Review: Cellnique (Skin Purifying DayTime Protection 20) vs B'Liv (B'Liv Got Me Covered SPF 35)

July was a horrific month in terms of travel - travelling for work, that is. I rarely travel, much less for work, but duty calls...

Now, this may be shocking to my Malaysian readers, but I am one of the few who lives in a house WITHOUT a single unit of air-conditioning. Heat-wave, be damned, out comes an extra fan. Thus, 2 straight weeks of spending nights in air-conditioned hotel rooms pretty much wreaked havoc on my skin.

I broke out left, right and centre, literally. I wasn't sure if it was solely due to the almost-24 hour exposure to dry air-conditioned air, or my foundation of that time, NARS Sheer Glow. Either way, I needed help, and I needed it fast.

So, skin needs to breath and recover, but hell if I'm going to show up at work bare-faced. Much as I love my Nude Cosmetics BB Cream, it's not cut-out for my "work face". An online acquaintance who seems to be sensitive to every man-made substance on earth, told me about B'Liv's Got Me Covered ("BGMC"), and since her skin could tolerate it, my curiosity was peaked. Checked out the ingredients, seems OK, and it contains salicylic acid! YAY! BUT (there's always a "but" with me, eh :P), it only comes in ONE shade, and it got me thinking, "Eeewww, another ONE shade fits ALL thingee again" ~_~

Since I was at it and knowing that B'Liv is an offshoot of Cellnique, I went nosing around Cellnique's website, and voila! Cellnique has its own "version" Skin Purifying DayTime Protection 20 ("CSPDP")- a MORE potent version since it also contains benzoyl peroxide (the basis of my adult-acne skin care routine). Sadly, another ONE shade product :(

Anyway, desperate times call for desperate measures, no? Off I trotted to Sasa, swatched the BGMC, liked it texture, plonked down RM89.90 and raced home with a 45 ml bottle.

At the same time, I also purchased a 30 gm tube of CSPDP from the Cellnique website for RM99 (shipping excluded).

Since then, I've only been using them exclusively. I'm glad to report that after 1 month, both BGMC and CSPDP does not break me out, my (abnormal) breakouts have ceased and the products are actually worth repurchasing!

The reason I'm combining 2 products in 1 review is because they're fundamentally the same type of product (pseudo-BB creams, for the lack of better words ;)): one (CSPDT) from a paramedical range with more potent ingredients for troubled, acne and acne-prone skin, whilst the other (BGMC) for easily-congested skin.

First, some PRODUCT DETAILS in fine-print. Please CLICK on links or Stock Photos for more details. It's all Copied & Pasted anyway... ^_^

B.Liv GOT ME COVERED ("BGMC")

PRODUCT OVERVIEW:

Description:
Oil control + foundation + sunblock SPF 35***
Get rid of greasy facial complexion with this natural skin tone, oil-free sunblock. Got Me Covered (SPF35, PA+++) shields your skin from harmful UVs and maintains your complexion’s allure. It keeps a tight rein on your excessive oil secretion to ensure blackheads and whiteheads are forever on the run. A non-pore-clogging, weightless and mattifying formulation that got you covered perfectly.Colour: BrownScent: TypicalTexture: Creamy TypeFeeling : Non greasy and non stickyPrice : US$32.00Size : 50mlMain Active Ingredients:
- Vitamin C: - antioxidant - promoting collagen production - soothing and hydrating
- Roman Chamomile Flower Extract: - antioxidants - pores unclogging - antiseptic - anti-inflammatory
- Salicylic Acid: - acne and comedone control - oil control - pores unclogging - skin lightening and whitening - acne scar fading - exfoliating
- Zinc Oxide & Titanium Dioxide: - full spectrum sun protection - block UVA + UVB - antioxidantFull Ingredients List:
Purified Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Iron Oxide, Cyclohexasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclomethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Silica, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Zinc Oxide, Roman Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) Flower Extract, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Talc, Salicylic Acid (BHA), Diazolidinyl Urea, Sodium Citrate, Methicone, Methylparaben, Mica, Dimethicone, Vitamin C (Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate), Zinc Stearate, Propylparaben.

CELLNIQUE SKIN PURIFYING DAYTIME PROTECTION 20 ("CSPDP")

PRODUCT OVERVIEW:

Description:
A specially designed 3-in-1 daytime protection with SPF20 for oily and acne prone skin. It works as a full spectrum sun protection (blocks UVA and UVB), an acne cream and a natural foundation to even acne marks. Non-oily formulation.Benefits:
- Kills bacteria P.acnes that causes acne inflammation
- Prevents breakout
- Heals acne prone skin
- Promotes acne healing
- Reduces inflammation
- Anti-irritantColor: Medium beige
Scent: CharacteristicTexture: Creamy typeFeeling: Non-greasy and non-stickyPrice: US$32.00Size: 30gMain Active Ingredients
- Benzoyl Peroxide: - An effective anti-bacterial agent used to treat acne or blemishes. It penetrates into the skin to kill bacteria that cause skin acne problem (bacteria P.acnes), with low risk of skin irritation.
- Great Burdock Extract: - Used for its antiseptic property to regulate oiliness of the skin. Its anti-inflammatory property helps controls and effectively prevents breakouts, heals acne prone skin by reducing the swelling and inflammation of acne lesions. It also contains cleansing and astringent properties.
- Witch Hazel Extract: - A plant extract with toning and astringent properties. It also helps promote healing, reduce inflammation and has anti irritant properties.Full Ingredients List
Purified Water (Aqua), Butylene Glycol, Titanium Dioxide, Talc, Ethylhexyl-p-Methoxycinnamate, Cyclomethicone, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Lactic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Cetyl Sulphate, Ceteareth-10, Ceteareth-20, Salicylic Acid, Benzoyl Peroxide, Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) Extract, Great Burdock (Arctium lappa) Extract, Iron Oxides, Methylparaben, Dimethicone, Fragrance.

Unblended: Left: CSPDP Right: BGMC

Lightly blended: Left: CSPDP Right: BGMC

Forging on with the review proper...

COLOUR MATCH

My main (and probably the ONLY) beef with these products - the ONE SHADE FITS ALL thingamajig.

CSPDP (left swatch):

The Bad - as usual, it's way too light for me, and I have yet to figure out a way using it "neat". I think it might match those who're MAC NC 20 or lighter? NC 25 at most with a darker setting powder.

The Good - unlike most lighter BB creams which leaves a pink or a grayish cast, this has neutral undertones. If anything, it's almost aLmOsT ALMOST straight-up WHITE! Thus, it doesn't clash with my yellow undertones; I can pull this off when I mix it with my moisturiser at a 1:1 ratio and bronze myself (I never thought I'd live to see the day I use bronzers :p).

{{ Note: The ONLY reason I haven't gotten rid of it (like other ghastly white/pink/gray/thick BB Creams) is because it contains Benzoyl Peroxide, Salicylic Acid and is geared for my acne-prone skin. }}

BGMC (right swatch):

Probably still a shade or two lighter than my {neck} skintone (my shades here), but since it's very affordable (mine is 45 mls for some reason...hhmmm) and quite sheer, I use it as a sunscreen as well, so I bring it down to my neck. Problem solved! YAY! And the best thing it is yellow-undertoned. Hallelujah!

TEXTURE

CSPDP:

Weird - At first swatch (2nd pic), there's virtually no difference between this and BGMC. However, as you blend, it seems to get "thicker" and more opaque...Intriguing...But it matters naught to me - I use this mixed with my moisturiser anyway :D

BGMC:

Very liquidy and a dream to blend - it reminds me a lot of Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation's viscosity, but without the "greasy" feel. Or some versions of "watery/water drop" BB Creams. LOVE!

COVERAGE

CSPDP:

Remember the " it seems to get "thicker" and more opaque" in the Texture section? Well, this is more opaque than BGMC. Probably because this product is geared for troubled-skin and more coverage is needed. I would say, using it "neat", medium to close-to-full-coverage is achievable.

BGMC:

Sheer to light/medium. Build-able to medium, but I need to make sure my naso-labial lines are primed; if not, it settles into those dreaded lines after 4 hours or so...

FINISH

CSPDP:

(Moisturiser Mix) Glowy :D As a point of reference, my face (and ONLY my face ~_~) glows like jungsaemmool's models after base application . {{HOWEVER}}, my scars, some discolouration, blemishes, etc, though a tad concealed, are still visible! Love the glow though, scars and all ^_^ Unfortunately, it takes a loonnngggg time to set.

In fact, if you use it "neat", it doesn't seem to set at all. :(

BGMC:

Satin-matte and sets to a powder finish! Another LOVE, since I hate setting with powder. I just need to wait 5-8 mins, and I can continue slapping on the rest of my face ^_^

OIL-CONTROL

CSPDP:

Pretty good, better than BGMC since it contains Benzoyl Peroxide. However, setting powder is needed to offset its tacky finish.

BGMC:

Reasonable. Blotting sheets are needed just before lunch. Setting powder would prolong its longevity, but that defeats one of the main reasons I love it - the non-tacky finish :(

SCENT

Scent? What scent?!?!? ^_~ OK - so this is coming from someone who CANNOT differentiate CK One and it's numerous Summer LEs. Nevertheless, the scents for both CSPDP and BGMC are barely discernible to me.

SPF

CSPDP:

Why just 20 and not SPF 20?

BGMC:

I'm not sure if the "SPF35***" is equivalent to "SPF 35+++".

RATING:

B'Liv Got Me Covered SPF 35:

4.5 out of 5

Cellnique Skin Purifying DayTime Protection 20:

3.5 out of 5

(4.5 out of 5 if it's easier to blend, comes in a darker shade and sets better)

FTC Disclaimer: These B'Liv & Cellnique products were self-purchased. I was NOT paid to write this post, I am not affiliated in any way with the company, my opinions are my own and always honest.