Reviewing New Products #3

Welcome to part 3 of my new products review!!!

Over the last 3 weeks I've been trying and testing these 4 new products. I bought two of them for their acne healing properties (cleanser and serum) and the other two for hydration (eye cream and lip balm). I have enjoyed slowly incorporating these 4 products into my skincare routine and have recorded my findings below...

#1) Eucerin Acute Lip Balm

Reasons for purchase: I needed an overnight treatment for my lips and found that Vaseline and Lanolips Lemonaid Lip Treatment just wasn't cutting it. So I searched up "overnight lip treatments" on Amazon and this one popped up. I originally looked up Aquaphor lip balm made by the same brand, as I'd heard lots of good things about it on YouTube. However, it was way too expensive for my taste so I purchased their Acute Lip Balm instead. It said in the description that it was an intensive lip balm for very dry, chapped lips. I've always suffered with dry lips and thought it sounded like exactly what I needed.

Thoughts (after 4 weeks): When it arrived it was a lot smaller than what I was expecting, however I was only going to use it at night so I wasn't too bothered. I love the texture of the balm and how smoothly it glides onto my lips. It's not at all sticky and immediately makes my lips feel nourished. I still use it at nighttime (if I remember) and have even purchased another tube from Boots as I noticed it was on offer for £4.50 :) Rating: 8/10

#2) Balance Active Formula Vitamin C Power Serum

Reasons for purchase: As a result of the Azelaic Acid not working for me, I decided to return it and was advised by a user on the skincare subreddit to try a Vitamin C serum. I have to admit, I was wary at first as it seemed like a very temperamental active to incorporate and doesn't pair well with many other active ingredients. You also have to be careful what type of Vitamin C it is, as mixed with the wrong ingredients it can become very unstable. All the most popular Vitamin C serums were very expensive so I tried to find one that was popular yet affordable. Eventually I came across this one which said on Amazon that there was a limited amount of stock. So I took that as a sign that it must be really good!

Thoughts (after 2 weeks): The first thing I noticed was that it had a nice subtle scent, which didn't smell at all like oranges like the one I tried before. It's a very thin, watery consistency and you don't need more than a few drops. It spreads really well and doesn't leave a sticky film on the skin. After applying my skin feels firm, bouncy and smooth. I love the dropper applicator and the fact it layers so well with my other products. I will admit that I haven't noticed any improvements in my skin texture or brightness but I think with time I may see more obvious results. Is it the best Vitamin C serum on the market? Probably not. But I think as a beginner who is just starting out, it is a decent and affordable serum. Rating: 7/10

#3) Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser

Reasons for purchase: Originally I was using 2 different cleansers for morning and night. I had the Nivea Refreshing Facial Wash Gel for the AM and Garnier Anti-Blackhead Charcoal Cleansing Gel for PM. I then realised that the Garnier cleanser was too harsh and that I had too many actives in my evening routine. I also thought it would be easier to use the same cleanser twice a day as it would save money. I liked that this cleanser had very basic ingredients and no actives, so it wouldn't be too stripping. I also thought the pump was a nice way to dispense the product.

Thoughts (after 1 week): I was a bit surprised that it had a scent but it's very pleasant so I didn't mind too much. I wasn't sure about the "gentle foaming action" at first, as I usually like ones that foam a bit more. However I've started to get used to it and have found that it depends how wet my hands are. The pump dispenses the perfect amount of product and has a nice gel formula. My skin feels immediately clean and refreshed, and very soft once pat dried. This cleanser is definitely gentle enough for both day and night and doesn't interfere with my actives. Rating: 9/10

#4) Neutrogena Hydro Boost Awakening Eye Gel Cream

Reasons for purchase: I wasn't going to buy another eye cream as I'd seen on the Mixed Makeup Youtube channel that eye cream isn't essential to a good skincare routine. However, I kinda missed the extra step as at that stage my routine was pretty basic. I looked at a lot of different eye creams for sensitive skin, as I've only ever used the Simple Soothing Eye Balm. I liked that it had hyaluronic acid and that it was a "gel cream" formula. I was also using the Hydro Boost Water Gel from the same range, so I hoped it would be just as good as the moisturiser. 

Thoughts (after 1 week): I started using this at the same time as the Oily Skin Cleanser as I was only using it under my eyes and didn't think it would interfere with any of my other products. I love the consistency and how it glides onto my skin so effortlessly. My eyes feel instantly rejuvenated and it's gentle enough for the sensitive skin around my eye area. I think this is my favourite eye cream that I've ever used! However, I'm not sure whether I'll repurchase it as its full retail price is a bit too expensive for me. Especially for a non-essential skincare step. Rating: 8/10


I hope you've enjoyed the third installment of my new product review series and seeing how I've got on with all of them. I still have the La Roche Posay Micro-exfoliating Astringent Toner and Heritage Store Rose Water spray to add into my routine, so will review them for you as well. I'm currently in the process of adding my Nip+Fab Dragon's Blood Fix Plumping Serum to my nighttime skincare routine, so I'll add that to my next "Reviewing New Products" blog post. I'm really enjoying my skincare overhaul and have definitely experienced some trial and error. However, I finally feel that I'm creating a much more effective skincare regime than I had 2 months ago. My skin has been clear for about a month and I had my first whitehead a few days ago, which proves that the products I've introduced are working :) It's all about consistency and knowing what works for your skin. 

I've learnt so much about skincare through YouTube, my Skincare Addiction subreddit and Google and am becoming more knowledgeable about actives and how they work with other ingredients. I'm also a lot more confident in trying different actives and understanding how to incorporate them into my routine. I'm learning that there's a real science to skincare in regards to choosing ingredients and formulas that compliment your skin type and interact well with each other. However, I'm really enjoying my skincare journey and hope that you get some kind of inspiration from my reviews which will help you with your own routine!


Who Cares, We Care, Skincare :)