Review | Trilogy Age Proof Botanical Lightening Treatment

Lightening treatments or spot reducers are becoming more and popular as these are tell tale signs of aging or damaged skin. First founded in the Asian market , these products have been promoted in the western market as seen in the Clinique Dark Spot Corrector, one of their most popular products.

Nitty Gritty:

This treatment targets areas of pigmentation, with continual use helping to reduce and prevent the appearance of age spots, dark spots and blemish marks.

I never gave into the era of using whitening products, porcelain skin is highly admired in Asia. However, I have noticed after years of being in the sun that the odd age spot or freckle does pop up. So when using this I was particularly targeting these areas.

I definitely noticed a rather glowing and luminous finish to the skin. I felt it was great to use as a serum as I prefer a heavier moisturiser especially at night. I have used it for a couple of weeks and have already seen some improvement. What I am particularly looking forward to is the prevention side of things.

The main ingredients that make the product work include:

• Gigawhite – a highly effective, safe and natural alternative to hydroquinone and other chemical bleaches. Gigawhite works to reduce pigmentation by inhibiting the enzyme which is responsible for making melanin (dark pigment). It can also brighten and even out skin tone.
• Mulberry & Liqorice: Natural skin brighteners and conditioners. They also have anti-inflammatory effects .
• Vitamin C, Kiwi, Ginko Biloba, White Tea: Anti-oxidants.
• Silver Mica: Give the skin a luminous glow.

This is a 50ml treatment and is available in pharmacies and department stores from mid September. It’s about $48.90 a pop which isn’t all that bad considering the costs of other similar product such as the Clinique Spot Corrector which is about $128.

In a nut shell:

This product being in the ‘Age Proof’ range which is often for more mature skin can be deceiving. Standing at 24, I don’t consider myself needing anti-wrinkle or skin plumping treatments but it’s good to be prepared ahead of time when it comes to age spots. They tend to pop out between your mid 20’s to 30’s so prevention is key. This Trilogy Botanical Lightening Treatment is a great starting place for those of you who are after a natural alternative to skin bleaches or spot correctors.

Review | Inika Crème Colour for Eyes

I have been trying out the Inika Crème Colour for Eyes. The Inika range is fairly new to me but I am glad I have found it.

The Inika range prides themselves being organic and natural, no nasties. This is often hard to find especially for more specific products such as eyeshadows and lip colours. I would definitely recommend this range to sensitive or problematic skin readers.

I tried out 2 of their colours, Champagne and Cappuccino which are in opposite ends of the colour spectrum. Both colours are super versatile for daily wear. I particularly liked the champagne and I’m not usually overly excited about lighter eyeshadow colours. This colour is great on its own or also acts as a perfect base to give your matte eyeshadows a glint of shimmer. The creme consistency allows a better grip to the eyelid, enhances colours of eyeshadows put on top without compromising much of the durability. I have found the in past that creme eyeshadows would smudge or end up moulding into eyelid creases at the end of the day. 

Notable ingredients:

Aloe Vera, Shea Butter, Jojoba Seed Oil and Sweet Almond Oil to hydrate, soothe and moisturise the eye area.

The Aloe Vera also acts to ensure the smooth and even gliding of the creme shadow and enhances the sheen.

Price Factor: 4/5

They are about $39.00 each and are available at selected pharmacies and health food stores. They are comparable to MAC eyeshadow prices but in saying that is the price you would pay for them to strip out all the nasties and replace it with organic ingredients.

And on top of that if you are sensitive to certain ingredients, it’s not much to pay to find the right product for you.

 

What I’m wearing : Inika Creme Colour For Eyes – Cappuccino

Swatches- Top to bottom:  Champagne and Cappuccino

Advice: Oily skin, Tips and Myths.

Living in New Zealand where the climate is relatively dry, hardly ever humid, there is a need to maintain hydrated skin. Hydration of the skin is vital as the moisture helps to maintain the natural barrier function of the skin, improve skin appearance by making it feel soft and look smooth.

There’s a common myth with hydration and oily skin. People with oily skin tend to excessively cleanse their skin and avoid putting on any moisturizer or toners to minimize oil production. A big no no. Oil is produced by sebaceous glands which are most prominent on the face and scalp. Lipid is very important for the skin also as this layer helps to retain moisture and protect the skin from bacteria.

By not applying moisturizer it not only strips the skin of moisture, but your sebaceous glands may work even harder to produce oil to hydrate the skin. Avoiding any moisture on the skin is not the solution to oily skin. There are numerous ways to reduce oiliness such as using a gel instead of a cream and mattifying serums. There are huge differences between gels and creams and lotions. I’ll clarify them below so you can find out which one is ideal for you.

Gels – predominantly water based, may contain alcohol which is a drying agent – therefore is highly ideal for people with oily skin. This is also great for people with normal skin who want a lighter moisturiser for the day. A great gel suitable to normal- dry skin is Chanel Hydramax Active Moisture Gel Cream 50mL (RRP: $120 NZD)– this is a mixture of a gel & lotion which is great for day and night wear. Clinique Moisture Surge Gel Cream 75mL (RRP: $110 NZD) is also a great gel moisturiser and is fragrance free too which is suitable to people with sensitive skin. A common face gel seen prescribed by doctors for people with acne proned skin is Differin Gel with the main ingredient – adapalene (a retinoid) which affects the rate at which cells multiply to reduce pimple formation.

Lotion – contains water and oil, but consists of a higher portion of the water component.Again this would make an excellent choice for daywear as it is light and easy to apply. This would also be ideal for a night use for those with combination/slightly oily skin.A great lotion is Estee Lauder Hydrationist Lotion (RRP:$90 NZD) (suited for normal-combination skin).

Cream – a thicker consistency which means that it has a larger oily component compared with water. This is the most moisturizing of the 3 as the oily component prevents the evaporation of water from the skin.Not really recommended for those with oily skin even at night as it could further block the pores and cause breakouts. A great cream for very dry-dry skin is Chanel Hydramax Nutrition Cream (will be reviewed later) – Only recommended if you have very dry skin/ normal skin and want something very hydrating for night time use.

Mattifying serums contain ingredients to soak up oil. Once you apply these types of serums on you should notice that your skin will feel smoother and less oily almost instantly. It also acts as a really good primer for foundation as it produces this smooth effect.Great matifying serums include – Estee Lauder Pore Minimiser, Clinique Turnaround Serum (will be reviewed later on).

Hope this has given you a decent insight into all the available formulations of moisturisers. There are significant differences, so pick the right one for your skin.

I’ll be doing a post on other skin conditions such as acne, ezcema and face treatments soon.

❤ Michelle