PRODUCT REVIEW: Lush Ocean Salt Facial Scrub

Today I'm doing a product review on another Lush product, this time it's the Facial Scrub "Ocean Salt". Like all Lush products, it's made out of all natural ingredients. The main ingredient for the scrub part of the product are real chunks of sea salt. So when you open the packaging at first, it would have a citrus and tangy smell, like an ocean breeze. Since there are some real sea salt in the product, some of you would be worried about it tearing at the facial skin. It doesn't tear at it at all, with coconut and avocado (two natural moisturising ingredients) it does no harm to the skin, the salt isn't jagged with any sharp points and would fall of after a few minutes.

Ocean Salt comes in two sizes, this is the smaller version of it. It comes in a black plastic pot, but the beauty is that this pot is recyclable. The company encourages people to recycle the plastic pots with their gather 5 pots and get a Fresh Mask free idea. Honestly, I don't like the pot idea at all, its so small and messy and the product just goes everywhere, the only great thing about it is that it is easy to store. Like all Lush products, they seem to have the black and white theme going.

This is what the actual product looks like. As Lush in the kind of store that tries to be all natural, I did not expect it to be all colourful and beautiful. It has a really strong citrus smell though. since there is so much citrus extract in the product. I know that they didn't really use perfume on the product since its one of the last few ingredients in the list. It smells great and I personally really like the lime smell. It freshens me up whenever I use it.

As with most things in life, too much is not always a good thing. Scrubs does wonders for your skin but too much scrubbing isn't good at all. Your skin also needs time to regrow itself, so if you want you're baby soft skin, use it sparingly. Again, a little goes a long way with this product. There is a dosage on how often you should use the product, for dry skin once a week is enough, for oily (Depending on the severity,) it could be twice or thrice a week.

I have combination skin so I usually use this thrice a week max. I've been using this regularly and I can say that while it smells great, it has a so-so scrubbing power.Yes it did clean my skin, but it didn't really help with preventing whiteheads from popping up. I love the smell and the fact that this is a natural product, with no harsh chemicals whatsoever but it didn't really do what I expect it to do. A tip for those who buys this scrub, there's real salt so when  you rinse it off, make sure you keep you're mouth and eyes shut tight unless you want salty water to come in. (trust me, it was NOT funny)

All in all I give this product a 6/10, for the not so great packaging and the lack for scrubbing power. I would recommend it to those who are natural product junkies who are searching for a more gentle scrub, not so much for people like me who likes a slightly harsher ones.

So that's it for my view on this product, if any of you have different experiences with it comment bellow, I'd love to see what your experiences are about the product :) Have fun trying it out for those who like gentler scrubs.

-ElizabethTiffany

Asian Skin Care Routine

Being an Asian myself, I notice that there are several differences between an Asian skin care routine and a Western skin care routine. With the latest trend being the a lot of Asian branded skin care products from mainly Korea or Japan, I think that it'll be great to share with you guys on the main parts of an Asian skin care routine.

It's strange but I notice that most westerners prefer to splurge on make up (personally I love to buy these as well since they're the fun part of a girl's life) but Asians usually go nuts about skin care. Sunblock, whitening, brightening, all the things that prevent skin from tanning and helping skin grow whiter is what most of us splurge on. I myself like to splurge on sunblock and face masks, they're my two favourite things. We like to have pale and bright skin, I myself try to avoid tanning myself to much and prefer to stay in the shade because of this. Although I'm pale for an Asian, it's nothing compared to most Westerners who have very pale skin. Pretty much a clear bright skin is the aim with of most women in Asia.

A typical skin care routine for me would be:

1. Do the Double Cleanse, this is when I first use my Cleansing Cream/Lotion (in my case the Lush 9 To 5) or a Cleansing Oil to first remove my make up completely from my face, then I use a Foaming Cleanser to further ensure that no make up is still in place.
2. Next I would use a Toner, most Asian Toners not only cleanse but they also hydrate the skin, to fix the amount of fluids lost through the Double Cleanse technique. Western toners usually help to remove the particles between the skin so they are a bit more drying. Sometimes, we could use a Booster which helps the absorption of other products into the skin together with the toner. Some toners have a mix of both a toner and a booster while some brands separate them.
3. For those people who use Eye-cream, the next step would be to use the eye cream on both the upper lid and the eye bag area. As the skin around the eye is very delicate, it is best to spread the eye cream with light pressure by using the ring finger. Most people feel that using an eye-cream is only for those who are fighting anti-ageing signs but teens can use them too, as long as its only for hydration purposes. (Eyeshadow goes on better after using eye-creams)
4. For the skin care enthusiast, they would use the Sheet Masks (or Paper Masks) for night time ONLY. Paper masks are basically thin cotton sheets soaked in treatment essences that helps a particular skin problem (e.g lemon = brightening, honey = moisture & brightening, etc). You could use them daily, or twice a week (it depends on you really). Use the mask for 15-20 minutes and don't wash it off, just rub the excess residue into the skin. 
5. Next is the Essence/ Serum which are just liquid concentrated skin care actives, with a texture thats around a liquid and a gel. They are also known as ampoules.
6. After the Essence is the Emulsion. Emulsions are just lighter versions of moisturising creams but with a lesser concentration of the skin care active ingredients in an Essence. Living in a tropical country (terrible heat and humidity issues) would mean that this is the only moisturising you'll need.
7. Spot Treatment comes after, all the acne treatments, whitening serum, anti-ageing spot treatments, etc are used after
8. Then for people living in four seasoned countries, they could use Creams to further moisturise their skin.
9. Finally (again this is optional) for the night time routine, there's the Sleeping Pack my favourite being the Laneige Sleeping Pack Ex. It's basically a sleeping mask that gives intense hydration and other added benefits to the skin 
10. For day time routines, use a Sunblock at the end.

Depending on how hot and humid the day is I might use some products that merges some steps together (e.g use a toner that already has a booster) or when I'm feeling lazy, I tend to skip some steps but this is the basic Asian skin care routine, you could try and combine steps if you want to try and save on time. It has great results and hopefully, you'll get your favourite Korean celebrity's skin.

If you want to go FULL on Korean, then some brands that are legit from Korea are Innisfree, Skin food, Etude House, and Face Shop. ( I like them all really but not so much on Etude House, leaning more to Skin Food and Innisfree as a favourite Korean brand) 

Your skin care products don't have to be full on Asian, just use products you feel fit the categories listed above and substitute them in. Western products could be used too together with the routine. I like to switch up my masks between the classic clay mask and the paper masks just to get both benefits from the two masks,

Have fun getting the lovely skins you want :) good luck. No need to hide yourself too much with a ton of make up, let your natural beauty peek through. With clear skin, it's much easier to apply make up.

-Elizabeth Tiffany

PRODUCT REVIEW: Lush 9 To 5 Cleansing Lotion

Product Review: Lush Cleansing Lotion 9 To 5















Actually, I bought this when I went to summer school a few months back in Oxford, England. When I first bought the product, I didn't really know about the brand Lush, it just looked like an interesting hippie styled store that has a similar outlook as body shop. So I am pleasantly surprised on my first purchase. Lush uses all natural ingredients in their products so they are gentle to the skin. For the 9 To 5, Lush uses Dove Orchids and Ylang Ylang Oil, which follows their all natural motto. The packaging itself is very simple, black and white printed label. The neo-futuristic feel of the product gives it it's edge natural feel.

The cleansing lotion feels like a normal moisturiser, it has a pastel yellow colouring and is quite light to use. It claims to remove all types of make up be it waterproof or smudge-proof, which should be great for most eye make ups. Typically, I like to use a waterproof mascara everyday so having a make up remover that could do that is a great help. The skin around my eye area is usually very sensitive to most types of removers so the removers I use cannot be too harsh for the skin.

I usually use the cleansing lotion with a cotton pad to wipe the mascara off my eyelashes. It feels slightly cool and it doesn't irritate my skin. There's no stinging sensation when I slowly remove the mascara. Usually, one cotton pad lathered with the lotion is enough for removing two coats of mascara on each eye. The lotion is quite good in removing my daily make up, it also doesn't hurt that its gentle :)

Thanks to this cleansing lotion, I actually became quite a fan of Lush products. The natural appeal is great and the products actually does what it's supposed to do, with that I give the product again a 9/10. A nine only because I thought that they could try and be better with the packaging. I really liked the product and recommend it to anyone who likes to do the Double Cleansing method.

-ElizabethTiffany

PRODUCT REVIEW: Laniege Water Sleeping Pack EX

So today I'm going to make a review on the Laneige Water Sleeping Pack EX which is supposed to be a better and newer version of their old sleeping pack. For all of you who don't know this brand, it's actually a Korean mid level brand. As Korean skin care products are kinda popular, I wanted to see what's the big fuss about them. The sleeping pack in particular is also a very Korean product, but now some western brands also produce them.

Onto the packaging, from here you could see that it looked pretty cool and has a luxurious feel with the cooling blues and the nice thick packaging. I liked that its in a jar instead of a pump cause it's supposed to be like a mask that you wear while you sleep. It lets me get ALL of the product without any wastage. It seems unhygienic though since so much of the sleeping pack was exposed to the air, but thankfully they provided a little spatula that lets you scoop the product to your face so no bacteria transfer from your hands to the pack.

The Claim:
The product claims to have a soothing brightening effect that helps with moisturising the skin throughout the night, it also claims to let you sleep and relax better through their sleepscent technology. By using their snow water, Ceramide SLN, Hunza Apricot Extract, and Chesnut Extract, it claims to be like an antioxidant and  to help renew skin cells for a sleek skin texture.

This is what the product looks like, together with the spatula that I just mentioned. Its a light gel like texture with a faint blue colouring. When applied, there's a cool feel to my skin with each application. It really helps me relax and cool down my face whenever I use it. However, you can only use the sleeping pack twice a week maximum. This is to make sure that the skin does not get too irritated, due to the sleepscent. It has a very  nice smell which also alerts me to actually follow the dosage on the product (I usually don't do this and use products as often as I wish but not for this one) it's hard to believe that a product which you could clearly smell the perfume could be safe to use everyday. After using this product according to the instructions, it is safe to use.

This is how it looks like when its first applied to the skin, the cream is a semi-transparent and has a feels very cool and soothing to the touch. When its evenly spread out on the skin, it has a watery sheen to it. But it absorbs fast, and doesn't feel sticky when it's dry.

When the sleeping pack is already absorbed into the skin, the smell is not as strong as before and the skin looks moisturised and is soft to the touch. It only takes about 3-5 min for the pack to be absorbed into the skin.












After the full 8 hours, the pack should then be washed off, leaving clear, brightened and moisturised skin. In my case, my face felt moisturised and is not as oily any more. I have combination skin (oily on the t-zone area only) but its not acne prone, just gets a lot of white-heads (I hate them.) and the sleeping pack was great for me. The only major turn off for me would be the amount of perfume in it, so there is only a twice a week dosage. I'd rate this an 8/10 for overall use. I totally recommend this product to anyone who just needs a good moisture boost. For those living in four season countries this is great for the winter months. For people living in the tropics, its great for you guys too, the humid weather provides some moisture for your skin but under the AC its just as dry as being in a four season country.

Love the product, and remember a little goes a long way with this sleeping pack. :) Try finding them in Sephora, they are carrying the brand in my area so try them first. If not you could find them online. Have fun trying this sleeping pack :) its works like a dream.

-Elizabeth Tiffany

Product Review: Derma E Very Clear Problem Skin Moisturiser

The Derma E Very Clear Problem Skin Moisturiser is targeted towards acne prone skin of all skin types and its main purpose is to hydrate, soothe and prevent any bacterial issues or clogged pores. It is made from all natural ingredients and is a good alternative to products that are made of harmful chemicals or hash ingredients. 

PACKAGING: 

The product as you can see, comes in a medium sized jar packaging which is pretty handy to carry around however, it would be a lot more hygienic and long lasting if it were to come in a pump bottle rather than a jar. I was always told to never use your fingertips to scoop out the product as there is staph bacteria that live on our hands naturally which could cause premature wrinkles and rancidity of the cream. Dipping your fingers on the product back and forth could also transfer the bacteria. It is best to use a q tip to scoop it out and place it on your palm to fix this problem. However, this is quite a hassle for me. 

PRICE: 

I can't really remember the exact price of this product but i do remember it being relatively cheap or atleast of a reasonable price. It was also placed on the bestseller aisle. 

FIRST REACTION:

When i first opened the jar, the product was of white cream like texture but not really thick or greasy. A little goes a long way and it smelled somewhat like wood or tea tree. I didn't mind the scent or the texture as during application, the product disappeared almost immediately and it felt like i wasn't wearing anything at all. 

OVERALL EXPERIENCE: 

I've always had oily, combination, sensitive acne prone skin and so throughout the day, it is really easy for my skin to get greasy or a pimple suddenly about to emerge. This product didn't really do much towards oil control . I still needed to blot throughout the day and actually, it didn't really reduce the amount of breakouts either. As for my sensitivity, the product didn't really soothe anything as well. The only thing it did do though, was that it did hydrate my skin very well but that's pretty much it. I used this day and night for 5 weeks straight and honestly, it was sort of a waste of my time. It didn't really do much but it wasn't a horrible product either.

I would probably give this a 5/10.

The product might work very well for you, but it didn't do much for me. Everyone's skin is different but this is just my verdict. 

-Tiffany Olivia

How To Get Clear Skin

1. WATER

Our body is made over 70% of H20. Lots of people may have heard about this but yes it is definitely true. Our body needs water for essential hydration and to flush out toxins by any means necessary. Water helps skin look and feel hydrated. Thus, preventing the skin from overproducing oil or excess sebum to combat any dryness. It will also flush out every toxin or bacteria in the body and helps cells to regenerate better. For example, a woman in Britain started drinking 3 litres of water a day and the results are exemplary. Here is the article and see the absolute difference of what drinking lots of water could do to the skin : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2480491/How-drinking-litres-water-day-took-years-face.html                             

2. SLEEP

When you sleep, Our skin takes time to regenerate itself and it is scientifically proven that our skins absorbs anything you put in it at night,  whether it'd be good or bad. Sleep will definitely prevent you from having a dull, dehydrated or lifeless appearance. Lack of Sleep on the other hand, will increase levels of stress hormones which would cause inflammation within the skin that will definitely lead to an accelerated amount of premature wrinkles and worsen acne. It is also been proven that when people are sleep deprived, they could have trouble with skin sensitivity and irritation due to a reduction in the skin's natural ability to protect itself from chemicals and pollutants within the environment, Atleast 6 hours of sleep is essential. 

3. ADOPT A GOOD SKINCARE ROUTINE

We have all got different skin types. One could have Dry, flaky skin. The other oily, combination, acne prone skin and then there could be one with perfectly normal, problem free skin. Nonetheless, it is best to adopt a good skincare routine that is suited for one's skin type. In time, everyone will experiment with many different products to see whether they work or what suits best for them. Finding a skincare routine will be hard. It may take months or even years to find that one product that will practically save your life. A good skincare routine includes atleast a cleanser and a moisturiser. Others will add in toners, emulsions, boosters, serum, concentrate , masks, exfoliaters , scrubs, and sunscreen. Find one that works for you best and stick with it. Also, our skin type tends to change depending on the climate or time. So it is also really good to change or switch up a few products to ensure that your skin always stays in the best condition.                                               

4. DIET 

What you put on your body will show up eventually. And it may or may not appear on your skin. Lots of Models, Celebrities, Socialites always say they eat well and healthily and it definitely has paid off. Their skin looks absolutely wonderful and near perfect. Eating a diet of junk food and not drinking enough will make skin appear lifeless, parched and worsen its condition. Although, many do has said that diet has no connection or whatsoever to the skin. It is proven that eating a diet that is high in sugar or dairy will spike insulin levels and therefore contribute to hormonal imbalance and could produce acne. So try eating healthy and cut down on junk food and your skin will definitely thank you.

5. RELAX

Stress will show up in your skin. It is best to take a deep breath and be in touch with your surroundings to relax. When you are under a lot of stress or pressure, your body releases stress hormones including cortisol, which may increase the skin's oil production, making your skin a lot more acne prone. The mind and skin are connected in some way as a lot of the nerve endings are connected, which wraps around the organs so as emotions are played out neurologically, they can be expressed through the skin. So, whenever you are tense or have a bad day, take slow deep breaths and try to relax.

6. EXERCISE 

Exercise will increase blood flow. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to working cells throughout the body, which definitely includes the skin. In addition to providing oxygen, blood flow also helps carry away waste products, including free radicals, from working cells. It will also keeps skin vital and helps nourish skin cells. Not to mention, Exercise releases endorphins which reduces stress and leads to happier and healthier looking skin. Even a 10 minute walk a day will make such a difference. 

-Tiffany Olivia

DIY Mask to Fade Away Acne Scars, Clear out Acne, Blackheads and Tightens Pores

This Mask is officially my favourite DIY mask of all time. no joke. it is really really amazing.

So i have very bad skin.

-Oily

-Acne Prone

-Blackheads

-Sensitive 

and i also have a mild case of eczema.

Terrible right. 

However, A lot of beauty gurus tend to rave about the benefits of  plain yoghurt. Why? I dont know

But here's what i found out: 

Yoghurt contains Lactic Acid and Protein which are essentially good for the skin

It has been used for centuries as a skin treatment as well. 

It helps to hydrate and rejuvenate the skin

So basically, yoghurt is really good for the skin but an acquaintance of mine who just happens to be a esthetician also recommended using oatmeal as a skin cleanser. I tried it and it was alright but i decided to experiment by mixing up Oatmeal and Yoghurt together and guess what, IT IS SO FREAKING AMAZING.

ingredients: 

-1 tablespoon of oatmeal 

-1 tablespoon of natural plain yoghurt (it could be greek, probiotic doesnt matter as long as it plain and natural)

-a small bowl

-a mask brush or foundation brush 

1. Grab a bowl and put a tablespoon of oatmeal and natural yoghurt

2. Mix it up evenly until it forms a paste. By this point it smells really good and you'll be tempted to eat it. 

3. Dont eat it

4. Using your foundation or mask brush (make sure it is clean and washed right), apply a handsome amount until it covers the whole face, you could even apply it to your neck and body as well.

5.You will look really stupid 

6.Wait until it dries up. This usually takes about 30 minutes. 

7.Rinse off with water.

RESULT:: 

Within the first try of this mask, the redness of my acne reduced about 70% and no i am not exaggerating . it really did reduce the inflammation. my skin looked brighter and really even, my pores were tighter and best of all, i didnt have to blot my face at all the next day. im pretty sure it is because the yoghurt hydrated my skin really well thus my skin didnt feel like it should produce any more oil or sebum. I also had eczema on my arm and it was really itchy and annoying. i decided to put some of the mixture there and when i rinsed it off. the redness reduced, it looked smoother and it wasnt that itchy anymore! I continued using this mask atleast twice till everyday of the week. yep you could use it everyday too if you got the time. 

After 6 month result: 

-faded acne scars

-prevented any breakouts

-cleared up my skin

-reduced blackheads

-reduces  oil 

-removes grime and excess sebum

-tightens pores

-brighter and more radiant skin

-elimintated and prevented my eczema! 

-reduces redness

-anti aging 

its cheap,effective and all natural! Try it out! 

Hope you find this post helpful

Good Luck

By: Tiffany Olivia 

PRODUCT REVIEW : Guerlain Issima Midnight Secret

I have been using this product for about 6-8 weeks and i'd like to give my verdict on it. So i was browsing around google and there came a post about Celebrity's favourite or recommended beauty products. Rosie Huntington Whiteley, former Victoria Secret Angel and actress recommended to splurge on the Guerlain Issima Midnight Secret. When i first read it i thought wow that sounds really expensive, but i decided to check it out in makeupalley and it got 4.0 out 5 based on 93 reviews!.

And then i went on a family trip to Europe and while in Heathrow Airport in London, i passed by and saw the Guerlain Issima Midnight standing there looking all classy and shit and i thought well why not give it a go. Thankfully it wasnt over a 100ml so it was all good. HOWEVER, it was 80 freaking pounds.

The product comes in a midnight blue packaging with a gold cap .At first i thought it was for anti aging but nah, it is for all skin types, all ages and best of all, it is a freaking late night recovery treatment! So what is a late night recovery treatment? basically when individuals dont get enough sleep, the skin cant regenerate itself therefore resulting in really dull and pale skin. The midnight secret with Hydronoctine detoxifies by replenishing moisture and oxygen to the cells, while yeast extract improves cellular oxygenation. Vitamin E and rice extract combat free radicals. 

Looks pretty right? 

Well wait till you smell it, when i first opened the cap, i smelled an amazing scent that i cant really make out what but it smelled so good seriously! but i was a bit worried as i have oily combo acne prone senstive skin and suspect it might not be fragrance free but nonetheless i tried it anyway. 

HOW TO USE: 

Apply to cleansed skin at night, either alone or under another skincare product for up to three times per week (on non-consecutive nights).

It comes with a pump bottle as you can see, so clearly it is definitely hygienic and wont be such a hassle as  there is no need to use q tips to scoop out the product if it were placed in a jar packaging. I usually use one pump and it is already enough for the entire face, 

It comes out a white goopy gel like texture that wont clog your pores and it is definitely oil free! It felt like i was applying gold to my skin as it absorbed really well and there was no greasy or any discomfort during application. I used this only when im going out to a sleepover, concert, party, flight or when im pulling out an all nighter. 

So the result?

When i went on a 15hour flight, i could barely sleep as it was really uncomfortable sleeping in economy class so i stayed up, watched a few movies and listened to music, However with lots of free time, i made a trip to the toilet, washed my face, slather on the guerlain issima midnight secret and returned to my seat. By the time we landed, I felt really tired and sleepy but my skin feels great, rejuvenated and moisturised. Even my mum commented on how even my skin looked. 

The week after, was exam week meaning i stayed up all night almost everyday and basically i knew my skin was about to look like crap and i could feel a breakout coming through. However, i began to use the midnight secret in conjunction with La Roche Posay Effaclar K (which i use as a night moisturiser)  and barely had any sleep. Instead of the usual dehydrated oiliness, a cluster of acne and blackheads or dull looking skin, nothing happened. Seriously, the midnight secret prevented it from happening. Instead it was like sleep in a bottle! . My skin stayed even, clear and hydrated. 

I didnt use this every night though as it is meant as a 'late night recovery treatment' so i do recommend to use this for those late night partying, concerts, long haul flights, all nighter or even sickly days. Even though it is soo freaking expensive, i definitely would recommend to splurge on this! 



RATE: 9/10 . if the price was lower, definitely a 10/10! 








By; Tiffany Olivia

DIY Pore Strips

One of the more annoying parts of our face would be the tiny little white-heads and black-heads. Doing extractions to remove them hurts, facials to remove them are expensive so we go for pore strips. So here I am sharing with you guys a DIY pore strip tutorial by make up guru Michelle Phan from youtube. These pore strips are even better than the store bought ones since they don't hurt as much. It also helps that you could make them by yourself so you know EXACTLY what you're putting on your face, plus its all natural.The pore strips are also in a liquid form so it could mould to the shape of your nose, unlike regular pore strips.

Michelle Phan's DIY tutorial to see how the pore strip is made

So, for the pore strips you would need:

1 Tablespoon of milk
1 Tablespoon unflavoured gelatin
A functional Microwave
A microwave durable container

Now, to make the pore strips.

1. Mix together the milk and the gelatin in a microwave durable container until it's chunky
2. Microwave it for 10 seconds
3. The mixture should look a bit gooey, wait for it too cool down but not all the way. Test the temperature first by placing it at the back of your hand. When it's the right temperature, place the mixture on where you want to remove your white-heads/ black-heads. (T-zone area)
4. Let dry for 10-15 minutes or until it's completely dry before peeling it off.
5. Look at all the nasty white-heads/ black-heads removed

Happy Stripping Everyone :)

-Elizabeth Tiffany

DIY Facials

Everyone should have pretty skin, regardless of their income level. Not just the rich people should get the pretty skin with their expensive facials, so here are some DIY facials that is cheap and affordable that everyone can use.

DIY At Home Masks.

DIY face masks are cheap, affordable, and you know exactly what you are putting on your face. No chemicals,, just good old mother nature working her magic on your face.

So one of the favourite DIY masks would be the classic oatmeal and honey mask:

You would need:
1 teaspoon of raw oatmeal
1 teaspoon of honey

Mix the two ingredients together and let it sit on skin for five minutes, then rinse, seeing a more natural glow on your skin.

This mask is good because the minerals in oatmeal are soothing and honey hydrates and kills bacteria. In five minutes, you could get smoother, softer skin at an affordable price.

-Elizabeth Tiffany