Getting free samples

What are your thoughts on companies that put up “free samples” on their site, but when details are submitted, samples are never sent to you? How long will you wait before saying that they’re duds?

Personally, I really dislike such act. I think, at the very least, the company should email or contact those who have submitted their details in hope for samples to inform them if the samples have run out and unfortunately, those consumers will not be receiving samples. It is worse if you did not receive the said samples, but yet keep receiving their email blasts instead. Woah… real low way of collecting consumer data there!

 

Going back on medication

After close to a year of breakouts, I’ve finally decided to throw in the towel and go back on meds. I resisted the idea of meds initially because I’m afraid of accumulation in the body, and that’s never good for the body. But after trying topical and even TCM (there were results, but much too slow), I still think oral meds work the best for me (I’m on Diane35, which is a kind of hormonal pill). I’ve tried antibiotics but it brought down my immune system and I had eczema rashes all the time.

Seriously, most people wouldn’t know how it feels like to have full-blown breakouts but it seriously damages, not only your skin but also one’s self-esteem. I think for the longest period, I avoided taking photos of myself and would even think long and hard before meeting any of my friends, even my best of all best friends. Whenever the dreaded period comes by, I would just want to stay at home because the older ladies at work would always come by my desk (it’s on the way to the pantry) and ask “what happened to your face?” If only I knew right? I mean, I didn’t wish for breakouts to happen as well, so don’t rub salt into my wound.

I just started being back on D-35, but I think I’m already starting to see results. My skin is less oily and a lot calmer than before. Hopefully, I’ll be able to just put loose powder and be done with makeup soon! It truly is depressing seeing how nice everyone else’s complexion is.

 

Review: Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil

Item Reviewed: Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil

Price/pack size:
S$33.00 120ml x 1 bottle
S$62.00 120ml x 2 bottles
S$19.00 60ml x 1 bottle

Available at: All Fancl outlets
Please contact me via email (madaboutsprees@gmail.com) if you’re an international reader interested to buy.

Ingredients: (active ingredients) Meadow Foam Oil, Green Tea Catechin Oil, Rosehip Oil

Description: Makeup removal is now blissfully easy with FANCL MILD CLEANSING OIL. This powerful formulation now comes enriched with Meadow Foam Oil which aids the removal of keratin plugs over time for a clearer, smoother complexion.

Review: This has got to be my favourite cleansing oil, ever. I have strayed and tried other brands (such as Softymo, Neutrogena) but Fancl is still the best I have ever used. I particularly like the texture – it’s thick and cushiony, almost like marshmallows on your skin. It glides on skin easily without creating a drippy mess, unlike those cleansing oils that are on the thin side. It is also formulated without alcohol and fragrance- very important factors to me. Fancl MCO rinses clean and easily so you’ll never have to worry that there is still oil residue on your face.

Here’s how to use it properly:
1) apply sufficient oil to face (roughly 2 pumps) and massage away makeup. The oil is safe enough to go over your eye area as well. You’ll see the makeup melting away. When you have massaged properly, go to Step 2.
2) Add water bit by bit to your face. You’ll feel the oil thinning out and emulsifying. I usually just run my hands under the tap quickly and emulsify the oil part by part (cheeks first, followed by eye area, chin then forehead).
3) Make sure oil is properly emulsified before rinsing off. (There shouldn’t be any more ‘cushiony and thick’ oil feel. If there is, add more water to emulsify)

Rating: 5/5

Would I buy again: Yes, in a heartbeat!!

 

Question!

What are your beauty weaknesses? For me, I can’t stop looking at pimple gels and moisturizers (because my skin gets so flaky due to the prescribed gels for my acne). I also like to switch brands whenever I have a product that’s finishing soon… not so good for my sensitive skin!

 

Hmmm… yogurt

so here i am, sitting in front of the laptop, with a homemade yogurt & bentonite clay mask. feels cool and soothing.

the bentonite clay helps to draw out impurities while the yogurt tightens pores exfoliates gently and moisturizes skin all at the same time.

 

LightStim no more?

I’ll be honest, I haven’t been using LightStim for close to a month. Reason being I went to the Chinese sinseh for my gastric problem and took some medication, and found out the the medicine also helped with my skin problem. I’ve been taking it since 1 Oct, and switched medicines when PMS was here to disrupt things again, and I didn’t suffer bad breakouts as I did previously. I didn’t want to use the LightStim during this period as I wanted to evaluate the effectiveness of chinese medicine.

It’s been only a month now, but I’ll continue taking the medicine to see how things go. Meanwhile, I’ve passed the LightStim to my sister who’s been suffering PMS breakouts (she’s not on the chinese medicine). I’ve also been simplifying things cos I’m really lazy and don’t want to spend extra minutes applying creams and masks.

My regimen now:

1. Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil + Simple Cleansing Wipe (to remove makeup at night)
2. Doctor’s cleanser or Etude House Perfect Balance Ready Foam
3. St Ives Blemish Scrub or Crushed Aspirin (to exfoliate occasionally)
4. Mario Badescu Alpha Grapefruit lotion
5. Adapalene
6. PHA lotion
7. Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5% (if I’m lazy, I skip to this step after toner)
8. Retin-A (for big spots)
9. Mario Badescu Control Cream (when skin is dry)
10. Sunblock (for daytime)

 

Etude House Moistfull mask

Picture credits: Musings of a Muse

Item Reviewed: Etude House Moistfull mask

Price/pack size: S$3.90

Available at: Etude House
Please contact me via email (madaboutsprees@gmail.com) if you’re an international reader interested to buy.

Ingredients:

Description: (it was all in Korean, I couldn’t understand)

Review: After weeks of using acne products (adapalene, PHA lotion, BP and occasionally Retin-A), my skin was peeling slightly. It was difficult to put on makeup. So last night, I decided to put on a sheet mask and chose the Etude House Moistfull mask that I received free when I bought some stuff a few months ago.

Opening the foil packet, the mask was a standard one, folded up neatly, soaking wet with essence. It had a slight fragrance that I didn’t really like, but then I couldn’t avoid it as most skincare brands would have their distinctive fragrance. Anyway, the mask was a little too small for me – the forehead fitted nicely but the jawline wasn’t fully covered. It was weird because most masks that I have used were all too big for me.

I left it on for 20mins or so, then removed it. The remaining essence absorbed into my skin quickly and easily with some patting. I applied some AC Red Spot Balm on the acne scars and ended last night’s skincare regimen. This morning I woke up, my face wasn’t overly oily as it was usually. The flaky patches that I had last night, were also gone this morning. That’s a sign that the mask worked, I tell you.

Rating: 4/5

Would I buy again: No, I couldn’t get past the fragrance.

 

Mentholatum Acnes skincare hamper

Remember my previous blog post where I mentioned that I ‘won’ a Mentholatum Acnes skincare hamper? Well, that was the term used in the winning email. A hamper. What comes to your mind when the word ‘hamper’ is being used? A tall basket of goodies? Several goods in a basket, wrapped nicely? This is what I received.

Hamper huh? I was utterly shocked and disappointed when I saw it. Of course I wasn’t expecting something big and of high value. But seriously, this doesn’t even constitute a gift pack! The choice of carrier was appalling and only marginally better than the red-orange plastic bag used when you buy something from your mom-and-pop shop. I actually already own a tube of the Creamy Wash but somehow it was nicked when my sister used/packed my toiletries pouch a few months ago. I don’t really liked the after-wash feeling as my face felt dry and tight, but it could be because I didn’t apply moisturizer immediately. This time, I’m going to leave this tube in the office so I can cleanse my face mid-day!

 

Acnes Medicated skincare

Remember how much I adore the pimple gel from Acnes Mentholatum? I was just checking my email minutes earlier and am pleased and surprised to see that I have been selected for Acnes Blogger campaign of the year and won a hamper!

The blogger contest runs on Fr3b and top 3 most voted blog entries will win a year’s supply of Acnes skincare! How exciting!!!

 

LightStim: Week 4 & 5 & 6

Unfortunately, I have been busy for the past couple of weeks that I forgot to take pictures. As seen from my week 3 picture, the monthly cycle has been wrecking havoc on my skin again (always have been).

There have been a couple of days where I was too tired/busy to do the treatment, and my skin gets a couple more sore spots the next day. But when I go back on the treatment that very night, the sore spots subside.

I’m still undecided on whether it helps my hormonal acne or not since the light treatment doesn’t seem to have much effect on helping me control the spots. It does help when the spots emerge though.

I’ve also been to a chinese physician lately for my gastritis problem and she says that the digestive system does have an effect on skin. So I’m currently taking some medicine for my gastric and hopefully it does have a positive side effect on my skin as well.