Natural Even Advanced Daily Cream

After hearing so many good things about Alba, and loving to try more nature based products, I decided to give this moisturizer a spin. I love moisturizers that are creamy or sometimes gel based. Moisturizers/creams/lotions are my total weakness! The packaging is super cute- I love tubs, and the design is very chic and modern.

CONS- However, once I opened the tub I noticed a very non-natural fragrance. Its a nice, pretty smell, but I was kind of anticipating a more natural, hippie dippie smell, seeing as how a lot of the ingredients seemed pretty legit, and Alba is all about the all-natural schtick. (Although, I admit, I usually prefer the synthetic fragrance to the natural one). The perfume is the last ingredient, so that means there's not a lot of it in the creme, but the smell is pretty strong. It just doesn't seem like it would belong in a natural creme, so it feels a little incongruent there. My Yes to Carrots exfoliator, which I really like, also has a non-natural smell. The smell also lingers on the skin, which makes me think of when shampoo doesn't wash out of your hair all the way, and the smell annoys you. I love the texture and look of the creme, and it is very moisturizing, but I feel it doesn't sink into the skin very well, which I love feeling when I put on face lotion, and it also seems to make my left and right jaw-line/lower cheeks quite itchy and a little bumpy a few minutes after application. The sensation fades, but still- it might be a mild allergic reaction. I cannot pin-point what the irritant is, though. This is also advertised as a skin evener. I don't recall any even skin tone after 2 weeks, as it states. This is also pricey- for 2 oz it costs a whopping 16.99. In hindsight, I'm not sure this is worth the 17 buck price tag, natural ingredients and all.

PROS- This would make for a great primer though, because it smooths and moisturizes the skin, and is very emollient. The tub also states "wears well under makeup", and I have to agree. I also like using this on brows, and especially the base of my brows, as I get quite flaky there and I don't want that dry skin to make my foundation cake up or look crappy. I've made quite a dent, a little less than half-way down, maybe 3 quarters (I suck at math) but I took a break from it, and am trying to get back to it (I love trying new products, and get bored of fragrances so I have a hard time finishing products). I enjoy scooping the creme from the sides and top of the cap, as it tends to accumulate there, and that way I can use little amounts to dab on my brows (it doesn't seem to irritate the skin there).

All in all, I bought a new Alba creme and I want to test it out to see if it too irritates my skin and if I like that one's fragrance better. I really wanted to love Alba's moisturizers, but if round two is dissapointing, I might have to call it quits. Although their shampoos might be something of interest.