I plan to start writing my monthly skincare favourites to showcase hot new products – even if they’re just new for me – I want to share these good stuffs with you. There will be an in-depth review of some products that I’d recommend you to try, as well as those that you can give them a miss. Hopefully, this will help you in finding new skincare products to add to your collection.
So, let’s get started with this review now. I’ve included the links to the products where you can find more information, product pricing, and where you can buy them.
1. KOSE INFINITY Clear Force
I’ve been using Beaute de Kose Ultimation Clear Softener Softening Serum for a long time. It’s a wipe-off, skin-softening serum with self-peel effect that is an excellent solution to my clogged pores. Unfortunately, this product has been discontinued.
The replacement product is INFINITY Clear Force. As an introduction, KOSE INFINITY is a luxurious, high-end skincare line that tackles aging symptoms and delivers their promise of youthful skin – right after your first application! It’s recommended for women in their thirties and beyond.
Clear Force is a gel emulsion with strong moisturizing and softening effects to remove dead cells, making skin soft and translucent. Its main duty is to clear dullness and roughness.
I use it after cleansing my face in the morning and at night. It comes with a dispensing pump, making it very easy to use. I dispense 2 pumps on the cotton pad and wipe all over my face in an outward motion. The texture of this emulsion is too thick for my liking so I took a while to get used to it.
Did it moisturize and soften my skin? YES – but unlike the earlier version of Ultimation Clear Softener Softening Serum, it didn’t address my concern of clogged pores. Will I buy it again? Probably no, but I might look into other INFINITY series skincare products because I find that they are suitable for my age and skin type.
- Where to Buy: All KOSE counters
- Price: 200ml S$69.00
2. SK-II Cellumination Mask-In Lotion
Truth be told, I’ve a love-hate relationship with SK-II. I love it because it’s really good and delivers fast results. I hate it because its price-tag often hurts my wallet!
Housed in a gorgeous pearlescent glass bottle, this Cellumination Mask-In Lotion is a slightly translucent and milky white runny gel-like liquid that has a very subtle rose scent. It’s very lightweight and absorbs beautifully into the skin, providing instant hydration. My skin feels soft and looks a little more luminous after the application.
I didn’t use any cotton pad to apply it. I put a few drops into my palm and dab gently on my face twice a day. This lotion gradually takes away dullness and dryness from my skin – visible improvement was seen after using it for a month.
Priced at about $100 for 100ml, it’s a cheaper alternative to the pricey Cellumination Aura Essence ($299 for 50ml) which I’ve used for several months. I’m hopeful that it will reveal the skin’s natural luminosity with continual usage. Yes, I’m certainly keeping it in my skincare regime.
- Where to Buy: All SK-II counters
- Price: 100ml S$95.00 from Shilla Duty Free
3. LANEIGE Time Freeze Intensive Cream
LANEIGE remains my all-time favourite Korean skincare brand even after trying out several other brands like Innisfree, The Face Shop and Etude House. Their newly launched Time Freeze Intensive Cream is truly a breakthrough in age defying products.
According to its website, LANEIGE says that a jar of Time Freeze Intensive Cream will “turn back the clock of your skin by 800 days” with its World’s 1st Technology Dynamic Collagen_EX. Wow! I simply couldn’t wait to try it.
This anti-aging cream promises to rejuvenate our skin’s collagen to reveal a young, refreshingly firm complexion. The result is a tighter skin and more defined facial outline as fast as 6 weeks.
I love how absolutely awesome this cream feels like when it’s slathered on my skin. It’s rich and creamy at first when I scoop it out from the tub. When I apply it on my skin, it turns into a gel with the most gorgeous slide and smells amazingly good too. The next morning after I wash my face, my skin feels moisturized and tender. Not very visible on the firming part yet, but I’ll continue to use it to see the effects.
At this point, I’m totally in love with it! Will I buy and use it again? A resounding YES, please!
- Where to Buy: All LANEIGE counters
- Price: 50ml S$95.00
4. MT Metatron MT Protect UV Base Cream (Shade: Ochre)
MT Metatron Cosmetics is a high-end skincare brand from Japan, and their products are exclusively sold through Beauty Aesthetic Salons and Clinics. Hence, the prices are slightly higher than average. I got to know this brand from Halley Medical Aesthetics.
With ratings of SPF26 and PA++, this BB cream delivers solid protection against UV and acts to support healthy, moist, and smooth skin. A generous supply of lipid-soluble Vitamin C also defends the skin against oxidation stress from UV.
Prior to this, I was using Estee Lauder Cyber White Extra Intensive BB Cream – the coverage is too sheer for my liking. Occasionally, I had to apply concealer to cover up any nasty spots.
MT Protect UV Base Cream, on the other hand, gives a medium coverage that I can completely skip the concealer. The biggest draw is its silky-smooth texture that blends flawlessly and blurs away pores. I finish off with some loose translucent powder.
This is by far the BEST BB cream that I’ve used to-date. It blends effortlessly to give my skin a healthy glow, and the Ochre shade matches perfectly with my skin tone. It’s very long-lasting too – at the end of my 9-hour work day, the coverage and oil control are still good.
- Where to Buy: Halley Medical Aesthetics
- Price: 30g ~S$65.00
5. Kao MegRhythm Steam Eye Mask
If you’re ever in need of a soothing eye mask to relieve your tired eyes, this is it – Kao MegRhythm Steam Eye Mask!
In fact, I’ve been using this steam eye mask even before it was sold in Singapore (I purchased them online!) This eye comfort innovation from Japan comes with a patented self-warming heat cell. Once it is air-activated, it will warm gradually to a comfortable 40? in about 1 to 2 minutes. Steam produced from the heat moistens and soothes tired eyes instantly.
The well-designed eye mask wraps our eyes gently, while the ultra-thin material conforms to our eye contours. Once the package is opened, the eye mask will begin to warm up automatically. Quickly put it on to enjoy the steam bath, and the heat will last for approximately 10 minutes.
I usually fell asleep within minutes after putting on the eye mask – leaving it still wrapped around my eyes until I wake up in the middle of the night. There are four types of masks to choose from – unscented, lavender-sage, chamomile-ginger, and fresh rose. I love the lavender-sage mask because of its extra relaxing effect.
MegRhythm Steam Eye Mask is retailing at S$6.50 (for a box of 5 pieces) exclusively at Watsons and Guardian stores. At an average cost of $1.30 per piece, I find that it’s a bit too pricey to be used daily. So, I only use it on those late nights or whenever my mind gets a little restless. I love how it refreshes my eyes and eases the tired look on me the next morning. This eye mask doesn’t work on dark eye circles though.
I stocked up so much on this steam eye mask during my last trip to Japan in 2014. The price is so much cheaper there. If you happen to go to Japan, please remember to stock up these amazing steam eye masks. One more thing, I just found out that you can request for a free sample HERE.
- Where to Buy: Watsons and Guardian stores
- Price: S$6.50 for a box of 5 pieces
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Last but not least, I hope you find my review honest and well-balanced. If you’re like me who is constantly trying out different skincare brands and products, please share with me your favourite beauty products that are worth checking out.
