Showing posts with label Beauty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beauty. Show all posts

Radical Skincare

Sunday, April 27, 2014


Thanks to Gwen, I was given the privilege to meet Rachel Edlich, one of two founders of the Radical Skincare line, the other of which is Liz Edlich, daughters of renowned professor of plastic surgery, Dr. Richard F. Edlich, MD.PHD. Held at Escentials, Paragon, we were ushered in to hear Rachel tell us the inspiring story behind the family legacy and their journey towards their vision of creating the most powerful and potent skincare in the market.

It all started when Rachel started suffering from Rosacea from her second child, while Liz, on the other hand, was troubled by the signs of ageing that has started to take their toll on her skin. This led them to challenge their scientist to create a powerful anti aging solution yet gentle enough to be used on sensitive skin like Rachel's. Amazingly, they were able to, and though it was initially created for themselves, they wanted to make a difference in other people's lives as well, so now we have the Radical range of products available for us too!

It was a really heartening saturday morning, and while Rachel explained all these history as well as the science to the products, we were able to try the them right there and then, too.

What Radical is about.

Here is a summary given to us of what Radical Skincare can do for you:
Radical Skincare ingredients have been clinically proven to:
  • Maximize potency in antioxidants to protect skin from free radical damage
  • Fight 10 free radicals with a broad spectrum of powerful antioxidants
  • Increase skin hydration by 66%
  • Reduce wrinkles by 50%
  • Increase collagen and elasticity for smoother skin by 128%
  • Reduce under eye dark circles and puffiness
  • Even skin tone and reduce age and sun spots
  • Reduce pore size 

Youth Infusion Serum

First up is the youth infusion serum, "a booster serum to hydrate, lift, and rejuvenate. Prepares skin for high levels of active ingredients." The texture is very light and with a not too overwhelming and very refreshing scent, as is with most of their products.

Eye Revive Creme

"4 in 1 treatment, helps to reduce wrinkles, puffiness, discoloration, and hydration."  We often forget to care for eyes! Radical Skincare is so thoroughly complete, Rachel and Liz made sure they didn't miss anything in their overall solution to ageing skin.

Age-Defying Exfoliating Pads

"Exfoliates, firms, and reduces pores size. Helps promote cell turnover and accelerate Radical Skincare performance." I liked these pads! We tried them and it intensively cleaned my skin together with removing dead cells. It's also unique since it doesn't require rubbing your face with rough material, like most exfoliants are.
Eek! This is just a part of my neck that I rubbed with the exfoliating pads. Didn't dare to continue so as not to disgust Alene beside me, haha.

SPF30 Skin Perfecting Sun Screen

"An ideal, multi-protection, multi-function screen for skin exposed to sunlight" This is another of their products that piqued my interest. It is very light, not at all sticky, and no sunscreen smell at all. Definitely NOT all the things that we hate in a sunscreen.

Apart from these, we were able to take home and try three of the other skincare products, happy bloggers we were! After the talk, Rachel was very friendly and patiently answered our questions one by one. I asked her regarding--well what else--my acne issue and would I have any problems with the products? She was very honest and advised me that since its target is anti-ageing and not acne prevention, I may try it first on one part of my face, perhaps the jaw line and wait for the results, but let me rest assured that it is powerful yet gentle at the same time. As mentioned earlier, she had Rosacea and this helped heal her troubled skin then.

Left to right: Multi Brightening Serum, Instant Revitalizing Mask, Anti-Aging Restorative Creme
The way the cylinders are sealed are also very interesting! Twist to open, no lost caps!
Instant Revitalizing Mask

CONCEPT
The Instant Revitalizing Mask delivers a complex of natural active ingredients to the skin, helping to optimize oxygen resources for a lasting youthful glow, stimulating energy production and simultaneously controlling oxidation reactions. 


RESULTS

  • Improved respiration of the skin
  • Higher energy levels
  • Smoother skin
  • Skin that is brighter and more radiant 
APPLICATION
Apply a thin layer to cleansed, dry skin. Leave to dry for several minutes before rinsing. Use twice a week or as required.



REVIEW
It was quite fun to use this mask and it certainly was different from all other masks I've tried. It'll start to form a foam-like texture on your face, I then wash it off after 3-5 minutes and my skin would feel really soft to the touch.


Retail Price: 95 SGD 

Available from July 2013 



Multi Brightening Serum

-Treats all causes of blemishes and uneven complexions.
-Works throughout the life cycle of melanin, the main source of skin pigmentation and has 7 targeted actions enabling it to prevent and repair all pigmentation disorders.

It works as a skin 'scrub'. 

MULTIBRIGHTENING SERUM works using a range of 7 actions:
  • Inhibiting tyrosinase
  • Stopping endothelin production
  • Inhibiting stem cell factor
  • Limiting melanin transport to the tips of melanocytes
  • Limiting melanin transfer to keratinocytes
  • Limiting dendrite extension
  • Exfoliating with salicylic acid derived from the wintergreen plant


(So many scientific terms that may be of interest to you chemistry girls out there)


RESULTS

  • More even complexion
  • Less intense marks
  • Less numerous marks
  • More radiant skin


APPLICATION
Apply morning and evening to your cleansed face and neck, after applying Serum. Continue the treatment with Moisturizer.



REVIEW
I'm happy to report that this serum did not break me out whatsoever! It doesn't have a strong scent and is very light in texture. As with serums though that aid your cell turnover, do give it more than a week to show visible results. I am still continuously using it and I feel that it is helping me maintain a healthier and more radiant skin.

Available from May 14
Retail Price: 215 SGD 




Anti Aging Restorative Moisture Creme

"Reduces wrinkles, hydrates, and evens skin tone. Formula boosts skin firmness and elasticity." This is more for women whose main concerns are signs of ageing, especially wrinkles.


REVIEW

I recommend this to those who have really dry skin, and whose main concern are wrinkles. To someone like me who has a very oily face, use this cautiously as it is quite thick and apply only to areas of concern, and not the whole face.

Here is the complete and full range of Radical products:


They are really comprehensive and covered all anti ageing concerns.



Where to find them though?
Escentials Paragon, #03-02/05 Tel: 6737 2478
Escentials Tangs Orchard, Tangs Beauty Hall Level 1 Tel: 6734 2122 


Escentials is not just a shop, I find it as a very relaxing space with its elegant and beautiful interiors and mixture of delightful fragrances. You should totally go see and feel for yourself.

Even the brownies they served us looked--and tasted--so luxurious!

Thank you Rachel, for sharing your valuable time together with this wonderful products with us!


Oh and after the event I had lunch with Alene at Bakerzin! Wish I had more time to spend with these girls! It's weird I don't have a photo with them, Gwen was busy chatting with the staff and Alene and I were taking turns taking OOTDs. Lol. Nevertheless had a wonderful time!





Jimmy Choo Exotic: Launch + Review

Wednesday, April 16, 2014


Previously, we attended the launch of Jimmy Choo's new fragrance, Exotic. Prior to this, the label has also released several perfumes, and Exotic is nonetheless as wonderfully scented, if not more than, as its predecessors.

Jimmy Choo Exotic is a limited edition eau de toilette created for the company by Olivier Polge, Domitille Bertier and Véronique Nyberg, with its outer packaging inspired by the python skins used in Jimmy Choo heels and accessories and has been worked scale by scale to reproduce the perfect look and feel of the snake. Sure enough, when we touched the box we were able to feel the elegant leathery texture.

According to Sandra Choi, Creative Director of Jimmy Choo, the fragrance is "meant for women with strong personalities and a hint of playfulness, those with irresistible magnetism who create surprise and amazement in everyone who crosses their path," and I must agree. I Imagine this scent to be very sexy and feminine whilst giving the wearer a self assured, almost sassy aura.

Jimmy Choo Exotic (center) alongside Jimmy Choo Flash (left) and the Original Jimmy Choo fragrance (right)

Upon arriving, we were served with refreshments and a short game/quiz that would determind which Jimmy Choo perfume each one of us was, and I got... Exotic :) As much as it may sound as a self-praise, I do like to think of myself as a modern, independent woman.

Top Note:
Blackcurrant Sorbet
Pink Grapefruit
Heart Note:
Tiger Orchid
Passion Flower
Base Note:
Indonesian Patchouli
Raspberry

"In the heart, the carnal sensuality of tiger orchid hands over to the exotic aura of a passion flower with acidulous floral accents. Finally the patchouli signature of the EDP is accompanied by fruity and velvety notes of raspberry offering a light and gourmand touch."

Happy to have been there with the good friends that I found amomg these lovely girls!
We were very well taken care of-- the bloggers were also given the opportunity to have our nails painted to match the Jimmy Choo Exotic theme--and it's Gel! (I apologize for my very dry finger/nails!)


Review

Initially I felt that the scent was a bit too sweet and fruity for my taste, since I usually prefer fresher, more citrus-y fragrances. However, after a while I appreciated it more; especially the lovely lingering smell of its drydown. But the best thing is it stays on for veryyyyyyyy long. Perfumes don't last the whole day with me (my mom says it's because I sweat easily) but this one was stayed until late at night when I reached home (which is around 10.30PM) so it is more than safe to say that it IS long lasting. It's perfect for hot and humid Singapore where it's summer all year round, and I'm pretty sure with this scent, you'll easily turn heads!

Where to Buy: Metro Paragon (Singapore)
Price:
S$112 (60mL)
S$145 (100mL)

Dr.Jart+ Bounce BB!

Thursday, March 27, 2014


Hey all, recently I posted a review regarding Dr. Jart's Ctrl+A BB Cream and how great it was for me. I now have the privilege to review another one of their newest products, which is the Dr.Jart+ Bounce Beauty Balm!

The concept of their new Beauty Balm is a "bouncing formula" such that you'll feel elasticity with your fingertips. As with most of its BBs, it evens skin tone and covers blemishes, whilst this version takes care of dryness as well as rough skin texture. It has brightening, Anti-wrinkle and UV protection as SPF 30/PA++.




I was afraid to use this at first because of the word "moisturising" which I feared would cause me breakouts. Thankfully it was quite gentle on my skin and it just moisturised at the right amount, not too shiny, but glowy afterwards! Another thing about it is that it seems to just sit on top of your face in the beginning, but same as my beloved Ctrl+A, it blends well into your skin after a while, making it look flawless.

Price. It will be launched today, 27th of March at all Guardian stores at a promotional price of $34.90. I find that quite cheap given the quality of Dr.Jart+ products.

Availability. As mentioned before, Dr Jart+ is available at Guardian stores:

  • Takashimaya
  • Bedok Mall
  • Parkway Parade
SASA stores:
  • Nex
  • Jurong point
  • Tampines One
  • Wisma
  • Holland Village
  • Vivo city
  • Causeway point
  • Plaza Singapura
  • Lot 1


Fragrance. Another thing that I absolutely love about it is that it doesn't have any strong fragrance and smells fresh and clean, so I don't need to worry that it will irritate my sensitive skin.

Design. Unlike their other BBs that are available in squeezable tube bottles that are to be applied by hands, this BB comes in compact yet liquid form, together with a rubbery textured sponge for easy retouching throughout the day. But girls, let me remind you to always clean the applicator, the same way that you must always clean your makeup brushes! Failure to do so will lead to bacteria build up!
I also like their packaging which is very clean and almost clinical, similar to the way that their products are fuss free and focused more on skin care rather than just makeup features.


Texture/Consistency. It looks a bit thick at first glance and because you don't feel it with your fingertips when you apply it, you'd think that it's very creamy but it's not. It is in reality quite light and the applicator ensures that you don't put too much of it. 

Colour. I find that it's not as white as the Ctrl+A, but it blends very well and it's the exact same colour as my skin (which is fair), so when I apply it it looks very natural.



All my photos here are only edited with brightness and contrast. If you look closely, you'll see that it does cover up most blemishes, but a teeny bit of acne scars will show upon first application. Doesn't matter though since it looks smooth and clear overall! This is more for people who like their makeup really natural. What it does is corrects and evens out your skin tone and makes it look more supple and seemingly elastic.


Again, for those of you who find knowing the ingredients very important!

It's a very good BB Cream for those who don't like heavy coverage and want their skin feeling smooth and plump throughout the day.

So how does it look like and fare on my skin?


I can see you scrolling up and down comparing my before makeup and after makeup photos. Haha! Anyway, continue: (following photos were taken from my phone, btw, thus the difference from the first two above)







Apart from this, Dr.Jart+ will be celebrating its 10th year anniversary! So together with the Bounce BB, they will be releasing the Radiance Beauty Balm and Dis-A-Pore Beauty Balm this mid-april so do watch out for them!

Also, do you like free samples? All you need to do is like their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/DrJartSpore and show this to their counters at Guardian Ngee Ann City from Thursday to Sunday and you get free samples! I also got a lot from the Ctrl+A range, which apparently is not just a BB!



The moisturiser is very light and I tried the Drying Spot Corrector, which did actually help to heal my extracted pimple.

I now really am a fan of Dr. Jart+ and quite thankful for discovering it! Surely going to try their other products since it really works well!