♥ c o u t u r e c h i l d ♥

Introduction to Enkido Skincare from Australia

2015-11-22T13:32:00.000+08:00

I discovered Enkido Skincare somehow through a natural skincare forum. It's a line from Australia that makes no-frills skincare for sensitive skin. They have an online shop and there's actually free international shipping if you purchase more than AUD 100! Since the AUD exchange rate has been pretty good recently and I needed to replenish my skincare, I decided to try their products.

Here's a breakdown of my overall first impression of the brand - they have 4 main lines of skincare, namely Hydrate (for dry skin), Clear (for oily/acne-prone skin), Calming (for sensitive skin), and Synergy (for aging skin). The ingredients for most of the lines are pretty similar, except for certain added ingredients.

Calming - Has the least ingredients to prevent aggravation of sensitive skin. Includes colloidal oatmeal to calm skin (base ingredient for all other types)

Hydrate - Has additional hyaluronic acid, green tea, niacinamide and beta-glucan

Clear - Has additional white willow extract (salicylic acid) for light exfoliation of blocked pores for congested skin, plus beta-glucan, hyaluronic acid and licorice root extract

Synergy - Ingredients same as Hydrate, with the addition of blue green algae, ginseng extract, licorice root extract, cucumber extract and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)

(Background on ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal soothes skin, beta-glucan helps to firm and tone skin, hyaluronic acid is hydrating, blue green algae replenishes nutrients, green tea extract is an anti-oxidant, ginseng extract is for stimulating cell growth, licorice root extract is for evening skintone, cucumber extract is soothing and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is for preventing age spots and for collagen production).

Now, looking at the products by type - for skincare they have cleansers, infusions, moisturizers, facial scrubs and treatments.

The cleansers comprise a gel foaming cleanser, a cleansing milk, a make-up remover liquid, a cleansing oil and a very simple oatmeal cleanser. The gel foaming cleanser is good for all skin types. The cleansing milk contains olive oil and may be good for drier skin. The make-up remover liquid is good for all skin types and it's probably similar to Bioderma's (just more expensive - it includes colloidal oatmeal, beta-glucan and hyaluronic acid too). The cleansing oil contains olive oil and coconut oil (which is comedogenic), so I won't try it because I have acne-prone skin. The oatmeal cleanser is just pure colloidal oatmeal, I thought it was a little expensive so I didn't get it this time.

As for the moisturizers - there are moisturizers for each line, and you can select the consistency you want, in either fluid, lotion or cream form. The fluids have a base of vegetable glycerin, cetearyl olivate, sorbitan olivate, niacinamide, olive oil and olive squalane, so it feels very light (I tried the Clear Fluid). The lotions have pretty much the same base ingredients (minus glycerin), just that a larger proportion of olive oil is included, which should give it a slightly heavier texture. The creams have also pretty much the same base (minus glycerin), with the addition of olive oil and olive butter as the main ingredients, which give it the thickest consistency. I noticed there is no moisturizing cream for the "Clear" line for acne-prone skin, probably because olive butter can be comedogenic. (So I probably won't try any of the creams.)

The infusions are just water with the various ingredients for each line added in. Enkido also has a bunch of scrubs, a mud mask, a hydrating mask, a night serum and an eye cream.

For my first purchase, I got the Clear Moisture Fluid, Clear Infusion and 2 bottles of Foaming Cleanser, which I will review in my next post. :)

Review: Cerave Eye Repair Cream

2015-11-15T15:00:00.000+08:00

A while ago, I ran out of eye cream and searched Paula's Beautypedia looking for an affordable eye cream. That's when I found Cerave Eye Repair Cream which got a 5/5 rating on Beautypedia. I got it from Drugstore.com at USD 13.99 for a 14g tube, pretty affordable!

It was given a 5-star (highest) rating on Beautypedia because of the impressive ingredients - ceramides (replaces lipid levels in skin), hyaluronic acid (humectant, hydrates skin), marine and botanical complex (good for microcirculation), niacinamide (aids skin in production of ceramides and fatty acids), plus it uses MVE technology for timed release of ingredients. But personally, I didn't think it was emollient enough for my dry under-eye area. It's a white cream that's not greasy at all and dries to a semi-matte texture; it's ok alone for day use, but at night, I usually layer it on after my facial oil. It is definitely not moisturizing enough for dry climates or in winter.

To summarize - it's a value-for-money eye cream for young 20s' skin, for day use and best reserved for summer.

Ingredients: Purified Water, Niacinamide, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Propanediol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Jojoba Esters, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Ceramide 3, Ceramide 6-11, Ceramide 1, Hyaluronic Acid, Zinc Citrate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Almond) Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Tocopherol, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sorbitol, Triethanolamine, Laureth-4, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum

Rating: Nice to have

Review: Suki Transformative Cleansing Clay

2015-11-08T17:02:00.002+08:00

This is a product that I've used for awhile and haven't gotten around to reviewing - Suki Transformative Cleansing Clay. I believe it has been discontinued and replaced with Suki Transformative Purifying Masque. The ingredients are actually really similar, except maybe the placement in the ingredient list changed a bit. Plus, the Cleansing Clay included Resveratrol (not in the Masque), while the Masque includes safflower seed oil (not in the Cleansing Clay). The price remains the same - 30ml for USD48.95 with a 12-month use-by period.

My review is on the Cleansing Clay, though it's not the same product I hope it will still be useful since the ingredients are really similar. The product can be used in 3 ways - as cleanser, a rinse-off masque (left on for 20 mins), or spot treatment (apply thin layer and leave on spots or all over the face overnight). I think the company realised that the price of the product was too expensive for it to be used as a cleanser (because you would need a lot of product to cleanse, plus it's not super good at cleansing anyway), which is why the new Masque doesn't mention anything about cleansing.

I don't use the Cleansing Clay as a cleanser (too wasteful). I've tried using it as a masque and also to spot-treat huge blemishes overnight. The Cleansing Clay has a very watery consistency and impossible to layer thickly, so it doesn't feel as deep-cleansing as other mud masks which can be packed onto the skin densely. However, I do feel it's very soothing and as an overnight treatment, it did help calm my inflamed blemishes down.

Ingredients for Suki Transformative Cleansing Clay: rosa damascena (rose) flower distillate, kaolin, alcohol, oryza sativa (rice) starch, glycerin (vegetable), salix alba (willow) bark extract, xanthan gum, zinc oxide, calendula officinalis (calendula) flower extract, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) distillate, lavendula angustifolia (lavender) oil, polygonum cuspidatum (resveratrol) root extract, ascophyllum nodosum (seaweed) extract, melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaf oil.

Ingredients for Suki Transformative Purifying Masque: rosa centifolia (provence rose) concentrate†, kaolin, alcohol (from sugar cane denatured with lavender oil)†, glycerin, salix alba (willow) bark extract, oryza sativa (rice) starch†, zinc oxide, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) water, calendula officinalis (calendula) flower extract, carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil, ascophyllum nodosum (seaweed) extract†, melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaf oil, resveratrol, xanthan gum, fragrance (parfum), limonene, linalool

To be honest, I won't repurchase this - it's too expensive for such a small amount. Plus, other than the zinc oxide, most of the active ingredients in the mask (willow bark extract, witch hazel, calendula extract, tea tree oil) are found in most of my other skincare products too, so it isn't exactly value-adding to my skincare routine, and I can easily find other masks that contain kaolin clay that do the job at a lower price. I would recommend this only if you have had a good experience with zinc oxide and you have cash to spare. :)

Rating: Nice to have

Thayer's Alcohol-Free Toners - Lavender, Cucumber, Rose and Unscented

2015-10-25T15:20:00.004+08:00

I've previously reviewed Thayer's Rose Petal Witch Hazel here. I realised they have a few other types of alcohol-free toners as well, so I decided to get them all and try! I actually tried these over the past year and bought another few bottles to last me till next year, so you can see how loyal I am to Thayer's.

The base ingredients of all the toners are the same (this is the ingredient list for Unscented):

Purified Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf (Certified Organic Filet Of Aloe Vera), Glycerin (Vegetable), Hamamelis Virginiana (made from Certified Organic Witch Hazel) Extract, Citric Acid, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract

The only difference and additional ingredient for all the other scented toners are as follows:

Rose Petal: Rose Flower Water

Lavender: Lavender Flower Water

Cucumber: Cucumber Fruit Extract

Rose and lavender flower waters are supposed to be good for hydrating skin, while cucumber extract helps to soothe skin. I'm quite a fan of Paula's Choice Beautypedia, but she's not a fan of witch hazel or flower waters unfortunately - she claims they may potentially irritate the skin (due to tannins in witch hazel, and strong fragrance from flowers).

I will continue using Thayer's witch hazel because it has been great to my skin, but I have to agree - I don't think the rose and lavender versions made any particular difference to my skin, they were just very strongly scented. For the Rose Petal version, I didn't like the scent at first, but I got used to it after a while and now it doesn't bother me at all. The Lavender version, on the other hand, evokes Old Lady to me. I love lavender in general, but this one just doesn't smell good! My favourite would be Cucumber - it smells fresh and light, plus Beautypedia gave cucumber fruit extract a "good" rating. Unscented was ok - no scent, but it feels nothing special, like I applied water to my face... I guess I like scents? ^_^;

So my conclusion was - out of all the different versions, I prefer the Cucumber one! But seriously - they're really not that different. If a particular scent floats your boat, by all means get it!

Rating: Love it!

(By the way, I know Thayer's makes astringent toners that contain alcohol, plus a lemon astringent toner... but I'm not interested in trying them at all, because alcohol = drying to me, and I tend to avoid citrus ingredients as they sensitize my skin. I would highly recommend sticking to the alcohol-free versions.)

Review: Phytopolleine Universal Elixir

2015-10-24T13:43:00.000+08:00

I have used a few bottles of Phytopolleine before - the small bottle is 25ml and comes with a dropper tip, for easy application to the scalp (above). I've always found it pretty expensive (around SGD 55 for a 25ml bottle after discount), but I recently bought a large bottle (100ml) which is more cost-effective (can't remember the price though). The large bottle (below) comes with a dropper applicator, which is really easy to use too. The plastic dropper splits really easily at the top though, and once it splits you won't be able to get any liquid up the dropper. It needs some improvement!

There are 2 ways of using Phytopolleine - apply to unwashed scalp 30 minutes before shampooing, or leave overnight for an intense treatment. I have only tried the first method (before shampooing) because the serum is oil-based and I don't like to get it on my pillow. For those sensitive to scents - Phytopolleine has quite a strong scent which I can sometimes still catch a whiff of after I shampoo. Catching a light whiff of it throughout the day is ok - but smelling it full-blast when it's on your head is another thing altogether! So yeah, I don't really recommend leaving it overnight. ;)

I use it about twice/thrice a week, or when I can fit it into my schedule. If you have an oily/itchy scalp, this really helps to rebalance and stimulate the scalp to make your hair stronger. When I wash it off, my hair is a lot smoother (probably cos of the oil) and lighter and manageable! And my scalp feels fresh and purified. I feel like it helps make my hair grow out stronger... but that might well be psychological. ;) Still, I love using Phytopolleine and I would highly recommend it. Get the large bottle if you can find it - it's much more economical and will last you much longer than the 25ml one! (The 25ml one lasts me barely a month!)

Ingredients: Zea Mays (Corn) Germ Oil, Fragrance / Parfum, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Limonene, Melaleuca Leucadendron Cajaput Oil (Cajeput), Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil, Cupressus Sempervirens Oil (Cyprès), Linalool, Citral, Isoeugenol, Geraniol, Eugenol, Coumarin, Citronellol.

Rating: Love it!

Review: Phyto Phytoapaisant Instant Soothing Spray

2015-09-20T23:43:00.000+08:00

My body reacts badly to stress - when I get stressed, I'll get a breakout, and my scalp also gets sensitive. I bought this Phytoapaisant Instant Soothing Spray quite a while ago during an episode and I really love it, but I use it very very sparingly because it's quite costly. It costs about SGD 55 (and that's after discount!) for a 50ml bottle, and it feels so soothing that you'll be tempted to use a lot!

It's an aerosol spray with a long nozzle that makes it easy to aim the spray at your scalp (instead of wasting product on your hair). The spray feels really cooling and soothing - immediately my scalp is soothed. The spray has a lovely, calming scent.

Key ingredients (extracted from the Phyto website):

• Purslane and oat extracts: natural soothant that reduces inflammatory effects

• Oat extract: rich in essential amino-acids, moisturizes and protects

• Essential oils of mint and eucalyptus: refreshing

• Angelica fruit extraction (63%): softens

I find the soothing effects are kind of temporary - after a while, the mintiness fades away and I feel tempted to spray again. I think the spray has to be used in conjunction with a soothing shampoo for the best effect. I also occasionally use Phytopolleine, that really famous scalp serum from Phyto, but Phytopolleine doesn't actually soothe your scalp; it helps more to increase blood circulation at the scalp and makes your scalp healthier. More on that in my next post!

Overall, I do like the Phytoapaisant Instant Soothing Spray. I just wish it was more affordable, so that I won't need to use it so sparingly. I believe this comes in a larger 150ml size which is more value-for-money, but I haven't been able to find the larger size in Singapore. Would I repurchase? Yes, but I'm also very interested in trying other products - I have my eye on Intelligent Nutrients Pureplenty Nourishing Scalp and Strand Serum and hope to try it soon!

Rating: Love it!

Arcona Gentle Solution

2015-08-07T22:12:00.000+08:00

Arcona Gentle Solution is an exfoliating serum meant for night use. It costs USD 53 for 35ml and is best used within 6 months, but my bottle has lasted me way longer than that. The instructions say to use 2 - 4 times a week. I use this once every 2/3 days. If your skin is more sensitive, you can use it once every 4 days. Sometimes, it stings a little bit if I use it every 2 days, so I adjust the frequency accordingly. That said, Gentle Solution is definitely one of the most gentle exfoliating serums I've used, but despite the gentleness, I can see a definite improvement in the texture of my skin the next morning.

When I'm having a breakout, I use this all over my face without an additional spot treatment and immediately my skin is smoother and calmer the next morning. It has a slightly sticky texture so I apply it while my skin is still damp with toner, which makes the serum glide on more easily. A little goes a long way - no need to over-apply! After applying Gentle Solution, I just follow up with my regular night cream or facial oil. The next day, I wake up with noticeably smaller pores, a more even skin-tone, and a calmer complexion.

In conclusion - I love this serum and will definitely repurchase.

Rating: Love it!

Ingredients: Agua (Distilled Water), Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Hydrolized Soy Extract, Glycerine, Glycolic Acid Polymer, Lactic Acid Polymer, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernal Oil, Glycogen, Beta-fructan, Glucosamine HCI, Chlorophyll, Guava (Psidium Guajava) Extract, Grapefruit (Citrus Gandis) Seed Extract

Skylake Oriental Herb Cool Shampoo

2015-08-02T17:12:00.000+08:00

I bought this during my trip to Korea. As you can see, it has this Korean herb inside. The salesgirl selected a bottle which looked darker for me (which means that the herb has infused more into the shampoo). I love the scent, it smells absolutely delicious - it smells a little herbal and pepperminty, and it looks and feels like honey - yum!

It cleanses well enough for an oily scalp and it's gentle enough for a sensitive scalp. I try to lather up and leave it on my scalp a little while (when I have time) so that the herbs work their magic. Though it's not too drying on my hair, it's still a clarifying shampoo, so I always make sure to use a conditioner afterwards.

More info that I extracted from the website:

- Contains oriental herb “WILFORDI ROOT” that makes hair black and prevents hair loss.

- Contains oriental herb “SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS ROOT POWDER ” that has antibacterial and antiinflammatory effects.

- Give scalp cooling sensation with menthol and peppermint.

- Formulated with patented Skylake oriental herbal water, which is extracted from 18 types of oriental herbs, known for anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties

In short - a very lovely shampoo that doesn't break the bank. If you have a sensitive, itchy scalp, you have to try this. I used a discount coupon for Skylake that I got from the Visit Korea website. If I ever return to Korea, I'm definitely getting a jumbo bottle of this. Skylake also has an English website - maybe I'll try it one day. Singaporeans can purchase it at Hebeloft.com, but the prices are kinda expensive compared to the original Korean prices.

Rating: Love it!

Refer to the ingredients for Skylake Cool Shampoo here: http://www.cosdna.com/eng/cosmetic_8c40145815.html.

Review: YÜLI Liquid Courage

2015-07-27T22:42:00.000+08:00

I purchased this in a deluxe trial size - 7.5ml, which comes in a dear little amber dropper bottle. I like this size - very travel friendly and I do think it'll last me quite some time, as I find the 30ml bottles quite impossible to finish up before their use-by periods of 8 months. If you like to mix up your face oils and use a different oil every day, you'll probably find having a bunch of 7.5ml bottles better than the 30ml ones. The sad thing is, the Cell Perfecto PM is not available in a deluxe trial size.

So, back to Liquid Courage. It's an antioxidant serum that doesn't feel oily at all. I think this is the most suitable of all Yuli's face oils to be used in the day, because it is the lightest - even lighter than ME Skin Fuel. It feels really silky. It does feel a little heavy when I layer sunscreen over it, but I soon forget about it. It does look shiny on its own (disclaimer: I naturally have really oily and shiny looking complexion) but I layer a bunch of powder over it (current favourite for about 2 years now - Too Faced Primed and Poreless loose powder) and it's ok! I also do blot a couple of times throughout the day, but it's nothing unusual; that's what I usually do anyway.

I can get away with using this in the daytime in hot and humid Singapore. But I find it most useful when I'm in a dry winter climate - in the daytime, I'll layer a few drops of Liquid Courage, followed by a moisturizer to seal it in (like Laneige Water Bank Gel Cream), and this combination keeps my skin protected all day!

Ingredients: Botanical Antioxidant Seed Complex (Grapeseed, Pomegranate, Red Raspberry, Blueberry, Carrot Seed, Golden Jojoba Seed, Cranberry Seed), S. chinensis (Jojoba) oil*, A. spinosa (Argan) oil*, supercritical extracts of pomegranate seed, rosehip, seabuckthorn fruit*, R. officinalis (Rosemary) antioxidant extract*, Liquified black garlic ferment, L-Ferulic Acid (Derived from Acai and Argan), tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (vitamin C), C. aurantium (Neroli) oil*, C. atlantica (Cedarwood) oil*, Ubiquinone (Liquid CoEnzyme Q10 from Vegan sources), Soy Peptides, D-alpha tocopherol (Vitamin E)

Rating: Love it!

Review: YÜLI Panacea Elixir

2015-07-17T23:46:00.003+08:00

I purchased this in the deluxe size - 100ml at USD 68. I've previously tried Yuli's M.E. Skin Fuel and Cell Perfecto PM, so I decided to try the elixir. Panacea is recommended for oily, blemish-prone skin.

It comes in a Miron-violet glass bottle. The one thing I think can be improved is the spray - it's a little tight and the mist comes out a little too concentrated in a small area. I prefer the spray pump from Suki's Concentrated Purifying Toner - the mist comes out finer and is distributed evenly over a larger surface area.

Panacea Elixir has a really concentrated floral scent (probably from the helichrysum). It was a little too much for me at first, but the scent really grows on me - it's so natural and floral and soothing. The scent is so strong, it must be the essence of all those flowers bottled into the elixir.

The elixir feels very soothing and calming, but it doesn't give any dramatic effects. For example, if I use SKII Facial Treatment Essence at night, I can feel a definite smoothness and softness to my skin the very next morning. With Panacea Elixir, I can't really tell the difference. For Yuli products though, I find they need to be used consistently for results to show. For example, when I was using Cell Perfecto PM, I couldn't tell how my skin improved on a day-to-day basis - it wasn't noticeable. But when I looked back at my photos a few months ago (before I started using the serum), I realized wow - the texture of my skin had improved tenfold, I no longer had so many clogged pores, and my scars had faded. So... it's hard to review Yuli products but I'm sure they make a difference. It always feels very soothing to spray Panacea on my face when it's sensitive and inflamed.

Generally, I use Panacea Elixir in the day and SKII Facial Treatment Essence at night. I definitely want to try their Cocoon Elixir and Metamorphic Elixir next - I'll probably stock up on trial sized bottles and bring the Metamorphic Elixir along when I go overseas again to dry temperate places.

My current favourites!

Ingredients:D-Aloe barbadenis, R. damascena (rose) hydrolat*, H. italicum (helichrysum) hydrolat*, L. angustifolia(lavender) hydrolat*, H. virginiana (witch hazel) hydrolat^, H. italicum/L. angustifolia (helichrysum/lavender) hydrolat*, frequency enhanced water, vegetable glycerine, C. sativus (cucumber) extract, N. officinale(watercress) extract*, biodynamic fruit enzymes, trace minerals complex, colloidal silver

Rating: Love it!

Review: Suki Spa Bio-active Purifying Face Serum

2015-07-13T22:48:00.000+08:00

Wow. I realized I haven't posted anything in almost 9 months. >_< Life's been hectic. So what made me decide to restart my blogging? I was organizing my skincare, cosmetics, and bath and body stuff, and I realized, I need to record my reviews of all these awesome products I've tried so that I don't forget them. So here I go with the first one - Suki Spa Bio-active Purifying Face Serum.

"I formulate my concentrated & lightweight purifying serum to target blemishes, visibly control oil & bacteria production, purify pores & dramatically improve skin clarity. a sukispa® exclusive & part of any balancing regimen for problem skin, my bio-active serum shows blemish reduction action up to 80% in clinical tests & leaves skin fresh, luminous, renewed & clear." - from Suki's website.

This is a yellow, slightly opaque serum with a texture that is slightly thicker than Eminence Willow Bark Serum. It has a slightly soapy scent which I love! It absorbs very easily into my skin. It doesn't spread as easily as Eminence's. Because of this, I have a tendency to use more than required, so a bottle doesn't last me very long! (It's only 15ml, which is sooo tiny!) I really tried to use it sparingly - one tip I can give is that if you use a spray toner, use this serum on your damp face and it'll spread better using less product. I like the cute little dropper - usually droppers have a little ball tip but this one doesn't. Like most products in glass bottles, it does get hard to get the remaining serum at the bottom so I just use a Q-tip.

It costs US$82.95 for 15ml. I purchased this from Dermstore at 20% off but it's no longer available. I can still see it on Suki's website though, so I'm not sure whether it's been discontinued. I like this quite a lot. It gets absorbed into my skin easily and exfoliates my skin - when I use toner, I can see my dead skin cells coming off on the cotton pad and my skin feels a lot smoother. However, it is very very expensive. I will only purchase it when it's on sale, and even then I find it expensive.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Malus Domestica/Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Vanillosmopsis Erythropappa (Candeia), Echinacea Purpurea (Echinacea) Extract, Hydrastis Canadensis (Goldenseal) Root Extract, Sodium Citrate (Citric Acid), Vigna Acontifolia (Moth Bean) Extract, Lavendula Angustifolia (Lavender) Extract, Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) Fruit Extract, Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Glycerin (Vegetable)

Rating: 9/10 (-1 just cos it's too pricey, but I love it)

Origins Peace of Mind On-The-Spot Relief

2014-10-25T22:33:00.001+08:00

I just returned from a work trip to the Maldives. Before I flew, I bought a 3-pack of Origins Peace of Mind On-the-spot Relief. I used to use the Peace of Mind Sensory Therapy Diffuser, which was a plastic box that you open and breathe the scent in. The diffuser lasts a really long time but I think it's been discontinued, so I had to settle for On-the-spot Relief instead. I got the 3-pack for less than S$60 at Changi Airport, works out to about S$20 a bottle which is ok!

I know a lot of Asian/Chinese bring medicated oil on their travels for tummy aches and headaches - it is minty and really helps! But the main drawback of medicated oil is that it smells very pungent and I try not to use it in public because people usually recognise the scent of medicated oil and start asking "Are you ill?" Plus, some people dislike the strong scent of medicated oil (ingredients include eucalyptus, menthol, camphor, methyl salicylate and peppermint oil, sometimes clove oil depending on the brand). Origins Peace of Mind is a good alternative if you find the scent of medicated oil too strong. (Of course, medicated oil is much cheaper.)

Origins Peace of Mind contains peppermint, eucalyptus and basil, which smells really soothing and calming. I like rubbing it on my temples and on the back of my neck - it's just a little tingly. The scent lasts for about an hour - it fades pretty quickly. I would say it's a 'nice-to-have' but it is on the pricey side for a tiny 15ml bottle that may be used up very quickly if you have a tendency to get stressed or get migraines easily. Would I repurchase? Yes, it's nice to have on travels and very soothing on the plane!

Review: 100% Pure Purity Spot Treatment.

2014-10-02T21:30:00.000+08:00

I realise I haven't posted in a couple of months - I've been on multiple work trips, to Beijing, Bali and this Sunday I'll be going to the Maldives! Been really swamped with work but still trying to stay happy and healthy amidst the craziness, and keep my skin looking good (which is so hard when I travel)!

So today I'd like to share a review of 100% Pure's Purity Spot Treatment! It's called a spot treatment, but if you're looking for a traditional spot treatment (i.e. zit zapper) to target inflamed zits, this is not it. It's not strong enough. Instead, I use it as an allover acne treatment before adding a light layer of moisturizer (it's super gentle - it's not a spot treatment really so it's totally not harsh at all). If you have seriously oily and problematic skin, it's moisturizing enough to use all over the face without the need for an additional face moisturizer. (It will not be moisturizing enough for normal skin, or in air-conditioning, or in dry climates.) I read the reviews on MuA and I see that everyone agrees that this is not a heavy-duty acne spot treatment - many use it all over the face as a pre-moisturizer acne serum.

The ingredients are mainly essential oils in an aloe vera base. This is one of the few facial products I could find which includes thyme, which is supposed to be a good acne fighter!

I do like the Purity Spot Treatment as a gentle allover anti-acne base. I find it really helps with oil control! If I'm not in air-conditioning, I will skip moisturizer and just apply this all over. My oily but dehydrated skin does feel like it needs more moisture if I use this alone, but if your skin is oily and not dehydrated, you can definitely use this alone. (Price - US$19 for 30ml, pretty reasonable.)

Ingredients: Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf (Aloe Juice)*, Organic Lavandula Angustifolia Aqua (Lavender Hydrosol)*, Extracts Of Calendula Officinalis Flower (Calendula), Echinacea Purpurea (Echinacea), Hydrastis Canadensis (Goldenseal), Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Flower/Leaf/Stem And Lonicera Caprifolium (Japanese Honeysuckle), Hyaluronic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana Water (Witch Hazel), Extracts Of Fucus Vesiculosus (Seaweed), Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf (Rosemary), Origanum Vulgare Leaf (Oregano) And Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf (Thyme). * Certified Organic

Rating: 9/10

Review: Eminence Clear Skin Willow Bark Booster-Serum

2014-07-13T17:54:00.001+08:00

Eminence is an organic skin care brand from Hungary. The difference between Eminence and other green/natural brands is that Eminence uses organic fresh fruit pulps and plants, not just plant extracts. I remember reading somewhere that there is no scientific evidence that fruit pulps are better than fruit extracts, but I decided to get this serum to try, because it was more affordable than a similar serum from Suki (which I will be reviewing in another post). Clear Skin Willow Bark Booster-Serum claims to purify, clear and help prevent future breakouts.

This is a peach/orange coloured serum with a runny, spreadable texture. It's US$56 for 30ml but I purchased this at a 20% discount during a Dermstore sale. It comes in a functional amber glass dropper bottle. It's easy to get just the right amount - I use 5 drops for my entire face. After use, I can feel that my face is being exfoliated - my pores are smaller and skin is smoother. When I apply toner using a cotton pad, I can see more dead skin on the cotton pad, because salicylic acid (from willow bark) helps loosen and exfoliate dead skin.

It definitely works to prevent future breakouts, by keeping my pores clear. (It doesn't actually help heal existing breakouts though - for that I need stronger spot treatments that contain any of the following active ingredients - tea tree oil, sulphur or AHA/BHA.) The instructions say that you can use it 4 to 5 times a day, but that's too much for me! My skin starts getting sensitive if I use salicylic acid twice daily, so I usually use this serum at night, after toner and acne spot treatments, and before facial oil or moisturizer. I prefer not to use this in the day, because it is a little sticky and gives my oily skin a bit of a sheen.

Would I repurchase? This is much cheaper than comparable alternatives like Suki Spa's Bio-Active Purifying Face Serum (US$82.95 for 15ml), but similarly effective. So yes, I would repurchase - but only during Dermstore's 20% sales because I'm a savvy consumer. ;) One thing to note - shelf life or use-by date weren't stated on the product.

Ingredients: Salix Alba (Willow Bark) Extract, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Tea, Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail) Extract, Vegetable Glycerin, Panthenol, Juglans Regia (Walnut) Leaf Extract, Cyclodextrin, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Lactic Acid, Vegetable Squalane, Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q10), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C Ester), Sodium Salicylate, Pimpinella Anisum (Anise) Oil

• Willow Bark: calms skin

• Horsetail: softens skin, tones and promotes elasticity

• Walnut Leaf: provides gentle exfoliation

• Anise: antioxidant rich

• Tea Tree Oil: essential oil

• Biocomplex™: an antioxidant booster of Vitamins A, Ester C, E, Coenzyme Q10, Alpha Lipoic Acid; to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and improve the appearance of skin

Rating: 9/10 (-1 for a slight sticky texture)

Review: Cle de Peau Concealer

2014-07-07T23:29:00.001+08:00

Finally some make-up! Well, base make-up but make-up nonetheless. I've been blogging so much about skincare these days. Anyway, I'll be reviewing Cle de Peau's famous stick concealer. It comes in 4 shades - Ivory, Beige, Ochre and Honey (in order of light to dark). I have 2 shades - Ochre and Ivory. Ivory is the yellow-based fairest shade. Beige is pink-based fair-medium. Ochre is yellow-based medium. Honey is a yellow-orangey medium-dark.

L - R: Cle de Peau concealer in Ochre and Ivory

The tubes above are fully extended. I have used Ochre daily for about 6 months and you can see there's still a lot left! (Use-by period is 24 months, so one concealer stick will last you 2 years, so even though it's pretty dear at US$70, cost per use is only about US$0.10 per day!) Ivory is brand new. I have MAC NC25-30 skintone but I have really dark circles around my eyes and I use Ochre to conceal them. Ochre was too dark to conceal blemishes on the other parts of my face (which is pretty fair) so I tried using Ivory but it's a tad too light. :( Beige is too pink-based for my yellow-based Asian skintone. I wish Cle de Peau would come up with more colours!

L - R: Cle de Peau concealer in Ochre and Ivory

I swatched these on my inner forearm which is lighter than my face, which is why Ochre looks so dark. Well, what do I love about this concealer? It's really easy to use - just swipe and tap onto skin. Coverage is excellent and lasts well. It doesn't crease on my undereyes, unlike some cream-type concealers. It is a very functional concealer - semi-matte finish. No bells and whistles, no luminizing/brightening properties - it just conceals and lasts for a day on me and looks natural. So natural, in fact, that nobody can tell I've got make-up on. (Because these days, I usually use just concealer, sunscreen and loose powder.) Is this a good thing? I'm undecided.

I do wish they made more shades though! Ochre is good for my undereyes but somehow I feel that while it does its job well - it is a rather expensive concealer so I would expect more things - subtle luminescence? Make me look more bright-eyed and awake? I wish Cle de Peau would make a yellow-toned shade that is in between Ivory and Ochre. That would be absolutely perfect!

I'm sure some people would say it's not moisturizing enough for the undereye - but see, I believe this is supposed to be a multi-purpose, convenient, swipe-and-go concealer stick that you can use all over your face, not just your undereyes. It's tiny and portable and covers in a jiffy. Maybe one day I will outgrow it but currently this concealer fits my needs (swipe-and-go!) so I do think I will repurchase it.

Rating: 9/10 (-1 due to limited shade issues)

Review: 100% Pure Acai Berry Antioxidant Eye Cream

2014-06-22T00:43:00.000+08:00

The main difference between this eye cream and the 100% Pure Coffee Bean Eye Cream (previously reviewed) is that the coffee bean one has a base of rose hip oil, while this one has a base of acai berry oil. I feel that this is less greasy/oily than the Coffee Bean one, probably because rose hip oil is a heavier oil than acai berry oil. Also, the Coffee Bean one contains coffee cherry extract (caffeine) that is supposed to help depuff and make you look more awake.

From this swatch you can tell that the Acai Berry Eye Cream has a more fluid texture that the Coffee Bean Eye Cream (which is thicker and creamier).

I have to say - I like the Acai Berry Antioxidant Eye Cream better than the Coffee Bean Eye Cream. It is light, is absorbed easily and moisturizes well. It has a light berry scent. If you have oily skin and you live in a hot and humid climate - this eye cream will suit you better. Unlike the Coffee Bean Eye Cream, the Acai Berry one doesn't come in a smaller tube - it only comes in the 30ml pump tube with a shelf life of 6 months. Still, it isn't too pricy at US$28 and it will definitely last me for 6 months.

Ingredients: Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Organic Rosa Centifolia Flower Water (Rose Hydrosol)*, Euterpe Oleracea (Acai Berry) Fruit Oil, Extracts of: Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower, Euterpe Oleracea (Acai Berry) Fruit, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera (Candelilla), Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf, Thymus Vulgaris Hydrastis Canadensis (Goldendeal) and Lonicera Caprifolium (Japanese Honeysuckle), Sodium Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Tocopherol (Vitamin E) * Certified Organic

Rating: 9/10

Review: Thayer's Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner

2014-06-11T23:41:00.003+08:00

While Simple Kind To Skin Soothing Facial Toner used to be my go-to toner, I've recently discovered a cleaner alternative that is also affordable - Thayer's Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner! I purchased it for S$15.90 for 355ml at NaturaWorks. This works out to S$0.044 per ml for Thayer's as compared to S$0.035 per ml for Simple. It is really affordable in the US (US$8 on Drugstore.com) but it costs a bit more in Singapore. After using it for more than a month, I conclude that I like Thayer's more than Simple!

The witch hazel really freshens up my skin. It really helps to smooth my skin and makes my pores look smaller. It also helps remove any remaining dead skin cells - I can see it on the cotton pad after I wipe my face. I also mix it with tea tree oil to make a blemish treatment base. Basically I do all the same things with this as Simple Toner - and I find Thayer's more effective on my oily skin. The aloe vera base also makes it soothing - it helps calm down angry blemishes. I have also used Thayer's on wounds and itchy mosquito bites - it cools and takes away the sting. Looking at the ingredients below, it's all natural.

Ingredients: Purified Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Certified Organic Filet Of Aloe Vera), Glycerin (Vegetable), Fragrance (Natural Rose), Hamamelis Virginiana Extract (made from Certified Organic Witch Hazel), Rosa Centifolia (Rose) Flower Water, Citric Acid, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract.

Now for the (slightly) bad - I've read reviews where people love the rosewater scent, but I didn't really enjoy it that much. However, after a month of use, I've gotten used to it and it doesn't really bother me. I think it's just me; I've never really liked the scent of rosewater. Other than this rosewater toner, Thayer's also produces an unscented version (no rosewater), a lavender one (with lavender water in place of rosewater) and a cucumber one (with cucumber fruit extract in place of rosewater). I'm definitely getting them to try soon!

In conclusion - this is an affordable, natural toner that really helps to prep and freshen, and is best for normal to oily skin types. This, and the Simple Toner, are the only 2 toners right now that I would repurchase over and over again. But right now, in my bid to overhaul my beauty routine with cleaner and greener products - Thayer's is my preference.

Rating: 10/10

Review: Simple Kind To Skin Soothing Facial Toner

2014-06-05T23:25:00.000+08:00

I have mentioned and referenced this toner in many of my posts. It's the affordable and basic toner that I go back to using all the time, that balances out my skin in all kinds of trouble - whether it's too dry, too oily, sensitive, breaking out, this toner helps to soothe and calm my skin down. I purchase my Simple Toner at Beaute Spring for S$7, for a 200ml bottle. 200ml lasts me slightly over a month - I tone twice a day, and also use it to mix with tea tree oil as a blemish treatment base.

I use salicylic acid/glycolic acid treatments on my face, which help exfoliate skin. After washing, I always go over my face with toner on a cotton pad and as it helps remove the dead skin cells surfaced by the treatments. Not every toner does this well - Simple Toner is one of those toners where I can really see the 'dirt' and dead skin cells on the cotton pad (probably due to the allantoin), showing that it really does help remove any remaining traces of dirt or dead skin cells from my face.

Simple Toner is light and fragrance free and suitable for all skintypes. It is very, very gentle. Let me do a breakdown of some of the good ingredients:

- Sorbitol: Humectant

- Sodium PCA: Humectant and part of our skin's natural moisturizing factor. I love this ingredient.

- Allantoin: Anti-inflammatory, soothing. It promotes cell replication, helps the outer layer of dead skin cells to loosen and shed, and hence increases the smoothness of skin. I love this ingredient too!

- Hamamelis Virginiana Distillate, Chamomilla Recutita Extract: Witch hazel and chamomile calms and soothes skin.

The rest of the ingredients are filler - surfactants, preservatives and humectants that are present in smaller amounts and shouldn't affect the product so much. Most have low hazard scores on the EWG Skin Deep Database. However, on the Paula's Choice website, it states "formaldehyde-releasing preservative 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol makes it not so good for sensitive skin."

Ingredients: Aqua, Sorbitol, Sodium PCA, Allantoin, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Methylparaben, Propylene Glycol, Panthenol, Hamamelis Virginiana Distillate, 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Pantolactone, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben

In conclusion - this is a basic toner that never fails me, which I have repurchased countless times. I know I can count on it to balance out my skin when it goes wonky from trying out different products. Plus, it's affordable! Even if I stop using it sometimes when I'm trying other toners, I know for sure I will repurchase it. If you're only just starting to look after your skin and are on a budget, look no further - this is the toner for you.

Rating: 10/10

Review: The Skin Pharmacy Natural Alcohol-Free Toner and Natural Deep Cleansing Mild Facial Wash

2014-05-12T23:28:00.001+08:00

The Skin Pharmacy is a Singaporean brand that focuses on natural ingredients. I'd always wanted to try their products, so when there was a special promotion last year to purchase the Natural Deep Cleansing Mild Facial Wash and Natural Alcohol-Free Toner as a set for S$20, I purchased 2 sets immediately!

Natural Deep Cleansing Mild Facial Wash

The facial wash is a clear, very viscous, unscented gel that foams easily. The foam is very gentle on my skin - the main foaming agent is decyl glucoside which is a mild cleanser. The ingredients consist of mild foaming agents, moisturizing agents (glycerin, sodium PCA, sodium lactate), as well as amino acids that help to repair the skin. It's a nice, basic cleanser to have - very gentle on skin, lasts a long time (you only need a little bit because it foams very well) and leaves my skin soft and never stripped.

However - the original price is S$29.90 for 150ml on the Skin Pharmacy website which I feel is pretty steep. If you're looking for a comparative, gentle cleanser for sensitive skin that is more affordable, I would recommend Eucerin Dermatoclean Refreshing Cleansing Gel, which I reviewed here previously.

Natural Deep Cleansing Mild Facial Wash ingredients: aqua, decyl glucoside, sodium lauryl sarcosinate, naturally derived PEG-80 sorbitan laurate, glycerin, organic propanediol, naturally derived PEG-150 pentaerthrityl tetrastearate, lysine, arginine, threonine, proline, sodium PCA, sodium lactate, aspartic acid, PCA, glycine, grape fruit seed extract, citric acid

Rating: 9/10 (-1 because I think it's a little pricey - but the toner is even pricier)

Natural Alcohol-Free Toner

The toner is a clear liquid - it mainly consists of witch hazel, glycerin and aloe vera extract, as well as sodium PCA (moisture) and amino acids. It helps freshen, soften and prep my skin for subsequent skincare. I do like the feel of this toner more than my usual Simple Toner, because this toner feels a little bit more astringent and freshening on my skin. (I think the combination of witch hazel, glycerin and aloe vera used by Skin Pharmacy feels a little bit nicer than the combination of sorbitol and witch hazel used by Simple.)

The toner comes in a tiny bottle - 115ml. I use toner very generously so that bottle didn't last me long. The original price is S$29.90 for 115ml which is really pricey in my opinion! If you're looking for a similar, no-frills gentle toner for sensitive skin that is more affordable, I would recommend Simple Kind To Skin Soothing Facial Toner which I mentioned in my 2014 skincare regime. And if you like witch hazel and aloe vera... I have a review for Thayer's Rose Petal Witch Hazel coming up soon (more affordable)!

Natural Alcohol-Free Toner ingredients: aqua, witch hazel, glycerin, aloe vera extract, sodium PCA, lysine, arginine, threonine, proline, sodium lactate, aspartic acid, PCA, glycine, grape fruit seed extract

Rating: 9/10 (-1 because I think it's kinda pricey)

Would I repurchase? I might repurchase the facial cleanser (but I would probably opt for Eucerin Dermatoclean since it's more affordable). The toner is nice but way too pricey for me because I use toner very generously. Unless there's another promotion... I probably wouldn't repurchase. But they're really very good formulations that I believe would be very good for all skintypes - just that I'm a bit of a tightwad and the other drugstore "dupes" are good enough for me. I have a few of the acne-care products from The Skin Pharmacy on my wishlist though - I'll want to try them out in the near future!

Bioderma Sebium H2O vs Bioderma Crealine/Sensibio H2O

2014-05-03T12:39:00.003+08:00

I previously reviewed Bioderma Sensibio here. During my last trip to Hong Kong, I found Bioderma Sebium H2O at SASA and it was really cheap - HKD128 for a 500ml bottle (which translates to about US$17), so I decided to try it, because it's supposed to be for oily skin, while Bioderma Crealine/Sensibio is for sensitive skin, and I wanted to see the difference.

My conclusion? Stick with Bioderma Crealine/Sensibio. Bioderma Sebium H2O is fragranced and it stings worse than Bioderma Crealine when it gets into my eyes. In my previous Bioderma Sensibio review, I mentioned that it stings slightly when it gets into my eyes, but Bioderma Sebium stings even worse. They both remove light make-up (excludes waterproof mascara) equally well.

Bioderma Sebium H2O ingredients: water (aqua), peg-6 caprylic/capric glycerides, sodium citrate , zinc gluconate, copper sulfate, ginkgo biloba extract, mannitol, xylitol, rhamnose, fructooligosaccharides, propylene glycol, citric acid, disodium edta, cetrimonium bromide, fragrance (parfum).

Bioderma Crealine/Sensibio ingredients: water (aqua), peg-6 caprylic/capric glycerides, propylene glycol, cucumis sativus (cucumber) fruit extract, mannitol, xylitol, rhamnose, fructooligosaccharides, disodium edta, cetrimonium bromide.

Comparing the ingredients, Crealine/Sensibio is unfragranced, has less ingredients and contains cucumber extract for soothing skin. Sebium H2O is fragranced and contains the following additional ingredients which I googled as follows:

- Sodium citrate: Used as a preservative, to control pH

- Zinc gluconate: Anti-inflammatory for acne

- Copper sulfate: According to Paula's Choice, "Effective for topical wound healing, but there is no research showing it has any impact when used in skin-care products." I suppose this also gives Sebium H2O its blue hue.
- Ginkgo Biloba: Anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory for acne

Personally, I would stick with Bioderma Crealine/Sensibio as it feels gentler on my skin (and my eyes). I always follow up with a regular facial cleanser and my acne treatment (tea tree oil) so I don't think the other ingredients really make much of a difference for me.

Rating: 7/10

Review: ModelCo Cheek & Lip Tint

2014-04-27T15:08:00.001+08:00

I bought ModelCo Cheek & Lip Tint during a Luxola sale. The original price is US$24 for 10ml on the ModelCo website, which is slightly pricy and makes it the same price per ml (US$2.4 per ml) as Benetint, which is US$30 for 12.5ml.

It is a thick gel with a fruity scent - I mainly use it as a lip stain, because the gel is a little too thick and I don't feel comfortable applying it on my cheeks since I'm oily and acne-prone. I love the shade - it is a lovely berry/plum that looks very natural on me. (I find berry looks more natural than red tints.)

It blends easily and as you can see from the swatch above, it stains well. In fact, it is one of the most long-lasting stains I've used and I have used a lot! I will repurchase this - it is not drying, the colour is just really flattering and pigmented, and staying power is pretty good! As compared to ModelCo, Benetint is just not pigmented enough, too watery and doesn't have enough staying power. The only con is that I find it on the pricey side - I will try to get it during future Luxola sales.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate, PEG-40, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Disodium ETA, Methylparaben, Citric Acid, Fragrance (Parfum), Benzyl Benzoate, Coumarin, Geraniol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol; May Contain (+/-): Red 33 (CI 17200), Blue 1 (CI 42090), Yellow 5 (CI 19140)

Rating: 10/10

(Please note that this post contains affiliate links, where the retailer gives couturechild a small commission if you click and make a purchase within a certain time. Product(s) were purchased by couturechild for review.)

Review: 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Lip & Cheek Stain (Cherry)

2014-04-20T11:35:00.005+08:00

I have very pale lips so I rely on lipstains to make myself look alive. Usually I use The Body Shop's Lip and Cheek Stain for a natural-looking tint, but recently I've had the urge to overhaul my make-up and skincare collection to natural products. Furthermore, we all know that lip products are easily ingested and I'd rather ingest something natural. When I saw the 100% Pure Lip & Cheek Stain while blog-surfing online, I had to get it.

From the website:

100% natural, 100% vegan, gluten free

long lasting, water resistant formula

colored from fruit and vegetable pigments

The formula is not as runny-liquid as The Body Shop's. Instead, it is more of a gel. I accidentally tasted it and it's terribly bitter! -gag- The colour is a pigmented red and quite pretty. It goes on evenly, feels comfortable and is not as drying as The Body Shop's liptint, and on my lips, the stain lasts till lunchtime. I quite like it, but I prefer ModelCo's Lip Tint, which I will review next week!

Top: 100% Pure Lip & Cheek Stain. Botton: The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain

As you can see, 100% Pure is more pigmented and gel-like than The Body Shop's Lip & Cheek Stain, which is less pigmented and more watery. Since 100% Pure is more gel-like, I would prefer not to use it on my cheeks (since I have oily, acne-prone skin). The Body Shop's stain blends more easily, since it's more watery, but lasting power is better than 100% Pure's because it really stains while 100% Pure's just kind of sits on top of the skin, since it's more of a gel. But - 100% Pure's is more moisturizing (thanks to sodium hyaluronate) while The Body Shop's can be a bit drying on the lips.

I like the cardboard tube it comes in - I'm thinking I can probably use it to contain those bits and pieces when I'm travelling, but I haven't figured out what I can use it for exactly. Well it is cute and I'm just trying to find a reason to keep it.

Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf (Organic Aloe Juice)*, Vegetable Glycerin, Calendula Officinalis (Organic Calendula) Flower Extract*, Camellia Sinensis (Organic Green Tea) Leaf Extract*, Vaccinium Myrtillus (Blueberry Skin) Extract, Beta Vulgaris (Beet) Root Juice Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract, Curcuma Longa (Organic Turmeric) Root Extract*, Vaccinium Myrtillus (Bilberry) Extract, Red Wine Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Organic Lavender) Flower Extract*, Vitis Vinifera (Organic Grape) Seed Extract*, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium (Japanese Honey Suckle) Extract

* Certified Organic

I knocked off 2 points because the colour (red-based) is not as natural on me as a berry-based colour would be. Also, it isn't the most long lasting lip tint I've tried. Still, if you're looking to clean up your beauty and make-up regimen, the natural ingredients in this makes it worth a try!

Rating: 8/10

Review: Too Faced Primed and Poreless Powder

2014-04-12T23:59:00.002+08:00

I've been using Too Faced Primed and Poreless powder daily for at least half a year and am left with half of the jar. It costs US$30 for 0.16oz (about 5g?) which is pretty affordable. It's meant to be used as a "priming powder and finishing veil" that minimizes pores and imperfections for an airbrushed finish.

The powder is very light and finely milled. I like that it is not white - it has the slightest tint of beige and looks very natural. I have oily skin so I have to use quite a lot of it to mattify the sheen on my face, but once done, my skin looks smooth, poreless and at the same time natural! My daily make-up consists of nothing but Biore Tint Milk (tinted sunscreen) followed by this powder. I find Primed and Poreless Powder pretty good at oil control too! It lasts till lunch, then after blotting away the oilies, my face looks relatively fresh again.

It can give a powdery look in flash photos, but no white chalkiness (because it's not white)! And the best thing about it is the packaging - it has a twist plastic cover such that the sifter holes can be closed and powder won't leak out, which makes it super convenient for travelling. I always bring this on my overseas trips, very handy!

Ingredients: Silica, Populus Tremuloides Bark Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Water/Aqua/Eau, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Mica, Iron Oxides (CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499, Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163).

The silica really helps to make skin look flawless, while the other flower extracts are supposed to be good for the skin (soothing and anti-inflammatory). The last ingredient is Bismuth Oxychloride, which some people are allergic to. It seems to be used in a lesser quantity since it's the last ingredient, and it doesn't irritate me at all.

In conclusion - I really like this! Minus 1 point because I have to use a lot to mattify my face, but other than that, I find it is a really good, lightweight finishing powder for oily and acne-prone skin.

Rating: 9/10

Review: Fancl Liquid Foundation in 03 Light Ochre

2014-04-05T18:28:00.001+08:00

By now, Fancl has officially closed all its stores in Singapore. It's pretty sad because I've used quite a lot of their products - Mild Cleansing Oil, Facial Washing Powder, 2-way foundation, loose powder, and their collagen supplement, Tense-Up. During their closing sales, I got a bottle of their Liquid Foundation in 03 Light Ochre, which is yellow-based and matches my MAC NC25 skintone pretty well. It retails on the Fancl.com website at US$23 for 22ml. It can last for a year unopened, and for 3 months once opened. It comes in a total of 5 shades, and the darkest shade would be about a MAC NC35 in my opinion.

It comes in a no-frills, compact plastic bottle with a nozzle tip - I love foundations packaged like that, it's so convenient. It reminds me a little of Covermark's Essence Foundation Liquid, which I reviewed years ago here. It has a fluid texture (a little thicker than Covermark) and provides light-medium coverage with a semi-matte finish. The finish gives my skin a bit of a sheen, so it doesn't look as 99% real-skin as Covermark. I can wear Covermark without loose powder because it blends well and gives me 99% real skin, but I have to use loose powder over Fancl's liquid foundation to mattify the slight sheen to give more real-looking skin (I have oily skin, so maybe girls with dry skin won't have that problem). Oil control is so-so, it doesn't make me oily but it doesn't help keep me matte either.

I like this foundation because it feels quite comfortable on my skin and doesn't make my skin feel dry after long hours of use. Staying power is ok when I use loose powder over it - it fades a little after an 8-hour work day (well, I have super oily skin). I like how it has no preservatives so it's supposed to be better for your skin, but I wouldn't be able to finish using the 22ml bottle in the 3 month use-by period. And another thing - I don't think it contains SPF, so if I use it in the day I have to layer a SPF underneath it.

Ingredients: cyclomethicone, water, butylene glycol, alcohol, isopropyl isosterate, peg-9 dimethicone, sorbeth-4 tetraoleate, polyglyceryl-2 triisosterate, panthenol, hydroxyproline, polyquaternium-61, sodium hyaluronate, hydroxyapatite, steraric acid, acrylates/dimethicone copolymer dimeticone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer, trimethylsiloxysilicate, mica, alumina, silica, aluminum hydroxide, dimethicone, methicone, iron oxides, acrylates crosspolymer, methyi. methacrylate crosspolymer, dea-c8-18 perfluoroalkylethyl phosphate, talc, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide

Rating: 8/10

Review: YÜLI Cellular Lip Conditioner

2014-03-30T20:31:00.000+08:00

I got the YÜLI Cellular Lip Conditioner free with my order during the Black Friday promotional period. It's a lip serum in a glass tube with a rollerball applicator and includes ingredients such as avocado oil, camelina oil, sea buckthorn oil, ginger lily and supercritical extract of rosehip. They're all food-grade ingredients which makes sense for a lip treatment that you're likely to ingest!

I'm not too crazy about the rollerball applicator - I have to make sure that my lips are really clean before using it, so that dead skin cells or anything on my lips doesn't roll back into the bottle. I brought it along for my Hong Kong trip and used it as a night treatment, but the air was really dry so I feel like I still need to layer a soft lip balm (the kind that comes in a tub) over it. The serum smells a little herbal-y and feels light but moisturizing. The silky texture of the serum is really addictive.

Also, a word of advice - since it's a rollerball applicator with no proper stopper, the serum is prone to leak a little due to air pressure changes if you pack it in your carry-on.

Ingredients: R.communis (Castor) oil*, S.chinensis (Jojoba)oil*, P. americana (Avocado) oil*, R. rubiginosa (Rosehip) seed oil*,C. sativa (Camelina) oil*, Supercritical Extract Blend (P. granatum (Pomegranate) seed*, R. rubiginosa (Rosehip) seed*, H.rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) seed and berry*, V.planifolia (Vanilla)* and H.spicatum (Ginger Lily)^^), Tocopherol (Vitamin E) Non-GMO

Would I purchase it again? At US$26 a tube, I have to consider it carefully! I like the feel of the serum (it feels like it sinks in better) but it really wasn't enough alone in winter. I still have to layer another balm on top of it. However, it does soothe cracked lips and it is a worthy splurge!