How to be a happier person

Sunday, 30 April 2017 at April 30, 2017

When I was younger, I always thought that happiness is something that someone or something else gives me. I remember being happy when my parents bought me a new phone, when I got to hang out with my friends at the arcade wasting all our pocket money, when it's the school holidays, when I get to play all I want... Sure I was happy. But as I grew up, I came to realise that I need to stop depending on and/or expect others to make myself happy.


I'm sure many of you have heard of the quote "happiness is in your hands", well, it's true! So today, I will be sharing with you 5 tips on how you can control your own emotions and be a happier person. :)

1. Get rid of all things negative and toxic.


This means thoughts, and even people.

Having negative thoughts is human nature, but surprise! It can be controlled. A year ago, I remember having panic attacks because of how much I hated going to work. Personally, I'd consider myself to be a pretty active person and I love keeping myself busy. Doing absolutely nothing is deemed to be a complete waste of time which I, am not a fan of. However, having a desk job completely drained my energy, my time, and my passion to do the things I love and I soon found myself in a slump. These thoughts about wasting my life and not being able to live my life the way I wanted to soon snowballed into more negative thoughts and that was when I started to have panic attacks. I found that this usually happens during the stressful period of work (eg. audit period) and so this year, I decided to fight away my negative thoughts with positive ones. How? Simply be in control of your own thoughts. Whenever you find yourself having negative thoughts, stop, and tell yourself to start thinking positive. For my case, I'd simply tell myself to calm down and think about how I have been working for the past 2 years and how everything managed to work out fine. How I have nice colleagues, and an environment that I am already comfortable in. I noticed that this really helped my train of thoughts turn towards the positive side and it significantly reduced the chances of myself panicking over my job. In my opinion, positive thinking is a great habit to cultivate as can be applied to literally everything. Eg. Complaining about the hot weather while you're heading out to have lunch? Turn those thoughts around and think about how lucky you are that it's not raining so you don't have to carry an umbrella and your shoes will not be soaked!

Negative people are everywhere and sometimes you just got to get rid of them. For the longest time ever, I have never thought about removing people in my life, until I realise how much impact negative and toxic people can have on my own life. So who are these negative people? Well, in layman terms, negative people are basically people we know, friends, acquaintances, colleagues, etc who spread negativity. People who cannot be happy for you, people who are jealous of your achievements, people who put you down to make themselves feel better, people who make you feel bad about yourself, people who spread hate, untrue rumours, and in general, negativity.

Reading negative posts on my feed can really affect my mood, so I decided to take the easy way out and simply remove them from my feed! So about 3 months back, I did a detox on my social media and it was seriously one of the best decisions I have ever made. At this age of time, people throw shades and give unnecessary negative comments all over the internet to "slayyyyyy" others and I don't know, to look threatening and fierce for absolutely no reason, and... I guess I'm just too old for that kind of shit? Removing these negative posts from my feed also helped me notice the kinder and much more meaningful posts that used to be drowned beneath all that negativity.

2. Focus on what's good.

I'm not sure, but I think it's once again human nature to only focus on the bad things because whenever something good happens, we'll simply take it for granted like our lives are supposed to be good like that. Well guess what? It's not. Life is indeed filled with ups and downs and while we ponder about the downs, it is also a must to appreciate and cherish the ups.


Something I'm guilty of is taking my family for granted. Throughout 25 years of living, it's no doubt that the people who truly love and care for me are my family, and yet, how often do I think about them? Definitely not as much as how much I think about the people who treated me badly. While I was showering one night, aka the place where you get brilliant, mind-blowing shower thoughts, this came to my mind and it just hit me. If only, if only we could shift the attention we've been giving to people who don't really care about us, to the people who showed us genuine appreciation and concern... So that was what I did. After I stepped out the shower, I promised myself to focus only on the people who loves me and it felt great. Spending more time with positive people, people who supports me, understands me, and people whom I know I can trust makes me feel loved and happy.

Putting myself out in public (aka being a Youtuber and a Blogger), negative comments are inevitable. Do they affect me? Of course they do. But I've learnt to brush them off especially when they are unconstructive and I've also learnt to shift my focus to the good and encouraging comments instead.

3. Accept your flaws and move towards self-improvement.


Nobody is perfect, but that doesn't mean that we should stop trying to improve ourselves. Like I've mentioned, it's important to get rid of negative people, so don't be one yourself! Take some time off to reflect on your behaviour and the things that you did from time to time, and see how you could have handled the situations better. Always choose to spread love, kindness and learn how to be happy for others and keep unnecessary comments to yourself if they are not helpful and instead, might hurt the feelings of others. In other terms, have more empathy and always put yourself in the shoes of others before you speak. Personally, I've met way too many people who just can't be happy for their friends' achievements and all I can say is, jealousy will turn you into a horrible person and it will get you no where. Jealous of someone else's achievements? Try achieving it yourself instead of wasting time blaming others for your incompetence.


It's always easy to push the blame on others to hide your inferiority and insecurities, but will that do you any good? No. Pushing the blame onto others will not magically transform you into a better person. Everyone has flaws including myself, but what's difficult is admitting your mistakes and learning how to change. Quick check, you screwed up, and your friend gave you sincere advices on how you should have acted. Do you a) admit it's your fault and heed for more advices or b) thinks your friend is being an asshole for not being a "true friend" and not supporting you in everything you do? If you've picked (a), you're improving! If you've picked (b), unfortunately, the asshole is yourself. People who genuinely cares for you, real friends, your boyfriend, your girlfriend, your family, helps you become a better person. Fake friends support your stupidity so they will always be better than you. So the next time someone tries to correct you, instead of blaming the person for not being supportive and having a different opinion, thank him/her for their time and advices because not everyone is willing to spend time helping someone else.

Treat others the way you want to be treated and not the way others treat you. I'm pretty sure when we were kids this scenario has happened at least once - Kid A bullies Kid B by beating him and calling him names. Kid B then calls Kid A names and beats Kid A to defend himself. The teacher punishes both of them and asked why were they fighting. Kid B says, "it's because Kid A called me names and punched me first!". Will Kid B still be punished? Yes, and the moral behind this is because Kid B also did wrong by acting the same way as Kid A did. And the reason why I was sure that this scenario would have happened at least once in our childhood (perhaps not to ourselves but to our classmates or friends) is because kids are prone to react the same way they are being treated.

Now that we have grown up and matured, this logic still remains the same. If someone were to treat you badly, there is no need to be mean to them. If someone were to insult you and disrespect you, there is absolutely no need to insult them back and disrespect them too. Instead, continue treating them the way you want them to treat you. It might suck if they are unappreciative, and your feelings might get hurt (trust me... I always get told about how I'm always treating the people who are mean to me too nice and how I'm always "getting cheated" by them) but as long as you know that you're doing good, there's really nothing to feel bad about.

4. Focus on yourself.


Take care of yourself. Whether is it your mental or physical health. Recently, I have been working out fairly often and no, I am not on a diet. Close to 2 months ago, I read an article stating the benefits of exercising and that includes the reduction of fatigue. Sick of being tired 24/7, I decided to give it a shot. During the first month, I probably felt worst as my muscles were constantly aching, but I pressed on and reminded myself not to stress over missing my workout for the week. When the second month arrived, I felt a lot more energetic and even though I still dread getting out of bed in the morning, I found myself less unfocused and tired during the day. Exercising also greatly improves mental health especially if you are dealing with high levels of stress and anxiety. I have also incorporated a healthier diet (again, I don't stress myself too much about it) and I can really see and feel my body appreciating my efforts. My skin has cleared up and my digestive system works a lot better now and being a healthier person ultimately makes me a happier person. As they say, when you feel good on the inside, it shows on the outside!

5. Never stop taking and giving.

"We accept the love we think we deserve", this was a phrase I came across when I read the Perks of Being a Wallflower. Personally, I disagree. When love is given to us, we should take it! But at the same time we should not forget to return what was given to us and in fact, we should make it a habit to give even more than what we received. If you're busy calculating how much love you've given your family, your other half, your friends, etc, you're basically doing good just for the sake of expecting something in return and when you don't get what you expected, there comes disappointment.

I'm still trying to work on it, but I have been trying to find ways to volunteer during my free time because happiness is contagious and what better way to gain happiness than to see others being happy because of you!


So those are my 5 tips to becoming a happier and hopefully also a better person. It has been almost 10 months since I launched this blog and I noticed the lack of lifestyle posts here. I decided to touch on the topic of happiness as these are the points I have been practicing recently and I did notice a huge change in my attitude and perspective towards the various obstacles I face in life. I found them to be really effective and helpful so I hope this will inspire and help you too! I've got more lifestyle (and travel!) posts coming up so stay tune!

Labels: lifestyle, tips

The Battle of High-End Liquid Foundations (Tomford, Burberry, Giorgio Armani, and more!) + swatches!

Thursday, 27 April 2017 at April 27, 2017

Foundation is one of the most important step of my make-up routine as the condition or appearance of my skin is usually the first thing I take note of when I'm outside giving myself a little self-check. Whether or not I have a stunning eye make-up on, or brows on fleek, if my foundation is in a mess, my make-up is in a mess.

With that said, I believe that it is great to invest in a good foundation especially for special occasions. At the same time, investing in the correct foundation is also something to take note of, so today, I will be comparing a total of 5 high-end liquid foundations to help you decide which one is most suitable for your skin type and preference! (Swatches available too!)


As we talk about investing here, it's always good to make sure to stretch your dollar. So if you're in a hunt for a high-end foundation or any other high-end beauty related products, even fragrances, do check out Cosme-de.com as they offer a wide range of high-end beauty products at really competitive prices with occasional discounts and special promotions!

Before I (finally) move on to talk about the foundations, I figured out that it would be helpful to let you guys know my own skin condition so you can gauge how the foundation worked for me, and how it may work for you. I have oily, medium and yellowish toned skin, and I live in Singapore where it is always hot and humid. Another thing to note is that I always apply any liquid foundations with a beauty blender!


Alrighty, let's begin the battle!


First up on the list is the Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Foundation SPF25 / PA++ in the shade 002. I've heard a lot of rave about Koh Gen Do's liquid foundations, so I really wanted to try one out for myself!


Packaging -
Simple yet functional with a touch of colour is how I would describe the packaging of this foundation. It comes in a simple looking glass bottle, with a black pump and cap to prevent any spillage. I love how there is a hint of red at the bottom of the bottle so it doesn't look too plain and boring.

Shade -
On first glance, shade 002 definitely looks light and too pale for my skin tone. However, after I have blended it out, I noticed that it does blends well into my skin without making me look too ghostly.

Finish, Coverage and Longevity  -
I LOVE the finish of this foundation! It blends in very easily and it has a nice smooth finish once it has set. With this foundation, I would say that it has a light to medium coverage. Personally, I'm not one who will use a lot of product on my face so I tend to use only about 1 to 1.5 pumps of this foundation and I feel like it is sufficient to even out my skin tone. But if you are suffering from any acne spots and scars, you will definitely need more of this product, or top up with a concealer.


Next up, we've got the Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup Foundation in the shade 2C3 Fresco. This is actually one of my favourite liquid foundations and it is also another highly raved foundation in the beauty scene!


Packaging -
If I have to say something bad about this foundation, it would be the fact that it doesn't come with a pump, and I do prefer foundations with a pump as it makes it so much easier to control the amount of product to dispense. The glass bottle looks quite small but in general it's simple, basic, and easy to bring around (not that you really need to because *spoiler* this foundation is really long-lasting!).


As this is the only foundation in this list that does not contains a pump, you can tell that I had a difficult time trying to control the right amount to pour out and I ended up pouring out a lot more than I needed.

Shade -
Since I dislike how yellow my skin can look at times, I love how this shade has slight pink undertones to help balance out and colour correct my skin. It's not too crazy though so I think it still matches my skin tone pretty well.

Finish, Coverage and Longevity  -
My favourite thing about this foundation has got to be the flawless finish it gives my skin. After blending it out, it sets beautifully and does not budge for the rest of the day. The finish is smooth, flawless, and matte. Having oily skin, it does keeps my face shine-free for the entire day which is why I love using it on long days. I would say that the coverage is a medium to high as I usually only use a little bit of product and I was able to achieve a decent coverage. So if you were to add on another layer, I'm sure you will be able to achieve a fuller coverage.


Next on the list is the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in the shade 4.5. Once again, this is a fairly popular foundation in the beauty scene that has been raved by many beauty gurus!


Packaging -
This foundation comes in a simple looking frosted glass bottle with a couple of details. The cap has a little logo on it which is a nice little touch and the shape of the bottle is actually quite wide and short so it will probably take up a lot of space in your make-up pouch if you were to bring it out.

Shade -
It was quite tough to pick out the shade because it comes in SO MANY different shades. But surprisingly (or luckily), I find that this shade is a close match to mine.

Finish, Coverage and Longevity  -
Having oily skin, one thing I did notice is that the foundation itself is quite moisturizing and I guess it is not oil-free as I do find myself feeling quite oily after wearing this foundation for awhile. So far, I've never experienced any breakouts though but that has definitely made me avoid this foundation. With that said, I do think that this foundation will be great for those with dry skin. The coverage of this foundation is a medium to high even though the formula feels really watery and lightweight. It blends out easily and the finish is more healthy looking rather than matte. As for the longevity of the foundation, it is not as long-lasting as the Estee Lauder one.


Next up we've got the Tomford Traceless Perfecting Foundation SPF 15 in the shade 03 Fawn. Retailing at USD74, this is one really expensive foundation.


Packaging -
After all that talk about glass bottles, we've finally got a plastic bottle here. Unfortunately, for the price we're paying, I did expect to receive this foundation in a glass bottle as the plastic bottle just seems to feel really flimsy and cheap in general. However, I'd say that this foundation is very travel-friendly as it's the lightest one among all the foundations and the pump is released with a twist of the cap which prevents any spillage.

Shade -
The foundation has quite a banana-liked shade which I think is great for people with yellower skin like myself, as it helps to brighten and tone up our skin without looking too unnatural.



Finish, Coverage and Longevity  -
The formula of this foundation is less liquid compared to the rest as you can see in the image above, it holds it's shape unlike the others. Once it sets it also kinda sticks onto your skin, so make sure you blend as quickly as possible to avoid any unevenness! This is currently the foundation I have been using as I really like how it adheres nicely to my skin to avoid any rub-offs or smudges throughout the day, i.e., it is very long lasting! I would say the coverage is a medium to high as once again, I don't have the habit of going full coverage but I feel like a little bit of product is enough to even out any dullness and discolouration.


The last foundation is the Burberry Fresh Glow Foundation SPF15 - PA+++ in the shade No. 26 Beige. To be honest, I was attracted to the eye-catching packaging of this foundation and since I have also heard numerous praises for Burberry's make-up products, I decided to give it a go.


Packaging -
Among all the foundations, this is probably the most attractive one due to the patterned cap. It also comes in a plastic bottle but I guess the fancy looking cap compensated that. It is quite extra to have such a huge cap though, but it certainly looks pretty!

Shade -
On first glance, this foundation looks way too yellow! I was quite worried initially as it looked like a mixture of orange and yellow. Thankfully, I swatched it on my hand and noticed how it turned A LOT better and a lot less yellowish. Long story short, it actually suited my skintone very well! If you watch the unboxing haul I did for Cosme-de.com (here), you will see me testing this foundation out for the first time and how it transformed from a yellow foundation to a much wearable shade!

Finish, Coverage and Longevity  -
The finish of this foundation is a very balanced, dewy finish that made my skin looked moisturized and healthy. If I'm going on a beach holiday, this would probably be the foundation I'm bringing along! If you have very oily skin though, you would want to test this out first before purchasing it as the "dewy" finish might cause you to look shiny in the middle of the day. This foundation has a medium to high coverage as a little bit of product was able to cover up most of my acne scars and even out my skin tone.


In general, I was really impressed with the quality of all the foundations and there is definitely a difference between a high-end foundation compared to the ones in our drugstore. Of course, there are many drugstore foundations I love as well but like I mentioned, if I'm looking for a longer-lasting or higher-coverage foundation, these are the ones I will go for.

Currently, my favourite ones are the Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay All Day Foundation as well as the TomFord Traceless Perfecting Foundation because I found that these two foundations last the longest and both gives me a really nice smooth, matte and flawless finish. As I have oily skin, these two foundation also help kept my face shine and oil-free so I don't look like a greased pan at the end of the day!

So we've come to the end of this battle, which is your most preferred foundation out of the 5?

Labels: beauty, face, make-up, review

Get 10% discount at Troiareuke's shop in Myeongdong!

Tuesday, 25 April 2017 at April 25, 2017

It is no surprise by now that Troiareuke is one of my favourite Korean skincare brand. Up till date, I have done quite a number of reviews for them and ever since I started using their products, I always get asked about where you guys can purchase Troiareuke products!

Well, apart from getting their products online, Troiareuke actually has 2 offline stores located at Dongdaemun and Myeongdong! These two spots are very accessible by Seoul's metro subway and are also popular tourist destinations.

1. Myeongdong Outlet (**10% discount only valid at their Myeongdong outlet!)
62-10 139, Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea

2. Dongdaemun Outlet 
20, Jangchungdan-ro 13-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
(Skypark Hotel King's town 14th floor)

So if you're heading to Seoul within the period of now till the 31st of August 2017, you're in for a treat!

Troiareuke and I has partnered up once again to provide you a special event whereby all my viewers and readers can get a 10% discount on all their purchases in their Myeongdong outlet! To redeem your 10% discount, all you need to do is to flash an image of this coupon here:


As well as a screenshot of my video (here) which is posted on my Youtube channel, to prove that you're a subscriber of mine and... That's it! This promotion is only valid exclusively for my viewers (and a couple of other Youtubers I believe) so don't miss out in this opportunity to get your hands on some  Troiareuke products!

Unsure of what to get from Troiareuke? Feel free to watch my reviews to check out some of my favourite products from them!

Troiareuke GPS Mask and Troipeel H+ Cushion (June 2016)

Troiareuke Skincare products (July 2016)

Troiareuke ACSEN TOC Oil Cut Cleansing & Toner Review (October 2016)

Troiareuke H+ Healing Cushoin & A+ Acsen Cushion Review (January 2017)

Troiareuke Seoul Aesthetic Cushion Review (March 2017)

Labels: beauty, face, make-up

Review: Korean Cinderella Protein Care Hair Treatment (Hair Plus Korean Salon)

Saturday, 22 April 2017 at April 22, 2017

Previously, I did a review for Hair Plus Korean Hair Salon (here) where I tried out their hair colouring service as well as their Korean hair treatment. So if you haven't read that review yet, please go ahead and do so to find out more about Hair Plus Korean Salon, as well as my first impressions of them.

Due to the lack of proper hair care and the fact that my hair was bleached and badly damaged due to constant chemical exposure, I was scheduled for another hair treatment with them. This time round, I tried out their Korean Cinderella Protein Care which is one of the more popular hair treatments Hair Plus Korean Salon offers!


When I arrived at the salon, I was once again warmly welcomed by the friendly staff there. It has been a month or so since my previous appointment, so it was really lovely seeing my hairstylist Jane again! Before the treatment began, I had to put on a robe to protect my clothes. I really like this service of theirs especially for customers who are wearing short skirts, the robe will be able to prevent any unnecessary exposures.


The Korean Cinderella Protein Care is an organic hair treatment from Korea that does not contain any chemicals and harsh cosmetic preservatives, which makes it safe and easy to use on all hair types and even sensitive scalp. Since no chemicals are involved, you can rest ensure to have a comfortable time while having your hair treated! This treatment is recommended for hair that has been damaged by bleach, excessive heat styling, chemicals as well as prolonged sun exposure as the main purpose of this treatment is to replenish any lost proteins in damaged hair, resulting in shinier, softer and healthier hair.

If you have frizzy hair like mine, this treatment will naturally straighten it for a healthier finish. In Korea, the results will be able to last you for up to 4 months! But since the weather here in Singapore is much more humid, this treatment will be able to last up to a month, which is still pretty long compared to other ordinary treatments!


So the Cinderella Protein Care comprises of 3 steps. The first step would be to use the Clarifying Shampoo after regular shampoo, to exfoliate our scalp as well as purify our hair by removing toxins, excess styling products and mineral build-up. At the same time, it also adds volume and provides vitamins and proteins to our hair.


After the shampoo was applied to my hair, it was placed in a steamer for about 10 minutes.

Moving on to the second step which is the Protein Treatment, this treatment is formulated to restore and straighten extremely thick, frizzy and damaged hair. It also contains Aloe-vera to strengthen, Jojoba oil to moisturize, and Green tea to promote hair growth.

The product was basically smoothed over sections of my hair and I was really amazed as once the treatment was applied to my hair, I can immediately see my hair become a lot smoother and much more manageable! I also like the light floral-liked fragrance of the treatment which made the treatment process a lot more pleasant.


After the treatment was applied, my hair was slightly blow dried, and my hairstylist Jane used a straightener to further press all the product into my hair for a longer lasting effect! I thought that this step was really unique as I seldom see the use of straighteners in hair treatments. Once she was done, I had another hair wash before we moved on to the final step.

The last step is the Organic Hair Cuticle Sealer, this sealer acts as a natural crystal shield that protects our hair structure and enhances shine and softness, and of course, it helps to seal in all the goodness in your hair to ensure an even longer lasting effect.


After the treatment is done, my hair definitely looked a lot more manageable and it felt super smooth and soft as well! Not to mention it also smells bomb. Jane also did a simple Korean C-curl style to my hair to complete the makeover. Currently, this is one of my favourite hair treatments so far as I really like how it is natural and non-greasy. After I left the salon, I couldn't stop touching my hair because it was just so soft! I am also truly amazed at how the ends of my hair looks so healthy, it is almost as if it was never bleached or damaged.


As I'm typing this, it has been more than a week since the treatment and my hair is still a lot more manageable than before! In the past, if I were to air-dry my hair, it will look extremely frizzy and stiff. However, right now I can leave my hair to air-dry and even without styling, my hair feels softer and looks less frizzy.


Since my hair is so much more manageable now, it makes styling and curling my hair a lot easier too as I don't have to struggle with all the tangles and fly-away. Before I left the salon, Ms. Gloria Lee (Owner-Manager of Hair Plus Korean Salon from Seoul) also provided me with some samples (thank you!) so I can continue taking good care of my hair at home.

So if you have damaged and or frizzy hair that is difficult to manage, I highly recommend you to try out the Cinderella Protein Care treatment as currently, Hair Plus is offering a 10% discount for this treatment and specially for all my viewers and readers, all you have to do is to mention my name (Maureen) and you'll get an additional 5% off! This promotion is valid in both of their outlets so if you'd like to try out the Cinderella Protein Care for yourself, make sure to call them first at 6235 2234 (Far East Plaza)/6235 5883 (Suntec City) to book an appointment with their senior Korean hairstylists!


Once again, thank you Hair Plus Korean Salon for keeping my hair healthy and happy!

Labels: beauty, haircare, review

Review: The Herb Farm Skincare for Oily & Combination Skin

Tuesday, 11 April 2017 at April 11, 2017

I'm back with another skincare review! This time round, I will be reviewing 3 skincare products from a brand called The Herb Farm.


The Herb Farm is a brand originated from New Zealand and the founder believes that herbs are able to provide natural healing properties as well as skincare benefits to our skin and body. Therefore, all products from the herb farm contains different types of herbs that are loving grown in the farm, resulting in 100% natural, and high quality skincare products.


For more information about the brand, feel free to drop by their website (here) to read on more.

So few weeks back, I received a set of the Herb Farm's skincare products from Blackbox, and the box I received is suitable for people with oily and combination skin. If you don't have oily skin, Blackbox also offers another set for normal skin type! This box is retailing at only $69.90 (UP $131) and if you'd like another 10% off on all your purchases on Blackbox, make sure to punch in my discount code, "BBXMAUREEN10"!


The first product is the Energizing Gel Cleanser (200ml, UP S$43), aka, a facial cleanser. First off, we have to talk about the packaging. It comes in a beautiful brown frosted glass bottle with a pump. Unfortunately, I can't seem to release the pump (well, apparently my mom said I spoilt it...), so currently I'm just pouring it out straight from the bottle. But if you managed to get your pump to work, dispensing the product will be a piece of cake. I also love how the label has touches of copper and baby pink which makes it look very pretty in my bathroom, and instagram-worthy.


Despite being a gel cleanser, it foams up quite well and feels really smooth and gentle on my skin too. It effectively removes impurities and make-up (even mascara!), leaving my skin feeling soft, fresh and clean. Since this cleanser is formulated specially for oily to combination skin, it also helps cleanse and heal any blemishes and acne, as well as balance your skins natural oils to keep it healthy.

Since I have coincidentally finished up my previous facial cleanser, I have been using and loving this one as I noted that it does not make my skin feel tight and uncomfortable after washing, but my skin still feels extremely clean and soft!


Up next, we gotta tone our skin with the Clarifying Facial Toning Mist (100ml, UP S$39). Well, if you have been following me, you'll know that I am currently obsessed with facial mists, as well as toners with a spray nozzle! So I was extremely pleased to see that they have included one in this box. This toning mist is used to reduce the oils in your skin, re-balance your skins pH, as well as minimize any enlarged pores for a smoother and much radiant complexion. Feel free to use it throughout the day to re-hydrate and re-freshen your skin and make-up too!

This toner has a really light, calming, yet uplifting scent that reminds me of lemongrass. In the past, my skin tends to get oily during the afternoon especially when I don't have any powder on. However, after using this product, I did notice that my skin felt less oilier and looked less shiny! One thing to note though, is that this product also comes in a similar glass bottle, hence it is quite heavy to carry around if you're planning to get a facial mist to bring around in your handbag.


The last step is to moisturize, so here we've got the Light Jojoba Face Cream (50ml, UP S$49). This moisturizer is formulated to help balance out your skins natural oils, while aiding the healing process of any blemishes. It contains powerful herbal extracts and oils to assist with acne problems and to promote skin renewal. Jojoba is known to be very moisturizing, but since this cream is suitable for oily and combination skin, it gets absorbed in very easily and does not leave my skin feeling overly moisturized and oily!


Recently, I have been receiving a lot of new moisturizers to test out and review. But currently, I must say that this is one of my favourites as I find myself reaching to it more often than the rest. This moisturizer has a really light scent that reminds me of Chinese herbs, which is quite fascinating!


Overall, I am loving the products from The Herb Farm and knowing that they are also available at selected Watsons stores, I am interested to go check out what other products they have to offer! But if you're looking to try them out for the first time and would like to get them at a really good deal, definitely check out the sets available on Blackbox. After using their products for close to 2 weeks, I did notice an improvement in my skin in terms of break outs and the healing process of existing spots and pimples. Prior to using these products, I had a bunch of small pimples all over my forehead but now, they are pretty much cleared so I am really amazed with the results! Therefore, I do recommend this set of skincare products to anyone with oily/combination skin and perhaps even sensitive skin as I do feel like these products are really gentle on my skin.

Labels: beauty, face, review, skincare

Review: The Face Inc's Primer Mist

Tuesday, 4 April 2017 at April 04, 2017

Recently, I have been obsessed with a type of skincare product - Facial Mists. Facial mists is something that is fairly new to my skincare routine, and so far I have tried out a whopping 5 different facial mists from 5 different brands. In general, what I love about facial mists is how refreshing they feel on my skin and it's a great and easy way to keep your skin hydrated throughout the day!


So today, I will be reviewing the very popular Primer Mist from The Face Inc! Close to a month ago, I received The Face Inc's Primer Mist from SASA Singapore to try out. It comes in a box of 1 bottle of mist along with 2 refills (total of 3 x 15ml).


The mist bottle is very small and lightweight which makes it super easy and fuss-free to carry around. I personally really like the size of this mist as one of the main purpose of a facial mist is for you to bring out and use on the go. The spray is also hidden and only functional when you twist the bottle to reveal the spray - Another plus point as you won't have to worry about it spilling all over your bag!


Now, most facial mists serve a similar purpose and that is to provide moisture to your skin, and that is the same with the Primer Mist. But apart from just simply providing moisture, the Primer mist also includes other skincare benefits such as anti-aging! Let's go ahead and briefly take a look at the 8 main ingredients to find out more about their functions!

1. Vitamin B3 - increases your skin's ability to retain moisture, at the same time it also has anti-aging benefits such as improving the firmness of your skin.

2. Soy Bean Protein - slows down the aging process and enhances cellular protein.

3. Arigireline - reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines for youthful looking skin.

4. Collagen - improves the elasticity and firmness of your skin.

5. Rice Bran Extract - firms and brightens skin with anti-oxidant properties to fight against aging.

6. Aloe Vera Extra - soothes, calms and brightens skin which is great for sensitive or acne-prone skin.

7. Biocompatible nano-sized molecules - able to penetrate deep into your skin for hydration inside and out.

8. Allantoin - improves skin texture and retains moisture for a plump appearance.

Sounds incredible for a little mist right? With all these ingredients working hand in hand together, this mist is sure to deliver ample hydration to your skin all day long. The reason why it is called a Primer mist is because it is ideal to use it before make-up as a primer! Before applying any make-up on, spritz this mist on cleansed face to maximize absorption. By doing so, you create a good base for your make-up so it will apply on smoother, and last longer.


So far, I have been enjoying this facial mist as I noticed that my make-up appears less dull and dry in the middle of the day. It is also super easy and convenient to use as I don't have to wash my hands to make sure they're clean before applying because all I have to do is to spray it directly onto my skin. Like I have mentioned, I also love bringing it along with me when I work out so I can freshen up my skin immediately.

Recently, I have started using it at work too! Because I work in an office, the air-conditioning really dries up my skin, so I love spritzing this all over my face to replenish any loss moisture. At the same time, the light and refreshing mist perks me up from my boring desk job (heh heh). Apart from using it in hot and humid Singapore, if you're travelling to a cold country, this is great to replenish loss moisture in the dry air too.


If you're interested to purchase the Primer Mist from The Face Inc, it is now exclusively available at all SASA stores so you can head down to test it out for yourself too! It is retailing at S$68 for a box of 3 x 15ml (1 bottle + 2 refills) which sounds a little pricey but with each use, you will only need about 2 to 3 spritz which is honestly not a lot of product so it will sure be able to last long especially if you only use it once a day to prime your face.

Labels: beauty, face, review, skincare