Product Review: Tinted Moisturizer spf 50

Physician's Formula Healthy Wear Tinted Moisturizer


Price: $14.99
Source: CVS
Shade: Ivory to Light (palest of 4 shades)
Rating: 1 out of 5






Manufacturer claims:

1. Claim: Delivers maximum SPF 50 broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection while providing sheer and natural-looking color.  (Reality: Neither sheer nor natural looking)
2. Claim: Protects- SPF Boosters and Mineral-based ingredients provide SPF 50 protection without residue or greasiness. (Reality: Thick and sticky feeling, despite being oil free, but this thickness would give good sun protection.)
3. Claim: Prevents - Potent antioxidant blend helps prevent future UV damage and premature signs of aging. (Reality: I can't dispute or verify this claim)
4. Claim: Restores- Licorice Extract & Tomato Derivatives help brighten skin and diminish the appearance of sun spots. (Reality: I can't dispute or verify this claim)

Ingredients:
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: OCTINOXATE 7.5%, OCTOCRYLENE 5.0%, TITANIUM DIOXIDE 8.5%, ZINC OXIDE 2.94%
INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, WATER, STYRENE/ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, CAPYRLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, SD ALCOHOL 40, C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, HEPTYL UNDECYLENATE, LECITHIN, PEG/PPG -20/15 DIMETHICONE, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, C12-16 ALCOHOLS, DIACETYL BOLDINE, DIMETHICONE/METHICONE COPOLYMER, DISODIUM EDTA, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, GELATIN, GENISTEIN, GLYCYRRHETINIC ACID, ALPHA LIPOIC ACID, MAGNESIUM ALUMINUM SILICATE, PALMITIC ACID, PEG-12 GLYCERYL DIMYRISTATE, POLYGLYCERYL-3 PALMITATE, POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, RETINYL PALMITATE, SILICA DIMETHYL SILYLATE, SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM (TOMATO) FRUIT EXTRACT, SQUALANE, SUCROSE, TOCOPHEROL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, TRIETHANOLAMINE, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, UBIQUINONE, XANTHAN GUM, ZEA MAYS (CORN) STARCH, ETHYLENE BRASSYLATE, PHENOXYETHANOL MAY CONTAIN: IRON OXIDES, TITANIUM DIOXIDE

Ivory to Light? It matches my copper freckles!

Pros:  Fragrance free, paraben free. non-irritating, non-comedogenic. oil-free, very high SPF.

Cons: Heavier coverage than any foundation I've ever tried, feels sticky, makes your face shiny, color shade and depth is drastically off, ingredients list literally makes aerosol artificial cheese spray look natural by comparison.

Is it safe?

How do you know if your beauty product is safe?  The FDA doesn't regulate them well if at all, and even the EU can't be expected to do immensely better.  The old adage "Buyer Beware" seems fitting.

The folks at Skin Deep have been researching and chemically testing products and ingredients for a while now.  They have whole products and individual ingredients listed, detailed, and rated for hazard level based on evidence of safety or toxicity (and what kind).

Before you buy, check it out on Skin Deep's Cosmetic Safety Review
THEN decide whether it's worth it.

Product Review: Covergirl Outlast Lipstain

Covergirl Outlast Lipstain
Price: $7.99
Store: Target
Overall Rating: 1 out of 5


Marketed to be a long-wearing stain for the lips that wont rub off and doesn't cover up your lip's natural texture. Apply to clean dry lips.

Sulfate-Free FAQ

Most people wash their hair... and their feet.... and everything in-between. Have you ever wondered what is in soap that makes it so foamy and good at removing oil and dirt? At least 90% of store-bought detergent products contain sulfates to do just this. What are they? And mainly, why should you care?

Angry Skin

Sensitivity vs. Allergy

When your skin becomes itchy, stinging, bumpy, or peely it can seem like splitting hairs to define whether you have an allergy or sensitivity. Both are caused by a hypersensitive immune system reacting to normally harmless substances.  However, when it comes to treating and preventing reactions, the distinction makes a big difference.

Hypo-BS

"Hypo" , meaning low or much reduced and "BS", meaning un-truth.

As of  September, 2010 in the United States, there is no current Federal standard governing the use of the terms "hypo-allergenic", "for sensitive skin", or "dermatologist tested".  In 1974 the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) attempted to create regulations for the term "Hypoallergenic" to restrict its use to products which proved significantly fewer allergic reactions in human trials. Ultimately, manufacturers claiming potential hardship prevented this minimal definition from becoming law; Clinique and Almay being the biggest objectors. Further attempts have been made more recently, all ending in failure on behalf of the FDA. In essence, a company can fill a product with toxins and allergens and still legally label it as hypoallergenic. The same applies for the label "For Sensitive Skin".

Product Review: Healthy Wear Foundation

Physician's Formula Healthy Wear 
SPF 50 mineral powder foundation

Price: $14.50
Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: CVS Pharmacy
Shade: Translucent Light

SPF 50 UVA/UVB coverage
Not Animal Tested