Reliving the SK-II Experience with the miracle water that is the iconic SK-II Facial Treatment Essence

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Goodness me! The SK-II Facial Treatment Essence certainly brings back some memories! I am often asked about this very iconic product, but it had been years since I first dipped my toes into the brand. I did share a review back in 2010, through a friend. I said then, that my favourite item in the brand is the Facial Treatment Essence (FTE), which was one of my first introductions to using an essence lotion.

Recently, SK-II asked if I might give their Facial Treatment Essence another go, and share my thoughts on it with you. Almost 15 years after my first time trying it, and after turning down numerous offers before this, I decided that this time, I would! Perhaps my 40 year old skin would appreciate this SK-II experience better than my 20 year old skin. One can hope LOL!

sk-ii facial treatment essence review

By now, most of us would be familiar with the concept of an essence. It isn’t exactly a toner. What it does is far more than that of a toner, in that it boosts hydration and along with it, radiance. What is unique in the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence is the use of PITERA, a sake ferment. PITERA is a combination of nutrients that is said to bear a close resemblance to the skin’s natural moisturizing factors, and this helps improve the skin’s natural surface rejuvenation process and thereby promotes what SK-II says is “crystal clear skin”. Don’t we all want that? 😛

If this is something you’re currently using or have used, I’d love to know what you think of this very iconic product!

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Genaissance de La Mer Infused Lotion – a hydrating Treatment Lotion but on steroids

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Some of you may remember that one of my favourite hydration lotions is the luxury branded La Mer The Treatment Lotion. I still enjoy using it, and a few people who have tried it on my recommendation have reported good results with it too. It always makes me happy to know that a product I love is also enjoyed by others, and last year, it was my pick for my MWS10 Anniversary basket.

But if the price tag of that lotion made you balk, best look away now, because the Genaissance de La Mer Infused Lotion is like The Treatment Lotion, but on steroids! And that includes its price tag.

la mer genaissance infused lotion

La Mer first launched its Genaissance de la mer range about 2 years ago. It started out with just the Genaissance Serum Essence. I had a bit of a slow start with it. I didn’t quite think very much of it until very recently, when I found that using the Genaissance Serum with Sunday Riley Luna oil gave me the most amazing skin – soft, smooth, and all-round good skin. People said I was crazy. I thought so too LOL! 😀 The reason is because if you thought La Mer was expensive, Genaissance sees you expensive, and raises you. We are in the realm of super-luxury here. This is not a range of skincare products that you will just pop out to buy on a whim. It must be a calculated purchase.

By way of refresher, the Genaissance de La Mer range uses Crystal Miracle Broth™, an essence obtained from the discovery of pure crystals forming in La Mer’s trademark Miracle Broth formula. It also contains the Genaissance Ferment, which is said to be a pure concentration of the Miracle Broth made by using a fermentation built around the Pom Pom Red Algae and combined with wavelengths of natural light.

In late 2017, they expanded the Genaissance range with The Infused Lotion and the Eye and Expression Cream. I love the packaging of the latter (the magnetic metal eye massaging tool is genius!), but the product itself doesn’t wow me. But much to my surprise, I fell head over heels for the Genaissance de La Mer Infused Lotion.

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Revisiting the Clarins Hydra-Essential Intensive Moisture Quenching Bi-Phase Serum – A product I first tried 9 years ago!

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Back in the day, one of the very first products I tried from Clarins was from their Hydraquench range. Anyone remember using that? That was back in 2009. In 2011, I had little revisit of the Hydraquench range. Both times, one of the products that stood out for me was this very same one I’ll tell you about today – the Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Intensive Moisture Quenching Bi-Phase Serum.

clarins hydra-esential intensive moisture quenching bi-phase serum

Thereafter, Clarins and I parted ways, meeting occasionally, but never serendipitiously, to talk about their hydrating range. So, when I found out that it was no longer called Hydraquench, but now called Hydra-Essentiel, and boasting a brand new key ingredient, I was surprised. Then again, Clarins is no stranger to embracing new names and ingredients for their iconic products.

The only product I’ve since tried from the Hydra-Essentiel range is this very same bi-phase serum. We have certainly come full circle! 😀 I’ll call it the Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Bi-Phase Serum for short, as it is a mouthful otherwise!

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5 Ways you can help keep your skin hydrated with Clinique Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator

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This post in written in collaboration with and is sponsored by Clinique Malaysia

One of the products I first enjoyed using from Clinique was their Moisture Surge Gel Moisturizer back in 2009. Goodness me has it been that long?! But you know what they say about innovation – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! But if you can make it better, then by all means, improve it!

And so on our shelves now in 2018, is the Clinique Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator. This refreshing light gel cream promises to offer up to 72 hour hydration, so your skin feels comfortable and moisturized for longer. This is done using the Activated Aloe Water and caffeine ingredients to stimulate our skin’s water pump, to draw water from deeper layers to saturate our skin. I think of it like a self-watering plant system. As someone who dabbles in a spot of balcony gardening, this is a system I’m trying to rig up for my plants too.

clinique moisture surge 72 hour auto-replenishing hydrator

The Clinique Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator is already now available at counters, but I’ve had this in my hands for just about 2 months now, thanks to Clinique’s sneak preview. In the process, I’ve been experimenting with it, to get the best out of this moisturizer, and realized that there were up to 5 ways I could use it, making it helpful as a multi-tasking moisture tool. I am very big on hydration, as you know, and I’m always trying to find ways to keep my skin hydrated. It is truly one of the best secrets to healthy, glowing skin! You might find it helpful too!

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The fun and previews happen on Instagram @parisbmws