How has this year been for you? On a scale of 0 to 5, how would you rate yours?
There is no doubt that 2020 has been a year like no other. And while many of us will be thankful to see it come to a close, this year has been a game changer for digital-first experiences like Tik Tok and ecommerce.
I am incredibly blessed that traffic has surged for my blog this year as many of us at home started to take #selfcare seriously. I am indeed thankful that many of you trusted my reviews and I will continue to provide quality and genuine content for you.
As usual, I will share some meaningful and inspirational quotes. There's hidden value in finding a concise expression that perfectly distills our own beliefs.
The right quote at the right time can change things as they encourage us to get up, overcome tough times, take action, stop procrastinating, escape comfort zone, invest in personal growth and do the hard work that needs doing.
Inspirational quotes keep me going during my darkest periods and I hope these quotes can help you too.
If 2020 has not been your year but you have at least tried.....
I used up 95% of my beauty products in general and here's sharing my top 25 products from 197 empties in 2020. The reviews on my blog are usually based on products which I have emptied as I believe one sees results with consistent usage. I do encourage one to empty products as much as you can, in a bid to reduce waste but even if you can't, due to short expiry dates, sensitivity issues or unsuitability, you can always pass it along to someone else, or use it on your body. Check out What To Do With Skincare Products That Do Not Work.
This year has been unlike others, and I haven't been using makeup since we are wearing masks all the time but I get to spend more time on skincare, body care and hair care. I have to add a disclaimer that, beauty products are very personal and what works for me may not necessarily works for you but I really do like these products and wouldn't mind repurchasing them.
SKIN CLEANSER
Three Aiming Cleansing Balm : Made in Japan, this is a luxurious buttery formula with an absolutely-to-die-for scent. The soothing and calming scent makes it such a luxurious spa-like treat at the end of a work day, to remove make-up.
With dual microbeads, Clarins Gentle Refiner Exfoliating Cream immediately exfoliates and refines your skin, removing impurities and dead cells whilst the soothing mimosa tenuiflora works to tighten pores, providing an unrivalled radiance. Softness and clarity will be enjoyed in your brand new perfected complexion.
I had used Clarins products between 2009 to 2013 and returned back to using its milk cleanser recently. Check out my previous review on Clarins Cleansing Milk with Alpine Herbs.
Made in France, Clarins Laboratories are considered pioneers in the fields of plant science and technology. From 100% Pure Plant Oils, Double Serum, skincare innovations for face and body—to make-up, men’s care and treatment fragrances—Clarins scientists have created ground-breaking formulas that are unrivalled in the cosmetics industry.
I had tried Clarins Gentle Refiner Exfoliating Cream with Microbeads back in 2012 and was recently gifted a travel sized of this scrub as a Christmas gift with a slightly different name - Clarins Gentle Refiner Exfoliating Cream with Natural Microbeads.
Sioris Cleanse Me Softly Milk Cleanser 200ml $24.34 ( down from $28.28 )
My 11.11 Haul from Iherb which was having a 20% storewide sale. Use OKI787 for 5% off your order.
Acure Brightening Body Scrub US$7.78 ( down from US$9.97 )
Acure Energizing Coffee Scrub US$7.78 ( down from US$9.97 )
Idealove Eye Admire Black Pearl Hydrogel Eye Patches US$5 ( down from US$10 )
Avalon Organics Vitamin C Cleansing Milk US$7.49 ( down from US$9.60 )
My 11.11 Haul from Zahara which was having a 30% flash sale! Ordered on 11/11 and shipped out on 13/11 via a third party delivery partner without any tracking number provided. When I have yet to receive on the 19th, I emailed them and promptly received my order on 20th.
My Iherb order from USA ordered on the same day but arrived earlier than this local brand. Strangely the expiry dates stated for all 4 pieces were September 2021 which were rather short!
Dear Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Sheet Mask is an anti-inflammatory and cooling care sheet mask, specially designed to calm the skin with ingredients that decrease sensitivity. Whether it be internal or external factors, our skin is exposed to various irritation on a daily basis hence daily care to ease the irritation is important.
Dear Klairs made its name as a gentle, cruelty-free and environmentally-friendly K-beauty brand as their products do not contain colourants, alcohol, parabens or fragrance. I purchased this sheet mask together with Dear Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Tencel Sheet Mask recently.
Packaging, Scent and Texture
Black in colour like its packaging, Dear Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Sheet Mask is a 2 portion sheet mask with one for the upper face and one for the lower face. It does not have much of a scent and the material is thin, soft and comfortable. Fitting is moderately well for my cherubic face shape.
How To Use :
1) After cleansing, place the sheet on clean/toned face.
2) Wait 15-20 minutes, and gently remove the mask. Tap the essence lightly for it to fully absorb.
Performance and Ingredients
Angry, red skin is never a pleasant experience. Containing low irritating and cooling ingredients such as Erythritol to rapidly lower the skin’s temperature and reduce irritation, the soft rayon sheet will provide comfort when wearing it on the face and incorporating the goodness of Bamboo Charcoal to the sheet mask itself, this can draw out impurities such as bacteria, trapped dirt, makeup, and dirt — leaving skin clearer and softer. Also known for being a low irritant, Charcoal acts as the perfect ingredient to treat sensitive skin and helps skin retain moisture for a long time.
Alongside this, Centella Asiatica Extract promotes wound healing and kick-starts cellular regeneration. The addition of Tea Tree Leaf Oil and Willow Bark Extract also makes the sheet mask the perfect luxe treat that your skin deserves.
Soaked in an essence packed with Willow Bark Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract and Tea Tree Oil to soothe redness and treat blemishes, this sheet mask is so soft, light and comforting and after a 20 minute masking session, I can see that my skin is calmed, soothed, fresh and glowing.
Recommended for skin that is easily heated due to irritation, oily skin with active sebum secretion and skin that frequently undergoes facial extraction, Dear Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Sheet Mask would make your skin happy and healthy with its soothing and comforting properties. Skin is left calmed, soothed, fresh and glowing.
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Dear Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Tencel Sheet Mask soothes sensitive, irritated, and inflamed skin. Containing an abundance of soothing, moisturizing, and skin-barrier repairing ingredients, the sheet mask is guaranteed to be a solution for those who are experiencing dryness, redness or irritation.
Hailing from Korea, Klairs is a functional skincare brand for sensitive skin using simple and most necessary ingredients to improve skin's elasticity and quickly soothes irritated skin for healthier and stronger skin.
Packaging, Scent and Texture
Dear Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Tencel Sheet Mask comes in white with a mesh-like thin material with not much of a scent. It has 2 parts - one for the upper face and one for the lower face.
Light, soft and comfortable, the sheet mask adheres well on skin with a moderately good fit.
How To Use :
1) After cleansing, place the sheet mask on a clean and toned face.
2) Wait 15-20 minutes, and gently remove the mask. Tap the essence lightly into the skin for it to fully absorb.
Performance and Ingredients
The soothing sheet mask contains 5 types of ceramide, which are the constituents of the skin. This helps strengthen weakened skin barriers. Packed full of moisturizing nutrients such as Aloe Vera, Panthenol, Hyaluronic Acid and high concentration of other various moisturizing ingredients to add energy and moisture to dry and exhausted skin, the healing gauze sheet is doubled with 100% cotton and tencel fabric which is designed to minimize skin irritation.
The thin and flexible feature of the sheet mask allows it to comfortably adhere onto curvatures of the face which allows the essence to absorb better.
After 20 minute masking session, my skin is left soothed and comforted although it did not eradicate the redness which was originally there before masking. Skin looked brighter too. That said, there was a subtle hint of taut sensation on the upper lips which disappeared after a short 5 minutes.
Recommended for skin that is suffering from redness / irritation, skin that needs water-oil balance,
skin that needs to supply ceramide due to weakened skin barriers and skin that is easily exhausted and sensitive, Dear Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Tencel Sheet Mask would be great for those looking for a calming and brightening mask without much fragrance.
Look At Hair Loss Natural Mild Scalp Care Shampoo is a silicone-free anti-hair loss and scalp health shampoo formulated for those with oily scalps to deep-cleanse without stripping. It contains herbal extracts such as ginseng and houttuynia cordata to provide nutrition to the hair and scalp and prevent hair loss.
Treatment Product Description
Look At Hair Loss Mild Scalp Care Treatment is a lightweight and reparative formula which features a blend of three nutrient-rich botanical oil.
Miki from Prime Wellness reached out to me last month and offered to send over Look At Hair Loss Natural Mild Scalp Care Shampoo and Look At Hair Loss Mild Scalp Care Treatment to target my dry hair with loss of hair volume. This shampoo and treatment set is formulated for those with mild hair loss.
Ever since I noticed that my hair crown has been getting flatter, I have been looking around for hair loss products in a bid to improve the situation. For the record, I have long and thick hair tresses but my hair crown has been getting flatter over the months.
At this point, I am still not sure if I am experiencing hair loss but my last set of haircare products have not been helping the situation hence I am still monitoring my hair condition. Look At Hair Loss Natural Mild Scalp Care Shampoo and Mild Scalp Care Treatment came at just the right time to help my current hair condition.
Made in Korea, Look At Hair Loss is said to be an effective and affordable anti hair loss formulation for those suffering from early stage hair loss problems. It is formulated with white Ginseng, Chrysanthemum and 12 other functional herbal and botanical ingredients, and is free from silicone, paraben, fragrance and irritants.
Look At Hair Loss is dermatologically tested and is gentle yet effective, suitable for sensitive scalps. Look at hair loss before it's too late! Feel the changes in the scalp and hair texture when you use it consistently!
Packaging, Scent and Texture
Both Look At Hair Loss Natural Mild Scalp Care Shampoo and Treatment products are housed in 500ml orange coloured bottles with flick top caps. The shampoo with its clear gel contents has a lovely minty herbal scent while the treatment product with light yellow creamy contents has a lighter refreshing herb scent.
While shopping for Christmas gifts, I chanced upon Yves Rocher and promptly purchased Yves Rocher Winter Apples Body Scrub and Yves Rocher Midnight Berries Body Scrub which are limited editions specially for Christmas.
Discover the effectiveness of this Christmas limited edition scrub with apricot pit powder combined with the delectable scent of juicy apple, for smooth, soft, delicately fragranced skin in a single step.
How To Use :
• In the shower, rub your body with the scrub, then rinse thoroughly.
• Use once or twice a week.
• Do not apply to the face or to damaged or irritated skin.
Yves Rocher Winter Apples Body Scrub is housed in a 150ml orange tube with pretty Christmas illustrations. Definitely makes the perfect Christmas gift for friends. Initially I wasn't a fan of its scent as it smells alittle odd with a mixture of sweetness and bitterness - I can't even explain it, however with time, I have grown accustomed to the scent.
Apricot (lat. Prunus Armeniaca) seed powder (crushed apricot kernel) is very often used in the skin care industry as a natural, mild scrub to remove all impurities from the surface of the skin which can clog the pores as well as dead skin cells to prevent them from thickening the skin and making the complexion dull.
However, do note that rough particles, such as ground-up seeds or fruit pits, can create micro-tears in the skin, which leads to skin inflammation and even infection and that is how the controversy surrounding the use of St. Ives' Apricot Scrub started too.
That said, even though Yves Rocher Winter Apples Body Scrub is used for the body but if you have sensitive skin, you may want to take note of that.
When massaged into the skin, apricot seed powder acts as fine solid particles that promote the removal of damaged skin cells from the skin’s surface, thus leaving behind a softer, smoother skin texture and that was how I felt about Yves Rocher Winter Apples Body Scrub.
The gel-like contents with exfoliating beads are non-drying, non-abrasive and left my skin soft and smooth! However, nearing to the end of the contents ( about 10% left ), skin felt slightly drying during usage.
The exfoliating effectiveness of Apricot pit powder combined with the fruity scent of red berries. Discover the effectiveness of this limited edition Christmas body scrub with Apricot pit powder combined with the tangy sweetness of red berries for smooth, soft, delicately fragrant skin in a single step.
How to use :
• In the shower, rub your body with the scrub, then rinse thoroughly.
• Use once or twice a week.
• Do not apply to the face or to damaged or irritated skin.
Yves Rocher Midnight Berries Body Scrub is housed in a 150ml tube, similarly to the Winter Apples variant. However, I like this scent much better - it has a berries-scented sweetness. The gel-like contents with tiny exfoliating beads are soft and glide well on skin for a smooth scrub without being greasy. However, it is a little drying at times. Skin is left feeling soft, smooth and clean.
It uses the same Apricot Seed Powder as Winter Apples variant, so if you have sensitive skin, do beware. The experience felt similar except for a different scent.
To conclude, these are decent body scrubs for the price paid and are suitable as Christmas gifts with their beautiful illustrations. I would prefer Yves Rocher Midnight Berries Body Scrub for the scent,out of the 2 variants but I would not repurchase it as it was slightly dry.
Give your skin a healthy dose of vitamin C while protecting it from the sun's damaging rays. Supergoop Antioxidant Infused Sunscreen Mist offers complete broad spectrum SPF 50 protection in a lightweight mist that's super easy and fast to apply. This non-aerosol spray sunscreen provides a continuous mist that can be applied to wet or dry skin for up to 80 minutes of water-resistant wear.
Supergoop! is the first and only prestige beauty brand 100% dedicated to UV protection. Founded by former teacher and industry pioneer Holly Thaggard and a recipient of numerous industry awards, they are driven by creating innovative, efficacious and ingredient-conscious formulas that deliver broad spectrum protection in unique, feel good ways.
Packaging, Scent and Texture
Supergoop Sunscreen Mist With Vitamin C SPF50 is housed in an opaque non-aerosol spray bottle with 89ml of contents. I adore its twist-lock mechanism so that one would not accidentally spray it.
Unfortunately, I found the alcohol scent to be alittle too strong for my likes and the immediate application tends to leave a wet greasy layer on skin so I have to massage the areas to blend it in, leaving a light shiny sheen in its place.
How To Use :
- Apply generously and evenly 15 minutes before sun exposure.
- Reapply at least every 2 hours or after 80 minutes of swimming or sweating.
Performance and Ingredients
SPF is the #1 thing you can do for your skin. Free of parabens, synthetic fragrances and oxybenzone, Supergoop Sunscreen Mist With Vitamin C SPF50 has been clinically tested and determined to deliver broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection. Antioxidant Vitamin C is added to protect one from free radical damage while helping to fade dark spots.
If you're still shopping, before time runs out, consider these thoughtful, creative and practical last-minute gift ideas for your beauty-loving friends. Please do check with individual sellers if they can deliver by Christmas.
Take some of the guesswork out of your holiday shopping, and use this handy list of new products, old favorites, and true essentials that every beauty lover would love. If you are are looking for beauty fridges, then check out the Top 5 Budget Beauty Fridges on Amazon. Happy Shopping!
