Review: Duac Once Daily Gel

"For the treatment of mild to moderate acne"

For me, I followed my dermatologist's directions and applied this twice a day: morning and night

My skin type: Combination (oily in the center and a bit dry in other areas)

Products I used during my acne treatment (given by my dermatologist) :

-Antibiotics pills (only use this if you have terrible acne, if you have mild--moderate like me...there's actually no need to take it! Antibiotics pills are actually harmful to out bodies although they are said to 'take' our toxins out).

-Cetaphil Oil Control Foam Wash

Review here: http://to-flawless.blogspot.com/2013/12/review-cetaphil-dermacontrol-tm-oil.html

-Sunscreen SPF 30

(If you hadn't noticed...I didn't use a toner. My dermatologist doesn't recommend me toners...what?)

I began the treatment last year and stopped after 4 months.

I had redness around my jaw and had 'little bumps' (skin colored, not pimple...idk what they are, perhaps clogged pores) all over my face. I was also starting to grow more pimples around my temples, cheeks and forehead. 

I was sick of wearing BB cream and worrying about my appearance all the time so I went to see a dermatologist!

SO. 

The combination of this gel and the Cetaphil wash made my skin drier than it was before after 2 months. 

(2 months) That was when my pills finished and so I went back to the dermatologist and purchased a new, much gentler face wash, ( Physiogel Hypoallergenic Cleanser, Soap free, for all skin types)and that helped to stop my skin from further drying.

Honestly...this just did not work for me, I'm not sure what to say anymore. 

If you would like to try this out, go for it! Make sure you apply a thin layer, not thick, incase your skin gets dry.

I spent roughly Rm 800 + on my acne treatment and after using this for 4 months, I still had redness around my jaw, had 'little bumps' all over my face, had little pimples on my forehead...

What I like: my skin would stop being shiny and oily after applying this on.

What I don't like:

• My skin would only stay matte for like 40 minutes and then it'd be oily again. If I apply a layer of sunscreen over it then my skin would get even more oily. I still need to use blotting sheets!
• No results! Doesn't even reduce the size of pimples! I applied 2 layers of this gel on this giant pimple one time and when I woke up it was still the same size...just slightly less red..BUT still red.

Rate: 0/5

FOR any of you that lives in Kuala Lumpur:

I mentally cussed at my dermatologist because he promised there would be results after 4 months, at least slightly. 

Then my friend recommended me this clinic and when I to see the dermatologist there I showed him the Duac gel and he just laughed, saying, this product is time consuming and doesn't work...

Anyways. 

What he gave me for my treatment was: 

Toner

Gel

I used my own unfinished face wash from previously.

I saw results after 1 and a half month!! It was incredible. After only 2 months of using their products...my dark spots dramatically decreased and my skin is so much more smoother and best of all, those "little bumps" are like 60-70 percent gone!! 

I wish I could give you the brands of the toner and the gel but honestly I don't even know what brands they are. This clinic puts them in little containers and bottles with no brands on them....sneaky.

This treatment had cost me less than Rm 300 (first 2 months)

I went back and bought more (enough for the next 2 months). This time I didn't bother to see the dermatologist and just bought the toner and the gel, it costs me Rm180 or Rm 150 or Rm120 I can't remember....but most importantly, the treatment works!! Also much cheaper than seeing a dermatologist in the hospital!! 

This is not sponsored btw.

If you would like to pay a visit, this clinic is called 

Klink Pakar Kulit Ting Ting Skin Specialist Clinic

Address: 136, Jalan Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur

It's super close to Starhill (across from Pavilion)

Review: Rimmel London Lasting Finish By Kate Lipstick

This is travel exclusive--I bought it on flight

There were no testers on the plane (obviously...) so I was praying the colors were not going to be disappointing.

I love the packaging--it's mainly matte black

Also I love the little crown design on top of the cab :)

Here are the colors! 

The camera is just a bit bright here :P

                                  

Nude Lipstick (#003) 

This isn't as pale as it appeared to be on the box (Thank Gawd) 

Personally I hate nude lipsticks because they make me look lifeless so I gave this to my mom. She quite likes it.

#008

Maybe #08 doesn't look so flattering, but trust me, it is.

I really do think this is a color that will suit most Asians because you know how the color of our lips are a bit dark and not at all pink or berry red like Snow White? #008 is just pink enough and subtle enough to diminish the dark colors on our lips and make our lips appear naturally pink.

If you looove the natural look (for office, school, date, etc), you should def try this color out!

#005

I'd say this color is very close to the color of my Dior Rouge lipstick(Nude 663 Guipure)

review here:

http://to-flawless.blogspot.com/2013/12/review-rouge-dior.html 

In this photo, I've used Dior Rouge on my upper lip and Rimmel Kate #005 on the bottom lip.

Honestly, I can just see a tad difference, but, to me, they are all just pink lipsticks, so from now on I might as well purchase the cheaper one...i.e., Rimmel Kate haha. 

Here are the swatches. Rimmel Kate evidently is more pink than Dior Rouge 663 but on the lips...there barely is that much of a difference sooo.

Shade: #001 

 Swatches!

The camera has made my wrist look very wrinkly and disgusting--I promise it isn't that bad in real life...

So! Burning questions:

Are they long-lasting?

They do last...as long as you don't eat or drink. 

Are they moisturizing?

Yup. They don't try your lips out at all. 

Do prepare your lips beforehand with vaseline/lip balm so the lipstick can glide smoothly across your lips instead of scrapping through your dried lip skin.

BTW, they are all matte and creamy. 

What I like:

• They don't taste horrible....you know how sometimes you eat food with lipstick on and the taste of lipstick is just so abhorrent? Well, Rimmel Kate isn't so bad...but there still is a taste, just not that strong.
• Creamy
• Moisturizing
• Good pigmentation 

What I don't like:

• Nothing so far 

Price: SO CHEAP. I bought this on the plane for HKD 150 which is Rm 63 max! :O

Review: Dior Mascara (Diorshow Ionic Overcurl)

This is the mini-sized one, came as a free gift when I purchased the regular sized one. 

I believe this is a very old Dior mascara (probs launched 2 years ago?). I'm doing a review on this in 2014 and so...I'm thinking, is anyone really gonna look for a review on this mascara now?! Doubtful...but let's get to it.

This isn't waterproof. I don't care what the retailer says--it's not. 

On my oily lids and asian eyes, it might be rubbing-your-eyes-for-a-brief-second proof, but definitely is not smudge-proof. 

I have tried Maybeline mascara that is more 'proof-proof' than this!

The shape of the brush is typical; does the job of separating your lashes. But this, is a high-end mascara. I expect not only for the brush to do a good job of separating my lashes, I expect it to give me that ionic curl its title claims. 

Nope.

It does give volume, making your lashes appearing thicker without overdoing it unless you layer it upon layers. But it does not lengthen at all and the most disappointing part is that it does not hold curls. 

Oh my God. Help.  

It always smudges on my lower lash line. By the end of the day (school), I'd come home finding myself with panda eyes. Maybeline mascara does better than you, Dior!

The good thing about its lack of ability to just STAY ON your lashes, is that it's easy to remove. Hah-rah!

The only positive feedback I'm going to give, is that once it's been used and is at least 1 and a half months old, it can be used as a pretty good brow enhancer.

Right now I just use it to brush my brows after I fill them in. This does a really good job of (oh Jesus), lengthening my brows, making them thicker (not overly) and much more presentable. Who knew this would be the perfect little thing--for brows, huh?

What I like:

• Great brow enhancer lol....
• Good job of separating lashes
• Easy to remove
• Not that easy to clump up
• Quite natural looking compared to Maybeline ones (when applied in multiple layers)
• Nice brush, easy application
• Long lasting--as in, you don't need to throw it away after 3 months of opening it. I have had mine for a year now and still uses it almost daily (on my brows, awayy from them eye balls haha)

What I don't like:

• Not water-proof (Sephora lady, thanks.)
• Not smudge-proof on bottom lashes
• Brush is a tad too big for my liking, sometimes I do get mascara on my lids/skin by accident
• Doesn't hold curls

Rate: 2/5

What can I say? I'd expected lots when I had spent over Rm 180 for a mascara and it can't even provide me panda-free eyes? *cries*

Review: Guardian Foundation Brush

I like how there's this protection for it and you can stand it up

This brush is soft and smooth. I can't compare the feel of this with another foundation brush because this is my first make up brush ever haha. Before I had always used my hand to blend (bb cream, have never tried foundation). 

I've used this brush to blend my Elianto BB cream and Dior foundation--it smoothed both the product on my face easily. 

I can use this brush to contour my nose, my cheeks and yes, apply on blush as well.

The hair of this brush doesn't fall out (yet, maybe, since it's brand new).

This brush is a pretty good investment I'd say!

I bought it for under Rm 15 in Guardian.

Rate: 5/5

Review: Guardian nipple tape

Very quick review here!!

These stick on the skin quite well--can last over 12 hours with minimum to modern sweating.

The material is...hard. Although it does feel comfortable on the skin, I find it hard to smooth the edges out; usually once I stick it on,  there will be rough edges because the material isn't super flexible or soft. But if you are super gentle and careful when sticking it on, then it should be fine (I think).

As for the color, when I wore white this one time to test them out,  I could see  them. I was able to make out the shape of the tape, and since the edges weren't smooth, it made it even more obvious I wasn't wearing a bra and that I have nipple tape on.

However when I wore these with my black and white stripped (tight) tank top, no one noticed a thing.

What I like:

• Cheap (I bought it at Guardian for less than Rm 10, and there are 4 pairs in a package!)
• Easy to use 
• Sweat proof (Not sure about water proof lol...)
• Long lasting
• The color is matte (Unlike the ones from Cotton On--satin and shiny)
• Comfortable on the skin

What I don't like:

• Material isn't...flexible/easy to smooth out

Rate: 4.5/5!

Review: In2It Liquid Eyeliner

Excuse my disgusting skin...I blame it on the camera I had no idea my skin looked like that?! Anywhoo, this pic is just to show you how thin the line can get!

I've had a pretty bad experience with one of the In2It pencil liner before and was very hesitant to purchase another of their product. After 15 minutes of testing them in Guardian on my hands, I decided to get this one.

This leaves a glossy finish, not matte. Not super glossy actually. What I mean is that...you know how gel eyeliner is matte right? The end result of this is just a tiny bit more shinier than the gel liner, nothing crazy, it won't even reflect lights nor will you be able to tell it has a 'glossy' finish :P

The brush is super easy to use and I love how thin the tip is so you can really get that precise line or wing.

This one is quite long-lasting! At least 7 hours, I'd say. 

Here is a pic of the eye liner after 7 hours of dancing and photo-taking:

 the wing is still very nice, not smudged at all. 

For me, because of my oily lids, the eyeliner on the corner of my eyes just...disappeared hahah

This is pretty good still, overall 95% of it stayed!

Is this waterproof? Mmm, maybe it's just really sweat-proof.
I went in the shower with the eyeliner on just to test it out. The eyeliner didn't move at first but then after a minute or so it just started to come off. Not in a melting manner--it becomes black dusts/dirt on your eyelids.
I'm pretty sure if you were wearing this in the rain this wouldn't budge that much!

What I like:

• Long-lasting!
• Nice applicator
• Affordable (bought it at Guardian at Rm 20)
• Smudge proof
• Some what water proof
• Quick dry (10-15 seconds)

What I don't like:

• Nothing is bad about it haha

Rate: 5/5 

Review: Revlon Colorsilk Burgundy

48, Burgundy 

Yay! Conditioner for you to use

Hair color before

This is going to be a very quick review. 

There is no after picture because when I tried to take a photo of the result, the colors won't show up on camra and ended up looking the same as the before photo.

I didn't wash my hair the day before dyeing my hair because in the instructions of this hair dye, it actually said it's better not to, and that it's best if you apply it on 'dirty hair' so the product will 'stick' to your hair better.

If you've dyed your hair before, then you should only leave this on for max 25 min; if you have virgin hair, leave it on for 30 minutes (not too sure so read the directions yourself :P)

I left it on for about 30-35 minutes total on the roots because it took me about 9 minutes to apply it all over my hair, starting from the roots to the bottom, and then I waited for 25 minutes.

The result is that my roots went burgundy(only some in the front, with a lot of dye) but my ends remained the same, if not, slightly darker than before because the burgundy color is darker than my light brown. 

My roots weren't burgundy, they were more like..red-ish brown (indoors) and only when you go outdoors, then you'll be able to see bright, purple-red burgundy color. It's on the brown-ish, more darker side, so it's not superr bright. 

I'm not sure if this dye is long-lasting as it claims because I went to the beach for 5 days after a week of coloring my hair, when I got back from the beach the color has washed off...or bleached off by the sun? I'm not sure. Either way my light brown ends were definitely back, and even my roots were brown/light brown again. 

I really thought heading to the beach would be a good idea to make the burgundy color even more intense, if not, brighter because whenever I dye my hair brown it's always the best if I get some sun afterwards so the color can get lighter and more obvious...guess it doesn't work for burgundy!

My hair felt fine afterwards, there is no breakage of hair or dry hair; possibility a few more split ends here and there. But! Even so, do condition your hair every night! Protection is key!!!

What I like:

• Affordable 
• Minimum damage to hair
• The smell is tolerable 

What I don't like:

• Bad color pay-off (maybe I just needed 2 bottles...eh)
• It's not long-lasting

Rate: 2/5

Only because the color isn't strong at all 

Tip: 

Put vaseline around your hairline and down your neck to prevent your face from being stained by the hair dye during the dyeing process :)

Here is my review on another Revlon ColorSilk (Blonde-ish color):

http://to-flawless.blogspot.com/2014/12/review-revlon-colorsilk-blonde-ish.html