Lancome Bienfait Multi-Vital Night Cream

 

This is another negative post about Lancome. I've written before, how I am disappointed in quality of their products for such a high price tag. The jar I have was a deluxe sample (free gift with purchase), since I would never have picked it up myself. Here I just wanted to talk you through ingredient list.

Queen Helene Gentle Oatmeal'n Honey Natural Facial Scrub

I do not use facial scrubs anymore. I find them to be too abrasive and not delivering as smooth and radiant complexion as I want them to (in comparison with AHAs and BHA). When you are getting a bit older, skin healing properties are not as powerful anymore. It is harder and harder for skin to heal any even micro damages. A lot of scrubs do damage the skin, which may not be visible on the surface. And a low grade inflammation is very bad for the skin, leading to collagen breakage, and quicker aging. But once in a while get nostalgic and try something out (most of the times I do regret it).

Body Care: Crystal Essence Mineral Roll-On Deodorants

Crystal Essence mineral roll-on deodorants: Chamomile and Green Tea; Pomegranate; Lavender and White Tea.

Three years ago I've switched to natural deodorants. I have tried few on the market, but these ones from Crystal brand are my favourite. First of all let me do a quick ran through some facts. Antiperspirants block sweat glands. Deodorants can not make you stop sweating, they remove odor. They can do it either by just masking odor with fragrance or using ingredients that kill odor causing bacteria. I have to say, that when I stopped using antiperspirants, I didn't sweat for two weeks (makes you wonder how blocked those glands were...). A lot of natural deodorants feature a blend of essential and basic oils, that just smell nice, but does not really work in the way I want to. Crystal Essence deodorants feature potassium alum, which does kill bacteria. It is natural occurring mineral, and you can use it in solid form as deodorant as well. I do prefer a more processed version of it though.

Crystal Essence offers multiple versions of natural deodorants (solid, spray, roll-on). There are fragrance free versions available as well, though I like a bit of a scent. Below I will discuss ingredients and my experience with three versions of mineral roll-on deodorant (my personal favourite type).

Ingredients:

Water, Potassium Alum, Natural Fragrance (Extracts and Essential Oils), Polysorbate-20, Cellulose, Sodium Bicarbonate, Benzoic Acid, Zinc Gluconate.

Excellent (only beneficial ingredients, proven research)

Good (mostly beneficial, not extensive research or just not quite outstanding properties)

OK (mostly thickeners, emulsifiers, mild preservatives, pH adjusters, all that is necessary, but not a skincare per se) 

Bad (irritants and anything bad that shouldn't be in skincare, usually fragrance)

Ingredients Discussion:

CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion

AnneMarie Borlind Intensive Care Capsules (Intensiv-Pflegekapseln)

Packaging/Pricing:

 

This product is a set of 60 individual ampules. The idea is that you have one time use capsules, and the whole product is not exposed to the air each time, so manufacturer doesn't have to add any preservatives to the mixture. Great idea (not a new one, of course)! I was lucky enough to purchase it on IHERB.com (a year ago) only for 35$, but now it retails for 54$ (IHERB). Not a very budget friendly choice. This product is hard to find in US as well. I believe it is easier to access it in Europe. I've checked brand's German website to find that it retails for 34,5€  (which is roughly 45$). Capsules come in a clear plastic jar, which I would keep away from the sunlight, to preserve antioxidants. As cute as it looks when you see orange grains through the jar, it is not the best packaging. You get 21,6ml (0,73fl.oz) of product, which is less than your typical serum size (30ml). Each capsule is 0,36ml. Sounds like it wouldn't be much, but you get about 7 drops from one capsule, and it is enough to liberaly apply on the whole face.

Ingredients:

 

Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Phytol, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Farnesol, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vit E), Retinyl Palmitate (Vit A), Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate (Vit C), Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vit C), Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Tocopherol (Vit E), Ceramide 3, Lecithin, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Extract.

Excellent (only beneficial ingredients, proven research)

Good (mostly beneficial, not extensive research or just not quite outstanding properties)

OK (mostly thickeners, emulsifiers, mild preservatives, pH adjusters, all that is necessary, but not a skincare per se) 

Bad (irritants and anything bad that shouldn't be in skincare, usually fragrance)

[NOTE: This is the ingredient list on the box of the product that I have. Official website has a bit different list. They may have reformulated the product since I've bought it.]

New ingredients:

Avalon Organics Essential lift Smoothing Cleanser

Anti-aging cleanser?............ No.

Cleanser cannot do anything, except cleanse your skin or remove make-up. Do not believe any "firming, lifting, repairing" claims any company issues with their cleansing products. It is just a sad example of feeding on women's fears......