Review : Biotherm Blue Therapy Serum

Product Description
A new repair serum, BLUE THERAPY, fuses 3 aquatic active extracts - regenerative A. flos-aquae, restructuring L. ochroleuca and strengthening Pure Thermal Plankton - in a highly-concentrated formula for a triple action on firmness, dark spots and wrinkles.

Biotherm was generous enough to provide several sachets during my redemption of their new product which provided me a good initial feel of their product but not impressive enough for me to rush out to get the full size.

The serum is said to provide 9 visible results based on their evaluation tests on 104 subjects over 4 weeks.
One is expected to see
- Firmness : Tonicity, Lifted Skin, Firmness
- Dark Spots : Evenness, Radiance
- Wrinkles : Smoother skin, Reduced fine lines, Younger looking skin, Reduced wrinkles

Blue in colour, this serum has a silicon feel with a slippery texture and provides a coating on the
skin, giving the illusion of velvety smoother skin to the touch.
However, it did not hydrate my skin well, as flakiness on my nose are still apparent on my bad skin days ( read : dehydrated skin before usage ). In terms of other areas, I believe I may not have not use it long enough to determine the efficiacy on firmness, dark spots and wrinkles for the skin.

The 1 week usage include using each 1ml sachet in the morning and 1ml sachet sometimes at night did not provide visible improvement where firmness and dark spots are concerned. I didn't feel that I have radiance or evenness on my face after using for a week.
Smoother skin after usage is temporary till the next face cleansing while I do not have fine lines and wrinkles at this moment to prove its claims.

The serum scored 4.2 from 6 users on Makeupalley.

Source : Biotherm

Review : Laneige White Plus Renew Purifying Mask

Product Description
Effectively and smoothly cares for dead skin cells and oxidized pores for instant brightening effect.
Natural whitening effect of mulberry in AP Snowray Complex Exfoliating and purifying effect of papain enzymes that decompose protein and cellulose powder exfoliate dead skin cells and impurities for instant whitening effect.

A friend to help me to purchase a box of the mask pack from Korea last year. Each box contains 8 tubs of 10g purifying mask that claims to do deep cleansing and whitening. Hence I like to use it on days when my skin is dull, rough or as a supplement to my whitening regime.

For each tub, I can use it for up to 4 times so technically I can get about 32 usages for the whole pack. Logically I think its meant to be a 1 time use for each pack but yet it seemed overpriced and the quantity is too much to be applied liberally all over the face just like that.

White in colour, this wash-off pack has a thick clay-like creamy texture that applies easily but is difficult to cleanse off. However, once the gunk is rinsed off, I felt that my skin is brighter, clearer, smoother and with cleaner pores.

Sometimes I do get a taut feeling due to its deep cleansing properties which may be drying so I will usually add on a hydrating mask thereafter.

Check out other masks and trial kits from Laneige and get free samples with your purchase.
Laneige Water Pocket Sheet Mask Set
Laneige Hydrating Trial Kit
Laneige Pore Care Trial Kit 


Source : Laneige

Review : Naruko Raw Job Tears Brightening Night Gelly

Product Description
This is a sleeping beauty gelly for "wiping rough and dull complexion out at night and refreshing skin in the daytime". Main formulas such as Pore White and Pearl White are integrated in the product. Plus the 5 ingredients of synergetic brightening, it accelerates the pore care focusing on large pores and rough and dull skin and creates white, soft, smooth skin conditions. It also soothes and brightens the skin after sun exposure as well as repair the sunburn during daytime.

From the Raw Job Tears range, I have used its whitening toner, lotion, serum, eye gelly and mask before, with some working better than the others.
I particularly like this night gelly ( as compared to the rest of the products ) as I can see the effects.
I usually alternate between a hydrating and a whitening product in the night, depending on my skin needs because whitening products do not provide sufficient hydration most of the times.

With a delicious barley scent, the night gelly has a light jelly serum-like texture that gets absorbed into the skin easily. Its non-oily and skin feels nourished. However, the hydration ability falls short of
expectations.
The following morning, I can see that my skin looks rested with a glowing radiance. However that was only in the initial phases. After subsequent usages beyond a week, the glowing radiance is no longer there.

On its website, this product is said to be " no paraben series of preservatives, artificial flavours and pigments were added to the product", however note that Phenoxyethethanol  as its 2nd last ingredient is a preservative.

Source : Naruko

Review : Caudalie Moisturizing Cream Mask

Product Description
A moisturizing bath: suitable for all skin types, the Moisturizing Cream-Mask instantly soothes and rehydrates. It restores comfort and leaves skin feeling soft and smooth.

The 50ml size costs $48 in Sephora and I got it at 20% lesser when Sephora was having a sale.
Using twice a week, the 50ml size lasts me for 1.5 months. The product does not contain parabens, phenoxyethanol,

In tube form, the moisturizing cream mask has a light creamy consistency that applies well to give a cooling and refreshing sensation on the skin. It stings slightly on severely dehydrated areas and during my initial usage, my skin turns warm and slightly reddish after removing it. Occasionally, I still see redness on my cheeks, especially on the pigmentation area.

It contains a good amount of its key ingredient, Grape Seed Oil, being located as the 4th ingredient which provides good antioxidant benefits to the skin.
I like that it helps maintain the hydration level on optimal skin condition ( at times ) but on severely dehydrated skin, this does not work that effectively but requires daily application to reach the sufficient level that my skin requires.

The cream mask scores 4.1 from 15 users on Makeupalley.

You can purchase the product from Amazon.
Caudalie Moisturizing Cream Mask

Ingredients :
AQUA (WATER), GLYCERIN*, ISONONYL ISONONANOATE, VITIS VINIFERA (GRAPE) SEED OIL*, SORBITAN STEARATE*, PEG-100 STEARATE*, GLYCERYL STEARATE*, CETETH-20*, HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER, SQUALANE*, CETYL ALCOHOL*, CETYL PALMITATE*, DIMETHICONE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL*, CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE), SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, POLYSORBATE 60*, PARFUM (FRAGRANCE), TOCOPHEROL*, CARBOMER, SODIUM PHYTATE*, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS ROOT EXTRACT*, ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, SODIUM CARBOXYMETHYL BETA-GLUCAN, SODIUM HYALURONATE, HEXYL CINNAMAL, LINALOOL, LIMONENE, BENZYL BENZOATE, CITRONELLOL. (052/023)*Origine végétale - Plant origin
Source : Caudalie

Review : Fancl Whitening Essence

Product Description
FANCL Whitening Essence delivers fresh calendula extracts deep within your skin with Advanced Nano Capsule Technology, activating your skin’s natural power for fairness. This whitening essence is an intensive care essence that provides triple vitamin C effectiveness with immediate whitening results. Formulated with additional VC.VE Complex that works intensively on spots, maximises whitening with triple Vitamin C effectiveness for faster results in a shorter time.

Acitive Ingredients :
Calendula Flower Extract
Eliminate MIF (Macrophage Inhibitory Factor) that triggers production of dark melanin pigments that causes spots, freckles and uneven skin tone
Mellow and Blue Sweet Pea Flower
Contain Malvidin extract that purifies and reactivates skin cells
Olive Leaf Extract
Regenerates oxidized Vitamin C to work even harder on spots and reckless and thus lowers skin darkening effects
VC Ethyl
Lightens dark melanin and prevents melanin accumulation on skin surface thus effectively supporting the delivery of Vitamin C in skin cells
Grapefruit Extract
Support the effect of Sustaniable Vitamin C Derivative in whitening

I purchased the full 18ml size after a pleasant experience with their complimentary samples last year. Its original price is $65 but I bought it for $40.50 due to their closing down sale which had the product's price marked down by 30%.

Free of preservatives, sterilisers, petroleum surfactants, fragrances and mineral oil, this whitening essence is also alcohol-free, a winning formula for all. It comes in a pump bottle with a clean and white sleek packaging. 2 pumps are recommended but I usually use 3 pumps for my cherubic face shape and concentrated more on my cheeks with slight pigmentation.

Light milky yet translucent in colour, this essence has a runny texture that is lightweight and never greasy. I like how it sinks into my skin easily, leaving just a very thin layer of stickiness. I will add on a hydrating moisturizer thereafter, as its just not hydrating enough for my easily dehydrated skin.

I feel that the effect is amplified after using Fancl Facial Stretch Gel prior to using the essence as I can see that my skin appeared to be more radiant than before. On its own, the effects are hardly visible to my naked eye, then again, I am only using it for 2 months for one bottle. Each bottle is expected to last for 1 month but I tend to use it once a day, depending on my skin condition. If its dehydrated, I will rotate between a hydrating serum.

The product scored 3.1 from 13 users on Makeupalley.

Source : Fancl