Makeup Remover

Bioderma Sensibio H2O and Bioderma Sébium H2O Micelle Solutions: Do they live up to their hype?

Paris B 77 Comments

Those of you who have been hanging out with me for the past 6 years will know how HUGE a proponent of cleansing oils I am. I’m not just saying it. I have a post where I tell you about every single cleansing oil I’ve ever tried over the years. Its a MONSTER of a post – go read it. But you know what?

I don’t use cleansing oils anymore. I haven’t said this before have I?

The reason is, they are far too drying on my skin now than they used to be. When I realised this (it’s very important to know your own skin, folks!) I started looking for alternatives to my double cleansing routine. I started out trying cream cleansers but if I’m to be honest. I find them a bit too fiddly for my liking. So, I shifted focus to the hottest new skincare product in recent years (to me anyway) – miceller solutions or cleansing waters. Oh dear. I think I’ve hit on a new obsession.

bioderma sensibio micellar water

I started out trying micellar cleansing waters with the very popular Bioderma but you see, I started out with the wrong one. I had purchased 2 large 500ml bottles in Hong Kong a while back (what can I say? I’m kiasu :P) and started out using the Bioderma Sébium for oily-combination skin. I thought, “Hey I don’t have sensitive skin. I’ll go with Sebium first. How different can they be anyway?”

Mistake. I hated it.

Ok, I didn’t hate it per se, but I don’t like it. It felt drying, didn’t seem to clean very well and although my skin felt clean, it also felt stripped. Oh and I felt like there was a layer over it. Long and short, I didn’t like it and shoved it aside, tarring Bioderma Sensibio with the same brush. Oh boy! Was I wrong to do that!

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Sulwhasoo : Korea’s No.1 Holistic Luxury Skincare brand debuts in Malaysia

Paris B 64 Comments

sulwhasoo malaysia

I don’t always get excited about new skincare or skincare brands because I really have already worked out what works for me and what my skin likes. But when I found out that Korean luxury skincare brand Sulwhasoo was debuting in Malaysia, I couldn’t stop that little hop, skip and jump of excitement. I haven’t felt this way in a while and its refreshing! 😀

I first came across Sulwhasoo when I visited Korea a few years ago. My host’s wife told me that she had been using it, and she had lovely skin! The name trips off your tongue and sounds like a breeze sighing through the trees. Try it for yourself – Sul-wha-soo…. Ahh…. 😀 What it means in Korean is “Snow Flower Supreme” which is just as romantic a notion, you will agree. A snow flower, I’m told, is a flower that blooms in the harsh winter so the name is a celebration of a woman’s beauty and inner strength.

I was introduced to the brand last week in the beautiful tranquil setting of The Spa at Saujana Hotel Kuala Lumpur and there was so much to take in! I’ll just share with you an overview of the brand here, and tell you a little about it. If you have tried anything from the brand, or know anyone who has, I’d love to hear your views too!

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Packing skincare for a cold Spring/Winter climate when you come from the tropics

Paris B 34 Comments

cold weather holiday skincare

When I recently went away on vacation, it was to a country in the Northern Hemisphere which had just broken through a particularly long winter, and Spring was just in the air. That wasn’t quite what the weather report for Prague told me when I checked before I left. I had reports of weather in the teens and wide ranges of temperature of 25° – 6°C … in one day! I wasn’t upset – no sirree! It meant I could drag out my boots and tights and coats! Whee! 😀

But as I packed my cosmetic pouch, I knew I had to make a bit of allowance for this sort of temperatures and weather. Coming from the tropics, I’m used to  warm and importantly, humid weather for most of the day, everyday. Light textured products like gels or gel creams are preferable for comfort. But from experience, I knew that weather in Europe was not only colder, it was also drier and creams generally work better there.

So when I packed my pouch, I made sure I bore this in mind. I thought I’d share what I packed, because I’ve had people ask me before this what they should pack for a holiday to a colder climate, and also because I know many of you will travel at some point and may wonder if you should compensate for your skincare or if you can carry your own 🙂

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I don’t know how micellar waters work, but the Caudalie Cleansing Water cleanses well without drying

Paris B 83 Comments

caudalie cleansing water

Remember a little while ago, I told you I was using cream cleansers instead of oil cleansers? When I finished up the cleansers I decided not to repurchase but to try instead cleansing waters. I’ve heard so much about these micellar solutions and how they act as all in one makeup removers, cleansers and toners while being gentle enough for even the most sensitive of skins. The most famous one that most would have heard of is Bioderma. I actually have 2 really large bottles of them which I probably should tell you about some day… but you know what. I find it really hard to write about something I find at most average, when its so much more fun sharing about something I like! 😛

So yes, my introduction to cleansing waters on this blog will be the Caudalie Cleansing Water because I like this one. I bought this online a little while ago when it was on sale so I think it was something like £11. I don’t know how much it retails for locally but it shouldn’t be too pricey.

Micellar solutions or cleansing waters were popularised by the French so you will see many of them appearing under French skincare lines of which Caudalie is one of them. My skin seems to take well to French skincare in general. I looked around for information on what is micelles and micellar water but its so bloody technical, I need a scientist (will Larie please step up to the task? :P) In a nutshell, in this liquid which approximates that of water are molecules that will bond with dirt and makeup on your skin and lift it off, leaving your skin clean. All without having to rinse with water. This is also known as the waterless cleansing method. But I use this one slightly differently.

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