Review: Innisfree The Green Tea Seed Serum

 Innisfree The Green Tea Seed Serum (80ml)

Description: "Enriched with fresh green tea seeds and squeezed green tea from the pure jeju island to deliver abundant moisture and nourishment deep into the skin." 
The nourishing moisture serum is formulated with freshly squeezed Jeju green tea and green tea seeds to create a dewy and clear skin from deep within. Formulated with 100% fresh green tea essence + doubled green tea seed oil.

5-free formula: Free from Paraben, Artificial coloring, Mineral Oil, Animal ingredients, Imidazolidinyl Urea

Source: InnisfreeSingapore's Facebook

Directions: After cleansing (and before toner), pump and apply an appropriate amount onto thoroughly cleansed face and neck then gently press your palm on your face for better absorption.

Packaging:

The Green Tea Seed Serum is packed in a rectangular box made of recycled material. 

The one I own is the 2014 new version, formulated with an improved formula — "100% Fresh Green Tea Essence + DOUBLED Green Tea Seed Oil". It comes in a green bottle with a brown pump top and also comes with a matte brown cover/lock cap to prevent leakage and at the same time, I guess it helps to prevent dust and dirt from entering the opening hole of the pump. 

Demonstration on my mom's hands:

Pump out an appropriate amount of serum and massage it on desired area.

After massaging, allow serum to absorb into the skin.

After a few minutes of application, the serum gets absorbed into the skin! It does not feel greasy or sticky at all. However, if apply too much, it does leave a sticky layer... Well, just a little will be enough.  FYI, I usually use ½ to 1 pump.

Color and Consistency:

As seen on my mom's hand in the pictures above, the serum has an opaque white color and upon massaging on skin, it will become transparent/colorless. As for the consistency, it has a lightweight, watery serum texture.

Moisture Test:

Before applying the serum, my mom's skin moisture level is 35.4%.

After applying the serum, my mom's skin moisture level increases to 51.2%.

Moisture gained before and after the serum application is 15.8%.

Comparing the result taken before and after the serum application,

I concluded that this serum is indeed moisturizing.

**Above result is just for the application of the serum, without prior application of a toner**

Oil-Test:

C'mon, let's make a guess~ 

How much oil do you think the oil-blotting sheet would absorb?

Revealing the result~~~ Did you guess it right? 

In case you don't know..., every skin care product, including product labelled 'oil-free', contains some oil. As for the oiliness of this serum, you can judge from the picture of the oil-blotting sheet. The result of the amount of oil being absorbed is really minimal. In my opinion, I consider this as non-greasy. 

Scent:
Somehow, I find it smells like perfume!  The scent is very pleasant and refreshing. I do LOVE the scent however, I think it's a little too overpowering for face product.

Likes:
- the "recycle" concept
- 5-free formula (Free from paraben, artificial coloring, mineral oil, animal ingredients, imidazolidinyl urea)
- formulated with 100% fresh green tea essence
- formulated with DOUBLED green tea seed oil
- rich in moisture; moisturizing and hydrating
- leaves the skin feeling refreshed and hydrated
- lightweight consistency
- fast-absorption
- not very greasy; non-greasy
- not sticky at all
- does not cause breakouts
- bottle comes with a pump top and a cover/lock cap
- the scent

Dislikes:
- in my opinion, the scent is slightly overpowering for face product

Verdict: The Green Tea Seed Serum is really moisturizing~ It leaves my skin feeling refreshed and hydrated! Well, I absolutely love to use this at night because well... my bed is placed facing the air-conditioner so every night I sleep with the cold wind blowing directly on my face. This serum actually helps prevent my skin from getting dry from the air-conditioner's wind. Therefore, I would say that it does provide more than enough moisture to hydrate my skin. However, I'm not sure if this would supply enough moisture for the winter season. 

On the other hand, it's lightweight in consistency yet non-oily, which is absolutely perfect for summer, for people who have oily/combination skin and lives in humid and hot country. FYI, I did not experience any breakouts at all.  If your skin needs a boost in hydration, definitely give this a try!

[Acne Story/Tips] The DOs & DON'T for Acne-Prone Skin

Source: from some random chinese site (I forgot the link...)

Acne is one of the most common skin issues faced by many people, especially teens. So, how acne is formed? Well, I have shared these videos before in my "Summer Breakouts & My Favorite Summer Skincare Essentials 2014" post and I decided to share them again here. 

from 0:12 to 2:29

from 0:10 to 1:58

To put it simple, acne breakouts happen when pores in the skin get clogged with facial oil called sebum and dead skin cells. Once the pore is clogged, a pimple starts forming and attracts bacteria. Soon after the bacteria invaded, the pimple will get inflamed.

Hence, maintain good hygiene and follow your daily must-dos is a good practice to keep acne at bay. Before proceeding to read this post, do read the "7 MUST-DOs for a healthy complexion" to learn the basic care for your skin: http://bitsdiaries.blogspot.com/2014/07/beauty-tips-7-must-dos-for-healthy.html

Today, let me share with you the DOs and DON'T for acne-prone skin. 

THE DOs:

Understanding Acne
By understanding your acne, you can determine the most suitable treatments to deal with them. I have shared two videos at the start of this post. In the videos, they explain to you how acne is formed and the different types of acne. Scroll back to the top if you have yet to watch the videos. For those who have watched them, let's skip to the next point, shall we? 

Understanding Your Skin Type (Normal, Dry, Oily, Combination, Sensitive etc.)
This is very important to all, especially for people who have sensitive skin... For example, people with sensitive skin have to be really cautious in choosing products. Well, you readers should know that many acne products contain anti-acne ingredients at different strength level/concentration. Some may be too strong for sensitive skin as a result, it may cause some signs of irritations. Hence, it is absolutely necessary to know what skin type you have, in order to determine the most suitable products/treatments for your skin.

Keep Your Hands Away From Your Face!
Your hands have lots of invisible germs and bacteria thus, keep your hands away from your face! It's better to thoroughly wash your hands with hand soap (anti-bacterial soap will be preferred) prior touching your face. You wouldn't want your face to become a new breeding ground 'playground' for the germs and bacteria right? So don't touch your face with your unclean hands! FYI, I always wash my hands with Dettol Hand Soap before proceeding to cleanse(touch) my face. Same procedure applies during application of daily skincare products, makeup etc..

Use Non-Comedogenic and Oil-Free Products
Look for products labelled "Non-Comedogenic" and "Oil-Free". Non-Comedogenic means "less clogging pores" whilst for Oil-Free means the product does not contain any mineral, plant oils etc. so it's less likely to clog pores.

Use Products Contain Anti-Acne Ingredients
If you are having troubled with acne, look for products that contain anti-acne ingredients such as Salicylic Acid, Benzoyl Peroxide or Tea Tree Oil. These ingredients are strong enough to combat acne and keep them under control.

Simple and Fixed Skin Care Routine
Skin care routine doesn't have to be complicated. A 3 to 4 steps routine (Cleanse, Tone [Optional], Moisturize, Treatment) is all that you need, especially for teens.

Also, it's a not a good idea to change skin care products too often. Changing your skin care products frequently may cause more breakouts at times.

My advice: Choose a set of products and as long as they are working fine on your skin, STICK TO IT. Modify your skincare routine only when it's necessary. e.g.: seasonal changes, targeting other skin problems, product seems to make your skin condition worse etc..

Tackle One Skin's Problem At A Time
'Multi-tasking' can cause more problems at times thus, take it slooooow~~~ Work on one problem at a time and you will get optimal results.

Eat Healthy; Stay away from spicy, greasy, fried and junk foods.
I believe that the diet plays a part in contributing acne. I have mentioned the following in the 7 Must-Dos... post, which I have shared earlier on. "Kick away all (or eat less) the spicy, greasy, fried and junk foods! Consume more fruits and veggies (at least 2 servings each every day) instead as they contain powerful anti-oxidents which help to prevent free radical damage, protect your skin cells and slow down the aging process. Not only that... They are also rich in various nutrients(vitamins, minerals, fibers) which help to boost your immune system, detoxification, and improve your complexion, keeping your body and skin healthy."

Positive Mindset; Keep Fighting and Don't Lose Hope
A positive attitude will lead to positive outcome. 

THE DON'T:

Popping The Zit
Tempting? But I strongly suggest you to leave the little monsters alone! Bear in mind that popping the zit only pushes infection further into your skin, causing more swelling, redness and scarring. Here's an interesting illustration I found on Twitter that I once shared.

Instead of squeezing and popping the zit, try using Nexcare Acne Patch.

This little patches work effectively in sucking out all the pus embedded in the zit without needing to forcefully squeezing the zit hence, it helps to reduce and prevent bad scarring and/or further inflammation. This comes in very handy when the zit popped itself or you accidentally scratched and popped the zit.

Over Cleanse/Over-Drying and Skip Moisturizer
Wash your face TWICE a day will do the job! Cleansing your face several times a day does not cure your acne. In fact, you are making acne worse instead. When you over-cleanse your skin, you are stripping away all the skin oil/moisture that acts as a function to keep skin healthy, moisturized and balanced. Deep down, your skin naturally pumps out oil to the surface to keep it moisturized so if your skin is too dry, it will produce even more oil to compensate for the dryness. This could lead to excess oil production and eventually lead to clogged pores.

So now you know each time you cleanse your face, you are actually stripping away some skin oil/moisture. Hence, we need moisturizer to replenish the loss. Remember that a well-hydrated skin helps to slow down the rate of oil production.

Changing Skin Care Products Frequently
*Read "Simple and Fixed Skin Care Routine" stated in the "DOs" section*

Using More Than One Anti-Acne Ingredient
I strongly advise to stick to ONE anti-acne ingredient. For example, if you are using a product (e.g: a toner, serum) that contains Salicylic Acid, then for other products (e.g: moisturizer), make sure they contain the same anti-acne ingredient (Salicylic Acid). Using too many types of anti-acne ingredients at a time can cause skin irritations! I know some people use Salicylic Acid and Tea Tree products together and it work for them but well... not everyone's skin can handle more than one anti-acne ingredient at a time, at least not for me. If you want to try out, do a patch test before applying it on your face in case of any irritations.

Heavy Makeup
Your acne needs to breath!  Layering heavy make-up on pimples cause a perfect breeding ground for the germs and bacteria to grow and this will cause pimples to get more inflamed. Apart from that, heavy make-up leads to clog pores even more easily so try to wear light makeup as possible. If you really want to wear heavy makeup, do it once in awhile. Just don't wear heavy makeup every day. Well, in any case, make sure you remove all traces of makeup thoroughly before you go to bed!

Alright, that's all I could think of for now. If there's any more tips, I will share it in another post. Hopefully the tips I've shared would be able to provide some help for you. 

[Advertorial/Sponsored] Review: Natural Divulge All Natural Extreme Emu Oil

Natural Divulge All Natural Extreme Emu Oil (1/4oz)

Description:
Natural Divulge's All Natural Extreme Emu Oil is proven to be 45% more effective than unprocessed emu oil. Emu Oil's advanced anti-inflammatory activity has encouraged many companies to use it as a base for their skin moisturizing, acne fighting, and muscle/joint products. It contains a complete balance of essential fatty acids (Omega 3, Omega 6, and Omega 9), which play a part in almost every function of the human body, including the regeneration of healthy new skin cells. Natural lipids found in emu oil match that of human skin, replenishing these lipids helps replenish skin from the inside out. Also, it supports skin's natural stimulation of proteins resulting in faster rejuvenation. The effects of emu oil to replenish and rejuvenate skin are indisputable.

Natural Divulge's All Natural Extreme Emu Oil is non-toxic, hypo-allergenic (non-irritating), and gentle for all skin types. It is 100% All Natural and carries the AEA Certified Fully Refined® seal. Made in USA.

Available in two sizes: 1/4oz and 2oz.

Price: SGD$13.90 for 1/4oz and SGD$36.90 for 2oz

Ingredients: 100% Pure Emu Oil, Natural Vitamin E (added to preserve freshness)

Directions: As a skin moisturizer, apply daily after shower for maximum effect and once again before bed and as needed.

Claims:
The Extreme Emu Oil penetrates the skin more efficiently than a non-refined product and may helps:

- Wrinkles, anti-aging
- General skin care and moisturizing
- Skin rehabilitation after burns and sunburns
- Skin rashes and Irritated skin problems
- Smooth sensitive skin that is prones to allergies
- Relieve itching and inflammation
- Cuticle Care
- Dry, cracked skin on feet
- Stretch marks and Scars
- Hair care/ dry scalp

Click here to read more about the Benefit of Emu Oil.

Shelf life of 1 to 1 ½ years, depending on storage conditions, but can be extended with refrigeration. Keep out of direct sunlight.

Extreme Emu Oil comes in a plastic bottle with a red plastic pull-off cap. The opening is well sealed. You will need a needle or any sharp objects to create a hole on the opening, which I have already done so in the picture.

Color and Consistency:
The emu oil is colorless and has somewhat like a serum texture. It get absorbed into the skin a few minutes after application, as seen on my mom's hand in the picture above. However, to be honest, it does leave a layer of shine on the skin.

Scent:
It does not seem to have any artificial fragrances. I could barely smell anything...

As I was given a bottle that contains only 1/4oz, I don't think it would be enough to use on face as a moisturizer for a month trial so, I decided to try it on scars instead. Unfortunately, I do not have any major scars so I convinced my mom to be the 'white rat'.  A picture speaks a thousand words. You can judge the effectiveness by looking at the 'Before-After' pictures. So here are the RAW pictures (without any editing except watermark, dates etc..) :

A scald scar on my mom's arm. My mom applies the Emu Oil only at night. She skipped application in the morning. Despite she only applied once a day for a month, the scar on her arm has significantly lightened (as you can see from the pictures).

Likes:
- 100% natural formula; Pure Emu Oil formula
- fragrance-free and free of synthetic chemicals
- AEA Certified
- contains omega 3, 6 and 9
- moisturizing
- stimulate and accelerate skin cells regeneration
- helps in skin rejuvenation
- lighten the appearance of scar
- gentle and sensitive-skin friendly; does not irritate the skin
- available in two sizes; the 1/4oz is compact and great for travelling

Dislikes:
- does leave a layer of shine after application

Verdict: Natural Divulge's All Natural Extreme Emu Oil is indeed moisturizing. Since I have only tried it as a scar treatment, I could only prove its claim on scar lightening so... apparently, it did lighten the appearance of scar like what it claimed (as seen in the 'Before-After' pictures). But do take note, it's not an overnight miracle potion. Like other scar treatment products in the market, this does take time to see results too. However, I have to say that this Extreme Emu Oil gives a quicker result compared to other over-the-counter scar treatment products. Therefore, in my opinion, it does help to repair and regenerate skin cells. At the same time, it also aids in skin rejuvenation process. For scars treatment, a little goes a long way! Right now, I still have about 1/2 of the bottle left. All in all, it works pretty decent. Worth giving a go! 

Grab a bottle from Natural Divulge's website:

www.naturaldivulge.com

OR

www.mamaonlinestore.com

*(ships worldwide!)*

Review: Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask

 Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask (100ml) [Re-updated]

Description: This Jeju volcanic scoria clay mask, contains 3000mg of Jeju Volcanic Cluster, which intensively absorbs sebum and clarifies skin pores.

About Jeju volcanic scoria:
This pure and rare ingredient, formulated from solidified lava caused by volcanic eruptions in Jeju island, absorbs impurities and sebum that are deeply embedded within skin pores.

4-free formula:
- NO Artificial fragrance
- NO Paraben
- NO Animal ingredients
- NO Mineral oil

Claims:
- Deep cleanses
- Tightens pores
- Remove blackheads
- Remove sebum
- Prevents skin troubles
- Improve skin tone

Directions: After cleansing and refining skin with toner, gently smooth over entire face, avoiding the eye and lip area. Rinse off with lukewarm water after 15 minutes. (Use 1-2 times per week)

Packaging:

The jar of clay mask is packed in a cube-shaped box made of recycled paper. The lid has the words "• jeju volcanic pore clay mask • pore clearing and care" being molded on top of the lid's surface.

The jar itself is made of plastic with an aluminium(?) screw-off lid. (I think...)

Once opened, there is an unsealed plastic cover covering the opening.

Consistency & Color:

It has a soft creamy texture. Color as seen in photo — pinkish-greyish clay. 

Demonstration on my mom's hand:

Apply adequate amount on desired area. Leave it on for 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes, massage and rinse off with lukewarm water. My mom rinsed off with cold water though.

No fuss at all~ It's easy to rinse off despite using cold water.

Ta-dahh~! Can you notice the difference?

It did brighten the dull skin tone just like what it claimed! Look at that gloooooow~ wooooooooooo~ 

Scent:
It's fragrance-free so it does not have an artificial scent to it. But it does have a pure(?) clay scent.

Likes:
- the "recycle" concept
- the formula — "4-free"
- deep cleanses
- help with sebum absorption
- easy to smooth out the clay and easy to rinse it off
- leaves skin feeling soft and smooth to the touch
- brighten up the skin complexion
- minimizes the skin pores
- does not break me out; prevent future breakout instead
- does not dry up the skin
- prevent makeup from caking
- sensitive-skin friendly
- one jar can lasts really long
- perfect for summer use

Dislikes:
- does not remove blackheads as claimed
- does not heal zit but it kind of help to prevent future breakout
- does not come with spatula

Verdict: This is one of my all-time favorite masks! This is my third jar by the way~ I use it every once a week. It deep cleanses, unclogs pores leaving skin feeling clean, soft and smooth and breakout-free! It minimizes the appearance of pores yet it also improves dull skin complexion, leaving skin looking brighter and more radiant. It prevent makeup from caking too. Best part? It's not drying at all!

On the downside, it does not remove my blackheads as claimed. Besides that, it does not come with a spatula. I extremely hate dipping my fingers in to scoop out the product. I find it unhygienic! I'm glad I owned several spatulas at home.  For those who do not have a spatula, you can use Q-tip to scoop out the product.

By the way, Innisfree Jeju Volcanic range has another version of mask called the "Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask". The SUPER version is more powerful in cleansing the pores. Enough said. I will be writing a review about the SUPER version in the future so I will be holding back the details for now. Thus, stay tuned. 

[Beauty Tips] 7 Must-Dos For A Healthy Complexion

Having a healthy looking complexion isn't difficult! Keeping your skin in tip-top condition is actually easier than you think. Here are 7 Must-Dos for a good and healthy glowing skin. 

1. Drink Up!
Water works wonder for your body and skin! It flushes toxin and waste substances from your body. Also, it replenishes the skin's tissues, moisturizes the skin and maintain skin's elasticity, giving you a healthy and glowing skin. Thus, drink plenty of water (at least 8 glasses of water) a day!

2. Eat Healthy for Beauty
Kick away all the greasy, fried and junk foods! Consume more fruits and veggies (at least 2 servings each every day) instead as they contain powerful anti-oxidents which help to prevent free radical damage, protect your skin cells and slow down the aging process. Not only that... They are also rich in various nutrients(vitamins, minerals, fibers) which help to boost your immune system, detoxification and improve your complexion, keeping your body and skin healthy.

3. Keep Your Face Clean

Wash your face twice a day. Twice is enough! Over-washing rip away the skin's moisture and disrupts the skin's barrier which can cause drying, skin irritations and redness. During cleansing, be gentle with your skin. Do not rub or scrub your skin. 

If your skin is prone to acne breakouts, use products that specifically for troubled/acne skin. These usually contain anti-acne ingredients such as Salicylic Acid, Benzoyl Peroxide or Tea Tree Oil.

4. Buff Away Dead Skin Cells

As I have mentioned in previous post, "EXFOLIATE the skin is an effective method to get rid of clogged pores. Exfoliation removes dead and dull skin cells, unclog the pores, leaving the skin looking more radiant and smoother. Once you buff away those dead skin cells, your skin tends to absorb skincare products even better. Thus, it's good to exfoliate once in awhile."

For those who have whiteheads, blackheads, flesh colored bumps that aren't inflamed, I recommend to exfoliate your skin once or twice a week. Do not exfoliate everyday! Excessive scrubbing can irritate the skin.

As for those who have lots of inflamed zits, you can skip this step for the moment. I wouldn't recommend to exfoliate when you have lots of inflamed zits as it may further aggravate the zits, causing them to get more inflamed. If you only have a few inflamed zits (like 1 to 3), it's fine. Just avoid exfoliating the area where the inflamed zits bloomed.

5. Moisturize Your Skin

( Source: Crayon Shin-Chan Episode 1409)

No matter what skin type you have, MOISTURIZE is a daily must-do! Keeping your skin hydrated will give you a healthy, radiant and glowing look. Deep down, your skin naturally pumps out oil to the surface to keep it moisturized so if your skin is too dry, it will produce even more oil to compensate for the dryness. This could lead to excess oil production and eventually lead to clogged pores. Hence, don't ever leave out this step! A well-hydrated skin helps to slow down the rate of oil production. 

6. Remove Makeup Thoroughly

For those who wear makeup, make sure you thoroughly remove all traces of makeup before going to sleep. Sleeping with makeup can lead to clogged pores and acute acne breakouts.

7. Get Enough Sleep

Don't be a night owl! Your skin repairs and heals itself more effectively at night when you are asleep. Sleeping late and lacking of sleep affect your appearance(dull skin, dark eye circles, acne). Thus, to have a good complexion, sleep early and get enough sleep (at least 8 hours) each night.