Tag Archives: sponsored

[SR] BeautyKeeper

I’m back from the long hiatus! Have been busy being a mama to my cutie girl. During this time, I had to reject quite a few review requests as I was breastfeeding. It hasn’t been easy trying to juggle my own leisure time and looking after a kid (even though I have help from my in-laws), but I’m determined to get back into the pace of things. I’ve already got quite a few things lined up that I want to share with you guys.

So, here’s the first review from my long hiatus…it’s from the good people of BeautyKeeper and The Sample Store!  BeautyKeeper is a platform that originates from Taiwan and brings to you, all the trendy and fashionable Taiwanese skincare, make up and beauty supplements. They offer premium products and not cheap, low quality stuff to fulfill all your skincare needs.

I’ll be introducing two products which you can purchase from BeautyKeeper. First up is the YOHO Power Probiotics Collagen which gives you the power of youth and enhances the effectiveness of collagen. It has a blend of 12 different natural phenol (acai berry, cranberry, mangosteen, pomegranate, wolfberry, strawberry, chilean fruit wine, blackberries, grapes, raspberry, blueberry and cherry) to give you radiant skin and French-made elastin to bring the firmness to your skin.

YOHO Power Probiotics Collagen gives you the:

  1. Power of Youth — to look beautiful even without make up
  2. Power of Collagen — helps your make up to last longer
  3. Power of Mobility and Flexibility — keeps you energetic and strong
  4. Power of Berries — gives you the radiant look
  5. Power of Firm and Elastic Skin — so that you’ll always be photogenic

Each box comes with 20 sachets. According to the instructions, you can take 2 sachets per day for general well-being or 4 sachets per day for intensive care. You can either consume the powder just like that or mix it with food/water. It smell and tastes very strongly of berries so I had no problem consuming it directly.

The next product is Vitalab Perfecting Revitalizing Elixir which refines the tone and texture of the skin, and rapidly reduces the appearance of fine lines. Due to the needs of post-cosmedermatology care in recent years, Vitalab was established to serve clients with extremely sensitive skin. Thus, its products are safe, effective and hypoallergenic.

I use it as a moisturiser. The cream is light and not too oily. It has a nice rose fragrance which is not too strong and overpowering. Just 1,5 to 2 pumps (2 small mounds) is enough cream to cover my whole face.

I’m the kind who needs to use beauty products for a longer period of time before I can see results thus I wasn’t anticipating much. However, when I went for my facial session this month, my facial therapist said I looked fairer and my skin was in a much better condition than last month, I was pretty surprised because I hadn’t done anything out of the ordinary except used both products for about 2 weeks or so. I had even gone swimming the day before my facial and thought I would be darker! I’m not making all this up; it really is a true story!

[SR] Essential CC Oil and Night Care Milk

This is quite an overdued post as I’ve been rather busy with the last few weeks of my pregnancy. It is probably also my last entry before I pop and I expect it to be some time before I will have time again to do reviews.

I’ve always been using Essential’s leave in serum/milk since it first appeared on the shelf. After the first update, the pink and orange bottles became a day and night use serum/milk. I continued using the orange bottle (night milk) because the formulation was closer to the previous version. Essential has improved the formulation again and I was invited to try the new products. Thanks Essential and The Sample Store!

Introducing Essential’s new CC Oil and Night Care Milk! I’m quite sure you’ve heard of how heat styling, perming and dyeing your hair too much can damage it, but I’m not sure if you’re aware that there are external environmental factors and some everyday habits that can affect your hair’s health as well. That’s where Essential’s CC Oil and Night Care Milk come in to help protect your hair from these nasty factors.

The Five Hair Stresses:

  1. Blow-drying — This process removes moisture from both inside and outside of the hair leaving it dry, brittle and susceptible to further damage.
  2. Combing — Combing through wet hair causes damage to hair follicles as they are in their most fragile state. Friction from combing through dry hair can form hair knots and make hair prone to breakage.
  3. Split Ends — Fraying of hair shaft particularly at the ends which are the oldest and driest parts.
  4. Hair Breakage — Daily actions such as tying your hair into a tight ponytail or twirling your hair round your finger can exert excessive stress on your hair, resulting in breakage.
  5. Dryness — Hair cuticles that are weakened from excessive exposure to sun, wind or even air conditioning can cause dryness.

Essential’s CC (Cuticle Care) Oil is meant to protect your hair from these five stresses. It shares the same ‘multi-functional’ concept of BB or CC cream in cosmetic products. What the CC Oil does is to form a protective layer around each hair strand, leaving you with less tangly and more manageable hair.

Use the CC Oil on towel-dried or damp hair. Spread it evenly in your hair, concentrating on the mid-length to the tips. There is no need to rinse the oil off.

There’s also another factor which can harm your hair that you might be unaware of. Every night while you sleep, your hair rubs against your pillow. The friction can cause damage to your hair. You know how sometimes you wake up with your hair all frizzy, looking like a lion’s mane? Pillow friction causes misaligned cuticles which creates that frizz. While washing your hair can get rid of that ‘big hair’, why go through the hassle every morning when you can have more beauty sleep?

That’s where Essential’s Night Care Milk comes in. It is formulated to protect your hair against pillow friction by forming a protective coat around each hair strand and preventing misaligned cuticles when your hair rubs against the pillow.

Use the Night Care Milk on towel-dried or damp hair, or before blow-drying. It can also be used on dry hair. Spread and apply the milk evenly onto your hair, concentrating on the mid-length to the tips. There is no need to rinse the product off. For better results, do make sure that your hair is completely dry before going to sleep.

Both products come with Cuticle Care Protection that leaves hair smooth and tangle free all day. They also contain hair supplement oil which is similar to your hair’s natural oil.

I’ve always had great faith in Essential’s leave-in products. Wasn’t disappointed this time as well. Because I couldn’t go rebond my hair while pregnant, I’ve been relying a lot on leave-in products to ‘cure’ my dry and frizzy ends. I found the CC Oil a little too light but definitely didn’t leave an oily, clumpy feel after usage. Much preferred the Night Care Milk which is rich yet non-greasy. Definitely saw a difference in the morning.

Both products are retailing at $11.90.

Remember I mentioned the five hair stresses earlier? Essential has created five characters to represent the hair stresses…

There’s Badass Breakage Stress, Brazen Blow-drying Stress, Despicable Dryness Stress, Spiteful Split Ends Stress and Cruel Combing Stress.

Essential even created a Facebook game featuring the five stress brothers, the Pesky Pillow King and Mane Hero. Play the game and stand to win attractive prizes!

[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.

[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.

[SR] Essential Combination Haircare Range

I introduced and reviewed Essential’s combination haircare range some time back in October 2014, so I won’t be going too deep into it in this entry. Do check that entry out too!

But just a quick recap of what this range can do for you…

If you’re aware of what ‘combination skin’ is (a combination of dry and oily zones on your face), then ‘combination hair’ is exactly the same concept — oily scalp with dry ends. Essential has a range of shampoos and conditioners to help combat this problem.

If you scalp is just a little oily but you have dry ends, you can try the Light Finish Volumizing (yellow) range. If you have a very oily scalp and dry ends, you can try the Deep Cleansing Care (blue) range.

These two ranges are optimised with a combination of Smart Cuticle Care and Sebum Cleansing Technology to clarify the oily roots and moisturise the dry ends at the same time.

And for a limited time only, Essential will be giving out a massage shampoo brush with every purchase of a shampoo and conditioner set. They come in two colours: pink and green. The kind people at Essential and The Sample Store sent the products for me to try out, so I’m going to tell you a little more about this cute round massage brush.

The massage shampoo brush is commonly used in Japan to help remove dirt and sebum effectively from the scalp. The massaging action on the scalp also helps to improve blood circulation and promote relaxation.

To use it effectively, first, you wet and shampoo your hair as usual. Then you hold the brush between your index and middle fingers. Rub the bristles onto your scalp gently from side to side with small movements. Do not move the brush in circular motions as it will cause your hair to tangle. The rubber tips of the massage shampoo brush are firm yet not too hard, so it’ll give your scalp a good “scratch” but not hurt you.

The brush is great especially for people who are go for regular manicures. Who wants to spoil their nicely painted nails from shampooing their hair? Using a massage shampoo brush will help to prolong your fancy nails.

To properly store the brush, rinse it with water and place it upside down or hung from a string in a well-ventilated place. Do not place the brush with its bristles in direct contact to the surface as it may damage the bristles over time.

The haircare sets will be available from mid-May 2015 at leading supermarkets and personal care stores. Each pack retails at $19.60 and comes with a 750ml bottle of shampoo and conditioner and a free massage shampoo brush.

If you’re not too sure about the Deep Cleansing Care range and would like to try it out, you can grab a free sample of it at Essential’s Facebook page.

To get more updates on Essential’s range of products, do follow them on Instagram too! (@essentialsingapore)

[SR] My Beauty Diary Black Mask

I’ve been a fan of My Beauty Diary face sheet masks, so when I heard they had a new product range, I was all eager to try it.

Introducing My Beauty Diary’s new black mask range! Yes, it’s new with an improved formula, features and packaging…and it’s BLACK! Very classy indeed. The enhanced mask range features a uniquely patented ingredient called Cosphingo, which has a long-lasting moisturising property for improved hydration of your skin. The black sheet mask  is made of high-quality fine and smooth cotton fibres from Japan, is extremely gentle on your skin, and its essences are absorbed easily by your skin. The best part is that it is free from harmful paraben preservatives, alcohol, mineral oil, pigments and fluorescent agents. Therefore, it is suitable for all skin types!

You should also take note that this black mask range contains 3D hyaluronic acid and yeast compound. The 3D hyaluronic acid forms a protective film over your skin to replenish and retain moisture, keeping your face hydrated. The yeast compound helps to tighten and regulate your skin tone, leaving you with a smooth and glowing complexion. The mask itself is made of conforming material that fits the contours of your face and neck (under chin) perfectly.

There are three variants in this range:

  • Black Obsidian Moisturising Black Mask
  • Black Rose Brightening Black Mask
  • Black Pearl Total Effects Black Mask

I always go for moisturising face sheet masks as my skin is quite dehydrated, so I was hoping to try the first variant. Was delighted that My Beauty Diary and The Sample Store had sent me that!

The Black Obsidian Moisturising Black Mask works to Nourish, Hydrate, Moisturise and Illuminate your skin.

Here’s the write up on the ingredients of the mask:

Rich in trace elements and minerals that restores healthy skin, French Black Obsidian helps support the skin’s protective mechanism and enhances the skin’s hydrating power. The infusion of Laminaria digitata and sugar maple delivers intense hydration to the deep layers of skin to improve dry skin texture, revealing renewed and brighter skin. Enriched with numerous soothing ingredients like Calendula officinalis, Licorice, and Ruscus aculeatus extracts to relieve dry, rough and irritated skin, the mask is also rich in Bladder wrack seaweed, Aloe vera, and hydrolysed Jojoba for improved hydration, allowing the skin to feel optimally nourished, revitalised with glowing luminosity!

Yes, the mask is black and yes, this looks like an unglam mug shot.

Despite using My Beauty Diary masks a lot of times now, I can’t for the life of me, remember what the texture feels like. But this black face sheet mask is da bomb! The mask is not paper thin, it actually feels smooth and…luxurious. Yea, like good quality stuff! AND IT ACTUALLY FITS MY FACE! I know my face is a little small, but it is extremely irritating when the eye and mouth holes don’t align with my eyes and mouth. This fits perfectly!

One  thing I really dislike are ear loops to support the under chin flaps. They are supposed to be helping to stretch your skin so that you don’t get saggy skin as you age, but I just absolutely hate having that wet feeling around my ears. This mask has the under chin flaps but no ear loops! Yay! You should know that the under chin flaps are something really good to have. They allow the essence to work its magic on your chin/neck, so you don’t have an uneven skin tone.

The face sheet mask wasn’t dripping with essence too. The amount was just nice — enough to keep your face hydrated, but not too much to end up creating a mess down your neck. Another important point for a good face sheet mask, in my opinion.

After usage of the mask for at least three times, I found my skin to be brighter, smoother and more hydrated. Not sure if you can see that through my photos (should have taken both under the same light), but trust me, it does work. My face does feel refreshed as I peel of the mask.

You can buy the My Beauty Diary Black Masks at Guardian, Sasa and Watsons for $16.90 (a box of five pieces).

And for a limited period of time, My Beauty Diary SG Facebook fans can get to try the Black Obsidian Moisturising Black Mask by redeeming a free sample in a ‘Group Redemption Deal’. This deal is valid only for the first 1,000 participating fans and will only be unlocked once 1,000 entries are received. Each of the 1,000 participating fans will receive one mask worth $3.95. So what are you waiting for? LIKE the My Beauty Diary SG Facebook page and take part in the deal!