Eucerin Aquaphor Lip Repair Lip Balms

These are one of my favourite lip products, so I really wanted to write a separate post about them! Enjoy!

MEDYSKIN Glycolic Cream

Azelique Age Refining Treatment Serum

Andalou Naturals Turmeric + C Enlighten Serum

 

Packaging/Pricing:

20-25$ for 30ml (1fl.oz). This serum comes in a tinted plastic pump bottle, which feels neither luxurious nor cheap, but serves its purpose well.

Ingredients:

Aloe Barbadensis Juice, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Cyamopsis Tetragonolobus (Guar) Gum, Fruit Stem Cells (Malus Domestica, Solar Vitis) and Bioactive 8 Berry Complex, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vit C), Tocopherol (Vit E), Lauric Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitis Vinifera (Grape Seed) Polyphenols, Borago Officinalis (Borage) Oil, Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Oil, Glyceryl Monolaurate, Linum Usitatissiumum (Flax) Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Oil, Camelia Sinensis (White Tea) Extract, Laminaria Digitata (Kelp) Extract, Allantoin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil.

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.com, IHERB).

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.

Review and Comparison: MEDYSKIN Argan Oil and Sonoma Naturals Chia Oil Serum

L to R: MEDYSKIN Argan Oil and Sonoma Naturals Chia Oil

Face oils blends recently became very popular in cosmetics industry, though as ingredients, oils have been used in skincare for decades. Pure oils can be for sure a great addition to your routine, especially if you have dry skin. However they do not have miracle properties. Usually any non-fragrant plant oil has fatty acids, which are good for increasing moisture content of the skin and repairing skin protective function. All oils have certain amount of antioxidants and have some anti-inflammatory properties (however, they are weak to medium strength).

There is no single best oil for the skin, despite companies claims. Agran oil isn't any better than boring sunflower oil. Also 40$ oil from Sephora isn't better than 10$ one from IHERB. The quality of them is the same, but you do pay for the brand name.

There are plenty of oil blends on the market, but be careful, lots of them have essential oils in them, than can harm your skin. The worst: any citrus oils (they are photo-toxic, when exposed to UV rays), lavender (very irritating even in small amounts) and mint. If you want aroma-therapeutic properties of essential oils, inhale them, but do not put them on the skin (separate them from your skincare!)

Overall, I encourage anyone to try out this new trend (I am definitely a fan). But do not expect any dramatic results. Oils can't substitute well formulated serum or treatment. So if you have skin concerns like acne, hyper-pigmentation or signs of aging, do not stop using your regular treatments in a favor to oils.

I've found two oils I am reviewing today at TJMaxx. Their official price tag is 48$ each, but I've paid ~8-10$. They both came in brown glass bottles, which I prefer over plastic bottles. And of course, never buy any skin care product in a clear bottle (it will not keep ingredients safe from the sun exposure). Medyskin oil comes with a pump, which is actually easier to use and more air tight than a dropper style bottle, which is a type of packaging that Sonoma Naturals uses. The amount of oil you get is the same for both products - 30ml (1fl.oz).

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)

Review & Comparison: Kiss My Face Face Factor SPF 30 vs Sensitive Side 3in1 SPF 30

Let me introduce one of the best sunscreen bargains I've found on the market. They are Kiss My Face sunscreen lotions with SPF 30. These products have outstanding ingredients, formulated without irritants and also fragrance free. Both retails for ~11-13$ at most healthy food stores and on IHERB.com. I use one for my face (Face Factor SPF 30) and the other one for my neck and chest (Sensitive Side SPF 30). There are two minor differences. First, Sensitive Side sunscreen comes with more product for the same price (118ml/4fl.oz vs 59ml/2fl.oz), so I prefer to use it on the larger areas. Second, it also features antioxidants a bit lower on the ingredient list than Face Factor lotion (so better one goes on the face). Other than that, they are both amazing products. 

A little bit about the company. It has "natural/organic" marketing approach, though they do use scientific research to formulate their products. So to speak, the best of both worlds. I wouldn't say all of their products are that well formulated, but they do have some outstanding products. They do not test on animals or have animal related ingredients. So for those of you who are concerned, they are cruelty free company.

Kiss My Face Face Factor SPF 30

Ingredients: