Kiehl's Pampered Pooch Collection, Hobo Puppeh's first review!

I was just lying there, taking a snooze, minding my own business...

When all of a sudden, my ferocious and unwilling to be bathed self was unceremoniously dumped into a tub of the wet stuff!!
I was sudded up and dunked, and scrubbed and rinsed, and brushed and blown, until I looked like this:

 

Ohmaidog!! They've turned me into a girl!!! HALP!! my sexy machismo scent is gone!! Do you know how long I had to roll around in the park to make me smell like that?!

 Look at this blinding shade of white I have turned!

My girlfriend is gonna dump me cos I smell too girly!! and it's all your fault!

These 3 bottles are to blame!

 

Indignant dog is indignant

Indignant dog may be indignant, but we couldn't be happier with the Kiehl's Cuddly Coat shampoo and conditioner.
We often wonder if Lucky is indeed a dog and not a skunk because he sure smells like one. He will, without fail, find the stinkiest spot of the park and proceed to log roll all over it. There's a reason why we've nicknamed him "Hobo Puppeh", the smellier and dirtier he is, the happier he is.
The Kiehl's Pampered Pooch range is soap free and PH-balanced which comes as good news for those doggehs who need to be bathed more often or those who have sensitive skin. It is also has Chamomile flower extract which gives a lovely lingering scent. Actually we find the scent so intoxicating that we've been burying our face into Lucky's coat at every opportunity much to his disgust!
The conditioner detangles and leaves his coat amazingly soft. Oh so squishy soft....*nuzzle nuzzle*...oops sorry got distracted there, but seriously, his coat is SO soft! He is more like a small walking cloud really.
Everything rinses clean with minimal effort and whites are left bright with no yellowing.
We're also fans of the Spray-N-Play Cleansing Spritz which is a rinse free shampoo intended for use in-between baths. As the HoboPup deems a walk unsuccessful unless he comes homes with brown feet, with this spritz, we no longer have to first wet his paws, apply shampoo, and rinse whilst holding him awkwardly in the basin.
I highly recommend these products for the pampered pooch in your life!

The shampoo, conditioner and spritz is available as a kit on Kiehls.com for $44. Kiehls Canada does not appear to sell the kit but you can buy the shampoo and conditioner separately for $20 each and the spritz goes for $16.
A PR sample of the products were provided.

Please sir, I want some more

Kiehl's Metrotown Opening

I was very kindly invited by Rebecca of NKPR to attend a sneak preview of Kiehl's new store at Metrotown a day before it was open to the general public. Whilst there, I was given an in-depth history of the brand, a tour of the store, and treated to an amazing one-on-one skin consultation by the knowledgeable Donna Paty.
Did you know that Kiehl's started out as a small family owned apothecary (old talk for pharmacy/chemist's) in New York's East Village back in 1851? Today, their New York flagship store resides on the very same spot.
They meld together their age-old pharmaceutical knowledge with the very best ingredients from nature to bring you naturally derived products which deliver effects. Many of their products are also alcohol and paraben free which is good news to those who are sensitive to these ingredients.
What was most impressive to me was their level of service. Each store has a dedicated consultation area where their highly trained staff can recommend products based on the customers' skincare concerns and needs. I am also most impressed with their very generous samples! This way you can try everything before you buy. On top of that, they offer a 100% money back guarantee!! If you're not happy with the product, you can bring it back for a full refund!
Enough babble and onwards to the photos!!

I love their store's eclectic decor and that vintage chandelier is simple gorgeous!

A vintage motorcycle is on display inside every Kiehl's store as a monument of former owner Aaron Morse's intense love of motorcycles.

The original Kiehl's team:

A scrapbook of interesting tidbits on the original store. The pear stands for Pear Tree Corner where the original Kiehl's Pharmacy was located and where the Kiehl's flagship currently stands.

Unlike many skincare brands, Kiehl's doesn't leave the menfolk stranded! In fact, 30-40% of their customers are men. They have a dedicated line of products for men and best of all, no girly packaging! Maybe one day I can get Mr. Nunu to try something other than soap eh?

3 of Kiehl's collection of Dermatologists Solutions

Limited Edition New York Heritage Collection. Customer's favourites in special 160th anniversary packaging.

 Skin consultation area:

Donna Paty, National Education Manager:

Getting educated on what is healthy skin. Damaged skin barrier = loss of natural oils and moisture resulting in oily skin and no protection again irritants! The key to healthy skin is adequate moisture!!

I was extremely fascinated by their healthy skin test! They press one of these tabs on your forehead and one on your cheek and depending on how much oil transfers onto the tab they can determine the condition of your skin!

I've got a normal to oily forehead and normal to dry cheeks!

 My personalised Kiehls skincare regime!

 Vanessa and Christine (who has an awesome name and also rides a Harley in stiletto boots.)

I really really really want that chest of drawers in my house. I can squirrel all sorts of stuff in there xD

What I came home with at the end of the day.....I feel guilty...I really do.

Thank you so much Kiehl's and NKPR!! I had an absolutely fantastic time! I learnt so much from Donna and I really look forward to trying out the various products and writing about them. All the best on your latest opening!

Sana Hadanomy Collagen cream and lotion review

The packaging is so terrifyingly cute and pink that Mr. Nunu whimpers a lil every time he sees it in the bathroom. Onwards to the review!

Cream:

Promises to:
"Sana HADANOMY Collagen Cream, icy cold to the touch, gives skin a refreshing feeling. It contains 1000 mg of micro collagen, hyaluronic acid, acerola extract and honey. By applying it before sleep, you will be given moisturization overnight. The cream with mild, natural floral scent will leave your skin moister and more supple next morning."

Lotion:

Promises to:
"Sana HADANOMY Collagen Lotion, a gel-type toner, contains 2 kinds of collagen, making it sink deeply into skin in an easier way. The moisturizing effect is greater. It delivers a light floral scent. Applied before sleep, it hydrates skin all night long. It preps skin for a make-up of closer fit on the following day."
Damage: 
$12.99 -$16.99 at Artiestyle (use promocode "Macnunu10" for 10% off your order of $20!)
Ingredients:
Micro collagen, hyaluronic acid Na, honey, acerola extract
Review:
Collagen, other than being the main component of Pamela Anderson's lips, is a protein that essentially glues the body together. As we get older (like I am) the collagen in our bodies degrade and all sorts of fun things head south. Jowls? I has em.
Unfortunately collagen also cannot be absorbed through skin or our digestive system. Yes, all those bowls of chicken feet/pigs feet/fish swim bladder soup that our Asian mums forced down our throats with promises of "it'll make you prettier!"actually did diddly squat and we could've eaten a steak instead.
So disregarding the 1000mg of collagen contained within these products, we come down to the core question, are these products any good at moisturising?
The answer is yes.
These products plumped out the lines under my eyes caused by dehydration (yes dehydration, they're not crow's feet damnit!). However, like all topical treatments, the effect doesn't last ad infinitum. If you're looking for something to boost your hydration level then these products definitely do the job.
If you're looking for a rich moisturising cream then this cream definitely won't do as it's more gel-like in texture. It's very cool and soothing and spreads very easily, however, it does leaves a sticky residue. And that brings me to my biggest qualm with the products, both the lotion and the cream leave a sticky residue on the skin that NEVER goes away! My face remains sticky to the touch even 1/2hr after application!! This bothers me because I use this cream in the morning and my face just remains weirdly sticky until I put something on top of it like foundation or loose powder. The lotion on its own isn't as sticky as the cream but it definitely does not absorb completely like my Hadalabo lotions do. Texture wise, the lotion is the thickest I've ever encountered but still spreads easily.
People who are bothered by germs will hate that the cream comes in a jar. Me? I'm more a "big germ eats small germ" person so it doesn't bother me.
Although they describe the products as having a floral scent, I don't really detect any.
I've been told that these products absorb better on drier skin so I am personally retiring these to my winter regime. Overall these products give a good boost of moisture, do not break me out and are very reasonably priced. However, the stickiness stops them short of LOVE for me.

Before:

After: