[ Review ] Mary & May Cica Soothing Sun Cream

 

Product Description

Mary & May Cica Soothing Sun Cream is a daily vegan moisturizing sunscreen with no white cast. It is a triple functioning sun cream with UV protection, brightening and wrinkle management.

This is only my 3rd product from the brand, after Mary & May Niacinamide + Chaenomeles Sinensis Serum and Mary & May CICA Houttuynia Tea Tree Calming Mask which weren't memorable. 

I received Mary & May Cica Soothing Sun Cream from a Stylekorean collaboration last year. Trying Korean sunscreens has been a new hobby of mine, ever since their lightweight textures gained much traction on Instagram. 

It is important to wear sunscreen to protect the skin from harmful UV rays, prevent sunburn and reduce the risk of skin cancer, on top of precenting premature aging and reducing the appearance of sun damage. 

In Singapore, with its high humidity and hot sunny weather, it is not easy to find a lightweight mineral sunscreen that works beautifully on my combination-dehydration skin type so I am still using chemical sunscreens. 

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[ Review ] Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Shampoo & Wash (Fragrance Free)

 

Product Description

Created for babies and kiddos with sensitive skin, Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Shampoo & Wash is made with plant-based ingredients such as oat, shea and cocoa butters and is perfect for daily use even on the most delicate skin. This gentle formula is EWG Verified™ and fragrance free to ensure the highest level of safety and quality. Light and airy, this baby shampoo & wash rinses clean and leaves skin and hair feeling extra soft and moisturized.

I purchased Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Shampoo & Wash while on the search for pregnancy-friendly products. 

Started in 2010 in USA, Babo Botanicals is a line of personal care products using natural ingredients which are safe for the entire family as it is for the planet. You are read more about the brand on their website. 

Packaging, Scent and Texture

Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Shampoo & Wash is a 473ml body wash with a pump dispenser. It doesn't have much of a scent and the honey-coloured gel texture doesn't foam much. 

That said, the pump dispenser isn't the best fit for this gel texture as it tends to pool and drips down from the dispenser after every dispensing, which can be pretty wasteful. 

How To Use :

1) Apply to wash cloth and gently massage baby's hair, scalp and body, avoiding eye area

2) Or, dispense a small amount into bath water. Gentle rinse hair and skin. 

Performance and Ingredients 

Make bath time fun from the very beginning with Sensitive Baby Shampoo & Wash, a 2-in-1 fragrance-free baby wash and shampoo that gently cleanses and moisturizes.

Formulated with nourishing shea and cocoa butters and made with plant-based ingredients, Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Shampoo & Wash is fragrance-free, cruelty-free, vegan and pediatrician tested. It is specifically developed for babies without fragrance or essential oils as it gently cleanses and nourishes delicate baby skin. 

Everything about the product screams gentle and indeed it does feel gentle on the skin, but unfortunately, it was slightly drying since Day 1 which baffled me. The gel body cleanser doesn't foam much but kept skin clean and soft. 

I tried using on the hair but it made my hair dry and straw-like during rinsing which isn't a good sign so I have delegated it to using for the body. 

This sensitive baby shampoo & wash contains an exclusive Nutri-Soothe Herbal Blend which is a mixture of 4 powerful organic botanicals to soothe and nourish delicate skin - Meadowsweet, Calendula, Watercress and Chamomile. 

It is said to be suitable for sensitive, dry or eczema prone skin as Natural oat protein helps protect and moisturize while Organic calendula soothes and nourishes. 

Where To Purchase : Iherb | Amazon

The key ingredients are...

Shea Butter : Boost collagen production and is an excellent moisturizer

Calendula : Soothe sensitive skin, reduce inflammation and calm irritated skin

Chamomile : A multi-tasker which soothe and soften irritated skin and condition hair and scalp

Meadowsweet : Contains emollient properties and keeps skin soft and supple. 

Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, sodium cocoamphoacetate, sodium lauryl glucose carboxylate, lauryl glucoside, sodium chloride, coco glucoside, glyceryl oleate, hydrolyzed oat protein, calendula officinalis flower extract*, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract*, nasturtium officinale (watercress) flower/leaf extract*, pueraria lobata (kudzu) root extract*, spiraea ulmaris (meadowsweet) flower extract*, citric acid, sodium dehydroacetate, glycerin, sodium gluconate, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter.

*Certified organic ingredients.

Conclusion 

To conclude, Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Fragrance Free Shampoo & Wash isn't the perfect fit for me as it was slightly drying both on body and on hair. I like the gentle ingredients and that it is non-fragranced so I was disappointed it just didn't work out for me but what doesn't work for me, may just work well for you. 

Thanks so much for reading! Lets connect : Instagram | Pinterest | Bloglovin

[ Review ] Dot & Key Melt Away Makeup Remover Balm

 

Product Description

Dot & Key Melt Away Makeup Remover Balm is a moisturizing makeup remover balm infused with nourishing natural oils such as almond and coconut that removes makeup and deep cleanses the skin without drying it. The melt-away balm makes the cleansing routine easier.

Apart from clarifying the skin, lime essential oil also balances the skin's oil production. With almond oil, this cleansing balm improves the skin tone and treats dryness. The addition of macadamia nut oil nourishes and moisturizes the skin, while coconut oil has antibacterial properties that protect the skin from toxins.

Benefits :

• Removes stubborn makeup with ease

• Deep cleanses the skin without drying

• Nourishes and moisturizes the skin

• Made with natural oils and is free from harmful chemicals

Dot & Key is an Indian skincare brand with a nature-forward approach to formulation that ensures  ingredients and actives are in their most natural skin-friendly usable form. Looking at their range of products from skin to hair products, you would notice they are housed in cute packaging with a bright pop of colour, that may vaguely reminds one of Korean skincare brand Frudia.

I purchased Dot & Key Melt Away Makeup Remover Balm with several other products from Aardae when it was having a sale. This was my first haul from the online store where the products were made in India. 

However, unfortunately, most of the products I purchased were expiring this year and the prices for those products dropped even more at time of writing, so go check them out if you are keen. It would be more ethical if they could have indicate the expiry dates on the listing pages but oh well...

[ Review ] Jumiso All Day Vitamin Serums

 

Jumiso Korea has reached out for a collaboration and sent out a trio of their Vitamin C serums, formulated for different skin concerns. They are Jumiso All Day Vitamin Brightening & Balancing Facial Serum, Jumiso All Day Vitamin VC-IP 1.0 Firming Serum and Jumiso All Day Vitamin Pure C 5.5 Glow Serum.

According to dermatologists, if there is one ingredient that needs to be part of everyone's skincare routine, that would be vitamin C. Vitamin C helps to brighten the skin, provide hydration, promote collagen production and protect against sun damage. Try to avoid using it near the corner of the mouth, under the eyes or at the corner of the nose, as these spots are slightly drier and could lead to irritation and pigmentation.

Since pure vitamin C is unstable, vitamin E helps to stabilize the formula. Vitamins C and E have antioxidant properties that protect the skin against UV damage and reduce sunburn. Adding ferulic acid improves the vitamin’s photoprotective capabilities and is great to use during the day. Use it with Hyaluronic Acid if you want more hydration. 

At night, you can use it with Niacinamide for acne and dull skin as both repair the skin barrier. Vitamin C is unstable and oxidises quickly, so store it in a dark place and use it before the colour changes, or it becomes ineffective and can stain skin.

Always top your vitamin C with a moisturiser and sunscreen in the morning. If you use retinol, use vitamin C during the day and retinol at night, or alternate the products for nighttime use.

I have previously tried out Jumiso toners and sunscreens so its time to try out their highly raved serums!

[ Review ] Petitfee Koelf Ruby Bulgarian Rose Eye Patch

 

Product Description

Koelf Ruby Bulgarian Rose Eye Patch is a hydro-gel type eye patch treatment which contains Damask Rose Flower Water from Bulgaria that is rich in vitamins. It helps lighten dull or darkened under eye area. 

Benefits : 

- Blended with Hyaluronic Acid to intensely hydrate skin 

- Visibly reduces the look of puffiness, dark circles & fine lines 

- Loaded with Ruby Powder for rejuvenating benefits 

- Reveals a softer, smoother, clearer, more vibrant & translucent eye area 

I purchased Koelf Ruby Bulgarian Rose Eye Patch and Petitfee Gold & Snail Hydrogel Eye Patch from Shopee last year. 

Founded by NS Retail Co., Ltd. in 2007, Petitfee specializes in daily facial and body care products that promote skin resilience and vitality. Getting its name from the French words "petit fée," which means "tiny fairy," the brand develops its avant-garde products from hydrogel, the jelly form of water that deeply moisturizes skin. koelf is a sister brand of Petitfee. Meaning "Korean elf," the brand carries cosmetics, facial and body care products for women in their twenties.

Recommended Reading :

Petitfee Collagen and CoQ10 98% Hydrogel Eye Patch

Petitfee Gold EGF Eye Patch.

Idealove Eye Admire Black Pearl Hydrogel Eye Patches

Packaging, Scent and Texture

Koelf Ruby Bulgarian Rose Eye Patch comes in a round pink container with 30 pairs of pink crescent-moon hydrogel eye patches stacked upon each other. A clear plastic spatula is enclosed for easy pick-up of the patches for use. The eye patches have a strong rose fragrance initially but slowly dissipated and are soft but sturdy for layering. 

[ Review ] Medicube Deep Vita C Pad, Ampoule, Cream, Mask & Peptide Eye Cream

 

Medicube Korea reached out for a paid collaboration some time back and sent over Medicube Triple Deep Whitening Gift Set and Medicube Deep Vita C Pad for an honest review for their products.

I first came across Medicube when I was in Korea in 2018, after noticing the brand being fronted by Yoo Jae Suk, the top emcee in Korea. Thereafter, I purchased Medicube Shining Toning Ringer Mask and Medicube Relax Calming Ringer Mask which was a 50% hit rate.

Shortly after, I managed to try Deep Vita C Ampoule for a brief period when a good friend of mine gifted one bottle to me. 

Hailing from Korea, Medicube is Korea's #1 Dermocosmetic brand where they work with dermatologists to tackle the fundamental cause of skin concerns. They have 6 key ranges - Zero Line for enlarged pores, Cica Line for troubled skin, Collagen Line for dry oily skin, Red Line for sensitive skin, Soyxidil Line for scalp and hair trouble and Deep Line for dull skin. You can check out the full range on Shopee. 

Being a fair skinned female staying in sunny and humid Singapore, the Deep Line speaks volume to me. Their products are packed with ingredients like Vitamin C, Peptides and Collagen Complex for deeply nourished, moisturized and firm skin. Get visibly smooth skin with reduced wrinkles and fine lines with this range!

I received Medicube Deep Vita C Pad and Medicube Triple Deep Whitening Gift Set which consists of 

1) Deep Vita C Ampoule 

2) Deep Vita C Cream

3) Deep Lifting Peptide Eye Cream

4) Deep Vita C Mask

Medicube Deep Vita C Pad are vitamin pads proven effective to visibly fade dark spots and blemishes in a short time. 

How To Use :

1) After washing, use embossing side of pad to gently wipe facial skin from center to outward as a first step in skincare

2) Use opposite side of pad to wipe facial skin once more

3) Gently pat to absorb any extra toner on face