Hits and Misses: Early Fall 2017 (Skin Care)
There were lots of exciting new skin care releases this Fall! And I tried most of them. Well, a lot of them. I'll start with the disappointments first and then turn to the successes!
Boos
Boos on the left woos on the right
Pros: You get a huge pink Glossier bubble-wrap bag! It smells good!
Cons: If you have eczema THIS. IS. NOT. FOR. YOU. Even the cleansing oil wash caused me problems. Maybe it's the fragrance? Just happy about Glossier's great return policy! 😛
Before the spasms started
Pros: Tastes like the medicine I used to take for eczema when I was little kid! (I promise this is not an eczema-themed post) Also tastes kind of sweet! Seems to have a little bit of a plumping effect!
Cons: DRENCH is a fine product -- has kind of a weird texture (sort of sticky?) but definitely feels moisturizing. SCULPT, on the other hand gave me the weirdest side effect I've ever gotten from a product: about 30 seconds after application I got these violent muscle spasms in my abdomen, sort of like very intense cramps. They were so bad I had to drop down to the floor to support myself. I contacted Deciem about this and to their credit they gave me an immediate refund, but I'm still so curious as to what ingredient might have caused this reaction. I have never reacted to anything like that before and while my skin is sensitive I don't really have any allergies... I mentioned this on Reddit and another poster said it happened to them too, so I don't think I was imagining it. Anyway... haaard pass on the Esho SCULPT. 😬
Elta MD UV Clear Broad Spectrum 46
Pros: Creamy; non-drying; NIACINAMIDE
Cons: White cast; patchy coverage after drying; doesn't play well with other products.
This is a well loved product on r/SkincareAddiction and made the 2016 Into the Gloss's 'Top 25' (I should really stop buying products based on this list) and I was super excited to introduce a physical sunscreen into my routine (especially one with niacinamide!). Unfortunately, it's not for me. I'll continue to use it on my neck but it's too heavy for my face and leaves a definite white sheen. It also pills like crazy when I tried to use it with my HG Hylamide Blur primer. I like that it is moisturizing and it feels soothing on my (recently very) sensitive skin. But the undesirable cosmetic factors are not enough to ditch Shiseido Senka Aging Care. Due to it's soothing and moisturizing properties, however, I'll keep it for summers on the beach when I need something to touch up my SPF and tend to my salt-scorched face.
Meh 🙁
Cosrx Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask
I keep searching for a nice rich moisturizer for my super sensitive skin, and this leave-on mask seemed to have some great reviews for skin types similar to mine (see here and here) AND doesn't seem to have too comedogenic-y ingredients. Unfortunately, however, it broke me out. 😢 Nothing too major (thankfully no cysts or anything like that) but I think it's just too heavy for me. I'll continue to use it on my neck though because it has a great texture and is really moisturizing.
Woos
Now for the fun part! The stuff that I really liked!
EUK 134 0.!% and 100% Shark-Free Squalane! ❤️🦈
The Ordinary EUK 134 0.1%; The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalene
The Ordinary's pseudo-science register got me again! I don't know if I really need antioxidants, or if there is any real effect of putting antioxidants on your skin but when you read something like this:
"EUK 134 is a mimetic of superoxide dismutase and catalase, forming an exceptionally rare self-regenerating molecule that scavenges superoxide free radicals, eliminates hydrogen peroxide and converts reactive oxygen species into water and oxygen." (The Ordinary EUK 134 0.1% product page)
WOW. 🤤 Scavenge away! I'll be honest and say that most likely this is a placebo effect, but I do think my face looks brighter after I use this. It has an interesting texture -- sort of sticky and grainy. You also get a slight warm sensation when you first put it on your face and it takes a while for it to sink in. Really, I don't know if I feel like it ever really sinks in (am I using too much?) but on the plus side it really plays well with any moisturizer, sunscreen, primer, makeup, etc. that I layer on top of it.
Since I switched to Epiduo Forte, I've been having some adjustment issues (increased redness, sensitivity) so I've been trying a lot of moisturizers. I'm still on the fence about the Squalane because I think it *might* be breaking me out, but it's for sure great on my lips! I read a suggestion on Reddit to mix TO Squalane with Vaseline as an uber-moisturizer that tip has not disappointed. I've also tried putting in the Squalane in my hair, but didn't really notice any difference TBH. I'll keep trying it as a entire face moisturizer though because everywhere I read about squalane swears it is 100% non comedogenic! 🤔
DAWWWWW ❤️🦈❤️🦈❤️🦈❤️🦈❤️🦈
First of all, look at that packaging!!!! GAAAAAAH!!!! 😻🦈😻🦈😻 So adorable. And then look at those ingredients! Niacinamide! Glucosamine! Vitamin B5! Licorice Extract! Hyaluronic Acid! Sea Kelp! Adorable monthly variations! It is pretty pricey ($29 for 30 mls, so ~ $1 per ml) but I like that it is an independent, new company with a growing reputation in high quality ingredients and professional / clinical / careful (etc.) formulations. AND LOOK AT THAT LABEL!!!
I've been using Shark Sauce as my first layer, topped with Cosrx's Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence (though when I run out of this I might try Holy Snail's Holy Snail Water -- BUT Cosrx is so cheap at $14.10 and still going even now in early November when I first bought it in mid-April!) and it's just a nice, light moisturizer. I guess no matter how dry my skin gets, I just can't do heavy creams. 😓 Shark Sauce absorbs quickly, is moisturizing, doesn't clog my pores, doesn't react with any of my other products and does seem to have had an effect on lessening my redness. I just placed an order for a sample of October's 'Sauce du Mois' called 'Spooky Shark' (with Donkey Milk and Turmeric Extract) so hoping good things for that one too.
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day In-Shower Styler
I have thin straight lifeless hair. My ideal hair is voluminous and wavy. I've incorporated blow drying into my daily routine because it helps with the volume, but because my hair is so thin it also damages really easily so daily heat styling isn't the best solution -- this is why I enjoy this product. It doesn't do THAT much, to be honest, but it does help my hair hold a wave / slight curl better without having to heat style. It also improves the texture, making it feel a little thicker. AND it smells really good (if you like Living Proof's scent, that is). If you are trying to cut down on heat styling and want something that will help to build volume, this is a nice product to try. Another technique I've been incorporating to my air dry routine is to use my cream-based products (which are all thickening creams) just on the roots of my hair and then using my volume sprays on the roots. This is a total duh moment, but it's really helped with my air dry volume! I'm stupid that I didn't realize that putting a thickening cream on my roots (even though it's 'thickening') would probably weigh my hair down I know. 🙄
❤️🍑💅🏼
Dior Crème Abricot Fortifying Cream for Nails
I've lately developed a gel nail habit (AND I'M NEVER GOING TO GIVE IT UP IT'S AMAZING) and I've read that to keep your nails healthy and to aid the taking of gel polish off you should keep them moisturized. I've used cuticle oil in the past, but it's a little messy and is difficult to make sure it's staying on the nail. I like this cream BECAUSE of its tacky-ness -- it sticks to where you glob it on and is very moisturizing. The ingredients aren't that impressive (I think really the only thing that is moisturizing is the castor oil) so if you find a Sally Henson cuticle goop similar to this I don't think there is much difference. I had a gift card left from last holiday season that I found unexpectedly in a drawer (one of the highlights of this year so far) so I thought I'd try it out. It also smells good! And absorbs pretty quickly! Yay old school Dior beauty products!
