Review : Isvara Coffee Sugar Body Polish

Product Description
Our coffee sugar body polish provides an invigorating, smoothing and exfoliating experience that will help to improve the microcirculation to the skin and reduce the appearance of cellulite. Certified Organic coffee grounds are naturally high in antioxidants which help to promote the skins natural healing process. Combined with certified organic turbindo sugar, the rich oils from jojoba, apricot kernel, the sweet almond, and vitamin E this unique blend will leave your skin soft, smooth and hydrated

At 355ml, this body scrub tub costs US$12 on Iherb. A relatively unknown brand to me, until I came across it on Iherb, Isvara Organics prides itself on protecting the natural beauty of skin and hair through the use of vital plant nutrients.

I bought it mainly because of the coffee grounds with its antioxidant benefits. However, I am surprised that when I opened the tub, it looks and feels like dry powder. My first time in using dry contents.

This coffee sugar body polish has a distinct coffee aroma, the granules are big and dry but not abrasive. It just feels odd on the body, as I scoop up the dry granules and exfoliate on my wet skin. Be prepared as the brown granules tend to get all over the bathroom floor and walls. It is not slippery or greasy though.

While it left my skin feeling slightly smoother but I believe there are better performing products out there, without the usage of dry contents.

Ingredients :
Certified Organic Coffee Grinds, Certified Organic Turbindo Sugar, Certified Organic Simmondsis Chinensis (Jojoba Oil), Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot Kernel Oil), Apricot Kernel Meal, Pure Cosmetic Clay, Certified Organic Prunis Dulcis (Sweet Almond Oil), Vitamin E Oil, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Vanilla Plantifola (Absolute Vanilla).

How about getting the following products to minimize cellulite?
Scala Cellulite Massager and Remover Brush Mitt
Dry Skin Body Brush
Anti Cellulite Treatment Massage Oil
Botanic Hearth Anti Cellulite Treatment Massage Oil


Source : Isvara

Review : Giovanni Moisturizing Body Wash Cucumber Song

Product Description
Cleanse Luxuriating body wash drenches skin in a light cucumber melon fragrance and contains distinctive foaming agents that lather easily to gently cleanse away the day. Contains the exclusive Giovanni Eco Chic Technology blend, an advanced essential oil complex to soothe, smooth and regenerate skin's lost moisture.

I bought this body wash during my last Iherb purchase for about US$7 at 310ml size. Check out the cucumber song here if you are keen. You can get up for US$10 if you are a first time buyer.

With a sleek tall figure and a flick-top cap, the bottle has a comfortable grip that fits just right into your hands, and you can't help feeling that the designers do take into account how right-handed users grab the bottle. 

With a light cucumber melon scent, it smells odd in the beginning when I first start using it, but is used to its fresh and fruity fragrance now. Light suds ensure that you enjoy the wash as you lathers it across your body.

This is a decent product, not fantastic but it is decent enough for a good body wash. 

Ingredients :

Aqua (purified water), babassuamidopropyl betaine, cocamidopropyl betaine, disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate, decyl glucoside, polyquarternium 7, polyquarternium 10, potassium sorbate, citric acid, cocamide MEA, polysorbate 20, *aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice, *mangifera indica (mango) fruit extract, *carica papaya (papaya) fruit extract, *cucumis sativus (cucumber) fruit extract, *echinacea angustifolia (coneflower) extract, phenoxyethanol, natural fragrance.

*USDA Certified Organic

100% Vegetarian Ingredients

We do not add parabens, lauryl or laureth sulfate, or dyes to this product

Review : Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Cream

Product Description
The first ever brand to incorporate nutrient-rich ginseng, this best-selling corrective treatment penetrates the deepest layers of the skin to revive damaged, youth-depleted skin from within.

Formulated with the roots, berries, and water of rare six-year-old Korean ginseng, this treatment stimulates cell regeneration to revitalize and ultimately restore youthful looking skin. Additional Korean herbs like milk-vetch and white mulberry promote an ageless complexion, as jojoba, avocado, mango seed, and sunflower oils moisturize and condition for soft, smooth skin.

The last product from my trial kit, it is also the most expensive of the lot, being concentrated ginseng cream. I usually use it mainly as a night cream as it gave me zits when I layered it as the last product after the emulsion. It is too rich for my skin in the day but works fine in the night, together with the rest of Sulwhasoo products.

With a rich ginseng scent, the cream feels thick, rich and heavy but goes on light as it sinks into the skin pretty quickly, leaving well-nourished and hydrated skin in its place. It feels comfortable without any greasy and sticky after-feel.

The application steps as illustrated below, is similar to that of the First Care Serum

On dehydrated and flaky skin, this works best as the last step after (1) hydrating gel (2) moisturizing sheet mask (3) first care serum (4) balancing water (5) emulsion (6) ginseng cream and I wake up the next morning with smooth, hydrated and supple skin. I deemed it as the savior because I have used it without ginseng cream and the effects were less than desirable. Note that the hydrated gel is from Skinc and the moisturizing sheet mask is from Fancl during the period that I was testing out the ginseng cream efficacy.

With the addition of this product in my skincare regime, I can feel that my skin is healthier and see that my skin is plump, dewy and glowing within as well as looking more even toned. The rough edges that I usually get from dehydration disappears, leaving moist skin in its place.

Shop on Amazon.com :
Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream

Shop on Sulwhasoo.com :
Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream EX Light
Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream EX


A highly recommended but expensive product. It costs $276 for a 60ml product.

Source : bergdorf , allura

Review : Sulwhasoo Balancing Emulsion

Product Description
Formulated with Korean Medicinal Herbs, this moisture-rich emulsion promotes soft, smooth skin.

- Mountain Peony softens skin texture and Yai Jiu Hua improves skin clarity by promoting skin's natural circulation.
- Spreading easily over the skin and absorbing completely, this essential moisturizer leaves skin smooth and supple.

In this Essential line, I actually quite fancy this emulsion because it hydrates beautifully on my skin, and seal in all the goodness after all the prep with the first care serum followed by the balancing water.

Initially, I thought the emulsion would be too heavy for my combination skin but it just isn't! Milky white in colour, with a thick-lotion texture, it applies easily onto the skin and my skin feels like it has been drenched in moisture. An amazing feeling! It almost feel like all the prep work is just waiting for this last product to end its regime with a bang. My skin feels hydrated, soft and supple. Still, I have to say, its not the best product when I am battling with flakiness on my nostrils at times, after a cold. But on optimal skin condition, it works wonders and I am liking it.

Note that I don't use the ginseng cream in the morning and reserve that solely for night use alone only. Hence this emulsion is the last product of the line whenever I am using this range.

You can get the updated formula from here, if you reside overseas. In Singapore, you can get it from Tangs and Changi Airport.


Source : Sulwhasoong , allura

Review : Sulwhasoo Balancing Water

Product Description
Formulated with Korean Medicinal Herbs, this gel-textured water balances and delivers deep hydration.

- Purslane effectively hydrates the skin and Matrimony Vine soothes and calms the skin while promoting deep hydration.
- Spreading gently over the skin and penetrating deep into the skin this essential water saturates the skin with optimum hydration and nutrients

Meant to be used after the First Care Serum, this balancing water, with its ultra-soothing herbal scent, acts as a great toner or as a skin softener. I like that it hydrates without any sticky after-feel.

With a gel-like texture, I just pour it into my palms and pats them into the skin, which gets absorbed into the skin within a few minutes. I can feel that the rough edges on my nose wings were much smoother and hydrated. The balancing water pairs well with the emulsion and I like to use it all within a regime together - first care serum, balancing water and balancing emulsion.

The usage steps as stated

In the ingredient list, I am surprised that the 2nd ingredient is alcohol because I did not detect any alcohol scent so its quite a shame that for something that seems good, it has to contain alcohol in it. It comes before all the key ingredients.

Alternatively, you can try out the basic kit in trial sizes before determining if the range is suitable for you. ( check : Sulwhasoo Basic Kit 5 )

You can buy Sulwhasoo Balancing Water EX from the following places if you reside overseas.
Amazon : Sulwhasoo Essential Balancing Water EX
Amazon : Sulwhasoo Basic Kit 5
Amazon : Sulwhasoo Essential Duo Set
Sulwhasoo : Sulwhasoo Essential Balancing Water EX
Cosme-de : Sulwhasoo Essential Balancing Water EX

In Singapore, you can get Sulwhasoo products from Tangs and Changi Airport.


Source : Sulwhasoosg , allura