First Impressions: FOR BELOVED ONE's Red Wine Antioxidant Night Jelly

What do you think of, when you hear the words "Red Wine"?

For me, my brain immediately processes good images associated with it.

A romantic escapade, a relaxing night out, & even health benefits.

Yes, red wine has been proven countless of times to be beneficial for our health.

It helps protect the heart & even lowers cholesterol levels.

BUT, Red Wine for the skin? 

That was pretty much a first for me. 

About the Brand:

For Beloved One was founded in 2011, by their founder Margaret Wu.

Margaret has been a beauty editor for over 20 years, and has experimented & tried many top beauty products, and skincare secrets. 

However, she could not find 1 product that could satisfy all types of needs, by different women. 

That was how the brand was first founded. 

The concept of Red Wine Facial Mask was introduced by the famous Taiwanese celebrity- Barbie Hsu, 10 years ago.

For Beloved One, the well known Taiwanese skincare brand, has since launched an upgraded version of the Red Wine Facial Mask.

The Red Wine Antioxidant Night Jelly, like its name suggests, 

is a overnight skincare treatment that provides antioxidants and their benefits.

So, what are antioxidants?

Antioxidants are nutrients (vitamins and minerals) and enzymes (proteins inside your body) that can help to prevent and repair damage to your body's tissue. Antioxidants do this by slowing or preventing the effect of free radicals, which start oxidation -- a process that causes damage from oxygen that can lead to cell dysfunction. If you've seen a peeled apple turn brown, you've seen oxidation in action. As antioxidants block the effects of free radicals, they end up being oxidized. This is why it's important to constantly replenish your supply of antioxidants.

When it comes to caring for your skin, antioxidants can help to protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun. Unlike sunscreens and moisturizers, antioxidants can protect your skin from the inside out by guarding your cells from damage. Vitamins A, C and E and the mineral selenium are thought to be particularly helpful in skin care. In addition to helping fortify cells against free radicals, vitamins A and C also encourage cell and tissue growth, helping the body to repair itself. This is very helpful to the skin, which is constantly shedding and regrowing cells. For this reason, any antioxidants that protect cells and encourage cell growth could be helpful in an anti-aging regimen, as they may help fight fine lines and wrinkles [source: WebMD].

In general: 
Anti Oxidants can help with blemishes, enlarged pores, lines and even wrinkles!

So for anyone that is looking to solve any skin problems as listed above,

the For Beloved One's Antioxidant Red Wine Overnight Jelly is the one for you!!

I was honoured to receive a full size bottle of the Anti-Oxidant Red Wine Overnight Jelly,

to review for my readers.

& here's my FIRST IMPRESSIONS, & simply how I felt about the product. 

Packaging: The Overnight Jelly comes in a heavy plastic container with a red top.
I love products with simple packaging like this, yet eye catching at the same time!
The container is simply fuss free, & comes with a spatula for you to scoop up the amount required.
without contaminating the product in the jar.
Perfect for fussy, clean-freaks like me!

Smell: 
Fresh floral smell, alike the smell you'd find yourself whiffing in a high end spa.
Nothing too overwhelming.

Colour:
Wine Red. Very Unique.
But spreads out to become a translucent layer on the skin.

Texture: 
Like its name suggests, a Jelly like texture that easily blends out into a liquid,
Light on the skin, easily absorbed & non tacky.

Effectiveness: 
I woke up to very supple skin that was hydrated and moisturised,
while tackling a 22 degrees air conditioned room with really dry air.

Overall Rating: 
I love this product for how lightweight it is, which is super comfortable on the skin.
None of us love that heavy feeling on our skin, that suffocates our pores.
With this jelly texture, the product is rapidly absorbed into the skin,
leaving almost no feeling of any product left on the skin, while you catch up on some beauty rest.

Waking up to supple, hydrated and smooth skin,
this product is now a must have in my skincare collection.
I have also realised that it calms my skin, to prevent any irritation.

Therefore, a 4.5/5 for this product!

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Here are also some magazine snippets from around Asia (Hong Kong & Malaysia)

NuYou Malaysia (November 2014)

Cittabella Malaysia (Bella Awards)

 

So what are you  waiting for?
Grab this For Beloved One Anti-Oxidant Night Jelly to combat your skin problems!
Grab it for a Christmas present for the lovely women in your life too!

The For Beloved One's Antioxidant Overnight Jelly Mask is exclusively available at Sephora outlets, 

at $78 per 50ml. 


Hope you find this review helpful!
Till the next time,
xoxo @clarabeltan 

First Impressions: Vitamin Science Skincare with Luxola!

The weekends are here- FINALLY!

Thank God!

& we all deserve a huge pat on the back for surviving yet another stressful & busy work week. 

*pats*

What will you be doing this weekend?

Whatever it is, I believe the weekends are the best time to wind down & relax, 

and get yourself prepared to conquer another stressful work week ahead. 

Weekends therefore is the time to pamper yourself & your skin. 

For me, weekends always mean a good pamper routine. 

Be it on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, I love to just have a good ol' hot shower, 

& a good skincare & body care regime.

Today, I will be introducing some products that I have recently added to my skincare regime, 

They are none other than the Vitamin Science skincare range that Luxola Singapore so kindly sent to me, to do a detailed review on the products for my readers & their customers!

Vitamin Science is the first and only full fledged vitamin skincare range. 

& what is it about vitamins that are so important?

Well, vitamins are not only necessary for the efficient functioning of our body and our systems.

They are also critical in achieving beautiful, glowing skin, hair & even our nails. 

Vitamin B- Hydration

Do you know that in order for our skin to protect us from UV radiation, micro-organisms & toxic agents, it must be adequately hydrated. 

Hydrated skin helps to keep the skin barrier intact, and thus prevent harmful effects from the nasty environmental factors.

Do you also know that hydrated skin actually delays the ageing process, 

& can also better deal with acne treatments, which are often drying. 

So the definite conclusion is that, hydration is the key to beautiful, glowing, radiant skin. 

That explains why we are always told to drink 8 cups of water per day!

In this case, 

Vitamin B enhances the skin protection levels, and provides the hydration, moisture and relief even for irritated skin. 

People with irritated skin due to acne or sensitivity should definitely up their skin moisture level to combat with the problems that they are already suffering from. 

& for those who are blessed with normal skin types, you still do need the constant hydration, 

as many of our environmental factors, and our diet choices strips the body of the required hydration.

For eg. Alcohol & Caffeine. 

The Vitamin Science Vita B  Hydrating Serum (30ml) has an off white colour with a normal serum texture. 

(Not too heavy, & definitely not too watery.)

However, what I love about this product is how fast the skin absorbs & sucks it all in. 

Within seconds of being in contact with my skin, the product is sucked in by the skin surface. 

The smell of the serum is also simply amazing- fresh & slightly floral. 

With one use, I can immediately feel the instant hydration, plumpness of my skin. 

*Not joking*

However, it does leave a slight tacky feeling on the skin, when felt with the fingers. 

But nothing too sticky, greasy or heavy- PERFECT serum formula. 

The Vitamin Science Vita B Hydrating Emulsion (120ml) is on the other hand, a colourless, liquid formula,

that is quickly & efficiently absorbed when patted on to the skin. 

What I love about this product is the slight cooling sensation that I felt when applied onto my face. 

There is a light fresh scent, lighter than the serum.

& the tackiness is alike the serum, but also not the case of any greasiness or oiliness. 

The whole combination was esily absorbed in 10-15mins, leaving no tackiness after awhile.

This 2 products when used together, gives an adequate boost of hydration to the skin. 

& with one use, skin is definitely supple, hydrated and bouncy. 

For those that love light formulas and textures, you need to try this range. 

As for what I know, emulsions are often creamy & heavy. 

But the Vitamin Science Vit. B Emulsion is not the case of a greaseball. 

It provides so much hydration power, but with the texture of a serum. 

& one must definitely point out the great packaging of the Vitamin Science Range.

Beautiful blue bottles, a dropper for the serum, and a pump for the emulsion.

Great for pumping and taking out the right amount of product, with great hygiene- 

no finger dipping. 

Vitamin C- Whitening & Brightening

It is a well known fact that Vitamin C in any skincare range has the benefits of whitening & brightening skin complexions. 

Vitamin C, packed with anti-oxidants, does it by removing free radicals that causing pigmentation, 

thus enhancing skin's radiance. 

If you are someone suffering from pigmentation, freckles, and even acne scarring & discolouration,

Vitamin C is your one true saviour. 

Although one can easily take Vitamin C rich fruits or even supplements,
lazy people (guilty) like me can take the easy way out- skincare infused with Vitamin C.

What Can Vitamin C Really Do?

Taken from the Paula'c Choice Skincare Expert website:

• Protect skin cells and skin's support structure from UV-related damage
• Improve the appearance of sun-damaged skin
• Strengthen skin's barrier response
• Reduce inflammation
• Promote collagen production
• Enhance effectiveness of peels and micro-dermabrasion
• Lessen hyper-pigmentation (at levels of 3% or greater)
• Boost the efficacy of sunscreen actives
• *The benefits and importance of Vitamin C, whether consumed or applied, is endless!

The Vitamin Science Vita C Whitening Emulsion (120ml) 
The whitening emulsion is a slight pale white/translucent colour, that is thick in consistency.
But once rubbed together, it becomes watery & somewhat like a serum texture.
Like the Vitamin B range, it has a fresh scent with a bit of tackiness.
BUT hydration wise, it plumps and hyhdrates the skin after immediate application.
As fot the whitening effect, I will need to report back in about 3 weeks to a month!

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Vitamin Science skincare range does not only have Vitamin B & C!
They have Vitamin A for calming, & Vitamin EA for lifting!
Feel free to visit Luxola's website or Vitamin Science website to find out more!

For those interested to purchase the Vitamin Science range, it is available on Luxola's website. 

Luxola was super kind enough to extend a discount code to my readers- how amazing!

Simply key in "BLX-CLARABEL" at checkout, to enjoy 30% off the Vitamin Science range. 

Offer ends on the 9th of December 2014. 

Hurry now and grab yours as I know that they are selling fast!

*Psst, great Christmas present for your loved ones too.*

That's all for now, enjoy your weekends lovelies!
xoxo, @clarabeltan

First Impressions: TARTE Maracuja Oil

Happy Hump Day Lovelies!

It has been quite awhile since I last did a First Impressions review..

Today, I decided to whip out my latest favourite skincare product to share with all of you.

Yes, it is none other than the Tarte Maracuja Oil!

Some months ago, I purchased the Tarte Maracuja Oil direct from Tarte's website, 

during a Friends' & Family Sale, where I had a 20-30% off. 

& I must say, it was the best purchase I have made this year!

Apart from the amazing 7 blushers that I bought, the Tarte Maracuja Oil was one of them. 

At that moment of time, I was a virgin oil user. 

Yes, like many, the thought of smearing oil on my face or body, disgusted me. 

I was never someone who went for greasy body lotions, despite how well they claim to nourish the skin.

All the more I wouldn't smear anything oily on my face. 

My skin profile however, is dry & dehydrated, but blessed with acne-free skin. 

So, oils would be perfect for me as they give the most intense form of hydration. 

So I took a dive and bought it, (the full size of 100ml) at a whopping price of SGD$70.

What exactly is the Maracuja Oil anyway?

The Maracuja fruit is also called the Passion fruit. 

The Maracuja oil is harvested from the seeds of the Passion fruit, and is often then hand pressed, 

without the use of heat, to prevent the loss of fatty acids & vitamins. 

Marcuja Oil has been known to replenish, rebuild & brighten skin.
The nutrient-rich essential fatty acids, help to repair & rejuvenate our skin, to achieve a firmer & more supple complexion. 

While the moisture rich formula hydrates & replenishes the skin, 

* Did I also mention that the Maracuja Oil also provides anti aging properties?*

Well, with all that, it ticks everything off my check list!

Busting the Myths of Facial Oils!

However, many people with combination & oily skin are afraid to use oil on their face.

They have this idea that applying oils on their already oily faces, would cause them to have more clogged pores or acne breakouts. 

This is in fact, wrong. 

In the recent years, many dermatologists & skincare experts,

have suggested the use of facial oils on even the most oily of complexions. 

This is also described as fighting oil, with oil. 

Fight oil with oil: The oil your skin produces is much different than the pure plant oils in a facial product. Your skin starts pumping out sebum (the stuff that clogs pores and causes breakouts) when its oil content isn't balanced. So if you strip your skin's natural oils by over-cleansing, your body will actually produce more oil to compensate. But a quality face oil will replenish your skin with the essential fatty acids and moisture it needs. When balance is restored those overactive sebaceous glands take a breather, leaving skin healthier and clearer.

(http://www.details.com/blogs/daily-details/2013/10/why-you-should-be-using-a-face-oileven-on-oily-skin.html)

The Final Review!

Other than the fact that the Tarte's Maracuja Oil is stored in a fancy purple glass bottle, 

this product brings nothing more than just benefits.

The bottle houses a dropper that picks up just the right amount of product. 

All you need is about 2 to 3 drops of the oil for the entire face, neck & decollete.

*Remember to warm the product between your hands, for more effective absorption into the skin.

The oil has a slight musky & nutty smell which is not overwhelming at all.

Rather, I feel it has a pretty relaxing effect on me. 

The oil however, is slightly greasy at the start but it sinks in within the next few minutes-

giving more reasons to love it. 

There is a very slight oily & tacky feeling to the skin, but just think of all the benefits.

I love how the Maracuja oil does wonders to my skin. 

After cleansing, toning & applying a serum, I pat the oil onto my face, and then catch up on my beauty rest. 

The next morning, I am awoken to the most supple, moisturised & hydrated looking skin, 

that is just glowing from within. 

I am not kidding you. 

The skin is baby smooth and just oh so supple. 

It literally bounces with every touch of my finger. 

Therefore, you can tell how much I love this product after my first try. 

I have since replaced it with my night creams, or night masks. 

Sometimes, I even apply it hours after I have done my evening skincare routine, 

to give my night mask or moisturiser the extra oomph.

For those who would love to enjoy the various benefits that I have mentioned above, 

Tarte does international shipping, including to Singapore!

Sephora Singapore might have this product on their Tarte shelves. 

(Not too sure about SG.)

That is all for my First Impressions on the Tarte Maracuja Oil.

Stay tuned for my blog post in the upcoming weeks about the usage of facial oils, 

& their many benefits to our skin. 

xoxo, @clarabeltan 

First Impressions: Origins Drink-Up Intensive Overnight Mask!

Happy Mid-Week!!

This is my 3rd First Impressions post, 

& as you can see from the title, 

I'm gonna be reviewing another Origins product!

This time round, the Origins Drink-Up Intensive Overnight Mask!

Compared to the Origins Gin-Zing Mask, 

I have heard more people raving about the overnight mask.
The overnight mask is designed and targeted for dry or dehydrated skin.

Don't know the difference? Then read my previous blog post here:

http://theperfectmonologue.blogspot.sg/2014/07/is-your-skin-dry-or-dehydrated.html

So let's get started!!!

Like the name suggests, the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight mask,

is one in which you leave on your face while you have a good snooze.

In my opinion, 

I love overnight masks like this as it does not require you to wait around for 10-30 minutes, before having to wash it off..

*We all have to admit that we had days when we knocked out with the typical 15minutes mask on*

For the busy & lazy ladies, this is the perfect way to keep your skin hydrated & in tip top condition,

without really having to fuss over it. 

The packaging of the Overnight mask is similar to the Origins Gin-Zing mask, 

both are at 100ml (convenient for hand-carry travelling).

If you are an Origins fan, 

you will know that this is the new & overnight mask version for the "Drink Up Mask" series.

The other one is called the "Origins Drink-Up  Mask", 

and

 it is a 10 minutes leave on mask which looks like this. 

The texture of the mask is slightly creamy,

and feels like a mix between a serum & a moisturiser

- light but potent. 

The mask is not oily or tacky after application on the skin, & does not transfer to sheets or pillows.

So don't fret. 

It also has a pale off white colour. 

What I really love about this mask, even more than the Gin-Zing mask,

is the fruity apricot smell that the overnight mask has.

The apricot smell is super yummy & so appetising!

It was such a pleasure having it on, & just relaxing myself..

Perfect for a good overnight pamper routine. 

Here is the overall rating:

Efectiveness: 4.5/5

Hydration: 4.5/5  (Leaves your skin supple & hydrated)

Brightening: 3/5

Texture: 5/5  (Leaves the skin very smooth)

Sensation: 5/5  (Slightly Cooling)

Elasticity/Tightening: 2.5/5

Generally I give this mask a 4.5/5!

Though somewhat a short review, 

I hope this review addresses your queries about this mask & what it does. 

In my next First Impressions post, I will be finally reviewing the Koh Gen Do mask. 

Cross my fingers that it does not disappoint!! 

Till then, xoxo

@clarabeltan

First Impressions: Origins Gin-Zing Refreshing Face Mask!

Here is my 2nd First Impressions post!

Like I have mentioned in my 1st post, 

my "First Impressions" are generally my honest reviews on some products that I have got! 

If you have not read my First Impressions on the Kose Whitening Peel Off Mask, 

read it here: 

http://theperfectmonologue.blogspot.sg/2014/09/first-impressions-kose-whitening-peel.html

Origins brand & products are no stranger to me. 

I have always heard friends raving about their products, 

& the UK/US bloggers on Youtube etc, have been loving the brand & their products for a pretty long time. 

I guess Origins is a well known brand, 

but definitely not as marketed or advertised as other big brands like SK-II or Biotherm etc. 

But what I love about their brand, is their brand mission.

They are all about creating safe products that are powered by nature & proven by science. 

The best combination of Safety & Effectiveness. 

& I must say they have ONLY the best ingredients in their products, 

& I feel the safest if I leave my face in their hands. 

Origins products are made without Parabens, with natural certified organic ingredients & 100% natural essential oils. 

Don't you just feel so safe hearing all that? (:

**This will be the first Origins product that I am reviewing, 

the next will be the Origins Drink Up Intensive Night Cream. 

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So let's get it on!!

Here are some pointers I took while I had the mask on!

Origins GinZing has a range of products that serve the same purpose- 

brightening & refreshing tired skin!

They have the GinZing moisturiser, scrub, eye cream & of course the mask. 

The GinZing mask was a pleasant, enjoyable & super pampering experience for me!

It has a slight citrus smell, that is a little fruity and well, it made me salivate a bit. 

*oops, signs of a greedy person!*

The texture was a thick gel like translucent substance that was easy to apply & spread out on the skin surface. 

Also, the instructions were super easy/straightforward,

& it is a pamper session of 10 minutes!

*great for the busy/ career driven or just plain lazy woman.*

After leaving on for 10minutes, the product does get sticky/tacky upon touching your face.
But it is super easy to wash off.

Just wet your face with clean water, massage & rinse it off!

Here is the overall rating:

Efectiveness: 4/5

Brightening: 4/5

Texture: 5/5  (Leaves the skin very smooth)

Hydration: 3.5/5  (Leaves your skin supple & fresh)

Sensation: 5/5  (Cooling, & slightly Tingly but NOT uncomfortable)

Elasticity/Tightening: 2.5/5

Generally I give this mask a 3.5/5.

It is easy to use, quick & effective!

Also, if you are looking for a little pick me up for your lackluster skin colour or texture,

this baby is your answer. 

Great for the day or hours before important events like an interview or date too!

Hope you guys like my review, 

& go grab this product if it addresses your skin problems!

The next installment will be the Origins Drink Up Intensive mask!

Stay tuned!

xoxo

@clarabeltan

First Impressions: KOSE Whitening Peel-Off Mask

This is my 1st of my "First Impressions" series, 

where I talk about new products & my honest first impressions about them. 

I will be doing a real first impressions whether I like or dislike the product, 

and after subsequent uses, if I happen to change my mind about it, I will do a follow up blog post!

So let's just jump right into it!!!

KOSE is an umbrella skincare brand from Japan, which was founded in 1946.

Kose's name & branding is no stranger to me. 

However this is the 1st product I am trying from the range.

(Despite owning a full Sekkisei set which was gifted to me by my lovely girlfriend,

Ena Teo- Kose's Ambassador.)

Kose uses all natural Japanese & Chinese ingredients, 

and focuses on providing different skin care products for different skin types & skin needs. 

However in my contact with Kose & friends who use Kose's products, 

I would say that their whitening range is the most raved about!

After reading a few good reviews about the Kose Whitening Peel-Off Mask, 

I was very excited to try it out!

Firstly, I am always in search of a good whitening product/mask, 

cos I'm kind of over the tanned sporty look phase. 

& Secondly, I have always loved a good peel-off mask cos well, 

I kind of like peeling it off and seeing the dirt/grime/blackheads come off with it...

(Yes, disgusting.. But don't we all secretly love that? *winks*)

The product comes in a 80g tube, 

& the mask is a charcoal black substance which is slightly watery.

Super blend-able & easy to apply to the face, with no distinct smell or fragrance. 

Once applied, the product quickly dries up to a matte surface. 

Instructions on the tube:

Apply evenly to clean & dry skin, avoiding the eye, eyebrow, hairline & lip area. 

Leave on for 20mins and gently peel off from the outer edges. 

*Pardon my very ugly naked face. 

I look like a walking monster!

As seen from the picture, the mask adheres very well to the skin after drying.

& although it feels tight on the skin after about 10mins, 

it is not uncomfortable & you can still move your face slightly. 

20mins up!

Time to peel if off.

The mask was a breeze to remove, except for some parts/areas, 

ie. Hairline, chin and near the ears. 

With one corner pulled out, you can easily lift the mask off your entire face, 

in a whole piece. 

However,

I would suggest one to not apply it longer than required (20 mins), 

as the masks gets a little too dry! 

When pulled off, it actually hurts. 

(I think it actually removes facial hair too, which would explain the pain.)

I personally have no before & after images of my face after using this product.

*because I'm too shy & conscious of showing my bare face*

RESULTS!

 I did notice my skin tone lightening a tad just after one use. 

Which to me, is AMAZING, as I'm pretty skeptical of "immediate results".

This product didn't strip my skin's moisture & wasn't too drying or tightening.

It is overall a good product that works. 

Just that the removing part was a tad painful as I felt it was stripping my facial hairs off too.

For the remaining unremoved mask, one can easily wet a towel or a cotton wool and swipe it off!

Whitening: 4/5

Moisturising: -

Tightening: 3/5

Easy to use: 5/5

Pain level: 3.5/5

Hope this first impressions did help you girls!

Stay tuned to my next 1st impressions, 

which would be the Koh Gen Do Brightening Moisture Mask!

xoxo. 

Instagram: @clarabeltan