Naruko NRK Essential VC Brightening and Deep Hydrating Mask

Packaging/Pricing:

Set of 10 pieces for ~30$.

Ingredients:

 

Water, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Glycerin, Irish Moss (Carrageenan), Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Malpighia Punicifolia, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Honey Extract, Carbomer, Hydrolized Hyaluronic Acid, Soluble Collagen, Triethanolamine, Allantoin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Lecithin, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Fragrance.  

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)

Sephora Favorites Sun Safety Kit

Sephora has released the sunscreen collection kit recently (here). Since I am extremely addicted to protecting my skin from UV exposure, I was tempted to explore what is on the market and decided to purchase it. I will do separate reviews of individual sunscreens from this kit, once I have enough time to play with them. But now I want to give a brief overview of the set. I think it was a really good deal. You get 16 miniature size face, lip and body products. The kit retails for 32$ (the claimed retail value is 155$). Though not all of the products have good or passable ingredient lists, still there are enough options to be able to play around with and to find the one that will work out for you.

Now solutions Completely Kissable Lip Balm Pomegranate

Ingredients:

Beeswax, Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Ricinus communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Lanolin, Tocopherol (Vit E), Natural Pomegranate Flavor, Aloe barbadensis Leaf Extract, Butyrospermum parkii (Shea Butter), Theobroma cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter.

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)

Kiss My Face Face Factor SPF 50

I usually write very positive reviews about Kiss My Face sunscreens. Unfortunately it will not be the case with this particular product. Even though the majority of ingredients are similar to other sunscreens (here), there are couple of things that upset me. Read more on that below.

Packaging/Pricing:

59ml (2fl.oz) for ~13$. Opaque squeeze tube packaging. Available at most health food stores and online.

Lanoline Manuka Honey Skin Renew Firming Serum

This is an interesting find from a TJMaxx store. I haven't heard of this company before, but I was drawn to this serum. Though it is not perfect ingredients wise, it was still quite appealing. Apparently, Lanoline is one of the brands under umbrella of New Zealand's Natural Collection company (by Pearson and Craig Cosmetics - here). Despite the name, Lanoline products are actually mostly based on rosehip oil, not lanolin. These cosmetics are paraben and mineral oil free. I've expressed opinion regarding those two ingredient before. They are perfectly safe ingredients to use. Unfortunately there is a scare campaign going around, which has no scientific backing to it. 

Packaging/Pricing:

L'Occitane Shea Cleansing Oil

I did a review on three cleansing oils before and talked a bit more about the whole concept. You can read more on that HERE. Usually I don't focus on the ingredient list too much, if it is a rinse off product, since none of the ingredients have time to penetrate the skin and work properly. I mostly monitor amount of irritants (since they still do harm the skin even in smaller amounts). Basically I review the cleansers from the standpoint whether I did or did not like it personally.

Packaging/Pricing:

200ml (6.7fl.oz) for 22$ (Sephora). It is not the cheapest products on the market, but I think it is quite reasonably priced among other cleansing oils from high end brands. The product comes in a clear plastic pump bottle. Since it is a cleanser (rinses off, doesn't stay on your face), I am not as concerned about keeping formulation safe from being exposed to UV rays.

Ingredients:

Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Isopropyl Isostearate, PEG-40 Sorbitan Peroleate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Seed Oil, Fragrance, Tocopherol.

Hypothetically Speaking: Chanel Hydro Beauty Micro Serum

In my humble opinion, some big name companies (like Chanel, Dior, Guerlain etc.) should produce only make-up and fragrance (in cosmetics field of course), because that's what they do really well. Even though those products are grossly overpriced, at least you get a good quality product, and it is up to you whether you want to spent that much money or not. Skin care is quite a different thing. None of these companies seem to know (or may be want) how to do a well formulated skin care product. Mostly these products have very cheap basic ingredients, with fancy fragrance and beautiful packaging. You end up using a very mediocre product (at best, if not actually a harmful one) and paying for the brand name. I do not deny, that there are some good products out there from these companies, but they are so hard to find, that chances you will accidentally come across them, without wasting your money on some bad products first are very low. 

Packaging/Pricing:

30ml (1fl.oz) for 110$ at beauty counters of major department stores or online (like Nordstrom.com). Clear glass pump bottle will not keep ingredients safe from UV exposure, that breaks down antioxidants. But at least it is an air tight container. So as long as you do not keep it exposed to sun light, but, let's say, in the bathroom cabinet, it is fine.

Ingredients:

Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate, Pentylene Glycol, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Ginger Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, Sodium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl AcrylateCrosspolymer, Sodium Carbomer, PVP, Dipropylene Glycol, Amodimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate.