December 15, 2015

The Body Shop Nutriganics Refreshing Toner


 

Ingredients:

Water, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Benzyl Alcohol, Sucrose Laurate, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate, Limonene, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Citral, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Flower/Leaf Extract, Linalool, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citronellol, Geraniol, Foeniculum Vulgare (Fennel) Oil, Citric Acid, Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Cymbopogon Flexuosus Oil, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Flower/Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil.

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)

November 26, 2015

Review and Comparison: Clinique For Men UV Defense SPF 50 vs Kiss My Face SPF 40

Physical sunscreens, based on titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, are something that I am obsessed with. First of all because I have sensitive eyes and can not use some chemical sunscreen ingredients without unpleasant burning sensation. Also physical sunscreens are more gentle and better suited for sensitive skin. However it is not easy to formulate them with protection higher than spf 30 so that the texture wiIl be pleasing as well. So I am always excited about new physical sunscreen creams, which are really underrepresented on the market. 

Clinique For Men UV Defense broad spectrum SPF 50




Ingredients:
Actives: Titanium Dioxide 6.2%, Zinc Oxide 4.0%;
Other: Water, Dimethicone, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Polydiethyl Siloxane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Diethylhexyl Succinate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Methyl Trimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Silica, Laureth-4, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Dipentaerythrityl Tri-Polyhydroxystearate, Dimethicone Silylate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein/PVP Crosspolymer, Isostearic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer-3, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492).

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)

Discussion:
There isn't much to say about this product. You can probably guess from ingredient list that there are almost no "skincare" ingredients present. No antioxidants, no plant oils, no anti-irritants. On the plus side, there are no irritants or fragrant components, which makes this product advisable for sensitive skin.
I did like the liquidy texture of this sunscreen. It was moisturizing, easy to spread and not sticky. Sunscreen didn't leave white cast and it worked well under make-up. However I should say it is more suitable for normal to dry skin. For everyone else this lotion will be too emollient and leave shiny looking skin.
Even though it is marketed for men, there is nothing gender specific about it.

November 13, 2015

Naruko Raw Job's Tears Supercritical CO2 Pore Minimizing & Brightening Essence

 



Pricing/Packaging:

30ml (1.05fl.oz) for ~33$. US shoppers can find it here. This product comes in a good quality tinted glass pump bottle, which will help keep active ingredients intact. Also I do like this packaging from an aesthetic point of view as well.

November 4, 2015

Hypothetically Speaking: The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream



Price/Packaging:

 

18$ for 50ml (1.7fl.oz) or 33$ for 100ml (3.3fl.oz). Unfortunately, this cream comes in a jar, which is not only unhygienic, but also bad for antioxidants in the product (as they will deteriorate within couple weeks after opening the jar).

October 26, 2015

Now Solutions Vitamin D-3 Cream



Pricing/Packaging:

 

8-10$ for 118ml (4fl.oz). Simple opaque squeeze tube. I didn't have any problems with the packaging. Even though it is quite plain looking, it is well made.

Ingredients:

 

Water, Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Leaf Gel, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Shea Butter, d-Alpha Tocopherol (Vit E), Cetearyl Alcohol/Cetearyl Glucoside, Caprylic/capric Triglyceride, Aquaxyl, Vegetable Glycerine, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Phospholipids (from soy lecithin), Glucose/glucose oxidase/Lactoperoxidase, Betaine Anhydrous (Trimethylglycine) (TMG), Jojoba Oil, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Cholecalciferol (Vit D-3), Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vit C), Retinyl Palmitate (Vit A), d-Panthenol, Squalane, Satsuma Orange Aroma, Hydroxylated Soy Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Citric acid.


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)

Ingredients Discussion:

October 15, 2015

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.