Review: Clinique 3-Step System

Clinique was having a roadshow in Sephora a couple of months ago and they were giving out samples of their 3-Step System. I received the dry combination set which consists of the Liquid Facial Soap, Clarifying Lotion 2 and Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. First off, I just want to say that I don't have problematic skin so this review is not meant for you if you are looking for acne solutions. The Clinique 3-Step System consists of very basic products which I was really keen to try out and this review will only cover the products' basic properties for non-problematic skin types.

The samples were of a pretty good size and I was able to get a really good feel of all three products. I'm not very impressed by the system as a whole as I find it to be a little too drying for my skin type. I think this system will be more suitable for oily skin.

The Liquid Facial Soap is a gel cleanser that does a very thorough job at getting rid of any surface dirt and grime. It makes my skin absolutely squeaky clean and I'm not sure if I like that. I do have combination skin but I feel that this cleanser completely strips my skin of its natural oils and it can be very drying. My skin wasn't flaky but I definitely feel the tightness that is often associated with dry skin. This is a little too strong for my combination skin and I definitely prefer a cleanser that is less stripping.

The Clarifying Lotion 2 is probably my least favourite step in the system. This toner contains alcohol, and probably a lot of it, because the first thing that you smell is the alcohol. It's probably just as bad as nail polish remover. You do get used to the scent after awhile but that offers no comfort. It is a very basic toner and does a good job at picking up any residue left from your cleanser. The alcohol and witch hazel doesn't bother my skin but I'm sure it can be too stripping for a lot of skin types so do keep that in mind.

My favourite step of the system is the moisturizer. The Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel does live up to its name in my opinion. I used it in the morning and at night and I'm so impressed. I love this so much that I went to get the 200ml version and I've been using it religiously twice a day ever since. Initially, I was kind of on the fence about it because I don't really fancy gel moisturizers. I prefer creams over gels, especially for the night. However, after having used this for a couple of weeks, I find that my skin does look dramatically different. I don't know what it is but my skin's texture just seems so much smoother. I have very dull and uneven skin and I have to say that this moisturizer has made a world of difference for me. This gel moisturizer is sufficiently hydrating for my skin and I have not experienced any dryness. However, I don't think this will be sufficient for dryer climates and I did use another moisturizer on my recent trip to Beijing.

Overall, the Clinique 3-Step System is not the best skin care regime for me but I'm really glad I discovered the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. Do check it out if you have combination or oily skin!

Review: Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream & Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream

I've always been very interested in Kiehl's skincare products but I kept holding out on trying their products because I find them to be a little pricey. I was on the lookout for a new moisturizer to bring to Beijing and I took the plunge and bought the Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream at the airport. I was actually planning to get the Ultra Facial Cream but it was out of stock so the sales assistant recommended the oil-free formula instead. She was kind enough to give me a generous sample of the Ultra Facial Cream so I got to try both formulas.

The Ultra Facial Cream has a great consistency. It's very creamy but it's not too thick so you can definitely use this under makeup. It's rich enough for me to use as my night time moisturizer yet light enough for me to use in the morning before I head out, with or without makeup.

This worked really well for me in winter when I was in Beijing and it continued to perform in the crazy heat and humidity when I got back to Singapore. It was actually a pleasant surprise because I was expecting it to be too rich for my combination skin in this humidity.

Personally, I use the Ultra Facial Cream at night because I prefer gel formulations for my morning skin care routine. I actually leave the jar in the fridge because the coolness is so refreshing! This is exceptionally fantastic at the end of the day after you have removed all your makeup.

The Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream, as the name suggests, is a hybrid between a gel and a cream. It's consistency is pretty weird. I would say it is more like a gel but it is very runny for a gel. The product will move if you tilt the jar so be careful if you're clumsy! The product is much thinner and it sinks into the skin much faster than the Ultra Facial Cream but I don't think it feels much lighter on the skin. The gel-cream texture definitely feels heavier than a regular gel moisturizer so it felt a little weird in the beginning. It doesn't affect the moisturizer's performance in any way and I've since gotten used to the weird consistency.

The Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream is slightly less moisturizing and I think it will be more suitable for use in the mornings or for oily skin types. It is still sufficiently moisturizing for my combination skin but I prefer something that is sightly richer. Preference aside, it is a great day time moisturizer and it does keep my skin nicely hydrated throughout the day.

Both the Ultra Facial Cream and the Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream are excellent daily moisturizers that are fuss-free and easy to apply. I prefer the Ultra Facial Cream for it's consistency and moisturizing properties but I think the oil-free formulation will be better if you're looking for a mosturizer that is not too heavy for this hot and humid weather!

Review: The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream

I'm on my third tub of The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream and I think it's a good time to review the product.

The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream is one of The Body Shop's "must-haves" and it claims to have the texture of a lotion but moisturizing properties of a cream. That got me interested because I'm not a fan of moisturizers that are too thick and heavy because I have combination skin.

The worst part of the product is probably the packaging. I hate products are are kept in tubs, especially when it comes to face products. So much bacteria and germs could be growing in the tub of goodness and you'll be smearing all of that onto your face. I just can't deal with it. I transfer the product into a squeeze tube that I got from Muji and I like how it saves space and is a billion times more hygienic. There is a lot of product wastage and time involved in the transfer process but I believe it's worth it.

The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream is what it claims to be. I would say that the consistency is slightly denser than a lotion but it's definitely not as heavy as creams tend to be. It sinks into my sink rather easily and it makes my skin feel so smooth. This works well on its own as well as under makeup and it's a really versatile moisturizer. If your skin is not too dry, this can be used as a night cream as well because it is pretty moisturizing in my opinion.

I love The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream and I will continue to repurchase it until I chance upon another moisturizer that is as lightweight and moisturizing!

Review: Biore UV Perfect Milk

If I am stranded on a deserted island and I can only have one skin care product with me, I will probably not take anything with me because skin care will not be able to save me from starvation. But if I have to choose, I will opt for sun protecting with no hesitation.

Sunblock has been an essential part of my life since I was about 14 years old. I used to read magazines like CLEO and I remember that the beauty editor going on and on about the importance of sun protection. Well, I was convinced after a couple of issues and I picked up the Biore UV Perfect Milk. Biore has quite a number of facial sunblock but I use the sunblock for face and body because you get much more product as compared to the other variants for the same price. The product has never broken me out and I have continued to use in until now.

The Biore UV Perfect Milk is an extremely lightweight SPF50 sunblock that gets absorbed really fast. It does have milky texture that is so ridiculously lightweight and it feels like absolutely nothing on the skin. The product is not sticky at all and it doesn't make you look shiny after application. It dries down to a somewhat powdery finish which I absolutely love. It's supposedly waterproof as well and that makes this a suitable companion for the beach and the pool. Another perk of the product is the nice fragrance. The scent is not overpowering by any means but I do like that it has a mild fragrance and there is no trace of the sunblock scent at all.

Do bear in mind that the Biore UV Perfect Milk is not a meant to be a moisturizing and it should not replace your moisturizer. It's only purpose is sun protection so I recommend for this to be an  extra step to your skin care routine. I like to have a separate sunblock and moisturizer because I find that most moisturizers that comes with sun protection are only equipped with a SPF15 to SPF30 protection and I don't think that it's sufficient for me in Singapore where it's summer all year round. I like to switch up my moisturizer as well and it's just much more convenient for me to have seperate sunblock.

I've tried the Biore Aqua Rich UV Gel as well when the UV Perfect Milk was out of stock but I didn't like it as much. The Biore Aqua Rich UV Gel is more moisturizing but I didn't like the consistency because it felt slightly heavier and took a much longer time to be fully absorbed. It does have more skin care properties in it so it may be an option for those who likes their sunblock to be multipurpose.

I use this on my clean face every morning and I don't think I can live without it. Sun protection is so important to me and I'm glad that I've found such a great quality and affordable sunblock. I have a couple of backups and I don't think I'll use any other sunblock for my face. Sign me up for a lifetime repurchase programme!