I’m certain quite a number of girls have heard good amount of raves about the  Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Lotion when it was introduced to Singapore’s shore last year. Took me quite a while to get my hand on it cuz I was quite skeptical (The same reason why I didn’t get MB’s products.) The Hadalabo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Lotion is a bestseller in Japan, reportedly selling one bottle every four seconds. Do note that “lotion” in Asian skin care terminology is actually the equivalent of a “skin toner”.

Ingredients: 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 that skin will stay soft, hydrated and supple.

Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Disodium Succinate, Methylparaben, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Succinic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate

NO  fragrances, mineral oil, alcohol or colorant.

Reviews: The lotion is clear, runny, and scent-free – it feels and looks like water. The liquid can be quite sticky if you didn’t apply it the right way. You have to keep patting it into your skin to absorb! I don’t use it in the morning as it takes quite a while to absorb before I can apply my makeup. So I use this at night after I cleanse my face! I really like it as it’s inexpensive and it hydrates my skin. Oh I read from some bloggers they bought theirs from Guardian and are made in China? I got mine from Watson and it’s stated ‘Made in Japan’.

Price: $22.90 ?

Sukin Moisturizer

It’s good to see organic products in the mainstream pharmacies! Although I’m not 100% into organic products YET but I’m slowly switching over. Go read up on those harmful chemical products and you will know how I feel. Organic products are generally more expensive (That is because they don’t use byproducts of crude oil! ) and unheard of. But it’s really worth investing and there are even some organic products cheaper than SK II! For example Sukin !  This brand is an Australian natural skincare range and I believe it’s from the same company of Renew. Most of Renew products contain rosehip oil (every girl should know about Rosehip! Go google!) so it’s more expensive.

Ingredients: Aqua, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol (and) Ceteareth-20, Glycerin, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil (Rose Hip), Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Equisetum Arvense Extract (Horsetail), Arctium Lappa Extract (Burdock), Urtica Dioica Extract (Nettle), Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Extract, Citrus Paradisi Extract, (Grapefruit Seed), Linalool, * Limonene. *
* Natural component of essential oils.

Sukin products DO NOT contain;

sulphates
synthetic fragrances
animal derivatives
harsh detergents
petro-chemicals
artificial colours
triethanolamine
mineral oils
parabens.

Review: I use this everyday in the morning. I’m a lazy person so I don’t apply moisturizer at night. (just cleanse and apply Hada Labo lotion) I like how light it feels on my skin. Ideal for people with dry complexion. =) Oh it takes quite a while for it to absorb into your skin. You have to massage till e white streaks disappear. Takes about 2 minutes.. non greasy non sticky!

Price: Can’t remember. ~Should be less than $20

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Milk

Ingredients: Water, Isohexadecane, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Sucrose Cocoate, PEG-100 Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria), PEG-5 Soy Sterol, Panthenol, Jojoba Wax PEG-120 esters, Caffeine, Sucrose, Cholesterol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Linoleic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-150 Distearate, Carbomer, Potassium Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).+
Price: Around SGD$46
Review: Makeup remover that’s ideal for drier skin. I love this! It’s so gentle & easy to use. I don’t even have to scrub my face to get my makeup off.

Clinique moisture surge facial spray

Review: I have this in 30ml and to be honest, I have no idea how to use this. Read some reviews that you are supposed to spray it on top of your makeup? Some use it as setting spray and others use it when they feel they need some moisturizer but they can’t use it on top of their makeup. I brought it with me to Bkk and use it as a toner. LOL.. I don’t like the idea of spraying it on top of my makeup. Anyway, it was quickly absorbed into my skin within seconds and it does makes your skin feels refreshed! But Sukin mist toner could do the same for cheaper price! There are a lot of good reviews for this products. Maybe.. just MAYBE I’ll try spraying it on top of my makeup to see if it really provides the dewy flawless effect. hehe..

Price: I think it’s about $47 for 125ml.
Clinique moisture surge

Price: 50ml USD$34

Review:  The texture is just perfect. It feels light on the skin, non greasy and my skin feels hydrated. Would be perfect if this product comes in pump bottle. It’s damn disgusting to scoop e moisturizer out with your finger.

Clinique all about eyes

Price: 15ml USD$29
Review: It does nothing to my dark circles or puffy eyebags. Then again, I don’t think there is any eye cream out there that will help you reduce your dark circles, de-puff eyes. I use this with the sole intent to moisturize my eye area and it does.

Clinique dramatically different moisturizing lotion

Price: 125ml USD$24.50
Review: Got this in sample size. I don’t like it. Don’t understand what’s the hype about. I found it made my skin very greasy although I have dry skin. If I’m not wrong, this product contains mineral oil.

After 90 minute Rose Petal Spa manicure and pedicure that comes along with a relaxing Rose Aromatherapy soak, a pampering rose scrub, and a soothing and hydrating rose-scented massage for my hands and feet!

Address: 10A Lorong Mambong, Holland Village, Singapore 277675

Walked over to red dot brewery cuz the bf was damn fascinated by the green beer. (Green Monster Lager)

The unique color actually came from spirulina. OMFG GROSS. Ewww =(

I kinda like it cuz it’s really light Definitely not the manly kind of beer guys would like it to be. But damn gassy.

Tapping fail.

We had to finish this in half an hour. Not funny =/

I think ippudo is overrated!

Full body massage at Lifespa.

So so only. Still prefer e one I had at BKK!

Cheat our feelings! I think I can cook better!

List of celebrities who use MB products…

http://www.mariobadescu.com/Celebrity-Skin-Care

Someone actually bumped into Mishca Barton of The OC at Mario Badescu store located at east 52nd street in New York City!

http://hubpages.com/hub/Mario-Badescu-Skin-Care-Products-Review

So who is Mario Badescu?
Mario Badescu is a Romanian chemist that started the Mario Badescu spa in 1967. He personalized the facials for each client’s skin type which made him an instant success among the well  to do.

For 44 years,  this spa has been one of the most popular in New York City. Impressive clientele list including Jennifer Aniston, Cher and Naomi Campbell.

Last month, I decided to order a few products to try. I didn’t get their highly raved drying lotion , drying cream and whitening masks because I don’t need those. I only bought what I need – eye makeup remover, cleanser, silver powder and mask!

Mario Badescu Eye makeup remover cream

How to use: Apply a little bit of the product with your finger on the eyelid and wipe off with the damp cotton. Cleanse face as usual. It instantly removes everything and unlike most make-up removers, it does not leave that after feeling of tightness. But I can feel a thin layer of residue on my skin even after I wash my face with cleanser. So I googled the only 2 ingredients stated…

Ingredients: Protopet,Protol (Mineral oil)

Refer to this list http://www.melodyjurick.com/melodyjurick/MineralOils.pdf

Mineral oil is produced as a byproduct of the distillation of gasoline from CRUDE OIL. It has large molecules that aren’t absorbed into the skin because it forms a barrier on the skin, not allowing air to get in or our skin’s natural process of releasing toxins to occur.

Price: 2oz – USD$6

Review: It’s very effective in removing waterproof mascara and eyeliner but I don’t think I’ll continue using it since it contains mineral oil? I’d rather pay more for good ingredients. That is why I switched to Burt’s Bee lip balm (SGD$12.90)  when I found out Vaseline (SDG$4?) contains Petroleum. (CHEAP AND AWFUL INGREDIENT)

Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleanser

Ingredients: Deionized Water (Aqua),Glycerin,Papaya (Carica Papaya Fruit) Extract,Grapefruit (Citrus Grandis Fruit) Extract,Monomide,Triethanolamine,Methylparaben

Papaya and Grapefruit Extracts are exfoliating Alpha Hydroxy Acids that help prevent dulling build-up that can cause blackheads and pimples.

Price: 8 oz – USD$12
Sephora in SG - $48 (Damn ridiculously overpriced)
Review: I thought it looks like a bottle of detergent. =/The texture feels uncannily similar to that Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser but doesn’t leave residue like the Cetaphil gel does.  It’s a good basic cleanser which is gentle for everyday use. Some of you may take a while to get used to the fact that this cleanser does not lather. And you have to keep your eyes shut tightly whilst using this cleanser as it really stings if it gets in your eyes!

Rosehip mask

Ingredients: Rose Hips Oil,Deionized Water, Kaolin, Algae Extract,PVP, Balsam Peru,Hartolan, Wheat Starch, Keratoplast
How to use:  Apply a thin layer on clean skin avoiding eye area. Wait 20 minutes and rinse with tepid water. May be used 2-3 times a week.
Price: USD$20
Review: Just so so.. Nothing fantastic. Keratoplast actually helps to reduce any redness and calm irritation. I don’t have any of those probably that is why I don’t see any effect!

Silver Powder 

Just have to find out what’s the hype about for this products. Heard so many good reviews .

Ingredients: Calcium Carbonate, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide
How to use: Once or twice a week dip a water dampened cotton ball into the powder and press on nose, chin and congested areas on the face. Wait 10 minutes and wipe off with toner or astringent. The main function it performs is to remove and loosen blackheads, as well as other debris in the skin pores so you can remove it effectively with a pore strips.
Price: 1 oz –  USD$12
Sephora in SG – $59 !!!!

Review: I don’t know what’s wrong with my skin. I heard a lot of amazing reviews and was excited for it but it didn’t work. So disappointed! I’ve tried at least 3 times and nothing change. And it’s such a chore to remove the powder of your nose!  The last time I went for facial, I was told my pores are too tiny and tight so my beautician couldn’t extract some of the blackheads out for me. =/ If you struggle with clogged pores and blackheads, the Silver Powder is well worth a try.

With each purchase , you get to choose three sample sized products

I chose..

Caviar night cream

Ingredients:  Hydrogenated Polyisobutene,Polyglycerylmethacrylate,Ceresin,Sonojell,Cholesterol,Ceteareth-20,Beeswax,Stearic Acid,Deionized Water,Dimethicone, Collagen, Actigen of Caviar, Cocoa Butter,BHA,Propylparaben,Cetyl Alcohol,RNA,Methylparaben,Imidazolidinyl Urea
How to use: After cleansing and toning, apply all over face nightly, avoiding eye area.
Price: 1oz- USD$20
Review:  I like the fact that it’s hydrating and non greasy!

Honey moisturizer

Ingredients: Stearic Acid, Peanut Oil,Glyceryl Stearate,Deionized Water, Orange Extract, Honey Extract,Carbomer,Propylene Glycol,Methylparaben
How to use: After cleansing and toning, apply daily all over face, avoiding eye area.
Price: 2oz- USD$25
Review: I really love this! It leaves my skin feeling well hydrated, soft and smooth. Again this is one that would be especially good for people with dry skin type.

Drying cream

Ingredients: Deionized Water, Zinc Oxide,Aloe, Beeswax,Cetyl Alcohol,Lemon Extract, Colloidal Sulfur,Ervol,Octyl Palmitate,Ichthammol,Polysorbate 80, Titanium Dioxide,Polyglycerylmethacrylate (and) Propylene Glycol
How to use: Apply sparingly on pimples by dabbing with fingertip until cream blends into the skin. Best when applied after moisturizer, before make-up.
Price: 0.5oz – USD$14
Review:  Didn’t get a chance to try this! teehee

I might get the Enzymes Cleansing gel, Honey moisturizer and maybe try their Ceramide Eye Gel and Strawberry face scrub. I think it’s worth it (if you order directly from the site and not get from SG Sephora) cuz a bottle of cleanser could last me a few months.  I think the rosehip mask could probably last me for another 6 months and the silver powder a year.

Akamaru Tamago (Akamaru with flavored egg)

WHY MY FLAVORED EGG NO FLAVOR?!!?
Felt so cheated! Taste like normal hard boiled egg and it was overcooked. Literally a hard boiled egg unlike the one I had at Marutama at The Cental. =(
But the broth was really good.

Bakuretsu Tofu (spicy tofu and minced meat)

Don’t order this. Not nice!

Above image from thisjournalog.blogspot.com

It’s either red or French for me. =)