I received these products free from Picky and The Potions in exchange for my honest review. ✨

Hyaluronic Acid Ampoule 
💦 When you discovered HA, did you have an epiphany? I did. I love discovering new variations and finding out how they improve my hydration and boost the effectiveness of the rest of my routine.
💦 The Potions' HA is a 3 ingredient formula that is simple and effective. The ampoule has a light, silky texture that applies well and doesn't leave a tacky feeling. 
💦 I integrated this ampoule in place of the HA serum I had previously used, and the transition was seamless. I anticipate good long term effects. 

Peptide Ampoule 
💪This ampoule only contains the ingredients it needs to do the job, nothing extra just to be fancy, and I like that. The simplicity makes it easier to know where and when to use it in my routine. 
💪The texture of the Peptide Ampoule is light, and my preference is to use it after the HA, but it could easily be used before, or be cocktailed with other products. 

Jojoba Oil Serum
🏺Face oils are particularly useful out here for all skin types as we are entering our cold, dry Canadian winters!
🏺The Jojoba Oil Serum is a single ingredient product. It's not a heavy oil, but I wouldn't call it a dry oil either, it fits best as a light oil. My preference is to mix a drop or two with my moisturizer at night to give it an added boost, and I find that it really helps my skin overnight. It also works well used solo, and doesn't feel tacky as long as you use the right amount. 

I hope you have a chance to try this great set!

The Potions Review

I received these products free from Picky and L'Essential in exchange for my honest review. 

The Azulene Starter Kit is numbered in the order the products are to be used, helpful for persons new to skincare.

💧0 Zero Cleanser 
A foaming cleanser with ingredients balanced between moisturizing and deep cleansing. A small amount is all that is needed to create a good lather, and it rinses cleanly. It's not stripping. 

💧1 First Toner 
Containing Blue Calming Hydra Complex, it's also formulated to be balanced between moisturizing and evening of the skin. The instructions said to use a pad, but I applied it straight to my face. It's clear, light and watery, and absorbs well.

💧2 Double Serum
Formulated with guaiazulene, 7 types of peptidesome and TECA ingredients, the goals of the serum are to soothe and moisturize. With a gel-cream feel, it applies nicely and plays well with other products. 

💧Triple Cream
This was problematic. Sometimes the texture was like in the photo, the next squeeze opaque chunks would come out. I also reacted each time I used it. The first time I got hives, every time I got red, itchy and broke out afterwards. I did the elimination process and it was this product from the set. I am not allergic to any ingredient. Shipping may have affected the product but I am not taking a chance and will toss it.

Overall, the first 3 products are ok but did not wow me. The cream is a firm no.

L'essential Azulene Starter Kit Review

Hello Dear Picky friends!

I need your collective knowledge and help. Canadian winter has struck and I received my SKIN 1004  Centella ampoule giveaway win today, but the weather the last few days has been around -25 to -28 Celsius and it is frozen solid 😭. Fortunately, the liquid did not expand to the point of damaging the bottle, but it looks like a popsicle. 

My questions are 🤔:
- Do you think it will be safe to use after defrosting completely by being left at room temperature? 
- Do you think having being frozen will affect the integrity of the product and/or its texture? 
 - Should I flag this now in the form or just go ahead with testing and reviewing?

Thank you!🤗

Help! Frozen product

Why do you think there are so many moisturizers or sleeping masks coming out or being offered in gel or gel-cream textures vs cream?

Gel vs cream

Vitamin C and I have a love-hate relationship. I find it very hard to find products that my skin doesn't hate. Fortunately, I test a lot and I get to try different ones without blowing the budget but rarely do I find any Vitamin C products that work well and consistently. 

My possibly controversial question is: do I really need it? Are there other antioxidants that could replace it? (I tried The Ordinary's EUK 134 0.1% - fail) I would honestly rather skip it then constantly have irritated skin.

Question about Vitamin C - can I skip it?

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It contains Dimethicone which can be an irritant for some.

Intensive EGF Peptide, skincare combinations are looking fabulous these days!

Picky and Coxir sent me the Intensive EGF Peptide Mask Pack to try free in exchange for my honest review, and what a dreamy combination!

I would call this the pumped up version of the cream. 

The focus ingredients are the same, with variations in the other ingredients (still amazing).

This cream is more occlusive and rich. It doesn't absorb as well unless you follow the directions of applying it after toners.

Otherwise, it works best at forming a light occlusive layer to lock in hydration and moisture and ensure the penetration of nutrients overnight. 

You can either massage it in and use it as a sleeping pack to wash off in the morning, or leave it on 15-20 minutes as a mask before removing.

I prefer the sleeping pack due to my dry skin.

There's a slight ingredient based scent that fades quickly.


There was sediment in my dropper when I received it. It made me reluctant to use the serum on my face even though it did seem fine. 

Vitamin C is like the sunshine of the skincare world, it brings joy to many and is meant to help brighten, even skin tone and help reduce blemishes. It can be a bit temperamental, and it's not for everyone as some people can be sensitive to it. It's also important to use SPF when using Vitamin C.

Norhive and Rooicell sent me the Eterno Vita-C Serum to try in exchange for my honest review.

The Eterno Vita-C Serum is based around Magnesium Ascorbyl phosphate, a water-soluble derivative of Vitamin C that delivers many the benefits of the vitamin deep in the skin with an increase in hydration and has additional soothing properties. It's somewhat more stable as well, though still needs to be kept out of the light and air as much as possible. 

Other key ingredients are Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate and Niacinamide.

The texture is light, and not greasy. I do find there's a bit of a citrus scent.

My dropper has some sediment in it that won't go away, so I am only using the serum on parts of my body that aren't very sensitive. The serum isn't close to being expired, but it was shipped to me when it was very hot out, so this may have had an impact. I don't notice any irritation, and the serum itself when poured into my hand doesn't look, feel or smell off.


Not a real negative, more of an opinion, but I find this is a better balancing than cleansing toner.

Don't hand me a Sambuca, hand me a toner!

I only like licorice in my skincare. Picky and Acwell gave me the chance to try the Licorice pH Balancing Cleansing Toner free in exchange for my honest review. They sent a bonus mini Licorice pH Balancing Advance Serum too, but that won't be reviewed here.

Acwell believes in blending traditional Korean beauty formulas with modern science to treat sensitive, troubled and damaged skin. If I were to try to summarize the concept, "enriched balance" would be how I would describe them.

The Toner is meant to cleanse, relax, balance, moisturize and brighten skin. Licorice extracts, low pH, and a Puritox Jin derived from 4 herbal components lead the way.

Focus ingredients: 10% Licorice Water, Puritox Jin (Peony Extracts, Licorice Extracts, Cimicifuga Extracts, Arrowroot Extracts)

The toner is weak tea colored, light & watery liquid. While I prefer to pat it in and have it hydrate my skin, that's not what the instructions call for. 

The instructions recommend applying an appropriate amount to a pad, and gently wiping it across the face - this is the better way if you also want to experience the cleansing benefits.

Skin feels refreshed and invigorated after use, after either method the toner absorbs rapidly and the next steps of a routine work beautifully without pilling or problems.

This is not a makeup or sunscreen remover, use AFTER regular cleansing as a last refreshing step, or in the morning. Or if you want a quick cleanse when you have nothing on your skin, maybe right before bed when you did a full cleansing earlier. Rinsing, or repeating with the toner as needed and tolerated is ok.

Do you like Licorice in your skincare too?



Intensive EGF Peptide, skincare combinations are looking fabulous these days!

Picky and Coxir sent me the Intensive EGF Peptide Cream to try free in exchange for my honest review, and what a dreamy combination!

Vitality is the name of the game, as this cream aims to lift, firm, revitalize, hydrate, and work on anti-aging.

Focus ingredients: EGF (a poly-peptide chain), Peptides, Collagen, with many other great ones

Smooth and lush, yet still light, the cream absorbs well after cleansing and toning.

Instant effects are moisturized and plumper looking skin, deeper benefits will take longer use to see. 

I already use EGF products, this is a great option to switch into my routine.

Has a fruity-ish ingredient based scent, fades quickly.


Slight tacky sensation after application, but that disappears pretty quickly.

Lavender scent could be an issue if you are scent sensitive. 

Skin friendly & cute hand sanitizer! 

I recently had the chance to try Elleybear's Hand Soothing Gel free in exchange for my honest review. 

The timing for this opportunity was great, my office just started transitioning to a hybrid model. I need supplies to make the experience safe, while still making me happy to reach for them.

The Hand Soothing Gel contains 64% Ethyl Alcohol, Glycerin, and flower extracts providing a Lavender scent. The Hand Soothing Gel is indicated as being safe for all ages, as well as for those with dry and sensitive skin.

I found the Hand Soothing Gel to leave a bit of a tacky sensation behind, however once that passes my skin doesn't have the signature dryness from typical hand sanitizer. The Lavender scent is evident and takes a few minutes to fade. Overall, a fun option!


Sherri4g