Review: Mizon Vichum Renewing Energizing Cream

Weight: 50g

Description:

• Fermented crystal and peptide provides energy to repair the original skin's texture.  
• Oriental herb gives rich nutrition, and absorb gently and quickly to make healthier skin. 
• Protects skin from oxidation, and delivers flexibility, soothing, and moisturizing. 
• Natural fermentation method boosts penetration into skin more swiftly.
• No-artificial dyes, no-synthetic fragrance, and no-paraben 

Ingredients: Snow lotus extract, niacinamide, adenosine, shea butter, hyaluronic acid, cacao tree, paper mulberry root, lavender oil, evening primrose seed fermented filtrate, lotus seed fermented ingredient, hydrolyzed extensin, Beta-glucan, Copper Tripeptide-1, barberry root, licorice, and orris root (I threw away the box so no full ingredients list, sorry)

I bought this at RM26  with free shipping on Qoo10. It was really a bargain. At first glance, the Vichum line wasn't exactly new in the market. I believe it was launched during ~2013-ish. It wasn't popular or well known like Mizon's Snail line so it was really my first time seeing this product. Vichum, I think is similar to the Chinese term 回春, which literally means "back spring", but normally people interpret it as back to youth! Such apt naming lol. The packaging is absolutely gorgeous. The cream smells absolutely heavenly. And I keep popping open the jar to smell it! Mmmm

The cream is on the thick and buttery side which glides on very smoothly and it doesn't leave me feeling sticky or whatever. I usually will grow some oil seeds after using creams that I hated thick creams but this wasn't the case with Mizon's cream.

after washing; with lotion on

after putting on the cream

I do apologize for the difference in hues. My handphone wasn't really built for this hehe :)

Most importantly, it does what it claims! I find it hard to find cheap and good products to lessen the tired look I always have. Anti-ageing products I've tried are usually thicker in texture and oilier but this one is an exception. I definitely feel that my skin goes plumper and healthier by the day! It really lessens the tired look day by day as I use it religiously every day/night.

Some before/ after pics

just applied

patted in

Packaging: 4/5 Classy but heavy because of the glass. No spatula included.

Smell: 4.8/5 Very relaxing, very good. But I noticed that the smell kinda deteriorate a little as time passes

Texture: 4/5 I wasn't a fan of rich, buttery creams but this one doesn't leave me feeling suffocated or oily so I'll give a 4 out of 5

Effect: 5/5 A really good anti-ageing cream for people in their 20s. Makes me look younger by a little and charges up my skin real good. Not very moisturising like other moisture-focused products but I always layer my skincare so the oil-moisture level is balanced. On my repurchase list!

Overall: 4.5/5 Recommended for those who wants to start using anti ageing products! Doesn't feel oily, does what it says, smells lovely and doesn't cost a bomb. It just bumped into my exclusive TO BE REPURCHASED list already!

Review: Sulwhasoo Firming Cream

Volume: 5ml

Price: Sample

Description: In Korean

Sulwhasoo is a premium care brand from Amorepacific Korea.This deluxe sample of firming cream came together with Sulwhasoo's First Care Serum (4ml) in a small paper box. It smells of ginger and has a smooth, creamy texture which glides onto my skin. As the cream is quite thick, I only use it in small amount during night time.

I coupled this firming cream with Whoo's Qi & Jin eyecream to boost its lifting effect. The lifting effect was quite noticeable. I'm not really sure on the wrinkle reducing part as I don't really notice any difference there.

The cream left my skin to be a little bit sticky but as I use this during night time, it doesn't bother me too much.

The small tub looks petite and cute, and is easy to bring around.

The good: Noticeable lifting effect, smells nice, very moisurising, good for mature skin

The bad: the full size is very expensive, a bit too thick for my preference

Edit (12/9/2013): I have recently been picking this up again and coupled the use with OHUI's 777 ampoule. So far the match is superb and I will not wake up to any residue of this cream on my face! And it makes my skin look so healthy and matte that I'm starting to like creams.  Yay!

Review: O'slee Aqua Medi Refreshing Hydro Cream

Volume: 50 ml

Price: Usual RM 79.88, on sale for January RM59.88

Description: Transform to fountain of water drops 24-hour hydration. With Aqua Lock-up Technology, all hydrating ingredients are locked until the cream is spread over. It then transforms into a million water drops on skin and penetrate into the deep skin layer quickly.

Ingredients: water, butylene glycol, propylene glycol, cyclomethicone, hydroeyethyl urea, sodium pca, hydrolyzed chitin, peg-10 demethicone, isonyl isononanoate, squalene, isohexadecane, opuntia, ficus-indica extract, narcussus tazetta extract, algae extract, licorice root extract, phenoxyethenol, panthenol (VB5), sodium chloride, hyaluronic acid, disodium EDTA, spearmint leaf oil

The paper box is quite a statement itself with a big size for a small tub of 50ml with all the instruction you need for the cream! The Aqua Medi is part of the MEDI line from O'slee which targets different needs with high performance products. Usually I can't see drastic improvement from small sample sachets (coughkoreanskincarecough) but I was sold when I first used Aqua MEDI from a small sample sachet from my August purchase.

The bottle itself is a glass jar and it is quite heavy. I like the chic, clean cut design of the jar and as usual, the instructions are missing on the bottle. You may need to keep the box if you want to read the instructions LOL.

It is easy to scoop the cream out when the jar is full. I think I will need to dig around the corners of the jar when the cream is almost used up. For hygiene freaks, there is no spatula given.

the cream is of gel cream consistency but a little watery. When i spread the cream across my skin, i don't see water droplets as per shown onthe box  but I can feel that the cream turns very thin in viscosity before being absorbed and leaving a thin layer of protection on my skin. The smell is very refreshing! I LOVE the smell. It's especially good during the mornings!

The cream makes my skin less oily (which means the moisture is delivered) after a long day out! 

The good: Nice smell, good moisturising properties, no parabens or perfume

The bad: quite pricey for a drugstore brand

Review: Daiso Deep H Moisture Gel Hyaluronic Acid

weight: 40g

Price: RM 5

Description: Apply proper amount of gel cream on face after washing.

The bottle is white and minimalistic in design with a screw cap. However no spatula is provided for this cream. I like the creams's texture and consistency; it is also very easy to spread out. I find it more moisturising compared to the Daiso Royal Jelly Lotion but of course, it is not moisturising enough for me if i use only a pea size. If I put more of the product, it will be enough for me.

The good: nice texture, better moisturising quality than Daiso's Royal Jelly Lotion, Cheap

The bad: parabens!

Review: Esmeria Organics Prickly Pear Gel Cleanser + Prickly Pear Moisturiser

Volume: 3ml + 3ml (sample)

Availability: Watsons, Caring, various pharmacies in Malaysia, or their website www.esmeria.com

Esmeria Organics is the first company in SEA to obtain ECOCERT, a leading certification for organic products from Europe. A while back I registered for a sample from their website and last week i have received the Prickly Pear cleanser and moisturiser sample in my mailbox.

"Normal to Combination Skin wants a bit of support and sebum regulation to maintain it's health and vigour.

Mexican Prickly Pear provides deep hydration, protects from UV damage and soothes when the going gets rough.

Alpine Willowherb is included to keep sebum secretion under control in the T-Zone and helps calms irritated skin."

The ingredients are very mild, and I find it not harsh to my skin at all. The gel cleanser doesnt foam up much, but the cleansing power is a okay. Just simple massaging will get rid of dirt on your skin. My skin doesn't become dry and my nose doesnt peel. The smell is intriguing, I find it acceptable, but not liking it very much. I purchased a konjac sponge from Etude House and tried to use it with this gel cleanser but the foam keep hiding inside the sponge, so I think not using a sponge will be better.

The moisturiser, on the other hand, is halfway between milky and hardcore cream in terms of texture. I like it very much, it does all the job, doesn't cause extra oiliness nor clog pores. Like!

In fact I like the range so much I went for a trip to Sunway to exchange for their travel kits... and bought their glasswort cleansing lotion for my mom. It's for dry/mature skin and I've used it several times now. I think it's fine for my cheek area but doesnt clean my T-zone good enough! But it smells very nice. My mom says all you have to do is to slightly scratch your nose wing when it's half dry to get rid of the oils. I don't know for sure, she just told me that ;P

My first venture into organic skincare is a success! Will try more of their prods in the future... I read somewhere on their website that they are launching EYECREAM. Yesssssss. I have no eyecream and the wrinkle below my eye measures 1.5 cm long. and it can actually hold water. *sad*

Oh yes, they have a RM5 off voucher sent together with their samples... and it expires 31st December 2011. And it can be used in pharmacies selling their products.

Overall, I think I will buy their cleanser when my cleanser is finished. Because I cannot find anywhere selling my current cleanser.