REVIEW: YVES ROCHER HAMAMELIS MAXI SUPER-SOFT SHOWER GEL FOR SENSITIVE SKIN

One of my most repurchased shower gels has to be Yves Rocher Hamamelis Maxi Super-soft Shower Gel for Sensitive Skin. I think I've already used like 4 bottles of this.

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

This is a gentle shower gel that is suitable for the whole family. It foams up and cleans my skin well without drying it out, even in winter. It's great for shaving, too. It runs out quite fast, possibly due to its runny texture. I use this with my mother and one bottle will last for 1 month. However, since this is affordable, it's not a major problem. It has a witch hazel (?) (I'm not too sure coz I don't know what a witch hazel smells like) scent which I neither like nor dislike. Although it contains salicylic acid, it has no effect whatsoever on the odd blemishes that I have on my back in summer. As it's very gentle, it cannot remove my waterproof sunscreen and I have to use my facial cleanser / body scrub / exfoliating gloves for that. Honestly, I don't mind because the shower gels that can take away my sunblock are often too drying for me. Despite all the weaknesses, I often come back to this shower gel as it's a simple, gentle and affordable product that can be used daily. And it's eco-friendly too :)

Pros:

- Gentle and non-drying 

- Lather up really well

- Clean skin well
- Great for shaving

- Can be used everyday

- Suitable for sensitive skin

- Affordable

- Eco-friendly

Cons:

- Run out quite fast

- Have no effect on body acnes

- Can't remove waterproof sunscreen

Repurchase?: Yes :)

REVIEW: ESSENTIAL NUANCE AIRY SHAMPOO

I used Essential shampoos when I was a child, but for somer reason, KAO discontinued this brand in Vietnam. I came across this in a Watson's store in Singapore and decided to buy it because it received rave reviews on the Internet. And I have to say, this doesn't disappoint me :)

(Vivian Hsu is the endorser of this brand, and you can see her photo on the bottle)

Description:

Instructions and ingredients:

Size: 560ml

My opinion: First of all, I really like the packaging, because it's all pink >.< This shampoo cleanses my hair quite well and keeps it clean for a whole day. My hair gets a little bit dirty by the second day, but it's not a big deal as I often wash it every 2 days anyway. True to its claims, it makes my hair feel so smooth and soft. It also has a pleasant scent which disappears in about 30 minutes after rinsing. My mom uses this everyday without any problems, so it's suitable for daily usage. It's affordable and one bottle lasts for 3 months, which is really good considering that I use it with my mom. However, if you're looking for a deep-cleansing or anti-dandruff shampoo, this product may not be for you because it's very gentle and moisturizing.

Pros:

- Cute packaging

- Cleanse hair well

- Make hair feel soft and silky

- Pleasant scent

- Suitable for daily usage

- Affordable

- Last for a long time

Cons:

- Contain sodium laureth sulfate (SLS) 

Repurchase?: Yes, this is one of my favorite shampoos :)

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: BIFESTA CLEANSING GEL

The only thing I like better than applying makeup is taking it all off when I get home. My current makeup remover is Bifesta Cleansing Gel.

Price: SGD 12.90

Size: 170g

Ingredients (source: ratzillacosme.com):  water, PEG-8 glyceryl isostearate, isopropyl myristate, cetyl ethylhexanoate, butylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, hydrogenated polyisobutene, glycerin, alcohol, magnesium sodium fluorosilicate, hydroxypropyltrimonium hyaluronate, PEG-12 laurate, acrylates/steareth-20 methacrylate copolymer, polysorbate 80, propylene glycol isostearate, acrylates copolymer, ethylhexylglycerin, PEG-6 caprylic/capric glycerides, methylparaben, phenoxyethanol

My opinion: This cleanser can be used in the shower, and it works well with both dry and damp hands. I usually squeeze out a cherry-sized amount into my damp hand, rub my palms together and massage it on my dry face for about 1-2 minutes. As it's a gel, it doesn't foam up at all. My usual base makeup includes non-waterproof BB cream and powder, and I find that this cleansing gel removes them really well. When I wear red lip tints, I take out a pea-sized amount, massage my lips for about 1 minute and the color is completely gone! However, I don't think it's effective in removing waterproof mascara. I always remove my mascara before cleansing my face, but sometimes there are some residues left on my lashes, and this fails in taking them away. It doesn't sting my eyes though. After washing this off, my skin and lips feel so soft and moisturized, even in winter! It's because this cleansing gel contains hyaluronic acid (click here if you want to know more about hyaluronic acid). The instruction says there's no need to double cleanse with a facial foam as it may take away the moisturizing elements. However, I still use a cleansing foam afterwards to make sure that every bit of makeup, dirt and oil is gone. And you know what, my skin still feels smooth and hydrated after the double-cleanse process! (well, except in extremely dry and cold weather). Although it's very moisturizing, I've never broken out or got clogged pores because of this. As I don't wear makeup everyday, this will probably last me for about 4-5 months. I think the packaging is really cute with flower patterns printed on a clear tube. Since the tube is transparent, I can see how much product is left.

Pros:

- Can be used in the shower with damp hands

- Remove base makeup and lip tints well 

- Oil-free

- Moisturizing

- Non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic

- Non-irritating to eyes

- Cute and practical packaging

Cons:

- Not effective in removing waterproof mascara

- Contain paraben

Score: 9/10

Repurchase?: Yes :)

                                    

REVIEW: LANEIGE SNOW BB SOOTHING CUSHION SPF50+ PA+++

I bought this product about a year ago because of the positive reviews and I love Song Hye Kyo's CF for this. Laneige advertises this as a "new-concept cushion BB for Whitening + Sunscreen + Sweat-proof + Soothing + Makeup Effects". Sounds good, right? So, does it live up to its claims? For me, NO!

  (Source: laneige.co.kr)

Price: 930,000 VND (about US$42) for 1 pact and 1 refill, so it's not really that expensive.

Shades: This comes in 4 shades: #13 True Beige - a beige color with pink tone, #21 Natural Beige - a natural beige (this is their best seller), #23 Sand Beige - a sand beige for tanned skin, and #31 Brown Beige - a brown beige for darker skin tone. As I have fair skin with yellow undertone, I get this in #21 Natural Beige and it's way too dark for me! I've used Laneige Skin Veil Oil-free Foundation before in shade #21 Natural Beige and it was too light for me, so it's weird that this BB cream looks darker than my real skin tone! 

Packaging: This BB cream comes in a case that resembles a compact powder, but instead of powder, it has a cushion with BB cream underneath. There are many tiny holes on the cushion, so when you press it with the puff, the product will come out. The packaging is quite innovative and easy to carry around. You can even bring it onto the plane! A small downside is that it's quite hard to remove the stains from the puff. I have to use olive oil to clean it.

Coverage: This has zero coverage! It can't conceal my dark circles, spots and discoloration. It just makes my skin look dewy, which is a property that I don't need since have an oily T-zone. 

Oil-control property: This has zero oil-control property! I first used this in the winter, and my face oiled up after 1.5 hours! Then I used this in spring, and it slid right off my face within 1 hour! And I'd used a mattifying moisturizer underneath and applied powder on top! I was horrified when I looked into the mirror and realized that my face looked as if I didn't apply makeup base (but not in a good way, mind you). It makes me look greasy, dull and oily every time I use it T-T

Moisturizing property: It feels quite moisturizing on my face, so I guess those with dry skin  may like this one.

Cooling effect: It leaves a cooling effect on my face, but the feeling goes away in about 30 minutes.

Whitening effect: None. It has no effect on my acne scars or discoloration.

Sun-protection: This has SPF50+ PA+++ which is quite good as it can protect your skin against both UVA and UVB. I can't attest to its sun-protection property though since I don't use it in summer.

Skin-irritation: Apart from making my skin super-oily, it doesn't have any negative impacts on my skin. It neither clogs my pores nor breaks me out.

Repurchase?: No. It seems that my skin just doesn't like Laneige products in general because I've tried quite a few and never found anything I like from them T-T

REVIEW: TONYMOLY CLEAN DEW TEA TREE SEED FOAM CLEANSER

I bought this cleanser a long time ago when my skin was oily and spotty, hoping that it'd cure my problems. Well, I couldn't have been more wrong.

(Source: tonymolyvn.com.vn)

Price: 132,000 VND (about US$6)

Size: 150ml

My opinion: Let's start with the good points first. This cleanser has amazing cleansing power and it can even remove makeup! It lathers up really well and creates a lot of bubbles. If you like that "squeaky-clean" feeling after washing your face, then by all means go for this one. It's also very cheap and long-lasting. However, the biggest downfall of this cleansing foam is that it dries my skin out like nobody's business! I had to give it up after 2 weeks because it made my skin peel so bad :( Since I didn't want to waste it, I used this as my brush cleanser. Although it cleaned my brushes really well, it dried out the hair of my brushes and left a weird scent on them. I gave it two months and finally, I threw it away because I couldn't bear to give this to someone else and end up wrecking their skin. 

Pros:

- Cheap

- Last for a very long time

- Clean well

- Can remove makeup

Cons:

- Super drying (this is hands down the most drying cleanser I've ever used!)
- Contain SLS and paraben

Repurchase?: Hell no!

REVIEW: ETUDE HOUSE FRESH CHERRY TINT IN RD301

In my opinion, nothing can brighten up a dark and cold winter day better than a red lip color. One of my favorite shade of red is Etude House Fresh Cherry Tint in RD301. This one is so popular in Vietnam that it's often sold out in the stores. I finally got hold of it when I travelled to Hong Kong last summer.

And this is how it looks like on my bare face (sorry for my hormonal acnes T-T):

With one coat, it's a pinkish red but if you layer it on, it'll be a bright red.  One thing I dislike about this is that it fades unevenly and leaves red stains in the center of my lips. This may look good on other people, but for me, it just looks like my lips are bleeding. As I drink water quite often, it'll fade after about 3 hours. After reapplying, my lips feel a little bit dehydrated (but not dry), but it can be fixed by applying a clear gloss on top. However, if you have dry and chapped lips, make sure to wear a lip balm beforehand. I often use Bifesta Cleansing Gel - my holy-grail makeup remover to take it off completely.

Pros:

- Beautiful color

- Last for a decent amount of time

- Affordable

Cons:

- Fade unevenly

- May not be suitable for people with dry lips

Repurchase?: No, just because I've never purchased the same lipstick twice :)