Oxy Ultimate Cleanser

Name: Oxy Ultimate Cleanser
Price: RM 13.90 for 100 g
Made in: China

The all-new Oxy Ultimate Cleanser is an 8-in-1 Multi Action Cleanser that ensures clear, fresh and blemish free skin with 8 multiple functions:

① Fights pimples
② Anti blackhead
③ Unclogs pores
④ Removal of excess oil
⑤ Deeply cleans
⑥ Moisturises skin
⑦ Soothes skin
⑧ Refreshes skin

The cleanser itself is white, with a minty smell and sensation. It foams beautifully and leaves my skin cool and clean without that stripped feeling. That said, I apply my boosting essence almost immediately after rinsing, so I am not able to sufficiently judge its potential to strip within that short period of time.

My skin hasn't been any different to how it was with my last cleanser, and this may not sound like anything much, but it actually is! My skin reacted really well to my previous cleanser, and now I am getting the same results at a fraction of the price - now this is what I call a winner!

If you have dry skin this might not be one for regular use, but for combination/oily skin this works really well at balancing out the excess oil in your skin. You can find Oxy Ultimate Cleanser at leading pharmacies and major supermarket outlets nationwide for a seriously reasonable (if you ask me!) RM 13.90.

The full ingredient list for Ultimate Cleanser:
Water, Palmitic Acid, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Lauric Acid, Cocamide DEA, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Menthol, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Polyquaternium-7, Methylparaben, Fragrance, O-cymen-5-OL, Disodium EDTA, Propylparaben, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, BHT, Water/Butylene Glycol/Algae Extract/ Methylparaben, Water/Butylene Glycol/Sativa Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Water/Butylene Glycol/PEG-60 Almond Glycerides/Capryl Glycol/Glycerin/Carbomer/Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid/Oleanolic Acid.

Disclosure: Press sample.

SNP Za Aryeon Eun Yoon Set

Hanbang, the Korean Oriental Medicine practice with origins in classical Chinese texts, gained traction in recent years. You may not be familiar with the term hanbang, but I am sure you have heard of brands like Sulwhasoo and The History of Whoo? These wildly pricey brands bottle the wisdom of hanbang to promote well-being and maintain good health and longevity.

(Source: blog.naver.com/snpacsys/)

Name: SNP Za Aryeon Eun Yoon Set 자아련 은윤 세트
Price: ₩ 160,000 for the following to be used in this order
Za Aryeon Eun Yoon Cleansing Foam 자아련 은윤 클렌징 폼 50 g
Za Aryeon Eun Yoon Skin 자아련 은윤 수액 130 ml
Za Aryeon Eun Yoon Essence 자아련 은윤 진액 10 ml
Za Aryeon Eun Yoon Emulsion 자아련 은윤 유액 130 ml
Za Aryeon Eun Yoon Cream 자아련 은윤 크림 50 g
Za Aryeon Eun Yoon Eye Cream 자아련 은윤 아이 크림 10 g
Made in: Korea

In lieu of the hanbang renaissance, SNP launched the Za Aryeon Eun Yoon line, which consists of 7 medicinal herbs (Wild Ginseng, Figwort, Sage, Sophora Root, Codonopsis Pilosula, Pilose Bellflower and Leguminosae), to refresh and revitalise tired skin while maintaining skin balance, and ultimately restore youthful looking skin.

The herbs in the Za Aryeon Eun Yoon range undergo fermentation where yeast is utilised to catabolise the active ingredients into smaller particles so they can be absorbed more quickly, thus becoming more effective. The herbal broth then matures in containers made from Jeju cedar, which lends the line a slight cedar aroma.

The color purple (that is what SNP's blog says, but methinks it looks more burgundy) dominates the line, with gilded filigrees vining around the base. It is the most ornate as well as decadent design to grace my vanity! I only wish that the entire line is encased in glass to amp the luxurious factor. Failing that, plasticise everything, so that uniformity is maintained... seeing as the Skin and the Emulsion are housed in glass bottles, whereas the others are stored in plastic jars.

Za Aryeon Eun Yoon Cleansing Foam is soft and fluffy (like whipped marshmallow!), and a lot more gentle than regular cleansing foams; but I can feel it working deep in the pores to rid of impurities. After rinsing, my skin is very fresh and without the tight, clean-as-a-whistle sensation. Another plus going for it is the size, 50 g is the perfect amount to bring along for a vacation!

Za Aryeon Eun Yoon Skin is plenty soothing but it is not the kind of product that will single handedly transform my skin overnight. It is however perfect to swipe all over post-cleansing. It is not as moisturising as the other products, which is to be expected since it is the first in line. I would quite like for it to be housed in a plastic spray bottle - so that I can bring it everywhere and spritz all day.

I can't think of many other serums that are this light, yet as effective. Za Aryeon Eun Yoon Essence absorbs into the skin without leaving a film yet hits the spot perfectly when it comes to moisturisation. All skin types will find the fluid consistency to their liking.

Personally, I think that the Za Aryeon Eun Yoon Emulsion is better off on its own over a toner with a nice heaping of sunscreen in the AM, but it doesn't feel too much if I want to go all the way and sandwich it between an essence and a moisturiser. That is the lovely thing about it – my skin felt properly taken care of in the moisture department yet feels nice and fresh. Not at all like slapping my mug with too many layers.

My favourite product of the bunch is the Za Aryeon Eun Yoon Cream. It feels like an ointment and manages to maintain its shape even when upended! I love the rich texture and how it provides my face with spades of moisture. The cream works well on my skin and gives it a plumptious, nourished look without having breakouts or issues with richness. I am quite generous with it because I like to bring it down to my neck as well and it absorbs fairly quickly for what it is.

The Za Aryeon Eun Yoon Eye Cream has a delicious texture, and it sinks into the skin without too much effort at all. I don't dip into the pot and come out with a blob of product... instead, I slide my fingertip over the surface and then pat onto the undereye area. It is amazing to mask the appearance of pesky crow's feet, fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes.

For someone who is accustomed to mixing and matching potions depending on how my skin feels that day, it was quite the novel experience to limit myself to a single line. That being said, I definitely could see the benefit of using products from the same line that is meant to work synergistically with each other for maximum results.

This set makes it so easy to get your hanbang fix on - it encompasses most of the things that you'd need on a daily basis (yes, we shouldn't forget things like exfoliators, sunscreens, masks, etc). Looking at it from a purely economic point-of-view, this actually fits in the positively bargainous section with each product working out to be ₩ 27,000 (or thereabouts)!

The full ingredient list for the Za Aryeon Eun Yoon set:

Disclosure: BNTGirls sample. Head on over to BNTNews for more exciting news, may it be K-Beauty, K-Fashion or K-Pop!

3CE Eye Shadow Palette #Up Close

Park Sora is brandishing (and wearing!) a nice little number from 3CE: the Eye Shadow Palette in Up Close!

(Source: en.stylenanda.com/)

Name: 3 Concept Eyes 쓰리컨셉아이즈 Eye Shadow Palette 아이섀도우 팔레트 #Up Close
Price: ₩ 32,000
Made in: Korea

Up Close contains four shimmers, and they are all buttery soft and with incredible pigmentation. The shimmers translate beautifully to the eyes, but they are weak when photographed... or that could be due to my camera, haha! They blend easily and are a dream to work with.

Twinkle Pink

Indie Pink

Reddish Brown

Vintage Burgundy

The combination of colours makes the palette very versatile for day or evening use. The first shade is quite high on the glitter front, and will be great to brighten the inner corners. The last kicks up quite a bit of powder, so beware of fallouts!

These shadows stay put on my lids all day with the help of an eyelid primer underneath. Otherwise, they will fade off within hours because oily lids and humid surroundings are not a good combination.

It is definitely worth taking a peek at this if you are a neutral-eye lover; it is available online on en.stylenanda.com, priced at US$ 35.23, and offline in Sephora stores for RM 104. The Eye Shadow Palette comes in three other options: Bitter Sweet, Saddle and Sienna.

Disclosure: BNTGirls sample. Head on over to BNTNews for more exciting news, may it be K-Beauty, K-Fashion or K-Pop!

CNP Laboratory Tone-Up Protection Sun SPF42 PA+++

Tone-Up Protection Sun SPF42 PA+++ has been an essential for me these couple of weeks.

Name: CNP Laboratory Tone-Up Protection Sun 톤-업 프로텍션 선 SPF42 PA+++
Price: ₩ 28,000 for 50 ml
Made in: Korea

This product has a fair amount of Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide in it to provide exemplary UV protection. It also contains all sorts of plant extracts and whatnot, including a complex called 'sebum-absorb powder'. A Herculean effort is needed to keep my T-zone looking immaculate so I am thrilled that it is up to task. I don't even reach for my blotting films when I have this on!

That said, I love the way it smoothes and moisturises my skin while still being light. The velvety finish sits well beneath makeup and I have been skipping the primer step with it around. The peach tint adds a long-lasting brightening sheen to the skin and it'd be best to bring it down to the neck, so that everything matches.

It has a slight sunscreen scent, but it is subtle enough to be quite inoffensive and is somewhat reminiscent of Dermalogica's products. And I know that because I was quite the Dermalogica fan, to my mum's consternation, because back then, she was the one to fork out the dough when my products ran out, haha!

Without - With

If you haven't heard of (or tried!) CNP Laboratory products before, don't be underwhelmed by the clinical-looking packaging. This brand is rapidly climbing up the ranks in becoming one of my favourite brands to come out from kimchi land - it is simply impossible to go wrong with their products (an impression cemented by Anti-Pore Black Head Clear Kit's performance)!

At RM 103.10, Tone-Up Protection Sun SPF42 PA+++ is a little on the pricey side, which is why I would keep an eye out for discounts in Watsons or hermo.my before stocking up.

The full ingredient list for Tone-Up Protection Sun SPF42 PA+++:
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Zinc Oxide (CI 77947), Cyclohexasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Magnesium Sulfate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, lsoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyapatite, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, CI 77492, CI 77491, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Tourmaline, Panthenol, Sea Water, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Pinus Pinaster Bark/Bud Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Montmorillonite, Amethyst Powder, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Ubiquinone, Thioctic Acid, Pearl Powder.

Disclosure: Press sample.

Moonlab Real Cooling Thermometer Mask Moisture Supply

Moonlab Real Cooling Thermometer Mask is specifically designed to moisturise and effectively lower the temperature of overheated skin. It contains Alaskan glacial water, carbonated water and liquid ice to maintain skin elasticity, and to leave skin looking radiant.

(Source: pureskinworld.com/)

Name: Moonlab 문랩 Real Cooling Thermometer Mask Moisture Supply 리얼쿨링 온도계마스크 수분충전 1박스
Price: ₩ 28,000 for 1 box (25 ml ×4)
Made in: Korea

Made from fermented coconut water, the gelatinous bio-cellulose material conforms to fit my facial contours (like second skin!). After 30 minutes, I legitimately felt my dry flakes falling off, heh heh! My skin sucked every last bit of the essence in and I am of the opinion that this mask would bring life back to the driest of skins!

My face was enveloped in a cooling sensation the moment I slapped this mask on, and to my delight, it didn't diminish in intensity at all. And, as a bonus, the soothing scent lulled me into a doze, which is a testament of its abilities (other masks keep me alert enough to clunk away at my keyboard). Disclaimer: the scent really had nothing to do with its amazing moisturising properties!

I am tucking away the remaining three sachets in my drawer and will only whip it out in the midst of the Lunar New Year celebrations (over here, the LNY usually heralds the onset of warmer weather). I know I live in the tropics, and you may think that the sun shines on me all year long, but even I experience cooler (29℃ instead of the usual 35℃) weather from November to January due to the non-stop rain.

Anyone knows where I can buy this marvelous jewel? I am more than willing to brave dodgy retailers for a goodly dose of cooling (and moisturising)!

The full ingredient list for Real Cooling Thermometer Mask Moisture Supply:

Disclosure: BNTGirls sample. Head on over to BNTNews for more exciting news, may it be K-Beauty, K-Fashion or K-Pop!

CNP Laboratory Anti-Pore Black Head Clear Kit

Hailing all the way from Korea, CNP Laboratory is an award winning brand developed by skin care specialists to provide modern solutions with the latest technologies and abundant clinical experiments. Anti-Pore Black Head Clear Kit is one of their star products, with over 10 million units sold to date!

Name: CNP Laboratory Anti-Pore Black Head Clear Kit 안티 포어 블랙헤드 클리어 키트
Price: RM 35 for 3 sets
Made in: Korea

This kit is the full deal to rid of strawberry noses. There is three sets of masks and a sextet of black cotton swabs - all the better to see gunk with, hurhurhur!

Step ① Black Head Clear Mask

Leave mask on for 10 minutes. Roll cotton swab around the nose to remove blackheads.

The full ingredient list for Black Head Clear Mask 1:

Water, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Extract, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Arctium Majus Root Extract, Viscum Album (Mistletoe) Extract, Hypericum Perforatum Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Juniperus Communis Fruit Extract, PEG-8, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract, Codonopsis Lanceolata Root Extract, Potassium Hydroxide, PEG-8/SMDI Copolymer.

Step ② Pore Tightening Mask

Leave mask on for 10 minutes. Pat in the remaining gel.

The full ingredient list for Pore Tightening Mask 2:
Water, Butylene Glycol, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Zinc PCA, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Alum, Glycerin, Arginine, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Oleanolic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer.

Prior to step ①, the nose is first softened with a warm towel. For step ②, Korean bloggers recommended that it should be placed in the fridge for an extra boost of coolness. Naturally I did the whole song-and-dance since I am all for reaping the maximum benefit from my products!

Before - After

My cotton swab lifted so much sebaceous filaments that I had to wipe it on a tissue to rid of some of it (because they fell back on to my nose when I was rolling the swab around). So yeah, that is why there is no pictorial proof...

Despite loving this kit to death, I have got to say that it isn't the cheapest product around - there will be a dent in my wallet if I replenished my supply every 3 weeks! It retails for RM 35 but it goes on discount pretty often at Watsons and hermo.my.

Disclosure: Press sample.

PMD Personal Microderm Revisited

The PMD Personal Microderm is sort of like an extra-hot sauce... it is made for those with stern dispositions!!!

What I like about this device is that it is a very effective way of achieving instantly smoother, softer and brighter skin. On me it had the same results – perhaps better – than when I have gone for a microdermabrasion treatment at the salon. Granted, I faced no injuries in the pros's hands, but after several months of practise, I have learnt to handle it (I better!) with minimum damage to myself.

The green discs provide a moderate level of exfoliation

For a typical procedure lasting approximately 3 to 5 minutes, each disc would last 3 to 4 treatments. The size of the area being treated and the length of each treatment will ultimately determine how long a disc can be used. I toss mine away after 3 uses because I tend to get so into it that a treatment takes absolutely ages. Of course, I don't devote all of it on exfoliating my skin, some of it is also spent examining my progress with a magnifying mirror, haha!

The discs are not exactly cheap at US$ 20 but you get 6 of them and a pack would last approximately 6 months (if you are like me and use it bimonthly). Buy the device and the replacement discs at getpmd.com!

Disclosure: Press sample.

Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Essence

A couple of weeks has passed since the Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Essence landed on my desk and the delay in documenting has been chalked to procrastination (that is one daunting ingredient list to type out!) but at long last, I am ready to get the ball rolling!

Name: Hada Labo 肌研 Super Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Essence 极润保湿精华素
Price: RM 74 for 30 g
Made in: China

The 4 types of Hyaluronic Acids in this essence forms a natural water reservoir to continuously retain, lock and restore moisture to the skin. It is said to be 3 times more concentrated than the lotion and when used together, they will increase the skin's moisture level by 30% for more than 7 hours!

I would think that it acts as a pre-serum of sorts because it is said to boost the skin's ability to absorb nutrients from subsequent products, namely (more) serums, moisturisers, facial oils and perhaps even sleeping masks? There is no lengths I wouldn't go to before bedtime, whereas in the mornings, my routine is as simple as it possibly could be.

It is lightweight and does its job without leaving greasy residues. Even if you have sensitive skin, the essence will suit you due to its balanced pH and alcohol/fragrances/colourant/mineral oil free list. As it is, my skin analyser thingamajig recorded a 14.2% jump in my moisture levels, with readings taken over the course of a week and then averaged. Yeah, I aced stats in school, haha!

The results I see after cleansing in the morning are pretty awesome – my skin is plumper, dewier and bouncier. Hydrating serums are simply LOVE; they are a must have in every skincare routine and work for all ages. And I fail to find fault with this one. The amazing Super Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Essence is priced at RM 74 and goes on sale in Watsons pretty often!

The full ingredient list for Super Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Essence:
Water, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Glycerin/Water/Glyceryl Polyacrylate/Methylparaben/Propylparaben, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract/Water/Glycerin/PEG-8/Carbomer, Lippia Citriodora Leaf Extract/Citric Acid/Potassium Sorbate/Sodium Benzoate, Cyclopentasiloxane/Dimethicone Crosspolymer/Dimethicone/Laureth-23/Laureth-4, Glycerin/Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer/Propylene Glycol/PVM/MA Copolymer, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Methylparaben, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Sclerotium Gum/Water/Phenoxyethanol, Water/Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract/Phenoxyethanol/Methylparaben/Butylparaben/Ethylparaben/Propylparaben/Isobutylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzotriazolyl/Butylphenol Sulfonate/Buteth-3/Tributyl Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Water/Potassium PCA/Opuntia Ficus Indica Stem Extract/Phenoxyethanol/Potassium Sorbate, Glycerin/Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate (Super HA), Sodium Hyaluronate (Medium-size HA), Sodium Hyaluronate (Nano HA), Sodium Hyaluronate (Large-size HA).

Disclosure: Press sample.