Review :: Vichy Capital Soleil Ultra-Fluide 60 - Rubbish!
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free skin care · Wed Jul 05, 2006 7:34 pm

I was dangerously low on my Avene and I haven't made it to Hong Kong so I decided to try the Vichy Capital Soleil range. I bought an extremely expensive, teeny weeny bottle of Capital Soleil Ultra-Fluide 60 after reading that the PPD etc. was all top notch on MUA and SCB.

First time I applied it I thought 'how lovely!'. It's is nicely 'fluide' and for the first time in a year I can see my own skin glow and tone through my SS, but it's too 'fluide'. In the first couple of days of use I was just getting a bit of incidental exposure; shopping and things, but was already developing a mild tan.

Then I went to another city and went for a 2 hour walk in the late afternoon with my umbrella (it's southern China I don't look stupid - even men do it) and it simply doesn't have the adherence of the Avene. It just seemed to sweat off really quickly. I'd also applied the Capital Soleil 30 for children to my chest and neck and that all emulsified and dripped right off. I ended up in a restaurant eating alone and the Chinese were all staring at me. That's sort of normal for a foreigner so I didn't think anything of it, but when I got back to my hotel I had big splashes of white all down the front of my black clothes. And more annoyingly I was burnt across my nose, cheeks and particularly my chin. Must have been the glare off the very white pavements.

I've always complained about the Avene stickiness, but now I realise why it's necessary. Also the Avene Spray Very High Protection Sensitive Skin 40SPF is so cheap; one bottle has lasted me almost a year using it until recently daily on my face, neck and chest. I can also see the difference in comparison with the other ss on my left wrist. I tend to spray Avene onto one wrist before I apply to my face and that part of my forearm is in much better shape than where I use other SS.

I don't know if anyone else has had more success with the Capital Soleil line? Maybe it would hold up better in less humid conditions.

I should mention that although I checked the expiry date this bottle could well be fake because while the box had a brand hologram (a security device they use here for brands in China) there was nothing to stop someone slipping in a different bottle and it had no seal. Fakes are common here so it could be just that.

free skin care · Wed Jul 05, 2006 9:14 pm

Molly,

I think the high humidity is definitely the cause of your burn. Since vichy is not water-proof, sweating and such will cause the spf to run down your face. You basically ended up with white sweat Surprised

I think that is why most people in asia prefers water-proof sunscreens.

Also since it is so fluidy, did you apply at least the recommended amount? I find that it is easier to apply the cream vs the fluide.

Hope you recover from your sunburn soon.

free skin care · Wed Jul 05, 2006 9:27 pm

Hi Mtview

Thanks, I recovered in a day or so, it wasn't too severe, but the Capital Soleil for children which streamed off my neck and chest is 'water resistant' so this surprised me.

And I have to say that prior to the big adventure I'd already been getting mild tanning using the face stuff and I didn't manage to sweat if off on a trip to the local shops and back.

Maybe full coverage is difficult with such a liquidy item as you say, although I thought I'd covered myself fully - I had enough SS sheen on me for sure.

So I'm not convinced it's just the humidity although it doesn't help.

Might try it once more back in the UK, but then you never can tell if there's enough rays to give it a real test run.

Have you tried it?

Molly

free skin care · Wed Jul 05, 2006 9:48 pm

Hi Molly,

I used to live in Asia so I know the humdity (yuck!). I have a sample of vichy fluide but haven't tried it yet. I used to use LRP FE. I was told it is very simliar to vichy fluide except that vichy fluide is more matte.

I use vichy lait (canadian version) now because of my dry skin. It is also more economical since it comes in a 100ml tube. It doesn't have the highest ppd (~15) but I like the texture. I tried bioderma ppd 35 and had a bad allergic reaction. Same with vichy lait-gel ppd 28.

free skin care · Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:02 pm

Yes, yuck, yuck, yuck! And I'm a very thin person and it usually takes a lot to make me sweat. I don't see the locals with sweat dripping down their necks. I wonder how they do it?

free skin care · Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:35 pm

Molly,

I just read on a chinese beauty board regarding sunscreen usage. One girl said she uses at least 2 to 3 bottles of sunscreen (30ml each) per month. She reapplies every 2 hours. She can see white residue on her leather couch, car seat, and even certain restaurant chairs Shock

However, she is pale and happy. I also read that a lot of girls in asia also uses sunscreen at night because certain bulbs (used in cosmetic counters, certain restuarants/pubs, even dentist light) give out uv rays. Talk about ultra uv sensitive Anxious

free skin care · Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:53 pm

In some ways that doesn't surprise me at all. They do treat the sun like their mortal enemy, throwing their hands over their faces if the rays touch them and so on, but in another I'm very surprised because I don't see many slimy faces like mine around town. I wonder what they use? There's some really rubbishy brands in the beauty shops in tiddly bottles. I think you'd have to reapply them all the time because they're not photostable.

free skin care · Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:25 pm

and they all wear heavily padded bras - how do they do that without dripping too Laughing

? Can you ask them Mtview? I've always wondered.

free skin care · Thu Jul 06, 2006 1:45 am

Hiya Molly Smile

When I was in GZ, I didn't find them to be too conscious with their skin... (I found Japanese folks to be more Sun-conscious)... Maybe that is just GZ, coz in HK I also found them very skin conscious Smile

They also didn't strike me to be SS wearing. It's really sad but it seems like in GZ most skincare products are rubbish in the malls (like what you said before.)

So far, I am liking the Vichy Activ I bought... Maybe since it is formulated for humid countries. Goodluck there, hope your skin's surviving the humidity Wink

free skin care · Thu Jul 06, 2006 10:08 am

had the same experience with Vichy here (in Paris), getting sunburn, etc. i was on holiday at religiously reapplying it and still got burnt. sweated off all over the car as well. to boot, the stuff broke me out. i will never go near another Vichy SS again!

BTW, what powder do you use? the humidity here has been ridiculous and my face is not just shiny -- there are tiny droplets of water on it.

free skin care · Thu Jul 06, 2006 10:48 am

I feel your pain Molly--- I had a similar experience when I first moved to Japan. It was a combination of the strong sun and me just not being used to the heat and humidity (and not being used to going without air conditioning Embarassed

), and I would sweat off my sunscreen all the time. For situations like that, I've really grown attached the the Colorscience Sunforgettable powder that I'm always harping on. Not only is it sweat-proof, but it also helps my poor face battle the humidity without being a grease ball all day. (Living in Japan definitely taught me to give up some of my pride, tho, as I finally succomed to a big sun hat and sun gloves, LOL)

free skin care · Thu Jul 06, 2006 6:00 pm

Quote:

i will never go near another Vichy SS again!

Yay, Down with Vichy! Long live Avene!

I'm glad it's not just me La vie en Rose and frankly, though you complain, you're not dealing with anything like the same conditions (I looked up the Paris weather report - I wish) so this SS really doesn't hold up at all.

I was using the JI compressed over my Avene, but not over Vichy obviously on account of the conflict. It doesn't really help though.
Thanks for the pointers on the Vichy (hurray) Ystheal too. I could only get the lotion, please don't break out with the thought and I started it last night.

Thanks Manslayerliz, I'd forgotten about the colourforgettable, it was on my virtual list for a while. I'll check it out. Can't remember the PPD, but I think it was more than most physical blocks. And I still haven't re-ordered from EDS because I managed after asking questions to whittle my list down from 6 items to 1 and now I'm stuck for what to add (got a voucher from ages ago). How strange hmm

with an inventory of 1000s. I think I'm getting very picky.

Hi Jozie, I agree - I don't see any shiny faces around and it's strange because their number one focus in life is beauty. I read in another thread somewhere someone was saying how terrible the pressure to look good as a woman was in the developed world: USA particularly. Not so! They put each other under SO much pressure here. I never knew anything like it.

I only have one really close female Chinese friend and frankly the stuff she uses on her face I wouldn't touch with a barge pole and her SS are next to useless. But I think this is the result of China being at the beginning of having consumer choices - a lot of them tend to believe adverts especially if it has a big brand name behind it, which is curious because they argue like hell in the market or a small shop over every little thing. I think in another twenty years with their bartering skills they'll be the most awesome consumers.

I must admit I've got a big obsession here with looking at womens' chests - It's becoming quite embarrassing. I just can't believe how they swaddle their breasts so fully and don't have sweat running down from their necks. As soon as I get back to the UK in the summer I see loose breasts swaying everywhere, but here there's not a nipple in sight.

Molly Laughing

free skin care · Thu Jul 06, 2006 8:26 pm

Molly wrote:

and they all wear heavily padded bras - how do they do that without dripping too Laughing

? Can you ask them Mtview? I've always wondered.

Boob jobs are quite common in taiwan, hk, korea etc so people may not be wearing heavily padded bras Very Happy

Molly wrote:

As soon as I get back to the UK in the summer I see loose breasts swaying everywhere, but here there's not a nipple in sight.

Molly Laughing

You know you can't possibly show any hint of nipple(s) under your shirt. You will have everyone staring and pointing at you. Not a good thing.

free skin care · Thu Jul 06, 2006 8:39 pm

MTview, I'm well aware of that. This is my fourth year of sweaty breasts in China. I once on a steaming July day went out in my previous city (where I was the only resident foreigner for two years) with a light T-shirt and a non-padded bra - NEVER AGAIN!! I've never been so embarrassed in all my life. I've noticed they even sell nipple cover/plasters in the beauty shops. It's amazing that they cause such offense. I recently had a colleague who seemed completely unaware - that was embarrassing too. You can't tell someone to cover up their nipples. I think she thought they were oggling her because she was so beautiful.

They're all having boob jobs in Shenzhen too with some dangerous substance which has been banned even over here, but you still don't see a nipple.

free skin care · Thu Jul 06, 2006 9:12 pm

Hi Molly,

I seriously don't remember how I survived the humdity for so many years. I went back last year for a visit and was miserable. I had to take at least 3 showers a day, if not more.

Seeing women in business suits, panty hose and wearing flawless makeup and hair walking down the street just amazes me Shock

free skin care · Fri Jul 07, 2006 6:45 am

Molly, if you don't mind my asking, what do you do over in China? My husband and I briefly toyed with the idea of going there for work, but in the end we never went. We got by OK in Japan and Singapore, but IMO China is definitely a step up in difficulty! Still, you seem to be thriving over there--- it's really impressive!

free skin care · Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:25 pm

Quote:

China is definitely a step up in difficulty! Still, you seem to be thriving over there--- it's really impressive!

Hi Manslayerliz

What can I say? No, no, no! This is a complete misreading of my situation.

I think if you went over as a young couple you'd have something of a buffer, but as a single, slightly older, unmarried woman my life has been more than difficult. I'm just a bit of crazy person who is fatally attracted by the impossible and my feeling is if I wrote a book about my experiences here it would read very similarly to a hostage situation. My life here has been

Shock

and far more of this than anything else Brick wall

I'm not really speaking for living here in Guangzhou because that's the most western of experiences you can get in China. I find it boring. After all most of the Chinese abroad are from either Guangzhou or Fuzhou and they have quite a different sensibility, but Beijing is so provincial for a capital city and my small town was an elating, drepressing, paranoia-inducing, life-changing, frustrating, enlightening episode that has probably left me scarred for life.

On the other hand if you come to the developed areas you can have a very affluent and confortable life teaching because there's very little competition. I'm guessing that's what you both do. The teaching situation's tend to be depressing though, because you tend to only teach spoken English like it's an extra and you end up doing way more entertaining than teaching.

I was teaching, but now I'm doing something more specialised. I won't tell you what I do because if someone browsed here and put two and two together I'd be so embarrassed Embarassed

. Skincare forums are my guilty secret. In the real world I think I'm considered intelligent.

M Laughing

free skin care · Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:13 pm

Molly, I just had to reply to your message.
A month ago I was in New York with husband and was using .....Vichy spf 50+ sunblock on my face and Vichy fluid extreme on my arms. The weather was so hot and we were walking about most of the day. My husband is trying to lose weight and was aiming for 20,000 steps a day so I was not only feeling faint and thirsty but I could feel the searing heat on my face! How did the both the Vichy sunblocks work? Not that well I have to say. I got tanned on my arms which I don't really mind, I have medium/light olive skin and it saves on fake tan but I definately do mind when I'm paying for a high factor sunblock and I can feel the skin around my eyes burning despite applying loads of the stuff. Although I didn't get too much of a tan on my face, I could literally feel the skin around my eyes burning and I was wearing sunglasses too! I guess all the Retin-A has thinned the skin considerably and it just wasn't enough protection. What next, a balaclava?! I have about three new fine lines under each eye. I'm so annoyed. I know what you mean about the white stains too, the black panels and steering wheel in our car is covered with the stuff, even the outside car door handles! All in the quest of stopping the hands of time. I'm also in the UK, most reliable I've found is L'oreal Solar spf60 with both types of Mexoryl in it and how I wish I'd worn it instead of Vichy.

free skin care · Fri Jul 14, 2006 1:34 am

surviving another humid summer in tokyo (yes the land of the non nipple showing padded bras)
and I swear by my ddf organic sunblock! I cycle tons and this stuff is great! mind you its rainy season now but soon enough the sun will be out in full force...
anyway I think that part of the reason that nipples are a no no is that the girls have VERY small boobs and have always padded (not like we shameless aussie girls....where sunbathing topless is so normal)anyway now that I have been here so long I would never show my nipples..and thats not because I am particularly shy ...(because believe me I am not) its just nipples showing just looks kind of well... unrefined...kind of like you've put on all your makeup but forgot the lippy (or gloss).......oh good lord hope no one I know reads this.... Laughing

free skin care · Fri Jul 14, 2006 6:25 am

Camelia - thanks for dropping by to condemn the disgraceful sunscreen. I wonder how they get away with it.

Anna Chan, is that your real name? Laughing

I've got small breasts, but I don't wear lippy. Don't you think they all look a bit sad and uniform though? I prefer the individualized, European look. Let them free, I say. Bad Grin

free skin care · Fri Jul 14, 2006 6:56 am

Molly wrote:

.

Anna Chan, is that your real name? Laughing

I've got small breasts, but I don't wear lippy. Don't you think they all look a bit sad and uniform though? I prefer the individualized, European look. Let them free, I say. Bad Grin

hey Molly I do understand that ......I am tempted to unleash my small boobs too (they do cry to be let out sometimes) but have turned japanese!
well at least I dont wear those nasty lumpy lacy padded things...love my VS bras!
yes shame about that sunscreen....I think physical blocks are better (Titanium Dioxide and zinc oxides )DDF is rather fab as it has a bunch of good ingredients VItamins A,C and E
Alpha Lipoic Acid Co-Q10 to name a few....
Razz

free skin care · Fri Jul 14, 2006 7:03 am

Anna, I've switched myself for the first time in a year to minerals too. Invested in a bottle of Clarins UV Plus, which is quite delightful. But I do worry about the low PPDs of these mineral screens. They're the tops to stop burning and stopping tanning, I agree, but their PPDs are only 8ish and you lose the anti-aging full, strong UVA protection like my Avene had which was 20PPD.
I'm just fed up with looking ugly and oily every day, but in the long run I don't know.

free skin care · Fri Jul 14, 2006 8:21 am

well Molly you could always wear those long arm gloves(they wear them here...yeeeshk) and use a parasol....ahh sexy!
(actually I had sun allergies a few years back and used a parasol ...but that too is ok here ) Razz

I love clarins too! its really great!
at least I never get to the beach anymore (they are all crowded here) and you are never far from the shade of a building here in tokyo...still my derm said that UV bounces back off the pavement...truly though DDF organic is so good and must say when I use that on my face my skin actually looks better (long term) guess its all the goodies that are in it....

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