ElishaCoy Premium Gold Mineral BB SPF 45, PA+++ Review

I am back with another ElishaCoy's BB cream, it is the ElishaCoy Premium Gold Mineral BB Cream!! Not going to delve too much into ElishaCoy's brand introduction or history this time, those who are interested can check out my other reviews on their BB creams (Always Triple / Always Nuddy 24).

The Premium Gold Mineral BB cream stands on the luxurious end of their BB cream range, with caviar, royal jelly extract, camellia japonica flower extract and deep sea water in its ingredient list. Other ingredients also includes trehalose (high water retaintion capabilities) and marine collagen to keep skin moisturized and wrinkles at bay. On top of that, it also contains gold ingredients!!

This BB cream is meant for whitening and anti-aging. It spreads and blend well, with a slight floral scent. FYI, Always Triple smells kinda like incense and Always Nuddy 24 smells like paint to me....-.-" So yea, Premium Gold BB cream is the better smelling one of the lot.

The Premium Gold Mineral BB cream is like an upgraded version of Always Triple, with a higher SPF of 45 (compared to Always Triple's SPF of 30) and better packaging. It comes with a pump dispenser unlike the others which sports the tube-design. The problem with the tube-design is that i always have a mess at the outlet. Really annoying sometimes, especially when the excess BB cream gets dried up in the grooves of the cap...erk!!.....

under sun light

under room light

The coverage and staying power is probably better or on par with Always Triple (~ 6-7 hours depending on the environment). Unlike Always Triple and Always Nuddy 24 which has pink undertones, the Premium Gold Mineral BB cream has yellow undertones.  The downside is that like Always Triple, the Premium Gold Mineral BB cream tend to feel a little heavy on the skin and the oil control is fair ( i need to blot every 4-5 hours).

All in all, i do not see the whitening or anti-wrinkle effects, but the strong coverage and staying power is convincing enough for repurchasing. Would recommend Premium Gold Mineral BB cream for fair-skinned individuals as the shade offered are quite light. Price-wise, you can get Premium Gold Mineral BB at John Little or on Qoo10 at SGD 28.50 for full volume and at SGD 13.50 for the 15ml trial tube.

Thanks for reading and hope this post helps!!

Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening Lotion and Milk Review

After trying out Hada Labo's Retinol Lifting + Firming  Lotion and AHA/ BHA Exfoliating Face Wash (you can my review here), decided to try out their Arbutin Whitening Line this time.

The Arbutin Whitening Line boasts of 3 benefits, deep moisturizing, intensive repair and double whitening. It contains their usual does of super hyaluronic acid (SHA), Vitamin C and Arbutin (plant extract). SHA provides hydration, Vitamin C helps to reduce appearance of dark spots while Arbutin helps to fight dark spots and refine skin texture and tone. Kanebo's White C Line also contains Vitamin C, guess its a 'hot' ingredient in Japanese beauty industry?

Arbutin Whitening Lotion (Top)
Arbutin Whitening Milk (Bottom)

The Arbutin Whitening Lotion has a watery texture, unlike the viscous texture seen in Retinol Lifting + Firming Lotion. It is easily absorbed, but the hydration factor is kinda low. So you might want to use an additional emulsion or cream if you are concern about your skin drying out.

The Arbutin Whitening Milk  has a thick viscous texture which needs some work to pat it into your skin. Just think about the infamous Hada Labo Ads where the girl pats very vigorously =) Does gives a little 'boeing boeing' effect...haha~ Do note that the Arbutin Whitening Milk do not contain SHA (wth? but it feels more hydrating that the Lotion?!).

Does includes all three key ingredients

Only contains Arbutin & Vitamin C

Would recommend the Arbutin Whitening Line to normal to oily skin individuals, who are looking for something to brighten their skin tone. Did not observed much whitening on my face, but i do feel that my skin's clariancy is clearer. Despite the emphasis placed on simultaneous whitening and hydration by the Arbutin Whitening Line, the hydration factor from solely the lotion and milk might be little low for dry skin individuals. So do invest in their Arbutin Whitening Cream instead of Arbutin Whitening Milk for better moisturized skin.

You can get the Arbutin Whitening Lotion and Milk at SGD22.90 each at Watsons, Guardians and NTUC Fairprice. For those on budget, there are sellers on Qoo10 who are selling as low as SGD16.90 (exclu. SGD 1.80 shipping), thats like almost 30% lower than retail!! The Arbutin Whitening Lotion and Milk comes in 170ml and 120ml respectively. Used a fifth of the contents (rough estimate with ruler ^^) in a month, should last around 2-3 months.

Hope this post helps and thanks for reading!!

The FaceShop New Zealand Volcanic Clay Black Head Clay Nose Pack Review

Used to use The FaceShop's Black Head Ex Nose Clay Mask whenever i'm too lazy to spread Shiseido's Naturgo Mask or White Mask for full face exfoliation. My tube of Black Head Ex Nose Clay Mask was running out and i saw that The FaceShop has another nose clay mask on their shelves!! The New Zealand Volcanic Clay Black Head Clay Nose Pack~!

Initially, I thought that these two nose clay mask are part of two different exfoliation series that The FaceShop is currently hosting. But, after checking their website, The New Zealand Volcanic Clay Black Head Clay Nose Pack is the new replacement. 

Black Head Ex Nose Clay Mask swatch

New Zealand Volcanic Clay Black Head Clay Nose Pack swatch

 Texture-wise, both nose clay mask have white and thick consistency. However, the New Zealand Volcanic Clay Black Head Clay Nose Pack seemed to spread better, covering pores more efficiently giving much better coverage and grip on black heads. Less open pores can be seen on the New Zealand Volcanic Clay Black Head Clay Nose Pack compared to its predecessor. Other than that, the New Zealand Volcanic Clay Black Head Clay Nose Pack contains pore clear agent as well as natural mineral to provide smooth skin after usage.

In terms of performance, i felt that both nose clay mask were pretty much the same. Pity that i did not manage to capture a picture of the Black Head Ex Nose Clay Mask with impurities. The New Zealand Volcanic Clay Black Head Clay Nose Pack does removes a lot of black heads and white heads!! 

 The removal process does pack some punch, so do be prepared, probably a 6.5/ 7 on the scale of 10. The New Zealand Volcanic Clay Black Head Clay Nose Pack comes in a small tube of 1.76 oz (approx 52ml), which will probably run out fast since thick application of the nose clay is required for better black head removal. Price-wise, i bought the New Zealand Volcanic Clay Black Head Clay Nose Pack at SGD 5.90 during a Qoo10 promotion back then. Now, prices have risen to SGD 6.9-7.2 excluding shipping. You guys can also check out prices at local The FaceShop retail stores if you like to see the product for yourself =).

The New Zealand Volcanic Clay Black head Clay Nose Pack does leave my skin feeling superbly smooth, but it comes in such small volume and gets used up really quickly. I would rather invest in peel-mask that is applicable to the whole face rather than just the nose. Would recommend this nose clay mask to individuals with oily T-zone.

Hope this post helps and thanks for reading!!

  

ElishaCoy Always Nuddy 24 BB cream Review

After i did a review on ElishaCoy Always Triple BB cream last year, decided to do a review on ElishaCoy Always Nuddy 24 BB cream this time round..as promised =)... When i first lay eyes on this BB cream. what caught my attention was the pastel pink and gold printing!! Such girly appeal~

Like all other ElishaCoy products, their ingredient list only includes organic and high quality herb extract.
The Always Nuddy 24 BB cream contains portulas oleracea, allantonin & chamomile to soothe troubled skin. Other than caring for troubled skin, it also provides pore care and sebum balancing... Trouble skin + pore care + sebum balancing? So i guess the main consumer group of  Always Nuddy BB 24 BB cream are teenagers..?

The Always Nuddy BB 24 BB cream is kind of like a tinted moisturizer? Unlike its much more multi-functional counterpart (Always Triple BB cream). As indicated by its name 'Nuddy', this BB cream is meant for the light make-up look. I needed at least 2 layers along with concealer for some coverage, if coverage is what your are looking for, then this BB cream is definitely not it. Despite its sheer coverage, even with 2 layers on....the Always Nuddy 24 BB cream is really light-weighted on the skin and it has a pretty smooth skin finish!! The staying power of this BB cream is not as strong compared to Always Triple BB cream, but i could go without touch-up for 3 or 4 hours max. From my past experience from Always Triple BB cream, i was expecting below average oil control but i was pleasantly surprised this time. Like the Always Triple BB cream, the Always Nuddy 24 BB cream does gives off a pinkish tinge. The texture is fluid and easily bendable.

The scent was a little unpleasant  like.....paint or something? Well, the smell does fade quickly, no biggie...just don't pay too much attention to it =) Other than the scent, do note that the Always Nuddy 24 BB cream do not have SPF!! You will need additional sunblock if you are going under or avoiding the sun.

The lack of SPF was kind of a downer but I do appreciate how light this BB cream is on my skin and the decent oil control, but i'll probably use it when i go to the nearby mall or too lazy/ late to do my make-up. I would recommend the Always Nuddy 24 BB cream to students or oily-skinned individuals. You can also try this BB cream if you are looking for something similar to tinted moisturizer......or something to apply on during your 'no make-up' days without looking too horrific...if you know what i mean...haha...

Price-wise, ElishaCoy's BB creams do not come cheap at retail stores like BHG or Isetean, Always Nuddy 24 BB cream probably retail around 30+ SGD? On a budget? Fret not!!  You can get full volume (50ml) of Always Nuddy 24 BB cream at Qoo10 at only 19SGD++!!

Thanks for reading and hope this post helps!!

Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalizing Treatment Review

After my previous endeavour with Sulwhasoo's Basic Line and First Care Serum, was very much encouraged to get other Sulwhasoo products. Since i've started work in August last year, i've been kind of lax in my beauty routine..*wince....not exactly as diligent as before in my mask application... So, i was interested in leave-on products!!  Just slather on and wash them off the next morning. Unlike conventional mask, no need for a timer and another repeated trip to the bathroom to discard used cotton mask. What caught my eye was the Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalizing Treatment~



The Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalizing Treatment is a leave-on mask that you apply after the final step of your nightly skincare routine. It has a white and rich cream texture that just require one or two additional strokes for it to be fully absorbed into your skin. Surprisingly, despite its cream texture, it does not leave any greasy after-feel and it smells herbal with a hint of floral...not overpowering...just a hint to make the product not smell overly herbly..haha... The recommend washing-off methods was to avoid using foam or soap, and use just water. Yea, just water to rinse off and your're ready for your morning skincare routine! How convenient~

Skincare tip : Application diagram from Sulwhasoo website.

I just randomly slather the Overnight Vitalizing Treatment on my face, didnt follow the application guide. For those hardcore skincare fanatics, feel free to try it out!

"Contains acute lobed angelica and pomegranate help brighten skin tone as well as walnut and white mulberry, delivering essential nutrients and restoring skin's vitality. Creating an essential moisture layer on the skin, this mask assures optimum penetration of nourishing herbs while you rest." - Description of Overnight Vitalizing Treatment

Acute lobed angelica is actually Dang gui, a herb that is used in traditional chinese medicine, commonly used to treat women's menstrual woes and general health by regulating blood circulation. I'm not really sure how white mulberry and walnut helps to restore skin's vitality though.

After using the Overnight Vitalizing Treatment for for the whole month of January, my skin looks glowy and radiant!!(the kind of radiance you get when you have enough sleep?)... There was some oil shine on my face in the morning, but nothing that can't be solved with a face wash. Since the consistency is creamy and pretty thick, a little dollop actually goes a looooong way~ I do recommend this to normal-dry skin indivduals who are concern with dull or uneven skin tone, do not think it's meant for dark eye circle though. For oily skin indivduals, the Overnight Vitalizing Treatment might be a little too rich for the skin, might want to just apply a really thin layer to avoid pore clogging. Or you may choose to avoid emulsion or moisturiser since the Overnight Vitalizing Treatment is pretty hydrating.

I got 30 pieces of 3ml sample for only SGD 7.5 excluding shipping!! The shipping fee is standard, they charge you the same price (SGD6) regardless of the amount of goods purchased, so might as well purchase more in a go...*gleam in the eye... So i got like 6 items, and after doing the math, shipping for each item is only SGD1 for registered mail!!

Full size on Qoo10
Overnight Vitalizing Treatment (120ml) : SGD58.50 + SGD1 (shipping)

Full size on retail
Overnight Vitalizing Treatment (120ml) : SGD68++ (not inclu. GST)

Samples on Qoo10
Overnight Vitalizing Treatment (3ml x 30 = 90ml) : SGD 7.5 + SGD1 (shipping)
Just SGD 8.5 for 25% short of the full-sized volume!! That is like SGD35.4 in savings?!?...Must grab~

 

One 3ml sachet can last me almost 3 weeks-1 month!!

 Do note that the Overnight Vitalizing Treatment is meant for achieving radiant skin, or to some extent, even skin tone. If you are interested in skin whitening, perhaps the White Ginseng Brightening Mask is better suited. Will be doing a review on it soon, stay tuned~!

Hope this post helps and thanks for reading!!


Freshel White C Brightening Clear Lotion A & Whitening Lotion (Acne) AA Review

                                                      

Freshel is like a more economical skincare line of Kanebo, compared to LunaSol which is their high-end range. Freshel have two skincare line, White C and Moist Lift, with hydration as the core selling factor. These two skincare lines actually allows you to 'customize' your skincare routine!! They have different Lotions of various degree of moisture impact, so that you can choose how much hydration your skin type needs. Pretty neat concept isn't it?             

Still in their boxes~

Classy white/ metallic silver and silver sheen galore

I got the Freshel White C Brightening Clear Lotion A and Freshel White C Whitening Lotion (Acne) AA from Kanebo's White C line. The White C line focuses on salvaging damage done by the environment (sun, etc) on the skin by supplying Vitamin C (active whitening ingredient) as well as exfoliating (citrus peel extract) and moisturizing (adhesive collagen) it.  I'm not really certain about the damage relief part, did not get much of the sales assistant's attention due to the crazy crowd, for more accurate information, check out their website.

I did not purchase the full range (toner>lotion>emulsion>essence>cream), only till the lotion step. Both the Brightening Clear Lotion A and Whitening Lotion (Acne) AA are fragrance-free and have no artificial coloring. They also contain adhesive collagen which serves as the moisturizing ingredient along with citrus & orange peel extract.

 

Brightening Clear Lotion A/ Freshel Facial Toner~

Beautiful silver sheen 

Not exactly the most convenient dispenser head

The Brightening Clear Lotion A contains gentle alpha hydroxy acid mixture (bilberry extract, sugarcane extract, orange extract, lemon extract & sugar maple extract), removing old keratin from your skin as well as inhibit melanin production which causes spots and dullness. The removal of old keratin allows easy penetration of other skincare products as well!! There are two ways to go about using this toner, it can be used with a cotton pad to remove old keratin and as a skin freshener during mid-day....like a face mist!!  You might want to pour some into a bottle with a mist spray nozzle though =)

Love its dodecagon (12-sided polygon) cap

Really watery consistency

I have gotten the Whitening Lotion (Acne) AA, which you can tell from the 'Acne', is meant for oily-acne-prone skin. The product description stated that it is gentle on skin, prevent adult pimples, minimizes acne scars and lighten skin tone, promoting a smooth and bright skin. You can use the Whitening Lotion (Acne) AA with either cotton pad or your palm. Not really sure how to describe it, but the Whitening Lotion (Acne) AA does leaves a 'greasy' after-feel? The kind of feeling that you get when you did not allow the product to get totally absorbed into your skin? But i did massaged for quite awhile though...still...the 'greasy' after-feel persisted.

Been using both the toner and lotion for almost two months now and...i am not very impressed. Did not observed any improvement on my acne scars nor any brighter/luminous skin tone. And i had this minor outbreak along my jawlines, not sure whether the 'adult pimple prevention' is in place or not? Might be due to all the CNY goodies that i have been snacking on recently =(. I do feel that the hydration factor is lacking with just the Brightening Clear Lotion A and Whitening Lotion (Acne) AA, so do consider getting the emulsion as well if you are interested in the White C line. Oily skin individuals might consider getting something for oil control when using this line, my skin oils out pretty quickly when using it. I'm seeing shine on my face already before lunch!! Another thing to note, the White C range contains different types of citrus fruit peel extracts, could be too much for people with sensitive skin, might want to clarify this with their counter staff =). Would probably recommend this for individuals with normal to dry skin.

Felt kind of bummed, was expecting some results from these two product. Maybe its just not for me...*sigh...

Hope this post helps and thanks for reading!!

Musee Platinum Tokyo Hair Removal: Update

       

Recently a lot of coupon deals for permanent hair removal have surfaced, by some professional salon or some not-so-professional 'neighborhood' salons. Not that i hate 'neighborhood' salons or say that they are bad, but bad experience tends to stick with you forever. Anyway....all those highly reduced deals kinda got me to reflect on my expenditure/investment in Musee Platinum Tokyo. Even after the double discount, each session/ large body part/2 small body parts is a whooping SGD 73.33!! I use 3 sessions per treatment ( 2 for full leg and 1 for the upper back), that is SGD220 every two months. I mean, razor blades/shaving gel or both do not cost more than SGD100 a month...heck...i spend close to nothing on hair removal before Musee Platinum Tokyo because i tweeze -_-.... Is spending SGD 220 every two months on permanent hair removal justified?

So, i have decided to drop my 30 sessions with Musee Platinum Tokyo, keeping only the unlimted underarm treatment. I will keep you guys updated on the progress for the underarm instead, sorry to burst your bubbles of you were waiting for a in-depth before-and-after review for different body parts on Musee Platinum Tokyo.

Update: Just went for my third session, the zapping gets less painful each time i go back. However, have not seen much difference in hair texture as indicated above after full regrowth after second session . Nonetheless, hair regrowth is slower. Hope i will see results soon =). Can't wait for the fourth session!!

Fun fact: 1-2 weeks after treatment, your treated area will have hair follicles shedding in patches!
I will try take pictures of my underarm, keep forgetting to take them -_-"....

Hope this post helps and thanks for reading!!