I’m back at it again with the skincare, this time with a brand focused review. Andalou is a brand I have used for a few years now and I will continue to use their products because the ingredients are good, the cost is affordable, they’re cruelty free, and they are widely available online and at Ulta. You can also find their products at Marshall’s or TJ Maxx, which is where I first encountered them.
A few months ago I got their brightening kit from Ulta to test out some more products. The kit costs $19.99, but it is often on sale for $15.99. A full skincare routine is included with a toner, day cream, night cream, cleanser, and a mask. I enjoyed all of the items and there are two I would consider repurchasing. Below I have listed all the products starting with my top favorites.
Luminous Night Cream: This product is rich in anthocyanin antioxidants to effectively defend against UV damage, hyperpigmentation, and premature aging. I found this to be very moisturizing but not at all thick or heavy. This felt like putting water on the face and deeply hydrated my skin. I always woke up the next morning with soft, smooth skin. This was definitely the most stand out product for me.
Illuminating Toner: This product has completely changed my feelings towards toner. I always just considered it a step to make sure I removed all my makeup, but I noticed a decrease in the size of my pores after using this for several weeks. I love this product and I would repurchase after I finish my current toners. I think it is excellent and really does help with hyperpigmentation and the look of pores.
Pumpkin Honey Glycolic Mask: This is a product I already owned the full size of. I enjoy this as a gentle exfoliating mask and I think anyone can use this because it isn’t very harsh. There is a tingle when using the product but it subsides quickly. I would repurchase this in the future if I felt I needed some more glycolic in my routine.
Creamy Cleanser: This cleanser has vitamin C, manuka honey, and lemon to sweep away dull skin. I found this to be a great second cleanse or morning cleanser. This was too gentle to remove makeup but its perfect for gently cleansing the skin in the morning. The texture is really creamy as the name implies.
Renewal Cream: This moisturizer was really nice and its only number 5 because the other products were so good. This was really light, but still moisturizing. It definitely made my skin soft and I enjoyed using it day or night.
Not all of these items can currently be purchased at Ulta. I would suggest checking out iherb or the Andalou Naturals website.
As a Florida resident, I feel sunscreen is a key component of my skincare regimen. I have made it a habit to wear sunscreen every single day I go out, whether I am wearing makeup or not. If I am doing some outdoor activity, like hiking or going to the springs, I will apply all over my body and reapply throughout the day. However, I spend most of my time indoors and am only exposed to the sun on my way between locations and buildings, so I only apply sunscreen to my face. In this post, I am going to go over some sunscreen basics and then discuss some of the sunscreens I have used in the past and the ones I am currently using.
Chemical vs Physical?
Chemical sunscreens use ingredients such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate and avobenzone to convert UV rays to heat. These sunscreens are usually easier to apply, but require more frequent reapplication as the protection gets used up faster compared to physical sunscreens. It can also increase discoloration on the skin because the surface of the skin will get heated by the chemical reaction.
Physical sunscreens use mineral ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These ingredients sit on top of skin and deflect or scatter the UV rays. The sunscreen can easily be rubbed off during physical activity or sweating but offers immediate protection for the skin. This sunscreen option will leave a white cast on medium to deep skintones and must be reapplied generously and frequently if you are sweating or in the water. Despite this limitation, sensitive or acne prone skin types will encounter less issues with a physical sunscreens because of the ingredients.
Personally, I prefer physical sunscreens because the ingredients agree with my skin better. If you would like an in depth explanation of sunscreen and additional recommendations, I suggest watching Stephanie Nicole’s video. It is super informative and will answer every single one of your questions.
How often should you reapply and how much?
The sun protection factor (SPF) is a measure of the sunscreen’s ability to protect from UVB and is dependent on your skin. For example, if it takes 20 minutes for your unprotected skin to start turning red, using an SPF 15 sunscreen theoretically prevents reddening 15 times longer, about five hours. It can also be explained as SPF 15 filtering out 93 % of all incoming rays. Despite this, sunscreen should still be reapplied at least every two hours to ensure your skin is completely protected.
In the mornings, I apply a moisturizer, eye cream, and finish with sunscreen. I apply about a dime to a nickels size amount of sunscreen on my face. I like to use an SPF of 30 daily since I don’t plan to reapply after I put makeup on top. For my body on days I plan to be outside a lot, I like to use an SPF of 50.
Sunscreens I have used up:
Mario Badescu Oil Free Moisturizer (SPF 30) (cruelty free, avaiable at Ulta, $28)
This is a chemical sunscreen that I really enjoyed using. It was very easy to spread and provided some moisture to the skin. On days where my skin was feeling balanced, I would just use this as my moisturizer and sunscreen and my makeup went on top nicely. Despite the lovely product, the bottle is annoying and will get very dirty as the sticker with the product details moves and collects dirt and dust. The product is also pretty pricey when you break it down by ounce so I would not repurchase for that reason. However, it is a good product if you’re interested in a chemical sunscreen.
Andalou Naturals Beauty Balm (SPF 30) (cruelty free, available at Andalou.com, $19.95)
The product pictured below is actually different than the one I used but it seems that they reformulated it. I haven’t tried the new version yet but I would consider it. I really like Andalou and have used several products from their range. The beauty balm I used was marketed as an oil control sunscreen and I do agree that it mattified my skin. My biggest issue with this product was how difficult it was to spread on my skin, I would mix it with a moisturizer to help spread it. Since it is a physical sunscreen, it also left a white cast but I didn’t mind since I almost always wore makeup on top. The reformulated version seems to have more skincare ingredients, which may help with the spreadability.
Mario Badescu Oil Free Moisturizer (Photo courtesy of Ulta)
Andalou Naturals Benefit Balm (Photo courtesy of Andalou Naturals)
Sunscreens I am currently using:
Zatik Argan & Yarrow Sunscreen Mineral Moisturizer (SPF 25) (cruelty free, available on amazon, $24).
It looks like this product has also been reformulated. This is my favorite sunscreen in this post because it is a physical sunscreen, doesn’t leave a white cast, and absorbs quickly. It is a really great formula with a lovely scent that isn’t offensive or smell strongly of sunscreen. The consistency is pretty thin making it easy to spread on the face. I would strongly consider purchasing this again in the reformulated version.
Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Defense (SPF 30, cruelty free, available at Sephora, $34).
This product is pretty hyped up but I don’t get it. I found it really hard to work with and it left an intense white cast, which isn’t surprising since it is a physical sunscreen. My biggest issue with this is that it pills on my skin. I have to apply very little and rub it in quickly to manage the pilling. I have also tried patting it in but find it takes too long and then I have bits of sunscreen just sitting on top of my skin. It just rubs right off my face and does not make a smooth canvas for makeup. This product does have a lot of moisturizing and nourishing ingredients so those with dry skin may enjoy this. I just always find it a chore to use this. I reserve it for mornings that I am going out to exercise so I don’t have to be annoyed when I wear makeup on top. I hear the tinted version is better but I would rather try other sunscreens before I try this line again.
Zatik Sunscreen Mineral Moisturizer (Left) and Umbra Sheer Physical Defense (Right)
Sunscreen Wish list:
These are the physical sunscreens I plan to purchase after I have used up the ones above. Since sunscreens have an expiration date, I make sure not to buy too many at once or the product will become ineffective before I can use it up.
Cotz Sensitive SPF 40 Broad Spectrum UVA-UVB (cruelty free, available at Ulta, $22.99)
Australian Gold Botanical SPF 50 Lotion (cruelty free, available at Ulta, $15.99)
I am very slow with using up mascaras. It is not an everyday product for me. Mostly because I hate taking it off and seeing an eyelash fall off. I already have very small, few eyelashes so losing any breaks my heart. The two stars of the show today are the Benefit They’re Real Mascara ($24, Not Cruelty Free) and the Covergirl LashBlast Mascara ($6.97, Not Cruelty Free). The Benefit mascara gives great results but it is a pain to take off. It is waterproof, if that’s what you’re into, so only oil will remove this one. I would take a grape seed facial oil and put a few drops on the lash line. Any oil will work and I find its easier than rubbing with a cleanser or cotton pad. Plus it moisturizes the eye area. The mascara does have a neat spiky ball at the end that is useful for the inner corner but it’s still not work it to me.
The Covergirl mascara had great volume to offer but lacked in the length department. I also found that the curl didn’t last as long as with the Benefit Mascara. I usually have two mascaras open: one to add volume and another to lengthen. These two paired nicely because the Benefit mascara does it all and the Covergirl added the extra push up, which is always appreciated. I wouldn’t recommend or repurchase either since they both test on animals. Unfortunately, I don’t have a cruelty free option to recommend at the moment. I have been eyeing the Essence Lash Princess and Julep Length Matters Mascara to try out.
I have three product regrets today. Two are cleansers and one is a foundation. In a cleanser I want something that removes my makeup easily without having to go in multiple times. I also don’t want it to leave a residue. The two cleansers I didn’t like are the Everyone Face Exfoliate ($8, Cruelty Free) and the Shiseido Pureness Deep Cleansing Foam ($22.50, Not Cruelty Free). The Everyone Face has little granules in it that do nothing except stick to your skin. This didn’t remove makeup efficiently at all. It left a residue on the skin that made it feel like it was still dirty. The granules were impossible to completely take off. I would go in with moisturizer and still feel some little particles on my face. I don’t think this is worth the trouble. The second product is from Shiseido. I don’t think I am a fan of any foam cleaners. This one made my skin feel dry and almost like there was a film on top. It took 2-3 tries to get all of my makeup off usually. I think there are better cleansers out there.
The last product is a foundation. It is the Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation ($6.59, Not Cruelty Free). I never liked this foundation. After years of trying to work with it, I have finally given up and thrown it away. I will admit that I had a color way too pink for me, but the finish was not desirable. It was really sticky no matter how much powder was on top. The coverage was light to medium. The oil control was not impressive to me, but not the worst. My biggest issue was the stickiness. I also have a suspicion that it broke me out but I have very acne prone skin so it doesn’t take much to see new bumps.
Products I prefer:
Avalon Vitamin C Cleanser ($9, Cruelty Free). I love this cleanser so much. It removed makeup beautifully and left my skin feeling really clean and refreshed. I have finished a bottle of this and I’m already missing it.
I use a ton of different foundations but my favorite right now is the Marc Jacobs Remarcable Foundation ($55, Cruelty Free). The coverage is incredible, oil control is good, and it smooths out the texture on my skin. It is great as long as you don’t use too much.
I’ve been on a roll with going through products and it continues to feel satisfying. I am going to be talking about three today: Loreal True Match (shade W4), Almay TLC (shade 260 sand), and Revlon Colorstay Whipped (shade 150 Buff). These were not my exact matches, especially the Revlon one because it is way lighter than my skin but I kept it around to mix in with other foundations. The Almay shade is also too light but it was the darkest in the range. The Loreal foundation matched me in the fall months. I used up the Loreal and Almay foundations and I’m actually decluttering the Revlon one which makes me feel like a quitter but it is really old (about 4 years). Before I get into sharing my thoughts, all three brands mentioned test on animals.
Let’s begin with the Loreal True Match. Many people love and adore this one and the range is really special because of all the available shades. The coverage was a light to medium depending on how you applied it and your skin situation. It was very buildable which I enjoyed because I wouldn’t need a separate concealer and could just build up where I wanted. The lasting power was not impressive. That was my biggest issue with it. It didn’t last and did not control my oily skin. However, it did apply nicely and looked natural. I would recommend this to normal to dry skin. Those with oily skin might enjoy it for short makeup days. One last note: the pump in the picture is from an old covergirl foundation.
The Almay TLC foundation is something I went back and forth on. Some days I liked it and some I didn’t. I do think it had good longevity. I would often mix it with a different foundation to boost the long wear. Something I didn’t like was the way it would separate in the bottle. There would be a layer of oil on top of the pigment if it sat for a few days. I would need to mix it before use. Another issue was the pump. It clogged up and stopped working when I was about halfway through the bottle. I would have to take the pump off, mix it it, and use the straw of the pump to put some foundation on the back of my hand, then twist the pump back on. One day I actually forgot to twist the pump back on and a bunch of foundation spilled out. I was quite irritated. In terms of coverage, I found it to be light to maybe medium for some. I mostly used this my mixing into other foundations with more coverage. The shade range is not great. The shade sand was too light for my NC35 skin and the color was neutral. I think all skin types would enjoy this if they weren’t looking for too much coverage.
Lastly is the whipped Revlon foundation. This foundation is thick. Its also messy because its a tub and the cap ends up collecting foundation on the rim. The cap on mine also broke after a while. The coverage was medium to full. This was a foundation that looked heavy upon first application but got better throughout the day. The oil control wasn’t very good and because its very whipped it emphasized some of the texture on my skin. I do think it had good lasting power thought. You also get 0.2 ounces less than the normal foundation which is disappointing because its high in price for a drugstore foundation. I think this was best suited for those with normal skin because it could emphasize dry patches and didn’t have good oil control.
Well, that’s all for this round. The foundations I’m using right now are the Kat Von D lock it and the Maybelline Matte and Poreless.
Since I’ve done so well with using up products, I thought it would be alright if I added some new goodies to my collection. I have been eyeing the RCMA no color powder for a long time because it got quite a bit of hype a few months ago. I have been using it the past week and its good but it doesn’t blow me away.
I have a lot of natural creases under my eyes and it is not the best for preventing creasing there.
The packaging is very messy. I plan to transfer the powder to my ELF HD powder container once I finish that.
It’s a good powder just not my favorite. I would recommend the It Cosmetics bye bye pores powder or the ELF HD powder over this one.
The second product I treated myself to is a lovely lipstick by Ilia. The line is natural, nontoxic, cruelty free, and vegan. I have had my eye on these lipsticks for a long time and I’m so glad I tried them out. I got the shade Madam Mina from beautylish for $26. It is limited edition unfortunately. The shade is a very pretty neutral mauve. Close to my natural lip color but a bit deeper and more neutral. The shade needs to be built up on the lips but it layers super nicely and looks natural. It goes on smooth and lasts a surprisingly long time. The formula gets a bit drying on the lips throughout the day but if you’re used to matte liquid lipsticks it won’t bother you. I would definitely consider getting another shade.
Here we with a lot of used up products. Finishing a product brings me so much satisfaction, especially if I’ve had a product in my collection for way way too long. I will be breaking up all my empty products so it’s not too overwhelming. First up is lip balms! I use these every morning and day so I’m not surprised I have gone through so many.
First is the Maybelline Baby Lips in Peach Kiss. This gave a nice sheen and slightest of color to the lips. I really like the baby lips formula but unfortunately they do test on animals .
Next is the Fresh sugar lip treatment in the original and Rose. These have SPF 15 and are quite moisturizing. However, they have an odd slip to them and don’t really sink into the lips. They are still good and the Rose one gives a nice rosy/red tint to the lips. These are pretty pricey at $24 and can break or melt pretty easily. You can purchase them here. Also the ones pictured are deluxe sizes not the full size.
Last is the EOS lip balm and I 100% do not recommend this. I couldn’t even finish it because it irritated my lips so much. This was the first product I ever just gave up on because it was so bad and just didn’t work as a lip balm.
In case you’re curious, I am currently using a lip balm by Hard Candy and Jack Black (my favorite).
Melissa Bee 