REVIEW: Cucumber Gel Mask Extreme De-tox Hydrator

Photo Credit: Peter Thomas Roth

~AG~

So this Cucumber Gel Mask Extreme De-tox Hydrator was part of the 6-piece mask kit that I purchased over a year ago. The 6-piece kit retails for USD75 (S$102). So one tube costs USD12.50 (S$17), which is a great deal. Each tub comes with 50 ml of product. This Cucumber Gel Mask is suitable for normal, oily and combination skin types. This ultra-gentle mask is supposed to soothe and hydrate irritated skin. It contains botanical extracts such of cucumber, papaya, aloe vera, chamomile, pineapple, sugar maple, sugar cane, orange, lemon and bilberry. The mask is helps to moisturise and refresh the skin. 

You can use this mask 2-3 times a week, or daily if your skin needs more hydration. Been trying to use it at least once a week for a few months. I refrigerate Cucumber Gel Mask Extreme De-tox Hydrator to give a cool and refreshing treatment. After throughly cleansing my face, I apply a generous layer of Cucumber Gel Mask all over my face. After 10-15 minutes, I wash off this mask and continue the rest of my skincare regimen.  

So what can I say about this Cucumber Gel Mask?
- It has a gel texture that is cooling and refreshing
- This mask works well for my sensitive skin, no new breakouts or redness caused by it
- Cannot tell much about the calming and soothing properties of the mask
- The moisturising strength is rather low and my skin does not feel well-hydrated after use

Overall, I would not repurchase this Cucumber Gel Mask Extreme De-tox Hydrator as it does not do much for my skin that has been more on the drier side recently. I could do without this product as part of my skincare regimen. 

NEW BUY: Face Wash Haul

~AG~

Sephora was having a 20% off this month. Decided to stock up on some face wash as my current The FaceShop RiceWater Bright Cleansing Foam was running low. 

Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel 
S$27
236ml
This best-selling cleansing gel contains papaya and grapefruit extracts that exfoliate the skin. It is gentle enough to be used twice daily. Might use this Enzyme Cleansing Gel for my back area as there are some acne scars and pigmentation. 

Drunk Elephant Beste No.9 Jelly Cleanser 
S$46
150ml
This cleanser has been on my wish list for a while. It is expensive compared to other cleansers in the market. Drunk Elephant claims to remove all traces of makeup, pollution, oil and grime without irritating the skin. 

Cannot wait to try these 2 cleansers. Which one should I try first?

NEW BUY: Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream in Tube Form

~AG~

This Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream is a favorite of MG. She has gone through over 3 bottles of Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream. She usually applies this blue cream after popping her pimples. Now, the Midnight Blue Cream comes in a tub version. This packaging makes it more hygienic for application. A 60ml of tub costs S$37. MG purchased it from WishTrend Shopee store, as they were having an offer. I also bought one tub of the Midnight Blue Cream for myself. 

Previously, I had tried MG's Midnight Blue Cream when we were traveling together. This Calming Cream does help to reduce redness and irritation. Since my skin can get sensitive at times, this Calming Cream would be a good product to have in my beauty arsenal. My cheeks tend to have some redness when it is irritated/dry. Hope this Calming Cream will help the redness and bumps I have on my cheeks area recently. 

NEW BUY: Mount Lai De-Puffing Jade Facial Roller

 ~AG~

This Mount Lai De-Puffing Jade Facial Roller was recommended by a friend who is obsessed with skincare products. She mentioned that this Jade Facial Roller feels nice on the skin. This double-ended Jade Roller costs US$34 (S$48). 

This Jade Roller is supposed to improves blood circulation, reduce puffiness and inflammation of skin, promotes lymphatic drainage, relieves jaw and facial tension. I use it twice a day after applying Embryolisse Creme. The creamy texture of the moisturizer allows the Jade roller to glide easily on the skin. I use the smaller end for areas such as the under eye area and forehead. An alternate way to use this Jade Facial Roller is with facial oil or serum.

After using this Jade Facial Roller for at least 3 months then can I give an honest review about this product. Hope this product will help with my puffy under eyes and boost overall skin radiance.

REVIEW: Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream

Pictures courtesy of Wishtrend

~MG~

Last April, I bought Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream in Seoul at ÅLAND. Cannot remember how much I bought it for but it retails for US$24.50 (S$34) on Wishtrend.  Been wanting to try out this product for a long time after reading the positive reviews from youtube and wishtrend.
This Calming Cream has been part of my skincare regimen for more than 6 months. How do I use it? I only apply it on nights when I have extracted my blackhead/whitehead or popped my pimples. This cream comes in a surprising blue color. Unlike traditional moisturizing cream, you do not apply the Klairs Calming Cream all over the face. You only apply a small amount to targeted areas.

  

Q1. Why is the cream blue?
Guaiazulene, which is the key ingredient of the Blue Cream, is a plant-based component extracted
from camomile oil. It has a natural violet color, which gradually turns the cream into a gentle blue color after the blending process.

This cream designed to calm and soothe sensitive, or irritated skin.  When I use it the night before, my skin redness is reduced next day. Though it does not completely diminish the redness, it does significantly help to calm my skin irritations. When you rinse your face with water the next morning, you can still feel a thin protective layer of the product on your skin, almost like shielding your damaged skin from external environment. Sometimes if the affected area is still red in the morning, I will use Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream as my day moisturizer. I will allow the Calming Cream to absorb into the skin first before putting on CC Cream.

When I am lazy, I use Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream as a moisturizer at night. Since it is not as moisturizing, I like to apply a very generous amount all over my face. However, this result in my skin being a little sticky due to the protective layer of the cream. Therefore, this product is not recommend to be used all over the face in the daytime. Because of the protective layer that it creates on the skin, your skin will look somewhat shiny.

Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream contains 30 ml of product and has lasted me for 9 months. Since this product is only used when my skin is irritated or redness, I tend to use it only 3 to 4 times a month. I would repurchase this product as it does help to calm my skin redness and irritation. It is an affordable treatment cream that will be useful for those with skin sensitivity, breakouts and redness.

Our Top Beauty Products for 2017

~MG~
1. COS-RX Pimple Patch

 Affordability: $ (S$3-4.50)
Effectiveness: It works well to disguise my red pimples, and it does a good job in absorbing the gunk from my whitehead pimples. My skincare must-have! I carry it with me everyday.

2. SK-II Cellumination Day Surge UV Moisturizer 

Affordability: $$$ (S$139)
Effectiveness: This moisturizer contains sunscreen so it reduces my skincare steps. I only need one pump to cover my whole face. 

~AG~
1. IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Corrector

Affordability: $$ (S$41)
Effectiveness: A great salmon-colored concealer for dark circles. Only a little product is required to disguise dark circles. Plus, the creamy formula stays on well in Singapore's humid climate.

2. Physician Formula Eye Booster 2-in1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum

Affordability: $ (S$14)
Effectiveness: This eyeliner is long-lasting, does not smudge, and is highly pigmented. The fine tip brush works well to tightline the eyes.

3. Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentrè

Affordability: $ (S$28)
Effectiveness: This non-sticky moisturizer soothes my skin. The texture is lightweight and suitable for tropical climate. A win for this French skincare product.

REVIEW: Klairs Freshly Juice Vitamin C Serum

 ~MG~

Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin C Serum is a highly raved online by korean beauty youtubers and by wishtrend. Bought it in Korea at Aland Myeongdong on March 2017.

Started using it in August, it has been three months of usage already. Initially I only used it at night and only 2 drops of serum because I wanted to test whether it would irritate my skin. It contains 5% of Vitamin C and is gentle enough for sensitive skin. I did not see any adverse reaction so I started to use it in the morning too but I always made sure to use an SPF product afterwards. It is important to use a sunscreen after using Vitamin C serum, as the latter will make our skin more sensitive to the sun. Since I had no bad reaction after using the serum twice a day, I decided to increase to 4 drops during each use. Despite the increase in product usage, it did not break me out.

A slight warm sensation can be felt when I pat the product onto my face but it is actually normal because that means pure Vitamin C is being absorbed into my skin. It does feel slightly sticky, but once you apply it onto your face, the tackiness will go away. I apply it after my toner, essence, eye cream and before my moisturizer/facial oil.

Klairs Vitamin C Serum is the best Vitamin C serum that I have used so far! It made my face more radiant, and helped to fade my acne scars rapidly. Acne scar is a big problem I always deal with. All my acne, even if I did not pop it, will always gift me a scar at the end. I feel like this is the more affordable version of the Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution which I loved and went through two bottles. The Kiehl's retails at USD50 (S$68) for 30ml while Klairs Vitamin C Serum retails at USD23 (S$32) for 35ml. Klairs is half the price of Kiehl's Serum. Even though the packaging of both products looks similar, in that it comes in clear packaging and has dropper applicator. Another difference is that Klairs Vitamin C Serum comes in a plastic packaging which makes it convenient to travel with, while Kiehl's Solution came in a glass packaging.

Highly recommend to all acne prone people who always have acne scars! One bottle of Klairs Serum can lasts at least six months. For those with very sensitive skin, I would suggest you to use only 2 drops and mix it with your moisturizer. For those new to Vitmain C product, I would suggest you to start conservatively, starting with 2 drops first and only increasing the number of droplets if the product does not irritate your skin. For all skin types, I would not go over 5 drops though.

REVIEW: Caudalie Instant Detox Mask

Travel-sized Caudalie Instant Detox Mask

~AG~

Saw a travel-sized version of Caudalie Instant Detox Mask while I was in Europe, and decided to try it. Caudalie is a well-known French skincare brand, which uses grape-seed polyphenols. MG has tried some of their products, while I have not tried any. Often, after traveling overseas, my skin will feel congested and in need of deep cleansing. My wish was for Caudalie Instant Detox Mask to help purify the impurities on the skin.

According to Caudalie, Instant Detox Mask helps bring stressed, city-dwelling skin back to life. It contains 99.3% natural clay formula that removes skin impurities. The pink clay eliminates toxins and even out complexion This mask also helps to refine and tighten pores.

The pink clay is gentle on my skin. Some clay mask such as Boscia Luminizing Black Mask stings my skin. Caudalie Instant Detox works well for my sensitive skin. You can use this Detox Mask twice a week. After facial cleansing, I apply a thin area to my skin and leave it on for 10 minutes.
Then I wash it off with lukewarm water and continue the rest of my skincare regimen - Toner, Blemish Formula, Max C and Laneige Water Bank Essence.

Been trying to use this Detox Mask at least once a week for the last month. So do I notice any significant difference after using this Caudalie Instant Detox Mask? This Detox Mask does help to clear the blackheads and whiteheads on my nose. However the effect is minimal when I use it alone. I usually use Avène Purifying Scrub before applying the Detox Mask.The dual effect of the scrub and clay mask helps to noticeably eliminate the unsightly whiteheads and blackheads.

NEW BUY: Darphin Hydraskin Light Gel Cream & Aromatic Purifying Balm

~AG~

So while in Paris, I decided to check out their pharmacy for some French skincare products. While browsing through the pharmacy, I asked the pharmacist to recommend some products. She recommended this Darphin Hydraskin Light Gel Cream and Aromatic Purifying Balm for my skin needs. I have seen Darphin products being sold in Bloomingdales but do not know much about the brand.

Darphin Hydraskin Light Gel Cream comes with 50 ml of product. This lightweight gel cream has a nice texture. The texture reminds me of Laneige Water Bank Gel Cream. When I was testing it on the back of my hand, the gel cream soothe and hydrate my skin instantly. Darphin Hydraskin Light Gel Cream contains: HYDRA-STRUCTURE™ Technology,a high-performance hydrating complex of powerful ingredients from Nature (Salicornia Herbacea,Butterfly Lavender) to help wake up skin's moisture mechanisms and defend skin's critical moisture reservoir. Cannot wait to try this product after I am done with Laneige Water Bank Gel Cream.

The Darphin Aromatic Purifying Balm comes with 12ml of product. It costs Euro 56 which is equivalent to S$90. Didn't realized it was that expensive! This Darphin Purifying Balm contains 12 Essential Oils from medicinal plants, spices and flowers to target skin imperfections. It contains: 1) apricot kernel oil, 2) sunflower seed oil, 3) rosewood oil, 4) grapefruit peel oil, 5) thyme oil, 6) lavender oil, 7) cinnamon bark oil, 8) germanium flower oil, 9) sage oil and a few more essential oils. This Balm clarifies pores and helps reduce imperfections. The pharmacist mentioned that Darphin Purifying Balm will help reduce the blemishes on my T-zones. She recommended that I use it twice a week, at the most. You are supposed to leave the Purifying Balm overnight to work on the skin. This is a unique product which I have not seen elsewhere on the market - a mix of essential oils that target skin blemishes. Will try it out soon as I have a few blemishes on my chin and nose area right now. 

Stay tuned for my reviews of these Darphin products! Excited to try these French beauty products!

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. 

REVIEW: Skin Inc. My Daily Dose Custom-Blended Serum

My limited edition Daily Dose in Serenity packaging 

~AG~

This custom-blended serum from Skin Inc. has been part of my skincare regimen for about two weeks now. My Daily Dose contains three different types of serum:

1. Vitamin A Serum for uneven skin tone and dark circles. This serum combats skin dullness and sign of tiredness around the eyes. It comes with a patented pink seaweed capsules.Pink seaweed capsules
2. Licorice Serum to calm sensitive and irritated skin and pimples. Licorice Serum contains Green Tea Extracts that calm the skin and has antioxidant properties. It comes with patented purple seaweed capsule. Purple seaweed capsules
3. Ceramide Serum solves roughness, dry and skin sensitivity. Ceramide Serum features four different types of Ceramides that strengthen the skin barrier and soothe dehydrated and sensitized skin. It comes with patented turquoise seaweed capsule. Green seaweed capsules

I was most excited to use this serum because it could solve all skincare woes. My skin is prone to pimples especially around the T-zone areas. Also, my severe dark circles have been a constant concern. On top of that, my skin is ultra sensitive and tend to react negatively to certain skin care products. According to the saleslady, the serums from Skin Inc. are water-based, and thus it is safe to use for my under eye areas.  The pure active ingredient is contained in the different colored seaweed capsules. 

So what are my thoughts on this S$169 customized serum?
From my experience, there should be more capsules included in the serum. If you look at the serum, you would think that there is plenty of capsules. However, when you use the dropper, there are times when there are no capsules in each drop. You are supposed to use 3 drops of the serum for your entire face. Often times, one out of the three drops does not contain any capsules. Then, I would have to add in another drop - using more serum that recommended. Since the capsules are the ones containing the active ingredients target skin issues. 

I would not repurchase this Skin Inc. My Daily Dose Custom-Blended Serum because different skin areas have different issues. For example, Vitamin A serum was supposed to be for dark circles but it ended up . However, because the seaweed capsules have been mixed, I cannot target the pink seaweed capsules solely for my under eyes area. The same can be said for the Licorice serum which was supposed to be only for my acne-prone areas such as forehead, nose and chin. 

REVIEW: Avène Cleanance HYDRA Soothing Cream

~AG~

One of my favourite thing to do while travelling abroad is browse through the local drugstore (pharmacies) aisles. During my recent trip to Italy, I dropped by a "Farmacia" to look at their offering of skincare products. Avène is my recent go-to brand. This French brand works well for ultra sensitive skin. Avène Cleanance product line is targeted  for acne-prone skin.

This Avène Clearance HYDRA Soothing Cream costs €14.90 (S$23). It comes with 40 ml of product, and should be discarded after six months of use. The product description were all in Italian so I had to google about this Avène Soothing Cream while in-store. According to Avène website, this product offsets the drying and irritating effects of medicinal acne treatments. My skin has been on the dry side recently. During my hair and makeup trial for my nuptial, the makeup artist commented that my skin was dry and that I needed to take good care of it. Dry skin causes the foundation to cake up. Not a good sight! My skin was especially dry around my nose area where I had applied topical acne treatment.

This Avène HYDRA Soothing Cream contains moisturizing ingredients such as coconut, shea butter and jojoba oil. In addition to my dry skin condition, the cold and windy climate of Italy left my skin feeling tight with dry patches. My usually combination skin type felt uncomfortable. Without any hesitation, Avène Soothing Cream was added to my shopping cart because it is designed for acne-prone skin. There was no worries of breakouts or adverse reactions to this product.  

To test the efficacy of this Avène Soothing Cream, I opted not to use my regular moisturizer and solely used this product for hydration purposes. The texture of Avène Soothing Cream was not thick nor was it creamy. It has somewhat of a gel texture. Though, it is not as lightweight as Crème Simon Moisturizer. It felt more hydrating than my HG Laneige Water Bank Essence. My skin did not feel sticky after application and the product was absorbed well into the skin. 

The next morning, my skin was well hydrated and did not feel dry at all! Avène Soothing Cream really helped to combat my dry, flaky skin. This Avène Soothing Cream is especially suitable for those with very dry skin or during the Winter months. I am glad I found a hydrating cream that is not too heavy for my acne-prone skin. My ultra sensitive skin did not any adverse reaction to this product as well. In Singapore's humid weather, this Avène Soothing Cream works better as a targeted treatment instead of being part of a daily skincare regimen. Will highly recommend Avène Soothing Cream for those that travel frequently, especially to countries with drier climate.

REVIEW: Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel

200 ml of cleansing gel that can lasts me for 6 months

 ~AG~
NEW BUY: Avene Cleanance Cleansing Gel

It has been four months since I started using Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel, and I am more than halfway through. 

So what can I say about this Cleansing Gel for acne-prone skin?
Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel comes in a twist top packaging. The mouth of the twist cap is small so that there will be less chances of over-pouring of the cleansing gel. This cleanser is gentle for my skin. My ultra sensitive skin did not have any adverse reaction to this Cleansing Gel. This cleanser, designed for oily skin type, did not over-dry my skin as well. No skin tightness after facial cleansing. *thumbs up* This Avène foaming cleanser has a fresh oceanic scent that I enjoy. This cleanser claims to have mattifying properties that is supposed to regulate the overproduction of sebum. However, I did not particularly notice its mattifying effects. Overall, it has good cleansing properties.

In conclusion, Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel is a good cleanser for oily and acne-prone skin. For 200ml worth of cleanser, it should lasts me for at least six months. Thus, making its price tag of S$29.90 worth it! Will definitely recommend this Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel for those with oily or combination skin type. This is one facial cleanser that I will re-purchase without hesitation.

NEW BUY: Skin Inc. My Daily Dose Custom-Blended Serum

My Daily Dose in Serenity- Pantone 2016 (Limited Edition)

 ~AG~

This custom-blended serum from Skin Inc. has always been on my wishlist. I <3 the idea of creating your own serum to meet your skin needs. Skin Inc. has this My Daily Dose Custom-Blended Serum. You get to select three different nourishing serums and have it concocted especially for you. Plus, you get to chose the color of the packaging. The packaging comes in 7 bright colors. Happened to pass by their retail store at Ion Orchard and decided to check them out. The helpful saleslady asked me to fill out a skin check questionnaire so that suitable serums can be selected for my skin type and lifestyle. Skin Inc. has 10 types of serum to combat different skin issues! Check their website for the full selection of Skin Inc. Nourishing Serums

The results of my questionnaire are:
-- Vitamin A Serum for uneven skin tone and dark circles. This serum combats skin dullness and sign of tiredness around the eyes. It comes with a patented pink seaweed capsules.
-- Licorice Serum to calm sensitive and irritated skin and pimples. Licorice Serum contains Green Tea Extracts that calm the skin and has antioxidant properties. It comes with patented purple seaweed capsules
-- Ceramide Serum solves roughness, dry and skin sensitivity. Ceramide Serum features four different types of Ceramides that strengthen the skin barrier and soothe dehydrated and sensitized skin. It comes with patented turquoise seaweed capsules.

My Daily Dose Serum costs S$169 for 30 ml of serum. According to the saleslady, 30 ml of serum should lasts for at least two months with daily use. You use about 2-3 drops of the serum each time.   Since it is a water-based serum, you can apply the serum to your undereyes area as well. Cannot wait to try it out! Hope it works to combat my pimples and dark circles. Stay tuned for my review!

REVIEW: Crème Simon Oxygenating Light Day Moisturizer

~AG~

Having been a Crème Simon convert recently. Their award-winning day moisturizer has been on my wishlist. It was awarded Cleo Beauty Hall of Fame Winner 2015. Crème Simon Oxygenating Light Day Moisturizer usually retails for S$95. Expensive for just 50ml of moisturizer. But fortunately, I bought it when there was a pop-up sale. The discounted price was about S$60++. Even with the discounted price, it is more costly than my all-time favorite Laneige Water Bank Essence.

100% found skin is soft and supple
91% found it absorbs easily with no sticky after-feel
86% found skin is brighter after 1st use
82% found skin brighter, fairer and more radiant - See more at: https://www.creme-simon.com/collections/oxygenating-light-day-moisturiser_7/#sthash.etv8dHBx.dpuf

100% found skin is soft and supple
91% found it absorbs easily with no sticky after-feel
86% found skin is brighter after 1st use
82% found skin brighter, fairer and more radiant - See more at: https://www.creme-simon.com/collections/oxygenating-light-day-moisturiser_7/#sthash.etv8dHBx.dpuf

Crème Simon claims in a study of 22 Asian female individuals that:
1) 100% found skin is soft and supple
2)  91% found it absorbs easily with no sticky after-feel
3) 86% found skin is brighter after 1st use
4) 82% found skin brighter, fairer and more radiant

After using this moisturizer for about a month, what can I say about this Crème Simon Oxygenating Light Day Moisturizer?
Crème Simon Oxygenating Light Day Moisturizer comes in a pump packaging. It is absorbed quickly into the skin and does not leave a heavy or sticky feeling. It has a lightweight gel-cream texture that will work great for those with oily skin type. It is also non-comedogenic, and suitable for acne prone skin. No silicones, parabens, alcohol, oil and colorings. My ultra sensitive skin did not have any adverse reaction to this moisturizer. Though, I could not notice any brightening effects of this moisturizer. More over, I cannot agree with the study results that women found their skin was brighter, fairer and more radiant.

I would not repurchase it, as it is a VERY pricey moisturizer. I feel that my HG Laneige Water Bank Essence works just as well, and it is about half the retail price of Crème Simon Oxygenating Light Day Moisturizer.

100% found skin is soft and supple
91% found it absorbs easily with no sticky after-feel
86% found skin is brighter after 1st use
82% found skin brighter, fairer and more radiant - See more at: https://www.creme-simon.com/collections/oxygenating-light-day-moisturiser_7/#sthash.etv8dHBx.dpuf

100% found skin is soft and supple
91% found it absorbs easily with no sticky after-feel
86% found skin is brighter after 1st use
82% found skin brighter, fairer and more radiant - See more at: https://www.creme-simon.com/collections/oxygenating-light-day-moisturiser_7/#sthash.etv8dHBx.dpuf

REVIEW: Crème Simon UV Protector

~AG~

I just have to rave about this Crème Simon Daily Defense UV Protector SPF 50! This surprisinlgy lightweight sunscreen works great for my ultra sensitive combination skin. I am very picky when selecting a face sunscreen. A sunscreen should not be: 1) leave a white cast, 2) does not cause my skin to breakout and 3) not oily or sticky. My previous unpleasant experience with Derma RX Tinted Sunscreen left me wary of "greasy-looking" sunscreen. This Crème Simon UV Protector is definitely pricey @ S$68 for 30 ml of product. The saleslady claimed that this Crème Simon UV Protector will lasts at least 3 months. I question the legitimacy of that claim; she said that you only need a small amount for the whole face. 

So what do I LIKE about this Crème Simon UV Protector?
Firstly, it is non-sticky and does not feel oily at all. The texture is very lightweight, unlike the usual sticky sunscreen. The texture is similar to that of Crème Simon Universelle or a water-based moisturizer. Thus, this non-comodegenic sunscreen is especially suitable for Singapore's humid climate. I was very pleased with the texture as it absorbs easily into the skin. This sunscreen did not have a chemical scent, but rather, it has a light herbal scent. Finally, it does not leave the dreaded white cast. All the qualities of a great sunscreen!

Crème Simon UV Protector provides both UVA and UVB protection. It has chemical and mineral filters, and thus provide instant UV protection. The saleslady said you do not have to apply 15-30 minutes before going out in the sun. It provides immediate sun protection. This is a PLUS!

Works very well for my sensitive combination skin. Crème Simon Daily Defense UV Protector did not cause my ultra sensitive skin to breakout. There was no bumps or other adverse reaction to Crème Simon UV Protector. Will DEFINITELY repurchase this sunscreen. Highly highly recommend Crème Simon UV Protector to anyone! It is not the most affordable sunscreen on the market, but the $ paid is worth it. Not forgetting to mention that Crème Simon products are paraben-, mineral oil- and phenoxyethanol-free. Feel free to click on my link to purchase Crème Simon products online Creme Simon Online Store

NEW BUY: Introducing Crème Simon Skincare

Top: Crème Simon Gentle Double Exfoliation Scrub

Bottom: Crème Simon Crème Universelle sandwiched between Crème Simon Daily Defense UV Protector SPF 50 

~AG~
The Crème Simon brand has recently been popular with Singapore bloggers. I wondered what the fuss was all about. Chanced upon the Crème Simon counter at Robinsons Raffles City today, and decided to check out the texture of the products. This French brand's products are free of paraben, silicone, oil, alcohol, coloring and phenoxyethanol. That sounded promising for someone who has sensitive skin.

Love the very chic packaging design. Comes with 30 ml of product

The first product that I tried was the Crème Simon Crème Universelle which is an Oil-Free Brightening Moisturizer. This multi-purpose Crème Simon Universelle Oil-Free Brightening Moisturizer (S$68) contains Shea Butter, Aloe Vera, Sodium Hyaluronate and Original Crème Simon formula. This product will be especially handy for ladies who travel frequently. The scent of this Crème Universelle is very light, unlike the strong scent of Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream. In addition, the texture of Crème Universelle is non-sticky and rather lightweight. This is one of Crème Simon's best-selling products. 

30 ml 

The second product I tried was Crème Simon Daily Defense UV Protector SPF 50 (S$68). Finding a good facial sunscreen is very very difficult for me. There are so many facial sunscreens on the market, but not all work for my sensitive and acne prone skin. I am extremely careful with my sunscreen choice. Firstly, this Crème Simon Daily UV Protector has an SPF of 50. *clap clap* Secondly, the texture of this Daily UV Protector is GREAT! It does not feel oily or sticky, plus it does not leave a white cast. The Daily UV Protector absorbs quickly into the skin and does not leave a residue. When I commented that $68 is expensive for only 30 ml of product. The saleslady said that this 30ml Daily UV Protector can lasts for 4-5 months, because you only need a pea-size amount for your whole face. She also claimed that this sunscreen works instantly because it combines chemical and physical UV blockers, unlike other sunscreen where you have to wait 15-30 minutes before going out in the sun. That is a major plus! 

 75 ml

The third product I chose was Crème Simon Gentle Double Exfoliation Scrub (S$68). The saleslady mentioned that she used this Gentle Double Exfoliation Scrub everyday, but she recommended that I only use it once a week. Since weekly exfoliation is a must for my acne-prone skin, I decided to add this product to my basket. This Crème Simon Gentle Double Exfoliation Scrub basically came free because Crème Simon @ Robinsons Raffles City was having an offer. The promotion was: Buy 3 products worth $68 each, and get 1 product (worth $68) FREE. So you basically pay $204 for $272 worth of products! I think I scored a GOOD deal :D 

Not only that, but because my purchases were over $200, I received a UV Umbrella and a travel-sized kit pictured below (30 ml Micellar Water Makeup Remover, 30ml Restorative Light Night Moisturizer and 30 ml Gentle Double Exfoliation Scrub). I Love love love freebies! 

Free travel-sized kit: Micellar Water Makeup Remover, Gentle Double Exfoliation Scrub and Restorative Light Night Moisturizer

I CANNOT wait to try all these Crème Simon products especially the Daily Defense UV Protector!! I hope it works for my ultra sensitive, acne-prone skin. *cross my fingers*

Based on the original Crème Simon iconic healing cream founded in 1860, this well-loved iconic remedy soothes dry skin and restores long-lasting moisturisation to face, body, hands and feet for over 8 hours.
The well-loved French remedy is popularized for its ability to:

• Plump up visible fine lines around the eyes*
• Soften and relieve chapped lips instantly
• Soothe redness and common skin irritations
• Heal acute dryness and sunburnt skin
• Regenerate dry elbows and cracked heels
• Moisturize dry cuticles

- See more at: https://www.creme-simon.com/collections/creme-universelle_1/#sthash.dQb024fo.dpuf

Based on the original Crème Simon iconic healing cream founded in 1860, this well-loved iconic remedy soothes dry skin and restores long-lasting moisturisation to face, body, hands and feet for over 8 hours.
The well-loved French remedy is popularized for its ability to:

• Plump up visible fine lines around the eyes*
• Soften and relieve chapped lips instantly
• Soothe redness and common skin irritations
• Heal acute dryness and sunburnt skin
• Regenerate dry elbows and cracked heels
• Moisturize dry cuticles

- See more at: https://www.creme-simon.com/collections/creme-universelle_1/#sthash.dQb024fo.dpuf

Crème Simon Signature 100% Natural Active Plant Extracts with Scientific Proven Benefits to Skin Cell Structure: - See more at: https://www.creme-simon.com/benefits/#sthash.nBicu2ar.dpuf

Crème Simon Signature 100% Natural Active Plant Extracts with Scientific Proven Benefits to Skin Cell Structure: - See more at: https://www.creme-simon.com/benefits/#sthash.nBicu2ar.dpu

C

NEW BUY: Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel & Thermal Spring Water Spray

200ml of Cleansing Gel and 50 ml of the Thermal Spring Water Spray

~AG~

Bought this set today at Guardian for $29.90. Such as good for value purchase. The retail price for the Cleansing Gel alone is $30. So the travel version of Avène Thermal Spring Water is basically free :) This Avène Cleansing Gel has been on the market for years. I remember seeing it ever since I was in Secondary School which was decades ago. 

Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel is suitable for sensitive oily, blemish-prone skin type. 

Its benefits are:
1) Cleansing:  It gently cleanses your skin with its gentle cleansing base
2) Mattifying: Monolaurin (patent pending) regulates the hyperproduction of sebum.
3) Soothing: Avène Thermal Spring Water provides soothing and anti-irritating benefits.
It leaves the skin clean, clear and refreshed

Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray is an award-winning product. Avene's star product works especially well for sensitive, hypersensitive and irritate skin. Avène Spring Water soothes and softens the skin. My friends who are plagued by rosacea or redness, swears by this Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray. However, unlike MG who is a devoted fan of facial mist, I am not big on this skincare product. From my past experience, facial mist does not have any noticeable effects on my skin. I will probably pass this Thermal Spring Water Spray to MG instead. 

Please stay tuned for my review of Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel. I hope it works for my sensitive combination skin. *fingers crossed*

NEW BUY: Tarte To Go Travel Size Maracuja Oil

Tarte to go travel size maracuja oil

~AG~

My skin has been severely dry due to travel to a dry & cold climate. My combination skin became flakey, especially around the nose and cheeks area. Borrowed MG's Tarte Maracuja Oil and was amazed by it. It works very well to hydrate my skin. Plus, my sensitive skin did not have any adverse reaction to it. No new breakouts or bumps on my face *thumbs up* 

Decided to buy my own bottle of Tarte Maracuja Oil from Sephora Singapore. The mini version comes with 15 ml of product and was S$20.  

Not all oil is created equal. This earth-prescribed treatment oil targets your individual skin concerns and delivers harmony and moisture for firmer, brighter, smoother-looking skin. 

In a 6 week consumer use study:

96% of women saw an overall visible improvement in skin

91% of women saw a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles

94% of women saw a visible improvement in skin texture

94% of women thought skin appeared renewed and rejuvenated.

Formulated without parabens, formulated without mineral oil, formulated without  phthalates, formulated without sodium lauryl sulfates, formulated without gluten

So far, I am loving this face oil, please stay tuned for my in-depth review of this Tarte Maracuja Oil.