Smooth and Radiant Skin with Vaseline Total Moisture Cocoa Glow Body Lotion

One of the most pleasant and recent drugstore find before 2011 ended was Vaseline Total Moisture Cocoa Glow Nourishing Lotion. I picked up a bottle on a whim and honestly did not expect much. But am I glad to have discovered this little gem!

Vaseline Cocoa Glow comes in a rather unassuming brown bottle. It was sort of love at first sniff. You see, I absolutely adore sugary, gourmand scents especially those that don't get too sickly sweet. I have used Palmer's Cocoa Butter before and although it was a nice lotion and moisturised my skin well, the scent was just too overwhelming. The Vaseline Cocoa Glow has a nice blend of sweetness without going overboard. Besides cocoa, there is a tinge of hazelnut and vanilla, which makes this one of the yummiest smelling body lotions I own.

Vaseline's Total Moisture line of body lotions is formulated with Stratys-3 technology, which is meant to deliver moisture to the top, core and deep layers of skin. The Cocoa Glow lotion is infused with cocoa butter and Vitamin E to help moisturise and soften skin. It works quite well to keep my dry skin smooth and comfortable. I have two eczema patches on my legs and they have not suffered any adverse reaction to the lotion.

Cocoa Glow is an off-white coloured lotion with a lovely whipped-cream texture. It absorbs fairly quickly and does not leave a slick residue behind. It feels lightweight and is not greasy. It is not a heavy duty body moisturiser and if you live in very dry climates, this may not be enough although I have read that there is heavier butter version available in colder countries.

I tend to be quite lazy with body care and used to find applying body lotions to be a real chore. Since getting Cocoa Glow about three weeks ago and a couple of other moisturisers, I have been a bit more vigilant because I started seeing some results with daily use. My skin feels and looks healthier now. I still have several trouble spots on my legs and arms but they are definitely getting better.

Vaseline Total Moisture Cocoa Glow Body Lotion is available in most local pharmacies and comes in three sizes; 120ml for RM7.50, 250ml for RM14.50 and 400ml for RM19.50. It is a good and affordable option! If you are fan of cocoa butter scents, I'd recommend giving this body lotion a go.

Biore UV AQUA Rich Watery Jelly SPF 30 PA+++

When the Biore UV AQUA Rich Watery Jelly was first released in Malaysia, I ran out to get myself a bottle. I've been reading a number of positive reviews and was rather curious to see how it would work. I used it on my neck and arms at that time, and liked how watery and cooling it felt. However, I started noticing some rashes appearing on my neck a few days later and initially thought it was caused by the sunscreen because many of my allergies are triggered by sun protection products.

It was only a bit later that I discovered the rashes were caused by a food allergy reaction but by that time, I had already given away the bottle and moved on to other sunscreens. Yes, I am that quick.

I was running out of my regular body sunblock and came across the Biore Watery Jelly at a local drugstore. I then thought of trying it out again because I did like the cooling sensation and lightweight texture.

The Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Jelly is a gel-emulsion type of sunscreen that is meant for the face and body. It contains a blend of hyaluronic acid and Mix Citrus Essence to help skin retain moisture and feel more hydrated. It also acts as a moisturiser, makeup primer and sunscreen in one. It has a mild citrus scent that fades away quickly.

It is very light and watery and I really enjoy applying this sunscreen on my arms and neck. It does not leave a white cast and is pretty much invisible once rubbed in. I think the protection offered is quite enough for office workers or students who don't spend long hours under the sun.  If you plan to participate in any outdoor activities, you'd best reapply the sunscreen to benefit from it's full protection. It also washes off easily with regular soaps or cleansers.

Overall, I am glad I revisited and repurchased this sunscreen. After having use it for a couple of months without any adverse reaction, I can safely say that it works for me and would recommend it to those who are not sensitive to the ingredients listed below. The Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Jelly SPF30 PA+++ retails at RM32 and is available in most drugstores nationwide.

Note:
I have only used this sunscreen on my body, neck and decolletage so I'm not sure what it is like on my face.

Ingredient List:

Water, alcohol, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate, dimethicone, xylitol, acrylates/C10-30 acrylate crosspolymer, lauryl methacrylate/sodium methacrylate crosspolymer, cyclopentasiloxane, titanium dioxide, polyglyceryl-3 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone, agar, behenyl alcohol, microcrystalline wax, polyvinyl alcohol, ceratonia siliqua gum, sodium stearoxy PG-hydroxyethylcellulose sulfonate, maltodextrin, sodium hyaluronate, grapefruit fruit extract, lemon extract, orange fruit extract, butylene glycol, propylene glycol, potassium hydroxide, phenoxyethanol, disodium EDTA, BHT, fragrance.

Paul & Joe Body Salt Scrub for a Blissful Bath and Shower Time

I am a huge fan of Paul & Joe and have to admit that it's mostly because of their girly, vintage packaging. Good thing their products have generally worked out quite well on me because it would be silly to keep buying stuff from them just because they look nice. In a fairly recent haul, I returned home with the Paul & Joe body scrub, which was released in the Blue Horizon Summer 2011 collection.

The body scrub feels very luxurious and when I tested at the counter, I was completely sold by how smoothly the granules melted into a gorgeous creamy texture. It consists of salt and sugar granules to buff your skin and the shea butter helps soften and moisturise. It does not feel terribly coarse like how some salt scrubs can get. As I suffer from mild body eczema, my skin is quite sensitive and cannot tolerate anything that is too rough. The Paul & Joe scrub strikes a nice balance between grit and substance, and it feels quite comfortable on my skin.

Due to the palm oil and shea butter, the scrub may feel slick to some however it does not get very greasy and washes off quite easily. I find that it leaves my skin soft to touch and makes me feel nicely moisturised. After toweling off, I would normally apply the Paul & Joe Body Milk and this combination is absolutely heavenly. Ahhh, bliss...

Like most of their products, the body scrub has Paul & Joe's signature orange blossom scent, which I really adore. Sadly, the fragrance only lasts as long as the shower and although my skin is lightly perfumed when I step out of the bathroom, it fades after a short while.

The BeautyCabby Tip "Glob a small amount of the body scrub (you can use any scrub) onto a dampened foot file and gently scrub your feet, concentrating on areas where calluses have formed (usually on the heel). Make sure the file can be used wet or dry."

The Paul & Joe Body Salt Scrub is available at Paul & Joe counters in Parkson Subang Parade, Parkson Pavilion and Sephora. I believe it is a limited edition item and may not be widely available. Each 230g tub retails at RM116 and comes with its own spatula. It may be expensive for a body scrub but I think it's worth it because it polishes my sensitive skin well and I have not suffered any adverse skin reactions or eczema flare-ups using this.

Ingredients:

Mallow Extract, Edelweiss Extract, Olive Oil, Orange Flower Water, Palm Oil, Shea Butter, Orange Oil, Balm Mint Leaf Extract

TIGI Bed Head Superstar Volumizing Leave-In Conditioner

I don't know if I mentioned this before but I finally got a haircut about three weeks ago and have decided that I need to take better care of my hair. So, I have been looking for a relatively light hair treatment which delivers volume and this particular TIGI leave-in conditioner seems to fit the bill. The Superstar range is part of TIGI's Bed Head series and is targeted at folks who want volumized hair that is soft to touch.

I have oily roots and dry ends, so my hair can sometimes get quite flat and heavy. I tend to look for products that can add volume without weighing my medium length hair down. There aren't as many volumizing hair products available in our local market compared to Western countries. Maybe Asians generally prefer stick straight hair? I may be wrong about this but I do see a lot of rebonded long tresses out there.

Description:

• Conditions, detangles and adds volume.

• Protein complex repairs and adds moisture.

• Provides UV color protection.

Tag Line:

You must have a sense of humor to use our products™

Pump up your hair! Conditions, detangles, adds volume and gives light hold.

My Thoughts:
The TIGI leave-in conditioner comes in a sassy, bright pink spray bottle. The product has a tendency to come out in squirts rather than an even spray, so I would just apply three pumps onto my palms, rub them together and spread the product throughout the length of my hair, and then blow dry.

It makes my hair feel softer and better conditioned. It does not add much volume but it's good enough to not have my hair appear flat. It also doesn't seem to provide any hold at all, which is a little disappointing. As I can still feel the conditioning effects the next day even after a hair wash, I don't tend to use the product daily as I'm a bit wary that it may weigh my hair down and make it appear more greasy.

It has a strong, sugary sweet strawberry scent but it does fade once my hair is blown dry. I will not recommend most TIGI products if you're sensitive to smells because they can be very heavily fragranced. Other than that, the product does deliver on most counts and I am fairly satisfied with it.

Ingredients:

Aqua/Water/Eau (Water), Polyquaternium 11, Amodimethicone, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, PG Propylsilanetriol, Polyquaternium 32, Quaternium 91, Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum) (Mineral Oil), Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Methosulfate, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Silk, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract (Sunflower), Glycine, Alanine, PPG 20 Methyl Glucose Ether, Quaternium 26, Olealkonium Chloride, Parfum (Fragrance), Cetrimonium Chloride, Dimethiacone PEG 8 Meadowfoamate, Benzophenone 4, Polysorbate 20, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, PPG 1 Trideceth 6, Trideceth 12, Phosphoric Acid, Methylisothiazolinone, Alpha Isomethyl Ionone, D&C Red 33 (CI 17200) (Red 33), Ext D&C Violet 2 (CI 60730) (Violet 2)

Availability:

TIGI haircare products can be found at Sasa stores and selective hair salons. The Superstar Volumizing Leave-In Conditioner retails at RM85 for each 200ml bottle.

waxing lyrical about bees

Burt's Bees has finally made its way to our shores and has opened their first store at The Curve, Damansara. The shop is located next to Border's Bookstore on the ground floor and although it doesn't occupy a huge space, the products are arranged quite neatly.

Burt's Bees uses as many natural ingredients as possible and are manufactured with minimal processing to maintain purity of those ingredients. To reflect their Earth-friendly philosophy, their products are packaged in recycled materials and they engage in environmentally conscious practices. Quite honestly, they are probably the more "natural" of the other natural or organic brands out there. They have come a long way from producing just honey and beeswax. There are products catering to most personal beauty needs from head to toe and they even have a range for babies and men.

It is definitely worth while checking out their store if you're heading to The Curve. I personally think they should start doing more marketing to gain some proper public attention as I think people are not completely aware of their existence.

Stuff I like :

- Beeswax Lip Balm (RM18)

- Honey Lip Balm (RM18)

- Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil (RM18)

- Lip Shimmer in Nutmeg and Rhubarb (RM31.80)

- Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream (RM37.80)

- Hand Salve (RM56.80)

review : sunplay skin aqua sunscreens

If you live in a climate where it's sunny all year round, you should know that sunscreen is an important product to consider. I honestly did not know the importance of using sunscreen until I reached adulthood. I didn't see as many whitening and sun protection products growing up.

My favourite drugstore sunscreen brand has got to be Sunplay's Skin Aqua series.

They are cheap and will offer sufficient sun protection for most folks (unless you spend a majority of your day under the sun, of which I would recommend much higher SPF).

Mentholatum Sunplay UV Mild Milk SPF25 PA++
• mild sunscreen moisture milk to protect and moisturise skin against harmful sunlight
• contains effective moisturizing ingredients, hyaluronic acid and collagen to keep skin soft and moisturized after exposure to sunlight
• enriched with vitamin E, to maintain smooth and healthy ski
• high protection against harmful UVA & UVB
• fragrance free, low irritation, suitable for daily outdoor activities

Of the three, the UV Mild Milk (pink cap bottle) is my favourite as I can use this on my face without any worries. It is free from alcohol, fragrance, mineral oil and colorant. The texture is like a lotion and it applies very smoothly on my face. I have not suffered any breakouts from using this either. This sunscreen is a fairly new addition and I have only seen it at Watson's so far. I have been using it daily for almost three weeks and the bottle is still quite full.

Mentholatum Sunplay UV Moisture Gel SPF25 PA++ (80g):

    •    Fresh sunscreen moisture gel protects and hydrates skin against harmful sunlight
    •    Contains MPC moisture retention barrier which helps keep skin soft and supple after long hours of sunlight
    •    Enriched with carrot extract, Vitamin B1,B2 and C, to maintain smooth and healthy skin
    •    Effective protection against harmful UVA and UVB
    •    Low irritation, suitable for daily outdoor activities

I usually use the UV Moisture Gel on my arms and body (parts that are exposed). It has a really interesting texture that comes out like a cross between a lotion and a gel. It has a slight powdery scent that goes away quickly and applies with a light, cooling sensation. I don't think it contains alcohol but it does feel a little drier, which is why I don't use this on my face although it may be a good choice for those with very oily skin.

 Mentholatum Sunplay UV Moisture Milk SPF50 PA+++ (42g):

    •    Light sunscreen moisture milk which protects and hydrates skin against harmful sunlight
    •    Contains effective moisturizing ingredients, Hyaluronic acid and Collagen, which help keep skin soft and moisturized even after long hours of sunlight
    •    Enriched with carrot extract, Vitamin B1,B2 and C, to maintain smooth and healthy skin
    •    Effective protection against harmful UVA and UVB
    •    Low irritation, suitable for daily outdoor activities

The UV Moisture Milk has the highest SPF and PA rating in this range. It is water resistant, which makes it perfect if you like to go swimming or do a lot of outdoor activities. I used to use this on my face (and a few other sunscreens) before the UV Mild Milk came out. The texture is rather runny and appears milky white but once applied onto skin, it is completely colourless and does not have that whitish cast that some sunscreens produce. Of the three, this one comes in the smallest bottle but is still a good size.

Availability :

Sunplay products are available in most major pharmacies and Sasa. I believe each bottle costs RM29.90 but I cannot confirm for sure because it could be cheaper since Watson's and Guardian usually offer discounts.

review : lush lemony flutter

How many times have you bought something with every good intention on using it but it ends up sitting in the deep, dark crevices of your drawer instead? This was what happened with the LUSH Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter I purchased a year and a half ago during my travels in New Zealand. I do not have problems with my nails, in fact they are quite strong. On the other hand, my cuticles are a rather sad sight and that was why I decided to purchase a tub of Lemony Flutter.

Description (taken from LUSH UK) :

Softens hard skin all over the body, especially the cuticles. We made Lemony Flutter to soften your cuticles; it's our thickest cream out there. It's so good at softening your cuticles and nourishing your nails that Lush customers have been using it to soften and nourish lots of other body parts like their feet, elbows and knees. Fortunately, it's a very reasonably priced cream, so you can afford to use it as widely as you wish. Take more care of your extremities and invest a small sum in a Lemony pot.

Ingredients :

Fresh Organic Lemon Infusion (Citrus limonum), Shea Butter (Butyrospermum parkii), Beeswax (Cera alba), Lanolin, Soya Oil (Glycine soja), Cold Pressed Organic Avocado Oil (Persea gratissima), Cold Pressed Organic Flaxseed Oil (Linum usitatissimum), Mango Butter (Mangifera indica), Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Castor Oil (Ricinus communis), Perfume, Cold Pressed Organic Wheatgerm Oil (Triticum vulgare), Lemon Oil (Citrus limonum), Lavender Oil (Lavandula angustifolia), Tagetes Oil (Tagetes minuta), Chamomile Oil (Anthemis nobilis), Sodium Borate (Borax), Gardenia Extract (Gardenia jasminoides), *Citral, *Geraniol, *Citronellol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Methylparaben, Propylparaben

The picture on the LUSH website depicts the cream to be a crazy loud yellow colour but it's actually not. The cream is pastel yellow and the consistency is lightly whipped. It goes on like creamed butter, a little thick and very emollient, which of course is good for my nails and cuticles. LUSH recommends it to be used on other dry parts of your body too. I sometimes slap some on my heels and wake up to smooth feet. Anyone who has seen my cracked heels before will know that they are quite gross.

So, why haven't I used it for so long? Quite honestly, I forgot I had it. After returning from NZ, I stuffed it in a drawer and just recently started clearing out my junk and came across the tub. Although the date indicates it has expired (best before : 29/12/09), it still looks and smells okay to me so I just proceeded to use it.

My cuticles before using Lemony Flutter :

After dabbing some cream on :

After massaging the cream in :

I swear I have all five fingers and it's just the angle of the camera that refused to include the thumb. You can see that the tips of my fingers appear a lot more "healthy" and moisturised after rubbing the cream in. I can definitely feel a difference because my cuticles are smoother. I keep my nails fairly short because I play the piano.

I must admit I may have re-discovered a new love! The only thing that I'm not loving so much is the scent. It smells like lemony moth balls and no, it has not turned because it expired, it has been this way since the day I bought it. Actually, it's not as strong as before so I guess forgetting about it for a while was a good thing.

Availability :

Unfortunately, LUSH is not locally available but you can order from either the LUSH UK website or the Australian one. I cannot recall how much I paid for it but it retails for GBP 5.50 on the UK site. It comes in a generously sized 50g black, plastic tub. I'd reckon if you only use this on your nails on a daily basis, one tub may last a year.