Beauty Tips For Body Care
Hi all!So for my birthday I got gifted this pre-lease kit from Regimen Lab.(Edit: Okay, I didn't even think about this, but yeah, it's of course fishy that it was "gifted" to me, lmao. I meant that my brother bought it for me as a b-day present. :') )I really don't know much about them because they haven't even properly launched yet (learned about them through another redditor), but holy mother of coconut bras, these products looked like they came straight outta MY DREAMS.If you're knowledgeable about skincare ingredients, I think you would agree that this is a literally GOLDMINE of wonderful, scientifically-proven, effective actives. Every product is absolutely STUFFED FULL with actives that work well together.Anyways, this post is just pictures and first impressions for now, but I will update after I use them up.I'm a picky ass potato so my IDEAL skincare products have to be:- Show visible results or at least have scientifically proven ingredients at effective %s- Fragrance-free- Have as many high-quality actives/goodies as possible in one product bc I ain't got time nor energy NOR MONEY for a 15 step routine- Created by knowledgeable experts aka scientists in labs- Have packaging that doesn't annoy me/look decent on my bathroom counter.- Cosmetically elegant!! I can't use a product no matter how good it is if it's just gonna roll off my face! I also hate sticky. =^(- Not exorbitantly pricedAnd guess freakin' what? This brand. Checks. Out. Every. Single. DIF#@R#3resfs$%#ty.LEVEL (serum)- 5% Niacinamide(5% is really all you need to get benefits from this brightening, barrier-enhancing power ingredient. Anything more = potential irritation.)- 2% N-Acetyl Glucosamine(Works synergistically with niacinamide, skin-lightening)- 3% Tranexamic Acid(Y'ALL THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR ALL MY LIFE??? This is a very effective spot-reducing ingredient, not enough evidence yet but the research is super promising - 3-5% of this topically has been shown to be just as effective as hydroquinone at skin-lightening but without the irritation & any shady business like ochronosis!)(the only other products with this known amount are Skinceuticals Discoloration Defense at $98/1 oz/30 mL bottle, and Dr. Brandt's Dark Spots No More at $68/0.5 oz/15 mL a bottle.)- 2% Alpha Arbutin- 2% Undecoylenoyl Phenylalanine- Standardized Salicylates- 1% Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate(anti-inflammatory, soothing part of licorice root)- 1% Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane(antioxidant from tumeric, skin-brightening and soothing.)- 0.5% Hexylresorcinol- A thin, watery formula with little bubbles. Spreads and absorbs easily, super lightweight.- SO. MANY. LIGHTENING. INGREDIENTS. I have NEVER seen all of these together in one bottle. My jaw dropped when I saw it tbh. More importantly, at the most effective percentages!!- Am weirdly pleased with the inclusion of dimethyl isosorbide in their products.I DIY, and I found this solvent to be the most lightweight, non-sticky (damn you glycols!!), effective, and I believe in its penetration-enhancing powers. This ingredient is super duper expensive compared to glycols.. D; You'll usually see it only in high-end skincare.VITAMIN X (serum)- Antioxidant complex: DMC-HMC-TRes-Quer-Gen-FA-EGCG-α,β,γ,δ-Toc2-SIl-LAA(I won't pretend to know what this is but I will break down some below:)- Ascorbic Acid(most effective, OG version of vitamin C! Looks like there's a lot in here.)- Acetyl Zingerone- Tocopherol(vitamin e - works synergistically with vitamin C)- ECGC(super potent antioxidant from green tea!)- Ferulic Acid(the gangs are all here - together with Vitamin C & E, this kills it in protecting your skin from sun damage and pollution.)- Resveratrol(Another super powerful antioxidant, this time from grapes. Even paula's choice, who don't believe that hard in antioxidants being 100% effective believes in this one according to an article of theirs I read.)- Genistein (antioxidant from soybeans)- Quercetin (antioxidant from things like broccoli, blueberries, red onions, supposed to be very soothing too)- Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone (never heard of it, but supposedly very anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.)- Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol (another super potent antioxidant)- pH 3.0- I mean,,, with this wonderful mess, do I really need another Skinceuticals vitamin c serum copycat?- The packaging is opaque, which protects the antioxidants inside, and the pump is super easy to use- Light orange in color, smells ultra lightly of something fresh/fruity..- Watery, also very light. Absorbs quickly.- I've only used this for several days now so I can't comment on efficacy yet, but so far, it gives me a nice glow after using it.Compared to Timeless vitamin C E F serum, it's more subtle. Timeless makes my skin like,, REFLECTIVE. (Timeless also helps reduce pore-enlargement and rough skin texture caused by lack of sleep if I use it at night too.)I actually prefer the glow from this rather than the Timeless tbh, because it looks more natural, glowing-from-within and not super shiny looking.- It would be nice to know the percentages in this as well.- Related: YES I DO see a difference in using an antioxidant/vitamin C serum on my dark spots/tanning especially in the summer! It makes them fade faster VS using sunscreen alone.WAVE (serum)- 5% Glycerin(the best humectant the world has to offer. Truly.)- 5% Urea(I. Have. Been. Looking. For. 5% Urea product without fragrance for SO. LONG. I think I went through the entire internet. But like this person says, urea is basically the most underrated ingredient for barrier repair. My dry ass face NEEDS this.)- 5% Hydroxyethyl Urea(Similar to just plain urea, not sure 100% the difference. I guess it's a bit less exfoliating and has more humectant properties.)- 1% Multimolecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid + 5% HA Crosspolymer- 5% Betaine- 0.5% Pentacyclic Terpenes from Centella Asiatica( Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid )- NMFs like amino acids, sugars, etc.Natural moisturizing factor (NMF) is found within the corneocytes, and makes up 20% to 30% of the dry weight of the stratum corneum. It consists of amino acids (40%), sodium PCA (12%), lactate (12%), urea (7%), ions (18.5%), sugars (like glycerol – 8.5%), and a few other things.Susan from Swift Crafty Monkey- Has a light gel consistency, kinda cloudy clear in color. Thicker than LEVEL or VITAMIN X. Little goes a long way. Only need one pump for my whole face.- Holy crap, this is sooooo nice??? Idk if it's this that's doing it or the C.R.E.A.M., or both, but my disgustingly dry skin feels sufficiently moisturized!! Shocked.- This is my dream-come true hydrator?? It literally has everything your skin needs to draw water to it & be healthy. It kind of reminds me of Hada Labo Premium Lotion? But I personally find this even better.I'm also satisfied with the level of exfoliation the 5% urea gives, so I don't feel the need to add extra acids for my sensitive skin. I have skin that's intolerant to AHAs anyways... (But The Inkey List 3% PHA toner has been nice! It doesn't sting whatsoever.)C.R.E.A.M. (moisturizer)- 2% Ceramides in a 3:1:1:1 ratio(Very important!!! Ceramides not in the right ratio can actually be harmful to your skin. The vast majority of products out there with ceramides apparently don't have much in them. I've been lusting after Skinceuticals Triple Lipid Restore cream for so long, but put off by its $128 price tag and essential oils - peppermint??? why - and other fragrant components.)- 2% Isosorbide Dicaprylate + 2% Glycerin + 2% Glyceryl Glucoside- Squalane and Triglycerides- 2% Ursolic Acid Liposomes- 1% Bisabolol(The soothing, healing component from chamomile.)- Shoot, this got errything. Ceramides, linoleic acid, squalane, and other stuff I've never heard of, but I'll trust that the formulators know what they're doing. Absolutely beautiful.- You can see the texture here. It's a pretty thick cream. It's very, very nourishing and I love it??? I have to use it longer, and test it under different conditions, but so far I can't stop touching my face bc it feels SO soft. Oily skinned people may find this too moisturizing? Not sure.- I absolutely SLATHER my face is HUGE dollops of Aveeno Eczema Healing Cream (with Eucerin 5% Urea cream underneath) and top that with a good amount of the balm version of that in order to not wake up to dry, tight face. I've been testing this by itself, but two pumps instead of one like in the morning, and surprisingly my skin doesn't feel tight!!I was worried this wouldn't be enough, but it is! I'm gonna test it with the Aveeno balm to see if I get even better results. - Um, too early I know, but I feel like I found my HG moisturizer..?- I want this in giant buckets. Thnx.TABULA RASA (cleanser)- Stabilized Surfactant structures formulated to be barrier-safe- Amino Acid-based surfactants- 10% Glycerin- 5% Betaine- pH 5.3-5.5- Woow that's a lot of glycerin. You only need a small dollop and it lathers into a thick, rich foam. Not big, fluffy bubbles but small, rich bubbles. Very nice.- Smells strange.. I can't really place it.. maybe like,, sour glue? It's not so strong that it bothers me a whole lot. It's a fantastic cleanser for my dry skin and I'm just glad that it's fragrance-free.- After washing, my face doesn't feel tight. At all. In fact, it feels moist. M O I S TIt washes off cleanly though, I don't feel like there's a film left behind. This has not dried out my skin after several days of using it in a row 2x a day, like some cleansers do even if they don't dry me out initially.- I would like this in a bigger bottle, preferably in a pump! I don't like squeezy tubes bc water ALWAYS gets in the cap in the shower.- I am impressed, and this is the best cleanser I have tried for my dry skin, but I could also see myself using this interchangeably with other cleansers.I also really like Garnier's Sulfate-Free Cleanser which has a pH of 5.5, fragrance-free (this smells kinda funky too at first, I suppose it's just the nature of the beast). and doesn't dry out my skin.But I find Tabula Rasa to be especially protective of my skin while actually cleansing.It's so hard to get cleanser right for dry skin bc they usually leave a film behind/doesn't clean very well. And foaming ones are usually too stripping. This hit the delicate balance in-between, at least for me. I would not be sad if I could only use this cleanser for the rest of my life.COST OF KITLower end of possible pricing if buying individually: $187 (Each item = $37.40)Higher end of possible pricing if buying individually: $230 (Each item = $46)This kit: $75 (Each item = $15)You can see why I couldn't pass up this opportunity to try each of their products for just $15 each. I am actually grossly obsessed with skincare (if you couldn't tell..) and I've looked high and low at skincare formulas from drugstore to sephora/ulta to dermstore/other "medical grade" skincare, and I have NEVER come across formulas like these.One high end serum costing over $100 would provide maybe 1/3 of the beneficial ingredients that are in one of these.EXPECTATIONS- I like that this company doesn't over-sell their products, promising photoshopped-skin. They tell you to expect realistic results.- Idk man. I feel like I hit jackpot? Is this too good to be true? If it's true, then I think.. my skincare journey to finding the perfect regimen (gasp!) is finally.... over?- I will UPDATE when I finish these bottles. I'm guessing it would take 2-3 months. I may buy another kit to test for a longer period because 3 months is the MINIMUM you should give products to start to show results, particularly for skin-brightening serums like LEVEL.The only other products I will be using are CosRX 96 Snail Essence & 92 Snail Cream, (I enjoy the essence more for multiple reasons before you ask. The new pump is UNF.) sunscreen, and occasionally my other cleansers to use them up.------------------------HOW TO USEI emailed customer service about this and this is what they told me:MORNING- Tabula Rasa cleanser- Vitamin X serum (Wait 1 min for it to absorb for max efficacy)- Spray dry face with facial spray - just water is fine - I've been using CosRX Centella toner- Wave Serum (optional)- C.R.E.A.M.- Sun protectionNIGHT- (I use a first cleanser here - currently Kracie naive botanical Olive Cleansing oil: works really well to remove everything, including waterproof mascara, but has essential oils)- Tabula Rasa Cleanser- LEVEL serum (wait 1 min)- Facial spray- Wave serum (optional)- C.R.E.A.M.(- I actually use my tretinoin as my last step. They said to use it before LEVEL, but idk, it's weird bc it's way thicker than LEVEL. An esthetician told me tret always shows best results if applied last.)
Girls Blog 2015
Submitted by feathereddinos
No comments:
Post a Comment