Disaster of the Diabolical Bath Foams

This article was originally posted at http://aichakubeautification.blogspot.com. If you see it anywhere else without credit, the content is stolen without permission.

I had a series of shower foam mishaps in the month of October.

Somehow, I have a very bad memory and I couldn't recall why I had to use such "expensive" organic bath foams and handmade soaps. So last month, I attempted to be thrifty by getting some commercial shower foams that come in large quantities for an attractive price.

Through the weeks, I had one disaster after another. I shall  do a short and quick recap of each shower foam I tried in sequence. Hopefully you can benefit from my learning experiences.


Shokubutsu Whitening Body Foam

Review: Jurlique Sensitive Skin Care

This article was originally posted at http://aichakubeautification.blogspot.com. If you see it anywhere else without credit, the content is stolen without permission.

My skin was acting up with all sorts of blotches, rashes, pimples and bumps in the past few months. It felt tight and dry, yet oily at the same time. I thought I should return to one of the basic skincare staples that got my skin in order in the past.

Here's what I used to get things back to their normal state: Jurlique's Chamomile Soothing Mist, Soothing Herbal Recovery Gel, and Herbal Recovery Eye Gel. Coincidentally, I purchased these items at the right time. There's a 50% discount on the price of Soothing Herbal Recovery Gel now, with a purchase of one full-priced item.

It has proven to be the trusty rescue for me once again. My skin is getting back its natural balance and while I have a few scars left to clear up, I'm on the way to recovery.

Jurlique is an Australian brand and in the past, when I used to be in Australia a lot, I found Jurlique to be, for me, the best skincare that can be purchased there. I know the brand doesn't get plenty of raves on review sites like Makeup Alley. In fact, some people complain it's overpriced and that the products do nothing for them.

Review: Skinfood Mushroom BB Cream

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My main computer died on me suddenly last night! It refuses to boot up! All the photos which I recently took and uploaded to the computer have been deleted from the cameras, but unfortunately were not backed up on my external harddrive. Very sad, isn't it? I wonder if it's worth the effort and money to try to retrieve my files from that computer.

I'm now typing on my travel laptop, which is a little slow-going for me, because I'm not used to this keypad. Anyway, I'm thinking about whether I should hurry and get another computer. Maybe I could take some time off the virtual world and spend a little more time on my other interests?

Fortunately, I had already uploaded to the web my photos for this review. So I am still able to share with you my thoughts about one of my favourite BB Creams: Skinfood Mushroom BB Cream.

Review: The Samplestore

Apologies: I used to put prices as a service for those who wanted to know, but I no longer do it. ^__^

This article was originally posted at http://aichakubeautification.blogspot.com. If you see it anywhere else without credit, the content is stolen without permission.

The Samplestore is a fun store where you can get free samples to try. Pros

• Try products before buying
• Safe, reputable sampling
• Products are sent safely and on time!

Cons

• None!

Verdict

★★★★★/5

Very good indeed! This article was originally posted at http://aichakubeautification.blogspot.com. If you see it anywhere else without credit, the content is stolen without permission.

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Review: Ginvera Green Tea Marvel Gel

This article was originally posted at http://aichakubeautification.blogspot.com. If you see it anywhere else without credit, the content is stolen without permission.

Recently I found out that Ginvera products are sold, with great success, overseas in countries like Japan. Hence, I decided I need to give some Ginvera products a try. Ginvera is a local brand and I believe we should support local products especially if they are effective and famous overseas, right? How could I have missed such a star brand when it's easily and cheaply available right in my backyard?

Image from Ginvera website

The first product I tried was Ginvera Marvel Gel with Green Tea. It was on sale at Watsons so I picked up a tube at a very affordable price. Even without a sale the price is very reasonable, being half of that of comparative products from overseas. The local packaging is slightly different, being totally green instead of white, but the product is the same.

Review: Shu Uemura White Recovery Ex+ Instant Spot Brightener

Apologies: I used to put prices as a service for those who wanted to know, but I no longer do it. ^__^

This article was originally posted at http://aichakubeautification.blogspot.com. If you see it anywhere else without credit, the content is stolen without permission.

I've been using Shu Uemura White Recovery Ex+ Instant Spot Brightener - Brightening Treatment since early this year and found it outperforms every spot lightening treatment product I've tried thus far.

Image from Shu Uemura US Website

It's lightly tinted and can be used to cover up scars or dark spots under make-up but at the same time is a treatment product that lightens the dark spots as you use it. I find that my dark freckles and scars are lightened significantly and quickly within a week. It's a pricey product but since it works, I highly recommend it if you find you want something effective to deal with dark freckles or scars. According to Shu Uemura:

• prune extract : helps to clarify skin
• sakura leaf extract : helps to improve skin texture and soothe the skin
• vitamin c derivative : reduces melanin production. 24-hour release of vitamin c

Ingredients list from Shu Uemura US Website:

sea water , cyclohexasiloxane , isohexadecane , nylon-12, propylene glycol, hdi/trimethylol hexyllactone crosspolymer, ci 77891 / titanium dioxide, titanium dioxide, peg-10 dimethicone, isopropyl lauroyl sarcosinate, trimethylsiloxysilicate, hydroxyethylpiperazine ethane sulfonic acid, methylsilanol/silicate crosspolymer, disteardimonium hectorite, nylon-611/dimethicone copolymer, bis-peg/ppg-14/14 dimethicone , phenoxyethanol, magnesium sulfate, aluminum hydroxide, capryloyl salicylic acid, caprylyl glycol, mica, dimethicone, methylparaben, chlorphenesin, methicone, ci 77491, ci 77492 / iron oxides, cyclopentasiloxane, c9-15 fluoroalcohol phosphates / c9-15 fluoroalcohol phosphate, prunus yedoensis leaf extract, hydrolyzed prunus domestica

This article was originally posted at http://aichakubeautification.blogspot.com. If you see it anywhere else without credit, the content is stolen without permission.

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Review: DHC Salicylic Acid Toner

Apologies: I used to put prices as a service for those who wanted to know, but I no longer do it. ^__^

This article was originally posted at http://aichakubeautification.blogspot.com. If you see it anywhere else without credit, the content is stolen without permission.

I had been battling my cranky ultra-reactive skin since April! My skin had been both super-clogged, super-oily and dry at the same time, if it makes any sense? It was very hard to deal with, since I couldn't use the usual oily-skin products to combat the clogging. Some days I even had small bumps like mini-pimples all over my t-zone. :( It took some time to calm my skin down. Using my usual regimen of Impress IC products didn't work, so I had to find some way of unclogging my skin without over-drying it. I'll spare you the blow-by-blow trial-and-error details, and get straight to the item that worked a minor miracle for me. I took a chance on it on a whim during a sale and fortunately it worked out well. It's based on the fact that I read something about Salicylic Acid online and went out looking for a suitable formulation.

Photo from DHC

Salicylic acid

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Salicylic acid (from Latin salix, willow tree, from the bark of which the substance is obtained) is a beta hydroxy acid. This colorless crystalline organic acid is widely used in organic synthesis and functions as a plant hormone. It is derived from the metabolism of salicin. In addition to being a compound that is chemically similar to but not identical to the active component of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), it is probably best known for its use in anti-acne treatments. As with other beta hydroxy acids, salicylic acid is a key ingredient in many skin-care products for the treatment of acne, psoriasis, calluses, corns, keratosis pilaris, and warts.^[12] It works as both a keratolytic and comedolytic agent by causing the cells of the epidermis to shed more readily, opening clogged pores and neutralizing bacteria within, preventing pores from clogging up again by constricting pore diameter, and allowing room for new cell growth.^[13] I decided to try out DHC's Salicylic Acid Toner because it is alcohol-free, contains numerous helpful botanicals and it's reported to be one of the least drying Salicylic Acid products. Although it's supposed to be for acne, I used it for the purpose of clearing up my pores. It was mild enough to be not overly drying and did not trigger any redness. In fact, I think the botanicals added some moisturising. At the same time, I could feel my pores slowly clearing up and unclogging, something which even regular masking and scrubbing couldn't do. At the beginning, I used it twice a day. Once my skin settled down, I reduced it to once a day, at night. As of today, my skin has gotten back to normal, albeit with some scarring (from my over-enthusiastic picking at my skin), and it's starting to feel too dry to use daily, so I'm back to my usual Impress IC regimen and using this toner once every 2-3 days This product is worth considering if you are looking for a product to unclog your pores and yet provide some hydration. It is also very reasonably priced locally (in Singapore at Watsons), not far from the Japanese retail price.

This article was originally posted at http://aichakubeautification.blogspot.com. If you see it anywhere else without credit, the content is stolen without permission.

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Review: DHC Coenzyme Q10 Cream II

Note: I used to put prices as a service for those who wanted to know, but I'm feeling this exposes my spendings abit too much, so I'm no longer going to put in prices. ^__^ I'm sure many of you would have heard by now that a popular and established Japanese brand is finally coming to Singapore. I read conflicting reports about when this information is supposed to be released, but there's no denying, the information has been leaked already and I think many people know by now. I personally have not received any official word to help promote this brand, so I'm under no obligation to keep any secrets under wraps. Still, I think I'd let the official people announce it, instead of saying so myself, as my information is from rumours and forums. I'll do something else in this post, instead of revealing the brand that is going to be launched in Singapore, I'll review something that has worked for me. As you have read in my previous entries, I've had a few disappointments with DHC, but this cream really works wonders for my dry skin. At first I was appalled at the awful colour of this cream! It's so yellow, I thought it looked medicinal. But don't be put off by the colour. The cream doesn't have a strong scent, though it has a slight non-cosmetic smell that I can't identify. I don't mind the smell, and I'm quite picky about scents. This cream is so rich that it leaves a slight oily film but my skin loves it. It smoothens out my dryness and plumps out the skin. I only use it on the dry parts of my face and my neck. And a little goes a long way. It's a huge tub that I believe will last for a long time. Very value-for-money indeed. If I'm on a budget and no longer can buy my Impress creams, it'll be a product I'd purchase again when it's finished. However, oily-skinned individuals be warned, don't try this cream. It's really very rich and emolient, and is best left for drier skins. Sorry, I bought this item from Japan, I suspect the ingredient list was in Japanese. Anyway, I've thrown the box away and I'm not able to find the ingredient list in English online. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Review: DHC Camu Camu Whitening Set

Note: I used to put prices as a service for those who wanted to know, but I'm feeling this exposes my spendings abit too much, so I'm no longer going to put in prices. ^__^ I got this mini DHC Camu-Camu Whitening Trial set when I was in Japan in April (actually someone helped me buy it and I collected it from her when I arrived there, shhhh secret, don't want to trouble her too much in case others start asking her too, hehe.) Finally got round to trying it last week. There is no strong fragrance and it's not oily at all, being water-based. The Lotion and Essence feel watery and soothing while the cream is light enough to absorb quickly after application. I saw immediate whitening effect after application and was quite pleased with it. However, as with many products that give quick whitening, my skin didn't do too well after the second use. It started to dry out my skin, making it tight, bumpy and red. I think it'll be a great product for oilier and less sensitive skin. I didn't expect myself to have so many problems with DHC products, and I'm quite disappointed that 2 of the DHC product range I've tried so far, didn't do so well for me. Fortunately, there's something that worked, and I'll write about it in the next post. Ingredients from DHC Taiwan website:

DHC Camu Camu White Lotion

"Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Myrciaria Dubia Seed Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Dipropylene Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Citrate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hyaluronate"

DHC Camu Camu White Essence

"Allantoin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Cellulose Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Dequalinium Chloride, Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Phosphate, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Glycerides, Laureth-7, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Seed Extract, Nylon-12, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Polysorbate 80, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Sorbitan Stearate, Water"

DHC Camu Camu White Cream "Water, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Triethylhexanoin, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Myrciaria Dubia Seed Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside,Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Glycerides, Behenyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Oleate, Dimethicone, Potassium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Citrate, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Allantoin, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Dequalinium Chloride" © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Review: Beauty Talk Idebenone Q10 Mask

Note: I used to put prices as a service for those who wanted to know, but I'm feeling this exposes my spendings abit too much, so I'm no longer going to put in prices. ^__^ Today's review features the Beauty Talk Idebenone Q10 Mask that I purchased from Sasa's atrium sale at Plaza Singapura last month. I almost overlooked this mask because it's an unknown brand to me but luckily, the SA introduced it to me. She told me that it's sold like hotcakes, with customers buying 20-30 pieces each time. Herself, she got a hundred as the price was so great and she loved the mask very much. I must say I was skeptical of her sales pitch, but the price was very attractive. It cost a fraction of the original retail price so I bought a few pieces to try. Cost aside, this mask turned out to be great and I like it very much. It's not a whitening mask but a hydrating one, and it seems my skin loves Q10 alot (I have a DHC Q10 cream that gives me the same hydrating-plumping effect). Here's the details on the back of the mask. It is high in hyaluronic acid, aloe, Q10 and this mysterious ingredient called Idebenone (this is the first time I've heard of it). The mask is like any sheet mask and has a high level of serum in it. My skin laps up the serum and when the mask is removed, my skin is plump and hydrated, much more than most other masks I've tried. Also, no side effects like stinging or redness. So overall, many thumbs up for this mask! I'm waiting for another sale to haul more of this! :D Finally, don't forget to join the competition. It ends this weekend. I'm heading out to collect my Impress IC skincare, where there's an extra discount for Kanebo products today at the Takashimaya sale. Will post more about that later. :D © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Review: DHC Acerola Lotion & Paul & Joe Whitening Emulsion

Note: I used to put prices as a service for those who wanted to know, but I'm feeling this exposes my spendings abit too much, so I'm no longer going to put in prices. ^__^

I've been using DHC Acerola Lotion for almost a week and Paul & Joe Whitening Emulsion for about 2 weeks. I had heard and read alot of good reviews about these 2 items but I found them both to be less than ideal for my skin. This proves that skincare and makeup is all about finding your personal optimum levels based on your own skin and preferences. After some time of trying out things based on reviews, I find that it's best take the reviews together with knowledge of the reviewer's skintype and preferences.

My own skin is, as I have stated in my "Beauty Profile", aging/maturing, hence I find it is getting drier and requires much more help. On the other hand, I have hyper-reactive skin which doesn't do well with too strong or powerful ingredients. Hence, I think I can never say it enough, but when reading my reviews, do keep these considerations in mind. :D

The problems I faced with these 2 products sum up the above points. I found both items a bit harsh. Something in these 2 products made my skin turn red and bumpy. Unfortunately, I didn't behave like a good reviewer, I didn't look at the ingredients list nor did I keep the boxes! So you have to just base this reviews on my personal descriptions.

DHC Acerola Lotion dries out my skin quite abit and doesn't add the moisture or hydration that I have come to expect from lotions. I think it's probably a better product for oilier and younger skin that is more resilient?

Paul & Joe Whitening Emulsion is a product I picked up from a recent Prestige sale and I am told it's a discontinued item. While I love Paul & Joe makeup bases, I found Whitening Emulsion didn't do much for me. It doesn't give a deep-down moisturising and hydration for my skin. It functions well enough as a surface moisturiser, ie. it gives a surface boost and a layer to protect the skin but I personally found that it lacked a deep-down hydration that I need. After I use it in the morning, I find my base makeup doesn't apply smoothly. As such, it's to be expected that I won't find it moisturising enough for the night.

In terms of whitening, I didn't find it doing anything for me either. I also found my skin turning flakey and blotchy, I lost the glowy clarity that I achieved when I was using Kanebo's skincare. Again, I think this will function well for younger and oilier skin, like those other bloggers who reviewed this product and loved it. :D

After these 2 weeks of switching to something different, I'm considering if I should just go back to using Kanebo skincare and just forget about trying all the different skincare products and samples I picked up over the previous months from sales and from my travels? Would that defeat the purpose of a review blog?

Well, anyway, I'll be adding stuff to my sale blog, please do take a look at Beautification Stuff.

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Review: Loreal Perfect Slim Laser

Note: I used to put prices as a service for those who wanted to know, but I'm feeling this exposes my spendings abit too much, so I'm no longer going to put in prices. ^__^ It's a holiday in Singapore today and I took some time to redo my blog layout. How do you like the new look? Please let me know if there are any further improvements that can be made. :D I unified the blog appearance with my twitter by using the same background too. Keke. I'll post some photos of my recent jewellery and trinkets "designs" soon, but meanwhile, I set up a storefront on Facebook called "Simply, Aichaku!". Do let me know if it's easy to view and navigate? I'm still undecided if I want to enter the foray of selling handmade jewellery in large quantities, but if anyone is keen on anything you see, please let me know, as I don't mind making custom extras for a token sum for my efforts. Despite my disastrous encounter with the Loreal Perfect Slim Patch, I decided to give the Loreal Perfect Slim Laser a try because it was on a 20%+20% discount. Glad to say there are some good results to report this time. Let me qualify first that I don't expect these slimming creams to help me drop dress sizes. To get that I know that I'd need to have a healthy diet and exercise. And ofcourse I realise I won't be getting narrow hips like Kate Moss or long thin legs like Gisele Bunchen, as that would depend on the luck of genetics and I didn't strike the lottery on that count. What I'm looking for is nicer, smoother skin, that minimises the appearance of lumpy cellulite. Have you seen older women who are fit and trim but have wrinkled body skin? Despite their svelte bodies, unfortunately, they don't look so good because their arms and legs are lumpy or crinkled in appearance? I'm hoping to avoid that by using body creams like the Loreal Perfect Slim Laser. This cream promises to reduce your inches and resculpt your thighs, hips and buttocks within 14 days, with the use of Alpha-caffeine which can effectively and accurately reduce the appearance of cellulite. After 14 days of use, I must say that this cream did help to smoothen the skin on my tummy, buttocks and thighs. The first day after I used it, I could immediately feel my skin was much smoother. This cream comes in a tube of 125ml and lasted me well beyond 2 weeks. I confess I put on some weight, about 3-4 kg, these couple of months, after moving to a new department in the office. However, I did not feel any tightening in my jeans or pants! I believe it must be the use of the cream that helped to keep my lower body from expanding with my weight. I will be trying other creams after this tube finishes, but I have a feeling I might repurchase this in the future. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Review: My Beauty Diary Black Pearl Mask

Note: I used to put prices as a service for those who wanted to know, but I'm feeling this exposes my spendings abit too much, so I'm no longer going to put in prices. ^__^

Selamat Hari Raya to all my Muslim friends and readers! Yeah! It's a long weekend and there's a holiday tomorrow. Woot, no work!! Hahaha, so I have some time to dedicate to blogging. :D

I spotted My Beauty Diary masks at Guardian Pharmacy in Harbour Front during one of my lunchtime forays. In my previous micro-blogging test post, I mentioned they were selling at the new-product-promo-price of less than $5 per pack of 2 masks. There were 3 types on sale: Aloe Vera, Black Pearl and Bulgarian White Rose. I bought Black Pearl and Bulgarian White Rose as they claim to have whitening properties.

Because my Chinese isn't all that great, I'm not sure if this is the same My Beauty Diary brand that everyone in the blogsphere is raving about. However, I found the mask very disappointing after all the raves that I read online. It might be a case of being let down by overly high expectations.

I tried the Black Pearl mask immediately, the day I bought it. It has a very strong fragrance which I didn't find appealing, but fortunately it dissipated after a while. Good thing also that the fragrance didn't cause any extreme allergic reaction for me, but there was a slight stinging sensation on the extremely dry parts of my cheeks and corners of my mouth. I tend to get very dry on these areas especially during PMS. Hopefully, when these areas are not too dry, I won't get this sort of stinging sensation when I use the 2nd piece of mask that I have.

The mask sheet is thin and light, so it doesn't create a heavy feeling when it is applied. It is also generously soaked with serum that is sufficiently moisturising, but I find it doesn't really brighten or whiten my skin. Personally, for a pearl mask, I was expecting a smoother, clearer look to my skin like I get when I use the Silk Whitia Pearl Finest Powder Pores Refining mask.

Here's the ingredients list from the back of the pack, for those of you who are able to real Chinese. Overall, this isn't likely to be a mask that I'd haul more of. While it's cheap, I find its performance quite disappointing in comparison to other equally priced masks. I have not tried the Bulgarian White Rose mask yet, but I hope it will be better than the Black Pearl mask. By the way, thank you all for your interest in my jewellery/trinket-making efforts. I'll put in some effort to take photos and post them up for your viewing this week. :D © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Review: Green Bean Cleansing Powder

Note: I used to put prices as a service for those who wanted to know, but I'm feeling this exposes my spendings abit too much, so I'm no longer going to put in prices. ^__^ I purchased a box of this Green Bean Cleansing Powder from an atrium sale at West Coast Plaza. It was very cheap, costing less than SG$10 per box of 20 satchets.

I was willing to try it because the ingredients list is very small - it contains only 3 ingredients: Green bean, Job's tear and wheat germ.

Although there are Japanese words on the packaging, it's actually a made-in-Taiwan product, from a company called Shine-ball Biotechnology Co. Ltd. (Funny name huh? I couldn't help giggling when I typed this.)

According to the usage instructions, one could either use it as a face wash/scrub or as a mask.

The contents are in powder form, so you add either water (for the wash/scrub) or some egg white (for the mask) to 1 packet of powder to form a paste. I used it last week, and found that I didn't need a whole packet. Half a packet is more than enough to form a paste to cover the entire face. And since I think egg white is quite drying, I used water to make a mask.

I mixed half the contents with water and smeared the paste over my face to make a mask, but found that the paste dried up and tightened my skin very fast, so I couldn't leave it on for more than 5 minutes. After that, I moistened it and then used the granules to scrub my face before washing everything off.

The product left my skin soft and clear (like it has whitening properties?) but a bit on the dry side. My skin was a bit squeaky and tight after use. I believe it removed some of my black heads on the nose. I think it'll be perfect for people with oily skin. For subsequent usage I intend to mix in some milk/soya milk for a more moisturising mask.

For something that costs so little, I feel it really works very well. The only problem is, I don't think I can find it again. The atrium sale was organised by Cold Storage but I think the company that was selling the products there was a distributer or agent, called Jia Sen Enterprise. I think the product is not found on the shelves in Cold Storage.

I have so many things to review and share with you, but I'm find myself so short of time! Especially since I'm so busy making jewellery and have progressed to making handphone and bag charms. It's so addictive! I made soo many and am now too lazy to photograph them. Would you be interested to see what I did?

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Review: Watsons Bird Nest Essence Facial Mask

Note: I used to put prices as a service for those who wanted to know, but I'm feeling this exposes my spendings abit too much, so I'm no longer going to put in prices. ^__^ Watsons Bird's Nest Essence Facial Mask is a paper mask that comes in a box of 6 and is also available as single packs. It is a Watsons house brand and is made in Korea. Here is the description and ingredient list from the back of the packaging. (click photo to enlarge) I use this mask at most only once a week. Usually, I'll use it once every two weeks. It's very moisturising and makes my face feel very smooth and supple. However, I feel it's too nourishing to use too often as I think it might make me break out in pimples, even though my skin is on the drier side. Hence, I think it may not be suitable for oily skins. Normally it retails for $14.95 per pack of 6. I purchased it once at $9.95 per pack with 2 free single packs. And at a recent Watson sale, it was sold at $9.95 per pack with an additional 20% discount if you spend above a certain amount. It's worth stocking up on this mask. I can't say enough good things about how supple and smooth it makes my skin. It's more economical to buy it in bulk as it is really a very good hydrating and nourishing mask and I don't mind having more of it to use. By the way, I've created a public Facebook account for blogging friends, so add me if you like here. I'm enjoying myself adding more friends and find it's quite fun to have a public account. :D Oh and I saw The Body Shop is having an atrium sale at Plaza Singapura. Do head there if you're looking for bargains on Body Shop items. :D © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Guest Review: Sheer Indulgence Facial at The World of Organic Skincare

Note: I used to put prices as a service for those who wanted to know, but I'm feeling this exposes my spendings abit too much, so I'm no longer going to put in prices. ^__^ Recently, Aichaku's Beautification was offered a no-holds barred, no-strings attached opportunity to review the Sheer Indulgence Face Spa, which is The World of Organic Skincare's signature non-invasive facial treatment that is customised according to individual skin concerns. Additionally it was a chance to learn more about the two main brands, Living Nature (NZ) and Organic Apoteke (UK) carried and distributed by The World of Organic Skincare. As the name of the company suggests, their products are organic and natural. The only request from the company was for honest and sincere feedback. Lucky reader, Pinky took up the offer and came back glowing. Here is her review of her experience. Sheer Indulgence Facial at The World of Organic Skincare by Pinky Thanks to Aichaku of Beautification, I got to sample the luxurious and aptly titled Sheer Indulgence Facial at The World of Organic Skincare. Firstly, some facts: The World of Organic Skincare is located at 468 River Valley Road, right opposite Valley Point Shopping Centre. Their number is 68380168 and other than facials, they also provide a whole menu of other spa services like nail treatments, massages and yes, even Brazillian waxing. The World Of Organic Skincare distributes 2 organic skincare brands: Living Nature, which is free from synthetic ingredients and preservatives, and Organic Apoteke, a line of organic cosmetics and skincare based on ayurvedic principles. I was hosted by the director of The World of Organic Skincare, Lawrence Chee and my therapist for the Sheer Indulgence facial was the lovely Mei Lin who is also the GM. The facial: The session started with my filling up a form, listing my typical skincare routine and my concerns regarding my skin. Mei Ling used this as an assessment tool for my facial as The World Of Organic Skincare customizes their facials according to different skin types. The only thing in common is the manuka honey mask because it is very gentle and suitable for all skin types. On top of that, I really like the fact that all their products are pumped out on the spot at the cocktail bar according to customers’ needs; nothing is pre-prepared. As I have sensitive skin, Mei Lin recommended that I use the Enzyme mask and the Hydrating mask rather than the Kaolin clay peel. The Kaolin clay peel is an exfoliating treatment which has the added benefits of brightening overall skin tone, with firming and lifting properties to boot. The facial started with makeup removal and cleansing. I had the option of testing out both the milk cleanser as well as the foaming cleanser. What was interesting to me is that the foam from the foaming cleanser actually comes from a plant called gum-digger's soap. No chemicals or foaming agents were used to create the suds which is rather magical for me :) This was followed by a deep cleansing mask for my T-zone area while the rest of my face was treated with the hydration mask. Exfoliation was gently done using the enzyme mask and I was treated to pampering massages while the masks were working on my skin. Then came the highlight of the facial: the Manuka honey mask. The honey was warmed up and massaged into my skin using a pair of special rose quartz crystal wands which were also heated to keep the honey pliable. The heat was comforting and the pressure from the rose quartz crystal wands were just right. I felt my facial muscles relax, much as if I've gone for a massage for my face. The facial ended with a hydrating mask to cool my skin and I emerged relaxed and ready to face the world. Thoughts: My skin was definitely glowing after the facial. Overall skin tone seemed evened out and I was able to walk out without the urge to put on my BB cream, with only the sunscreen Mei Lin used on me as my only sun protection. It was also interesting how the moisturiser and sunscreen did not turn sticky in our humid weather but remained relatively 'crisp' on my skin even after a couple of hours later. Another thing which I really liked was how smooth and glossy my lips were after using the Living Nature lip balm. With sensitive skin and lips that tend to peel after using lip balms, lip glosses, lipsticks, I'm leery of using stuff on my lips. However, the Living Nature lip balm changed my mind. Maybe I should really consider getting a tube for myself after all :) I also liked the fact that the facial is highly customised and the therapist is confident enough to "prescribe" the products used and the massage protocols in the facial were also tailored for my specific conditions. The only problem I had was with the location of the spa. It's not a biggie, in fact, they are very central and well-located, just that it's not near any train stations, so it's better if you drive or take the bus. For me, I'm more with the trains, so had to take a cab on the day of my appointment. But as I mentioned, it's not a biggie as they are very easy to locate. Do give them a try. For someone who's tried lots of skincare brands, it was an interesting experience to try out organic, natural skincare products which works just as well as other non-organic brands. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Review: Jewelry of Lav Earrings

Note: I used to put prices as a service for those who wanted to know, but I'm feeling this exposes my spendings abit too much, so I'm no longer going to put in prices. ^__^

Lately I've been on an earrings binge. I recently got these pretty earrings from a local Singaporean jewellery maker, Lavender who has an online shop, Jewelry of Lav. Her designs are whimsical, intricate and very detailed. I especially like her fairy-tale themes. Just my cup of tea! It is my failing that I am not able to capture the beauty of the earrings in my photos (I wish I had a macro lens). In real life, the earrings have a delicate prettiness that makes me feel like they are precious little objects of art! As you probably know, I love mismatched handmade earrings (I have Yumeko to thank for this). So, I love the fact that Lavender has designed some earrings in sets of threes, so that you can use a different pairing each time or even use one of the three as a pendant. I loved one of her designs, Cinderella Story, very much but it was sold out, so Lavender custom made one for me. I have to say I am very, very happy with it! I have absolutely no regrets trusting her with the custom design, I didn't specify anything but she chose all the flowers and charms so well, that I feel it is even better than I could imagine myself. :D Lavender has kindly extended free registered postage to readers from my blog. You just need to state that you have come from my blog "Aichaku's Beautification" when you purchase from her. Do head over to check out her designs. Personally, I foresee myself buying more from her in future. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Review: Loreal Perfect Slim Patch

Note: I used to put prices as a service for those who wanted to know, but I'm feeling this exposes my spendings abit too much, so I'm no longer going to put in prices. ^__^

I picked up 2 boxes of this Perfect Slim Patch yesterday at the Watsons sale. It was on discount and on top of that, I received a further 10% off. Overall, this made the price very attractive for a box of 6 patches.

According to the box blurbs this is Loreal's "INNOVATION: First anti-stubborn cellulite patch". It contains "a significant amount of caffeine", which they call "caffeine Cx, a powerful active lipo-reducer, which works to break down the fatty build up". The instructions state that the patches should be applied on places "where cellulite is most visible", and they should be "left on for several hours - 8 hours maximum".

I was very excited to try them and used these patches last night. Sad to say, I was very disappointed right from the onset of application!

First of all, the patches do not stay on! How the heck should I leave these on for "several hours" when they don't even stay on for more than a few minutes? I followed the instructions and used them on clean, dry skin. Yet, the patches could not stick on long enough.

Fortunately I had some surgical tape at home, so I use them to hold the patches onto my skin and it worked to keep them on overnight.

That said, the patches do work, I think mostly by drawing out water. I am not sure how it works physiologically, but I noticed I had to keep going to the toilet! I felt my skin was firmer and smoother.

However, despite the success, I don't want to use this anymore. Fortunately, Watsons has a return policy and despite the good outcome, I am majorly turned off by the need for me to use DIY methods to keep the patches on my body. I'm returning the 2nd box and will not try these patches again until Loreal improves the design of the patches.

Loreal should take notes from a local made-in-Singapore product, Tiger Balm. They produce patches for pain relief and their design is much better as they include a covering adhesive that keeps the patches on the skin regardless of how much movement you make.

Additionally, I feel it's an advertising gimmick for Loreal to proclaim their patches are "Innovative". These patches are very common especially in Asian products. The texture and material of the patches are similar to Japanese patches, eg. cooling patches for the forehead for fever or even the leg patches that I reviewed previously. The only innovation I can see is that Loreal applied idea of anti-cellulite ingredients in these patches.

I tried to find a feedback email so that I could write to Loreal and give them my comments about these patches. However, I couldn't find any. All I could find was a telephone/fax number. In this www-era, I think Loreal should at least include a feedback email contact. I do like Loreal products and in general they do deliver what they promise at a nice drugstore price. However, this is one really sucky product that I regret buying. It seems to me that neglecting to include email feedback contact information conveys the message that Loreal doesn't think it needs any customer feedback.

Final word? Until Loreal improves on the design of these patches, do not purchase unless you want to suffer extreme aggravation and annoyance.

PS: I am feeling very fed-up with blogger's random page alignment and paragraphing! It randomly messes up my blog entry. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Favourite & Best: Paul and Joe Pressed Powder

Note: I used to put prices as a service for those who wanted to know, but I'm feeling this exposes my spendings abit too much, so I'm no longer going to put in prices. ^__^

Ahhh! The weekend is here! It seems I can only blog on weekends nowadays. I have been mighty busy at my new office and new work coverage. It doesn't help that I haven't been feeling well and the work just piles up when I'm off on medical leave. I might try blogging a whole bunch then scheduling posts over the week. Will see how I fare with my writing output first. :D

I'm starting a "Favourite & Best" series because first of all, I don't want this to become merely a haul blog! LOL. I wanted to give some-value added information. :D So, I figured it might be interesting to let you know what items I repurchase without hesitation once they hit the pan. As a person who likes variety and exploring new things, a repurchase means an item is considered my favourite and deemed the best among all that I've tried, based on my personal experience, preferences and my skin type.

I'll begin this "series" with my favourite pressed powder, which is the Pressed Powder N from Paul and Joe.

Paul and Joe Pressed Powder N is very fine and matches my skin tone very well. It doesn't cake or dry out my skin, even when I apply with a puff.

I have both Pressed Powder N in shades 02 and 04. Recently I bought a refill for 02 which has hit the pan. When I'm using Pressed Powder N 02, it doesn't create a white powdery cast but gives a transluscent, natural look. Shade 04 gives a nice glowy look when I use it as a finishing powder. Being very fine, Paul and Joe pressed powders are good for touch ups through the day. The only drawback is it doesn't have any SPF.

At a recent Prestige (they are the local distributor for Paul & Joe) warehouse sale, I purchased the old Paul and Joe Pressed Powder in shade 02 Vanille. I've not tried it yet, but the texture looks similar to the new Pressed Powder N. I am only afraid it might be a little too light for me. Nevertheless, I think it's still a useable powder. Finally, I know most times, people are concerned about oil control. I'm not sure how good Pressed Powder N is in terms of oil control. My face is "weird" in a sense that if I use powders that have oil control functions, my skin becomes even oilier, and the powders become cakey, then I see dry flakes on top of my oily skin. It's like my skin becomes confused?

With Paul and Joe, none of these crazy things happen. It simply is very sheer, makes my skin look even, like it is naturally smooth and dewy without any makeup. In this sense, I can't tell if Paul and Joe powders have any oil control functions, but for sure it gives a very natural, clean, fresh and dewy look. Finally, I won Akisa's Beauty Swatch giveaway. It's a very pretty lip balm. Thank you! I am saving this for when I've finished my other lip balms. :D

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Review: Silk Whitia Pearl Finest Powder Pores Refining Mask

Note: I used to put prices as a service for those who wanted to know, but I'm feeling this exposes my spendings abit too much, so I'm no longer going to put in prices. ^__^ I picked this up from our local Sasa the other day. It's currently 50% off the retail price for a pack of 4 masks. Quite a good buy, considering the previous offer was buy 2-get-1 free. I wouldn't have bought this if not for Fuz's great reviews on Silk Whitia's whitening mask. Since she had good results I thought it might be a good brand to try. It's made in Hong Kong but claims the ingredients are from France. The ingredient list is small and a little dubious (like what is "Pearl Finest Powder", hmm?). Haha, I've typed it out: Pearl Finest Powder, Botanical Astringent Essence, Zince Sulfate Heptahydrate, Hydrated Protein, Vitamin E, Vitamin C. The mask sheet is thick (feels more like a fabric than paper), big, stretchy (can cover the entire face - not like some other masks which are quite small), and filled with creamy serum. Overall, the effect is the skin feels tighter and smoother. My pores are visibly smaller! I feel it also moisturizes well. I've used this mask twice and haven't gotten any adverse reactions. No rashes, no breakouts, no peeling skin etc. So, go get it at Sasa if you are interested, while the offer is still on! :D © Copyright. All rights reserved.