Review: Vichy Normaderm Pro Mat & Vichy Normaderm Refining Pore Essence

Pro Mat on Left and Refining Essence on Right

I am nursing a couple of injuries from an accident with a door so this week's post is going to be short and sweet. Let's take a look at two products I have been trying out for the past two months: Vichy Normaderm Pro Mat Non-Stop Matte Effect Hydrating Care and Vichy Normaderm Refine Total Pore Resurfacing Essence.

Isn't that a mouthful? Vichy needs to think of shorter names for their products.

Good stuff! - Derm 10 Comodone Complex

I'm terribly sorry for not taking my own image of the product but things have been in a hectic and mad state of flux for me of late. I can't wait to update you guys on it but until then I hope you lovely ladies will bear with my slightly spotty posting habits.

I was sent this product a couple months ago to test but it's taken me this long to review it because I wanted to first test the Vitamin C Complex independently and after loving it, to use this product.... STOP using it... and start it up again. Thorough testing eh?

And what has all this testing proven? In a nutshell... it works to clear up blemishes and dissolve blackheads. Hurrah!

Don't expect to see  miracles all at once though, it's a gentle complex and while I noticed improved skintone and clearer skin in the first week, it wasn't radically dramatic. In fact I had to stop using it (as mentioned), watch my skin deteriorate even with the regular use of Differin, and then start it up again to be sure.

Tried, Tested and Tried Again: Reviewed Products Revisited

We are frightful enablers here on So Loverly: our reviews not only inspire lemmings in others but amongst ourselves. I have lost count of the numbers of times I have read a review by Kahani or Syen and thought, I want to try that.

Unfortunately, not all products recommended by Kahani and Syen work for me and vice versa due to our different skin needs. Kahani has mad oily skin, Syen's skin combo-oily while mine is oily-dry. The cleanser which broke Syen out works great for me but I won't touch Kahani's HG acne treatment with a 10 feet pole. Clinique's DDM gel works for Kahani and Syen but not for me.

There was that one product which all of us agreed on disliking albeit for different reasons; Syen hated the scent, Kahani got breakouts while it gave me rashes AND made me sneeze.

Here's my take on some previously reviewed products:

Review: MakeUpForEver Super Mat Loose Powder in Translucent No12

I've long known about this powder, and have given it a try twice in the past. Both times, I tried a yellow-translucent shade, and a skintone matching shade. Both times I was disappointed. The finish was ashy, it barely controlled oil, even in England, and I just gave up on it altogether. I couldn't see what everyone else loved about it. And then I read ParisB's rave review of it, and I know how exacting her standards are. So then it hit me, maybe the shade you choose makes a difference. I got the one she recommended, Translucent No 12, and guess what? I love it!

Here's my theory
MUFE are a sly bunch. Their much-hyped HD Powder, has been proven to be simply 1o0% silica powder, in a much smaller jar. This large jar of powder is also silica-based. And my guess is, the more translucent it is, the less colouring additives you opt for, the higher the silica content. This results in the poreless, mattifying coverage this shade provides that the others cannot.

Why I love it
It provides a beautiful finish without altering the shade of my foundation. It holds off the oilies as well as Mac Blot, it makes me look poreless, and I can apply and reapply as much as I want during the day without it ever looking cakey. What's not to love?

Oh and when I do decide to have a light day and use a powder foundation or a mineral foundation, this powder helps them adhere and last so much better without getting patchy or sinking into my pores. I'm not sure if it will help on a very very long day. But so far it's helping on half-days. Who needs a primer? Whee!

Conclusion
At RM110, it's not the cheapest of powders until you calculate it's value per gram. As ParisB pointed out, for 28g, it's a worthwhile price. I remember checking out L'Oreal's Translucide loose powder and finding that gram-for-gram MUFE is STILL cheaper. It's also cheaper than MAC's loose powders. Awesome!

More Daiso Lovin': Desktop facial blotters

As someone with an unstoppably oily face, I was both arrested and amused by the idea of "desktop facial blotters". While I always carry my Clean & Clear blotters with me, they aren't cheap (about RM8.95 for 60 sheets) and usually involve me rummaging in my bag, fishing out the pack, blotting, leaving the pack and running off only to realise I'd left my only real means of oil control on my desk. Damn!

So imagine my delight when I learnt that these note-pad looking boxes actually contain 250 sheets of very thin, silky "washi" facial blotters. They sit around your desk looking colourful and, if you find a nice box, pretty.

Now imagine the convenience factor. I'm pounding away at machine gun-speed on my keyboard in the grips of writer's frenzy when cripes! I feel (yes I can feel it) that my nose is shiny. No matter! I reach over with one hand (the other need not even stop typing) fish out a blotter, pat my nose and et voila, I am matte again. Bravo!

The sheets do blot up oil, although not with the soul-sucking determination of the Clean & Clear sheets. But to be honest I'm not sure I mind. I am beginning to suspect the C&C sheets to be just a tad TOO blotty. They suck up so much oil my makeup looks dry and cakey after. Not a nice look. The Daiso blotters seem to mop up enough grease to keep me looking fresh, but not so much that I stop looking dewy and natural.

At RM5 each they're a huge saving, even if I have to use more than one sheet in particularly oil-rich moments. And considering how MUCH I'm at my desk, late late into the night, it is nice to be able to keep my makeup fresh - even if I'm not.

As you can see I cracked open a box, and was so happy I dashed off to Daiso to pick up another for my dresser at home. The orange one will go to work with me - it matches the office decor. Of course I suspect the odd colleague will mistake it for notepaper and hilarity will ensue.

Is it wrong that I'm this delighted over facial blotters?

Hooray for Za!: Za Concealer Perfection & Face Powder Review

Words cannot express how happy I am to be reunited with this line. I may have had to give up Boots, and yes that IS a blow, but at least I'm back to the land of Za. To be honest, I haven't really tried any of their colour products or been sold on their skincare. But following the success of the Za Two-Way Foundation that Syen and I both adore, I've given their face powder and concealer a try. And oh my I'm so glad I did!

Concealer Perfection
The failure of Mac's Select Cover Up concealer, I was left bereft, spottier than when I started and more in need of a concealer than ever. But of course I was unwilling to really splurge on a new one. So I turned to that life-saving resource, Makeupalley and turned up this little gem.

At RM30, it's half the price of Select Cover Up, and it performs twice as well! Shade 20 absolutely melts into my skin when I pat it in with the foundation brush. Coverage isn't 100% opaque but it layers well, and when I set with SN's Sleep In a Jar powder concealer in light peach (it really helps camouflage dark spots) my skin looks almost perfect.

Well, there are some blemishes I have now that NO concealer will ever cover. *sighs*

Undereye, it conceals well - but I don't have very bad shadows. And although I find it cakes and creases a bit during the day, I just pat it over with my finger and some powder that seems to settle it. On blemishes it conceals redness, but dark spots do show through. However, it lasts, looks natural, stays in place and most importantly DOES NOT BREAK ME OUT.

Overall, I am pleased with the concealer. I only wished it could be mixed with moisturiser to form a tinted moisturiser or foundation. But it appears to be more cream than water base and doesn't perform so well here.

EDIT: I've taken to using this Clinique concealer again. It covers the serious dark shadows I've developed due to working late (till past 12) over the last few days. I've found it works brilliantly when blended in with a foundation brush, and NOT my finger. When the circles lighten up I'll probably go back to the lighter coverage of this Za concealer.

Face Powder
I love this powder. Really I do. At around RM30, it too will not break the bank, and it provides light coverage, and oil control better than any other compact powder of its price range. It's better than L'Oreal True Match (RM55!), Skin Food Lemon Fresh, and Maybelline Clear Smooth (RM18). Yes I've tried them all.

And best of all, it has that same diffused, non-powdery finish that makes Syen and I love the Two-Way foundation so much. The only caveat I have is that I may be between shades as it does have light coverage, and shade 10 looks too light, while shade 20 (which I am using) may be a tad too dark. Oh dear... I may compromise by using a shade of foundation slightly lighter and patting Shade 20 over.

For girls who can find their right shade though, this powder and the above concealer would be perfect for those who don't like foundation. Just pat on the concealer, set with the powder and you're good to go!

Za Two-Way Foundation
I've also revived my usage of this product. I do try and stick to minerals because I feel it's better for my skin, but I find it hard to resist the ease and gorgeous finish of this foundation. When I'm in a tearing hurry I just don't feel up to building up coverage for my mineral foundation in light even layers. But slapping it on is a death knell. So I reach for this baby instead. As it doesn't break me out, I may wind up using this full time once I've run through my minerals.

Syen: For a more detailed review of the two-way foundation, check here. I love it too! =D

Note: The one product in this range that has never worked for me is the Tinted Moisturiser. Some girls swear by it, but I find it breaks me out. I love its high coverage coupled with light-formulation and SPF 15, but it really does break me out. Still I am once again tempted to try it. Someone STOP me!

Review: Vichy Normaderm Anti-Imperfection Hydrating Care

The moment I read the lovely Janine's review on Beauty Geek, I knew I had to have it. The need drove me to search in 3, yes THREE stores before finally snapping up the last bottle in a Guardian pharmacy located in Kelana Jaya LRT Station!

It would seem most Malaysian girls suffer from oily skin. *sighs*

That was just over a month ago, and I feel ready now to post my review!

Claims
Vichy, is very much like another French skincare line named Avene. Both claim to be gentle and filled with healing spa thermal waters that will miraculously do only good things to your skin. Yes I am a trifle skeptical.

Vichy is under the L'Oreal group, and the site doesn't mention if they test on animals or not. Petra, any insights on this?

Now onto this moisturiser. It not only claims to hydrate while still providing a matte surface, it also claims to go to the root of the problem causing oily skin, and fixing it. Using made-up words like "Zincadone" and "Intrapore Technology" the bottle assures you that "after 4 weeks, skin is visibly transformed, pores and tightened and imperfections reduced". Big promises, huh?

So, does it do what it says?
The quick answer is, YES! Although not as dramatically as they lavishly claim. I found that my skin is noticeably less oily during the day (or morning anyway) with this product than without. On the occasions that I forgot to put it on I was greasing up, through my primer, and powders, a lot faster than when I did use this product.

As the effects have been so gradual, I'm hesitant to assert that it has reduced my skin's oiliness overall. But I do know that it has hydrated my skin continually and this has helped it calm down, and possibly be less oily. It really is hard to tell. I broke out badly recently due to a combination of hormones and Mac's Concealer *glares at the tube I will now never shift* And I do believe that this moisturiser helped clear things up faster, and aided skin healing.

I will say though that this moisturiser is a joy to use every morning. It's delightfully fresh, feels cool when applied, smells green and lovely, and sinks in rapidly leaving skin comfortably matte. It has never broken me out, and I think it does work to help clear and prevent breakouts. Unless of course you slap on a product that does the exact opposite (do I sound bitter?).

Verdict
Price-wise at RM99 it IS expensive for a drugstore product. But I don't even use a full pump in the mornings so I have a feeling it will last me a long time as a little goes a long long way. I recommend this and Ill probably repurchase if I don't start up a lemming for another product along the way. What can I say, I want to be loyal, but I'm weak.

Got oily skin? Still looking for a sunscreen? Try Sunplay!

Update June 23: I'm not sure why, but on my second bottle, Sunplay started causing bad breakouts on me. Even when I stopped using it on my face and used it on my face and neck, it still broke me out. =(

Oily skinned girls (like me) living in crazy humid countries (like me) appreciate how hard it is to find a truly oil-free, non-greasy, light sunscreen that WORKS. Well for those of us residing in Asia, rejoice because Sun Play Clear Water SPF50 is here to answer ALL your needs.

This watery formulation dries down to a clear finish that is matte and long lasting. It also feels great going on by the way. It also makes a pretty good base for foundation but be careful to apply lightly and let it dry fully or it'll ball up.

What makes this so ideal for oily, acne-prone complexioned gals is that it uses physical sunblock zinc oxide, and not chemical sunblocks like Avenobenzone. So it is far less likely to cause irritations and breakouts. The drawback is that it may leave a whitish cast on your skin (although this formula really is very sheer). For most fair to medium girls though this shouldn't be a problem.


This sunscreen is also pretty water resistant and I've worn it for indoor rock climbing, jogging, and walking in Malaysia's blazing hot sun over the years without any ill effects. It also promises to have Aloe Vera in it so it should be very slightly moisturising.

A full-sized 50ml bottle (pictured) retails for about RM27, but I also love to find tiny 5ml jars that cost only RM3.90 They're great to test this product out if you're cautious and amazing for travel. You can find the full sized jars in any Guardian, Watsons and Sasa, but the smaller ones are more readily available at Sasa.

Favourite things: Soap & Glory Scrub Your Nose In It

I have a bad habit of falling in love with something (and sometimes, someone) and then changing countries resulting in much love-lornity and moping. And gosh-darnnit I've done it again. Boo.

But who wouldn't fall for what has to be the best scrub ever. EVER. It exfoliates with fruit acids, polishes with micro-fine particles, and doubles up as an oil-absorbing and deep-cleansing mask with green kaolin clay. And it's even gentle enough for twice-weekly use.

After using it only twice, my skin is calm, clear and my acne scars are fading. Fading I tells ya!

Oh how I love the Soap & Glory line. Their products work great, smell amazing (well this scrub is more minty and chemically than yummy, but heck I love it anyways), and have the cutest puns. And I've gone and moved to a country without Soap & Glory!

Which is tragic-er now I have this to be addicted to as well as Hand Food. Oh woe is meeee....

For those of you lucky enough to still be living in the land of S&G, it's £6 from Boots or Harvey Nichols.

At last! Silk Naturals hears my cry for oil control: SN Foundation in Heavy & Tinted Oil Control Primer

Karen, the founder and genius behind Silk Naturals, is truly a beauty-addict's fairy-godmother. Hearing the cries of her loyal fans for a foundation with heavier coverage and better oil control, she not only rewards us with a foundation that answers all of the above, but also with an oil control primer!

Read on for the reviews on her Heavy Coverage foundation in Buttery Gold, and Tinted Oil Primer

Heavy Coverage Foundation in Buttery Gold
I have a large collection of mineral foundations by now. And I find myself reaching for this one more than any of the others of late. Although it doesn't provide as full a coverage as J.Lynne's offering or L'oreal's, I find the finish to be very natural. Not too shiny or matte. Plus it seems to stave off the oilies well-enough even in the hot and humid Malaysian climate.

I use it over GloMinerals Concealer (review coming soon), and in combination they make my blemished skin look perfect. I find the foundation to be long-lasting too. And of course with the blend-your-own system you can customise it to suit your skintone exactly.

If you have been using SN's foundation in original though, you should read this and take note that the ratio for colour to white base will be different.

The starter kit retails for US$11.95 and the samples are currently discounted!

Tinted Oil Control Primer
I have absolutely no idea what's wrong with the image on the SN website. The tinted primer is certainly not GREEN! Instead it's a neutral flesh-toned shade that applies sheerly and looks great as a finishing powder - really blurring out imperfections. On good days I even use it instead of foundation.

I use it more as a finishing powder than primer as I already use OC8. Although quite frankly, OC8 isn't holding up too well in the Malaysian weather. I find the primer makes a huge difference, and often use it as a blotting powder during the day.

As the primer is tinted it doesn't lighten the colour of my foundation or make it look ashen making it perfect as a finishing powder. Paler girls (I'm light-medium) may find it too dark for them.

I bought a sample for $0.99 and immediately ordered the full-sized one for $8.95! I love it that much!

Review: Cargo Blu-Ray Pressed Powder

Words cannot describe my love for this pressed powder. I find it superior even to, can you believe it, Mac Blot! *pauses for gasps of amazement*

The superfine particles in the powder are undetectable when swept on with either a brush or puff. It's sheer so I can see it suiting a range of skintones. When applied, it leaves your skin with an airbrushed pore-less look that adapts to lighting conditions. I kid you not. It also looks amazing in photos. I'll take a pic when I find my camera cable!

Plus, it's long-lasting with superb oil-control. What more can you ask for in a powder? Well, the packaging makes it hard to find a puff to fit AND it looks identical to the Blue-Ray highlighter/blush and lip-gloss compacts. But otherwise, this baby goes straight into the "save-for-when-I-am-a-bridesmaid" pile.

Why save? Because Cargo is unobtainable in Malaysia. *cries* If you're near a Sephora, you'll find it in Europe for around €18 (this is from memory), or you can buy the entire set like I did for €60.

Superhero Product: Oily Girls, Salvation is Nigh!

I love this product. I love it so much I want to marry it and have little matte babies. At long last, the holy grail of my long quest to solve my oil-control problem is in my grasp. And bless them they sent me two tubes of it too. Yes ladies, OC Eight Oil Control Genius really does WORK.

Ok, not for the promised eight hours, but this is MY skin we're talking about here. My uncontrollable fount of grease skin. But this baby, this wonderful, wonderful baby.. it keeps my skin in control for almost FOUR hours. Yes! FOUR hours. Unreal! Unheard of!

How does it work? Why does it work? How well does it work? The full review is here. Go read it. You must.

Product Review: DHC Blotting Lotion

I hope you girls will forgive me for perpetually linking back to Kiss and Makeup during the weekdays. As I blog all day there, I'm less inclined to blog more when I get home. Plus, most of the products I test now are obtained through the company, so of course all my reviews go to them first.

Anyway, here's my review on the latest bump on the road in my quest to conquire my oily skin. The good news is, the lotion didn't do anything terrible. But as its main ingredient is isopropyl alcohol I have to warn you that it may indeed do terrible things to other girls. Hop on over to read my full review and suggestions on alternate ways to put this to use if you already own it.

Update (15/06/2008) : Link fixed! Thanks Lilsweetkatz. =)

Beauty Experiment: Kaolin Clay as a Mattifier

My skin is so terribly oily that I will give anything (short of poison) that promises to mattify a try. So with Milk of Magnesia suddenly ceasing to work on me after a sterling performance, I was looking around desperately for something else to work. When I came across pure kaolin clay at Signature Minerals for only $6 a 20g jar, I jumped at the chance to try it.

Kaolin Clay is one of the ingredients used in primers, mineral foundations, and powders to mattify. Lily Lolo's Flawless Matte powder is only Kaolin Clay + Mica while its Shine Away powder is merely Kaolin Clay - both for considerably more (£12) than Signature Mineral's offering.

The clay sold by SM is very finely milled and applies translucently providing an airbrushed, matte finish that I love. It can be added to mineral foundations to lighten it slightly and to make it more mattifying, brushed on as a primer, and used as a finishing powder. It can even be combined with water to make an oil-absorbing mask.

I tried brushing it on as a primer before applying foundation but wasn't pleased with the result as the foundation didn't go on as evenly as I'd like and I didn't notice any significant oil control.

I have also tried mixing it with Aloe Vera gel to form a primer. I have to apply carefully to avoid streaks, but it sets quickly to form a smooth, dry surface great for applying foundation. I find that this works quite well to delay oil breakthrough - giving me a 4 hour grace period instead of my usual 2, but once oil does break through I'm forced to touch up every 2 hours, and even worse my foundation fails to adhere as well as I'd like.

Finally, I've tried using it as a finishing powder and for touch ups. This I like and will continue to do. The finish is lovely, natural and non-cakey. It takes away oil beautifully even when I don't have my blotters on hand. And it prevents oil breakthrough for longer than even the legendary Mac Blot. Now I just need to devise some way of toting a loose powder along for touch-ups on the go.

I haven't tried mixing it with foundations yet as I've been testing the performance of foundations. I'll probably give that a go next.

Review: Boots Time Delay Anti-Blemish Skin Concentrate & Mature Skin Age Spot Pen

Having just crossed the 25-year mark and am no longer classified as "young adult", I'll confess that aging is starting to be a niggling worry for me. So when Boots started issueing its generous £5 vouchers for its Time Delay line along with Olay, L'Oreal and Nivea's anti-aging lines I exploited the opportunity to play with the cheaper products available.

So far, I've uncovered two cosmetic gems in this line, reviewed here and here, but now I'd like to review two skincare products. The truth is, I don't feel like I've been using these products long enough to review them adequately (skincare products deserve at least 3 weeks to prove their worth), but as the vouchers expire tomorrow, I thought I'd put a rush on this.

Anti-Blemish Skin Concentrate
I have a suspicion that this product has either been discontinued or is merely sold out. I can't find it online anywhere except on eBay, so no pics or links. Inside the box, the serum is packeged in classy cylindrical plastic pump in frosted clear plastic and silver. One pump dispenses enough for my entire face.

I was drawn to this product, first by its low price - £6.25 for 30ml. It also claims to be anti-blemish, containing willowbark extract (salicylic acid), and anti-aging with White Lupin antioxidant extracts. The serum promises to "clear excess oil" (oh please, God let it do this), reduce redness, and hydrate.

The serum is wonderfully lightweight and a pleasure to use. It sinks it immediately and provides instant hydration - enough for me to skip a moisturiser for summer. I have never broken out since using it, so it's either doing nothing bad, or its actually working wonderfully, and I do believe that it calms redness. It certainly leaves the skin feeling silky, fresh and primed for makeup. Sadly, I haven't noticed a decrease in oil production, but I live in hope.

Mature Skin Age Spot Pen (pictured)
This may seem a rather dotty purchase for me. No, I don't have age spots - not a one. But as an Asian, my blemishes may heal, but they leave behind brown scars caused by hyperpigmentation that are a pain to conceal and hang around forever. This serum is "designed to visibly reduce the appearance of age spots" - which are essentially the same as my blemish spots as both are due to hyperpigmentation.

The product assures us that it has been tested and that after 2 weeks of use "72% agreed that their skin color looked more even, and after 4 weeks 73% agreed that the intensity of their spots decreased dramatically".

Well plump me in with all those happy people. After only 5 days of using this product twice-daily, I can see my stubborn brown blemishes fading! At first, afraid of breakouts, I dotted it only on the brown spots. When 3 days passed and nothing bad happened, but the spots lightened up, I've started using it all over to even out my slightly patchy skintone. If this product continues to perform as it does, and at only £7.49 for 30ml, it will certainly be a HG for me.

Verdict on Time Delay Range
Overall, I am very impressed with the Boots Time Delay range. All the products work fantastically well, have never broken out my oily blemish-prone skin, and are affordably priced. I would repurchase these products at full-price if I have to, and I'll be making a trip tomorrow to Boots to stock up before the voucher expires.

Discount code + Review: J. Lynne Mineral Foundation, Primer, and Finishing Powder

I've completely fallen in love with J.Lynne's foundation and matte primer - and it kills me because at US$18 and US$15 respectively, it isn't as affordable as my beloved Silk Naturals. However, the foundation and matte primer when used together provide full coverage with a gorgeous natural air-brushed finish, and most importantly, oil-control - that I longed for in Silk Naturals' Mineral Foundation.

I came across this brand on the amazing Mineral Makeup Blog where they mentioned J.Lynne's clearing-out 50% sale on sample baggies (sadly, now ended). From the rave review on the foundation's finish, coverage, and oil-control properties I knew I had to at least give it a try.

I bought the foundation in three shades, Fair Golden (0.9), Ivory Golden (1.5), and Ivory/Light Golden (1.9), the Mineral Matte Priming Powder in Peach, and the Mineral Finishing Powder in Golden. I was rather horrified at the shipping charge - US$11, until I read the FAQ and discovered that J.Lynne will refund surplus amount once the package has been sent. And I did receive a refund of US$8, plus three samples of her mineral glows and eyeshadow.

Mineral Smooth Foundation
J.Lynne has a comprehensive collection of almost 40 foundations shades running the gamut from cool - neutral - warm, from fair - dark. So finding a shade that suits you should definitely be possible. Of the three shades, both Fair Golden and Ivory Light Golden were a tad too yellow for me. Ivory Light Golden could pass in a pinch, but Fair Golden was very yellow indeed! Fortunately, Ivory Golden was just right (I feel like goldilocks).

The foundation is a joy to use. You don't need much, and just one layer applied with my Bobbi Brown Kabuki brush was enough to even out skin tone and cover minor blemishes. Using a concealer brush I went over my undereye circles, and more stubborn blemishes, concealing them perfectly.

The foundation felt lightweight and very comfortable. The finish was air-brushed, not as shiny as L'Oreal. but not as flat as Silk Naturals. I really loved this as I wanted enough light-reflecting particles to detract from my acne scars, but not so much that I glowed like a disco ball in the sun.

It also proved to be oil-controlling and long-lasting when used with the matte primer. I only needed to blot once in a long evening out (unheard of!), and my eye-makeup and blush stayed fresh and in place all night. The foundation on its own without the matte primer does provide pretty good oil control, better than either Silk Naturals or L'Oreal.

At US$18, it isn't as good a deal as the SN foundations, but it remains a more affordable buy than L'Oreal's foundation here in the UK. I just hope I can hold out till the site has another sale or offer on its foundations.

Mineral Matte Priming Powder
This primer comes in three shades - Porcelaine/Fair, Peach, and Ivory/Light. I chose to apply this with a foundation brush as I really wanted a high degree of oil-control. The primer provides a certain degree of coverage, and I found the Peach shade brightened my complexion and disgused minor blemishes without altering my skintone. If you have oily but clear skin, you may be able to just use this primer and skip the foundation.

This primer - used with the foundation - is a dream come true for me. Until now, this degree of oil-control has been something that I long for, and dream of but have never quite found. Even Milk of Magnesia gave up on me once summer hit, but this foundation and primer controls like nothing ever has before.

Used with another, less oil-controlling foundation, the primer does control oil, but once the oil broke through, it all went downhill from there. I had to blot and powder like normal every 2 hours or so, something I found unnecessary when the primer was paired with J.Lynne's foundation.

The primer can also be used as a finishing powder, providing a matte not-quite translucent finish. However, like most mineral products, once it's settled into the skin, the primer becomes more translucent and the foundation is allowed to shine through.

Mineral Finishing Powder
Golden, should have been called yellow! Or "Banan" like the famous yellow powder by T.L'Clerc. The powder proved to be quite translucent however, although too yellow to be paired with J.Lynne's foundation in Ivory Golden. But I can see it being useful for correcting foundations that are too pink or orange, and for brightening up the undereye area.

The finishing powder was light and airy, but no better (as far as I can tell) than Silk Natural's finishing powder. It provided the same slightly diffused look, and didn't provide much oil control. One thing going for this product though is the wide range of colours. Available in flesh tones as well as colour correcting shades of Mint (for red tones in cool girls), Lavender (for orange tones), and Olive Green (for red tones in warm girls), the powder can also be used as a colour correcting primer.

Verdict
If I'm still as in love with the foundation and primer when my samples run dangerously low (each sample lasts a week, I - with great foresight - bought two of the matte primer and will be mixing the foundations together to make them an acceptable shade I can use for longer) I will probably invest in a full-sized foundation and primer, but give the finishing powder a miss as I don't need it.

Discount Code
If you'd like to give J.Lynne cosmetics a try, simply enter RET87452 in the coupon code box at checkout for a 10% discount for first-time shoppers. You should know that this is a referral code and will benefit me when you use it.

Product Review: Milk of Magnesia as a Mattifier

While I adore glamour and pretty packaging in beauty products, I care more about bang for your buck, and products that work. Milk of Magnesia (or Cream of magnesia) as a mattifiant is perhaps even more unglamourous than Monistat Chafing Gel as a primer, but it works!

Recommended by Paula Begoun and Tyra Banks, I've come across this product time and time again in beauty forums and on Makeup Alley, but until now I've never tried it. Mostly I've been afraid it would break me out like most mattifiers I've tried ( The Body Shop Tea-Tree Matte and Boots No 7 Shine-Free Makeup Base to name two), but also the idea of using a laxative on my face was just... ew.

But my oily skin is so frustrating to me that I at last caved in and bought a bottle of Boots Cream of Magnesia for £2.75. I've been trying it for the last week, and here's my review.

How to Use
Give the bottle a good shake. Then using your fingers, apply a light layer as evenly as possible on your skin, after toning and moisturising, before concealer and foundation. Allow it to dry, and you may notice white streaks here and there. Rub with fingers to smooth out. Dampening your fingers speeds this process along but it's not really necessary. Allow to dry completely before applying foundation over.

I have heard that MoM does not always work well with liquid foundations, but works wonderfully well with powder and mineral foundations. But you'll have to experiment to see what works for you.

A thicker layer of MoM works as an oil-absorbing mask. Spread it on, allow to dry and rinse off for tighter-feeling oil-free skin.

How it works
Milk of Magnesia, or Cream of Magnesia is essentially liquid magnesium hydroxide, a harmless, inert chemical that absorbs oil but won't irritate your skin. Some preparations contain mint or cherry flavouring. While this may be fun, I prefer the scentless flavourless generic type because it's cheaper and less additives = less irritating.

Verdict
Initially, I was pleased, but not very impressed. It did stave off the oilies for perhaps an hour or two longer than not using it. This on its own isn't bad, No7's Shine-Free Base didn't seem to do anything, cost about £9, AND it added the crowning indignity of breaking me out. So, if MoM could stave off the oilies for a bit I wasn't going to complain.

However, daily use of it seems to be decreasing the amount of oil my skin is producing. Online reviews warn that some women found their oily skin becoming parched and dry with prolonged usage, so I should keep an eye on my skin, and stop just before it dries out.

Also, absolutely no breakouts whatsoever has been caused by MoM. So, I'll keep using and post an update if anything drastic occurs. But for now, I have an effective, non-irritating mattifying primer that's cheap as chips. I may find a prettier bottle for it though. *winks*

The most famous brand of MoM is Philips Milk of Magnesia (pic) retailing at Boots for £3.25 but cheaper, generic brands can be obtained.

For convenience sake: Himalaya Herbals Neem Face Pack

Like Kahani, one of my favourite masks is the aspirin mask. You can read how she gushes about it here. But the one downside of that mask is that it takes time to prepare - all the pounding and mixing. And there are days when you just don't have the time (or mood) for it.

Enter my second favouritest mask - Himalaya Herbals Neem Face Pack.

First off, it comes in a huge tube, so you don't have to do any pounding and mixing, which is totally great for someone who likes things convenient (who doesn't?).

It's made for "oily and pimple-prone skin", so it sounds perfect for me. I discovered this mask after falling in love with this cream cleanser, so I thought I'd give it a shot, with high hopes that it would help clear up my facial blemishes.

It lists Neem (Azadirachta indica), Fuller's Earth (Multani mitti) and Turmeric (Curcuma longa) as its main ingredients. Citric acid, which is known as an astringent and antioxidant, is pretty high up the list too. However, it also lists sodium methylparaben and sodium proplyparaben further down the list, so you decide if it's for you.

The mask is thick and dark green in colour, with a strong herbal scent. While I'm okay with it, please do take a whiff before bringing it home. I apply it directly with my fingers from the tube, spreading it on evenly. (It makes me look like a green monster, and I think I remember freaking my brother out once. tee hee hee). I leave it on for about 15 minutes, and after it dries, wet it just a bit again to exfoliate before washing it thoroughly off.

Just a word of caution though, as the tube is near finishing, it tends to have sudden squirts of air when you're squeezing the mask out. And that can have semi-disastrous results as bits of mask go flying into your mouth, eyes, hair, T-shirt etc. So a handy tip: squeeze the amount you need into a bowl first before applying it onto your face. So even if the tube decides to fart, it'll be farting into the bowl and not your eyes.

I (try to) use it once or twice weekly, and so far it has done a pretty good job. I find it soothes and calms my skin down, and helps subside blemishes. And just to prove that it works, a few weeks after I started using this mask, my colleagues complimented my skin for having cleared up a lot. Not bad, huh? Used regularly, it also helps in the oil-control department, and helps clear up pores.

I'm on my second 150ml tube now, and I've been getting my supply at the local drugstores in Malaysia for RM21.90. It's also available at Himalaya Herbals free-standing stores. Girls in the UK, take note, I just found out that Himalaya Herbals Direct is currently having a sale, so go check it out here.

I've also recently purchased the Purifying Neem Face Wash, which I will review soon. Promise.

PS: My brother (late teens, has acne, very tall, bright and *cough vain cough*) also uses this, and he'd like to add that "it definitely helps control new pimples from occuring".