Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Skin Balancing Lotion Sunscreen SPF15 Review

WHAT IS IT: Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Skin Balancing Lotion Sunscreen SPF15

THE PRODUCT(S):

Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Skin Balancing Lotion Sunscreen SPF15: Creating a Visible Difference in your skin means giving it the right amount of hydration and protection all day. This gentle, oil-free lotion helps protect skin from UVA/UVB rays while providing the right amount of hydration all day long. Our special Alpha/Beta Hydroxy Compound also works to refine, and retexturize skin.

It looks thick and creamy here, since it's a lotion instead of a serum.

Luckily, it didn't take long for the product to be massaged into the skin thoroughly.

VERDICT: This product has a very light and mild scent to it, which I actually find surprising considering that Elizabeth Arden is a expensive brand. In fact, one of the most expensive samples I've ever tried, test and review so far. I was somehow expecting a heavy lingering scent to it, so scent-wise, it didn't really disappoint at all. Texture and consistency wise, despite the appearance looking really rich, thick and creamy, the consistency itself is actually runny like liquid lotion. No matter how you look at it, lotion is better than cream in terms of "spreadabliity" on the skin surface. Upon initial application, the product feels a little sticky on my skin. But the sticky feeling went away after a while and ends up making my skin felt hydrated and supple.

As I personally have combination skin-type with the usual overly oily nose and shiny as heck forehead if I pull/comb my hair back, I find that this product is actually hydrating enough for my skin. At least an hour before I stepped out of my house this afternoon to get to work, I start by using a boosting essence on my skin. Then let it sit for 15 minutes, after which I apply this Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Skin Balancing Lotion Sunscreen SPF15 since the late afternoon sun is actually quite harsh for a pale skintone person like me. Plus, I just wanted to take advantage of the "SPF15" it promised. Next, I let it settle on my skin for another 15 mintues before touching up with my L'Occitane Angelica Lemon Ultra Matte Fluid and finally my new skincare BFF, LUS Aqua Source Cream from The Skin Shop to seal everything up on my skin.

As I tend to have combination/oily skin as per mentioned, I always find my skin looking like a sebum field after a half day work. Not that I didn't use a moisturizer on my skin before putting on makeup, but then, my skin is rather angsty at some point or another. Midway through work, I went to take a peek on my face and only noticed really minimal oily looking spots. Oily spots is probably the wrong term anyway, as I saw that only part of my nose and forehead look as if I forgot to apply foundation powder on my face. And all I need to do during break-time is to simply touch just a teeny weeny little bit and my face look so matte throughout the night.

Even as I reached home past midnight after working under a bright glaring spotlight at my counter, my skin still look so matte and fresh without any makeup caking nor flaking at all. I am actually impressed that this product help prevent my skin looking so oily like a field of sebum. Something that I always encounter on a daily basis at work. And all this time, I probably could have had matte-looking skin throughout an entire workday with this product as compared to other moisturizers I've tried and used in the past. The good thing is that this product doesn't overly promised, only to end up failing to deliver. Instead, it worked without having to brag too much for it's product description. Something that really amaze me.

VERDICT: ✓✓✓

WHAT I THINK: Finally! Matte-looking skin after a day's work, with the barest minimal touch-up during break-time. Normally, I had to apply foundation all over my face to blot out the sebum after half a day at work. But after using this, I only need to touch up a little portion of my nose and forehead. Just the most minimal touch-up with foundation, that I swear.

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: I can't recall how exactly I got this sample. But I'm definitely happy and glad I got this sample as out of the 3 samples, I've already tried and tested 2 of them and I am quite happy with the results. If you are curious, just pop by any Elizabeth Arden counters and ask for the Visible Difference line/range samples to try.

Why not like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PuNiaosProductReviews to be informed of latest samples I found, which is duly updated? Also includes updates to health, beauty & lifestyle tips at least once a day. It will definitely save you the trouble of having to hunt them down :)

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Banana Boat Ultra Protect Sunscreen Lotion SPF/UVB 50 PA+++ Review

WHAT IS IT: Banana Boat Ultra Protect Sunscreen Lotion SPF/UVB 50 PA+++

THE PRODUCT(S):

Banana Boat Ultra Protect Sunscreen Lotion SPF/UVB 50 PA+++: All Banana Boat general protection products have AvoTriplex technology that protects you from UVB that cause sunburn, and UVA that causes long term skin damages, in a sheer feel lotion that’s long-lasting and effective. Enriched with Vitamin C & E, it is sheer, lightweight, non-greasy . Quick absorption, Ultra-Protect Sunscreen Lotion contains Aloe Vera and Vitamin E keeps skin “hydrated” while protecting from the sun.

Although it looks really rich and creamy, I personally find that this sunscreen lotion isn't greasy at all. The downside is the scent, which seems a little chemical-y for my liking.

VERDICT: The scent of this sunscreen lotion smells a little chemical-like, although I am thankful that the scent isn't that strong. Majority of sunscreen products I've tried and used smells really "funky" (read: yucky) when applied and to top it off, it's so greasy that I only use it once and not anymore. Although this sunscreen lotion have the typical chemical-like scent that I'm personally not too fond of, I find that it actually does work for me.

Personally, I find my skin burning up slightly if I'm under the hot sun for even as short as 30 minutes to an hour. Next thing I know, I'll be scratching since it hurts my skin. And some sunscreen lotion brands that I've used when I was little just smelled so darn yucky that I actually put off applying sunscreen before stepping out of the house. But luckily, Banana Boat has some samples that I previously gotten. (I've forgotten where and how did I redeemed the Banana Boat samples :/ )

30 minutes prior to stepping out of my house into the blistering sun in Singapore, I'll generously apply this sunscreen lotion on areas of my skin that will unfortunately be exposed to the sun. And the moment I stepped out, there's no burning sensation on my skin at all. And the "protection" lasted as long as I needed to get to my workplace and into the shade, which almost happens under an hour's time. Lucky for me though, since the moment I reached my workplace, the sun decided to go into hiding for no apparent reason. Which makes me under the hot sun for less than 30 minutes in total.

Despite the sunscreen lotion looking all thick, rich and creamy and it actually takes a short while to fully massage the sunscreen lotion into the screen, I found that the lotion itself isn't that greasy nor oily at all. As I typically only use sunscreen lotion on my arms and occasionally, my legs, I didn't encounter any skin irritation immediately and hours after application. And there were no bad after-effects days after usage too. Instead, my skin somehow looks a little more hydrated and moisturized immediately after application.

And remember the scent that I mentioned earlier? It was nauseating at all, and since my arms and legs don't sweat that much at all, it still didn't leave that greasy or oily feeling/sensation as well. Basically, my 4 limbs aren't that prone to sweating, at most, it'll just turn slightly red like as if it's sunburnt. Although I have to admit that proloonged unintentional tanning actually darkens the top of my arm, while the underside looks pale like fish though :(

VERDICT: ✓✓✓

WHAT I THINK: Despite the scent, I'll still give it a 3 tick ovation as the scent can easily be overlooked since it does it's job well and protected my sun-sensitive skin from feeling as if it's being slowly roasted and baked.

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: No sampling activity going on now.

Why not like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PuNiaosProductReviews to be informed of latest samples I found, which is duly updated? Also includes updates to health, beauty & lifestyle tips at least once a day. It will definitely save you the trouble of having to hunt them down :)

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