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February 26, 2020

Benton Fermentation Eye Cream Review

 Claim to fame: A premium eye cream with the promise of brighter & younger looking eyes.
Eye cream, eye bags, puffy eyes, dark circles, wrinkles
Benton Fermentation Eye Cream
To be honest, I've always seen eye cream as an unnecessary addition to my skincare routine. Considering I already apply a lot of other skincare products on my face. Recently though I felt like my eye area needed extra nourishing because of puffiness and dark circles. Waking up to a horror scene is what it feels like, realizing none of my existing skincare products help with these problems. I started to do some research on how to combat eye bags, dark circles, and wrinkles, then I came across Benton's Fermentation Eye Cream


The skin around the eyes is thinner and more sensitive, so we need to be careful and extra picky with what is applied in that area. Think all natural!
I compared a lot of creams and serums, and was easily sold on this one because of its ingredients. Plus, as I mentioned, it had to be something all natural and organic




Here's a list of the top ingredients I love, not only for this eye cream, but for any other skincare product that contain them: 

1. Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate 

 I'm a big fan of SK-II Facial Treatment Essence. So I was immediately sold when I read that Benton's eye cream has this ingredient. It is "a famous water-like, yeast-derived ingredient that the whole SKII brand is built on. As legend has it, SKII scientists in the 1970's discovered by chance that aged Japanese sake brewers have amazingly soft and youthful hands in contrast to their aged and wrinkled faces. They concluded that the secret must lie in the yeast that the brewers’ hands were in constant contact with during the sake fermentation process." 

2. Bifida Ferment Lysate 

"A probiotic ingredient that’s used in one of the most iconic serums in the world, the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair. Based on manufacturer info it potently protects against UV-induced damage in the skin and helps with DNA repair." 

3. Ceramide NP 

"One of the many types of ceramides that can be found naturally in the upper layer of the skin. Ceramides make up about 50% of the goopy stuff that's between our skin cells and play a super important role in having a healthy skin barrier and keeping the skin hydrated." 

4. Sodium Hyaluronate 

More fondly known as Hyaluronic Acid (HA). " It's a huge polymer (big molecule from repeated subunits) found in the skin that acts as a sponge helping the skin to hold onto water, being plump and elastic. HA is famous for its crazy water holding capacity as it can bind up to 1000 times its own weight in water." 

5. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract 

"Aloe is a great moisturizer and has several anti-inflammatory & antibacterial components. It is also known for wound healing capabilities." 


Verdict: I no longer want to go through waking up and seeing puffy and dark circles. I can confidently say that an eye cream is now a staple in my routine. Luckily, the product lasts long and it is also easy on the pocket.

I feel guilty skipping this step for so long, but it's never too late to start. 

Brighter eyes and days ahead of me =) 
Sparkle on loves! 

Where to buy:
1. Amazon - Fast shipping especially if you are a Prime member.  
2. YesStyle - Lower price. Minimum of $49 to get free shipping. 


All other eye cream brands here

Ingredients: 
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Aqua (Water), Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Pentylene Glycol, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Ceramide NP, Althaea Rosea Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Sorbitan Olivate, Sorbitan Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Betaine, Beta-Glucan, Panthenol, sh-Oligopeptide-1, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Adenosine, Polysorbate 20, Lecithin Sources: https://incidecoder.com/


XOXO,
Val

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* All products are lovingly purchased with my own money for personal consumption, and in no way sponsored by any of the skincare brands. All reviews and information are based on personal experience with the products. For the most part, I research a LOT before buying. However, some items I happily purchase spontaneously even without prior research, such as those on markdown/sales if you get what I mean. 😁

* The blog has referral links that you can use when you decide to buy. Thanking you in advance! 
This benefits both of us, as it will give each one a form of reward. E.g. discounts/credits. Yasss!!! 
Lastly, I hope the information on this page is able to help in your skincare journey. 😊
Link to YesStyle discount code:
https://www.yesstyle.com/en/home.html?rco=KBEAUTY20&utm_term=KBEAUTY20&utm_medium=Influencer&utm_source=dynamic


February 21, 2020

Etude House Soon Jung pH 5.5 Relief Toner Review

Since 1988 SoonJung pH 5.5 Relief Toner 

"Hypoallergenic skincare solution"

Did you know that Etude House falls under one parent company, together with other top  brands Laneige, Sulwhasoo, Innisfree, and Mamonde? "Amorepacific Group is a South Korean beauty and cosmetics conglomerate, operating over 30 beauty, personal care, and health brands including those mentioned earlier. Founded in 1945, it is the world's 12th largest cosmetics company."

soonjung, soon jung relief toner review
Soon Jung pH 5.5 Relief Toner

Magic number pH 5.5
First, let's look into the science behind this toner. In chemistry, pH is a scale used to specify how acidic or basic a water-based solution is. Acidic solutions have a lower pH, while basic solutions have a higher pH. A pH 5.5 = normal and healthy skin. While dry skin will have a lower pH closer to pH 4.0, and oily skin will have a higher pH closer to pH 7.0. 

Verdict
The Soon Jung toner is another great addition to my growing collection of hydrating toners. If you are a believer of the 7 skin method just like I am, then I suggest incorporating this product in your routine. It works wonders on irritated skin. I prefer having gentle toners that help soothe and relieve skin from external irritants. However, I still use chemical exfoliants with higher strength, and I only apply them two to three times weekly, apart from my toning regimen.

Fact: This toner contains Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract or what we call green tea! We all know how green tea has amazing benefits when ingested or used topically. There's a lot of study and research backing the wonders of green tea. Also, I make it a point to drink green tea at least every other day. 😁

"Green tea is proven to be a great antioxidant, UV protectant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic and antimicrobial Because of these awesome properties green tea is a great choice for anti-aging and also for skin diseases including rosacea, acne and atopic dermatitis."

For those conscious about ingredients, I'm happy to report that this product is alcohol-free and fragrance free! I know a lot of skincare enthusiasts are very particular about these two ingredients, because of how irritating they can be. Although personally, having both don't stop me from using a product. I'm more concerned about results and benefits of a product.


What to love about low pH products?
  • Bright and smooth skin 
  • Not irritating and gentle on the skin
  • Suits sensitive skin
  • Calms redness
Why avoid high pH products?
  • Damaged skin barrier in the long run
  • Rough, dry, and flaky skin
  • Redness and inflammation
Where to buy?

1. Amazon - Faster shipping especially if you are a Prime member. 
Free shipping on orders over $35.

2. YesStyle - currently not shipping to some countries or longer lead time due to COVID19 situation. Some shipping fees have also increased.



SoonJung Toner Ingredients:
WATER, PROPANEDIOL, GLYCERIN, BETAINE, PANTHENOL, MADECASSOSIDE, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS ROOT EXTRACT, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, CARBOMER, POLYGLYCERIN-3, DISODIUM EDTA



XOXO,
Val

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* All products are lovingly purchased with my own money for personal consumption, and in no way sponsored by any of the skincare brands. All reviews and information are based on personal experience with the products. For the most part, I research a LOT before buying. However, some items I happily purchase spontaneously even without prior research, such as those on markdown/sales if you get what I mean. 😁

* The blog has referral links that you can use when you decide to buy. Thanking you in advance! 
This benefits both of us, as it will give each one a form of reward. E.g. discounts/credits. Yasss!!! 
Lastly, I hope the information on this page is able to help in your skincare journey. 😊
Link to YesStyle discount code: https://ystyle.co/KDXU


Sources: 

February 15, 2020

SOME BY MI AHA BHA PHA 30Days Miracle Toner Review

Claim to fame: Miracle Toner; Free of Harmful Ingredients

If you've been reading my previous blog posts, you would know that I am always on the hunt for new toners to try. I have an inexplicable love for skincare, and toning is one of my favorite skincare steps. I also follow the 7 Skin Korean Method to get ultimate hydration for my skin.

I've been getting a lot of positive feedback about the Some By Mi brand, so I had to put it to the test. Not only that, I've also seen a lot of before and after photos which were really 😮 impressive. Yeah I'm a sucker for before/after photos on makeup, weight loss, and skincare. I'll share some below.

Some by me, some by mi, some by mi toner, exfoliant, bha toner, aha toner, niacinamide, aha bha, pha, acne toner, face toner, blackheads, cosrx bha toner, paula's choice, paula's choice bha toner, cosrx bha blackhead power liquid,

Personal experience:
I find this toner to be very gentle despite the fact that it is an exfoliant. Maybe because my skin is already used to stronger exfoliants? It is perfect for daily use, not like the glycolic acid solution that I've been using, which can only be applied 2-3 times a week. If you are new to using AHAs/BHAs and wanting get into it, then this is the perfect entry-level toner that can give you the benefits of exfoliants. As well as those with sensitive skin. However, if you are looking for a stronger chemical exfoliant then I suggest looking elsewhere.



What I love about this toner:
It has a high concentration of natural tea tree extract (10,000 ppm), as compared to other products in the market that contain tea tree. Skin concerns such as acne, acne scars, and redness are treated with use of tea tree products. It calms the skin, has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. 

aha bha the ordinary


Moreover, it contains one of my top must-have ingredients in skincare products - NiacinamideThis combined with witch hazel extract + AHA/BHA can improve the appearance of pores. Apart from The Ordinary's Niacinamide, I just realized that my facial wash and sunscreen also have niacinamide in them. Now one of my toner's has it too! LOL. 

Tip: Always do a patch test. Some may be sensitive to tea tree and have a bad skin reaction.







Verdict: Some By Mi toner is a keeper for me, mainly because it has Niacinamide in it. I will use it more on areas with redness and acne, that need calming and not necessarily on the whole face.

It's good to switch it up every once in a while and not use the same toner everyday. You'll miss out on benefits from different ingredients if you stick to just one. Not all ingredients can be found in a single toner or product. =)


Where to buy?
1. YesStyle - Lower price. Minimum of $49 to get free shipping. Yass! 
2. AmazonFree shipping on orders over $35.


Before & After Photos:
some by mi, aha toner, bha toner, cosrx bha blackhead power liquid, aha bha, ordinary peel solution, aha efoliant, chemical

salicylic acid, glycolic acid, paulas choice bha, paula's choice, witch hazel, acne toner, acne solution, toner for acne, the ordinary niacinamide, the ordinary skincare














Ingredients:
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Extract (10000ppm), Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta (Lentil) Seed Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera (Sacred Lotus) Flower Extract, Swiftlet Nest Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Fructan, Allantoin, Adenosine, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Xylitol, Salicylic Acid (100ppm), Lactobionic Acid (100ppm), Citric Acid (500ppm), Sodium Citrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Benzyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Raspberry Ketone, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil


All other toner brands here

XOXO,
Val

--

* All products are lovingly purchased with my own money for personal consumption, and in no way sponsored by any of the skincare brands. All reviews and information are based on personal experience with the products. For the most part, I research a LOT before buying. However, some items I happily purchase spontaneously even without prior research, such as those on markdown/sales if you get what I mean. 😁

* The blog has referral links that you can use when you decide to buy. Thanking you in advance! 
This benefits both of us, as it will give each one a form of reward. E.g. discounts/credits. Yasss!!! 
Lastly, I hope the information on this page is able to help in your skincare journey. 😊
Link to YesStyle discount code: https://ystyle.co/KDXU