Review on Kose Sekkisei Herbal Gel

I have always loved Kose's Sekkisei herbal series of skincare, and would like to share with you the benefits and beauty of their Herbal Gel.

The simple yet elegant design of the tub - deep royal blue bottom, and a thick silver lid, gives it a very trustworthy yet beautiful appearance - as though it is telling you that "I mean business", as a facial cream.  Retailing at SGD$56.00 for an 80 grams tub, I would find the price to be very reasonable because it is an emulsion, a serum cream, a massage pack and sleeping mask all in one. In other words, one product is sufficient to fulfill all your skincare regime - and this can be used for daytime and nighttime.

Ingredients-wise, the Sekkisei Herbal Gel contains (among other ingredients) compounded oriental herbs such as coix seed, angelica, loquat extract, melothria heterophylla and mugwort. The texture of the gel is light, cool and easily-absorbed; it carries a gently herbal scent that I find very soothing and therapeutic.

That's me in Vancouver at -4 degree celsius, with supple skin thanks to the herbal gel.

If used during the daytime, a thin layer is enough to keep skin hydrated and supple throughout the day, even in air-conditioned environment or wintry weather (yes, I relied on this heavily during my Vancouver vacation in December).

If used at night as a sleeping mask, a thicker layer is to be applied. The skin feels soft, moistened and beautiful in the morning. I personally dub this my miracle gel, as I can also use it after my laser skin treatments, since it calms and soothes my skin.

Have you found your dream product yet? I think that with Kose's Sekkisei Herbal Gel, I have!

Review on REBIRTH Placenta Cream

I have long heard about the benefits of placenta creams, but had never thought of trying because of several factors, such as possible allergic reactions, oddity of placenta for skincare, etc. That was until my sisters-in-law passed me 2 tubs of Rebirth Placenta Cream for my Europe trip, recommending that I  use them for extreme (dry) weather in winter.

Just a quick introduction, Rebirth is proclaimed to be Australia's No. 1 placenta cream using pure sheep placenta and a combination of oil base with water to create a smooth, rich yet non-greasy cream with many, many benefits to it. Some of the benefits include minimizing early signs of age spots as well as scars and discoloration, stimulation of new cell production, anti-wrinkle and moisturising properties.

I opened up the tub of Rebirth placenta cream expecting some strong gamey odor - but there was none. There was a very soft milky scent that was nearly undetectable. The cream looked very rich and greasy, but it was surprisingly light to the touch - velvety and easily absorbed into the skin.

That's me in Switzerland up on mountains, -8 degree celsius, and
 my skin was moisturised thanks to ReBirth 

My face felt hydrated but not oily nor sticky; it was a very comfortable feeling.  I used it more for nighttime though, but my sisters-in-law used it throughout the day to keep their skin from peeling due to dryness. As for me, I used to have very sensitive skin that would turn itchy and red in cold areas, but this cream (and lots of hydrating masks and serum) have prevented that - keeping my skin lovely in wintry Europe, even up on the snowy mountains in Switzerland.

I am definitely loving this cream, oh and guess what? The price is amazing - it retails for less than AUD$10.00 in Australia, and can be ordered online (for us not staying in Australia) via certain trustworthy portals for less than SGD$20.00 per tub of 100ml placenta cream.

Astalift x Sample Store - Regain Your Youth Beauty Workshop

Event: Astalift x Sample Store "Regain Your Youth" Beauty Workshop

Date: 8 February 2018

Time: 7.00pm - 8.00pm

Venue: Wisma Atria Level 1 Atrium

Website: https://www.timeliss.com

Having tried and quite liked Astalift's Aqua Jelly using special film technology (review here), I was honoured to be invited for the Astalift Beauty Workshop this evening.

Just a brief introduction to Astalift - it is a beauty brand owned by Japan's company Fujifilm. In Japan they have a medical arm working on using technology to improve and restore beautiful skin, so you can imagine their products are made with cutting edge technology and quality ingredients.

So the workshop started with some food for us, followed by an educational talk by Astalift's beauty trainer Jason.

Demonstrations were done on several products, specially Aqualift Jelly, and the new nano product named "In-Focus".

We also got to try a Mocktail drink made with their delicious Pure Collagen drink.

Following that, the prize-catching moment where we had to grab 3 ribbons of the same color, within 30 seconds. The prize would be 3 travel-size Astalift Jelly. Needless to say, I got it.

Finally, redemption of the Goody-bag comprising Astalift Hand Cream,  a long white unbrella and some more skincare samples.

Thank you Astalift for the fabulous and enriching event; as well as Sample Store for the invite!

Beauty Review: NotS 28 Remedy Repair Cream

NotS 28 Remedy Repair Cream (SGD$126.00) - functional ingredients such as Neem Tree Extract and Nopal Cactus Extract effectively revitalize, promote skin repair, smooth acne scars and supply nutrition. .

Cooling on skin when applied, this cream heals skin effectively and also has anti-wrinkle properties. I love it and am glad to have discovered it.

Review on WILD Products' Rosehip & Hibiscus Facial Creme

The quest for vegan, natural products led to my discovery of WILD Products' Rosehip and Hibiscus Facial Creme (SGD$22.00) for a slim, compact 50ml bottle.  It can be ordered via Sephora (ex-Luxola)'s website.

I have read mixed reviews about this product, but it was the ingredients that clearly drew me to puchasw this cream - rosehip, hibiscus, and a multitude of vitamins - created to improve skin conditions, rejuvenation and combat signs of aging.

The product is lightweight and definitely good to bring out or for travels. I also like how it comes with a pump - easy to control amount to use, and more hygienic.

I squeezed a small amount to get a feel of its texture, and what greeted me was a light, sweet floral scent, like fresh cream on desserts.

Texture was creamy, easy to apply and smoothen over the face. It felt thick upon application, but was absorbed. Face felt soothed and hydrated thereafter.

I like this product, but have to concur that it does feel a little heavy for daily daytime hydration, so I alternate it with a lighter moisturizer, sometimes also applying a thicker layer for nighttime hydration.

Review on Hydro Collagen Facial Treatment at New York Skin Solutions @ Orchard [Sponsored]

391 Orchard Road #05-16 / 17 Ngee Ann City, Singapore 238873

Tel: 6388 5566 

Website: http://newyorkskinsolutions.com.sg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewYorkSkin

I was invited for a sponsored session of Hydro Collagen Plus Facial Treatment (worth SGD$388.00) at New York Skin Solutions. They have been in Singapore for around 14 years, spanning the island with many outlets, and prominent advertisements.

That said, I don't have to explain much about who they are.

In the Consultation room listening to their explanation and analysis of the scans.

My choice of treatment was at Ngee Ann City (Takashimaya). The interior was done in their signature blue and white hues; the centre was filled with many small consultation rooms and even more treatment rooms (some even partitioned to become 2 rooms - are they couple rooms?!)

In the Consultation room, I was asked to fill out a declaration form and asked the usual lifestyle questions. Then a scan of my face was conducted, with the consultant *A commenting that I look like a "little girl" despite my age, and tsk-ing away when she saw the scan results and commented pores were "very clogged". To be honest, I had thought of leaving at this point, and how it felt more like "Malaysia Skin Solutions".

Just for the record, I do have my own facial therapists and I do diamond micro-dermabrasion on top of home scrub gels. Never mind.

In Treatment room waiting for Therapist to attend to me.

She led me to a Treatment room afterwards, and I changed into the grey tube robe.  The room was very small, but neatly maintained with a small wash basin, bed, metal rack of beauty products and locker for storage of items.

My hair was done up and makeup removed. This was followed by a Hydrating Mask Sheet. The therapist cum consultant *A, who had been aggressive and curt in the consultation room earlier on, was startlingly tender and motherly during the treatment, almost making me feel I should immediately sign up something so as to be under her care.

15 minutes later, the Oxygen Machine was rolled into the room and jets of cool oxygen blasted at my face; it was so comfortable.

Following that, extraction took place. She was gentle overall, exerting more pressure at more "congested" areas. Then sterilization took place, followed by the application of a cooling Collagen Gel over my face - this was done with a thick makeup brush.

She rolled another machine in and pressed a device to my face to smoothen and push the collagen in; the device had a metallic surface that made me think of stethoscope. This was done on one side of my face first, to show me the difference in firmness. Once I was satisfied, she proceeded to work on the other half of my face.

The thick Herbal mix hardening into a clay-like mask

Finally, another sheet was lay over my face before *A applied a thick, heavy layer of something herbal over the sheet. She explained this was for stabilizing the treatment and retention of the collagen and hydration. The herbal mixture dried, hardened and weighed heavily on my face, like clay.

Residue was cleaned off and moisturizer was smoothened over my face. My skin felt firmer, brighter and more supple.

I was brought back to Consultation room to see the resulting differences. Then they gave me a lovely box of Aqua Repair Treatment Products, consisting of Cleanser, Toner, Moisturizer and Cream.

Thank you New York Skin Solutions for the soothing, lovely treatment and products - I cannot wait to break into the products.

Review on Hue Floresta's White-A-Fair Serum, Night Cream and Facial Masks

Understanding that whitening and fair skin is a much sought-after beauty desire of Asian women today, where the key is through attainmemt of clear and bright complexion, Hue Floresta's range of beauty skincare products uses soy deriatives yogurt and pearl to target pigmentation and skin discoloration issues, letting us achieve fair skin without topica bleaching whitening agents.

I was fortunate enough to be able to try them before my wedding (the Nuptial Series here) - thank you founders, which prompted me to purchase more to try because they felt so good on the skin.

The Revitalising Treatment Essence comprises rose water, aloe vera and effective humectant sodium hyaluronate, effectively balancing the skin.

The essence is clear, translucent and cooling. Upon application onto the skin, my skin became very moisturized and smooth instantly, so smooth it felt powdery, what a lovely feeling.

The Intensive Whitening  Treatment Mask (5 sheets in a pack) contains revolutionary purified soy yogurt filtrate the deep layers of skin to inhibit production and transfer of melanin.

The way to use this mask is to leave it on cleaned skin for about 15 minutes, and then lightly pat dry ; do not rinse. I loved how the sheet masks kept my skin intensely hydrated and firm.

Finally, Night Repair Emulsion , tub of 30ml. To be applied at night, this rich cream hydrates, renews and repairs cells as we sleep, blocking enzyme reaction that causes pigmentation.

It may feel rich and greasy upon application, but gets absorbed very quickly into the skin, leaving it soft and dewy as it works through the night.

Overall, I love their products and will be glad to continue using them for long-term visible results.  I heard that new products are also in the pipeline, and have also volunteered to be the first customer for one of the upcoming new creations. Looking forward!

Review on Essano's Rosehip Moisture Restorative Night Creme

In my quest to search for organic, natural and non animal-tested beauty products, I stumbled upon ESSANO's rosehip moisture restorative night creme -it was basically the ingredients that interested me greatly. Essano is a New Zealand company producing natural products for skincare.

Priced very reasonably at SGD$29.90 for a 50g tub, and packaged attractively in pretty rose pink, this product looked professional and promising without being overly pretty. It also aims to deeply nourish, condition and renew the skin at night as we go to sleep.

Main ingredients comprise rosehip, jojoba oil, aloe vera, shea butter and Vitamins E - all the beauty essentials, each with its own restorative function. I also like this product for NOT containing parabens, sulphates, silicones, phthalates, ethoxylates, PEGs, PPGs, mineral oils or GMOs (so they state on the label).

The white cream had a rather rich texture - thick and creamy, but was absorbed into the skin rather quickly, mattifying on the surface. Upon touching the skin, it was smooth bordering on a little oily, but only a light sheen in appearance.

The cream smelt good - mild hints of rose petals and jojoba, nothing overwhelming or heady. In the morning, the skin felt baby smooth and soft, texture looked hydrated and radiant as well. I am loving this product so far.