Reviewing New Products #5

 

New products I've been trying!

 

Hello beauties!! :)

This is the fifth installment of my "Reviewing New Products" series! Over the last 5 weeks I've been trying a selection of new products. I have to admit that a couple of them were impulse buys (toner and sleeping cream) and the other 2 were alternatives to products that I no longer liked or enjoyed (Vitamin C serum and cleanser). It's been a month of gradually introducing new products and trying to find my Holy Grails in order to perfect my skincare routine. So far my holy grails are TO Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum and the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel. I instantly fell in love with them around April/May time and have been repurchasing them ever since! I'm currently on my second bottle of Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% and my 3rd jar of Water Gel.

My previous cleanser was the Nivea Refreshing Facial Gel Wash, which left my skin soft and clean but was fragranced and irritated my skin. So I decided to look for something more gentle and fragrance free. I'd heard through the Skincare Addiction subreddit that gentle cleansers are better for oily skin as they're less stripping and harsh. So I purchased the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser which was reduced at Superdrug. My previous Vitamin C serum was the Active Formula Vitamin C Power Serum which had a pleasant scent and was very spreadable. However, again, I wanted to find a fragrance free option with more noticeable results. I already liked The Ordinary niacinamide serum so thought I'd try their Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% as well. Here are my findings...

#1) Neutrogena Hydro Boost Sleeping Cream

Reasons for purchase: I was attracted to this product because it was new and I liked the idea of having a night moisturiser as it felt very boujee :P Also the Hydro Boost line was half price when I bought it, so I basically got 2 for the price of 1! I thought I'd just get it as a treat then go back to the Water Gel once I'd used it up.

Thoughts (after 6 weeks): I love the creamy gel consistency and how rich it feels on the skin. You don't need a lot as it spreads well and feels really light on the skin. My skin instantly feels more hydrated and nourished! It leaves me kinda greasy looking to begin with but I don't mind as it sinks into the skin so beautifully :) It feels really luxurious and like I've pampered my skin. I even bought a second jar as I'm really enjoying having a richer moisturiser for the nighttime. Rating: 9/10

#2) Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

Reasons for purchase: I got this because I wasn't happy with my current cleanser and wanted something fragrance free and more gentle on my skin. I'd heard a lot of good things about Cetaphil and was recommended it by a fellow user on the Skincare Addiction subreddit. I found it discounted and hoped that it would still do the job of cleaning my face but without stripping it.

Thoughts (after 5 weeks): It took me awhile to get used to the fact that it doesn't foam up but there was still some slip to it, so I could still work it into my skin. The consistency is like a milky gel with a slightly soapy scent (even though it's fragrance and soap free). I need about a pump and a half of product for my face and neck. I find that when used in conjunction with my cleansing brush that it effectively removes any makeup residue. My only gripe with this product is that it doesn't leave my skin feeling deeply cleansed and refreshed. However, I think it's because it's such a mild cleanser and I'm used to harsher foaming ones. It does the job though, so I think I'll stick with it for now! Rating: 8/10

#3) Isntree Green Tea Fresh Toner

Reasons for purchase: I was looking on Stylevana as I've never dipped my toe into Korean skincare before and was curious to see what the hype was about. I'd already bought the Benton Deep Green Tea Toner (49% green tea extract and 150ml) on Yesstyle, however when I saw this toner I realised that it was a very similar product. I was particularly drawn to the fact that it had 80% green tea extract and that it came in a 200ml bottle, making it better value for money. Plus it was on sale, so I couldn't really say no! However I decided to keep the Benton toner as I thought it would make a good blog post where I'll compare the 2 of them and see which is better (in my opinion).

Thoughts (after 3 weeks): The first thing I noticed is that it's a yellow/brown colour, which is probably the tea aspect of it. It also smells quite herbal and is a very watery consistency. Once applied it's very refreshing but it does take a couple of minutes to fully absorb into the skin. I've noticed that my oil levels are a lot more controlled in the evening, which is when I get the most oily. Overall I like the feeling of it and the results it achieves but I don't like the tea colour or smell. It might sound weird to say this but I think it's a bit too natural for me. I also find it frustrating how long it takes to dry down, as I'm used to faster absorbing toners. Rating: 6/10

#4) The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%

Reasons for purchase: I decided to buy this to replace my current Vitamin C serum at the time. I wasn't seeing any noticeable results and felt like the fragrance irritated my skin. I already had the niacinamide serum from the brand so I thought I might get on well with one of their Vitamin C products. There were a lot of different options but I picked this one because it was water based and a stable form of Vitamin C that seemed fairly non irritating. I also liked that it was fragrance free.

Thoughts (after 1 week): I noticed that it had a very gloopy texture that leaves a tacky feeling when patted into the skin. However, it soon absorbs after a minute or 2 and leaves the skin feeling very smooth. It's too soon to say whether I've noticed any results from using it, however I did experience some purging on my chin. I know that's normal as one of the benefits of Vitamin C is that it increases cell turnover. The purging cleared within a few days which shows that it has some acne fighting properties. So far I'm enjoying using it and hope that in future it'll help with fading acne scars and evening skin tone. Rating: Further testing needed.

Overall I've really enjoyed incorporating these products into my skincare routine. I've decided to keep the Gentle Skin Cleanser in my routine, however I've also purchased the Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser which I'm planning to add into my PM routine. I felt like I needed a deeper cleanse in the evening and have read lots of positive reviews on this cleanser. It's also meant to be ideal for sensitive and acne prone skin types. I'll probably introduce it to my PM routine in the next week or so. Regarding the Hydro Boost Sleeping Cream, I think I'll keep repurchasing for as long as its within my budget. I think by having a night moisturiser it'll make my Water Gel last longer, so I shouldn't have to replace either moisturiser too often. Let's hope it'll stay within my price range! 

The Green Tea Fresh Toner was a slight disappointment but then I've never used a toner with such a high concentration of a natural extract before. Will definitely not repurchase but I will be trying out the Benton Deep Green Tea Toner to see how it compares. I probably won't repurchase that one either as it's too expensive for the amount of product you actually get. However I've already bought the Purito Centella Unscented Toner to try out, which I'm hoping will suit my needs better. As for the Ascorbyl Glucoside, I'll keep trialling it and see if I get any noticeable results over time. The only thing annoying me about it is the fact that the cap doesn't screw on properly, which is worrying seeing as it's such an unstable ingredient and goes off really easily :/ As long as the cap stays on then I should still get all the benefits.

I hope you enjoyed reading all of my reviews and are inspired to try these brands or products for yourself :) However, these are all my own opinions and are by no means right or wrong. At the end of the day everyone's skin is different and we all have our own preferences when it comes to skincare. So just take my reviews with a pinch of salt and keep experimenting with different products until you find the ones that are right for you. I've learnt that even if something works, if you don't enjoy the experience of applying the product then it's not worth the money. On the other hand, you can't dismiss a product just because it doesn't match all of your criteria. For example, I like a clean feeling when it comes to my cleanser but the ones that offer that tend to be harsh and stripping. So if you don't like a certain aspect of a product but it gives you great long term results (4 weeks+) then sometimes it's best to stick with it. Especially if it's the more affordable option! ;)

Who Cares, We Care, Skincare :)