Shokubutsu Body Foam - Whitening with Sakura Leaf & Evening Primrose - a heavenly shower experience!

I was extremely delighted when I found the Shokubutsu Body Foam at BeBeauty, T&T Supermarket at Metrotown. I had been using Shokubtusu for years before moving to Vancouver. I could not find it until now.


My favourite Shokubutsu Body Foam is the pink one - the one with Sakura Leaf & Evening Primrose.  It has a light floral scent, personally, my favourite scent among all the other Shokubutsu body foams.

Besides the pleasant scent, the foam is rich and provides a heavenly shower experience. It is a wonderful way to start and end my day. It leaves my skin feeling soft and moisturized.I definitely recommend that you give it a try!

Product Review - Nexxus Therappe Shampoo and Humectress Conditioner from Costco

I went to Costco two days ago and I could not resist buying Nexxus Salon Hair Care Therappe Ultimate Moisture Shampoo and Nexxus Salon Hair Care Humectress Ultimate Moisture Conditioner. The Nexxus shampoo (1.3l) and conditioner (1.3l)combo was the most expensive shampoo and conditioner set  sold at Richmond's Costco @ C$39.99 + tax  The world "Salon" caught my attention and I was really curious if the shampoo and conditioner are better than that the cheaper Marc Anothony's Shampoo, Conditioner and treatment set @ C$19.99 + tax that I bought about 2 months ago.

First about the shampoo. The full name is a mouthful - Therappe Luxurious Hydrating Shampoo. It is formulated with Rosemary, Chamomile and Nettle to gently cleanse nourished, healthy-looking hair. The conditioner - Humectress Ultimate Hydrating Conditioner, specially formulated with Vitamin E, Coconut Oil, and Honey Extract to provide nourishing moisture, leaving hair luxuriously soft, manageable and full of lustre.

Unlike the March Anthony's Shampoo which is sulfate free, the Nexxus Therappe contains sodium laureth sulfate. So, if you have sensitive scalp, dyed hair, oily hair and skin and issues with eczema, this is may not be something you want to try.

My experience  

First, I am surprised by the smell. It smells like a sweet chewing gum with a bit of a tropical twist. It is not exactly a smell that I was expecting. It does smell better than the Marc Anthony's Macadamia oil shampoo but not a whole lot better. It lathers very well, thanks to the sulfate. It does feel luxurious with all the suds. It rinses off nicely. The conditioner smells much better (thank goodness!). It smells sweet like honey. Overall, my hair does feel softer and more manageable. I am not so sure about the full of lustre part. 

Verdict

If you don't mind paying C$39.99 for the pair (since there are cheaper options at Costco), the Nexxus Therappe and Humectress are pretty luxurious salon quality shampoo and conditioner. My husband loves it. Just a side note, even though sulfate is supposed to be bad for hair follicle, both my husband and I noticed that we were having less hair loss after we started using the Nexxus Therappe and Humectress combo. It is definitely worth a buy!

Updates on 27 Jun 2013

Absence makes the heart fonder. I never thought that I would miss the Nexxuss shampoo and conditioner combo so much. I was away to Las Vegas for 5 days and my hair felt so dry and unmanageable after using the hotel shampoo and conditioner and being out in the hot and dry weather for 5 days! I was so happy to be able to wash and condition my hair with Nexxuss at home last night. My hair felt so much smooth and softer. 1 more week of use and my hair should return to the pre-Las Vegas silky soft condition. :)

  

Product Review - Biotherm Aquasource part of the aquaTRIO - Your 3-step deep hydration routine

Biotherm's Aquasource - 48h deep hydration replenishing gel is another one of my favourite moisturizers. I have used Biotherm's Aquasource a few years ago but stopped using it for a couple of years because the gel for Normal/combination skin was frequently sold out. It was with pure luck that I walked past the Biotherm counter at the Bay in Metrotown last week and it was selling the aquaTrio  gift set for C$45 + tax (Total value of gift set is $63; the Aquasource itself was sold for C$45 + tax!)


The Biotherm aquaTrio gift set consists of the Biosource hydra mineral cleanser, the Biosource toning lotion and Aquasource (the star moisturizing gel!). I don't normally go out of my way to get the cleanser or the toner but since the price of the aquaTrio gift set is the same as that of the Aquasource, why not?

With the aquaTrio, you can cleans, tonify and hydrate (the 3 essential daily steps) for a healthy, comfortable and radiant skin.

According to gift box, the 3 step deep hydration includes:

1. Cleanse with the hydra-mineral tonifying mousse Biosource enriched with balancing zinc. Cleanses and tones without drying skin out. Skin is instantly purified and balanced. From 7 days, it radiates with a healthy glow.

2. Tonify with the tonifying instant hydration lotion Biosource, enriched with Aquatoril, Mannose and thermal plankton cellular water for instant moisture. Impurities are visibly eliminated, skin is hydrated and prepared for Aquasource. The toner does not contain any alcohol, so the skin does feel quite hydrated.

3. Hydrate deeply with the replenishing gel Aquasource (the STAR product!) for a deep hydration on several cellular layers. Thanks to the association of thermal plankton cellular water and Mannose in a gel texture, 48 hour lastingly hydrated skin, plump feel and silky comfort all day long. I use the gel twice every day, so I cannot tell if it last for 48 hours but my face does not feel dry at all throughout the day.

My aquaTrio Experience

The cleanser is nice and gentle, my skin does not tight or dry after wash.  It has a nice mild scent.This is the 4th day I am using it but no "healthy glow" yet. The toner does not contain alcohol and the skin feels quite clean (especially after I see some "dirt" on the cotton pad) and hydrated. The aquasource (the moisturiser) is more like an emulsion than a gel (compared to H2O+ Face Oasis). It is more creamy in texture but feels light and super hydrating. I have no outbreak from this gel and its mild scent is refreshing. According to Biotherm's site, the fragrance is a refreshing mint and citrus fruits combined with Jasmine and Musk. I certainly could not describe the scent from smelling it.

My Verdict

The aquaTrio set is definitely worth getting. The products are great and it is definitely value for money! I will be going down to my nearest Bay outlet and stocking up on the set. Do note that the products last for 12 months once they are opened.

Updates on 14 July 2013

Just want to update that after using the Aquasource for slightly more than a month, I would not recommend using it every day together with the Clarins HP Sunscreen. I noticed that the combination has started clogging my pores and I am beginning to see some breakouts forming. I just switched back to the H2O+ Face Oasis last night and my face feels so much lighter and fresher.

The Aquasource is probably more suitable to be used on its own (without the sunscreen) or used once a week at night during summer where sunscreen is a must during the day.

Product Review: Clarins UV PLUS HP Day SunScreen High Protection Emulsion SPF 40 Oil-free (100% Mineral screen)

The official date for summer is 21 June 2013. However, it definitely feels like summer is finally here in Vancouver as we enjoy more than 15 hours of sunshine from 6 am (maybe even 5 am, I don't know since I am still asleep) to 9:30 pm. Before I go crazy soaking myself in the sun, I have to remind myself to put on sunscreen. The cool breeze tend to make me forget how intense the sun is on a day with clear blue sky.

I just bought Clarins UV Plus HP Day Screen High Protection SPF 40 Oil Free sunscreen from Sephora yesterday after I noticed a layer of rosy and tanned skin on my cheeks after I removed my sunglasses. It was C$40 + tax.

Here are some information on Clarins Sunscreen:

It's a tiny white bottle (50ml/ 1.7 Fl Oz). C$40 sounds pretty expensive for such a small bottle. Honestly, you can probably get a Banana Boat or Neutrogena suncreen or even sunblock for twice the size for less than C$20! I was a little hesitant about getting it but since it is one of Sephora's favourite sunscreen and it has was almost a 5-star rating on Sephora's review, I decided to give it a go since I don't want to risk getting freckles etc on my face.

Just like everybody else mentioned, you don't need a lot. It's an emulsion. I literally used 2 drops on my whole face. I think that is definitely less than 0.5 ml per drop. I can easily use this for at least 3 months! It doesn't sound so bad after all.

According to Clarins, the Day Screen offers a high protection against UV rays, from an ultra-lightweight texture that leaves skin looking smooth, soft and matte. 100% mineral screen. Apply over regular day care. It is also allergy and ophthalmologist tested, non comedogenic.

I tried it today. True enough, it's super light and my face feels smooth and matte after application. After almost 8 hours, my face still feels matte. That is truly amazing. My face didn't feel dry or sticky. It is matte even after 8 hours.

Verdict:

This is definitely a SCREAMING BUY! If you have not found a good sunscreen for your face, give it a try! Chances are you will love it from the first application!

Product Review: Peter Thomas Roth Clinical Peel & Reveal Dermal Resurfacer 100 ML/ 3.4 FL Oz

I bought the Peter Thomas Roth Clinical Peel & Reveal Dermal Resurfacer (It's a mouthful, so I will just call it Clincal Peel & Reveal from now on) from Sephora during the last VIB sale. It usually retails for C$58 + tax.

I picked this up from the store out of the many possible scrubs and peels because I remembered my sis was raving about Peter Thomas Roth. To be honest, I bought it because I thought it was a product that my sis was telling me about. It was the right brand but not the product my sis was raving about. Pretty embarrassing right? But I did a quick search on internet and the reviews are quite good so I thought, why don't I just try it? If it does not work out, I can still return it to Sephora. 

What is the Clinical Peel & Reveal? 

It is a three-in-one anti-aging resurfacer:

• peel with alpha hydroxy acid (AHA)
• exfoliate with pumpkin enzyme
• polish with aluminium oxide

Why the Clinical Peel & Reveal? 

To reveal smoother, younger looking, radiant and revitalized skin. The triple action dermal resurfacer helps even out skin tone, smooth out fine lines and wrinkles and clarify skin. It addresses dull, aging and congested complexion by peeling, exfoliating and polishing. 

How to use the Clinical Peel & Reveal?

Massage onto wet skin, leave on 3-7 minutes and let the AHAs and enzymes work. Rinse thoroughly. It mentioned used as needed but I think using once a week would be more appropriate.

My Experience with the Clinical Peel & Reveal

If you have read my earlier product reviews, you would have realized that the smell of a product is a big thing for me. the Clinical Peel & Reveal smells delicious! Yes, you read correctly. It smells like a yummy dessert, so applying it on the face for 3-7 minutes is a very pleasant experience. On top of that, the texture is very fine, so I enjoyed the massage portion too. 

Once it is rinsed off, the effect on the skin is immediate! My skin feels smooth (and I could not stop touching it!). 

I used less than a dime size (1 ml) on my face so I don't think I can finish it within 12 months (assuming I use it once a year). Even though it seems pretty pricey @ $58, one tube is all I need for an entire year. I will prob use it on my hands, back and foot if I still have half the tube by the 10th month. 

I am not able to comment on its effectiveness to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles but my skin definitely feels and looks clarified. 

Verdict

I definitely recommend the Peter Thomas Roth Clinical Peel & Reveal Dermal Resurfacer! This is definitely worth it not just for clarifying your skin but also for the enjoyable experience!

What is Exfoliation and is it necessary to exfoliate?

I have been taught that to have beautiful skin, I need wash, tone and moisturize my face twice a day (once in the morning and once at night before I sleep). There are more to the beauty routine than this and one important step is exfoliation.

What is Skin Exfoliation?
It is basically the removal of dry and flaky surface skin.

When to Exfoliate? 
I exfoliate when my face feels rough and when I noticed that my pores are clogged. However, do note that you should not do that more than once a week. If your face becomes red and feels irritated, you have exfoliated too much.

Why Exfoliate? 
It feels good (the skin feels smooth and clean) and it resolves the following skin issues:

• Blemished Skin
• Remove dry skin which build up acts as barriers to trap oil in the skin and causes possible breakouts
• Acne scars
• Remove the skin on the dark marks and encourage the formation of new healthy skin
• Clogged Pores
• Remove dry skin, blackheads, whiteheads and little clogged bumps on the skin, usually of foreheads.
• Hyper pigmentation
• Breakup pigmented cells and help in the fading process
• Dry Skin
• Remove dry skin so that moisturizers can be more effective 
• Rough Skin
• Remove dry skin to make the skin smoother

A good analogy for exfoliation would be super-cleaning up your skin once in a while (once a week/month) to remove dry skin, whiteheads and blackheads which cannot be removed by just washing your face. Make exfoliation a part of your weekly or monthly beauty routine today!

Personal updates on August 18, 2013: 

I have been using my Thomas Roth Clinical Peel religiously every week for more than 1 month now and I must say that I have less clogged pores, my skin is definitely much smoother and my acne scars less prevalent. I also seem to have less of those huge breakouts! Exfoliating weekly is definitely paying off!

Personal updates on Sep 26, 2014: 

Read online about home-made scrubs and found one really simple one - Honey and Brown Sugar Scrub. It works really well and it is preservative free and really cheap.