April 27, 2015

CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion





Packaging/Pricing:


89ml (3fl.oz) for ~11-16$. Opaque plastic pump bottle will keep ingredients safe from sun and air exposure.

Ingredients:


Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, Niacinamide, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceramide 3, Ceramide 6-II, Ceramide 1, Phytosphingosine, Hyaluronic Acid, Cholesterol, Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Potassium Phosphate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum.

Excellent (very beneficial ingredients, proven research)
Good (mostly beneficial ingredients, not extensive research available or just not quite outstanding properties)
OK (mostly thickeners, emulsifiers, mild preservatives, pH adjusters, all that is necessary formulation wise, but not a skincare per se) 
Bad (anything that shouldn't be in skincare, irritants and fragrance)

April 22, 2015

Body Care: Jason Hand And Body Lotions - Smoothing Coconut, Hydrating Hemp, Revitalizing Wheat Germ Vitamin E, Glowing Apricot


Jason Hand and Body Lotions: Apricot, Hemp, Wheat Germ Vitamin E, Coconut

This overview features four body lotions from one of my favourite brand of body care products - Jason. After trying numerous "natural/organic" and also regular drugstore body lotions, I've found that Andalou and Jason brands offer one of the best body moisturizers in my opinion. However, not all body lotions are the same, even from the same brand, some are better than others.

How I rate any body moisturizer:
  • Ingredients. Are there enough beneficial ingredients present (antioxidants, plant oils)? Not just one or two, but I am actually expecting a good mix of them. Are there any irritants present? If so, how many and are they at the bottom of the list or the top?
  • Texture/absorption. I do not like body lotions which require a lot of effort to massage them in. I am expecting a moisturizing formula, that feels nice on the skin, keeps skin well hydrated for a few days, but doesn't feel sticky and too greasy.
  • Scent. Though I am against fragrance in my face skin care, I am more tolerant when it comes to body care products. However, the scent shouldn't be too strong (stronger means more irritating for the skin) and overpower the fragrance I am wearing. Of course, personal preference is very important as well. What I consider pleasant may not be enjoyable for someone else.
  • Pricing/Packaging. The products should be reasonably priced for what you get. Packaging should be appealing and not in a form of a jar.


Packaging/Pricing:

These body lotions come in opaque squeeze tubes. 227g (8oz) for ~6-10$ at most health food stores or online (Jason.comIHERB).

April 13, 2015

Aubrey Natural Sun Sunscreen Green Tea SPF 30





Packaging/Pricing:


You can find this sunscreen for ~12-16$ in most health food stores or online. 118ml (4fl.oz) of this product come in an opaque squeeze tube, which protects formulation nicely from air and sun exposure. 

Ingredients:


Active: Zinc Oxide 12%, Titanium Dioxide 5,6%
Other: Water, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Galactoarabinan, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) butter, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Seed Oil, Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed)/Aleurites Fordi  (Tung Tree) Oil Copolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Epilobium Angustifolium (Willow Herb) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Lonicera Japonica (Japonese Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Populus Tremuloides (Aspen/Poplar) Bark Extract, Gluconolactone, Tocopherol (Vit E), Citric Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Xanthan Gum, Tanacetum Annuum  (Blue Tansy) Oil.

April 9, 2015

Skincare Cosmetics Retinol Advanced Brightening Serum





Packaging/Pricing:


~24$ for 30ml (1fl.oz). However if you are lucky, you can find it at TJMaxx for 13$! It is also sold on Ulta.com (here). The product comes in opaque plastic pump bottle (but I appreciate that you actually can tell how much product is left). Though the opalescent white-pink packaging looks quite high-end, the plastic is a bit cheap, and the bottle is not "weighty" (looks better on the shelf, than when you hold it in your hand). Not that it matters much, but something to note.

[I have to say, that ingredient list on the product I've purchased is very different from the one I've found on Ulta.com (official website does not provide the full list of ingredients). I assume, that the one I've purchased from TJMaxx features an old formula. Sadly I have to report that an older version, before reformulation, is much better. However I will be reviewing the newer version, since it is the one that is currently widely available.]

Ingredients:


Water (Aqua), Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-40 Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Stearoxymethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Dimethicone, Retinyl PalmitateSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Propanediol, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf ExtractChamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower ExtractGlycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root ExtractSalix Alba (Willow) Bark ExtractOryza Sativa (Rice) Bran ExtractCamellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractCurcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Morus Alba Root Extract, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Citric Acid.

April 5, 2015

Body Care: Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Lotion Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30



This is probably one of the most popular sunscreens on the market. It has very distinctive scent, that a lot of people associate with beach or summer vacation. So hopefully this review will be useful for you.

Packaging/Pricing:


8-12$ for 177ml (6fl.oz). Not an ideal packaging, since it features clear plastic. Keep away from the sun.
[Orignialy the product had beautiful stripy pattern inside, but due to heavy use these layers got mixed together.]

Ingredients:


Active: Avobenzone 2%, Octocrylene 5%, Oxybenzone 3%.
Other: Water, Ethylhexyl Benzoate, Glycerin, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Disopropyl Adipate, Isopropyl Myristate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Phenethyl Benzoate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polyethylene, Sodium Polyacrylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Coco Glucoside, Ceteth 10 Phosphate, Dicetyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Paraffin, Silk Amino Acids, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Panthenol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Leaf Juice, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Colocasia Antiquorum Root Extract, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Fruit Extract, Passiflora Incarnata Fruit Extract, Plumeria Acutifolia (Plumeria) Flower Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Fragrance.

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 a skincare, usually fragrance)