Mario Badescu Herbal Hydrating Serum Review

Hi my lovelies! As you all may very well know, I'm on a Mario Badescu kick! I've been recently introduced to their brand after receiving their sample package and have been loving them ever since! This item in particular wasn't included in my sample package but we have a cute little local store here that sells Mario Badescu and they were having a sale on most of their products so I picked a few up! 

One of the items I got was the Mario Badescu Herbal Hydrating Serum. According to their website, this is: 

"One of our most unique, versatile products for all skin types that doubles as a layering product to use over day or night moisturizers for extra hydration. Can also be used alone as a lightweight hydrator for oily skin. Formulated with Ginkgo Extract, Ceramides and Ginseng Extracts that provide nourishing benefits for the skin." 

I find that it is definitely living up to its claims! I have oily skin, like, all-over oily skin, not just my t-zone so I can't add too much rich moisture. That being said, having oily skin doesn't necessarily mean my skin isn't dehydrated, which it is! That means I still need to add hydration, its just much harder to do!

This is a really nice blue gel that spreads evenly and absorbs lightning quick! I find it very similar in formulation and texture to their Ceramide Eye Gel that I love and received in my sample package.

The Facts

- Super hydrating without being thick or rich
- Absorbs super fast
- Keeps skin moisturized for a long time
- Never feels heavy on the skin
- Cooling, soothing
- Has little to no scent
- Does not clog pores or cause breakouts

I have had a really great experience with this prodcuct on my oily skin. I know Pammy at "Pammy Blogs Beauty", has also had a great experience with it and her normal/dry skin! I like that this serum can be used on any skin type and still provide great benefits!

Pros

- Hydrating
- Non-oily/Greasy
- Can be used on ANY skin type, including sensitive
- Cooling/soothing
- Packaging: simple and effective
- Can be used mixed with a moisturizer for an extra hydration boost

Cons

- Price: $30 USD for 1 oz.
- Availability of the product (not in all cities)
- Small bottle (I'm going to WHIP through this stuff!)

Overall, I love this!! It is so hard to find hydration for oily skin that won't make you breakout or feel greasy! I also love that you can use this on any skin type and its also safe for around the eye area. This is such a great product to have in any skin care regime for an extra boost of hydration without an added thick layer of product! Remember, just because skin is oily doesn't mean that it doesn't still need moisture. Sometimes your skin can produce excess oil because it needs moisture. The key is finding a super lightweight gel or serum (here is a great option! lol) and sticking with it to balance the skin out!

Final Verdict

I will definitely be repurchasing this product! Even if I have to pay more and order it from the website, I will do it! Its just that great! I would recommend this to anyone with any skin type! :)

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion Review

The Infamous Pimple Healer

Here it is ladies, the infamous Mario Badescu Drying Lotion, the product that made Mario Badescu famous! I don't know about you guys but I've been hearing about this stuff for ages! It always has an ad in every magazine I see or has a write up as an "editors favourite" or "best skin care product". So, naturally I was curious... And had to try it out for myself! Heres what the Mario Badescu website has to say about this product:

"The Drying Lotion is a fast acting, effective acne spot treatment. Formulated with salicylic acid, calamine and other quick-drying ingredients, this product will shrink ugly whiteheads virtually overnight while you sleep. While other acne spot treatments can irritate and dry delicate or sensitive skin, this product is safe and effective for all skin types." 

How to Apply

First off, this is the most different (in every way!) blemish treatment I have ever seen! The idea is you dip a q-tip down to the bottom of the bottle (through the clear layer and into the pink layer) then pull it out and apply to the blemished area. Heres a photo of what it looks like once you take the q-tip out:

After you dip to the bottom, then remove

You end up with a saturated q-tip, bathed in a pink sort of "clay" looking substance. It actually looks really strange once on the q-tip, take a look:

I assume the idea of dipping the q-tip to the bottom and then back out is to get two layers of the clear liquid (below the pink layer and then above the pink layer). This is what it looks like after you apply:

It becomes pretty obvious as soon as you apply this that this is not a day treatment! haha You can only use this at night as you don't blend it in. You dab it onto the blemish directly and then let it dry and leave it on over night. The active ingredients in this blemish treatment are (from the website again):

"Isopropyl Alcohol,Deionized Water (Aqua), Calamine, Camphor, Colloidal Sulfur, Salicylic Acid,Glycerine, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Talc."

I was hesitant when I saw the first ingredient, alcohol. You by now know my feelings about alcohol but lately, I've been having trouble finding products without them! With that being said, I kind of overlooked it on this one as it is only a spot treatment and I apply it sparingly and over very little areas. The other active ingredients are good. Salicylic acid will help exfoliate the area and clean the pore out, Calamine & Camphor soothe, Colloidal Sulfer further fights the breakout and Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide and Talc all help with drying out the white head. Speaking of which, this is only really a treatment for small white heads. They have a few other products (Drying Cream, Buffering Lotion) for different types of breakouts. Lets move onto the pros and cons:

Pros:

- Dries up whiteheads overnight (It really does, it WORKS!)
- Non-drying
- Doesn't create flakey skin
- No Benzoyl Peroxide (I have an allergy, so its good for me!)
- Big Bottle - this will last forever

Cons:

- Only works for whiteheads - not other types of breakouts (under the skin, cystic, blackheads)
- Price: Expensive, $21.00 CAD
- Messy
- Can only be used at night
- Strong alcohol smell

Overall, this is a great addition to my arsenal of blemish-fighting products. Although it is not the "cure-all" I expected it to be! It works amazingly on the small, annoying whiteheads that pop up, but anything bigger or non-whiteheaded (?) lol it won't work on. You also CANNOT use this on open or ruptured blemishes (please don't try, I did (silly) and it hurt so bad!). This is a really great product to use in conjunction with the drying cream or buffering lotion to cover all your breakout bases! I am super glad that I spent the money on this, I've never had something help so much with whiteheads, its really amazing what it can do! Just keep in mind, it isn't for every blemish concern.

Final Verdict

I will repurchase this product. Although, I probably won't need to! This bottle is really big and you only use the tiniest bit each time (even if you use it on 1000 blemishes a night like me! haha), its a good investment to your skin care regime, especially if you struggle with mostly small whiteheads.

NOTE: A lot of cities don't have an actual retailer of Mario Badescu products. They have a great website (linked in my sidebar) that you can order off of and get your free samples! 

Mario Badescu Skin Care Routine Review

Hey everyone! As you may know, a while back I went onto the Mario Badescu website and filled out an online "skin consultation" form! In doing so, they sent me a HUGE selection of deluxe sized samples tailored to my skin type and skin concerns! I find that to be amazing in a sampling program, most of the time they send you single use packets of things you probably don't even need or want! Mario Badescu goes above and beyond to ensure you can properly evaluate the products and how they work with your skin, even BEFORE buying! I have a link in my side bar for Mario Badescu, if you want your absolutely no-catch, free samples all you have to do is click! Easy as pie!

So, first off, I used these products for a total of two weeks in replacement of my usual skin care routine! In the Mario Badescu sample packs you get everything you need for a new regime including cleanser, toner, exfoliator, day cream, night cream, treatment creams, eye creams and masks. (All the sample packs vary as they are suited to your skin so they only send you what you need and will work!)

My fellow beauty blogger and friend Pammy at "Pammy Blogs Beauty" also received some of these samples at the same time as I did and we decided to link our posts together in order for everyone to see a review of their skin type! :) My skin is oily, acne-prone and not sensitive, while Pammy's skin is normal to dry with some dry patches and rare breakouts. If that sounds more like your skin type, check out her review at "Pammy Blogs Beauty"!

So here is the rundown of what they sent me for my oily, acne-prone skin:

Cleanser: Botanical Facial Gel

Toner: Special Cleansing Lotion "C"

Exfoliant: Almond & Honey Face Scrub

Day Lotion: Aloe Moisturizer SPF 15 

Treatment: Drying Cream

Mask: Healing & Soothing Mask 

Eye Cream: Ceramide Eye Gel

Cleanser

Botanical Facial Gel

- I tested this for about a week, which was how long the sample lasted

- It is gentle, smells nice and is non-foaming

- Strange consistency to get used to but once you do, its a nice cleanser

- Doesn't remove makeup as well as I would like, I had to remove my makeup first then it was great!

- I needed to use a larger amount of the cleanser than I would with a foaming one

- Does not leave your skin feeling tight nor like it hasn't been thoroughly cleaned, great balance!

Verdict:

I like it. Its a good cleanser for oily/combo skin as long as you do not wear a lot of makeup! I would like this a lot for morning cleansing as it is really refreshing and doesn't leave your skin feeling tight but also doesn't leave it feeling greasy at all! I'm not sure if I will purchase the full size. I did like it a lot but prefer an all around makeup removing cleanser I can use both day and night!

Toner

Special Cleansing Lotion "C"

- Acne fighting toner

- Contains sulphur to fight breakouts

- Is Alcohol based (drying for some, including me!)

- Intense, would be good for very bad acne or chest/back breakouts

- Dried out my skin quite a bit

- Did help dry up breakouts

Verdict:

This wasn't my favourite. I don't like to use anything with alcohol on my face as I've read a lot about it being a free-radical for your skin and can accelerate aging. I've also read that over drying your skin can lead to increased sebum (oil) production causing even more breakouts. In those cases, I will not be repurchasing this particular toner but am very interested in purchasing another one of their alcohol free toners (which they have a good variety of) and trying it out! :)

Day Lotion

Aloe Moisturizer SPF 15

- Light, fresh feel

- great, light consistancy

- SPF 15

- Oil-free

- Hydrating, soothing

- Light, almost no scent

Verdict:

This is a really nice, light SPF 15 lotion. Its hard to find a sunscreen for oily skin that won't clog the pores or make you feel excessively greasy! This works well on my oily skin, as long as I use a pea-sized amount. It is also good if you finish it with a mattifying primer or powder to keep you shine free through out the day. This would be a fantastic option for normal/combination skins as it provides a light moisture and an SPF. I definitely like this for everyday light hydration with a dose of SPF! I will buy this in the full size (provided I can find it in my city! haha)

Acne Treatment

Drying Cream

- Sulphur based drying lotion for cystic/deep rooted acne breakouts

- Not excessively drying to surrounding skin (has an Aloe base)

- Much more gentle than Benzoyl Peroxide

- No bad "sulphur" smell, very light scent

- Provides minor coverage of redness

- Only need a TINY amount

- Spot treatment for Acne

Verdict:

One of my favourite products that I received! I don't often suffer with deep breakouts (mine are mostly small, surface whiteheads) but this cream helped everything! You only need the tiniest amount applied only to the breakout. I used a q-tip in order to keep the cream bacteria free (only used the q-tip once) and applied it precisely to my breakouts. One really different aspect to this cream is that you can use it on open breakouts ("popped" ones) to speed the healing time! You can also use this day or night, during the day I take a small amount and blend it over the area and at night I concentrate a dab directly on the blemish! Highly recommend this for anyone with Acne-prone skin and will DEFINITELY be purchasing the full size of this!

Eye Cream

Ceramide Eye Gel

- Gel consistency
- Cooling, firming, soothing
- Hydrates very well
- Refreshes the whole eye area
- Reduces puffiness
- Only need the TINIEST amount

Verdict:

This could be my absolute favourite product I received! I am always looking for a great eye cream/gel because I struggle with both oily lids as well as occasional eczema on my eyelids. Both are very hard to work with trust me! haha I also find a lot of products irritate my eyes and make my eczema worse so its hard for me to find a good eye cream. This one is fantastic! It hydrates so much better than I expected from a gel! You only need the tiniest, tiniest amount I can't stress that enough! A little goes a really long way and my eyes still felt moist and hydrated at the end of the day and in the morning from overnight use! Amazing eye gel, will definitely be purchasing the full size of this! :)

Exfoliant

Almond & Honey Non-Abrasive Scrub

- Fairly gentle, facial scrub

- Amazing honey/almond scent

- Creamy & moisturizing

- Not very exfoliating/ minimal grains

- Not great for oily skin

Verdict:

First off, I am not a huge fan of scrubs. I find they exacerbate acne, especially raised white heads because they cause irritation. That being said, I did try this one out. It is really gentle but that is because of the very minimal amount of granules that cause the exfoliation. In that case I don't know how well it exfoliates. This may be a very good option for people who need minimal exfoliation but with oily skin, exfoliation is very essential to keep pores clean. This would also be a good option for dry skins as it provides hydration! This left my skin feeling a bit greasy and like I wanted to wash it again. I will not purchase the full size of this.

Mask

Healing & Soothing Mask

- Clay based mask

- Healing, soothing, calming

- Helps with reddened skin

- Helps heal acne

- Contains anti-inflamitory ingredients

- Doesn't harden

Verdict:

Love, love, love! This is an amazing alternative to a clay/drying mask that is usually the only type of mask that people with oily/acne prone skin can use! This doesn't dry on the skin but still seems to soak up any unwanted debris and excess oil. It seriously calms redness and leaves your skin feeling fresh and revitalized without any excess oil or greasy feeling! I have found this really helps, with regular use, to speed the healing of acne and acne scarring! If you have acne (and even if you don't) this is such a fantastic and different mask that I highly recommend! I will be purchasing the full size!

MAN! This was a long review! I'm sorry about the length but hope I helped anyone with their decision to try Mario Badescu or to find anything that will help with their oily/acne prone skin! Don't forget about Pammy's review for normal to dry skin at "Pammy Blogs Beauty"!

I have since purchased a few additional Mario Badescu products, the famous Drying Lotion (bi-phase, glass bottle with pink at the bottom, I'm sure you've seen ads in magazines for it!) and the Herbal Hydrating Serum (because of Pammy's rave reviews! haha) I will have reviews on these in the near future so keep an eye out! :) Thanks for reading guys!

Mario Badescu Sample Haul!

Hey Everyone! I just got a great little haul of Mario Badescu samples, YOU CAN TOO! (click here) All I did was fill out a skin consultation form online and they sent me all this great stuff! Lets get to it! 

My Haul

First off, they give you a huge array of products to sample and they are all amazing sizes! I was so surprised! :) They did a full consultation of my skin and sent me products that I would actually USE! Which is beyond fantastic! Here is what they gave me for my oily/blemish prone skin:

Cleanser

They really do give you a full skin care system to try! First I got this cleanser. It is the Botanical Facial Gel and is good for combination/oily skin (as designated by the C, O, label on the bottle!)

Toner

Next, I got the Special cleansing lotion C for oily/combination skin!

Acne Treatment

This is the drying cream (sister of the famous Drying Lotion that they cannot send samples of because it must be stored in a glass jar). It is used for spot treatment of blemishes. For All Skin types.

Eye Gel

Here is the Cerimide Eye Gel I received for my dry skin around my eyes. For all skin types.

Scrub

Here is the Honey/Almond Scrub (smells amazing!) for All Skin Types. Everyone needs to exfoliate!

Mask

This is the Healing and Soothing mask. It is good for All Skin Types, especially for use after the Drying mask (which I did not receive but want to try!) because it replenishes skin.

Moisturizer (Day)

Here is the day time moisturizer I got, it is the Aloe Moisturizer SPF 15! YAY sunscreen!

Catalogue

I love how they also send you a catalogue of all their products so you can learn more about the products you receive and new ones you might want to try! They also have a mail order slip if you want to order that way!

Personalized Routine

Seriously, they go all out at Mario Badescu! I feel like I am getting pampered at a spa with a list of recommendations just for my skin! They tell you how to use each product you receive and went and also shows the benefits for your skin! Amazing, I am so impressed with Mario Badescus service!

I am going to use all of these products (and these products ONLY) for the next couple weeks or as long as they last! After that I will do a thorough review of each product and the condition of my skin! I am so excited to see what these products have in store for me! 

Log on to their site and get some samples for yourself! CLICK HERE

PS.  They do this for everyone! I was not specially selected to review their products on my blog, nor was I sent them for the purpose of reviewing! :) So everyone ENJOY!