Shampoo -Kerastase - Bain Satin 1
chia021 12/21/2011 4:59:00 AM
I bought the 500mL bottle because it's far more economical that way. Kerastase shampoos are darn expensive, and they finish fairly quickly as well. Now, Bain Satin #1 is good for hair types that are mid-length, dry and unsensitive scalp. Unfortunately, I found out that my scalp could not tolerate the 'build up' of silicones. I had to use another shampoo to rid the silicones twice a week. It's a manageable product, but after 3 months of continuous use, I had noticed that I was dropping alot more hair in the shower and everywhere! I can only conclude that this was happening because of the heavy build up. So unless you have mid-length hair and a super strong scalp, this product will do better in your ratings.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Lancome - genefique
chia021 7/29/2011 7:55:00 AM
Quite an overpriced, overhyped, over-everything product. Why the cynic in me? Because... 1. nothing about the skin can reverse or prevent aging. The best way to prevent aging is to use a good sunblock. Sundamage lasts forever, and no DNA altering product/serum is capable of reversing this change. 2. I can't overly express how annoying an ampoule like product is - Pumping in air in and out into the serum can't be good for longevity to the product. Additionally, there's always that 3-5% product left at the bottom of the bottle which you can never extract out using an ampoule. 3. Over priced hyaluronic acid that plumps up your crevices and gaps. Nothing scientific about the ingredients. BUT, the good point is that by applying something which you think is anti-aging, actually offers you a placebo belief that you're doing something to prevent the wrinkles. Whether it works is another story...
5 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -The Body Shop - Olive body scrub
chia021 7/29/2011 7:49:00 AM
The particular Olive body scrub is a must-have for the summer time bronzing kit. It smells sooooo nice in the shower, and has a creamy emolient base with granular beads that helps to remove dead skin and keep the skin feeling soft and moisturised. I got roughly 10 applications work with this tub, working generously on rough patchy areas like the elbow and knees, priming your skin for self-tanning products.
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Moisturizers -Biotherm - Aquasource Non Stop (combination skin)
chia021 7/29/2011 7:43:00 AM
After about 3 weeks of use with Biotherm Aquasource, I can conclude that it's a great moisturiser for summer time and during the day when it's hot. With it's gel-like consistency, it doesn't feel like you're applying a heavy cream. It absorbs quicky into the skin. But I don't find that it does a spectacular job as a face cream.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Moroccanoil - Moroccan Oil
chia021 12/25/2010 7:06:00 AM
My sister loves the smell of the moroccan oil. To be honest, some people either love it or hate it. For me, I don't particularly like it. Basically, this product aims to moisturize your hair ends without it being crunchy, oily, or leave residue on your hands. It's quite amazing how easily my hair absorbs the oil, as if it's a serum. I use about 2 pumps on my hair. My sister on the other hand uses 4 pumps and you will notice the difference. A 100mL bottle will last you approximately 3-6 months depending on your usage. So does it really treat your hair over the long run? I'm not too sure if it really does. I suppose it will prevent split ends, but it won't do much to chemically processed hair that is severely depleted of keratin/protein. You will still need regular protein treatments and a leave-in conditioner.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Christian Dior - Serum De Rouge
chia021 9/24/2010 3:20:00 AM
Very expensive at SGD49 for 2g worth of product. Bought the color 640, which is a nice wearable pink. It's not an exceptional shade - warm neutral brownish pink. Moisturising but not on the same ranks of Paul & Joe or Chanel lipsticks. I absolutely hate the packaging - it makes an annoying clickety sound. I like to put on lipstick without having to let everyone in the office know that I'm doing my vain business.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -LUSH - American Cream
chia021 9/13/2010 2:08:00 AM
At first I thought this conditioner is going to work like a charm, and make my locks silky soft. It smells amazing but every time i apply this to my hair, I need to apply alot more. And what's even more confusing is that it seems to make my hair drier and knottier. I get so much hair fall out it's incredible. But after blowdrying my hair, it's incredibly soft, smells amazing and nicely volumized. So I'm not sure why exactly this conditioner makes me lose more hair and feels drier when my hair is wet, but the end result just makes me want to use it more. I worry that my hair will eventually fall out so I will not repurchase this.
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Eye Makeup Remover -Lancome - Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Make-up Remover
chia021 9/12/2010 10:39:00 PM
I've been using Lancome Bifacils for the longest time now (since I was in my teens). I thought it was expensive for a eyemakeup remover, so I used Neutrogena, L'oreal, MAC, Simple, Ottie... You name it, I've tried it. I've always come back to the trusty Lancome Bifacils, because it's that effective against any waterproof makeup. It's gentle, doesn't strip your eyelashes and a small amount goes a long way. The drugstore alternative, L'oreal, has a similar eye makeup remover, which is made in the same factory. But if you were to compare it to the Lancome Bifacils side by side, the way the dual-tone fluid moves is different. The Lancome Bifacils is alot more 'mixable'. Quality, or otherwise, it seems to be doing its magic alot more effectively than other dual-tone eye makeup removers. An amazing product. Once you've tried this, you will never go to any other brand again.
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Cleansers -Shu Uemura - High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil Fresh
chia021 9/12/2010 10:32:00 PM
No words can describe my love for the Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil (pink bottle). I have one backup of this, and have used probably 5-6 of these in my lifetime. They are definitely not cheap at SGD145 for a 450mL bottle. I use 2 pumps of this, smother it on my face at the end of the day, and use some water to emulsify it and rinse it off. Then I follow up with my cleanser to remove any residual makeup and dirt. It's incredibly effective in removing makeup, and leaves your face feeling fresh. It has never broken me out, even if I don't follow up with a secondary cleanser. The only thing is that i never use this to remove waterproof makeup, because it makes my contact lenses blurry. I've used other formulations of the Shu Uemura Cleansing Oils (green, purple, yellow) and this one is the BEST! Trust me on this one!
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Primer/ Corrector -RMK - Creamy Make-Up Base Mat
chia021 9/12/2010 10:20:00 PM
Perhaps I'm adding too many steps in my daily makeup routine (probably because its just sitting on my dresser). I find the RMK Creamy Makeup Base Mat kinda average, IMO. It does help to give a more even base for foundation, but I don't see that it helps to 'mattify' my face that much. I bought my shade in 02, which doesn't really add any color to the face. It feels like a silicone, and kinda breaks up into tiny furry granules when you smother this over your face. Strange, but that's the way RMK primers are. RMK is quite expensive at where i live so I won't repurchase this again.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Laura Mercier - Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20
chia021 9/12/2010 10:14:00 PM
I wasn't a fan of Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturiser when I had oily skin (prior to Roaccutane). I felt that it was too greasy and slid off my face when I'm out in the sun. In fact, I only wear tinted moisturisers when I'm doing some mild sports. However, my skin has gone really dry after my Roaccutane treatment and I'm starting to love this again. It helps to even out your complexion, and is nicely moisturising for ladies with dry skin. I have my shade in Nude which is equivalent to MAC NC25. Comes in a 40mL tube which will last you a very long time.
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Lip Gloss -MAC - Nymphette lipglass
chia021 9/12/2010 10:08:00 PM
The golden shimmer in Nymphette looks stunning with warm-toned looks. It however doesn't sync when you pair it up with cool-toned eyes. But nevertheless, it's a go-to shade for work.
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Blush -Becca - Turkish Rose creme blush
chia021 9/12/2010 10:01:00 PM
I'm currently on a Blush-Operation, where I use certain blushes in rotation. It helps me to appreciate the current things in my stash. So I found my lonely Becca Turkish Rose Creme Blush (4g) and began using it to the core! It looks really muddy on the pan, and probably the last blush I would ever use but on my cheeks it's so beautiful. It's the most natural blush, and gives a lovely rosey tint that looks like you just came back from a holiday. And the Becca creme blush formulations are so creamy and it blends like a dream. It's far superior compared to MAC or YSL cream blushes (by far!). Okay, I'm definitely not a big fan of Becca's packaging. The rubber starts to peel off in hot weather and it no longer looks like a departmental store brand. It's small though, so it's easy to carry with you when travelling. When I finish this blush, I will definitely repurchase! :)
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Pressed Powders -Paul & Joe - Pressed Face Powder N
chia021 9/12/2010 9:53:00 PM
I have hit pan and completely finished my Paul & Joe Pressed Powder N in the shade 02. I would say that this shade will match a NC20 to NC25 skin colour. It doesn't really deposit much color, but instead seems to give your complexion an amazing luminosity. If you swatch this on your hand, it looks somewhat matte until you go under some bright lights and you'll definitely notice some slight shimmers. Mind you, i hate shimmery powders but it doesn't make you look like a glitter bomb. They sell it in individual refils that cost SGD45, and they have promotions so it's definitely worth buying in my opinion! You can fit these pans in the cute Anna Sui Powder Cases as well, which i find really nifty. It does finish really fast though. Maybe because it's such a soft powder and any tool will pick up the powder really well. I love it and will definitely repurchase this.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Shu Uemura - Depsea Therapy Moisture Recovery Emulsion
chia021 9/12/2010 9:45:00 PM
I have been using the Shu Uemura Depsea Moisture Recovery Emulsion that comes in a 75mL dark blue bottle. I believe there is now a new formulation called the Shu Uemura Hydrability Moisturising Emulsion. The difference between the two is that the newer one has more seaweed extracts, which helps with the hydration (?). The product comes out as milky white, and has a lovely fragrance that is not overpowering. The packaging is lovely and comes in a glass bottle. Although it is hard to travel with, it's relatively simple. I love that this emulsion is not thick and spreads VERY well. You don't need much to spread to the entire face and neck. It does take some time for the product to sink in though (I say about 1-2 minutes). My skin has been really dry due to the Roaccutane, so I needed something hydrating but not too moisturising for this hot & humid weather. I didn't give this product a full 5 stars because it didn't do wonders in terms of improving my complexion. But it's pretty good for what it claims to do, which is 'Hydration in hot & humid weathers'. Perfect for the 20 something year old skin. I would definitely repurchase this again, perhaps in the new hydrability range. :)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No