Mini Review: Su:m 37 Time Energy Skin Resetting Repairing Serum

Volume: 1ml (sample), 60ml (full size)

Description:  Natural fermented ingredients and vegetable extract contained. Gives energy and nutrition inside of your skin

Su:m 37 is a high end cosmetics brand from LG and I am  a fan of their Secret Programming Essence. I purchased the samples of this serum together with 3W Clinic's sunscreen and I have been using this serum on & off for the past 3 weeks? I mostly use this at night.

The serum is a whitish gel lotion type of serum. It smelled a bit weird. I know they didn't add in any fragrance but it was a bit off-putting to me. Effect wise it is for anti-aging.

Before

after 15 minutes

Texture: 4/5 Glides easily on skin, however doesn't absorb as fast

Smell: 3.8/5 Off-putting at first, but I've grown to liking it

Effect: 2.5/5 Mediocre. I don't see any improvements in fine lines, skin tone or texture. My skin still looked very tired even after using this for a few weeks. (Edit: Dec 2014- This serum works quietly in the background, it doesn't show drastic improvements but subtle help for my sagging and tired eye area. I discover this by chance, as my eyelids are triple and double for each side and this helps to make them both double again, overnight! No other product does that for me :'D I'll give a reviewed marks of 4/5) 

Overall: 3.5/5  I find it hard to convince myself that this product is from a high end brand like Su:m 37. It doesn't deliver the powerful effect that is promised and I can't seem to want to repurchase this. I tried using this after exfoliating but nah, nothing happened. (Edit: Dec 2014- Overall: 4/5)

Review: Sulwhasoo First Care Serum

Volume: 4ml (Sample)

Price:

Sulwhasoo is a premium care brand from Amorepacific Korea. This first care serum is used immediately after washing your face to provide relieve and prepares the skin for other products. It smells of ginger, like the firming cream, and is a brownish liquid type of serum.

I find it to be very soothing! My skin felt plumper after using this, and this serum feels like it is feeding my skin with nutrients :)

I like to use it on my stressed skin and love it a lot!

This small bottle lasted around 4 uses. I recommend this to people with tired, unbalanced and dull skin. 

The good: very good skin reliever, nice smell, very nutritious feeling

The bad: Priceyyy

Review: Daiso Royal Jelly Lotion

Volume: 55ml

Price: RM 5

Description: after facial cleansing, take a proper quantity o the product,spread it on the skin softly.

This royal jelly lotion is made by Cosmo Beauty and sold in Daiso. Since the price is damn cheap, I did not expect a miracle from this lol. The product comes in a green paper box which has no aesthetic design quality so I chucked it into the bin. The bottle however, looks cute as the colour is like rich honey. The pump nozzle is very easy to use so you can control the amount of product you want to use very well. For sensitive skin users, the product has ethanol as its second ingredient so I suggest thinking twice before getting this. Smell wise, it is unflattering and smells like...plastic?

 The lotion is transparent with a thick consistency. However it is easy to spread out. It takes a while for the product to be absorbed and it leaves a light film on my skin. For me, it doesn't have the exceptional moisturising properties promised and I will need to use other products to complete my skincare regime.

But of course, if this royal jelly lotion can beat every other brand out there in terms of moisturising qualities, the other brands can go brankrupt already.haha!

The good: cheap, cute bottle, easy to use pump, doesn't break me out

The bad: alcohol, parabens, and don't expect a miracle from this!

Review: Lancome Visionnaire Serum

Volume: 1ml
Price: Sample, Full size RM 295 for 30ml
Availability: Nationwide Lancome counters

I went and registered for this sample. Disappointingly, there is only 1ml of serum in the sample sachet.

The texture is a bit thick compared to normal serums, and it is whitish with a tint of yellow. However I must comment that the perfume smells horrible, but it fades away when u massage it on your skin.

I read on the card that comes along with this sample is that this serum is the fruit of 12 years of research, and it has 20 patents pending. (That's a lot of patents, no?) It contains 4% of LR2412... which is the name of their main patent ingredient. 2412 is the number of times Lancome scientist experimented to get the ingredient to be acting the way it should.

The main inspiration behind this serum is the regenerative function of plants when they are damaged. It read on the card that this serum is very mild and can be used on the eye area.

Whoopeeedo! So I used it on my eye area. Coupled with 200x piano massage (the eye massage where ur fingers dance like playing a piano) and this serum, I can say that my 1.5cm long wrinkle under my eye has lightened just after one use. However, when I stopped using it after 2 days, my wrinkles are coming back in full force. 1ml isnt enough Lancome!

This is absolutely not a miracle product, but if you want to use it on your eyes, this is one of the better choices. For the whole face, I think Clarins Facial Lift Serum will be better compared to this.

Review: Kracie Hadabisei W effect Facial Serum (Moisturising)

Volume: 30ml

Price: Usual RM 60 (I got it at RM 30!!! ^^)

Availability: Selected Watsons

Description:

HADABISEI Facial Serum, concentrated moisturising effect, just like a sheet mask. An easy to use, overnight essence that deeply hydrates the skin, sealing in the moisture while you sleep, leaving skin fresh and tightened the next morning. Relaxing rose scent. With hyaluronic acid, collagen, natural glucosamine and chondroitin for concentrated hydrating and moisture retention effect.

Steps:

Use as the last step of your nightly routine, take a suitable amount (2-3 pumps) and massage well in circular motions. Recommended for use on the neck and decollate as well. Can also be used as part of your morning routine.

Well, that's what the packaging says. Basically the serum's effect is on par with sleeping pack's. I noticed it has mineral oil, methylparaben, fragrance out of the ingredients. (I can only recognise these 3 as a no-no ingredient)

The bottle is made of glass, I presume to protect the contents inside. However, you'll need to be careful with the bottle. It'll break when you drop it from your counter. So keep it safe somewhere!

I like the pump. (I like pumps, they're hygienic and also easy to use) It dispenses the amount you want, you can basically control the pump by applying different pressure.

The texture is like milky gel. It can be easily spread over your skin and absorbs fairly quickly. The serum is scented with rose perfume, I actually like the smell. It's relaxing and not intruding like some skincare I've used thus far.

In terms of effect, I think it's an okay serum.

Yes, it only moisturises. No, I don't think my skin will be kira-kira or bling bling after using this. This is only for people who wants some extra moisture kick. As for the oiliness, it does not cause my skin to be extra oily.

Repurchase? Yes, if it's cheap!

Edit: I found out that if this serum is coupled with O'slee Rosehip Beauty Solution, the effects are far greater. My skin is super plump, lasts a long time!

Review: Naruko Derma Pro Multi-Peptide Firming Serum

Volume: 30 ml

Price: Not Sure

Availability:www.naruko.com.tw or www.naruko.com.my

Description: This Firming Serum, formulated with five potent peptides, help to reduce fine lines, restore elasticity and repair age damaged skin.

To use: Apply a thin layer over face and neck after cleansing and toning day and night. Massage gently until fully absorbed and follow with appropriate eye and facial cream.

This serum is in clear liquid form and the smell is like burnt chemistry lab equipments (!!). But fret not, the smell will disappear after you massage it on your face. It can absorb very fast without leaving you feeling sticky.

I like protein ingredients in my skincare. I find that my skin reacts well to amino acids (or peptides in this case). This serum is particularly good for restoration. I cannot guarantee it can reduce fine lines and what not, but repairing damage it is jjang! After a night not sleeping, the serum can help to maintain normal skin condition (aka not looking like a zombified, yellow skin ghost) when I am doing my presentation.

This serum did not cause any breakout in my case. And one more thing to note is that it healed my peeled nose (a problem i had for 2 weeks but nothing can help to solve it). Maybe I need to compare it with snail mucin serum to battle it out lol.

All in all, this is a serum worth purchasing (again and again). and I really recommend it to people that react well to protein ingredients.

Edit:25 Nov 2011

I absolutely love this serum, but what I don't love is the bottle. The serum leaked once when the bottle is capped and another when the dropper is not capped properly. I lost so much of my baby!

I really wish they can put it in a pump bottle. No spill, hygienic and easy to use.

serumsssss

Today i'm going to talk about serums.

To me, serums are very powerful. Almost all of them give you an immediate effect you don't get using normal creams, gels, toners, or whatever. Serums usually come in smaller volume than other skin care products, and they are priced a lil bit higher.

I've fallen in love with serums lately. I have Clarins Shaping Facial Lift Lipo Drain Serum, which was given as a sample from Clarins counter a few months back. At first I thought there was nothing special with this serum. Its texture is milky and the parfum a bit strong, apart from moisturising your skin. I stopped using it after 1 or 2 uses. Well, that was until I had double chin (so visible!) i decided to give it one more chance.

To my amazement, my double chin shrank 50% after first use! Imagine my amazement! And then I put it on my face, and ta-dah! I get a V-line. No joke. I can see why it is advertised as the no.1 selling serum in Asia. Tomorrow I'm going to get my second sample at the gardens. ahem. I'm broke. no income student here hello!

In a nut shell, if you want instant results and you have more money than normal people, you can give this a try.

Pros: Easy absorption, INSTANT result (note the caps)

Cons: Perfume too strong for me. oh ya, it's also expensiveeeeeeeeeee. need i say more?

Another serum I have been using (and loving it!) is Nanowhite's Whitening Serum Concentrate. Although this serum doesn't give you V-line face, it is still very pleasant to use. nanowhite range claims to use make your skin happy and thus a better whitening result. I am skeptical at first (a few years back i had one bottle), because the concept is very bizarre to me. However, one should not judge a book by its cover. The texture is very glidy, with a pleasant smell to boot. it absorbs into the skin fast, with no complications arising (bye pimples!). I have been coupling this with Naruko's Apple Seed and Tranexamic Acid as my daily routine, and I have noticed my skin has become 1 shade lighter. weehoo! But that day I went to RSYC and Pulau Indah for site visit therefore I've gotten darker again. (boo!)

Pros: nice smell, light texture, easy to absorb

Cons: Whitening results may take some time to show, affordable.