REVIEW: innisfree Eco Eyebrow Kit

Compact packaging with a tiny brush

 A lighter reddish brown shade and a darker grey-brown shade

~AG~
Bought this innisfree Eco Eyebrow Kit last year when I was in Seoul. Heard good reviews about this affordable eyebrow powder from the online community. Being a big fan of the innisfree brand, this Eco Eyebrow Kit was added into my shopping basket without any hesitation. This dual-color powder kit comes with a stiff eyebrow brush. It retails for S$16.50 on innisfreeworld.com, though I cannot remember how much it retails for in Korea. 

Thick and stiff brush does not work well

Today's confession: I am a noob (beginner) on eyebrow makeup. Despite experimenting with brow mascaras, eyebrow pencils and eyebrow powders, my eyebrow makeup skills are not that competent. Based on my experience, eyebrow powder is the easiest eyebrow product to apply with. Eyebrow pencils - I find the most difficult to work it. Since eyebrow pencils require more precise strokes and a more skilled hand. It is easy to overdraw brows when using eyebrow pencils since it goes on stronger. Brow mascaras work great to keep the brows in place, though they do not give much definition to the brows. You cannot shape your eyebrows using brow mascaras. Eyebrow powders are natural enough for everyday use. Brow powders give a nice definition without looking too overdone. The main reason why brow powder is my No.1 choice for eyebrow products is because of the ease of use. Brow powder works as a crayon that you use to fill in the spare areas of the eyebrows. 

On the left without brow powder,  on the right with brows filled in

The pigments of innisfree's brow powders work great for those with dark brown to black hair. Since there are two shades of the brow powders, you can mix and match to create your own color. The powders are finely milled, and blends in easily with my brows. Though, the staying power of the brow powders are not fantastic, it does not lasts all day. The lasting power is about 4-5 hours. The in-kit brush is horrible. It is too densely packed and thick, which results in too much powder on the brush. For those that want a highly defined eyebrows, this innisfree Eco Eyebrow Kit might not work for you, as the powders are soft and natural. This Eco Eyebrow Kit might not work on special occasions where you will be photographed.

REVIEW: Guerisson 9 Complex Cream

Guerisson 9 Complex Cream

~MG~
I heard about this product from on Get It Beauty. She was raving on how excellent it is. And I did not know much about horse oil being used in skincare product before coming across this cream. I bought it in Seoul on May 2015 from Olive Young for about 25,000KRW. I was hesitating whether I should buy it because I was kind of scared that it would be too oily for my combination oily skin since it is made out of oil after all! I was with my friend at that moment and he was telling me that horse oil is known for its great moisturizing power. He said that the Mongolians during their harsh winter actually use horse oil to protect their faces! After hearing so, I got more interested into the product and decided to try the tester. After applying some of the product, the moisturization and scent had won me over! The texture is thick but as you blend it out and tap tap on your face, it sinks into your skin. FYI, I have very dry hand and my hand felt so soft and moisturized when I tested it on my hands. This cream has a fresh citrusy, which I love! Just thinking of the scent makes getting ready for bed something to look forward to. They provide a spatula along with the product, which is a bonus!

What is left of the cream 

The light texture of the cream

 Since I have combination oily skin, I only use this product at night before my facial oil. I prefer to use a thicker and more moisturizing cream at night to protect my face from the dry air from the air-con. I went to Seoul this past March for a week and the day that I arrived, the weather suddenly became very cold and windy! On some days, it even went before zero degree! Even though this cream, I originally used as a night cream because of its thicker texture and more moisturizing property, I had to use this product both day and night when in korea. Even so, it wasn’t enough for my face to be comfortably moisturized because I remembered waking up one morning with my neck having eczema. I used to have eczema on my neck when I came back and forth between the U.S. and Singapore but it has been a few years since I last had it. I didn’t want history to repeat itself because I remember how itchy, flaky, red and dry my neck was! So after applying the horse oil cream, I still had to apply a thin layer of my trusty Elizabeth Arden’s Eight-hour cream because the Korean winter was that harsh! 

This tub took me about 6 months to finish up. I would recommend oily skin people and those living in hot and humid climate to only use this product at night. For others, you may use both day and night. Although for dry skin people in hot and humid climate, you may want to try out with a thinner layer first in the daytime, just in case it would be too much and oily for under the sun. I would repurchase this product but maybe not now, I still have 2 night moisturizers in my back-up stock!

Q&A: innisfree no-sebum mineral pact

innisfree no-sebum mineral pact is a replacement for oil control paper that leaves the skin soft and matte. Its double sebum-control system controls the secretion of sebum to keep the skin soft and fresh all day long. Jeju minerals and mint control skin oil and moisture to keep skin healthy.

~MG~

Q: How much did you buy innisfree no-sebum mineral pact for?

A: Bought this powder pact at innisfree Singapore for S$17.

Q: Why did you decide to try this innisfree no-sebum mineral pact?
A: This is one of innisfree's best-sellers. There are plenty of good reviews about innisfree no-sebum mineral pact online. 

Q: How long have you been using this powder? 

A: Mine lasts me for more than 2 years. I used it 2 or 3 times a week to set my face makeup or to reduce the shine on my face. 

Q: What do you like about this product

A: The affordability of this setting powder is the highlight about this product. It costs under S$20, which is such a bargain. The packaging is compact and durable, making it very handy to travel with. The oil control of this powder is medium; and I would not say it has great lasting power. My skin did not have any allergic reaction to this innisfree powder. This mineral pact  also did not cause my acne-prone skin to breakout. 


Q: What do you want to improve about this product?

A: As it is a setting powder, there is no coverage. You need to blend it well as it is a white powder, if not you will look blotchy. Your face can look cakey if you apply too much powder.

Q: Would you recommend this powder to your friends? 
A: Would not repurchase because I prefer powder that is more finely milled. This innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder is not as fine.

Pictures courtesy of innisfreeworld.com

REVIEW: Bifesta Acne Care Cleansing Lotion

300 ml of product

~AG~

Bought the Bifesta Acne Care Cleansing Lotion when it was on offer a few months ago. NEW BUY: Bifesta Acne Care Cleansing Lotion. Finally done with my bottle of Bioderma Sebium H20 and now on to this Cleansing Lotion. Bifesta Cleansing Lotion is popular in Asia because of the wide range available for different skin types. This Bifesta Cleansing Lotion is targeted for those with acne-prone skin. As mentioned in my previous post, Bifesta Cleansing Lotion is much more affordable than the Bioderma H20:
Bioderma Sebium H20 (250 ml) = S$26.90        --> $0.11/ml
Bifesta Cleansing Lotion (300ml) = S$16.90      --> $0.06/mL  
** Bifesta Cleansing Lotion is almost half the cost of Bioderma Sebium H20.

The big question is, will Bifesta Cleansing Lotion replace my HG Bioderma Sebium H20?

My thoughts on Bifesta Acne Care Cleansing Lotion. Since Bifesta Acne Care Cleansing Lotion is designed for acne-prone skin, it contains anti-inflammatory and antibacterial ingredients. It also contains absorbent hyaluronic acid that will improve skin's moisture retention, and leads to brighter and more supple skin. This Cleansing Lotion is also Hypoallergenic formulated, Allergy tested, Colorant-free, Fragrance-free, Paraben-free and Alcohol-free. Sounds perfect for a person with sensitive skin like me! After a few bad experiences with Japanese beauty products, I was hesitant to try another Japanese skincare products. 

Lock cap to prevent spillage 

The pump packaging makes it convenient to use. Though this pump packaging also results in the cleansing lotion being squirted everywhere. The pump dispense too much cleansing lotion for one cotton pad. The bulky packaging is not great for traveling, even though it has a lock cap to prevent spillage. After application of Bifesta Acne Care Cleansing Lotion, there is a slight sticky residue if you do not wash off your face immediately. With Bioderma Sebium H20, I did not notice any sticky feeling after use. With Bifesta Cleansing Lotion, it takes about 3 cotton pads to remove my sunscreen thoroughly. With Bioderma H20 Sebium, I typically only need 2 cotton pads. My sensitive combination skin initially did not have any adverse reaction to Bifesta Acne Care Cleansing Lotion. The first week that I used it, my skin did not have any allergic reactions to it. However, during the second week, I noticed small bumps appearing on my forehead and cheeks. I kept using it for a third week, and there were more bumps. Right then, I decided to discontinue using it. I was SO disappointed with this product!! Some ingredient in this Cleansing Lotion must have triggered an adverse reaction on my skin. After three weeks of daily use, there was no noticeable difference with preventing or treating of acne.

In my case, Bifesta Cleansing Lotion does not work as a good alternative to Bioderma. For those with ultra sensitive skin, I highly recommend Bioderma H20 Sensibio or Sebium instead. The affordable price tag is definitely the only Pro about this product. Sorry Bifesta Cleansing Lotion, you are out of my book!

REVIEW: Clio Waterproof Brush Eyeliner Kill Brown

 Clio Waterproof Brush Eyeliner Kill Brown

You have to shake it before use

~AG~

Bought this Clio Waterproof Brush Eyeliner Kill Brown in Seoul, Korea. Forgot to take note of the retail price there. This Clio Brush Eyeliner is selling for S$22.90 in Watsons Singapore. This is a highly raved about eyeliner. I heard about the great staying power of this eyeliner many years back when Lee Hyori was Clio's brand ambassador. 

Fine tip brush that is easy to use

Decided to go for a brown eyeliner because there are too many black eyeliners in my makeup collection. The first thing I noticed is that the brush tip is very fine and precise. It allows for better control, which is great for liquid eyeliner beginners. A brown eyeliner is less harsh than black eyeliner. However, some ladies might not like the super natural look. Brown eyeliner does not define the eyes as strongly as black eyeliner. Brown eyeliner works well for daytime, however it might not be suitable for nighttime or when a person is photographed. Clio Waterproof Brush Eyeliner lasts all day. The eyeliner stayed on my eyelids for more than 10 hours, with eyeshadow primer. This long-lasting eyeliner did not smudge to my lower eyelids. Even without eyeshadow primer, Clio Waterproof Brush Eyeliner has great lasting power - for up to 8 hours. Another great thing about this eyeliner is that it dries up quickly after application, in mere seconds. I do not have to worry about the eyeliner transferring to the crease of the upper eyelids. With some liquid eyeliners such as Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, I had to keep my eyes closed for at least 10 seconds for the eyeliner to dry. Those 10 seconds felt so long. Even though Clio Brush Eyeliner Kill Brown has great lasting power, it is easy to remove with an oil-based eye makeup remover. No tugging on the sensitive skin around the eyes. Yay!

Even though this eyeliner has the word "Waterproof" in its name, I would not categorize it as waterproof. It does have some water-resistance properties, but if you are going for a swim or to cry your eyes out, this Clio eyeliner would definitely smudge. Another downside to this eyeliner is the lack of pigmentation. It could be because this is a brown eyeliner, but the color is not as intense. I had to go over the line two or three times to get sufficient color. Might have to try Clio Waterproof Brush Eyeliner in black to get a true comparison. 

Top is a single line of the eyeliner, the bottom is three layers of the eyeliner

Eyeliner after contact with water and rubbing it. 

Overall, Clio Waterproof Brush Eyeliner Kill Brown is one of my highly rated liquid eyeliners. For its price of S$22.90, this is one of the more affordable liquid eyeliners. In comparison with my other HG eyeliners (Kiss Me Heroine Make Smooth Liquid Eyeliner, Lancome Artliner and Marc Jacobs Magic MArc'er Precision Pen), Clio Waterproof Brush Eyeliner is ranked #2 on the list. 

REVIEW: Crème Simon Restorative Sleeping Mask

~AG~

Crème Simon is my recent favorite skincare brand. I <3 that their products are oil-free, paraben-free, silicone-free and alcohol-free. That sounds wonderful for those with sensitive skin like me. Its non-comedogenic products are great for acne-prone skin. 

Crème Simon Restorative Sleeping Mask is a multi function skincare product. You can use it as an intensive overnight mask for a moisturizing and brightening effect. This Sleeping Mask also works as an emergency quick-fix mask. You can apply a thick layer of Crème Simon Sleeping Mask and let it penetrate the skin for 20 minutes, Then rinse or wipe off excess. For those with extremely dehydrated skin, you can combine the Sleeping Mask with Crème Simon Dermo-Hydrating Toner Mist and massage it all over your face for double hydration boost. For frequent travelers, you can use it as an inflight moisturizer on long-distance flights.Your skin will thank you for the hydrating treatment. Apparently, you can use this as a blemish treatment as well as it calms and treats pimples. 

Essential Ingredients:

• Sodium Hyaluronate is a hydrating molecule that is able to retain more water than any other natural substance. It has a smaller molecular size than the more well-known hyaluronic acid. IT can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. This ingredient helps in defending against environmental aggressors and premature aging
• Activ-Fleur Complex is the signature ingredient in all Crème Simon products. It is a botanical elixir of 7 flowers and plants with proven brightening effects.  
• Rose, Iris and Jasmine's  pure concentrates to restore skin renewal and promote toxin elimination. These ingredients boost the skin's radiance and cell regeneration.  
• Wheat Oligosaccharides Complex brightens the skin by reducing skin pigmentation and inhibiting the cells from producing melanin. 
• Squalane is an naturally present molecule in your body. It is a moisturizing agent with anti-bacterial properties that is suitable for sensitive skin. Skin pigmentation, scars and age spots are repaired with this highly effective ingredient. 
• Aloe Vera is a hydrating and antioxidant agent that is rich in Vitamin C and B3. Popular for its soothing and calming effects on sensitive skin. 
• Trehalose is a powerful water-retention agent. It binds water to the skin to maintain optimal  moisture level.  
• Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E) retains moisture while protecting the top layer of the skin

This Crème Simon Sleeping Mask has a slight floral/herbal scent, which I adore. Compared to Laneige Sleeping Mask, Crème Simon Sleeping Mask's packaging is more hygienic and convenient. It comes in a squeeze tube packaging, where as Laneige Sleeping Mask comes in a tub packaging. I did not not enjoy applying Laneige Sleeping Mask because you had to use a spatula or your clean fingers to dip into the tub. Laneige Sleeping Mask had a thicker texture, and did not absorb as easily into the skin. This Crème Simon Sleeping Mask is not as thick or sticky as Laneige Sleeping Mask. With Laneige Sleeping Mask, you can literally feel a layer sitting on top of your skin. Crème Simon Restorative Sleeping Mask is not as rich, but still have decent hydrating properties. This Sleeping Mask does not cause any allergic reaction on my ultra sensitive skin. No noticeable redness, bumps or breakouts were seen! Yay!

To test the effectiveness of this product, I solely used this Sleeping Mask at night (no other moisturizer or hydrating product were used). A 20-cent amount was used for my whole face. There was no sticky or greasy feeling the next morning. My skin felt smooth and brighter. Crème Simon Restorative Sleeping Mask costs S$68 for 75 ml of product. In terms of pricing, it is not easy on the pockets. If you use this Sleeping Mask two or three times a week, a tube will lasts you at least six months. This Sleeping Mask is a good skincare product to have for those who sleep overnight with air conditioning and feel that their usual moisturizer is not hydrating enough. This Sleeping Mask will work great for sensitive, normal and combination skin types. Though, it might not be hydrating enough for those with dry skin type.