Review : Christian Dior Hydra Life Youth Essential Hydrating Eye

Product Description
The freshness of a gel and softness of a cream in an instantly penetrating care, specially formulated to respect the fragile eye con tour area. The Eye Creme reduces puffiness and visibly lightens dark circles to ensure rested and radiant eyes. Dior’s recommendation: use it daily in the morning and/or evening on the eye contour. Apply with gentle pressure to optimize the anti-fatigue action. Suitable for all skin types.

Benefits
Combines freshness of a gel and softness of a cream
Instantly penetrates into the heart of epidermis
Visibly eliminates puffiness and lightens dark circles
Restores youthful radiance and vitality to eye area
Leaves eye zone velvety smooth and luminous

Christian Dior Hydra Life series is designed for women in their mid twenties to early thirties prone to dehydrated skin. Formulated with three concentrated plant extracts - Jisten, Centella and Black Rose, these ingredients infuses the skin with intense hydration by enhancing water movement in the skin's surface and delaying the first signs of aging by stimulating collagen production. Skin is left feeling instantly refreshed, supple, and smooth.

- Jisten : Helps to promote aquaporins, real hydric channels to optimize diffusion and maintain water in each cellular level.
- Energized water joins forces with the anti-free radical power of Black Rose to help slow down the oxidative processes. It also helps to boost the densifying activity of Centella.

I purchased this eye cream from Hong Kong drugstores ( either Sasa or Bonjour ). It was the only hydrating eye product in miniature form that I could find, so naturally, I picked it up.
At 2ml, it was still able to last me for about 3 weeks, with daily night use. While I don't fancy cream form around the eyes, I thought I would try something heavy duty around the eyes, at least hoping to see an improvement to my dry undereye skin. This is my first eye treatment product from Dior.

With the risk of incurring millia seeds, I tried to be careful in applying it sparingly and observing the condition of the undereye area during the 3 weeks of usage. However, due to my carelessness and forgetfulness, I have, at times, apply more than its necessary, thinking it was an eye gel. I haven't been using cream-based eye products for a long time, ever since I am aware of millia seeds.
And guess what, I have a millia seed at the corner of my left eye. I am so upset, as I am writing this post.

The white cream smells artificial, which really puts me off. It reminded me of electronic components I used in my work. The soft texture is of light to medium consistency and gets absorbed into the skin well. It does not feel as rich as an eye cream, falling between a gel to cream texture. I did not feel that its hydrating enough but then again, I believe eye treatment products usually needs time to show its effectivness. I did not feel or see any of the benefits as claimed. An overrated product, in my opinion.

Source : Strawberrynet , Dior , Izzy

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Hair Perm at NK Hairworks

Salon : NK Hairworks @ Nex
Location : B2-56, Nex
Tel : 6634 4866
Stylist : Jim Koh

I thought I would just try a new salon this time round and chose NK Hairworks at Nex, since its near my residence and its always crowded at the Anchorpoint outlet. I suppose it should be good, since its that popular. At the Anchorpoint outlet, there are usually several expatriates customers which I put it down to being near their place.

In this outlet, I have only seen 1 expatriate during the 4.5hours I was there. I would put this salon alongside my "to avoid" list together with The Scene at Raffles City ( pushy tactics) and Jayun at Pacific Plaza ( exorbitant prices ). Note that Jayun have since changed its name to Purity Salon.
If you want honest people, good service and reasonable rates, try Actpoint, Hair Inn, Kimage and Supercuts. Supercuts is priced slightly higher, please note.

Please do your homework before you stepped into this salon. Their staff are totally clueless about promotions. I have to say that their package deal is quite worth it, at $600 without any expiry date, you get to choose among a slew of chemical services. For exact details, please check with their staff.
Finally I understand why its crowded, because the customers are tied to the salon due to their packages.

The customer service on the phone was short and curt, when I tried to make an appointment as well as asking if there were any on-going promotions. I blamed it on language barrier for his short answers.

He quoted $208 for hair perm with length till bra-length, in fact, he says its regardless of hair length. The perm consists of haircut and treatment as well.
Subsequently, I went ahead to check online and came up with the promotions stated here and their own website ( with a poor spelling of Christmas ).

I felt cheated after 10 minutes in the salon. Dishonest people. Its totally different from what I was quoted on the phone and what I read from the website.
The moment I sat down, 2 persons asked me what I wanted. Gee, I thought I have already made an appointment for hair perm? The stylist who served me, is in fact the guy who pickd up my call. Jim. A humourous guy, with his so-called magic hands, or so he claimed. He served me biscuits and drinks promptly, with 2 magazines as well.

He started to check my hair and almost wanted to proceed with the cut, but I stopped him and told him I wanted to know the prices. He quoted $248 with haircut and perm. When I asked about the treatment, he says, he can give me a free pre-treatment vial which is usually $20+. Hello, I thought the treatment was stated on the website as free?

Again, I asked him if there were any credit card promotions and he insisted NO. So I told him, I saw the Maybank promotion on their website. He went to check with another guy, whom I presumed to be the manager. The manager, who initially claimed that there's no promotions that he's aware of, decided to check the website, and later claimed that, "oh yes, I remembered, that there is this Maybank promotion".

That aside, I told him about the promotion which starts from $128 for a perm. He looked puzzled and passed the notebook to me, and asked me to check and show him the site where I found the deal. Thereafter I showed it to Jim because the manager was busy, Jim told me that was a very old promotion, when they just set up the salon at Nex. Great, the promotion is forever on the webpage?

Actually, I hardly argued about prices in salons, because I respect their professionalism and I mainly had my hair done in town without any major issues. However when I saw that they kept insisting that there were no promotions, I got abit disappointed with their dishonesty. 

On a positive note, I am happy that Jim is the one who did 85% of the work, from shampoo-ing, right down to blowing the hair. Its not something I can get in most salons and he did not let me wait for too long, inbetween his customers. He is humourous, approachable and is full of confidence of his ability. He made it sound like a joke, which diffuses the impression of being boastful.

And because he is not a shampoo guy, the hair massage during shampoo-ing is pretty mediocre.
However, I do think that as a stylist, his hair was abit unkempt. He did confess that he came into the salon without doing anything to his hair, because its not his usual shift. I came in at 11am, because I like to start and end early, instead of spending the whole afternoon in the salon.

The curls turned out to be better than expected. I always looked like a poodle during the first week of perm but this time round, the curls were larger and looser. I hoped it can last for a year, as what my past few perms did. He wanted me colour the hair to make it look better, since black hair with perm usually produces a dated look, but I refused because I want to reduce the damage on the hair. This time round, the ammonium from the Loreal products was abit choking, which is surprising because I have been doing hair perms for years and I never had any issue with it. Could it be because I have been using more natural products this year and my senses has become less tolerant of chemical induced scents?

Total damage : $248 less 10% + GST = $238.80

During my payment at the cashier, Jim and his colleague are still trying to push the package deal to me, but in a friendly way. He also forget to input the 10% discount to me and after my gentle reminder, he asked a colleague for help in trying to void the receipt.
The colleague told him that there is no promotional price but stopped after Jim told him that he had checked with the manager. How clueless are all these staff? Jeez.


Recommended Reading :
5 Food For Shiny Hair and Beautiful Nails

December Haul - Korea + Iherb

Had an awesome breakfast with my girlfriends at Cova, Paragon. Picked up some items from them too.

Vichy Thermal Spa Water 50ml $6.30
Vichy Cleansing Solution 200ml $19.10
Skin Food Shea Butter Foot Mask 2200won (~$2.60)
Laneige Multi Berry Yoghurt Repair Mask 25000won (~$29.60)
Tony Moly Lovely Bergamot Foot Mask 2500won each
Tony Moly Lovely Peach Hand Mask 2500won each
Tony Moly Natural Pulp Essence Sheet Mask Hyaluronic Acid 1000won each
Tony Moly Natural Pulp Essence Sheet Mask Collagen 1000won each
Shiseido Starter Kit - Xmas gift from a friend

My Iherb haul. Quote OKI787 to get US$5 off your first purchase.

 Jason Natural, Color Protect Henna Shampoo US$6.72
 Jason Natural, Henna High-Lights Conditioner US$7.16
 Jason Natural, Powersmile, All-Natural Whitening CoQ10 Tooth Gel, Peppermint  US$5.39
 Maxim Hygiene Products, Maxim Organic, 80 Cotton Rounds  US$2  ( not in picture)
Reviva Labs, HypoAllergenic Mascara, Brown  $5.76
Madre Labs, Balancing, Shampoo, Conditioner, Pomegranate & Mellow Mint  ( free gift )

Review : FaceQ Grapeseed + Green Tea Mask

Product Description
Face Q Grape Seed + Green Tea Mask with a unique micro-emulsion technology turns nourishment into micro-emulsion particles that are smaller and easier to penetrate into the skin, improving moisture replenishment. Mask is made from 100% wood pulp with silk, it fit your facial contour perfectly, rapidly infiltrate moisture for the skin, after use your skin with become supple with natural radiance.

Formulated with all natural botanical extracts, grape seeds contain powerful proanthocyanidins antioxidant, can prevent the skin from oxidation damage, thus lose luster and flexibility. Grape seed also has synergistic effect with collagen and elastin, making skin a shiny and flexible, and prevent premature wrinkles and skin spots.

Key Ingredients
Hyaluronic Acid: provides ample moisture replenishment;
Grape Seed extract, Vitamin C and Bio-White: give purifying and whitening effect;
Green Tea Extract and Japanese wasabi extract: minimize pores, and brighten and smoothen skin.

Being the last of my FaceQ mask flavour, I have since decided that My Beauty Diary masks are better for my skin. The effects are better and lasting, as compared with FaceQ. My skin is no longer younger than 25 years of age, as what FaceQ masks are formulated for.

This mask, similar to its FaceQ range has a thin material sheets which fit nicely on the face contours except for the lips area which is cut too close to the lips, making it uncomfortable. The scent smells like grapes, abit too sweet for my liking.
While I do appreciate the fact that it contains antioxidant goodness in it, the refreshing and slight tightening effects are just fleeting moments because my skin is back to its dull state the following morning.

Source : Sunnanz , Sasa

Review : FaceQ Ocean + Aloe Mask

Product Description
Face Q Ocean + Aloe Mask marine collagen mask full of water allows you have instant access to the moisture to achieve a supple and smooth skin. Enriched with aloe vera gel, its carefully woven fiber essence bears more moisture and nourishment to skin, immediate improves the texture of your skin, and creates skin clarity and translucency!
After skin surface forms protective layer of moisture, retaining moisture for a long-lasting and supple skin, your complexion will be translucent and shine with a healthy glow.

Another sheet mask which I used over the weekend, this aloe flavour smells abit perfumery, which I did not quite like. Containing Collagen, Sea Weed Extract and Ceramide which prevent dryness and sensitive skin problems., its been touted to help lock in the natural moisture of the skin to prevent fine lines and rough skin texture, while moisturizing your skin for dewy result.
As with the previous FaceQ masks I have tried before, the mask is heavily soaked in essence, the texture and the thin material of the mask fits well except for the cut-out area at the lips. After the 20minute treatment, skin feels soft, supple and rested. It does feel more hydrated, but the effect does not last till the next morning.

In terms of ingredients, Hyaluronic Acid and Ceramide are found at the bottom of the list which meant that the percentage of ingredients are the least. It does contain a high percentage of Witch Hazel, which is a good astringent to tighten pores, seal in moisture and refresh skin.

Source : Sasa , Beautykat