Beauty Tips For Body Care
Since 2017 has ended, I want to share my experiences on some high-end and mid-range skincare products that I have used this year. I feel like I am missing some items but I can't recall every single product I used this year :S Skin background:Age: 20Skin type: Normal to dryCurrent skin concerns: Hyperpigmentation and forehead closed comedones (the latter may be due to fungal acne – not sure yet)I don't wear makeup so I can't comment on whether or not each cleansing oil or balm can remove makeup thoroughly. Sorry! 1st Step Cleansers (cleansing oils & balms)Tatcha One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil ($48) is a light cleansing oil that emulsifies into milky water quickly upon contact with water. It doesn't dry out my skin and doesn't leave a film on my skin after rinsing off. It also doesn't make my eyes "foggy" when I use it over my eyes. The packaging is sturdy and I love that it has a lid so I can travel with it. However, I dislike the pump. I feel like it squirts out the cleansing oil too harshly. Even though it is a very nice cleansing oil, I don't see myself repurchasing the product in the future. The Tatcha cleansing oil does the job but it doesn't particularly stand out to me. 4/5 AmorePacific Treatment Cleansing Oil ($50) is another light cleansing oil. It emulsifies faster than the Tatcha cleansing oil. It doesn't make my eyes "foggy" but it does sting my eyes a little bit. I dislike the packaging on this one. It feels like the top part (the pump) is heavier than the bottom part so it often tips over. It's not travel-friendly as well. I will not be repurchasing this cleansing oil. 3.5/5 Sunday Riley Blue Moon Tranquility Cleansing Balm ($50) is a slightly grainy balm that can also be used as a mask. This cleansing balm emulsifies into milk. It is not drying and rinses off clean. The smell is intoxicating; it smells like chocolates and oranges. When I use this cleansing balm as a 20-minute mask, I would always get plumped and hydrated skin after rinsing it off. Even though I love this cleansing balm, I wish it comes with a smoother texture. I dislike the "beads" in the balm. I don't think the "beads" are microbeads though. I may repurchase this cleansing balm in the future just to use as a face mask. 4/5 Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing Balm ($34) melts very quickly into a thick cleansing oil. I personally think it smells like key lime pie, which I love. It is not drying but it doesn't emulsify quickly. I like that there is a spatula inside. There is a 70% chance that I will repurchase this. 4.5/5 2nd Step CleansersLa Mer The Cleansing Gel ($90) is a slightly foaming gel that rinses off clean. It does not dry out my skin at all even when I use it during the winter. It smells kind of funky but also reminds me of the ocean. Honestly, I'm not a big fan of the smell but it wakes me up so it's great as a morning cleanser. I'm on my second bottle of this cleanser right now. My first bottle lasted almost a year! A little goes a very long way. I will be repurchasing this until I find something better. 5/5 Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip ($45) is a gel-clay cleanser that doesn't quite foam up. It doesn't actually minimize my pores but I don't have large pores anyways. It doesn't dry out my face. I have gifted my mom this cleanser and she loves it. I may repurchase if I get bored of my La Mer cleanser. 5/5 Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser ($66) is a gorgeously-scented gel cleanser that turns into oil after you massage it on to your skin. Upon contact with water, the oil turns into milky water. This cleanser rinses off clean. Even though it is "purifying," it definitely does not dry my skin out at all. My major gripe about this cleanser is that it runs out too quickly! I will most likely repurchase this if I have the budget for it. 5/5 Korres Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser ($26) comes out of the bottle as a milky gel-creme that lathers up into a creamy foam. It, unfortunately, does not smell like greek yogurt to me. However, I still like the smell. To me, it smells like a hint of raspberry and vanilla mixed into some soap. This cleanser does not dry my skin out but it doesn't rinse off as quickly as I would have liked it to. I may not repurchase this. 4/5 Sulwhasoo Gentle Foaming Cleanser EX ($36) is a gel cleanser that foams up a lot even when using a tiny amount. This cleanser unfortunately dries my face out. I can use it in the summer but I definitely cannot use it in the winter. The scent is absolutely gorgeous though. I will not be repurchasing this. 3.5/5 AmorePacific Treatment Cleansing Foam ($50) is a cleanser that foams up a lot as well. This cleanser doesn't dry my skin out but the pH level is too high for my skin. I think the pH is around 6, if I recall correctly. I will not be repurchasing this 4/5 AmorePacific Treatment Enzyme Peel ($60) is a gentle powder exfoliant that brightens up your face. This powder exfoliant is so gentle that I can use it every day. I don't use it every single day though because I tend to incorporate other acids in my routine. A bottle lasts a very long time. I have had this bottle for 7 months now but it is still half full. 5/5 Tatcha Classic Rice Enzyme Powder ($65) is also a powder exfoliant and cleanser. This exfoliant/cleanser broke me out in rashes and little red bumps. It left my face feeling very clean but it dried out my skin. I definitely will not be repurchasing this. 1/5 Face MasksSisley Black Rose Cream Mask ($162) can be used as a face mask, a moisturizer, or an overnight mask. This product is my holy grail. It doesn't smell strongly of roses. It hydrates and plumps up my skin like no other products. I always use this as a moisturizer when I go out to important events. I will always repurchase this until the end of time. 5/5 La Mer The Intensive Revitalizing Mask ($170) can also be used as a face mask, a moisturizer, or an overnight mask. This product has a lighter consistency than the Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask but offers the same amount of hydration. The Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask plumps up the skin more than the La Mer though. I will only repurchase this to use as a moisturizer. 4.5/5 May Lindstrom The Problem Solver ($100) comes in a powder form that, when mixed with water, turns into a mousse. I love this purifying mask. Although it doesn't immediately get rid of any acne I have, my skin always feel softer and lighter after using this mask. It feels like something heavy has been lifted off of my face. I gifted this to my mom and she loved it, too. I will be repurchasing this in the future. 5/5 May Lindstrom The Honey Mud ($90) is a thick pudding-like mask that can also be used as a cleanser. It smells delicious and tastes sweet.w This mask leaves the skin hydrated and plumped. However, it is hard to spread on the skin so I always end up tugging my skin. I will not be repurchasing this. 4/5 Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask ($58) is a thin gel-like mask that gently exfoliates. I honestly saw no differences before and after using this mask. I even gave it a fair go by using up the entire jar. I will not be repurchasing this. 3/5 Sunday Riley Saturn Sulfur Acne Mask ($55) is a sulfur, niacinamide, and zinc mask that claims to clear up acne. I have tried so many sulfur products but none of them seems to have worked for me. Unfortunately, this Sunday Riley mask also does nothing for my skin. It doesn't calm down my acne. It doesn't dry my skin out though so if sulfur is a star ingredient for you, you may like this mask. I will not be repurchasing this. 3/5 Herbivore Blue Tansy AHA + BHA Resurfacing Clarity Mask ($48) is an exfoliating mask that soothes the skin with blue tansy. It didn't sting my skin but I didn't help with my acne. It was also hard to wash off. I will not be repurchasing this. 3/5 Tatcha Violet-C Radiance Mask ($68) is a beautiful purple mask. This also did nothing for my skin. It didn't brighten up my face. It didn't even hydrate my skin. On my second use, I got rashes and little red bumps. I returned it the next day. I will definitely not be repurchasing this. 1/5 Toners & EssencesLa Mer The Treatment Lotion ($145) is a hydrating essence that absorbs very quickly into the skin. It gives my skin a bouncy glow. I also feel like it does help other products on top sink in faster. I may not be repurchasing this though as I want to try other essences. 5/5 Lancome Tonique Confort Re-Hydrating Comforting Toner ($26) is a thick rose-scented toner that is good at hydrating the skin after cleansing. This toner is quite liquidy so I tend to use Shiseido cotton pads with it. I will not be repurchasing this even though it's a decent hydrating toner. 5/5 Serums & AcidsDrunk Elephant TLC Framboos ($90) is a light gel AHA and BHA exfoliant with skin-soothing ingredients. I cannot use this night serum because it always breaks me out. At first, I thought my skin was just purging but the "purge" when on for more than a month. I did not see any improvements in texture and tone after using this, which sucks because the ingredients list looks great. This night serum also made my skin more dry even though I tried to compensate for the dryness by upping hydration. I will not be repurchasing this. 3/5 Drunk Elephant C-Firma ($80) is a 15% vitamin C serum packed with many other antioxidants. I finished two bottles of this and I did not notice any significant changes in my skin. It did provide a temporary glow to my skin but it did not fade my hyperpigmentation. It sometimes gave me little red bumps. I will not be repurchasing this. 3/5 Sunday Riley Good Genes ($105) is a lactic acid leave-on treatment that can plump up the skin. This exfoliant is great for plumping and giving my skin a healthy glow. It helps fade my hyperpigmentation but I feel like I can live without it. I will not repurchase at this moment but I may repurchase some time in the future. 4/5 Sunday Riley CEO serum ($85) is a milky vitamin C serum. Like DE's C-Firma, I didn't notice any significant changes in my skin after finishing a bottle. I liked that I didn't give me irritations unlike the C-Firma but I could live without it. I will not be repurchasing this. 3/5 Tatcha Deep Brightening Serum ($185) is a milky serum that claims to improve the appearance of hyperpigmentation. It sinks in quickly. However, this did not fade my hyperpigmentation after finishing the entire bottle. I don't even know what else say...I will not be repurchasing this. 3/5 Moisturizers & Night CreamsLa Mer Creme de La Mer (The Moisturizing Cream) ($315) is a thick moisturizer that makes my skin so soft and hydrated. Before I had the chance to try out La Mer, I scoffed at the brand for being gimmicky with their "Miracle Broth." My first foray into La Mer was when I received a sample of the Creme de La Mer in a Barney's beauty bag (GWP). I didn't immediately approach the La Mer sample once I got the beauty bag in the mail, though. I ignored it for a while until I was so desperate to get rid of the dryness in my skin. My skin was so dry that all my other moisturizers stung my skin. I was hopeless so I eventually opened up my La Mer sample. I warmed the cream up with my fingertips, applied it all over my face, and went to bed. The next morning, the dryness and tight feeling from my skin was gone! So now I'm a La Mer believer. Anyways, this moisturizer is my holy grail. It hydrates my skin very nicely. It makes my skin look poreless and healthy. I can use it day and night in the winter but I can only use it at night in the summer. I will repurchase it until I break out from it or the price increases significantly. Holy grail. 5/5 La Mer The Moisturizing Soft Cream ($315) is a lightweight version of the Creme de La Mer that you can use without warming it up with your fingers. I bought this because I liked the idea of not having to warm it up first. However, I have to use lots of the soft cream to fully hydrate my face, which is not very cost-efficient. I will not be repurchasing this as I like the original Creme de La Mer more. 4/5 La Mer The Moisturizing Matte Lotion ($260) is a moisturizer with a matte, powdery finish. I didn't actually buy this myself; it was gifted to me. I cannot use it during the winter as I dries my face out. I can use it during the summer when it is very hot outside. I will not be repurchasing this as I don't need a mattifying moisturizer. 3/5 Valmont Prime Renewing Pack ($210) is a mask that I often use as a night cream. It hydrates my face well but does not do much else for the price tag. I would had loved to test it out when I had damaged my moisture barrier. I will not be repurchasing this. 3/5 May Lindstrom The Blue Cocoon ($180) is a multi-purpose balm that melts into a facial oil. This is my holy grail. I can use it everywhere on my face -- even on my eye contours. It is excellent for calming down inflammation and redness. It is also great at hydrating the skin. The smell is divine, too. Whenever I feel anxious, I reach for this balm. I will be repurchasing this in the future. 5/5 Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream ($65) is a gel cream that claims to fade hyperpigmentation and brighten up the face. This moisturizer hydrates my face very well. I could even use it in the winter. I didn't notice any brightening effects though. I may repurchase this in the future. 4.5/5 Farmacy Sleep Tight Firming Night Balm ($48) is a balm that turns into a light oil. I didn't notice any firming effects but it was probably because I didn't really need any firming products. I couldn't use this balm alone as a moisturizer because it didn't provide enough hydration/moisturization. I will not be repurchasing this. 3/5 Drunk Elephant B-Hydra ($52) is a light gel moisturizer that seems to be more of a serum. I can't use this as a stand-alone moisturizer. It is simply not hydrating enough. It's a good hydrating serum but not $52 good. Oily skins may like it as a moisturizer though. I will not be repurchasing this. 3/5 Drunk Elephant Lala Retro ($60) is a rich creamy moisturizer that contains six rare African oils. I wanted to love this but it clogged my pores. It provided the perfect amount of hydration and moisture, though. I will not be repurchasing this. I will be looking out for the new Protini moisturizer. 4/5 AmorePacific Moisture Bound Refreshing Hydra-Gel ($100) is a refreshing gel moisturizer that hydrates as much as a cream moisturizer. I could use it in the winter. However, I found it hard to spread on the skin. I will not be repurchasing this. 4/5 Herbivore Moon Fruit Superfruit Night Treatment ($58) is a pretty purple night cream that gently exfoliates the skin with AHAs. I fell in love with the sample I got but it went downwards after I bought the full size. It was hard to massage into the skin as per the instructions. It isn't hydrating nor is it brightening. It often pilled when I layered with other moisturizers or face oils. I even tried layering with Herbivore Orchid face oil but the product still pilled on my skin. I still haven't finished this product and I can't bring myself to finish it. I may throw it away some day. I will not be repurchasing this. 2/5 Face OilsSisley Black Rose Precious Face Oil ($235) is a luxurious light oil that sinks in quickly. It does leave a slight dewy sheen. I noticed an immediate increase in hydration and moisture in my skin after using this. It could be my holy grail but it's not because of the price tag. I may repurchase it in the future in my 30s or 40s. 5/5 Sunday Riley Artemis ($75) is a thick, viscous clarifying oil that is great for mattifying the skin. It is quite hard to spread on the skin so I had to use a lot of oil at once. I found that this oil helps effectively calm down my acne. However, it is drying if I use it consecutively for more than 2 or 3 days. I will not be repurchasing this as it is discontinued and I like the UFO oil more. 4/5 Sunday Riley UFO ($80) is a light, dry oil with 1.5% salicylic acid that I can use it during the day. This clarifying oil is a holy grail to me. It sinks in quickly but it does leave a slight sheen on the skin. It is not drying but I wouldn't use it to replace a hydrating face oil. I generally use this as more of like a treatment oil or serum. It is not as potent as Paula's Choice 2% BHA and so it is not as drying as the PC. I actually didn't like the UFO at first. I used it on and off in the beginning of the year and I didn't find any significant difference so I left it alone for a while. About a month later, I started using it consistently for 3 nights because I ran out of my PC 2% BHA. The UFO oil took care of my acne and slightly faded my hyperpigmentation. However, I wouldn't buy this oil just to treat my hyperpigmentation. I am currently on my second bottle and I will definitely repurchase this. 5/5 Sunday Riley Juno ($90) is a nourishing oil that delivers many antioxidants to the skin. This oil is also my holy grail. It is lighter than Artemis but heavier than UFO. It is very soothing and moisturizing. I use it whenever I have acne flareups or whenever my skin is very dry. It makes me skin feel bouncy and healthy. I will be repurchasing this after I purchase the Fresh Seaberry face oil. 5/5 Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Oil ($72) is a pure Marula oil that is very lightweight. It sinks in very quickly. I do not think this is hydrating or moisturizing enough for my skin though. It's too drying for me to use it at night but it's perfect during the day. I don't find it soothing either. Compared to The Ordinary's Marula oil, TO's is much thicker in consistency. I will be repurchasing the The Ordinary's over Drunk Elephant's. 4/5 Herbivore Orchid Youth Preserving Facial Oil ($64) is a light oil with orchid and jasmine extracts in a coconut oil base. This is a nice oil that I can use day and night. I still need to layer it with my moisturizer for the night though. It absorbs quickly but due to its liquidy consistency, it often slides down into my eyes. I didn't break out from this. I will not be repurchasing this. 4.5/5 SunscreensTatcha Pore Perfecting Sunscreen SPF 35 ($65) is a mix of chemical and physical sunscreen that can be used as a tone-up or (temporary) "whitening" cream. It is definitely brightening due to its translucent white tint. I find this sunscreen quite ashy even on my light-medium skin. It gives you a very very nice satin finish on the skin, if it decides to cooperate with my skin (lol). I find that it doesn't play nicely with some of my moisturizers. It often pills when I layer my skincare products so I have to restart my entire routine again. I will not be repurchasing this. 3/5 Chanel UV Essentiel Gel-Creme SPF 50 ($62) is a sunscreen that offers the lightness of gels and the moisture of creams. This sunscreen has a slight pearly, peachy tint. It does not look weird on my yellow-toned skin. The tint makes my skin look photoshopped and glowy in the best way. It does leave a tacky finish though if I apply it too much. The fragrance is also strong in this sunscreen. It smells like roses and powder. I will not be repurchasing this as it is not available in the US and I want to play around with other sunscreens. 4/5 Chanel UV Essentiel Fluid SPF 50 ($55) is a liquidy sunscreen that is lightweight and does not leave a tacky finish. It does leave a whitecast on my skin if I don't apply it carefully. It is quite drying so I cannot use it during the winter. I will not be repurchasing this. 3/5 Lip BalmsLa Mer The Lip Balm ($60) is a luxurious, soothing lip balm with a minty smell. This lip balm does not sting my lips even when I apply it on to my chapped or slightly bleeding lips. I like this for getting rid of dry patches on my lips. It's quite exfoliating but not in a scrubby way. I only need to reapply this lip balm once every 2 or 3 hours in the winter. I will not be repurchasing this at this moment as I have so many new lip balms I want to try out. 5/5 Omorovicza Perfecting Lip Balm ($45) is a smooth lip balm that works just as well as the La Mer lip balm. It is less exfoliating than the La Mer though. The Omorovicza lip balm smells like candied rhubarb. It can effectively soothe my chapped lips in the winter. I don't need to reapply it often either. I will not be repurchasing this at this moment as I have so many new lip balms I want to try out. 5/5 AmorePacific Moisture Bound Lip Treatment ($35) is a cushiony lip balm that comes in a tube, with an applicator that is great for applying the lip balm. Although this lip balm is a little liquidy, it is quite hard to spread on my lips so I end up using more than I need. It doesn't have any distinctive smell. It smells kind of like a bamboo shoot. I don't find it as hydrating as the La Mer or Omorovicza. I will not be repurchasing this. 3/5 My favorite products of 2017Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing BalmLa Mer The Cleansing GelTata Harper Purifying CleanserSisley Black Rose Cream Mask Holy GrailMay Lindstrom The Problem SolverLa Mer Creme de La Mer Holy GrailMay Lindstrom The Blue Cocoon Holy GrailSunday Riley UFO Holy GrailSunday Riley Juno Holy GrailOmorovicza The Perfecting Lip BalmLet me know if you have any questions :)
Girls Blog 2015
Submitted by choosingnameishard
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