REVIEW: Oliva Forte Enchant for Skin, 4 Weeks After

~AG~

Ever since makeup artist extraordinaire, Shaun Lee, recommended this during my makeup trial. I decided to go out to buy it. He said he noticed significant difference in skin pigmentation after taking this supplement. This pricey oral supplement is targeted for skin health. It retails for S$89 for 60 capsules, and you can find it in Guardian and Watsons. Each capsule contains 200 mg of Olea europaea Extract and 50 mg of Alpha Lipoic Acid. The Olea europaea (Olive juice) Extract contains hydroxytyrosol, which is a powerful antioxidant. This formulation with Alpha Lipoic Acid is known to support antioxidant activities, and aids as a barrier against the sun. It helps improve skin moisture retention and the reduce the effects of premature aging. Oliva Forte Enchant also claims to reduce damage from UVA and UVB damage. 

The most interesting study claims that Oliva Forte has 10 time the antioxidant potency of Vitamin C. How interesting! For more information, go to http://olivaforte.com/category/general

I have been using it for 4 weeks, one capsule daily. So far, I have not noticed significant improvement in my skin health, particularly to my skin pigmentations (acne scars and dark spots). I was hoping that Oliva Forte Enchant for Skin would help with the acne scars on my back. I would continue taking Oliva Forte for another 4 weeks and see whether there will be improvements then. *cross my fingers* Sometimes it takes a while for the effects of oral supplement to show up. Stay tuned for a follow-up review. 

REVIEW: Diamond Peel Back Acne Treatment @ My Cozy Room

~AG~

As some of you might have known from my previous posts, I have been plagued with back acne for years. My back acne during Secondary School was so bad that my guy friends commented on it. Another instance of my back acne being a woe was when an older lady commented about it while I was wearing an evening gown. *cries* Ever since then, I have been self-conscious about showing my back. My big day is coming real soon, and as much as I do not want to show my back, my ideal wedding gown design does not allow that. So, here I am on a quest for my back acne issue. 

                                            The acne scars and pigmentation is quite obvious

 There are also some blind pimples that need some extra help 

Read several good reviews (even though they are sponsored) on Back Acne Treatment at My Cozy Room and decided to go for it. This is my first time doing back acne facial. The Diamond Peel Bacial Treatment provides a more intensive exfoliation. Since my concern is for the acne scar, I thought the Diamond Peel Treatment will be more effective in diminishing the appearance of scars. The bacial treatment lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes. For first-timer, My Cozy Room is offering a promotional price of S$149 for the Diamond Peel Back Acne Treatment. It usually retails for S$289

 The treatment bed

Babor products for the back acne treatment

My beauty therapist was Clover. The products she used were from Babor which is a German skincare brand. These are the steps of the Diamond Peel Back Acne Treatment:

1) Cleansing
A cleansing of the entire back to remove grime and impurities.
2) Scrub
A gentle scrub to remove the outermost layer of the skin.
3) Diamond Peel
Next was the Diamond Peel also known as microdermabrasion. The diamond-tip tool remove dead skin cells allowing for a brighter and smoother skin. This process felt like somebody was roughly scratching my back. It was not painful.
4) Toner 
A toner was applied with a cotton pad to clean the area from the residues of the diamond peel. 

5) Steaming 
Steaming prepares the skin for extraction. It opens up the pores for an easier extraction.The steam was comfortably warm.
6) Extraction
I have low pain tolerance, and the extraction process is usually my dreaded step of a facial. This time around only two extractions were painful. These were the blind pimples that was deep into the skin. The rest of the extractions were bearable. 

After the extraction, a little red

7) High Frequency Treatment
Clover said this has antibacterial properties.  I never experience high frequency treatment before but I was startled when I heard the electricity sound. You feel a slight electric feeling - similar to a mild static electric shock. But it was not uncomfortable. 
8) Massage
Then she massage the back for 5-10 minutes. 
9) Mask
Clover first applied a cream mask that has whitening properties. Then she layered another mask that has moisturising properties. Finally, she covered the entire area with saran wrap to allow the mask to better penetrate into the skin.
10) Lotion
Finished up the treatment with another round of toner and lotion for hydration. She also spot treated the extraction areas.  

My back area was surprisingly not red after the treatment. *thumbs up* I did see an improvement on my back area even though it is not significant. I hope with subsequent treatments, my back acne and scars will improve. Clover said that I will see more results with 2-3 sessions. She did mention that some of the pigmentations were not acne scars, and rather were dark spots or sun spots. She said for those dark spots, an IPL treatment will be more effective in removing them. Overall, I am satisfied with the Back Acne Treatment at My Cozy Room. The only downside was the hard selling by the cashier to sign up for a package and buy more sessions. She said that I should get a Back Acne Facial Treatment every 3 weeks to control my back acne and reduce the scars. Other than that, I would recommend My Cozy Room for those looking for a place to treat their back acne. 

Two days after the treatment. 

You cannot really see the improvements in this picture. But there is a slight difference in tone for my back area.

REVIEW: Physician Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum

24 hour of wear

~AG~

Bought this Physician Formula Eye Booster 2-in1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum while I was in the United States a few months ago. Target retails this eyeliner for US$9.63 (S$14). There are select Guardian stores in Singapore that carry Physician Formula products, but the pricing is not as competitive. Guardian Singapore is selling Physician Formula Eye Booster Eyeliner for S$29.90. Even when Guardian is having 20% off regular-priced items, the price of Physician Formula Eye Booster Eyeliner in Singapore is 70% more than that in the United States. The morale of the story is to ask your friends who are travelling to the States to buy it for you. 

In  Ultra Black

According to Physician Formula, this special product enhances the appearance of lashes while providing definition an eyeliner. Lash Boosting Complex targets the base of the lashes where it is most effective. The eyeliner claims to be water-resistant and smudge-resistant. After using it for over a week, I can testify that this Physician Formula Eyeliner is definitely smudge-resistant. It stayed on for well over 8 hours. It did not smudge to my lower lash line at all. The water-resistant ability of Physician Formula Eyeliner is pretty good. The Physician Formula Eye Booster eyeliner did not smudge even though I teared up while watching a sappy Korean drama. The fine tip brush of the eyeliner creates a smooth and clean look. The pigmentation of the eyeliner is better than that of Clio Kill Brush Eyeliner. The shade I bought was in Ultra Black. The eyeliner is easily removed by using a oil-based makeup remover. Two cotton pads and one cotton bud will completely remove the eyeliner.

Fine tip brush

An affordable drugstore eyeliner that I would repurchase if I were in the States or have friends travelling there. The formula is long-lasting and pigmented. I cannot comment on the lash boosting properties, since my lashes are just as sparse. Other than that, I have nothing bad to say about Physician Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum. 

REVIEW: Crème Simon Multi-Benefits Eye Treatment Pen

Handy Eye Treatment Pen 

~AG~
Bought this Crème Simon Multi-Benefits Eye Treatment Pen last year. Finally, tried it recently. This twist eye-roller pen is designed to perk up tired eyes. The cool metal ball claims to smooth fine lines and boost blood circulation. This best-selling Eye Treatment Pen claims to reduce puffiness and dark circles. The twist packaging allows you to control the amount you need and keeps the applicator more hygienic. This eye gel has a lightweight texture that claims to prevent "eye seeds" formation (milia). As with Crème Simon products, this Eye Treatment Pen does not contain parabens, oil, alcohol and silicone. It also contains many botanical active ingredients to brighten the eyes area. 

Crème Simon Multi-Benefits Eye Treatment Pen contains 2.5ml (0.08 fl oz) of product and costs S$25. It is pricey for a small eye gel pen. The good things about this product are that the eye gel is lightweight and the metal roller ball is cooling. The bad thing about Creme Simon Eye Treatment Pen is that they are stingy with the amount of eye gel. My Eye Treatment Pen lasted for less than a month, and I did not use it everyday! I was so surprised that the eye gel ran out so quickly, I kept twisting the pen in hopes that there will be more product. This eye gel does not go well with my under eye concealer. I noticed that my usual concealer will clump up together when I used this eye gel. A big No-No! This Eye Treatment Pen did not have enough product for me to judge whether it helps with my dark circles. For the puffiness, I feel that this eye gel did not do much for it. 

I would not recommend this Crème Simon Multi-Benefits Eye Treatment Pen. The amount of eye gel in each packaging is too little for the price. Moreover, this Eye Gel did not mix well with my must-have under eye concealer. *thumbs down* 

Cooling metal ball