Christmas is fast approaching and you may just want to give the gift of beauty to your friends and family. Here are a few ideas of products I recently tried and liked: Face cleansing from Meltie, Aesop skincare products, Beaute Pacifique skincare products, Mary Kay Recover Complex and Murad Makeup and skincare products. 

Meltie, just like an icecream

One of the most fun beauty christmas presents you could give this year are these wonderful cleansers from Meltie. It looks and smells just like icecream, but in fact they are very thorough facial cleansers that have no trouble at all removing all your make up and get your face soft and clean. They come in a lemon, strawberry and aloe vera flavor. For more information visit the Meltie website.

Aesop

For the last half year I have really enjoyed using products from Aesop. Their sage and zink facial hydrating cream is very nourishing and hydrating. It can be good for all skin types but I found it worked really well for my combination skin. I also loved their geranium leaf body scrub. So effective and the smell is just delicious! They have some good products for the men too, like the Moroccon Neroli post shave lotion. Their products look great, so will make wonderful gifts! Retail addresses can be found on the Aesop website.

Beaute Pacifique

Beaute Pacifique has just launched in Singapore and their line of products looks very promising. Their main slogan is: “We repair your skin” and they have accumulated quite a lot of scientific evidence to prove that. I did a skin scan and am currently trying out some of their products to see if they can indeed improve the condition of my skin. You can read all about this on my recent article at 40+Style: Can Beaute Pacifique repair your skin.

Mary Kay TimeWise^® Night Restore & Recover Complex

This is a really nice night cream I have been using. According to Mary Kay the TimeWise^® Night Restore & Recover Complex works in four key ways – activating collagen production, targeting the skin matrix, helping skin recover from daily damage and restoring the skin barrier.  The cream contains age-fighting ingredients such as peptides palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 and Cotton Seed Extract, which have been shown to help minimize skin’s environmental damage and help skin recover, while Acai Berry Extract replenishes antioxidants, Pomegranate Sterols help strengthen and stabilize the skin barrier and Chestnut Seed Extract is shown to help promote cell turnover* for more youthful looking skin. This is a great night cream that comes in a handy long flacon and would make a great gift. More information can be found on the Mary Kay website.

Murad

I have also come to like Murad products. The combination of natural and anti-aging ingredients makes these creams very suitable for aging skin. They also offer some great makeup products that combine skincare with makeup. Some Murad products that I can recommend include:

Murad Hybrids™ Skin Perfecting Primer Matte Finish – 1.0 FL. OZ., light makeup (or a makeup base). Perfect for people like me who don’t really want to use makeup, but still want to smoothen the face a little bit. This product combines both makeup with skincare attributes.

Murad Hybrids™ Eye Lift Illuminator – 0.06 FL. OZ., to lighten dark circles around the eye.

Murad Hybrids™ Eye Lift Perfector – 0.06 FL. OZ., similar to skin perfecting primer, but then for the eyes.

One of their newest products is the Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture day cream which is an intensely hydrating anti-ageing cream for mature or very dry skin. It’s based on the principle of the science of cellular water, which is focussed on the ability of skin cells to hold water which are therefore better able to fight aging. Visit 40PlusStyle.com for a full review of Murad products.

Did you see anything you like? What will you be giving your loved ones for Christmas?

Disclosure: These products were gifted to me for review and consideration. All opinions stated in this article are my own and I will only highlight and review products that have been effective or that I have enjoyed.

Related posts:

1. Jeff Murad on Murad Skincare new product range Hybrids™
2. Order beauty products online! Free delivery to Singapore.

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure to interview Vice President Product Development of Murad Skincare, Mr Jeff Murad. Mr Murad was in town to promote his new line of Hybrids™ prodcuts of Murad Skincare. It was a good opportunity to hear his views on aging and how we can look after our skin the best. I will discuss some of the products I was given in a later post, but here are some of the highlights of the interview.

I have split up the interview in 2 parts. On anti-aging web Mr Murad goes into detail on how to delay aging. Mr Murad provides a lot of insight in the main cause of skin aging and how best to avoid it, so be sure to check that out. Below you will find information on Murad’s new product line Hybrids™. Enjoy!

Can you tell me a bit more about your new Hybrids™ product range

Jeff Murad: Our customers had been asking us for years for more ‘coloured’ products. The Hybrids™ range is the first step in that direction. The concept here is that we all have certain flaws or issues in our skin that we would want to cover up immediately. So these products will do that, but they will also treat those problems while you are wearing it.

They are not moisturizers, they are more treatments, so you would first apply a moisturizer and then this product.

Like all our products they are based on the cullular water principle, where skin aging is caused by a reduction of water cells. The idea behind the cullular water principle,  is that once your cells are as intact and as strong as they can be, then anything we will give you for any specific skin concern is going to work much better. For example, if you have cells that are old and porous and they are not holding their water, if we then are going to treat your acne or wrinkles, those active ingredients are not going be as effective because your skin is not going to accept them or work with them. All of our products have the ingredients, that help to repair the cell membranes but then they also have the targeted treatments for whatever your skin concern is.

Is hybrids™ good for a lazy person like me who wants as little makeup as possible especially here in humid Singapore?

Jeff Murad: The hybrids™ makeup is very light and you would not feel it on your skin. It provides that nice finish for your skin. Although these are designed as makeup primers that hold your makeup in place, but a lot of people find that when they use them, they don’t need to wear makeup. There is a matt version for oily skin and a dewy version for dry skin. There is only a single shade, designed with Murad’s adaptive shade technology  so they are designed to match any skin tone. We use fewer pigments and more light reflecting minerals so it will blend in naturally whether you have asian, african or caucasian skin. It just adapts to your natural skin tone.

Will it still cover the unevenness and spots then?

Jeff Murad: Yes, it will still cover the spots, still help with appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, it will still help enlarge pores and at the same time it’s covering all of those things. It will also help treat those issues. We have a complex here that is called perfector 5, which contains 5 ingredients which target enlarged pores. Both immediately and in the long term. One of those ingredients is a lentil seed extract which has shown to reduce the appearance of large pores by 62% after a month.

What is the star ingredient in the hybrids™ range?

It’s the whole complex that really works. But lentil seeds are high up there, in terms of the long-term benefit. With the eye lift products, we are targeting 3 issues that people have with their eyes.

There is the loss of elasticity, puffiness and dark circles.

These (eye lift products) help address all of these long term and immediately, but as far as firmness goes we have 5 different firming ingredients. The strongest is oat kernal extract and that helps (after a single application) to increase the firmness under the eyes by 50%. But then we also have peptides and botanicals in here that strengthen the capillary network, so you will not have water seeping out of your vains that cause the dark circles.

Stay tuned for product reviews

I’m looking forward to trying out some of the products given to me by Murad Skincare. So be sure to like our facebook page to stay up to date on updates on this site. As mentioned, Mr Murad’s views on anti-aging can be find here. If you have tried any Murad products, then please let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Related posts:

1. Aqualabel whitening skincare products review
2. Chanel’s new makeup range
3. Acids in skincare – Which one would benefit you?

Today I visited Jurlique Day Spa in Bukit timah for their signature aromatherapy facial. I had heard of Julique skincare products before and was keen to give it a try.

What is the Jurlique signature aromatherpy facial all about?

The brochure states: “This classic facial promises to provide holistic benefits essential for radiant healthy skin. It is both cleansing and relaxing.” Let’s find out if that is correct.

Location and treatment room

Jurlique is conveniently located on Bukit Timah Road (on the corner of Robin Drive). You can park in the street. It’s a small boutique spa with a lovely reception area, where I was greeted with some hot tea. The treatment room is small and windowless and doesn’t have much decoration to speak off. But there was welcoming music playing in the background, the treatment table had been warmed up and had plenty of blankets and there was ample space for my belongings.

Procedure

The treatment started with a gentle cleansing of my feet, followed by a gentle face cleansing and a steam bath. My skin was then examined and it was determined that I have combination skin that was lacking moisture. There are actually 3 aromtherapy facials to choose from and the therapist chose the replenishing facial for me.

After the steam bath there was a very extended soft exfoliation and massage. This facial is clearly designed to relax and the lady succeeded in doing that. The massage was very soft but very deliberate and the products used smelled divine. After this extended facial massage, a mask was applied. Special pads were applied to the eyes on which a very warm substance was applied. Not sure what it was exactly, but it felt really good as well. Meanwhile my arms received a massage as well as my neck and shoulders area.

After the mask my face was thoroughly cleansed and moisturizer was applied.

What was it like?

This facial is indeed very relaxing. My therapist’s hands were very soft and skillful and the zen music ads to the relaxing atmosphere. There was no other noise to be heard so you could just close your eyes and enjoy the treatment. I also liked the products used. They smelled wonderful and did not irritate my skin at all. Even the mask felt soothing.

The results

My skin certainly felt a lot softer and better toned. And I certainly felt more relaxed!

Conclusion

This is a very traditional facial that as the name suggests focusses on infusing you with lovely smells and products while at the same time totally relaxing you and your face. This is a very relaxing facial that was skillfully done in a basic but pleasant environment. If you’re looking for a nice relaxing facial that will nourish your skin, then  I believe Jurlique is a good place to go.

Contact details

Jurlique Day Spa
383 Bukit Timah Road
#01-04 Alocassia Apartments
Singapore 259927
Phone: 6735 7233
Website: jurlique.com.sg

Related posts:

1. IYAC signature anti-aging facial – a review
2. Radio Frequency facial at Beyond Beauty – a review
3. Jet Facial at Jet Concepts – a review

A month ago I received some products for review from new concept store i-lovemylife.com (aka) I-vml in Singapore. Today I will review the Bod organic anti-aging eye serum, Bod exfoliation cream and Bod hand therapy. In the coming days I will also discuss their Organix Vanilla silk hair serum. If you don’t have time to read the full review, be sure to take advantage of their special promotion which you will find a the end of this review.

First impressions

First impressions are good with the serum and other products arriving in attractive packaging. On opening the box  a very appealing alumunium dispenser appeared. If the product is as good as it looks then I will be thrilled!

About Bod

Bod is a therapeutic skincare range from Australia founded by ex frontman of ska band The Allniters. Now a naturopath, he developed the bod range drawing upon the true wisdom of nature. The products utilise the beneficial qualities of pure plant extracts and essential oils, and is free from artificial scents, fragrant oil, petrochemicals, animal products, artificial preservatives, SLS, sulphates and parabens. Bod® is the winner of Her World Beauty Awards 09/10 and received the Editor’s Choice for Best Organic Brand in Singapore.

What is Bod’s organic anti-aging eye serum

Bod certified organic anti-ageing eye serum is an age fighting eye serum which is to be used at night. It aims to reduce tired lines around the eyes and lift the general appearance of the skin. The serum contains kakadu plum which is said to be the world’s highest plant-source of age-fighting ascorbic acid, with 50 times the concentration compared to citrus fruits. High concentration ascorbic acid helps to preserve collagen which will help to reduce fine lines and the typical appearance of ‘crow’s feet’ around the eye region. The addition of australian blue cypress, sweet orange, geranium, and neroli essential oils helps to reduce redness and skin blemishes as well.

Ingredients

Main ingredients are:

• Aloe vera leaf juice
• Kakadu plum fruit extract
• Gotu kola extract
• Ascorbic acid
• Malic acid
• Bitter Orange extract
• Sweet Orange
• Blue cypress
• Geranium essential oils
• Citric acid

How to use it?

A small amount of the serum is to be lightly applied around the eye area at night. It is recommended that the night routine be completed with Bod’s certified organic moroccan rose face oil.

Smell, texture and application

As you can imagine with all these fruity ingredients this serum has a strong sweet fruity smell. It is a very soft gel which is very easily applied to the eyes. It absorbs quickly and leaves the eye area nourished and relaxed. Despite the high concentration of acids I only felt a slight sensitivity the first night I applied the serum. I guess my skin just needed to get used to the new serum because I didn’t feel anything after that.

Other bod products I tried

I was also given samples of Bod hand therapy and Bod facial exfoliant. Again both products have this absolutely wonderful scent.

Bod Facial exfoliant

The exfoliant contains a combination of candlenut and sandalwood powder. Apparantly, exotic sandalwood is known as the foundation of aromatics in Buddhist practice, due to its balancing and detoxifying blend of essential oils. I certainly loved this exfoliant. It was an absolute treat to exfoliate my face with this product due to its texture and smell.

Bod hand therapy

The hand cream was as lovely as the other Bod products I tried.  Again the smell is gorgeous. This cream contains a/o macadenia nut, almond, safflower, evening primrose oil, St Johns wort, honey, rose maroc and lemon. Your hands will feel soft and nourished afterward and you just want to smell them constantly.

Conclusion

This was my first introduction to all natural products and I was really very pleased with the Bod products I tried. I felt that the anti-aging serum nourished the thin skin around the eye. I also liked the fact that the serum has a lot of active ingredients that can help restore the collagen. I noticed that the serum only retails at $68 which I believe is excellent given the quality of this product.

As mentioned above I loved the exfoliation cream as I felt it gave my skin a thorough exfoliation while at the same time nourishing my skin with the natural ingredients and pleasing my sense of smell with the lovely scent. The hand cream provided the same sensations.

The Bod range of products was a good discovery for me and I will definitely use them again.

Want to try them too?

Singapore Beauty Guide readers will receive a 10% discount if you spend a minimum of $50 on Bod and Organix products at i-lovemylife.com. In addition you will receive a FREE Herbacin Hand Cream 20ml Tube (full size worth $3.5) + FREE home delivery worth $7. If you purchase above $80, there will be an additional $10 cash credit rebate on top of the 10% and free items. (Note: Cash credits will be rebated back to customers for their next purchase w/o min purchase). On top of that, all new signs-ups will receive a welcome gift of $5 cash credit. When ordering please make sure you enter the promo code SBG_Special during check out. Promotion is valid till 30 November 2010.

[starreview tpl=16]

Related posts:

1. What are the benefits of an anti-aging serum?
2. Organix soft & silk hair serum
3. Freeze 24/7 anti-wrinkle cream effective or not? A review

Removing makeup can be a pain. If you can find products that can do this job effortlessly without any irritation to the skin it will save you a lot of hassle and irritation. I decided to give Biore makeup removal products a try. By the way you can do too. Just go here and claim you free samples.

The products

Biore Hydra-clear makeup remover

First up is the general makup remover. This is a rinse off make up remover that can be used for the whole face.

Ingredients

Water, Butylene Glycol, PEG-12 Laurate, Isopropyl Myristate, Glycerin, Isododecane, Sorbitol, Polyglyceryl-2, Isostearate, Decyl Glucoside, Sorbeth-30, Tetraoleate, Hydrogenated Polyisbutene, Fragrance, Alcohol, Citric Acid.

Advertised beneftis are:

• No rubbing or tugging
• Gently lifts away all stubborn makeup
• Water-based formula leaves no greasy or tight feeling

Application

This product is to be used without facial cottons or tissues. You just apply a bit of biore hydra-clear makeup remover to your makeup and then massage it gently. This dissolves the makeup. You can rinse thoroughly with water.

My review

My hand test went really well. As you can see on the right picture, applying the makeup remover dissolves the makeup immediately and it was easily washed away  with water without any irritation.

Biore Makeup remover for eye & lip

Next up is the makeup remover especially designed for the eyes and lip.

Ingredients

Water, Hydrogenated Polyisbutene, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Butylene Glycol, PPG-9 Diglyceryl Ether, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Disodium Phosphate, Polyglyceryl-2, Isotearate, Alcohol, Sodium-Hyaluronate.

Advertised benefits are:

• Softens even heavy layered mascara and thorougly cleans from root to tip and in between lashes
• Gentle on eyes and lashes
• Reduces need for excessive hard and repeated wiping around eyes
• Leaves no oily residue

Application

After shaking well, the eye and lip makeup remover needs to be put on a cotton pad. Leave it on for about 5 seconds and then gently clean mascara downward from root to tip. Repeat this by going upwards from root to tip of eyelashes. Continue by folding your eye pad and cleanse lower eyelid and undereye area.

My review

Removal of makeup was fast and easy on my hand without any irritation. The product is not oily and has a pleasant (very mild) smell. I also tried this product on my eyes and mascara removal was again quick without irritation.

Biore cleansing Oil cotton facial sheets

These are handy facial sheets that already include the makeup remover. It is suitable for all traces of makeup including waterproof mascara

Ingredients

Water, Isododecane, Butylene Glycol, PPG-9 Diglyceryl Ether, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Stearoxy PG-Hydroxyethylcellulose Sulfonate, Potassium Hydroxide, PEG-12 Laurate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Fragrance.

Advertised benefits

• Thoroughly removes all traces of makeup including waterproof mascara without irritating or drying your skin
• Minimises need for repeated wiping on eye lashes, eye area and face
• Cleansing oil does not remain on skin so there is no greasy or sticky feeling after use
• Contains moisturizing agent that leaves skin soft and smooth, not tight.
• Alcohol-free 1000% natural fibre sheets ideal for all skin types.

Application

Use the tissues to gently wipe off makeup with sheet. To remove waterproof mascara, place sheet on closed eyes for 5 to 6 seconds before wiping off.

My review

This is a very easy way to remove makeup for both your face and eyes. Just grab one of the tissues from the container, wipe off the makeup and you’re done. The tissues have a pleasant smell and were quick and efficient with the removal of the makeup on my hand. They also worked very well with the removal of my eye mascara.

Final conclusion

I was very pleased with the results of these makeup products. I found them non-irritating, non-oily and the smell is pleasant. I definitely recommend you try them out yourself by requesting one of the free samples and form your own opinion!

[starreview tpl=16]

Related posts:

1. Chanel’s new makeup range
2. Aqualabel whitening skincare products review
3. Why a makeup lesson is such a good idea!

Last week I went to an Aqualabel products testing party organised by the lovely Shirleen from Women Love Beauty. Shirleen entered a contest from Aqualabel and this party was part of the competition process. Hopefully she will win the trip to Japan! She did a very good job at explaining the benefits of using Aqaulabel whitening products from Shiseido. I will share the highlights with you here.

What is Aqualabel?

Aqualabel is a skincare range from Shiseido that has been succesful in countries like Japan for many years, but that has just been introduced to the Singapore market. The line has a very good price point and will be sold at Watson’s.

Aqualabel’s whitening range

The whitening range aims to provide the skin with a complete skincare program while at the same time lightening the skin. Ingredients of the whitening line include:

• M-transexamic acid
• Saxfrage extract and pang extract
• Aqua synergy moist aqua keeping base

Complete skincare program in 10 steps

At the party we applied 10 different products which comprises the w

hite range’s whole skincare system.

1. Deep oil cleansing: used to clean the skin
2. White clear cleansing foam: cleans the skin further and removes the oil used in step 1
3. White up lotion: to soften the skin
4. Bright white ex essence: this is a serum that provides nutrients to the skin that will go deeper into the skin’s inner layer
5. Masque: for brightening and softening of the skin
6. White  up emulsion: to moisturize the skin
7. Aqua enhancer WT: to supercharge the skin and let it take full advantage of all ingredients from the previous products
8. White protect milk UV: sunscreen to protect the skin from uva and uvb
9. White up base: a make base, to be used before applying your makeup. This helps your makeup stay on for longer.
10. White liquid foundation: to provide your skin with even tone.

My take on the products

Although I liked the oil cleanser, I was not that keen on the cleansing foam. I have a bit of an issue with any cleanser that feels a bit like soap as it always slightly irritates my skin. The white up lotion and then the serum felt very comfortable. The masque is basically a piece of cloth that you can “glue” to your face after which you leave it on for 5 minutes. As with some of the other products my skin is too sensitive and the skin felt slightly irritated afterward, but also very soft and clean.

I was amazed at how many layers of cream we had to put on to complete the whole process. So after the masque came the moisturizer, enhancer, sunscreen, make-up bases and foundation. Wow. I wonder can the skin really deal with all those different products and ingredients?

Conclusion

I always wonder whether cheaper skincare products can be just as good for the skin as more expensive ones, which is why I was keen to try this range. Even though my skin felt soft and smooth, unfortunately the slight irritation remained. I think that this can be a good product range for people with less sensitive skin, but for the time being I will need to stick with my more expensive products from La Prairie and SkinCeuticals.

[starreview tpl=16]

All the best,

Related posts:

1. What’s new in skincare products from the major brands
2. Skincare products promotion
3. Eminence natural skincare facial – a review

Day spa Body Contours in Singapore has recently introduced their new Oriential Pearl Face Spa facial. I decided to give it a try.

About Body Contours

Body Contours is a day spa with several outlets in Singapore. I went to their Hill Street Location, where a special promotion was held for their new Oriental Pearl facial. It was busy on this day (due to the special promotion) and I can imagine that the atmosphere would normally be more peaceful and subdued. The reception is luxurious, but the treatment rooms were small but practical.

What is this facial all about?

The facial derives its name from the pearl powder used during the treatment. It’s a white powder-like substance that is full of vitamin C and is quickly absorbed by the skin. It is applied twice during the facial.

Facial procedure

After cleansing and exfoliation (no steaming or extraction), the pearl powder is applied to the face. After that a mask is applied that is left on for about 20 minutes. There is a little bit of face and neck massage in between. After the mask the Pearl powder is applied again, followed by toner and sunblock.

What was the facial like?

I liked the general feel and smell of the products used and the Pearl Powder is an interesting product. I’m not a great fan of masks and in this facial the mask was left on for what seemed like a long time. For me it’s always best to have something else happening (like a good massage) during the mask to distract me from the usual discomfort I usually feel from the masks. However, the result afterwards was very good. My skin felt soft, well hydrated and with a lovely glow.

Price and Location

The Oriental Pearl Facial costs $280, but becomes a lot cheaper when bought in a package deal. For more information and location details check out the Body Contours website.

Did you have this facial as well? Let us know how it was for you!

[starreview tpl=16]

Related posts:

1. Jurlique Signature aromatherapy facial – a review
2. Bella Luna Facial – a review
3. Eminence natural skincare facial – a review

Online shopping for beauty products is fun and convenient. But finding a good store that you can  trust and that offers a good deal on delivery can be tricky.

We therefore made a selection of our favourite and best online stores for the purchase of beauty and skincare products in Singapore. Many of them offer free delivery in Singapore.

Skincare Stores

StrawberryNET

Strawberry is my favourite online store. They sell almost all known brands and delivery is free in Singapore. They usually have special offers and free gifts for 1st time customers and give additional discounts for returning customers.

SkinStore.com

Another favorite is skinstore as most brands are represented and they provide a lot of information on products. I also love the product reviews. They do charge for delivery to Singapore though.

Dermona

Dermone offers a range of skincare products from Korea. Brands include Dermona, Enchant, Ginseng, Herb, and Hwa Yong. Free delivery for orders over $50.

Face.sg

Face.sg is an online store providing skincare products. Brands offered include: V 10 Plus, Silverex, Atoregen, Juice Beauty and MOR. Delivery is free for orders over $100.

Organic skincare products

I-vml

I-vml is a new online concept store that sells organic and eco-green products. It has a lovely clean design and is stockful of skincare products, hair care products as well as food, accessoires and men and women’s clothing. Delivery is free. Stay tuned for some product reviews from this store coming up soon.

Kanga organics

Kanga Organics is another organic skincare store that features the brands Skin Blossom and Ola Hawaii. Their range includes face care, hair & body wash, body moisturizers and scrubs, and eco friendly accessoires like the Eco Bag. Free delivery for order over $80.

Green Nature

This Singapore online store offers natural Skincare products from New Zeeland. Brands include:  Manuka Honey, Paua, Kiwifruit, Rotorua Spa, Thermal Mud and Footpower. Free delivery for orders over $40.

Make-up

My Red House

My Red House lets you create your own eye makeup colour palettes or small pans. They also offer some skincare products and makeup brushes. They even offer makeup lessons! Shipping is free in Singapore.

Fragrances

PerfumStore.sg

With over 90 perfume brands, this is one of the largest Singapore online stores for fragrences. They also offer skincare products from SK II, Clarins, Clinique and Biotherm. Currently they offer 2 free gifts for every products purchased and free delivery throughout Singapore.

Hair care

Winn’s Home Salon

Singapore hair salon offering their hair care products for sale on line. Brands include Shiseido, Nigao and Korial.

Other online shops worth a look in Singapore include:

• The Supplement Boutique (www.thesupplementboutique.com)
• Herbal Sense Life (www.herbalsenselife.com)
• My Peau (www.my-peau.com)
• Avance Supplements (www.avancesupplements.com)
• Ry-Beautyessentials (www.ry-beautyessentials.com)
• Sglady (www.sglady.com)

Do you have a favourite online beauty store that you think should be included? Let us know!

Related posts:

1. Order beauty products online! Free delivery to Singapore.
2. Eminence natural skincare facial – a review
3. Pure Tincture Simple Organic Beauty Boutique

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and other acids have become increasingly popular in skin care products. AHAs are derived from fruit and milk sugars and research has shown that hydroxy acids can help with the slowing down of skin aging. An increasing number of skincare products are now including hydroxy acids into their products. Other acids used in skincare products include ferulic acid, vitamin A acid (one known brand name is Retin A) and Omega 3 fatty acids.

Let’s look at what exactly these acids do for the skin and how they are used in skincare products.

Glycolic acid

This is the most commonly used AHA because of its excellent skin penetration capacity. It is often used in chemical peels which are performed in aesthetic clinics. The glycolic acid can weaken the binding properties of the lipids that hold the dead skin cells together in the upper layer of the epidermis. This causes the outer part of the epidermus to be exfoliated, thereby exposing the live skin cells underneath. Glycolic acid can improve skin texture and may also reduce wrinkles, acne scarring and hyperpigmentation.

Featured products:

• Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid 10% Hydrating Gel 57ml/2oz
• Skin Ceuticals C+AHA Exfoliating Antioxidant Treatment 30ml/1oz

Mandelic acid

Another AHA is mandelic acid. It is increasingly used as an alternative to glycolic acid in skin care products and for chemical peels. In addition to the qualities of glycolic acid it also has antibacterial characteristics. Mendelic acid is often recommended as a good treatment for adult acne. It is also used as a pre- and post laser treatment as it reduces the irritation caused to the skin from these laser treatments.

Featured products:

• SkinCeuticals Clarifying Cleanser (5 oz.)
• M2 Skin Technologies HP Skin Refinish 20

Ferulic acid

Ferulic acid is an organic compound found in seeds of plants such as in rice, wheat, and oats, as well as in coffee, apple, artichoke, peanut, orange and pineapple. Although research has not been conclusive, Ferulic Acid may reduce oxidative stress and provides photoaging protection.

Featured product:

• Skin Ceuticals CE Ferulic . This is the product I use. Read my CE Ferulic review.

Tretinoin (retinoid)

Tretinoin is the acid form of vitamin A and is also known as all-trans retinoic acid or ATRA. In skincare it is most commonly used in the treatment of acne, but it is also increasingly included in many commercial products that aim to slow skin aging and remove wrinkles. Known brand names include Retin-A and Renova.

Featured products:

• SkinMedica Retinol Complex
• Retinol 1.0 Maximum Strength Refining Night Cream (1 fl oz.)

Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are a family of unsaturated fatty acids, that have many health benefits. In skincare omega-3 fatty acids and unsaturated omega-9 help to stimulate the skin’s natural process of renewal and regeneration, while also maintaining its suppleness and elasticity.

Featured products:

• Philosophy When Hope Is Not Enough Omega 369 Essential Fatty Acids

Use with care

Acids have gained a solid place in skincare products and they provide benefits for many. A word of warning is in place though. Acids can irritate and sometimes even burn the skin. It’s best to purchase products from trusted brands and not to experiment with acids by yourself. If you have sensitive skin and want to try any of these products described above you may want to consult a dermatologist first to check which one is most suitable for you.

Have you benefited from skincare products containing acids? Let us know!

Related posts:

1. Eminence natural skincare facial – a review
2. Aqualabel whitening skincare products review
3. Skin pigmentation; which products & creams to use? (part 3)

Last week I had a jet facial from Jet Concepts which is located on various locations within Singapore. Here is my review.

About Jet Concepts

Jet Concepts is a new Skincare Clinic that provides effective and affordable skin treatments for the face that are different from any facial I have had before. They provide various facial skin treatments such as jet skin tightening treatment for firming and tightening the skin and the jet glow for lightening skin with pigmentation.

My treatment, The Jet Facial

With the Jet facial your face is thoroughly cleansed with the ‘jet’ which feels like a high pressure water cleanser.  After covering the ears the jet, that combines jet pressure and oxygen, is applied to the skin. One half was done first, so that I could see the difference between left and right. Sure enough pores looked smaller and the skin seemed slightly lighter.

According to Jet Concepts The Jets Facial:

• Provides oxygene to the skin
• Unclogs pores
• Cleans and brightens skin
• Exfoliates the skin
• Provides lymphatic drainage of toxins
• Stimulates the new formation of collagen
• Regenerates cells and tissues
• Firms and tighten skin
• Removes black and whiteheads
• Softens and smoothens skin

My skin certainly felt clean and soft and it would be interesting to see what the effects will be like if this treatment is applied more often.

Promotion

Perhaps you should give it a try. The Jet Facial is $150 per session but currently you can get the facial for half the price, which is $75. Let us know what you thought of it!

For more info on Jet Concepts visit the Jet Concepts profile.

[starreview tpl=16]

Related posts:

1. Jet Concepts
2. Jet Concepts promotion
3. Jurlique Signature aromatherapy facial – a review