As ladies, we do know the importance of beauty and vanity. However, beauty is not just about stacking and piling tonnes and tonnes of make up on your face, which may result in repercussions, doing more harm than benefiting your skin and eventually, beauty. 

Beauty begins with simple skin care tips that you should pay attention to and beauty also refers to natural beauty. Of course, it would be difficult to search for a lady with 100% flawless skin, but that does not mean it is impossible to work towards that. 

Always remember that cosmetics can only do so much and if you don't wish to scare the hell outta people after removing your make up, or if you are ashamed to remove your make up and go bare faced in public, it simply means that you are acknowledging your skin problems. Why not then target  these problematic areas by developing good skin care habits? They are not difficult to nurture and do not require deep pockets. Just really simple steps which can go a long way!

Credits :  slimvision.net

Here are some useful great tips you should try!

1. 3 basic skin care steps - Cleanse, Apply Toner and Moisturise on your face

Need I say more? This should already be at your fingertips! 

You may wish to read my reviews on Kose Supreme Sekkisei and Laniege where I've shared some of the reviews as well as info on these 3-step basic skin care tips! 

You may not frequent facials or may not slap on sheet masks every now and then, BUT THESE 3-STEP SKIN CARE ARE RULES OF SKIN LAW (if there's ever such a thing) and YOU MUST DEFINITELY FOLLOW! If you are guilty of otherwise, knock your head 3 times!

2. Facial Treatments

Now, these are not compulsory and essential compared to point 1, but it is highly encourageable! You need to pamper your skin every now and then apart from the fundamentals. Personally, I believe frequenting beauty salons for facials and what more if you fall into the trap of sales talk and gimmicks, causing you to sign up lots of expensive packages, are not compulsory. Putting things into perspective, look at things this way, if you take good care of your skin, you need not burn huge holes in your pockets, right? Well, that is apart from serious skin problems caused naturally/genetics or severe acne problems etc. Plus, results might not be immediate after attending facials or sometimes, they are just pure useless. 

I've rarely, if not, hardly stepped into beauty salons for facials and have always been using sheet/clay/wash off masks at the comfort of my own home. Well, you may say that these masks are not as effective as those potent ingredients beauty salons can offer, but you can't deny that certain masks do work! Read my beauty reviews and you will know! :)

If sheet masks are not your cuppa tea, you may try to DIY masks using natural food ingredients. There are many websites which offer natural remedies, just google it and you will know! But my advice is, to conduct extensive researches (forums,blogs,beauty consultants etc) on these DIY steps before applying anything on your face and take them with a pinch of salt. You have to be extra careful on whatever you are putting on your face. 

Credits :  beautyismyduty.com

Foods which you may wish to try :

a. Whole wheat : Another ingredient in some foods that is really good for your skin is selenium. This is found in whole wheat cereals, breads and baked goods. It helps to improve the skin at a cellular level and keeps you looking young and beautiful.

b. Salmon : along with other fatty fish, walnuts and flaxseed, is high in healthy fatty acids that are key for achieving healthy skin. Essential fatty acids such as omega-3s help keep cell membranes healthy by keeping out harmful substances as well as allowing nutrients to enter cells and exit with waste products. Omega-3s also reduce the body's production of inflammatory agents that can damage the skin.

c. Carrots : They are an excellent source of vitamin A, which is a required nutrient for healthy skin. They also contain high levels of antioxidants, which prevent free radical damage of skin cells. Vitamin A is required for developing and maintaining skin cells, and a deficiency of the vitamin can cause dry skin.

You should also :

a. Hydrate yourself with plenty of water : at least your individual minimum intake -- will help keep your skin young and healthy-looking. Water in caffeinated or sugary beverages does not count; water intake must be from pure, clean water, which rejuvenates skin cells. Water both hydrates cells and helps them move toxins out and nutrients in. 

b. Drink Green Tea : Besides the other health benefits which green tea offers,  it is rich in antioxidants that reduces inflammation and protect cell membranes. It has been proven to reduce the damage of sunburns and overexposure to ultraviolet light, which in turn reduces the risk of skin cancer. Green tea is also high in polyphenols -- compounds that eliminate cancer-causing free radicals. Some believe that drinking green tea helps to lose weight too!   

4. Detox every once/twice a month by eating only fruits and drinking water the whole day to keep your skin healthy and to wash out those toxins. It aids in constipation as fruits and water works hand in hand to soften the stools.

5. Applying sunblock : Whether or not you are a fan of fair skin, preventing sun and uv rays from damaging your skin should apply across the board. Plus, uv rays cause acne scars to darken as well. Click here to read on how to choose the right sunscreen.

6. Try indulging in a long, relaxing shower or bath at least once a week. This helps to soothe the skin as well as a form of destressing method. Lesser stress, lesser acnes!

7. Exfoliate : And I don't mean just your facial skin. Try exfoliating your whole body skin as well to remove dead skin cells, leaving your skin smoother, more supple and fairer! Also, since we are encouraged to exfoliate our face before applying any mask as it helps to open up pores, logically, exfoliating the body skin would assist in the absorption of body moisturisers!

8. If you're a make up fan and can't leave without concealing, remember to change your foundation sponge regularly if you are a compact powder user. A dirty sponge not only result in uneven application of the powder, it may also increase the chances of you contracting acnes as bacteria gets built up in it! 

9. Remove all make up thoroughly at the end of the day. I'm quite sure most of us are guilty for not following this rule of skin law, at least once in our entire lifetime. I too, am guilt-stricken purely out of laziness, but have since avoided such bad habit and will still force myself to quickly remove my make up before I head to bed. Make up clogs pores through impurities which would result in a breakout. You may read my reviews on makeup removers! 

10. Of course, good skin care is also a matter of healthy lifestyle choices as beauty is only skin deep. Smoking does a lot of damage on the body including the skin—not only does it contribute to premature aging and wrinkles, it is also the leading cause of more serious health risks like emphysema or lung cancer. The right way to protect the skin in this situation is to simply give up the habit. People have to keep in mind that what they do on the outside affects underlying conditions in the body. This is also why a balanced diet rich in fibre, lean protein, good fats, vitamins and minerals also promotes healthy young-looking skin. Stress affects a person’s peace of mind and makes the skin vulnerable to skin problems like acne breakouts. Managing stress can help a person not only feel good, but look good. 

I hope you babes will find these tips useful in achieving your perfect flawless skin!

As the saying goes, "There is no ugly women only lazy ones!"

xoxo
Jean :)

Was extremely glad and honoured to be sponsored by Cossy Pte Ltd with these lovely Leaders InSolution masks! It's like a wish came true and I've not regretted using them! One item off my wishlist! :D

Eagerly tried the Mela Tox for whitening and I am very pleased with the results! Besides whitening and brightening, my face felt so much softer, smoother and more supple! Plus, my skin elasticity also improved! It feels very 'boing boing' like a bouncy feel! Skin was super plump!

The mask was soaking wet with lots of essence. Might be a little messy though. Just be sure to keep the remaining essence in the packet so that you can massage them on your face and neck after masking :)

I can say that the quality is awesome. Better than other sheet masks I've tried because it sticks on really well. Although it can't fit perfectly, I have to overlap the sheets due to my face shape, it doesn't come off easily. But it does fit the eyes, nose and mouth well :)

Awesome mask. Better than My Beauty Diary for its whitening effects :)
Must try! I have so many other masks from Cossy Pte Ltd targeting on different problems. Thank you for being so generous Cossy Pte Ltd! :)

If you are a fan of online deals and love beauty products, then you must visit them! Don't miss out other awesome deals they are having too! 

Have fun beautifying yourself without burning holes in your pockets!

Visit Cossy Pte Ltd today! :D

Remember how I was saying that I should get the Nivea night whitening body lotion in my previous post?

Yes, I've finally got it, at a steal! Mom bought 2 bottles (Day and Night) on my request during her recent trip to Hong Kong! 

My cutesy mom wrote the prices in SGD on the bottle fronts. LOL. 
So yes, S$9 for the Extra whitening one for day use and S$8 for the night use. 
If I'm not wrong, Watsons sell them for about $15 or so?  Correct me if I'm wrong, please.

The manufacturing dates of the lotions, the day one being the later and fresher one to be manufactured.

I am quite disappointed with this night body lotion because it differs so much from the day one. And I doubt it's because I got it from HK? That wouldn't make much sense, unless you are telling me from countries like Thailand, Indonesia etc, then that I can understand. 

The night lotion was so much 'heavier' and was more creamy than the day lotion. I felt really sticky after using it and was rather uncomfortable because it's meant to be applied before sleep so that the changes can take place during rest.

But since I've already bought it (technically, mom), I guess I will try it out again tonight and hope for better changes. Maybe I applied too much? :S

Overall rating :

Promised myself that I would pamper my skin more and not take my good skin condition for granted and hence, slapped on this Sexylook mask last night. 

This mask is the latest edition from Sexylook which is rather popular amongst the ladies. 

The first noted difference from this mask and the rest would be the material which the masks are made of. From its name, it's made of cotton whereas most sheet masks are made of interwoven fabric (fibre sheet) that has slight elasticity. Whether it's fibre sheet or cotton, these sheet masks have generally awesome absorption properties. 

The instantaneous whitening effects.

Credits : Secretive.sg

Very damped, very soaked, very good.

I'm a robber/ninja/batman/dark knight/cat woman?

I need to highlight that most masks do not exactly fit well on my face which is prolly because of my face shape, so actually the sheets are always too big for me and I have to overlap the sheets on top of one another at my cheek areas. I have a very well-defined and obvious jaw line, and my face shape is more of an oval + almond shape. Can't say that it's 100% of either one because I have a sharp chin (almond-like) and also caused by my under-bite and my head is definitely not sharp either (the other side of the almond?), although I hope my brain is. ;)

Anyway, I am quite disappointed that the nose area gets so little coverage. I'm not sure if it's because of my face shape or nose length/shape whatever, but I tried googling for images and other bloggers' masks looked fine. Some could even cover the whole of their nose. I had actually already stretched and pulled the cotton so that it can better cover my nose, but still, not sufficient there. The eye areas are also too big :( 

Caution, you need to be extremely gentle with dealing with cotton masks which do not allow much elasticity. I tore a little here and there during masking. 

But one thing I have to rave about is that because it's cotton, it sticks better to my face compared to the rest of the sheet masks I have always been using. Meaning that it does not get slip off easily. 

For this, you are to cleanse/exfoliate (which I did exfoliation) and then put on this mask before applying your toner and moisturiser. Personally, I'd prefer applying the toner first then slapping on the masks, but being a law-abiding citizen (ahem?), I'd followed the instructions from the website which I had ordered from (in the midst of collaborations so not divulging the name yet but they are really famous and actually, I get most of my beauty stuffs from there (masks, nail polishes, eye cream, moisturisers etc). :)

Left it on for about 20 mins and effects-wise, only slight instant brightening effects. Still not as fantastic as My Beauty Diary. 
But I have to say that the blackheads/whiteheads on my nose was blatantly obvious, sitting on my nose pores. I could see them and of course, though you are not supposed to poke/squeeze them using fingers as you might further enlarge your pores, I couldn't resist and I did.

Why this magic?

The function of this mask is not only for whitening/brightening/hydrating purposes provided for by the ingredients Black bee honey, black pearl and obsidian extracts, but the charcoal contents help to purify and clarify the skin, removing the excess sebum on the skin. Although the nose areas were not completely covered, I was constantly massage the essence onto those areas which did not have luxury of interacting with the mask. I guess that's how my nose areas were able to enjoy some benefits too :) 

Massaged the remnants of essence onto my face and then applied toner and moisturised. 

Overall rating :

I'm quite sure many of you ladies are familiar with this Nivea brand because its popularity has escalated over the years, and more so, in the recent years due to their constant improvement of products, catering to heaps of ladies' desires and needs.

Only recently, I was becoming self-conscious of my dry skin since I am seated in an air-conditioned room, almost 24/7. Plus, the office's air-con is always blasting at me. :( 
So, recalling the results I have achieved with Nivea's body lotion few years ago, I am now back to using it again, only with greater satisfaction! :D

Nivea has come a long way and can be said to be the first ever successive whitening lotion amongst other brands. When you think of body lotions, when you think of whitening body lotions, you think NIVEA. That's the impact it has on consumers' mind.

Let's take a look at its old packaging.

How many of you remember this packaging? Well, I do. 

Then came the new series with a more appealing packaging look, catering to extra whitening desires, night use and inner cell repair...I remember using this 3 to 4 years back and managed to snag a twin pack from KL while I was there on a vacation at a steal!!! 

This is the latest version Nivea has for its extra whitening series. It has added extra ingredients and value-added its worth, or at least we consumers think so. ;)
It has always dawn upon me that which consumer, when looking out for a whitening body lotion at the Nivea section, would actually choose the normal whitening body lotion (no extra whitening properties) over the extra whitening body lotion? And if I recall correctly, the price difference ain't that great either. Gimmicks gimmicks...

But nevertheless, I am one of those amongst the rest, who has fell for these gimmicks and who reckon will continue falling deeper and deeper... 

There are other recent competitors such as Vaseline (the one that immediately pops up in your mind as the 'competitor of Nivea', Eucerin and well... can't seem to find any others (google it and you'll find 95% are Nivea's products). So, the market for this isn't that great, not taking into account of other chapalang (Taiwan, HK etc) or products which have not successfully wow-ed the crowd yet. Nivea is definitely the clear winner. 

I remember using the older version of Nivea's whitening body lotion and was not very satisfied with the application process because of the thick creamy sticky feel that it produces and leaves on your skin. Comparing the latest version which is definitely so much better in terms of thickness, absorption and hopefully results, I'm sure Nivea's sales will continue to skyrocket. It has fast absorption that sometimes I forget if I've already applied in that particular area. :P

But one thing is, don't expect immediate results. It's neither a magical body lotion or a elixir of fair skin. Apply day and night and gradually, you will observe noticeable results. Fairer and softer skin :)

I think I might have to get the night one soon because I've always thought that the word 'extra whitening' prevails over everything and anything. But seems that I am wrong because since it is for night time use, there is no need to incorporate anti- UV ray components into the whole lotion ingredients. Consequently, more whitening ingredients can be added to replace the UV-reflecting components into the ingredient compositions. As a result, night whitening lotion works more intensively than the day lotion.  

Doesn't this sound awesome? Ah, time to stock up those whitening lotions !!! :D

Overall rating :

I know this product ain't the latest product Skinfood carries but I will still share it here :)

I used to refrain using rice mask because I had a minor breakout after using the rice mask from The Face Shop, but I couldn't 100% confirm if it was due to the rice mask since I had only tried once and that was eons ago. 

Decided to give rice mask another chance and so I ordered this rice mask wash off from Skinfood online :)

So far so good, guess I'll have to monitor when I wake up tomorrow to observe any potential breakouts.

Doesn't smell like rice to me but very fragrant nevertheless :)

After application
Doesn't feel very coarse in its grains

5 mins after application. it dissolves...

Left cheek with my sexy moles. Did I mention I have tonnes of moles? Sometimes I feel I can play 'Connect the Dots' on my face...

Need to first clarify that the red pinky patch is not due to any allergy or whatsoever, it's actually the reflection of my hot pink camera LOL

Right cheek

I think I include the freckles as one of the 'dots' for the game. Had freckles since I was very young, I'm thinking that I'm born with them.. :(

Forehead. Red pink reflection of camera. 

Skinfood Rice Mask Wash Off

Product Size
100g

Product Description
Exfoliating wash off scrub mask with minerals, vitamins and gamma oryzanol. Moisturizes and whitens the skin.

How to use?
Apply evenly after cleansing. Avoid eye and mouth area. Gently scrub and wash off with lukewarm water after 10 - 15 minutes.

To note :
1. Do not exfoliate before using the mask. Cleanse it as per normal using facial cleanser. As this mask acts as a scrub, over scrubbing and exfoliating might dry out and too much for your skin to take.
2. Do take note to apply the mask before applying toner. 

Results : Immediate brightening but not as effective as the results I achieved using My Beauty Diary and Fancl masks, but still satisfactory nevertheless. Also, my skin feels smoother and more supple now. Application wise, though messy but I guess it's common for most similar masks which requires application using fingers. 

Note that if you skin is smoothened, it's relatively easier to apply foundation/compact powder over it too :)

Overall rating : 

Endorsed by S.H.E

Product Size : 50ml

Product Description : This moisture rich night jelly is specially formulated to instantly hydrate skin. It also improves the skin's ability to retain water overnight for a more intense treatment and repair. It will let one wake up the next morning with brighter and smoother skin.

How to use?

Apply onto face and gently massage in a circular motion as the last step of your skin care routine. Do not rinse. Apply 2 to 3 times a week.

As stated, I applied over my face after mositurising it. Again, I'd skipped the application of the cream step because it would be too much stuffs applied on my face...

Comparing this night gel to the Laneige one, the latter actually results in oilier skin when I wake up in the morning. However, comparing on their functions, I would choose this over Laneige too as well because it's a 2-in-1 night gel which promotes hydration as well as whitening of the skin, whereas Laneige only helps to hydrate the skin. I felt that my skin was a tad brighter after washing. So imma recommend this product over the Laneige one, plus it's waaaay cheaper too! Available at convenience stores at $18.90 but got mine at a discount of $14.18! :)

Overall rating :

Guess what arrived yesterday? :)

My online beauty hauls! Totally delighted and excited to see them! Brightened up my long day at work! :D

I've tried some products and first I will be reviewing on the Aqua Rine Sakura Japanese Aroma Bath Sea Salt! 

Sakura flavour which promotes whitening! :)

I was a quite disappointed that the description of the fineness of the salt is not up to expectations. I was expecting a much coarser texture of the salt grains or perhaps I am too used to the St Ives body scrub which I will post an review on as well. 

But I do like the smell, which smells just like the usual body wash. 

It is not soapy, which I don't think because I feel that I've not cleansed thoroughly. I like it to be squeaky clean, just like my preference for facial foams and hand wash as well. 

I would only recommend this product to those who prefers exfoliating with a milder version of a scrub. Aqua Rine comes in 2 different fineness of sea salt grains - Fine and Coarse. They come in 6 flavours too. :)

It is the dream of most ladies to possess fair porcelain skin and to win the title of 'Snow White'. Even if that is not your desire, taking good care of your skin is very important, especially to prevent pigmentation, dull looking uneven skin and skin diseases. 

I'm sure by now everyone would understand the detriments that the sun rays have on our skin, especially on this tiny sunny island. 

Hence, applying sunblock is always a MUST no matter when and where you are and regardless of whether it is day or night. 

I must admit that I belong to the nonchalant bo chup group who don't bother applying sunblock but I will make this a habit of mine now. 

Heliocare sunblock pills work exactly the same as your sunblock lotions, just that they are in the oral form. 

And I think the best method to test the effectiveness is to head out to the sun! 

Went cycling a month back under the hot blazing sun. Came back a shade darker but not that obvious. The obvious ones were the tan lines I had on my shoulders because I guess that's where the surface area for the sunrays to effect is the greatest?

I took the Heliocare pills before heading out to play and if I'd recalled correctly, I took 2 pills. 

BUT I STILL CAME BACK WITH A TAN.

There is no need to apply sunblock lotion again if you'd consumed the pills, otherwise it would defeat the purpose, right? These oral pills are meant to block out the sun effects, just like how sun block lotions do and they present to be more convenient and avoids the hassle of applying lotions which leave you feeling sticky all over. 

Yes, convenient. But NO, NOT EFFECTIVE.

I came back with horrid tan lines and I popped another Heliocare pills (4hrs after sun exposure for the 3rd pill) hoping and praying hard that the tan lines would subside. 

Of course, they aren't miracle pills. 

Few days later, the tan lines were still there... :(:(:(

I had previously consumed these pills before but I wasn't in the best position to judge on its effects because there were no sun exposure, but this time, the results were obvious. And it's rather pricey too - approx S$75 sold at some convenience stores (I remembere

My conclusion, stick to the usual sun block lotions and good if you can get one that is really effective and non-sticky. Comment if you have any to intro! :)

Will thank you lots for that :D

Overall rating :