Review : John Masters Organics Blood Orange and Vanilla Blood Wash

Product Description
Created with the mildest botanically-based surfactants from corn and coconut, this all-over body wash foams into a creamy, rich, sulfate-free lather that gently removes dirt and oil - leaving skin soft and smooth.

Key Ingredients
• blood orange - promotes collagen production
• bourbon vanilla - creates a fresh and intoxicating scent
• vegetable glycerin - moisturizing
• pink grapefruit - balances oily skin; refreshes
• milk thistle - antioxidant

I owned a 30ml travel sized body wash from John Masters. My very first product from the brand, which I bought from ASOS when there was a sale. Its perfect for my recent short trips to Penang and Bali this month.
Although most hotels do provide complimentary body and hair products, I usually like to bring along my own products because most of their products are usually drying to the skin, except for a few excellent ones.

John Masters Organics products are not cheap so I am glad to have a chance to try the travel kit pack.
All ingredients in John Masters Organics' products must meet their strict guidelines :
1. All products must be made with 70-100% organic content
2. No sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, DEAs, MEAs, or TEAs
3. No GMOs (Genetically Modified Organism)
4. No petro-chemicals
5. No animal testing
6. No artificial colors, fragrances or fillers
7. All plant extracts and essential oils must be certified organic whenever possible
8. All essential oils used must be steam-distilled and not extracted with propylene glycol - which kills the effect of the oils
9. All plant oils must be cold pressed, not heat distilled - which kills the therapeutic properties of plant oils
10. All ingredients must be proven to be beneficial to the hair or skin
11. All ingredients must be harvested in an environmentally-friendly manner (wild-crafted)
12. All ingredients must be bio-degradable as possible

You can check out some of their award-winning products here and the list of celebrities using their products here.

This body wash, similar to the retail size, is housed in a clear bottle. Its light orange/yellow in colour with a lightweight texture that foams just abit. It has an odd scent which I cannot describe, more towards vanilla with a hint of citrus. Its been said that it can also be used for the face but I do not have the intention to try that though.

The body wash gives a decent wash, but its neither moisturising nor drying. Average performance for the price. But for the good ingredients it contains, perhaps its worth it, though I think I would still look around.
It scored 4.6 from 14 reviewers on Makeupalley

Ingredients :
Made with 12 certified-organic ingredients
Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera leaf juice) gel,* aqua (water), decyl glucoside, sodium cocoyl glutamate, sodium cocoyl sulfoacetate, panthenol (vitamin B5), glycerin, sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid), hydrolyzed soy protein, silybum marianum (milk thistle) extract, vanilla planifolia (vanilla) extract, arnica montana (arnica) extract,* calendula officinalis (calendula) flower extract,* chamomilla recutica (chamomile) flower extract,* lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flower/leaf/stem extract,* camellia sinensis (white tea) extract,* allantoin, glyceryl cocoate, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil,* linum usitatissimum (flaxseed) seed oil,* borago officinalis (borage) seed oil,* sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, citrus sinensis (blood orange) peel oil,* citrus grandis (grapefruit) peel oil,* bourbon vanilla planifolia (bourbon vanilla) oil*
* Certified Organic

Source : John Masters

Haircut at Pro Trim

Salon : Pro Trim Hair Studio @ Compass Point
Location : #04-03
Tel : 6388 4247
Stylist : Jeffrey Hoe

I rarely visit Compass Point because its out of the way and its a pretty small mall. However I had some time after a visit to Raffles Medical and thought I would just go for a haircut in the same mall. For such a small mall, there are 5 hair salons - namely the 10minute express haircut, a Malay barber salon, Jean Yip, Supercuts and Pro Trim.

Pro Trim Hair Salon looks more inviting than Supercuts so I went ahead with my choice. I am the first customer at 10am so the stylist was still available even though I had no prior appointment. The lady manning the counter quickly usher me to a seat while calling the stylist over to the salon. Guess he's somewhere in the mall but not in the salon.

Reviews for Pro Trim on the internet were not that favourable in general but thankfully, my experience has been a pleasant, quiet and fast affair.
The salon gave me a clean, spacious and quiet vibe, in their choices of layout, colour and cleanliness. Jeffrey seemed to be the only stylist on duty that morning, though the lady manning the counter seem to be a stylist as well, as I saw her attending to another customer an hour later.

The first thing that irked me tremendously is the full length mirror in front of every seat. Please be reminded not to wear short skirts if you do intend to visit Pro Trim. No doubt you do get covered up by a full length overcoat but it was changed 3 times during my 2 hours session, so there are some decent seating that is required during the changing of overcoat. Got my drift?

Next up on my nerves, is the ultra small black table beside the mirror, that can barely slip in 3 or 4 magazines. The table top is where I place my bag. No hooks for my big umbrella and it slipped on the floor twice. The shampoo boy, Paul was really nice enough to pick it up on both times.

Jeffrey spoke to me in a mixture of Mandarin and English, though mainly in Mandarin than the latter. He looked to be in his 40s and is softspoken. No pushy hard sell, though he did try to recommend treatment for my hair condition. He backed away when I told him I am not keen in colouring jobs and there was no mention about it again.

The tea was served quite late, halfway thru my haircut. He was nice and patient in trying to detangle the hair knots for me, before proceeding to cut my hair. He seemed to be quite popular and has customers coming in for him after 11am. After the haircut, he passed me over to Paul, a quiet and unassuming young chap for dandruff treatment, using Keratase ampoule on the scalp, massage on the hair, followed by Keratase shampoo-ing and a Keratase leave-on treatment on the scalp.
Jeffrey was considerate enough to pass me an additional Her World April magazine ( telling me, its the latest ) before moving on to his next customer.

Everyone worked thru their jobs quietly, with a quiet zest and professionalism. Paul is a very nice guy. In blond floppy soft locks, he picked up my umbrella twice without any prompting. During each step of the treatment, he showed me the product and tell me what he is going to do. He also dished out a tip on washing hair with dandruff problem, that is not to use your fingernails to scrub the hair but to massage with the finger pads gently.

After the whole treatment is done, Jeffrey is back again, to ask me if I am satisfied with the hair and if further trimming is necessary.  Frankly speaking, its not easy to see the new haircut when its wet and plastered to the scalp. The end result of the haircut is quite average though, just softer and more layers. Paul then followed up with the hair blowing job.

Total Damage : $38 (Haircut) + $83 (Dandruff Treatment) = $121

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April Quick Review

1) Chanel Light Revealing Whitening Makeup Base SPF35/ PA+++

Product Description
The fine pearl is the model of perfection and translucency that inspired the creation of the LE BLANC ritual.
The fresh and lightweight emulsion texture of the Bases is an ideal first layer for makeup and leaves the skin comfortable all day long. Combining light and color expertise, CHANEL recreates its must-have Bases. In their formula, the Pure White Mineral Ceramic Pigments target unbalanced skin undertones to reveal an immaculate radiance and a unified complexion.
Day after day, the Liquorice Extract regulates melanin production. The Pearl Protein Extract corrects dull and yellow-toned skins, illuminates and is known for its hydration property. The complexion is ready for a perfect application of LE BLANC foundations. An SPF 35 / PA +++ protects the skin from the damaging effects of the sun.

The sachet I owned, allowed me to use it for 4 times, 2 of which I cleansed it off immediately because it exacerbate the flakiness on my face badly. That said, I was having a bout of seborrheic dermatitis on an on-off basis during that period. It was considered at its healing stage when I used this base, howver, this make-up base accentuates all the flakiness. I cleansed it off and top up with a heavier moisturiser and everything appears fine.

There are 3 shades available in the market and 1 tube costs $81.
-The Rosée shade refreshes tired and dull complexions with a radiant dream glow.
-The Mimosa shade unifies uneven and shadowy complexions.
-The Lys shade brings an immaculate pearly glow to all complexions.

The Rosee shade that I owned, has a runny consistency with a slight greasy base. Touted to be oil-free and hydrating, I didn't really find it that moisturising on my skin. It brightens the skin slightly, giving me a soft dewy look. I looked fresher and more radiant!

Source : Chanel

2) Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Cleansing Foam

Product Description
A gentle purifying foam that effectively lifts away impurities and surface cells to help reduce melanin buildup and leave skin clean and bright. Gently prepare skin for the clarifying process and leaves it smooth, comfortable and hydrated

I used this 30ml product for 2 times only, thats why I categorized it into this Quick Review page. I don't like the super clean, squeaky feel on the hands, immediately after each wash. Its drying and very uncomfortable. However, I am surprised that my skin was fine, there was no tight feeling, redness or dry after-effects, which are what I usually experienced with cleansing foams.

Still, I rather be careful and refrain from using it much. It has a floral scent and has a mousse-like soft texture, that is pleasant to spread on the face as it lathers into a rich foam.

It scored 3.9 from 117 reviewers from Makeupalley

Source : Beautykat

3)  Review : Beauty Credit Brown Rice Mask

Product Description

Washable mask made from natural germinated brown rice extracts, a popular skincare ingredient known to many Asian cultures. It is believed to contain many health benefits.

Benefits:

Germinated Brown Rice Mask Pack is a nourishingly good exfoliator for rough, dull skin conditions.
It brings vibrancy and elasticity back to your skin. Contains anti-oxidants that slow skin aging.
Restores elasticity while allowing ingredients to better penetrate the skin. Leaves your skin radiant and smooth, all day long!

A sachet I owned has given me 3 usages but thats because I spread it too generously during my first usage. I thought it was meant to be a mask as what the name implies, so I spread it all over the face.
It leave my skin smooth and soft but thats also in conjunction with the Clarins scrub I was using prior to that.However the smoothness did not last beyond a day.

Since it is meant as a exfoliator, I decided to use it on its own, as a scrub by massaging it into the skin and as amask by leaving it on the skin for a while before cleansing it off.
My skin felt and looked cleaner and brighter but again, the effects did not last beyond a day. Totally disappointed.
This product is off-white in colour and lightly scented. It is a mild exfoliater as it is quite creamy with tiny bits in it, which reminded me of rice.

Source : Beautycredit

Review : Kathy's Family "'Call it a Day' Lavender Body Wash Gel

Product Description
Made with 100% certified organic oils! With no synthetic detergents, parabens, sodium lauryl or sodium laureth sulfate, Kathy's Family's thick, rich, 100% natural, all-vegetable based body wash leaves your skin feeling silky, smooth and satisfied. Olive oil and certified organic alfalfa extract nourish and condition the skin with this liquid soap. Simple aromatherapy-grade essential oil blends stimulate your pores and senses and our convenient push-pull dispenser and recyclable, unbreakable container is practical. Non-drying, Hypoallergenic body wash, shampoo. Great conditioning, cleansing full body wash for skin and hair.

I first came across this brand on Little Dreamers and subsequently bought it when it was having a promotion on their 16 fl oz size. I don't think they are carrying this product anymore because I no longer see it on their website. It was retailing for $29.90

Kathy's Family organic products are made with:
• no artificial flavors
• no fragrances
• no gluten
• no glycerin
• no sulfates
• no parabens
• no glycol
• no animal testing
• no alcohol

The packaging on the bottle is a refreshing picture of a boy and girl, presumed to be brother and sister, members of the family from the brand. They have fun names to depict their products. My lavender body wash is named "Call It A Day" which I would assume that it meant " to relax and leave all your troubles behind "

While it has a flip top dispenser situated on top of a recyclable, unbreakable container, it was not user-friendly for me. The bottle is large and bulky and each time I have to invert the bottle to pour the contents out, the cumbersome size meant that it was in an awkward angle for me to wait for the gel to ooze out of the container while squeezing it.

The body wash contents is in gel form with a dark citrus colour. It has a light and refreshing scent and smells good. The gel foams easily and does not leave the skin feeling dry.

Its been said that their body wash gels can be used in a variety of ways.
Great for camping (washing hands, body, hair and dishes)
Great for hand washing linens (leaves garments lightly, freshly scented)
Great for shaving (its thick rich lather is a perfect shaving cream)
Great for washing the dog
Great for the body and hair

It has 3 flavours in their body wash range.
"Early to Rise" Citrus is an uplifting blend which invigorates, kills germs, smells good and is delightfully refreshing.
"Back to Work" Eucalyptus is an invigorating, cooling blend - as fresh as a fresh snowfall in Minnesota
"Call It A Day" Lavender is a soothing blend which relieves muscular aches and pains, works to reduce inflammation and has antiseptic properties.

Olive Oil :	Rich in vitamins and antioxidants, our virgin olive oil is a highly effective component in neutralizing the free radicals that damage healthy skin. Olive oil also helps your skin regulate its natural moisturizing systems.

Organic Alfalfa Extract :

A natural cleanser and nutrient high in vitamins A, B, C, D and E.

Ingredients

Saponified oils of olive and coconut, aloe vera, certified organic alfalfa extract, vegetable gum, vegetable glycerin, and pure essential oils. 'Early to Rise' Citrus contains essential oils of lemon, lemongrass, organic sweet orange, lavender ylang ylang. 'Call it a Day' Lavender contains essential oils of lavender and clary sage.

Source : Kathysfamily , Amazon , Vashon

Review : Naruko Rose and Snow Fungus Classic Hydrating Gelly

Product Description
NARUKO Rose and Snow Fungus Classic Hydrating Night Gelly is formulated for dehydrated skin thanks to the perfect combination of the essential Oils of Bulgarian Rose, Palmrosa, Rose Wood and Green Citrus. It also contains moisturizing agents and CE to irrigate skin form inside out during nighttime, correcting dryness, fine lines and visible pores.

Benefits:
Intensive hydration
Promote metabolism
Retain skin’s hydrophilic-lipophilic balance
Correct dehydrated and delicate skin
Enable supply, dewy and healthy skin
Prevent aging and smooth away fine lines
Reduce visible pores and firm up skin

Main Ingredients :
Snow Fungus Extract : Softens skin
CE Booster : Promotes healthy skin
Hyaluronic Acid : Forms hydrating barrier on the skin
Phytoferulin : Improves the skin's defense

Naruko, fast becoming one of my favourite drugstore brands for skincare has this interesting name coined as "Gelly" instead of jelly for some of the products. This night gelly was in a set of trio which I bought in Taiwan some time back. It has been my night moisturiser for the past 3 months.

The hydrating gelly comes in a round container with a small spatula for hygenic scooping purposes. The box can be re-used as a namecard holder after some manipulation using the instructions provided.
A fan of gel texture, I like the night gelly for its cooling, refreshing and glooey feel which is a wonderful treat when my skin is battling dehydration after a day's work in an air-conditioned office.

It has an uplifting scent of rose and even though the glooey texture did leave a sticky feel on the skin, its not greasy at all. It is gentle and provides the much needed moisture I needed, leaving my skin soft and supple the following day. Please note that I do not sleep in air-conditioned room at night and the gelly suits me fine.

I brought it along to to a short Bali trip where the sun is scorching hot in the afternoon and the night is spent sleeping in an air-conditioned room. The gelly did help to prevent further moisture loss. There were no flakiness the following morning, however I could see the skin surface was still abit dehydrated as my make-up did not glide on well.

When I first bought this item, I thought it was meant to be a night moisturiser, based on the name. However, on the website, the description of it seemed to be that of a overnight sleeping mask although its not depicted specifically. Nevertheless, in my case, I am currently using it as a night moisturiser, after a toner.
The 60ml size retails for $21.90. You can read more about the usage here.

Source : Sasa

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Review : My Beauty Diary Gold + Marine Collagen Lift Stretch Mask

Product Description

My Beauty Diary Facial Mask- Gold+Marine Collagen Life Stretch Mask is the Double rejuvenating formulas, contains micro gold minerals and marine collagen protein. Help reduce dryness and appearance of fine lines. Make skin moisturized and refined, create the feel and appearance of vibrant, elastic and smooth skin. In addition, contains maple syrup and cane sugar that can soften and remove dead cells, which make your skin extra soft and refined. Special designed sheet can quickly and completely distribute nutrients to your skin. The 360 degree stretch-lift design also can tighten your cheeks and make it look slimmer. Suitable for all skin type, especially great for skin that appears fine line and lack of elasticity.

Main Ingredients :

Soluble Collagen : works as a humectant

Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract : hydrates and conditions skin.

Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract : hydrates and conditions skin.

Colloidal Gold : acts as a conductor.

If not for the name, I would have mistaken this facial sheet mask to that of Love More facial sheet masks. It has the typical ear and neck hooks, with a fancy girly packaging. I did not enjoy using masks with hooks because I find it to be troublesome and uncomfortable.

Each mask sheet is soaked fully in essence and I did not detect any heavy fragrance. As a good anti-aging mask, it does well with all the hooks as the base for the lifting effect. Similar to the Love More masks, you hooked up from the cheeks to the ears and from the neck to the ears.
It has an exclusive lifting ingredient, DIXAS Complex, which contains up to 10 kinds of skin-friendly amino acids with tiny molecules to revitalize.

In comparison with Love More facial sheet masks, the texture of My Beauty Diary facial sheet is softer and pliable, which reduce the uncomfortable tight feeling slightly. And as I mentioned before, because its being pulled to the ears, the area near the wings of the nose is untouched by the mask. What I did, is to hook the loops from the neck to the ears only, leaving those from the cheeks to the ears loops freely. It may defeat the purpose of lifting but I really dislike the tight feeling on the face and the added pressure on the ears. I just like that it covers the neck because thats one of the most neglected areas for women!

Still, I have to mention that it did not adhere as well as the usual MBD masks (without hooks) but I guess thats because I did not use the hooks. And the weight of the flaps may be weighing it down, hence the flaps are left hanging in mid-air after 10minutes or so.

Even though it hydrates and plumps the moisture nicely but it did not last till the following morning ( I tend to use facial masks in the night ). The lifting effect is not apparent on my skin.

Shop MY BEAUTY DIARY Mask, Gold and Marine Collagen Firming

Ingredients :
Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Lecithin, Triethanolamine, Sorbitol, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Soluble Collagen, Sodium PCA, Methyparaben, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Betaine, Threonine, Arginnie, Alannie, Serine, Proline, Lysine, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 20, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Hydrolized Elastin, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Citrus Medica Limonium (Lemon) Peel Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Xanthan Gum, Polyglutamic Acid, Fragrance, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Hydroxide, Colloidal Gold

Source : Amazon, Sasa , PrettynCute

Review : Clarins Whitening Velvet Emulsion SPF20 PA+++

Product Description
The moisturizing day care which ensures bright, radiant, comfortable and matte skin, all day long. Protects against pollution and UV rays. Make-up is easier to apply and long wearing.

Main Ingredients :
Sea Lily extract : controls the extension of dendrites, the "arms" of melanocytes which deliver melanin to cells in the epidermis
Alchemilla extract : slows the excessive transfer of melanin to the epidermis
Raspberry Extract, Vitamin C derivative and Biotin (Vitamin B8) – Slows the synthesis of melanin

I received a complimentary sachet from Clarins, as part of the members' perks. It gave me more than a week of usage, however because I had a bout of seborrheic dermatitis ( again!! ), I tend to use this emulsion on those non-flaky parts since I am using the prescribed lotion on those affected parts (mainly on the T-zone). I also did use on the whole face, after I have recovered from my seborrheic dermatitis condition but thats only for a day before I used up the whole sachet.

White in colour, this oil-free emulsion acts like a moisturiser and is to be used after toner. Lightweight in texture, it sinks into the skin fast, leaving a smooth, soft and bright canvas in its place. Typical of Clarins products, it has a light floral scent which disappeared quickly once applied. It is enriched with Meadowsweet extract to moisturise and protects skin from shine so that the skin stays matte while the make-up stays longer.
Personally, I do think that SPF20 is not sufficient under our humid weather so its best to layer with another sunscreen for added protection. In terms of ingredients, it has a high alcohol content and most of the main ingredients are found at the bottom of the list which represent a lower concentration of them.
That said, the 2nd ingredient is Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, a chemical sunscreen which can help protect against sunburn and other skin damage caused by UV light by absorbing UV radiation. However, EWG did give it a low to moderate concern.

Source : Clarins

Review : Eve Lom Moisturiser + SPF15

 



Product Description
Anti-oxidant extracts of red, green and white tea, chestnut and rosemary, combined with UV filters in this facial moisturizer, help to protect the skin against environmental damage. With skin soothing bisabolol and yarrow, conditioning shea butter and beeswax and brightening lactic acid, this cream absorbs easily into the skin and provides the perfect matte base for make-up

Benefits :
Chestnut : Tone and lift skin
Rosemary : Anti-bacterial agent
Shea Butter : Nourishes skin
Beeswax : Seals in moisture for a longer skin hydration
Bisabolol and Yarrow : Calm skin
Red, Green and White Tea : Anti-oxidants to guard against premature aging
Lactic Acid : Exfoliates and refines skin’s surface
Ethylhexil Mothoxycinnamate : Chemical sunscreen to absorb and deactivate sun rays
Titanium Dioxide : Physical sunscreen to deflect sun rays

I was given a complimentary 15ml tube as part of my drugstore.com purchases sometime back. I tend to get paranoid about using free samples for the face, when its provided as part of my online purchases. Mainly because I am not familiar with the environment and I wondered how long the samples have been kept.

Eve Lom, made famous by the cult cleansing balm that Vogue called "best cleanser in the world" is said to be created by one of the world's leading facial therapists, has a string of devoted clientele. You can check out the rest of the products here.

I have been using it for more than a week but decided to stop using it because my skin needs something more than what this moisturiser can offer. My skin needs all the hydration that it can gets, and this moisturiser doesn't fall into this category.

White in colour, the cream-like texture feels lightweight and a tad fluffy which reminds me of Bioderma Soothing Cream, a product which I liked very much, which explained why I continued using it, despite my misgivings. Sometimes the heart is just not in tune with the mind.

Before I started using this, my skin was healthy and smooth which is a rarity given my erratic skin condition ( read : seborrheic dermatitis, the killer ). The moisturiser was just lovely to use then.
It glides onto the skin, making my skin soft. With SPF15 as a thin protective layer, it sounds like a basic moisturiser which people with normal needs need.

But as chance would have it, I am not a normal person with normal needs. After a few days, my skin started getting dehydrated, in need of hydration, hence my skin turned abit rough. The moisturiser is not "heavy" enough to give me due hydration and under the daily office air-conditioned environment, my skin gave way.
I continued using it, pairing up with some hydrating masks at night, but the dehydrated condition did not improve so I stop using it.

In terms of ingredients, it contains both Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide as well as Ethylhexil Methoxycinnamate to give good sun protection.
The 8th ingredient is alcohol denat (also known as ethyl alcohol) which is bad for the skin as it may cause irritation and dryness.
Bergomot oil is also known to increase skin's sensitivity to sunlight (source and from The Journal of Dermatology, May 1994, pages 319–322 ).

It scored 4.3 from 9 reviwers on Makeupalley.


Ingredients :
aqua (water), ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, c12-15 alkyl benzoate, butylene glycol, glycerin, silanediol salicylate, lactic acid, alcohol denat, castanea sativa (chestnut extract), cyathea medullaris, zinc oxide, cetyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, ci 77891 (titanium dioxide), cyclomethicone, peg-75 stearate, ceteth-20, steareth-20, isodecyl neopentanoate / diisopropyl sebacate, propylene glycol, pvp / dimethiconylacrylate / polycarbomyl / polyglycol ester, cyclopentasiloxane, dimethiconol, pongamia pinnata (extract), lecithin, acrylates / c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, triethanolamine, acrylamide / sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate copolymer, isohexadecane, polysorbate 80, cera alba (beeswax), butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), hydrolyzed yeast protein, pyridoxine chloride, niacinamide, panthenol, allantoin, biotin, sclerotium gum, xanthan gum, salicylic acid, tocopheryl acetate, helianthus annuus (sunflower seed oil), rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary leaf extract), bisabolol, glycine soja (soybean) protein, oxido-reductases, tetrasodium edta, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, camellia sinensis (white tea leaf extract), (gren tea leaf extract), aspalathus linearis (red tea leaf extract), maltodextrin, tilia tomentosa (extract), achillea millefolium (yarrow extract), lavandula hybrida (lavandin oil), citrus bergamia (bergamot oil), cupressus sempervirens (cypress oil), commiphora myrrha (myrrh oil), santalum album (sandalwood oil), anthemis nobilis (chamomile oil), phenoxyethanol, methylparaben, ethylparaben, butylparaben, isobutylparaben, geraniol, linalool, limonene.

Source : Amazon, Liberty, Evelom

Review : Aveeno Naturals Nourish+Shine Shampoo and Conditioner

Shampoo Description
AVEENO® Nourish + SHINE Shampoo effectively removes dirt and oil, and prevents build-up, to illuminate the dullest hair, giving it shiny, vibrant life. Scientific studies show that just three washes helps repair damage, providing the three key elements that give hair life - strength, softness and shine. This exclusive ACTIVE NATURALS® formula, infused with Nourishing Wheat Complex and Shine Enhancing Palm Extract, is designed to feed your hair by replenishing moisture and enhancing reflectivity of dull or damaged hair. It targets the weakest part of hair - fortifying the hair shaft with protein where it needs it most.

Conditioner Description
AVEENO^® NOURISH+ SHINE Conditioner smoothes and hydrates to illuminate the dullest hair, giving it shiny, vibrant life. Scientific studies show that just three washes helps repair damage, providing the three key elements that give hair life - strength, softness and shine. This exclusive ACTIVE NATURALS^® formula, infused with Nourishing Wheat Complex and Shine Enhancing Palm Extract, is designed to feed your hair by replenishing moisture and enhancing reflectivity of dull or damaged hair. It targets the weakest part of hair - fortifying the hair shaft with protein where it needs it most.

Active Naturals, under the brand Johnsons and Johnsons are said to select their ingredients from nature and uniquely formulated by AVEENO^® through the power of science to deliver visible benefits for skin and hair.

This pair of haircare products were something I picked up on a whim on drugstore.com when there was a sale. The name is misleading as most would have thought its natural but its less natural than expected. Thank goodness, they weren't that expensive, considering the size of it.

The bottles of the shampoo and conditioner look almost similar except for the wordings, hence there is a constant reminder to check the names before using it. Its tall and slender with a wide flip top that I like because it made opening them so much hassle-free.
Both products has the same light scent but I would prefer natural scents or those from essential oils, if given a choice.

The shampoo is milky white in colour and has a thick and creamy texture which foams up pretty easily but you need to spread it before usage, to avoid a glob on just 1 spot of the hair.
The conditioner is also milky white in colour, but more concentrated in texture and has a slight emollient feel.

Frankly speaking, I did not quite like both products because it just did not give me the much needed shine as touted in the products and it left my hair in tangled mess. However, it did leave my hair feeling softer. It removes the oil and dirt as easily as other brands of hair products I owned, so I do not actually find it spectacular as what it claimed to do. I also did not feel that my hair is better nourished even after using more than 50% of both products, almost on a daily basis.

The shampoo scored 4 from 97 users on Makeupalley , with 76% of them willing to buy it again. The conditioner scored 3.8 from 66 users with 63% of them willing to buy it again.

Shampoo Ingredients
Water, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Dimethicone, Sodium Cumenesulfonate, Cocamide Mea, Cetyl Alcohol, Acrylates Copolymer, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol, Glycol Distearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Gluten, Orbignya Speciosa Kernel Ol, Glycerin, Polyguaternium-10, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Mica, Titanium Dioxide. May Also Contain: Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide.

Conditioner Ingredients
Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cyclohexasiloxane, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Stearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Glycol Distearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Fragrance, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cetrimonium Chloride, Amodimethicone, Panthenol, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Oribignya Speciosa Kernel Oil, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Gluten, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Polyguaternium-7, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil. May Also Contain: Citric Acid.

Source : AveenoS  AveenoC

Review : Kiss Me Heroine Make Essence in BB Cream SPF30 PA++ (shade 01)

Product Description

Kiss Me HEROINE MAKE Essence In BB Cream is a multi-functional base cream. It provides 7 effects. It corrects, erase pores, repairs, reduces dullness, acts as liquid foundation, protects against UV rays, relieves dry skin, and controls oil. It absorbs excess sebum and prevents make-up from coming off.


Containing super-hyaluronic acid and nano collagen, it allows you to retain skin’s moisture while applying make-up. The SPF30 PA++ product protects against UV rays. It does not contain perfumes or mineral oil. The natural skin colour is compatible with the skin of Japanese.

Being my first Japanese BB Cream, I am curious on its performance. I received 1.5 sachets from my Mum, which lasts me for about 1.5 weeks.
The shade O1 was too fair for her, so she passed it to me. The sachet is so tiny yet packed a punch with its contents.

The shade looks dark at first, but manage to match my skin tone moderately well. The texture is slightly thicker than most BB cream but runny and blends well. The oil control is of moderate performance, as my T-zone oiled up by mid-day which is normal. It has a medium coverage which is better than most other BB creams that only provide sheer coverage. However, it oxidises by the end of the day, which made my skin looks darker. With the added shine due to my T-zone, I looked less than polished.

In terms of ingredients, it does contains several silicone or silicone deriatives as well as talc and paraben.

Ingredients:
Water, Cyclomethicone, PG, tri-ethylhexanol Noin, zinc oxide, PEG-9 Dimethicone, di-lauroyl glutamate (phytosteryl / octyldodecyl), phenyl trimethicone, cellulose, chamomile extract, Na acetylsalicylic acid, hyaluronic fruit extract Kaninabara, hydrolysis collagen degradation, trimethylsiloxy silicic acid, aluminum Jimo Tearu Regis hectorite, Al hydroxide, dimethicone, stearic acid, Na citrate, methyl methacrylate, dimethicone, BG, talc, (dimethicone / (PEG-10/15 )) crosspolymer, Methylparaben, (dimethicone / vinyl dimethicone) cross polymer, titanium oxide, iron oxide, mica

Source : Sasa

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Review : Leaders Clinic I.P.L. Whitelux Ampoule Mask

Product Description
Breathe life into your skin with important whitening ingredients, Vitamin C-AAG, Arbutin and Mulberry Bark Extract to effectively brighten up and revitalize the skin. Boost in lightening of pigmentation and improve uneven skin tone. Each mask contains an entire bottle of highly concentrated ampoule which enhances the effects of supplying the nutrients while maximizing the hydration, bringing out the radiance in your skin.

I tried the last remaining piece from my Mum, knowing how popular this mask is, from those who have tried it. Coming from Korea, its been said that these masks were developed by Dermatologic specialists and are suitable for sensitive skin too. You can read more about it here.

Made of silk cellulose mask, it fits snugly on the contours of my cherubic face. The mask sheet is thin but sturdy. Its totally soaked in essence so when I pulled it out of the packaging, it actually drips.

My skin was in need of some hydration and radiance so I thought I would try this whitening mask to see how it fares. As I have a blocked nose recently, I am unable to share about the scent.

Immediately after the treatment, my skin feels softer, slightly more hydrated ( not the best, but still alright ) and looks fresh. However, the hydration did not last more than a day. By the following night, my skin is back to its dehydrated and dull state.

Review : Earth Science Chamomile Green Tea Eye Makeup Remover

Product Description
An extra-gentle herbal formula made with Decyl Polyglucose, a corn derived cleanser, and Vitamin E for wrinkle prevention. Chamomile and green tea provide gentle anti-oxidant, anti-irritant protection. 100% fragrance free, non-irritating formulation which does not contain any artificial colors. pH 5.5

Supposingly free from harmful chemicals and gentle on the eyes, I didn't think too much of it, when I ordered it via iHerb, some time back. First time customers of iHerb will get US$5 off if you quote OKI787. Earth Science products are touted to be paraben free, no animal ingredients or testing and hypo-allergenic.

The colour of the bottle looks slightly different from the one I purchased though. Nonetheless, the packaging is a simple bottle with a flick top, where the clear gel-like contents oozes out easily, despite being sticky. I need to use my fingers to spread it on the cotton pad though, due to its glooey nature.
It has a slight whiff of green tea but barely detectable. I didn't find the performance impressive though. It has difficulty removing eyeliner marks as well as mascara. A Q-tip is handy to remove those eyeliner remnants while I needed several cotton pads to remove the mascara.

And it stings the eyes badly when the cotton pads are too wet and the contents gets into my eyes. Ouch! So please remember to close your eyes when using this. Even then, a little bit of it still gets into my eyes. Simply awful!

You can get it for $4.93 at Vitacost or $5.25 at iHerb. It scored 3.8 from 15 reviewers on Makeupalley.

Ingredients
Water (Aqua), Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tocopherol, Allantoin, vaccinium Myrtillus (Bilberry) Extract, Beta Glucan, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Euphrasia Officinalis (Eyebright) Extract, Foeniculum Vulgare (Fennel) Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Phenoxyethanol

Source : earthscience , amazon , Iherb

Review : The Body Shop Moisture White Shiso Whitening Serum

Product Description
A light serum with Shiso extract and Community Trade organic aloe that blends into the skin, leaving an invisible non-sticky protective film. Suitable for all skin types
Shiso extract reduces early melanin-making signals even before the hyperpigmentation process and melanin production cycle starts - helping prevent uneven skin tone, brown spots and freckles

A friend who is a TBS member, passed me their latest serum which is a 1.5ml sachet that lasts me for 3 days of morning usages. The original 30ml retail size costs $50.90.
The texture falls between light to medium and is more like a serum than a lotion. The white coloured serum is non-sticky and sinks into the skin fast.

I did encounter some redness after using Naruko lotion, followed by this serum but it calmed down within 30 minutes. The whitening effect is not apparent yet, since its just 3 days of usages.

In terms of ingredients, you can check it here. It contains a good amount of Vitamin C, however there is alcohol nearer the bottom of the list.

Source : TBS

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Remedies for Tired Eyes

1. Crow's Feet

Crow’s feet is the result of repeated squinting. Squinting causes grooves to appear on the surface of the skin, and these grooves will eventually become a permanent feature of the facial landscape.
Take a break--If you do a lot of work in front of the computer, take a break and do a little palming exercise. It goes like this: rub your hands together for a few seconds, then place the heels of your hands over your closed eyes. Press against your eyeballs gently, but using firm pressure, for about 30 seconds—this is very soothing for the optic nerve

Tape away the lines—A simple remedy is to put scotch tape over those areas that tend to crinkle up during sleep, concentrating on the outside corners of eyes and in between the eyebrows. The tape bits remind us not to scowl or squint while we are asleep.

2. Wrinkles

Wear sunscreen. Some people hesitate to put it too close to your eyes, but a safe and gentle sunscreen should go on right up to the bottom rim of the lower portion of the eye. Wear good sunglasses to protect the upper lid.

Repair at night with an eye product that contains antioxidants. MVOrganics like products that dry quickly once applied, like serums or gels. Creams tend to dissolve and leak ingredients into the eyes, which may make them puff up. Continual swelling and shrinking of the delicate tissue around the eyes can actually cause more wrinkles than it prevents.

3. Puffiness

Puffy eyes can be a sign of not enough sleep, dehydration, or in some cases allergies. For some people genetics is a factor. Get eight hours sleep a night, drink enough water and follow the suggestions to reduce the occasional eye puffiness.

Green or black tea bags make wonderful eye compreses. Pour hot water over your tea bag as if you were making a cup of tea, then put them in the refrigerator to cool off. When you are ready to relax, take 2 cold tea bags, wring out excess liquid, lie down and place over the eyes. Relax for about ten minutes.

Choose an eye product containing caffeine or guarana. The caffeine helps to restrict blood flow, thus reducing puffiness.

4. Dark circles

Choose an eye serum that contains Vitamin K. Vitamin K helps with blood clotting, thus reducing bruising.

Look for bioflavonoids like rutin in your eye product. Bioflavonoids help strengthen capillaries to reduce bruising.

Source : MVOrganics

Review : Naruko Job Tears Whitening Healthy Lotion

Product Description
Naruko Job's Tears Whitening Healthy Lotion instantly restores skin's natural moisture after sun exposure. With oriental herbal extracts and powerful antioxidant, this lotion reduces the appearance of  hyper-pigmentation and photo-aging. It nourishes the complexion, improving skin texture while leaving skin youthful and radiant look.

Designed for skin with sun damage and dryness, this whitening healthy lotion provides an invisible moisturising barrier as it helps to soothe and moisturise the skin. It breaks away melanin and prevent future melanin formation.
It contains Job Tears extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Ai-Luros that penetrate deep into each layer of skin to whiten and repair the damage that has been caused by the sun.

I bought this lotion in Taiwan some time back and have been using it for the past 1.5 months.
This gentle, eco-friendly product is made without parabens, preservatives, artificial ingredients or coloring. The product is cruelty free and is not tested on animals

Unlike the pictures shown online as a blue bottle, mine is white in colour. It comes in a clear bottle with a small hole in the center. The lotion is a clear colourless liquid that can be used as a toner or as a mask.

As a toner, you just need to gently wipe or pat onto the skin. As a mask, you can moisten the cotton pads, tear it into 5 pieces and place it on all 5 positions, namely, the forehead, the nose, the chin and 2 on both cheeks. For more information on the usage directions, please check here.

I usually use it as a toner in the day and as a mask at night, since I have more time to spare. It is cooling, refreshing and skin looks clearer and feels hydrated.
When I was using it as a toner in the morning, there were times that my T-zone was slightly splotchy red but calmed down after about 30 minutes. ( especially when I was using The Body Shop Whitening serum which I will be reviewing soon. I have no problem with Shiseido Intensive Spot Corrector serum )
When I was using it as a lotion mask, I noticed that the slight pigmentation spots on both cheeks turned very red, immediately after removing the cotton pads.
I cannot tell if the lotion is working its "magic" or that I am developing a sensitive reaction to it. However, I did not experience any itchiness or warm sensation, commonly associated with allergic reactions.

Logically, it doesn't bode well when redness is encountered, so I have since reduced my usage as a mask, but using it mainly as a toner.

The lotion has a light herbal scent and the texture is like a toner rather than a lotion. While I haven't really experience any phenomenal difference to the pigmentation spots when using it alone, I do see a subtle change in the brown pigmentation cluster on my cheeks, when I was using it concurrently with my Shiseido intensive spot corrector serum.
Note that it only has a 6 months lifespan, but if you are using it as a lotion mask, you can probably finish it within the stipulated time frame.

Source : Naruko , Carousel , Amazon

Review : Shiseido Intensive Spot Correcting Serum Plus

Product Description
A superior anti-spot serum with an intensified power formulation exclusively created to diminish stubborn dark spots. Shiseido-exclusive Melano Sensor System++ now targets troubling spots by crushing melanin* at its core and stopping the vicious cycle of dark-spot formation.** Persistent spots are reduced and future pigmentation is prevented, to even out skin tone for perfectly radiant skin.

Key Ingredients :
m-Tranexamic Acid : targets persistent spots where over-active melanocytes continuously produce excess melanin.
4MSK : diminish the activity of the enzyme tyrosinase to reduce melanin production
Vitamin C : reduce melanin produced from pre-melanin DHICA.
MelanoCRUSH energizer : targets trouble spot / stubborn spots and crushes melanin .

After filling in an online survey form, I received a complimentary 2ml tube which lasts for more than 3 weeks. I used it on spots for the first 2 weeks before using it all over the face a couple of times, and thats how I finished up the whole tube.

It has the typical lovely floral scent found in Shiseido products. The lightweight texture is runny ( lotion-like) and gets absorbed into the skin easily. The SA told me that I could even use it on my undereye area to alleviate my dark circles.

However, I use it on my face only. It claimed to be able to banish dark spots within 10days but I only see a very subtle difference in my 3rd week of usage. My dark spots seemed to be slightly lighter and dispersed, rather than a dark cluster. That said, I have to confess that I am also using a whitening lotion from Naruko which I would be reviewing soon.
It retails for $159.

Source : shiseido

Review : MJ Care Green Tea Essence Mask

Product Description
MJ Care Green Tea Essence Mask contains green tea extracts to purifies the skin and reduces the appearance of open pores. It also enhances absorption of nourishment by the skin, as well as giving your skin an immediate radiance and moisturized appearance with elasticity.

Green tea extract is 20 times more antioxidant powerful than vitamin C and provides superior protection from free radical damage. This defense against free radicals is especially important for sun protection.

I am wary of facial masks from unknown companies so when I first heard of MJ Care, I wasn't that thrilled with using it. However I have used some of their masks previously with no averse reactions ( read : acerola essence )so I decided to try their green tea flavour which was a gift from a good friend of mine.

Apparently, it seems that MJ Care Essence Mask is produced by MiJin Cosmetics, which is supposingly a well-known cosmetics Korea company.
MJ CARE Essence Mask is specially formulated to allow active ingredients to penetrate into the skin so as to make your skin look younger, moisterized, elastic, bright and relieve you from stress.

I have to say that I don't have any spectacular results to report back, because it is a very normal mask, at least on my skin. It has a subtle green tea scent mixed with some other scents. And the mask is soaked in essence, providing a refreshing masking experience. It just feels refreshing and no other spectacular results, immediately after treatment.

You can purchase the mask from Amazon
MJ Care Green Tea Essence Mask ( 20 pcs ) 
Skin Care Treatment Mask Pack Collagen, Snail, EGF, Placenta, Coenzyme Q10, Green Tea Essence Face Facial Mask Package ( 30 pcs ) 

Source : bestbuy

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