NEW BUY: Biossance Squalane + Peptide Gel

~AG~
This is one of Biossance best-selling products, Biossance Squalane + Peptide Gel. Heard about this brand from my friend, Stephanie. This American brand that is popular for their clean products is not as known in Asia. Bought this product from Sephora USA for US$54 (S$74). Biossance Squalane + Peptide Gel is a lightweight eye gel that reduces the look of puffiness and dark circles. 

Cannot wait to try it and see whether it would reduce my dark circles. Follow me on the journey to find the best eye cream for dark circles. 

 

REVIEW: Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream

~AG~

I am so excited to try this highly rated Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Serum. Bought it from Sephora USA for US$64 (S$88) last June. Good news is Drunk Elephant products are available in Sephora Singapore now. If you have not heard of Drunk Elephant then you should check them out. The brand philosophy is to say "No to 6 Suspicious Ingredients" which are Essential Oils, Drying Alcohols, Silicones, Chemical Screens, Fragrances and SLS. Drunk Elephant is a clean skincare brand that pride its products with non-harmful ingredients to the body. 

This Eye Serum comes in an orange and white packaging. The packaging has a twist cap that pops the pump up when in use. Then you can twist down the pump when not in use. This innovative packaging is great for traveling since it prevents the pump from accidentally dispensing product. 

This Eye Serum contains 8 peptides, 5 forms of Vitamin C and cucumber extract to brighten and firm the eye area. This product has rave reviews to combat dark circles. Been using it for over two months, twice a day. On some days, I use Drunk Elephant eye cream with Mt. Lai Jade Facial Roller. The cooling properties of the Jade helps to soothe the eye area. 

So here are my thoughts. Drunk Elephant C-Tango Eye Cream is absorbed easily into the skin and does not leave any sticky feeling. The creamy texture keeps my undereyes area hydrated. My concealer goes well on top of Drunk Elephant Eye Cream. This C-Tango Eye Cream is suitable for my sensitive skin and did not trigger any milia. Yay! I tend to be wary of trying new eye cream or serum because my undereyes area is prone to milia. In regards to dark circles, my panda eyes are still there. I feel this Drunk Elephant can work well for preventative skin care rather than combat existing problems. 

It is one of the most expensive eye cream/serum that I have purchased. 15 ml for S$88. It will only last me 3 months or so. I might buy another bottle of Drunk Elephant C-Tango Eye Cream just to see whether there is any effect on my dark circles if I use it for a longer time. Overall, I am satisfied with the product but not the price. I supposed the expensive price tag is due to the clean ingredients Drunk Elephant uses. 

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.

REVIEW: Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moist Eye Cream

 ~MG~

On a search to find  more affordable eye cream and with a pump. Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moist Eye Cream contains three types of hyaluronic acid to deeply moisturize the skin around the eyes. It contains ACTIFLOW to visibly lighten dark circles and reduce puffiness. It also contains natural Jojoba Oil to smoothen the fine lines around the eye area.

This is an affordable eye cream at S$22 compared to my HG Kiehl's Creamy Avocado (S$53), which I love and have went through four tubs of it already. Hada Labo Eye Cream contains 15 g of product and lasts for about three months. The pump packaging is perfect for lazy person like me. It is also more hygienic that way since you do not have to dip your fingers inside the tub, especially if you have long fingernails. The slim packaging is convenient to travel with, I carry it in my handbag whenever the skin around the eye area feels dry. Always a fan of  Hada Labo products because there are free of fragrances, mineral oil, alcohol & colorant.

Even though it claims to visibly lighten dark circles and reduce puffiness,  I did not have much expectation for those. I only wanted the Hyaluronic Acid ingredient to moisturize my dry undereyes. I cannot stand the look of the dry lines when I apply CC cream/concealer on. All I want in an eye cream is for it to moisturize my undereyes. Although I do have dark circles but I never believe that an eye cream can lighten it. I do not think dark circle can be reduced solely by an eye cream. Hada Labo Eye Cream does have some moisturizing properties but it is not very hydrating.  Sometimes i have white tiny spots which looks like milia, but not sure whether it is caused by this eye cream. so whenever i have the milia, i would stop using it until it go away first.

I will repurchase and recommend for those who is looking for an affordable moisturizing eye cream. You can find it in Guardian and Watsons in Singapore.

REVIEW: belif Anti-Dark Circle Eye Serum

belif Anti-Dark Circle Eye Serum

~AG~
Bought this belif Anti-Dark Circle Eye Serum a few months ago, finally done with my Fresh Lotus Eye Gel, and it is time for me to try this. it Since years and years ago, I have been plagued with severe dark circles. Even when I have enough sleep, or sleep early, I would still have dark circles. My panda eyes are very noticeable. That is why I resort to heavy duty concealer for disguising my dark circles. Having tried numerous drugstore and high-end eye care products, no eye care product has successfully diminish my dark circles. Being a beauty product junkie, any eye cream on the market that claims to reduce dark circles will be in my "to-try" book. Belif eye serum, tested and proven to ease dark circles, is formulated with red sage, gallnut and other special herbs, the Napier's Dark Circle Formula is backed by 150 years of traditions.

belif Anti-Dark Circle Eye Serum comes in a squeeze tube with a narrow tip applicator. It has a cream texture, that is more hydrating than Fresh Lotus Eye Gel. Though, it is not as rich as Kiehl Creamy Eye Treatment. Since my under eyes area is prone to milia (oil seeds), I try to stay clear off rich eye creams. So far, belif Anti-Dark Circle Eye Serum did not cause me to have any new milia. *cross my fingers* I have been using this belif Eye Serum nightly for over a month. When I first used it, I woke up and noticed that my under eyes areas were brightened. But after subsequent use, I did not notice anymore significant changes. So if I were to say whether this eye serum diminishes dark circles? I would say its effect is minimal. The only thing I like about the eye serum is the texture; it is moisturizing without being too rich. 

 Slightly tapered tip for easy dispensation

 Slim packaging that is great for traveling 

This eye care product is pricey at $68 for 20 ml of product. The reason why I am willing to shell out that much $$ for the Belif Eye Serum is because it is free of mineral oil, synthetic fragrance, synthetic dyes, synthetic preservatives and animal origin ingredients. Overall, I would not repurchase this belif Anti-Dark Circle Eye Serum because there are some comparable eye creams on the market that are more affordable.

A pea-sized amount is all I need

NEW BUY: belief Haul - Eye Care Products

~AG~

belif First Aid 360 Eye care mask & Anti-dark circles Eye serum

Anti-Dark Circle Eye Serum ($68)
This eye serum effectively brightens the eye area while diminishing the appearance of dark circles. The eye serum, tested and proven to ease dark circles, is formulated with red sage, gallnut and other special herbs, the Napier's Dark Circle Formula backed by 150 years of tradition.

First Aid 360 Eye Care Mask ($39). 
One of belif's best-sellers! It is to be used after an eye cream or eye serum. An intensive eye care mask for the skin around the eyes tired from less skin care products and much color make-up. Including mimosa herbs and 3 types of Napiers formula, the mask provides moisture around the sensitive eye area, and revitalize it with energy.

Paid $99 for both products because there was a Christmas promotion. Cannot wait to try these two eye care products! I hope it helps reduce my severe dark circles! Stay tuned for my review of the Anti-Dark Circle Eye Serum and First Aid 306 Eye Care Mask!

NEW BUY: REN Clean Skincare Vita Mineral Active 7 Eye Gel

 

 

 

~AG~

 

I decided to stop using the Etude House White Moistfull Eye Roll-on. I have been using that product for over two months. My eye area does not look any different on days when I have it on compared to days when I do not use it.

 

I bought this REN Clean Skincare Vita Mineral Active 7 Eye Gel (US$30) last June when I was in the States. The saleslady at Sephora had helped me picked out a moisturizer from REN Clean Skincare and so I asked her to also recommend an eye gel/cream from that brand. She recommended the REN Clean Skincare Vita Mineral Active 7 Eye Gel. I told her that I wanted some light to help with my dark circles and puffiness. I also mentioned that I did not want an eye cream that was too rich because it will trigger more milia under my eyes.

 

The packaging is convenient for travelling. It is compact and durable. The eye gel comes in a pump applicator which make is user-friendly. I find that pump applicator is the best form of packaging for skin care products because they dispense the right amount of products, and is more hygienic. My least favourite packaging for eye gel or cream will have to be the squeeze tube, I often find that excess product tends to be squeezed. Thus for pricey eye gel and cream, the squeeze tube may cause the product to go to waste.

 

The description on REN Clean Skincare website makes the eye gel seems very promising with its many active ingredients that are used to help reduce puffiness and fight off dark circles. I will have to use this eye gel for a while to give a comprehensive review on how it helps or does not not help my dark circle and puffiness. Please stay tuned!

 

According to REN Clean Skincare website,  Vita Mineral Active 7 Eye Gel contains:

• Vitamin P from Damask Rose Water is anti-inflammatory and protects capillary network
• Flavonoids from Arnica reduce puffiness by stimulating the drainage process
• Mucilages from Fig soothe and instantly refresh the eye area
• Polysaccharides from Zostera Marina increase and maintain moisture levels
• Ginsengoside from Chinese Ginseng boosts circulation in the capillaries
• Tyrosinase Inhibitor from Wild Canadian Rumex reduces dark pigmentation and redness

 

 

NEW BUY: Lancome Advanced Genefique



~AG~

Lancôme Advanced Genifique  & Genifique Yeux Light-Pearl set (S$173.60)

This set comes with a 50ml (1.69 fl. oz.) Advanced Genifique and a 20ml (0.67 fl. oz.) Genefique Yeux Light-Pearl. I purchased it last week from Shilla Duty-Free at Singapore Changi Airport. It retailed for S$173.60 (~US$138.88), which is a steal for the Genifique product line. If I had bought the products individually, it will costs me US$172 (S$215). So, I saved about S$40 (US$33) by purchasing this value set.

A few years ago, I had tried the Lancôme Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate when one of my friends recommended it to me. My friend had acne-prone skin and she said that this Lancôme concentrate makes her skin glow. However, when I used it, I did not notice any significant differences on my skin. Now that Lancôme has reformulated and come up with an Advanced formula, I am game to try it again. And who knows it might work for me this time since my skin condition has changed.

I will try the Advance Genifique concentrate once I am done with my bottle of Laneige Water Bank Essence. Stay tuned!
 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Lancôme Advanced Genifique (USD $104 for 50 ml/1.69 fl. oz.)

Want glowing skin in 7 days? Here’s your answer in a bottle. This innovative serum soaks into skin, targeting the 10 key signs of youth: texture, resiliency, elasticity, firmness, sagginess, fine lines, wrinkles, radiance, even skin tone, and clarity, with noticeable results in just 7 days. Advanced Génifique is the perfect first step after cleansing to reveal smoother, more radiant skin for all ages, ethnicities, and skin types. With an exclusive self-loading dropper, Génifique delivers the ideal dosage to bring back the light into your skin

     

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Images

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Benefits

Acts on 10 key signs of youth, day and night.

Clinical Results after 8 weeks
(% of improvement noticed)

 Texture +57%
Resiliency +49%
Elasticity +50%
Firmness +49%
Sagginess +46%
Fine lines +42%
Wrinkles +46%
Radiance +52%
Clarity +47%
Even Skin Tone +42%

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Lancôme Genefique Eye Light-Pearl (USD $68)

Eye luminosity, the new visible sign of youth.

The new 360° eye contour transformation.

Lancôme introduces its 1st eye-illuminating serum, engineered with a unique rotating and massaging applicator to reach even the most inaccessible eye areas.
Experience a 360° eye contour transformation above and below the eyes for visible results.

Benefits

• More Luminous
• See Deflated Eye Bags
• Smoother
• After 4 weeks of use, results show 78% of women thought that the eye contour was visibly improved.

Technology

• First-of-its-kind 360° massaging Light-Pearl™ applicator.
• Perfectly adapts to the fragile eye area
• Offers a delicate and precise massaging action on the eye contour
  
  
  

REVIEW: Etude House White moistfull eye roll on

~AG~

I bought this Etude House White Moistfull Eye Roll-On a year ago. I cannot remember how much I bought it for. Today, I went to a Etude House outlet to check out the price and they told me that this product has been discontinued. The saleslady said Etude House is re-packaging and re-formulating the product. I asked the sales assistant about the price of the discontinued product, she said it retailed for around S$20. This was supposed to be a substitute for my Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage (US$29). But I never got around to trying it till now because I was using another eye cream. 
Since the milia under my eyes have been persistent, I decided to switch to a lightweight eye gel instead of eye cream. I've been using Etude House White Moistfull Eye roll-on for almost two weeks now. Etude House claims that this product has brightening properties for dark circles, and also works to reduce under eye puffiness. It has a metal roller ball to apply the gel under the eyes. The metal roller ball is cooling and refreshes the eye area. The gel is quickly absorbed into the skin. It does not feel sticky upon application. It does not have much moisturising properties. 
Regarding its effectiveness for my dark circles, I have not seen any noticeable differences to my under eye area. My panda eyes are just as bad. It does help with puffiness but it is not a must-have product. I much prefer Clinique roll-on eye gel, it feels more refreshing upon application. 

REVIEW: Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado

 

~MG~



Halfway through with my second jar of Kiehl's 'Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado'. After my first jar, I went eyecream hunting, tried a few other eyecreams from different brands but none treats me better than Kiehl's 'Creamy Eye Treatment'. 

The three main ingredients in this eye cream is surprise, surprise... avocado oil, beta-carotene and shea butter. Prior to using this eye cream, I was hesitant of the avocado oil and shea butter because I was afraid that it might be too heavy and oily for my under-eyes and eyelids. It will be a nightmare having milia, which actually did came true but thankfully not with my trusty Kiehl's. 

Just some quick facts about the 3 big ingredients: 
1) Avocado oil is the most moisturizing of any fruit oil which is perfect for dry under-eyes because it will help to restore the natural moisture of the skin. 
2) Beta-Carotene is an antioxidant found in many orange/red vegetables such as carrots, hence the its name is similar to Carrot.
3) Next is Shea butter who is no stranger to lotions and cleansing product because of its hydrating properties. It protects skin from dehydration, restores skin suppleness and improves the dry under-eyes.

I really like this eye cream. It does not cause milia. It hydrates my under-eyes and eyelids. It does not migrate into my eyes. The texture is good, not sticky or greasy. It sip into my skin fairly fast. No scent which is good for our sensitive eye areas. The colour is green which is my favourite colour. The price is good. However, one thing that I hate about this eye cream is its packaging. Since it is packaged in a jar, you will need to dip your finger in every single time you use it, yikes! Despite the fact of the 'Creamy Eye Treatment' packaging, I will not stop me from bringing it home again!
 

REVIEW: Yves Rocher Complete Anti-Aging Eye Care

 

The skin around the eyes is fragile and requires special attention!
This Complete Anti-aging Eye Care acts globally for maximum results.

This anti-aging product eyes is targeted to women over 40 for a daily use. It can be used as a cure for women in their thirties.
- Wrinkles and fine lines around the eye contour are quickly smoothed,
- Under eye bags seems deflated,
- Dark circles are visibly faded.
The unique tip applicator makes eye care a breeze. Just apply it to the area you want to treat and   gently squeeze for just the right amount!

~AG~

I walked past a “Yves Rocher” store while I was at Austria and wondered about it. It looked interesting from the outside, and I wanted to try some lower-end European skincare brand. The airport at Budapest happened to have a Yves Rocher store. Even though the saleslady knew minimal English, she was very helpful when I asked about their bestseller or star products. She introduced me to this eye cream when instead, I actually wanted to try Fresh Gel Undereye Bags. She said that the Complete Anti-Aging Eye Care is better. I was convinced to buy it after seeing the metal tip applicator which makes the eyes area feel cooling.

I’ve been only using the Clinique All About Eyes Serum in the morning, and no eye cream at night. The Clinique serum has a gel-like consistency and does not have much moisturizing properties, so I wanted to try an eye cream with a more hydrating and anti-aging benefits for nighttime use.
Will let you know whether this eye cream will work for me. Or will it be too “heavy” for someone in their mid-20s.