Today, I am going to talk about a few products that I’ve tried, and I don’t really care about. All of these products either underwhelmed me or were completely useless. You could call it an empties post, but I couldn’t finish all of these products as they were just disappointing.

Alverde – Reinigungsmilch Perfekter Teint Gel-to-Milk Reinigungsgel

In general, I like DM products; some of them are my favourites like the clay cleanser from my last post. So whenever I have the opportunity to try something new from DM, I pick something that appeals to me. As with this product, the concept itself is quite interesting, oil that turns into milk. Essentially gel of an oily texture that emulsifies upon contact with water, which is supposed to help you remove whatever you need to. The special ingredient in this product is Hoya lacunosa also known as a waxflower or wax plant. I wonder if the weird texture can be attributed to the use of this plant. The product wouldn’t be that bad if not for the fragrance. There are heaps of it, and you can smell it. When I wash my face with this cleanser, I can still smell its fragrance after a second cleanse with a different cleanser. It’s that strong, and it even irritates my skin. It’s just a no. I use it to remove my body sunscreen.

INGREDIENTS: Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil*, Sucrose Stearate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil*, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil*, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract*, Hoya Lacunosa Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Aqua, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Parfum**, Limonene**, Linalool**, Citronellol** *ingredients from certified organic agriculture ** from natural essential oils (dm.de)

It costs €2.45 for 100 ml available at all DM’s shops.

SKIN79 – Phyto-Hyaluron Foam Cleanser

I received this one in a beauty box from Yesstyle a couple of months ago (my review). From the entire box, beside the makeup, it’s one product that I like the least. This cleanser appears to me like a copy of Hada Labo Tokyo Cleanser (review). Even the name indicates it ‘hyaluron foam cleanser’ what else could they copy other than the product itself. Well, upon squeezing out of the tube they seem quite similar, and when you start rubbing them in your hands, you would think they are the same product. However, when it comes to the cleansing process itself and the after-feel, they are completely different products. Let me start by saying that this product may not seem too bad at first. It has a lot of moisturising ingredients, plant extracts, and ceramide NP (III). However, when you wash your face with it, it isn’t that great. To remove sunscreen, I had to use the product twice in order to feel satisfied. This cleanser leaves an unpleasant layer on the skin, a layer that many foaming cleansers do, like The Body Shop’s Drops Of Light™ Pure Clarifying Foam Wash. For which I blame the high amount of myristic acid in these two products. It makes you feel dirtier than before washing. Also, this Skin79 cleanser stings my eyes like hell, so you have to be extra careful, believe me, some strong words were involved. For me, it’s a total fail. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone; it’s just not worth it.

Ingredients available on COSDNA.

The SKIN79 Phyto-Hyaluron Foam Cleanser retails for about €15 at Yesstyle.com.

Darphin – Intral Serum & Toner

I can’t say much about these two. I’ve finished the serum pretty quickly because it was a small bottle and the serum was hydrating. However, the toner took me much longer, the biggest 200ml of toner in my life. It took forever to finish. These products are hydrating, and that’s all they have to offer.
Based on some plant extracts like chamomile, polysaccharides, and in the case of the serum panthenol. Darphin promised us ‘[a] high potency, soothing serum [that] helps reduce the appearance of redness and instantly quiet discomforts associated with irritated skin.’ (darphin.com)
Where did they get that from? Instantly, you won’t get much from this serum or the toner. At most, a decent level of hydration and that’s all. With continuous usage, you will get some redness reduction, but nothing exciting. There is a lot of hype around these products, and I am asking why?! These two are nothing, but an over-fragranced serum and water with a few soothing ingredients. If you want to use these products for the chamomile extract, then make yourself chamomile infusion and put it into a spray bottle. For the rest use one of Bioderma’s moisturisers. They also like to use polysaccharides, panthenol and antioxidants, in more affordable and skin-friendly formulations. For example, this toner is the reason why dermatologists will tell you that you don’t need toners. It’s fragranced water with no proper benefits. Are these products worth their price tags? – hell no.

Serum ingredients: Aqua, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa (Peony) Root Extract, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Crataegus Monogina Flower Extract, Panthenol, Glycosaminoglycans, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Yeast Extract/Faex/Extrait de Levure, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cellulose Gum, Glycereth-26, Fragrance (Parfum), Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Disodium Edta, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Red 4 (CI 14700), Ext.Violet 2 (CI 17200), Blue 1 (CI 42090). (cocooncenter.co.uk)

Toner ingredients: Aqua, Pentylene Glycol, Crataegus Monogina Flower Extract, Chamomila Recutita Flower Extract, Alteromanas Ferment Extract, Ppg-26-Buteth-26, Peg 40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Benzophenone-4, Fragrance (Parfum), Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Disodium Edta, Sodium Benzoate, Red 4 (CI 14 700), Ext. Violet 2 (CI 60 730). (cocooncenter.co.uk)

The serum (not pictured as I threw away the bottle after finishing) retails for about €50 for 30ml, and the toner is about €20 for 200 ml at any French pharmacy.

COSRX – BHA Blackhead Power Liquid

This product is another hype, and I don’t get why, but at least it wasn’t fragranced. CosRx have a couple of good products, but this isn’t one. I mean it isn’t that bad it has a BHA, betaine salicylate, which is gentler than other forms. It also contains niacinamide, willow bark water, sodium hyaluronate, and panthenol. All great, but the product itself doesn’t deliver on the promise. I didn’t find it to be very exfoliating nor helping with blackheads. I would say it’s not worth the time. I’ve used it up, but I won’t repurchase.

Ingredients: Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Water, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Niacinamide, Betaine Salicylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Ethyl Hexanediol (yesstyle.com)

It costs about €20 at Yesstyle.com.

Obagi – CLENZIderm M.D. Pore Therapy Salicylic Acid 2% Acne Treatment

I purchased this toner after reading an article, in which one of well-known, in the beauty world, British dermatologists claimed to offer it to her patients. Having finished the entire bottle, I am inclined to believe that it was an advertorial or she must be offering crappy products to her patients.
This toner contains 2% salicylic acid, and that’s all good about it. There’s a large amount of alcohol in this product. Alcohol is normal in acids toners, but they could have cut a lot on it. Worse, it’s filled with menthol; I could feel it for a really long time after applying the toner. I don’t remember using a product with such a high amount of menthol as this one. I’d used it a couple of times on my face, but then I finished it off on my body. It was just horrible. Not to forget, there’s quite a bit of fragrance to mask it all and, of course, a dye. The results were poor; I can’t say it helped much or anything. It was drying, that I can say for sure.
I mean, if a dermatologist that doesn’t charge little for a visit offered me this product, I wouldn’t be happy…. It’s just a no, don’t buy and don’t approach. Instead, get yourself Stridex pads (reviewed here), which are much better, much cheaper.

Active ingredients: Salicylic acid 2%, Inactive ingredients: benzalkonium chloride, benzyl alcohol, ethoxydiglycol, ext. D&C Violet 2, fragrance, glycerin, menthol, menthoxypropanediol, menthyl lactate, SD alcohol 40-B (alcohol denat.), water (From Amazon.com, in alphabetical order after the active ingredient.)

This product retails for US $39, available from Amazon.com.

The Body Shop – Vitamin E Aqua Boost Essence Lotion

I’ve picked this one because I like the Vitamin E Face Mist. I hoped to like this one, as it contains bio-fermented hyaluronic acid, which made me think of Asian fermented essences, though it isn’t the same thing. It includes a lot of emollients and hydrating ingredients, antioxidants I mean full-on essence. I’d actually enjoyed it at the beginning, but then the texture started to grow on me. It’s thick and viscous, not as watery as an essence-type product should be. The smell peeves me, though not too strong, and I just don’t enjoy the essence anymore. The hydration that this essence delivers is mediocre. I won’t repurchase.

Ingredients: Water (Solvent), Glycerin (Humectant), Propanediol (Viscosity Controlling Agent), Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract (Skin Conditioning Agent), Phenoxyethanol (Preservative), Caprylyl Glycol (Skin Conditioning Agent), Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer (Stabiliser/Viscosity Modifier), PPG-26-Buteth-26 (Emulsifying Agent), Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil (Skin Conditioning Agent – Emollient), Tocopheryl Acetate (Antioxidant), Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil/Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil (Emollient), Potassium Hydroxide (pH Adjuster), Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer (Emulsifying Agent), PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil (Emulsifying Agent), Betaine (Hair Conditioning Agent), Disodium EDTA (Chelating Agent), Sodium Hyaluronate (Humectant), Xanthan Gum (Viscosity Controlling Agent), Isohexadecane (Emollient/Solvent), Carbomer (Stabiliser/Viscosity Modifier), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder (Skin Conditioning Agent – Humectant), Polysorbate 80 (Surfactant), Sodium Citrate (pH Adjuster), Parfum/Fragrance (Fragrance Ingredient), PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate (Emulsifying Agent), Trideceth-6 (Surfactant – Emulsifying Agent), Sorbitan Oleate (Emulsifying Agent), Benzyl Benzoate (Fragrance Ingredient), Hydroxycitronellal (Fragrance Ingredient), Citric Acid (pH Adjuster), Biotin (Skin Conditioning Agent). (thebodyshop.com)

This essence retails for about €15 (some countries are charged more some less in Europe – why?) at any TBS shop or online.

Decléor Harmonie Calm Relaxing Milky Gel-cream for Eyes

Well, this is a huge disappointment. No wonder why many people do not offer using an eye cream as many of them do not work at all. This is the case here. Decléor promised hydration, reduction of dark circles, and soothing effect. I couldn’t notice any, despite finishing nearly the entire tube. It was an utter waste of time and money. Looking at reviews online I am not the only one. I wouldn’t bother at all; any other moisturiser will bring better results.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua),Pentylene Glycol,PEG-6,PEG-32,Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter),Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water,Butylene Glycol,Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Oil,Siloxanetriol Alginate,Dimethicone,Panthenol,Sodium Polyacrylate,Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Peel Oil,Rosa Damascena Flower Oil,Rosa Damascena Flower Extract,Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract,Betula Alba Bark Extract,Scrophularia Nodosa Extract,Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract,Lilium Candidum Flower Extract,Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract,Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil,Gossypium Herbaceum (Cotton) Seed Oil,Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil,Dipropylene Glycol,Glycerin,Cottonseed Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters,Potassium Hydroxide,Tocopherol,Caffeine,Biosaccharide Gum-1,Steareth-20,Cetearyl Glucoside, Glycolipids,Sclerotium Gum,Glyceryl Stearate SE,Xanthan Gum,Ethylhexylglycerin,N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Linalool ,Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol (lookfantastic.com)

It costs about €30 in France.