I'm the type of consumer who believes ingredients speak louder than brands. Whenever I'm willing to try a new product, I always gravitate to something that is not only more budget friendly but also that shows results.

I search for products that receive good and meaningful reviews within a decent price range. However, I can't seem to shake the idea that a lot of reviews on the internet get "influenced" by the brand. You know, that mindset that dictates that it's only good if it's expensive, or that we only get the best results if we pay more.

What do you think? Does expensive really mean better results?

Which do you think is better?

After years struggling to find a good vitamin C serum that wouldn't make my skin oilier and/or make me breakout like crazy, I decided to give pycnogenol a shot. 

I got The Ordinary's Pycnogenol 5% and I'm baffled. Although my skin is oily, it always lacks on locking in moisture. The serum may feel greasy at first, but as soon as absorbed, I'm left with soft, smoother, and plumper skin, ready to get the best of my facial moisturizer. There's no increase in oil production and it didn't make me breakout at all.

I'm absolutely loving every drop!

Have you ever tried Pycnogenol instead of vitamin C?

I have oily and acne prone skin. I've always used cleansers twice a day (AM/PM), so I decided to test something. Knowing that overwashing may cause an increase in the oil production, I wondered if this could be one of the reasons why my skin is so shiny and greasy-looking just a few hours later. I had just received a witch hazel water from Dickinson's, so I put it to the test. To my surprise, my skin loved it and wasn't as oily and shiny as before, when I used cleansers twice a day. So I got the Bioderma Sebium H2O and the same results were observed. Apparently, I found a good, simple, and effective way to at least control the oiliness, but... Two or three weeks later, I started noticing pimples (small and painless, sometimes 2 or 3 at the same time) on my face, which is kinda odd because my acne only acts up a couple of days before my period, and that wasn't the case. After reading some articles, some said micellar waters are more than safe to use in the mornings, when you don't have a lot to remove (makeup, sunscreen etc.), while others said it will still leave behind residues from your night routine products, meaning they are not good "substitutes" for morning cleansers. So now I'm really confused. What do you think?

Micellar water vs. Cleanser

I've always struggled with dark circles. Mine are the grayish type, which make me rely on light peach color correctors or you will stillwater be able to see them through my makeup.

I've been using the Caffeine + EGCG serum (The Ordinary) for a while. While it helps me tremendously with puffiness, I don't feel I get the best results when it comes to dark circles. 

I'd love to know your recommendations, those products that really worked out for you. Thank you!

Dark circles! Help!

Hello, everyone! So here's the thing: I use a night cleanser with AHAs every other day on the same nights I use either mandelic or lactic acid, so I do exfoliate my skin chemically. I also have salicylic acid solution and serum on my night routine when my acne starts to act up. 

However, for the past weeks, I've been noticing my forehead, nose and chin getting gradually coarser to the touch, and it only gets better when I use a physical exfoliant. When I use it, it's like once a week or once in two weeks but I'm scared of overexfoliating my skin.

My 39 year old skin is oily, fairly sensitive and acne prone, and I don't know if the cold weather is doing it or what. I even thought it could be my makeup but I still get the same coarseness when I'm not wearing any. Do you know what it could be? And what to do? I really didn't want to go back to glycolic acid since my skin gets more sensitive in the winter and I'm also using retinol on the nights I don't use acids. Help!

Why is my skin coarse?

I had never used any toner that actually showed meaningful results until I tried this one. I love the "thicker than water but thinner than serum" texture and how it actually makes my skin feel hydrated and balanced. 

The main ingredients are hyaluronic acid, green tea water, oil capsules, witch hazel and zinc. This combo not only hydrates but also controls shine and help pores to look tightened. Another thing that I love about it is the fact that it calms my skin whenever I use something stronger (retinols and chemical exfoliants). Love it so much that it became a HG for me.

This is one of my favorite cleansers for sensitive skin. Since my skin is pretty oily, it's kinda hard to find a cleanser that won't make it oilier, especially because most people associate sensitive skin to dry skin. 

The Gentle Milky Cleanser's main ingredients are: PHA, to gently clarify pores; colloidal oatmeal, to help with moisture and stress; and jojoba + ceramides, to nourish and fortify the skin. 

As the name says, it has a milky and very light texture and it doesn't lather at all. At first, you might think it won't make any difference, but... As soon as you rinse it off, your skin is clearly cleansed and super soft. Refreshed pores, happy skin! 

I think the only downside to me is the glowy finish. I wish it was more mattifying, but that's not a negative aspect. Just a personal preference. 

I really love how lightweight this sunscreen is. It's super easy to apply and it doesn't pill on top of my moisturizer or when I put my makeup on. It's a zinc oxide sunscreen (mineral) that blends like a second skin due to its sheet green tint. It's really hydrating but not greasy at all. 

To me, it feels like a light primer. It doesn't interfere on my makeup results, which is great. My acne prone skin loves it cause it clog my pores or breaks it out. 

AnnieKalves