Review: Phytopolleine Universal Elixir

I have used a few bottles of Phytopolleine before - the small bottle is 25ml and comes with a dropper tip, for easy application to the scalp (above). I've always found it pretty expensive (around SGD 55 for a 25ml bottle after discount), but I recently bought a large bottle (100ml) which is more cost-effective (can't remember the price though). The large bottle (below) comes with a dropper applicator, which is really easy to use too. The plastic dropper splits really easily at the top though, and once it splits you won't be able to get any liquid up the dropper. It needs some improvement!

There are 2 ways of using Phytopolleine - apply to unwashed scalp 30 minutes before shampooing, or leave overnight for an intense treatment. I have only tried the first method (before shampooing) because the serum is oil-based and I don't like to get it on my pillow. For those sensitive to scents - Phytopolleine has quite a strong scent which I can sometimes still catch a whiff of after I shampoo. Catching a light whiff of it throughout the day is ok - but smelling it full-blast when it's on your head is another thing altogether! So yeah, I don't really recommend leaving it overnight. ;)

I use it about twice/thrice a week, or when I can fit it into my schedule. If you have an oily/itchy scalp, this really helps to rebalance and stimulate the scalp to make your hair stronger. When I wash it off, my hair is a lot smoother (probably cos of the oil) and lighter and manageable! And my scalp feels fresh and purified. I feel like it helps make my hair grow out stronger... but that might well be psychological. ;) Still, I love using Phytopolleine and I would highly recommend it. Get the large bottle if you can find it - it's much more economical and will last you much longer than the 25ml one! (The 25ml one lasts me barely a month!)

Ingredients: Zea Mays (Corn) Germ Oil, Fragrance / Parfum, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Limonene, Melaleuca Leucadendron Cajaput Oil (Cajeput), Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil, Cupressus Sempervirens Oil (Cyprès), Linalool, Citral, Isoeugenol, Geraniol, Eugenol, Coumarin, Citronellol.

Rating: Love it!

Review: Phyto Phytoapaisant Instant Soothing Spray

My body reacts badly to stress - when I get stressed, I'll get a breakout, and my scalp also gets sensitive. I bought this Phytoapaisant Instant Soothing Spray quite a while ago during an episode and I really love it, but I use it very very sparingly because it's quite costly. It costs about SGD 55 (and that's after discount!) for a 50ml bottle, and it feels so soothing that you'll be tempted to use a lot!

It's an aerosol spray with a long nozzle that makes it easy to aim the spray at your scalp (instead of wasting product on your hair). The spray feels really cooling and soothing - immediately my scalp is soothed. The spray has a lovely, calming scent. 

Key ingredients (extracted from the Phyto website):

• Purslane and oat extracts: natural soothant that reduces inflammatory effects

• Oat extract: rich in essential amino-acids, moisturizes and protects

• Essential oils of mint and eucalyptus: refreshing

• Angelica fruit extraction (63%): softens

I find the soothing effects are kind of temporary - after a while, the mintiness fades away and I feel tempted to spray again. I think the spray has to be used in conjunction with a soothing shampoo for the best effect. I also occasionally use Phytopolleine, that really famous scalp serum from Phyto, but Phytopolleine doesn't actually soothe your scalp; it helps more to increase blood circulation at the scalp and makes your scalp healthier. More on that in my next post!

Overall, I do like the Phytoapaisant Instant Soothing Spray. I just wish it was more affordable, so that I won't need to use it so sparingly. I believe this comes in a larger 150ml size which is more value-for-money, but I haven't been able to find the larger size in Singapore. Would I repurchase? Yes, but I'm also very interested in trying other products - I have my eye on Intelligent Nutrients Pureplenty Nourishing Scalp and Strand Serum and hope to try it soon!

Rating: Love it!

Arcona Gentle Solution

Arcona Gentle Solution is an exfoliating serum meant for night use. It costs USD 53 for 35ml and is best used within 6 months, but my bottle has lasted me way longer than that. The instructions say to use 2 - 4 times a week. I use this once every 2/3 days. If your skin is more sensitive, you can use it once every 4 days. Sometimes, it stings a little bit if I use it every 2 days, so I adjust the frequency accordingly. That said, Gentle Solution is definitely one of the most gentle exfoliating serums I've used, but despite the gentleness, I can see a definite improvement in the texture of my skin the next morning.   

When I'm having a breakout, I use this all over my face without an additional spot treatment and immediately my skin is smoother and calmer the next morning. It has a slightly sticky texture so I apply it while my skin is still damp with toner, which makes the serum glide on more easily. A little goes a long way - no need to over-apply! After applying Gentle Solution, I just follow up with my regular night cream or facial oil. The next day, I wake up with noticeably smaller pores, a more even skin-tone, and a calmer complexion. 

In conclusion - I love this serum and will definitely repurchase.

Rating: Love it!

Ingredients: Agua (Distilled Water), Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Hydrolized Soy Extract, Glycerine, Glycolic Acid Polymer, Lactic Acid Polymer, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernal Oil, Glycogen, Beta-fructan, Glucosamine HCI, Chlorophyll, Guava (Psidium Guajava) Extract, Grapefruit (Citrus Gandis) Seed Extract

Skylake Oriental Herb Cool Shampoo

I bought this during my trip to Korea. As you can see, it has this Korean herb inside. The salesgirl selected a bottle which looked darker for me (which means that the herb has infused more into the shampoo). I love the scent, it smells absolutely delicious - it smells a little herbal and pepperminty, and it looks and feels like honey - yum! 

It cleanses well enough for an oily scalp and it's gentle enough for a sensitive scalp. I try to lather up and leave it on my scalp a little while (when I have time) so that the herbs work their magic. Though it's not too drying on my hair, it's still a clarifying shampoo, so I always make sure to use a conditioner afterwards. 

More info that I extracted from the website:

- Contains oriental herb “WILFORDI ROOT” that makes hair black and prevents hair loss.

- Contains oriental herb “SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS ROOT POWDER ” that has antibacterial and antiinflammatory effects.

- Give scalp cooling sensation with menthol and peppermint.

- Formulated with patented Skylake oriental herbal water, which is extracted from 18 types of oriental herbs, known for anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties

In short - a very lovely shampoo that doesn't break the bank. If you have a sensitive, itchy scalp, you have to try this. I used a discount coupon for Skylake that I got from the Visit Korea website. If I ever return to Korea, I'm definitely getting a jumbo bottle of this. Skylake also has an English website - maybe I'll try it one day. Singaporeans can purchase it at Hebeloft.com, but the prices are kinda expensive compared to the original Korean prices.

Rating: Love it!

Refer to the ingredients for Skylake Cool Shampoo here: http://www.cosdna.com/eng/cosmetic_8c40145815.html.

Review: YÜLI Liquid Courage

I purchased this in a deluxe trial size - 7.5ml, which comes in a dear little amber dropper bottle. I like this size - very travel friendly and I do think it'll last me quite some time, as I find the 30ml bottles quite impossible to finish up before their use-by periods of 8 months. If you like to mix up your face oils and use a different oil every day, you'll probably find having a bunch of 7.5ml bottles better than the 30ml ones. The sad thing is, the Cell Perfecto PM is not available in a deluxe trial size. 

So, back to Liquid Courage. It's an antioxidant serum that doesn't feel oily at all. I think this is the most suitable of all Yuli's face oils to be used in the day, because it is the lightest - even lighter than ME Skin Fuel. It feels really silky. It does feel a little heavy when I layer sunscreen over it, but I soon forget about it. It does look shiny on its own (disclaimer: I naturally have really oily and shiny looking complexion) but I layer a bunch of powder over it (current favourite for about 2 years now - Too Faced Primed and Poreless loose powder) and it's ok! I also do blot a couple of times throughout the day, but it's nothing unusual; that's what I usually do anyway. 

I can get away with using this in the daytime in hot and humid Singapore. But I find it most useful when I'm in a dry winter climate - in the daytime, I'll layer a few drops of Liquid Courage, followed by a moisturizer to seal it in (like Laneige Water Bank Gel Cream), and this combination keeps my skin protected all day! 

Ingredients: Botanical Antioxidant Seed Complex (Grapeseed, Pomegranate, Red Raspberry, Blueberry, Carrot Seed, Golden Jojoba Seed, Cranberry Seed), S. chinensis (Jojoba) oil*, A. spinosa (Argan) oil*, supercritical extracts of pomegranate seed, rosehip, seabuckthorn fruit*, R. officinalis (Rosemary) antioxidant extract*, Liquified black garlic ferment, L-Ferulic Acid (Derived from Acai and Argan), tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (vitamin C), C. aurantium (Neroli) oil*, C. atlantica (Cedarwood) oil*, Ubiquinone (Liquid CoEnzyme Q10 from Vegan sources), Soy Peptides, D-alpha tocopherol (Vitamin E)

Rating: Love it!

Review: YÜLI Panacea Elixir

I purchased this in the deluxe size - 100ml at USD 68. I've previously tried Yuli's M.E. Skin Fuel and Cell Perfecto PM, so I decided to try the elixir. Panacea is recommended for oily, blemish-prone skin.

It comes in a Miron-violet glass bottle. The one thing I think can be improved is the spray - it's a little tight and the mist comes out a little too concentrated in a small area. I prefer the spray pump from Suki's Concentrated Purifying Toner - the mist comes out finer and is distributed evenly over a larger surface area. 

Panacea Elixir has a really concentrated floral scent (probably from the helichrysum). It was a little too much for me at first, but the scent really grows on me - it's so natural and floral and soothing. The scent is so strong, it must be the essence of all those flowers bottled into the elixir. 

The elixir feels very soothing and calming, but it doesn't give any dramatic effects. For example, if I use SKII Facial Treatment Essence at night, I can feel a definite smoothness and softness to my skin the very next morning. With Panacea Elixir, I can't really tell the difference. For Yuli products though, I find they need to be used consistently for results to show. For example, when I was using Cell Perfecto PM, I couldn't tell how my skin improved on a day-to-day basis - it wasn't noticeable. But when I looked back at my photos a few months ago (before I started using the serum), I realized wow - the texture of my skin had improved tenfold, I no longer had so many clogged pores, and my scars had faded. So... it's hard to review Yuli products but I'm sure they make a difference. It always feels very soothing to spray Panacea on my face when it's sensitive and inflamed.

Generally, I use Panacea Elixir in the day and SKII Facial Treatment Essence at night. I definitely want to try their Cocoon Elixir and Metamorphic Elixir next - I'll probably stock up on trial sized bottles and bring the Metamorphic Elixir along when I go overseas again to dry temperate places. 

My current favourites!

Ingredients:D-Aloe barbadenis, R. damascena (rose) hydrolat*, H. italicum (helichrysum) hydrolat*, L. angustifolia(lavender) hydrolat*, H. virginiana (witch hazel) hydrolat^, H. italicum/L. angustifolia (helichrysum/lavender) hydrolat*, frequency enhanced water, vegetable glycerine, C. sativus (cucumber) extract, N. officinale(watercress) extract*, biodynamic fruit enzymes, trace minerals complex, colloidal silver

Rating: Love it!

Review: Suki Spa Bio-active Purifying Face Serum

Wow. I realized I haven't posted anything in almost 9 months. >_< Life's been hectic. So what made me decide to restart my blogging? I was organizing my skincare, cosmetics, and bath and body stuff, and I realized, I need to record my reviews of all these awesome products I've tried so that I don't forget them. So here I go with the first one - Suki Spa Bio-active Purifying Face Serum. 

"I formulate my concentrated & lightweight purifying serum to target blemishes, visibly control oil & bacteria production, purify pores & dramatically improve skin clarity. a sukispa® exclusive & part of any balancing regimen for problem skin, my bio-active serum shows blemish reduction action up to 80% in clinical tests & leaves skin fresh, luminous, renewed & clear." - from Suki's website.

This is a yellow, slightly opaque serum with a texture that is slightly thicker than Eminence Willow Bark Serum. It has a slightly soapy scent which I love! It absorbs very easily into my skin. It doesn't spread as easily as Eminence's. Because of this, I have a tendency to use more than required, so a bottle doesn't last me very long! (It's only 15ml, which is sooo tiny!) I really tried to use it sparingly - one tip I can give is that if you use a spray toner, use this serum on your damp face and it'll spread better using less product. I like the cute little dropper - usually droppers have a little ball tip but this one doesn't. Like most products in glass bottles, it does get hard to get the remaining serum at the bottom so I just use a Q-tip.

It costs US$82.95 for 15ml. I purchased this from Dermstore at 20% off but it's no longer available. I can still see it on Suki's website though, so I'm not sure whether it's been discontinued. I like this quite a lot. It gets absorbed into my skin easily and exfoliates my skin - when I use toner, I can see my dead skin cells coming off on the cotton pad and my skin feels a lot smoother. However, it is very very expensive. I will only purchase it when it's on sale, and even then I find it expensive. 

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Malus Domestica/Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Vanillosmopsis Erythropappa (Candeia), Echinacea Purpurea (Echinacea) Extract, Hydrastis Canadensis (Goldenseal) Root Extract, Sodium Citrate (Citric Acid), Vigna Acontifolia (Moth Bean) Extract, Lavendula Angustifolia (Lavender) Extract, Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) Fruit Extract, Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Glycerin (Vegetable)

Rating: 9/10 (-1 just cos it's too pricey, but I love it)