Author: Elisia

BoxGreen: July 2015 Box

Yikes, I have overdued posts for all my blogs. Just bear with me as I play catch up alright?

So here’s my comment post on my second BoxGreen snack box. The squirrels were feeling a little generous this July and added a little surprise in the box: a TEAISM wand. I wrote a review on the tea wands much earlier. If you want, you can check it out here.

I suppose it’s a cue to enjoy the snacks while sipping on some tea. 🙂

I forgot to make some changes to my list of snacks so I got another packet of Cranberry Fusion in this box. Well, but I found a use for this rather sweet snack. I add some of it to plain yoghurt. I’ve been trying to stay away from sweet food for the fear of getting gestational diabetes, so I’ve been eating plain yoghurt instead of flavoured ones. However, plain yoghurt is a bit unbearable for me who has 1) a sweet tooth 2) a dislike for food with a strong dairy taste. So I add a little sweetness to my plain yoghurt to make it taste a little better.

Other snacks in this box…

Berry Nut Mix: A nutty and fruity mix of walnuts, peanuts, cashew nuts, sultanas and cranberries. The sweet fruit kind of balance out the mild taste of the nuts. Also, I don’t know about you guys, but my jaw kinda hurts after munching on too many nuts. The fruits kind of give my jaw a break.

Original Soya Crisps: These need a bit of getting used to. They are a little hard if you’re used to the kind of light crisp in potato chips, but they can get a bit addictive. They remind me a lot of Sun Chips in terms of taste.

Onion Macademia Garlic (OMG!): OMG! indeed. These were what attracted me to BoxGreen in the first place. I crave the taste of garlic macademias ever since the first time I had them in Hawaii. Unfortunately, these don’t taste as good as those I ate in Hawaii. The ones bought in Hawaii under the Hawaiian Host brand, were a lot more light and powdery in taste. These were slightly buttery and heavier in taste. Good try though…they are still rather addictive.

There’s no special promotion going on now, but if you sign up for your first box with my special code, we both get $5 off. So what are you waiting for? Sign up for a BoxGreen subscription and start snacking healthily.

[SR] Esemtan Skin Balm

I couldn’t be more overjoyed than to try out the Esemtan Skin Balm, especially after my Maldives trip where my skin took a beating from the sun. Thanks Schulke and The Sample Store!

The skin balm provides the skin with oil and moisture. It permeates deeply and rapidly absorbs into the skin with its oil-in-water emulsion, and supports and cares for the skin to protect it from drying. It also contains Urea as a moisturising agent that helps to speed up skin cell renewal.  No more dry and itchy skin!

In addition, the skin balm is dermatologically tested and is suitable for all skin types, even those with dry and sensitive skin.

To use the skin balm, apply a good amount to the back of your hand and spread it by rubbing gently. One back of your hand to the other back of your hand, and then the palms of your hands. It is recommended to use daily, morning and evening after each wash.

After application of this mild fragrance skin balm, my skin had a nice glowy sheen. It didn’t feel oily or sticky at all.

You can get the Esemtan Skin Balm at pharmacies like Guardian, Unity, Watsons, independent pharmacies (Pink Beauty, Beauty Essential) and BHG. A 500ml bottle retails at $20.

[SR] Esemtan Wash Lotion

If you have dry or sensitive skin, then this range of products is for you.

Esemtan Wash Lotion is a soap-free wash that can be used as a soap or commercial shower lotion. It works up a gentle lather and is effective in removing dirt and oil from the skin. Made of milder ingredients, this wash does not deplete the skin’s natural oils and is suitable for use on all skin types — from babies to old folks. You can use it practically from head to toe — body, face and hair. With Allantoin, the wash is pH neutral and is especially suitable for sensitive, dehydrated, dry and stressed skin.

You can be even more reassured as this wash has undergone strict skin sensitivity tests and is approved by the International Fragrance Association — a body dedicated to the safe use of fragrant chemicals, and essential oils in perfume and skincare products.

To use it as a hand wash, simply pour out 2-3ml of the opalescent green wash lotion on one palm. Froth it with water. Wash thoroughly, then rinse and dry.

What I liked about the wash lotion is that it has a mild and soothing fragrance. After use, my skin didn’t feel all dry and tight. It’s really a mild wash as it claims to be.

You can get the Esemtan Wash Lotion at pharmacies like Guardian, Unity, Watsons, independent pharmacies (Pink Beauty, Beauty Essential) and BHG. A 500ml bottle retails at $19.75, while a 1L bottle retails at $35.50.

BoxGreen: June 2015 Box

This is a rather late post. I was supposed to review the June box earlier but didn’t get round to it until now…when the July box is already here. *yikes*

I’ve got another subscription box to introduce to everyone. Nope, it’s not a beauty box. It contains food…healthy snacks to be exact. It’s started by a college acquaintance and his two other partners.

Ever felt hunger pangs at weird hours where you end up munching away on potato chips, only to think about the calories and regret later? Well, these guys from BoxGreen understand the feeling. That’s why they’ve come up with this great idea of supplying healthy snacks on a monthly basis.

The subscription plans are:

  • Monthly — $19.90/mth
  • 3 Months — $18.90/mth, $56.70 charged every 3 months (save 5%)
  • 6 Months — $17.90/mth, $107.40 charged every 6 months (save 10%)
  • 12 months — $15.90/mth, $190.80 charged per year (save 20%)

The good thing about choosing a higher plan is that you get some savings. The bad thing is that you commit yourself to receiving a box for the specified number of months. So you can’t quit halfway if you really get sick of it. The payments are set up to deduct regularly on Paypal.

There’s a whole load of wonderful snacks to choose from. All you have to do is choose eight snacks to begin with. Each box will contain four chosen snacks, so you’re really listing for two boxes. The list is totally customisable. You can choose what snacks you want to receive, in any order you like. If any of your chosen snacks are sold out, the squirrels at BoxGreen will replace it with a surprise snack. Or if you really like surprises, you can just not pick anything and let the friendly squirrels do the picking for you. It’s that simple.

I’ve known about BoxGreen for some time but was just hesitating a little over the price. But but but…they have garlic macademias… That was it. I gave in to the temptation and started my subscription.

The box has arrived!

Open the box and what do I see, my snacks carefully wrapped in brown paper. Mmmmm…the going green and earthy feel.

Two of my choices were probably sold out and they got replaced.

Shitake Mushroom Chips: I love mushrooms but I was a little curious and skeptical about this snack. Dried shitake mushrooms have to weird salty smell, so how would the mushroom chips taste like? Sure hope they didn’t have the same smell. Well, they didn’t! They had this nice soy sauce flavour and were totally crunchy. Very addictive.

Cranberry Fusion: This was one the replacement surprise snacks. Really not complaining because I love cranberries. This snack is a mix of cranberries, raspberries and blueberries. Raspberries…really? I don’t remember tasting any. Haha. This snack is a little on the sweet side though.

Berry Dark in Here: I’m not too sure why I chose this snack. Haha. Probably because I was drawn to the sultanas. It’s a mix of golden raisins, dried strawberries and dark chocolate buttons. I was pleasantly surprised that the dried strawberries tasted sweet here. The ones in this cereal that I bought, tasted sour.

The last snack is Lightly Roasted Pistachios. I didn’t take a photo of it because you do know how pistachios look like right? I opted for Rosemary Pistachios, but apparently those were sold out. Ah well. *shrugs*

I know, you must be thinking why no garlic macademias in this box when that snack was the one that tempted me into starting this subscription. Erm well…apparently the bottom four snacks in my list of eight got sent first.

So there you have it. My review of my first BoxGreen snack box. The snacks are really good so they’re are worth a try.

Right now, there’s a cool promotion going on. If I refer 10 friends, I get a chance at winning a free box. So help me out guys, by clicking on this link to get started with your own BoxGreen subscription. Then refer 10 friends to get your chance at winning a free box too!

[SR] Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel

It’s been pretty hot and sunny these days. Not surprising for the mid-year in Singapore. How do you keep yourself protected from the sun’s damaging rays?

Sunscreen? Everyone seems to know about using sunscreen for protection, but in actual fact, not many are regular users. In a 2014 Benchmark Survey commissioned by Kao Singapore, only 30% of women between the ages of 12 and 49 surveyed, used sunscreen daily. And it has stayed that way for the past five years, even with a whole slew of sunscreen products introduced to the market.

Admittedly, I am also not a regular user of sunscreen. I dislike the sticky or oily feel of it. Well, Biore has introduced its new and enhanced sunscreen products that might just change our minds.

Thanks to the folks at Biore and The Sample Store, I got to try out the Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel.

The new range of Biore sunscreen products offer the highest level of UV protection recognised in the industry — SPF50+ and PA++++ rating. That’s maximum protection against harmful UVA and UVB rays from the sun which causes damaging effects on our skin such as premature aging, wrinkles and freckles, as well as discolouration, sallowness and dryness of the skin.

What’s nice about Biore’s UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel is it comes in a handy 90ml bottle which is a nice size for carry-on luggage when going on overseas trips. The formula is also good for use from head to toe. Yup, so you’re really well protected from the sun!

The sunscreen comes in a light, watery texture that leaves a cool and refreshing feeling on your skin. It contains the breakthrough Aqua Micro Capsule, a water capsule which breaks upon application on the skin to release the UV protection agent while leaving the skin feeling cool. The watery gel is also infused with hyaluronic acid and citrus extract to keep the skin hydrated and healthy.

You can even use it as a base before you apply make up on your face. It’s definitely not oily or sticky, and does not leave a white cast on your skin. It brightens and whitens your skin for that glowing appearance. It also has a mild powdery fragrance.

Left: Before application on face, Right: After application on face.

I’m not sure if it’s that visible from the photos, but before application on my face, my skin looked quite dull. After application, my face was a little brighter and had this slight watery glow.

The Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel retails at $18.90 and can be found at all leading pharmacies, super and hyper markets, departmental stores, beauty stores and selected minimarts.

I’m definitely packing this sunscreen into my bag on my next trip!

[SR] Biore Aqua Jelly Makeup Remover

I must say I’m quite lazy when it comes to removing make up. I like things to be fast and fuss-free. Biore’s new and improved Aqua Jelly Makeup Remover is just that!

Thanks to the kind people of Biore and The Sample Store, I got to know about the wonders of this make up remover.

The attraction began even before I started using the product. It looks all pink and princess-y. <3

The new and improved product has a smoother jelly-like texture that is gentle on the skin and rinses off easily without any rubbing, pulling or tugging of the skin. It’s high cleansing ability allows it to dissolve and lift off traces of make up easily. It also contains 40% moisturising essence that nourishes and hydrates the skin for a dewy moisturised finish.

Two to three pumps of the make up remover is all you need. There’s no need to use cotton pads, just use the product directly on your face. Make sure to spread the make up remover evenly over your face and eye area. Gently massage to dissolve the make up, then rinse it off with water.

My make up regime is definitely not the heavy sort. Here you see roughly all the make up I use (except foundation, concealer and powder which is not seen here). From top to bottom: Lip gloss, eyeshadow, black liquid eyeliner, black pencil eyeliner, white pencil eyeliner, brown eyebrow liner, black mascara.

The first few gentle massages got rid of almost all the make up. I swear I really didn’t need to rub that hard. A few more gentle massages and all of it was off.

What I really liked about the make up remover was that it didn’t feel oily at all and it had a nice fragrance. After washing off everything, my skin did not have a sticky or greasy feel. My skin did not feel tight, but rather refreshed.

The Biore Aqua Jelly Makeup Remover is definitely the fuss-free product that I’m looking for.

It retails at $24.90 (230ml) at all leading supermarkets, personal care stores, western pharmacies and department stores.

[SR] Palmer’s White & Even Dark Circle Correcting Eye Treatment

Besides the Dark Spot Corrector, Palmer’s and The Sample Store also sponsored a second product : Palmer’s White & Even Dark Circle Correcting Eye Treatment.

As the product suggests, it:

  • Targets dark circles and shadows
  • Brightens under eyes
  • Firms and lifts
  • Reduces puffiness

It also contains the same important ingredients as the dark spot corrector — Cocoa Butter, Soy, Licorice Extract, Synovea, Vitamin C and Niacinamide. The product also has a triple blend of Caffeine that energises and stimulates microcirculation. Skin Nutrients plump and moisturise and a Sheer Luminising Veil brightens shadowy under-eye areas.

I haven’t got very bad dark circles or puffiness, but nevertheless, the product was worth a try.

Before applying Palmer’s White & Even Dark Circle Correcting Eye Treatment.

What I like about the product is the cool metal tip applicator. If you’re familiar with quick remedies for puffy eyes, most will tell you to place a metal teaspoon in the fridge and then place it over your eyes for a few minutes. The cool tip helps to soothe the puffiness.

The eye treatment cream itself is a little glittery which adds to the brightening effect.

After using Palmer’s White & Even Dark Circle Correcting Eye Treatment.

The product is to be used as often as needed during the day to brighten the eye area. So yup, if your eyes look dull and tired, use the product to give your eyes a little perk up.

This 15ml product retails at $22.90 and can be found at  Watsons, Guardian, BHG, Robinsons, John Little, Essentials Pharmacy, Nishino Pharmacy, and at all leading pharmacies, department and cosmetic stores.

[SR] Palmer’s White & Even Dark Spot Corrector

As we all know, the sun is a great enemy and can cause damage to our skin. Recent studies have shown that apart from wrinkles and loss of firmness, women perceive discolouration as the number one sign of aging. Skin discolouration (aka hyperpigmentation) can occur to anyone regardless of age or ethnicity.

Our face, lips, hands, neck and shoulders are especially vulnerable to the sun’s damage. Hyperpigmentation can come in many forms: age spots, freckles, melasma, mask of pregnancy and sun spots.

Sun exposure causes melanocytes to in the epidermis to over produce melanin. This results in brown skin cells, which rise to the skin surface.

How then can we correct dark spots?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_prylKG1QT0

With Palmer’s White & Even Dark Spot Corrector! This skin tone correcting product is free of parabens, phthalates, sulphates, harsh and synthetic dyes. It is a product in Palmer’s new Eventone ‘Tone Perfecting Range’ which has important ingredients such as Cocoa Butter, Soy, Licorice Extract, Synovea, Vitamin C and Niacinamide.

When used daily, products under the new Eventone range will lighten surface skin cells, producing a more even skin tone in 3-5 days. The products also act on the deeper skin layers to inhibit the over production of melanin. However, sunscreen protection is still important as continued exposure to the sun will work against the effects of Eventone. Discontinued use of Eventone products will also allow the over production of melanin to resume and dark spots will return.

I have dark spots on my cheeks so that was where I applied the product the most.

Before applying Palmer’s White & Even Dark Spot Corrector.

I didn’t have to slather on too much of the product, just a small glob was enough. While the product looked like just any other white coloured cream, upon closer inspection, I noticed this glittery sheen in it. I suppose it works to brighten the face as well.

After use of Palmer’s White & Even Dark Spot Corrector.

After a few days of continued use of Palmer’s White & Even Dark Spot Corrector, I started to see that my dark spots had gone a little lighter. I believe that with prolonged use, the dark spots should fade off even more.

My only little grouse about the product is the strong fragrance. Because my dark spots are on my cheeks near my eyes, the strong fragrance tend to smart my eyes a little. But no worries though, it only lasts a brief moment.

Start treating your skin and getting rid of your dark spots with Palmer’s White & Even Dark Spot Corrector. This 30ml product retails at $29.90 and can be found at  Watsons, Guardian, BHG, Robinsons, John Little, Essentials Pharmacy, Nishino Pharmacy, and at all leading pharmacies, department and cosmetic stores.

PS: Thanks Palmer’s and The Sample Store for sponsoring the product.

VanityTrove Pre-GSS Warehouse Sale 2015

EDIT: Just got word that this sale has been extended from 2-5 June 2015 from 11am to 6.30pm. New brands have been added to the sale and you can expect to see up to 90% off for items.

Another deal that landed in my mailbox that’s worth sharing…

I’ve bought a couple of special boxes from VanityTrove before, but that’s not really why I’m sharing this deal. I mean take a look at some of the brands that will be represented at the sale. If not for being pregnant and the hassle of travelling, I would love to check the sale out. I love using the VDL primer…(maybe I should do a review on it some time…)

Photo credit: VanityTrove

BlissyBox Trial

I wrote a review for BlissyBox earlier this month and because it is a subscription box worth trying out, I thought I’ll share this fantastic promotion they are having now.

Photo credit: BlissyBox

As some of you might know, BlissyBox does not have the option of buying just one box to try out the service. However, for the month of June, BlissyBox is having a trial promotion. This is for first timers to the subscription box. If you’re not too sure about this box and just want to try it out for a month, you can do so by applying the promo code BBTRIAL upon checkout.

To make the deal sweeter, you’ll get 10% discount if you place your order before 5 June 2015!

Have a blissful period with BlissyBox!