Recent Favourite Facial Cleanser & More

Clean & Clear Make Up Dissolving Foaming Cleanser - To start this off, I completely used this product wrong the first time I bought it.  I misread it, and used it as a "make up remover" before a shower.  So, no water, just a cotton pad and the solution itself.  Nonetheless, it kind of removed the make up, but it just didn't feel right.  It left a slight residue, or tightness around my eye area of course simply because that's not how you use it!!  So after 3-4 uses, I finally read the bottle, and it's a foaming cleanser (duh).  For the past few months I've been switching back and forth between cleansers within the week. So, for 2 days I'm using this, and during the other 5 days, I'm using a different cleanser.  I like to experiment around and try out new things.  My skin type is combination, and oil/dry depending on the season of the year.  So my t-zone is usually oily (more acne-prone), and my cheeks, depending if it's the summer or the winter...summers it's usually normal/a bit oily, and during the winters, its kind of dry.  I really don't know what to say about this product.  It's not something I'm totally crazy about, but one thing for sure, it does the job.  It doesn't dry out my face at all, and it feels like it cleanses.  I don't see too much of a difference in my skin though.  Been using this for about almost 2 1/2 weeks now...it doesn't break me out which is good.  But I don't feel like there's any specialness in this cleanser.  That's pretty much all I have to say about this..anyway, moving on...

Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser -This cleanser lasted me a good 3-4 months I'd say. Another foaming cleanser.  This is what I actually used the most and the for the longest time before it ran out.  It did a decent job cleansing and clearing up some of my break outs, but I feel like it only cleaned up so much sometimes, and my skin just became immune the product.  It didn't really clear up my complexion as much I hope it would have like it says it'd deliver.  Like it would take away the break outs, but I could still see unevenness in my skin tone, which I was hoping it'd help with.  Overall, not too bad when it comes down to clearing acne (which I don't have mild or severe acne, but just the random break out from time to time...trying to prevent!).  I believe that's because it has salicylic acid in it.  After using it for so long though, I felt sick of using it and just wanted to try something else since I didn't see any further improvements to my skin anymore.

Olay Blemish Control Lathering Cleanser - Have I mentioned how big of an Olay fan I am?  So I decided to keep the best for last.  Olays product always seem to work for me, but then again, I remember seeing my mom using this line since I was a kid, and I've trusted it since.  I was using Michelle Phan's IQQU acne serum which broke me out during the first week of usage (I'll later on review this as well).  So I really needed something that cleared blemishes and acne.  I have nothing but good things to say about this product.  From the first day I used this until today, I feel like I've been seeing results.  It clears up blemishes super fast, and I'm consistently using it for 5 days straight every week to prevent further break outs.  Honestly, I give 2 thumbs up for this product because it's done a great job clearing up my skin.  It definitely makes a difference when you can actually work with a clean canvas when applying make up.

Would I buy these products again?

Clean & Clear - No

Aveen0 - Maybe.

Olay - Yes.

Source:  Image courtesy of Clean & Clear, Aveeno, and Olay.

Lip Balms

         

You probably have heard of both these before.  They work really well and help with chapped lips, however, I think I favour Carmex over Burt Bee's.  

I bought Burt Bee's during the spring/summer because I found my lips dry from time to time, and all I used was lip glosses (mostly for the color).  I really needed something that hydrated my lips and gave it a mini treatment.  Burt's Bee's is pretty much all over youtube as well as Carmex (probably every guru on there has this in their purse).  What I like about Burt's is that after applying it, it had this refreshing/cooling sensation that it left on my lips.  It helped relieve the "dryness" I felt.  The smell is nice (smells just like tiger balm), and it leaves a matte finish, so you could follow by applying lipstick/lipgloss if you wanted.  So it solved my issue with dry lips.  BUT, when fall and winter came around, it was a whole new level of dryness for my lips.  Winters here are very dry, cold winds, and it's just freezing here (first few weeks were brutal).  What happened was that I would apply the balm when I needed it when my lips were chapped, and 10 minutes later it seemed as if my lips absorbed it so quickly, I had to reapply it.  So, within an hour or so, I would have applied it at least 5-6 times, which is a lot.  By the way, my lips weren't just chapped, they were beginning to flake.  So by the time I've applied the balm so many times, everywhere that my lips flaked and creased, product creased there.  So you'd see like a white outline here and there and build up of the product within the folds, unattractive.  I had to stop using it for the winter since it didn't do much for me, so I turned to Carmex since that product seemed pretty hyped up.

I bought this product in a tube rather in a stick form.  I think the reason why Burt's creased on my lips was because it was wax based, so I tried using a gel like type of lip balm since it seems to be more moisturizing.  Works absolutely great!!  When I apply it, it's gel-like and it feels moisturizing because of the wet texture.  Of course, it gives a glossy type of finish due to the gel-like consistency.  My only dislike so far about it is the "flavouring".  I bought a cherry one, and I think because it's flavoured/scented, it kind of carries over to the cup/straw where I placed my lips.  I mean, obviously that goes for everything you apply on for your lips...but this did not taste good with my orange juice.  I would take a sip of OJ out of a straw, and obviously the lipbalm left residue on the straw, and so I'd wipe it...still tasted like gross cherry and orange juice.  So for anyone who buys this, I wouldn't recommend drinking anything after applying this just because it gives a really bad mix in taste with whatever you drink (and possibly whatever you eat).

So all in all, both are great, but so far I like Carmex better.  Also because Carmex is cheaper, while Burt's is a few dollars more.   When I get the chance, I will try out a gel version of Burt's, and a wax based/non-scented version of Carmex and see how that works out for me.

Images courtesy of Carmex, and Burt's Bee.

Skin

Skin is huge. We are constantly finding new ways and things to improve the skin. Over the years I've been searching for the right products for my skin. Finally have encountered a few mentionable products that I think others could try too that are affordable(incase they weren't sure and never bought). Hopefully these tips help you too.