Pure Vitamin E Oil for your face

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Pure Vitamin E Oil as a moisturiser is a recent re-discovery for me, as well as being a recommendation from a friend. I used to use it many years back to heal acne scars but along the way, it got forgotten.

I have been using it for slightly more than a week now, and the results have been amazing! I only use it at night because its terribly sticky, and the box recommends it be left on overnight. The oil is thick and clear and its hard to spread on the skin, and be careful of your hair, if you have long hair. It sticks. The box has suggested to warm it up and apply on moisturised skin, but I haven’t gotten round to trying that.

The next morning, my skin feels soft and moisturised. by then, most of the oil has been absorbed into the skin. I usually lay a towel on my pillow so the oil doesn’t stain it. The immediate result I noticed was the lightening of the lines around my mouth, what is known as “laugh lines”. I had quite prominent laugh lines, but after about a week, they are now barely noticable. The slightly deeper lines will take longer, but any fine lines I have seem to have evened themselves out a bit.

Vitamin E is supposed to make a good natural anti-oxidant for the skin, and its good for lightening scars, acne marks and fine lines. I have some old pitted acne scars which I am hoping this Vitamin E oil will help even out with time.

I don’t intend to use it everyday all over my face (its too sticky), but only twice a week. I’m not sure if this oil will be too much for those will oily skin so if you have oily skin or combination skin, you might want to be more careful when trying it in case it causes more pimples.

For application purposes, I go for the highest IU (International Unit) I can find, which is Colonial Dames Vitamin E Oil.

The highest they have is 35,000 IU. The stickiness and viscousity gets less the lower the IU. I like this one as it comes in a pump bottle which makes it easy to dispense and to control. This is 100% Alpha (Vitamin E) and there is no smell. This retails for RM59.90 at Guardian and some other pharmacies (but not Watsons). You only use a little so it will last a while.

The other brand I’ve tried before this is Organic Aid.

This one comes in a glass bottle without a dispenser. The highest IU I’ve seen is 28,000 IU and the Vitamin E is derived from wheatgerm. I used it a long time ago which I started but I opted not to go back to this brand as I did not like the open mouth of the bottle. The oil residue will collect around the mouth and it goes rancid so it smells bad even if the rest of the oil is still good. This one is cheaper at about RM39.90.

I have also seen Vitamin E oil by Fruit of the Earth and The Body Shop. I’ve never tried them so I will not comment on them.

Opinion seems to be divided if Vitamin E has any benefits for topical application, but while it works for me, I’ll keep on using it.

UPDATE: Try not to use it to often as it could possibly clog pores if you have oily skin. I use it only once a week but nightly on scars.

[rating:4/5]

technorati tags: Vitamin_E, Vitamin_E_oil, face, skincare

Shiseido Summer 2007 collection

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I was browsing around Makeupbag.net and saw she had previewed Shiseido’s collection for Summer 2007. I’m not usually taken in by Shiseido’s Summer collection as in the past, they tended towards browns or purples – colours that don’t grab me nor look good on me.

This time however, I think I WANT THESE!!

 

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The collection is going to be in a pretty fuschia pink case (love!) and the eyeshadow quad actually looks like colours I could use. The other compact is Shiseido’s colour enhancer which in the previous years were like bronzers. This one looks like it may be more like a highlighter. I haven’t tried Shiseido’s lipgloss and the colour looks a bit too purple/fuschia for me.

But look at how it looks on the model!

 

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You know where I’ll be when this launches in Malaysia! At least I hope they bring it in. Last year, they didn’t bring in the Summer collection – weird. Edit: Last year they did not bring in the Winter collection. Summer came in just fine. 🙂

This collection like all other Shiseido Summer collections are Limited Edition. Compact eyeshadow quad usually retails for RM135 and the enhancer for about RM125. I may be mistaken so don’t quote me.

Oral Skincare Supplements – Imedeen and Estime IBS

I had a reader email me to ask what I thought about the oral skin supplements – Imedeen and Estime. There are many schools of thought about these oral skincare supplements. Some don’t believe in them. They say taking normal vitamins and supplements are good enough and these are extraneous or that they contain hormones. Others swear by them. I don’t quite subscribe to either theory, but I do take these oral skincare supplements, as introduced to me a couple of years back.

I have tried both brands. I started with Imedeen a couple of years back when they were the only player in the marker. Imedeen is expensive. The Classic one which is cheapest costs about RM200 a box which will last you a month. You take 2 tablets a day.

Imedeen is made from a marine extract. It claims to:-

  • Nourish your skin from the inside – all over your body with results visible in 3-6 months
  • Make your skin smoother and softer
  • Improve the skin’s ability to retain moisture
  • Reduce Fine lines and wrinkles
  • Give you clearer younger looking complexion

You can read more about it on their website if you look it up online. The previous site seems to have disappeared.

I had been taking it regularly for a couple of years and then slacked off and took it intermittantly. You are supposed to take it continuously for 3-6 months before any effects can be noticed, and after that if you slack off a little, its ok. I must say I did notice that my skin did feel more supple and firm while I was taking it. My skin too did not give me much problems and the pigmentation on my cheeks appeared to be lighter and there was a glow/bloom to my skin. I have also tried the Plus version where you only take 1 tablet a day. The effects were much better but it is also a lot more expensive at over RM200 a box.

It was at this point that I thought to switch over to Estime as its slightly cheaper at about RM160 or so a box. It too lasts a month. You pop a large capsule a day.

Estime, according to their website is an internal beauty system. They claim to:-

  • have internal sunscreen
  • nourish the skin
  • repair and reduce microscars
  • strengthen the skin against free radicals and UV radiation
  • results in smoother, firmer, more youthful and radiant skin

I took it for a spell. However, I found that my skin did not react well to this brand. I started having some skin issues (which I cleared up later with the apple cider vinegar toner) and I found that my skin felt less supple and firm. My pigmentation on my cheeks too were more prominent.

Both brands are from Switzerland and claim to be safe and scientifically proven. Imedeen contains a marine extract, so those who are allergic to seafood or marine foods should be more careful if you are considering taking this. Both brands too must be kept in the fridge or kept chilled in a cool dark place or their properties may be damaged or diminished. This makes it a pain when you travel, which is when I usually slack off.

In conclusion, having tried both brands, I’ll go back to Imedeen once I finish off my box of Estime tablets. Imedeen seems to work better for me, so I’ll stick with what works. There are lots of glowing testimonials to both brands, so I guess each will work for different people. For me, I guess my skin just likes expensive items!

Disclaimer: This is my personal review based on what I have tried for myself. It may or may not work for you so don’t come flaming me if it doesn’t work for you.

Update: This post was from 2007 and is now closed to comments. I no longer take oral skincare supplements and have not noticed anything untoward happening to my skin since stopping. I also have not noticed any detriment. I understand Estime cannot be found anymore. If you are wondering where to get it, please check with the pharmacies. As far as I’m aware, Imedeen is still available at most major pharmacies

Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner value set

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I got my latest Isetan flyer for yet another sale starting this week. Nothing interested me very much except this value buy set by Bobbi Brown. What you get (from the picture) is 2 long-wearing gel eyeliners, 1 eyeliner brush and 1 tube of what looks to be mascara. The price is RM160, which is a pretty good deal as 1 tub of eyeliner gel is already RM60 if I recall correctly. I love Bobbi Brown long wearing gel eyeliner – Its the best I’ve ever used and I’ll post my review of it soon.

If I didn’t already have 3 tubs of this stuff, I’d run out and get this value set. Then again, who needs an excuse to get more shopping done eh?

The fun and previews happen on Instagram @parisbmws