DIY Beauty from the Kitchen: Costco's Kirkland Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) as a moisturizer for Lips, Hands and Feet

My lips were quite chapped recently because I have forgotten to apply lip balm with SPF. I was feeling quite uncomfortable but my favourite Josie Maran's Argan oil ran out and I was hoping to wait till the next Sephora VIB Sale to replenish my supply. I was in the kitchen when I saw the almost full 1.5L bottle of organic extra virgin olive oil that I bought from Costco some time ago. I wonder if this would work on my chapped lips. I didn't have much to lose so I gave it a try.

My experience

I poured a teaspoon of the extra virgin oil and applied the oil with clean finger on my lips. Since I had plenty of oil remaining, I applied some on my hands (still too much left) and I thought what the heck, might as well apply on my feet as well as knees and elbows. After a quick massage for my hands and feet, I wore a pair of white gloves from Body Shop and a pair of sports socks.


My verdict

Amazing. Seriously. My lips feel very moisturized. As a matter of fact, I think it worked just as well as Joise Maran's Argan Oil! It really didn't smell bad at all. Since it's extra virgin oil, it is even healthy if I lick it off my lips. After an hour, my hands feel moisturized, soft and hydrated. No sticky feeling at all. My nails feel quite hard. Hmm... Elbows and knees are nice and smooth. My feet feels light and smooth! Wow! I only used l teaspoon of extra virgin oil to get this. This is seriously true value for money. 100% pure with no addictives. The 1.5 L of Extra Virgin Oil was less than C$10 at Costco. Compare that with C$58 + tax for a small 50ml bottle of Joise Maran's Argan Oil . Less than $0.01/ml for extra virgin oil vs $$1.16/ml for Joise Maran's Argan Oil.

I wonder why it took me so long to try the extra virgin oil Time to get some small nice bottles to put the extra virgin oil in my bathroom.

Product Review: H2O+ SPA Targeted Care - Hand and Nail Cream - Richly Moisturizes and Protects

I bought the travel size  (60ml/2 US Fl Oz size) H2O+ SPA Targeted Care Hand and Nail Cream for just C$5 + tax when I bought my H2O+ Face Oasis Moisturizer at the H2O+ store along Robson Street in Vancouver.

What is it? 

According to the tube, the H2O+ Hand and Nail Cream is a beauty editor's favourite and best seller. The fresh scented formula leaves hands silky in seconds.

• Emollient shea butter and Provitamin B5 melt into the skin for instant softness
• Hydrating wakame, sea fennel and sea lettuce deliver mineral-rich moisture
• Silk protein and Vitamin E promotes strong nails and healthy cuticles

My Experience

The H2O+ Hand and Nail Cream is indeed a pleasant surprise. It has a pleasant light floral scent and it is indeed through that within seconds from application, the cream is fully absorbed and my hands feel instantly hydrated and silky. None of that sticky feeling you get from some hand creams.

Verdict

Defintely a buy from $5! It is something you would want to leave in your bag, by your work desk, the sink or bedside. It instantly hydrates and leaves a light refreshing scent that will linger as you work on the computer (refreshing your keyboard at the same time!) or your hair as your run your fingers through them. I love it! 

Product Review - Josie Maran Argan Oil, Is it better than the other Argan Oil?

I have used the Josie Maran Argan Oil from Sephora for nearly a year now. I was so excited about it during the first 2 months that I was practically telling all my friends about it. It is THAT amazing.

For those who are new Argan Oil, here is a pretty good description on what it is on the Sephora's site:


What it is:
A lightweight oil that can be used as a daily moisturizer or treatment for skin, hair, and nails.

What it does:
This 100% Pure Argan Oil is a legendary oil that's rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, and grown organically in Morocco. With its multitasking benefits, Argan Oil can be used for many areas including hydrating and nourishing skin, as a daily moisturizer, skin treatment, treating spilt ends, and softening cuticles. It's gentle enough to use on all skin types and is believed to help with skin conditions including acne. Argan Oil easily absorbs into skin to give you a youthful, dewy glow, and has astonishing healing, conditioning, and antiaging properties to keep your skin and hair nourished and revitalized and to keep you looking beautiful from head to toe.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Fragrances
- Synthetic Dyes
- Petrochemicals
- Phthalates
- GMOs
- Triclosan

What else you need to know:
100% Pure Argan Oil is first cold pressed to ensure the best quality, highest-grade oil. It is housed in a recyclable glass bottle and purchased from women's cooperatives in Morocco to support their social and economic welfare. These cooperatives work within a UNESCO biosphere reserve that ensures the protection and reforestation of Argan trees.

If you want a 100% natural product with no addictives and other chemicals, THIS is IT!

It is essentially a bottle of miracle that you can use practically from head to toe. I love it especially as a lip & hair moisturizer during the winter months.

Just like many others, I have a concern if the oil will cause breakouts. During my first few weeks of using it, it did not cause any breakouts, but subsequently, I had some breakouts. I am not sure if they are because of argan oil but I would recommend to use it sparingly on the face and apply it to wet face. Now, I use it on my face, once a week instead of twice a day like I used to.

The other question I had is if Josie Maran Argan Oil is better than the other Argan oil since it is a lot more expensive than those available in drug store. I have tried 2 other brands of cheaper Argan Oil from drug stores. I could not even bring myself to continue using them after trying it a few times. Somehow, they just lack the elegance and have a somewhat oily smell. I am not sure if the bottles I bought are bad or that they are generally not of the same grade as those at Josie Maran.

I highly recommend Josie Maran Argan Oil at Sephora even if the price is higher. The quality is definitely worth it. :)

Product Review: H2O+ Face Oasis Hydrating Gel (Moisturizer) - Best Moisturizer in Summer!

Today I am going to do a product review on H2O+ 's Face Oasis Hydrating Gel (moisturizer)

It is mid-spring in Vancouver now but it feels like summer already. In fact, I am wearing T-shirt and shorts today.

If you have been to Vancouver, you will know how much it rains here and how happy we are when it is sunny and we tend to spend as much time as we can in the sun and that can end up pretty dehydrating. 

According to H2O+ site, The H2O+ Face Oasis hydrating gel is an oil-free moisture gel that provides deep hydration while minimizing the appearance of fine lines with phospholipids, multivitamin complex and moisturizing marine botanicals.

• Hydrating marine botanicals rapidly replenish depleted skin and fill surface lines with a surge of moisture
• Multivitamins A and E help skin resist daily damage from environmental stress
• Phospholipid microspheres -deliver time-released hydration to keep skin looking revitalized all day

It sounds very promising but I love the H2O+ Face Oasis hydrating gel especially on hot sunny days because it is a cool and refreshing gel. I can apply as much as I like, as often as possible without worrying about potential breakouts. It truly does not clog pores or cause any breakouts.

It smells refreshing in a light and non-intrusive way. No worries about the scent clashing with your perfume or other products.  My husband who refuses to use any skin care products, especially those with scent, loves it too.

The H2O+ Face Oasis hydrating gel retails for C$42. Not cheap for a 50ml/1.7 fl oz. Since both my husband and I use it twice a day, a jar usually last for around 1.5 months. In my opinion it is definitely worth it! Try it and I am sure you will not regret it!