Skincare-holic's 2010 Avoid List

As requested by some readers, I decided it would be good to do up a list of products that did nothing for me, was a waste of money or made my skin sensitive (i.e. redness, burning/stinging sensation). As with all other skincare products, these products might do wonders for your skin but not work for mine. For the record, I have combination, sensitive, dehydrated skin. Click the product name/picture to see my review.

The Face Shop Salon Effect Pearl Collagen Mask Powder. 

The name and what it touts to do was what made me attracted to this mask. I thought I was going to get an at-home facial. But this mask burned and made my skin red. I washed it off after a minute as the stinging was just not tolerable. I notice that The Face Shop makes masks with a lot of perfume/fragrance in them. Perhaps the only thing worth getting is the Raspberry Slim and Life Collagen Eye Patch, which happens to be one of my 2010 favouites.

Neutrogena Deep Clean Blackhead Eliminating Warming Treatment

This was a total waste of money. Really, save your money and get a better scrub with better quality and quantity. The tube is tiny and it is not that cheap for just a few usages.

Cetaphil UVA/UVB Defense SPF50+/UVA28

This sunscreen was greasy on me, did not absorb well and made me look and feel like an oil mine. It was
chucked aside after a few usages. I'm sure there are better sunscreens out there. Such a waste as I always thought that Cetaphil was a good brand with dermatological background and not just merely marketing hype.

La Mer The Radiant Infusion

Another expensive product with no effects on my skin. This La Mer Radiant Infusion really burnt a hole in my pocket and I was praying hard that it would work. After this La Mer experience, I am convinced that nothing can be done with pore size (I already knew with all the articles out there, but I harboured some hope!) and I will not be wasting money again, regardless of what the next sales assistant says - this product was supposed to give radiance, clarity, minimise pores and tone skin. A good toner would suffice, I still don't get why there is a need for this product. Perhaps for some marketing reasons? The Hydrating Infusion would make more sense since it serves a more definite purpose but I wasn't going to burn another hole to buy a hydrating lotion/serum with a nice name - Hada Labo Hyaluronic Acid Lotion seemed cheaper and worked. I liked Creme De La Mer though and it is one of my 2010 favourites.

Proactiv Renewing Cleanser

I included this here because it didn't suit my skin. It made my skin sensitive. However, it might be good for oily, acne-prone skin, which it was designed for.  I don't hate this product but I avoid it now, even though I still have a good amount of it left.