L'Oreal White Perfect Transparent Rosy Whitening SPF 17 Day Cream

I am always confused to try any moisturizer as my skin is sensitive and acne prone too. It takes me not only days but weeks to decide an appropriate moisturizer but even after reading many reviews most of the moisturizers turn out to be a failure. Pimples always leave dark spots on face and its hard to lighten them.
After thinking for more than a week I decided to try L'Oreal cream. Actually I went to buy night cream but it was out of stock and I had read good reviews about day cream too so I decided to give it a try.

Claims

• Helps to reduce spots and visibly brightens skin tone for a more transparent skin.
• Helps to stimulate skin micro-circulation and brings more glow to skin.
• Protects against UV and skin darkening (SPF 17).

My thoughts and experience

The cream comes in a transparent glass jar which is a bit heavy. It has an additional lid too which is a plus point.It is a white cream with milky texture, a bit thick as compared to other creams but when applied it blends very smoothly. It has a very pleasant fragrance too which is not strong. The only problem which I faced is that it doesn't absorb easily and leave behind a white film on face. Even when I applied a pea sized amount I noticed the same.You can see this in the pic too.I noticed that the size of pores has minimized and dark spots have reduced. But still I am unable to use it on daily basis as it causes breakouts. I use it thrice in a week.

Its much better to use it as a night cream as it leaves behind white film but if you want to use it under makeup during day time then you can go for it as it works as a sunblock too (SPF 17). I only use it during winters as during summers it fails to control oil. If dry skinned beauties want to use it then I will recommend to use any other moisturizer too as it dries out skin during winters. It does even out the skin tone but dont expect fairness.

Pros
Works both as a moisturizer and sunblock (SPF 17).
Evens out skin tone.
Minimizes size of pores.
Reduces dark spots.
Contains extra lid for protection.
Only pea sized amount is enough.

 

Cons

Expensive.
Doesn't bring fairness.
Doesn't absorb easily.
Cannot be used as a day cream.

White Film ( One can easily notice that I have not applied cream on fingers)

Availability
It is easily available all across Pakistan but if you want to buy it online then you can easily get it from just4girls in Rs 850.

Recommendation
Oily skinned beauties can only use it during winters. Yes dry skinned beauties can use it during every season but its much better to use it as a night cream as it leaves behind white film on face.

My Rating
4/5

Thank you for your time.

Stay Blessed :)

My Recent Skincare Routine

I used to follow dutifully the ever so popular trend of skincare regimen: wash, tone, moisturize. Now, I'm becoming less convinced of this trend's necessity. For the past several months, I've been trying to revamp my skincare routine into a much less complicated regimen. During some periods, my skin repaid my modifications with a lot of breakouts. But as I adjusted slowly, my skin eventually improved. I learned that I need not use a lot of products in order to have a healthy skin.

For now, my recent skincare routine is only consisted of two steps: wash and moisturize. I like this simplicity very much. It's much easier to squeeze this routine into my daily schedule. Not only that, my wallet is much happier as well. Less products means less expenses. I need not worry about the effects of combining a lot of different product ingredients anymore. In addition, having only two types of products to use makes it easier for me to point out which product triggers my breakouts.

To be more specific, my morning routine is like this: wash with a mild cleanser (Happy Tea Time Cleansing Foam), apply benzoyl peroxide (Panoxyl, 4% cream), and apply sunscreen (Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen SPF 45). To my oily skin, a sunscreen is enough to act as a moisturizer to my skin. At night, I wash my face with a cleanser (Clean & Clear Essentials) effective to remove my water-resistant sunscreen, apply benzoyl peroxide once again, and apply my nighttime moisturizer (Jason Soothing 98% Aloe Vera).

In a list form, here is my regimen:

Daytime

- wash (Happy Tea Time Cleansing Foam)

- acne treatment (Panoxyl)

- moisturize (Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen SPF 45)

Nighttime

- wash (Clean & Clear Essentials)

- acne treatment (Panoxyl)

- moisturize (Jason Soothing 98% Aloe Vera)

I realized that my topical skincare products are not everything to my skin's health. There had been a time when I was so obsessed with finding the perfect products, sometimes even poring a big hole in my wallet, just to achieve a flawless skin. But this is a fact that every woman should admit: a healthy lifestyle and diet is all it takes to have good skin. 

Yes, topical products are great, in fact, I am dependent on them to control my acne. I am also very dependent on them to protect my skin from harsh conditions. However, even with those, their effect can only go to a certain point. Bad skin will still appear to reflect the health's condition. So now, I have another reason to eat more healthily. I also take fish oil capsules everyday to ensure I have enough good fats needed for a healthy skin. I make sure that I am always hydrated throughout the day by drinking plenty of water, and I sleep earlier too, never past 12 midnight, so as not to trigger my hormonal acne. I'm proud that most nights, I am already sound asleep at 11pm, quite a feat for a night-owl blogger like me!

How about you? What is your skincare routine?

January Haul!

Hello Ladies! Two days ago I went to commercial market only to purchase a face wash but when I reached there I changed my mind and purchased few other items too. As you all know that I have acne prone and sensitive skin therefore I am all the time in search of face washes. These days I am more interested in trying herbal products
and my eyes were on Saeed Ghani products. I have heard and even read a lot about this brand so finally I got my hands on Herbal Skin + soap. Along with this soap I also purchased Dermacos Clarifying Facial Wash. I am already using Dermacos Facial products so this time I wanted to try its face wash too.

Here is a list of what I purchased.

Saeed Ghani Herbal Skin + Soap (Rs 80)

Dermacos Clarifying Facial Wash (Rs 245)

MAC Lustre Lipstick NC43-Replica (Rs 333)

Loreal Lipstick 345-Replica (Rs 333)

Kurta (Rs 1850)

Max Touch Blush on 8/C (Rs 550)

Garnier Fructis Stength and Shine Shampoo (Rs 200)

 Back View

 Front View

I hope you have enjoyed my haul.
Thank you for your time.
Stay blessed....:)

Product Review: Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen SPF 45

I have been using Alba Botanica Natural Very Emollient Sunscreen, which I have written a review about in my past post, for a few months already. I think the said product is fine, and works well as a daytime moisturizer during the low-humidity periods. However, after using it for a few times during my jogging spree, I noticed that my skin has darkened a bit. So I decided to look for another product from the same brand which hopefully would work better, and has chosen the Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen SPF 45 because it cointains green tea (Skin care products containing green trea turn me on!). Besides, it contains higher SPF, longer water resistance time (80 minutes), and most importantly, it bears a seal of recommendation from the Skin Cancer Organization.

Product Name: Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen SPF 45

Price and Availability: Php375.00 (Healthy Options) / 113g (4oz), Amazon

Ingredients:

Active Ingredients: Homosalate 10%, Octocrylene 10%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Titanium Dioxide 2%

Inactive Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract*, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract*, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract*, Gingko Biloba Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract*, Cetearyl Olivate, Polysorbate 60, Silica, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Alcohol*, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Limonene, Linalool, Fragrance (Parfum)

* Certified Organic Ingredient

(Comedogenic ingredients: Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, and Glyceryl Stearate SE, Irritant: Alcohol)

Remarks: 

According to cosdna.com database: Cetearyl Alcohol and Cetyl Alcohol are highly comedogenic. Glyceryl Stearate SE is moderately comedogenic. Alcohol is an irritant.

Descriptions:

SPF 45

100% vegetarian ingredients

no parabens, pthalates, or harmful sulfates

water resistant (80 minutes)

broad spectrum

Review:

Back view.

A closer view at the back of the package.

Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen SPF 45 is white in color and has a slightly thick texture. It has a faint sweet smell, not really like of green tea, but of a mixture of plants and flowers. The texture makes it easy to apply on the face. A little bit of effort can easily blend the product into the skin, leaving a white-less layer of protection.

Since I have oily skin, I very much prefer this product compared to my previous Alba Botanica Natural Very Emollient Sunscreen. My skin appears less greasy (but still kind of shiny) and therefore more cosmetically appealing. For now, I've never tried applying anything on top of my sunscreen, so I'm not sure how it would fare if combined with makeup. Personally though, I hate to combine products. I would rather wear my sunscreen alone and that would be enough.

Before applying the sunscreen, I don't need any moisturizers at all. The formulation itself is emollient enough. I apply my daily benzoyl peroxide for my acne-prone skin, and then the sunscreen. By midday, I need to blot my face because my skin becomes extremely greasy.

The packaging doesn't indicate anything about being noncomedogenic. Despite that, I didn't have any problems with breakouts. That may be because after every workout, I wash my face immediately so as to avoid clogging the pores with sweat and sunscreen. During normal office days, I wear the sunscreen all day, and at night, remove the sunscreen with my reliable Clean & Clear facial wash. I never leave the sunscreen on overnight.

Pros:

- has a stable sunscreen formula 

- has SPF 45, which is slightly higher than the minimum requirement of SPF 30

- water resistant

- emollient, good for slightly dry to normal skin

- affordable

Cons:

- people with very oily skin will find it a bit too greasy

- may clog pores

Verdict:

After trying both products from the same Alba Botanica line, I would say I prefer this one. It is less oily and provides more protection against both UV A and B rays. It's impressive sun protective properties outweighs the slightly greasy feel it gives me. I would definitely repurchase this product. 

Rating:

4.5/5

Bourjois Flower Perfection Translucent Smoothing Primer

Its a dream of every girl to achieve a flawless look after makeup and it is possible with the help of a primer. Primer isn't only supposed to make your skin look better but it is also supposed to make your foundation last longer on your skin.
Makeup primer has the unique ability to fill in the pores, fine lines and wrinkles. It also Protects your skin from chemicals found in all your makeup products. Last year in October I purchased Bourjois Flower Perfection Translucent Smoothing Primer and have used it 6 or 7 times only in functions or parties as  mostly I stay away from makeup. Lets see what the product claims and how it turned out for me.

Claims

• Its compact, translucent primer evens out and refines the skin’s texture, hides pores, blemishes and fine lines, leaving the skin looking flawless. 
• Its soft texture and airbrush finish leaves the complexion feeling silky smooth and beautified.
• It can be used alone or before applying foundation for an easier application and a long-lasting hold. 

My thoughts and experience

As I have a sensitive and acne prone skin so I always faced trouble in applying foundation as it used to block my pores. I started to read the reviews of primers and  finally after reading hundreds of review I came across this primer. I ordered it online and after a wait of four days the primer was in my hands. To be very honest I was really shocked when I saw it for the first time as I was not expecting such a small plastic pot.The primer contains 7ml of product. It comes in a cute, pink colored, round shaped plastic pot.It has a very light pink color which you can see in the picture but when it is applied to face it becomes colorless. If you want to get a perfect look after makeup then before applying primer dont forget to exfoliate your skin and also moisturise it. Exfoliation is must for acne prone skin in winters as it removes dry patches from your face.

It has a thick consistency and when I applied it on my face it made a big difference to the appearance of my skin.It smoothed out the acne scars on my cheeks and it gave me a smooth base for my foundation. Minor pores became almost invisible but larger pores were still visible. Although the pot is very small but you need a small quantity of the product to get a smooth look. It smells like a flower but its not very strong. As far as the longevity of the makeup is concerned then it made my foundation last for 7 or 8 hours and prevented my skin from going oily.Most importantly it didn't cause me to break out.

Pros 

• Oil free.
• Travel friendly.
• Makes the skin smooth and velvety.
• Makes small pores invisible and fills up fine lines to great extent.
• Blends into the skin very well.
• Suitable for oily and combination skin.
• Floral fragrance which is not strong.

Cons

• larger pores are still visible to an extent.
• Gives matte look which is not perfect for dry skinned girls.
• Ingredients are not mentioned on the pot.
• Doesn't hide deep wrinkles and scars.
• Expensive for how much you get (only 7ml).
• Packaging is quite unhygienic (It much better to use a spatula instead of fingers to takeout product).

 Recommendation

If you have small sized pores and fine lines then this product is for you. But if you expect it to hide large pores, deep wrinkles and scars then its not for you. As I have normal sized pores so I will definitely repurchase it as it reduced the appearance of pores and helped to prolong my foundation.

Availability

Its not easily available so its much better to get this product online. I got this product from just4girls in Rs 1425.

My Rating

4/5

Have you tried the Bourjois Flower Perfection Translucent Smoothing Primer?

 :)

Clean & Clear Active Clear Acne Clearing Cleanser

After much pressure from my friends to use this cleanser I laid my hands on it but to be very honest I wish I had a time machine so that I could go back to the time and change my decision because it made my skin worse. I will never ever repurchase it. Why lets discuss this.

Claims

Clean & Clear active clear acne cleanser goes beyond ordinary cleansing to help clear pimples fast. The effective salicylic acid formula penetrates deep into pores to eliminate acne-causing bacteria and excess oil. Unique active botanical formula effectively reduces surface redness and soothes pimples for visibly clearer skin. Fast and effective cleansing solution for acne-prone skin leaves skin noticeably clearer. 

How to use it

Squeeze a small amount on wet palm and rub the hands until a rich lather is formed and gently massage the product all over your face, avoiding the eye area. Rinse off thoroughly.

Shelf life

 2 years from manufacturing date.

 My thoughts and experience

 Lets start my opinion about this product with its packaging. When I saw this product for the first time then I was not much impressed with it as its packaging is not at all attractive. Everyone including me gets attracted towards bright colors. It comes in a grey colored tube with a purple cap. Some people say the color of the cap is blue but I found it more on the purple side instead of blue. Well the cleanser is transparent in color but when you give a second look to it then you will see that it has white color too so its neither pure transparent nor pure white. Its a mixture of transparent and white. The cleanser smells like a mint which is slightly strong and does lather well. When I used it for the first time I found my skin soft and smooth and even the size of the pores reduced which was obviously temporary. All of the oil from my face was nicely removed. Well problem started from the 4th day. On the 4th day I felt my skin much dry after using it and stretchy too. After an hour of using it my skin started to get red. Irritation started and I felt like I am sitting in front of a heater.My stupidity I continued to use it even after reading the caution mentioned on the product which says that discontinue it if irritation starts. On 7th day there were red spots all over my face and my face was burning like hell. I stopped using it. But it took a week for the red spots to disappear. This product was a nightmare. I can never ever think of using it again.

Pros

• Easy to carry as its travel friendly.
• Can easily last for 2 weeks(50g).
• Removes the oil effectively.
• Provides cooling sensation to the skin.
• Price friendly.

 Cons

• Dries out the skin.
• Doesn't prevent acne.
• Can cause irritation in case of sensitive skin.
• Dull packaging  

Recommendation 

No, not at all. Stay away from this product if you have a sensitive skin.

Availability

You can easily get this product from any leading superstore in 200 Rs as I used 50g and if you want to go for online shopping then you can get it from just4girls. 

My Rating

1.5/5

 

L'Oreal Dermo-Expertise VitaLift Rejuvenating Cleansing Makeup Removing Milk

I am addicted to products by L'Oreal. It was end of 2012 when I saw this product in a mall and I was curious to try it.
I am not much fond of makeup so mostly when I go to my university then I only use lipsticks nothing else. Not even kajal or mascara. Yes , when there are parties and functions then I don't miss the chance to use the products which I keep on buying whenever I go to market....;) Okay lets get back to the L'Oreal Dermo-Expertise VitaLift Rejuvenating Cleansing Makeup Removing Milk. I have been using this product on and off since the end of 2012  so its been a year now or even more so I am in a good position  to deeply review this product.

Claims

Rediscover youthful, radiant skin as you cleanse, lift and revitalise to help combat signs of aging, such as a dull complexion, wrinkles and loss of firmness. The creamy formula, enriched with active ingredient Glycoliss and vitamin C, effectively removes makeup leaving your skin perfectly cleansed and feeling rejuvenated. The skin feels instantly hydrated. Each day it feels smoother and skin tone appears more luminous.

My thoughts and experience
As I am a student so I dont need any anti-aging product but when I read reviews about it then I neglected its description and just purchased it. The bottle comes in off white color with a white cap. Cleansing milk is white in color and its rich and greasy in texture. You dont need much of the product to remove makeup. If you are in heavy makeup then you need only three or four cotton pads to remove the makeup completely. The only problem which girls face is to remove kajal or eye liner and this product to be very honest does this job well.

 The only thing which bothered me when I used it for the first time was its fragrance. Now I am used to it because I believe that if the product is delivering what it has claimed then one can put such thing aside. It really makes my skin smooth. After removing makeup with this cleansing milk I never ever forget to wash my face with a good face wash. Although its mentioned on the product to apply toner and moisturiser after using this product but my skin really gets greasy so my next step is always face wash. If you have a dry skin then you can go for the steps mentioned on the product but as I have a sensitive and acne prone skin so I cant take risk. I dont want more pimples so I feel that I should not use moisturiser after using this product. My overall experience with this product is worth the time and money too because it leaves my skin clean, smooth, soft and moisturized. As far as the anti-aging factor is concerned I cant give better reviews on this side of this product as I dont have wrinkles but my family members have also used this product and according to them this product is good in removing the makeup but it doesn't help to make your wrinkles to disappear. I will definitely repurchase this product. I have already used one bottle and I am using the second one now......;)

Availability

Its easily available in all big cosmetic stores. You wont face any difficulty in finding this product..;)

Pros

• Its suitable for all skin types. I have acne prone and sensitive skin and I have not experienced any irritation or itching.
• It removes even the last trace of makeup from skin effectively.
• Skin becomes smooth and soft.
• Only small amount is needed to remove makeup.

 Cons

• Its greasy texture.
• Its not scent-free.
• Doesnt reduce wrinkles.
• Its slightly expensive.

Overall I am happy with this product ....;)

My Rating 
4.5/5