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Over time you really think you know your taste, you know yourself so well that just by looking at a new launch, the pixi +C VIT Colourtreats Collection for example, you immediately know which ones you will like and which ones you hate.
Of course you test all of them, being the good blogger you are, but with an absolute certainty you reach for them already convinced you will either love or hate them. I knew right when I opened the package that I would love two and dislike the others.
Turns out I was wrong.
Well, not entirely wrong, I DO like two and found the other two not really to work for me, but it was exactly the opposite of what I had assumed would happen…
pixi +C VIT Collection
The whole collection is infused with Vitamin C (as in Ascorbic Acid, read more about the different types of Vitamin C here) to offer makeup with antioxidant and brightening properties. I already told you that I really enjoy two out of the four, but in all honesty that is NOT because of their skincare effects. Not that I am saying that these products don’t have any, but the overall impact when compared to a dedicated serum is minimal.
Why? Because they go onto your skin in a light layer, as last step in your routine, and because they are designed to make you look beautiful, not to sink deeply into your skin to have an effect there.
Sure, a little bit of antioxidant effect is still better than none, but don’t buy them believing they will replace your skincare.
pixi +c VIT Priming Oil (28$ for 30 ml)
Claims:
Infused with Vitamin C, this tri-phase oil nourishes, energizes and balances to prep and prime for a radiant glow.
Texture and scent:
After you shake it up your get a yellow oil that feels like water and immediately sinks into the skin. The scent is slightly citrussy, but barely noticeable.
Ingredients:
Aqua/Water/Eau, Dimethicone, Octyldodecanol, Squalane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Beta-Carotene, Ascorbic Acid, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Betaine, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Canola/Canola Oil/Huile De Colza, Sodium Citrate, Caramel, Sodium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene
Hover the mouse over an ingredient for short explanation. Read more on INCIDecoder.
Dimethicone and Squalane responsible for the light texture, Vitamin E and C as antioxidants and a few plant extracts as well as Orange Peel Oil and Limonene that might be a red flag for some.
Performance on the skin:
I honestly was sure that this would not work for me, but I stand corrected. It is really lightweight and adds no trace of oiliness to my already shiny face, it leaves my skin really smooth and soft, erases dry patches or retinol peeling I might have while at the same time providing a healthy yet subtle glow.
I do however prefer it in the evenings. Not because of the finish, that one would be perfect, and not because of the texture, that one is beautiful and lightweight as well. No, because of the fact that in the mornings I would need to apply it over my sunscreen, and putting oil on SPF is actually the best way to break it down. Overcautious? Maybe, but I don´t want to risk my UV protection, so I reach for it at night when I want a flawless base.
Best for:
All skin types.
pixi +C VIT Brightening Perfector (18 $ for 25 ml)
Claims:
Vitamin C infused complexion enhancer blurs and perfects to give skin a dewy radiant finish.
Texture and scent:
The cream is a little heavier than I anticipated, but easy to spread and contains what looks like microbubbles that disappear when spread on the skin. The scent is again faint citrussy, but not strong.
Ingredients:
Hover the mouse over an ingredient for short explanation. Read more on INCIDecoder.
A few humectants, quite a few emollients as well as Caffeine, Green Tea Extract, Licorice Root Extract and the Vitamins C, E and F. The Vitamins and extracts only make their appearance in the second half of the ingredient list though, and it contains Citral and Limonene as well as Orange Peel Oil that might put some of you off.
Performance on the skin:
I was pretty excited about the Brightening Perfector, but it wasn’t everything I had hoped for. Yes, when applied to the skin it is blurring and makes my skin look better without looking like makeup, but, and that is a dealbreaker for me, I need to be really careful how I apply it, because the second I stop doing a tapping motion and start rubbing, it will start to pill off my skin. Same happens when I apply foundation on top, which makes it useless as primer for me, and if I take that into account as well as the fact that you only get 25 ml, I don’t think I would recommend it.
In regards to the finish it is not mattifying, but doesn’t add much dew to my skin either. You can see the blurring effect in the video, it is definitely there, but not enough for me personally to keep reaching for this product.
Best for:
People that want no makeup, but a little help with their skin.
pixi +C VIT UnderEye Brightener (16$ for 12 ml)
Claims:
This Vitamin C infused under eye perfector blurs and energizes to give an instant awakening effect. Refreshing treatment in a tube brightens and restores vibrancy.
Texture:
After you recovered from the initial shock caused by the bright orange color and start tapping the product in, it spreads easily and feels almost weightless on the skin. There is no scent.
Ingredients:
Hover the mouse over an ingredient for short explanation. Read more on INCIDecoder.
Apart from humectants and emollients this product contains Caffeine, Green Tea Extract, Licorice Root Extract as well as the Vitamins C, E and F. All of them are supposed to help brighten in the long run, while the short term brightening effect comes from both the color and the Mica and Synthetic Fluorphlogopite content that aims to reflect the light and offers a pearlescent effect.
There is no Citrus Essential Oil, just a Citrus Extract that is often used because of its “natural AHAs”, but I wouldn´t expect to see any exfoliating effect here.
Performance on the skin:
Once the orange is blended into the skin, the brightening effect is quite underwhelming. I was expecting a huge difference, given how vibrant the color is, but at least under my eyes it is barely noticeable. Same goes for the light diffusing claims of the Mica – I don’t really see them on myself. What I get though is hydration that lasts throughout the day and help against caking up of concealer applied on top, a real issue at my age.
Still, I prefer using a more peach corrector on top of my current favorite eye cream (this one) over this skincare makeup hybrid.
Best for:
People with a lot of green in their dark circles, and people that prefer a minimalistic approach to makeup, but still want to look a little fresher.
pixi +C VIT Glow-y Powder (18 $ for 11.3 g)
Claims:
Silky Vitamin C infused radiance powder adds a touch of glow and brightens complexion. This natural mineral powder contains Antioxidants to help energize while creating a natural luminous finish.
Texture and scent:
Buttery soft, but without too much kickback in the pan, and with no noticeable scent.
Ingredients:
I will NOT provide a dedicated and explained ingredient list here, it is a face powder/blush after all, and even if it does contain antioxidants like Vitamin C and E (it does), they won’t have any effect dusted on top of your foundation.
Performance on the skin:
If the only Glow-y Powder you have tried so far is the one from the Aspyn Ovard Collection, and that one was more highlighter than blush. Oh, and despite the name, none of them is suitable as face powder, not unless you want to dress up as the tin man! The +C version though is a beautiful peachy brown shade that (at least on my fair skin) can totally be worn as blush. I would recommend using a small brush for precise placement though, the metallic shine it has is nothing you would want smeared all over your cheeks. Unless of course, tin man, you know.
The blush starts to loose color at around nine hours, but the shine stays with you until the end of day. It did not accentuate pores or lines or did anything else to annoy me and my more mature skin.
Best for:
Everyone that likes a high shine finish. Fair skins can wear it as blush, deeper skin tones will enjoy the golden highlight this gives.
