Sasa.com Sharing Blog - skincare & makeup tips, hit product reviews, beauty buys, etc.

New Anti-aging Favorite: Collagen Supplement

2010-03-03T23:07:00.000-08:00

Not sure if you feel the same: After 23, many skin problems have suddenly appeared, like visible pores, darkened eye circles, sagging eye contours...all aging symptoms you can think of.

My way to keep skin elastic is massage cream and supplement. Collagen is one of the hottest supplements in recent years. Japanese brands like Meji, FINE and Hadatuko have released many such choices gaining positive reviews.

Meiji Amino Collagen

is what I’ve been taking these weeks. Here is how I drink it:

Open the package and you’ll see the very milk-like collagen powder.
It smells milk too!
At first I am not sure if it will go well with green tea.

Mix the green tea powder with lukewarm water.

After adding the collagen powder, it gets s bit thicker. But the taste is no different to the original green tea.

After 3-week consumption of Meiji Amino Collagen

Honestly, before trying the collagen powder, I was a bit concerned about acne breakout. Some posters on forums mentioned they’ve got a few pimples drinking the powder. Thus, I took the supplement every other day in the first week to test. So far I didn’t find my skin more prone to breakout after the 3-week trial.

About the effects, they can’t be said super stunning. The pores have looked less visible. My face would often get oily after lunch. This condition has improved after taking the collagen powder. Overall, I feel my skin condition more stable with the consumption of collagen supplement.

Remarks: What is Collagen?

Collagen is the main support protein of connective tissue. It helps maintain skin youth so it looks firm, tensed and hydrated when we are young. Yet, the amount of collagen in our body decreases with age. That’s why we’ve got aging signs ever since 25 years old. You may take more fresh meat, seafood and dairy products for production of collagen. Unfortunately a balanced diet is not easy for many city people. I guess that explains the rising demand of nutrient supplements…

How to Refrigerate Skincare: Guide for freshness

2010-02-17T18:31:00.000-08:00

It got warmer last week and the spring came close suddenly. Yet, it’s freezing again now.

Anyway, most of the time the spring in Hong Kong is humid and suffocating. You’ll miss the coolness in winter. Since you can’t get a relief outdoor, let’s enjoy a soothing facial from refrigerated skincare. Keep your skincare in fridge and lengthen their freshness.

Some of you may not have a clear idea what skincare to fridge and how to do it. Here is my way to do it for your reference:

What can be stored cold?

Hydrating masks in sheets are the best choice! Moisturizing goodies like serum, toner, eye gel and eye mask are ideal to fridge as well. These products are rich in water content and the skincare effects can be maximized after refrigerating. Your pores get less visible with a soothing cool of skincare.

Extra note: What NOT to be stored cool? Products for cleansing are not to be kept in fridge. Cleansing milk, purifying mask and skincare with alcohol are the examples.

How to store skincare cold?

Although the cooling sensation is AMAZING, don’t “overcool” your masks or skincare. Or else your skin will be irritated. Never put your skincare in the freezer. This hardens the skincare texture and lessens effectiveness.

So, it’s good enough to store skincare in a fridge at a temperature around 10 degrees Celsius.

Let’s Shop: Best choices for a Cooling facial

Somang
Nutri-100 Hyaluronic Acid Essential Cotton Mask

A hydrating mask 100% cotton-made. High concentration of moisturizing factors and Hyaluronic Acid keep your skin balanced in oil. Apply it cold and your pores will look much smaller.

COSLINE
Aloe Essence Mask Sheet Pack

Moisturising masks are great to be kept cool. And one with aloe vera is even better.

Masks from COSLINE are cheap and in lovely size. The size of the mask sheet is wide enough to please women with a rather large face.

Soin d'eau
Bagnoles de L'Orne Spring Water

If there is a fridge in your office, don’t waste it. Put a toner or Spring Water from Soin d’eau in the fridge. Soothe your skin at work.

My skin tends to get oily and reddish after lunch. A cool spring water spray is a blessing then. Just spray some water and enjoy a simple cleansing step. Do coat with a light amount of day cream or sunscreen afterwards. Your skin feels much more stable.

When Chinese New Year mixes with Valentine’s Day: Gift Idea for Him

2010-02-07T22:40:00.000-08:00

A knotty Valentine’s Day is coming! This year this romantic occasion encounters the Chinese New Year.

Are you going to visit your relatives, or being with your special one? No matter how you’re going to arrange your time, a flattering gift for him is necessary. Have you got any Valentine’s gift idea?

I have been thinking about…Is it too boring to send him chocolate every year? How about a more “practical” present?

GAIA
MADE FOR MEN

Gaia Made for Men Shave Gel

Sasa.com Price: USD 14.80

I guess a soothing shaving gel for men is not a bad idea.

This shave gel from GAIA has a super gentle formula. The major ingredients are certified organic oils. This works well for sensitive skin as well. I love that it contains aloe vera to soothe and prevent itchiness!

The best point is that it’s more than man shaving gel! Girls can use it too removing body hair as the formula is really soothing. Hence even if your guy isn’t very interested in using it later, you can still use the gel, instead of leaving it aside in bathroom forever.

DS Laboratories
SPECTRAL DNC

Spectral.DNC® Hair Loss Treatment

Sasa.com Price: USD 36.00

Haha, I guess this treatment is a bit esteem-hurting for young men. Yet, it makes a good gift between married couple. Especially when you two have been together for ages and there is no more new gift idea, why not give a go on practical gifts?

This hair loss treatment is convenient. You can spray on washed or non-washed hair. In two to three weeks, you’ll notice strengthened hair and even more hair growth, according to many online positive comments. Definitely worth a try!

Loose Powder 101: Cure for Raccoon Eyes?

2010-01-28T23:02:00.000-08:00

What cosmetic product is the most durable to consume? I’d say loose powder! No matter how mall the package is, loose powder is simply hard, if not impossible, to use up. Even if you do makeup every day…

Since loose powder is very durable, to use it up faster, don’t just use it to set your makeup look.

Don’t underestimate its usages. There are many ways to use your powder!

1) To set: Stay away from Oil Shine

So, this is the most common way to use loose powder. Instead of adding the last coat to set, you can dab the powder before your foundation as well! This is a useful technique under warm humid weather or for oily skin. Simply dust a light coat on clean face before foundation. This allows the powder to absorb excess oil easily and prevents oil-shine.

2) To conceal even the Raccoon Eyes

To me the most exciting use of loose powder! Tyra Banks has showed us how to cover raccoon eyes with loose powder on TV.

The key is loose powder in one shade lighter than your usual choice. Pat yellowish eye concealer with your middle finger. With a makeup brush, dab the lighter shade powder around eyes. Be generous applying!

Only at this stage you need your normal loose powder to cover up. You’ll see a much more natural dark eye circle-covering effect.

(Just a reminder: Yellowish undereye concealor is great on the dull mouth corners as well :> )

3) Correct the skin tone

Loose powder in colors other than snow white, light beige, earth tone can correct your skin tone.

Say, a greenish color suits those with reddish blemishes. And the usual lavender color is very good to neutralize dull sallow tone.

A Gold Mask for Chinese New Year? Boost skin elasticity!

2010-01-21T23:53:00.000-08:00

There are three weeks to go before the Chinese New Year. Many Chinese are busy shopping for this season.

Some ladies like changing into red clothing and shimmery accessory in Chinese New Year to get good luck. Some of us may even buy new red lingerie! So, how about a gold mask to wish for good luck?

“Wow~ how luxurious this gold mask is!” this is what I thought at the first sight at this mask from BSC. I did hear about the beauty advantages of gold but so far I haven’t tried one gold mask. Some said even the ancient Egyptians have learnt to make use of gold to boost skin elasticity.

Since many of my co-workers highly recommended the masks from BSC, well, let’s see if this gold mask works perfectly as well!

BSC.PRO®

Deluxe Nano 99.9% Pure Gold Face Crystal Mask

(with 5X Vegetal Botox)
Sasa.com Price: US$ 56.80

Mask Texture:

Thick jelly form in a wide but a bit short shape. It’d be much better if the shape is longer to suit gals with long face.

What I feel on application:

-It comes gentler than I expected. I didn’t feel a slight bit of uncomfortable heat warned on the package.
-It covers well. When you put on the mask, you may look a bit like a metal statue. :>
-rich amount of essence! You can put on the gold mask for 20 minutes and it doesn’t dry up fast.
-mild scent, non-irritating

After the Gold Mask:

-feel more moisturized
-You can actually see some gold sparkles on your face! (I guess they are the nano gold particles?)
-Pores get tighter. Yet, it’s too early to tell if the elasticity is lifted much using only once.

Test on Short Lashes: SAYA 9 days extra-lash tonic

2010-01-13T22:30:00.000-08:00

The First Entry in 2010! I’ve disappeared for two weeks as the server for the Chinese version of this blog was down for a while. Thanks God the server runs again.

Anyway, in this first entry, I wanna talk about lashes.

My inspiration is from the lost of some of my precious lashes. After a few parties and gatherings in Christmas season, a few of my lashes were pulled off when I was removing makeup!

That’s why I have resorted a new sample I’ve got. See if my lashes can be saved.

SAYA 9 days extra-lash tonic

Sasa.com Price: US$38.50 (One extra free)

How I tried:

I have applied the lash strengthening serum around once a day. It takes twice a day to work on the official instruction but I am too forgetful. It’s been 14 days now.

What I DO like:

-Smells an obvious scent of ginseng. Rich in effective ingredients!
-I like the texture. It’s not sticky and absorbs fast. Just a few minutes later you can apply your usual mascara.
-The brush bristles are soft and intense. Unlike another lash strengthening serum I tried, this one doesn’t irritate the delicate skin around eyes. Comfy!

What I DON’T like:

-The tube opening is too small! I find it rather hard to squeeze back the brush.
(although the design may work well for hygienic reason...)

Effects after a Two-week Trial:

-My lashes got stronger and look thicker. The color is getting darker.
-I don’t see very stunning lengthening results. The lashes did look longer a bit if you pay extra attention but the effect is not dramatic.
(Or I didn’t follow the official instruction, that’s why?)

Test Conclusion:

Lash serum means a lot for gals frequently wearing eye makeup. When we remove eye makeup and if we, carelessly, pull too hard, some lashes fall off. Days after Days, our lashes get thinner and weaker.

This extra-lash tonic from SAYA will not yield dramatic lengthening effect in a short time. Yet, it works well in thickening your lashes. Nonetheless, it’s a nice choice as a basic care for lashes.

2009 Beauty Review: Goodies I’d keep buying

2009-12-30T20:38:00.000-08:00

It’s the end of year and time to do some kinds of review. (despite my lack of new objectives…)

After being a beauty editor, I encountered numerous beauty products every day. Some of them make me wonder why they can be popular but some work so impressively that I’d LOVE to buy again.

Giovanni

Frizz Be Gone

I wear short hair now but bought this amazing hair end oil when I had long hair.

The most attractive point of this hair care is its rather natural ingredients. The brand offers organic hair care, which is quite rare on the market. The hair oil doesn’t smell strange with artificial fragrance.

The oil smoothes hair VERY well. It spreads well and is not oily at all. Just a few bits will do for each use. It saves my frizzy hair end.

For Beloved One

Melasleep Whitening Blemish Balm Cream

What a hit brand among Taiwanese beauties these years! The gel masks and BB cream from For Beloved One are very famous.

This BB cream smells a pleasant breeze of rose fragrance. Girls loving rose scents must love it.

The color tone is very natural, a lot sheerer than common foundations. You can freely spread a few layers without a cakey complexion. Just a minor con, the translucent texture makes a lighter coverage. Yet it’s fine for people with just some acne occasionally.

Gals as lazy as me may just spread a thin layer and then dab some loose powder to set.

Thursday Plantation

Tea tree medicated gel for acne

Just can’t stop praising this fantastic acne gel even if I have already talked about it in a previous entry. My face is likely to develop acne during pre-menstrual period. This acne gel becomes a must-have for me at this time. After using once or twice, the troubled area is repaired for a large extent. At least no huge inflamed acne has appeared!

Beauty Diy

Job's Tear & Licorice Water Brightening Treatment

A HERO toner developed by the beauty professional Niuer. It’s sold crazily online.

For whitening effect, I think it’s just mild. Yet, the hydrating effect is quite impressive. With its friendly price, this treatment toner is super ideal for a quick mask. Have a simple moisturizing mask every other day. I found my skin moisturized and pores less visible.

[ Only a little amount of my loved goodies is left! ]

Well, hereby, wish you guys a happy new year! Welcome, 2010!

Eye Saver after Christmas: Lifecella Eye Mask

2009-12-23T18:00:00.000-08:00

When you read this post, it’s probably after a joyful Christmas. After X’mas parties and gatherings, you washed off makeup and…saw a dull tired complexion and dry lines around eyes? My way to renew my face is applying nourishing eye mask.

To effectively nourish your tired eyes, you need an eye mask with a generous amount of essence. On this point Lifecella’s eye masks have done a good job!

Hisamitsu
LIFECELLA
Milky Lotion Sheet Mask CoQ10 Squalane for Eye Contour

Masks from Hisamitsu (or Lifecella) are always one of the best-sellers on Sasa.com. Many users have positive feedbacks and reviews on them. The mask sheet texture is said to be comfy and the essence very rich. The most attractive point is its budget-friendly price.

I’m using the CoQ10 eye mask these days, considering the ingredients. The texture is rich and thick making the eye mask excellent for dry freezing winter.

Just a short note: This eye mask has been recommended by hosts from a Taiwan television show as well.

Pros:

-Super rich amount of essence, you can put on the mask for 20 mins
(Some gals may store the eye mask in refrigerator for next time use. This sounds a bit “dangerous” to me as I’m concerned about germs. )

-The cutting and shape of the eye mask sheets are PERFECT! They’re in a curvy U shape fitting the eye contours very well.

-LOVELY price! This brand offers different promotional packages frequently.

[ Open the packing…Wow! Lots of essence inside ]

[ Two masks attached on the different side of film ]

[ Fit the end of eyes well ]

Cons:

-The eye mask has done a fantastic hydrating job in an instance. It erases dry lines. Yet, if you’re looking for something removing raccoon eyes or under eye bags, this mask is just the best option.

Good Hand Cream you may have missed

2009-12-17T18:49:00.000-08:00

What I keep buying in winter includes warming underwear, hydrating mask and hand cream. Honestly Hong Kong is not a dry place but if you stay in office all day long, the air conditioning dries your skin. My hands feel dry especially after washing in winter. Hence you can always see a hand cream on my office desk. :>

There are quite a lot of hand care choices on Sasa.com, including Crabtree & Evelyn’s, Jurlique’s and Vaseline’s. Beside these well-known hand cares, you may have missed these nice hand treatments just because their brands are less discussed.

Papilio
Hand Massage Essence

Sasa.com Price: US$12.60

An excellent hand massage treatment made in Japan AND, reasonably priced. Its ingredients sound great as well: botanical extracts such as ginseng and licorice root while it’s free of colorant and fragrance.

I guess the only con is that it’s rather a small tube. I didn’t use it often. Just a few times a week for a complete hand massage. After massage, my hands did RECOVER.

Why is hand massage necessary? You’ll know if you work at office all day, sitting still in front of a PC, moving your mouse and typing with keyboards…How tiring!

Easy Simple Hand Massage
1.Spread a suitable amount of hand massage essence on palms, fingertips and nails.

2.On the back of hand, pressure in circular motion towards the fingertips.

3.From the fingertips, gently rub towards the back of hand.

4.Massage between the fingers.

5.Gently pull the fingers towards the back of hand to loosen.
6.Repeat on the other hand.

Part Hartmann
MENALIND Hand Cream

Sasa.com Price: US$8.40

An intensive dry hand treatment from Germany, besides the hit Herbacin Wuta Kamille Glycerin Hand Moisturizing Cream. Compared to Herbacin’s, Hartmann’s Menalind Hand Cream is less discussed and yet so satisfying to users that many of them re-purchase this fantastic cream.

Like many other hand creams from the West, Hartmann’s Menalind Hand Cream has a rich texture. Luckily it’s super easy to absorb. Moreover, since the producer is mainly a medical & rehab company, the hand cream formula richly contains active ingredients.

What I like most about this hand treatment is its large tube size priced less than 10 US dollars. The amount is more than enough even if you use it a few times a day throughout the winter!

False Eyelash and Makeup Sponge Cleansing Tips

2009-12-11T01:21:00.000-08:00

Coming is the season for parties and gatherings! I guess even those who seldom wear makeup will use a bit of mascara or foundation in this special period.

For healthy skin, remember to remove makeup clearly. This helps your skin survive the Christmas and New Year parties.

Besides removing makeup, note the hygiene of makeup tools. They can harm your skin with gems. Here I’d love to share tips to clean these tools well. Clean them after each use to keep your skin away from dirt and gems.

To clean False Eyelashes

Fake eyelashes seem a must-have for Christmas party looks. Yet, they can get messy after a day wear with mascara and dirt. Here is how to clean false lashes after each use:

1.Remove the false lashes with cleansing oil and pick out the glue residue.

2.Soak the false lashes into eye makeup remover or foaming cleansing with water.
3.Soak for a few minutes to clean the mascara residue.

4.Take out the false lashes and brush with a clean eyebrow brush (or even tooth brush!)

5.Wipe and press dry with a tissue.

6.Put the lashes back to the package to let them set.
7.When the lashes get dry, brush and set the lashes with eyebrow brush or lash comb.

To clean Makeup Sponge

If you don’t wanna waste the sponge after using it once, clean it to prevent acne due to gems inside the sponge.

1.Soak the used sponge into a bowl of clean water.

2.Mix with some cleansing foam, makeup remover or soap. Press the sponge gently. (NOTE: Never pull or squeeze the sponge.)

3.Wash with clean water.

4.Press dry with a tissue or tower. Let the sponge dry naturally.

My Confession :>

I know how important it is to keep the makeup tools clean. Yet I often feel too tired to wash them arriving home late. I just remove my makeup and go into bed in an instance. How I try my nest: wash the tools the next morning!

My Christmas Shopping List: X’mas Sets

2009-12-01T23:25:00.000-08:00

As usual I am thrilled at those holiday makeup looks from the top brands and their just-released fascinating Christmas skincare sets. Cheap, beautifully packed, rich in contents…how attractive! The hand treatment sets from Crabtree & Evelyn are my favourite----I LOVE its rose hand treatment.

Yet this year my shopping list is updated with a few more lovely Christmas sets. They are from brands less famous than Crabtree & Evelyn but still they look gorgeous and are budget-friendly.

X’mas Holiday Extra: Nice Christmas Sets

NATIO
Wellness Sunrise

Sasa.com Price: US$25.70

【WELLNESS Shower & Bath Gel】(275ml)
【WELLNESS Body Lotion】(240ml)
【NATIO Shower Cap】
【NATIO Gift Bag】

A golden set from an Australian brand, NATIO. In fact its anti-acne products have received lots of positive feedbacks.

To be frank I am most impressed by the golden shower cap! I am a bit tired with the shower mop that goes with the usual Christmas shower sets. This set looks refreshing and luxurious to me. :]

I like that the shower gel contains antioxidant-rich pomegranate and purifying geranium to soften skin. And its scent is fresher than the usual floral scents.

SASATINNIE
Ribbon Dance Merry X’mas Set

Sasa.com Price: US$8.80

【Ribbon Dance Strawberry Shower Gel】(220ml)
【Ribbon Dance Strawberry Body Lotion】(220ml)
【Mesh Sponge】

If you prefer something youthful instead of the old floral scents, this set makes a good choice.

The strawberry scent is young. The price is lovely. Absolutely a nice gift for classmates or your teenage relatives.

VC Organic
Oil Control & Whitening Set

Sasa.com Price: US$38.50

【Tea Tree Foaming Face Wash】(200ml)
【Orchid Soul Healing Oils】( 10ml)
【Tea Tree Oil Control Facial Mask】5pc
【Lemon Whitening & Brightening Facial Mask】5pc

Even if this set is not especially made for Christmas, its package and contents are nice enough to make a nice set to senior or office workers under great pressure.

You can get 10 clarifying face masks and an elegantly scented healing oil! Orchid oil can clarify, combat bacteria and help anti-aging. This relaxing oil makes the set much more worthwhile.

What will or have you got for this Christmas? Welcome to share your shopping list!

Japanese Traditional Hair Care: Manage frizzy hair.

2009-11-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

Dry winter victimizes your skin and hair as well.

My hair is thin and it turns frizzy easily every winter, not mentioning the hair static. How can you prevent your hair getting frizzy?

I guess most Japanese brand lovers have heard about Tsubaki Oil. It’s famous as hair care in Japan. Japanese women have long used Tsubaki to protect hair. Hence, beside the well-known Tsubaki series from Shiseido, many Japanese brands, like Yanagiya, have released Tsubaki products too.

I found some of Yanagiya goodies quite impressive. Here they are:

Relax Hair Knots: Tsubaki Hair Smoothing Essence

Sasa.com Price USD 8.30

Blow-drying makes hair frizzy and dull even after conditioner? Just spread some smoothing essence on hair ends. This makes a much tidier look.

Point-to-note: Apply the essence when your hair is semi-dry. Brush gently and loosen the knots.

Perfect Match of Hair Dryer: Tsubaki Smoothing Hair Lotion

Sasa.com Price USD 9.10

Well well…without doubt hair dryer does damage our hair. Yet it’s almost a necessity for those who wash hair at night before sleep.

Hair gets drier and slit ends develop with continuous use of hair dryer. How to keep your hair shiny? Spray this protecting lotion over hair before blow-drying. Just a simple step will go a long way : ]

Another Japanese Favorite: Hair Cream Jennos Bayu (Horse Oil)

Sasa.com USD 6.50

Jennos Bayu from Hokkaido is well-known for skin care. In fact it is also an excellent care for dry hair. This oil from Yanagiya is a smoothing hair conditioner with pleasant scent.

I myself do not wash hair every day. That’s why I don’t apply conditioner all over my head. Instead, focus on the hair ends. This leaves your hair refreshed and less oily for a longer time.

Many Japan visitors buy Jennos Bayu shopping the drug stores. However, it’s now available online only at a few US dollars. What a great save!

Christmas Party Highlight: False Lashes with Character

2009-11-17T19:44:00.000-08:00

It’s time to get prepared for Christmas parties and gatherings!

Brands have released the 2009 Christmas sets; Stores will hold Christmas sales and the post office has announced the last posting date for Christmas airmail. You know the most look-forward-to season is coming!

I guess it’s time to buy for your makeup looks of Christmas parties. False lashes or fake eyelashes are one of the key points!

Let’s take a look at some gorgeous styles of false lashes from Eylure, a new brand on Sasa.com.

Eylure False Lashes

Honestly this brand is not widely discussed among Asian forums. Yet you can see its features on many foreign magazines, especially the UK media. Visiting its official website, I was surprised to see Eylure is actually a brand with a long history. The quality is thus guaranteed.

Among Eylure lashes, I found the following especially interesting. Look like good ideas for Christmas!

The Cat’s Eyes
TOKYO

Hiroko Lashes (Limited Edition)

This style is half-length yet amazing to decorate the end of your eyes. Your eyelids look upward and much more seductive, glowing with a hint of Oriental beauty.
Sasa.com Price US$6.50

Classy British Beauty
VIVID

Black Widow Lashes

The Eylure style that most intrigues me! The black lace to sharpen eyeline reminds me of the elegance of Audrey Hepburn.
Sasa.com Price US$9

Innocent Dolly Eyes
VIVID

Necromaneer Lashes (Top & Bottom)

Long bottom eyelashes can make a HUGE difference. Unluckily like many Asian girls I have bottom lashes “barely-there.” So, let’s resort to the fake lashes. :>
Sasa.com Price US$9

Relaxing Leg Massage: Treat for High Heels Fans

2009-11-12T18:26:00.000-08:00

It’s getting cold and an extra coat is just one of the most noticeable changes on ladies’ looks. Many girls are equipped with a beautiful pair of boots as well.

I myself have got a new pair of boots too. Yet, the high heels have made my legs ache after a long day. Time for a leg massage, right?

To soothe tired legs, you may resort to a cooling leg paste. Or, more directly, massage your legs with body cream after bath.

Painfully desperate for high heels? Here are two massage techniques I love:

Tool you need:

In Essence Reviving Foot & Leg Cream

A rejuvenating formula for exhausted leg muscles. Includes lavender, cucumber and calendula to calm and soothe. It doesn’t feel as cool as I expected it to be. Yet, it has a strong scent of lavender, which is quite relaxing. Recently it became a must for me after bath every night : >

[ Made in Australia! ]

Technique 1:

Massage your tired muscles

Take massaging the right leg as example. Spread some In Essence cream, hold your right ankle with left hand.
Starting from the ankle, pressure the leg with the right thumb. Pressure for 5 seconds.
Pressure upwards to the inside knee. Done! Change to the left leg then.

[ Top: Only a mild amount is needed for the whole leg ]
[ Bottom: Pressure with your thumb. (Sorry for the dark lighting!) ]

Technique 2:

Re-energize the foot bottom

Sit down and put your right ankle over your left thigh.
With left hand, bend your right toes down towards heel. Hold for 5 seconds.
Pull the top of your right foot backwards towards your shins. Hold for 5 seconds.
Massage the bottom of right foot with thumbs…Now your foot is much relaxed!

After-flu Therapy for Peeling Skin: Nourishing Oil

2009-11-05T23:42:00.000-08:00

Last week is a cold week for most parts of China. Sadly I have suffered from flu.
Having been sick for a few days, I have little mood for complicated skincare routine. On another hand my nose was getting dry and the skin around started peeling! I wondered, “How should we care for the peeling skin?”

SOS peeling skin: Get an oil!

What a familiar condition! When your nose is getting dry and skin peeling, a coat of usual lotion just irritates your damaged skin.
True you need some nourishment for your nose. I’d recommend using face oil to care then.
Get an oil at home. You may use it on cracked heels, dry foot or peeling skin. What’s more, just spread a rich coat of oil on your whole body after bath in winter…that’s PLEASANT!

Natural Fragrance-free Oil for Poor Nose

What face oil is especially good for after-flu nose?
I prefer natural oil to one with fragrance. Natural oils have soft smell that will not irritate your sensitive nose. At night, dab a bit on your nose after a warm washing. Wait to see the recovery of your nose!

Good Buy 1: NATIO AGELESS Organic Rosehip Oil

A budget-friendly Australian good. Rosehip oil can penetrate deep into skin, helping skin reborn.
Sasa.com Price: USD 20.60 (15ml)

Good Buy 2: Mini Organics BABYCARE Superfine Jojoba

A gentle massage oil for baby. With multi-functions: put a bit into bath, massage or remove eye makeup. Jojoba speeds up skin recovery.
Sasa.com Price: USD 34.60 (50ml)

Good Buy 3: Akiku Carrier Oil (Sweet Almond)

Sweet almond oil is friendly to all types of skin. What a convenient oil to soften skin!
Sasa.com Price: USD 20.00 (100ml)

EXTRA: 2 DON’T for Peeling Skin around Nose

Don’t 1: Pick the Skin
Never pick your peeling skin. This may harm the healthy skin and even cause bleeding. This makes your skin vulnerable to infection.

Don’t 2: Wash Frequently
Just wash twice a day. Over cleansing causes oil and dryness. Your peeling nose will be in great trouble…

Always True Skincare Routine: Cleanse and remove makeup well.

2009-11-02T23:00:00.000-08:00

It’s often said removing makeup is a BIG BIG issue. Clearing skin for deep breath is crucial.

While there are more and more water-proof cosmetics on the market, you need an oil type of makeup remover to dissolve the harsh cosmetics. So, just get a cleansing oil for whatever looks, with whether heavy or light makeup. Will that simple trick do?

Cleansing oil, cold cream, cleansing gel….there are numerous types of makeup remover! What differs among them?

What I use to cleanse daily

I am too lazy for a daily complete makeup look. My bottom line is a coat of Shiseido MJ Mascara. So a cleansing oil is a must for my eyes after work. Yet for other areas, I just get them a slight wash with cleansing milk.

Recent Spot: Kawaii Tokyo Cleansing Products

Wanna have a brief highlight on this cute brand! Beside the amazing series of Brighten Up Gel, Kawaii Tokyo has released two makeup removing buys: Melting Dew Deep Cleansing Oil and Promising Aqua Quick Wipe-Off Water.

Personally I wanna try Promising Aqua Quick Wipe-Off Water. It is said to remove makeup or give your skin a quick wash in the afternoon. You don’t even need water to rinse afterwards. Sounds convenient, right?

Definitely a good alternative for light makeup fans!

Skincare and SOS Tactics for Sensitive Skin

2009-10-26T19:31:00.000-07:00

It’s a difficult time for sensitive skin in seasonal changing periods.

I have been allergic to changed skincare and new face masks a few times a year. When skin gets reddish, itchy and even peeling, do we need to stop ALL skincare routine? What kind of skincare is ideal for sensitive skin?

Time to brief on the skincare notes and emergency tactics for sensitive skin.

Is it fine to apply toner on sensitive skin?

Crucial: No alcohol or fragrance.

Someone online asked whether toner is necessary for sensitive skin. Of coz! Yet, you need a gentle toner that is alcohol and fragrance-free. I myself can’t stand those strongly fragrant toners. They make me itchy. Even if it is a well-known branded toner, I have to give it up.

If you are desperate for a floral toner but your skin is too sensitive, consider those with natural rose or chamomile water. Put the toner in the fridge, dab some after cleansing. This lowers the skin temperature and soothes your sensitive delicate skin.

Besides fragrance and alcohol, what else is to be avoided?

Crucial: Test before you use.

Common allergens can be food, metal, cosmetics ingredients, etc. About skincare, avoid ingredients like pollen, aloe, citrus and algae. Hair dying, nail polishes and colorants can be allergens as well.

Note: natural ingredients are not 100% safe. I did get allergic to lotions of a 100% natural brand. Even if the texture and touch was wonderful. My skin still got itchy and reddish 30 mins after application.

Allergens differ individually. So if you have sensitive skin, you’ve gotta be patient trying testing new buys. Test before use. And update your routine gradually.

Allergy Test How-to:
Dab a small amount of the new buy behind the ears or on the wrist (after cleansing). Wash away after 20-30 mins. If no allergy symptoms develop within 24 hours, the new product is probably safe for you.

SOS Tactics: Stop all skincare?

When allergy symptoms develop, it’s advised to stop applying makeup.
Simplify your skincare routine. You may just use your usual gentle cleansing milk and lotion.
Avoid all irritating skincare, like exfoliants and massage gels. Wash with lukewarm water. Stay away from spicy foods, seafood and coffee.
Let the troubled skin recovers. :>

Hydrating Lip Gloss: With Sun Protection

2009-10-20T00:34:00.000-07:00

Visited Japan last week~ Despite the rising exchange rate of YEN, it is a relaxing trip.

About what skincare I brought there, I didn’t pack much in my luggage. Just two sheets of hydrating mask and lotion would do. I even got the cleansing milk there.

What concerned me was the drying air inside the cabin. Luckily I’ve got an amazing lip treatment! This time I went to the northern part of Japan, where it was even cooler than Hokkaido. Every day I wore a knit cap and this lip treatment.

IsQueen
Hydra-Shining Lip Treatment SPF10

Gimmicks
-moisturizs and protects against UV rays with SPF 10
There are few lip care buys with SPF on the market. This function is pleasing as it minimizes the risk of melanin accumulation and refines your lip color.

-hygienic tube design

[ Lips look naturally moisturized. ]

Immediate results
-colorless, transparent, natural

-with bee wax to moisturize but not oily. Smells light honey.

-shimmering particle-free. Makes no plump lips, idea for those with naturally thick lips.

[ the texture ]

Continuous results
-Really hydrating! Just a coat can last for 3 or 4 hours. I needed only reapply 2 times for the whole day. You needn’t reapply after meal.

-not oily, easy to absorb
I have tried a lot of and a LOT of lip treatments as I am someone who can’t go out without a lip care. I wear lip balm even in summer. Many of the hydrating lip balms I tried are too oily but not moisturizing. The effects have gone too soon. I gave up many of these difficult lip balms.

[ Not too oily ]

Concluding…
-a GREAT lip treatment for base or natural protection
-Definitely cheap enough to lure me buying again! Sasa.com Price: USD 3.1

Remove cellulite and slim down arms and waist!

2009-10-08T20:53:00.000-07:00

Got a sample pack of 2B slimming products. How exciting!

Among many of the slimming buys from 2B Alternative, the formula “Into Arm & Body” intrigues me the most. Coz my arms have always been the fattest compared with other body parts. Worse still , my left arm is a bit fatter than the right one. Probably due to lack of exercise? And cellulite has developed there! :<

How cellulite develops
Even slim girls develop cellulite! It is usually found in areas lacking exercise, like thighs, arms, bottom and belly. Cellulite results from complex physiological changes in the subcutaneous fat layer. It gets serious with aging.

Exercise and massage with creams work well on the remedy. Those massage creams with antioxidants or fat-burning caffeine extract are good to smooth and tone skin! 2B Alternative 2B Into Arm & Body and Skirt Ready are two of the choices.

[Skirt Ready, not tried yet]

Review on 2B Into Arm & Body
Tried this slimming formula for 3 weeks. Let’s have a quick review!

How I use
-After bath and towel-drying, apply from shoulder to wrist. Massage downward.
-To slim waist, spread on your belly and massage in circular clockwise movement.

Instant feeling
-easy-to-spread texture, absorbing quick
-Feels fat burning after a while. The heat is strong but not irritating.
-Massage is really crucial to fat burning. I tried skipping massage one night and felt no heat. Patiently massage and you’ll feel the strong heat!

Result
-Kept using it every night for over 2 weeks. Each arm is slimmed down by 0.8 cm.
-Not a super impressive slimming result. Yet it tones your contours well. My arms do look firmer. BTW, a complete treatment takes around 45 days. The result is not bad for a 3-week treatment.
-Honestly I didn’t use much on my belly due to menstrual period :> Tried once and it did help detoxifying!

[ Usage details inside ]

Compare! Hyluronic Acid Masks from France, Japan, Taiwan

2009-10-06T01:09:00.000-07:00

I wrote about Hyluronic Acid in a previous entry.

At that time I was using H.A. essence from a few brands. My conclusion: regardless of brands, the essence will not be disappointing as long as it contains this amazing ingredient as the major contents.

Now it’s autumn. You can probably feel the drying air is near. Time to get hydrating mask! The Hyaluronic Acid ones…sound great, right?

Tried 3 of the widely discussed H.A. masks. Let’s compare!

Objective Comparison:

Personal Feeling:
Lifecella Essence Sheet Mask Hyaluronic Acid

Rating: ****
-Excellent cutting of mask sheet! The mask sheet is big enough for a fat baby face like mine :>
-the JUST-RIGHT amount of essence, enough for wiping a bit on your neck after 15 mins
-The texture is quite rich. I don’t even add lotion after the mask :> (My skin type is combination / oil.)
-GOOD moisturizing effect. My skin tone looked more even and spots less visible.

[ Sheet size big enough to cover detailed area !! ]

Neogence Hydrating Mask

Rating: ***
-the sheet size is a bit small
-very soft cloth texture, taking some time to adjust coverage
-the essence is light and watery, better to add lotion afterwards to lock in moisture
-overall the hydrating effect is fine. Essence easy to absorb. Ideal as regular routine.

[ Just opened: Full of essence! ]

la glace LMW Hyaluronic Acid Treatment Mask

Rating: ****
-Masks from la glace have been praised over discussions. Guess this H.A. mask won’t be disappointing.
-Results of Low Molecular Weight H.A.? It absorbs very fast! Luckily the amount of essence is rich enough for a 20-min mask.
-The calming effect is the most visible among all. Red spots disappeared right after putting off the mask :>
(Ingredient check: Chamomile…that’s why! )

Tips for clean and tidy look of nails

2009-09-27T23:36:00.000-07:00

Despite amazing makeup technique and stylish clothing match, care for details make a big difference.

One crucial part to an impressive look is clean and tidy nails.

Note these points caring for your nails. They make gorgeous nails a LOT easier.

To clear nail stains…
Dark or cheap nail polishes leave stain easily on nails. To fix this dirty impression, you don’t need thinning the nail surface.

Instead, here is a quick easy fix: put fingers into lemon halves for five minutes. Your nails are instantly brightened!

To polish nails…
Never wear polishes without top and base coat. The coat protects and prevents nails turning yellowish.

For an even polish, wipe nails with alcohol or polish remover.

For a clean and tidy look, leave a thin border on nail sides polish-free.

To moisturize…
Prepare a moisturizing hand cream at office. Apply immediately after cleaning, sealing the moisture before it evaporates. A formula caring for nails is even better.

*** The most nourishing hand mask:
Apply a heavy coat of hand cream, or even Vaseline, put your hands into cotton sock and sleep. (Or wear for 20 minutes.) Your hands are reborn silky smooth the next morning!

Is it safe to DIY facial mask with natural fruit?

2009-09-22T19:35:00.000-07:00

Making your own mask with natural ingredients is common. Say, green bean powder, pearl barley powder, aloe and loofah.

Is it safe to do so? Does it harm sensitive skin? What to note when making a mask?

Let’s have a brief reminder.

Are all fruits and vegetables fine to make facial mask?

When you are making your own mask, note some ingredients are sensitive to light and thus facilitate the accumulation of melanin. For example, avoid citrus ingredients like lemon to make natural mask.

And sour fruit and vegetable may have a pH value too different from your skin’s. It is irritating.

Will my skin be allergic to natural ingredients?

Absolutely yes. Natural fruit or plants don’t contain fragrance or colorant. Yet your skin may still be allergic to them.

Even if you apply the soothing aloe vera, it can be an allergen. Certain people can still be allergic to aloe vera. So, like other skincare, you should first test the DIY mixture on the upper part of your inner arm.

Some people may have considered planting your own aloe. Well, just note that not all types of aloe can be used as skincare.

Also, the fresh aloe vera juice has not been processed, it may be easy to oxidize.

P.S. For a convenient aloe vera facial, buying one at drug store will do. Kuan Yuan Lian from Taiwan and Akiku, an aromatherapy brand, offer good choices of aloe gel.

How to store the mixture?

The safest way is simply not to store it!

Play it safe and DIY the amount for one-time use. Natural masks don’t contain preservative, they can stink easily.

Take my natural toner as example. I mix green tea with apple vinegar as acne treatment toner. The mixture can only be stored in refrigerator for a week.

Well well, making your own masks did involve some safety issues. It’s still fun to do so :> Let’s start with the simplest formula and stick to the allergy patch test.

Exfoliating Masks from IsQueen and Suisse Programme

2009-09-17T01:17:00.000-07:00

Does your skin flakes after lotion or cream?

This is a common situation in season changes. When skin is dry, metabolism slows down and dead skin cell builds up, it’s easy for skin to flake.

Skincare lotion has both oil and water ingredients. After absorbing, only a thin layer of oil is left for protection. Yet, when too much dead skin cell has built up, it mixes with oil and skin flakes. To prevent, cover your face with a warm towel to soften the horny layer first.

Soften the horny layer and the coming skincare absorbs better. (A previous entry did mention it!)

The most effective prevention tactic? Clear dead skin cell regularly, for sure.

---------------------------------------------------------------

This time I wanna talk about two exciting buys combining facial scrub and mask. Exfoliating can be more than an old tube of scrub.

Exfoliant + Moisturising Mask
IsQueen Rice High Performace Mask

The series “Rice High Performance” from IsQueen is much discussed online. A year ago I did try Rice High Performance Purifier. It was gentle.

This time I tried the gentle mask. It smoothes but leaves no irritation and reddish skin, contrary to many other facial scrubs.

[ What I got is a 15ml sample. It looks mini. ]

What I DO like:
- the nourishing rich texture that won’t dry fast. You can massage on it easily after 15 mins.
- the small peeling particles
- very budget-friendly price

What I DON’T like:
- The instant whitening effect is not obvious. Looking forward to the long-term effect….

[ Rice High Performace Mask: the texture ]

Exfoliant + Brightening Mask
Suisse Programme Gigawhite Fresh Double Action Exfoliating Mask

It scrubs and whitens. Comparing to IsQueen’s, this mask is more “irritating” as it contains AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) to whiten.

Yet the exciting result is worth the price! It whitens immediately after you wash the mask. The new skin under the old skin cell is revealed.

Mind it: since it really makes a huge difference, spread the mask over both your face and neck. Other wise your face and neck will be in different skin tone! How awkward!

What I DO like:
- VISIBLE instant whitening effect. It cleans well.
- tiny and non-irritating scrub particles

What I DON’T like:
- The tube design is very special. You need to learn to squeeze even amount of the two fluids.
- It dries quickly. You may start massaging after just 7 mins. Note: Moisten your fingers and massage.

[ Leave the tube flat to squeeze even amount of fluids. ]

[ Squeeze. ]

[ Mix the essences. Put it on face! ]

5 Refreshing Preps in the Morning

2009-09-14T00:07:00.000-07:00

Pink eye lids, puffy eye bags, a lifeless expression…

Many women have to fix a crisis every morning—that they look super tired! If you want to get some more sleep and erase tiredness, take these steps to lift your spirits!

Prepare these refreshing tools:

Remove puffiness: Cool Eye Masks
Heard of cooling a spoon in a refrigerator as a morning eye mask?

Swollen eyes need something cool for lymphatic drainage. Beside spoons, you can prepare refrigerated cucumber slices. Put them on your tired eyes for a few minutes and sharpen eye contours!

Brighten up eyes: Eye Primer Base
Pink eye lids are an obvious sign of tiredness.

Soak a cotton ball in cold water. Dab on the pink eyelids for a few times. This can erase redness.

If your eye lids are still pinkish, no worry!

Get an eye primer! A peachy one can neutralize uneven colors around your eyes.

Best buy: Benefit Lemon Aid

Conceal blemish: Light foundation
A rich layer of foundation will never do on tired skin. This conceals blemishes as well as the natural translucence.

A better way is to use a brightening BB cream. Apply with fingers.

Prefer powder foundation? Must dab it on forehead, chin and the sides of nose, creating natural glow.

Add a natural pink: Creamy cheek color
Pale face is another sleepy sign.

Pick an apple tone cheek color for the healthiest complexion.

Try one that’s creamy in texture, creating a more translucent effect.

Line your eyes: Nude eyeliner
Just an eyeliner can brighten up your eyes several times!

Choose a natural subtle color for eyeliner. Say, a chocolate or charcoal one.

Fill your lash line and add a small wing at the end.

Best buy: Sasa Eyeliner Pencil (Grey (GY)001)

Season Change Alert: Start Autumn Skincare.

2009-09-07T21:17:00.000-07:00

These mornings it’s getting cooler. Wow, what a long-time-no-see breeze!

It’s already autumn in Chinese calendar. (That’s why!) I guess it’s time for skincare more moisturizing.

Emphasis for autumn skincare varies with skin types.

Season Change on Face Care
Gals with combination or oily skin should start with a watery / light moisturizer. Pick a light lotion with a little oil.

Recommend : Kawaii Tokyo Brighten-Up Gel Citrus Paradise

For drier skin, don’t hesitate adding more oil for protection. Add an extra layer of lotion / cream after toner or essence, locking in moisture well. This prevents flaking.

Recommend: Methode Swiss Essential Care Aqua Hydrating Night Cream

[ Switch to a richer lotion ]

Season Change on Body Care
Both air-conditioning in summer and cold wind in winter urge me to get some oil for my skin after bath.

A bit afraid of using oil? I was so. Yet, I’ve learnt the pros of body oil these years.

Aroma essential oil is different from chemical oil. It’s much easier to absorb. It takes less than 3 mins to absorb essential oil and your skin will get soft fast. It moisturizes well.

I’ve been a fan for bodycare from the aromatherapy brand, In Essence. I pick this Body Firming Solution for its firming function. This comes perfect for tightening body contours for sexy autumn wear!

Note when you apply body oil, massage the oil in and strengthen the tightening and slimming effect! Massage to detox, smooth and slim.

Firming & Nourishing Massage Technique:
Start from ankle. Massage upward and in circular movement to heart. Emphasize thighs, bottom and stomach.

[ Apply In Essence Body Firming Solution after bath. ]

[ In Essence Body Firming Solution ]

BB cream from Dr.G: as anti-aging as bird’s nest?

2009-09-02T01:23:00.000-07:00

BB cream from Dr.G has been a great hit among Sasa.com. So far the most popular is Hydra Intensive Blemish Balm SPF 30 PA++. (See my review on this bb cream!)

This time comes a review on the latest one from Dr.G:
LUXURY EGF Prime BB Protector

How different is it to the Hydra Intensive BB cream?

The latest one is an anti-aging and wrinkle-smoothing buy. It whitens and smoothes wrinkles.

The texture is richer and more hydrating. So it suits dry or more mature skin.

Note the color is lighter, matching gals with light skintone more. Some gals complaint that the color tone of Hydra Intensive BB cream is too dark for them. In this case, the Luxury EGF one makes the ideal choice!

How about the effect? Just like other BB creams from Dr.G, it covers naturally with a translucent glow. No doubt it will become another BIG HIT BB cream soon.

As anti-aging as bird’s nest?

Let’s have a brief of the ingredients of Luxury EGF BB cream:
Arbutin, Vitamin E, Titanium Oxide, Allantoin….perform multi-functions to hydrate, depress melanin and protect as sunscreen.

The most EXCITING point is: it’s got EGF, like other products from the same line.

How powerful is EGF?
Chinese women like taking bird’s nest to fight aging. And what makes bird’s nest a good anti-aging weapon? It’s the EGF inside.

EGF can facilitate the growth of cells and repairs wound / damaged skin fast. Since it energizes even the aging cells, it restores smooth and tense skin.

[ Have a QUICK look ] LUXURY EGF Prime BB Protector

[ Approx. amount for perfect coverage for face and neck]

[ Natural sheer coverage in light color. ]
(See my skin tone is at least 1 tone lighter! )

Makeup Life Span: Time for new cosmetics!

2009-08-30T20:28:00.000-07:00

Let’s talk about a situation every gal would have encountered.

Because of endless brand promotions, new makeup techniques, hormonal changes in menstrual period…numerous whys,(or excuses?) women are always shopping. Day after day countless makeup goodies are left in home.

Some makeup products are IMPOSSIBLE to use up. Say, eye shadows and highlight powders. Some of my eyeshadows can stay in my makeup box for over 4 years. And when I take a look at these old stuffs, I still find it hard tossing them.

What is the life span of these cosmetics?
When is the time-out?

After opening, gems and bacteria are invading your cosmetics, even if you have noticed little. Dirty cosmetics hurt your skin.

For healthy skin, you’ve gotta be decisive. Just throw away the expired goodies!

Here are the approx. fresh periods of different makeup goodies:

Lipstick / lip gloss : 18 months after opening
When they smell strange, time to buy a new lipstick!

Eyeliner / lip liner: 2 years after opening
Sharpen them once every two weeks. This can help keep them fresh.

Liquid foundation: 6 months after opening
Toss them when you see separate layers or color changes. Shaking well will not do.
BTW, foundation in pump package can last fresh for longer time, up to 8 months.

Powder foundation / blush / highlight: 1 year after opening
Discontinue powdery goodies when shiny build up appears on the surface. Do the same finding funny smell.

Liquid eyeliner / Mascara: 3 months after opening
*** Pay extra attention to these goodies. They matter a LOT to the health of your eyes. One of my friends did get eye infection due to poor hygiene of these products. And she had to stay in hospital for a week.

Her experience did remind me of changing to a new mascara every 3 month. Even if there is still a bit of mascara left, I just throw the old one away. If you do not use the mascara daily, it may last longer to 4 or 5 months. After that, DUMP it please!

Hydrating Floral Water from Japan: Enjoy a Mask!

2009-08-26T19:56:00.000-07:00

Kawaii TOKYO has hit the market in Singapore and Taiwan and recently Hong Kong.

Comes with a “kawaii” brand name and simple packages. Kawaii TOKYO offers multi-usage skincare for busy city girls.

What is most talked about is its multi-usage gel, Brighten-Up Gel Citrus Paradise. Beside this hero product, note its Junsui Aroma Skin Refresher, another fantastic product.

Brighten -Up Junsui Aroma Skin Refresher

This floral water contains 10 types of floral extracts and alkaline mineral water from Mt. Fuji in Japan. Absolutely an excellent refresher for dry skin.

The Kawaii TOKYO website cited many uses of this skin refresher: as after sun care, before or after makeup refresher, makeup retoucher, toner and body mist.

What I LOVE most is that Brighten -Up Junsui Aroma Skin Refresher does not contain alcohol or perfume. It smells naturally floral. Great for gals with sensitive nose.

And I found this refresher a great mask! Tried applying it as hydrating mask for a few nights. My face got less oily in daytime!

[ Mask How-to ] floral water + cotton puff

Many Taiwan girls say that they love to use toner as a daily quick mask. Here is how:

Step 1: Prepare around 3 pieces large, thick and soft cotton puffs.
(I use MUJI organic cotton :> )

Step 2: Then, separate each piece into two. It’s saving!

Step 3: Dampen the puffs with Junsui Aroma Skin Refresher.

Step 4: Now you can put the dampened pieces on dry areas.

Hydrating Mask Alert:
Don’t put on the cotton puffs over 10 minutes. It can dry your skin.

Normally just 5-10 mins will do. Do lock in the moisture: add a layer of lotion or cream.

SOS tool for acne and wounds: Tea Tree Oil

2009-08-20T20:17:00.000-07:00

Just another cotton swab? No No No! It’s a cleaning and soothing tool for hurt skin and acne!

I mentioned how tea tree oil treats acne or pimple in my last entry. This time I wanna talk about other uses of tea tree oil and show you how this mini cotton swab works.

Tea Tree Oil Usage

There are other brands releasing cotton tips with tea tree oil. It’s all because this amazing oil can kill bacteria and have multiple usages.

Tea tree oil, or Melaleuca oil, is originally from Australia. It was a treasure to the aboriginals.

The oil is strongly anti-septic and anti-bacterial. Boosts immunity against germs, quickening recovery. The oil can absorb fast and is very helpful preventing infection in respiratory system.

The most exciting point is that tea tree oil cleanses and soothes well. Heals festering wounds. So it works well to clear away acne and pimple.

Thursday Plantation Tea Tree + Aloe Vera Cotton Tips

Let’s get back to this interesting cotton swab.

This is filled with tea tree oil and aloe vera extract. That means it can clean, kill bacteria, soothe and repair.

When your skin is scraped, bitten by mosquitoes and insects or is lightly hurt, this cotton tip can help a lot!

I’d recommend this great SOS tool for those who go to the countryside, especially parents going with children. It’s wise to bring along a box.

And, of course, you’ll find it a great help noticing a new acne on your skin. Just cleanse and dab some soothing oil on the spot!

[ the package ]

[ Open the box and find the 12 pieces. **Note, only one side is colored with a green ring. ]

[ Snap the coloured ring tip and let the liquid fills. Here you get the oil! ]

Last comes the promotion you may be interested in: by 14 Sep 2009, you can get an extra 30% off buying 2 boxes of these amazing tips!

Australian Tactic for Acne Skin

2009-08-18T20:13:00.000-07:00

For those who have pimples or acne, tea tree oil sounds familiar.

Even if you have no idea that a bottle of pure tea tree oil can cost over a few hundred dollars, you must have heard about the tea tree oil acne skincare from The Body Shop. Thanks to The Body Shop. It shows that tea tree oil can be a hope for beauties with acne or pimples.

Yet, some gals complain that The Body Shop Tea Tree goodies are disappointing to them. (Like, too dying?) If you are looking for a gentle way to clear acne, don’t give up tea tree oil. Here is a good alternative:

Try Tea Tree Medicated Gel for Acne from the Australian brand, Thursday Plantation.

Got a sample of this lovely gel, Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Medicated Gel for Acne, from my co-worker. “Luckily” I had an acne on my chin to test it on that day.

Here is how I used it:

After cleansing at night, I applied
> Toner
> Eye Cream
> Tea Tree Medicated Gel for Acne on areas with pimples / Lotion on other areas

How I felt:
It has a strong smell when I first squeezed a bit of gel. I guess it’s the smell of tea tree?

As the smell is really strong, I expected it a bit irritating to skin. Yet the touch is very gentle. You just feel a minty oil layer and nothing irritating or drying. It differs to common acne serums on the market.

I’ve used the acne gel for 3 nights. The reddish spot on my face has already dried out and faded. What’s left is a tiny pink mark. For people having such slow circulation as me, the recovery speed is EXCELLENT.

What I like:

- gentle soothing touch, no irritation

- not drying, no skin flaking

- It really speeds up recovery! Just 3 days later my acne disappeared! I can start spot-removing care much earlier.

- You can treat white heads with tea tree oil as well. I applied some on my chin and it looked smoother.

- At a reasonable price you can get a large tube. Much cheaper than those “mini” acne gels costing a hundred dollars!

What I don’t like:

- Some gals on forum complained that the acne gel is too oily. True that its texture is similar to Vaseline’s. Yet I found the oil not difficult to absorb. Nonetheless acne gel is not watery, so I use it only at night. I give up using the acne gel at day time for easier makeup.

Next Round: Thursday Plantation Tea tree + Aloe vera cotton tips

Tea tree oil is a useful oil with multiple usages. It’s hard to conclude all uses in one blog entry! So I’ve got to tell you more about this lovely oil in the next entry.

What comes next is showing you another goody from Thursday Plantation. Enjoy!

Some habits for the best use of facial mask

2009-08-12T00:45:00.000-07:00

Face mask tips, facial secrets and DIY mask recipes are everywhere online.

Years ago I was not serious about the use of face mask, neglecting many golden rules about facial mask. I would put on a mask over half an hour, use them just at times I had mood or store the masks casually. (These bad habits could KILL your skin!)

Yet over time I found that some face mask tips and skincare rules are really worth noting. They do make a huge difference. To make the best use of mask, consider following these habits:

Mask Habit 1: Buy and Store well.

How do you store the masks you bought? Prepare well.

Put mask sheets inside the refrigerator to keep fresh. The cool mask sheet will be a good tool to tighten pore and calm your skin.

Also, don’t stand your mask sheets. Place them flat. This can even the distribution of mask essence :>

Mask Habit 2: Deep cleanse before whitening.

For better absorption of whitening and moisturizing essence, Kelly loves softening the horny layer before whitening mask. Feed in more nutrients after clearing dead skin cells.

I use cleansing mask before whitening or hydrating mask around twice a month. Not too often to hurt skin.

Don’t put on mask for too long. I spend around half an hour for the two types of mask.

And, make use of a warm towel! Put on a warm towel for 30 seconds before the regular mask sheet. This facilitates circulation and absorption of mask essence too.

Mask Habit 3: Resort to Sponge.

Some whitening masks create INSTANT result. Your skin just glows fresh the moment you put off the mask.

For even more obvious result, cleanse away the mask with a facial sponge. Your skin will look brighter afterwards.

Mask Habit 4: Get a layer of lotion after mask.

Remember to lock moisture after mask! Simply spread a layer of lotion to store the mask essence.

Your skin absorbs whitening and anti-aging essence more easily especially after cleansing mask. Don’t miss this chance!

Well well, I have written quite a long entry this time. See you guys!

Amino Acid as effective slimming aid? Have a sip of slimming drink.

2009-08-07T01:22:00.000-07:00

Friends who are on diet or slimming program are always there. Every woman wants a slim body shape, thin waist and sexy breast. The sad thing is, losing weight and having more exercise are no easy task. Sometimes it takes more than a strong will. Recently Kelly has noticed a fat burning drink. City girls may survive the busy lifestyle full of lure!

Here they are—2 boxes of convenient and practical slimming drink! TrimEC-Cafe Coffee Plus and Matcha Latte Plus.

Another popular weight-losing aid: Amino Acid
Inside each box of TrimEC-Café are 7 packs of slimming drink. It’s enough for a week use. The gimmick of this series is its 3L formula with amino acid: L-Carnitine, L-Glutamine, L-Glycine. These amino acids turns excessive fat into fat burning energy.

Don’t underestimate the power of Amino Acid! Among the weight loss program, slimming tips and recipes online, the “Sleep n Slim diet”is much discussed. How effective, fast, healthy or easy is this slimming diet? It’s all due to the fat-burning effect of amino acids. Amino acid facilitates fat burning and turning fat into energy. Before bedtime take high concentration of amino acid, and you can have quicker, faster and more noticeable slimming result! How lovely the idea is!

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TrimEC-Cafe Coffee Plus and Matcha Latte Plus – Drinking Trial Report

What I like:

- Tasty! Unlike many weight loss supplements, TrimEC-Café drinks taste like normal drinks. There are 3 flavors: Coffee, Matcha Latte and Cocoa, suiting mature office ladies and young girls.

- It makes you FULL. Mix the powder with hot water of 120 ml. The mixture is a bit thick. You will feel full easily and end up having NO appetite for a tea or snacks.

- Safe to drink. With GMP certification. (Unlike some weight loss pills with little description in the store. Not even sure if they are fresh or genuine products!)

- Sugar-free formula! So you won’t take in more sugar while amino acid are helping burn excess fat.

[ TrimEC-Cafe Coffee Plus: not too sweet. With the right amount of milk powder. ]

[TrimEC-Cafe Matcha Latte Plus: smells like milk shake. Strong taste of green tea! ]

What I don’t like:

- Only 7 packs in a box. Better to include more packs to match lengthier diet programs.

- About the Matcha Latte flavor, the green tea taste is too strong for me. You need to add more milk yourself if you prefer a sweeter taste.

Hot Trend in the US and Europe: Mineral Foundation, why?

2009-07-31T01:36:00.000-07:00

These years numerous US and European brands have released mineral foundations, loose powder and even blushes. Among the gimmicks of mineral collections, the most impressive is the natural translucent effect. With the recent craze for HIGH-DEF Technologies, mineral makeup that creates natural and light effect just hits the point. Kelly has got 2 samples of Cyber Colors HD Plus Mineral Loose Powder this time.

The question is, what makes mineral foundations different from the common or traditional ones?

1. Gentle to our skin, suits sensitive skin.
Mineral foundations have less oil ingredient, fragrance, colorants, compared to the traditional ones. They’re less irritating to skin. More suitable for sensitive, blemished or acne skin. Using mineral makeup reduces the possibility of allergy. Some mineral foundation powders don’t contain talc, avoiding irritation to respiratory system as well. (No more sneeze after makeup! :>)

2. Natural Sunblock
Many minerals have anti-inflammation and anti-allergy properties themselves. When they are used in mineral makeup, they minimize the chance of allergy. Take the loose powder from Cyber Colors as example, Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide protect you from UV rays.

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Try-it-out: How great mineral makeup is?

Here are Cyber Colors Cyber Colors HD Plus Mineral Loose Powder #02 beige and #03 honey. The beige one has a sheen of pink for healthy complexion. The honey one is yellowish and matches darker Asian skin.

[ Beige: a bit reddish. Great for a healthy look. ]

[ Honey: yellowish tone. I thought it was only for metallic look. It turns out to be lighter than my expectation. ]

What I like:
- It creates light, matt and very natural looking.
- You can adjust the usage of powder switching the silver ring. Convenient for retouch or first application.
- My face doesn’t look oily after wear of a few hours. Good in oil-controlling.
- The brush hair is very smooth. The brush size is small enough to reach nose wings and temples.
- Special tube design for easy brush storage, keeping bristles dense.

[ #02 Beige: tube design ]

[ #03 Honey: tube design ]

What I don’t like:
- Maybe it’s loose powder for matt finish. It doesn’t offer good coverage on for troubled skin. To cover freckles or other troubles, match with mineral foundation base or BB cream. You may try Dual Cover Spot & Point Concealer from Cyber Colors as well. Brush on the mineral loose powder after concealer. A healthy nude look.

[ Adjust the silver ring to control usage ]

[ To store the brush well. (It was a bit complicated at first.) ]

Best Antiperspirants and Usage Reminder

2009-07-23T23:47:00.000-07:00

The stuffy hot summer in Hong Kong is beyond description. In a word, you will feel like being in a steaming pot for some time when you walk on the street. That’s why many of us are desperate for a good antiperspirant (deodorant).

You need to note some points when using antiperspirant. Or else problems appear: your skin may be allergic; Using too much antiperspirant can cause cancer; Or there are few ways for body to release heat.

There seems to be lots of potential harms but I can’t understand more the troubles of women who sweat a lot. Just think about the smelly sweat, the embarrassing moments and the stuffy heat. So how can we safely use antiperspirant? Learn it now!

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*** Antiperspirant Reminder 1: Don’t use too frequently.
Most antiperspirants contain ingredients to block sweat gland to reduce sweat. Yet the body needs an outlet to release heat and so antiperspirants can hardly completely stop sweating. If one re-apply coats of antiperspirant, his skin could get allergic. To lessen the burden on your dedicate skin, apply antiperspirant not more than thrice a day.

Kose SOFTYMO Powder Sheet (Unscented)
40 sheets full of antiperspirant powder in a pack. The packing is more convenient than a tube or spray. All you need is wiping the needing areas with one sheet. The touch is extra refreshing with mint ingredient!

*** Antiperspirant Reminder 2: “Antiperspirant” doesn’t mean “anti-hircismus”.
Antiperspirant (for female or for men) blocks sweat gland to stop sweat. But it doesn’t stop the strange smell due to Hircismus. Such condition results from germs. In this case you need anti-bacterial deodorant that kills germs. Just bare in mind stopping sweat is the main task for an antiperspirant.

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Deodorant Special: Multi-usage Deodorant

COSMED Anti-Perspirant DEO Roll-On (3 in 1 Whitening)
A whitening deodorant? What a great idea! It whitens dirty-looking underarms due to accumulation of melanin. A good buy for perfectionist ladies!

Clio Art Highlight & Art Shadow – Product Review

2009-07-16T19:42:00.000-07:00

Time for colorful makeup! It’s exciting to get 3 samples of Clio Art Shadow and an Art Highlight. The colorful packings are very attractive!

Let me briefly introduce what Clio is. It’s a Korean cosmetics brand that Korea visitors should recognize or find familiar. Clio products can easily be found in Korea beauty stores. Currently the pretty actress Kim Ha Neu is the image girl for Clio. One point to note is Clio products are made in Italy. This can be a quality guarantee. There are lots of color choices on eye shadows and blushes. The colors are eye-catching enough for experienced makeup gals.

Clio Art Highlight #2 Soft Pink
It reminds me of the baked blushes from Bourjois Paris. True, it’s baked for 24 hours but it is for highlighting, instead of blushing. You can just dab some on T-zone, chin, cheek bone and temple for a 3D and translucent look.

[ Package in Pop Art style ]

[ Package highlight: MADE IN ITALY! ]

What I like:
- Pearly shimmery powder with a pink sheen. The pink color is not obvious and matt. Instead, you can only notice the pink sheen from certain angle.
- Compared with common pearly white highlight powder, this highlight creates a more natural and healthy complexion.
- Stylish matt powder case

[ powder case with clear and large mirror ]

[ flat and bent applicators to match the product ]

[ metallic pink sheen ]

What I don’t like:
- The attached applicator is a bit too large for cheek bone or specific areas. It takes some learning to use applicators in this shape well.

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Clio Art Shadow
Kelly has got 3 baked eye shadow colors: #210 mocha brown, #218 beige shine and #207 violet.

[ Clio Art Shadow group shot ]

What I like:
- Highly visible and pigmented! Just a few light dabs are visible enough. No wonder some gals said Clio products create similar effect as MAC’s!
- Very very shimmery color. I love the violet color the most. It’s a shimmery light purple tone that will not create puffy eyes. The other 2 colors are in friendly earth tone, which I find less attractive.
- Baked powder is much smoother than what I expected. Smooth and easy to dab.
- The shadows last long and do not fade easily. I pressed on my hand and little color was faded.

[ Very pigmented! ]

[ Pressed with tissue. Little color was faded. ]

What I don’t like:
- Well, it’s difficult to think of any negative points. I can just say the prices are not extremely LOVELY at first sight. Yet, think about the quality and effect. They are absolutely worth owning!

Do you need facial soap?

2009-07-09T01:41:00.000-07:00

Beside the facial soaps from Clinique, Kelly has seen more and more facial soaps from various brands. One major reason is that natural and organic skincare is getting popular and consumers are paying more attention to ingredients. Soaps claimed to be gentle and in plant formula have become a hit topic.

If you have tried washing face with soap, probably you’ll a very strong cleanser. It’s much stronger than common face washes. At the moment just after washing with soap, your face feels clear of oil. No greasiness, no dirt. Yet except extra oily skin, people don’t need cleansing agents that strong and leaving no trace of oil to protect skin. And the alkalinity of soap can harm vulnerable skin in long term. So should you just throw away the soap in bathroom? You may not.

For ladies who love the refreshing cleanness with soap but prefer a gentler cleansing agent, try soaps made with vegetable oil! These natural soaps are made of natural oils like canola oil, olive oil, lard and butter. They are made through cold process and cause less harm on human body and the environment. Natural soaps are safer. With no mineral oil, they suit pregnant women and those with sensitive skin.

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This time I wanna show you some lovely soaps that you may have overlooked.

For very very vulnerable skin:
Cherub Rubs Organic Lavender & Mandarin Vegetable Oil Soap

Many organic skin care brands are from Australia. One of them is Cherub Rubs. Formulated for infants’ sensitive skin, the products are pure and organic. Mothers who care about the health of their child will need this soap. And so will the fans of lavender. The soap contains lavender to soothe and put you asleep. Mandarin keeps your skin elastic and vegetable oil is non-drying. The best point is that it maintains the skins natural pH balance, unlike traditional soap. It works for face and body, an ideal find for busy or lazy people. :>

For very oily skin or acne on back:
Lemon Myrtle Exfoliant Soap

Another Australian goody. Well, I prefer Australian brand when it comes to organic skincare. There are lots of natural brands and this probably has led to guaranteed quality. This soap smells GREAT and gives you a refreshing scrub.

The highlight is its strength in combating bacteria. Lemon Myrtle is a stronger anti-fungal agent than Tea Tree. (Familiar to people with acne, eh?) Hence this soap works better for people with oily skin than the Cherub Rubs one. Or send one for your man, and he can date you with a refreshed complexion.

A customer has mentioned in the product review that this soap helps clear the acne on the back. If you have the same concern, why not give this soap a try?

Get Cacao for Smooth Tasty Treatment.

2009-07-01T23:24:00.001-07:00

For some time chocolate has been delinked from a snack that only makes us fat. Research has shown that chocolate is a gift for lonely people, resulting in pleasant feeling.

A recent study brings another piece of good news for chocolate lovers. Not only eating chocolate does you good, but also using it for skincare. The source for chocolate, Acticoa, richly contains flavonols, an anti-oxidant. This anti-oxidant is related to a boost of collagen, from 23% to 99%, and proteins that keep skin elastic and hydrated. Cacao in this way is similar to an anti-aging cream.

For best anti-aging results from cacao, it takes more than face creams that LOOK chocolate. It’s recommended to pick products using cacao as one of the main 4 ingredients. Hence there will be enough flavonols to act.

So what chocolate goodies are on Sasa.com? Kelly has selected a few ones from Korean brands for your reference:

Zamian Magic Black Cacao Soap
What a chocolate skincare brand! Zamian has released skincare from the basic care to BB cream that contains cacao. The product packages look delicious as well. This facial soap has a cute lollipop outlook with tasty smell. 2 soaps in one box. The smell reminds me of ube chocolate ice-cream! Soap is more natural than other types of cleansing products and so safer to sensitive skin.

Zamian Black Cacao Sugar Scrub
Another sweet treat with delicious outlook and scent. It contains 49.27% brown sugar and just smells like food. Did you notice many Korean brands have released scrubs with brown sugar? Coz Koreans love using brown sugar for a natural scrub, believing it is detoxifying, whitening and hydrating. This scrub from Zamian is just a perfect find to experience the power of brown sugar! The grain size fits young and vulnerable skin.

Elishacoy Cacao Green Tea Age Fitness Mask
Green tea is a famous anti-oxidant. This mask mixes it with cacao, caviar extract, hyaluronic acid at a budget price as around HKD 150! With a spatula for easy and hygienic use, the packing itself is luring enough.

Allure from Hand to Toe

2009-06-24T01:24:00.000-07:00

Had a HOT weekend cruising!

The cruise was relaxing full of sea breeze and sunshine, but I’d got a whole lot to prepare the night before. First it’s the bikini, then the super water-resistant sunblock, the sunglasses, the flip flop…oh, don’t forget removing the embarrassing body hair. And I got my body a refreshing scrub.

In a cruise people probably took the first glance on your swimsuit. The second one could be on your arms and knees. For women who wear high-heels all the time, it could be embarrassing considering the rough heel skin. Surely you don’t want to expose dry, dull and rough skin. So I’d recommend giving yourself a body scrub beforehand. This time I had one with In Essence Exotic Sandalwood Body Scrub.

In Essence Exotic Sandalwood Body Scrub
A scrub from this well-known aromatherapy brand using 100% pure essential oils. (A must-try brand for aroma fans!) Hand and body scrub are its hero products and so I picked the body one to try this time. I have quite an expectation on the scrub. (At least it will have a natural relaxing scent, won’t it?)

What I thought first opening the jar:
- A HUGE jar so that you can apply as much as you want
- A subtle scent mixed with sandalwood and citrus
- An even and reasonable distribution of scrubbing particles
- Particles in medium size

[ With evenly distributed walnut grains ]

What I thought in the shower:
- Easy to spread
- The walnut grains have quite strong scrubbing power, so please gently scrub.

Conclusion:
- Leaves a thin film of plant oil, quite moisturizing
- Smoothes your skin instantly. Do gently scrub. I was too careless and scrubbed too hard in the beginning. The result: my skin got reddish!
- The grains are quite large so it makes a better scrub for extra rough body parts. My heels got smooth and regained natural glow with this.

Just tired…. EYE MASK, please!

2009-06-17T02:48:00.001-07:00

As Editor, I have to sit in front of the computer all day. So my eyes get tired easily. For the health of my eyes, I don’t wear contact lens often. Yet they are still necessary for after work gatherings with friends. A few days ago, my eyes got so exhausted that they got red just after a few hours of wearing contact lens! Dry lines around eyes are another trouble. Well well, I guess eye mask is all I need!

Some say that women should start preventing fine lines after 25. For me, I try to play safe and have already started using eye mask even since 23. And recently I have got this good eye mask find.

Methode Swiss Eye Contour Bio Lift Mask
I love wash-off eye mask more than the jelly or sheet type of eye mask. It is more money-saving to apply them twice or thrice a week. You needn’t worry that the mask will fall off. And you may even apply wash-off eye mask in a bath of 10-15 mins. How money and time-saving it is!

Kelly’s main eye concerns:
- dry lines
- a bit puffiness
- darkened skin tone

Feeling after using Eye Contour Bio Lift Mask:
- Great scent! Soothing and full of floral tenderness.
- Rich and moisturizing. Will not absorb too fast. Still smooth and hydrating after 10 mins.
- Eye area got immediately lightened and smoothed.
- Eyes looked less puffy. Not sure if long-term effect is more obvious.

[Still rich and hydrating after 10 mins :>]

For sensitive eyes: Darphin Soothing Mask Eye Contour
Some of my friends have skin so sensitive that they are allergic to many face cream. In their case, they really need to be SUPER careful selecting a suitable eye mask. Otherwise it would get devastating with irritated and itchy eyes! So I’d recommend eye masks which are extra gentle, e.g. the one from Darphin. It does not contain fragrance and the texture is thicker than the Methode Swiss one I mentioned. It is kind of ointment. Don’t hesitate to apply a thick layer. It’s going to absorb super fast and easily.

Slim tricks revealed. Eat more of these.

2009-06-11T01:20:00.000-07:00

Now comes the season of bikinis, mini skirts and shorts! We start to get busy with slimming, not mentioning the always-at-top-priority whitening issue. Just look at the slimming products coming to the top of our sales.

Recently I have come across an article from a foreign magazine, which offers slimming tips. I’d like to share some with you. You may lose patience and want to take diet supplements or slimming pills for quicker results. Do bare in mind, extreme diets never make real beauty. Lose your weight and still look energetic.

For really sexy and healthy beauty, make reference to the following advice. Foreign studies suggest us eat more of these foods for more weight loss. Consider these tricks designing your own diets!

Trick 1. Drink vegetable soups.

If you drink vegetable soup before meal, instead of chips or pretzels, after a year you can lose 11 pounds more (assuming the soups have the same calories as the latter). The soup makes you sated. In this way you will eat less of the main dishes.

Trick 2. More, more, more fruit

Well, we all know fruit is wonderful but we don’t need to take fruit-only meals. Research has found that overweight people taking apples or pears in 300 calories have more successful weigh-losing results than the ones who don’t eat fruit. You may even have half a grapefruit or a glass of its drink before each meal. Do it every day and you may lose 3.5 pounds in 12 weeks!

Trick 3. Cereal for snack time

Feel like some night snack? Instant noodle or unhealthy snack is not a wise choice. Try cereal. Those who take cereal would take in around 400 calories less than others every day.

Trick 4. Fish

A Swedish study has found that men who had fish instead of beef at lunch took 11% calories less.

Editor’s remarks:

These studies based on western meals so I’ll just take them as reference. Especially about the soup issue, I have met a Chinese medicine practitioner who didn’t even agree on drinking soup before meal. To him this hurts our stomach. Maybe we should take a safer stance—drink not more than 1 bowl of vegetable soup before meal?

Save as Draft

Save lashes in danger: GOOD makeup remover wanted!

2009-06-08T01:09:00.000-07:00

Seriously, Kelly has been looking for a makeup remover that can remove waterproof stuffs. Usually I wear only mascara to ensure a refreshed look. Hence I just need a makeup remover for eyes and lips before the cleansing procedure.

The problem is, the mascara I often use is waterproof and super difficult to remove. (Every MJ fan knows how difficult it is!) Honestly I didn’t try removers from Shiseido Majolica Majorca but I did try the one from another Japanese brand. The mascara of this brand is known to be harsh to remove as well. And I had this logic in mind: Its mascara is hard to remove, so its makeup remover must be more potent.

Sadly the makeup remover is just too gentle. It didn’t work for my waterproof MJ mascara. Some of my lashes even fell off. I was optimistic enough to think that the black stuff on the cotton puff was probably the mascara fibre!

I have to STOP the nightmare! Referring to the opinions of my friend and the Net, I have found a stunning gentle makeup remover for eyes and lips!

Cyber Colors Gentle Eye Makeup Remover
One of the hittest products on Sasa.com. Its packing is a bit similar to L'Oreal Paris Gentle Lip & Eye Make Up Remover, with double layers of water and oil. Oil is necessary to completely remove waterproof cosmetics. So far I have used this remover from Cyber Colors for a few times and found it an excellent buy. Here I have even invited my co-worker, Man Man, to show you how it works!

Pros:
- The ratio of oil to water is just right. Leaves no greasiness or blur on eyes.
- Gentle and fragrance-free, causes no irritation to eyes.
- Potent cleansing ability. Just a few drops is enough to remove MJ mascara.
- Small opening to easily control usage.
- Effect as good as Lancome’s remover but at a more reasonable price.

Cons:
- The bottle is too small. It may be convenient for travelers but if you use it at home, you really need to store up a few. One bottle is enough for around 1.5 month uses.

Man Man’s testing on the remover:

[ (Before) Wore pearly and olive eyeshadows, with MJ waterproof mascara
(After) All makeup cleared! ]

[ Just put dampened cotton on eyes for 15 seconds. Most of the makeup is removed. Now you just need wipe for a few strokes more.]

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Mind when you clean: Make sure you don’t pull harsh removing makeup. Keep your eye skin tightened!

1. For contact lens wearers, remove the lens before makeup remover.
2. Shake the remover well to mix the oil and water.
3. Dampen the cotton puff with remover. Put on eyes and hold for at least 5 seconds.
4. Gently wipe downwards. Don’t pull.
5. Fold the cotton puff. Clean the remaining makeup on lash roots with corners.

SOS for dry lines: Resort to Hyaluronic Acid.

2009-05-31T23:12:00.000-07:00

Take a look at latest marketed products or beauty tips and you’ll come across the word “Hyaluronic Acid”. This hit ingredient can be found in hydrating masks, lotions and even lip balms.

And Kelly has become one of its fans as well! It’s all due to aging and dryness! I used to skip toner and serum products after cleansing, especially in summer. Just a thin layer of moisturizer will do. Yet, my usual moisturizer seems less working. I need something more moisturizing or an extra layer of serum. So I decided to try out an HA essence.

First comes a more budget find—ASTY 100 Hyaluronic Acid Essence

Pros

free of colorant, fragrance and alcohol, suitable for sensitive skin
with a dropper for conveniently squeezing out essence, easy to control usage
friendly price

[Wait for essence to fill, squeeze out around 2 drops]

Comments: a worth-trying budget buy, made in Japan. It’s even cheaper than the well-known JUJU Cosmetics AQUAMOIST Essence! Nice jelly texture making it extremely easy to spread. After using it for one week, I have less acne and my pores look less visible under sunlight! Probably due to more moisturized skin. For those who think the JUJU one is a bit oily or like to try a cheaper one, this is a must buy!

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Moisture Tips:
Hyaluronic Acid works well to absorb hydration, bring it into skin. Yet, don’t apply it over skin already in dry condition. This will not bring extra moisture. Instead, it dries out skin!
To better moisturize, apply HA serum immediately after cleansing. Lock in the mist and apply usual lotion afterwards.

Kelly’s routine:
Cleansing Milk > Toner > HA essence > Lotion

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HA essence is hit among Taiwanese and Japanese brands. Here we have the representative from France as well! My co-worker recommends this LMW Hyaluronic Acid serum from la glace.

Honestly it is more pricy than the ones from JUJU Cosmetics and ASTY. But its contents are Low Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid. This serum is easier to absorb and probably fills deeper into skin, much more moisturizing than common HA essences. I haven’t tried it out yet but do believe this is a good choice for skin in emergency!

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About HA
Hyaluronic Acid is a natural substance in skin, keeping skin hydration in balance and adjusting under various temperatures. Yet its amount decreases with aging. That’s why supplementing HA is a good start for anti-aging skincare.

Sunscreen Tips + Latest Suncare Hits

2009-05-18T18:50:00.000-07:00

The brighter sun is reminding us to take suncare more serious than ever!

For this summer I’ve already targeted these suncare finds:

For body and face on holiday: Dr G High Protection Sun Spray SPF 50 PA+++ (Left on picture)

Some body sunblocks are just too thick to spread. Yet, this sun spray can coat your skin evenly. It smoothes and hydrates with aloe extract! A truly light suncare finds for skin to breathe!

[TEST] How water-proof is it?
Spray it over clear water and see...

Clear border between the spray and water!

[TEST] How light is it?
Spray it over left hand and compare with right hand...

NO skintone difference between two hands!!!

For FACE: Dr G Hydra Intensive Blemish Balm SPF 30 PA++ (Right on picture)
Good for those who want everything CONVENIENT! Dr G BB cream is one of the most discussed on forums, just like the ones from Dr Jart and Hanskin. I like the excellent coverage, moisturisation and sunscreen of SPA 30! Plus, its color is dark enough to create a natural skin tone, instead of leaving your skin pale. If you worry that the original color is too dark, apply 30 mins before going out and let the skin absorb the cream. Or mix the cream with usual day lotion to turn the texture lighter, adjusting the right tone. :>

[TEST] Does it cover well?

Apply on my blemishes...

[Left] a reddish spot
[Right] nearly INVISIBLE after applying the cream~ wow~

[Extra Sunscreen Tips]
Many of my friends whine about comprehensive suncare being difficult. True, we did encounter some thick and oily sunscreens causing breakouts and turning us mad. And there are some useless sunscreens with which we wore layers of them and still got darkened.

Do have hope! There are still some excellent suncare on the market. When you pick a sunscreen, note the following:

SPF rate

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and shows how strong it is against UVB. Normal skin can stand direct sunlight for 10-15 minutes without darkening. With sunscreen of SPF15, you will get protection up to SPF 15 X 15 min. So that’s 2 hours and 45 minutes. Sunscreen of SPF 15-30 is enough for everyday use.

PA rate

PA shows how strong the sunscreen is protecting from UVA. The highest PA rate is PA+++, which can already shield you from over 90% of UVA. PA++ is enough for most cases. It’s EXTREMELY crucial to protect against UVA as UVA plays a key role facilitating melanin accumulation and aging! UVA can even pass through cloud, glass and curtain to age skin. (horror…) To keep youthful, Kelly uses a sunscreen with PA++ every day.

Water-resistant?

Do get a “water resistant” or “very water resistant” sunscreen especially for holiday and outdoor activities. Just a reminder, don’t forget to re-apply a new coat after sweating and towel drying.

“Why not use a water resistant sunscreen for both everyday and outdoor uses?” This is NOT a wise choice. Water-resistant sunscreen can be a heavy burden for your face and may cause breakouts.

What a grateful start!

2009-05-18T18:47:00.000-07:00

Sasa.com teammates have been looking for a platform to communicate more with our visitors! There are just too many exciting beauty finds we met at work and we’d LOVE to share! I used to discuss such lovely goodies only with friends around but now I can do so with you through Sasa.com Sharing Blog.

Encounter numerous beauty goodies every day!!!

Here, Kelly in Sasa.com Sharing will:
• alert you of skincare and makeup trends
• write reviews on excellent goodies
• recommend hit products
• reveal what fantastic goodies you may have missed out

Look forward to showing you every interesting bit of our beauty life! I am going to update this blog at least once a week. Welcome to comment and join! “Making life beautiful”