What Are The Effective Ingredients For Skincare?

In today's times, we are now more exposed to all signs of aging, especially in humid Singapore which brings lines, wrinkles, dehydration, sagging and uneven skin tone to our skin.

Cosmetic companies are quick to catch up on what the modern ladies need and came up with anti-aging potions with some that claim to be able reverse the effects of aging.

Before we decide if this is truly feasible, we need to delve deeper into the ingredients, before deciding which to buy.

Green Tea
Also known as: Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).
Good for: All skin types.
What it treats: Sun damage, irritation, aging.
How it works: Green tea comes from the camellia sinensis plant. The leaves of this plant have polyphenols, which are compounds that have both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The anti-inflammatory properties can calm redness and irritation, and the antioxidants combat free radicals, reducing potential signs of aging.

Green tea also contains a powerful antioxidant called catechin epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which helps to decrease free radicals, repair cells and protect your skin from premature aging. 

It is known as one of the most potent forms of photo-protection. It protects against sun damage, and studies have shown that a product containing at least 5 percent green-tea extract may help prevent skin cancer when applied before sun exposure along with sunscreen. Green Tea is also one of the 8 Green Foods For Healthy Glowing Skin and here are my previous reviews on Dear Klairs Fundamental Ampule Mist, Twig & Co Matcha Scrub, Innisfree My Real Squeeze Green Tea Mask and Tosowoong Pure Green Tea Mask.

Popular Options :

Iherb | Blithe Patting Splash Mask
Iherb | Tony Moly Chok Chok Green Tea 
Iherb | Benton Deep Green Tea Toner
Iherb | Innisfree Green Tea Seed Cream
Amazon | Innisfree Green Tea Balancing Skin Toner
Amazon | Innisfree Green Tea Seed Cream

Idebenone
Also known as: Ubiquinone, coenzyme Q-10.
Good for: All skin types.
What it treats: Sun damage, irritation, aging.
How it works: Idebenone is one of the strongest antioxidants contained in cosmetics. Its anti-inflammatory properties help preserve collagen and elastin, which give the skin support and resilience.

Popular Options :
Iherb | It's Skin Power 10 Formula, Q10 Effector with Coenzyme Q10
Iherb | Eucerin, Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Face Creme
Amazon | Timeless Coenzyme Q-10 Serum

[ Review ] : Iunik Beta-Glucan Power Moisture Serum

Product Description
Iunik Beta-Glucan Power Moisture Serum is an all-around serum enriched with beta-glucan to moisturize and strengthen skin’s barrier, while also providing brightening and wrinkle care.

If you have dry and sensitive skin and is looking for a moisturizing serum, then check out my review to see if Iunik Beta-Glucan Power Moisture Serum is the right one for you! Beta-Glucan is widely known as the 3rd generation of moisturizing technology ( 1st is Glycerin and 2nd is Hyaluronic Acid ) where it is said to retain moisture 20% better than Hyaluronic Acid and improves skin elasticity and recovery.

You would be glad to know that Iunik Beta-Glucan Power Moisture Serum contains pure Beta-Glucan to help rebalance skin oil levels. You can check out more about the product on Iunik website.

Packaging, Scent and Texture

Iunik Beta-Glucan Power Moisture Serum comes in a glass bottle with a dropper that dispenses the serum with just the right amount. I usually use about 1 ~ 2 drops and the 50ml bottle lasted me for about 3.5 months.

[ Review ] : Skin Sparkle.Co Ultra Hydrating Sparkle Sheet Mask

Product Description

Skinsparkle.co Ultra Hydrating Sparkle Sheet Mask is specially formulated with therapeutic qualities to shield your skin from damage keeping it rejuvenated, well hydrated, soft and supple. Rich in remarkable ingredients to give your skin extremely benefiting effects.

This mask focuses on soothing, hydrating and repairing the skin. It is suitable for all skin types even on sensitive skin. You may also use it after your laser or aesthetic treatments for fast healing!

A homegrown brand, Skin Sparkle Co reached out to me recently and offered to send me their facial sheet masks in return for an honest review. As far as I remembered, there is no local skincare brand with their own sheet masks so I am really happy to support a local homegrown brand which made their debut in June with these masks as their first product!

Based in Singapore with products manufactured in Taiwan, Skin Sparkle. Co offers impressive skincare solutions for smooth, radiant and moisturized skin at all times. 

Their products are cruelty-free, alcohol-free, paraben-free and they do not conduct animal-testing.

Packaging, Scent and Texture

When I first received the package, I was won over by how pretty it was, and the care that goes into each box. It made you feel special. The box was tied with a ribbon and a message card enclosed to explain the background of the company and their products. There was a bright pink mirror packed separately in another box, in the package. The whole branding was so on-point and would be a great gift for your girlfriends and loved ones!

Each Skin Sparkle. Co Ultra Hydrating Sparkle Sheet Mask box contains 5 sheet masks packed individually. The sheet mask has a thin material with a smooth texture and I did not detect much of a scent. The cutting fits almost perfectly for my cherubic face shape except for a slight gap on both sides of the nose as though its meant for one with a sharper nose. The lip cutout was just fitting for my lips. 

How To Use :

1) Cleanse your face in preparation for applying sheet mask.

2) After cleansing , remove the mask from packaging, gently unfold the mask and place onto clean skin.

3) Relax and enjoy the mask for next 15-20 minutes.Pat the remaining essence into skin for ultimate glow.

Performance and Ingredients

Skin Sparkle. Co Ultra Hydrating Sparkle Sheet Mask is specially formulated to repair and rejuvenate skin, leaving skin well-hydrated, soft and supple. It layered beautifully with a cooling sensation and adhered well. As the cutouts were fitted closely to my eyes, it also meant that my undereye areas can reap similar benefits as my face, which was a bonus. 

It is recommended to use it for 15 - 20 minutes and I had it on the face for 20 minutes during my first usage. All the essence sink into my thirsty skin pretty quickly, leaving no essence behind. There was a slight taut sensation on the upper lips area after I removed the mask. 

I shortened the duration to 15 minutes for my next sheet masking and there was a similar slight taut sensation after removing it however, I noticed fresh and glowing skin this time!

That said, I finally found the sweet spot for my combination-dehydrated skin type. 10 minutes is all the Ultra Hydrating Sparkle Sheet Mask needs to weave its magic. No taut sensation. Plenty of essence left to pat on face thereafter, and most importantly of all, skin is slightly brighter, fresh and glowing as well being soft and supple.

In terms of ingredients, Skin Sparkle Ultra Hydrating Sparkle Sheet Mask contains the following : 

Hyaluronic Acid : Brings moisture to the surface of your skin as it has the ability to draw and hold water, keeping your skin hydrated and plump.

Licorice Extract : A spot-fader and is effective in improving uneven skin tone. A skin-soothing ingredient which offers anti-inflammatory benefits.

Calendula Extract : High in antioxidants and antibacterial properties that can help to soothe skin. Contains hydrating properties to keep skin healthy and youthful.

Centella Asiatica : Also known as "Cica" to help to revitalize the skin, it contains antimicrobial and anti-aging skin benefiting effects.

Ceramides : Help skin to form a barrier against harmful environmental threats. It limits the moisture loss in our skin - one of the anti-aging powerhouse.

Vitamin B5's Panthenol : Soothe and soften skin, plumps and moisturizes the topmost layer of your skin, giving you a younger and fuller look.

Pure Water, Sorbitol, 1,3-Butylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Silk Protein, Licorice Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Sodium Alginate, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyproline, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tripleurospermum Maritimum Extract, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Lactate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceramides, Panthenol, Fragrance

Where To Buy : Skinsparkle

Conclusion 

To conclude, Skin Sparkle. Co Ultra Hydrating Sparkle Sheet Mask is a great mask in keeping my skin looking slightly brighter, fresh and glowy in just 10 minutes. It is also smooth and supple to the touch. If you have dull or dry skin, you can consider adding this mask to your twice weekly masking sessions!

Once again, thank you so much to Daphne for sending Skin Sparkle Ultra Hydrating Sparkle Sheet Mask my way! I still can't get over how pretty the mask is! 

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[ Review ] : Iunik Vitamin Hyaluronic Acid Vitalizing Toner

Product Description
Containing 45% hyaluronic acid and 5% hippophae rhamnoides fruit extract, this runny gel-type toner is quickly absorbed by skin and offers moisturizing and brightening benefits.

Hailing from Korea, iUNIK minimized everything that was excessive and unnecessary: fancy packaging and designs. With simple packaging, iUNIK products are formulated with effective ingredients in all of their products, while bringing down the cost.

They believed in....
- Simple and minimal design and package
- Effective ingredients with natural origin
- Routine skin care with simplified skin care steps
- Affordable with generous capacity.

I purchased a couple of Iunik products in Korea and one of them was Iunik Vitamin Hyaluronic Acid Vitalizing Toner. Check out my previous reviews on Iunik Beta-Glucan Power Moisture Serum, Beta-Glucan Daily Moisture Cream, Iunik Tea Tree Relief Serum, Iunik Black Snail Restore Serum and Iunik Centella Calming Gel. 

At 200ml size, it took me about 3.5 months to deplete it, with twice daily usage.

Benefits of Iunik Vitamin Hyaluronic Acid Vitalizing Toner

Packaging, Scent and Texture 

Iunik Vitamin Hyaluronic Acid Vitalizing Toner comes in a clear plastic bottle with a twist and turn cap. The toner is clear in colour with a gel texture that has a viscous consistency. It is scentless and easy to glide on skin with cotton pads or hands but left a rather sticky film behind which goes away after awhile.

Performance and Ingredients

I enjoyed using Iunik Vitamin Hyaluronic Acid Vitalizing Toner for its moisturizing and brightening benefits. I started off with using cotton pads to apply them as its fuss-free, convenient and quicker and moved on to using hands when I have alittle bit more time as I would pat my skin all over ( after spreading the toner on my palms ) with light tapping motions.

According to L'oreal,

"Patting is a gentler way to apply your skin care products, which means it helps to minimize how much you’ll pull or drag on your skin. Since rubbing—which is the way many people tend to apply their skin care products—can create friction on your skin, it can cause irritation and inflammation, and even lead to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The truth is, it’s always better to treat your skin with a light hand as it can be more fragile than you’d think. Some proponents of the technique even suggest that patting can help skin care products to penetrate better."

The toner with its gel texture does left a slight tacky sensation behind but it goes away after a short while and doesn't really bother me as I would be following up with a serum and moisturizer. The texture may feel thick but it absorbs nicely into skin. You can also do a quick 2 to 3 layers on skin if you have super dry skin.

Initially, I was disappointed that there was no brightening effect but after using for about 60%, I started to see the brightening glow on skin. It was instantaneous, immediately after all the tapping motions and I was like WOW.

      

Needless to say, I was very pleased with Iunik Vitamin Hyaluronic Acid Vitalizing Toner! I like that the product is affordable with great ingredients, hydrates well and plumps up the skin with a brightening glow! It is also one of ( Gothamista ) Renee's favourite products in 2018!

In terms of ingredients, this gel type toner offers powerful vitalizing and moisturizing care with 5% Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruits Extract and 45% Hyaluronic Acid. Nutritious Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruits Extract enriched with Vitamins provides ample nutrients and outstanding whitening effect in creating bright, clear skin while high concentration of Hyaluronic Acid supplies rich moisture with moisture loss block.

Related Post :

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Review

Dr. Morita Hyaluronic Acid Facial Mask

Key ingredients: 
Hyaluronic Acid : Well known for its skin benefits, especially alleviating dry skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and speeding up wound healing.

Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract : Also known as Sea Buckthorn extract, consisting of sugars, sugar alcohols, fruit acids, vitamins (C, E, and K), phenolic compounds, carotenoids, fiber, amino acids, minerals, and plant sterols which are nourishing for skin.
Boosts the immune system by providing the body with essential fatty acids. Its anti-inflammatory properties also helped to calm and sooth red and cracked skin.

You can check out the breakdown of the list of ingredients on Incidecoder.

Where To Purchase : Amazon | Shopee | Amazon SG | Yesstyle
Iunik Vitamin Hyaluronic Acid Vitalizing Toner
Iunik Rose Galactomyces Essential Toner

Iunik Vitamin Hyaluronic Acid Vitalizing Toner ( Shopee )

Iunik Rose Galactomyces Essential Toner ( Shopee ) 

Conclusion

If you have been battling with dehydration, dry and dull skin, do consider adding Iunik Vitamin Hyaluronic Acid Vitalizing Toner into your skincare routine but you must be patient to see the effects as it took me about 2.5 months of daily usage to see the brightening glow on my skin. This is also one of the reasons as to why I don't switch products unless I used it up, as I think its only fair to give each product time to work on the skin! Leave a comment if you love them too!

Check out my other favourite toners -

Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner

Leahlani Skincare Bohemian Ruby Balancing Toner

Pixi Glow Tonic 

XOUL Calming Cell Toner 

Purito Centella Unscented Toner

This product is featured in my Top 25 Beauty Empties I Loved in 2020. You can also check out Amazon's Bestselling Beauty and Personal Care list which is updated hourly. 

Here's my latest post : Top 21 Empties in 2021!

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[ Review ] : Cell BN Cellxv Peel-Off Modelling Mask

Product Description
Cellxv Peel-Off Modelling Mask provides your skin the hydration it needs while clearing out the impurities. Formulated with Hyaluronic Acid, it provides the necessary moisture and nutrient your skin craves.

Cell BN is a cosmeceutical line of professional cosmetics created in South Korea with the participation of dermatologists, biochemists and plastic surgeons. Cell BN ( Cell Biology New Born ) is said to restore and rejuvenate the skin at the cellular level where the principle of operation is based on the sensitivity of skin cells and their ability to regenerate.

Using more than 95% natural ingredients, more than 75% organic substances and 100% patented natural ingredients, Cell BN cosmetics can be used from the age of 30+ for the prevention of aging, wrinkle formation and preservation of skin firmness and elasticity properties.

Alcohol, artificial colours, artificial mineral oils, parabens, steroids, benzophenone, dimethicone, synthetic antioxidants, oxybenzone, triclosan are not used in their products.

Bag of Beautiful has offered to send over Cellxv Peel-Off Modelling Mask for my honest review. It comes in a 500g aluminium foil bag as shown above, with a spatula, a 2-way mixer / spread and a white silicone mixing bowl kept in another white drawstring bag.

The packaging looked presentable as a gift for yourself or for friends and colleagues and can definitely last for several months.