MY SOS SKIN SAVIOUR

I am not born with nice skin but I learn how to take care of it after so much damage with simple products *sad*.  I envy those that only need water to wash their face.  Besides my usual clean, moisturize and sunblock regime, I have some products that I carry and keep with me just incase.  Maybe it will become one of your favourites too.

FRUIT OF EARTH ALOE VERA

Where to buy: You can buy the smallest bottle at around RM4-5 from Watson, guardian

or any common pharmancy.  I usually buy the biggest bottle possible.  This is a must for me.  However, make sure don’t put it under heat or the effect will disappear. 

Condition:      Sunburn.  If your skin got sunburn red, quickly apply a lot of this on the

skin.  You can also apply this as mask(thick layer)at night when the skin is dry.  Then, when the mask dry up, spray a bit of water and leave for another 1 min before rinse it off.  It will cool down your skin.

SODA BICARBONATE

Where to buy  :  Any grocery shops.

Condition        : Don’t use this too often or you will end up having worse skin ever.  ONLY use it   once in a week or MAX twice in a week.  Don’t use it if you are under medication for acne skin.

                       

                        1. Blackheads and whitehead

                        -Take a spoon and mix it with a spoon of water as well. Then apply it on the skin and rub it around those affected area for 1-2minutes.  You can use ice to rub afterwards.

                       

2.      Pimples

--Take a spoon and mix it with a spoon of water as well. Then apply it on the skin 2minutes or until it turn dry.  DO NOT RUB. Then rinse it off.  You can spray some apple cider vinegar that is already diluted on your skin to balance the ph but this is optional.  Put some pea size moisturizer after that.

PETROLEUM JELLY

Where to buy  : Any Watson or guardian. Cost not more than RM4

Condition        : There are many brands but as long it is petroleum jelly it will work. Dry or chap lips, dry patches on legs or cracked heels.  Put a lot of it on the heels and wear socks at night.  The next day, it will be really soft.  You can do the same for the hands.


Products are not sponsored.  The opinions expressed here are my own and honest as always.

VEGETABLES TO THE RESCUE

When I was young, I only know that vegetable is food to be eaten inside the stomach.  You can try it a home but you will need to be a bit patient compare to those facial you do at spa and well a bit messy too.

EGGPLANT FOR DARK SPOT OR FRECKLES

Use a slice of the egg plant and rub the juice on the spot with freckles or dark spot every day at night.  It will fade away in about 2-4weeks depending on how severe it is.

TOMATOES FOR ACNE SCARS AND OILY FACE

Cut the tomato into two.  Use a spoon and take out all the juice and put them into a bowl.  Throw away the tomato skin.  Mash the tomato and put it on the skin.  Leave it for about minimum 20min to 1 hour.  I use the cotton pad to soak up the juice and put it on the face.  Less messy.

LEMON FOR WHITENING

Apply the lemon juice using cotton pad on the skin.  I like to soak the cotton pad with the juice and leave the cotton pad on the skin.  The effect will much faster.

CUCUMBER FOR SOFT SKIN

Cut the cucumber into slices to put on the face to cool down and whiten the face.  The juice works better but again you will probably need cotton pad to put on the skin.

This is the common vegetables that I like to use on my face when I am at home and have the time to do DIY mask because I need to prepare the ingredient for the masks which I am kind of lazy to do.  However, not every vegetables mask is suitable for everyone.  So, it depends on preference.

Freebies from Only beauty and Asience

REVIEW ON CETAPHIL GENTLE SKIN CLEANSER

CETAPHIL GENTLE CLEANSER

Price          :           RM70 for two bottles (473ml each) (Guardian)
Packaging  :           simple with no box (Made in Canada)
Effect        :
Please don't judge the simple look because it is really good.  Texture was a little watery with no foam. One need to do double cleansing(means clean twice with it) to remove makeup and sunblock.  It doesn’t hurt my skin when I was having sunburn.  Leave my skin moisturize and silky after that.  Just make sure that you put the cleanser without water on your face first.  My friend love it and it is now a staple in her beauty regime.  She even ditch her Japanese cleanser for it.  After that, I only use moisturizer on dry places.
For now, i love the cleanser and will continue using it until i am able to find something cheaper and better than this? i doubt that i will.  This is the cleanser that doesn't break me out.  Well, i notice that my skin become bouncy after using it for around 1months.  Sound like a fantastic cleanser right?

NEUTROGENA HYDRO BOOST WATER GEL & PALMER

From left : NEUTROGENA HYDRO BOOST WATER GEL

                  PALMER’S SKIN THERAPY OIL

NEUTROGENA HYDRO BOOST WATER GEL

I bought this because I was trying lots of moisturizer for my combination skin.  The results was

Price          :           RM60

Packaging  :           luxurious but heavy and bulky to bring for travels (made in Korea)

Effect        :         
It is okay.  However, I break out the first time I use it on my face.  The smell was strong too and it is hard to apply makeup(powder) unless you are using those cream type.

PALMER’S SKIN THERAPY OIL

PRICE: RM27 (60ml)

Packaging  : simple and light

Effect        :
It is a good moisturizer but doesn’t help if you have those ice pick, box and those sunken scars not matter how tiny the scars is. It will only work at lightening red marks left by acne.  However, it doesn’t clog my pores although the first ingredient is canola oil.  I guess it is a cheap moisturizer since you will need very little for the face

FACE MASKS-ZIRH, NATURE&Co, BORGHESE&NEUTOGENA HYRO BOOST

From your left :     NEUTROGENA HYDRO BOOST NIGHT NIGHT PACK

                              ZIRH CLAY MASK

                              KOSE NATURE&CO PURE BRIGHT MASK

                              BORGHESE FANGO ACTIVE MUD FOR FACE AND BODY

NEUTROGENA HYDRO BOOST NIGHT NIGHT PACK
Price : RM60 (50g)
Packaging : luxurious but heavy and bulky to bring on travels (made in korea)
Effect :
It is okay. The smell is light enough but it didn’t absorb into my and I am afraid it will stain my pillow when I am sleeping with it. Overall it is just okay. I don’t feel any special effect when I wake up the next morning.


ZIRH CLAY MASK
Price : RM 100 (RM46 if order online)
Packaging : simple tube 100ml (made in USA)
Effect :
This happens to be a famous brand for men but I guess since it is clay mask. Clay mask is harder to apply. Only apply thinly for any clay mask. After 3-5minutes later, then you can wash it off. Overall, it really does clean up the excess oil of my face and it does firm up the skin. I just don’t really like how difficult is it to put on my face since clay is not soluble on oil. It will last for more than a year.


KOSE NATURE&CO PURE BRIGHT MASK
Price : RM80 147ml
Packaging : nice green jar (made in Japan)
Effect :
It claimed to brighten the skin but I don’t think it does anything to my skin. The smell of magnolia is nice. I rinse it off after 20minutes as I can’t leave on my skin or I will feel sticky when my skin release oil. The jar can last for more than a year. However, I don’t think it help to hydrate my skin. Overall, I won’t be buying it anymore.

BORGHESE FANGO ACTIVE MUD FOR FACE AND BODY
Price : RM75 170ml
Packaging : simple jar (it is available in tube&glass jar)(made in USA)
Effect :
This is their most famous mud. It is easy to apply. There will be slight tingling effect on the skin after apply. It does soak up the oil from the skin without the dry effect leaving the skin clean.


Overall, I think I like the BORGHESE FANGO ACTIVE MUD FOR FACE AND BODY better as it feels like having your own spa at home. Well, it is a lot cheaper than going to the spa ^_^.

REVIEW ON LA ROCHE POSAY ANTHELIOS 60

I bought this from http://myen.strawberrynet.com/main.aspx since in Malaysia we don't have La Roche Posay and it turns out this product is recommended by Dermatologist for it cater to sensitive skin.  You can try to get it in the neighbouring country, Singapore.  Yeah, i am getting old and i need special products for sensitive skin.  It is really lightweight and does not cause me to have pimples.  It is quite pricey for 50ml but worth it i think.  RM100 for 50ml.  This fluid is suitable for oily or combination skin so if your skin is dry, you may want to try the cream version.

SKII FACIAL TREATMENT CLEANSING OIL REVIEW

It smells like rose water.  Pour few drops on the skin and massage on the skin.  Then, add some water on the skin and massage until the oil become white.  Well, most people rave about using oil to clean the skin.  It does clean the makeup really well but i personally doesn't like the oil residue left on my face.  So, I will still use my cleanser to clean the skin as cleansing oil leave the skin oily.  It does help to remove makeup but I am so lazy to do the massage thing that take so much of my time and I rather just use the Bioderma H2O when I have thick makeup on my face.  I guess Korean routine is just not for a lazy bump like me.

Disclaimer: I bought this product on my own

2012 FAVOURITE SKINCARE PRODUCTS

It is again another year and my skin at 27 is much better than it was when I was 17.  I could say that it is hardwork of taking care of my skin and doing lots of research.  I am paranoid of going to dermatologist-partly because I am afraid that I don’t have the money for it and I don’t like to wait.  I don’t like facial too because I don’t have deep pocket.  Anyway, even my colleagues said that my skin improves a lot.  Hopefully I will be looking like those SKII ambassador skin or Korean artist skin soon.

Here is thelist of some of my favourite products for the year 2012.



1. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser-it is my everyday cleanser.


2. La Roche PosayAntheliox 60 -I use it only when I go out cause I am lazy.


3. Sunplay 120 - I need this when I go to the beach or i will look like a lobster.


4. Bioderma Sensibio H20- This is really a miracle water to clean all the makeup. Just one  swipe and everything is removed. Perfect for lazy people like me. Another equally good product would be the Avene makeup remover.


5. T3 Mycin-I will run to this when I have pimples >_<


6. Lipice Sheer Color


7. Soda Bicarbonate -the cheapest scrub, mask, blackhead and whiteheads remover ever.

As for moisturizer, I tried a few and I need time to finish them before moving to a new one.  I think it would be Kose emulsion as it doesn’t break me out and gives brightening effect with long use.  Sampar Ultra Hydrating Fluid got lots of rave on it too.

The truth is I don’t use toner.  I find my skin the same whether I use it or not.  Even if I have that Japanese toner, I will treat it as mask to pamper myself.  Some said that pro long use of toner will results in bigger pores and dermatologist will tell you that it is useless to use toner since it doesn’t help the skin at all.

For mask, I use Borghese Fango MudPack for face and body.  I bought it from Strawberynet.  I only like mud mask as clay mask is hard to put and hydrating mask makes me feel sticky.  Sheet mask is okay.  Dermatologist will tell you that you won’t need mask but I personally feel some good mask (mud) does help the skin.

Long time ago, I would pile a lot of things on my skin hoping that it will better soon.  Now, I just reduce the regime to a simple routine that works for me.

Morning routine

Cleanser, pimples cream, sunblock, makeup (bb cream, lipbalm/lipstick)

Night

Makeup remover, cleanser, eye cream, pimples gel, moisturizer (if it is dry)

Products are not sponsored.  The opinions expressed here are my own and honest as always.

SAMPAR SPLENDID EYES ELATION

picture are from Sampar website http://sampar.my/

SAMPAR splendid Eyes Elation

SAMPAR is a brand from France and their products are made in France.  I always seems to find that products from France works on my skin. I think I got expensive skin >_<.  The texture of the gel is a little watery and smell herbal.  It really smell nice and does help with the puffy eyes I have.  However, it is quite expensive since for 10ml, it cost RM216.  I got the 2.5ml through the competition in their Facebook.  If not for the price I would have purchases it without hesitating.  >_<

Benefit b.right

Picture from Juniper journal blog

I gave it to my aunt to try as she has dry skin compare to mine.  So, here is her verdict on it.

It is Potent eye cream- It is really rich(means very creamy), it does help the fine lines but as for wrinkles I don’t know as the samples I got is only enough for few days

The emulsion- it is rich so only she only use it a little (a pea size) or else her skin will be super oily.

Night cream-It is very rich.  It does help with her dry patches.

Overall, the kit is only enough for one week so not much can be seen from it.  I guess it is good for dry skin.

REVIEW ON KOSE SEKKISEI LOTION AND KOSE SEKKISEI EMULSION

I was one of the people who got the trial Sekkisei lotion 100ml and the sekkisei emulsion 70ml during their event in November 2012.  Some of my friends got theirs too. 

Sekkisei lotion

Japanese called the toner as lotion.  So lotion= toner.  They use the lotion as mask too.

To use it as toner: Pour about 2diameter on the cotton pad (minimum RM 0.20 cent) and sweep upward from your chin to your cheek.  Then, sweep across your forehead and down your nose.  Don’t sweep harsh.  Then use the other side of the cotton pad that you had wet just now to dab on your skin.

To use it as mask :  Pour and wet the cotton mask you have and put on your face.  If you don’t have cotton mask, you can use cotton pad as alternative. 

Wet one piece of cotton pad.  Then, from the side of the cotton pad, remove one piece by one pieces.  Look at it like removing pages from book(look at the picture below).  Depends on the cotton pad-minimum you can have 3pieces from one cotton pad. 

: I like the herbal smell.  I am not sure about the whitening effect but my skin got abit lighter as it was darker before using it.  It doesn’t trigger my sensitive skin considering that it is a whitening product.  However, it is not for those looking for anti-aging to combat wrinkles.

Sekkisei emulsion

This is their light moisturizer for oily or combination skin.

How to use it: For oily skin/combination skin, one pump on the cotton pad, the sweep it over the face in the morning and evening after the lotion.  It is quite moisturizing.  Use the emulsion after the Sekkisei lotion.  Dry skin can use two pumps.  If you are using serum, then use emulsion after the serum.  Lotion- serum-emulsion.

Review: If you use the products in a correct way (with cotton pad), you would be able to see that your skin is more moisturize after 2 weeks.  Some see it after 3days.  I personally do not like to pile so many things on my face for the fear that interaction between different brands products will cause me allergy.

**Medicated products and Non-Medicated products are the same for those in the United States.  Kose are not allowed to use the word "Medicated" because of the regulation.

Here are the difference between the Kose products.

【Sekkisei Emulsion】

・Skin goals : Clarify and moisturize

→This is absorbed to skin quickly and keep your skin very clear.

【Sekkisei Emulsion enriched】

・Skin goals : Clarify and deep moisturize

< span style='color:black'>→This has higher moisture than normal one.

【Sekkisei Emulsion excellent】

・Skin goals : Clarify and Anti-aging

→This contains the double herbal extracts of the normal one. So you can expect an effect of anti-aging.

*updated on the Kose products details 2/2/2017 provided by a reader. I am not famous and Kose in Malaysia did not reply to me.


Here is a Japanese website that you can buy from which offers very reasonable pricing and shipping.  https://kokorojapanstore.com

Products are from a sampling events. The opinions expressed here are my own and honest as always. No affliates link