028: battle of the makeup removers

It's time to duel! I'm here this time with a makeup remover battle review.

 

In the stadium today, we have:

• Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover
• Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion
• L'Oreal Gentle Eye Makeup Remover
• Purity One-Step Facial Cleanser
• Make Up For Ever Sens'Eyes Waterproof Sensitive Eye Cleanser

Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover

This makeup remover was the one I was using until currently. When I ran out of it, I decided I'd try something new. It is two separate liquid solutions which you combine by shaking before you use it. It's oil-free and super gentle on my sensitive skin. It effectively removes all waterproof makeup. The solution however does seem to feel a bit greasy and I'm still left with some eye makeup residue under my eye.

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion

Granted, this is a lotion rather than a makeup remover, however, I've been told by various friends that they remove makeup with things such as Vaseline and olive oil. I know that things like cold cream also works to remove makeup, so I thought I'd experiment with my go-to lotion as an impromptu remover. It worked quite well and has to be massaged in. It removed all my makeup and got rid almost all of the under eye makeup residue. It's not as fast working at the Neutrogena, but it does the job. It's a great and inexpensive replacement for makeup remover if you don't have any.

 L'Oreal Gentle Eye Makeup Remover

I only need one sentence to describe it for you guys. Worst makeup remover I've tried thus far. It advertises that it removes waterproof makeup and on its site the product is called Gentle Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover, but it really doesn't do much at all. I tried to use it to remove false lashes and Urban Decay's 24/7 pencil eyeliner. It barely dissolved the glue and it did not even budge the eyeliner after completely soaking a cotton pad with the solution! Extremely disappointing. Not only did it not remove any makeup product, but it's waaay too harsh! My eyes can get extremely sensitive due to eczema. The solution feels way too strong and soapy. I felt like the solution was pretty much watered down industrial hand soap. It felt like it was an astringent or toner rather than makeup remover. Definitely will not buy this again, and definitely don't recommend this product. Seriously, L'Oreal, step up your game.

Philosophy Purity One-Step Facial Cleanser

I really really like this product. It great because it's a cleanser, but advertises it that it cleanses, tones, and removes makeup gently. I'm able to be lazy and skip a step in my regimen. It works well removing my eyeliner and/or false lashes. However, I feel as it I have to work at it a little bit to remove every last bit of makeup or face dreaded under eye residue. I prefer to use this as a follow up to a conventional makeup remover, and wash my face with this to get rid of every last trace of my makeup. I don't get under eye residue when I do this~ Yay~ It leaves my skin fresh and clean without being too drying like other cleansers. I also think it feels pretty bland, so for the most part it doesn't irritate my skin or flareup my eczema.

Make Up For Ever Sens'Eyes Waterproof Sensitive Eye Cleanser

I find it HILARIOUS that this is called "eye cleanser" due to the fact I'm imagining someone polishing their eyeballs with this. Despite that, this makeup remover is made of MAGIC~ It basically melts all the makeup I'm wearing within seconds. It is AMAZING. It's super gentle and doesn't leave a bit of a greasy film. Downsides are, I'm still left with some amount of under eye residue, however, not as much as I would with other makeup removers. It's also the most costly of the makeup removers I've mentioned, though it is definitely worth the price.

OVERALL, the winner of the makeup removers would have to be Neutrogena. The price point is right, it works well, and is gentle. Make Up Forever is a close second, due to the fact that it's AMAZING, but super expensive (it retails $28 at Sephora, yikes). Third is Purity because it does double duty, but I'm a bit skeptical using it to take off my false lashes because I fear I might wash them down the drain. Then comes Aveeno lotion for working well as something impromptu, but not being a marketed makeup remover. Then L'Oreal places negative one hundred because it's awful and I really hate it. Seriously, it sucks.

That's all my opinions on the makeup removers I've tried so far. If you have anything to suggest, feel free to comment :)

Later days~

027: lush butterball bath bomb review

On my way home a couple days ago, I tripped over a snow bank and landed on my knee. I ended up with a swollen and stiff knee, and couldn't move it well to climb up stairs. I remedied this by using one of my reserved Lush products (Geo Phyzz bath bomb, y'all) and the next day, no pain! I decided on the spot that I needed to take more baths and use more Lush bath products~

Fast forward, I bought this as a New Year treat to myself. 2012 had been a rough year, so I thought a great way to start the year would be with a nice long bath~ Enter, Lush Butterball bath bomb.

IT IS UH-MAY-ZING! It's absolutely perfect for the cold winter season because it's super moisturzing. It has a sweet vanilla frosting sort of scent. It fizzed like crazy as soon as I dropped it into the tub and unleashed CHUNKS of cocoa butter!!

 

It's a bad picture, but the aftermath is slightly cloudy bath water. You also can't see the butter chunks >_<

My only complaint with Butterball is that it doesn't keep the water as warm as a bath bomb with salt, or bath salts would. I like to stay in the tub for a long time, and it didn't keep the water as warm for enough of a time as I would've like.

Overall, Butterball is definitely a buy. The scent is great. It fizzes well, making it super fun! It's super moisturizing thanks to the cocoa butter. I will likely buy this again before the winter is over. :)

Later days~

019: current skincare routine

For mostly my own benefit, I've decided that I'll post up my skincare routine. I've been having slight breakouts lately. Nothing too major, just a small zit here or there.

My main skin concerns are acne scarring and light eczema. I'm still young, so I don't worry about wrinkles. I do have combination skin which is sensitive to allergies. I take special care so my skin doesn't get dry and inflamed due from the eczema, especially when I get sick.

My usual skin care routine is very simple, however, the products tend to change. This is my skincare care routine with my current facial products.

For mornings, I wash my face with St. Ives Naturally Clear Green Tea Cleanser using warm water. I rinse my face again with cold water, then follow up by moisturizing with Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion. The Aveeno lotion is a daily body lotion that my family has been using for years~ I double it as a face lotion because I find it's very bland and does not irritate my face unlike some facial moisturizers. My brothers also suffer from sensitive skin and use Aveeno, so my household keeps it well stocked.

For evenings, I add little more than my morning routine. I currently remove my make up with L'Oreal Gentle Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover. I plan to talk more about it in an upcoming post about makeup removers :) Once I remove as much of my makeup and eye make as possible, I wash my face with warm using the same cleanser that I use in the morning. I follow that up by using St. Ives Blemish and Blackhead Control Apricot Scrub. I rinse again with cold water and moisturize again with Aveeno Lotion.

On the occasions that my skin gets irritated or I suffer from an eczema flare up, I drink plenty more water than I usually drink. I skip the scrub in the night if my eczema is particularly bad. I also apply extra virgin coconut oil or a topical cream prescribed by my doctors to any of the irritated, dry flaky patches at night.

That's basically my skincare routine~ If you suffer from eczema, I hope knowing what I do to treat mine might help you with yours. :)

Later days~