The Test Lab: My Mane Care Hair Mask

Welcome back to the test lab friends! This week I decided I had used enough Sun-In in my hair to cause major dryness and breakage, so it was time to do some damage control. I headed to Ulta with my birthday reward in hand and stumbled upon this packet near the checkout counter. 

This My Mane Care Hydrating Mask is vegan, cruelty free, and filled with great ingredients! Nutrients in Almond Oil, Jojoba Oil, Broccoli, Avocado Oil, and Coconut Oil left my hair feeling really soft. It was extremely easy to use which is always a plus for me, and it smells amazing. I used about half the packet to coat my hair from root to tip, then clipped it up and killed time for half an hour. The formula wasn't drippy and didn't dry or get sticky in my hair. 

After letting it sit for half an hour, I followed with my usual shower routine. I could tell after washing and conditioning my hair that it definitely felt smooth and easy to comb through. I tried to let my hair air dry for as long as possible, hit it with a blow-dryer before bed. My hair was definitely uber shiny- and still is the next night! My hair is a little more oily than usual, but I'm not complaining, my hair needs the moisture! 

I look forward to seeing how my hair responds after using this mask again in the coming weeks. So far though, I highly recommend if you're looking for something that adds a lot of moisture and smells SO good. It is an oil mask, so I don't suggest it if you have trouble with a greasy scalp, but the company has a few different varieties so I definitely encourage you to check them out! 

*This post is not sponsored*

The Test Lab: Garnier Micellar Water

Hey Pals,

It's been a while since we entered the The Test Lab! I recently purchased the Garnier Micellar Water. Now that I've been using it for about a month- I wanted to give you my thoughts!

First of all- it's so easy to use. I usually pour some on to a cotton pad and apply it to my skin in circular motions starting with my eyes (because that's where the most gunk is!) The water really breaks down my mascara, and takes off the rest of my makeup easily. I'm usually done after wiping down with just two cotton rounds.

I really like this product because there really isn't much to it. There aren't a million chemicals, it's really light weight, and it's not harmful to my sensitive skin. It smells really clean, and it doesn't kill you if you accidentally get it into your eyes.

Here's the problem- it's winter. The air is freezing. My skin is already dry. This product- thought it claims to be hydrating, really dries out my skin. I had irritated dry patches after a week or so of using it. I had to really amp up my moisturizer routine after using this product which maybe isn't such a bad thing, but still I expected it to add to my moisturizing routine, not so drastically negate it.

Overall, I recommend this product. It's so easy to use, it is a great tool for those late nights when you feel like you just don't have it in you to take care of your skin, and it really is pretty natural. Just be careful if you have sensitive skin like I do, and make sure to moisturize daily!

The Test Lab: Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser

Well hey pals!
Welcome to THE TEST LAB. OOOOOOOOOOOH. *loud applause*

Today I decided to try the new Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser.

What's the point of charcoal in your facial soap you ask? Well, according to Biore, charcoal draws out and traps 2x more dirt and impurities than a basic cleanser! According to the New York Daily News:

“Charcoal is known to absorb 100 to 200 times its weight in impurities, making it an excellent natural ingredient to help purify and deep-clean skin,” 

Charcoal is the latest craze in the beauty world, even showing up in juice cleanses, and concentrated capsules. It has been found to be a great detox ingredient and can really help clean out your system after a night of drinking or perhaps when you're just really not feeling your best.

All of this sounded pretty heckin' good to me, so I decided to step into the charcoal trend lightly, starting with this facial wash. When I first opened the packaging and pumped approximately a quarter sized amount into my palm, I noticed the very clean, almost citrus-like scent. I was really nervous for a super chemical smell to hit me like a brick, but I was definitely pleasantly surprised! Not only did it smell really fresh and clean, but it wasn't overpowering!

I started with a damp face, and began to lather the product between my hands, adding a little bit of water as I 'woke it up'. Once it was a little frothy, I started to work it into my skin, starting with my T-zone, and working my way out. I really loved the smooth texture of this cleanser. Even though I could feel I was getting a deep clean, it wasn't abrasive or rough on my skin. As I continued scrubbing I began to feel a tingly, cooling sensation, and that's how I knew it was really working. I scrubbed for approximately 2 minutes, rubbing in circular motions before I began to rinse my face. The cleanser was pretty easy to remove, it wasn't like any of those super sticky cleansers or scrubs that make you feel like you have to peel a second layer of skin off just to get all the suds off your face!

As you can tell from this completely candid photo I took 'accidentally' in my bathroom while washing my face, I really love this stuff. I feel like I get a fresh start after every wash!

If you would like to check it out for yourself, you can find it here:
Amazon: Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser, 6.77 Ounce

xoxo, CourtneyBridget