Insomnia | Looking Back

It's no secret I have trouble falling asleep at night. I thought this blog would be solely reserved for my makeup and beauty musings, y'know, that stuff, but ultimately the people reading this are the people who actually care to click the link - so in some sense you guys care to read what I have to say (I'm flattered). I suppose this is the point where this blog gets a personal touch and a glance beneath-the-skin.

Typically, a night like this would be spent watching Dexter, or Running Man, but tonight's not one of those nights. Tonight I'm thinking of a whole bunch of things; it's quite overwhelming, really.

I swore that I would never get my ass into unnecessary drama in university. No bitching, no political play, none of all that; I would work to get what I want and get what I deserve. While I have to admit I do indulge in mindless gossip from time to time, I think I've done a pretty good job on keeping my bottoms out of drama issues. I don't think of my past self as a trouble seeker, or someone who was particularly difficult to get along with, but somehow I always landed up in terse friendship situations because my temper is quick to rise and I had no filter on social media.

Nowadays I've become more brazen with putting my needs before others' in the sense that I'm quick drop things and/or people that I don't think make me a better/ happier person. It's selfish, yes - but I've been too spent to spend effort on something that would yield little turnover. Turns out, this has helped with the avoiding drama grand plan because I shut myself out from these situations before they even have a chance to present themselves.

Then I think back and wonder if that makes me a bad person. When should I actually put something or someone before my own feelings and needs - if said thing/ person doesn't add any value to my life - and more often than not, ends up sucking the life force (read: energy and happiness) out of me? Does it make me a bad person to even be pondering about something like this? It seems like to many people, the answer to this question is intrinsic even though they cannot conceptualise and verbalise one.

Okay, so I feel the need to halt my train of thought to clarify that this blogpost is purely an outpouring of thought and not by any means an expression of contempt towards anyone or anything (with specific regard to the above, I typed with recollection of multiple instances in my head). I learned the hard way that people do tend to misinterpret what I write/ say to be targeted at them (or a person in particular) and of malicious intent - like no, this is just the 4 a.m. pondering of an insomniac so don't read too much into my words.

On a positive note, over my time in university, I've met the most wonderful people from all sorts of places. I've met people who are able to stay positive even in the grimmest of situations (if you are one of those people then I'd like to say that your positivity practically glows out from you and that makes you a truly beautiful person), I got to know the nicest and most empathetic people (I constantly strive to become what you are), and the most supportive people (you make my insides feel pretty, and it's impossible to be upset around you since you've fortified my heart with your unwavering support). That is to name a few.

The best part is that there are so, so many amazing and truly precious people I've met and these people often fail to see how lovely they are as people; as human beings. To be honest, I'm sure I've been surrounded by wonderful people all my life, but over the past year or so, I found that  I'm learning to appreciate the beauty in others instead of scrutinising (or even noticing) any shortcomings. It's a huge step in personal development and I'm proud, I guess.

Yup, that's all. I feel like I've emptied what was previously brimming with a disarray of thoughts dry - with just 8 short paragraphs. I mean, it felt like I could type for days before I started, but I'm pretty much done for the night. If you spent the time to read this, once again, I'm immensely flattered and I hope you got to know me a bit better, because I'm aware I don't expose these parts of me often or at all.

Goodnight!

Haul | The Body Shop

I didn't abandon this blog everyone! I've just been in and out of hell but now that my schedule has loosened up (with the submission of 2 huge projects just yesterday), I'm here with a quick post about my latest impulse splurge, and a little secret to go along with it.

Let's first establish this: I purchased every single item pictured for less than $120. Yup, the little secret's out - TBS is having a MASSIVE sale.

But we all know companies don't just hold giant sales for no reason; the products that were marked down were manufactured sometime in 2012 or 2013. More important than the manufacturing date to us though, is the expiry date. So I asked the salesperson exactly that, and what she told me was that most beauty/ skincare products have a shelf life of 3 years succeeding their manufacturing date. 

Thus, most if not all these items will expire in 2015/ 2016, which is perfectly fine by me because I use up my skincare items fairly quickly. Having said that, I'm still using a body butter from TBS that I bought 2 years back and FORGOT TO OPEN (I'm a huge hoarder) that has supposedly been "expired" for a month now and it still smells and functions perfectly fine.

I'll go into the details of the sale later on in the post, but now, I officially present you my loot:

I'll go through each item from left to right, with my first impressions (either from swatching or having already tried them) and prices.

1) Vitamin E Sink-In Moisture Mask

I have to admit I was drawn in by the term 'Mask', they so loosely used; this functions pretty much like a moisturizer. It has the texture of watery jelly and actually wobbles when you shake it in the jar. I do like it though; it's not oily at all, really does 'sink in' and it does well on the moisture meter.

Usual Price: $32.90

Got it at: $19.90

2) Warming Mineral Mask

At first glance, it's just a clay/mud type mask with yet another fancy name. Well stop right there, lemme tell you this stuff is freakin' magic. It claims to warm up the face, which opens up the pores and allows for all the icky stuff to be drawn out. And it works. This mask lovingly enveloped my face in a warm hug and it felt so damn good. I mean, I know it's just a chemical enthalpy reaction (wow look at me go) with water (the product is meant to be used on a damp face) that produces the heat, so it may be slightly gimmicky, but it's already leaps and bounds above your standard clay mask in the sense that you actually can feel it work real time. I don't care; I love it. (who sang that in their heads?)

Usual Price: $30.90

Got it at: $16.90

3) Vitamin E Eye Cream

I am already using this eye cream but since it's marked down, might as well buy backups right? That is how much of a product hoarder I am - I buy backups and backups of backups. Suddenly the word 'backup' looks strange. Anyway, it's a good eye cream for everyday use - it's hydrating and lightweight and doesn't claim to work on anything in particular; it's an all rounder and I like it.

Usual Price: $30.90

Got it at: $19.90

4) 100% Natural Lip Roll-On (Mint)

Err, to be honest, I don't know why I bought this because I don't need a lip roll-on; I don't even know what exactly it's supposed to do. I tried it on already though, and it's like a mix of a gloss and a balm - like a serum for your lips? I do adore it's smell and taste; it's a subtle mint, not the overpowering toothpastey kind but the "ooh that's real nice" kind. The best part about this though, is how it leaves a cooling sensation on the lips. Now wouldn't that make you fun to kiss?

Usual Price: $14.90

Got it at: $9.90

5) Strawberry Body Butter

This is yet another backup since I'm in the midst of clearing my old tub now (yes the one that's supposedly expired but works just fine). All of TBS' Body Butters are divine by the way, they're of the perfect consistency and texture and they mostly smell great, although I have a friend who once told me she cannot stand their scent because they're too overwhelming. I on the other hand love a good, strong scent to my body butters - if others can't smell it then might as well use an unscented one right? My favourite one of all time? That's right, strawberry.

Usual Price: $30.90

Got it at: $19.90 (all scents are going at this price except for Peach, which is going for $15)

6) Tea Tree Blemish Gel

Another thing I didn't want that badly, but I thought "that's kinda neat", and so it came home with me. It's basically a clear gel with tea tree oil (that's said to be anti-bacterial and good for dealing with blemishes, hence 'Blemish Gel') and a lip gloss doe foot applicator. 

Usual Price: $18.90

Got it at: $12.90

7) Vitamin C Radiance Kit

These products are award winning, so I decided to give the kit a try. It comes with a Vitamin C Serum, which feels more like a primer than a serum (similar to the feeling of Tarte's Clean Slate Poreless 12-hr Perfecting Primer), and a microderm abrasion kit, which is basically an atas exfoliation method IMO, but what do I know, right? 

Usual price: $69.90

Got it at: $5 (with purchase) YES YOU READ RIGHT, SIXTY-NINE-NINETY TO FIVE BUCKS.

8) Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner

I currently don't use a toner, in fact I don't even really know what toners do, because back when I used to use one I felt like it didn't do anything for my skin. Anyway, I decided to give this one a go since my skin is for some odd reason transitioning to being oily when I previously struggled with extremely dry skin. Now I can blot 2/3 times a day and my face constantly feels like a used frying pan wtf. Anyway this stuff kinda burns, so it's not the most pleasant thing to use, but I know tea tree oil stings open wounds/ blemishes, so I guess it's normal (?) 

I'll have to try it out a few more times before I can form a solid opinion on this though.

Usual price: $24.90 for 250ml (which adds up to $11.95 for 120ml if we were to speak quantitatively)

Got it at: $10 for for 2 60ml bottles

Total nett worth: $241.25

Total amount spent: $114.40

Total amount saved: $126.85

*crowd cheers*

I also feel the need to throw in a short disclaimer that I'm not a rich, spoiled kid that can just casually fork out hundreds of dollars shopping on a whim, although I am fully aware that that is exactly what I did.  However, it wasn't like I just picked up anything I fancied and paid. I had to put back more than half the items from my initial basket because I knew I couldn't afford them so it wasn't just "casual" spending y'know? There was so much consideration involved and my heart ached at the counter too ugh. 

Anyway, everyone should also note that I got these items from Jurong Point, and that is where the sale is - in the open area of the 'old' Jurong Point, Level 1, and not in the store itself. Also, I think different items go up on different days, and this sale is only up till this Sunday, 21 Sep 2014. So y'all have a 3 day window ok!! All of these items (except maybe the Vitamin C Radiance kit) are still available in stores for their original prices, and those would of course, be manufactured much more recently.

If you've been eyeing something from The Body Shop but couldn't justify getting it... Well nothing justifies unnecessary purchases more than ridiculously slashed prices, so you know what to do ;)

Much Love, 

Denicia

Review | Clarisonic Mia 2

Heylo. Haven't been writing for awhile; I just had the craziest week and school hasn't even started yet. But I'm back with a review of the Clarisonic Mia 2!

You've heard of it, right? Of course you have. It has taken the skincare world by storm ever since it's debut. 

I got mine as a gift from the boyfriend (special shoutout to Bryce; without you this review post would never have been possible *sheds tear). What it is: an electric cleansing brush specially designed for the face. 

Let's get straight into the review then.

Packaging

The box the Clarisonic Mia 2 comes in is not pretty. It's designed more to convey information than to make a lasting impression. Fair enough, given most people wouldn't splurge 200 bucks on a face brush without information to show that it's actually worth it. Enough about the box though, because I think the Clarisonic Mia 2 itself looks so damn pretty.

Mine is in a gorgeous baby pink, and it has a sleek handle that just invites you to "come hold me". It looks so damn good. The Clarisonic Mia 2 comes in a variety of colours, including a hot pink, a lilac and my personal favourite, turquoise. However, I think Singapore's Sephora only carries white, black and baby pink; I'm not complaining, I think baby pink is darned fetching anyway.

Functionality

If you're wondering how the Clarisonic Mia 2 charges, that's how. Don't take my word for it, but I think it's uhh, magnetic charging? What that means is basically, hole-less charging. Also, this makes the Clarisonic Mia 2 100% waterproof, so you won't to worry about wetting it or using it in the shower.

The Clarisonic Mia 2 also comes with a 'Sensitive' brush head, which means its bristles aren't stiff or too abrasive. It doesn't rotate (like those car washes at petrol kiosks), but the brush sorta wiggles in place. It also has two settings, which can be toggled with the arrow button that basically mean "wiggle" and "wiggle faster".

Also, if you purchase one from Sephora, you get a mini Clarisonic cleanser to go along with it, but I don't care much for that.

How to use it

Once you activate the Clarisonic Mia 2, the entire brush head starts wiggling in intervals of 20 seconds, 20 seconds, 10 seconds and 10 seconds corresponding to forehead, nose and chin, and each cheek respectively. There'll be 2 short beeps in between each section to signal for you to move on to the next.

Here's a simple chart I drew to explain the above (largely because I had nothing better to do):

Thus, one cleansing session lasts a grand total of 1 minute.

How I use it

I wet the entire brush, dispense some facial wash onto it, place it against my forehead and press the start button. I then go through the entire routine pictured above before washing my face and the Clarisonic Mia 2.

I primarily use it on the normal speed setting and I hardly ever increase its speed, and when I do, I can't tell a difference in the way it cleanses my face except for the fact that the brush just wiggles faster.

Do I like it?

I'll start with the things I don't like about it, because there are very few and largely insignificant. 

1) Even with a 'Sensitive' brush head, the Clarisonic Mia 2 was sometimes too abrasive. I learnt the hard way to not press the brush against my face too forcefully (that doesn't equate to a deeper cleanse). I also do not recommend using it more than once a day, nor do I recommend using it after you've exfoliated your face. I don't have particularly sensitive skin, so I use it every night. However, if you do have sensitive skin, perhaps a different, gentler brush, or usage once every other day would be more befitting. 

2) On the surface, it has a shitty battery life. One full charge lasts approximately 20 uses; i.e. 20 mins. It takes 18 hours to fully charge a Clarisonic Mia 2. Therefore, 18 hours of charge time corresponds to 20 minutes of usage. I was quite disappointed when I realised this, but I also realised shortly after that I only had to charge my Clarisonic Mia 2 once every 20 days, then it wasn't so bad.

3) Face wash gets into my eyes way too often. Since you wet the brush before using it and start with your forehead, this meant that soap infested water would drip down into my eyes at the very start of my cleansing routine - not fun. I make an extra effort to flick off any excess water before hitting the start button, and pay a painful price when I get sloppy. Thankfully, the start button also functions as a pause button which allows me to wash my eye midway through a cleansing cycle should I get soap in it.

Once again, those tiny little shortcomings don't affect me all that much, although they are worth considering before you splurge on a Clarisonic Mia 2. Moving on to the the reasons I absolutely love this darl'.

1) It feels hella good. Nothing feels better than a good, vibrating face massage after a long day with your face marinating in makeup or sweat or a combination of both of the above. It feels nice, and you know your face is getting a good cleansing.

2) I actually see a difference. Before this pink bundle of joy came along, I cleansed my face by using an oil-based makeup remover and sometimes followed up with facial foam using my fingers. Now, I use the makeup remover and always follow up with facial foam on the Clarisonic Mia 2. And let me tell you, the brush head almost always changes colour to match my foundation shade after I'm done, even if I've used makeup remover prior to my wash. This means that there was almost always residual makeup leftover that wasn't properly washed off.

3) I think that my skin has shown an improvement over the past 2 months of using it. It may just be the placebo effect, I can't say for sure that oh the Clarisonic Mia 2 has done wonders for my face, oh praise its inventors, oh happy day - but what I can say is that I've noticed subtle differences in the texture and condition of my skin since I've started using it. There've been less dry patches, less whiteheads and my skin just feels cleaner and smoother.

I love it.

I won't say that you absolutely must have a Clarisonic in your skincare routine; it's more of a luxury, but once you start, there's no going back. It is something that makes my cleansing ritual complete, and it has become an indispensable part of my every day skincare routine. Whether or not it's worth the splurge is up to you. It makes a fine gift for any skincare lover (or any lover for that matter *wink) though.

The Clarisonic Mia 2 retails for $215 at all Sephora outlets, along with a variety of Clarisonic brush heads.

Much love,

Denicia

Review & Comparison | Foundation Brushes; A Yay & A Nay

I'm a very pro liquid foundation person. I don't use powder or cream or whatever else the makeup industry has come up with. BB creams are okay as well, as long as they are y'know, liquid. I also don't like to apply my foundation with my hands, because then I'd get foundation all over my fingers and I have to go wash them, else I'd dirty my other makeup etc. 

So I present to you a simultaneous review/ comparison of 2 seemingly similar foundation brushes, but we have with us a yay and a nay. (If you haven't caught on yet, yay = good products, nay = not so good products *duh*)

Let's start off with the nay stuff: 

The Innisfree ECO Beauty Tool Well-Fitted Foundation Brush

WOW THAT'S A LONG NAME.

This is probably the one product from Innisfree that I've found to be utterly disappointing. To be honest, the main reason I bought this was because it looked good. Let's just say that I can't resist a flat top brush, and this one looked totally sexy in it's packaging. Go search up some stock photos if you care to, and tell me this brush doesn't look sexy, I dare you.

Despite its great aesthetics though, this brush had nothing much to offer (except for a not so challenging tongue twister... 1, 2, 3 GO! Innisfree ECO Beauty Tool Well-Fitted Foundation Brush!)

Take a look at this:

DO YOU SEE THE PROBLEM? I'm sure you do.

That was what happened after just one wash. At first I thought it was just a few loose strands, but nope, every single time I washed it, it shed hair. You'd think they'd at least use waterproof glue for a makeup brush.

In addition to its hair loss problem, the brush hairs weren't dense enough. What this meant for me was that foundation seeped into the base very easily (hence waste of product), and the hairs would kinda bunch up, making the liquid foundation look streaky. 

The fact that this thing sucked up foundation so quickly meant that I had to wash the brush more often, and the vicious cycle goes on. Perhaps I got a bad one, but chances are all of them are like that. If you do happen to own this brush though, and have never encountered the above problems, feel free to let me know in the comments.

Moving on to the yay bit: 

The 1028 Visual Therapy Maestro Foundation Brush

What is up with brushes having such long names nowadays?

1028 Visual Therapy is a fairly new cosmetics and skincare brand, originating from Taiwan. You may catch a glimpse of this brand in local drugstores like Watsons and Sasa, if you haven't already.

I chanced upon this at Sasa while window shopping a while back, and my itchy fingers just had to touch it to see how soft its bristles were (as I said, I can't resist a flat top brush). I was so impressed that I returned a few days later with my money.

First things first I'm a realist, yes, this brush is water proof; I've washed mine multiple times and no hair loss.

More importantly, the bristles on this brush are incredibly dense and soft. They're so dense that I doubt much (if any) foundation seeps in. Even after a few days of usage I still feel like the brush is clean. This also means that the brush blends liquid foundation very well with no streaking whatsoever. Huge thumbs up.

While I have to admit that the 1028 Visual Therapy brush isn't as eye pleasing as the Innisfree one, here's a little consolation (I guess?)

It's handle is translucent and has a very inconspicuous brand logo embossed onto it. Not much of a consolation but I thought it was cute.

How I use them

My application method for both of these brushes is the same: dot foundation over a small area of the face, blend, move on to next area. I don't know if  if a "correct" way of applying foundation with such a brush exist or if I'm doing it the "correct" way, but this works and has worked for me for a really long time so I assume this method's good.

The Innisfree ECO Beauty Tool Well-Fitted Foundation Brush retails at Innisfree stores at $22 while the 1028 Visual Therapy Maestro Foundation Brush retails at Sasa outlets at $19.90.

Well, since both brushes are of the same price range (better still, the 1028 one is slightly cheaper), if you're considering a similar brush, I highly recommend the 1028 Visual Therapy one. You can check the brand out at their Facebook Page here.

Much love,
Denicia

Recommendation | Daiso Eye Brow Coat

Helloz. I have a recommendation today, and it's a little something that will cost you less than a plate of chicken rice.

And it is this dodgy looking thing right here:

Do you eyebrows NEVER stay in place? Does your eyeliner make you look like Jiajia & Kaikai's sibling at the end of a long day, or worse yet, after a mere two hours? FRET NOT, EYE BROW COAT IS HERE TO SAVE THE DAY!! -trumpet fanfare-

Alright moving on from that...

Daiso beauty products can be a little iffy; some of them suck really, really bad (don't ever waste your time with their liquid foundation btw).  Who would take a look at this thing with its insipid packaging and decide that it looks like a great product? Let's be real, no one that's who.

Okay, so what is it, really?  Well, it's like a top coat for your face. You basically brush this stuff on your brows to keep your brow makeup and brow hairs in place.

I've used it on my brows before, and while it made my brows slightly stiff and "crispy", this stuff seriously works. My brows did not budge.

However, since I don't have much of an issue with untamed brows or my eyebrow makeup wearing off throughout the day, I decided to use it on my liquid eyeliner instead.

 If you read my previous post, you'd know that the current liner I'm using smudges like oil pastels. My eyelids are very creasy to begin with (I have triple lids) so all the rubbing action they get up to throughout the day means this smudging problem isn't uncommon for me.  I just realised that I previously said I don't have anything that should get in the way of long lasting liner; I take that back, I guess I do - creasy lids! However, while most liners only smudge slightly on me, the Maybelline one smudges A LOT.

I kid you not, this stuff can withstand some formidable rubbing. Here's proof:

Both the lines are drawn with the Maybelline HyperSharp Liner (yes, the one with absolutely no staying power). Leftie over here is naked while Rightie has on the Eye Brow Coat. And... yup, Leftie gets obliterated by the rubbing finger. Rightie, however, stays nicely in place.  (Yes I gave the lines nicknames)

Apart from bring rub proof, this stuff is oil proof and water proof as well. By that I mean it's resistant to your face oils and sweat; I still do remove it with an oil based makeup remover and while it takes more swipes and more soak time, this proves that this stuff isn't 100% oil proof so don't get your expectations THAT high.

Best part? It costs $2. So pop by a Daiso and see if you can find this hidden gem!

Much love,

Denicia

Review | Maybelline HyperSharp Liner

I'm baaaaack (after 1 day lolz) with yet another review!

Let's talk about the Maybelline HyperSharp Liner, marketed for its 0.01mm tip that gives precision like no other.

Packaging

There's nothing fancy going on with its packaging - it's a thin, felt tip marker with a black body and gold cap - nothing that really stands out, in my opinion. It's simple and serves the product's function well, so there's not much to say about it, really.

Product

The eyeliner itself comes in three shades, intense black, brown and soft black (which by the way, what exactly is soft black? I'm thinking a dark grey). They're differentiated by the colour of their caps; gold, bronze and silver respectively. Thus, the one featured in this post is in intense black.

It's been hyped up for having a 0.01 mm tip, which I'm not sure if I believe. Granted, it does have an extremely thin point that is capable of drawing precise lines.

I feel like it's lines are pretty comparable to everyone's favourite Signo 0.38mm pen, which is why I'm not sure if I'm convinced by the claim that this eyeliner has a 0.01mm tip. I wouldn't even be sold if they'd marketed it as 0.1mm, let along zero point ZERO one millimetres.

Here're some swatches, with a standard sized bobby pin for comparison.

The thickness of the lines vary according to the amount of pressure you use. 

Since it comes in the form of a felt tip pen, application is clean and much simpler than liquid eyeliners that come with a bottle and brush. It's tip is sturdy enough such that it doesn't bend around while you're busy stroking your eyelid with it.

However, because it comes in the form of a felt tip pen, this means that the product dries out very quickly, as most felt tip liners do.

Do I like it?

This is how it looks on my eye.

If I were to judge it based on precision and ease of application alone, this baby would have easily scored an A plus.

However, my relationship with the Maybelline HyperSharp Liner is... it's complicated.

I have a handful of things I dislike about this, which is a pity because Maybelline really did nail the brush. Can't say the same thing about the actual formula of the liner though.

First off, this thing JUST CANNOT LAST. It just can't. I don't have oily lids or anything that should get in the way of long lasting liner; even $2 liner from Daiso goes a much longer way than this. It's neither water proof nor oil proof, and in Singapore's humid weather, this liner can't go more than 2 hours outdoors (if you're lucky, that is). Setting it with powder doesn't make much of a difference. The only solution I have for this is coating it with clear eyebrow gel before heading out the door.

Secondly, it dries out way too quickly. Two issues with this. 

1) Since the brush is so thin, I find that I have to go over the same spot multiple times to thicken the line. Going over half dried, semi sticky liner with a felt tip brush ain't fun. It tugs at your skin and sometimes the brush wipes the existing liner off. Talk about frustration.

2) This means your hyper sharp liner won't last very long before the pen itself dries up. I've found a temporary solution to this though: give it a quick dip in water, and it should work fine for awhile.

I guess my point is, if they reformulated the liner, Maybelline would have a top notch product. The HyperSharp Liner as it is now though... meh.

I'd only recommend it if you place huge (and I mean HUGE) importance on thin, precise eyeliner. For everyday use, there are much better liners out there.

The Maybelline HyperSharp Liner retails at Watsons for $19.90. I got mine on sale for $16.90 though, keep an eye out for Watsons' sales; cosmetics usually go for significantly cheaper than their usual prices. ;)

It's also Hari Raya today, so Selamat Hari Raya to all my Muslim friends out there!

Till next time! 

Much love, 

Denicia

Review | Innisfree Green Tea Pure Sleeping Pack

Innisfree made its way from Korea to Singapore not too long ago and has been gaining popularity since. I for one have developed quite a liking towards the brand myself. I don't own too many things from them, but I do love to poke my head into an Innisfree store whenever I happen to pass one.

I've been trying out this sleeping pack for the past 5 months or so, and today is judgment day for the Innisfree Green Tea Pure Sleeping Pack.

What is a sleeping pack, you ask? It's the last step of your skincare routine at night and is meant to keep your skin hydrated throughout the good few hours you're snoozing away. So, without further ado, let's get into the judgment part, step by step.

Packaging

It comes in an 80 ml tub - which by the way, there is more than enough tub for 80 ml of product, but let's put that aside for now. 

Its innards:

As you can see, I've already used quite a bit of the stuff. 

The packaging of the product is pretty standard, tub with a screw on lid; I mean, how fancy do we expect a sleeping pack to be, right? I gotta say though, I do like its simplicity and sleekness and uh, I guess they chose a nice shade of green..? (yay good job Innisfree)

My gripe with this however, is the fact that the tub may be slightly misleading in the sense that you may think you're getting a lot more product than you actually are. This is also what I meant by "more than enough tub" - this tub could be reduced in size by ~20% and still hold the same amount of product. Having said that, 80ml is by no means little. It has lasted me the past 5 months and will probably last another few, so this is a small issue (if at all one to begin with).

Smell

This product is HEAVILY SCENTED so if your skin is sensitive to fragrances, I suggest you give it (and pretty much the entire line) a miss. I'd say it smells chemically, but in a good way. I'm not sure how exactly to describe it's scent; it's definitely nice smelling though. Another thing is that the sleeping pack smells more invigorating than relaxing and I'm not sure if I wanna be invigorated right before I hit the sack.

Texture

It basically comes in the form of a gel with white microbeads.

I'm not exactly sure what the microbeads are... Is it the "green tea complex" that it's said to be enriched with on the tub? Well even if it is, I don't know what green tea complex is but it's probably good for the skin... right?

Anyhoo, the microbeads aren't abrasive in any form and dissolve quite effortlessly with a light rub.

Something to note is that this sleeping pack differs from the standard Korean skincare products as it is slightly more greasy. But give it some time, it'll settle in and then tah-dah, not (so) oily skin. I do actually like the slightly greasy consistency though; I like to think its forming a protective barrier on my skin that prevents moisture from being taken away by the air-con.  

How I use it

I basically go ahead with my nighttime skincare routine after I cleanse - serum, eye cream, spot treatment, moisturiser. I wait for everything to set, that is, my face should be dry and smooth to the touch, before I smooth a layer of the sleeping pack over it. I tend to be quite generous with this because of my protective barrier theory and also because it feels nice and cool.

Do I like it?

Yez, I do. I have dry skin that will form dry patches when not properly moisturised. Sometimes even moisturiser doesn't cut it at night. 

What I've noticed with this product is that when I wake up, I can still feel it on my face, but in a good way. Sometimes this means that I wake up with slightly greasy skin (from the sleeping pack), but that isn't much of an issue as my morning face wash removes all the product so I can follow up with my morning skincare routine. But what this means is hydrated skin and definitely no dry patches in the morning, which is great because then makeup also goes on smoothly. 

I'd recommend this if you sleep in an air-conditioned room or have dry to normal skin. To see if you really like the product though, definitely go to an Innisfree store yourself to try the testers they provide.

The Innisfree Green Tea Pure Sleeping Pack retails in stores for $21.

Their products are mostly reasonably priced and psst, spend a certain amount and you get free gifts. They're also generous with their samples which is great.

Innisfree Singapore

Takashimaya S.C. #B2-34/35

+65 67336728

Plaza Singapura #01-63/6

+65 6336 3179

Much love, 

Denicia