Review: The Face Shop White Mud Nose Pack

Hi guys!

I'm reviewing The Face Shop White Mud Nose Pack today.
This product was introduced by a friend of mine after telling her my concerns about the blackheads on my nose. Lucky for me, The Face Shop was having a 15+5% discount so I got this nose pack at a little below $10.

This is a peel-off mask type unlike the strips kind. The texture is glue-ish and can be a little bit messy.
Apply a thick enough layer so that it will be easier to peel off later. It takes about 20 mins for the nose pack to dry, depending how thick a layer you apply. I only managed to pull out a decent amount of whiteheads on my third try because the first two tries were either too thin or I pulled it off too early when it has not completely dried yet.

This is what it looks like after you peel it off. I am showing only the front part, not the one with all the gunk haha!

I would say it does removes impurities such as the whiteheads in my nose but it didn't remove any blackheads which I guess were too deep-rooted. I feel that it does it job in removing whiteheadsas well as the Etude House Green Tea Nose Pack, which I will review soon. In terms of pricing, The Face Shop White Mud Nose Pack may be slightly cheaper depending on the number of usage. If you are looking for a fuss-free nose pack, the Etude House Green Tea Nose Pack is more suitable.\

RATING: 3.5/5
Will I Repurchase? Not for now, will consider when the times come!

Review: QV and Cetaphil Body Moisturisers

Hi guys!

I'm reviewing 3 products today. They are QV Cream, QV Body Lotion and Cetaphil Restoraderm Skin Restoring Body Moisturiser. As I have eczema prone skin, I need to moisturise my skin often to prevent dry patches and the occurrence of eczema on my body.

So to be safe, I go for brands that caters to sensitive skin which brings me to these 2 brands.
QV is an australian brand while cetaphil is a Loreal and Nestle collaborated brand made in canada. In terms of pricing, QV is more pocket-friendly but the price difference justifies a difference in properties of this 2 brands.

Let me get started with the QV brand first. It is suitable for dry to sensitive skin.
Some characteristics as stated on the QV Skin Lotion (I threw the QV Cream tub away) is :
Perfume-free
Colour free
pH balanced
Propylene glycol free
Dermatological formula
Lanolin free

 I have previously used the cream form which comes in a tub and after finishing it, I tried out the lotion one. I preferred the cream one because it is more moisturising than the lotion one. I usually apply body moisturiser after a bath when the skin is still moist. With the QV Cream, I can apply it every 2-3 days as the moisturiser is very lasting. My skin is still moisturised and smooth on the 3rd day. However, with the QV Lotion, it lasts a maximum of one day or less and my skin feels dry again. So, I actually need to apply it every day in the evening after my bath.

Photo Source for QV Cream: http://www.google.com.sg/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mims.com/resources/drugs/Singapore/pic/QV%2520Cream_49377.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.mims.com/Singapore/drug/info/QV%2520Cream/?type%3Dfull&h=300&w=276&sz=40&tbnid=ufqlhgez_9_lEM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=83&zoom=1&usg=__h_tV7SuaHO6HQ-46suL8HPymp_k=&docid=2WPakC4JkSO92M&sa=X&ei=Pi_tT5rOE8TUrQe0_ei9DQ&ved=0CFsQ9QEwAw&dur=464

QV Cream 
Pros: Very moisturising, can apply once every 2-3 days
Cons: Texture too thick and sticky, absorbs very slowly

RATING: 4/5
Will I Repurchase: Yes

QV Skin Lotion
Pros: Light-Weight, absorbs into the skin quickly
Cons: Not very moisturising compared to QV Cream

RATING: 3.5/5
Will I Repurchase: No

Now to the Cetaphil Restoraderm Skin Restoring Body Moisturiser. This is a relatively new product, launched in Sept 2010. It has been awarded the National Eczema Association (NEA) seal of acceptance .It contains a patented Filaggrin technology and ceramide technology that provides hydration to very dry skin. The pros of the Cetaphil Moisturiser is that it combines the pros of both the QV Cream and QV Skin Lotion. It is very moisturising yet comes in a creamy lotion form that absorbs very well into the skin. It is 3/5 the volume of the QV skin lotion but twice the price of it if I did not remember wrongly. 

Characteristics of Cetaphil Restoraderm Skin Restoring Body Moisturiser:
Hypoallergenic
Preservatives free
Fragrance free
Fast absorption
Easy to spread

RATING: 5/5
Will I Repurchase: Yes

COMPARISON PICS

Review: La Roche-Posay Anthelios W (Sunscreen)

Hi guys!

I'm reviewing the La Roche-Posay Anthelios W Sunscreen today.

Here are some useful information on sunblocks:
SPF stands for Sun Protection factor and shows the protection against UVB. SPF 1 means that the person can stay in the sun for 10 minutes without getting sunburnt. So, a typical SPF of 30 means that the person can stay in the sun for 300 minutes before she needs to reapply the sunscreen again.

In asian cosmetics, we usually see a PA grading system on top of the SPF. PA stands for The Protection Grade of UVA. While a sunscreen with an SPF prevents you from getting a sunburnt, it does not prevent you from getting tanned. As asian females are very hardworking in their whitening regime, most asian sunscreens includes the PA grading system. Unlike SPF, PA goes by the number of '+', with the maximmum being three '+'. PA+ corresponds to delaying the tanning time up to 2 to 4 times, PA++ is 4 to 8 times and PA+++ is more than 8 times. The western sunscreens do not have the PA system but do indicate the protection against UVA.

• SPF 30
• High UVA/UVB protection
• Non-perfumed
• Paraben-free
• Very water-resistant
• Non-comedogenic

The texture is not very thick and spreads easily.

It does not leave a white cast but will have this glossy surface. I usually wait for a while after applying the sunscreen and use a tissue paper to gentle press on my face to reduce the greasiness. It does require sometime for the skin to absorb the sunscreen and the face will not feel greasy anymore.

What I like about this sunscreen is that it is very lightweight on my skin. There are sunscreen that are  thick and does not absorb well and thus pose burden the skin.

RATING: 4/5
Will I Repurchase? Yes

Note: SPF is not cumulative. For example, if I use a foundation with SPF25 and a loose powder with SPF 20 to set the makeup, the total SPF is NOT 45. You can only take the highest one, which is SPF25.

Review: Etude House Green Tea Nose Pack

Hi guys!

I am reviewing the Etude House Green Tea Nose Pack today.

This is the same line as Collagen Eye Patch and Charcoal Chin Pack with this adorable girl on their packaging. I believe its cute packaging is one of the major factors why Etude House is so popular.
This nose pack cost $0.90 in Singapore which I believe is constantly out of stock in Singapore. I bought this in Taiwan when they were having their 4th Anniversary promotion. It retails at NT30 for one and it was going for a 'Buy 3 Free 3' promotion. So it comes down to $0.66 each. I only bought 2 sets since I wasn't so sure if it was good or not. Now I regret not buying more :(

It does not smell green tea, just a chemical smell. Not sure how to describe it thought, just that it is no  where near you regularly fragrance-ed beauty products. I don't mind the smell though, as I have never been inclined to sweet-smelling beauty products.

You are suppose to wet your nose area, then tear off the plastic film and paste the green part onto the nose. This nose pack is quite big though, stretches quite a bit off the nose. I do some folding at the nose tip so that it sticks well. wait for it to dry ~10mins and peel off from the bottom upwards.
This nose pack is useful in removing the regular whiteheads (quite a fair bit) but it didn't removed any of my blackheads :(

RATING: 3.5/5
Will I repurchase? Yes

Haul: Taiwan

Hi guys!

I am going to share my Taiwan Haul today! Well, unlike my May 2012 Taiwan Haul, this July haul is a virtual one in that I wasn't physically in Taiwan. I mentioned in my previous post that online shopping in Taiwan is so convenient, you just need to set up an account (super fast and easy, they don't ask for too detailed information), add the items to your cart and choose the convenience store you want to pick up your items from and that is all! You don't have to pay anything until you collect your goods.

Some of the online shopping websites that I have tried before:
Payeasy
Pchome
Naruko
Kingstone

Let me know if you guys want more detailed write up on the steps for the above websites!
The items came in neatly packed boxes (my bro threw them away cos it was too bulky :( I like receiving the boxes because it's like getting presents!). I did asked him to help me take pictures of the packages first to show you guys :)

Naruko Package 1 and Payeasy packages

 Naruko Package 2

 Kingstone Package

So here are my hauls! :)

Naruko

1) Raw Job's Tears Supercritical CO2 Whitening Mask

2) Marjoram and Lavender Brightening Eye Cream

3) Rose & Snow Fungus Classic Hydrating Night Gelly

4) Narcissus Total Defense Night Eye Gelly 

5) Raw Job's Tears Supercritical CO2 Whitening Night Eye Gelly

6) Naruko Facial SPA Massage Cotton Pads

7) Taiwan Magnolia Whitening and Brightening Mask 

Taiwan Magazines 

Magazines Freebies

Beautymaker Starry Eyeshadow/Liner Pencil

Agnes B. EyeShadow

The mini tub on the right is an Agnes B. rose moisturiser mini sample which is an add-on (NT1)

Deary Shea Butter Nourishing Repaired Lip Balm

One of my all time favourite lip balm, gotta stock it up!

Not a lot of stuff but they are pretty heavy, especially the magazines haha! The magazines are around half the price of what you get in Kinokuniya, there's freebies as well! I ordered the magazines from Kingstone which is priced slightly lower than retail. It saves time to hunt for the mags. A point to note though, freebies varies according to different convenience stores and bookstores. For example, for the same magazine you bought in 7-11 and Family Mart, the freebies are different.

Well do a review on the products soon!~

Review: My Beauty Diary Natto Mask

Hi guys!

I'm reviewing My Beauty Diary Natto Mask today. My Beauty Diary is inevitably one of the most famous mask brand from Taiwan. The prices are really affordable and tourists usually stock up boxes of them as gifts or for own use. My Beauty Diary has evolved and ventured into other lines such as cleanser, moisturiser, makeup remover etc. Below are some pictures of the range of products they carry.

Natural Key Line: Basic masks with the cheapest price

Luxury Line: Fragrance free, Alcohol free - Priciest masks in the line

Flora Expo Limited Edition

Lift Stretch Mask: With ear hooks to provide lifting effect

Facial Mist and Sleeping Pack

Afternoon Tea Time Range: Masks, Cleanser, Face Scrub, Makeup Remover

2 Step Mask Pack: Mask + Moisturiser

Photos Source: http://www.beautydiary.com.tw/main.htm

Alright, now back to the main lead, Natto Mask. This mask isnt the most raved one like the black pearl mask or red wine mask. It doesn't have a distinctive aroma like the apple mask or chocolate mask but yet it is one of my favourite mask because of it's hydrating properties. 

Some of the main ingredients (info from http://www.beautydiary.com.tw/en/allmask.htm)

isoflavones- postpones ageing, restores skin's firmness and resilience

natto extract- stimulates and activates cells for hydration

extract of seeweed from deep ocean- offers skin adequate moisture content

The mask sheet is really thin and tears easily so be careful when you handle it. It adheres very well to the skin but is not wide enough at the nose area. I usually put on the mask for about 20-25mins. The mask is still soak with essence when I remove it and I will use it to wipe my legs and arms. The essence on the face requires time and some patting before it can be absorbed into the skin. Remember to apply moisturiser to lock the moisture in!

After using this, my skin feels smooth the next day and the pores on my cheeks are not as visible.

RATING: 4.5/5

Will I Repurchase? Yes, I had purchased 2 more boxes on my recent Taiwan trip.

PS: My bro is in Taiwan now and I ordered some items from the Naruko Taiwan website. Can't wait for him to bring back my haul! Love how user-friendly are Taiwan websites for foreigners! Besides my usual payeasy buys, I tried online shopping on naruko and kingstone taiwan websites this time round!

Review: Burt's Bees Honey & Shea Sugar Scrub

Hi guys!
I am reviewing Burt's Bees Honey & Shea Sugar Scrub today. I bought this last December from Sephora and it came as a set - Honey & Shea Sugar Scrub and Body Butter. I have used the Body Butter once and didn't really quite like it as it was a tad too creamy and thick so I shall skip its review.
Anyway, this seems to be a new formulated product as it was introduced as a bundle with a very attractive price tag-S$25. I was looking for a body scrub and thought why not give it a try as I have tried their lip balms before, which was quite good. I was contemplating to buy L'occitane's body scrub before I saw this x)

As the name suggests, it contains sugar which will eventually just melt away. The sugar crystals hardened together due to the fact that I refrigerated it. I was worried that it would melt if I place it in room temperature given the hot and humid weather in Singapore. Not to worry about the lumps of sugar crystals though, you can easily squash it with your fingers. There is a fragrance which I am quite neutral about, and it does stays on after you wash it off.

This exfoliate does work as my skin does looks brighter after exfoliation is done. There will be a layer of 'oil' left even after to wash it off. I am guessing it should be due to the shea butter. As I don't really like the oily feeling, I cleanse my skin again with my Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser. I would not really recommend buying this type of 'beads' scrub if you do not have a bathtub at home. Exfoliation is best done after a good soak as this will help soften the dead skin cells and facilitate the removal process. As I do not have a bathtub at home, wetting my skin is simply not enough as it feels really rough and a lttle prickly when I scrub the sugar crystals on my skin, resulting in some redness. It was an enjoyment when I brought some of this body scrub to taiwan where I exfoliate after a nice warm soak in the hotel's bathtub. It is important to put on some body lotion/moisturizer to replenish moisture to the skin after your bath.

RATING: 3/5
Will I Repurchase? No, probably gonna find something less harsh on the skin after I finish the remaining 1/3 tub.

Review: Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream

Hi guys!

I am reviewing the Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream today. The capacity of this cream is 50ml and I used it up in about 5 months. I was using it twice daily then changed it to once daily and stopped for a while before using it once daily again. It had been a love-hate relationship with this cream but I still managed to finished it. So since I hit the bottom on the tub, I thought I should do a short review for you guys!

There are several types of moisturiser under this water bank line, catering to different skin types.
I picked up this cream base which is for dry to normal skin types. My skin has been pretty dry from last year onwards and I thought why not try a heavier moisturiser. I had actually been using light-weight oil control skincare products from Ettusais previously.

As you can see, I finished this cream! Yay! Can't wait to start on my newly bought Curel Skincare products.

So before I used up all, I took a picture to show you guys the texture. Pardon the blurred picture. As you can see, it is a white thick opaque cream, not the runny kind, but still spreads well on the face. This cream works best when applied thinly. I tried putting on a thick layer once and my skin felt uncomfortable and overwhelmed and it itches a little. I just apply a thin layer over my face and a little more on my cheeks and when I wake up the next day, the pores on my cheeks are visibly smaller.

I would not recommend using this cream in the day as it is too thick and oily for the face. Best used as part of night's skincare routine to replenish moisture lost.

RATING: 3.5/5
Will I Repurchase: No, though it does moisturise my skin, I will probably go for a more light-weight moisturiser that doesn't burden my skin.