REVIEW: IT'S SKIN UV AWAY 3PLUS SUN BLOCK SPF50+ PA+++

As you may know from my previous blog posts, I've used a lot of It's Skin products. It's Skin UV Away 3Plus Sun Block SPF50+ PA+++ is the latest one I've tried and it's also my new favorite. Seriously, It's Skin rarely disappoints me when it comes to skincare.

Description:

Ingredients:

Price: 318,000 VND (I bought it during the 50% off sale)

My opinion: This sun block is as good as my HG product - It's Skin 2PM Sun Block, and it's cheaper! I really like this one because it's moisturizing, non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic. I can put just this on without needing to apply any serum or moisturizer beforehand, so it saves lots of time for me in the morning! It leaves no white cast and acts as a great makeup base. When I'm in a rush, I use this, apply powder on top, and I'm ready to go. Since it's a sun block with SPF50+ PA+++, it not only protects my skin from UVA and UVB but also prevents my face from getting tanned. The only con is that it does feel a little bit sticky on the face, but it doesn't make my skin oil up quicker and the feeling goes away once I put some powder on. It doesn't control oil but I don't count this as a weakness because 1) I can easily blot my face with powder or oil remover film, and 2) Sunscreens with oil-control property often contain alcohol and end up drying my skin out. If you're looking for a moisturizing sun block with an affordable price, give this a go! But remember to double cleanse your face at the end of the day.

Pros:

- Alcohol-free, mineral oil-free and paraben free

- Moisturizing

- Non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic

- No white cast

- Great makeup base

- UVA and UVB protection

- Can keep skin from getting tanned

Cons:

- A little bit sticky

Score: 8/10

Repurchase?: Yes :)

REVIEW: BIFESTA CLEANSING SHEET (MOIST AND TIGHTENING)

Cleansing wipes are quite controversial: some people love them for their convenience while others hate them as they think wipes are too harsh for the skin. As for me, I only use them to remove my eye and lips makeup, not my base makeup, and I think they work fine that way. Today I'd like to talk about two types of Bifesta Cleansing Sheet: Moist and Tightening. These wipes are oil-free, colouring-free, and fragrance-free. 

• Bifesta Cleansing Sheet Moist (46 sheets per pack)

 - Ingredients: water, glycerin, alcohol, PEG-6 caprylic/capric glycerides, PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate, PEG-400, glutamate, sodium citrate, tocopheryl acid, styrene/VP copolymer, butylene glycol, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary leaf extract), phenoxyethanol, methylparaben, sodium stearoyl acetate, disodium EDTA, citric glycerylamidoethyl methacrylate/stearyl methacrylate copolymer     

- My opinion: This cleansing sheet is for normal to dry skin. I just ADORE the packaging because it's all pink, which happens to be my favorite color >.< I also love the fact that it has a plastic lid instead of just a normal sticker to seal the product, as I think the former keeps the sheet moist for a longer period of time. This cleansing wipe is slightly wetter than Bifesta Cleansing Sheet Tightening, so I feel like it does a better job in removing my regular lipsticks, waterproof mascara (i.e. Fairydrops Volume Burst Mascara Waterproof and Majolica Majorca Lash Enamel Volume On Mascara) as well as my (occasional) eyeliner and eyeshadow. I often place it on each eye for about 1 minute and then take it off. I like it since it's gentle, non-drying and non-irritating. However, it can't remove mascara clumps and lip tints. 

• Bifesta Cleansing Sheet Tightening (46 sheets per pack):

- Ingredients: water, glycerin, alcohol, PEG-6 caprylic/capric glycerides, PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate, glutamate, sodium citrate, tocopheryl acid, butylene glycol, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel), rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary leaf extract), phenoxyethanol, methylparaben, sodium stearoyl acetate, disodium EDTA, citric extract

- My opinion: I feel like this one is almost identical to the Moist Cleansing Sheet, except for the fact that the sheets are slightly drier than the Moist ones and the cleansing effect is a little bit weaker than the Moist. Although it's targeted for combination to oily skin, it's gentle, non-drying and non-irritating. It removes regular lipstick and Fairydrops Volume Burst Mascara Waterproof quite well. However, as the mascara gets drier over time, it can only take off about 70%. It also fails in removing mascara clumps and lip tints.

• Pros:

- Oil-free, colouring-free and fragrance-free

- Cute and practical packaging

- Affordable

- Gentle, non-drying and non-irritating

• Cons: 

- Can't take off mascara clumps and lip tints

- Contain alcohol and paraben

• Score:

- Moist: 7/10

- Tightening: 6/10

• Repurchase?: No, I much prefer Biore Cleansing Oil - In Cotton Wipes, which is cheaper BTW, over these.

QUICK REVIEW: PHILOSOPHY PURITY MADE SIMPLE 3-IN-1 CLEANSER FOR FACE AND EYES

Philosophy Purity Made Simple 3-in-1 Cleanser for Face and Eyes has to be one of the most controversial products out there. Some absolutely sweat by it while others stay away from it because of the nasty ingredients like paraben. Due to the mixed reviews, I was never really interested in buying it. However, I had a chance to test it out when I stayed over at my cousin's. Since I brought no cleanser with me, I had to use it to remove my makeup and cleanse my face. I've only used it twice, so I can't attest to the long-term effects of this product, but I'll tell you my first impression of it.

(Source: philosophy.com)

Description (source: philosophy.com): Our award-winning daily facial skin cleanser is formulated to gently cleanse, tone and melt away all face and eye makeup in one simple step, while lightly hydrating the skin.

• Deep cleans pores and eliminates makeup buildup
• natural oil extracts help condition skin
• fragrance-free formula

How to use (source: philosophy.com): Gently massage a "size of a 20 pence coin" amount onto a lightly damp face, and massage for 30-60 seconds. Rinse and pat dry. Use morning and evening. Follow with appropriate treatment and moisturizer.

Size: 30ml (but it's also available in bigger sizes)

Ingredients (source: philosophy.com): water (aqua), sodium lauroamphoacetate, sodium trideceth sulfate, limnanthes alba (meadowfoam) seed oil, coco-glucoside, cocos nucifera (coconut) alcohol, peg-120 methyl glucose dioleate, aniba rosaeodora (rosewood) wood oil, geranium maculatum oil, guaiac (guaiacum officinale) extract, cymbopogon martini oil, rosa damascena extract, amyris balsamifera bark oil, santalum album (sandalwood) oil, salvia officinalis (sage) oil, cinnamomum cassia leaf oil, anthemis nobilis flower oil, daucus carota sativa (carrot) seed oil, piper nigrum (pepper) seed extract, polysorbate 20, glycerin, carbomer, triethanolamine, methylparaben, propylparaben, citric acid, imidazolidinyl urea, yellow 5 (ci 19140).

My opinion: First of all, I hated the scent (although Philosophy claims that it's fragrance-free). The cleanser itself was quite decent. It hardly foamed up at all and only a pea-sized amount was needed. I used it to double cleanse, and while it did a good job removing my base makeup (I only applied BB cream and compact powder BTW), it only managed to take off about 60% of my Majolica Majorca Lash Enamel Glamour Volume On. On the bright side, it didn't sting my eyes or dry my skin out, and felt really gentle on my skin. I also used it the next morning to cleanse my face and it worked quite well to remove the excess oil and the mascara remnants from the night before without irritating my skin one bit. Many people dislike this cleanser because of its ingredients, but I and my cousin never had any problems using it. I actually quite like this cleanser, not enough to guarantee a purchase though because it's quite pricy and I much prefer my Korean and Japanese cleansers.

Pros:

- Remove makeup and cleanse skin well

- Gentle to skin and eyes

- Non-irritating

- Non-drying

Cons:

- Horrible scent

- Fail in removing waterproof mascara

- Contain paraben

Score: 7/10

Purchase?: No

REVIEW: KATE ROUGE HG LIPSTICK IN OR-10

Kate is one of my favorite point makeup brands. Their Cheek Color S in PK-1 and Designing Eyebrow N in EX-5 actually made it into my 2013 Best Beauty Products List. Rouge HG Lipstick in OR-10 is the first Kate lipstick I've ever tried, and possibly the last as well (for the Rouge HG line at least).  

The packaging is very sleek and chic, and the lipstick itself swatches beautifully on my hand. On my lips, however, it hardly shows up at all! If you like that "my lips but better" look, then this one may be for you, but I personally don't think I look good at all. This is how it looks like on my bare face:

What bugs me the most is the staying power. It lasts for 1 hour max on me with no drinking and eating! Having said that, it's moisturizing, glossy and a little bit shimmery (since it contains glitters) so if you like the natural look and don't mind reapplying your lipstick every hour, then by all means go for this one. As for me, I won't repurchase this.

REVIEW: TONYMOLY INTENSE REPAIR LIVE SNAIL LINE (SKIN, LOTION, ESSENCE AND CREAM)

When it comes to acne treatments, people often think of ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. My favorite, however, has to be snail mucus because it's gentle and non-drying. Today I'd like to talk about the skin, lotion, essence and cream of Tonymoly Intense Repair Live Snail line.

• Tonymoly Intense Repair Live Snail Skin: 

(Source: tonymolyvn.com.vn)

I received a tiny sample bottle of this as a GWP. One thing that I dislike about Tonymoly's sample bottles is that it's so hard to get the products out, even when they are in liquid form! This "skin" is actually a toner. I don't like it because it's sticky and does nothing for my skin. Needless to say, I won't purchase this.

• Tonymoly Intense Care Snail Lotion:

I also got this as a GWP. This "lotion" is the equivalent of a light moisturizer. Ii feels sticky at first but quickly absorbs into my skin and provides a little bit of moisture. I don't see any skin improvement though, so I definitely won't buy it.

• Tonymoly Intense Repair Live Snail Essence and Cream: 

(Source: tonymoly.ph)

This was the first and only product from Tonymoly Intense Repair Live Snail line that I purchased. I quite liked it as it helped cure my acnes and moisturized my skin well. However, it felt sticky on my skin and didn't seem to absorb at all. It also failed in preventing future breakouts. I prefer It's Skin Prestige Creme D'escargot to this, so I don't think I'll repurchase. 

A sample tube of the Tonymoly Intense Repair Live Snail Cream was included in the essence box. It felt super sticky and didn't do anything to my skin, so I wouldn never buy it!

Score:

• Skin: 5/10
• Lotion: 6/10
• Essence: 7/10
• Cream: 5/10

If you're looking for a good and acne treatment, definitely try the Tonymoly Intense Repair Snail Essence, but there's no need to buy other products in the line, really.

MY SPRING SKINCARE ROUTINE

Our skin constantly changes because of the environment, the weather, our diet, stress, hormones and many other factors. So, in order to get the best out of our skincare products, it's important to adjust and change your skincare routine according to your skin needs. As for myself, I often have different routines for each season, and I try to provide options for when my skin is drier or oilier. Since it's spring right now, I'd like to talk about my current routine. Currently, I have combination with normal but easily dehydrated forehead and cheeks, and oily nose, philtrum and chin. Some of the products here have been reviewed on my blog, so if you want to read my detailed opinions on them, just click on their names. Other products will be updated on my blog as soon as possible. Without further ado, here are my morning and evening routines.

A.M.

• Cleanser: In the morning, my skin isn't too oily, so I just cleanse my face with Etude House Baking Powder Bubble Cleansing Moist - a super gentle yet effective cleanser. 
• Toner: I'm using SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion. This one is super expensive but it's the best toner I've ever used: it's non-drying and non-irritating, and my skin feels smooth and moisturized after applying it. However, I haven't seen any actual long-term benefits on my skin. I update later once I finish this bottle. 
• Eye cream: My current eye cream is It's Skin Brighten System Eye Cream. It absorbs quickly yet still moisturizes my eye area really well. I haven't noticed any brightening effects though. 
• Moisturizer: If I stay at home, I'll just apply Juju Aquamoist Hyaluronic Acid Essence. This essence is ok, nothing to write home about. Sometimes, when my skin is drier than usual, it isn't moisturizing enough and I have to layer It's Skin Toma Jelly Cream on top (You can see its photo in the p.m. section). If I go out, I always wear a sun block, and the one I'm using right now is It's Skin 2PM Sun Block SPF50+ PA+++. It acts as a moisturizer, sun protector and makeup-base, and I don't need to apply anything underneath or over it! It prevents my skin from getting tanned, too! Reminder: Always double cleanse when you wear sunscreen/sunblock. Otherwise, you'll get blocked pores, blackheads and even breakouts!

P.M.

• Makeup-removers: I first remove my eye makeup with Bifesta Cleansing Sheet Moist. It's able to take off most of my Majolica Majorca Lash Enamel Glamour Volume On Mascara. I then use Bifesta Cleansing Gel to take off my sun block and/or my base makeup.
• Cleanser: If I don't have any makeup or sunscreen on, I just use Etude House Baking Powder Bubble Cleansing Moist. On days that I do wear sunscreen and/or makeup, I reach for Hada Labo AHA+BHA Exfoliating Face Wash Foam. It completely removes every makeup and sunscreen residue on my face. However, don't use it if you have dry or sensitive skin because it's quite strong.
• Toner: SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion.
• Eye cream: It's Skin Brighten System Eye Cream.
• Moisturizers: First, I aplly Juju Aquamoist  Hyaluronic Acid Essence, then layer It's Skin Toma Jelly Cream over. I really like this cream as it's lightweight and moisturizing. They are not moisturizing enough on their own, but perfect when combined together.
• Lip Balm: Finally, I moisturize my lips with Nivea Essential Care. I love it: cheap and cheerful :) You can read more about my beauty tips for lips here.

SPECIAL TREATMENT

- For extra hydration: When I feel like my skin is drier than usual, I'll add Hada Labo SHA Hydrating Lotion into my routine. I apply it after my toner and before the essence. It helps lock the moisture into my skin and when I wake up the next morning, my skin is no longer dry.

- For deep-cleansing/exfoliating: When my skin is congested and bumpy, I apply The Body Shop Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask. It gets rids of my blackheads and the bumps under my skin, as well as deflates my acnes and unclog my pores. However, I have to moisturize my skin well afterwards, otherwise, I'll wake up with dry skin the next morning. If you have dry skin, I don't think it's a good idea to use it.

That's all for my skincare routine. It may seem long but it only takes less than 5 minutes. And please remember to drink 1.5-2 litres of water per day as well as maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle, because what you eat/drink and how you live will really show up on your skin, and skincare products can't solve all the problems if you don't take care of your body first. 

REVIEW: SKIN79 SMART CLEAR REFRESH CLEANSING FOAM

Last summer, my skin was damaged by Tonymoly Pore Cleansing Brush: it was dry but kind of congested at the same time because I couldn't use any deep cleansers to cleanse it. A lot of cleansing foams actually made my skin peel, so I decided to give Skin79 Smart Clear Refresh Cleansing Foam a go. I honestly didn't expect much from it, but it turned out to be one of the best cleansers I've ever used.

(Source: skin79.us.com)

Description: Eco Mild Clean effect to regulate the ideal balance for skin that remains healthy skin. The special cleansing line completely purifies unnecessary wastes and harmful environmental factors with a formula containing an natural ingredients keeping skin balance.

• Natural cleansing
• Make-up remover
• Deep clean
• Refreshing
• Skin purifying

Size: 100ml

Price: 271,000 VND (about US$12.74)

Main ingredients (source: http://en.koreadepart.com/item/1306376938/skin79-smart-clear-refresh-cleansing-foam): Formulated with berry cianine (acai berry, aronia berry, raspberry, cranberry, blueberry, blackberry, elderberry), eco mild complex (witch hazel, aloe vera, acerola, chamomile), camellia extract, phyto soap complex (rice bran, yucca, soapwort), levan extract

My opinion: At first, I was a little bit skeptical since this cleanser was for normal/oily skin, and I was afraid it'd dry my skin out. As it turned out, I couldn't be more wrong. This cleansing foam got rid of makeup, dirt and oil without drying or irritating my skin one bit! It didn't help with acnes but it also didn't break me out or clog my pores. A 100ml tube lasted me for 3 months, because I only needed about a pea-sized amount for each usage. Another plus is the cute packaging: I just love the blue color of the tube. I highly recommend this product for anyone who has congested but dry/dehydrated skin. In fact, I think that this cleanser can suit any skin types. 

Pros:

- Affordable

- Remove makeup, dirt and oil really well

- Non-drying

- Non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic

- Long-lasting

- Cute packaging

Cons:

- No effects on acnes

Score: 9/10

Repurchase: Yes, but not immediately coz I have so many unopen cleansers to try out :)

REVIEW: IT'S SKIN ACEROLA WHITENING CREAM

A few months ago, I won a 100,000 VND voucher for It's Skin Acerola Whitening Cream, so I decided to buy one as I'm always on the hunt for good brightening products.

Description (source: http://en.koreadepart.com/item/1341997713/it%E2%80%99s-skin-acerola-whitening-cream): Moisturizing cream without stickiness. Vitamin B, C, E derivative complex makes skin moist and smooth. Makes skin bright and white. Acerola extract includes 65 times more vitamin than orange and 34 times more vitamin than lemon. 

Size: 52ml

Price: 650,000 VND (about US$30.55), but I got it for 550,000 VND.

Ingredients (source: http://en.koreadepart.com/item/1341997713/it%E2%80%99s-skin-acerola-whitening-cream): acerola 520 mg, vitamin C derivative, hyaluronic acid, niacin amide

My opinion: I just ADORE the packaging (Actually, the cute jar is what prompted me to buy the product)! It has a very light and pleasant scent, which, I guess, is the acerola's. Despite its name, it's actually a gel, and I don't know why but I just love touching and looking at it :"> It turns watery as soon as I put it on my face and sinks in so quickly, making my skin feel smooth and moisturized. It neither clogs my pores or breaks me out (I have oily combination skin). However, I find that it's not hydrating enough for winter time and I have to layer it over It's Skin Power 10 Formula YE Effector. After using up the whole pot, I can't see any brightening effects whatsoever :( I'd recommend this product for people with oily or oily-combination skin who're looking for a light moisturizer, but not for those who want to find an effective brightening cream. 

Pros:

- Cute packaging

- Attractive scent

- Quick penetration

- Non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic

- Moisturizing enough for oily skin

Cons:

- Not moisturizing enough for dry skin

- No brightening effect

Score: 8/10

Repurchase?: No. I like it, but not enough to guarantee a repurchase.