Anyone tried the renewed Allie Gel UV and Allie Tone Up UV? None are in Picky’s database yet, but for those who have used/are using them, how are they, do these have matte or dewy finish, are they easy to reapply, can they be removed with just a foam cleanser? 

These are SPF50+ PA++++, marketed for use on face and body, resistant to sweat, water, and friction. These also prevent dust and pollen from adhering to skin. Very promising esp now that pollen and dander are everywhere in my area.

BUT I’m also tempted to let these go and buy Anessa instead. Anessa sunscreens were recently renewed and Anessa is my HG.

2022 Allie Sunscreens

A Picky user copied part of my review from Sephora. I left her a comment and she responded. She admitted to it (kind of, not outright) and told me not to feel bad. Oh, okay. I guess we should be flattered if someone copies our reviews.

At least she admitted to copying reviews

“You can't control other people's behaviour, but you can control your responses to it.” 
- Gina Milicia

There’s an ongoing Picky Survey, let’s all participate! Let’s voice out our concerns, complaints, gratitude through that survey. 🥰

A friendly reminder

Someone just asked recommendations for cooling serums… that reminded me that I’m looking for a moisturizer as cooling and as soothing as the Kansoskin Simply Better Barrier. This feels really nice on skin, and despite having a cream texture, is not too heavy nor oily. I don’t have easy access to it plus it’s sold out on its website. Been trying to find products with similar texture and effects. 

I’d like to know the coolest and most soothing moisturizer in cream form that you’ve tried.

Cooling moisturizers

Currently, there are more than 44,000 products in Picky’s database. There are duplicates but omg, 44,000+! Boggles my mind that there are that many! But I always see the same ones being tagged every day. Sometimes I feel sad that small businesses rarely get recognition they deserve... esp in their area. 

Saying that, do you have any hidden gems you want to share? Maybe a small, local brand in your area. Mine are these:

44,000+ products in Picky’s database

Has alcohol and fragrance which can cause sensitization in some people.

During the cold seasons, milk suncreens including this make my skin feel dry and tight especially under the eyes. Quick fix is to layer with a heavy, nourishing moisturizer. 

Can leave white, powdery residue on clothing.  

2022 Formula (blue text on bottle)
Sunscreen Filters: Zinc Oxide (10.35%), Octocrylene (5%), Ethylhexyl Salicylate (4.9%), Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (1.8%), Titanium Dioxide, Homosalate (1%), Ethylhexyl Triazone (0.8%), Polysilicone-15 (0.5%), Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine (0.5%)
Protection: SPF 50+ / PA++++
Water Resistant: Yes

2020 Formula
Sunscreen Filters: Zinc Oxide 10.443%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.49475%, Octocrylene 3.0%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 2.5%, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate 1.8%, Titanium Dioxide, Polysilicone-15 1.0%, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine 0.5%
Protection: SPF 50+ / PA++++
Water Resistant: Yes

(Review is for the 2020 formula)
Milk sunscreen. Texture is watery, more fluid than creamy. Scent is light soapy-fruity-floral. Finish is natural to matte, not oily, not greasy, not sticky. Whitecast is minimal to none even with reapplications on my light-medium skin. 

It works as a primer for makeup but I don’t usually use any product over it. It dries like powder on skin and gives a blurring and smoothing effect. I’ve received compliments when wearing this, lol!

It’s resistant to water, sweat, oil, friction, and sand. Very high protection and uses Shiseido’s Auto Booster Technology (UV protection becomes stronger when exposed to heat, water, sweat, and air moisture) so this is perfect for sports, water and other outdoor activities. 

Anessa Milk is my HG sunscreen. I’ll never be without it. I still use other brands but on days when I’ll be directly exposed to sunlight or during hotter seasons, Anessa Milk is my go-to. Never tanned nor burned, no clogging nor breakouts with frequent reapplications, no adverse reactions when I forget to wash it off. 

I have oily skin and Liquid Gold will break me out if used too much or too frequently. I need to skip days or else I’ll get cystic pimples. I believe the fatty acids&#47;oils are the culprit. Paula’s Choice Omega+ Complex Serum and Krave Beauty Great Barrier Relief are rich in fatty acids like the Liquid Gold and all give me pimples. I like all three products for compromised skin but need to control usage to a few days at a time. 

This doesn’t have a sticky residue but makes me look greasy after a while. Its natural scent may be unpleasant to some and its natural color may tint paler skin with a golden sheen. On my light-medium skin, the tint doesn’t really show up unless I examine my skin closely. It’s like a subtle glow, like I applied a layer of makeup.

The tint can also transfer on clothes and beddings. I sometimes see yellow stains on my white pillow and on the necklines of my light colored shirts and brassieres. 

LG uses diazolidinyl urea, a controversial formaldehyde-releaser preservative, which may trigger allergic reactions in some people. Formaldehyde is naturally produced by humans, about 1.5 ounces a day as a normal part of cell metabolism. It is also naturally occurring in many fruits, vegetables, and meat (banana, apple, onion, potato, spinach, carrot, poultry, pork, seafood, beef, etc). Beauty products contain only small amounts of formaldehyde (maybe as much as an apple), this will unlikely cause adverse effects, but at the end of the day, using these products will be up to you.

The Stratia brand is a small, woman-owned company (it’s always great to support our local small businesses) and Liquid Gold is its bestseller. 

Liquid Gold is a moisturizer for normal to oily skin. It has a lotion texture that is more like an emulsion than a moisturizer. It has a natural color that is in between yellow and orange or a vivid amber, which comes from the bright red color of the sea buckthorn oil. It spreads readily and doesn’t feel oily. One pump is enough for my face. It’s packaged in a tall plastic bottle with an airless pump and comes in a generous size of 60 mL. 

This moisturizer supposedly has the optimal 3:1:1 ratio of free fatty acids, ceramides, and cholesterol. Studies show that this ratio, with any component being dominant, works for healing and strengthening skin’s lipid barrier. LG is fatty acid dominant. Its fatty acids come from plant oils including sea buckthorn seed oil, sea buckthorn fruit oil, cranberry seed oil, and rose hip oil. Its ceramide and cholesterol come from SK-influx, an ingredient blend of Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, and Xanthan Gum. 

Another key ingredient is niacinamide at 4%. Studies show it’s effective at this concentration. This is anti-aging, anti-acne, and a skin brightener. It can also speed up rate of cellular growth and increase synthesis of free fatty acids, cholesterol, and ceramides. 

Liquid Gold also contains hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, green tea, glycerin, squalane, and panthenol. It’s free of alcohol, fragrances, and essential oils.

I’ve been using LG on and off. It gives immediate hydration and moisture, and works well in nourishing skin. I feel my skin gets healthier and more resilient the more days I use it. It heals and gives relief to irritated skin and doesn’t sting when applied on broken skin or active pimples. I also like this as a hydrating treatment on the back of my hands.

It pills, and I’m disappointed with the finish. I chose this over other moisturizers in the Atobarrier 365 line because I thought it would be perfect for oily skin, but it feels thick and heavy. It redeems itself by its barrier-repairing ingredients though. 

The Hydro Soothing Cream might be better for oily slin . 

Price: Varies
Size: 60 mL
PAO: 12 months

Aestura Atobarrier 365 Water Gel Cream is a barrier repair moisturizer with high percentage of AmorePacific's patented ceramide complex, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide MEA and Hydroxypropyl Bislauramide MEA. I trust that the combination of ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids protects and repairs skin’s natural barrier. 

This cream has a gel-cream, silicone-like texture. It feels watery between fingers but thick when applied on skin. It spreads smoothly, a pea-sized amount adequately covers the face. It’s both hydrating and moisturizing. I prefer to use this in the evenings because it works as an occlusive on my oily skin. 

Not for those who are sensitive to fragrance. It has a raspberry candy scent.

Neogen Cica Repair Snail Cream is a moisturizer boasting 88% Snail Secretion Filtrate, 2% Niacinamide, and Centella Asiatica Extract. It’s free of drying alcohols and has a candy-like, raspberry scent.

(Consistency)
It has cream in its name but its texture is a hybrid gel-lotion. It’s lightweight, feels soft and smooth when rubbed between fingers, and thankfully not slimy. It has just a teensy amount of slime. 

(Application)
It glides easily on skin but takes a few minutes longer to get absorbed compared to other gel-lotions. 

(Finish)
It has a natural finish, neither matte nor glowy. It doesn’t turn greasy on my oily skin. 

(Effects)
It’s both hydrating and moisturizing which all skin types would like. It makes skin look plump and healthy, and these effects last. I don’t feel the need to mist or moisturize near the end of the day. 

The moisturizer contains a bunch of soothing ingredients and is cool to the touch. I have not experienced irritation nor breakouts. I’m on my second jar and will definitely buy again!

For reference, I have oily skin, not sensitive to alcohol and fragrances, and use tretinoin. 

It is ultra glittery as advertised. May be a pro or a con depending on who you ask. 

Hard to use with a brush. I prefer brush over finger so this is one big con to me. Can make it work by scraping the product onto the brush instead of dabbing. 

I’m so late into the game! Just bought two Colourpop Super Shock Shadows (Plume and Ritz) this November 2022 and I must say, why didn’t I try it sooner? Super Shock Shadows are cream eyeshadows with soft, bouncy, moussy texture. I wanted to compare them with my HG Tom Ford Cream Eyeshadows. Price difference is insane!

I have here the shade Plume which is described as a ‘cool-toned rose drizzled with pink and silver glittery pin points’. I chose this because it matches the color of my uniform (I’m all for the monochromatic look). 

I used it immediately as a one and done eyeshadow. Used a flat natural brush but it didn’t pick up much, used a fluffy brush but the look is still lacking so I switched to the finger method. I was shocked by the result. Might have put on too much because it was super, super glittery. Turns out that SSS have different finishes and Plume has an ‘Ultra-Glitter’ finish. I need to control how much I put on and be precise with application. 

I’m still playing with this texture but so far, I like it. Love the color which goes on warm on me. I can use it opaque or sheer, it doesn’t crease on my hooded eyes, has little to no fallout, stays put for hours, and has that pretty, wet look finish if used sparingly. I’m not buying another ‘Ultra-Glitter’ anytime soon but I’d get a couple of metallic and maybe one satin SSS soon. 