L-R : Ujene Switzerland Puriste Collagen Le Serum, Ujene Switzerland Puriste Collagen Day Cream, Strivectin-WH Photo-White Night Cream, H20+ Total Source Night Cream
I’ve come to realise that skincare is almost as personal as a fragrance. Unlike makeup where you can tell from a glance if its you or it isn’t, you can’t do the same with skincare. Sometimes, it may be the best thing ever to your best mate, but on you, hello, pizza face!
And sometimes, you just get something mediocre that you don’t feel anything about. Well, here’s 3 products that I didn’t feel enough about for now, to write full reviews for, but which conveniently fell into 3 distinct categories – the good, the bad and the ugly LOL! Ok, not that bad. So, I’ll call it the good, the fair and the one I’d rather not talk about because seriously, I would rather NOT talk about it at all 😛
Before I tell you which is which, how about you take a little guess to see which one I liked and which I didn’t and you can also share your experience with any of these with me if you have tried them – when it comes to skincare, we need all the input we can get! 🙂
The Good : H2O+ Total Source Night Cream – RM329/50ml
Here’s one I liked. The H2O+ Total Source Night Cream is a an anti-aging cream that was introduced in the local market some time in January 2013 but which has already been in the market overseas last year. It aims to address a whole host of things including skin brightening and radiance but the key thing it addresses is loss of elasticity. We know how it is when age creeps up on you. Or maybe you young ones don’t but trust me, one day you’ll wake up and go “Gah! Damn you gravity!” 😛
Big claims aside, I just like how this cream feels on my skin. It is a little thick, but is sinks into my skin nicely and leaves it well hydrated. It isn’t sticky nor oily and it makes for a very nice night cream. I’ve stopped it for a while but its sitting on my dresser, waiting for me to go back to it, because it knows I will. If you are starting to see the early signs of ageing (lines and dull sagging skin are some of most visible signs), I think this is a good one to start with because the texture is light enough so you don’t get put off by it, and H2O+ does do some nice face creams (I’m reminded of the Face Oasis gel – maybe I should try that again! Totally forgotten about it :D)
The Fair: StriVectin-WH Photo-White Night Cream – RM298/50ml
This one’s been around since the middle of 2012 here, and addresses one primary function i.e. whitening. We’re in Asia, its only to be expected so please don’t run away just yet 😛 The Photo-White Night Cream addresses the problems of hyperpigmentation, age spots, dark spots and boost radiance while you sleep (hence the night cream tag).
I can’t tell you if it does what it says because I found this cream too drying for me. After 2 weeks straight, my skin felt parched so I couldn’t continue with it 🙁 Generally speaking, I find that most “whitening” skincare ranges tend to be a little drying (with a few exceptions) so I wasn’t too surprised. I tried using it again recently but again, had to stop because it didn’t feel comfortable enough for me. No breakouts or anything, just that it wasn’t too comfortable. I’d say this is a “fair” product – no pun intended, naturally 😉
The One I’d Rather Not Talk About: Ujene Switzerland Puriste Collagen Le Serum (S$130 US$105/30ml) and Day Cream (S$120 US$96/50ml)
Ujene Switzerland is a brand that I don’t believe we get here in Malaysia at this time. This was sent to me by Ujene Singapore. The Puriste Collage range is the bestselling range for the brand and if you do a quick search online, you’d see that it gets lots of raves. I almost feel sad that it isn’t in my list of raves 🙁
The packaging feels very luxurious as per the also luxurious pricetag attached. The Puriste Collagen range is an anti-aging range and as the name implies works to boost up the collagen in your skin so you get smoother, more plumped up, firmer skin. The ingredients look good and the Le Serum was love on my skin – for all of 1 week.
For one week, it did everything it said on the box. My skin lapped up the watery serum that has oviluxe collagen, hyaluronic acid and vitamin C amongst other ingredients, and felt very lovely and smooth and plumped. Very lovely. But 1 week later, I developed cystic acne around my jawline. I stopped using the products and everything went back to normal. I tried it again 2 months later. Same thing happened. 1 week of bliss and then, disaster.
I’ve held on to this since last year, hoping against hope that it’d work for my skin but it just doesn’t. I am, however the odd one out, it seems. As I said, most people have reported glowing results so it could just be that something in there isn’t agreeing with me so don’t just take my word for it. If you feel the need for that collagen boost, and have access to this brand, perhaps its worth a try. But for myself right now, I’d just rather not talk about it.
Have you tried any of the brands or products above or were they new to you?
Are you keen to try any of them and did you slot them into the same categories that I did? No prizes of course for guessing the right ones – just the thrill of being able to read my mind hehe… 😉 If you’d like something a little more in-depth on the H20+ Total Source cream let me know and I’ll try to oblige 🙂
Paris B
H20+ is available at various H20+ stores around the city (find a store here) | Strivectin-WH is available at Strivectin counters | Ujene Switzerland can be found online
LeGeeque says
March 21, 2013 at 9:33 amAww… Isn’t it fantastic that You’ve found something which works for you? After a few weeks of splurging on serums and oils, I’ve finally tweaked my routine to something that works to combat fine lines, dullness and to soften the lines. It’s such a warped, messed up and complicated routine that I’m surprised I’m able to stick with it!
Paris B says
March 31, 2013 at 9:39 pmAnd naturally, I want to know what it is! I’ve actually been using a very very minimalist routine just to get my skin under control. Almost there!
Hanny Daforcena says
March 21, 2013 at 9:45 amI just WISH I could tweak my skincare around… For some unknown reason, my go to sunscreen – the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer broke me out! I can’t even go back to stuff that I used to use…. :'(
Paris B says
March 31, 2013 at 9:42 pmI hate it when something we have been using makes our skin go mad. It could sometimes be to do with formulations. Maybe they tweaked the formula and that’s causing problems for your skin?
Firn says
March 21, 2013 at 9:59 amI used to love Stri-Vectin’s whitening serum but it gave me rashes. I was in it for the vitamin B3 (niacinamide) but I think their formulation doesn’t work so well for me. I’m having better results with SKII’s Mask-In Lotion (also loaded with tons of brightening and soothing niacinamide) which is wonderful for my finicky skin!
I was quite disappointed when a local aesthetic clinic here stocked Ujene because as we all know, slapping on collagen doesn’t make your skin grow more collagen. Only lasers and certain other actives can do that. I went to that clinic’s retail outlet to get some Skinceuticals products which are quite meh for me and break me out. 🙁
Paris B says
March 31, 2013 at 9:46 pmI was interested to try Skinceuticals, because I hear so many good things about them, but at those prices, it would be tragic if it didn’t work. Also I agree with you about collagen on skin. Not even drinking collagen is proven to be able to increase collagen in skin much less, applying it topically. Ujene is very pricey too, and its most unfortunate that it gave my skin hell. It felt nice, claims aside, until it drove my skin mad.
Leila says
March 21, 2013 at 10:04 amSkincare is so tricky to get right and it isn’t even fun to experiment like makeup which you can just wash off. Skincare experimentation is scary! It’s even worse (and sad) when you have to stop using something you’ve used for the longest time because for some reason your skin doesn’t want to agree with it anymore.
Still, I like good skincare and am happy when I find something nice that I repurchase again and again. Seriously, I get excited when I go to repurchase something I’ve used up because it doesn’t happen often and repurchasing tends to mean it’s doing a pretty good job. Empties and repurchase? Beuty junkies fun!
Speaking of products that don’t get used up because we’re afraid to use them on our faces and even necks, have you thought about using them on your hands? Since hands easily show ageing, they could do with the fancy ingredients. I do that with samples I’m not giong to use up on my face.
Paris B says
March 31, 2013 at 9:51 pmI actually get more excited about skincare as opposed to makeup. I’m always up to find the newest skin miracle product – susceptible that way lol! For me, the item I repurchase the most is sunscreen but sometimes, cleansers make the cut too. As for products that don’t work for me, I try to pass them on to family and friends first. If no one wants it, it goes on my neck, but I’m not your normal person. Back in the day when I had less to choose from, I’d actually finish products, these days, less so 🙁
Efrain says
March 21, 2013 at 10:28 amNow I understand what you say about whitening treatments and how they are drying, I’m using one from Avon I’ve used it for 4 days and my skin feels tight, however that dryness has helped my attack of acne caused from a primer, now I hope it blurs the new spots created by the acne.
Paris B says
March 31, 2013 at 9:52 pmYes, I’ve found that generally, whitening skincare tends to be drying. Finding a hydrating whitening skincare is very exciting for me lol! I hope your experiment helps your skin, both to get rid of the acne and to lighten it 😉
ysk says
March 21, 2013 at 11:48 amYou shld try the oasis gel,it’s nice and hydrating!
Paris B says
March 31, 2013 at 9:57 pmYep, used tissue it a while back and just reminded of it 🙂
Bonnie N Stella says
March 21, 2013 at 12:10 pmAll Loreal skincare products doesnt suits me at all :'(
Paris B says
March 31, 2013 at 9:59 pmPity about that, we can’t expect them all to work for us 🙂 Some Loreal products don’t work for me too, but I used to use the Revitalift range for a while and it was really good for me then. Haven’t tried their skincare in a long time though.
Natasha says
March 21, 2013 at 12:52 pmSkincare is definitely personal! When I was a teen, everyone raved about and used Bonne Bell’s Ten-o-Six lotion — which gave me horrible cystic acne…
I really like Bhaviphat’s Paprika sleeping gel as an intense moisture boost.
Have yet to find my holy grail produts, esp. sunscreen.
Paris B says
March 31, 2013 at 10:00 pmDon’t you have it when things people rave about break us out? Makes me mad! I’m glad I’ve found my fave sunscreen and I hope you find yours soon!
Tracy says
March 21, 2013 at 12:53 pmI love H2O+ skincare too! I used the Face Oasis all through my late 20s and most of my thirties actually. I remember loving this night cream too.
It’s sad when you want to like something, but your face says no way!
Paris B says
March 31, 2013 at 10:02 pmI’ve only tried the H2O+ hydrating skincare and they’re pretty good. Haven’t tried other ranges though I hear its not bad too. Breaking out is one thing, but the healing process takes so long!
Applegal says
March 21, 2013 at 12:59 pmThe thing that jumped out at me for the H20+ night cream was the price tag O__O!!
But then again I’ve spent that sort of money on 15ml eye cream??
Paris B says
March 31, 2013 at 10:02 pmFor an anti aging cream, I think its comparatively priced 😉 its not bad either 😉
Michelle Beh says
March 21, 2013 at 1:31 pmI agree with you that skincare is a personal matter and it varies. Honestly saying I never try those products that you mentioned above. But I heard lots of good raves on H2O+ products. Probably I ll check out on the brand. I did categorize the skincare products which I tried before into 3 categories which are good , fair and poor. I usually ll written down on my notebook. 😉
Paris B says
March 31, 2013 at 10:07 pmI think generally H2O+ skincare is ok. If you want to try, the Face oasis is nice and light for hydrating. I’m going to pick one up soon as a hydrating treat!
Yue rain says
March 21, 2013 at 6:10 pmYeah, some products that people rave about end up in our “trash” cause the skin just doesn’t like certain the ingredients inside it. i tried one products before and it cost me a bomb but end up i have to give it away as i keep breaking out when using it. i have not tried any of the products that you use yet. i tend to avoid whitening since whitening products is usually drying and my skin doesn’t really like it.
Paris B says
March 31, 2013 at 10:09 pmI find generally, whitening skincare is drying so wheni do find those that aren’t, then I stick to them. I had luck with Dior, Clnique and Shiseido for whitening but not much luck with many other brands.
Ting says
March 25, 2013 at 10:49 amWhat is pizza face? 😕
This trip back home, I have noticed malaysian ladies’ (ok, my friends) clear and bright skins. My friends have barely used anything on their face (minimum makeup) and yet they look so young and skin so firm. I am getting sort of envious now so I vowed to take better care of my skin from now on. :p
Paris B says
March 31, 2013 at 11:57 pmHaha pizza face,is a spotty face 😛 I’m jealous of your fiends. I’m Malaysian and don’t have clear bright skin! 😉