Skincare Haul: VMV HYPOALLERGENICS

It was an amazing week last week. I won a S$200 VMV HYPOALLERGENICS voucher from Urban! HOORAH! 

Prior to the win, I have known nothing about the brand, so I decided to do some google magic, and I liked what I read, so I couldn't wait to redeem the products!!

VMV HYPOALLERGENICS Website: http://www.vmvhypoallergenics.com/

VMV HYPOALLERGENICS SG Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/VMVHYPOALLERGENICS.SG 

 

I especially like the slogan - Skinfatuated, Skintellectual, Skingenius. Reading it already makes me feel like buying the entire line. :P 

There's only one boutique in Singapore currently, and if you are interested to get some skincare goodies from VMV HYPOALLERGENICS after reading this post (hopefully I helped in one way or another haha), then head down to ION Orchard, #B3-48! 

Also, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the VMV lady who was so nice and helpful to me during my visit. I forgot her name, but if any VMV bosses are reading this, it's the lady who served me on 5th February at around 730pm! She was beyond amazing! So patient with all her explanations and the best thing was she didn't pressure me to buy anything. She's an amazing asset, so please give her a pay rise!!! 

OKAY, time for haul photos!! :D 

Id Facial Clean & Shave Cream (S$35 for 120ml) - obviously this is not for me. Heh. :D 

Creammmy Rich Intense Moisture Milk (S$41 for 120ml) - this is for my mom.
Spring Fresh Oil-free Nourisher (S$41 for 120ml) - this is for me! 

Spring Cleaning Oil-Control Anti-Bacterial Facial Scrub (S$32 for 120ml) 

VMV Starter Kit - Safe Skin Haven (S$50 for 6 travel-sized products)

The VMV Starter Kit was awesome. It contains 6 miniature products and I think I'm gonna pack them for my Japan trip in May! :D

Here are the 6 products!

The lady was very very very nice, and she included some samples for my mom and I. She remembered me saying that I have oily skin, while my mom has dry skin, so she gave free sunblock samples according to our skin types. She is just very nice lah, I never praise anyone praise until like this before.

And the sun block samples are so cute!! Look at the packaging!! :D They even included a spatula for you to dig out the product. Heehee. The amount of effort VMV HYPOALLERGENICS put into a SAMPLE. The moment I saw this, I knew I'm going to spend my money on these products when I'm working next time.

Also, VMV HYPOALLERGENICS toners all contain alcohol. Not the bad types of alcohol though. I remember her saying something about plant-based or plant-derived alcohol. Whenever you purchase a toner (or a slightly strong serum), they will give you an Application Frequency Chart to help you slowly incorporate the product into your routine. Apparently, the alcohol can gave differing effects on different people and hence it's better to use the product sparingly initially to expose the skin to the new chemicals, and then increase the frequency of usage slowly.

I think it's a very smart move! This way users can follow the chart without being too confused on what is "sparingly" and how exactly to "increase the frequency". User-friendliness, FULL MARKS.

So far, I have only used the oil-free nourisher and the Id sweat acne and overall anti-bacterial gel, and they have been amazing on my skin. No new breakouts and my face has been less shiny. My mom has yet to try her products. I will provide an update on that in the future!

Sometimes, more costly products do work! :)

Happy Chinese New Year!! Have a great holiday and enjoy yourselves!! :)

First Impressions: VanityTrove for August 2012

It took me quite a while to decide whether or not I wanted to jump onto the surprise beauty boxes' ship. I wasn't sure what to expect out of these boxes and finally last month I decided to purchase on for my birthday month! 

Here's the link for those who want to subscribe to it to VanityTrove! The subscription for September 2012 box ends in 14 days' time! http://www.vanitytrove.com/sg

I think I'm definitely buying the September 2012 box. The theme is Fall in Love: Beauty Made for the Season. SOUNDS SO AMAZING ALREADY! :D 

Let's now check out the August 2012 VanityTrove! 

Delivery was extremely efficient. The management even sent out a mass email when one of the items (that was to be packed in the box) was late and so the delivery might be delayed. Excellent service! 

The box itself is very sleek. I have kept the box to store my sample beauty and skincare products. Great for storage, especially for people like me who have too many things, but too little space. 

The August 2012 VanityTrove was dedicated to "Rocket Science" - products that use the latest technology to create wonders to the respective body parts.

I also received a Zalora.sg voucher coupon and an Eyebrow Design session for 50% at Erabelle! I just booked my eyebrow treatment session, so yay to pampering for the eyes! Ok, perhaps not pampering because it's going to be painful, but it makes my face look more tidy, so YAY!

Look at the myriad of products!

VanityTrove also included a brochure of what products you can expect to get in your VanityTrove box! For some categories, they had choices of what we may get, so another VanityTrove box may be different from yours!

For "Milk Treatment" - I was given the Scottish Fine Soaps Company Au Lai Shower Gel

For "Magic Mixers" - I was given the FULL-SIZE Majolica Majorca Eyes Reset Gel

For "Made to Fit" - I was given the Morillins Eyes Therapy Mask

Some VanityTreats from Watsons were also included, like Biore Aqua Jelly Makeup Remover, Skin 79 BB Cream Series sample sachet and Neutrogena Deep Clean Brightening Mulberry Foaming Scrub.

WOOOOOHOOOOO!

I love this surprise open-box concept. Even my sister was sitting next to me asking me to open everything. :D

Morillins Eyes Therapy Mask - firming and revitalizing! I have yet to try this, but am gonna do so tonight!

A mini sample of origins Plantscription Anti-aging Eye Cream. This is tiny, but you don't need a lot of product for a single application, hence, this will last me for quite some time. A free 20-min mini facial was also included! I gave that to my mom because she needed it more than me.

3 SAMPAR samples. SAMPAR is a French brand and I knew nothing about it until this box came! This is why I love the concept - you get introduced to indie brands and perhaps they have killer products! Can't wait to try these out!

I was given the SAMPAR Poreless Magic Peel, SAMPAR Equalizing Foam Peel and SAMPAR Glamour Shot.

I can also redeem some other SAMPAR products! :D

SAMPAR Poreless Magic Peel - like a moisturiser to attack huge pores.

SAMPAR Equalizing Foam Peel - this is more of an exfoliator.

 SAMPAR Glamour Shot - makeup base! I can't wait to try this!

Some BRANDS product! I'm quite surprised at how normal tasting there were. I drank both of them chilled and they tasted quite good! In my mind, BRANDS = Chicken Essence and I hate chicken essence.

The Scottish Fine Soaps Au Lait Bath & Shower Gel (50ml). This smells like heaven, and the smell lingers on your skin for quite some time. What a product. I can't believe I'm loving the bath product most. 

A full-sized Majolica Majorca Eyes Reset Gel! I love makeup removers and so I'll be reviewing how well this product removes eye makeup! 

Here are the VanityTreats from Watsons! And yes, I did receive two of the Biore Aqua Jelly Makeup Remover!

Definitely will be purchasing the September 2012 one soon! Will you be subscribing to VanityTrove too? :)

First Impressions: Mizon ALL IN ONE SNAIL REPAIR CREAM + Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream

I have been hearing so many good things about snail creams! So eager to try them out, especially now when my skin is getting older and older. Sigh~

Anyway, here is some information on snail creams and how they are good for you!

What is snail cream?

• It's a moisturiser that is rich in snail secretion filtrate. It's basically the slime that the snail produces to rapidly repair any damage to its organ, including its skin. A good visual will be when a snail has a crack in its shell, it produces this slime to rapidly repair its cracked shell! And yes, it's a very irksome concept because we are dealing with slime here, but well there's always groundbreaking discoveries in the skincare industry, no? At least, this is natural! 

Are we killing snails to get the snail secretion filtrate?

• Definitely not. The slime is extracted from live snails without any harm done to the snails themselves. 

Is it safe to use on human skin? You know snail organs are not similar to human skin!

• Well, I'm not a scientist so I can't really answer this question myself. However, after a quick google, the slime is actually immediately homogenized and stabilised to make it suitable for usage on human skin. Something about avoiding hydrolysis os its enzymes and proteins. I'm really bad at chemistry so pardon my jarring ignorance and refusal to learn properly haha. 

Main ingredients in snail secretion filtrate:

• Allantoin - healing, moisturizing and soothing benefits; this made it possible to use even on sensitive skin. 
• Collagen - every woman's best friend, FIRM THOSE CELLS TIGHT. 
• Elastin - protein that helps to keep skin flexible but tight; helps with the "bounce-back skin" concept, which in long term helps with wrinkles and fine lines.
• Glycolic Acid - exfoliating agent for smoother skin by removing dead skin cells. 

For more information, refer to this: http://www.lamucosmetics.com/services.htm 

Benefits of using snail creams:

• Relieve trouble marks
• Improve fine lines and wrinkles
• Tighten pores
• Make skin smoother
• Improve resilience of the skin (bounce-back effect)
• Recover the strength of the skin (something like immune system)

I can go on and on about the benefits, but you get the point, IT'S JUST TOO GOOD TO MISS RIGHT? So of course I was on cloud nine when I saw Mizon All In One Snail Repair Cream going for a much more affordable price on Qoo10. JUST BUY!

Another plus point was that the seller was having a buy-one-get-another-product-free promotion! I think it's still going on! Do visit the link below if you are interested in the product! :) 

Link: http://list.qoo10.com.sg/gmkt.inc/Goods/Goods.aspx?goodscode=405677370

Pictures time! :D

Delivery was a very pleasant process. I ordered on 13th June, the seller confirmed and sent out my order on the 14th, and I received it on the 21st. It's from S. Korea and they deliver to YOUR DOORSTEP. Madness service, I tell you! 

My free product was the Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream, and the seller included 2 sachets of the All In One Snail Repair Cream in the packaging. Very nice of the seller! :)

I realised whenever you buy beauty or skincare product from Korean sellers, they will not fail to include free samples. AMAZING SERVICE.

The Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream is a multi-purpose product:

1. can be used together with the Repair Cream to accelerate the regeneration of skin cells, or
2. can be used alone as a sleeping mask. 

This product has 74% of snail secretion filtrate, while the Repair Cream has 92%!

Ingredients List

Came sealed, so I was assured that it was authentic. 

The texture of the Gel Cream is a very light one. It's as if you are applying very beneficial water on your skin. I don't think there's any oil used in the product also, so it's definitely good for those with oily skin! 

First impressions:

• No sticky feeling
• Absorbed very very very quickly
• Skin feels smooth and somewhat matte
• Fragrance-free (major plus point because it's snail slime and people expect it to be smelly and all) 
• Dabbing actually help to make the product get absorbed faster

It was recommended that the Gel Cream is only used AFTER you use the Repair Cream, which is what I'm going to talk about next!

Ingredients List

Note that this is supposed to be used RIGHT AFTER cleansing and toning. What I do is usually apply this after my toner, and then my Philosophy Hope in a Jar Oil-Free Gel and then the Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream!

Came nicely packaged...

Product packaging itself is very hygienic-looking. I know the term "hygienic-looking" is a rather odd term to use, but you know that kind of packaging that makes you feel like it came out of a lab and it's for sure going to work kind. HAHA. It's just professional looking and expensive looking and all those good stuff. 

Came with a cover, so that's very good too! No more sticky mess on the cover (unless you are really terrible at being tidy and clean).

The cream itself feels more thick than the Gel Cream. It's also definitely more opaque visually.

First impressions:

• Absorbed into the skin crazily quick. WOAH. 
• Not sticky AT ALL even though it was thicker in formulation. 
• Fragrance-free (WOOHOO)
• I think this is also water-based and oil-free
• The amazing thing is when I applied it for the first time, I had a raw pimple scar (Ya, I burst a fully ripe one, itchy fingers I KNOW I KNOW), so it was red and ugly and urgh. The next morning, my skin was very evidently less red, and not so oily. It's crazy! What is this miraculous cream!?!
• No tingly sensation/itchy feeling after you apply it. 
• Until now, I have no unexpected skin reactions towards the cream, so yay! 

I'm FOR SURE going to continue using the products, it's crazy miraculous! :D GO GO BUY IT! Qoo10 having Great Singapore Sale some more, DOUBLE YAY!

UPDATE on September 2012 (above post was written on 22nd June 2012):

I have stopped using this product because it gave me crazy breakouts. The reason why I'm getting help medically for my troubled skin now was partly because of this product. Hence, if you are someone who has oily skin, please refrain from using this product! 

However, I gave the product to my mom and it seemed to be working wonders on her. Her skin type is dry-normal and she even noticed firming effects after 2 months of using it! 

So, my verdict is, only use it if you have dry-normal skin type!