The Sunscreen Edition UPDATE!!

So way back in October in 2015 I did a post on my Suncreen Haul.  I had intended using each for a week and then updating, but thought it would be better to go the whole spring and summer before updating so I could tell you my opinion based on longer, daily use.

It will be short and sweet because there was a clear winner.

If you recall, I was comparing the Nivea Sun Light Daily Face Veil SPF 30, Olay Complete Defence Moisturisiing Lotion SPF 30+ and Hamilton Sunscreen SPF 50+ Everyday Face Cream.

The winner, that I have used ALL summer, is the Hamilton Sunscreen SPF 50+ Everyday Face Cream,  I will definitely repurchase once I've used it all up.  This did not irritate at all.  It sinks into the skin really quickly and because its tinted there is no white cast.  I did not get burnt (sun or chemically) while wearing this at all.  Its gold!  I have only found it at Chemist Warehouse.

The worst - Nivea Sun Light Daily Face Veil SPF 30.  I used it for a week.  I could not use it anymore.  It irritated my skin and was not a nice sunscreen to apply.  I'm using it up by using on my arms/legs.  It is going nowhere near my face.

Meh - Olay Complete Defence Moisturisiing Lotion SPF 30+.  It did not offend me, but it did not wow me like the Hamiltons.  I will try to use this up before I repurchase the Hamiltons.

What is your favourite Suncreen?

Sheet Mask Reviews - Nice Rice and Blah Bamboo

Two sheet masks, from different families, both alike in dignity.

But no.

Missha 3D Bamboo Sheet Mask - I bought this in April in one of my first hauls from RoseRoseShop.  I dont like it. It has a design that makes it "3D" by having a seam down the centre to join two halves.  But the fabric is CRISP.  It did not soften with heat from my face during the 15 un-fun minutes I kept it on for and it did dry out in that time frame.  There was not much essence left in the packet after as well.  Something in the ingredients irritated my skin slightly, or the fabric itself.  I did not see that much of a result from this.  I wont be repurchasing this and probably wont try others in Misshas 3D range.

Disappointment City

Oh but this mask!  Sasatinnie Rice Soothing Face Mask - I purchased this from Sasa in June.  I got three and wish I had bought more.  This has rice, hyaluronic acid and other goodies in it that my dry skin just loves.  This is the opposite of the Missha mask above.  I would say that this currently is my favourite Rice Based Sheet Mask.
I've left this mask on for up to 45 minutes and there was around 15 ml of essence in the packet which I decanted into a dropper bottle and used over the following days.  I wanted to use up all of the essence and if they sold the essence in a bottle I would definitely buy it!!

So unassuming yet such a star performer.
Much love.  Such wow.

The licorice noticeably brightens my skin. This is a very nice list of ingredients but I think the rice and licorice are the standouts. 

What sheet masks have surprised you or disappointed you?

ColorStay? ColorCling... (Revlon ColorStay Makeup for Normal to Dry Skin)

Sometimes I stray from my Rimmel Foundation.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
This was a purchase where I was "Oh look I'm an adult, gonna buy a different foundation yeah (and 40% off)".
I also thought - Revlon, good brand, nice to branch out to some other brands maybe.  I really like the Revlon Eye Primer - that provides great prep for my eyeshadows.  And their Photoready primer is also quite nice.

This is the shade Ivory .  Pretty much the palest shade in the Revlon range - yet too pale for me now, my skin tone has changed due to the inflammation from my allergies.  First world issues.  Most of the other Revlon foundations I tested were just too yellow for me, I cant remember what the second palest shade was like.  I think I might have a neutral skin tone but again, allergy/eczema flareups can mess with my skin tone, so I try to match my chest.

I did some research on this and actually thought it would be good for my skin because the name says "Normal to Dry Skin".  It should also say "if you have any slightest bit of dryness it will cling and clump and make your foundation look like a cracked surface".

Classy line there - shows the tonal difference clearly...

So far I have not been able to make this work, but I will endeavor with some primers and maybe even hack it with some oils.  Because it sets dry, powdery dry.  Which only serves to emphasise the dry and crepey skin I have around my eyes at the moment.

I have a specific gene mutation that is linked to dry skin/eczema and is characterised by extra lines on the top of the hand and the palm of the hand.  Y'all can SEE the lines clearly on my hands with this foundation.  Imagine that on your face.

I found this really hard to blend or buff out with both my brush and makeup sponge.  It was a very streaky application.  Also once it sets, it sets and trying to add more layers doesn't work well.

I feel a bit let down by this foundation.  The formula does not moisturise at all and seems to actually suck the moisture out from my skin in a remarkably short time.  Within a half-hour I had the foundation doing the highly unattractive "cling to dry patches" that my Rimmel foundation does after 6 or so hours.  Also the lack of being able to layer nicely - I prefer to do several thin layers of foundation to build up my coverage.

Oh and I'm annoyed at myself for not picking up that there is Salicylic Acid in the ingredients list until now.  Stupid me - I would be interested to see how this works on oily skin, despite being marketed as "Normal to Dry".

What foundations have let you down?

Sheet Mask Review : LoveMore Rosa Hybrida Whitening Mask Sheet

Le Sigh.
Short and sweet today.

In case we had not figured out yet, I love roses : the flowers, the scent, the turkish-delight.
This mask did not make me sigh with joy or satisfaction.

The scent is a lovely light rose, so that was nice.

But apart from that, ehhhhh meh. I think I only left it on for 15 minutes.  This was not a soothing mask for me.  The sheet was very thin and a bit delicate - I think I prefer something heftier in my masks.  The mask has a blue backing plastic and another fabric-y backing so you need to take it out of another package after you take it out of its package.... I don't mind one backing layer but this was fiddly and I was worried I was going to tear the mask itself.

There was something in the ingredients which irritated my skin, so there was a "reddening" not a "whitening" effect.  And that is not desirable.  I cant pinpoint exactly what it was however which is somewhat useless.  I am going to assume it is not the rose ingredients them-self as I have used pure rose water before with no irritation and currently use a rose-water based toner (my routine has changed....massively.  Update as soon as I get the photos done!).  Maybe the sea-water (which I can test as I have amassed quite a few "sea-water" based masks) or a preservative (which does seem more likely with my allergies).

It came in a box of 5, so I will give it another whirl, but if its still irritating then I shall gift them to my sheet-mask buddy.

Would I repurchase - no.  I have several other rose flavoured masks to try in my stash (I, uh, counted them yesterday and I have around 118 sheet masks.  I've got a fair few to get through) and this was not memorable enough to be repurchased immediately (like the SkinFood Snails - got two backup boxes in my last haul from RRS!!).

What favourite flavour/ingredient of yours has let you down before?

Subscription Boxes

These are really popular at the moment and I thought I would go through my experience with BellaBox.  I haven't tried any other subscription boxes yet.

I got lured in by the physical box the items can in.  I'm a sucker for a pretty box.  Its a Tiffany blue with with polka dots.  I have kept all the boxes!  So Pretty!

So grumpy I refuse to use a real picture of their box...

I got $5 off my first box (as is the norm with most services) and then paid $15 per month (included postage).  I started in May 2014 and cancelled after I got the December 2014 box. So about $130 in total.  Did I get more than that in value with products?  In total, yes.  In usable products, I would say $40.

Recently they have now added $2.95 P&H.  So it will now be $17.95/month

BellaBox lure you in with a survey where you fill out seemingly pertinent details, like skin type (dry), preferred interests (makeup types, vs skincare vs haircare).  They do state that they pick a feature each month to focus on.

In the 9 boxes I got, there were maybe 7 products I liked and 5 of those I loved, and they were 3 makeup products (all full size) and 1 face primer (foil sample sachet) and one full sized skin-care product (cuticle cream).  Usually there were 5 products in a box, from full sized to foil sachets. Majority of the boxes I received had supermarket/Priceline products like Vaseline, Aveeno or Palmers.  Product ranges that have testers at Priceline at least.  Generally the Palmers sample were the little foil sachets.  I will say that Vaseline and Aveeno had little bottles, which were good for my handbag.

My biggest grievance is that I specifically stated in my survey that I had dry and sensitive skin.  I continually got products for oily skin.  So I couldn't use them. I also got sick of getting the "natural" products because these often contain fruits and such that make me have an anaphylactic reaction.

I did contact them about the fact that in my December Box there were 5 items I could not use.  The response I got was completely unsatisfactory.

No point in paying for a box of samples if you cant use 80% of the items...

So at this stage of the game, I'm not planning on subscribing to any other boxes.  I would prefer to go and use the sample in Priceline/Chemist Warehouse for a patch test and go from these. Thus saving money and stress.  Or order samples online where I can read the ingredients list and make a judgement based on knowledge instead of relying on "the luck of the draw".

My number 1 rule : If I cant sample it or test it, I dont bother with it.

I don't care what claims a company can make, if I cant try it, my money will not pay for it.

So if you have allergies and sensitive skin, think twice before using the subscription box.  It's treated too often as a "one size fits all". Which we know, is not the case.

What products have you received in a subscription box that were just a no-go?

ps. Why the hell would I use a primer that has tea-tree oil in it if I have dry and sensitive skin!!!!