I am a self-professed lipbalm junkie – how does this lipbalm measure up?

I was given a sample of the Mentholatum Mogitate Kajitsu lipbalm to try. I received the Mogitate Orange and Mango scented one. According to product info, it contains natural fruit juice, honey and beeswax. Sounds fab already!

I am lipbalm junkie – I have dry lips that crack very easily, so I always have a tube of lipbalm with me. I have used almost every lipbalm from Mentholatum, and more from other brands including both locally available and overseas brands. I need my lipbalm to be emollient, tasteless (I abhor lipbalm made with artificial sweeteners- a common ingredient in American brand lipbalms) and lasting.

The Mentholatum juicy lipbalm has several ingredients that are good for lipbalms – beeswax, grapeseed oil and glycerin. These give it a very smooth emollient texture that glides on to the lips effortlessly. I love the scent, but it is not lasting on the lips. An added bonus is the UV protection – lips need their sunscreen too!

So does this lipbalm pass my test?

I have certainly used better lipbalms (such as the Mentholatum Lip Pure range). This lipbalm is no frills, smells good and passable. I won’t mind using it, but it is not my holy grail lipbalm. I like the UV protection, which is not common among locally available lipbalm, which makes it unique. Do check it out if you are in need of a lipbalm!

I had the opportunity to try two products from Sophie Monk – the Strawberry Bye Bye Blackhead set and Double Lifting mask. Read my review below!

The Strawberry Bye Bye Blackhead set consists of 3 steps – first a softener, then a peel-off mask, and then a pore minimizer. After massaging the skin softening for 2-3 minutes, rinse it and apply the peel off mask.

The peel off mask is pink! It smells faintly of strawberries. The mask will dry in about 20 minutes. Please apply LIBERALLY so that it will be easier to peel off. After peeling off, apply the pore minimizer.

Verdict: I do not have a lot of blackhead, but the skin softener did help to surface some of the whiteheads, which we know to be the precursor of blackheads. The peel off mask is pleasant but I suggest only using it on the t-zone because it can get quite tight after drying. Unless you have blackhead problem on your cheeks too, you can just apply at problem areas. Like other peel-off masks it serves to cleanse the surface of the skin of excess dead skin and micro hair. The pore tightener/ minimizer doesn’t seem to work; I am not sure of the mechanism behind that. Do I recommend this product? If you are in the market for a peel-off mask for your t-zone and would like something that smells pleasant, you can consider this. (RRP: $25.90)

The next product I tried is the Double Lifting Mask, also from Sophie Monk.

The full range consists of Super Moisturizing (blue), Shiny Brightening Whitening (pink), Youth V-Shape (yellow), Deep Cleansing Soothing Pore Minimizing (green) and Anti-Aging SOS (black). For the purpose of testing, I used the most potent of them all – the black one.

Verdict: The mask does not fit my face properly, quite like the Sexylook one I tried. The ear hooks are tight, so they are meant for a smaller face. The mask lifts up from the nose area, they are meant for people with flatter noses? The scent of the mask is strange; it reminds me way too much of mall toilet air freshener, if you get what I mean. That is a big difference from the nice strawberry scented products. However, I like how hydrating the mask is! It is quite SOS in the sense of erasing (most of) the signs of late nights I suppose. Is it lifting? I can’t tell the difference. (RRP: $2) At the price of $2 each, they are quite affordable if you are looking for a hydrating mask that treats the chin too!

Both of these products are available at Guardian stores islandwide. Do check them out if you are interested!

Two new bubble facial wash in the market, how do they measure up against each other?

Read my review below!

1. Bubble Integrity

When you first pump both out of the bottle, there is hardly any difference between them, except for the scent. They are both fluffy and cute, but the difference show up quickly.

Top: Biore. Bottom: Amethystory

Within a few seconds, you can see that the Amethystory one start to disintegrate; the bubbles have no integrity after a few seconds and the mixture becomes drippy. The Biore one, on the top, still maintains its surface tension and holds up nicely.

Top: Biore. Bottom: Amethystory

By the time the Amethystory one has mostly dripped off, the Biore one still remains fluffy and whole.

With regard to bubble integrity and fluffiness, Biore wins hands down.

2. Ingredients

When it comes to the list of ingredients, Biore is superior. Amethystory contains a considerable amount of sodium laureth sulphate (SLS), while the Biore one does not. SLS is the public enemy when it comes to skincare, so that’s that. Again, Biore wins.

3. Efficacy and Comfort

The Amethystory feels like it’s stripping my skin dry; I attribute this to the public enemy ingredient pointed out on top. The Biore feels like it cleans, but the skins still feels soft after that. My fingers don’t feel siap-siap (a squeaky clean feel) after using the Biore. So Biore wins this round too!

Based on the 3 criteria above, Biore wins, no doubts. Also I like that Biore comes in a cheaper refill pack for future use; environmentally more friendly and pocket-friendly too.

]]> http://lovelyloey.me/amethystory-vs-biore-bubble-wash/feed/ 0 http://lovelyloey.me/amethystory-skincare/ http://lovelyloey.me/amethystory-skincare/#comments Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:48:34 +0000 lovelyloey http://lovelyloey.me/?p=4913 I was given the opportunity to try out 3 star products from Amethystory – the Mineral Bubble Face Wash, Mineral Aqua Whitening Enhancer and Mineral Aqua Gel.

Read my review below.

Mineral Bubble Face Wash, RRP $14.90

Bubble face wash seem to be all the rage here. A couple of years back I tried one by SANA and didn’t like it – it was too drying, smelled strange and overall not a very pleasant experience. This time round, the Mineral Bubble Face Wash by Amethystory is purported to be good for skin – it contains hyaluronic acid, which all skincare addicts know as a moisturizing ingredient. It also contains Bio Energy Fluid, claimed to “provide ample mineral & trace mineral elements to nourish skin cells and effectively rejuvenate skin and keep skin hydrated”.

Similar to another brand out there, this bubble face wash doesn’t drip (at least not within the first few seconds). I used the face wash, and it’s quite pleasant. There is a faint smell to it that is nice, and it is soft on the skin. It is easy to use – pump out of the bottle and directly on to wet face. (Look out for my next post comparing bubble face wash.)

However, it doesn’t feel as moisturizing as it should be. I attribute it to the presence of sodium laureth sulphate (SLS) in the product. SLS is a surfactant that is quite harsh on skin, and it is quite drying. It is found in most face wash, shampoo and body wash because it is relatively cheaper than its “better” cousins. So those sensitive to SLS products, take note.

Nonetheless, comparing this with regular liquid and cream face wash, it is easier to use and more pleasant.

Mineral Aqua Whitening Enhancer, RRP $19.90

This enhancer comes after face wash, and is intended to be absorbed by the skin. Just take a couple of drops on your palm and gently pat it in. As it gets absorbed it gets a little tacky, then it dries up and leave the skin smooth and tight. For whitening effect, the active ingredient is Tranexamic Acid.

I like how it gets absorbed by the skin, reminiscent of the Hada Labo lotion. A few drops go a long way, so this bottle will last you many months!

Mineral Aqua Gel, RRP $24.90

This is the star product of the range. The mineral aqua gel is a gentle exfoliant. Like the same-brand product Marvel Gel, this gel purports to remove dead skin. This gel is very liquidy, compared to the marvel gel, which comes out of a tube. As you rub this gel into your skin, small white flakes form. I am wary about calling those dead skin cells; such products are not caustic that way to remove dead skin cells chemically. Rather, the gel is formulated to react with skin to form those white flakes and beads so that you can use those beads to massage and exfoliate the skin gently. Really, if just by pouring the gel on my hand and moving it around and dead skin fall off, I’d use it wash the toilet instead.

To me this is a no-frills exfoliating product. I expected more, but it is no different from the other gel exfoliant out there, including Ginvera’s own Marvel Gel.

Overall, my favourite product from this range is the whitening enhancer.

Want free samples? Get a free trial size sample of the Mineral Aqua Gel from Facebook! Simply click the link below!

https://www.facebook.com/amethystory?ref=ts&sk=app_213564948660624

I consider myself a big fan of Maybelline’s make up (primarily their foundation and mascara), and so I had to try their newest range – the Clear Smooth BB Cream and the Clear Smooth Shine Free Face Powder!

Ever since the popularity of Korean Blemish Balm (BB) creams in Asia, most brands have jumped on the bandwagon and developed creamy textured foundation and call it BB cream. Most BB creams have low coverage, but feels good on the skin without the excess weight and thickness of traditional liquid foundations. Easy to smooth and blend out, I can see why BB creams are popular.

The Maybelline CS BB Cream has a more orange tone compared to BB creams from Korean brands (e.g. Skin79 as shown above). The slight greyish BB creams from Korean brands are good for fair skin, or people who want to look fair, I suppose. They always make me look a little washed out. The Maybelline CS BB Cream is different; it is very natural, and blends in with my skin colour.

The back of my palm is very fair, so you can distinctly see how the orangey BB cream colours my hand. The coverage is so-so with one layer, just the way I like it. For more coverage, Maybelline recommends layering since they claim this product is buildable.

I like the BB cream so far; I have worn it on two occasions and I’d say it’s good. On both occasions I set the BB cream with the Clear Smooth Shine Free Face Powder (CSSF powder).

This face powder is some kind of awesome. Prior to this, I am keen supporter of M.A.C.’s Select Sheer Pressed Powder (went through two of them). If I have to compare these two, I’d it’s a tough fight. Both oxidizes a little, but they are both very smooth (finely milled) and glide onto the face easily. I don’t care much for the ridiculously crappy powder puff that comes with the Maybelline one, though. The shine free powder lives up to its promise. I have combination skin and usually I shine at my T-zone. I wore this for 6 hours and I didn’t feel the need to touch up or even blot my nose. It’s not matte throughout (that’d be scary), but it’s a healthy nice kind of glow, I suppose.

As I said I am a fan of Maybelline’s Two-Way foundations and here is a comparison of shades. I’d say Nude Beige is a good match for those using OC1 from the other two range. By the way, I love the Angelfit 2-way too. (Not so much the Pure Mineral.)

There is currently a promotion for the BB Cream and Pressed Powder at Watsons if I’m not wrong. I bought them for $13.50 and $11.90 respectively. Not sure when the promotion ends, go buy it ASAP!

I got to try this newfangled sheet mask from The Sample Store. This sheet mask comes with ear loops and a chin-neck flap for supposed lifting effect. This is my review of it.

As you can see from the picture above the mask has loops which you must place behind your ears. First you loop the face portion, then the chin flap. The mask fits OK, but some places didn’t fit at all, such as the nose area. It does not cover my nose well, and the sides are lifting off. The ear loops make the mask a tad tight, but that’s probably due to my big face.

The mask promises lifting and anti-aging effect. All I can affirm is the hydration it provides. My skin feels soft and supple after using it. As for the chin area, more often than not, that is the area I neglect when applying skincare. Similarly, the skin at that area feels smooth to touch after applying the mask. However, any promise of facial lifting is dubious to me. Particularly with this kind of ingredients:

Platinum? Seriously? I suppose the elastin helps to plump and firm skin, but that’s not lifting by any account. Arguably, effects may be observed after prolonged usage. Which I feel is doable with this mask; if I’m not wrong it retails for S$8.90 thereabout for 5 pieces. It’s not too bad as a hydration mask. The ear loops are so luxe, maybe that’s a reason enough to try this mask.

As you know I am a member on The Sample Store (previously known as Fr3b). I don’t usually rave every product that I sample, but this time I am quite impressed with a full-size Cyber Colors balm that I got. This is basically a cream BB foundation if I have to describe it. Unlike traditional BB cream that are more liquid in a tube, this is more viscous in a pan form.

I got the one in Natural, which is the darker of the two colours available.

This is a colour comparison between Cyber Colors and Skin79. As you can see Cyber Colors is slightly warmer and darker, while Skin79 is lighter and almost having a grey tinge to it. Based on the colour of my hand it seems that Skin79 is a better match.

This shows the effect after spreading out the balm. Hopefully you can tell that it’s the right side that is applied with the balm (the vein as separator). This picture isn’t too clear but there are some freckles on the on the left side (clean). The balm could cover the freckles on the right side, so I’m happy with the coverage. Additionally, the colour, after blending in, is not as dark as I thought. Nowadays I commit, too, the crime of applying BB cream that is a shade lighter than my neck. Which is tricky because my face is really a shade lighter than my neck. That aside, I this balm seems promising in terms of evening out my complexion – I have freckles and sun spots on my face that need covering. The texture feels good as well, it is not sticky, but I do think one might want to set it with loose powder.

The only drawback is the strong smell; this thing stinks more than any other makeup I have come across.

I am not sure now if it oxidizes through the day (makeup rarely oxidizes on me), but I think this product is worth trying, especially now that TheSampleStore is offering full size samples! Click this link or the link on the right hand side to register for an account there to get it free (while stock lasts)!

It all started with my itchy fingers trailing the shelves at Sephora. I picked up a tube of Laneige aqua sunblock and tried in on my hands. I had a hard time believing that was sunblock. It has a light watery (hence aqua) texture too unlike the thick chemical-scented goop I see from other brands. This was too amazing. I didn’t buy it then though; I just started another tube of sunblock.

Fast forward a couple of months, I finally went to buy myself a tube from the counter at Takashimaya. I didn’t pick the aqua version in the end, but opted for the oil-free one.

I don’t have blemish-prone skin, but I’d still like an oil-free product because I have combination skin with oilier t-zone. This sunblock also has a great texture, oil-free and non-sticky.

Following the sunblock, the other day, my friend KL’s friend came back from Korea with an extra set of Laneige Perfect Renew Dual-Touch Eyes eye cream for sale (which I bought). This eye cream comes with two different formulation – a day formulation with some SPF and a night formula that is more for overnight repair. Before this product, I never applied sunblock near my eyes since sunblock tend to sting eyes. Also, I never really used eye products with SPF. So this provides a much-need day protection.

Together with this came a couple of sample sachets of other products. I tried the Water Bank Essence. It was positively divine. My skin soaked it up like dry earth and boy was my skin smooth to touch after that. I normally have smooth skin, this made it way smoother than usual. It is not sticky nor heavy, the perfect texture for our climate.

So I went, again, to the counter to grab this essence. And others.

From the left: Water Bank Essence_EX ($60), Water sleeping pack_EX ($45), Water Bank Hydro Gel ($50), samples and miniature gift set with purchase of $150.

Apart from the essence I bought the Water Sleeping Pack (WSP). It’s a product you apply on your skin before you go to sleep, and it will constantly hydrate the skin in your sleep so that you can wake up amazing. In the past I have tried a sleeping mask from another brand (read: Neutrogena). Let’s just say 5 minutes after applying it I washed it off because it was plain bad. I had my concerns with the sleeping mask, knowing how I sleep on my face sometimes. I tried it on my hands, and it was actually absorbed and water, not sticky at all. That convinced me to give it a try. The other product is the hydro gel. As the name suggests, it’s a face gel, a very light formula to replace thick cream moisturizers. I basically love these whole regime because the climate in Singapore just isn’t suited for heavy creams.

So, yes, I am hooked to Laneige. I think the products can deliver what it promises.

I was in the market for a new body scrub and I turned to St Ives. I like their apricot facial scrub enough, so I saw this Apricot Scrub in a tub, I grabbed it. The version I got had a little sticker that says it’s good for both face and body. Even better, I just need one scrub product. Of course, you are advised to go gentler on the face when using it.

I love how the apricot scrubs give enough grit for a good scrub. My skin felt very very smooth after using this scrub. It is not drying; my skin is best described as soft and smooth at this point. I followed the instructions in rubbing circles on my skin. This 283g tub retails for $11.90 at Robinsons and I believe other drugstores. I got it at 20% off during the recent Robinsons sale at about $9.50. Very value for money!

I highly recommend this if you need a body scrub!

(Image taken from The Body Shop.com.sg)

The Body Shop launched a new range of haircare and I decided to give it a try. This is my review.

I have oily scalp that needs to be shampooed at least once every 18 hours. When I read that The Body Shop has launched a shampoo and conditioner for oily hair, I had to try it. Fortunately they have a sort-of trial set for this range. In the box there are 2x 120ml shampoo and 2x 120ml conditioner and a huge recycled plastic comb. (Costs $19.90)

After the first wash, I am sorely disappointed with the product. Like all shampoo made for oily hair, it striped my scalp clean. I know I have some hair styling products on which made my hair slightly waxy, so I used more shampoo than usual to clean those products off. The lather from the shampoo wasn’t very strong, and it couldn’t really clean the styling products off my hair. I rinsed, and washed a second time, and still, the styling products couldn’t come off so I had to turn to my regular Asience product to get the gunk off. After that, I tried the conditioner. The conditioner is sub-par as well. It didn’t do anything to detangle my hair and the texture was slightly weird, it squeeze out the bottle like some facial clay mask. It’s not the soft moisturizing texture and efficacy of Japanese conditioners I have come to be acquainted with. After using this conditioner I was still left with tangled hair I had to use my usual Asience conditioner on top of it.

Since I already possess the product, I tried it a second time a few days later. My second wash was slightly better. This time my hair is free from any products, and hasn’t been washed for 24 hours. The shampoo still didn’t lather much, I had to use a lot of shampoo on my shoulder-length hair. Again, the conditioner still had a strange texture, hard to squeeze from the bottle. I found my hair slightly hard to comb after washing, even with the wide-tooth comb that came with this trial set. However I quite like the texture of my hair after it dries. Surprisingly my hair feels smooth. It’s fairly tangle-free. However, after my hair dried, my scalp started to turn oily again. I am very particular about my scalp feeling clean and refreshed, which is the reason why I chose to try this range in the first place. I don’t think the Balance haircare range delivers what I expected. It’s quite sad; I really wanted to like this product in it being all sorts of hippie good of not containing parabens, etc etc.