May 15, 2012

My Current Favorites(oily skin must read) Part 1

I don't buy a whole lot of makeup/skincare products. If something works for me, I would keep re-purchasing.

But lately, I have been feeling a bit adventurous and willing to try new products.

I'm lucky that I don't have sensitive skin. So my skin doesn't usually react badly or break out if I use a product which does not agree with me.

I have oil skin on t-zone and cheeks. Lately, I have had good luck with a few items that I would highly recommend for oily skin type.



Picked this one as my absolute favorite. It is a product I wish I knew about years ago. It is a very fine white setting powder. I usually wear BB cream and just set with this and last all day long. I don't have to keep running to the bathroom to check my oily cheeks and keep blotting it. Love this. One minor complaint of this is the container has a very tiny hole and sometimes it gets hard to get the powder out. You can either push the top plastic lid a bit to release the fine powder but sometimes it ends up getting out too much and it is all over the place.



This brand of cosmetics arrived in Shoppers Drug Mart lately and this is the first item I tried.
I don't usually wear foundation but some days just need extra coverage. The SA at Shoppers Drug Mart highly recommended this for oily skin. 


It is a souffle-like foundation. Very light. I usually dab a little and apply it with my foundation brush. I hate foundation which is very heavy and feel my skin is suffocating underneath. This one is not. Gives me the coverage and a very nice scent. I can just keep opening the jar all day long to sniff it :)


As you can see from the swatch, it is very souffle-y and light. If you want just a bit of coverage without the full heavy cakey feel, definitely try this.

For those of you who follow my blog, I got the Clarisonic Mia 2 a few months ago. Haven't done a review as I want to really test it out for a good while before doing one.


I got the pink one which comes with a sensitive head. Honestly, just within the first week of use, I find my skin clear up significantly. Since I have oily skin, have visible pores. After the first week, I find the pores are smaller and much cleaner. I used to use the Biore nose strips to clean the pores weekly. But ever since I started using the Clarisonic, I don't anymore. And even when I do, maybe once every 2-3 weeks, I find the pores are significantly cleaner.

After 2 months' use, the novelty wears down. Skin doesn't get any better or cleaner. Then I thought maybe it is time to change the brush-head as recommended ( manufacture suggests replacement every 3 months). The brush heads are not cheap. At Sephora, it is around $25-30. But since this cleaning tool is an investment. I guess with a proper brush head, it would begin to do wonders again.


Instead of getting the sensitive brush head(which comes with Clarisonic Mia 2), I thought I would try the new deep pore. This is designed for oily skin as it can cleanse harder to reach areas (like beside the nose).

I was skeptical about this as I thought this brush head would be too harsh on my skin. But surprisingly, the brush of deep pore is even softer than the sensitive brush head.


On the left: deep pore brush head
On the right: sensitive head (please excuse the condition of this head as it has been in good use for 3 + months)

You can see there are more bristles on the deep pore, making the cleansing so much more thorough.

I have used the deep pore for over a week now and can see the difference in my skin. 

If you have oily skin and large pores, get the deep pore and I wish the deep pore was available when I first got the Mia 2. It does make a huge impact. Don't let the extra bristles scare you thinking it would be too harsh for your face for daily use. It just helps clean your skin soooooooooooo much better.







39 comments:

  1. I remember you recommending the tarte powder to me a while back- I will definitely look into it when I go to Sephora next.
    I want a clarisonic SO badly but its such an investment. it sounds like it'd be worth it for me though..

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    1. There is a Tarte glam bag: http://www.sephora.com/glambag-P298608?skuId=1381847, which I think it's of great value. You can try out other goodies as well as the finishing powder to see if you like it.

      I thought about getting the Clarisonic for a while before took the bullet. It is definitely one of the more expensive beauty item I bought for myself.

      Delete
    2. I purchased the tarte powder today online from Sephora! now I just have to wait for it to ship to me. I feel like this finishing powder + UD de-slick finishing spray should leave me matte for the summer :)
      also, you have CAPTCHA enabled on your blog, which can make leaving comments difficult sometimes. perhaps consider disabling it? :)

      Delete
    3. Hope you will like the tarte clay finishing powder. I placed an order from Sephora too last week. The waiting game begins. I find sometimes I got the order very fast, sometimes it's stuck at the border. Hope our orders will arrive soon!

      I don't even know that I have that enabled on my blog. Thanks for letting me know. See if I know how to disable it.

      Delete
  2. I like that tip about the brush heads! I haven't tried the Clarisonics yet, but I'm intrigued by them! Also, I'm hosting a giveaway on my blog - a cute silver pair of earrings! Check it out here...I think you'll like it. ;-)

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    1. the brush head certainly makes a huge difference, on me at least. Definitely recommending it!

      Thanks for visiting my blog and letting me know about your great giveaway! Heading over to your blog next :)

      Delete
  3. I use Tarte's Smooth Operator tinted moisturizer and consider it my holy grail TM. I looked for years for a good tinted moisturizer and had no luck until I was recommended this by a Sephora SA. So glad she did! The clay in its ingredients must do a great job of soaking up excess oil, because it really helps keep me dry all day.

    I also love the Mia. I have only been using the sensitive heads, but maybe it's time for a change!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. glad to know that you love the Tarte's smooth operator as much as I do. Have you tried other products from Tarte? I also have the Tarte's amazonian clay blush (exposed) and love it too.

      I was going to get another sensitive head but saw the new deep pore and glad I picked that up instead. Really makes a big difference for me!

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  4. Great reviews! I love my Clarisonic Mia, and I have to agree with you about changing the brush head regularly. I find that the sensitive brush head works fine for me, but I can tell when it needs to be changed when it seems like it's not doing anything for me anymore. Its become an addiction and now I don't feel like my face is clean unless I use it!

    xo Courtney from Strawberree Swing

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    1. I feel the same way about the Clarisonic. My face doesn't feel clean unless I use it. I use mine mostly at nite to make sure I have all makeup removed.

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  5. Thanks so much for sharing!! I just bought some Tarte products this weekend, so I'll have to check out the Smooth Operator as well!! :)

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    1. Can't wait to read the reviews of the Tarte goodies you got. I also got the Tarte amazonian clay blush in exposed. Love it. So natural and I pretty much use it every day.

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  6. Thanks for sharing. I'm really interested in that makeup!!!

    swbeautifullife.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
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    1. u r very welcome! Hope you will have a chance to try those out too!

      Delete
  7. Thanks for sharing and great post entry!

    xoxo,

    http://icycrystalgalleria.blogspot.ca/

    Cindy

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  8. I would love to try the bourjois foundation!:) Nice post! Kisses!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. If you like a light-weight foundation, you will like Bourjois!

      thank you sweetie :)

      Delete
  9. great post! cant wait for your clarisonic review im thinking about buying one, i think deep pore brush sounds great for me :)

    http://she-shops-alot.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
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    1. if you have oily skin like me, would definitely go with the deep pore brush head with the Clarisonic. Makes a big difference!

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  10. i got a nutrogena one and i love it, it really clean out the face!

    yuliconversations.blogspot.com

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    1. before all these cleaning brushes, wonder how we could have survived? Face feel so much cleaner now.

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  11. How often do you use your Clairsonic? I have the cheapie Olay brush and only use it once a week or so. I had some trouble between the brush and retinol use, so I've stopped the retinol now and use the brush sparingly. But it sounds like I need to get back into things for clear skin!

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    1. I used to use my Clarisonic twice a day. But lately I have been using it just at nite, mainly to clean my face with makeup. Do you have sensitive skin? I heard some people break out a lot after using cleansing brushes. Maybe the brushes irritate skin too much.

      Delete
  12. I need to try out that Clarisonic!

    XO
    www.pearlsandpaws.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
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    1. it is an investment but I think it is definitely worth buying.

      Delete
  13. I've been using a clarisonic for over a year and I really think it has improved my skin. I've never tried bourjois!

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    1. Isn't the Clarisonic amazing? Feel like my skin has been deprived of deep cleansing all these years.

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  14. I have the Clarisonic Mia, I have only been using it a few times a week because I don't want to get into the dreaded purge stage!
    Thanks for visiting my blog :)

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  15. Ohhh you have the clairsonic!!! I'm nervous to get it and it not being as fantastic as everyone says. Are you worried that the bristles on the deep pore brush won't be as effective after a couple months, just like the other?

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    1. I think the bristles on any brush head will wear out after a few months' use and you have to put a new one in to get the full effect. But only once every 3-4 months so not too too bad. Highly recommend you getting it, you won't regret!

      Delete
  16. Checking out that Tarte powder now!

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    1. hope you will like it as much as I do. I haven't used a finishing powder which really helps absorb oil and keep my makeup on all day.

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  17. Have to try it - I have oily skin too! Hope you are having a wonderful day!
    -Jyoti
    Style-Delights Blog

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    1. Let me know if you like it. I think it really help my oil skin get under control. No more blotting for me.

      Thanks for dropping by :)

      Delete
  18. I have oily skin, too (although mine is very prone to breakouts). I've been interested in the brush for my face, but too scared to make the investment (it really is so expensive!). I may have to try it out.
    But I think I'll definitely give that setting powder a try!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I thought about getting the Clarisonic for a while and finally took the bullet. It is expensive (in my opinion) but my skin feels so clean afterwards. Definitely worth the try. Yes the setting powder is amazing.

      Delete
  19. I wanna try the foundation... :)
    merrybellyland777.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete