The FaceShop Pomegranate and Collagen Face Lifting Essence review

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product against container

I am in ASIA! Yes, I am avoiding the cold Canadian weather and am here... I couldn't help feeling sorry for those in Canada while I look at news stories and the highways are still lightly coated in snow. (I am evil).

Because of the lack of time management and disorganization skills I had, I was not able to pack everything... and guess what? I left my precious serums. But luckily, this means I get to try new ones. 

I went to colourmix and one of the sales associates recommended me to try this Pomegranate and Collagen Face Lifting Essence (keep in mind that most Asian skincare companies refer to their serums as essences).

This serum claims that it is:

An anti-aging skin care that increases the skins resilience through the interaction of pomegranate estrogen and marine collagen

And Effects: Brightening and firming skin

serum

Impressions

• Feels very thick
• A moisturizer?
• Light Pomegranate scent
• Feel the slight firming effect
• No brightening effect

There is a light lotion mixed with pomegranate smell that gives you a relaxing feeling... like you are at a spa when you inhale this serum

After using this serum for 4 days I started noticing the firming effect... it doesn't make your skin absolutely firm... but just enough for you to notice... and there is more "bounce" to your skin.

One thing I didn't really like about this serum... (and depending on your preference you might or might not like it) is that it felt like a moisturizer to me... my skin did not absorb it as well as other serums... and it took me a lot of time rubbing this essence into my face before it could fully absorb this thick product and I could move on to applying moisturizer.

I have tried just using this serum... as a serum/moisturizer but it simply does not fulfill what a moisturizer can do (SO REMEMBER TO APPLY MOISTURIZER AFTER!!!)

Score: 7.5/10
Website: http://international.thefaceshop.com/english/product/productView.jsp?ctgr=ctgr&search=ca&prdidx=7160&prdtype=198&pageno=2

please check out my personal blog and follow me around Tokyo :)

My Beauty Diary Cooling Mask review

Cooling Mask

Sorry for being MIA again... a Belated Valentine's Day to you!

My Beauty Diary Masks have always been my favourite masks... because not only are they affordable, but most importantly, they work and enhance the condition of my skin (except for this Red Vine Mask)

I was intrigued with this Cooling Mask because it advertised itself as moisturizing and relaxing your skin. I also loved the snowflakes on the packaging (I am a total sucker when it comes to pretty looking packaging).

The Chinese name is: 冰沁活氧面膜

Function

• Relax
• Moisturize

Ingredients

Purified Water, 1,3-Butylene Glycol, Glycerine, Propylene Glycol, Aloe Extract, Licorice Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Seaweed Extract, Methylparaben, Algae-Yeast Complex, Bio-Active Silanols, Lecithin, Nanospheres 100, Vegetal Collagen, Citric Acid, Peppermint Extract, Arnica Extract, Menthol, Laminaria, Triethanolamine, Green Tea Extract, Gingko Biloba Extract, Marigold Extract, Elderberry Extract, Butcher's Broom Extract, Propylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Tween 20, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethanol, Methyl Lactate, Perfume

(I had to highlight Peppermint... as it was so hard to find)

how mask looks like

Impression

• Very cool minty feeling
• Smells medicated
• Strong minty scent
• Slight stinging sensation

Directions

1. Cleanse and tones face thoroughly before applying mask. 
2. Put the mask on and leave it for 20 - 30 minutes, then peel off. 
3. Gently massage the excess essence on the face and neck to assist absorption. 
4. No rinsing is necessary. 
5. Follow with your daily moisturizer. 

Use 2 - 3 times weekly for maximum effect.

fail on their part... it is even hard to read the text in "real life"

Pros

• Made my skin feel softer
• Lovely cooling sensation

Cons

• Left my face with pimples on the jaw line
• made my skin very dry

one cooling mask

Despite the "cool" feeling (pun not intended), I will not be purchasing these anymore... it caused my jaw line to break out :(... A mask is supposed to enhance the condition of your skin... Instead... This mask left my skin with pimples on my jawline (which lasted for a month)... 

Score: 5/10
Website:no website

Biore Foaming Facial Wash Cleanser review

Biore Foaming Facial Wash Cleanser

Hey dearest friends!

As the harsh winter dry air comes... we need to be prepared and pamper our skin so it can feel nice and soft... after all... our skin is one of the biggest organs... why wouldn't we want to take good care of it?

Biore's facial cleansers have always been one of my favourite cleansers because they do a wonderful job cleaning my skin without irritating it.. when I found that they have developed a Foaming facial wash, I was excited to give this a try!

info on the back

impressions:

• feels like a light mouse,
• has a light relaxing Biore scent
• good for mild cleaning
• does not irritate skin
• you only need one pump

The consistency is very light and watery... if you held the "foam" longer, it will disappear in a matter of seconds... you can leave it on for a few more seconds and it will not irritate your skin. This cleanser is extremely mild. I also like the smell (Biore's signature scent)... the scent makes me feel so relaxed.

foam up close

Pros:

• lightly scented
• does not irritate skin
• product lasts a long time (a little goes a long way)
• easy to wash off
• affordable

Cons:

• very light cleanser
• does not clean tough oils

Verdict:

I think this foaming cleanser is not strong enough... it is able to clean away skin that is in good condition... but if you have oil or looking for a cleanser that cleans more thoroughly this would not be a good cleanser for you. I would either opt for Juju Aquamoist's Foam Cleanser (for mild cleansing)or Biore's regular Facial Cleanser.

Score: 7.5/10
Website: http://www.kao.co.jp/biore/lineup/s_whip.html

Skin79 Lemon Brightening Mask review

Lemon Brightening Mask

I have finally accomplished my mission!! I have bought and used this Lemon Brightening Mask!! .I can finally say that I have used all 3 of Skin79's Home Self Spa Mask!!! (applause)... 

If you haven't read my reviews on the other masks of this collection, I will repeat: This product contains a box, a sanded glass container and a plastic spoon... one of the reasons I like the plastic spoon is that it makes using and storing this mask much more hygienic... without directly contact with the mask (which is moist read: perfect bacteria growth environment), you will be able to store your mask for a longer time with out it being contaminated. 

Made in Korea

Lemon juice is best known to brighten and whiten our skin... so it made lots of sense for Skin79 to make a Lemon Brightening Mask.

Description:

The mask is effective to such skin as needing management of brightness with Lemon Extract helping dark complexion radiant and bright. Moisturizing ingredients are lightly and softly absorbed in skin without irritation. The Hyaluronic Acid and Phyto Active Complex keeps your dry skin clear and healthy by supplying soothing and moisturizing effect.

Claims:

• Brightens
• Soothing
• Moisturizes
• Softening Skin

sorry for the blurriness... my camera refused to focus!!! >.<

Directions:

After washing take a proper amount and spread all over your face except eye & lip area. Wait 10 - 15 minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water. (Use it once or twice a week).

Impressions

• Smells like lemons... The artificial kind
• Dehydrates skin
• Thick
• Some brightening effects 
• test on small section of skin before 

Caution! If you have any wounds or your skin is breaking out or particularly sensitive... wait... DO NOT use it... you will regret as this mask will sting sensitive/broken skin.

pros:

• smells good (if you like artificial lemon flavour... but seriously, who doesn't?)
• effective - my skin felt slightly brightened and plumped
• attractive packaging
• reasonable price
• you don't need a lot to cover your whole face

cons:

• does not really dry up... 
• dehydrates skin
• can be quite messy
• a bit harder to wash off (compared to the rose and seaweed mask)

Do not expect huge results after using this mask... it will not instantly make your skin a few shades lighter... it will brighten it... make sure to apply a moisturizing serum and moisturizer after (your skin will feel dry)

check out my reviews on other Skin79 Masks by clicking here!

score: 7.5/10

website: no website

Skinfood Watery Berry Serum review

the product and packaging

Skinfood is one of those brands where you hear so much about to the point that you love it and want it so much before you actually tried any of their products. Beauty Guru's from all over are rant over this brand so much...

This product contains berry extracts and Hyaluronic acid. These ingredients make and your skin retain moisture

Impressions:

• Very watery
• Smells like berry 
• very easy to absorb
• I hate the pump

back of container

A word of caution, if you are using this product for the first time you will need to pump it about 20 times before you can get any product out (the pump isn't broken, that's just how it was made).

The scent is extremely light, it is a soft hint of a mixture of berry auras put together.

photo credits: skinfood

Packaging:

This bottle is made out of glass (feels expensive :P). There was no box, it was coated in a hard plastic wrap.

Pump:

I think the problem is not the pump, but the way the bottle is shaped. I found it extremely difficult to squirt the product out without "almost" making a mess each time. The pump produces a lot of product so one pump is literally enough for your whole face (remember to not use too much serum on your skin... it can do more harm than good).

Texture:

The texture is very smooth and there are little white microbeads (which melt when you apply to your face). I emailed Skinfood about what those "beads" are but I wasn't able to get a reply from them. So till now, I do not know what they are...

Pros:

• make your skin feel so soft
• gives a glowy look
• your skin literally drinks up this serum in a second

Cons:

• hard to "pump" out product
• moisturizing effect does not last very long (approx. 5 hrs)

Score: 7.0

Official Website: http://eng.theskinfood.com/products/product.asp?prdNo=1554

PUREDERM Collagen Eye Zone Mask review

package

I have noticed my eyes getting puffier and my dark circles have become terrifying. I went on eBay and found these. These are from Korea, so I thought, why not give these a try. This is the first time I used PureDerm products. I forgot what the price was... it was definitely reasonable (there were 15 pairs).

impressions:

• Tight feeling
• sheet area was much bigger than expected
• Hard to peel out mask from other masks
• slight stinging feeling
• works

back of package with details

packaging:

I liked how they used "ziploc"so that it preserves the remaining eye masks. But I was not impressed with how hard it was to take each mask out... they were literally all stuck together. Since they were so thin, it took quite a lot of effort to take a piece out... I was worried I would contaminate the masks... don't want to put contaminated things near my eyes or on my face. :(

the eye mask was huge

pros:

• definitely works
• easy storage
• no scent
• nicely drenched in liquid, even after 30 minutes these pads are still quite moistened
• reasonable price

cons:

• why aren't the masks separated better?
• stinging/heavy/tight feeling
• falls off easily and adjusts itself (always need to readjust them)
• packaging needs to be more hygienic

results

Results:

So after applying for 25-30 minutes this is what happens. You can tell from the before and after images that there are differences. My eyes were less puffy and my dark circles were less dark. They didn't completely remove the puffiness and dark circles but there is definitely a difference.

score: 8.0/10
website: http://www.purederm.co.kr/product/detail.html?product_no=136&cate_no=24&display_group=

also... if you are interested, please check out my personal blog and follow me around Tokyo :)

Sulwhasoo Snowise EX Whitening Serum Review

A brightening serum that rejuvenates skin exhausted from the heat for bright complexion.

Lately I discovered my freckles getting more and more prominent due to exposure to the sun... they were obvious to the point that they would appear in my pictures... I have heard of Sulwhasoo's Whitening Serum, (and I was finishing off my serum) so I decided to give it a try.

In 2 weeks time, I have already noticed a difference, I have felt my freckles disappearing (freckles caused by skin; I am naturally freckled, those freckles did not disappear, instead, they became a lighter shade) and the skin on my face was much "brighter"

Impressions:

• smells like citrus fruits (lightly scented)
• absorbs very quickly
• you will need a good moisturizing mask to avoid dehydrated skin
• works and definitely "brightened" "whitened my freckles (cause by sun "damage")

A brightening serum formulated with traditional Korean herbs rejuvenates skin exhausted from the heat improving its healthy glow and bright complexion.

Product Description (from Sulwhasoo website)

• Snowise Tri-White ComplexTM helps to enhance circulation and resilience reduced by heat for a clearly bright complexion.
• Absorbs refreshingly without stickiness and supplies energy and moisture to your skin for revitalized and transparent skin.

Sulwhasoo claims that the serum does not "bleach" your skin, instead, it puts nutrients in your skin, stimulating the cells and allowing them to give off a natural glow. Pigmented skin like freckles are a few shades lighter.

a little goes a long way... a bottle can last for 5-6 months... all you need is 1-1.5 pump each time.

Keep in mind, that serums are used to provide nutrients, and this serum targets brightening your skin and blemishes, if you have dry skin please remember to use masks and moisturizers to avoid having dry dehydrated skin.

score: 9.5/10
website: http://www.sulwhasoo.com/product/detail.jsp?prdtCd=213028002


also... if you are interested, please check out my personal blog and follow me around Tokyo :)

Dr. Wu Microinject Hydrating Mask With Hyaluronic Acid review

package of Dr. Wu's Hyaluronic Acid Mask

 This is my first Dr.Wu product, my cousin got this for me because she knows that my skin is constantly dry. Since Hyaluronic Acid is such a wonderful moisturizing product, I decided to test it out immediately.

Key Ingredients: HyaluComplex, Oceagen, Moist 24, Aldavine, Ceramide III, Active Yeast Extract
Target: Dehydrated and Sensitive Skin

impressions:

• no scent
• easy to apply
• thin material
• instant results
• dries quickly

how the mask looks right after taking it out of the plastic

You can see the 2 layers (the one with holes and the blue layer)2, the sheet that you put on your face is between these 2 layers. This mask is nice and secure!

I actually  look scary here :O, this was before I removed the blue part

Boo! Did I scare you? >:D this is taken before I removed the blue part... the blue part is a very hard textured plastic, it made it a bit difficult to position the mask onto my face as it was not flexible and made from a hard material.

look at how closely fitted it is

Once I removed the blue part, the mask just glided on my face. I really loved how closely fitted it was to my skin. You can even see my blemishes (oops) through the mask. I really loved how it was so thin and light weighted. I was able to walk around with this on my face (without fear of it falling off)

see how transparent the mask is

The material is so transparent (compared to other facial masks), you can see from the picture just how thin it was. Most of the substance was already dry when I removed the mask, I gently patted by face to make sure the mask was properly absorbed.

My face felt so moisturized (?) after! yeah! :D

My face felt so wonderful (literally) after using the mask, my face felt so soft and smooth! (I hear for some it takes approximately 2-3 masks for it to take in effect). I had immediate effects and it lasted for a few days! My skin was so soft!!! I seriously highly recommend this product!!

score: 10/10!
website: http://www.drwu.com/english/03_product/02_detail.php?pid=27

Laneige Water Bank Essence Review

photo credits: Laneige website

Laneige Water Bank Essence's slogan:
Long lasting hydration essence that provides clear and moist skin

Suitable for:  all skin types

What Laneige says: 

photo credits: Laneige website

text: "Twice stronger 24-hour moisturization keeps skin from dryness and dullness and ample moisture from Natural Moisturizing Factors smoothes and energizes rough skin. Mineral Water in Water Bank regenerates the skin and fills inside the skin with ample moisture."

(take note that Essence is the same as Serum, you can review my article about Softeners, Essences and Emulsions are)

Laneige has a good reputation of carrying amazing skin products, however, this Essence (or Serum) is definitely not one of my favourites. I found the essence to be extremely mediocre and average. I was really excited during the first 2 days of using this product as it really indeed helped my skin's condition: it made it more pump and felt slightly hydrated, though it didn't last for 24 hours, only 2-3 hours.

I seriously do not know what went wrong after because after those 2 days, it no longer helped my skin condition... sometimes (during summer) it maintained the condition but it did not hydrate nor moisten it.

photo credits: Laneige website

impressions:

• really nice packaging (glass)
• product (the essence) is very average
• easily absorbed by skin
• did not fulfill claims
• smells really nice (really refreshing but not too strong, scent goes away after a minute of applying product (probably "Ocean" scent)
• seems to "work" better during Summer

photo credits: Laneige website

Directions (provided by Laneige):
1. After using the emulsion, release about a hazelnut-sized amount.
2. Gently spread from the center of the face towards the contours.
3. Cover the entire face with both hands to enhance penetration.


The serum did not help my skin on harsh cold, dry climates at all. Since I was left with so much product, I use this on days I feel my skin is "ok" (meaning, it does not have a need to moisturize), I feel it would "maintain" that fine skin for a few hours... but if I really need to moisturize, I would definitely choose another serum/essence.

score: 6.5/10
website: http://www.laneige.com.sg/product/detail.jsp?prdtCd=214150001

Aroma Multi Therapy Hair Serum Review

Aroma Multi Therapy Hair Serum

I noticed a significant brittleness to my hair lately... Due to the dryness of winter, I have noticed that besides my skin, my hair has also gotten dry.

But besides the environment, things we do to our hair can harm it, e.g. perm treatments, dyeing hair, combing, blow drying, hair straightening, hair sprays,  etc... all these can cause severe damage to our hair.

A few months ago, I noticed over 10 split ends, I decided to buy some hair serum. I came across this Aroma Multi Therapy Hair Serum and decided to give it a try.

top view of box

Impressions:

• Lemon smell (sometimes this smell will stay even after you have washed it off with Shampoo)
• do not put too much
• better to put some before heading out (than before bed)
• oily
• makes hair very soft and silky
• notice a slight change in hair (e.g. split ends)
• your hair literally absorbs this product, but due to the "oiliness" of the product, it will still make your hair very greasy
• hair feels much stronger

what is claims: 

• Repairs split ends
• Strengthen hair with silk proteins
• Moisturizers with vitamin B
• Adds shine and softness with botanical extracts and Vitamin E
• Provides UV  protection from sun damage
• Heating protection from styling tools
• Ideal for all hair types

Directions by Aroma:

• Shake well
• Put a small amount (dime size) to palm of hand, rub your palms together
• Apply on towel dried hair (only to the ends) apply from roots to your ends
• Can be applied on wet or dry hair as often as necessary
• You can apply before and after you dry your hair with a blow dryer

Modifications to their direction (My Direction), which I have found quite effective

• Shake well
• put a small amount to palm of hands and rub
• apply to dry hair
• put this product on the ends of your hair
• I do not suggest you putting this product on newly washed hair (unless you plan to wash it later) because it makes your hair very oily (like you haven't washed it for days). 
• I usually wait a few hours before washing it off so my hair absorbs it... (your hair will absorb this product but your hair will still look oily)

Effects:

it works, it made my hair feel really soft (you will start noticing the difference after using it the first time). Although it does not exactly "repair" your hair as it claims, it does make split ends look less visible. It also strengthened my hair.

Pros:

• very effective
• works and improves hair quality
• nice smell (depends if you like lemon, it can be a pro or con)

Cons:

• makes hair very oily
• not suitable if you have just washed your hair (your hair literally feels/looks like it hasn't been washed)

rating: 8/10

no website

Juju Aquamoist Moisture Foam Cleanser review

I have heard many great reviews about this product, so I had to get my hands on this and give it a try. I consider myself quite lucky when it comes to foam moisturizers, I always randomly select good products!

Aquamoist has always been one of my favourite brands because it is so effective and treats our skin so well, so I was very excited to give this foam cleanser a try.

I threw away my wrapper before I took a picture... photo credits: http://www.evecare.com



thoughts:

• mild clean
• good for dry and sensitive skin (suitable for all skin types)
• no scent/fragrance
• absorbs water like crazy
• makes skin feels so soft and smooth

formula and other information

Ingredients: 
Hyaluronic acid helps the skin adjust its moisture absorption rate based on humidity, relative to season and climate. This is very important because as we age, our skin's moisture drops significantly (causing us to lose elasticity and show signs of aging.) Hyaluronic acid maintains our skins health by helping it hold moisture.

Other major Ingredients:
Water, glycerin, water

The formula is mild acidity and contains no artificial colouring, mineral oils or animal origin ingredients.

consistency of foam product, sorry for the blurriness of this image

The steps are really simple:
pump some product on your hands (I only use 1 pump, most instructions call for 3-4 pumps...not sure why they need THAT MUCH) and massage it over your face, rinse immediately. Rinsing immediately is extremely important! I have made the mistake of leaving it on for more than I should (like 10 secs more) next morning, my face started having weird bumps... and producing oil and being dry ... I had a horrible week "fixing this mess".

It is a thirsty foam:
make sure you put enough water on your face, this cleanser drinks up water like one thirsty... foam. (I'm not very descriptive), every time I do not use enough, I feel the foam drying on my face and I can no longer spread it... applying water to it after it has dried up does not help either. So REMEMBER... WET and DRENCH YOUR FACE!

That being said though, it does not "dry out your face" like most foam cleansers, it drinks the water from your face but it does not make your skin feel "squeaky clean" (as if all oil has been striped off) and most important there is no tight feeling.

Benefits:
After using this product for a few months I have discovered that my face felt more smooth (keep in mind the harsh cold winter we have this year). I also noticed that it is much easier for my skin to absorb serums, moisturizers and gels.

Score: 9/10

website: http://www.juju.co.jp/eng/catalog/aquamoist/

Skin79 Rose Moisture Mask review

Skin79 Rose Moisture Mask contents

Happy New Year!!!

Either you are working hard to meet year end deadlines or you simply have been partying (a lot? *wink), either way, our skin must be tired from all those layers of make up or having the need to staying up so late, not to mention stress. And if you are living in a place where it is currently winter, your skin must have been drying from the dry weather or heaters. Good thing, we have masks to help us moisturize and relieve our dry and tired skin! My new year's resolution this year is to have better skin than I do now. Currently, I think my skin is in good condition, but there are still areas that are fairly dry, I hope by this time next year, those dry areas will be fully moisturized and smooth! What is your New Years Resolution?

It is quite fortunate I was able to receive this Skin79 Rose Moisture mask in time for this post! Let's put another Skin79 product to the test! This is the way to end the year... with a Skin79 product review!

The product contains a box, a sanded glass container and a plastic spoon. I really like the idea of using a plastic spoon. It is extremely hygienic, by keeping your mask clean, you can store it for a longer time without worrying about bacteria growing inside (eww).

Tagline: HYDRATING MASK FOR DRY AND TIRED SKIN. This mask contains refreshing rose petals, delivering the moisture and vitamins of rose petals to dehydrated skin to moisture skin from the inside to help maintain resilient and lively skin.

photo credits: official site

After you have cleansed your face, apply a thick layer of mask to the skin. Leave on for 20-25 minutes* then wash off with warm water. *the instructions say 10-15 minutes, but I like to leave it on longer, it seemed to be more effective if you leave it on longer.

ingredient list

The QR Code brings you to the Korean Official website of this product. (http://m.skin79.com/product/product_view.asp?proNo=00096 but for some reason, only mobile phones can access this page only). I was slightly shocked at the list of ingredients, how can there be so many!

inside of container

The moment you lift the cover, you can smell rose petals (like rose tea). Don't let the name fool you, if you look closely at the ingredients, you will notice that besides rose petals, there also contains Cocoa, Licorice, and extracts from cucumber and aloe. These ingredients will help moisturize and make your skin feel soft.

close up of the product, see the rose petals. This is all you need to cover your whole face, you can use more if you like

if you take a close up look at the product, you will find that there are bits of rose petals contained inside the mask. The mask does not require you to use a lot of product, just a liberal amount. It may seem unrealistic, but when I scooped out half a spoonful (the spoon that they provide), it was enough product to cover my whole face. However, I suggest that if you really need intense hydration, you should use a bit more.

Benefits to skin:

• purifies and Moisturizing
• Toning and tightening
• Hydrating
• Softening
• relaxing
• stimulating

pros:

• smells good (literally like rose)
• effective - my skin felt hydrated, moisturized
• attractive packaging
• reasonable price
• easy to wash off
• you don't need a lot to cover your whole face

cons:

• feels sticky when it is on your face (even when dried)
• more effective during "milder" summer and spring months*

*Sadly, as good as it is. It is not very effective nor having a lasting effect during harsh winter months in North America. It does help to put more product on, but the effect is not as lasting as I have hoped.

rating: 8/10

check out my reviews on other Skin79 Masks by clicking here!

website: http://www.skin79northamerica.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=93&vmcchk=1&Itemid=53

UPDATE:
website:: http://www.skin79.com/eng/product_eng?id=12&prdno=0000001183

Étude House kissful tint choux red review

Étude House kiss full tint choux Red colour - container

I always like Etude House products because they are really girly and are good quality. I heard a few beauty bloggers blog about this so I decided to make a purchase and give it a try. I actually have been using this for over 6 months now.

I decided on the Etude House Kissful Choux Tint in #1 Red

thoughts:

• delicious cherry smell (no, I didn't taste it)
• vivid colour
• long lasting tint
• moisturizes
• natural looking
• hard to apply (need to apply with finger)

Étude house kiss full tint choux Red colour - contents and "applicator"

I really wished there was an applicator, this product forces you to use your hands which can be very messy. I end up with a pink/red stained finger every time I use this product. 

The product is really thick, you don't need a lot of it to fill your whole lip. It also smelled really yummy, like artificial cherry candy (but in a good way), for those who don't eat candy, this lip tint reminds me of Escada's Cherry in the Air perfume (which is the smell of artificial cherry candy).

me with Étude House kiss full tint choux (Red) right after application

As mentioned, the product is thick but once you blend it out, it is is less pigmented. It looks dark pink more than red. When it dries, it is really dry, the thick product is no longer sticky. It even has a glossy finish (I know the photo doesn't show this too well).

me with Étude House kiss full tint choux Red colour - after dinner (please excuse the background and my messy hair)

I really love how it moisturizes my lips and enhances them at the same time. Because the look is so natural, it keeps people wondering whether I have even applied anything on. It is really great that it is long lasting, so I don't have to "give away my secret" every time I need to reapply some more product.

Skin79 Seaweed Cooling Mask review

I was waiting very impatiently for this to come in the mail. I am just so grateful for this mask. In Fact, I think I like everything that Skin79 makes (so far). 

It's tagline is a "Home Self Spa Mask", I have actually never been to a spa before, so I don't know what my skin should feel like after a spa treatment... but, if my skin can feel THIS good, I am definitely up for visiting a spa one day.

According to it's website it claims this mask is a

COOLING MASK THAT PROVIDES COOL, FRESH MOISTURE. The abundant moisturizing properties of this overnight cooling mask that can e felt the moment it touches the skin has excellent calming properties that quickly renews tired skin.

This is a very versatile mask, it can be a 10-15 min mask or a sleeping mask. 2 masks in one! It also works for all skin types. Isn't that cool (pun intended)?

photo source: http://www.skin79northamerica.com

The colour of the container was very attractive... who can resist this blue? But the gel is just clear, no colour to it. I also am impressed by how they also provided a "spoon" so you can scoop up the contents without contaminating the mask.

please excuse the messy background 

This is how Skin79 describes this mask:

This moisture supplying mask full of as cool moisture as it was dipped from the ocean, is fit for those who have brittle, sensitive and thin skin. With Fucus vesiculous extract containing minerals and Allantoin in addition to Aloe extract, which is prominent in skin soothing effect, this gel type content promptly has soothing and moisturizing effect on skin as well as maintains the skin healthy by providing freshness and sufficient moisture.

Product is recommended for dry and sensitive skin types.

How to Use:

After cleansing and apply a thick layer of mask to the skin avoiding eye and lip area.

Rinse thoroughly after 10-15 minutes with lukewarm water.

Pack Size - 75ml

I fell in love with this mask at first use. The scent wasn't strong but it certainly reminds me of the smell of the ocean (don't know why). I guess my skin was exhausted due to recent weather changes, so when I applied this mask, I could feel my skin relax a bit. My skin felt a cool sensation later (not a minty kind of cool, more like ocean wind blowing in your face kind of cool).

I am obsessed with the packaging

First things I realized when I washed off the mask was that my skin was smooth... my skin wasn't moisturized  but it was very very smooth... like every mask we remove and wash off, I had to apply toner, moisturizer. I think the skin on my face was relaxed.

pros:

• smell
• effective - my skin felt so smooth
• attractive packaging
• reasonable price
• easy to wash off
• cools my face (which is what it should be doing)

cons:

• does not moisturize too well, (it does a great job "cooling" my skin though)

check out my reviews on other Skin79 Masks by clicking here!

website: http://www.skin79northamerica.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=91&category_id=32&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=53

UPDATE: website changed to: http://www.skin79.com/eng/product_eng?id=12&prdno=0000001183