Pearylife

Junior's Cheesecake!

2012-06-26T20:38:00.003-04:00

More cheesecake from Junior's Cheesecake! My brother ordered the first cheesecake for Mother's Day, and he ordered another surprise for Father's Day.

It came in boxed a little differently than the first order, but just as secure. The cheesecake was boxed in a large styrofoam box. The Junior's Cheesecake cardboard box was sealed and the cake itself was sealed inside a plastic wrap. This time was the 8" Summer Fruit Cheesecake Cobbler Sampler. They are both just as good but this one is definitely for fruit lovers.
The top layer is cinnamon crumbles. The only problem I would have to say is that we have to store the cake in the freezer instead of the fridge because the cake would fall apart especially with the cinnamon crumbles and the fruit inside. It is still really good although my parents and other older Asians may find it too sweet. Asian bakeries usually lighten a bit on the sweets.

On other news, I had a pretty busy week last week. I've finally upgraded to fios, and so uploading my photos won't be so much of a hassle. I also went to a dermatologist to remove the moles on my face. I currently have a bunch of stitches and burnt spots from the laser. I wouldn't be able to write any reviews on beauty products until everything is clear. I will also be starting my new job in a few weeks, which means I will probably only be able to update on the weekends.

Hainanese Chicken Recipe

2012-06-15T15:50:00.002-04:00

Just taking a break from my iodine diet, my mom made some Hainanese chicken at home for the first time. It also happens to be Malaysian Restaurant Week here! It was pretty good and I decided that I would share the recipe. It's quite easy actually. I love to eat Hainanese chicken and its my favorite dish at Malaysian restaurants.

Ingredients:

Chicken thigh meat (dark meat, its more tender than breast meat)
cilantro
kirby cucumbers or just regular cucumbers
chopped scallion
chopped ginger
chopped garlic
dried anise herb (they look like stars, you don't eat them, they are just for giving flavor)
chinese oyster sauce
sesame oil (original or with added hot oil)
salt
soy sauce
clean ice water

Making the chicken:

1. Boil your chicken thigh meat in water for 10 minutes. Some people use chicken broth but you can just use water to keep it clean and healthier.

2. Place cooked chicken into clean ice water to cool down the chicken and allow the meat and skin to be more tender.

3. Chicken is ready!

Making the sauce:

1. Place your cilantro, chopped scallion, chopped ginger, chopped garlic, dried anise herb, salt, soy sauce, oyster sauce and sesame oil into a bowl and mix.

2. Sautee everything in a pan for a bit to get the flavor going.

Layer your chopped cucumbers onto the bottom of a plate, layer your chicken and pour your sauce over it. And enjoy!

C+M Whitening Collagen Firming Gel Mask

2012-06-13T14:59:00.002-04:00

I was a little excited to try this face mask because I thought I had grabbed a good deal on a gel mask at $2.70 for a box of two sheets. After tearing open the packaging, I realized that it wasn't a gel mask but just a regular paper cloth mask with gel essence. The "gel" only represents the gel type of essence and not the mask itself. So, my main dissatisfaction of this mask is the result of this misnomer. I guess at $1.35 a sheet, I wouldn't be getting a gel textured mask anytime soon.

I can't find any information from their company other than the description of their brand on sasa.com. I have always found sasa.com descriptions to be very suspicious with lesser known brands. In their description it notes that they are "a famous French personal and skin care brand with wide range of whitening, suncare, anti allergy, moisturizing, deodorant and ance treatment products." On the box it is noted that it is made in Korea, while the written form of language used is English and Chinese. So, which is it? You are a French company made of Chinese workers with a market in Asia that decides to produce your products in Korea because the labor and shipping is cheaper? Is that what it is?

I haven't tried any of their other products but I am a little tempted mainly because they are so inexpensive and after testing this mask, it's actually not bad. I have a feeling that this may be a drugstore brand because many of their products are only a few dollars. Though, I probably wouldn't spend over $10.00 on a single item on this brand.

Putting aside the bummed fact that it isn't a true gel mask, I can tell you that the cloth mask was well drenched in gel essence. Unlike some other gel type of cloth masks, I found that it wasn't drippy and not as sticky. The cloth mask is thin like the Sillk Whitia Pearl line. The cloth mask fits my face well but I think it may be small for wide faces. The one good thing about the mask cutting is that left the eyes for you to cover. I think that the gel type essence complements the cloth mask. You don't get much excess essence but I think it is enough for the face and neck. I think it transfers and absorbs into my skin quite well. I could use the mask longer than their suggested usage time.

After I use the mask, I massage the rest of the excess essence from the package and go to bed. It's not a wash off mask and I don't feel that I need to apply any face cream over it. I find the result good. It is hydrating like any other face mask right after use. I don't think its that convincing in whitening, however. I don't find that I get that whitening glow that I do with other brands. The following day, my skin still does look hydrated, soft and refined.

The Good

Not too expensive at $2.70 for a box of 2 sheets
thin mask, gel type essence, not really sticky
hydrating, soft and refined result

The Bad

Not a gel texture mask, only a gel type essence with paper cloth
Doesn't give that whitening glow
not wholly impressive

The Skinny

I was overall just quite bummed by the fact that I didn't get a deal with a gel textured mask. It is only a gel type essence with cloth mask. I do find it hydrating and a bit refining, though I wasn't incredibly impressed because I don't think it gave me that whitening glow that I had at least expected. And just terribly bummed that its not a gel textured mask. However, they are moisturizing and I would grab a box or two of these if I ever find them on stock again.

My Iodine Diet part 1

2012-06-11T22:48:00.001-04:00

Last week, I had my regular check up with my doctor. All is well except that my (TSH) Thyroid-stimulating hormone was tested way out of range. In adults, the standard reference range according to the guidelines issued here is between 0.40-4.50 mIU/L (depending on your lab and location). My test reported out of range at 9.69 H (high), which indicates hypothyoidism, an underactive thyroid. I'm actually a little surprised because I do seem to eat a lot of fish. My mom would steam fresh tilapia fish and salmons at least once a week.

My doctor didn't want to put me on medication right away but told me that I needed to eat more seafood, seaweed and iodized salt. I am deficient in iodine and the primary foods that are sufficient in providing that supplement is seafood and seaweed. I have two months to boost back to normal for my blood test in August. I have decided that I would document my "iodine diet" and share with you all my seafood eating frenzy of the upcoming months! Right after I found out the news, I went to eat sushi with my mom. Hah, I guess one good thing is that now I have an excuse to eat more sushi!

Yesterday, we went out to our local Han Ah Reum Supermarket to stock up on some roasted seasoned seaweed. I've always enjoyed eating seaweed since I was little. However, I do admit, I have been eating them less and less these recent years mainly because my mom would say that I finished the pack so quickly. Now my mom is telling me that I need to start eating them regularly again. That's fine with me because they are pretty good. I also picked up a small dish of prepared calamari in korean hot sauce.

For supper the last three evenings, I had steamed butter fish with sauteed ginger, scallion and soy sauce the first night, and baked salmon with fish sauce and garlic the second and third night.

My mom would also occasionally make a cold dish of laver with vinegar and garlic, more often in the warmer months. I'll also be enjoying more of this dish!

For dinner tonight, we had a change, mussels, the one type of seafood we almost have never made at home, and very rarely even have when eating out. My mom decided she would prepare them the same way clams are prepared at the chinese restaurants in the US: stir-fried with chinese fermented black beans (douchi). I personally really like douchi in certain foods especially with the pork ribs dim sum!

So what you will need for the chinese fermented black bean mussels:

Ingredients:

mussels
chinese fermented black beans (douchi)
chopped garlic
chopped ginger
two teaspoons butter
soy sauce
salt and pepper
chopped scallion (not shown here, but optional)
wine (I didn't have it at home, but I have to say it would taste even better with wine)

First melt your two teaspoons of butter, add in the chinese fermented black beans,

chopped garlic and chopped ginger.

Throw in your mussles and begin to stir-fry.

Add some soy sauce and a little water if it is getting too dry.

Add in your desired amount of salt and pepper and put the lid over.

And this is the result of our stir-fried chinese fermented black bean mussels for my iodine diet tonight. I have to say it was pretty good, though my mom said she over cooked it a bit. I couldn't tell. Although it was good, I can definitely tell that it would have tasted even more fantastic if there was some wine in it. That's on our shopping list.

Wai Yuen Tong Pearl Whitening Mask

2012-06-09T20:34:00.001-04:00

Even after testing out bio cellulose masks and gel masks, I always return to regular cloth masks. Cloth masks are usually less expensive, yet effective and practical as a one time use mask. Bio cellulose masks and gel masks and maybe even the very nice pricey cloth masks seem so precious that it hurts a little when its time to throw them into the trash bin. [Inexpensive] Cloth masks, on the other hand, are just made for the very notion of one-time-use, with the absence of "longing for" when its time to let them go.

I was a little hesitant about purchasing this Wai Yuen Tong Pearl Whitening Mask. You may have read my post on Wai Yuen Tong's Bak Fung Pills for menstruation. I already knew that Wai Yuen Tong isn't really a skincare company, but just a traditional chinese medicine/herbal company. Although they aren't a true skincare brand, I wasn't really suspicious with the purchase because I have seen a lot of their retail stores when I was in Hong Kong last year. I haven't entered one of them, but while window shopping pass them, they do seem upscale, professional and not conspicuous. I've also seen these masks displayed in their shop. I guess, the only worry I had was that because they aren't a true skincare company, I feared the cotton cloth mask would be too thick or inappropriate with the essence. Other reasons why I purchased this was because Silk Whitia's line was all swiped clean and this was the only "pearl" mask from any other brand left. This isn't a popular mask brand, so that was given.

I have to start off by saying that the greatest negative aspect of this mask is that it is manufactured in China. I'm wondering, when they say China, is this product made in the Mainland, China, where-there-are no-regulations-and-I-need-to-be-very-careful-not-to-purchase-China, or Hong Kong, China, where-it-is-a-little-better-because-they-have-some-regulations-as-an-SAR-China. This, I may never know.

But, what I can tell you is that, in my honest opinion, I think it is good. Surprisingly, maybe because I had such low expectations especially after reading the "country of manufacture" and pulling out the cheesy sticker label packaging of this mask, I find that this mask is actually good. Maybe, we shouldn't judge a book by its cover or in this case, a package and branding by its cover. And hey, maybe I should also start purchasing more "Made in China" shit. No, sorry, I take that last one back.

Country of Manufacture: China

The cheesy sticker labeled packaging I was talking about, sachet, as they call it, is smaller than your usual mask package. (Hm, sorry, the packaging is actually around the same size as My Beauty Diary masks and la glace ones, but smaller than Silk Whitia's packaging, but for some reason, it seems denser.) Their box is regular size, comparable to boxes of other brands. I'm not even sure if this is even important to note or even logical to my reasoning, but to me it seems that because the packaging of the sheet mask is smaller, the essence is greatly consolidated with the cloth sheet. Or, maybe simply because the essence complements the cloth sheet. It's a surprise and a great relief to find that the essence and the cloth sheet texture is just right and appropriate with each other.

I suppose that the smaller consolidated packaging does help a little because when I tear the package and remove the mask, its already fully absorbed with essence. No need to press the packaging to spread the essence. The essence is a clearish white thick type of gel emulsion. I'm actually starting to prefer this type of thick emulsion essence for sheet masks over watery types or regular gel-ish types because they are less messy, not drippy and they absorb quite well into the skin. Some other brands also use this essence texture as well.

The cotton cloth sheet mask is thick enough that it wouldn't rip but thin enough for the essence to be absorbed and transferred to the skin. I think the essence type and the proportion amount complements the cloth texture quite well. The mask happens to also fit quite well for my face. People with large faces may find this quite small. I am able to wear this mask over their suggested time usage. It does not come with much excess essence. There is a little bit left over, but I find this quite enough as the mask itself is fully absorbed. After removing the mask, the excess essence from the package is very smooth to massage and absorb into the skin. The directions do tell you to rinse your face after use even though it isn't sticky or I guess flaky. I think I am getting use to rinsing after using a sheet mask, it's actually not that great of a hassle and it allows you to continue with your regular skincare regime.

While I rinse the essence off with water, I can feel that my skin is softer. After rinsing, I can see that my face has that whitening glow. I think the whitening is actually pretty good, I'm more than satisfied with the results. I find that my regular skincare regime absorbed quite well and easily. My skin is still soft the following day.

Finally, down to the price. At $1.78 per sheet for the overseas price (US), I would have to say it is reasonable for what it is. It's still expensive for a one time use mask, but inexpensive compared to other sheet masks available for the US market. This is better than many other higher priced sheet masks I have tried. To be honest, in general, I think that sheet masks are getting pricier. Even My Beauty Diary masks are around $1.10-$1.50 a sheet these days. So, when I discuss the price, the factors of location and availability of the product as well as the availability of products of same nature come into play.

The Good

Emulsion essence type complements the cloth sheet mask texture well
Emulsion essence is smooth and easy to absorb, non sticky
Reasonably priced for US buyers
Leaves skin soft, well moisturized and provides whitening glow

The Bad

Country of Manufacture: China
Still generally expensive for a one time use mask
I guess it is important to note, that although it fits me very well, I do have a small face. It may be too small for larger faces.

The Skinny

A surprisingly good cloth mask that has a smooth thick gel emulsion type essence complementing the cotton cloth mask. The mask is a good fit and is the right thickness. It leaves skin soft and translucent, though some may find the country of manufacture daunting.

L'Occitane Rose Velvet Cream

2012-06-08T16:06:00.002-04:00

I got the L'Occitane's Rose Velvet Hand Cream a while back at one of L'Occitane's retail stores. When I first got it, I really liked it, mainly because I don't usually use such an expensive hand cream. When I use it now, I find it just a little bit above borderline average for what it costs. It does have a lovely rose scent without being suffocating or being too artificial.

The texture is very light for a cream. It's more of a lotion in the name of a cream. Bluntly said, it's a lotion, not a cream. But it's also safe to say that it isn't a watered down lotion. I personally like hand creams because they definitely moisturize better and longer, without having to use as much. However, if you do not like hand creams because it takes a bit of an effort of rubbing, you will find that this "cream" will be very easy to absorb into your skin.
I don't think you can really fail in a hand cream, they all work in some way, more or less. And this one does not fail. I think it leaves the hand nice and smooth without being sticky or anything. It is "velvety".

But I just can't help but consider the similarities this "cream" has to one rose lotion I had used many years back from Victoria's Secret. The Victoria's Secret one was a little stronger in scent and a little runnnier than this one, but just worked very similar. The VS one, I purchased one with my two other friends for the sale price of 3 for $12.50, I believe. This L'Occitane one is around $22-24. Of course, I would prefer this one, but my wallet prefers the VS one. I like it but I don't think it is worth the price and it also isn't my favorite hand cream.

The Good

Nice rose scent; lovely, not overpowering and does not smell "artificial"
easy to absorb
leaves skin smooth, not sticky

The Bad

Not a cream, but really a lotion
expensive
Not amazing for what it costs

The Skinny

I think its good, it has a pleasant rose scent and applies smoothly, though overpriced. It's not really a cream. I think its an average product wrapped up in "luxury" brand/packaging.

Cleaning your Clarisonic Brush?

2012-06-07T13:38:00.002-04:00

I've only recently started cleaning my Clarisonic brush with the daily facial lathering cleansing cloths from Olay that my mom had bought for me from one of those whole sale clubs long ago. These daily facial cloths come folded dry and just need water and a little rubbing to get the lather going.

In the past, I only cleaned my Clarionic brushes with liquid soap and water, scrubbing it against my hands. I don't like the idea of cleaning it against my palm even if my hands are cleansed thoroughly. With a disposable cleansing cloth, I can be more sure that I am keeping my brush clean. I admit, though, I wouldn't buy the cloths for this sole purpose. I'm guessing I could also use Bounty, but the "quicker-picker-upper" is probably not even as strong as these facial cloths.

Just add water, and scrub your brush clean against it.

How do you clean yours?

Silicone Pore Cleansing Tool

2012-06-07T12:08:00.001-04:00

This silicone facial scrubber is a must for every beauty lover. It's a small flexible pore pad with soft bristles that help to exfoliate the skin. I got mine for only $1.50 at the mall in HK.

It's an inexpensive little tool that does the job pretty well. It leaves my face pretty smooth and clean, much better than just cleansing with my hands alone. If you do not own a Clarisonic, I highly suggest getting one of these. Even if you do have a Clarisonic, it's still definitely worth getting.

I've never really used facial sponges before, but I like this, and probably purchased this instead because its easy to clean and remain clean. The silicone pad is really not porous, so there may be less of a chance for bacteria to live there. This should also last you quite a while. Unlike other brushes, the silicone bristles are short and strong. It hasn't gotten worn down or anything.

The Good

Very inexpensive
effective - gently exfoliates, pore cleaning, leaves skin smooth and clean
very cost effective - will last
very easy to clean

The Bad

maybe not "strong" enough for some

The Skinny

Very good and very inexpensive little cleaning tool. A must have for all beauty lovers.

Alba Botanica Deep Sea Facial Mask

2012-06-01T16:46:00.000-04:00

Alba Botanica Deep Sea Facial Mask Advanced to draw out impurities is a great drug store item. I'm very happy that there are a lot more drug store brands that pay more attention to the ingredients of their skincare products. So far, I think Alba is one of the brands that you would want to pay attention to when you are visiting your local drugstore. This product uses 100% vegetarian ingredients. No animal testing, paraben free, and EU Cosmetics Directive Compliant (The European Union (EU), a group of 27 European countries, is one governing group that has made safe cosmetics an important part of its laws. Their laws have banned chemicals that scientists strongly suspect to cause cancer or cause birth defects.)

The description: This deep clean (clay) mask gently draws out impurities and the excess oil that can clog pores. Sea enzymes and aloe vera tone and revitalize for a fresh, healthy complexion.

To use: After cleansing, apply a thin layer of mask evenly over face and neck. Avoid delicate eye area. Leave on for 5 minutes and thoroughly cleanse.

I have to say, I really like this clay mask. It's not too expensive and it just works for me. It leaves my skin with a clean, fresh feeling. The texture is just right, it is quite thick but easy to layer onto your skin. You only need a thin layer and you only need to leave it on for 5 minutes. It's simple, clean, practical, affordable and effective. It has a long list of great ingredients. Even their glycerin is vegetable glycerin. A lot of drugstore items, even department store items have maybe a couple of good ingredients with a long list of chemicals, but for this mask, it's not the case. I'm trying to use less chemicals... in baby steps.

The Good

100% vegetarian ingredients, long list of great ingredients: ie. purified water, certified organic aloe, vegetable glycerin, safflower, shea butter, sweet almond, algae, kelp, sea lettuce, irish moss, etc.
Paraben free
EU Cosmetics Directive Compliant
Not insanely expensive
Leaves skin clean and fresh
Although it is noted that it has fragrance, it is so mild, clean and fresh (the scent), you will like it.
No animal testing
Easy to use
Very accessible in the US
Made in the USA

The Bad

Although still affordable, it is still around $11 in a lot of stores. I think it would be more appropriate if it was around $7-8.
Although it is accessible in the US, stores don't stock a lot of these, as much as other brands, so they go out of stock quickly.

I got some water in it. It is actually a little bit thicker than
photographed.

The Skinny

Overall, I just think its a great clay mask that leaves my skin clean and fresh. It is still quite affordable. I like the ingredients and I like that the scent is so mellow and fresh. I really like that there are some better drugstore products now. Really, no complaints. I also just purchased alba's sea algae enzyme scrub. I'll be giving a review on that when I am ready. But, judging from the deep sea mask, I'd say this may be a brand you would want to pay attention when you're at the drugstore.

HadaLabo Gokujyun Super Hyaluronic Acid Lotion

2012-05-30T14:33:00.002-04:00

HadaLabo Gokujyun Super Hyaluronic Acid Lotion seems very popular among maybe younger girls. I've seen this around often so curiosity led me to make the purchase. I bought this in store so it was a few dollars more than the internet price.

I find that this is very similar to The Face Shop's White Tree Snow Hydra Advance Emulsion, which I did a review and maybe a lot of readers will hate me for disliking. (So, I am learning to write better reviews) I find the Gokujyun lotion a little bit better than TFS because it is a little bit lighter or icky, it does not have fragrance and it is much cheaper. If you have a love for this lotion and overpoweringly stuffy floral perfume, then TFS's version is a fit for you!

I guess I personally do not like these type of texture in skincare. There's something off putting about these type of texture for face creams/lotion/serum/emulsion. In terms of hydration, its okay, though, TFS does offer a tad bit of temporary brightening.

I think that if I picked this up when I was in junior high school I would be adoring it, but I don't feel that it is appropriate for the stage that I am now at. I would probably suggest it for teens with normal skin type, otherwise, it is a skip.

The Good

no fragrance
relatively inexpensive

The Bad

I think it feels a little icky
does not do much for hydration
really nothing else benefiting about this product
really dislike this type of liquid plastic form of texture

The Skinny

I just don't like the texture and pretty much the whole feeling of this. I find it a bit better than The Face Shop's White Tree Snow Hydra Advance Emulsion, mainly because it is without fragrance. They seem like similar products. If that is your thing, go for it, if not skip. I have a feeling its better on younger skin 12-16 year olds. If you are older than that, I would suggest picking a more "grown up", benefiting lotion.

Wai Yuen Tong Youth Pak Fung Pills for menstruation pain

2012-05-28T15:40:00.001-04:00

It is very difficult to give a review on menstruation pills. Menstruation pains fluctuates by the month. While off the pills, I can be fine during a month's cycle or I could have major cramps, bloating, feelings of vomiting, and dizziness/fainting spells during my worst ones. I am trying to keep my reviews a little shorter now. It's not that I like to write but I have this problem with details... I get so caught up. I also have a habit of reiterating repeated redundancies haha. I am so still learning to improve my reviews. If you have been following my reviews from the beginning, you will definitely notice that I have toned down the language in notches. I am learning by each post I write. I find that I should be more mellow with my language and avoid saying, "oh, this product is amazing, it's the best", or "this product sucks, I hate it!". Rather than that, I should be more descriptive, but I guess a shortened form of descriptive. The review on the Wai Yuen Tong Pak Fung Pills will be updated in the next month because I am on my last box. I am still unsure if I will be restocking them. I also have two unopened boxes of Wai Yuen Tong's Bird's Nest Pak Fung Pills, which I will also give a review of when finished.

My sasa.com haul post already described some of the pains I go through during menstruation, such as fainting and hitting into the counter, etc., so I will not be reiterating that.

I have tried Eu Yang Sang's Bak Fung Pills a few times. My mom bought them in the Chinese supermarkets here for around $35.99 + tax, which is really pricey. They don't really keep them in stock anymore and I noticed that sasa.com had Wai Yuen Tong brand ones. When I was in Hong Kong last year, I saw a lot of retail stores for both brands. They are usually right next door to each other in the malls competing. They are both really popular and have a long history. They both have good websites so you can check them out for yourselves. My mom told me that my grandfather used to buy Eu Yang Sang Bak Fung Pills for her and her 3 sisters when they were young for their menstruation pains. Yes, my grandfather was a real cool man. She told me that back then the pill was one huge pill, not small tiny pills. Both brands also sell a lot of other Chinese medicines as well as birds nest, etc. They are both pretty well known in the community.

Other than these pills, my mom always makes "dong quai" (traditional Chinese medicine soup for women) with a hard boiled egg right after my menstruation to restore iron, blood, etc.

One box, 40 sachets in each box. 2 capsules in each sachet.
Take 2 sachets (4 capsules) with warm water each day.

It's difficult to write a review on this because if I wrote this two months ago, I would have said this is so amazing and it has completely taken the pain from me. But, you really cannot give a review like that for something like this. I think the best way is to document the months and keep it on going.

I think Eu Yang Sang brand's Bak Fung Pills packaging is more sophisticated and professional compared to Wai Yuen Tong's Pak Fung Pills (BTW, "Pak" and "Bak" is the same in Chinese character). But Wai Yuen Tong's is more modern and playfully feminine. It's still clean and professional but in a different way. More importantly, it is also sealed by manufacturer as well as taped by their company sticker.

It comes with this tiny pamphlet with information on usage and ingredients.

What I don't like is that they only list their active ingredients. I can't remember if EYS lists their entire ingredients. The other Traditional Chinese Medicines make up 43.82% and that is huge to not list. I do have a feeling that it is to protect their company formula. Each box will last you a month between cycle. You can't take this when you are having your period and if you are pregnant or sick. The dosage is 2 sachets (4 capsules) with warm water each day. The WYT Youth Pak Fung Pills come capsuled rather then just in its regular form (which is black little beads). This way it may be easier to consume for one people. (If I remember correctly, the dosage for EYS's is 3-4 sachets a day for 3 days a week, something like that.) If you deliberately sniff at it, you can still smell the Chinese medicine.

EYS's come in the form of the black little beads and WYT's Bird's Nest Pak Fung Pills are also not capsuled. I haven't tried the bird's nest ones yet but just took a look.

February: Was not on any pills before period. Major cramps, bloating. Was in bed the entire day. Fainting and dizziness. Heavy period. Feelings of vomiting/Nauseous.

March: Decided to order WYT's Youth Pak Fung Pills after February period. This month was fine. A little cramp and bloating before and during period. Didn't have to stay in bed. Good appetite. No fainting/dizziness/vomiting/nauseous. Still heavy/regular period.

During March's cycle, I thought, it is really really working. So I ordered two more boxes of the Youth ones and two boxes of the Bird's Nest ones.

April: Didn't take any pills after March period going into April cycle. I wanted to experiment. I had some cramps/bloating/fainting/dizziness/vomiting/nauseous and heavy period. It wasn't as bad as February though.

May: On the WYT pills again for this month's cycle. The first day of menstruation, major cramps/bloating/fainting/dizziness/vomiting/nauseous and heavy period; about the same as February.

I always follow their usage instructions to avoid being under dosage or over. I'm still unsure about this. It didn't really work this month. I'm hoping that sasa.com will continue to have 15% off on this because I may repurchase this. Although it is not 100% effective, I have really terrible menstruation pains and I really don't know what else to take. I avoid western medicine.

So ladies, feel free to comment about what you take/do to relieve your menstruation pains. And what is your regular menstruation cycle like.

peary

Dr. BSC 3D Collagen Regeneration Bio Cellulose Mask + update on Simply Bio Cellulose Mask

2012-05-22T18:08:00.002-04:00

The long awaited review of Dr. BSC's 3D Collagen Regeneration Bio Cellulose Mask. I wanted to wait and test this mask out well before writing a review. Sometimes I am really excited to try out a new mask and my review becomes a little biased. I also made an update to Simply's Bio Cellulose mask.

Just in general - Bio Cellulose mask vs. Regular Cloth mask

I have only tried Dr. BSC and Simply's bio cellulose masks but I think I am comfortable enough to give my thoughts on the differences between bc masks and regular cloth masks. Written on the back on Dr. Bsc's box is their concept: "Despite that some skincare products are made with the most valuable ingredients or according to the best formulas, they are still ineffective if they cannot be truly absorbed by skin". Their concept, I would say, is the whole concept of all bio cellulose masks. When I first tried bio cellulose mask (that being Simply's), my whole focus was on the bio cellulose mask itself. Without good essence, is a bio cellulose mask still effective? And if these were just regular cloth masks with the same essence, would they still be as effective, or not? I took all of these questions and tried to balance out my review on these masks a little more.

The main difference between the bio cellulose and cloth masks, aside from material is that bio cellulose are tighter and skin hugging. A condom for the face. Are they the same latex material? I really don't know, I'm not really a promiscuous chica and I didn't bother to look it up. It won't side off your face and you really don't need to lie down using it. Even gel masks will side down, but bio cellulose masks won't. With bio cellulose masks, you can also get rid of any air bubbles.

When you remove a cloth masks after use, your face is always pretty drenched and you end up massaging any remaining essence onto your skin. With bio cellulose masks, you don't really get a wet face and you really don't massage any remaining essence. With cloth masks, I always let my drippy masks drip into the package before applying it onto my face, but with bio cellulose masks, you want to make sure your mask is thoroughly filled with the essence. You don't get too many excess essence and it really doesn't drip that much.

With cloth masks, if you wear them till semi dry or dry, they automatically separates from you skin. But with bio cellulose masks, you really shouldn't use them till they are semi dry. I am always tempted to wear them longer because they feel so nice when wet and I wanna use them longer to get my money's worth. I have worn them "wrong" the first few times, and now I know that you shouldn't wear them till semi dry because when bio cellulose masks dry on your face, they stick to the skin. Let me tell you, peeling off a dry bio cellulose mask on your face is not good. Do not be tempted to wear them longer. You really only need to wear them for 30 minutes most, better quality ones that do not dry as quickly a little longer. However, you really don't want them to be even semi dry.

Review - My thoughts on Dr. Bsc 3D Collagen Bio Cellulose Mask vs. Simply Bio Cellulose Mask

Dr. Bsc's: Although I always say that I don't care about packaging, its always psychologically more assuring when the packaging is professional and not negatively conspicuous. Especially when you do not know anything about the company and cannot find a website from them. The box is sealed in clear packaging and after tearing that, the opening is taped shut with their company sticker. Overall, their packaging is very sophisticated, clean and professional. Even better than some very well known companies in the US. They claim to be made in France (sasa.com says uk), which gives it a plus. Obviously, great marketing, with words "medical formula", "nano tech", and "2.5% microelement water". So, even before you open this box and before you use it, you're subconsciously saying to yourself, "this gotta be good stuff". I am not sure if BSC (that sells gel masks and supplements) is an extended line of the same company. BSC stuff are made in the UK, though, I believe. (Updated 5/29/12: just checked my box of bsc gel masks, correction: formulated in Japan) They are also packaged well.

Each box comes with 3 sheets for roughly $4.22 per sheet, which is pretty pricey, but still low compared to other bio cellulose masks in the market. Like other bio cellulose masks, the actual membrane is sandwiched between two white woven cotton protective sheets. Squeeze your pack to make sure you spread the essence so that your mask is immersed in essence. The first time I used it, I didn't do that and (I was taking photos using my dslr which is very difficult) it wasn't wet enough. The essence is watery clear with a yellow tint and has a light fragrance which is pleasant.

The three masks are nicely folded. You unfold and remove one of the white woven cotton protective sheets and apply the membrane side with the other protective sheet onto your face. After positioning it on your face, carefully remove the other protective sheet. Use the excess essence on protective sheets for your arms.

I think that the membrane bio cellulose is a much better quality than Simply's. When you first put it on it feels thicker and harder than Simply's and it won't rip when wet. It's definitely a lot tougher and the cutting is much better, there is more room for your eyes, nose and mouth. It does not feel as tight as Simply's because it feels harder and thicker at first, but its still skin hugging and you can eliminate air bubbles. After use, it feels like it got softer and thinner. Dr. Bsc's doesn't seem to dry as quickly. You won't get much excess essence, but you still get a bit and I apply them onto the mask while I am wearing it and onto my neck area. You can get 45 minutes to an hour for this mask.

Like I said, with bio cellulose mask, you won't get a wet face after use, so no need to really massage any remaining essence. But your skin still feels and looks hydrated. You can fold your mask and apply it onto your neck. I don't have to use a moisturizer after use and my skin is still hydrated in the morning.At first you might think that its not really effective because it doesn't leave your skin wet and with a layer of essence. But its actually more sunken in to your skin rather than just sitting on top of your skin and washed off the next time you clean your face. However, although it is good, I think for $4.22, the results are not incredibly impressive.

The Good

Thicker and harder - better quality bio cellulose material, that gets softer and thinner after use
Better facial cutting for eyes, nose and mouth
Light fragrance
Does not dry as quickly
Leaves skin soft and hydrated
Still a bit cheaper than other bio cellulose masks

The Bad

$4.22 a sheet - still pretty expensive for a daily or even weekly mask; good as a special treat mask
wish there was a little bit more essence to get more for the buck.
results not incredibly impressive.

The Skinny

Good quality bio cellulose mask that does the trick but is still a little pricey for even a weekly mask. But good to try out and use as a special treat. This is still a good bio cellulose mask priced well below other competitors.

Simply Bio Cellulose Mask update

You can read the old post here.

Simply: My update on Simply's Bio Cellulose Mask. Simply is a Taiwan company. I really didn't know too much about the brand Simply because the only company I hear about widely with local Taiwan celebs are "For Beloved One", "Dr. Wu" and "Naruko". As well as the less expensive drug store brands like "My Beauty Diary" and "Face Q". I looked at the back of Simply's mask package and realized that they actually have a website written: www.mysimply.com.tw/. Their website is only in Chinese, however, and their online shop is probably only limited to Taiwan and maybe Asia. But they actually sell a lot more beauty items, such as cleansers, moisturizers, body creams, and supplements. They may even be bigger than My Beauty Diary. So, it is quite assuring after I found their website. And apparently, they sell their bio cellulose masks in a box of 12, while Sasa.com sells them individual.

This mask has a much greater fragrance, which I dislike, but I can tolerate. It comes sandwiched between a blue cotton woven protective sheet and a white plastic protective sheet. You should remove the white plastic protective sheet first and apply the membrane side with the remaining blue cotton one onto your face. Carefully remove the blue cotton one with the membrane positioned on your face. You will still need to adjust the mask a little bit. The membrane is much thinner, softer, slippery and delicate. I did tear a little bit of it while adjusting it onto my face.

The essence is a bit thicker and its more clearish white. I also apply any excess onto the mask and neck area. This mask seems to dry a little bit faster than Dr. Bsc's. You can still get 30 minutes to 40 minutes of use and that is really good. After use, you won't really get a wet face and won't really need to massage any remaining essence; just a little tapping will do. But my skin is visibly softer, hydrated and brighter.

On my neck. Unlike cloth masks, when you place bio cellulose mask on
your neck, it really won't slip or fall.

I used two more of Simply's bio cellulose mask using Dr. Bsc's and I can say that my skin looks better, softer, brighter and hydrated.

I forgot to mention the cutting of the mask is not as good as Dr. Bsc's. The eye opening is incredibly narrow, its about 1/2inch wide (vertically), which makes it just a slit. I cannot even open my eyes when I am wearing this mask. I gotta look down. It goes over my eyelids. So, that is the big downfall. Not sure if Caucasians would be able to wear this. The mouth opening is just a cut which is okay because you can adjust it while wearing it and it is the mouth. I like the nose cutting of this mask more because it just fits perfectly for me.

The Good

Probably the most inexpensive bio cellulose in the market
Good as an introductory bio cellulose mask to test out
very very thin membrane - tighter, even more skin hugging
a lot more essence
leaves skin softer, brighter, and hydrated

The Bad

$2.60, still a little pricey for a one time use mask
membrane is delicate, need to be careful not to rip it while adjusting it
heavier fragrance
cutting design of the mask is not as good - the eye opening is really just a slit about 1/2 in vertical length. - not for Caucasian fit.

The Skinny

Overall, good less expensive bio cellulose mask that leaves skin soft, brighter and hydrated. Still pricey, but still affordable to purchase once so often. Its good that it is very very thin, just got to be careful not to tear it. I don't like the fragrance, but some may find it pleasant. And the big downfall is the eye opening, which is so tiny that it bothers me and will bother you. You will have to keep your eyes closed wearing this mask.

Naris Up Natural Pack - pore removing mask

2012-05-21T13:28:00.001-04:00

I noticed a number of bloggers purchasing pore removing strips which reminded me of the Naris Up Natural Pack pore removing mask. It's a gel-ish mask paste rather than a materialized strip.

Just in general - Should we use pore removing strips/masks to remove blackheads?

A while back I was reading that we shouldn't use pore removing strips/masks (all forms that pull the black heads out/sebum) because if we are not careful, we may end up tearing our pores open bigger. Enlarged pores can no longer be made smaller, you can make them appear smaller but once enlarged, the deed is done. And it is hard to be careful when using any of these pore removing strips/masks. You can pull slowly, but you can still end up tearing your pores. How does torn enlarged pores look like? Well, a hole, a crater, and when you have it that is the only thing that you will concentrate on.

Aside from using pore removing strips/masks, self extraction (steaming your face and squeezing with your fingers) can also tear your pores if you are not careful. But with self extraction, you're able to handle it a bit better. If the dirt or whatever does not come out with the first squeeze, leave it alone.

I have ended up tearing my pores a few times and it takes some time for it to appear less visible. I do also have the Biore pore removing strips as well, but for these reasons, I do not use them that often. I use them about once every two months. It's actually usually because I end up forgetting to use them.

The best way is really prevention of this formation from occurring, which would be to clean your face well to remove any excess oils. But I also can't help but "pull", so I still use them, but not too often.

Naris Up Natural Pack- my thoughts I got this at the local Asian drug store for $6.99 a while back, I've noticed they have something similar on Sasa.com from the same company but it doesn't seem to be a 2 step process anymore. It comes with two small squeeze bottles, the smaller white bottle (0.54 fl oz) is the pre essence lotion which is a clear white light gel and the large purple bottle (1.0 oz) is the mask which is a thicker gooey and sticky black gel. After cleansing and drying your face, you apply the pre essence lotion onto your nose, or other surface you want the pore removing mask to use on. Right after the pre essence you apply the black mask over it. And you just wait for it to dry. If you use more black mask, it will take longer to dry.

Top: Step 1 Pre Essence Lotion, Bottom: Step 2 Point Pack Mask

Left: Wet Mask, Right: Dried Mask

It actually takes some time to dry. In my opinion, its longer and a little messier than a pore strip.

The best thing about pore mask compared to strips is that you can use this on hard to reach surfaces on your face that a strip cannot. Its better for the corners of your nose and you can spread the mask higher for the bridge of your nose and the area between your eyebrows. For me, it doesn't pull anything out when I use it in on the skin below my lips.

After it is completely dry, pull it off in an upward direction. It hurts a lot more than a pore strip in my opinion because it sticks better and more thoroughly. Aside from being careful about tearing your pores open, it works well. It is good in pulling off whiteheads, blackheads (which I read that it is actually not black when you pull them off, but more of a yellow brown color). It may also pull off a little bit of the outer most layer of dry skin. You can use water to rinse off any remaining mask.

Why Cooled Down Green Tea May Not Be Good For Your Undereyes

2012-05-16T12:41:00.002-04:00

We've all heard of it, the goodness of Green Tea. The health benefits and powerful antioxidants that have allowed us women, to consume it and to apply it topically. Once in awhile I would use cool downed green tea bags or refrigerated/frozen green tea poured onto cotton pads to de-puff my under eye area. I would do it once in awhile, not often because I do find it a hassle.

I was watching a Taiwanese program the other day about some local celebrities that go through a full makeup removal before the screen to show off or not their true beauty. There are many Taiwanese programs of this sort and can be entertaining. One of the guests was a Caucasian Taiwan-based celebrity (I really do not know who she is, but I am guessing they are are known locally) who spoke wonderful Mandarin btw, had noticeably dark under eyes. She described to the hosts and beauty consultant that she liked to use cooled down green tea bags for her under eyes. The beauty consultant, who was 40 years old but looks much much younger than that said simply that the dark green color of green tea would cause or add to the dark under eye bags.

Seems to make sense. Green tea stains the cup, stains the teeth... and may "stain" the under eye area with continuous long term use.

REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask

2012-05-15T18:32:00.004-04:00

I'm guessing Ren decided to change the name of this product. It is no longer called "Gylcolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask", but called, "Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask".

What it is:
A potent bioactive complex that reduces fine lines and dramatically improve tone, firmness, and radiance.

What it is formulated to do:
This treatment safely and effectively resurfaces the skin, without causing irritation. Its four-fruit-acid-complex (lactic, glycolic, tartaric and citric) and papain enzyme create a gentle-yet-potent exfoliating action that leaves skin glowing and healthy.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Fragrances
- Synthetic Dyes
- Petrochemicals

What else you need to know:
This mask is particularly recommended for congested and mature skin; it works well on post-acne scarring, blemishes, blackheads and sun-damaged skin. It is not suitable for sensitive skin types. This skincare essential does not contain T.E.A, D.E.A, glycols, silicones, or PEGs.

Suggested Usage:
-Apply a generous amount to clean skin.
-Leave for 10 minutes.
-Pat and "lift" with fingertips to raise up the exfoliated layer of dead skin cells.
-Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

Precautions:
-Do not use on irritated skin.
-Discontinue if irritation occurs.
-Consult doctor if irritation persists.
-Avoid contact with eyes.

-Lactic, Citric, and Glycolic Acids: Help loosen dead skin cells.
-Papain: Helps to gently exfoliate.
-Omega 7: Improves skin appearance and reduce redness.
-Omega 3: Soothes skin and helps boost cell turnover.

Polysorbate 60 (Source Rape Seed Oil), Glycerin (Source Coconut Oil), Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Water, Lecithin (Source Soybean), Lactic Acid (Source Wheat), Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Passiflora Quadrangularis Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract, Alcohol denat. (Source Grape), Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum (Source Corn), Maltodextrin, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Parfum (100% Natural Fragrance), Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Oil, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Phenoxyethanol (Source Aromatic Ether), Sodium HydroxymethylGlycinate (Source Amino Acid), Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn) Berry Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E).

Pump bottle

Need at least two pumps of this size to cover your entire face, minus neck area

I think this is the layered thickness of mask that works better,
which would require more .

Or a thinner layer.

I think I am nearing the remaining 35% of this mask. When I first bought this and used it, I believe, if I am not mistaken that it was a little lighter in color and a little bit thicker in texture. Now, the formula has gotten a little bit darker (looks lighter in the photos, however) and a bit runnier.

I'm pretty sure that this is the same product as the one they now sell with a bit of a name change. I guess they corrected the usage of "glycolactic" and my theory that maybe its not strong enough as a peel?

I think this mask is alright; slightly above marginal average. It's quite pricey, at $55.00, its a pretty small bottle. You need at least two pumps of the size that I have photographed to cover your entire face, not including neck area. What I found works better is if you use a bit more and lather a thicker layer.

You wait 10 minutes and rinse. For me, it does not sting except in certain sensitive areas such as the skin above my lips. What's included with the bottle of mask, is a towel for rinsing. Without it, its a little difficult to rinse off the mask. After rinsing, my skin does feel fresher, a little smooth, brightened and radiant. However, other than that, its not very dramatic and I don't think it is very long lasting. I'm guessing that is why they changed the name from "Renewal Peel" to "Renewal Radiance" because it does that. It provides some renewal and radiance.

The Good

Nice citrus scent
easy to apply
no petrochemicals, sulfates, parabens, etc
lots of fruit ingredients
makes skin fresh and brightened

The Bad

Kind of pricey
Need to use a good amount
Small bottle
Light renewal and radiance, results not amazing enough

The Skinny

Not bad, but not very impressed. Its not that I don't like it but, mainly because I think its too expensive for what it is.

I like the fresh citrus scent and I like that it has no petrochemicals, sulfates, parabens, etc. I like that there are a lot of fruit ingredients.

Thanks for reading,

Peary

Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream

2012-05-14T13:32:00.000-04:00

If you live in the US, you've probably heard of it. Used by Madonna and other celebrities, Egyptian Magic has developed a cult like status with beauty enthusiasts.

I first heard of Egyptian Magic a few years ago and it was already pretty widely known to internet beauty communities. After reading raves about this, I decided to give it a try. I got it from Egyptian Magic's official market place on Amazon.com. It's around $33.00 for the 4 oz tub. It may sound expensive (which, I have thought before making the purchase) considering that it's so cult-ish looking but the texture is really thick and it really lasts for a long time.

But do not be fooled by the packaging! It's quite an amazing cream!

This all natural - all purpose skin cream consists of 6 ingredients: olive oil (Clea Europoea Oil), Beeswax, Honey, Pollen, Royal Jelly, and Propolis Extract.

It does have a natural smell. At first you might get put off by it. But, I've grown to it. I don't think its bad because its a natural smell, rather than a chemical or synthetic fragrance added in, which I cannot stand. It's basically the smell of all those ingredients put together.

How to Use?

This very thick yellow cream is even thicker and more dense than vaseline. The directions to use it is to take a moderate amount and rub in your palms until it takes the form of oil. In the photos, I used a pretty great amount for photo purposes. Believe it or not, but that was good enough moisturizer for both my hands and one arm. You really just need a very small amount.

How I use it?

This all purpose cream is good for the body and face. I don't use it as an all over body cream, I use my Bath and Body creams for that. But, I do like to use the EM for my hands and any rough areas/patches on my body. Good for people who have eczema. I usually like to use this as a moisturizer for my neck once in awhile. For the face, some users have compared this to La Mer moisturizers. I personally have never tried La Mer's line before considering the hefty price tag but for the user who says that it works like La Mer's, they are quite lucky because this is so much cheaper.

I do use this for my face once in awhile when my face is feeling dry. Depending on your skin type, it may be amazing or it may be too thick and oily. When I do use it for my face, I usually use it on top of my toner, serum, and moisturizer as a sort of sealant. After rubbing a very small amount in my palms into the form of oil, I pat or more like print my palms onto my face, over my other moisturizers that is. And in the morning, my face isn't dry.

The Good

All natural ingredients
Very thick consistency, only need to use very little
Great moisturizer
Lasts for a long time
All natural ingredients

The Bad

Some may be put off by the smell - though it is an all natural smell of the ingredients
May be too thick and oily for some people

The Skinny

I really like this cream because it is all natural. I like to keep a tub of this in handy even if I do not use it everyday. I've had my first tub for a few years, and its still the same. Considering that I only use very little, its not that expensive. I don't use it very often for my face because I do have my argan oil, which admittedly, I really like much much more, but is more pricey.

Overall, just very good to have a tub of this in your drawer.

Thanks for reading,

Peary

Silk Whitia Pearl Finest Powder Moisturizing Mask

2012-05-13T15:16:00.003-04:00

Silk Whitia's Pearl Finest Powder Moisturizing Mask, my second review from the Silk Whitia Pearl Finest Powder line. If you have read my review on the Silk Whitia Pearl Finest Powder Whitening Mask, you will know that there is something about this SW Pearl Finest Powder line that keeps me from adoring it. It's not that they are not effective. They work alright for $2.00 a sheet, but no extreme "wow factor". There is something fishy about it that I can't grasp on.

You would probably imagine my dismay when I tell you that I found intermittent light brown spots on the mask upon opening. Yes, light brown spots. Have you ever found those on your sheet masks before? Are they meant to be there? Are they some extra brown sugar coating for facial exfoliation? Nope, nope, nope.

Since, I have already used a second package, light brown spots? Still there.

I look at the package to search for an expiration date. Oh yea, the Silk Whitia Pearl Finest Powder line does not have the expiration dates printed on their packaging. They don't even come in boxed like their other masks. So, I took the mask out of the package and sniffed the package. The essence smells differently than the Whitening version. It doesn't have a fragrance but rather it smells like what the combination of the ingredients would smell like.

Here are the active ingredients:
Pearl Finest Powder, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E, Hydrated Protein, Aloe Vera Gel, PPHP

What is PPHP? I couldn't find much information on this on the internet. The only feasible hit I got was Phenyl-4-Pentenyl Hydroperoxide, but I couldn't find information on it.

I don't need to red circle these images for you to see where the brown spots are.

My decision:

Alas, I made the ultimate decision to try the mask on anyway, noting to myself that I would put it on for the suggested time period in front of the mirror and if I feel anything is wrong I would take it off right away. I used it for 30 minutes, and very surprisingly its good. Yes, it is not a typo. The mask works well. My skin was very moisturized and smooth after the removal. My face is also a little brightened. The essence is watery, not gooey and thick like the Whitening version. It does not leave a film layer after dry and it can probably do without rinsing, but I still wash it off anyway.

After rinsing, my face looks and feels hydrated, smooth, clearer, and brighter. As a result, my moisturizers absorb well into my skin. The following day, my skin is still hydrated. No breakouts or anything.

Excess serum?

You know how I said that the Whitening version has enough excess gooey serum for two masks, well this watery essence has enough for 4-5 uses (Update: Okay, I counted this time, I got 3 really drippy uses). You get literally a puddle of essence in there and it is watery which creates more uses. So, grab some compressed facial masks because you will need a lot.

The Skinny

The Silk Whitia Pearl Finest Powder line makes me puzzled. They seemingly work but there are always these other factors (although, no real adverse effects) that bring the bar down low. Although this Moisturizing one works, I will not be repurchasing this again. I plan on finishing up this line quickly.

Thanks for reading,

Peary

Junior's Cheesecake from Brooklyn New York

2012-05-11T17:57:00.002-04:00

hehe sorry I took this picture the next day..yum

My brother ordered the 8" sampler from Junior's Cheesecake for my mom for Mother's Day and it arrived yesterday! We didn't know it arrived until late last night because my brother said it was supposed to come in tonight.

If you live in NYC, you have probably heard of Junior's Cheesecake. I've heard of them for awhile and have wanted to try their cheesecakes. They also have a restaurant down in Brooklyn, but I have never been there yet. My brother got the 8" sampler that is currently on sale. It includes four of their best flavors divided in quarters: Original, Raspberry Swirl, Chocolate Ganache, and Cherry Crumb Cheesecake.

I have to say they are all so good. I especially love raspberries, so Raspberry Swirl would be my most favorite one.

I've never had cakes or food delivered before so I was excited with the box opening. Its packed very well. The sealed cheesecake comes safely boxed inside styrofoam with a package of dry ice to keep it cold. Included is also a box for storing the cheesecake after opening the seal.

Keep Your Egg Shells! DIY: Raw Egg White Mask

2012-05-11T16:30:00.001-04:00

One of my all time favorite natural mask is the raw egg white mask! Keep your egg shells after use, because that is enough to apply onto your face as a mask. You may also add a few drops of honey into the mix, but egg white by itself is also sufficient. If you want to go further, you can peel the thin egg skin layer and to place on top of the applied egg white.

Why egg white?

Egg whites are a great source of proteins and vitamins. It contains approximately 40 different kinds of proteins. (wiki.com)

54% Ovalbumin - Nourishment; blocks digestive enzymes^{[citation needed]}
12% Ovotransferrin - Binds iron^{[citation needed]}
11% Ovomucoid - Blocks digestive enzymes^{[citation needed]}
4% Ovoglobulin G2
4% Ovoglobulin G3
3.5% Ovomucin
3.4% Lysozyme
1.5% Ovoinhibitor
1% Ovoglycoprotein
0.8% Flavoprotein
0.5% Ovomacroglobulin
0.05% Avidin
0.05% Cystatin

(Total listed 95.8%)

You will feel your face tighten as the egg white mask begins to dry. You won't be able to make any expressions. Allow the egg white mask to completely dry and rinse. Your skin will appear fresh, tightened, smoother and brighter!

Silk Whita Pearl Finest Powder Whitening Mask

2012-05-10T17:10:00.001-04:00

I have been wanting to try Silk Whitia's Pearl Finest Powder Whitening Mask for some time now. I'm always on the search for "pearl" in beauty products. It has always been out of stock when I wanted to make the purchase, so I jumped at the chance when I found them in stock.

Just in general. Why pearl?

Before I go into Silk Whitia's mask, I want to talk a little bit about pearl. Like usual, I'm not a 100% knowledgeable about ingredients too much, but I'll share what I personally know. I'm not sure about other Asian countries (rice bran in ancient Japan) and other cultures for that matter, but in ancient Chinese history, pearl grounded to powder has been around for centuries as a whitening and anti-aging ingredient for the the wealthy, whether it is consumed orally or applied topically. In every period dramas I've watched, pearl would be bestowed as a gift to the princess, empress or a character of wealth and royalty.

Taken from Ganoskin.com, "For centuries, Asian women have used powder made from crushed freshwater pearls in an effort to maintain their youthful appearance. Royal inhabitants of the Chinese Imperial Palace swore by the miraculous rejuvenating effects of pearl powder, which they used for healing, skin brightening, wrinkle prevention, and sun protection. The last Empress Dowager of China during the Qing Dynasty not only used pearl powder on her face, but she ingested it daily. She and other women of the time found that it improved their complexion, softened their skin, and gave them a more youthful appearance. The Empress Dowager was famous for her beauty and her childlike skin even at the age of 74.

Pearl powder is recorded as a medicine in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, a national code of standards for the quality of drugs that serves as a regulatory basis in drug production, distribution, application, and management. It has been widely used by doctors and herbalists who practice traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). According to the July 2000 issue of Nutrition Science News , "Doctors who practice TCM believe the calcium and other valuable minerals and amino acids from pearl powder can also be absorbed through the skin. They have found pearl powder, applied externally, speeds the skin's natural metabolism to tone and rejuvenate complexion, heal blemishes, minimize large pores and reduce redness. A pearl facial pack is said to rejuvenate dry, dull skin."

In studies conducted at the Institute of Endocrinology at Zhejing Medical University in China, powdered sea pearl, mother-of-pearl, and freshwater pearl demonstrated systemic anti-aging and tonic actions. Other clinical studies in Japan and France have shown pearl powder to increase bone density and even aid in bone formation.

Although natural pearls were traditionally used in making pearl powder, the lack of supply and the high cost of natural pearls resulted in the need for an alternative. Cultured pearls are not considered to be of the same medicinal quality as natural pearls, so Chinese technicians began to hydrolyze pearls - that is, to break their protein molecules down into their component parts. Users say the resulting amino acids are easier for cells to absorb and therefore more effective.

Modern skin care companies - many of which specialize in herbal remedies - combine hydrolyzed pearl powder with herbal ingredients like green tea, gingko, and other extracts, as well as vitamins A, C, and E. This combination is used in creams and brightening lotions intended to rejuvenate dull, dry skin; reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; smooth and firm skin; regulate discoloration and scarring; and even reduce blemishes.

Does it work? Despite the mountains of anecdotal evidence - and the long history behind it - there's no proof that such cosmetics have anything other than a temporary effect. Nacre may contain some of the same proteins as human skin, but the two cannot bond, so any benefits that may come from adding it to the skin, such as firming of the cellular structure or stimulation of new growth, are likely to stop as soon as the cream is no longer used. None of this will stop the $100-billion-plus global cosmetics industry from trying. And who knows? Maybe one day pearls really will help you look younger, too."

So, putting that aside, I'll just stick to these affordable poor-woman's pearl mask. Despite affordable, they still cost around USD 2.00 for each sheet. I got them at Sasa.com for $16.60 for two packs (buy one get one free), each pack containing 4 sheets. Compared to the Silk Whitia Collagen mask that I got for $6.80 for two boxes, these are very expensive. But, I'll give it a try.

I'm not sure why these SW masks are not boxed like the other SW masks. They are just packaged in a clear bag. I'm starting to be a little dubious about SW's ingredients. They only display the active ingredients, rather than list all the ingredients. Which is why I like MBD's, they list all of them. Like other SW masks, it claims that materials are from France, but I read that from some bloggers that they are made in HK.

The individual mask is packaged in a larger package, so that the mask is folded in half, rather than in quarters. There is a styrofoam sheet in between the folded cloth mask. I take that out first and just wipe the excess serum for the back of my hands and neck.

The mask has a lot of serum. Alot. Much more than MBD masks. This mask really has enough serum for two masks. There is enough serum that one package can be used for two days: first day, use with the cloth mask; second day, apply serum topically as a mask.

One package makes two days use:
First Night of use, with sheet mask:

The serum is a clear and a little gooey. I let the serum drip into the package before I apply the mask onto my face because it will just drip everywhere and run down my hair if I lay down and be a waste.

The sheet cloth is a bit thinner than the SW collagen one, but still tougher and more woven than MBD ones. Due to it being thinner with a lot of serum, it sticks well onto my face. It's around the same size as the other SW mask, I find it a little wider horizontally, but its fine.

There is a mild fragrance, which is not listed in the ingredients.

The first time I used it I was not greatly impressed to be honest. I thought it was average. I expected it to be much much better than MBD's Arbutin Whitening Mask. When I took off the mask, my skin was noticeably much brighter and lighter, and after wash off, it was smooth and had a white transparency type of glow. However, the results just seem very temporary. I don't think it really shows the following day. I expected it to be more dramatic and longer lasting. Maybe it requires long term usage?

Second Night of use, apply excess serum topically as a mask:

After I use the sheet cloth mask, there is enough serum for the following night. I place the package in a large storage sized zip lock bag. You can also stick it into the fridge if you like.

If you have compressed facial masks, which are really cheap, ( I am currently trying to find it they sell them at my local Asian boutiques and pharmacy. They sell them cheaply on ebay, but I'm kind of on an ebay hiatus right now lol), and you would be able to create another cloth mask with them.

I just cut off the mask package and apply it topically over my face with my fingers. There is so much excess serum that it takes some time. I allow the serum to completely dry on my face. When it dries, it becomes a very tight shiny film. So tight, that you would not be able to make any facial expressions. One thing I like about this is that I allow it to completely dry and tighten a little longer so my skin gets a tightened as a result. It takes a little effort to wash off and I need to use my wash cloth to completely clean off the serum.

When I use it topically rather than with the cloth the second night, I can see the gradual lightness while I am waiting. I think the brightening and lightening results are greater when applied topically than with the cloth. But I still think that it is too short lived. However, I think that my skin is more tightened even to the following day.

Enough serum to store in ziplock bag for the following night

Clear gooey like serum

I cut open the package to use the serum the following night

The Skinny:

Overall, I am not as impressed as I hoped to be with this mask. I had much higher expectations for this. It does brighten and lighten, but not as strong as I hoped for. It does an okay job for me. For the price, it would be considered 'good'. Everything always comes down to the price for me. At $2.00 each, for basically two days of use, it is moderately priced. It is better than some other $2.00 sheet mask I have used. I think it would be good as a pick-me-up type of mask. I don't think I would stock up on this, maybe only if it was cheaper, but I would buy it again once in awhile.

Thanks for reading,
Peary

P.S. I have been kind of curbing my writing and use of language for my posts now. I was just reading my old posts and the writing sounds annoying.

Also, stay tuned for more mask reviews coming up. I think I wanna finish up on a few more Silk Whitia masks before moving onto the others.

I have:
la glace masks
BSC gel mask
C+M gel mask
Hanskin mask
Wai Yuen Tong mask
Dr. BSC bio cellulose masks

It'll take some time, though.

Moroccan Argan Oil - AAA Shea Butter Organic Virgin Cold Pressed Argan Oil + Josie Maran Argan Oil

2012-05-09T19:57:00.003-04:00

I don't know why it took me so long to write a post about argan oil. I'm still not sure if I should write one since Josie Maran has made it known and "out there". I've been using argan oil for many years now. I've been using it maybe a year or longer before Josie Maran debuted her argan oil.

What got me first interested and ultimately testing argan oil was that one time I was reading the forum or website of the renowned professional Hong Kong celebrity make-up artist Gary Chung. People were asking him advice for their skin problems. Some had dry skin, some had problems with acne, and some had problems with oily skin. He gave the same simple answer to each of them: argan oil. I decided that I had to look this up and voila, even before Josie Maran's debut, there was a lot of positive reviews from communities about this oil.

Argan Oil?

I won't give a formal definition or description of what argan oil is because you've probably already heard of it, plus I am not a mad scientist or a biochemist nor am I a self-acclaimed expert on this. Argan oil is an oil produced from the kernels of an argan tree in Morocco. I also remember reading that argan oil is closest to our natural sebum, which is a good thing. Taken from Josie Maran's site, "Argan Oil is extremely high in anti-oxidants, vitamin E, phenols, phenolic acid, essential fatty acids, carotene, and squalene. Perfect for both skin and hair, Argan Oil is moisturizing, helps to balance sebum production, is known to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, reduce redness, and repair sun damage. Josie Maran Argan Oil is the highest quality Argan Oil on the market, coming from a virgin first cold press."

And taken from AAA Shea Butter on Amazon.com, "The Argan Tree, Argania spinosa from Sapotaceae family and grows only in Morocco. The trees can live from 150-200 years. For centuries traditional cosmetic products produced from Argania spinosa have been a well kept secret known only to Berber women in Morocco. Argan oil is believed to be one of the rarest oils in the world. To produce Argan oil for cosmetic use, freshly harvested kernels from the fruit of the Argan tree are pressed and filtered through an organic cotton sieve, to extract the aromatic oil. The Argan oil is easily absorbed by the skin. This form of Argan oil is used for the treatment of dermatologic disease (acne, etc). Argan oil extracted by this method is used in Aromatherapy. In Europe, Argan oil has been used in the Aromatherapy industry for a long time, but for some reason it is not well known in the United States and is unavailable in retail stores. Argan oil has almost twice as much vitamin E or a-tocopherol as olive oil and it is much richer in linoleic acids. Its anti-ageing properties, due to high levels of vitamin E and saponins (which soften the skin), are well documented. Tocopherols are very important to human health because of their anti-oxidant actions and free radical scavenger affects. In traditional Moroccan medicine, Argan oil is used for the care of the body and face to counteract the effects of age or weather."

I've also read that there are I believe 3 forms of processing for argan oil, but I can't seem to find it right now. The different methods of processing for different use. Both Josie Maran's and AAA Shea Butter's are said to be cold pressed.

Just in general

Before I go into the difference/comparison of the two brands, I would like to say that in general argan oil is simply amazing. I loved it the first time I tried it. Argan Oil is multi-purposeful, good for the face, body and hair. You only need a drop or two and you just rub it onto your hands before applying it. In general, argan oil does everything it claims to do. It has made my skin radiant, hydrated and just simply beautiful. I love argan oil and its a must for all.

How do I use my argan oil?

This amazing multipurpose oil can be used for the face, body and hair. You just need a drop or two and just rub it in your palms and apply. I use it for facial massages. I usually use it after toner as a serum underneath my moisturizer, or alone as a moisturizer over toner.

Which one?

Like I've said, I've been using argan oil before Josie Maran debuted hers and it is the one by AAA Shea Butter. Since, Josie's wasn't out yet, my first impression of AAA's was that it was great. The only thing is that it has a smell, its not really a nutty smell. It's a little strange smell, some may be pulled off by the smell. And I'm not sure about temperature changes and maybe seasonal changes affecting the oil, but some comments have been about the bad quality of the product. I only bought the AAA once, and mine was alright, so maybe they got a bad one. Not too sure about that. Also, some had said it made their hair brittle. Not sure about that because I don't use either argan oil for my hair.

When Josie Maran came out with her argan oil, of course I had to try it too. Josie Maran's is pricier and she's a supermodel, so in other words: good reputation. Josie Maran's argan oil doesn't have that weird smell.

It's really difficult to say which is better. When I first tried Josie Maran's, I was thinking, this one's not as good because it has a dropper and I thought I was using more. After I started using JM's for a while longer, I started thinking that this one is better than AAA's because it seems like it is more smooth and lighter, allowing my skin to absorb it more. I finished off JM's first before returning to my AAA, which btw, lasts for a very long time, even after spilling it a lot while transferring it to the JM dropper bottle. After returning to the AAA, I still think it is good. It's still hydrating and everything. It just has that smell, but its not overpowering.

So, just a breakdown on the differences:

AAA Shea Butter Organic Virgin Cold Pressed Argan Oil

has a bad smell
much cheaper

Josie Maran Argan Oil

Josie Maran = supermodel reputation
more expensive
no smell
Josie Maran = supermodel reputation

I am definitely gonna continue using argan oil for the rest of my life. I think the argan oil that I will likely repurchase is the Josie Maran one because its readily available at Sephora and it doesn't have a smell. And maybe because of its "quality supermodel reputation". It is pricier but I think I will get a much larger bottle of JM's and maybe I will get AAA's after that.

Thanks for reading,

Peary

P.S. Stay tuned for my upcoming sheet masks reviews. I still need to do the reviews of the rest of the Silk Whitia and I want to start on the la glace ones and some bio cellulose ones.

Ole Henriksen Total Truth Eye Creme spf 15

2012-05-07T14:06:00.000-04:00

I am currently using Ole Henriksen's Total Truth Eye Creme with spf 15. In the past, I've used Strivectin, Philosophy, and Caudalie's eye creams. I liked them all but I always wanna try something new.

I've sampled Ole Henriksen's face creams and they are not bad.

What I like about the Total Truth Eye Creme is that it has spf 15. There are many eye creams in the market that do not have spf in their formulas and you would need to rely on your sunglasses.

Made in the USA, helping my fellow citizens and helping our fallen economy.

Although it is still pretty pricey, the texture and the consistency of the cream is very thick and it seems that it will last for a long time because I only need to use very little. I warm it up with my pinky fingers and pat it on.

The downfall about this is that it burns or stings my eyes. Usually, in the middle of the day, it somehow seeps into my eyes and burns. Usually in the middle of the day because maybe I end up yawning and when my eyes are naturally wetting itself, it dilutes with the cream and ultimately seeps into my eyes. I end of tearing so much that I have wipe it off. I usually spray my face with my Evian facial spray, but with this eye cream, I can't use it anymore. For this reason, I am not sure if I should return it or not. And, it wouldn't be useful if I need to wipe it off.

Overall, I am still not sure about this because of the burning. Otherwise, it hydrates my eyes pretty well and it seems like it will last long, therefore be more cost effective.

UPDATE 5/11/12: I decided to give this eye cream another week and I am glad I did. After the first few days of watery stingy eyes, it stopped occurring. I don't know what it is. Maybe, my eyes adjusted to it? I now apply the cream a little differently because I found that I could use even less than what I was using before. I just need to pat very tiny dots along my under eyes before patting it thoroughly. If I need more, I just add more tiny dots to layer over it. I am really loving this eye cream now. My under eyes are noticeably hydrated and I like that there is spf. The spf may seem kind of low but I've tried Shiseido's sun protection eye cream with spf32 and it is incredibly thick and white that it doesn't sink in.

Although I really like this eye cream, I still think it is pricey. They have a set that I hope they will continue, otherwise I would only purchase this when I am desperate...which unfortunately I am.

Update 5/28/12: Still using this eye cream. Under eyes appear hydrated, less dark. I purchased the limited edition set that includes the eye cream, serum and face cream. It's a really good deal at $78.00, I believe. Though I am still unsure if I should return this single eye cream.

Thanks for reading,

Peary

Kao Asience Shine Therapy Treatment

2012-05-06T16:27:00.002-04:00

Just a quick update.

This is a hair treatment along with the shampoo and conditioner I used when I was living in Asia last year for two months. I have really dry, thick hair and I think this is pretty good. It's a bit cheaper than Shiseido Tsubaki, which I have not gotten to try yet, but I was surprised that it 'd made my hair much softer, smoother and I'd guess, more tamable. It's more noticeable when I was using it in Hong Kong, where the climate is more humid and dry.

They also sell this in the Asian supermarkets here in the US, but I never bought them when I am here. I always just stick to the US brands.

Silk Whitia Highly-Concentrated Collagen Hydrating Mask

2012-05-03T13:56:00.001-04:00

A collagen mask review after a post about the ineffectiveness of collagen in skincare products?

There was a great deal on this mask, US $6.80 for two boxes (5 pieces each box), making them only $0.68 for each mask. Pretty good deal I'd say if you're an international buyer. The Silk Whitia masks usually run at $16.60 for two boxes, so I was a little worried that they would be expired or something. But, I held my breath and bought 3 orders (6 boxes). The first thing I checked when they arrived was the expiration date. Good thing, 12-2014.

I first tried one of Silk Whitia's moisturizing mask in 2010. I remember that they were quite good, the only down fall was that you needed to rinse your face after use otherwise it would leave a film of residue.

Although it is a collagen mask, and although it is not effective in penetrating into the skin, where is this ingredient in the mask?? And what is nature moisturizing factor?

According to cosmeticscop.com, "One of the primary elements in keeping skin healthy is making sure the structure of the epidermis (outer layer of skin) is intact. The components that do this are often called natural moisturizing factor (NMF) or ingredients that mimic the structure and function of healthy skin. While the oil and fat components of skin prevent evaporation and provide lubrication to the surface of skin, it is actually the intercellular matrix, along with the skin’s lipid content, that gives skin a good deal of its surface texture and feel.

The intercellular matrix is the skin’s first line of defense against water loss. When the lipid and NMF content of skin is reduced, we experience surface roughness, flaking, fine lines, and a tight, uncomfortable feeling. The longer the skin’s surface layer (stratum corneum) is impaired, the less effective the skin’s intercellular matrix becomes (Sources: Skin Research and Technology, August 2000, pages 128–134; and Dermatologic Therapy, 2004, volume 17, Supplement 1, pages 43–48). Moreover, the skin’s healing process is impaired. NMFs make up an expansive group of ingredients that include amino acids, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, cholesterol, fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids, glycosphingolipids, urea, linoleic acid, glycosaminoglycans, glycerin, mucopolysaccharide, and sodium PCA (pyrrolidone carboxylic acid). Ingredients that mimic the lipid content of skin include apricot oil, canola oil, coconut oil, corn oil, jojoba oil, jojoba wax, lanolin, lecithin, olive oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, shea butter, soybean oil, squalane, and sweet almond oil, all of which can be extremely helpful in making dry skin look and feel better.

All of the skin’s supporting NMFs and lipids are present in the intercellular structure of the epidermis, both between skin cells and in the lipid content on the surface of skin. When any of these ingredients are included in skin-care products, they appear to help stabilize and maintain this complex intercellular-skin matrix. More important, all of these ingredients, and many more, help support the intercellular area of the skin by keeping it intact. This support helps prevent surface irritation from penetrating deeper into the skin, helps keep bacteria out, and aids the skin’s immune/healing system. Using moisturizers of any kind that contain NMFs (whether they are labeled as anti-aging, antiwrinkle, serums, lotions, or sunscreens) allows your skin to do its job of repairing and regenerating itself without the impedances brought on when skin is suffering from dryness, environmental distress, or excess irritation."

So, what do I think of the mask??

Surprisingly, its not bad. Once you rip open the packet, you can see that it is soaked in a milky serum. I usually take another photo of the mask once I remove it from the packet. But, it was so soaked that it got all over my hands and I had to put it on to prevent it from dripping.

There is a scent, not overly powering. I'd rather it be a bit lighter, though.

The texture of the paper cotton mask is much thicker than the regular My Beauty Diary masks, but thinner than their Gold + Marine Collagen mask. You won't need to worry about accidentally tearing the mask, because it is woven well. The mask size is a little bit rounder, making the two sides stick out a little more. The eye openings are also a lot larger than the MBD masks. The mask has a lot of serum, so it sticks well to the skin.

The mask is very moist that it allows the serum to transfer to the skin well. I think it does a good job at moisturizing and it does a little brightening, though nothing dramatic I was a little surprised at this because it is only a hydrating mask and I did not use my brightening toner underneath it.

If you have used other Silk Whitia masks, you probably know that when it dries it leaves a film residue. However, this mask does not leave a residue. The texture of the serum is more like a lotion or emulsion. But, if you want to apply your face creams you will need to rinse off otherwise its just gonna sit on top of it.

While I rinse, I can feel my skin is soft. And it allows toner and moisturizer to seep well into my skin.

Mask texture, taken after use.

The mask is more round, making the horizontal side larger. Eye openings are also much larger than the regular MBD masks.

There is alot of excess serum left in the packet and I usually save it in a zip lock bag and use it the following night as a mask. The mask itself is well soaked and sufficient that I don't need to use the excess serum for the same night.

If you have been following my reviews, you will know that everything comes down to the price. I am happy to get a good deal of this mask. For $0.68 each, it is an excellent mask! If it was at the usual $1.60 each, it would still be very good as well, but I probably wouldn't buy it at that price.

What I use to cleanse my face each morning

2012-05-02T12:20:00.001-04:00

"Milk is not just for drinking. In fact, the vitamins and minerals contained in milk can be just as beneficial to the outside of your body as they are to the inside. Applying milk to your skin adds nourishing moisture, according to the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. A homemade milk face wash, consisting of products that you may already have in your pantry, can polish your skin and bring out its natural glow."

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/201545-how-to-wash-your-face-with-milk/#ixzz1ry0ZWiVI

I wash my face with regular fresh milk, not fresh from the cow, but I guess its fresh from the container, each morning. I've been using milk as a cleanser for maybe 6 years now and it has helped lightened the sun spots and overall whitened my skin back to its natural color. Cow's milk also has a ph of 6.4 to 6.8, making it slightly acidic but very close to ph neutral (ph 7).

I only use milk in the morning, without a need for another cleanser. My face is not really dirty in the morning when I wake up, so its not really necessary to use a store bought cleanser. I use two round cotton pads to soak up in milk as a cleansing pad. For the first cotton pad, I use both sides to clean off any residue on the face with milk. The second cotton pad, for one side, I use it clean any remaining residue (it should be pretty clean by then), and the final side of the cotton to allow the milk to allow the milk to kind of sink it more into the skin.

I usually just rinse the milk with water right afterwards and follow with my toner and other skin regime. You can wait a couple of minutes with your face over the sink and allow the milk to absorb more before rinsing off.

Sometimes, I also add a drop of olive oil into the milk. But overall, I think using milk as a cleanser allows my skin to be less exposed to the harshness of store bought cleansers. The face shouldn't be too dirty after waking up, unless you sleep in the mud or something.