MY SUMMER SKINCARE ROUTINE + MINI PRODUCT REVIEWS (ETUDE HOUSE, IT'S SKIN, BIORE, BIFESTA, DHC, THE BODY SHOP)

I believe skincare routine should not be permanently fixed. Instead, it must be changed according to the weather, environment and skin condition. I previously wrote about my spring skincare routine, but as it's summer now, I want to do an updated regime. Since it's scorching hot now, my skin has changed from normal/dehydrated to combination/oily and acne-proned. As a result, I tend to use light but still hydrating products to keep my skin clear and moisturized. 

A.M. 

• Cleanser: Etude House Baking Powder Pore Cleansing Foam

This is my favorite summer cleanser as it's light, non-stripping, non-drying yet effective in getting rid of dirt and oil on my face. It has a refreshing lemon scent which I absolutely love because I feel like it wakes me up in the morning. It's also free of alcohol, mineral oil, fragrance and paraben. Another bonus point is the super affordable price and its huge size (170ml). 

- Ingredients: glycerin, water, potassium stearate, potassium myristate, PEG-32, stearic acid, micro-crystalline cellulose, myristic acid, potassium laurate, cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium bicarbonated (0.1%), citrus medica limonum (lemon) peel oil, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel oil, lauric acid, glyceryl stearate, disodium EDTA, lauramide DEA, PEG-100 stearate, PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate, sodium benzoate

• Toner: It's Skin Supersize Peeling Softner

Don't be freaked out by the word "peeling" in the name because the product is actually quite gentle. It's claimed to be an exfoliating toner, but I don't think it can replace the regular exfoliators like peeling gel, scrubs, etc. at all. Having said that, it does make my skin feel smooth, cool and refreshed after each usage. The 400ml bottle lasts for a very long time too. However, I am a little bit disappointed in the lid quality. Below is a photo of the lid in its original form:

After about 2 months, the white plastic part came off like this:

I managed to put it back but it still comes off every now and then, which is admittedly quite annoying. When I used this toner in winter, it did make my skin feel a little bit tight, though not dry, so if you have really dry skin, I'm not sure if this product is suitable for you.

• Eye cream: It's Skin Collagen Voluming Eye Cream

I used to use It's Skin Brighten System Eye Cream, and while it was good, the price was a little bit steep for me. This Collagen Voluming Eye Cream is half of the price of the former one, and it performs just as brilliantly. It absorbs quickly because of the light texture and moisturizes my eye area really well. The cream also doesn't irritate my eyes or give me milia. It's free of paraben and alcohol. One thing I dislike about it is the heavy scent, which lingers for quite a while after each usage.

• Serum: It's Skin Power 10 Formula VE Effector with Vitamin E derivatives

I wrote a full review about this product before, so please click here to read it. In short, it's a light, moisturizing and radiant-boosting serum. I've used for so long that it lost the anti-blemish effect on me, but it's still doing a great job in brightening and plumping my skin.

• Sunscreen: Biore UV Perfect Milk SPF50+ PA+++

I don't use sunscreen on my face in the summer because all the ones I've tried so far turn my face into an oil slick after 2 hours. Instead, I use Skin79 VIP Gold Collection Super+ Beblesh Balm SPF25 PA++ and top off with Skin79 Sun Protect Beblesh Pact SPF30 PA++. I know many dermatologists said that sun protection in makeup is not enough, but I think this combo works for me as my skin neither get tanned nor burned when I use these. Besides, I don't have to go out in the sun that much anyway. However, I do use Biore UV Perfect Milk SPF50+ PA+++ on my neck and body. It's a waterproof sunscreen with a super light texture which enables it to sink into the skin right away without leaving any white cast behind. It protects my skin from getting burned, but my skin will still tan if I go into the sun frequently. I don't recommend this to people with dry skin because it does contain quite a lot of alcohol.

- Ingredient (source: ratzillacosme.com): cyclomethicone, dimethicone, alcohol, zinc oxide, water, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, lauryl methcrylate / sodium methacrylate crosspolymer, polymethylsilsesquioxane, glycerin, talc, polysilicone-9, PEG-12 dimethicone, titanium dioxide, methicone, PEG-3 dimethicone, dimethicone/methicone copolymer, cetyl-PG hydroxyethyl palmitamide, alumina, silica, BHT, fragrance

P.M.

• Eye makeup remover: Bifesta Eye Makeup Remover

This eye makeup remover is light, gentle, non-greasy and non-irritating, yet it manages to take off my waterproof mascara and eyeshadow so quickly and effortlessly. I just pour it onto two cotton pads, place them on my closed eyes for about a minute and voila, everything is off! I see lots of people rubbing their eyes to remove makeup, but please don't do that because it'll damage the sensitive skin around the eyes and create fine lines/wrinkles. 

• Face makeup remover: Bifesta Cleansing Liquid

This stuff is my holy grail, because it's not only an excellent water-based makeup remover but also an exfoliator! I know it sounds weird, but this is the only product I use now to remove my dead skin cells. Whenever my skin feels rough and congested, I'll massage this on my dry face for about 3-4 minutes, and I can actually see the white heads under my skin come out, which is both gross and satisfying at the same time. My skin always feel so smooth and moisturized after using this, possibly because of the hyaluronic acid in it. It's also free of oil, mineral oil, alcohol, fragrance and paraben.

- Ingredients: water, PEG-8 glyceryl isostearate, dipropylene glycol, butylene glycol, isopropyl myristate, hydrogenated polyisobutene, cetyl ethylhexanoate, glycerin, propylene glycol isostearate, PEG-12 laurate, hydroxypropyltrimonium hyaluronate, PEG-6 caprylic/capric glycerides, citric acid, sodium citrade, caprylyl glycol  

• Cleanser: Etude House Baking Powder Pore Cleansing Foam

• Toner: It's Skin Supersize Peeling Softner

• Eye Cream: It's Skin Collagen Voluming Eye Cream

• Serum: It's Skin Power 10 Formula VE Effector with Vitamin E derivatives

• Cream: It's Skin Toma Jelly Cream

Despite its name, this cream is actually a gel. I don't use it everyday because I feel like it's a bit too much for my oily skin. However, I use it on top of It's Skin Power 10 VE when my skin is dry or dehydrated. It absorbs quickly and moisturizes my skin quite well. It also doesn't clog my pores or break me out. I have nothing to complain about this, but I think it's been discontinued in Korea already because it's no longer listed on itsskin.com.

• Lip Balm: DHC Lip Cream

First of all, this is not a lip cream, it's a lip balm! It is odorless, moisturizing and the packaging is just so cute. It doesn't feel sticky if I only apply one layer; thus, it's the only lip balm I've tried so far that can be used under lipstick without interfering with the color payoff. Having said that, my lips rarely get dry so I usually just use it at night before bed. I think it'll last for 4 months since I only apply it once a day. 

SPECIAL TREATMENT

Once or twice a week, I use The Body Shop Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask to deep clean my face and eliminate the small bumps under my skin. It's also my go-to acne treatment. Whenever I have blemishes, I'll dot this mask on the spots and leave it there for 1-2 hours, then wash it off. I do it every day until they are all gone, basically. Before this, I was using Origins Clear Improvement Active charcoal mask to clear pores, but even though it's like double the price of The Body Shop mask, it's just not as good. Once again, my skin seems to prefer affordable stuffs over high end ones. 

That's it for my summer skincare routine. I hope this'll be helpful to you. See you next time!

REVIEW: THE BODY SHOP SHIMMER CUBES PALETTE 26 HOT PINK

For a while, the only eyeshadow I owned was Dolly Wink Cream Eye Shadow in 01 Gold. One day, while I was browsing through The Body Shop's website, the Shimmer Cubes Palette caught my eyes because it just looked so darn cute >.< As pink is my favorite color, I decided to get one in 26 Hot Pink.

Description: A palette of four subtle iridescent shades to mix and match. Crease-resistant and suitable for contact-lens wearers.

• Iridescent finish
• Crease-resistant
• Dermatologically tested
• Ophthalmologically tested


Ingredients: Mica (Opacifier), Talc (Absorbent/Bulking Agent), Silica (Absorbent), Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate (Absorbent/Anticaking Agent), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Emollient), Zea Mays Starch (Absorbent/Chelating Agent), Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate (Skin Conditioning Agent), Isopropyl Isostearate (Emollient), Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate (Skin Conditioning Agent), Nylon-12 (Absorbent/Bulking Agent), Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil (Skin Conditioning Agent), Sorbitan Stearate (Emulsifier), Aqua (Solvent/Diluent), Magnesium Aluminum Silicate (Viscosity Modifier), Polyacrylamide (Film Former), Phenoxyethanol (Preservative), Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Methylparaben (Preservative), C13-14 Isoparaffin (Solvent), Ethylparaben (Preservative), Propylparaben (Preservative), Sodium Dehydroacetate (Preservative), Xanthan Gum (Viscosity Modifier), Laureth-7 (Emulsifier), Butylparaben (Preservative). [+/- CI 77891 (Colour), CI 77491 (Colour), CI 77499 (Colour), CI 77742 (Colour), CI 77492 (Colour)].

My opinion: The Body Shop claims that these are crease-resistant and I couldn't agree more. Now, I have quite oily eye lids, so base makeup and Dolly Wink Cream Eye Shadow often crease on me, even though I always apply powder on top. However, when I apply the colors from this palette, my eye lids stay crease-free all day, which is absolutely amazing! Another thing I like is that they're all very long-lasting: once they're on, they'll stay there until I use a makeup-remover to take them off. They last through the scorching summer heat, the pouring rain, the sweat and the hand rub! The colors are natural enough to use during the day, but they are also buildable so you can use them in the evening as well. Having said that, they can be removed easily with an eye-makeup remover and don't irritate my eyes in any ways. The expiry date is 18 months after opening, but I think it'll last longer than that. Here are the swatches on my eyes:

01 Shade: Garden Rose

02 Shade: Deep Fuchsia 

03 Shade: Light Coral

04 Shade: Pink Champagne

Verdict: 9/10

Repurchase?: I have in fact bought another Shimmer Cubes Palette, but in another color. I'll test that out later and decide whether to repurchase this one or not. While I'm not sure if I'll buy this color again, I'm certain that Shimmer Cubes Palette will always be present in my makeup collection. 

REVIEW: TOP 5 WORST BASE PRODUCTS

If you've been following my blog, you'd know that I mostly write separate reviews for each products, but this time I wanna do something new, which is combine every base products that I've hated over the years into this one post. These are all BB creams and CC creams. I did try some horrible foundations before but they have since been discontinued (well, serve 'em right!), so I won't mention them here. Side note: I have combination skin with oily T-zone and normal/dehydrated cheeks.

1. Tonymoly Luminous Bright Aura CC Cream SPF 30 PA++: 

(source: etonymoly.com)

This product successfully tops the list of the worst base products I've ever tried! I got a sample from Tonymoly and was so excited because I hadn't used any CC creams before it. Tonymoly claimed that it had whitening and moisturizing property, as well as provided natural color change. As it turned out, the result left me speechless. It had zero coverage and oil-control property. It wasn't even moisturizing! It made my skin became incredibly WHITE (just like a sunscreen's white cast), as well as emphasized every single dry patch on my face and made it look extra dry, cakey and flaky. I couldn't find any good things about this product and I was so glad I didn't purchase it.

2. It's Skin Star Cream:

Star Cream is It's Skin own version of CC cream. I love It's Skin skincare, especially their Power 10 line, so it pains me to have to put one of their product into the worst products list. I wouldn't say much about this because I've already written a full review about it, which you can read here. In short, the pros are non-existent and the cons are quite similar to that of Tonymoly CC Luminous Pure Aura CC Cream SPF30 PA++.

3. Laneige Snow BB Soothing Cushion SPF50+ PA+++:

This product has also been reviewed right here on my blog. It's the opposite of the first two products as it was too dark for my skin tone and made my face super greasy. 

4. Tonymoly BB Fit Perfect 24 SPF30 PA++:

This is the 2nd Tonymoly base product to appear in this list (well done, Tonymoly!) The color fit me better than the Luminous Pure Aura CC Cream, but somehow, it still managed to accentuate all the dry patches in my face (even those I didn't even know I had!). The staying power wasn't great either (about 2 hours), so much for the Perfect 24 claim! Another minor complaint is the amount of product inside the sample tube. It looked big, but I was only able to get 2 usages out of it :(

5. The Body Shop Vitamin E Cool BB Cream:

Recently, The Body Shop Vietnam has become more generous with their samples so I was able to get one sachet of the Vitamin E Cool BB Cream. Let's dissect it claim by claim :P

• Hydrates to protect: It was hydrating, but to the point of feeling super greasy on the skin! Right after applying it, my face felt so tacky and the feeling remained until it was taken off. Even powdering didn't make the greasiness go away :( 
• Evens tone: This BB cream had super sheer and non-buildable coverage. It did manage to cover up the uneven skin tone around my nose and on my chin, but not my dark circles or my acnes.
• Fresh-looking skin: Unlike other BB creams which gave a subtle glow to my face, this one just made me look dull. Because of its greasiness, my skin just looked oily instead of glowing :(
• One cool shade: I was quite lucky because this shade fit my skin really well. 

However, to me, the ultimate deal breaker was the staying power. The BB cream started to fade (unevenly, I may add) after one hour and my face just looked HORRIBLE, like I had nothing on (but not in a good way). I looked sad, dull, oily and greasy.  

That's the end of my top 5 worst base products. I think I'm quite lucky because most of them are just samples that I received as GWPs (except the Laneige one). I hope this post will be helpful to you when you consider buying a new base product. Have a nice day guys, and I'll see you soon with a (hopefully) more positive post! 

TRAVEL SERIES PART 2: MY TRAVEL MAKEUP BAG

Hi everyone! I'm back with part 2 of my travel series. Today I'm gonna talk about what makeup products I bring with me in my upcoming holiday.

This super kawaii bag is a GWP that I got from It's Skin. It's just freakin' adorable >.<

• Base makeup: Skin79 VIP Gold Collection Super+ Beblesh Balm and Skin79 Sun Protect Beblesh Pact SPF30 PA++. Both products have been reviewed on my blog. Just click on their names and you'll be redirected to the posts.   
• Concealer: Skinfood Salmon Darkcircle Concealer Cream. This doesn't completely cover up my dark circles, but again I haven't found any concealer that does this, so it'll have to do.

• Eye makeup: I don't wear eyeshadow but eyebrow powder and mascara are must-have items for me. KATE Designing Eyebrow N and Kiss Me Heroine Make Long&Curl Mascara fit the bill perfectly. 

• Blusher: I love KATE Cheek Color S in PK-1 (click on the name to see full review). It's a very natural and pretty pink shade. 
• Lipstick: Since I plan on purchasing several lipsticks overseas, I only bring one with me and it's Tonymoly Prestige Crystal Lipstick SPF13 in Muse Coral which I raved about when I first started my blog. The color makes my face look brighter, livelier and the lipstick itself has SPF13! 
• Makeup tools: I love bringing The Body Shop Retractable Blusher Brush when travelling because it's small, compact, light and has a lid! I hate using powder puff because it makes my face look cakey. For eyes, I always curl my lashes before applying mascara. I've used Shiseido Eyelash Curler for about 4 years and it's still going strong ^^ I also have Etude House Eyebrow Razor to trim my eyebrows. I never pluck my brows as I'm afraid it'll make my eyes become droopy.

Well, that's everything I plan to put in my makeup bag. Wish you all a happy holiday :)

REVIEW: THE BODY SHOP TEA TREE FACE MASK SACHET REVIEW

As I mentioned previously, I bought 4 sachets from The Body Shop. While I absolutely love the Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask, the Vitamin C Microdermabrasion and Vitamin E Sink-in Moisture Mask are just... meh. The Tea Tree Face Mask is the final one of the bunch, and if you want to know whether I like it or not, please read on :)  

Description (thebodyshop.co.uk): This instantly cooling face mask cleanses, soothes and refreshes the skin.

• Helps remove impurities
• Absorbs excess oil
• Soothes skin

Ingredients (thebodyshop.co.uk): Aqua (Solvent/Diluent), Kaolin (Absorbent), Cetearyl Alcohol (Emulsifier), Glycerin (Humectant), Myristyl Myristate (Emollient), Glyceryl Stearate (Emulsifier), PEG-100 Stearate (Surfactant), Ethylhexyl Palmitate (Skin Conditioning Agent), Propanediol (Viscosity Modifier), Alcohol Denat. (Solvent/Diluent), Caprylyl Glycol (Skin Conditioning Agent), Cyclopentasiloxane (Skin-Conditioning Agent/Emollient), Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil (Skin Conditioning Agent), Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil (Natural Additive), Cyclohexasiloxane (Chelating Agent), Xanthan Gum (Viscosity Modifier), Disodium EDTA (Chelating Agent), Menthol (Cooling Agent), Limonene (Natural Additive), Leptospermum Petersonii Oil (Natural Additive), t-Butyl Alcohol (Denaturant), Denatonium Benzoate (Denaturant), Tocopherol (Antioxidant), CI 77289 (Colour), CI 77492 (Colour).

How to use (thebodyshop.co.uk): Use once or twice weekly after cleansing. Smooth a thick layer onto the face and neck avoiding the lip and eye area, using fingertips. Leave for 5-10 minutes, then rinse with clean water. Mask does not dry.

My opinion: This mask has a very strong green tea scent, which takes some time to get used to. Similar to The Body Shop Vitamin E Sink-in Moisture Mask, this one also burns my philtrum a little bit T-T The feeling goes away after about one minute though. When I wash it off, my skin looks brighter and feels baby-smooth. However, it doesn't have any exfoliating, deep-cleansing or acne-curing effects whatsoever. One sachet is enough for 2 usages.  

Score: 7/10

Repurchase?: No, it's good but not impressive or effective enough for me.

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: THE BODY SHOP GRAPESEED GLOSSING SERUM

I have to admit that I don't use too many products for  my hair. I often shampoo, apply The Body Shop Grapeseed Glossing Serum and that's it! This is the first hair serum I've tried and I love it so much that it actually appears in my 2013 list of Best Beauty Products.

Description (thebodyshop.co.uk): This serum smoothes hair and gives it natural-looking shine. A little goes a long way. 

- Smoothes
- Adds gloss
- Easily washed out

Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane (Skin-Conditioning Agent/Emollient), Dimethiconol (Skin/Hair Conditioning Agent), Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil (Skin Conditioner), Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil (Hair & Skin Conditioning Agent), Limonene (Fragrance Ingredient), Parfum (Fragrance), Linalool (Fragrance Ingredient), Citral (Fragrance Ingredient), Butylphenyl Methylpropional (Fragrance) 

How to use (source: thebodyshop.co.uk): Using fingertips, apply a small amount through towel-dried or dry hair and style as usual.

Size: 75ml

Price: 330,000 VND (about US$15.51)

My opinion: The reason why I love this product is because it does exactly what it claims to do: my hair is always smoother, silkier, shinier and less frizzy after using it. The effects last for a whole day, which is quite impressive. It has a pleasant grape scent which disappears within minutes. It can be washed out pretty easily by a regular shampoo. One bottle can last for a very long time since I only need one or two pumps each time. I've had this for about 10 months and it's still going strong. However, if you're looking for a product that actually strengthens your hair, skip this because it only does what it promises without any extra benefits. 

Repurchase?: Yes but not immediately because I really want to try Essential Hair Serums.

REVIEW: THE BODY SHOP SEAWEED IONIC CLAY MASK SACHET REVIEW

After the less-than-stellar performances of The Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion Sachet and Vitamin E Sink-in Moisture Mask Sachet, I honestly didn't have much expectation for the Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask Sachet. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the effectiveness of this mask.

(Click on images to see description, instruction and ingredients)

My opinion: This mask looks like brown mud and it dries pretty quickly (within 1 minute after application). It has a very faint seaweed scent which doesn't bother me. The instruction says to leave it on for 10 minutes but I let it sit on my face for 20 minutes and didn't experience any irritation whatsoever. After washing it off, my skin looks clearer and my acnes are significantly reduced! It also loosens up my blackheads so that when I use a toner afterwards, I can see little black dots on the cotton pad! It helps unclog my pores as well, though it takes 2 uses to get rid of them. It enables my skincare products to absorb faster and better, possibly because it takes away my dead skin cells. Whenever I use this, I'll wake up the next morning with smooth, healthy and glowing skin. It definitely lives up to its claims, which are drawing out impurities, clarifying and refreshing. And it does all these things without drying my skin out! This is my holy grail deep cleansing/exfoliating mask! I highly recommend you try this one out as it's cheap and one sachet can last for 2 uses. The only con is that it dries out really fast. I stored the product in a little pot and by the second time I used it, the mask had hardened a little bit and it was slightly difficult to apply on my face.

Pros:

- Get rid of blackheads, clogged pores and dead skin cells

- Deflate acnes and help them heal faster

- Non-drying and non-irritating

- Skin looks clearer and brighter

Cons:

- Dry up fast

Repurchase?: Yes, in fact I've already bought the full-size product!

REVIEW: THE BODY SHOP VITAMIN C MICRODERMABRASION SACHET

I've been on the hunt for a good exfoliator ever since I finished my 2nd tub of Tonymoly Gold Black Sugar Mask. As this product receives good reviews and the sachet costs only 69,000 VND (about US$3), I decided to purchase it.

Product description (source: thebodyshop.co.uk): Fine exfoliating micro particles and crushed garnet stones remove dead skin cells to reveal a brighter, more radiant complexion.

• Removes dead skin cells
• Leaves skin feeling soft and smooth
• Gives skin a brighter, more radiant look
• Improves skin texture and tone

How to use (source: thebodyshop.co.uk): Wet face and neck. Apply using circular motions and rinse off with clean water. Use once or twice a week.

Ingredients: Aqua (Solvent/Diluent), Solum Diatomeae (Abrasive), Glycerin (Humectant), Aluminum Silicate (Exfoliant), Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Dimethicone (Skin Conditioning Agent), Butyrospermum Parkii (Skin-Conditioning Agent/Emollient), Cetearyl Alcohol (Emulsifier), Glyceryl Stearate (Emulsifier), Phenoxyethanol (Preservative), PEG-100 Stearate (Surfactant), Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer (Stabiliser/Viscosity Modifier), Polysorbate 60 (Surfactant), Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Antioxidant), Xanthan Gum (Viscosity Modifier), Parfum (Fragrance), Sodium Hydroxide (pH Adjuster), Disodium EDTA (Chelating Agent), Linalool (Fragrance Ingredient), Limonene (Fragrance Ingredient), Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Citral (Fragrance Ingredient).

Size: 6ml

My opinion: Although the sachet contains 6ml of product, it's enough for 6 uses as you only need about a pea-sized amount each time. I think this is a decent exfoliator. It removes my dead skin cells really well and making my face look clearer. However, it fails in removing blackheads and unclogging pores. This scrub hurts my skin a tiny little bit. Nothing major, it doesn't give me broken capillaries or make my skin red, but it just feels a little harsh on my face. It also doesn't give me that baby-smooth feeling that I often get when using peeling gels. My face doesn't look significantly brighter after exfoliating and it does nothing to improve my uneven skin tone. Another thing I dislike about this scrub is the smell. I rarely have a problem with scented products, but I really hate the scent of this. I tried using this when my skin was just a little bit dry, and ... it was not a nice feeling. So, if you have dry or sensitive skin, this product may not suit you.

Pros:

- Remove dead skin cell

- Skin looks clearer

Cons:

- Can't remove blackheads and unclog pores

- Hurt my face a little bit

- Fail to make skin feel baby-smooth

- Can't improve skin tone

- Weird scent
- May not be suitable for dry/sensitive skin

Repurchase?: No. I think I'll stay away from scrubs as they are generally too abrasive for my liking and I'm afraid that they can leave micro-cuts on my skin.

REVIEW: THE BODY SHOP VITAMIN E SINK-IN MOISTURE MASK SACHET

I love trying new products, but I'm no longer the naive girl who blindly believes in everything the advertisements say (yeah, I've learned my lesson big time). So, before buying anything (especially something pricy), I usually read other customers' reviews or try samples. The Body Shop in Vietnam is not so generous with their samples (the only sample I received from them so far was the Vitamin E Moisture Cream which I didn't like). However, recently they've started selling the sachets of 3 kinds of masks and 1 scrub for only 69,000 VND each (about US$3), so I snapped them all up. Since it's winter right now, I'm going to do a review on The Body Shop Vitamin E Sink-in Moisture Mask.

How to use (from The Body Shop website): Smooth a thin layer onto dry, clean skin with your fingertips. Leave for 10 minutes. You may experience a slight cooling sensation. Then simply wipe away with a tissue.

Ingredients: Aqua (Water) (Solvent/Diluent), Glycerin (Humectant), Cyclomethicone (Emollient), Propylene Glycol (Humectant), Oryza sativa (Rice Bran Oil) (Emollient), Gossypium herbaceum (Cottonseed Oil) (Emollient/Skin Conditioner), Triticum vulgare (Wheat Germ Oil) (Emollient), Glycine soja (Soybean Oil) (Emollient/Skin Conditioner), Diglycerin (Humectant), Methyl Gluceth-20 (Viscosity Modifier), Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer (Stabiliser/Viscosity Modifier), Panthenol (Skin/Hair Conditioning Agent), Phenoxyethanol (Preservative), Tocopheryl Acetate (Antioxidant), Benzyl Alcohol (Preservative), Lecithin (Stabiliser/Emulsifier), Methylparaben (Preservative), Sodium Hydroxide (pH Adjuster), Parfum (Fragrance), Disodium EDTA (Chelating Agent), Butylparaben (Preservative), Ethylparaben (Preservative), Citronellol (Fragrance Ingredient), Isobutylparaben (Preservative), Propylparaben (Preservative), Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone (Fragrance Ingredient), Linalool (Fragrance Ingredient), Geraniol (Fragrance Ingredient), Limonene (Fragrance Ingredient), Citral (Fragrance Ingredient), Eugenol (Fragrance Ingredient), Farnesol (Fragrance Ingredient), CI 14700 (Colour).

My opinion: I tried this mask when my skin was a little bit dry and flaky. The Body Shop website warned us of a possible slight cooling sensation, but the warning wasn't printed on the sachet at all! My skin is not sensitive and as far as I can remember, I've never had a bad reaction to a skincare product, like, ever! But when I first applied this mask, it seriously STUNG the hell out of my philtrum! The sensation went away in about 1-2 minutes though. I left it on for about 15-20 minutes and washed it off. It got rid of the flakes on my cheeks and moisturized my skin well. Despite the initial irritation, it didn't hurt my skin in any way. It didn't make my T-zone become oily. The effect lasted for quite a long time too coz by the next day, I could still feel that my skin was more moisturized than usual. However, I wasn't 100% satisfied with this mask as it didn't leave my skin feeling baby-smooth or brighten it up like regular sheet masks did. The mask is a pastel pink cream but goes clear on the face, so it'll be suitable for those who want to apply a hydrating mask on a long-haul flight to keep their skin moisturized since it looks just like a regular moisturizer. One sachet contains enough product for 2 uses.

Pros:

- Affordable

- Moisturizing

- Suitable for flights

- Suitable for both oily and dry skin

Cons:

- Tingling sensation at first

- Doesn't make skin feel smooth

- Doesn't brighten the skin

- Contain paraben

Purchase?: I won't purchase the full-size product coz it just doesn't impress me that much. I may repurchase the sachet to use when I travel though.