SERUM | Shiseido Vital Perfection LiftDefine serum

The pump gets residue from the serum which they can definitely improve on

Wow it’s been a minute since I used Shiseido products. One of my friends who has great skin recommended this to me. Ofc we all know at this point skincare is probably 80% genetics, but we can always try to look slightly better!

This serum has a very nice scent which is against all skincare education that is popular right now, the serum itself is pretty moisturizing and I use it every morning. Haven’t noticed a huge difference but at least this was on sale at Costco. I think if you don’t currently use a serum this might make a minor difference – for me I notice the most difference when using a salicylic acid cleanser, clay mask, a retinol and my red light treatments!

Price: $154.99 for 2.7 oz at Costco ($225 retail otherwise)

Ingredients

Water (Aqua/Eau), Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Maltitol, Triethylhexanoin, Potassium Methoxysalicylate, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Peg/Ppg-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Phenoxyethanol, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Batyl Alcohol, Behenic Acid, Peg-60 Glyceryl Isostearate, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Fragrance (Parfum), Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Disodium Edta, Myristyl Myristate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, 2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Alcohol, Caffeine, Citric Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Sodium Metaphosphate, Ppg-3 Dipivalate, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Tocopherol, Glucosamine Hcl, Citronellol, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Angelica Keiskei Leaf/Stem Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Lamium Album Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Inositol, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Flower Extract, Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract (Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract), Cellulose, Nasturtium Officinale Leaf/Stem Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract

Do you have a favorite anti-aging serum? I have been eyeing the La Prairie one but I feel like anything over $300 you might as well get skin treatments in Korea or Taiwan.

RETINOL | Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair

The jar is pretty heavy

I’m surprised it says to apply twice daily as retinol is usually recommended for night time. For me this cream isn’t moisturizing enough on its own (maybe my skin is just dry now???) but I use it underneath or over a moisturizer. This came strongly recommended by Dr. Dray multiple times, I haven’t noticed a huge difference but in our 20s, retinol is more for prevention in my opinion – it mostly just helps your skin cell turnover. It has vitamin C as well so it prob helps with brightening.

If you’re new to retinol, I recommend using it every other night to start – or use this over the moisturizer so it penetrates the skin more gently.

Price: $29+ for 1.7 oz / 50 ml – Get the newest version on Amazon.

RETINOL | Boots No 7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex

Ingredients:

Aqua (Water/Eau), Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Retinol, Bisabolol, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbitan Laurate, Potassium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Tetrasodium EDTA, Behentrimonium Chloride, Sucrose Laurate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Benzoic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7.

The texture is light and feels almost watery, absorbs somewhat quickly – I usually use it under moisturizer, but on some days when my skin feels more sensitive, I’ll use it over moisturizer. In terms of effectiveness, with retinol it can be hard to tell bc it’s more of a long term product. I think it does ok with breakouts as I don’t break out excessively. I personally want to try the Peter Thomas Roth retinol again, which I remember made my skin nice and glowy.

Price: $29.99 for 1 oz / 30 ml. It is reasonable for the price but the Cerave one is more affordable – I plan on trying it at some point if I don’t keep buying other ones (lol). Get it from Amazon

What’s your favorite retinol? See the ones I’ve reviewed here.

FACE CREAM | Amorepacific Time Response

This is one of the heaviest plastic packaging I’ve come across. La Mer has glass packaging so of course any glass packaging would be heavier. The lid clicks every time you screw it back on, which is kind of satisfying.

Sephora description

What it is: A luxurious anti-aging face cream powered by antioxidant-rich green tea that helps improve the look of skin’s firmness, hydration, and overall skin tone for youthful-looking skin.

Skin Type: Normal, Dry, Combination, and Oily

Skincare Concerns: Loss of Firmness and Elasticity, Dryness, and Dullness and Uneven Texture

Formulation: Rich Cream

Ingredient Callouts: Free of sulfates SLS and SLES, parabens, formaldehydes, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, triclosan, and triclocarban. This product is also cruelty-free.

Ingredients:

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Water, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Lauryl Esters, Jojoba Esters, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Betaine, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14olefin), Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Diisostearyl Malate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol,Peg-40 Stearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polysilicone-11, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Fragrance, Behenyl Alcohol, Peg-100 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Caffeine,Glyceryl Caprylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline ,Hydrogenated Polydecene, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Adenosine, Disodium Edta, Beta-Glucan, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmitic Acid, Natto Gum, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract,Ppg-5-Laureth-5, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract, Dextrin, Tocopherol, Glucose, Poloxamer 235, Epigallocatechingallate, Ethoxydiglycol, Tocophersolan, Poloxamer 338, Phenoxyethanol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Bht, Magnolia Obovata Bark Extract, Caprylyl Glycol.

Sadly I used this whole thing up and totally forgot to post about it so I don’t have any cream texture photos. This cream has since been repackaged by Amorepacific here. The main selling point for me was the green tea extract as a first ingredient, which is supposed to be an antioxidant? I tried using this on my face early on, but it kind of made me break out as it is quite thick, so I resorted to using it on my forehead only, so it took me nearly 1.5 years to use up (lol). Even tho it’s a cream, it has a translucent texture to it once it goes on the skin. I thought it’s nice but nothing to run home about, esp for this price.

Price: $150 for 0.5 or 15ml oz OR $450 for 1.7 oz or 50ml – ridiculously priced? Yes. I got this on a deal on Amorepacific’s outlet or something website that was $125 for the 1.7 oz in a summer set they had (prob old inventory). I wouldn’t repurchase (esp for this price) bc I didn’t think it was anything special. I am still on the hunt for my favorite face cream – the Lancome Absolue Revitalizing & Brightening rich cream (or soft cream?) is on my list currently. However with my new skincare philosophy, I am not sure about spending $200 on a face cream now. I have been using the Physiogel facial cream (review here) with 1-2 drops of rosebud oil every night and it’s been working great.

Get it here on Amazon

What do you think of Korean skincare? Or expensive skincare?

ANTI-AGING | Estee Lauder Perfectionist Pro

Ingredients:

Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Polysorbate 20, Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Polysilicone-11, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Phoenix Dactylifera (Date) Fruit Extract, Pisum Sativum (Pea) Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Commiphora Mukul Resin Extract, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris (Bamboo) Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed) Sterols, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Algae Extract, Hypnea Musciformis (Algae) Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis (St. Paul’S Wort) Extract, Nymphaea Alba (Water Lily) Flower Extract, Acetyl Glucosamine, Caffeine, Gellidiella Acerosa Extract, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Saccharide Isomerate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake, Caprylyl Glycol, Isohexadecane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Squalane, Sodium Pca, Urea, Zea Mays (Corn) Kernel Extract, Whey Protein/Lactis Protein/Proteine Du Petit-Lait, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Polysorbate 80, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Triolein, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Linoleic Acid, Trehalose, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Protein, Glucosamine Hcl, Phospholipids, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) Extract/Extrait D’Orge, Polyquaternium-51, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Ergothioneine, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Peg-8, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Pentylene Glycol, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Fragrance, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Silica, Calcium Chloride, Stearic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Disodium Edta, Bht, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499) .

I bought this hoping it would help with my laugh lines. The serum feels moisturizing, however if you have acne prone skin you might get small pimples (which I did experience and stopped using for a period of time). As of my late, my skin has been quite dry and I’ve been using this in the morning after my 4% benzoyl peroxide wash and 2% BHA, which seems to suffice in moisturizing, followed by a moisturizer and SPF of course.

Like most higher end products, the ingredients list is quite long and it doesn’t have any noticeable anti-aging effects, so it’s not something I would repurchase. I am trying to simplify my skincare products to shorter ingredient lists with good active ingredients (niacinamide, panthenol, BHA, etc.). I actually recently returned the 2 oz size of La Mer to Sephora and picked up the LRP Lipikar AP+ balm and Cetaphil moisturizing lotion. Will post review once I use it for a bit.

Price: $78 for 1 oz / 30 ml – bought on sale of course. I am starting to realize anything over $50 is quite expensive, so I am buying them less… But for nice packaging like Tatcha I’ll still splurge here and there.

Get it on Amazon

RETINOL | Skinceuticals 0.3

Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Alcohol Denat., Dipropylene Glycol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Allyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Isopropyl Myristate, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Citrate, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, Dimethiconol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Bisabolol, Citric Acid, Bht, Propyl Gallate.

Dermstore description

Recommended for first-time retinol users, Retinol 0.3 from SkinCeuticals corrects past damage on your skin while you sleep, penetrating more deeply to give it a youthful-looking glow. Powered by encapsulated retinol and botanical extracts, this nighttime formula exfoliates skin to reduce the appearance of blemishes while also alleviating irritation and inflammation. Once skin is tolerated, use it at least three times a week for optimal results.

Key Ingredients:

• 0.3% Retinol: a derivative of vitamin A, this powerful molecule promotes cell turnover to help improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and discoloration. It’s also proven to help minimize blemishes and refine the appearance of pores.
• Soothing complex: this skin-calming blend of bisabolol (derived from the chamomile plant) and boswellia serrata extract (derived from frankincense) provides soothing benefits and helps comfort the skin.

Key Benefits:

• Promotes cellular turnover.
• Improves the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, pores and blemishes.
• Formulated to minimize irritation commonly associated with the use of retinol creams.
• Optimized delivery system and protective packaging to ensure stability and efficacy of pure retinol.
• Non-comedogenic; paraben-, fragrance and gluten-free
• Ideal for skin new to retinol use

This is not my first time using retinol, as I have tried the Peter Thomas Roth (post here) and Inkey List (post here). I do find this to be more drying than the other 2 initially (for 1-2 weeks I use it every other day to build tolerance), then I started using it everyday. I think it could be due to higher retinol content. The biggest difference I noticed is that I barely breakout now, which is a big deal for me as I usually get a few pimples due to hormones once a month. I haven’t seen noticeable anti-aging benefits yet, but I’m sure it helps some. Although this is a “cream”, it’s more a of a gel, and if you have anything less than super oily skin, you’d probably need a moisturizer. According to Dr. Dray, retinol and be applied under or over moisturizer, so you can choose which one is more comfortable. I personally applied underneath moisturizer as I believe it to be “more effective” but apparently it doesn’t matter. Unfortunately, as someone who “suffers” from large pores and blackheads, this didn’t help too much with that.

I liked this so much that I bought a 2nd one during Dermstore’s 15% off sale to gift to my friend, who’s 1 year younger than me. Unfortunately SkinCeuticals is owned by L’Oreal so it is not cruelty free.

Price: $67 for 1 oz – this is definitely on the pricier side. I think I like the PTR one more bc it was less drying. I incidentally got the Avene Retinal 1.0 recently, so that will be my next retinol to try. Maybe after that I’ll try the SkinCeuticals 0.5? Although, Dr. Dray on YouTube says the % of retinol doesn’t matter, it will work the same way.

What retinol products have you tried? Do you find them to be effective?

Pacifica Dreamy Youth

I’ve been using this as a morning moisturizer. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem to do much for me as a night cream. The texture is quite thin so it doesn’t feel oily, but I don’t think it’s super hydrating or particularly age preventing for fine lines (as it claims). I was looking forward to liking Pacifica products, but this moisturizer was just mediocre to me. On to the next ~

$14-16 for 1.7 oz / 50 ml. Get it on Amazon