Review : Vichy Calming Cleansing Micellar Solution

Product Description

A refreshing cleansing water enriched with soothing Rose Phytopheno to clean the face, remove eye/lip make-up and soothe the skin in one simple step. No rinsing required.

Ingredient Innovation:

Unique Micelle Technology : gentle yet effective in removing impurities and makeup

Rose Phytophenol : calm and soothe skin

Vichy Thermal Water : soothe and fortify

Dermatological Standards:

Allergy tested. Tested on sensitive skin under dermatological and ophthalmological control. Tested on contact lens wearers. Alcohol-free. Soap-free. Colorant-free. Skin pH. Non-comedogenic.

Since my very first experience with Avene Micellar Solution, I never looked back because I like using Micellar Solution to remove my make-up. Its soothing and gentle enough for sensitive skin like mine.

And I only use organic cotton pads from The Body Shop for all make-up removal because quality counts when its used directly on the face. I use cheap cotton pads for nail polish removal though. lol.

This Vichy product is housed in a clear bottle with a flick-top cap. The clear liquid is dispensed thru a small hole and can be more than a nusiance when one is not careful.

It works as well as Avene Micellar Cleansing Lotion and removes makeup easily and effectively. Skin felt clean and fresh immediately. However, there is a slight redness on my sensitive areas like the broken capillaries on the wings of my nose, which were aggravated from using SKII Facial Treatment Gentle Cleanser last month and hence were still quite sensitive. I still follow up with my regular cleanser thereafter.

It also removes eye make-up in a jiffy, though eyeliner and mascara requires a more thorough swipe and it doesn't work very well with waterproof mascara.

It scored 4.3 from 41 users on Makeupalley.

Ingredients :

WATER • HEXYLENE GLYCOL • POLOXAMER 184 • GLYCERIN • ROSA GALLICA EXTRACT/ROSA GALLICA FLOWER EXTRACT • DISODIUM COCOAMPHODIACETATE • DISODIUM EDTA • PANTHENOL • OLYAMINOPROPYL BIGUANIDE • FRAGRANCE

WATER • HEXYLENE GLYCOL • POLOXAMER 184 • GLYCERIN • ROSA GALLICA EXTRACT/ROSA GALLICA FLOWER EXTRACT • DISODIUM COCOAMPHODIACETATE • DISODIUM EDTA • PANTHENOL • OLYAMINOPROPYL BIGUANIDE • FRAGRANCE

Apply morning and evening using a cotton wool pad. No need to rinse off.

Source : Vichy

Review : Nubian Mango Butter Hand Cream

Product Description
Our Mango Butter Hand Cream is a nutrient-rich, long lasting moisture treatment. This all-natural recipe is fortified with multi-vitamins, Orange Oil and vegetable butters and oils to repair, moisturize and strenghen hard-working hands.

I purchased this from iHerb ( use my code to get US$5 off your first purchase ) sometime back and have been using it daily in my office for about 5 months. The 118ml size is large to bring along so having it in my office drawer is the perfect solution.

Else, you can also decant it into smaller tubs to bring it around which is what I did for other hand creams.

The name certainly sounds yummy and the scent smells mango-ish but well, it seemed that others may not think the same as me. A male colleague thought I smell like burnt capacitors. Gosh! Simply insane. Capacitors are electrical components used in electronic products and I am working in this industry.

Made in the USA, this product does not contain Parabens, Phthalates, Paraffin, UREA, Propylene Glycol, Mineral Oil, Synthetic Fragrance, PABA, Animal Ingredients, Petrolatum, Synthetic Color and DEA.

Its been said that the fruit seed of the mango tree yields as an excellent moisturiser rich in natural Vitamin B, carotenoids and antioxidants. The hand cream boasts of a mixture of shea butter and Vitamin C as well.

The brand, Nubian Heritage complements the moisturizing, soothing and restorative benefits of Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Mango Butter and Avocado Butter with the anti-aging and regenerative properties of Jojoba Oil, Aloe Vera and Vitamin E in their Body Butter line. These vitamin rich treatments contain powerful skin hydrators to maximize moisture retention and skin suppleness.

 
The product comes in a tube form and the beige colour hand cream is easily dispensed from the large tube. Beige in colour, the texture is creamy and spread easily but does not provide a good moisturising feel on the hands. I require repeated application due to its non-moisturising texture.

Ingredients:
Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter*, Deionized Water, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Stearyl Alcohol (Palm Kernel), Ceteareth 20 (Emulsifying Wax), Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Vegetable Glycerin, Jojoba Oil*, Essential Oil Blend, Carbomer, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Orange Oil, Allantoin (Comfrey Root Extract), Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower (and) Lonicera Japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle) Flower Extract * Certified Organic Ingredient

Source : Amazon , Vitacost

Review : Kiss Me Heroine Make Matt BB Liquid SPF30 PA++

Product Description
Skin-mattifying BB cream comes in a lightweight formulation and contains sebum-absorbing powder to whisk away excess oil and leave skin fresh and matte. Skin-refining pore powder then conceals enlarged pores to give skin a smoother and more even toned appearance. After cleansing and toning, smooth on BB liquid evenly all over face. Follow with foundation or powder for perfectly polished skin.

Benefits :
Sebum Absorption.
It contains sebum absorbing powder for removal of excessive sebum, and leaves you a matte finish.
Pore Coverage.
The containing pore-evening powder helps cover uneven pores and leaves you a smooth finish.
Foundation Performance.
It forms a natural veil of foundation finish, leaving your skin natural and an even skintone.
Skincare Performance.
With essence ingredients like super hyaluronic acid, nano-sized collagen for skin nourishment.
UV Cut Support.
It comes with SPF30 PA++ sunscreen support against harmful UV rays

I decant some contents from my Mum's bottle, which lasted me for about 2 weeks. The colour 01 seems dark but it was able to blend in to fit my skin tone.
The texture is runny with a sheer to medium coverage but not hydrating enough for my skin type. I would think its more suitable for oily skin, since it contains sebum-absorbing powder.

This BB cream does not perform well enough to give an even finish and was somewhat patchy, especially on the dry areas. Touted to be a super matt finish with light texture, my skin did stay matte but with much patchiness due to my dehydrated skin surface. By end of the day, my skin gets even more patchy. Horrible.
Oil control is moderate and not spectacular.

The full ingredient list can be found here.

Source : Yesstyle

Review : Lancome Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate

Product Description
Our first skincare that boosts the activity of genes and stimulates the production of youth proteins. A true skincare innovation with 7 worldwide patents pending, Génifique is the foundation of every woman’s skincare at any age or for any skin concern.

Benefits :
Visibly younger skin in just 7 days. Skin looks as if lit from within – breathtaking radiant. Its youthful quality returns: cushiony soft and velvety to the touch. Drop by drop, skin is vibrant with youth, its tone becomes astonishingly even, its texture dramatically refined.

My sister passed me some samples, as part of the Tangs' member perks and the 4 samples I owned provided me with a week's usage. I am glad that Lancome is generous with their samples for all masses to try their products. That shows the amount of faith they have in their products.

I decant all 4 sachets into a small container for use every morning. The activator is clear in colour, quite runny and being lightweight in texture, it was not oily and sticky at all. It sinks into the skin fast, providing a smooth and supple look. However the duration is too short to judge a permanent solution.
The sequence as follows :
Beauty lotion -> Youth Activator -> Serum -> Cream -> UV Protection

According to Beautypedia, the main ingredient in this product (yeast ingredient known as bifida ferment lysate) is the the same ingredient used in Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Concentrate Recovery Boosting Treatment, which is overall a significantly better formula.

Other than bifida ferment lysate, the rest of the ingredients are a mix of slip agents with alcohol and a tiny amount of water-binding agent. The rest of the formula is mostly preservatives, fragrance, and fragrance chemicals. The fragrance ingredients can cause irritation and inflammation which breaks down collagen and is counterproductive to the claims. Irritation will diminish any youth-giving qualities while the alcohol ( too little to be drying ) is capable of causing free-radical damage.

Source : Lancome

What's Your Skin Trying To Tell You?

Face Mapping is a type of skin analysis, developed by dermatologists and from ancient Chinese medicine, which can help to explain why there are breakouts on certain areas of your face.

Zones 1 and 3:

Bladder and Digestive System - Breakouts here may indicate that diet could be improved and more water should be drunk.


Zone 2:

Liver - This area can indicate food allergies. Try also cutting down on alcohol, heavy food or dairy products.

Zones 4 and 10:

Kidneys - Ensure you are drinking enough water and reduce the amount of dehydrating beverages such as coffee or fizzy drinks.

Zones 5 and 9:

Respiratory System - Smokers and those with allergies may see breakouts here.

Zones 6 and 8:

Kidneys - Dark circles can be an indication of dehydration. Increase your water intake and try and aim for 2 litres of water a day.

Zone 7:

Heart - Try checking your blood pressure. It’s also worth making sure that your make up isn’t irritating your skin.

Zone 12:

Stomach - This may be an indication that you could need to increase fibre levels in your diet. Also, consider a detox.

Zones 11 and 13:

Hormones - You may be able to alleviate hormonal breakouts by drinking more water and adding more dark, leafy greens to your diet. Breakouts here can also indicate when you are ovulating – and which side!

Zone 14:

Illness - Breakouts on the neck can be an indication that your body is fighting bacteria to avoid illness. Indulge in a little relaxation and drink plenty of fluids.