Review: The Body Shop Blue Corn Mask

Item Reviewed: The Body Shop Blue Corn 3-in-1 Deep Cleansing Scrub Mask

Price/pack size: S$29.90 / 100ml

Available at: All TBS retail outlets

Description: A 3-in-1 mask that deeply cleanses, exfoliates and moisturises the skin in one easy step. It leaves the skin feeling clean, smooth and balanced.

Usage: Cleanse skin and pat dry before applying a generous layer of the mask to the face, avoiding the eye and lip areas. Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing with warm water (mask will not dry).  Use one to two times per week after cleansing.

Review: This is hardcore stuff! TBS’s Blue Corn Mask reminds me of wall putty, dry and pasty. It doesn’t take much to get an even layer on skin and it dries fairly fast, taking about 6-7 minutes for the mask to be ready to be washed off. It did sting a little when I first put it on, especially around the corners of my nose where the skin is thinner. However, once you get used to it, the sting goes away. I like to wet my hands a little and scrub my face before rinsing it off. However, those with sensitive skin and/or those who didn’t like St Ives apricot scrub might want to skip this as I find that the Blue Corn mask is even harsher than St Ives.

The mask rinses off cleanly and my skin always looks fresher and more even-toned after using the mask. I usually alternate this mask and Innisfree volcanic clay mask as I’m afraid the intensive scrubbing action of the Blue Corn mask may be too much for me.

Rating: 3/5

Would I buy again: Hmm… I’m on the fence with this product.

Review: B.Liv Glow and Shine mask

Item Reviewed: Glow and Shine mask

Price/pack size: US$25 (50ml)

Available at: Online – Sasa and Guardian stores in Singapore.

Ingredients:

Purified Water (Aqua), Zinc Oxide, Glycerin, Koalin, Hexyldecanol, Silica, Polysorbate 20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Lactic Acid, Stearic Acid, Bentonite, Cetyl Alcohol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Menthyl Lactate, Methylparaben, Papaya Enzyme (Papain), Fragrance, Propylparaben.

Description: Glow & Shine deeply exfoliates damaged, scarred or unhealthy skin, to reveal the smooth, flawless complexion lurking within. It also lightens and brightens the dull and uneven-toned face, to make one’s inner glow and shine rise to the surface.

Use Glow and Shine once a week:-

1. Wash your face.

2. Apply a thick layer over your face and neck after cleansing. Leave on for 5-10 minutes. Avoid the lip and eye area

Review:

The mask was a sample from B.Liv’s PR team and I remembered Xiaxue reviewing it before so I was quite pleased to receive it. However, I was soon disappointed by the lack of thought that went into designing the sample packaging.

The mask is a thick paste, almost like wall plaster, so it took all of my strength to squeeze the mask out from the small bottle (made from hard plastic). The first time I used it, I only applied a thin layer since it was difficult getting the mask out. I had to use both hands to squeeze the bottle, then had to quickly ‘catch’ the mask before it drops into the sink.

Second time I used it, I pulled off the squeeze tip with a pair of scissors and used the end of a cotton bud and a clean blackhead extractor to ‘dig’ the mask out. Even then, it took me close to 10 minutes before I was able to cover my face with a thick layer, as instructed. TIRING.

The mask contains tiny beads that helps exfoliate the skin as you apply it and wash it off later. I’m not sure if I was supposed to let the mask dry as it was already pretty dry and remained the same texture close to 15 minutes later. As I rinsed the mask off, I gently scrubbed it over my face and the pores on the sides of my nose were slightly reduced. The scrubby bits didn’t make my acne scars more obvious though I thought they were a little bit too harsh.

You definitely have to use a moisturizer after that as it’s quite drying. I could feel my cheeks getting tight after I dabbed the water off.

I don’t think I’ll get the full-sized product as the dry texture of the mask and lousy packaging were quite a hassle for me.

Rating: 2/5

Would I buy again: No.

* A sample of Off with those Heads was received by me, from b.liv.

Review: The Face Shop Peeling Day White Jewel

Item Reviewed: The Face Shop Peeling Day White Jewel

Price/pack size: S$25.90

Available at: All TheFaceShop stores, including Plaza Singapura and Bugis Junction

Ingredients: Tourmaline, Pearly, Amethyst

Description:
Exfoliation + Brightening

Convenient, easy 1-step scrub with tiny exfoliants to help you discover a newer and clearer skin.
- Fasten turnover cycle
- Eliminate excess sebum and impurity accumulation
- Promotes a brighter and more glowing skin
- Enhance the effectiveness of other skin care products
- Stimulates blood flow
- Makeup sits better on your skin

Review:
Product sample size is 3ml.

I got this sample, thinking that it works something like (Ginvera) Marvel Gel. But I think I might be wrong (someone, please tell me?). The peeling gel feels rough on my dry skin, and made it turn red, though the final result was smooth skin. It felt like microdermabrasion!

I used some on my feet (which turned dark after a day in the scorching sun) and they were lighter in colour after rinsing off the scrub. So it does work to a extent, but I wouldn’t get it again.

Rating: 2/5

Would I buy again: NO

You can now grab a sample of this product at thesamplestore!

Review: Follow Me O2 Renewal Gel

Item Reviewed: Follow Me UV White O2 Advanced Renewal Gel

Price/pack size: 60ml

Available at: Major retail outlets

Ingredients:

Description: Further infused with Grape Seed Extract and Retinol to enhance skin repair, collagen regeneration and keep wrinkles, acne, dull skin and blackheads away at bay.

Review: Whatever it is, even if you’re desperate to exfoliate your skin, DO NOT GET THIS PRODUCT!

Follow Me O2 Renewal Gel has got to be the worst skincare product I’ve ever purchased in 2009. It is supposed to be a gentle chemical exfoliant, something like Cure Miracle Gel and Ginvera Marvel Gel. However, it oddly felt like glue on my face and even SMELT like it.

Your face and hands must be completely dry, otherwise it is very hard to get the chemicals working to rub the dead skin cells off your skin. As my skin is pretty sensitive, I felt an immediate stinging sensation 10 seconds after I applied the gel to my face. My skin was slowly turning red and my nose hurt from the pungent alcohol/glue smell. I used it for 3 times before I gave up and used something else.

Finally, I found the best way to use up this useless product as it was taking up space on my vanity counter – to give my legs a good ‘scrub down’. On my legs where skin is not sensitive, the product worked and made my legs super shiny and smooth. However, I wouldn’t buy it again. It certainly isn’t cheap enough for me to use it on my legs!

Rating: 1/5

Would I buy again: Definitely NO

3M Nexcare Microfibre cloths

Just a quick one… I was at Watsons the other day and I saw something new! 3M Nexcare has just launched their range of microfiber face & body sponges. I have been wanting to try micro-fibre cloths for a long time now, since I read about them on Vogue forum a couple of years back. However, there isn’t a brand that manufactures such cloths for face, only for other purposes such as kitchen and cars. *sounds a little scary to use such cloths for your face, isn’t it?*

The main selling points of micro-fibre cloths are
• Removes dirt (makeup, oil & grime) cleanly without being harsh to skin
• Gently exfoliates dead skin to unveil smoother & fairer skin
• Absorbs incredibly to produce a luxurious lather yet dries quickly

These 3M cloths and sponges retail for S$6.95 at Watsons. There are also different products for different parts of your body: face glove & face cloth – removes makeup effectively, dual-sided shower towel & dual-sided shower puff – exfoliates and renews skin.

Clinelle Skin Smoothing Scrub

St Ives Apricot Scrub

Simple Smoothing Cleansing Scrub

Ingredients: Corn cob granules exfoliate dead cells and impurities, while Vitamin E moisturises and enriches your skin.

Price: Around the range of $10
Please contact me via email (madaboutsprees@gmail.com) if you’re an international reader interested to buy.

Reviews: I thought this was pretty useless. The texture was far too liquidy for me to spread the scrub around my face evenly. I kept on having goops of corn granules in certain areas of my face, while the other parts of my face only had the liquid. The granules were also far too big to scrub my face gently. It actually hurt to scrub my face with this. The sides of my nose were still rough after using the scrub.

Overall rating:

More reviews!

I promise to update soon! I have tons to items to review – GoW fruit hydrating mists, strawberry scrub, scar cream, WPK hydrosols, and the latest buy, Clinelle scrub & whitening mask!

Coming soon!

Love love,
“psawyer”