Anthony Logistics For Men Deep Pore Cleansing Clay (8.5/10)

Summary

Cons

• Effects not long lasting
• Ingredients separate in tube
• Doesn’t fight acne/blemishes consistently

Pros

• Nice citrus scent
• Oil-controlling
• Diminishes appearance of pores (size and blackheads)
• Great value

In-depth Review

One of the first higher-end skincare companies that I invested in was Anthony Logistics For Men. They have a great product range, a very high customer satisfaction ratio, and a great business philosophy (i.e. supports prostate cancer research, uses natural ingredients, etc.).

The Deep Pore Cleansing Clay was probably my first purchase from Anthony Logistics and it has served me well for four years. The product comes in a short squeeze tube that contains a bright, rust-red liquid that is in an easy to spread consistency and has a light citrus smell. I use this 1 to 2 times a week and its effects are immediate to very short term (1 to 2 days). First, the mask instantly gives you smoother, softer skin right after you wash it off. Second, my pores, especially on my nose, are noticeably smaller and breakouts are reduced overnight. And third, oil on my face is drastically reduced for the following day or two.

The application of the clay is simple and may tingle (never stings) depending on how sensitive your skin is – it rarely tingles my skin. After 10 – 15 minutes I rinse it off and apply my moisturizer. One thing to keep in mind is that the bottles I have purchased in the last two years have been of a different consistency than that of my first two. Most notable is the runniness of the latter bottles that require some shaking to mix the ingredients before application – a minor setback.

Overall, I am very satisfied with the Deep Pore Cleansing Clay and see myself buying this product in the near future. A bottle does last 4 to 5 months so it is a very affordable product at ~$20 CAD. My only complaint is that its effects are so short-term, an issue that all masks suffer from!

Aveeno Positively Ageless Firming Body Lotion (9/10)

Summary

Cons

• Not very much product (227ml)

Pros

• Non-greasy
• Fast absorbing
• Subtle scent
• Packaging

In-depth Review

Aveeno hand/body lotions have always been a favorite of mine and my opinions do not change for its positively ageless firming body lotion.

The packaging is similar to bath and body works body lotions that come in a squeeze tube but the real highlight for this product is the formulation. The hydration that this lotion gives is just right without any greasy residue. It’s also very quickly absorbed into the skin and its scent lingers throughout the day but is very subtle and is very similar to the scent from other products in the positively ageless line.

This lotion is marketed as a firming body lotion however I did not see any prominent results. It does state that result will be evident in just 2 weeks (which is how long I’ve been using this lotion) however at 21 i’m guessing the effects will be harder to notice.

I use this lotion on my arms, legs and hands everyday and have used about a quarter of the tube. This was given to me as a gift so I’m not too sure on the pricing and the value of the product. As an everyday lotion however, this is my go-to product and I will most likely be repurchasing this.

Acne Solutions Clear Skin System Starter Kit (2/10)

Summary

Cons

• Drying
• Caused breakouts

Pros

• Reduces blackheads
• Affordable

In-depth Review

The starter kit from Clinique was perfect for me to try out their skincare line designed for acne prone skin. This kit is affordable and comes with 3 travel-sized products: cleansing foam, clarifying lotion, and clearing moisturizer. If I remember correctly, the lotion and moisturizer contain benzoyl peroxide while the cleanser contains salicylic acid.

My skin is combination oily in the cooler months and oily during the warmer ones. I bought and used the products in this kit during the winter. I had pretty bad acne at the time (combination of stress, not enough sleep, and hormones) however the use of this kit made my face much worse. My breakouts were more frequent and intense and my skin had become very dry. I tried using these products less frequently such as using the lotion every other day and the moisturizer only during the day however no combination of these products ultimately worked to better my skin.

I went so far as to try these products individually to see if there was a specific one that was reacting badly with my skin. Through my efforts, I found that the cleanser would occasionally break me out but it was the lotion that was causing the majority of my problems. The moisturizer didn’t do very much and it especially didn’t moisturize very well. I would very often have to apply another moisturizer on my face or would combine MAC fix+ with the lotion to avoid dry patches.

The entire kit lasted me 3 months and I was breaking out the entire time (I really wanted these products to work for my skin). I can’t remember why but I bought a full sized bottle of the cleansing foam again and used that for a couple of months. On it’s own, I didn’t break out nearly as much however it still wasn’t a better cleanser than the one I had been previously using (Aveeno Skin Clarifying Cleanser). I stopped using it a month after and it’s been untouched ever since.

As bad as my experience with Clinique’s Acne Solutions Starter Kit has been, these products (I can’t remember which one) did clean out my pores well and reduced my blackheads significantly. So in exchange for daily breakouts my pores were a little cleaner. Also, the cleanser did do a decent job of keeping my oil controlled throughout the day as I did mention that the acne line is very drying.

I will definitely not be repurchasing this kit or any product from Clinique’s acne line in the foreseeable future. Remember that the rating that I give this kit is based on how the products worked for my skin and not how they perform in general. Of course there are favourable reviews out there on these products or I wouldn’t have bought them in the first place. Hopefully, by providing some details on my skin, that will help you determine whether or not this kit is worth trying out.

MAC Fix+ (9/10)

**OCT UPDATE**

I've been using this as my daily moisturizer with surprising results. I've had significantly less breakouts and my skin does not have a layer of oil siting on top of my skin at the end of the day (which was what was happening with my Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel). It's now fall where I live so I'll soon see whether or not Mac's Fix+ can provide my skin with adequate moisture throughout the colder months.

Summary

Cons

• Cheap packaging

Pros

• Versatile
• Natural-looking finish

In-depth Review

I bought MAC’s Fix+ as an alternative to using powder to set my foundation. During the winter months I find that my face has more dry patches especially after applying a powder. I looked for other ways to set makeup and came across this product. By now there are several other brands that have similar products (Urban Decay, MUFE) but at the time MAC’s was the one that had an established fanbase.

The products packaging is not very impressive. I especially do not like the pump mechanism and wish that the droplets sprayed would be more fine. The product has a nice and refreshing scent however it does take some time to dry on the face. Using it to set your foundation, I find that three spritz is ideal. The product does need to be sprayed far from your face (at least an arm’s length away) as indicated in the instructions or it will dry to a sticky and shiny finish.

When applied properly, Fix+ does a good job of setting make up to a natural looking finish (not matte). I also use this product by spritzing my face before applying a moisturizer so that it will be absorbed into my skin better. Other reviewers have mentioned several other ways of using this product however these are the only two I find that work well for my skin and my routine.

This product isn’t too expensive (~$20 CAD) and it does last. I’m on the fence as to whether or not I will be repurchasing Fix+ mostly because it is a seasonal product for me. I may opt to try a similar product from a different brand when the time comes. This isn't a bad product byfar, it's just not as useful to me as it may be for others.

Clinique Non-Streak Bronzer (9/10)

Summary

Cons

• Smell
• No SPF

Pros

• Non-streaky/even coverage
• Little to no transfer
• Price
• Very buildable
• Very natural looking – doesn’t turn orange or ashy
• Multi-use

In-depth Review

The Clinique Non-Streak Bronzer is an affordable option for people looking for a more tan complexion without exposing themselves to harmful UV rays. I was looking for a matte bronzer for months however I was never satisfied with the finish (shimmer) or the color that many powdered bronzers gave. It’s very important to find a bronzer that matches the tone of your skin when you actually tan – not just buy into a product which is receiving rave reviews or is high-end. In my case, many of the bronzers I tried were either too harsh of a brown (not warm enough) or were unnoticeable on my face. I ended up purchasing Clinique’s Non-streak Bronzer ($18.50 CAD) because it had received positive reviews and because I was quite tired of looking for a bronzer.

The bronzer itself is packaged in a convenient squeeze tube and the formula of the product is perfect – not too runny, not too thick. It is important to mention that this bronzer is concentrated and should be mixed with your everyday moisturizer. It is because of this that a wide range of skin tones can use the bronzer as you can dilute the intensity of the bronzer with moisturizer. I used my Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel with this bronzer and the two mixed perfectly in a 2:3 ratio (I have a medium skin tone close to NC35). The product itself has a scent similar to suntan lotion – not the nicer smelling ones we have today – which is only bothersome when applying around the nose area, and even then, if you dislike that smell. Also if your moisturizer does have a scent, unlike mine, this will no doubt change your experience. The application of the bronzer is made easy as you can definitely see the places you have covered. Similar to applying foundation, I apply this product (with moisturizer) over my entire face, neck, and ears so that there are no distinctive lines. This product stains ever so slightly so using fingers to apply this product may not be the best choice (I don’t mind).

The staying power of this bronzer is remarkable. I rarely use this with a primer or powder because the product does stay on my face very well. It does not make my face any more oily than normal but it also doesn’t reduce oil. All in all, this product deepens the color of your skin as naturally as possible without changing any of your skin’s other attributes.

Because of the liquid nature of this bronzer – there are a multitude of ways this product can be used. For example, if you have a lighter liquid foundation that you may have bought in the winter season, you can use this bronzer to darken the tone. Also (I have yet to try this), you can use the concentrated product, without dilution, for contouring areas around the face for a more pronounced look – you will probably want to blend a small amount of this product in with a dense bronzer or kabuki brush.

I am very satisfied with this bronzer and will most likely be purchasing it again - unless I come across something even better. I’ve used this plenty of times this summer and I’m sure I’ll depend on this even more in the winter season.

DDF Sulfur Therapeutic Mask (4/10)

Summary

Cons

• Lingering smell
• Expensive
• Not very effective
• Doesn’t reduce acne scars or blackheads

Pros

• Reduces oil
• Fights acne

In-depth Review

After reading rave reviews about the DDF Sulfur Therapeutic Mask all over the web, I decided to splurge and spend the $42 (CAD) on the mask in hopes that it would clear my face of my persistence acne.

The tub packaging that this product comes in is welcomed as it gives you easy access to the thick paste, as opposed to a squeeze tube. The product is in the form of a white thick paste with a distinctive chemical smell. It can be used as an all-over face mask or a spot treatment (I only used this product as a mask). Applying the product to the face is simple however the paste is quite thick and so I end up using a lot more product to ensure that I have an even amount spread over my face. I avoid areas that are dry or more sensitive such as the corners of my nose because the product tends to make those areas dry, red, and itchy. I leave the mask on for 15 minutes. During that time, more so than other masks, you feel the mask tighten within 3-4 minutes, however unlike other masks that I have tried, there is no tingling effect on the skin. Once the mask has dried, it turns a yellowish/green color and you can definitely smell the sulfur. When it is time to rinse this mask off, it is best done in the shower because firstly, it is hard to rinse off and requires quite a lot of rubbing, and secondly, because the smell of sulfur really sticks to your skin and so a more prolonged rinse is better. Beware of getting this product into your eyes as it will cause them to sting and water for a considerable amount of time - trust me.

Immediately after rinsing and moisturizing, my face feels quite clean and refreshed, albeit not smelling the greatest. Often when I apply this mask before I sleep I awake with less sever acne. Specifically, the size of newer pimples is often reduced however acne scars and older, more persistent pimples remain unchanged. I haven’t noticed any changes to the size of my pores or the reduction of blackheads with 3 months of usage. Of course, this mask does help with reducing oil secretion for a max of 2 days (for me) however, masks that are available for half the cost can as well – I recommend Anthony Logistics Deep Pore Cleansing Clay Mask (~$25 CAD)

All in all, I will continue to use this product until it is finished (another 3 months) however I will not be repurchasing the DDF Sulfur Therapeutic Mask. My first DDF skincare product may very well be my last.

Smashbox High Definition Heathy FX Foundation Review (7.7/10)

Summary

Cons
• SPF causes very noticable shine in photographs
• Formula separates in tube – requires mixing when pumped out
• Not sweat proof

Pros
• Natural finish in daylight photographs
• Non-cakey
• Diverse shade selection
• Very little scent
• Sun protection - SPF 15
• Oil-Free

In-depth Review
My experience with Smashbox’s HD foundation has been quite variable. Being my first foundation I had no expectations however reviews were positive so I decided to make the purchase at Sephora.

The formula of this foundation is mediocre. Like I said previously, this is my first foundation and so I can’t compare to others however the consistency I found to be pretty good – not too runny and easy to blend – however it does have a tendency to be streaky, when applied with Smashbox’s own foundation brush; A few more brushstrokes will eliminate the streaks.

The foundation does have a distinctive scent to it however it is difficult to describe: nothing flowery, or fruity. It smells more like an everyday lotion but do not fret, the scent dissipates after 5 minutes of application. The finish of the foundation is quite flat/matte looking. I often have to apply a bronzer to give some natural definition to my face.

I have quite oily skin, so when looking for a foundation I make sure that its formula is oil-free. Nonetheless, this foundation does make my skin quite oily at the end of the day (I’d say it get’s noticeable after 4-5 hours). I haven’t experienced the foundation to slip on my skin, as oily as it sometimes gets, however what does cause it to slip is excessive sweating. More than likely, if you’re going to wear this foundation to go clubbing, or any other sweat-inducing activity, it’ll slide off almost completely within 1.5 to 2 hours (obviously depending on how much you sweat)

The real downfall for this product (for me) is its inability to photograph well in pictures with flash. This foundation does have an SPF of 15 which will cause you to appear extra reflective in photographs when a flash is used. Of course you can use less of a flash or no flash at all however sometimes it’s a must. My experience has been quite bad as I have often looked much more oily in photographs than I actually am, due to the light-reflecting properties of the active ingredients found in the foundation. On the flip side however, this foundation can be great for a daytime look when flash isn’t needed for your photographs – or when no photographs are being taken. The SPF makes it an excellent choice for days out in the sun as you know you’ll be getting some protection from harmful UV rays.

One pump is typically all I need to cover my entire face. I’ve had this foundation for seven months and I’ve used a little over a quarter of the tube. I do use this foundation sparingly (perhaps once a week?)

Overall, as my first foundation, Smashbox’s HD foundation is quite good however it does not suit my purposes. I will not be purchasing this again and will most likely go for a foundation with no SPF such as Make Up For Ever’s Mat Velvet +.