Home Beauty Face Care Products I’m Currently Using in Spring 2012 – Quick Review

Face Care Products I’m Currently Using in Spring 2012 – Quick Review

by Tavia

Hello lovelies!

I’ve been thinking about posting this article for a long time now. I’ve been away from Chicprofile for the whole 2011 year and during this time I used a lot of face care products from different brands. Probably I will make another post with the face care products I used in the last 6 months but for now I just want to show you which are the ones I’m currently using.

Some of you know that I prefer high end brands when it comes to take care of my complexion and if you have been reading Chicprofile in the past you probably noticed that La Mer and La Prairie are my favorite cosmetic brands. I’m also loving Clinique, Lancaster, Shu Uemura and I don’t say no to drugstore brands, because in my opinion the best products for my skin doesn’t have to be the most pricy.

I would love to know what products are your currently using, especially if you have oily to combination and sensitive skin like me. I really like to hear what are your favorite face care products and how important is face care routine for you. Do you take more care of your skin rather then cover it with makeup all the time? Please share your thoughts with the rest of us.

For me, face care routine is very important and it has been very important for the last 12 years. I don’t wear makeup everyday, I give my skin time to breathe and I never go to sleep without cleansing my skin (even though I didn’t wear makeup that day) and applying my face and eye cream.

Here are the products I’m  using everyday  (some more than others) so I will give you my quick opinion about each and every one of them. If you want me to review any of these products separately please just let me know.

I have combination skin (oily in the T-zone) and also my complexion is very sensitive. The advantage of having combination or oily skin is that once you get older your wrinkles won’t be so visible like if you had dry skin. If when I was a teenager I had to fight all those pimples, breakouts and nasty red spots because of the oiliness of my skin, now at my age I can enjoy that my complexion is aging slower than the ones having dry skin.

Vichy Purete Thermale Cleansing Micellar Lotion (face & eyes) – 400 ml

This is my go to lotion for removing my makeup but I also used Bioderma and other micellar lotions.

Why I love it

  • removes face & eye make-up (waterproof make-up too)
  • perfect for sensitive and fragile skin (doesn’t hurt the eyes)
  • I like to buy the 400 ml recipient with the pump for an easy application (has also a great price)
  • calms skin irritations because of its Phytophenoli rose formula
  • it’s a 2 in 1 product (face & eyes) so I don’t have to use a separate eye remover makeup
  • one bottle lasts me for about 6 months
  • has a great price (less than 10 Eur)
  • can be found in any pharmacy or drugstore

Amway Artistry Essentials Balancing Cleanser – 135 ml

I just bought this one out of curiosity and because I wanted to try a different face&eye makeup remover product.

Why I love it

  • gently removes face makeup leaving my skin very soft
  • helps keeping my oiliness under control for the entire day
  • cleans and gently exfoliates the complexion
  • hydrates the skin due to its Tri-Balance exclusive complex

Why I don’t

  • doesn’t remove eye makeup (so I have to use my Vichy Cleansing Micellar Lotion for the eye area)
  • I have to apply it on moist skin (I use it only in the shower because it’s more convenient to wash it off after)
  • it’s a little bit pricy (around 20 Eur)
  • you have to order it trough an Amway representative

Balea Make-up Remover Wipes 3 in 1 – 25 wipes

Why I love them

  •  for normal and combination skin
  • they are moist until the last wipe (other wipes tend to get dry after you open them)
  • removes waterproof makeup
  • contains vitamin E and they leave my skin so soft and hydrated
  • remove eye makeup, can be used on sensitive eyes
  • doesn’t contain alcohol
  • they are economic (1 wipe is enough to remove my foundation & eye makeup)
  • the price (Eur 1.50)
  • can be purchased at any Dm store

Laboratoires Deep Fresh Make-up Remover Wet Wipes – 25 wipes

Why I love them

  • they contain Aloe Vera extract and Vitamin E
  • the price (Eur 1.10)
  • extra creamy (for the first 1-2 wipes)

Why I don’t

  • special formula for dry and decrepit skin (mine is combination & sensitive)
  • they don’t remove waterproof makeup
  • not economic (I have to use 2-3 wipes to completely clean my complexion)
  • doesn’t remove eye makeup that well (I still need to use Vichy Micellar Lotion)
  • the rest of the wipes are not moist & soft after using the first 1-2 wipes

Clinique Clarifying Lotion No. 2

I’ve been using this tonic for more than 5 years now and even though I tried different tonic lotions during this time, my skin just simply loves this one.

Why I love it

  • my skin loves it and I can’t say no to it
  • it’s perfect for dry combination skin
  • gently removes dull, dry flakes to uncover skin that’s vibrant glowing
  • instantly refines pores, smooths texture and helps skin accept moisture
  • over time helps revitalize skin’s natural renewal process
  • my skin looks healthier
  • helps control oiliness during the day
  • if I have a breakout or a pimple it makes it disappear within a day
  • the package – the 487 ml bottle with the pump is very easy to use
  • economic – 487 ml bottle with the pump lasts me for about 8 months
  • the pump is the key because I can pick up just the enough amount on a cotton diskette
  • the price (487 ml bottle – Eur 25.00)

Why I don’t

  • I can’t find the 487 ml bottle in every beauty shop
  • the price in my country is beyond crazy so I have to buy it only from abroad

Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil Fresh

I just bought this product because it was recommended as a great makeup remover product especially for oily skin. Since Shu Uemura is not available in my country I was happy to find it available in one store while I was in vacation.

Why I love it

  • I can’t think of any other reason beyond the pink bottle with the pump

Why I don’t

  • it doesn’t remove make-up that well
  • doesn’t remove waterproof makeup
  • doesn’t remove eye makeup
  • if feels so oily and the water simply slips from my face
  • the price (I know it’s $31.00 in the U.S. but in Europe I payed like $44.00)
  • leaves my skin feeling oily

La Prairie Advanced Marine Biology Day Cream SPF 20 – 50 ml

I’m always using a cream by La Prairie. I know it’s a luxury brand but my skin deserves the best and result are simply amazing. I can’t afford to have the entire face care collection that I want from them but I try to have at leas once face cream or eye cream.

Why I love it

  • lightweight, cream-gel texture
  • moisturizes my skin almost instantly
  • protects and boosts the skin’s defense system with anti-oxidant marine substances
  • increases natural collagen production, helps maintain the skin’s firmness and elasticity
  • economic – if you can afford the price (a little goes a long way, I’ve been using this day cream for about 4 months now and I will go another 2 for sure)
  • I love using it during the winter when here it’s very very cold and my skin need more attention
  • it has SPF 20

Why I don’t

  • the luxury price $175.00 in U.S. but in Europe it’s a lot more expensive
  • it tends to leave my skin a little bit oily if there are no winter temperatures
  • it’s definitely not a product that I will use in the summer because after 2-3 hours my skin becomes oily

La Prairie Anti-Aging Eye Cream SPF 15 – 15 ml

It can be found under two different names. They said they change a little bit the old name, but when I last bought this I found it again with the old name so both names are OK.

Old name : Anti-Aging Eye Cream SPF 15 A cellular intervention complex (review & photos)

New name: Anti-Aging Eye Cream SPF 15 A cellular protection complex

Why I love it

  • it’s my go to eye cream, I had amazing results with it
  • my eye area feels moisturized the entire day/night
  • I apply it day and night
  • very concentrate – only a little bit is needed for the eye area
  • economic – I use it daily in the morning and evening (for 3 years now -except 6 months when I used La Mer The Eye Balm Intense – review & photos) and it always lasted me 6 months
  • relaxes expression lines and wrinkles
  • restores skin density and firmness, decreasing crosshatch wrinkling
  • enhances tone
  • diminishes the sensation of under-eye puffiness and darkness

Why I don’t

  • the price $155.00 in U.S. but in Europe could reach 160 Eur

La Prairie Eye Complex with Caviar Extracts – 15 ml

I have tested this only as a sample of 5 ml which I’ve been using morning and evening for the past week.

Why I love it

  • I noticed it helps to increase the staying power of eye-makeup
  • has a gel texture, very delicate
  • instantly tones, helps to firm and smoothes the delicate skin surrounding the eyes
  • it said to be minimizes the appearance of fine lines
  • helps reduce the feeling of under-eye puffiness ad sagging skin

Why I don’t

  • the price $120.00 in U.S. and even much more in Europe

Amway Artistry Time Defiance Night Recovery Lotion – 50 ml

Why I love it

  • it’s a lotion which is specially created for oily and combination skin
  • the sleek bottle with the pump makes the application very easy
  • economic – just a pump is enough to cover all my skin
  • produces dramatically younger-looking skin while boosting hydration by 181%
  • improves skin firmness
  • diminishes the appearance of fine lines

Why I don’t

  • you can buy it only from Amway representatives

Lancaster Flash Smoothing Scrub – 75 ml

Why I love it

  • gently exfoliates the skin leaving it smooth and silky
  • has a nice smell of citrus and apricot
  • for all skin types
  • removes black spots
  • it needs to be applied on wet face so I used it while I’m showering
  • visible results right after the first application

Why I don’t

  • the price is a little bit high (around $35 in U.S. and Eur 30 in Europe)

Yves Rocher Botanical  Matt Skin Paste – 75 ml

Why I love it

  • specially for oily and combination skin
  • removes impurities
  • mattifies skin
  • the skin feels smooth and purified
  • helps fight the oil excess if it’s applied 2-3 times a week
  • it takes only 5 min for the mask to dry
  • in a few moments you can feel the paste absorbing the sebum
  • the price (around 10 Eur)

Balea Facial Mask

When I go to Dm store I like purchasing different types of Balea Facial Masks. They come as samples so you have the right amount for one application (8 ml) in every package. I’ve been using different masks for about 4 months now.

My favorite is Balea with Zinc Mask because mattifies skin, absorbs the sebum excess and it’s great for oily and combination skin.

I’ve also used Balea Anti Age Mask and this helps reduce fine lines. Contains Soja oil which diminishes wrinkles with every application. When you remove the mask you don’t have to rinse your face, you just simply take a cotton diskette and clean your face. Instantly hydrates the skin. Contains Q10 and Vitamin E.

Balea with Aloe Vera Mask helps maintaining skin balance and fights against premature skin aging. My skin becomes instantly refreshed, smooth and velvety. Contains Shea butter, honey and Jojoba oil.

 

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7 comments

Adina March 15, 2012 - 10:38 pm

For oily and sensitive skin I am curently using LRP Hydraphase Intense Legere (I think you saw it in my photo on Facebook). It is nice but I just started using it and I hope I will love it.

Reply
Clawdia March 28, 2012 - 1:54 pm

I have oily skin too and I’m currently using beautyclycle from Amway for my daily routine which works for me great and Yves Rocher Effaclar Duo which is a fantastic mattifying cream-gel for imperfections.

Reply
Francoise F.Q. March 28, 2012 - 3:40 pm

I use Clinique Clarifying Lotion No. 4 for the same reasons. My skin loves it and it suits my skin the BEST. I have been using it since I was 13 and I’m now 20 so for 7 years, I’ve been using clinique for my skin, and can confidently say It keeps my skin amazing. I suggest Clinique clarifying lotion for every1 xoxox

Reply
Tavia March 28, 2012 - 9:13 pm

Yes, indeed is a great lotion,everyone who tried it loved it. 🙂

Reply
Jade November 30, 2012 - 8:59 am

La Prairie is a HUGE waste of money. Paulab Begoun explains why on Beautipedia. Basically this over priced, over hyped product doesn’t work nearly as well as tried and true non gimmicky products such as RoC Multicorrexion night treatment or Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating serum. More money does not equal better product when it comes to skincare products. I highly recommend you check out Paula Begouns site beautipedia.com to read up on your products and see why some are truly useless (jar packaging for example is the worst..the active ingredients quickly degenerate after opening. Research and evidence based reviews on her site have taught me tons and saved me money on products I may have bought that would have been overpriced junk or evn harmful. Do your research before plopping down your hard earned cash ladies!

Reply
Tavia November 30, 2012 - 1:49 pm

Hi Jade! Over the years I’ve tried many many skincare products from different brands, even more since I became a full time beauty blogger I had the privilege of receiving and testing products from brands that are not even available in my country. My experience with La Prairie goes way back before I started this blog. I didn’t say you shouldn’t research what you are buying or spent hard earned cash on high-end brands but everyone is in title to choose what they use. For me La Prairie products have been great so far and I’ve seen results with each product I’ve tried. I’m in love with their anti-aging eye cream and for me ranks No1 together with La Mer. I’ve also recommended some La Prairie products to my friends and they were extremely satisfied with the results. I’m not saying everyone should invest in high-end brands and not all the products from La Prairie can be super great, but it has more great products in their range comparing to other brands. 🙂

Reply
Hair Care Products I’m Curently Using – Quick Review | Chic Profile December 22, 2012 - 5:54 pm

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