Review : SKII Skin Signature 3D Refining Mask

Product Description

This 3D stretch mask is drenched with a potent cocktail of Pitera™, Oli-Vityl™, Signaline and Niacinamide to noticeably firm and contour areas that are most prone to sagging.
It firms the forehead, sides of your nose and cheekbones and the skin around the jawline and corners of the mouth– to give you a strikingly, more contoured facial profile.
The innovative 3D stretch design has been specially created to seamlessly fit the face with an immediate appearance-lifting effect.

As I always mention, I like to reserve special masks for events and SKII Skin Signature 3D Refining Mask from my recent SKII Stempower Essence Kit purchase comes in handy for a recent wedding dinner. 

In the red sachet, it contains a 2 piece 3D stretch design sheet mask where one is for the upper part of the face and the other piece is for the lower part of the face. This 3D mask adheres pretty well, with the cut-outs cut pretty close to the eyes ( covering right up to the eye bags area - a bonus treat! ), a slight slit for the nostrils and a tiny opening for the lips.

I love how the material of the sheet mask is thick and sturdy but soft enough to fit the contour of the skin like a glove yet still feels comfortable. There is no dripping mess and the sheet mask does not slip. Perfect for those who like to move around. However, with this luxurious mask, I still prefer to lie in bed for it to work its magic on my skin. It was meant to be a treat, after all, so why move around? Slow down your steps and take a breather. We need it in this stressful life.

When I first remove the mask, I did not go WOW. My skin looks fresh and clean but not the immediate radiance I was expecting to see. However, after 20 minutes, my skin appears softer and smoother. There seems to be an overall subtle lifted effect but masks are only temporary measures. It is what you do to your skin every day that matters.

Ingredients : 
Water, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Isopropyl Isostearate, Isohexadecane, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Polysorbate 20, Benzyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Methylparaben, PVP, Disodium EDTA, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Sodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Fragrance, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Extract, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate.

Beijing/Tianjin/Chengde Trip & Haul

I visited Beijing/Tianjin/Chengde during Christmas eve right to the last day of 2015 with my family. My first and only trip in 2015. Surprisingly, I actually quite enjoyed the trip, despite the harsh winter weather and air pollution. And thankfully, I also did not experience any cold or cough before, during and after the trip which could be due to the 1000mg Vitamin C Tablets which I pop in, every alternate day. ( Quote OKI787 to get US$5 off your first order! )

The air pollution does seem bad enough, every morning but is hardly present at the places of interest we have been to. Food is relatively good and the people in the tour group are all nice and friendly. Even those sharing the same table as us, were friendly and approachable.

The largest tour group ever, at 49 pax, with 8 children. Everyone was prepared for the weather, all huddled up in layers of clothing. Unfortunately, we did not get to shop much as their local tour leader will try to sell foodstuff in the coach, or bring us to designated grocery store.

We visited Tiananmen Square, Imperial Palace, Great Wall of China and Summer Palace in Beijing, followed by Imperial Summer Resort in Chengde. Some shots on the Imperial Summer Resort as below.

 

Known as the shortest river in the world, this 热河 ( last picture ) has an average temperature of 8 degree celcius and does not freeze even in winter. 

My skin has behaved moderately well, but peel slightly on the last 2 days, especially around the nostrils, where the cold air hits every time we are out.
I brought along my regular HABA cleanser, my trustworthy Biotherm essence and moisturiser and 2 hydrating facial masks ( Dr.GL and Its Skin ) along. I don't really worry much about my face, but more on my hands because I have yet to find one nourishing hand cream that truly moisturises and works well in extreme weather condition. Needless to say, my finger pads peel which continue for a week after I came back to Singapore.

Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalizing Mask $63 with free sample ( purchased on SQ flight )
Haircare and Eye Mask purchased in their local Watsons

Review : Bach Flower Remedies Rescue Cream

Product Description

Rescue Cream is an intensive moisturizer designed to soothe dry, irritated, or damaged skin caused by the stresses and strains of everyday life. As a well-known indicator of how the body feels inside, our skin is often the first place where you see the effects of a demanding, busy life. This can lead to dry, rough, uneven, dull looking skin. Rescue Cream helps promote healing of irritated or damaged skin. A combination of six of the Bach Original Flower Remedies, Rescue Cream is a soothing cream that can be applied to hands, body or face. Safe for use on rough, chapped or damaged skin. Rescue Cream is non-greasy, fragrance-free, paraben-free, lanolin-free, and not tested on animals.

I am always on the lookout for some type of all-in-one healing cream - for itchiness, for bites, for eczema ( if possible ), heals damaged skin, soothe dry skin, etc. A brand that I like has been discontinued so I have been on the lookout on Iherb when I chanced upon this, with pretty good reviews. 

Bach Flower Remedies Rescue Cream is white in colour and light in texture. It is soft and applies well on skin. I have used it on itchy mosquito bites but it works to soothe the itch only at times and not every time. I have also used it on eczema itch but it made the itch worse. In fact, I over-apply when the eczema itch got too bad ( I apply and re-apply on the affected area several times during one night ) and I seem to get some giddiness on the left side of my head. That got me panicky and I stopped using it for several weeks. The giddiness gradually disappeared but it took a long while. 

Potential side-effects can be found here while the good stories can be found here.
Poisoning symptoms from the use of Clematis vitalba HPUS include dizziness, confusion, possible fainting and convulsions which vaguely seems like mine. Oops. Read more from here.

You can get Bach Flower Remedies Rescue Cream at S$13.54 from Iherb. Free products for first time customers can be found here. Save $5 with my code OKI787 which is only valid for first time customers. 

Active Ingredients: 5x of combined clematis vitalba HPUS, helianthemum nummularium HPUS, impatiens glandulifera HPUS, malus pumila HPUS, ornithogalum umbellatum HPUS, prunus cerasifera HPUS.

Inactive Ingredients: Beeswax, caprylic/capric triglyceride, caprylyl glycol, cetearyl alcohol, cetyl palmitate, citric acid, glycerin, glyceryl stearate citrate, isopropyl palmitate, potassium sorbate, purified water, shea butter, xanthan gum.

Source : Iherb

Review : EO Time Out Shower Gel - Coconut & Vanilla

Product Description
Wash and glow. A quench of cleansing lather will leave your skin smooth, fresh and happy. Made with a precise blend of essential oils and natural ingredients to refresh both body and senses.

Made in a certified organic facility, EO range of products use plant based ingredients and contain pure essential oils. They do not contain synthetic fragrances, artificial colors and dyes, parabens or phthalates and sodium lauryl /laureth sulfate.

I am a fan of EO products because they smells absolutely divine and contain skin-friendly ingredients. EO Time Out Shower Gel with its Coconut and Vanilla scents has a slight hint of coconut with the intoxicating scent of vanilla. Slight lathering gives rise to suds which are just right for me.

No greasiness or stickiness. Just the way I like it. Feels good. Smells nice. Skin is pampered and moisturised with no drying after-feel.

You can shop Iherb with its full range of products at affordable prices. Get US$5 off with your first order with the code OKI787.

Ingredients :
Purified water, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, sodium coco-sulfate, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, vegetable glycerin, caprylyl/capryl glucoside, replenishing complex [carica papaya (papaya) extract, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed extract, mangifera indica (mango) fruit extract], panthenol, allantoin, EO organic herbal blend [organic aloe barbadensis leaf, organic chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract, organic calendula officinalis flower extract, organic camellia sinensis leaf extract], EO essential oil blend [citrus grandis (grapefruit) peel oil, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel oil, citrus medica limonum (lemon) peel oil, citrus tangerina (tangerine) peel oil], vanilla planifolia seed powder, organic cocos nucifera (coconut) flavor extract, hydrolyzed rice protein, citric acid, sodium phytate, phenoxyethanol, benzyl alcohol, potassium sorbate, tocopherol.

Source : Iherb

Review : Laneige Rich Hand Butter

Product Description
Wrinkle improvement hand cream in a highly moisturizing butter type that provides the rich nourishment of plant-derived Babassu Butter and shea butter to hand skin

I received the Laneige Holiday Hand Care Gift Set $29 as a Christmas gift from a good friend in 2014. It contained a limited edition hand cream duo - hand lotion and hand butter, however, in this review, I will just discuss on the hand butter. 

The packaging is pretty lovely and makes it an ideal Christmas gift for your girlfriends. Christmas is always my favourite holiday of the year because I like shopping for gifts and getting pressies from close friends. It is always a joy to receive surprise gifts. 

Most hand creams in the market contain Shea Butter for its nourishing properties but somehow it never really work for me. The texture is always slightly sticky and hydration is insufficient for my dry hands. 

Laneige Rich Hand Butter has a light floral scent that lingers for awhile even after application. The buttery and creamy texture requires some massaging before it gets absorbed into skin. 

I brought it along for my Hunan/Chong Qing trip last year for the winter weather and I just keep re-applying it. It didn't hydrate my dry hands sufficiently which got even worse during the winter weather. When I came back to Singapore, the skin on all my fingers were peeling badly and thankfully, healed by itself after oil and lotion application at home. 

Source : Iope

DIY : Green Cleaning Products

Homemade Fabric Softener

Ingredients: 2 cups of vinegar, 10 drops of essential lavender oil

Directions: Mix the ingredients in an old fabric softener bottle. Make sure you give the bottle a good shake prior to each laundry load.

All-Purpose Cleaner

Ingredients: 1 cup distilled water, 1 tbsp lemon castile soap, 10 drops lemon essential oil

Directions: Place the castile soap and essential oil in a spray bottle. Add distilled water and mix well. Did you know that both castile soap and essential oils have disinfecting qualities? This natural, all-purpose cleaner not only smells amazing, but cleans any surface well!

Wood Polisher

Ingredients: 1/2 cup lemon juice, 1 tsp castile soap, 4 drops essential oil

Directions: Mix lemon juice, castile soap and essential oil in a glass jar. This natural wood polisher consists of similar ingredients to the all-purpose cleaner and it smells as good as it cleans! Don’t forget to pop it in the fridge in-between uses as this is an all-natural product. Remember to shake the glass jar before using!

Kitchen and Bathroom Cleaner

Ingredients: Half distilled water, half vinegar, few drops of your favourite essential oil

Directions: Mix distilled water, vinegar and essential oil in a spray bottle. It is strongly advised to keep a bottle of this under your sink as vinegar is considered a natural disinfectant. The essential oil works wonders to musk the smell of the pungent vinegar odour.

Toilet Cleaner

Ingredients: Baking soda, vinegar, distilled water

Directions: Mix vinegar and distilled water in a spray bottle. To use, simply sprinkle baking soda into the toilet bowl accompanied by a few sprays of your water/vinegar mixture. For the best effect, remember to scrub it clean with a toilet brush after!

Source : Saferskin

Review : Innisfree Black Purifying Mask

Product Description
This whitening functional mask helps to create translucent and vibrant complexion with its synergy effect of charcoal contained black sheet mask and black food complex

Key Ingredients :
Niacinamide, black bean extract, acai berry extract, black garlic extract, black berry extract, black sesame extract, blueberry extract 

A dear friend has helped to get 3 sheets of the Innisfree Black Purifying Mask some time back and I used it recently, when my skin is looking dull.
As the name implies, it is black in colour which actually looks pretty cute on the face.

Innisfree Black Purifying Mask has a netted mesh-like protective layer around it, when I pulled it out of its packaging. The material of the mask is thin and wet with bubbles of its essence on it.

The initial thoughts of charcoal being drying is out of my mind after a 20 minutes treatment as it provides a most comforting sensation during layering and made my skin feels smoother and slightly brighter thereafter.

Source : Amazon

Review : Its Skin Butterfly Eye Mask

Product Description
A moisturizing, brightening and soothing treatment that leaves the eye area looking and feeling refreshed. Formulated with broccoli, plant collagen and vitamin C extracts, this hydrogel sheet mask can be applied to clean skin for 20 minutes at a time.

Key Ingredients :
Broccoli extract, Niacinamide, phyto collagen extract, vitamin C derivatives, flower extracts ( lily, daisy, freesia, dicentra spectabilis, edelweiss )

A dear friend has given me a sheet of Its Skin Butterfly Eye Mask as a souvenir which I only get to use it recently. The material is very thin hence it gets tangled up easily when I tried to layer on my eye area. It tends to get messy and cumbersome.

There are 2 eye flaps on the butterfly shaped eye mask which covers the whole eye area and while the eye flap can be opened or closed but due to the thin material, it flaps down more easily than being forced to open up.

Soothing and cooling, it provides a refreshing sensation as per all other eye mask. It is said to smooth the skin and improves hydration, firmness and skin radiance, however, I didn't see any spectacular effect, after a 20 minute treatment.

Source : Its Skin, Koreadepart, urbanoutfitters

Lancome Blush Subtil Rose in #10

Product Description
Lancome Blush Subtil Rose is a soft shimmering powder that creates a healthy glow for any skin tone. The blush can be worn lightly for a natural look or can be built up for a more dramatic look. It has been designed to be worn alone or layered together to bring a natural warmth to the face.

I hardly ever splurge on high-end make-up as my priority is still on good skincare products. So imagine my delight when I received Lancome Blush Subtil Rose in #10 as part of the product in my Lancome Christmas make-up set sometime back. 

Other blushes I owned pale in comparison after I started using this and it has become my favourite blusher to date. My nightmare came true when I dropped the blusher. I love it to bits and it has indeed become bits. Utterly heart-broken. 

I have read about how some tried to get the pieces back, by using rubbing alcohol but I didn't want to take that chance so I have been using the remnants until it broke again recently, while in my luggage. And this time, Lancome Blush Subtil Rose in #10 really have to go. 

The powder is so fine and so soft. The brush bristles are not scratchy and I used it for the blusher. A perfect travel companion because of its portable size and brush included. Convenient for touch-ups as well. 

Made in Japan, Lancome Blush Subtil Rose imparts a soft glow to the skin, with its subtle shimmers that looks perfectly natural. The illumination has a lit-within look that is highly sought-after. 

I don't use the 4 shades separately but twirl around them before using it on my cheeks and it works perfectly fine!

It retails for $60 which is totally out of my budget for a blusher. But still love! love! love! I don't think this shade is still in production but it has certainly given me a fresh perspective on Lancome blushers now.