SKINCARE STASH INVENTORY (January 2012)

In my Make-up stash inventory post, I’ve promised skincare and body care stash post so here I am, fulfilling my promise.

You can read on my make-up inventory HERE.

AVENE Cleanance K Review

During my teens, I’ve been using many products from Avene Cleanance line. While the regular Cleanance cream didn’t impress me, Cleanance K is a product that I have repurchased several times. I usually use it during October, as a preparation for more intensive treatements (for example Diacneal or Ystheal).

40ml tube of Cleanance K retails for 13 euros.

Cleanance K is a light-textured cream/gel which sinks immediately into the skin. It is silicone based, so it leaves the skin unnaturally smooth on the touch (I hate it in a nighttime treatments), but you might like it if you use Cleanance K before make-up. I cannot say that a little goes a long way – the amount that I usually use is at least the size of two or three peas.

Cleanance K doesn’t clog the pores – the AHA and BHA actually keep them very clean. However, it is not very friendly towards the dehydrated skin – I definitely need to pair up with a moisturiser if I don’t want to end up with a severely dry skin.

My skin has gotten used to the acids, so the cream doesn’t irritate it (unlike retinoids), but those with sensitive skin might want to use it sparingly – every second day.

When applied the cream gives a mat finish, but don’t expect any long-term mattifying effect. I usually get oily in a couple of hours.

This is a very good AHA/BHA overnight treatment.

Project 10 Pans and Sample Challenge Update #4

It’s been ages from my last update. I can’t believe it took me so long to finally spend all of these products. However, I haven’t been as disciplined when it comes to the new purchases. I’ve got several nailpolishes and a primer. I’m also planning on a foundation purchase (even thought I have half a bottle of Clarins Everlasting and half a bottle of Dior Airflash) if the foundation I’m currently testing proves it is worth it.

Here are the original posts: Project 10 Pans, Sample Challenge

AVENE Body Oil Review

I was really disappointed with Avene Body Oil. Ingredients-wie, it is mineral oil mixed with Avene Thermal water, avocado and calendula oil and vitamins A and E, plus the horrible fragrance.

AVENE Cleanance Tinted Anti-Shine Regulating Lotion Swatch and Review

Since my dermatologist was in love with French skin-care, I’ve used a fair amount of Avene products in my teens. Recently, I have found a sample of Cleanance Tinted Lotion. The lotion comes in a 50ml tube and retails for cca $20 .

The lotion has a typical Cleanance scent which disappears upon the application.

Cleanance Tinted Anti-Shine Regulating Lotion is one of the worst products I have tried. First, it fails on the most important claim – it doesn’t regulate shine. Just like the non-tinted version, it does nothing to mattify. I still end up looking greasy, just as I did when I was a teen.

Second, there is only one shade of this lotion available and this shade is orange Oompa Loompa tinted. Luckily, the colour adapts to a certain point, but you have to blend really well. I’m usually NC15 and I’m always worried that I did not blend it well.

In the terms of coverage, it doesn’t cover absolutely anything. It might cover redness and uneven pigmentation, but only if you apply it in thicker layer (but in that case, the shade might turn out looking too dark for you).

I’m still shocked with the fact that I have spent over three full-size tubes of this product. I would never recommend it to anyone – it spectacularly failed to deliver on all its claims.

Overall: 

Project 10 Pans Samples Challenge

During spring, I’ve made a plan of finally finishing some products from my stash. I haven’t updated it for a while, but it is only because I haven’t managed to spend anything. Later I have also announced a possibility to include more samples in the challenge.

Last week I have finally managed to find some time so I’ve been rearranging my cosmetics storage and I have figured out that I have tons of samples and testers. As I’m a bit afraid that they don’t go bad, I’ve picked several products I would like to spend. Some of these are already reviewed, as I’ve been using them before, but some I’ll have to test for the first time. I will only write a review if the product was tested for at least a week of daily usage.

–

Vacation Products

As I have mentioned, I’m on vacation right now (the post is posted by scheduled updates). This are some of the items that I have taken with me.

AVENE Gentle Body Scrub Review

I’ve received a 10ml tube of this product as a GWP. I have already found my favourite exfoliator: L’Oreal Exfotonic and Eveline Anticellulite Peeling, but it never hurts to try new product.

Like it says in the name, this exfoliator is really gentle. It is filled with a lot of tiny beads (I love that), which effectively, but gently remove the dead skin cells.

Avene Gentle Body Scrub is a bit more expensive than I have expected (cca $20), but a little goes a long way, so the cost per use is not big.

I’m planning to use this scrub only on my decollete and neck. While I really like L’Oreal and Eveline scrubs, they seem a bit too harsh on this area. Avene is perfect.

Overall:

AVENE Soothing Eye Contour Cream Review

HRVATSKI

I love this cream.It comes in a tube, in a slightly smaller packaging than is typical for eye creams – it has only 10 ml and retails for around $15.

Avene Soothing Eye Contour cream is a basic scentless eye-contour moisturizer. It doesn’t give exaggerated claims about removing wrinkles or firming under-eye area. Its only promise is to moisturize and it excells in it.

The texture is very light, but moisturizing. It sinks in very quickly, so it won’t be a problem to use it underneath the concealer. It leaves my under-ey area completely moisturized.

Avene Soothing Eye-Contour cream is especially worthy to consider if you are just starting with under-eye cream.

Overall:

SUMMER Haul (Lancaster, Avene, L’Occitane)

Summer has come (finally!!). As I’ll finish my exams soon, I’ll be spending more and more time outside (riding bike, exercising or just purely enjoying being out on the fresh air). However, summer is the season when the sun is stronger than ever. Taking this into account I’ve decided to treat myself with some products which will help me prepare my skin for sun exposure.

Now, I’m aware that tanning is bad for skin. When I’m out of the house, I’m using at least SPF 30 on the body and SPF 50 on the face (if I’ll be staying on the sun for longer than half an hour; otherwise I use SPF 15).

My skin type is a bit tricky. I am very pale (NC15), with blue-grey eyes and dark blond hair, but I tan easily and rarely burn. Until two days ago, I’ve been wearing long sleeves (in spite of being 30 celsius), plus SPF 30 sunscreen and my neck and decollete still got tan (now they are NC20).

In order to prevent even bigger difference between the rest of the body and hands, neck and decollete (which looks really bad and ridiculous once you are in the bikini), I start with sunbathing. This means that in the middle of July, my skin has even colouring.

Sisley haul + Project 10 Pans Update #3

It’s been a long time since my last Project 10 Pans update. I have finally spent more product, so when I count in 2 extra spent products from update #1, 3 products form update #2 and eight products featured in today’s update, I feel like I deserve a reward.

AVENE Diacneal Review

For a while I was considering retinoids, so I have purchased Diacneal about half a year ago, planning to use it for a while so that my skin can build up the tolerance for the real stuff (Retin-A). However, later I’ve decided that I’ll wait for some time before getting Retin-A (plus the doctor didn’t want to give me the prescription, grrrrr).

Diacneal comes in a 30 ml tube which retails for 13 euros. The cream is yellowish golden in colour and has an unpleasant, acrid scent, which disappears upon application. If you have any open wound, no matter how tiny it is, it will sting.

Diacneal is not good under make-up, as it has a tendency to peel off.

My first encounter with Diacneal was about 5 years ago, when my dermatologist just told me to use it twice per day. As I was young and had no idea about skincare, this regime resulted with irritation, dried out skin and breakouts.

This year, I’ve been much smarter, so I’ve started by using a pea-sized amount of Diacneal three times per week. Gradually, it became four, then five and after a month, I have started to use it every night. You might experience breakouts, but it should stop after a couple of weeks. If you experience irritation, stop using it, or use it rarely and follow up with a moisturizer after a couple of hours.

It is important to keep the skin moisturized, so in the morning, I always use something moisturizing, and so far I have managed to prevent dehydration and dryness.

I did notice the improvement on my skin, but it was nothing drastic – my skin was only a bit clearer, but the pores are still expanded and I still get a lot of blackheads.

Diacneal is a good choice to try retinoids as it contains 0,1% of retinaldehyde and 6% of glycolic acid.

Overall: 4

Project 10 Pans: Part 2 – Skincare

I have announced my Project 10 Pans and the rules I’m planning to stick to in this post.

This post will feature all the skincare items I want to finally spend. Most of the items are already half-spent, but for some reason, I got bored with them and put them aside. This project will finally help me to get rid of all that stuff that is wasting the space in my cosmetics cabinet.

AVENE Hydrance Optimale Legere Review

Hydrance Optimale line consists of 4 moisturizers: Hydrance Optimale Legere (for combination and oily skin), Hydrance Optimale UV Legere (SPF version), Hydrance Optimale Riche (for dry skin) and Hydrance Optimale UV Riche (SPF version). I’ve been using a 5ml sample of Avene Hydrance Optimale Legere for 15 days. Full size product comes in a 40 ml tube and costs around 17 euros.

The first thing that I’ve noticed is that the smell of this moisturizer reminds me of hospital – it is very medicine-like. It took me some time to get used to it and later it didn’t bother me since it disappears upon application.

The moisturizer is thicker (a bit surprising for a product for combination/oily skin) – I’ve been expecting the texture to be more lotion-like. Nevertheless, it spreads easily and sinks in immediately.

It is moisturizing, although since it is winter I could use a bit more moisture. However, it doesn’t make me oily and I could see it as my spring/summer favourite.

Now, the bad news: Hydrance Optimale Legere breaks me out. Very much. And I rarely break out – I mean, I can put a ton of Nivea Creme or Sisleya Global Anti Age (these moisturizers are really rich) and never get a breakout, and yet Hydrance Optimale Legere breaks me out. My skin is far from perfect, but I haven’t had such a breakout ever since my teenage days. Really a shame. I could ignore a minor pimple here and there, because the moisturizer is almost like custom created for my skin, but over 10 acnes appearing at the same time is a bit too much to ignore.

In spite of the breakouts, I won’t lower the grade too much because this moisturizer is indeed amazing. Just be sure to test it before making a purchase.

Overall impression: