Paula's Choice Hydrating Treatment Mask review

 

I came across this "mask" while I was on their website to refill on more of their popular leave-on exfoliant. 

My skin has been quite dry lately and since I am very impressed with their exfoliate I decided to give this mask a try. I haven't heard of it prior and there seems to be no mention of this product from other skincare specialists. 

This is a hydrating treatment mask that contains Borage oil. According to stylist.co.uk, "Borage oil treats all kinds of skin inflammation including eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, and rosacea. It is also good if your skin feels dry as it is calming, nourishing, and redness-erasing prowess. It's also useful in helping calm acne and it's lighter than many other oils so won't leave your face feeling greasy."

This mask claims to hydrate dry, flaky skin, fortifies the protective moisture barrier, and calms and soothes sensitive skin. It is listed under their "Skin Recovery". Paula's Choice also recommends it as a good hand hydrating mask (but I didn't/haven't feel/felt the benefits of it).

Directions 

Use on clean skin. Apply a generous layer all over the face and neck. Leave on overnight as your last step in your skincare routine. Use as often as needed.

I have been using this mask (sometimes I use it as a moisturizer and almost every night as a leave-on mask) for almost 4 months and I love it!

Impressions:

• affordable
• calming
• your skin needs to adjust to the texture
• it hydrates your dry skin!
• can be used as a moisturizer/eye cream
• long-lasting (effects last for hours)
• Use around 1 cm of product for the whole face
• very thick, leave-on mask but light-weight (skin absorbs every bit of product)
• no irritation
• softens skin, soothes skin
• non-greasy

When I first started using this mask, my skin felt uncomfortable with the thickness and consistency, it took around 2 weeks till my skin was able to adjust and became comfortable with the consistency and properly absorbed the product. 

I noticed it would dry out some smaller pimples and acne within 1-2 uses.  I use it as an overnight leave-on mask, and my skin feels very plump and hydrated the next day. There was a tiny wrinkle on my skin (prior to using this mask) and this mask took it out within 2-3 uses!

I have super sensitive skin and this mask/cream did not cause any issues. There was absolutely no irritation, but my skin had to adjust to the thickness of "learning how to absorb it properly". 

I am super happy I found this product and it is also one of Paula's Choice's more affordable products.

Score: 10/10
Website: https://www.paulaschoice.com/skin-recovery-hydrating-treatment-mask/280.html

CoCo's Passion Dragonfruit Smoothie short review

Large Passion Dragonfruit smoothie

I haven't gone out to explore places (restaurants, bars, etc) since the pandemic so I haven't been able to write a lot of reviews... while I like the convenience of taking out, it just isn't the same as dining in... I can't wait till we can all dine out again and be free to explore places! 

After months of reviewing products I am so glad I finally came across a drink I really like and can't wait to share with you, this is Coco's Passion Dragonfruit Smoothie... isn't it pretty? 😍 

ALSO! they have a special promotion right now... it is $5.50 (for the month of April... I'm not sure how long it last though)

The Drink:

The staff warned me that somewhere in the ingredients there is milk, so if you are lactose intolerant, be warned. I couldn't taste a strong milk presence, though. 

I think this is a seasonal item since I see dragonfruits popping around everywhere but am secretly hoping it is a permanent menu item. 

I couldn't find this item on their website... so the ingredients list will be based on my tastebuds and experience. 

Ingredients: 

It contains real dragonfruit bits, passionfruit bits, passionfruit seeds (replacing the traditional tapioca balls), and milk (according to the staff)

Experience:

I love this drink because it isn't artificially sweet, it is just right, and it also isn't sour, but with hints of tart in the blend (from the passionfruit bits). Despite being a smoothie, it is very refreshing and contains lots of liquid. I hate traditional smoothies that are not refreshing and don't quench thirst, but this isn't the case for this drink at all. 

score: 10/10

website: no website

AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Cream Some by Mi review

I have been eyeing this cream for some time... it has AHA, BHA and PHA.

AHA which stands for alpha hydroxy acid focuses on removing layers of dead skin cells on the surface level and stimulates collagen and humectant properties

BHA stands for beta hydroxy acid penetrates deeper under the surface of the skin to degunk debris from the pores. It is good for acne-prone skin, anti-inflammatory, and also stimulates collagen production.

PHA stands for Poly hydroxy Acid removes layers of dead skin cells on the surface and helps the skin absorb products better. 

This cream claims to smoothly exfoliate and strengthen your skin barrier with tea tree leaf water, Centella Asiatica. It also has Madecassoside to protect sensitive skin and helps it stay healthy.

This cream contains Centella 700,000ppm

Instructions:

Take an appropriate amount and spread evenly onto the skin. 

Since there is a serum version, I assume this cream acts as a moisturizer.

 impressions:

• woody minty smell
• soothing for skin
• very lightweight
• effects are not long-lasting
• only provides a temporary relief
• you need a liberal amount (for 30 days, this is a lot of product!)

I was very excited when I first saw this cream however, after using it for 30 days, I didn't see any significant changes to my skin, it is good as a temporary relief from dryness but it didn't provide life-changing or amazing results.  It is a lightweight product and doesn't provide any protective barrier (like most moisturizers do). 

I liked how the woody mintiness of the cream calmed my skin (when it felt irritated, dry, sensitive) but I didn't like how it just seemed to stop at that. I didn't feel any major changes or improvements to my skin.

While it doesn't irritate my skin at all (despite all of the exfoliants) it didn't do a good job helping my skin improve.

unfortunately, this is not as good as most have said it is. 

Score: 5.5/10

Website: no website

Two Mists and One Moisturizer Mask friendly Routine

 

With the Pandemic still ongoing, masks are making it very difficult to pile on thicker products. Thicker products tend to build up along the edges of the mask and as a result, some areas of the face have too much product and others parts (particularly the mouth area) have none. So after trial and error, this is the routine that works for me!

I have been this for almost a month now and not a pimple in sight (my skin is soft, so soft). You don't have to use the exact same products I mentioned, but these were the ones that I had available and worked for me.

Refresher - Kiehl's Cactus Flower & Tibetan Ginseng Hydrating Mist ($36 USD)

The purpose of this step is to wake up your skin and allow it to feel "refreshed", softened and moistened so it will be ready to accept and absorb products easily. I like this mist because it not only does what I want it to do, but it also helps my skin retain and adds in moisture while being lightweight at the same time. There is a slight stickiness but it goes away within minutes and won't transfer to your mask.

Serum (optional)

If you must apply a serum this is the step to do it. This step is optional and is needed only if your skin has very specific needs (e.g. dark spots, or very specific fixes). I didn't suggest a product since this is for those who must use a serum and everyone's needs are different. 

This is the most ideal step to apply a serum because the first mist has already softened your skin and allows it to absorb products (while the next step will seal everything in).

Hydrator and Barrier - innisfree Olive Real Oil Mist ($12 USD)

The purpose of this step is to seal everything and making sure that there is a protective barrier. Innisfree's Olive Real Oil Mist does this. The olive oil not only hydrates the skin but also creates a small protective layer. I chose this mist because it doesn't leave any residue or oily gunk, like a lot of facial oils do. 

Moisturizer (optional)

Preferably for drier climates and days, you feel you just need a little more of a boost. If you find the need to apply a moisturizer, this will be the step to do it. I only do this once a while (as in... once a week or less).

Since the second mist already hydrates and provides a good barrier... this step is optional and only if you feel the need (listen... or... feel your skin and see what it wants) I usually only add in this step if my skin is still very dry after the second mist or I know the humidity levels will be very low (e.g. in a room full of AC). I wouldn't suggest adding this step as part of this regular routine because moisturizers can leave residue and defeat the purpose of this routine. 

Hope this helps :)

innisfree Olive Real Oil Mist review

I was introduced to this product by a Korean Skincare Youtuber called KRBoy. He mentioned this product during his skincare routine video. This is the first product I decided to try that was introduced by KRBoy and I liked it.

About this mist:

This is a facial mist that is enriched with extra virgin olive oil from Crete Island. 

According to Innisfree, this is a two-phase deep hydrating oil mist with Olive Power Activator (which contains vitamin E and tocopheryl acetate) which enables it to powerfully moisturize for dry skin and improve skin suppleness and create moisture.

The recommendation is to use this product whenever your skin feels dry and pat on your skin. It can be used before or after makeup.

You need to shake the product before using it (this is a very important step, the mist didn't work too well the few times I forgot to).

impressions:

• smells like oranges (but doesn't linger)
• a few (3-5 pumps) is enough
• very light but works really well
• spray amount can be inconsistent
• spray direction shifts (despite the arrow)
• skin feels instantly moisturized
• works well with dehydrated skin
• not oily

I'm not sure whether there was a defect in mine's or whether it happens to every other one... but the spray dispenses an inconsistent amount of product each time. 

Aside from the defect, I love this mist. I love how it moisturizes my skin (both when it is dry and when it is dehydrated). It is extremely lightweight and does not give a weird oily finish. The light orange aroma evaporates as you pat the product into your skin.

Score: 9.5/10

Website: https://www.innisfree.com/sg/en/product/productView.do?prdSeq=10028

O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream review

These were the two years where I willingly washed my hands constantly. It caused my eczema to come back, thankfully I had Crabtree and Evelyn's hand creams, they saved me. I didn't want to only have one type of product ready and wanted to try different hand creams. A few months ago, while bingeing on Youtube videos, I noticed that a lot of Youtubers were recommending this product. A lot of the videos claimed that this hand cream helped them so I decided to give it a try. 

details of product

This hand cream is cheaper compared to Crabtree and Evelyn's but more expensive compared to most drug store hand creams. They claim that it is unscented, non-greasy, and hypoallergenic.

The selling point is it is great for extremely dry cracked hands and all you need is a pea-size amount. 

There isn't a lot of ingredients.

It is also clinically proven to 

• instantly boost moisture levels
• create a protective layer on the skin's surface
• help prevent further moisture loss

consistency of product

These are my impressions (after using it for 2 months):

• it lives up to its unscented, non-greasy, and hypoallergenic claims
• all you need is a pea-size (it is way more than enough)
• the texture is very firm, like a hard type of cream (think silicone type)
• it did not boost the moisture levels of my skin, if anything, it made it worse
• it made the tips of my fingers cracked (one fingertip, bled)
• it created a protective layer to prevent moisture from entering and leaving my skin

I find it ironic how this cream which was supposed to prevent my hands from dryness and cracking, ended up making my hands crack... imagine the horror when I saw my skin getting dryer with each use. I haven't had any skin cracks on my hands for over 20 years and they came back! The skin on my pointer finger (on my left hand) got so bad that it started bleeding! Thankfully I had Crabtree and Evelyn's hand cream to relieve it and fix the problem!

While this product does not cause my hands to sweat (I have extremely sensitive skin and when I use products that contain certain harmful ingredients, they sweat) but it caused my hands to crack!

I asked my mom to use this with me and while her hands are less sensitive than mine's, she said that there was nothing special about this hand cream.

I am extremely disappointed! I wasn’t even able to use touch id for weeks :(

score: 2/10 GIMMICK

website: https://okeeffes.ca/?utm_id=go_cmp-193473816_adg-9002795136_ad-302025413452_kwd-67268369376_dev-c_ext-_prd-_sig-Cj0KCQiA-aGCBhCwARIsAHDl5x9hVo9C_WF_Gh56yEukMP6ltkV3gXT6BUSf0wYDAxvYEFcO1BqU9mUaAqiJEALw_wcB&gclid=Cj0KCQiA-aGCBhCwARIsAHDl5x9hVo9C_WF_Gh56yEukMP6ltkV3gXT6BUSf0wYDAxvYEFcO1BqU9mUaAqiJEALw_wcB

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant review

Known as the holy grail for most skincare enthusiasts, and perhaps the product that got you to research and know about Paula's Choice, this Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, leave on skin exfoliant is one of the best skin care products you can get for your skin. 

I am no less, but also in the same boat. I have not heard of Paul's Choice till this product. It is listed as step three (There are five steps: 1. Cleanse, 2. Tone, 3. Exfoliate, 4. Treat, and 5. Moisturize) so this is step is placed after your toner and before your serum. 

 Impressions:

• no scent, but there is a very very light acidic smell
• leaves your T-zone (and any part of the oilier areas of your face) oily
• makes your skin very very soft (since it is an exfoliant)
• must use twice a day (to see and maintain results)
• causes your more sensitive skin (e.g. acne-prone, eczema, etc) with a slightly uncomfortable irritating tingly feeling
• consistency is slightly thicker than water, a bit similar to toners
• they recommended using this on the face and neck, but I didn't feel any significant changes to the skin on my neck after using it for 2 weeks...

I love this product! My skin loves it... and I saw visible results within days of using it. Please be aware that your more sensitive skin (acne areas, eczema, and thinner skin areas) will have a slightly irritating tingly feeling (but that should go away within a few minutes). Also, be aware that it will leave the oilier parts of your face (e.g. t-zone area) much oilier. The oiliness doesn't produce acne or anything concerning, it just looks very shiny.

Make sure you use this product twice a day to see results... there were days where I only used it once and my skin did not see as good results (as in, my skin wasn't as smooth as it would have been if I had used it twice a day).

Also, since you are exfoliating your skin, it will definitely be more sensitive to the sun, so if you are using this in the daytime, make sure to follow up with a moisturizer and some sunscreen.

score: 9.5/10
website: https://www.paulaschoice.com/skin-perfecting-2pct-bha-liquid-exfoliant/201.html