What it is: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Dewy SPF 30 provides sheer to light coverage in a buildable, layerable, lightly hydrating formula that contains a combination of chemical and physical sunscreen ingredients. 

Price/Quantity: There are two sizes available. The larger one is $50 for 45 ml / 1.5 fl oz and there is also a smaller one that is $25 for 15 ml / 0.5 oz.

Availability: Laura Mercier, Sephora, Ulta, Kohl’s, Nordstrom, Macy’s, Amazon

Shade Range: 20 Shades. Looks like a pretty wide range from light to deep. Coverage is sheer to light so choosing a shade that’s a bit “off” will probably still be workable. The undertones for the lighter shades I was choosing from are somewhat “strong”. I could see the pink and yellow tones in them easily.

Packaging: Large squeeze tube with a twist off lid. There is no pump, so you have to gently press on the tube to dispense the amount you want. The product is not too liquidy or too thick, so it’s easy to control how much I dispense. I can leave it laying on its side on the counter while I apply it without worrying that the product will spill out.

Smell/Fragrance: It doesn’t smell fragranced to me but it does have a light version of a typical sunscreen smell. It’s less intense than a true standalone chemical sunscreen and I don’t find it bothersome. The last similar product I tried was the Elf Camo Hydrating CC Cream SPF 30 and I felt that one had a stronger sunscreen smell than this product does.

Expiration/Shelf Life: Mine has an expiration date printed on the top of the squeeze tube of 05/2026 and I purchased it 02/2025. There is no “after opening” shelf life printed on the packaging. 

Ingredients: These are the ingredients for the shade I chose. The four deepest shades have another ingredient list that looks mostly the same except for the pigments at the very bottom of the list.

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: OCTISALATE 4.5% (SUNSCREEN) OCTOCRYLENE 5.0% (SUNSCREEN) TITANIUM DIOXIDE 0.84% (SUNSCREEN) ZINC OXIDE 3.04% (SUNSCREEN) 

All shades except Brunette, Umber, Sable and Mahogany: WATER, DICAPRYLYL ETHER, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, POLYGLYCERYL-3 POLYRICINOLEATE, TRIBEHENIN, GLYCERIN, SILICA, MAGNESIUM STEARATE, SODIUM POTASSIUM ALUMINUM SILICATE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, MAGNESIUM SULFATE, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, SODIUM CHLORIDE, PHENOXYETHANOL, ZINC STEARATE, STEARALKONIUM BENTONITE, POLYGLYCERYL-3 DIISOSTEARATE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, POTASSIUM SORBATE, MICA, TOCOPHEROL, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, SODIUM HYALURONATE, ALPHA-GLUCAN OLIGOSACCHARIDE, POLYMNIA SONCHIFOLIA ROOT JUICE, MALTODEXTRIN, RUBUS IDAEUS (RASPBERRY) LEAF EXTRACT, ROSA HYBRID FLOWER EXTRACT, VITIS VINIFERA (GRAPE) FRUIT EXTRACT, LACTOBACILLUS. +/- (MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR) TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499)

Source: Laura Mercier

Performance

Shade: I chose the shade 1C Cameo, which had a noticeable pink tone but was a good depth match. One shade lighter looked more like a true neutral but was too light for me. One shade deeper was a teensy bit warm and slightly too dark for me.

Application: I have been using my fingers for the vast majority of application and only using a brush sparingly at the end to blend out some tricky spots (like near the brows and the corners of my nose). It blends really easily and really well just with my hands. If I had to skip using tools completely that would be just fine.

If you’re using this as sun protection, I found it is possible to layer more over itself later in the day without it looking cakey. 

Texture/Consistency/Finish: It has the perfect “medium thick” consistency. It’s not too thin or runny and it’s not mousse-y either. If I squeeze out a dab on the back of my hand and hold my hand up vertically, it doesn’t run down with gravity. At the same time, it feels lightweight and easy to spread over the skin. Once it is completely blended out on the skin it leaves the skin with a slight tack, similar to the way a moisturizer would. It’s not a sticky, greasy, oily feel though. If you are incredibly sensitive to the way things feel, it might feel a bit “heavy”. I’m somewhat sensitive but I don’t feel it is bothersome at all left unset without any powder on top.

It is described as having a “natural dewy” finish and that is the perfect way to put it. It’s not shiny or oily looking but it adds a bit more glow than what my skin has by itself. Looks healthy and natural. 

This isn’t a blurring product and I don’t feel it emphasizes or enhances my texture or pores. The texture of my skin for the most part looks like it does without the product, but the color overall is more even which creates the illusion that the skin is smoother.

Coverage: Sheer to light with one layer. I can build it up to a light medium coverage with 2 or 3 layers. The product layers very well over itself without picking up or sheering out previous layers. The coverage this provides is more like a natural skintone evening effect instead of “covering”. It isn’t mask-like. It’s the type of thing that’s easy to wear if you don’t want to apply any other makeup at all whereas with a foundation, I’d feel weird wearing foundation by itself. It does provide a noticeable improvement though.

Longevity: I’ve worn this all day for about 4 days now. What I’ve noticed is that, without any powder, it will develop an intense glow, bordering on shine by the end of the day, but otherwise it stays in place. I haven’t noticed it gathering in lines or looking splotchy near the end of the day. Also haven’t

noticed any oxidation though that’s rarely been an issue for me in general. The level of glow/shine at the end of the day isn’t that bad and I don’t feel self-conscious about it. I’ve set it with powder on a couple of those days and that definitely helped tone down the shine and keep it toned down all day. It still developed more shine as the day went on but to less of a degree.

Pros and Cons

Things I like:

• Great for no-makeup makeup. Looks fine all by itself with no other makeup because of the lighter coverage and natural finish.
• Applies well with just my hands. Tools help but I can skip them if I want.
• Forgiving on texture (so far).
• Is not “too sheer”. Provides a noticeable improvement without looking “makeup-y”.
• It gets along well with my current favorite primer/sunscreen (Supergoop Matte Screen).

Drawbacks and other considerations:

• It has a slight tacky feel to it. Nowhere near as bad as, for example, Elf Power Grip primer, and not something I personally find irritating. 
• It might be too dewy for someone with oilier skin. (There is apparently a matte version of this tinted moisturizer as well.)
• Has a light sunscreen smell to it that is not as strong as other sunscreens, but is still noticeable.

Do I Recommend It?

Yes for someone with a drier or more normal skin type that likes super easy/natural looking foundation. If you live near a store where you’re able to get a sample of this to try first, I’d recommend that for someone that maybe has oilier skin or thinks they might prefer a higher coverage product. Personally I do not feel regret purchasing this one.

What it is: Fenty Skin Cherry Dub Blah 2 Bright 5% AHA Face Mask is an exfoliating, cherry-scented, gel mask that is applied to dry skin and rinsed off after 10 minutes. It contains a variety of acids to immediately help smooth out dull skin and is supposed to help brighten the complexion and combat dark spots with regular use. This is purely a chemical exfoliator, as there are no gritty particles in it.

Price/Quantity: $39 for 75 ml / 2.5 fl oz

Availability: Fenty Beauty, Sephora

Packaging: Heavy glass jar with a sturdy plastic lid. There is also an added plastic cap/liner that sits between the jar and lid.

Smell/Fragrance: It has the type of cherry scent that for some reason brings back memories of childhood. It’s a strong, sweet, well rounded fragrance with just the right amount of tartness. I’m not against fragrance entirely in skincare but I prefer, if it is added, to be something like this, where it is very intentionally part of the experience and not just an afterthought. 

Expiration/Shelf Life: 12 months after opening

Ingredients:

AQUA/WATER/EAU, GLYCERIN, GLYCOLIC ACID, AMMONIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYLTAURATE/VP COPOLYMER, PROPANEDIOL, POLYACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER-6, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, LACTIC ACID, 3-O-ETHYL ASCORBIC ACID, CARRAGEENAN, MALPIGHIA GLABRA (ACEROLA) FRUIT JUICE, MALPIGHIA GLABRA (ACEROLA) FRUIT EXTRACT, SALICYLIC ACID, PANTHENOL, CAFFEINE, SODIUM HYALURONATE, TOCOPHEROL, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) LEAF EXTRACT, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) EXTRACT, ORYZA SATIVA (RICE) BRAN EXTRACT, RAPHANUS SATIVUS (RADISH) ROOT EXTRACT, LEUCONOSTOC/RADISH ROOT FERMENT FILTRATE, LACTOBACILLUS, MALTODEXTRIN, OLETH-20, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE, SODIUM BENZOTRIAZOLYL BUTYLPHENOL SULFONATE, SODIUM PHYTATE, GLYCERYL POLYACRYLATE,  PARFUM/FRAGRANCE, PHENOXYETHANOL, RED 40 (CI 16035).

Source: Fenty Beauty

My Experience With It

I first tried the Fenty Skin Cherry Dub Mask about a year ago, being somewhat intrigued with the ingredient list. With one use, I see immediate results. My skin looks and feels smoother and makeup applies much better. They say that with regular use, it is supposed to brighten the skin and treat dark spots. I use it somewhat regularly but not religiously and I haven’t seen these longer term benefits in my own skin personally. I do notice a slight brightening effect right after using it but I feel it’s probably just due to the top layer of dead skin being gone creating that illusion. For the most part, my skin tolerates this well with minimal to no irritation and I’m very happy with the results. It’s not the cheapest option for exfoliating the skin, but using a thin layer is still effective, and I can stretch out the time between uses. The price is worth how it works for me.

How I Use It

After some trial and error, my favorite way to use this is right before I shower. I may or may not wash my face before hand. If my skin is quite dry (not much oil on the surface), I won’t even wash my face, but if it’s oily I’ll do a quick rinse and pat my skin dry. I will then apply a thin layer all over, avoiding the eye area and lips. If I have any breakouts or areas of the skin that are broken I may try to avoid those as well just so it doesn’t sting. When I first started using this, I left it on for the recommended 5-10 minutes. After close to a year of using it, I feel like it’s better for me if I leave it on for more like 10-15 minutes. If I approach longer times like 20 minutes, I do notice it causes some mild redness and irritation.

I rinse this off in the shower because it is quite thick and simply using my hands with some water over the sink TAKES FOREVER. It is much faster to let the water run over my face in the shower to remove all of the product from my skin. I sometimes use a cloth (wash cloth, square of gauze, etc.) to speed this process up. Doing this is an added level of physical exfoliation, so be mindful that may be a bit too harsh if you have sensitive skin. Personally, I love the combo of this and it does an amazing job of making my skin feel super refreshed.

Depending on how dry or oily my skin is, I may not even use a facial cleanser afterward. In the warmer months, I’m more likely to cleanse either before or after but in the winter I often skip it.

When I use it more regularly, 2-3 times a week (for example: Mon, Wed, Fri) is a good amount that doesn’t irritate my skin but also maintains the smoothness I like. However, I kind of jump around to different products now and then so I don’t follow this pattern religiously. 

How Long It Lasts

I’ve been on the same jar for this entire past year and I’ve just now finished it. Last fall, I repurchased a couple more jars to have on backup in anticipation of running out.

I’d say if I was only using this one exfoliator regularly, I might be able to get around 4 months out of the jar. In the year that I had the container open, I didn’t notice any changes in texture, smell, or effectiveness of the product.

Pros and Cons

Things I like:

• Less harsh than a physical exfoliator.
• Just as effective if not more effective than a physical exfoliator.
• The cherry fragrance is a treat in itself (there’s something nostalgic about it).

Drawbacks and other considerations:

• Difficult to rinse off at a sink (better to do this in the shower) because it’s thick and gummy once it dries down. Using some sort of facial cloth makes this go much faster and provides a tiny bit of extra physical exfoliation.
• More time intensive than a physical exfoliator since you need to let it sit on the skin for a bit.
• It has a noticeable stingy feeling on the skin, which is even stronger if I’ve done any facial hair removal before use. I wouldn’t say it’s painful or all that uncomfortable, but it’s noticeable even with regular use.

What it is: Supergoop Mineral Matte Screen is A VERY lightly tinted, mostly transparent, all mineral sunscreen (titanium dioxide 1.3% and zinc oxide 17.4%) with a slight matte finish and the feel of a slick silicone primer.

Price/Quantity: There is a larger size which is $40 for 1.5 oz (45 mL) and a mini size which is $24 for 0.68 oz (20 mL).

Availability: Supergoop!, Sephora, Ulta, Amazon, Kohl’s, Nordstrom among several others

Shade Range: 1 Shade. This is tinted but it’s not really a product to use for coverage. The tint mainly helps to discourage the look of a white cast on the skin.

Packaging: Flattened squeeze tube with a twist off lid. It feels like decent quality, and it is easy to remove the cap and put it back on. The product is not very liquidy and it does not spill out of the container if I leave it laying on its side with the lid off.

Smell/Fragrance: It does have a light scent which is not hard to smell if I go looking for it but it isn’t something I notice with normal use. The packaging says it contains “no synthetic fragrance” and I’d agree that it does not smell fragranced at all. The scent is like subtle dry earthiness and it dissipates very quickly.

Expiration/Shelf Life: Mine has an expiration date of 03/2027 and I purchased it in September 2024. I didn’t find an “after opening” shelf life indicator on the packaging.

Ingredients (from the Supergoop! website):

Active Ingredients

Titanium Dioxide 1.33%, Zinc Oxide 17.42%

Inactive Ingredients

Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methyl Dihydroabietate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, C9-12 Alkane, Glycerin, Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Ethylhexylglycerin, Water (Aqua), Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Silica, Stearic Acid, Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Lactobacillus/Arundinaria Gigantea Leaf Ferment Filtrate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT INGREDIENT LISTS MAY CHANGE OR VARY FROM TIME TO TIME. PLEASE REFER TO THE INGREDIENT LIST ON THE PRODUCT PACKAGE YOU RECEIVE FOR THE MOST UP TO DATE LIST OF INGREDIENTS

Performance

This product is not something that was ever on my radar. I only became aware of it shortly before I purchased it, though I know it was out for a while already by then. I don’t remember whether I was specifically looking for a sunscreen at the time or why I stumbled upon it but reviews sold me on it. 

You should know that I primarily use this product as makeup but I enjoy greatly that it offers me SPF 40 at the same time! 99% of the time, I hate having to wear sunscreen under makeup. It usually destroys the finish of a perfectly fine foundation and the vast majority of the ones I’ve tried feel heavier or greasier than I’d like. I generally tolerate sunscreen by itself just fine, but would rather not wear makeup over it.

If you handed me this product while blindfolded and asked me to guess what it is, I’d tell you it’s a primer. It does not feel or smell like a sunscreen. Makeup does not sit on top of it the way it does with most of my other sunscreens. Makeup sits on top of it as if it’s a silicone primer.

It feels slick and silky the way a primer feels but it doesn’t feel oily or greasy. It doesn’t totally matte out my face but it does tone down light reflection a bit. I notice the mattifying effect a bit more when I pair it with a foundation (it will tone down the finish of the foundation to have less of a glow).

It comes in one tinted shade, a light peachy nude, but it offers pretty much zero coverage. It’s not like a skin tint. The added color helps it give off less of a white cast on the skin. When I look at a before and after of this on myself, I can see the very slightest hint of a white cast but it’s incredibly subtle. Not sure how much more noticeable this might be on a deeper complexion.

I only started using this as the days began to get shorter and now, being wintertime, it’s difficult to tell how effective this is. I will say, if I knew I was going to be out in bright sun for quite a while, I probably wouldn’t use this by itself, and might choose another sunscreen over it just to *feel* that I’m using enough sun protection. I prefer SPF 50 or higher and preferably something with more coverage or in combination with a foundation. Over the years, I have noticed that if I wear a high SPF and a relatively high coverage foundation over top, I tend to end up with less dark spots / freckles. 

Pros and Cons

Things I like:

• Actually feels nice to the touch (not heavy/greasy/thick feeling)
• Hardly any smell
• Wears well under my go to foundations
• Helps smooth the look of pores
• Doesn’t add shine and sometimes mattifies a little depending what I pair it with

Drawbacks and other considerations:

• I’d feel more comfortable with a higher SPF when spending long periods of time in sunny conditions
• Doesn’t work with every foundation I pair it with
• Another couple of shades would be nice for deeper complexions
• Might feel too slick for those with very oily skin
• Not water resistant, so not the best choice if you are going swimming or to the beach

Do I Recommend It?

If you like silicone primers, yes. If you hate them, no. That’s exactly what it feels like and how it wears under makeup. I used to have much oilier skin when I was younger and I remember not enjoying silicone primers at that point, whereas I enjoy them much more now. If you are looking for something that will give your skin a matte finish, I’d recommend with caution. It does mattify A BIT but not as much as a powder. It works best as a mattifying product in conjunction with other mattifying products.

What it is: Sephora Collection Brightening Dual Facial Enzyme Exfoliator is supposed to remove dead skin through both chemical and physical exfoliation. The chemical exfoliation is provided by enzymes from the fermentation of pomegranate fruit and the physical component is bamboo stem powder. It has a good amount of somewhat larger scrubby particles in a base that feels like a gel cleanser and is geared more towards oily skin types.

Price/Quantity: $14.00 USD for 125 ml / 4.22 fl oz

Availability: Sephora, Kohl’s

Packaging: Squeeze tube with a lid that flips open and snaps shut. I gave it a modest effort, but wasn’t able to twist the entire cap off of the body of the product. When it arrived brand new, the lid was sealed shut by piece of plastic that needed to be lifted and removed (similar to opening a plastic jug of milk). 

Smell/Fragrance: This is unscented and smells like nothing to me.

Expiration/Shelf Life: 12 months after opening.

Ingredients:

Glycerin, Aqua (Water), Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Lauryl Glucoside, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Citrate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate.

Sephora.com

Performance

Texture/Consistency: Somewhat thick, clear, cleanser-like gel base with a good amount of small to medium size physical exfoliant mixed in. It does not lather like a cleanser but it does become creamy as I work the product into the skin and has that stretchy quality that cleansers and liquid soaps sometimes have. There’s plenty of gritty exfoliant in the gel so I don’t feel the need to use a large amount of product to get it to work (a pea size or a bit larger is plenty for the whole face). The gritty particles are not as fine/small as what is in some other facial scrubs I’ve used and they vary in size so I feel some larger ones occasionally as I buff it over the skin. In general, they are smaller than something like a sugar/salt scrub and don’t feel like they have sharp edges. I don’t find the physical exfoliant too abrasive or irritating and it’s easy to spread evenly over the face. 

Effect on my skin: Immediately after use, my face feels squeaky clean and almost stripped, as if I’ve used a face wash meant for oily skin. The usual moisturizers and facial oils I go to feel like they don’t quite do enough (when normally they do). I feel the need to add in a richer moisturizer or layer on an extra hydrating serum to combat the stripping effect the exfoliator has. I’ve used it quite a few times and it has never left my skin looking red at all.

Later in the morning, when applying makeup, I can see that this mostly smooths over larger, flatter, easier to reach areas well (like my forehead, and sides of my face). Makeup applies more smoothly over those areas when I use the exfoliator. However, there are some parts of my face that my exfoliators often miss (like around the corners of my nose and areas that are more prone to dryness and irritation). This is one of those products that doesn’t get my skin entirely smooth. It’s better than nothing but it makes me feel that possibly the chemical component isn’t effective enough for my skin.

After about two weeks of incorporating this into my skincare routine, I haven’t seen any type of drastic change. Nothing very negative or positive has resulted from using it, but it does temporarily help improve the condition of my skin for the next day or two after using it.

Pros and Cons

Things I like:

• There is enough physical exfoliant in here that I don’t feel the need to use a ton of product.
• It doesn’t leave my skin feeling red or irritated after use.
• Very cost effective considering the size of the container.
• Truly unscented.

Drawbacks and other considerations:

• The physical exfoliation particles aren’t as small/fine as some other products.
• I’m not convinced the chemical exfoliant is all that effective or may just be too gentle for me.
• Misses harder to reach areas (like the corners of my nose, between and near my brows). This is where I rely on the chemical component to pick up the slack.
• Leaves my skin feeling almost “stripped”.

Do I Recommend It?

I don’t recommend it if you have dry or combo skin and even normal skin types may find it too drying. It might work fine for someone with truly oily skin though. It’s not my favorite exfoliator but it’s an okay budget option.

Comparisons

Youth To The People Yerba Mate Resurfacing Energy Facial 

This one has a creamier base that does not strip the skin of moisture. I wouldn’t say it adds any moisture but just leaves the skin feeling balanced after use. The physical scrub in this feels finer and more densely packed into the product. I get a more thorough, even exfoliation all over my face, including areas that sometimes get missed like the corners of my nose. This one has given me some mild redness, especially when I first started using it, but my skin quickly adjusted to it. For me this is the gold standard that I would love to find a cheaper version of.

Trader Joe’s Nourish Microdermabrasion Scrub

This also has finer physical exfoliating particles in it than the Sephora Enzyme Exfoliator but not quite as much of it. I feel the need to use a bit more product to get enough of those particles distributed over the skin. It does not include any type of chemical component and I feel that I don’t get quite as good of a result overall. After use, some areas of dead skin that might get smoothed over a bit better by the Youth To The People product, might still look and feel not as resurfaced as I’d like. It certainly is better than nothing though and is another okay budget option.

Trader Joe’s Blueberry & Acai Facial Scrub

I’m not sure if this is still available but it was another combo chemical/physical exfoliator that I used several years ago. I went through about 2 containers. This one definitely stung if I had even the tiniest tear in the skin from a breakout or from any facial hair removal. It’s was tolerable but not easy to miss. The physical scrub in this was all different sizes, including some larger seeds that looked cool but seemed completely unnecessary and distracting during use. 

What it is: Ciele Tint and Protect SPF 50 Tinted Serum Foundation is an all mineral SPF skin tint (12% Zinc Oxide) with light-medium buildable coverage and a natural-looking dewy finish. There are 13 shades to choose from and you get 1.28 oz for $44. Foundations are usually about 1 oz, so you get a bit more with this one. It can be purchased from Ciele Cosmetics or Sephora.

Packaging: Glass bottle with glass dropper and a plastic lid. The bottle is substantial and does not feel fragile. So far pulling the dropper out and putting it back does not seem to be making the neck of the bottle messy. 

Smell/Fragrance: This is fragrance free and mostly scent free except for a very faint chemical scent. I do not notice it at all with normal use but can detect it if I’m actively looking for a scent.

Expiration: Mine has an expiration date printed on the bottom which is May 2025 and I purchased it in October 2023.

Ingredients: Below are ingredients directly from Ciele’s website for shade 4. They list specific ingredients per shade as they vary slightly.

Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide CI 77891, Isododecane, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Isohexadecane, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Iron Oxides CI 77492, Dimethiconol/Propylsilsesquioxane/Silicate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Methicone, Mica, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)silylethyl Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Phenoxyethanol, Bisabolol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Iron Oxides CI 77499, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebac, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebac, Aluminum Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Propylene Carbonate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, PEG-10.

Performance

Shade: Before buying this, I was torn between shades 3 and 4 and decided on the latter. Shade 4 has a warm-leaning undertone but does not look obviously yellow, peach or pink in hue. It is also a little darker than I usually go for in foundations or concealers. Being a light-medium coverage and having a very natural finish, I actually very much enjoy that this is slightly darker and warmer than my skin tone. I find using my lighter concealers and foundations over it gives me the perfect complexion match. Usually, I unintentionally end up using foundations that are a bit light and add some sort of cream or powder bronzer to help balance my skin tone. Using this is like going in the opposite direction.

Application: My go-to method for applying foundations in general is dotting it on my face with my fingers and then using a sponge for a final blend. It is super easy to blend it out using only my fingers but a brush or sponge also work perfectly fine and give me a similar finish and level of coverage. It spreads over the skin quickly and easily and blends out with hardly any effort. It’s one of the easier products of this type that I have used in terms of application. It also layers on itself beautifully.

Texture and Finish: With one light layer, it looks extremely natural on the skin. It has a glowy finish but it’s not too glowy – not shiny/greasy/oily looking. Just a nice pretty glow without any shimmer. Even up close, it is very difficult to tell there is any makeup on the skin. Adding a second layer and deliberately applying it heavily, adds a bit more coverage but my skin still looks very believably “natural” and not makeup-y.

Coverage: Light to light-medium. It is buildable but I personally apply a foundation over this to noticeably even out my skin tone. If you have significant redness, hyperpigmentation, dark circles, freckles, etc., those things are probably still going to show through but look a little more diffused. The combo of applying two layers and the color being ever so slightly deeper than my skin tone help even out my complexion so that my freckles and darker areas blend in well with the lighter areas of my skin. So, while coverage isn’t very high, the overall effect is decently impactful.

Longevity: I have only been using this for about a week so I don’t have the best feel for longevity yet. So far, it doesn’t seem to be making foundations I wear over it get oily/shiny much more quickly that they would otherwise. My skin does not feel any more greasy by the end of the day than it usually does without it. For reference I have combination skin that is tending closer to normal-to-dry as we are approaching winter in my part of the world.

Pros and Cons:

Things I like:

• Super natural looking. Just looks like skin.
• Applies and blends quickly and effortlessly.
• Buildable and remains natural looking even when layered.
• Feels hydrating and moisturizing but not too heavy or oily.
• When used under higher coverage foundations, gives my skin a slightly smoother look (like a primer).

Drawbacks to consider:

• A little expensive. I feel like it will probably last a decent amount of time though. I went through my Ilia Skin Tint in about a year and that one had less in the bottle. 
• As a standalone product, the coverage may be lighter than you expect if you are used to medium coverage foundations.

Do I Recommend It?

With the one caveat of only having been using it for a week or so and not having a good idea of longevity, I’d otherwise say absolutely yes. Especially if you are makeup lover and need a good SPF for underneath, this works super well. I will say, if you only really want a tinted SPF to get around issues with white cast and don’t care that much about makeup, I’d say check out the Australian Gold Botanical Tinted Face Sunscreen with SPF 50. That one works about as well when used alone for much cheaper but doesn’t look as nice underneath makeup.

How It Compares To Other SPF Tints

Below are three similar types of products I’ve tried and my thoughts on how they differ. 

Australian Gold Botanical Tinted Face Sunscreen SPF 50

• Leaves less of a glow on the skin
• Feels even more lightweight and seems to dry down slightly
• Lighter (almost non-existent) coverage
• Thicker consistency

Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40

• Feels slightly oilier, looks a tiny bit shinier
• Makeup sometimes sits more heavily or looks more obvious when applied over this product
• Smell is not very strong but is more noticeable with this product
• Coverage for both is about the same and they are both similarly buildable

It Cosmetics CC Cream SPF 50

• Much more coverage
• Much less natural looking
• To me this feels, applies, and looks a lot more like a medium coverage foundation rather than a thinner skincare type of product
• Thicker consistency

With all of the above considered, I like Ciele Tint and Protect the best out of them all. It is the most natural looking and plays the best with makeup over top.

Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Vitamin CC Eye Stick ($34 for 3.7g / 0.13 oz) is an eye cream and color corrector in one. It comes in three sheer shades to help neutralize dark circles and creates a hydrating base to apply concealer over.

What stands out:

• It is definitely sheer and hardly noticeable but it does work as a color corrector. If I apply it on one eye and not the other, then go over with concealer, I can see the difference it makes in cancelling out the dark circles.

• It is very balmy-feeling. The texture is thick but it melts easily enough on my fingertip. I prefer to apply it with fingers rather than applying to the eyes directly from the stick. I’m able to warm it up a little, apply it a bit more precisely and more gently. 

• It’s not super oily feeling but it can make some concealers crease more in the fold under my eye. The hydrating/smoothing factor makes it so my concealer looks much better. It reminds me a little bit of the Becca Under Eye Brightener but not quite as oily feeling. 

• The lid is a little difficult to remove.

• Very slight, hardly noticeable citrus scent.

• The lightest shade is not too light of a yellow, which I was afraid of when buying blind online.

Comparison to other products:

• Benefit Erase Paste is a discontinued product but was loved by many because it was especially hydrating for the under eye area. I’m including it here for those that loved and miss the product and are in search of something similar. Benefit is much more pigmented and is more of a true color corrector/makeup product. The Ole Henriksen Eye Stick is more of a skincare item that offers a hint of “coverage”.

• Becca Under Eye Brightener is most similar in texture and pigmentation to Ole Henriksen compared to the others shown. Moisture level is similar but Becca is slightly “oilier”. Opacity is also similar but I’d say Becca is a tiny bit more sheer. Both products have very fine shimmer that gives the skin a radiant finish but you can’t really see the particles individually. If you have tried and liked the Becca one, you might like this one.

• Elf is here just to show how light and yellow the shade “Banana” is. The Elf one is a little too light for me to use under the eyes but works much better to neutralize brighter redness from breakouts. It’s also noticeably more pigmented.

Was it worth the purchase?

Yes. My under eye area has been more dry lately and this really helps concealer look smoother and the added color correction is a great bonus. I tried it with a concealer that I never wear because it’s too drying on me and it made it usable for me.

Glow Recipe Strawberry BHA Pore Smooth Blur Drops ($32 for 30ml / 1 fl. oz.) is a combination product that can either be used as a step in your skincare routine or as a primer under foundation. It has salicylic acid in it to help keep pores clear and micro fine powders to help keep shine at bay. I liked the idea of being able to incorporate salicylic acid into my skincare route where I’m not using it at the same time as other products with ingredients that would interfere with each other. My intent was to mainly use it as a primer and get the skincare benefits at the same time.

What stands out:

• The twist off lid is on the bottom of the packaging so it stands upside down on its lid. This is fine except I can’t stand it up with the lid off. I find this kind of annoying.

• It has a thin consistency that dries down pretty quickly, so I find myself squeezing more product out 2-3 additional times to completely cover my face. It’s somewhat tricky to control how much comes out. I can see myself very quickly running through the contents of the bottle. It is not cost effective. 

• It leaves the skin with a mattified appearance and whatever makeup I put over it is noticeably more matte as well. The few times I tried it, it kept shine under control the entire day. I think this could be great in the middle of summer when I struggle with oilier skin but it almost seems too drying for the rest of the year.

• As a primer, I don’t find this very smoothing and it dries down so much that it makes foundation harder to apply over it. It hardly makes any difference in the look of texture/pores in the short term when used as a makeup product. 

• I don’t notice any smell or fragrance though fragrance is listed in the ingredients.

Was it worth the purchase?

No. I like the idea but it fell short. If it worked well as a primer, this could have been an excellent way to incorporate salicylic acid into my skincare routine without interfering with other actives. A similar type of primer is the Milk Makeup Pore Eclipse Primer, it is less drying and a bit more effective at smoothing the skin.

Kosas Dream Beam ($40 for 40 mL / 1.4 fl oz.) is a tinted mineral sunscreen with SPF40 that blends aspects of skincare and makeup. It has moisturizing ingredients and gives the skin a smooth and subtly glowy finish. Used as a foundation primer, it helps to smooth out the look of texture and pores and the subtle glow shows through foundation ever so slightly. It can also just be used by itself as your primary face sunscreen, leaving no white cast on the complexion thanks to the peachy tint.

What stands out:

• This isn’t the cheapest sunscreen/primer but I like the quality and the price is not outrageous.

• Packaging is somewhat unique, seems well designed. The lid twists off easily and there is a precision dispenser. The product isn’t too runny or thick and it is easy to squeeze out exactly the amount I want. 

• It is heavily scented. Heavily may be a slight exaggeration but it is very noticeable and it lingers after application. It is a rosy-floral scent. I’m not totally against fragrance in skincare but I’m glad I like the fragrance, otherwise the intensity would bother me.

• It’s slightly glowy with super fine shimmer particles. The individual particles are not really noticeable, meaning I don’t get a sparkly effect from it. The finish is a smooth, even glow that mimics dew from well moisturized skin. If you inspect super closely in the just the right lighting using a magnifying mirror, you MIGHT be able to pick out the individual shimmer particles.

• It feels very moisturizing and smoothing. It works great underneath heavier coverage foundations and is one of the more effective primers I’ve tried for minimizing the look of texture/pores. I haven’t used it for all that long but based on the texture, I imagine my combination skin would get along well with this most of the year. Some reviews I’ve read mention this feeling too oily for oilier skin types, so it potentially might not be a go to during the hottest summer months for me.

• Coverage is barely noticeable. The tint seems pretty neutral and very close to my skin tone. I wouldn’t use this in place of foundation because it just doesn’t even out the skin tone enough by itself.

• I read several reviews mentioning that this pills. I have only had this pill when combined with one other product (Glow Recipe Blur Drops), but have experienced zero pilling by itself or with any foundation I’ve used it with.

Was it worth the purchase?

Yep. I’m happy with it and I see myself reaching for this often for a quite a while to come. My favorite thing about it is how well it smooths the skin under makeup and isn’t too shiny/glowy under foundation.

I have been on the hunt for a new sunscreen for a while. In my searches, this Australian Gold Botanical Tinted Face Sunscreen caught my eye more than once. I would consider this a lightweight moisturizer, sunscreen, and makeup in one product. It is a mineral sunscreen that comes in 3 shades that are sheer enough to span a wide variety of skin tones and is supposed to have a matte finish. The price is also attractive, hovering around $18 for 3 fl. oz. depending on where you buy it. You can get it directly from Australian Gold or from several retailers including Amazon, Ulta, and Target.

I often wear sunscreen underneath makeup but haven’t found many that work well for that purpose. In general, I find chemical sunscreens are oily feeling, no matter how much they claim to be “oil free”. And they usually cause my foundation to get very shiny and break down early in the day. Mineral based sunscreens I’ve tried in the past tended to cause my foundation to cake, gather in pores, and be difficult to blend.

This is one of the more moisturizing mineral sunscreens I’ve tried that is somehow also not greasy or shiny. It doesn’t feel uncomfortable or have a strong smell and has gotten along with the majority of the makeup I’ve paired with it.

The way I’ve been using this is either by itself or with makeup over it. It provides a little bit of sheer coverage with one layer but I can apply a second layer to get more noticeably evened out skin. It also smoothes the look of pores and texture. The result is very natural. 

Here’s a before and after of two layers of just the sunscreen by itself:

And here are a couple of pics wearing makeup over the sunscreen:

For reference, I swatched it next to some of my other foundations and concealers. The Australian Gold Sunscreen is the sheerest of everything here and is layered more than the others so you can actually see the color. It is one of the darker shades I have but this works out fine since it is sheer.

Does it wear well under makeup?

So far, I have tried this with several base makeup products including Nars Soft Matte Complete Foundation, Too Faced Born This Way Multi-use Sculpting Concealer, Essence 16h Cover & Last Powder Foundation, and NYX Bare With Me Concealer Serum. I love the Nars foundation but it does not get along with this sunscreen at all, probably because of the matte finish. However, all of the other products applied perfectly fine over it. I didn’t find that they were more difficult to apply over the sunscreen vs just on bare skin and they didn’t look much different either. It doesn’t seem to shorten foundation wear time or cause shine to develop earlier than it normally would.

How much coverage do you get from it?

This has very sheer coverage. One layer almost doesn’t look like any coverage at all, but does provide a tiny bit of texture smoothing. Two layers is my favorite way to wear it, giving me something similar to a light coverage foundation. The result looks just like my natural skin both in color and finish but just more even and smoother.

How’s the color? Does it oxidize?

I chose the lightest of the 3 available shades. The color is a smidge darker than what you’d typically find as the lightest shade of a foundation or concealer… so not “fair or pale”, but just “light”, if that makes sense. It has a somewhat strong peachy tone to it but is sheer enough that I think it would still work for a sizable range of fairer skin tones. I have not seen it oxidize at all. 

Is it really matte?

No. I think Ulta’s product description exaggerates by saying it gives a “powder matte” finish. Some of the reviewers mentioned that it gave them a matte finish. I maintained my skepticism about this claim and tried it anyway. 

It just has a natural finish. It doesn’t take away shine but also doesn’t add shine either. The product dries down a tiny bit within a couple minutes of application but never looks truly matte. I definitely like the finish of it better than most sunscreens I’ve tried though.

What does it feel like?

Lightly moisturizing. When this first touches the skin, it feels and spreads like a basic lotion. It is more gel-like than any of the other products I swatched above. It neither feels exceptionally water or oil based, just somewhere in the middle. It isn’t heavy or thick but I can tell I’ve applied something to my skin. There is no “powdery” or dry feel to this but once it dries down, it causes some friction if I rub my hand over where it’s applied.

What does it smell like?

This is fragrance free but it does have a very light scent to it that reminds me of clay. It isn’t something I noticed with regular use until I actively went looking for a scent.

I finally used up all of my exfoliators and it was time to either repurchase one of them or find a new one. On one of my recent trips to Trader Joe’s, I noticed the Nourish Microdermabrasion Scrub in their beauty/personal care section. It comes in a 2 oz container and I paid $4.99 for it. I’ve used about 3/4 of a container up and already repurchased another to have on backup. I think this is a really good product for the price. It is not my favorite scrub ever and I do wish it had some sort of chemical exfoliant incorporated into the formula but I still really like it and think it’s worth having. 

There are plenty of tiny, sandy particles (pumice) suspended in a lightweight cream, and they spread over the skin evenly without getting trapped between my fingers. I am able to work this into more difficult to reach areas like the sides of my nose and between my brows and those gritty particles will still stay under my fingertips. The cream base is not oily or moisturizing-feeling and does not leave behind any kind of residue once I rinse it off. It has a light floral fragrance. I don’t have very sensitive skin so I may not be the best person to say whether this is “gentle” or not, but I don’t find it irritating at all. 

I use this about every other day or so. If I know I want to use a higher coverage foundation, I will use it the night before or the morning of to get the smoothest possible result. The one downside for me is that it is purely a physical exfoliator and I notice the slight buildup of texture on the in-between days which isn’t as much of an issue when I use a chemical exfoliator. But I really cannot complain for the price. It’s good and it gets the job done.

I tried to show the texture of this but it’s almost impossible to see the grains individually.

Product Description

What it is: A tinted, broad spectrum sunscreen with a dewy finish.

Price/Quantity: $46 for 1 fl oz / 30 ml

Shade Range: 18 Shades

Packaging: Heavy duty plastic bottle that actually feels more like glass or ceramic with a glass dropper. Dropper-style packaging can sometimes have issues with product gathering around the neck of the bottle. I didn’t find that this was a problem with this product.

Smell/Fragrance: Smells a bit like honey with a hint of clay to me. The smell dissipates soon after application.

Expires After: 12 Months

Ingredients (from Ilia’s website):

Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 12.0%. Aqua/Water/Eau, Squalane, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Isoamyl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-3 Ricinoleate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Propanediol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Sodium Chloride, Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Silica, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Bisabolol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Phenylpropanol, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Polyhydroxystearic Acid. May Contain/Peut Contenir (±): CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide).

Performance

Shade: I chose shade number 3 called “Balos”. The color is lighter than I expected for the third lightest and as I blend it out, it lightens even further. It almost causes a white cast on me. I would suggest going darker than you think you need if you are interested in picking this up.

Application: I have tried applying this with my fingers, with a damp sponge, and with a brush. All three ways work for me, with some slight variations. Using my fingers and spending a sufficient amount of time blending results in the best finish. This gives me to the most coverage and smoothness. A damp sponge gives me a similar result with slightly less coverage. A brush gives me a bit more coverage but can cause the product to cling a little bit more to texture if my skin isn’t in the best condition.

Texture and Finish: The product looks fairly thin and runny when I drop it onto the back of my hand but once I apply it to my face, it feels heavy and difficult to spread over the skin with any kind of speed. I definitely need to take my time massaging it over the skin to get it evenly distributed and blended in. I really don’t enjoy how this feels on my hands if I use my fingers to apply it, though that could just be my own sensitivity to the way things feel. It has a thick, emollient feel, which potentially might be good for somebody with truly dry skin. The finish can be described as either very dewy (for those that enjoy a glow) or greasy-looking (for those familiar with oily skin). I’m in the latter camp and I don’t particularly enjoy the finish on myself. It leaves behind a tacky feel to the skin and remains that way all day. It doesn’t sink into my skin.

Coverage: Very light coverage. Attempting to build it up really doesn’t result in much more coverage. I have also found that this doesn’t play super well with other makeup applied on top. If I attempt to use concealer in conjunction with this, my base makeup ends up looking more “makeup-y” than I prefer.

Longevity: Surprisingly, the finish doesn’t really get that much shinier on the skin as my skin gets a bit oilier throughout the day. Nor do I see the product begin to look cakey or separated later in the day. These things only hold true, however, if I don’t apply powder, concealer, or other makeup on top. Once I do that, all bets are off. That is when I see caking and separating in the second half of the day.

Final Thoughts

In theory, this ticks all the right boxes for me but in practice, I found it wasn’t really the best fit for my skin type and preferences.

This could probably work well for a very specific customer: one with a true dry skin type that takes good care of their skin, doesn’t wear much makeup and isn’t very sensitive about the way things feel. Normal skin could probably get away with it just fine if you’re okay with the texture and finish of it. I wouldn’t recommend it to somebody with dehydrated skin as it can emphasize texture and flaking.

I’m a person that tends to be somewhat sensitive to the way things feel. I can definitely tolerate a certain level of discomfort if I’m looking for a particular outcome but for a product like sunscreen that I will wear all day everyday, it is especially important to me that the product feel comfortable on the skin. The thick, tacky, heavy feel is just too much for me to use this on the daily.

Dr. Dennis Gross Sheer Mineral Sun Spray is a described as a “water-resistant SPF 50+ sunscreen that mists on for easy application and dries sheer, leaving no residue.” The bottle contains 4oz, retails for $42, and can be purchased from Dr. Dennis Gross and Sephora.

When I decided to purchase this, I was looking for a sunscreen that wouldn’t interfere with my makeup. I liked the idea that I could spray it on but I realized that, while you can spray it onto your face, it’s better not to. It can get onto your hair pretty easily if you do that and it also still needs to be spread evenly onto the skin. It’s not something you should really apply on top of makeup.

Now, I still do enjoy the product because it dries down without leaving a slippery or greasy feel behind. It works beautifully under most foundations without too much altering of the way they look, apply, feel, or last throughout the day.

Initially it does feel slippery but after about 5 minutes it sinks into the skin and dries down completely. The dry down can sometimes feel a bit more dry than when I skip SPF and wear moisturizer alone. On days when I wear this, I am sure to be a bit more generous with moisturizer.

One downside to this is that I feel like it doesn’t protect my skin as well as “chemical” sunscreens. I’ve had times when I wore this out the in the sun for a couple hours and ended up with a slight burn. It could be that I need to apply it more heavily for better protection but then it defeats the purpose for me finding a sunscreen that doesn’t interfere with my makeup.

What I do when I wear this is I layer It Cosmetics CC Cream on top which is also SPF 50. That combo works really well together. I find the sunscreen almost acts like a smoothing primer and gives the CC Cream a more perfected finish. For reapplication throughout the day, I reach for It Cosmetics CC+ Airbrush Perfecting Powder (another SPF 50 product!).

Dr. Dennis Gross Sheer Mineral Sun Spray is not perfect but for the problem I was trying to solve, it does pretty good.

A few days ago, I found these new items at my local Trader Joe’s. I purchase their beauty products regularly and sometimes they release products only for a limited time, like their Pumpkin Body Butter which makes an appearance in the autumn months. I have no idea if any of these will be limited or permanent. I am hoping they keep them around for a while, though, because the ingredients generally seem to be good and the prices are fantastic.

The Rose Facial Oil was $5.99. I’ve been trying it out for a few days, and so far my skin is responding well to it. It’s not too heavy or greasy-feeling. The facial oils I’ve been using the most are Biossance 100% Squalane (in the winter) and Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil (the rest of the year). Compared to those, it’s a teensy bit more sticky on the dry down and doesn’t seem to absorb into the skin as much. After using it for a couple days, I haven’t noticed any obvious skin irritation or breakouts from it. The pump isn’t the best as I cannot press it down just a little. It’s all or nothing. One full pump is maybe 3 or 4 drops of oil, so it’s not really that big of a deal. There is a very faint rose scent but it’s nowhere near as strong as the scent of the toner or hand cream. This looks like a good budget option for a facial oil so hopefully Trader Joe’s keeps it around for a while.

This toner was $3.99. I don’t typically use sprays as part of my skincare but I do use setting spray after I apply my makeup. I have tried using it for that purpose and it works decently well. The mist is even and fairly fine but it is kind of forceful so I have to hold the bottle pretty far away from my face to get an even application. It has a true rose scent, which I personally enjoy.

This was $4.99. There is a rose note in the scent but it’s more a sweet floral/candy fragrance. It’s not what I was hoping for but it is enjoyable nonetheless. The fragrance in this is pretty light so I don’t think it would bother other people around that might be sensitive to fragrances. It is a thick cream but it spreads over my hands easily and soaks in fully after a few minutes. The packaging is aluminum, I think. It’s one of those tubes where you squeeze it and it doesn’t go back to it’s original shape.

Trader Joe’s Spa Face Wash With Tea Tree Oil is a liquid castile soap face wash with tea tree, orange peel, and lavender oils, and other botanicals meant to give your skincare routine a more spa-like experience. It costs about $5 at your local Trader Joe’s. If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s near you, it can also be found on Amazon, though it will cost more.

This purchase was actually my fiancé’s idea. We’ve recently been trying to switch to a more natural lifestyle (food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, etc.) and this was one of those things that we decided to give a go. We have been using Neutragena Oil Free Acne Wash for several years and we really don’t have any problems with it but we just wanted to try something new. This product’s featured ingredient is the tea tree oil which is supposed to be good for skin conditions like acne. We read reviews and some people claimed that this face wash also helped them with oily skin and blackheads.

Performance/Experience

We have both been using this for a couple weeks now and so far we are liking it. For reference, I have acne-prone combination skin which has been quite a bit more oily during these hot summer months. My fiancé has very oily skin in general and sometimes gets some red, flakey patches around his eyes.

This face wash is different than your traditional gel-consistency face wash. It is made with castile soap which is made with plant fats rather than animal fats. It has a very liquidy, runny consistency. I don’t need a whole lot to wash my face – a whole pump is too much and is wasteful as the excess runs between my fingers and down the drain. It doesn’t really foam up very much but it does have a slippery soapy feel against the skin. Just a word of warning – do not get this in your eyes! I have been careful and lucky but I’ve heard of others getting castile soap in the eye and saying that it really burns.

When I wash my face and rinse it almost feels as if the soap leaves a film over my face but it does feel like it thoroughly cleans. Once I dry my face, I don’t feel like the film is there anymore. It does have a little bit of a tingly feel if you wash over breakouts with it. It doesn’t leave my skin feeling too tight or dry. My fiancé said that he found it less drying than the Neutragena face wash. It has the typical tea tree oil smell which you may or may not like. I don’t mind it.

It does seem like it has been helping both of us with our skin ailments. My fiancé’s flakey patches around his eyes have been considerably reduced. I had a few breakouts that were starting to pop out around my jawline and I immediately attacked them with this face wash and my favorite toner (which has glycolic acid and salicylic acid). My breakouts stopped in their tracks and started healing after that. That doesn’t mean it will do the same for everyone but if tea tree oil has worked for you in the past, then this might work for you as well.

I think the packaging is super cute and makes my shower experience a tiny bit more special.

Overall Opinion

[rating=5]

I think it’s a good, fairly-priced product and would likely work well for those with non-sensitive combination/oily and acne prone skin who are looking for a more natural skincare routine.

This product’s claims:

• Hydrates to plump skin
• Starts to work immediately to reduce the look of fine lines & wrinkles over time
• Exfoliates, smoothes & brightens
• Regnerates skin’s youthful look
• Firms skin over time

I would have never chosen this moisturizer based soley on the promises it claims because I’m not that concerned about anti-aging yet. I was having a hard time finding a moisturizer that would provide enough moisture to keep my skin smooth without clogging my pores. The reviews for this product were generally good and many reviewers said that it was good at moisturizing and that it soaked right in.

I have been using this morning and night for about a month and so far I am really happy with it. It has a thick and luxurious feel and smoothes out easily over the skin. It is lightweight, non-greasy and doesn’t leave my face feeling oily or sticky. It provides a good amount of moisture, enough to ward off flakey skin, but it’s not a super intensive moisturizer. There are some days when my skin just takes a little more abuse and needs a little more hydration so I can’t say it is my holy grail moisturizer. With that said, I have no plans to stop using it. I just feel that I may need something a little more hydrating occasionally in the summer, and possibly a night cream in the winter.

It has not caused clogged pores or aggravated my acne. I can’t say I’ve noticed any dramatic results as far as anti-aging goes, although one person I see on a regular basis did comment that my skin was looking better. I feel like it has helped the overall tone of my skin look more even and the texture feels smoother (likely due to being properly hydrated). These are very subtle improvements though, not miraculous changes.

Worn alone, it doesn’t give my skin a shiny or dewy appearance, just a natural finish. If you look up close in a mirror, you will see that it does have some very fine sparkles in it. From a normal distance though, they are not noticeable. I don’t find that it causes my skin to get oilier throughout the day or break down my makeup.

I plan to continue using this long term because I like how balanced and normal my skin has felt since I started using it. I first purchased this at Ulta to give it a try and recently purchased a 2-pack from Costco because they are a better deal there. Costco only had the one with fragrance but I personally don’t mind the fragrance because it’s not too strong and it’s not powdery.

What moisturizer are you currently using? How is it working for you? Let me know in the comments!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission when you make purchases through them.

I have been using The Body Shop’s Vitamin C Microdermabrasion for nearly a year now and I have to say I’m very pleased with the product.

Even though it has “microdermabrasion” in the name, it’s actually just a great exfoliator. The exfoliating particles are very fine and are packed very densely into a citrus scented cream. The scent is a zesty orange smell which makes this product really nice for using in my morning shower. As a rule of thumb, the more time you spend massaging the product onto your skin, the deeper exfoliation you will get. Also, a little goes a long way. I love these qualities about the product because I don’t feel like I need to use MORE of it to get a good exfoliation, I just need to spend more time using it. I can get about 3 months use out of one tube.

In the photo above, you can see it has some tiny dark particles throughout. There are also some larger white particles that are not as easy to see. The picture does not do this product justice as it has a higher concentration of exfoliant in the cream base than any other scrub I have ever used.

When I first started using it, I used it 1-2 times a week and massaged it over my face for about 2-3 minutes. It would leave my face feeling super smooth and clean. With regular use it gave my skin a nice glow and created a nice surface for applying makeup as it removes all the dead skin off my face. Over time I noticed that my skin became accustomed to it and I started using it more like 3-4 times per week which is my current routine. I have mildly acne prone skin and if I use this regularly it does help keep the breakouts away. If you have very bad acne this may not be the right product for you though because using a scrub on active breakouts can just irritate them further.

This retails for $20 and contains 2.5 fl oz.

Ingredients

Water, Solum Diatomeae, Glycerin, Aluminum Silicate, Sweet Almond Oil, Dimethicone, Shea Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-100 Stearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Benzoate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Fragrance, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Linalool, Limonene, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Citral