Hello,

Very curious about this. I want to review a brand that I absolutely LOVE- it is fantastic for those with dry skin and it also has other lines that are geared towards oily, combination skin as well! But it is not featured on Picky. I have requested the items that I own so that I can add them to my routine on here, but does that mean I can’t review them at all until they get approved or am I able to leave a review in the discussion section as well?

Sorry if this is common sense, I’m new here! 
Thank you for whatever advice and help you can give me!

How do I review a brand that isn’t uploaded yet to Picky?

Hello Picky Friends, 

So. I have yet to dive into the world of celebrity skin and beauty. I usually stick to things I feel have a history of decent/consistent products, but I am open minded and will cater to whatever my skin/hair/body needs (if I can afford it hahaha). 

With the rise in interest when it comes to skin care, makeup/beauty, all things SELF CARE- I worry that a lot of public figures want to exploit the trends and create gimmicks that ultimately have no purpose in this industry.

So, you tell me-
Which brands/celebs have you tried? Which do you love/loathe? Do you feel the products are worth it? why? What’s your take on celebrities joining in the self care industry(s)? 
Let me know! :)

Celebrity Skincare/Makeup brands?

I am still on the hunt for a cleanser for the 1st step of my double cleanse. I have super dry, dehydrated skin. Any recommendations would be incredible. I used to use Ponds cold cream but the formula is so different now and awful. I really miss having that very moisturizing step and my skin is struggling without it!

Best Oil Cleanser???

Hello,

I’m looking for a sunscreen stick that is suitable for very dry skin. I really prefer using them, they’re just so easy and can be taken on the go. I see a lot of different Korean brands that offer sunscreens sticks but I wanted to ask here first if anyone has any recommendations! 
I used to use the regular sunbum one- the brown tube but it just has such little product in it. It is a great sunscreen stick but I really want to find something else a bit bigger with better ingredients for my kind of skin type.

Best Sunscreen Stick?

Hello,
Just curious about what experiences you have all had with brands/products that everyone seems to love but you really don’t get the hype!

For me- it’s been laneige (god awful smells for their products 😩), a lot of the ordinary products (although i like them overall!) sun bum except for their one stick sunscreen i like 😂 etc. any you can name? Let me know!

Overrated Products/Brands?

Things to consider: 
The first night I used this product- for some reason it made my face sting a bit. I was very confused considering none of the other Simple products have ever done that before- but it didn’t happen the next time I used it and the stinging didn’t last for more than a few minutes. It has not happened since then and I have been using it for over a month now. 
It has almost a bit of a chemically smell which is not SO strong that I feel its a dealbreaker, but it felt important to mention.
This product has been incredibly difficult for me to find. I did reach out to both Simple UK and Simple US, and receieved mixed messages on where this product would be readily available. I was lucky enough to find it at Marshall’s near my home. It is available on the Simple website if you are more likely to online shop.
Just a personal thing but I wish they had a bigger size! Haha

*PURCHASED with my own money


Hello!

SIMPLE WATER BOOST SKIN QUENCH SLEEPING CREAM


Claims: This product is meant to transform dull and tired skin, replenishing dehydrated skin while you sleep. It works to create instant and continuous hydration throughout the day. It is meant to target the 5 early symptoms of dehydration: dryness, roughness, tightness, dullness and dry lines on the face. Silky and lightweight. Specially formulated for dry, sensitive, and dehydrated skin. NO harsh chemicals, artifical colors/dyes, or fragrance. 


I really love this cream. It really does feel amazing on the skin, its very lightweight and feels almost buttery on your face- legit as if you were putting water on your skin- but water if it was a lotion. I may be a bit biased as I genuinely love everything from the Simple Water Boost line- once I realized that I was having under eye wrinkles and lines from dehydration- this brand was the only one that had products that fell into my price range at the moment and they seriously delivered. I use this moisturizer as the penultimate step in my routine when I seal my face with an emollient for extra hydration and care. If I’m not doing that- its used as my last step and it really does do what it says it should do. When I wake up in the morning, my skin is incredibly soft, not peeling and flaky like usually when I am too tired to do my full routine. My skin looks bright, awake and I can really tell a difference from when I’m using it vs when I don’t. Before I used to just use the Cerave Moisturizing Lotion but that didn’t feel like it was enough. This however gives my skin that added hit of suppleness, hydration and moisture that lasts legitimately all night. I love how affordable it is- I am not working right now and definitely can’t afford buying all of those fancy products people love or recommend as their holy grails- so finding a product like this that works probably just as good if not BETTER for less is amazing. 


Things to consider:
It says it is safe dor sensitive skin however I noticed that when I use this without layering another moisturizer under it- it can itch or sting my face a bit. Make sure to always read the ingredients list prior incase you have any level of sensitivities. It can also be due to the different scents this cream comes in.
Price is very expensive- I lucked out and got a huge one at Marshalls which sells beauty items at discounted prices. But to purchase even a small size of this cream can run you a pretty penny. 

*PURCHASED with my own money

FIRST AID BEAUTY ULTRA REPAIR CREAM INTENSE HYDRATION


Claims: Fast absorbing, rich moisturizer that treats dryness, fine lines/wrinkles, redness, eczema. Colloidal Oatmeal is used to soothe, smooth and hydrate. All skin types can use but recommended mainly for dry-normal skin. Gluten, nut, soy, alcohol, artificial fragrance, mineral oil, paraben, formaldehyde, petrolatum, cruelty FREE. 


So I was able to pick up this bad boy at Marshalls for a steal. I went with the honeysuckle scent which personally I find delicious. There are versions of this cream with no added elements that enhance a scent though. The consistency is really nice, its much fluffier and lighter than I expected given its supposed to be very rich and moisturzing. It doesn’t feel greasy at all, which is a big thing for me- especially since I use this cream on my hands and elbows too. I hate the feeling of having leftover product on my fingers, and its true that this product absorbs incredibly fast so there’s no residue. I use this when I mess up my skin barrier (we’ve all been there!) and it makes my skin heal so much faster than it could on its own. Its so soothing. I put this cream in the fridge and applying it while cold is unlike anything else- it feels so good and my skin cries of happiness when I use it that way. A little goes a LONG way- I’ve had this cream for at least a year now and it is barely at the half way mark, still fresh and good without any issues of expiration. It’s definitely a top product for me when it comes to my very dry, irritated skin. 


Things to consider:
Though it’s advertised to people with sensitive skin- I would be careful- it did sting upon first time use and I was debating taking it off early because the stinging refused to stop and got very uncomfortable. I gave it another chance however and there has been no stinging to report since. 
While my skin does feel soothed and hydrated, weirdly enough after using it- it can make your face feel a bit tight. It was strange because my skin looked much better- less inflamed, rough, and flaky, and I felt hydrated but still tight. 
While I like the product and will continue to use it while I have it- I definitely won’t be running to purchase it again. There are far more soothing products out there that don’t give me that kind of tightness. 

*PURCHASED with my own money 

ACURE SERIOUSLY SOOTHING BLUE TANSY JELLY MASK


Claims: Soothe and balance dry skin with the help of hyaluronic acid, blue tansy oil, blueberry extract, seaweed, eggplant, tulsi, and turmeric. Paraben, sulfate, mineral oil, petrolatum, formaldehyde, cruelty FREE. Recommended for normal to sensitive skin types. 


So- Acure is a brand I really like, especially their seriously soothing line as my skin gets so dry and flaky in the winter, it burns and peels a bit and feels so rough. Their blue tansy serum stick is one of my HG products, so I thought a mask of the same/similar formulation would be up my alley. Verdict? Yes and no. The consistency of this mask is definitely a jelly, it is a bit harder to handle- I wish it came with a little stick or spoon. But it spreads easily/nicely on the skin once you’re able to get a nice amount in your hand. The smell is earthy/herbal-y, which can turn some people off (I really enjoy it personally!) but it goes away once the product is on your face. I would say that my skin was definitely soothed and feeling much better after using this mask for 10-15 minutes. It looked less inflamed, felt less rough and patchy, and seemed hydrated.


Things to consider:
The hilarious fact that it claims to be non greasy/shiny in the packaging but as you can tell from my photos/video- it is very shiny and very greasy. It has a gross, almost slippery feel to it.
The smell is very pungently chemical. I accidentally got it in my mouth and the taste would not go away. It was very unpleasant.
It sits on top of the skin and doesn’t set in at all, even after 30 minutes or more of waiting. It creates a film on the skin that feels borderline sticky.
I could not successfully apply makeup over this. My makeup was slipping around and wouldn’t stay on my face- like it would break apart, pull and pill on my skin- which never happens.
It is now a discontinued product- as of january 2022- and good thing! Definitely not worth it.

*PURCHASED with my own money. 

Hello!

NEUTROGENA ULTRA SHEER FACE AND BODY SUNSCREEN STICK SPF 70

Claims: UVA/UVB broad spectrum protection. Weightless, hands free, no mess, non greasy/shiny finish. 

I’m going to be real here- I dont have anything really nice to say about this product. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who is looking for a sunscreens stick to carry around with them. The only pro is the amount- 1.5 oz is huge when it comes to sunscreen sticks, especially for the price. I wish more sunscreen sticks were fairly priced with more product. There is also no white cast which is nice. 


Some ‘cons’ to be aware of (these aren’t deal breakers for me but can be for others!)-

A little goes a VERY long way. Be careful not to put too much on if you want to avoid looking greasy. It can look shiny/greasy before it really sinks in- but the glow it leaves is amazing. 
The more you use- the longer it takes to set into the skin- It is not a product that just sinks into the skin in 30 seconds to a minute. Right now I use this product and layer another serum over it that is compatible with it to help seal it in and quicken the overall drying time so that my routine goes faster. On its own though, it can take 5 minutes or so, even longer if you’ve overdone it (which I’ve done plenty of times before!)
Be mindful of the products you use with this- I noticed that it can pill sometimes depending on what you use- I have had this issue mostly when I use a vitamin C. 
The packaging does not include the ingredients list. I do not remember if the box it comes in has the list, but for the actual product- I had to go on the website to read through everything to make sure I was getting a product that’s ingredients matched its claims. 
You can put this in the fridge but please don’t freeze it. I read somewhere that you could put it in the freezer, so I tried it and welp…. the product lost its coloring and became far more brittle. It was still usable and felt nice on the skin, but the overall quality deteriorated quicker.


*PURCHASED with my own money

Hello! 

This is my first review so I hope you all enjoy.

ACURE SERIOUSLY SOOTHING BLUE TANSY SERUM STICK

Claims: Stick it to dry skin with this combo of blue tansy oil, grape seed oil, and hylauronic acid. The Goal? Soothing Hydration. Recommended for normal to sensitive skin types. Can be applied to the face and neck, as well as kept in cool temperatures for a refreshing application. This product is mineral oil, paraben, sulfate, petrolatum, formaldehyde, and cruelty FREE.


Personally- this is a holy grail product for me. I absolutely love it and it has done wonders for my incredibly dry skin. I love the smell- I would describe it as earthy/more on the herbal side but not so strong that you want to gag, nor does the scent last for very long after application. I apply it in sections on my face as a little goes a long way- mainly to my t-zone as well as my neck. I put it on my lips… I even apply it on my under eyes over my eye cream- kind of strange but it really helps lock it in and keeps my dehydration wrinkles at bay. I also like using this product after I have messed up my skin barrier a bit- you know how it is with peels and the like!- it heals my face right up in record time. It gives you such a beautiful glow, even my twin brother who knows nothing about skin care always stops me when I’ve used this product to ask me what I’ve done with my face. It works well under makeup and sunscreen, I haven’t had any problems so far. I find that it gives my skin such an incredible lit from within glow under my makeup and helps my skin look plump for longer. I really love the convenience of the stick, it’s very travel friendly. I usually just pop this in my purse and use it mostly on my lips when I’m out and about to help with dryness and irritation. I also LOVE keeping it in the fridge- the feeling you get in the morning when you pop this bad boy on is like…. a kiss from a yeti, or something equally as cooling and magical! Hehehe. 


Overall it is honestly a product I can’t live without- my skin is very sensitive now since being diagnosed with lupus- I get all kinds of redness or skin lesions, reactions to random ingredients that never bothered my skin before, itchiness, flakiness, the WORKS- and this product has been nothing but a joy to use on my face. 


rissamatis