I've been meaning to do a Sephora review for a long time now, and finally decided to get it done! This post will be on skincare products I've purchased from Sephora and used. I might do another post in the future iA about fragrances ;)
This product review consists of an eye and face duo by Korres and a hydration kit by Sephora. Continue reading below for my opinions, product images (click to enlarge) and links. In addition to my feelings about these products, I have included info. by
Paula Begoun from
http://www.paulaschoice.com/ and the author of
Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, 9th Edition. I have read through some of her reviews and took note on what she and her team had to say about the products I will be reviewing in this post (and future ones iA). While I don't agree 100% with her, it is still worth knowing and sharing. Lets start!
Me: While I do like the pump feature, the foam cleanser has a strong masculine/ cologne scent. I am not a fan of strong scents and don't want the smell of a man lingering around me. Since it comes out as a foam (as you can see from the picture above), you don't need to work this product into your skin too much to get a good lather. Thus, my face didn't feel clean after using this cleanser. But thanks to trying this product, I have realized that I do not like nor will purchase foam cleansers any time soon.
Paula's Choice: This is a very good though basic water soluble cleanser for most skin types. It has an impressive blend of detergent cleansing agents known for being gentle and effective. What kept this otherwise well done cleanser from being "supreme" are a few drawbacks you shouldn't ignore. Where it falls down the most is the amount of fragrance it contains which is a problem if you're going to be using this over the eye area to remove makeup (as is recommended on the label).
One of the marketing claims about this product is that it is supposed to contain an ingredient called HydroSenn +. Sephora says this ingredient is more hydrating and longer lasting than hyaluronic acid. Whether or not that's true is irrelevant given this is a cleanser and the ingredient would be broken down by the cleansing agents it contains and then immediately rinsed down the drain before it could have any benefit. Nonetheless, it's important to realize this product doesn't contain anything called HydroSenn + on the ingredient label so there is no way to know which ingredient or ingredients Sephora is alluding to. There isn't one in here with research showing it to be more hydrating than any other ingredient in the cosmetic world including hyaluronic acid. Even if we were to suspend conventional wisdom and believe Sephora's claim about HydroSenn + being better than hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid is hardly the best ingredient for skin hydration as there are many, many others, and in fact a blend of hydrating ingredients would be best of all, something this product doesn't contain.
Pros:
1. Gentle water soluble cleanser appropriate for most skin types.
Cons:
1. Contains fragrance which is a problem if you will be using this over the eye area.
2. There is no research supporting the claims about the HydroSenn + it contains as being more hydrating than hyaluronic acid.
Source:
http://www.paulaschoice.com/beautypedia-skin-care-reviews/by-brand/sephora/_/Supreme-Cleansing-Foam-All-In-One-Cleanser
Would I repurchase this product? No
SEPHORA COLLECTION Instant Moisturizer $12.00 - $20.00
Me: Again, this product has a masculine/ cologne scent like the cleanser. Since a moisturizer is meant to stay on the skin, I don't want a man-ly smell lingering on me, thus I am not a fan of this moisturizer. I do however like that it is thick, so it was not a problem to put on at night before bed.
Paula's Choice: We were instantly dismayed at this product's lackluster formulation. Consisting of little more than water, wax, and preservative, this is one of the worst offerings from Sephora and that's really saying something given how below average almost all of their other skin-care products are.
The smattering of antioxidants in this product is barely worth mentioning especially considering the jar packaging won't keep them stable once it is opened. (SeeMore Info to learn why jar packaging is a problem.)
One of the marketing claims about this product is that it is supposed to contain an ingredient called HydroSenn +. Sephora says this ingredient is more hydrating and lasts longer than hyaluronic acid. It's important to realize this product doesn't contain anything called HydroSenn + on the ingredient label so there is no way to know which ingredient or ingredients Sephora is alluding to. There isn't one ingredient in here with research showing it to be more hydrating than any other ingredient in the cosmetic world including hyaluronic acid. Even if we were to suspend conventional wisdom and believe Sephora's claim about HydroSenn + being better than hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid is hardly the best ingredient for skin hydration; there are many, many others, and in fact a blend of hydrating ingredients would be best of all, something this product doesn't contain.
One more point, the subtle glow this moisturizer imparts is from the mica it contains. Mica is a shiny mineral used in thousands of products to add shimmer to skin. While that can look nice, it is strictly a cosmetic effect, not skin care.
Pros:
None.
Cons:
1. Poor formulation of mostly water, wax, and preservative.
2. Jar packaging won't keep the tiny amount of beneficial ingredients stable after opening.
3. There is no research supporting the claims about the HydroSenn + it contains as being more hydrating than hyaluronic acid.
Source:
http://www.paulaschoice.com/beautypedia-skin-care-reviews/by-brand/sephora/_/Instant-Moisturizer
Would I repurchase this product? No
SEPHORA COLLECTION Instant Depuffing Roll-On Gel $15.00
Me: This eye product is the reason I decided to buy the set. I have really dark circles around my eyes, especially on the lids, and this product did nothing to help. It is good for a nice cooling massage around the eye area, but that is about it. Because my lids are dark, making me look extra tired than I really am, I use eye products on my lids as well as underneath. Big mistake, I learned! This stung my eyes and made them water. I let my mom try this to help her eyes as well, and she said it also stung her eyes. This is not a good thing, especially for the sensitive skin around our eyes, so this eye gel was a fail...
Paula's Choice: This roller ball applicator contains a gel that you're supposed to rub over your eye area to reduce puffiness. You can roll this around all day and it won't change the puffiness around your eye one iota, at least not any more than gently massaging a well formulated moisturizer over the area can do. There are many reasons why the eye area can be puffy; some of it can be genetic or it can be related to allergies or falling asleep in makeup that causes irritation and swelling. It can also be from sagging skin that occurs when fat pads under the eye shift, which causes "undereye bags". Regardless of the cause, this product isn't going to change any of that.
The formula leaves much to be desired. It is a rather simple combination of mostly glycerin and film former (think hairspray). While it does contain some ingredients that have antioxidant properties (grape extract) and anti-irritant properties (licorice extract) it also contains cinnamic acid, a component of cinnamon that can be irritating especially for the eye area. Irritation will only make matters worse for your skin. (See More Info to find out why irritation is bad for skin anywhere on your face and the shocking facts about why you don’t need a special product for the eye area.)
One of the marketing claims about this product is that it is supposed to contain an ingredient called HydroSenn +. Sephora says this ingredient is more hydrating and lasts longer than hyaluronic acid. It's important to realize this product doesn't contain anything called HydroSenn + on the ingredient label so there is no way to know which ingredient or ingredients Sephora is alluding to. There isn't one ingredient in here with research showing it to be more hydrating than any other ingredient in the cosmetic world including hyaluronic acid. Even if we were to suspend conventional wisdom and believe Sephora's claim about HydroSenn + being better than hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid is hardly the best ingredient for skin hydration; there are many, many others, and in fact a blend of hydrating ingredients would be best of all, something this product doesn't contain.
Pros:
1. Contains some antioxidants and anti-irritants.
Cons:
1. Simple formula cannot de-puff eyes.
2. Contains cinnamic acid a component of cinnamon that can be irritating especially for the eye area.
Source:
http://www.paulaschoice.com/beautypedia-skin-care-reviews/by-brand/sephora/_/Instant-Depuffing-Roll-On-Gel
Would I repurchase this product? No
SEPHORA COLLECTION Ultra Soothing Fiber Mask $6.00
Me: I've been wanting to try sheet masks for a while so I decided to try this by Sephora. This mask is very moist and has a nice scent. I don't think it did anything for my skin except make me "feel" pampered a little after a long day. Plus, it is expensive for 1 sheet which isn't reasonable.
Would I repurchase this product? No
Korres Wild Rose 24-Hour Moisturizing & Brightening Cream
Me: I liked this sample size lightweight moisturizer for my face. A little goes a long way and this baby lasted a little over 2 months of daily use! My face did feel moisturized and this product had a soft and pleasant (most likely rose) scent. I felt like it did brighten my skin and got a few compliments. This moisturizer claims to be natural, which drew me to it in the first place, despite the price tag for a sample of this and a full size of the product below.
Paula's Choice: This is a standard moisturizer for normal to dry skin. It contains some helpful plant extracts but they will not remain stable after opening because of jar packaging. This type of packaging causes light- and air-sensitive ingredients to break down, so they cannot benefit your skin, not to mention the hygiene issue jar packaging presents. The claims made for the plant Imperata cylindrica are not supported by published research, so it cannot regulate “the moisture equilibrium of skin”. At best, this will make dry skin feel smoother and softer, but so can lots of other moisturizers that cost less, have better formulas, and are packaged to keep important ingredients stable during use.
Source:
http://www.paulaschoice.com/beautypedia-skin-care-reviews/by-brand/korres-natural/_/Wild-Rose-24-Hour-Moisturising-And-Brightening-Cream-Normal-to-Dry-Skin
Would I repurchase this product? Maybe, if the price was reasonable.
Korres Wild Rose Instant Brightening Eye Treatment
Me: Again, the scent is nice and it is lightweight, but just like I mentioned above about the Sephora roll on eye gel, this Korres eye treatment made my eyes watery. Every single time I use it! On this product link, suggested usage reads: apply daily around the eyes, avoiding the upper eyelid. Because my lids are dark, making me look extra tired than I really am, I use eye products on my lids as well as underneath. So I did go against the suggestion, but my dark lids are the reason I buy eye treatments. I still have about half the product left and use it just on the bottom of my eyes.
Paula's Choice: We triple-checked the ingredient list for this eye cream because, at first glance, it just didn't make sense. Both Korres customer service personnel and the salespeople at Sephora confirmed that the ingredient list we're using for our review is accurate, so…, here we go…
It's strange that this eye-area product contains three sunscreen ingredients, but doesn't have an SPF rating. That may be because Korres is made in Europe (Greece, to be precise), and in Europe sunscreens are not regulated as over-the-counter drugs as they are in the United States and Canada (to name just two). Still, even in Europe, products claiming to provide sun protection must sport SPF ratings, and this eye cream doesn't (and for sure the eye area needs sun protection, too).
There's also the issue that the high amount of sunscreen ingredients can be sensitizing when applied around the eyes, which is strong reason to think twice before purchasing this. Generally, mineral sunscreens—titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide—are preferred for use near the eyes or anywhere you have sensitive skin.
Aside from the sunscreen issue, this is a fairly basic formula that affirms why you don't need to use a product labeled an eye cream (see More Info to find out why). There are some beneficial ingredients, including antioxidant plant oils, but you can find those in facial products as well, and many of the facial products in our Best Products lists don't have the problems this does—namely, potentially irritating sunscreen ingredients, no SPF rating, and too much fragrance.
This contains mineral pigments to blur the appearance of dark circles, but you can get much greater benefit from a concealer, plus the fragrance in this eye cream can be a source of irritation.
Pros:
1. Contains some beneficial ingredients, including non-fragrant plant oils.
Cons:
1. The amount of synthetic sunscreen ingredients may prove irritating when applied around the eye area or in areas where you have sensitive skin.
2. No SPF rating means you don't know how much sun protection you're getting.
3. Contains fragrance, which isn't good for skin anywhere on the body, especially around the eyes.
Source:
http://www.paulaschoice.com/beautypedia-skin-care-reviews/by-brand/korres-natural/_/Wild-Rose-Instant-Brightening-Eye-Treatment
Would I repurchase this product? No
In conclusion: So here are my reviews on the Sephora skincare products I purchased so far. I don't plan on buying any skincare products from Sephora any time soon. I have some other products I have been
wanting to try ;) Most of these products reviewed were disappointing, which probably made me delay this post longer than I should have, but now it is up for others to get an idea of my personal experience with these products. Feel free to share your opinions on these products mentioned and also your suggestions for treating dark circles, especially on the eyelids!
