With the search of the perfect skincare, the Holy Grail of products that give us perfect skin, we’re bound to pick up quite a few duds along the way. So what do you do with the ones which did not work for you? Do you give them away, or just store them away until they expire and you’d still have to chuck them?

As much as I can, I’d give away the skincare products that do not work for me. Even though it doesn’t work for me, it doesn’t mean it would not work on others too. For the items which I cannot give away, instead of disposing the products, I’d use them on my neck. Thus, for face creams, lotions, eye creams, etc which I didn’t find work for me, instead of wasting them, I’d apply them generously on my neck instead. For heavier creams, I’d use them on my arms and elbows.

If you have serums, moisturisers or eye creams which you find only just produced mediocre results, rather than keeping them away till they reach their expiration date, why not apply them on your neck instead? It wouldn’t break you out, and you’d be giving it the extra care it needs anyway.

Waste not, want not 🙂

Note: The birthday giveaway will close in 16 hours. If you haven’t entered already, you have still have time. Go go go!

Don’t you just love fresh-out-of-the-salon hair? I do. I’m a heck lot vainer when I step out of the salon. Any reflection I see, the hair goes flick flick. Shameless, I know.

Other than the amazing hair-blowing skills salon people have in creating that gorgeous, sleek hair, it is the shine serum they use after blow-drying that gives the hair that healthy glow. It keeps the hair sleek and frizz-free without weighing it down. I went on a search for such a serum.

Description:

A weightless shine serum that protects and polishes the hair while nourishing and moisturizing. Protects against further damage.
Prevents split ends and frizziness. Gives separation to curly hair.
Hair is left glossy and healthy. Hair is left feeling renewed with improved manageability. Adds vibrancy, shine and definition.
Recommended for:
Cuticle reconstruction and additional shine on all hair types.
Dull, coarse & curly hair. Long hair.
Coconut papaya fragrance.
Use: Apply one to three drops in palm and emulsify. Distribute through damp hair to aid in blow drying or styling. For intense shine, distribute through dry hair. Reduces frizz and increases smoothness.

Ingredients:
Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Keratin PG_Propyl Methylsilanediol, Thiotic Acid, Psodium Guajava Fruit Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Aleurites Moluccana Seed Oil, Glycolipids, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Butylphenyl, Methylpropional, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Fragrance/Parfum

This was introduced to me by the hair stylist-cum-sales assistant at Price Attack. I told her I was looking for a serum to be used on dried hair after blow-drying, not damp. I also wanted something light; not incredibly watery that it would be useless on my hair, but tacky enough to produce a lovely sheen on my hair without weighing it down.

She suggested a few brands of shine serums in similar price range, but highly recommended Joico’s K-Pak Protect and Shine Serum.

I compared this serum with other brands of serum in the store. By holding the bottle horizontally, and gently rocked it left and right, I noticed that it was pretty light, compared to the rest which were thick and tacky. I was sold.

After blow-drying and straightening my hair with a flat iron, I squeezed a dollop of serum onto one palm. Rubbing the palms together to spread the serum evenly on both hands (never squeeze serum directly from the bottle right to the hair; you’d end up using too much on one side, and not enough on the other), I flattened my palms on my hair, concentrating at the ends.

A dollop

Spread that dollop evenly on both palms

The result was healthy-looking, shiny and sleek hair. Yes! 😀

I really like how light this serum is. Yes, it is a tad sticky at first, but after applying it on the hair, the hair does not feel sticky at all. Smells great too.

I’d highly recommend this shine serum to anyone with dry and coarse hair, who’s looking for something to give the hair a bit of shine and sleekness without the weight.

I bought it at around AU$25-28 (can’t recall the exact price) at Price Attack for 50ml/1.7oz. You can also get this at hair-specialty stores like Hairhouse Warehouse. I don’t think you can get this at pharmacies like Priceline though (I will check and report back).

What I like about it: Gave me sleek and shiny hair without weighing it down. Light, and smells good.

What I did not like about it: Nothing

What about you? Do you use any shine serum on your hair when it’s dry? Or just leave-in conditioner when it’s damp?

I received a bottle of Ella Bache‘s Everyday 30+ Protection face sunscreen when I subscribed to the Bella Beauty magazine. I was quite excited about this, as I’ve always wanted to try out something by Ella Bache, which is an Australian-made brand.

Description:

Ella Bache Everyday 30+ Protection is a weightless, oil and fragrance-free, 100 per cent mineral sunscreen lotion for all skin types. It can be used in combination with any skin moisturiser for complete protection from the sun. It offers a luminous glow, protecting the face without a heavy look or feel. New micronising technology has enabled a superior textured product using only mineral sunscreens. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, known to be the gentlest and least irritating active sunscreen ingredients, are used to reflect the sun’s damaging rays. Non-allergic formula that blocks both UVA and UVB rays.

Packaging
I was very impressed with how the sunscreen was packed. It came in a tube, and the mouth of the tube was foil-sealed. So you have to remove the cap, peel off the foil, before squeezing the sunscreen out. Top marks for hygiene and also for the opaque tube.

Texture
My first impression of the sunscreen was that it was very, very thick. Instead of the usual slightly-running sunscreen goop I was used to, I literally had to squeeze hard at the tube just to get the sunscreen out. As it was very thick, I’ve decided to only squeeze out a little to apply on my oily skin. It is oil-free, and after many hours with it on, my T-zone remained matte.

Smell and Application
This would be the areas where I am most disappointed with. The sunscreen has a strong chemical scent which I really wasn’t keen on. The cream cast a ghastly shade of white/grey on my skin upon application. It dulled my skin tremendously, and I look very ashened, almost as though blood has left my face. I’m not kidding, it’s that bad.

It’s no wonder the sunscreen had such a strong smell and left an unsightly white/grey cast on my face. Check out the ingredients.

It contains 18% titanium dioxide and 4% zinc oxide as its active ingredients! These are inert earth minerals used as thickening, whitening, lubricating and sunscreen ingredients in cosmetics. Usual face sunscreens (natural ones) have around 5% of titanium dioxide.

Although I’m very impressed at the amount of active ingredients that make a good and effective sunscreen, I’m afraid I just cannot continue using it on my face as it just made me look ghastly white. I’m not sure if I want to use this on my arms either, as the smell really turns me off. I reckon I’ll use it on the legs. Too far south for me to smell 😛

Ella Bache Everyday 30+ face sunscreen is available at Ella Bache counters and salons, and is sold at AU$54 for 50ml.

What I like about it: Good for oily skin, impressive content of mineral sunscreen ingredients.

What I did not like about: Strong chemical smell; left a white/grey cast on skin.