First Impression: Banana Boat Faces SPF23

Banana Boat Faces SPF23

It’s not a review since I never tried this and I’ll never bother buying it. It doesn’t contain UVA filter like Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Avobenzone, Mexoryl, or Tinosorb.

Here’s the spectrum diagram, click to enlarge:

Banana Boat Faces SPF23 Protection Spectrum

In short, this sunscreen does not provide sufficient UVA protection. You’re better off with Banana Boat Sun Wear Faces SPF30.

Ingredients:
water, ethythexyl metoxycinnamate, benzophenone-3, ethythexyl salicylate, stearic acid, methyl acetyl ricinoleate, stearyl alcohol, polyethylene, glyceryl stearate SE, isoceteth-20, myristyl lactate, hydroxyethylcellulose, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, tocopherol, magnesium aluminum silicate, dimethicone, inidazolidinyl urea, quaternium-15, PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate, triethanolamine, EDTA. Contains oxybenzone

*This review will be cross posted in www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.

First Impression: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil

From www.macys.com:

The best Eye Pencil ever, ever, ever! Never before has a pencil this creamy and brilliant been waterproof, too. Velvety-soft, this never-before-seen formula stays soft and creamy for blending (about 30 seconds), then dries down to a long-lasting finish that WILL NOT budge. Line eyes with a hint of color or go for the full artistic, multi-hued effect with the wide selection of lush tropical hues, deep metallics and unusually vibrant neutrals. Incredible with Urban Decay Eyeshadows! Created with 50% moisturizing ingredients suspended in a sophisticated waterproof formula, 24/7 Eye Pencils offer long-lasting color and a dreamy, creamy feel when applied. With Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E and Cottonseed Oil, these pencils condition skin and stay with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

My Thoughts:

I think this is one of the most popular pencil liner? At least here in FashioneseDaily forum, this goes on par with MUFE Aqua Eyes. Urban Decay is not available in Indonesia, so the ladies CPed this from US mainly. I was lucky dhutama kindly lend me 2 of these pencil for me to review; one if Lust, a purple one and the other is Covet, a light green. Both are shimmery.

And I am very disappointed that I have to be the lone dissenting voice.

First, the texture. I was told that this pencil is very soft and glides effortlessly. Some said it’s softer than MUFE Aqua Eyes. Not for me. UD is soft yes, like Stila Kajal Liner. But on me, MUFE is softer and glides better. MUFE lines effortlessly without a gap, unlike UD.

Or is it just because the UDs is older than my MUFE? Since everybody says that UD is very soft

But what turns me off so badly is its staying power. It stinks! It only needed a couple of hours to find its way to my undereyes.

In other words: it smudges! I can’t use this to tightline my eyes. It stays on my lids but not when I use it to tightline.

Price:

Both UD 24/7 and MUFE Aqua Eyes retails for US$17.

MUFE Aqua Eyes is IDR195,000 in Indonesia.

In Summary….

All in all, I think MUFE Aqua Eyes is (far) superior compared to UD 24/7. But please know that I have very oily, very watery, and very smudgy eyes. Even MAC Fluidline smudges on me, so maybe I’m very biased.

And I tested this directly on my eyes. No pics too For more deliberate comparison, read Fuz’ post on UD 24/7 vs MUFE Aqua Eyes.

*This review will be cross posted in www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.

First Impression: BRTC Aqua Rush Serum

BRTC Aqua Rush Serum

From The Box:

It is the whitening serum which cares the lifeless skin to be brightly transparent and contained Arbutin and Morus Alba Bark Extract light up the dark and dull skin. Various botanical moisturizers such as Hyaluronic Acid and Marine Collagen supply ample moisture to the thirsty skin and take care of the scabrous skin dewy soft. Formulated with Arbutin and Morus Alba Bark Extract, it helps in expressing shimmering skin tone by caring the uneven skin tone. Various highly-concentrated moisturizers including Hyaluronic Acid supply the feeling of endless hydration and create a greater moisturizing look. It provides sufficient relaxation to the stressed skin through effective conveying of various plant substances and creates brighter, more radiant skin with a luminous vitality that glows from within.

From www.skinami.co.kr:

Feature:
It is the whitening serum which cares the lifeless skin to be brightly transparent and contained Arbutin and Morus Alba Bark Extract light up the dark and dull skin.

Various botanical moisturizers such as Hyaluronic Acid and Marine Collagen supply ample moisture to the thirsty skin and take care of the scabrous skin dewy soft.
Formulated with Arbutin and Morus Alba Bark Extract, it helps in expressing shimmering skin tone by caring the uneven skin tone.
Various highly-concentrated moisturizers including Hyaluronic Acid supply the feeling of endless hydration and create a greater moisturizing look.
It provides sufficient relaxation to the stressed skin through effective conveying of various plant substances and creates brighter, more radiant skin with a luminous vitality that glows from within.

Main Ingredients:
Hyaluronic acid, Swiss Alpine Herb Extract, Deep sea Mineral Water, Marine Collagen, licorice root extract

Directions for Use:
After face washing in the morning and evening, refine the skin texture with Aqua Rush Fluid and absorb Aqua Rush Serum generally. Then apply a small amount of Aqua Rush Gel evenly and softly finish with Caviar Nutrive Cream.

Size:
30ml

Order of use:
Aqua Rush Fluide -> Aqua Rush serum -> Aqua Rush Gel -> Caviar Nutrive Cream

My Thoughts:

From the description I derive that it’s a whitening/brightening serum for all skin types, maybe leaning more towards drier skin because it boasts the moisturizing ability and recommends it to be paired with Caviar Nutritive Cream, which sounds rich

But upon testing it, I feel it’s more suitable for oilier skin! I used this when I was dry, and I didn’t even get enough hydrating help from this serum. On the other hand, BRTC Green Tea Serum, which is marketed toward oily-yet-dehydrated skin, moisturizes well on me, and it really helps plumping up my skin. Even weirder, many ladies with oily skin also love Ice Green Tea serum as it moisturizes without making the skin oily!

So I decided to let this go…and keep BRTC Ice Green Tea Serum instead, since it seems more appropriate for my skin. But I’ve read great reviews on this serum on FashioneseDaily forum, especially from oily skinned ladies. So don’t fret; it’s just my personal preference.

My recommendation is, if you have very oily skin, you can opt for BRTC Aqua Rush line to hydrate and brighten your skin. If you have oily-yet-dehydrated skin or dry skin, maybe you can pick the BRTC Ice Green Tea line. FYI, Ice Green Tea line also claims to help moisturize and brighten your skin.

Confusing? Indeed….BRTC is a nice brand but I feel there’s so much duplication across the line.

Or is it just maybe because I don’t read/understand Korean?

*This review will be cross posted in www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.

First Impression: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF15

After having discussion with my (previous) Head of Faculty, me and my team went to Marche Plaza Senayan for late lunch. I finished my pasta faster than the friend (mine is small portion, his is the large one ), so I ran to SOGO Beauty Hall to check if they still have LUSH, but no such luck Never in history LUSH’s skincare products satisfy me but it’s so cute and witty I kinda sad they had to leave Indonesia!

So I wandered to the newly opened Kiehl’s store. It’s their first entry to Indonesian market, and I was really eager to get the SPF15 and SPF20 sunscreens with Mexoryl, but they’re not available They only have the Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF15.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF15

The description from Nordstrom:

Unique, lightweight formulation is readily absorbed into the skin and affords protection from the sun’s burning and often harmful rays. Light yet effective lotion leaves no greasy or sticky residue.

• Provides broad-spectrum UV-ray protection.
• Not tested on animals.
• By Kiehl’s.

Truthfully, for daily, inside-the-office wear, I don’t mind using SPF15 as long as it has sufficient UVA protection. PPD12, at least? This is the main reason I don’t get this product. It doesn’t have Avobenzone, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Mexoryl, or even Tinosorb at all Come on L’Oreal! You should have done better!

I didn’t remember the full ingredient list, only bothered to look at the active ingredients. Good thing they have the percentage listed. This is the protection spectrum of this sunscreen; click to enlarge:

Spectrum: Kiehls Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF15

All in all, I don’t recommend you to use this product as your sunscreen due to the UVA protection issue. Texture wise, this is very good though. Very liquidy, feels lightly hydrating, and not sticky/tacky in any way.

If I’m not mistaken, it retails for IDR400,000 for 4.2oz bottle.

*Since I didn’t take a glance on the inactive ingredient list, I’m not sure whether I can recommend this as a moisturizer to you (apart for the wonderful texture).