Today’s Nails – On Cloud 9

I’ve seen many photos on Flickr, Instagram and Google of people sporting these cloud design manicures. Been wanting to try it out, and finally today i searched for how-to tutorials. Ta-dahh! Here’re some first attempt pictures to share.

Decided on a girly pinky theme for my cloud nails to celebrate the weekend! Need to relax, calm my mind and senses… if only all nail polish smell of aromatherapy oils ;P

Here’s what i used for this manicure.

(L-R) OPI Hearts & Tarts (base color), Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat, OPI Tutti Fruitti Tonga (2nd layer), TFS PK105 (3rd layer)
Sally Hansen nail art pen Silver (to trace the outline of the cloud)

Thanks for looking!

Unboxing the Bellabox – May 2012

My Bellabox was sitting in the Post Office for a week before i finally got my hands on it. You might have already read from other blogs that the pretty little pink box which holds the little surprises wasn’t a part of this month’s package. I’m not sure if it is a permanent change, but i was kinda disappointed as the box was really useful for me – i keep my little knick knacks in it and it helps me keep my stuff organized. Instead, it comes in a drawstring eco-style bag printed with the Bellabox logo. I suppose this will come in useful as well at some point, it just isn’t as pretty.

So, this month’s theme was all about pampering yourself, and your mum. Very appropriate, seeing that it was Mother’s Day this month. All mums definitely deserve some pampering on this special day. I’m not a mum, but i now know it ain’t easy being one, and i can’t imagine how mums do it! I hope you gave your mum a well-deserved treat this month

Here’s what’s in this month’s bellabox:

1. Enavose Cellogist Youth Guard Cream
Pamper your skin with this luxurious treatment. Nourish your skin cells from deep within, boost its natural restorative processes and fight the numerous causes of premature aging.
30ml for $99.50 available at Suntec and Tangs Vivocity

2. Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Gold Ultra Restorative Capsules
Restore youthful cushion and ageless skin while visibly fading age spots and the look of fine wrinkles. These potent and purely intensive single dose capsules deliver breakthrough retexturizing results you can see.
60 capsules for $134 available at Elizabeth Arden counters

3. Essential Damage Care Nuance Airy Shampoo and Conditioner
Beautiful, soft and glossy locks are no longer just a dream. Restore lost shine and repair your hair with this new formula designed to target damaged and limp hair.
200ml for $4.50 or 500ml for $9.50

4. Macadamia Natural Oil
Pamper your hair with this treatment containing macadamia and argan oils to nourish and rejuvenate. For ultra-smooth, manageable & shiny hair. You can even reduce drying time by an amazing 40-50%!
30ml for $28 available from John Little and SaSa

5. Sally Hansen Hard As Nails
The original nail clinic in a bottle! Helps prevent cracking, splitting and chipping. Gives your nails a hard, smooth and chip resistant surface. 
13.3ml for $6.90

I’m not sure if you feel the same way…but the Essential Shampoo and Conditioner was the most disappointing of the lot. I haven’t tried it yet…but it didn’t evoke any excitement in me at all. LOL! I’ve started using the Sally Hansen Hard As Nails. I hope it will do what it claims to. I really need this as i paint my nails pretty often, so they do get quite unhealthy and are prone to some cracking and chipping. So far, it serves as a pretty good base coat too. I’m looking forward to trying out the Cellogist Youth Guard Cream as well as the Macadamia Natural Oil. I need to blow-dry my hair every morning, and that takes a bit of time so if it can really reduce drying time that would be really really helpful. You know how time is so tight in the mornings!! As for the Elizabeth Arden capsules, i will try them for sure but i highly doubt 2 capsules would be able to show any kind of result that would make me go out and buy them. We’ll see

Here are the pictures of my May Bellabox. Thanks for looking, have a great weekend everyone!

To see what I got in the April Bellabox, click here.
If you would like to subscribe to Bellabox, check it out here.

Review – Duwop the ambers eyeshadow palette

This is another treasure i acquired during one of Luxola‘s recent promotions. They have good sales, like 25%-30% or even GWPs like their most recent promotion where you get a free Deborah Lippmann nail polish (U.P $33) with every $50 spent. The best part is that they offer free next day doorstep delivery! With such great deals, it’s hard not to be a loyal customer ;p

I haven’t tried any products from Duwop, so since this was on sale, i thought it was a good opportunity to get acquainted with the brand. There are 4 colors in the palette and one cream eyeliner, and it was on sale for S$28 (from S$48). If my review happens to make you feel like you need this in your stash as well… don’t worry…it is STILL ON SALE now!!

Here are my thoughts on this product, as well as pictures and swatches of the colors.

My thoughts:

- My first impression is that the casing feels quite luxurious. The palette is housed in a solid and slim metallic amber casing. A mirror and a 2-sided brush applicator is included. For me, packaging is usually an indication of its performance. But i’ve learnt that it really isn’t always the case, and you’d be pleasantly surprised by how well some plainly packaged products can perform.
-  I was expecting the colors to be very rich and pigmented, but sadly the swatches disappointed me. The colors do contain quite a fair bit of shimmer in them yes, but the colors seemed to be leaning towards sheer and appeared lackluster in general on my arm.
- I proceeded to apply the colors onto my eyes with my usual eyeshadow brushes. It was smooth and very easy to blend, no fall out too.
- Surprise surprise! The colors were fairly rich and pigmented when applied on my lids. Maybe my brush picked up more color than my fingertip when i was trying to swatch the colors.
- I love using these colors together, as they are all warm and so complementary. After 5 hours, the colors still looked fresh and shimmery.
- Overall, i am quite pleased with its performance and lasting power.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Check out my FOTD here, where i’ve used the Duwop the ambers eyeshadow palette and the Kate Super Sharp Liner in black (reviewed here). Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed on this blog are my own, and have not been influenced by PR companies or advertisers. Products featured/reviewed are purchased with my own money, unless otherwise stated.

Review – Kate Cosmetics 2012 Spring Summer Collection

How many of you have heard of or are users of Kate Cosmetics? I’ve come across their product displays while browsing at Watsons, Guardian and Sasa, but the only Kate product i’ve tried previously is their Quick Eyeliner in Brown which i didn’t really enjoy using (Read the review here). To be honest, i haven’t paid much attention to the brand since then.

I don’t really know much about the brand, or the story behind it. All i know is that they are one of the brands under the Kanebo Cosmetics Group. So I’ve been told, Kanebo was actually established in Japan as a textile company, and only in 1937 did they diversify into the cosmetics business. They offer a wide variety of beauty brands which target different audiences, some of which you may be familiar with. They include Impress, Kate, Lunasol, Freshel and others. And since Jan 2006, Kanebo Cosmetics has been a member of the Kao Group. So the brand does have a rather rich history behind it. On a separate note, I’ve heard several rave reviews about Lunasol’s products, and they are definitely quite high on my list of cosmetic brands to try!!

Anyway, Kate Cosmetics latest Spring Summer Collection has just launched this month (May 2012), and is already available in stores as you read this post. The soft lustrous colors you see throughout their collection is definitely reminiscent of the current season, where they focus largely on creating softly shaded, lightly textured and contoured eyes.

3 of their new, highly anticipated eye products from the Spring Summer collection were sent to me for review, and they include:

• Kate Real Create Eyes, a five-shade eye shadow palette designed specially to create large ‘real 3D’ eyes. It includes a unique glow jelly makeup base which increases the translucency and lustre of eye shadow, making them last longer.
• Kate Super Sharp Liner, an ultra fine brush that enables the finest lines to be drawn smoothly at the edge of the eyes
• Kate Art Dial Mascara, a revolutionary mascara which is fitted with a tilted comb applicator that lengthens, maximizes and curls lashes all at once

First, i’d like to share with you some press images and product information that were provided. Following that, i will share my thoughts on each product and you will see a few other pictures that i’ve taken myself as well. A FOTD to illustrate how i’ve used the products to put together a look will come after that.

Kate Real Create Eyes BR02

Make your eyes look naturally shimmery with the collection’s star product, Kate Real Create Eyes, a five shade eye shadow palette designed specially to create large “real 3D” eyes through a fine balance of light and dark colours. The palette consists of Clear Jelly which increases translucency and lustre, Clear Real Colour that contains light-transmitting pearl powder, and three gradation monotone colors to create deeply contoured eyes. Kate Real Create Eyes comes in five colours, pink, brown, orange, green and blue.

Retail price: S$27.00

Kate Super Sharp Liner BK-1

The Kate Super Sharp Liner comes with an ultra thin brush that enables the finest lines to be drawn smoothly. Higher fade-resistance has been achieved via a newly developed sebum-forming agent, making Kate Super Sharp Liner impervious to sweat and moisture. Increased pigments also allow for better colouration and deeper blacks. Kate Super Sharp Liner is available in three colours, jet black,natural black, and natural brown.

Retail price: S$17.00

Kate Art Dial Mascara

Messy mascara is a thing of the past! Bold and revolutionary, the Kate Art Dial Mascara is fitted with a tilted comb applicator that lengthens, maximises and curls lashes all at once. The comb allows excellent lash separation, preventing possible clumping while fully coating each strand evenly. The lashes are simultaneously lifted from the base and curled or lengthened according to preference, with the lift and curl maintained by a fast-drying adhesive fluid. The Kate Art Dial Mascara also prevents the mascara from drying up prematurely by a special twisting mechanism that dispenses fluid only when the dial-comb is turned. A great choice for lower lashes as well!

Retail price: S$27.00

Actually, there are 2 other products from the Spring Summer Collection which caught my eye. I’ll definitely be checking these out at the stores.

Kate Eye Shadow JC – works as a gel eye makeup base, providing a shimmering pearl powder that adheres perfectly to the skin to create long-lasting transparency and shine.
Kate Mineral BB Gel Cream SPF 30 PA++ – The ultimate all-in-one solution for skin coverage. Serving as a makeup base, foundation, sunscreen and emulsion, it comes in a light gel-like texture and has moisturizing effects like a cream. It spreads smoothly without becoming sticky and maintains good skin adhesion for a long period of time. Double-effect mineral powder covers visible press while multiple moisturizing agents prevent the skin from dryness. It is available in 3 shades to suit all major Asian skin types.

You can visit their website to find out what other products are part of Kate Cosmetics Spring Summer line-up.

Here are my thoughts on each product and some real life product pictures that i’d like to share with you

My thoughts:

- This palette is housed in a lightweight plastic casing with a clear window, showcasing the different colors of the palette.
- It doesn’t feel very solid, and might very well give way to cracks if you are the type to drop your things. But having said that, it works well for those of you who tend to bring your make-up out with you most of the time. I mean solid cases are nice and feel good, but the weight of all your make-up really makes a difference and i wouldn’t want to add on to the weight of all the stuff i’m already carrying in my bag.
- Though i typically reach for my UDPP whenever i apply my make-up, i do like the idea of this jelly base that they have provided as part of the palette. It’s meant to to increase the translucency and lustre of the eye colors, but what i like about it is that it amps up the shine factor. The texture of this base is on the sticky side, but after u apply the various eye colors, it doesn’t leave a sticky feel on the lids.
- The different colors of the eyeshadow are very complementary to each other, and they are reasonably pigmented.
- They are quite smooth, easy to apply and blend. What’s great is that i didn’t experience much fall out.
- When all the colors are used together, i like that it has that gradient effect and gives my eyes more ‘depth’. I usually use only 2 colors for my eyes, so this is something new for me. And i like it so far.
- In terms of lasting power, it lasted for about 5-6 hours or so (with primer). i notice that of course, it is less shimmery as well towards the end of the day.
- If i were to choose, i would purchase the green (GN-1) palette for myself instead. The green seems to ‘pop’ more than the rest of the colors.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

My thoughts:

- The eyeliner pen is lightweight and easy to hold, making application easy and convenient.
- Use a light hand, it doesn’t take much pressure at all to line your eyes with this product. Switching from a different product with a different brush, it took me 1 or 2 tries to finally get used to drawing with this eyeliner pen.
-  The brush is soft, but firm enough to draw a solid line of intense color. There is no ‘bleeding’ like what i had experienced previously with the Quick Liner.
- In terms of lasting power, it performed pretty well and did not fade nor smudge by the end of the day (with primer).
- As for overall performance, it is quite on par with my all-time favorite Maybelline eyeliner pen that has been my best friend for 3 years now.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My thoughts:

- The  first time i tried it, i twisted the dial one too many times cos i didn’t see anything happen. That caused too much fluid to be dispensed and it was messy. But that was my fault. Subsequently, all it took was one or two twists of the dial to dispense just the right amount of fluid.
- I have never used a product like this before, having always used the conventional mascara by dipping the wand into the tube to coat the brush with enough product before using them on my lashes.
- The concept of a mascara in an integrated dial-comb bottle is quite novel to me, and i do like that the sealed mascara bottle prevents the liquid from drying up prematurely. It’s much more sanitary as well this way, which is a bonus.
- It took me 1 – 2 applications before getting comfortable with this product and being less awkward holding this pen-like applicator.
- After the initial awkwardness, it is easy to use and there is indeed less clumping of lashes and more volume, giving me luscious lashes. Oh, and its so much easier to reach the innermost lashes with this tooth comb!
- However, due to the size of the tooth comb, it takes a longer time to finish doing your lashes. Perhaps, with time i will be able to do it faster once i am completely comfortable with the motion of using a pen-like applicator to coat my lashes.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

And finally … here’s a FOTD where i’ve used the Real Create Eyes and the Art Dial Mascara. I will feature the Super Sharp Liner in another FOTD as i thought the black liner was a bit too harsh for this look.

Kate Cosmetics products can be found at selected BHG, Guardian Pharmacy, OG, John Little, Metro, Nishino Pharmacy, Sasa Cosmetics and Watsons stores.

Thanks for reading, i hope the review was useful for you.

Disclaimer: Products featured were provided for review. All opinions expressed here are my own and have not been influenced by PR companies or advertisers.

HelloBerry Arm Candy

Hi Everyone! For those who of you who got hit with a bad case of the Monday blues, don’t worry cos Monday will soon be over! I’m looking forward to Friday so i can enjoy my weekend. Which reminds me, i have some product reviews on my to-do list!

Today, i’d like to share with you my latest online purchase Accessories always help to jazz up any outfit. So if I’m feeling down or if my outfit feels kinda blah, i’ll whip out some kind of accessory to perk me up. It usually does the job! When you look good, you’ll definitely feel good too.

Here’s some arm candy i bought from Helloberry’s Etsy store recently. It shipped from Canada and it took about 2 weeks to arrive. I am in love with the grey and coral colors, which so spell SUMMER! Can’t wait to use em!

Review – L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow

Have you heard? The L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows are now available here in Singapore! As soon as i could find the time, i popped into the nearest Watsons to check them out!! I’ve read reviews that say they are comparable to the highly-raved Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill formula which also happens to now be available at the DFS Galleria on Scotts Road. That is another product which i would really love to try out!

From the few colors that I saw, i decided to purchase these 2 to try – 002 Hourglass Beige (a light champagne gold) and 009 Permanent Kaki (a rich moss-like green). The range of colors that i saw did not quite strike me as unique. The colors are pretty and very shimmery, just not unique. And most likely common shades that you’ve probably seen elsewhere. Ultimately, I chose these 2 as i could see myself using them with other colors that i already have in my stash. Made in Italy, there’s 3.5g of product in each pot, and they retail for $14.90 each.

Here are some photos and swatches for you

My thoughts:

# The product is housed in a handy plastic pot with a screw cap. Transparent packaging is great as i can see exactly what color i’m reaching for at a glance.
# The texture of this eyeshadow feels velvety and somewhat buttery.
# Extremely smooth and easy to blend, the color glides on easily and there is minimal fall out.
# These 2 colors are pretty pigmented, and they are buildable. Depending on the type of look you are going for, you can definitely create a simple everyday look or even intense eye looks.
# It’s very shimmery, and long-wearing even with my oily lids (i applied UDPP first). No smudging or creasing experienced on my end.
# I believe it is waterproof cos i ran a running tap over the swatches on the back of my hand, and the color DID NOT budge. It was only after i used some cleansing oil and applied pressure in a rubbing motion, did the color come off.
#  Overall, it is really a great value-for-money product that performs well and there’s nothing i don’t like about it.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Here’s a simple everyday eye look to illustrate how i used these 2 colors together.

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed on this blog are my own, and have not been influenced by PR companies or advertisers. Products featured/reviewed are purchased with my own money, unless otherwise stated.

Review – DR. JART Black Label Detox Healing BB

To be honest, I never expected myself to be so keen on trying out various foundations and BB creams. BUT, DR. JART is indeed a popular and best-selling product with several good reviews. As a self-proclaimed make-up junkie, i felt like i just had to give it a go just so i wouldn’t keep myself wondering just how good it is. ;p

So I took advantage of a recent Luxola promotion and got myself the DR. JART Black Label Detox Healing BB. A 50ml tube retails for S$29, and it is made in Korea. As with most other BB creams i’ve encountered, they possess skincare benefits such as SPF/PA++, Whitening and Anti-Wrinkle properties.

Information extracted from the packaging:

SPF 25/ PA++
Whitening & Anti-Wrinkle
This unique triple action formula containing innovative active ingredients aims at naturally covering skin blemishes, protecting skin from UV rays and activating skin rejuvenation. It also smoothes wrinkles and fine lines while providing nourishment to the skin.

How to use: Apply proper amount on the entire face and spread evenly with soft patting.

And according to the Luxola website, this BB contains UVA/UVB protection, collagen for tightening effects, chamomile extract for soothing and arbutus for whitening and brightening. The botanical extracts are excellent at protecting from pollutants and preventing rough and dry skin.

Here are some pictures i took of the product.

 My thoughts:

# Product is housed in a plastic tube with a snap cap. Simply squeeze out desired amount and snap the cap back on, it is easy to handle and sanitary.
# Due to its opaque packaging, it may be hard to judge when you’re running low and need to get a new tube (that is if you decide to continue using this product).
# The product consistency is creamy and leans towards thick. (But it is NOT sticky at all)
# While i wouldn’t exactly say it’s a bad thing, i must admit that it does take bit more work to spread and blend into the skin.
# Due to its thicker consistency, it does provide more coverage – Medium to Thick. (as compared to the Laneige Snow BB Cream)
# While i usually don’t quite fancy products that give thick coverage, this product does indeed give a pretty flawless base. It totally evens out your skin tone and covers blemishes and dark spots.
# Sebum control was actually pretty good. I had minimal shine on my face even after 4 hours, which i then blotted for the first time after applying my makeup.
# As far as i know, there is only 1 shade available. When swatched on the back of my hand, it leaves a slightly grey-ish cast on my skin.
# When applied on my face, it really doesn’t look as natural as other bb creams and foundations i’ve tried. The color doesn’t adjust to my natural skin tone either. However, after i lightly dust powder on my face, it doesn’t look so bad. But it still looks like i have on heavier make-up for the day.
# Because i usually stick to lighter make-up everyday, this isn’t something that i’d reach for on a daily basis. But since it is in my stash, i will use it on days if i ever feel like i need a truly flawless base.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Here’s a picture of me using DR. JART Black Label Detox Healing BB. Thanks for reading, i hope this review was useful for you

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed on this blog are my own, and have not been influenced by PR companies or advertisers. Products featured/reviewed are purchased with my own money, unless otherwise stated.

Sunshine after the rain

Some time ago…i was just lamenting about how nice it would be to once again feel the Monday blues and TGIFs here. It was quite a discouraging period, and i am thankful for the support of friends, blogger friends and family who were there for me.

Well, i’m glad to say the wait is over and i’m currently gainfully employed (permanently!) Though i’ve only completed my third day on the job, i’m quite pleased to be part of the rat race again. Not that i’m complaining, but now i kinda miss those care-free days where i could do anything i like, at any time i like!! Lol! Can’t believe those days are gone now.

I can’t imagine myself doing anything else really, so back to Marcom again it is. This time with a professional services company. They are mainly an accounting and business advisory firm specializing in stuff like tax, audit and other stuff. So far so good, keeping my fingers crossed that i will settle in quickly and learn to love the place and the people.

Here’s a picture of me in the office, with the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Lollipop. Love this shade!

I have another piece of good news to share. I’ve just received a couple of KATE cosmetics products from it’s latest Spring/Summer Collection for review. I’m extremely excited about it, and i can’t wait to find some time to try them out and share with you. Please stay tuned for the reviews!

Enjoy the rest of the work week, and i’m truly looking forward to Friday now!

Review – Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Velvet Plum

Ever since i tried out the MUFE Aqua Cream that i had recently reviewed, i’ve been wanting to try out a similar product from a different brand to compare. And so I decided on Bobbi Brown after spending some time browsing the aisles at the duty free store.

I went home with Velvet Plum, which I was told by the SA is a new color to the range of cream shadows. Sitting in the jar, it looks like a bronze/copper-ish sort of color, despite its name. I was expecting a purplish shade of sorts, but still i thought it was a pretty and very wearable shade. I tried using my finger to swatch the color onto the back of hand, and i found it difficult to pick up the product. The SA recommended using a brush to pick up the product so i could do a proper swatch to truly see the color.

Here are some pictures i took of the product packaging and a swatch for your reference.

My thoughts:

# The product is creamy, and when applied with a brush, is pretty easy to blend onto the eyelid.
# It’s quite pigmented, with a smooth metallic finish.
# You’ll need to be quick to blend it out once applied, as it dries off to a smooth matte finish rather quickly.
# True to its name, it is indeed long-lasting with no creasing or smudging even with my oily eyelids.
# This isn’t a very unique shade that you wouldn’t be able to find elsewhere, but it is very wearable so it’s something that i would reach for frequently with everyday looks.
# The Bobbi Brown Long-Wear cream shadow performs just as well as the MUFE Aqua Cream. However, i think the color payoff of the MUFE Aqua Cream is slightly better.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I’ll find a chance to do a FOTD using this product so you can see how it looks on me. Stay tuned! Thanks for looking!

Review – Enavose H2Osis Black Tea Quench Mask vs Laneige Water Sleeping Pack EX

For those of you in Singapore, i hope you had a great Labour Day holiday on Tuesday! I bet it felt great going to work on Monday knowing that the next day was a holiday and that you get to sleep in again. Not to worry, today is already Thursday and the weekend is fast approaching.

I don’t usually review skincare products very often, so i thought I’d just share some thoughts on these 2 which i have been using for a while now. If you’d like to find out more about how these products worked for me, do read on.

The Enavose H2Osis Black Tea Quench Mask was part of April’s Bellabox and the Laneige Water Sleeping Pack EX was a gift from a friend who just returned from a trip to Korea. Why review the 2 together, you may ask? That’s cos they are very similar products and both serve somewhat the same purpose.

Enavose H2Osis Black Tea Quench Mask

If Enavose doesn’t sound familiar to you, fret not. They are a premium Swiss skincare brand who ventured into Singapore quite recently only, sometime last year. Some of their award-winning products include the Cellogist Youth Revive Night Potion and Cellogist Youth Guard Cream. You can find out more about those products here.

Extracted from the Enavose website:

The ultimate hydration haven for thirsty and dehydrated skins, our quenching mask uses Sweet Black Tea to release a profusion of moisture and vitality that deeply replenishes skin’s moisture. It harnesses the power of skin to retain higher levels of water, leaving it feeling velvety soft, incredibly supple and invigorated. Feel the surge of immense moisture and be better equipped to defend against damaging environmental forces.

It’s active ingredients include Sweet Black Tea, Arnica Montana Flower, Gentian Root, Yarrow, Lecithin. Apply generously to cleansed face and throat, avoiding the eye area. After 10 to 15 minutes, thoroughly rinse with warm water. Use once a week or whenever the skin requires a moisture boost.

The sample that i got from the April Bellabox was a 15ml tube, and i’ve used it 3 times so far. The full size product is encased in a jar with what they call an airless mechanism. This means the product does not come into contact with air or contaminants; is kept at its optimum freshness and only dispensed when needed. It also provides a more convenient and hygienic usage of the mask as you do not need to dip your fingers or use a spatula to access the product. Thus, each dosage is carefully measured to dispense just the right amount of product, sufficient for one use to prevent wastage. The full sized product costs $59.50 for a 30ml jar.

The product is thick and feels like a water-based gel. It has a scent, but not one that leaves an impression. It felt refreshing as i applied it onto my face. Application was a breeze, and it slowly dries off as the skin absorbs the product. I followed the instructions, and left it on for 20 minutes before rinsing it off. Upon rinse off, my skin felt nice and smooth and definitely moisturized. However, the results did not last very long on my skin. In my opinion, I didn’t think that it helped to retain the moisture level in my skin. Perhaps, this product just didn’t work that well for me. Reviews on the website by other users are very positive and claim to provide a boost of radiance and glow to the skin. None of that happened for me. Especially at that price point, i don’t think i will purchase the full-sized product.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Laneige Water Sleeping Pack EX

Laneige, on the other hand i’m sure is a Korean brand most of you would be familiar with. ‘Laneige’ means snow in French, and the brand is known for incorporating hydration technology in its products, helping women all around the world achieve that radiant, dewy skin most of us long for. The Water Sleeping Pack EX, which i’ll be sharing more of shortly, made it to the ‘ELLE Beauty IT List 2011′ as well as the ‘Women’s Weekly Best Beauty Buys 2011′. Proof that it is a well-loved product by many here in Singapore alone.

Extracted from the Laneige website:

Product Benefits
# Night time skin transmission (permeability) shows higher rate than the one in the day time.
# Applying it right before sleep time, the best state for the skin transmission according to the skin circadian rhythm, maximizes the efficiency of overnight water supply.
# The function of skin remarkably declines in the night time. Enriched with Beta-glucan, Water Sleeping Pack_EX deeply hydrates fatigue and dry skin while Ceramide SLN formula strengthens the skin barrier.
# With containing the Snow Water, it helps to keep your skin look more crystal clear and vitalized.
- Antioxidant effect of Hunza Apricot Extracts helps brighten skin tone evenly by removing harmful oxygen and purifying skin.
- Recoverine from Chestnuts promotes turnovers of horny layers to remove dead cells away for vigorous water supply and sleek skin texture.
- An aromatic essence compound exclusively developed by AMOREPACIFIC, Sleepscent™(Patent application No. 10-2009-0043726), helps to relax your mind and body and derive for a good sleep. A good sleep effect allowing sufficient relaxation eventually reinforces skin restoration for healthier skin condition. Essential oils from Orange Flower, Rose, Ylang Ylang, Sandal Wood etc. are contained in the Sleepscent™.
- Light gel-type texture without stickiness but moisture leaves you a comfortable sleep.

It’s ingredients include:
# Beta Glucan (Skin regeneration effect)
# Ceramide SLN (Moisture loss protection)
# Hunza Apricot Extract (Skin purification)
# Chestnut Extract (Improving skin texture)

How to use:
1. In the evening, follow the face relaxing massage after applying skin refiner and emulsion after face wash.
2. After taking appropriate amount(2.5cm in diameter recommended), mark on nose tip ,cheeks, forehead, and chin areas, and feel the scent for about 3 seconds. * Relax your body and mind through the Sleepscent™.
3. Gently spread over the face from inner part to outer part along the skin texture. 4. Go to sleep after absorption without rinsing off. (Wash face in the next morning)
* Use once or twice a week.
* Apply more than recommended amount when your skin is particularly dry.
* Open the cap and breathe in the scent of Water Sleeping Pac_EX about 5 seconds before use when you feel a heavy stress.
* Apply to neck area for neck care.

The first thing that hits you about this product is the scent, the very inviting & pleasant signature Laneige scent. The texture of this product is similar to the Enavose one, it has a gel-like texture which is easily applied onto the skin. A plastic spatula is thoughtfully provided in the packaging so you can scoop out the mask easily without contamination. Equally refreshing upon application, it dries off after a while so you don’t get that sticky feeling on your face. The difference between this and the Enavose mask is that you leave this product on overnight, and only rinse it off the next morning when you wash your face as usual. That smooth, supple, moisturized feeling that i was talking about earlier? It lingers on your skin for much longer compared to the Enavose mask. It is recommended that you use this once or twice a week for that special boost of moisture and to revitalize dull skin. It’s supposedly suitable for all skin types; i have sensitive skin but i haven’t experienced any breakouts or anything unpleasant so far after repeated usage. My skin truly feels different after using this product, and i will continue to use it. The full sized product comes in a 80ml jar with a screw cap, and should be able to last for quite some time.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars