible yoghurt was incorporated into their cosmetic formula. Yoghurt, a natural source of lactose, proteins, minerals and vitamins, instantly hydrates and relieves dry skin areas.

Why yoghurt? It is a rich nourishing ingredient; it is an essential food supplement, integral to numerous European and Asian dietary traditions. In addition to its nutritional properties, yoghurt makes an excellent cosmetic ingredient due to its levels of lactose, proteins, minerals and vitamins, which help increase the moisture levels in dry, damaged skin and protects from the abuse of the elements. These ingredients ‘wrapped’ in yoghurt’s cooling, soft texture leaves dry skin areas moisturised and soothed. Yoghurt instantly refreshes the skin, providing ideal comfort.

I was curious about the Milk Proteins Foaming Cream Cleanser ($26.00) because as much as I try to stay away from harsh foaming cleansers, I absolutely love cream ones, so I was wondering how a fusion of the two would work, and I was happily surprised!

This cream-to-foam cleanser is nicely creamy once it comes out of the tube, and when you rub it between your hands with warm water, you get a rich and luxurious foam that feels so good on your face! This gentle cleanser removes make-up and everyday impurities for effective, soap-free cleansing that leaves skin feeling soft, but still, a bit tight - let's just say I could not skip moisturizer after use.

It is actually the first time I tried a moisturizing gel, so I had high hopes for the Instant Soothing Gel ($49.50), which claims to provide instant comfort to distressed dry skin.

The first time on my dry skin, I actually jumped in surprise because it made my skin sting so much! Fortunately, my skin calmed down after a few minutes, and when I applied the gel again the following morning, everything was OK this time - weird! While this gel does soothe and calm my dry and irritated skin, I did not notice any "light cooling effect" and while my skin did feel nourished and moisturized, it failed to completely relieve my very dry skin.

The Extra Moisturizing Body Butter ($33.00) is actually quite similar to the other body butters I have tried from KORRES (Basil Lemon and Fig). I'm still not sure I understand why these are called "butter" when they are described as "extra moisturising cream for dry skin". To me, a butter has to be very thick but melts in contact with the skin, so in this case, how is it possible to have a body butter in a tube?

It still has a nice texture, but it's really more of a cream to me. It's not the thickest cream I have used but it's decent, it moisturizes well and I quite enjoy the subtle and fresh scent. Because of my dry and itchy skin - damn you eczema! - I have to re-apply this body cream in the morning to ensure a proper level of moisture through the day, but even though I'm used to do so with most of my body products, I find it's a bit of a waste of product for the steep price.

KORRES Yoghurt products are especially great for dry and dehydrated skin and they are available at selected Shoppers Drug Mart and Sephora retailers nationwide.

Disclaimer: One or more products were sent to me for consideration to review. I am not affiliated with this company and the fact that the products were free absolutely does not influence my opinion.

Project Pan Them All | November Empties

I don't know what I was thinking when I ordered Avon Wish of Luck Eau de Toilette Spray* straight from the brochure without even smelling it at first - what, I could not resist the "refreshing blend of green apple and sparkling florals" from the description! Unfortunately, this turned out to smell more floral than fruity to me, and the scent is way too light to last me through the day - I had to mix it with another perfume or body spray in an attempt to use it up, and I'm glad I finally did!

I have never been a fan of face wipes but I do like to keep some baby wipes on hand to wash my face quickly for those morning when I am in a rush before work. These Pampers Baby Wipes were way less pricey than face wipes, and they even came with a handy tub!

Earthen InstantPeel is a product that will probably never cease to amaze me - it's really super easy to use and I still think it's truly awesome to be able to actually see the peels of dead skin, it's like a proof that the product is working. I have never used something like this before! This product is great for dry and sensitive skin as it didn't leave my face irritated or even drier - I could feel my skin being softer and smoother. The only things I dislike about this product is the price - at $10 an application, it can be getting quite pricey - and the messy packaging.

I don't think I have had such amazing results with any other lengthening mascara before Marcelle Xtension Plus Mascara - it makes my lashes extremely long and defined, and most importantly, it holds a curl all day, which is a real miracle when you have extremely straight lashes like me! Also, I usually shy away from plastic applicators, but this mascara changed it all!

e.l.f. Mechanical Eyelash Curler is the only eyelash curler that I have tried that really works at curling my super straight lashes, but I hate, hate, hate how the metal top is so sharp that it always dig in the rubber pad, creating dents that pull off my precious eyelashes. Also, the stupid pad always falls off and, as if it wasn't enough, you can't purchase the rubber pad separately so you have to buy a new curler everytime which is not really a problem because it's only $1, but still, it's such a waste. Despite all of the bad things I pointed out, I still stick with this curler - do I really have a choice?

I picked up Mitchum Advanced Control Utltimate Strength & Protection Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant when I spotted it on sale at Walmart in an attempt to go completely cruelty-free, and I was not disappointed! The fragrance Powder Fresh is really nice but not overpowering, and best of all, I really feel protected all day, both from wetness and odor! I think I have found a new favorite - and cruelty-free - deodorant!

I recently reviewed Bomb La Bon Bon Whipped Sugar Scrub in Cotton Candy which I could not resist using almost every day because of its intoxicating smell, and I am actually a bit sad that I used it up so quickly, but it's OK though because it was not abrasive enough for my taste.

I have always loved serums as I have super dry skin, and Reviva Labs High Potency Collagen Serum did not disappoint. I love the lightweight gel consistency that absorbs very quickly into the skin, so you can apply your day or night cream over it without having to wait. This serum really left my skin super soft and smooth, and call me crazy, but I swear I have noticed results after the first use! Maybe I was too excited, but I really think my skin was less dry than the day before, especialy my dry patches of eczema. Of course, even after continuous use, this serum didn't get rid of my eczema (nothing really can), but I feel it has helped at least a little.

I have had Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel for what, three years, without never really using it regularly until I got more into self tanners recently, so when I decided to give it another try, it barely turned me... yellow. It's OK, I never really liked you either!

It does not happen often that I am really sad to have used up a particular product but I really think I have found my absolute holy grail night cream in KORRES Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Night Cream - it is everything I ever wanted in a night cream! It is amazingly thick and rich, it's not greasy and it's absorbed quickly into the skin, oh, and the smell... delicious! This cream looks very thick in the pot but it's very buttery and smooth on the skin, leaving it super soft.

Since I tried LARA Beauty Polishing Microderm Abrasion for Sensitive Skin, I have been hooked on microdermabrasion treatments, which seem to work so much better than you average face scrub! The texture of this one is just so thick, creamy and perfectly abrasive, but still, super gentle on my dry skin. My skin felt refreshed after use, but not tight or dry. It's a shame this product could not clear my skin of blackheads though, which is a big issue for me, but next time, I will try mixing three parts baking soda with one part water instead of repurchasing another product.

*Please note that Avon Wish of Luck is NOT cruelty-free

CLOSED - Giveaway | Discover The Beauty Of KORRES

I recently featured some new KORRES skincare products from their Wild Rose and Pomegranate lines that I really enjoyed, and now, for my birthday - which is today, yey! - it's your turn to try some of them!

The lucky winner will have the choice to pick the 3-piece prize pack that best suits their skin's needs - three full sized Wild Rose products (best for dry/normal/combination skin) or three full sized Pomegranate products (best for oily/problematic/combination skin).

The Wild Rose bundle includes:

• KORRES Wild Rose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial, weightless soufflé texture made with Vitamin C and Wild Rose Oil, works while you sleep to renew dull, tired skin by morning. It melts instantly into the skin to re-texturize skin for smooth skin by morning.
• KORRES Wild Rose Daily Brightening & Refinishing Buff Cleanser, a gentle yet effective exfoliating cleanser enriched with Wild Rose oil, clinically proven to improve skin’s overall radiance and texture with daily use.
• KORRES Wild Rose Instant Eye Brightening Treatment, a cream formulated with Wild Rose oil in combination with yeast, ruscus and horsechestnut extracts. This formulation helps to add radiance and rejuvenation to the delicate eye area, while minimizing the appearance of dark circles and finelines.

The Pomegranate bundle includes:

• KORRES Pomegranate Purifying Natural Clay Mask, deeply cleanses and tones the skin, tightening pores and absorbing oil.
• KORRES Pomegranate Toner purifies the skin’s surface, minimizes the look of pores and helps to reduce the appearance of redness, while leaving the skin feeling soft and fresh.
• KORRES Pomegranate Mattifying Treatment, a breathable, oil absorbing formula that instantly fills in pores leaving the skin with a smooth, even, matte finish while minimizing the appearance of pores throughout the day.

Rules:

• This giveaway is open to Canadian residents only (sorry!)
• You have to follow Gaby's Beauty Blog either via GFC, bloglovin or Hellocotton (you don't need to have a blog)
• Giveaway/freebie "hunters" or blogs made solely for giveaways will be disqualified (my giveaways are to thank the lovely ladies who truly read my blog!)
• This giveaway ends on November 16, at  12:01 am.

To enter (mandatory):

• Fill out the Rafflecopter form at the bottom of this post

Good luck!!!

Please wait for the Rafflecopter form to load!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
This giveaway is sponsored by KORRES.

KORRES Pomegranate Collection

Depicted in art, steeped in tradition and proven in medicine, the Pomegranate travels across cultures and time as a symbol of beauty and abundance. The KORRES Pomegranate line harnessing the anti-oxidant rich fruit, refines the appearance of pores, while noticeably reducing the appearance of redness. It diminishes surface oil and shine to uncover youthful and glowing skin.

I must start by saying that I was less happy with the Pomegranate collection than with the Wild Rose one because the products I will present in this review are all targeted at oily and combination skin while my skin is dry, but I still wanted to properly test them and objectively give you ladies my honest opinion, but please keep this in my mind.

I was never one to use a toner everyday - honestly, most of the time I simply don't bother with it because it is not the type of product that will deliver visible results, but when I remembered to actually use it, I quite enjoyed the Toner ($26.00), made with 15% Pomegranate water and natural astringents. This mattifying toner helps purify the skin’s surface by removing excess dirt, oil and impurities while minimizing pores and helping to reduce redness. This product  leaves my skin feeling fresh, and while it does leave it looking smoother and more matte, this sadly does not last, at least not in my T-zone. I do enjoy the subtle pomegranate smell though!

I must say I had high hopes for the Mattifying Treatment ($49.00) because I never used something like this before, but sadly, I was disappointed every single time I used it.

This product has a breathable, oil absorbing formula to minimize the appearance of pores and redness and leave skin with a smooth, matte finish, but unfortunately, this absolutely does not last throughout the day on me. An hour later, my T-zone starts to get oily again - keep in mind that I have dry skin! As for filling the pores and minimizing their appearance, I'm not convinced either, because I can still clearly see my disgustingly large pores after use. However, the good point I could point out is the amazingly juicy pomegranate smell - yum!

I usually shy away from clay masks because most are way too drying for my already parched skin, but the Purifying Natural Clay Mask ($44.00) is actually not as harsh as what I expected! It goes on smoothly on my skin and it does not dry to become that uncomfortable crackled mess - it's actually nice on the skin.

This purifying mask deeply cleanses and helps tone the skin, leaving a fresh, radiant complexion. It is also said to tighten pores but I did not notice this. I like to use it once a week - I leave it on around 10 minutes then rinse it off to smooth and radiant skin.

Like I mentioned earlier, I can't say I am impressed by these Pomegranate products - except maybe for the mask - but maybe someone with oily skin will experience better results? Be sure to also check out KORRES Pomegranate Balancing Cream-Gel Moisturiser, the Deep Cleansing Scrub and the Cleansing & Make-Up Removing Wipes.

KORRES products are available at selected Shoppers Drug Mart and Sephora retailers nationwide.

Disclaimer: One or more products were sent to me for consideration to review. I am not affiliated with this company and the fact that the products were free absolutely does not influence my opinion.

KORRES Wild Rose Collection

Wild Rose Oil is a natural source of vitamin C, which demonstrates significant ability to reduce the look of fine lines and skin discolorations. Wild Rose Oil also forms a protective film on the skin that prevents damage caused by drying, and improves skin texture.

First up in KORRES Wild Rose collection is the Daily Brightening & Refinishing Buff Cleanser ($28.00), which is a gentle skin brightening cleanser that exfoliates skin naturally using a dual-action process to uncover even, luminous skin.

I instantly fell in love with the amazingly creamy texture of this daily exfoliating cleanser, and I also really appreciate how the rice grain and cherry stone do not magically vanish once I start rubbing my face, allowing for a gentle yet deep cleansing action. This cleanser leaves my skin fresh while instantly brightening my complexion, which will be hugely appreciated in the dull winter weather. I was surprised that this is actually gentle enough for daily use, even for my super dry and ezcema-prone skin! Oh, and did I mention the amazing scent, just like a fresh bouquet of roses?

The product I was the most excited to try in the Wild Rose range was the Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial ($54.00), because... a sleeping facial - really? Have you ever heard of such a thing? This product is more than a mask, and more than a night cream - it is an overnight facial-in-a-jar with Vitamin C from Wild Rose Oil that works while you sleep to renew dull, tired skin by morning.

This sounded like the perfect remey for my dry skin, and I was not disappointed - I even saw results by the third use! I absolutely love the weightless soufflé texture that instantly melts into my skin to leave it extremely smooth, soft and moistured by morning, and best of all, this product won't leave your face - or pillow, or hair! - even the slightest greasy!

I was also blowned away by the Instant Brightening Eye Treatment ($42.00), which never fails to leave my eyes looking brighter and more luminous - yes, after just one application! The velvety, never greasy and quickly absorbed cream is a dream to use, and it makes me look awake in an instant.

Luckily, I don't have to deal with dark circles - yet - but this product is said to help to add radiance to the delicate eye area while minimizing the appearance of dark circles and fine lines. Rose-gold toned optical brighteners add instant luminosity, revitalizing the eye area so eyes appear brighter and more incandescent after just one application.

The only thing I don't like is the applicator - the hole is a bit too big when you only need a small quantity of product. Otherwise, I swear I still can't believe how luminous my eyes look when I use this - now, nobody has to know when I woke up at 6:00 in the morning!

Overall, I am hugely impressed by these Wild Rose products and I can't recommend them enough! Be sure to also check out KORRES Wild Rose Face & Eye Serum - wich I reviewed here - and the 24-hour Moisturising & Brightening Cream.

KORRES products are available at selected Shoppers Drug Mart and Sephora retailers nationwide.

Disclaimer: One or more products were sent to me for consideration to review. I am not affiliated with this company and the fact that the products were free absolutely does not influence my opinion.

KORRES Fig Products - Fall's Beauty Must-Haves!

From the first homeopathic pharmacy of Athens, George Korres, pharmacist, combined nature with science to develop products that are skin-compatible, environmentally friendly, joyful and effective. Like perfume, the KORRES line of shower gel and body butter offers classic scents for every woman… citrus: Basil Lemon - which I mentionned in this post, tropical: Guava, oriental: Jasmine and their exotic and quintessentially Greek fragrance, Fig! I have never tried a fig-scented product before but this subtly fruity scent quickly won me over.

The creamy-foam Fig Shower Gel ($22.00), combined with a hydrating ingredient, is said to provide a quantifiable, lasting moisturizing effect and helps to maintain the natural moisture level of the skin. The formulation also contains emollients and humectants, to leave the skin soft, smooth and moisturized. Now, I always had troubles to put to the test those moisturizing claims when it comes to shower gels because I'm not sure I totally get how a product that you simply wash off is supposed to moisturize your skin... but at least, I can't say KORRES Fig Shower Gel left my skin drier.

I don't ask for much in a shower gel - I like it to be on the thicker side, to lather well and to smell great - and this product fulfill all of my requirements! Its texture is rich and creamy and it lathers so well that I only need the thiniest quantity of product, which is awesome because the bottle is so big, it will definitely last me a looooong time! As for the smell, it is quite subtle and doesn't linger much on my skin after showering.

The Fig Body Butter ($33.00) is actually the second body butter I have tried from KORRES, and it's quite similar to the Lemon Basil one, which I reviewed here. I'm still not sure I understand why these are called "butter" when they are described as "extra moisturising cream for dry skin". To me, a butter has to be very thick but melts in contact with the skin, so in this case, how is it possible to have a body butter in a tube?

Fig Extra Moisturising Body Butter for dry skin

It still has a nice texture, but it's really more of a cream to me. It's not the thickest cream I have used but it's decent, it moisturizes well and I quite enjoy the subtle and juicy scent - I wish the smell would linger longer on the skin though! Because of my dry and itchy skin - damn you eczema! - I have to re-apply this body cream in the morning to ensure a proper level of moisture through the day, but even though I'm used to do so with most of my body products, I find it's a bit of a waste of product for the steep price.

Both KORRES Fig products are suitable for vegetarians and vegans and they are available at select Shoppers Drug Mart locations & Sephora. Fellow Canadian ladies, be sure to check out KORRES Canada Facebook page for more info!

Disclaimer: One or more products were sent to me for consideration to review. I am not affiliated with this company and the fact that the products were free absolutely does not influence my opinion.

What Am I Bringing To Toronto?

If you follow me on Twitter, you may know that I was incredibly fortunated to win Ubisoft Just Dance Superstar Contest! The prize consists of a trip up to four people and includes two nights stay in a luxury downtown Toronto hotel (Hyatt Regency Toronto), limo service, spending money, four tickets to a concert or a show and four copies of Just Dance 3 Ubisoft video game. There was no concert or show available on the dates I could go (damn you school!) but instead, they have set up a VIP treatment for my friends and I in a nightclub - complete bottle service and a private booth! I can't wait!



I thought it would be interesting to show you what I bring with me to Toronto. Normally, I would not even have bothered with makeup and all that stuff but the thing is that we will be interviewed and the Just Dance camera crew will follow us around while we shop on Queen Street West so hey, a girl gotta look good!

Avon True Color Eyeshadow Single in Night Sky, NYX Eyeshadow in Sensual, e.l.f. Mechanical Eyelash Curler, Avon Ultra Color Rich Lipstick in Pout, Marcelle Power Volume Mascara, Joe Fresh Style Duo Concealer in Light, Wet 'n Wild Brow & Eye Liner Pencil in Taupe, Sigma E55, Sigma E40, EcoTools Angled Eyeliner Brush.

Marcelle Concealer Palette in Universal Beige, Too Faced Leopard Love Complexion Perfection Kit, Marcelle BB Cream, Leopard Gold Color Retractable Makeup Brush from BornPrettyStore.com

Batiste Blush Dry Shampoo, CHI Silk Infusion, Calvin Klein Forbidden Euphoria Fragrance roller ball sample, Carmex Original Jar, Burt's Bees Beeswax Lipbalm

The Body Shop Shea Body Butter, Elemish Freshskin Peachy Perfect Gentle Face Wash, Elemis Freshskin Softly Softly Daily Moisturizer, Elemish Freshskin Dreamy Sleep Night-Time Moisturizer, KORRES Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Eye Cream, Marcelle Essentials Cleansing Water (in a Klorane travel bottle)

Everything goes in that super cute makeup bag (:

I realized that I don't have many travel size products because I tend to use them up first instead of having them laying around because I don't travel much and when I do, I don't bring tons of stuff with me. I don't have any mini format body cream, and this is the only really important product to me, so I'm stuck with that jumbo The Body Shop Shea Butter LOL! I also tried to bring multi-tasking products such as Too Faced Leopard Love and Marcelle BB Cream but overall I think I did great as I stuck mainly with essentials.

I can't wait to go shopping, spending money that you didn't work for feels so good, doesn't it? Instead of making a list of things I want, I made a list of places to shop at and I'll see! I was thinking maybe some MAC lipsticks even though there's none in particular I really want and some LUSH Valentine's Day stuff! I know I will be given a gift card to shop at H&M with a personal stylist and that's where the Just Dance camera crew will follow me around (so exciting!) but I will have some cash left to spend however I want (:

My friends and I will fly to Toronto today at 1:00 and I'm so excited! I will be sure to take tons of pictures =D

KORRES Natural Products

Two decades ago, George Korres, pursuing his passion for natural homeopathic remedies, embarked on a journey that within a few years led to the founding of the KORRES brand. 

Today, Korres Natural Products is Greece’s fastest-growing natural skincare company. It features over 400 natural and/or certified organic products in over 30 countries around the world. With products that are both serious and sensuous, Korres is the most sought-after natural skincare by consumers, celebrities, and beauty insiders alike. 

In a world facing ever-growing problems including limited natural resources and the increase in pollution levels, Korres Natural Products considers its fundamental responsibility towards nature and the environment as an essential effort that should be executed by all of us, for the protection of our planet.

Can you imagine my surprise when I was approached by Melissa with the opportunity to try some KORRES products? I never knew these were available in Canada, but yes, you can actually find them in selected Shoppers Drug Mart. I was very kindly sent a assortment of best seller products that I have been testing for the past month or so and I must say, I am absolutely impressed!

Basil Lemon Extra Moisturizing Body Butter for dry skin $29.00 for 7.95 FL. OZ

Rich, luxurious cream enriched with shea butter to soften, smooth, and nourish the skin with a scent of green spice, dazzling freshness with a vibrant lemon zest touch.

When I first tried this one, I must say I was sceptical because come on, how is it possible to have a body butter in a tube? To me, a butter has to be very thick but melts in contact with the skin, and because of this, to me this product is definitely not a body butter.

It still has a nice texture, but it's really more of a cream to me. It's not the thickest cream I have used but it's decent, it moisturizes well and it smells A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I don't have a lot of citrusy products because I usually go for sweeter scents, but I was really surprised by this one! It smells really fresh yet sweet at the same time. I wish the smell would linger longer on the skin though!

Because of my dry and itchy skin - damn you eczema! - I had to re-apply this body cream in the morning to ensure a proper level of moisture through the day, but it's really not a con to me as I'm used to do so with most of my body products.

Wild Rose Face and Eye Brightening and Line Smoothing Serum $41.00 for 1.01 FL. OZ.

An ultra-concentrated vitamin C serum that brightens and smoothes the look of fine lines of face and eyes.Reduces the appearance of fine lines and skin discolorations.Baobab-tree polysaccharide, in combination with a wheat proteins agent, provides a line-smoothing effect, helping to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

I'm not really struggling with fine lines and skin discolorations yet so I can't tell you how well this product perform regarding these issues, but appart from that, I can say that I like the smell - I'm not talking a cheap synthetic rose scent here, it's the real thing! - and that I'm impressed at how well this serum keeps my skin moisturized.

I don't usually use a serum in the day because it's another extra step to include in my morning routine, not to mention that most serums I've tried where heavy and oily and took too long to get absorbed into the skin, but I haven't experience these issues with this one.

One pump dispense the exact right amount of product I need to cover my whole face and as soon as I'm finished applying the serum, it is already absorbed and I'm ready to follow with my day cream! I like how this serum leaves my face slightly tightened and feeling fresh.

My only gripe with this product is the packaging - doesn't it just look cheap for $41 or is it just me? I love the pump dispenser but come on, why the cheap plastic packaging?

Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Night Cream $52.00 for 1.35 FL. OZ.

Provides intense nourishment throughout the night. Reduces the appearance of wrinkles and expression lines. Improves skin firmness and elasticity.

Can I just say OMG?! This was love at first sight - it's everything I ever wanted in a night cream! It comes in a cute pot with a nice weight behind it, it's amazingly thick and rich, it's not greasy and it's absorbed quickly into the skin, and lastly, the smell... delicious! I didn't know what to expect quercetin and oak to smell like - I didn't even know what was quercetin before - but it's far from the boring and sometimes sickly herbal scent... I'm not even able to describe it, but it's very pleasant and calming.

Now obviously I don't need antiageing product yet but the secret reason why I love them is that they tend to be thicker in texture and more moisturizing than other products, and I wasn't disappointed with this one.

I can't stand a light texture in a night cream - I want to be able to feel it on my skin and honestly, I don't even care if it's slightly greasy or oily as I'm going to bed anyway! Come on, just clip your bangs up and go to sleep, and your skin will thank you in the morning.

This cream looks very thick in the pot but it's very buttery and smooth on the skin, leaving it super soft. Because it's absorbed so quickly in the skin, I'm even tempted to use it as a day cream sometimes, but I really want to reserve this little pot of luxury for night time =P

Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Eye Cream $42.00 for 0.51 FL. OZ

Minimizes the appearance of under-eye darkness and puffiness, while leaving the eye area looking younger, firmer and feeling more elastic.

I've kept the best for last, even though I love the night cream just as much... but it's almost a miracle for me to have found a rich and extremely moisturizing eye cream that doesn't give me milia! I don't think I have issues with dark circles and pufiness and I mainly use eye cream as a prevention but also to keep my delicate eye area moisturized as it gets eczema flare-ups very easily - as soon as I slightly rub my eyes, they become red and irritated and the morning after, I wake up to swollen and itchy skin. 

I have used cheaper eye creams in the past and some have severely irritated my eyes so I have to be careful with what I use around that area, not to mention that it gets easily irritated if I'm not careful when I remove my makeup. I just love this eye cream, it's really rich and I have to be very careful not to use too much product because even with only one pump, it's too much for both eyes!

The packaging of this eye cream is similar to the serum and even though it's a minor issue, I couldn't help but expect more for the price.

Fellow Canadian, be sure to check out KORRES Canada Facebook page for more info!

Disclaimer: One or more products were sent to me for consideration to review. I am not affiliated with this company and the fact that the products were free absolutely does not influence my opinion.

Mail of the Week (December 12 - 16)

KORRES media kit: Can you imagine my surprise when I was approached by Melissa with the opportunity to try some KORRES products? I never knew these were available in Canada, but yes, you can actually find them in selected Shoppers Drug Mart. Here's what the media kit contained:

• Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Night Cream 
• Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Eye Cream
• Wild Rose Face and Eye Brightening and Line Smoothing Serum
• Basil Lemon Extra Moisturizing Body Butter for dry skin

Goodies from Time & Again by GANZ: I received the cutest package from the very lovely Sandra this week! I have never heard of GANZ before but when I was given the opportunity to try some of their Holiday products, I jumped at the chance. Who can say no to pepperminted scented body products?

• Sweet Peppermint Gift Set (hand wash and hand cream)
• Replenishing Shea Body Butter
• Sweet Peppermint Crackling Wick Scented Candle
• Strawberry Swirl Bath Fizzy
• velvety soft Tubby Tummies plush
• nail file

Grateful Body products: I was given the opportunity to try some products from this all natural and vegan skincare company that I've never heard of before. Their approach is through organic plants, food and herbs that come together to create entirely luxurious and effective skin care. The people from Grateful Body formulates all of their products to heal and strengthen damaged or ailing skin – they have helped a lot of people through eczema, that's why I was excited to try the products I was sent: Aphrodite's Feast Restorative Serum and Midnight Oil.

Shielo hair products: Remember my Made from Earth product review? Well the same product formulators  have made some organic and chemical free hair products for Shielo and I was given the opportunity to try these products as well. I realise I almost never feature hair products on my blog and I don't really know why - I guess it's because I'm not sure how I'm supposed to review a shampoo? Well I'll be happy to try my best to review these vegan and cruelty free products. I've been sent their Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner as well as their #1 seller, Antioxidant Leave-in Protectant.

Club Nintendo Original Calendar 2012 : This is my reward for having reached the Elite Status as a Gold Member once again this year, yey!

♫ Invincible - Hedley ft. P. Reign