Hello everyone,

today I thought we could take a look back at some of the topics we discussed this time last year. Enjoy:

Why are preservatives used in cosmetics?: preservatives are a controversial topic in the beauty world as some of them have potential harmful effects. So, why are they used in so many products? Click the link to find out.

How Does Oil Free Moisturizer Work?: oil-free moisturizers are very common on the market and very recommended for those with oily skin. But have you ever wondered how they work and how they are different from regular moisturizers?

How to treat a sunburn: did you spent too much time in the sun without using sunscreen and now have a sunburn? Folllow these simple tips to treat it. And remember sunscreen next time!

Product Review: Labello Star Fruits Strawberry Tinted Lip Balm: this is one of my fave lip balms ever. It’s moisturizing, glossy and gives lips a nice but sheer red tint. And the scent’s wonderful too.

6 Sunscreen Myths Busted!: sunscreen is an essential product all year round but even more so in the summer. But to get the most out it, it’s important to set the record straight on some common misconceptions to make sure you’re using it in the proper way.

How Do Depilatories Work?: depilatories are a common, pain-free way to remove unwanted hair. But do you know how they work and what ingredients are used to dissolve hair? Find out by clicking the link.

Source

Name: Hydra Complete Multi-Level Moisture Creme
Brand: Estee Lauder
Size: 50ml
Price: €40.00

From the packaging:
For normal to combination skin. Instantly quenches skin’s deepest thirst, giving it a feeling of endless hydration.

What I liked:
– hydrates skin
– makes skin very soft and smooth
– temporarily reduces the appearance of wrinkles
– long-lasting

What I didn’t like:
– doesn’t sink in instantly
– doesn’t control oil production too well
– the scent
– the packaging
– the price

Estee Lauder Hydra Complete Multi-Level Moisture Creme is available in two versions: one for normal to dry skin and another for normal to combination skin. Because my skin is combination (oily t-zone, dry cheeks), this review is about the cream for normal/combination skin.

I have to admit that I had high hopes for this cream. I know that moisturizers aren’t miracle products and all they do is hydrate and make skin soft. Maybe provide some anti-aging benefits if they contain a good concentration of antioxidants.

But from an expensive moisturizer, I expected more. After all, if I have to splurge €40 for a cream, it’d better make my skin flawless. Instead, while this is a good product, it’s no better than cheap creams you can find at the drugstore.

White in color, it has a gel-like consistency that is easy to spread on the skin. It takes a few seconds for it to sink in and when it does, my skin feels so smooth and soft, like that of a baby. My skin also feels hydrated for most of the day and the appearance of fine lines is temporarily reduced.

However, there are a couple of things I don’t like about this cream. After application, my dry patches feel tight for several seconds, which is a really uncomfortable sensation. Also, it doesn’t control oil production too well and after a few hours, my t-zone is shiny again. In addition, it has a strong, chemical scent I don’t really like.

I’m not too keen on the packaging either. The cream comes in a blue, see-though jar with a golden lid that looks very classy and glamorous. But I would have preferred if it came in an opaque tube so that I wouldn’t have to put my fingers in the jar every time, risking to contaminate it with bacteria.

Summary
Overall, this is a good moisturizer that keeps skin hydrated and feeling soft for hours. It also reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, but the effects are only temporary. However, it leaves dry patches feeling tight, doesn’t control oil production well and is expensive.

Rating: 3.5/5

Name: Shielding Lotion
Brand: Skin MD Natural
Size: 120ml/4oz
Price: $18.00

From Skin MD Natural’s website:
Skin MD Natural is a shielding lotion helping the skin restore its integrity, enhance its protective functions so that the skin is able to heal naturally and regain its youthful appearance. Skin MD Natural works by bonding with cells of the skin’s outermost layer to form what works as an invisible shield. This layer of protection prevents environmental irritants and pollutants from penetrating the skin, while sealing in the skin’s own natural oils and moisture, helping resolve the dry skin condition.

What I liked:
- lightweight
- moisturizing
- makes skin soft
- long-lasting
- no greasy residue
- can be used all over your body
- fragrance-free
- the packaging

What I didn’t like:
- a bit pricey if you consider shipping too

Everyday, I use several moisturizers: one for my face, one for my body, another one for my hands and obviously sunscreen too. So, I’m always on the lookout for a multi-tasking product to save me both time and space in my beauty cabinet.

And Skin MD Natural Shielding lotion does just that as it can be used everywhere on the body, face and hands included! And if you like sunscreen in your skincare products, this Shielding Lotion also comes in a version with SPF 15. But today, I’ll talk about the basic version, without sunscreen, which I truly loved.

The lotion has a very light, gel-like consistency that spreads effortlessly onto the skin, sinking in immediately without leaving any greasy residue behind. Upon application, it gives skin a pleasant soothing and refreshing feeling.

I’ve used it for a whole month on hands, face and body and it leaves my skin silky soft and smooth, like that of a baby, and hydrated for hours. It didn’t irritate or cause breakouts and it worked particularly well on my hands.

I wash them about 50 times a day, so the skin there is often red, cracked and sometimes, bleeding, esp in these cold winter months. But after only a couple of days the lotion soothed and healed my skin, leaving it hydrated and moisturized.

I also like the product is fragrance-free. The lotion still has a light and subtle scent but that’s because each ingredient used in a product has its own odor, so that’s what you are smelling. But no synthetic fragrance was added to the lotion to make it smell in a certain way.

The lotion is water-based and the main ingredient is Aloe Vera which has several benefits for the skin. It has antioxidant and moisturizing properties, improving hydration and binding water in. In addition, it also soothes skin and provides a refreshing feeling when applied.

The product also contains Cyclopentasiloxane and Dimethicone, two silicones that create a protective barrier on the skin, sealing in moisture and preventing water loss. Vitamin E, which is considered a powerful antioxidant, is also present in the formula.

Those who don’t like parabens will be happy to know this lotion is free of them. Instead, it contains a preservative called Phenoxyethanol, which is considered to be mild and doesn’t release formaldehyde.

The packaging is really simple and not particularly appealing but I love that it comes in a bottle, which is more hygienic. And because you only need the tiniest amount the bottle will last for ages. After 1 month of use my bottle is still more than halfway full.

You can purchase the lotion online on Skin MD Natural website for $18.00 plus shipping. They ship worldwide and, for the holidays, you can get up to 30% off on selected purchases.

Summary:
Overall, I’m loving this lotion, which can be used on face, body and hands. It is lightweight, not greasy and absorbs really fast. It soothes skin, leaving it smooth and hydrated for ages. However, some people may think it is a bit expensive, especially if you buy it online and add shipping charges.

Rating: 4/5

Name: Soft Moisturizing Cream
Brand: Nivea
Size: 300ml
Price: €4,60

From Nivea’s website:
Use NIVEA Soft on face, hands and body. Sense the fast absorbing cream. Feel and see how your skin gets sensationally soft and smooth.

What I liked:
- makes skin soft
- hydrates
- cool feeling
- no breakouts
- the price

What I didn’t like:
- leaves a greasy residue
- contains alcohol
- can be drying
- doesn’t control oil production
- the packaging

Nivea Soft Cream is a moisturizer for face, body and hands. The cream has a very soft texture and a little goes a long way. When applied on the skin, it feels cool and refreshing but it takes a few minutes to sink in and leaves a slight greasy residue behind.

At first, I used it as a face moisturizer but it didn’t work that well for my combination skin. The cream is hydrating and makes skin very soft and smooth and didn’t give me breakouts, but my oily patches were just as shiny as ever. It didn’t do anything at all for them, so I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone with combination or oily skin.

Instead, it works well for normal to dry skin, although I wouldn’t really recommend it to people with dry skin but I will get into that later. I just didn’t want to throw away the cream after the poor performance on my face so I started using it on my body. The skin there is very dry and this moisturizer does a good job of keeping it hydrated and soft for most of the day.

The cream contains paraffinum liquidum (mineral oil) that, despite having a bad reputation, is considered one of the safest and most moisturizing ingredients available. It works by creating a barrier on the skin that will prevent water from evaporating but won’t dry skin nor clog pores. However, this barrier can trap other ingredients into the skin and, if they are comedogenic (like Myristyl Myristate, a thickening agent also present in the formula), breakouts can occur.

The cream also contains Butylene Glycol, a mild humectant that helps prevent moisture loss, and Stearic Acid, a fatty acid that has emollient properties and helps to keep the other ingredients in the formula intact.

Alcohol Denat, which is used as an astringent and to help other ingredients deliver into the skin, can be drying and those with dry skin are recommended to stay away from it. But because Alcohol Denat can also cause irritations and free radical damage, it could be problematic for all skin types.

The moisturizer has a pleasant baby powder scent which is not too strong. It comes in a huge, white jar. The packaging is very simple and contains a lot of product. My only gripe with it is that jar containers aren’t very hygienic. I usually prefer tubes for skincare products.

Summary
Overall, I don’t like Nivea Soft Moisturizing Cream very much. It makes skin very soft, smooth and gives it a fresh feeling when applied. And it’s really inexpensive, especially considered how huge the jar is. But the cream leaves a greasy residue, doesn’t control oil production and contains alcohol, which can be drying and generate free radical damage.

Rating: 2/5

I’ve had the opportunity to try the Sustainable Youth Total Immune System, which  includes the Revitalizing Serum, the Elasticity Cream and the Elastifirm Oral Supplements.I’ve been  using the products  for more than a month now it’s time to tell you all about them.

All of the products, packaged in containers made with sustainable materials, contain organic ingredients only. The key ingredient is Alasta, which is derived from the rind of the Aloe Vera plant. Alasta is said to reduce inflammation throughout your body which then increases skin firmness and elasticity as well as improving joint and muscles health. It also has antiaging properties as it fights free radical damage and collagen decrease.

ELASTIFIRM SUPPLEMENT
Size/Price: 60 capsules (one month supply), $65.00
What I liked: easy to swallow, natural ingredients
What I didn’t like: may forget to take the tablets sometimes
The Supplement bottle contains 60 tablets, all made with organic ingredients only, to be taken twice a day. The capsules aren’t too big so they are easy to swallow and because the packaging is very light, it is also easy to carry it in your bag. The only problem you may have is to forget to take them sometimes. I took them everyday, although on some days later than usual because I kept forgetting! Sesame of Viva Woman also reported that the supplement helped with her backache.

REVITALIZING SERUM
Size/Price: 30ml, $80.00
What I liked: absorbs easily, natural ingredients, tightens and softens skin
What I didn’t like: can be drying for dry skin
The serum has a lightweight, liquid consistency that absorbs easily into the skin and doesn’t leave any greasy or sticky residue, although it feels slightly drying. Straight after application, my skin feels tight and very smooth. The scent is natural, fresh and pleasant. Apart from Alasta, it contains, although in small quantities, an alcohol derived from sugar cane that is used not only to preserve the product but to give skin a fresh feeling as well. It also contains several natural oils, like Glycine soja oil (an oil derived from wild soybeans) that have emollient properties.

ELASTICITY CREAM
Size/Price: 30ml, $80.00
What I liked: absorbs easily, natural ingredients, moisturizes normal to oily skin well
What I didn’t like: not moisturizing enough for dry skin
Just after the serum, I apply the cream, both twice a day. The cream has a light consistency and a natural, fresh smell as well. The pump makes it easy to get just the right amount of product you need. It absorbs quickly and moisturizes my combination skin well, leaving it feeling very soft and looking radiant. But I think this cream is too light and not moisturizing enough for people with dry skin. Nikki of Askmewhats, who has dry skin, thinks so too. Check out her review here.
Like the serum, this contains small concentrations of alcohol as well to preserve the cream and give skin a smooth feel. It also contains several natural oils, like Olive Oil, Jojoba Oil, Coconut Oil and Sweet Almond Oil, all of which have moisturizing properties.

My Overall Experience
All of the products work really well for my combination skin and I can see a slight improvement in how my skin looks and feels. My skin feels very soft, smooth and clearer and I noticed it is a bit firmer too.

I can’t say much about the antiaging effects because I’m still quite young. I only have a few fine lines on my forehead and around the eyes, which are still there but smoother and less noticeable than before.

I wouldn’t say the products work miracles and if that is what you’re expecting you will be disappointed. I could definitely see an improvement, but not a dramatic one. But overall, the products work and give good results.

All the products can be purchased on Sustainable Youth website: www.sustainableyouthproducts.com. The prices are a bit expensive but at the moment Sustainable Youth is doing a promotion and you can get all three products for $150.00 (reduced from $225.00). The single products are reduced too: $55 for the supplements and $65.00 each for the serum and cream.

If you’re not interested in the whole set, you can always purchase just one or two of the products. You will still see the results, although it will take longer.

Summary
Overall, Sustainable Youth Total Immune System works very well for me. Although it didn’t dramatically improve my skin, the results are noticeable: my skin is moisturized, soft, brighter and tighter. Fine lines didn’t disappear but are less visible and smoother. I would recommend them to people with normal/combination/oily skin, but the system may not be moisturizing enough for dry skin.

Rating: 4/5

Some people are not comfortable using a moisturizer that contains oils. They may find them too greasy for their skin or think that rubbing oils on their faces may not provide any benefits. This is particularly true for people with oily skin and they are often recommended to use an oil-free moisturizer.

But oils are used in moisturizers for a reason. Skin needs moisture to be hydrated and moisture is actually water, which evaporates if you don’t seal it in with an oil. Oily substances like petrolatum and mineral oil form an occlusive barrier on the skin that prevents the moisture (water) from evaporating.

So, if moisturizers need oils, how can oil-free moisturizers work? Well, instead of oils, they use ingredients that have very similar properties. Oils aren’t the only substances that can create an occlusive barrier. Silicones, like Dimethicone, can do that too. In addition, these products also contain another group of ingredients called humectants, like Glycerin, which have the ability to draw water from the air to the skin and help retain moisture.

But what type of moisturizer is better? That depends on your skin and your personal preference. If oils don’t work for you or you’re not comfortable using them, you can opt for an oil-free moisturizer. Very often however, oils and humectants are used together in the same product because this combination usually works best.

Name: Continuous Rescue Antioxidant Moisturizer
Brand: Clinique
Size: 50ml
Price: $39.50

From the packaging:
Potent moisturizer helps keep skin strong, free of the visible effects of environmental damage. Use day and night. By day, add sunscreen.

What I liked:
- moisturizes and leaves skin soft and smooth
- absorbs quickly
- no breakouts
- fragrance free
- the packaging

What I didn’t like:
- no SPF

I’ve always been curious to try Clinique skincare products, but the price-tag has always put me off. While I don’t mind spending money on a moisturizer that is really good for my skin, I’d just like to know it works well for me before actually buying it. So, when I went to my local beauty store and found out that Clinique had released 3 travel-sized sets for €12, I thought it would be the perfect occasion for me to try out their products. The kit I got contains: Comforting Cream Cleanser, All About Eyes Rich and Continuous Rescue Antioxidant moisturizer, which is the one I’m gonna review today.

Clinique Continuous Rescue Antioxidant Moisturizer is available in three versions: very Dry to Dry, Combination Oily to Oily and Dry Combination, which is the one I have. The moisturizer is ivory in color and the consistency is creamy, not too thick and not too light either, and because you only need a very small amount, the tube will last for ages. It absorbs quickly, hydrates skin well, leaves it feeling very soft and smooth and looking clearer and healthier. I didn’t notice any breakouts and it didn’t increase my oiliness either. However, because I’m still quite young, I can’t really say if this does anything to fight the signs of aging.

I also like that the product is fragrance-free. However, you can still smell a very faint, clean-like scent. Fragrance-free means that no ingredient was added to the product to give it a certain smell, but every cosmetics ingredient has its own odor, so that is what you’re smelling.
The moisturizer comes in a green tube, which is more sanitary than a jar. However, it isn’t see-through, so you can’t see how much product is left in it.
The only downside of this moisturizer is that it doesn’t have SPF,so you still need to apply a sunscreen to protect your skin from the harmful sun rays.

The products contains Dimethicone, a silicone which forms a barrier on the skin, sealing in moisture and preventing water loss. Cetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient that smooths kin, improving the appearance of dry patches and flakes. Another emollient ingredient used in the product is Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii). It is derived from the seeds of the karite tree and, because it is high in fatty acids, softens and moisturizes skin as well as being effective at treating severely dry skin. It also helps skin to retain elasticity.

Rosemary Extract (Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract) and Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract are two ingredients that have antioxidant properties. However, the aromatic components present in the first and the fact the second is a potent spice may cause skin irritations in some people.

Towards the middle of the ingredients list, there’s niacinamide, which is a very promising ingredient. It increases ceramide, free fatty acids and collagen production in the skin, improves its elasticity and prevents water loss. In addition, it reduces flaking and the appearance of dry skin and restore suppleness.

Summary:
Overall, I really love this moisturizer as it worked wonders for my combination skin! My skin looks clearer, healthier, sooo soft and moisturized all day. I also didn’t experience any breakouts. In addition, the product is fragrance-free and the packaging is sanitary. However, it doesn’t contain any SPF and it is quite expensive. And, being still quite young, I can’t really say if it works to fight wrinkles.

Rating: 4/5

Name: LiftActive CxP Anti-Wrinkle And Firming Day Moisturizer
Brand: Vichy
Size: 50ml
Price: €28

From Vichy’s website:
Reduces wrinkles and skin becomes tighter.

What I liked:
- moisturizes and leaves skin soft and smooth
- skin is tighter
- no breakouts

What I didn’t like:
- skin looks shiny after a few hours

Vichy Lift Active CxP line is formulated for women aged from 40 to 50 years old. I’m much younger than that but I’ve found a sample of this cream in a magazine so I decided to try it anyway. The sample was big enough to last me more than a month and was designed for people with normal to combination skin.

The moisturizer is white and has a rich, almost wax-like consistency and a light scent. It is easy to apply, absorbs quickly and isn’t greasy. It works well under foundation and I noticed a slight improvement in how my skin looks. It hydrates skin, leaving it feeling smooth. I can’t stop touching my face as it feels so soft! My skin also looks clearer and slightly more firm. I also didn’t have any breakouts. The moisturizer contains silica, which among other things, absorbs oil. However, after a few hours, my skin is shiny again.

Because I’m still quite young, I can’t really say whether this product has anti-ageing properties. The product claims to boosts collagen production and elastin thanks to Vitamin C. The form of Vitamin C used in this cream is Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, which is actually said to improve skin collagen synthesis. However, this ingredients is listed almost at the bottom of the label, so I doubt the concentration used is high enough to cause some serious improvement. In addiction, this ingredients degrades rapidly when exposed to sun and air. The product should therefore be stored away from sunlight.

Summary:
Overall, I really like this cream. It makes my skin sooo soft and smooth! It hydrates well, isn’t greasy and my skin seems slightly firmer. I can’t really say whether it is effective at reducing wrinkles since I’m still young, but I doubt the Vitamin C contained in this product can have any significant effect considering its low concentration, esp if not stored properly.

Rating: 4/5