REVIEW: July 2018 Skincare Regimen

~AG~

The skin condition tends to vary throughout the months due to lifestyle changes - time of the month, traveling, lack of sleep and etc . So, I tend to switch up my skincare products. This is my current skincare regimen. It is a mix of affordable drug store and high-end products.

1) Bioderma Hydrabio
500ml
S$41.90
This cleansing water is designed for dehydrated skin types. It has Hydrabio serum that stimulates the skin and reactivates natural hydration. I use it twice a day to gently remove sunscreen, makeup and other impurities. Since my skin has been on the drier side recently, Bioderma Hydrabio makes my skin feels comfortable. This 500 ml bottle will lasts me around 5-6 months.

2) Avène Gentle Cleansing Foam
150 ml
$37.70
This is my 3rd bottle of Avène Cleansing Foam. This cleansing foam comes with a pump for convenience. It gently cleanses sensitive skin without irritating the skin. One bottle of Cleansing Foam lasts about 4-5 months since I only use it once a day. I would switch to another cleanser after this bottle because my skin has been feeling dry.

3) Thayers Witch Hazel Aloe Vera Formula Rose Petal
355ml
$11.69 
This alcohol-free toner helps keep my skin in check. It contains Witch Hazel to tighten pores and control production while Aloe Vera hydrates the skin. Rose Petal contains ingredients to create a healthy complexion. After using it for over 2 months, my skin has become more balanced. Thayers Witch Hazel Hazel Aloe Vera toner is an affordable drugstore buy.

4) Skinceuticals C E Ferulic
30ml
$231 
Been using this serum for over month. I apply this serum all over my face only at night. So far, I cannot tell that Skinceuticals C E Ferulic significantly improves skin appearance or reduce fine lines or wrinkles. Would have to use it for a more extended time to verify whether there is any skin improvements.

5) Clinique All About Eyes
15ml
S$52.20
This lightweight eye cream hydrates the eye area and is supposed to help with dark circles and eye puffiness. Even though it does not diminish my dark circles, this eye cream works well and you only need a small amount. I apply it using my ring finger, twice a day. A tub of Clinique All About Eyes can lasts 3-4 months.

6) Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentrè
75ml
S$28 
This is my favorite beauty find of 2017. This is my HG moisturizer! I am on my 2nd bottle of Embryolisse Creme Cocentre. It works well to hydrate and soothe my combination skin. The texture is light and does not feel greasy. Even when I travel to dry climate countries, this Embryolisse moisturizer works well. The only downside is that this product is not sold in Singapore. So I stock up or asks those traveling to France to help me buy.

7) Derma-RX Tinted Sunscreen
50ml 
S$69
Wearing sunscreen everyday is a must! Due to my sensitive skin, I am hesitant to try new sunscreen. Sunscreen tends to be the skincare product that aggravates breakouts for me. This is probably the 3rd bottle of Derma-RX Tinted Sunscreen I have used. The new version is good and does not make my face looks greasy. With SPF 50, it provides protection against UV damages. One bottle of Derma-RX Tinted Sunscreen lasts 5-6 months with everyday use.  This is a staple of my skin care regimen.

REVIEW: Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant

~AG~

After using Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant for over two months, it is time for me to do a review on it. The reason I bought Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant is because it is designed for sensitive skin.
This 200ml amount of cleanser retails for S$31.90 at Watsons.   

This foaming wash has a smooth and rich gel texture. It does foam up a little,though it is not a thick lather. My skin does not feel squeaky clean after use. It leaves the skin feeling comfortable and not tight. I imagine this Bioderma Gel Moussant will work well for those with normal or dry skin type.

The packaging of this cleanser comes in their signature Bioderma Sensibio pink. The bottle is translucent so you can see how much product you have left. The pump dispenser can be conveniently locked to prevent spillage; this is especially handy for traveling.

I had high hopes for this Bioderma Gel Moussant since I am a HUGE fan of Bioderma H20 (Cleansing Water). For some unknown reason, my skin will have bumps after using this product. I tested to verify whether it was really Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant that triggered the adverse reaction. I stopped using this product for a few days and then the bumps disappeared. When I started using it again, bumps appeared again. Conclusion: Bioderma Gel Moussant does not work for my skin. Unfortunately, this foaming well would not be a repurchase for me.

NEW BUY: Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant

A tall packaging of Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant 

 ~AG~

Bioderma Sensibio and Sebium H20 are my skincare must-haves. Decided to try Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant which I have been seeing on magazines and social media recently. It costs S$31.90 for 200ml of product. It is pricey for a facial cleanser but it should last for at least six months. This mild foaming gel is designed for sensitive, and can be used on your face as well on your eyes area. Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant is soap-free, fragrance-free, paraben-free, hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic. All these qualities makes it sound suitable for my sensitive skin.

My skin has been feeling dry recently, so I decided to avoid a cleansing foam that is targeted for oily skin type. Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant claims to soothe and moisturize the skin. With its soothing active ingredient, D.A.F Complex, it raises the tolerance threshold of sensitive skin. Its creamy foam is supposed to leave the skin soft and comfortable. 

 Comes in a pump packaging

Cannot wait to try out this foaming gel from Bioderma. Hope it is suitable for my sensitive, combination skin. Stay tuned for my review of this French skincare product. 

AG & MG Beauty Award 2015

AG'S TOP 5 PRODUCT FINDS FOR 2015

SKINCARE 

Favorite makeup remover: Bioderma Sebium H20
- - Still on my favorite list for 2015! It is a must-have to remove sunscreen, makeup and impurities. Gentle on the skin, and effectively removes face makeup. The acne-fighting ingredients such as zinc gluconate and copper sulphate help purify the skin. My skin feels fresh after use.

Favorite toner: Derma-RX Toner
- - Never thought that toner is an essential part of skincare regimen till I met this Derma-RX Toner. It thoroughly preps my face for the next skincare steps. Plus, its AHAs content helps exfoliate my sensitive skin. 

MAKEUP

Favorite lip product: VDL Expert Color Lip Cube EX
- - Creamy texture. Very pigmented lip color, almost like a lip stain. Its unique packaging makes application super precise.  

Favorite eyeliner: Kiss Me Heroine Make Smooth Liquid Liner
- - Super fine eyeliner tip. It goes on smooth and stays on all-day! 

Favorite facial moisturizer: Laneige Water Bank Essence_EX
- - Perfect for my sensitive combination skin,  it hydrates my skin without leaving it feeling sticky. The scent is refreshingly oceanic.

MG'S TOP 5 PRODUCT FINDS FOR 2015

SKINCARE

Favorite toner/essence: SK-II Treatment Essence and SK-II Clear Lotion

::: I use the treatment essence and clear lotion twice a day.
Treatment essence has been consistently part of my skincare regimen since the start of this year.
Clear lotion has only been part of my skincare regimen since September of this year. Clear lotion has salicylic acid which helps fight off blemishes. It acts as a toner.

Favorite lip balm: Nivea Watering Lip Care
::: Because it goes on very smoothly. It leaves my lips well-moisturised without feeling sticky or leaving a residue. The thin and sleek packaging makes it handy to carry around.

Favorite cleanser: Korres Wild Rose Daily Brightening & Refining Buff Cleanser
::: My blackheads are reduced after I use this daily cleanser. It is a scrub that is gentle enough for every day use. 

MAKEUP

Favorite concealer: Cle de Peaue Beaute
::: Starting using this concealer this year. Because it is GOOD! It covers up my dark circles, acne scars and any redness. This concealer provides high coverage and fully hide my blemishes. Other concealers does not fully cover my acne scars. Plus, it lasts the whole day!

Favorite lip product: VDL Lip Tint
::: I love the color! It is nice! The texture is smoooth and it is moisturising. An easy way to create gradient lips.

AG & MG Beauty Award 2014

AG'S TOP 5 PRODUCT FINDS FOR 2014

People always ask me what products are good. To tell you the truth, a product is subjective to many different factors. But after trying numerous beauty products, I can share a few advices on what is worth buying and what is not worth trying. In the year 2014, I discovered a few beauty products that have quickly became my favourites. Here are five products that have become holy grail (HG) products in my book.

Favourite Concealer: Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer in Ocher
The best concealer ever! It works well on dark circles as well as redness and zits. Great coverage and super smooth. Review Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer




Favourite Foundation: Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation in 52 Vanille
This foundation has a light to medium coverage. I LOVE that it blends in perfectly to my skin, and gives a nice natural glow. It gives a more dewy effect than matte. Review Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum


Favourite Eyeliner: Lancôme Artliner Precision Felt Tip Liquid Liner
Waterproof. Long-lasting. The felt tip is very precise, and relatively easy to use.



Favourite Makeup Remover: Bioderma Sebium H20
I truly cannot live without this product. It has changed the way I remove my sunscreen and makeup. This is the best beauty product ever! Everyone should have a bottle of Bioderma in their beauty arsenal. It can be used to clean makeup brushes too. Review Bioderma Sebium


Favourite Skincare Product: Lancôme Advanced Genefique Youth Activating Concentrate
A serum that keeps my skin soft and smooth. Even my boyfriend commented on the improvement of my skin texture. It is a must-have in my skincare regimen!
Short Review of Lancome Advanced Genefique

MG'S TOP 5 PRODUCT FINDS FOR 2014

Bringing you my favorite 2014's beauty finds!

Favorite Moisturizer: Lanegie Water Bank Gel Cream_EX
The perfect moisturizer for Oily/Combo/Acne-prone skin! Already went through tub and tub of this gel-cream and am still using it because I really really love love it!

Favorite Facial Oil: Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil

I loved using it when I was living in the U.S. Thought I won't be able to enjoy using it when I moved back to Singapore because of the hot and humid weather but I was wrong. Now every night, I have to pour this gem on my face to keep it feeling moisturized and comfortable. 


Favorite CC Cream: Hera CC(Complete Care) Cream
I think I have said enough of my love for this product. Definitely it will continued to be in my makeup pouch till at least December 31, 2015! ❤❤


Favorite Face Primer: Clarins Beauty Flash Balm
It is truly a beauty-must have! It helps your makeup lasts longer, brighten your skin and most importantly, it helps protect your skin from the makeup and dirt because it acts as an invisible mask.


Favorite Lipstick: 3 Concept Eyes Jumbo Lip Crayon in Popping P
What attracted me to it was the vibrant and unique purple-plumish color! The color is great. The pigmentation is great too. It's fairly moisturizing. Plus, according to Pantone, the Poppin P's purple shade is the Color of the Year 2014 (Radiant Orchid 18-3224)!

REVIEW: Bioderma Sebium H2O

~AG~
I really really really like this Bioderma Sebium H20!! I was fond of Bioderma Sensibio H20. But I have to say that Bioderma Sebium works wonder for my combination sensitive skin. Since my T-zone is oily, this formula is more suitable for me. My skin feels clean and refresh after each use. It throughly removes my makeup & sunscreen. When I wear face makeup, I usually use two cotton pads worth of product just to make sure everything is well removed. However, if I solely use sunscreen, one cotton pad is enough to throughly cleanse my face. Sometimes, I even use it to remove my eye makeup. Though, it does not throughly remove waterproof eyeliner and mascara. 

My dermatologist, Dr. Joyce Lim, recommended that I use Bioderma Sebium instead of Bioderma Sensibio. She said that the zinc ingredient has antibacterial properties that will help reduce clogged pores. 

In the United States, Bioderma is not sold in retail stores (as far as I know), and you can only buy it online from other countries. 
In Singapore, they only sell Bioderma at Guardian. It costs about S$20+ for the bigger bottle (250mL). Mine have lasted me for over 5 months. I am about 3/4 done with it. It is totally worth the money! I am never going back to cleansing oil again.

I will definitely recommend Bioderma Sebium to all you readers. For those with oily and combination skin, I recommend Bioderma Sebium. For those with normal to dry skin, I recommend the Bioderma Sensibio. You have to try it out!

A New Use for Bioderma

~AG~

I'm so excited to share this new tip that I found.

Cleaning my makeup brushes have never been an priority on my to-do list.
I maybe wash my brushes once every three months with baby shampoo. I know it sounds disgusting, But I am too lazy to take the time to wash my brushes weekly or even monthly.

The other day when I was looking at my dual-ended Beauty of Essence concealer and foundation brush, I saw that there were noticeable residue left on it. It was in need of some cleaning. I didn't have time to soak it in the baby shampoo mixture. So, I decided to try to use my Bioderma Sebium to spot clean my brush. Since Bioderma is very effective in removing makeup and also designed for sensitive skin, I thought there will be no harm on using it on my makeup brushes.

There are special makeup brushes cleaning spray on the market that can be bought to spot clean makeup brushes. However, I find that those cleaning sprays contain alcohol which is not good for the makeup brushes as well as for my sensitive skin. The makeup brushes cleaning spray that I tried before was from ELF.

When I clean my makeup brushes using baby shampoo, I have to soak it in shampoo for a while and then meticulously sweep the brush in a criss-cross motion to remove any makeup residue. However, with the Bioderma, I just have to soak a piece of tissue with Bioderma and then sweep the brush head across. Instantly, the makeup residue will be transferred to the tissue. I did this twice and my makeup brush looked cleaner. I was pleasantly amazed.

Sometimes, even after washing my makeup brushes with baby shampoo, I still find that there will be makeup residue left. Spot cleaning with Bioderma is a more effective way to remove those makeup residue.

This is a convenient and effective way to spot clean your makeup brushes for lazy people like me. :)

Dermatologist Journey Part II

~AG~

As mentioned before, here is the acne treatment regimen:

Step 1: Vitamin C serum all over the face day & night

Step 2: Antioxidant Moisture Solution all over the face day & night 

Step 3: Dalacin gel (an antibiotic) for spot treating acne day & night

Step 4: Retin-A Cream to be used every other night.


In the morning, I just use the Boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel. For cleansing at night, I use the Bioderma Sebium H20 first and then Boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel. 

After one week of the acne treatment regimen, I cannot see any noticeable improvement. 
However, some comments about the regimen.

• There was some slight dryness around my nose and chin area after the second time I used the Retin-A Cream. 
• My cheeks are the most sensitive area. So I did not apply Retin-A-Cream there.
• I noticed that my skin became tighter too. I made sure to apply the moisturising lotion generously. 
• For the Dalacin gel, I find that it is very effective for whitehead pimples. I applied the Dalacin gel on my pimple twice, and it was dried up. 

 I will be seeing Dr. Joyce for a follow-up this Friday. I will let you know what she says.

Bioderma Sebium H2O

~AG~

I bought the Bioderma Sebium H2O out of the recommendation from my dermatologist. I have been breaking out like crazy recently so decided to seek professional help. She suggested that I discontinue use of cleansing oil and use cleansing water instead. She mentioned that cleansing oil can cause pimples. Since I have oily skin, she recommended I use Bioderma Sebium H20 instead of Bioderma Sensibio, which I have been using previously.  She said the zinc ingredient in it acts as an antibacterial property, and will help to prevent clogged pores. I'm hoping this will help my skin. *cross my fingers*

• Sébium H2O is an ultra-mild cleansing formula, use it with the utmost care. Soak a cotton pad with Sébium H2O and cleanse your face. Repeat the application until the cotton pad remains clean.

• Sébium H2O needs no rinsing but it is essential to dry your skin. Dry gently. Pat your face with a clean, cotton towel.
• Sébium H2O can be used daily, morning and evening.

• BIODERMA innovation, Sébium H2O gently cleanses the skin without drying it, through the micro-emulsion of impurities and excess sebum.

• Enriched with purifying active ingredients, Sébium H2O cleanses the epidermis in depth and regulates secretion of sebum. The patented sebo-correcting complex, Fluidactiv^®, normalises sebum quality.

• Sébium H2O guarantees excellent cutaneous and ocular tolerance.
• Sébium H2O is non-comedogenic.

Ingredients: 
WATER (AQUA), PEG-6 CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC GLYCERIDES, SODIUM CITRATE , ZINC GLUCONATE, COPPER SULFATE, GINKGO BILOBA EXTRACT, MANNITOL, XYLITOL, RHAMNOSE, FRUCTOOLIGOSACCHARIDES, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, CITRIC ACID, DISODIUM EDTA, CETRIMONIUM BROMIDE, FRAGRANCE (PARFUM).

REVIEW: Bioderma Sensibio H20

 

Winner of Best Makeup Remover for Sensitive Skin by Women’s Weekly 2013 Best Beauty Buys (Singapore)

~AG~

I finally get the chance to try out this Bioderma cleansing water. Finished using my Fancl Washing Powder yesterday and was thinking which cleansing foam to use next. But decide to try this out instead since it’s been in my beauty storage for almost 3 months now.

My younger sister, who is a self-professed skincare product junkie, was using this Bioderma solution on the flight back to Singapore. After she was done cleansing, I saw how much dirt and grim that one soaked cotton pad could remove. I was impressed by it. My sister said that if you are using sunscreen, bb cream or other oil-based face products, it is best to you 2 cotton pads of Bioderma solution.

I've been using it for over 2 months now, and almost at the end of my first bottle. After first using Hada Labo Cleansing Oil to remove my makeup and sunscreen, I will soak a cotton pad of Bioderma and then use it to wipe my whole face. I usually use one cotton pad everyday, but on days when I feel that they are more grim, I will use two cotton pads of Bioderma. That is all I do for my face cleansing. I do not use any other face wash.

So far, my skin has not had any adverse reaction to Bioderma. It cleanses my skin gently while also removing all the impurities. At first, I questioned Bioderma cleansing ability. I was afraid that it would not sufficiently clean impurities and will cause my skin to have breakouts. Even though I like the squeaky clean feeling of a face wash, I have gotten use to the non-lather cleansing water. It does leave a bit of a "sticky" feeling at first, but after absorption, my skin feels soft and hydrated.
I like Bioderma so much that I stocked up on a bunch of them while I was in Europe last month. I recommend Bioderma to those with sensitive skin who are looking for a gentle way to clean your skin.

 ~MG~

I love Bioderma.

Started a new skincare routine because my face is in its critical condition during my summer holiday in Singapore. However, now that I'm back in the U.S, I'm still continuing with cleansing my face in the morning with just the Bioderma and using it again at night, as a toner(works superb as a gentle toner!) and double cleanser after using my facial cleanser or cleansing oil.

The Bioderma really works well, it clean off everything and its not drying at all which makes it a great cleanser to use in the plane! It can be a hassle washing your face in the plane's small sink and getting your face and skin wet may not be so ideal on a long haul flight since it's so cold up there! With Bioderma, you can use it comfortably from your seat! But be sure to remember to pack at least 2-3 cotton pads for every cleansing session.

Ps: Big Tip for those living in cooler and drier climate or during winter season, this is the perfect morning cleanser because its not drying at all and very effective!