NEW: Yves Saint Laurent Baby Doll Kiss & Blush Lips & Cheeks

~AG~

I saw this newest YSL product at their store at Wisma Atria, Singapore. A cheek & lip tint with a lipgloss applicator. Its tiny size fits in the palm of my hands. Available in 12 shades, in a wide range of pinks, corals and reds.  It retails for USD $40 (~SGD $50). I absolutely love the packaging. It looks elegant and very feminine. A great product to have in your travel makeup case since it works as a cheek and lip stain. 

An air-whipped, two-in-one mousse formula for lips and cheeks. 
Highlight lips and cheeks with ultrablendable color and an edgy baby doll attitude. Yves Saint Laurent’s whipped mousse highlights lips and cheeks with a sensual, soft matte finish.

NEW: Benefit Cosmetics Tinted Lip Balm

~AG~

Benefit cosmetics newest tinted lip balm conditions and hydrates with mango butter and sodium hyaluronate. It comes in 4 of Benefit Cosmetics' famous tinted lip & cheek stain colors - the benetint, lollitint, cha cha tint, posie tint. So if you are a fan of their tinted stains, their lip balms are a must-try. This sheer lip balm has buildable color for the prettiest lips. Retails fo USD $18.

I cannot wait to get my hands on one of Benefit Cosmetics tinted lip balm. The color I am leaning towards is the cha cha balm & posie balm. I will let you all know when I do try it out.

innisfree apple juicy lip & eye remover

~AG~

Enriched with apple extract, this line offers softness and healthy radiance to your skin like a freshly washed apple. This lip & eye remover rapidly and effectively removes long-wearing point makeup.

Amount: 100 ml 

Directions: Shake well to activate the formula and pour adequate amount onto cotton pad and then place over eye or lip area to dissolve and remove makeup. 

During my trip to Korea, I bought this eye makeup remover. I have seen several Youtube gurus mention this makeup remover. This has a dual-phase consistency. The top is an oil-based solution and the bottom is an aqueous solution. You have to shake it well before using it like Maybelline, L'oreal and Lancome waterproof makeup remover. It so happens that innisfree was having a promotion. 1-for-1 for this apple juicy lip & eye remover when I was there. I cannot remember exactly the price but I am pretty sure it was less than USD $10 per bottle. I cannot wait to try it out after my Lancome makeup remover is done. I will let you readers know how it is. 

Dermatologist Journey Part V

~AG~

Skin care regimen since 12 April 2014.

MORNING:

Vitamin C Essence ( I asked Dr. Joyce Lim about the difference between Vitamin C Serum and Vitamin C Essence. She mentioned that Vitamin C Essence has more moisturising properties. She added that initially, the Vitamin C Serum is needed to "emerge" the pimples and that not much moisturising properties are needed )
Antioxidant Moisturizing Lotion
Pigment Fader
Erythromycin gel

NIGHT:

Vitamin C Essence
Pigment Fader
Retinol + Recovery Cream (1:1)
Erythromycin gel

I mentioned to Dr. Joyce Lim that my skin will get irritated whenever I use retinol. I had stopped using it for two weeks because the cheeks area had become red and had bumps. I asked her whether the bumps were adverse reaction or pimples. She told me that they were pimples, and for me to use the antibiotic acne treatment on them. I told her that the previous antibiotic, Dalacin, did not really work for the pimples on my cheeks area. She told me that over time, the skin can become resistant to one antibiotic. So, she suggested I switch to another antibiotic, Erythromycin gel.  

Dr. Joyce Lim recommend that I alternate the use of retinol at night. She said that in order for retinol to "control" my skin I would have to use it regularly. But I find that even when I use it every other day, my skin will go haywire. For example, I will use Retinol on Sunday night. My skin will be okay on Monday. But then on Tuesday there will be bumps on my cheeks area. When this happens, I stop using the retinol and just apply Desonide Cream for the adverse reaction. I have tried doing this several times. But without fail, tiny bumps will appear on my face two days after I use the retinol. 

My conclusion is that I will stop seeing Dr. Joyce Lim. It has been over 6 months. I have tried a few combination of her products and yet my skin is not getting better. Moreover, my skin seems to be worst especially my cheeks area that tend to get red and have tiny bumps. 

I do have to add that Dr. Joyce Lim do work on some people. My cousin who has troubled skin has had good results with her products and swear by it. But for me, the products did not work. Do note, that I did "allow" her to change up the products to accommodate my skin on the second and third visits, but it still did not yield the result that I had hoped for. To me, spending that much money should result in clear and flawless skin, or at least achieve the same result as when my skin was at its best. 

REVIEW: Nature Republic Aloe Vera Soothing Gel

~AG~

I bought this Nature Republic Aloe Vera Soothing Gel in Korea recently. I cannot remember how much I bought it for but I am pretty sure it costs less than US$10. I decided to buy it because I read online reviews on how versatile this product is. Plus, aloe vera is always good for sensitive skin like mine. I stored mine in the fridge so that it is nice and cool for application. Cold aloe vera feels extra refreshing on dry skin. 

Enriched with 92% aloe vera. Mild formula free from paraben, mineral and artificial colors. THis soothing gel with 92% organic aloe vera certified by California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) can be used to mildly moisturize various parts of the body such as the face, arms, legs and hair. 

Last weekend, I spent a little too much time under the angry sun and as a result, my skin became sunburnt. It was red and itchy. It was a good opportunity to try out this newly purchased Aloe Vera Soothing Gel. What I can say about it is that it is non-sticky and is quickly absorbed into the skin. It has a refreshing scent - a mix of aloe vera and "ocean scent". The gel feels especially soothing on application. After three days of application (twice a day), I did not have to use the aloe vera gel on my sunburnt skin anymore. My skin did not peel at all, and I believe it is because of the healing properties of the aloe vera. I feel that it works better than Banana Boat Aloe Gel for After Sun Care.

I have yet to use it on other parts of my body. But I will do an updated review when I do try it out on my face.