Review: Melvita's Argan Oil ( Huile d'Argan )

Melvita Argan Oil ( Huile d'Argan ) 50 ml MYR 111

Last year, I made two impromptu purchases from Melvita and I now sigh in relief that the purchases were not in vain. I had success with the Rose Floral Water, which preps my skin really well before any application of serums or oils.

I am an avid user of face oils for 5 years now and I can safely attest that it works remarkably well for my skin type. ( Oily T-zone with parched cheeks ) So purchasing a face oil from Melvita came very naturally for me and I decided to go with Argan Oil, as I have used Rosehip, Jojoba and Avocado oils from other brands before.

Product Description

The Argan tree is found on the Moroccan coast and produces an oil that is exceptionally rich in essential fatty acids and sterols. It has been known for centuries for its repairing properties on dry and sensitive skin and for its moisturizing and protecting qualities. A real 'beauty secret' for Berber woman, the oil is made from un-roasted Argan kernels: it is also traditionally used for massaging joints and for nail and hair care.

Ingredients

100% Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil from Organic Farming

Review: Ren F10 Smooth and Renew Mask

Ren F10 Smooth and Renew Mask 50ml GB Pounds18.00

I have always wanted to try Ren's products....but, the prices in Malaysia are pretty steep. However, if we order direct from Ren's UK website, the prices and discounts made it a reasonable purchase. Coincidentally, I had a relative visiting UK at that time, I had them send my orders to their hotel, just to take advantage of the free UK delivery.

Product Description

Formulated to gently exfoliate and detoxify, this gel mask will leave the complexion visibly vibrant, smooth and toned.

Ingredients

My Experience

I have heard great reviews of their Glycolatic Radiance Renewal Mask and was very eager to try that. But seeing that I have sensitive skin, I opted with this instead as this is the mild version of the Glycolatic mask. 

As pictured, this mask comes with a muslin cloth, which to be used to wipe off the mask. 

Well thought packaging

Ren's packaging has always been fascinating and I like that pliable plastic inside the plastic container which compresses out every product to minimise wastage. 

I particularly like that they provide a cap to close the little pump! This helps the product to retain its freshness.

Sticky Texture

The mask itself is very thick, smells and feels alike a texture of a "marmalade jam". It is rather sticky when applied and the pasty texture made it hard to apply on the skin evenly. You can either use your fingers but in my case, I use my trusty facial brush. Upon application, I was glad that I didn't experience any tingling or burning sensation. It actually feels comfortable.

Works as good as an exfoliator

The instructions given was to apply in generous amount, leave it for 10 minutes, pat and lift with fingertips and using the dampen muslin cloth to gently wipe off the mask. Lastly, rinse skin with warm water.

Honestly, the "pat and lift with fingertips" was a redundant move. I can't lift the mask using my fingertips because it is too sticky and thick. However, removing it with the dampen muslin cloth actually acts as an exfoliating process, which later, makes my face feels clean and very smooth to touch. This also makes my skin absorbs serums or facial oils readily well.  This mask is for brightening and skin renewal, and I do see some mild brightening on my skin. Though my skin feels very finely exfoliated, I do not feel that this mask gives me any extra hydration. 

Mild allergic reaction 

Despite making my face feels clean and smooth, and a little brighter, I don't think that I am able to use this frequently as I noticed I developed some very tiny bumps around my chin area 2 days after. Any bumps on my skin is usually a sign of allergy reaction and in this case, this is a mild one.

Overall

This is mainly an exfoliating and skin renewal mask and I would have liked it more if this mask provide some hydration action. Sadly, I am restricting the use of this mask to once every 2 weeks, due to the mild allergic reaction, which I got from this product.

This item was purchased by me for my personal purposes. This review is based on my honest and personal experience with this product and is not influenced by any parties.

Review: Yes! Nurse Protect Your Lovely Hands

Yes! Nurse Protect Your Lovely Hands 50ml MYR 29.90

A few months ago, I was given the opportunity by the lovely peeps from The Love Jars to try one of the products they carry called Yes! Nurse Hand Cream.

I have a history of love-hate relationship with hand creams and honestly, I have yet to find a good brand which is worthwhile to keep. This is why I always rely on my body oils instead to keep my hands supple. Weird but it works for me. When this opportunity arose, I was a bit worried because I am not sure if this is able to meet the expectations I have regarding hand creams. Well, let's see if it does.

Brand

All the best things in life started with a story. Apparently chocolate bars were created by a Doctor and his sons in the early 18th century after using it as a medicinal product. Boy do we wish we they were still prescribing chocolate today! 

We do however have our own unique tale to tell. Yes! Nurse was co-founded by a young paediatric nurse at the beginning of 2009. Having been signed off work with dry, cracked and sore hands, she noticed that many of her colleagues were suffering in the same way. 

Trying numerous hand creams with little or no effect she decided to research and develop a unique formula that actually worked.

Guided by nurses across the UK, she co-founded Yes! Nurse and developed an intensive moisturising hand formula that specifically combats the daily routines faced by nurses.  

Yes! Nurse is now a rapidly growing cult brand and quick becoming a trusted favourite of nurses, busy mums and beauty fanatics alike from across the UK.  Yes! Nurse offers a powerful ‘Super Moisturising’ formula crammed full of essential Omega’s, antioxidants and natural actives –  together designed to soothe, hydrate and revive tired skin all day long.

Source: www.yesnurse.co.uk

Product Description
Yes! Nurse's Hand Formula is a fast absorbing, non-greasy emollient. It actively hydrates and replenishes the skin's natural defences against the harsh effects of constant hand washing.

Directions
Apply a pea-sized amount to clean, dry hands regularly throughout the day, and massage well into the skin for at least 30 seconds.

Ingredients
Aqua, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Mel( Active Manuka Honey ), Cetearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Sucrose Stearate, Panthenol ( Vit B5 ), Sweet Almond Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja, PEG 100 Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Passiflora Edulis Seed (Passionflower) Oil, Punica Granatum Seed (Pomegranate) Oil, Wheat Germ Oil, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate( Vitamin E ), Salix Alba ( Willow Bark ) Extract, Citric Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Coumarin, Linalool.

My Experience

I was greeted with this lovely sight when I open the package! I find that the little gestures and effort from The Love Jars is just lovely and it does make the receiving customer feels warm and appreciated.

Cute packaging and illustration!

The consistency of the hand cream is semi-thick, with a lovely mild 'baby-powdery' scent. As advised, I use a pea-sized amount and massage it well into my skin. I am surprised that it doesn't leave my hands feeling tacky or sticky. It just leaves a thin film of protection, which then slowly sinks in after several minutes. I am not sure if others have the same experience as me, I had experiences with the L'occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream, which leaves my hands feeling tight and uncomfortable ( even with generous amount ).  I am glad that this does not leave your hands feeling tight.

My hands are subjected to constant washing, sometimes up to 5-6 times a day with a disinfectant liquid. Because of this, my hands are always dry and tight and no amount of lotions or hand creams I have used were able to give me the nice, moist hands. So this is where my body oil comes into play. It is the only way for me bring back moisture to my hands.

Now with this hand cream, I was taken by surprise on how it replenishes moisture back to my hands almost immediately, making my hands feeling comfortable. However, it does not give you the whole moisture protection with just one use and the feeling would just slowly wear off after 2 hours. In my case, I need to reapply after 3-4 hours to keep my hands feeling comfortable. One thing I like about this hand cream is that it does not hinder your everyday routine. Some hand creams would often leave an overly slip, due to silicones, which makes it a hassle just to grab things with your hands. 

Overall

This hand cream definitely does what it says and has given me protection to my hands for the past one month or so. This is a keeper for me and has met the expectations I have on hand creams. If I have to gripe about something, well...it's the size! I wish these will come in bigger tubes as with the existing size, it will last me to 3 months max. Apart from my gripe on the size, I may have found the hand cream, which is worthwhile for me to invest in the long run.

I am glad to finally see companies like The Love Jars, who are committed to bringing in good, interesting and award-winning products to our shores. We need this in our country! Do visit them at www.thelovejars.com

This item was sent to me by PR for review consideration. This review is based on my honest and personal experience with this product and is not influenced by any parties.

Review: Nature Republic Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel

Nature Republic Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel 300ml MYR 32.90

When I was down with eczema last year, my TCM practitioner recommended me to use pure aloe vera sap on my affected area. I stand today, healed from my eczema woes and I can honestly say that it WORKS! That, to me, has been the best discovery to date. ( Read more about it HERE )

It has since been a norm to me to use it to treat any skin related issues I encounter, be it pimple, dryness, or contact dermatitis. However, I only have one pot of my precious Aloe Vera plant at my home and it breaks my heart every time if I have to cut one of it's stems. Anyone who have a pot of Aloe Vera plant knows that it is painstakingly long for it to grow into full size.

To save my precious Aloe Vera from further agony, I went into Nature Republic one fine day and bought a tub of their best selling Aloe Vera Soothing Gel.

Review: Compressed Mask

Trikeel Face Mask 20 pcs MYR 9.90

Compressed mask are actually paper sheet mask in a pill form. There are a lot of these in the market and many used this in replacement of cotton pads for their Lotion Mask regime. I bought this from Sasa,  mainly for the hubs because the cotton pad method did not cover his face entirely. At that time, he was badly tanned because of work and to save his face from peeling, I know I need to do the Lotion Mask on him everyday, at least for the entire week. 

Types of Masques and Usage for Sensitive, Dry, Dehydrated Skin.

Image from source 

I am an advocate for hydration masques and firmly believe it makes a whole lot of difference to your skin condition if you incorporate them in your weekly skincare regime. Hydration, I believe, is the key to flawless skin. Back in 2011, my skin was not at it's best. It has lost the luster, the glow and though I had my regular facials, my skin was still dry and dehydrated. My skin tone was uneven, dull and my pigmentation grew 'darker'.

I decided then, I want a total change, both in my skincare products and routine. I started to incorporate in facial oils, serums, facescreen and exploring different types of masques. This change, has brought many surprises to many, even my facial therapist, stating that my skin looked so much better. The hydration is back...the glow too!

In these two years, amongst the routines and products, there are two from each group that gave me significant results. One was topical Vitamin C and another, diligent use of masques. These two has never failed me. For me personally, no amount of expensive serums or oils, can replace these two. That is why in this post, I am sharing with you simple, yet effective types of hydration masques that worked so well for me. Oh, and don't forget to exfoliate your face first before the masques!

Review: Antipodes Kiwi Seed Oil Eye Cream

Antipodes Kiwi Seed Oil Eye Cream 30ml MYR 178

After actively using eye creams or serums since 2 years ago, it dawned to me that it is something that one should not neglect. It is essentially as important as your serums or creams for face. Many close friends or family I know, still have not started using eye cream or eye serums because they feel that it is not something important to concentrate on. If you are aware, most people will comment " You looked tired. Is everything ok?" or " You didn't sleep last night ar?" just by looking at your eyes area. They wouldn't look at the condition of your skin and ask those questions, would they?

Most also claim that eye serums or creams are sometimes more expensive than for the face itself. Honestly, I have to agree with them on many 'ridiculously priced' eye creams available in the market. With that comment, it brings me to this item, which I am going to review. Well, you've certainly seen a few reviews I've done under the Antipodes brand and finally, this will be the last lot of product. I bought this ( on a discounted price of course ) when I ran out of my DeVita Eye Cream. I was very, very reluctant to purchase this initially because if the price tag but buckled when given a fair amount of discount.

Foot Issues ( Part 2 ): Bunions & Protectors

Image from cqfootclinic.com.au

In this post, I am going to write about another foot condition that I have, which is the issue of bunions or Hallux Valgus. Unfortunately, I've developed them over the years of wearing ill-fitting and tight shoes, and in my case, high heels. Another possibility could be heredity.

As I grew older, walking has became a painful task for me due to the bunions. Because most of my existing shoes are mostly covered ballerina flats with insufficient toe space, the pressure on my bunions and bunionette become more significant, making it red and sore. Sometimes, I resort to band aids to cover my bunions to ease the pain. That helped only for the 1st hour and it needed to be changed again.

Foot Issues ( Part 1 ): My Foot Problems

Image from beauty.about.com

I never really pay attention to my feet problems or even more so, learn about feet problems. What prompted me to really look into it was when one of my nieces have a foot condition called over-pronation or 'flat feet'. 

Off I went for a feet analysis one day, during which I was told that I have mid high arch ( which is not so much of an issue ) and both my feet have bunions ( Hallux Valgus ) problem. I did told them that my knees and heels hurts quite a bit, after walking or even standing for a period of time. But my main problem I want to address are my bunions. I love flats or heels, and most of the time, both my bunions will be sore and red, even when worn for just an hour. I am not sure if many felt the same as I do but....when my feet hurts, I get agitated easily.

Let's look into the explanation of my feet analysis in detail shall we.

Revisiting Vitamin C for Skin

Image from beautywidbrainz.com

A year ago, I started using topical Vitamin C from Marie Veronique for my skin and the results was fabulous. Read my review HERE. Unfortunately, early this year, I was plagued by eczema and thus, I have to stop using this, in fear that this might provoke more sensitivity to my skin.

My poor little jar was left sitting at the corner for months and my heart aches a little during those months because I was actually feeling afraid that it will go bad. I really hate to see something being so expensive being thrown into the bin.

Finally, after I've recovered, I went back to this little gem again. Now, does it still gives me the same amazing results as before?

My Eczema Treatment ( Part 3 ): Pure Aloe Vera Sap

Image from bestsuperfoodlist.com

Many years back, I have heard of what aloe vera can do. I remembered back in the 80's, there was this hype going around with my uncles and parents. They were drinking some liquid 'thing-y' from a fairly large brown bottle that look like this:

I am sure many out there ( from my generation ) would recognise this fella. Yes, my family were quite obsessed with it for a few years, but eventually died down when it has proven too expensive to continue. I, too, eventually forgot about this until recently.

As many would have read from my previous post, I was introduced back to this miracle plant by my TCM ( Traditional Chinese Medicine ) practitioner. Well, she didn't ask me to drink it, but apply the sap topically on my affected area for 2-3 times a day. Little did I know, her advice has been the best discovery of the year!! And that is why, I'm saving this topic for last of my eczema treatment series.

My Eczema Treatment ( Part 2 ): Traditional Chinese Medicine ( TCM )

Picture taken from slinter.com

Suffering from eczema is no fun at all. It comes on and off and it is hard to determine the main source of the problem. Often, we see the culprit mainly from external sources like dust, animal fur, food, pollens or ingredients from skincare products. Very rarely, we pin point the problems to internal reasons. And this is where we need to seek the help from a Traditional Chinese Medicine ( TCM ) practitioner to see what is happening to our body internally. 

After a long battle with my eczema and I've decided to turn to TCM after Western medicine failed on me. I had been popping prescribed medicine by my doctor for months and I personally felt that it only helps to control the eczema, not curing it. I figured that this is not very good for my body in a long term basis. 

My Eczema Treatment ( Part 1 ): Symptoms and Basic Care

Yup...that's my lips!

If you are a avid reader of my blog, you may know that I was suffering from eczema around my lips area ( some may call it perioral dermatitis ) To those who may not know the full story, do read it HERE. In this post, I am going to sum up the symptoms and basic care ( based on my personal experience ), before moving on to my next post which deals with treatments.

Sampling: Dermalogica Skin Renewal Booster

Dermalogica Skin Renewal Booster 7ml

This booster was recommended to me by my therapist, as it is said to help ease my blackhead congestion on my nose. Initially I was a bit reluctant because of its contents but willing to try since this is just sample. I mean, more things to try, more things to write on the blog, right?

Anyway, the therapist fore warned me that there could be some irritation due the high content of Lactic Acid and advised me to use only a tiny dot on my nose area. Then, I had a flashback...I told her I had a bad breakout when using their Age Smart Skin Resurfacer, which contained Lactic Acid as well and feared that this might trigger again. She assured me it won't because this is used only on a specific area.

 Er...I braced myself and gave in to try this. Just sampling stage..no harm..

Niacinamide- An anti-aging powerhouse ingredient!

I love reading about ingredients in the products that I use because I want to know what kind of benefits of that particular ingredient would do for my skin. Last week, I did a search on this particular ingredient called Niacinamide.

What is Niacinamide?

Known as Vitamin B3 and nicotinic acid, niacinamide is a potent cell-communicating ingredient that offers multiple benefits for aging skin. Assuming skin is being protected from sun-exposure, niacinamide can improve skin's elasticity, dramatically enhance its barrier function, help erase discolorations and revive skin's healthy tone and texture. ( Source from here )

What It Does?

Topically applied niacinamide has been shown to increase ceramide and free fatty acid levels in skin, prevent skin from losing water content, and stimulate microcirculation in the dermis.It also has a growing reputation for being able to treat uneven skin tone and to mitigate acne and the red marks it leaves behind ( known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation ). It is an excellent ingredient for those struggling with wrinkles and breakouts. Niacinamide is stable in the presence of heat and light. ( Source from here )

Review: Skin Food Egg White Pack

Skin Food Egg White Pack MYR 24.90

( Contains 10 strips, 5 for nose and 5 for forehead and jaw ) 

If anyone were to ask me " If there's one part of your face which you most want to improve, what would it be?" Without giving much further thought, my answer would be my blackhead issue! I have a long history of battling blackheads and I must say that I have very, very stubborn ones indeed on my nose and my chin. I have tried many, many methods: going for facials, oil cleansing, scrubs. These helped only a little by removing only at the surface which is accumulated daily. My blackheads are ingrained deep down in my pores, thus making it very difficult to remove.

I remembered seeing a post from Xin, ( Pretty Beautiful ), which uses Skin Food Egg White Pack and decided to give this a try because the pictures of those blackheads being stuck on the strips is too much for me to resist!

Hydration is the Key to Healthy Skin

( Picture from animal.wallpapers )

A couple of post ago, I mentioned that my skin was looking a little dull and feeling a little drier than usual. I wasn't sure if the cause is due to the seasonal changes or not. What I know is I have to amp up the hydration level of my skin before it gets worse. I started to bring back my lotion mask into my night routine and use my Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Lotion as my toner in the day. Just tweaking my regime by using products containing humectants worked.

Why Hydration is Important?

The skin can be damaged easily by a variety of things. The sun, stress, hormones, and diet can all damage the skin, especially over a period of time. Since damaged skin tends to look older, hydration alone can make skin look much younger. Therefore, hydration is important to those who desire healthy skin which ultimately leads to better looking skin. Hydration is beneficial to:

Dry Skin- Proper hydrating will cause dryness to go away and makes dry patches, flakes or redness to disappear.


Aging Skin-Dry skin in need of hydration often makes people look older than they really are. Dry skin makes skin to damage easily, which further ages the skin. When cells move outward and age, skin's protective barrier becomes compromised, making water retention difficult. With a weakened barrier, dry skin becomes increasingly prone to environmental damage, free radicals, bacterial infection and other problems. So hydration will guard against skin damage and will give the skin a more youthful, healthy look.

Others-With age, skin is prone to sagging, brown age spots and wrinkles. Using hydrating products can help with skin's firmness to fight sagging skin.

Hydration Options

Review: MVO Moisture Serum

MVO Moisture Serum 30 ml USD 80

Many months back, I had a great experience trying out a sample of the Moisture Serum from MVO. It left such an impression on me that I knew I had to purchase the bottle in full in my next haul. 

I have been faithfully using this serum every night for the past 3 months and I think it is due time to give a full review on this.

Before I write my thoughts, here's what MVO says about this product:

Product Description

• Nourishes skin, improving tone and texture with niacinamide, carrot seed oil, vitamin E and beta glucan
• Brightens with uva ursi and elderberry extract

Ingredients: 
Camellia sinensis (green & white tea), Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba oil), Prunus armeniaca (apricot kernel oil), Vitus viniferi (grapeseed oil, expeller-pressed), Rubus idaeus (red raspberry seed oil), vegetable glycerin, arabinogalactin, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), kombucha extract, Sambucus nigra (elderberry) extract, dipotassium glycyrrhizate (licorice) extract, uva ursi (bearberry) extract, gum tragacanth, potassium sorbate, xantham gum, Cosmocil CQ*, Lonicera japonica (honeysuckle), niacinamide, beta glucan, Rosemary oleoresin, Cistus incanus (cistus) essential oil, Daucus carota (carrot seed) essential oil, Lavendula angustifolia (lavender) essential oil.

Do you believe in regular facials?

( Source truthinaging.com )

I used to be an unbeliever in regular facials but after attending one regularly for almost 5 years, I have to say a big yes to this! I personally find it important because it helps to improve and maintain my skin condition. My skin would have been worse if I hadn't been attending one regularly. However, during my 5 years of having regular facials at beauty salons, I wouldn't say all is well. Frankly, I have my moments of:

• Beauticians telling me ( even to date ) that my blackheads are not improving and I need to constantly do my regular mask at home ( which I faithfully do 3 times a week ). I have to hear that again and again, and it can get pretty annoying.
• Regular heartaches. When I think I have found the 'right' therapist for me, no sooner than that, they would tell me that they are leaving for greener pastures.
• Putting up with rough and inexperienced therapist. I sometimes feel that they have an on-going 'who is the fastest' record breaking time competition among them.
• Breakouts or allergy because they have used an unsuitable product on me...and worst still, not compenstated at all!

and more often than not.....

My Blemish Treatment ( Part 3 ): Bedak Sejuk ( Cooling Rice Powder )

Homemade Bedak Sejuk ( Cooling Rice Powder )

Concluding 'my blemish treatment' trilogy will be this tradional beauty product called Bedak Sejuk ( Cooling Rice Powder ). For me, I would fondly call it 'Sui Fan' ( literally translated to powder water ) because I remember when I was young, my mom would apply them all over my face.

Then, I wasn't sure how this product will do any good to my face because I looked ridiculously ghostly when applied at night. Now, being older and wiser *cough*, I really have to thank my mom for this because I think, it gradually helped me as I don't have severe acne problems when puberty hits. I am very blessed with good skin condition ( up until now ) and my friends would always praise me for my fair and glowing skin.

Read more to know how is it made, the benefits of it and my experience with it.