Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Review

     *Ahem* Please ignore the dirty clothes on the floor, im quite a messy person :P Let's get back to this review. One of Dermalogica's best products is their gentle scrub known as Daily Microfoliant. It's so gentle to the skin that it can be used daily. It's formualated with a skin brightening complex of aspergillus, grape fruit and liquorice that help to balance uneven skin pigmentation. It also uses smoothing blend of green tea, ginkgo and colloidal oatmeal that helps calm skin, leaving it extraordinarily clear and refreshed. Ah did u see "Oatmeal"? Yes i;ve told u in my previous post that Oatmeal is one of the best and gentle cleansing agent plus it's natural. Thumb up.

     Having to pay so much for this product, i will definitely be a little more fussy on their product's quality and packaging. I personally dislike the dispenser as it can get quite messy and it's hard to control the amount needed. There should be a better way for dispensing the fine powder. 

   Lalala.. Slowly pour some of the powder out...

     As you can see, it comes in powder form and it's very fine. Looks like fine rice powder. It's a unique powder that activates upon contact with water and releases papain, salicylic acid and rice enzymes that micro-exfoliate our skin. 

Directions of use:

• Dispense half a teaspoon of Daily Microfoliant into very wet hands and create a creamy paste by rubbing hands together.
• Apply to face in circular motions, avoiding the eye area.
• Massage gently for one minute, then rinse thoroughly.
• Follow with Multi-Active Toner or Soothing Protection Spray and your prescribed Dermalogica moisturizer.

     The rice powder turns into a foamy texture when you rub it with wet hand and i don't like it when it's too dry after rubbing it at my face so i'll add a lil more water to make it wetter and more foamy. It's a little soapy i don't know why and because of this i sometimes skip my cleanser and straight away jump to this step after removing my makeups. 

     This product contains no artificial coloring or fragrance. It smells like a mixture or rice powder and clothes detergent to me and the smell stays on at my palm for quite some time. I have an oily combination skin and my mum has dry skin, and it's suitable for both of us. 

     It's a gentle scrub that is made for daily use but i use it only once or twice a week because of the extravagant price, retail price RM225 for 75g but it can last for quite long. You can get it at a cheaper price at any online shop and the one that I know and trustable is E-Garden. 

     I can see that my skin is more radiant and smoother after using this scrub, and it doesn't irritate my skin. I can't stop touching my skin after everytime i used this scrub as it leaves my skin baby soft. My skin doesn't feel tight after using it and thus it's very gentle. This is definitely a good scrub for those of you that can afford it out there. =)

Pros:

-Gentle and doesn't irritate my skin

-Free from fragrance and color

-Visible result, more radiant and smooth skin

-One can go a long time

-Soapy and can be used as a gentle scrub and cleanser at the same time. 2 in 1

Cons:

-Pricey

-Inconvenient packaging

-Smells like detergent

Overall Rating:

8/10

Simple Oatmeal Face Cleanser

     We face abundance of chemicals everyday, from water and air pollution to pesticides in our food. Many people will opt for natural and organic products in order to maintain a healthy body. What about our skin care product? Aren't you tired of all the products out there made of chemicals and most of them even contain harsh ingredients that can cause reactions if you have a sensitive skin. Why not try a natural face cleanser that's very handy and can be reached within your kitchen-The oatmeal face cleanser.

Why oatmeal? 
     It's one of the best natural ingredients for skin care, especially for those with sensitive skin or eczema. The compound found in oatmeal called avenanthramides helps in soothe and relieving types of skin irritation and inflammation. It also contain saponins, which is good for its cleansing properties as it has foaming characteristics. Oatmeal is highly absorbent and it can absorb the impurities from our skin and thus unclogging the clogged pores without drying our skin. The most important thing is that oatmeal is easily available and it's very cheap.

 How to make your oatmeal cleanser?
     You can use the oatmeal as is in its rolled, flake form or grind it up to make your colloidal oatmeal. Take a handful of oatmeal, grab it with your palm and run them under warm water so that it gets soaked up until it's soft. Squeeze out the excessive water gently onto another palm and rub it on your face without wasting all the benefits in it.
     Start by applying the moisten oatmeal onto your face, rubbing it in circular motion. The bad thing in this is that it can get quite messy and dirty but with all the beauty benefits it gives, just bear with it. Rub it for about one minute and then rinse it off with luke warm water, pat dry your face with a soft towel and apply your moisturizer.
     other option is to make your colloidal oatmeal by grinding the oatmeal into fine powder with a food processor. Just take a sufficient amount, with it mix some water into a paste form and gently massage it all over your face. The benefit is that it also act as an exfoliant in helping to slough off dead skin cells. Ground oatmeal is more readily absorbed into your skin, so it can quickly soothe irritated skin and fight inflammation.

     
Handy Tips:
1. Put a strainer in my sink or strain it up first with a strainer as oatmeal will become think with the presence of water and cause sink drains.
2. Store your oatmeal in your bathroom so that you will not forget your oatmeal cleanser everytime you want to wash your face.
3. Store your oatmeal in an air tight container in the bathroom to avoid damp air from getting into it as it will promote the growth of bacteria.
4. Use it to replace your daily facial cleanser and you can see visible result in just one day and i ensure that your skin condition will improve within 1 week of usage, day and night.

P/S: You might fall in love with this natural cleanser and dump your facial cleanser aside!!  ♥♥

Pros:
1. Easily available
2. Cheap
3. Prevent clog pores
4. Good cleansing agent
5. Natural and free from chemicals
6. Can soften the skin
7. Pleasant smell

Cons:
1. Can get very messy when using it
2. Hard to clean off after use
3. Can clog sink if not treated properly
4. Not convenient esp for travelling

Hope you guys like it and thanks for reading.. XOXO

Clinique 3-Step Skin Care System

Clinique is well known for their 3-Step Skin Care System which is dermatological tested, and suitable for all skin types. I've been using this whole set of Skin Care System for almost half a year. If you're wondering what skin type do i have, feel free to check it out under my profile at the sidebar. =)


So here are the reviews of the products in the whole set. 


Step 1 : Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild

Information taken from the Clinique:

Cleanse deeply but gently.

Dermatologists believe soap and water cleanses best. Non drying facial soap maintains protective lipids. Leaves skin fresh, comfortable. Preps for exfoliation.

Size:

200ml

Price from counter:

RM78.00

My thoughts:

It's a clear, gel-type cleanser but lathers up greatly into foam. This cleanser is scentless, which is great for sensitive skin. After using this cleanser, my skin feels very light and comfortable, and it does control my sebum secretion at the T-zone. 

Talking about the packaging, it comes with a pump dispenser and two pumps is all you need to clean your face. The only thing i dislike about it is i feel that it doesn't cleanse effectively if i apply make-up although i have remove my makeup with cleansing milk beforehand. 

The price is quite reasonable for something from a counter brand. RM87.00 for 200ml is not something too pricey and it actually last for almost half a year. 

This cleanser also comes in different formula i.e :

-Bar Soap

-Extra Mild

-Oily Skin

Overall Rating : 7/10

Step 2: Clinique Clarifying Lotion

Information from Clinique:

Step 2

Exfoliate to sweep aside dulling flakes, uncover skin's natural glow. Clarifying lotion is the instant difference maker. Whisks away skin's problems. Preps it to accept moisture better. If you're new to exfoliation, or skin feels dry and delicate, ask about Clarifying Moisture Lotion.

Size :

-200ml and 400ml

Price:

RM78.00 for 200ml

RM115 for 400ml

My thoughts:

Oh my gosh, the alcohol scent is so strong and it's really annoying. The fumes from the cotton when i was applying it stings and i got choke. 

This is a clarifying lotion, they do not call it toner as it clarify the skin by swiping away dead skin cells on the surface gently. The way to apply it is by swiping across your face with a cotton pad, with only one direction.

The packaging is not that good. The bottle is somehow normal, but the screw-off cap is giving lots of trouble when opening and closing it. The hole to dispense the toner is rather big and you spill the whole bottle of toner out if you drop it on the floor before closing the cap. 

However, the function is really good as it really swipe away my dead skin cells, and my face feel refresh after that. It dries up really fast and leaves a cool sensation on my skin.

The price for this products is quite okay, RM115 for 400ml which last me for almost a year, worth it rite..

This product comes in different formula, for different skin type:

-Clarifying lotion 1

-Clarifying lotion 2

-Clarifying lotion 3

Overall Rating : 6/10

Step 3: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

Information from Clinique:

Step 3

Moisturize and build a barrier against impurities.
World favourites Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion of oil-free Gel replenish, smooth, improve. Skin returns to optimal condition.

Size:

50ml, 125ml

Price :

RM87 for 50ml

RM150 for 125ml

My thoughts:

The effect is really great, as what it says, dramatically different moisturizing gel. The gel is yellowish in colour and the smell is quite pleasant, something really soft. My face feels smooth, hydrated and plump after applying it. It's rather rich gel, that moisturize my face very well and my face feels very comfortable after using it, day and night. The packaging is okay, comes with a lovely pump and only one pump is all you need for the whole face. However, it's hard for me to scrape the leftover in the bottles when it comes to very last drop as the tube/opening is quite small. It only fits one of my finger. It get absorb into my skin rather quick, maybe because i'm always in the air conditioned room. Pricing wise, it's quite pricey for student like me, but i think it worth a try as it really work wonders for my face. Besides it last for like almost half a year.

This moisturizer comes in two different formula, that is:

Gel type for Oily Skin

Lotion type for Drier Skin

Overall Rating : 9/10 ★★★

Let's talk about the whole set now.. If you ask me whether it's worth to buy it in a set or not, i will say no. The only thing that i like in this set is the moisturizer, and the worst one is the clarifying lotion, which makes me feels like applying alcohol on my face. Besides, i dont think i need to exfoliate my skin everyday with the clarifying lotion as other toner works great too, and i can use a facial scrub if want to do so.

**Click here to redeem a free sample for yourself to try out the experience***

~Valid from 1st to 14th July 2011~