Review: Clarisonic Classic Sonic Skin Cleansing System

I bought my Clarisonic Classic back in January of 2010.  And yes, I still have the box that it came in with, just so I can take pictures and do a review on it.  =\  I know there are tons of reviews on Clarisonic systems, but I have one, so I might as well add one extra review to the thousands that are out there.  I initially wanted the Clarisonic Plus, which included an exfoliating body function, but apparently, using a normal brush if just like using the exfoliating body brush - the only difference is the surface area it covers.  Back then, in-store Sephora in Canada only carried the Clarisonic Classic, so Clarisonic was pretty new to Canada.

Features:
- It's a cordless cleansing system that has a built-in rechargeable battery
- You can immerse this in water
- With the use of a facial cleanser, it removes up to 6x more makeup than manually doing so
- Removing more dirt and makeup, and gently exfoliating your skin can help your skin absorb your moisturizer better, thus healthier for the skin
- Clarisonic Classic includes a cradle charger
- Two speed settings - normal and low
- 1 button for ON/OFF
- Uses a T-TIMER to keep track how long to spend cleansing each area of the face
- System comes a new sensitive brush head and three 1 oz trial sizes of cleansers - refreshing gel, gentle hydro and nourishing care
- Has a 2-year warranty

Function:
To change speed settings, just hold the button for 3 seconds until you hear 3 beeps.  If the 3 beeps are ascending, it means it's been changed to normal speed.  The 3 beeps are descending means it's been changed to low speed.
It has a timer that is set to clean 20 seconds each for the forehead and nose/chin, and 10 seconds on each cheek.  Their recommended way is to start on forehead, and after you hear a beeping signal along with a pause, you move on to the next area of your face.  So basically, with this factory default setting, you'd be cleaning your face in 1 minute.  However, you can change the settings so that you'd be cleaning your face in 2 minutes instead.  So instead of 20 seconds each on the forehead and nose/chin, you'd spend 40 seconds on each area; and 20 seconds on each cheek.  You can also choose to not use the T-TIMER feature and not be restricted to a time-frame to cleanse each area of your face.  To change this setting, press and hold the power button for 10 seconds until you hear the beeping signal corresponding to the setting you want.  If you hear one long beep and 2 short beeps, then you've changed it to the 2 min setting with the use of the T-TIMER feature.  And with just one long beep, it's the 2 min setting with no T-TIMER.  And the one long and one short beep is the 1 min setting with the T-TIMER.

Application:
I prefer the low, just a personal preference.  And because 2 minutes feels too long, I set mine at 1 minute.  Don't press to hard with the system on to your skin because then it won't cleanse your face that well.  On some days, I use my Clarisonic in the morning and at night.  On other days, I use it only at night.  However, I do find that using my Clarisonic too often does result in a more oily face.

Packaging:
The Clarisonic Classic Handle doesn't feel flimsy, so you don't get that feeling where you drop it and it'll shatter.  Though I do feel it's on the heavier side - probably because of the built-in battery.
Personally, I like the cradle charger.  I know the Mia uses some sort of magnetic charger, which is more convenient for traveling uses.  But individuals like myself that don't go out on trips too often, I find the cradle charger saves a lot of counter space in the bathroom.  It takes up less surface area that way.  Plus, even if I do take my Clarisonic Classic with me on vacation trips, I find that one full charge can last me at least 2 weeks - considering I use it day and night.
As for the box packaging it came with, there's not much for me to say about it.  I don't love the packaging, nor do I hate it.  I feel indifferent to it. 

Cost:
I don't quite remember how much it was.  It's definitely over $200 CAD, even after using the Sephora 10% discount.

Thought / Results:
Overall, I like my Clarisonic.  I do feel my skin is softer after cleansing my face and before I apply any skincare products on - at least softer than washing my face using my hands.  It requires using a light hand when rotating it around your face, if you press too hard, it won't do as good of a job on cleansing.  However, I do find that my Clarisonic worked the best in the first few weeks or first month I got it.  After a while, it seems like it doesn't cleanse my face as well anymore.  Even after changing the brush, I feel it doesn't work quite as well as when I first bought it.
It's suppose to reduce the size of my pores, unfortunately, my pores seem to be the same size as before I used the Clarisonic.  My pores aren't huge, but I've seen people who such small pores that they're not noticeable, and I was hoping the Clarisonic could achieve that effect for me.
But I do feel that my moisturizers and other skincare products have taken a better effect on my skin.  It is even more noticeable during the winter, where my skin would used to have dry patches - i.e. cheeks, nose, area between nose and mouth - these areas no longer appear dry during the cold winter months.
After a few months of using the Clarisonic, I found out to clean the brush head and take it apart, the best way is to put the clear plastic cap on and twist the brush head out.  So for those of you who already have a Clarisonic, note to yourself the proper way of removing your Clarisonic brush head.  Don't break your valued $200 Clarisonic!

Product: Clarisonic Classic Sonic Skin Cleansing System
Rating: 4.5 / 5

Pros:
- Better absorption of skincare products
- Skin feels softer
- Cleaner face - not as many breakouts
- Great gentle exfoliator

Cons:
- My pores haven't shrunken after using the Clarisonic Classic
- I'd think the bristles can be harsh on some individual's sensitive skin
- You can really unnoticeable press too hard on the system onto your face when cleansing, so it's hard to keep a "light-hand" to know it's doing its job properly

Review: Hitachi NC-550 Face Crie Ion Cleansing Machine

About a month ago, I bought this Face Ion Cleansing device online.  It's a Japanese invention that's supposedly using charged ions to attract the debris / dirt on your face and in your pores.  I read reviews on a few beauty blogs and they all showed how this device works really well, so I decided to give it a shot.  Now I've been using this for a month - almost everyday, so I think it's about time to do a review.

Application:
I place a cotton pad in the slot, close the device and pour some toner on the cotton pad.  There is a white "Power" button that turns it on and has 4 intensity settings controlled by the gray button - from level 1 to 4, where 4 is the highest intensity.  I use level 4 as I find level 1 doesn't clean as well.  It has two metal plates that my hand has to make contact with when using the device, they're located on the sides.  Then in slow, circular motion, I move it around my entire face.  I tend to concentrate it around my nose.  After 3 minutes, the device auto-shuts off.  During the whole process of face cleansing, the device makes no sound to indicate it's doing its job.  The device makes beeping noises to let you know 3 mins is up.

Packaging:
It uses 2 AAA batteries.  It doesn't have the "hi-tech" packaging look.  It's very light-weighted.  Mine came in a box but I've seen ones that are sold in plastic cover.  Mine is pink but Hitachi also makes them in white and brown.  The online shop I bought it from, Cosme-de.com, only sells it in pink.  Sadly the packaging of the box and the instruction manual are all in Japanese.  Some English in there would have helped a lot.

Cost:
$70.20 USD (After 10% PayPal member discount; usually $78 USD @Cosme-de.com)

Thoughts / Results:
With or without using my Clarisonic Classic and a facial cleanser, before using this Hitachi Ion Cleansing Machine, I find a noticeable amount of debris/dirt on my cotton pad.  There's less dirt on the cotton pad after using my Clarisonic but visibly some debris on there.  I still haven't grasp the idea why Hitachi had to make 4 different intensity levels, since I find level 4 seems to be the best at deep cleansing, but I'll figure that out someday.

Clarisonic Classic + facial cleanser + Hitachi Face Crie Ion Cleansing Machine

Facial cleanser + Hitachi Face Crie Ion Cleansing Machine

One thing I don't like about this machine is the use of AAA batteries.  Supposedly, the batteries are to last 10 months, assuming I use the machine 3 mins per day.  I wish it wasn't using batteries but rather be a rechargeable portable machine.  It'd be easier that way, in case I didn't have AAA batteries lying around in the house.  If it were to use a rechargeable built-in battery, it could probably take less than 3 mins to achieve either the same or better results.
This machine is not abrasive on the face at all.  Although I think some improvements are needed, this is a genius invention.  It just further preps my skin for moisturizing and better absorption of my moisturizing products.  Though the price may be a turn-off but it still costs less than a Clarisonic.
I haven't seem many online shops that sell this product.  In case you want to know, I've checked eBay, Mihoko Shop and Rakuten carry this machine.

Product: Hitachi NC-550 Face Crie Ion Cleansing Machine
Rating: 4.5 / 5

Pros:
- Deep cleans my face using a non-abrasive method
- Light-weighted

Cons:
- Takes 3 mins, not a good feature as that's time-consuming (trust me, 3 mins will seem a long time)
- Uses AAA batteries
- Price is a turn-off

Macbook Pro users should know these things! Geez!

I just scared myself and almost passed out.  And here is why.  Well with every laptop, you have a battery counter that tells you how much battery life you have left until you have to recharge it again.  Everyone knows how pricey Apple laptops are, and in case you didn't know, Apple laptop batteries are suppose to be able to charge for a maximum 1000 cycles - well for majority of them, some models vary.  Anyways, I kind of knew this fact from the beginning, but I use my MBP everyday and as time pass, I kinda forgot about it.

Just 30 mins ago, I clicked on my battery icon and a new icon popped up saying "Service battery".  So the usual me started panicking because I bought my MBP in Nov 2009 but didn't open it up to use it until Jan 2010.  It's been less than 2 years since I bought mine.  After panicking for a bit then in denial, then back to panicking again, I clicked on the "Service battery" icon and it brought up a window saying I should bring it in for service at an Apple store.  I started getting scared because I am so dependent on my laptop, I literally NEED it - sad to say but it's true.  Anyways, I clicked on another link in that window that brought me to the Apple website, and from there I tried to look for a solution - in case someone else has experienced something like me.  And seriously, I learn something new EVERYDAY! Turns out, I should be "calibrating" my battery once in a while and not every time I use my laptop.  Apple laptops are suppose to last you at least 3 years - assuming you reach 1000 cycles by then.  And guess where I'm at (and my 2 years isn't even up!!!), I'm at 882 counts! WHHHHY?!?! Why didn't I not read up these things before blindly using my Macbook Pro??? *sigh* I hate making regrets =(

Anyways, I read a bunch of solutions but none of them have similar conditions as mine, so I thought maybe if I restart my computer (which I haven't done for at least 2-3 weeks as I usually put my laptop to sleep mode) things would return to normal.  GUESS WHAT?!?!?! The "Service battery" icon is gone! I solved my problem! ... or maybe I'm back in denial state again.  But I don't have to bring it in for service anymore.  =)

Lesson learned: only calibrate battery once every few months and turn off my laptop, not put it to sleep mode!  *phew* -- for you Apple users out there, or rather all laptop users out there, don't make the same mistake as I did! Apple users or not, as long as you use a laptop that runs on a battery, preserve it by calibrating it once in a while!

Review: NARS Wild at Heart Palette

This was a NARS palette that I bought from the Shiseido/Nars warehouse sale last year.  I've been using it on and off lately.  I've finally decided to pick this up and do a review on it.  I took it on my trip to Vegas and I realized it's a great palette.  Here's my opinion/review on it:

The colours:
Eyeshadows - (top; left to right) Abyssinia, Alhambra
                       (bottom; left to right) Ashes to Ashes; Pandora

Blush - Orgasm
The Multiple - South Beach
Lip products - (top; left to right) Baby Doll lip lacquer, Red Lizard lipstick
                       (bottom; left to right) Manhunt lipstick, Fire Down Below lipstick

Packaging:
Great that it has all the products that are necessary for the face (excluding foundation and concealer).  Very sleek and thin packaging.  It's sturdy.  Not easy to break.  The shadows and products haven't fallen out on me.  It's got a wide mirror.  Even though there aren't any applicators in the palette, I don't think it's necessary to have them in there as I wouldn't be using them.

Thoughts / Results:
I really love this palette.  Why? Because it contains all the necessary neutral colours I need.  I don't need a variation of browns and neutrals to create a smoky or daytime eye look.  The lip colours are great as well because I can mix them to create the lip colour I like.  I love the Baby Doll lip lacquer.  I find the name really suits the colour.  The Fire Down Below lipstick did seem too dark of a red for me, but like I said, mixing it with other colours will fix that problem.  As for eyeshadows, the colour Pandora is a very intense black colour, with no sparkles or glitter in it - another thing I love.  I think it's comparable to MAC's Carbon shadow (if not better).  The one thing I'm kind of 'effy' about is the the two eyeshadows Abyssinia and Alhambra appear very similar once applied.  Orgasm is a blush colour that's very neutral and works for many people.  Meanwhile, I use South Beach the multiple as a bronzer for contouring my face and cheekbones.  I do wish they didn't use a multiple, and instead, replace it with a pressed powder bronzer.  But either way, it's a good palette.

Cost:
$25 CAD (@Shiseido / Nars warehouse sale; MRSP $75 USD @Narscosmetics.com)

Product: NARS Wild at Heart Palette
Rating: 4.5 / 5

Pros:
- Great neutral and smoky eyeshadows
- Very neutral/typical cheeks colours
- Nice lip colours that are mixable to create lip colours that works for me
- Nice wide mirror

Cons:
- Better if the bronzer wasn't a multiple
- Two eyeshadows - Abyssinia and Alhambra are too similar shadows; I wish Abyssinia was a colour with no sheen in it, just matte
- Price may be a turn-off for most people, but if you can find it at the warehouse sale or somewhere online, it's def worth it

Orgasm, South Beach, Baby Doll, Red Lizard, Manhunt, Fire Down Below

Using flash: Abyssinia, Alhambra, Ashes to Ashes, Pandora

Under daylight: Abyssinia, Alhambra, Ashes to Ashes, Pandora

Review: Origins Rejuvenating Cleansing Milk

This cleansing milk was a sample tube that I bought from one of the MAC warehouse sales I went to last year.  I didn't get a chance to try it out until recently.  I took it on my trip to Las Vegas because I wanted to pack light in case I end up buying too much over in Vegas. And now, here's my opinion of this cleansing milk.

The scent:
I really dislike the scent.  It's not a nice floral scent.  It's more of an outdoor plant smell and I can really smell the olive oil in it.

Application:
I take more than a quarter-size amount to rub it all over my face and remove my makeup.  Sometimes, to remove my non-waterproof makeup, I use even more.  The recommended way of applying it is to massage it over damp skin, then rinse off with warm water or tissue off.  I've tried massaging over damp and dry skin and tried rinsing off with warm water and tissued it off.

The consistency:
Much like lotion consistency, so it's not thick nor is it runny.

Packaging:
I like how it's in a tube bottle.  I find tubes are easier to control how much you want to squeeze out.  Yet it's not messy, easy to clean.  This tube contains 50mL of the product, a great sample size amount.

What it claims:
"Emollient-rich Organic Olive Oil and Plant Glycerin instantly melt away makeup, dirt an skin-damaging debris while Origins signature blend of Rose of Jericho, Trehalose and Sea Horicots form a skin-pampering buffer.  Skin looks and feels clean, radiant, renewed and replenished, ready for your Make A Different regimen."

Thoughts / Results:
Like said before, I've tried to apply it with and without damp skin, then rinsing it off with water or tissue it off.  I find any of these combination doesn't completely remove my makeup as it's supposedly suppose to do.  It's even more annoying for removing eye makeup.  I don't feel that my skin looks and feel more clean, radiant, etc.  It doesn't feel like I cleaned my face.  Even after massaging the milk for a long time, it was difficult removing makeup.  And if I still see makeup on my face after using it, I doubt it cleansed my face well.  I much prefer my Bobbi Brown Cleansing Oil over this.

Cost:
$3 CAD (@MAC warehouse sale; I'm unsure of the MSRP as I think they discontinued this product since I can't find it on their site)

Product: Origins Make A Difference Rejuvenating cleansing milk
Rating: 1 / 5

Pros:
- Requires massaging and rinsing off product at least 2 - 3 times before it starts to remove makeup on my face

Cons:
- Too time-consuming to remove makeup
- Scent is not pleasant
- Doesn't serve its purpose that well

Hair Care Routine

I have a hair care routine but needs major change up because it's not making my hair look any nicer.  I mean I've used and tried a bunch of products but I just can't get my hair the way I want it to.  I used to have nice, smooth and no-frizz hair when I was a kid.  And back then, I didn't put anything in my hair to make it look that way.  So then I realized, it's my diet.  It's what I changed in my eating habits that changed my hair.  I ate more junk food, drank less milk, ate less nutritious foods and more processed foods and it's gotten my hair in a mess that I'm having a hard time to repair! =\  So now, as I'm still trying new products to repair my damaged hair, I'm also trying to eat healthier.  And that means, no chocolate, no candy, no chips, and no pop.  I'm not much of a frequent pop drinker so that doesn't affect me.  I sometimes crave for chocolate so that one is going to be hard to resist.  I'm not much of a candy person either.  And now, chips. Ugh! I kind of love eating chips.  It's such an irresistible munchie.  I see a bag of chips sitting on the counter, I feel like my stomach is calling for it.  Grrr! That one is hard to resist too, but for my overall health and hair, I'm going to have to stop binging on these foods.
I'm trying to grow my hair right now, but once in a while, I give myself a little trim at the ends to stop the split ends from getting worse.  But once I successfully grow my hair, I'm going to get a hair cut at my salon and maintain it with those hair care products that I consistently buy and try.  Honestly, maintaining nice hair requires so much effort

Summary:
Hair, skin and nails are indicators of whether you're having a healthy diet.  Google it!

Review: Tsubaki Damage Care Treatment with Tsubaki Amino by Shiseido

After using this Shiseido hair treatment for one month, I decided it's time to do a review on it.  I can conclude it's a great product.  I didn't purchase the other products from the Shiseido line, but I'm sure the results would be better if I did.
 
The scent:
It has a floral scent that's stronger when smelt straight from the tube than when in my hands or in my hair.  Overall, the scent is not irritating or pungent.  The floral scent doesn't smell like old lady either.  I don't love the scent but it's ok.  Like it won't give me a headache from smelling it too much.

Application:
According to the directions on the bottle - or rather the instructions on the Cosme-de.com website, I shampoo my hair, towel dry it and put on this treatment, leaving it on for 20 mins.  I concentrate most of the product on the ends of my hair.  I've tried leaving my hair straight down and wrapping in a bun, and I don't find a difference in the results.  Then I wash it off and apply conditioner.  Then rinse that off.  Followed up by the Macadamia oil or Morrocanoil. 
*Sept 15 update: So I tried applying 3 min heat to my hair after applying the treatment, then waited another 17 mins before rinsing it off and applying conditioner.

The consistency:
It's thick but not as thick as regular hair conditioner.

Packaging:
Very clean and sleek packaging.  I like how it's in a tube form and not a pump.  The size of the product is 200g, which is not that bad.


What it claims:
"Shiseido Tsubaki Damage Care Treatment with Tsubaki Amino enhances elasticity, repairs hair with shines and smoothness. The floral scent refreshes your senses and feels like in the forest. Shiseido Tsubaki Damage Care Treatment smooths your hair with rich formula."

Thoughts / Results:
I agree with what it claims to do.  This hair treatment does give my hair shine and smoothness.  I can't tell whether the treatment has enhanced the elasticity of my hair because I haven't experienced very brittle hair that breaks off with a tug.  And the floral scent does remind me of the outdoors.  I think it does a great job on putting a coat of product on my hair to tame the frizzes and flyaways.  But after not using this product for more than a week, my hair starts to return to its original state.  Flyaways return and fluff up my hair after I wash and dry it.  So really, I think this treatment will be best for freshly cut hair and to maintain that state of hair with no split ends.  And I'd recommended being consistent on your hair routine.  Like apply this hair treatment at least once a week, if you consistently fry your hair with hair appliances.
The night before my trip to Vegas, I treated my hair with this product and I find it works great throughout my stay over in Vegas.  I washed my hair every night when I was in Vegas and the results of my hair stayed the same - smooth with shine.  The weather over there is hot and drier - even my lips were calling me to apply some lip balm.  So logically, my hair would have been dry and fluffed up if I washed it everyday without the hair treatment.  I conclude that this product has proved its worthiness.
*Sept 15 update: Putting my hair in a bun with the treatment in my hair, I put on a shower cap and used a hair dryer to put heat on my hair.  Results seem to be no different from not applying heat. 

Cost:
$14 USD

Product: Shiseido TSUBAKI Damage Care Treatment with TSUBAKI Amino
Rating: 5 / 5

Pros:
- Gives my hair shine and smoothness
- Scent is good, not irritating
- Tames frizzes and flyaways
- Price is reasonable and better than Macadamia Oil Hair Mask or Morrocanoil hair treatments

Cons:
- Requires weekly application or however often you use hair appliances - well that's a given, you damage it, you've got to repair it

Vegas meals

On the first night I landed in Vegas, my friends and I walked along the streets to decide where to eat.  We ended up at Chipotle, Mexican Grill.  The food was great.  The proportions were LARGE for a $6.95 meal.  I mean you will NOT find a similar meal in similar size and price in Toronto.  Anyways, the food was delicious.  I ordered a burrito bowl with carnitas.  I asked for everything in it and I think it was the salsa that made the food extra spicy.  I could eat my meal, but had to drink water with every bite.  =\  Anyways, I think this baby here was one full day's worth of calories - but I'm sure I burnt off a few hundred after walking along the Strip for the rest of the night.

Next morning, we ate at Grand Lux Cafe in Palazzo Hotel.  We woke up for brunch and I had a Stacked Chicken Quesadilla.  Again the food was took much that I had to pack it away.  Food at Grand Lux Cafe was good and price is decent.  I think it was around $11 for my meal.  Then I ordered a Fresh Strawberry Cheesecake made by Cheesecake Factory - which was DE-LI-CIOUS!!! Yummm, I wish they opened up a Cheesecake Factory in Toronto.  The calorie count for it is probably sky high, but one slice isn't THAT bad considering the amount of walking around we did. 

By the way, the cheesecake isn't that small.  I was too into the cake that I forgot to take a picture BEFORE digging in.

We also ate at our hotel's Pho restaurant and it was very different from the Vietnamese food I have had in Toronto.  I got a curry chicken with rice meal and my friends got Pho.  I've got to say, it wasn't tasty, like the soup was diluted with water.  And sad to say, I forgot to take a picture of the curry chicken =(.

Later on that night, we walked along the Strip, took some pictures like how every tourist would and here's one of me trying to act as if I'm holding the Paris hotel air-balloon with my two fingers. =)

Vegas Haul #1

On this Vegas trip, I really didn't get much.  I did a bit of clothing shopping, but I'll post that in "vegas haul #2" since my clothes are in the wash.

The bracelet from Pandora is a gift I bought for my friend.  Her birthday is coming up and I always find it is a head-scratcher to decide what to get people.  I picked this gift up right before I boarded my plane back to Toronto.  I bought the bracelet and a charm so I would think this is a meaningful gift where she can slowly collect more charms.  Like if she goes on a trip, she can just get one and add on it.  The bracelet itself was $40 USD and the charm was $35 USD, totaling to $81.08 USD with tax.

As for the purse, I bought one because I forgot to bring a wristlet for our Vegas nightlife.  The flashlight washed out the colour, making it appear more greyish than it is.  It's actually a taupe colour.  I am pretty happy with this quick purchase.  I grabbed this from Forever21.  I think the price was $14.80 USD.
Now, I am happy to collect the last EOS lip balm - the lemon drop flavour with SPF 15.  I don't remember how much it was, but I think it was around $3 USD.  I'm still on my Summer Fruit and Honeysuckle Honeydew flavoured lip balms.  =)
The Blackberry Torch Otter case was something I picked up on my connecting flight back to Toronto.  It's a gift for a friend as well.  It cost me $39.99 USD.
Finally, I have decided to drop the money and pick up a MAC 219.  I've been wanting this brush for maybe over a year but was really contemplating on whether to pull out the cash for it.  Luckily, I found a MAC counter at the duty-free shop on my connecting flight back to Toronto and grabbed it.  So I didn't have to pay tax for it, and it cost me $24.50 USD.  =D Yay!

Latest Update

I just came back from a five-day vacation to Las Vegas with my friends.  It was my first time to Vegas and wow did I have an awesome time.  If you're like me, you enjoy night life and scenery, you'll definitely need at least one week to do everything.  I stayed 5 days but I still didn't get to do all the things I wanted to do.  =(  We drove to Grand Canyon and went hiking on a trail, which took one day but it was all definitely worth it.

In terms of what beauty products I packed on this trip, I only packed what I thought were essential needs.  And I was able to pack everything in my Shiseido makeup bag.  =)  I should have packed a more moisturizing cream because the weather there really dried out my skin.  =(

I will post my Vegas haul later.  ;)

2nd Haul: Cosme-de.com

Last week on July 26th, I placed an order on Cosme-De.com and they had a PayPal member promo going on where any purchase using your PayPal account will get you 10% off.  So I couldn't miss out on such an offer and decided to get some skincare and haircare products.  Shipping was super fast and I received it on August 2nd. 

Again, everything is individually bubble wrapped.  =)  

Here are the few products I got (Left to Right) along with the prices I paid:

1.  Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 Gel (1oz, 30mL) - $59.40 USD

2.  Hitachi Face Crie Ion Cleansing Machine NC-550 - $70.20 USD

3.  Shiseido Damage Care Treatment with Tsubaki Amino - $12.60 USD

Total: $142.20 USD
Free Shipping! =)

I've been waiting to try out these three products.  So I'm super excited to start using them.  I've read mixed reviews about the Shiseido hair treatment but there were many great reviews for the other two skincare products.  There definitely be reviews on them! =D
I came across Cosme-de.com because of Skinceuticals products.  I read a few great reviews on their products so I've been meaning to try them out but it's pretty pricey over here in North America, without tax too! So I googled websites that sold Skinceuticals and was glad I found it being sold on Cosme-de.  =D  But one thing that bothers me about this site and I probably mentioned this before but they run out of stock super fast on some products right after they restock.  So it is a little annoying.  =(

Review: Fusion Beauty Prime Results Anti-Redness Primer

Have you tried this primer? Before I bought this primer, I did a little research and looked up the reviews on it.  On average, people on Sephora rated the Fusion Beauty primers worthy of nearly 4 stars out of 5.  The idea that this product is not only makeup but also formulated like a skincare product, really convinced me to try it out.

The consistency:
Unfortunately my bottle of primer must have been sitting on the shelf for quite some time, because it squirts out quite runny.  Even after excessively shaking it, but since the packaging was assembled with pressure, I can't open it to manually mix it.  Basically I can see a layer of watery/oily clear solution and the green primer.  I read on plenty of reviews that it's thick but sad to say, mine isn't.  =(

The scent:
Errr. Not the nicest scent out there.  I wish it wasn't scented.  It's got a floral scent but one that reminds me of play-doh.  =(

Application:
After moisturizing and applying sunscreen, one pump of the primer is enough for my entire face.  I apply with fingers as it's easier that way.  Then let it settle on my face for around 30 seconds before continuing my makeup application.

What it claims to do:
"Immediate benefits: Extra gentle formula instantly blurs the appearance of skin imperfections.  Neutralizes the look of visible redness and irritation. Helps calm and soothe sensitive skin + restore a healthy, even complexion."

"Long-term benefits: Ultra-soothing peptides and mineral-rich algae strength skin + protect against skin stressors that trigger redness and irritation.  Recovers skin's natural protective barrier for a more even and comfortable complexion in just 28 days."

Thoughts/Results:
I remember back when I was in Sephora deciding between MUFE green primer and the Fusion Beauty Anti-Redness Primer, I really had a hard time.  Under the light in there, I felt both primers did neutralize the redness on the back of my hand.  Now, do I think this product does what it claims? Yes I do feel that it blurs out my skin imperfections - after the application of foundation.  I'm not too sure about the immediate neutralization of redness, though I do see it in long-run.  Though I don't expect it to completely cover the redness like what concealers are supposed to do.  And in terms of restoring a healthy, even complexion, I think this does what it claims.  On some lazy days, I only apply the primer and no foundation and I find my complexion is slightly nicer than not using primer.  Also, I find that the primer does hold up my foundation a little better and longer than the Smashbox PhotoFinish Light.

Left: With primer; Right: No primer

This picture on the right is my most accurate capture of the neutralizing effect of the green primer.  I find it's best to capture the effect with daylight as opposed to using my camera's flash.  Anyways, I find the neutralizing effect is very mild.  The left hand is slightly lighter or more pale than the right.

Product: Fusion Beauty Prime Results Anti-Redness Primer
Rating: 4 / 5

Pros:
- Allows smooth foundation application
- Slightly neutralizes the redness

Cons:
- Not the most pleasant scent

Review: Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque

I bought this deep hair masque as part of a gift set back in May (haul post) and have been using it on average twice a week.  Now I pretty much have half a tub left but that's because I use a generous amount every time.

The consistency:
It's thick but not as thick as regular hair conditioners.

The scent:
Smells fruity and reminds me of candy.  The scent is pretty strong when applying it and after you rinsing it out.  It could last over a day in your hair though, so if you don't like the scent, then you might not like the scent lasting too long in your hair.

Application:
I've tried applying it with heat and without heat.  The instructions say that heat is not required but personally, I think applying heat works better.  Basically, every other time I go to the gym and if I have time to spare, I'd leave the masque in my hair after shampoo and conditioning, hop in the sauna for 7 minutes and rinse it out after.

What is claims to do:
"Our Macadamia and Argan oils combine with tea tree and chamomile oils, aloe and algae extracts to produce miracle-like hair rejuvenation."

Thoughts/Results:
I wouldn't say this deep masque can do wonders nor can it miraculously revive my hair but it does noticeably tame down the frizzes after a few uses - so not on the first try.  Though you can feel a difference after the first use.  So if you're unsure of the product and don't want to splurge out the $28 CAD for the 250mL tub, I'd recommend on buying the sample package.  I believe they're still a bit pricey - $4.99 - but better than spending $28 to know it doesn't work for you.  Also, it looks to me that the ends of my hair seem less like straws of hay.  It still looks a bit dry but not as bad.  It does give the smooth, soft hair feeling.

Product: Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque
Rating: 3.5 / 5

Pros:
- Gives the smooth, soft hair touch
- Tames down frizzes
- Fruity scent

Cons:
- Cannot achieve the desirable results
- Still leaves ends of hair look and feel a bit dry after using half the tub
- Pricey for the minimal results

Latest Update

I haven't updated myself on here for awhile but no worries, I'm still here, just been a little busy and a bit lazy - haha.  For one, I hung out with some of my high school friends last week's Wednesday.  We had lunch in Toronto at Aji Sai Japanese Food Restaurant to try out their All-You-Can-Eat lunch.  There were quite a few people there, probably because of their lunch special for $12.99 CAD and most of their customers are most likely university students.  This was pretty much our order, but keep in mind there were just 3 of us (girls).  The food was decent.  I prefer the Dragon Rolls over the rest of the stuff we ordered.  Unfortunately, all their rice were warm rather than cool.  =( Haha, not trying to do a review but just wanted to share my experience in case any one of you Torontonians want to try it out.  I tend to look up places to try on Yelp.ca ever since I discovered that site, to find good places to try out.  If you've got some good similar sites, comment below and share!!! =)  But anyways, have you ever been Aji Sai? What'd you think?

 
On last week's Friday and Saturday, Markham held their Night It Up! night market.  I wish I had my camera but too bad I didn't.  But it was busy, especially Friday! It was packed like sardines at some point in the night.  Haha we messed up a few times on both nights on people's orders and one of the guys got pissed off waiting for his food =\ . Honestly, when you're at a night market where you have to line up EVERYWHERE for food, you can't really complain about waiting too long.  Anyways, if you want to see a full-of-spirit Asian night and you don't mind the wait, definitely check out next year's night market.

Review: Arumee Pro-Moist Skin Lotion

I've got 3 or 4 times left to use this lotion before it's finished.  Even though it's printed as a lotion on the bottle, I don't quite think it's a lotion.  More like a softener, like the Shiseido softener.  I've had this for around 3 years and I didn't start using this until January of this year.  My mom got this from Hong Kong so it's not brand you can find in Canada.  It's a Korean brand.  I've tried eBaying it but doesn't seem anyone is carrying it there. 

Thoughts:
I have a few other products by this brand, and whether I combine or use them individually, I find they work really well.  It doesn't irritate my skin or cause random breakouts.  But the thing I don't like about this brand is its packaging.  I have their moisturizer lotion and both their bottles are made of glass.  Therefore it's heavy packaging.  Not that I've purposely throw around my bottles to see if they'll break, but the glasses are pretty durable.

Application:
After using my usual toner, I apply this lotion on with a cotton pad

Consistency:

Very liquidy.  It looks clear and feels slightly thicker than water.


Scent:
Refreshing floral, non-irritating scent.

What it claims:
"ARUMEE Pro-Moist Line enables us to cherish clear and bright skin."

Results:
I pretty much agree with what they claim their product does.  On my days where my hormones aren't out of whack, I find this product does clear and brighten my skin.  Not whiten my skin, just brighten.  I've been using this product after applying Shiseido Pureness Balancing Softener and this product still achieves that "clear and bright skin" effect.  I can tell it doesn't whiten because I have a few sunspots around my eyes and they haven't disappeared or lighten, so evidently this line doesn't diminish sunspots.  =( I wish it did.  I find this product not irritating to the skin like the other toners or softeners out there.  It does have alcohol content in there but it doesn't sting when applied on pimple wounds - yes I do sometimes irresistibly pick / pop my pimples.
Another good thing about this product is it's moisturizing properties.  Unlike other toners or softeners out there, because it's summer and my skin tends to get oily, I've tried stopping my moisturizing routine.  So basically, I apply the Shiseido softener and this Arumee lotion and that's it.  Without a moisturizer, I find my skin doesn't get dehydrated.  My skin still feels soft.  To me, this product works quite well.  It will sadly be missed after I finished this bottle.

Product: Arumee Pro-Moist Skin Lotion
Rating: 5 / 5

Pros:
- Moisturizing even with applying moisturizer
- Does keep skin clear
- Does brighten skin

Cons:
- Is not a paraben-free product

Is exfoliating your body part of your routine?

Do you exfoliate your body? How often? Do you moisturize after? Exfoliating your body is just as important as exfoliating your face.  It doesn't take long nor much effort to do so.  Just exfoliate your body once or twice a week.  If you don't want to continuously spend the extra dollars on tubes of exfoliating scrub, just run to the dollar store or Wal-Mart and grab yourself a loofah.  While you're in the shower and smearing yourself with body wash or gel, take your loofah and scrub away the layer of dead skin cells.  Don't be scrubbing vigorously until your skin turns red, just go scrub back and forth two or three times.  Personally, I think the crucial areas to scrub are the upper arm area where I would get little bumps from the in-grown hair and the legs, especially if you have stretch marks.  Why loofah the stretch mark areas? Well the stretch marks exist because your skin is dry and lacking moisture.  So as you may or may not know already, exfoliating the layer of dead skin cells can trigger the growth of your next layer of skin cells AND it allows better absorption of the moisturizing product you put on.  Right after you hop out of the shower and towel-dried your body, cover your body with a moisturizing cream or lotion - my personal preference: body butters.

PS: Hand wash your loofah once in a while to avoid bacteria build-up.  ;)

Makeup Removal

From the time I knew how to apply makeup (I was probably around grade 8 or 9) until now, I think there has been - at most - a handful of times that I didn't wipe off my makeup, nor cleanse my face and went straight to bed.  BUT I haven't skipped this important process for a looong time.  Even during my undergrad years, no matter how late I came home from studying or partying, I'd remove all my makeup, cleanse my face before going to bed.

My recent makeup removal routine has been a two-step process.  Here's a little experiment I did so I can share with you, blog readers, on the effectiveness of Bobbi Brown's Cleansing Oil.

I've done a review on the Bobbi Brown Cleansing Oil last September.  I'm still on that same bottle of Cleansing Oil with one-third of the bottle left.  But I thought this little experiment I wanted to share could be an additional review on BB Cleansing Oil and my makeup removal routine.  Anyways, here's how I remove my makeup after wearing it for 6 - 7 hours.  Most of my makeup has melted off already.  Oh and don't mind my greasy hair and my minor breakouts.  =\

 Left: Before removing makeup ; Right: After removing makeup

Before makeup is removed

After using Bobbi Brown Cleansing Oil

 I take 2 pumps of Arumee Pro-Moist Cleansing Milk and massage it into my face

Dirty tissue with wiped off Cleansing Milk from my face

Washing my face after using Cleansing Milk

Ta-da! My face is makeup-free and feels smoooooth.  =)
Clearly, BB Cleansing Oil did do its job - in terms of makeup removal.  But if you zoom in on that dirty tissue, you can see there is still very little - what looks like - foundation on there.  Oh and may I add that I definitely did wear mascara, eye liner and eye shadow, but BB Cleansing Oil has taken that off already.

Haul: Cosme-de.com

I have another haul here.  This time it's from an online shop called Cosme De Net Co. Ltd.  I find this company is much like SaSa or Sephora, but CDE is a smaller company with a limited beauty supply and variation.  I find them frequently running out and replenishing their stock.  Now the only thing I have a problem .... ok, maybe not problem, but more annoyed ... with this online shop is how fast things go out of stock.  I guess they don't stock up a lot in case their stock doesn't get sold as fast, and they'll end up getting stuck with the old stock.  Also, depends on what you're looking to get, some things may be a little overpriced - i.e. brands we can easily find in North America - more specifically, MAC, Bobbi Brown, etc   
I made my order on Monday, June 6 and received it today (Friday, June 10).  Considering CDE is based in Hong Kong, I find its overseas shipping is super fast.  I expected it to take about 2 weeks, but I got it within one week.  In addition to fast shipping, my order came with tracking.  For those of you who, just like me, feel more secure ordering online when your items are trackable, it's a bonus.  Also, the extra thing I find great about CDE is it accepts PayPal.

Overall, I find they put a lot of care into packaging.  Everything I bought was bubble wrapped individually.  The outside box was packaged sleek and clean.  =) So I'm really satisfied with my purchase.

Anyways, here is what I ordered from CDE and their prices:
1.  Dr. Scholl MediOtto Sleep and Slim Long Socks --- $31 USD
2.  Dr. Scholl MediOtto Slimming Leggings --- $34 USD
3.  Vitacreme B12 Regenerative Cream --- $33 USD (but they have an additional 20% discount this month so it came up to $26 USD)

Basically, I spent a total of $91 USD.  They offer free shipping.  =) I didn't have to pay customs when my package arrived at my door and they do require signature confirmation.

Now about the products, I'll definitely do reviews on these products after a good long use.  I've done a little research on these Dr. Scholl MediOtto products and most say they work really well - some say temporarily, others say they have long-term effects.  But either way, I'll know after trying them out for a good month or so.  =D

Shop for premium cosmetics at COSME-DE.COM. Free Shipping on all orders!!

Random Rant about My Clarisonic

I haven't done a random rant for awhile, but anyways.  So I think it was last week or maybe two weeks ago, I was taking a shower and usually, while I shower, I do my normal skincare routine.  Right after I scrub in the shampoo in my hair, I let it chill in there while I cleanse my face.  Unfortunately, while I was scrubbing in the shampoo, I accidentally knocked over my Clarisonic sitting on the ledge and man, did I ever regret not being careful! It made a loud thump when it fell and I was thinking, "Oh shit, I broke my $250 Clarisonic!"  So I was testing it out to see whether it was still working.  *Sigh* It was.  But it was making a loud vibrating noise.  ='(  So I'm like, "ok whatever, it works."  But now, every time I walk into the shower and use it, I just get more and more annoyed at the fact that it was in perfect condition before and now it's flawed! Errr! So now, I'm sitting here with a dilemma.  Should I call up Clarisonic and get that loud noise fixed, even though it still works? Or should I just let it be? I bought it in January of 2010 and I believe the Clarisonic Classic's have a two-year warranty, so I'm still good for 6 months.  Well that's if they would classify my case as under the warranty.  Oh man, I hate it when I'm so careless...  it's just the consequences that follow with the many problems!

Review: Avene Cleanance Anti-shine Purifying Lotion

Ok, so I bought this bottle of Avene toner back in from Shoppers Drug Mart.  Initially, I walked into SDM to look for a solution to the mini bumps near the bridge of my nose and the large pores.  So the beauty consultant at the Beauty Boutique suggested to me this product.  At that time, I stopped using toner for awhile - after noticing the Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Refining Softener Enriched N was drying out my skin, well, plus the cold winter weather.  Anyways, I stopped using toner in my skincare routine and that mistake cause the mini bumps and enlarged pores on my face, near the bridge of my nose.  =(
So the beauty consultant recommended this Avene Cleanace Anti-Shine Purifying Lotion after noticing the enlarged pores and shiny T-zone. =T  Now I've never tried any Avene products before this.  And neither have I heard of any product being outstanding.

Cost:
$24.50 CAD + 13% tax = $27.69 CAD

For skin type:
Oily, blemish-prone sensitive skin

Application:
After cleansing my face with a cleanser, I take a cotton pad and first go over my T-zone area.  Then lightly go over the rest of face and neck.  This product is made of a bi-phase formula, that's activated via shaking.
 
The smell:
There is a slight fragrance scent to it, smells like a floral scent.  It gives me a refreshing and clean impression.  Not irritating or overpowering.

What it claims to do:
"With a very high content of Avene thermal spring water, Cleanace Lotion contains specific active ingredients that gently purify the skin as well as matifying powders to absorb excess of sebum and provide long-lasting anti-shine effect.  Cleanance Lotion tightens the pores and leaves the skin clear, purified and matified."

Results:
I've tried toners and astringents before and they both give me a stingy feeling.  But surprising this product didn't AND it appears to have shrunk my pores.  After using this for the past 3 months and now that I've got 1/5 left of the bottle, I'd like to say that I was satisified with the results.  Though I'm not super happy.  I see less little bumps but they're not gone, even after 3 months of using it everyday and I'm almost done the bottle.  I did use this during those chilly winter-to-spring months.  Therefore, I believe the season has a role in the performance of this product.  I felt it worked best during the chilly season/months compared to the warmer weather.  For the last few warm weeks, it seems to work or rather showed that it worked best when I first apply it right after cleansing my face.  So it appears to have matified my skin, but after a few hours, my T-zone area gets shiny again and my pores didn't really appear to have shrank.  Therefore, I would have to disagree on the "long-lasting" effect.  It's not as effective during the warmer days.     
Also, I'd probably have to disagree on the type of skin this product works best for.  I'd assume it works best for combination skin rather than oily skin.

Product: Avene Cleanance Anti-Shine Purifying Lotion
Rating: 3 / 5

Pros:
- It worked during the cooler season - did give me the purified skin-look
- Minimized the bumps on my face
- Matified my T-zone area for a short period of time
- Doesn't dry out my skin
- No stingy or irritating sensation
- No overpowering scent

Cons:
- Doesn't work well in the warmer season
- Didn't make all my bumps go away
- No long-lasting effect
- Way over priced for its not-so-consistent results