Happy Lunar New Year!

Hello sweeties! I'm once again so so sorry for being away for so long! I've been caught up in a whirlwind of things to do! I've been trying a couple of new things recently. Here's the lowdown on them...

1) Fancl Overnight Hydrating Pack (RRP S$56.00) - Unlikely to repurchase
Was told that it is limited edition. Halfway through the bottle, instructions require 5 pumps for every night use which is very draining for the small bottle. Don't see any significant improvements in moisture locking but caused my Tzone to shine faster than it normally would. 

2) Super Hyaluronic Acid Moist Essence EX by Hada Labo

ooh, I love this. Got it at a drugstore and didn't expect much. The essence does not look thick but after application, you can feel a layer of water on your face! Love to use it before make-up!

3) Laneige Perfect Renew Essence_EX - I need something more moisturinsing. 

Just a little sample from my purchase of the ampoules. When I tried this many years back when they first launched in Singapore, my face broke out in allergy... red and itchy. However they have since improved the formula. I'm pleased to say that my face has taken this sample bottle well.

3) Laneige Water Bank Moisture Full Ampoules - May consider repurchasing
It is a milky white texture which apparently maximises the moisture absorption from deep within. Was told by the Laneige ladies in Hong Kong that they use this 10 bottle cycle every 3 months to ensure that not only the outer layer moisture is locked in but also the inner layer.
Can't see the real effects since its on the inner layer but scars seem to heal faster after the 10 bottles usage. pretty pricey if you ask me, but ampoules are a good routine to have every once in a while. 

5) VMV Hypoallergenics Grandma Minnie's Nurturing Do-it-all Oil 
Supposedly organic virgin coconut oil + monolaurin and suitable for babies. It has the typical coconut oil smell which makes it avoid it if I'm going out (you don't want weird stares coming your way). Not sticky but well not totally absorptive either. Don't see my skin improving drastically even after a whole bottle. Perhaps we need more than a baby does and VMV didn't realise that when marketing this product to adults too. Their Know-it-oil (100% organic virgin coconut oil) seems to have much better effects (if you want to smell like a pressed coconut). 

6) Atorrege AD+ Acne Spot (RRP S$59.00) - buy it!
HG product!! Made in Japan and given to me by my mom. It is anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial! This HG essence clears up pimples and acne but does not peel skin! Awesome isn't it? My acnes heal quickly with this application and best of all, its suitable for sensitive skin! I like to use this at night but avoid it in the day before make-up as I don't want the contents of this gel to be spreaded over areas without acne ( I wake up late and can't afford to wait for it to form a protective film...)
As seen from the picture, it uses a dripper to dispense the gel-like essence which makes it more hygenic! It gets abit troublesome at the end when your dripper no longer picks up the gel though, otherwise all ok! Oh and becareful of that glass bottle!
This wins my previous use of Ettusais Acne Gel and Biotherm's Anti imperfections targeted solution hands down! I'm going to try VMV's red better spot corrector next. Lets see if this one wows more or VMV's. I was last told that this miracle formula is available at watsons! 

7) Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure - oh skip it. 
Was given a set of Sally Hansen's nail polishes for Christmas. Totally unimpressed. Just don't buy it if you are used to brands like China Glaze and OPI or even Nicole by OPI. Next please. 

Now, before you go.. here's my nails which i did for Lunar New Year! Coincidentally, its the 15th day of the Chinese New Year today! Here's wishing all my readers, 新年快樂， 萬事如意， 心想事成，身體健康！ 

Review: Talika Anti-Acne Mask & a homemade scrub

Hello folks! I just had an awesome bath using a Honey, Milk & Olive Oil Sugar scrub! It left my skin really smooth and tender! This is a nourishing and moisturizing scrub.

Honey, Milk & Olive Oil Sugar scrub

If you're interested to make the scrub, all you need is..

Ingredients:
10 tbsp sugar (fine grains)
3 tbsp honey (organic is preferred)
1 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
4 tbsp milk

How to?
1. Put 7 tbsp of sugar into a bowl
2. Add honey to the bowl, mix well.
3. Add 3 tbsp milk to the bowl, stir.
4. Add olive oil and stir. Slowly add the remaining sugar little by little.
5. Depending on the honey you use, the last tbsp of sugar may or may not be needed.

You should get a sand like consistency before you enjoy your bath!
psss: you can use this both on your face and body, just remember to be gentle with your face!

Review: Talika Renaissance Mask - Anti Acne

I have also tried a new mask from Talika recently. It is also labelled as the second skin. The particular one I tried was an Anti-acne mask.  This mask aims to reduce imperfections (pimples, blackspots and redness) as well as 'closes' pores. It is made of a nano-natural fiber (biocelulose). I didn't buy this mask, my mom passed it to me after seeing my recent breakout. Apparently this mask was released in 2010.

This came in handy as I've been experiencing bad breakouts recently. I left it on my face for approximately 15-20 mins, massaged in the rest of the formula.  The result was lovely! I do see my red acnes fading off! After 2 uses, I'm glad to say that my acne did seem to heal faster than normal! The red spots which were faded (just slight pinkish) was also easier to manage.

There is no perculiar or dishasteful smell associated with this mask. The mask sheet was gel-like unlike those you'd get from korean brands and it came with an extra layer of protection when applying. I believe that helps to retain moisture better, which was really thoughful of the Talika designers.

Unfortunately I did not manage to locate any Singapore stores selling this mask nor find it on their webpage. So I'm sorry ladies, the only website I managed to locate selling this mask is here (sweetcare). However, I must disclaim that I have never purchased from the website and I'm not sure how reliable or unreliable it might be.

My verdict: ❤❤❤❤❤/ ❤❤❤❤❤
I generally liked the product. However due to the absence of price, I'm not sure if I'll purchase it again. Should it be very costly, then I will definitely not repurchase this product. However if each mask sheet falls below S$15, I may consider using it if I have breakouts again!

Short answer? Yes I will repurchase if the price is reasonable to help my occasional breakouts!

Honey Yogurt Oat Mask

Hello! I'm back with a homemade recipe mask today!

Honey Yogurt (Yoghurt) Oat Mask 

- a moisturizing mask for dry skin
Remember to do a skin patch before applying to your face! You won't want to end up with an irritated face!

Ingredients:

• - 2 tablespoons plain yogurt (the fattier the better)
• The most important part of yogurt mask is to use regular yogurt that has fat, do not use non-fat yogurt as a mask, the result will not be noticeable or the mask won’t work at all. 



Honey Yogurt Mask - Paste Like

• If you are afraid of drippy masks, use a cream yogurt.
• - 1 tablespoon honey
• - 1-2 tablespoons cooked & cooled oatmeal

How to?

Mix everything together until it forms a smooth paste. Spread over the face and leave on for 15-30 minutes. Wash off with a warm water/washcloth.

How long can it be kept?

Normally I'll keep it in a tub for a maximum of 1-2 weeks depending on the condition of the mask by then. Once you spot green dots on the surface, discard the mask. If you think it looks out, smell it - anything remotely slightly sour is terrible - throw!

Variations:

• Use only Fatty Yogurt: Perfect if you just got off a flight/overseas
• Good Scrub: Replace Oats with 2tbsp of finely ground almonds & 1/2 tsp of lemon juice 
• Combat Acne: Replace Oats with 5 uncoated aspirins (dissolved in water)
• Face Brightener: Replace Oats and honey (optional) with 1-2 drops of lemon juice (citric acid helps, but not too much otherwise it might irritate your face)

You should get a smooth paste. Enjoy!

Homemade Green Tea Face Scrub, Toner & Mask!

Hello Ladies! Today I'm going to share with you some of my homemade remedies.

Initially I was looking for a good face scrub to use for face exfoliating but after hours and hours of surfing, I couldn't find an ideal product which has fantastic reviews, a proven record and friendly to my purse. So I decided, why not save some money and DIY a home scrub. I decided that my main ingredient was going to be a Green Tea, which was a powerful anti-oxidant (slows the aging process, rejuvenate skin cells - esp good for after-sun applications!) and also a good purifying ingredient for acne/zits. Lastly, I also incorporated oatmeal in my mask as I have been too stressed recently and pimples started to pop up randomly across my face *sobs*. So here goes, prepare for a long post! I sincerely hope that this may be of help to some of you out there!

So I ended up with a full regime after exploring - a face scrub, a toner and a mask for application. However, you may choose to take the scrub and mask on separate days as some people have thinner skin and too much exfoliation may be bad for the skin.

Let's get started on the recipes! Before I start let me outline the benefits of some ingredients I've chosen. However this is not to say that some other ingredients are no good, its just that I've chosen this for these home products!

Key Ingredients Benefits: 


1) Sugar - naturally exfoliates dead skin and cleanses skin

• alpha-hydroxy (glycolic acid) rich which is crucial for maintaining healthy skin; does not clog pores; helps eliminate blemishes, restores balance to skin's oil.
• After dead skin is exfoliated (but not overly exfoiliated), your body organ works more efficiently to expel toxins and take in nourishment, thus giving a radiant glow. 
• Sugar scrubs are also gentler than salt scrubs, making it suitable for all skin types. 

2) Green Tea 

• reduces sun damage and inflammation (free radicals) i.e. anti-oxidant (esp impt for me in a hot sunny Singapore!)
• slow down effects of aging

3 tips for using green tea as a facial ingredient:

(i) always put boiling water when making your cup of green tea so the full goodness is released from the tea bag/tea leaves;

(ii) always prepare the cup of green tea and use it immediately, don't wait. 

(iii) never use cold green tea, make sure its just warm before application or adding to sugar.

3) Honey (some call it liquid gold!)

• hydrating and softening effects as honey is a humectant which attracts and preserves water, 
• anti-bacterial effects - good for acne
• anti-oxidant (anti-aging) 
• rich in nutrients and vitamins - vitamin B & C, minerals and amino acid

4) Oatmeal 

• an astringent which draws out and absorbs excess oils from the skin 
• draw and hold moisture 
• exfoliates dead skin and clear up blemishes 

You should still see the coarse sugar after mixing
p.s. pardon the kiddy bowl!

Green Tea Honey Face Scrub
Ingredients: 
3 tbsp white sugar, slightly coarse
1 tbsp green tea
2/3 tsp johnson & johnson baby oil or replaceable with almond oil or rose hip oil (optional)
1 tsp organic honey

How to? 
(i) make 1/4 cup of green tea with boiling water. Let it sit for 3 minutes.
(ii) Add 1 tbsp of white sugar to your bowl
(iii) Stir the green tea and add 1 tbsp to the bowl
(iv) Add 2 more tbsp of white sugar
(v) Add 1 tsp of organic honey
(vi) Add 2/3 tsp of the oil you chose

Should you lack the above ingredients, remember that white sugar is always the key ingredient in a scrub. The next key ingredient is green tea.
[If you really lack everything, just have slightly coarse sugar on hand. Add 3 tbsp of warm water and gently scrub i.e. as if you are stroking a newborn!]

What does each selection of oil do?

• J&J Baby Oil: Softens skin, moisturizes but there are people who are against mineral oil which is the key ingredient in this product.  
• Almond Oil: Nourish, smoothen and soften skin  - relieves itchiness, soreness and rashes
• Rose Hip Oil: rich in vitamin C, rehydrates skin, reduces wrinkles and repair damange skin cells (i.e. scars recovery!) 

You may choose to leave out oil if your skin is not suitable for such an ingredient. 
Some may ask why I do not recommend Olive Oil as a replacement. I believe that the anti-oxidant used in the application may end up being too strong if added as both green tea and honey has anti-oxidant effects already. 
It is also not recommended that you use more than 1 oil in this scrub. 

Application Steps:
(a) just gently scrub (as if stroking a newborn) with a good cotton pad which picks up all the ingredients (rem to stir before each pick up). Rough scrubs would harm your face, especially if the sugar is far too coarse.
(b) Then use your fingers to give your face a 2nd round of gentle scrub.
(c) Repeat both steps (a) and (b) again before gently rinsing off the scrub. Viola, you're done!

Green Tea Toner / Acne Soother

It is as simple as getting warm green tea onto your cotton pad and gently pad the awesome natural and affordable toner into your face! Enjoy this simple goodness!

[You may choose to put your remaining green tea in the fridge. When sufficiently cold, use a cotton bud to pick up some tea and dab onto affected acne/zit. Allow the green tea to dry naturally on skin - it will help soothe and heal skin]

Green Tea Honey Oat Wash-off Mask
(Do not use this receipe if you are allergic to oats!!)

this is not a paste, continue stirring!

Ingredients:
2 tbsp organic rolled oats (use baby oats/ porridge oats if possible)
2 tbsp (+ 1 tsp) warm green tea
1/2 tsp organic honey

How to?
(i) Make 1/3 cup of green tea with boiling water. Let it cool for 3 mins.
(ii) Pour 1 tbsp of oats into bowl
(iii) Add 1 tbsp of warm green tea, stir
(iv) repeat steps (ii) and (iii)
(v) Add 1 tsp honey
(vi) stir until a thick paste is formed (add 1 tsp of green tea if paste is too thick)

Application Steps: 
(a) Ensure you begin with clean hands and a cleansed face (oh and make sure to keep your hair back)
(b) Apply all over your face with a clean foundation brush, cover acne/pimples with more paste
(c) leave the mask to work for 20-30 minutes or until the mask is dried
(d) Rinse off gently with warm water, rub gently in circles all over the face.
(e) pat dry your face
(f) tone and moisturize, your face should be glowing!


I hope you've enjoyed reading these recipes and do let me know if it works for you! I'll post my other homemade recipes which I've experimented using ingredients such as milk, yoghurt and oats!

Unfortunately i'm still looking for dark eye circle remedies. I've tried all sorts of commercial brands out there - ranging from la prairie to garnier roll-on eye pens but none have quite worked miraculously though la praire's did aid. Its just getting from bad to worse... can't do without concealers anymore. HELP! I'll let you know if I do find a breakthrough. Meanwhile I've stopped most eye products (as they are either too rich, causing milia seeds and others giving crows feet *sobs*) and just purely applying a simple vitamin C serum with eye massages. Do let me know if you have a miraculous remedy!

*for the love of natural skincare*