My Makeup Bag: Work and Uni Edition

Compare and contrast, girls: The life of a working professional versus the life of a Masters student, illustrated through the contents of her makeup bag.

Yes, that is an RM5 pouch from Daiso. I purposely picked a small bag to keep me from carrying too much around the place. As it is, this little guy can carry a surprising amount of stuff!

Reader's Q&A: I ask, you answer!

Let's have a twist on the usual Q&A! Instead of answering questions from readers, why not let you play beauty blogger and answer my questions instead?

Question 1:
Dear reader, I just went to the Clarins counter to pick up a refill of my favourite Clarins UV Plus HP Dayscreen. I was told that it was no longer available in 50ml bottles, only 30ml. As you can imagine, I was horrified and asked for more details -- when, why, how? According to the sales assistant, the 50ml sizes were discontinued sometime in September but she didn't know the reason why.

I didn't have the time to confirm this with other Clarins counters so I thought I would check in with you readers. Is it true? I googled it up and the nearest search result I could find was a note on Makeupalley.

Review: Clarins UV Plus HP Day Screen SPF 40

Freaking fantastic HG stuff. I would leave my review at that but seeing how a "proper" review is supposed to be at least 3 paragraphs long, I will expand on it.

What is there not to like about Clarins UV Plus? It is lightweight, easily absorbed, dries to a slight powder finish, doesn't give me pimples and travels really well. I have used this all over Borneo -- river cruises, trekking, kayaking, swimming -- and it has yet to fail me. It works better than my other kononnya heavy duty, water resistant, sports sunscreens. I just wish that it was cheaper so I can use it on my body as well.

And I am Back!

Syen and Kahani were kind enough to let me off blogging duty for a month, seeing how work, constant travelling and a persistent cough were driving me up the wall with little energy to spare. After the long Eid holiday and a much anticipated break with my boyfriend (am waiting for the day when I can show the finger to all those well-meaning “friends” who predicted doom and said long distance relationships don’t last), I am almost back to my usual self and am ready to report for regular blogging duty.

I am still catching up on the beauty scene so don’t expect anything from me on new trends and news ( Beaut.ie does a great job of it so go look there). I do have stuff to report from the Quest for Clear Skin Battle Front though. In brief:

Bulletproof sunblock: Shiseido Very High SPF50+ Waterproof Sunblock

If you're going to spend all day on the beach or hiking - and you're like me and hate reapplying sunblock this is the friend you want on your side. NOTHING gets through it. So far the times I've used it I didn't even break a tan let alone get burnt and I've used it to:

1. Run around all day on the beach and snorkle in the sea on a team-building sort of obstacle course
2. Go see dolphins and whales on a boat under the scorching sun in the middle of the ocean for about 5 hours
3. Go on a hike under the blazing sun  where I had to mop sweat up constantly. 

My only problems with it is that if I use it on my face I break out and that it's really quite expensive at RM150 (I think) for a 100ml bottle. Bear in mind though that I break out if I use ANYTHING but powder sunblock (which will never stand up to the above activities) and that on days like that, breakouts are better than permanent sun damage. It's a tough call though. *sighs*

I received this from Shiseido a really long time ago to test out but since I can't use it daily it's taken me awhile to review it. Chances are though I'll repurchase this - especially since I've seen it going at a discount in Bonjour, Hong Kong. ;)

Getting in that Sun Protection Factor

Make no mistake. Hong Kong is HOT. Every bit as hot as Malaysia, plus a whole lot more walking and absolutely no car to drive around in.

After years of relying on my foundation and SPF15 moisturiser for SPF factor the freckles on my face have told me I need to get way more serious unless I want to look like a leathery old crone in a decade or so. Here are my two top weapons on my arsenal at present. Make no mistake, this isn't a review... that will come after a month of diligent, daily use. This is just a first-impressions post.

Review: Biore UV Aqua Rich SPF 30 PA+++

In our continuous search for a fantastic sunscreen, I'm quite happy to report that I've recently come across a sunscreen that I'm really quite in love with.

Ladies, let me introduce you to Biore UV Aqua Rich SPF 30 PA+++.

Interview review: Ocean Potion Anti-Aging Face Moisturiser SPF30 with Retinol

Disclaimer: Ocean Potion is running advertorials and a competition via Advertlets. This post is neither. It is an honest unpaid review. The product was provided for review by Ocean Potion. 

My mom's a devout believer in sun protection and yay for her! So when I saw this product on Ocean Potion's lineup I thought it was brilliant and asked for it on her behalf. She used this for a month and here's her take on it.  

Review: Sunplay Skin Aqua UV Mild Milk for Sensitive Skin

Still on the quest for the Perfect Sunscreen, I grabbed the Mild Milk SPF 25 lotion from the popular Sunplay Skin Aqua range to try.

Formulated for sensitive skin, I picked this up for 2 reasons: the first being because I had heard so much about Sunplay, I was curious to try it out; and the second being its affordability.

Sunscreen Series: Ego Sunsense Daily Face SPF30+ Invisible Tint Finish

My aunt swears by this stuff. She works under the hot sun in the paddy fields and each time sun spots start forming on her face, she immediately reaches out for this sunscreen. The brown spots are gone within a few days and last time I saw my aunt, her skin was still pretty good.

Keeping her recommendation in mind, I picked this up just before I left Australia.

Let me get straight to the point. I am not in love with this sunscreen. It simply doesn't work for me despite my trying it out off and on for the past few months.

This sunscreen is a bit on the thick side and takes a while to work into the skin. As indicated, the formula is tinted a light brown which would show up on most fair people but doesn't have any effect on my NC32-ish skin. If you are around an NC30, forget about using this as a light foundation alternative.

Ego Sunsense, let me count the ways I hate thee... Hmm, where do I start?

Right, I have no problems with the thick formula but I do dislike the sticky, shiny effect it leaves behind. So much for an invisible matt finish. *huffs* Plus, the sunscreen doesn't adhere well to the skin. It tends to ball up on my skin after a few hours. I have tried using the sunscreen on my bare skin (not moisturiser, serum or toner) to see if it was a product layering problem but I got the result each time.

To top it all off, my pores get terribly clogged each time I use this. I get clusters of white heads, blackheads and pimples which take ages to clear.

Mum was quite surprised by my violent dislike for this sunscreen as she has been using it as well and doesn't have any problems. No clogged skin or shiny problems.

It is a pity that this particular sunscreen doesn't work for me as it provides pretty broad spectrum protection.

The active ingredients are:
1. Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane/ Avobenzone: Long wave UVA protection
2. Octyl triazone: UVB protection
3. Oxybenzone: Short wave UVA
4. Titanium dioxide: UVB and short wave UVA protection

For the life of me, I can't remember how much this sunscreen cost but it was probably around AUD 20. For a while, I only saw this in Sabah pharmacies but it seems that pharmacies in KL are finally beginning to carry this sunscreen as well.

Has anyone used this and loved it?

Review: Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense with SPF 50PA+++

From the start I had mixed feelings about this sunscreen. Hope that it would finally be THE ONE - the high SPF sunscreen I could use without breaking out. But also dread that I would have to fork out RM140 for 30ml to replace it

Alas it seems that this sunscreen was not to be the one. It seemed like it at first though. It was light (when a wee bit is used), fragranceless and hydrating enough that I could skip using my usual Clinique DDMG.

I used a tiny smidgen without moisturiser on my chin for three days and no breakouts or excessive oiliness. So I started using it all over my face.

After two weeks though whiteheads started appearing. I stopped using the sunscreen for two days and with exfoliation they went away. I started again, and they came back.

Now, usually you don't get away with using a whitehead-causing product for 2 weeks with impunity and I'm no exception. Even though I've stopped using it for a week now, cystic acne has started surfacing as my skin purges. I haven't tried any new skincare or foundation product in all this time, so I'm afraid I have only this sunscreen to blame.

Now, bear in mind that my skin hates so many things that it really is breakout prone and hypersensitive. I also have never been able to use any of the sunscreens others swear by. So it seems I'm doomed to be old and wrinkly. *wails*

So for a more thorough perspective, please check out reviews by ParisB and Connie.

Obviously I won't be repurchasing and I may end up passing this on. Although I am tempted to keep it handy for single-day use when I know I'll be out in the sun a lot and a breakout is better than long-term skin damage. It's an awful choice to make though, isn't it?

Sunscreen Series: Neutrogena SPF 30+ (or SPF 75 for non-Ozzies) Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunscreen Lotion

I finally got around to trying out the much-hyped about Neutrogena Dry-Touch Sunscreen and ladies, I am not impressed.

Shocker, I know. Practically everyone I know who has given this a go raves about how easily it goes on and the matte finish it leaves behind. Plus, the Neutrogena Hydrating Sunscreen Lotion worked so well for me (reviewed here), I had high hopes for the body equivalent.

What a letdown.

By the way, this sunscreen is rated SPF 30+ in Australia (30+ being the highest allowed SPR rating in Australia), I believe it is rated as either SPF 50 or 75 in other countries.

Part of the hype surrounding the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer range is the helioplex technology used to stabilise the active ingredients in sunscreen products (I have previously explained here) which makes for better, more effective and long lasting protection against UVA rays.

Sounds great so far, especially topped off with the claim that the Neutrogena Dry-Touch Sunscreen has a "lightweight, clean feel" which "leaves skin soft and smooth" (it is written on the tube). And, it is also 4 hours water resistant. Perfect for sun, surf and sand mad Ozzies.

As mentioned, lot of people have raved over how quickly this absorbs into their skin and leaves them with a non-greasy feel. While I agree that this doesn't leave a whitish cast, the sunscreen has a pretty thick texture which takes quite a while for me to apply. It doesn't absorb into my skin any faster than other sunscreens and neither does it leave me feeling dryish. My skin still feels and looks greasy.

Bummer.

Performance wise, I would say that this is pretty good. I tan pretty easily after a few hours without sunscreen and using this has definitely prevented that.

The active ingredients in this sunscreen are:

1. Homosalate: UVB protection
2. Octyl Salicylate: UVB protection
3. Oxybenzone: Short wave UVA protection
4. Octylcrylene: UVB protection
5. Butyl Methoxydibenzylmethane/ Avobenzone: Long wave UVA protection

At the end of the day, I think my usual Cancer Council Everyday Sunscreen is a better deal. It gives me less of a greasy feel, just about the same amount of protection and it's cheaper to boot. The Neutrogena Dry Touch Sunscreen is priced at AUD 17.99 for 85 ml (I picked it up when it was 15% or 20% off) while Cancer Council is AUD 14.95 for 200 ml. That's a price difference of AUD 13.69 per 100 ml and seeing how an 85ml tube of Neutrogena Dry Touch lasts for 3 weeks...

No, I am not repurchasing.

Sunscreen Series: Cancer Council Australia's Ultra Sunscreen

This is the heavy duty alternative to my staple Everyday Sunscreen (geddit? geddit?). It claims to offer extra UVA protection and is water resistant for up to 3 hours. As the regular orange offering is only water resistant for 2 hours, making this the sunscreen of my choice whenever I hit the beach.

(Not to mention, my boyfriend has a huge bottle of this lying around the place)

So, how does this compare to the more popular Everyday Sunscreen?

First off, Ultra Sunscreen smells and works like regular sunscreen. There's the strong sunscreen-ish smell and it feels a heck more slippery after application compared to Everyday. It also takes a while to work this into my skin as there is a whitish cast caused by zinc oxide.

The active ingredients are:

1. Octyl Methoxycinnamate (Octinoxate): UVB protection
2. Zinc Oxide: Short and Long Wave UVA protection
3. Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (Avobenzone): Long Wave UVA protection
4. 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor: UVB protection

They are almost the same as what is offered in Everyday, only oxybenzone has been replaced by zinc oxide.

While Ultra is fine for hitting the beach, where you aren't going to do much other than to laze on the sand, splash in the waves and catch one or two frisbees, it is not great for running around or playing Ultimate Frisbee where you are going to sweat a lot. I used this on a 2 hour bushwalking trip and had rivulets of white sweat dripping down my legs after 30 minutes (I was sweating a lot that day). Not a pretty sight and it doesn't say much about Ultra's staying power now, does it?

Verdict? I guess that this is okay if you are heading out and want a little more extra protection but if you are going to play outdoor soccer, go for another sunscreen instead.

The Cancer Council Australia's Ultra Sunscreen retails at AUD 14.95 for the 200ml flip-top bottle. Like the Everyday Sunscreen, it comes in a variety of sizes so you can check them out here.

Sunscreen Series: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Daily Face Sunscreen Lotion with SPF 30+

This is a review of the Neturogena Ultra Sheer Hydrating sunscreen lotion, not the much hyped Dry Touch sunscreen lotion. I will probably get around to trying the latter after New Year so hang on for that!

Ladies, let me introduce you to my new HG day moisturiser. Neutrogena has always churned out pretty decent drugstore sunscreens but none of them really worked for me until this came along. Maybe its the helioplex or the overall formula which is doing the trick, but I am hoping that they release this in Malaysia very, very soon.

In case you are wondering, helioplex is the term used for this new UVA/UVB skin protection, err, thing (I can't think of another word). Oxybenzone is combined with avobenzone (both sunscreens) to provide broad spectrum protection as the combo helps to stabilise avobenzone in sunscreen products. Avobenzone provides great UVA protection but it degenerates quickly under sunlight. Talk about a Catch-22.

When I bought this lotion, it was with a high dose of scepticism as I wasn't entirely convinced by the efficiency helioplex claim. After holidaying at Central Coast a few weeks ago though, I am convinced that this stuff works and deserves the SPF 75 (or is it 100?) rating it is given in the US. I went bushwalking that holiday and was sweating so much, you could see white streaks of zinc oxide running down my legs. Despite judicious reapplications of sunscreen all over my body, I returned to the hotel with tanned skin and a freakishly pale face and neck.

Guess what I was using on my face? I didn't reapply sunscreen to my face at all that day, by the way. I had to use a less stronger sunscreen the following week to let my skintone even out all over.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that this lotion is hydrating enough for my skin. I usually find that the higher the SPF rating, the less hydrating the product and I have to layer with another moisturiser afterwards.

No breakouts either, woo-hoo!

The active ingredients in this sunscreen lotion are:
1. Oxybenzone: Short wave UVA protection
2. Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane/ Avobenzone: Long Wave UVA protection
3. Homosalate: UVB protection
4. Octyl Salicylate: UVB protection
5. Octocrylene: UVB proctection

The only downside to this lovely gem is the inefficient packaging. The lotion is near impossible to squeeze out of the tube and when it seemed to have finished, i.e. I couldn't squeeze out another drop of lotion, I chopped it open to find a good third left in the bottle. Argh!

The Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Daily Sunscreen Lotion retails at AUD 13 (I think) for 30 ml. It may seem a little pricer compared to other drugstore sunscreens but I think it is worth the price for Australian summers. I will definitely be stocking up on this one come sales time.

Bitterly disappointed: Eucerin White Solution Oil-Control Day Fluid SPF30

This product is living proof why beauty bloggers shouldn't review skincare after only two or even three days. Because what was clogged pores after three days turned into the dreaded cystic acne a week and half after I STOPPED using it. Argh! >_< style="font-weight: bold;"
What they promise:
Attributes:

* For combination to oily skin
* Non-comedogenic
* With High UVA and UVB protection (SPF 30)
* Excellent make-up base
* Fragrance free

Benefits:
* Continuously supports dull & damaged skin to enhance skin regeneration from inside with
* Micro ACTIVE Complex WHITE Particles.
* Regulates skin oiliness for a mattified tone.
* Broadband UV Filters shield skin from UVA & UVB against the formation of new damages, dark spots and skin darkening.


Review
Don't the promises sound good? Although this product contains dimethicone, I thought I'd be safe as the ingredient is really far down the list. No dice.

The first time I used it I screwed up and tried out a new powder on the second day. When my pores clogged up I gave my skin a break, let it clear up entirely and gave this moisturiser a second go. After three days of use, my skin was REALLY clogged up with tiny whiteheads appearing. During this period I used nothing else that wasn't already part of my regular skincare routine.

I immediately stopped using it on my face and only used it on my neck. But it was too late. Despite masking daily and using exfoliating scrubs, my skin began to break out. On the plus side, I do believe the masks and scrubs drew the clogs to the surface and so the pimples didn't get to fester and grow into volcanoes.

Unfortunately, one on my chin made it that far - but again with Nexcare Acne Patches, Himalaya Herbals Neem Mask and Soap & Glory Scrub Your Nose In It, the cystic pimple only lasted all of two days before dying. Huzzah! Ding dong the evil bump is dead! (the things I wish I had as a pimply teen. *sighs* )

My face is finally on the path to recovery.

Conclusion
The only reason I risked trying this was because of Guardian's RM15 off coupon reducing its price to about RM52. Fie on you evil coupon for leading me astray! I'll continue to used this on my neck (with caution) - it seems ok so far, but for the price I'll stick with Clean & Clear Clear Fairness after this bottle's finished thank you very much.

Now I wonder if I'm brave enough to try Eucerin's Sun Mattifying Face Fluid it has NO dimethicone whatsoever and is currently on sale for about RM45. They insist it's completely safe for users with acne, and let's face it I DO need a sunscreen. To risk or not to risk?

Sunscreen Series: Clarins SPF 30 Sun Wrinkle Control Eye Contour Care

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Sunscreen Series: Olay Complete UV Defence SPF15 Moisture Lotion & Cream

Every skincare nut knows that sunscreen is the most important product in our cupboard and that SPF15 is the bare minimum we should be using on our skin. Yes? (If your answer is no, you definitely need to read more beauty blogs like So Loverly.)

When one's morning beauty routine consists of wash face, tone, serum, moisturiser and the sunscreen, the layering of products does tend to drive a person insane. Thank goodness for moisturisers with SPF and my personal favourite happens to be this classic goodie from Olay.

I don't know if this is sold in Malaysia -- I always carry mine back from Australia so I never bothered checking -- but you can get this in Australia, US and Canada albeit in slightly different packaging.

There are cream and lotion versions of this product and both of them have different formulas for sensitive, dry/normal and combination/ oily skin. The cream version only caters for sensitve and dry/ normal skin though.

I have tried all 5 variants across the SPF 15 range (a bit nuts but this was over a period of 3 years and I wanted see if there was a difference) and discovered that the Olay moisture cream for dry/ normal skin worked best for me in autumn, winter and spring while the lotion for dry/ normal skin was my best bet for summer in Australia. The sensitive skin formulas were okay but my skin didn't really like it while the combination/ oily lotion only worked well in humid Malaysia. It wasn't moisturising enough in Australia.

The only one which broke me out was the combination/ oily lotion and that was more because it wasn't moisturising enough for my skin. My skin tends to break out when it isn't hydrated.

The difference may have something to do with the fact that the active ingredients are different for each skin type. The active ingredients for the Olay moisture lotion and cream for Normal/dry skin and sensitive skin (yes, they are similar) are as follows:

1. Octyl Salicylate: UVB protection
2. Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane/ Avobenzone: Long wave UVA protection
3. Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid: UVB and short wave UVA protection
4. Octocrylene: UVB protection

The active ingredients for the combination/ oily skin version are:

1. Zinc oxide: provides both UVB and UVA protection
2. Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane/ Avobenzone: Long wave UVA protection

(I really do need to create a simple sunscreen chart for future reviews)

The Olay Complete UV Protection Moisture lotion is priced at AUD 13.15 for 150ml while the cream sells for AUD13.35 for 50g. It's so affordable, you can't cite price as a barrier to getting a decent sunscreen for your face.

Sunscreen Series: Cancer Council Australia Everyday Sunscreen

I am no puteri lilin* but I am bloody well paranoid about getting skin cancer and irreparable sun damage ever since I started studying in Australia.

This has only been further reinforced over the years but not because of the SunSmart reminders everywhere in this country. Each time I step on a plane, I encounter a Malaysian auntie/grandmother who migrated here 10-20 years ago and suffered awful skin damage and pigmentation from the awful Australian sun.

One well coiffured grandmother even lightly dabbed off her foundation to show me how bad her sun spots were. On hindsight, I should have asked her what foundation she was using -- it really covered up her spots -- but I was reeling at the sight of 20 over years of sun damage.

(Yup, I have this strange ability to attract auntie and grandmother types. Wherever I go, I get mothered, fed, petted and lots of advice on life. My travels are always full of entertainment.)

ParisB has already sang her praises for my favourite everyday sunscreen: The Cancer Council Everyday Sunscreen. You can find this brand at practically any grocery or pharmacy in Austraia. It's that popular, affordable and that good.

All Cancer Council Sunscreens have a 30+ SPF rating, which is the highest SPF rating allowed under Australian regulations. So if you come into Australia and wonder why on earth doesn't this place sell stuff with SPF 50 or SPF 75, you now have your answer. From what I remember, sunscreens with an SPF rating of over 30 tends to have unstable active ingredients which usually break down after 2 or 3 hours, giving you less protection than you actually thought. The Australian regulatory body felt that this lulls consumers into a false sense of security and smelled a little of false advertising as you would reapply less frequently with a higher SPF rating. Hence the SPF 30+ rating.

Just a reminder here but SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor against UVB rays. The SPF rating stands for how much longer you can be under the sun without getting a burn compared to without applying sunscreen. It's a mind boggling business but if it takes you 10 minutes to get sunburnt without sunscreen, applying a sunscreen with a SPF 30 means that you can stand under the sun for 300 minutes (10 x 30) without getting burnt. SPF measures protection from UVB rays only, not UVA.

To be on the safe side, I always reapply every 2-3 hours.

This particular product is great for everyday use. Not just because it doesn't smell too strongly of sunscreen and it absorbs easily into the skin, but because it gives broad spectrum protection. The active ingredients (and the UVA/ UVB protection it gives) are as follows:

1. Octyl Methoxycinnamate (Octinoxate): UVB protection
2. 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor: UVB protection
3. Oxybenzone: Short Wave UVA protection
4. Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (Avobenzone): Long Wave UVA protection

A good sunscreen is supposed to be able to offer UVB and UVA (both long wave and short wave) protection so this particular sunscreen fits the bill nicely. I am a little worried about the second active ingredient though as it is not permitted for usage in the US and Japan due to health concerns.

The Cancer Council Everyday Sunscreen is AUD 14.95 for the 200ml fliptop bottle. It also comes in other sizes and packaging which you can see here. I personally like the roll on version for travelling.

What is your favourite everyday sunscreen?

*Puteri lilin: literally translated, it means 'wax princess'. It's a Malay term used to describe err, delicate people who avoid the sun.

Inconclusive Review: Clinique Derma White Brightening City Block SPF40++

The hardest reviews are always on the products you can't decide if you love or hate. There are so many reasons to love this sunblock / moisturiser but just one or two near-fatal flaws make me teeter on a seesaw over whether or not I'd repurchase. Let me tell you what I think and you draw your own conclusions.

Formula (Love)
This lotion is tinted a skintone shade that I believe is to cancel out the white-out look that Titanium Dioxide (the main sunblock in this lotion) can give. Although not intended as a tinted moisturiser it does help even out my skintone somewhat and I find I use slightly less foundation after using this. It is lightweight and non-greasy which my oily skin loves, but ladies with dry skin may want to use a separate moisturiser.

Effects (love)
After 2 weeks of daily use I can already see my skintone brightening and evening out. Dark marks left by big pimples were fading, I was DELIGHTED. My skin looked so pretty. Yet it didn't make me look a scary white - just brighter and more even. Precisely what I want!

Breakouts / Clogged pores (Hate)
This is where I have some problems. It doesn't break me out badly or instantly but daily use does result in clogged pores that lead to smaller breakouts. So although my skin is more even in tone it isn't better in terms of clarity. I'm considering using this on alternate days, or using it for a few days and then giving my skin a cleansing mask and a break. It's not awful enough that I want to ditch it, but for me after all these years of fighting for clear skin, I don't want to endanger it!

Price (hate)
I have a sample tube of 7ml that's lasted me the 2 weeks and still has some more in it. I do use it quite sparingly and only on my face though. The fullsize tube of 30ml is RM130 though (I think, it could be RM160 - must check) so it isn't cheap. While I would happily shell out this amount if it kept my skin beeyootifully clear, I'm ambivalent about paying for something that may, in the long run, cause my skin to breakout.

Conclusion
What do you ladies think?

Review: Sunplay Skin Aqua UV Moisture Milk SPF50

While tromping around in sunny Greece, I was a good girl and made sure that me and the hubs were well protected from the harmful rays of the suns. I had brought along a new bottle of Sunplay Skin Aqua UV Moisture Milk, and after two weeks of daily use, I think it's time to jolly well review it.

I had tried Sunplay Clear Water SPF50 before, and had liked it. So when Sunplay came out with this one, I had decided to give it a whirl too.

The texture is light and milky/watery, similar to its sister product. It applies very easily and smooth, and it dries down quickly into a clear finish which is just slightly glowy. It is non-greasy, as it claims, and being water resistant, it's long-lasting.

I used this sunscreen, which boasts of SPF50 PA+++, on my face and body, and I believe it does work to a certain extent. I was certainly not as tan as I had imagined I would be. Even though we were in the hot hot sun a lot.

However, this sunscreen also boasts of being hydrating, and I think this is where it doesn't quite work for a combi/oily girl like me. The glow upon initial application soon turns into shiny. And not in a glowy-shiny way. Oily-shiny, more like.

Also, it might have been quite a few other factors, but I do believe it might have contributed to causing a few tiny bumps on my face especially around my forehead.

So there goes that. I'll keep it around to continue using it on my body, but I don't think it'll be going anywhere near my face now.

Priced at less than RM30 for a 50ml bottle, it's definitely a reasonable buy, especially if you're a drier girl. But unfortunately for me, this isn't really a keeper.