Review: Marks & Spencer China Blue

I rarely repurchase products based mainly on scent. There's just so much out there to try and it's hard to stay loyal. On my 18th birthday, however (man that was so long ago), I received two bottles of those exquisitely scented Marks & Spencer body lotions--typical gifts, right? One I gave to my mom, and the other... well, let's just say that bottle has long since been emptied and its twins and sisters are now residing in my stash.

From L-R: Hand and body lotion, talcum powder, hand and nail cream

Review: Celeteque Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15 and its twin

In my last contest I noticed that many readers, more often than not, use drugstore products. I can't fault you girls and guys on that one, since they're locally and widely available, plus there's more than enough variety to choose from. Today's review is of a product that is not only easy to find, but is an awesome find as well: Celeteque facial moisturizer with SPF 15.

Review: Johnson's Baby Creamy Oil Cocoa & Shea Butter

It is now that time of year where I want nothing more than to bundle up in cozy knits and shawls. While the cool weather is awesome, it does not bode well for our skin as the low temperature tends to strip moisture from the surface. Dryness also aggravates psoriasis, so moisturizing becomes even more of a priority for me. My weapon of choice is Johnson's baby creamy oil, which I first featured in my skincare routine (which I need to update now, haha).

Review: Clinique Superdefense SPF 25 PA+++

Moisturizer is the one skincare product I cannot live without (lipbalm is second). I don't mind going out of the house with nary a trace of makeup on, as long as I have moisturized beforehand. I was able to get a very generous sample size of Clinique Superdefense SPF 25/PA +++ at the Clinique party last April, which I started using around May. I am about to run out of it in a matter of days so I figured it was time for a review.

Description (from Sasa.com):

Clinique SUPERDEFENSE SPF25 Age Defense Moisturizer is the four-dimension protection against the effects of sun, stress and time. This daily moisturizer delivers all-rounded protection to help skin combat the elements that conspire to age skin, Start at the first signs if aging and you can virtually help deactivate skin’s visible responses—lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone. Even enhance the barrier function that keeps skin firm and supple.

It stabilizes sunscreen for protection against UVA (the aging rays) and UVB (the burning rays).

It prompts skin’s defenses into full alert mode, boosting a natural repair response.

It helps skin deflect the visible effects of emotional stress—those fight or flight reactions—that can start a cascade of damage within skin, surfacing as lines, wrinkles, uneven tone.

Price & Amount: Php 2,950 for 50mL

Review: Cetaphil UVA/UVB Defense SPF 50

I've been reading beauty blogs and catching up on makeup & skincare on the Internet for a couple of years now, and I've never read any skincare-related topic that would say DON'T wear sunscreen. I grew up associating the idea of wearing sunscreen only with swimming though. It was this thick, goopy lotion that came out of a pink and blue bottle:

Photo credit: Amazon. Memories anyone?

It had a smell which I kinda liked and it tasted yucky (did so accidentally and a long long time ago, ok? :) ). When I read about needing to wear sunscreen even when you're not headed for the pool, I didn't like the idea. Sunscreen feels sticky and has a very distinct smell. Did I want that to be with me everyday?

Hence the search for a good sunscreen. The one I'll review today is the Cetaphil UVA/UVB Defense SPF 50.

Photo credit: DermaDoctor

Description (on box and bottle): This light, non-greasy moisturizer nourishes and hydrates your skin while also protecting it from the sun's harmful rays.

• Broad Spectrum Sunscreen
• Protection from UVA and UVB Radiation
• Non-comedogenic
• Non-greasy
• Fragrance free

Price & Amount: I was able to buy this in Duty Free for around $17 (P748 with $1 = P44) for 50mL / 1.7 fl. oz. I have only ever seen it there and not in our Watsons or Mercury Drug pharmacies, so while this isn't exactly locally unavailable, it's hard to find. (Edit: Kira commented below that it's available in Watsons for P800+. Thanks, Kira! When I find it I'll update this again for the exact price.)

Packaging: While doing my research (a.k.a. Google), I found that when this first came out it was in a typical squeeze-tube bottle that could fit in one's pocket. The version I have now is slimmer and with a pump, so it's very hygienic. The expiry date is embedded on the top part of the bottle, so you never forget when you should throw it out. You may have to push the pump several times to get product out, but one pump gives a small enough amount of product for you to gauge how much you need. For the face, I used two pumps.

Review: Though marketed as a moisturizer, this one of the few Cetaphil products that contain SPF. I was very excited when I saw this because I had been looking for a facial sunscreen, and I have good memories of Cetaphil's facial wash. For a moisturizer the consistency is a bit thick, but not goopy. if you consider it as a sunscreen it's actually a bit on the runny side. Spreading it around gives a slight white cast and takes some time to absorb, and if not spread evenly enough, would be rather obvious for a skincare product. The fragrance-free claim to me only means that there was no added fragrance, but did not mean that the product was unscented. It still had that sunscreen smell, but I couldn't smell it anymore when I applied it on my face.

Though non-greasy, it did leave my face more shiny than usual. The first time I tried it a few months ago, I wore it under a layer of BB cream. I was horrified halfway through the morning when I looked in the mirror and discovered that my face was rather shiny--I have dry, sensitive skin, and that amount of shine that early in the day was new to me. Today when I put it on, it stung my eye and mouth areas. :(

Conclusion? I am disappointed. If there is one thing you need about a sunscreen for the face, it's supposed to be gentle and non-greasy, and Cetaphil provided neither. To be fair, the BB cream I used usually had a bit of a dewy effect on my face so that might have contributed to it. Also, my face started getting really sensitive due to the weather, but this experience has made me afraid of trying it again. I might in the summer, though. If it still doesn't work then, I'll just use it on the rest of my body instead. The hunt for a sunscreen continues...