FACE SERUMS OILS MOISTURISERS – Page 6

The Ordinary’s Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate 10% Review

I have been gushing all about Vitamin C on my Instagram and this product, in particular, The Ordinary’s Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate 10% (MAP) so you know it was only a matter of time I brought a full review to my blog

Vitamin C has been an ingredient I have stayed away from for so long because although it’s extremely effective, it must be formulated and packaged properly to prevent it from going bad, i.e. pro-oxidant (you don’t want that). Since I use a lot of water formulations and mists in my routine and Vitamin C doesn’t pair well with water, I needed something to overcome this. I decided to do more research into Vitamin C and came across Vitamin C derivatives, they are just as potent and more stable in water! The two I got from The Ordinary were Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% (read review here) and MAP. This post is all about MAP

MAP is a water-based cream, and a water-soluble derivative of Vitamin C. MAP is well known for its brightening properties even more than other Vitamin C derivatives. The 10% conc The Ordinary offers is a very high solubilized concentration designed to be used AM & PM after water based serums

Experience

What don’t I love about this? MAP has a light creamy texture which sinks into the skin with ease and adds hydration to my skin. There is an instant boost of radiance once applied. I have experienced no irritation with this. I used it every night with the Ferulic acid until I finished the tube. It lasted a little over a month

I am now on my 2^nd tube and I can definitely notice a difference in the overall health of my skin: it looks more radiant and healthier. I LOVE mixing a few drops of the Resveratrol 3% and Ferulic Acid 3% to this for antioxidant and brightening properties. I have also used this following their Salicylic Acid 2% serum whenever I have texture and somehow- IT GETS RID OF IT OVERNIGHT! I have recommended this to my mother who has hyperpigmentation too and she loves it, she says it has left her skin smoother and brighter. I’m purchasing a 2^nd tube for her soon.

I have to say, my pigmented spots don’t look any lighter but the overall appearance of my skin has definitely improved! I prefer this over the Ascorbyl Glucoside 12% serum only because I have had no issues with it and its hydrating enough for me to use without the need for a night cream. For my 2^nd tube, I have been using it in rotation, on days when I am not using retinol or acids serums (not that you can’t combine these, you absolutely can and should! I am just doing it this way to use as many products as possible lol)

Verdict

An absolutely must have if you are a bit weary of Vitamin C and want something effective and easy to use. The only con is the amount in the tube, it seems to go quickly lol but I can also say I may have abused it and used a lot more than needed lol. You can use it alone, but I definitely prefer it with the ferulic acid mixed for instant luminosity and brightening! Please come with the 100ml or 50ml size of this!

MAP is £7.80 available from Deciem

Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Booster Review

Dermalogica is a luxury skincare brand that has been around for decades and loved by many. One of my favourite products is their special Cleansing Gel- you can read my full review here.

The Clear Start range is part of their product portfolio and targets teenage skin. Compared to their iconic range, this is priced much lower to suit their target audience. I received the Breakout Clearing Booster, which is the latest addition to the Clear start family from Influenster.

Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Booster is described as a fast-acting breakout clearer that has been formulated with salicylic acid, niacinamide and patented TT technology and phytoplankton extract. another major claim is promising to breakout-causing bacteria in 15 mins

Experience

I was very excited to receive this and I started using it right away! I had some mild texture and breakouts at the time so it was the perfect time to test the Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Booster. It’s a lightweight white textured serum that sinks into the skin quickly and adds a bit of hydration but that’s about it. It didn’t reduce/ clear my breakouts nor did it prevent any future breakout as claimed. I woke up with more breakouts I don’t think it’s caused it but it certainly didn’t prevent it.

I was using this once a day at night but decided to try using it twice a day to see if I would get better results. After 1 week of using it both morning and night, I still didn’t experience any of the benefits. They also claim you can use this directly on the spots but again no benefits for me.

After 2 weeks I gave up and started using it in conjunction with my all-time fav breakout clearer, the 2% Salicylic acid from the Ordinary(full review coming soon!)

Verdict

I am very disappointed with this product. I had really had hopes for it seeing that it is from Dermalogica and it contains salicylic acid and niacinamide, ingredients that I know work for my skin type. I am also not a big fan of the packaging. You have to squeeze the bottom of the bottle to get the product out but it doesn’t say this anywhere on the box/bottle so the first time I used it, I spent about 3 mins trying to figure this out!

I would have loved a dropper or pump bottle and if they mentioned the concentrations of niacinamide and salicylic acid in the booster.

I received these products complimentary from Influenster.

Check out my thoughts on Niacinamide here

The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% Serum Review

We all know Vitamin C is an amazing antioxidant and has superior skin brightening properties but it’s also very unstable in water. I have been playing around with the thought of introducing Vit C in my routine for a long time but since I use a lot of water-based serums and mists in my routine I was worried that this will impact the effectiveness of the Vit C. Enter the Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% which is a Vitamin C derivative and much more stable in water. This particular derivative offers skin brightening properties, stability in water and comfortable to use aka no irritation. High concentrations of Vitamin C are notorious for causing stinging/irritation.

When I first introduced this serum to my routine, I was using it in the mornings as I wanted to also take advantage of its antioxidant benefits for daily protection. I quickly disliked it, even a few drops would use piling and it didn’t layer too well with my other products. It also offered no hydration. I would use it after misting and underneath my moisturiser but it would quickly pil and sometimes I would have to wipe and start over. So it’s safe to say I didn’t enjoy it one bit and I stopped using it for while

After a bit more research ( and an email to The Ordinary for advice) I decided to try again, this time in my evening routine, as the first serum after misting and voila success! I have been using it this way for the last 3-4 months. One full drop over my face and neck and surprisingly no piling and its working well with the other two serums plus gel cream I use

The Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% is a lightweight odourless serum with a translucent appearance which sinks quickly into the skin. It offers no hydration but can feel slightly sticky when dried. Over the months I have been using it, I haven’t noticed a huge difference in some pigmented areas but the general appearance of my skin looks more radiant and healthier. I can see some pigmented areas starting to break up too. It’s a nice introduction to Vitamin C and its stability in water makes it excellent to use in my routine. I am almost out of it and I would repurchase another although another form of Vit C has caught my eye, the new Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2%

I would 100% recommend this Vit C serum if you didn’t want to go down the pure ascorbic acid route. Its pleasant serum, but make sure you use after water-based solutions. In terms of piling and layering under products, I would say start with a few drops and play around with which products you use before and after it. Its worth noting that you NEED SPF in your morning routine if you have hyperpigmentation, every day, every season. my list of invisible SPF’s is on my Instagram page here

The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% is £8.90 on Deciem.com

I have review more The Ordinary Serums

Lactic Acid 5%

Azelaic Acid

Check out my updated Spring Morning routine. I will work on an updated evening routine too but I am pretty much using the same serums, I have just added 2 new ones. I rotate my products only when I finish the whole thing but if you want more product reviews make sure you follow me on Instagram, I am always posting recommendations.

I am also working on reviews for the other serums in the above picture.

Catch you later

xoxo

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum Review

Hey guys, I hope all is well. I shared my updated spring morning routine a few months back and got great feedback so I thought I would bring some reviews of the new serums I have been using from The ordinary. Amidst all the drama on their Instagram, The Ordinary is an excellent brand with effective products at excellent prices. I also like the site and all the good info it has on there. So without further ado let’s dive into this review

The Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum is for is for reducing skin blemishes and congestion whilst helping to strengthen skin, enlarged pores and uneven skintone. I decided to add this to my morning routine for the spring summer because I noticed from the last two years my normal to combo oily skin turns oily blemish prone in the warmer months. Niacinamide is great for oily skin so I thought it would give this a try.

Experience

The Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is a colourless odourless light-textured serum that sinks into my skin instantly. It leaves no residue and adds no hydration to my skin. I find it layers well underneath the essence lotion I use or just alone underneath my moisturisers. There is no piling.

This serum has worked well with my skin in terms of oil control. Usually, around this time of year, my skin turns oily/blemish prone but so far my skin has remained normal to oily combination! I am also experiencing zero texture on my skin, even throughout the mini heatwave we had in London PLUS I hardly breakout! I know it’s due to the introduction of Niacinamide serum because last year around this time, I was an oily blemish slick LOL. My pores have remained unclogged. This also works great with Salicylic acid: both known for minimising the appearance of pores.

I am so happy I introduced this in my skincare routine and I am actually almost out of it so I need to repurchase another! I will be using this serum till September, right before the fall season starts. For my skin type I won’t use this in the winter, I will switch to something more hydrating e.g. hyaluronic acid

Verdict

I will 100% recommend this for oily/blemish skin types! It will help strengthen the skin and reduce blemishes, enlarged pores and texture! I use mine in the mornings to prep my skin for the day. It’s also worked great with the addition of the other antioxidants I have introduced to my morning routine.

I will also recommend The Ordinary brand as a starting point for your skincare routines. They have a lot of serums and info on the site and the prices are budget friendly! A lot of people ask me how to pair the serums and which ones to choose. The best advice I can give is definitely to look at the regime guide on the site and also choose the serums according to the issue you are trying to fix!

NOTE- a lot of info says you can’t combine Niacinamide with Vitamin C as they cancel each other’s effects! Please note this only applies to PURE ASCORBIC ACID and it’s completely fine to use with VIT C derivatives. I use a lot of Vit C derivatives (e.g. Activated C) in my routine and this paired very well with Niacinamide. Always do your research when it comes to ingredients! And most of the time, a well thought out routine will combine 2 or 3 actives for the most effective results! A good place to start for ingredient research and myths is Paula’s choice

I hope you found this helpful. Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is £5.00 on The Ordinary

I am working on reviews on all the serums pictured above. Those are all the new serums I have been using.

Catch you later

Xxox

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% Review

WE know all about the Ordinary now and skincare junkies like myself probably have at least two products from them. I really like the brand and so far I have enjoyed most of the products I have from them. I have reviewed their Lactic Acid 5%, Glycolic Toning Solution 7%, Caffeine Solution 5% eye serum, Hyaluronic Acid 2% and now I will add the Azelaic Acid review to my repertoire. Be sure to click on those links for my full thoughts on them!

Onto today’s review

The Ordinary’s Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% is described as a multi-functional formula. They say it brightens skin and improves the evenness of skin texture and reduces the look of blemishes. It’s suitable for all skin types and has a cream-gel formula. They advise using SPF during the day.

Experience

If you’re worried about Azelaic Acid, don’t be. Even though it’s a high conc. of 10%, it doesn’t sting like most acids I have used e.g. Lactic/Glycolic acids. In fact, Azelaic Acids is naturally produced on the skin by yeast that lives on normal skin.

I must admit I have had and used the product for a while but I haven’t been consistent enough with it to notice any real results yet. And I am almost out of it. I haven’t been consistent because I am not particularly fond of the formula. The cream-gel formula does feel lightweight but I feel like it doesn’t sink into my skin. I also notice it doesn’t layer too well with a night cream on top of this. The Ordinary recommend you use this after water solutions so whenever I have used it, it follows my serum (check out my review of the Body Shop Drops of Light Brightening Serum). I feel like it stays on top of my skin and feels almost like a powder. Then when adding my night cream on top, I feel like it’s a bit too much and ‘flakes’ a little ( not flake in a sense of seeing a lot of white stuff on my skin but in the sense of feeling a layer of product rub off whenever I touched my face after my night routine) I was using my Nivea Regenerating Night Cream with this which is (honestly) very rich and heavy so I switched to something lighter like the Boots Night cream which has more of a light weight texture and that was slightly better

I also notice my skin feels slightly dry the next morning after using the Azelaic Acid. It feels like when I would wash my face but put no product on it afterwards and I wasn’t too fond that either. In terms of brightening my skin, I would say there was a time I really pushed through and used it every night for a week and a half and I noticed my pores reduced and a tiny tiny bit of improvement in skin brightening but nothing out of the ordinary (LOL)

Verdict

I really want to give this another try. Azelaic Acid is known for skin brightening properties so I won’t completely rule this product out yet. I will finish it (I only have a little left) but I’m not sure if I will repurchase the same product yet. If they release another formula of the Azelaic Acid then I would happily purchase. This would be my first time working with a formula like this and tbh I am not too keen on it

I’m sorry this review isn’t the usual- if a product is good or bad but I really wanted to share my thoughts on the product. I’m hoping what I have left will last about a week and a half and if I notice any changes I will be certain to bring an update.

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% is £5.50 at Victoria Health

Make sure you check out my other reviews of The Ordinary using the clicks above. I want to hear from you if you are using this product! How has it been so far?

P.S they are realising a sun care range and honestly I couldn’t be happier!

The BodyShop Vitamin C Daily Moisturiser SPF30 Review

I knew I had to incorporate Vitamin C in my skincare regime as I started learning more about skincare and hyperpigmentation. You see, Vitamin C works to brighten dull skin and with hyperpigmentation that’s exactly what I needed but I really didn’t want to start messing around with Vitamin C until I was fully confident I knew enough about it. Enter the Body Shop’s Vitamin C range. It’s full of a bunch of products and The Bodyshop Vitamin C Daily Moisturiser SPF30 caught my eye so I decided to go with it

The BodyShop Vitamin C Daily Moisturiser SPF30, now called Glow Protect Lotion is a daily moisturiser with SPF 30. It enhances dull skin, hydrates and gives a healthy glow to the skin. it also softens and smooths the skin

Experience

The BodyShop Vitamin C Daily Moisturiser SPF30 aka Glow Protect Lotion has been my go to moisturiser when I travel. This is because it has SPF 30 which means I don’t need to pack extra sunscreen (saves me in the space in my liquid allowance). I decided to use it last month or 2 months ago as my everyday moisturiser to introduce my skin to Vitamin C on a daily basis.

The glow protect lotion has the same great scent orangey scent like the Skin Reviver and the Vit C face mist( which I also love). It feels somewhat light weight and immediately leaves your skin glowing. I noticed it when I use a lot of the moisturiser, I start to sweat lol. I don’t know why. I have noticed over the last months of using this daily, my skin looks brighter and its glowing, which is why I am really enjoying going makeup free to work.

It really leaves my skin moisturised and it lasts all day. My skin feels soft and smooth and it looks healthier too. I love the added SPF protection so I don’t have to use additional sunscreen in the mornings. From time to time, during the day and if it’s really sunny, I will ‘top up’ sun protection with a face mist. Although it’s SPF 30, it doesn’t leave a white cast on my skin. I don’t think it clogs pores but something about it makes them a little bit more visible in my opinion esp. when I use a lot of it. It layers well on top of my Boots hydration burst serum and great underneath the Vit C skin reviver.

Verdict- I have had backups of this moisturiser because I love it for travelling but after using it on a daily basis now, I think I am going to stick to using it as my daily moisturiser as well ( I just need to finish all the other lotions/creams I have which will take a while! Lol). It’s been a great way to add Vitamin C to my regimen and I am already seeing great results! It has left my skin healthier and brighter and the added SPF is a huge bonus! I think for the price you pay its good value for money! I am definitely buying some more of this! I already have a new one in my collection

The BodyShop Vitamin C Glow Protect Lotion is £15 at BodyShop.com

P.S- if you are thinking of trying anything from the BodyShop, it’s worth signing up for their newsletter or keeping an eye on the website. Why? Because they usually have great deals like £25 off £50 and £10 off £25. Yes, it doesn’t include some of their more ‘premium’ products but all the old ranges like Vit C, Vit E etc are included in the deal so it’s definitely worth waiting for. Tbh, most if not all of the times I have purchased at The BodyShop, I have used one of these deals!

The BodyShop Vitamin C Skin Reviver Review

Vitamin C has a lot of great benefits for the skin and if you want brighter glowing skin, it’s an ingredient worth incorporating into your skincare routine! The Vitamin C range from the BodyShop has a lot of products but are they actually worth it? Because they’re not exactly the cheapest! Today’s review will be on the BodyShop Vitamin C Skin Reviver which I have been using for the last months now.

The BodyShop Vitamin C Skin Reviver is an instant smoother for dull and tired looking skin. It promises to enhance natural radiance and give skin a silky-smooth finish. It also contains light reflecting particles.

Experience

What’s there not to love about this little product?! It comes in a pump bottle and the scent is a delicate orange scent: really pleasant and refreshing. It’s very lightweight in texture and easily spreads over the face. The serum has a hint of colour but it doesn’t leave any of this on the skin. There is also a hint of shimmer but this disappears as you smooth it over your skin.

I use this serum as the last step in my morning skincare routine on makeup free days, which is now almost every day lol. The texture is very similar to that of a primer and so it blurs (a tad bit) pores and leaves your skin looking smooth. I only use half a pump for my entire face and neck because I found that using a full pump was too much and it settles a little bit around my neck area.

To me, it doesn’t really add any moisture to my skin and it doesn’t look or feel oily either. It feels light weight and leaves a satin finish. A lot of reviews I have read state that this is excellent as a makeup primer. Although I haven’t used it as such, I think it would be a great alternative as the textures are very similar. The skin reviver as mention earlier also has blurring properties although I won’t say it’s as much as a primer

Verdict– I have been using this skin reviver and the Vitamin C Daily Moisturiser (review pending) and I must say they work really well together. It also layers well on top of other lotions/creams I have used. I love this skin reviver and it’s definitely worth a repurchase!

It’s a must have for me on makeup free days and I love how smooth and healthy looking it leaves my skin.

The BodyShop Vitamin C Skin Reviver is £17 on BodyShop.com

Boots Botanics Hydration Burst Light Serum Review

The Boots Botanics Collection is Boot’s contribution to the skincare world. The brand has a lot of smaller collections targeting different skin types. I have reviewed one of their products, which I hailed as the best micellar water on the market! Read that review here

Today, I am reviewing the Boots Botanics Hydration Burst Light Serum which is geared towards dehydrated and sensitive skin. It’s formulated with clary sage for its soothing properties.

Experience

Although I have normal to combination oily skin type, I was looking for a serum light enough to layer underneath my daily moisturiser in the morning. I wanted something that was light and adds hydration but more importantly wasn’t oily. This is why I was interested in this serum because it claims to be ‘light and provide hydration to the skin.

The serum does feel light on the skin and doesn’t have a strong scent to it. It sinks quickly into the skin and doesn’t leave the skin looking or feeling greasy. It softens the skin too and doesn’t feel sticky when it dries. I have been using it for a few months now and I have enjoyed it. It layers well with the other skincare products I use in the mornings. I have all the details on my morning skincare routine in a post here

I haven’t experienced any irritation with the serum. I find that hydration it provides lasts all day. I have also used it alone without any other product at night and my skin the next morning still felt soft. The packaging is simple yet effective: it’s in a simple white pump bottle (old packaging) with a pump that works!

Verdict– I think the serum is good. It does what it says. Boots have recently relaunched the Boots Botanics brand and whilst I am not exactly sure if they changed their formulas, the price has definitely gone up and the packaging has changed. Hmm

I purchased my serum for £2.50 which was discounted but it was only £4.99 I think. It’s currently now £8.99 on Boots

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Review

I’m sure you’ve heard of the brand The Ordinary and you are a little bit curious on what the hype is( otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this). The Ordinary is an amazing skincare brand with effective skincare (and now makeup) products at an affordable price. I really like the brand and have a few bits from them and planning to repurchase and try some new products. Check out my reviews for these products from The Ordinary

The Ordinary Glycolic Toning Solution 7%

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + 2% HA

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 5%

Today’s post will be a review on The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG which is an eye serum that claims to reduce the appearance of eye contour pigmentation and puffiness.

Experience

So this serum………. Let’s get the usual bits out of the way first

The serum comes in a dropper bottle and is 30 ml as with most of their other products. It does have some scent to it, but it’s not unpleasant. Its supplied in a dark bottle as EGCG is sensitive to light

I’m very disappointed with the Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG eye serum for many reasons. Firstly, I noticed after using this (no matter the amount) it would flake underneath my eyes. Like I would rub my eyes and I would see tiny balls of the serum rolling off. It also doesn’t dry completely clear. I noticed a slight white residue and I thought this was strange but after noticing this on the bottle as well I thought maybe it’s supposed to do that? (But even if it’s supposed to do that it’s still quite strange, imagine layering concealer and powder on top of this?). The serum itself isn’t 100% clear, it has a very very slight tint to it.

Secondly, I didn’t experience any of the claims of the product. I bought it and was really excited to try it as I do get bags and dark circles quite easily. But this didn’t do anything to it. There wasn’t an improvement. The serum is lightweight and absorbs fairly easily too. I didn’t (or don’t) remember thinking if it felt hydrating underneath the eyes or not

Verdict

This would be my 1^st product from the Ordinary I don’t like and didn’t enjoy using. I remember for the Lactic Acid 5% I didn’t enjoy using it because of the scent but it was effective and so I carried on using it till I run out. For this product, however, I have stopped reaching for it because of the flakes I get with it. I’m happy I didn’t suffer any allergic reactions from it.

It’s a shame because I hear good reviews for the product but it just wasn’t working out for me. Maybe I will start using it again and it may work? Who knows lol

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG is £5.80

Boots All Bright Radiance Concentrate Serum Review

The Botanics range from Boots have some of the best drugstore skincare products. so far from the range, I have tested the Boots Botanics Micellar Water which I absolutely LOVE and recently posted a full review on their Day & Night Creams. Today’s post however will be on their All Bright Radiance Concentrate Serum which I have been using for a while, infact I’m on my second bottle.

The Boots All Bright Radiance Concentrate Serum as with other products in the All Bright Collection features natural AHA’s that have been extracted from the Hibiscus flower. This gives it its mild exfoliation action (read all about AHA’s here). Boot’s promise an energised and visible glow from alight weights serum that is easily absorbed

Experience

Its recommended 2-3 drops morning & night followed their All bright day or night cream. I used it as recommended till I run out of the creams lol. The serum is clear, super lightweight and has little to almost no scent at all. I find it sinks quickly into my skin after application.

The serum leaves my skin feeling soft but I don’t really experience any hydration or moisturising benefits from it. It doesn’t claim to do any of those though. It’s also non sticky. With regards to brightening my skin, I can’t say I have noticed a difference in my skintone but there is an immediate ‘glow’ after application which is expected anyway with anything you put on.

The packaging is lovely, for a £2.50 serum, the frosted glass and dropper (that works!) is a huge bonus. The simple packaging with the white details makes it look more expensive that the actual price

Verdict

I have had no problems with the serum- no irritation, no breakouts & it layers well underneath my moisturiser and other bits of my morning routine. I would have liked to feel some moisture after application but I’m not mad at it for not doing that either. It didn’t clog my pores

For £2.50 it’s a nice serum although for me I didn’t experience its main claim of brightening my skin. I have 1 more backup of this but afterwards I probably won’t repurchase

Boots All Bright Radiance Concentrate Serum is £2.50 from Boots

Other drugstore serum reviews

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 2%

Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Serum