SISLEY Sisleya Radiance Anti Aging Concentrate Review

The full-size Sisleya Radiance Anti Aging Concentrate comes in a 30 ml pump bottle and retails for $510. I haven’t purchased the full-size, but I have 6 samples, each containing 3 ml, so this sums up to a little more than half the full-size.

So far, I have spent two samples. One sample usually lasts for 9 to 10 days, if I use it once per day.

Sisleya Radiance Anti Aging Concentrate is a very light yellow-coloured serum. A little goes a long way – I use a pea sized amount for the whole face. It spreads easily and sinks in immediately. The serum is scented – a herbal scent on which I’m still trying to get used to, but the scent disappears quickly upon the application.

During the two and a half weeks, I’ve been using this serum in the evening, after cleansing and applying a toner. An hour or two after applying the serum, I used Ecological compound, for an extra moisture boost. Every morning, I applied All Day All Year.

The effect of this serum is amazing. At first, I’ve planned to spend all six tubes, but now I think that I’ll save some for later.

My skin is oily, but dehydrated with giant pores (I can’t do nothing about it, unfortunatelly) and whitehead bumps. I can count on one or two cystic acne per week. Of course, when a cystic acne is gone, you can count on the fact that it will leave a reminder in the form of redness which isn’t gone for ages.

After using it for two and a half weeks, my skin appears more even. In this whole period, I only got one hormonal cystic acne, which was gone pretty quickly, without leaving a red mark (I expected more of them). The redness is minimal and all in all, my skin looks the best it could be (if only this worked on pores).

I didn’t notice more blackheads – actually, they seem to be pretty diminished. I’ve also noticed the diminished size of the whiteheads. My skin is no longer dehydrated and the oiliness diminished.

I am truly amazed by this serum and yes, I consider repurchasing it. However, I’d like to try some other, cheaper, serums first, because the price of this serum is a bit out of my league.

SISLEY Global Perfect Pore Minimizer Review and Ingredients

Sisley Global Perfect Pore Minimizer is the new product launched this fall. It comes in a 30ml pump bottle and retails for $210. It promises tightened pores, smooth and flawless skin.

My major skin issue are my pores which are huge (just check any of my foundation review and you’ll see what I’m talking about). Otherwise my skin is pretty OK, a blemish or redness here and there and oily T-zone.

Since Global Perfect pore minimizer seemed like an answer to all my skin issues, I couldn’t wait to try it. A nice SA gave me the sample a couple of weeks ago and I’ve been using it since then. The sample is tiny (1,5ml), but it has lasted for two weeks of once per day usage and there’s still some left.

According to the SA, it can be used twice per day, on its own or like a serum underneath the moisturizer. I’ve been using it together with Hydra-Global and Tropical Resins Complex, but only in the evening.

The consistency is creamy and a little goes a long way. It has slightly peachy-pinkish colour and the scent is the same like the scent of Sisleya Global Anti Age cream. The scent disappears upon application.

It skinks immediately and it could be used under make-up as a primer.

Now, the effects. After two weeks of usage I can see that my pores are slightly, but only slightly, diminished and there is less redness on my skin. However, the effect is not dramatic enought to justify paying the full price, in my opinion. This is the best pore tightening product I have found so far, but for $210 I expect more dramatic effect. I still have some Bioderma pore minimizer to test and only then I’ll be able to decide whether Global Perfect is worth it.

LANCOME Genifique Serum Review and Ingredients

Several weeks ago, Lancome was giving mini samples of the famous Genifique serum. I have one 7ml sample and I’ve been testing it.

The serum comes in 20ml (limited edition), 30ml and 50 ml bottles with a dropper. It is considerably cheaper in US than in Europe (30 ml bottle retails for around $100).

I have to mention that this serum has almost 100% identical ingredients as L’Oreal Youth Code Serum (unfortunately, I cannot find it in Croatia).

Now, onto the review. I’ve been using it once per day for a little over two weeks. I need one drop of the serum for the whole face.

The serum is very runny, almost like water and it has silicon feeling. As I have mention, a little goes a long way, so I have almost half a bottle left.

The serum sinks into the skin immediately.

So far, I haven’t noticed any improvment on my skin. Actually, Genifique caused a serious breakout – 10 cystic acnes on the jawline. I will stick to this regime until I finish the sample, but I doubt that my skin will turn better.

All in all, I suggest you to try the sample first. I have checked reviews on Makeup alley and many had the same problem – Genifique was making them break out.

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.

CHANEL Hydra Beauty Serum Review

HRVATSKI

I can’t believe I can finally say something nice about Chanel skincare line. Several years ago, I’ve been using Hydramax+ serum, which was overperfumed, blue-coloured, non-moisturizing waste of money.

A few months ago, Chanel has launched this new serum – Hydra Beauty Serum. I’ve received several 5ml samples to try and so far I’m very satisfied.

Hydra Beauty Serum (full size) comes in a 30ml pump bottle and retails for .

It has very light consistency and a little goes a long way. My 5ml tube lasted me for over three weeks, so you could probably get the full size bottle to last for five to six months.

I use serum on its own, only in the evening. So far, it is extremely moisturizing (unlike Hydramax+) and it succesfully fights the dehydration. It does not irritate my skin or causes breakouts.

Like almost whole Chanel skin-care line, this serum has a strong scent – fruity and dusty. It takes a while for the scent to disappear – up to one hour.

I’d suggest this serum for those with oily, combination or normal skin. While it is successful at solving dehydration problems on my oily skin, I don’t think that it would be as effective on dry skin.

Overall impression:

SISLEY PARIS Tropical Resins Complex Review

Sisley Tropical Resins Complex is definitely the best oil-controlling product out there. It costs an arm and a leg, but it works. 50 ml pump tube retails for $155 (ouch!).

I have really oily skin, which becomes dehydrated during winter. As the summer approaches, the oiliness becomes impossible to deal with. A couple of years ago, I was introduced to Tropical Resins Complex and it has been a staple in my summer skin-care routine ever since.

The texture of the cream  is really light, almost gel-like and the cream spreads easily. Usually I need one press of the pump for the whole face. The cream sinks in immediately, giving an instant matte feeling.

The cream can be used on its own, or underneath the make-up as a primer. With the cream underneath the makeup, my skin stays completely matte for at least eight hours.

If I apply it both in the morning and in the evening during a longer period of time, my pores appear smaller. This effect, of course disappears after you stop using the cream. I do not use it that way, because the effect is temporary and the cream is too expensive to get wasted like that.

Now, here comes the warning. Use this cream only if you have seriously oily skin. If your skin is slightly oily or combination, please AVOID this (instead, you can try L’Occitane Ultra-Matte Face Fluid). Tropical Resins Complex will only dry out your skin.  

I have to add that the cream has slightly milky scent. It might not bother many of you, but I can’t stand the smell of the milk.

The mattifying effect is “aggressive” in a way that I have to stop using this every fall, as my skin becomes dehydrated. Nevertheless, I can’t find more effective mattifying cream for the summer.

Overall impression:

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

LANCOME Primordiale Cell Defense and Skin Perfecting Serum Review

I’ve been using a 15 ml sample (full size product has 30 ml and costs around 70 euros) for a whole month twice per day on face and neck.

The serum has a peachy colour and it has a scent of an overripe fruit.

It has a lightweight texture and it spreads easily. A little goes a long way and the sample could have lasted me for at least two more weeks, bt I’ve been using a huge amounts. It sinks immediately, and even though is silicone based, it doesn’t feel like a primer on the skin. Of course, you can use it under make-up and make-up sits evenly over the serum.

Even though the serum wasn’t a miracle-worker, I’ve noticed an improvement in the appearance of my skin. The pores seemed tighter and there was less redness and irritation. It is moisturizing, but keep in mind that I have oily dehydrated skin.

The serum doesn’t mattify, but it won’t leave you looking like an oil-slick.

Overall, I’m very happy with this product. While it isn’t HG, it is certainly one of the best serums I’ve tried so far.

Grade:

 

CLARINS Blemish Control Review

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:

Clarins Blemish Control (Stop Imperfections Locales – $22.50 , 19 euros for  10 ml) is „an SOS stick for clear skin. At any moment, this convenient roll-on skin perfecting treatment calms and neutralizes imperfections.“