Temptalia

Speed Skincare Reviews featuring Sol de Jeneiro, Tatcha, Drunk Elephant, Farmacy, Clarins, Kiehl's, Biologique Recherche

Christine — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 20:00:00 +0000

Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel ($52.00 for 1.69 fl. oz.) is supposed to be a hydrating serum that uses the following ingredients (as called out by the brand): Pro-Vitamin B5 for “attract[ing] and hold[ing] hydration to skin,” Pineapple Ceramide to “help boost luminosity and improve the appearance of skin texture and tone,” sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer for “intense hydration,” and “watermelon rind/apple/lentil complex” for “up to 24 hours of skin hydration.”

It had a clear, gel-like consistency that spread easily across the skin, and one to two pumps was all I needed to get enough product for my entire face and part of my neck. It dried down quickly, never felt tacky or greasy, but it definitely kept my skin hydrated throughout the day. I noticed the effect of it more when I used a more lightweight moisturizer in my routine (rather than a moderate to intensive hydrating one), but even when I was using a richer moisturizer with it, B-Hydra never felt like overkill or made other products feel greasy or heavy. I often use this one at night and occasionally in the morning if I’ve done a number to my cheeks through swatches. It is also nice under makeup when one needs more hydration but doesn’t want to use a heavier cream. I didn’t notice any scent to it.

Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 PIGM400 ($66.00 for 5.1 fl. oz.) is a marginally gentler version of the brand’s long-time favorite P50, which I have used (and I really enjoyed but prefer the PIGM400 slightly). One of the big “wins” is that the PIGM400 smells less abrasive (less vinegar-like) compared to P50. The scent hasn’t bothered me (even in the original formulation), and I don’t find it lingers. It’s supposed to “exfoliate, hydrate, and balance the pH of the skin” and is the “prep step before any skincare.” It is an exfoliating toner that uses the following active ingredients: “Alpha-Hydroxy-Acids, Australian Finger Lime Extract, Beta-Hydroxy-Acids, Poly-Hydroxy Acid, Phytic Acid, Levulinic Acid.” I find it works really well for keeping my skin smooth with a better overall tone–less ruddiess, less hyperpigmentation, and just a more even tone. It was one of the few products that I felt made a measurable difference in my routine, which is obvious as I’ve gone through almost two bottles, and this post is reminding me to pick up a new bottle as my current is getting low!

It’s available in three sizes; the one pictured here is the medium (5.1 fl. oz.) size, which lasted for around four months for me.

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream ($45.00 for 8.1 oz.) is a very rich, heavy cream with an equally heavy fragrance (described as “pistachio-caramel,” though I get creamy, sweet and fruity, beach and sand kind of vibe from it). It had the kind of scent that I could smell at any given moment during the day and many hours later. It’s not my favorite scent (personal preference), though my husband likes it and can always tell when I’ve used this cream. I would highly recommend ensuring that the scent is up your alley before splurging!

The cream absorbed within five to ten minutes as long as I was very sure to massage the cream in for a few minutes until I could no longer see the cream on my skin, but just lightly rubbing or massaging (as I do with most other creams!) wasn’t sufficient and just left the cream sitting on top of my skin. It hydrated well and the effect lasted without needing to use it daily, but I did not notice any firming or smoothing of skin.

Sol de Jeneiro Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel ($25.00 for 13.0 fl. oz.) is a frothy, cream body wash that kept my skin lightly hydrated and never left my skin feeling stripped. I liked it, but my husband loves it; the household has gone through three bottles of it. The body wash has a light-medium, creamy texture that lathers up well without being too frothy nor requiring too much product for total body cleansing. I need a lot more hydration for my body, since I’m terrible at consistently applying body moisturizer, so while it didn’t dry out my skin and may have marginally hydrated it, it was just a nice effect but not a significant one as it was not replacing any step in my routine. For me, it has been an indulgence and not a must-have.

It has a strong scent, which the brand describes as “pistachio-caramel,” and it absolutely lingers throughout the day, though it is subtle and doesn’t seem to interfere with the scent of a perfume if I wore one on top. That is by design, so if scented body washes aren’t for you, I’d skip this one.

Tatcha Violet C Radiance Mask ($68.00 for 1.7 oz.) is supposed to be an “anti-aging” mask that brightens and improves skin texture and tone. It had a light-medium weight texture that was creamy and spreadable on the skin; it was easy to apply a thicker layer but equally easy to go for a very thin layer. There was a subtle, berry-ish scent that I barely noticed–only when I initially opened the jar and started to work the product across the skin was the scent present to my nose. I’ve used this a dozen times now, and I never notice anything significant after using it — at best, slightly more hydrated skin that feels a bit pampered, but I don’t get brighter skin, didn’t see an uptick in evenness or texture (but I would say my skin is fairly smooth normally with only some unevenness in tone). It was a very comfortable mask to wear, easy to wash off (as directed), and definitely didn’t hurt my skin, but I didn’t personally see enough benefits to repurchase it.

Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil ($48.00 for 5.1 fl. oz.) is supposed to be a “two-in-one makeup remover and cleanser” that will break down “even waterproof makeup.” I know I tried this a couple of years ago, but it didn’t register as more than a blip on my radar at the time. My sister raves about it, though, so I figured I’d give it another try and picked it up whenever I last indulged in Tatcha products. I liked it, and I felt it did its job well–it broke down all of my makeup, whether waterproof mascara, full coverage foundation, or red lipstick–without leaving behind any filmy or greasy residue. There was a light, clean, floral scent that I could barely detect personally.

Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask ($56.00 for 4.1 oz.) is supposed to hydrate and smooth the skin that has a warming, tingling effect as one massages it into the skin that is noticeable for about ten minutes (in my experience). Per the brand, the mask should be left on for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing off and can be used two to three times per week. It had a sweet, honey scent and had the consistency of a smoother, less-sticky jelly that turns into a creamy, white consistency after being massaged onto the skin.

It was a strong enough warming, tingling sensation that I think that has to be an effect one enjoys in a mask to consider this product. The first time I used it, the effect was a bit too uncomfortable for me, and I removed it after five minutes, but subsequent uses were more tolerable. It took me a few uses before I was able to figure out the right amount of product to apply as well. One of the neat aspects about the product was actually in the packaging: the included, metal spatula stuck to the jar, which made it easy not to lose it! The mask itself is not one I’d use right prior to an event but a day or two ahead as prep for an event, as it did leave my skin slightly redder initially, but the next day, my skin did seem brighter,slightly glowier and plumper overall.

Clarins Fix’ Make-Up (2017) ($29.00 for 1.7 fl. oz.) is supposed to be a setting spray that “keeps makeup looking freshly applied for hours” while also “moisturi[zing] and sooth[ing]” the skin. The mist is particularly lovely, as it was ultra-fine and never spit onto the skin with big droplets, and the fineness of the mist seemed to cover the skin more evenly than less fine mists do. I felt like it extended the wear of my makeup by a couple of hours–not the most intensive, most effective setting spray–but it also was one of the lightest, least detectable (weightless and natural in feel after it dried down) setting sprays I’ve tried. Like most setting sprays, that mist also helped to tamp down any excess powderiness and breathe a little life back into the skin for anyone who has a tendency toward mattifying products.

Kiehl’s Crème de Corps ($48.00 for 16.9 fl. oz.) has been a long-time favorite for me–almost a decade of love!–and I might have reviewed in the past, but I have newer photos and did intend to review it at some point, so let’s do a speed review of it! Over the last couple of years, I have found that squalane is particularly effective for me for keeping my skin hydrated, so it didn’t surprise me at all when I saw it as the second ingredient (right after water) in this formula, as it has served me well over the years.

It’s a light-medium thick lotion-cream hybrid–it absorbs faster than most creams but is heavier than a true lotion formula–that dries down to a non-sticky feel, starts to smooth and hydrate the skin immediately and keeps going all day long. There’s no lingering greasiness, which makes it comfortable to wear, even if I slip on clothes before it’s fully absorbed into my skin. There doesn’t seem to be any added scent; it smells a bit like almond and cocoa butter to me, so it just smells like an unscented cream might to my nose (a lot like an unscented lipstick smells of its waxy base). It’s a go-to when I don’t want any additional scent on my body or if I plan to wear perfume, so I can get my hydration without altering my scent of the day.

Kiehl’s Crème de Corps Nurturing Body Washing Cream ($22.00 for 6.8 fl. oz.) is a product a picked up on a whim as I’m a big fan of the original Creme de Corps body cream. It’s a more expensive body wash product, and I felt like it was most “worth it” when I felt drier, particularly for legs and when I shaved them, as it did seem to make them a bit smoother and less scaly post-shower (without using anything else). There seemed liike a slight, hydrating film left behind post-shower, which may not be for everyone (it didn’t feel bad or greasy to me, though). To cover the whole body, a fair amount of product was needed, which again, made it a more expensive product that had a marginal, positive change on my skin but simply taking the time to apply body cream or lotion would do a lot more. It seemed unscented to me.

Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel

Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 PIGM400

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel

Tatcha Violet C Radiance Mask

Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil

Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask

Clarins Fix' Make-Up (2017)

Kiehl's Crème de Corps

Kiehl's Crème de Corps Nurturing Body Washing Cream

Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel

Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 PIGM400

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel

Tatcha Violet C Radiance Mask

Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil

Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask

Clarins Fix' Make-Up (2017)

Kiehl's Crème de Corps

Kiehl's Crème de Corps Nurturing Body Washing Cream

Marc Jacobs Re(cover) Perfecting Coconut Setting Mist Review & Photos

Christine — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 12:00:00 +0000

Marc Jacobs Re(cover) Perfecting Coconut Setting Mist ($39.00 for 3.80 fl. oz.) is supposed to be a “24-hour” setting spray that hydrates the skin and locks makeup in so it “looks fresh all day long.” (I kid you not, the copy said “formulated with freeze-frame technology.”) There’s a part of me that often feels like setting spray is a little like Emperor’s New Clothes, where I think it’s doing something but maybe it’s doing nothing at all. (For the record, setting sprays I do like and find effective are: Clarins Fix’n Spray, Cover FX Mattifying Setting Spray, Urban Decay All Nighter.) There are some that are more effective than others, but I find a lot of them feel nice going on and can help take down powderiness but don’t actually extend the wear of my makeup at all. This was one of the latter ones. I thought it would have performed better, as I am a fan of the brand’s Face Primer (also coconutty).

Unfortunately, the Perfecting Coconut Setting Mist just did not seem to improve the wear of my makeup, and there were a few instances where it seemed to cause faster breakdown of foundation along my chin and jawline. The best thing it did was give my skin a dewier finish, and it could have well been hydrating, too, but my skin did not seem to need any additional moisture (there were no signs of dryness, so it was hard to determine if it was actually hydrating my skin, but it certainly did not dry it out!).

It dried down fast enough that it did not cause any runniness of my makeup, though I tried to keep it off of my eye area. The setting spray did not feel sticky on my face, and it did have a sweet, coconutty scent that was strongest as it was sprayed but lingered for a half hour to an hour after. The brand recommended two sprays, though from their bottle (and nozzle), even when I was able to get a good misting out if it, I felt like it sprayed in a fan and did not get enough coverage with just two sprays (more like four).

The packaging was also flawed; the nozzle is incredibly inconsistent, and despite following directions to fully press down on the nozzle to spray, I often wound up with it spitting onto my face in clumps rather than anything resembling a mist. I have three of these (I purchased one, two were press samples), and all three had this issue. I took the one I purchased and put it into another bottle, which was more reliable, as when the nozzle failed, it often ruined the makeup I was wearing (imagine rubbing splotches of thin lotion over all of your base products!). I was better able to test the efficacy of the setting spray in the other bottle, since it sprayed on more evenly.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Re(cover) Perfecting Coconut Setting Mist

Tatcha Indigo Soothing Triple Recovery Cream Review & Photos

Christine — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 16:00:00 +0000

Tatcha Indigo Soothing Triple Recovery Cream ($135.00 for 1.7 fl. oz.) is a rich, deeply hydrating cream that has helped minimize redness in my cheeks and scaliness and flakiness around my nose, while keeping the rest of my skin happy. It is probably one of the more expensive face creams that I’ve actually liked enough (and found effective for my skin) to repurchase.

I’ve had good luck with Colloidal Oatmeal as a key ingredient to soothe my eczema (for my hands and neck, I have alternated between Aveeno’s Eczema Therapy and Cortizone 10 Intensive Healing Lotion for years), so I will be making an effort to try some other (less expensive) options that utilize it to see if they’re as effective for me as this one has been.

It’s supposed to work for “sensitive skin” as an “anti-aging moisturizer [that] is rich in Indigo extract, Colloidal Oatmeal and Sophora Japonica extract, which calm, comfort, and restore skin’s natural resiliency.” Tatcha has a rather detailed FAQ on their site about the product, including results from their own consumer survey (which did not indicate the number of participants). The Indigo range also includes a body cream and hand cream (both of which are excellent), but the facial cream also has the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance. I suffer from eczema on my hands, throat, and eyelids most severely, and it was after seeing fantastic results with Tatcha’s Indigo hand cream on my hands that I wanted to try the face cream within the same line.

My face is normal-to-dry, though I have noticed since moving to Arizona, my skin has been more normal and only gets dryness around and on my nostrils, occasionally on my eyelids, and very rarely along my cheeks. I have some redness in my cheeks (and a bit also around my nostrils) that comes and goes but would describe it as minor to moderate pink-to-red coloring overall–enough that I notice but not something I was actively trying to deal with. After the hand cream worked wonders on my hands, I was curious if the face cream would be a miracle worker and if it would help combat some of the stubborn flakiness I would get on my nose. It absolutely did–within a week of using the Soothing Triple Recovery Cream, the flakiness resolved and did not present again while using the product and for a couple of weeks after I used it up.

After three weeks of use, I noticed that my cheeks seemed less pink, that the occasional redness did not seem apparent at all and how hydrated my skin looked. It was actually the clearing of the redness that made me see a few spots of hyperpigmentation that I hadn’t noticed before.

The cream was a richer one, though I did not find it heavy and would say it had more of a moderate-to-rich feel compared to some very rich, intensive, and hydrating moisturizers out there. The actual texture of Tatcha’s cream had more of a whipped, airy feel to it that kept it from having a genuinely heavy consistency, but this texture helped it spread evenly across the skin without feeling greasy nor taking forever to dry down (but note, it had a light tackiness as it dries down!). For me, I found it typically dried down within fifteen to twenty minutes of application. The cream had a very subtle scent–slightly fresh, slightly herbal but subtle to my nose–that did not linger throughout the day (or night).

It took about twelve weeks to go through an entire jar (using once in the evening), and I enjoyed it to the very last use (and believe me, at this price point, I left nothing behind!). If I was going to commit to a permanent skincare regimen (I still find it hard to totally commit, though I absolutely repurchase and use items more than once, and I have since repurchased this product but am trying out Tatcha’s Water Cream at the moment), this would be a very strong contender as my go-to night cream.

Tatcha Indigo Soothing Triple Recovery Cream

Bite Beauty Lush Lip Wipes Review & Photos

Christine — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Bite Beauty Lush Lip Wipes

Bite Beauty Lush Lip Wipes ($12.00 for 10; $22.00 for 30) are supposed to “remove color, replenish, and mattify.” The moistened wipe says it will “soothe and hydrate while removing your old lip color.” Even if this was an amazing lip color remover, it’s a product that really only makes sense in a more in-case-of-emergencies situation where you just have to remove your lip color on the go, but you’re paying for the convenience. I didn’t like the feel of the product, its efficacy, the size of the wipe, or the way it left my lips feeling after removing the color.

Each wipe is about 4.15″ x 1.65″ — it really is a lip wipe! — but the size is awkward to hold/use, because there’s not a lot of free edge for you to hold while removing the lip color. To remove lip color, I needed a few swipes — I find removal easier and gentler with Neutrogena’s and MAC’s Wipes (both the ones I have at home). I use MAC Wipes for removing lip color when I’m swatching, and it’s the best for removing stubborn lip color with little effort (or wear/tear on the lips), whereas this felt like it required more work and wiping. My lips felt dry (almost puckered–very textured when I looked at them in the mirror), sticky, and a little raw, after using, so it absolutely didn’t soothe or hydrate for me. The wipe itself was well-moistened, but it seems like it has more slip and a smoother surface, so it doesn’t grip the lip color and lift it off as effectively as other remover wipes I’ve tried. I used five of the ten wipes on various lip products ranging from sheer gloss to more opaque, tacky gloss to beige lipstick to deep red lipstick, and I used one on bare lips.

I think there’s room for the convenience of makeup removing wipes, but I’m not sure why these are so much more expensive than even mid-end full-sized, makeup remover wipes (MAC at $0.44/wipe, though if you buy the 100-bulk pack they are $0.29/wipe, Estee Lauder at $0.44/wipe). Bite Beauty’s product pricing is mid to high-end, so it should be priced similarly. Instead, they’re $1.20/wipe or $0.73/wipe if you purchase the larger pack (the larger pack would be more comparable to the $0.44/wipe packs from MAC and Estee Lauder). I think that even considering the individual packaging costs, these still seem overpriced (relative to Bite Beauty’s price point on other products) given that Bite’s wipes are much, much smaller and yet they’re 66% more expensive. Even MAC has a 30-pack demi-sized option for $10 ($0.30/wipe) for travel. The pricing on these reflects a higher-end, luxury price point, e.g. Koh Gen Do’s wipes, which work out to be $1.30/wipe (full-sized, though), which makes the pricing inconsistent with Bite Beauty’s product range. Note, I’m not saying these should be priced like a mass market brand’s wipes, but they should be more in line with brand’s pricing range, and it seems these fall outside of it.

I really enjoy a lot of Bite Beauty’s products, but this was a flop for me as far as the actual product went. It just didn’t remove lip color that easily, and it didn’t make my lips feel better, hydrated, or soothed after using. There was also a weird, sweet but chemical-y taste.

Lush Lip Wipes

PPermanent. $10.00.

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Bite Beauty Lush Lip Wipes

LUSH Holiday 2013 Bath Bombs, Bubble Bars, and Gifts Reviews & Photos

Christine — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Lush Holiday 2013

For the holidays, Lush has plenty of offerings to tempt you. Here’s a quickie overview of some of the products I recently tried:

Melting Snowman ($5.95 for 2.1 oz.) is a bath melt, which are supposed to be used either in halves or wholes and tossed into the tub as you fill it with warm water. They’re supposed to add a hydrating element to your soak. He smells of chocolate, cinnamon, and orange. The “chocolate chip” eyes don’t fully melt and tend to float and smear on the tub (not so sexy to look at), and I did find myself needing to scrub those bits away post-bath. It’s definitely hydrating and makes the skin feel softer afterward.

Cinders ($4.95) is a bath bomb that also has “crackling vegan candies,” so you’ll actually hear it crackle and pop a bit once the majority of the bath bomb has fizzed away (about a minute). It smelled like spiced cider, not too sweet or too spicy, and it really was like splashing around in a vat of cider. You can hear the candies crackling here and there for about five to ten minutes. This was my favorite of the bath bombs I tried this season. It turned the water yellow, and I think this might have worked better if it turned the water orange or tangerine? in terms of aesthetics.

The Christmas Penguin ($7.45 for 3.5 oz.) is a bubble bar shaped like a penguin–and he’s a rather pricey bath bomb as a result! Crumble his little penguin body into a hot bath for some bubble action. When used, it will turn the bath water a light blue. It had a slightly tart, slightly sweet mix of citrus going on–a little fizzy and lemon-lime like.

Golden Wonder ($6.95 for 7.8 oz.) is a larger bath bomb that has a treat inside–if you shake it around, you’ll here something rattling inside. It’s golden and has gold glitter on the exterior, and it fizzes away in about a minute and a half. It had a very strong, somewhat synthetic, sweet orange. I didn’t love it–it didn’t give me a really fresh orange fragrance, more cloying and syrupy sweet. Spoiler alert: the portion inside is a vibrant turquoise-blue and did leave some bluish residue along my tub, so be sure to scrub and wash down accordingly.

Luxury LUSH Pud ($6.95 for 7 oz.) is supposed to be a lavender-scented bath bomb. When placed in a hot bath, it turned the water a muted, magenta pink with some foaminess. It took about two minutes for the entire bath bomb to fizzle away. It smelled like a mix of sweet vanilla and lavender.

Sandy Santa ($9.95 for 4.5 oz.) is a body buffer in the shape of Santa. It uses sand and sugar to exfoliate dead skin sells, plus it’s in solid form, so it also contains coconut oil and shea butter for softening and hydration. I wouldn’t say it hydrated all that much, and it really melts very, very quickly. I highly recommend breaking off just a small piece, going over the skin lightly, but then rubbing what you’ve melted off in with your hands, not the bar itself, as you’ll just waste most of it. It smelled primarily of orange oil with a little lemon, and for me, it read synthetic. Breaking him into pieces, I was able to get three scrubs worth of mostly legs and arms but not much else. I was surprised at the price point, given how few uses I was able to get out of him.

Let the Good Times Roll ($12.95 for 3.5 oz.) originally launched for the holidays but made it into the permanent range due to its popularity. It smells like incredibly sweet sugar cookies with a very, very subtle cinnamon spice. It contains maize flour and corn meal, so it is a gentle exofliator with fine bits that leave skin feeling soft but never raw, dry, or red. As a gentler exfoliant, I really liked it, and I’ve been feeling like there’s a void in exfoliators/scrubs in my routine lately, so this has been filling that void nicely. Of all the products I tried this holiday season, this was the only one I’d consider buying.

Celebrate ($29.95 for 7.7 oz.) smells of champagne and citrus–primarily orange–and has a slightly whipped consistency that makes it seem lighter than it is, but it is a rather rich product, because even after two hours of my legs dangling (open to the air!), my legs still felt greasy and slippery. I ended up toweling off what wasn’t absorbing so I could go to bed. I tried it again, and I used the smallest amount possible, and I still felt somewhat greasy after an hour. I would actually say it could make a nice massage lotion, since it never seems to really absorb, so there’s a lot of slip, which is great for massaging! I will also mention that my husband really didn’t like this scent–he found it overwhelming (and he can barely smell, I swear). Like his reaction is encompassed by this scenario: I take one step into his office, and then he says, “What is that smell?” with this face that says, “Please step back.” It had an almost medicinal quality to the orange/citrus in it for me.

Melting Snowman

PPermanent. $5.95.

Cinders

PPermanent. $4.95.

The Christmas Penguin

PPermanent. $7.45.

Golden Wonder

PPermanent. $6.95.

Luxury LUSH Pud

PPermanent. $6.95.

Sandy Santa

PPermanent. $9.95.

Let the Good Times Roll

PPermanent. $12.95.

Celebrate

PPermanent. $29.95.

See more photos!

Lush for Holiday 2013

Melting Snowman

Cinders

The Christmas Penguin

Golden Wonder

Luxury LUSH Pud

Lush Holiday 2013

Sandy Santa

Let the Good Times Roll

Celebrate Hand & Body Lotion

Origins A Perfect World SPF 25 Moisturizer Review & Photos

Christine — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Origins A Perfect World SPF 25 Moisturizer

Origins A Perfect World SPF 25 Moisturizer ($41.00 for 1.7 oz.) is supposed to be an anti-aging, daytime moisturizer for combination and dry skin that’s oil-free with UVA/UVB protection. I bought this a couple of months ago after seeing several readers rave about it, and I’ve been trying to find a daytime moisturizer that I can settle on for awhile. The most important things to me were that it be hydrating, lightweight, quick-absorbing, and have sunscreen.

The consistency was thicker, more like a medium-weight cream with a lot of air in it. It was not quite like a whipped cream (reminded me of a body souffle), but there was a lightness to it that isn’t there with other creams I’ve seen with a thicker consistency. It spread well across the skin, and it took about ten to fifteen minutes totally absorb. The moisturizer didn’t leave the skin feeling greasy or oily afterwards or later on during the day. I found it moderately moisturizing, so it was good on most days, but if I had drier spots or any areas that had some flaking, it didn’t keep up with it. I didn’t have any issues with this if any of it gets in my eyes–no burning or irritation. Makeup wore well on top of it, and it didn’t seem to shorten the wear of anything I put on it. It had a light citrus and white tea scent (a little herbal but not strongly so).

I didn’t notice any anti-aging-related changes in my skin as far as I could tell, and for me, my signs of aging include primarily fine lines around my eyes and some smile lines around the corners of my mouth. I really liked this and would be more than happy to continue using this, but I’m not quite ready to settle down and commit. My impression of it was it’s a nice, hydrating cream that works well for daytime use, underneath makeup; it’s not an aggressive anti-aging product, so it’s not reversing the hands of time at all, but it’s helping to prevent some of it!

Ingredients

Active Ingredients: Avobenzone (3%), octisalate (5%), octocrylene (2.7%)
Inactive Ingredients: Water; citrus aurantium amara (bitter orange) flower water, anthemis nobilis (chamomile) flower water ∙ butyloctyl salicylate ∙ ethyl macadamiate ∙ methyl trimethicone jojoba esters ∙ butylene glycol ∙ lauryl peg-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone ∙ peg-100 stearate ∙ glyceryl stearate ∙ citrus aurantium bergamia (bergamot) fruit oil1, citrus medica limonum (lemon) peel oil1, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) oil1, cinnamomum camphora (camphor) bark oil1, mentha viridis (spearmint) leaf oil1, magnolia acuminata flower extract, iris pallida (orris) root extract, rosa damascena (rose) extract, citral, linalool, limonene ∙ camellia sinensis (white tea) leaf extract ∙ pinus pinaster bark/bud extract ∙ arabidopsis thaliana extract ∙ ascorbyl tocopheryl maleate ∙ oryzanol ∙ ergothioneine ∙ triticum vulgare (wheat) germ extract ∙ hordeum vulgare (barley) extract ∙ cholesterol ∙ caffeine ∙ mangifera indica (mango) seed butter ∙ butyrospermum parkii (shea butter) ∙ potassium cetyl phosphate ∙ cetyl alcohol ∙ ethylhexylglycerin ∙ linoleic acid ∙ squalane ∙ sodium hyaluronate ∙ caprylyl glycol ∙ dehydroxanthan gum ∙ silica ∙ ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer ∙ citric acid ∙ sodium stearate ∙ sodium dehydroacetate ∙ phenoxyethanol ∙ mica

A Perfect World SPF 40 Moisturizer

PPermanent. $41.00.

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Origins A Perfect World SPF 25 Moisturizer

Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream Review & Photos

Christine — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 18:00:00 +0000

Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Cream

Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Cream ($62.00 for 1.7 oz.) is one of the newest releases from Kiehl’s, and I really don’t leap to test skincare, let alone anything that makes as many claims as this one. What intrigued me the most was that it promised visible results in two weeks–not four, not six, not eight, a mere two–and the skeptic in me immediately thought, “Well, then maybe you’d actually see visible results in four or six weeks at least…” The exact claim is that “Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Cream is clinically demonstrated to simultaneously lift, firm, visibly redefine skin contour and re-texturize skin within 2 weeks and double efficacy within 4 weeks.” According to Kiehl’s, their chemists selected Jasmonic Acid (supposed to be “highly effective … for its ability to support epidermal renewal … smoothing and retexturizing the skin’s surface”), Beech Tree Extract (said to “improve skin firmness and visibly improve plumpness and density”), and Fragmented Hyaluronic Acid (listed to “reinforce skin’s natural short and long term moisturization … improve skin elasticity while reducing skin roughness”).

Kiehl’s is basing its claims on a clinical test of 50 women (described as multi-ethnic and those experiencing multiple signs of aging). It’s rare to receive so much specific information from a brand, so I would have loved to see the full ingredient list posted on their website as well. I’ve been using it for just over two and a half weeks now. I’ll update this post after I’ve finished the jar (probably around four or five weeks of use).

It feels like a lightweight cream, though the texture is thicker but not heavy. There’s a very faint herbal scent, though it is touted as fragrance-free (I expect it is just from the ingredients themselves), and I didn’t notice it once applied and mostly only caught the scent if I sniffed the jar. It absorbs for the most part within five minutes, but it takes a full fifteen minutes to really sink into the skin. The cream never feels sticky on the skin, and it doesn’t look greasy. The one thing I can say with absolutely certainty is that it is nicely hydrating, and it remedied some lingering dry patches I was contending with. I’ve worn it underneath makeup, and I haven’t had any issues doing so–as long as you give it proper time to absorb.

I’ve been looking for visible signs of, well, anything, since I hit the one-week mark, and after a week and a half, the one thing I kept noticing was my under-eye area seemed less shadowed, slightly less puffy. I don’t have major, major bags and shadowing, but my lack of sleep has become more noticeable over the past year. It hasn’t reversed it, and it is only minor improvement, but it’s something I’ve kept remarking on each time I’ve taken a moment to note what visible results I’ve seen. I haven’t seen the fine lines around my eyes really smooth out or become improved in any visible way. The general clarity and evenness of my skin’s tone has seemed to be slightly better. I don’t expect to be able to weigh in on firmness/lift, as my current signs of aging are the fine lines around my eyes. I’m quite impressed with how hydrated my skin is, and it does feel… plumper? in a way as my skin can when it’s really getting the hydration it needs. It’s not quite a miracle cream after using it for two weeks, though I like it and it is majorly hydrating, so we’ll see how it stacks up after more prolonged use.

Kiehl’s says to use this twice a day (morning and night), but without SPF, it’s just not a feasible daytime solution–putting a sunscreen on and this will feel and be too much for most. To clarify: When I know for sure I’m not leaving the house, I’ll skip the SPF and just use this in the morning, but on days where I need SPF, then it can take a couple of hours before the skin feels ready for makeup (this, of course, will vary depending on what product you use in combination–I’m using Origins’ A Perfect World, and I did try one day with Kiehl’s Ultra Facial and experienced similar results as when I used my Origins). I’d love to see a complementary product with SPF for this product or else a version with SPF.

Update: The final verdict is that this is a great cream for hydration. I think it helps to give skin a healthier, smoother, and clearer look overall, but I didn’t notice any fading, softening, or diminishing of the fine lines around my eyes or forehead.

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Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Cream

Pacifica Purify Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes Review & Photos

Christine — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Pacifica Purify Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes

Pacifica Purify Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes ($6.00 for 30) are designed for gently cleansing skin and “[reviving] skin and [removing] dead cells.” Pacifica says they can be used to remove makeup, but “[they] do not use chemical solvants, [so] they will not remove the most water-proof make-up.” I appreciate the honesty there, though I did use it to remove regular makeup and felt it did an excellent job moving all bits and traces of my foundation, eye makeup (including mascara), and lipstick. None of what I’ve worn is really waterproof (except maybe eyeliner), so whether it has a place in your routine will depend on whether you want it to break down waterproof makeup, too.

Each wipe was extremely saturated with cleanser, even though the package had been sitting face-up so the first wipe was the top wipe, which was still saturated and wet. A lot of times, I store makeup wipes upside down so that the first wipe you remove has been on the bottom staying its most moist, but with these, I didn’t need to do that. I’ve been using these here and there for the past three weeks, and I’ve used a third of the amount in the package. These also had a harder, plastic “seal” over the resealable plastic flap, so they should stay wet. They smell like lightly sweetened coconut, but the scent doesn’t linger.

At this price point ($0.20/each), they’re comparable or cheaper than wipes by brands like Aveeno ($0.28/each), Neutrogena ($0.28/each), and Almay ($0.24). Ponds has a value pack, which brings down the cost to $0.16. I normally use MAC’s Makeup Removing Wipes ($0.29/each), and I seriously have six 100-packs in my house at all times–they’re my go-to for removing swatches, but I can’t use them on my eyes often (on my cheeks and lips are fine), so I really like that I can use these all over.

Ingredients

Purified Water, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin (vegetable), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Water, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Leaf Extract, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract , Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Extract , Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Fragrance (all natural).

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Pacifica Purify Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes

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