Bio Essence BIO Spring Water

Annyeong! If you've read A's post on Laneige then you will know that she swears by that brand. What about LT? ;) I am a supporter of Bio Essence!

Today I will do my first review on Bio Essence products. I do not have all their products but I can say I have quite a few especially those under the moisturising, whitening and anti-aging lines.

Here goes!

BIO Spring Water

You probably would have seen this on television, in shopping malls and in Watsons or Guardian. You must have wondered, 'is it really that good?' And there is a high chance that you would be persuaded to buy by the 1-for-1 offer at $29.90 (the big bottle version).

Aha! If you did not experience all these, it's ok. Because that's me!

The ways you can use it seem amazing right? Sadly, it's not possible to get access to natural spring water in Singapore easily and I have to buy it in overpriced bottles

First, I would like to say this is not a miracle water. Do not believe that every promise will be delivered. There is no such thing as miracle water. But on the same note, I am not saying that this product is a hoax because I believe in the usefulness of natural spring water too. Just that, you need to use it for a long time for its effect to be seen.

I tried using this in different situations and see when it works best.

In the morning right after you wash up (because I thought using it before I wash up would be wasting it) - X

Why? It feels and acts like ordinary tap water. Probably because I've already cleansed your face.

*UPDATE* After saying that I don't use this spray before I wash up, I decided to try using it immediately after I wake up, even before I brush my teeth. And viola! It works!! Usually when I wake up, my face feels a bit greasy (no idea what my face does at night -.-) and after spraying it, the water is being absorbed really fast, and my face feels less greasy!

Morale of story: Never trust fully what I say. Experiment yourself!
Morale of story 2: Never judge too quickly man..

Right after I came back from my run - O/X

 I'm  not sure if its placebo effect, meaning I think it has cooling effects and hence I feel cooled. Besides when you are hot or warm, any water feels good.

When I accidentally scratched myself and the skin around that area feels itchy - OOO!!

Ding Ding Ding!!! We have a winner! It is suppose to be able to soothe irritation and it works! My skin feels less irritated and itchy. And I can feel that it's the impact of the spring water because I tried using normal tap water which didn't do as well to soothe the irritation.

When my hair feels dry and I need to leave house soon - O

Although I can't be too sure that it was the effect of the spring water and not just water on my hair, but the hair ends were indeed less dry and frizzy after a few targeted sprays. Sadly my hair quality being horribly bad at times, couldn't sustain the tamed effects and sprang into wilderness even before I reached the venue -.- Well, I blame the weather and air con.

On the whole, would I recommend this?

Yes, if ..

• You are a lazy person and would prefer to spray on your moisturiser
• Is always late for meetings or to school/work because this is suitable for hair, face and body!
• You are a sporty person and like refresh yourself during or after sports

No, if ..

• You are looking for a product with strong, relatively fast and visible effects
• You are not rich (spend your money on something more useful!)

Tada! Hope this post helped you understand this mysterious product (at least to me) more and help you decide if you want it. Oh I think it comes in 3 sizes, buy the small one to try if you are still unsure :)

Bye Bye!!

Laneige ♥

hello everyone!
this post is a little different, it will not be a usual review, but instead, i will be telling you a story about a girl named Olgul.

Olgul was an ordinary girl, she had a friendly and welcoming personality, and did not get angry or sensitive often.

however, Olgul was abandoned by her real parents ever since she was a baby, and has had different foster parents take care of her from time to time.
nonetheless, not all of these foster parents proved to be a perfect match for Olgul.
despite Olgul's spontaneous personality, she was often ignored/neglected, misunderstood, and sometimes even abused. :(
this was why Olgul had to change foster parents many times when they disappoint her.
Albeit meeting with such fate, Olgul remained positive and believed that she will one day be able to meet a perfect pair of foster parents who would take her in like their own, give her the best, and bring out her fullest potential.

Alas! Olgul did!
after being abused by her previous foster parents, Olgul left towards the direction of Laneigetown in search of a new family.
As luck would have it, she was taken in by a pair of promising parents in that town!

Olgul was showered with much love and care ever since then from her foster parents and sibling, and even made a best friend in the town!
she has since lived with them for about a year and is very happy, settled and satisfied.

without further ado, let me introduce her family members


FATHER

father was a hardworking man who was the foundation of the family, on whom everyone relied upon.
he was the decision maker, and the leader who was always the first to quell any signs of trouble.
father is a home-maker.
he makes sure that the house remained clean and free from germs and dirt, and made sure that his children, including Olgul, were well-groomed and dirt-free too.
in addition, he monitors the progress of his children and ensures that they give their best in whatever they do.
all in all, father is the pillar of the family, and an essential asset to the household, as well as Olgul's life.


MOTHER

 
mother is the breadwinner of the family, she is a great complement to father and they often work hand in hand in all circumstances.
although she is not always at home, mother supports the family financially by feeding and dressing everyone including Olgul.


SISTER

 
sister acts like Olgul's bodyguard, and is extremely protective over her!
wherever Olgul is, sister is always there with her 24hours a day, never leaving her side.
she also pampers Olgul by feeding her great food and dressing her in pretty clothes!


Olgul's permanent (and final) family! yay!

 
BEST FRIEND

 

furthermore, besides being blessed with an awesome family, Olgul even made a new best friend in Laneigetown!

 

albeit being slightly older than her, Olgul always felt completely comfortable with her best friend, as she was easy to approach and talk to whenever, wherever.

best friend was also fun to hang out with, as she accepted all of Olgul's flaws and even tries her best to complement them!

but just like sister, she was also protective over Olgul and treats her like a baby, pampering her and ensuring that she receives only the best!

 

so you see, Olgul had a happy-ever-after ending!

something she has always dreamt of, something she found only in Laneigetown (:

 

THEEEE ENDDDD

 

or not?

 

you could have a happy-ever-after ending if you want too!

all you have to do is find your way to Laneigetown (not difficult to find!) and get your Olguls some new family members/best friends!!

 

Olgul = face (in korean)

and this is actually a story based on my olgul!

 

i have been through so many products (foster parents) previously which did not show results as brilliant as Laneige products.

the key flaw of my face is that is tends to dehydrate very easily because i am a person who CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT AIRCON so my skin is constantly exposed to conditions which robs moisture away from my skin and leave my olgul flaky ):

 

hence, whenever i apply toner, my face would sting badly

 

BUT!

Laneige's skin refiner (father) did not!

in fact, it goes on very smoothly on my Olgul since day 1 and successfully removes any traces of dirt left, leaving my face supple and ready for subsequent Laneige products (mother and sister)

 

hence, Olgul declares father as her favourite parent! *bias ㅋㅋ

 

also, Olgul strongly believes in the saying that having 1 best friend is better than having many friends!

and let me tell you this, if you have dry skin like me and need a moisturising foundation, GET THE WATER SUPREME FOUNDATION!

it is so rich in moisture that even the consistency of this product is very much like water!

this means that it is SUPER EASY to spread and blend but yet it doesnt just fade out like other watery foundations

in fact, the coverage is quite impressive too, and no matter how many layers you apply, it still looks acceptably natural

also, the smell is soooooo fresh and long-lasting, its like applying fresh face fragrance which you can smell throughout the day

i love love love this product so so much and is always my turn-to product whenever i need a moisturising foundation!

 

my Olgul now swears by Laneige (for about a year now) because it has proven trust-worthy and compatiable through its 'hydrating-science' which is perfect for my de-hydrated condition ^^Y

 

 

ps. im currently watching 그겨울 바람이 분다  (that winter, the wind blows)

and this drama is seriously  왕킹 대박!!

coincidentally song hye-kyo is the spokesperson for Laneige and her blind acting is freaking convincing!

hate her hot-cold personality in the drama but i love how Oh Soo is falling for her!! 갸!

currently im only at episode 11, but its already so exciting how Youngie's life is hanging by a thread!

오빠-동생 사이는 좋지만 두 사람이 애인들 되면 좋겠다!

 

HADA LABO

Hello~ LT is here to honestly speak about skin care products ;) keke

As the title states, I will be reviewing hada labo products today! I know they have a wide range of products but because I don't do make up reviews, bear with my limited review. Maybe A will have more to say about this brand. :)

Before I start, I would like to invite you to go to the hada labo singapore website! Here you go : http://www.hadalabo.com.sg/index_EN.htm Why? Because the website is awesome! It has this beautiful background music that just lifts your mood naturally and its animated interaction is pleasantly good.

I went to the website to do some research and lo and behold, they have reviews too! But there's just one thing that is not pleasant to me..It's that all the reviewers are so flawlessly pretty. It's obvious at least to me how hada labo is trying to associate using their products and pretty people. Average looking people would probably strive to be pretty, feeding their fantasies and dreams..

Ok that was a sidetrack. Sorry!


Left: SHA Hydrating Lotion Right: Arbutin Whitening Lotion

Now let me introduce you to hada labo's "SHA hydrating lotion" and its mini friend "Arbutin Whitening Lotion" Why do I call it the mini friend because it's a sample version of the whitening lotion. If you've have not tried hada labo products before, I recommend that you register for their sample first. Even if you are already a user, no harm getting free stuff :)

1) SHA Hydrating Lotion

SHA stands for Super Hyaluronic Acid which I think is one of the ingredients in the $200 moisturiser that I mentioned in the previous post. The link is here http://honestlyspeakingg.blogspot.sg/2013/05/updates.html  So yeah! Apparently all the hada labo hydrating care products has SHA. Double yeah!!

This is my third bottle which means that I actually liked it. There's a refill packet for this and it's cheaper so you don't have to keep buying the bottled one. It is fragrance free and easy to apply onto the face or other dry areas of the body. Absorbs fast and creates a refreshed feeling on the face. What I usually do is for I come out from the bathroom, I blow my hair while waiting for any remaining water on the face to dry and then I pat on about a 20 cent sized amount of lotion on the face. Unless my face is super dry, after the first round there usually is some lotion left on the face, I would pat them on my elbows and/or knee caps because these are areas that get dry and cracked easily. And these areas do affect you appearance too. I do this everyday. Depending on the weather and your own assessment of how much your skin needs to be moisturise and tailor a skin care routine that belongs to you :)

2) Arbutin Whitening Lotion

I am still trying this sample version but since it has SHA too, I might just switch to this solely since it has both whitening and moisturising effects. It cuts down on skin care time which is good for a lazy person like me. Same goes for this lotion, it is fragrance free and applies easily onto the face. Surprisingly, the whitening effect can be quite instant. I can see that my skin is whiter but I think it's because of the milky lotion, after it has been absorb, the original skin tone returns. I've not tried this long enough to determine if my face has gotten fairer but in general my facial tone has been quite ok, close to the fair continuum and I use other products that has whitening effects too so I can't say for sure. The most important thing is I avoid sun-tanning and protects my face with sunblock. That is the key to a fair skin tone!

Hada Labo has Lifting + Firming care and Exfoliating care products too! I am excited to try all the other products and I believe you are too. But be careful not to fall into a frenzy where you buy everything without consideration for the need of it (i.e you already have similar products at home).

Try them one at a time (if can use their samples) and be so sure that it will benefit you before you buy them.

Have fun seeing a prettier you and be a smart shopper! Bye!

UPDATES

Ayo people! LT is back! I forgot when my last post was and yeah..I got lazy >< Nonetheless I'm back with some useful updates :)

1. Moisturising skin daily may harm your skin. I took a few excerpts from the article and would like to talk about them

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/the-big-story/case-you-missed-it/story/beauty-myth-buster-moisturising-skin-daily-may-harm-your-skin
"Most moisturisers are bad for your skin, he says.
And conventional sunscreen lotion is not good enough to protect it."

Oh no...whatever I had reviewed on...

"Dr Obagi also notes that many women start using moisturiser from a young age, which leads to more complaints of problematic and dry skin. In contrast, fewer men report such problems."

This is a general statement and puts moisturisers in negative light! It could be that the women he sampled are not using suitable moisturisers or other factors that could have contributed to the skin problems such as the climate or lifestyles. And also, men generally put on less make up than women, so its no surprise that their skin has less problems.

Women put on moisturisers to compensate for the damage they have done to the skin and to prevent signs of aging. Right? So if the moisturisers didn't work, is it the moisturisers fault or womens fault? Probably both.


"The formula contains hyaluronic acid, which is naturally present in the body and helps to keep skin hydrated, and anti-inflammatory ingredients such as vitamin E and orange peel oil."

Ok, note these ingredients now girls, ladies, aunties or grannies! His product costs a whooping $200. It might be a better alternative to look for these ingredients in more affordable moisturiers.

"Wash your face twice a day no matter what; never sleep with your make-up on. Do not let the extra oil and impurities sit on the skin because it has to breathe and renew itself."

Last advice from the doctor and I can't agree more!

Please note that whatever I've said are my personal opinions and I have no intention to promote or put down any products.

P.S. if you did click the link and read the whole article, you can see the 70 years old doctor who has a youthful look. What can I say, you gotta be a good model yourself.  ;) I am probably gonna cut down on my moisturing efforts, because I agree with doing it the natural way too.

2) Brushes!

I saw this on FB and although I don't put on makeup, just thought it would be useful for people who do especially beginners :) I don't know why it always appear so small but you can right click to save and see.

That's all from me! I will be back with more reviews :D

URIAGE Aqua Precis Moisturising Refreshing Cream Gel (Sample)

i have soooooo many sample products from EVERYWHERE and this shall be my first sample review

really love this product!
its consistency is not as heavy as regular cream, but rather light and slightly watery (thermal water)
so hence the name CREAM GEL

it is said to rely on 'osmolytes' to perfectly hydrate the skin, and yes it does prove this right because my skin absorbed this cream gel very quickly indeed!
during application, it initially felt a little sticky upon first contact between skin and product, but under less than a minute, all stickiness vanished and my skin felt silkyyy

also, it is oil free, paraben-free and proclaims to reduce the shine of your skin by 72% (seriously accurate how do we even measure this?!)
so this is probably ideal under your makeup as the last stage of skincare substituting cream

it does however, have a fragrance that i cant put my finger on as to what the exact smell reminds me of
its not exactly repelling, but smelling too much of  it doesnt seem to be good either
you understand that feeling?
i smelled it for a good few minutes, trying to figure out what exactly it was, but my nose ended up hurting from smelling it too much instead haha

overall, this is a good product that is worth recommending if you need something moisturising as the last step of your skincare routine to finalise everything
but personally i hate all this overuse of 'techy stuff' manipulated to derive such final products because it sounds too complicated and expensive for my taste

and yes, this product is expensive too

LIPSTICKS

 

i am very much a lipstick person

love the lasting effect, and the fact that lipsticks often give better coverage and are fuss-free

 

i hate too much shine and glitter so lipglosses are a big no-no
im no longer 15 yknow, i need grown up stuff now

worst still, they are sticky and it really annoys me if i am constantly reminded that my lips are smeared with stuff

furthermore, glitters are an absolute nightmare to remove, so one wrong swipe and you're gonna sparkle the wrong way!
 

without further ado, i present my current lipstick collection :*
 

L to R: MAC Viva Glam 1; Too Cool For School Hot Girl Lip Sticker in Tangerine, Real Red, Lady Salmon; Banila Co. De La Rouge RG05; Holika Holika Face 2 Change Red Queen 

here's the swatches

ok i know..
i am very obviously a fan of red lipsticks
heck, its even my favourite colour!
but i like my final lip colour to be somewhat an orangey sort of brighter red, not a dullish red bcos that would make me look older

since my work requires me to don full lasting makeup, i decided to throw all focus to my red lips bcos its obvious and bright, and i will stop receiving 'reminders' about how plain my face is etc
this method is actually quite effective!
bcos the rest of my face is super plain, with just eyeliner, a little mascara, usually no blush

i know many people fear wearing too much of red on the lips bcos it might come off as tacky
but red lips are actually a classic! its a fad that will never die (at least by my rules!)
since red lipsticks are pretty strong in terms of colour, i usually just dab a little on if i dont want to carry such an obvious look-at-my-lips look

the trick to choosing the right red is to look at your skin tone first
since i am of a warm tone, i tend to pick reds which are more suited for warmer tones, which means no blueish undertone
the good thing about being of a warm skin tone is that i can pull off brighter reds!
bcos the contrast isnt that big and my lips wont look as overwhelming than if cool-toned people attempt the same look
but its okay to pick a cool colour too, bcos you can always blend it in with a warm colour and achieve a new exquisite shade of red!

also, i (repeatedly) said i hate glitter/shiny lipsticks
so most of my sticks are matte
if i feel a need to add some shine to my lips, i do so by dabbing lipbalm/lipcare over so that i can benefit from its moisturing effects too!
yes, the thing about lipsticks though, is that it can get pretty drying for your lips, so always remember to moisturise your lips before application!



Mac Viva Glam 1

got this stick about 2 years ago?
IT SERIOUSLY LASTED ME A LONG TIME
til now im still not done with it!
if im not wrong, this cost me SGD$28, as with all other MAC lipsticks
i bought this on impulse after getting chided at work for 'not wearing any makeup' just bcos my face wasnt popping (with colours) enough
so i was all like 'enough is enough. you want popping? i'll give you popping!' and marched to a MAC store, asked for the reddest matte lipstick and paid up

BUT! this is now my holy grail lipstick and i cannot. live. without. it.
its provides me with such a long lasting effect, even when i eat whole meals/drink multiple times it just wont budge! <3
seriously $28 is super worth it considering how well it has worked for me

this red is a little too dark for my liking though, more maroonish than red
so i always blend with my orange lipstick, or dab it lightly whenever i need some colour on my lips
blended or dabbed, it comes out beautifully, i promise



Too Cool For School Hot Girl Lip Stickers

i bought these babies in korea last year at 7,000원 per pop
THEY ARE REALLY WORTH YOUR 7,000원

i love all 3 colours almost equally
the colours produced are all vivid and vibrant and makes my lips looks so good i wanna smooch myself heh
however, the lasting effect isnt as good as my MAC one
they can withstand at most 5hrs tops?
definitely reapplication is needed after meals or drinks
and coverage is just average, not as thick as you would expect
but then again at 7bucks, what more can you ask for really
im just really thankful and embracing such lovely colours

i use the tangerine one the most under my MAC for work to create a orangey-red finish
i usually do this by applying lipcare, then smother on my tcfs tangerine all over til my lips are entirely orange, then dab my MAC over it
and walah! perfect orangey-red colour!
currently im on my 2nd stick bcos i finished my first one and got a friend (who happened to be going to korea!) to get one more for me

my red one i use as a substitute for my MAC on days where i dont need my lipstick to last that long
this is also my 2nd one but only bcos i lost my first stick );
it still looks brand new bcos recently i've been trying to finish up my MAC one so that i can get a new holy grail
2 years is a long time to be using the same lipstick :O

and my salmon one i use on days where i dont feel like having red lips, but still need some natural looking lip colour because i have naturally dark lips so i need to brighten them up to a more normal shade



Banila Co. De La Rouge

honestly i havent not started on this product so i cant say anything for now
but the sales assistant in banila co seoul was raving about how good this product works (they all do anw)
so lets see how true this is when i start on it SOON (:
im thinking that this would make an awesome substitute for my MAC too bcos it is brighter than my MAC



Holika Holika Face 2 Change Red Queen

omg this product was such a letdown
it isnt even true to its colour
while it looks like an orangey-red in product, it actually turned out very pinkish,  sort of like fuschia, in real life upon application
its the exact colour i hate

furthermore, this product is FAR from a lipstick
it actually does more as a gloss bcos of the high water content and texture
its a product i have been trying to use under my other sticks just so that i can actually finish it (seems impossibly seriously)
but if one day i should ever get irritated with it, im all ready to chuck it

this was actually the first lipstick i bought during my major trip to korea last year
but turned out to be the worst ):


so that was all for my lipstick collection at the moment
im heading to korea again in a few weeks time and can already foresee myself getting more sticks (right ones this time i hope) to try out in the name of beauty

when it comes to lipsticks, so far my experience is that, what you pay for is really worth what you get
my most expensive stick, the MAC one, is seriously awesome
i really cant live without it and will recommend it to everyone out there looking for lipsticks to try
it is good to invest in a solid lipstick which will bring you through tough and smooth times
getting cheaper alternatives to play up different looks and shades is fun too, but nothing beats the consistency that you can trust a solid lipstick to deliver

and one trick about making your lip colour last is definitely BLOTTING
always blot your lips after each application so that the colour can be absorbed and stays longer

however, i heard that applying too much colours to your lips can cause them to turn purple?
IS THIS TRUE?!

PORE STRIPS

Hey all! This is Admin LT :)

Today I will be reviewing 2 nose pore strips products that I've tried before.

First of all, you might wonder what's that? Basically, it gets rid of blackheads on your nose or other areas on the face where you have problems with blackheads.

Second of all, you might say I don't need that, it's not important. No! It's very important, just that you don't realise it! I used to think that buying pore strips are a waste of money, worst come to worst I'd just squeeze them out. But it was painful so eventually I gave up and let them be.

In fact, blackheads are caused by dirt blocking the pores which could lead to the formation of ugly protrusion making your nose look like strawberry (no its not cute trust me) or worst gives you acnes!

So one day, my sister recommended me the Biore pore pack and I thought why not? So I went to Watson to get one. (I recommend that you buy it from those supermarkets or hypermarkets, they sell them cheaper)

The Mentholatum pore pack was a gift from my mom's friend and I gave it a try and compared the two different brands.



Left: Biore Pore Pack Right: Mentholatum Acnes Medicated Nose Pore Strips

Biore Pore Pack

I've included the instructions and functions.

Because my nose shape is far from the ideal type, it's flat and fat around the tip part. So it is very hard to find a good pore strip that fits nicely for me since my nose is not the average kind.

The Biore pore strip comes in two colours, black and white. They have the same functions just that the black one allows one to see more clearly the blackheads that comes out and have a greater sense of satisfaction? Whatever it is, I find see no point in getting a more expensive one with the same functions. The pore strip works fine for me, it delivers what it promises, getting rid of most of my blackheads except a few adament ones at the side.

However, it doesn't seem to tighten my pores because I can still see my big pores -.- and because I don't have long nails that help to peel the plastic film off, I always end up with a ruined corner where the strip just rolled in a bit and doesnt stick anymore. Argh. It's my fault though.
After around 10-15 mins (depending on how frequent you do it, you might need longer time for stubborn blackheads), you are supposed to pull the strip out from both sides. It doesn't hurt much but it does leave a sticky residue that you can wash away.

After cleaning, you can really see that your nose is smoother and kinda shining. It makes me happy to see a clean nose!

Mentholatum Acnes Medicated Pore Pack

First of all, I must confess that I love this brand! But for its other products which deserve a full post dedicated to it! Wait for it~

This pore strip has a different shape as compared to the Biore one, which you can see from the package front cover. Still, it doesn't fit my nose well T.T

It does an equally good job as the Biore one at removing blackheads but I recommend that you use this if your nose is prone to acnes because this brand is a VERY good brand for acnes prevention and maintenance.

It is slightly more painful than the Biore strip when you remove it but nothing intolerable. On the contrary, it doesn't leave as much sticky residue.




On the whole, I would recommend both. Try both and see which one fits your nose better or if you are like me, buy the cheaper one! :p You don't have to just use it for your nose, recently I realised that I have blackheads on my chin too -.-. I would cut the pore strip into half for better fitting and it works too!

That's all from me! Have a nice day and a pretty smooth glowing face!

SUNBLOCK

Hello! Admin LT here :) As you can see from my self-description, I am someone who cannot overemphasize the importance of sunblock! So, I'm going to start my first post with reviews of the 4 sunblocks that I currently own. First 3 is for the face and the last for body.

I use them interchangeably depending on where I'm going. Alright, let's start!


Left: Simple Face Protector Lotion Right: Garnier Light BB Moisturiser
Bottom: Clinique Super City Block

Simple Face Protector Lotion

Information - It is formulated with oat-beta-glucan (which gives the lotions its anti-irritant properties) and green tea. 100% perfume and colour free. It is also non-pore blocking and has anti-oxidant properties. SPF 35.

I use this when I go swimming because it is supposed to prevent skin allergies and we all know how dirty swimming pool water can get. It doesn't leave a oily finish to the face, maybe just a slight shimmery feel. Although, it doesn't say that it is waterproof, the lotion doesn't get into my eye unless I accidentally rubbed it in. So, I would recommend this to people with sensitive skin, prone to allergies and loves swimming like me! :D

Garnier Light BB Moisturiser

Information - A 10-in-1 BB cream and sunblock that gives an instant fairness and moisturises at the same time. Oil free and won't clog pores, suitable for all skin types and tones. It also has pure lemon essence and mineral pigments. SPF 26 (anti UVB) and PA+++ (anti UVA)

I use this when I am going out to shop or for gathering with friends. It spreads on easily and do makes my skin look fairer and porcelain-like BUT it is definitely not for all skin tones. It reveals two slightly different tones between my face and neck when I first used it. So if you are of average Singaporean or slightly darker skin tone, go easy on this BB cream and remember to apply some on the neck to lessen the tone difference. Try to spread the lotion evenly especially on areas where you have concaved pimple scars or around the nose where black heads are most obvious. If not, it will look powdery around these areas and you will look like you have a strawberry nose. This BB cream also comes off when I perspire. I recommend that you use this only if you will stay in air-conditioned places most of the day. If not, buy something else.

Clinique Super City Block

Information - Oil free and safe under eye area. Suitable as under make-up primer or as sunblock on its own. Has anti-oxidant properties and 100% fragrance free. SPF 40 protection against both UVA and UVB

I put this on daily before I leave house. It doesn't change my skin tone and adds only a slight shimmery touch. Easy to put on but is not waterproof :( I personally like the SPF 40 part since its so sunny and hot here in Singapore so I want maximum protection that I can afford. I would recommend this but it might be a little pricey looking at the brand. My sister bought it so I have no idea. Do let me know in the comments if you know how much it is!

Extra: Sunplay

I tried the sample version of its SPF 80 sunblock and it was great! I finished it during my outdoor camp and I didn't get tanned after the camp. It is non-oily and also leaves at most a slight shimmery feel after I put it on. I am waiting to finish my current NIVEA body sunblock before I change to Sunplay.



NIVEA Sun

Information - It provides immediate protection against both UVA and UVB with moisturising effects and collagen protection. This is non-sticky and water-resistance

When I say that I want to change my sunblock, it doesn't mean this current one is bad. It works fine for me too, I just like to try different stuff and find the most suitable one. :) I use this when I go for a swim in the morning because it has immediate protection (it's already hard for me to wake up in the morning, I can't wake up 20mins in advance to put on sunblock man) and water-resistance. Two things I don't like about it is that it is a little sticky and oily when its not supposed to be and has a certain smell to it. The smell is not bad but it just tells people that I put something on. I would personally prefer fragrance free products.


I know many people do know about the importance of sunblock but are not sure what SPF or PA means and what SPF/PA levels do they need. Also, what is UVA and UVB? Which one do we need to guard against?

Here goes!
*Disclaimer* I am really no expert at this but I try to search for credible information. Follow at your own risk.

"The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) represents a time factor that delays the appearance of sunburn under standardised conditions: under sun giving off UVB and UVA rays and for a quantity of 2 mg/cm² of photoprotective product applied on the skin.

If the skin becomes sunburned, without protection, after 15 minutes’ exposure, with a SPF 10 photoprotective product, this will only occur after 10 x 15 minutes, i.e. 150 minutes, under the same exposure conditions."



















Source: http://www.bioderma.com/en/dermatological-advice/sun-care/what-does-spf-mean.html

Bascially, UVA and UVB are both the sun radiations that differ in wavelength but both contributes to "premature skin aging, eye damage (including cataracts), and skin cancers. They also suppress the immune system, reducing your ability to fight off these and other maladies." If you are interested to know more, click on the link below!

Source: http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/uva-and-uvb/understanding-uva-and-uvb

The sun is like a double-edged sword. It helps the absorption of Vitamin D and calcium but too much unprotected exposure can lead to the undesirable consequences I mentioned above.

That's all I have for sunblocks! Next time before you step out of your house, remember to protect your skin first!

LOVEMORE French Provence Lavender Nighttime Whitening Mask



what a mouthful!

this is probably the only night time selection for lovemore masks, but still part of the whole country-
themed-series
i absolutely love lovemore masks, even more so than any other korean masks
in fact, it is my absolute favourite brand for masks and i can not and will not stop raving about how awesome lovemore is!

even the packaging (as you all should already know by now) is so appealing!
it resembles a traditional snail-mail letter with a stamp of the eiffel tower (since its france afterall)
such a pity to rip it open ㅠ_ㅠ

well first things first, the mask is soaked pretty well, but there was no remaining serum left in the pack surprisingly
even my 2nd mask pack only had a few drops of serum leftover in it
this either means the mask has completely soaked up everything (kudos!!!) or it just doesnt come with that much serum as the rest of lovemore's other country masks

since the instructions was to put it on for 15-20minutes, i left it on for 20minutes
leaving your masks on for too long may sometimes lead to backfiring results so always pay attention to the instructions provided!

one minus point was that this mask stung me!
pretty badly too i might add!
i had to endure the stinging pain for about 15minutes before it subsided, but i guess it was worth the pain for the results im getting after
*point to note, although this mask stung me, it may not be stinging for you depending on your skin type. i applied this mask when my face was really dried out from too much aircon, hence the sting

it promises that your skin will be fairer and free from oil the next day too, due to some sebum control effect
well, definitely my complexion looked clearer and more radiant immediately
it also felt soft and smooth after absorption
but my skin remained oil-free only up til before i wash my face in the morning
although throughout the (next) day, my face produced lesser oil (:

one thing i really love and appreciate about lovemore masks is the absorption rate
i put the mask on for 20minutes and after removing it, it absorbed SUPER DUPER quickly even though i squeezed out the extra serum from the removed mask to reapply and pile up on my face
i really hate going to bed with a sticky face full of serum that has yet to be absorbed, especially when i use other mask brands like sexylook and mybeautydiary
but lovemore is incredible!
i dont know how they do it but the absorption rate is soooooooo lightning fast!
but the thing is, even though everything is absorbed and you go to bed with a smooth silky finish; the next morning when you wash your face, you will actually notice (upon contact with water) that there is still serum on the surface of your skin
HOW AWESOME IS THAT

so to conclude, i am 101% a lovemore convert and addict
and even though this product stung me (sadlyyy), i will definitely repurchase it again!
especially since this mask is the only night option of my absolute favourite mask brand

lovemore, please come up with more night masks!!