Sometime in October, I had a bad breakout that lasted for a month. At that time I was desperate for a quick solution. As you already know, I’m not a big fan of Korean skincare because some of the are too hydrating on me hence giving me that oily complexion. But some, I love. You know who I turned to when I was doing my research on breakout skincare? The Korean brand of course! Koreans are known for their fair and flawless skin. I want that skin too so I started googling my way to find more info on which Korean skincare brand and products that are able to help with my breakout as well as to give me some of that flawless skin. I stumbled upon a few useful article at ProductNation Malaysia. They have varieties of useful articles on all the latest product reviews and roundups, featuring consumer favourites, on-trend reviews and many more in Malaysia. Beauty wise, ProductNation focuses more on Korean beauty trend, which is exactly right down my alley.

Here are what I learnt from my research and what works best for my skin.

Soothing Cleanser

There are a lot of cleanser specifically meant for acne/oily skin but one of the article in ProductNation mentioned about “soothing” combination skin. The Green Tea line from Innisfree is one of my favourite line so I will recommend this Innisfree Green Tea Cleansing Foam. Besides the green tea extracts, it also has amino acids and minerals to keep the skin supple, smooth and sooth skin irritation. Plus it smells amazing too!

Skin Freshener

This may sound a little cheezy because Mamonde sent me a bottle of the Rose Water Toner a few months ago but the fact is, the Mamonde Rose Water Toner is one of the best toner available in the market, if not in the Korean brand range. For someone who love everything rose, this toner has 90.89% of real rose water extracted from Bulgaria’s Damask roses. Now, where do you get a toner a pure as this! It doesn’t contain mineral oil and all the bad synthetic pigments making this toner absolutely safe to use even for the most sensitive skin.

Soft Face Scrub

Do I even need to say more about this Skin Food Black Sugar Mask? I bought 11 tubs of this and it is the only scrub I used to date. And that it was under one of the product recommendation at ProductNation makes me feel good about my product choice lol. I like this because the sugar will melts off as you are rubbing it on your face therefore it is not painful or harmful to the skin. The skin turned to super smooth, soft and supple after rinsing. I cannot tell you enough how much I love this.

Da Bomb Cream

Over the recent months, I have been extremely intrigued with the brand Belif. I didn’t even know they’re a Korean brand! I’ve heard so much about Belif especially The True Cream – Aqua Bomb. I heard that this one is quite a seller and sort of blossomed into a must-have product. It is a gel moisturizer and has the ability to provide intense moisturization minus the sticky feeling. That is why this product are highly raved everywhere. Besides this cream, there are tons of other more products from Belif that I’ve heard of. Must try to clear out my medium-sized Sephora at home before splurging at Belif

Must-Have Sleeping Mask

If you don’t have at least a tub of the cult Laneige Water Sleeping Mask at home, where have you been! I absolutely LOVE the original blue version and when Laneige launched the Lavender scented Water Sleeping Mask, it sent everyone out running to purchase it. That was because it is a limited edition launch here in Malaysia. I’m going to sound cheezy again because I am using the exact Lavender one at the moment and I’m not surprised ProductNation also recommended it as one of the top 10 Korean skincare products for combination skin.

Pimple Clear Pads

This one is really a no-brainer product to have which I think everyone who constantly has breakout should own at home. The Cosrx One Step Pimple Clear Pads are already pre-soaked in betaine salicylate and willow bark water. It has dual function as a toner and chemical exfoliant. All done after cleansing without irritating the skin. It is said to be super effective in clearing up pimples and cystic acne on the face, chest and even back acne as well. I say this is one bomb product to own. Super convenient too!

Never Skip Whitening

I spoke about the importance of using a whitening product to help lighten the acne marks even before it turned to a mark so many times here in the blog so how could I missed out the Laneige White Dew Original Ampoule Essence. White Dew range is a new range launched not too long again. Always incorporate minimum one whitening product in your skincare routine. It can be a serum, essence or cream. Whichever that is convenient for you and suits your routine. This one particular is a highly concentrated ampoule essence. Not only it can help with improving uneven skin tone, it also said to give a glowing skin. I just recently took out the cream version to use and I didn’t have anything bad to say about it.

One Last Important Product – Clay Mask!

In my recent Breakout Skincare Post, I talk about using mud mask aka clay mask as a must-have weekly treatment ritual. It is important to use something to suck out all the gunks from the inside. The Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask one is not a bad one except that it can be pretty dry. Having said that, I like how the mask contains 6020 mg of Jeju volcanic clay which is effective in removing impurities. It also comes in a mousse version which in my opinion is more convenient. Both works the same and dries down completely. It does have a volcanic ashy scent to it that makes the whole treatment feels like as if you are scooping real volvanic ashes and apply it on your face

There you have it! Korean skincare products for breakout skin recommendation based on my search for the best skincare in Malaysia. Bear in mind these are just some of the products that I find suits my skin and preference. There are tons and tons more products that are also suitable for breakout skin so please do your research thoroughly. You will be amazed with what you can find through Google.

The post Korean Skincare Products for Breakout Skin appeared first on Street Love. by Fiona

In the modern world these days, who doesn’t want to look fair? Literally everyone that lives in the Asian countries are very much into anything that gives our skin the fairness, brightness, luminous and radiant glow. Everybody know I am into brightening beauty regimen although bronzing up the skin to look like as I have sun-kissed skin is my most favourite makeup step to do . However I don’t like to look pitch white overall. What I’m looking for is that radiant and glowing skin. And that is how I embarked onto the Hakubi White C Series regimen. I have tried many whitening or brightening skincare and I have yet to try a brand from Japan. Yes! Hakubi is from Japan. The brand is by Sato Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., an established name in healthcare in Japan, with a presence in the US, Europe and Asia. Most skincare works on the outside aka skin surface but Hakubi’s new White C Series lighten skin blemishes as well as blemishes and freckles from the inside out with its unique formulation. Overall the White C Series range only has two products and each of them are different in its way. A topical skincare – White C Gel to be applied on the skin and White C Plus, an oral supplement. When used together, both products aimed to give the skin a brighter, fairer and healthier skin.

White C Gel (RM97.40 / 20g)

Needless to say, the Hakubi White C Gel was opened and used immediately the minute I got it from the mail man because I was having some breakout and a whitening gel is what I need to lighten the stubborn acne scars.

White C Gel comes in a handy slim white tube with a rather unique fine nozzle tip. I actually like this type of tip as the product is quite liquidy and this type of tip somehow prevent the product from streaming out of the nozzle uncontrollable. It also ensure that I do not squeeze out more than necessary for pin-pointing application. You don’t really need that much actually.

This White C Gel is a liquidy gel. It has no color or any artificial scent to it. It has Vitamin C derivatives and Licorice Extract to help repair the skin from the outside. It has a list of benefits such as:

• clear blemishes and freckles
• suppresses the production of melanin and protects against blemishes and freckles
• tightens, purifies and conditions skin
• maintains a healthy skin
• moisturizes and protects skin
• prevents dry skin and acne
• antioxidant effect prevents acne by suppressing the oxidization of fat
• Licorice Extract or Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate in the gel acts as an anti-inflammatory agent to soothe irritation
• conditions the skin by activating collagen synthesis
• prevents spots after treatment

I used this Hakubi White C Gel day and night. Day time under my makeup, while night time as the last step. However I have to warn you that you have to be careful with the amount to apply because if you apply too much, it hardens up and turned into flakey white surface. Your makeup will definitely look patchy on top of it. So beware of the amount! The reason why I apply this as the last step despite the texture to resemble a serum is because I do pin-point application and I don’t want it to get everywhere. You can also apply the gel on the entire face but as I said before, beware of the amount you apply.

I did also apply it on top of acne just to see how it goes and I’m happy to report that my acne did not worsen but instead it shrunk in size. It doesn’t irritate the skin or acne like other product, which I am very glad. Want to see the Before and After? Continue reading

White C Plus (RM122.85 / 180’s)

I have never taken any whitening supplement before but I wasn’t worried because before this I have heard that this White C Plus supplement is really good and works. I suppose anything that are taken orally are anyhow better and works faster since it is working from the inside out.

This one I admit I am slightly confuse with. I have to Google and ask my friend if the instruction was really 2 tables for 3 times a day. After reading other reviews online, I was less worried and started taking the supplement. It contains Vitamin C, L-Cysteine, Vitamin B6 and Calcium Pantothenate is recommended for daily use. Perfectly safe

The White C Plus comes in a glass bottle and the empty area in the bottle are stuffed with a clear plastic so that the tablets doesn’t move in the bottle.

I’m amazed with how Japanese think thoroughly about their packaging. This bottle of White C Plus has a desiccant canister attached to the inside of the cap. Brilliant! But that means I can’t tilt the bottle and dispense the tablets into the cap LOL. Anyhow I still like the idea.

The tablets are all white, smooth and taste sweet too. There was no weird or nauseating taste. It taste just like sweets! If the White C Gel repairs from the outside, this White C Plus repairs FROM THE INSIDE.

• promotes healing with Vitamin C as antioxidant
• Vitamin C and L-Cysteine to help maintain a healthy body
• L-Cysteine promotes skin metabolism
• Calcium Pantothenate or Vitamin B5 assists Vitamin C to help in carbohydrate and fat metabolism and has a detoxifying effect
• Vitamin B6 activates the metabolism of the skin
• helps regenerate the skin

Some of you may be skeptical about ingesting a whitening supplement but I can tell you after nearly a month of taking this oral supplement that I did not experience any side effect nor do I feel unwell. I really like the idea of taking supplement to help with improving the skin and health overall but since I am kind of new in all this oral supplement regimen, I have my doubts. The main doubt was – does it work? Am I any fairer? Does my skin looked better?

The answer is YES. And it has been amazing. My situation is a bit tricky. On another hand I am breaking out like crazy from trying out other skincare. But at the same time I looked healthier and hence fairer by a fair bit. It is more visible when I have makeup on. I do not have the smoothes skin texture of all time and the other day I took a face photo for a foundation review and my skin looked smoother, less texture than before.

Here are the Before and After photo comparison, after nearly a month of using and consuming White C Gel and White C Plus.

To be honest I was only expecting fairer skin but instead I got a radiant, brighter skin, smoother face texture, pores especially on the inner of my cheeks are visible smaller, and uneven skin tone are visible evened out. I am impressed!

Disclaimer: Product was sent to me for review consideration. This doesn’t affect my judgement in the review in any way.

The post Expecting a Radiant, Healthier Complexion with Hakubi White C Series and I Got More! appeared first on Street Love. by Fiona

Who here like to oil themselves up before bed time? I am a hardcore in bed time routine that I oiled myself up from top to bottom before I sleep with body oil body cream, hand cream, foot cream, face oil, face cream, neck cream, and everything else lol. I know, you must be wondering how do I sleep and how dirty my bed sheets are, eh? I’ve been on the beauty oil aka face oil bandwagon on and off for the past few years. Ever since I was told I need to apply beauty oil ON my oily skin, it has been life changing. Who would have thought applying beauty oil on oily skin can balance the skin’s water and oil level?

To date, I have gone through several bottles of beauty oil from different brands. Some was good while some doesn’t impress me that I took longer to go through them. Typically I do not apply beauty oil on day time under the makeup for fear it will make my makeup “float” on top of the skin as the day goes by. However, this Trilogy No. 15 Limited Edition Beauty Oil is a different story. It is the first beauty oil I’ve used that is not oily and I’m able to have it under my makeup. Everyone is talking about the beauty oil sale at TNS Skin Lab because all of them are on 20% OFF and it is really cheap for a beauty oil. So I thought I would tell you about this Trilogy No. 15 Limited Edition Beauty Oil before the sale ended.

This year would be Trilogy’s 15 years in the industry. And to celebrate the milestone, Trilogy came out with this No. 15 Beauty Oil which has 15 super-seed oil blend such as Adansonia digitata (baobab) seed oil, Macadamia (macadamia) ternifolia seed oil, Prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil, Vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, Ribes nigrum (black currant) seed oil, Prunus avium (sweet cherry) seed oil, Lycium chinense (goji) fruit extract, Pongamia glabra (karanja) seed oil, Aleurites moluccanus (kukui) seed oil, Brassica alba (mustard) seed oil, Carica papaya (papaya) seed oil, Passiflora incarnate (passion flower) seed oil, Pistacia vera (Pistachio) seed oil.

All the ingredients are sourced all over the world to make this so-called super oil. If you look at the ingredient list, this beauty oil has nothing but pure plant oils. Each ingredient has its own benefits but to sum this beauty oil up, it is a product that promote healthier skin. That’s it? Of course not. Nowadays literally all skincare helps to protect the skin against environmental aggressors and so does this No. 15 Beauty Oil. It also repairs the skin. So do not expect anything less from this little brown bottle.

Speaking of the bottle, I like that Trilogy packaged their super oil in a brown amber bottle as this type of bottle are known to help protect the content from deteriorating. Having said that, it doesn’t mean you can open this up and let it sit for years and years. No. It means you don’t have to worry the oil will go bad in a short period of time after it is opened.
Like any other beauty oil, it comes with a glass pipette. The oil is quite liquidy in texture so you don’t really have to squeeze the dropper hard to dispense 2 – 3 drops of oil.

Texture wise, it is liquidy. It has a light yellow color to it. When it comes to all natural product, I am quite particular with the scent. This one does have an earthy scent to it. Not my favourite but as long as it doesn’t make me nauseas, I am fine

For day time usage, I am sticking to what the instruction said – 2 – 3 drops. It’s not enough for me and I didn’t want to screw up my makeup so it is fine. But for night time, I go all out. I used 4 drops at least, warm it up with both of my palm and pat onto my face section by section. It goes on the face dry because you are patting the product onto the skin. It stays dry, non-sticky and not oily. It’s really odd for a beauty oil but I like it this way.

Want a good news? Here’s a good news. This Trilogy No. 15 Limited Edition Beauty Oil may be a limited edition item that has a whopping FIFTEEN types of pure plant oil but, it is also the cheapest item within TNS Skin Lab. It is currently retailing for RM86.40 for 30ml  after 20% OFF from RM108. That is one good deal for a pure plant beauty oil that has not even one single bad ingredient. Just 15 super seed oil blend!

Disclaimer: Product was sent to me for review consideration. This doesn’t affect my judgement in the review in any way.

The post Falling Back Into Beauty Oil Regimen Thanks to Trilogy No. 15 Limited Edition Beauty Oil appeared first on Street Love. by Fiona

I have come to a realization that oil suspending in water type of skincare is somehow not doing my skin good.
I don’t know what is it that I am currently having massive breakouts from a similar product, which also has oil suspending in a serum. At the same time, I was also using this Hada Labo Hydrating Oil-in Lotion. Let me tell you something – this lotion has got to be the most exciting product that I’ve gotten from the mail because I saw this at the drugstore earlier and I was super interested with it. I like beauty oil and especially now that my skin is more mature and more dehydrated that anything that has oil in it will automatically be in my favourite list.

Hada Labo are always known as the Japanese brand that has hydrating lotion that is more thicker in texture like an essence. So when the new Hada Labo released Hydrating Oil-in Lotion that has watery consistency, boy oh boy I am shocked! In fact, the Hada Labo Hydrating Oil-in Lotion is THE FIRST oil-in lotion product. What does the oil-in lotion mean? It is a “toner” that combines water and oil. The idea is to allow oil to adhere on the skin to retain moisture better, while the water penetrates deep into the skin with more hydrated. This is a product that you have to ditch you facial cotton as it is a product that need to be applied using both palms.

I’m not going to show you the water texture like how I did with other skincare review because it looked just like water. So what’s the point right? . Having said that, it may look like a normal water but it uses nano encapsulated and dispersion technology so that the product feels like water AND nourishes like beauty oil do. It has plant-derived squalene oil (not from whale ya) in the lotion so that it penetrates into the skin through nano-dispersion technology so that the oil is solubilized in water for a transparent, ultra-light, pleasant and comfortable feeling. You know what’s good about this oil-in lotion idea? Oil and water balance!!

Disclaimer: Product was sent to me for review consideration. This doesn’t affect my judgement in the review in any way.

The post Hada Labo Hydrating Oil-In Lotion, A Great Idea for Oil and Water Balance for the Skin appeared first on Street Love. by Fiona