Product Review: ErucA 3D Volume Up, Moist & Repair, Scalp & Volume

Disclaimer: Products are kindly sent by samplestore.com, but reviews are based entirely on my own experience.

Hi guys! I'm really excited to be sharing this post today because I think I've officially found my favourite hair product! To be honest, I've never really been 'big on' hair. My beauty concerns goes in this order: 1) Skin care 2) Base makeup 3) Hair

I'm picky about my hair salons but not too much about what hair products I use to maintain my hair. I'll just grab whatever shampoo and conditioner I feel like buying when I'm at Watsons/Guardian, heck I don't even use hair mask or treatment any more these days. I did buy an expensive hair oil that I rarely use, but I do use a night care milk before I go to bed. If you have read my post a while back, you'd know that my hair is generally quite tame except for dry ends and what I find to be a lack of volume especially at my crown. I like my hair to have that airy feel to it, the more voluminous the better hehe.

It's going to be a long post ahead, but trust me it is worth reading :)

Presenting to you the ErucA's hair products, the next generation Japanese botanical oil haircare! ErucA utilises 12 different types of botanical oils that provides a luxurious and thorough clean while being skin-friendly. The focus has been on seed oils, which provides nature's 'silicon-like' effects without the harmful effect of silicon itself!

Seed oils from broccoli, cowberry, bilberry, milk thistle etc. are the hallmark of these moisturising and shine-inducing formulas, while the blends also contain other rich botanically-sourced oils such as argan, virgin prune and marula oil, which helps rejuvenate tired tresses.

Most importantly, ALL of ErucA's hair products DO NOT contain SURFACTANTS, MINERAL OILS and ARTIFICIAL COLOURS!

ErucA and samplestore very kindly sent the whole range over, thank you!

L-R: Scalp & Volume Shampoo, S & V Conditioner, Moist & Repair Shampoo, M & R Conditioner, 3D Volume Up Shampoo, 3D VU Foam, S & V Hair Mask

^ This.

With three different product lines, I can't decide which to try first so I took a whiff of all the bottles and chose the one with the fragrance I liked the most.

JENG JENG JENG... It's the ErucA Scalp & Volume series!

With its girly pink packaging, you can hardly miss these in the bathroom. It smells like white grapes! Very fruity scent heh.

Here's a look at their textures:

Here is a little tip you can use when using the scalp treatment :)

Source

Scalp & Volume range:

• Botanical oil extracted from specially selected seed oils help to restore balance to your scalp
• Moisturising hyaluronic acid repair the scalp and alleviate common scalp problems
• All-natural botanical oil extracted from cowberry seeds and billberry seeds help to revive and restore your hair and scalp

Verdict:
I love the smell!! I would say this range is very suitable for girls who experience oily scalp problems. I now only use this range once a week because my scalp isn't that oily. Also, with a less oily scalp, your hair will definitely have more volume at the roots! Win-win situation.

My favourite out of the lot is the scalp treatment!! My scalp feels really clean and refreshed after using it. Two thumbs up.

The next product line I tried was the 3D Volume Up.

It only has 2 products: An all-in-one volume up shampoo and the after care volume-up foam. I'm really excited about the 3D Volume Up foam!

Source

3D Volume Up range:

• Silicon-free formula cares for hair and scalp
• Volumnising ingredient creates volume from roots without use of harmful hair products
• Botanical oil extracted from broccoli seed and cranberry seed moisturise and cleanse hair and scalp
• Clarifies hair without stripping essential oils from scalp

Verdict:
I can never complain about having more volume hahaha. The all-in-one shampoo cleans the hair well, and gives it just enough moisture so even without using a conditioner, your hair wouldn't feel stripped. It does seem targeted at aging ladies but ANYONE who feels that they need more volume should try this. The 3D Volume Up foam is very handy and just a full pump gives me the right volume I need. No more using styling products that are hard to wash off, or are full of chemicals to achieve that!

Lastly, my FAVOURITE product series is *drumrolls* Moist & Repair!!

I'm guilty, for judging a book by its cover. The two bottles pale in comparison to the other two ranges because it doesn't look as eye-catching but it's my favourite range of the three AND my favourite shampoo & conditioner thus far. It doesn't have a sweet fruity scent, but the floral scent kinda grows on you. It also keeps your hair smelling SUPER NICE the whole day. I love smelling my hair now hahaha.

Textures:

Source 

Moist & Repair range:

• Hair defining formula restores water and oil balances in your hair and scalp for frizz-free hair
• Luxurious argan oil, virgin prune oil and marula oil help to make hair more manageable while being gentle
• Does not strip natural oil from your hair

Verdict:
This was an unexpected winner but I really love it. I hightly recommend this to girls who have dry and damaged hair, because it made my hair so shiny and smooth! A hair product formulated with 'oils' might scare a lot of people but don't worry because a well-formulated one wouldn't. None of ErucA's hair products FEEL or LOOK oily. It lathers well and you need to use only a small amount each time.

Tip: If you have short hair, use only small amount of shampoo (about the size of a 10 cents coin). 50 cents coin size for average length and two 20 cents coins size if your hair is past your shoulders.

This is my hair right after washing! See how shiny and non frizzy it is!

And this is the next morning, still looking good!

Head over now to samplestore to redeem your FREE ErucA hair sample and show some love to ErucA on Facebook by liking them to participate in weekly contests in WIN prizes!

Till next time,
A

ErucA hair products ranges from S$18.90 - S$22.90 and is available at Guardian and Tokyu Hands outlets. Online purchases can be made at Maimee's Corner (www.maimeescorner.com)

Of milk cleansers and cleansing creams (Sukin, Clarins, REN)

Since my updated skincare routine routine post (HERE) in September, I have made quite a few changes to my products over the past few months.

Some skin updates first! My skin has been doing well since the month of October. I've been fairly clear, only some small breakouts here and there especially during the time of the month but nothing too major. PIHs are fading well too so I'm really happy with the results I got from my laser sessions, coupled with my skincare routine. Mid November, my skin is still happy but my left cheek became irritated! I didn't add any new products either so I was quite puzzled as to why that would happen. Then it struck me - Over-exfoliation. I've been quite of an acid freak! Daily acid toning, both day and night, is a must for me. If I don't, I'd feel that something is missing. Unfortunately, I had to stop all acids for awhile and restore my moisture barrier. Two products that had been my saviours are the Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion (Light) and La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5!

Oh look at me, I'm rambling off my main topic for today again. Let's get back on track! I've been looking for a gentle cleanser for the longest time ever. I must say my skin is pretty finicky and even the cleansers touted to be gentle can hurt my skin. Think Physiogel and Cetaphil. Both stung my skin quite badly and I have no idea why. I've used them before and that didn't happen... So I started on this quest to find the best cleanser for my skin.

Following the advice of skincare queen Caroline Hirons, I eliminated foam cleansers off my list. (Although there is one on my to-try list, the Hada Labo Foaming Cleanser in the pump bottle.)

These are 3 that I have tried thus far! I know that cream cleansers and cleansing milks are generally used for the first cleanse but I do use them as a second cleanser or a morning cleanser, and find that they work just as well in keeping my face clean. In case you wanted to know, my first cleanser is always micellar waters! (I was using the Garnier Micellar water which is cheap and good and I really liked it! But currently using the Bioderma because I couldn't get my hands on the Garnier one at the store I went to.)

Clarins Cleansing Milk With Genetian (SGD47/200ML)
This was the first I tried, even though I couldn't seem to find much positive reviews online. Albeit pricey, I took the plunge because I seem to have taken a liking to most Clarins products I've tried so I thought why not?

The first impression of this was reaaaaally bad.

It has a fairly thick consistency for something that is labelled a 'Cleansing Milk'. It's texture is creamy but not emollient. I used the product on dry skin but found that it disappears quite quickly and you'll be left tugging at your own skin. What I found to work is to first use it on dry skin all over your face, then wet your fingers to emulsify the product on your face so that it is easier to work it around before removing with a damp face towel.

My skin actually felt tight after cleansing and it took a few days for my skin to adjust to the cleanser. Thankfully it doesn't feel tight now but I keep this on rotation. I find that if I were to use this a few days in a row, my skin will feel slightly dehydrated.

Another point to note is that this product is fragranced, as with most Clarins products I've tried.It smells powdery. and smells like grannies hahaha wtf. It does actually stay on for a while so I'd sniff the granny smell for a few hours after using it.

Not something that I'd repurchase.

Sukin Cream Cleanser (SGD14.90/125ML)
Bought this on a whim because I saw that it was on offer at Watson's last month. Turned out to be a blessing in disguise. This was one that I used heavily when my skin was irritated from over-exfoliating.

Texture wise, it's quite thick and creamy. Feels very emollient probably due to the mixture of oils but melts easily into the skin. Although I was initially afraid that it would clog my pores, it surprisingly didn't! Did not cause any breakouts either. Best part, it doesn't leave a film/residue after cleansing. My face just felt clean and refreshed. There is a slight smell to it which I can't quite describe but nothing too overpowering.

I wouldn't recommend this to people with really oily skin though. It's too gentle to remove sebum.

This, I wouldn't mind repurchasing! I think I'm already halfway thorough my bottle and I just got it like what, on 14 November?

REN Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk (SGD50/150ML)
This is my most recent purchase from Luxola and it's been one that I've been eyeing for a long time! Got this at 40% during their recent Black Friday sale, so I haven't tested it long enough to give a full review. I must say that this stuff is pricey!! Hoping not to like it as much so that my wallet doesn't suffer...

Firstly I love the smell of this! It's not a strong scent but just a light herbal scent? Definitely not an artificial scent. Texture-wise, it's of a creamy consistency but not a thick whipped cream like the Clarins Cleansing Milk. There's this cooling feeling when applied on to the skin which I looove. Skin doesn't feel tight after cleansing and it just feels clean and refreshed.

The difference between the Sukin Cleansing Cream and this, is that the Sukin one is much heavier. I do like this as a morning cleanser more and on days when I feel that I don't need too much on my skin.

Still not sure if I'd repurchase because of the price... but if I do really like it, I'd still end up repurchasing it lol.

Till next time,
A

Product Review: Bioré UV AQUA Rich Watery Gel SPF50+ PA++++

Disclaimer: Product is kindly sent by samplestore.com, but reviews are based entirely on my own experience.

Wearing sunscreen is a really important step in maintaining good skin, especially in sunny (read: scorching) Singapore. But the reason why many of us do not wear sunscreen is because it is really hard to find cosmetically elegant sunscreens.

There is a myriad of reasons why many sunscreens suck: Too greasy (hence pore clogging, even though some say non-comedogenic), leaves a ghostly white cast (errr nope), does not adhere with moisturiser/makeup causing it to 'pill' or ball up (worse case ever).

If you use chemical exfoliants, retinoids or benzoyl peroxide like me, sunscreen is a must in your morning routine. Do not ever skip it! Of course I can start on a '101 reasons why you should wear sunscreen' sort of thing which will translate into a whole blog post on its own... so I shall leave it for another day! In case anyone of you are interested, /r/skincareaddiction on reddit offers very good information on sun care.

Sometime in July this year, I bought a particular sunscreen brand that was highly recommended by dermatologists but I hated that sticky feeling it left and I think the greasiness started to clog my pores. So I started my search for a HG sunscreen that I can rely on... Through some product trial-and-error, I've placed 2 in my arsenal and one of them is actually Bioré UV AQUA Rich Watery Essence! I came to know about the Watery Essence when people over reddit were raving on and on about it so I knew I had to try since I could get my hands on one so easily in SG as compared to people in US or UK.

So imagine my delight when samplestore sent me the Bioré UV AQUA Rich Watery Gel! I was actually deciding between both of them, but purchased the Watery Essence instead haha.

Do you know? A 2014 Benchmark Survey commissioned by Kao Singapore revealed a surprising find - that only 30% of women between the age of 12 and 49 years old use a sunscreen daily. (GASP!) What is even more startling is that this number has remained unchanged for the past five years, even with the introduction of more sun care products over the past few years. Based on this worrying trend, it is apparent that women in Singapore do not consider protection against UV damage a priority.

Prolonged exposure to the sun’s UV rays without proper protection can cause permanent effects such as premature skin ageing, wrinkles and freckles, as well as, various skin damages like discolouration, sallowness, dryness. In extreme cases, it can even lead to skin cancer.

Picture cr: http://www.skincancer.org/

There are two types of UV rays, UVA and UVB.
UVA rays:

• Penetrate into the deeper layers of our skin as compared to UVB rays 
• It is also the dominant tanning ray. 
• The penetrative ability of UVA rays through glass means that even when you’re seeking shelter indoors, your skin continues to be exposed to its harmful effects which can cause cumulative damage such as wrinkling and skin ageing. 

UVB rays:

• They cause the most damage to the outer layer of skin such as reddening of skin and sunburns.
• Without proper protection, prolonged exposure to UVB rays can cause long-term damage to skin’s epidermal layers.

The Aqua Rich Watery Gel contains the breakthrough Aqua Micro Capsule, a water capsule which breaks upon application on skin to release the UV protection agent while giving skin a cool and refreshed feeling. It also has superior double UV block with enhanced SPF50+/PA++++ therefore providing maximum protection against harmful UVA and UVB rays from the sun. It is suitable for use on both the face and body. But here's the best part!! It is infused with hyaluronic acid & citrus extract to keep skin hydrated and fresh!

Here's a comparison of the Bioré UV AQUA Rich Watery Gel and Watery Essence. I didn't have a chance to swatch the texture before purchasing mine previously, so I assumed that the essence will be lighter than the gel because of the names what... But to my surprise, the Watery Gel was more 'watery' than the essence as you can see the Essence remains rather firm on my hand. The essence has a more creamy feel, albeit still watery. (If you guys get what I mean!) I do have to admit that I prefer the Watery Gel to the Essence in terms of their texture.

See the micro capsules?

All absorbed! Looks neither greasy nor shiny, and no white cast! It looks as though I haven't got any sunscreen on and you can see that my skin is visibly more hydrated as compared to the first photo. I'm sold on this one.

My verdict:
This is really hands down one of the best sunscreens I've used! I love it more than the essence because it absorbs much faster, and it feels as though I'm not wearing anything on. Both the essence and gel are excellent products from Bioré but I love the gel so much more and it does feel more hydrating as compared to the essence. Most importantly, it doesn't break me out or clog my pores. This is the #1 key factor for me when choosing products for my sensitive acne/clog-prone skin. This is definitely one that I will add to my daily AM routine and foresee myself repurchasing this instead of the essence.

However every skin is different so I must caution you guys to do a patch-test when trying out new products. Both the gel and essence do contain alcohol as the third ingredient on the list so just a heads up for people whose skin cannot tolerate products with high alcohol content.

If you are looking for a value for money sunscreen that isn't greasy for daily usage, or if you are tired of searching for sunscreens that do not leave a white cast, do give the Bioré UV AQUA Rich Watery Gel a shot!

Till next time,
A

The new Bioré UV AQUA Rich Watery Gel SPF50+ PA++++ (90ml) is retailing at S$18.90 at all leading supermarkets, personal care stores and western pharmacies and departmental stores.

Product Review: Bioré Aqua Jelly Makeup Remover

Disclaimer: Product is kindly sent by samplestore.com, but reviews are based entirely on my own experience.

Everyone knows that makeup removal is an essential part to maintaining healthy skin, but sometimes too many cleansing steps in our routine can leave us feeling a little lazy on days when we are too tired to function. But I fuss over my skin too much, for I will never ever sleep in my makeup hahaha.

With that being said, using an effective makeup remover is equally important. I've tried countless makeup removers, from the old cult favourite Fancl Cleansing Oil (when I was much younger because my mom used to swear by it) to the current holy grail for many — the Bioderma Micellar Cleansing Water. I also have had bad experiences whereby makeup removers leave a nasty residue behind after cleansing and I had to deal with badly clogged pores after. Counter-intuitive huh.

I do like the micellar water makeup removers in the market currently, as you can see I'm currently using one in my skincare routine post. However, on days when I do put on heavier base makeup, I find that I require more cotton pads + more product to remove it. So that's not very wallet-friendly and that also means more tugging on my skin... 

To put the word out, I am guilty of being sceptical of many drug store brands because while I do think they work for the general normal skin population, they are not really suitable for many sensitive skin users or people very prone to certain skin conditions like acne or eczema. BUT! I recently picked up the Bioré UV Rich Watery Essence sunscreen after reading many recommendations over on Reddit and I'm absolutely happy with my purchase. So when samplestore had a campaign on this Bioré makeup remover, I knew I wanted to try it!

I have never tried the previous version but this new & improved version of the Bioré Aqua Jelly Makeup Remover with its revolutionary jelly-like texture, is said to come in an even smoother, lighter consistency as compared to the previous version, but with the same high cleansing ability that effortlessly dissolves and lifts off more makeup in a gentle glide.

It comes in this girly pink bottle that'll look really cute on the dressing table! I also do love that it comes with a pump because some viscous makeup removers do not, and that creates a mess (+ waste) when I pour the product out.

The improved product benefits include:

• A smoother jelly-like texture that is gentle on skin. It rinses off easily and quickly without any harsh tugging or pulling action.
• High cleansing ability that can dissolve and lift off all traces of makeup effortlessly.
• Made with 40% moisturising essence that nourishes and hydrates skin for a dewy moisturised finish.
• Lightweight formula leaves skin feeling refreshed, with no sticky or greasy after-feel.

Sounds good so far! Points 3 and 4 seem the most appealing to me because I really abhor the sticky residue that some makeup removers leave behind. (Yes Innisfree Green Tea Cleansing Water, I'm looking at you.) And a makeup remover that hydrates my skin at the same time?! I'll gladly welcome that!

Here's a look at the texture.

It is really smoooooth and seems more watery than jelly-like! I tilted my hand slightly to get a better shot but you can see it already trickling down my palm hahaha. But hey, no complains because a thinner consistency is always better than a thicker one. This means that it wouldn't feel too heavy on our skin! +1 for that.

Okay, texture checked. Next, let's put its cleansing ability to the test.

I rarely wear any heavy eye makeup so no eyeshadows here. On days when I require a more flawless canvas, I'd go heavier on the base (foundation & concealer). So here's my Nars All-Day Weightless Luminous Foundation and Laura Mercier SC Concealer that I'll swatch, together with some lip colours from 3CE and my trusty Maybelline Hyper Sharp Liner.

For best results, it is advised to apply Bioré Aqua Jelly Makeup Remover on dry face and hands instead of using it with a cotton pad or tissue.

All you have to do is to pump an appropriate amount (2 - 3 pumps) onto clean hands and spread evenly over your face and eye areas. (It is advised to remove your contact lenses before use too!)
Massage gently to dissolve makeup. Lastly, rinse throughly with water. It is not necessary to remove cleansing liquid with cotton pad or tissue. (Or in my case, I'll remove it with a clean, hot flannel!)

Here's how my skin look like after massaging it into my skin. Ya pretty gross looking, I know. But I actually do enjoy such products where you can massage it into your skin and watch the makeup dissolve. It feels pretty gratifying if you've had a long day, just to take the makeup, dirt and grime off your face.

Taadaaa! All washed off! It's cleansing ability is superb, so that's another point checked. There is a little bit of The Face Shop's Play 101 Burgundy pencil colour left if you can spot the slight reddish tinge below my fourth knuckle. But it doesn't bother me that much because it removed more than 95% of what's on my hand, and I'll always double cleanse.

What's more amazing is that it doesn't leave any sticky residue behind and doesn't feel oily at all! My skin doesn't feel taut as well. It does leave the skin feeling very balanced because it doesn't strip the skin of too much oil or add more oil to it, hence making it suitable for all skin types. However, there is a very slight scent to it so for ladies who are hypersensitive to fragrances, it might cause some problems so do patch test first!!

My verdict:

I have been using it to remove my makeup every night for the past week and I really enjoy using it. No breakouts thus far on my acne prone skin, no clogged pores as well, so that is a really huge plus point. As a regular micellar water user, I'd have to admit that it does take some time getting used to the jelly-like texture. I'm really impressed with its cleansing ability and I can see myself reaching for this whenever I put on heavier makeup. A point to note is that it does sting if some product gets into your eyes (that is why the instructions cautioned to remove contact lenses prior to using). Overall, if you're looking for an affordable and effective makeup remover, Bioré Aqua Jelly Makeup Remover is definitely one to check out!

Thank you all for reading! Have a great weekend!

With love,
A

The new Bioré Aqua Jelly Makeup Remover (230ml) is retailing at S$24.90 at all leading supermarkets, personal care stores and western pharmacies and departmental stores.