Memebox Chica y Chico Value Set Initial Impressions

So….. I first saw these products on Wishtrend and thought to myself, why is there a Latino name for a Korean company?  I had no idea! I also received samples of some of these products when I purchased from Wishtrend as well and I tried them, but they were just samples, so I couldn’t get a good feel on them.  Since the products are not inexpensive, I didn’t want to spend that type of money on something that I was unsure about ~ says the person who does this ALL the time…haha  For those not up on their Spanish, Chica Y Chico means “little girl and little boy” ~ and are terms of endearment.  In the case of chica, it could also mean a hottie…  Well, that is my Spanish lesson for today!

I then found out that Chica Y Chico is a subsidiary of Skin & Lab, which I have purchased a few items from and like their brand.   That said…expensive stuff for small tubes.   Then a few weeks ago, Memebox came out with a value set with 3 Chica Y Chico products ~ ~ for $38.00, so yeah, I purchased it.  This is an initial impressions blog post and I will not only give my initial impressions of the creams (texture, color, scent, any issues), plus key ingredients, and display some of the amazing and quite alarming adverts from Chica Y Chico.  Most of the information is quite good and informative, but there are a few that I snorted at.  I will follow up with results from these creams in 6 weeks. 

Initial Impressions on Chica Y Chico Value Set

I suffer not only blemishes, but have aging concerns ~ fine lines around my eyes ~ and sun damage hyper-pigmentation from the years of neglect when I lived in Los Angeles.   This set actually targets all three of my concerns ~ wrinkles, acne and hyper-pigmentation.   The photo below is from the right side of my face ~ freshly washed and scrubbed, no moisturizer applied.  This is a recent photo and I just came back from a vacation, where my face was exposed to the sun.   I did wear sunscreen, but it still caused my spots to come back darker.  Now, some people might say.. oh but those are freckles ~ well, yes, I do have freckles and I do not mind small freckles.  I do draw the line at huge spots and patchy areas, however.

I may have to do a chemical peel with my hyper-pigmentation, but I am trying to avoid it as long as I can ~ I still have flashbacks from that episode with Samantha from Sex and the City

 

 

Chica Y Chico Astazet  4.0 This is the product that I am hanging my hopes on!!  I hope that this will help reduce and lighten my hyper-pigmentation that I shared with you here.  I have tried many products, and while my face is smooth and “brighter” (as in not dull or tired looking), the hyper-pigmentation is still there.  The key ingredient in Astazet is 4% asataxnthin, (not Athelstan..) and is an anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory carotenoid, usually harvested from marine algae.   Its undiluted color is a deep red-salmon, which explains why this cream is a light yellow-orange shade.   Asataxnthin is supposed to be the latest new thing in antioxidants.   A clinical study performed at Creighton University displayed that asataxnthin destroys free radicals 6000 times better than Vitamin C, 800 times more than CoQ10, 550 times more than Vitamin E and Green Tea extracts, 75 times more than Alpha Lipoic Acid and 20 times more than beta carotene (source)  Other studies have shown that it can reduce melanin (which causes hyper-pigmentation) by about 40% and over time, will fade hyper-pigmentation.  (source)

Annato (Urucum) Oil, which is an emollient, comes from the Bixa Orellana tree and is a powerful antioxidant due to its carotenoids.

Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)  is a powerful antioxidant that acts as an anti-inflammatory, improves your skin elasticity, enhance the skin barrier function and also it helps to even out skin tone and reduce post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation.  

Fermented products: ginseng, mistletoe, soybean and cogongrass ~ I am familiar with fermented ingredients in my skincare and love soybean fermented anything.  Fermented ingredients can have a greater concentration of antioxidants and can be more efficient in reducing wrinkles and hyper-pigmentation, as well as reducing toxins. (source)  LG Household & Health Care, a huge Korean company, states that “Oriental medicinal herbs are combined with yeast to create a fermentation process, which fortifies the active ingredients in Oriental medicinal herbs to make them more than 20 times more effective and produces new active ingredients” and “As is already widely known, fermentation has significant skin improvement effects as small microorganisms break down the molecular structures of Oriental medicinal herbs to allow them to be absorbed deep within the skin more rapidly and more effectively to boost the skin’s defenses.” (source)

This product does not contain artificial perfume or colorants, no triclosan, no mineral oils, no silicon no benzophenone and no sulfates

I apply this in the morning and night ~ I want to use this treatment on my hyper-pigmented spots, so it should not interfere with my other creams.  I only use this as a spot treatment for now.

For some reason, I was surprised how creamy and moisturizing this cream is ~ oh and by the way, a little goes a long way ~ it is very spreadable.  It is a pale yellow-orange and its moisturizing properties come from the several types of oils ~ green tea and annato ~ as well as vitamin E and sodium hyaluronate.   I did not notice a strong scent to this product either. It applies smoothly and leaves my face pretty moisturized where I apply it.  It needs about 15 minutes before applying the next step ~ it is already well absorbed by that time ~ in fact, my skin just soaks it up and it is very quickly absorbed to a satin finish, but it is just some extra padding before slapping on the next skincare product.  My skin feels very silky and smooth after application.   Full Size 30mL OMG is this small  RV $25.00 (Memebox has it on sale for $18.00 currently)

Description: Acne marks, blemishes, sun spots and other visible marks caused by skin damage can truly be a difficult dilemma to deal with. With Chica y Chico’s special spot care repair cream, Asta-Z 4.0, getting rid of these marks won’t take too much hassle for you. This cream protects, heals and restores damaged cells to be able to help regenerate healthier skin. This brightens up dark spots to perfectly even out skin tone. This contains NO harsh chemicals which makes it safe for sensitive skin.

How to use: After washing and toning, squeeze a pea-sized amount of the cream and apply directly onto troubled areas.

Ingredients:  Lactobacillus/Panax Ginseng Root Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitan Olivate, Glycerin, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil,  Astaxanthin (4%), Saccharomyces/Viscum Album (Mistletoe) Ferment Extract,  Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Saccharomyces/Imperata Cylindrica Root Ferment Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Myristyl Alcohol, Betaine, Beeswax,  Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Arginine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic acid, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract cosDNA.com analysis

image from memebox

image from memebox

image from memebox

Out, damn’d spot! out, I say!—One; two: why, then
’tis time to do’t.—Hell is murky ~~ Lady  MacBeth, who had other issues with different spots.

 image from memebox

 

Chica Y Chico Beta-Salic 2.0  This is the acne treatment of the trio and is only for night use ~ do not use during the day!   The package states while using this product, you cannot use high concentrations of Vitamin C products and to avoid facial scrubs.  I can do the former but I still use my scrubs, but since I target spot this cream on my acne prone areas, I can scrub around them.  Its key ingredients are

• 2% Betaine Salicylate (BHA = beta hydroxy acid) is chemical exfoliator that helps reduce pore size, helps prevent acne, remove dirt and debris from clogged pores by dissolving the dead skin cells and smooths the skin.  It is also an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial.
• 4% Glycolic Acid (AHA = alpha hydroxy acid) is another chemical exfoliator and helps clear up acne, moisturizes and reduces the appearance of fine lines and premature aging, by increasing cellular turnover, revealing new skin.  If your skin is sun-damaged, adding AHA to your skin care routine is beneficial.

My lovely cosRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Toner also contains both, so it seems to be common combination.  I have had fantastic luck with cosRX Clarifying Toner, so I hope this will help as well.   Chica Y Chico states that this product has a pH level of 3.5

It also contains sodium hyaluronate, which is an excellent hydrating product, as well as a lot of plant extracts, which basically contain antioxidants ~ they help reverse free radical damage to your skin and prevent new damage from occurring.  There is also licorice, which is a brightening ingredient and snail secretion filtrate, which will increase skin elasticity and firmness.  This does contain some low level acne triggers and irritants, such as beeswax, cetyl alcohol,  glyceryl stearate SE,  stearyl alcohol and simmondsia chinensis seed oil.  However, it does not contain any  artificial perfume or colorants, no talc, no benzophenone and no sulfates.  If you are allergic to aspirin, you should not use this product and if you have dry skin, you probably do not want to use it either, according to Chica Y Chico.

Oh yeah, this is a topical acne product! I can smell the salicylic in it right away.   The smell does go away after a few minutes when you apply it to your skin, but this lightweight, yet hydrating cream.  It does have a lot of slip, which I attribute to panthenol, which does have that “slick” feeling.   At initial application, this does have a bit of a stinging sensation which means that the acids in the product are working.   If you have sensitive skin, you might wish to take care using this ~ they suggest only using it 2 to 3 times a week initially and build up to daily use. This actually takes a little longer than the Astazet to absorb.   But it does absorb and does not leave a tacky or sticky feeling.     Full Size 30 mL RV  $25.00 (on sale at Memebox for $18.00)

Description:  This miracle cream gives ultimate nourishment and care for your skin which leads to smoother and softer skin. This provides a special kind of mild exfoliating process which carefully gets rid of dead skin cells without making the skin’s layer thinner. Its key component, Betaine Salicylate, helps get rid of acne, exfoliates, clears blackheads and hydrates the skin just overnight.  

How to use: Use this cream at night. After washing and toning, apply this cream onto your face, avoiding the eyes and lips.

Ingredients: water, butylene glycol, glycolic acid (4%), pentylene glycol, cyclopentasiloxane, cetyl alcohol, betaine salicylate (2%), beeswax, glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate, glyceryl stearate SE, potassium hydroxide, cyclohexasiloxane, polysorbate 60, sorbitan sesquioleate, dimethicone, cetyl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, sodium hyaluronate, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, lonicera japonica (honeysuckle) flower extract, paeonia lactiflora bark/sap extract, sophora flavescens root extract, scutellaria baicalensis root extract, prunus persica (peach) leaf extract, rhus semialata gall extract, camellia sinensis leaf extract, ginkgo biloba leaf extract, centella asiatica extract, snail secretion filtrate, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, xanthan gum, allantoin, panthenol, disodium EDTA  cosDNA.com analysis

image from memebox

image from memebox

image from memebox

 

 

Chica Y Chico Retinolin 3.0 Another night use product ~ this time with retinol, which is Vitamin A and it also helps with acne ~ that is how I received a prescription for Retin-A years ago, because even though I was an adult, I still had (and have) blemishes.  My doctor told me that this was also a great product for wrinkles too, which is how I am using it.   What I REALLY like about this cream is that they state it safe enough to use around the eyes ~ which Retin-A was never safe to use around the eyes at all ~ this is the area that I would like to see improve in terms of fine lines and wrinkles (crow’s feet).   This is actually made with something called  retinol Q (3%), which based on Skin & Lab’s answer that a wonderful /r/AsianBeauty reddit member asked, is 1% Retinol with some ingredients to stabilize it.  (source) 

Retinol  is an antioxidant which helps prevent line lines and wrinkles and repair existing ones, as it will stimulate the collagen production in your skin.   As we age, we naturally will develop fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, hyper-pigmentation and other signs of skin aging.  Retinol (Vitamin A) is an ingredients that can “talk” to your cells and remind them to be healthy.  This is called a “cell communication” ingredient:

Cell-communicating ingredients, theoretically, have the ability to tell a skin cell to look, act, and behave better, more like a normal healthy skin cell would, or to stop other substances from telling the cell to behave badly or abnormally. They do this by either direct communication with the skin cell or by blocking damaging cellular pathways or other cell-communicating substances. Cell-communicating ingredients complement antioxidants to improve skin-cell function. (source)

This also contains a few peptides, human oligopeptide-1, palmitoyl oligopeoptide, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 ~ which will all help with fighting free radicals , stimulate collagen production and help reduce and repair wrinkles.  It also contains some soothing and anti-irritant herbal ingredients.   This does contain a couple of irritants ~ BHA and BHT, so please take note if you have sensitivities to these ingredients.

Out of the 3 creams, this is the most thick in texture and I only use a little bit, as the tube is SOOO small.  As I really want to target my eye area, I don’t need a lot (thankfully).  Full Size 15 mL (can these get ANY SMALLER??) RV $35.00 (on sale at Memebox for $25.00)

Description: Chica y Chico’s Retinolin 3.0 cream is the solution for your stubborn wrinkles and fine lines. It contains 3% of retinol which is highly effective in making the skin firmer and stronger, therefore minimizing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. This cream perfectly rejuvenates the skin overnight by supplying abundant nutrients and moisture into the skin while you sleep. This also prevents the appearance of future wrinkles. Retinolin 3.0 cream is free from harsh chemicals which makes it safe for sensitive skin.

How to use: Use this cream at night. After washing and toning, apply this cream onto your face, avoiding the eyes and lips.

Ingredients: water, cyclopentasiloxane, glycerin, cyclohexasiloxane, butylene glycol,  hydrogenated polydecene, PEG-10 dimethicone, retinol, methyl methacrylate crosspolymer, BHT, hydrogenated lecithin,  cholesterol, BHA, phaseolus radiatus seed extract, avena sativa (oat) meal extract, niacinamide, caprylic/capric triglyceride, sodium chloride, C30-45 alkyl dimethyl silyl polypropylsilsesquioxane, stearyl dimethicone, sorbitan sesquioleate,  disteardimonium hectorite, 1,2-hexanediol, caprylyl glycol, caprylhydroxamic acid, boswellia serrata resin extract, panthenol, tocopheryl acetate, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, allantoin, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, sodium hyaluronate, adenosine, rosemarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, ocimum basilicum (basil) oil, salvia sclara (clary) oil, pelargonium graveolens flower oil, citrus grandis (grapefruit) peel oil, limon (lemon) peel oil, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel oil, citrus aurantium bergamia (bergamot) fruit oil, human oligopeptide-1, atractyloides japonica rhizome extract, citrus aurantium amara (bitter orange) peel extract, poria cocos extract, ophiopogon japonicus root extract, inula helenium extract,akebia quinata stem extract, carnitine, caffeine, coenzyme A, polysorbate 20, palmitoyl oligopeoptide, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, aloe barbadensis leaf water  cosDNA.com analysis

image source 

image source 

image source 

OMG ~ the sky is falling!!

image source 

 

With use of any or all of these products, you must use sunscreen.  I believe some of my damage did come from the fact that I used to use a prescription retinol for my acne but neglected to use sunscreen.  You have to use it, as your skin is more photosensitive, and can negatively affect your skin ~ instead of reducing hyper-pigmentation, it will accelerate and deepen the spots.    I will report back in 6 weeks or when the tubes are used up (whichever comes first) with my results and a new photo of the same area, to compare if these products helped with my hyper-pigmentation and also how my skin fared over all. 

I think this value set, if it works for me, is a great deal at $38.00 as these products, when not on sale, retail for $85.00!  This set is still available at Memebox.  I do plan to have a follow up, as I stated, within 6 weeks or when I run out of these products.  I also plan to use the following facial mask, Uguisu No Fun Illuminating Mask, weekly, in this time period and review that as well, so stay tuned!!  Maybe I will get my hyper-pigmentation under control 🙂

Promos for October 2015

• Free shipping off your order of $30 or more
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• If you are new to Memebox, you use my referral link here and get 20% off your first order of $25.00 or more!
  
• WELCOME for 15% off for your first purchase (might work)
• MAKEUPLOVE for 15% off any order (might work)
  

 

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