Review : Shophouse SixtyFive Fort Canning Lip Balm

Product Description
For Canning was once a british fort, now a wonderfully dark garden, tragically beautiful at night. We thought the place suited the flavour of dark vanilla. we used 100% pure Madagascan Vanilla absolute for this, so don't expect a bakery type of vanilla. This one is rather special but subtle. A true soothing vanilla, that is sure to soothe your lips.
Our lipbalms are made with natural beeswax and an assortment of skin loving oils.

I always have a soft spot for local crafted goods and Shophouse SixtyFive caught my eye with its fancy sounding Singapore names. Personally, I thought the lipbalms were alittle pricey, compared to the wide array of lipbalms out there. But I managed to order 2 lipbalms when I chanced upon a promotion several months ago.

Review : Tony Moly Ferment Snail Cream

Product Description
Ferment snail cream with gold green tea for moisturising and elasticity purposes. Tony Moly Ferment Snail Cream helps to improve skin condition, boost skin radiance, tone and elasticity.

I received 2 complimentary sachets of the Tony Moly Ferment Snail Cream from my last TesterKorea purchase some time back. The 2 sachets allowed 4 days of usages as part of my daycare regime.

Review : Skin Food Watery Berry Emulsion

Product Description
Skin Food Watery Berry Emulsion contains 3 berry extracts, Lingon Berry, Artic Berry and Cloud Berry to provide anti-oxidant benefits as well as Hylauronic Acid to hydrate the skin

I received 2 complimentary Skin Food Watery Berry Emulsion sachets from my last TesterKorea purchase, which has provided me 4 days of usages in the morning.

Contrary to the name, Skin Food Watery Berry Emulsion is actually light and runny, with a lotion-like texture instead of a watery texture. It has a heavy scent and the emulsion is absorbed into the skin pretty quickly on its own.

Quick Review : Madara Time Miracle Day Advanced Anti-Aging Day Cream

Product Description
Stimulate the production of youth proteins, prevents environmental stress damage and aids in repairing the skin’s DNA. The outcome is that wrinkles and lines look smoother, the skin is suppler and reveals a more youthful appearance. 
CONTAINS:Enriched with birch juice and sea-buckthorn extract.

Natural and organic Cosmetic certified by ECOCERT Greenlife, Madara Time Miracle Day Advanced Anti-Aging Day Cream is made in Latvia and is said to reverse the effects of time and regain skin's youthful appearance.

Their anti-aging complex, G7 ( incorporated in the day cream ) contains Madara plant ( Galium Verum ), a strong anti-oxidant and other collagen rebuilding and skin repairing Northern plants - Hop, Red Clover, Sea Buckthorn, Lady's Mantle and Field Horsetail. ( Do note the spelling error on the product, written as Red Clower, instead of Red Clover. I wonder why there is no attempt to correct it? )

Luxasia Beauty Bazaar Sale 2016

Personally, I think this is a must visit for all beautyholics. Have fun with all the affordable buys luring the money in your wallet.
Tip 1 : Bring a small bag as they will "cable-tie" all your bags and it will not easy lugging a heavy bag on your wrist while you "test-drive" make-up or jostle with others.
Tip 2 : Even though the space is spacious but it is still hot. Suggest to wear clothes with cooler material.

• Venue: 12 Tai Seng Street, Luxasia Building
• Time: 10am – 9pm (6pm on Saturday)
• Date: 19 – 20 Aug

Review : Cremorlab White Bloom Triple Bright Floral Mask

Product Description
Cremorlab's bright floral mask consists of white lily extracts to brighten and soften skin. The sheet is made of 100% organic cotton and comes submerged in thermal water blended with brightening and hydrating ingredients. The mask seals in moisture and nourishing ingredients as your skin absorbs the blend of flower and fruit extracts, leaving your skin radiant and restored. A favorite of sheet mask enthusiasts. 

(1) Citrus, berry and floral extracts nourish skin with vitamins for a smoother complexion
(2) Asian Tiger Lily extract helps to brighten otherwise dull or hyperpigmented skin
(3) 100% cotton material is non-irritating to even the most sensitive skin types

A good friend has gotten some facial masks for me, after her pre-wedding shoot in Taiwan last month. At first glance, I thought this was a Made In Taiwan mask as I usually associate Korean masks to be colourful or with illustrations on it but turned out that this was a Made In Korea mask.

Developed by Tongyang Life Science Co. Ltd, in Gangnam, the Cremorlab White Bloom Triple Bright Floral Mask is made with T.E.N. Water ( Thermal water therapy, Eco-energy and Natural nourishment ), said to be a rare and mineral-rich water from Geumjin, a special region in Korea.

Affordable Alternatives to Expensive High-End Cult Cosmetics

Benefit High Beam Liquid Face Highlighter ($46) vs. ELF Shimmering Facial Whip (US$3)

Benefit’s High Beam offers a satiny, long-lasting finish with a subtle dewy glow. It perfectly highlights the cheek and brow bones, and is an instant face lifter for the exhausted and overworked. A fab alternative is the beloved ELF Shimmering Facial Whip – just be sure to only dab a little as the high pigment means one can easily overload on shimmer.

Read my review on Benefit's High Beam.

Review : Lavera Anti-Aging Moisturising Cream

Product Description
Lavera Basis Sensitive Anti Ageing Moisturiser with natural co-enzyme Q10 (ubiquinone) is a rich facial moisturising day cream which helps to strengthen and firm your skin, increasing elasticity and proven to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. The unique formula with organic ingredients of jojoba oil and aloe vera oil, allows the anti ageing moisturiser to quickly absorb into the skin and provide long-lasting moisture for a natural, brighter and radiant complexion. 

Benefits
Yes Moisturising
Yes Nourishing
Yes Anti-ageing 
Yes Proven to reduce wrinkle depth
Yes Brighter looking skin
Yes Easily absorbs into skin
Yes No greasy feel

I received a 1 ml complimentary sample with my last online purchase. Made in Germany, Lavera is certified natural by Natrue, which includes no animal testing and no GMO. Their products contain certified organic ingredients, certified vegan, gluten-free, eco-friendly and sustainably produced.

As I mentioned before, I prefer gel to cream textures so it took awhile before I decided to try Lavera Anti-Aging Moisturising Cream as I was afraid of breakouts since its an anti-aging product where the contents tend to be richer.

Review : Shiseido White Lucent MultiBright Night Cream

Product Description
A breakthrough multifunctional brightening night cream that helps reduce the appearance of dark spots and acne scars. This intensive multifunctional brightening night cream helps reduce the appearance of dark spots and acne scars by focusing on the skin's nighttime cycle. Skin looks radiant and hydrated the next morning. 
MultiBright technology focuses on skin's nighttime cycle to help address the appearance of various spots, while SAKURAResist technology with sakura from Japanese cherry blossoms help minimize the appearance of future dark spots. The highly effective yet gentle brightening formula can be used daily as a night cream for intensive brightening or as a nighttime mask for extended anti-spot treatment and hydration. 

Recommended for dark spots, dryness, dullness and uneven texture, Shiseido White Lucent MultiBright Night Cream was a pleasure to use, comes night time. I was glad the night cream wasn't oily or too rich for my skin and I actually look forward to using it every night. 

Review : Shiseido White Lucent Luminizing Surge ( Emulsion )

Product Description
It maintains the brightening benefits for perfectly radiant skin.
Featuring Luminizing Surge Technology, this emulsion protects the skin from external aggressors such as dryness while creating a naturally luminous look with intensive brightening ingredient 4MSK.

･Features SAKURAResist Technology. With continued use, skin becomes resistant to dark spot appearance.
･Alcohol free, this emulsion is gentle to the skin.

When I first started on the new Shiseido White Lucent range, I actually thought the Shiseido White Lucent Luminizing Surge ( Emulsion ) was meant for day use and used it for several consecutive days but found it to be too heavy for day use. It was too rich and left a shiny appearance on skin, which I didn't quite like it.

Review : Shiseido White Lucent MicroTargeting Spot Corrector ( Serum )

Product Description
Helps correct dark spots at once to brighten the overall tone, for perfectly radiant skin.
MicroTarget Technology intensively targets each spot, suppressing melanin production and accelerating turnover of the skin surface cells holding excess melanin.

Benefits : 
･Features SAKURAResist Technology, which suppresses melanin production signals induced by UV rays.
･Formulated with Super Hydro-Synergy Complex which supplies moisture and improves skin texture.

While it is always recommended to use the entire line for efficacy, the star product in the White Lucent range is this Shiseido White Lucent MicroTargeting Spot Corrector ( Serum ) where it is said to optimise the skin's turnover rate without damaging normal skin. It helps to lighten existing spots, even skin tone and boost radiance.

Review : Shiseido White Lucent Luminizing Infuser ( Essence Lotion )

Product Description
Double Strike PROApproachx2 brightening technology. Target spots with laser speed. Resist the appearance of spots over time.

A beautifully bright complexion can be yours with this essence-rich brightening softener. By gently and deeply infusing the skin surface with intensive brightening ingredients, the signs of dark spots are visibly reduced while skin feels fully hydrated and relieved from external stresses. Helps prepare skin to become more receptive to additional brightening treatments.
Can be used before and after brightening cosmetic procedures such as laser spot removal.

• Alcohol-free formula.
• Deep Infuse Technology boosts penetration of intensive brightening ingredients into the skin surface.
• Features SAKURAResist Technology with Sakura from Japanese cherry blossoms to help skin become resistant to dark spot appearance.
• To use: smooth over face after cleansing.

I redeemed a complimentary Shiseido trial set recently, which I thought was a good marketing gimmick for one to try the "almost" whole series before committing to the full size.

The trial set consists of 7ml Shiseido Luminizing Infuser ( Essence Lotion ), 5ml Shiseido MicroTargeting Spot Corrector ( Serum), 7ml Shiseido Luminizing Surge ( Emulsion ) and 5ml Shiseido MultiBright Night Cream.

Review : Bio Gold Pearl Gel

Product Description
Pearl Bio-gold gel uses traditional nutrition method where 100% of high quality Tai Lake freshwater pearl is adopted to make ultramicro pearl powder in accordance with modern high energy air stream grinding technology. Bio Gold Pearl Gel contains bio-gold which is more suitable for absorption by skin

Applied regularly, it can weaken aging cells, excrete melanin, restrain facial freckles, smooth skin wrinkles and soften skin. It makes your face white, rosy, delicate, elastic, tender and shiny gradually

Pearl powder is said to contain 18 kinds of amino acids, 23 kinds of trace elements and calcium, selenium, germanium and other elements important for human body. My parents bought the Bio Gold Pearl Gel with the brand " Qing Shui Yuan" stated on the box and passed one bottle to me during one of their vacation trip to China.