June 30, 2015

NOW solutions Clarify and Illuminate Age Transformation Toner (plus comparison with Vitamin C & Acai Berry and Green Tea & Pomegranate Toners)



Packaging/Pricing:

 

227ml (8fl.oz) for ~12-16$ (here on IHERB). A simple opaque white plastic bottle may seem a little bit too plain and unappealing, but is functional and practical.

June 24, 2015

Sephora Favorites Sun Safety Kit Face Sunscreens Reviews Part I (bad sunscreens)Amorepacific, Clarins, Ole Henriksen





This is a follow up post with reviews of sunscreens from Sephora Sun Safety Kit released for summer 2015. I've talked a bit about the content of the kit and my initial thoughts here. I've decided to combine reviews of facial sunscreens together, instead of doing individual posts about each of them. I will start with the worst one going in ascending order to the best.

June 17, 2015

Kanebo Freshel EX Moisture Emulsion



Packaging/Pricing:

 

You can find this product on amazon.com or online asian cosmetics retailers like imomoko.com or sasa.com. 130ml (4.4fl.oz) for ~18-25$. The product has sensible opaque toner style plastic bottle packaging. 

Ingredients:

 

Water, Glycerin, Mineral Oil, Dipropylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Petrolatum, Cholesterol, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil,  Stearic Acid, Bentonite, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Prunus Domestica, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Ubiquinonq (Coenzyme Q10), Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Solluble Collagen, Tocopherol (Vit E), BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Methylparaben.    

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)

June 7, 2015

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Sunscreen SPF 15



Packaging/Pricing:

 

4.25g (0.15oz) for ~22.5$ at Sephora. I have to say that I do like this packaging. It is a metal case with screw on cup, which insures that it would not randomly fall off if you carry lip balm in your purse. 

Ingredients:

 

Actives: Octinoxate 7.49%, Oxybenzone 2%
Other: Beeswax (Cera Alba), Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Decyl Olive Esters, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Fragrance (Parfum), Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Sucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Propylene Glycol, Propyl Gallate, Citric Acid, Limonene, Citral, Benzyl Benzoate, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol, Geraniol, Bht.

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)

June 5, 2015


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)

May 29, 2015

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.

May 28, 2015

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)