RoC Derm Correxion Firming Serum Stick Advanced Retinol

It's hard not to like skincare in a stick. So easy , so portable. And also cute. @rocskincare RoC skincare's new Firming Serum Stick is all of these. It's  been  awhile since I had tried any of RoC's  newer launches and when I saw this online , I knew  I  had to try it. Fun fact, I was a RoC official ambassador at one point many years ago . I still have the badge on my blog page. 

The new Firming Serum Stick is a clear gel like formula with retinol that you turn up and swipe on. It's not sticky and is lightly moisturizing . It glides on easily, no muss, no fuss.  How much easier can skincare get ? A big plus ? It really works. I've been using mine for about 3 weeks but I noticed a brightening pretty quickly, some smoothing and I had been using another retinol product previous to this one. After a couple days I noticed a difference.   I've been using this on the backs of my hands too. And they've gotten much smoother. 

I often moisturized with a cream over it but not always. When it's colder  I need some extra moisture,  when it's warmer like today ( almost 90') not so much. If you are drier skinned than you'll want to add a cream over it.  I didn't find it  drying to my skin, but most retinols I've used in the past weren't either. And again, I did usually add something on top of it. Unfortunately I don't know the % of retinol here as it's not listed. By the way it's worked I'd say a decent bit. 

 The Serum Stick also has glycerin for  moisture and cranberry fruit extract and ascorbic acid for antioxidants and newer ingredient THPE that is said to tighten and contour , while working with a retinol. I found this quote online from a RoC press release "Firming THPE, whose efficacy is clinically proven and was published at the American Academy of Dermatology, lifts, significantly improves facial contours, and increases skin's firmness by 1.9 times, while slow-release Pure RoC Retinol continually boosts elasticity and reduces lines and wrinkles."

If you want to see a video of this, hit up my Instagram post here -https://www.instagram.com/p/C6WgnKSubfo/

 *gifted, no obligation 

AKT London All Over Scented Deodorant Balm

 

When was the last time your deodorant had a scent profile ? And you looked forward to applying it ? The new  AKT deodorant balms  do that.  Made in the UK with scents of violet or citrus ( the ones I have here, there are others) they smell that good . 

I haven't done much with the more natural  all over deodorants, I've tried a  couple here and there but none really worked that well for me. I admit I sweat,  and when it gets warm, a lot.  Not much is going to stop that sweat on me, I've used used clinical ones in the past as they worked . But most natural deodorants and many aluminum ones haven't completely stopped odor either. AKT does . 

AKT SC .05 Ext. Columbia Rd.  smells amazing like you've gone through a field of Violets on a rainy spring day while SC .01 Ext. Orange Grove is a crisp green citrus . Rind, fruit and a little of the tree itself.  They keep the odor at bay all day , all night and into the next morning., I had no breakthrough. I still had perspiration but again I'm not expecting anything to fully stop that. And hey we all sweat but we hopefully don't reek of it. 

The formula is a thick balm that comes in a very apothecary chic aluminum tube you apply wherever you need or want it . AKT also has a "key"  made from heavy brass that you can get to make turning the tube extra easy. You don't need that per se, but it does make it easier to use. It acts as a little bit of fragrance too, with that you might want to tailor your perfume, if you wear  it, to coordinate because these do not have  a strong scent but it's not a light either. You can smell it but you have to be close.  

 There are  five fragrances available along with a discovery set and a starter set. I believe there is a unscented option on the UK website.   Price wise these are  higher than many but not at luxury brand level. Each tube is 29$. For me,  it's something I will definitely want to keep on hand. Elevate the everyday is something I say  and this does just that. 

website AKT London

*gifted, no obligation

Eau D'Italie Liquid Soap and Body Lotion - Fig and Berries

 Do you love luxe hand soaps ? I do, I admit. They're a real treat. Elevating the everyday I guess we'd call it and I am all for that. 

As a fan of Eau D'Italie's fragrances it wasn't hard to imagine I'd love their  newest releases of  liquid hand soap and body lotion. 

Both liquid soap and lotions come in eight  different scents housed in 300 ml pump bottles.  All the fragrances sounded  quite good but I went with Fig  & Berries.  The hand soap is lightly scented with a green , berry fragrance. It's not overly noticeable but soft. The soap itself is a thin liquid that doesn't lather too much , which I like,  but gets hands clean without drying them out thanks to coconut and olive fruit oil . Do I love this, yes. I use it sparingly so it doesn't run out too quick.

The body lotion is well scented , not too thick or too thin lotion and   moisturizes nicely with shea butter and almond oil .  It dries pretty fast too, leaving a soft scent trail behind. Fig and Berries is slightly sweet  and woodsy with plenty of fig and blackberry. The lotion is more strongly scented than the soap with more of the berry and fig. 

With Easter and Mother's Day coming , these make great gifts .  Useful but deluxe selfcare,  who doesn't want a little bit of  Italy, the Amalfi Coast and Positano where the brand originates from,  by the bedside or vanity ?   It's all La Dolce Vita. 

Eau D'Italie hand soaps, body lotions and fragrances are exclusive to Beautyhabit.com  in the US. You can find the full selection online . 

 

*gifted, no obligation

Byroe Skincare

I was introduced to Byroe this past Summer and it's been love . The brand calls it Superfood skincare as they use  upcycled fruits and vegetables in their formulas.

Three that  I am  loving right now are:

Truffle Eye Serum-  The Mom also signs off on this one. She just told me she's almost done hers. Ok, but I'm not giving my tube up.  The lightweight creamy serum moisturizes well with three different hyaluronic acids,  shea butter and  avocado peptides, smoothes a little and feels so silky on the eye area. It works well under makeup or at night. I use it both times of day.  It's also  the rare eye treatment that comes in a 1 oz tube  so it lasts longer and a little goes a long way , you don't need to apply a lot. 

 Pumpkin Pro Retinol Cream - One of their newer products, this uses upcycled  vitamin rich pumpkin along with   retinol derived from calendula ,  bakuchiol  and  botanical oils and extracts.  It's very  hydrating , thick ( and orange) but doesn't stay sticky or heavy on skin  and is very gentle.   It can be used day and night ,a great multi tasker to get treatment and moisture in one. The Mom was out of face cream a couple weeks ago so I gave her the remainder of my jar and while she was not sure about pumpkin before trying it, she  absolutely loves it . It's been  smoothing and hydrating but gentle and is another product where you don't need a lot .  Plus slathering on the orange tinted cream is kind of fun. 

 Kiwi Detox Gel  Cleanser- I love a good green gel cleanser and I swear even though I know cleansers aren't on your face long enough to do a  lot beyond cleanse, my skin feels smoother after using this. There's  BHA in salicylic acid, AHA in citric acid and PHA in gluconolactone in there for smoothing.  Arnica to soothe and a list of vegetable and fruits extracts inlcuding Kiwi . It's very easy on skin,  works well for oily/combo skin with no dryness / tightness.   Plus it looks and smells good . 

You can find a lot more info at the brand's site https://byroe.com/

*products provided for testing