Reviews by ginab9

This review is for Burwood Family Doctors, Burwood NSW

verified email - 14 Nov 2012

Their appointment system means you can't actually pop in for urgent care. But their staff are good, the place is neat and most of the docs are nice. Except one particular doc (you'll see her grumpy face occasionally P) the rest are good.

Approximate cost: $bulk bill

This review is for Lacura Beauty, Minchinbury NSW

verified email - 19 Sep 2011

I love Aldi products, and their Lacura range ain't too bad. I love splurging on expensive skincare and cosmetics but I know that price isn't always a reflection on quality. I'm very particular about sunscreens so I was pleasantly surprised as well as mildly disappointed with their Daily Defense SPF 30+ sunscreen.

I have sensitive skin so I prefer mineral or zinc based sunscreens. But a friend was raving on about this Lacura sunscreen so I gave it a go. It is a chemical sunscreen so my skin didn't like the feel (I did get itchy). But it was smooth, easy to pump out and easy to apply - as most chemical sunscreens should be. It is fragrance free but I can still smell a chemical sunscreeny odour coming from it. First time I used it, I was really put off, but the second time, it wasn't too bad. Not sure if it was because I was getting use to the smell.

I like how it is SPF 30+ and covers both UVA and UVB rays. I'm not sure if it's waterproof though so probably not suitable for swimming. It did leave my skin a little bit shiny but not too bad (I've had much worse sunscreens - one's which make my skin reflect like a mirror). I wouldn't say it's matt, but clear with a visible mild sheen.

The biggest problem I have with this product is the fact that it won't stay put under make up. I want my sunscreen to stay still, not move or rub away. But that's exactly what it does. Once I start gently applying foundation - with a sponge pad - it begins to rub off. Which is infuriating when you're pressed for time in the morning. Why bother putting sunscreen on when it's going to rub off? And it rubs off in little strands. It did make me wonder if without make up, would the same thing happen but no make is there to make it visible. So even though this product is for women, I think it's better suited for men.

What I do love about it is the price $8.00 for 60ml bottle. Not bad compared to supermarket equivalents. Although the product still has flaws, it's at a good price for what it does. If it was more expensive, I wouldn't give it a good rating.

The Pros:
It's cheap, but quality is okay.
It's a thin lotion, so great for summer.
It's SPF 30+ and provides UVA/UVB protection.
It's fragrance free.

The Cons:
It smells like a chemical sunscreen. I like how they didn't add fragrance, but the remaining smell isn't pleasant.
It rubs off easily. Applying make up over it is annoying. It doesn't let the make up stay put (since it's underneath) where ever it goes, so does the make up.
It does leave a mild sheen so if you're not wearing foundation/powder, people can see that you're wearing sunscreen.
It's not moisturising, so not good for winter/autumn but better suited to summer.

Approximate cost: $8.00

This review is for Paula's Choice, Point Cook VIC

verified email - 19 Sep 2011

I'm picky when I comes to sunscreens so I was pretty disappointed with Paula's Pure Mineral Sunscreen SPF15.

I wear make up during the day so a sunscreen that can compliment my make up is a must. I've experienced some shocking sunscreens, where it peels off in flakes when I start applying make up to it (which meant I had to rewash my face and start again, making me late for work). Thankfully Paula's one was sticky enough that my make up stayed put. I bought it based on the pure mineral (zinc & titanium) sunscreen base since my sensitive skin can't stand chemical sunscreens for very long. But, it was VERY sticky, so much so that it made my skin feel super greasy, shiny and when I tried to take it off, I had to scrub my face twice to get all the oily residue off. I like how it stays put, but taking it off is a pain.

I like fragrance free products so it's great that Paula didn't add any. Shame about a mineral sunscreen that isn't organic though, but Paula did denounce organics. But personally I prefer organic botanical over the pesticide loaded botanicals.

The consistency of this sunscreen is good, it's smooth and oozes out nicely. But the sheen that comes with it is frightening. I have combination skin, so it starts off normal in the morning, but by noon on a warm day, my nose is like a beacon, covered in a thin layer of sebum. This sunscreen adds neon lights to that beacon nose of mine. As well as to my forehead and upper lip area. This product is definitely not matt, but greasy (even though it's not a thick sunscreen)

The Pros:
It stays put under make up and you can't sweat it off.
The price is pretty affordable.
It's mineral based not chemical sunscreen based.
It's fragrance free which is a must for sensitive skin.

The Cons:
When I said it stays put, I really mean it stays put - like super glue. I have sensitive skin so washing my face twice just to clean the product off leaves my face red and sore.
It feels oily, like buttering your face grease oily.
It leaves my skin (even with matt foundation on top) really shiny. My coworker asked if I had put shimmer lotion on my nose the day I wore it to work!
It's not organic. I really would've liked some of the ingredients to be organic but oh well.

I hope Paula changes the product to one that's less greasy, who knows.. she may be reading it :)

This review is for Cyren Organics, Burwood NSW

verified email - 19 Sep 2011

I'm picky when it comes to sunscreen so this is the only product I've found that fits the bill.

I have really sensitive skin so I was really relieved to have finally found an organic sunscreen product with zinc in it that's both fragrance free, thick enough for winter so I don't have to put on moisturiser and can stay on under a light touch of foundation. I've tried sunscreens which are organic but makes my face look like a disco ball. Some won't let my foundation sit well, peeling off into little strands when I pat my make up pad on skin. I've tried the chemical ones but they just end up making my face break out. And the amount of fragrance is enough to knock a bull over.

I have used the cheapest brand (Aldi) to medium price stuff you get at the supermarkets, to med-exsy stuff from Paula Begoun (her zinc one) and even $100 a bottle sunscreens from the dermatologist. Each one did something to my skin or my make up, or stank, or looked too ghostly/shiny. So finally when I came across an organic one that seem to have all the boxes ticked, I gave it a go.

The Pros:
It stayed under my make up without wrecking the finish.
It left my face with a matt finish so I didn't feel like I've been greased up with lard.
It's organic, but I actually bought it mainly for the no fragrance and zinc base cream.
It moisturised my face so I didn't have to put on extra moisturiser.
They delivered it pretty quickly.

The Cons:
It's not cheap, but ain't too pricey either. At $43 bucks a pop, excluding shipping.
It's a bit thick when squeezing out of the tube. At first I wondered if the thick sunscreen will spread at all, but surprisingly it did and wasn't greasy. I'd probably use this during cooler weather and use a lighter sunscreen in summer.

I'm not for botox, but I'm not for wrinkles either so Cyren's organic SPF15 moisturiser is kinda like insurance to prevent me from getting liver spots like my nan.

Approximate cost: $43.00