Thanks Mary Chia and The Sample Store for sponsoring the product.
Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body that is needed to maintain the structure and density of your skin. As time goes by (around our mid-30s), our skin loses the ability to produce enough collagen. That’s why at ages 35-55, the skin is less firm and wrinkles start to form. While you can get collagen from daily food intake like eating fish, that may not be enough.
I’m sure many of you are familiar with collagen supplements. Well, Mary Chia has come up with the MU Nutrition+ line of dietary supplements which includes the MU MIEUX Collagen beauty drink.
The MU Nutrition+ line of supplements addresses common concerns such as:
Pre-mature ageing dues to loss of collagen and key vitamins for skin and organs
Improve body’s detoxification abilities
Enhance gastro-intestinal health by introducing beneficial bacteria (Probiotics)
Improve overall metabolism and blood circulation
Block/displace excess fat, sugars and carbohydrates consumed through daily diet
Enhance overall organ functions
Increase energy levels and vitality
Improve immunity
Each little bottle of MU MIEUX Collagen beauty drink contains:
BHN (Marine) low molecular collagen is proven in laboratory tests to be best absorbed by the body. In addition, Co-Q10, Ceramide and Vitamin C and E enhance skin hydration, elasticity and luminosity.
One bottle of MU MIEUX Collagen beauty drink per day before bedtime is all you need to maintain your skin’s optimum collagen levels. It is recommended to chill the drink before consumption. Shake the bottle well and consume all the content once opened.
The taste of the drink is actually very pleasant because of the apple extract. Yup, no fishy taste at all, just sweet sweet apple. It leaves you wanting more, but all you really need is one little bottle. Dang.
There’s a promotion for MU MIEUX Collagen beauty drink that’s pretty sweet. Get ONE box of MU MIEUX Collagen beauty drink at only S$88 (UP S$108). Each box has eight bottles of drink. BONUS PERK: Receive a complimentary collagen facial worth S$145 per session for the first 100 readers. All this is kindly sponsored by Mary Chia.
So what do you need to do to clinch this exclusive promotion? Call 1800 250 2001 and just quote ‘Sample Store Exclusive’ and my name (Elisia Phua). Remember that this promotion is only valid from 1 February – 31 March 2015 at any Mary Chia or Urban Homme outlet.
A bottle a day for youthful and supple skin! Good luck and cheers!
This is something for the girls. What do you look for when it comes to sanitary care products?
For me, the most important things are safety and comfort. I want products that are safe to use and with proper menstrual care, I can prevent bacterial infection from happening. Comfort is also very important. I often describe having menstruation as having an internal leaky tap where I have no control over. It is an uncomfortable feeling, so the last thing I want to worry about is unsightly leaks and having to waddle around like a duck because there’s something stuck between my legs.
Fortunately for us girls, there’s UUcare Group Singapore Pte Ltd which designs products that will meet our sanitary care needs. Their product design concept focuses on the three Gs:
GUARD — To protect women during menstrual period
GERMPROOF — Women can better take care of themselves by using antibacterial pads
GRATEFUL — To feel more comfortable and healthier during your period
In particular, UUcare sanitary pads have some unique points that will put your mind at ease when choosing sanitary care products:
Antibacterial UUcare products are certified by SGS International to be fully antibacterial. The surface of the sanitary pads have gone through an antibacterial process which prevents smell and the growth of germs.
Non Flourescer
Whitening agents are not used on the sanitary pads. This is VERY important as flourescer from the pad’s adhesive can get stuck to your panties and can reach your uterus through sweat and bodily secretions, causing gynaecological diseases.
Breathable and Soft
With the usage of 3D weaving technology and pure cotton cover, the sanitary pads feel smooth and soft.
Pads in this range contain antibacterial properties that keep you protected for more than 12 hours, such that odours are eliminated and the growth of bacteria is reduced. As such, these pads are secure for longer use.
The pads are wrapped up simply and nicely. Yup, these come with the tape which makes it easier to dispose of used pads.
The pads also have right-angled wings so the pad fits closely to your panties and prevents rubbing against your thighs. Check out the patented funnel shape guides for faster absorption and to prevent leaks!
The surface of the pad is cottony soft. This is very important. I hate having that scratchy feeling against my skin and some other pads do cause that!
The panty liners come individually wrapped. Very easy to carry around.
One thing that’s different about UUcare’s panty liners is that it’s thinner compared to other brands. You know how people talk about the “barely there” feel of sanitary care products. Yup, that’s it.
UUcare Cool Technology
The fast water retention of pads in this range makes the pad surface dry and comfortable when used. No icky wet feeling down there…that’s good!
The pads come with a pearl-like bump surface. Each pearl is hollow at the bottom so that fluids can be absorbed completely, greatly reducing the contact of fluids to skin. Again, the pads are cottony soft which is what I like!
The panty liners in this range didn’t seem to have much visible difference to the ones in the other range.
Pads come in 24cm, 28cm, 32cm and 36cm sizes for both ranges. You can get UUcare sanitary pads from Watsons, John Little, NTUC, OG and Nishino Pharmacy. (Pssst…the last I checked, they also cost about a dollar less than other brands. Cost savings…woohoo!) Or you can redeem a free sample at The Sample Store.
There are also other sanitary care products under UUcare. Do check them out on Facebook and don’t forget to “like” them too!
I love drinking tea and this special ‘tea bag’ piqued my interest. It’s not even a tea bag. It’s a tea wand. Haha.
TEAISM is a product by Eu Yan Sang, and it stands for three things: healthy, functional and convenient.
All you need to do is just dip the wand into your cup of hot water, stir it a bit and you’re good to go.
Each TEAISM wand is a high-tech recyclable diffuser that keeps the tea within, fresh and fragrant. The tea is made using premium grade tea leaves from the best Taiwanese tea gardens in the world.
There are five flavours to enjoy:
Balance — green tea
Energise — fancy black tea
Protect — blueberry tea
Restore — osmanthus oolong tea
Comfort — ginger black tea
The tea wand is quite a cute thing. Aside from that, it actually lasted a couple of brews. Normal tea bags last for only about two cups. With TEAISM, I actually could drink four cups with one tea wand.
You can get TEAISM at Eu Yan Sang or my LIFE INC. Right now there’s an online promotion going on. $9 for a box of 15 tea wands. Usual price is $15. That’s 40% savings!
I was rather curious about the Black Paint pore care products when I received the notice from The Sample Store, so I thought why not give it try.
BLACK PAINT® is an organic skincare brand established in Kyoto, Japan 15 years ago by Miyuki Maeda. Combining ancient wisdom of beauty secrets, modern bacteriology, and contemporary natural and organic lifestyle, Miyuki has successfully found the formula to solve skin problems rooting from skin pores by leveraging the power of nature. Based on this concept, BLACK PAINT® skincare products are made from natural, organic materials which are blended from more than 100 types of plant oils, more than 50 types of essential oils and Kishu Binchotan Charcoal, all known to have powerful beauty effects since ancient times. No longer using synthetic and artificial products to suppress our skin’s reaction to the external environment, BLACK PAINT® works instead to build the harmony between our skin and nature.
Black Paint’s skincare solution:
Remove clogging from pores
Hydrate your pores
Nourish your pores
Protect your pores
Yes, everything you see above was packed nicely into that box!
Items included:
Black Paint Soap (Cleanser)
Black Konjac Sponge
Best Water (Toner)
Oil Water Rose (Lotion)
Water Cream (Moisturiser)
10 pieces Facial Paper
Pink Bowl
I don’t think you can see the problems I face from the photo, but I do have a strawberry nose (tons of blackheads/whiteheads), enlarged pores on my cheeks and whiteheads on my chin. Let’s see what Black Paint can do for me!
Step 1a: Black Paint Soap (Cleanser)
This gentle pore-cleansing hand-made soap is made of Kishu Binchotan Charcoal which explains its black colour. It cleans pores and removes oil and dirt thoroughly but gently without stripping away skin’s essential moisture, leaving skin fresh and silky smooth.Even if you have make up on, it can be used to remove make up in one wash without the need for make up remover.
Immerse the soap into 40 degree celsius water for a minimum of 40 seconds. (Now I know what the bowl is for!) The soap is ready for use when its surface melts to a consistency of sesame seed paste. Apply the soap directly onto skin and massage your face gently for about a minute. This allows the charcoal particles to get in through your pores and adhere themselves to whiteheads and oil deposits for effective cleansing. Gently rinse off with warm water. Leave the soap to dry naturally in an airy place.
Here’s a tip from me: Be careful not to let soap get into your eyes. IT REALLY STINGS. I read later that it stings so bad because of the salt content in the soap.
Step 1b: Black Konjac Sponge
This 100% natural facial sponge is made from konjac fibre kneaded with Kishu Binchotan Charcoal and various minerals that enhance its absorption ability. It exfoliates the skin, removing excess oil and dead skin cells.
Soak the sponge in warm water for three to five minutes until the sponge is completely soft. Press out the excess water but do not twist the sponge. Gently massage your face with the sponge in a circular motion. The sponge will extract partially exposed comedones. After use, rinse the sponge and set it in an airy place to dry.
Step 2: Best Water (Toner)
It is not called water for nothing. It looks and feels like regular water but this water contains 30 types of minerals that deeply penetrate the skin to nourish and help restore the skin’s natural barrier to guard against moisture loss.
Use three to five pumps of Best Water. Gently add pressure using your palms on your face for better absorption. It is recommended to use the facial paper with Best Water as a face mask twice weekly for better results.
Step 3: Oil Water Rose (Lotion)
This dual-layer emulsion contains damask water and oil from around 2000 roses! The lotion regenerates, protects, soothes, and softens the skin.
Due to the absence of emulsifier (a synthetic chemical), the rose oil and rose water will always be separated in two layers. Shake the bottle vigorously for more than 20 times until the liquid becomes a milky solution. Apply three to five pumps of the lotion to your face. Repeat this step two to three times.
The product contains oil but it doesn’t feel like there’s a layer of gunk on your face. Think of it as like spreading nice-smelling essential oil to your face.
Step 4: Water Cream (Moisturiser)
This water-based moisturising cream contains argan oil to promote moisture retention and can be used as a make up base. It is also scented with lavender oil.
Take a pearl-sized amount and spread it on your face. The cream transforms to water droplets upon application. If you are using it as a make up base, wait until your face dries before applying make up.
My face was a little oily after application so I think its perfect for use at night especially if you sleep in an air-conditioned room.
If you’re still not sure about the steps, here’s a video that explains everything. It also includes more information about the range of products.
After about two weeks of using Black Paint products, I noticed that there are less blackheads/whiteheads on my nose and chin. There are also less enlarged pores on my cheeks. Hooray!
Essential is a popular haircare brand from Japan and if you’re not aware of it, they have improved and extended their range of products! Many should recognise the older orange and pink variants, and maybe the newer yellow variant. But the new kid on the block is the blue variant. Well, the question is: how do you know which variant would suit you?
Essential has made it pretty simple by classifying each variant:
Orange: Nourishing Breakage Defense — for weak and damaged hair
Pink: Moisturising Frizz Free — for dull and rough hair
Yellow: Light Finish Volumising — for limp and flat hair
Blue: Deep Cleansing Care — for oily scalp and dry ends
The orange and pink variants are of a richer formula for dry hair, whereas the cream and blue variants are of a lighter formula for oily roots/scalp and dry ends.
So yes, if you have oily roots/scalp and dry ends like me, you have COMBINATION HAIR!
And all along, I thought I was the weird one with such hair. People like me end up having to mix and match shampoo and conditioner because using the same rich, moisturising products to combat the dry ends leaves us with product build up on the scalp that results in an oily scalp. The reverse is true as well. Using the same light, clarifying products to combat the oily roots leaves us with drier ends. Apparently, Essential understands this problem and has developed a solution to it. The new and improved yellow and blue variants have the optimum combination of SMART CUTICLE CARE AND SEBUM CLEANSING TECHNOLOGY to target both problems of oily roots and dry ends. Yup, so no more mixing and matching products. Hooray!
By just looking at the product descriptions, I was all ready to try out the new blue variant. BUT WAIT! Essential has made it even easier to choose the right variant with a rather nifty matrix.
Do you have oily hair roots/scalp? Yes, a little. (Used to be very oily but after learning about mixing and matching shampoo and conditioner, my hair condition got slightly better. The fringe remains super oily but that’s because it rubs against my forehead which is super oily. Another skin problem to talk about another time…)
Do you have dry/damaged hair ends? OMG…YES, VERY. PLEASE DO SOME MAGIC ON IT.
The good people at Essential and The Sample Store decided that I should try the yellow variant of shampoo and conditioner, and the orange variant for treatment and mask. (Note: There’s only orange and pink variants for treatment and mask.)
I’ve used the older orange variant for shampoo, conditioner, treatment and hair mask in the past and it really helped at one point when my hair was super duper dry from constant colouring with no treatment sessions at the hairdresser. Can’t remember now why I switched to something else after that. *shrugs* Anyway, I was a little puzzled with the choice of variant. Hmmmm…I don’t have limp and flat hair that needs volumising. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. But then again, it’s a tough call now since I have rebonded my hair so I don’t look like a puffball. So I guess volumising here means to have fuwa fuwa hair instead of regular limp hair? Oh well, no harm trying the cream variant since according to the matrix, it seems the blue variant is for people with VERY oily roots/scalp.
My haircare regime goes like this: Shampoo and conditioner for daily use when not using treatment and hair mask. Once with treatment mid-week. Mask in the weekend.
Before I go into the results, you should know more about the new and improved Essential range. It has MICROFINE ALL SMOOTH ESSENCE which delivers nutrients to repair damaged hair surface from root to tip. Conventional technology contributes mainly to the roots only. Therefore, your hair is supposed to feel surprisingly smooth when you comb your fingers through whether wet or dry. With the absence of tangles, water does not get trapped between the tangles and blow-drying your hair should be faster.
Now, for the results…
Not going to comment too much on the treatment and mask since I’ve used them before. All you need to know is that that orange variant hair mask is DA BOMB. Worked like magic before so no doubt that it would work this time. Oh and DO NOT apply treatment and mask on your scalp. Apply them to your ends only!
The shampoo and conditioner have a very pleasant honey fragrance that clings to your hair throughout the day. Nice! After using the products for about a week, I must say that it does help combat the slightly oily roots. As for the dry ends, not too much improvement when my hair is dry. But I must comment that it did somehow work when my hair is wet. What do I mean by that? How I tell if a product is doing its moisturising magic is when I get this sala sala (smooth) feel even after I wash off the product. It irritates me when I don’t get that feel. Like I can’t comb my fingers through my wet hair smoothly. Not with this shampoo and conditioner. I could feel this film over my hair as I washed off the products. Oh well. I will continue to use leave-in conditioner after my bath (wet hair) and hair oil when my hair is dry. Just got the new and improved Essential Treatment Milk. Haven’t started using it as I just finished using another brand of leave-in conditioner today. Hope it is good.
Do try the new range of Essential products because who knows, it might work like magic for you. The new range of products are already selling at leading supermarkets, hypermarkets, western pharmacies and personal care stores.
If you need a little more convincing before you use the full-size products, you can get a free sample of the variants for combination hair here. And if you think Essential is really good (like I do!), don’t forget to “LIKE” them on Facebook and follow @essentialsingapore on Instagram.
It all began with an email from The Sample Store announcing their event — a sneak preview of their new look. There were only 200 available slots to receive an invitation to the event and I was crossing my fingers that I’ll get it.
Got really excited when the invitation arrived.
Was really impressed that they actually printed my name on the invitation. That’s 200 personalised invitations…some effort there. Gotta give it up to the staff.
The event was held on Saturday, 20 September 2014 at Fullhouse Signature Cafe. I’ve been wanting to check out that cafe ever since I saw it being featured on another blogger’s site, so…just nice…got an opportunity to check it out!
After registration, I was given an awesome goodie bag filled with goodness (will show its contents later) and a play card.
There was an activity to be completed at each product sponsor’s booth. Each completed activity earned you a stamp. Three stamps to redeem a goodie bag (more great stuff!) and six stamps to enter the lucky draw. Some product sponsors were also selling their latest products at discounted prices. I would have bought some face masks at the My Beauty Diary booth but I have too many face masks already. As for Tsubaki, I just got the hair oil so not like I really needed anything more. The only product sponsor that I wanted to purchase from, NOV, was not selling their products at the venue. Dang. And the worst part was their products are only sold at Tokyu Hands in Westgate…so far!!! For other product sponsors, I would prefer to try out samples of their products first before purchasing anything. So, I didn’t purchase anything in the end.
There was some pretty cool stuff going on at the event too. Express makeover at Enavose’s booth, hair styling at Tsubaki/Ma Cherie’s booth and a skin type test at NOV’s. I tried the skin type test and found out that the oil and water ratio of my skin is not balanced. Not enough water but producing too much oil. Yea…quite obvious from my face. Been trying to combat the oiliness with shine free make up items but to no avail. Was recommended a line of items to try and balance the ratio. Sigh…gotta make a trip to Tokyu Hands some day.
It was kinda crowded at the venue and the queue for food was rather long. Of course, where there’s free food and samples, there’ll be kiasu aunties. Some even brought their kids in tow. *tsk tsk* It was quite obvious that they were there only for the free stuff. They weren’t bothered to learn about any products and shoved their way to get the stamps on the play card. I was so not motivated to get in queue for food so I didn’t in the end.
There was a photo booth and free instagram prints, but I didn’t get any. 🙁 Blame it on my VERY LATE sister. By the time she reached the venue and went round all the booths, the event was over and they had packed up. We only managed to get a shot with the standee.
I’m sure everyone’s curious about my awesome haul from the event.
There was a sure-win lucky dip at the belif booth and I got a 4-piece sample kit. I’ve used their aqua bomb moisturiser and it’s pretty good. Very light and not oily. Can’t wait to try the other products. Haha…sample-size products are good when going travelling. That’s the time I try all these products.
The awesome goodie bag I received during registration. Not all visitors got it; I think only the 200 who were originally invited. Other visitors got their invitations through a contest. Anyway, the goodie bag is packed with goodness. A lot of travel-size products. Unfortunately, the NOV travel kit that is included is not the range that was recommended for my skin type.
This is the smaller goodie bag I got from the play card. It’s in the new packaging. Took a picture of the old and new packaging so you can compare the difference. The use of white as the base colour is a lot more refreshing. Simple, modern and clean. Was even more amazed at how much stuff they managed to squeeze into the packet. Lol.
Thanks The Sample Store for the event! Guys, do look out for their new look that’s going to be rolled out soon!
Thank you Biore and The Sample Store for sponsoring another product — Biore Micellar Cleansing Water.
I was attracted to this product the minute I received it because the bottle is pink! The princess-y gem-like bottle is really cute. Ok, but that’s just me. Lol.
I’ve been using Fancl’s make up remover all this while simply because it’s the best, but ever since Fancl stopped operations here in Singapore, I’ve been wondering what I would use after my supply of make up remover finishes. Maybe the Biore Micellar Cleansing Water is the replacement I am looking for!
My make up regime is really not that complicated and is definitely not super heavy: concealer, foundation, powder, eyeshadow, eyeliner (pencil and liquid), mascara, brow liner, lip balm and lip gloss.
One full pump is almost enough to wet the whole cotton pad.
Before I jump into the results, let me tell you more about the cleansing water. It contains natural mineral water from the Northern Japanese Alps which makes it gentle to the skin. Enriched with collagen and white tea extract, the cleansing water will leave skin brighter, softer and more supple. Its anti-bacterial formula helps to prevent pimples and breakouts, and minimises pores for clearer and a more refined complexion. Most importantly, the watery micellar technology used in this cleansing water effectively dissolves and lifts of more traces of make up in one wipe!
It’s alcohol free, fragrance free, oil free, colorant free, allergy and opthalmologist tested, and non-comedogenic. So it’s really suitable for all skin types, even those with sensitive skin!
My make up came off quite easily with a few wipes. Used only two cotton pads for half my face. For my eye make up, as instructed, I held the cotton pad on my eye for five seconds before gently wiping off. I was quite surprised that most of my eye make up came off quite easily in one wipe except for the mascara which needed a few more wipes.
To show you how easily my make up came off, I decided to do a test on the back of my hand. The foundation and powder blend is on the top half of my hand…can’t really see it in the photo but it’s there. In order of the lines on my hand: eyeshadow, white pencil eyeliner, black pencil eyeliner, black liquid eyeliner and mascara. Lip gloss is on the left. I only forgot to draw a line using my brow liner.
This was what came off after one wipe…
Yup! Almost everything came off except the mascara. But no worries, that came off after a few more gentle wipes.
I was honestly surprised that the Biore Micellar Cleansing Water worked so well. The great part is there’s no sticky or oily after feel. No rinsing is even required! My skin did feel clean and refreshed!
This product is available in all pharmacies, hypermarkets and supermarkets, and major departmental stores. It retails for a mere $18.90. Definitely worth it!
Another review of a sponsored product! Thanks Tsubaki and The Sample Store!
This time it’s a hair care product — Tsubaki Hair Oil.
Tsubaki is a hair care product line by Shiseido Japan. If you’re not familiar with the language, “tsubaki” is “camellia” in Japanese which is also the main ingredient in the products. This new product is to be used as a leave-in hair treatment. It is richly formulated with selected camellia oil to give a long-lasting shine to hair by penetrating deeply. It improves lustre, moisturises, as well as prevents and repairs damage to your hair. It is made to penetrate your hair instantly to give a light, non-greasy, and silky smooth feel. It also protects your hair against UV damage and blow-dry heat, and prevents split ends and breakage.
Here are some charts to see the results of using camellia oil on your hair:
Looks like I definitely could use some camellia oil. For those who know me, my hair is unlike most people’s. I always describe it as having a life of its own. I would love to have straight long dolly hair, but unfortunately I don’t. Instead, my hair is frizzy, damaged, and unruly. I have tried countless products at all ends of the price scale. Some work a little, some work for awhile and then don’t (I suspect my hair gets used to it), and some don’t even seem to work at all. I was rather skeptical about this hair oil and the wonders it could do to my hair. I’ll be happy even if it seems to work a little.
The product comes in a cute red bottle. Reminds me of those vintage perfume bottles. The oil itself has a very pleasant flowery scent.
So how do you apply it evenly to your hair? Here are the steps:
First, pour out the oil amounting to the size of a 20 cent coin (about 5-6 drops of oil from the bottle). That is the recommended amount for people with mid-length hair. I used more than that amount as my hair is really unruly and damaged. I divided my hair to two parts and used about the recommended amount for each side.
After pouring out the oil on your palm, rub both your palms together so that the oil is spread evenly on both palms.
Then, start spreading the oil by using a combination of these movements:
1) Combing your fingers through your hair
2) Scrunching sections of your hair (like in the picture above)
3) Sandwiching your hair in between your palms and sliding your hands down (like in the picture)
You should focus on the areas that require more care. For me, my scalp usually gets oily towards the end of the day but the ends of my hair remain dry and damaged. So, I don’t apply the oil at the roots but focus on the middle and especially the ends. Be careful not to use too much of the oil at one spot. I’ve had this experience with other leave-in conditioning products. I put too much at one area and it kinda caked up like as if I used hair gel or hair spray. It’s really gross.
There are two scenarios that you should take note of:
How to prevent flat hair (especially for those with soft and fine hair)
Refrain from applying a large amount of the oil. Start applying from the damaged tips and gradually work upwards to the roots to avoid flat hair.
How to reduce volume or prevent dry hair (especially those with thick and voluminous hair)
Apply an appropriate amount of oil to wet hair and dry it with a hair dryer. Then, spread a small amount of oil onto your palms and apply it to the bottom half of your hair to reduce the volume.
So what’s the verdict? Here’s the result of using the product on my (unruly) hair:
Tadaa! Omg…can you see the difference? Yes, that was my shitty dry and damaged hair before. After applying the hair oil, you can see that my hair has become a lot tamer and smoother. There’s also a shine to it. The ends are more defined and not lost in a ball of…erm…hair. I know this is not some miracle potion, so of course I didn’t expect it to permanently and suddenly transform my hair to the dolly smooth locks I wish for. But, it definitely did smoothen my hair and made it look a lot more manageable. What I really loved about the product is that it’s light-weight as it claims to be. It’s not like super greasy and gross. I also super love the smell. It’s like putting perfume in your hair. I really couldn’t stop smelling my hair after application.
So where can you buy the Tsubaki Hair Oil? It will be exclusively available at Watsons from Thursday, 11 September 2014 onwards! (That’s just two days from now!)
But wait! There’s more! Tsubaki will be holding a contest on Friday, 12 September 2014, so do keep a look out for it on their Facebook page. To participate in the contest, all you need to do is…
If you guys are wondering why there is a “[SR]” at the beginning of the title, it stands for “sponsored review”. Yes! This is my first review of a sponsored product! Thanks to Bio-essence and The Sample Store! So exciting!
Today, I’ll be talking about Bio-essence’s Aqua Droplet Sleeping Beauty Mask. It’s one of the products from the Hydra Tri-Action range. I think this is an improved version of the hydrating range of products. I was using that older range of products a few years back. There was the sleeping mask in that range back then too. I remember my sister telling me how good it was. Too bad, I didn’t try it out then. Oh well, but at least I get to try this new and improved version.
The new and improved range has THREE times the hydration power which acts to HYDRATE, NOURISH and PROTECT your skin.
HYDRATE — It contains two types of hyaluronic acid: Power Nano Hyaluronic Acid and Hyaluronic Acid, as well as Cranberry Extract. The Power Nano Hyaluronic Acid has an average nano molecular size of 15-25mm so that it is absorbed quickly and easily into the skin. Its super miosture retention capability also helps to keep your skin firm, plumped and moisturised. The Hyaluronic Acid forms a large water-locked network to effectively lock in the moisture. The Cranberry Extract aids in moisture retention, improving skin elasticity and suppleness.
NOURISH — The Cranberry Extract provides excellent conditioning of your skin for a healthy glow. There’s also the Bio Energy Fluid that further nourishes and refines skin texture.
PROTECT — Not only does the Cranberry Extract help to hydrate and nourish your skin, it is rich in anti-oxidents which protects the skin against harmful free radicals, environmental and UV damage.
I’ve been using sheet masks all along, but some time this year, I got really lazy and have stopped using them regularly. I still go for my monthly facial session, but I’ve noticed that sometimes my skin just can’t hold out that long. My cheeks get a little dry and rough to the touch. With the help of hydrating masks, my skin usually holds up quite well. So for the lazy people like me, the Aqua Droplet Sleeping Beauty Mask is just perfect. You just put it on like a normal moisturiser and that’s it. Let it do its magic while you sleep. For more intensive treatment, you can apply a slightly thicker layer and it becomes a sleeping mask.
Take it from me the lazy one. I never bothered taking care of my skin until I went to college. By then, I was battling oily patches on my face. I thought I had an oily complexion, but I later found out that my skin was actually too dry to the point that it was producing more oil to compensate. So yes, keeping your skin moisturised is very important. With the Aqua Droplet Sleeping Beauty Mask, it combats the four common skin problems. It brightens dull and tired skin, regulates oil and moisture level, moisturises dry and rough skin, refines enlarged pores. Woohoo! Sounds good to me because I seem to have all of the above. *sheepish look*
I think you must be curious now about the sleeping mask, so let’s take a look at what it really is.
The mask comes in a deep turqoise coloured bottle.
The mask itself is in the form of a white, somewhat translucent cream.
Hey, but here’s where the fun begins. The Aqua Droplet Sleeping Beauty Mask is made with Bio-essence’s unique Bio Aqua Crystal technology. This technology forms a protective shield over the hydrating ingredients to prevent moisture loss before application. Upon application, the shield breaks away and big aqua droplets are formed! This ensures your skin gets hydrated with the freshest and most optimal amount of hydrating activity.
Here’s what it looks like after application. Can you see the water droplets?
So cool right?
What I like most about the mask is the texture of the cream. It’s light and definitely not oily. I was pleasantly surprised since most moisturisers I’ve used so far feel more oily than this. Usually I’ll wash my hands with soap after application, but with this I end up just using water. It also has a nice fragrance. Not that I care much, but if it ain’t smelling good, it ain’t going on my face for sure. After using the product for slightly more than a week, I noticed that my skin didn’t feel as dry and rough anymore. So yay to the Aqua Droplet Sleeping Beauty Mask!
If you’re game to try out other products in the Hydra Tri-Action range, there’s the Aqua Foamy Cleanser, Aqua Refreshing Toner and Aqua Moisturing Gel too.
What’s more, Bio-essence will be having a street sampling activity on Saturday, 6 September 2014 from 2-6pm outside Mandarin Gallery. You can find out how hydrated your skin is and get freebies, as well as enjoy attractive discounts on the products.
Tadaa! I’ve completed the 28-day SkinnyMint teatox programme.
There are tons of testimonials on the website but before you get bought into it, you must know that the product works differently for different people. Do not treat this like some miracle slimming medicine. As stated on the website, you still need regular exercise and good sleeping/eating habits.
My experience with the product:
Did you lose weight?
I think I did lose a little weight. No drastic changes, pooh bear stomach is still there…slightly flatter perhaps? I don’t have a weighing scale at home so I can’t be too sure, but I do know by feel when I wear different pairs of shorts. To be fair, I also did pick up jogging again from no exercise at all. Only jogged a few days (can count on one hand) out of the 28 days.
Did you feel less bloated?
Yes. I think I saw much improvement in this aspect. I used to get a bloated tummy quite often for God knows what reason. After going on the teatox programme, had no trouble with a bloated tummy.
Were you cured of your constipation?
Yes. The Night Cleanse tea really worked wonders. So well that I had diarrhoea every other day. Enough said.
Did it reduce your appetite?
Yes. Not like I totally had no appetite to eat at all (that would be real bad), but I noticed that I needed to eat slightly less to feel full. Perhaps that also helped in the slight weight loss?
Would you continue with the programme?
The website recommends to go through the teatox programme as and when your body feels like it needs a good detox. There should be at least a month’s break before starting on a new 28-day programme. Personally, I’m kinda terrified of the diarrhoea part. It’s good that I’m cured of my constipation problem, but having diarrhoea like that is not good either. Now that I’ve finished the programme, I am trying to up my water intake to see if my body is able to detox itself naturally (meaning that I can go to the loo regularly without the help of supplements).
So there you have it. My honest take on the product. Those who have just started out the programme, good luck. Just don’t be too disappointed if you don’t get the results you wanted (which is pretty much that awesome flat tummy everyone seems to have after drinking the tea).
