Review | Face Shop Aqua UV CC Cream

After my sort of disappointing experience with The Face Shop's Smart Capsule CC cream (Click here for my review),
I was keen to try one of their other varieties before exploring options from other brands. 

I'm just so forgiving like that. ^_^

When I went to The Face Shop store in Sydney, they did not have this one at all. They did have the Face It Aura CC cream though, which is packaged in the same style, with a handy pump style compact design.

 I had heard that the Aqua UV CC cream was supposed to be much more hydrating than the Smart Capsule.
So I was really excited to try this one!

 (Click images to enlarge)

Click here to view the promo pictures.
Suzy from Miss A did the promotions for this product.

She's so stunning! ^_^

I really like the fact that you can buy refills for this product. Instead of buying a whole new product, you simply buy a cartridge that you insert into the base of the compact. This is good news because it saves on materials and cost (theoretically at least; I can't find anywhere that stocks the refill cartridges online for the Aqua UV CC cream, only the Aura).

First up, this is a huge improvement from the Smart Capsule CC cream in terms of how it settles on my skin.
Whilst the Smart Capsule became quite flaky and made my skin look old and dry, this one makes my skin look dewy and smooth. As opposed to the Smart Capsule CC cream which is only available in one colour, is white and becomes coloured upon blending, the Aqua UV is available in #1 Radiant/Bright Beige, or #2 Natural Beige.
I bought it in colour #1.

1.5-2 pumps releases enough cream to get decent coverage on my face. I use the puff that comes with the compact to lightly tap the cream onto my face. This is different from what I'm used to in terms of applying face creams, as I usually blend with my fingers.

However the tapping method provides more even coverage.
As an experiment, I applied the cream with my fingertips in a blending motion, and the texture left on my skin was uneven. So definitely use a makeup puff and tapping motion, rather than blending.

 I always use a moisturising night cream after cleansing my face and before applying CC cream.
My skin is quite dry during the colder months, so I've begun using night cream in the morning and evening.

Because this CC cream is SPF 50, I don't need to use a moisturiser with SPF in it in the morning.
After application, this CC cream leaves a dewy texture. However this only lasts a little while, as once the cream settles it has a semi-matte finish.

Photos!

 before

 left hand side with, right hand side without

 Whilst I don't quite know what they mean by the fact that it contains "plantwater" (I'm guessing water from plants but I don't know how that is superior to regular water), the cream is quite cooling on the skin.

I've been wearing this CC cream most days since I got it. And I have to say that I really love it.
Also, I'm fairly confident that my skin texture has improved greatly since I began using it.

My only complaint is that the UV CC Cream is only 20mL.
I am hoping this lasts me a while because I want to use it everyday! :P

with makeup

with lenses and dry hair :P

This CC cream is much better than the smart capsule variety in my opinion.
The texture is much nicer and improves my complexion a lot.
I have reused the smart capsule CC cream since my initial review.
I have found it better, but the Aqua UV CC Cream is far better.

I hope you liked my review!

Thanks for reading.

Keep smiling! (^_^)

♥ Bec

Review | Tony Moly Petite Bunny Gloss Bar

I bought Tony Moly Petite Bunny Gloss Bar in colour #4 - juicy cherry ($9.90 from Tony Moly)

The colour is a pretty reddish pink and is quite long lasting.

 Plus, it smells absolutely DELICIOUS! I definitely want it in other colours.

 The lid is an adorable (kind of bored-looking) bunny. It's a bit of a mix of a balm and a lip gloss. 

I prefer balms as they're smooth and moisturising. This is everything I like about balms, but with a glossy sheen!

 

I hope to have more reviews for you soon! 

I should be receiving my eBay purchases any day now. Can't wait. (>.<)

Thank you for reading and please leave me a comment!

♥ Bec

Review | The Face Shop Smart Capsule CC Cream

Hi there everyone. 

UPDATE (October 2013)
 I've fallen into a good skincare routine, and my skin has been a lot less dry.
As such, I've been trialing this again, and have found it to be much better on my skin!
I figured I should come back and let you know that I'm actually pretty fond of this CC cream now that my skin is less dry.
But if you have periods of very dry skin, it's probably best to stick with something more moisturising. I still think that the Aqua UV CC cream is better than this one, because it is more hydrating, but I'm much less disappointed with this CC cream and will continue to use it when my skin isn't too dry.


Initial review (July 2013)

I was in the market for a new BB cream and went into Face Shop where I discovered their new CC creams. Having never tried a CC cream before, I decided to buy the Smart Capsule CC cream. CC stands for Colour Control or Colour Correcting. CC creams are lighter than BB creams and are designed to even out your skin tone and brighten your complexion. 

(Click images to enlarge)

Also, I currently lack photo editing software. So what you see is pretty much what my skin is like in real life. I guess that's good news for you, but bad for me. You get to see how rubbish my skin is! ;P

My splotchy skin :P
After I cleanse and moisturise, my face is very unevenly coloured. 
I have dry skin, but an oily T-zone. 

White coloured CC cream, prior to blending

With Smart Capsule CC Cream

My Review:

The texture: Okay... So as you can probably see in that last picture, my skin looks really dry with this cream on. This cream is not moisturising at all and even though I put a moisturiser on beforehand, the cream still makes my skin look flaky. Not a great look. It might be because of the cooler weather lately in Sydney. My skin has definitely been a lot dryer. My lips have been too! So I'm going to try this CC cream again once my skin has adjusted to the cold.

The colour: I love the way it makes my skin look from a distance. It evens out my skin tone and provides pretty good coverage of pimples (I swear I never get pimples... what is up with my skin!?). As you can see, the cream is white in colour but as you blend it into your skin, it auto-corrects to match your skin tone! No idea how it works, but it does! 

The smell: This cream smells wonderful. It's not chemically, but fresh. It's not overpowering and doesn't smell at all like sun screen (which is one thing I hate with high SPF creams). 10/10 for smell. 

The packaging: I really like the way you dispense this cream. You push the top down and the cream is dispensed in the centre. One pump gives you enough for your entire face and the cream doesn't get exposed to any air or moisture. Hopefully this bottle lasts me a while.

The verdict: At the moment, I can't say I recommend this to anyone who has dry skin. I'll test to see if I get better results when my skin has adjusted to the cooler weather. I will also see if applying the cream with a sponge or brush improves the texture on my skin. 

I'm going to give this a 6/10.  

BONUS BRACES PICTURE! 

Still getting used to photos of me smiling. I'm stuck with a mouth full of metal for the next 2 years (well... 23 months now). It's rather uncomfortable. But I'm looking forward to having lovely teeth eventually! No pain, no gain! 

Thanks for reading guys. Leave me a comment!