REVIEW: DIOR SNOW SPF 50

 DiorSnow

What it does:

Diorsnow IS my HG Sunscreen! It has not been unseated by anything else…yet. It protects (SPF 50), it is brightening, combats dark spots left by my zits and is the perfect moisturizer for my oily skin (yep, it may sound counter-intuitive but oily skin needs to be hydrated as well!).

 

Price: might be pricey at roughly P2500 (would buy this at 550MOP in Macau or Hong Kong) but it lasts a good 8 months for me—and that includes covering my neck.

Packaging:

Comes in a pump. Can travel with it because the pump has a cover but I usually just depot this in a small container good enough for the travel period. One pump is enough for face and neck so I usually just pump out the same number of days I am travelling.

Experience:

Although I prefer the old formulation better (it was easier to spread and thin out, less emollient than the new one and felt more matte), this sunscreen still trumps all the others i’ve tried so far. I use DiorSnow sunscreen before I put anything else on my clean, toned skin. It doubles as my facial moisturizer as well. I dispense a full pump on to my fingers, mix it with fingers and then dab the product all over my face and neck. Massaging it in, follows (I like this step).

This layers well with makeup and I think was even formulated to help with it—the uv pearl in its formulation does make your face brighter. Yes, it really does. It was made more apparent when I was on a cycle of antibiotics one time and my skin had this sickly grey pallor. When I spread DiorSnow, it erased the overcast on my face. I liken it to neon backlighting. Whatever it is, it made a huge difference.

When I am in a rush, I usually just top this off with powder and I am all set.  And yeah, I never broke out with this one!

Have I said, the scent is lovely?! Not cloying at all even in summer when the Philippine heat can get too much.

Shelf Life:

There was one tube that lasted me over a year and half. It was at that time that I had been experimenting and comparing it with other sunscreens. Even on the 18^th month of use,  there was no difference in product color, smell or consistency.

Repurchase:

A resounding YES! unless I find something else that rivals it at a lower price. As I mentioned above, I experimented with others and these were Guerlain's Blanc Pearl,  Lancome’s UV BB Cream, Clarins’ Sun Wrinkle Control Cream, Neutrogena’s Sheer Touch, CotZ and TIZO. None of them has unseated DiorSnow. I know I still have to go through a whole lot of these sunscreen tubes but I’m pretty sure that once I am midway through the lot, I will get my hands on yet another tube of DiorSnow.

Side Story you can skip:

I saw a video on YouTube about how this special camera captured the sun damage done to unprotected skin. All I could think of was: Thank God! I use sunscreen! And then I got paranoid and thought of those years when I was very inconsistent with it. I started getting into the serious habit of it late (around age 30) in spite of my mom’s persistent nagging.

Admittedly though, I do have to work on my habit of using sunblock for my body. Unless I’m heading for the beach, I couldn’t be bothered with using body sunblock—instead, I spread body bronzers (as if I’m not dark enough! Hahaha). In Manila, where whitening products fill up several shelves in the market, this attitude towards body bronzing might be a tad puzzling. But I just enjoy the sheen and glow that bronzers give—wish the products I love come formulated with SPF. Enough. I’ve digressed too much. Back to sunscreen.  I am really trying to be more vigilant about using it on my body as well.  So far, for body use, Neutrogena Sheer Touch Sunscreen is the most comfy to wear here in Manila where the heat and humidity is no joke. But that’ll be the topic of another post.

Goodbye, February!

February has gone in a blink of an eye and yet I felt her days were long and hectic-- that makes sense, right?! Drafted so many posts but as of yet, they are half-formed! I bet, March will find me finishing those and posting really often. At least that's the plan and I'm definitely betting on me!

What ate up most of my time in Feb were the classes on makeup I conducted. Aside from the one on one sessions I had dotting the month, I was invited to teach makeup at TELUS (Phils) last Feb 18. It was exciting. My audience was serious and passionate; needless to say, they made such great students. Side note: these were young adults buzzing with energy!! Being around them made me feel young! It was impossible to not have been infected with they're vibrance! Sharing some pictures below.

What also stood out this month was putting man makeup on 2 young men-- the other I had a one on one tutorial session with as well. He wanted to learn how to apply man makeup and stage makeup on himself. He was focused, engaged and very much present. He wasn't  fazed by terms and phrases i introduced even when it was apparent that he wasn't sure what animal I was talking about!   These were: prime, conceal, color correct, set, flashback. Hahahaha! It was fulfilling to see fully take it in and understand. He did half of his face really effectively-- and with annotations at that! Recalling still makes me smile.

Feb might have been a jumble of dates and meetings to remember and keep but man oh man! Am I grateful for it. Thank you, February, for being a gloriously productive and happy month!

Loved how there was counter space for all the representative products. From primer to setting spray!

My model wanted a look that she could wear daily : )

The last ones to leave. Such fun ladies!

(didn't get to post this until now! eeek!)

My 2014 Favorites PART 1: Hair Products

ALL ABOUT HAIR!

I had so many products to choose from (other product fiends would understand) but these were my favorites from the lot! How I chose? It wasn't on whether I emptied it out (some products I loved I even used judiciously). I picked the following because of how much I enjoyed using them and/or how well it worked. These were products that I craved for, I relied on or reached for when I was on auto-pilot. For a quick run-through, read on: )

SHAMPOO

Macadamia Natural Oil Rejuvinating Shampoo

*tamed, frizz-free, shiny hair even without conditioner

*pleasant scent

-not easily available here in Manila 

-a bit pricey  (35 Sing or roughly USD 29)

Big Sea Salt Shampoo by Lush

*clarifying and volumizing without the frizz

*hair does not feel stripped

*can skip the conditioner

*loved the feel of the salt scrubbing my scalp

*refreshing scent

-a bit pricey 

Zenutrients Natural and Organic Scalp Care Shampoo (Tea Tree)

*clarifying without stripping

*can skip the conditioner

*gives a refreshing, minty, tingly sensation to my scalp

*perfect for washing oils off quickly

*-fairly inexpensive for a certified natural and organic product

-scent does not stay 

CONDITIONER & MASK

Happy Happy Joy Joy by Lush

*scent is divine!!!

*scent throw is strong and hair stays fragrant for 3 days!

*always gets good attention

*tames hair without weighing it down

-very pricey! (PHP595 or USD13 for 50 grams, PhP725 or USD 16 ofor 100 grams and PhP1750 or USD 39 for 500 grams)

Veganese by Lush

*hair is bouncy, soft and shiny

*conditions hair without weighing it down

*smells great

*a vegan product

-pricey 

-faint scent 

Macadamia Natural Oil Moisturizing Rinse

*hair is bouncy and shiny

*conditions hair without weighing it down

*pleasant scent

-not easily available here in Manila 

-pricey (43 Sing or roughly USD 35)

Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque

*consistently revives over-treated hair, scraggly hair

*can be used as a normal conditioner (need not stay on too long)

*pairs up beautifully with ANY shampoo

*hair is bouncy and shiny

*conditions hair without weighing it down

*hair ends look especially tamed with this product

-not easily available here in Manila 

-pricey (54 Sing or around USD 45)

DRY SHAMPOO

 Aerosol-Free Klorane Dry Shampoo in Oat Milk

*can stretch shampooing comfortably up to 4 days

*powder residue washes off relatively easily (as compared to Dove’s Dry Shampoo)

*scent refreshes hair but does not compete with other fragrances

*gives hair texture, volume and grit 

*aerosol free is environmentally friendly

*in-flight friendly; love travelling with this one; perfect for long haul flights that bring out my oiliest scalp and hair (even if freshly washed!)

-dispersing product by squeezing is not so convenient and makes for patchy distribution through hair 

-not easily available here in Manila 

-a bit pricey 

Klorane Dry Shampoo in Oat Milk Aerosol Can

*can stretch shampooing comfortably up to 4 days

*powder residue washes off relatively easily (as compared to Dove’s Dry Shampoo)

*scent refreshes hair but does not compete with other fragrances

*gives hair texture, volume and grit

*aerosol upside: very convenient to use daily and makes it easy to disperse product easily through hair

-downside: not environmentally friendly 

-not easily available here in Manila 

-a bit pricey (if purchased locally, costs PhP850 or USD19)

-not in-flight friendly

Beauty Formulas Dry Shampoo

*the cheapest dry shampoo I have purchased (PhP90. or USD 2)

*works almost as well as the Klorane

*stretches shampoo time comfortably up to 4 days

*gives hair texture, volume and grit 

*gives perfumed hair (which can be a downside sometimes as it competes with other fragrances)

*readily available in our local grocery store (Robinsons)

*aerosol is not environmentally friendly

-more residue build-up than Klorane but can easily be washed 

-quality control of this product is not so strict: got a can without its spout—had to borrow from Klorane) 

THERMAL PROTECTION

Got a good hoard going!

Tresemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Leave-In Spray

*leaves no gunk on any of the hot tools

*scent is pleasant which dissipates fast

*does not weigh my hair down

*hair feels less dry, tired and stripped after shampooing, when used during heat styling (as compared to using other heat protectants)

*nozzle spray is environmentally friendly

*nozzle spray is convenient and disperses product evenly (no more sticky, messy hands—as opposed to heat taming balms)

*screw top makes it easy to open and decant product into small spritzers for travel

*cheap compared to others (purchased at Target for USD 3)

*now readily available in the supermarket but a bit more expensive

HAIRSPRAY

 

Tresemme Salon Finish Hairspray in Extra Hold

*reasonably priced

*delivers on “extra-hold” claim

*no crunchy, flaky hair

*lightweight! can keep teased hair in place!

*love the in-flight travel size the best

*spray delivers a fine even mist

*scent does not get me gasping for air

-aerosol cans are not environmentally friendly 

HAIRGEL

Splash Control Styling Gel in Strong Hold Clear

*will always be my lifetime favorite

*scent is great

*keeps baby hair in place

*gives understated sleekness (as opposed to super wet look)

*the squeezable bottles can be squeezed effortlessly

*can brush through hair without it getting flaky

*comfortable to use: no crunchy, gummy, sticky hair

*if in a rush, hands can just be wiped dry after application

*very, very cheap!

*because it’s cheap, I don’t feel bad keeping a bottle everywhere: cars, bathroom, bag, dresser, desk drawer, gym bag

*available even in 7/11 stores in the provinces!!!

 (PHP20.0 or less than $0.50 cents for 50 grams)

ARGAN OIL

The Souq Organics Moroccan Argan Oil

*not sticky at all

*nourishes and tames ends

*easily absorbed by the hair and does NOT make it oily

*makes a remarkable difference in the health of hair (it’ll be undeniably clear)

*excess product I like using for my hands and other parts (excluding the face as this broke me out really badly; did not do anything for fading of scars)

*100% pure argan oil 

*scent dissipates quickly

*locally available

-they changed the packaging from the dropper (I loved!) to the pump which leaks and dispenses too much product 

-expensive (PhP1,500 or USD 33)

Pure Bliss Liquid Gold

*a cheaper alternative to Souq’s with only a subtle difference in smell and texture (PhP1,100 or USD 25)

*a bit sticky to the touch but the feeling goes away as it gets absorbed

*takes longer than Souq’s to be absorbed by the hair but nonetheless gets absorbed

*clearly nourishes hair

*excess product I like using for my hands and other parts

*certified organic

*100% pure argan oil 

-pump dispenses too much if not controlled properly (but at least it does not leak as it dispenses, like Souq’s) 

-locally available but only at Skin Station branches

Review: Ro's Argan & African Paradise Body Conditioners by Lush

REPURCHASE?

Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner 250 ml, PhP 1250 (listed it the US website at USD32.95). Made in Japan. YES!!!!! And I have been and will most definitely continue repurchasing. This is a Holy Grail product for me.

African Paradise 250 ml, PhP1595 (Listed in the US website at USD39.95). Made in England. Yes, for moments when Ro’s Argan is unavailable or when I outgrow the scent of Ro’s Argan.

EASE OF USE:

After soaping, scrubbing and rinsing, I follow up with this. I don’t use this on days when moisturizing exfoliators are used (Burt’s Bees Sugar Scrub or The Body Shop’s Shea Body Scrub). It seems such a waste to moisturize on top of moisturized skin---and besides, in this case, the scents in the exfoliating scrub and the body conditioner usually just cancel out each other.

I scoop about half a tablespoon for each of my legs, a tbsp  (and a half at times) for my upper torso and a scoop for my entire backside. I love spreading this stuff from my neck down to my tippy toes! Then I rinse off—just like you would after soaping. This leaves your body feeling greasy…hyper-moisturized and looking slick—even after toweling off. I call this the “greasy phase.” But this feeling does not last long. Give it time to be sopped off by your skin. This usually happens, at least for me, at about the 20 to 30 minute mark. An additional step I find myself doing before stepping out of the shower is soaping my hands to get the thick greasy feeling off of it. I feel that the oils would interfere with makeup application.

SIMILARITIES:

Both Ro’s Argan and African Paradise are beigy-cream colored body moisturizers with the texture of yogurt. Spreads like yogurt on your skin, too. They are both easily spreadable on your wet skin. African Paradise, however, I find a teeny bit thicker in feel.

Top: African Paradise, Bottom: Ro's Argan

Both leave my skin moisturized and perfumed. I feel like a grease-ball after rinsing and even after toweling off BUT after about 20 to 30 minutes, the “grease” gets absorbed leaving smooooooth, lightly perfumed skin until day’s end with Ro’s Argan and about 2 hours for African Paradise. No need to re-apply lotion mid-day. Both make my skin glisten with a healthy sheen right after but the glow leaves after the oils get absorbed.

Both Ro’s Argan and African Paradise I feel are full of intense moisturizing oils that penetrate my extremely dry skin leaving it conditioned and hydrated for an extended period of time. I used Ro’s Argan for an 18 hour flight to a much, much, co-co-colder country and guess what, skin was still great. Tried scratching my name on my shin and it didn’t show through. (It was at this point that Ro’s reached HG status for me). My arid skin, the driest patches found on my knees, elbows and shin where they tend to be flaky and looking chalky, are dealt with effortlessly by Ro’s Argan and African Paradise.  Looove how this delivers effortlessly unlike lotions or oils which almost always require multiple re-application throughout the day.

These Lush pots do not perform in the same manner as Body Butters (of The Body Shop), too. The difference being my skin retains that slick feel and sheen that the butters give. I personally prefer the feel that Ro’s Argan and African Paradise give me. They moisturize deeply and yet it feels so light on the skin (my skin can breathe) that after the initial hour, save for the lingering scent, you forget that you’re deeply and richly moisturized.

DIFFERENCES between RO’S ARGAN & AFRICAN PARADISE:

Obvious differences: price, listed ingredients (see pictures below) and the scent.

Formulation and Feel

Aside from the obvious, there is a very subtle difference between the two formulations. Ro’s Argan spreads out thinly. And like a said earlier, African Paradise has a thicker feel to it. Once rinsed off, both leave your skin feeling the same way.

Longevity of Scent

African Paradise does not last beyond 2 hours for me whereas Ro’s stays with me a loooong time. The scent of Ro’s Argan stays on my skin until the tenth hour even when it has not been layered with Rose Jam.

HOW I USE[D] THEM:

Caveat before anything (this is where the lawyer side of me rears its ugly head): I may have used this for hair as well but Lush only suggests using this as a rinse off body conditioner or body melt.

In-shower Body Conditioner

Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner and African Paradise Body Conditioner are body moisturizers that you use while you are in the shower. It’s like hair conditioner but for the body so it needs rinsing off pretty much they way we do with hair. I always do this when it is cold so I do not have to suffer through more cold drying myself off and putting on moisturizer.

Bath Melt

Lush says it can be used as a bath melt, too. Did this once only and will not use it in this manner again. It is such a waste! I had to use soo much of the product into the bath water that I shuddered every time I got a scoop! Depending on how much you add, it does turn the bathwater milky—ish. I felt bad when I drained the bathwater. It did soften my skin and ever so slightly perfumed my skin. The “greasy phase”, which I talk more of above, gets skipped. However, it did not stave off dry skin until the end of day.

Body Lotion

I use both African Paradise and Ro’s Argan as normal lotion. This happens when I forget to take it off the bathroom shelf to bring it in the shower with me. I even use less of the product when I use it this way. I enjoy re-applying Ro’s Argan this way because the fragrance is just sooooo lovely and I want to add to the strength of it. “More is not enough” comes to mind.

  

Hair Perfume/Smoother

I love using it as a defrizzer at times. It locks baby hair in place. I smooth it on my ends and my hair doesn’t look like it has anything to complain about. My full head of hair is sooo perfumed. Haahaha. I try not to use it too much though—just on those days when I want to smell especially rosy! 

Hair Conditioner

Twice when I picked Rose Jam (also by Lush: a gel for body and hair that uses the same scent as Ro’s Argan) as my shampoo, I followed it up with Ro’s Argan as conditioner! It wasn’t difficult to apply. It almost gave me the same slickness I get when using ordinary hair conditioner. It wasn’t difficult to comb through my wet hair. However, my hair dried down straight to End-Of-Day-2 Hair. It wasn’t greasy or anything but precisely that: as if it had been 2 days since the last shampoo. The second time, I used less but it didn’t perform any better. Oddly enough, my hair did not smell perfumed at all. No scent throw. It even masked the scent that Rose Jam initially imparted.

INGREDIENTS:

African Paradise's List of Ingredients

Ingredients List of Ro's Argan

VERDICT:

As long as Ro’s Argan is available on the Lush shelves, I am not purchasing African Paradise again. Its much more expensive, for one.  Almost 300 pesos more (roughly $4.5) and it does not do anything extra. Two, I just simply loooove the scent of Ro’s Argan.

CAUTION:  this can leave the bathroom floor or your tub slippery. Because of this, I do not allow my children (10, 8 and 5) to use this without supervision.

TRIVIA:

The Lush stores I visited in Singapore (save for facial cleansers and masks which are made in Singapore), Macau and Hong Kong get all stocked with Lush products made in England. Here in Manila, we get ours from Japan.