Body Sorbets Moisturizer

Scent: Fuji Green Tea
Contents: 200ml/6.75 us fl oz)
Price: HK$149.00

According to The BodyShop's webpage:

Give your skin fresh hydration while detoxing body and soul with the crisp and refreshing scent of Fuji Green Tea™ Body Sorbet. Our cool sorbet texture instantly melts into skin for a frosty burst of fresh moisture.

Ingredients: 

Aqua/Water/Eau (Solvent), PEG-8 (Humectant), Glycerin (Humectant), Butylene Glycol (Humectant), Isododecane (Emollient), PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil (Surfactant), Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2 (Absorbent), Phenoxyethanol (Preservative), Parfum/Fragrance (Fragrance Ingredient), Hydrogenated Tetradecenyl/Methylpentadecene (Viscosity Controlling Agent), Ethylhexylglycerin (Skin Conditioning Agent), Mel/Honey/Miel (Humectant), Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil/Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil (Emollient), Carbomer (Stabiliser/Viscosity Modifier), Linalool (Fragrance Ingredient), Sodium Hydroxide (pH Adjuster), Limonene (Fragrance Ingredient), Benzophenone-3 (Ultraviolet Light Absorber), Xanthan Gum (Viscosity Modifier), Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate (Chelating Agent), Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-t-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate (Antioxidant), Disodium EDTA (Chelating Agent), Silica (Absorbent), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Skin Conditioning Agent), Geraniol (Fragrance Ingredient), Citral (Fragrance Ingredient), Coumarin (Fragrance Ingredient), Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (Skin Conditioning Agent), Citric Acid (pH Adjuster), Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), CI 19140/Yellow 5 (Colorant), CI 42090/Blue 1 (Colorant).

My Opinion:

This is my 3rd tube of The Body Shop's Body Sorbets, and in terms of moisturizing this stuff really sucks, but I just love the scent, and it stays on for the whole morning.

I had Satsuma and Fuji Green Apple and they both smell amazing, so I guess I'll keep on repurchasing it until fall, because that's the time where my body needs some real moisturizer.

Biotherm White D-Tox CC BASE SPF 50+ PA++

Shade: Blue
Contents: 30ml/1.01 fl oz
Price: HK$245

According to Biotherm's webpage:

Description:

C.C. Base = Color + Care C.C Base can tackle different skin tone issues to brighten the complexion while protect the skin. Thanks to Lumina Marina Complex together with SPF broad-spectrum defense which correct, hydrate, smooth, protect and illuminate skin. Purple for Evenness; Green for Anti-redness; Coral for Glow; Blue for Luminous; White for Bright 

Ingredients: ActylC™, Venuceane™ (Blue Science Active), Sunflower Seed Extract, Life Plankton™

Application: Apply after the skincare and before the foundation to face and neck in small touches, before smoothing for a unified result

My opinion:

Back in the days, when I've first started with makeup I've really liked Biotherm, but as a was branching out alternatives, I've totally forgotten about them.

Recently I found this being discounted at SASA (they usually retail for HK$350), so I've decided to give this a shot.

This is a blue tone primer/sunscreen which is suppose to brighten up your complexion, and it didn't work for me, because it broke me out. I've tried it a couple of times and always ended with a huge zit.

It's a 10 Miracle Volumizing Shampoo

Contents: 10 fl oz / 295.7ml
Price: US$22.00
Local of Purchase: drugstore.com

According to drugstore.com

Nutrition for Your Hair
Sulfate Free

Does 10 Things Instantly

• Voluminizing Formula
• Sulfate Free
• Nourishes Hair
• Non Drying Formula
• Improves Elasticity
• Deep Cleansing
• Adds Bounce
• Adds Shine
• Adds Texture
• Color Protectant

Ingredients: Water, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, C14 16 Alpha Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Fragrance, PEG 120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Polyquaternium 7, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hydrolyzed Silk, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Cocamidopropyl Hydrosultaine, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Dihydroxypropyl PEG 5 Linoleammonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Hydroxyisohexyl 3 Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Alpha Isomethyl Ionone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone

My opinion:

This is my first "It's a 10" shampoo, and I love it, It's sulfate free, cleanses my hair, leaving it soft without weighting it down.

I found the price to be slightly higher that what I was expecting, but I've already placed an order for the other shampoos from this brand, because they were being discounted at JCpenny. I'll let you know how I'm liking it.

My Current Skin Care Routine

Earlier on this year I've read and article about how you should change your skin care products according to your female hormonal cycles, and I've actually put that theory on test and concluded that it works.

Let's split the female cycle into four stages and start on the first day of your period, and we'll call this week 1

Week 1

During this week hormone levels are at it's lowest, and skin is usually dull, bloated and recovering from premenstrual acne flare-ups, and during this period I usually add a skin brightening serum to my regime, and I'm currently using SkII, it lightens up my acne scars and brightens up my dull complexion, but Vitamin C or anything with light reflecting particles would work.

Week 2

The week after your period, oestrogens starts rising, skin becomes clear, and this is the time when your skin looks its best.

This is a good time to have a facial, because your skin is not too sensitive, and you could basically use anything you like on your skin.

Week 3

Progesterone starts rising, and this is the hormone responsible for oily skin and breakouts. Personally, I always break out during this week, and in order to combat acnes I use a combination of the following:

• Salicylic Acid,
• Glycollic Acid,
• Benzoyl Peroxide,
• Sulphur masks,
• Exfoliation,
• Deep Cleanse Mask

Week 3 is my battle week, I'm always doing something with my skin during this week.

Week 4

This is the week where your skin is the oilliest, and if I didn't do a good job the week before, cystic acne will show up this week and it'll take forever to clear.

My week 3 and week 4 skin care regime is almost identical, the only difference is that I deep cleanse my skin at least twice this week.

This is my day time skin care regime, I basically stick with the same things during the day:

For my dry skin days I use the following during night time:

For my oily days, this is my night time routine:

And finally for the trouble days I add the following serums to my usual night time routine:

Nail of the Week

Darker Shade: Bourjois 10 days no Chips in shade 18
Lighter Shade: NYX Girls Nail Polish in shade NGP242 Lapis

Atorrege AD+ Mild Hair Shampoo and Conditioner

Contents: @390ml
Price: @HK$270.00
Local of Purchase: Watsons

Ingredients: Water, DPG, lauramidopropyl Betaine, sodium laureuluasparagine, cocamide DEA, hamamelis extract, soy extract, Glycyrrhizic acid 2 K, records of the sysex, betaine, licorice extract, lavender oil, citric acid, polyquaternium-10, HEDTA-3Na, BG, Fe a d t-all, ethanol (to extract contains trace amounts. )

My Opinion:

Since I had my first brazilian blowout about 2 years ago, I've only been using sulfate free shampoos, and I must have mentioned before that there aren't that many drugstore choices in here, so when I found out that Atorrege AD+ does not contains sulfate and is paraben and mineral oil free, I wanted to give it a try.

Honestly, I found this shampoo and conditioner to be super expensive, but the sales lady told me that I would only be needing 1 pump per wash, a bottle would last me for a year, and she was right, one pump was more than enough for my slightly longer than shoulder length hair.

Let's start with the shampoo, it lathers really well and it keeps my hair really clean and soft, but the conditioner was just ordinary, it didn't do much for my hair, so on my second wash I've decided to use a hair mask instead.

Now here is the problem, whenever I use this shampoo, I can't use any other conditioners or hair masks, nothing penetrates into my hair, is like the conditioner or the hair mask is just sitting on top of my hair, and my hair doesn't feel soft after rinsing.

Since I have pretty dry hair, the conditioner is just not sufficient for my needs, and since the shampoo doesn't work with the hair treatments that I have, I don't think I'll be repurchasing.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 - Oil Free

Shade: Nude
Contents: 1.7 oz
Local of Purchase: Sephora
Price: US$42.00

According to Sephora's webpage:

What it is:
A perfect blend of skincare and makeup that helps control oil-breakthrough and gives skin a sheer hint of color for a healthy, natural glow.

What it does:
This lightweight formula provides ideal protection from the sun’s harmful, damaging rays with broad spectrum SPF 20 UVB/UVA sunscreen. It also controls oil-breakthrough with hydration to prevent dryness and soften and ease fine, dry lines. An antioxidant complex of vitamins C and E acts as a free radical scavenger to protect the skin from even the most aggressive effects of the environment, all while extremely long-wearing color stays true and wears evenly in a natural, semi-matte finish. Non-comedogenic and dermatologist- and allergy-tested to minimize the risk of irritation, it is perfect for all skin types, including sensitive ones.

Ingredients: Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate. Water (Aqua), Disiloxane, PEG -30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenoxyethanol, Boron Nitride, Jojoba Esters, Magnesium Stearate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Squalane, Laryl PCA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetradibutyl Pentaerithrityl Hydroxyhydrocinnammate, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearrate, Disodium Edta, PPG-15, Stearyl Ether, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben. (May Contain) +/-: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxide (CI 77492), Iron Oxide (CI 77491), Iron Oxide (CI 77499).

My Opinion:

I've initially wanted to get the regular tinted moisturizer in which I've read a ton of raves, but when I was at the store, I've noticed that they had an oil free version, so I've decided to get this instead.

I've never tried the original formula, so I can't compare it, but this oil free version is just a light weight tinted moisturizer with really low coverage that didn't vow me. 

I always try out new bases (foundation, bb or cc creams) during the weekend, because I don't want to look like a grease ball or a oompa loompa at work, and I had to admit that I've only been wearing this during weekends, because I need a bit more coverage to be confident enough at work...

I think this would be good for the weekend, or when my skin is looking really good (which isn't happening right now) but I think I'll pass, I need more coverage....