August 07, 2014

Schwarzkopf Gliss Shine Tonic - Shimmering Shine & Repair Care 100ml Review

I'll make a little guilty confession - when I purchased this, I had no idea what this product does or what a tonic even is, I just remembered seeing tonics when I worked at a hair salon. So I was curious as to what it does and purchased it. 

With research and more experience, I have learnt that tonics are used to style hair. Its supposed to make hair healthy, so that it easier to manage and style. People with dry hair can benefit from tonics, as they can moisture the hair, which will add shine and help prevent split ends. They can also add volume to the hair.

This tonic appealed to me as the description claimed "The repair formula cares and gives shine." A product that cares and gives shine to dry, damage hair? Yes please! My hair is very dry and damaged, which is no new surprise to me. I expect it with the amount of heat I use and how I constantly dye my hair.

I spray this onto my hair after i've finished blow drying it or straightening it. The tonic sprays out as a fine mist. The tonic has a soft and sweet scent, I would say a milk and honey scent. It instantly leave your hair shiny, making it look healthier. I've noticed it does make your hair feel smooth, so there are less tangles. However I didn't notice much difference for the repair care factor.

Rating: 6/10

Would I repurchase? 

Maybe - for something a little extra. The shine it gives is really nice, however I tend to forget to spray it and often neglect the product. 

Would I recommend it? 

The tonic is lightweight, it adds extra shine to your hair and makes it tangle less. If thats what you're looking for then yes I do recommend it to you.

Have you tried a tonic a before? ^_^

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August 05, 2014

Revlon ColourBurst Matte Balm - 250 Standout Review and Swatches

I brought this a while ago for my Cheon Song Yi (Jun Ji Hyun) Lipstick Dupes post. I have no idea as to why I didn't review this earlier, since this is a nice lippy~

I like how the packaging is matte and is the colour of the balm, so the user is aware of the colour and finish of the product. Its retractable so you won't have to deal with any messy sharpening. The formula itself is creamy, so it glides onto the lips smoothly. It also has a slight peppermint scent and cool sensation. Due to the matte nature of the balm, it isn't moisturising. In fact it does dry out the lips a little, so I do recommend applying a lip balm before hand. I also recommend you to exfoliate the dry skin on your lips, as the balm does cling onto and enhance dry skin. 

The pigmentation is very opaque, one swatch alone has great colour payoff. With the colour Standout, I find that it does smudge and bleed a little. The lipstick lasts about 4-5 hours. However, I find that after a few hours, the balm does settle into the fine lines regardless if you have applied balm before hand or exfoliated. So it may appear uneven or patchy. 

Pros:

• Affordable
• Retractable
• Creamy, smooth formula
• High quality
• Great pigmentation
• Great colour range

Cons:

• A bit drying
• Settles into fine lines after a few hours
• Can appear uneven or patchy after a few hours
• Smudges and bleeds a little

Rating: 7/10

Would I repurchase?

I already have! ^__^ in other colours - 205 Elusive and 210 Unapologetic.

Would I recommend it?

I would, Revlon has a great range of colours for you to chose from. The colour intensity is great and the product is high quality. However if you have very dry lips or don't like matte finishes, I recommend you to try Relvon's other balm range - Balm Stain or Lacquer Balm. ^^

Have you tried any of Relvon's balms yet? ^^

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July 27, 2014

minicell Tomato Stem Extract REVITAL PEELING GEL 50ml Review

Since I have post inflammatory hyper pigmentations (aka acne scars), exfoliation is a big big must for me. I find that gentle scrubs don't do much for me so I'm always trying out new peeling gels as they are gentle and exfoliate the skin very effectively. 

The packaging is simple yet sleek. It's also a great size for traveling. The peeling gel has a soft clean floral scent, which I really like. The gel contains red hogweed root extracts, organic aloe and chamomiles extracts which help sooth sensitive skin and alpine herbs to moisture the skin. These extracts makes the peeling gel standout from others, as minicell has gone that extra step to add extra benefits in the product. 

The consistency of the gel is thicker than other gels I have used. The gel doesn't spread much, also once the little dead cell balls form, it dries quite quick so you end up applying more product. You need to make sure that your face and hands are fully dry when you apply it, as the gel does not work when the skin is wet, even if the skin slightly slightly wet. 

The peeling gel leaves the skin feeling soft and smooth. The skin also looks more radiant as the healthy cell beneath are exposed.  

Demo:

I applied the peeling gel to a dry surface, and then gently rub the gel in circular motions.

The dead cells are removed and forms little balls. 

Then wash it off with water to remove everything.

Pros: 

• Great for those with sensitive skin
• Nice clean floral scent (however some people may find it overwhelming)
• Travel friendly size
• Removes dead skin cells effectively
• Very gentle - won't irritate the skin
• Leaves skin softer and smoother 
• Hydrates the skin slightly

Cons:

• Little product, doesn't last long
• Does not spread out well so a generous amount of product is required
• Dries fast

Rating: 8/10

Would I recommend it?

Yes, it does job and removes dead cells effectively, leaving the skin soft and smooth. It also slightly hydrates the skin too. It removes more dead cells than other peeling gels I have tried.

Have you tried a peeling gel before? 

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July 22, 2014

KPop Diet #7: AkMu/Akdong Musician Pre-debut Diet

 

Written in AkMu's autobiography "Raise Your Voice High!" they went on a diet before their debut. When YG artist go on diets, they do it along side a exercise routine so any weight lose is not just by dieting alone. 

The diet is quite standard, it consists of lean meat, vegetables and fruits and to avoid high sodium foods and oily foods. 

Lunch: Vegetarian bibimap (rice, eggs and vegetables)

Evening: Chicken breast, vegetables, rice

Foods banned: snacks (bread, crisps, cookies, sweets etc), high sodium foods (ramen, smoked, canned or cured meats or fish etc)

If Soo Hyun wanted to eat other foods, she had to take a photo of it and send it to her dietician and get it approved before she can eat it.

This sounds like a decent diet to me, its not harsh and its healthy so I might give it go~ If I do then I shall post my journey. ^_^ What do you guys think of this diet?

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July 15, 2014

Holika Holika One Solution Whitening Ampoule 30ml Review

The Holika Holika One Solution line has 3 different ampoules for different skin needs: Anti-Wrinkle, Clear and Whitening. My skin has been decent these last few months so I purchase the Whitening ampoule instead of the Clear one, so that it could skin out my skin tone and help lighten up my hyper-pigmentation (acne scars).

The Whitening ampoule's function is brightening. It contains "Summer Snow Extract" which is my first time hearing of summer snow, so I tried Googling and researching it but nothing came up. ;_;

The product is in a glass bottle; which is quite heavy, so its not very travel friendly. It has a twist-off lid with a dropper pipette, which is great as it allows you to control the product and enables a easy and  hygienic application. 

The consistency of the Whitening Ampoule is watery, so it absorbs into the skin quickly and does not leave any residue or film on the skin. The ampoule has a really nice floral scent, which I really like and find that it brightens up my mornings. However the scent is quite strong, so I wouldn't recommend the product to those who don't like parfums or strong scents in their products. 

I've used the product everyday for 2 months, applying it after my toner. My skin tone is more even and moisturised, which I like has my skin looks brighter and healthier. My hyper-pigmentation has also lightened slightly, not dramatically but it did help lighten them slightly and speed up the lightening process. 

Pros: 

• Absorbs quirky into the skin, does not leave residue  
• Adds a bit more moisture to the skin too
• Even out skin tone
• Helps to lighten up hyper pigmentation/acne scars slightly
• Uplifting floral scent

Cons:

• Packaging is quite heavy, not travel friendly
• Would be nicer if the brightening power was stronger :')

Rating: 7/10

Would I repurchase?

Yep, but I would like try other whitening ampoules/serums to see if they would give quicker or better results. ^^

Would I recommend it?

Yes, the product does what it claims - brighten up the skin tone, has a hygienic packaging, nice floral scent and super affordable. I got mine BeautynetKorea.com for $12.11 (£7.13)

Have you try any new ampoules or serums lately? ^^

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