The Face Shop: Post-Acne Brightening Serum

I share a love/hate relationship with this product. In fact, till date I really don't know what went wrong in the early days of our relationship.

I bought this product with the main aim of reducing my post acne scars - I have itchy fingers that seems to pluck pimples subconsciously, even when I'm asleep :( Initially this product didn't really do much. So I chucked it aside. But when the pimples subsided, and I tried to apply this over the dead scars, I realised that it does lighten scars! A little by little of course. But the amazing thing is that... 

IT ACTUALLY HELPS TO PREVENT MORE PIMPLES FROM FORMING!

I apply this after toning my face. And after it has been absorbed, I then apply my moisturiser and sunblock. I used this everyday and night and yes, it works :) It's a lightweight translucent pinkish liquid serum that has a pleasant smell to it.

I guess this is going to be my back-up for my post acne times. It's about to finish and I'm gonna try other products first, and might eventually head back to this. Good stuff.

FPOTM: June 2011

Hi everybody!

Because I have simply too much stuff (I find, that is), I have decided to come up with this Finished-Products-In-A-Month Challenge. Which is simply to post up pictures and reviews of the items that I have completed in that particular month. The objective is pretty simple, that is to use items on a regular basis (read: religiously) to complete them. And also to generate some posts for this blog. Oh, of course, to curb my boredom before school starts!

To start of the end of a mid year: Finished Products for June 2011!

I knowww, only 4 products. But I only thought of this challenge thingy around midweek. So I hope I have more stuff in July !

1. Mandom Cleansing Express - Brighten & Moist.
This is somewhat like a toner that claims to brighten(blue)/moist(white) your skin as you apply them throughout the days. I got them in sample size and I practically took forever to use them up. I brought them to Taiwan last year, but the moisturising properties weren't enough for the sudden change in climate I believe. My face still flaked and I came back to Singapore with a very crispy nose. Hahahah. I think they're pretty alright. Nothing fanciful or outta the world but does it job's just good. Oh, it's really great for lazy people (ie: Me), especially when you're all dead tired from a long hectic day. Just slather the white bottle (moist) product on your face and you're good to concuss. And when you're awake, after your cleansing, just slather on the blue bottle (brighten). I usually do that ;)


2. The Face Shop - Quick & Clean Sebum Control Toner.
I like this alot! But it's pretty expensive at a price of $24.90 - especially so when I used this up within 2 & half months or so? I use this twice a day and I really like how well it picks up dirt and all that excess dead skin on the surface of my face. It's lemongrass scented (naturally) and I really like how refreshing it feels on my skin. I initially thought that it's probably just another Toner, but it has proved otherwise with my skin reacting positively towards it. My mini pimples have definitely gotten smaller and less inflamed - thus healing faster. I guess that's where the sebum control part work! :)

3. Beauty Formulas - Cucumber & Avocado Facial Scrub (Refreshing)
I got this because the local watson's ran out of my other staple facial scrub. It wasn't a bad substitute. It's mild cleansing properties allowed me to use it daily without scrubbing my entire face off. I love the whipped cream texture of this scrub & it's my daily exfoliator. As compared to certain brands, the microbeads aren't too many - I prefer more of those microbeads because they're like equivalent to how much scrubbing your face is gonna get. It's like a psychological thing I believe. Hahhaa. This entire tube costs less than $8 and it lasted me for a good year.

That's all for June! Busy month, and I think July is gonna be worst - I foresee some shopping for school (excuses)

PS: Cynthia you should do this too! You have too many!

DIY: nails cuticle treatment

It took me forever to try to get these photos organised! :( (I am really bad with computers etc)

Anyways, like the tittle, yes! This is about the ugly nail cuticles. When we go for a classic manicure the manicurist will remove it for us. But! imagine the amount of money and time we will save by doing it ourselves!

Many might not notice their nail cuticles, but it is really important to get rid of them so that we can have beautiful nails. Some might have painstakingly painted their nails to perfection, however, should they leave their cuticles unattended, the colour will not have a nice 'U' shape. Ok I might have lost you here, so here's some photos!

(I trim my cuticles often, hence the U shape is quite alright. Are yours ok too?)

To remove our nails cuticles, we need several things. I bought all my stuff from faceshop.

1. Nail balm: to soften our cuticles. So that when we remove them later, we will not tear out extra skin or bleed. Apply a little amount on our cuticles.

2. Cuticle remover: to remove our cuticles, DUH! hahaha! how to? after the application of nail balm to all 10 fingers, start removing the cuticles in the same order. Because by the time we got around to the 10th finger, the 1st finger's cuticle would have soften already! One by one, by the time we remove the cuticles one by one, the 10th finger's cuticle would have been soften.

we hold the cuticle remover in our hands, and rest the V on the cuticle. apply a little pressure and push it downwards. like the second finger, we start from the middle of the nail. to the left and downwards, to the right and downwards. We MUST NEVER push it upwards as it might tear our skin and result in BLEEDING or SEVER PAIN!

TA-DA! It's real easy! I circled the cuticles as I find it hard to spot them on the tissue! OMG! that's really alot right!

WHEEE! my cuticle free fingers! hahaha! for people who hasn't done this before, look at the U. the little white stuff has vanished and the U is smoother (less jagged).

Is this it???? NOOOOOOO! we still have to take care of our nails, by applying these~

Apple this on the nails to keep them healthy and smooth!

Cuticle Care: apply this on the cuticles so as to keep them moisturized.

Guess what? all of the stuff that I've used here is around 20-30? SO CHEAP AND I CAN USE IT FOR SOOOOO LONG!!!!!

are your fingers cuticle free too?

The Body Shop Moisture White Eye serum

Review:The Body Shop Moisture White Eye serum

PROS: There is almost no scent at all, no oily feel after applying it

CONS: It's not helping in reducing my dark eye circles/eye bags... have been using it RELIGIOUSLY for quite a few months... like twice a day, morning and night...

PRICE: $22 (bought it during bodyshop sale)

OVERALL: disappointed... it's like you brought this bag thinking it's genuine leather but in the end it's made of man-made leather! you know that kinda feeling??!?!?! It did not help in my eye condition (dark eye rings and eye bags- big enough to fit the universe! ) After using it for so long, my eye conditions are still the same.. :( but it didn't get any worse... Due to the small sized bottle, it's great for carrying around but the cap cannot be secured tightly so it drops out or 'MIA' often...

RATE: 2/5

PICTURES:

brighten-up Junsui

Review: kawaii TOKYO: brighten-up Junsui

PROS: This product is cool man! hahahaha...

1. everytime I spray this on my face my face felt damn good (the kinda feeling u get after applying toner and

moisturiser)

2. Although you may find it pricy but you can use this for DAMN LONG!

3. it treats sunburn too! my dad got sunburn from w

ork and I spray this on his back. the next day he came and ask for the spray hahahahah! he said that he the pain lessen almost immediately :)

4. i use this before i apply makeup and my daily skincare routine... I used to have outbreaks after applying makeup but after i start to use

this, my face didnt have ANY pimple at all after makeup...

CONS: the bottle is too big for you to carry around (i solved this by buying a small spray bottle so i can carry it around)

PRICE: $41

OVERALL: I had my doubts when i bought this as this is a new brand that just got launched in Singapore. but after trying this product I dont mind buying others to try as well :)

beauty comes with a price... (hahahaha) but a damn good price to pay for such effects

RATE: 4.5/5

PICTURES:

Camomile Gentle Eye makeup Remover

Review:

Camomile Gentle Eye makeup Remover

PROS: It's cleansing power is REALLY good... My eye didn't feel stingy sharp pain...

CONS: It's a bit oily or rather soapy (tolerable)... But compared to the ZA one i used, this is nothing...

PRICE: I forgot... hehehe

OVERALL: I think that this

goes into one of my top 5 eye removers list...

RATE: 4/5

PICTURES:

(1 wipe only!!!)

Pure Spa Water Cleansing Foam

Review: The Face Shop- Pure Spa Water Cleansing Foam

PROS: Skin feels light after washing... Also, it feels really clean and fresh after washing... hehehe... Furthermore, it's oil free, so it will not cause oil pores on my

face. Plus, it's a really big bottle and you can use it for monthsssss... real value for money!!! (have been using it for 8 months and it's STILL not finishing)

CONS: It does not help with blackhead problems.

OVERALL: It's a must try!

RATE: 4.5/5

PICTURES:

Tea Tree Oil Facial Wash

Review: The Body Shop- Tea Tree Oil Facial Wash

PROS:Skin feels tight after washing...

CONS: The smell of tea tree oil is quite strong and the smell lingers after washing your face... Plus, it doesn't really

help prevent blemishes or treat your pimple. I used the whole tea tree oil set for a few months and didn't see much improvement as pimples still appear from time to time. Furthermore, it caused the oil pores on my face!

OVERALL: It's not recommended

RATE: 1/5

PICTURES:

Wild Cherry Body Butter

Review: The Body Shop- Wild Cherry Body Butter

PROS: Smells damn nice! It gives off a hint of cherry smell which smell NICE! it's moisturising level will be 4 STARS! AND AND AND AND it's not oily!!!!!!!!!

CONS: the case is too big, not portable. Feels like it can break easily.

OVERALL: Its a must-have!!! say bb to dry skin

RATE: 4/5

PICTURES:

Right hand: before

Left hand: After

Left Leg: before

Right leg: After