Skin Care Product Review Update

As I was slapping on my newly discovered Kiehl’s routine, I suddenly realized I still had to report back on some of my old skin care stuff, so here it is! Although these products could be perfectly used as a routine, they’re just a bunch of products I’ve been using over time and some of them were quite old.  By presenting them this way, it just makes it a little easier to understand where each product goes in a daily routine. There are a few steps missing that I have already talked or will talk about though. If you think this is a lot, wait until you see my Korean skin care routine! But let’s keep that for a later date.

The french pharmacy is one of my favourite hunting grounds for skin care, which translates into hauls like this one. The La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel I picked up during that trip is a true beast with its 400 ml of product and even now I still have about 2 cm worth of product left. Because it foams a lot, it’s quite economic in use. It was designed for oily and sensitive skin, which is why it probably doesn’t match my normal-combination skin anymore. For the oily parts it does a good job at getting rid of oil and dirt, but for the drier areas it can be a little stripping. Do follow up with a good moisturizer after using this. Despite the claim, I wouldn’t recommend this for sensitive skin types, especially those susceptible to redness.

The La Roche-Posay Astringent Micro-Exfoliant Lotion is another product that doesn’t match my skin type anymore due to the amount of alcohol it contains. It works well for getting rid of excess oil but it doesn’t really do much more than that. The amount of salicylic acid is too low for any exfoliation to occur and I haven’t really noticed my pores being any less visible. Definitely don’t use this on a daily basis as the amount of alcohol may only increase the production of oils. I used this about once a week when my oil levels were peaking and to help dry out pimples faster.

Olaz (or Olay if you will) and I, we usually don’t get along very well, which is why I didn’t expect much of the Olaz Regenerist Eye Lifting Eye Contour Serum*. Much to my surprise we got along really well! This lightweight and fragrance-free serum contains good anti-ageing ingredients and is a dream to apply. With very little product you can make the eye contours smoother and softer, in other words the perfect base for makeup. It even contains a slight reflective shimmer that helps conceal dark circles to some degree.

On my face I used to wear the Lancôme Généfique Youth Activator serum*. In fact, this is still the old version, it took me sooo long to finish. Its successor, the Advanced version is already in line to be tested & reviewed next. You apply the serum with the help of a pipet that comes within the cap, about 3 drops will do to cover the entire face. There was so much hype around this product when it first came out because it claimed to be able to boost the skin’s genes. A claim they later had to withdraw from after being notified by the FDA that only a drug could fulfill that claim, which in this case it didn’t. So in short, the next time a product claims to alter genes and it’s being sold over the counter, just walk the other way. Although it felt quite nice on the skin and got absorbed rather quickly, I can’t really say this serum helped my skin. I’m curious if the upgrade will do better.

A serum I have already blogged about is the Guerlain tan booster*, a serum you mix with your moisturizer to maintain your tan for a longer period of time while moisturizing your face. Since I started using this in Spring, I’ve been mixing it with what was left of my Roc Repulpant Eclat Anti-Ageing Cream* for Normal & Combination Skin. This moisturizer is aimed at a 30+ audience, so you could say I was perhaps a little too excited to try this. The formula lies somewhere in between a cream and a lotion, which makes it nice to apply. I would say this works better if your skin leans more towards normal than combination as the shea butter might be a little too heavy, which is why I found good use of this product during summer, when my skin is a little drier. Other than that it contains some light-reflecting particles, which can make any dull skin look more radiant in an instant.

The last product is also the last step to prepare your skin for makeup. The Black Up Perfect Matifying Primer* is the perfect companion for those with oily skin or with oily areas they want to tone down a bit. It’s silicone-based (you either love it or you hate it) and comes in a cute egg-shaped bottle that also makes it a pain to get a lot of the remaining product out. Hygienic yes, handy no.  I always applied it on the problem areas where my makeup tended to slip rather easily (around my nose and mouth) and the areas that had some uneven texture due to acne scarring and wide pores. Although Black Up is a brand that targets women of colour, this clear primer will suit any skin tone. This is a well-loved product and I’d recommend you give it a try if you have combination or oily skin and are in need of a primer that will help your foundation last.

So there you have it, the good, the bad and the ugly. Sorry for the wait!

Have you tried any of these before? Got any skin care recommendations for me?

Disclaimer: Products marked with * are samples sent by PR for consideration.