Lisa Eldridge Classic Smokey Eye Tutorial

KOSE Sun Protect Essence Gel

~AG~

I saw this Kose Sun Protect Essence Gel in a magazine recently. A sunscreen in a gel formula sounds very attractive for me. I been on a search for a lightweight oil-free sunscreen that will not clog my pores in this hot and humid weather. When I tested this product at the Kose counter, it felt cooling and hydrating. And it did not leave any white or oily residue. Once my dermatologist gives me the okay to use sunscreen again, I will definitely try it out.

New lightweight water-based sunscreen perfect for daily use.

This lightweight sunscreen glides over the skin without becoming sticky, giving a moisturizing and comfortable finish. Provides lasting hydration care. High UV blocking power reduces ph. SPF 50+/PA++++ thoroughly blocks UV-A which causes photo aging, and UV-B which causes sunburn. With a gel formula, it hydrates and locks moisture inside skin for long hours. The smooth texture blends easily into the skin without white residue. It is suitable to use as a makeup base, enhances application and lasting effect on foundation. Can be used for face and body. Easily removed with regular facial wash or body soap

Key Ingredients:

• Oriental plant extracts (Coix seed extract, Angelica extract, Melothria extract, Peach leaf extract) - for hydration
• Oriental minerals - to protect bare skin
• Glycerin - for hydration

Dermatologist Journey Part IV

~AG~
I stopped using Retinol for over two weeks because my skin was flaking very badly, especially around the chin and mouth area. It was pretty severe and it made me self-conscious. So for about a week, all I used was the desonide cream and the repair cream. After the dry patches were gone, I decided not to go back to using the retinol because I was going on a beach vacation. Since retinol makes my skin very susceptible to sun and the heat. 

I noticed there are tiny red bumps on my cheeks whenever I wake up in the morning. I'm not sure what is the cause of it. But I believe those small bumps are more an adverse reaction than pimples. It is usually minimised after an application of the desonide cream. But it is irritating to find those obvious spots on my cheeks. Some days I find that it is really bad, and makes my skin uneven. I will bring it up to Dr. Joyce for my follow up appointment.

The pigment fader which was a new product on my regimen was for my acne scars. When I first started using it, I did not notice any difference. But now, after about a month, it does help with my brown acne spots. But the effect is not very obvious. 

The repair cream I find can be too rich sometimes. So instead of mixing two parts of it to one part of retinol, I mix one part retinol and one part repair cream. I also avoid my cheeks area when applying the repair cream. 

It's been two months since I started using Dr. Joyce products and followed her regimen. The result is somehow not what I had hoped. I have seen my skin at its better condition. Yes, my whiteheads acne have been reduced in size and severity. But my troubled cheek area is still as sensitive and has constant red bumps. 

NEW BUY: Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation

HEALTHY MIX SERUM FOUNDATION

16 HOUR RADIANCE BOOSTER*
EVEN & REVIVED COMPLEXION

Give your skin a radiance boost with Bourjois’ Healthy Mix Serum Gel foundation – made from a vitamin-rich fruit therapy formula for an even complexion and an instant anti-fatigue result!

Its fresh and instant blending gel texture blends and glides onto the skin for an even, natural finish with no mask effect. Imperfections are erased, signs of fatigue are smoothed and the skin’s radiance is boosted for up to 16 hours*.

Made from an instant anti-fatigue vitamin-rich fruit therapy formula with litchi, goji berries and pomegranates.

Available in 6 radiance-boosting shades.

Tested for you:

69% more radiance after 4 weeks of use!**

And…it’s good for my skin!

· Hypoallergenic, lets skin breathe

· Dermatologically tested

Tested for you** :

• Complexion is perfectly even => 97% agreed

• Skin looks rested => 94% agreed

• The complexion is radiant => 89% agreed

• The product feels light feel on the skin => 91% agreed

~AG~

While walking by the mall last weekend, I saw that Bourjois was having 20% at my local department store. I walked past the place twice then finally decided to stop and take a look at their selections. Since I had a wedding that weekend and did not have much complexion makeup products apart from Missha BB cream and some concealers. I have been having some redness on my cheeks due to the Retin-A cream. So, I wanted a foundation to lessen the Retin-A glow. I've heard about Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation before and have always wanted to try it. However, as it is usually sold at drugstore, it is rather difficult to find a good match for my skin tone. I tried the Healthy Mix Foundation first but the saleslady told me that the Healthy Mix Serum Foundation has less coverage, which to me meant being more lightweight on the skin. I decided to go ahead and tried the Healthy Mix Serum Foundation instead of the Healthy Mix Foundation. I asked her what shade I was and she selected 51 (Vanille Clair), which was the lightest shade on display. I tried the shade on my back of my hand, and it was okay. But I have never been of the lightest shade, so I told her that I rather go with the next darker shade which was 52 (Vanille). I was a little hesitant to buy ut at first because it was not a proper makeup counter where I could try the foundation on my face. It was one of those pop-up sale stand. Anyway, I decided to go ahead and try it. The foundation costs me S$27 (US$21), I don't know how much it usually retails for. 

I was worried that the foundation will be too light or too dark on my skin. And whether it would accentuate my dry patches - because I had some flakiness around my chin area.

When I tested the shade, I did not use a foundation brush or makeup sponge, I simply used my fingers to blend the foundation onto my skin. Surprisingly, the foundation blended very easily into my skin, like a tinted moisturiser/BB cream texture. It was very light-weight, and I did not feel anything on my skin. Plus, the shade matched perfectly to my skin. I was very happy with it!

Fast forward to the wedding. My friend, who has a very good complexion, asked me what foundation I was using. She said my foundation coverage looked good. That made me like the product even more.

I will have to use the product a couple more times to give an in-depth review. But so far, I am loving it!

REVIEW: Shu Uemura Face Powder Colorless

~AG~

It is a review of the Shu Uemura Face Powder that I bought a few months ago. I bought the colorless one to use as a loose powder to set my makeup. The powder also comes in 4 other shades (7yr light, 7yr medium light, 5yr medium light and 5yr light.

The packaging is quite bulky and not convenient for traveling. It comes with a filter cover and a powder puff.

I started using the powder about two months ago. After applying concealer to my under eye areas and blemishes, I use the powder puff that comes with it to apply powder all over the face. I concentrate mostly on my T-zones where I am most oil-prone.

I will have to say that this powder gives a nice matte finish without looking too cakey. My skin looks more polished after application. Even though it is colorless, it does have some coverage. It makes my skin looks more even. The powder helps keep my concealer lasts longer. My under eye concealer can stay on for about 4-5 hours without melting off in this humid weather.

 (A picture of myself with Shu Uemura Face Powder on)

This powder did not cause my skin to have any adverse reaction.

It retails for US$39. For the quantity and quality given, I think it is worth the price. 

They longer have Shu Uemura cosmetic stores in the States so you can only buy it at their Shu Uemura USA website.
In Singapore, you can find it at Takshimaya,Tangs, Robinsons department store. Shu Uemura have their own stores islandwide. 

I will definitely repurchase this product.

REVIEW: innisfree green tea mineral mist

Enriched with Green Tea and Green complex from pure Jeju Island, Green Tea Pure revives dry, stressed skin by supplying abundant moisture. This ethanol-free facial mist instantly replenishes moisture to your thirsty skin. 

According to Innisfree Singapore Facebook page, the active ingridentis in green tea that hydrate are 30 times more concentrated in this product. They claim with a combination of Theanine, EGCG and Vitamin C, this mist leaves skin supple and healthy.

~AG~

Innisfree opened a store in Singapore recently. I think they opened in November or December 2013. I went to the store (located at Takashimaya B2) once with my younger sister, MG. But did not buy anything except a nail polish. 

Recently because of the dermatologist acne regimen and the unusually hot weather, my skin has been flaky and parched. I decided to buy a mist to cool and moisturise my skin instantly. When I asked my sister, she highly recommended this Green Tea Mineral Mist. She said that it does not spray too much as the nozzle head is smaller. She likes it so much that she told me to buy it instead of Evian or Avene mineral spray. 

I bought the 50ml version for convenience of travelling. It retails for S$8, which I find affordable for a Korean skin care product. 

So far, I've only used it twice but I have something to say about it. There is some issue with the spray nozzle. I find that the nozzle does not aim directly to the target, in this case, my face. Whenever I spray the mist, I find that it misses my face and instead is spraying other areas. Today when I tried it at the office, I sprayed it directly onto my face but the mist were sprayed above instead. So I had to "duck" down and try to catch those falling mist. I also find that the mist does not travel as far as Avene or Evian spray, so I have to spray closer to the face (less than 10cm). 

Apart from that, it has a sweet refreshing scent and feels cool upon application. My skin does feel hydrated after use. I find it a handy product to use at the end of the day to refresh you skin especially when you have been in an air-conditioned environment the whole day.

REVIEW: Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Sheer Illuminating Fluid

~AG~

Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Sheer Illuminating Fluid (USD$48) comes in only one shade  Sunkissed. The shade is a warm golden bronze. I bought it at a Chanel's beauty event at Macy's on September 2012. 

Yes, it has been a while since I've had this product. I used it quite frequently when I first bought it. But ever since I moved to Singapore in November 2012, I did not touch the product. That being because Singapore has a humid climate and I was afraid that this illuminating fluid will make my skin too shiny. Plus, my skin became ultra sensitive ever since I came back to Singapore. I was nervous of putting it on my cheeks area where I am most prone to redness and adverse reaction. I was searching for a highlighter that is not shimmery or too bronzed. This has light-reflective pigments that gives your skin a nice healthy glow. The illuminating pigments are not too shimmery for everyday use.

The texture of the product is like a liquid foundation, so I apply it to my cheekbones and bridge of my nose using a foundation brush. It blends easily into my skin and sets rather quickly (~5 seconds). This product stays on all day, and does not cause my face to look oily. It has become a great addition to my makeup routine because it brightens my whole face.


Nowadays, I seldom use blush because I find it too pink for my "Retin-A glow" skin. So I use this as a blush, applying it on the apple of my cheeks and then use NARS Laguna bronzer on the hollows of my cheekbones.  

My skin is rather sensitive to cream blush or tints so I was afraid this would cause breakouts. But after using it for over a week, my skin has not had any adverse reactions.

The only thing I don’t like about this product is the packaging. Since it comes in a glass jar with a twist cap, it would be a difficult product to travel with. I would have preferred it if the product came with a pump.

I will definitely recommend this product. It can be used both as a bronzer and highlighter.

Dermatologist Journey Part III

~AG~

When I visited the dermatologist, Dr. Joyce Lim, she said that my skin condition has improved. But she noticed some brown scarring marks on my chin and side of my nose areas. So she prescribed me a pigment fader. She also prescribed me a Vitamin Essence to replace my Vitamin C Serum. I forgot to ask her what the difference was.  

I also mentioned to her that my cheeks area would have some adverse reaction the day after I use the retin-A. Initially, I had applied Retin-A cream every other night to the whole face. But my cheeks area started having red bumps, so then I switched to only applying it on my T-zones areas. When I told her about it, she mentioned that my cheeks area might be too sensitive for retinol (0.05%). So she said I can dilute the retinol strength by mixing it with the recovery cream. She directed me to do it every other night for all over my face, to do that for a week. Then, to apply it every night after allowing my skin acclimates to it.

Dr. Joyce Lim mentioned how using Retin-A cream causes “Retin-A Glow”. Since retinol cause more blood flow to the surface of the skin, it causes the skin to be flushed. She mentioned that it is triggered especially by heat, the sun and stress. It is true. Whenever I get hot, my cheeks areas tend to get redder. A few people have commented on how red my cheeks can get when the climate gets hot. So I try to stay away from the sun. I still have not started using sunscreen again.

MORNING:

Vitamin C Serum

Antioxidant Moisturizing Lotion

Skin Fader Cream

Dalacin

NIGHT:

Vitamin C Serum

Antioxidant Moisutring Lotion

Skin Fader Cream

Recovery Cream + Retin-A (2 parts recovery cream + 1 part Retin-A)

Dalacin

What I can say about the Skin Fader Cream. I cannot notice any difference of the fading of my scars. I will have to use it for a longer time to comment on its effectiveness.

For the recovery cream, it has a thicker texture compared to the Antioxidant Moisturizing Lotion. Sometimes, I feel it is too thick for my skin. So instead of putting 2 parts recovery cream, I only put 1 part of it. My cheeks area does not pop up with red bumps anymore.  However, I cannot say on the effectives of Retin-A. It is supposed to be a miracle acne treatment but I have yet to experience that.