English Version | Test Drive: Music Issue

After a shower performance, why not keep up the momentum? We tested out five new products that call for summer and are music to our ears. 

Promises: to prevent or lighten dark spots caused by the sun, acne, aging, or pregnancy. The glycolic acid and Viniferine act as a gentle peel during the night, revealing fresh and luminous skin in the morning. The regular use visibly lightens dark spots, reduces texture, and evens the complexion. Vogue’s word: In April, Caudalie surprised Vinoperfect fans with a reformulation on some of this line’s bestsellers - including this night cream. I have no way of comparing both formulas since I haven’t used the old version, but I find Viniferin, the patented antioxidant, very interesting since the brand claims its anti-dark spot action is 62 times more effective than vitamin C. For me, one of the biggest advantages is that, unlike retinol, this antioxidant isn’t photosensitive, allowing it to be used morning and night - and even in the sunnier months. Regarding the night cream, the short-term efficiency is assured by the glycolic acid and papaya enzymes that gently exfoliate, revealing smoother and brighter skin in the morning. The cream is thick and luxurious but not too heavy on the skin - my combination skin was comfortable during the night and I advise you to bring the product down the neck and chest since this area is very prone to sunspots. Since the brightening effect is very subtle, you may want to take some pictures before you start using the product and after a month of using it regularly to really see the differences). 

Dark Spot Correcting Glycolic Night Cream Vinoperfect, € 34,90, Caudalie. 

Promises: to reduce oiliness, help brighten the skin and diminish fine lines. This antioxidant has silymarin, l-ascorbic acid, ferulic acid, and salicylic acid to help prevent oil oxidation that can lead to breakouts, and visible signs of aging. Vogue’s word: to use a Vitamin C product by Skinceuticals is to spend the rest of the time searching for another that does the same. After C E Ferulic, still considered the gold standard of vitamin C, this new addition to the antioxidant family is formulated for oily and acne-prone skin. In terms of application, it is very similar to C E Ferulic, both in smell and inconsistency, being very liquidy and easily absorbed, but slightly less oily. When it dries down, there's a little bit of a sticky feeling, but it is easily fixed when you apply the rest of your products on top. With only two weeks of using it, my skin looked really glowy and healthy and I noticed fewer breakouts and more controlled sebum production. 

Silymarin CF Serum, € 153,15, Skinceuticals. 

Promises: to combine UV protection with anti-aging care with a fluid and ultralight texture. Its long-lasting technology makes it waterproof, sand proof, and sweatproof, making it appropriate for the beach but also day-to-day wear. The formula is enriched with niacinamide, peptides, and Vichy’s volcanic water and it has a dry touch and leaves no white cast behind. Vogue’s word: Summer equals SPF launches but don't be fooled by the orange box: this one is meant to be added to your daily routine and not your beach bag, being a very smart move by the brand, who is working to make applying sunscreen a more enjoyable experience and a step that you will want to squeeze in between your moisturizer and your makeup (and the face makeup products work beautifully on top of it). It has a velvety finish that doesn’t make you oily throughout the day, it is very easy to blend and it is in fact invisible (making it wearable by all skin tones) and the extra actives bring the new element making this a very complete product  - and a oily skin may even skin the moisturizer and feel comfortable using just this one.

Capital Soleil UV-Age Daily SPF 50, € 23,95, Vichy.  

Promises: a sensorial experience that nourishes dry skin and keeps it hydrated for up to 96 hours. The rich, creamy - and vegan - formula with sustainably sourced Hass avocado and karite butter is part of a reformulation that makes this line more friendly to the environment and friendly to the skin. Vogue’s word: launched in 1992 (the first was the mango one), The Body Shop body butters are the most iconic and one of the bestselling products of the brand. This year, they had a makeover in both the packaging - now made with recycled plastic and an aluminum lid - and in the formula, and the line was expanded with this Avocado Body Butter. The first impression is that it is a very thick product - it reminded me of a cleansing balm consistency - that you have to warm up so it melts and glides easily on the skin. The hydration power is immediate and the smell is super nice, making the application very relaxing. The skin is left feeling soft without a greasy or sticky feeling. And if the summer is the time when our skin is more exposed to drying agents like the sun, salty water, or pool chlorine, to double (or triple) the moisture is always a safe bet.

Avocado body butter, € 17, The Body Shop. 

Promises: to eliminate 99.9% of viruses, bacteria, and yeasts. The biphase patented formula softens, nourishes, and restores the moisture barrier since the lipidic phase has squalane and karite oil to complement the oils naturally present in the skin and protect them from dryness. Vogue’s word: Weird times we are living when in the middle of a beauty page we feature a hand sanitizer. This product was developed for people that due to work (or due to living during a pandemic) have to be constantly sanitizing their hands and, because of that, need to protect them from the aggressions caused by the drying alcohol. Being a biphase fórmula, we have to shake it vigorously to mix both parts and get it to be distributed evenly to guarantee both the disinfectant and the hydrating action. Since I tried this one it hasn’t left my purse because I feel it is the perfect balance between cleanliness and care. When applied, the alcohol evaporates, leaving behind a soft oil that hydrates the skin but is quickly absorbed, leaving you with soft and non-greasy hands.

Biphase Lipoalcoolique Spray, € 7,20, Bioderma. 

Translated from the original, as part of Vogue Portugal's Music Issue, published in June 2021.

Full credits and story on the print version.