Review : H20+ Face Oasis Shine-Neutralizing Gel (Oil-Free)

Product Description
This cooling, oil-free gel provides targeted, continuous hydration while minimizing the appearance of surface oil and shine. Micronized silica absorb and mattify surface shine, shrinking the appearance of pores and improving skin texture. Nourishing multi-vitamins, phospholipids and hydrating marine algae zero in on dehydrated skin to deliver continuous water-based moisture

- Achieve a clear, balanced, and lasting matte complexion
- Tighten pores and improve skin texture
- Sea Mineral Complex and hydrating marine algae provide targeted, continuous moisture

Key Ingredients :
Micronized Silica: This finely ground mineral, found frequently in quartz and other aggregate rocks, helps minimize the look of pores, visibly refine skin’s texture and diminish surface shine
Phospholipids: Cellular compatible microspheres that deliver active ingredients within the epidermal layers while helping to improve skin texture
Oil-Controlling Marine Blend: A dynamic composition of algae that neutralizes oil prone skin while delivering essential moisture.
   •Dulse: Reddish-purple leaves that sprawl along the north Atlantic coast; naturally hydrates the skin while   absorbing excess surface oil
   •Gigartina: Red fan-like spores that thrive in brisk marine waters near Ireland and Scotland; rich in trace minerals known to help to regulate oil production
   •Neptune Kelp: Golden brown algae that form towering deep-sea canopies near New Zealand; helps decrease skin’s oil output by calming overactive sebaceous glands

This was a GWP with my H20 purchase last year and upon realizing that its a shine-neutralizing product, I was not keen to use it, though I do think my T-zone does need it badly. I do not actually go out of my way to look for mattifying products, its not in my area of interest. I need hydrating products, yes. I need oil-free products, yes.

But just not mattifying products as I think a tissue paper will do the trick alright and I personally feel that I do not want to damage my skin by asking my pores to stop producing oil. Do I sound weird? Alright, I think I sound weird, or rather my analogy certainly sounds that way.

Anyway, the word "oil-free" caught my attention. Haha. So I used the 10ml sample anyway. The light green gel has the distinct marine scent, which is usually associated with H20 products. It does have the cooling gel effect. Texture is more lightweight than its Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment hence it gets absorbed into the skin quite easily without leaving a greasy or sticky after feel.

On optimal skin condition, it works like a lightweight moisturiser, without extra hydration. However, on dehydrated skin, it is bad, real bad. It does nothing for the skin at all. I would think its more suitable for those with oily skin.
I used it on both day and night to see if there is any difference in the shine factor but I feel that the level of shine on my skin are about the same with or without the product so I would say the oil absorbing benefits just does not work on my skin.

It scored a 9 on Total Beauty by 2 users and 4.3 from 6 users on Makeupalley


Ingredients :
Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glycereth-7, Dimethicone, Glycosaminoglycans, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Phospholipids, Benzophenone-4, Fragrance (Parfum),
Panthenol, Zinc PCA, Linalool, Butylene Glycol, Methylisothiazolinone, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Micrococcus Lysate, Sea Salt (Maris Sal), Retinyl Palmitate, Himanthalia
Elongata Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Porphyra Umbilicalis Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Ulva Lactuca Extract, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Gigartina Stellata Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Plankton Extract, Green 3 (CI 42053), Yellow 6 (CI 15985), Green 5 (CI 61570)

Source : Amazon , H20

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Review : H20+ Oasis Moisture Mist

Product Description
An energizing mist of nutritive hydration enriched with natural vitamins and minerals to replenish skin instantly. (#101) Sea Mineral Complex® delivers hydrating extracts of wakame, sea lettuce and sea fennel plus anti-aging extracts of himanthalia, spirulina and nori to help restore skin's natural balance. Enriched with vitamins A, C, E and Provitamin B.

Features
- Instantly hydrates the skin
- Soothes and refreshes
- Restores natural balance to the skin
- Reset makeup without altering make-up finish

This Oasis Mist was part of my H20 haul back in March which I bought in order to be eligible for their free gifts. It was not my original intention to purchase it as its too big and bulky. However, since their only size of 180ml costs just $34.20, I thought, why not?

Key Elements
Multivitamin Complex: A supercharged blend of vitamins A, C & E that helps increase skin’s elasticity while delivering powerful antioxidants to help repair and prevent cell damage.

Nori: Deep reddish sheets sourced from Japan’s western shore proven to visibly firm slackened skin and reduce the look of surface lines.

Hydrating Marine Blend: A triple-powered synthesis of marine botanicals that optimizes skin’s moisture balance while bolstering free radical resistance.
•Wakame: Brown kelp fronds harvested from the Sea of Japan; energizes skin’s natural functions and recharges tone
•Sea Lettuce: Dewy yellow-green leaves cultivated from the coast of Brittany, France; supports skin-firming collagen and elastin
•Fennel: Waxy green ribbons abundant along rocky English sea cliffs; empowers skin to resist aging environmental damage

Scoring a 4.4 from 7 users at Makeupalley , most of them loved this product but definitely not me. I have been using this for more than 3 weeks but my impression of this since the first day have not changed. I am actually quite disappointed with it.
The mist is encased in such a big bulky bottle that made bringing it around less than convenient. The mist amount is more than fine but its still alright for me.
Claimed to have much benefits for the skin, due to its ingredients, I was filled with hope that its good stuff for my skin. However, I have yet to see any visible improvement to my skin, since the first day I used it.
Even when I tried using it when my skin was dehydrated, this mist failed to improve the condition. In fact, it did nothing to my skin. It just does what any other facial mist can do - refresh the skin.

Ingredients
Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Polysorbate 80, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Methylparaben, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Sea Salt (Maris Sal), Panthenol, Allantoin, Proline, Disodium EDTA, Polyquaternium-4, Citric Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Himanthalia Elongata Extract, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Gigartina Stellata Extract, Porphyra Umbilicalis Extract, Ulva Lactuca Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
 
Source : Amazon , H20+

Review : H20+ Eye Oasis Moisture Replenishing Treatment

Product Description
An oil-free, intensive, hydrating eye treatment that floods skin with moisture helping to diminish fine lines while revitalizing texture and appearance. Penetrating liposomes transplant Provitamin B and vitamins A, C, and E to help protect skin from environmental exposure. Anti-aging sea botanicals help increase cell renewal.

Benefits :
- Floods skin with essential hydration
- Lessens the appearance of fine lines
- Revitalizes texture and overall look of the eye contour area
- Helps protect skin from environmental damage

As part of my H20 haul in March this year, this 4ml sample size was a complimentary gift. I started using this, when I brought it to Japan in early Oct and have been using this since. Its been almost 2 months of usage and I think its time to review them. 4ml certainly last me very long, I still have abit left from the tube but since its neither transparent nor translucent, its difficult for me to judge the exact amount left in it.

The content is a lovely green in colour and the texture is light. Whats great is that its oil-free, definitely suitable for people who are prone to millia seeds around the eyes area.
There is a slight marine scent but nothing too heavy and the application on the under eye area is light and refreshing. Instructions on the tube did suggest that it can also be used as an eye mask but I did not follow thru that as I found it to be abit wasteful, especially since I also have eye mask sheets in stock at home.

However, sadly, I experienced none of the benefits as claimed. It did provide a refreshing feel to my tired under eye area but it did not really increase the hydration level after almost 2 months of usage. Fine lines are still obvious.
For those who do not have heavy eye area concerns, I believe this would be a good eye product as daily maintenance.
You can also check out reviews on Total Beauty which garnered 8 from 4 users

Ingredients :
Water (Aqua), Glycereth-7, Glycosaminoglycans, Glycerin, Zea Mays (Corn) Silk Extract, Triethanolamine, Propylene Glycol, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Carbomer, Panthenol, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Xanthan Gum, Methylparaben, Fragrance (Parfum), Benzophenone-4, Lecithin, Trisodium EDTA, Phospholipids, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Himanthalia Elongata Extract, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Ulva Lactuca Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Blue 1 (CI 42090)

Source : Amazon, H20

Review : H20 Plus Marine Cleansing Gel

Product Description
An oil-free, water-based facial cleansing gel that foams away make-up and surface impurities while soothing skin with micro-encapsulated softening beads. Leaves skin feeling clean, clear and refreshed without stripping or drying. Sea Mineral Complex® helps maximize the delivery of hydrating marine extracts, including wakame, sea fennel, sea lettuce and acacia, which help maintain the skin's essential balance.- Removes dirt, debris, oil and make-up without drying the skin

- Foaming lather purifies and tones the skin
- Delivers essential hydration balance while smoothing skin texture

Ingredients :
Sea Mineral Complex®, Sea Fennel, Wakame, Sea Lettuce, Spirulina, Nori, Acacia

Its rare for my skin to be able to accept a cleanser without it making my face tight and this is one of them. I received it as a free gift when I was buying H20 products way back in March.
I simply love this lightweight cleanser, with a slight hint of the marine scent.
 
Considering that most of the H20 products I tried so far were quite disappointing, I was surprised that this gel cleanser suits my skin so well.

I usually used this after my make-up remover so I cannot comment how effective it is on removing make-up but it served me well as a gentle cleanser. It works in removing dirt and debris and leave my skin soft and smooth. No tightness on the skin at all. And its oil-free and water-based. Absolutely what I usually look for, in my products.

There are some blue microbeads in the gel cleanser which act in soothing the skin.

It scored 3.8/5 from 9 users from Makeupalley and 9.2/10 from 6 users from Total Beauty
Good stuff for the skin and I am loving it.

Shop on Amazon :
H20 Plus Marine Cleansing Gel

Source : H20

Review : H20+ face oasis hydrating treatment

Product Description
A moisture-intensive gel that hydrates the skin while firming and diminishing the appearance of fine lines.
A penetrating liposome delivery system and Sea Mineral Complex™ help attract, transport and distribute moisture equivalent to eight glasses of water. Marine extracts of wakame, sea lettuce, and sea fennel, provide vitamins A, C, E and Provitamin B nourish and protect the skin.

I have been wanting to try this brand for the longest time but has only recently ventured into it this March.
I have tried a number of their products from then till now and have mixed feelings about it. Most failed miserably on my skin until this hydrating treatment product.
Then again, I got into this brand mainly for this moisturiser and I am glad that it definitely lives up to its reputation.

Benefits :
- Provides immediate, oil-free hydration
- Reduces the appearance of fine lines
- Revitalizes dull, dehydrated skin

I have been using this moisturiser  for several months on a daily basis during the day. It comes in a tub and its low on its hygiene factor, considering if you dip your fingers into the tub every morning.
What I did is to wash my hands before and after use to reduce risk of irritation due to baterial infection. There are others who would spent on a spatula, so the choice is yours.

I am always game to use a water-based moisturiser, particular because of my combination skin with surface dehydration. Oil is a no-no for me.
There was a slight marine scent and the texture is very gel-like, very unlike my usual biotherm moisturiser which is light and refreshing.
Its definitely very jelly-like gel as you can see its movement when you tried to shake the tub.

Once applied, it took some time for it to get absorbed into my skin. Not a long time but the face does get abit sticky. Very slight stickness but nothing major.
Its refreshing and cooling on the skin.
My skin definitely feels and looks much better thereafter. Hydrated and bouncy.

It scored an impressive 4.5/5 on Makeupalley too. The best thing is that its oil-free. Awesome.

I bought this 50ml tub at $62.10 at Isetan.

Main Ingredients :
Sea Mineral Complex™, Sea Fennel, Lavender, Vitamin C, Wakame, Vitamin A, Sea Lettuce, Provitamin B

Ingredients :
Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glycereth 7, Glycosaminoglycans, Dimethicone, PEG 12 Dimethicone, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Phospholipids, Panthenol, Fragrance (Parfum) (Parfum), Trisodium EDTA, Zinc PCA, Benzophenone 4, Linalool, Sea Salt (Maris Sal), Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Ulva Lactuca Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Blue 1 (CI 42090) (CI 42090), Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Crithmum Maritimum (Crithmum Maritimum Extract), Algae (Seaweed) Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Source : H20 Plus

Review : H20 Plus Hydrating Marine Moisture Mask

Product Description
An intense moisture mask infused with marine botanicals to help improve skin moisturization, firmness and elasticity. The unique Sea Mineral Complex™ helps deliver intense moisture to areas that need it most. Red Marine Algae extracts help accelerate skin cell turnover. Combined with sea plankton and sea botanicals of wakame, sea lettuce and sea fennel, these key ingredients help replenish essential moisture, plumping up the skin and reducing fine surface lines.

Features :
- Delivers essential hydration balance while smoothing skin texture Key Ingredients:
- Helps accelerate cell renewal
- Boosts firmness and elasticity
- Softens and hydrates while leaving the skin soft and smooth

This 15ml trial size product was part of a GWP that came with my $150 purchase. Lovely blue in colour, the texture is very soft, almost creamy yet light as a lotion.
It goes on with a stinging effect on the face and gets especially so, if my skin is very dehydrated. Hot and minty, it gave me an almost burning feeling, a sensation which I usually associate with products which are unsuitable for me.
However, thankfully, after each treatment, my face was not hot and flushed but instead feels almost hydrated. I do not feel any firmness though.
Its also pretty difficult to wash it off due to its slimy and glooey texture so cotton pads is my next best friend to removing such masks.

I believe I would not get this again, because of the stinging effect, its just bad for the skin in the long term.

Key Ingredients :
Sea Mineral Complex™, Wakame, Sea Lettuce, Sea Fennel, Red Marine Algae, Plankton Extract, Provitamin B, Lecithin

Review on H20 Plus Dual Action Eye Make-up Remover

Product Description
Oil-free, dual-phase liquid that removes even the most tenacious eye make-up and mascara. For dry or normal skin.
Gentle natural ingredients help soothe delicate tissue as impurities are swept away.

I bought this on a whim as I wanted to make up the total purchases to a certain amount to get the GWPs.
I am glad that it works well, in a gentle and effective manner and its oil-free!

Scoring a 3.8 score on Makeupalley , most beauty users would agree with me, thats its quite a gentle eye make-up remover which is able to remove your daily eye makeup without any irritation to the eyes.
Initially, I was disappointed to find out that it left an unpleasant oily film after each usage which does not really appeal to me. I would need to do double cleansing to remove the oily residue.
Upon reading the instructions clearly later, I realized that I have forgotten to shake to mix the oil and water together. What a klutz!
Before each use, so long I remembered to shake the bottle, there is not much of an oily residue left behind.


Ingredients :
Purified Water, Cyclomethicone, Isohexadecane, Sodium Chloride, Benzalkonium Chloride, Dipotassium Phosphate, Disodium EDTA-Copper, Disodium EDTA, Quaternium-15, Copper Sulfate, Tetrasodium EDTA.

Source : H20plus

Review on H20+ Sea Mineral Scrub

Product Description

Perfectly round beads gently polish away dryness while improving skin texture and facilitating moisture penetration. Sea Mineral Complex™ and hydrating marine extracts of wakame, sea fennel, and sea lettuce help cleanse, while also conditioning and softening the skin.

Features :

- Removes dead, flaky skin cells to reveal smoother, clearer skin

- Maintains essential hydration balance
- Soothes and heals
- Make-up will go on smoother and look fresher longer

I was duly impressed when I was at their counter choosing some of their products to meet my $150 purchase in order to get some complimentary gifts. They are not that open in giving out samples and claimed that they do not have samples. I am not sure how true that is, but eventually, I did purchase their products just to check out how they fare on my skin.
I was impressed because most of their products are oil-free. If you have been following my blog, you would realize that I am quite interested in oil-free products.

Impressions aside, I have to be realistic and looked at the practical side which is to use it on my skin.
This sea mineral scrub with a beautiful turquoise color and marine smell was one of  the complimentary samples which I received. I use it twice a week as an exfoliating scrub and boy! did it really scrub my skin.
The granules though looks fine and small are too rough for my likes and it left my skin feeling slightly red, raw and tight. Definitely not for those with sensitive skin.

My skin did feel smoother but being so abrasive, I shudders to think about the long term side effects it would have on my face.
After each treatment, there is an immediate need to salvage my dry skin with a moisturising mask too.
I think I would just leave this scrub to be used on the body from now on.

Scoring a 3.5 at Makeupalley, only 47% users will opt to buy it again though most of them baulk at the prices. Perhaps this scrub may just works for you but its definitely not for me. Thats for sure.
Am I glad that I did not get this in the fiull retail size.

Key Ingredients
Sea Mineral Complex™, Carrageenan, Allantoin, Sea Fennel , Sea Lettuce, Wakame, Provitamin B, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Polyethylene Beads

Source : H20 Plus

Review on H20+ Face Oasis Cleansing Water

Product Description
An ultra-foaming, oil-free liquid infused with hydrating marine algae to break down and float away make-up and dulling impurities while softening skin

Sea Mineral Complex combines high-performance humectants and hydrating marine algae to protect skin's surface moisture balance while cleansing. Vitamins help maintain elasticity and suppleness.

Recommended for dry and combination skin, I picked this up from the Isetan sale. A new brand which I am trying out. I am attracted to cleansing water as a make-up remover and usually steer away from oil cleansing make-up remover. And its oil-free! Filled with anticipation, I thought this would be a good one for me but it simply made my skin feels tight after every use. I am actually quite disappointed. 

I started off with some initial teething problems in using this.

After being used to using cotton pads with Avene Micellar lotion cleanser to cleanse off my make-up, I was quite clumsy in using this without any cotton pads. As per instruction on the bottle. I am supposed to pump it onto my dry hands, add water and massage into a milky lather. But it was too messy for me to like it. The pump spurts out the contents but its so watery so how can I kept it within my palms?
I do not know how others manage to do it with grace but I felt like a fool in trying to cleanse my face with lesser contents than I got it out from the pump because most of the watery contents slipped through my fingers. Such waste.   
I finally gave up after a few days and got my trusty cotton pads to the rescue. 


I use it according to the way I like it. Just pump out the contents to the cotton pad and cleanse my face. How simple, convenient and neat way to cleanse my skin. I do not have heavy make-up most of the time, just the normal foundation or BB cream and I thought this cleansing water does its job well. 
Other than the make-up, the surface dirt on my face came off on the cotton pad as well. 


It has a slight marine fragrance which is nice and although I love the fact that its oil-free, it seems to strip moisture away from the face, each time I used it. 
After the cleansing with the cotton pads, my skin starts to feel abit tight and right after I followed up with my regular cleanser, my skin feels so taut and tight that I need an immediate hydrating mask to soothe it. 
At first, I thought the culprit could be due to my cleanser but when I switched back to Avene, I have no such problems at all so I have deduced it to be this cleansing water. 
I really wanted to like this product because its oil-free and its cleansing water but the loss of moisture just disappoints me greatly


You can further check out Makeupalley with a score of 3.5.

Source : H20

Drugstore.com purchases and H20 from Isetan

My drugstore items finally arrived last week. Here's my haul.

Garnier Fructis Haircare Fortifying Cream Conditioner, Color-Treated or Permed Hair US$3.43
Garnier Fructis Style Brilliantine Shine Glossing Spray  US$3.43
Garnier Fructis Style Brilliantine Shine Glistening Drops US$3.43
Sunsilk Waves of Envy US$3.99
Juice Beauty Hydrating Mist US$22
Juice Beauty Organics To Travel US$16
Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask US$41.60
Say Yes To Carrots Lip Butter US$2.22 each

Its cheaper than normal because of the Family & Friends sale, which was up to 20% discount.


With the Isetan Private Sale, how can I resist this chance to stock up on more beauty buys? This time round, I am eyeing on H20, a new brand which I am trying out. Water-based and oil-free, I have high expectations of it.

The items on the first row are my purchases and the trial sized items are freebies.
I am surprised that the freebies are clearly stated on the receipt.

Dual Eye Make-up Remover $36.70
Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment $62.10
Oasis Moisture Mist $34.20
Face Oasis Cleansing Water $51