Naturally Neutrogena

Not being available in Australia, I was particularly excited to get my hands on Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup SPF 20 when I visited the States last year. It seems to be a favourite of a few YouTube gurus I watch (Marlena from Makeup Geek, MakeupByTiffanyD, frmheadtotoe), so I was curious to see how it would fare on my skin and whether I'd love it as well. Not having any testers to determine my shade, I guessed my closest match to be Nude (40) purely from researching online before my trip.

I'd describe Neutrogena Healthy Skin as having light to medium coverage with a thin, satin finish that is only slightly glowy. I've heard this foundation being heralded as the cheaper alternative to NARS Sheer Glow, which was a major selling point for me. I wouldn't say they're the same — Healthy Skin doesn't have as much of an illuminated, softly diffused finish as Sheer Glow and also is lighter coverage and not as long-lasting.

It actually reminds me in application and consistency more of Make Up For Ever HD foundation, though not as high coverage and less matte. But like the MUFE, Healthy Skin doesn't take well to my skin if it hasn't been slathered in moisturiser beforehand. The first couple of times I wore it, it noticeably caked around my nose after a few hours and clung to a dry patch on my forehead. I've found it works best if I first apply a layer of La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo, followed by a generous layer of Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré to really prime and boost moisture in my skin. It goes on fine with fingers (better for layering and building up coverage), or my trusty favourite, the Real Techniques Buffing Brush. Because of the thick moisturiser I put on, I've found that it can feel heavy at first, so I usually blot within 1-2 hours of application, which then manages to control shine for the rest of the day.

What I do like about this foundation is that it's almost undetectable on the skin, and the very natural way that it wears as the day goes on. Even though the coverage fades by the end of the day, it doesn't slip off the skin and leave it greasy and patchy to the same degree as other comparable foundations like Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum. The Nude (40) shade I picked out also turned out to be a crazily good match for me, which is probably the part I'm most thrilled about. The addition of SPF 20 is also always handy in an everyday foundation. If only they included a pump.

October Favourites

They're a bit late, but better late than never. Not much makeup this time, because I feel like most of my picks were covered in my How Much Is My Face Worth? post (namely, Benefit They're Real mascara, Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow/Liner in Busy Signal and NARS Sheer Glow). A good chunk of my favourites for October overlap with products I purchased and first started using while vacationing in New York. I didn't get around to making a favourites post for September, so I've carried them over to October.

The Body Shop Vineyard Peach Shower Gel
One whiff of the Vineyard Peach Body Butter at the shop next to Radio City, and I was hooked. I've been using the shower gel more than the body butter, only because I rarely moisturise. The peach scent of this range is absolutely scrumptious and so intensely fruity, but not in a cloying, artificial way. It's like concentrated peach nectar. The shower gel lathers up a storm and leaves the skin delicately fragranced.

Lady Gaga Fame EDP 1.2ml sample
A freebie given out by promotional people on a street near the Empire State Building. Definitely no blood or semen in this, as mentioned in initial reports of Lady Gaga coming out with a perfume. It's actually a fairly inoffensive, slightly musky fruity floral. There's a hint of spice and the oriental. It smells a bit more grown up than the usual overwhelmingly fruity and sweet celebrity fragrances out there. I'm kind of regretting not buying a 50ml bottle when I was in the US, since it's the same price as the 30ml here.

Real Techniques Stippling Brush
I wanted to include this in my October favourites basically to right a wrong and detail how I've done a complete 180 when it comes to this brush. At the beginning of the year, I was very underwhelmed with it. It was probably my least favourite of the Real Techniques brushes I bought. It didn't work for me in applying the foundation I was using, as it felt spiky on my skin and left streaks on my face. The bristles seemed much sparser, pricklier and less plush than my beloved Real Techniques Buffing Brush, so for the longest time the primary use I had for it was to wipe away eyeshadow fallout. Recently, I randomly tried it with my Make Up For Ever HD foundation after exhausting all other possibilities, and it worked like a charm. Now it's become the exclusive brush I use when I want to wear that foundation. It's a versatile all-rounder brush that seamlessly blends a variety of products, both powder and cream, into the skin.

Neutrogena Ultimate Sport Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30+
Best sunscreen I've used. This was included in the free Priceline skin care bag, but I am definitely looking to repurchase when my tube runs out (which shouldn't be for a long time, since it is a very generous 115ml and I only use it on my face). I put this over a moisturiser that doesn't contain SPF in the morning, and it sinks into the skin without any chalkiness or hint of white residue. When it's absorbed, it's weightless and non-sticky. The sunscreen lotion is quite moisturising in itself, without being greasy or feeling heavy on the skin.

Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil 15ml
I wrote a little about this already in a recent skin care post, but felt it still deserves another mention here. I still haven't used this directly on my face, or on my hair or body, but I'm convinced that it does make a difference when I add two drops of it to my Nivea Soft at night. It gives my moisturiser a boost. My skin has become noticeably less dry and the texture of it looks smoother and clearer when I wake up in the morning.

Benefit High Beam 4ml
High Beam really exceeded my expectations. I've read that Revlon Age Defying Spa Face Illuminator in Pink Light is a dupe, but now I can confidently say that High Beam is superior. The truly remarkable thing about it is that it provides illumination with absolutely no sparkle. It just gives a luminous sheen to the skin without any glitter or visible shimmer particles. Even though it's a liquid highlighter, I find it relatively creamy in texture and easy to blend into the skin. You need only a small amount, dotted on the cheekbones, to highlight the face with a pearly glow.

Face, Body and Hands

This year, along with the Beauty Bag, Priceline has also released both a hair and skin care bag. I passed up on the hair one (mainly because I don’t do anything with my hair except wash it every couple of days and spray some dry shampoo in between washes), but this skin care one was just so stuffed with goodies, I couldn't resist. In order to claim one, you need to spend $50 on skin care across the participating brands (which include Avene, Dove, Neutrogena, Nivea, Sukin, Biore, Vaseline, Palmer’s, Yes To Carrots and others).

My bag contained 20 items housed in a Models Prefer black patent mock croc tote. There’s all the skin care I need for the next couple of years in here. Body lotion, hand cream, face cream, face treatments, face masks, face mist, blemish sticks, cleanser, facial towelettes, perfumed deodorant and sunscreen. Granted, I probably wouldn’t actively go out and buy any of the contents (except maybe the Avene Thermal Spring Water), but I guess that’s the appeal of a freebie bag: being able to sample so many full-sized products that I normally wouldn’t purchase.

Here’s what’s inside (and my thoughts on a few):

Apivita Express Beauty Mask With Carrot

Avene Thermal Spring Water (50ml)
It’s really just water (and nitrogen) in a can, but somehow I kind of love it. Spritzed on, it feels genuinely refreshing and calming, and adds a touch of dewiness to the skin if used as a makeup setting spray. The nozzle is a thing of wonder because it disperses a truly fine mist.

Biore Clean Things Up Gel Cleanser

Dove Silky Nourishment Body Cream

Innoxa SOS Skin Tissue Oil Aerosol
This is an oil in an aerosol that you can use on either your face or body. It claims to moisturise dry skin and minimise scarring, stretch marks, wrinkles and uneven skin tone. I’m not convinced about rubbing oil into my face, but it doesn’t seem any greasier than a rich cream, so we’ll see how it goes.

Neutrogena Ultimate Sport Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30+
Pleased about the inclusion of this because I’m lacking a good sunscreen. It’s something that I usually neglect as an individual step (relying instead on the SPF in my day cream), because sunscreens I’ve tried are usually greasy, chalky and leave a white cast. But this one feels light and non-greasy, like I could substitute it for my daily moisturiser.

Nivea Intensive Nourishing Hand Cream
Pretty standard hand cream infused with the Nivea Crème smell, which I find unpleasantly pungent and overpowering.

OXY Emergency Zit Blitz Gel
I just realised it says at the top “engineered for male skin”. You’re supposed to apply the gel directly from the tube at the first sign of a spot appearing. I've been having minor breakouts fairly consistently, so I'm curious to see if this will work the next time I get a pimple (which can't be too far off).

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Fragrance Free Body Lotion
I wouldn’t say this is completely fragrance free, it smells like a much lighter version of the rich, buttery and chocolatey original. I don’t mind the scent of the normal one, but this fragrance-free version seems a bit fresher and lighter.

Playboy Play It Rock Body Spray
Not a fan of the scent. I sprayed it on my hand to test it and then wished I hadn't.

Pure Therapy Intensive Moisture Repair Gel
Not sure how much use I’d get from this as it’s a treatment for those with very dry and flaky skin.

Puretopia Glowingly Smooth Body Polish

Softlips Vanilla SPF 20

Skinvitals Hydraflex Flex-Cloth Face Mask

Sukin Facial Moisturiser (125ml)
I have a 50ml bottle which was another freebie. Wish it had SPF because then I could use it as my daily moisturiser. Otherwise, I sometimes use this at night, but it’s not my preferred choice. I like the feeling of my skin drinking up moisture from my cream (especially in winter), but this is quite watery and light.

U Little Beauty Hand Cream

Vaseline Total Moisture Aloe Fresh SPF 15 Daily Light Lotion

Witch Blemish Stick
Same purpose as the OXY Emergency Zit Blitz Gel but in the form of a stick rather than a gel, and with witch hazel.

Yes To Cucumbers Soothing Hypoallergenic Facial Towelettes
I’ve heard good things about these towelettes and they’re also an Allure Best of Beauty 2011 Award winner, so I’m looking forward to trying them out.

Night and Day

If there's a single rule I adhere to when it comes to skin care, it's the importance of changing it up. No matter how effective a product is, I always find that it doesn't work as well if I use it nonstop for a few weeks. Once I switch to another product (often returning to ones I've neglected or put aside), my skin generally appreciates and responds positively to the shake up. I'm truly unfussy about the creams I put on my face and haven't really tried any higher end or specialised skin care brands. I just need SPF in my day cream and pretty much anything will do for my night cream (though bonus points if there's some hocus pocus marketing buzzwords in the ingredients so I can delude myself into thinking "science" is working its magic on my skin while I sleep). Here's a few products I've been rotating:

Day creams

Dove Energy Glow Brightening Moisturiser I bought this cheaply at Priceline when it was on sale. I'd been using and liking Dove's Energy Glow Night Cream, so I was hoping that I'd feel similarly about the day lotion. While the formula is quite similar, I don't tend to use this one in the mornings. Firstly, the artificially sweet scent is cloying and off-putting. There are shimmery particles in this which do give a brightening effect, but I'm not convinced that I want my moisturiser to be glittery. If there's one thing I do like, it's that there is a slight white cast to this lotion which effectively lightens the complexion.

Dove Essential Nutrients Day Cream The product I continue returning to, I've used this for years and gone through numerous jars. It's very moisturising in a way that can exacerbate oiliness of the T-zone, so I usually just use this on my cheeks. I appreciate the fact it has a light scent in contrast to Energy Glow. It also makes a great base for foundation because the moisturising properties of the cream eliminate any dry areas and really help to absorb the foundation into the skin and blend it smoothly.

Neutrogena Healthy Defence (Combination/Oily) This was a freebie with InStyle a couple of months ago which I thought was a good deal since the moisturiser retails for $17 and the magazine was about $8. Initially the main thing that attracted me to it was the high SPF. I'm used to relatively thick creams so I found the runny and thin consistency of this lotion a bit unusual. This isn't all that moisturising, but it is genuinely effective in terms of minimising oil production during the day. It's light and quickly absorbed without any greasiness. It forms a kind of slipperiness to the skin which helps foundation to absolutely glide on. I use this around my nose, chin and forehead, but Dove Essential Nutrients on my cheeks. Because I'm weird like that.

Night creams

Nivea Soft I've used this since I was a kid. The perfume is a little too strong and it's extremely greasy, but it's just easy. When I can't be bothered, I'll take a generous dollop of this onto my palm, rub my hands together, close my eyes and massage my whole face. Instant hydration, and then I get to sleep. At the end of 2010 while I was in Shanghai in the midst of a terribly dehydrating winter, Nivea Soft was nothing short of a lifesaver. I keep a small jar of this in my bag in case I notice my foundation has become a little cakey on parts of my face. A dab of this rubbed over the area removes any unsightly dry patches.

Dove Energy Glow Night Cream An old favourite and one I repurchased constantly, but I think it's been discontinued so I'm most likely down to my last jar. Somehow, the scent of the Energy Glow night cream isn't as overwhelmingly sweet as the day version. While the day lotion can get a little chalky and I really need to work it into the skin for it to be absorbed, the night cream is more moisturising and readily absorbed. It's still relatively light for a cream and non-greasy. I wish they still made this one.

Elizabeth Arden Perpetual Moisture 24 Cream Picked this up a while ago at Chemist Warehouse while it was on sale for $19.95 (RRP is $80 or something ridiculous). Considering it was only a few dollars more than the Dove and Nivea I normally use, I decided to give it a go. At first it seemed a lot like certain cheaper hydrating/cooling/cucumber/"aqua" type lotions I'd used in the past. But after using it for a few months, I find it really works in bringing dry skin back to life. This has been my go-to night cream of late, though it's not marketed as such. It's seriously hydrating but still light, non-greasy and quickly absorbed. You really only need a small amount for the whole face. I also like that it has a refreshing, green scent that isn't sickly sweet or overpowering.