Review: Dermalogica Clear Start oil clearing matte moisturizer spf15

For what seems like months now I have been looking for a suitable moisturiser for my oil prone skin that also contains an SPF – no easy task in itself as sunscreens tend to be a little on the oily side to begin with! However, I think I might have found an answer to my beauty conundrum.

After spending countless hours trawling the depths of the web, I finally happened across a product from firm beauty favourites Dermalogica. I have used the Dermalogica mediBac Clearing® system in the past and although I enjoyed using the products, I don’t really feel like my skin benefited, however, I feel my problematic skin was more down to my lifestyle choices and stresses and strains rather than anything a few lotions could easily sort out. Anyway, the product that I stumbled across was the Oil Clearing Matte Moisturizer complete with an SPF 15. The moisturiser promises to minimise oil and shine and help to protect against the UV rays that can make breakouts worse and cause dark spots.

To be honest, I was sold right there. In the shopping cart it went.

The moisturiser arrived a couple of days later and I was seriously impressed with the packaging. “This is not a beauty product, this is an investment in your skin” read the scrawl across the top of the box. I happen to agree fiercely with this – if there’s something you shouldn’t scrimp on, it’s your skincare and your foundation. Anyway, Dermalogica also kindly sent me an AGE Smart® sample pack to try too which I thought was a lovely touch.

So, the moisturiser contains special botanical oil-absorbers which act like micro sponges to minimise shine while the moisturiser helps to keep the skin hydrated. Dermalogica state that the moisturiser is formulated with 19 gentle botanicals including licorice, birch and willow, which are all known to sooth and protect the skin. And on top of all this, there is of course the Broad Spectrum sunscreen which helps to provide defence against UVA and UVB rays without clogging the pores and leading to breakouts – something ladies (and guys too) with oily skin will know tends to come with the territory.

I used the moisturiser after following my normal cleansing routine of the Clean and Clear exfoliating face wash and Clinique’s Clarifying Lotion and used a pea sized amount to gently smooth over my entire face and neck – don’t forget to bring your moisturiser down onto your neck, it often gets a little neglected in skincare routines but taking care of this area early will stand you in good stead for the future. The lotion has a strange smell to it that I can’t place, it reminds me of the essential oils used in soothing spa massages and strangely of Old Fashioned cocktails – but I think the latter says more about me than the product…

The moisturiser did tingle a little on my skin which I was a little apprehensive about at first – I was concerned that it was going to mildly irritate my sensitive skin but after a minute or so had passed, so had the tingling sensation and I was left with smooth, shine-free skin.

I have also trialled using the moisturiser under my daily foundation for work (using the tip in my ‘The secret to longer-lasting foundation’ post here)and it seems to work beautifully with whatever foundation or primer or BB cream I try over the top of it. Strangely mattifying but still moisturising, this is definitely a good little beauty investment for anybody who suffers with the same skin ailments at myself – and at £16 for what is viewed as a high-end, ultra professional product, it’s well worth the price.

 

© This post is copyright of Rachael Divers 2014.