For Beloved One Melasleep Whitening Bio-Cellulose Mask Review

For Beloved One is a Taiwanese skincare brand that is most famous for its masks, which are apparently used by its local celebrities including Barbie Hsu(大S), Annie Yi(伊能靜), and Niu Er (牛爾). One of its best-selling masks is the Melasleep Whitening Bio-Cellulose Mask, which features what the company calls is a "bio-cellulose" texture - meaning that instead of using plain ol' paper like the rest of them cheapo masks do, this expensive mask (S$63.00 or US$45 for a box of three pieces) is made of some biological fiber material, whatever that is. This mask has style, baby!

The mask itself comes in a clean-looking, sleek white box. Unfortunately the box got a bit dinged on its way to me. But it still looks cool, right? Unlike most Asian brands, which tend to drench themselves in cutesy packaging, For Beloved One keeps it clean and simple.



The individual mask packs (yes, that's S$21 for each pack here) comes in a sealed pack, and the design is exactly like that of the box.



The mask claims to have three awesome ingredients in it that will brighten and whiten your skin: Lumiskin, Melaclear, and Matrixyl. Now terms like that are just marketing jargon, of course, (you know, much like the "Age Rewind Complex" from Maybelline's Age Rewind line, or Pond's "Derma-Recovery Complex" from its Time Rewind Wrinkle Cream) but a closer look at the ingredients shows that they are just a bunch of other ingredients - fatty acids (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride), glycerin, water, as well as some ingredients that may help with skin brightening, and are usually used in cosmetic products for skin whitening or pigmentation (Diacetyl Boldine, dithia octanediol). The good thing is that they at least bothered to make the active ingredients the top three ingredients in the list, so they probably aren't skimping on the good stuff in this mask.



This is what you see when you first open the packet of mask. You get one layer of mask, sandwiched between a papery layer and a plastic foil, and the mask is swimming in the facial essence, which is a milky white liquid.



Anyway, I did mention that one interesting thing about the mask was its selling point of being made of a "bio-cellulose" (another marketing jargon there) material. What this means is that the mask is actually not made of paper, but some filmy substance that kind of feels like a thin layer of jelly. It reminds me of that agar jelly substrate we had in petri dishes back in the days when I was still in school. It kind of has that squishy feel. Here's a shot of the mask material:



One thing I liked about this mask was that because the mask material wasn't made of paper, it felt a lot less flimsy than other masks I've tried. In fact, the manufacturers claim that the mask naturally sticks to your skin, and you can walk around with your mask on your face. I tried that, and I think they're right. Because the mask is made of this film-y material, it adheres to the skin better. I was essentially working on the computer while using the mask.

Here's a really unglam shot of me wearing the mask. Look, ma, the mask is actually staying on!



After application, the mask leave behind a film of liquid on your face, which takes awhile to sink in. The instructions on the package encourage you to continue with the rest of your skincare routine without washing off the mask residue. After usage, I did feel like my skin looked a little brighter. However, I personally felt like it was better when I washed it off, because when the residue was left on my face for too long, my skin seemed to react to it in a negative manner, with my pimples experiencing some swelling. I'm not sure exactly what ingredient it was, but my skin is usually ridiculously sensitive, so it could have been anything. I doubt mosts people would have this sort of reaction to a mask.

Anyway, at S$21 for each application, this mask isn't cheap. I personally believe that you don't have to spend a fortune on good skincare (and in fact, some of the best skincare products I've come across aren't actually expensive), but I do think this mask has some good points going for it if you're willing to splurge. For one, I like the fact that it clings to your skin when applied, so you don't have to lie around comatose on your bed when using this mask. I also feel that enough thought and care has been put into the ingredients to make them work, and the mask seemed effective enough on me. If price isn't an issue, this mask would be worth checking out.

(Product was sent for review. Review is my complete and honest opinion. I am not affiliated with/compensated by the company.)

TheNatureLab Oxygen Shield Bubble Mask: Does It Work?

TNL (short for The Nature Lab) is a Korean brand of skincare that has recently launched one of its star products, the Oxygen Shield Mask, in Singapore. It's a foaming mask whose selling point is that it helps to deliver oxygen to your skin. This is supposed to help improve circulation, and bring about a whole slew of skin benefits, from whitening and brightening to improving skin texture.



First things first, the science is clear that injecting oxygen into your skin doesn't actually help it, so all the masks selling oxygen as an anti-aging therapy are just doing it as a marketing gimmick. Sure the mask does foam, but it doesn't deliver oxygen to your skin (it's just air bubbles, people, not special oxygen bubbles), or help improve blood circulation or anything. It's just fun to see a mask bubble, I guess.

In fact, if the mask really introduced oxygen into your skin, it would seriously damage the skin, since oxygen is a free radical and is actually aging to skin - that's why we have a whole line of anti-oxidants to combat the oxidative reactions brought about by these free radicals. So any oxygen-based skincare is just a marketing gimmick. The Bliss Triple Oxygen Mask is another such mask using a similar marketing strategy, so it's not just TheNatureLab.



The mask comes in a sensible pump tube, and in a sturdy yellow plastic bottle and a brown box. All in all, the packaging is sensible and sturdy.



The mask out of the pump is a clear gel, with a few bubbles in it. Ooh, look, bubbles! The gel is clear and light, and odourless.



The instructions for using this mask are quite complex. First you're supposed to apply the gel on your face, then leave it on for a few minutes. The mask then starts foaming, with little bubbles appearing. This, of course, is the "oxygen bubbles" they're trying to sell - but really, they're just air bubbles. Then again, air is 20% oxygen, so I guess they aren't entirely wrong, LOL!



After that, you're supposed to massage this foam into your face, and let your skin absorb all that "oxygen goodness". When you massage the foam into your face, it sort of breaks up, and forms a thin film on your skin, as you can see in the photo below.



After this, you're supposed to wet your palm slightly and massage the mixture into your skin. The water mixes with the mask to form this thin, colourless film on your skin.



Lastly, you're supposed to wash the film off. It foams as you wash it off.

To be honest, after I used this mask, I didn't feel like my skin had improved. In fact, I didn't feel any effects whatsoever. Perhaps I had too thick a hide for this mask to work, but I felt like it was more of a cleanser than a mask - it cleaned the skin and removed dirt, but didn't do anything more. So, I decided to dig deeper into the product to find out why it didn't work for me.

And as you know me, the first place I stopped to look was nowhere else other than the ingredients list. And here I think I've found my answer:



When I look at ingredients lists, I usually focus on the first 5-7 ingredients in the list, as those are the ingredients that make up most of the product, and the rest of the ingredients are usually added in tiny amounts. In this product, the first few ingredients are water, cocoamidolpropyl betain, disodium cocoamphodiacetate, chamaecyparis obtusa water, glycerin, and cocamide DEA.

Here's a breakdown of the ingredients:

Water, chamaecyparis obtusa water: Okay, we know this one as water.

Cocoamidolpropyl betain, disodium cocoamphodiacetate, cocamide DEA: These are all surfactants, which are the foaming agents in the product. They are what makes the product foam, and are most commonly found in shampoos and soaps.

Glycerin: This is a hydrating ingredient to the skin, when combined with water.

As you can see, the Oxygen Sheild Bubble Mask is really mosstly comprised of a bunch of surfactants, water and glycerin. So when you use the mask, all that's really happening is you're workiong up a lot of foam, but the only ingredients that are really working on your skin are the glycerin and water combination, which moisturize the skin. The surfactants just add to the cosmetic appeal of the product. No wonder why this product didn't work for me!

I wanted to like this product, but I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed by it. And yes, this is indeed a product that was provided by PR people for review, but I simply can't cook up a positive review when that's not my honest opinion. To me, the mask appeared to be mostly surfactants and water, and I felt that the formulation of the mask was poor, as more attention appeared to be paid to the bubbling hype, and not enough attention was given to the actual beneficial effects of the mask. The good thing about this is that it does cleanse the skin, and is quick to use - the whole foaming process takes only a few minutes. If you like the idea of cute little bubbles and want a simple basic mask, this is for you. But sadly, I can't say this mask worked for me. But if you're interested in trying this out for yourself, you can LIKE The Nature Lab Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TheNatureLab )& play the Spot & Win game to win a bottle of Oxygen Shield Mask worth S$48.90.

(Product was sent for review. Review is my complete and honest opinion. I got this for review, and I actually said I was disappointed by it, so obviously I am not affiliated with/compensated by the company.)

Mentholatum Acnes Creamy Wash and Sealing Jell

Although Mentholatum was originally founded in the USA, the brand is often associated more commonly with its many brands of drugstore skincare and cosmetic items that are popular in Asia, including popular brands LipIce, Sunplay, and Oxy. Within Asia, it often markets its products as originating from Japan, particularly following its acquisition by Japanese company Rohto in 1988. As such, to the casual consumer, its products tend to be associated with Asian markets rather than Western ones, despite its strong roots in the West.

As such, it's no surprise that Mentholatum's Acnes line also bears the cutesy hallmark of Asian brands. Just look at this Acnes set, comprising their Creamy Cleanser and Sealing Jell!



Mentholatum Acnes is, as the name suggests, a range of skincare product targeting acne-prone skin. The line up of products range from standard items such as cleansers, toners and moisturizers, to more Asian-centric products such as nose pore strips. The set below contains the Creamy Wash, a cleanser for oily skin, as well as a Sealing Jell, which is a pimple cream.



At first, I was a bit dubious of the quality of the product. After all, what on earth is a Sealing Jell? Is that a typo, a fail-attempt to make a product name sound cute, or something else entirely?



So, I thought the only way to know whether the set was any good or not was to try it out myself! The first product in the set was the Creamy Wash, which came in a sensible plastic tube with a flip top packaging.



The Creamy Wash is a off-white gel that is tinged with some off-white gel that had a green tinge. It foamed well, and washed off cleanly. However, although the Creamy Wash is billed as non-drying, I still found it a bit too dry for my liking - when I had washed my face, my skin felt squeaky and tight. Definitely a sign that the cleanser was too harsh for my skin.



The second item was the Sealing Jell, which is a pimple gel that just has a funny name. The gel comes in a sensible tube with a screw top.



Like the Creamy Wash, the Sealing Jell is an off-white gel-like cream that has a green tinge. And also like the Creamy Wash, the Sealing Jell also is very drying on my skin. This feels slightly sticky when applied on the skin, but turns clear and dries fast. I did feel like it helped my pimples, simply by drying them out so they didn't evolve into those huge cystic boils I'm so prone to getting.



One last thing I noticed about the two Mentholatum Acnes products was the smell. Both products had this lemon-lime smell, that honestly, smelled exactly like the scent you'd find in dishwashing liquid or hand soap! I'd much rather they tweak the smell or lose it altogether - I don't want to feel like I'm putting dish soap on my face!

Although I felt that these products, particularly the Creamy Wash, were too harsh for my skin, I think these might be useful for someone with very oily, thick skin that's not sensitive. Between the two products, though, I felt that the Sealing Jell was the better product for my skin. I'd probably use these products, but I'd alternate them with other skincare products that weren't so drying. If you're interested, you can redeem some free Acnes samples at http://www.facebook.com/acnes.sg?sk=app_213564948660624 or http://www.facebook.com/acnes.sg.

(Product was sent for review. Review is my complete and honest opinion. I am not affiliated with/compensated by the company.)

Hada Labo Retinol Lifting and Firming Lotion

You may not know this, but Hada Labo actually means "Skin Lab" in Japanese - "hada" means skin, and "labo" is "lab" transliterated from English. The Japan-based skincare brand has garnered quite the following in Asia, and this is in part due to the most popular product in their line, the Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Moisturizing Lotion (which I need to get around to reviewing one day), which is marketed with the catchy tagline, "One drop locks up an ocean".

Now, Hada Labo has launched a new Lifting and Firming Line, which is an anti-aging line. Seeking to capitalize on the "one drop" tagline, the Lifting and Firming line has the tagline "One drop restores youthful bounciness". And as with the Moisturizing line, the star product of the Lifting and Firming Line is expected to be the Retinol Lifting and Firming Lotion.



The Lifting and Firming Lotion comes in a tall, red plastic bottle with a flip top. While the lotion isn't exactly that runny, you need to be careful when pouring it out, as you may end up accidentally pouring out too much!

The lotion itself has a milky, gel-like texture that's a bit on the sticky side. So yes, you do need to wait for a couple of minutes for the lotion to sink into the skin after use.

This is more of a night lotion for me, for two reasons. First, I don't really like fiddling around with sticky lotions in the day. Secondly, there is a small amount of retinyl palmitate in the lotion (the retinol they refer to in the marketing material), and retinyl palmitate applied topically may increase the skin's photosensitivity, which is why concentrated forms of retinyl palmitate are probably best used only at night. However, give that the concentration of retinyl palmitate in this product is quite low, and given that retinyl palmitate is actually one of the weakest forms of retinoid out there, it's may probably be safe for day use as well. I just prefer to be cautious with regard to sun exposure whenever I use a retinoid, so all retinoids are treated the same - night use only, sunscreen in the day. The directions on the packaging, however, are a bit less parannoid, and encourage both day and night use.



After using the lotion for awhile, I do feel like it helped my skin. I'm not too sure about the "restores youthful bounciness" bit, because that's kind of hard for me to assess, but I did feel like the product helped to moisturize my skin and gave it a slightly better texture. If this sounds like the product for you, then this will be worth checking out. I believe Hada Labo is having some Facebook promotion, where if you like their Facebook you can redeem your Hada Labo Sha lotion samples. The offer is available here: http://www.facebook.com/hadalabosg?sk=app_151292538267800 or http://www.facebook.com/hadalabosg.

(Product was sent for review. Review is my complete and honest opinion. I am not affiliated with/compensated by the company.)

My Skincare Routine & Favourite Skincare Products

A few people have asked me what my skincare routine is and what products I use so here it is for those who are interested! I have a normal skin type most of the time but it can become dry in winter and it's also slightly sensitive. My routine is fairly fuss-free and simple. Here's what I would do morning and night.......

Morning:

Tone and moisturise. I don't tend to cleanse in the morning because I don't ever feel the need to - I think that over-cleansing is not always a good thing especially if your skin is on the dry side. If I need a sun protection I will use that instead of my moisturiser. I'll exfoliate in the morning too with a scrub every so often.

Night:

Cleanse, tone, moisturise. If I've been wearing false lashes I'll use a separate eye make-up remover to my regular cleanser. Sometimes I'll use a serum at night underneath my moisturiser (mainly just in winter when my skin is drier) and I use an eye cream too whenever I remember!

Here are the products that I like to use and which work well for my skin type.......

Cleansing:

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - This is hands down the best cleanser I've tried. I've been using it for about 3 years now. It's quite a thick cream but it's very gentle and you can use it over your eyes too without irritation. It comes with muslin cloths which are fantastic since they act as a mild exfoliant and leave your skin really soft. The cleanser is really effective at getting rid of every last trace of make-up and this is one I would recommend over and over again!

Aveda Pure Comfort Eye Makeup Remover - I'll only use a separate eye make-up remover like this if I've been wearing false lashes. I've found that some eye make-up removers have stung my eyes in the past but this one doesn't at all. I'll soak a cotton pad with this and hold it on my eyes for a good few minutes to let it dissolve the make-up and lash glue. It then gently wipes away without having to rub your eyes too much which is never something you want to do!

Toning:

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic - This is a very gentle toner and it's alcohol-free which is brilliant since it won't dry out the skin. It's full of natural ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile and cucumber which are very soothing and great for sensitive skins. It also gets rid of any last remaining traces of make-up. 

Moisturising:

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturiser - The Kiehl's moisturiser is another product which I've used for years. It's not too thick but I find that it's very hydrating and it works great under make-up. There's no heavy fragrance so it's good for sensitive skin.

MAC Strobe Cream - This is a moisturiser which has luminizing particles in it. It's great for wearing during the day under a light foundation for an extra glow. It's not as hydrating as the Kiehl's so I'll use this mainly in summer.

Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado - This particular cream is only for moisturisation so it's quite basic but it does it's job well and doesn't irritate my skin. I'm quite interested in trying the Origins eye creams next though.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair - Unlike a moisturiser which will only be absorbed into the first few layers of skin, a serum seeps down further into more layers so it helps to repair the condition of the skin more effectively. I love this Estee Lauder one because I find it really does help to clear up any dry patches which I get around my nose in winter and my skin is left very smooth and hydrated after using it.


Exfoliating:

Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator - This is a gorgeous exfoliating cream. It doesn't leave skin feeling tight or dry since it has cocoa butter in it. I find my skin is left extremely soft after using this.

Sun Protection:

Shiseido Extra Smooth Sun Protection Lotion SPF30 - This is the only sun cream which has not irritated the skin on my face so I definitely won't be without this one! It also goes on matte so it's absolutely perfect for under make-up.

Has anyone else tried any of these products? Do let me know what you think of them!

Shills, Anosa and Beauty Bistro Roadshow with Judy Lin

Shills and Anosa are both a Taiwanese brands that have skincare, bodycare, and haircare products, but both brands are most famous for its BB creams. The brands, together with local retailer Beauty Bistro, had a roadshow to promote some of their latest products. For those who aren't familiar with the roadshow concept, it's sort of like watching QVC, where they hawk all their products and promote their special deals, only that in Asia, QVC actually comes into your mall, so you get to see them demonstrating their products in person.



The road show featured Judy Lin (Mandarin name Lin Ye Ting 林叶亭), a Taiwanese celebrity fashion and beauty stylist whose TV appearances have garnered her something of a small following. I don't follow Taiwanese TV, so I wasn't aware of who she was, but the event was full of fangirls and people who were just waiting to see her in person. Judy is quite stunning in real life - tall, thin, and tanned, with long curled hair, she looks very gorgeous. I also think she kind of looks like the Asian version of Kandee Johnson, LOL!

Here's Kandee:

Pic from http://blog.beautylish.com

And here's Judy:



Don't they look alike? LOL! Both are such beautiful ladies!

Judy was demonstrating some products, including bodycare (primarily slimming), haircare, and skincare. First off, she started with some Some of the highlights of the session included these really interesting products. One of these was the slimming products, which included a cream and (oddly enough) tape!

The slimming cream, the Shills Miracle Lift Body Contour Control, was billed as a cream that if applied and massaged properly into the skin, would help the user lose weight. Like most other weight-loss creams on the market, this cream produces a heating sensation, and that is attributed to increased blood circulation.



And like most other slimming creams, caffeine is a main ingredient in the cream. As you can see from the above photo, she demonstrated it on a volunteer and it seemed to work on the spot, which is quite impressive. But I'm personally very skeptical of all slimming creams, since I don't believe anything can take the place of proper eating and exercise habits. That, and the fact that the last time I tried a slimming cream, it didn't work for me.



The other intriguing product that caught the attention of the audience was the Anosa Fit Patch. This one is a slimming patch, and it releases caffeine and other ingredients, such as various plant extracts (strawberry and raspberry are in there), and the cocktail of ingredients is supposed to penetrate through your skin and help you slim down. I guess it sort of works like a nicotine patch, but like the Shills Miracle Lift Cream, I'm personally skeptical.

When I took this photo, I was thinking, "Bullseye!"

They even applied the strips on a volunteer during the show, just to show you how the patches should be applied. You're supposed to cut the patch (which is quite large in size) into strips and stick it at problem areas on the body. I have to admit, I'd be tempted to try this, but just sticking on a patch and watching the weight melt away sounds too good to be true, no?

There were also hair products that were sold, and she did the hair of a couple of volunteers - but unfortunately, I couldn't catch a good photo of that. Also other products that were featured were the Shills Whitening and Brightening Cream, which is a moisturizer with whitening properties. It's a white cream with a light texture that is easily absorbed.



Another product Judy was selling was the Shills Foundation base SPF 42++, which is basically a thick cream foundation in a pan compact. It also looks like the Covergirl and Olay Simply Ageless Foundation that was out awhile back in the US and was really popular.

Here's the Covergirl version:

(Image from Covergirl website)

And here's the Shills version. I don't know how clearly you can see it, but Judy's holding it in the photograph. You can see the white swirls are just like Covergirl's Simply Ageless Foundation. And like the Covergirl version, the Shills Foundation Base claims to have ingredients beneficial for the skin in the white swirls too. It would be interesting to see if it's really like the Covergirl one.



I did play with the Shills Foundation Base for a bit on my hand, although I didn't manage to take any photos of the foundation itself. It had this texture that slides around easily, as though the product was formulated with a lot of silicones to give it good "slip". And it did look quite a bit darker in the pot than my own skin tone (NC20) - to me, it looked like it would be around NC25ish. But when I took a little bit of the foundation and really blended it in, it ended up pretty much blending into my skin. So I'd say you really need to blend for this one, and a little goes a long way.

It's a very interesting experience watching such roadshow events - it's like being in the room with the QVC girls when they're engaging the audience with their chitchat. Judy is a very personable and likable character, and absolutely beautiful to boot. I'm glad to have gone for this event, as it was an eye-opener of sorts, featuring some of Taiwan's most popular brands - I certainly didn't know there were such a thing as weight loss pads before being told about them!

Two Awesome Liz Earle Offers!

For all of those who read my blog on a regular basis, you know I'm a pretty consistent fan of Liz Earle - I've had the fortune to meet Liz Earle and some of her excellent staff in person, and they really embody the passion the brand has for its natural, plant-based products. Although not all the products have worked for me, I retain much respect for the brand's commitment to its principles.

With that, here is some Liz Earle news - pretty exciting for my UK girls! Liz Earle is launching theri new Healthy Beautiful Skin Facial in their London flagship store on 18th July! The treatment is developed by treatments expert Jo Givens, and combines the use of massage with products to target the customer's skin concerns. The coolest thing about this is that each facial is tailored to the individual - which I think is pretty darn awesome. It's 60 minutes and costs £65, and ccan be found on the Liz Earle Treatments Page.

And the other Liz Earle deal - applicable to anyone who would order it online - is a free product! If you buy the Daily Eye Repair and Smoothing Line Serum, you'll get a free Eyebright Soothing Lotion! Details of the deal can be found here, and I've reviewed both the Daily Eye Repair and the Line Smoothing Serum before, so do check out those reviews if you're interested - I'll be reviewing the Eyebright Lotion soon as well, so do keep out a look for that if you're interested as well!

(Info provided for readers' interest. I do not benefit from any of the deals mentioned. I have previously reviewed the brand's products on my blog.)

Liz Earle Sheer Pink Lip Shimmer: Moisturize with a Hint of Shine

Liz Earle is a UK-based brand that is pretty popular within the UK for its brand of quality skincare emphasizing natural, plant-based ingredients. The brand's focus has remained squarely on skincare, and thus they sadly doesn't produce makeup, but being a makeup junkie, I got my hands on the most makeup-like item in their entire range - their Sheer Pink Lip Shimmer.

Liz Earle's Sheer Pink Lip Shimmer is marketed as a lip salve with a sheer hint of shimmer, so it's still a skincare product, as opposed to, say, a lipstick with moisturizing properties. But it's very pretty. The Lip Shimmer comes in a simple, tiny little pink tub that matches the pink colour of the lip shimmer. You get a decent 5g (0.17oz) of product, which is about the same size as most lip balms on the market. I have to admit that I don't really like lip products in tubs - it just seems more fussy to apply and more unhygenic - but I guess given the texture of the product, it would have trouble keeping its shape in stick form, and would be too solid for a squeeze tube.



The ingredients list is pretty impressive - unlike other lip balms that start with mineral oil and petrolatum, you can clearly see that Liz Earle made an effort to consciously use better quality ingredients. The first three ingredients are hazelnut oil, shea butter, and rosehip seed oil. Here's a close up shot of the balm.



Although the Lip Shimmer looks flat and hard on the surface because the oils in the product are in solid form, once you touch your finger to the product, it quickly becomes a shiny, emollient, very soft balm. Despite the pink shade in the tub, the product doesn't actually have much colour once it's applied, as the swatch below shows.



On the lips, the Lip Shimmer feels very emollient, without feeling waxy. Because of the high amount of plant oils in the Lip Shimmer, it feels a little more liquid in feel than your average lip balm in stick form. And although it doesn't have much colour on the lips, it does impart some sort of shine.



All in all, I rather like this product. The ingredients are those of quality, it's emollient without being waxy, and it's moisturizing on the lips. However, this functions as a lip balm, and imparts barely any colour, so if you're looking for a tinted balm with more colour, you'll be disappointed by the lack of colour in the Liz Earle Lip Shimmer. I'd recommend this if you want a lip balm and don't care about the colour, and if you don't mind the fact that it comes in a tub.

(Product was sent for review. Review is my complete and honest opinion. I am not affiliated with/compensated by the company.)

Liz Earle Line Smoothing Serum: Size Doesn't Matter

As the saying goes, size doesn't matter, it's how you use it. Now before you start thinking this is going to be an R-rated, post, I'm going to disappoint you by making this post all about skincare. I've always been a firm believer in the "you don't need to spend a lot to look good" theory, especially so when it comes to skincare. After all, it's really about knowing your skin, and what ingredients work for it, as opposed to chasing after brands or the lastest new thing. The Liz Earle Line Smoothing Serum is tiny, but it does work pretty well.



When I say tiny, I'm not kidding. The product comes in a teeny little box, and you get 10ml of product inside. Well, that's a pretty small amount, although I have seen serums in tubes as small as 15ml being sold as well. The good thing about this product is that unlike some other serums which come in jars, this one comes ssensibly-packed in a tiny plastic bottle with a pump top.



The serum itself is a clear, thick gel with a yellow-brownish tinge. Because the product is so thick, a little goes a long way. It also does take awhile to skin into the skin, so to me this feels more like a night-time use only product, but if you're planning to wear this under makeup, I'd recommend that you let it settle into the skin first.



The first thing you notice is that this product is very moisturizing. I also like that it doesn't contain any ingredients that tend to break me out. On my sensitive skin, a lot of plant oils actually break me out, so a brand heavy on the botanicals (like Liz Earle and a lot of other natural-skincare brands) can have products that are likely to break my skin out, since some plant oils can be clogging on sensitive skin. But this isn't one of them, and I rather enjoyed using it.

Although the Line Smoothing Serum is marketed as a line treatment product, prevention seems to be its strongest suit. I feel like using it has made my skin feel a lot more moisturized and a teensy bit plumper, which I guess counteracts the appearance of any lines (I'm not sure if any product actually helps lines to disappear, to be honest).

If you're looking for a good serum with moisturizing properties, this would definitely be worth a look at. And if you do get this, don't be scared by the small size. Remember, a little goes a long way with this baby.

(Product was sent for review. Review is my complete and honest opinion. I am not affiliated with/compensated by the company.)

Sudocrem Skin Care Cream: Powerful Moisturization in a Tube

Sudocrem is up to now, a brand that has been most famous for its nappy rash cream - yup, the stuff mothers put on babies. Now, Sudocream has branched out beyond skincare for babies, and the brand has launched a moisturizing skin care cream.

The cream comes in a small, handy tube of 30ml. It's not a very large size, and is a small tube size that would be perfect for throwing into your handbag for use on the go. Convenient indeed!



The cream itself is a thick, opaque white cream, that sinks into the skin after some rubbing in. It's very thick and moisturizing, and I imagine that this would be particularly useful for cold, dry weather, or severely dry skin. Unlike the nappy rash cream, the Skin Care Cream doesn't have any antiseptic properties, and just functions purely as a moisturizer.



I really like this cream, and I think it would be great for really dry skin in Winter, or cold, harsh weather. I think it would be perfect as a skin rescuer on the go. I'm keeping one in my purse for dry skin emergencies!

(Product was sent for review. Review is my complete and honest opinion. I am not affiliated with/compensated by the company.)

La Prairie Radiance Collection: Cellular Radiance Emulsion

Perhaps the thing La Prairie is most famous for is that it has really expensive products. However, the brand is also known for its anti-aging products, and its commitment to premium, exotic ingredients, and past products have included precious metals, like platinum and diamonds. So while the price is a deterrent, there is a lot to back up the prices.

One of La Prairie's ranges, the Radiance Collection, has a focus on using gold as an ingredient in the skincare range. The gold is primarily meant to brighten and add radiance to the skin. The latest product to be added to this collection is the Cellular Radiance Emulsion, a moisturizer, while the star product of this range is the Cellular Radiance Concentrate, a serum.



The Cellular Radiance Concentrate is a serum that is literally infused with gold, which is pretty cool to me. Imainge actually applying bling to your skin! The product comes in a luxe-looking gold bottle with a dropper, and even inside the dropper, you can see the serum glistening with suspended gold particles.



The serum even glistens and blings on your skin!



Once rubbed in, you can really see the gold flakes glistening on your skin as well. The gold bits function similarly to gold glitter on the skin, and are very light-reflective, as you can see in the photo below. I'm not too sure if everyone would be fond of this effect, especially if you are planning on wearing makeup over it during the day, but given that this is a skincare serum, I guess it is probably meant for use at night.



The Cellular Radiance Emulsion is a light moisturizer that is meant to be used in tandem with the Cellular Radiance Complex serum. This product comes in a shiny silver tube, with a very sensible pump top. Very neat, and very hygenic.



The Emulsion itself is a light white cream, and has a very lightweight texture. This would probably be perfect for hotter weather, or for people who have oily skins and feel that intense moisturization is not needed.



Here is the Emulsion blended in. The product blends in well, and doesn't feel sticky or oily once its been rubbed in well. I think it would be quite wearable under makeup.



Some of the other products in La Prairie's Radiance Collection include the Cellular Radiance Cream, which is a heavier moisturizer, meant for skins that are drier and would like an alternative to the Emulsion. Like the Emulsion, the Radiance Cream is meant to be used in tandem with the Radiance Concentrate.



The product is a white cream, with a thicker texture. It does take awhile to skin in, so I imagine this would be good for cold weather as well.



The Radiance Collection also comes with an eye cream, called the Cellular Radiance Eye Cream. This comes in a cute little jar.



The product is a white cream, also with a thicker texture. Once again, it takes a while to skin into the skin fully, but unlike some other eye creams, it doesn't feel overly rich or too much. I think this does strike a nice balance, and is neither too heavy nor too light.



Here's a shot of some of the products in the Radiance Collection.



While I personally believe that you don't necessarily need expensive skincare to have good skin, if you fancy a little pampering, these are unique and good quality products that would be worth looking into.

To end off, here's a shot of myself together with some of the other bloggers and staff at the event.