skincare – moisturizing/others

Skincare Review: RoC Retin-Ox Wrinkle Correxion

by PJ on Sunday, October 25, 2009

in -RoC, skincare, skincare - moisturizing/others

(images from RoC)

Many of you who read my blog probably already know my view on moisturizers which carry anti-aging (or anti-wrinkle) claims. (You can see some of my related posts here.) In almost all cases, I review them simply as moisturizers just like any other moisturizer (because this is simply what they are). Today, I am reviewing two of the latest products from RoC.

Retin-Ox Wrinkle Correxion Intensive Anti-Wrinkle Serum (pictured above)

This is quite a heavily silicone-based serum that has a slightly thick consistency. On the ingredient list, after water, the next five ingredients are all silicones.

Some of the emollients it contains are stearyl heptanoate, strearyl caprylate, caprylyl glycol, squalane, and hyaluronic acid. It also contains retinol, which, according to Paula Begoun, is a cell-communicating agent (which is able to work at the cellular level) and an antioxidant. It is not easy to say whether there is enough retinol in this product to really bring significant benefits to the skin, but, at least, for the amount that this product does have, RoC tries to keep its efficacy by packaging the product in a opaque container with a pump dispenser. (Retinol can lose its efficacy when it is in contact with air or sunlight.)

The product is alcohol-free and paraben-free.

As with most other silicone-based serums, it leaves a silky finish on the skin. The silicones that it contains can temporarily make the skin look smoother and more even. Personally, I think it feels a little too filmy on the skin.

Retin-Ox Wrinkle Correxion Regenerating Anti-Wrinkle Cream

This is a relatively light-weight nighttime moisturizer that has a lighter consistency than that of the serum reviewed above. Also, it contains less silicone, and the finish is less filmy.

Some of its moisturizing ingredients are glycerin, stearyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, butylene glycol, and hyaluronic acid. Like the serum, this product contains retinol, and the description of the product above regarding retinol applies here. Again, the opaque tube with a pump dispenser is an ideal packaging in terms of the attempt to preserve the efficacy of retinol and other skin-benefiting ingredients.

I feel that the texture and emolliency of this product do suit my Type-4 skin (oily but dry underneath). It moisturizes my skin effectively and the skin feels smooth and supple (not filmy or greasy). I think one of the reasons for this ideal level of emolliency for my particular skin type is that the product doesn’t contain many occlusive moisturizing ingredients, such as mineral oil, shea butter and other plant oils (like jojoba oil, sesame oil, and avocado oil). Even though these non-fragrant occlusive emollients are generally good for the skin and are unlikely to cause skin irritation, skin that tends to get oily doesn’t really need too much of occlusive emolliency.

The product is alcohol-free.

Overall, these two products are well-formulated and well-packaged. The serum should particularly suit those with normal or normal-to-dry skin, while the night cream should suit those with normal, normal-to-dry or normal-to-oily skin.

(The products featured in this review are provided by RoC.)

RoC Hydra+ Bio Active Anti-Oxidant Moisturising Cream SPF 15

Amatokin Emulsion for the Face

Lancôme Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate

Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum

Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream & Oxygenating Night Cream

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Skincare Review: Chanel Ultra Correction Lift & Line Repair

by PJ on Friday, October 9, 2009

in -Chanel, skincare, skincare - moisturizing/others

(images from www.chanel.com)

Chanel currently features a variety of skincare ranges with anti-aging claims: Beauté Initiale, Ultra Correction Line Repair, Ultra Correction Lift and Sublimage. Today I am reviewing products from the Ultra Correction Lift and Ultra Correction Line Repair ranges.

Ultra Correction Lift Lifting Firming Day Cream SPF 15 (pictured above)

Some of the main moisturizing ingredients in this product are glycerin, glyceryl stearate, shea butter, cetyl alcohol (fatty acid/ emollient), caprylic/capric triglyceride and jojoba esters. The product also contains canola oil, which, according to Paula Begoun, has barrier repair and anti-inflammatory properties.

The cream has a densely creamy texture and feels very emollient on the skin. It is certainly too emollient for those with combination or oily skin, but for those with dry or very dry skin, it can potentially be an effective daytime moisturizer. (It is too emollient for my facial skin, which can get quite oily. I have been testing it on my neck, which is quite dry, and it leaves my neck supple and moisturized without feeling greasy.)

This product is alcohol-free. The anti-UVA ingredient it uses is butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (avobenzone).

Ultra Correction Line Repair Anti-Wrinkle Day Fluid SPF 15

Compared with the Ultra Correction Lift day cream reviewed above, this product has considerably more silicones, which help create a smoother appearance for the skin. Some of the moisturizing ingredients in this product are glycerin, pentylene glycol, cetyl stearate and butylene glycol.

Like the Ultra Correction Lift day cream, this product also contains butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane to protect against UVA rays.

It has a creamy lotion consistency and a silky finish. It contains alcohol, which is fifth on the ingredient list. It could create a subtly tightening effect and may temporarily help reduce the appearance of wrinkles to some extent, but it may also be a skin irritant for some people. Without alcohol, this moisturizer could suit those with normal, slightly dry or slightly oily skin.

(The products featured in this review are provided by Chanel.)

Chanel Holiday 2009 Makeup Collection

Lancôme Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate

Clinique Youth Surge SPF 15

Olay Complete Care Daily Sensitive UV Fluid SPF 15

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Daytime Moisturizer Update: Olay Complete Care Daily Sensitive UV Fluid SPF 15

by PJ on Wednesday, July 29, 2009

in -Olay, skincare, skincare - moisturizing/others, stash focus

In May 2007, I posted about Olay’s Multi-Radiance Daily Illuminating UV Fluid SPF 15. It was my daytime moisturizer/sunscreen product for about two years. It is a nicely formulated product and I have recommended it to some of my readers.

Earlier this year, I was looking through the ingredient lists of some other daytime moisturizers from Olay in my local Boots store and I decided to try Complete Care Daily UV Fluid SPF 15 (for Normal/Oily Skin) and Complete Care Daily Sensitive UV Fluid SPF 15 (for Sensitive Skin). After using them for several months, I can say that I am very happy with both.

I was very pleased with the Multi-Radiance moisturizer, which is a competent sunscreen product (with ingredients to protect against UVA and UVB rays) that contains niacinamide. It was moisturizing without being greasy, it didn’t cause breakouts or irritation, and it worked for me all year around.

However, there are two ingredients the product doesn’t need to have. One is citrus nobilis (mandarin extract), which can be a skin irritant. It didn’t irritate my skin but I thought it would be nice to use a product that doesn’t contain this. The other is mica, which is one of the ingredients in makeup products that create shimmer. It is usually used in skincare products to create a subtle glow for the skin. (It doesn’t have skincare benefits.) Even though it didn’t make my skin look too glowy, I’d prefer skincare products with fewer ingredients whose effects are merely cosmetic.

Like the Multi-Radiance moisturizer, both of the Complete Care ones are well-formulated sunscreen products (with butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane to protect against UVA rays) and both contain niacinamide. Neither of them contains citrus nobilis or mica. Compared with Multi-Radiance, both have a lighter texture. (The two are very similar in texture.)

At the very moment I am using the one for normal/oily skin, but I will be going back to the one for sensitive skin. It was the one I used first when I bought the two and it will become my staple daytime moisturizer. The main reason is that it is fragrance-free. (The other two contain fragrance.)

One thing I would like to point out is that all the three moisturizers, as well as many others from Olay, contain benzyl alcohol, which can be a skin irritant. But it is not among the major ingredients in any of the three and I haven’t had negative reactions to them.

On a very minor note, I wish the bottles (pictured above) would come with a pump dispenser.

Overall, both are nice products. They spread effortlessly, absorb easily and don’t leave a greasy film. Both work well under makeup too. I would recommend them (especially the one for sensitive skin) to those with combination and oily skin as a daytime moisturising/sunscreen product.

Other skincare products I am using at the moment:

Olay Complete Care Night Enriched Cream

RMK Cleansing Oil

Lancôme Tonique Douceur

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Skincare Review: Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum

by PJ on Monday, June 15, 2009

in -Olay, skincare, skincare - moisturizing/others

(image from www.olay.co.uk)

Olay is a solid skincare line that has many very well-formulated items. The fact that most of Olay’s products are on the affordable side (compared with all the high-end products) shows that we don’t have to spend a lot of money on quality products.

Olay’s Complete Care Night Enriched Cream has been my evening moisturizer for a couple of years, and I have recently switched from Olay’s Multi-Radiance Daily Illuminating UV Fluid SPF 15 to Complete Care Daily Sensitive UV Fluid SPF15, also from Olay. (I will be featuring this product later on.) Today I am reviewing the Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum.

This serum has more of a gel texture than a watery consistency. (It is one of the thicker serum-type products that I have come across.) It doesn’t have a lot of slip, but it does create a silky finish, which is largely down to the various silicone ingredients and the fact that cyclopentasiloxane (silicone) is the first ingredient on the list (before water and glycerine).

It has a very good mix of beneficial ingredients, such as carnosine (with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties), tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E, antioxidant), tocopherol (vitamin E, antioxidant), allantoin (anti-irritant), and camellia sinensis (green tea, potential antioxidant for the skin).

Also included in this product is niacinamide (vitamin B3). Paula Begoun mentions that the serum contains approximately 2% to 3% niacinamide and that, in this amount, “it can increase the skin’s ceramide and fatty acid content as well as have anti-inflammatory action” (Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, April 2004, pages 88-93). (The three Olay products that I mentioned above also contain niacinamide.) For more information on all the potential benefits of niacinamide, please refer to the entry in Paula Begoun’s Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary.

Overall, this can be a good product to be used under the moisturizer for those with normal or dry skin or as a light-weight moisturizer for those with oily skin. For daytime, it can also work as a primer to help create a smooth texture for the skin in order to facilitate makeup application. (You can also see Paula’s review of this serum here.)

Rose & Co. Apothecary Rose Petal Salve

Amatokin Emulsion for the Face

Nude Skincare Review

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Skincare Review: Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream & Oxygenating Night Cream

by PJ on Thursday, June 11, 2009

in -Elemis, skincare, skincare - moisturizing/others

(images from www.elemis.com)

Elemis is a UK-based spa and skincare brand that has a wide range of skincare and bodycare products. The Pro-Collagen range is one of the brand’s most extensive ranges, featuring items for the face, eyes, body, hands/nails and neck/bust. Today I am featuring the two facial moisturizers from the range.

– Pro-Collagen Marine Cream

This is the first product in the Pro-Collagen range and it is among Elemis’ most popular products. It has a cream consistency that is on the light side, and it absorbs well without leaving any greasy residue.

Some of the main moisturizing ingredients include glycerine, propylene glycol, wheat germ oil, shea butter, and jojoba seed oil. The “marine” ingredients are chlorella vulgaris extract, padina pavonica extract and porphyridium cruentum extract, all of which are algae extracts that act as emollients. (The anti-aging properties of algae can sometimes be exaggerated.)

The product contains ginkgo biloba extract, which is a potent antioxidant.

Even though this product is mainly marketed as a daytime moisturizer (that complements the night cream reviewed below), it does not contain any anti-UVA/UVB ingredient and should be paired with an adequate sunscreen product for daytime.

– Pro-Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream

The Night Cream has a richer consistency but it still absorbs relatively well. The main moisturizing ingredients include glycerine, shea butter, jojoba seed oil, avocado oil, sesame oil, and wheat germ oil. It also contains three algae extracts: laminaria digitata extract, padina pavonica extract and corallina officinalis extract.

One ingredient I am concerned about is rosa damascena flower oil, which is a fragrant plant oil that may cause skin irritation. It is high enough in the ingredient list (among the various emollients) to warrant some concerns. (I would worry less if it were among the preservatives towards the end of the list.)

It is worth mentioning that this product contains no silicone derivatives. I am not opposed to a moderate amount of silicone in skincare products (as it can preserve the efficacy of some skin-benefiting ingredients better than water), but I am aware of the fact that some consumers look for skincare products that are silicone-free.

For me, I prefer the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, as it is lighter in consistency and leaves the skin feeling more quenched. (Even though the Oxygenating Night Cream is richer, it can actually leave my skin slightly tight.) Overall, I would recommend the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream (as a nighttime moisturizer) to those with slightly oily, normal, and slightly dry skin.

(Some of the ingredient information above is based on Paula Begoun’s Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary.)

Clinique Youth Surge SPF 15

Crème de la Mer Skincare Review

Elizabeth Arden Intervene Radiant Serum & Night Cream

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Skincare Review: Clinique Youth Surge SPF 15

by PJ on Tuesday, April 7, 2009

in -Clinique, skincare, skincare - moisturizing/others

(image from www.clinique.com)

Launched in March in the UK, Clinique‘s Youth Surge SPF 15 is the brand’s new range of daytime moisturizers. Today I am reviewing the version for combination oily to oily skin.

The main moisturizing ingredients in this product are castor oil (ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate), cetyl ethylhexanoate, butylene glycol, glyceryl stearate and glycerin. The anti-UVA/UVB ingredient is titanium dioxide.

It features antioxidants such as polygonum cuspidatum (Japanese knotweed) root extract, algae extract, birch bark extract and linoleic acid. It also contains phytosphingosine, which can be a cell-communicating agent. (Please see this post for relevant links.)

The product contains no alcohol, parabens or fragrance.

One ingredient that might cause irritation is coleus barbatus (part of the mint family) extract.

As a moisturizer for combination and oily skin, it has a rich texture and feels quite emollient on the skin. It can initially leave a slight white cast on the skin, which is probably down to titanium dioxide, an active ingredient in this product.

Overall this is a competent facial moisturizer. It doesn’t leave the skin shiny but it can feel slightly filmy for those with oily skin. Even though this product is marketed for those with combination and oily skin, I think it will suit people with normal and slightly dry skin a lot more than those with oily skin. Those who are sensitive to chemical sunscreen ingredients might also want to consider this product as titanium dioxide is less likely to cause skin reaction.

Lancôme Génifique

Chanel Huilde Confort & Lotion Confort

Can’t Live Without – Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream

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The Body Shop Tantalising Lip Butter for the Staying Alive Foundation

by PJ on Friday, April 3, 2009

in -The Body Shop, skincare, skincare - moisturizing/others

(image from The Body Shop)

To support the global HIV and AIDS awareness campaign by the Staying Alive Foundation (founded by MTV), The Body Shop has launched Tantalising Lip Butter in the UK for the 2009 campaign.

The Staying Alive Foundation, established in 1998, funds youth-focused safe sex campaigns across the world. Have a look at the foundation’s official website to learn more about the foundation and the cause.

Tantalising Lip Butter contains Community Trade shea butter and Community Trade beeswax to moisturize the lips. It also contains vitamin E, which serves as an antioxidant. The lip butter has a smooth and emollient texture and it has a very fresh and sweet fruity scent.

The retail price of Tantalising Lip Butter is £5.00, with £3.98 of the sale going to the cause.

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Skincare Review: Lancôme Génifique

by PJ on Thursday, April 2, 2009

in -Lancôme, skincare, skincare - moisturizing/others

(image from www.lancome.co.uk)

Lancôme‘s Génifique is the brand’s latest anti-aging product. The media attention to it surrounds Lancôme’s references to studies of genomics (the study of genes) and proteomics (the study of proteins).

According to Lancôme, various proteins and genes were studied and the proteins that are related to the appearance of youthful skin were identified. The formula of Génefique is claimed to stimulate the activity of genes and the production of proteins that are associated with youthful skin.

One ingredient in question is salicyloyl phytosphingosine, which combines the benefits of salicylic acid and phytosphingosine. One paper published in International Journal of Cosmetic Science in 2007 (see abstract here) suggests that salicyloyl phytosphingosine is shown to reduce wrinkle depth and improve skin texture. Also, according to Paula Begoun, phytosphingosine may be a cell-communicating agent. (For more about cell-communicating agent, see this article by Paula Begoun.)

It is a very lightweight watery serum which is faintly scented. It is used after cleansing and toning and before any moisturizer.

Génifique has a relatively short ingredient list. It is essentially salicyloyl phytosphingosine that the product is about, and it doesn’t come with a host of gimmicks. (Nearly all the other ingredients are fairly standard ones often found in other skincare products.)

However, one major drawback of Génifique is the amount of alcohol it has. It is fourth on the ingredient list (after glycerine and before dimethicone), and it is somewhat easily detected by smell (which is usually not a good sign). Unfortunately, this can negate the possible skin-friendly benefits of this product, as alcohol (especially with such an amount) can be drying or irritating for the skin as well as causing free-radical damage. Those who can’t tolerate products with alcohol are most likely to find Génifique unusable.

If alcohol were left out of this product or kept to the absolute minimum, this could be a good product suitable for nearly all skin types. I would be interested to see if Lancôme will extend Génifique into a range of products and to look through the ingredients in each product.

Other skincare reviews:

Crème de la Mer

Elizabeth Arden Intervene

Rodial Glamotox

Amatokin

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Product Review: Nude Skincare

by PJ on Sunday, March 29, 2009

in skincare, skincare - moisturizing/others

(Nude Skincare Age Defence Moisturiser)
(images from www.nudeskincare.com)

In December 2008, I reviewed three of Nude Skincare‘s products. Today, I will be talking about three other items from the line.

– Age Defence Moisturiser (above)

The product has a light cream texture and should suit most skin types, except for very oily or very dry skin. Some of its moisturizing ingredients are sesame oil, shea butter, and sunflower oil. It contains antioxidants such as arginine and lingoberry seed oil.

It has the right consistency for my Type 4 skin (dehydrated oily skin), but, after the product sinks in, it leaves my skin a little tight. I am not sure if this tightness might appeal to those who want a temporary firming action from a moisturizer, but, for me, I would sometimes apply a small amount of my usual moisturizer (currently Olay Complete Care Night Enriched Cream) to ease the tightness.

– Moisture Balance

With a very light serum-like gel texture, this product is formulated for those with oily skin. Some of the main moisturizing ingredients are glycerine, jojoba seed oil, and algae extract.

One ingredient that makes this product potentially suitable for oily skin is kaolin, which has absorbent properties. (It is a typical main ingredient in deep-cleansing masks. This product has a very small amount of it.) However, if your oily skin is the kind that is dehydrated underneath, this product might not be right for you as kaolin may dry out the skin.

For me, this product is not moisturizing enough for my oily-dry skin, and I marginally prefer Age Defence Moisturizer to this.

As I mentioned in my previous Nude Skincare review, the air-tight opaque bottle with a pump dispenser is probably the best type of packaging for a moisturizer, as some of the beneficial ingredients can lose their efficacy when they are exposed to light and air.

– Nude Lips

This lip balm contains shea butter, beeswax, and coconut oil. It should ideally be a good lip moisturizer with these occlusive ingredients (and with vitamin E), but I find that the application is somewhat inefficient. The product is very solid, and I have to swirl my finger on the product for quite a while to get only a little bit of the product onto my finger. I think this lip balm, without changing its formula, can potentially work a lot better in a stick form.

Other skincare reviews:

Elizabeth Arden Intervene

Chanel Huile Confort & Lotion Confort

SUQQU Lip Essence Cream

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Skincare Review: Elizabeth Arden Intervene Radiance Serum & Night Cream

by PJ on Saturday, March 14, 2009

in -Elizabeth Arden, skincare, skincare - moisturizing/others

(Elizabeth Arden
Intervene Timefighting Radiance Serum)
(images from Elizabeth Arden)

Elizabeth Arden‘s Intervene is the brand’s range for addressing the first signs of aging and is targeted at those in the thirties and late twenties. I personally don’t believe in the concept of anti-aging (or other similar terms), and, for me, skincare products are either well or not-so-well formulated when it comes to contributing to the well-being of the skin. The criteria for well-formulated skincare products are virtually the same whether we are 20 or 80, and this is how I approach all my skincare reviews. Today I will be reviewing two new items from the Intervene range.

The Timefighting Radiance Serum can be used day and/or night underneath a moisturizer. It has a relatively light texture and has a very good slip.

One thing that makes this product stand out from most of the skincare products that I have reviewed is the array of antioxidants that this product contains, such as red clover extract, linoleic acid (an emollient that has antioxidant properties), ascorbyl palmitate, retinyl palmitate, tocopherol (vitamin E), tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene). Also, it features a few anti-irritants and anti-inflammatory ingredients.

This product is alcohol-free.

It leaves the skin very smooth and silky, mostly due to the various silicones. Used in the daytime, it can help prime the skin for makeup application. (It can be used underneath the moisturizer, as intended, or, specifically for a smooth foundation application, it can be used as a primer directly underneath the foundation.)

If you are looking for a skincare product with antioxidants, this product can be a very good choice.

(Elizabeth Arden
Intervene Stress Recovery Night Cream)

The Stress Recovery Night Cream is currently the only night-time facial moisturizer in the Intervene range. (The other two have SPF 15.) Some of the main moisturizing ingredients in this product are glycerine, glyceryl stearate, butylene glycol (humectant), hydrogenated polyisobutene, and cetyl alcohol (fatty acid).

The product doesn’t feature as many antioxidants as the serum, but it still has red clover extract, tocopherol (vitamin E) and tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E).

This product is also alcohol-free.

The texture of the cream is light enough for most skin types and it moisturizes the skin well, leaving the skin soft and conditioned. If you have oily skin, it can be slightly too rich for you. However, the good spreadability of the product means you can easily apply as little as you want. (Alternatively, you can try the serum reviewed above as a very lightweight moisturizer.)

Overall, both products are well-formulated and they have the consistency that should appeal to most skin types. (But the Night Cream, with its jar packaging, will not retain the efficacy of antioxidants as well as the Serum.) They should also work fine for some sensitive skin types, but do note that both products have fragrance.

Other skincare reviews:

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