TOTW: The Many Uses of Argan Oil

I was traveling over the weekend and when it came to remove my makeup, I realized I forgot to bring my eye makeup remover.  I had on liquid eyeliner and hard to remove mascara that facial cleanser alone won't do.  To improvise, after I washed my face (the water help loosen things up a bit), I carefully rubbed on argan oil that I use as my facial moisturizer on my lids and under my eyes, follow by wiping the areas with a soft tissue paper.  Tada...it works, well too I might add.  So, next time you are in a pinch, I hope you got some oil laying around as backup.

Related:
Josie Maran Argan Oil Review

Introducing Willa Skincare

I am here today to introduce you to Willa Skincare, a new all natural skincare brand designed to address the needs of young girls, created by a young girl (with the help of her mom, Christy)!! The line is free of chemicals, petroleum and dyes.

I was sent a few samples to test drive. While I am far from being a teenager, I thought cleanser, body lotion and lip balm are basic and general enough that I can give a fair assessment.

Start Fresh Foaming Face Wash is a self foaming face wash that is light in both feel and scent. It is effective in removing light makeup and leaving your skin freshly cleanse. I appreciate that this cleanser is free of SLS, unlike many foaming cleanser out there. Unfortunately my skin feels a little tight after cleansing but it could really well be dehydrated due to air conditioner.

Like their face wash, Be Brilliant Natural Body Lotion also have very light and fresh scent. The texture itself is also light and absorb quickly. It is the perfect body lotion for summer when you need to care for your skin without the heaviness of a cream.

Born to Glow SPF 15 Daily Tinted Shimmer Lotion claims to protect your skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays while giving you a dose of glamour! I have to warn that the SPF level is too low to use as a standalone sunscreen. While the shimmer is pretty, it is a bit too shimmery and glittery to use all over for someone my age. I instead use it as a body highlighter, i.e. on my sheens, collar bone, upper shoulder, and it works fine.

Smile Butter Lip Balm in vanilla is a clear balm that smells really good, not too strong. It is thick, moisturizing and non-sticky. I like it, include the packaging and would love to try the other (with color).

You can purchase Willa Skincare from their website, Willa Skincare and Target or JCREW Crewcut.

Proactive Mini Maintenance System Travel Kit Review

This Proactive Mini Maintenance Travel Kit contains a Renewing Cleanser, Revitalizing Toner, and a Repairing Treatment, all in 1oz bottles.

Price: $20

Renewing Cleanser: I tried the treatment first from the kit and unfortunately, it burns my skin. Since the cleanser has the same active ingredient as the treatment (2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide), I was afraid to try it over a large area of my face. So, I can’t constructively review this cleanser.

Revitalizing Toner: This is a glycolic toner, an ingredient use in skincare to help shred dead skin cells. I am not sure what the percentage is but it is the second ingredients so I assume it has pretty high concentration. I am glad to say that I like this toner.  It feels refreshing and I never experience any irritation. 

Repairing Treatment: This treatment contains 2.5% of benzoyl peroxide as the active ingredients. It has a lotion consistency and dries pimple quickly. My problem with this treatment is that it really burns, to the point where it is uncomfortable. Unfortunately, I had to stop using it after a few nights.

Overall:  The Benzoyl Peroxide in the cleanser and treatment just prove to be too much for my dry and sensitive skin.  I think this is better suited for people who does not have sensitive skin and are normal to oily.  If you have skin like mine, Proactive does carry a "Gentle Formula" line that uses Salicylic acid instead, which is better suited for sensitive skin.

Disclosure: This review contains sample sent for consideration. The review is base on my honest personal opinions and experiences.

2011 Most Loved Skincare

Hello. Happy 2012!!! I hope everyone is having a great New Year. Every year, I like to do a recap of beauty products that I love the prior year. Below are my favorite in 2011.

Kiehl’s Washing Milk Cleanser
I have been enjoying this milky cleanser this winter. I use it as either part of a double cleansing process or alone if I am not wearing much makeup. It is easy to rinse, gentle, and does not strip my skin of moisture. Full Review

Sana Soya Milk Rich Toner
I would recommend this light texture yet moisturizing toner to those with normal to dry skin. It contains Soybean Isoflavone to moisturize skin and help skincare products absorb better. Sana Nameraka Honpo skin care range is fragrances, preservatives, and mineral oil free.  Full Review

Dermalogica Clean Start Bedtime for Breakouts to the Rescue
I purchased the .5oz travel size and it lasted me for 6 months and sometime I use it almost daily, making it budget friendly. It is a 2% salicylic treatment that is gentle and non-drying for even my sensitive skin. You should also see the size of your acne reduce by the next morning.  Full Review

Boscia Restorative Amino 3P Firming Serum
I really like the way this serum makes my skin feel. It makes my skin silky smooth and also calm down any redness so I wake up with clearer skin. It contains a blend of antioxidants like olive oil, jojoba and rosemary extract, vitamin A, B5, amino acid and peptide. Definitely a good, natural product option for preventative measure though I am not sure if it will reverse any aging effect if you already have them. Full Review

Perricone MD Concentrated Restorative Treatment
One of the most effective treatment I have ever used.  It has a high level of stable Vitamin C that does not irritate my sensitive skin.  It keeps my skin clear, balance, smooth, and just healthy. Full Review

Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer
I just really love the texture of this moisturizer, it is a bit thick which I like but does not feel heavy. You don't need a lot and it absorb well. I feel like it creates a shield to protect my skin. I literally touch my face sometime just to feel how soft and smooth it is. Full Review

Reviva Labs Essential Fatty Acid EFAs Cream
The bad first, you may have to get over the initial fishy smell. However, it is no wear as bad as Perricone MD Cold Plasma, the Cold Plasma stinks so bad, I could not stand it. This moisturizer is affordable, great ingredients, very non greasy, absorb quickly, wears well under makeup, and give my skin a healthy dose of hydration.  Full Review

Caudalie Moisturing Cream Mask for Face and Eye
This one is multi-purpose, you can use it as a mask or night cream if you have really dry skin. At first, I thought it was pricey but I deemed it worthy because it sooth and smooth my skin when it was going through an irritated, flaky mess stage.  Full Review

Bliss Fabulous Skin Reviving Mask
This mask is so fun to use. Best of all, it hydrate, smooth and make my skin supple afterward.  Full Review

Current Winter Skincare Routine

My current skin condition is normal to dry with hormonal breakout from pregnancy for the past 2 months. It is not too bad, about 3-4 small whiteheads around my T-zone area.

Night Routine:
- St. Ives Green Tea Cleanser
- Kiehl’s Washing Milk Cleanser (I use this as a makeup remover, first step of double cleansing or on days when I want to take a break from the St. Ives cleanser)
- Sana Collagen Toner
- Arcona Gentle Solution (2-3 times a week)
- DHC Acerola Serum (on nights that I don’t use the Arcona Gentle Solution)
- Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer
- Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester Eye Serum
- Meaningful Beauty by Cindy Crawford Lift Eye Cream

I am also still using - Dermalogica Clean Start Bedtime for Breakouts to the Rescue as spot treatment if needed.


Morning Routine:
- Wash face with water
- Sana Collagen Toner
- DHC Acerola Serum
- Meaningful Beauty by Cindy Crawford Lift Eye Cream
- Bliss Youth As You Know It Sunscreen

I tried Bliss Youth as You Know It Sunscreen back during the summer and it was too heavy. I thought it would be better during winter when my skin is drier. However, I find that it is still too greasy. I am still in search for a moisturizing sunscreen that is hydrating and also at least SPF 30 for winter.

Do you have any skincare products that you love? I would love to hear your recommendation.

Softymo Deep Cleansing Oil Review

Price: $11/230ml or 7.6oz. Available at imomoko.com

Pros: It is light, remove all my makeup, non greasy. Once I rinse off, there is no left over residue and it does has never irritate or dry out my skin.

Cons: Unfortunately it contains mineral oil.

Overall: I quite like this a lot. It is light, cleanse and rinse off well, no left over residue. The price is also very affordable. I would have probably given it a perfect score if it didn’t contain mineral oil, but for that, I knock off 1 point. Rating: 4/5.

Disclosure: The product(s) being review was purchased by me for personal use or review purpose.

Kiehl’s Washing Milk Review

Today I am reviewing Kiehl's Washing Milk Cleanser that is target toward people with dry and sensitive skin.  It is what I have been using for the past few months during winter.

Price: $17.50/8.4oz

Pros: For starter, the price is reasonable for a department store product. I think you will really appreciate this if you have dry, sensitive skin. What I notice is that my skin never feels tight or dry after using Kiehl’s Washing Milk. This is rare especially smack in the middle of winter.

Cons: Not a big deal but the bottle design is very boring. It would also be a plus if it comes with a pump.

Overall: As the name imply, it comes in a thick milky consistency. Do note that if you wear normal to heavy makeup, you will need to use a separate cleansing oil or makeup remover beforehand. I don’t think that it make this a bad cleanser because it is pretty expected with most cleanser especially cream type. Rating: 4/5.

Disclosure: The product(s) being review was purchased by me for personal use or review purpose.

Review Softymo (Kose) Eye Makeup Remover

Packaging: The bottle has a small opening up top that you can safely squirt product out.

Price: $11, available at imomoko.com

Pros: This is very gentle. I accidently got some in my eyes and it didn’t sting at all. It is also non-greasy. It removes eyeshadow effectively, with just one swipe.

Cons: Unfortunately eyeshadow is the only thing this seems to remove effectively. If you wear smudgeproof or waterproof makeup, good luck! I held the cotton pad for a few seconds, did a couple wipe, my Wet ‘n Wild Eye Liner (LINK) still stay intact. I experience the same problem with Cover Girl Lash Extract waterproof mascara and regular formula mascara as well.

Overall: Unless you wear very light eye makeup, it can be quite frustrating trying to remove your makeup with this eye makeup remover. I give it points for being very gentle and non greasy. Rating 2/5.

Disclosure: The product(s) being review was purchased by me for personal use or review purpose.

Review Lumene Revitalizing Cleansing Oil

Packaging: Pink pump bottle. It has one of those rotate pumps that you can lock, which I like.

Price: $9.99 at Wegmans. Ulta and CVS also carry Lumene products.

Pros: It is cheap for a cleansing oil. No offensive scent. It is also mild enough to not irritate or dry out my sensitive skin.

Cons: You have to use a separate cleanser afterward because it leaves a very greasy film. It is not the best at makeup removing. After I rinsed with water, I swiped my face and there is still residue left. So now, I just wipe my face with a tissue and proceed with my regular cleanser.

Final Thoughts: Even though it did not irritate my skin, I am not impressed by this product either. It is decent enough for me to finish the bottle before trying something else. For the price, if you are really really curious, I’d said go ahead, give it a try, you might like it.

Disclosure: The product(s) being review was purchase by me for personal use or review purpose.

Favorites from DHC

For those of you who aren’t familiar with DHC, they are a mail order Japanese company. I have use and sample many of their products with good result. Here are some of my top favorites.


DHC Cleansing Oil. Remove everything effortlessly, including heavy eye makeup.


Love the whole Acerola line, especially the Acerola 100 (serum). No parabens or harsh chemicals.


Q10 cleanser – good cleanser and so convenience for travel.

If you like DHC or another Japanese brand, I’d like to know.

Asian 5 Steps Skincare Routine

The best things you can do for your skin is to develop a skincare routine and be diligent about it. Often time when I see a Korean movie stars, I always admire over how smooth and porcelain their skin are. It’s probably a combination of good gene, healthy food intake, makeup, and diligent skincare.

Below is a step by step routine for night time:

1. Cleanse/Double Cleansing: A while back I wrote about double cleansing which provide more information on this process. When necessary, use cleansing oil to remove make up and dirt. Make sure not to pull on the eye area. Then cleanse your face with a gentle facial cleanser that is suitable for your skin type.

2. Tone: Use a toner to remove any last trace of residue. It also help balances out your skin PH level after washing and help prep your skin for better absorption of serum. Find one that is suitable for your skin type or for your specific treatment need (example: such as brightener).

3. Use a mask and facial massage once or twice a week: Masks comes in a variety, such as brightening, purifying, hydrating, exfoliating, etc. For summer, a gentle clay mask is ideal as it help eliminate oil. Then there is also the weekly facial massage to encourage good blood circulation. Some Asian brands carry facial massage cream for this purpose. However, I imagine you can just use your regular face lotion or cream.

4. Serum: It is basically a “more concentrated” amount of active ingredients than what you would get in a cream. Also, since its texture is normally in a liquid or light gel form, it is easier for your skin to absorb. On days that you don’t wear a mask, you would apply serum right after your toner. Personally, I think if you are still young, it is okay to skip the serum step to save yourself some time and money.

5. Moisturize: Depending on the season, you will want to find a suitable moisturizer. It also helps seal in the serum. If you have very dry skin in the winter, use a cream instead of lotion. For oily skin, try a gel type like Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizer.

There you have it. Sounds like a lot of work, doesn't it? =) I have to admit, I myself don't always follow all the steps. But when I do, I always enjoy the relaxation and benefit a good mask provide.

Related Post:
Double Cleansing

Double Cleansing

Have you heard of double cleansing? Well, the whole concept was very new and interesting to me when I first came across it about a year or so ago. This is part of an Asian skincare regime.

Double cleansing is a two step cleansing process. The first step is to apply cleansing oil on dry face and start massaging to remove make-up, sunblock, dirt, etc. Afterward, rinse with lukewarm water. Then follow it with a gentle cleanser.

Yes, I said cleansing oil. I know the thought of putting oil on your face is not only foreign but also not very clean. However, cleansing oil is an effective and gentle method to remove makeup. It is also good at dissolving oil and dirt that build up on your face especially during hot, humid summer day. I tried DHC cleansing oil and it clean without stripping my skin from its natural sebum. It actually removes my eye makeup better than any makeup remover I ever used, with no stinging. Almost all Asian skincare brands carry cleansing oil. Some of the Western brands are starting to as well.

Final note, if you have oily skin, your skin may be able tolerate this method nightly. If you have dry or sensitive skin like mine, I would only do this when needed, not daily.

Product Review: Shiseido Skincare Cleanser and Night Moisturizer

I have sensitive skin that gets dry or inflame easily. Most cleanser I tried leaves my skin feeling “tight” afterward. So for the past couple years, I have been using Cetaphil most of the year. I don’t like that it contains SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) but it is in small enough amount that it does not irritate my skin. However, if you wear makeup or heavy sunscreen, it won’t remove it. Most days, I don’t wear a full face makeup and still it does not feel like it does a good job of cleansing.

My future sister-in-law gave me a set of Shiseido Skincare Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam and Shiseido Skincare Night Moisture Recharge. At first I hesitated to try because foam cleanser normally leaves my skin dry and tight. The foam from cleanser is from the SLS. However, this cleanser does not make a lot of foam (which is good). Instead when you add water, it creates this luxurious creamy texture. It feels very nice and smooth while I massage this on my face. After I rinse, my skin is clean, without any dryness. It has been a month or so and no sign of irritation. It’s a keeper!

Now for the lotion, it is a nice light texture. You only need 1-2 pumps for an entire face. It absorb well. It may not be moisturizing enough (Regular texture version) for those with very dry skin. It is a fine choice if you are just looking for a basic moisturizer. Personally, I like some antioxidant in my night lotion/cream.