After giving my face loads of love with new products, I think my body must be feeling pretty darn happy about this bag of goodies.

Sebastian Kneipp, founder of Kneipp, strongly believes in the balance of health and focuses largely on elements such as water, plants, exercise and diet. True to that, his brand Kneipp adopts a holistic approach to the body's well being through products created with a balanced infusion of the natural and state of the art technology.

"Nature has provided us generously with everything we need to remain in good health."

— Sebastian Kneipp

While the brand puts a lot of emphasis on 'nature' and how they use only the top notch natural ingredients, they do differ from an organic company. If you ask me, I would say they seem more angled on a wholesome body well-being approach as opposed to being 'fresh from the crops'.

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Now that we all have a clue of what Kneipp is, incase you haven't heard of the brand prior, let's check out an item from their product catalog — the Herbal Body Wash.

Formulated with the inclusion of essential oils, these Herbal Body Washes are dermatologically tested, paraben-free, preservatives free and alkaline-free. In fact, these are actually balanced in pH so it doesn't aggravate or dry your skin out after use.

Apart from all that, the Herbal Body Wash is available in a wide array of scents with varying 'purposes'.

With me, I have Juniper, Mint & Eucalyptus and Rosemary.

Juniper

Containing essential oils to soothe tired and aching mucles, this would also be ideal to relax the body after a long and tiring day out or perhaps after sports. Scent-wise, this is close to the medicated scent that Salonpas gives off. While 'salonpas' doesn't register as a very favorable shower scent, it does trigger this relaxed muscle notion in my mind, ideal for when I need it.

Mint & Eucalyptus

Infused with the refreshing perk of mint and eucalyptus, this works best for sinus relief. In fact, for better or for worst, this scent reminds me of Vicks Vaporub. While it doesn't miraculously rid stuffiness, it does help perk the respiratory senses and rid that nasty drowsiness that comes when you are feeling stuffy.

Rosemary

Hinting slightly floral with a mixed of essential oils and a 'safe' one to recommend is Rosemary. Since ancient times, Rosemary has been associated to invigorating and energizing the senses, thus this works as a good wake up call for showers in the AM!

Of the 3, I personally love Mint and Eucalyptus most but that is because nose stuffiness is a battle I fight every single day and this is somewhat a little comrade. Somewhat.

These 3 aside, there are 2 more Herbal Body Washes in Citrus Fruit & Melissa and Lavender which seems terribly tempting.

As a body wash, these lather up well and rinse away easily without leaving any film you have to work at washing off. After the shower, my skin doesn't feel stripped dry and I suppose if I were lazy I could get away without moisturizing but as a habit I still use a light moisturizer.

The scent of the Body Wash doesn't linger on the skin and seems to be most evident only during the shower.

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While I normally like to have only 1 or 2 shower gels stationed in the washroom at any one time, I found myself placing all 3 of these in the toilet incase I feel like washing off some muscle fatigue, clearing my stuffiness or just indulging in a lovely and energizing floral.

With the many body washes out there, these are certainly interesting to try out given they are different from my usual perfumed ones. That aside, I am also eyeing the Lavender scent which I would check out once I have one tube down!

Kneipp Herbal Body Washes retails for S$18.90 (200ml) at the following locations:

Unity Healthcare: 
2 Jurong East Central 1 #B1-05 Jcube Mall
252 North Bridge Road #B1-44L Raffles City Shopping Centre 
LINK BRIDGE 62 Collyer Quay #02-01 to 04 OUE Link 
3 Temasek Boulevard  Suntec City Mall #02-105
Choa Chu Kang North 6   #B1-08/09 Yew Tee Point 
1 Kim Seng Promenade #B1-14/15 Great World City 

Guardian Health & Beauty:
290 Orchard Road # B1-20/24 Paragon
101 Thomson Road #B1 United Square
930 Yishun Ave 2  # B1-01/02 Northpoint Shopping Centre 
2 Jurong East Street 21 #01-57 IMM Building 
Novena Hospital 38 Irrawaddy Rd.#01-08/09/10/11 
1 Woodlands Square #B1-28/29/30 Causeway Point 
23 Serangoon Central #B1-62/63 Serangoon NEX 

Uchino Bath Designs 
Takashimaya Departmental Stores: 391 Orchard Road, Basement 1
Isetan Katong Departmental Stores: 80 Marine Parade Road, Parkway Parade

Thanks for reading!

Have you heard of or tried anything from Kneipp before?

Disclosure:
Products were provided to me for review consideration.
I am not affiliated to them and all opinions expressed are my own.

Something is blooming in Penhaligon's scent garden and it's none other than their latest floral...

Peoneve

The latest addition to Penhaligon's already bursting scent collection, Peoneve is not as simple and dainty as the fluttery-petaled flower sounds.

Let me quickly preface this entry by saying I may sound ultimately biased towards this fragrance but you must understand, fragrance is a very personal experience and inclination. I, for one, am a huge rose scent lover and have been on the look out for the perfect rose perfume.

While 'Rose' is a commonly used scent from body moisturizers to shower gels, room fragrances and the sorts, I am highly particular about a rose scented perfume.

Believe it or not, I have yet to find a perfect rose perfume that has the best of... various worlds – a light floral crisp sensation, the romance of rose along with an accompanying muskiness to give it sensuality.

Now that, is what I define a perfect Rose perfume and honestly that is my own take on it.

Some might prefer their rose to be a pink blossom in the garden on a clear spring day; I like my rose to be a crimson, decorating the parks in the evening, swaying with the sensuality of tango yet still unravels to reveal a soft fragility.

Thus, the very first time I gave Penhaligon's Peoneve a sniff (or a couple after letting it sit), I thought – Homerun.

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Now that I have very blatantly expressed my affection for rose-scented perfumes and also mentioned that Peoneve is exactly the type of rose fragrance I am looking for, let me delve into finer details about this scent in a more... neutral manner.

Peoneve was created by Oliver Cresp, the same perfumer that produced the largely popular Penhaligon's fragrance, Juniper Sling.

While simplistic in name, Peoneve is actually a blend of varying florals to give you that fresh crisp greenness along with a mix of romanticism and soft sweet (read: not over the tip cloying) floral. While a blend, the amount of scents thrown into this is kept minimalistic, just enough to edge the scent along without pushing it too complex.

The Scent Journey –

With a spritz, the fresh scent of Violet Leaf greets you, hinting at a slightly 'green' and vibrant opening. However if you are not a fan of green notes, don't let that garden freshness put you off. In no time at all, Peony joins in and weaves an underlying floral sweetness, accompanied with the powdery floral of Hedione, giving the scent a soft swaying vulnerability.

The floral transformation doesn't stop there as the peppery kick of Bulgarian rose edges in and gives the fragrance some spunk, giving that initial girl-next-door phase a light jolt of modern attitude. With the florals all out in play, envision a mix of crisp freshness melded with floral sweetness and given a light dose of 'weight' so the scent doesn't seem too 'floaty'. Have you ever thought a Rose fragrance could invoke this many personalities?

Winding down, the scent shifts to woodier, somewhat earthy notes of Vetiver, Musk and Cashmere Wood. These give the scent a creamy appeal I can't quite word but imagine a smooth muskiness with a nice perk of earthiness (not muddiness) between... this is the way this scent ends off. I find the peony note lasts the longest through the floral phase and continues to lend a soft floral hand with the musk towards the end.

With that description I hope it gave you a good mental idea (through the form of words) how the smell evolves and takes on varying roles and personalities.

According to Penhaligon's, this scent is one of their rather straight-forward ones and it invokes whatever you want to make of it. From Pehnaligon's end, they tried to model this scent after the image of the modern woman – fresh and strong yet still sensual with a peeking note of fragility.

Versatile is probably one way to word the perfume, to me at least. I have worn this during the day to work and also reached for it for special occasions and evenings out. it's just something about it that feels very appropriate and light for day yet a dressy enough fragrance for night.

The Science behind the Scent –

For a little bit of science talk, the scent extracts used in Peoneve are derived from a procedure called CO2 Extraction. Without going into super detailed chemical relations, this extraction method ensures the purest of scents is extracted from a subject (in this case the florals).

Aside from this one venture into science, Peoneve also sees another procedure done, called Nature Printing. This one is far more complex but Nature Printing is about replicating a particular scent using particles from other scents. Basically it's like scent jig-saw and because no 2 flowers smell the same, Oliver Cresp (the perfumer) wanted to replicate this exact stalk of Peoneve, hence the need to replicate it via this procedure.

The one down-side to this perfume is while being an EDP, it isn't entirely long lasting only because particles extracted from the CO2 method tend to 'float' around since they are in such a pure state.

On me, this lasts a good 5-6 hours or so before it somewhat disappears. If you find that most perfumes don't last long on you, this could disappear even quicker. While the floral scents don't take you through the day, on some occasions I might catch a whiff of the musky scents towards the evening.

It is a pity given that it could be perfect if the scent lasted a longer while but this means decanting some and carrying a little vial around for 'touch-ups' during the evening. After all, a bottle of perfume does last a pretty long time.

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I have rambled on long enough in this entry solely about a perfume but, like I had mentioned, I think perfumes are something you should experience and sniff for yourself but at the same time, to help create a visual expectation is quite a fun task too.

I have been on a look out for the perfect rose perfume and I can safely say that right now, this is the closest thing to the 'dream rose fragrance' that I have in mind and I am not joking at all. The satisfaction of finding something so close to what you have always envisioned in mind is... very exciting.

If you happen to be strolling about town, do drop by Penhaligon's after 1st September to give this lucious scent a whiff! It may just tickle your fancy.

Peoneve will be retailing at S$310 (100ml) or S$220 (50ml) at Penhaligon's from 1st 17th September on.

Follow Penhaligon's on their Facebook page for updates from the brand.

Thanks for reading!

Disclosure:
Products were provided to me for review consideration.
I am not affiliated to them and all opinions expressed are my own.

A quick post about the promotion over at Payless that I had tweeted about.

Incase you did miss the tweet, I hope it's not too late to share that Payless is currently having a Buy 2 Get 1 Free for all regular priced footwear! The promotion is only valid over the weekend so naturally I snapped up 3 pairs the minute the sales staff told me about it.

I have been eyeing Payless shoes but since their outlets are at malls I don't normally frequent, I have only got to browse them twice? And both times were in a hurry so I could never indulge. Until now!

While I could easily walk away with more than 3 pairs because they stock pump-flats, sandals, heels, wedges, shoes and you name it, I tried to keep in mind my purpose – pump-flats.

I was initially undecided on 2 pairs and when I finally decided on one, the sales staff informed me of the promotion.

The final purchase!

I am pretty sure I didn't need another pair of sneakers but I couldn't resist.

I especially love the black pair of pump flats that you can hardly see in the 2 images above (but shows up better in the 'trying them on' shot). It's cute enough to wear with jeans, yet girly enough with some dresses and most importantly, it is mad comfortable!

You should definitely go check that shoe out if you are interested in cuts / designs like this (and if it's not too late it get it on promotion)!

Thanks for reading! Now to find shelf space for these 3 pairs...

Hello all, hope everyone had a lovely weekend!

A simple and honestly not very fanciful LOTD but I thought I would snap some pics from this makeup get-up I did for a casual dinner out on Saturday.

Initially I wanted to keep with the close-to-nothing-on look and kept my eyeshadow minimal but along the way I decided to reach for a pop of color on the lips, work on a flush on the cheeks and well.. this was what I ended up with!

Products Used:

BROWS / FACE
K-Palette Liquid Brow Liner in 01
Maquillage Brow Wax in 77
Biore Aqua UV Aqua Rich SPF 50PA++
Maybelline BB Stick Foundation
LUV Carat Long Last Face Powder in Natural Beige (to set)

EYES
Cezanne Eye Controller
Stila In The Garden Palette (Breeze, Honey, Nectar, Chinois)
CLIO Professional Liquid Liner in Black
MAC Powerpoint Liner in Engraved
Helena Rubinstein Lash Queen Feline Black Waterproof

CHEEKS
MAC Mineralized Finish in Smooth Merge

LIPS
Guerlain Shine Automatique in 262 Extrait de Rose (sample tube)

Highlighted products were provided by companies/distributors,
I was not obliged to use/feature them in LOTDs.

For the lips, I decided to be adventurous and reach for this sample tube of Guerlain's Shine Automatique in Extrait de Rose (which I received as a gift with purchase with this haul).

Fuschia or colors that lean towards the pink spectrum is typically not my comfort zone but I was curious about how sparkly this looked and the formula sounds wonderful so... I gave it a shot.

Turns out it isn't as hot a fuschia pink as it appears (thankfully for me) and the formula feels wonderfully luscious on. It has a translucence to it along with a sparkly shine and with decent pigmentation, for this finish.

Here's a closeup shot I accidentally took. You know, when you forget to zoom out and think you're taking a full face shot but you're not?

I'm really liking the formula of the Shine Automatique and feel tempted to check out the other shades available. While I like this, I would totally fancy a red-toned one.

Thanks for reading!

Who's a liquid liner fiend?

While I don't deny that I started off my lining adventures with a good ole pencil liner, ever since I turned to pen liquid liners, it's safe to say that I haven't looked back.

I still use a pencil liquid liner for the undereye area because using a liquid there would be some sort of madness but you get my point.

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And point is the main point of this entry featuring the K-Palette 24H Micro Real Lasting Liquid Liner (Waterproof).

I doubt I need to go into detail about K-Palette's standing in the liquid liner and brow liner realm since I think they have established quite a name for themselves. If you need some convincing, they were the brand that converted me to liquid pen liners (and I have strayed, oops) and liquid brow liners.

Forgive my cheesiness but I am merely bringing across the point of this liner and this point stands at 0.05mm!

I normally like my writing pens with a finer point, I would always hunt down the 0.38; though when it comes to eyeliners, the fine-ness of it usually isn't a major concern to me.

Afterall, if you follow my LOTDs, I am not one who is particular about a fine stroke of liner along the lashline.

However for those who prefer that barely-there definition most ideal for natural day looks, this liner could be what you are looking for.

Here is a little comparison of how fine this point / line is compared to the other liquid liners in my stash.

Forgive the lack of labeling here but the swatch follows the pen order above.

Granted there are other thin liner competitors out there to compare to, I don't actively seek them out because I am content with the regular ones. So long as you don't give me a permanent marker felt-tip point, I think I can work it!

Though with that said, a fine liner is good to have if you need to fill in minute gaps without accidentally thickening the liner or just want that super au natural look.

Here are some eye shots with this on, compared to my current go-to CLIO Professional Liquid liner.

I drew both of them on like how I normally would, hence the Micro liner could go even thinner if you wanted.

Needless to say, K-Palette's Micro appears thinner and more natural with less effort. For me to achieve that with the CLIO liner, I would probably have to be extra stable and dedicate a little more time in the application process.

I am skipping out the hand-swatch water test because this faired well on the days that I wore it out.

By that I mean rain or shine, I didn't notice this smearing or imprinting on my lids. Though even non-waterproof liquid liners don't give me issues because evading water near my eye area when I have makeup on is somewhat second-nature to me now.

Jokes aside, this wears well and I honestly have no complains with it. I still am more accustomed to a pronounced liner but if you fancy thinner and more natural-looking strokes without going for brown then you can look into this blue tubed gem!

This is available at Sasa, selected Watsons, BHG and beautycarousel.com for S$19.90!

Thanks for reading!

Disclosure:
Products were provided to me for review consideration.
I am not affiliated to them and all opinions expressed are my own.

This would be another one of those moments where a haul gets swept under the rug; though not on purpose of course.

While it isn't 'fresh from the store' status, I will still give these a mention because they mark my introduction to Ettusais! Believe it or not (and it isn't that hard to believe) up till now, I have not hauled anything from Ettusais.

It is a simple haul of 3 items that I was tempted into acquiring from various blog mentions like Iris's, Sophia's, Mag's and a couple others.

While I had a longer wishlist (polish topcoat and BB Mineral Cream, I'm looking at you!), I decided to pick up what I needed for the blazingly humid weather these days.

I had these products on hand for a good while now and have formed some thoughts about them. I wouldn't call it a review but let's just say I would throw in an accompanying blurb with each item, just to share how I feel about them.

Touching on the newer releases first, here's the Aqua Splash.

Thinking back, I was probably better off getting the spritz-on sunscreen because it is fact that we should re-apply sunscreen through out the day and the spritz-on would be so much easier.

Though back to this, it is essentially a makeup-refreshing spray which contains some powder within to help set the makeup while you freshen yourself up.

From an idea standpoint, it's pretty awesome and probably why I got suckered into purchasing it but in truth, I don't use it all that often. To be fair, I hardly use makeup refreshing spritzers often and have no idea why I would get this given that!

I have this thrown into my makeup pouch, but since I use a powdered oil blotter, I haven't seen much use of this on days where I have makeup on.

Instead, I prefer using this on days when I don't have any makeup. It seems to do a better job of refreshing the skin and since I don't use a powdered oil blotter when I don't have makeup on (just a regular blotter), the powder within does come to good use. Don't ask about the oil blotter segregation for makeup days and makeup-less days, it is another of my OCDs.

Whoa, lengthy first intro done, the next item I got is the Ettusais Oil Block Jelly.

This one right here, I love. The only fault I have to pick with Ettusais is making this such a small tube!

I alternate using this with Benefit's Porefessional and have noticed good results with oil control and makeup staying power.

Though incase you get the wrong idea, this is pretty different from Pore-fessional. What I like about this is the cooling sensation it has when applied to the skin, on top of the whole oil control and staying power.

If I am not wrong, this product contains some form of sebum-absorbing powder within so the gel does 'cool' and 'dry down' to a soft powdery feel. Though not as smoothing as Benefit's Porefessional but it is nice in it's own way.

Sorry for the extreme closeup of my finger but there's the whole powder-thing right there.

Now... if only Ettusais would make this available in a slightly bigger tube. While I love how purse-friendly it is, I feel like I am easily draining this, even though I only focus using it on my T-zone.

Last but certainly not least, somewhat an impulse buy that I don't regret, the Quick Fix Powder.

The cute doily-like design sucked me in – there, I said it!

I normally prefer carrying a powder compact out for touch ups as opposed to a coverage-less blotting powder. Reason being, I do use a powdered oil blotter so most of the time that area is well taken care of with simple blotting.

However I did hear positive mentions about this, accompanied with it being quite elusive (I think, at one time? Or did I dream that up) and the adorable design; I just couldn't resist.

Though it does smooth the skin out (touch-wise) and definitely pats the shine away, it lends zero coverage. So if you are, like me, someone who prefers carrying a backup coverage pact out then maybe you want to decide on how much you love the design to indulge.

Recently I misplaced my MAC Studio Fix Powder so I had to carry this about and I do like it for keeping my face shine-free longer but I do miss an accompanying coverage.

Like I said, impulse but I don't regret it!

So that was my first venture into Ettusais!

Do you have any recommendations on other things (skincare or makeup) I should check out from the brand?

Thanks for reading!

Nude is the new way to dress up, by Dior's standards that is and fashion-wise, it's hard to decline the invasion of Nude. Nude shades, I mean.

MAKEUP TAKES INSPIRATION FROM FASHION
TO SET A BOLD NEW TREND

Who would have thought that the term Bold and Nude would be synonymous within the makeup realm.

Perfecting the Art of Nude, Dior drew inspiration from the minimalistic styles on the runway and brought their take to the beauty counters through the form of products to replicate that soft, sheer and natural appeal.

Like silk or cashmere gliding across the runway and figure-hugging pieces that show a peak of skin at all the right places, Dior has embodied that bare caress of material across the skin through the form of makeup.

In an effort to amp up the radiance, glow and beauty of our skin without abolishing the natural trait, the Dior Laboratories took to studying the skin's components.

With a new technology and formulation enriched with ingredients from natural origins and the exclusive 'Nude Glow' pigments, Diorskin Nude continues its research into perfecting perfect skin in a form that is more natural than ever.

The key elements found within this technology from Dior would be – Nude Glow pigments, a binding agent and water.

Nude Glow Pigments –

For greater glow and truer color, these pigments have a transparency and photo-sensitivity to them. This allows them to enhance the skin's natural luminosity and allow it to glow through both a natural and artificial (think glowy pigments) form.

Binding Agent –

A binding agent holds the formula together and plays a key role in the texture of the foundation. The binding agent here is of a natural origin, containing fatty acids that are similar to the epidermis (our skin layer), allowing the formula to blend effortlessly with our skin. This fatty acid also provides hydration so the skin remains moist and hydrated, allowing it to better reflect a plump and luminuous complexion.

Water –

While seemingly bizarre to list water as a key ingredient, the water used in Nude combines the virtues of mineralized water with a new floral water. This beauty water works upon the skin, like a skincare benefit, with joint-powers of mallow and hibiscus to enhance the skin's hydration, glow, elasticity, and provide a smooth and even complexion.

The entire focus of the Diorskin Nude range is to replicate the natural form of skin with an enhanced luminiousity and glow.

On top of that, it also works with a virtue to perfect the skin, keeping it hydrated and smoothing out the complexion so while you look as if you have enhanced skin, there are ingredients working behind-the-scenes to enhance your skin.

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After a run-down of the idea, inspiration and also key elements within this new Diorskin Nude range, let's see the products that will be launched with.

Diorskin: Nude Fluid (S$70)

The star product in the Diorskin Nude range, this liquid foundation is the backstage secret to creating that flawless enhanced nude look that is envied by all. This product creates a shine-free look, natural glow, with a bare-skin effect.

Diorskin: Nude Compact (S$90)

Differing from the classic compacts that deliver a matte finish, Diorskin's Nude Compact gives the skin a natural radiant finish, dishing out coverage without masking the look of skin. Due to the ultra-fine powder particles, one can alter how natural or made-up they wish to look. The powder also has the aid of micro-pearlisers and opalescent powders for a natural glow.

Art of Color – Nude Shimmer (S$70)

For more spotlight on the skin, Dior introduces Nude Shimmer. Featuring a fine blend of micro-pearlisers within a transparent base, this highlighter captures maximum light and gives the skin a 'wet' and 'glowy' nude look.

Art of Application – Brushes (Liquid S$82 / Powder S$104)

Achieve the professional nude finish with the newly introduced Fluid and Powder brushes. Designed for your varying preference in coverage, some brushes offer a fuller application while others a lighter dusting of product (be it powder or liquid).

Fronting this Nude movement by Dior is the gorgeous Natalie Portman. I don't want to ruin this entry with a fangirl moment but since Star Wars, I have always loved how Natalie Portman carries this air of elegance regardless of the role she takes on.

(seems like Dior is picking up on all the hot babes! Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman)

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And this wraps up my introduction to the base portion of the Diorskin Nude collection. Along with the Nude theme, Dior is also putting out some Dior Vernis Nude and Rouge Nudes which you can read more about on The Makeup Blogette.

I am currently giving the liquid foundation (Nude Fluid) a whirl and will share my thoughts once I have gathered them.

Thanks for reading!

Disclosure:
Some information and pictures featured were extracted from a press file (with or without paraphrasing).
Opinions and thoughts otherwise mentioned are my own.

Here's the other half of the Ruby Kisses polishes I had showcased and talked about here.

I mentioned that I had an idea for the remaining 2, Peach on Fire and She A Goldigger, and here it is!

I was inspired by the 'V-gap' style that is commonly seen on Nailside and used Peach on Fire as a base color with She A Goldigger as the 'V-shape'.

It was a relatively easy look to do since there are no intricate details and the flat, wide polish brush made everything so much easier.

I had expected She A Goldiggger to live up to the other shades and be more opaque with one swatch, however it is a different finish from the rest. One coat of She A Goldigger proved too sheer, hence I layered 2 coats of it and thankfully it still turned out okay. Sometimes with tape manis, 2 coats might cause problems when removing the tape.

Even with 2 coats, it's not quite as 'pow' a gold as I would have liked but I wasn't going to risk it with 3 and it's pretty enough!

I can't even start with how blindingly neon Peach on Fire is! Like the other 3 cream shades, it does dry down to a satin-ish sort of finish and for this color, I actually like how that finish looks.

Here's how it looks alone, without a topcoat over (1 1/2 coats):

The finish and bright tone of this shade makes it feel like something that belongs in Illamasqua's new Fall collection, Rubber Brights.

I didn't shed much light on She A Goldigger here but it is a lovely shade which I would probably use to layer over polishes for a fun effect. On it's own, I believe you may need 3 coats (or maybe even 4) for a full opaque finish.

The neon-ness of this is a fun color to wear but certainly not a go-to one for me. I wouldn't mind wearing this for a short while just to brighten my nails but a short while was honestly how long this got to live on my nails. After prancing around in neons for 2 days, I promptly removed this. Another reason for the quick removal was because I had a new nail distraction but I'll save that for another entry ;)

Ruby Kisses HD Polishes are available for S$9.90 at Watsons!

Thanks for reading!

 

Disclosure:
Products were provided to me for review consideration.
I am not affiliated to them and all opinions expressed are my own.

If you haven't read the first of my Jyunka posts, featuring the facial experience and scientific explanation of it, I highly recommend that you do since it is somewhat a flow-in into this entry.

Now that I have gotten most of the techy beauty bits ironed out, I will keep this entry more focused on the product benefits along with my personal experience and thoughts about it.

What is Jyunka M+ Fluid?

The active ingredient found within Jyunka M+ Fluid, as discussed, is Vitamin C (or also known as L'Absorbic Acid).

Looking at the ingredient make-up of this Fluid, you can tell that it honestly is banking on the technology of ensuring Vitamin C is absorbed deeply and thoroughly into the skin since there really aren't many ingredients to it.

Jyunka M+ Fluid comes with a very promising list of claims such as being able to see immediate results along with far better benefits with a prolonged used. The benefits of that would include:

• Lightening Pigmentation and Age Spots
• Tightening Pores
• Plump up Fine Lines
• Jyunka Glow! – A brightened complexion as toxins are flushed from the skin
• Reduced Under eye circles

And yes, you read that last point right! Jyunka M+ Fluid is actually safe to use on the tender area right under your eye. I am assuming this factor does vary and those who are extremely sensitive in that area might not want to risk getting milia seeds but the option of an undereye use is there!

While the above list is a compilation of benefits from a prolonged usage, Jyunka also emphsizes that due to it's fast-absorbing quality, instant and immediate effects can be witnessed!

I hope I am not all over the place with this review but speaking of instant results, here's a flashback to the half-face demo I mentioned in my earlier entry.

Immediate Effects

At the beauty salon, they felt the best way for me to see the difference is to apply Jyunka M+ on half of my face and leave the other as-is. For best results, it was also recommended I left myself this way till the next morning (at least).

They applied Jyunka M+ to the left side of my face, mentioning that it is slightly chubbier than my right and not as 'well-defined'. It is a partial observation but I suppose it is also why I have always prefer taking photos from my right.

Immediately after 10 minutes of application, they snapped a quick shot of my face for me and while I look downright cheesy and bleh, here it is:

With the immediate results, what you would notice is:

• Plumping of any fine lines (such as laugh lines or creases around the eyes)
• Slight lifting of the skin – note how my left (right in the photo) eye area appears slightly 'lifted'
• Slight sculpting of the cheeks (also due to lifting)

Since the phone camera quality is unable to snap commendable pictures, once home I took more shots in hopes of capturing the difference.

In all honesty there is a difference if you scrutinize your face in person. Of course people you see on the streets would not be sending weird stares your way for any odd facial symmetry but for observant people that know you (and yourself), you can see the refined shape and lifted look on the side with M+

There was also plumping to the laughline when I looked at myself in the mirror but for some reason, it refused to get captured on camera with flash.

While my left (right in picture) does look chubbier and has a more angular jaw, that is impossible to correct with M+ since we are talking plastic surgery here. Though what M+ did is to sculpt the meatier cheek portion, places that a serum can alter.

In the pictures, and I honestly hope it's not just me over-scrutinizing myself, I do see a better contour on my left cheek (right in photo). Note how there is a more evident 'front line' on there casting a deeper shadow?

The camera flash does cause everything to be picked up and highlighted but in person, that 'line' works as a contour and does shape your face to make it appear slimmer. Keyword here is appear.

Alright, enough of my scary gummy smile but that's what I captured through initial usage.

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Prolonged Usage (3 Weeks)

After my facial experience, I received a bottle of Jyunka M+ and used it religiously for about 3 weeks – rather religiously that is.

The instructions say to use this day and night however due to it's serum-like consistency (not exactly thick and oily but I will explain!), I don't fancy using this in the day and would stick to my light-weight moisturizers.

So, after 3 weeks of use, how did it fare against its claims?

A foreword, I can't entirely attest everything to this product and while I didn't change up anything else in my routine, my skin does go through phases of being good and bad so... if anything, maybe this aided with the good.

• The pores around my nose does seem slightly smoothened out, though I never had too major pore issues to begin with so... not the best judge!
• My complexion seems to be brightened and more radiant. It's a partial observation and not cosmetic-product-glowy but rather my skin doesn't appear so dull and I don't look zombie-like without makeup.
• I don't have much pigmentation or age spot issues so I can't comment on this.
• I do notice (and I hope it's not the mentality-thing) that my face appears more lifted and contoured. It's not a super drastic measure but from certain angles my face almost appears... slimmer. No kidding!
• I can't comment too much on fine-line plumping either since it's not a major issue of mine but I have noticed my smile lines being less indent (again, if I scrutinize myself).

I know the slimmer face part honestly sounds too good to be true and I can't promise that I can convince you about it but that's what I felt about myself and here are some shots after 3 weeks of use.

And for variety, I tried to snap some with sun because of how harsh camera flash can be but that meant sneaky snapshots on the bus. Since over the working period, that was the only time I was 'exposed to sun'.

Of course I can only share what I think I experienced and this is in no sense gimmicky, I'll let the photos be the judge and you can decide for yourself if you do see a difference in my skin!

For other references, I did post up this LOTD mid-way through my Jyunka usage and I felt from there on my face already seemed a little more 'lifted'. Though, as I said, you be the judge based on the images!

I personally felt like it was doing some sort of good and even if it didn't do the whole slimming and lifting job, it did a great deal to help make my skin appear better on it's own – more radiant with a better complexion. So this is probably the culprit as to why I've been lazy to wear makeup out on weekends!

How this feels on

Incase anyone is wondering about how this product feels on, is it thick and greasy etc? I'll take some time to describe the consistency and scent of it.

Instructions say to use 2 pumps per application but I find that could be a little much for me so I usually do 1 pump, sometimes 1 1/2.

The consistency of this is typical to that of most serums, rather liquid in nature yet not as 'thin' as water.

When you first smooth it on your face, it does feel a little thick and greasy on. However the trick here is to continuously massage and rub this into your skin.

As you do that, you can feel the product being absorbed and in time, most of the greasy oil-like quality would have disappeared. It's not to say that it will feel as if there's nothing there since it is somewhat a serum but it's a lot lighter feeling on, compared to the initial heavy oily feel.

With that said, there is no recommended or preferred way of application though the usual upwards rubbing and circular motions are good enough. You don't have to follow it entirely of course but if you do have to spend some time rubbing it in, why not.

How to use this in the routine

This product, while serum-like, is actually used as a pre-serum – you can use this after toning, before your usual serums.

Though as a personal preference, since it is somewhat serum-like on it's own I do use this in place of a serum and stack my normal serum over it on alternate days so the whole routine doesn't feel too rich.

 

Though a quick note!
Some people MAY experience purging for the first week upon using this since our skin does react a certain way to high amounts of Vitamin C and Jyunka M+ aims to expel toxins from the skin. Though if you continue using it (no matter how scary that seems), your skin condition will get better.

Personally I didn't notice breakouts but I did get some dry patches on my skin for awhile though those went away quite quickly.

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In Conclusion

I think I have blabbered on for long enough about it and I personally find Jyunka M+ Fluid quite a find in the skincare realm. I have noticed significant results on my skin for this and am glad I got a chance to use it and see what it could do for my skin.

While I do love it, I don't want to step into the boundary of raving too much about it because of its high price of S$322 for 30ml (available at Beauty Veranda). If it were slightly cheaper, I would be all "you should go try it out because it's awesome" but this price tag is rather luxurious and I would say if you are looking for a change up to your skincare and don't mind forking out this sum, I do urge you to try Jyunka M+ Fluid.

It's been awhile since I have noticed something do this much for my skin and I suppose immediate and effective results do come at their own price!

Thanks for reading and I hope this entry has been informative for you!

Disclosure:
Products were provided to me for review consideration.
I am not affiliated to them and all opinions expressed are my own.

Hello!

Hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend and Selamat Hari Raya to those who celebrate the occasion!

In this entry I will be running through 2 things -
one, the facial experience and
two, the introduction of a fairly interesting (and potent!) product, which is also part 2 of the facial experience.

Hope that doesn't confuse you!

The facial experience works to compliment the usage of the product by prepping your skin, cleaning it and ridding it of any surface impurities. It's not a necessity as the product can be used day-to-day in the comfort of your own home but hey, if there's a pampering facial session to go with, I'll take it!

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I had my facial session at Beauty Veranda, one of the few beauty salons that carry out this Jyunka M+ facial treatment (along with carrying the product).

(image from Beauty Veranda)

The session was kept simple without fancy machines and devices since the aim of the facial is the serum - Jyunka M+

Due to a series of situations, I didn't have my proper camera with me so you will have to make do with some iffy shots snapped with an iPhone. My bad!

My beautician for the evening, Cherry, pointed out that it has been awhile since my last proper facial session. According to her, while my skin is looking good, it wasn't at the most optimal as some portions could use a little exfoliation to brighten it up. And to think I felt that my skin didn't need that much love now!

I'll run through the facial as brief as I can, just so you know what was done but since it is a prepping step, it's not that far different from your usual sessions.

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I was ushered into a small room where my session was held at and did the usual of changing into the robes provided.

Cleansing
The facial started off with Cherry cleansing my skin and removing all traces of makeup.

Epidermal Peel
After cleansing, Cherry continued with an epidermal peel. She used Jyunka's Epidermal Peel Cream which is a product you can actually purchase from Beauty Veranda for an at-home exfoliation session.

Upon application, this does have a slight stinging sensation to it. That feeling is most similar to the facial procedure of putting fruit acids on your skin, where you get a biting feeling that isn't entirely painful (depends on your threshold!) but I would say it's far from comfortable. I sucked it up and winced at the biting, knowing I would have smoother skin after!

Epidermal Lotion
After leaving me in some agony for 5 minutes, okay I dramatize, Cherry returned and applied some Epidermal Lotion to my skin. Because the peel tends to pull the skin's pH into the acidic zone, the Lotion works at neutralizing and returning it to the optimal pH levels once more. This also ceases the biting sensation.

Facial & Shoulder Massage + Masking Session
Following the above, I was treated to a very relaxing facial massage along with a much-needed shoulder massage. Digressing here but I could literally feel how much more tense I was in the right shoulder and Cherry helped me massage the tension away - as much as she could that is. See, don't always lug your bags on one side!

While the shoulder massage was underway, Cherry had also thrown on a soothing facial mask for me. There are various types available and they will 'prescribe' one for you based on your skin condition. If I am not wrong, I received the hydrating one becaused Cherry noted that my skin was tip-toeing in the dry zone.

So I was a little unfair and clumped the remaining bits together, but like I said, the facial session itself isn't too miraculously different to go into detail of and I don't want to bore you too much before I get to the main point of this entry!

Once the whole facial session was over, I did notice a slight brightening effect to my skin and it seems as if some dead skin and darkened portions were sloughed off, not to mention smoother skin!

It's not a magical brightening procedure but it did make my skin appear more rejuvenated.

Know what this calls for? Cue mildly freaky before and after photos:

Not major but I would say my skin looks slightly better and more 'perked up' in the After?

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So moving on, after the facial session was completed, I was ushered out into a consultation room to witness the effect of and also to try out the Miracle Fluid, Jyunka M+.

Introducing Jyunka M+ Fluid...

Before this experience, I received the fact sheet and did some googling of my own. The search results were actually rather intriguing and apparently this Miracle Fluid (as Jyunka calls it) has been mentioned since a good while back on forums like Cozycot and Flowerpod. While it probably isn't that new to the market, it's the first time I was introduced to this.

Jyunka M+ Fluid is largely made up of Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid) which is a nutrient essential to our bodies. We do see the inclusion of Vitamin C in a lot of skincare products as well because it helps promote clear and beautiful skin.

Vitamin C works best when it is absorbed directly by the skin. While ingesting it has its benefits, it doesn't contribute all that much to surface beauty since a good part of it gets lost in our dietary tract and does not even get absorbed for our skin. However, since pure Vitamin C is sensitive to sunlight, oxidizes with oxygen and water-soluble (our skin is a barrier to water and absorbs oil-based items quicker), it is difficult to properly find a way to slather that straight onto our skin.

However, Jyunka had found a method to solve the problem and it does involve a little bit of science but I will aid the explanation with some visuals! I know it's a lot of words but if you are into the science of how things work (and to understand how this seems more potent), do read on!

Yes, this flashback to chemistry lesson in school is the answer. Jyunka encapsulates their Vitamin C within this little thing called the Qu-some Particle.

Basically this Qu-some Particle is

• Super nano in size so it can penetrate the skin's first membrane
• Alternates water and oil layers to help penetrate different layers of the skin. While the outermost layer of the skin absorbs oil quicker, the inner-most layers do better with water.
• Helps hold the active ingredient stable within the particle

So in short, this ensures that Jyunka M+ Fluid is fast-absorbing and you honestly see results about 10 minutes in after application (more so if it's your first-time).

To wrap up my experience with the science part of Jyunka M+ Fluid, I was shown a little experiment about how potent the Vitamin C content is in comparison to ... a lemon!

Iodine was dropped into 2 'jars' and while a tad more Iodine was dispensed into the Jyunka one, it doesn't matter.

(Above) Upon squeezing the lemon juice, the jar did turn significantly lighter in tone (pre-stirring) while the Jyunka remained exactly the same in shade.

After stirring both jars up, the one with Lemon Juice cleared up to a cloudy state while the one with Jyunka M+ became completely clear! That was really surprising given how soy-sauce-looking it was previously.

With this experiment, it was explained that besides the obvious fact that one squirt of Jyunka M+ packs more Vitamin C than juicing half a lemon, Jyunka keeps the Vitamin C 'encapsulated' until stimulated.

For some reason the last part of that sentence makes me laugh but it is truth. The Qu-some Particle stabilizes the Vitamin C within until you stir it or in our case of use, until you rub it out on your skin.

Science talk aside, I was asked to try Jyunka M+ Fluid on one half of my face while I was at the beauty salon.

How did that turn out?

Well, you'll just have to stay tuned to the review entry to follow! I feel this post is getting way long and I have done enough here with introducing my Facial Experience with Jyunka M+ so I will save findings, detailed skincare benefits and all for what's to come!

Stay tuned if you are intrigued with the wonders of Jyunka M+ Fluid!

Thanks for reading this lengthy entry and really, you don't have to wait long for the next one!

[edit: Review and thoughts of Jyunka M+ Fluid is up! Read it over here!]