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I got a Sephora gift card for my birthday but didn't really need to restock on skincare or makeup. I'm not one to haul, so I thought...

I got a Sephora gift card for my birthday but didn't really need to restock on skincare or makeup. I'm not one to haul, so I thought about what products would be fun to try and write about in my blog. Enter, The INKEY List Tripeptide Plumping Balm


THE INKEY LIST
Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm Review

The INKEY List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm Review


INFO SHEET


Brand:  The INKEY List
Product:  Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm
Scent:  Petroleum Jelly
Price:  $13.00 
Where to Buy:  SephoraThe INKEY List

I love taking care of my skin, but for some reason I've always neglected my lips. It was just never at the top of my list even though thinning lips, lip lines, and wrinkles are all leading signs of aging. So why wouldn't I care for my lips? Then one day I stumbled upon this video by James Welsh on YouTube titled "The Truth AND LIES About The Inkey List’s Latest Launch" (I love his sass). It was interesting enough until Michelle from Lab Muffin Beauty Science chimed in towards the end of the video. I love Lab Muffin Beauty Science because she is a cosmetic chemist that really delves deep into skin care ingredients and how it all works (something I'm passionate about). 


INGREDIENTS


Lab Muffin piqued my interest when she spoke about White Mustard Extract (aka Brassica Alba Sprout Extract) which was a new ingredient that I was unfamiliar with. Yeah yeah The INKEY List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm has hyaluronic acid and tripeptides, but tell me more about this White Mustard Extract. It seemingly irritates the lips more gently in comparison to capsaicin and "... when you have that irritation, it'll increase blood circulation which makes your lips look redder, and it also makes them swell up a bit with water..."

Awesome! A new ingredient to try that will get me in the habit of applying lip balm, with the added benefit of hyaluronic acid and tripeptides. Let's take a more detailed look into this ingredients list:

Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides, Glyceryl Rosinate, Theobroma Grandiflorum (Cupuaçu) Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Candelilla Cera, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Orbignya Oleifera (Babassu) Seed Oil, Squalane, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Salvia Hispanica (Chia) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Behenate, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil Unsaponifiables, Tribehenin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol, Portulaca Pilosa Extract, Trihydroxystearin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Sucrose Cocoate, Brassica Alba Sprout Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Glucomannan.

Notable Ingredients:

  • Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil - This fatty acid rich ingredient helps bind water to the skin. 
  • Theobroma Grandiflorum (Cupuaçu) Seed Butter - Improves hydration, elasticity, and firmness.
  • Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter - Skin-soothing ingredient that helps mitigate damage from free radicals due to it's high antioxidant content.
  • Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter - Improves hydration, elasticity, and smoothness
  • Orbignya Oleifera (Babassu) Seed Oil - Provides skin smoothing and softening effects with added antioxidant benefits. 
  • Squalane - Rich in antioxidants, this ingredient nourishes and smooths the skin while also helping support a healthy skin barrier.
  • Hydrogenated Olive Oil - Rich in antioxidants, improves hydration, and promotes a healthy skin barrier.
  • Salvia Hispanica (Chia) Seed Oil - Helps prevent water loss and has a soothing effect on the skin.
  • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride - Rich in fatty acids / antioxidants, this ingredient helps replenish the skin, provides a softening effect, and reduces moisture loss.
  • Glyceryl Behenate - Skin smoothing and softening.
  • Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil Unsaponifiables - Helps restore the skin barrier, suppleness, and elasticity while also preventing water loss.
  • Portulaca Pilosa Extract - Powerful anti-oxidant that helps smooth and repair the skin, increases collagen production, and has anti-inflammatory qualities.
  • Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil - Reduces inflammation, supports skin barrier health, and is said to help boost the synthesis of ceramides.
  • Brassica Alba Sprout Extract - aka White Mustard Extract. Increases blood flow which results in a reddening effect.
  • Sodium Hyaluronate - aka Hyaluronic Acid.  A very effective humectant that boosts the skin's moisture content, prevents dehydration, and preserves skin moisture.  
  • Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 - Peptide said to reduces fine lines and increase moisture in the skin.
  • Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 - Peptide said to reduces fine lines and wrinkles, improves dullness and uneven skin tone. 
  • Glucomannan - Derived from the Konjac plant, this prebiotic nourishes the skin's microbiome resulting in wrinkle reduction, and an overall improvement of skin health.

Wow... I got a little annoyed with the above write up because there was just so much going on with this ingredients list, but in a GOOD way. With almost every ingredient, I told myself "Damnit I have to write about this too..." The INKEY List Tripeptide Plumping Balm is more of a very good skin care product but they are pushing the plumping effect angle more than anything else. A lot of these ingredients are really complementary which tells me a lot of thought was put into it. Anyone can slap together a capsaicin and shea butter solution, but this takes more skill. 


COSDNA ALERTS


Plugging the above ingredients list into COSDNA reveals the following:  

  • Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil - 1 out of 5 (Acne)
  • Ethylhexyl Palmitate - 1 out of 5 (Acne), 4 out of 5 (Irritant)
  • Squalane - 1 out of 5 (Acne)
  • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride - 1 out of 5 (Acne)
  • Sorbitan isostearate - 2 out of 5 (Acne)
  • Tocopherol - 2/3 out of 5 (Irritant), 2 out of 5 (Irritant)

There are a few triggers on this list for acne, but considering there are so many thickening agents within the ingredients list, I believe as long as it doesn't migrate away from the lips it should be okay. I'm not very concerned about the irritant aspect because that is kind of the point of the product... to cause irritation to cause a reddening and plumping effect. 


BEFORE AND AFTER

The INKEY List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm Before and After

The INKEY List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm Before and After


The instructions say to apply The INKEY List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm at least three times per day; so I have been applying with my morning skincare routine, reapplying after lunch, and then again with my evening routine. I really appreciated that this plumping lip balm has great staying power. When I go to bed and wake up several hours later, it is still very noticeable applied to my lips, which also made them very soft. It also didn't spread to anywhere else on my face. I've had so many lip balms in the past that just seem to evaporate; so this was a plus. 

The above pictures show the before and after results for The INKEY List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm. One thing that I found particularly irritating with the before and after photos I found online is that the after photo often showed lips covered in the lip balm. I felt that if you are really going to compare apples to apples, you need to see if it truly did plump the lips or if the product applied is giving you the illusion of plumped lips. I've made it a point to show the after shot without the plumping lip balm applied. 

Now, I think my lips are somewhat more plump than before, but not dramatically so. They do look healthier and hydrated. I also like how they are more pink because my normal lip color can appear quite dull. All in all I'm not sure that you will get the results that appear on the packaging.


FINAL THOUGHTS


Okay.. I like The INKEY List Tripeptide Plumping Balm, but the reason why might not be what you would expect. First, the ingredients list is excellent. There are so many skin nourishing, anti-oxidant rich, and anti-aging beneficial ingredients that even if it didn't have the advertised plumping effect it is STILL a good product. With that said, it TRICKS you into taking care of your lips by saying your lips will be plump if you apply this lip balm three times a day. I kind of think that psychological aspect of telling me this will plump my lips actually holds me accountable.

STOREPRICEOFFERS
Sephora$13.00 Free Shipping
The INKEY List$13.00Free Shipping Orders $35+
I want to give it 3.5 stars as a lip plumper, because no you will absolutely not get the same effect that you would with a lip filler. I do however, like how it makes my lips more pink as they normally can appear quite dull in color. What bumps it into the four star category is if you review it from a skin care perspective, it is very good. Like I said before, anyone can make a capsaicin and shea butter lip balm, but this one is different.  

Rating

This post may contain affiliate links to help support this blog.  
None of these reviews sponsored, nor were any of the products provided for free (or even at a discount) by any affiliate.
Read full disclosure here.

Here are the swatches for Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation as well as a mini review.  Today, we will be swatching shades 1...

Here are the swatches for Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation as well as a mini review.  Today, we will be swatching shades 1C1 Cool Bone, 2N1 Desert Beige, 3N1 Ivory Beige, 4N1 Shell Beige, 5W1 Bronze, 6W1 Sandalwood, 7W1 Deep Spice, and 8N1 Espresso on my NC37 skin tone.  Enjoy!

ESTÉE LAUDER
Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation Swatches

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation Swatches


INFO SHEET


Brand:  Estée Lauder
Product:  Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation
Coverage:  High
Dewiness:  Matte
Scent:  None
Oxidation:  YES! See Below.
Price:  $52.00
Where to Buy:  AmazonEstée LauderULTA

I don't wear foundation anymore, but when I received the above sample card for Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation in my latest ULTA order I couldn't wait to swatch them out for you all. Estée Lauder claims that this foundation is long wearing, transfer resistant, and waterproof with a matte finish. One thing that I really like about Estée Lauder's offering right off the bat is that they have about forty-four shades of this foundation to choose from. What a range! 


The Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation Card includes Eight Samples


Now without further adieu, here are the Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation swatches for:
  • 1C1 Cool Bone
  • 2N1 Desert Beige
  • 3N1 Ivory Beige
  • 4N1 Shell Beige
  • 5W1 Bronze
  • 6W1 Sandalwood
  • 7W1 Deep Spice
  • 8N1 Espresso


SWATCH


Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation Swatches in Artificial Light

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation Swatches in Natural Light

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation Swatches in Direct Sunlight

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation Water Test - Rinsed Under Hot Water


The Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation is truly full coverage and I was really impressed with it overall. To begin with, this foundation really stays put! I wanted to test the color transfer on a white t-shirt; so I placed a shirt over the swatches and rubbed it in to see if I could get a transfer. To my surprise, there was no residue remaining! I even wiped the cloth across my arm to see what would happen, and still no transfer!

Then I went to the kitchen sink and sprayed the swatches with hot water for about a minute to see if I could get them to budge. Still, NOTHING. This seems very promising to those with oily skin as the matte formula may be able to keep that oil at bay. I do want to note that the formula felt a bit dry on my arm after a while, so I do not think it would be very comfortable to wear for those whose skin leans dry. 

There are a few caveats though. The Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation formula dries pretty quickly so you do have to work fast when applying. In addition to this, I noticed that the coverage on the darker shades (7W1 Deep Spice and 8N1 Espresso, specifically) seemed to apply thinner than it's lighter counterparts. With that said, I still believe that this is a great foundation overall.


FINAL THOUGHTS


I have to say that the Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation is a real work-horse, and it accomplishes all that it claims to do: It's long-wearing, transfer resistant, and waterproof. At $52 per ounce, I still don't believe that it will break the bank as a little really goes a long way. If you're someone like me who only wears makeup for special occasions, this foundation might be the one to have in your makeup arsenal (but, only if you have oily / combo-oily skin).

STOREPRICEOFFERS
Amazon$40.00Free Shipping
Estée Lauder$52.00Free Shipping Orders $45+
ULTA$52.00Free Shipping Orders $35+
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation has about forty-two shades to choose from. While none of the shades above were really a great match for my NC37 skin tone, I do think that there might be a shade available out there for many of us. 

This post may contain affiliate links to help support this blog.  
None of these reviews sponsored, nor were any of the products provided for free (or even at a discount) by any affiliate.
Read full disclosure here.Tarte CosmeticsEstée LauderEstée LauderEstée LauderEstée LauderEstée Lauder

Since I have combination-oily skin I'm always interested in trying new products to help minimize the visibility of my pores. There are n...

Since I have combination-oily skin I'm always interested in trying new products to help minimize the visibility of my pores. There are now nose pore patches that utilize the tried and true hydrocolloid technology to help suck up sebaceous filaments from the nose. Enter: Peach Slices Nose Pore Patches.

 

PEACH SLICES
Nose Pore Patches Review

Peach Slices Nose Pore Patches Review


INFO SHEET


Brand:  Peach Slices
Product:  Nose Pore Patches
Scent:  None
Price:  $9.99 per box (7 Patches)
Where to Buy:  AmazonULTA

I wish I had a story as to why I bought these, but I don't. I simply threw them in my cart because they were on sale. I do like the Biore Original Blackhead Remover Strips, but I felt that they can be damaging to the skin's moisture barrier if used too often (but they are highly effective!).  I have also used the Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Nose Pore Pimple Patches and they were okay... but these are cheaper.   

Peach Slices Nose Pore Patch has a better design compared to Mighty Patch


The concept for the Peach Slices Nose Pore Patches are exactly the same as Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Nose Pore Pimple Patches. It's a thinner hydrocolloid bandage that is shaped to fit your nose. If you're not familiar with hydrocolloid bandages, it's a type of first aid dressing that sticks to the skin and essentially absorbs moisture from a wound; or in this case the sebaceous filament from your nose. I do think that Peach Slices has a better overall patch design compared to Mighty Patch though, simply because you can peel it from the center making for easier application.


INGREDIENTS


There are no ingredients in the Peach Slices Nose Pore Patch other than Hydrocolloid. Hydrocolloid is typically made of gelatin, pectin, and sodium carboxymethylcellulose. This forms a gummy-feeling, breathable adhesive bandage that absorbs moisture when it comes in contact with wound exudate. These ingredients themselves should not directly cause any acne or irritation to the skin, however the act of removing the bandage can be somewhat painful and bothersome.


BEFORE AND AFTER

I guess I'm not going out for a while.

My nose looks worse lol.


The instructions for the Peach Slices Nose Pore Patches say to thoroughly cleanse and exfoliate the nose for best results; which is what I did. I waited about an hour after my shower to ensure that my nose was fully dry before applying. It also says to wear it for six to eight hours so I left it on overnight. At first it was a bit annoying to wear, but it didn't prevent me from falling asleep.

When I woke up in the morning, I couldn't wait to get this thing off my face. It just felt annoying leaving it on for so long. I slowly peeled the Peach Slices Nose Pore Patch off of my face, which was not as painful as the Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Nose Pore Pimple Patches but I wish I could say that the results were better.  It left noticeable wrinkles all around my nose which took over an hour to dissipate. I guess I'm not going anywhere for a while. It also didn't get my sebaceous filaments to absorb into the patch. They were indeed brought to the surface and made them much more noticeable. I'm sure if you followed up with an innisfree Pore Clearing Clay Mask it would clear it all up, but I don't have time for this nonsense.


FINAL THOUGHTS


I will not buy these again. Oh my goodness who has the time to wear a nose patch for six to eight hours, somewhat painful removal, and then wait for the marks to fade off of your nose; only to then be left with pores that are even more noticeable? Sorry but the Peach Slices Nose Pore Patches are just not for me.

STOREPRICEOFFERS
Amazon$9.98 (7 Patches) Free Shipping
ULTA$9.99 (7 Patches)Free Shipping Orders $35+
I hate writing negative reviews, but I also don't want my readers to waste their money. Just give me a Biore Original Blackhead Remover Strip and let me move on with my life.  

Rating

This post may contain affiliate links to help support this blog.  
None of these reviews sponsored, nor were any of the products provided for free (or even at a discount) by any affiliate.
Read full disclosure here.

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