[REVIEW] Etude House Oh My God! Dry Shampoo (Updated!)

I'm pretty sure most of us have came across articles which advise us against shampooing our hair every day, this is because it may strip our scalp of the necessary oils required to smoothen and condition the hair strands. This causes our hair to dry out and it's a also a cause of fading hair colour. There have been recommendations on the frequency of wet hair washing, ranging from every alternate day to 2 to 3 times a week. However, they don't always provide alternatives to the days when we don't shampoo. 

In hot and humid Singapore, this can be a problem as our scalp would tend to get oily or at least have a slightly funny smell (I suppose it's from walking through or eating in places where there's a lot of smoke from the grease?) at the end of the day. Especially for those with oilier scalps, our hair may look soft and nice when we first wake up in the morning, but lo-and-behold, after a few hours out of bed, the soft-looking hair starts to look more like deflated and...lifeless. 

So...I've recently came across a product that serves as an alternative to wet shampoos...dry shampoos! 

Dry shampoos have been available since the 1970s and the starch, silica or talcum-based products were sold as either powder to sprinkle into the hair or in the form of aerosol cans. Unlike wet shampoos, rather than washing away, the function of dry shampoo is to absorb the residue in the hair. 

So today, I will be doing a review on a dry shampoo I had picked up recently - the Etude House Oh My God! Dry Shampoo.

quirky name and quirky comic

Product Benefits:

It is a quick and convenient solution to mornings when you wake up late with no time to wash your hair. Formulated with Anti-sebum complex, your scalp will be left fresh and clean. It is also a great quick fix for oily hair when you're on the go. 

Instructions for use:

• Shake well before use 
• Aim the nozzle about 15-20 cm away from head (to ensure even distribution and prevent buildup) and spray over scalp and hair 
• Massage into scalp with fingers for about a minute to allow the product to absorb
• Brush your hair to restyle

SUMMARY OF REVIEW

My thoughts: It definitely provided a boost to my hair and scalp after application. The effectiveness of the product lasted about 4 to 6 hours before my hair started to feel a little limp again. I have to admit though, for the price I paid for this product, I have my doubts as to how many times I can spray before it runs out of product (I'm guessing maybe only 6 to 8 times? update: unfortunately, the product was emptied after 3-4 times ...)

The flowerly smell was pretty strong, so for those who don't really like those sort of flowerly toilet deodorant sprays, you may want to shy away from this. 

Would I buy it again: Maybe, I'd like to try other dry shampoos, mainly because of the cost of the product. 

Price: SGD$13 at qoo10.sg, SGD$16.90 at local Etude House stores. 

Verdict: 6/10 update: I think I'd give this about 4/10 - mainly because of how fast the product was emptied despite being pretty careful with spraying it

Thanks for reading this! And do share your thoughts about this product!

♥ Apple

[REVIEW] Innisfree Mineral Sun Waterproof BB Cream

Hello readers! Today I will be posting a review on another one of Innisfree's BB creams - Innisfree Mineral Sun Waterproof BB cream!

This BB was one of the two BB creams (the other being the no-sebum cream) which I was recommended by the salesperson at a Innisfree store when I was on my summer exchange in Seoul. I absolutely adore the make-up collection from Innisfree for having natural and pure ingredients, a very pleasant herbal fragrance, and being very effective for all their products I've used so far!

Product Benefits:

Formulated with natural mineral powder and natural green tea water from the islands of Jeju, this perfect-proof BB cream is strongly resistant to water, sebum and UV rays and lasts for up to 12 hours, providing a long lasting and luminous complexion without darkening your skin. 

• 12 hours long-wearing makeup 
• Maintains fresh makeup without darkening
• Water-proof, sweat-proof, and strong UV protection (SPF 50+++)

5-free system: no parabens, no phthalate, no acryl amide, no dioxin, no alcohol

Instructions for use:
Squeeze about a 20 cent-sized amount onto your palm. Use the tip of your finger to dab the product on five points of your face (forehead, both cheeks, tip of the nose, and chin). Spread evenly and blend by patting gently.

SUMMARY OF REVIEW:

My thoughts:

This BB cream provides light to mid-coverage. I really like it because I like my foundation to feel light on my skin. Coverage is good because I usually just apply BB cream and lip balm, so a mild coverage is good without looking too plain or like I've left the house with heavy foundation but forgot to apply the rest of my makeup. :)

Lasting power isn't really for 12 hours - probably because I live in humid Singapore. But it does last for about 6 or more hours, depending on where I am when I'm outside (i.e. library vs hospital wards). As for it being water-proof, I'd agree that it is! Sweat-proof...not so much. If you're sweating a little - the kind where there aren't droplets dripping down, but more like it would only dampen your tissue by a tiny bit, then yes, it's sweat-proof. Doesn't hold against actual sweating droplets though.

The cream does feel a little thicker in texture in comparison to other BB creams I've used, but blending is not a problem and it could probably be attributed to the high SPF (50+++). 

Before

After - using NO. 2 NATURAL BEIGE.
(the greenish veins are much more faded!)

Would I buy it again: Yes! One tube (40ml) can last for a longgggg time even with daily application. 

Price: 18000 won (S$21) in S. Korea, S$30 at the local Innisfree store

Verdict: 9/10

Thanks for reading this! And do share your thoughts about this product!

♥ Apple

[REVIEW] Tokyo Love Soap Original

Hello! Today I'll be posting another review - this time on a popular soap bar in Japan - Tokyo Love Soap Original. I had seen reviews and ads on this circulating around Facebook, and because I suffer from some pigmentation, I decided to give this a try. 

There are a total of 4 main types of Tokyo Love Soap, but I got the original one as the purpose of the soap is to have instant whitening. The other 3 types have additional functions on top of the original functions. So if the original one works, the other 3 should more or less work too right? 

Product Benefits: 

A combination of effective natural and organic 100% vegan ingredients that:

• instant whitening & radiance as early as the 1st usage
• lightens pigments, age spots, freckles & scars
• brightens darkened zones such as underarms, buttocks & intimate areas
• tightens pores & minimizes excess oil secretions
• reverse signs of aging, smoothens skin texture & wrinkles
• minimise body hair growth - does not affect hair on eyebrows, eyelashes, or hair on the scalp 

Instructions for use:

1. Wet the skin
2. Apply the soap gently to the face & body
3. Make a lather and leave the product for at least 3 minutes
4. Rinse & repeat if necessary
5. Use every time you shower for best results

*Note: micro-peeling will occur during the first two weeks of use and should not be confused with skin dryness. Not for skin with eczema, hypersensitivity or using chemical skin peeling products. 

SUMMARY OF REVIEW

My thoughts:

On my first usage - I left it on for approximately 2 to 3 minutes as instructed. It was a little tingly after washing the foam off and felt a bit dry too. For an hour or so after that, my skin felt a little itchy, but it seems to be part of the soap's constituents working its effect on the skin surface. 

**UPDATE (One month later):** I had to stop using the soap as I started developing patches of itchy rashes two weeks into using the soap daily. Whitening was not really seen in the pigmented areas. I would advise people with sensitive skin to be careful when buying - I have sensitive skin, but this reaction was alarming for me. 

Would I buy it again: No, the development of itchy rashes is definitely a cause not to buy it again. 

Price: from tokyoloveshop.com SGD 19.96 (USD 15.20)
note: I would recommend buying from this site as there has been many many sellers out there which sells fake versions of the soap.

Verdict: 0/10

Thanks for reading this! And do share your thoughts about this product!

♥ Apple

[REVIEW] Innisfree White Tone Up Eye Serum

Hello readers! I apologize for the long over-due post, I've been so busy with thesis-writing and assignments since the Chinese New Year holidays. It's just sank in that there's only 2 months left before the deadline for my thesis...2 months = 8 weeks = no longer just a double digit countdown = panic mode. 

Pulling late-nighters is starting to become a frequent occurrence, and my body has not been peppy happy about it, especially the eyes. :( Two words: EYE CIRCLES. 

I think it's been so bad that I could be considered as a new addition to the Panda exhibition at the River Safari. 

Hello Jia Jia and Kai Kai, meet Apple. ><

In the midst of impending deadlines, late nights, and zombified eyes, I was becoming increasingly desperate for an eye cream that would really reduce the dark shadows that's been creeping wider and wider under my eyes. On a rare day when I was going to town with my mom (and staring in wide-eyed wonder at the new shops around), we happened to drop by Innisfree (yay! yippee!)!  

Being such an Innisfree fan, I decided to check out the store for a miracle eye-brightening cream. 

After imploring my problems of dark eye circles to the pleasant sales-lady, she recommended this to me!

Innisfree White Tone Up Eye Serum 

Product Benefits: 

Formulated with fresh berry ingredients to refine skin texture and vitamin B3 to brighten up skin tone. This whitening eye serum helps you to present a brighter and milky complexion of the eye area.

Natural Ingredients include:

Mulberry + Vitamin B3 - prevents formation of melanin, improves dark eye circles & reduces fine lines

Grape Seed Oil - contains whitening and hydrating properties

Brazilian berry, Blueberry & Western Snow Fruit

6-Free System: No parabens, No artificial fragrances, No ethanol, No artificial colors, No animal ingredients & No benzophenones.

Instructions for use:

The amount dispensed from half a pump

Apply an appropriate amount (about half a pump should suffice) onto eye area after essence (& before lotion) in the morning and evening. 

SUMMARY OF REVIEW:

My thoughts:
I must admit, I was initially a little apprehensive when I bought the eye serum, mainly because the eye creams I've used thus far (hahahs, okay I've only had two), hadn't reduced the pigmentation around my eyes. But I still got the product mainly because the sales-lady had informed me that this product's only purpose is to reduce dark eye circles. And I thought, most of the eye products we see out there claim to do two things at once, either anti-wrinkle and anti-darkening, or anti-darkening and anti-puffiness, etc, you get my drift right? So I thought, "well, since this product only carries one sole purpose, it should work, right?"

The only qualm I have is the pump - don't go trigger happy on it, a little goes a longggggg way

I have been using this product for about 2 to 3 weeks now, and it's AMAZING. The dark pigmentation under my eyes have reduced rather significantly, especially the area near the outer corners of my eyes!(sadly it's also where the pigmentation was the darkest)

Sorry Jia Jia & Kai Kai, Apple's not coming anymore 

Would I buy it again:
YES! And I'd definitely recommend it to others who are seeking for an affordable eye serum too! Of course, do bear in mind that this has been purely effective for reducing dark eye pigmentation only, and you'll probably need another eye cream if you want to reduce eye bags too. 

Price: $34 (30ml) at local Innisfree stores, 20000 won in South Korea,

Verdict: 10/10

Thanks for reading this! And do share your thoughts about this product!

♥ Apple

[REVIEW] Nature Republic Original Power Brightening Eye Cream

Hello readers! Today I'll be doing two reviews on products for dark eye circles! 

This review is on an eye cream which I had picked up during my summer school exchange in Seoul last summer. I had forgotten to pack in my eye cream along and was so worried about developing dark eye circles there that I picked up this eye cream: Nature Republic Original Brightening Eye Cream thinking that it should finish by the time I come home. 

I was wrong. 

This eye cream was bought for less than S$10 and carries 30ml. I had been using it daily for more than 6 months, and I think the contents haven't even been depleted in half yet. O_O

Product Benefits:

This brightening eye cream makes dull skin around the eyes look bright. And it's gentle and non-irritating to the eyes. 

Active ingredients: Fermented pearl extract and pearl powder formula that expresses the delicate eye area. 

Instructions for use:
Apply an appropriate amount to entire eye area using a gentle patting motion. 

SUMMARY OF REVIEW:

My thoughts: 
I didn't like this product because despite applying it dutifully twice a day, every day for more than half a year now, my dark eye circles persisted. In fact, with the increasing number of late nights that I've been pulling lately, the pigmentation around the eyes had actually worsened (oh the horrors). 

Would I buy it again: No. Although it is pretty value-for-money, it doesn't seem to exert an effect on my dark eye circles. I must give it credit for not worsening my eye circles though, and it doesn't cause any problems like being too oily or causing the formation of milia. 

(Click here for my review on a brightening eye-cream that actually worked! :D )

Price: S$17.50 at qoo10.sg, less than S$10 in S. Korea (sorry, I forgotten the actual price of it ><)

Verdict: 2/10

Thanks for reading this! And do share your thoughts about this product!

♥ Apple