Review: Neutrogena Rapid Clear Acne Defense Face Lotion

Product description:
This is a 2% salicylic acid acne treatment. This is an oil-free lotion which is said to reduce breakouts in 8 hours. It claims that it is clinically proven to reduce full face acne severity, pimple size, pimple swelling and pimple redness, all in 8 hours.

My review:
Salicylic acid is personally my favourite when it comes to treating and preventing acne. It works by promoting skin cells to slough off, preventing dead skin cells to clog up pores. It also helps to get rid of dirt deep in the pores, and this is especially helpful for people with a problem with blackheads. Salicylic acid, together with an alpha-hydroxy acid such as lactic acid, is the best combination for me to keep my skin as clear as it can be (which will never be 100% clear due to bad genes). Having said that, salicylic acid needs time to work. This product definitely didn't work within 8 hours as claimed. This could be because my skin has been subjected to salicylic acid treatment for years already. First time users of salicylic products could find this more effective. Honestly, this product did not even do anything that it claimed to do. I bought this product just as my skin was breaking out quite badly because I travelled to a country with water that my skin was probably sensitive to. My prescription acne medication, Differin, probably did most of the work when it comes to treating the breakout. Throughout that time, I was using this Rapid Clear lotion religiously every morning, as I was using Differin at night. As my acne disappeared, I stopped using Differin and I switched to using Rapid Clear both day and night. Now, I only have the occasional and regularly occurring one or two cystic pimple. Hence, I feel that the Rapid Clear lotion did helped in the prevention of acne. However, my favourite acne prevention treatment is still La-Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo, which combines both AHA and BHA (like salicylic acid).

Now on to the product itself. The texture is light and spreads easily, but it doesn't absorb easily on my skin. The fragrance is distinct. People sensitive to perfume might find it irritating. It is not very hydrating and I find myself reaching for my La-Roche-Posay Toleriane Fluide for the drier areas on my skin. It is also not very compatible with certain sunscreens, like my The Face Shop Sun Cream SPF 50 PA+++. It tends to rub off  whenever I use this sunscreen over it. It is however compatible with Avene Very High Protection Emulsion SPF 50, if you happen to own that.

Overall:
Not my favourite acne product, but I can definitely live with it.

Missha Signature Real Complete BB Cream, SPF 25 PA++

Product description

This claims to be a multi-functional BB cream with wrinkle care, whitening and UV blocking properties. It claims to be long lasting and has good coverage. It also claims to be chemical, paraben, mineral oil, GMO (genetically modified), alchohol, benzophenone (harmful UV blocker) and triclosan (controversial antibacterial chemical) free.

Shade

This comes in quite a few shades. I have it in shade 23, natural yellow beige. As yellow as it looks in the photo, it actually runs more neutral and slightly grey in person, and makes my yellow skin tone looks a bit dull. I have not seen the other shades available, but I think it has 2 lighter shades (13 and 21). 23 is the darkest shade available for this particular BB cream. I wished this came in more shades like the Missha Perfect Cover BB which has 5 shades.

Score: 2.5 /5

Coverage

This has light to medium coverage. It can be sheer-ed out easily, and is ever-so-slightly buildable only.

Score: 3.5/5

Texture/finish

This BB cream is more watery in texture than the other korean BB creams. However, it feels slick over my combination skin if I use a moisturizer underneath, and it seems to sit on my skin. I have to let the cream absorb for at least 5 minutes, and then blot with a facial tissue before setting with a powder. If I do not use any moisturizer underneath, it would absorb much better. The finish is definitely very glowy and dewy. Great for normal to dry skin.

Score: 2/5 for oily skin, 4/5 for normal to dry skin

Oil control/longevity

As mentioned before, I set all my liquid products with an oil-control powder. My go-to powder now is the oil-block pressed powder from The Face Shop. It definitely lasts longer when I use the powder from The Face Shop. My skin starts to look shiny very soon (after 2 hours) if I set it with a powder with no oil-control. It is not very long lasting for me. This product comes off easily whenever I blot my face. Even my friend with normal skin finds this product easily transferrable whenever she blots her face with tissue. However, for some reason, my skin looks fresh again after blotting, as if I have just reapplied the BB cream. Very Odd! 

Score: 2.5/5

Packaging

It comes in a hard plastic tube with a fantastic pump. The bottle looks classy and beautiful with the flower patterns. It is a great addition to any beauty fanatic's vanity!

Score: 5/5

Price point

A friend bought this from me from Korea. It is only 23800 Korean Won, which is around SGD28 for 45 grams of product, which is really affordable! Sadly this is the case only in Korea. I have seen it in Singapore for about SGD40 (or perhaps even more), and this is definitely even more expensive in the States. So if you know anyone in Korea, get them to purchase it for you! BB creams are really affordable there.

Score: 3.5/5

Overall

I think this is potentially a great BB cream for normal to dry skin babes. My friend with normal skin really enjoys the glow and finish of this product, whereas I enjoy the healthy finish for the first hour or so, but subsequently I have to blot constantly. I love love love the packaging though. Makes a nice gift.

Score: 19/30 if you have oily skin, 21/30 if you have normal to dry skin.

Review: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream

Apologies for the lack of posts here. I haven't been using that many products consistently for at least a month (which is my criteria for making a fair review), and I have been on the fence for all of them (they seem neither good nor bad). However, here is one product I have been using for about 2 months already, and I'm pretty sure I won't change my mind about this product. I have the fragrance-free formula.

Product description: Taken from the neutrogena website, this product promises to deliver relief for dry, chapped hands. It is a clinically proven, highly (glycerin) concentrated formula which rapidly heals dry hands. It noticeably improves the look and feel of your skin.

My thoughts: I hated this cream at first use. Makeupalley has a 4.2/5 score for this! So I continued using it despite hating the texture. This was the only hand cream I own at the moment anyway. It doesn't feel creamy and rich. It feels more like a dry balm coming out from a squeeze tube. It has the most peculiar texture ever for a hand cream. Because of its non-creamy texture, it is hard to spread around, and doesn't absorb quickly, leaving my hands sticky (not greasy) for a good 10 minutes at least. On the tube, it says "only a dab heals dry skin". I could be using to much, but if I don't use the amount I use, I find it impossible for the hand cream to spread evenly over my entire hands.

This is a product that is also suitable for any other dry patches you may have on your body, including face, lips, elbows etc. I find this pretty nice as a lip balm, because of its balmy texture. After 2 months of trial-and-error, I find this product the most useful for spot treatments. For example, if my nail cuticles were dry and peeling, I would use the tiniest amount to go over that area. I am now spreading this hand cream as if it was foundation. Dab dab dab over my hand, before rubbing it in. You cannot squeeze out a glob on the palm and rub the cream in. The dry texture does not allow that, leaving your palms sticky.

This is definitely not a product for me. It seems to be great for most other people, including my colleagues. So give it a go! It is very inexpensive anyway.