Review : M.A.D Minerals 100% Pure Essential Argan Oil

Product Description
Argan Oil helps to nourish your skin and hair naturally, while also assisting in free-radical protection.
100% Pure Organic Argan Oil  100% Natural  100% Vegan  100% Gluten Free 100% Additive Free 100% Preservative Free

Argan oil has been shown to naturally contain the following beneficial ingredients:

• Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
  Antioxidant, free radical scavenger, improves skin's water-binding ability, boosts the effectiveness of your sunscreen, and heals dry, damaged skin. Argan oil contains 200-300% more Vitamin E than olive oil.
• Essential Fatty Acids
  Includes high levels of fatty acids which are essential to the health of your cellular membranes – keeping the skin firm and elastic while improving moisture retention.
• Oleic and Linoleic Acids
  Critical in the formation of prostaglandin, which acts as a natural anti-inflammatory and healing agent.
• Natural Antioxidants
  Protect your skin from environmental factors like chemicals, pollution, and sun damage – preventing free radical damage and giving your skin that hard-to-achieve "glow."
• Squalene
  Naturally produced by your skin, it functions like Vitamin E as an important antioxidant, reducing signs of aging. Also has many wound healing and antibacterial properties, excellent for eczema, psoriasis, and acne.
• Polyphenols
  Fight sun damage and photoaging with UV protection. Promote skin repair with anti-inflammatory, anti-septic, and free-radical fighting properties.
• Ferulic Acid
  A very rare antioxidant that's highly valued as it actually becomes MORE potent when exposed to sunlight.
• Sterols
  Help prevent skin aging by promoting moisture retention as well as optimizing the function of the skin barrier.
• D-7 Stigmasterol
  Very rare and highly regarded for treating skin diseases and healing wounds and compromised skin tissue.
• Triterpene Alcohols
  Recent studies show topical application may offer potent anti-inflammatory benefits, making them effective for speeding healing of a variety of skin conditions.
  
  

How To Use:

Pump a tiny drop in the palm of your hand or fingertips, rub hands together for even distribution and massage into face, hands, hair or body. (preferably gently massging in circular motions) The skin should not feel oily after application, if it does, then you have used too much.

So Many More Uses:

- As your daily moisturizer (it can be applied before makeup)
-Apply to split ends of your hair
-To condition cuticles
-As a body moisturizer
-For soothing rough patches of skin on elbows, knees and feet
-As a bath oil

I purchased a 30ml bottle from Mad Minerals for US$10 several months ago and has been using it mainly for the hair and ocassionally for the body. Less is more, and it took me some time to correct the quantity needed for my hair length, as initially, I used too much and my hair turned greasy by end of the day.

The argan oil comes in an opaque bottle with a pump dispenser that will spritz out the oil contents in a messy way. Sometimes it works well, sometimes it requires several depressions.

Argan Oil conditions my hair well and made it healthier and shinier. My hair is in a relatively healthier condition compared to before, due to my daily hair maintenance so I cannot comment on the split ends condition as I no longer have that since I trimmed off all the damaged tresses ends.
This argan oil is not the main contributing factor to my healthier hair condition as I uses other hair products in rotation, depending on the day's event and the state of my hair, however it does contributes to the overall hair health.

I have not use it on the face though, because I like to keep my hair and skin products separately and since I started using it for the hair, I keep it reserved for that.

For the body, it gives off a slight sheen on the skin after application and I only use it twice so far so I cannot comment on its efficacy.

Ingredient: 
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil (100% Pure Certified Organic Argan Oil) Cold Pressed (non-chemically extracted and non-refined), virgin (produced from unroasted kernels)

Source : Mad Minerals

O.P.I Lincoln Park After Dark Suede

Picked up this purple shade from Hong Kong a while back. This is from the OPI’s Fall 2009 Suede collection. Looking at the shade on the bottle itself, this is a medium purple shade with glitters in it. The final finishing is a matte shade which is something I am not comfortable with.

There is a disclaimer tag that comes together with all Suede collection stating
- it does not wear as long as original OPI Nail Lacquer
- do not use top coat, drying products or hand lotion when wearing Suede

I like the colour when it was first applied on, glossy beautiful purple until it dries to a matte finishing and that's when my love for it dies.

I layered it with Coffret D'or PK153 and that made it more alive. I have the best of both worlds. The shade, the finishing and the glitters.

Lincoln Park After Dark Suede has a thin and runny texture that requires several layers for the level of opacity I preferred. It has a cooling feel which probably explain why it dries pretty fast. I don't have the ingredient list but I suspect it could be alcohol. I like that it dries up fast but I certainly hope its not alcohol though I have less concern on it since its used on my hands once in a blue moon.

On another occasion, I layered Seche Vite, a top coat on top of O.P.I Lincoln Park After Dark Suede to give that glossy finishing as the O.P.I Lincoln Park After Dark Suede alone is too matte and boring.

Unfortunately, removing both polishes with a cheap Watsons Nail Polish remover proved to be quite a pain, making my fingers dry and flaky. I may have to try a better nail polish remover next time.

O.P.I Lincoln Park After Dark Suede scored 3.2 from 21 users on Makeupalley.

Review : One Love Easy Does It Cleanser

Product Description
It turns out a little cleansing goes a lot farther than you think. Often times, our best efforts at clear pores clear out our skin’s natural defenses, too. With a unique combination of organic Chilean soap bark, cold-pressed apple oil and vegetable glycerin, Easy Does It lathers into a soothing, non-drying foam that cleans, softens and helps to protect face, body and hair.

When I first came across the brand online, I was immediately drawn to its simple, chic and feminine packaging. After I found out that One Love Organics specializes in 100% pure, waterless and preservative-free organic skin care products, it prompted me to order the trial kit via a colleague who was travelling to the States on a business trip.

This multi-purpose cleanser claimed to be gentle enough for sensitive skin yet powerful enough for oily skin and can be used for the face and body as well. Sounds intriguing?
The cleanser in the trial kit is packaged in a cute tiny bottle that is good enough for a week's usage as a little goes a long way due to its foaming texture.

As mentioned before, my skin does not take well to most types of foaming cleansers but since this product claimed to be gentle enough, I took a gamble and tried it for 5 days. The runny texture foams slightly with light suds and was alittle drying during my first usage and pose no problems during subsequent usage but the broken capillaries on the wings of my nose were redder than normal, which isn't such a good sign.
From the first day of usage, my skin turns softer and smoother, clean and fresh. I like the hint of natural citrus scent too. I just wish the foaming suds can be removed, to reduce the drying effect, if any.

I stopped using it for the face and change it for the body instead. It is a mild "shower gel" for the body, without much suds but with a slight hint of dryness though.

Ingredients :
Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Sodium Coco-Glucoside Tartrate, Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer, Sodium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Amaranth Protein, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Lauryl Glucoside, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Oil, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract

Source : One Love

Review : Lifecella Gel Sheet Mask for Eye Contour Collagen

Product Description
The delicate eye area needs special attention. For smoothing and firming of yours, look to the Gel Sheet Mask for Eye Contour Collagen. Collagen improves elasticity around your eye area while Hyaluronic Acid keeps skin smooth and plump. Vitamin A incites natural cell turnover. And dead skin cells are removed for a brightened complexion. Fragrance-free and Color-free.

Containing 5 pairs of eye masks which are sealed separately in a box, the white cresent moon patches are pasted on a flimsy piece of paper and detached to be applied on the undereye area.
It is dry and adhered snugly and firmly on the undereye area. I failed to see any improvement though.

 Source : Bellabox , Blushmeup

My Beauty Diary 2-Step Spring Mountain Cherry Blossom Mask + April Cherry Blossom Creamy Gel

Product Description
My Beauty Diary Mountain Cherry Mask is a 2 Step Spring Pack with April Cherry Blossom creamy gel, that provides extreme brightening and whitening effects. Suitable for all skin types ,especially for sensitive skin. This will help to moisturize, brighten and renew the skin. My Beauty Dairy Japanese Cherry Blossom Mask delivers the following benefits: Whitening and refreshing Japanese Somei-Yoshino Cherry Extract perform triple functions including whitening, soothing and firming. Blended with Extracts of Lemon and Kiwi, it refreshes and softens skin. Soaked in thread of Sakura aroma, skin appears pinky white. Brightening and soothing Extracts of Arnica and Aloe soothe, repair and nourish skin. After use, skin glows with freshness.

Touted to be used for brightening, re-hydrating and refining large pores, this mask comes in 2 products -  Mountain Cherry Blossom Mask (23ml) and April Cherry Blossom Creamy Gel (2ml). A friend gave me a sheet of this mask to try out since we are all MBD fanatics.

Heavily saturated in the essence, the strong cheery scent hits you as you pulled out the sheet mask from its packaging. It is still dripping as you layered it on the skin. I dislike the messiness it creates since I like to multi-task when I am having a mask treatment.

The gel is a good consideration for those who use a night moisturizer on a daily basis. For me, I prefer to skip the moisturizer every time I have a mask treatment as I thought it will be an overdose for my delicate skin. Since this sheet mask is a 2-step treatment, I was "forced" to follow thru, in order to see the effect.

The gel is a light pink cherry-scented moisturizer that goes on light with a slight silicony texture. The 2ml content is more than enough to last for a couple of days.

The sheet mask, together with the gel made my skin feels soft and supple. Note that I use a scrub prior to the mask application to get rid of dead cells and for better mask essence absorption.

Source : Amazon

Review : Philosophy The Gingerbread Man Body Scrub

Product Description
The gingerbread man ginger hot salt body scrub features sea salt and natural extracts to exfoliate and smooth skin, while evoking a warm sense of holiday joy.

A delicious treat that you don't eat. Designed to exfoliate and polish rough, dry skin, this "The Gingerbread Man" heat-as-you-rub therapeutic salt scrub jar is a hot salt scrub for bath or shower that aids in detoxifying while invigorating the senses with the refreshing, delicious scent of ginger. With sea salt, plankton, and kelp extract, it helps to moisturize, tone, and smooth skin. Oil-free, water-soluble, and glycerin-based. Nourish your body and your soul.

Designed as an oil-free hot sea salt body scrub, it caught my attention for being marked down at 50% off back in April this year which I supposed its because they are clearing stock since it was meant to be a Christmas-themed product. I use it mainly on wet skin as what I usually do for body scrub until I came across it on their website, mentioning that its supposed to be used on dry skin.

Packaged in a tub, the texture is thick with the top part being the liquid and the salt at the bottom layer. Initially, I tend to scoop up both parts with my palms and then massage all over my body.
Thereafter, for convenience, I decided to use a disposable spoon to mix both up in the tub before using it. It managed to stay mixed throughout my product usage.

The contents tend to get "sprayed" about whenever I scoop it up from the tub, or during my "vigorous" massage movements and since its dark brown in colour, the brown glops made my bathroom floor and walls messy, though water rinsed it off easily.

I love the whiff of ginger, the warm sensation when I massaged it on the body and the smooth feel thereafter. The beads may be a little coarse which I think may get worse if its used on dry skin. But so far so good, at least my skin did not suffer any redness while on damp skin.
Subsequently, the warm sensation gets lesser and lesser and almost non-existent when my tub of contents are almost used up to 80%.

This product scored 4 from 144 users on Makeupalley.
I wouldn't fork out the original $50 for this 652g size though. Its just too expensive for me to afford in the long term. $25 is still reasonable.

Ingredients :
Sea Salt/maris Sal/sel Marin, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate, Fragrance/parfum, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Plankton Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera (kelp) Extract, Algae Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus (bladderwrack) Extract, Water/aqua/eau, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Caramel

Source : Dermstore

Review : Naruko Narcissus Total Defense Moisturizing Dew

Product Description
NARUKO Narcissus Total Defense Moisturizing Dew is a daytime skincare that is designed to soothe and quickly replenish skin with moisture. Containing highly moisturizing ingredients such as Tremella Fuciformis Extract and Hyaluronic Acid, it forms a water-binding film on skin for long-lasting hydration. It also contains Revitalizing Factor that activates and strengthens skin’s natural defense system. Skin is firmly protected against environmental aggressors and soft, smooth, translucent and healthy-looking skin is achieved.

Benefits :
- Vitalizing Ingredients : "wake up" the skin in the morning
- Essential Oils : Assist the skin with absorbance
- Maintainance of water-oil balance
- Shrinkage of enlarged pores
- Soothing the skin

Ecofriendly and not made with parabens, preservatives, artificial ingredients or pigment composition, this moisturizing dew claimed to make skin soft, smooth and moisturized and is recommended to be used in the daytime.

The 150ml sized bottle lasts me for about 1.5months with daily usage, sometimes up to twice a day as well as being used as a lotion mask. It is slightly translucent and contents are dispensed through a small gap, without any messiness.

The website description indicated that its to be used in the morning but the product description on the bottle indicates that it can be used for both day and night.
I usually like to use it when my skin is feeling dehydrated, be it day or night.

Runny texture, akin to a toner, this moisturising dew sounds exactly as what the name implies. Moisturises the skin. I feel that my skin is sufficiently hydrated when I used it as a lotion mask, together with Naruko cotton pads.
It made my skin soft and smooth. A really lovely moisturising toner just how my skin likes it.

"Natural" Ingredients :
Phytoferulin®, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Narcissus Bulbs Extract, Kojic Acid, Revitialing Factor, Botanical Oils Complex

Source : Naruko

Review : Etude House Hand Bouquet Rich Butter Hand Cream

Product Description
The rich essence of shea butter moisturizes and nourishes hands with an improved anti wrinkle formula for soft, smooth hands.

This was a gift from a friend who came back from Korea. The 50ml tube lasts me for about 3 months in office. The material of the tube is pliable and dispenses the contents pretty easily, with a twist type cap.

It has a baby powder scent with a hint of floral that may be overpowering to some folks as the scent lingers on your hands for quite awhile.

Containing 5% shea butter, the hand cream has a white creamy texture that seemed to moisturize well during the first application but once it gets absorbed into the hands, it feels like nothing and almost non-existent. I have a tendency to re-apply it due to the non-existent texture once absorbed.

Not a repurchase.

Review : Dr. Ci:Labo Super Cleansing EX

Product Description
This cleanser wouldn't be Dr. Ci:Labo if it didn't provide umpteen benefits in one specially formulated product that's been designed right down to its feel, look and use.
For any woman who uses makeup and needs a strong, yet gentle, cleanser to be rid of it all at the end of the day and for any gal who's concerned about aging, this is the ultimate cleanser for you. The gel deeply penetrates into the skin, warming on its own to improve blood circulation – a major anti-aging benefit. It transforms into an oil that softens debris and dead skin cells for easy removal with rinsing, and it delivers vitamins and moisture for skin radiance and health.
Like a homing beacon in the night, it actually zeroes in on all unnecessary molecules on the skin, and encapsulates them for removal.

This was one of the products in the Dr. Ci:Labo travel pack I purchased recently. Made in Japan, this 18g trial size provided me with about a week's usage of daily make-up removal in the evenings. It does not contain any fragrance, colouring, mineral oil and is paraben-free.

With a gel texture that warms up in my palms with some massages, it transforms into a light oil on the skin to remove my face make-up easily. It feels very light and mild on the skin that I am almost afraid that it may be useless on heavier make-up which consists of primer, liquid foundation, loose powder, highlighter and blusher. I use a separate eye make-up remover for the eyes though.

However, it turns out that it does work well in removing make-up and does not cause any redness or tightness on my sensitive skin.
It is formulated with 3 major moisturizing ingredients (Marine-derived Collagen, Hyaluronan, and Ceramide) encapsulated in a nanocapsule as well as containing 5 kinds of vitamins (H, P, E, B6 and C) to condition and help keep the cleansed skin healthy. 

Ingredients :
GLYCERIN・CETYL ETHYLHEXANOATE・OCTYLDODECETH-20・WATER・POLYGLYCERYL-10 BEHENATE/EICOSADIOATE・POLYGLYCERYL-10 DIISOSTEARATE・GLYCERYL BEHENATE/EICOSADIOATE・POLYGLYCERYL-2 ISOSTEARATE・SOLUBLE COLLAGEN・SODIUM HYALURONATE・CERAMIDE 3・PYRIDOXINE HCl・MAGNESIUM ASCORBYL PHOSPHATE・TOCOPHEROL・BIOTIN・GLUCOSYL HESPERIDIN・SERINE・STEARYL GLYCYRRHETINATE・LACTIC ACID・LIMNANTHES ALBA (MEADOWFOAM) SEED OIL・SILICA・PHYTOSTERYL/OCTYLDODECYL/LAUROYL GLUTAMATE・HYDROGENATED LECITHIN・ZINGIBER OFFICINALE (GINGER) ROOT EXTRACT・ACORUS CALAMUS ROOT EXTRACT・ANGELICA ACUTILOBA ROOT EXTRACT・VISNADINE・BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA BUTTER) EXTRACT・METHYL GLUCETH-10・BUTYLENE GLYCOL・ALCOHOL・PHENOXYETHANOL

Source : Bellabox , Cilabo

Review : Skin Food Black Sugar Wash Off Mask

Product Description
Enriched with minerals and vitamins, this face scrub effectively exfoliates dead skin and revitalize skin.

The sachet provided 3 usages and it has been a pleasant experience. Black in colour, the granules seemed rough but did not irritate my sensitive skin. It has a soft warm sensation with a thick glooey texture that matches a brown sugar scent.

 
Immediately after a good massage on the face, my skin turned soft and smooth. Pores on my nose are cleaner for up to 2 days before all the blackheads attack it again.

Where To Purchase : Stylekorean | Shopee

Review : Avalon Organics Lemon Bath and Shower Gel

Product Description
Rebalance and refresh. Nourishing botanicals and gentle cleansers purify and replenish the skin while the invigorating aroma of organically grown Lemon uplifts the mind and body.

Standards
• Certified by QAI to NSF/ANSI 305, the American National Standard for personal care products containing organic ingredients
• Contains 70% organic content
• No parabens, harsh preservatives, synthetic colors or fragrances, phthalates or harmful sulfates
• 100% vegetarian ingredients
• No animal testing

I bought this 355ml bottle when there was a promotion in our local Watsons. Two bottles for $18. Affordable for the masses. The flick-top cap is easy to handle and the gel texture oozes out from the gap opening easily.

Check out my previously reviewed lavender and rosemary shower gels.

In this bottle, the lemon scent is refreshing and uplifting, just subtle without being overpowering. The lathering is light with suds and there is no drying after-feel.

Where To Purchase : Amazon

Avalon Organics Lemon Bath and Shower Gel  

Ingredients :
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (1), Aqua (Water), Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Glyceryl Oleate, Sorbitol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract (1), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract (1), Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Extract (1), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract (1), Styrax Benzoin Resin Extract, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Bisabolol, Citric Acid, Decyl Glucoside, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Sodium Sulfate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Alcohol (1), Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citral, Limonene, Linalool
(1) Certified Organic Ingredient

OPI Reflecting Pool + Zoya Green

An old nail polish which I don't wear pretty often just because red tends to be matchy-matchy with my outfits most of the time. 

Presenting the OPI Reflecting Pool which is a gorgeous teal with gold shimmers in it. I didn't expect the colour to turn out to be so lovely on my nails. On its own, the texture is slightly runny and alittle sheer so 3 coats are what I preferred to reach the level of opacity I like. 

On another occasion, I applied Zoya Green ( I did not get the correct name, because I lost the label somehow ) first, before applying another coat of OPI Reflecting Pool and I was really impressed with how easy to get both colours up on my nails. 

Eliminating toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and DBP from its polishes, Zoya has quickly become one of the most popular 5-free nail polish brands out there. 

The one in green is my one and only Zoya nail polish and it was very very runny and sheer. It looks like I may need many coats before reaching the opacity I preferred, so in the end, I layered it with OPI Reflecting Pool which turned out to be a brilliant choice. 

In fact, despite being such a klutz in applying nail polish, it was so effortlessly easy to just apply 1 coat of each without much "overruns" around my nails.

Just can't stop admiring the colour on my nails....