My skin has gone nuts again. I had a reaction to a sheetmask I used on Monday evening and my face was bumpy, red, flaky and utterly disgusting for most of the week. To make matters worse, I had some bad food allergies about two weeks ago and a spate of spotty red rashes appeared across my neck. Both face and neck are starting to look and feel better, so I'm just a little reassured that I can continue with beauty blogging for a bit.
I've been trying out a few new sunscreens recently. Sadly, a number of them didn't work on me. I also discovered that my face cannot tolerate anything with SPF50 and above. Each time I use such a product, I always get a very tight and itchy feeling. I honestly do not know what causes this sensation but I am definitely staying away from anything that will aggravate my sensitive skin.
I use sunscreen daily so it's important to find something that works. I was doing a little digging around my stash on Friday and came across an unopened bottle of Dr. Ci:Labo UV & White Moisture Milk SPF30 PA++. I remembered using this product a year ago and quite liking it but obviously forgot I had purchased a backup.
Product Description:
Protection Milk is a sun block that helps to both cut UV rays as well as care for damaged skin cells. It contains the skin brightening substance arbutin (which works on the causes of blotches and freckles), as well as containing marine collagen and hyaluronan to protect and moisturize skin subjected to drying from UV rays. It contains no perfumes, coloring, mineral oils or UV ray absorbing substances.
Price: RM142 (at time of purchase last year, not sure if the price is still the same)
Packaging:
The Moisture Milk comes in a plastic 30ml bottle with a plastic twist-cap in a little box. It has a nozzle dispenser that allows you to control the amount you squirt out.
My Thoughts:
As my skin is dehydrated with a tendency to get a little flaky (even without allergies), I tend to prefer moisturising or lotion type sunscreens. This Moisture Milk fits the bill quite nicely because it feels rather comfortable on my skin and seems to sufficiently hydrate it without that oil-slick feeling. I still use my regular moisturiser below because I'm in air-conditioned or dry environments most of the time and my skin needs the extra goop.
It has a cream-gel consistency that applies and absorbs fairly easily. It goes on as an invisible veil and will not leave a white cast. It does not have any discernible smell, which is good for those who are sensitive to fragrance.
The above photo was taken with flash after spreading out the product and for those who do not want any shimmery bits or strange white / grey casts in their sunscreens, the Dr. Ci:Labo Moisture Milk is a good option. Mind you, it is not a cheap option but good nonetheless.
I can't remember why I stopped using this sunscreen last year but I think I was more than halfway through a bottle. I probably just moved on to more exciting things. Aren't we all a little guilty of getting distracted when something new and flashy comes to town?
Pros:
- Comfortable and lightweight sunscreen.
- Can double-up as a moisturiser for oilier skin types.
- No white cast.
- Contains arbutin to help brighten skin.
- Has a few moisturising ingredients to help hydrate skin.
- SPF30 is sufficient for those living in the tropics but spend most of the time indoors.
- Travel friendly size.
Cons:
- Considered expensive.
- Contains silicones and may be comedogenic. Be sure to cleanse your face well when using this sunscreen... or any sunscreen, for that matter.
- May not be sufficient protection when involved in lots of outdoor activities or water sports.
Ingredient List:
Cyclopentasiloxane, Water, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Silica, Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, Red Algae Extract, Brown Algae Extract, Green Algae Extract, Hydrolyzed Yeast, Royal Jelly Extract, Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Extract, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Melissa Officinalis (Balm Mint) Leaf Extract, Licorice Extract, Tocopherol, Glycine, Arginine, Stearyl Dimethicone, Triethoxysilylethyl Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Hexyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol
Availability:
Dr. Ci:Labo products are available at Isetan The Gardens and KLCC. You can also order online (if in Singapore or Malaysia) from their website at http://www.ci-labo.com.sg/.
