All posts filed under: beauty

Which sunscreens I use for what right now

Published by

I’ve three sunscreens in use right now. From left to right, Bioderma Photoderm MAX Lait SPF 50+, Eco Cosmetics Baby & Kids Sonnencreme LSF 50+ Neutral ohne Parfum, and Avène Hydrating Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+. For face, I use Bioderma Photoderm MAX Lait SPF 50+/PPD 42. It has super high UVA protection (as indicated by PPD value), the kind that protects the skin from accelerated ageing caused by sun exposure, which makes it ideal for the face, I say. It leaves barely any white cast, and dries down only slightly greasy as well as only slightly sticky on my normal skin. It has zero moisturizing properties, but it is not drying either. On my face, it works well without breaking me out or clogging my pores. At this point, I’ve been using this product for quite some time! For baby, I use Eco Cosmetics Baby & Kids Sonnencreme LSF 50+ Neutral ohne Parfum. Of course without perfume! It has a velvety texture when applied and leaves a noticeable, but completely acceptable, sheer white cast. It’s scored high in several …

My current skin care routine: How I recently had to save my skin

Published by

I had a bout of absolutely terrible skin just recently. For some reason or another, and I’m still not exactly sure as to why, it was super sensitive, burning, red, rough, flaky… It really peeled off in white dead skin all over – and looked as unattractive as that sounds. I immediately stopped using skin care containing alcohol or retinol, two of the factors I suspected were the culprits. But the problem actually persisted. So I decided to replace my entire skin care routine with products that I knew would serve me better. Before this flaky, dry skin episode, I had been using super generic, super boring German drugstore stuff and some choice Paula’s Choice stuff for probably half a year. My skin had become so good and well behaved, it didn’t take much to maintain it and I admit I had also gotten lazy. Gone were the days of daily double-cleansing, extensive skin care layering and experimenting with new products. I didn’t even cleanse my face every day if it was not necessary, and …

Favourite brow product: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz

Published by

Just a quick update to announce my personal winner among all brow products I’ve tried so far: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz! I use it in Granite. I’ve been using Anastasia Beverly Hills brow products for more than a year now. First the Dipbrow Pomade, which I find very troublesome to handle, then the Brow Definer, which was better. But I like the Brow Wiz best because it has a non-greasy, smudge-proof formula that fades instead of getting smeared away. It’s also very easy to work with, allowing featherlight strokes and not turning patchy when brushed through with the spoolie. It gets used up fairly quickly, which is definitely the downside, but it does save me quite the hassle in the mornings. My brows turn out nicely really every time. Not sure if Granite is a good colour match, I guess it could be more brown. I wish it was available in Ash Brown, which is a shade available within the Dipbrow Pomade range, and was a better match. But besides that, I’m very pleased …

L'Oreal True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation

Review: L’Oréal Paris Nude Magique Cushion (Spoiler: It’s love!)

Published by

It all began in the summer when I tried this just for fun. At that point, I didn’t even use make up on the regular, except for brow product and tinted lip balm. I didn’t exactly need it either because my skin’s been good: Barely any blemishes to speak of and nothing else to cover up. And, like I said, it was summer and sweltering hot, and I especially hate wearing make up then. Yet despite all that I was hooked right away and started wearing it on the daily! That’s how much I loved it and simply enjoyed using it. In the summer, I applied this with a damp Beauty Blender. Now in the winter, I use a stippling brush. Basically, I use anything but the applicator the cushion comes with. It doesn’t matter what you use, though. Application is a breeze. The product melts into your skin like a dream, and it blends out like a dream… Coverage is light, but buildable to medium. I personally leave it at light because that’s all I need. Hands down, …

Review: Paula’s Choice RESIST Super-Light Wrinkle Defense SPF 30

Published by

A sunscreen favorite on r/SkincareAddiction, I was lured in by the promise of a mineral sunscreen that tints the skin lightly instead of leaving a white cast, as well as apparently blurring blemishes and uneven skin. Besides, Paula’s Choice is a skin care brand that I trust, so why not? Well, the bad first. I wasn’t entirely aware Paula’s Choice RESIST Super-Light Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 is best suited for combination/oily skin. Not sure what my skin type is exactly, but this tinted moisturizer with SPF makes my cheeks feel tight and uncomfortable. And I don’t think I have dry skin. Also, we’re definitely dealing with a matte finish here, which is OK, if that’s your thing. For me, however, it’s clearly a minus. It not only makes my skin feel, but even worse, look, super dry, and definitely doesn’t blur anything. On the contrary, my lines are more defined, I look terribly old. The color of this looks a bit off on me too. It has this oxidized foundation-like look which makes it a bit too dark …

The 5 things I most rely on at the moment for easy style

Published by

It’s definitely more difficult now with the baby to stay stylish and dress well. It definitely feels more like an effort. My style at the moment certainly isn’t top of the game, but considering the circumstances it’d feel silly anyway. So I’d say that in between breastfeeding, changing diapers, carrying baby, desperately making up for lost sleep and somehow managing our household, I look decent. But more importantly, I feel good!

Here’s how to cure extremely dry skin

Published by

I used to have severely dry skin, but especially parched, cracked, hurting hands. To make things worse, their condition was often exacerbated by frequent hand washing and then particularly strained further during the winter months. Fortunately, I finally found a wonderful solution to my extremely dry skin woes last year. And it’s really a solution, not just yet another product that’s somewhat better than other products. It is so effective I don’t even need any kinds of lotions, creams or moisturizers any longer at all!

summer beauty

Review: Su:m37 Secret Programming Essence

Published by

Sceptics argue that additional skin care steps such as essences are just an industry scam intended to loosen the purse strings of willing, and above all gullible, consumers. But I absolutely don’t think so. Essences, in my experience, make the difference between good skin and good skin that’s also radiant and youthful.

Asian skin care products

The limits of skin care

Published by

Ever wondered how your creams, cleansers, masks and other potions are actually intending to pull all of these things off?

Because, contrary to the majority of marketing copy and grand sounding product claims, the truth is that there’s only so much topical skin care applications can really do.