I was reading an article from Personal Care and the author mentioned that if a skin cream that promises results but does not yield noticeable benefit in a week, then we are justified that the promise will not be fulfilled. neutrogena shimmer sheers all over color enchanted One week sounds rather short since most clinical trials cite at least 8 weeks of testing but I’ve also noticed that if the products actually does what it promises, you CAN see a difference in your skin a few days after using it.

Results maybe more temporary for those promising anti-wrinkles
I’ve noticed this to be true with products that promises brightening, evening out skin tone, depuffing and increasing hydration. As for those that promise to erase wrinkles and promote firmness, well, I say it depends. Sometimes the effects are almost immediate but they are most likely temporary and is gone as soon as you wash off the cream or serum from your face.

Timeline I set for testing products
I thought this is an interesting topic to discuss today. In fact, I was thinking a lot about this because as you know, one of the things I do is to test skin care products for this space. Typically, this is the kind of timeline I set for products:
- Cleansers: two weeks
- Oils, serums, lotions, creams: four weeks
- Treatment products like masks: per usage
- Eyecare: four to six weeks

Checking against promises given
And I always go back to check the promises that the product has given me. If it states that my skin would look radiant overnight, then that’s what I’ll look for. If it claims that my spots would lighten up in a week, then neutrogena shimmer sheers all over color enchanted that’s what I’ll be checking. Except for eye care products, I actually expect to see some results after using a product for two weeks. And the reason why I give a longer testing period is to see how my skin would adjust for breakouts. For eye care, I tend to give a longer time because I have on some occasions, experienced improvements only after the 3rd or 4th week.

Stuck it out due to initial investment
But of course, the reality is that while we may give a shorter time frame to decide if a product is worth re-purchasing, we usually would HAVE to finish using the product because of the initial investment – unless of course it’s really dirt cheap. This is true for me – I forced myself to finish the bottle of GOW Bio-Active Neck Firming Serum even though it did absolutely nothing for me! I stuck it out because I didn’t want to throw it away and I couldn’t use it anywhere else.  I did however, supplement it with other products.

Your say
So tell me neutrogena shimmer sheers all over color enchanted ladies: how long do you expect to see results with the skin care products you purchase? And what’s the longest time you would give it? Would you stick to using the product till you’re completely done with the bottle or jar?

Neutrogena shimmer sheers all over color enchanted

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It’s no secret that I love facial cleansers that foam and I believe that I’m not alone. Most of us equate foam and lather with more cleansing power. However, we also know that such cleansers shouldn’t be stripping off the natural lipids off our skin. Hence, foaming facial cleansers should be free of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Laureth Sulfate (SLS). So today, I’ll put up a summary of five facial cleansers I’ve tried and tested on my combination skin type – drier cheeks with oilier t-zone – that have worked well for me. I’ve also added one extra product, which was reviewed by a reader.

More natural formulations
Besides being free from laurly sulphates, these cleansers are all positioned as more natural in terms of their formulations, being free from parabens, petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances, and synthetic colours. Some of them even contain ingredients that are certified as organic. The alcohol you see in these formulations are derived from grain and are different from alcohol denat. Although I personally avoid alcohol of all sorts as far as possible in my skin care but the truth is, there are not many formulations that are free from them. But I took a decision to still use them anyway and they have worked well for me, thankfully.

Bod White Tea Cleansing Gel 200ml S$36

This is a transparent cleansing gel that foams rather well because of the sodium lauroyl sarcosinate and decyl glucoside. It’s supposed to contain quite a bit of antioxidant benefits going by the ingredients like white tea and yucca, a native American herb rich in vitamins A, B and C. The oats are to provide soothing qualities and is said to assist with reducing redness in skin. I like the short ingredient list and the product does not even contain plant alcohol! It smells good, worked well for my skin and the bottle lasted me a good 4 months! Available at selected Watsons.

A’kin Sandalwood & Neroli Pure Facial Cleansing Gel 225ml S$37

This one comes in a gel form and foams really well. It worked for me in terms of removing my light makeup and yet left my skin soft and refreshed, even with double cleansing. The scent of scandalwood took some getting used to though, as it is rather strong and it reminds me of some old furniture.  But a few days after using this cleanser, the smell stopped bothering me.  I also like the rubber stopper, which helps control the amount of cleanser I pump out and this 225ml lasted me around 3 to 4 months.  Available at leading Guardian Pharmacies and some organic stores selling skin care too.


Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Daily Face Wash 150ml S$18.35

This one disperses foam right out of the bottle and has a strong tea tree smell. It cleanses well and did not dry up my skin so it’s a decent cleanser. Although the tea tree smell is strong and not particularly appealing, but the smell also left my skin feeling very refreshed. I find this formulation particularly good for those with acne prone skin. This is the cheapest of all the foaming cleansers reviewed here and is available at selected Watsons and Guardian Pharmacies.

MADARA Ecoface Deep Purfying Foam 150ml S$39

This is another cleanser that pumps foam right out of the bottle. It cleanses well and smells wonderful with a botanical scent. It cleanses away light makeup but you will definitely need to double cleanse. So since it is a foam cleanser, I use this only in the mornings as I find it quite a waste to use for double cleansing. No tight or taut feeling after cleansing and face is soft and smooth afterwards. Available at Pure Tincture.

L’Occitane Olive Tree Organic Radiance Cleansing Foam 100ml S$36

Another cleanser that foams right out of the bottle with ingredients certified as organic by Ecocert; I don’t find anything exceptional about the after effects as I do not see my face becoming more radiant after each wash. I find the scent very strong when I first started using this, and I kept thinking I was stuffing my face with crushed leaves and vegetables. But I find that compared to other foaming cleansers I’ve tried, this one comes across more foamy and I didn’t need to squirt as much. The cleansing power is quite good and my skin was left feeling fresh, clean and non drying. This is the most expensive of the cleansers listed here and is available at L’Occitane stores.

Nutriganics Foaming Facial Wash 150ml S$24.90

This was reviewed by Cass and the product is certified organic by Ecocert. This comes in a pump bottle, which disperses cleansing foam. She used this to double cleanse her light makeup and her skin didn’t feel dry. In fact, it left her skin feeling soft. According to her, the smell was acceptable with no artificial fragrance. She highlighted that those with hyper sensitive eyes need to be careful using this as the cleanser stung her eyes when it accidentally got in. But otherwise, she would definitely recommend this product. Available at The Body Shop.

Practice of double cleansing
All of the five cleansers I’ve recommended worked for me without stripping off my natural lipids and yet keeping my face clean and fresh. However, note that I’ve either used the cleansers in the morning when my face was relatively clean or if I had used them in the evening, I’ve always double cleansed using the same cleanser twice or using it after taking my makeup off with a cream cleanser or oil cleanser.

Function.require Viva Woman 2011 New Year VivaBella Giveaway

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Someone asked me why do I need to use a special dry shampoo for my hair to keep the grease away; since it looks and feels like powder, so why can’t I just use the normal body powder or baby powder for my hair. Well, although the dry shampoo that I use looks and almost feels like normal powder, it is quite far from it. I’ve actually tried using normal body or baby powder on my hair before but the effects are quite different.

Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo With Oat Milk
Because I have extra oily hair – scalp will start secreting oil an hour or two after shampoo – I have been using Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo on an almost daily basis. It’s made with softening and protective oat extract, and keeps hair sebum at bay by penetrating the hair, absorbing dirt and grease but not drying it out. What I do is to squeeze some of the powder onto my bare hands, rub it onto my hair with my head down and brush it out after a minute or two. When brushed out, Klorane Oat Extract Dry Shampoo takes all these impurities with it, and my hair looks really clean and may I add, with some volume.

Ingredients are different
If you examine a bottle of Johnson’s Baby Powder, you’ll notice that only Talc and Fragrance are being listed. However, the Klorane Oat Extract Dry Shamopoo contains Oryza Sativa(Rice), Starch(Oryza Sativa), Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Hectorite, Avena Sativa(Oat), Kernel Flour (Avena Sativa), Kaolin, Silica, Cyclodextrin, and Fragance(Parfum) – many of these ingredients help to absorb grease and sebum.

Effects less lasting with normal powder
Personally, I’ve tried using normal body powder or baby powder on my hair and the effects are not quite the same. While they do help to absorb the grease, but the effects do not last quite as long as compared to a dedicated dry shampoo. Plus, they tend to make my hair too soft and hence, there is absolutely no volume so to speak.

So any of you used a normal body powder on your hair before? Or are any of you also using a dry shampoo like me?

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A bunch of toenails were heard wailing: “SOS! SOS! We need some serious help. Can anyone hear us crying? Oh man, can anyone even see us? We’re being trapped under this pile of enamel paint ALL THE TIME! We don’t get to see daylight. NIL. ZILCH. This is so much grief for all we see are a riot of colors and they’re not the usual primary or even secondary colors. They’ve even got cry-out-loud weirdo names to boot. Like this one is “That One That Got Away”; what kind of a color is that? It looks like raspberry so why not just call it THAT?” (>.< )

Fingernails rolled their eyes a bit before retorting: “Get a grip of yourselves all you down below and count yourselves blessed! For thanks to the colors, you little grubby ones are looking more polished than you really are. Can’t you see that other plain toenails are gazing at all of you in admiration? Plus this is a really hot deep raspberry that goes so well with the new FitFlop! We love the shimmery color! In fact, we love to be painted all the time but we don’t always have the luxury like you little fellas! Anyway, you nails really need a lesson on creativity!” (¬_¬”

Toenails stopped crying a bit but still not entirely happy. “Okay, we admit that we get stares from other toenails but it’s not what we want. We have no freedom and we never get to have any say about the colors on us! They’re slapped on us whether we like them or not. And why the need to switch colors so frequently? Can’t we do with one shade all week long? This is like the 3rd or 4th color this week alone!” (>_< )>

Fingernails pondered for a moment and continued, “Well, we’re guessing it’s the mood playing up. There are so many choices so why not have some fun? And you have to nail the right tone with the outfits. Anyway, what do you fellas have to lose? All of you are well taken care of, aren’t you? We wish we’re colored more often; we really need to be more attractive! And, we really can do without the broad daylight!” (-__-)

Love Boat: smell bent Leisure Cruise Part Deux

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Once upon a time, I was very enamored with the products from L’Occitane and would go all out to grab them. I even dedicated an entry to some of the L’Occitane best sellers and customer favorites too. Admittedly, I had good experience with their Immortelle range but I weaned myself off the brand after I turned natural and organic in my skin care selection. Once awhile, I still pop into the shop but nothing catches my fancy until I spotted this Olive Organic range. Since I was in the market for cleansers for both neutrogena healthy skin anti wrinkle cream 1 4 oz my face and body and their prices seem pretty reasonable, I decided to pick up both products.

Certified organic by Ecocert
The L’Occitane Organic Olive Skincare range uses three organic extracts taken from the olive tree: olive leaf extracts, olive water and olive oil – known for their powerful moisturizing and hydrating qualities. Many of these ingredients come from the Moulin du Luberon in Volx, which produces certified organic olive oil that carries the “A.O.C. Haute-Provence” label. The range is also paraben free and products are certified organic by Ecocert. Besides the two products you see here, there are other products for the face such as cleansing milk, toner, moisturizer, face mask and lipbalm.

L’Occitane Olive Tree Organic Radiance Cleansing Foam 100ml S$36

My preference has always been for cleansers that foam and so I do like this. However, I don’t find anything exceptional about the after effects as I do not see my face becoming more radiant after each wash. I find the scent very strong when I first started using this, and I kept thinking I was stuffing my face with crushed leaves and vegetables. (＾▽＾) But I find that compared to other foaming cleansers I’ve tried, this one comes across more foamy and I didn’t need to squirt as much. The cleansing power is quite good and my skin was left feeling fresh, clean and non drying. I wouldn’t mind buying this again.

L’Occitane Olive Organic Shower Cream 200ml S$32

Okay, I gotta admit that I sometimes buy stuff without scrutinizing too closely. Or rather it didn’t occur to me to ask if this is a foaming wash. So it’s quite a bummer for I’m desperate for a body wash that lathers generously as I still associate foam with cleanliness! This one is creamy, doesn’t foam at all but I do like the light, fresh botanical scent. And since it does not foam, so this is pretty moisturizing and I can afford to skip slathering moisturizer on my body if I don’t want to. Plus, it does feel somewhat luxurious when I use this on my body. However, the price is relatively steep when I find myself using more of the cream for each wash, given that it does not foam. Actually, I’m going to be done with this product and although I rate this product above average, I definitely am not going to buy this again given the price.

Overall summary
Obviously, I can’t comment on the entire L’Occitane Organic Olive range just based on the two products I have tried. But I’ll say I’m not exactly very excited as the key ingredient is only olive but on the other hand, simple ingredients are better for those with sensitive skin types. Like neutrogena healthy skin anti wrinkle cream 1 4 oz I mentioned, I don’t mind re-purchasing the cleansing foam again if the opportunity arise but other than that, I’m unlikely to try the other products within the range.

Neutrogena healthy skin anti wrinkle cream 1 4 oz

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It seems more and more people are getting sensitive skin, based on some of the feedback I gathered from the beauty salons I visit. I asked them what could have caused such sensitivity and most tell me that it is probably due to excessive beauty treatments or even chemical products used by the customers. I guess other factors like stress and environment pollution play a part too but I often wonder if it also has to do with max factor lash lift mascara the skin whitening and lightening products that we slather on – considering we have tons of such products in our Asian market. I for one, have been using whitening and lightening products for the longest time I can remember; I can’t really do without them given the state of my skin.

Causing skin sensitivity and drying
In fact, a few days ago, a reader by the name of Lianna, expressed her surprise that I used a product with Kojic acid in my review of the Marie Veronique Organics Skin Lightening Vitamin C Supplement. I remember reading some bad press about this ingredient but I did not pay too much heed for I believe that most skin whitening / lightening ingredients would cause some amount of skin sensitivity, depending on one’s skin type. For example, even vitamin C, which is included in many of such products would cause sensitivity, especially if the content is high in the formulation. I mean if my face is stinging and turning a little red with this ingredient, then it surely isn’t mild and gentle at all. The same goes for using lemon juice, commonly used in homemade remedies to rectify pigmentation or acne marks.

How whitening ingredients work
First of all, most active skin lightening ingredients work to slow down melanin production and prevent darkening of the skin – what is known technically as counteracting the activity of tyrosinase. Many of such ingredients are also exfoliant, and some of them induce a mild skin peeling to help slough away the top layer of dead, dull skin cells to reveal the fresher and lighter-coloured skin layer underneath. Hence, it is no surprise that the skin can become thinner, and develop sensitivity plus irritations after prolonged usage of such products. In some serious cases, the ingredients can cause an allergic type of dermatitis in the skin.

Common skin whitening & lightening ingredients
Skin whitening and lightening products may use different ingredients. At the extreme, you have those containing Hydroquinone and Glutathione, which are really potent. The former is not recommended because of the health hazards plus it really thins out our skin. The latter, Glutathione, is used in skin whitening pills but may pose dangers because I understand that you have to consume in high dosage for the lightening effects to be evident. But it is also said to be great for topical application in the case of reducing hyperpigmentation but in some cases, may result in heavy peeling. Other common whitening ingredients include Kojic Acid, Licorice Exctract, Mulberry Extract, Arubtin, Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid), Retinol, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Lemon Juice Extract, and Papain.

5 tips to use skin whitening / lightening products
As I mentioned, I’ve used whitening products for max factor lash lift mascara a long time – 15 years thereabout. I realized that it’s not good to use such products continuously as my skin did get thinner over time. Plus I developed sun sensitivity. But I still need to use them so here’s what I do:
1. Use the whitening product just once a day, in the night.
2. Do not use them every night but about 3 times a week.
3. Do not use them continuously; stop after one bottle and resume later.
4. Moisturize well so that skin will not be dry.
5. Use sunscreen in the day diligently.

Know your skin type
I found that it’s best to choose a whitening / lightening skin care product which include antioxidants. Some of the whitening ingredients like vitamin C work as antioxidants. You also need to take note of your own skin type and condition to determine what whitening / lightening ingredients are suitable for you. Some products contain a mixture so you have to do some research. If your skin is very sensitive, it’s best to avoid those potent ingredients and stick to the milder ones. I’m not going to cover the scale of potency max factor lash lift mascara but you can search around and find some materials covering the ingredients you’re specifically looking at. Personally, I try to avoid those that cause peeling.

Max factor lash lift mascara

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It looked like my hair had grown long enough and for lancome ageless minerale powder foundation with white sapphire complex spf 21 0 12 oz some strange reasons, I was trying to comb back my hair into a bun, probably inspired by the Geishas. But no matter what I did, my scalp was visible like this grass head doll!  There were wide gaps of at least 1 inch between each strand and I grasped in horror as I realized that my entire head look really sparse…and I mean  S P A R S E as I could feel the air above my head.  OH NO, HOW? (>_<

And then I woke up in cold sweat and I realized, it was just a nightmare! *PHEW*

This isn’t the first time I dreamt about my hair.  I’ve lost count but I often have nightmares and it’s always about my hair.  Most of the time, it’s got to do with me losing more hair or cutting it into a strange style or they turning all white. I can’t recall having nightmares about other aspects lancome ageless minerale powder foundation with white sapphire complex spf 21 0 12 oz of my body; so I guess it has to do with the insecurities I have about my hair.

How about you? Do you have nightmares related to your hair or your skin or your body? Share them! (I hope I’m not the only one having such nightmares!)

Lancome ageless minerale powder foundation with white sapphire complex spf 21 0 12 oz

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I posted a teaser on the Viva Woman Facebook page over the weekend on this product and the answers totally cracked me up. A number guessed it as a breast implant or silicone, others guessed that it’s a soap, a mint candy, or a wax bead and one classic answer was that it looks like a suppository! Haha! It does look like a mint candy but it’s candy for the armpits! This is the Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal that I bought from Nature’s Farm. I haven’t seen the roll on one around and so settled for this as I was finding using my DIY deodorant a hassle on days when I’m in a hurry.

100% pure and natural
Actually, I’ve been pondering if I should get this for sometime already. Somehow, it never appealed to me but I was not able to find a good commercially available and efficient deodorant that is naturally formulated. The price of this is S$20.30 but it’s said to last a year. Naturally Fresh contains only natural mineral salts, which works to form a layer of natural 24-hour protection from the bacteria that cause body odor. Hence, there are no harmful chemicals, perfumes or propellants and it is safe for most people.

Effectiveness
In terms of effectiveness, I rate this 4 out of 5 because it does a pretty good job of keeping me fresh throughout the day as it also works like an antiperspirant. But I’ve found that I need to layer more if I want longer protection or if ‘m out under the hot sun and perspiring a lot. I get good peace of mind using this since it is 100% pure and natural. Moreover, it dries up real quickly, is not sticky or greasy and does not stain my clothes. It is said not to clog pores and there was no irritation when I used this generously on my armpits.

Inconvenience
However, in terms of application, I rate this 1 out of 5 as Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal is inconvenient to use. It’s shaped like an egg and feels like a stone. While it’s easy to hold in the hands, I find the application process a hassle. To use this, I’ve got to hold on to one end and moist the other end with water or mist, before applying the wet end directly to my armpits. Plus, I found that one application is not enough for my case, and I need to apply twice. So all in all, the process takes longer than using my baking soda DIY deodorant! I’ve been wanting to get a little container to store this thing but haven’t got down to it; so meanwhile, the product is kept in the clear plastic bag that came with the product.

Availability of other formulas
I realized from visiting the company’s website that they’ve introduced a score of deodorants in roll on, twist up or even spray formulas but I certainly don’t see them here. I’m not so sure if those work as well but I wouldn’t mind giving them a try. So will someone bring the products into our market if they’re not already available? And please price them reasonably for they’re darn cheap in the US!

Quick fragrance tip: Know your skin type

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