3in1 face mist review: Sana Quzulan Gelo Make Keep Mist UV Oil Block

Today I've got for you a review of an very interesting Japanese product which I bought from the owner of My Asian Skincare Story blog - the bog owner had a little clear out and was selling cosmetics that didn't suit her/that she had too many of.

Product description: Make up finishing spray that uses triple benefit system: extends the wear of make up by absorbing excess sebum, keeps skin firm and hydrated and features high broad spectrum sun protection. Can be used over make up as needed to set up makeup, refresh skin and touch-up skin application.

Product contains two chemical sunscreens: Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine also known as Tinosorb S and  Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate also known as Octinoxate. It also contains extract from Saxifraga Sarmentosa (also known as Strawberry Saxifrage or Creeping Rockfoil), which has skin brightening and antioxidant properties and extracts from red, brown and green algae, which has antioxidant and moisturising properties and are rich in vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

The full list of the ingredients you can find on Ratzilla Cosme website. Ingredients analysis [HERE]

For some reason Ratzilla describes the product as a "Guzulan" - I can clearly see "Q" there and the bloger that I bought it from also called it "Quzulan", but I don't know who is right here.

The product is in a plastic 40ml bottle with atomiser. It's small and handy, perfect to carry around in the handbag. It has quite strong, synthetic lemon scent.

Triple function: make up setting, sebum control and UV protection. Face of the person producing sebum = priceless

There are multiple ways to use this product, you can use it both before and after make up. Before as you sunscreen and sebum protection, after as make up setting spray and extra sunscreen. Quzulan has SPF40 PA+++, but mind that to maintain this level of protection you would need to apply approx. 1,5ml which in case of mist would get your face quite wet. Because getting wet in your make up is not what you would really want I apply less of it, therefore I don't use it as my only UV protection, just as an addition. You should reapply sunscreen every couple of hours, which may be difficult to do when you wear make up and this is when Quzulan comes handy. However be warned that in opposite to typical make up settling spray, which is usually a clear liquid fine mist, this is actually a watery lotion that leaves white droplets on the skin. When I first used it I almost had a heart attack, my face was covered in white drops!

Luckily my makeup haven't dissolve :) you need to wait approx. two minutes for spray to settle and dry, but make up is untouched. However Quzulan leaves face quite shiny.

It looks quite nice and glowy on my palm, but on my face effect is way too strong and gives impression of greasiness, so I always mattify it with some powder.

Now a little make up resistance test:

From left: eye shadow, brow liner, eyeliner

Three sprays of Quzulan, which leaves my pal quite wet...

After two minutes: Quzulan has dried and left skin shiny, lines are untouched and not smeared

As you can see Quzulan won't ruin your eye make up, the same goes for BB Cream/Foundation - in case of BB/foundation you can even pat it your skin gently for mist to dry quicker and your make up will still be in place.

As for the performance - what I like the most about this product is that even tough it contains alcohol it doesn't dry my skin out and doesn't leave tight feeling. I have make up setting spray from Avon, after which I feel like I sprayed my face with hair spray - dry and stiff. With Quzulan I don't have this problem, actually after it dries I don't feel it on my skin at all. Apparently you can also use Quzulan despite of blotting papers - I have tried and it does indeed absorb some of the oil from skin, but I still prefer to use blotting paper first and then refresh my face with spray. It's true that it extends make up wear, prevents cakeing and make up disappearing (some BB creams seem to just vanish after few hours) + it offers a bit of coolness and refreshment during the day. The lemon scent, even though it's obviously synthetic doesn't bother me, topped up with my orange powder pact makes me all citrusy :P did you know that citrus scent stimulate your subconscious suggesting cleanliness? This is why so many cleaning products have lemon scent :)

The only problem with this product is actually getting hold of it. It is not available on Rakuten, e-Bay or Amazon, so I don't even know how much it really costs. But do not fear! I have contacted Aga, Polish lady living in Japan, who has her own on-line shop Berdever. Aga said that she will try to introduce Quzulan in her shop. The shop website is actually whole in Polish, BUT if you have product enquire you can contact in English by e-mail: kontakt(at)berdever.pl

Pros:
+ high UV and PA protection
+ handy packaging
+ extends makeup wear
+ won't smudge your makeup
+ refreshing and cool feeling
+ a little goes a long way

Cons:
- availability
- it takes a while to dry

Summary: It's a very interesting and useful product and I'm glad I got hold of it. If you can get it, it's definitely worth trying!

Shiseido Anessa Whitening UV Protector A+ SPF50+ PA++++ Review

UV rays are not good for our skin, so we should use UV filters to protect ourselves. We know that, yet still many of us decides to ignore this knowledge and just rely on low SPF included in moisturisers or make up products. I was like that myself and for a very long time I was relaying on BB Cream's SPF only, but the ugly truth is that we simply don't put enough of BB/CC Cream on our skin to make the SPF work properly. I knew that, but I still resisted the idea of using separate sunscreen, as I got oily skin and I was afraid of putting an extra product on it. Especially that sunscreen brings to my mind greasy lotions that my mum used to slash over me on the beach when I was a kid... but some reviews on Asian skincare blogs proved me wrong. Thanks to one of the Polish skincare blogs, Green Tea Love I decided to cure myself from ignorance and buy my first UV-blocker. It was meant to be Hada Labo UV Whitening Emulsion, but before I managed to order it, the owner of My Asian Skincare Story blog started a little jumble sale - selling of products that she didn't like or had too many of. That's where I spotted Anessa UV protector. The blog owner described it as a suitable for oily skin and it includes my favourite skincare promise of whitening... so there was no other way, I had to have it!

Product description: Sunscreen 2in1 milk that protects skin from signs of ageing and dark spots and acts as make up base. It contains Shisheido-developed M-Tranexamic Acid which suppresses melanin production and prevents freckles and dark spots. Milky formula leaves skin soft and smooth, ready for make up application. Resistant to sweat and sebum, removable with face wash.

The main UV blockers in this product are chemical:  Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, also known as Tinosorb S and Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, also known as Octinoxate or Octyl methoxycinnamate. At the very end of ingredients list we will also find physical blocker: Zinc Oxide.

Product also contains moisturising hyaluronic acid, anti-inflammatory and cleansing thyme extract and turmeric root extract, which has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and skin brightening properties.

Ingredients: Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Alcohol, Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Hydrated Silica, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glycerin, PPG-17, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Isostearic Acid, Dimethylacrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Succinoglycan, Citric Acid, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Silica, Ethyl Ascrobic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycerrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Extract, Soluble Collagen, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Fragrance, Zinc Oxide Ingredients Analysis [HERE]

Product is in a plastic 60ml bottle. The bottle is sleek white opalescent pink - my favourite colour combination ^^ The milk has a pleasant scent, overall product leaves very good first impression of simplicity and neatness.

The milk has lightweight texture. After application I can still feel in on my face for a while, it needs a moment to absorb into skin. Once it gets absorbed my skin feels great - slightly moisturised, smooth and not shiny (I heard a lot of complaints about different sunscreens that they leave skin shiny). Anessa is giving almost matte finish to the skin - it's not a full matt, but slightly satin-like, very natural looking. It doesn't leave white cast on skin.

Now the best part - Annesa offers quite decent sebum control. As I said above, I was afraid to use UV blockers, because I thought they would increase my skin skin oiliness - however this product was a very pleasant surprise. The sebum control is not mind blowing, but enough to make me feel difference and because I didn't expect any sebum control it really impressed me.
Now for the doubling up as a make up base - well, it won't cover enlarged pores, but thanks to the sebum control, make up is able to look well on my skin for longer. However you must be careful with product choice, as not every BB Cream goes well with the sunscreen - for example Holika Holika Petit Clearing BB is oxidising terribly applied on top of anything. Fortunately ma favourite Tony Moly Petite Cotton BB creates a nice duo with Anessa, Maybelline Satin Liquid Foundation also performs well. Unfortunately I cannot use one of my favourite BB's Lioele Dollish Veil Vita on top of the sunscreen. Because it contains pigment capsules, it requires rubbing skin during application to achieve the right colour. However bear in mind that if you apply anything on top of your filter you shouldn't rub, just gently pat, otherwise you may rub your protection off!

Price: Product is available on Rakuten from 24$ and Amazon from £35.

Pros:
+ lightweight texture
+ sebum control
+ doesn't leave white cast
+ gives satin, almost matte finish
+ noncomedogenic

Cons:
- a bit pricey
- unavailable on e-Bay

Summing up: I feel really lucky that I could start my adventure with sun blocks with such a good product. It definitely encouraged me to try other Asian sun blocks and if any new sunscreen fails me, I will have that one to come back too. Highly recommended product :)

If you plan to buy it, pay attention to bottle's appearance and product description - my version is the newest one, formula has changed in 2014. The older version has pink bottle and lover protection - SPF32 PA+++.

Anessa has couple of different sun blocks to choose from - if you search for "Anessa" on Amazon or Rakuten you may see both bottles and tubes. The main difference is that products in bottles have milky texture, while products in tubes are gels.

Waterproof milk for face and body

Waterproof gel for face and body

Tinted UV blocker available in two shades