Reivew: Laneige Water Sleeping Pack Review

Hello sweeties! I'm back today with Laneige Water Sleeping Pack EX Review! Despite Singapore being a hot and humid tropical country, I find my facial skin dehydrated. This is likely caused by my long hours in an air-conditioned room (office + sleeping time) and the make-up I slap on my face each morning. So I went in search for a hydrating solution, tried a couple of brands and viola! This finally worked!


DollyPalette's quick review summary: Recommended to buy, good for hassle-free hydration especially for dry skin type and those living in wintery or cool conditions. Appear to suit sensitive skin. Like the fact that there's no alcohol content in the formula. If you must just have one overnight leave-on mask, choose this if cost isn't too much of a concern. 

Laneige Water Sleeping Pack is a gel mask that allows you to leave it on your face before sleeping, leaving the formula to work itself overnight to 
(i) aid facial hydration loss (especially if you sleep in an air-con room or wintery conditions);
(ii) help replenish your face's hydration needs leaving your skin supple
(iii) rejuvenate and brighten your face
In short, one key purpose for applying this facial mask -- facial hydration!


The one I am using today is the Water Sleeping Pack_EX, which apparently is the new improved version. I didn't use the predecessor. 


Given my sensitive skin, most of the Laneige water bank solutions did not work for me. Hence I was rather skeptical when my good friends recommended me this product. I was afraid of peeling, itchy red skin after my experience with the water bank series. However, after a long search for an overnight mask, which included the highly recommended Avene Soothing Moisture Mask for Sensitive Skin, only Laneige Water Sleeping Pack worked as promised on its packaging. Moisture was locked into my face evident every morning after I used it. It's so simple and easy to use that I'm addicted to it, leaving it on my face at least 4-5 times weekly. To be honest, I'm surprised it worked for me given the fragrance which they had injected into the gel.




The top ingredients, other than WATER which is the first, for this product includes: 

• Butylene Glycol is not Ethylene Glycol. BG helps to retain moisture and is even safe to consume in v small amounts; 
• Cyclopentasiloxane is clear and odourless, in this case, I'm guessing it should be used to help the formula evaporate faster to prevent leaving a gooey finish; Trehalose
• Glycerin helps to retain moisture and commonly used in health and skincare products
• Trehalose high water retention capabilities with an anti-oxidant edge
• Camellia Sinesis Leaf Extract can apparently help to treat bacteria infection

Key notes from the ingredient analysis:

• no oil and alcohol content! hurray!
• loves the fact that water is the first and main ingredient
• The top 5 ingredients are all pretty harmless and mainly focused on hydration

 
How I use this product:

After my routine nightly cleanse and toner, I use the spatula provided to scoop a suitable amount out for application. I leave it to sit on my face for at least 30 mins before sleeping. I massage the gel in circles and end it with a few light pats on my face to ensure that all is absorbed. Lastly, I exercise my face a little as proposed by Laneige (see their website). You're done and prepared for your hydrating beauty sleep!


Next morning, you'll notice a layer or clear thin residual on your face which can be removed after a splash of water, if it doesn't, then massage your face in circles. It should come off pretty quickly. Proceed with your usual routine. Mine's a facial wash, toner and moisturizer before painting my face for the day! 


By the way, I heard that if you aren't sleeping in a cool environment, then you'll expect to wake up with a oily flm instead, but after washing it off, you should still be able to enjoy the hydrating effects. 


Let your face enjoy the pampering hydration!


What I think after 3 months of testing:
No doubt my facial hydration has improved, more supple, but no... I still don't see a crystal clear effect. The brightening effect is also rather muted. 

Do you see one side looking more moisturized?

In short... I'm really sold to this product but it has also made me lazier such that I have on lesser facial masks like the ones I really like from Skin Food. Having said that, as long as you get your facial skin smooth and supple, there's no saying that you have to use ALL these products ain't it? 


So yes, if you're still hesistant, I strongly encourage you to go get a pack for yourself to try. My travel size pack, which I used as a tester, is sold on Sasa's webpage. Get that if you don't want to pay S$45 for a tub yet. 


Would I repurchase? Certainly! In fact, I just bout the duo set from Changi Airport which is a travel exclusive. (approx S$60+) Otherwise, you can find it at all major departmental stores in Singapore which houses Laneige counters. 

Review: Chanel Natural Finish Pressed Powder

Hello folks! Chanel's Natural Finish Pressed Powder (Poudre Universelle Compacte) is the key product for review today. I've been using this pressed powder for over 2 months and decided that it was time to put something down in black and white.

Chanel created this pressed powder to produce a translucent, natural matte finish (not flat matte). It is ultra fine and light weight, to be used after your foundation or after your face makeup. There is also a slight tinge of floral fragrance to the powder. Do not use this powder if you are looking for a medium to heavy powder coverage. 

The ingredients are:
Talc, Nylon-12, Silica, Lauroyl Lysine, Magnesium Myristate, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Magnesium Stearate, Boron Nitride, Isopropyl Lanolate, Aluminium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate,  Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Parfum (Fragrance), tocopherol, Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glyceryl oleate, Citric Acid

I love the sleek compact black packaging that comes with it (well, it's channel afterall!). There's also an applicator puff that comes with it but I generally prefer to use my own powder brush to pick up the powder. There's also a mirror in the package, so its really simple and easy to use on the go, for touch-ups or for setting make-up.

With talc being it's first ingredient, it is no wonder that the powder is so fine and light. While the product does not guarantee to be oil-free nor shine-free, it does allow my make up to stay matte for a good number of hours (8 - 5pm). It is also relatively lightweight such that you do not feel an uncomfortable layer of powder on your face. It doesn't create the kind of over-powdered look which some other powders may give. Most importantly, as my face is really sensitive, I was amazed that this powder did not give me any breakouts or rash despite the floral scent.

However this powder range has only 4 colour choices - clair 20; naturel 30, dore 40, muscade 140 - which I felt was a little limiting. I was matched with a 30 naturel despite my Chanel matlumiere foundation being 20 clair. I guess this was to avoid me looking like a geisha of sorts. Chanel also has another range of oil-free powder which was only suitable for ladies with a really oily texture and needed proper oil-control powders. Otherwise Chanel's Natural Finish Pressed Powder would work for normal to combination skin ladies.

How does it look versus some peers?

When compared to Loreal True Match Super Blendable Powder which is much heavier, Chanel's powder wins hands down for me. Loreal's powder has only 3 shades, of which none really works for me. Also, it's not oil-free, leaving my face looking greasy by midday. Chanel's pressed powder doesn't do the same!

I would also like to compare this against Bobbi Brown's Sheer Finish pressed powder and Laura Mercier's Loose powder. When put against BB's pressed powder, I felt that Chanel's oil control abilities were much better and it also felt lighter than BB's product. Unfortunately, BB does have a wider range of colours which may help to match our face shades better. Lastly, when put up against LM's loose powder, I felt that both worked wonders with different foundations. Chanel's powder had a little more coverage than LM's but LM's mattifying properties edges over Chanel's pressed powder slightly. Still, both powder's key ingredients are talc, which in essence is simply powder.

Summary

In short, I love this powder as I generally prefer lightweight makeup but the price tag at S$72.00 is pretty hefty! I would use this concurrently with my Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder.

Foot Glide - Blisters no more! Hurray!

Hello ladies! Ever felt apprehensive of fitting into a new shoe... weary of blisters or other forms of abrasion when wearing covered shoes, heels and boots?

I've recently tried this new product - Anti Blister Foot Formula Pretty Feet from Foot Glide brand, and it works like a miracle! It costs S$17.90 at all Watson (Singapore) stores and you can also easily find it at your local pharmacies.

Packaging in stores - Picture taken at Watson Singapore -
Retail Price: S$17.90 in Singapore, 2012

It's colorless, non-greasy , easy to apply and most importantly, long lasting! It is also resistant to humidity, perspiration and water. Remove with Soap & Water.

The packaging and formula. Just turn that dial at the bottom of the bottle
and you'll get the formula in a harden wax format.

One application per day is sufficient for my use (morning 8am all the way till past midnight in my new pointed heels from nine west!). So a tube will probably last you pretty long! An awesome partner for your feet but best used before the trouble start!

Ingredients & other notes

It is a roll-on applicator. All you need it to rub it wherever blisters may occur in your opinion! No more packs after packs of handiplast (plasters) and suffer from painful blisters when wearing pretty and nice shoes! I hope this helps to solve your woes as much as mine!

Note: this is not an advertorial, I was not paid to write this nor did I receive any free samples from Foot Glide. I truly feel that this saves more money than me buying packs after packs of plasters. All recommendations came from my bestie who has used it for several months before I hopped on the boat! Enjoy!