Sunscreen -La Roche Posay - Anthelios Fluide Extreme SPF 40
antonio_pt 5/7/2004 11:30:00 AM
Finally La Roche Posay made the move. After last year's Avene's Emulsions targeted specifically towards combination skin, this year the LRP laboratories launched their response: the Fluides Extremes. These have a completely different formulation from the rest of the Anthelios line (actually from the rest of all the L'Oreal sunscreens I know of): no Stearic Acid! :). I can notice a new ingredient on the top of the list (which I've never heard of before, suppose their 'state of the art' heh) which I think might be responsible for the lightness of this product. It is a very fluid, almost watery lotion that goes on clear and is absorbed instantly. The finish is natural, not completely matte, not awfully shiny/greasy like all the other Anthelios. Just perfect for any combination/oily skintype. The protection is superb: you can't beat its SPF 40, PPD 17 considering such a light texture. Its filters are Avobenzone (stabilized with Octocrylene), Mexoryl SX, Mexoryl XL, Tinosorb S and Titanium Dioxide. You can be sure you are well guarded from the sun if you apply the correct amount (2mL: face & neck). Daily sunscreen is vital for me (I use tretinoin every night). And as I'm a guy who wears no makeup/powders, leftover shine from sunscreens is an important factor too. I can safelly say Anthelios Fluide Extreme SPF 40 has solved all of these problems for me. I haven't experienced any breakouts but as I've written before, I use tretinoin nightly, so I don't have any acne problems. Will definitely repurchase. Thanks LRP :)
11 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -La Roche Posay - Hydraphase XL SPF 15 UVA 12
antonio_pt 11/24/2003 2:58:00 PM
This is my favourite product from the LRP line. It's a lighweight moisturizer with SPF 15 and a excellent UVA protection (PPD 12). Absorbs quickly and leaves just a slight sheen which is bearable. I'm also on a Tretinoin regimen and this hasn't given me any problems. I just wish it was fragrance free. No breakouts at all. My HG moisturizer at the moment for sure.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -MD Forte - Replenish Hydrating Cream
antonio_pt 11/4/2003 5:01:00 PM
I had high hopes for this one but it just didn't cut it. I have combination skin, dried out from daily tretinoin use and I was looking for a substitute for my beloved Cetaphil cream (I wanted to try something else). Having read the reviews and learning this was appropriate for a regimen that included a retinoid, I took the plunge for the 30 bucks but now I regret it. It leaves your skin very silky after you apply it (thanks to its sillicone base) and it helps to calm down redness and irritation (it has a long list of anti-irritants and soothing agents) but at the end of the day I noticed my face looked dull and flakey. Used it for a few days in the morning and after washing at night I started noticing that my skin was even drier than before I started using it. I believe this might be a nice cream for oily dehydrated skin but it didn't work for my combo/dry type. I didn't breakout from it but beware of its sillicone base if you're acne-prone. Not going to repurchase.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Retin A
antonio_pt 10/30/2003 6:21:00 AM
After Accutane, this is the best thing I've ever done for my skin. I've inherited the worst skin from my parents: very large pores, oiliness, very prone to acne, rough, uneven texture. I had to go through a seven month treatment with Accutane which was very harsh on my skin, made it super-dry but it definitely solved my acne problems. A few months after finishing it though, some oiliness came back (not as bad as before) and also blackheads on my nose, no acne though. I decided to start a Tretinoin+AHA regimen to treat my rough texture and large pores. Two months later, my skin has been totally turned around. Some old acne marks that never seemed to fade have finally gone, large pores have been refined and look a lot smaller, the texture of my skin is much smoother and soft, blackheads have decreased by 50%. Being a man with rough, problematic skin, Retin-A has been a gift from above. I only hope the results continue as Tretinoin is known to only show its final results after six months to one year. Thanks Dr. Fulton :)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -MD Formulations - total protector spf 30
antonio_pt 10/6/2003 2:52:00 PM
I had high hopes for this one when I bought it even though I knew it uses old-fashioned Zinc Oxide and Octyl Methoxycinnamate as filters (and not Mexoryls or Tinosorbs). Unfortunatelly, this was hard to spread, left my face white and worst of all SHINY. I found out later that the chemical suncreen irritated my skin by causing over-sweating when I had more physical activity than usual. On the positive side, it didn't break me out at all and my skin would feel very calm a few minutes after applying it, thanks to the ZiO and the Allantoin. Not going to repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -MD Forte - Facial Cleanser II
antonio_pt 10/6/2003 2:46:00 PM
I tried a sample of this cleanser and I quite liked it. It helped me getting rid of my Tretinoin (Retin-A) flakies due to the glycolic acid exfoliating action. If you use it the correct way, it leaves your skin soft and glowing, not dry or taught. Not sure if I will purchase it later as I prefer to use plain cleansers (my HG is Topix Resurfix Ultra Gentle) and leave the exfoliating properties to other treatments. Also, I wasn't used to apply cleanser on dry skin so that felt quite strange for me. I think I'd get used to it later though. Recommended!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Vichy - Thermal S UV
antonio_pt 10/6/2003 2:33:00 PM
This is the review of the Fluid version, only available in the UK I believe. It has a SPF of 20 and a PPD of 10. Lovely light fluid that spreads easily and dries almost matte. It uses stabilized Avobenzone (w/ Octocrylene) and Mexoryl SX as sunscreen agents so you can be sure you're well protected. Unfortunately it broke me out after a few days (Zea Mays is listed as 3rd ingredient). It also has a strong fragrance which might be an irritant for some. Almost my HG sunscreen :( Won't repurchase.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Lancome - UV Expert SPF 50
antonio_pt 10/6/2003 2:28:00 PM
Reading about it on the boards made me wonder if this would be my HG sunscreen. I was wrong (again!). It is a very light fluid, easy to apply, no white cast but still leaves a shiny finish if you use the correct amount to protect your face. It also has a strong fragrance that might irritate the more sensitive skins. On the good side, it is very photostable using Mexoryl XL, SX and other filters which provide excellent protection. The packaging is nice, although small for the price you pay. Not going to repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -La Roche Posay - Anthelios W Gel Ultra Protection UVA SPF 40 (IPD 34 PPD 19)
antonio_pt 10/6/2003 2:18:00 PM
Like Victoria wrote below, I also had high expectations for this sunscreen. It has a gel-like consistency and it is very easy to apply and spread but it leaves my face very shiny and sticky, but not white. Protection wise, it is excellent as it uses Mexoryl XL and SX, stabilized Avobenzone and Titanium Dioxide (SPF40, PPD 19). Another plus is that it contains no fragrance. I don't wear any makeup as I'm a guy so shine is an important factor for me. I won't repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Unlisted Brand - Professional Solutions Sal/Gly Kit
antonio_pt 8/5/2003 7:02:00 PM
What a great skincare line this is. Their products are very simple yet the most effective on the market, because they only contain pure, active ingredients, at the right concentrations and PH. I don't know how people can spend hundreds on a jar of petrolatum based moisturizer (LM?) and expect miracles from it... Check this line at www.naturalskincare.com.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Paula's Choice - Super Antioxidant Concentrate
antonio_pt 7/28/2003 3:20:00 PM
Very rich in excellent antioxidants, I noticed it evened out my skin tone and helped with past acne marks, but its silicone base can easily clog acne-prone skin like mine. I would recommend it to people with dry, non-acne prone skin though!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Paula's Choice - Skin Perfecting 8% AHA Gel Exfoliant
antonio_pt 7/28/2003 3:18:00 PM
Effective product with major flaw: leaves the stickiest residue after it dries, so I can't layer products with it. Much prefer Professional Solutions Fruit Acid Gel now.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -DDF - Sensitive Skin Cleansing Gel
antonio_pt 7/28/2003 3:15:00 PM
Good alternative to SLS based cleansers. Still, it left my normal/dry skin kind of dry afterwards. Gone through a whole bottle and won't be repurchasing.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Skin Biology - Exfol Serum
antonio_pt 7/5/2003 11:25:00 AM
Amazing, amazing product! I always thought that BHA products ruined my skin, until I found out this serum. It is 2% SA in a water/aloe vera base. The secret to its gentleness is that it does not contain alcohol like most of the BHA products out there. It has refined my skin, the texture is more even, my pores look smaller and old acne scars started fading in just a few days. I didn't have any acne or blackheads to begin with because I've finished a Accutane course just two months ago. I did have a rudy complexion that this serum has helped to get rid of. Totally recommended. UPDATE: I eventually dropped this as I was getting new blackheads and this wasn't helping. Moved on to retinoids.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No