OleHenriksen Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Reviews and Other Stuff

Having an oily skin or even an oily T-zone is really cumbersome to deal with. Most likely you have a blotting paper, an oil-free moisturizer, and a very potent face mask in your arsenal. You probably even shy away from facial oils or avoid places that are too hot or too humid. Trust me, I’ve been there, done that. While I’m still on the process of dealing with my own oily-prone skin by trying out different products to control excess sebum, I find that there’s not a lot of products to choose from or that could actually work.

In my latest adventure of trying out products that control oil, I discovered the Olehenriksen Balance It All products. If you’ve read my previous “Samples Of The Week” review, found HERE, you know that I love one of the products in the said oil-control line. So, I decided to purchase the entire set to see if the products could control my oils to a whole new level.

Here’s what I found:

Find Your Balance, Oil Control Cleanser (2 oz: $10, 5 oz: $25)– Has AHA, Glycolic and Lactic Acid, this cleanser smells like eucalyptus or peppermint candy and a little bit like DEET (you know, the mosquito-repellant) or insecticide, due to the neem oil as its added ingredient. It’s not bad, in fact, the scent is very interesting, if not invigorating. This cleanser really takes off the excess oil in the face and unclogs pores. It has a minty or cooling effect once applied and it leaves your skin thoroughly cleaned and soft. It’s also very foamy and quite exfoliating. I love the overall refreshing feeling whenever I use this, and personally, and I would buy this over and over again.

Balancing Force, Oil Control Toner (6.5 oz: $26) – Also has BHA, AHA, Salicylic Acid, Glycolic & Lactic Acid, this toner is meant to refine the pores and controls excess oil without stripping the skin. Well, this toner seems a bit too harsh for me, for some reasons. First, it smells really strong, like a strong anti-mosquito or insecticide. Even a lot stronger than the other two products mentioned here. It’s hard to even discern the peppermint scent. Second, it feels really more like an astringent when applied. In fact, whenever I apply this, my face turns red, and it does feel quite a bit harsh. I personally prefer a toner that feels and smells mild, yet packed with very good and non-irritating ingredients.

Counter Balance, Oil Control Hydrator (1.7 oz: $34) – I first tried this product when I received a sample of it from Sephora. I loved it immediately and is the reason why I decided to purchase the entire Olehenriksen Balance It All Set. This smells minty, like a peppermint candy with a hint of tea tree. It feels very cooling but not harsh on the face. The product gets absorbed by my skin easily and mattifies it. The formula is very lightweight and it didn’t cause any break out. This is a very good moisturizer for us with oily-prone skin, and I honestly think that this is the best product of all the entire Balance It All Set.

Verdict: I definitely like the Olehenriksen Balance It All Set. They do work and each product is more affordable compared to some other cleansers, toners and moisturizers out there. But there’s a few caveats. Whenever I use the entire set of products all at the same time, there seems to be some sort of a rebound effect, wherein my skin gets even more oily in just a few minutes after application. It’s like my skin became extremely dry and it has to produce even more sebum in order to compensate. But, whenever I just use one or two of them, I find that my skin is mattified and it lasts for 4-6 hours. With that being said, I really love just using either the Oil Control Cleanser or Oil Control Hydrator (or even both) for my face and skipping on the Oil Control Toner.

The Olehenriksen Balance It All Set is limited edition and available exclusively at sephora.com

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Hiya Everybody! Let’s talk about some samples today. I know we all love samples and you must have some in your stash right now. Don’t cha just love them? It’s so nice to try something in a miniature size before finally pulling the trigger to purchase the real deal. Most makeups or beauty products nowadays can cost quite a lot, and it’s really better to try them first to see if they’re worth the dollah. Speaking of samples, today, I have a few samples to share with you since I really like them a lot and had been testing them recently. These are the samples I usually obtain from Sephora Rewards Bazaar, or from other stores that gave free samples as part of your purchase.

Let’s take a look:

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water – A makeup primer spray and a makeup setting spray at the same time. What an interesting blend this hybrid spray does. It’s devoid of any scent and doesn’t seem to cause any allergies or break out. At least my skin did not. I tried this as a primer, but it didn’t seem to work very well. In fact, I didn’t notice anything at all. It was as if I didn’t use any primer on my face. I found myself still using the original Smashbox Primer to prep my face prior to my foundation. As a setting spray, I thought this was just ok. Didn’t see much difference. However, as an everyday spray to hydrate and refresh the face, I find that this particular product works really well. It’s also great for oily skin because it’s non-sticky, lightweight and makes your face look slightly dewy. Comes in two sizes: 1 oz for $16 and 3.9 oz for $32.

Amorepacific Moisture Bound Refreshing Hydra-Gel Oil-Free – A lightweight gel moisturizer that smells like a light floral perfume. I love how it gets absorbed by my skin so easily and my face felt supple after using it. It seems to keep my skin moisturize even after several hours and had calmed down some redness around my cheeks. I even love how cute and practical the container is, because it has a tiny mirror on top, ideal for quick touchups. The only downside is the price. The regular 1.7 oz size costs $100.

Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight – Got this from Sephora rewards bazaar. I was surprised by the size of this sample. I thought it looked more like a full size product because the tube is thick and quite large, but much to my surprise, there’s really not much product in it. Anyway, I’m impressed with this highlighter. First, it’s so easy to use. Just swipe and blend, then you’re set. Second, I love the soft pearl shade because it doesn’t look over the top. Third, the creamy formulation is so easy to work around the face. So far, there’s only one shade and one size of this particular highlighter. I would love to see more colors in the future because I really like this product. It’s $23 for 0.21 oz.

OleHenriksen Counter Balance Oil Control Hydrator – A heaven-sent menthol-scented moisturizer that’s perfect for anybody with an oily skin or prone to it, like yours truly. It’s also good for any skin type and it really works very well to control the oil. In fact, it keeps my skin mattified for 6-8 hours. I love this already, I swear. It’s also very lightweight and feels very refreshing. Love the eucalyptus coolness on my face whenever I put this on. Also, this doesn’t dry my skin, but just well-balanced and prevents my makeup from melting. Comes in 1.7 oz for $34.

Tarte Rainforest of The Sea Marine Boosting Mist – I may have discovered another great face mist. Yep, it’s this one. It was love at first spray, though the spray seems to deliver large mists, but I am so in love with the scent of this product. It’s so irresistible, like a fresh tangerine or citrus. It smells just like Tarte Drink of H20 Hydrating Boost Moisturizer which I also like a lot. This mist is very hydrating and very refreshing. I can see myself using this for the winter and also this coming summer. 2-3 sprays give a long lasting effect and my face looks refreshed and glowy. It can also be used as a primer and a setting spray. I just love how versatile this mist is, plus it’s vegan. Available in 2 sizes; 1.01 oz for $12 and 2.5 oz for $25.