Artfully Feminine

You know, I've quite taken to participating in these 'Blogger Challenge's' because it gives me an outlet to try out products I'd never pick up otherwise, and more importantly, it sets a deadline for me to get down and start blogging again. :) Anyway, today's entry, as with others that deal with more than one product, will be more summarized (so breathe easy about having to read huge chunks of text!).

First off though, I do have to mention that I've only been using these products for only two weeks; even Eucerin's promises of completely clear skin comes with the caveat of taking at least four weeks of consistent product-use to achieve said results. I really think The Sample Store is shooting itself it the foot by enforcing unrealistic deadlines on bloggers. :/ Therefore, what I can tell you as of writing this based on my limited experience with the products.The other worth mentioning is that the full DermoPurifyer ranger comprises five products - the cleanser, exfoliating scrub, moisturizer, toner and concealer stick. However, I've only had the opportunity to try out the former three.

Cleanser:

Packaging: There's a very generous 200ml of cleanser here, what with the observable norm for others being only 120-150ml. The opaque white plastic bottle, while it can appear rather inconspicuous and sterile, does fit it with the rest of the brand's professional, low-key image. Whilst I like the flap-up cap, I find that, over time, the product can seep into the crevice of the cap and generally get a little icky. The plastic is also a little too soft for my liking, often leading to me dispensing too much cleanser, though it makes for an easier grip in the shower.

Scent: There isn't any to speak of, I'd say.

Formula, Texture and Viscosity: This product is actually very runny, This item reminds me very much of the Mild Facial Cleaser from Clinique's famed three-steps skincare regime, if not a bit more viscous. The product is completely clear and very easy to spread, even without the addition of water. One point to note is that this product doesn't foam up very much, if at all; if you're the sort to favour rich, velvety suds, you'll be sorely disappointed! The product also washes off easily, leaving neither dryness or the sensation of a 'film' in its wake.

First Impressions: This cleanser claims to be soap-free, which I suppose renders it ultra-gentle, so I was a little doubtful as to whether it would be potent enough to remove my makeup and give my skin a deep clean in just one wash.These worries are quite unfounded though, as the product managed to remove my B.B. Cream/foundation and powder, blush, eyeliner(s), eyeshadows and lip product effortlessly, provided I massage it into my skin. On the occasion that I did get it into my eye, the irritation wasn't as great as I'd have expected, though I certainly teared. As mentioned, this product works effectively to clean the skin without drying or irritating it, and true to that I didn't experience any averse effects during the two weeks.

Overall: After my trial run of this product, I was left rather ambivalent about the whole thing. Nothing much about the product stood as particularly outstanding, but I didn't have any complaints about it either. It is affordable, cleans easily and well without drying my skin out and generally did what cleansers are supposed to do. However, other than being a solid if basic product, I was left still favouring my cheaper and more 'special' cleansers (eg. the Hada Labo Tamagohada face wash which niche is in exfoliation). Perhaps over time, the acne-hostile effects will kick in more observably and I will rescind these words, but as of these two weeks, I don't see myself liking this product any more I do than my other cleansers.

Scrub:

Packaging: This is probably as utilitarian as it gets, with a basic squeeze-tube and flip-cap. Again, Eucerin chose a servicable, as opposed to flashy, design. The one bone of contention I do have to pick with this is the size of the hole in the cap. For how runny this product is, a smaller hole would make the packaging far easier to handle. I do wish that the product came in a larger size though, for the tube only contains 100ml of product.

Scent: As much as I think fragrances are quite unnecessary in skincare products, especially those geared towards sensitive and/or acne-prone skin, I have to admit that I love the scent of this! The smell honestly brings my memories back to the crisp, dewy air of the Tazmanian forests when I was holidaying there a decade ago. :) Otherwise, I have no idea how to begin describing it, because it isn't sweet, nor minty nor anything else I can identify, just refreshing and oddly comforting.

Formula, Texture and Viscosity: The product oozes out thinner than I'm used to with scrubs. If you're accustomed to something like the popular St. Ives Apricot Scrub, you'll find you'll have to end up using quite a lot more product with this because of the lesser density of the product. There's also far less exfoliating beads here, though there appears to be two types of them - a larger green one and a barely-visible white variety. I do not know if there is a difference between the two though one of them is purportedly Lactic Acid beads. I'm no dermatologist, so I am not certain of the effects of Lactic Acid on skin, but I do know that it causes muscle aches and has to be metabolized by the liver because it is toxic in the muscles. Gulp.

First Impressions: Due to the sparse and rounded exfoliating beads , I found this product particularly non-abrasive. The gel-suspension is also delightfully easy to spread, much like the cleanser. To compensate for the generally gentler nature of this scrub though, I do find myself subconsciously spending more time and pressure massaging the beads into my skin. This product too does not strip my already slightly-dehydrated skin of moisture regardless of the frequency of usage, so I reckon even dry skins can take advantage of this. I can certainly see this product being safe to pair with a regime other exfoliating skincare or being used daily.

Overall: I'd stick my head out and say that this product doesn't do much to exfoliate nor clear out clogged pores purely by virtues of its scrubbing beads, so the Lactic Acid must be pulling its weight here. Over the short two weeks that I've been experimenting with this scrub for, I've found my skin significantly smoother to the touch, but not necessarily observably so. In that sense, it works very similar to the Hada Labo Tamagohada Exfoliating Face Wash that I've reviewed on this blog previously. I did not experience a decrease in the number of blackheads or spots during my two weeks, but perhaps the two weeks is simply too premature for any such changes to occur.

Gel-Cream: 

Packaging: Nothing to pick on here, since everything is kept simple and sanitary!:)

Scent: The scent here is almost the exact same as that in the scrub. I do find it peculiar that the cleanser should be left unscented, while the scrub and moisturizer have not. I mean, if I were sensitive to added fragrances, I would much rather have it in tolerable doses in a cleanser product that is to be washed off almost immediately, than to have it in my moisturizer which I actually leave on my skin. :/ Nonetheless, I haven't experienced any sort of negative reactions, as a result of the scent or no.

Formula, Texture and Viscosity: Firstly, the product is opaque and white. Upon applying it, one realises that the texture is really quite thick in the sense that it is rather hard to spread. However, it has a rapid dry-down on the skin and leaves absolutely no sticky or 'wet' sensation afterwards. In fact, the queerest feeling sets in when the product dries; it seems to mattify the skin, yet the surface does not feel at all powdery. The product also doesn't lie when it calls itself a gel-cream; it looks and applies like a cream but with the lightness and hydrating properties of a gel.

First Impressions: I am very pleased with this product, to be honest! I think the item really helps keep my face matte even if I were to stay in a sweltering room or under prolonged exposure to sunlight. I find that I have to I'd venture to say that this helps a little in the way of keeping my foundation in place, as the texture and performance reminds me of many a Japanese makeup base. Used on top of my Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion, it is quite perfect for my fluctuating-around-normal skin. :)

Overall: I reckon that this product will be fantastic for normal to oily skins because, while it is unmistakably moisturizing, it isn't overtly so and has a lovely mattifying effect without exacerbating dry areas. Therefore, it strikes a good balance in more troublesome combination skins. It is because of this that I can see it controlling sebum production and in extension, help decrease the occurence of acne. However, I cannot honestly recommend this product to someone with skin any drier than that because it might not moisturize as commensurately as they might like and may even leave the skin slightly taut. I am also unable to vouch for the effectiveness of Lactic Acid as an ingredient here, but I have read numerous extremely promising reviews for it online!

If you're interested to redeem some sample to try for yourself, please do so here:

http://www.thesamplestore.sg/product/details/2288/0/name-eucerin-3-in-1-dermopurifyer-sample-kit

 And, just to fulfil the Challenge criteria even when I'm yet to be sure of my favourite Eucerin product, here's an utterly bizarre expression that (one of my three) my pet dog is donning for the camera! ;)