The Ordinary Colours Serum Foundation (SPF 15) 1.2N 30 ml Review

Ingredients:


Cyclopentasiloxane, Aqua (Water), Caprylyl Methicone, Coconut Alkanes, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Coco Caprylate/Caprate, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Cetyl Diglyceryl Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)silylethyl Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Hectorite, Sodium Chloride, Hexyl Laurate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Alumina, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin. May Contain [+/-]: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Tin Oxide, Aluminum Hydroxide, Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Mica, Triethoxycaprylylsilane.

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:

- Color is not a good match for me; it steers to orange, is surprisingly "dark" (at least for my winter skin!).

- Clogs my pores/breaks me out a little.

- The pump is messy and cheap, not a good control.

- You really have to shake the bottle properly every time so that the liquid turns even.

- I don't personally think it's worth it to start mixing my preferred foundation color at home and buy several shades of the product for that reason... I'm too lazy!

- During the day I felt like the foundation started to slide off the tip of my nose and forehead.



+ Price point is excellent!

+ There is an option to buy a dropper if you truly hate the pump but then again I don't know which is worse to use anyway.

+ Lots of shades (but yet it seems none of them would truly fit me).

+ Liquid consistency, easy to blend.

+ Natural light finish.

+ Probably suits all skin types except (very) oily.

* Even though the color match is not quite right, with some effort and careful blending and light layer it works; also I think this could be my shade if I tanned. I bought the shade 1.2N Light Neutral.

* I looked at TO's foundation shades and it now seems that they do not have my preferred shade even though they have so many... everything feels slightly off. To get the orange down, I'd have to go more to cold/pink shades because neutral wasn't neutral; but my undertone is not pink so I don't know how that would look like. The other neutral shades 1.1N Fair looks very pink and light, 2.0N Light Medium is most likely too dark, 1.0N Very Fair shadewise looks ok (actually neutral) but it's also too light!

* I have no idea which ingredient is breaking me out or if it's just the overall formula. I had high hopes for this foundation as many seem to love it!

Price: 

6,70 € / 30 ml

Bought from: 

The Ordinary website

Buy again? 

No.

Worth the money? 

If you find your shade and it doesn't break you out! Actually it's cheap to get two to three shades and decide which suits you the best. Personally for me it obviously wasn't worth it, everything about it was slightly wrong (except the price).

SKIN&LAB K Plus Red-X Essence 50 ml Review

Ingredients:

Water, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Allantoin, Polyglutamic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Polyacrylate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Artemisia Montana Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Corymbosum (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Menadione, Polyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Ceramide, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, Guaiazulene, Arginine, Fragrance

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...

I really liked how the box was green and patterned inside!

Thoughts:

- Not helping with the redness, sadly. But it is catered more for irritated skin redness, not for chronic redness. Even though I must say I didn't notice difference on irritated redness either.

- Might leave skin slightly sticky if applied generously. But didn't notice that it would affect other products.

- Full of all sorts of plant extracts, I'm always worried that some of them might be irritating.

- I think this essence is breaking me out a little/clogging my pores? And if it's not breaking me out, at least it's not stopping any breakouts.

- Doesn't control oiliness as promised but feels fresh when applied nonetheless.




+ I like the pump bottle, it's stylish, works well, pumps out a good amount of product at a time! Good and pretty packaging otherwise too.

+ The consistency is very watery gel, easy to spread on skin, absorbs quite nicely, feels fresh. Doesn't affect other products or make them pill.

+ Not too strong fragrance, even though it's weird: smells like soap, like dish soap, Fairy?

+ Feels soothing, actually! (Even if it doesn't live up to redness reducing claims)

* I'm always curious to find solutions for the everlasting redness of my skin... even though I have accepted that my skin will always be a thousand different shades at the same time and I flush easily.

* Can't really comment on the recommendation of using this product after surgery etc, so I don't know if it really helps burned/fragile/healing skin. Personally I feel they are promising too much and for a bruised skin you should just visit a pharmacy...

* Skin&Lab seems to have a lot of interesting products but I feel their claims are way over the top. I might pick up some other products later if I feel like it, at least based on this essence their packaging is very good and their product formulas are pleasant!

* K Plus Red-X Essence is somewhat hydrating/moisturizing too (of course) but it's just so basic that does it even need mentioning? It's ok, nothing amazing, nothing bad.

Price: 

USD 15.25 / 50 ml

Bought from: 

Jolse

Buy again? 

No.

Worth the money? 

Skin&Lab's K Plus Red-X Essence is overall a pleasant product to use, like a basic gel-type essence in a good packaging. It is soothing but I really have to wonder that maybe a basic aloe gel does exactly the same thing for cheaper? However I guess this essence is good for those with normal skin, not too oily or dry or clog prone and it's not that expensive. If you want an essence mainly to be hydrating, maybe keep looking?

A great example how expiration dates should be printed. 

Essence All Eyes On Me Waterproof Multi-Effect Mascara 8 ml Review

Ingredients:


AQUA (WATER), CERA ALBA (BEESWAX), CARNAUBA (COPERNICIA CERIFERA) WAX, C30-45 ALKYL DIMETHICONE, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED WAX, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, STEARIC ACID, PALMITIC ACID, NYLON-12, ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, AMINOMETHYL PROPANOL, ACRYLATES/ETHYLHEXYL ACRYLATE COPOLYMER, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE, LAURETH-21, MYRISTIC ACID, ARACHIDIC ACID, BEHENIC ACID, OLEIC ACID, PHENOXYETHANOL, CI 77499 (IRON OXIDES).

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:

- Not exactly waterproof enough for me - could be just my oily eyelids smudging the mascara though

- The brush shape wasn't my favorite, feels a bit clumsy (I like thin ones)

- Also the application wasn't as easy and smooth as with some mascaras, but not a disaster in any way either

- Not a party mega lashes look mascara



+ Ok mascara? No strong feelings one way or the other

+ The price point is extremely ok!

+ Didn't start to hurt my eyes despite me using it longer than you're supposed to (3-6 months usually) and it didn't dry out before that time

+ Can be layered for decent everyday lashes, no clumps!

+ Easy to wash off

* What can I say about this long-name mascara by Essence? Yes, it's a mascara. It does work like a mascara. No, it's not my favorite but I wouldn't mind buying one again (because of price mainly). The reason I bought exactly this mascara was the price - it was the cheapest in the store and I needed something quickly.

* I kinda think that mascaras should be rather affordable as they should be replaced more often than other make up and skincare but look at me, using this cheapo mascara still for nearly 10 months! I'm disgusting. It didn't look or feel like it had changed at all so I didn't realize.

Price: 

About 2,50 € / 8 ml

Bought from: 

Supermarket 

Buy again? 

Probably not, but might try other mascaras from Essence. There are some other ones that people were praising.

Worth the money? 

Yes, very much worth the money and easy to find mascara! However I felt like I never really trusted the mascara properly and it wasn't an enjoyment to put it on. I mean, I made a mess a lot more often than with other mascaras (maybe I'm not very coordinated or whatever?) and I assume my oily eyelids made the mascara melt a little even though maybe it is waterproof (who knows?). So I would not recommend the All Eyes On Me Waterproof Multi-Effect Mascara for oily eyelids/face and for those who are picky about their mascaras.

Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet 15 ml Review

Ingredients:

Aqua (Water), Vitis Vinifera (Grape)Fruit Water*, Dicaprylyl Ether*, Glycerin*,Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Extract*,Hexyldecanol*, Hexyldecyl Laurate*, Behenyl Alcohol*, Glyceryl Stearate*, Acrylates/C10-30alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Erythritol, Parfum (Fragrance), Tocopherol*, Lecithin*, Caprylyl Glycol, Mannitol*, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract*, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Juice*, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sterols*, Butyleneglycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Citricacid, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flowerextract*, Sodium Carboxymethyl Betaglucan,Sodium Phytate*, Potassium Sorbate, Biosaccharidegum-1, Sodium Hyaluronate, Homarine Hcl, Glycerylcaprylate*, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-15. (098/120)"

* Plant Origin

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:

- Even though the moisturizing sorbet is surprisingly moisturizing, it's still not quite enough for the harder winter time (when it's below -10 C) but it still soothes

- When I opened the tube for the first time I felt the fragrance was overpowering but it has since faded a bit? It's still there, but strangely I don't mind

- I feel like the product runs out very quickly, about 2-3 weeks for 15 ml! When used twice a day.

- Costs more than I would like!



+ Feels very fresh on the skin, melts and sinks into it almost immediately, easy to spread

+ Considering how light this moisturizer feels, it's super hydrating/moisturizing at the same time

+ After applying it's almost like I've applied nothing but my skin feels great

+ Works well with my makeup

+ Can be layered

+ Light, gel-like, turns watery when applied to skin, doesn't clog my pores or cause any breakouts

+ Actually soothing? Maybe less irritation/redness? 

+ Maybe less oil production?

* I must say I was surprised by this moisturizer, even though as I understand it is very popular. Looking at Caudalie's products now, I also feel like I would like to try their Intense Moisture Rescue Cream, Make-up Removing Cleansing Oil and Grape Water.

* Based on such a short testing period, I can't be absolutely sure if the moisturizer is breaking me out or not but I didn't notice anything out of ordinary. Talking of The Ordinary, I felt like it was such a pleasure to use a different cream once in a while! Been using TO's NMF + HA for a while (soon finishing the second 100 ml tube).

* Is this Caudalie's moisturizer magic? No, it's not. I didn't notice any "big improvements" in my skin and what I felt like I maybe noticed can't be proven in any way (maybe a bit less oily T-area, less irritated skin?). But then again isn't it the same with almost every product?

When I couldn't squeeze anything out anymore, I cut the tube and lo and behold! Still enough for one week.

Price: 

About 24-28 € / 40 ml

Bought from: 

Got in Lookfantastic Advent Calendar, sample 15 ml

Buy again? 

Yes. When I feel like I want to treat myself and I've used up my other moisturizers, I'm going to repurchase Moisturizing Sorbet.

Worth the money? 

I'm so impressed by how much my skin likes this moisturizer and the overall performance that my heart says yes even though my head is denying it. I do recommend it highly, at least to try, if you want to splurge. I think that it suits all skin types and is especially good for combination skin. And yes, for me this moisturizer feels luxurious so using it definitely lifts my mood! (Plus the tube is cute and pink.)

The Ordinary Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution 30ml Review

Ingredients:


Propanediol, Ethyl Ascorbic Acid.

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:

- Might leave a slight oily feeling to skin, especially if too much is used. I can feel it when putting other products on top.



+ Positively surprising to see and feel the difference immediately between AGS and EAA! I guess EAA is stronger or works differently, because my skin has been even softer! But the overall softness (and plumpness/good condition) is the biggest thing I noticed under a week of using.

+ No stinging or irritation. Just a bit of a warm feeling that's gone in a couple of seconds. After some time (month? Two?) I don't always even feel that.

+ Didn't feel any dryness. (Even when used twice a day.)

+ Feels oily (like squalane) so it's easy to spread. Still didn't affect makeup.

+ Smells like warm sugar.

+ No breakouts. Just improvements! Good for dry, sensitive, acne prone skin?

EAA is a lot like squalane oil, clear, runny, oily.

* I've been using The Ordinary's Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution for a while (just almost finished the bottle, took 5 months?) and started to slowly switch myself to this product (every other day at first). But now I've been using EAA for months, I'm half way through the bottle.

* I'm at a loss what to say about this product - yes, I love it. Not much anything negative.

* If I compare TO's AGS and EAA, EAA gives better results and irritates my skin less even though there's the initial warmness when applying, with AGS it doesn't happen. But AGS is much more drying on my skin. AGS absorbs better/faster and leaves no oily feeling. Then again I'm not bothered by that, it goes away. Neither one of them affects my makeup. AGS is cheaper, 12,90 € vs. EAA 18,00 €. Neither one breaks me out. I like using both!

* I still have The Ordinary's Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% somewhere unopened, should test that next! I hear it gives the best results but is also the most irritating on the skin so it already sounds like my skin will not tolerate it long. But who knows? My skin seems to like Vitamin C products. 

Price: 

18,00 € / 30 ml

Bought from: 

The Ordinary webstore

Buy again? 

Yes, very likely. At least if the stronger one doesn't work for me.

Worth the money? 

EAA 15 % costs a lot more than other vitamin C products from TO. However for me, and for other people with sensitive skin, it's certainly not a deal breaker seeing the results (well I keep repeating that but it's still not a miracle product obviously). But if your skin is not that sensitive and you have a tight budget, maybe the Vitamin C Suspension 23% at 5,80 € is a better deal.

Grow Gorgeous Scalp Detox Exfoliating Pre-Wash Treatment 50 ml Review

Ingredients:

Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Carbomer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum (Fragrance), Lactobacillus/Dipteryx Odorata Seed Ferment Filtrate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Menthol, Menthyl Lactate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Zinc PCA, Niacinamide, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Calcium Pantothenate, Maltodextrin, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene, Linalool, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Pyridoxine HCL, Tocopheryl Acetate, Silica.

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:

- Fragrance lingers for hours! I could faintly smell it even the next morning. Maybe I do a poor job at rinsing or it really sticks.

- Made the ends of my hair feel surprisingly dry, even though obviously it's used on the scalp

- Very difficult to massage to scalp, especially if your hair is thick.

- The regular sized product comes in a jar. Not a big fan of unhygienic jars for anything. Difficult for a shower product as well.




+ I did have more volume after using it, but it was quite short-lived (some 4-6 hours)

+ My scalp did feel more "clean" and was itching less

+ Less dandruff (even though it's usually not a problem for me)

+ It felt refreshing and I felt like I was pampering myself (rarely feel so nowadays!)

* The fragrance is not that bad or strong, it just lingers... and lingers... got sick of it!

* The treatment is quite thick and gritty.

* Takes about 6-10 extra minutes in shower

* If your scalp is oily, it doesn't help that condition at all

* I was 3 days without washing my hair with and without using Scalp Detox beforehand and the oiliness is about the same, but my scalp was itching less with Scalp Detox. I had less oily dandruff (it doesn't come off scalp on its own, just when you scratch) as well. But I wouldn't say that using the product makes you able to lengthen the time between washes, at least not by much, maybe one day.

* Grow Gorgeous Full Bodied products seemed interesting for my flat hair type! (Plus they're cute and pink...)

Price: 

About 35,50 € / 190 ml, I have the sample size 50 ml

Bought from: 

Lookfantastic advent calendar

Buy again? 

I secretly do wish my sample bottle would've been bigger! I'm probably going to test something else for scalp detox/mask/exfoliation and consider getting Scalp Detox again. So maybe.

Worth the money? 

Scalp Detox is a bit pricy but not unjustifiable so. Not a miracle, Grow Gorgeous promises too much, but it does work as intended. I guess 190 ml would last with my use for a year so it's not that bad. Too bad is the lingering fragrance and jar packaging. Maybe for me it would be more worth it to get another mini set to avoid excess amount of product (I can finish them before expiration) and the jar.

Cezanne UV Clear Face Powder SPF 28 PA+++ 01. Light 10 g Review

Ingredients:


Mica, Silica, Dimethicone, Diisostearyl Malate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Zinc Oxide, Hydroxyapatite, Zinc Myristate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Pentylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Isostearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Vitamin E, Aqua, Butylene GLycol, Squalane, VC-IP, Sodium Acetylhyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Laurooyl Lactylate, Polyquaternium-51, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Malpighia Punicifolia Fruit Extract, Ceramide 3, Hydrolized Collagen, Ceramide 6 ll, Phytosphingosine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Ceramide 9, Talc Powder, Titanium Oxide, Iron Oxides.

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:

- Not much of a coverage (some powders are so high pigmented they are almost alone enough for everyday look)

- Finish is not super matte or super oil absorbing

- The plastic case feels flimsy, cheap. Just like the puff. EDIT: In Oct. 2019 the case actually did break, the lid came off. I didn't even drop the case or anything. But at this point I'd already been using the powder for almost a year. Still, what's the deal with the refills anyway if the case will break within a year?

- The refills cost the same as ordering a new powder with the case! Just stupid. (And in general feels stupid to pay double for a product because of the shipping.)




+ Very natural, almost non existent when applied with a brush. With the applicator puff you get more product but the finish is still natural, not quite matte but no where near glowy either.

+ Lasts super long for a powder that doesn't "properly" mattify the skin! 8 hrs day without fixing is good (except my forehead feels oily at that point)

+ Doesn't cling on any dry spots, also didn't turn patchy on oily skin either

+ Affordable

+ Didn't notice any breakouts

* I bought the colour 01 Light which is pretty much perfect. I originally thought it was close to Lumene's Light/Medium (CC Powder) or almost the same but it seems Lumene is still a bit lighter and more pink. I actually think Cezanne is closer to my skintone.

* Someone recommended this powder and said it's natural and suitable for aging skin so I went and bought it as I was out of powder and didn't like Innisfree's No Sebum I had just tested (I've changed my opinion on No Sebum later!).

* I don't think the SPF in this powder means anything as you'd have to apply a huge amount, but I still hope that powdering around my eyes protects them even a little...

* I definitely want to try other things from Cezanne as well. Makeup or skincare, I don't know. Many seem to recommend Skin Conditioner High Moist! Neri Gel seems interesting too. 

Price: 

10,72 € / 10 g

Bought from: 

Ebay seller saitoh320622

Buy again? 

I would like to think yes. Maybe I'll try something else too, but just because I'm curious.

Worth the money? 

I'm so impressed but maybe it's only because I didn't expect much! It's exactly what I wanted, an easy everyday powder. I would recommend it for an aging skin, too. Also for combination skin as it seems to adapt pretty well from oily to dry and never looking bad. I've been using my powder now for 4-5 months maybe and I still have plenty left, probably a half or so.