Cleansers -Bioderma - Sensibio H2O (aka Crealine H20 Solution micellaire)
fassolichka 1/23/2013 11:24:00 AM
I literally cured my sensitive skin with this stuff. For over a year I was plagued with redness and itchy bumps all over my face that two dermatologists and an allergist could not explain. I kept getting prescribed harsher and harsher creams and lotions and steroids, and it got to the point where I would get too depressed to leave the house. The worse thing was that I have Asian skin and the itchy bumps would leave red marks that took months to fade. Then I read on Garance Dore's blog that her dermatologist had told her to stop washing her skin full stop. Something about preserving your face's natural oils. So I threw out all my soaps and face washes, even the "super gentle" ones, and bought a bottle of Avene micellar water. Within a week, the itchiness was 80% reduced. I kept with that regime for a few months, and my skin looked so much better. But it was so expensive that I looked for an alternative, and I found Sensibio on Amazon. Right after I switched to Sensibio, my irritation disappeared 100%. It's been 6 months and I have zero, zero irritation. It's like a miracle. I think I finally allowed the natural barrier on my skin to heal when I stopped messing with it with harsh surfactants and the like. My skin is so much healthier now that I am actually able to tolerate a retinoid (Atralin) without any irritation. By the way, I wear Revlon Colorstay foundation and two cotton pads of this stuff gets it all off. It also takes off my Becca mascara. And I even use it to clean my face on days when I don't wear makeup at all. I am now a firm believer in the importance of respecting the natural barrier on your skin.
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Foundations -Revlon - ColorStay Makeup with SoftFlex SPF 6 for Combination/Oily Skin
fassolichka 1/23/2013 11:15:00 AM
I've been using this for about a week, no breakouts that I've noticed. Sand Beige is a great match for my NC25 skin, and it doesn't oxidize. I haven't noticed the heaviness that other commenters have mentioned, but that may be because I apply it with my fingers in a modest layer. I don't expect full coverage from this (or any) foundation and prefer to go over the spots that need it with Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage and my beloved E.L.F. concealer brush. It's not a miracle as far as controlling the oilies, but right now I'm using a retinoid (Atralin) that I feel is causing my skin to be unnaturally oily. It still does a much better job than my previous foundation, Bourjois Healthy Mix. I really think this foundation looks better and better as the day goes on. My only issue with it is the crappy packaging. This needs a pump so badly.
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Concealers -Bourjois - Healthy Mix Correcting Concealer
fassolichka 1/23/2013 11:09:00 AM
I have the Healthy Mix Foundation in 52 (which I'm not a fan of; see my review) and the salesgirl assured me that I needed the matching concealer in 52 as well. Actually, 52 is too light both as a shade and in terms of pigment. If I layer it over redness or blemishes with a brush, it does an ok job, but it gets oranger and oranger as the day goes by. And it's useless for undereye circles: too thin, too dry, too pale.
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Liquid -Bourjois - Healthy Mix Foundation
fassolichka 1/23/2013 11:06:00 AM
I wanted to love this so bad after watching Lisa Eldridge sing its praises. It took me months to track down, and when I finally got my hands on it, I spent about 3 months in total denial. I wore it every day and refused to deal with the fact that it made my face an oil slick. I have combination skin to begin with, but I feel like the extreme shininess that appears within an hour of application is not my own oil, but has to do with the way the formula breaks down over time. This just doesn't happen when I wear other foundations. It's a pity because the color is great (52 for my NC25 skin), the texture is a dream to apply, the smell is delicious (even though I don't normally like fragrance), and the packaging is so convenient. Coverage, though, is a bit meh, and I am convinced that this product will bind to any existing oil on your face and make it 20 times worse. Conclusion: if you already have pretty good, dry-to-normal skin, this will probably be a great product for you. But if you have any oiliness at all, or any dark marks to cover, look for something else.
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Conditioner -L'Oreal - EverSleek Intense Smooth Conditioner
fassolichka 1/23/2013 10:55:00 AM
I have fairly long hair and this gave me terrible back acne--the giant, cystic kind--all the way down my back. I didn't realize this product was the cause until I ran out and was forced to use Trader Joe's conditioner for about a week, and suddenly everything cleared up. I have stuck with the Trader Joe's stuff and have not had a single zit since. Sadly it will take a few months for the dark spots from the past acne to fade. It may be sulfate-free, but whatever they're replacing the sulfate with is clearly even worse for your skin.
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