[REVIEW] Olay Gentle Cleansers - Conditioning Milk

We're really sorry for not updating, we had a few problems (we still have).

Moving on.

To start off, we all know how hard it is to find that perfect cleanser/makeup remover, right? Sometimes we try different types until we find the one we need, the one that is best for our skin. Before having this cleanser, I had a different on. It was pretty good though, but not as good as this one. I ended up "owning" this Olay cleanser/conditioning milk because Lexie didn't want/like it (sorry sweetie). 

Note: my skin complexion is normal, only my nose is a bit oily (sometimes dry, I don't get it why).

Now on with the review.

I didn't expect it to be this good. Honestly.

Good points: 

- it doesn't have a strong fragrance, which means less harmful ingredients;

-the texture is really nice and not so watery;

-it didn't harm my skin in any way possible (I've been using it for quite a while now and my skin doesn't have any eruptions or stains);

-it's really gentle (like it says it is);

-it cleans my skin pretty well, better than my old cleanser;

-my skin feels great after using it (a lot softer than before);

-it has instructions (like most beauty products) so if you're not sure how to use it, check the back.

Bad/Not-so-good points:

-I can never control the amount of product I use (I usually end up using too much product);

-when I try to wash it off, it takes a few minutes to actually get it off.

Small tip 1: after using conditioning milk/makeup remover you should also cleanse your face; after that it's probably best that you apply a face cream, whatever type you have. After cleansing, your pores are open and you need to close them before dust/dirt gets in them. 

Small tip 2: before going to bed, use makeup remover or cleanser even if you weren't wearing any type of makeup. If you went out, you definitely have dust/dirt in your pores, especially during summer. 

[REVIEW] Missha M Signature Real Complete BB Cream #21

Sorry for M.I.A, we were really busy with other things. Now on with the post.

A few days ago I got some samples of Missha M Signature Real Complete BB Cream with SPF 25, as a gift, along with my recently bought BB Cream. I admit, I never tried Missha and I never thought of trying it either. Why? I've seen some reviews and I didn't really liked it. 

This is how a normal package looks like. I didn't have any pictures of it, sorry.

 

Until now, I've used Skin79 Hot Pink BB Cream, which is really good. I've never had any bumps/eruptions after using it and it's really friendly with my skin. 

Note: my skin complexion is quite normal, with a few freckles, but my nose gets a bit oily. I don't get bumps/eruptions on a daily basis either. 

Now on with the review.

First, some swatches: 

A "decade" later, after blending and oxidizing:

 I dropped a bit too much on my hand, sorry.

And this is how it looks on my skin, 20min. after I applied it (you won't get to see my whole face, because I looked like a thing that got hit by a truck):

The shade is #21, which is light pink-beige, for fair-skinned girls. My skin is really fair, similar to the type of skin Asian girls have. By Asian girls I mean Korean/Chinese girls. 

The texture is really watery/liquid while most BB Creams have a more creamy texture. This one was seriously "running" of my fingers. I did not like that, at all.

The coverage is somewhere between sheer to medium, really good for girls who do not have bad skin complexion, bumps, dark circles etc. It also reduces redness, but after applying 3 layers. However, it felt a bit heavy on my face and I couldn't layer it properly and it was hard to blend as well. Not to mention it took quite a while until it oxidized, so I looked really pale/yellowish in the meantime. I think it's a bit too fair, even for me. Bia also tried it on and her skin became really white and it barely blended in. She's also fair-skinned like me, but her skin is normal/oily. What somehow bothered me more about the coverage is that it looked more like a foundation and less like a BB Cream.

It also has a strong fragrance, unlike my Skin79 Hot Pink BB Cream. I prefer non or less scented cosmetics. Why? Less harmful ingredients. 

 We tried it on yesteday and up until now I did not have any skin reactions, but 1-2hrs after Bia applied it on, her skin became really oily, in other words, it doesn't have good sebum control.

Additional comments: I don't like shiny BB Creams, but the Missha one was sorta shiny, so I had to set it up with powder. It's also caked on me and it lasts only a few hours, about 3-4hrs if the weather is normal/chilly, and probably less if the weather is hot, while my regular BB Cream lasts up to 7hrs, sometimes more, depending on the weather. 

Some people might disagree with me when it comes to this Missha product, but it varies from skin to skin, sometimes in a bad way and sometimes in a good way. But after this experience, more in a bad way I think. 

Parabens - Harmful or Not?

While reading this article please keep in mind I am not an expert and this article is based only on my personal research!

Parabens are a widely used ingredient in personal care products. You can find them in pretty much every cosmetic product in your home (shampoos, moisturizers, cleansing gels, toners, make-up products).

As you may have noticed, nowadays a lot of cosmetics come with the label “paraben-free”.

You might be wondering why should you avoid them even if they can be found in 85 % of cosmetic products. Over the past few years, a debate has been going on among scientists whether these ingredients may be harmful for our health.

What are parabens?

Parabens are a group of preservatives used to prevent bacterial and microbial contamination of products, especially in the moist, warm environment of a bathroom. The most common names of parabens include methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben, but you may also find isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben or benzylparaben. Their importance is unquestionable as they are a necessary antibacterial ingredient in every cosmetic product.

So what's the problem with them?

Some scientists started questioning their safety use after finding low concentrations of parabens in breast cancer tumors. That's because parabens can mimic the hormone estrogen. However, it has been proved that parabens are 100,000 times weaker than natural estrogen in the body, so they're far too weak to have a role in the development of breast cancer.

Should I still avoid them?

The answer would be no. Despide the controversy going on in the media, researchers have come to the conclusion that parabens, in the small amounts used in cosmetics, are not harmful ingredients consumers should avoid.

It's up to you if you decide to choose the precautious way of not using products containing them. But you should know they have been allowed for use as cosmetic ingredients by the U.S. FDA and the European Commission and there is no reason for consumers to be concerned about the use of products containing parabens.

I personally think the media has an important role in developing the intellect of the masses and tends to exaggerate, leading people to misconception. My fear is that, trying to get away of some things, we are approaching others that are worse. I'm pretty sure that those “paraben free” products contain more dangerous substituants or even worse, other preservatives with less of a proven track record.

What do you think? What are other ingredients you try to avoid when shopping for cosmetic products?

[DIY] Blotting Paper

Blotting paper refers to tiny pieces of absorbing paper that you use for wiping off the sebum off your face during the day. This way you don't have to wash your face (which is not even advisable) every time your face gets oily. Very good stuff!

A while ago I bought this pack of blotting paper from Daiso for only $2. It's not expensive, compared to other brands, but except for the cute case and green colour, there's not much to it. The quality is very low because they're a bit too slippery and don't absorb the oil that well. Meh...

(S*it my nails XD)

Okay... Today I'll tell you how to DIY YOUR OWN blotting paper, without paying $2 for low quality product. Besides, not only you will get cheaper stuff for a bigger quantity, but they'll be better also.

All you need is this...

  

Don't know what it is, right? How about now?

Okay, okay, I will tell you... XD It's paper toilet seat cover. Yup. The ones you put on your toilet so you won't have to touch the seat, avoiding disease and infections from other people (ew). You can find it in the hypermarkets, but I prefer... borrowing them from the restaurants or cinemas. 

I know you might think it's stealing, but hear me out. I don't use that paper because I don't sit on the toilet in public places, no matter how many layers of paper, plastic, or any other thing you might want to convince me to put on it. I just don't. I still think it's gross. In fact, I don't think many women do that, especially in Romania. So, if I borrow a few pieces of paper, it can be considered as using them. I go to the toilet, don't use the paper, instead I take it home with me. Fair, right? 

I don't encourage you to go on and steal the paper from restaurants, lol! I only borrowed this one to show you this tutorial.

All you need is the paper and a scissor. 

You cut into small pieces and... there you go. Your very own blotting paper. 

You can get at least 15 of these from one piece of toilet cover. If you do the math, 100 pcs cost me $2, but you can go on Ebay and buy 250 pcs of whole toilet covers for $5. 250 x 20 pcs of blotting paper for double the price! Madness or not?

You can store them in a zipper bag or a regular freezer bag, or a case, or anything you want and keep them in your purse all day long. And they are more absorbing than the ones I bought from Daiso!

And NO, they are NOT gross! Because you DON'T put them on the toilet, then on your face. XD

[REVIEW] Olay Complete Care

Hello hello ^^

I noticed that the last review was appreciated (Some of our friends actually said they gave the e.l.f. primer a chance and ordered from the site :D) and even though we haven't posted in a while, today I am going to do another review. This time I will tell you about Olay Complete Care Day UV Cream for Normal/Dry skin.

The cream has a thick, soft consistency and smells wonderful.

It has perfume in it, which can be a skin irritant, so it's not recommended for sensitive skin.

 The texture is good for dry skin, but not for oily skin because it can leave an oily, sticky feeling. Totally not the effect you would want.

It has SPF 15, great sun protection, even on winter days.

 

It might take a while for it to be absorbed into your skin.

When I bought it the package said "Healthier looking skin in only 5 days". I didn't try it for so long, but it really had an effect. I have oily skin, therefore I didn't use it more than 2 days in a row, but I gave it to my mom and she loves it. Also, she feels like she can trust the brand because it's getting famous in our country.

The reason why I bought this cream in the first place was the small number of skin-irritant ingredients, which means that, when used for a longer period of time, it is not as damaging as others. I know it sound scary, but it's a known truth that you must chose your cosmetics wisely if you want youthful looking skin for a longer period of time.

So, if you have Normal/Dry skin (I would go for drier skin actually), I totally recommend this day cream.