Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, fine and gentle!

I got this some time back last year when I was stocking up my cleansing gel. I wasn't skeptical about trying this as I've seen many reviews around, either from Youtube or from the blogging world. And my, this is really "micro" to me as a scrub!

The description that comes with it.


One thing I do not like about this is the dispenser. Look how messy it is!


Because this scrub is oh-so-super-fine-yo.. you don't need such "big holes" to dispense the product. I'll tell you more about this in the later section.

The daily microfoliant!

It does look like baby powder or some super-fine rice flour, right!

From Dermalogica's website stated that...

This unique Rice-based enzyme powder microfoliates dulling debris and instantly leaves skin noticeably smoother and brighter. Contains no artificial fragrance or color. All skin conditions.

You may find other description that describe the product like this too..

This is a truly unique rice-based enzyme powder that microfoliates dulling debris and instantly leaves the skin noticeably smoother and brighter. The powder formula activates upon contact with water, releasing Papain, Salicylic Acid and Rice actives to smooth the skin and accelerate cell renewel. Daily Microfoliant is also formulated with a unique skin brightening complex of Bearberry, Aspergillus, Grapefruit and Licorice to help balance uneven skin pigmentation. A super soothing blend of Green Tea, Ginkgo and Colloidal Oatmeal calms inflammation, leaving the skin extraordinarily clear and refreshed.

Product size: 13g (I believed this is a sample size)
Product price: 75g for RM228 (Retail Price)

My thoughts:
This is one of Dermalogica's best selling products. Super-fine rice-based scrub. Just wet your hands and pour a little bit of the powder and you are good to enjoy good face scrubbing time!
And does it live up to the hype? Well, maybe yes and no for me.

Let's start with the "No"s.
1) Very obvious- the price. xD 75g for RM228 is ridiculously expensive. Maybe I'm wrong about the price but I did ask around and you may get at a cheaper rate if you are their member or something. But still, it's expensive!

2) This rice-based enzyme powder scrub is too fine! Heh! If you like the coarse feeling of scrub like St. Ives or Mint Juleps'(which I will review later on), then you may not like this one. This one feels like soothing some fine powder onto your face.

3) The dispenser. Gah! I brought this out for travelling since it's small and "check-in"-able to the plane, but in the end, I got spillage when I opened up the bottle. Ended up with wastage. *sheesh*

About the good points..
It leaves a smooth silky feel after using this product. It's a "temporary" feeling but it does feels good when you touch your face. Somewhat like baby smooth skin! :D

Also, you don't need a lot for each scrub session. Like mine, this little bottle last me for quite a while. I don't use this daily even though it sure is gentle for everyday use. I only use this like 4-5 days once. Hence, the saving of $$. Hee hee.

By the way, it doesn't have fragrance to this which is okay for me. But sometimes it does bother me abit since it has the "rice" smell. Especially when this is the last step for the face routine after cleansing. :P

Would I repurchase this again? Maybe. When I'm not tight on budgeting. But still, I would prefer a more abrasive scrub than a gentle one. =D

So, what's your take on this?

Nature Republic - Eau de Shine Prism Blossom Powder Review

Despite of the opening prmotion from Nature republic (which was ages ago when they first landed in Penang), I grabbed this Prism Blossom Powder off the shelf together with the aqua sunblock. I was not actually attracted to the discount (20% at that time) which is already attractive enough, but was drooling at packaging of this powder. So elegant, can!

Too bad I tossed away the box already. I couldn't get hold more of the information on this (especially on the instructions/ingredients) part. Even if I had them, I don't think I would be able to read them since it was all in Korean (yikes!).

Here comes the eye-candy pictures!

Comes with a powder puff (ignore the dirty-old puff ya).

Printed with the name.

Prism Blossom Powder. Four colors that is segregated into four compartments!

Looking fine over here!

Finely milled.


Plus it comes with free shimmers that comes together with the orangey/beigey powder.

Spot it?

Product Size: 20g
Product Price: It's about RM89.90 (if I'm not mistaken, or RM69.90)Will update again when I get this from the store.

My thoughts:
This is one of their star product, as claimed from the SA at the Nature Republic counter. And my my, it was still out of stock the last time I went there surveying before my Korea trip back in December.

Truth to be told, I actually like the powder. It's more like a finishing powder or loose powder to me. Even though it has slight shimmers, it does not really bother me as it does not create extra "shine" to the face. Oil control wise is good as well. And it does smell nice too! I think most of the items from Nature Republic has fragrance / parfum in it. Not sure if it's a trend but I do notice many Korean cosmetics and skin care items contains quite an amount of fragrance/parfum in their products.

Also, the SA also did mentioned to me that this powder can be worn alone after sunscreen. No foundation or BB cream needed prior to this. Since it's a finishing powder, please don't expect coverage from the powder. =)

Overall, I'm quite satisfied with the powder even though the packaging is huge (sorry, didn't get to measure this). And yes, it does take up a little more space compared to my previous loose powders. =D

Would I repurchase again? Maybe, if I ever ran out of this one (which I doubt at the moment).

So have you tried anything from Nature Republic's cosmetic line? Do share any other product that you like. Would love to try out some other stuff too!

Wet n Wild Color Icon Blusher, like finally!

Yes! Finally I had the courage to open up my new blusher! LOL!

This is because I had a very bad habit of buying and buying and buying without thinking if I really need these babies. :P Please excuse myself for self confessing! :P

Anyway, let me introduce you another new blusher called Wet n Wild Color Icon Blusher. =)

May I present you the introduction for this baby.

Wet n Wild Color Icon Blusher is a luxuriously smooth formula that provides a transparent sheen and a radiant pop of color to cheek for a natural glow. Infused with a special blend of treated nylon powders, Wet n Wild Color Icon Blusher delivers a long lasting color. Wet n Wild blush is dermatologist-tested.

Usage description:

Sweep on wnw Color Icon Blush that strikes the perfect balance between a blendable transparent sheen and a radiant pop of maximum color. A special blend of treated nylon powders provides long-lasting color. Dermatologist-tested.

The packaging at the back.


Up close of the color that I got - Pearlescent Pink.

It does look a little dark here and in real life, the color is almost what you see as above.

Also, it comes with a little brush.


And the brush is uber-dissapointing. *hiks*

Why?? Do I need to say more?

 The swatch.


And on hand.


Product size: 0.14oz 4g
Product price: $3 (from Nonpareilboutique)

My thoughts:
This blusher is quite pigmented by itself, very powdery and quite finely milled too. Something like my previous ELF Blusher. Because of the "fragility" of the blusher, I have to hold it up firmly, just in case the floor "catches" it instead of me. =\ Also, fragance is very minimal too, I don't think it does have any strong scent attached to this one.

On the other hand, I still don't see myself reaching for this blusher as much as I does with my other MAC blushers. This is because I noticed that my brush tend to get "more" product than it should and I always have to tap it off a few times just to get the "extras" off from the brush, hence the wastage and messy-ness. Hmph! And no, I'm not talking about the brush that comes with this, because the brush that comes with it is too coarse for my liking. :(

But for $3, how can I expect so much for a blusher? If I had a choice, I would prefer to go for ELF blushers instead of this one because the prior's texture is somewhat a little more "smooth" and has a slight "silky with sheen" finish upon application.

Would I repurchase this?
No. But I'm glad I've tried it and it does kill any future lemmings that comes from this line at the moment. Sorry WnW!

The ingredients:


So have you tried this one yet?

Naruko Narcissus Total Defense Mousse Facial Wash with love!

As you may know, I used quite a bit of Niu Er's product. From Skincology range and now I'm using Naruko, but not the full range of his product.

One of the product I really like is the mousse foaming cleanser.
In Chinese, it's called 水仙全效禦護潔顏泡.

And this is my first mousse cleanser that really amazed me compared to my other cleansers.

The product pic that can be seen around on the Net.


Actual item that comes with in a white box.


Side descriptions.


Check out the website stated on the box.


The expiry date that is clearly printed below the box.


The real thing. :)

Upclose of the label.


Side label.


Mousse-y cleanser!


Up close.


Product Size: 150ml
Product Price: 249NT Online Price(Quoted from Naruko's website) I bought around RM32 from a local blogshop.

My thoughts:
I'm loving it as I just have to pump 1 or 2 times to get it on my palm and voila! I can just cleanse it straight away without having the need to foam the cleanser. And it feels uber-soft and gentle on my skin! The smell of the cleanser is also very calming and light. Also, it does NOT dry up my skin nor I felt tight after washing my face.

On the negative point, the cleanser does not last for long as it sure does finish by 3 months of continuous usage (day and night). =(

Will I repurchase? Yes! especially it does save my time on cleansing without the need to foam the cleanser up. Good for lazy people! (hee hee :P)

Here's the ingredients in case you need them.


Oh btw, the box can be recycled too! To a pencil box! How cool is that? :D


That's all and I'm done with cleanser. Gotta use my new Apple-Juicy one (*hint Korean *hint) :P

My Old Lover : ZA Deep Cleansing Oil

I haven't talked about this cleansing oil before as I have other alternatives now and then. However, when Jusco was kind of having a "clearance sale", I quickly grabbed them without even think twice because...
.
.
.
.


It was cheap okay!! 100 ml for RM15 = 15 cents per ml. =P

I've double & triple checked and these were manufactured somewhere on Oct / Nov 2010. So, it's still new! If I'm not mistaken, the local drugstore sells them around RM23.90 to RM30? I'll update again on the price for this.

So yeah, let me introduce you to my old lover, ZA Deep Cleansing oil.


Came in the little size of 100ml.


The description on the bottle.


Directions for you to use them.


The consistency wise of this cleansing oil...


My thoughts:
As you can see, the texture and consistency of this cleansing oil is runny and not thick. This is one of the reasons why I love it. For me, it works great and it is very easy to emulsify the cleansing oil when water came in contact with it. As for whether it works on waterproof make up or not (ie. mascara), I only uses eye makeup remover instead of cleansing oil, hence I'm not able to tell you whether this works or not.

On a downside, because of its runny texture, I sometimes do pump more than I used to compared to my other cleansing oil. Also, it has quite a strong fragrance (that smells something like rose (i think) to it. Other than that, I'm liking the product as it does its job.

One side note:
Please use this with dry hands on dry face!

Also, after slowly (and lightly!) massage the cleansing oil onto the face, DO NOT splash water onto your face (I know the description on ZA says a "splash of water" liquefies the Cleansing Oil). Instead, wet both hands with water and then slowly massage again on your face to emulsify the cleansing oil. Repeat 2 to 3 times (or more) until you don't see the "milky" water on your face/hands anymore. Then you are good to go with another follow up with a normal cleanser to double cleanse your face. Trust me, if you do this steps correctly, you won't even feel the "oily-ness" (or have anymore cleansing oil) on your skin.

Overall, I'm glad I did grabbed the two bottles that cost only RM15 (each!). It does bring back my old memories and reminds me how much I was "attached" to it in the past (and in the future now). =)

Kiehls Yerba Maté Tea Gel-Cream Review

Apologized for the long hiatus, lovely people. Gotta blame my slowmo in settling some work stuff going on. =)

Nevertheless, here's an update on my long-time purchase in Dec-09.

The Yerb-uh Mah-tay (As describe by Kiehls) gel-cream.

I don't know why they doesn't have it on their website but here's the actual stuff with details.

The color sure is striking. =)

Don't be alarm at the price though...


With expire date details at the bottom.


I'll show you Kiehl's version, only in lotion-form though.


And hopefully the pic below don't gross you out!

I've been using this for four months plus now. Everyday, night and day. Long enough for a review, kan (right)? =)

Here's how the moisturizer looks like.. (ignore the "reddish" hand though..)


Let's get down to the real thing.

Yerba maté , as in YERB-uh MAH-tay is actually a herb which is something like our green tea. From wikipedia, it is consumed either by itself or with lemonade (similar to our ice lemon tea). Also, do you know that it has antiobesity and cholestrol properties too? You can look up these things through wikipedia on these.

Here's some interesting photos from wiki..



Onto Kiehls facts:-

Yerba Maté

YERB-uh MAH-tay

A nutrient-packed botanical native to South America, contains practically all of the vitamins necessary to sustain life. Yerba Maté is known to contain 24 vitamins and minerals (including vitamins A, C, E, B-1, and B-2), 15 amino acids, and 11 polyphenols (powerful anti-oxidants).

Taken from their lotion version:-

With Vitamin-Infused Tea Extracts for a Healthful Skin Vivacity
Oil-Free Moisturizer
Suitable for all skin types
Helps improve skin texture, clarity and radiance
Not tested on animals

And their description:-

This oil-free moisturizer, suitable for all skin types, is formulated with an extract derived from Yerba Maté, an extraordinary South American herb, to help infuse skin with all it needs to combat dullness and maintain its healthful and youthful vivacity. Our lightweight lotion helps improve skin texture, clarity and radiance without clogging pores.

Product Size: 50ml
Product Price: RM150 ($35 for Kiehls YERBA MATÉ TEA LOTION)

My thoughts:
Compared to their Ultra Facial Cream, I love this one more.

Frankly speaking, the first impression of this cream doesn't appeal to me at all. Not only the smell is somewhat weird, the look and feel of the cream doesn't do any help as well.

I still remembered their KCR persuading me to give this a go instead of buying the full size version of Ultra Facial Cream. Well, big kudos to her for that! I literally fell in love with this after one full month of using this. I believe the longer you use this, the love will grow with this gel-like-cream. =D (sounds like I'm choosing Mr. Right.. hee hee)

But anyway, the scent of this cream grows gradually on me. It doesn't smell bad actually, just a little like raw herb kinda smell. The best thing of this is that the cream gives a matte feel and matte finish to it. Keeps oil at bay too! (*thumbs up*). I felt really bad for my all-rounder-HG-moisturizer. =P And nope, I'm still sticking to the all-rounder because Penang doesn't have Kiehls!! (if Kiehls is reading this, please do open one here.. my gel-cream is hitting the bottom soon! LOL!)

As for cons, I don't fancy the packaging. I prefer the bottle/pump type instead of the jar-types. If they would provide a spatula with this, it would be a better companion with this so we wont contaminate the cream so easily.

By the way, to use this cream, you'll need to massage the cream until it is fully absorbed. The cream doesn't able to absorb quickly maybe because of it's gel+cream texture. So it is best to take some effort to massage them thoroughly.

Will I repurchase this?
Yes! (if only there's a counter here in Penang. xD)

The ingredients:-

Click to read on some reviews from CozyCot.

PS: They are having Earth Day offer @ Kiehls (RM10 off for RM100 purchase), do follow them on Facebook to get these "hot news". =D