*Milk; Dr. Ci:Labo Aqua-Collagen-Gel (review & comparison)

Description: Aqua-Collagen-Gel contains no surfactants, mineral oils, artificial colorings or fragrances. The product is free of ingredients that can be harmful to the skin, so you can use it with confidence every single day - simple and natural. Unlike other skincare products, this versatile gel is all you need after cleansing to keep your skin moisturized 24 hours a day.

Enrich Lift


The 'Enrich Lift' version of the Aqua-Collagen-Gel is currently listed as best seller on the Dr. Ci:Labo website. It claims to help firm up the skin with help of their 'Lifting Complex'. It also contains skin firming ingredients such as alpha lipoic acid and coenzime Q10 as well as hyaluronic acid which is a potent hydrating ingredient.


The product


The product itself has a light texture, similar to that of a gel cream. It is slightly thicker than the Dr. Young 'Sprinkling Gel Cream' which I reviewed aaaages ago (link) including several other gel moisturizers I have tried in the past such as the Clinique 'Moisture Surge' and the ~H2O+ 'Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment'. It leaves no tacky residue on the skin after application.





As all Dr. Ci:Labo products do not contain artificial fragrance, the products tend to have a slight 'chemical' scent. In this case, the 'Enrich Lift' version has a faint scent reminiscent to paint or glue. The scent disappears after applying it to the skin so it does not bother me too much.


Super Moisture


The 'Super Moisture' version uses a 'Nanosphere System' which allows deep penetration of the active ingredients into the skin for better absorption. It also claims to protect the skin and to lock in moisture.




The consistency is lighter than the 'Enrich Lift' version and is similar to the gel moisturizers I mentioned earlier. It feels very soothing and relaxing. Whenever my skin gets irritated, I apply it to the affected area and I find that it helps calm down redness and is able to relieve itchiness.


The comparison


Left: Super Moisture Right: Enrich Lift
It may not be noticible in the photo above, but the 'Enrich Lift' has a light yellow color in contrast to the 'Super Moisture' which is entirely white. The Super Moisture' retails for $40 USD for a 50 gram jar while the 'Enrich Lift' retails for $45 USD for the same amount of product.

Now the question would be: 'Is it worth the 5 dollar price difference?' Personally I would say that the answer is 'No'. I do not feel that the 'Enrich Lift' version is superior to the 'Super Moisture' formula. It does not feel as moisturizing nor does it deliver visible anti-aging results. Perhaps it is the kind of product that you will notice the difference once you stop using it, but for me it was not the case. I did not notice any difference when I stopped using the 'Enrich Lift' formula.

Both products did not perform as well as I had hoped for. There are definitely better gel type moisturizers on the market for the same, or even a lower price. One thing that does set the Dr. Ci:Labo 'Aqua-Collagen-Gel' apart from the rest is that it does not contain any additives such as fragrance, colorants or perservatives.

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*Milk; Collective haul (part 1)

Now that we are transitioning into winter (we had our first snow fall today!), it is very important to change up your skincare routine. This month I have purchased a lot of new products which I want to share with you all. There are still a few things coming in the mail so you can expect another haul real soon (♥ retail therapy).




These Paul & Joe nailpolishes were half price on ASOS.com so I decided to snatch up two to try out. The shades I got were no. 26 'Coquette' and no. 29 'Tourjours'. Coquette is a cute candy pink color and 'Tourjours' is a peachy nude with a hint of pink. Both polishes have a cream finish with no shimmer, but they would look adorable topped with a layer of clear glitter nailpolish.



I have been wanting to try HABA products for a while because they are preservative-free, but the products are relatively difficult to find. I stumbled across their 'G-Lotion' on eBay while searching for their famous Squalane. The 'G-Lotion' is supposed to prevent acne, gently exfoliate, soothe and keep the skin in balance. Quite a multi function product isn't it? Explains the hefty price tag of $56 USD for 240ml / 8.4 fl oz. Luckily I got it for cheaper.



Probably my favorite product of the bunch! I looove serums and my skin literally needed a hydration boost! I was forced to live on random samples because my online order was delayed for over a month. SkinCeuticals is pretty famous for their serums so I decided to make a splurge on their 'Hydrating B5 Gel'.



Of course, no skincare routine is complete without a moisturizer. I purchased the Dr.Ci:Labo Aqua-Collagen-Gel 'Enrich Lift' after trying a travel size 'Super Moisture' version. This moisturizer is not bad, but I still prefer something thicker for nighttime.



The SkinCeuticals 'Antioxidant Lip Repair' is a restorative treatment to help plump and restore the lips but most importantly; smooth lip lines. There is a deep line in the center of my bottom lip and it has been driving me insane! I don't believe that this will smooth it out, but perhaps it will prevent it from getting worse.



Lastly, a replenishment of my beloved Lorac 'aquaPRIME' primer. Some of you may remember how much I love this product from my review (here). I ran out my first tube pretty quickly because I have been using it nearly every single day since I got it.

I will be posting an updated skincare routine and short reviews on all the products as soon as I receive them in the mail, but if you have any questions you can always leave them in the comments below.

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