Review: Ahava Purifying Mud Mask

i used to tnk that exfoliate(scrub) = deep cleanse. but i realised that they are diff late last yr.

exfoliate is to remove dead skin, enhance absorption of our moisturiser etc, skin wont look as dull too. but deep cleansing is to ‘suck’ out the impurities, dirt & excess sebum, prevent blackheads.

since then, ive been looking for a suitable mask for myself. its best to do a hydrating mask after exfoliation/deep cleansing, since they can be drying sometimes.

for pple with combi-oily skin lk me, i see it a must to exfoliate and deep cleanse once a wk! esp when i gt so many blackies to deal with on my nose. >.<>

for me, i will always do deep cleanse b4 exfoliate. i believe that when the mask is sucking out the blackheads, it may not b strong enough for those stubborn ones, and so with exfoliate, i can get it out of my face for gd lol. but wil nv do both on the same day cos that will be too harsh on my skin. there will be at least a 3day gap in between.

Have been this purifying mask for a few months already. it can be wash off easily (tis is my main concern), and we are only required to leave it on for a mere 2min, same as fancl sebum pack, which is alot shorter as compared to most masks in the market. the smell can be really bad at first, but after some times I am used to the smell already. lol. well, beauty comes with a price, its just 3min anyw.

However, the oil on my face dont seem to be lesser after using the mask the day before.

tried the one for dry & combi skin sample too. do agree that the 1 for oily skin is slightly stronger, and it seems that my blackheads are reduced after prolonged usage (i hope im nt hallucinating again). its recommended by womens wkly magazine too.

Verdict: 7.5/10, Price: $48, 150g

the other purifying masks that ive tried are dead sea mud mask fr tw beautydiy (online spree), the faceshop pore clay mask (recommended by 2mag) & fancl sebum pack (recommended by 1mag). the worst will definitely be beautydiy. they seem to have sand in it and i nid to kinda rub b4 i can wash them off. i was eggcited abt tfs mask cos its really cheap as compared to most mask, $19.90 for 100ml, and raved by mag. but i find the mud so diluted that its hard to apply, smell nice though. i will give it a 2nd chance soon since i still have it with me. lastly, fancl is comparable to ahava’s, but its soooo ex! 8sachets for $27.50, evy usage is $4+! sth to be happy is that all dint cause redness for me

Review: Skinfood Rice Mask

i tried the rinse off rice mask fr skinfood some time ago after hearing some raves for it. the small sample sachet actually lasted me more than 2x. i saved it in those small tubs (oh ive bcome so thrifty, this is so not me >.<)

the beads are q small, not too harsh for my skin, smells pretty gd too. well, face do feel smoother but this is expected since its a scrub. i dont realli see any brightening effect, as claimed by pple online.

my cure scrub does a better job than this rice mask i feel. with cure, my face look clearer too and cure has got no beads though its almost twice the price. this scrub is rather mild too since i dont really feel tightness after usage, which is a plus pt.

i may consider using it for my back since on and off there will be some zits there.. this rice mask scrub is nt as harsh as the other body scrub found in the market.

one thing i dont lk abt this rice mask is that if u were to buy the full sized pdt, the tub design feel so unclean. imagine evytime u gotta dig ur hands in to get the cream, with all the water dripping in etc. yucks. and if u were to use it for a yr, i cant imagine how contaminated the product will be by then.

verdict: 6/10.

well, the results from these korean stuff stop me fr all the korean hauls lol. jap skincare is still the best! korean stuff do look yummy with all the rice, tomato & papaya etc, but results wise, they are generally nt as fantastic as jap stuff. at least on my face.

Review: Purederm Dark Circles Reducer Eye Patches

tried Purederm dark circles reducer eye patches fr watsons. there are 2pairs in each pack, $1.95 for 2pairs.

this eye patch is very diff fr my previous ones, in terms of material. one side is cotton, the other is a sticky patch to be stick onto my eye area. i dont really lk it cos it feels lk im pulling my delicate skin when i remove it. and if u accidentally stick it onto ur lashes, u can probably say bye to ur lovely lashes then. one advantage is that it wont drop off no matter how u shake ur head though lol.

next, there is no signs of essence. this makes me wonder hw my skin can absorb the essence seriously. but if u are those who don lk essence dripping down, u will probably love this eye patch.

results wise, my under eye do look a bit brighter, but dont look hydrated enough to me. for $1/pair, results is so-so, there are better ones around like my current ELG eye mask, cheaper still haha.

Verdict: i wont buy it again cos i dont like the idea of pulling my eye area! but for the fact that it dint cause me bumps, so yea, i’ll let it pass. 5/10

Review: Bio-essence Bio-energy Eye bag Vanishing Mask

tried the bio-essence eye bag mask some time ago. its sold at watsons for $1.95/pair.

was rather disappointed. not much effect for my eye bags, mayb its only effective after a few tries? eye area do look more hydrated & brighter, compared to the purederm dark circles reducer eye mask though. essence is overflowing, and its in sheet form, nt gel lk my usual one. in a way i prefer gel texture cos its nt so messy, essence wont keep dripping. but 1 gd for sheet eye mask is that i can fold it and prevent it fr touching my zits near my cheeks area.

Well, at least its not very rich that it gives me bumps at the eye area.

Verdict: 5.5/10

Review: Ahava Mineral Botanic Velvet Cream Wash

bought this luxury body wash (500ml) when it was having discount a couple of months ago.

it is retailing at $28 at ahava, but i got it at $21 after discount :) i bought it in late jan, there is around 30% left in the bottle now. I am using it alone, so i guess 1 bottle can last at least 6months.

I got the Lotus & Chestnut one meant for sensitive skin. I love the scent! Really mild and kinda refreshing. My skin feel really smooth after every wash.

This body wash is free of SLS ( Sodium Laureth Sulphate), the harsh detergents. Its contains Dead Sea minerals, Macadamia oil and organic plant extracts, hence it foams is different and more velvety than regular soaps. the combination of Lotus Flower & Chestnut protect our skin with uniquely soothing and nourishing properties.

The red patches i used to have on my body while I bathed in the past din appear as often too. I reckon is because this body wash is free of SLS.

I will stick to this wash unless i can find a better one. Its hard to find a wash with a scent that i really like. This soap dont leave my skin dry, neither does it leave a oily film.

Verdict: 9/10. 1 point deducted because of the price haha.

Review: Thermal Spray Showdown - Avene vs Vichy

hohoho~ here comes another showdown, between the thermal sprays this time round!

i started using spray mist/thermal spray since last sept, and have enjoyed it v much. i use it to refresh myself, for soothing purposes, as a toner etc. i also sprayed b4 & after masking too. when i run out of oil blotter, i will spray it too! i find that it helps to ‘disperse’ the oil on my face haa! lastly, it is believed to be able to set make up too. i tried it with make up on, and it does not smudge .

i tried 3 brands so far, fancl spray mist, avene & vichy. since i dont have fancl’s with me, and i dont think im going to buy that again anyw (cos its too ex! $30 for 30ml), im only comparing avene’s & vichy theraml spray in this post.

Round1 : Price & Size

the one in the picture above is 150ml (vichy) and 50ml (avene). i bought my vichy one as a bundle, two 150ml for $22.90 @ guardian. its the largest size available, and if im not wrong, vichy only has 50ml/150ml. i bought the largest size to use @ hm since its more worth it in the long run.

the 50ml avene one cost me $9.90. avene thermal spring water comes in 3 sizes — 50ml, 150ml & 300ml. watson & guardian usually sell the 300ml in a bundle, two 300ml for $29.90.

btw, 150ml lasted me 2+ months, when i use 2-3x a day

in conclusion, if we were to compare the price, avene is very much cheaper for the bigger bottle. but for portable size 50ml, its same for both. So Avene wins this round.

Round 2: Benefits

Both have lotsa trace elements, like calcium, magnesium etc. If i am not wrong, the mineral composition can only be found on the big bottle, not the 50ml ones.

For calcium, sodium, vichy is alot higher in mg per litre. while avene has slighly higher mg for magnesium. The pH for both is 7.5.

i remembered comparing between the amount of elements for vichy & la posay roche, vichy has got higher amt for most except one, thats element is for soothing, hence making la posay roche more soothing than vichy’s. this is what the SA told me at guardian the other time.

It seems that vichy has got more trace elements compared to avene. but For me, i find both sprays equally hydrating, but avene seems to be able to sooth my skin better as compared to vichy’s. so if i were to compare the results & effects, avene wins this round.

round 3: shelf life

Vichy has got a expiry date while avene does not have. ive got no idea why, but this is definitely a plus point for avene.

Overall: avene definitely won by a huge margin.. though vichy MAY contain more trace elements thats good for our skin, but avene definitely is a better buy bcos of the shelf life & wallet friendly point. BUT i will probably buy vichy 50ml portable size to carry it around, and avene 300ml to use at home. this way i can get benefits from both thermal spray haa!

The famous Niu er laoshi from taiwan recommends avene to other thermal sprays too! he call it the 天一神水！

Review: Kao megurizumu relaxing steam eye mask

got to know this kao steam eye mask from lotus blog. managed to find it in the drugstores in tokyo, got it at Y498 (S$7.5) for 5pc. there are 3 types available: lavendar, chamomile & unscented. its available @ adambeauty & nishino pharmacy @ takashimaya basement too.

bought the chamomile one pinkish purple polka dots, so sweet right! once opened, tear the flaps gently & u wil be able to spilt them.

the steam eye mask heats up q fast, it will be able to last for roughly 20min or so. the floral scent is v mild and v nice! i loved it! the heat mask will heat up to 40deg, temp is juz right

after about 15min, the eye mask will be slighly damp, not too uncomfy so i dont really mind. v convenient & fuss free. after using, my eyes do feel relaxed, very comfy i will say. moreover, the scent is really nice, definitely a plus point.

if i can get it for less than S$2/pc, i tnk i wont mind buying them

Verdict: 9/10