Sidmool Secret of Red Astaxanthin Concentrate Review

I always had problem with defining my skin undertone: warm or cool? Yellow or pink? When I look on my hands I would say I have yellow undertone, but then my face is obviously pink. Pink to the point when it started to annoy me. And I'm no talking about pink cheeks (I think everyone know as least one person who has always pink cheeks ;) ), but about the whole face being pink, like I'm constantly blushed.
In my flat the bathroom mirror is hung perpendicularly to the toilet. So whenever I go to the loo I'm used to see something pink in my peripheral vision - my pink, not necessarily beauty, face. But one morning when I went half awake to my bathroom I almost had a heart attack when I caught a glimpse of something white in the mirror. I came closer and could not believe my eyes - my face was pale and bright. What happened? Well, I'm using Sidmool Astaxanthin Concentrate from over a month.

Product description: Secret of deep ocean - astaxanthin, natural anti-oxidant for milky skin.
How to use: after the essence, apply an appropriate amount gently around the eyes or spread over face with gentle pat.

Astaxanthin is natural pigment of animals and plants, giving them red colour. It's in shells of prawns, crabs and lobsters, feathers of flamingos and in salmon's muscles. Astaxanthin has ability of absorbing UV rays and it's one of the strongest known antioxidants - it is estimated that astaxanthin can be up to six times more effective as an anti-oxidant than vitamin E and Beta-karoten! Astaxanthin also accelerates skin renewal process, strengthens the protective function of the epidermis, prevents water loss from skin, stimulates production of collagen and elastin. Applied topically can reduce melanin production by as much as 40%.
Sidmool's concentrate is made of Astaxanthin in 98,7% . Remaining 1,3% of the product is Butylene Glycol (solvent) and plant extracts: grapefruit extract (rich in vitamin C, brightening and purifying), eucalyptus and clove extracts (antibacterial), Sophora Angustifolia extract (inhibiting melanin production) and Yuzu fruit extract (skin brightening).
Looking just at the ingredients product seems to be perfect for skin battling with first signs of ageing, acne and pigmentation - perfect for me then!

INCI: Astaxanthin, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Flower Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Cellulose Gum
Ingredients Analysis [HERE]

Product is in a plastic 30ml bottle with pump applicator. The bottle is packed in  characteristic for Sidmool brown cardboard box. The concentrate is runny, so to apply it I first have to pump some on my palm and then pat into skin. I use two or three pumps for my whole face - two if I want to top it up with some other products, three if I finish my skin care regimen with it.

The liquid is a bit oily, takes a while to absorb and leaves filmy feeling on skin. Maybe some dryer skins would find it suitable for day use, for my oily skin is a nighttime only product. It's perfect to use after high frequency treatment - after Darsonval my skin is a bit dried out and absorbs everything like crazy. After treatment  concentrate is absorbed so well that I can easily top it up with some other product, for example Baviphat Sleeping Pack.

My product is running low and the pump catches air - that's why the bubbles appear

After application my skin is moisturised, smooth and soft. I didn't have any breakout in a while (suspicious =.=), so I'm not sure how the product would work for severe acne sufferers. For me it does fantastic job of toning down my skin tone, which is now brighter and more even. I'm not pink like a piglet any more, finally my face doesn't stand out from my neck so much. I don't know what had caused this pinkness on my face at the first place, but whatever it was it has been defeated by Sidmool :)

Piglet no more!

Price: approx. £10 on e-Bay.

Pros:
+ moisturises and smooths skin
+ evens out skin tone, brightens
+ very good ingredients with high astaxanthin content
+ considering the outstanding results very cheap

Cons:
- a bit oily
- takes a while to absorb

Summary: I am really pleased with this product, I'm about to finish off my bottle and I'm sure I'm going to buy it again. I think this product will stay on my "Certainty list" - products I rely on and always keep them handy in case some new product won't work out. I am pleasantly surprised how even my skin tone is now and I'm sure it's thanks to this particular product and the moment I am using up all my "old" skincare - Hada Labo Kiwamizu, Purebess Snail Gel, Baviphat Sleeping Pack - none of them has such a powerful whitening properties. The only thing that makes me wonder is why I noticed the change in my skin tone so suddenly - but it's probably because when I get up to work it's dark yet and when I'm coming back from work is dark already, at work I wear make up so for a long time I didn't have chance to have a look at myself in natural light.

Shiseido Anessa Whitening UV Protector A+ SPF50+ PA++++ Review

UV rays are not good for our skin, so we should use UV filters to protect ourselves. We know that, yet still many of us decides to ignore this knowledge and just rely on low SPF included in moisturisers or make up products. I was like that myself and for a very long time I was relaying on BB Cream's SPF only, but the ugly truth is that we simply don't put enough of BB/CC Cream on our skin to make the SPF work properly. I knew that, but I still resisted the idea of using separate sunscreen, as I got oily skin and I was afraid of putting an extra product on it. Especially that sunscreen brings to my mind greasy lotions that my mum used to slash over me on the beach when I was a kid... but some reviews on Asian skincare blogs proved me wrong. Thanks to one of the Polish skincare blogs, Green Tea Love I decided to cure myself from ignorance and buy my first UV-blocker. It was meant to be Hada Labo UV Whitening Emulsion, but before I managed to order it, the owner of My Asian Skincare Story blog started a little jumble sale - selling of products that she didn't like or had too many of. That's where I spotted Anessa UV protector. The blog owner described it as a suitable for oily skin and it includes my favourite skincare promise of whitening... so there was no other way, I had to have it!

Product description: Sunscreen 2in1 milk that protects skin from signs of ageing and dark spots and acts as make up base. It contains Shisheido-developed M-Tranexamic Acid which suppresses melanin production and prevents freckles and dark spots. Milky formula leaves skin soft and smooth, ready for make up application. Resistant to sweat and sebum, removable with face wash.

The main UV blockers in this product are chemical:  Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, also known as Tinosorb S and Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, also known as Octinoxate or Octyl methoxycinnamate. At the very end of ingredients list we will also find physical blocker: Zinc Oxide.

Product also contains moisturising hyaluronic acid, anti-inflammatory and cleansing thyme extract and turmeric root extract, which has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and skin brightening properties.

Ingredients: Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Alcohol, Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Hydrated Silica, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glycerin, PPG-17, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Isostearic Acid, Dimethylacrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Succinoglycan, Citric Acid, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Silica, Ethyl Ascrobic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycerrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Extract, Soluble Collagen, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Fragrance, Zinc Oxide Ingredients Analysis [HERE]

Product is in a plastic 60ml bottle. The bottle is sleek white opalescent pink - my favourite colour combination ^^ The milk has a pleasant scent, overall product leaves very good first impression of simplicity and neatness.

The milk has lightweight texture. After application I can still feel in on my face for a while, it needs a moment to absorb into skin. Once it gets absorbed my skin feels great - slightly moisturised, smooth and not shiny (I heard a lot of complaints about different sunscreens that they leave skin shiny). Anessa is giving almost matte finish to the skin - it's not a full matt, but slightly satin-like, very natural looking. It doesn't leave white cast on skin.

Now the best part - Annesa offers quite decent sebum control. As I said above, I was afraid to use UV blockers, because I thought they would increase my skin skin oiliness - however this product was a very pleasant surprise. The sebum control is not mind blowing, but enough to make me feel difference and because I didn't expect any sebum control it really impressed me.
Now for the doubling up as a make up base - well, it won't cover enlarged pores, but thanks to the sebum control, make up is able to look well on my skin for longer. However you must be careful with product choice, as not every BB Cream goes well with the sunscreen - for example Holika Holika Petit Clearing BB is oxidising terribly applied on top of anything. Fortunately ma favourite Tony Moly Petite Cotton BB creates a nice duo with Anessa, Maybelline Satin Liquid Foundation also performs well. Unfortunately I cannot use one of my favourite BB's Lioele Dollish Veil Vita on top of the sunscreen. Because it contains pigment capsules, it requires rubbing skin during application to achieve the right colour. However bear in mind that if you apply anything on top of your filter you shouldn't rub, just gently pat, otherwise you may rub your protection off!

Price: Product is available on Rakuten from 24$ and Amazon from £35.

Pros:
+ lightweight texture
+ sebum control
+ doesn't leave white cast
+ gives satin, almost matte finish
+ noncomedogenic

Cons:
- a bit pricey
- unavailable on e-Bay

Summing up: I feel really lucky that I could start my adventure with sun blocks with such a good product. It definitely encouraged me to try other Asian sun blocks and if any new sunscreen fails me, I will have that one to come back too. Highly recommended product :)

If you plan to buy it, pay attention to bottle's appearance and product description - my version is the newest one, formula has changed in 2014. The older version has pink bottle and lover protection - SPF32 PA+++.

Anessa has couple of different sun blocks to choose from - if you search for "Anessa" on Amazon or Rakuten you may see both bottles and tubes. The main difference is that products in bottles have milky texture, while products in tubes are gels.

Waterproof milk for face and body

Waterproof gel for face and body

Tinted UV blocker available in two shades

Beauty therapy at home: High Frequency Electrotherapy (Darsonval)

If you ever experienced manual cleansing (extraction) at beauty salon you may recognise this "funny glass thing that lights up, makes weird noises and smells like rain". It's Darsonval - device using high frequency current, an electrotherapy instrument. It was invented by french doctor and physicist, Jacques-Arsène d'Arsonval.

I am a happy owner of this device from couple of months. I honestly consider it as one of my best beauty investments EVER. So today I would like to tell you a little bit more about electrotherapy at home.

My device's box

How does it work?
Device uses currents  between 300 and 500 kHz. The glass electrode tubes are filled with noble gases. After connecting glass electrode with handpiece and turning the device on, the electrode will light up in blue or orange. Glass electrode produces then high frequency current and creates ozone at it's surface. The current warms up tissue and enlarges blood vessels, while ozone has disinfecting properties. High frequency treatment accelerates blood circulation and improves skin metabolism, kills germs and improves absorption of cosmetic products.

Inside the box - the handpiece and four glass electrodes

Depending of what model of the device you will buy, there are few different kinds of electrodes. My set has four of them:

From left: the handpiece, the comb electrode for scalp treatment, the "mushroom" electrode for large areas, the "point" electrode for spot treatment and "spoon" electrode for hard to reach areas.
In bigger sets you may also come across T-shaped electrode for chin and neck or roller electrode for large body areas.
On the bottom of the device, next to cable, there is a little knob to regulate device's power.

What can you achieve with high frequency treatment?
Darsonval has a long list of possible skincare benefits. It's helpful in treatment of:
- acne
- skin irritations
- seborrhoea
- folliculitis
- hair loss
- dandruff
- eczema
- wrinkles and sagging skin
- enlarged pores
- herpes
- scars and pigmentation
- frostbites
- circulation problems

Contraindications for high frequency treatment:
- pregnancy! The current can harm the baby or even cause miscarriage
- metal objects in body - including braces
- open injuries, wounds
- high blood pressure
- heart diseases
- asthma
- fever
- sensitive skin with visible caterpillars
- rosacea
- epilepsy
- nervous hyperactivity and other nervous system disorders
- fear of electricity

What made me buy my own device?
The high frequency treatment saved my life (or rather face) when I forgot to take my acne antibiotics with me on my holiday. I experienced the worst break out ever: the bottom part of both my cheeks was hot, inflamed mess. I had an appointment in beauty salon for diamond microdermabrasion, but my therapist seeing the state of my skin decided to give my high frequency and ultrasound treatment instead. The effects were great - the inflammation and redness were visibly reduced. After my holiday I changed my antibiotics (the ones that I take now don't change my face into hot mess if I forget to take them), my skin calmed down and somehow I just forgot about the electrotherapy.
Darsonval reminded me of itself when I accidentally came across a review of it on one of the beauty blogs. The review was very positive and remembering that this device helped me with my terrible break out I purchased it without second thoughts.

Is the high frequency treatment painful?
Depending on what level of power we will operate, we may feel from nothing, through tingling sensation to prickling. The tolerance is different on different parts of the body and our skin gets used to it, so the best option is to start low and slowly increase power during next treatments. I was starting treatment of my face at the lowest possible setting, now I am kind of half way through the power scale. My back I could treat with higher power straight away. In general you should never exceed your comfort level.

High frequency treatment step by step:
1. Cleanse your skin - take off all dirt, sebum and make up. Darsonval treatment dries skin out a little bit, so better use the mildest cleansing method available. I normally use cleansing oil and foam, but for high frequency treatment I use cream cleanser. If you wash you face make sure to dry it properly with towel/tissue, if you use cream cleanser/miceral solution give skin a moment to dry, as the treatment has to be proceed on completely dry skin. Using the device on wet skin may cause glass electrode to break!
2. Choose the right electrode. Electrodes should be used according to their destinations - so comb for the scalp, "mushroom" for the face and other large areas, the "point" for spots only. The "point" electrode is the strongest one - so if I use "mushroom" with average power, I need to take the power level down a little before switching to spot treatment.
3. Gently massage your skin with electrode. There is only one rule to follow: do not keep the electrode in one spot for longer than 10 seconds. Longer application may result in skin irritation or in worse case scenario even burn! There are three methods of application:

• Indirect application - before the application coat the electrode in some talcum powder. Method recommended for sensitive skin. Other method is to put on skin some thick gauze and proceed treatment through it. This method is also applicable if you want to use Darsonval to penetrate ampoules deeper in skin, however they have to be oil based ampoules, because water based ones may cause electrode to burst. There are other devices used to penetrate water based products.
• Direct application - apply electrode directly to skin.
• Spark application - the electrode is close to skin, doesn't touch it, but connects with skin by spark (sounds terrible, but it's not ;)). It's easiest to achieve spark with "point" electrode so I use this method for spot treatment only. This method should not be used in eye area! If you have to proceed it anywhere relatively close to your eyes, you should protect your eyes with, for example a piece of damp gauze.

"Mushroom" electrode during treatment

as you can see the electrode lights up and works only in a place of direct contact with skin

4. After the treatment - Darsonval tightens and dries skin a little bit, so it's good to have some well moisturising products handy. If you have any cosmetic products that is a little bit heavy, oily, takes a while to absorb - it will be perfect to use after high frequency treatment, as skin after treatment soaks everything up like crazy. I pat two layers of Hada Labo lotion first, then I use Sidmool serum with astaxanthin, which is a bit oily and normally takes a while to be absorbed, however after treatment my skin soaks it up quickly. Normally I don't use any other products on top of that serum, however after treatment my skin is quite happy to soak up some dessert, so I finish off with my Baviphat Snail Sleeping Pack.

Sidmool Astaxanthin concentrate - my favourite product for use after High frequency treatment. It has skin brightening, anti-inflammatory and skin regenerating properties. It costs around £11 on e-Bay.

5. Disinfection - neither the hand piece nor electrodes cannot be immersed in water. To clean and disinfect your device soak a cotton pad in alcohol (minimum 70% ethanol) and simply wipe your device.

What happens if we overuse treatment?
If you treat your skin with too much power or hold electrode too long in one spot you may experience redness and some swelling. If these symptoms persist after 24h from treatment you should treat it as electrical burn and see your doctor.

Is the treatment effective?
It's VERY effective :) I use this device on myself, my fiance and couple of my friends and so far I noticed great results in treating three different skin conditions:
1. Acne - I battle with acne since I was 13. Since February last year I am on antibiotics, which helps to keep my acne under control, however I still have to deal with some spots from time to time. Darsonval works magic with nodular and cystic acne - my biggest trouble are painful bumps on the skin, either hard (nodules) or filled with puss (cysts). Whenever I feel that some spot on my face becomes harder and sensitive to touch I treat this spot with high frequency up to two times daily. Darsonval just after 2-3 treatments can bring the puss to the surface of the skin, transforming painful cysts into casual spot. And trust me, "casual" spots are much easier to deal with than cysts ;) Different kind of acne haunts my decolletage and back - red bumps on the skin (without white top), called papules. The high frequency treatment helps with them as well, they just disappear...
High frequency treatment also helps my friend with her acne - she had never experienced acne as a teenager, but after she turned 50 her skin breaks out from time to time. In her case Darsonval beautifully dries out the spots and speeds up the healing process.
2. Dandruff - my fiance has long term problems with dandruff. On his scalp there were large, red and flaky spots appearing. We don't know what it exactly is (I find British health services a bit incompetent...), all doctor told us is "it has nervous background" and "it's not psoriasis". We tried several different pharmaceutical anti-dandruff shampoos: Nizoral, Oilatum, Neutrogena T-gel... However none of them seemed to give any significant results. But do not fear, there is high frequency treatment available! My fiance was very sceptical, but I managed to convince him and for two weeks I was treating his scalp every day. After the first week there was no results, during the second week red spots got smaller and paler, after two weeks they just disappeared. Since then I give him prevention treatment every couple of days and his scalp stays healthy and doesn't flake any more.
3. Eczema - my friends had eczema, her skin is dry, red and flaky. Her symptoms get worse when she consumes dairy, eggs or alcohol. Once spontaneously I offered her treatment - the effects were really good, just after one treatment her skin looked better, the redness was reduced, especially on her forehead. However I don't know what could further treatment achieve, as she got freaked out with my snail cosmetics and all the other "weird stuff" that I use and didn't want to me continue her treatment.

How much does it cost and where to buy?
Darsonval is easily available and everyone can buy it. I bought mine on e-Bay for £24. You can also have a look on websites offering professional beauty salon supplies - prices of the big, professional devices for high frequency treatments start from £200. Is there a point of buying big, professional machine? I don't know, I have never used one, but for me the small portable one is well enough. I think it would make sense if you would buy multi-task machine, for example 2in1 Darsonval + Galvan. I already have one big professional device 3in1 diamond microdermabrasion + cavitation + ultrasound, so I wouldn't even have room in my house for another big device ;)

Darsonval or Derma Wand?
Some time ago TV selling channels released "innovation beauty device" Derma Wand. Derma Wand is nothing else than a Darsonval device, high frequency treatment with only one, permanently attached small electrode. So if I would have too choose between branded Derma Wand or no-name brand Darsonval device what would I choose? I would go for my no-name for one reason: the electrodes. Can you imagine scalp treatment on long-haired person with that silly small Derma Wand electrode?

Summing up: even though the treatment my look or sound scary (it makes characteristic crackle noises) it is easy to perform treatment and may help in many skin conditions. I can't imagine my life without Darsonval any more, I also plan to buy another device for my mum.
I highly recommend high frequency treatment! :) And considering that in beauty salons prices of high frequency facials start from £20 up, it is really worth to buy your own device.

Laneige Skin Veil Base EX No. 40 Light Purple Review

Hello and Happy New Year! I hope you had great Christmas and New Year :)

Product description: UV ray protecting makeup base giving sleek and soft skin looks with veil-covering effect.

This Base contains three UV filters: Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide, which together give SPF22 PA++.

In the ingredients list we won't find any plant extracts, which disappointed me a little bit, but on the other hand it makes perfect sense. In Skin Food Black Egg Base we could find rice extract, in TCFS Rules of Pore Primer there were some plant extracts and hyaluronic acid, in Laneige's base - nothing. But as I said it makes sense, because at the end of the day base is base, not skincare product and plant extracts among all these silicons wouldn't do much for our skin anyway.

Full ingredients list: Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Trisiloxane, Titanium Dioxide, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Glycerin, Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Talc, Sodium Chloride, Zinc Oxide, Vinyl Dimethicone/methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dimethicone/vinyldimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer, Aluminum Stearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Chromium Oxide Greens, Methylparaben, CI77492, Alumina, Fragrance, Disodium Edta, Propylparaben, Aluminum Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Ingredients analysis [HERE]

The full size product is a 30ml bottle with pump applicator, I bought set of 10 sample sachets, 1ml each. One sample is enough for approx. 3 applications.

This product is available in three colours: No. 20 Light Peach, No. 40 Light Puprle and No. 60 Light Green. The peach one is supposed to revive skin's appearance, the purple one is brightening and the green one tones down any redness. If I could I would try all three of them to compare, unfortunately there are only samples of the purple one available.

This base has a very characteristic consistency - it seems just like any cream, but it feels kind of dry. Because of that dryness it's not very efficient, the amount shown on the pic wouldn't be enough to cover whole face:

Even though it's "dry" and light, it sits on the skin creating perceptible film. Using smaller amount of product may help with reducing that film feeling, however I cannot use it in smaller quantities, because in small quantities it doesn't cover my enlarged pores. In more generous amount it still doesn't exactly cover my pores, but makes them appear smaller and more shallow.

Since this base is not very good at pore covering, what it is good at then?
It works really well if you want to even out and brighten your skin tone.

There is no base on my pinky's knuckle and outside edge of my hand - can you see the difference? Where hand is covered in base my skin appears whiter. This whitening effect may concern some, but believe me - under the make up there is no Twilight effect, skin is just evened out.

For some odd reason this product doesn't like my BB Creams. I think that the cause may lie in BB's nature - BB creams kind of sink in, merge into skin. Because this base doesn't sink into skin itself it also doesn't allow the BB cream to sink in and after approx. 6 hours make up starts to oxidise and look cakey. However the Skin Veil EX goes well with the foundations, as foundations don't have BB's habit of sinking into skin, they just sit on top of the skin just like this base. It makes a great duo with Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid foundation, giving effect of almost perfectly flawless skin. Unfortunately I cannot use foundations on a daily basis (they make my acne worse), so I also gave up using Skin Veil everyday - Skin Veil and Satin Liquid duo is now my set for going out only.

The product has pleasant, but hard to identify smell. It's neutral for sebum production.

Price: the full size product costs about £20 on e-Bay, Amazon, Tester Korea. I bought set if 10 samples for £3 on e-Bay.

Pros:
+ SPF - usually the SPF in primers doesn't matter as we don't put enough of them on our face to make the filtres work, however because this base's consistency requires generous application, it makes me believe that SPF in this product actually works
+ evens out skin tone
+ in a duo with foundation it gives a nice effect of almost perfectly flawless skin
+ nice smell

Cons:
- even when you apply generously it doesn't exactly cover pores
- leaves perceptible film on skin
- doesn't go well with BB creams
- quite pricey

Summary: I'm not sure about this product - it's a decent base, but it didn't blow my mind. A lot depends on your skin needs - the main reason why I want to use primer, is to cover my enlarged pores better, so if you have the same problem give up on that one, cheaper Skin Food Black Egg Pore base did much more better job with my pores. But if you are looking for something that would smooth and even out your complexion - give this a try.

Laneige Skin Veil Foundation

I wonder what effects could I achieve using Skin Veil Base EX with foundation from the same line. Since it worked better with foundation than with BB cream maybe the key to get flawless looking skin is using this two together? Unfortunately it is extremely hard to get hold of foundation samples, but if I ever manage to get some I'll try them together :)

Aritaum Bamboo Charcoal Peeling Gel Review

Aritaum is Korean brand mostly known for make up products. However in May this year they released skincare line Bamboo Charcoal. Products caught my eye and as soon as I started to run out of my Lemon D-Toc Peeling Gel I ordered Aritaum's one.

Product description: Aritaum Bamboo Charcoal Peeling Gel removes old, dead skin cells with bamboo, charcoal & cellulose. Keeps clear skin tone with excellent skin turn over effect. Controls dead skin cells and has moisturising ingredients.
How to use: 1. Wash and dry your face 2. Apply proper amount & spread it to your face all over evenly except the eye & lip area 3. Massage until peels of dead skin cells come out from your skin, then rinse it off with warm water. 4 . It's good to use this product once or twice a week but the number can be adjusted depending on your skin condition. 

Why bamboo and charcoal?

• Bamboo contains silica, that improves skin health by helping the body absorb essential minerals such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Bamboo extract also offers anti-irritant properties, soothing the skin when applied directly through lotions or creams. It also contains anti-oxidants, helping to minimise wrinkles and naturally boost youthful radiance.
• Charcoal has natural detoxifying properties, it draws bacteria, poisons, chemicals, dirt and other micro-particles to the surface of skin. Charcoal powder can adsorb thousands of times its own mass in harmful substances! It's widely used in skin cleansing and purifying products, mostly face masks.

Unpacked bottle

Product comes in 150ml plastic bottle with pump applicator. I must admit that pump is one of the main reasons I've bought this particular peeling gel - so far I was using gels in tubes, when pump is so much more handy! The bottle was wrapped in foil and the pump was protected with blocking clip.

Serial number and date of manufacture

The gel it self is grayish cream, with visible cellulose bits. There are two types of peeling gels - smooth ones like Ginevra Marvel Gel and cellulose ones, like this one. I find that the second type is more popular, from 4 peeling gels I tested so far, 3 of them had visible cellulose bits in it.
Product has lovely, fresh and floral scent.

As you can see on the pictures, after massaging into dry skin cellulose connect with impurities and dead skin cells and rubs of the skin. After washing it off with lukewarm water, skin is smoother and appears brighter. This peeling gel is effective, yet very gentle - I use it every day and it works well for me. Because of my acne I'm not allowed classic scrubs, as they irritate my skin quite badly. Once I had an every day face wash with scrubbing particles and after two weeks I had to stop using it. The cellulose is much more gentle, suitable for use even on sensitive skin.
The downside of it's mildness it that it may not be enough if you have very rough and dry skin. If you need a lot of exfoliation you may try using this every day and support it with scrub once or twice a week.

Now, the problem with cellulose containing peels is that there is always a doubt if they actually cleanse skin on just roll on their own. To check it I always perform my "plate test":

1. I apply peeling gel on clean plate

2. I rub the gel for a minute or so in a clean glove, so it doesn't react with skin on my fingers

3. I check the results:

As you can see the gel didn't roll either on the plate or on the glove, what makes me think that it does really react with impurities in the skin.

Price: around £8 on e-Bay.

Pros:
+ handy pump applicator
+ a little goes a long way - I use it every day from two months and I hardly used 1/3 of the bottle
+ mild, even used every day doesn't irritate my skin
+ skins is brighter after use, pores appear smaller
+ nice scent

Cons:
- opaque bottle, we need to take the pump out to figure out how much we got left in it
- if you are looking for heavy duty exfoliation this may be to gentle, even used everyday


 Summary: I really enjoy using this product I would strongly recommend it :) however I'm not sure if I would buy it again, because I like testing new stuff so much ;)

The whole Aritaum Bamboo Charcoal line contains:

From left: mud pack, peeling gel, bubble gommage and cleansing foam. I think that gommage is especially worth attention, as a type of peeling gel suitable even for very sensitive skin with visible capillaries, as it doesn't contain any type of grains (even cellulose), but enzymes that renew skin.

Beware Mizon Snail Repairing Foam Cleanser...

I love my snail products, but unfortunately not all of them seem to be oh-so-good...

Product description from packaging:  This cleansing foam with snail's mucus filtrate and its ample and elastic bubble washes the skin cleanly.

In the ingredients, among the famous snail secretion filtrate we will also find:

• Gypsophila paniculata ("Baby's breath" - you know, that bunches of tiny white flower that florists add to bouquets to make the look fuller) root extract, which skin care benefits remain unknown to me
• Papaya fruit extract - source of vitamin A and Papain. Vitamin A acts as an anti-oxidant, while the papain breaks down inactive proteins and removes dead skin cells.
• Ivy extract - It has emollient and itch-relieving properties, as well as anti-inflammatory and pain killing actions. It's also circulatory compound and helps other ingredients to be absorbed by the skin.
• Arnica Montana flower extract - has antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and supports healing process.
• Wormwood Extract - a natural antiseptic and anti inflammatory oil said to help heal bites, cuts, sores, blisters and wounds. It also soothes damaged, red skin.
• Yarrow leaf extract - medicinal herb used topically to speed wound healing and improve other skin conditions such as rashes, abrasions, and calm inflamed skin. Contains i.a. salicylic acid that has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties and flavonoidsthat are vital antioxidants protecting against cell-damaging free radicals.
• Gentian (Bitter Root, Bitterwort) - has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties
• Green Tea Leaf Extract - it's a powerful antioxidant, protecting skin cells from the damage caused by free radicals. It is also known to reduce skin swelling and help soothe and condition sensitive skin. 

Sounds great, but don't get too excited, because cleansing foam doesn't sit on our skin for long enough to let the plant extracts work properly :P

Full list of ingredients: Water, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate. Myristic acid, Lauric Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Cocoamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-14M, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Polysorbate 20, Polyquaternium-7, Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, Gypsophila Paniculata Root Extract, Carica papaya, Ivy Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Ethanol, Camellia Sinensis, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance

Ingredients analysis [HERE] 

As you can see on the pictures above, foam comes sealed with foil, there is no extra packaging to it. Under the cap tube is protected with a bit o tin foil. Tube has 60ml capacity.

 

The foam itself is a white, stringy cream with pearly shine to it. As all of the Korean cleansers I tested so far, it behaves like shaving cream - pearly cream with a bit of water and massage turns into rich, thick foam. Product has nice, soapy smell. A little goes a long way - a pea size is well enough to cover the whole face and neck in thick foam.

As for the performance there is nothing special about it. It cleans, leaving the skin squeaky clean, but that's about it. I don't mind squeeky clean, I actually enjoy this feeling as long as it doesn't strip my skin out of all moisture, but unfortunately this foam dries out my skin a little bit. When used on it's own it's bearable, but when used on skin previously cleansed with oil it makes my face really tight and dry. I read couple of other reviews about this product and Cat Cactus in her review said that this cleanser has very high alkaline pH, which is bad for skin. Here you can read her note about importance of using cleansers with right pH for your skin.

Price: from £4 on e-Bay.

Pros:

+ cheap

+ a little goes a long way

+ contains quite a few beneficial plant extracts - even though the foam is not on the skin for long enough to let them work properly, it's nice to know they are there

+ nice smell

Cons:

- dries out skin

- has pH bad for your skin

Summary: I wouldn't recommend this product to anyone. And I'm going to buy myself pH testing litmus papers, so no more harming my skin with alkaline foam cleansers!

Spot emergency: Mizon Acence Blemish Out Pink Spot review

Mizon's Pink Spot is my mate for over a year now - I'm used to see it my bathroom so much now, that I still forget to review it. But finally, today is the day! ;)

Product description:  It works effectively while sleeping at night for soothing skin troubles. The patented formula of AHA, BHA, Calamine and Triclosan relieves acne and prevents it to develop.
How to use: Dip a cotton swab down to the bottom of the bottle and apply only to troubled spots.

Important ingredients:

• Calamine - is either a mixture of zinc oxide (ZnO) with about 0.5% ferric oxide (Fe₂O₃) or a zinc carbonate compound. It's used to relieve pain, itching, and discomfort from minor skin irritations. Also used as a mild antiseptic to prevent infections that can be caused by scratching the affected area, and an astringent to dry weeping or oozing blisters and acne abscesses.
• Salicylic acid - organic acid originally obtained from willow bark. It's a key ingredient in many skin-care products for the treatment of various skin conditions, like acne, psoriasis, calluses, corns, ichthyosis, and, warts etc. It works by causing the cells of the epidermis to shed more readily, opening clogged pores and neutralising bacteria within, preventing pores from clogging up again by constricting pore diameter, and allowing room for new cell growth.
• Triclosan - an antibacterial and antifungal agent.
• Coptis japonica (Japanese goldthread) root extract - contains berberine, a plant alkaloid revered in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. Berberine has various medicinal uses, as a supplement to support treatment of heart diseases, low bone density, diabetise. Used on skin it has anti-bacterial and anti-ageing properties.
• Bilberry (European blueberry) fruit/leaf extract - used in traditional European medicine, has many different healthcare uses. On skin it has anti-aging effects by stabilizing collagen structures. Recent research showed that Bilberry extract has promising anti-ulcer activity.
• Portulaca Oleracea Extract (also known as wild portulaca or pigweed) - has many benefits on skin: soothing effect, accelerating healing process, improving skin's elasticity. As a natural source of vitamins A, C and E and the co-enzyme Q10, is an excellent antioxidant, fighting premature ageing and protecting skin from enviromental damage.
• Cluster pine bark extract -   has anti-oxidant properties and ability to enhance the microcirculation by increasing capillary permeability. Supports healing processes, reduces scar formation.
• Ivy extract - It has emollient and itch-relieving properties, as well as anti-inflammatory and pain killing actions. It's alsoa circulatory compound and helps other ingredients to be absorbed by the skin.
• Sugar Maple Extract - contains naturally occurring Malic Acid (AHA) and is used to promote smoother, younger looking and more clear skin by increasing the rate of cell renewal.
• Sugar Cane Extract -  main source of glycolic acid (AHA), used to promote smoother, younger looking and more clear skin by increasing the rate of cell renewal.
• Orange Fruit extract - soothes sensitive, irritaed skin
• Lemon fruit extract - A natural source of Vitamin C and antioxidant bioflavonoids, protects skin against damage from reactive ozone, has anti-inflammatory properties. 
• Raspberry Fruit Extract - soothing and relaxing to inflamed skin. Excellent for sensitive skin and any irritation from acne, shaving or windburn. 
• Tea tree oil - essential oil with powerful antiseptic properties, widely used in acne treatments, aids in healing and soothing the skin.

Full list of ingredients: Aqua, Alcohol, Calamine, Glycerin, Titanium Dioxide, Glycolic Acid, Dimethyl Sulfone, Camphor, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Salicylid Acid, Triclosan, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Propylene Glycol, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Butylene Glycol, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract, Hedera Helix (Ivy Extract), Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil. 

This product is fairly similar to Etude House AC Clinic Intense Pink Powder Spot. They both contain salicylic acid and they are meant to be used in the same way: make sure the bottle is not shaken, so the powder is settled on the bottom. While dabbing cotton bud into the bottle, it gets first disinfected in the liquid, then it reaches the powder that settles on cotton. Even though you have to pull again through the liquid, the powder stays on the bud and it's ready for application.

The product comes in a blue cardboard box, sealed with "Original Mizon" holographic sticker. The bottle is made of frosted glass and contains 35ml of liquid/powder. It has a strong smell of herbs and alcohol. Cotton buds are not included.

Back of the box

When applied on spot, powder settles on skin, leaving a pale pink, powdery circle - that's why it's recommended to be used at nightime. I do sometimes use it during the day - when I'm not leaving the house, or even before work. Powder mark wipes away easily, if I put a make up on, it will just wipe off during make up application, so if I use it before work, I apply it on my skin minimum 15 mins before applying make up, so it has some time to work on skin. The powder doesn't stain, I've used it at bedtime multiple times and even though in the morning it's gone, there is no marks on my bedding.
During application product may sting a little, because of the alcohol. Fortunately this sensation last only a moment.

Now, does it work?
Yes! But only on certain type of spots.
Mizon's spot powder works topiary, so it won't work on nodules and cysts, that are sitting under the skin. For this kind of trouble acne patches are wroking magic. Spot powder is great to fight "classic spots" - pustules, red bumps with white/yellow top. It dries the spot out and reduces inflammation. It's also helpful when we squeeze - I always apply this powder on top of any squeezed spot, to disinfect the area. It helps to tone down redness and soreness, it takes about 2-3 nights to completely heal average pustule.
A little goes a long way - I use occasionally for about a year now and didn't even used up half of the bottle.

Price: from £10 on e-Bay.

Pros:
+ helps reduce the inflammation
+ disinfects the area
+ soothes irritation after squeezing
+ a little goes a long way 
+ powder doesn't stain fabrics - if used overnight won't mark your bedding

Cons:
- takes about 2-3 nights to treat pustules
- not effective against under skin bumps
- may sting a moment after application

Summary: I like this product and I find it helpful in my acne treatment. It is not a miracle product, it won't magically clear you acne during one night, but it certainly helps to reduce inflammation.