REVIEW: Jurlique Rose Moisture Plus Revitalising Gel-Lotion

~AG~

Jurlique Rose Moisture Plus Revitalising Gel-Lotion has been my daily moisturizer for over a month now. http://beautyloverssisters.blogspot.sg/2015/02/new-buy-jurlique-rose-moisture-plus.html
So what can I say about it?

Jurlique claims this gel-lotion will "protect again environmental aggressors while hydrating and softening skin." It contains these ingredients:

• Silver Ear Mushroom Extract which is nature's hyaluronic acid (water-binding agent) can hold up to water 500 times its weight. It keeps skin hydrated.
• Green Tea Leaf Extract that contains antioxidant properties to protect the skin
• Tumeric Root Extract that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties to protect skin from environmental radicals.
• Rose Gallical Extract that balances the skin and restore its hydration.

It has a distinct rose scent. My mother, who loves anything rose scented, could smell it the first time I used it. The scent is pleasant and not too overwhelming.

The texture of the gel-lotion is light and watery. It does not feel sticky at all, which is great for Singapore's humid weather. The gel-lotion is absorbed easily on the skin. My ultra sensitive skin did not have adverse reaction to this gel-lotion. It kept my skin well hydrated and soft.

The only downside with this moisturizer is that it does not mix well with my sunscreen. It causes my sunscreen to lump together and create flakes. A huge no-no. There were several ways in which I tried to prevent the flaking. First, I allowed the moisturizer to absorb for 10 minutes before applying the sunscreen, but the flaking still happened. Secondly, I exfoliated my skin with Kate Somerville ExfoliKate the night before application. But the Jurlique Gel-Lotion and SunPlay sunscreen still did not go on well together, and there were flakes.

I do not want to play favourites but SunPlay sunscreen ranks higher on my books. I am SO disappointed that Jurlique Gel-Lotion did not work well with my affordable SunPlay sunscreen. The gel-lotion is one of the more expensive moisturisers that I have tried at US$47. I will not re-purchase this moisturizer because it is too expensive and does not blend well with my sunscreen. There are more affordable moisturizers that keep my skin as soft and hydrated such as REN Vita Mineral Moisturizing Cream. Click link for my review of REN Moisturizing Cream. http://beautyloverssisters.blogspot.sg/2014/12/review-ren-clean-skincare-vita-mineral.html

Eyeliners Series 3: Comparison of Felt Tip Eyeliners

FELT TIP EYELINER

Felt tip eyeliner is my FAVORITE eyeliner type. Basically, it is a marker-like eyeliner. It is easy to use and convenient to travel with. The biggest benefit of felt tip eyeliner is that it stays on, and is the most long-lasting formula. With a felt tip eyeliner, you do not need to sharpen it or carry an eyeliner brush with you for application. You minimize the number of beauty products and tools you carry, especially helpful when travelling. Out of all the eyeliner types, felt tip eyeliner are the least likely to smudge or smear. In my opinion, it is the most smudge-resistant formula. With that being said, there are many different types of felt tip eyeliners. Some have hard felt tip, while some have a more"flexible" brush tip. Some have super fine tip, while some have a thicker tip. Your go-to felt tip eyeliner depends on your makeup preference. Felt tip eyeliners are found to be able to create defined makeup looks as well as dramatic eye makeup. You are able to build up and layer on the product to increase the intensity of the eyeliner. It take some practice to master using the felt tip eyeliner, but it is worth the many tries. EVERY girl should have a felt tip eyeliner in her makeup bag!


























Lancôme Artliner (US$30.50)

This is my FAVORITE eyeliner right now! #1! It has a very fine foam tip that allows for creation of natural eye makeup look. However, you can layer it  on to create a more dramatic look. The eyeliner is safe to use on the waterline. It takes about ~7 seconds to dry, which is a bearable wait time. It stays on all day and does not smudge. However, on several occasions, I have noticed it flaking off when I wiped off with a tissue. Not waterproof but it is water-resistant. You have to shake the eyeliner if it gets "dry". Expensive at US$30.50 for an eyeliner but it is WORTH it! I will re-purchase this eyeliner.


Stila All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner (US$20)

Her World: How to Prevent Acne Breakouts During the Time of the Month

~AG~



SYNC YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE

Week 1: The Dry Phase

When your oestrogen and progesterone levels are low, your skin gets dehydrated, so mask more often and focus on moisturising the skin during this period.
 

WHAT TO DO: Sheet masks are great as an instant pick-me-up, but those in a rush for time can also use sleeping masks, which are more convenient.  

Week 2: Skin improves

As oestrogen rises, the skin condition gets better and less dry.

WHAT TO DO: Exfoliate to brighten the skin and encourage cell renewal, and remember to moisturise!

Week 3: Glowing phase

Skin looks the best around the period of ovulation. Here, oestrogen levels peak first, just before the 14-day mark, followed by progesterone, which is at its highest just a while after.

“As levels of progesterone increase, skin swells and pores are compressed shut,” explains dermatologist Audrey Kunin, MD, of dermadoctor.com. So your pores look the tiniest during this period." “But this tourniquet effect also causes sebum to build up beneath the skin’s surface,” said the dermatologist, for a WebMD feature.
 

WHAT TO DO: This is when you should be extra careful to make sure that you’re not putting too much on your face and in turn, clogging your pores. Use a purifying mask during the week to remove any excess sebum, then soothe the skin with a hydrating mask.

Week 4: Oily phase

Here’s when the trouble starts. Your oil glands go into overdrive as oestrogen and progesterone levels start to fall and testosterone takes over. Your pores are more likely to become clogged at this stage – yup, breakout time.
 

WHAT TO DO: Try incorporating products with acne fighting properties into your skincare routine at this point, such as a toner or a serum with AHAs and BHAs. Salicylic acid is one of the most effective pimple busting ingredients for me, but work with what you find is best.

Text Credit to Her World Singapore
Picture courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

REVIEW: Laneige Water Sleeping Pack_EX

~AG~

This Laneige Sleeping Mask has been on my beauty rack for quite a while now. But it has not been put to good use. My sister, MG, is a big fan of this product. She would use it a few times a week. However, I am not that interested in its moisturizing properties. 

One of my friends also mentioned on how good this sleeping pack is. This sleeping pack is meant to be used overnight thus the name sleeping pack. You apply it as the last step of your night skincare routine. It supposedly seals off all the night serum & moisturizers.

                            

Last week, after I came back from China, my skin became flaky and dry. I decided to put this Laneige Sleeping Mask to the test. Will it help restore a healthy moisture level to my skin? And will it reduce my skin flakiness? 

NEW BUY: Nature Republic Hawaiian Fresh Clay Pack

~AG~

Nature Republic Hawaiian Fresh Clay Pack is one of Allure Korea 2013 Editor's Pick. When I saw the 'Allure Award Winner" sticker on the product while in Korea, I did not hesitate to put it in my shopping basket. I cannot remember the exact retail price, but I am sure it cost less than USD$15. It is a reasonably priced clay pack as it contains 95ml worth of product. It will take me more than a year of use to finish it all. Quite worth it!

This clay pack is for acne-prone skin as the clay removes impurities from the pores and absorb excess sebum. It contains Hibiscus and Morinda citrifola extract that supposedly makes skin feel cool and clean. 

The ONLY thing that I am wary of on Korean skincare products is that is not free of artificial colourings and fragrances. My ultra sensitive skin does not take well to unnatural ingredients. So I hope my skin does not have any adverse reaction to this clay pack. *cross my fingers*

I will do a review of this clay pack after I have used it for a reasonable amount of time. Stay tuned for  review! 

Full Credits: Nature Republic Hawaiian Fresh Clay Pack

NEW BUY: VICHY Normaderm Hyaluspot. Eliminate Pimples in 2 Days?

~AG~

VICHY Normaderm Hyaluspot is a pimple treatment that I bought during my trip in Bangkok. This product was purchased at Boots, which is a United Kingdom based pharmacy, that has many outlets in Thailand. For those that do not know, Boots is similar to Watsons and Guardian in that it carries medicine and personal care products. This product cost me 618 Thai Baht (S$26), which is expensive for a pimple treatment. This product had an "Award Winner" sticker on it which was the sole reason I bought it. But now I cannot remember which popular magazine gave that award to the product.

It has a metal applicator that cools the pimple, and provides relief from inflammation and pain. This product claims to eliminate pimple-causing bacteria by forming an invisible film to isolate the pimple from more contamination. Hyaluronic acid is responsible for creating the protective film. Hyaluronic acid can be commonly found in anti-aging and moisturizing skin care products. It is interesting how VICHY utilized it as a barrier against acne-causing contamination.

Together with acne-fighting ingredients, LHA and salicylic acid, VICHY Hyauspot claims to eliminate pimples as quickly as 2 days. TWO DAYS! That sound like a VERY attractive result from a pimple treatment.  As I am suffering from a pimple outbreak now, I will put this tiny product to the test. The million dollar question is, "Will it eliminate my pimples in just 2 days?"

Stay tuned for my review on it :) 

NEW BUY: Kate Somerville Detox Daily Cleanser

~AG~

I on the last few drops of my Michael Todd Honey Oat Deep Pore Cleanser. Please click link for my review of the product.  Michael Todd Honey Oat Deep Pore Cleanser Review 

That means now I am on a quest for the next facial cleanser. While digging through my beauty stock, this Kate Somerville Detox Daily Cleanser was revealed. About a year ago, I had redeemed a Kate Somerville set from Sephora (USA) Rewards. The set includes the Detox Daily Cleanser, ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment and Oil Free Moisturiser. 

Kate Somerville products are known to be pricy. While in the States, I tried one of their bestsellers, the ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment. It was GOOD but it was also painful on my wallet. For example, the mini ExfoliKate which is 0.5 fl oz (~ 15ml) retails for US$22. The 4 fl oz (~118 ml) of Daily Detox Cleanser retails for US$34. That is EXPENSIVE for a facial cleanser!

A little about this cleanser. It is designed to remove impurities for acne-prone skin. It contains:

• Phytic Acid which is an exfoliator that brightens the skin tone and fade the appearance of imperfections
• Salicylic, Glycolic and Lactic Acid that remove dead skin cells and improve the overall skin texture
• Vitamin B complex which prevents the overdrying of skin
• Aloe Vera & Allantoin that calms the skin
• Tea Tree and Tangerine Peel Extracts to 

Sample size of Detox Daily Cleanser

REVIEW: NUA Singapore Facial Treatment

~AG~

In my previous post, I mentioned that I was going for a facial and eye treatment at NUA Singapore. So what are my thoughts on the treatment and service there?

NUA Singapore is located on the second floor of a row of shop houses at Tanjong Pagar. I was kinda lost when looking for the place because the map on my phone showed it located as opposite from Maxwell Road Food Center. Though, it is located on the opposite side of the Fairfield Methodist Church. NUA Singapore occupies a small area but it designed well to maximize the space. The place does not feel tight at all. The design is minimal Zen. The place was very clean and well maintained.

The treatment room

The waiting area. Some products on display.

Expert Night Care Advice by Dr. Hauschka

~AG~

 

While browsing through Dr .Hauschka website, I stumbled upon their "Expert Advice" section. Dr. Hauschka Skin Care does NOT recommend night creams or oil-based moisturizers at night. Yes, you read it right. This is the first time I am hearing such beauty advice. As my curiosity arose, I clicked on the link:  Dr Hauschka Night Care



This is an excerpt from Dr. Hauschka Skin Care website:

Moisturizers are what your skin needs during the day. During the day, our skin benefits from the care of waxes and oils, which protect skin from the elements as we're out and about living our lives. Plus, our moisturizers support your skin's natural processes to balance, firm, renew and refine your skin.
At night, the opposite is true—moisturizers are not needed. Once the sun sets, your skin is biologically programmed to perform its natural night-time functions of self-cleansing, balancing oil production and cellular renewal. However, if you apply oil-based moisturizing products like night creams, they can interfere with these essential tasks.
Oil-based night creams & lotions signal your skin to "take the night off." These products then take over the work your skin would naturally do. If this occurs night after night, your skin becomes "lazy" and learns to depend upon these products to perform its nighttime functions and feel balanced.

WOW! This is amazing. I never thought of that before. It does makes sense. When you sleep at night, your body and skin repairs itself. So, if you are letting your heavy-duty moisturizers do the job. Your skin becomes "out of job" of its natural repairing process. Sometimes when I am lazy, I skip the moisturizer step at night, and feel guilty about it. But now, I don't have to feel bad about skipping the moisturizer at night. All I need on my face at night is a lightweight serum, a good eye cream and spot treatment.

 

NUA Singapore Facial & Eye Treatment

~AG~

Facial is one of my least favourite beauty treatments. In my 20 plus years of life, I have only gone through it twice. On both occasions, the experience has been less than enjoyable. My skin tends to become worst after a facial. It comes red because of the whiteheads and blackheads that were extracted. My skin will become sensitive and unpleasant to look at. Overall, I find them more harmful for my skin than beneficial.

Read about this salon on Beauty Undercover. Please click link for more details. Beauty Undercover Review of NUA Singapore . This salon is opened by a Japanese lady who has numerous years of experience on beauty treatments such as waxing and facial. The reviewers on Beauty Undercover raved about how the blackheads extraction here are painless, and that there will be no down-time. 

My skin became really congested when I was in China last week. Small pimples kept appearing on my nose and forehead areas. My skin condition is at one of its worst. Tomorrow, I have scheduled a facial appointment with NUA. I cannot wait to see whether their customized facial treatment will make a difference on my my skin. I found a deal on iMob shop for NUA 60-facial treatment and 25-minute eye treatment for $77, which is a steal. iMob Shop NUA Singapore Coupon
Their customized facial treatment usually goes for $135 and their micro-current eye treatment usually goes for $40. That is $98 in savings.
I bought the coupon on Feb 16, 2015. However, when I checked the iMob Shop toady, the coupon goes for $100. They have increased the price. But it is still a steal; a saving of $75. 

I HOPE the facial tomorrow will improve the condition of my skin. Lastly, I cross my fingers that the facial treatment can effectively remove blackheads and stubborn whiteheads painlessly. Wish me luck! I will let you all know how it goes. 

Please check NUA Singapore official website for details on their treatments and services. 
NUA Singapore Official Website

Eyeliners Series 2: Comparison of Gel Eyeliners

GEL EYELINER

~AG~

This is my second favourite eyeliner type. Gel eyeliners are like colour paints that require a brush for application. This is the most versatile type of eyeliner, you can use it to create a fine tip or dramatic cat eye. However, the catch is, it requires lots of practice to get the results that you want. It took me more than 10 tries to finally get the eyeliner look that I want. So, don't give up if you are trying to use gel eyeliner and it does not give you the look that you want. Just keep on playing with it :)

For some people, gel eyeliner works great and stays on all day. But for me, the creamy formula seems to smudge off after a few hours. Even makeup artists' favourites such as the Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner smudged on me. Do note that, gel eyeliner staying power is longer than that of pencil liner. However, I personally attest that felt-tip liner are the most long-lasting one. 

To successfully apply a gel eyeliner, you first need to invest in good eyeliner brushes. I recommend that you get at least two eyeliner brushes. One to create a soft eyeliner look and another for a bold look. Another great tip I learned is to brush excess eyeliner on the back of my hand for smooth application. This creates a clean and non-flakey eyeliner look. 

 

A slanted angle brush to create winged liner or cat eye. 

 

 

A fine eyeliner brush to line closest to the eyelids. Perfect for days when you want a no-makeup look.
 

 

 

MAC Fluidline

PROS:

• This gel liner is creamy and easy to apply. 
• It dries quickly on application which is good because I don’t have to keep my eyes closed for a long time (<30 seconds). 
• This eyeliner can be used to draw fine lines or more dramatic lines such as winging. 
• The color that I tried was Dipdown a rich brown shade. Even though it looks light brown on the pot, it is more pigmented in real-life. Great for everyday use.
• More affordable than Bobbi Brown at US$16

CONS:

• It still smudged to my bottom eye area even with eye primer and shadow. I was not expecting this after all the rave review.

P.S: Some people complain that this gel eyeliner dries out after a while but mine is still creamy after more than a year. A trick that the lady at the MAC counter told me is to put it back into its original box. She says it somehow helps reduce it from being dried out.

*If you are thinking of trying a gel liner, you should definitely try this out

Tony Moly Backstage Gel Eyeliner

PROS:

• This gel liner is more creamy compared to MAC Fluidline
• The packaging comes with a handy eyeliner brush, which is great for travelling
• The most affordable gel liner that I have tried. If you purchase it in Korea, it costs less than US$10. 

CONS:

• It smudged to my bottom eyelids after a few hours. It is more long-lasting then Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner. However, I would not recommend it in Singapore's humidity. I think it works better for non-humid weather.

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner

PROS:

• This gel liner is not as creamy compared to Tony Moly Backstage Gel Eyeliner or MAC Fluidline
• For a recent wedding that I was a part of, the makeup artists used this on my waterline. It is safe to use on the waterline, it does not irritate the eyes.
• This eyeliner can be used to draw fine lines or more dramatic lines such as winging. 
• Very pigmented

CONS:

• Expensive at US$25
• It smudged to my bottom eye area after two hours of use. I was expecting it to be more long-lasting.

NEW BUY: belief travel skincare set

Free samples. Samples of First Aid Overnight brightening mask, First Aid 360 Eye care mask and Peat miracle rescue serum concentrate.

Normal/Combination skin set for AG. Retails for S$12.

It contains 5 products:

1) Creamy cleansing foam moist

2) Bergamot herbal extract toner

3) Hungarian water essence

4) The true cream - aqua bomb

5) In the rose garden hand cream

Oily skin set for MG. Retails for S$12

It contains 5 products:

1) Creamy cleansing foam moist

2) Eucalyptus herbal extract toner

3) Hungarian water essence

4) The true cream - aqua bomb

5) In the rose garden hand cream

The only difference between the two skincare set is the toner. The normal skin set has Bergamot herbal extract toner for balancing the skin. While the oily skin set has Eucalyptus herbal extract toner to control sebum.

At S$12, for two weeks' worth of skincare product, it is quite worth it. This is a GREAT way for me to try the belif skincare line. Since I have ultra sensitive skin, travel kits are a wonderful way for me to see whether the products will work for me without investing too much into a single purchase.