Product Review: Olay Definity Color Recapture in Light/Medium

Please find more details about this product here.

CLAIMS:

It will take 8 weeks to correct the look of dullness, discoloration, brown spots, PLUS fine lines and wrinkles.

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EDIT:  Updated 4/1/2011

I've started using this again this Winter/Spring as a tinted moisturizer.  I have to retract some statements from my intial "review" from May of 2010 (see below).  It doesn't feel so sticky on my face anymore, nor does my skin seem to be producing excess oil.  I have to conclude that the difference between my first time using this product and this time is the climate.  My initial "review" took place in Dallas.  My current review takes place in Los Angeles.

SoCal climate:

~Dry

~Current temperature 89 F

Northern Texas climate:

~Humid

~Temperature then 85-95 F

Correct the look of dullness, discoloration, brown spots, fine lines and wrinkles

This is a tinted moisturizer and provides a sheer coverage to even out the skin tone without caking too much color on my face.  I haven't noticed an under-the-surface improvement to my skin.  My sun spots and fine lines are still where they are, but just layering on a pea-sized amount is enough to even out my skin tone.  So, I'd say this is a surface fix rather than molecular or cellular improvement.

Would I repurchase this?

For the convenience of having SPF, a little bit of anti-aging, and tone correction, I would repurchase this product but only use it in a climate like SoCal.  I wouldn't use it in a humid environment.

For my initial "review", keep reading.

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I'm going to do something different with this Product Review entry for Olay Definity.  What I will do with this entry is to provide periodic updates as I go along in my usage of this product.

5/10/2010

Today is the first day of using Olay Definity Color Recapture in light/medium.  I just HAD to write this down right now.  Upon first pumping it out on my skin, I noticed that the product looks very very pigmented.  It looks like a foundation but with gel consistency.  It smells a little like sunblock, but that's to be expected because it has SPF 15 in it.  The smell doesn't bother me as much because it fades over a short period of time.  The packaging is nice because it is an air-powered pump bottle that I believe is more hygienic.

Putting it on my face though, the coverage of the pigments in this moisturizer is very sheer, but it does even out the skin tone just a tiny bit.  Clearly, my spots are still visible, but I don't look as blotchy.  It feels nice and moisturizing.

HOWEVER, my face has been sticky since I put this on.  I layer my DDF sunscreen over my moisturizers so if this Olay Definity product is not absorbing into my skin, it surely will also make my sunscreen even stickier.  So my face has been really sticky all day today.  It was sticky when I put on my bareMinerals matte foundation, which subsequently made my brush sticky as well.  I have been producing a copious amount of grease today.  I've gone through 3 blottings since 7am this morning and the time right now is 4:35pm.  Each of the blottings have used up 5-6 sheets of my e.l.f. Shine Erasers.

I haven't yet determined if it is the product or the heat and humidity that is making my face feel sticky and greasy, but I don't recall having a sticky problem when I was using Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum.  I especially don't recall having to blot 3 times within the span of 10 hours when I used Olay Regenerist as my moisturizer.  I will keep trying this out and we'll see if the stickiness is just a factor of the climate here rather than the product itself.

One hour to midnight.  I cannot use this product in the summer.  It is this product that is sitting on top of my skin and making my skin feel sticky.  I don't know if this is the "dewey" effect, which I think is beautiful on many people.  However, I'm unfortunate to have such greasy skin, and this product is drawing all the grease out of my skin.  I have never been compelled to wash any product off my face after work as I have been with this product.  I washed my face at 6:30pm this evening, and have just rewashed at 10:45pm.  So much grease from my face that when I splashed water on my face to wet it my hands also came away greasy.  >_<  I am so unhappy!

Of the reviews I've read, this product may be suited for drier skins.  Reviewers with oilier skins agreed that either this product may have broken them out or caused excessive grease.  I will have to save this for my winter skincare routine.  I need to go back to the store and repurchase the Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum, which at least helped control the oil for longer than this Definity Color Recapture product.

It seems like today is the only day I will use this product.  Sorry, Olay, my skin is not agreeing with this product.

Date with Mr. P in Little Tokyo!!

Now that Spring is here, I've been in the mood to experiment with brighter colors like oranges, pinks, and greens.  And there is no better time to experiment than on dates with Mr. P.  **hehehehe!**  So, today we took the train to Little Tokyo in Downtown for some ramen and shopping.  I used my Neutrogena Healthy Skin Blends blush on my cheeks and eyes to achieve a peachy pink and orange eye look.  I lined my eyes with dark gray shadow with green sparkles. 


FOTD for my date with Mr. P!

We had ramen in Little Tokyo then walked to Fashion District.  We passed by this store that sold some NYX products and when I saw the prices my heart JUMPED. FOR. JOY.  NYX jumbo eye shadow liners for $2.00 each!!!!  False eyelashes for $2 - $3!  And mascaras for less than $7 - $8! 

Mr. P bought these for me for $13 total!!!

This store also had some really dramatic lashes with feathers and neon colors.  I told Mr. P that maybe those lashes would be better for Halloween.  :-)  The common theme, of course, was that everything was super affordable. 
I'm trying on my my 118 lashes right now.  The only thing Mr. P and I can say right now is, "Wow... It's different!"  Mr. P took pictures of me wearing the falsies.



Was not able to successfully bind my real lashes to the false lashes.



A little glue is showing, but that's okay.  This is my first time.  :-)

 

Not bad for my first attempt at wearing falsies.  Many thanks to my favorite Youtube gurus for showing me how to apply falsies, and many many thanks to Sue Lynn for this video that I remembered all year long!

Product Review: Skin Nature Facial Treatment 100% Collagen Extract

Before I stopped using the term "HG" to describe much beloved products (Arthurian Romance and Grail Legend student here - thanks Professor LG from UCI!) this product was the HG of all HGs!  Unfortunately, I don't know where to get more of it.  I've Googled this and I can't find it, which makes me believe it's only sold to spa establishments.  I got my one and only batch from a friend of a friend who knew somebody.



Box lid.  Sorry that the flash is a little strong.



Comes with 5 capsules and 5 caps.



Clear collagen extract.  Three drops is enough for my face and throat.

Product claims
Facial Treatment Extract is your first step in breaking the age barrier and will visibly de-age your skin in 30 days.  This unique works at night to repair sun-damaged skin.  Fine dry skin lines become less noticeable.  Skin looks firmer, smoother, more radiant.  A beautiful younger-looking complexion is yours.

***Please note that if I can't find anything on this product, I'm sure you won't be able to find other reviews for it either.  But if you're lucky enough to find something on it, please let me know!  As always, my product reviews are 100% my opinion and based on my own experiences.***

Visibly de-age your skin in 30 days
How about less than a week?  If I use this as a night treatment, I see results overnight.  If I use this as a day treatment under SPF, I see improvements within the week.

Repair sun-damaged skin
Anyone who has been following my blog knows that I'm worried about the sun spots on my upper cheek bones.  Since I started using my collagen extract again (been rationing it over the years), I have noticed significant improvements to the hyperpigmentation.

Lines become less noticeable
The fine lines on the verge of developing into full blown wrinkles under my eyes fill up and are almost gone.  I love the skin under my eyes... they look like they did when I was a teenager and a young twenty-something. 


Skin looks firmer, smoother, more radiant
With the lines nearly gone, and hyperpigmentation improved, my skin looks firmer and smoother.  It also looks more translucent and therefore more radiant.

Gripes
I can't find where to restock on my stash.  I can't find this product on line.  The stash I have is really limited.  When I'm done with my last three capsules, I'll be completely out.  ***SADNESS!!!***  The capsules are so small so I don't have a lot of this wonderful product.

If I find more information on this product, I will definitely update this post with where to buy this product because I would recommend this to everyone!  I would pay any price for this product - that is how much I want this product.  If anyone finds out where to get it, please let me know!  

Product Review: Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil Fresh



Shu Uemura website linked, click on picture.

 This particular cleansing oil is for normal to oily skin types and is a lightweight cleansing oil that leaves the skin clean, fresh and refined. Ideal for normal to oily skin types and acne-prone skin. 

Benefits
Cherry extract - refines skin texture by smoothing skin surface and helps brings radiance
Fresh aroma - sakura, grapefruit, lily
Depsea water - found in sea waters below 200 meters, it naturally provides moisture to the skin, and helps enhance skin transparency and improve skin quality

How to use
Spread 2 pumps of oil over dry face with dry hands.
Add a few drops of water to emulsify, massage face.
Rinse off with lukewarm water.

*Product reviews are 100% my opinion and based on my experiences*

Lightweight cleansing oil
In relative terms of weight, the Shu Uemura cleansing oil feels lighter on my skin than regular jojoba oil.  It has a very pleasant and luxurious scent that doesn't overwhelm you like you'd get with some St. Ives products.  However, after emulsifying, I feel like the lightweightedness works against it as it doesn't completely remove all my makeup (tested with toner & cotton pad)

Leaves skin fresh and refined
The pyschological effects of the scent make me want to feel fresh.  Realistically, this product leaves behind an oily residue, even after multiple rinsings.

Ideal for normal/oily skin types and acne-prone skin
I would disagree that this product is good for oily skin types as it seems to add more oil.  Additionally, I've noticed more cystic breakouts since using this product.  Would it make sense to say I believe this is the culprit?  Open pores, greasy residue that doesn't rinse off, too lightweight to remove all my makeup, a bad combination that makes for clogged pores.

Provides moisture to skin
The greasy feeling I get after using this product should not count as moisture.

Enhance skin transparency
I don't notice any new radiance, glow, or transparency.

Bottom line
I think I'll give this to my brother and see if it works better for him.  I don't want to say anything bad about Shu Uemura, but I don't think this product is working for me.  I've tried using it once, twice, dry and wet, but when I put it to the test, I always see makeup residue on my toner-soaked cotton pad.  And since using this product, I've been getting cystic acne breakouts that really hurt!  These are the worst for me because they leave scars for months and years.  The bottom line, I get a cleaner face using jojoba oil and a hot damp towel, which costs 2/3 less than the SU cleansing oil

Beauty 101 from Allure Magazine (March 2011)

*A just-because post*

LAX did a poor job of remodeling Tom Bradley Int'l Terminal.  They remodeled the look but did not improve streamlining the customs and baggage claim areas.  I was there last night to pick up my brother but ended up waiting 2.5 hours for him to get through all that.

During the wait, I purchased the $5.00 March 2011 issue of Allure Magazine.  I haven't finished reading it yet, but I did get to these couple of pages that feature beauty tips and tricks to improve whatever it is one wants to improve.  I believe you can click on the pictures, which will take you to a page that expands the view.


Target areas: lashes and volumizing my flat/fine hair



Target areas: acne-free complexion and anti-aging



Target areas: hands and body


My initial thoughts on these magazines:
1.  Wow!!!!!  So dedicated to beauty!!!!
2.  There's a lot of temptation to buy featured products.
3.  Great tips on how to maximize beauty routines.
4.  Should I subscribe???  Yes?  No?  Maybe???

Well, I just wanted to share a little bit of my new discovery and some pages out of the March 2011 issue of Allure magazine.  Enjoy!