Review: Skinc Replenish Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Recived this serum when I purchased a magazine sometime ago, was rather skeptical when I first use it as the manufacturing date of this proudct was 2 years ago. However, I am curious about Skinc as I have walked past their concept store in Ion many a times and was intrigued by the bar concept. The little I know about Skinc is that they do customisation for skincare and there is 0 parabens and 0 scent in their products.

Without further delay, I bring you the Skinc Replenish Hyaluronic Acid Serum.

According to the product description on the official website, the Replenish Hyaluronic Acid Serum is able to hold 6 litres of water per gram, the Hyaluronic Acid is able to bind moisture to the skin for instant lasting hydration from within. Lines are refined and skin is plump and smooth.

Skinc Replenish Hyaluronic Acid Serum - 20ml or 0.68fl oz

 List of Ingredients

In terms of packaging, I like the feel of being able to see the contents clearly (the coloured balls suspended in the serum is indeed cute, at least to me). However, just like products contained in jars I am not too fond of the way the serum is packed. Constant exposure to air and bacteria in the air might cause the active ingredients (if there is any) to lose their effectiveness. In this case, I am not too sure about the active ingredients, I just like my serum to be housed in a enclosed bottle with pump to dispense the product.

The clinical looking bottle.

1 single drop of the serum 

 Spreaded out- watery consistency

 Seems to transform from a thicker to water-like texture

 Aftermath

True to what was promised, there is 0 scent detected. Texture-wise, the liquid gel like serum spread across the surface of the skin effortlessly, the slightly thick serum transformed into somewhat water-like texture when spreaded and the serum gets absorbed into the skin quickly. There is also a slight cooling sensation when I was applying the serum to my face, which I quite like.

I include the serum as part of my usual night time skincare routine and actually came to like it alot as I do feel my skin nicely moisturised and it has that 'plump' with water feel. After absorption, the serum does not leave any sticky flim, my face felt comfortable even without the moisturiser (on normal days), I can actually skip the face cream part.

All in all, I felt the serum does perform the hydration function properly for me (I think it largely depends on your skin type as well, for gals with dry skin the moisturiser part should not be skipped) but as for the hefty price tag that comes with it, one can't help but felt turned away.

It is a decent hydration serum but I do believe there are many products in the market that are able to perform this function equally well at a fraction of the price.

If budget has never been a constraint for you, then you might want to give this a try. 

Priced at S$128.00 for 20ml or 0.68fl oz, available at http://www.iloveskininc.com/ or at their concept/ specialty stores around Singapore.

Haul: Clinique, Dr Murad and SK-II at Metro Paragon

Haul, haul, haul....

There are just times that i just want to haul and nothing more nothing less.......

Here we go......

The hauling done (SK-II is something that i did not budget for).

My essential and trusty buddies.

The GWP (2 liquid cleansers and 2 tubes of Super City Block SPF 40-not shown coz they are stashed deep in my drawer).

Dr Murad Essential-C cleaner - suppose to wash away environmental pollutants on the skin.

Was available at a promotional price of S$22.oo (usual Price: S$70.00)

The indulgence that was totally unprepared for.

Love to try it when i have the time.

Hauling?

My favourite kind of activity. : )

What's yours?

Review: Clarins Skin Beauty Repair Concentrate for Sensitive Skin

First thing first, please excuse the photos as they were taken with my old camera which isn't able to capture images very well.

Now, as i have mentioned previously, i do suffer minor bouts of eczema every now and then. The tell-tale signs of them occurring would be the sudden urge to scratch the skin near my mouth and slight redness around the corners of my mouth then subsequently it will spread to my chins forming a rather large patch of unsightly redness if i am unable to stop it while it is still at the corners of my mouth.

This skin condition started last year (i guess it is stress related) and occassionally i can sort of sense "it" coming when i am stressed out. Not only the red patches are unsightly (why of all parts of my body, it has to be the face? (-_-) ), the patches are itchy and worse if i gave in the temptation to scratch them.

I chance upon a free facial from Clarins due to a promotion approximately 4 months ago, as that was my first visit to the Clarins Institute at Wheelock, i was given a skin consultation by the Beauty specialist (the same lady who would be doing my facial) who addressed my skin concerns and then recommended the appropriate facial treatment.

Overall, i enjoyed the experience of the facial treatment, masterful strokes were applied during the facial and i was able to totally relax to the point that i almost felt asleep. After the facial treatment, I was recommended the Clarins Skin Beauty Repair Concentrate for Sensitive Skin by her (after the facial) as i expressed that my major skin concern is eczema (i had a relapse back then). This is the exact serum she used during the facial and true enough my red patches of skin near my mouth lightened significantly.

And so, i came home with my very first bottle of Skin Beauty Repair Concentrate......

Clarins Skin Beauty Repair Concentrate for Sensitive Skin.

A possible saviour to my eczema condition?

The texture of the Skin Beauty Repair Concentrate.

A closer look after the application.

Clarins products in generally possess this generic "Clarins" scent that i would associate it with European skincare products (people who hated it claimed that the scent resembles those of soap). This Repair Concentrate on the contrary smells of some minty herbal concoction to me, its subtle and faint, yet it doesn't dissipate even after the concentrate is absorbed into the skin. Nothing to hate really, i am not a scent hater unless its really overpowering. In this case, i think even non-fragrance pro people will be able to accept this scent.

Housed in a little white frosted glass bottle, the Repair Concentrate is dispense with a pump that is commonly seen for serums of various brands. Now, i don't really like this dispenser in the sense that i tend to get more product than necessary for application to the affected areas which doesn't require a full pump of the Repair Concentrate. Considering how little of the product i actually need vs the product that i managed to get out (i did try my very best to exert the appropriate force to get just a little out)- its wastage to me as i don't need to apply the concentrate to the rest of my face. Some improvement needs to be done to the pump dispenser seriously.

The texture of the Skin Beauty Repair Concentrate is a clear watery liquid that resembles lightweight oil. For application, i warmed the Repair Concentrate between my palms and then gently massaged it around the affected areas until it is absorbed into the skin and what's left is a thin sheen of oil which i will use a single sheet to tissue to dab it off. No problem for applicationwise-good.

According to Clarins Website, this Skin Beauty Repair Concentrate is a serum that is meant for highly sensitive skin type, it is a SOS treatment item that is able to immediately calm irritated skin, clear the pores as well as minimize appearance of blotchy skin, it can also repair weaken tissues while nourishing and soften the texture of the skin.

It has been almost 4 months, during these 4 months i have almost encountered about 2 recurrence of eczema (which did not manage to escalate). I took the Beauty Specialist advice to apply the Repair Concentrate as and when i am feeling the recurrence of my eczema and i managed to curb it in control every time. The oil managed to calm the pinkish patch of irritated skin (thanks to my itchy fingers) very fast and soften it. As i have oily combination skin type, this is not an item that i will use on a daily basis on my entire face and i don't think its meant to be used that way (unless you have really really sensitive and very dry skin).

I use the Repair Concentrate in quite a number of ways:

1. To curb and control my eczema condition.

2. As a weekly facial treatment item (meaning i simply slap on the serum/oil after the usual cleansing routine and a round of clarifying mask- but that's a luxury for me nowadays).

3. Use it in place of my usual serum and then apply lightweight/water-based moisturiser when my skin is really hydrated.

4. Use it to clear my breakouts.

All in all, i love this serum to the core.

It works for my eczema condition and it serves as a treatment to my face plus the formula contains 90% of plants extracts. A highly versatile product that is already in my list of HGs.

My 2 minor gripes here - its hefty price for such a small amount of product and its need-to-improve nozzle pump dispenser.

Priced at S$105.00 for 15ml or 0.5fl oz, available at all Clarins Counter and Clarins Institute at Wheelock Place.

Main Ingredients: Lavender, Marjoram, Licorice, Mint, Soy, Avocado, Perhydrosqualene from Olive Extracts, Vitamin A and Ximenia Extracts.

Review: Origins Modern Fusion Skin Transforming Catalyst

The Origins Modern Fusion Skin Transforming Catalyst is not something newly launched from Origins... it has been lying silently bidding its time in my drawer for half a year or so.

Although i am adventurous in my quest for my team of HGs (aka "i-can't-live-without-them" kind of skin saviours), i do not believe in miraculous products that "claimed" to "save" your skin overnight just like magic, or maybe perhaps the magical product is out there its just that i have not encounter them just as yet.

I prefer to test-drive a product for at least a couple of weeks before giving my 2 cents worth unless they give me breakouts more than once then i would stash it away until somebody who suits it comes along.

Now, the Modern Fusion Skin Transforming Catalyst is a facial serum that is suppose to restore your skin's luminosity, clarity, smoothen and soften texture of the skin as well as lighten mild pigmentations (brown spots).

Origins Modern Fusion Skin Transforming Catalyst.

Packagingwise, the serum comes in a neat bottle with pump (hygienic=good) that is able to dispense the appropriate amount of serum in 1 pump for the entire face (excess left on the hands goes to the neck).

Hardly any wastage in dispensing the serum, however like all products with pumps, it is a little tricky getting the product that is left at the bottom of the bottle... patience is the key here- just overturn the bottle and scoop what you need accordingly (not a pretty sight when the serum spilled a little around the neck of the bottle when i opened it ).

Infused with the goodness of rice which is believed to be able to combat various skin problems such as dullness, roughness etc... the serum actually smell like rice paste with a hint of citrus in it. I am guessing a very subtle hint of bergamot or something along the citrus line is part of the ingredients. Nice and pleasant scent, nothing overpowering... not bad at all.

A closer look at the texture of the serum.

In terms of texture, the serum has a slightly thicker consistency than most serums (eg. Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair and Origins Dr Andrew Weil's Plantidote Mushroom serum). Despite that, it spreads over the skin easily, it might be a little sticky upon application on the skin but the serum is absorbed into the skin rather quickly leaving the skin smooth to touch.

After application.

After using the serum for 2 months (twice daily), i do not see a drastic change in my skin in terms of clarity, radiance level, texture, improvement on dullness, so on and so forth. This is not a magic potion but i like it enough to buy a new bottle when i run out of it.

Why?

I like its lightweight texture (though slight thick consistency and a little sticky on application), its ability to be absorbed into the skin faster than my other HG (Dr Andrew Weil's Plantidote Mushroom serum which can be prove to be a tad oily for me on those rare days), mostly importantly this bottle of serum has the ability to perform dual tasks, both as a serum and moisturiser to me (for night usage) and my face do not have that sheen of oil shine when i woke up the next morning (i have oily-combination skin). Texturewise, i do feel the improvement, it is really softer to touch but i can't say the same for pigmentation as i don't really have brown spots at the moment (Touchwood!).

This serum suits people of all skin types with few skin concerns who would like to "enhance" the quality of their skin and lazy people like me (fuss-free), not really meant for those with major skin concerns.

It is not love at first sight for this serum, it sort of grows on me without my realisation until i have problem pumping out the serum then it hits me that i have been reaching out for it every day.



Priced at $77.00 for 30ml, available at selected Departmental stores.

Review: Clarins's HydraQuench Biphase Intensive Serum

My very first encounter with Clarins is the HydraQuench Biphase Intensive Serum which was approximately a year ago. I am of combination skin type but suffers from dehydration every now and then, its the "troublesome"- dry on the outside, oily inside kind of skin type.

At that time, i am using one of my HG of all time- the Plantidote Serum by Dr Andrew Weils for Origins, it is still good nevertheless but sometimes it might prove to be a little rich for me, especially my skin is prone to breakouts if i am not careful. So, i am on the quest of finding a serum/moisturizer that is strong enough to keep it hydrated, something lighter but powerful.. : )

This is where the HydraQuench Serum comes into place, containing extracts of the Katafray bark (to help restore skin's hydration), Alfalfa (smoothen premature wrinkles) and rich in Omega 3, Inca Peanut oil (to restore skin's balance), i should think this just might be the 1 lightweight yet heavy duty serum/moisturizer that i am looking for.

In terms of packaging, the nice little glass bottle comes with a pump that is hygienic and 1 pump should be sufficient to cover my entire face. But with repeated daily usage, i do not know why, there seems to be a thin ring of blue gel-like substance formed just at the opening of the pump.. hmm......

Texture-wise, it is watery and slightly oily but as long as the serum is fully absorbed into the skin, there isn't any trace of oil at all. As the serum is made up of 2 parts (hence the word-Biphase included in the name), you have to shake the bottle each time before use so that the ingredients are able to "work" together.

Like all Clarins products, this serum is no exception, it is slightly scented but it is hardly detectable after application. Perfumed or scented products are never a huge issue for me, unless, 1. they are pungent, or 2. i have a irritation reaction to it, or 3. i simply hate the smell, other than the reasons above, i say if the product works for you for all the right reason, just grin and bear with it for a while.

Performance-wise, the watery serum did perform its job properly and very well at it too, i would say. There are times whereby i skipped the moisturizer and just slapped on this serum before hitting the sack. That alone is sufficient to keep my face moisturized the entire night and curb my occasional bouts of eczema.

I took my chance and bite the bullet a year and half ago for the 1st bottle and now i am into my 3rd bottle. I would need to confess that in between the bottles, i did "strayed" to other products (thinking that it might be better than this) but i will always return to the serum.

Clarins's HydraQuench Biphase Intensive Serum



The 2 layers of liquid shown


A closer look at the serum


Watery texture of the serum

After the application, where the serum is fully absorbed into the skin

Would i buy it again?

Hell, yes! Its already a indispensable member of my HG family.

Priced at S$97.00 for 30 ml, available at all Major Departmental Stores.

Main Ingredients: Aqua, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Isohexadecane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Benzophenone-4, Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Tromethamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Acrylate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium Edta, Chondrus Crispus extract.

Review: Dr Andrew Weil for Origins Plantidote Mega-Mushroom Face Serum

I have a friend who has very sensitive skin, almost anything would trigger violent reactions from it. Dust, dryness, the weather, anything you named it, her ultra-sensitive skin would react to it almost instantly causing blotching of the skin and then redness. Her saviour comes in the form of Plantidote Mega-Mushroom Face Serum from Origins.

With regular use twice a day, her extreme skin condition that has always been the core of her frustration actually subsided in a few weeks time. Her skin does not look blotched red every time i see her, though it remains slightly pinkish and it actually looks quite smooth.

That is a miracle for her and well, that prompted me to try this miracle potion wondering if it could conjure its magic to me. My skin is not as sensitive as hers however i do encounter problems such as dry patches around the cheeks but oily T-zone, mild irritation and appearance of some fine lines.

I jumped in to try the face serum, it comes in a clinical looking green glass bottle with a pump, it smells rather herbal (perhaps its due to the Reishi mushrooms, Ginger, Turmeric and etc used), the smell is not strong but to some it might put them off. The serum has a thin consistency of a lotion, lightweight and easily absorbed by the skin.

After a few weeks or so, it did what it claimed, the my skin felt more balanced, less irritated and the appearance of fine lines is not so obvious though its still there. I was told by the Sales lady that the serum has anti-aging properties too, i can't really tell for sure about that but i will see how i turn out years down the road.

This serum has been my friend's holy grail for a few years, as for me, i will always go back to the green bottle whenever i can feel my skin acting up.

Priced at S$108 for 30ml and S$138 for 50ml. It is the saviour for those with ultra sensitive skin, a holy grail material in the making.

Main Ingredients: Hypsizygus ulmarius, Cordyceps, Reishi mushrooms, Ginger, Turmeric, Holy Basil, Resveratrol and Argan Nut oil.