Review on Dermalogica Gentle Soothing Booster

As my face is pretty sensitive and flushes easily, this Dermalogica Gentle Soothing Booster was recommended by my beautician for me to use on a daily basis. The booster range in the Dermalogica products is to be used before moisturiser. Its like a serum, an extra step to boost the efficacy of the product, be it hydrating, redness, etc.

This is a concentrated, oil-free complex of ultra soothing botanicals and healing honey that calms and hydrates irritated and sensitized skin. Whats so great about this is that other than its oil-free, it also does not contain any artifical fragrance or colour to provoke the skin.

When its stated as oil-free, I was expecting the texture to be light and watery consistency form but in actual fact, its actually like a layer of oily film which I do not really like.

Because its in watery oily form-like, a little bit goes a long way and you just need to squeeze out abit and apply to the areas on your face where its prone to redness.
In my initial application, I applied too much and I felt that my face is like soaked in oil even though in actual fact, its not. Still, I do not really like the texture.

In terms of effiacy, well, I was abit naive in the sense that I thought it will soothe the redness immediately after application but its not meant to work this way. You will need to apply on a regular basis before you can see an improvement in the flushed areas of your skin. Eventually, you will notice that your sensitive areas are not that prone to redness anymore.

However, note that if your skin is triggered by external aggressors, those areas will turn red again, so in a way, with all sensitive skin concerns, you need to know what triggers your skin sensitivities.

Key Ingredients :
Red Raspberry Extract - soothes aggravated skin and strengthens capillaries
Honey - attracts and retains water, binding it to your skin.
Calendula, Chamomile and Cornflower Extracts - reduce irritation by calming redness and moisturizing the skin.

Full Ingredients :
Raspberry (Rubus Idaeus) Extract, Butylene Glycol, Water (Aqua), Honey (Mel); Extracts Of Calendula Officinalis, Chamomile, (Anthemis Nobilis), Linden (Tilla Cordata), Cornflower (Centaurea Cyanus), Matricaria (Chamomilla Recutita), Hypericum Perforatum); Propylene Glycol, Benzophenone-4, Tetrasodium EDTA, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Trip to Hong Kong

I was in Hong Kong recently, hence the 2 weeks gap before I posted the next post although its not an exactly a valid reason because I was there for only 4 days. *chuckles*

I was actually quite impressed with the cleanliness of the restrooms wherever I go because usually when I am overseas, I am put-off by the restrooms than anything else. Being my first time in Hong Kong, I wondered if the cleanliness of the restrooms is due to the flu pandemic or has it always been that way.
Nevertheless, I do found it a breeze to visit the restrooms there.

Shopping on the streets striked me that there are lots of shopping to do! At all corners and wherever you turn and thats on top of those street vendors peddling their food.



Ladies and gentleman alike made an effort to dress up, unlike in Singapore. I guess its also because of the cool weather where I saw a number of gentlemen dressed in their suits. You can hardly find that in humid Singapore.

Their skin complexion is pretty good, I hardly can find one with very bad case of acne. Beauty shops like Bonjour and Sasa are everywhere and its thronged by people at all times. Its so amazing! I guess thats how they get their beautiful skin.
Beauty Credit masks in Sasa was selling at just S$2 per piece which is so much affordable than getting them in Singapore.

I saw My Beauty Diary masks selling at just a mere HK51 for a box of 10 which is so affordable. I wondered if its even cheaper in Taiwan. Many blogshops in Singapore is selling a piece at $1.40 to $1.50 to make a quick buck. I actually bought some to try but its still kept in my drawer. Somehow, a mask which costs less than a dollar made me skeptical. I just kind of wondered what ingredients are in there. Will my skin break-out? Thats my largest concern.




I really love their egg tarts, the best one was at a street stall. Yummy desserts is another favourite of mine though I do not find the pricing that fantastic, abit expensive than my expectations since its so widely available in Hong Kong everywhere.

What disappointed me was that I did not manage to get any Hong Kong fashion back to the shores of Singapore. I was hoping to buy some clothes for myself but I guess their fashion just does not fit into my style.

And the rave reviews on Tung Chung outlets raised my hopes high only to have it crashing down when I was there because the prices are just too expensive to be seriously considered as factory outlet prices.
Even the sales in The Body Shop outlet was way more expensive than the regular prices in Singapore.
If any of you have a chance to be in USA, you must really hit their factory outlets, outstanding prices with outstanding pieces and thats really the true essence of what a factory outlet should be.

All in all, despite all the walking along the streets and eating all around town, its quite an interesting trip for me. My beauty loot is hardly worth much to comment on but I did find some wholesale shops near the hotel where I am staying. I am not sure of its authencity but I still bought Sebastian Potion 9 because its really so much cheaper than in Singapore.
Exit A out of Jordan MTR station, turn right and walk 2 blocks. You will see a row of shops selling beauty supplies. (224 Temple Street). You can read more about it here. 

Review on Biotherm Biopur One Minute Unclogging Mask

This one minute unclogging mask claims to exfoliate, renew and brighten your skin.

The 1st complete tailor-made program for combination to oily skin anti-shine-anti-visible pore - anti-imperfections.

According to Biotherm, the Biopour range is specially formulated for shine-free skin and less visible pores and is most suitable for combination to oily skin type.

Pore Targetting Technology : channels non-stop 12hr cleansing action deep within the pores
Saponine Water : to deeply purify
Copper and Zinc : regulates sebum production
Fresh Starch : absorbs shine and mattifies complexion
Pure Thermal Plankton : minimises irritations, neutralises skin

Saponine water , with properties similar to a natural soap to purify skin, and oil-regulating Copper and Zinc, plus white clay with shine-absorbing powers and exfoliating pumice stone are formulated into a creamy mask to uncog blocked pores, refine skin texture and visibly brighten the complexion.

Recently, my T-zone have become quite active, producing more oil and shine than usual so I decided to put this mask to the test. I used it twice a week and only on my oily T-zone just to see how well it fares.

When the mask is on the skin, it feels abit minty. The immediate effect after each mask session is matte, non-greasy and clean but about 2 hours later, my skin is still back to its oily T-zone state. However I do noticed that the zits have reduced on my chin area ( my chin area is most affected by zits ) after started on this mask.

If you are loooking for a mask with mattifying properties, I feel that it is still not that fantastic but refining skin texture, yes, I do feel that way and hope that with more sessions, I will be able to see an improvement.

Key Ingredients :
Saponine Water, Fresh starch, Pure Thermal Plankton

Review on Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque

Product Description

Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque is a powerful anti-inflammatory masque of concentrated vitamins and botanical extracts to calm environmentally stressed skin. Apply after cleansing as an ultimate remedy for dulling, dry, dehydrated, lackluster, photodamaged skin and skin aging.

Benefits:

(1) Helps reduce inflammation, redness and hypersensitivity.
(2) Increases elasticity and moisture content while promoting collagen production, restoring suppleness.
(3) Neutralizes free radicals, helping to prevent further damage.

Key Ingredients:
- Vitamin A : increases elasticity and moisture content
- Vitamin C : aids in collagen synthesis, restoring skin strength, suppleness and integrity.
- Vitamin E and Pro-Vitamin B5 : promote healthy tissue regeneration
- Licorice, Comfrey and Burdock : soothe and calm the skin.

This is one of my favourite masks. Love love love this so much! Orange in colour, this creamy mask gives comfort to my dehydrated skin whenever I used it. I usually use it once or twice a week, either after a facial scrub or after normal cleansing. I can see a dewy glow after using it. Very comfortable, rested and hydrated. 

Suitable for drier or prematurely-aging skin, the antioxidant vitamins help repair daily damage caused by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS - Free Radicals). Why I really love this mask is because its like an all-in-one mask with antioxidant benefits, hydrating properties and calm the skin. What else do you need?

The only complaint I have, is that its quite difficult to rinse it off with just splashing water on the face. Either I use cotton pads soaked in water or I use a face towel.

Check out the highly popular Dermalogica Intensive Eye Repair Cream on Amazon!

Full Ingredients :
Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Linoleic Acid (Vitamin F - an essential fatty acid) and Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5) help repair and restore damaged skin.

Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernal Extract acts as an anti-inflammatory and moisturises, soothes and calms irritation.
Beta-Glucan soothes irritation and enhances moisture barrier properties.
Nutrient-rich Algae Extract moisturises and softens skin.
Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Symphytum Officinale (Comfrey) Rhizome/Root Extract and Arctium Majus (Burdock) Root Extract soothe and calm skin while decreasing sensitivity

UPDATE (28 May 2024) 

Dermalogica Power Recovery Masque is a face mask that treats aging, dull and damaged skin. With rich multivitamins, it has a thick, creamy and yellow texture that easily smooths onto the skin. It is suitable for pre maturely aging skin or dull skin that requires a boost of nutrients.

Vitamin A, C and E protects aging skin from further damage, while Vitamin B5 deeply nourishes and restores tired skin. Calming herbal extracts soothe stressed skin. Use once weekly to invigorate and revitalise skin. 

Been more than a decade since I last used this mask and is glad to be adding it back to my routine. I received some credits with my AsterSpring facial package and I used it to offset for the purchase of this power recovery masque. 

The price for this masque has been inching upwards and I am not willing to splurge $119 on a 75ml mask when there are plenty of affordable choices out there.

Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque is a reliable mask which I can count upon when my skin is acting up. However it is not a miracle product where all issues disappeared with just 1 use. I still need to use it regularly to reap its benefits. 

After layering the masque on skin, I prefer to rinse it off only when the orange masque contents on the face had disappeared, as I found the benefits to be more pronounced. 

After each use, my skin appeared calmer, brighter and more nourished. Something I would reach out for, when my skin is dehydrated or flaky. 

Where To Purchase : Shopee

Water/aqua/eau, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycereth-7 Triacetate, Di-c12-15 Alkyl Fumarate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Dipropylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Stearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Stearate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Arginine/lysine Polypeptide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Phospholipids, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Linoleic Acid, Beta-carotene, Lactic Acid, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Dimethicone, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Symphytum Officinale Root Extract, Arctium Majus Root Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Sodium Pca, Allantoin, Decylene Glycol, Menthoxypropanediol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Ppg-15 Stearyl Ether Benzoate, Polysorbate 20, Propylene Glycol, Carbomer, Sclerotium Gum, Disodium Edta, Aminomethyl Propanol, Phenoxyethanol, Annatto (Ci 75120).

Review on Redken Fresh Curls Curl Boost

This anti-frizz scrunching spray gel is specially made for curly hair to moisturizes, activates and re-energizes curls, providing humidity resistance, lasting control and shine.

Key Ingredients :
Elastapol - Spring Activation & Frizz Control
Coconut Oil - Moisture
Oleo-amido - Repair & Resurface
Protein - Strength

Through Redken's exclusive Interbond Conditioning System and breakthrough Elasta-Shield Complex, Fresh Curls provides the optimum level of curl-friendly ingredients to define, moisturize, fight frizz, repair and strengthen any type of curl.

I got this while doing my digital perm at one of the salons in Raffles City. I bought both the shampoo and this curl boost. This curl boost lasted me for a long time because initially, I did not use this that regularly as my hair was still quite unruly, since I just got my perm.
The hair looked very fluffy and poodle-like so I refrained from using any curl boost, wax or hair mousse in order to let it be natural.

I started using this Curl Boost a few months later. There were rave reviews on this product everywhere, about how well it helped to maintain their curls.
I usually used this after I washed my hair. Spray over my curls, inner layer and outer layer and start twisting my hair on both sides. After a few minutes, I will run my fingers lightly through my hair to loosen it, so that the curls will look more natural.

This Curl Boost spray gel helps to maintain the shape of the curls and gives the hair a light hold. It does not weigh the hair down and its not sticky. On the areas where the gel touches, its just slightly stiff but its not exactly a big problem to me because the stiffness is entirely different as what you get from the hair mousse or hair wax.

If you spray more, the shape of the curls will be more defined.

On the outside, the hair looks natural and well-maintained.

It doesn't help on the frizziness or gives any shine though. I usually complement it with another shine serum.

This product is good in general but I believe I may be able to find an even better product out there in the market so I am keeping my fingers crossed for now.

If I cannot a better product than Curl Boost, then I might fall back to this again, however, with my past experience with hair mousse, hair wax and now this, I still think hair wax gives a better definition to the curls than any other hair styling aids.

This product received a Best Curl Enhancer award from Launchpad's Readers Choice Award 2007. It received a 9.1 point from Total Beauty which is actually quite a high score.
More rave reviews can be found here.

Ingredient List :
Aqua/Water, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Potassium Dimethicone PEG-7 Panthenyl Phosphate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Behenamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Carboxymethyl Hydroxypropyl Guar, Parfum/Fragrance, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Laureth-23, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben Mel/Honey, Calcium Gluconate, Cocos Nucifera, Coconut Oil, Disodium EDTA, Limonene, Benzylsalicyate, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Linalool, Oleth-10 Disodium Cocoamphodipropionate, Lecithin, Coumarin, Hydrolyzed Sweet Almond Protein, Phosphoric Acid, Olea Europaea/Olive Fruit Oil, Arginine HCI, Taurine (D1885/3).