Crazy About Cleansers Part 1 - Chanel Makeup Remover, Sisley Buff and Wash, and Estelle & Thild Cleansing Milk

 

When editing the above photo, I cannot believe that I have that many cleansers right now on my bathroom shelves. I am crazy about cleansers and as far as I know, I would usually have at least 4 different cleansers at any one time - the balm cleanser (which I have depleted and didn't replenish), milk cleanser, oil cleanser and cleansing water or micellaire for my 1st step in removing makeup; exfoliating cleanser with fine beads if I feel I needed to intensify my cleansing ritual; and foamy or cream cleanser, to finish up the cleansing step. 

No, I don't use all 10 cleansers at one go. So, why do I need so many? Well, let's just say I wasn't born with perfect flawless skin. I work hard to achieve good skin and knowing what is good and what is not good for me and cleansing is the most important step in achieving good skin. In the morning, just one cleanser will do and after a hard day's work, I would use 2-3 cleansers, depending on how my skin is feeling. Sometimes, I'd feel that the skin is so congested that I'd go for the balm. Sometimes, I'd want to soothe my tired skin, and I'd go for the milk cleanser first. When I'm lazy, I'd just pick up the micellaire (which I've omitted recently from my cleansing products due to having too many cleansers already!). 

I also have so many types perhaps from greed (sigh! 😝) but more so because when I was reaching my 40's, I felt that the skin behaves in a way that it wants to behave, as and when it likes. I've tried many brands, from the drugstore brands to not so costly ones and as you can see in the photo above, even those of slightly expensive range, all in the name of getting my cleansing ritual right. And I'm not loyal to one brand when it comes to getting a cleanser because through experience, the brands don't always have it right with each and every product they sell. They can be good with certain type of serums or moisturiser but they can suck at producing a good cleanser.. well, that is for my skin, at least. And I always go out to look for a good one but I'm never really stuck to just one brand.

1. So, let's start with the first one - Chanel Le Blanc Brightening Tri-Phase Makeup Remover:

 

I chanced upon this by accident as I was in a Chanel outlet getting some other stuff. As I am crazy about cleansers, I got this out of curiosity, without even checking out reviews. As I mentioned before, the Chanel brand is kinda not talked about much when it comes to its skincare range and the perception that it must be very very very expensive. But if you have been using luxury skincare brands like Guerlain, Dior and the likes, you will find that the price of some of the common products in Chanel is not that bad. What's more, the quality of packaging and the product inside is something that  has impressed me so much.

From Chanel, I've tried 3 types of cleansers but since I've used up and thrown the other 2 empties, I am only left with this. It has a clear gel-like texture that's suppose to work like an oil cleanser - to be applied sparingly all over a dry face. Using dry fingers, massage in and it turns into oil, attaching itself to the layer of makeup. Ooops but before all these, please remove your eye makeup first, using the right eye makeup remover. I don't believe any of these cleansers (not even the oil cleanser) do a good job in removing eye makeup totally nor do they protect the delicate skin from the extra tugging and pulling.

When the cleanser has transformed into oil-like texture, you're supposed to add water to your palms, and continue to massage the face and you'll see the cleanser turn into a light milky texture. Hence, this is where it gets its name, Tri-Phase - from gel, to oil, to milk. 

How do I like it? Well, let's just say, this was probably one of the expensive mistakes I've made. Compared to some other products I've gotten from them, this was quite a disappointment and which is why it is taking ages to finish. It is not one of my favourite go-to makeup cleanser, as the gel feels too thick to be spread and I can't see how it lifts makeup off, that effectively. I'm of course, comparing this cleanser to the hundreds of other cleansers I've used. My skin doesn't feel clean enough for the next step and not rested. You know, when makeup is lifted off your skin, you'd feel like thousands of burden being lifted off your face and you feel free? Well, I didn't every time I use this. So, don't bother getting this. As for brightening, well, it didn't help brighten at all. In fact, I don't think any cleansers can brighten up your skin, so I wasn't expecting anything on the brightening claim.

Rating: 2/5 ❤️❤️🖤🖤🖤

2. Next, Sisley Buff and Wash Facial Gel: 

I was intrigued with Sisley. I had been experimenting on some luxury skincare for my ageing skin and hey, who doesn't want to age gracefully, right? And in order to age gracefully, other than all those healthy habits you're supposed to adopt (which I haven't), I thought I should start with using a friendly brand - friendly to the environment, and one that respects the skin.

From my research, Sisley has amazing claims to how they build the brand and develop their products. Their products contain highest quality active ingredients to ensure potency of their products. What I was intrigued most was that their products contain botanical ingredients and don't contain harmful substances like parabens and other preservatives that can harm the skin in the long run. But their products are super expensive, which kinda contributed to the perception that quality = steep price.

My daily exfoliating cleanser was already empty and I thought I'd like to satiate my curiosity, and I started making cost comparisons to my current favourite brands. I mean, if I wanted to use this long term, I really should do all the calculations, down to going to the Sisley counter myself and taking note of how much they cost if I were to get them from StrawberryNet with the additional 10% loyalty discount I have been enjoying. 

Their counters at Robinsons, Metrojaya and Isetan Mid Valley/Gardens KL however, totally put me off the brand. They don't have knowledgeable beauty consultants and are very poor with product knowledge. Service was poor too, something you won't find at Guerlain or SKII. But since I had known the price at the counters, I decided to save the commission for poor service, and ordered from StrawberryNet as the prices were similar. For this, at just 100ml is over RM300. Pretty steep for an exfoliating cleanser, no? 

So, did it live up to my expectations? It didn't, unfortunately 😔 well, to be fair, the beauty consultant didn't have good product knowledge and from the reviews I read, they said this can be used as a daily exfoliating cleanser. However, as I started using it, this shouldn't be used daily. It is a scrub, and doesn't contain fine granules. The granules are pretty large in an orange watery-gel formula which at least smells citrusy nice and I'm a little bit happy for that scent. All is not wasted.

For over RM300, the scrub isn't magic and perhaps the St Ives apricot scrub does the same 😑. I am heart-broken but at least it is still on the bathroom shelf for me to use once a week. It's not bad but I won't recommend you to buy for the steep price and mediocre result. Perhaps the friendly ingredient may be what you need in your long-term beauty goals but it isn't in my top priority list. If it is, it's a bonus. For me, it's all about results worthy of the price.

Rating: 3/5 ❤️❤️❤️🖤🖤

3. Over to - Estelle & Thild Biocleanse Silky Soft Cleansing Milk:

 

I got this at last year's 20% Sephora Black Card sale. I was out of my cleansing milk and this brand was a new addition to the Sephora stores. I liked that it is a Certified Organic brand and although I've had my fair share of sucess and failure rate in using organic products, the 20% discount pulled me to trying this out.

I bought this out of a whim and didn't check out any reviews. The price was somewhere slightly over RM100 for a 150ml pump bottle and with 20% off, I was happy to put this into my shopping basket.

As a cleansing milk, it is a very straight forward product and sad to say, I didn't like it. I had such big hopes for this brand, but the milk cleanser just didn't meet expectations. The milk wasn't smooth in texture and I was put off by the smell. It's like getting an expired product with a musty sour smell instead of the fresh scent you'd expect out of a cleanser. So, with that off-putting experience of what should be a start of a fresh experience, me no likey and hence, me no usey. Another big waste which I should just persevere and live with the mistake until at least 3/4 of it is used and because of that, I haven't really thrown it away. I do think the smell shouldn't be so bad since I did smell it in the tester bottle before buying. Perhaps I got a bad batch. But it shouldn't be so bad like it has expired.

Rating: 1/5 ❤️🖤🖤🖤🖤

Well, it looks like the first part of me entry on cleansers are unfortunately, those I didn't like. It isn't done on purpose as I didn't give it much thought when I laid out all the cleansers to be photographed. There is one ultimate favourite in there and the rest that I like a lot but not love... but you shouldn't guess based on the size of the cleansers (note that some of them are deluxe samples because the retail size are finished and discarded and I'm left with travel sizes that I continuously keep to refill so that I can travel lighter). More positive posts ahead.

To be continued in Part II 🙋🏻

 

 

Ran out of eye-liners? No sweat. A dark eye shadow can do the trick too.

 

Ok, when I typed out the header of this post, I realised I don't have a photo of any dark powder/compact eye colour, simply because I don't use eye shadows anymore. I've totally omitted that makeup step from my makeup routine as I start work at 8am, and I don't have time for that step. Also because I think an eye-liner already does it for me and I'm done for the day.

Looking back, I've not been very dependent on a sole tool for eye-lining. I used to have my favourite one, but when they ran out of stock, I just don't go looking for it as I'd wet my eye-liner brush and dab on a powder eye shadow, and the step just worked. Over time, I've tried the trick on my favourite eye cream pot and walah. I tried using the popular Bobbi Brown eye-liner gel in a pot as I think they were the first brand who made it popular but the thing didn't really work for me as it doesn't stay on my oily eyelids and it was quite an expensive mistake for me. The gel also dried out too quickly and I didn't like it at all. As for those gel-pencil eye-liners I've discovered and loved, I realised they're just too costly as they run out very fast and I always fail to get the same colour for replacement as outlets like Sephora Paradigm Mall and Clinique in 1Utama is poor in replenishing their stocks for this item. So, I have kinda given up on my favourite gel-pencil eye-liner.

But when I started using the eye shadow in cream formula, I realised that the cream stayed put from morning til night time. So when brands started to come out with eye shadows in chubby sticks, I felt that this, was it - I finally found the best eye-liners for me, as they're so easy to use, they last quite long, they don't need sharpeners or brushes and they can also be used as eye shadows, as what they are originally meant to do!

 

(L-R: Marc Jacobs in Twinkle Pop, Bobbi Brown in Bittersweet and Sisley in No. 3)

I discovered this awesome tool when I bought the Christmas set of Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow Sticks. From then on, I've gotten cream sticks from other brands to try and they all work just the same - good staying power and very easy to use. And as I am not a big fan of dark colours like black, I usually use less darker tone like those above. The MJ Twinkle Pop is a tone of greyish silver, BB's Bittersweet is obviously a dark brown and Sisley's No. 3 is a tone of greenish bronze. While the dark brown is a bit flat boring, I would always go to the other 2 shimmering colours.

 

My makeup routine in the morning is cut by a good 1-2 minutes. Timing to me, is everything. If you want a sharper effect, I've tried using the eye-liner brush, slick it on the cream stick and apply on the eyelids. It gives a better effect but won't give you better timing if you're in a hurry.

So, if you're out of your favourite eye-liner, don't worry. I'm sure you'd have a dark coloured eye-shadow somewhere and they work just as well.

Bobbi Brown Holiday 2010 collection

I was in Sogo, KL this morning and while I was there, decided to check out the Bobbi Brown counter for this gorgeous-looking item....

However, I was disappointed to find out that this Limited Edition item from Bobbi Brown's Holiday Collection 2010 will only arrive later this evening. I am not sure if it only applies to the Sogo counter or everywhere else as well.

If you'd like to see the rest of the items in their Holiday 2010 collection, you can click here to view their Nov 2010 newsletter (their other eyeshadow palette is already on sale at the counter).

And if you managed to touch-see the item I so wanted to touch-see, do let me know if you think the colours are wearable. I don't think I'll be checking it out til maybe end of this week.

Shopping for a good lipstick.

I just received this in my inbox and I can't help sharing this update here.

I must say that I've been a huge fan of Bobbi Brown since I started working in 1999. I became an even bigger fan of their lipsticks when I couldn't wear any other lipsticks ever since I was pregnant with my first born... I was told that hormonal changes would play tricks on a pregnant woman's body, especially to her skin but when it comes to my lips, I discovered that the changes were permanent. Those brands that I could wear before - drugstore cheap ones like Maybelline and L'oreal to luxury brands like Chanel, MAC, Dior, Estee Lauder, (even no-perfume Clinique lippies) whatever else, made my lips itch, swell and sometimes black (I kid you not).

Recently though, I managed to get reacquainted with a luxury brand after their new star product was launched. But it cost a tad RM109 for a stick and now that I've used it up, I am not sure if I'd want to spend that much on a gorgeous packaging that I would be discarding.

Oh, I was digressing. Back to the point - those days while I scout around for suitable lippies (which entailed plenty of wasted dough and throwing away lippies that were used only once or twice), I was happy to discover that Bobbi Brown's lipsticks were perfect for me... well, only the lipsticks and not their shimmery lip glosses, though. It was quite a relief too since the price wasn't too steep as they kept their packaging simple and modest.

Today, I am extremely excited to receive this info through email because one of my lipsticks is finished and I need a new one in a rosy/nudy shade.

i've always loved their natural shades, although i wish they also have something in dark brown or an intense crimson-dark choco shade

moisturising lippies seem to be the current trend in today's lip products...

There is also a special Mother's Day promotion running. So if you are a fan of Bobbi Brown or would like to discover them, do visit their local website.

Speaking of Mother's Day, I have to start working on an update which I've drafted in my head weeks ago. Anyways, have a good weekend and Happy Labour's Day :) although there will be no off day for me ;P

Peppermint to Rejuvenate and Reenergise Your Tired Mood

It is almost the end of the year already and what do you do to rejuvenate your mind and senses to keep you fresh and looking forward to a new start in 2010?

I've always loved products with aromatherapeutic properties... Though some school of thought would say that the smells from aromatic products only give benefit via psychological means, ie. only through our sense of smell and nothing else, I must say however that it is through the power of our minds that we could influence our entire body to feel what we want to feel.

And here I would like to share just one of the few aromatherapy scents that I like, which would help rejuvenate my senses especially after an entire week of house chores, the baby, work and putting everyone else before me.

Once a week I would spend that extra time in the shower layering products on my face and body a-la at the spa, the hot shower is turned full blast while I immerse myself in whatever scents I choose to use, the smell lingering in the bathroom with the steam from the shower help to intensify the degree of the lingering scent.

Image source: WellSphere

The main note from the aromatic mix contains Peppermint Oil, that delivers a cool sensation, coupled with some relaxing and moisturising combination from other types of essential oil to achieve the desired results.

Firstly, I'd start with cleansing my face, scrub and then I'd use a self-warming mask on my very oily face that's pretty much highly stressed and congested. Lancome's Pure Focus Deep Cleansing Mask is a self-heating mask that contains marine algae. It has a really light gel texture, to be spread thick on the face and massaged evenly for 30 seconds. I love how warm the skin feels upon contact with the minty green concoction, where it automatically opens up the pores for deeper cleansing action. Although you should just wash it off after the 30 seconds massage, I would usually leave it on my face while I step into the shower as a cool minty sensation is released from the mask - a good start to energising my tired senses and invoke such a clean feeling.

Then, comes my favourite part... A nice long shower where my entire body will be cleansed, feels minty cool and leaves my skin feeling soft.

In the shower, I would use a shower gel from Thann (formerly known Harnn & Thann). And this one's from an accidental find while I was shopping for miniature toiletries during my corporate heydays, for some Board of Directors who were visiting a massive oil and gas construction vessel still under construction. I just thought that aromatic scents available on board their individual berths after a tiring tour would be heavenly... and at that time, many luxury brands like L'occitane and Clarins didn't have travel sizes while mass brands like Body Shop and Crabtree do not contain pure aromatic oils in their toiletries. Thus, I was elated when I came across Harnn & Thann in 1Utama and remembered how much I loved their Sea Foam shower gel I bought on a holiday in Langkawi.

The shower gel may not instantly leave a cool effect unless you use a good body scrub like this before you start using the shower gel. The reason is probably because once you have gotten rid of accumulated dead skin cells through that gentle exfoliating step, the skin would be able to respond better to any energising properties upon contact.

Other than Peppermint Oil, The Sea Foam Aromatherapy Shower Gel contains ingredients like rosemary leaf oil, eucalyptus oil, thyme oil and rice bran oil to give you that effective combination.

The idea for a DIY aromatherapeutic session is for you to relax. So, don't rush it while in the shower because you should enjoy the lingering scent while the mind gets the message that the body is recovering from an entire week's tiredness allowing time for the cool peppermint effect to work its magic.

And if I am really tired, I would overdo it a little by also using something minty on my hair. I would either use the same range from Thann, which always make my hair soft and smooth or I would reach out for Aveda's Rosemary Mint shampoo which is meant for fine hair. As I have thick and oily chemically processed hair, I would treat the shampoo as a clarifying shampoo that I would use fortnightly to rid the hair of any build-up from those finishing and styling products I'd use on my hair. I bought the shampoo in a 1L bottle as they had a promotion about a year ago. And only using it once in awhile makes the large bottle last like forever! But, hair products are supposed to have a 5-year shelf life so I am not worried if it goes bad ;)

While shampooing, the body would tingle from the mint in the shower gel that hasn't been rinsed off. Before I wash all of it away, I'd start by rinsing off the mask on my face, then the hair and finally the body. Ironically, running hot water against the cool minty after-feel feels awesome. Probably, also due to the presence of relaxing rosemary.

After that relaxing session, suffice a simple body moisturiser slathered on your damp skin but if you would want to feel all minty all over, you could also top it up with Bobbi Brown's Lip Tint on your lips. A lot of people do not really like it but I absolutely love the gloss-in-a-tube as it contains SPF15 and leaves a tingling minty feel on my highly-sensitised dry lips.

All these are enough to make me feel reenergised, fresh and ready to face the world.

note: Harnn & Thann no longer have retail outlets in 1U and Bangsar Village. However, their products can be purchased through their Thann Sanctuary in One World Hotel near 1 Utama.