[beauty review] Lush's fresh face mask: Love Lettuce

Love Lettuce from Lush

This is one of the 'loved' from Lush.

According to Lush.com,

it contains honey and almond oil to soften and moisturise the skin

kaolin and fullers earth deeply cleanses, absorbs grease and debris and tighten the skin

ground almond and ground almond shell for that exfoliation when you're scrubbing it in!

french lavender to balance the skin's sebum production

my thoughts:

i like the nice scrubby feeling i get from this. I honestly can't tell if it really balances my sebum production, but my skin is definitely softer and smoother after using this. my skin doesn't feel as clean as after i use Lush's mask of magnaminty though. it smells like lavender and i love the smell of lavender. lavender has a really calming and soothing effect and supposedly helps promote restful sleep so it's probably a good idea to use this before bedtime. to make your skin extra soft, just before rinsing off,add a little water and scrub your face for a few minutes thoroughly. 

as with all Lush face masks, this needs to be kept in the fridge so it can be a tad bit troublesome aka you can't bring it on trips etc. Also, it expires within a few weeks so if you're the type who has quite a few different type of masks and like to rotate among them then maybe this isn't for you.

at 5.95 pounds it's quite a decent buy. I can get at least 8-10 uses, it really depends on how much you apply, i like it just right-not too thin a layer but not too thick.

Buy it at any Lush store, they do home delivery too!

[beauty review] Skinfood Apple Can Blusher

A few of my friends have asked about my blusher so here it is! Trust me you will love it!

Apple Can Multi-Blusher from Skinfood 4

Cute puff inside. With mirror.

How to use
Use the powder puff and rub it in the blusher a few times before dabbing it on the apple of your cheeks
Always sweep your blusher up towards your temples-i use this technique and found that it's really awesome.

Brush vs puff?
I don't know why some people argue that a brush is more precise-i feel like my puff distributes the blusher equally. I used to use a brush and was a bit skeptical about the puff at first, but i'm loving it now!(: my blusher brushes have retired:/

Before blusher

After blusher

Looks more obvious in real life actually.
Boyfriend loves my blusher-and he's normally pretty indifferent.
Another makeup product which he really likes (and many people have asked me what foundation i'm using) is Sisley's Phyto Teint Eclat. smells good, applies easily, looks perfect(:

[beauty review] Lush's fresh face mask: Catastrophe Cosmetic

Lush's Catastrophe Cosmetic



For days when you are like 'OMG MY FACE LOOKS LIKE SHIT HELLPPPP'
'I need something to calm it down NOW!'

Ingredient list!
What each of the ingredients do [from Lush.com]:
"Irish moss gel will soften the skin, whilst almond oil will moisturise and leave it supple.

Fresh blueberries are full of vitamins and minerals and are anitoxidant. Rose absolute and chamomile essential oil will reduce redness and irritation. Calamine and talc will deep clean and soothe the skin at the same time.Combined together they provide your skin with a good deep cleanse without causing puffiness – leaving the face cool, clear and calm. 

This is a deep cleansing mask that it designed for regular maintenance to keep the skin clean and clear. Regular deep cleaning can avoid spots occurring and keep skin in top condition."

How to use

Love

I like how this mask makes my pimples look less angry after use.

My face looks smoother and brighter and it really has that calming effect.

I don't really know about the blueberry anti-oxidant effect..I honestly think it's hard to tell/prove that it actually works for this.

Good mask for soothing and calming-but not too amazing. It's not a must-have. It's more of a if-I-have-spare-cash or if-i-have-really-angry-pimples type of purchase

Rating: 7/10

Price: 5.95 pounds!

Lush outlet SG: Wisma Atria

Lush's Mask of Magnaminty

(taken from lush.com)

I think if you asked me what my favourite mask for blemishes is, it would be this.

As printed on the cover,

Lush's Mask of Magnaminty is meant for outbreaks and all those annoying pimples/blackheads/little pimple-wannabes!

Ingredients:

Function of the various ingredients:(taken from Lush's website but i summarised it)

A combination of bentonite gel, talc, kaolin and vegetable glycerine - to enable you to gently smooth this over your face and get great coverage, good for sensitive skin

Ground aduki beans and evening primrose seeds - gently scrubbing your face to get rid of any dead skin. 

Honey - moisturise, antiseptic. 

Peppermint oil to stimulate the blood and give a cool feeling

Marigold oil and chlorophyllin to help treat the skin.

Can be used on both the face and back during times of trouble – or just as a regular maintenance routine.

Simple instructions: Apply, leave on for 5-10 minutes (i usually wait for it to dry-it becomes sort of stiff when it dries), scrub off with warm water.

Before washing it off, i take some water and massage the mask on my face for a few minutes to exfoliate my skin with the ground aduki beans inside. 

Comes in 125g and 315g tubs.

As with all Lush products, this can last for 6 months and the size would depend on how often you intend to use it. I have only bought the small tub so far and it can last at least 25-30 applications.

Love it because...

It really helps my blemishes alot! It's the most effective mask that deep cleanses my skin and leaves it feeling brighter, smoother and squeaky clean. My face feels 'purified' after. Like the cooling effect of the peppermint too-feels refreshing after a long, tiring day. Might be abit stinging if you're using it for the first time.

Brighter, Cleaner, Smoother and blemishes much calmed and definitely less obvious than before(:

Love this. definitely a 9/10.

[beauty review] Avene Haute Protection Tinted Compact

I have pretty sensitive skin and alot of foundations tend to break me out:/ Avene is a brand recommended by dermatologists. If you go to hospital pharmacies or other pharmacies, you will see it being sold there.

I've been using Avene's tinted sunblock, it's really good because somehow it conceals my spots/blemishes and i usually use it alone (no need to apply anything else after) but i don't think people with really fair skin can use it cos it's kinda dark. This sunblock also makes your skin glow with a natural sunkissed look (no more horrible white veil!). Will probably blog about it soon.

Anyway...

Has SPF 50 UVA and UVB protection
Comes in quite a few shades. I'm using the beige one (apparently the most common colour)

2 layers. Sponge above, compact below.

Compact layer with mirror!

Me with clean face before applying Avene.

After applying! I think you need to enlarge the picture to see better. I've this grey spot on the right side of my lower right cheek in the photo above which has been covered. and the red spot on the top right of my lip looks less obvious too.

I really like the coverage. It's very buildable. and you can use it as both a concealer and a foundation! I use the sponge for even application of my whole face. Then i use my fingertips, give it a rub in the compact and dab it onto spots i want to conceal. It's really effective. And gives a very natural look after. 

SUMMARY

Use: Foundation, Concealer, Sunblock (3-in-1, perfect for lazy/want to be fast in the morning people like me)

Coverage: light to heavy (depending on how much you use)

Lasting power: 4.5/5 (i don't ever touch up)

Price: 17 euros (about SGD 27)

Feel: creamy texture

Look: 8/10 (it takes a while to 'become one' with your skin and look really natural)

Looks really good at the end of the day.

Where to buy: Some Guardians, Watson's, hospital pharmacies

My make-up look in 3 steps

From...

To...

3 steps:

1) Apply Avene Haute Protection Compact (read about my review here)

2) Red Earth Vivid Line Defining Gel Eyeliner in 01 Fantasy (using this in above picture) OR Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner in Chocolate Shimmer Ink 13 (softer look)

3) Skinfood Apple Can Blusher in shade 4 (will blog about it soon!)

With tinted compact and eyeliner,

Add blusher,

Let blusher sit in for a few minutes..

Red Earth gel eyeliner can be bought from Sasa at about 20sgd

Bobbi brown gel eyeliner from any bobbi brown counters in tangs, robinson's etc (buy at the airport it's more than 10sgd cheaper! about 29 sgd vs 40sgd)

Skinfood Blusher from any skinfood counter (bought it quite awhile back but probably 20+sgd)

[beauty review] Dr Hauschka's Cleansing Clay Mask

Got sick of seeing all the blackheads and little bumps on my face so i decided it needed some purifying/deep cleansing.
Everyone knows clay helps to draw out the impurities from your face so i decided to give this a shot.
Bought it in Madrid for 30euros at a pharmacy (which works out to be about SGD48) which i believe is cheaper than sg.

Box

Comes in a pretty heavy porcelain(?) jar.

Powder inside.

You're supposed to take a teaspoon of powder, add an equal amount of water, and mix to form a paste.
Before that, Dr Hauschka suggests using a facial steam bath to open the pores and prep the skin for this. I didn't purchase that. For the same effect, you could take a large surface-area bowel, fill it with very warm water and breathe into it for a few minutes. Alternatively, i think it's smarter to just close the bathroom door and take a nice long warm shower/soak in the tub.
That's what i do anyway-it really helps to open the pores,

Apply the paste on. It looks like mud actually. Wait for about 10 minutes or till it hardens. You can choose to re-wet it and wait for it to dry again. Then rinse it off.

dried mask

This is alittle messy. Kinda troublesome that you have to mix the clay yourself (i'm pretty lazy). and it gets the sink kinda messy and you gotta rinse the sink well of the sediments.

Cleansing/purifying effect: Not bad i guess, but didn't exactly wow me. I think i prefer other Dr Hauschka products. First tried them about 4 years back at a facial at Cluny Court, went to Germany that same year and bought the products at less than 1/2 the price in sg (my cover stick was 11 euros vs 50sgd at tangs). for the price i paid, i kinda expected more. don't think i will repurchase this. It's not very convenient to bring on travel trips as well cos the jar is so heavy.

Rating: 6/10

Ask me anything(:

Just bought Lush's Love Lettuce today! will blog about it soon(:

[beauty review] The Body Shop Vitamin C Facial Radiance Programme-microdermabrasion, radiance powder mix, skin boost

Bought this set from The Body Shop in Barcelona for 29 euros to try. Seemed to be a popular item cos i took the last one off the shelf! Very value for money. The microdermabrasion is a smaller tube, but the radiance powder mix and the skin boost comes in its FULL size.

What it contains:

15ml of Vitamin C Microdermabrasion

Recommended to be used just once a week.

Has a pretty rough texture, very fine sand-like particles.

I rub it in circular motion gently on my damp face for a minute or two before rinsing it off.

Nice to have a microdermabrasion exfoliator to use at home, really convenient.

Rating: 8/10

10mls of Vitamin C Radiance Powder Mix [Stop after 10 days]

okay this initially comes with a flat-top cover with a button-looking thing. Upon pressing down hard on the button thing on top, it releases a white powder into the clear liquid in the bottle and you gently mix it by turning the bottle upside down and back again a couple of times.

Apply it AFTER cleansing.

You can afford to use a super generous amount cos the instructions say that you can only use it for 10 days and it can definitely last for double that duration so use more of it each time!

Honestly, I did not really feel like my skin looked much more radiant than it did before. But it did help to lighten some scars i have on my face.

radiance effect: 5/10

scar-reducing effect: 6.5/10

I used it on my neck and decolletage area too and my boyfriend used it too-there is that much serum for that 10 days.

30mls of Skin Boost.

I'm not sure of this as a skin-care product, more like a cosmetic product. Has vitamin C and brazil nut oil so it does have some beneficial properties on the skin.

It promises instant radiance and a good make-up base and definitely does what it says.

There are actually shimmer/glitter particles in the translucent liquid, hence making your skin more radiant.

I squeeze some onto my fingers and apply it using circular motion onto my whole face. Face feels very smooth after application.

Using the heart-shaped thing on my left hand as a demarcation, i applied it above/to the left of the heart, you can see it looks brighter than the part just below the heart.

Good base for make-up application.

Foundation/BB cream/powder etc glides on smoothly and makes your skin look pretty flawless and radiant after.

Rating: 8.5/10

Instructions for use that comes inside the box:

I guess maybe my complexion wasn't really dull to begin with so maybe the radiance effects wasn't very obvious. I liked how the radiance powder mix lightened my scars though and the skin boost gave instant radiance and was an awesome make-up base prep. the microdermabrasion was good-fine grains instead of the coarse type.

Not sure if Singapore has the complete set, but it definitely sells the individual products. Again, The Body Shop is from the UK so buying there would be cheaper.

[beauty review] Lush's Fresh Face Mask: Cosmetic Warrior

I first tried Lush 2-3 years back and have been in love with it ever since. The first few products were Angels on Bare Skin, Ocean Salt and Ro's Argan Body Conditioner and i still absolutely love them now. Will review all the products slowly.. 

So today i'm gonna be sharing about Lush fresh face masks. This Lush range is unique as it has a pretty short shelf life and needs to be kept in the fridge. You will see below that it can last for about 3 weeks. The container itself is pretty small-75g but you can get about 5-8 applications or maybe even more depending on how much you use each time. 

Price: 5.95 pounds/tub

Weight: 75grams

photo taken from lush.com

Why Cosmetic Warrior: Now Lush has 9 types of fresh face masks to choose from. Go to lush.com to read more about it. Lush has a store in Singapore at Wisma Atria but as it is from the UK, specifically London, it costs half as much as it does in Singapore so I always buy from there. However, as Lush uses fresh ingredients in their products, you will notice that most of them cannot last very long. Angels on Bare Skin, their best-selling cleanser, will expire within 3 months. Mask of Magnaminty can last for about 6 months (will review this later I really love this mask!) Ocean Salt and Ro's Argan body conditioner can last more longer! Okay i digress, back to why Cosmetic Warrior, my skin, as i have mentioned before, doesn't do very well with lack of sleep/stress/dry weather/change in living conditions etc, it is super sensitive. So on my month-plus long holiday, I started breaking out in little small bumps, which I really hate by the way so i was determined to get rid of them. Was debating between getting this or Catastrophe Cosmetic and the lady at Lush says this is 'stronger' so I decided to try this.

Ingredients: 
Kaolin, Fresh Green Grapes, Fresh Free Range Eggs, Honey, Cornstarch, Glycerine, Fresh Garlic,Tea Tree Oil, *Limonene, Perfume

Lush says:

"It's easy to over react when you have spots or acne and attack the face with harsh products.  But this sort of skin needs gentle handling and everything about this mask is designed with this in mind.

Fresh white grapes clean and cool the skin. Fresh garlic and tea tree oil are antiseptic.

Fresh eggs tighten the texture of the skin. Honey softens and moisturises the skin and is also antimicrobal.

We bind all of these ingredients together with kaolin and cornstarch to give the mask a smooth texture that goes on easily and does not drag or pull sore, sensitive skin.

All of this means that Cosmetic Warrior fights spots and the causes of spots, without harming the natural balance of the skin and without creating puffiness.

A spot is caused when the opening of a pore becomes closed and sebum and bacteria build up behind. If you use harsh products or strong exfoliation, it can cause the skin to react, swell slightly and go puffy, which in turn blocks the opening of the pores even more. So, it is essential to calm the skin down, clean it well with something that does not cause more irritation and fight the micro organisms without killing the skins natural flora. Your skin then has its best chance of becoming balanced and healthy once more. This product has no preservatives, as these too can sometimes inflame sensitive skin."

What I think:

Smell: Tea tree (very strongly), don't really smell the garlic, and another smell i can't really describe(might be the eggs)

It honestly does not smell nice, tolerable, would actually prefer something that smells better.

Application: easy, using your fingers spread it all over the face. it is recommended that you use a sufficiently Thick layer. Leave on for 5-10 minutes before washing it off with water water followed by a splash of cool water.

 [i think the layer i applied here is a little thin.. should be thicker i think]

Because it has to be stored in the fridge, it's really nice when applied because it's so cooling and refreshing. 

Effects: Soothing, calms the red bumps (why do i have so many on my forehead:( ), makes my skin nice and soft

Not super duper effective, after a few applications, i still have those little bumps sigh. but at least they don't look so angry and i don't have more bumps popping out! 

Rating: 7/10

Where to buy: preferably UK, Wisma Atria Lush store, lush.com for home delivery

[beauty review] My Beauty Diary masks-Coenzyme Q10

I bought a box of 10 of MBD Q10 masks recently and used it on my month long holiday in Europe and UK. We toured many parts of Europe including Lisbon/Sintra/Cascais/Faro/Lagos in Portugal and Madrid/Barcelona in Spain before heading to London for 2 weeks. Travelling to so many places meant that every day was filled with activities and I was exhausted! CoQ10 is quoted on the box to be especially for tired skin and i really liked it!

taken from MBD website

Suitable Skin Type: Normal and specially recommended for tired skin

Purpose: Antioxidant and Nourishing

Description(again from beautydiary.com):

Light, tight skin

Combining vitamins BT essences andlecithin, Q10 produces an exceptional anti-oxidizing effect that can reduce the impact of reactive oxygen on the skin, thus keeping skin youthfully tight,elastic and smooth. The added natural plant ingredients have a relaxing and moisturizing effect, raising the level of moisture in the skin to give it a fresh glow to complement.

Moisturize and rejuvenate

Nano-spheres and long lasting moisturizing elements from hyaluronic acid ingredients combine to increase the production of collagen proteins, to rejuvenate skin for a fresher and younger look and feel.

What I think: hm I don't really feel that it makes my skin tight, but definitely brighter, clearer, smoother and more bouncy! The smell was nice; I like all MBD masks' smell, haven't found one I don't like yet. I have sensitive combination skin. My skin is really oily and i've got blackheads:( on my T-zone but my cheeks are super dry, like they-can-peel-in-singapore's-80%-humidity dry. This mask was sufficiently moisturizing for me-i didn't peel at all in Europe and London for that one month. My skin also felt fresher after application. Quite like this mask. 

Good mask fit!

Rating:8.5/10

My tips (was in my previous post but will repost for convenience):

1) Put the mask in the fridge before application. The cool mask, which can be abit shocking at first, quickly feels comfortable and helps to destress.

2) I usually keep masks on for about 45minutes or more or till they feel dry. For me, I find that the effects of keeping the mask on for 45 minutes vs 20 minutes-the longer time had me seeing more visible effects of the mask.

3) The mask pack contains 23mls of serum-always remember to put them on your neck/decolletage/etc. Apply upward motion when putting on the neck. The skin on our neck can show signs of aging like wrinkles so remember to apply your facial treatment products there too

[beauty review] My Beauty Diary Masks

MBD masks are really popular and after reading many positive reviews, i decided to give it a try.
I initally bought the variety pack which contain about 12 different MBD masks.


My favourites: 

1] Apple Polyphenol Mask [Oil Control and Pore Constringing]
According to their website beautydiary.com..

Shrinking of the pores

Uses mild non-irritant fruit acids extracted from the hibiscus acid essence to clean and clear away old keratin, and prevent the widening of pores. Relying on a carefully balanced mixture of fatty ingredients, the mask promotes shrinkage of the pores, thus improving thequality of the skin towards becoming soft and delicate.

Moisturize,smooth, tone and firm

Combining the effects and influences of nano-spheres and hyaluronic acid, collagen regeneration is accelerated, leading to increased firmness and elasticity of the skin. 

What i think: it definitely does what it says. After using the mask, my pores were noticeably smaller. However my skin did feel abit tight, especially when i smiled. But that tightness was gone after awhile. My complexion looked brighter and smoother too. Fit of the mask was good. And with all MBD masks, there was loads of serum (literally dripping), sufficient for your neck/decolletage area.

Rating: 8/10

2) Aloe Soothing Mask [Moisturizing and Soothing]

Taken from their website:

Moisturizing and repairing

Aloe extract has excellent moisturizing effecton the skin and can provide skin with moisture and nutrients, making skinsmooth, soft, and elastic. With rose fruit plant extracts, it can improve the dry and rough situations of skin, balance skin moisture content, and maintain healthy bright skin.

Deep moisturizing

Seaweed yeast complex has rich amino acids and trace elements and can deeply nourish and moisturize the skin; with the supplement of high-moisturizing factor, hyaluronic acid, it can make skin supple, smooth, and glossy and maintain a sense of moisture for a long time.

What I think: this is by far my favourite mask of the MBD range that I have tried so far! okay i have only tried about 12 different types from them. I really love how this mask moisturizes and brightens my complexion. It's even more moisturizing than the hyaluronic mask they have. My skin looks smoother too. And it feels really soft and bouncy after. I was pretty amazed that the results were so obvious after just one use. I recommended this mask to my mum and she loved it too. 

Rating: 9.5/10, definitely repurchasing!

Why I like MBD: I have tried so many different types of masks from various brands, from Korean brands to international big brands. I splurge when it comes to beauty products because i believe it is important to maintain good skin when you are young to set a good foundation. I admit i was initially skeptical of MBD because it was relatively cheap-about SGD1+ per mask, and usually you get what you pay for so i was pleasantly surprised by the results. It is very value for money and worth every cent! 

My tips:

1) Put the mask in the fridge before application. The cool mask, which can be abit shocking at first, quickly feels comfortable and helps to destress.

2) I usually keep masks on for about 45minutes or more or till they feel dry. For me, I find that the effects of keeping the mask on for 45 minutes vs 20 minutes-the longer time had me seeing more visible effects of the mask.

3) The mask pack contains 23mls of serum-always remember to put them on your neck/decolletage/etc. Apply upward motion when putting on the neck. The skin on our neck can show signs of aging like wrinkles so remember to apply your facial treatment products there too.