pixi Vitamin C Caviar Balm Review – Acquired taste

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Do you like Caviar? I do, but I think it is an acquired taste, like wine and French Cheese, and I remembered it had been a while since i ate some when writing my pixi Vitamin C Caviar Balm review. Not that this one contains actual caviar, no, but some skincare lines do.

 

pixi Vitamin C Caviar Balm
pixi Vitamin C Caviar Balm

 

Caviar is said to have an antioxidant effect when used in creams, and tastes slightly fishy and salty when you eat it. At least the version I have tried does, which is not the “real” and expensive one, but the much more affordable alternatives you get at Ikea.

I have no clue now how the small yellow beads taste, that give the pixi Vitamin C Caviar Balm it´s name, but they sure do burst the same way when you massage them onto the skin.

What else is there to say about the product? Let´s see.

 

 

What does the pixi Vitamin C Caviar Balm claim?

Encapsulated leave on vitamin mask. A brightening leave-on mask that promotes collagen production and skin luminosity due to Vitamin C.

 

Some fact about the pixi Vitamin C Caviar Balm

Price and Size

One yellow tube contains 45 ml and retails for 24 $ on the website here. It is a little smaller than the Vitamin C Cream that costs the same, but as it is a mask. not a cream it should still last you a decent amount of time.

 

Texture and scent

Balm is a great way to describe it, as the texture feels very rich and has some resistance when spread over the skin. When you look at it closely you can see tiny yellow beads that at first feel a little grainy, but burst when massaged into the skin.
Like all the products from the Vitamin C range, it smells subtly of sweet citrus.

 

Close up of the pixi Vitamin C Caviar Balm
See the yellow beads?

 

How to use the pixi Vitamin C Caviar Balm

Designed to be used as a leave on mask, you apply it as your last step-in your evening routine, let it absorb and then go to bed. Due to the richness I would allow it at least half an hour to absorb, even more if you have oily skin.

I have tried it both overnight and throughout the day. If you have dry skin, wearing it throughout the day might be an option, but it doesn´t sit well with makeup on top of it.

My skin did look bright after sleeping in it, but using it too often gave me whiteheads and congestion.

 

pixi Vitamin C Caviar Balm ingredients

Favorable ingredients
  • Glycerin: Humectant
  • Propanediol: Humectant, penetration enhancer
  • Caprylic/ Capric Triglyceride: Occlusive, antioxidant
  • Cetearyl Alcohol: Emollient, emulsifier
  • Shea Butter: Emollient
  • Glyceryl Stearate: Fatty acid, naturally occurring in the human body, emollient
  • Hydrogenated Polydecene: Emollient
  • Betaine: Humectant, gives smooth feeling to skin and hair
  • Sorbitan Stearate: Humectant, emulsifying
  • Ferulic Acid: antioxidant, known for stabilizing other antioxidants like Vitamin C, thus enhancing their efficacy
  • Ascorbic Acid: reduces hyperpigmentation, important for collagen production, antioxidant
  • Lactic Acid: AHA, bigger molecule so it exfoliates more on the surface, hydrating
  • Oryza Sativa (Rice) Callus Culture Extract: Rich in antioxidants, brightening
  • Bifida Ferment Lysate: potential antioxidant effect, hydrating
  • Salix Alba (Willow) Bark extract: Natural source of salicylic acid and tannins, acts as preservative
  • Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil: Rich in Vitamin C, brightening, prevents acne
  • Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil: Rich in Vitamin C, brightening, prevents acne
  • Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil: Rich in Vitamin C, brightening, prevents acne
  • Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil: Emollient, soothing, rich in antioxidants
  • Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil: potentially astringent
  • Tocopheryl Acetate: More stable form of Vitamin E, antioxidant
  • Panthenol: Vit. B 5, humectant, penetrates into deep layers of skin, moisturizing, antiinflammatory
  • 1,2-Hexanediol: Humectant
  • Arginine: Aminoacid, healing, increases cell turnover, stimulates growth factors
  • Mannitol: Humectant
  • Allantoin: Aminoacid, soothing irritated skin
  • Butylene Glycol: Humectant, penetration enhancer
  • Pentylene Glycol:  Humectant
  • Caprylyl Glycol: Humectant
  • Sodium Hyaluronate: Hydrating, smaller form of hyaluronic acid with deeper penetration

 

Other ingredients
  • Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract: Fragrance
  • Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose: Thickener
  • Phenoxyethanol: Preservative
  • Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer: Stabilizer
  • Cellulose: Thickener
  • Ethylhexylglycerin: Preservative
  • Disodium EDTA: Binding Agent
  • Iron Oxides (CI 77492)

 

One of the main ingredients other than Vitamin or Ascorbic Acid is Shea Butter, which is probably responsible for my congestion. It also contains Vitamin E and Ferulic Acid, antioxidants that help stabilize Vitamin C and Lactic Acid, which can be used both as chemical exfoliant and as humectant, depending on the pH. Additional brightening ingredients are Rice Extract and several Citrus Essential Oils for extra Vitamin C, although I doubt that this makes a difference if you already have Ascorbic Acid among the top ten ingredients.
Lastly Panthenol for soothing, Bifida Ferment Lysate as antioxidant and humectants for extra hydration.

 

Does the pixi Vitamin C Caviar Balm live up to its claims?

Yes.

It is a brightening leave on mask with added Vitamin C.

 

Is the pixi Vitamin C Caviar Balm worth your money?

That depends on your skin type.

For my combination oily skin the texture was too rich to really enjoy. If your skin is more on the dry side though, the Vitamin C Caviar Balm is a lovely nourishing cream with additional brightening effect.

Sensitive skins beware because of the essential oils.

 

How does the pixi Vitamin C Caviar Balm compare to the…

klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Sleeping Mask

The klairs one is much lighter in texture, so better suited to oily skin types and in my personal experience as effective in brightening even though it does not contain Vitamin C, but a good dose of Vitamin E and Niacinamide. It has a bouncy gel texture that feels refreshing rather than nourishing and absorbs quicker. I´d say it is better suited for combination oily skin.

Read my full review of the klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Sleeping Mask here

 

pixi Rose Caviar Essence

Despite being by pixi and having Caviar in the name, there is not much resemblance. The Rose Caviar Essence is lightweight and hydrating, but without the extra added Vitamins, so I would put it more in the hydrating section rather than the “actives” section of your skin care products.
Oh, and in case you are curious, no, the pixi Rose Caviar Essence does not contain Caviar either.

Read my full review of the pixi Rose Caviar Essence here

 

Which skin type is the pixi Vitamin C Caviar Balm best suited for?

Dry skin, mature skin and skin struggling with hyperpigmentation. If you skin is oily or sensitive to essential oils, this might not be the best one for you.

 

pixi Vitamin C Caviar Cream Review
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