Review | SKIN1004 Cocoon Soap Mask

As I have previously reviewed a product from the SKIN1004, I want to share another one that has kept me interesting onto their brand which is this wash-off mask in the form of a soap and it is actually made with cocoon extract.

If you are not familiar with what cocoon extracts are good for, apparently it is featured in many pore-tightening and clarifying sheet masks with some even claim to give a firming effect on skin.

Now, firming one’s skin might sounds a bit over the top but clearing the pores out of impurities without drying out the skin is something that I’m looking for. Clay and charcoal wash-off masks are traditionally good for blackheads and whiteheads too but these ingredients tend to dry out my skin even more so I’m down for a much gentler option.

High points of this mask-soap!

Skin1004 highlighted that the Silk Cocoon Extract supposedly cleanse the skin gently, tighten enlarged pores by removing dead skin cells and blackheads to visibly enhance skin firmness.

This mask-in-soap also contains the brand’s signature ingredient, Centella Asiatica; its component, the Madecassic acid which is known for its ability in suppressing inflammation therefore is great for acne-prone skin. Argan Oil is known for its function in replenishing the skin nutrients that allows to treat and prevent acne scarring.

The cleanser comes in 100g size so I estimated that this actually lasts for about 4 months, used twice daily.

Ingredients list:

Purified Water, Cocoon Extract, Argan Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Palmitate, Sodium Oleate, Sodium Laurate, Sodium Myristate, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Hydroxide, Titanium Dioxide, Fragrance

Packaging:

 

The facial cleanser comes in a box with sufficient English product description printed on the sides of the box for your reference.

 

The expiry date is printed at the side of the bo in YYYYMMDD (year-month-day) format.

There is instruction on how to use the soap mask printed on the inner lid of the box both in English and Korean for your convenience.

 

The soap was covered with a thin white wrapping paper and sealed with the brand sticker across the knot. Although you do not have to worry as it is actually fully covered with clear plastic wrapper inside; I’m assuming for hygiene and quality purposes. The soap was debossed with the product’s name right in the center of it.

Application:

 

You can simply lather up the soap by running some water with it and get decent amount of foam within seconds but I would prefer to use a bubble maker like I’ve shown above to get more foam and bubbles.

The foam is lightweight and it feels so fluffy on skin! It is easy to rinse off in a sense that it is not too soapy, so it takes less time and water.

It has a mild scent to it so it doesn’t bother me much but I think it’s still tolerable if you’re not into fragrance-containing skincare products.

Thoughts:

I’d like to highlight that I always use this mask soap as a morning cleanser. It is not that I don’t trust this product to wash away excess of makeup removers in the evening but after using this for over couple of months, I find that this mask soap doesn’t make my dehydrated skin drier even I were to take my time after rinsing off the lather and dried my face with towel.

But the pore-minimising effect gets me every single time. My skin looks smoother and softer to touch after every wash. Thanks to Centella Asiatica contained in it, my redness area somewhat reduced or does not look inflamed or irritated (which is usually happened with cleansing bars) at the very least.

I considered this wash-off mask as a mild exfoliating cleanser therefore I always follow up with layers of hydrating toner and use lightweight moisturiser as a sealant to my routine prior sunscreen or base makeup application.

Overall, I give this product 5/5. It works well even during my sensitive skin days. My normal skin with oily T-zone feels comfortable and as you see in the above photo, I do have a backup for it.

How to store this mask soap is depends on your liking but for hygienic purposes, I either just simply let the mask soap in the bubble maker and hang it on the wall just like that but once it dried out, I’ll keep it in a ceramic case (plastic will do too!) to avoid water contamination in between uses as shown above.

I saw in their official Korean website that you can simply use the soap for about 10 seconds but I’d say, take a good 30 to 60 seconds of massaging your facial area with it before rinsing it off. This product is definitely unique compared to others I have encountered before; including non-Cica products so that’s actually quite interesting.


I guess that's all from me so definitely let me know if you have tried anything from SKIN1004 before as I'd like to try more from the brand. I'll see you guys on my next post ! Annyeong~

Review | NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Soft Matte Lip Creams

Whenever I pick up a series on Netflix, aside from taking a virtual vacation in England during the 15th century with monsters and witches or watching a group of young adults dressing in battle gear fighting demons; I also really enjoy looking at their costumes and makeup so much I often search for YouTube tutorials on it.

With product placements all over these series, I recently discovered a line of lipstick from NYX Professional Makeup that was worn by one of the cast so I picked up several off Hermo and I’m already planning to get several more as it is considerably affordable!

What to love about these liquid lipsticks?

In statement-making matte colors, these nude-based shades of Soft Matte Lip Cream deliver a burst of creamy color that sets with a matte finish.

These are supposedly long-wearing, lightweight and creamy, it seems to me that these sweet scented liquid lipsticks are also NYX Professional Makeup’s fan-favorite.

There are over 35 original shades of pinks, purples, reds, corals, browns and beiges in the line and these high-pigmented, plush matte formula in colors are inspired by cities of the world, surely to flatter any skin tones and for any occasion.

So I got myself 3 shades; #Amsterdam (pure red) for the recent Lunar New Year festivities, #Monte Carlo (deep cranberry red) the character, Isabelle Lightwood had worn throughout the first season of Netflix’s Shadowhunters series and last but not least, #Transylvania (deep violet) because I have admittedly been watching a lot of vampire movies lately.

Ingredients list: #Amsterdam
Isohexadecane, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dimethicone, Beeswax/Cera Alba/Cire d’Abeille, Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Talc, Propylene Carbonate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Silica, Water, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Alumina, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Barium Sulfate (CI 77120), Fragrance/Parfum, Hydroxycitronellal, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate.

MAY CONTAIN (+/-): Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Red 6 (CI 15850), Red 7 (CI 15850), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090).

Ingredients list: #Monte Carlo
Isohexadecane, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dimethicone, Beeswax/Cera Alba/Cire d’Abeille, Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Talc, Propylene Carbonate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Silica, Water, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Alumina, Aluminum Benzoate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Barium Sulfate (CI 77120), Fragrance/Parfum, Hydroxycitronellal, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate.

MAY CONTAIN (+/-): Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Red 6 (CI 15850), Red 7 (CI 15850), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090).


Ingredients list: #Transylvania
Isohexadecane, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dimethicone, Beeswax/Cera Alba/Cire d’Abeille, Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Talc, Propylene Carbonate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Silica, Water, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Alumina, Aluminum Benzoate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Barium Sulfate (CI 77120), Fragrance/Parfum, Hydroxycitronellal, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate.

MAY CONTAIN (+/-): Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Red 6 (CI 15850), Red 7 (CI 15850), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090).

PACKAGING

 

The lip product does not come in a box but the whole tube is sealed a in clear plastic casing with English ingredients list printed at the side of the tube for your reference.

There is a Barcode sticker on the cap with the Product Code printed at the top left corner and the Batch Code printed in light grey at the top right corner of the sticker.

 

There’s usually a small official distributor sticker on the plastic seal with the Manufacturing Date in the format of Month-Year but in case that is not available, you can simply punch the Batch Code number into a cosmetic analyser on the Internet. For example, MFS80W means Aug 2019.

This liquid lipstick can be used for up to 18 months once opened but as it only contains 8ml worth of product, I’m pretty sure I can finish it within several months if I were to use it everyday.

 

The tubes comes in the respective liquid lipstick colours although I have to point out that the colours on the tubes are not exactly true to the actual shades of the lip products; maybe 90% similar. But with the tubes being so opaque, I cannot tell how much product left in the tube.

There is a sticker with the product code and name at the bottom of the tubes for your convenience. For a few months, I have been placing these lip products horizontally in my acrylic drawers and I’m glad to report that I didn’t see any leaks whatsoever from the tubes which means it is tight enough to prevent oxidation, therefore a huge plus point for me.

 

Each of these plush matte lip colours comes with a doe-foot foam applicator that just glides on my lips smooth and easy on the wide surface. Twist it a little and you can line out your lip lines rather carefully which is something I love doing as I don’t like bringing separate lip liners or lip brush for neat application.

APPLICATION

All the lip colours here are quite pigmented and wearable for my medium skin tone; probably even for those with skin deeper than mine except maybe #Amsterdam that needs to be mixed with a darker colour to bring down the brightness a bit.

As for the pigmentation, you can almost apply on with the littlest amount of the liquid lipstick yet you can actually layer a couple times (let one layer dry and then swipe on another layer) for a much bolder look. All swatches on upper hand are made with one swipe from each colour.

THOUGHTS

After several tries on all of the lip colours, I found the best way to apply them is by using the applicator itself as it’s more convenient than carrying a lip brush with you.

I’d say there is a need to apply matching lip liners beforehand as the colours are not as pigmented as I hoped them to be. You can definitely use concealers or lip primers underneath to make the colour ‘pop out’ even more.

The finishes might seemed satiny at the beginning as that just gives you some time to properly blend with your choice tools; tip of my fingers for me so it’s easy to smooth over the lip lines but once it dries down, the finish will be properly matte and it is very much possible to layer another application of the lip product for a more intense look.

  

Both #Amsterdam and #Monte Carlo goes on nicely on lips but when it comes to #Transylvania, I’m going to admit that it goes on patchy and was quite hard to achieve a smooth and even finish.

Overall, 4/5. I love everything about these plush matte lip colours but it goes without saying that I just need to prep my oftenly dry lips properly by exfoliating them regularly and applying ample of lip balms prior. It is common for any liquid lipsticks to dry out the lips so make sure to prep well.

While these lip colours can stay on for many hours with minimum drinking and eating, I still find myself reapplying them throughout the day.

To remove these lip colours, I’d say any lip makeup remover will do including one that I have reviewed previously but you can simply remove them with any oil-based cleanser at one go along with the rest of your makeup at the end of the day.

Review | IUNIK Calendula Complete Cleansing Oil

As a skincare enthusiast, I’m pretty sure that I love trying new beauty products! But as much as I want to try different skincare trends as frequently as a fashionista changes her wardrobe, my skin cannot or simply is no longer capable of tolerating harsh ingredients and rapid product changes. 

That said, that’s not necessarily the end all or for all types of products because I do still love trying different makeup removers and facial cleansers. However, I do have several go-to cleansers when trying new product so I don’t worry if the cleanser I’m testing doesn’t turn out as great as I would hope.

When I received this cleansing oil for reviewing purpose, I already have one in mind that I know is rather unbeatable compared to other oil cleansers especially in terms of performances. But I surely would want to find a product that can perform similarly at a much lower price especially when I simply want to use it to remove layers of sunscreens at the end of the day. Now, let’s get to some basic information on this Calendula-based oil cleanser and do read on whether this product performs well or simply an average to the very least of my expectation.

What’s Good About This Oil Cleanser?

It’s mild yet offers deep cleansing to effectively remove all kinds of makeup and also contains natural plant oils that are supposedly good for the skin.

How to Use:

1. Dispense 2 to 3 pumps of cleansing oil onto dry palms
2. Gently smooth over the face
3. Wet the face to emulsify the cleansing oil
4. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water

Capacity: 150ml (3 to 4 months of daily use)

Ingredients list:

Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Canola Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Sorbitan Sesquioleate

Packaging:

  

The cleansing oil comes in its own box and the I do love the minimal design and as calendula flower is yellow in colour, I’m guessing that’s why the brand chose light yellow for the product packaging. This cleansing oil is to be used within 12 months after opening.

  

The product is housed within a sleek and sturdy bottle. There’s product description printed on the side of the bottle in English and Korean. The pump comes with a stopper which is nice especially when I travel. The product expiration date is printed at the bottom of the bottle in the format of YYYY-MM-DD (Year-Month-Day).

Application:

As I have mentioned earlier, I always go for cleansing oils to remove heavy waterproof makeup products therefore I’m going to show you guys how this cleansing oil works with some of the toughest waterproof makeup I have in my stash; black mascara and liquid eyeshadow tint.

This cleansing oil is considerably light and watery in texture with a slight scent to it which doesn’t bother me at all and definitely non-irritating to my skin.

 

As you can see in the above photo, all traces of makeup has been completely removed. I know there’s still some blue dye left while emulsifying the oil but once I’ve rinsed it off, the trace faded away so nicely and I just followed up with my water-based cleanser of the day.

After using this oil cleanser for several of months, I did notice that I needed more than the suggested 2 to 3 pumps whenever I need to do point makeup removal along with my cushion foundation. Sometimes I’ll need up to 5 pumps depending on how thick I’ve layered my mascara.

Overall, I give this product 5/5. I love everything about it; from its lightweight texture to the mild sensation when I’m massaging my face with it which is very much appreciated as my skin can be overly sensitive if I were to use foundation all day.

I love that the sunflower oil  mainly makes up the product and if you have oily and acne-prone skin, the jojoba oil in this oil cleanser can help with sebum control as well.

I guess that's all from me. Do share if you have tried anything from the brand before by leaving comments down below. I'll see you guys on my next post! Annyeong~

Blogger Mail | AXIS-Y Climate-based Skincare

I first saw this brand when it was featured on @faafirds as she was visiting a Beauty Expo few months ago and I was intrigued by the brand's concept of climate-based skincare products so I'm so glad to receive these considerably new products 2 weeks ago which you probably saw my Instagram Stories anyway. 

As you can see above, the brand sent me 3 products in total; exfoliating toner, barrier-repairing treatment product and to top these all off, a duo-moisturiser. Now that I'm done testing these on my equally-sensitive neck area for a week, I'm going to incorporate them into my daily skincare routines except for the BHA-containing exfoliating toner; 2 to 3 times a week maximum. I'm looking forward to try the ampoule mostly because I'm in the middle of restoring my skin barrier and I have been indulging myself in Centella Asiatica-based serums and ampoules so this is  simply timely to my skin condition. So far, I have only tried a duo sleeping mask so hopefully the moisturiser works well in sealing all of skincare products.

I guess that's all for now and I'll be seeing you guys on my next post. Annyeong~

|||   SHOP THE POST   |||

Axis-Y Daily Purifying Treatment Toner 200ml

Axis-Y Artichoke Intensive Skin Barrier Ampoule 30ml

Axis-y Cera-Heart My Type Duo Cream 60ml

||| Official links |||

Official Website | https://www.axis-y.com/

Official Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/axisy_official/

Distributor | https://shopee.com.my/marshearbeauty/

Of New Year and Instagram

I know it's weird to post Best Nine of 2019 here in my blog but hey! I just want to take this time to brag to the lot of you here, showing off my posts with the most engagement i.e. Likes and Comments.... no, I don't. Not really. Why? Let me just break it down for you by telling the stories behind each and every of the post above, quickly I promise. 

I'm gonna go by going from the bottom right to the left towards the top simply because I want to. 

1. My first bathroom #shelfie ever! | I have to admit, I needed to clean out so many unrelated things on that very shelf right before lining my opened makeup removers, facial cleansers and at the bottom shelf, my shower creams, shampoos and whatnot. Took me about an hour before I can actually take a decent photo but I'll say this, Sunday afternoon that's well-spent.
   
2. My lineup of products that by far is the most solid routine for sensitive skin days. | In my days as beauty blogger, I need to try and test many products with some goes into my routine permanently (till I actually finished them), some give me breakouts that I usually giveaway to people who want to take the risk, some doesn't do much to my skin that I usually just finish by using on my arms and legs while some products that thoroughly help my skin in terms of repairing my damaged skin barrier, smoothing out the dead flaky skin which deserves to be repurchased till the day I die or as long as I need it to. More than half of the products lined up above included in the last category.
   
3. Althea launched their budget-friendly face masks | let's just be honest. I was an Althea Angel i.e. ambassador and I love sheet masks. Couldn't be happier while hoarding these!
   
4. the beginning of my obsession with layering serums in my skincare routine | Started with the two and now I can even layer up to 4 serums whenever I have extra time or how sleep-deprived I actually am before beginning my night skincare routine.
   
5. Sponsored post for a local brand | All I'm saying the product is merely average but for price point and choice of colours for Malaysian skin tone, okay la.
   
6. #pinkwednesday and I can't feel more girlier than that post | I don't own a lot of products in pink bottles but when I gathered most that I have in a single pic like that, I feel cute. haha indulge me!
   
7. Beauty fridge. | Oh dear. so I bought this beauty fridge simply because I want to get back to using sheet mask on daily basis but then I ended up filling it with my toners and toners and more toners. haha i didn't think much of how this going to affect my whole engagement but yeah. My followers seems to like this beauty trend.
   
8. Krave Beauty family portrait | I'd say I had the worst FOMO fever when Krave release their moisturiser! I bought it the second it's launched on their Global site and dipped my hands (nope, spatula!) into it the second it arrived at my door.
   
9. My biggest collaboration, the first one through a PR company | OMG, I still can't believe Clarins picked me to receive their best-selling serum. I love it so much! I'm trying my best to finish my other serums so I can get back to using this, really. Also, dual-phase serum is mind-blowing to me as it's perfect for my dehydrated skin.

Honestly, this may come as a surprise to you but the above Best Nine posts are quite effortless compared to my other posts that I worked on harder in terms of shooting and creating the contents for the photos. I'm a bit disappointed actually but it's alright because this is just social media. 

I guess that's all from me. I'll see you guys on my next post. Annyeong~