January 20, 2015

What is an Emulsion in Asian Skin Care? How to Use and LANEIGE Perfect Renew Emulsion Review

Before I start off with the Laneige Perfect Renew Emulsion review, I'm going to explain what an emulsion is and how to use, as I had a few readers asking me about it. ^^

What is an Emulsion in Asian Skin Care?

Going back to high school days - emulsion in science terms, is a mixture of two or more liquids. Often immiscible - for example water and oil. When those two are mixed together, tiny droplets of the oil is dispersed throughout the water, forming what you call an emulsion. In asian skin care terms, an emulsion is just a very light moisturising liquid/lotion. It works with your skin's natural sebum to promote hydration. Often it is water based, so it won't clog up your pores.

How to use it?

Emulsions are often used by people with combination or oily skin due to its light texture and its ability to still be able to provide the moisture needed. Emulsions work well with all skin types too. Emulsions are used after toner and before other treatments as it helps to lock in moisture into your skin, as well as providing more. An asian skin care routine is usually the following:

1) Cleanser > 2) Toner or Astringent > 3: Emulsion > 4: Essence or Serum > 5) Moisturiser

*Some people do chose to use an emulsion after their essence/serum

Laneige Perfect Renew Emulsion Review

Packaging:

I love the packing! The products comes in a very sturdy transparent glass bottle that has a lovely blue gradient and gold pump. The pump is great as it enables you to control how much product comes out and is very hygienic.

Product:

There is 100ml of product; it's suitable for all skin types. I applied this after cleansing and toning my face; one pump is enough to cover my entire face. The scent is very soothing and gentle; the texture is thin and lightweight. As you can see in the photo, it started running while my camera was focusing due to it's thin consistency. It has a really pleasant cooling sensation when you apply the product and it easily absorbs into the skin. My skin drank up all the good stuff immediately, resulting in plumped, hydrated and smooth skin. It's not oily and does not leave any residue. I have been using this for 3 months now; I can see improvements in the texture, hydrations and luminosity of my skin. There is still a lot of product left in the bottle, so you get your money worth.

Pros:

Lightweight and gentle
Hydrates and plumps skin excellently
Improvements skin and texture over time
Increased skin luminosity

Cons:

There are no cons about the product itself, the only thing I can think of is that it's not travel friendly and that Laneige does not offer the emulsion in a travel size.

Rating: 10/10

Overall

The emulsion nourishes the skin very well and is the most impressive emulsion i've used so far. I definitely recommend this to everyone, as it is suitable for all skin types. I have oily skin and it found it to be perfect. Hoping to try out the White Plus Renew Emulsion next~ ^^

Do you include an emulsion in you skin routine? If so, which emulsion do you use? ^^

Thanks for reading~ ^.^

January 15, 2015

Korean Beauty Haul! #1 - LANEIGE, innisfree, Milky Dress etc

Apologies for the lack of posts! I've been super busy preparing my portfolio for university interviews eeks! I have one coming up this Saturday! Ahhh, I'm super nervous but excited at the same time. I've also purchased a new camera, so future photos will be higher quality and maybe some vlogs/video reviews will be on the way too. :')

Anyway here is a quick haul of the products i've purchased this month~ ^^

Dr.Myer's AC - Reducing Facial Cleanser
LANEIGE Perfect Review Emulsion
MILKY DRESS Anti TROUBLE Foam Cleanser
sulwhasoo Lumitouch Lip Care

Nature Republic Fresh Green Tea 70 Emulsion

LANEIGE Moisture Care Miniature Set (4 items) -

LANEIGE Moisture Balance Emulsion
LANEIGE Moisture Power Essential Skin Refiner
LANEIGE Water Bank Essence
LANEIGE Water Sleeping Pack EX
MIZON Trouble Clinic Acence Blemish Control Soothing Gel Cream

innisfree Serum CC Cream Cover SPF35 PA++
innisfree Jejubija Anti-Trouble Spot Essence R

Which products have you purchased this month? ^^ Tell me below, I would love to know! :') Lol that rhymes xD

January 10, 2015

WATSONS Bird's Nest Essence Whitening & Firming Facial Review

Another sheet mask review, because I currently on a sheet mask addiction! I brought this while I was in Hong Kong. You can purchase this from Watson stores or online. The one I purchased in particular is a single facial mask and eye mask. It is also available in a box of 6 facial masks.

Product Description

"For centuries, bird's nest has been recognised as one of the most valuable beauty supplement. With its nourishing power, Watsons Bird Nest Facial Mask leaves your skin silky smooth and with natural radiance."

Mask Benefits

"Maintains skins youth glow and fairness. Energises skin to enhance natural resilience and preserve vitality of skin"

When I opened the packaging, the scent was very VERY strong, it does fade however some people may find it overwhelming. It reminded me of Comfort - a UK brand fabric conditioner... The sheet was soft and slightly thicker than other sheet mask, so it won't tear. Neatly folded and drenched in a rich gel-like solution. The sheet has multiple slits, so that you can adjust it accordingly to your face shape. It also has a flaps for the eyes, which is really nice feature when laying down.

I used this mask after cleansing my face and left it on 25 minutes. I was quite disappointed with the results; considering the solution was rich, you would think that it would leave your skin plumped, that was not the case - I did not notice any hydration to my skin. It also left some residue and excess essence behind, which took a while for my skin to absorb. On the bright side, my skin tone was slightly more evened.

Pros:

Durable sheet
Nice sheet design - adjusts to face shape and has flaps for the eye area
Loads of essence
Slightly evens and brighten skin tone

Cons:

Strong scent, some people may find it overwhelming
Did not moisture my skin very well
Leaves residue
Not easily accessible

Rating: 3.5/10

Would I recommend?

Nope - probably the worst mask I have a tried so far. It did not offer any hydration and left quite a bit of residue. Not much benefit to my skin.

Have you tried any Watson products? ^^

December 29, 2014

Products I've Used Up & Reviews #3 - Skincare Empties

I hope every had a lovely Christmas with their loved ones and received everything they wished for! ^__^ Probably my last post for 2014 eeks >.<

Today i'll be writing a empties post~ My mother always nags at me for having "too many products" (oops). So for the last few months, I have been trying to use up my old products asap to reduce the amount there is (and quite frankly so that I can purchase new products xDD). I tried to keep this post mainly drugstore products, although their is the 1 or 2 higher end products. I have a lot more empties accumulated waiting for me to write more empties posts, which I will get round to soon! >.<

minicell Tomato Stem Extract REVITAL PEELING GEL - £7.29

For full review click here* ^_^

Rating: 8/10

Would I recommend?: Definitely! ^^ removes dead cells effectively, more than other peeling gels I have tried - leave the skin soft and smooth.

Superdrug Vitamin E SPF 15 Radiance Eye Cream - £2.99

A simple eye cream with SPF15 - lightweight, slightly hydrates and absorbs quickly. A little goes a long way with this, if you apply too much then you'll end up with a white cast.

Rating: 5/10

Would I recommend?: If you're on a budget, looking for a eye cream with SPF protection to prevent fine lines/ wrinkles and not really concerned about hydration around the eye area then yes.

Clearasil Ultra Overnight Lotion - £6.99

I believe that the Overnight line is now discontinued in the UK, I can't find it anywhere in stores anymore. A shame, since they were the only Clearasil products that worked in my opinion. This one is my 6th tube! It does a brilliant job - cleared up my skin in a small amount of time, I used it regularly even when my skin was clear to maintain it, also to prevent spots. It reduced the redness in my skin too.

Rating: 10/10

Would I recommend?: Most definitely! - inexpensive and does a better job than some high street products I've tried. Reduces spots and redness effectively.

Tea Tree Essential Oil 100% Pure Tea Tree Oil - £1

A standard tea tree oil, work just like the Body Shop one, except that its cheaper huehue. I like that this one is 100% tea tree oil, where as the Body shop one is only 15%. Great for healing up blemishes and prevent future ones!

Rating: 9/10

Would I recommend: Indeed!

Ginvera Green Tea Refreshing Brighten Up Day Cream SPF 15 - £22

For full review click here* ^_^

Rating: 7/10

Would I recommend?: Yes - Great product, especially for summer - refreshes, brightens and protects your skin from UV rays. Contains SPF15 - great for when you're in a rush, as you won't need to apply SPF cream or use on top to add a extra layer of proaction. ^^ Has a bonus sweet and relaxing green tea scent that is lovely.

Lancôme Hydra Zen NeuroCalm Day Cream

This one does not contain SPF15 - I wonder why Lancome has one Hydra Zen with SPF15 and one without. Anyway a great moisturiser; it has a lovely rose scent that is very calming. Its slightly thick, so its not really recommended for those with oily skin. Absorbs into the skin well and smoothes the skin instantly, leaving the skin feeling plumped and healthy. I really like using this moisturiser, especially after waking up with lack of sleep.

Rating: 8/10

Would I recommend?: Yes, smoothes and hydrates the skin really well. However the full size (50ml) is pricey - £39.

Avon Clear Skin Blackhead Clearing Daily Astringent - £4

I decided to purchase this, as its recommend to use astringent if you have oily skin. It has a strong alcohol scent, so if you have sensitive skin, stay away from this. It removes oils effectively, however I found that it does not clear blackheads, which was a disappointment. I like that it contains 2% salicylic acids, as it helps to unclog my pores.

Rating: 6.5/10

Would I recommend?: If you have super oily skin - yes, as this removed oils and residue well. If you're looking for a product to help clear blackheads then no. Also stay away from this if you has sensate skin, as it contains alcohol.

Clearasil Ultra Overnight Wash - £4.99

Love this wash! This helps my skin whenever I have breakouts. I use it to cleanse my face before bed; it works beautifully along with the Overnight Lotion. It works just as well on its own too. The size of my spots were reduced, along with the redness. It usually clears spot(s) in around 5/6 nights.

Rating: 10/10

Would I recommend?: Most definitely! - great price and does the job fantastically.

Have you finished any products recently? ^^

December 22, 2014

The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner Review

Just like the Body Shop Skin Clearing Facial Wash this is a gift from my bestie Jess~ another thank you <3.

Product Description

"This refreshing toner for blemish skin gives a beautifully matte, skins-free finish."

The toner is made of 2 components; it a has a green liquid and powder that is settled at the bottom of the bottle. You need to shake the bottle, so that both mix together before you use it. Then you simply apply the toner onto a cotton pad to use.

You'll notice a strong tea tree oil and herbal alcohol scent once you open the bottle, I quite like it but some people may find it overwhelming. I found that this toner removed all traces of sebum, makeup and residue that sometimes my cleanser missed. I have oily skin; I noticed that the toner helped keep my skin matte for a 2/3 hours extra and slightly minified the size of my pores. However, I did not see any difference to my blackheads. After a few months of usage, it helped to prevent pimples from popping up.

Overall

This a great toner, its currently the best toner i've tried so far. I really enjoy using this toner, especially in the morning, as the scent and little stingles give a refreshing kick to start the morning. This is definitely one of the products that contributed to clearing my skin, so I will keep repurchasing it a few times until a find a better one. ^.~ I do recommend it to people with oily/blemish skin to, as it does a brilliant job of remove traces, leaving your skin feeling clean and matte for longer. However, I don't recommend this for people with sensitive skin, since it contains alcohol. It may be a bit harsh.

Pros:

Removes all traces of excess sebum, makeup and residue
Helps mattify skin for longer
Helps shrink pores
Does not dry out my skin
Helps prevent pimples

Cons:

Some people may find the strong scent overwhelming
Contains alcohol, so not recommended for people with sensitive skin
Does not get rid of blackheads

Rating: 9/10

Do you use a toner for your skin? ^^