Vichy Purete Thermale Purifying Foaming Cream Cleanser

Do you always use the same facial cleansers? Or do you change brands once you are through with your current one?

I was very much into one from Estee Lauder called the Perfectly Clean Foaming Facial Cleanser which filled my needs but sort of lacked the umph that I was looking for. I went through a few different ones, mostly drugstore brands with different price points. None did it for me and the current one Total Effects Revitalizing Foaming Cleanser by Olay supposedly claims to deliver 7 anti-aging properties in one! I am sorry to report that it did not deliver even on its basic claim which is "thorough cleansing while enhancing skins natural radiance" - quite disappointing.

My cleansing routine with makeup on is to first use a cleansing cloth to remove all makeup especially waterproof stuff off my face. I then follow up with a cleanser to thoroughly cleanse whatever is left. This ensures that there are no traces of makeup and takes care of my skin. There is nothing like the feel of a freshly cleansed face after a long day of wearing makeup, I tell you. The problem with Olay was that each time I washed my face, it still did not feel clean. When I look in the mirror, I certainly saw a clean face with no trace of makeup but when I used a toner which I sometimes do just to have a once over around the hairline and on my neck which are notorious places that hold traces of foundation and soap, I noticed that there was a whole lot of residue on the cotton pad! And this was consistent everyday. I wash my face three times a day - once in the morning, again in the evening as soon as I get back from work and then once more before I retire for the night. I only use a toner in the evening (sometimes) and morning to prep my face for my makeup. So all in all, this cleanser does nothing to achieve a thoroughly cleansed face.

I recently became interested in the Vichy range of products which are available at our pharmacies and my first purchase was this cream cleanser. The clincher? The fact that it is parabens free and does not dry the skin. I was sold from the first use. I loved the scent which is fresh yet mild and the creamy consistency of it as well as the fact that you do not need to use a whole lot to clean your face.

The claims are that it will cleanse from deep within without leaving your skin feeling dry and indeed I can say that this is true. My skin feels fresh and soft as well as cleansed well after I use this and I love that. Its plain, simple, no frills and no silly claims about a million other things it can do for me while cleansing.....I like that.

Here are the ingredients which I could not take a picture of as there was a sticker in the way. I took this list from the Vichy website:-

WATER • GLYCERIN • POTASSIUM MYRISTATE • PALMITIC ACID • MYRISTIC ACID • POTASSIUM LAURATE • POTASSIUM PALMITATE • POTASSIUM STEARATE • SODIUM COCOYL GLYCINATE • LAURIC ACID • PEG-32 STEARATE • PEG-6 STEARATE • BUTYLENE GLYCOL • PENTYLENE GLYCOL • STEARIC ACID • PHENOXYETHANOL • TOCOPHEROL • DISODIUM EDTA • CAPRYLYL GLYCOL • BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII SEEDCAKE EXTRACT / SHEA BUTTER SEEDCAKE EXTRACT • FRAGRANCE

What facial cleansers are currently on your list of favourites? Vichy Purete Thermale Purifying Foaming Cream Cleanser is certainly on mine!

Sephora's SUPREME Cleansing Foam - Darling or Dud?

In earlier post, I talked about my trip to Sephora and how much I enjoyed it. Here is another product I purchased and this is from the in-house brand. Having been on a mission to find a good cleanser, (I may have found a HG cleanser (diferent brand)!! More in a future post) I bought this one because I liked the fact that it was a foam cleanser.

On the bottle you can see that it is called the 'Supreme' Cleansing Foam and claims to be an all in one cleanser which is able to remove even waterproof make-up and tones at the same time. Quite lofty claims aren't they?

The first thing that hit me when I pumped this product on to my fingers is the smell. It smelt very strongly of chemicals and was quite off putting. Now, I am usually quite tolerant of smells seeing it as an integral part of the whole aesthetics of the product but smell is something quite arbitrary because something that smells good to one person may have an opposite effect on another. This one was a clear no-no to me. Not at all pleasant.

The first time I used it, I did not use a make-up remover prior to washing with this foam. As expected my make up was not removed as thoroughly as I thought it would. When I came out of the shower and looked at my face in the mirror, I was amazed that my eye make up (shadow in the inner corner, waterproof liner and under eye concealer) were still hanging on for dear life. Well, I persisted, thinking it was not fair of me to put the cleanser through such a stringent test! I tried the next day after work and this time removed most of my makeup with a remover, then used the cleanser. I checked my face in the mirror. This time my face looked clean, but did not 'feel' very clean. I then used a little bit of toner on a cotton pad and to my horror, there was still bits of foundation around the hairline and around my nose.

I have tried using this product with every make-up combination possible, no primers, light mascara, just foundation and some lipstick and eye make-up (I don't use a make-up remover prior to cleansing when I don't have primers on) and the results are still the same. There is still plenty of residual make-up left after cleansing with this foam.

Even though this cleanser claims to remove waterproof make-up, things like liners and mascara also are not removed well. I will go as far as to say that my waterproof mascara hardly came off with this cleanser and as a result I needed to use a little bit of cleansing oil on a cotton round to remove this AFTER I had cleansed! I hate how heavy waterproof mascara feels if it is not thoroughly removed after washing.....

As for it's claims to tone skin, I did not at all feel this and I noticed no difference in my face as evidence of this. To be fair, I only used one bottle and this could not have been enough to produce the toning effect perhaps. I could not wait to finish all 150ml's of this product and was really happy the day I threw the empty bottle out! This will not be a repurchase for me and I will be quite cautious when I pick out the cleansers in the Sephora line of products.

If you have tried this, I hope you had a better experience that I did.......

Loreal De-Maq Expert - Ultra Make Up Remover

My make up routine has changed so much in the last year, especially so with the addition of primers and I find that I now am more thorough with my cleansing at the end of the day to ensure that I get all the product off my face. I can bet that you too, dear readers, now use primers as part of your make up routine? 

For me primers really help keep my make-up looking fresh for a longer time - and we all work long hours right and want to make sure that our make-up does not melt off by midday especially so in the heat of Malaysia. For me, having combination skin makes keeping my make-up on and looking fresh a challenge but with primers on my eyelids and as a base now has revolutionized the staying power of my make-up.   

On a recent trip with the family up north a few hours to Ipoh, I came across this curiously named item at the mall. It's called the "De-Maq Expert" which is an ultra concentrated make-up remover - I can picture someone sitting by a window with their brow furrowed, trying to come up with something fancier than, say, "Make Up Remover"!

I already own and religiously use several different brands of make-up removers so I was keen to try out something different.

This product comes in a 100ml tube with a pop cap which makes for convenient dispensing of this gel like, ever so lightly yellow tinted substance. It has a light, sort of grassy smell which I found to be quite pleasant. Because the slightly oily, gel like substance is not runny, it's easy to dispense a small blob of this and work into the face. No need to first wet the face, just put a small amount on your fingers and work it into your skin. You will be surprised to see how well the products on your face sort of melt off!

Be sure to keep this away from your eyes until you are ready to wash this off because if the product gets into your eyes, there will be a few minutes of cloudiness experienced. I did not feel a sting, rather a slight irritation caused by the clouding in my eyes.

I start on my cheeks and work my way around the nose area, on my lips, along the hairline and my forehead before closing my eyes and massaging around the eyes concentrating on the inner corner of the eyes and the lashes. Be sure to keep your eyes tightly closed at this point. After you are done, take a little water and work it into the face to emulsify the gel which then turns into a milky substance. Rinse off well with water. I follow up with a cleanser to remove the product completely.

To be honest, there is one item that I stay away from because of the difficulty involved in removing them well, and that is waterproof mascara. I love them and have a few brands that make my lashes look very lush but hate the amount of work that goes into removing them properly. But since I have purchased this, I have been bringing out all my waterproof mascara's and having a blast with them as they come off easily with this product!  

I must say that I am very happy with this product! Other oil based removers I use, are effective but oily and I have to make sure I follow up with a good cleanser afterward. With this, I do use a cleanser, but at least I am not fumbling with opening it because of my oily hands and then getting the sink all oily.....too much work!

A decent amount of this gel is all that is needed to effectively remove all my make-up. If you see these pictures, you can see how the product has turned brown as my foundation is removed.

All my eye make-up off, concealer under the eye, has virtually melted after a gentle rub of the gel....no vigorous rubbing necessary.

Below is a list of the ingredients:- I don't see any parabens in the ingredients list which is a good thing. The product claims to be suitable for sensitive skin too. I did not break out in spots after using this. As with every product I use, I am very cautious in the beginning and I use new products every other day in the first week. If I do not break out in spots, then I know this product is suitable....I have used this for close to a month now with no breakouts. Each skin reacts differently to different products so please be careful when you try something new.

For a price of RM27.90, I think this is well worth it - there is no need to use much as the product is concentrated enough to make a small amount go a very long way.  I have also tried just using this product and then rinsing it off without following up with a cleanser, but my skin did not feel truly comfortable. Also, instead of washing off the product, I have used a facial wipe - this worked for me but again, I am the sort who likes a 'clean feel' face at the end of the day so its an individual thing.

Garnier Pure Active Exfo-Brusher Review

I was in Singapore recently and I picked this little thingamajig up when I saw it at Guardian Pharmacy. It's called Pure Active Exfo-Brusher from Garnier and what caught my attention was the brush like attachment at the top ~ although I must say the tester at the pharmacy was a little grimy looking....ewww! That did not put me off though so I purchased one to try. Apart from the brush, the other thing that caught my attention was the claim that the product would eventually fade acne scars. I do have a spot or two which I am in the process of trying to rub into oblivion and I thought that this could give it the much needed boost it needs.

It is a big bottle and you get 150ml's of product. I have been using this on and off for two weeks and I am quite pleased with what I am experiencing so far.

To begin with, I do have oily skin and this leads to the occassional breakout or two. As a result, I do have a few marks on my face, which is why I was interested to see if there was any truth to the claim that this will help diminish acne scars as well as lessen the sebum production a little too.

The active ingredient in this product is 2% Salicylic Acid. For those who would like to know, here is a little information on Salicylic Acid taken from E-How.com:-

• Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid derived from the bark of a willow tree. It has both cosmetic and medicinal uses. It is often found in skin care products because of its ability to treat acne, psoriasis, warts and other skin conditions.
• Salicylic acid has many cosmetic benefits and is usually used to treat blemishes. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid works by causing the cells of the epidermis to shed properly. This prevents the pores of the skin from getting clogged up and being infected with bacteria. It's basically a chemical agent that aids in the process of exfoliation by eliminating surface skin cells and opening up pores.

The Good:

The Exfo-Brusher head has180 ultra soft flexi-bristles which together with the liquid cleanser that it dispenses works to clean the face and exfoliate at the same time. I thought this was really unique that an exfoliator did not come with harder bristles to really rub the life out of your skin....so this was a pleasant surprise indeed.

What I did like about the product is the smell of the cleanser - it is fresh, pleasant and clean smelling and not at all cloying which is a big put off for me. The soft bristles was also another bonus and this meant that I would have to deal with a red face or be afraid of how much pressure I assert on it as I am scrubbing my face. I did like the lovely soft scrubbing sensation on my face as I used it. It cleans my quite oily face without leaving it taut and dry. My skin feels truly clean after washing with this.



To ensure maximum benefits, you need to turn the bottle upside down and press until some of the liquid comes out of the little hole in the middle of the brush (as you can see from the photo below). The cleanser is not gel like but rather very runny so you need to be sure that you do not over squeeze like I did the first time. This results in a lot of the product dribbling down the sides. Thoroughly wet your face and begin brushing this in a circular motion all over your face. For obvious reasons and you will see as you look at how the brush head is designed, this is not meant for more delicate areas such as the area under your eyes. I stay away from that area and concentrate more on five areas :- my cheeks; my forehead; my chin; my nose as well as my neck. A little bit of the product can go a long way as I use one generous squeeze for all these areas.

The cleanser is not overly foamy too which suits me fine.

I find that this product is more effective on a face that is devoid of makeup - so I do not use this when I get back from work to remove make-up. I remove my make up with moist towels which come pre-soaked in cleansing oil and then I wash with a cleanser. I keep this exfo-brusher for when I wash my face just before I go to bed. I like the slight tingly feel of a well cleansed face and you do get a tingly clean feel because the scrubbing action gets your circulation going and prepares the face well for night lotions and potions!

 

What Can Be Improved:

I think the overall design can be improved a little. For starters, the brush head is a little too big. If it were smaller, I would be better able to handle it and target specific areas. I found the areas on the bridge of my nose and around the nose area generally hard to handle because of the big brush head.

Also, the bottle becomes harder to manage when your hands are wet and soapy. I suggest rubber grips on the side to give more control over it's use.

If the cleanser was a little thicker, this can prevent too much product from dripping out as you turn it over to dispense the liquid.

I cannot comment on whether it has lightened my acne marks, because I have not used it long enough. I am not keeping my hopes up high but if there are any noticeable changes in a month or so,then I will report back.

Neutrogena Wave Power Cleanser

I saw this thingamajig being reviewed on You Tube about 6 months ago and was instantly drawn to how it worked and whether it would be effective so I hopped on to Drugstore.com and put in my order via a spree.

It so small and cute and best of all it vibrates! Wink wink!! I stumbled upon this little image when I was looking for one of the whole set in the box as I opened mine without taking a picture....

The Neutrogena Wave Power Cleanser as it is called is a gently vibrating tool with a round pad that is pre-soaked with facial foam and attached to the head of the device. You attach the slightly abrasive pad to the head, wet the pad slightly and switch it on then gently massage it all over your face in a circular motion.

 Focus on the areas that are rougher - in my case, on my forehead and chin. Keep adding water to the pad as it dries so you get a good lather. You will feel a slight tingly sensation as the solution works on your skin. I also feel incredibly relaxed as I am using this due to the vibration on my face!

We all know that exfoliation is key to revealing and maintaining clear skin and the Wave is an affordable tool that can assist in this process. This product/device will help in unclogging pores and this in turn will allow your skincare lotions and potions to sink deeply into the epidermis thus receiving the total and full benefit of it. Other benefits of deep exfoliation are also the fact that your moisturizer will be absorbed better and your foundation will also glide on easily and not be patchy.

Whats there to love about my new gadget? Plenty!

• I control how much pressure I use when I exfoliate with this product. This is really important for those with sensitive skin and the amount of pressure you use with this product can be controlled. Gentle circular motions is what I use on most of my face but areas such as my chin and forehead, I tend to press a little more.
• It is ergonomically designed as it fits into the palm of my hand and its rounded design with its rubberized textured grip on the sides means I can hold it comfortably without the fear of it slipping. It is also ultra light.
• Comes with a velcro top which makes the circular pad stick fast. 
• The pad also comes pre-soaked with a foaming wash which is convenient - and I like the fresh and non overpowering smell of it. Once you begin exfoliating your face with this, the solution on the pad gives a sort of tingly feeling which I really like. 
• It can be used in the shower and there is no fear of getting it wet. 
• Skin feels much softer and brighter after use.
• The kit comes with one AA battery and a two week supply of the disposable cleansing pads. How nice is that!! I hate it when I rip open a product to use and have to immediately go out and buy batteries as well as refills of the thing, so this was great in that I was able to use it from the word go!

• It comes in pink, turquoise, or apple-green color and since I bought it online, I was not able to specify what color I wanted. Of course you already know that I would have so chosen pink!!
• I like that this is convenient and small and that I don’t have to deal with many fiddly bits before I can use it. You just switch it on (which is a small button on the bottom of the gadget) and go.

 Here is a section of my cheek after a few minutes of using the Wave. As you can see, there is a small amount of foam.

Neutrogena claims that this device is clinically proven superior to manual cleansing in three ways:

1. 100% of women showed significantly deeper pore cleansing from its penetrating cool foam

2. Its massaging, vibrating action opens pores to remove dirt, oil, and makeup and stimulates the skin’s surface

3. You’ll see immediate softer, smoother skin after just one use

 I experienced a deeper pore clansing in the form of fresh feeling and clean skin right after cleansing with this product and my skin did feel smoother and softer after one use. However, if you have sensitive skin, I would not suggest that you use this everyday - as the package says you can - you might aggravate your skin. I use it about once or twice at the most per week and that is enough for me.

My only gripe about this product is the fact that the cleansing pads are for single use only which seems wasteful to me. But for hygenic reasons, it is best to discard it after each use. I may try using a regular cotton pad and a drop of my own cleanser to see if it is as effective although I doubt it.

The good news is that a few months after I purchased this for USD7.99, I spied it at our very own Guardian Pharmacy for around RM 50 plus! They sold out pretty quickly but the cleansing pads were readily available at the Neutrogena counters. If you want a deep cleanse and an at home exfoliator then this will be right up your alley!