Review: Clinique City Block Sheer 25 SPF

Dear Clinique, what's wrong with your sunscreen formulation? It's too oily and it pilling/ball up upon application. It might work for those living in colder climate, but, let me say this plain and straightforward, don't bother selling this thing in Malaysia, it's too humid and hot here.

More than that, why sell something with such a horrible formulation? Each time I put it on, it would ball up. This make it impossible to reapply without the fuss of brushing off the ball up sunscreen of my face.

Another thing that really make me unhappy about this product is the fact that it's oily despite the claim of being oil-free. I'd done the test checking the oil content, Revlon Colorstay pass with flying colors while this sunscreen fail miserably. There's just too much oil in it.
As you can see from the picture above, the product separates. It annoys me, but the good thing is that, I could remove most of the oil in this product by letting the oily phase of the separated product to flow out first. Doing this improve the product application significantly.
The product is tinted to reduce the white-ish look caused by the sunscreen, but the tint does not provide coverage. The scent of this product is typical of Clinique sunscreen. I dunno how to describe it. I think it's quite similar to Banana Boat sunscreen.

The only way to make this horrible product works is by mixing it with foundation. Foundation with will make the product stop from balling-up during application. But the suncreen would make the foundation a lil harder to blend. Well, I think that's a good compromise as I want to finish the product ASAP.

Not recommended and will never ever purchase the full size. Why would I, it's over priced for something that works terribly. Plus, it doesn't have UVA protection.

p/s: I think you can tell how much I hate this stuff.

Review: Clinique Turnaround Concentrate Visible Skin Renewer

I'm just gonna write a short review for this product.

• Basically it's an chemical exfoliation serum.
• liquid-y consistency.
• feels light
• not drying
• I could only see minor exfoliation occur. The exfoliation mainly happens on the acne scars.
• After approx. 2 weeks, I could hardly see any improvement in my skin condition.
• From gossmakeupartist video in YouTube, I learn that this product pH is 5. A bit too high for a chemical exfoliation product to work. AHA/BHA usually need acidic pH to really work. This product might suit those with sensitive skin.
• Price: RM190 for 30ml, RM250 for 50ml....tooooooo expensive!!!!
• Would not repurchase.

Bottom line, too expensive and it doesn't really work.

p/s: I'm supposed to be busy writing abstract for a conference in September. But I'm too lazy to do anything...gah~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (funny thing is, I still have time to write a blog post. LOL)

Review: Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief

Moisture Surge, I'd always wanted to try this product, but unwilling to fork out RM160 for 50ml without testing it out first. When I ask for sample of this product, the Clinique SA run out of the sample and gave me sample of All About Eyes instead. I finally got the chance when I received Clinique mail with card to redeem free sample. Luckily Moisture Surge sample was in stock when I redeem it.

The sample comes in jar packaging, similar with the full size product. As usual, I wish it's in airless pump bottle or squeeze tube. The product itself is in light salmon color with faint scent, I'm don't know how describe the scent.It is oil-free formulation that is suitable for any skin type or climate. Texture of this product is much lighter than DDML but heavier than DDM Gel. The product spread on the skin smoothly leaving silky soft feeling on the skin. Compared to DDMGel containing dimethicone as main base, Moisture Surge have cyclopentasiloxane (CPS) instead. CPS is a type of silicone that has light consistency which makes it spread and spread other substance mixed with it easily. CPS is volatile, thus it evaporated and leave behind a silky soft feel on your skin. CPS is said to be more effective than dimethicone which may explains why Moisture Surge is better than DDM Gel.

Besides CPS, other ingredients includes plant based extracts from birch bark, lady's thistle, green tea, aloe, extracts or ferment from microbes such as yeast and Thermus thermophillus, hyaluronic acid, caffeine, dimethicone, glycerine, lecithin, sucrose, etc. You can always check online for ingredients full list.

From my experience using this product, I could actually observe CPS on action. When I first applied the product, it feels thick and wet but spread easily, and within 2 minutes, the thick and wet feeling gone leaving well moisturised skin that feels soft and supple. The softness and suppleness last for a long time. As example, I applied it around 10pm and wake up the next day, 8 hours later with my skin still have that *boing-boing* suppleness.

Since using this product, my skin become less oily over time, this show that the product really moisturise well. Since my skin is well moisturise, less oil produced. Awesome huh!? This product also doesn't cause my skin to break out which is always a good point.

There are only two negatives I can find from this product, first is the packaging, second is the steep price for small volume. For comparison purpose, DDMGel cost RM150 for 125ml. Moisture Surge cost RM160 for 50ml.

Would I purchase this product in full size? I don't know, it's just too expensive. I love this moisturiser, but for a student budget, I might have to settle with only DDMGel first.

Would I recommend it? If you have RM160 to spare, why don't! Just make sure you're not allergic to the product. On second thought, it's better to find cheaper dupe. I bet there are cheaper and better products out there. Moisture Surge is simply overpriced.


Reference: http://thebeautybrains.com/2006/09/27/what-is-cyclopentasiloxane/

Review: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

This one is the only product from the 3-step skin care system that I actually like. I even used it to revived dried up cream eyeliner, read about it here.

There are lotion version of this moisturiser and I'd tried from sample given during Clinique workshop last year. I find Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion or DDML is too heavy for my oily. It simply doesn't "sink" into my skin and leave a layer of film that make me feel suffocated. Whenever I used DDML, I'll blot the excess and then only I proceed to other step.

When I bought the full size product, I got the gel version, DDM Gel. It look very similar to original version, the packaging, the product color, even the scent. It come it a bottle with a very awesome pump. I find it is very easy to control how much product to take out with this pump. From a tiny dot to a full pump. The pump comes with a cap instead of lock mechanism that is used for the facial soap.The texture of this DDM Gel is incredibly light. So light that at times, I thought 1 pump is not enough. Actually 1 pump is adequate for the whole face. The main ingredient includes dimethicone (silicone oil) that gives it the smooth slippery feel of silicon based facial primer. With much lighter texture and oil-free formula, this product works great for my combination/oily skin and in humid weather.

Once applied, this product "sink" right into my skin, making it feel hydrated and smoother. The product works well as day moisturiser, but too light as night cream. Besides working as facial moisturiser, I find it also work great as a quick fix to dry hair. I simply apply it on damp hair like leave-on conditioner. I also applied it on my lips as quick fix to chapped lips, it works like magic for that purpose.

Reapplying the product few times doesn't make it feel heavy, it simply "sink" onto my skin. The formulation doesn't cause my skin to break out. It also doesn't caused clogged pores (it's something else that clogged my pores last time).

Despite the name, there's nothing dramatic about this product. It is just a very good moisturiser. Nothing more, nothing less. It come close at being a HG item, but doesn't make it.

Eventho the initial cost during purchase quite high, RM150 for 125ml, it last a very long time, I used it since October 2010 and I still left with about 1/4 in the bottle.

Would I repurchase? Of course! it works and a bottle last a long time. A perfect day moisturiser for my combo/oily skin

Would I recommend it? If you have combination/oily skin, or simply live in a very humid place, give this product a try.

Review: Clinique Clarifying Lotion 3

According to the Clinique SA, this toner is their star product. Clinique claimed this product is difference maker in their 3-step skin care system. The selling point is gentle exfoliation (chemical exfoliation) that remove dull dead skin cell revealing healthier layer skin. This product is formulated for those with combination oily skin.

The ingredient includes whole lots of denatured alcohol (ugh), water, glycerin, witch hazel, butylene glycol, salicylic acid, acetyl glucosamine, hyaluronic acid, and some other ingredients including colorings.

It come in a simple packaging, with screw top bottle that I hate a lot. For a quite expensive product, a pump should be included. Clinique can make cleanser and moisturiser with good pump, why not package the toner the same way!? Anyway, the bottle design cause a lot wastage. So I decant some in a smaller pump bottle and I noticed I used the same volume for a longer period.


This toner have strong alcohol scent since it is mainly denatured alcohol. When I first applied it, it stings and dried up my skin, after a week, my skin starts to tolerate the toner better. It is important to apply this toner gently, don't rub it hard or your skin will be so irritated and it become red and it sting. See how harsh it is?

I use this product since early October 2010. I have high expectation for this product and I'm very disappointed. It does work in reducing pimples, but it does very little in reducing blackheads and whiteheads. Not much oil control too. Even with claims of gentle daily exfoliation, I didn't see my skin becoming smoother from the use of this product. I don't like the fact that it is drying. In a nut shell, it's not a miracle worker, nor it is the difference maker. Furthermore, I suspect the chemical exfoliation is not enough since my clogged pores is not reduced with used of this products. Only after I includes physical exfoliation in my skin care routine that clogged pores dramatically reduced. So much for the toner helps unclogging pores. I'm so disappointed.

I concluded that this particular clarifying lotion is harsh for my skin, so I ask the Clinique SA advise for toner with least amount of alcohol, but she keep pushing me to get the same one or the one from anti-blemish solutions range when she see my post-acne blemish infested cheeks. I end up buying nothing from her, and bought The Body Shop Seaweed Clarifying that claim to work for combination oily skin, but much less harsher than it's Clinique counterpart.

I would not repurchase it since there are tonnes of toner out there that works better than this one, at cheaper price too. I also would not recommend this one due to it's high content denatured alcohol.

Extras:

I think I have to stress it here that I'm disappointed with this toner due to many outrages claims that Clinique made about their toner. It's just a toner. Nothing special, at least for me.

For comparison purpose, this Clinique Clarifying Lotion 3 cost RM115 for 400ml. So, that is RM28.75 per 100ml

Meanwhile, The Body Shop Seaweed Clarifying Toner (pretty much the same purpose minus the exfoliation properties) cost RM 38 for 200ml. So that is RM19 per 100 ml.

So that is RM9.75 difference for 100ml.

p.s: It's not that I hate Clinique, I do love some of their products, but this toner in particular is not up to my liking.

Review: Clinique Liquid Facial Shop Oily Skin Formula

[For review of this cleanser in Mild version, click here. ]I bought this product early October 2010 and I used almost everyday ever since. It comes in pump bottle for 200ml and squeeze tube for smaller volumes or samples. I adore the pump, you can easily control how much product you want to pump out. The pump design is very neat. It also have lock mechanism that help prevents wastage.
It have typical consistency of liquid soap. It's clear with faint scent. To use this product, I pump tiny bit onto my palm, mix it with some water, lather it and rub it lightly on my face. Usually I do this twice. The first time is to remove all the dirt, makeup residue and sebum. The second one is to clean the skin. If I'm wearing heavy makeup, I'll repeat as necessary until the rinsing water is clear.

You don't need to use whole pump to clean your face, 1/4 or 1/3 of a pump is enough. Just remember to lather it up before using it on your face. Diluted with enough water, it would lather up nicely with small bubbles that is great for picking impurities on your skin surface.
I'm a firm believer of double cleansing, use makeup remover first, then the facial cleanser. I would never feel my skin is clean with I skip either one. From my experience using this facial cleanser, it's not enough to remove your makeup. I learn this the hard way. My skin break out when I skip the makeup remover. However, if I double cleanse, this facial cleanser will remove makeup residue effectively. Another thing to take note of is that this product doesn't remove waterproof products, unlike my old The Body Shop cleanser.

It's a no-nonsense product. At times, I feel this cleanser is a lil drying for my oily skin and it make my skin feels little tight, but the oil control properties is not much. It does great job cleansing and make my skin feels fresher

Eventho it cost a little high during initial purchase (RM78 for 200ml), it last for a very long time. I'd been using this bottle for about 5 months and I still have 1/3 left. This could easily last for one year if I learn earlier that 1 pump is too much. Would I repurchase? Maybe. It's good, but not great.

Review: Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild

This facial shop is not much different from the one for oily skin formula. You can read review for oily skin formula version here.

But of course this version as its name say is much milder. I can feel that it's milder since it doesn't make my skin feel dry and tight after washing my face. Just like the other version, a lil goes a long way and it lather up easily to tiny tiny bubbles. I prefer this mild version better than the oily skin formula. Usually, Clinique samples comes in 7ml volume, for this product however, the sample comes in 15ml. That is a lot and could easily last about 2 weeks or so. The sample packaging is simple squeeze tube with perfect size opening. Too big, you waste the product, too little, it'll become annoying.

Would I repurchase? I might buy this one in full size to replace the oily skin formula.

Review: Clinique Superdefense SPF 25 Age Defense Moisturiser.

One thing I'm not fond of Clinique is their product long weird name. Instead of eye cream, it's All About Eyes. Instead of face moisturiser, it's Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion, etc. Okay, enough with the rant, straight to the review.

I got a 7ml sample jar for this moisturiser with sunscreen last year. It's been almost 6 months since I last used this stuffs. Quite a long time, but I still remember a lot of things about this product.
The sample come in jar, just like the full size product (of course the packaging a lil different). It's not bad, but I would prefer squeeze tube over jar any day for sunscreen. I'm not into digging my finger into the jar. I'm not sure if the sample I got is for Dry/Combo skin or for Combo/Oily skin. The product itself is white color with creamy consistency, almost like cream on cake. I like the scent of this product, as a sunscreen, it smells really nice, I say, it smells like food. LOL.

7ml of the product last quite sometimes since a lil goes a long way. Of course, with sunscreen, you want to reapply every few hours if its possible. I give this product the most stringent test it could go for, an archery competition. The day was very sunny and hiding under the tent doesn't do much preventing exposure from UV light. I used this product on my face and reapply every 2 hours, that's about 3-4 times during the competition. My skin tone doesn't darken after the competition which tells you that the product actually works. I used it again during Rainforest World Music Festival, it's the kind of event where you want to stock up sunscreen. Basically, it works protecting my skin from harsh sunlight.

So, basically the product works. But I find it to be a too oily for my skin type and humid weather. Often I found the oiliness of this product causing my mascara to smudge like crazy causing great embarrassment. I end up using this on days I'm not wearing makeup.

Despite the greasiness/ oiliness, it doesn't cause my skin to break out. It moisturise pretty well (but too greasy for me) and protect from UVA and UVB ray. For the price, I would rather get sunscreen from Mentholatum or Biore which have better formulation and lower price. I think this product would work better for those with drier skin.

Edit: the greasiness is due to the very emolient properties of this product (thanks Jen). I read from other reviews, this product would be great for winter.

Some Haul - Clinique Samples and Non-Cosmetics Products

I'm still on makeup shopping ban, so, strictly speaking, I can't buy any cosmetics product except one that I'm run out and actually need. However, I'm lucky enough to get mails from Clinique and given two cards to redeem few of their products sample. The sale assistant kind enough to allow me to redeem the expired card.She gave Liquid Facial Soap Mild (15ml), City Block Sheer SPF25 (7ml) with keychain, Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief (7ml) and Turnaround Concentrate (7ml). I'm pretty happy with the SA except for the fact she keep urging me to get the the Anti-Blemish Solutions when I actually specifically told her I'm wanted to know about toner that is milder than Clarifying Lotion 3. I think it can't be help since the Anti-Blemish Solutions 3-Step Skin Care is a lil bit more expensive than the normal one.

Next is I got some non-cosmetics products. I bought extra virgin olive oil, Sunsilk shampoo and conditioner, Carefree pantiliner, Darlie toothpaste and Oral-B toothbrush.

I'm in love with extra virgin olive oil. I think EVOO will permanently replace my favourite Maybelline Eye and Lip Make Up Remover.

p/s: My giveaway gonna ends tonight. I think I would announce the winner tomorrow or the next day.

DIY: Reviving Dried Up Cream Eyeliner.

Gel and cream eyeliner for me is one of the best makeup product for eyelining. Pencil liner, regardless of quality smudge on me, liquid eyeliner? I wish I have steady hands and I always managed to transfer the liner to my upper lid. So gel/cream liner is the only thing that works for me.

Typical gel/cream eyeliner packaged in jar with very large opening. The opening cause moisture in the product evaporated and we're left with dried up liner. Any gel or cream eyeliner will dried up, it's just matter of time. Even MAC paint pot dried up in its glass jar. There are even cases when the eyeliner arrived to the customer dried up (this happens a lot with Coastal Scents gel liner)

There are few tips on preventing gel/cream eyeliner from drying up

1. Keep in glass jar. I don't really know why, but I keep hearing people talking about how gel or cream product in glass jar didn't dried up as fast as the one in plastic jar.
2. Cap the jar tightly.
3. Store it upside-down.

At times, even with all those prevention measures, the eyeliner still drying up. That's what happened to my ELF Studio Cream Eyeliner. I had it since June/July and boy, it actually shrink significantly since it starts drying up. The eyeliner become harder and harder, and I had to swirl my brush and waste so many product to make it soft enough to line my eyes. I'm not willing to throw it away. So I take out some and mix it baby oil, it become creamy again, but it smudge terribly. I wanted to try using MAC Fix+, but then I have to go out and buy one.

And then, one day, an awesome makeup guru uploaded a video in YouTube and it's the very video that I need to revive my eyeliner! Koren aka EnKoreMakeup come up with a way to revive gel eyeliner, so I thought it might work for cream eyeliner too. Go and watch the video, you'll see what a genius Koren is :) In the video, he explains what actually happen, how to solve the problem and share some useful tips.


After I watched the video, I was too excited to try it, but I don't have any product that he actually used in the video. So, I have to postpone it. Luckily, I thought of using Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. Why? Because it contains a few different silicone derivative, glycerine and it's in gel form. Everything that I need to revive my liner in one product!

Number referring to picture below:

1. Dried up cream liner - can you see how it shrinks away from the jar wall. It's hard and I have to really swirl my brush to soften it up.
2. I add about 4 pumps of Clinique DDM Gel [pic 4]. And the I mix the DDM Gel and liner and heat it up hair dryer.
3. It would turn out to something like this.

If you didn't heat the mixture long enough, the liner will smudge/transfer [pic 5]. So, heat it up a bit longer (make sure it doesn't boil), until the liner melt and mix nicely with the DDM Gel. In pic 6, you can see no smudging and the liner pigmentation is still good.

I had tried my eyeliner few times after I revived it. It works well, just like when I first started using it. The pigmentation is still good, it doesn't smudge and long lasting.

Hooray for Koren! Hooray for revived eyeliner! Hooray!!!

Review and Swatches: Silkygirl Moisture Rich Sunny Lipstick and Clinique High Impact Honey Blush Lipstick

Left: Silkygirl Moisture Rich Sunny Lipstick
Right: Clinique High Impact Honey Blush Lipstick

I got my Silkygirl lipstick last September during buy one free one promotion, I bought Sunny, while my bestfriend bought Playful. Without promotion, I think it is priced around rm17 or so.
Sunny is orange coral shade without shimmer or glitter and applied sheer. It have faint scent, not sweet or floral scent, could be the lipstick ingredient smell. I think it is in cream finishes, when applied, it sort of melt like butter. Mind you, I know very little about lipstick since I'm more of lip-gloss girl. Usually I use this lipstick by mixing it with ELF Super Glossy Lip Shine in Mauve Luxe or Watermelon. Alone, this lipstick does not last long, maybe about 2-3 hours before it started fading. Well, I did not expect much from it. I'm not sure if I will repurchase, but since there tons of shades available, I might find one that I like.

I sort of won the Clinique lipstick during Clinique workshop at my university. The makeup artist ask everyone where is the most suitable place to check how a foundation suit your skin tone. I answer correctly and given this lipstick. Last time I check at the Clinique counter, the price of this lipstick is almost RM70. The one that I got come it Clinique green tube. But the one on the counter is in different tube. So I guess mine is sample type.

It is a very natural color, it's my MLBB (my lips but better) lipstick. Again, I'm not good at describing color, but I would desribe this as peachy nude. LOL. Ok, at least I tried. This lipstick is actually pigmented, however, since I have pigmented lips, it appeared nude. Did I make sense here? *sigh* Anyhoo, it feels slightly gritty when I apply it on because all the shimmer. I dislike frosty lipstick, and this one is almost frosty. But it's not that bad. This is my HG lipstick as I can't do wrong with this one. It is moisturising. I would only reapply during mid-day after lunch. Would I repurchase? I'm trying to finish up the tube that I have right now before it go bad. Maybe I'll repurchase it when Clinique comes to my university.

audreydao.com Reader of the Month Giveaway

Here is a giveaway by Audrey, I really enjoy her blog, especially the review.
click here to join.

Clinique Happy Day

I received Clinique Malaysia e-Newsletter December 2010 this morning and I guess I share it with you guys since they have pretty good offers. Click here

Hauls: L.A. Colors Clinique etc

Metallic Eyeshadow Palette -Mesmerize, Soiree, Tease. Only Soiree really catch my attention. I couldn't make Tease and Mesmerize work for me.
Dual Blush - Pink Mauve/Cranberry. So pigmented that I can't used it. I can't make myself apply blusher lightly.
Liquid Makeup -Tan. Too dark, and pretty much causing oily face
Lipstick - Matte Cranberry Red, Jazzy Red, Luscious Wine. all the shades pretty similar, funky smell but still a good lipstick
Nail Polish Remover. it's cheap and it works
Nail Lacquer - Ruby Slippers, Suede. both are nice shades and easy to apply, dry quite fast and last pretty long w/o base and top coat (about 1.5 weeks).

Clinique 3-step skin care, skin type 3, combination oily to oily. Cleanser - Good, not drying. Toner - Doesn't sting as much as Type 2. Moisturizing gel - Love~ work great for lips!

sample Clinique All About Eyes feels nice when applied, doesn't seem to reduced dark circle or anything.

Maybelline Eyes & Lips Make-up remover. Works wonder!
Lady Speed Stick Deodorant. Works okay
uptownvision All Over Shimmer. Swatch looks good

nail polishes and nail polish remover given by my sister, RDL papaya soap (this soap is bad for your skin!)