Fresh Soy Face Cleanser

From their site-
Soy Face Cleanser for all skin types is an extra-gentle, multitasking gel formula that instantly whisks away everyday impurities and makeup—even mascara—without stripping the skin of essential moisture. The soap-free, fragrance free formula is also perfect for sensitive skin, too.

Key ingredients:
-Amino acid-rich soy proteins promote moisture retention, elasticity, and firmness*
-Rosewater is notable for its calming, balancing, and toning properties
-Calming cucumber extract aids in soothing the skin
-Borage seed oil helps to nourish

I'm a big fan of Fresh products and really, you can't go wrong with any of their products. The Soy Face Cleanser is becoming one of their signature products along with the Sugar Lip Balm. It cleans very well and is extremely gentle for all skin types. It also doesn't leave you skin dry either.

It smells like cucumber and the texture itself is like liquid gel. I like like the cleanser is soap-free and fragrance free, which is rare. The scent comes from their ingredients- rosewater and cucumber extract, which are great for calming of the skin.

I'm not sure about washing off makeup, since I don't wear makeup, but I would assume it does the job really well. This is also great for those that have acne prone skin. The last thing you want to do with acne pron skin is to dry it out, it'll make your face produce more oil.
 
If you're not sure about buying the full size, they sell trial sizes at Sephora, but I say go for the full size!

Verdict: Buy it! 
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser is $38
Read more on their site- http://www.fresh.com/skincare/cleanser/soy-face-cleanser-150ml

La Mer Body Refiner

Over 2 carats of pure diamond powder? SOLD!

Just got this, will be posting reviews when I feel like I could give a good review. In the meantime, share with me if you've used it before.

Givenchy Le Soin Noir

This has been my favorite line of products on the market, but it has been increasingly hard to find them in the States. Sephora used to carry the face cream, but it's been out of stock for awhile now and it doesn't seem like they will be taking on the serum anytime soon.

I am so tempted to order this from the UK and have it shipped to me, because it is that good! I am currently using the left over jars as candle holders on my coffee table (for display only, would not actually burn the candles) and its been a great conversation piece. The jars are beautifully made.

Anyone has any luck tracking down where to buy this line in the States?

Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel

From their website -

Oil-free, anti-wrinkle technology helps to rejuvenate, clarify and brighten with Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, extracts of Peach, White Oak Bark, Lemon, Lime, Linden, Grapefruit, and Arginine. 

Luxurious, anti-aging facial cleansing gel provides an exhilarating, peachy clean freshness to help produce a beautiful, fresh, youthful-looking complexion. An advanced deep pore resurfacing action helps to increase cell turnover to help diminish the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of aging. Ideal for all skin types, including dry, sun damaged, normal, combination, oily and acne prone skin, except sensitive skin. Helps to effectively detoxify the pores, dissolve make-up, emulsify oil and improve skin texture as it gently sweeps away dead skin cells and impurities that can make the complexion appear more dull. Glycolic and Salicylic Acid and brightening botanicals exfoliate and clarify the skin, leaving it appearing ultra clean, refined and revitalized. 

Peter Thomas Roth’s passion for skin care is derived from his quest to find effective products to treat his own personal skin care concerns. Initially his primary issue was acne and as time went on anti-aging issues as well. His interests eventually grew into a desire to find the best tools to combat acne, the many signs of aging, as well as protecting the skin from sun damage. His mission: to combine effective and potent ingredients with advanced technology.

If you've been to Sephora, you have probably seen his products or if you watch QVC, you probably recognize him as well. Out of the entire line, the Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel is my favorite. It smells amazing and it feels good on the skin. It has a lot of great ingredients, but it's really hard to tell if a face wash can really diminish your lines though it does have a list of effective scientifically proven anti-aging ingredients. 

I've tried many cleansers and only a few have been memorable. I don't expect much when looking for a cleanser, but it has to clean my face well without drying the skin and this cleanser did just that. It's not at the top of my list, but I definitely consider this a good cleanser for those that have thought about purchasing it. 

Verdict: Try it! 

Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel is $35

Read more on their site- http://peterthomasroth.com/p-102-anti-aging-cleansing-gel.aspx

Laneige Water Sleeping Pack_EX

From their site- The function of skin remarkably declines in the night time. Enriched with Beta-glucan, Water Sleeping Pack_EX deeply hydrates fatigue and dry skin while Ceramide SLN formula strengthens the skin barrier.
With containing the Snow Water, it helps to keep your skin look more crystal clear and vitalized.

- Antioxidant effect of Hunza Apricot Extracts helps brighten skin tone evenly by removing harmful oxygen and purifying skin.

- Recoverine from Chestnuts promotes turnovers of horny layers to remove dead cells away for vigorous water supply and sleek skin texture.

- An aromatic essence compound exclusively developed by AMOREPACIFIC, Sleepscent™(Patent application No. 10-2009-0043726), helps to relax your mind and body and derive for a good sleep. A good sleep effect allowing sufficient relaxation eventually reinforces skin restoration for healthier skin condition. Essential oils from Orange Flower, Rose, Ylang Ylang, Sandal Wood etc. are contained in the Sleepscent™.

- Light gel-type texture without stickiness but moisture leaves you a comfortable sleep.

 Many of you might have never heard about the brand, but most of you prob have seen their parent company's products- Amore Pacific. Amore Pacific is a Korean company that house many other extended skincare brands. They have been penetrating the US market the past few years.

A little quick breakdown on some of their more popular lines/brands-  The Amore Pacific brand uses bamboo sap, which is extremely hydrating and healing to the face. The Sulwhasoo brand uses Korean Medicinal Herbs, focuses more on a natural approach to anti-aging and whitening of the face. The Laneige brand focuses more on hydration and brightening using the "snow water" technology.

So let's move on to this product!

I got Laneige's Water Sleeping Pack_EX as a gift awhile back, I didn't use it back then because it doesn't seem to have any anti-aging ingredients and I am usually allergic to gel texture products. I started using this during the winter last year and it helped relieved the dryness of my skin and it smells amazing, also my skin didn't have an allergic reaction to the texture!

They actually invested a lot of time developing the aroma of this cream to help you sleep better and I think it actually helps me relax more than usual. I can't really describe the scent, but it's very soothing and neutral. I'm such a sucker for anti-aging, I apply my la mer cream on top of this cream and it seem to work together beautifully.

This is also a treatment that you do twice a week, so don't try to use it as a night cream.

This is a great product to have to give your skin a boost of hydration once or twice a week. They just came out with an anti-aging version of the this, so if you are over 30, I would get the firming version instead.

Verdict: Try it!
Laneige Water Sleeping Pack_EX is $30 (Price might vary depending on where you're getting it since this tend to be an import)
Visit their site- http://www.laneige.com/product/detail.jsp?prdtCd=214118003

Sonya Dakar Drying Potion Review

From their site-
Recognized by many as 'Hollywood's secret weapon', this emergency solution helps treat and eliminate breakouts both above and below the skin's surface. Formulated with Dead Sea sulfur to reduce redness and puffiness; pure lavender and chamomile to calm breakouts, sage to disinfect and peppermint to stimulate blood circulation to promote speedy healing.

This is one product that everyone should have in their beauty repertoire! Like many of you, I've suffered from acne in my teen years, and I still get some break outs here and there nowadays. This is my go to pimple treatment and it works everytime! You simply dot it on top of your pimple and leave it on overnight. I've used it during the day too when I don't have to go outside of my apartment.

You get a tingly sensation when you put this on and most of the time, it gets rid of my pimple rid away. You should use this right when you feel like a pimple is coming on, that's when it works the best.  It doesn't smell terrible like most sulfur based treatment. I also love Bare Essentials pimple treatment powder, but that has such a distinct smell that it triggers my allergy sometimes.

If you're looking for a spot acne treatment, this is the best I've used and I will always have one in my bathroom. The only downside is you can only use this when you're not going out, unless you don't mind walking around with white dots on your face in public.

One thing I want to point out is if you're suffering from acne all over your face, you might want to invest in a moisturizer that treats acne. This is more of a spot treatment. 

Have you tried other acne products you like? If so, leave a comment or post on my facebook. 

Verdict: Buy it! 

Sonya Dakar Drying Potion $25
Read more on their site- http://www.sonyadakar.com/shop/drying-potion

The Bloom of Youth Through Lancôme's Absolue L’Extrait

From their website-- 

An exceptional elixir exists. It contains up to 2 million Lancôme Rose native cells.

Experience Lancôme’s revolutionary skincare innovation and our most powerful regenerating ingredient, Lancôme Rose Native Cells.

Extracted from the heart of the rare and resilient Lancôme Rose using an exclusive, state-of-the-art biotechnological process, these native cells are proven to extend their own exceptional properties to enhance skin’s regenerative potential*.

Each jar of Absolue L’Extrait contains up to 2 million of these precious native cells. Absolue L’Extrait helps reveal firmer, more elastic, more radiant skin for fascinating beauty.

Absolue L’Extrait. A master piece of regeneration.

The last time rose made the press rounds as an skincare ingredient was through Skin Deli's Creme de la Rose. Sadly, it never got far. Korres also has a line of rose products, but their line is more focused on brightening of the skin. Lancome with its big marketing budget and expensive research team is sure to make this flower popular again on a different level.

Lancome's Absolue L'Extrait has Rose Stem Cells and Body Deli's Creme de la Rose has Bulgarian Rose Oil. It's like comparing a burger patty to a steak in terms of the research and technology. Lancome takes the cake in the rose battle.

Priced at $350. It's definitely one of the more expensive creams on the market. 

I am going to get this cream after I'm done with my La Mer Cream, so stay tuned!

Freeze 24/7 Ice Cream Double Scoop Intensive Anti-Aging Moisturizer

From their site-

A smoothing, moisturizing complex that provides intense hydration while nourishing, firming and toning skin- provides immediate and long term benefits. This high-tech, super-charged skincare cocktail takes the moisturizing experience to the next level. Luxurious and exceptionally hydrating, IceCream Double Scoop™ is a powerful moisturizing complex of ingredients that hydrates the skin while providing serious anti-aging benefits.

• Diminishes expression line formations while shielding the skin from oxidative stress and UVA/UVB rays

• Skin looks supple, vibrant and healthy - noticeably radiant and smooth

• Reduces the appearance of facial expression lines and other common signs of aging

• Fights free radical damage and oxidative stress with L-Carnosine & Green Tea Extract 

Freeze 24/7 is famous for their anti-wrinkle treatment, where you put it on your skin and you can see the wrinkles diminish in front of your eyes. Wrinkles creams with GABA are now very common. As their website stated, GABA is produced in the body as a natural muscle relaxant, just as melatonin is produced as the body’s natural sleep inducing agent. When used in conjunction with other key ingredients found within our proprietary complex, GABA works to help diminish the appearance of fine lines and winkles on the facial area quickly, safely, and effectively with no side effects – just results.

I believe Freeze 24/7 was the brand that made the miracle wrinkle ingredient wildly popular (at least for me). Dr. Brandt also has a product called Crease Release that uses the same ingredient. This review is not so about their anti-wrinkle treatment, but i just want to point out their brand defining product, which is their Instant Wrinkle Treatment.

The Ice Cream Double Scoop Intensive Anti-Aging Moisturizer is one of my favorite moisturizers I've ever used. It is extremely hydrating and yet it creates a matte look on your face making your face look plump and dewy all day without shine.

The texture is, as expected with the name, creamy and thick like soft serve ice cream. It glides on smooth like silk creating a matte canvas. The only thing I've had problem with while using this cream is whatever I put on top of it flakes off like eraser shedding. I tried using sunblock on top of it, but it sheds everything off,  I would think it'll have the same problem with makeup as well. However, I found that if you put sunscreen on right away after this cream, it'll be fine, it's only when you let the cream set in the skin and you try to put something on top that it sheds. Again, everyone's skin is different, so it might not happen to you.
 
Overall, I really enjoy this cream. It can be used on even the most sensitive skin. I wish it was paraben free, but it's not. Sometimes they have a 50% off Sale on their website and that's when I try to stock up on everything. Definitely sign up for their newsletter if you're interested in their products!

Verdict: Buy it!

The Ice Cream Double Scoop Intensive Anti-Aging Moisturizer is $105
Read more on their website- http://www.freeze247.com/proddetail.cfm?sku=9913900062&prd=

My Beauty Diary Bird's Nest Mask Review

My Beauty Diary Bird’s Nest Mask whitens, nourishes and renews the skin.

Bird’s nest extract, a precious ingredient, and corallina officinalis, the so-called “bird’s nest from the bottom of the sea”, intensely enhances skin’s moisture level, and nourishes strongly.

Hydrolyzed soy and rice protein enhance skin’s defence, elasticity and transparency. They also relieve discomfort resulting from dryness.

It is suitable for normal skin. It is especially recommended for dry, rough and dull skin.

I thought I'll write another review of a Mask Sheet after the Shiseido one I reviewed last week. My Beauty Diary is probably a brand that no one's ever heard of, but it is actually pretty common and well known with the Chinese crowd. It's not exactly high-end, but I thought they are comparable with other high end brands.

My Beauty Diary is a brand from Taiwan. What I like about it is how moist the sheets are. There's so much serum on the mask sheets that I rub the excess over my body as a body serum. They say not to wash the rest of the serum off after you take off the mask, but I find the serum a bit too sticky and thick so I do wash my face with water after I take off the mask.

I haven't noticed any dramatic difference, but as most of the masks I've reviewed, it's hard to notice a difference with them right away unless it's a peel or an exfoliating mask. My skin feels fresh and extremely hydrated after this mask, which is why I've continued to use it. It doesn't hurt that it's pretty cheap as well. I think this is almost good enough to use everyday or every other day if your skin is parched. I have extremely sensitive skin and I find this mask very soothing.

The other thing I want to point out is that they have many different masks. The list is very long, but the black pearl powder and the aloe vera ones are pretty decent. They also have a chocolate mask as well, which smells good enough to eat.

The only downside is the cut out of the sheet itself. It's WAY too small around the eyes and the mouth. I find myself having to tear the corner of the eyes just so it wouldn't cover my eyes, I also tear the piece above my lips so it wouldn't cover my upper lip.

It might be hard to find in stores, but if you go to any Asian beauty store, they should have it. I have noticed it's been easier to find online within the last year or so. Even Amazon has them now.

For the price, I would def recommend it! I will post a review of SkinFood mask sheets as well soon. I like theirs better.

Verdict: Buy it!
My Beauty Diary Bird's Nest Mask is $21 (for 10 sheets)
Read more on their website- www.beautydiary.com.tw/en

Shiseido BENEFIANCE Pure Retinol Intensive Revitalizing Face Mask Review

A concentrated treatment sheet mask that encourages skin's natural recovery function and provides a rich infusion of moisture to help improve texture. Restores youthful suppleness and radiance with a single application.

• Developed with Shiseido-original Pure Liquid Retinol Delivery System, to penetrate skin rapidly and help combat wrinkles, dryness, and dullness.
• Formulated with aquatic plant extract Chlorella, a skin-vitality enhancer.
• Contains Hydroxyproline, a high-technology amino acid that parallels skin's own natural building blocks of collagen.

Shiseido always make great products, and this one is no exception. The box comes with 4 masks packaged individually. There's the top mask and the bottom mask making it easier to put on and take off than most mask sheets.

I used this after the shower and it gave me a nice "glow". My face looked hydrated and fresh. I think it's always hard to judge a mask, because most of the time you can't really see a difference, especially when it's an anti-aging mask. However, if you're into anti-aging, you know retinol is a good anti-aging ingredient.

I use prescription strength Retin-A (tretinoin) gel everyday and I've always seen retinol as a less effective and weaker version of Retin-A, even though they are distinctly different. Retin-A can only be obtained if your dermatologist write you a perspection and Retinol products can be purchased in stores. Both are used to treat fine lines and wrinkles, but different.

I think this is a decent mask, but I couldn't stand the scent of the mask. Shiseido products usually smell great, but for some reason I felt like I had an old lady's overly perfumed wet blanket on my face the entire time. I almost wanted to take it off immediately, but for the sake of writing an review for it, I stuck it out.

I use Retin-A gel on a nightly basis so I don't feel the need of adding this mask to my regular routine. Also, it is the price of my Retin-A prescription so I'd rather spend the money on that. I do think there are better masks on the market, and because of the dismal scent, I am not going to recommend this. This is solely based on the scent alone and the fact that I already use Rein-A gel on a nightly basis.

If you want to try it, you can. As I mentioned, Shiseido make great products so it's really up to your personal needs.

Also, I want to mention that if you have very sensitive skin, you might want to avoid reintol products. It can irritate some sensitive skin.

Verdict: Skip it/ try it
Shiseido BENEFIANCE Pure Retinol Intensive Revitalizing Face Mask is $62.50
Read more on their website- http://www.shiseido.com/benefiance-pure-retinol-intensive-revitalizing-face-mask/0729238191075,default,pd.html

Drink your way to supple flawless skin with this!

Sea Buckthorn Berry is currently the hottest "super fruit" right now with its many benefits to the skin and body. It was also featured on Dr. Oz as a super fruit to help you lose weight and prevent fat from storing in your body.

Containing the rare ingredient of Omega-7 fat (also known as Palmitoleic acid), it signals the body to stop storing fat. What this means for users is that it starts melting away the fat immediately, and it has been scientifically proven to help users keep it off for longer periods than conventional weight loss programs.

From their website- 
Revitalize & Renew is an all natural liquid dietary supplement made from the nutrient-dense sea buckthorn berry harvested exclusively for Sibu Beauty in the Himalayas of Tibet. This invigorating blend is a mixture of tart and sweet, and a delicious way to begin and end each day. Each sip embodies the spirit and resiliency of the hearty, orange sea buckthorn berry. Revitalize & Renew is loaded with the essential Omega fatty acids 3, 6 and 9. It is also a rich source of elusive Omega 7 fatty acids, a rare and vital component for cellular support and healthy hair, skin and nails. This proprietary formulation is also rich in phytosterols, polyphenols, amino acids, carotenoids, vitamins and minerals. Sea buckthorn berries contain over 190 bioactive compounds.

I'm always down to try new supplements and this is actually the first supplement review I'm writing for the blog, if you want to see more supplement reviews, definitely leave a comment here or on my facebook and let me know.

I love this liquid supplement for many reasons and it is one of the few supplements where I can actually feel and see the results. Everytime I drink this, it makes my body feel very balance with an overall sense of well-being. I also drink this when I feel nauseous and it actually helps!

I can see my skin being more supple after days of drinking this and one thing you will definitely notice is how fast your hair and nail grows while you're on this. There are so many great things about this that makes a great supplement to have and it taste pretty good, too. It's very tart at first, but you'll get used to it very soon.

The only down side is the price, but I found it's MUCH cheaper to buy from Amazon.com. So if you do plan to buy it, order from Amazon.

Beautiful skin and a slimmer waist line makes this a great purchase! 

Verdict: Buy it!!! 
Sibu Revitalize & Renew Drink is $29.95