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- Not suitable for all skin tones. 
- Zinc tends to be a bit drying - not the best choice for dry skin.
- Sometimes it can gather in fine lines and between brows - you need to work it in to avoid that. 
- depending on where you live, not so widely available
- you can often find it on sale in my area. But it's a little bit expensive if you pay full price. 

This is one of the most elegant mineral sunscreens I've tried so far. It uses Nano Zinc and Nano Titanium Dioxide so this definitely has to do with the fact that it is NOT white, thick and pastey. It is suitable for children, adults with atopic skin or very sensitive skin - pretty much anybody can use it! It is fragrance free and alcohol free. 
This sunscreen is labelled very water resistant & sand resistant. It has an spf of 50+ and  PA rating ++++ (4+being the highest). However, it's still recommended to reapply, especially after swimming, sweating and/or towel drying. 
It is important to note that you need to shake the bottle before use. 

Packaging:
It comes in a 50 ml plastic bottle with a nice applicator, very handy. You can just throw it in your handbag or even in your pocket!

Texture: 
It is a white fluid, very liquidy and it spreads out nicely. It is not greasy or sticky. The texture is very similar to Helicare's Mineral Tolerance fluid - the only difference is that the Pediatrics is white and Mineral Tolerance has a beige colour and is a little bit thinner. 
Once it dries down it has a pretty neutral finish,
while the Mineral Tolerance is a bit shiny at first. You have to work it in as it tends to gather a little bit at fine lines or between your brows. It's a mineral spf so that is to be expected. 

White cast:
I have a light to medium skin tone with a warm undertone. On my skin the white cast is pretty minimal. It doesn't bother me that much but I can still detect it. If you have pale skin it would be a great match. I can leave it like that or I can easily fix that with some blush just to bring some warmth back. Or to fix it completely with some mineral foundation + blush. This spf plays very well with makeup. However the white cast will show up more on darker complexions. 

Does it pill? 
This sunscreen doesn't pill, even on reapplication. 

Does it reapply well over itself? 
Yes. 

Does it sting my eyes? 
No, it doesn't. 

Ingredient spotlight:
Niacinamide 
Antioxidants - 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic acid (a stable form of Vit C), Polypodium Leucotomas (Fernblock - present in all Heliocare formulas) 

PAO: 9 months 

Overall this is one of the better mineral sunscreens out there. It's suitable for everyday wear as well as outdoor activities. It's rare to find a spf that will serve you well in both occasions. Normally you'll need 2 separate sunscreens. Still not my primary choice but has a very nice texture and is very wearable. 

And if you end up not liking it, you can  always use it up on your kids. 😁


I really like this product, it's great for the price but it's a single ingredient formula. We all know that with antioxidants it's better to combine a couple of them together in a well rounded formula. 
In that sense, Niod Survival 0 is superior and has a better texture. 
If you are already using a potent antioxidant serum, maybe you don't need this. But it's a nice little extra to have. 



From all antioxidant formulas by The Ordinary, I love this one the most. Why? I think it's the gentlest one, it can be used by pretty much everyone.This was love from the first drop! I have sensitive skin and as much as I enjoyed Resveratrol/Ferulic or EUK134 they would give me a weird warming sensation upon application. Not with this one! 
Pycnogenol is the trade name for the natural extract derived from French maritime pine tree(Pinus Pinaster). 
Formula, texture & colour/scent: 
Like all antioxidants by The Ordinary, this has an incredibly sipmpe formula - it contains pycnogenol and most of the formula is propanediol. This ingredient is used as a penetration enhancer. It has hydrating properties but it's also the reason why the texture feels slightly oily upon application. 
If you use this aIone, you need to wait a few minutes to absorb and the oily feeling completely dissappears. It has a signature pine scent which I find incredibly pleasing and a natural deep orange colour. Something to keep in mind as it may cause staining of your white clothing or sheets. 
As for the effect - I feel it really boosts hydration, my skin is prone to dehydration and I can see a difference. And it does that while fighting free radical damage and protecting existing collagen. 
You can use it alone, pair it with Vit C or use just a drop of it in your moisturiser. It works beautifully either way. I use it in the AM - that's how it does makes the most sense for me. 
Packaging:
It comes in a 15ml dropper bottle which is great as you can use it up before it goes bad. I find other 30ml antioxidant formulas to be too big to finish during the PAO(6m). And it's still affordable! 
Conflicts: 
 Do not use in the same routine with copper peptides. 


Not sufficient for me as a last layer in the winter

Texture & feel/ Performance - 
This mask has such a beautiful lightweight texture and my skin feels amazingly soft and bouncy to the touch after I use it. It's incredible. But this is one of those situations that I opened a product in the wrong season just out of curiosity, of course. I'm sure we can all relate - I get excited whenever I receive a package and I want to try everything.
So...this is an amazing product for the summer or for those of you living in a hot and humid climate. But it's not sufficient for the winter, at least for me. I don't think it'll be enough during the transitional seasons either. It doesn't have enough occlusivity to keep me from dehydration. If you have very oily skin, maybe it'll work for you. My skin is oily but prone to dehydration. In the winter it just craves for more especially in the PM. 
It does however work beautifully as a lightweight daytime moisturiser. 

Colour & scent 
This mask has a delicate blue colour and a light floral scent. It doesn't have added fragrance, the scent comes from the ingredients. 

Will I repurchase? 
Yes, I'll definitely repurchase in the summer as I fell in love with the beautiful texture and feel of this mask. 

Best suited for:
Oily skin. It can also work for normal/combo skin that like to layer their skincare. Dry skin or those of you that prefer something more occlusive - look elsewhere. 
Sensitive skin beware as it contains a few different botanical extracts. I didn't experience any irritation but make sure to do a patch test. 

Ingredient spotlight:
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Polyglutamic acid, Panthenol, 
3 forms of HA, Arginine, Pear fruit extract, Adenosine, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Melon fruit extract, Melatonin


None, this product is perfect for me.
However, those with very oily skin may not like the thick texture.

Another great yet affordable product by Beauty of Joseon. I purchased this in the summer but I had too many bottles to finish before I move to this one. I'm glad I opened it when the weather started to change - this is a great hydrating but also nourishing serum for colder weather.
It's packed with 60% propolis - a great anti inflammatory ingredient, perfect for gentle acne care, soothing angry skin. 
And  2% niacinamide will provide good results with  brightening post acne marks.
There is tamanu oil - also known for its regenerative properties, traditionally used to help with scarring - a great addition to this serum. Together with niacinamide it makes a powerful duo to fight PIH. 
Turmeric is a powerful antioxidant and tea tree extract is antibacterial. 
There are also humectants in the formula like glycerin and hyaluronic acid. 

Texture, finish and smell - it's quite thick but it absorbs nicely and leaves a 'lit from within' healthy, glowy finish. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much - as I tend to prefer more lightweight watery textures. When I spread it across my face I do smell the propolis, but it's very faint and dissipates quickly. 

Performance - it's hydrating but also nourishing and it gives me an overall healthier look. It's not a miracle worker for fading PIH but it's very gentle and non irritating - I'll continue to use it and will repurchase. I think it works great when combined with other powerful ingredients like retinol. I have oily skin but I am a retinoid user and my skin tends to get easily dehydrated. This serum has been a great addition to my routine. 
The lighting of the progress pictures is different but I do feel it helped. 

Best suited for - gentle acne care, irritated skin, dry acne prone skin.

It&#39;s a brownish orange colour so be careful with your white sheets if you plan to use it at night. 

You won&#39;t see any major changes, this serum is all about prevention. 
If you&#39;re looking for skin brightening benefits, a better choice will be a well formulated vit C serum - if your skin can tolerate it.

I&#39;m a retinoid user so I&#39;m always on the hunt for gentle skincare products. Survival 0 is one of them - a non irritating antioxidant powerhouse. 
This guy is such an unsung hero! 
It packs a punch, and yet is so gentle on the skin. Ideal for all of us sensitive skin fellows out there who just can&#39;t toletate a low pH vitamin C serum.

Ingredients breakdown:
🧡Superoxide Dismutase
🧡Pyncogenol
🧡Lutein
🧡Tomato fruit extract
🧡Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol - a synthetic molecule that has a similar structure to Vit E
🧡Good old Vitamin E
💦Soduim pca, amino acids and squalane

*Texture - emulsion that is lightly hydrating
*Smell - it has a medicinal scent, not in a bad way:)
*Fragrance, alcohol and essential oils free

Niod says it&#39;s designed for nighttime use. The reason for that is that it doesn&#39;t contain sunscreen filters like the rest of the range Survival 10, 20 and 30.
Of course you can use it during the day followed by your favourite sunscreen(you must consider yourself very lucky if you&#39;ve found one:). I use it in the morning as it sinks in beautifully, sort of dissappears. 

Overall, I&#39;m loving it! But you know, antioxidants are all about prevention, so only time can tell whether it&#39;s effective.

Ivyloveskincarestuff