Showing posts with label Lotion/Toner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lotion/Toner. Show all posts

Friday, July 4, 2014

REVIEW: SKINFOOD WATERY BERRY LINE (TONER, SERUM, EMULSION)

I wanted to try Skinfood Watery Berry line because I loved the packaging and the CF (silly reasons, I know), but as the prices were quite stiff, I didn't want to purchase them and end up regretting my decision. Imagine my happiness when I received the samples for the toner, serum and emulsion! Now I'll stop blabbering and tell you what I think about them.
  • Main ingredients (source: eng.theskinfood.com):
- Berries: Cloudberries, lingonberries, and raspberries from Lapland, a region famous for its Santa Claus village, provide superior antioxidant properties.
- Hyaluronic acid: holds up to 30 times its weight in water, transforming dry skin into a soft, glowing texture.
  • Skinfood Watery Berry Toner:


Description: A dewy moisture toner that promotes soft, glowing skin with berry extracts and hyaluronic acid.

- My opinion: This is a gentle, non-stripping and non-drying toner. I don't think it provides much moisture to the skin, but at least it doesn't irritate or dry my skin out. It also has a light scent which I really like. If you have dry/sensitive skin, I highly recommend this product.
- Score: 8/10

  • Skinfood Watery Berry Serum:



- Description: A dewy moisture serum that promotes soft, glowing skin with berry extracts and hyaluronic acid.

- My opinion: This is my favorite product out of the bunch. I used this when my skin was dull-looking and dehydrated, and when I woke up the next morning, my skin was revitalized, moisturized and visibly brighter. Its light texture enabled it to penetrate quickly into the skin without leaving any greasy residues behind. However, I used this in spring, when the weather was still cold, so I'm not sure if it'll be suitable for the scorching summer. But in my opinion, it'll be fine because of its light consistency. I think every skin type can use this, but if you have really dry skin, make sure to follow up with a moisturizer.
- Score: 10/10

  • Skinfood Watery Berry Emulsion:



- Description: A dewy emulsion that promotes soft, glowing skin with berry extracts and hyaluronic acid (OK, Skinfood is really lazy with their English translations as the descriptions for their line are basically the same, minus the product names :/)
- My opinion: This is basically a light moisturizer, which absorbs quickly as well as provides moisture and brightening effect. I really like it but I think the moisturizing and brightening properties pale in comparison with the serum. That's understandable because serum is more concentrated and meant for treatment, while emulsion is just supposed to provide extra moisture and comfort for the skin. Again, I can't attest to how it'll perform in hot weather, but if you have dry/dehydrated skin and feel that the serum is not enough for your skin, follow up with this emulsion.
- Score: 9/10

Purchase?: I love this line, but I'm quite satisfied with my skincare routine at the moment, so I'll have to say no. But I may buy them in the future if the current products stop working for me. Overall, I highly recommend these products for those with dry or oily/dehydrated skin because they're so light, gentle yet effective.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

REVIEW: SK-II PITERA DELUXE SET TRAVEL EXCLUSIVE: FACIAL TREATMENT ESSENCE (215MML) - FACIAL TREATMENT CLEAR LOTION (215ML)

Pitera, SK-II signature ingredient, is probably one of the most famous ones in high-end skincare products. Needless to say, I was longing to try out the notorious Facial Treatment Essence as well as the much-raved about Facial Treatment Clear Lotion. Last year, I saw this exclusive travel set in Hong Kong International Airport, so I snapped it up instantly because 1) it was tax-free and 2) it was cheaper to buy in a set rather than individual products. 




  • What is Pitera? 
In 1970s, SK-II scientists found out that aged sake brewer all had youthful and soft hands even though their faces were all wrinkled. They assumed that it was due to the fermentation liquid that they came in contact with while fermenting sake. After testing over 350 kinds of yeast, they finally discovered the yeast strain that helped maintain the skin youthfulness, and Pitera was created. According to SK-II, Pitera contains a lot of vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and organic acids, which can enhance the skin's rejuvenation process.
  • My opinion:
 - SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion: 



I really like this lotion because it's gentle, hydrating and non-drying. In my opinion, it's very hard to find a moisturizing yet non-sticky toner, but this one fits the bill perfectly. Even when my face was at its driest peak, it never dried my skin out. Having said that, I don't think I'll repurchase it because it doesn't really do anything to my skin: it doesn't improve my skin texture and has no effects whatsoever on my occasional breakouts (despite the fact that it contains salicylic acid). If you want to avoid paraben, then skip this because it does contain that ingredient.

- SK-II Facial Treatment Essence:



Many people recommend using hands to apply this instead of cotton pads, but for me, that method doesn't work. My palms seemed to absorb the liquid so quickly that I found I had to pour out more product. In the end, I just applied it according to SK-II's instruction, which was pouring it onto a cotton pad. This product has developed a cult following, but I have to say I hate it. First of all, it smells like... spit. If it has worked, maybe I could get over the scent, but sadly it doesn't. After using up the whole bottle, I can honestly say that I see no difference whatsoever on my skin. It doesn't make my skin worse but there's no improvement in my skin tone, pores and blemishes. Like the Facial Treatment Clear Lotion, it also contains paraben. I'll definitely NOT repurchase this because I just don't see the point in using this as my skin looks exactly the same!

I said this before, and I have to repeat it now: My skin doesn't love high-end products! Hopefully, this will serve as a reminder for me not to splurge on purse-rippingly expensive items in the future (well, maybe not!).

Friday, April 25, 2014

TRAVEL SERIES PART 1: MY SKINCARE TRAVEL BAG

I'm gonna go on holiday for 8 days starting next week, so I really want to share with you what beauty products I'll bring with me. Let's start with my favorite subject: skincare ^^ (Some of the products have been reviewed on my blog, so if you want to read the full reviews, just click on the names).


This bag is a freebie that I got from Tonymoly as a GWP. I love it and it has followed me through many trips. 

  • Cleanser: I bring along Bifesta Cleansing Express Eye Makeup Remover and Biore Cleansing Milk. The latter can double up as a makeup remover and a regular cleanser, so I don't have to bring a separate cleansing foam.

  • Exfoliator: I exfoliate once or twice a week, so I only bring 1 sachet of It's Skin Mangowhite Peeling Gel. This exfoliator is gentle yet effective.


  • Toner and moisturizer: I've saved up all the samples I received in several months to use them on the trip. I'll use It's Skin Collagen Toner and Emulsion, It's Skin Hyaluronic Acid Toner and Emulsion, It's Skin Fermented Floral Water Whitening Toner and Lotion, and It's Skin Caviar Double Effect Toner and Emulsion. I know it may sound excessive, but these samples are tiny and can run out at anytime, so I'd rather be safe than sorry :P Besides, I've used them all before and they don't irritate my skin in any ways. Side note: It's a really bad idea to try out new skincare products while traveling because if you're allergic to them, they'll ruin your holiday.


Since these samples are all emulsion, I also bring along some sachets of It's Skin Prestige Creme D'escargot in case my skin gets dry.


  • Eye cream: It's Skin Brighten System Eye Cream. (I'm almost out of this one, but I think it can last until the end of my holiday).


  • Sunscreen: I have It's Skin 2PM Sun Block SPF50+ PA+++ for my face and Biore UV Perfect Milk SPF50+ PA+++ for my body.


  • Lip balm: Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Velvet. This lip balm has good moisturizing property as well as SPF20.


That's all for today. The post about my travel makeup bag will be up tomorrow, so stay tune for that ^^

Sunday, April 20, 2014

REVIEW: ETUDE HOUSE SHEA BUTTER NUTRIFULL SKIN CARE KIT

Last summer I received a Shea Butter Nutrifull Skin Care Kit from Etude House Hong Kong, but I put off trying it until winter because if I used rich products during hot weather, I'd break out. 




Description: Enriched with Ecocert certified Organic Shea Butter and Cloudberry ingredient, this three-piece skin care set deeply nourishes and moisturizes dry to very dry skin, This set contains: Nutrifull Shea Butter Essentializer, Nutrifull Shea Butter Cream, Nutrifull Shea Butter Sleeping Pack.

Directions: 
  • Step 1. Nutrifull Shea Butter Essentializer (Essence-in Lotion): After cleansing and toning, massage evenly over face. Pat to finish. 
  • Step 2. Nutrifull Shea Butter Cream (Ultra-concentrated Cream): After Essentializer and Eye Cream, massage evenly over face. Pat to finish. 
  • Step 3. Nutrifull Shea Butter Sleeping Pack: After toning, smooth evenly on face before sleeping. Do not rinse off - the product will absorb. Cleanse in morning with warm water. For an extra nourishment, use after Nutrifull Butter Cream.

Ingredients:
  • Nutrifull Shea Butter Essentializer: water, butylene glycol, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, cyclopentasiloxane, glycereth-26, glycerin, squalane, dimethicone, cetyl ethylhexanoate, C14-22 alcohols, cyclohexasiloxane, rubus chamaemorus seed extract, C12-20 alkyl glucoside, glyceryl stearate, glyceryl caprylate, DI- C12-13 alkyl malate, cetearyl alcohol, stearic acid, ethylahexyglycerin, xanthan gum, carbomer, palmitic acid, polysilicone-11, PEG-100 stearate, tromethamine, disodium EDTA, phenoxyethanol, fragrance       
  • Nutrifull Shea Butter Cream: water, glycerin, cyclopentasiloxane, cyclohexasiloxane, cetyl ethylhexanoate, squalane, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter extract, dicaprylyl carbonate, disteardimonium hectorite, cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 dimethicone, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed wax, limnanthes alba (meadowfoam) seed oil, PEG-10 dimethicone, rubus chamaemorus seed extract, salvia hispanica seed extract, lauryl PEG-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone, sodium chloride, ethylhexaglycerin, pentylene glycol, polysilicone-11, disodium EDTA, phenoxyethanol, fragrance 
  • Nutrifull Shea Butter Sleeping Pack: water, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, glycerin, cyclopentasiloxane, butylene glycol, dicaprylyl ether, cetearyl alcohol, cyclohexasiloxane, BIS-PEG-18 methyl ether dimethyl silane, sodium hyaluronate, rubus chamaemorus seed extract, dicaprylyl carbonate, glyceryl stearate, behenyl alcohol, PEG-40 stearate, polysorbate 20, carbomer, glyceryl caprylate, hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, palmitic acid, stearic acid, tromethamine, dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer, alcohol, ethylhexaglycerin, phenoxyethanol, fragrance 
My opinion:
  • Nutrifull Shea Butter Essentializer: This product has the lightest consistency among the 3. It absorbs quickly and doesn't clog my pores or break me out. It's definitely not moisturizing enough on its own, but when used with Nutrifull Shea Butter Cream or Nutrifull Shea Butter Sleeping Pack, the combo still isn't enough for my dehydrated skin in the winter. 
  • Score: 7/10


  • Nutrifull Shea Butter Cream: This product has the thickest consistency and never seems to absorb into my skin. Even though my skin was dry, this cream just kinda "sat" on my face and did nothing other than making it greasy. It's so ironic that even though it felt tacky and heavy on my skin, my face was still dehydrated with this on! Worse than that, it broke me out! I tried coupling it with Nutrifull Shea Butter Essentializer, but it just didn't work. My skin felt even more greasy but still dry underneath, and I woke up with a new zit on my chin! I didn't even want to try using it with the Nutrifull Shea Butter Sleeping Mask because I was sure I'd turn into an oil slick! So, in short, this cream doesn't work well on its own or with other product.
  • Score: 3/10




  • Nutrifull Shea Butter Sleeping Pack: Etude House claims that this product can be used alone after a toner, but I beg to differ. On my dehydrated skin in the winter, this is definitely not moisturizing enough. Even when I used the Nutrifull Shea Butter Essentializer beforehand, my skin still didn't feel hydrated. On the plus side, this sleeping mask absorbs really quickly into my skin thanks to its light consistency and it doesn't irritate my skin in any ways.
  • Score: 7/10



Purchase?: No. I think the reason why these 3 products aren't moisturizing enough for my skin is because they all contain alcohol. My skin tends to become dehydrated if I use products which have too much alcohol, especially in winter.  

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

REVIEW: JUJU AQUAMOIST HYALURONIC ACID MOISTURE LOTION AND ESSENCE

Hyaluronic acid is my favorite moisturizing agent (you can read about its benefits here). I love Hada Labo SHA Hydrating Lotion but I can't use it on a daily basis as it can create bumps under my skin. I really want to find some hyaluronic acid-based products which can be used everyday, and since Juju Aquamoist Hyaluronic Acid line receives a lot of glowing reviews, I decide to pick up the lotion and the essence.
  • Juju Aquamoist Hyaluronic Acid Moisture Lotion:



- Description: Thick and rich lotion penetrates into the stratum corneum quickly. Rich moisture makes the skin plump and moist. It contains double amount of hyaluronic acid (Compared to JUJU AQUAMOIST collagen lotion and whitening lotion). Mild acidity/no fragrance/no artificial color/no mineral oil/oil free/no animal origin ingredient used.

- Ingredients: water, glycerin, alcohol, sodium hyaluronate, PEG-20 sorbitan isostearate, sodium citrate, carbomer, hydroxyethylcellulose, phenoxyethanol, methylparaben 

- My opinion: This lotion, or toner, is definitely not as hydrating as the Hada Labo one. However, it doesn't dry my skin out like some toners with alcohol do and provides a little bit of moisture to my face. Although it contains hyaluronic acid, it doesn't feel greasy or sticky on the skin at all and absorbs really nicely into the skin. During the first week, I really enjoyed using it, but by the second week, I changed my mind as I started having many clogged pores on my face! I knew it was this lotion because it was the only new thing in my skincare routine and the clogged pores gradually went away after I stopped using it. In order not to waste it, I poured some into a spray bottle to use as a mist, but since the texture was so thick, it just didn't work well that way and instead of a "fine mist", I just got huge water drops all over my face. Such a shame this didn't work out because I really like how it felt on my skin :(
- Score: 5/10
- Repurchase?: No.
  • Juju Aquamoist Hyaluronic Acid Moisture Essence:




- Description (ratzillacosme.com): A Japanese beauty serum featuring hyaluronic acid to hydrate skin. The beauty serum contains 100% pure hyaluronic acid. Only a drop is needed to deeply hydrate skin.
- Ingredients: water, sodium hyaluronate, phenoxyethanol, methylparaben
- My opinion: This essence absorbs so quickly into my skin, leaving my face feeling smooth, plump and moisturized. It neither clog my pores nor break me out. Having said that, it's not really hydrating enough to be used alone (except in summer), so I often have to layer another cream on top. 
- Score: 8/10
- Repurchase?: Yes, probably.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

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.


Friday, February 7, 2014

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. 

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

REVIEW: JUJU AQUAMOIST C WHITENING LOTION AND WHITENING ESSENCE

I've always been curious about Juju Aquamoist because of the positive reviews all over the Internet, so last summer, I decided to purchase Juju Aquamoist C Whitening Lotion and Juju Aquamoist C Whitening Essence.

(Source: juju.co.jp/eng)

Juju Aquamoist Whitening C Lotion: This product is a brightening toner, so you're supposed to pour it onto a cotton pad and wipe it all over your face. The alcohol smell is quite obvious, so if you have dry skin, this may not be for you. As for my oily combination skin, it doesn't dry out or irritate my skin. However, after using up a whole bottle, I can't see any brightening effects whatsoever, even in conjunction with Juju Aquamoist Whitening C Essence. It doesn't improve my skin in any ways and I'm quite disappointed with this toner. I think it has been reformulated but I'm no longer interested in trying out the new version.


(Source: yesstyle.com)

Juju Aquamoist Whitening C Essence: 

- Description (source: yesstyle.com): 
  • Provides whitening effect and fresh hydration.
  • It can soften stratum corneum and allow the whitening ingredient of ascorbyl glucoside to sink into skin quickly.
  • It gives you plump and luminous skin and prevents dark spots and freckles caused by exposure to the sun.
  • Continuous use will promote the restoration of skin, making dull skin to have a luster and become elastic again.
  • Skin will be left luminous.
- My opinion: This essence is light and it absorbs quickly into my skin, leaving my face feel smooth and moisturized without clogging my pores or breaking me out. However, those with dry skin may have to follow up with a moisturizer. It doesn't brighten up my face or fade my acne scars. Despite its moisturizing property, it somehow makes my skin look ashen and lackluster. The biggest con is that it balls up under makeup! I literally have rubbery pieces all over my face! I think this product has been discontinued as I can't find it on Juju Aquamoist website. 

Pros:
- Lotion:
  • Free of fragrance, artificial color, mineral oil, and animal origin ingredients
  • Non-irritating
- Essence:
  • Fragrance free
  • Non-irritating
  • Moisturize and smooth out skin
Cons:
- Lotion:
  • May not be suitable for dry skin
  • No brightening effects / skin improvement
- Essence:
  • Make skin look dull
  • May not be moisturizing enough for dry skin
  • Ball up under makeup

Repurchase?: Sadly, no :(


Saturday, January 4, 2014

REVIEW: SKINFOOD OMJIA WHITENING LINE

Apart from the Salmon Brightening Eye Cream, I've never used any skincare products from Skinfood, so I was quite excited to try this Omjia Whitening line. However, I was sorely disappointed, not because of the products themselves, but rather the quality of the sample packagings :( 







For some reasons, most of the products have evaporated/disappeared by the time I opened my samples. For the toner, I was able to get 2 drops out, which, frankly speaking, wasn't enough to wet my cotton pad. As for the serum, ALL of the serum had gone and the inside looked like this:


Although it seemed there was loads of product, it was just the mark of the used-to-be-there serum. This sample was completely empty so I couldn't try out the serum T-T

The  emulsion wasn't much better as I was able to get only a green bean-sized amount out. I applied it on my philtrum and... that was it!

The cream fared the best out of the four. I got a pea-sized amount which was enough for my T-zone.

OK, so here's my first impressions of 3 products: toner, emulsion and cream.

- Toner: It was OK, nothing to write home about. It was gentle, non-drying and non-sticky.
- Emulsion: Honestly, it's hard to write a review based on a green-bean sized amount, but at least it didn't break me out and made me philtrum feel smooth and moisturized.
- Cream: I like this product because it absorbed into my skin quickly and didn't make my face become oily or greasy. It made my skin baby-smooth and moisturized without clogging my pores or breaking me out. When I woke up in the morning, my face looked bright and healthy. However, I have a feeling that it'd be quite heavy for my oily-combination skin in summer.

Purchase?: No. To be honest, the quality of the samples kinda puts me off :( 


Tuesday, December 31, 2013

2013 BEST AND WORST BEAUTY PRODUCTS

As today is the last day of 2013, I wanna tell you what I think are the best and worst beauty products of the past year. Many categories will be absent because 1) I rarely use these kinds of products (e.g. eyeshadow and eyeliner) or 2) I haven't found anything good enough to put on the list (e.g. moisturizing cream and shower gel). Since my skin has been both oily and dry in 2013, some categories will contain products for these two skin types. Most of the items have been reviewed on this blog, so if you want to read my detailed reviews, just click on their names. Some haven't been mentioned before, but I'll work on their reviews as soon as possible. Without further ado, let's see what's on my list this year.

BEST OF BEAUTY

SKINCARE


1. Best makeup remover:
- For eyes: Biore Cleansing Oil - In Cotton Wipes (review coming soon)
- For face and lips: Bifesta Cleansing Gel

2. Best cleanser:
- For dry skin: Etude House Baking Powder Bubble Cleansing Moist
- For oily skin: Shiseido Perfect Whip foam 

3. Best lotion/toner:
- For dry skin: Hada Labo SHA Hydrating Lotion
- For oily skin: It's Skin Supersize Peeling Softner (review coming soon)

4. Best eye cream: 
- Skinfood Salmon Brightening Eye Cream

5. Best serum:
- It's Skin Power 10 Formula VE Effector with Vitamin E Derivatives

6. Best acne treatment:
- It's Skin Prestige Creme D'escargot

7. Best lip balm:
- Nivea Essential Care (review coming soon)

8. Best mask:
- For hydrating and brightening: Mandom Beauty Barrier Repair Mask HA
- For deep-cleansing/exfoliating: The Body Shop Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask

9. Best sunscreen/sunblock:
- For face: It's Skin 2PM Sunblock SPF50+ PA+++ (review coming soon)
- For body: Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Water Base SPF50+ PA+++ (review coming soon) (This product isn't in the photo because I've used it up and haven't repurchased yet)


MAKEUP


1. Best makeup base:
- It's Skin 2PM Sunblock SPF50+ PA+++ (yup, this sunblock is an AMAZING makeup base!) (review coming soon)

2. Best BB cream:

3. Best compact powder:
- For dry skin: Tonymoly Cats Wink Clear Pact (review coming soon)

4. Best blusher:

5. Best eyebrow powder:
- KATE Designing Eyebrow N in EX-5 (review coming soon)

6. Best lipstick:

7. Best mascara:
- Kose Esprique Full Impression Waterproof Mascara (This product isn't in the photo because I've used it up and haven't repurchased yet) (I briefly mentioned this in my Fairydrops Volume Burst Mascara  Waterproof review)

BEAUTY ACCESSORIES


1. Best eyelash curler:
- Shiseido Eyelash Curler: This baby curls my lashes like a dream without pinching my eyelids. It also lasts forever. I've been using it for 3 years and it's still going strong :)

2. Best powder brush:
- The Body Shop Retractable Blusher Brush: I use this one to apply my face powder. It's soft and gentle on my skin. It also doesn't shed. I love that it's compact and retractable because I can toss it into my bag and bring it with me easily.

3. Best eyebrow shaver:
- Etude House Eyebrow Razor: I think this one has been discontinued, but it will probably last forever. It feels gentle on my skin and shaves my eyebrows well. The design and color are cute too.

BODY CARE


1. Best body scrub:
- It's Skin Fairy Jasmine Body Scrub (review coming soon)
- The Body Shop Bath Gloves (review coming soon)

2. Best hand gel:
- The Body Shop Absinthe Purifying Hand Gel (review coming soon)

3. Best hand cream:
- It's Skin Mini Bebe Hand Cream (review coming soon)

4. Best deodorant:

HAIRCARE


1. Best shampoo:
- Essential Damage-care Rich Premiere Shampoo (review coming soon)

2. Hair serum:

BEST PACKAGING


             BEST SCENTED-PRODUCT


WORST OF BEAUTY

SKINCARE

1. Worst cleanser:

2. Worst cream:
- The Face Shop Arsainte Eco-therapy Crystal Water Super Gel (review coming soon)

3. Worst sunscreen:
- Banana Boat Natural Reflect Lotion Sunscreen SPF50+ (review coming soon)

4. Worst lip balm:
- The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Lipcare Stick (review coming soon)


MAKEUP

1. Worst BB cream:

2. Worst mascara:
- Bourjois Volume Glamour Ultra Care (I mentioned this in my Fairydrops Volume Burst Mascara Waterproof review)

BEAUTY ACCESSORIES

1. Worst facial brush:

2. Worst powder brush:
- It's Skin Powder Brush: This brush sheds CONSTANTLY. The hair feels harsh on my face and falls off when I wash or use it. Whenever I apply powder with this, it leaves strands of hair all over my face.  

HAIRCARE

- Worst shampoo: The Body Shop Rainforest Shine Shampoo (review coming soon)

That's the end of my ranking list. Thank you so much for reading my blog in the past 2 months. I hope to continue receiving your support in the year to come. Happy new year!