Review: Prorance Hair Rich Powder

I have little hair which makes my scalp obvious when I part my hair. I am not balding but because the scalp against my black hair makes it more obvious and ages me.

As you can see below, this was how obvious my scalp was before. As the top of my head is relatively flat, it makes my hair looks flat and sparse too.


Prorance Hair Rich Powder is the first cosmetic product I bought for my hair. I am not familiar with this brand but I note that they have lots of products for hair, so I do feel like they are a hair product specialist.

The product, with its black and gold theme, gives off a luxurious feel.



At the top of the cap is a mirror. A nice touch but I don't think I will be using it to view my application of the product on my hair.



Once opened, there is a white puff and upon shaking it with the puff facing downwards, there will be specks of powder coming out. The powder comes out quite easily. Reminds me of shaking pepper but odourless.



This was how it looked like when I tried shaking it on the back of my hand. The powder stays on quite well when I tried to dry wiped it, but can be easily removed with just water.



This was how my hairline looks like immediately after application. It does look better, especially when I am taking photos from the front. So far I have not experienced any discomfort from using this product. It doesn't feel itchy although I have to clarify that I was in an air-conditioned environment for most part of the time while using this product.

Review: Mizon Apple Smoothie Peeling Gel for sensitive, dry and flaky skin

I always have this problem of dry flaky skin when using BB cream or foundation. Despite several attempts at moisturising my skin, the problem still occurs. The patchy spots can become obvious especially in an air-conditioned room.

I read up on solutions to my problem and there will always be this advice to exfoliate your skin. It is a piece of advice which I took to heart and went in search of some simple exfoliating products. I am actually quite fair and my skin smooth with no breakouts. The only problem is dryness (not noticeable if I am not wearing makeup) and some sun spots at the cheek area. Because of my relatively good skin and complexion, I avoid putting on too much products on my face because after all, they are chemicals.

I bought a Japanese brand exfoliating paste from Tokyu Hands after noticing the 'natural' exfoliant, rice bran. It does a decent job in leaving my skin feeling squeaky clean but it also brings about a tightness to my skin. Although the exfoliant is natural, but it is really physically scrubbing away the skin cells, dead or not.

My second product was the Mizon Apple Smoothie Peeling Gel seen below. It comes in a standard 120ml plastic tube. It claims to use fruit extract to 'dissolve' the dead cells on your skin without damaging your skin.



The gel is translucent and after rubbing in circular motions for a few seconds, you will feel the granules on your skin.



The granules are not your dead skin cells, or at least not all of it are. There will be more granules if you use it directly on dry skin as compared to when your skin is wet. I applied a bit more around my dry flaky spots - around my nose and forehead. It soothes my skin and makes it a bit smoother and brighter. I don't need any moisturiser after using this product because it doesn't make my skin feel dry or tight.



Overall, I am pleased with this peeling gel from Mizon. I have been using it probably two or three times a week and so far no adverse effect.

Highly recommended!

2015 Taobao Double11 (双11) Bargains!

Come midnight, more than half of China's population will be stalking out at Taobao for their annual big sale. The Double11 (11 Nov) sale. This is the time where things on Taobao are sold at remarkably low prices. Let's examine some of the bargains, and see if it is really worth the effort and the shipping cost.

1. Etude House Eyebrow Pencil + 2 pc Mask set (RMB 19 = S$4.30 before shipping)
Etude house has several set offers but this seemed to be the star item of the year. The offer was being prominently placed on Etude House's Taobao site. I compared with the prices on Qoo10 as well as Etude House official SG site, this set is definitely cheaper. However, as much as I like the eyebrow pencil, I don't really fancy the mask... so it's like buying something which I don't need just because it is cheaper. It is still worth buying if you needed the mask, because the cheapest I have seen on local sites is $4.90 for the pencil only (including shipping).

2. Uniqlo Unisex Sneakers (RMB 149 = S$33 before shipping)
I included this item because it is great for pairing with various outfits and not available in local uniqlo stores. Although it is just a dollar cheaper than if you buy it in Japan, but for those who won't be traveling to Japan any time soon, this is a deal. The only other consideration is the shipping, because shoes aren't the lightest of items, but Taobao's shipping deal to Singapore will probably only cost you an additional S$5.

3. Kate Trap Impact Eyes Eyeshadow (RMB 74 = S$16.50)
I was looking to get a simple eyeshadow palette this Double11 and chanced upon this Japanese brand with good reviews. It is about the same price as you would buy in Japan. The brand has some lovely tutorials on how to apply this eyeshadow here.

4. Staccato Shoes
This is a Chinese brand so for sure it will be cheaper than any where else unless you are from Chian, Hong Kong or Macao. They have a wide variety of ankle boots (cos it's the winter season now) priced at around S$130 during this sale period. Heels and stilettos are in the S$90 range. Good deal considering the quality and comfort of their products.

You will notice that I mainly lists down Asian brands. Reason being they are more likely to be significantly cheaper in China than anywhere else because of the geographical proximity. There are some good deals, especially for clothings, for American and European brands, but you will need to surf through it yourself to see if it suits you.

Review: Innisfree The Green Tea Seed Oil

I first came to know of this product through some samples that came along with my other beauty products purchases. The little satchels of samples seemed quite effective in keeping my face 'hydrated' during the night.

I'm quite a practical person and couldn't care less about the packaging. As long as it works to what it claims, that's good enough for me. Let's see what Innisfree says about The Green Tea Seed Oil:

Since it bills itself as a moisturizing and nourishing essence, I would expect it to work very well in the moisturizing aspect. It does make my skin feels softer and not that dry after a night in an air-conditioned room, although some dry patches on my face still remained.

Press and apply a few drops on your palm or finger tips.

As you can see, it's a clear oil but not thick consistency.

Massage and pat to let your skin absorb the oil. There will be a slight sheen afterwards.

What I like:
- Not greasy
- Slight after-sheen that makes your skin looked healthier
- Does locked in moisture for a couple of hours
- Requiring only a few drops of the essence each time
- Easy to apply

What I dislike:
- The smell/fragrance was too strong and unpleasant for me
- Will cause a stinging sensation on dry patches or slight abrasions
- The glass bottle makes it difficult to bring it out
- Tends to get oily and disgusting when you sweat

Best use: Apply before sleeping in an air-conditioned room.