Viva Woman

Having used Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil for eight weeks now, it’s time I review the product and also let you know how this product stacks up against Renew Certified 100% Organic Rose Hip Oil which I was using end of last year.

Facts on Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil
Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil is extracted from the seeds and fruit of certified organic, wild-grown rosehips and contains a powerful blend of natural nutrients including 80% essential fatty acids (oleic, linoleic and linolenic), vitamin E and the antioxidant lycopene, all well known for their ability to promote skin repair and rejuvenation of skin cells.

This organic rosehip oil is said to be most effective as a daily moisturiser for the face and body.  On top of leaving skin feeling soft and hydrated all day long, Trilogy Rosehip Oil is supposed to help minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, scars, ageing skin and damaged skin.  In fact, results from the clinical assessment to test the efficacy of Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil after eight weeks of use reported skin moisture improved by up to 44%, while appearance of wrinkles reduced by up to 23% and skin smoothness improved by up to 21%.

(graphs from Trilogy’s website)

Comparison: Benefits
I only use Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil in the evening as a nourishing overnight facial.  While the clinical results on improving skin moisture and smoothness are true for me, I don’t see much of a reduction in terms of my wrinkles.  However I feel a tightness over my skin everytime I apply Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil and I always wake up in the morning with soft and supple skin.  In addition, like Renew 100% Organic Rose Hip Oil, Trilogy Rosehip Oil certainly helped to lighten new scars for me. 

Comparison: Texture
I cannot tell if Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil is finer than Renew 100% Organic Rose Hip Oil.  They both feel the same to me but when applied on the face, I would concede that Trilogy’s feels less oily and is quickly absorbed.  In fact, I could even apply moisturizer afterwards, something I wasn’t quite able to do with Renew’s. 

Comparison:Smell
Perhaps the most obvious difference between the two products is the smell.  Despite the richer golden color, Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil doesn’t smell as strong as Renew Rose Hip Oil. 

Comparison: Packaging
Both use dark glass storage with a tube dispenser and so they’re similar in that respect.   However, Trilogy’s is 20ml while Renew’s is 15ml.

Summary
Let me first say that I like both products because my skin benefitted from using them.  However, in terms of product quality, I would say Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil is more superior.  If you’re into trying rosehip oil and your face is slightly oily, then I would recommend Trilogy over Renew.  Then again, do note that Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil do cost more at S$30 for the 20ml bottle. 

As a sum up, I’m giving Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil 4.5 hearts for keeping my face well nourished.  The missing half heart is for no visible reduction in wrinkles. 

In Singapore, you can find Trilogy’s range of products at Watson’s in Ngee Ann City and Raffle’s City.

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There are a couple of selling points for Lavera SPF40 Neutral Sunblock.  This is a 100% mineral based high SPF sunblock made with carefully selected organic ingredients and is specifically developed for people suffering from allergies, and extremely sensitive skin.  It is certified as vegan and 100% free from synthetic filters, perfumes, colourings, preservatives as well as flower extracts, herbal extracts and essential oils.  In addition, it provides UVA, UVB and even UVC sunblock protection and is waterproof.

Immediate protection
However, the one selling point that stood out most for me is that this sunblock provides instant protection upon application with no waiting time necessary. 

Honestly, I don’t know how much to believe this because as far as I understand, it takes about 20 minutes for sunscreens or sunblocks to optimally distribute themselves within the stratum corneum (horny outer layer of the epidermis).  But since I couldn’t find anymore information on their website or anywhere else to explain this claim so I’m not taking any chances.

Update: I’ve since read that physical sunblocks containing titanium dioxide or zinc oxide work immediately because they literally form a protective shield over our skin and hence, it is true that Laveral SPF 40 Neutral Sunblock can offer immediate protection upon application.

Sixth safest sunblock rated by EWG
I don’t have sensitive skin but I was keen to try Lavera SPF40 Neutral Sunblock because this product came out six on the list of best sunblock in terms of safety by the Environmental Working Group.  The product was assessed to provide effective sun protection against UVA and UVB rays and having a rather low hazard in terms of the safety and non toxicity of the ingredients - rated at 2 due to the Ethanol (grain alcohol).  You may also like to refer to the following rating compiled by Environmental Protection Agency.

Rich, creamy and slightly greasy
Having used this for awhile now, I have to say that Lavera SPF40 Neutral Sunblock is better for those with drier skin.  The texture is rich, creamy and slightly greasy and does leave a white overcast on the face if you don’t blend well.  You definitely need to layer this sunblock with some powdered foundation to take off the excessive shine.  This formulation is fragrance free but it does have a mild smell because it contains organic evening primrose oil to nourish and active ingredients from licquorice root to soothe.

Performance above average
Overall, I would rate this sunblock as above average even though I have combination skin.  It works well for me and I like the claim that it is waterproof, though I have to qualify that I have yet to substantiate this as yet. But judging from the texture upon application, this might hold some water.  In addition, for an organic sunblock, Lavera SPF40 Neutral Sunblock is fairly priced.  The 50ml plastic tube retails at S$28 from Watson’s but I got it slightly cheaper with a 20% discount.   

Ingredients
Aqua, Glycine Soja*, Titanium Dioxide, Polyglceryl-3 Ricinoleate, Glycerin, Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tricaprylin, Helianthus Annuus*, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Oleate, Simmondsia Chinensis*, Prunus Dulcis*, Oenothera Biennis*, Canola , Glucose Glutamate, Aloe Barbadebnsis*, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hippophae Rhammoides, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Alumina, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol, Betaglucan, Ascorbyl Palmitate *ingredients from certified organic agriculture. Contains coated nano particles.

If you have dry sensitive skin proned to allergies, you may want to give this sunblock a try.  And please also read my post on tips on sunscreen protection & application.

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Okay, call me a sucker.  I love quick fixes.  I love products that promise me overnight miracles.  I love products that require very little effort on my part.  Even though half the time, I know they don’t quite deliver whatever they promise.  And it was the sucker in me that decided to order Frownies Facial Pads from Drugstore some months ago.  Come on, they’re cheap, and they look like fun anyway.  More importantly, I have lines on my forehead that I wanted to get rid of without having to resort to Botox.

So I was really excited to receive the pads and I immediately tested it out that evening.  Never mind my son and my husband thought I looked weird with three skin color triangles stuck on my forehead.  And I thought to myself, ”Hey, what’s so weird if I can look great just by sticking on these pads?” 

Well, the Frownies Facial Pads are easy to use.  Just put a little water on the adhesive side and stick it on your forehead, where the lines are.  Removing it is as easy.  Just stand under the shower and they will come off easily after a few minutes. 

But wait…

Sticking on the forehead is fine, but if you have it stuck near your eyes or mouth, it becomes impossible to talk or smile!  And because Frownies Facial Pads work by harnessing the facial muscles and holding them back in their proper place, thus helping them regain normal tone, you need to use the pads over a long period of time.  In fact, you need to use them regularly and that’s my problem.  I don’t like the idea of looking ugly every night on a permanent basis although I did persisted and looked ugly in them for a few weeks, hoping to have the lines on my forehead look less visible because they said Frownies Facial Pads will eliminate deep expression lines while I sleep. 

I slept in them for weeks alright, but my lines are still there, as prominent as ever.  The only difference I did noticed was that the Frownies Facial Pads did something to the muscles on my forehead because I became more aware and frowned less. 

Seriously, I don’t know how this stuff has worked for Renee Russo or others (unless they were lying) but I won’t be buying this again.  Gosh, it’s quite an effort having to tear tear along the perforations and some of them were useless because they came stuck together.  And something else I hate about this product.  The smell is simply awful.  YIKES!

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Those in Singapore may have noticed that Watson’s has started to bring in quite a number of natural and organic skincare products from Trilogy, Lavera, Yes To Carrot, and Sukin Organics.  I’ve been particularly pleased to find Sukin Organics really affordable and decided to test out two of their products.  The first in review here is Sukin Organic Foaming Facial Cleanser.

All skincare products from Sukin Organics are said to use only 100% natural active ingredients and contain no sodium lauryl sulphate, artificial fragrances, petrochemicals, harsh detergents, animal derivatives, mineral oil and parabens. 

So Sukin Organic Foaming Facial Cleanser has been described as a gentle, non-drying foaming cleanser to remove makeup, surface grime and oils.  It is gentle alright and doesn’t foam that much compared to other foaming cleansers I’ve used before, but it does a good job of keeping my face squeaky clean from the grime and dirt.  It isn’t drying for my skin and my face actually feels soft and supple after each wash.

But if I were to use it with a face full of foundation without using any cleansing oil or lotion to remove my makeup first, I would need to wash my face twice to get rid of the makeup totally.  It doesn’t quite remove eye makeup totally either.  You definitely need to use some makeup remover or cleansing oil to do that first.  This isn’t a big problem for me because I always double cleanse with makeup on anyway.

I love the smell of this stuff.  It has a combination of aroma-therapeutic oils of tangerine, mandarin, lavender and vanilla extract and the first two is probably what hit my senses.  So this makes a really refreshing facial wash.

Sukin Organic Foaming Facial Cleanser comes in a dark brown plastic bottle and cost S$12.95 for 125ml.  I would say it’s affordable for an organic skincare range and I’m really pleased with the results.   What I like most about it is that it delivers exactly what the other big brand cleansers does in the market, yet it doesn’t contain all the harsh chemicals and cost much less.  I would definitely be buying this again! 

Ingredients: Purified Water, Organic blend of German chamomile, aloe vera, witch hazel and green tea. Decyl Glucoside (vegetable), Cocamidopropyl Betaine (vegetable), PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate (vegetable), rosehip oil, macadamia oil, evening primrose oil, Glycerin (vegetable), Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate (suttocide) vegetable, Citric Acid, grapefruit seed extract, tangerine essential oil, mandarin essential oil, lavender essential oil, vanilla extract.

Update: Sukin organic range of products are only available at the Watson’s outlets at Parkway Parade, Ngee Ann City, Centrepoint, Great World City, Anchorpoint and Compass Point.

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