Bioderma Sensibio Lotion

Bioderma is a French pharmaceutical skincare line the likes of Vichy and La Roche-Posay, where in Mannings HK they are peddled and pitted against one another against one charged, magnificent wall. Though Bioderma has not entered my consciousness as clearly as Avene has, I know for a fact that its non-rinse cleanser Sensibio H20, which I will review in a separate post, is a grand hit in Europe.

The brand has many lines catering to different skin and the Sensibio line, which easily caught my eye, is meant for sensitive skin-types.

The liquid is clear and comes in a sturdy, transparent plastic bottle. Bioderma pulls its look as clinical with a touch of style, since it markets its products as dermatological but with a wider customer breadth.

The Sensibio Lotion is meant for normal to dry sensitive skin. I was wrong to think that, as a lotion, it can be more forgiving than creams or moisturizers and can accommodate my oily to combination skin. It is still best to stick to one's skin type when choosing products.

This product functions more like a Japanese lotion to prep the skin for moisturizer, rather than traditional toners from Western brands that clean the face off excess dirt.

I couldn't disagree more from the description on the packaging. Part of the reason I bought the Sensibio line was because it promised "calming, soothing, decongesting" properties which my skin craves. Sadly, this product did not do any of the above. It irritated my skin -- made it red, flushed, and uncomfortable. Worse, it broke me out. The lotion was the only new product in my regime, so I am quite sure it was the culprit.The bad effects were immediate the moment I patted the product on my face. Definitely not gentle as it claims.

 Description in Mandarin.

Aside from Bioderma, the only other brand I know of that thoughtfully incorporates Braille into its packaging is L'Occitane.

The simple ingredient list was a cocktail of nuisance for my face.

Expiration date. This sadly didn't work out for me, but with so much product left the only other use for this was as a body moisturizer -- and that didn't turn out so bad.

Sofina Jenne Two Weeks Trial Kit II (Moist)

Sofina is part of the giant corporation Kao, which carries many brands under its belt. Among Sofina's comprehensive lineup covering a woman's entire lifetime, Jenne is a two-year-old (to date) drugstore brand focusing on 20's skin care. I intended to purchase the Sofina Jenne Trial Set I (Fresh [for oily skin]), but alas, after placing my order, adambeauty went out of stock and so opted for the Sofina Jenne Trial Set II (Moist [for dry skin]) instead. 

It came in a clear bag containing a sunscreen (8g), lotion (30ml), and a jar of its star product, a moisturizer in jelly form (10g).

The Sofina Jenne Day Protector II SPF24 PA+++ comes in a squeeze tube with a lovely lace pattern signature of the Jenne line. Like the Sofina Jenne UV Day Protector SPF50+ PA+++, it is highly fragranced (floral).

The 8g surprisingly lasted me over a month. I brought this tiny tube with me on a trip to England, when the winter weather was just about to wane. I thought this richer sunscreen can help with the dryness of the cold weather for my oilier skin type.

The soft, light cream texture of this is a lot easier to handle compared to the liquid consistency of its counterpart, the UV Day Protector SPF50+. Although it contains alcohol, I didn't experience noticeable irritation from using this. It has a soft, light feel and finish. It's one of those rare formulations that you know just won't clog your pores. It also did an adequate job in protecting my face from the winter/spring sun, which can be hiding behind the clouds one moment and shining brightly overhead the next.

It's easy to spread and dries to a dewy finish. However, even in the cold weather, my skin still found this sunscreen too rich, as it started oiling up in retaliation. Another lesson learned is that sunscreen does not replace moisturizer, even if it is intended for drier skin types applied on oily skin types. When it comes to sunscreen, it is still best to stick to your skin type's character no matter the weather.

The Sofina Jenne Lotion II is a skin conditioner that is applied after washing the face and before moisturizer or sunscreen. Again, this is highly fragranced, but the redeeming factor is it is alcohol-free, which is short of a miracle when it comes to Japanese lotion formulations.

Japanese lotions are different from Western brands' toners in that they are meant to soften the skin, not remove excess dirt, which should have already been done with the Japanese method of double cleansing (cleansing oil + face wash). Softening the skin makes it more receptive to the effects of the subsequent application of serum/moisturizer. Some also use lotions as a mask. One way is to soak cotton pads with lotion and laying the pads thinly all over the face.

I didn't experience any stinging feeling with this lotion, but I developed several red patches after application. The patches disappeared in the morning, however I would be wary of this lotion as the patches usually indicate sensitivity to some ingredient in this product. Also, I find no joy in using toners or lotions as I do not see any visible results from using them, not to mention the added cost and step in the routine. For sensitive skin, less is more. 

Above is the Sofina Jenne Jelly Moisturizer -- the reason why I bought this trial set in the first place. It contains ceramides which make up the heart of the ingredients. Another plus is that it has no alcohol.

One thing to note is the Jenne line is fragranced, and the Jelly Moisturizer is not exempt.

It is clear type and jelly-like indeed, not like the creamy consistency of most moisturizers. There seems to be a "jelly/gelly" trend in the cosmetics market, as other brands have featured the same type of product in their lineups. This moisturizer is not so easy to apply because of its jelly texture. The amount of product required for application seems to be much more than conventional creams. It also didn't hydrate my skin effectively; many parts of it were left feeling rough. The finish is filmy and sticky and not very comfortable at all. Overall, this would be a basic moisturizer for people with normal skin-types, but I cannot recommend the Jenne line to sensitive skin-types.

The description at the rear.

The pictogram is a nice touch.

Ingredients for Sofina Jenne Lotion II.

Ingredients for Sofina Jenne Jelly Moisturizer.

Ingredients for Sofina Jenne Day Protector II. Ratzillacosme has a list of the ingredients in English here. 

An Introduction to Peter Thomas Roth

My sister kindly brought home this Peter Thomas Roth set from her trip to New York (thank you 三姐). PTR is an American brand that carries a wide range of products with a heavy leaning on skin care. Mr. Roth, of Hungarian origin, is no stranger to the beauty business. Witnessing firsthand his parents' spa resort business in Hungary, he launched PTR in 1993 focusing on the soothing and healing school of Hungarian thermal springs. See his brand's story here. 

From left to right: Mega-Rich Shampoo, Mega-Rich Conditioner, Mega-Rich Body Lotion, Non-Irritating Mouth Wash.

These hair products smell fresh and sweet, at the same time never cloying. Great fragrance for my picky nostrils.

The Mega-Rich Shampoo is formulated as a clear gel (with tinge of green). It smoothed some of my frizzy strands and added noticeable shine. This counts as one the best shampoos I have used. I couldn't say the same for the Mega-Rich Conditioner though, as I felt it didn't make my hair feel significantly softer. Its creamy consistency washed off nicely, but there were no significant smoothness noted as a result.

I'm not a fan of applying lotions on the body. The last thing I look to doing after a relaxing shower is having to take an extra few minutes spreading myself with a sticky substance. If I were forced to do this tedious ritual, I'd say give me Peter Thomas Roth's Mega-Rich Body Lotion. For one, it smells divine -- sweet and sharp citrus notes combined. Two, it's more liquid compared to its counterparts, as you can see it oozing out in the above picture. Last, it is not sticky! If only for the high absorption ability, I would always remember this product. May I add that it effectively moisturizes throughout the day. I would slather this on every day if I could overcome the after-shower-lotion-sloth in me.

The Non-Irritating Mouthwash is a different matter. Indeed it doesn't sting and smells very refreshing, but it does nothing in the odor department as say, my current staple, Oracare. Skip this. Overall, I am really glad to discover two gems from PTR. I do look forward delving into this brand more.

L'Occitane Bath and Shower Series

One of the highlights (at least for me) of staying in hotels is partaking of their complimentary bath amenities . . . especially if they are from L'Occitane!

Pictured above is the evidence of hoarding. I brought home their Shampoo and Conditioner with 3 Essential Oils, Verbena Shower Gel, Verbena Body Lotion, and Verbena Extra-Gentle Soap.

All of them except the soap come in perfectly travel-sized 50ml bottles. I've been using the shampoo for over two months now and have had very good results with it. I can't say anything about the conditioner since I haven't used it (rarely use conditioner).

This tandem is made of three essential oils namely from angelica, lavender, and geranium. The shampoo's scent delivers its blurb on "soothing, repairing, and stimulating properties." Whiffs of calming lavender swirl through the bath when I lather the shampoo on, accompanied by the energizing crisp scents of angelica and geranium. The concentrated plant-based aroma smells very natural, as if the extracts were picked fresh from the plants and infused straight to the bottles. After use, my hair is really softer, shinier, and "repaired." The strands look fuller and moisturized and generally healthier.

The ingredients list. I didn't experience any irritation from the shampoo.

The aluminum cap is very nice to look at and easy to open and close. A round rubber helps keep the products securely covered.

Both body gel and lotion are from the Verbena series which smell like sweet oranges and green tea to me. (Verbena is actually a flowering plant.) The scents are perfectly blended without being annoyingly sweet or cloyingly strong as some bath products go.

The lotion is enriched with grape seed oil, aside from the obvious Verbena extracts. I would classify the consistency as medium rich, as I find it too sticky to use every day in Manila's weather. It works twice or thrice a week perfectly. I put this on my arms and legs when they are feeling dry and looking dull and see good results right away. The shower gel is very friendly to use -- it cleans well and does not irritate my skin. When toweling off, I notice my skin is not as dry as when I use conventional soaps. There seems to be a supple quality to my after-bath skin every time I use this. Also, a few squirts of this gel go a long way to foam up a bath puff. I must mention the scent is absolutely divine.

Ingredients for Verbena Body Lotion and Body Gel above.

I couldn't not try this Verbena Extra-Gentle Soap. Not when it is packaged so nicely in beautiful brown parchment with stamped-on design prints.

It is a hefty 100g bar, square-shaped and around two inches thick. The soap is even wrapped with a white cardboard type paper to protect and keep it in place. I noticed the soap's concentration when it started emulsifying slightly upon contact with my hands.

It has the same citrus-y sweet scent as the other Verbena products. I think the main thing that differentiates this L'Occitane soap from common bar soaps is its smooth "slip" and presence of many nourishing extracts and emollients. It is made of many great ingredients such as shea butter, glycerin, May Chang/mountain pepper extracts, vitamin E, rosemary leaf extracts, and sunflower seed oil. It's hard to ask my drugstore soap to beat that. It cleans the skin very well but does not strip it of moisture. It lathers properly and lasts me about 10 days.

Overall, a very satisfying set from a brand that incorporates more natural than chemically-produced ingredients.

Soap & Glory Sit Tight Special Lower Body Firming Formula

Leave it to Soap & Glory to churn out products that combine fun and functionality. (Thank you S, for this.)

Sit Tight is a formula that addresses fatty tissue on the lower body by firming and draining them using caffeine.

It is recommended to be massaged vigorously on the thighs for a healthy dose of blood circulation.

It comes in a grey tube container with a flip-top cap. I find the product's design to be very effective in convincing that it is a serious product, at the same time the somewhat industrial style doesn't compromise Soap & Glory's feminine mark. 

The product is a form of a gel/cream that leans more toward cream. It is easy to spread on the buttocks and thighs. A few seconds after application it starts to react with the body. My skin feels like there is something simmering on it and the warm sensation the product imparted was the first I ever encountered in a body product. The warm, minty kind of feeling lingers on for a good 5~10 minutes, and is prolonged when I sit down. Given I haven't been using this every day, I can see immediate results after using this product. I can't say much about the disappearance of cellulite, but I do see that my thighs are smoother and firmer looking after application. 

It's best to let the product absorb for a few minutes before putting on undies.
 
The chemists at Soap & Glory recommend sitting down after application for more effective results.

Overall, a good product that is better than Nivea Goodbye, Cellulite! The heating sensation and immediate results make this product worth a try.