NEW BUY: Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

~AG~
This popular drugstore cleansing water from Garnier has been on my radar for a while. This Cleansing Water removes makeup, cleanses and soothes the skin. It does not contain added fragrance and alcohol. Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water is designed for face, eyes and lips. I wonder whether it works just as well compared to Bioderma. Decided to buy the travel-sized version to try. This 125ml bottle comes with 60 uses. Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water costs S$5.90 at Watsons. While Bioderma Sensibio costs $15.90 for 100ml bottle. That is a significant difference in pricing. Garnier costs approximately $0.50/ml, Bioderma costs $0.15/ml.

Stay tuned for my review on this affordable Garnier Cleansing Water and whether it is a worthy dupe of Bioderma Sensibio.

REVIEW: Son & Park Beauty Water

Son & Park Beauty Water

~AG~

Beauty Water can be used in the morning to create the perfect canvas for makeup application, midday as a refresher, and night after cleansing to whisk away remaining impurities. For normal, oily, dry, and combination skin types. Beauty Water has a pH of 4.5, effectively resetting the skin's natural pH after cleansing. Soko Glam is selling it for US$30 (S$41). The Beauty Water contains willow bark and papaya extract to help exfoliate dead skin cells, revealing brighter skin tone and smoother texture. Lavender water, rose water, and orange fruit extract impart a subtle hydration so your skin can be prepped to absorb the next skin care steps, while adding in a bit of moisture. 

This popular Son & Park Beauty Water has been part of my skincare regime for over 2 weeks now. So what are my thoughts about this product?
It has a distinct botanical scent compared to Bioderma Sensibio. Though the scent is not unpleasant. In terms of cleansing properties, Son & Park Beauty Water seems to do a better job of removing sunscreen, makeup and impurities. One cotton pad of Son & Park Beauty Water is able to capture more residue compared to one cotton pad of Bioderma. Typically use it at night to cleanse face. It takes 2 cotton pads to thoroughly cleanse the face. I try to avoid using Son & Park Beauty Water on the eyes area because it can irritate the eyes. My sensitive skin did not have any adverse reaction to this Beauty Water. Yay! I was a little worried that this Beauty Water might not work for my skin.The exfoliating agents in the Beauty Water is gentle enough for my skin. My skin does not feel dry after use. It keeps my combination skin in check.

Even though this Son & Park Beauty Water is pricey, one bottle contains 340 ml of product which should lasts 3-4 months with daily use. For those that have tried Bioderma, this would be a good alternative for those living in Korea.The only downside is this product is not easily available in Singapore, but you can buy it online. Would recommend it for someone who is looking for a cleansing water/toner to add to their skincare regimen.

NEW BUY: Son & Park Beauty Water

~AG~

My big brother went to South Korea recently and he offered to help me buy some beauty products. The first on my list was Son & Park Beauty Water. This is award-winning Beauty Water by Son & Park can be used as a cleansing water or a toner. Seen this product a few years back at Olive Young but did not purchase it then because my skin was ultra sensitive then.

The Beauty Water contains willow bark and papaya extract to help exfoliate dead skin cells, revealing brighter skin tone and smoother texture. Lavender water, rose water, and orange fruit extract impart a subtle hydration so your skin can be prepped to absorb the next skin care steps, while adding in a bit of moisture.

Beauty Water can be used in the morning to create the perfect canvas for makeup application, midday as a refresher, and night after cleansing to whisk away remaining impurities. For normal, oily, dry, and combination skin types. Beauty Water has a pH of 4.5, effectively resetting the skin's natural pH after cleansing. Soko Glam is selling it for US$30 (S$41)

REVIEW: July 2018 Skincare Regimen

~AG~

The skin condition tends to vary throughout the months due to lifestyle changes - time of the month, traveling, lack of sleep and etc . So, I tend to switch up my skincare products. This is my current skincare regimen. It is a mix of affordable drug store and high-end products.

1) Bioderma Hydrabio
500ml
S$41.90
This cleansing water is designed for dehydrated skin types. It has Hydrabio serum that stimulates the skin and reactivates natural hydration. I use it twice a day to gently remove sunscreen, makeup and other impurities. Since my skin has been on the drier side recently, Bioderma Hydrabio makes my skin feels comfortable. This 500 ml bottle will lasts me around 5-6 months.

2) Avène Gentle Cleansing Foam
150 ml
$37.70
This is my 3rd bottle of Avène Cleansing Foam. This cleansing foam comes with a pump for convenience. It gently cleanses sensitive skin without irritating the skin. One bottle of Cleansing Foam lasts about 4-5 months since I only use it once a day. I would switch to another cleanser after this bottle because my skin has been feeling dry.

3) Thayers Witch Hazel Aloe Vera Formula Rose Petal
355ml
$11.69 
This alcohol-free toner helps keep my skin in check. It contains Witch Hazel to tighten pores and control production while Aloe Vera hydrates the skin. Rose Petal contains ingredients to create a healthy complexion. After using it for over 2 months, my skin has become more balanced. Thayers Witch Hazel Hazel Aloe Vera toner is an affordable drugstore buy.

4) Skinceuticals C E Ferulic
30ml
$231 
Been using this serum for over month. I apply this serum all over my face only at night. So far, I cannot tell that Skinceuticals C E Ferulic significantly improves skin appearance or reduce fine lines or wrinkles. Would have to use it for a more extended time to verify whether there is any skin improvements.

5) Clinique All About Eyes
15ml
S$52.20
This lightweight eye cream hydrates the eye area and is supposed to help with dark circles and eye puffiness. Even though it does not diminish my dark circles, this eye cream works well and you only need a small amount. I apply it using my ring finger, twice a day. A tub of Clinique All About Eyes can lasts 3-4 months.

6) Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentrè
75ml
S$28 
This is my favorite beauty find of 2017. This is my HG moisturizer! I am on my 2nd bottle of Embryolisse Creme Cocentre. It works well to hydrate and soothe my combination skin. The texture is light and does not feel greasy. Even when I travel to dry climate countries, this Embryolisse moisturizer works well. The only downside is that this product is not sold in Singapore. So I stock up or asks those traveling to France to help me buy.

7) Derma-RX Tinted Sunscreen
50ml 
S$69
Wearing sunscreen everyday is a must! Due to my sensitive skin, I am hesitant to try new sunscreen. Sunscreen tends to be the skincare product that aggravates breakouts for me. This is probably the 3rd bottle of Derma-RX Tinted Sunscreen I have used. The new version is good and does not make my face looks greasy. With SPF 50, it provides protection against UV damages. One bottle of Derma-RX Tinted Sunscreen lasts 5-6 months with everyday use.  This is a staple of my skin care regimen.

Q&A: Nature Republic Ultra Fresh Jeju Carbonic H20 Cleansing Water

 

A large bottle of cleansing water. 510 ml bottle

~MG~
NEW BUY: Nature Republic Ultra Fresh Carbonic Water

Q: Why did you buy Nature Republic Carbonic Cleansing Water?
A: I saw this Cleansing Water being recommended on Get it Beauty, a Korean beauty TV show. In Get it Beauty blind test, Nature Republic Carbonic Cleansing Water won first place. It beat highly popular Bioderma Sensibio H20 to get the top rank. 

Q: What do you like about Nature Republic Ultra Fresh Jeju Carbonic H20 Cleansing Water?
A: The affordable price! It costs me less than S$20 for 510 ml of cleansing water! Much more affordable than Bioderma H20 which cost S$40 for 500ml. Nature Republic Carbonic Cleansing Water is 1/2 the price of Bioderma Sensibio H20. This Nature Republic Cleansing Water cleanses off my sunscreen, moisturiser, eye cream, serum and the dirt on my face well.  

Q: How long have you been using Nature Republic Carbonic Cleansing Water?
A: Started using this Cleansing Water in May, it has been 4 months. I use this Cleansing Water generously everyday, and I am not even half way done. I usually use 3 cotton pads to remove all the gunk on my face. 

Q: Did your skin condition improved with the use of Nature Republic Carbonic Cleansing Water?
A: My skin did not see any noticeable improvements after the use of this Cleansing Water. It did not brighten my skin tone nor tighten my pores. It works well to cleanse my face, but it does not have much skin conditioning properties. It does have some hydrating properties, as my skin does not feel tight after using it. 

Q: How does Nature Republic Carbonic Cleansing Water compare to other cleansing waters that you have tried?
A: Compared to La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution, Nature Republic Carbonic Cleansing Water has a better cleaning properties. It is comparable to Bioderma Sensibio H20. Though, it is not fair to compare it to Bioderma Sebium H20, as the latter has anti-acne properties. Another thing to note, is that Nature Republic Carbonic Cleansing Water is more scented than Bioderma Sensibio H20. Nature Republic Carbonic Cleansing Water has a sweet floral scent.

Q: Would you repurchase this Nature Republic Carbonic Cleansing Water?
A: Even though I like its cleansing abilities, I would like my cleansing water to have anti-acne (antibacterial) properties. Though, if you do not have acne-prone skin, I would recommend this Nature Republic Cleansing Water to you. 

NEW: Bifesta Acne Lotion

 Water-based Cleansing Lotion

~AG~ 
Recently saw this Acne Care version of the Bifesta Cleansing Lotion. Bifesta Cleansing Lotions comes in a variety of range. They have the Sebum, Enrich, Moist, Bright Up, AgeCare and Acne Care. So many types to chose from. I am unsure whether the Acne Care Bifesta Cleansing Lotion is new, but I did not notice it before. 

Bifesta Cleansing Lotion Acne Care retails for only S$15.10 at Guardian. It comes with 300ml of product. Compared to Bioderma Sensibio or Sebium H20, Bifesta Cleansing Lotion is easier on the pockets. Bioderma Sensibio and Sebium retails for S$26.90-$29.90 for 250 ml of cleansing water. Unlike other cleansing water, Bifesta Cleansing Lotion comes in a convenient pump packaging.  

Removes Makeup Thoroughly. Fights & Prevents Acne 

Since this 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. Hypoallergenic formulation, Allergy tested, Colorant-free, Fragrance-free, Paraben-free and Alcohol-free. 

New cleansing ingredients derived from facial toners, remove even the heaviest makeup easily. With improved cleansing power and gentler formula, cleansing is faster, more thorough and gentle to skin. Bifesta Cleansing Lotion removes skin dullness to reveal clear and smooth skin. It is a 100% oil-free formulation that leaves the skin feeling refreshed and hydrated, without any greasy or sticky feeling. 

Cannot wait to try it out after I am done with my bottle of Bioderma Sebium H20. Hopefully Bifesta Cleansing Lotion will work as an affordable alternative to Bioderma Cleansing Water. 

NEW BUY: Nature Republic Ultra Fresh Jeju Carbonic H20 Cleansing Water

~MG~
Continuing my love for cleansing water. This is a cleansing water by Korean brand, Nature Republic. This cleanser contains carbonic water from Jeju Mountain Sanding Springs, which functions as both a makeup remover and a facial cleanser. It eliminates impurities requiring no additional facial wash.

510 ml (17.22 fl. oz) of product. A HUGE bottle!

 How to use: Damp an adequate amount of product onto a cotton pad and wipe the whole face clean. You can use this cleansing water on your lips and eye area. After going over with a cotton pad, you rinse off with lukewarm water. No extra facial wash is needed. 

The major difference between Nature Republic Ultra Fresh Jeju Carbonic H20 Cleansing Water and Bioderma Sensibio H20 is that the Nature Republic Cleansing Water contains carbonic or sparkling water. Another difference is that you have to rinse off Nature Republic Cleansing Water, while you do not have to do so for Bioderma Sensibio H20. Carbonic water is supposedly great to purify the skin by removing dead skin cells. It also helps to firm and tighten the skin, and create a healthier-looking skin. I remember hearing about the benefits of carbonic water a few years ago, but did not get around to try it. Since this cleansing water has carbonic water, it is a 2-in-1. I cannot wait to try it out! Please stay tuned for my review of Nature Republic Carbonic Cleansing Water. 

The new packaging 

This cleansing water has since been repackaged and renamed. P.S: I bought my cleansing water a year ago. It is now been renamed Jeju Sparkling Cleansing Water, and comes in a green packaging. It retails for KRW 10, 500 (S$12) on their official website. Check out their website for more info. https://www.naturerepublic.com

NEW BUY: La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution

Micellar Water

~AG~
Been a big fan of Bioderma Sebium H20, it has been my cleansing routine staple for over a year and a half. Cleansing water is definitely the greatest beauty invention of this decade! After going through 2 or 3 bottles of Bioderma Sebium, it is time to try something new. They are way more cleansing water available on the market right now. Drugstore brands such as Garnier, Biore, Avène, Simple, Vichy and La Roche-Posay having cleansing water. Even higher-end brands such as Lancome, Dior and Caudalíe are offering cleansing water. With MG's encouragement, I decided to buy a travel-size version of La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution from Guardian. It costs $9.90 for 100 ml of cleansing water. It is more affordable compared to Bioderma Sebum H20. This cleansing water claims to cleanse, tone and soothe skin, all while respecting its physiological balance. 

100 ml

La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution is/contains: 

A 3-in-1 no-rinse solution

Gentle cleansing and make-up removal

Micelles micro-encapsulate dirt on skin's surface and lift it off without rubbing, maintaining skin's physiological balance.

Poloxamer, a mild cleanser used in contact lens solutions, gently cleanses even sensitive skin.

Antioxidant Thermal Spring Water soothes skin

A gentle, mildly scented texture that wipes off with a cotton pad

Physiological PH. Safe for sensitive skin

Soap-free, Alcohol-free, Paraben-free 

I cannot wait to try it out. I hope it is just as good or even better than Bioderma Sebium H20. Will let you know how it goes. Stay tuned!

REVIEW: Bioderma Sebium H2O

~AG~
I really really really like this Bioderma Sebium H20!! I was fond of Bioderma Sensibio H20. But I have to say that Bioderma Sebium works wonder for my combination sensitive skin. Since my T-zone is oily, this formula is more suitable for me. My skin feels clean and refresh after each use. It throughly removes my makeup & sunscreen. When I wear face makeup, I usually use two cotton pads worth of product just to make sure everything is well removed. However, if I solely use sunscreen, one cotton pad is enough to throughly cleanse my face. Sometimes, I even use it to remove my eye makeup. Though, it does not throughly remove waterproof eyeliner and mascara. 

My dermatologist, Dr. Joyce Lim, recommended that I use Bioderma Sebium instead of Bioderma Sensibio. She said that the zinc ingredient has antibacterial properties that will help reduce clogged pores. 

In the United States, Bioderma is not sold in retail stores (as far as I know), and you can only buy it online from other countries. 
In Singapore, they only sell Bioderma at Guardian. It costs about S$20+ for the bigger bottle (250mL). Mine have lasted me for over 5 months. I am about 3/4 done with it. It is totally worth the money! I am never going back to cleansing oil again.

I will definitely recommend Bioderma Sebium to all you readers. For those with oily and combination skin, I recommend Bioderma Sebium. For those with normal to dry skin, I recommend the Bioderma Sensibio. You have to try it out!

Bioderma Sebium H2O

~AG~

I bought the Bioderma Sebium H2O out of the recommendation from my dermatologist. I have been breaking out like crazy recently so decided to seek professional help. She suggested that I discontinue use of cleansing oil and use cleansing water instead. She mentioned that cleansing oil can cause pimples. Since I have oily skin, she recommended I use Bioderma Sebium H20 instead of Bioderma Sensibio, which I have been using previously.  She said the zinc ingredient in it acts as an antibacterial property, and will help to prevent clogged pores. I'm hoping this will help my skin. *cross my fingers*

• Sébium H2O is an ultra-mild cleansing formula, use it with the utmost care. Soak a cotton pad with Sébium H2O and cleanse your face. Repeat the application until the cotton pad remains clean.

• Sébium H2O needs no rinsing but it is essential to dry your skin. Dry gently. Pat your face with a clean, cotton towel.
• Sébium H2O can be used daily, morning and evening.

• BIODERMA innovation, Sébium H2O gently cleanses the skin without drying it, through the micro-emulsion of impurities and excess sebum.

• Enriched with purifying active ingredients, Sébium H2O cleanses the epidermis in depth and regulates secretion of sebum. The patented sebo-correcting complex, Fluidactiv^®, normalises sebum quality.

• Sébium H2O guarantees excellent cutaneous and ocular tolerance.
• Sébium H2O is non-comedogenic.

Ingredients: 
WATER (AQUA), PEG-6 CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC GLYCERIDES, SODIUM CITRATE , ZINC GLUCONATE, COPPER SULFATE, GINKGO BILOBA EXTRACT, MANNITOL, XYLITOL, RHAMNOSE, FRUCTOOLIGOSACCHARIDES, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, CITRIC ACID, DISODIUM EDTA, CETRIMONIUM BROMIDE, FRAGRANCE (PARFUM).

REVIEW: Bioderma Sensibio H20

 

Winner of Best Makeup Remover for Sensitive Skin by Women’s Weekly 2013 Best Beauty Buys (Singapore)

~AG~

I finally get the chance to try out this Bioderma cleansing water. Finished using my Fancl Washing Powder yesterday and was thinking which cleansing foam to use next. But decide to try this out instead since it’s been in my beauty storage for almost 3 months now.

My younger sister, who is a self-professed skincare product junkie, was using this Bioderma solution on the flight back to Singapore. After she was done cleansing, I saw how much dirt and grim that one soaked cotton pad could remove. I was impressed by it. My sister said that if you are using sunscreen, bb cream or other oil-based face products, it is best to you 2 cotton pads of Bioderma solution.

I've been using it for over 2 months now, and almost at the end of my first bottle. After first using Hada Labo Cleansing Oil to remove my makeup and sunscreen, I will soak a cotton pad of Bioderma and then use it to wipe my whole face. I usually use one cotton pad everyday, but on days when I feel that they are more grim, I will use two cotton pads of Bioderma. That is all I do for my face cleansing. I do not use any other face wash.

So far, my skin has not had any adverse reaction to Bioderma. It cleanses my skin gently while also removing all the impurities. At first, I questioned Bioderma cleansing ability. I was afraid that it would not sufficiently clean impurities and will cause my skin to have breakouts. Even though I like the squeaky clean feeling of a face wash, I have gotten use to the non-lather cleansing water. It does leave a bit of a "sticky" feeling at first, but after absorption, my skin feels soft and hydrated.
I like Bioderma so much that I stocked up on a bunch of them while I was in Europe last month. I recommend Bioderma to those with sensitive skin who are looking for a gentle way to clean your skin.

 ~MG~

I love Bioderma.

Started a new skincare routine because my face is in its critical condition during my summer holiday in Singapore. However, now that I'm back in the U.S, I'm still continuing with cleansing my face in the morning with just the Bioderma and using it again at night, as a toner(works superb as a gentle toner!) and double cleanser after using my facial cleanser or cleansing oil.

The Bioderma really works well, it clean off everything and its not drying at all which makes it a great cleanser to use in the plane! It can be a hassle washing your face in the plane's small sink and getting your face and skin wet may not be so ideal on a long haul flight since it's so cold up there! With Bioderma, you can use it comfortably from your seat! But be sure to remember to pack at least 2-3 cotton pads for every cleansing session.

Ps: Big Tip for those living in cooler and drier climate or during winter season, this is the perfect morning cleanser because its not drying at all and very effective!