Product Empties: Raw Essentials Refreshing Face Wash, Garnier Fructis Fruit Sensation, & Bioderma Micelle Solution For Sensitive Skin

Here are 3 products I recently finished....

Raw Essentials Refreshing Face Wash

I have never heard of the Raw Essentials line prior to using this product. The selling point for this line I guess is that their products are all processed at temperature of 115°F. "115°F Keeps your skin ALIVE!" is their motto.  

This particular face wash is also fragrance free, paraben free and cruelty free. "Formulated with Certified Raw Complex featuring Cold Pressed Tamanu and Manoi Oil for younger looking, radiant skin." Tamanu oil is pressed out from olive-like Tamanu fruits/nuts. Manoi Oil is a combination of oil from Tahitian gardenias and coconut oil.

Tamanu fruits/nuts (taken from Wikipedia)

In summary, I love the luxurious foamy lather straight off the pump (I have been loving foaming pumps as it saves me from lathering product in my eczema affected palms which I find irritable). This facial wash cleanse my skin nicely without drying. (Please note that I use a makeup remover with all cleansers). I also love how much product there is in 1 bottle - I picked this up over 2 months ago at a Shoppers Drug Mart for CAD9.98 (before taxes). 

Garnier Fructis Fruit Sensation in Passion Splash

Bought this shampoo from Wal Mart for under CAD2. I am usually not too picky with my shampoos as long as they do not leave any heavy or coarse residue in my hair. This shampoo is silicone and paraben free. Hair feels refreshed and cleansed. As for hydration level, it is similar to any hydrating shampoo in the market prior to any conditioner. In other words, nothing too spectacular. I do love the passion fruit scent!

Bioderma Micelle Solution For Sensitive Skin

This product needs no introduction. Many beauty bloggers raved about it so I gave it a shot. While I agree that it does a good job at removing makeup and cleansing, I am not totally sold and will not repurchase. It burns my eyes as I remove my under eye concealer and also dries out my skin =(

Reminder: Product that works for me may not work for you, and vice versa. =)  

Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream

Today's entry will be on one of my essential skin care products. It is the first product of it's group that I tried and to date, I had only tried 2 others. I am talking about the Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream.

Eye creams became a part of my daily routine since 6 years ago. I remember heading to Holt Renfrew in downtown Calgary (in Alberta) to try the Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer. The sales associate applied some of the Hydrating Eye Cream and this helped with the smooth application of the concealer under my eyes. She also mentioned how important it is to incorporate an eye cream in your daily skin care regime.

Since my skin is on the drier side, the Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream was a clear fit from the start.

Pros:

• Texture: Creamy but not so overly creamy (if that makes sense!). Quick-absorbing on application and non-greasy.
• Hydration: The cream definitely delivers a high level of hydration. As a result, the under eye area feels soothing and smoother.  

Fast-absorbing and non-greasy

Additionally, this product makes applying under eye concealer a breeze. 

A little bit goes a long way

Value:
        The Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream comes in a glass jar of 15ml (0.50 fluid oz). This might sound little but comparing the price of this product with other high-end eye creams, it is not bad at all. And since you only need a small amount with each use, I have made a jar lasts 3 months. (That's CAD56.00 for 3 months of high quality product).

Cons:
        I personally love this eye cream but if I were to mention any not-so-good points, it has to be the scent. I could distinctly smell the Aloe Vera. Most people may find it "fresh" but I just don't favor it. It doesn't bug me enough to stop using the product (and the smell doesn't linger long anyway).

One potential downside that some people may find with the Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream is the fact that it does contains ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Witch Hazel Extract, Jojoba Seed and Avocado Oil. You might think, hey, those sounds good for your skin! Well yes if you are not allergic to them. (Plus some may not favor any products with oil in them). So I am just putting it out there that this eye cream has those ingredients.

Conclusion:
        The Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream is definitely a must in my skin care regime. As I said, I have only tried another 2 different eye creams and both times had me returning to this product. In Canada it retails for CAD56.00 (before tax) for 15ml and is available at all Bobbi Brown counters and online. In Malaysia it is also available at all Bobbi Brown counters (I used to get mine from Parkson in Subang Parade) and Bobbi Brown stores (such as in 1 Utama). Unfortunately I could not recall how much it costs in Malaysia (I will update when I remember).

Reminder: Product that works for me may not work for you, and vice versa. =)  

Just Bought Products: Small Drugstore Haul - Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Treatment, TRESemme Fresh Start Volumizing Dry Shampoo, Revlon Photoready Concealer, Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer & Quo Eye Liner

Just wanted to share a small drugstore haul I purchased today.  =)

First of, is the Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Treatment. I had just finished a bottle of a similar product and wanted to give this a try.

I also wanted to get a dry shampoo. In the past, I have used Dove's dry shampoo and was reaching out for it when I saw that TRESemme also has one and it was on sale for the same price as the Dove's. Since I know how good TRESemme products are (I have used their shampoo, conditioner and heat protector), I'd thought I will give their Dry Shampoo a go - got the TRESemme Fresh Start Volumizing Dry Shampoo.

Next, I am running low of my Shu Uemura under-eye concealer. Now that I am back in Canada, Shu Uemura is not a brand that I could easily get my hands on (not too sure if it is even available here). So I have to find an alternative. A while back, I was satisfied with Bobbi Brown's creamy concealer and thought that maybe I should go back to it. I searched reviews up on drugstore concealers with creamy consistencies and stumble over the Revlon Photoready Concealer. Hopeful that this concealer will impress me as it did to many other users.

On my way to the cashier, I saw that the Rimmel section had a sale going on and I bought another one of the highly raved about product - the Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer.
 

Mine is in the shade 101 Celestial. Super excited to try this!

Last but not least, I passed a clearance box and in it was this Quo Eye Liner. Almost all of my eyeliners are either black or brown and I had wanted to get an eyeliner in a color that will brighten up my eyes a bit.

  The shade is called Ice Pink and it is from their Pearl Eye Liner collection.

Can't wait to try out all these products!

Curve Ball: 36 Hours of Fruits/Veges Only Diet

Almost a week into September. Wow. Pretty darn fast. Fall will soon be in full blast and I hope the Winter that follows will be gentle this year.

Today, I feel like posting something that is not directly a review. A curve-ball. =)

In general, I try to lead a somewhat balanced lifestyle. I adore food (both the indulging ones as well as the healthier varieties) and try to incorporate a minimum of 3 days a week of gym time. Looking at what I have been eating in the past month made me feel a little guilty as it has been almost a whole month of Eid celebration (which translates into rich, heavy dishes. Most definitely not on a daily basis but a little more than I would have in an average month). So to "improve" the situation a bit (haha), I casually did 36 Hours of a diet that consist only of fruits and vegetables. One golden rule is only boiling is permitted. And no added sugar or salt or any other "flavorings." I had aimed to do it for 3 days (lol) but only managed a day and a half before my urge took over. Still, I think it did wonders for my digestive tract and I will definitely try again (thinking of slowly making it a weekly thing). Just wanted to share what I ate during the 36 hours.....

For brunch, I had some Maui Juice from Booster Juice. It was a blend of oranges, pineapples and bananas without any added sugar or milk product. I knew I had wanted a drink with banana for the extra energy since it was a Brunch (not having a proper breakfast has been a bad habit of mine and I am trying to change this. Nothing beats a good breakfast).

Dinner yesterday was of a bowl of pear and peach slices (so yummy!!). I also had an ear of boiled white corn.

I started this morning with a bowl of fruit salad (a mix of peach, strawberry and raspberry. Again, I LOVE the mix of different textures). Sadly, that was the end of the short 36 hours trial. But I am not disheartened as the effects after only doing it for 36 hours were desirable that I am highly motivated to try it again, and next time go for the full 3-day plan. ^_^

Bag of Love: May Bag

I know, I know... We are now into the month of September and here I am posting about the May Bag. >.<  It feels incomplete not writing at least something on my last subscription month for Bag of Love. (My last subscription since Bag of Love do not deliver outside of Malaysia, sob sob).

As with previous editions of Bag of Love, my May bag was delivered via Airpak.

Again, very happy with the goodies for May. A good mixture of hair care, skin care and perfume.
Let's start with the bag...

 

I was very impressed with the quality feel of the May bag. The 'half-moon' or semi-circle zip opening style is one of the best design to a make-up bag as it gives good easy access to the contents of the bag.

Next, something for hand care....

Even though I am more of a L'Occitane girl than Crabtree & Evelyn, I do appreciate the generous trial size of this hand cream.

Dove was the very first brand of cleansing products I used when my eczema started to hit me hard back when I was about 10 years old. I was a fan of their soap bar for a while. Never tried their body wash before so it is neat to get a sample (and what a generous sample it was) as I would have never pick this up on my own.

Heard a lot of good reviews on this Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Serum, hence I was excited to receive a trial size that was enough for a whole week!

Definitely a fan of Kérastase hair products. Again, excited to have received this in the bag. ^_^

And last but not least, two sample vials of perfume! (These are one of my favorite kinds of sample. Can't get enough of perfume samples! ^_^)

In summary, the following are items in the May 2013 edition of Bag of Love:-

• Crabtree & Evelyn Somerset Meadow Hand Therapy, 25g (MYR30 for 25g)
• Dove Beauty Nourishing Body Wash, 200ml (MYR6.90 for full size)
• Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Serum, 7 capsules (MYR320 for 60 capsules)
• Kérastase Bain Oléo-Relax, 30ml (MYR78 for 250ml)
• Calvin Klein Eternity EDP, 1.2ml (MYR254 for 50ml)
• Calvin Klein Eternity for Men EDT, 1.2ml (MYR209 for 50ml) 
  

NB: There were also 2 sachets of  Kérastase Anti-Frizz Masque and coupons for both Calvin Klein perfumes as well as Crabtree & Evelyn.

Alas, this was my last subscription month for the Bag of Love. =( Seeing what others got in their June, July and August Bags of Love made me envious! Definitely worth their monthly subscription of MYR39.90. 

Back To Basics: Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion & Vaseline Intensive Rescue Extra Strength Lotion

Hi all! Its been a while since my last post. I have been busy moving! Oh the joy of moving.... It is tedious to move within the same city, what more to a different country.

Moving from the tropics to a 4-season environment definitely affects the products I use. The drier climate in Canada requires me to search for a more hydrating range of products. That being said, there are a couple of basic products which I found very helpful to me in both Malaysia and Canada. I think it is only fitting that I start with my thoughts on those 2 products. =)

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion

Canadian packaging

This lotion has been my staple facial moisturizer for almost 7 years now. It all started back in 2006 when I was first in Canada and was desperately searching for a moisturizer that works. I have tried almost every brand in my local drugstore (it was London Drugs back then when I was living in Calgary, Alberta) and eventually gave Cetaphil a try. I recall how happy I was with the hydration level of my skin with this lotion. I was surprise that the Lotion provided enough hydration for the skin on my face that I need not try the Cream version.

White, non-greasy lotion with lockable pump

The version sold in Malaysia

On top of using it as a moisturizer, I often use this Lotion as a "toner". After washing my face, I will barely pat it dry so that my face is still damp. I will then apply some of this Lotion on and leave it for about 30 seconds. Using a facial cotton pad, I will wipe the Lotion off clean. This removes any dry, flaky skin on the face and leaving it smooth for make up application after. I find it gentle enough to use around the eyes as well as on the eyelids. (Definitely one of the mildest "toner" I've used. ^_^)

Vaseline Intensive Rescue Extra Strength Lotion with Stratys-3

The Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion is a great facial moisturizer. Unfortunately, it did not work well for me as a body moisturizer. This makes sense of course since the skin layers are of different thickness at different parts of our body. Generally, the skin on the face is thinner (Hence certain medicated creams or ointments are not suitable for the face, or only safe to use on the face at a lower dose). My search for the 'best' body lotion was not as lengthy. Even though my eczema largely only affects my hands and my feet, I know that the 'plain-er' the lotion the better, i.e. no artificial colorant, no artificial fragrance, and no added vitamins or minerals. (One important note to know is that many individuals with atopy, that is those who have higher predisposition in developing an allergy reaction when exposed to certain elements, are in fact allergic to topical Vitamin E. This is ironic as a lot of skin products out there do in fact contain Vitamin E).

Vaseline Intensive Rescue Extra Strength Lotion fits the body lotion profile I want. There are currently 2 types available in Canada - Unfragranced and Fragranced with Chamomile. Undoubtedly, I chose the Unfragranced version. The lotion claims to "relieves very dry skin in 1 use and helps dry skin heal in 3 days." My skin definitely feels adequately moisturized but I cannot say that it 'heals' the dryness as I have to reapply daily. That being said, I am content with this moisturizer. The ingredients does include Paraben and Cetyl Alcohol, but I assume that their percentages are minimal as I do not feel my skin being dryer than it was before I started using this product. (As a general rule, products with Paraben and Alcohol tend to be drying especially for those with eczema. I have been using this lotion before being aware of product ingredients. I have attempted to replace this lotion with others that were made without Paraben and Alcohol and nothing so far has come close to giving me the moisture level I have achieved with this Vaseline Intensive Rescue Extra Strength Lotion).

White, non-greasy lotion with non-lockable pump. Be careful with packing this in your luggage. You might end up with lotion covered clothes! 

So those are the 2 products I have successfully used, and continue using as part of my moisturizing and eczema care both in Malaysia and Canada. (Yes, my skin needs body lotion even in a humid place like Malaysia. I guess it is also due to the fact that I do spend a lot of time in air-conditioned environments).

NB: The Vaseline Intensive Rescue Extra Strength Lotion packaging is standard with a pump for the 600mL. Unfortunately it is not lockable so there is a risk of the lotion pumping out onto your clothes when packed. The 500 mL Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion does come in a lockable pump. ^_^

I hope this was helpful! Both Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion & Vaseline Intensive Rescue Extra Strength Lotion are available in Walmart and Shoppers Drug Mart across Canada, and in Watson, Caring and Guardian across Malaysia.

Reminder: Product that works for me may not work for you, and vice versa. =)