Review: Andalou Naturals Oil Control Beauty Balm Un-Tinted with SPF 30

Having an outdoor lifestyle, sunscreen is a staple in my skincare regime. Without getting into the scientific stuff and preaching why people should wear sunscreen, from experience I truly believe that wearing sunscreen makes a big difference in improving skin tone. My face is acne-prone and unfortunately, after the acne has gone through its course, it leaves hyperpigmentation on my face. But, for my skin, what makes the most difference on how fast hyperpigmentation fades is the consistent wear of sunscreen. With that said, finding the right sunscreen for my oily and acne prone skin has become an adventure. I've tried many and have only liked a few. Currently, I like sunscreens that have either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the active ingredient, are non-oily/non-greasy, are easily absorbed, have simple ingredients and as natural/organic as possible.

For the past year I have a tried a few skin care products from Andalou Naturals. The first being the Andalou Naturals Oil Control Beauty Balm Un-Tinted with SPF 30. I used this product for at least 6 months. I am currently out of this product, having only enough to do a review and show the product's consistency. Without further ado, here is the breakdown.

Claims

This product claims to "speed cellular renewal, diminish pores & excess oil, and defend against UVA/UVB photo-aging for a clear and healthy complexion."

Ingredients (taken directly from the Andalou Naturals website)

Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 20.0%

Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Juice*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) and Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oils*, Sorbitan Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Fruit Stem Cells (Malus Domestsica, Solar Vitis) and BioActive 8 Berry Complex*, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, Hyaluronic Acid, Salvia Officinalis (Sage), Serenoa Rapens (Saw Palmetto) and Salix Alba (Willow Bark) Extracts*, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Oil*, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Algae Extract, Zinc Gluconate, Magnesium Sulfate, Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos), Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis and Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Extracts*†, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) and Cymbopogon Martini (Palmarosa) Oils*

*Organic

† Fair Trade

Made naturally without GMO’s, gluten, paraben preservatives, petrochemicals, phthalates, sulfates, synthetic colors, dyes and fragrances. Verified Gluten-Free 100% Eco-friendly, Vegetarian & Cruelty-Free

Price and Packaging

I have to apologize, but having moved recently I have thrown out the box that this product is packaged in. However, if you click here, it will bring you to the Andalou Naturals website and you may then search for the product and review the description. The product is packaged in a plastic, 2 fl. oz. tube. It retails for $19.95 at the Andalou Naturals website, but it can certainly be found cheaper at other on-line retailers. I have also found this product in stores like Sprouts and Whole Foods.

    

Consistency and Finish

The product is pretty thick in consistency and may take a good amount of rubbing to completely blend into your skin. It finishes natural, to a somewhat dewy consistency, but I really don't think it is oily or greasy. If you are planning to put on makeup, then I would suggest leaving this product on your face at least 10 minutes prior to any makeup application.

  


Longevity and Wear

Since the product has a pretty thick consistency, I believe this helps keep the product on my face for a long time. I've worn this product on hot, humid days as well as in the water and it definitely stays on. However, definitely reapply if you're planning to be out in the sun the whole day because constant perspiration coupled with blotting/wiping your face will remove some of the product.

I've also worn this product underneath makeup and it works well with liquid foundation. As far as the claim of being an "oil-control" product, it doesn't make my face any oilier than it already is, however from my experience, I don't think this made my skin stay matte longer than normal.

Left cheek under natural light, no flash, no product.

Left cheek under natural light, no flash, WITH product.

As you can see from the photos above, my cheeks have a lot of hyperpigmentation, freckles and large pores closer to my nose. The picture on the left is my skin without any moisturizer and was taken under natural light and without flash. The photo on the right is my skin after applying the product. My skin is a bit more red because my skin is also sensitive and turns red when I rub it. The finish of the product, as shown from the photo on the right, is not matte, but more of a natural/satin finish. It does not feel oily on the skin. With that said, the product does take a while to completely absorb into the skin, and I suggest waiting at least 10 minutes before applying any make-up.

Compatibility with acne-prone skin

After about 6 months of use, this product is very compatible with my acne-prone skin and I find that it does not contribute to my break-outs. Having used and tried so many products (makeup or skincare) in the past, I know when a product doesn't suite my skin because it leaves me with very tiny pimples all over my forehead and chin. This product certainly did not clog my pores or give me tiny pimples on my forehead and chin.

Did it help clarify my skin? Yes and no. Yes, because it did not contribute to my break-outs. No, because skin clarity has much to do with the balance of your body and not only what you are using on your skin. For example, you can be putting the most natural, organic, and most beautiful things on your face, but if you are prone to break-outs and eat like crap (junk food, processed sugar, fast food, etc.), then evidence of this can certainly show up on your face as pimples. The key words here are, prone to break-outs. I certainly have friends and relatives that eat like crap and have the most beautiful skin, but guess what, they have never been prone to break-outs (lucky souls). So unfortunately, if you are like me and are prone to break-outs, then eating a healthy, clean diet only helps to balance the body and clear up skin. Sadly, I do give-in into the occasional fast food and processed sugar and evidence of this certainly shows up on my face as pimples. So long story short, this product is not a miracle worker, as most products, no matter the hype or promise, are not. Don't expect to wake up with clear skin if you are only depending on this rid of your break-outs.

Hyperpigmentation

Did it help lighten the hyperpigmentation on my skin? Somewhat. It definitely acts as an awesome sunscreen and helps prevent any darkening of existing hyperpigmentation on my face.

Final Thoughts

I definitely love this product and will re-purchase it. But, since I love trying new products I am currently using another sunscreen (Devita Solar Protective Moisturizer SPF 30+), which is okay, but don't like as must as I like this Andalou Naturals sunscreen. I'm just waiting to finish the current sunscreen I'm using because I don't want to waste it. However once I'm close to running out of sunscreen I will definitely re-purchase Andalou Naturals Oil Control BB Un-Tinted with SPF 30. What I love about this product is that it acts as a sunscreen and a moisturizer. I dislike layering products on my face, especially in the mornings when I don't have a lot of time to get ready. I've even mixed this product with a liquid foundation to create a tinted moisturizer and love wearing it this way as well! So, if you're in the hunt for a new sunscreen and have oily, acne-prone skin like me, then I would definitely give this product a go.

Please leave any comments or questions below, and I will answer them as soon as I see them. Thank you!

Review: Cetaphil DermaControl Oil Control Moisturizer SPF 30

I was super excited when I found this product at Walgreens. I actually did not purchase it the first time I saw it because it retails for about $17 + tax and I am always hesitant to try new products because I break out very easily. After a week of thinking about it and trying to find reviews online (there was none at the time since this product is new), I caved in and bought one for my sister and me.

Product Claim

As stated on the box the product claims that it is "clinically proven to help manage oily skin" as well as, "lightweight formula absorbs quickly and provides a matte finish." The most important claim, at least for me, was that it is "formulated for acne-prone skin."

As for managing oily skin, I did not find this product to control my oily skin. I tried this product alone under make-up (liquid and powder), and found my face to be oily and in need of blotting within 3 hours. I then tried this product first, waited for it to absorb, then applied my favorite moisturizer Origins Make a Difference Skin Rejuvenating Treatment, then liquid foundation and found my face to be oily and in need of blotting within 4-5 hours. So, to make the long story short, if you buy this product hoping that it will control your oily skin, don't hold your breath. If you have dry skin, normal skin, or combination skin, this product might work for you.

This product is definitely lightweight. I don't feel it on my face once it fully absorbs.

The product is very thin and applies easily on the skin. It doesn't really dry to a matte finish. I mean, if you look at it, it is matte, however, when you touch it, you feel something there. Make sense? As for the claim of being formulated for acne-prone skin, I have not noticed breakouts from using this product. I have used this for 2 weeks.

Ingredients and Scent

Knowing the ingredients is always important to me, so count on me to include ingredients in my reviews. Again, please do your own research =) But, if you have any questions on any particular ingredient, let me know and I will try to help find information on it for you. The following ingredients were retrieved from Skin Deep.

• Avobenzone: a sunscreen agent that absorbs UV light.
• Octisalate: a sunscreen agent that is known to be a weak UV absorber.
• Octocrylene: a sunscreen agent that produces oxygen radicals upon exposure to UV light.
• Isopropyl lauroylsarcosinate: binder, skin conditioning agent, emolient.
• Glycerine: solvent, humectant.
• Dimethicone: sylicone based used as a lubricant or conditioning agent.
• Diisopropyl sebacate: emolient, solvent.
• Silica: anti-caking agent, absorbent.

As far as the scent, it has a very slight smell of sunscreen. Other than that, there is no other noticeable scent.

Packaging

The product comes in a pump bottle. One pump covers my whole face, and I use another pump for my neck and chest.

Final Thoughts

I have used Shiseido Ultimate Protection Cream for Face in the past and for some reason, after 4 or 5 months of use I started to break out so I stopped using it. After that I tried using Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid Daily Sun Protection spf 55 and after 1 week of use I started to break out. So, for about 1 year now I have been trying to find a good lightweight sunscreen since my face is already so oily. I know how important sunscreen is for the face because after 1 year of not wearing sunscreen, I noticed my acne hyperpigmentation has gotten a lot worse as well as takes ages to fade away. So, hopefully I'm not speaking too soon by saying that this new Cetaphil sunscreen is my new favorite sunscreen. Hopefully (and I'm crossing my fingers), I won't all of a sudden start breaking out. If I do I will definitely update.

**Edit (1/17/13). While this product did not break me out, when the weather started to reach the Spring/Summer months, my makeup would just slide off my face =( For that reason, I stopped using this product and continued to use it just on my chest and arms. 

Review: Origins Make a Difference Skin Rejuvenating Treatment

For a very long time I have been in a hunt for a moisturizer that is suited for my very oily and acne prone skin. I have tried many brands under the sun (mostly drugstore) of which none has worked for me. I received a sample of the Origins Make a Difference Skin Rejuvenating Treatment from Macy's. I was actually at Macy's to try out VitaZing SPF 15 Energy-boosting Moisturizer, and the sales attendant insisted she try this on my face. Of course, she said she has been using this moisturizer for years and it has helped reduce her acne breakouts immensely.

Not thinking much of it, and not wanting to spend $38.50 for a moisturizer I'll probably end up returning anyway, I decided to ask for a sample instead. She gave me a sample that was good for a week.

After a week of use, I was sold and decided to purchase the full sized jar.

Product Claim

My acne breakouts are under control at the moment, however acne hyperpigmentation is a constant battle for me. I do not see any noticeable difference on my skin's hyperpigmentation issues. This product did not make the hyperpigmentation any worse or any better.

I did notice that my skin is less oily. I noticed that when I wake up in the morning the next day, my skin is calm, not red, more even in tone and not greasy. I have tried other moisturizers that seemed to exacerbate the oiliness of my face. This product definitely helped to balance the moisture level of my skin. Please note that I still have oily skin, however, it is not as oily as before.

So, figure out the needs of your skin. My biggest mistake in skincare is thinking that because my skin is oily, I needed to lather on products that mattify my skin. By really paying attention to my skin, I discovered that what I really needed was  a product that provided the right amount of hydration for my skin. By providing the right amount of hydration, my skin did not feel that need to produce more oil, which only contributes to acne and oilier skin.

Ingredients

Origins is formulated without (definitions were retrieved from National Institute of Health, dictionary.com and cosmeticsinfo.org):

• parabens: preservative
• pthalates: "Phthalates are used in a wide variety of products including enteric coatings of food and beverage containers, pharmaceutical pills and nutritional supplements, gelling agents, personal care products, medical devices, detergents, children's toys, nail polish, and many other applications."
• propylene glycol: "...properties which make them ideally suited for a variety of solvent applications." (Basically acts as a chemical in which other chemicals are dissolved into. For instance, sugar added into a glass of water --in this case, water is the solvent.)
• mineral oil: derived from petrolatum
• PABA: "a naturally occurring substance that is often used in sunscreen products."
• petrolatum: "Petrolatum occurs as a colorless or pale yellow semisolid. In cosmetics and personal care products, Petrolatum is used in the formulation of a variety of product types, including bath products, cleansing products, skin care products, makeup, shampoos, permanent waves, hair conditioners, shaving products, and suntan products."
• paraffin: "a white or colorless, tasteless, odorless, water-insoluble, solid substance not easily acted upon by reagents, consisting of a mixture of hydrocarbons chiefly of the alkane series, obtained from crude petroleum: used in candles, for forming preservative coatings and seals, for waterproofing paper, etc."
• DEA: "...fatty acids derivatives of diethanolamine (DEA). In cosmetics and personal care products, these ingredients are used in the formulation of shampoos, hair dyes, bath products, and lotions."
• synthetic color
• synthetic fragrance 
• animal ingredients

So why is it important that Origins advertise the omission of  these ingredients? There is link between some of these ingredients to cancer, infertility, etc. Please do your own research and make informed decisions for yourself on whether or not these ingredients should be eliminated from your routine.

Packaging

The plastic jar is blue/green in color. Note that because it is a jar, you must make sure you wash your hands before you dip your fingers into the product. This prevents the product from being contaminated and growing bacteria that can potentially reduce the shelf-life of the product as well as potentially contribute to acne breakouts (if you are acne prone).

Front

Back

Texture and Color

The product is white in color and is a cream/gel consistency. It spreads very easily on the skin and is completely absorbed by my skin in about 3-5 minutes. It has a velvet or silky finish and is not greasy at all.

 

Final Thoughts

I would recommend this product to those who have oily to oily-combination skin. I use this product day and night after cleansing and toning. It has helped balance my skin from very oily to oily-combination. Although it is a little pricey, to me it's worth it because it does not contribute to my acne breakouts, thus improving the overall clarity of my skin in the long run.

Please leave any questions below.