Current Favorites

Skinfood Black Sugar Mask Wash Off

My product had been stored for probably closer to 2 years so I don't know if the consistency is what it should be, but it hasn't completely dried out. For my face, I find it's too difficult and scratchy, but for my lips I love it! It's gentle and effective lip scrub and I've been using it almost daily now for some weeks.


Luxie Mini Tapered Brush 121

So soft, so effortless to use. So easy to blend. Doesn't scratch or hurt my sensitive eyes at all. So much control, perfect size. Ok, someone with many brushes and good technique probably wouldn't sing their praises like this but as a not experienced person with only a couple of brushes this seriously changed my life.


Lumene Eye Contour Brush 10

My first favorite brush, so soft and dense at the same time. So easy to blend, too. Good for bigger areas, I love the versatile angled shape. This and Luxie brush are very different and they work differently but I love them both! After this brush I realized I really need to invest in good brushes.

Sorry, both brushes are a bit dirty. Just used :) 

Shopping and Gifts

Lookfantastic Advent Calendar 2019

Got this as a Christmas present again. I had one in 2017 and decided that I wouldn't buy one myself, it wasn't worth it. But I am more than ready to receive one and enjoy the excitement of opening the boxes even though I know I probably truly like only half of the things. And who knows, maybe there will be a new favorite. I at least learned a lot about cosmetics through the 2017 calendar! I have already opened a couple first boxes and I am very happy so far. Maybe this year's calendar is better than the 2017 one?! :)





Colourpop Build Your Own Palette

It took so long to get my Colourpop BYOP palette! Shipping took from Colourpop to my country only about 5 days, but then the customs and the postal service in my country had the package going around for 11 days. Good thing I had tracking number. The shadows are very pretty and a generous size. I must say I really enjoy doing my own arrangement of singles in the palette. The shadows are more pigmented than what I am used to and it is a bit challenging! I ordered the next shadows: You Got It, In Frequency, Martian, Koi, Criss Cross, Cut-Outs, Running Late, Side Tracked, Bratty, Bump This, Wait For It and Wake Up Call.

Well packaged in bubble wrap. The individual shadows had plastic and cardboard around them. Colourpop's boxes are always the cutest with colourful prints!

Yikes, a flash photo in dark. Probably not exactly accurate colours!

Essence Spice It Up Eyeshadow Palette

Ooh, impulse purchase while doing grocery shopping! I can't decide if I should hit myself or what. It took so "long" in my mind for the Colourpop palette to arrive, so when I saw this one at the store for 12 €, I just took it... "Yup, pretty, my colours, thank you". Anyway, good thing is, this palette had super warm orange-ish browns and a yellow and glitters in many flattering shades that I didn't even realize I would like so much.

The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane x 2

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser 

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA 

Hylamide High Efficiency Face Cleaner

Hylamide Booster, C25

Oh, Deciem, I was almost out of squalane and the -23 % sale got me. Me, low-buy?! I think I have ruined it now, at the end of the year... I hope I don't need to order much or anything (!) in 2020 though. Hylamide products are something I've been curious about but never pulled the trigger. Booster C25 is 25% pure Ethyl-Ascorbic Acid. I love Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution from The Ordinary already so I wanted to try this too. High Efficiency Face Cleaner sounds like an interesting cleansing oil with with unusual oils!

Again, good packaging. Everything was in tightly, nothing was moving around. I actually feel Deciem has improved their packaging or this time no one was stomping on it during the transit. Quite often in the past the packaging has been looking a bit dead, having even holes in it and things moving inside. But despite that I have never had missing or ruined items. Because it is the sale month, it took several days for them to ship. 

Head&Shoulders Classic Clean Shampoo 1000 ml

I saw the 1 liter bottle for the first time ever and it looked so comical I had to take it... Maybe a bit big to handle but whatever, there's a pump and this will probably last a year. It is my staple product so there's no worries that I wouldn't finish it!


Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Gel Wash

My current bottle is nearing the end so bought a new one! 4,75 € per 200 ml is not a bad price even though I was hoping that they would have been on sale.


Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink in 65 Seductress

This one was on sale (still cost me 8,62 €) and I've wanted to try one because of the hype for a while. I've used it a couple of times now and even if the shade choice wasn't what I was hoping for, I think Maybelline really has struck gold formula wise. I am so impressed by the longevity and comfort that I'm going to get more of these!


EDIT:

Lumene Powder Brush No. 01

My old powder brushes (1€ ones off ebay!) are showing their age and I had been interested in getting another Lumene brush. It is so pretty and I think it's a perfect size and denseness for pressed powder pacts, but I might end up using it for blush too. I still want to get some soft eye brushes, and maybe a fan brush, then I'm all set (I want to replace my Essence brushes that are too scratchy for my eyes). I am thinking getting more Luxie, or Zoeva. But I do have some sets on my wishlist from BH Cosmetics as well... I wish there would be a brush bar somewhere. You could go and touch and test hundreds of brushes at the same time.


Essence Stay 8h Lipliner in 02 Tea Time

Maybe it wasn't a good idea to swatch all my lip products. I noticed all the gaps and how weird my lipliner shades are. I am wondering though now if I should've gone for the shade 01 Because Duh. I think store lighting is something that totally misguides me. But I think these cost around 2 € so they are a good price to get another to play with. I want to be that person who learns to do and use lip makeup effortlessly!


Catrice Brow Colorist Semi Permanent Brow Mascara in 015 Soft Brunette

This is amazing for a lazy person like me. The mascara brush is so small, cute, precise, great shape for eyebrows. This shade is super natural as well. I could have gone for a darker shade as well I believe. For my lifestyle and eyebrow shape, I can quickly just brush this on and call it a day... the gel dries almost instantly. My brows look fluffier and tinted, but very naturally. This cost around 4,5 € and it was hidden between other products on the stand but I'm glad I randomly picked it up.


ANOTHER EDIT:


Colourpop Ultra Blotted Lip in Halo Effect

Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in Hanky Panky

Colourpop Pressed Powder Shadow in Hear Me Out

My friend wanted to try some Colourpop stuff too and asked if I wanted to get something in the same order. So these were definitely impulse purchases even though I have wanted to try some of the super shocks. At least I think they were -20-30%. Some neutral colors for once!

Empties Since June 2019

I never thought I would actually start to save my trash, let alone take pictures of it for all the people to see online. What have you done to me, blog? This is all or almost all my empties since June 2019, so worth of 5 months. So much old random stuff! But they have taught me a lot about my skin and habits. I have a lot of almost empty/half-empty products as well and probably something I've forgotten to list/photo now but I decided that maybe it's better to not save trash for too long, because it's easier to track my habits if I note them every couple of months.

Also I see my products and habits are a bit boring as well. I use things slowly. I use way too little sunscreen. I forget products easily if they do not work fast/as advertised.

Face

Neutrogena Visibly Clear Blackhead Eliminating Toner

Very, very old bottle (from 2015-2016?). Very alcohol rich toner. I used to like it a lot, and the negative about it is that I feel it can easily dry out skin, but it also did help a little with blackheads/acne. Wouldn't repurchase, my skin is getting older.


Neutrogena Visibly Clear Spot Proofing Purifying Toner

I liked this toner as well, it is alcohol free. But as I had used about 2/3 of the bottle, within about 7 months I believe, it got contaminated/expired. It changed color into white, and I saw little things in it, little blobs going around... So, I couldn't use the rest, obviously. I hadn't kept the toner in freezing or hot environment and I had used it like normal. I wonder what got into it? Not enough preservatives, a bad batch? Not going to repurchase.


Neutrogena Oil Free Moisturiser

My old staple! Haven't repurchased, but might soon. It's not special but it is safe for me, it doesn't clog my pores, works well with all other products and makeup. Stings if skin is irritated or dehydrated.


Samples + Sheet Masks

I should use more my samples. It's interesting and exciting, but I always have to be careful in case there's a negative reaction. Almost all of these samples were quite good actually and I am considering getting more samples of some of them, like Innisfree's Soybean Energy Oil and Innisfree's Bija Cica Balm. Innisfree's My Real Squeeze Mask Oatmeal is amazing at soothing too so I will be repurchasing that.



Caudalie Vinosource Moisturising Sorbet Sample

Used it a long time ago, only later cut the tube and used the rest too. Been thinking about repurchasing many times but the price has stopped me so far, also the fact that I'm trying to finish things I already own.


The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2 % Solution

It's a wonder I've gone through one bottle! I think I started to use it mostly on my nose at some point. I did repurchase so it was doing something (I still have over half left in that bottle). Now, I feel I am favoring other things over this one, but it is a good product.


Laneige Water Sleeping Mask Sample

The 15 ml lasted quite a while! Good stuff. No complaints. I repurchased the sample size. I also purchased the sample of Cica Sleeping Mask.


Etude House Soon Jung Trial Kit Samples

I liked all Soon Jung samples I tried. Still haven't purchased any in a full size, not because I don't want to, but because I'm trying to finish what I have. Been close to purchasing the balm and the emulsion. There wasn't a sample of the cleanser but I would like to try that too.


Bioderma Cicabio SPF 50+

Finally finished! I've had it open for a lot longer than the recommended 6 months. Not going to repurchase because of the greasiness and because it started to irritate my eyes in the long run. Didn't clog my pores, that was nice.


Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask

So, one of my very early asian beauty purchases in 2017. It was expired but I still used it to the end. The texture had changed to more glue-ish, more thick, and it didn't bubble so strongly. I had stored the jar in a plastic minigrip bag. Not going to repurchase as clearly the mask wasn't necessary for me, I forgot it. But I still think it is a decent, affordable, not super drying clay mask!


Skin Watchers Pore Control Toner

This is also an old purchase (2018?). Also expired. Used it to wipe my back, legs... Because despite all experiments, my face didn't agree with it. It still does have a lot of nice ingredients and a good concept. I know you shouldn't use expired products and force using products that you don't like is a bit silly in a long run. I guess I am trying to make myself understand that I should think about what I buy, because then I'm stuck with it! Just like doing konmari/other cleaning methods: when getting rid of the stuff proves to be SO HARD (recycling is not always easy), I think a zillion times over all the new purchases, because I don't want to go through the same again.

Body

The Body Shop Frosted Berries Body Lotion

Another one from 2017! Or maybe even 2016? Actually quite a good lotion. Absorbed well, wasn't heavy, but still very effective. I could buy another body lotion from TBS.


Cien Men Antiperspirant x 2

Again, a staple. A dirt cheap antiperspirant that actually works. (Of course it's not the best in the world but for that price (under 1€ per bottle) nothing beats it, really.)


Veet In Shower Hair Removal Cream

Hmm, not a fan, too expensive and a hassle to use constantly. I swore I wouldn't repurchase. But now that it's been a while since I finished it and I've done waxing a couple of times (also Veet wax strips) I feel like it was less stressful for my armpits to use the removal cream once in a while (every 1-2 weeks). The constant waxing (once a month) seems to mess up my armpit balance and my sweat smells horrible for a week now afterwards. I don't want to go back to shaving because my hair grows so fast and I have to shave armpits every 1-3 days and it's never as clean as with waxing or removal cream.


Kicks Beauty Skin Treat Virgin Olive Oil Foot Treatment

Yeah, I liked this one. It's discontinued but I'm sure I'll be able to find another hand/body/feet lotion with nice oils and urea.


Molton Brown Gingerlily Body Wash

I didn't really get what was so amazing about Molton Brown's body washes at first but I think the scent of the wash got stronger the longer it was in the hot bathroom, and I guess it grew on me, too. Very lovely. Would repurchase but it has been discontinued as far as I know.


Iisi Orange & Almond Shower Soap

I really didn't like this shower product. Hated the smell, the feel of it, it was sooo watery. Blergh. It was cheap, at least.

Hair

Grow Gorgeous Scalp Detox Sample

It was fine. I mean, the tube was quite small and like the instructions say, you have to use a generous amount, otherwise the "scrub" will not even touch your scalp if you have thick hair. The fragrance is just overkill in my opinion. Not going to repurchase. Quite honestly, Nizoral treatment shampoo from the pharmacy made my scalp and hair feel cleaner and fluffier longer.


L'Oreal Elvital Extraordinary Clay Shampoo

I liked this shampoo. It wasn't amazing but it worked for oily scalp okay! Dried even my hair ends a bit. I could repurchase, it's affordable, even though I don't think it's as effective as Head&Shoulders.


L'Oreal Elvital Anti-Breakage Shampoo

It's ok shampoo when I don't/didn't have problems with scalp. I'm pretty sure my partner used most of it this time. My scalp got oily within a day. But when I had bleached hair and balanced scalp I used to buy this shampoo many times. We still have a couple of these waiting in a drawer because he bought several bottles for us just before I got sick.


Head&Shoulders Classic Clean 2 in 1 Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Ok, good shampoo, no complaints. Staple stuff by now. Repurchased.

Lip Products Comparisons / Swatches - Lip Balms, Lipsticks, Lip Tints

I thought it would be useful to collect photos and thoughts in one place to compare all my lip products. I'll update whenever I have time to take photos etc.

I'll start with moisturizing products because winter is here and my lips are very much chapped and trying to stop me from using lip tints! Bepanthen has been my savior since forever but I have gotten interested in trying other things too. Especially because it leaves a whitecast when used generously and that's not a good look during the day. I had 100% shea butter last year too and I liked it, but it was more just occlusive, not really moisturizing. I think 100% lanolin is better overall, but it is stickier, I don't mind though because it stays better. Vaseline is ok as well, but it is like shea butter, doesn't really moisturize. Easier to pick up from the container though because it's not as solid. Elizabeth Arden one I just found in my stash so haven't used it much yet. Laneige's lip sleeping mask is a lot softer than the others.

Vaseline Original, 100% petroleum jelly

Bepanthen Ointment Balm, a mix of dexpanthenol, lanolin, vaseline, almond oil etc.

Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm, 100% lanolin

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, a huge mix of a lot of things!

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant, a mix of things like petroleum, lanolin, carnauba wax etc.

It's Dr. Lipp, I just apparently thought Lippy sounded better when writing it...

I think Dr. Lipp is the thickest and stickiest. Bepanthen is the most "oily". Laneige is the most slippery. Elizabeth Arden is a bit between of everything? Vaseline is like vaseline.

Next, I think this is all my lipsticks and tints. Quite many and I wear so little... It looks like I have quite a good range of different colours but actually it doesn't matter because most of them do not suit me or I don't like them. They do look very different on lips compared to arm swatches. But what has stopped me from buying/using lipsticks in the past was the fear of always failing at choosing the shade. Well, I try to not let the fear stop me now, maybe I have thrown 50€ to waste but I'm determined to figure out my shades for once! One that I have coming later is Colourpop's Ultra Blotted Lip in Halo Effect and it was a total impulse purchase sooo I hope it won't turn out to be terrible on me, too. I hope the coral undertone is strong in it. At least I have tried many different formulas...

Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink 65 Seductress - Based on swatches, even on my own hand in store, I thought this nude would be perfect. It looks balanced with brownish, mauveish, warm pink tones, but on my lips it turns very mauve. Very cold despite it being warm mauve, kind of. But in warm light, or at the end of the day when it has worn out a bit, it looks better. 

Maybelline Super Stay Ink Crayon 15 Lead The Way - A bit like Seductress, but more pink. Definitely not as long lasting. Not a surprise it turns too cold-pink-mauve on my lips too, but that's why I still bought Seductress, as it looked like it would be less pink. It's easier to use this ink crayon as a light wash on lips so the shade is not that strong.

Tonymoly Perfect Lips Shocking Lip 02 Red - Burgundy red, a bit cool but actually on me it doesn't look bad, quite neutral burgundy. Also looks brighter on my lips. It is a strong shade but not a bad one.

Peripera Airy Ink Velvet 8 Glimpse Brick Brown - My favorite out of all the shades. MLBB shade. Brownish, neutral-warm. Dark coral almost? But it doesn't pull coral, brown, or even red on me, so it's very balanced.

Peripera Ink Velvet 6 Celeb Deep Rose - Nice not deep red, brightness in it. But on me it pulls pink and while it doesn't look bad, it doesn't look like me. Actually, this is a bit similar to Illamasqua's Lava Lips, it also pulls so pink but not a super bad kind of pink.

Peripera Airy Ink Velvet 5 Elf Light Rose - Now this is so bright pink on me that it's unwearable. It was marketed as MLBB shade, and I bought it not knowing better. At least it's warmish pink.

Hope Girl Tinted Cushion Lipstick 01 Burgundy Red - Cool burgundy shade. This was a sale item for 1€ or similar. Poor staying power, oily. For such a strong shade it needs to stay put. Doesn't necessarily look bad, but I don't like it, there's just something off.

Illamasqua Lava Lips Vixen - Quite a neutral pretty red-pink shade, pulls quite pink on me. Not a bad kind of pink but so out of place with my style. Formula is a bit dry but longevity is good.

Clinique Lip Colour + Primer 02 Bare Pop - Too shimmery for my liking, but otherwise a great natural shade for topping other lip products. Weird how lilac/mauve it looks, but not on my lips. I guess it's because it's so sheer.

Lindex Beauty Lipstick 02 Peach - So very, very pink. So very, very shimmery. Too light.

Illamasqua Lip Colouring Pencil Raw - Brown-orange nude. Very natural, actually it barely shows up on my lips. Good or bad? I will see. Perfect pairing with Peripera's Ink Velvet Glimpse Brick Brown.

Essence Soft Contouring 03 Deeply Intoxicated - Dark, brownish, vampy burgundy. Actually looks very good on me. But it is a strong shade again and I struggle to find where I would wear it. Matches Tonymoly's Shocking Lip Red.

Essence Soft Contouring 05 Melt Your Heart - The already familiar pinkish red shade on me.

 Outside light:

Inside light:

After washing my arm with cleansing oil and micellar gel wash:

When I washed my arm again in the evening, there were still some marks where I had put Maybelline Matte Ink, Tonymoly Shocking Lip and Peripera Ink Velvet.

Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink 65 Seductress

Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink 70 Amazonian - More brown than orange but orange shows up clearly. More muted than Fighter even though the swatches might look similar. And they are similar, yes. I think I prefer Amazonian.

Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink 75 Fighter - A strong orange-brown. Very striking and fierce on my lips (makes my blue eyes pop). Maybe too much for an everyday look?

Mellow Matte Liquid Lip Paint Tehran - Leans strongly to purple.

Colourpop Ultra Blotted Lip Halo Effect - Looks more red on my lips.

 Outside light (it's winter so barely any light, no sun):

Inside light:

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask Original 3 g Sample Review

Ingredients:


Diisostearyl Malate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phytosteryl / Isostearyl / Cetyl / Stearyl / Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Polybutene, Microcrystalline Wax / Cera Microcristallina / Cire Microcristalline, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Synthetic Wax, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax / Candelilla Cera / Cire de Candelilla, Sucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate, Butylene / Ethylene / Styrene Copolymer, Ethylene / Propylene / Styrene Copolymer, Mica (CI 77019), Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Dimethicone, Fragrance / Parfum, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Methicone, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax / Cera Carnauba / Cire de Carnauba, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Red 6 (CI 15850), Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Water, Potassium Alginate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Alcohol, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract, Fragaria Chiloensis (Strawberry) Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Extract, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Magnesium Sulfate, Calcium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Ascorbyl Glucoside.

I try to mark the sunscreen ingredients in red and other possible irritants in lilac. Ingredients thought to be good and useful for skin I mark green.  Learning as I go, google is my friend etc...

Thoughts:

- The bubble gum scent. I just can't, just no. Disgusting. Feels like a product aimed at children. However, the scent doesn't linger.

- Not like a mask at all, but then again, Laneige's Water Sleeping Mask doesn't feel like a mask either. Doesn't really last on my lips, definitely not overnight, my lips are just as dry or chapped as before in the morning. Wipes easily off.

- No long term effect. I need to keep re-applying moisturizing things to my lips all day long.



+ Softer than a basic lip balm, melts on your lips. No need to tug lips or warm the balm. Consistency is very pleasant.

+ Moisturizes lips ok. Makes them soft and clear glossy for 1-2 hours.

+ Packaging is cute and pink!

+ Doesn't really taste of anything.

* Finally I got to try to legendary lip sleeping mask by Laneige. You can imagine I had a lot of expectations, after all so many people love this one and tout it as their HG. So maybe that's why I felt it was so underwhelming, after having a lot of expectations. Maybe this would have worked better in summer?

* I'm not sure if my review is helpful because clearly my lips are a lot more dry and sensitive than the usual case. Also now it's winter and it's been around 0 °C and getting colder so it affects my lips a lot.

Price: 

2.29 USD not including shipping / 3 g sample

10.28 USD not including shipping / 20 g full size

Bought from: 

Beautynetkorea

Buy again? 

No.

Worth the money? 

The sleeping mask is not particularly amazing but not bad either. The 3 g sample lasts me about 2 months with regular daily use, I think. As far as you don't need heavy duty moisture for your lips and can tolerate the sweet scent, it is worth the price. But, there are better options. For example, just 100% lanolin or Bepanthen ointment balm that is my usual go-to and it seems like nothing is ever going to top it.

Skinoren Cream 20 % 200 mg/g 30 g Review

The Polish packaging for Skinoren. Skinoren is OTC there. 

Ingredients:

The active substance is azelaic acid. One gram of Skinoren Cream contains 200 mg (20% w/w) of azelaic acid.

The other ingredients: Benzoic acid (E 210), Cetearyl octanoate, Glycerol 85%, Glyceryl stearate + cetearyl alcohol + cetyl palmitate + cocoglycerides (CUTINA CBS), Propylene glycol, Purified water, Stearoyl macrogolglycerides.

I try to mark the sunscreen ingredients in red and other possible irritants in lilac. Ingredients thought to be good and useful for skin I mark green.  Learning as I go, google is my friend etc...

Later I checked that the prices vary a lot for Skinoren in Poland, this is in the highest range, I suppose? But I bought it in the Old Town, sooo... I understand, tourist area!

Thoughts:

- Very, very drying, for the first month at least. It is a must to find ways to hydrate skin more than usual. I loved sheet masks during this time! But I do notice difference when it's hot/humid and I sweat a lot, then it's not so bad, but when the weather got colder (from 30 Celsius to 15 Celsius suddenly!) the dryness/tightness exploded. There was no flaking at any point though.

- I didn't notice a full blown purge with Skinoren, but I did get a small one at around 1-2 weeks of almost daily use. I had quite a bad skin when I started to use it so the changes in pimple amount is not super noticeable.

- Prescription cream, so requires more effort to acquire, either through a doctor or ordering from another country.

- Tubes I have are only 30 g, I feel like I'm using them up very fast. Because the cream absorbs very quickly I must apply a bit more to get an even cover.

- Skinoren changed my pimples a bit, the white stuff inside is harder and if I pick at them, accidentally or on purpose (I shouldn't though but I do anyway sometimes...) they bleed quite a lot! But the pimples are smaller and less red however.



+ Feels strangely very calming on red skin and painful, big pimples. Usually next morning those pimples don't hurt anymore and they have reduced in size.

+ Some people say they experience itching, burning, tickling, flushing... I don't notice any at all. Just the dryness.

+ Skinoren is amazing at oil control. The most matte face ever. Takes hours for any oils to peak through, and that is usually only on my nose. I admit, I sometimes use a tiny bit on my T-area when I want a lasting makeup for the day... also stops my skin getting clogged. Works well as a primer if you don't mind the "dry stickiness" of it when it's dried, have compatible foundation and are willing to apply it more like patting, so that Skinoren layer is not getting too disturbed. But when it's done, the base seems to last the whole day so perfectly!

+ I feel like with consistent use of Skinoren, my skin found its own balance again. I can use a minimum amount of products. My skin is not getting that easily clogged. There are less extremes, like super oiliness or super dryness.

+ You have to have patience, it took about a month for any real results to show. But at that point my skin was considerably smoother, less red, and had a normal amount of bumps. Less sensitive to touch as well.

+ When my acne burst was at the worst point, Skinoren smoothed my skin in 2-3 days and helped with pore size. When my skin got better, I couldn't notice this effect anymore. (Well, my skin had gotten balanced again so no wonder... ) But I do notice the biggest effect with Skinoren on my forehead and nose, still. With Differin the biggest difference seems to be my cheeks and jaw! Idk maybe I'm just imagining? :)

* Please notice, Skinoren Gel/Cream are prescription acne medicine in most countries, in my country as well. I don't really understand why, as it has no bad side effects and you still can get azelaic acid creams without prescription at a lower %, plus many countries don't require a visit to doctor to be able to buy Skinoren anyway. At least read the pamphlet that comes with the cream! I was browsing so many discussions online where people who were using Skinoren had no idea what it was or how they should use it and then complained that it wasn't working at all.

* Some things struck out to me when reading my own country's information pamphlet: It is not recommended to keep using Skinoren for long continuous time periods. Shouldn't be used continuously longer than 12 months. Do not apply occlusives over Skinoren. Apply Skinoren twice a day, on a clean, just washed, dry skin. Preferably don't use other products. If skin is very sensitive, use only once a day.

* From my personal experience: don't apply Skinoren twice a day. Once in the evening is quite enough. It is smart to skip some days as well. I think super dry skin alone can cause even more problems.

* I applied Skinoren either on a bare skin, or applied moisturizer/squalane/essence first. I don't think it affects the efficacy too much.

* I'm using my second tube of Skinoren right now. First one lasted me around 3 months. I also use Differin now (started after Skinoren had already cleared my skin) and I alternate between these two now. I do skip some days here and there. My skin seems to be ok. I think these products compliment each other well! Skinoren takes care of the big stuff and calms the skin, Differin smoothes out things and helps with small bumps and cc's.

* The packaging for Skinoren varies in different countries and if I have understood right, the same stuff is called Finacea in some places. I have here pictures of the Polish packaging (obviously, bought in Poland). In New Zealand and in my own country, the packaging looks less cool, more like old medicine (I'll take photos when I have time). 

Price: 

$21.00 NZD = 12 €, not including shipping / 30 g

50-74,50 zł = about 12-17 € / 30 g

Bought from: 

Krakow, Poland and Eclipse Pharmacy, New Zealand

Buy again? 

Yes. As long as I manage to get it.

Worth the money? 

Yes. If you have oily skin and acne problems. If you want an acid to brighten your skin quickly, azelaic acid is not the solution. For that I would probably recommend lactic acid. Skinoren is best for inflammation, big/cystic acne, oily skin, fungal acne (my hairline and forehead). Also for an already dry skin Skinoren might be a nightmare... But it is interesting how it has managed to balance my skin, so would it do it for a dry skin as well? For an oily skin even without acne Skinoren is probably a dream to use, it truly mattifies skin so well.

Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1 % 15 g Review

Ingredients:

Active Ingredient: Adapalene 0.1% (retinoid)*

Inactive Ingredients: carbomer 940, edetate disodium, methylparaben, poloxamer 182, propylene glycol, purified water and sodium hydroxide.
May contain hydrochloric acid to adjust pH.

I try to mark the sunscreen ingredients in red and other possible irritants in lilac. Ingredients thought to be good and useful for skin I mark green.  Learning as I go, google is my friend etc...

Thoughts:

- Slight dryness but if I notice anything irregular, I skip a day or two. No painful dryness. Nothing compared to Skinoren that dried my face in the beginning like there was no tomorrow.

- Even if I don't feel super dryness, I can see my skin flaking a bit sometimes, near my nostrils and jaw mostly.

- Prescription only in Europe. At least in most countries?



+ I had no purge whatsoever BUT I had been using already Skinoren Cream 20% for some months

+ No irritation, no redness

+ Not really dryness either

+ No scent

+ Smoothed my skin during the first weeks visibly, my pores especially. Strange but true. Smoothed even my cheeks that are not usually a problem, but that took more time, over a month.

+ After closer to two months I noticed that my closed comedones or other bumps were significantly gone or smaller. I still have some bumps by my mouth that I've had there forever but they are half the size now.

+ Easy to spread gel consistency, dries fast. Works even under makeup and doesn't pill but I've tried it only a couple of times because I use it in the evening usually.

* When I found out that you can get Differin from Iherb (a place that I trust I can get legit products from) I decided I must try it. Even though I doubted if it would make any difference because I had been using Skinoren Cream 20% for a while and it was a real game changer for my skin. Differin is prescription only in my country so I hadn't really thought about it too much.

* I am so glad I tried Differin even though I had doubts. But, of course my skin could have improved even without it. Azelaic Acid can take some time to work better too as it's said to be gentle option. I am still using Skinoren though and I am alternating between the two almost daily, for the night. So whatever result I have is a combination of the two and the other products I have.

* Sometimes I use Differin on its own, sometimes I put moisturizer first, sometimes squalane, sometimes essence... etc. I've finished one tube. I will continue using it and I highly hope it will continue working for me! I'll have to update later if something changes.

* Some people say that Differin has been super drying or otherwise problematic to use. I've heard of purges that last for months! So take precautions, read the pamphlet, listen to your skin, use sunscreen, etc... I am very surprised how my skin seems to be ok. Maybe it is not as sensitive as I thought, and I had just been using totally wrong products.

Price: 

€18.47 with shipping / 15 g

Bought from: 

Iherb

Buy again? 

Yes, already have.

Worth the money? 

Yes, anything that smoothes the skin for an affordable price is worth it! I haven't noticed such a fast effect in a while and everytime I look at my face I still go "woah". Differin is so easy and low maintenance and pleasant to use as well. One tube lasts me 2-3 months and having a smoother/better skin thanks to it and Skinoren makes me use less some other products and some products I don't seem to need at all anymore. I would highly recommend people to at least try Differin, no matter the skin type. But of course don't try it if you do not have any acne to treat.

Don't worry, the tube is the same size as the actual size picture even though the perspective might look deceiving. But yes, the packaging is excessive considering how small the tube is.