Whats Your Skin Type?

What to do?
• Cut out three thin strips of tissue.
• In the morning, before washing your face, put one strip on your nose and chin, one on your forehead and the third on one cheek.

The result?
• If all three strips remain opaque, you have dry skin.
• If they become translucent and stick to your skin, you have oily skin.
• If the strips on your forehead, nose and chin (the T zone) become translucent and the third remains opaque, you have combination skin.

Source : BestHealthMag

Hair Highlights at Actpoint (again? )

Salon : Actpoint @ Orchard
Location : International Building #01-08
Tel : 67342898
Senior Stylist : Sophie Goh

Well, I finally decided to add on some colour to my hair, after a year of haitus. I never really thought that a hair perm in black would look good, it just made one look older. And so I decided to bite the bullet and have it done. Its not that I have never done any hair colouring before.
I started off with hair colouring ( meaning 1 solid colour for the whole head ) many years ago and I thought it was too boring after a few times. Then I moved on to highlights and again, it become too boring for me. And finally, I decided to do lowlights and highlights together on the hair which is my absolute favourite. And I have been doing that once a year for many years.
The ugly thing is when my hair started to grow and so the highlights and lowlights become quite unpleasant as the months gone by. Kinda of like black on the top and colours at the bottom of the hair. Its like wearing a cap.
But I insisted on doing only once a year as its just too damaging on the tresses.
Last year, I decided not to do any hair colouring and stick to my original hair colour plus some leftovers colours from the previous year. Its actually not that obscene since my leftover colour was close to my natural hair colour. I just wanted to let my tresses recover from the years of damage of such chemical treatment.
I started to be more diligent and stock up on my hair treatment products. All my reviews are in the blog. 

So to make the choice to have highlights again, is actually returning back to the days when I first started hair colouring. I just feel that highlights is the least damaging on the hair.
I took 1/2 day leave and pop in by the salon. It was all done in less than 2 hours at $130 ( $110 for the highlights and $20 to clear away the leftover colours ). Efficient!

I did learn something from one of the shampoo lady, that highlights are best suited for those with thick hair as it gives dimension and texture to the hair, to minimize the look of being a thick mop of black hair. Hmm. Its something I never thought of and suddenly I am so thankful to my parents for the genes of having thick hair.  

This is the 3rd time back to the salon so actually I have nothing to add on to the review of this salon, except that I appreciate the fact that Sophie is the one to do the highlights. In other salons, the stylist is usually the one to supervise as she tended to a few customers at any one time. The assistants will do all the jobs while the stylist claim the credit.

So finally, I found 1 salon which truly is doing something correct. Thank goodness.
Will I go back to the salon again? Watch this space in 3 months time when I go for my next haircut then. lol.

The end result is actually more reddish than what I would like. Its actually a mixture of brown and red. Stylist usually think fair skinned people are more suited for reds but I absolutely hated reds. I don't crave for attention. I like natural colours as too light colours made the tresses look damaged and dry. I don't like red as its too attention grabbing which is not really me. And if you do notice, many aunties like red coloured hair too. haha.

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Review : Schwarzkopf Osis Upload Volume Cream

Schwarzkopf OSiS Upload Volume Cream gives instant lightweight volume and medium style control. It contains conditioning and natural shine ingredients to create contradictive styles on damp or dry hair. Pure volume with a dose of care for multi functional styling purposes. Style as desired. Get more volume and soft movement by using a big round brush.

I bought this product during my last visit to Hair Inn early last year. It was recommended by my hair stylist and costs $25, down from the original $37. I only started using it several months after the perm as the thought of more volume scares me, since I already have thick hair to begin with.

After 2 haircuts, the curls seem less defined and so I decided to use this volume cream to create more definition and volume. I did not had an easy time using this product initially as it did not portray the desired effect I wanted. I was trying to find the best way in enhancing this product on my hair, trying to use it on dry hair, less damp hair and damp hair.

Using it on dry hair is out of the question as its too dry to play with. I tried it on 50% wet hair and the waves turned out to be rather ugly, in my standard. Not much waves and my hair was limp and flat. I almost wanted to give up on this product.

Then one day, it just happened that my hair was all wet and I used the cream on it. And what a difference it made! Definition and volume on the barely-there curls become more lively with abit of shine.

There was no sticky or greasy texture, just a light hold on the hairstyle. It kept my style intact the whole day. Note that, I do not have a practice to blow-dry my hair, so my method of using this is rather idiot-proof. Just apply on wet hair, twist, scrunch and go.

Source : Sleekhair , Amazon

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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 : Clarins Clear Softening Peeling Gentle Renewing Lotion

Product Description

Exceptional skin renewal results from this uniquely soft and refreshing lotion that eliminates dead cells, smoothes skin texture and brightens the complexion. Brings balance and tone to fragile skin. Skin is beautifully softened and moisturized.

Active Ingredients :
-Tamarind fruit acids: gently exfoliate dead skin cells.
-3 Keratolytic ingredients : smooth skin texture and give radiance

The 10ml complimentary sample is actually quite a cute bottle. See the illustration above? I like the bottle very much though the opening may be tad too big for such fluid. I only managed to use it for like 5 to 6 times so actually such short term usage may not be the review that you are looking for.
Alcohol is listed as the 2nd ingredient and fragrance is quite strong so these 2 points did not go well with me. Its recommended to be used on alternate nights before toner.
I did not follow the instructions that closely as I determine the usage by my skin condition before using it, especially since its considered as peeling which is certainly not welcomed on dehydrated skin like mine.

Contrary to what a peeling product should be, this renewing lotion is actually considered quite gentle on the skin. In fact, I did not feel that my skin have turned for the worst while using it. That was my greatest concern for peeling products. No redness or any sensitivity experience.
I used it on days when my skin is normal but sadly, I did not see any beneficial effect on those few times. Its supposed to be a gentle exfoliating product to get rid of dead cells but I think there are better products out there.
Then again, its just a mere 5 to 6 times so the result may not be that accurate.

Source : Clarins