Emma Hardie Moisture Boost Vitamin C Cream 20 ml Review

Ingredients:

Aqua (Water), Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Cetyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Parfum (Fragrance), Microcrystalline Cellulose, Stearic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Edta, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed) Seed Oil, Linalool, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Citral, Citronellol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Benzyl Benzoate, Geraniol, Maltodextrin, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Extract, Pentapeptide-34 Trifluoroacetate.

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:

- Seemed like Moisture Boost Vitamin C Cream was slightly breaking me out during summer

- Not super moisturizing/hydrating, wouldn't really call the cream "moisture boost" - not a problem unless you think you're getting moisture boost, dry skin definitely requires extra hydration

- The lingering scent is very old lady like, like old lady's bathroom

- I personally didn't notice any brightening effects, but I use so many brightening things that it's likely that I wouldn't, plus I do not really have any dark pigmentation



+ During the autumn and winter, the cream suddenly didn't break me out, so I don't know maybe I was wrong about summer or my skin really got so much more dry?

+ Ok moisturizing I would say? Sufficient? 

+ The scent in the beginning is actually quite nice floral despite being strong

+ Icludes vitamin C (Ascorbyl Glucoside) 2% as I read somewhere, and niacinamide (probably around 2-4%?) and some very nice oils, so it does have brightening ingredients

+ The texture is quite thick cream, but it absorbs easily and leaves skin smooth, doesn't affect makeup on top

* I got Emma Hardie's Moisture Boost Vitamin C Cream mini from Lookfantastic Advent Calendar 2019. I don't think I would have ever bought it myself.

* Even though I didn't notice brightening results or anything super amazing, I still appreciate trying out expensive things. And I actually do like the thought of brightening and moisturizing cream that is not overloaded with maximum amount of active ingredients, so that it is comfortable all-in-one to use. I might look into finding some cheaper alternative for lazy days when I can't be bothered with several bottles.

* Well, brightening or not, this cream hasn't been irritating and my skin has been quite even looking (but I do think it is more my other vitamin C products and pycnogenol etc). But you never know with skincare, maybe this cream plays a part as well!

Price: 

About 65 € / 50 ml

Mini size about 27 € / 20 ml (but didn't really see if being sold anywhere)

Bought from: 

Lookfantastic Advent Calendar 2019

Buy again? 

No. 

Worth the money? 

Quite ok cream for autumn/winter time, but definitely not worth the full price. I would see it being worth about half the price it is. But you can get the brightening ingredients and moisturizing cream for so much less money. Or at least I can since The Ordinary is suitable for my skin! Their Natural Moisturizing Factors+HA, Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% and Niacinamide 10% all cost together about 25€.

SVR Sun Secure Blur SPF50 50 ml Review

Ingredients:

AQUA (PURIFIED WATER), ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE, CAPRYLYL METHICONE, GLYCERIN, ETHYLHEXYL TRIAZONE, BIS-ETHYLHEXYLOXYPHENOL METHOXYPHENYL TRIAZINE, PEG-12 DIMETHICONE/PPG-20 CROSSPOLYMER, CETYL ALCOHOL, GLYCERYL STEARATE, POLYESTER-7, DIMETHICONE, NIACINAMIDE, AMINOMETHYL PROPANOL, BETA-CAROTENE, CAPRYLHYDROXAMIC ACID, CI 15850, DAUCUS CAROTA SATIVA (CARROT) ROOT EXTRACT, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER-3, GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN) OIL, HYDROGENATED PHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE, LECITHIN, LEPIDIUM SATIVUM SPROUT EXTRACT, PHENETHYL ALCOHOL, TOCOPHEROL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, CETETH-20, DIMETHICONOL, DISODIUM EDTA, LYSOLECITHIN, NEOPENTYL GLYCOL DIHEPTANOATE, PEG-75 STEARATE, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE, SODIUM POLYACRYLATE STARCH, STEARETH-20, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, PHENOXYETHANOL, PARFUM (FRAGRANCE), CI 77492.

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:

- Very, very strong floral scent, it lingers for a long time (SVR describes the scent apricot) and quite honestly I don't like it but I'll deal with it



+ Dries completely matte, within seconds

+ Excellent primer, a bit thick texture that is still easy to spread, adheres well to skin, all make up stays better. Some foundations are more difficult to apply though on top - Sun Secure Blur doesn't pill however, it's just that some products don't settle evenly on top. But overall I think this one is a better primer than many products that are just primers.

+ Doesn't wipe off/slide even when I sweat somewhat, hasn't migrated to eyes so hasn't burned my eyes so far

+ Doesn't pill

+ Slightly evens out skintone and smoothes skin, but not so that it is obvious, no white cast/color cast even though the product is peachy shade

+ Doesn't break me out really, slightly clogging

+ Doesn't dry out my skin, doesn't make my skin oily

+ Easy to apply generously so that the sun protection stays decent as well

* I really am impressed by SVR's Sun Secure Blur. Based on this suncreen, I am interested in trying other sunscreens from them as well. They are claiming they have more dry touch/matte sunscreens.

* I think it's weird there are not a lot of primer/base sunscreens available, even though it is just the smartest thing to do and makes morning routine faster and easier.

* I still do use other sunscreens, SVR Blur is not the one and only. Garnier's UV Fluid is also good, cheaper as well, but it is not matte like SVR. It is very different from SVR sunscreen. Garnier has alcohol in it and it is thin liquid formula while SVR is thick mousse balm.

* More of my sunscreen comparison swatches/textures in this post. I try to keep it updated. I like looking at overall comparisons.

Price: 

About 16-18 € / 50 ml

Bought from: 

Feelunique

Buy again? 

Yes!

Worth the money? 

SVR Sun Secure Blur is the only truly matte sunscreen I've tried so far. No denatured alcohol either. Dreamy product for someone who is looking for mattifying and smoothing primer type protection, especially for oily skin and for summer. Definitely worth the money, even "cheap" because it works so well for me and I would be willing to pay more for it (but please SVR do not raise the prices I am not rich!). If you are sensitive to strong fragrances, this is probably not for you.

Shopping from August to September

During these two months I purchased a bit of this and a bit of that, got some gifts as well. Not sure if everything was necessary, I did a lot of smaller orders which gives the fake impression that I got almost nothing when it all just accumulated slowly. At least now I have experience with many new online stores. Also, I already know I am getting Lookfantastic Advent Calendar as a christmas present (at least if they don't mess up the pre-order). 

Everything I bought during two months cost me about 170 €. 

Oilixia Kakadu Plum Gummy Facial Cleanser

Alima Pure Refill Pressed Foundation in Sesame

Alima Pure Luminous Shimmer Blush in Garnet

+ Free Samples 

My first order from Jolie, it took about 3-4 working days to receive. They sell organic cosmetics and sometimes I've been browsing their website but the products are mostly quite pricy. They had a sale, and I mean a good sale (-50-70 %), so I went in without thinking too much. :) Alima Pure has been on my want to try list for a while. Sadly they were out of the mineral powder foundation in olive 1, and it wasn't part of the sale anyway (but if they had had it I would've purchased it as well).

The cleanser looks divine based on the ingredients list, Sesame looks like a perfect easy day powder foundation, also Garnet is such a gorgeous color (however, Alima Pure recommended it for cool skin, and I am warm neutral olive-maybe, or for deep skin, and I am light!). EDIT: Garnet is super natural looking on me, strangely. Very pretty. I just feel like I can't layer it or make it stay for a long time, it just disappears after some hours. Are there some tips to make mineral make up to stick to skin? Maybe setting spray is a must?

Sesame on white and black background. Quite impossible to photo its true shade. But it is quite "true light" and true warm, yellow leaning to me.

Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1 %

De La Cruz Sulfur Ointment Mini 0.21 oz (6 g)

Differin, my basic repurchase/backup! I am also excited to try the mini size of sulphur ointment. I am thinking of using it as a mask for my forehead/hairline mainly... 6 g is not a lot but enough to see what my skin thinks.


L300 Intensive Moisture 3in1 Micellar Cleansing Water

L300 Intensive Moisture Face Mist

L300 Intensive Moisture Cleansing Milk Dry Skin

Garnier Ambre Solaire Sensitive Advanced Face Super UV Fluid SPF 50+

Catrice Volumizing Lip Booster in 040 Nuts About Mary

Dermosil Sea Buckthorn Hand Cream

L300 haul was a gift! They were on -40% sale. I tested L300 Intensive Moisture Mist briefly before and really liked it. The other ones are new to me. I think the Cleansing Milk is actually too gentle and feels like it doesn't rinse clean. Doesn't remove eye make up. But for all the dry skin people out there, this could be your savior. I honestly almost feel like I need zero moisturizer afterwards. The sunscreen was a gift too. I told my mom she should try it, so she bought one for herself and one more for me. I have bought one bottle beforehand and I've been very happy with it - it's almost weird that I don't find much to complain about.

I have wanted Dior's Lip Volumizer for a while... so I thought to test Catrice's version first. It's actually quite good. Lasts a long time on lips, tingles/burns only for a couple of minutes, the color is warm nude and versatile and it doesn't dry lips. Not overly sticky either like traditional lip gloss, but still you know, your hair will still stick to it...

Dermosil hand cream is from my mom, it was a gift with order I think and she didn't have any use for it. And if it is scented like the other Dermosil cream I got from her, she wouldn't be able to use it anyway because she got a reaction from the scent before. She is not against fragrance but some scents just make her sick.

Inglot Duraline

Makeup Revolution Soap Styler

I read that Duraline is a versatile liquid that can make any powder waterproof. Also it could help revive dried up things, like Colourpop's Super Shocks. It wasn't too expensive, around 14 € I think, so I decided to get it. I also decided to take the soap styler for eyebrows but so far I am not too impressed.

This was my first time ordering from Cocopanda and everything went smoothly. I was even able to pay with Mobilepay - how convenient is that! The package was shipped in 2 days, I received it in 4 working days. 

Ceralan Shower Oil

Head&Shoulders Classic Clean Shampoo

Say hello to my new big boys! Both are repurchases and my partner also uses them. I love getting big bottles for basics because it means I don't have to think about them again for a long time. Last H&S 1 liter bottle lasted me 10 months.

Ducray Hidrosis Antiperspirant Roll-On

Ducray Kertoyl Pso Shampoo

Another pharmacy purchase bundle! I have wanted to try both of these for a while. They are quite pricy though so I've been putting it off. Now I'm running out of antiperspirant soon (Rexona Maximum Protection) plus my scalp feels meh (also running out of Budgie's The Apple Cider Scrub and Nizoral Shampoo). Ducray's shampoo has sulphur and salicylic acid to exfoliate the scalp so it sounds quite perfect. EDIT: So far what I've tried, the antiperspirant is a failure and doesn't really work for me. Shampoo actually feels purifying, but drying for hair ends.

Rexona Maximum Protection Sport Strength Cream Antiperspirant x2

Nivea Q10 Plus C Anti-Wrinkle Eye Care 

Nivea Cleansing Oil Soothing Grape Seed Soothing Cleansing Oil for Sensitive Skin

BrushArt Professional Blending Eyeshadow Brush B7

My first order from Notino. I could have gotten more stuff, they actually have quite a good selection, but their reviews are a bit of this and that online. People talk about them possibly selling fake fragrances etc. So I decided to order cheap basics to try them out! Rexonas are repurchases (only 5 € on Notino), so is Nivea eye cream. I have high hopes for Nivea's Cleansing Oil. It was cheap, 6 €, with ok looking ingredients.

The brush I got because it gave free shipping for the whole order, and it cost 7 €, and the shipping would have cost 7 € anyway. Still, I will always look at that brush and think I was forced to buy it, ha!

Revolution Beauty Reloaded Palette Iconic Division

Revolution Beauty Medium Empty Magnetic Palette

What I really wanted, was to do a Colourpop Build Your Own Palette again, but they have been sold out of singles for several months. Probably discontinuing them or something. I like singles, I like organizing and choosing them. I saw this cheap Reloaded shadow palette with very similar colour scheme I had in mind for CP (not quite still... but in spirit, a fall mix with some green and muted shades) so I decided to go for it. I also took a magnetic palette for all the lonely singles I already have and might acquire. It feels cheap, but it is ok as it was cheap.The clear plastic might break soon if it's manhandled. I might purchase a cuter and sturdier palette later on.

The eyeshadow palette is maybe ok so far. I have used it a couple of times and was disappointed in the greens as they just looked muddy. Both wine shades looked good though! Also the mustard shade is pretty.

This was my first order from Revolution Beauty. It took several days to ship, but they did send a message that they were back logged with Friends collection etc. Then it took about 2 weeks.

The whole packaging was recyclable. 

Empties Since August

Empties from August to September. Two months. Honestly was expecting to finish more half empty things... but this is the reality. I'll never understand how some people have a huge pile every month - maybe I am lucky my skin is not dry and doesn't require multi layering. I guess the next time I'll do empties post is at the end of December (3 months)!

Face

Mizon Hyaluronic Acid 100 Serum

Hmm, I really liked this one at first, and I still think it's rather soothing/hydrating and a good serum, but then I started to feel like it clogged my skin or my skin felt better without it after a while. Maybe it expired fast? Used the rest on my neck. Bought in 2017.


Kicks Beauty Pure & Simple Deep Cleansing Oil

Such a tragedy, discontinued. Good cleansing oil, would have repurchased (if on sale though, I was waiting for it!). Emulsified beautifully, but was a bit pricy for what it was, still. The whole Kicks Beauty lineup has been discontinued and Kicks just released their new line, BeautyAct. The new products do look nice but no more cleansing oil! 

Nivea Q10 Plus C Anti-Wrinkle Eye Treatment

I liked this eye cream enough to repurchase! It is priced well, it moisturizes well without being heavy, it is easy to acquire, no fragrance. And of course, doesn't irritate my eyes. I am going to keep using it and search for something even better at the same time. The tube also lasted me about 6-8 months?

Filorga Optim Eyes Eye Cream Mini

Quite honestly, I was a bit disappointed in Optim Eyes because it seems to be a cult classic and I expected a lot more. It's not bad but not amazing either. Didn't even moisturize that well. But it didn't irritate my eyes. It was also fragranced but I do like how Filorga products smell. (They smell expensive to me.) I am not going to repurchase but I would use it again if I got it for free.

Body

COSRX Good Morning Gel Cleanser

I (and my partner) used this as a body wash. My face didn't like it, it felt too drying... but it's the opposite when used for body, I felt it wasn't cleansing enough. And obviously it has this strange smell, probably from tea tree (but it doesn't smell like tea tree oil). Not going to repurchase, just glad I was able to finish it!

Hair

Head&Shoulders Classic Clean Shampoo 1000 ml

Yes, I bought last year in November this huge 1 liter bottle. I thought it would last me a year and give some peace of mind - I was right. It has been nice to not think about shampoo purchases! The bottle lasted me 10 months! Granted it's not the only shampoo I've used but still it is my usual go-to. I have repurchased.