When I bought the Santaverde Aloe Vera Creme in Medium, I was desperate to find a product that would work on my sensitive, eczema prone skin and thus was willing to throw money at the problem if it helped solve matters. So I used this at the height of my eczema breakout last year and ended up with two completely different opinions about this product.

Firstly, the good stuff. I love this for short term use. It’s wonderful when my skin is relatively normal – which means those *rare* periods of time when I have no eczema breakouts, no dry flaking spells, no sensitized redness. It doesn’t contribute to extra oil production on my oily t-zone and makes my skin feel comfortable. Unfortunately for me, my skin doesn’t behave itself all the time.

But…(you knew there was a but coming, right?) when my skin is misbehaving and breaking out in patches of rashes and what not, I hate this cream. It stings my eczema patches (I thought aloe vera was supposed to help calm!) and that in turn makes my skin turn red and irritated. I’ll also find that the cream formula becomes too rich for prolonged usage because I developed painful pimple bumps underneath my skin’s surface in the areas that supposedly need more moisture (my dry flaky cheeks). Not fun yo!

What’s a girl to do?

For now, I’m keeping this cream in my office to use as the air-conditioning tends to dry my skin out. And I use it very, very minimally, mostly on my hands and neck. Such an expensive hand lotion!

Would I repurchase this? No but only because it didn’t suit me.

Yes factors : Organic ingredients, smells great, handy size for travel, keeps skin soft and moist
No factors : Too rich for dry skin in the long run, expensive, not easy to find – currently available in Singapore only via Pure Tincture

Description : Pure Aloe Vera juice and valuable oils from seeds and fruits provide your skin with moisture, protect and preserve elasticity and suppleness.

Directions : Apply twice daily after cleansing and toning to face and neck.

Packaging : 30ml

Recommended retail price : SGD 73.00

I picked up my Steam Cream while I was in Hong Kong for HKD 138.00. Score! Because after currency conversion, it worked out to be cheaper than Malaysia (anywhere between MYR 59.00 to 65.00) and Singapore (SGD 26.00). The moment I realized it was cheaper, my friend couldn’t pry me away from the Steam Cream display at Harvey Nichols Beauty Hall until I’d bought one to take home.

Here is the design I’ve chosen – Liberty, featuring the Stars and Stripes of the American flag. Yes, I know I’m not from America, but it was either this or the Union Jack and I’d seen that design available in both Malaysia and Singapore, whilst the Stars and Stripes have not made their way to the online stores here. (Actually, it was also because my friend remarked that I didn’t seem to be the type to go for a pinky, flowery, girly or frou frou design. Haha.)

But enough about the tin and the designs! How does Steam Cream actually fare when it comes down to use?

Steam Cream is supposed to be a cream manufactured with the latest concept of skincare in mind, pioneering the use of a steam technique to create a unique, gentle and loosely bound emulsion which is supposed to work on both your face and body. Essentially, it is a multi-purpose cream!

I like the scent, which is really relaxing and smells like lavender to me. But me being me with my sensitive nose, I can’t slather on lots of Steam Cream at one shot without feeling overwhelmed by the scent. So it’s a no go on my face for me. With a bit of practice, I’ve found my nose adapts best to the scent when it is massaged on in little doses at a time, so for now Steam Cream shall be my new relaxing nightly ritual and body moisturizer. I’d wager the scent helps promote better sleep for me too, because I always feel like I have some aromatherapy going on with the soothing lavender scent.

As for the cream itself, it initially feels a bit oily to the touch, but when used sparingly, it sinks into my skin fast enough and leaves behind a hint of fragrance that makes me happy. I find Steam Cream works best on slightly dry or normal skin because I find my arms and body to be loving it. But I’m guessing it would take a lot and frequent applications for it to work on the dry scaly skin on my legs (yeah, I have super dry skin there that looks like scales and flakes off in chunks).

Also, those of you who are fastidious about your skincare may not like the open tin concept of Steam Cream, but you can easily get around this decanting into a smaller jar or even a pump bottle (since the formula is not so thick) but that would just make the whole idea of the tin’s design meaningless, yes? I prefer to keep mine in the tin that it came in and make sure that it lies flat so that the cream doesn’t spill over the top when I unscrew the lid.

In a nutshell, I love the design factor and luxury feel but I’ll probably need something more moisturizing (and less scented!) for long term use.

Yes factors : Lovely scent, cute designs, does the job well enough on normal skin
No factors : Scent can be too strong for some, tin design doesn’t encourage hygiene

Packaging : 75ml

Recommended retail price : MYR 60.00 or SGD 26.00 (online pricing)

Read other blogger reviews here :
Beetrice
Connie
Muse
Paris B
Pretty Beautiful
Sesame
Tine

Being a total newbie (it was my maiden trip to HK), I was totally unprepared for the bright lights and myriad stores. But I was lost the moment Kahani introduced me to Bonjour.

When she showed me the section on sample/travel sized products, I was completely sold on the concept and there was no turning back. The majority of the stuff you see in the picture below is from Bonjour, with a purchase each from Sasa, Harvey Nichols Beauty Hall and duty-free at Changi Terminal.

In no particular order, I came back with :
1. Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss in Rose Perle
2. Steam Cream
3. Lanvin Marry Me perfume miniature
4. Talika Lipocils Expert eyelash serum
5. Lancome Hydra Zen Neocalm detoxifying moisturising multi-relief anti-stress gel essence
6. Lancome Hydra Zen extreme soothing moisturising cream-gel
7. Lancome Genifique Youth Activator serum
8. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex serum
9. Estee Lauder Hydrationist Moisture Barrier Fortifier ultra-hydration serum
10. Dior Capture Totale One Essential skin boosting super serum
11. Diorsnow White Reveal essence
12. Shu Uemura UV Armor high protection face cream SPF 50
13. Shu Uemura Deepsea Hydrability moisturizing gel cream
14. Clarins Beauty Flash Balm
15. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial micro serum
16. Laniege Water Sleeping Pack_Ex
17. Guerlain Orchidee Imperiale exceptional complete care serum
18. Clinique Take The Day Off makeup remover

Whew! That’s a lot of miniature stuff, methinks!

And did you notice anything about the list above? It’s mostly skincare with a heavy slant towards hydrating stuff and anti-aging stuff.

I’ve been lemming quite a number of these serums for some time now, so yes, I am one very happy camper. Let’s hope that my sensitive/problematic skin takes kindly to me experimenting in the next few months!

How I wish I had access to these miniature pretties in Singapore or Malaysia all the time…

Read other blogger notes on shopping in Hong Kong here :
Kahani
Paris B

Tagline : Perfect X Simple Skincare

Description : Contains advanced skin hydrating ingredient – Super Hyaluronic Acid, with twice the moisture retention capacity of Hyaluronic Acid (1 gm of Hyaluronic Acid is able to hold up to 6 liters of water). Replenishes essential moisture to visibly improve skin texture and prevent dryness so skin stays soft, hydrated and supple.

Directions : Use twice a day after cleansing face. Apply on palms and gently pat onto skin until thoroughly absorbed.

Packaging : 170ml

Recommended retail price : MYR 40.90 (do look out for regular sales – around 10% off – on the Hada Labo range at your local pharmacy)

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My review :

So I gave in and finally hopped onto the super hyaluronic acid bandwagon a few months back. How could I not, with various beauty bloggers touting the “toing toing” effects it had on their skin and the combined lure of 10% off at Guardian? That was how I ended up with a bottle of Hada Labo’s Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Lotion (from now on referred to as Hada Labo SHA).

Call me naive if you must, but with the word ‘acid’ in the name of the product, I was initially very wary of how this product might react on my sensitive skin. But if it worked for Connie of SkinDeco who has sensitive skin, surely it would work for me too, right?

Anyway, Hada Labo SHA is a lotion, which in Asian skincare terminology means the Western equivalent of a toner and is meant to be applied after you cleanse your face and before your regular moisturizer.

The packaging of this product is so Japanese because it is practical and useful. It’s not fancy to look at, but it gets the job done, especially the outlet hole at the top of the bottle – it only lets out a drop of the product at one time, so unless you get carried away you’re not likely to end up pouring too much out at a go.

Once you get by the simplistic ‘Zen’ packaging, there’s nothing to look at when you pour out the product onto your palm. Hada Labo SHA looks exactly like water because it’s clear and the consistency of water. There’s also no fragrance, which adds even more to the illusion of water. These are plus points in my book because my skin has been known to react against excessive color or fragrance in products.

I like to apply my Hada Labo SHA on a damp face – i.e. don’t completely dry off your face after washing and before applying Hada Labo SHA. I find it helps to lessen the sticky feeling and seems to help the product be absorbed into my skin faster, without me having to ‘slap’ my face for ages. Here’s the video showing you how to ‘slap’ your Hada Labo SHA the right way:

I find that for me, the benefits of using Hada Labo SHA is not seen immediately but in the following hours after I use it as hours later, my skin still looks nice and plump and fresh as only well moisturized skin can be. Having experimented with using Hada Labo SHA both with and without a moisturizer, I can say for certain that it does work way better with any of my moisturizers layered on top as I would then get that soft and lovely feeling coupled together with that ‘toing toing’ bouncy feel. But in a pinch (although I wouldn’t dream of doing this all the time), I can use Hada Labo SHA on its own and still feel that my skin is adequately moisturized.

Would I repurchase this? Well, it’s going to take me a really long time to get through my bottle of Hada Labo SHA but I would definitely come back for more ‘toing toing’ goodness when I’m done!

Yes factors : Does a great job moisturizing skin, non-fragranced, works on sensitive skin, relatively cheap selling price
No factors : Can be time consuming to apply

Read other blogger reviews here :
Beetrice
Connie
Eli
Giddy Tigress
Jenn
Paris B
Plue

Tagline : Enjoy rapid refreshment and a full 12 hours of soothing moisture with an addictive by-a-waterfall feel. Advanced hydration boosters and a new botanical blend hold skin’s moisture in balance through stressful shifts in humidity, indoors and out.

Description : Rapid, long-lasting hydration in a refreshing oil-free gel. Fast-absorbing formula with active aloe delivers a burst of moisture. Smooths, softens, plumps up fine dry lines. Locks in moisture all day with advanced hydration technology. Unique moisture balancing system helps skin better resist dehydration despite drastic shifts in humidity. Use whenever, wherever needed, under or over makeup. Or as a 5-minute moisture mask. For all skin types.

Packaging : 1.7oz/50ml or 2.5oz/75ml

Recommended retail price : USD 34 (online) / MYR 160 (local) or USD 46.50 (online)

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My review :

It’s funny, but I started out my beauty blogging stint (if sporadic posts on beauty products can be thus called) being nicknamed the Clinique lover by Beetrice because nearly every other review post was about Clinique. Truth be told though, while I like Clinique’s stuff, I don’t love it nor rave about it that much. Not until I met Clinique’s Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief formula (referred after this as Moisture Surge).

Do I like it? No, I love it and can’t live without it!

Coming from me, that’s like the highest praise I can give any product due to the nature of my skin. Not only do I have hyper-sensitive skin, I have eczema to go on top of the hyper-sensitivity, which means most products will cause some form of erratic reaction, ranging from redness to spots/zits to even a full-blown eczema rash breakout.

I was gifted a full sized jar of Moisture Surge (50ml) sometime in June last year while I was in the middle of yet another eczema breakout and was initially quite wary about trying out a new skincare product on my face. What if it made the eczema worse?

I am happy to say that all I feared did not occur. In fact, Moisture Surge managed to restore my poor red, flaky skin to normality over the period of 6 weeks. Folks who have seen me at the height of the outbreak can testify to how much improvement has taken place since then till now, and I even get comments asking me what did I do to my skin that its now perfectly smooth. (As a female, you know how good it feels to be praised as having “smooth, supple skin”? Oh yes. And that coming from a guy too!)

I love how the pretty rose-pink lightweight gel formula just disappears into my skin without that sticky and oily feeling that makes me want to wash my face again – which is normally the case for me with other moisturizers (even Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, which many people swear by). In fact, the first few times I when I had Moisture Surge on, I kept on running my fingers down the side of my cheek (which is not affected by eczema, thankfully) thinking in my head, “Oooh! So smooth!”

For me, this product would be quite budget-friendly as it has taken me more than six months to hit rock-bottom and this is with twice-daily usage. And for what it’s worth, this is the first time ever I have actually finished off an entire jar of any skincare product. I am going to repurchase this soon as I don’t want to be caught without this staple in my beauty closet!

Yes factors : Sensitive skin friendly, good hydration, non-oily light formula
No factors : Nothing I didn’t like about it

Read other blogger reviews here :
Beetrice (previous version)
Kahani
Ksuan
Nikki (previous version)
Paris B
Pretty Beautiful (previous version) and (current version)
Tine (previous version)

Image credit

Tagline : Moisture the way nature intended™

Description : Hypoallergenic. Fragrance and colorant free. Used and recommended by hundreds of dermatologists. Conventional lotions only attempt to replace natural moisture with artificial moisture. The problem is they come off when you wash. For moisture to really do any good it needs to get below the second major layer of skin; only your natural moisture is going to reach that level. Gloves In A Bottle will not wash off, helps keep out moisture-robbing irritants while helping retain natural moisture, resulting in smoother skin that is not dry. Comes off naturally with exfoliated skin cells.

Packaging : 240ml / 8 fl oz

Recommended retail price : USD 12.95

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My review :

Ever heard of a shielding lotion called Gloves In A Bottle?

I didn’t, until I read of this very uniquely named product through a review on Tine’s beauty blog. The name alone was enough to intrigue me and want to try it out and I was lucky enough to get my hands on a bottle to review.

The reason I delayed so long to write this review was because I had a bad rash outbreak right after I received it so I was rather wary of testing anything new that might further irritate my sensitive skin. So I stashed it away in my beauty drawer and forgot about it for a while, using my skin specialist recommended Balneum lotion.

Then last month, I had a short holiday up to Cameron Highlands and was looking for an effective moisturiser to bring along. I remembered reading on the website that shielding lotions were perfect for use in cold, dry conditions so I promptly dug it out and packed it in my bag.

You could say that I put it to the acid test!

Firstly, the product is in a lotion form, not too heavy or oily. (I personally dislike thick heavy oily lotions/moisturisers on my skin as it makes me want to go take a bath immediately after application!) The lotion spreads easily and is easily absorbed. I like to apply it after a shower while my skin is still slightly damp as it feels even softer and easier to apply.

Does it work? Well, for me it does. You see, I had a very bad patch of dry and reddened skin on my neck – an ezcema rash actually. The skin was so dry it was actually flaking off in big pieces and leaving behind tender raw skin. It sounds bad and believe me, it was. I applied the lotion immediately after my shower and occasionally throughout the day whenever I thought the skin looked (or felt) dry. (You don’t have to slather it on – just a little bit is enough to cover an arm or a leg.) By the second day of my vacation, it was at least 50% improved! But that’s not all. I also used the lotion for the rest of my body as protection against dryness in the colder temperature of the highlands and it worked a charm. In fact, I do think that my skin never felt softer and smoother than those days when I used it exclusively whilst on vacation.

Now that I’m back in the city, I have reverted back to my other lotions, but whenever I see that my skin needs something “more” out comes the Gloves In A Bottle. I have to say that my normal lotions only keep my skin from getting worse but they do not produce results the way Gloves In A Bottle does. The only reason why I’m not using it for everything is because I can’t get it in Malaysia. *sigh*

Yes factors : Works like a charm, only a little bit is needed per application.
No factors : Currently not available in Malaysia. Nothing else.

Read other blogger reviews on Gloves In A Bottle :
Tine
Beetrice

If you have a blog and would like to review Gloves In A Bottle, you can drop Pete Grimaldi a line at petegrimaldi [at] earthlink [dot] net. However, if you live in either US or Canada and only need a sample, you can get some from their website here.