After months of searching, I’ve finally found a facial cleanser that we both can agree on:
It is hard finding a facial cleanser that suits the both of us using it. In the interest of space on the ‘shower condiment’ tray, we decided to just use the same cleanser. And while the Other Half doesn’t quite mind using anything, I can’t help but ignore the state of his face if it turns out wrong.
Anyway, the Clinique Liquid Facial Soap
Filed under skincare
I’ve noticed that my skin has gotten a little more sensitive in the last few years. While when I was younger most creams agreed with me, now I find that I’m not reacting well with more and more moisturisers. It’s beginning to bug me, because I love trying out new stuff.
The latest culprit was the rather innocuous Neutrogena Fine Fairness Daily Moisturiser with SPF 30. True, it smelled like a chemical lab, and went on a little gunkily, but for an everyday thing, I thought it was fine. The price point was acceptable too, under $10 for 30ml.
Anyway. I might not have attributed it to the Neutrogena before, but I started to almost break out. It was as if there was another layer on my face, and teeny tiny bumps were building their empire there. After some testing – and mind you, it takes days to even figure out if what I’m doing is working – and careful deduction, I sentenced it to the bin. But in the meantime, I was on the hunt for something more, nourishing.
Enter the L’occitane Olive Radiance Moisturiser. Strangely it’s not on the L’occitane site anymore, the closest I could find is theL’Occitane Organic Olive Moisturizing Face Lotion 1oz
The consistency is pretty light for a cream, and at first I thought it might not do the trick, but now I’m in love with the silky, light texture! Don’t let it fool you, it does its job marvellously. It doesn’t smell badly, but I’m not in love with its scent either. No matter though, it’s kind of light to begin with.
I felt my skin feeling better from the second day, and by the fourth day, it’d pretty much cleared the bumps. My skin is back to normal, and I couldn’t be more pleased. I use it twice a day, and under a sunblock when I’m out. I suppose it would be nice to have SPF in it, but I’m fine with it the way it is.
It set me back $40 for 1.7oz, but it was totally worth it. Now that it’s not on the menu anymore, I might actually try the lotion instead.
Update: 4-Sep-2009
Looks like the creme version isn’t available anymore. A bit of a pity, I did like it, although after a while I didn’t feel the same effects anymore. I’m not feeling exceptionally glowey or smooth so I’m back on the prowl for a good moisturizer, this time with SPF (for day use) so I can retire this to my nightly regiment.
Filed under skincare
I got back from a month’s vacation only to find myself completely dissatisfied with the cleansers I have in the bathroom.
I’ve been feeling something amiss with my skin lately, like it’s a little parched and dry. Is this what they call aging? I remember just a year ago, when I washed my face, it felt soft and supple (still), smooth and still a little elastic.
These days when I wash my face, it feels a little leathery, like there’s a film over my face. It’s a little waxy, like something I can’t wash off. It’s not smooth anymore. I’m a little perplexed over what I need to do – is it the moisturiser? Is it my cleanser? Is it both?
Anyway. Yesterday while shopping at Target I came across this – Olay Dual Action Cleanser + Pore Scrub 2 in 1 Foaming Cleanser – 5 fl oz
Excitedly, I tried it last night, and from the first wash, I quite liked it. First, the microbeads weren’t too scratchy, The ribbons were definitely a nice texture, light yet creamy. It also washed off quite easily. It left my skin feeling a little softer and more like what I used to feel (using just bar soap!!!), but the scent was definitely off. It smelled like Harpic Toilet Wash. Nonetheless, I liked it, especially so since it comes with a pump dispenser.
Anyway. For now, I guess it’s as good as it gets for me. Maybe I’ll have to go back to the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Visibly Even Foaming Cleanser 150ml/5.1oz
Edit: 4-9-09
Unfortunately, not just the smell got to me. The more I used it, the more disappointed I was with it. It didn’t leave my skin feeling soft and refined towards the end, and it was really hard to get the pump working in the shower. The Dude I Share My Facewash With didn’t like it, he said it stung his eyes – yeah, a little. So there you have it. Not something I’d go for again.
2 stars out of 5.
Filed under skincare
It’s been a long time since I found a face wash that I like. In my book there are a few things that make them winners:
a) It has to remove all traces of grime, without leaving skin feeling stripped
b) I prefer them not to leave any residue – some face washes leave a film of emollient, and I feel like I have to remove that with toner.
c) Nice or no scent – and by nice, I mean fresh, herbal, citrusy or at least clean and light. Not a fan of the heavy scents.
d) I like the ones which remove dead skin cells, like scrubs or fruit acid ones.
e) Pump dispensers are the best thing in the bathroom since the massaging shower.
Lately, I decided to try the more affordable brands that I found at Target, since for most intents and purposes, a face wash is a face wash is a face wash.
Aveeno Skin Brightening Daily Scrub
The first one I settled with was the Aveeno Skin Brightening Daily Scrub – 5 OZ
The nice thing about the scrub is that it’s not a harsh scrub, more like soft microbeads in a gel-like suspension. Even with a minute of intensive massaging, I didn’t come out of it red and raw. The scent was do-able, light and clean.
The downside though, outweighed its upsides.
* It was too mild, my face didn’t feel adequately clean, it still felt a little grimey. Now I use it before or after another face wash.
* It didn’t come in a size with a dispenser.
* I felt like I needed to use a lot of it because it didn’t really foam.
I also tried the Aveeno Postively Radiant Cleanser, but like the scrub, it didn’t do a lot of cleaning. It was difficult to get it to foam, and it left an uncomfortable film on my face after rinsing, and I rinse in the shower! Add to that the not-really-appealing scent, I demoted it to the bathroom downstairs and tried to forget about it.
Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser
After that disappointing start, I decided to switch brands and try a supermarket staple, Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser, 6.7 Ounces
Years ago, I went through the whole Facial Bar / Liquid Neutrogena phase, but found that they were too drying.
Then when I moved to the US, I discovered the Visibly Even Foaming Cleanser. I fell in love instantly. It had a thicker consistency, but covered my face well. Small beads gave an invigorating scrub while the slightly pasty cleanser seemed to work deep in the pores which rinsed off easily, and left my skin soft and smooth.
The only things I didn’t like about it was the scent was a little strong, it left a slight film on my face, and it didn’t come in a pump dispenser.
I had some pretty high hopes with the Fresh Foaming Cleanser, but I’m not sure I’m quite satisfied with it. On the one hand, it works quite well, has a light scent.
On the other hand, again it leaves a film, it’s hard to get into a lather, and takes some pretty dedicated rinsing to get off my face.
Suffice to say, I still haven’t found what I’m looking for in a face wash. I expect more experimentation to ensue.
Filed under skincare
Back to the very important subject of hand moisturisation, here are a few of my perennial favourites.
Hand Therapy
Texture: Feels like it has a little more fat content. Definitely a little thicker and heavier than, say, La Source (also by Crabtree and Evelyn, which, incidentally, does absolutely nothing for me but smell nice).
After-feel: A tad greasy but my hands and cuticles feel oh-so-rewarded for their hard work. Really pampers worn hands.
Fragrance: Herbal. Quite pleasant, if you like that sort of thing. I like it because it’s a simple scent. Nothing too strong or floral.
Packaging: I’m a sucker for pump dispensers, so that works just fine for me. Also comes in tubes, but because they’re metal, you need a crimp to get every last bit out, which is a little annoying. On the other hand, the tube is very classy looking, if your bedside table needs a touch of glamour.
My rating: 4.5 / 5
My verdict: My favourite of the lot of Crabtree and Evelyn hand creams (and they have a bunch!). Who’d have thought they were all a little different? One of my absolute favourites, has the right texture and consistency, and makes my hands feel taken care of.
L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream
Texture: Nice and a little pasty, (like S&H Wasabi from the tube) the way I like it. A reliable and luxurious cream. Not a lightweight for sure.
After-feel: Again, a tad greasy but it absorbs quickly – no sticky feel. It smooths quite instantly, and stands up to a couple of light washes (I usually use diluted castille soap on my hands when I’m at home).
Fragrance: Clean, sophisticated and pleasant. Nothing too overwhelming. Love how clean it smells.
Packaging: Only comes in tubes, which is a little annoying. But then again, with the consistency being a little thicker, they’d be hard pressed (geddit?) to put it in a bottle with a pump dispenser.
My rating: 4.5 / 5
My verdict: My favourite of the L’Occitane gang. (The others have a lighter consistency, and with Rose, the scent is overpoweringly strong. Don’t really fancy smellling like Turkish Delight all day.) It’s a dependable workhorse, so I usually get the smaller tubes and leave them in my bags or at work. The downside is they’re a tad pricey, but hey, you can get by with a little of it at a go.
Texture: Totally rich. Can be a little greasy. I usually use this at night – slather it on, wear a pair of gloves, and let it soak into my skin. It feels great the morning after. They also use this at their spas during the massage, which is another luxury in life that’s hard to pass up on.
After-feel: This takes a while to absorb, simply because it’s so rich. Which is partially why I use it at night, cos I can’t spend the day sliding off stuff.
Fragrance: Heavenly. Might be a tad strong for some, but it’s a classy, demure scent that sends my senses straight to some sort of relaxation paradise.
Packaging: I think they now use these new age tubes (not the metal ones), so it’s a little easier to handle.
My rating: 4 / 5
My verdict: Hands-down, the best treat for really worn hands.
It’s hard to pick favourites and these three are certainly at the higher end of the price spectrum. If I had to pick, I guess I’d rotate between C&E’s Gardener’s and Bliss High Intensity Moisturizing Hand Cream
Filed under hands and feet
On a side note, a result of the poorly moisturised hands I have is the sad state of my cuticles. They are so overgrown and scraggly most of the time that once a year I actually go and get a manicure, the lady gives me the look like you give a mother who left her kids out in the car in the sun while she went shopping.
Anyway, while shopping at Sephora the other day, I came across something I thought was a house-brand lip gloss – it was packaged like one of those Stila lip glosses. Turns out, it was Sephora Cuticle Oil. Costs $12 for 1.7g of a gel-oil that cares for your cuticles, and in a really convenient package. Pop the cap open, give it a twist, and slick it over your cuticles. It works really well, I like to leave it to dry on its own (I don’t massage it in unless I’m on the go and will be likely to rub it off on my clothes). It doesn’t run off, but stays where it should, and it’s really improved my cuticles. I’ve even recovered some nail real estate without trimming the cuticles! They’re moving back on their own.
Suffice to say, I’m very pleased with my $12 investment. I bring it along with me everywhere, so I might just have to nip over and get another one to leave at home.
Comes in 3 flavours – Original (no idea what that one is), Eucalyptus (healing) and Lavender (stimulating).
Filed under hands and feet
I adore hand cream. I hoard hand cream. I hoard almost anything in a little tube, but hand cream is my passion. Because I’ve horribly ugly hands, and I detest using gloves. My hands are usually scratched, burnt, scarred (from childhood misadventures and kitchen gaffes) and dry.
Anyway, I thought it’d be a good way to start this off. A hand cream face off.
What makes a good hand cream?
For me, it’s texture. I like it a little creamier, and consequently a little oilier. I enjoy the odd light runny one now and then, but my skin is mostly dry and appreciates a little heavier handling. Secondarily, it’s after-feel and fragrance. I suppose I should factor things like cost and packaging in there somewhere too.
Getting to itand in some particular order (it’s in alphabetical order of company name, silly!)
Aveeno Active Naturals Intense Relief Hand Cream with Natural Colloidal Oatmeal
After-feel: not greasy at all, though it can leave my palms a little sticky. Top of the hand feels like it’s clean but moisturised.
Fragrance: no fragrance. Fragrance-free.
Packaging: Inverted tube (my favourite kind). Nothing fancy.
My rating: 4 / 5
My verdict: hands down, my favourite drugstore hand cream. It does get a little boring – I like my hands to smell clean, not like soy. I used to use this at work with a heavier hand cream at night, but now that I’m at home, I’m trying to use up the stash of little tubes I’ve got so I haven’t used it for a while.
Bath and Body Work’s Look Ma, New Hands
Texture: a little on the heavy side, the way I like it. It spreads and absorbs well. It leaves my hands soft (right until I wash it again, which is, when I’m at home, probably 20 minutes later). I like rubbing it in my cuticles, it keeps them soft.
After-feel: is a little greasy up to 5 minutes after application. It usually dries in 10, but I end up wiping the excess on my jeans after a few minutes. It’s greasy enough to leave marks on any smooth surface and paper.
Fragrance: nice citrusy-grapefruit scent going on. I like it. It’s fresh and light.
Packaging: I bought a blob (short and fat) of a tube to toss about in my bag, so that works for me. I have a feeling though, with the material of a larger tube, you’re going to end up with a pretty smudgey tube.
My rating: 2.5 / 5
My verdict: I’m on the fence on this one. I like that it makes my hands feel soft, but it takes forever to degrease. The handcream junkie I am, I’d probably have it lying about somewhere for variety. But it’s not in my top 3.
Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream
Texture: nicely balanced. Not pasty, but nice and smooth. It spreads like margarine though, very very smoothly. It stays on my hands, and keeps my cuticles happy as well. Dries quickly, doesn’t leave a greasy film on hands.
After-feel: hands feel taken care of. Keeps the tops of my hands moisturised without leaving my palms greasy and sticky. Survives a light wash most of the time.
Fragrance: my favourite of the lot. Smells like Bliss’ Lemon + Sage line of products. It’s citrusy, clean and happy. Lovesit.
Packaging: Another little trial tube that went in a handbag but ended up getting used up too quickly. Too bad it doesn’t come in standing bottle with pump. I’d use this all day!
My rating: 4.5 / 5
My verdict: Favourite all-round hand cream. Love the way it smells and most importantly it works well on my hands. Might be a little on the heavy side for normal / better looked after hands. Wonder if they make a Blood Orange scented version, I’d try that in a snap!
Body Shop Almond Oil Daily Hand & Nail Cream 3.4 Oz.
Texture: a little liquidy. It certainly spread on well, but it took a while to absorb. I used to use this in the office, and my keyboard was all sticky from residue of this hand cream, mostly because it took too long to dry. Doesn’t really do anything for my cuticles. I could’ve used less, but then my hands didn’t feel taken care of enough.
After-feel: nothing to call home about. Made my hands a little sticky too.
Fragrance: nice almondy scent, but artificially so.
Packaging: I bought the tube version, but I think it comes in a standy pump.
My rating: 1 / 5
My verdict: I bought this because I was a die-hard Body Shop fan, but this really isn’t one of their pride and joys. Highly ignorable.
Burt’s Bees Beeswax and Banana Hand Creme, 2-Ounce Jar
Texture: super rich is a good description! This was almost like the texture of hair wax – it has a mind of its own! It probably doesn’t help that I don’t live in the tropics anymore. Very sticky, very greasy. I slather this on at night, wear a pair of cotton gloves and hope my skin and not the cotton absorbs it.
Fragrance: very banana-y. Not in a great way. It smells as heavy and rich as it feels. Not a big fan. It’s like a dense banana cake smell, not the light fragrance of fresh banana.
After-feel: you’ll be sliding off everything you touch, so you won’t really be feeling much.
Packaging: that it came in a jar should’ve given me a clue. But then again, I liked the jar. It’s cute. I like jars.
My rating: 1.5 / 5 (because I do use it at night)
My verdict: One of those I can do without. Not sure if their Almond Milk Beeswax version will fare better, but I’m sure it’ll smell better.
Ok. This post has taken me longer than I can bear in 1 sitting, and I’ve still got to a few more creams to cover. I’ll leave that in a later post, since those are some of my favourites.
Filed under hands and feet
