Review : SKII Whitening Source Derm-Revival Mask

Product Description
Infused with Pitera™, a Vitamin C derivative and Niacinamide, this stretchable, wonderfully luxurious face mask perfectly fits the contours of your face to effectively deliver a concentrated amount of brightening ingredients deep within your skin*. Each mask drenches your skin with the same amount of serum as one full bottle of Whitening Power Spots Specialist.
Your skin is immersed with moisture, appearance of spots and other imperfections are visibly diminished.
 *epidermis layer only.

The SKII Aura Whitening Kit EX contains a sheet of the SKII Whitening Source Derm-Revival Mask where I actually look forward to using it. A box of SKII masks is just too expensive for my budget so using them from the kit is just what I need.
It comes in a shiny silver packaging and the mask is folded when you pulled it out.

Formulated without sulfates and GMOs, the luxurious mask is made up of a soft and thick cloth and generously soaked in a rich gel serum ( with a slight alcohol scent ) which is supposed to help to brighten, moisturize and refines skin to reduce age spots and other imperfections.

It combines hydrators with Pitera, a vitamin C derivative, vitamin B3, and glycerin to intensively moisturize while accelerating gentle exfoliation of dull cells from the surface of the skin, working to balance the color and tone.

The cutting of the mask is just right for my face shape, but with slightly smaller cutouts for the lips and eyes. There is a pair of flaps for the eyes which is a bonus treat. The mask adheres well and is comfortable on the skin.

While the dullness on the skin is not immediately clarified and my undereye area actually looks darker than before the treatment, the effect only takes place a couple of hours later, leaving in its place, a glow-within with a soft and moist look. The undereye darkness cleared up thereafter, but the improvement on the area is not significant than before the treatment.

Due to the price, SKII Whitening Source Derm-Revival Mask may not be appropriate for daily usage but more for important events, but if your budget allows, you are free to do so. For my skin type, it works well on my face but not for the eyes.

Ingredients :
Aqua (Water), Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate**, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Inositol, Sodium Hydroxide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hexapeptide-11, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Edta, Yeast Extract  **Pitera

Review : SKII Cellumination Essence EX

Product Description
An essence that helps to even out skin texture and reactivates dull skin to glow from within. With SK-II’s exclusive Aura Bright Cocktail EX, a combination of Pitera® and Pixel White™.

A friend has helped me to get the SKII Aura Whitening Kit EX for $100, instead of the usual $199, so it was a good chance for me to try out their SKII Cellumination Essence EX.

In the kit, it contains Facial Treatment Essence 30ml, SKII Cellumination Essence EX 30ml and Whitening Source Derm-Revival Mask 1 piece.

 

SK-II Cellumination Essence is said to improve skin tone and skin texture for healthy and brighter skin care results. It contains SK-II exclusive ingredient De-Melano P3C to improve dull and yellowish skin tone, hydrate and refine skin's surface in order to boost up the natural and healthy-looking glow from inside out. It also helps to firm and diminish the appearance of discoloration for youthful appearance.

I have tried the Facial Treatment Essence many years ago but just isn't too overly impressed with its performance. With this kit, I paired up the Facial Treatment Essence and SKII Cellumination Essence EX with Biotherm 48h Replenishing Gel, to give me the much needed hydration.

I have been using both products every morning and a Vitamin C serum in the night for close to 1.5 months. The facial treatment prep the skin for the cellumination essence to work more effectively.
Usually, I pour the facial essence into my cupped palms and pat all over the skin, waited for a few minutes before cellumination essence application.

The facial treatment essence seems to hydrate the skin yet it doesn't penetrate deeply. The hydration is insufficient for my skin type.

The Cellumination Essence is stored in a bottle with a dropper dispenser that dispenses the milky essence with 2 to 3 drops, for my whole face. After it gets absorbed into the skin, it left a powdery feel on it.

However, both products failed to hydrate my skin and I experience flakiness, with a normal moisturizer and without any moisturisers. In the end, Biotherm hydrating moisturizer works well with it, providing the last step of hydration after the whitening benefits.

Somehow, the powdery feel disappears when I don't pair it with the Facial Treatment Essence. The texture of SKII Cellumination Essence EX is like a thicker milky essence when I paired it with Orbis Lotion M instead of the SKII Facial Treatment Essence.

I see results - radiant skin with a soft focus to my skin. Skin looks smoother and more even-toned. The slight pigmentation on my skin seems to lighten slightly and my skin just looks clearer and "cleaner".

But after using for more than 3 months, I no longer can see the radiance on my skin. Could it be that my skin had grown accustomed to the product that its no longer that effective?

Avalon Organics CoQ10 Repair Ultimate Firming Body Lotion

Product Description
Aging skin, with diminished cellular energy, takes longer to regenerate which is why cuts and bruises are slower to heal later in life. To help skin maintain a tight, firm appearance year after year, this moisturizing body lotion helps supply the energy necessary for ample production and repair of elastin and collagen. When the skin’s underlying structure is supported and skin is infused with rich botanical hydration, it feels firm, supple and soft to the touch.

I picked up Avalon Organics CoQ10 Repair Ultimate Firming Body Lotion from Iherb for US$13.85 back in September. I try using it consistently, mainly on weekday nights and weekend morning or on my exercise days.

The bottle which I purchased has a flick-top cap ( not a pump as shown in the picture above ) with a tiny opening to dispense the contents where it flows easily once I turned the bottle upside-down.

I like the smooth texture that glides on the skin easily but it does take some time for it to be absorbed into the skin which left a smooth layer in its place thereafter.

 
It moisturizes the skin but it does not make a tight and firm appearance on my back thighs which I have been applying religiously. That said, I shouldn't 

This product scored 4.3 from 23 users on Makeupalley.

Ingredients :
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (1), Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil (1), Glyceryl Stearate SE, Stearic Acid, Arnica Montana Flower Extract (1), Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (1), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract (1), Chlorella Pyrenoidosa Extract (1), Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract(1), Echinacea Angustifolia Extract (1), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract (1), Leucojum Aestivum Bulb Extract, Spirulina Maxima Extract (1), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) (1), Borago Officinalis Seed Oil (1), Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil (1), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil (1), Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil (1), Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil (1), Rosa Canina Fruit Oil (1), Bisabolol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Potassium Hydroxide, Ribose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ubiquinone (2), Xanthan Gum, Alcohol (1), Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Beta-Pinene, Linalyl Acetate, Linalool

(1) Certified Organic Ingredient
(2) CoQ10

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

Review : Dr. Morita Repair Essence Eye Mask

Dr. Morita Repair Essence Eye Mask (organic-snail/escargot extraction) - for healing dark circle eyes, the best anti aging skin care products contain no harmful or toxic ingredients and are able to penetrate skin pores, reaching and nourising cells forming in the layers beneath. Provides moisturizing, firming, anti-bacteria, anti-inflammation, prevent dehydration, repairing dark circles

Dr. Morita Repair Essence Eye Mask pack contains 8 individual sheets in a box, each pair is shaped like a cresent moon and covers right up to the crow feet area. The eye mask sheets are soaked with essence and provides a comfortable and refreshing feel on the undereye area.

I feel that it works more effectively in the day, than in the night, providing temporary relief to tired eyes and giving the illusion of brighter eye area which is evident when I don on contact lens after the eye mask application.

I have seen an improvement when I am diligent with my eye mask application and when I am not. My eye area just looks less tired, compared to when I do without eye masks for several weeks.

Apivita Express Gold Firming and Regenerating Mask with Royal Jelly

Product Description

• Royal jelly supports cell regeneration, enhances elasticity and leaves skin rejuvenated and radiant
• Honey, wheat proteins, and neroli essential oil work together to revitalize skin leaving it smooth and supple

Exclusive innovation: APIVITA replaces water in the express gold line with green tea infusion to enhance the antioxidant action.
Excludes synthetic ingredients that may pose harmful effects to your health and the environment.
Free of: Parabens, Silicones and Propylene Glycol

As the last mask in my Greece haul, these 2 sachets of Express Gold Firming and Regenerating Mask with Royal Jelly provided me with about 4 to 5 usages. They are travel-friendly and would be good to carry around during your vacations.

Made of 90% natural ingredients, it has a lotion texture that is runny in nature with a strong but not overpowering scent that is a mixture of royal jelly and shea butter.

The mask application is like applying a light lotion all over the skin that may give you the impression that the contents can drip down anytime, making a mess, yet it doesn't.
However, I am surprised that the mask gives a warm sensation and may even sting at times, immediately after application. Although my skin didn't turn red or itchy but I do not really like such tingly sensation.

Despite its claims, the mask hardly hydrates or made my skin feels better, in fact, the performance is hardly impressive. A medicore performing mask on my skin.

Ingredients :

Aqua** (Water**), Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Aqua (Water), PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Sorbitol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Royal Jelly, Mel (Honey), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Mel* (Honey*) Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Phospholipids, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Sodium Phytate, Lecithin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf*, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Oil*, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum (Fragrance), Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Citronellol, Hydroxycitronellal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene, Geraniol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Benzoate.

** Camelia Sinensis* Leaf Aqueous Infusion = Green tea water
* Certified organic cultivation

Source : Apivita

Desert Essence Organics Italian Red Grape Shampoo & Conditioner

Shampoo Product Description
Extracted from red grapes native to Italy, Organic Grape Extract, Resveratrol, and Red Wine Extract provide high levels of antioxidants that act as UV filters to aid in correcting damage. Sugar and Coconut Oil cleansers effectively and gently remove everyday pollutants from hair. Organic Kelp and Nettle Extracts provide iron, calcium, potassium, and other vitamins and minerals that absorb into and help strengthen each hair strand. Certified to NSF Organic Standard.

Benefits :
• Protects both color and non-color treated hair from harmful sun damage
• Helps strengthen hair
• Repairs damage from environmental stressors

Conditioner Product Description
Grape Seed Extract and Resveratrol from red grapes native to Italy provide high levels of antioxidants that act as UV filters to aid in correcting environmental damage. Organic Red Grape Conditioner quickly absorbs into hair and leaves it moisturized, while Vitamin B5 works on damage that has occurred inside the structure of the hair.

Benefits :
• Protects hair from sun damage
• Moisturizes hair, leaving it smooth and silky
• Repairs damage

Desert Essence Organics Italian Red Grape Shampoo and Conditioner were something I gotten from my last Iherb haul, at the thought of colouring my hair. After using Loreal Elseve colored shampoo and conditioner with my last colouring job, I believe such hair products really do helps to maintain the colour longer, than the usual 1 month time frame.

I have to give the thumbs up to the scent "red grapes" which reminds me of the grape bubblegum. Both the shampoo and conditioner are just so wonderfully scented, but it doesn't linger long on the hair though.

Both are housed in tube form, but the shampoo hardly oozes out from its tube, you just have to keep depressing on the tube to get the contents out slowly. The conditioner has no problem with its tube, probably due to its creamy and smooth texture.

The shampoo lathers pretty well, giving rise to foam but it is slightly drying, leaving my hair straw-like and a tangled mess in wet condition. When the hair is air-dry, the hair still feels dry. The conditioner, with its creamy, smooth and thick texture is highly recommended, because it detangles and totally softened the locks to a silky smooth state, when its wet. Once the hair is air-dry, the hair feels soft.

With the usage of both products, hair feels clean, less frizzy and shinier. The products do not weigh the hair down but helps to make it voluminous. However. unfortunately, it does not help to retain the colour. There is no difference with or without using the coloured shampoo and conditioner.
Greys started showing after 3 weeks which is pretty short, I was expecting it to show up after more than a month. Perhaps, my colouring is of a natural origin, or that my hair just grows well much faster than the rest.

The shampoo scored 3.6 from 38 users on Makeupalley while the conditioner scored 3.4 from 32 users. Quote OKI787 from Iherb to get up to US$10 off your first purchase!

Shampoo Ingredients :
Aloe barbadensis leaf juice*, vitis vinifera (grape) leaf extract*, coco-glucoside (coconut/sugar), sodium coco-sulfate (coconut), lauryl glucoside (coconut/ sugar), decyl glucoside (coconut/sugar), leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, sodium chloride, glycerin (palm)*, natural fragrance/flavor (parfum/aroma), resveratrol (grapes), panthenol (pro-vitamin b-5), lepidium meyenii root extract (maca root)*, yucca brevifolia root extract (yucca cactus)*, symphytum officinale leaf extract (comfrey)*, urtica dioica (nettle) leaf extract*, macrocystis pyrifera extract (sea kelp)*, salix alba (willow) bark extract*, citric acid, potassium sorbate
* Certified organic
100% vegan, wheat and gluten free
No: Parabens, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates, phthalates, artificial fragrances or colors, silicones, EDTA, glycol, or petroleum based ingredients.
Cruelty free and biodegradable: No animal testing of raw material or finished product. No phosphates.

Conditioner Ingredients :
Aloe barbadensis leaf juice*, vitis vinifera (grape) seed extract*, cetearyl alcohol, behentrimonium chloride, glycerin (palm), leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, hydrolyzed jojoba esters, jojoba esters, natural fragrance/flavor (parfum/aroma), resveratrol (grapes), panthenol (pro-vitamin B-5), butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter*, lepidium meyenii root extract (maca root)*, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil*, yucca brevifolia root extract (yucca cactus)*, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, symphytum officinale leaf extract (comfrey)*, urtica dioica (nettle) extract*, macrocystis pyrifera extract (sea kelp)*, salix alba (willow) bark extract*, potassium sorbate, citric acid, water (aqua)
*Certified Organic
No: Parabens, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates, phthalates, artificial fragrances or colors, silicones, EDTA, glycol or petroleum based ingredients.
Cruelty Free and Biodegradable: No animal testing of raw materials or finished product. No phosphates.

Source : DesertEssence , DE2

My Scheming Crystal Wrinkle Treatment Eye Mask

Product Description
My Scheming Crystal Wrinkle Treatment Eye Mask contains chitosan, peptides, collagen to diminish the appearance of wrinkles, allowing the skin around eye area to be smoother and more delicate. It smooths wrinkles, prevents dry skin, brightens dull skin around eyes, as well as regenerates and activates skin. It leaves skin around eyes soft, watery, fair, luminous and firm.      

Another eye mask sheet from the dear friend, this is more than 9 months away from the expiry date but the essence in the plastic tray from the packaging is almost dried up.
The material is jelly-like and adheres well on the undereye area but because it is not that soaking wet, it left some lines on the skin after removing the eye mask. It does provides a cooling sensation and that's all.

Check out My Scheming Crystal Wrinkle Treatment Eye Mask on Amazon

Source : Yesstyle

Review : My Scheming Crystal Hydrating Eye Mask

Product Description
My Scheming Crystal Hydrating Eye Mask contains Deep Sea Seaweed Bolivian Uric Acid which adds moisture to your eyes, leaving your eyes hydrated all day long. It also allows easy absorption of essence, restores the skin around your eye contour to its oil-water balance level, improves skin elasticity in the under eye area.

4 years ago, I had tried it once. 4 years later, a dear friend got it for me and seeing that the ingredients were slightly different, I took a gamble to try it out.

My Scheming Crystal Hydrating Eye Mask has a pair of jelly-like cresent-shaped eye masks stored in a clear plastic tray. However, one of them was already torn when I pulled the tray out. And there was no more essence in them, almost abit dry, even though it is still more than 4 months away from the expiry date.

With the eye mask being slightly dry, this may not be a good gauge to assess the effectiveness of the eye mask but I don't think the result differs much between the years. Still not impressed.

Source : Imomoko

Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Curl Envy Perfect Curl Cream

Product Description
Perfect for coarse, frizzy hair. Whether your curls are big or small, thick or fine, tightly wound or loosely held, Perfect Curl Cream has it under control; smoothing, softening and controlling strongwilled curls. Formulated with Shea Butter, Avocado Oil and Provitamin B5, it offers dry, coarse hair intensely rich, all-day moisture plus high definition and frizz control. It controls even the most unruly, frizzy hair, yet lets your natural curls run free.

I was looking around for hair products that can help to define the curls and chanced upon this in Watsons. I have heard of it but never get the chance to try it, until I permed my hair recently. Known as the celebrity favourite, I just want to try Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Curl Envy Perfect Curl Cream to see if it is as awesome as it made it out to be.

Formulated with natural Soya Bean, and Avocado Oil, it is supposed to help highlight curls while eliminating frizz. Made in Canada, the product is alcohol-free, paraben-free and has no animal testing.

Housed in a tube, the contents are easily dispensed with some light depression on it. However, the contents are slightly greasy with some silicon-feel and can be slippery when you want to hold the tube to dispense the contents the second time.

I usually apply the white cream on the bottom half ofmy towel-dried hair where the curls are, scrunch it throughout and then twist my hair.
There is no stiff or sticky hold yet made the hair look glossy and soft. However the curls are only pretty defined if you use a generous amount of the cream. It also helps to keep the frizziness at bay, though I don't have much frizziness at this point.

The product scored 3.7 on Makeupalley from 15 users.

Buy Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Curl Envy Perfect Curl Cream from Amazon

Source : Marc Anthony

Review : My Scheming Herbal Anti-Acne Mask

Product Description
My Scheming Herbal Anti-Acne Mask is perfect for oily skin since its orris and green tea extracts can support the balance of oil and hydration level of the skin. This mask also contains other natural herbal extracts to make your skin healthy, clean and soft.

A dear friend has purchased a piece of this mask, together with other facial sheet masks for me from Johor Bahru. I save this mask for the right condition before using it.

My skin tends to get oily and pimple-prone when my menses is just round the corner so I whipped out this sheet mask for a facial mask treat.
The sheet mask is wrapped with a protective layer and has a subtle green tea scent. The cut-outs are pretty small and fits very closely to my lips while it has a slightly larger flap near the nostrils. The material is smooth and adheres comfortably on the skin.

However, because it is only one sheet, the effect is hardly spectacular, in fact I didn't see any improvement before and after the facial mask treatment.


Ingredients
Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Zinc Sulfate, Hydroxyethyl Chitosan, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Algae Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Sulfur, Hydroxyethyl Sorbitol, Sodium Salicylate, Propylene Glycol, Ceteth-20, Linoleic Acid, Ceteth-6, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhetinate, Sodium Pca, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Acacia Catechu Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Glycerin, Methylparaben, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Methylisothiazolinone, Water

Source : My Scheming Herbal Anti-Acne Mask

Review : EO Revitalizing Shower Gel Grapefruit & Mint

Product Description
EO Grapefruit and Mint Shower Gel gently cleanses with pure Essential Oils and organic herbal blends to soothe and nourish skin. Our richly foaming Coconut Oil Cleansing Complex gently cleanses without drying.

• Cold-pressed Grapefruit and Peppermint Essential Oils tone and refresh.
• EO Regenerating Complex utilizes channels key Extract Components found in Iris Rhizome, Papaya and Centella Leaf extracts; together these key actives promote skin renewal and health.
• Vegetable Glycerin, a natural humectant, attracts moisture to skin to maintain optimal hydration balance.
• Allantoin, from the comfrey plant, is renowned for its ability to soothe, support and revitalize skin.
• Plant Panthenol (Vitamin B) is naturally hydrating and easily absorbed, smoothing skin surface.
• Organic Calendula, Chamomile and White Tea botanicals harmonize and replenish skin.
• Rich Rice Proteins deeply penetrate to support skin.

EO, which stands for essential oils has lovely products and I always enjoyed using their shower gel. I picked a new scent - Grapefruit and Mint to try it out this round.

The scent is not off-putting but just kind of odd. A fresh grapefruit scent with a hint of mint. I didn't like it too much initially but has now grown accustomed to it. It is not unbearable but just an acquired preference.

The gel foams pretty well, giving rise to lots of lathering during the shower. The pump dispenser works well and has not malfunctioned so far.

EO Revitalizing Shower Gel Grapefruit and Mint costs US$8.72 on Iherb. Use my code OKI787 to get up to US$10 for your first purchase.

Ingredients :
Purified water, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, sodium coco-sulfate, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, vegetable glycerin, regenerating complex [centella asiatica extract, carica papaya (papaya) fruit extract and iris florentina root extract], caprylyl/capryl glucoside, panthenol, allantoin, EO organic herbal blend [organic aloe barbadensis leaf, organic chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract, organic calendula officinalis flower extract, and organic camellia sinensis leaf extract], EO essential oil blend [citrus grandis (grapefruit) peel oil, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel oil, mentha piperita (peppermint) oil], hydrolyzed rice protein, citric acid, sodium phytate, phenoxyethanol, benzyl alcohol, potassium sorbate, tocopherol.

• Paraben Free
• Polysorbate Free
• Disodium EDTA Free
• Sodium Laureth/Lauryl Sulfate Free