China Glaze Jollywood Collection – Winter 2020

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This is quite an exciting post for me to write, for it is my first time reviewing nail polishes! If you follow me on Instagram, you know I’ve been posting some swatches and a bit of nail art this year. I’ve had an “aha” moment of why painting your nails feels so therapeutic – and just fun! After watching a few tutorials I feel way more patient and comfortable painting my nails. Having said this, I’m still not the cleanest painter on the web, so please forgive me if my cuticle line isn’t up to par like the pros.

In this post I’ll be reviewing the China Glaze Jollywood Collection kindly sent by Nail Polish Canada! I swatched all 12 nail polishes, provided a brief description of each shade as indicated by China Glaze, and my own two cents as a beginner nail polish aficionado!

For every swatch, I used a base coat, painted two coats, and topped off with Seche Vite quick dry top coat. Note that some polishes did need 3 coats, which I will flag down below. My nails are also on the longer side.

PR Samples sent for review purposes. This in no way effects my opinion of the products.
My opinions are honest, always *casts doe patronus*

Tinsel Town, Snow Biz, Slay Your Line

I grouped these three shades together because they all had the same finish and effect. They are shimmer polishes but looked almost foiled when angled differently. Their shimmer had mostly the same colour, and all created a sparkly wet icicle effect in real life! I saw a bit of nail line with 2 coats, but it wasn’t obvious unless I inspected up close.

  • Tinsel Town
  • Snow Biz
  • Slay Your Line

Tinsel Town is silver shimmer. Pretty colour, but it is quite bright and cool for my undertone.
Snow Biz is a silver gray shimmer. I see hints of red, green and magenta glitter when it sparkles.
Slay Your Line is a silver blue shimmer. It’s what Kelli Marissa would call a “blurple” – sometimes I see an icy blue, other times icy purple.

Screen Vixen

Screen Vixen

Screen Vixen is a gold shimmer matte, a type of polish I never knew existed! The finish and colour reminds me of a frosted gold ornament. The polish was fully opaque in 2 coats, and a bit of shine was brought back with a top coat. Again another pretty colour, but the it looked off with my skin tone.

Melrose Fireplace, Valet the Sleigh

I grouped these two polishes together because they both have larger glitter and dry down to a textured finish. Adding a top coat brings the shine back to both.

  • Melrose Fireplace
  • Valet the Sleigh

Melrose Fireplace is a champagne gold shimmer. Once a top coat is added, it sparkles like Tinsel Town, Snow Biz, and Slay Your Line. In the photo it looks like champagne gold, but in person the colour reminds me of an ivory wedding dress that has a hint of pink with sparkles running through it. I can also still see a bit of nail line after the second coat, but it’s not very noticeable unless I look up close. It is my favourite classic, neutral colour out of the four so far!

Valet the Sleigh is a purple glitter, that has silver, black, magenta, and red glitter. It reminds me of a non-traditional colour holiday party dress! I find the depth of the purple a bit more prominent than what’s shown in the photo.

Famous Fir Sure, Silent Nightlife

  • Famous Fir Sure
  • Silent Nightlife


Famous Fir Sure is a metallic green.
Silent Nightlife is a lavender shimmer crème.

They both have similar metallic pearl finishes, but I do notice Silent Nightlife looks a little softer than Famous Fir Sure based on the photo. I also learned that this type of polish formula is supposed to be the kind of that shows brush strokes, but I think I did an okay job on the second coat! In comparison to Screen Vixen, the particles are all the same size and colour except it’s a shiny finish. These shades also remind me of soft, frosted looking ornaments, but they are so soft I do feel some spring vibes coming from them.

Yule Jewels and Santa Monica Claus

Is this what is known as a “crelly” formula? Not really a cream and not really a jelly? I could still see my nail line from far away in 2 coats, so these nail definitely needed three coats for more opacity. Both of them are red, but have different undertones to them and I find the sparkle quite different on the two.

  • Yule Jewels
  • Santa Monica Claus

Yule Jewels is a light red lacquer with holographic flakes. It is a lighter red compared to Santa Monica Claus, and leans quite warm, like an orange-red. Even with 3 coats I still saw a smidge of nail line, and I don’t see any holographic reflect in this polish, the glitter also looks mostly orange-red with hints of green, I find it more dimensional.

Santa Monica Claus is a red gold shimmer lacquer. Darker and more opaque than Yule Jewels, it also leans on the cooler, more blue undertone kind of red. This one does not have as large or as bright of glitter as Yule Jewels, but it sure still is pretty under false light!

Deck the Malls, Celebri-Tree

Saved the more “difficult” polishes for last! Difficult in the sense that these were the two that had such an uneven first coat when I applied them. After the first coat however it was all the feel I needed to do the second to make it more level. Both didn’t dry to a super textured finish but a glossy top coat definitely helps make them feel a bit smoother.

  • Deck the Malls
  • Celebri-Tree

Deck the Malls is a dark blue glitter. Quite a different colour from the collection, but it still gives me a holiday feel. I like that it’s such a dark blue, but I don’t confuse it for black. The glitters in here look square-shaped and they are scattered as you apply the polish. Inspecting up close, it looks like a soft starry night. The photo is quite up close with a glossy finish, but this colour does give a gentle, subtle sparkle look in person. It’s definitely not as sparkly as the golds and silvers in the collection.

Celebri-Tree is an emerald tinsel. Okay, this is seriously my FAVOURITE colour out of the collection! It looks SO cool! It has some serious Christmas tree (or Christmas grass) vibes. There is clearly a silver bar type glitter in this as well as small silver round ones. Layering this polish also changes up the colour of some of the glitter, giving it a cool effect. This colour instantly reminded me of a ton of Christmas/winter movies – How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Night Before Christmas, the Nutcracker, Chronicles of Narnia. Yeah, it’s peculiar, but the point is the holiday feel and sparkler really comes out of this polish!

FINAL THOUGHTS ON CHINA GLAZE JOLLYWOOD COLLECTION

I really enjoyed trying all these new polishes and new-to-me formulas. China Glaze Jollywood collection offers a variety of different formulas and finishes, enough to make me “ooh” and “awe” along the swatch-fest!

Here are my top colours that gave me the most feels:

  • Melrose Fireplace
  • Silent Nightlife
  • Yule Jewels
  • Deck the Malls
  • Celebri-Tree

You can purchase the China Glaze Jollywood collection at Nail Polish Canada.

I hope you found my first nail polish review helpful and informative! It was fun to do, but wow the fumes.

Let me know how I did in the comments down below, hopefully my swatches next time will look cleaner and I’ll have a steadier hand by then.

xo, M

Rovectin Cica Care Line – Purifying Toner, Balm, Sleeping Pack, and Dr. Mask Cica

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Rovectin seems to be the new kid on the block in the K-beautysphere. As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, this Korean beauty brand was originally created for cancer patients who experience irritating, skin-drying and barrier deteriorating side-effects from the treatments. Knowing this, Rovectin primarily focuses on providing skincare products to those with the most sensitive skin types – effective, gentle formulations to promote skin health.

I’ve been sent the following products to test out from Rovectin’s Cica Care Line:

  • Rovectin Cica Care Purifying Toner
  • Rovectin Cica Care Balm
  • Rovectin Cica Care Sleeping Pack
  • Rovectin Cica Care Dr. Mask Cica

The Cica Care Line focuses on irritated skin due to acne. Cica – Centella Asiatica – is the key ingredient in this line, alongside Calamine – remember the pink stuff we put on bug bites as kids? I’ve been rotating these products in my skincare routine for the past couple of months and I am ready to share my experience!

I am acne-prone, normal to dry. My skin gets easily sensitized to drying products and environments. I have been using topical prescriptions for my acne daily for almost 3 years such as Vitamin A and Aczone.

Products were sent to me for review purposes, however this in no way effects my opinion of them. My opinions are honest, always *casts doe patronus*

ABOUT ROVECTIN CICA CARE LINE

Cica Care Line for soothing and calming your irritated skin – acne-prone, hormonal breakouts and dark spots. Calamine and Madecassoside work day and night to revitalize your sensitive skin.

– Rovectin.com
  • All products are cruelty-free
  • Some products are vegan friendly
  • All products contain fragrance – I believe the fragrance component has been updated but the overall formula and performance is the same
  • Price point in my opinion is mid-range $$

Not a skin expert in any way, just a passionate skincare enthusiast! For the highlighted ingredients below, I listed the ones I thought were important and their basic function for convenience.

ROVECTIN CICA CARE BALM

Rovectin Cica Care Balm

Price: $26 USD
Amount: 40ml
pH: 6.5 – 8.5

Highlighted Ingredients:

  • Trehalose – humectant sugar molecule
  • Calamine
  • Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside – wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, and have antioxidant benefits
  • Glycerin – skin-identical humectant
  • Betaine – humectant sugar amino acid derivative
  • Swatch of Rovectin Cica Care Balm after being squeezed from the tube.
  • Swatch of Rovectin Cica Care Balm slightly massaged into the skin.
  • Swatch of Rovectin Cica Care Balm fully set on the skin.

A thin, slightly pink gel-cream, I tried the Cica Care balm in 2 ways – spot treatment and all over moisturizer. As a spot treatment I thought it performed decently, it’s definitely a more “supportive” product (as I like to call it) when used alongside my anti-acne prescriptions – helps keep the effected areas calm and moisturized, to prevent any side effects such as irritation and dryness. As an all-over face moisturizer, it’s definitely not enough for my dryer skin type in the winter time in Canada, but I can see this being a good stand-alone moisturizer if I were to live in a more humid place. Paired with the Sleeping Pack, I did find my face comfortably moisturized all through the night.

ROVECTIN CICA CARE PURIFYING TONER

Rovectin Cica Care Purifying Toner

Price: $24 USD
Amount: 260ml
pH: 5.25 – 5.75


Highlighted Ingredients:

  • Glycerin – skin-identical humectant
  • Centella Asiatica Extract and Madecassoside – wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, and have antioxidant benefits
  • Panthenol – humectant with soothing and wound healing benefits
  • Houttuynia Cordata Extract – traditional Asian plant extract high in flavonoids that show antioxidant, soothing, and antibacterial properties
  • Ceramide NP – skin-identical waxy lipid (I guess an emollient?)
  • Camellia Sinesis Leaf Extract – an antioxidant, helps with pores and antibacterial
  • Amino Acids – Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Serine, Lysine, Alanine, Threonine, Proline – skin-identical humectants
  • Swatch of Rovectin Cica Care Purifying Toner after application.
  • Swatch of Rovectin Cica Care Purifying Toner fully set on the skin.

I opted for this toner as a “morning cleanse” – it has the right pH, moisturizing ingredients, and is quite watery, so I didn’t really classify it as a hydrator in my skincare routine. I’d saturate a cotton round and wipe my face and neck from a night’s sweat and fluff. The big standout of this toner is the fragrance – it has quite a deep Lavender scent to it; I have mixed feelings about it – sometimes I don’t mind it, other times it’s just too strong. I believe the fragrance component in this Cica Care Purifying Toner has been updated so it may not be as strong for some of you considering this.

ROVECTIN CICA CARE SLEEPING PACK

Rovectin Cica Care Sleeping Pack

Price: $34 USD
Amount: 80ml
pH: 6.3 – 6.5

Highlighted Ingredients:

  • Glycerin – skin-identical humectant
  • Betaine – humectant sugar amino acid derivative
  • Panthenol – humectant with soothing and wound healing benefits
  • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract – humectant/emollient with soothing properties
  • Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate – humectant with soothing properties
  • Allantoin – soothing
  • Bioflavinoids – soothing
  • Swatch of Rovectin Cica Care Sleeping Pack squeezed out of the tube.
  • Swatch of Rovectin Cica Care Sleeping Pack slightly massaged into the skin.

My favourite product out of the bunch! I suspect it has quite a bit of Glycerin in the formula, because it immediately reminded me of La Roche Posay Cicaplast Mains which is 30% Glycerin. I like using sleeping masks over my moisturizer, for I don’t find it performs that well on its own for my dryer skin type. The next morning after using this mask, I was always pleased at how well it retained moisture in my skin – comparable to more affordable occlusives found at the drugstore!

ROVECTIN DR. MASK CICA

Rovectin Dr. Mask Cica

Price: $20 USD for 5
Amount: 25ml/sheet
pH: 4.3 – 5.3

Highlighted Ingredients:

  • Glycerin – skin-identical humectant
  • Arginine – skin-identical humectant, wound-healing benefits
  • Centella Asiatica Extract and Madecassoside – wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, and have antioxidant benefits
  • Sodium Hyaluronate – skin-identical humectant
  • Trehalose – humectant sugar molecule
  • Betaine – humectant sugar amino acid derivative
  • Calamine
  • Houttuynia Cordata Extract – traditional Asian plant extract high in flavonoids that show antioxidant, soothing, and antibacterial properties

The Cica sheet mask is a cotton material, was nicely drenched in a more viscous serum, and fit my face well. I specifically used this sheet mask on a day I was experiencing a breakout (not that inflamed) from the It Cosmetics Foundation + Skincare to test out how much it can help my sensitized skin. It hydrated my skin nicely, didn’t irritate my acne spots, but it didn’t really do much to lower the size of them either. I have used sheet masks that are able to reduce the size of breakouts and redness, so I know those claims can be true.

Note on the packaging of the box I have, it says there is salicylic acid in the formula for exfoliation – there is no BHA in any form in it. I don’t know why they would advertise it :\ But just know this is why it’s always important to look at the ingredients list to make sure they have something to match their claims!

FINAL THOUGHTS ON ROVECTIN CICA CARE LINE

Rovectin’s Cica Care Line performed nicely. I like how their formulations cater to sensitive acne-prone skin, nothing stripped or overly sensitized my skin while rotating the products in my skincare routines. Keep in mind my skin is not impaired and I don’t have a lot of inflamed acne, but I still found them to be good supportive products around the actives I do use to help control it. The one major standout con was the heavy fragrance in the Cica Care Purifying Toner, but as I have mentioned at the beginning of this post, Rovectin has updated the fragrance component in some of their products, I believe this toner included. This is where the major pro comes in – Rovectin shows they listen to their customers and continue to grow their brand based on their feedback. Overall I find this line more suitable for those with normal to oily skin types because majority of the products have a light consistency, but any skin type can make them work in a skincare routine.

WHERE TO BUY:
Wishtrend*
Use “MICHXMASH15” for 15% off your order
Yesstyle*
Use “YESMICH“* for 5% off your first order, 2% off 2nd+ orders

As always, I hope you found this review helpful and informative!

xo, M

a collage of michelle's face. Left to right: no makeup, just primer, with makeup.

Minimal Makeup Routine – NO Foundation and NO Concealer!

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I have to say, I’m pretty proud of this updated minimal makeup routine. Compared to last year’s video, I cut my products down significantly and it takes me no more than 5 minutes to complete! I also find it a testament to how much more confident I feel about my skin (and face in general). It’s by no means perfect, but I have come to the point where I accept it for what it is without feeling the need to cover and change so much of it. I also like this super simple makeup routine during the colder months, where I feel like I need to reapply moisturizer (as well as SPF).

Products Used

minimal-makeup-routine-products

Base

Primer, in my opinion, is the most important step of this minimal, no foundation (and no concealer) makeup look. It acts as a bridge between skincare and makeup, but I actually find the primers I use to lean more on the skincare side. They act as a barrier on the skin, apply easily after sunscreen, increase makeup longevity, minimize the look of skin texture, slightly reduces excess shine, and has a bit of colour correcting properties!

Tatcha Liquid Silk Canvas Protective Primer
Has a pink-purple hue so it helps brighten and even out my skin complexion, making it looks a smidge fuller.

Indeed Labs Green Nanoblur (gift)
Green help cancels out redness, and I appreciate the subtlety of the colour so it doesn’t look too obvious when I wear it on its own!

 

Eye Area

Here’s where it gets even more simple. I only brush my brows and apply a coloured brow gel, and curl my lashes. My eyes tend to get especially dry during the colder months, and last year while at the office I found myself applying my hand cream around my eye area throughout the day! Keeping it simple just allows me to apply moisturizer (and SPF) without looking in the mirror and without worrying that I smudged something.

Glossier Boy Brow – Brown
Perfect brush size, dispenses the right amount of product, and a great match to my eyebrow colour.

Muji Eyelash Curler
Just the one I currently have in my vanity, seems to be made more for Asian-shaped eyes.

 

Cheeks

Depending on the occasion, this step is actually optional! I use cream or powder, but I was feeling some fall colours this day.

Glossier Cloud Paint – Dusk
A little goes a long way with this cream blush, and I like using this colour in particular up to my temples like a blush/bronzer kinda of product.

 

Lips

Depsite current events and still needing to wear a mask, I still like wearing gloss to keep my lips comfortable and give it a tint of colour..

Fenty Gloss Bomb – Fenty Glow
Just a nice pinky, sometimes pinky-brown tint and a comfortable gloss.

Glossier Generation G Lipstick – Cake
I’m surprised how much I like this formula – it easily applies as a nice blotted look, which is how I prefer wearing lipsticks. Although it is matte, the formula is not too drying. I find this colour in particular to pair well with the Cloud Paint I’m using.

 

And that’s all, folks! As always, I hope you found this helpful and informative, or at least inspires you to embrace your face!

xo, M

 

Links

Tatcha Liquid Silk Canvas Primer
https://bit.ly/32qiiSd *

Tatcha Silk Canvas Protective Primer
https://bit.ly/32mMk9n *

Indeed Labs Nanoblur Colour Corrector – Green (gift)
https://indeedlabs.com/shop/nanoblur-colour-corrector-green/

Glossier Boy Brow – Brown
https://bit.ly/32oO16b *

Muji Eyelash Curler
https://www.muji.us/store/eyelash-curler-4547315844388.html

Glossier Cloud Paint – Dusk
https://bit.ly/3n1gBlZ *

Fenty Gloss Bomb – Fenty Glow
https://bit.ly/38nuF5m *

Glossier Generation G Lipstick – Cake
https://bit.ly/3n2V0JN *

* Indicates affiliate links. This means if you use this link to make a purchase, I make a small commission. Thanks for your support if you decide to use them! If you feel uncomfortable, feel free to google a new link.

SUNSCREEN SUNDAY #15: Skinceuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF50

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Well-known or their Vitamin CE Ferulic Acid serum, Skinceuticals is an American cosmeceutical brand that can be found in many a dermatology or medispa clinic. I decided to pick up their Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF50 at my dermatologist’s clinic. I’ve heard this being a great mineral sunscreen for all skin tones, so I had to try it for myself!

michxmash-skinceutical-physical-fusion-tinted-spf

INFORMATION ON SKINCEUTICALS PHYSICAL FUSION UV DEFENSE SPF50

SKIN TYPE: All Skin Types, Very Sensitive
SKIN CONDITION: Aging and Sun-Damaged Skin, Discoloration
WHAT IT IS
Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 is a tinted, broad spectrum sunscreen fluid with 100% mineral-based UV filters which promotes radiance and an even skin tone.
WHAT IT’S GOOD FOR

• Provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB Protection
• Boosts radiance for a more even, luminous complexion 
• Helps boost skin’s natural defenses to environmental stress

DID YOU KNOW?

• Water- and sweat resistant for up to 40 minutes 
• Sheer, tinted sunscreen adapts to most skin tones without a white cast 
• Non-comedogenic, paraben-, alcohol-, dye-, fragrance- and gluten-free

– Skinceuticals.ca

Price: $34 USD / $48 CAD
Amount: 50 ml
Packaging:  Opaque grey plastic bottle, twist off cap with a small spout.

michxmash-skinceutical-physical-fusion-tinted-spf-ingredients

UV FILTERS:

Type: Mineral
Zinc Oxide: 5% Z-Cote®
Titanium Dioxide: 6%

Protection:
UVB: SPF50
UVA: ~16.67 – in Canada, the recommended minimum UVAPF has to be 1/3rd of the SPF. (See Table 4 on the Government of Canada’s website). I found on this website that the PPD is 21, but nowhere on Skinceuticals website is it confirmed.
Contains Iron Oxides

INGREDIENTS:
Active ingredients: titanium dioxide, zinc oxide. Cosmetic ingredients: water, dimethicone, isododecane, c12-15 alkyl benzoate, undecane, triethylhexanoin, isohexadecane, nylon-12, caprylyl methicone, butyloctyl salicylate, phenethyl benzoate, styrene/acrylates copolymer, silica, tridecane, dicaprylyl carbonate, dicaprylyl ether, talc, dimethicone/peg-10/15 crosspolymer, aluminum stearate, pentylene glycol, peg-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone, alumina, polyhydroxystearic acid, phenoxyethanol, magnesium sulfate, caprylyl glycol, iron oxides, peg-8 laurate, disteardimonium hectorite, triethoxycaprylylsilane, tocopherol, propylene carbonate, artemia extract, benzoic acid, peg-9, disodium stearoyl glutamate, aluminum hydroxide.

The Zinc Oxide in this sunscreen is Z-Cote®, described as a microfine, photostable physical UV filter that is translucent and non-greasy. Knowing this, it is what’s supposed to help this mineral sunscreen produce minimal cast for most skin tones. Skinceuticals describes the Titanium Dioxide in this formula as microfine, and the Iron Oxides as translucent coloured spheres. Aside from Tocopherol as an antioxidant, the bulk of the ingredients list make up the texture and emollience of the sunscreen.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH SKINCEUTICALS PHYSICAL FUSION UV DEFENSE SPF50

CONSISTENCY:  Thin fluid.

FRAGRANCE: None.

APPLICATION: I applied the sunscreen in 2 thin layers. It slides on very easily with a light touch.

michxmash-skinceutical-physical-fusion-tinted-spf-skin-1

FINISH: Glowy, sometimes too shiny for my liking. Even when I give it time to set, it still has quite the glow.

FEEL: Sometimes it stings a bit after application. Slightly greasy for initial feel, but it sets to a slight tacky finish.

STINGS EYES? A little bit on application, but it goes away.

WHITECAST / TINTED? The tint is slightly grey, and if applied in thin layers it seems to mostly adapt to my skin colour. I have tried 2 thin layers, and 3 even thinner layers, both types of application had resulted in a similar tone – mostly my skin shade and undertone, a smidge grey. If too much is applied at once, the grey is very visible and doesn’t seem to adapt so well. I also tested this sunscreen on my cousin (she is NC40 in MAC shade) – I made her apply a VERY generous layer of this sunscreen on, and it looked great on her! She told me she actually uses the Klairs Mid Day Blue UV Shield as her current sunscreen as well with no makeup on top. We both have fairly neutral undertones on our face so that could be another reason why it blends into her skin tone as well as mine (NC16 or NC20).

WATER RESISTANT? The Canadian website says yes for 40 minutes, but on the packaging itself it recommends to use a water-resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating. For sun safety, I’d go with what’s on the packaging.

michxmash-skinceutical-physical-fusion-tinted-spf-skin-2

SKIN BENEFITS? Evens out my skin tone, makes my skin feel slightly drier as I wear it throughout the day, and seems to always gather/pill around my hair line. In the colder months I notice it picks up my dry patches more easily, so I need to have a lighter hand with application to prevent it. I also find when I mix an occlusive with my moisturizer prior, it helps prevent worse dry patches.

UNDER MAKEUP: Does not add or subtract to longevity. I don’t need to apply as heavy of a coverage because the slight greyish tint cancels out redness. Doesn’t impact the finish or make it look cakey.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON SKINCEUTICALS PHYSICAL FUSION UV DEFENSE SPF50

PROS:

  • High protection – SPF50 (although I always prefer SPF50+)
  • Fairly easy to apply the 2mg/cm2
  • Feels light
  • Evens skin
  • Skin-like finish
  • Doesn’t look cakey
  • With specific application, I can wear this on its own (provided there are no patches visible)
  • Reminds me of what a classic Korean BB cream does – the grey reduces the redness and allows for a thinner foundation application to make your makeup seem more natural looking.

CONS:

  • Sometimes stings.
  • Pills around hairline and emphasizes dry patches – didn’t notice this when I used it in the summertime though!
  • I find my skin becomes drier throughout the day

IN-BETWEEN FEELS

  • I don’t think anyone would be a fan of the price per ml, however I look past it because of how well it performs compared to other all-mineral sunscreens I’ve tried (during summer especially)
  • Sometimes I feel like the undertone looks too neutral, almost grey. If you have easily reddened skin, you may like this though. In addition you need to apply this a certain way to minimize that grey tint as much as possible

I am pretty impressed with Skinceuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF50! Next to the Klairs Mid Day Blue UV Shield, this one has a pretty forgiving tint on my skin tone with the right application, and it performs well under makeup. I personally still prefer using either hybrid-sunscreens or pure organic UV filter sunscreens because I can confidently apply 2mg/cm2 without worrying about a cast or grey tint. This is a feeling I can never shake off with 100% mineral sunscreens. However, for a high SPF all mineral sunscreen, the Skinceuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF50 did a pretty good job! I think this will work more for normal to oily skin types since it does pick up on dry patches, but for my dryer skin type I still found it to work well in the warmer months.

WHERE TO BUY:
Skinceuticals.ca
Skinstore *
Dermstore *

*This is an affiliate link. If you use this link to make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra charge to you. Thank you if you decide to use it! If you feel uncomfortable, feel free to google a new link.

As, always I hope you found this post helpful and informative!

xo, M

REVIEW: Jumiso Super Soothing Cica & Aloe Facial Serum

MICHXMASHLeave a comment

Fall is here, the air is around 5 degree Celsius, and I’m using the highest strength of Tretinoin – my face be feeling slightly sensitive! The timing seems fortunate, for I was sent Jumiso’s new Super Soothing Cica & Aloe Facial Serum to try out. I have been using this serum 2x a day for past couple of weeks and I am ready to share my thoughts!

Product sent for review purposes. This does not sway my opinion of the product. My thoughts are honest, always *casts doe patronus*

DESCRIPTION

Jumiso Super Soothing Cica&Aloe Facial Serum is highly-enriched serum that could soothes sensitive skin. It helps you to grow the power of natural moisturizing factor that developed for the improvement of destroyed skin barrier and exhausted and saggy skin elasticity.

– StyleKorean.com

ADDITIONAL CLAIMS

– Cruelty-free
– Made in South Korea

Amount: 30ml
Price: $24 USD
Packaging: Clear dropper bottle
How to use: “After using toner, in the essence stage, take an appropriate amount and apply it all over the face to absorb.“

INGREDIENTS

  • Screenshot of Jumiso Super Soothing Cica & Aloe Facial Serum ingredients

Centella Asiatica Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Water, Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Ceramide NP, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Benzyl Glycol, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Valine, Threonine, Proline, Isoleucine, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, SpiruLina Maxima Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Raspberry Ketone, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer,1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Trideceth-10, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Adenosine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA

  • Centella Asiatica Extract: 41%
  • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract: 31%
  • 7 different hyaluronic acid molecules
  • 17 kinds of Amino Acids

Jumiso provides LOTS of pictographics in English on their ingredients, it’s best to check out the product page (link bottom of page) to get an idea of what the formula is all about. If you didn’t already notice, This serum is packed with a ton of skin beneficial ingredients! What’s funny is that they didn’t even highlight other great ingredients such as Niacinamide, Glycerin, Ceramide NP, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, and Adenosine!

EXPERIENCE

Texture: Serum on the thicker side (I’d say ampoule).

Fragrance: None.

Application: Sometimes I do 4 drops on my face, or a full pipette’s worth if I want some extra moisture.

Finish: Slightly glowy.

Feel: Emollient. Skin feels quite soft.

Instant Results: Adds extra moisture to my skin, also soothes if I became irritated from an active I used prior.

Long-Term Results: Hard to tell how impactful this serum is on its own, but all I know is that since incorporating it into my routine, my skin has been maintaining calm and moisturized skin and I don’t become easily sensitized to strong actives in my routine.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I am quite wowed by Jumiso’s Super Soothing Cica & Aloe Facial Serum. It has quite the list of skin-friendly ingredients and a little goes a long way. I feel like it’s a nice serum to have if you need something calming and to add additional moisture to your skin, especially if you want something richer, on the more emollient side. I can also see this being a nice addition for those who irritated their skin too much with overuse of actives and/or propolis-based serums with a similar texture to this haven’t worked out for you. For oily-skinned peeps, you may find this nice on it’s own without moisturizer if you don’t mind more emollient finishes. Overall Jumiso’s Super Soothing Cica & Aloe Facial Serum is a good option for those who just need to simplify their routine and bring back the strength of your skin’s barrier.

WHERE TO BUY:
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As always, I hope you found this review helpful and informative!

xo, M