Review : Facial Fresh Collagen Cloth Facial Treatment Mask

Product Description
The fabulously firming, anti-aging Collagen Mask effectively improves skin moisture retention and promotes elasticity, thus minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Skin feels toned and wonderfully smooth

I received this mask, as part of the August Bellabox and used it recently. Facial Fresh is developed in Australia and made in China. Each Collagen Sheet Mask contains 35ml worth of essence.

Its been said that their cloth treatment mask delivers all the benefits of a weekly spa treatment. It uses the most advanced skin enhancing cosmeceutical ingredients, including clinically proven antioxidants, vitamins and botanicals.

Contained in a silver foil packaging, it was dripping wet when I pulled it out, and there were bubbles on it. The material is thick and the cutting does not adhere smoothly on the skin without having some gaps here and there. The area around the lips were slightly smaller.

I used it when I felt that my skin is dehydrated on that night but it only provide a slightly better hydrated skin, after the 20 minutes usage but no other visible improvement. There were some itchiness at both sides of my face, but it soon go away, after a short while.

The following morning, I found tiny red bumps and zits on both cheeks and on my jaws area and remained so, the whole day. Definitely not suited for my skin type. It retails at $16.95 at Bellabox 

Ingredients :
Aqua, Propylene Glycol, Red Wine Extract, Collagen Protein, Hyaluronan, Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, TEA, Aloe Gel, BHT, Fragrance

Review : Garden of Wisdom Gentle Cleansing Gel

Product Description
This cleanser is great for sensitive and overly reactive skin. Formulated with gentle cleansing ingredients combined with soothing extracts, this is the perfect cleanser for all skin types as well as sensitive skin.

List of Ingredients

Marshmallow Root Infusion
- soothing
- emollient
Soapnut Infusion
- extremely gentle non-surfactant cleanser
Glycerin Soap Base
100% Pure Ingredients:
Saponified oils of Coconut and Olive
Purified Water
Vegetable Glycerine
Oleic Acid
- soothing
- gentle for sensitive skin
Cherry Bark Extract
- antiviral
- antibacterial
- soothing
Cellulose Gum
- natural thickener
Cosmocil CQ
- is an effective non-formaldehyde, non-paraben
preservative with no VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)

I first came across GoW when I was active in a local forum where the forumers rave about the brand. It was only several years later that I finally decided to purchase them.
This gentle cleansing gel is from the cleanser starter pack I purchased. I was looking around for a gentle cleanser and thought GoW cleansers may fit the bill.

It comes in a tiny pot with a spatula included which I did not use as I will usually wash my hands before cleansing my face. The pot may look tiny but it lasts me for close to 2 weeks usage on a nightly basis. I prefer to use new cleansers at night, for fear of adverse reactions. At least I still have a night to recover from it.

This Gentle Cleansing Gel has a light citrus scent and the texture is unlike the normal cleansers I used before. It is jelly gel when its in the pot. Once it gets into contact with water, the texture becomes a runny form and is very lightweight in texture. The contents just feels watery on the skin.

It is indeed very gentle and mild, so much so that I wonder if it cleanses well. But my worries are unfounded as the toner did not pick up any horrible remnants but do note that I use a make-up remover to remove my make-up before cleansing.

There were no redness and drying after-feel. I also tried using on a dry face to create a better cleansing experience ( since its so watery ) and it also works well though the recommended method is to use on damp skin. My overall experience has been pleasant but not fantastic because I found it to be too mild for my likes.

It scored 5 from 2 users on Makeupalley.

Source : GoW

Review : Skin Factory Eye Dream Honey Patches

Product Description
This moisturising Eye Dream Honey Patch will hydrate, repair and soothe your entire eye area while working to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and eye puffiness. The combination of essential ingredients including honey and witch hazel leaf extracts will leave your eyes feeling brighter and refreshed.

Active Ingredients:
- Honey is an emollient and creates a watertight film, allowing skin to rehydrate itself. It is moisturising, softening, sweet, and fragrant.
- Adenosine is vital in reducing the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and dryness that occur with aging. Totally non-invasive, Adenosine works from within to help repair damaged skin and encourage healthy, younger-looking, and more nourished skin to emerge.
- Hamamelis Virginana (Witch Hazel) Leaf extract enhances the appearance of dry or damaged skin and helps to reduce inflammation, sanitising the skin and restoring the elasticity.

I puchased these from BeautyFinest when there was a promotion. Hailing from Korea, these 4 pieces in a box retails at $16 ( I purchased it for $13) and is touted to be able to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and eye puffiness with the use of their Honey, Adenosine and Witch Hazel extracts in their list of ingredients.
Each pair of eye masks is protected between a couple of plastic layers in a clear plastic tray. The eye masks which smell of honey are moist with a jelly feel. It is sticky and hence adheres well to the undereye area.

Since its recommended to be used for 30 to 40 minutes, I had it on for 1 hour before removing it. Its refreshing and has a tingly feel with a slight itch which goes away after a short while.
However, at the end of the treatment, my under eye area still remained the same.

Source : Beautyfinest, Bellabox

DIY Banana Milkshake Hair Mask

This mask is great because the bananas are packed full of nutrients such as potassium, vitamin B6, folate and other good-for-your-hair ingredients while the coconut milk contains lauric acid which helps to keep your hair strong and cleans away any dead skin cells which may have gotten trapped in your tresses.

Banana Milkshake Hair Mask

Ingredients

• 1-2 bananas (or 3 if you have really long or thick hair)
• coconut milk, enough to thin out your bananas
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder or a few strawberries (your choice)

1. Blend your bananas with your honey and cocoa (or strawberries) until you have a smooth paste with no chunks. Please note that you can technically mash up these ingredients really well and stir by hand – it isn’t essential that you have a food processor or blender, it’s just easier.

2. Once your mixture is nice and smooth, pour in your coconut milk and mix until you get the same consistency you would find with any typical hair conditioner.

3. When you are ready to go, begin with dry hair and make sure you are standing over a sink or in your bathtub. Then just work the mixture into your hair until it’s completely drenched from root to tip and cover with a shower cap to ensure it doesn’t drip all over the place.

4. After 20 minutes wash your hair as you normally would, although you probably won’t have to condition it, but do make sure you get all of the mask out of your hair.

Source : FeelgoodStyle

DIY Beauty: Beat Breakouts with a Tomato Lemon Face Mask

The citric acid in the lemon and tomato along with tomato’s lycopene help your skin get rid of dead cells and other gunk that can clog pores and cause breakouts. I do have two things to caution you about this mask:

1. It is OK to use the lemon tomato mask while you’re dealing with a breakout, but if you have broken skin on your face you’re better off waiting. The acid in the lemon and tomato can irritate broken skin.

2. Lemon juice makes your skin more sensitive to light, so make sure you wash this mask off thoroughly after using it, and it’s best to do it in the evening, to give your skin time to bounce back before too much sun exposure.

You can use this mask once a week to help maintain glowing skin and avoid breakouts. Here’s the recipe!

DIY Tomato Lemon Face Mask

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon rolled oats
• 1 small tomato – about the size of your fist or smaller will do the trick
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice

Directions
1. Put the oats into your blender or food processor and blend until it forms a powder, then add the tomato and lemon juice and blend until smooth.
2. After washing your face, massage the mask on, letting it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then use a warm, damp washcloth to wipe the mask away.

Source : FeelgoodStyle

DIY: Exfoliating Scrubs

Lemon And Sugar
Mix lemon juice with sugar. Lemon has many anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-aging properties. It’s also loaded with vitamin C and contains enzymes that are thought to improve an oily complexion. Moreover, sugar helps draw moisture into the skin and the fine grains work to remove dead skin cells.

Honey And Oatmeal
Oats is  ideal for sensitive skin and are said to heal and soothe skin irritations. They also work as a natural polish and can be ground into a smooth paste or left flaky for a rougher mixture. Honey is a soothing product and helps keep the skin hydrated.

Coffee Ground And Olive Oil
This concoction is thought to reduce the effects of aging. Olive oil contains antioxidants that are believed to keep the skin soft and supple. Coffee is a natural polish and will help unblock pores. It’s also thought to be anti-bacterial and seems to work well on sensitive skin.

Ground Almond And Yogurt
A good exfoliating product should have a course texture as this will help remove dry skin and dead cells. Ground almond is a brilliant exfoliator that contains vitamin E which works to nourish and soften the skin. It can be used on most skin types and should leave you with a soft, non-greasy complexion. The lactic acid in milk is thought to get rid of dead skin cells and this, in turn, should help clear up blackheads, spots and acne.

Sea Salt And Water
Combine sea salt with water. Warm water helps to open your pores and the fine grains of salt will exfoliate your body. Combining salt with a sticky product such as honey is also effective, but if you just want a quick solution to better skin, sea salt and water is ideal.

Source : Glamaasia

Watsons + Paula's Choice + August Glamabox Haul

Its my birthday month so I did some hauling at Watsons since there is a x5 points as well as pick up a Sensibo product from Guardian. There were some promotions on Naruko's Raw Job Tears products but the serum has been sold out! Urgh

Naruko Raw Job's Tears Supercritical CO2 Whitening Toner $19.45
Naruko Raw Job's Tears Supercritical CO2 Whitening Lotion  $21.15
Essence Eyeshadow - 30 Happy Hour  $6
Essence Marble Mania Eyeshadow - 02 Get Twisted   $6
Essence Sun Club Matt Bronzing Powder  $7.60
Bioderma Micelle Solution for sensitive and dehydrated skin  $34.50
Bioderma Purifying Corrective Care sample (free)
Bioderma Purifying Foaming Gel sample  (free)
Bioderma Mattifying Sun Fluid sample (free)

A cousin was visiting USA and I had some products delivered to his hostel. My very first haul from Paula's Choice. It even comes with stickers to indicate it as a day or night product, which you can paste on your bottles.

Earth Sourced Sample Set US$6
Resist Anti-aging Sample Set US$7
Pure Mineral Sunscreen SPF15 sample
Moisture Boost One Step Face Cleanser sample
Essential Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF15 sample

Laneige 3 days supply of their bestselling products, as part of the Tangs' members perks for the birthday member.

1) Laneige Water Sleeping Pack_Ex
2) Laneige Pore Tight Essence
3) Laneige Multiberry Yoghurt Peeling Gel

As usual, Glamabox always arrived 1 or 2 days later than Bellabox, so I got mine earlier this week.

I received
1) Purete Duo Care Eye & Lip Cream 5ml
2) Marie Dalgar Black Dry Fast Eyeliner 0.6ml
3) Louvier SPF50 Sunscreen BB Cream 5g
4) Senaya Aloe After-sun Soothing Silk Ice Film 1 pc
5) Timeless Truth Organic Silk Fibre Elixir Mask 1 pc

Still brands that I am not familiar with but at least its mainly skin care products. I don't fancy the liquid eyeliner because I only use primitive pencil eyeliner. lol

As you can see from the picture, the BB cream was a mess. It spilled. Luckily, there is a bubble wrap that goes with it. I cleaned it up with alcohol swabs and it looked as good as new now.

Unlike Bellabox, I believe all people residing in Singapore would have received the same package so I think there is less of a comparison but probably it may not whet everyone's appetite.

August Bella Box

When I read about the brands  "Elizabeth Arden, L'Oreal, Benefit Cosmetics, Philosophy and Anna Sui" that are going to be in our August box, I was elated. I was looking forward to receiving Philosophy and Anna Sui.

And here's what I received

- Enavose Probiotics Exfoliance Gommage
- Facial Fresh CollagenTreatment Mask
- Anna Sui Eye Color Crayon 100
- L'oreal Youth Code Boosting Essence
- China Glaze Nail Polish 77009 IX  (Black Brown)
- Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Skincare that includes a sachet of Skin Balancing Exfoliating Cleanser, Optimizing Skin Serum and Skin Balancing Lotion each
- I Love SG reusable bag

No Philosophy oil-free moisturiser? Jeez. Abit let-down. :(
No Anna Sui eyshadow but crayon instead? Jeez, it looks similar to the Lavshuca Stick Eye Shadow I owned, just a different shade of blue.  :(

Then again, thats the thing about beauty subscription box, its all about give and take, with a surprise element. Its not perfect but I still like it overall, just that when I saw what others receive, well...I wish thats mine! lol...

Review : Lovemore Aqua Mask Skin Whitening with Damascus Rose and Arbutin

Product Description
Helps to restore moisture leaving the skin noticeably smoother and softer. With organic Leontopodium aplpinum and chamomilla recutita flower extract from Europe. It also has whitening effects on your skin

My last Lovemore purchases from my Taiwan haul! Lovemore masks, on my skin can be a hit or a miss target. In comparison, I think I preferred My Beauty Diary facial mask in terms of efficiacy.
For the last 2 weeks, I have been using this box of 7 sheets, mainly for whitening purposes. I have an unhealthy obsession with hydration for the skin and I only use whitening products/masks when my hydration needs are met. ( read : optimal skin condition )

Main Ingredients :
Rosa Damascena Flower Wta, Alpha-arbutin, hyaluronic Acid oligomer, gnaphalium leontopodium flower extract, chamomilla recutita foower extract, malachite extract, mlachite, vitamin C magnesium

The mask is a dripping mess when I pulled it out of the packaging and the material is very thin so I tend to tear it when I was unwrapping the protective layer. That said, the cutting is moderately well and adhere to my skin.

It has a heavy rose syrup fragrance and there are no drips when the sheet mask is layered on the skin. No flying flaps too.
The mask does hydrate the skin sufficiently well but not whitening though. My skin feels smooth and supple after each usage which lasted till the following morning but I did not see any brightening effect.

It retails at $11.90 for 7 pieces in a box.

Review : Agronatura Hair Shampoo Damask Rose and Hair Conditioner Damask

Shampoo Description
Gently washes, nourishes and protects hair. Suitable for frequent use.

Conditioner Description
Nourishes and protects hair. Suitable for frequent use.

Key Benefits
Active vegetable ingredients improve structure of hair.
Made in Italy, the Italian Damask Rose in both products are grown by Agronatura farmers. Agronatura is located in the Monferrato - Piemonte, Italy's medicinal herb valley and has been producing organic medicinal herbs and essential oils since 1986

The brand uses active ingredients in herbs to produce organic and eco-compatible cosmetics. On both packagings, it states that their ingredients are from organic agriculture and the product is a certified organic cosmetic.

I purchased these products last month from Naturelova which has stockists in some places locally. You can check it here.

There was an online promotion where I paid $28 for the 250ml shampoo and receive a free 150ml conditioner. The original retail price is $28 for each product which is expensive.
From the first day of usage, right to the last drop, I found it hard to fall in love with them.

The 250ml shampoo, housed in a handy size with a flick-top cap has a nice floral scent which is their Italian Damask Rose fragrance. Please be reminded to shake it before use, to get the composition of the contents correct.
The light green gel-like contents do not foam and has little suds. It made the hair straw-like during hair cleansing and tangle my hair. In addition, the shampoo is too mild for my hair type as it gets oily by end of the day if I did not wash it in the morning.

My usual routine is to wash my hair in the evening after work but this method does not work well when I was using this shampoo hence I have to shampoo my hair once in the morning, in order to reduce the possibility of having a greasy mop of hair by end of the day. And shampoo-ed again, after work, so that I can sleep with clean hair.
The conditioner at a smaller size of 150ml tube depleted fast as I used alot in trying to get rid of the kinks in the hair after the shampoo-ing process but sadly it does not help much.
The dark brown creamy conditioner appears to apply well on the hair but it does nothing much to condition or detangle the hair. There is no difference to my hair texture and structure when I skipped the conditioner.

While I do have softer hair at the end of each cleansing but the kinks in the hair are simply bothersome and the straw-like effect during the shampoo process is not a pleasant experience.

Shampoo Ingredients
Aqua(water), anthemis nobilis flower water(anthemis nobilis flower extract), glycerin, ammonium lauryl sulfate, caprylyl/capryl glucoside, coco glucoside, lauryl glucoside, sodium lauryl glucose carboxylate, xanthan gum, citric acid, succinoglycan gum, sodium benzoate, rosa damascena distillate(rosa damascena extract), linalool, lauryl alcohol, dicaprylyl ether, hydrolyzed wheat protein, potassium sorbate, sodium phytate, aniba rosaeodora oil, hydrolyzed rice protein, parfum(fragrance),
rosa damascena flower oil, sodium dehydroacetate, benzyl alcohol, dehydroacetic acid.

Conditioner Ingredients
Aqua(water), anthemis nobilis flower water(anthemis nobilis flower extract), glycerin, cetearyl alcohol, candelilla cera, polyglyceryl-2 dipolyhydroxystearate, lauryl glucoside, olus oil, cyamopsis tetragonolobus gum(cyamopsis tetragonoloba (guar) gum), benzyl alcohol, dicaprylyl ether,
hydrolyzed wheat protein, lauryl alcohol, rosa damascena distillate(rosa damascena extract), linalool, hydrogenated vegetable oil, xanthan gum, sodium benzoate, sodium dehydroacetate, citric acid, dehydroacetic acid, aniba rosaeodora oil, parfum(fragrance), rosa damascena flower oil.

Source : Naturelova-S , Naturalova-C

Review : The Body Shop Nutriganics Drops Of Youth

Product Description
Drops of Youth, an innovative concentrate is a skin renewing complex that harnesses the latest plant stem cell technology to tackle the first signs of ageing. It helps to enhance surface skin condition, by replump skin with moisture, allowing for the powerful, natural ingredients to penetrate deeper into skin, enhancing cell renewal, hence leaving it looking smoother, fresher and healthier.

Nutriganics Drops of Youth is silicon and paraben-free, with a minimum of 98% of ingredients derived from natural origins. It contains 20% organic ingredients to deliver natural beauty, naturally.
Fortifying Nutriganics™ Drops of Youth is extract of beech bud, with its rich concentration of minerals, trace elements, enzymes and vitamins.

I received 3 sachets from a good friend of mine who is a fan of TBS. It lasts me for more than a week but I just wasn't overly impressed with it.

It is meant to be used before serum but I used it as a serum just to see how it fares. The clear lotion can get tacky when over-applied. My face gets sticky when I get over-zealous so the trick is less is more.

I tried using a mist prior to application and it also gets kind of sticky too. I waited for 2-3 minutes but yet to feel that the pre-serum have sunk into the skin so I proceed on with my other skincare products. I was told that the pre-serum will get absorbed into the skin within a few seconds.

The texture is lotion-like with a slight hint of stickiness which gets heavier as you applied to the skin. Throughout my usage period, I failed to see any hydration improvement or a visible difference to the skin.Considering that it costs $58.90 for a 30ml size, I expected more from it.

Source : Thebodyshop

Subscribe to ReviewGalore for Free – If you’re interested in keeping in touch with me and the new articles that go up on ReviewGalore, you can subscribe in 2 ways : 

1) Review Galore RSS feed

2) bloglovin

Review : Bioessence Bird's Nest Nutri-Collagen and Whitening Sleeping Mask

Product Description
Nourishes your skin with the most precious and nutritious source of collagen. Bird’s Nest Nutri-Collagen and Whitening Sleeping Mask feeds your skin with an abundance of nutrients while your skin repairs itself at night, restoring skin’s vitality and elasticity while you sleep.

Efficacies :
- Intensively nourishes skin cells with Bio-Bird's Nest extract, nutrients, arbutin and minerals
- Retains moisture and provides collagen
- Optimize skin renewal and regeneration process
- Effectively restores skin's vitality and elasticity
- Rejuvenates and brightens dull complexion
- Wake up to healthy, radiant and supple skin

Active Ingredients

Bio-Bird’s Nest Extract™
The most precious & powerful source of collagen.
Bio-essence Bio-Bird’s Nest Extract™, effectively promotes blood circulation and enhances skin cell renewal to restore skin’s radiance and elasticity.
Arbutin
Nips the formation of melanin at the bud; preventing the formation of pigmentation and dull skin.
Amino Acid Skin Whitening Complex
Amino Acid Skin Whitening Complex is highly effective for promoting skin brightness; it releases keto acid into the skin to provide whitening factors to whiten skin from inside so that your complexion is illuminated with a natural, translucent glow. Together with Bird’s Nest Essence and other herbal ingredients, the Bird’s Nest Nutri-Collagen & Whitening Series provides unsurpassed nutrition for your skin, keeping your skin at its peak condition


I have some sachets of this product which I have been using on a nightly basis for more than 2 weeks. Thanks to Naruko Night Gelly series, I am now more accustomed to wearing a sleeping mask to bed.

When I first heard about the famed sleeping mask by Laneige some years back, I was bewildered by the application of the mask and my mind conjured of wet dripping masks on my bed and pillows. How ignorant huh?

This sleeping mask has a nice fragrance. White in colour, it has a light refreshing gel-like texture that is pleasant to use at night before bed. It provides softer, smoother and supple skin immediately after application. While it appears to be good for the skin but somehow it just sits on the surface of the skin.

The following morning, after cleansing, my skin is back to its original state prior to the overnight mask application. And it failed to hydrate my skin sufficiently well.

Source : Bioessence

Subscribe to ReviewGalore for Free – If you’re interested in keeping in touch with me and the new articles that go up on ReviewGalore, you can subscribe in 2 ways : 

1) Review Galore RSS feed

2) bloglovin

Zalora Haul + Korea Masks Haul

Intelligent Nutrients Certified Organic Anti-Aging Mist  S$36.75  (from Zalora.sg)
Intelligent Nutrients Spray-On Detangler S$29.25 ( Another $10 deducted from the total amount )

Requested a friend's friend to get some masks for me....

Holika Holika Miracle Real Skin Finish sachet
Holika Holika Luminous Silk Starter for BB sachet
Holika Holika Super Retino Collagen Eye Mask  3000won
Laneige White Plus Renew Apple Zone Mask 38000won
Nature Republic Snail Therapy Hydrogel Mask Sheet 1000won
Nature Republic Snail Therapy Mask Sheet
Nature Republic Aqua Collagen Solution Marine Hydro Gel Mask
Nature Republic Super Aqua Max Deep Moisture Hydrogel Mask Sheet
Nature Republic Snaytox Anti-wrinkle Hydro Gel Mask
The Body Shop Organic Cotton Pads $3 each ( from TBS warehouse sale )

Review : Vichy Calming Cleansing Micellar Solution

Product Description

A refreshing cleansing water enriched with soothing Rose Phytopheno to clean the face, remove eye/lip make-up and soothe the skin in one simple step. No rinsing required.

Ingredient Innovation:

Unique Micelle Technology : gentle yet effective in removing impurities and makeup

Rose Phytophenol : calm and soothe skin

Vichy Thermal Water : soothe and fortify

Dermatological Standards:

Allergy tested. Tested on sensitive skin under dermatological and ophthalmological control. Tested on contact lens wearers. Alcohol-free. Soap-free. Colorant-free. Skin pH. Non-comedogenic.

Since my very first experience with Avene Micellar Solution, I never looked back because I like using Micellar Solution to remove my make-up. Its soothing and gentle enough for sensitive skin like mine.

And I only use organic cotton pads from The Body Shop for all make-up removal because quality counts when its used directly on the face. I use cheap cotton pads for nail polish removal though. lol.

This Vichy product is housed in a clear bottle with a flick-top cap. The clear liquid is dispensed thru a small hole and can be more than a nusiance when one is not careful.

It works as well as Avene Micellar Cleansing Lotion and removes makeup easily and effectively. Skin felt clean and fresh immediately. However, there is a slight redness on my sensitive areas like the broken capillaries on the wings of my nose, which were aggravated from using SKII Facial Treatment Gentle Cleanser last month and hence were still quite sensitive. I still follow up with my regular cleanser thereafter.

It also removes eye make-up in a jiffy, though eyeliner and mascara requires a more thorough swipe and it doesn't work very well with waterproof mascara.

It scored 4.3 from 41 users on Makeupalley.

Ingredients :

WATER • HEXYLENE GLYCOL • POLOXAMER 184 • GLYCERIN • ROSA GALLICA EXTRACT/ROSA GALLICA FLOWER EXTRACT • DISODIUM COCOAMPHODIACETATE • DISODIUM EDTA • PANTHENOL • OLYAMINOPROPYL BIGUANIDE • FRAGRANCE

WATER • HEXYLENE GLYCOL • POLOXAMER 184 • GLYCERIN • ROSA GALLICA EXTRACT/ROSA GALLICA FLOWER EXTRACT • DISODIUM COCOAMPHODIACETATE • DISODIUM EDTA • PANTHENOL • OLYAMINOPROPYL BIGUANIDE • FRAGRANCE

Apply morning and evening using a cotton wool pad. No need to rinse off.

Source : Vichy

Review : Nubian Mango Butter Hand Cream

Product Description
Our Mango Butter Hand Cream is a nutrient-rich, long lasting moisture treatment. This all-natural recipe is fortified with multi-vitamins, Orange Oil and vegetable butters and oils to repair, moisturize and strenghen hard-working hands.

I purchased this from iHerb ( use my code to get US$5 off your first purchase ) sometime back and have been using it daily in my office for about 5 months. The 118ml size is large to bring along so having it in my office drawer is the perfect solution.

Else, you can also decant it into smaller tubs to bring it around which is what I did for other hand creams.

The name certainly sounds yummy and the scent smells mango-ish but well, it seemed that others may not think the same as me. A male colleague thought I smell like burnt capacitors. Gosh! Simply insane. Capacitors are electrical components used in electronic products and I am working in this industry.

Made in the USA, this product does not contain Parabens, Phthalates, Paraffin, UREA, Propylene Glycol, Mineral Oil, Synthetic Fragrance, PABA, Animal Ingredients, Petrolatum, Synthetic Color and DEA.

Its been said that the fruit seed of the mango tree yields as an excellent moisturiser rich in natural Vitamin B, carotenoids and antioxidants. The hand cream boasts of a mixture of shea butter and Vitamin C as well.

The brand, Nubian Heritage complements the moisturizing, soothing and restorative benefits of Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Mango Butter and Avocado Butter with the anti-aging and regenerative properties of Jojoba Oil, Aloe Vera and Vitamin E in their Body Butter line. These vitamin rich treatments contain powerful skin hydrators to maximize moisture retention and skin suppleness.

 
The product comes in a tube form and the beige colour hand cream is easily dispensed from the large tube. Beige in colour, the texture is creamy and spread easily but does not provide a good moisturising feel on the hands. I require repeated application due to its non-moisturising texture.

Ingredients:
Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter*, Deionized Water, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Stearyl Alcohol (Palm Kernel), Ceteareth 20 (Emulsifying Wax), Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Vegetable Glycerin, Jojoba Oil*, Essential Oil Blend, Carbomer, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Orange Oil, Allantoin (Comfrey Root Extract), Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower (and) Lonicera Japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle) Flower Extract * Certified Organic Ingredient

Source : Amazon , Vitacost

Review : Kiss Me Heroine Make Matt BB Liquid SPF30 PA++

Product Description
Skin-mattifying BB cream comes in a lightweight formulation and contains sebum-absorbing powder to whisk away excess oil and leave skin fresh and matte. Skin-refining pore powder then conceals enlarged pores to give skin a smoother and more even toned appearance. After cleansing and toning, smooth on BB liquid evenly all over face. Follow with foundation or powder for perfectly polished skin.

Benefits :
Sebum Absorption.
It contains sebum absorbing powder for removal of excessive sebum, and leaves you a matte finish.
Pore Coverage.
The containing pore-evening powder helps cover uneven pores and leaves you a smooth finish.
Foundation Performance.
It forms a natural veil of foundation finish, leaving your skin natural and an even skintone.
Skincare Performance.
With essence ingredients like super hyaluronic acid, nano-sized collagen for skin nourishment.
UV Cut Support.
It comes with SPF30 PA++ sunscreen support against harmful UV rays

I decant some contents from my Mum's bottle, which lasted me for about 2 weeks. The colour 01 seems dark but it was able to blend in to fit my skin tone.
The texture is runny with a sheer to medium coverage but not hydrating enough for my skin type. I would think its more suitable for oily skin, since it contains sebum-absorbing powder.

This BB cream does not perform well enough to give an even finish and was somewhat patchy, especially on the dry areas. Touted to be a super matt finish with light texture, my skin did stay matte but with much patchiness due to my dehydrated skin surface. By end of the day, my skin gets even more patchy. Horrible.
Oil control is moderate and not spectacular.

The full ingredient list can be found here.

Source : Yesstyle

Review : Lancome Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate

Product Description
Our first skincare that boosts the activity of genes and stimulates the production of youth proteins. A true skincare innovation with 7 worldwide patents pending, Génifique is the foundation of every woman’s skincare at any age or for any skin concern.

Benefits :
Visibly younger skin in just 7 days. Skin looks as if lit from within – breathtaking radiant. Its youthful quality returns: cushiony soft and velvety to the touch. Drop by drop, skin is vibrant with youth, its tone becomes astonishingly even, its texture dramatically refined.

My sister passed me some samples, as part of the Tangs' member perks and the 4 samples I owned provided me with a week's usage. I am glad that Lancome is generous with their samples for all masses to try their products. That shows the amount of faith they have in their products.

I decant all 4 sachets into a small container for use every morning. The activator is clear in colour, quite runny and being lightweight in texture, it was not oily and sticky at all. It sinks into the skin fast, providing a smooth and supple look. However the duration is too short to judge a permanent solution.
The sequence as follows :
Beauty lotion -> Youth Activator -> Serum -> Cream -> UV Protection

According to Beautypedia, the main ingredient in this product (yeast ingredient known as bifida ferment lysate) is the the same ingredient used in Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Concentrate Recovery Boosting Treatment, which is overall a significantly better formula.

Other than bifida ferment lysate, the rest of the ingredients are a mix of slip agents with alcohol and a tiny amount of water-binding agent. The rest of the formula is mostly preservatives, fragrance, and fragrance chemicals. The fragrance ingredients can cause irritation and inflammation which breaks down collagen and is counterproductive to the claims. Irritation will diminish any youth-giving qualities while the alcohol ( too little to be drying ) is capable of causing free-radical damage.

Source : Lancome

What's Your Skin Trying To Tell You?

Face Mapping is a type of skin analysis, developed by dermatologists and from ancient Chinese medicine, which can help to explain why there are breakouts on certain areas of your face.

Zones 1 and 3:

Bladder and Digestive System - Breakouts here may indicate that diet could be improved and more water should be drunk.


Zone 2:

Liver - This area can indicate food allergies. Try also cutting down on alcohol, heavy food or dairy products.

Zones 4 and 10:

Kidneys - Ensure you are drinking enough water and reduce the amount of dehydrating beverages such as coffee or fizzy drinks.

Zones 5 and 9:

Respiratory System - Smokers and those with allergies may see breakouts here.

Zones 6 and 8:

Kidneys - Dark circles can be an indication of dehydration. Increase your water intake and try and aim for 2 litres of water a day.

Zone 7:

Heart - Try checking your blood pressure. It’s also worth making sure that your make up isn’t irritating your skin.

Zone 12:

Stomach - This may be an indication that you could need to increase fibre levels in your diet. Also, consider a detox.

Zones 11 and 13:

Hormones - You may be able to alleviate hormonal breakouts by drinking more water and adding more dark, leafy greens to your diet. Breakouts here can also indicate when you are ovulating – and which side!

Zone 14:

Illness - Breakouts on the neck can be an indication that your body is fighting bacteria to avoid illness. Indulge in a little relaxation and drink plenty of fluids.

Garden of Wisdom Haul

My very first haul from Garden of Wisdom

- Cleansing Pads (gentle) / 50 pads : US$10.65
- Cleanser Sampler ( Oats, Milk and Honey Cleanser, Skin Friendly Cleanser (No orange oil), Gentle Cleansing Gel ) US$9.90
- Matcha Green Tea HA Serum US$3.70
- Majik Tresses Hair Serum  US$4.40
- Pack your Bags and Say GOOD BYE... Eye Gel US$14.35
- Rockin' Moroccan Goddess Hair Oil US$5.15
- Flirty Body Cream - Free

According to the owner of GoW, Markey, their products have a shelf life of 9 months to a year upon receipt of items due to the exclusion of parabens. For oils and hydrosols, she suggest that they are to be kept refrigerated with a shelf life of 6 to 12 months.

Review : Kose Clear Turn White Mask (Hyaluronic Acid)

Product Description
Kose Clear Turn White Mask (Hyaluronic Acid) is enriched with hydrating factors such as hyaluronic acid and white lotus essence that effectively improve the moisture level of skin in balance, hence preventing the problems of skin dryness and sagginess

This 1 piece sheet mask is part of the goodies in July's Glamabox, a subscription box service.

I have used Clear Turn Eye Zone Mask Q10 before and it was horribly scented with alcohol. I don't think the facial mask differs much and indeed it doesn't. However, the ingredient list I obtained online does not appear to contain alcohol. Hmm..

The paper-thin mask is sheer and wet. It has the same horrible alcohol scent as the eye mask and is not dripping wet with essence. There is an added eye patch flap which you can tear slightly to give an option to open or close the flaps as it was joined to the face sheet.

I have read somewhere that you can get a box of 5 sheets for US$12 or US$6 in Japan so I wondered why Glamabox claimed it to be US$10 each. Anyway, I don't think this Clear Turn range costs that much because I don't think I paid that much for the box of eye masks 2 years ago.

I was having a bout of dehydration on the skin, a day after my facial in the salon, so I wanted to use this mask since it purportly contain hyaluronic acid. The sniff of alcohol turns me off and I removed itafter the stipulated 10 minutes. My skin turned out to be soft, moist and supple after the treatment. The rough areas near my nose were minimized.

Ingredients:
water, butylene glycol, glycerin, dipropylene glycol, peg-8, sodium hyaluronate, lilium candidum bulb extract, peg-50 hydrogenated castor oil isostearate, carbomer, triethyl hexanoine, sodium hydroxide, methylparaben

Thanks so much for reading! Sign up on my mailing list so that you will not miss a post again!

 

Lets connect : Instagram | Pinterest | Bloglovin

Review : The Body Shop Nutriganics Smoothing Serum

Product Description
To prep skin to absorb the nutrients from the day cream, this luxurious pre-moisturiser treat softens and revitalises skin while improving suppleness, all thanks to a potent cocktail of active organic ingredients and botanicals. It softens, revitalises and improves skin's suppleness.

Retailing at $46.90 for a 30ml size, this new organic range from The Body Shop certainly looks promising with their EcoCert certification and being on IT list 2011 of Elle Beauty. I don't hold their skincare products in high regards in the past, because their products always seemed overpriced to me, for the benefits it claimed and most products do not deliver. At least, those I have tried before, on my skin.

Key Ingredients :
Organic babassu oil - a versatile, light, moisturising oil, beneficial for both dry and oily complexions.
Community Trade organic aloe vera - renowned for its incredible soothing and hydrating properties.
Organic olive oil - effectively smoothes, softens and soothes the skin.

2 good friends of mine are fans of this smoothing serum so I decided to try it, when one of them passed me 2 sachets of it. The 2 sachets, each at 1.5ml lasted me for about a week's usage. The product is said to guard against the first signs of aging.

It has a light and pleasant scent with a lightweight texture that is runny. After application, the skin feels slightly tacky and sticky. I preferred to spray a mist prior to application and it made the skin feels soft and supple. I have no problem with layering a moisturiser on top of it.

Stated on the sachet, its written that 99% of the total ingredients are from natural origin and 34% of the total ingredients are from organic farming.
Looking at the ingredients, it appears to have too many fragrance components that do nothing much to help the skin.

It scored 2.7 from 6 users on Makeupalley
Ingredients :
Water, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Olea Europaea Oil/Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil/Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Sucrose Stearate, Benzyl Alcohol, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Sclerotium Gum, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, p-Anisic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Tocopherol, Myristic Acid, Citral, Linalool, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citronellol, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract/Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil/Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Geraniol, Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract/Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower Extract, Foeniculum Vulgare Oil/Foeniculum Vulgare (Fennel) Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil/Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Extract/Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil/Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Thymus Vulgaris Oil/Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Flower/Leaf Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil

Source : Thebodyshop ,

Review : Evolu Relaxing Creme Cleanser

Product Description
This gentle non-foaming formula is suitable for all skin types, especially sensitive and mature skins. Calendula, Geranium, Apricot and St John’s Wort combine to deeply cleanse impurities and effectively remove face and eye make-up, without stripping the skin of its natural defences.

Key Ingredients :
CALENDULA anti-aging, protective
GERANIUM calming, therapeutic, improves circulation
APRICOT EXTRACT softens, hydrates
ST JOHN’S WORT calms inflamed skin, helpful for blemishes

Evolu, made of a potent botanical system, is custom-designed to assist the skin’s own natural mechanisms.  Every pure, bioactive product in the evolu range is specifically blended to help achieve and maintain the skin’s ideal balance.

Evolu products are pH balanced and contain no parabens, mineral oils, phthalates, sulfates, artifical colors or fragrances or animal products other than beeswax. You can read more about the brand here

I decant some contents of this cleanser from my mum's place, which was worth about 2 weeks of usage. White in colour, its a mild cleanser that is light and creamy that cleanses well with a slippery feel. It has a slight musty scent, but does not linger for long.

It does not leave any taut feeling but a very slight film on the skin to provide that moisturising veil. Soft and moisturised is how my skin feel.

In terms of ingredients, it does contain triethanolamine which is used as a buffering agent, masking and fragrance ingredient, and surfactant, in addition to its primary use as a pH adjuster. It is considered as a moderate hazard ingredient by EWG where it is known as a human skin, immune system and respiratory toxicant. It can cause allergic reactions including eye problems, dryness of hair and skin

Source : Evolu

Review : Leaders Clinic Caviar Repairing Essential Mask

Product Description
Premium ingredients like caviar is good for skin renewal. Together with chitosan and witch hazel water it provides intense nourishment and revitalizes the skin. Provides adequate hydration and nutrients for healthier and radiant skin.

Supposingly made up of thin and sheer ultra thin silk cellulose material, it should fit onto the skin like second skin. It does adhere well to my skin initially but after 5 minutes, the mask at the areas near my chin and jaws hung in mid-air. Kinda irritating.

The cut-out fits my face shape pretty well, except for the nose area which is slightly shorter than I would like.

I used 2 sheets this week, when my skin was in its dehydrated state but well, it does not perform well. The skin does feel moisturised immediately after treatment but the following morning, my skin is back to its dehydrated state.

I purchased this from the local Watsons where it was on sale for $2 each.

Ingredients
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, PEG-60 Hydrogeneated Caster Oil, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Methyl-paraben, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Natto Gum, Wheat Amino Acids, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Trehalose, Propylparaben, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Parfum, Caviar Extract, Chitosan