Hi everyone!
I believe this entry has been promised a long time ago, maybe even a month back! Finally got to doing this tonight, and also because the bag of accumulated empty products is literally bursting, and I should send everything to the recycling bin asap! These are almost everything which I have been using up between the months of November to January. And sad to say, no makeup items (although now that I think about it, I tossed out a couple of black eyeliners simply because I have already opened new ones to use...) --- anyway, mainly skincare and bodycare products here. I hope this entry might be helpful if you are interested in my quick overview of each item. Be prepared for some rambling ahead!
Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche Hair Mist
I don't use a fragrance hair mist on a daily basis, but these are handy to have when you want to layer your favourite scent, and also to keep at your workplace, if you need to freshen up your hair after lunch hour to the cafeteria. One of my pet peeves is to have my hair and clothes smelling like lunch/dinner places after a meal, so I almost always have a couple of perfumes with me so get rid of this problem. I don't really know the difference in the contents of a hair mist as compared to its regular counterpart, but I think that it is a lighter version of the same scent, and perhaps contains less alcohol (so as not to 'dry' out your hair?). Regardless, I do think these are nice to have, but not really an essential in my getting ready routine, simply because I often spray my perfume into my hair as well.
(I used up many face creams, so you will be reading a lot about them here).
Clarins HydraQuench Cooling Cream Gel
This is my 3rd or 4th tub - it has a creamy texture, and it is a great moisturiser for both day and night. I find that it works great with any serum I happen to be using at the moment, and makes my skin feels really hydrated. I highly recommend this as a great everyday basic moisturiser. Don't let the word 'gel' fool you though, it looks and feels quite rich. I don't break out from Clarins products, and this is no exception.
Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Moisturising Cream (sample tub)
This is quite a rich cream - I think I must have brought it along during one of my trips late last year. I can't comment on the brightening effect because I only used it 4 - 5 times, but it is quite thick. I love some of the other White Lucent products, but so far this has not impressed me.
DrCi: Labo Aqua-Collagen Gel (deluxe sample tub)
My friend gave this for me to try out, and I LOVE this - I think I finished it in a week. I am still using a lot of other skincare products at the moment, but this is definitely something I would buy to use. I love it because it makes my face very smooth and firm the next day - I apply more at night, and a very thin layer in the day (even though I think it is probably more suited as a night cream). The texture is quite gel like, slightly sticky but it goes away after the product is absorbed into the skin. It reminds me a little of the NARS aqua gel luminous mask in terms of the scent and texture, but richer. I highly recommend this product, for firming and hydration.
Kenzoki face creams!!!
I was looking forward to using these creams ever since I got them, and I didn't get to use them til a few months later. I think Kenzoki skincare is very underrated - however, if you have the chance to play with them, you will find lots of gems (and I still have a few brand new items in my drawer waiting to be used, I can't wait!). It's good to get them and stock up during Metro 20% sale (and the sales associate, Ivy, is very good with helping you reserve stock and all that). I would definitely re-purchase them when I need to. Also, my sister and I both use the same face creams lately, and she loves them just as much as I do. She has younger skin, but we both love these creams.
I used the sample tubs during my trips, and the full sized ones at home (probably finished them within a month between my sister and I). Let me give you a complete list of the products in the following pic:
1. Gentle Night Repair (night cream)
2. Creamy white skin enlightener (day cream)
both from their Relaxant Range - which smells just divine. I even bought the matching facial mist and body spray.
The relaxant range is built around 4 natural elements coming from Asia, white lotus, bamboo leaf, ginger flower and rice. Each with its own scent, sensations and preferred skin type.
The day cream is a cream, a gel, and has a velvety texture. I mentioned before that it has a beautiful texture that bursts and slides on your skin. The application of both creams is just so smooth, and the scent is super relaxing.
I notice visible smoothing and brightening of my skin during the period of using these creams, even though I didn't use the whole range of this skincare. I really can't rave about these enough, but as far as face creams go, these are among my top picks.
Little tubes - eye creams, and another face cream.
Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye
I have since re-purchased this eyecream, and also recommended it to at least 4 or 5 other friends, and they all love it. It is a very lightweight eye cream, and I think it is especially great for brightening up the eye area. My sister who uses this, loves it for the brightening and soothing effects. I love it for day time (ironically, because it's 'midnight') because of the light texture, and I really prefer to use a creamier eye cream for night. If your eye concerns is dullness and very fine lines, this is something you want to try out.
Kenzoki eye repair cream(sample tube)
A moussey eye cream - I used it during my travels. I enjoy the texture, but again, I haven't used enough to really comment much on the effectiveness.
Chanel Sublimage La Creme (sample tube)
A luxe face cream which I like to use once a week. It is very similar to my Sublimage mask, to be honest, but I think this costs twice as much (for the full size). I think everyone should have a Sublimage cream in their skincare stash, they are amazing for giving your skin a weekly treat. My skin always looks radiant after using this the previous night.
Cleansing stuff
Well, I did throw out 2 tubes of my regular facial cleansers - Perfect Whip and Etude House Milk Tea - I love creamy foamy cleansers. I didn't keep those, they are usually grubby and I always cut the tube in half and dig out everything inside to avoid product wastage. I probably also threw out a 500ml of Bioderma too, that I guess that needs no introduction, it is one of my (and everyone else's) makeup removal staples.
Bifesta Moist Cleansing Wipes
I bought this in Hong Kong on a whim, and it is super effective. I keep such wipes in my room when I want to remove my makeup - multi-task, watch videos etc before I take my shower and cleanse my face again then. It removes base and eye makeup effectively, including lash glue and waterproof mascara. I also like the plastic cover which is hardly and seals the wipes, keeping them fresh.
Biore Aqua Jelly Makeup Remover (review here)
I think it is a great basic makeup remover, and I like it when I have only base products on my face (which is almost everyday). I don't think it is very effective to remove eye makeup (I prefer using Bioderma, the Bifesta wipes or my Lancome oil makeup remover). It is very gentle though, and easy to use. If you have sensitive skin, and want something to remove light makeup, definitely do check this out.
More cleansers (by now you probably can gather that my bathroom shelf contains at least 5 - 6 different facial cleansers & scrubs at any one time, and that's not including the body and hair stuff.. haha).
NARS Skin Purifying Foam Cleanser
Super effective and deep cleansing exfoliating cleanser with microbeads. I use this whenever I feel like my face is extra grubby and I want extra clean feeling skin, and also when I know that I will be using a cream mask or facial oil post shower -- so that my newly exfoliated skin can absorb all the goodness of the cream mask and oils. In a way, I am also replacing my Clarisonic with this (because I always forget to charge it, not that they are the same thing, of course). I highly recommend this facial scrub.
Philosophy Purity Cleanser
This is described as a makeup remover and cleanser in one product - it has a very gentle and soothing lavender scent. It cleanses well enough, but I wouldn't suggest you use this to remove and cleanser in one step - I don't think it is that great as a makeup remover, but as a facial cleanser it is quite decent. If you enjoy a liquid soap type cleanser, and you want something gentle (it doesn't foam up very densely), you might like this.
Body Scrubs - I am always using some kind of scrub with a body cream/ oil follow up almost everyday. I use these scrubs on my legs, and sometimes on my arms. I avoid my tummy...haha because the scrubs can get kind of abrasive if used too often. I had the chance to test out several body scrubs late last year (Sept) and I got to try out the following -
and my favourite is the Origins Modern Friction for the body, it is very coarse, very natural and smells just like you are in spa. I really enjoyed the whole tube of this scrub, and I would defintely re-purchase this product when I use up my other current body scrubs.
I also enjoyed the Clarins Smoothing Body Scrub - I have used this before long ago. It contains bamboo powders, again, very natural, and smells very fresh.
I wasn't too impressed with the Biotherm gentle exfoliating milk - it is very suitable for people who prefer gentle body scrubs - you might even mistake this for a facial scrub, I think my sis used it once on her face, and didn't know the different. Opps! It smells citrusy and fresh.
Clarins Energizing Morning Aqua Essence(sample size)
I was using this every morning, and I am not a big fan of using a toner in my skincare routine - it is very refreshing and smells lovely, but it is not something which I feel like I need to have in my routine.
Makeup Store Scented Nail Polish Remover
It is a little pricey, but this is one of the most effective nail polish removers I have used. You don't need to rub and go over your nails numerous times, a couple of swipes is all it takes, and I am saying this even for the darker and hard to remove colors. The strawberry scent is a bonus too. It is not drying, and is really a great performer. Whenever I am on a nail polish swatching marathon, I always use this to cut down the time needed, and also to make sure I take all the colors off in between swatches.
I think I like doing these entries... quite relaxing, and just chatting style. I will post another one whenever I have accumulated enough products, and hopefully not sit too long on it the next time!
Hope this entry has been helpful, and if you have any questions on the products mentioned, please leave them in the comments below.
Thank you for reading!
6 - SNOWISE EX Whitening Water (125ml, S$80)
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