Saturday, April 30, 2016

Samples Received & Redeemed: April 2016

At last, it's time for that post of the month that accumulates samples and some cheap buys included. Sometimes, it really amazes me when I walked into a run-down and small looking Giant hypermarket, only to find really cheap shower gels which makes me wonder, how come I never saw these cheap buys before when I browsed around inside? Anyways, here's a look at what I've gotten my grubby hands on for the month of April :D


Zen Garden
  • Zen Garden Goat Milk Bath & Shower Gel @ 300ml (left)
  • Zen Garden Lavender Bath & Shower Gel @ 300ml (right)

Goat Milk retails at S$1.00 per 300ml bottle while Lavender retails at S$2.00 per bottle, if you were to buy the bundle pack of 1 litre and the 300ml bottle together, you only need to pay S$3.00 altogether. Because I haven't tried this brand before, I didn't dare to buy the bundle pack in case my skin has an allergic reaction to it.

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: No samples for redemption.


The Body Shop Drops of Light Pure Clarifying  Foam Wash & Black Musk Shower Gel
  • Pure Clarifying Foam Wash @ 125ml (left)
  • Black Musk Shower Gel @ 250ml (right)

Well, I've tested a small amount of the Pure Clarifying Foam Wash right inside the retail shop itself, and I dare say, the skin on my left hand looks brighter when compard to the right hand. The shower gel is because I don't use soap bars at all due to sensitive skin.

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: I don't recall seeing sample sachets for shower gels, but for the foam wash, you can try asking. As I've tried it inside the retail shop, I'm guessing there's no sample sachet for the foam wash as well.


Essential Deep Cleansing Care
  • Essential Deep Cleansing Care Shampoo @ 15ml (left)
  • Essential Deep Cleansing Care Conditioner @ 15ml (right)

Well, I forgot where I saw the sample ad from. But no doubt, these samples are kinda "late" after I bought the trial-size version almost 6 months back LOL

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Go over to essentialsg.com/deepcleanse/ and fill out your details. The samples will be mailed to your mailbox and it's while stocks last. Hurry~


Creighton Balance Sensual
  • Creighton Manga & Papaya Balance Bath & Shower @ 500ml (left)
  • Creighton Cherry & Wild Fig Sensual Bath & Shower @ 500ml (right)


Creighton Cocoon Revive
  • Creighton Vanilla & Macadamia Cocoon Bath & Shower @ 500ml (left)
  • Creighton Raspberry & Pomegranate Revive Bath & Shower @ 500ml (right)

There's a new Venus Beauty outlet opened at my neighborhood, so I went for a look-see and happened to see these 4 bottles retailing at S$6.95 per bottle, which is rather affordable. I debated for 2 nights and went back on the 3rd day and got all 4 flavours. And I regret not! The scents are heavenly~ xD

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: No samples for redemption.


Dove Sensitive Skin Nourishing Body Wash
  • Dove Sensitive Skin Nourishing Body Wash @ 200ml

Well, a visit to The Sample Store's "Free Samples" page reminded me of how long I've been deprived of writing anything on this blog. NEVER AGAIN!!!

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: The last I check, the "Redeem" button is still in blue, which means there should still be samples up for grabs. Hurry~


Crème Simon
  • Crème Simon Brightening Detox Gentle Double Exfoliation Scrub @ 5ml (left)
  • Crème Simon Crème Universelle @ 5ml (right)

Happened to know about 2 samples available for redemption at Crème Simon's website, but you need to register an account on their website first.

Just a warning, while attempting to check out my samples, the website kept giving me weird error messages and I though it didn't went through. Tried to re-request again and the website stated that I've already requested for the samples. If you encountered the same thing as I've mentioned, try re-requesting once again and it should inform you that you've already requested for the sample. Delivery took less than a week, so no harm in waiting.

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Go over to creme-simon.com/collections/, scroll down until you see the above 2 products, there will be a "REQUEST FOR SAMPLE" button that is clickable. The samples will be mailed to your mailbox.


Neutrogena Ultra Sheer
  • Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 50+ @ 15ml

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Also redeemable at The Sample Store, under the "Free Samples" tab. Same thing, it's while stocks last. So, hurry~


Cetaphil
  • Cetaphil DailyAdvance Ultra Hydrating Lotion @ 14g (left)
  • Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser @ 29ml (middle)
  • Cetaphil Daylong SPF 50+ PA++++ (right)

Anyway, I got my samples as Cetaphil was organizing some sort of online FB contest. But you can just skip the contest and get the samples instead, if you don't wish to join.

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Go over to cetaphil.com.sg/samples/ and fill in your details. The samples will be mailed to your mailbox.


Hada Labo
  • Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Lotion @ 2ml (left)
  • Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Water Gel @ 2g (right)

Hada Labo wasn't organizing anything on FB, I was just bored and randomly surfing around. Saw Hada Labo website has samples, and requested for them xD

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Go over to hadalabo.com.sg/, on the right of the website, you'll see "Free Samples" flag. Doesn't matter which sample you picked, you'll get one of each when they mailed it out to you.


Jergens
  • Jergens Ultra Healing Extra Dry Skin Moisturizer @ 5ml

I don't really recall how I got to know about this sampling activity for Jergens, but the website is still working and it's while stocks last. Hurry~

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Go over to ksgpromo.com/jergens/, fill in your details and the sample will be delivered to your mailbox.


That's it for April's samples and cheap buys. See you all in this segment next month in May~ Walalala~


Why not like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PuNiaosProductReviews to be informed of latest samples I found, which is duly updated? Also includes updates to health, beauty & lifestyle tips regularly. It will definitely save you the trouble of having to hunt them down :)


Thursday, April 28, 2016

Quickie Review: White Musk Libertine Eau De Toilette

Quickie Review: White Musk Libertine Eau De Toilette
White Musk Libertine feat. Bun & Skip


Q: So tell us, what's the notes for this particular Eau De Toilette?

A: It's is a fragrance with vegetable musk note in the top, middle and the base note. The composition also includes Turkish delight (rose, almond, honey) and whipped cream. We just love vegetables also, it is so healthy and hearty for small furry folks like us ❤❤


Q: What does this Eau De Toilette reminds you of?

A: *sniffs* It smells like Burberry Brit EDT's younger, and much more shy sibling and a little bit sweet~


Q: How long does the Eau De Toilette lasts after spraying?

A: The scent is strong at first, smoky and heavy with a rose scent at the beginning, but then slowly dries down to a cozy sweet musk of cream and honey that lasts quite long ❤❤❤ Omigosh!! Sweet cream and honey!!


Q: Is this Eau De Toilette good for the climate in Singapore?

A: As woodland creatures, we know the 4 seasons very well. We even know where to gather berries and nuts when winter is nearing. During winter, this scent seems to be only just a pleasant light sweet musk, nothing too heavy-headed. But now that it's getting really warm recently, we can smell every single note! And this is the first time we noticed how soft, sweet and creamy it smells. ❤❤ Definitely a must-have for months when the weather is slightly warmer.


Q: How would you rate this Eau De Toilette as a whole?

A: This is a really versatile scent no matter the scenario, weather or location. Reminds us of running freely in the woods, dreaming of cream and honey ❤❤❤


Q: How many points would you guys rate this Eau De Toilette, out of say, 100 points?

A: 90 points!!! We love the cream and honey ❤❤


~ The End ~


Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Innisfree Bija Anti-Trouble Lotion Review

WHAT IS IT: Innisfree Bija Anti-Trouble Lotion
Innisfree Bija Anti-Trouble Lotion


THE PRODUCT(S):
Innisfree Bija Anti-Trouble Lotion
Innisfree Bija Anti-Trouble Lotion: This watery moisturizing lotion helps to clear and treat troubled skin with its outstanding protection power of jeju torreya seed oil and natural originated salicylic acid.

A moisture rich antiblemish lotion with natural Jeju torreya seed oil, outstanding healing effects of the torreya seed oil help troubled skin. Contains natural salicylic acid for exfoliation and blemish care, oil-free moisturizer and 100% Natural essential oil: The scent of pine, juniper berries, and the forest comforts your mind and body.



This lotion comes in a white opaque milky liquid consistency while the texture doesn't feel heavy like a cream. The scent is rather splended, somewhat like a forest-y type of scent and the lightweight lotion spreads evenly without making my skin feel heavy and clogged.


VERDICT: Despite the product claiming to have the scent of pine, juniper berries, and the forest, I think I pretty much get the "forest" part. It doesn't help that most Singaporeans wouldn't have known what Pine and Juniper Berries are supposed to feel like, while Pine products seems manaufactured to the point you won't even know if the pine scent is real or manufactured. But anyways, that forest scent I mentioned, it's almost like skipping through a magical forest somewhere where your skin feels relaxed and calm.


I was actually recommended this range by the SA at Plaza Singapura Innisfree sometime in March/April a year ago. Reason for going to Innisfree to find a good daycare skin regime product is really due to the reason that their Innisfree products seems just about enough and straight forward. Instead of the usual skin/body-based product shops that seems to sell a bazillion products that makes you feel as if every item is a must-have. Over at Innisfree, the ranges seemed few but well detailed and the SA actually seemed to know their products pretty well too. No matter how I tried to explain my skin problems by tweaking it, I kept being recommended back to this Innisfree Bija Anti-Trouble range without fail. It's like, their SA doesn't get sidetracked easily and is dedicated to ensureing you make the right purchases for your skin type.


The lotion itself is a white color milky liquid, that at first glance looks heavy like a cream-based moisturizer. But as soon as you rub it into your skin, the lotion simply melts into your skin with gently massaging. And naturally, no parabens were located anywhere on the tube itself, instead, I got Jeju torreya seed oil and salicylic acid with extracts such as from Japanese Camellia, Camellia Sinensis, Opuntia, Satsuma and white willow. During and after application, my skin doesn't feel sticky, heavy, nor clogged at all although it has a slight cooling sensation that makes your skin feel relaxed at the cooling sensation.


After using it for around 2-3 weeks, I noticed that my skin started behaving better. Meaning: pimple outbreaks were less as compared to before using this product. Existing pimples weren't irritated at all and didn't even "sit" clueless on my face for days and weeks on end, instead, my existing pimples actually cleared up normally. My skin doesn't even look that oily during the day, and neither did it feel heavy from having a product applied on it. Normally, my skin feels like it's been through a week of existence even though it's only a mere 24 hours. You'd understand the feeling on your face when you didn't apply or apply the wrong facial moisturizer.


And I actually use the toner and this lotion as my daytime skincare regime, short and simple with 2 products during the day as I'm not too fond of loading extra products on my face during daytime as I sweat rather easily from the humidity. Basically, this helps to treat skin with acne and pimple issues, not an overall product that gets rid of acnes and pimples and blemishes. But I find that this product works just well for my skin without bad aftereffects.


PRODUCT RATING: ✓✓✓


WHAT I THINK: Honestly, I didn't expect much from this product as I've been using so many different types I'm almost jaded in trying anymore sometimes. But this product range surprises me quite well with it's simple promises. My skin feels calmer and refreshed without feeling heavy nor clogged at all. And it's really lightweight and absorbs easily into my skin without hassle.


WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: I haven't encountered any sample products for this range, but you can try asking in any Innisfree if they have samples for trying first.


Why not like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PuNiaosProductReviews to be informed of latest samples I found, which is duly updated? Also includes updates to health, beauty & lifestyle tips regularly. It will definitely save you the trouble of having to hunt them down :)


Monday, April 25, 2016

Teeth Whitening at Home

One of the top most common complaint we all have about our teeth is that they're discolored from so many things. Such as drinking coffee, tea, smoking, eating highly pigmented foods, to quote a few as an example. This always result in an ugly yellowish tinge on our teeth that everyone of us loathes to see when we look into the mirror.


Teeth Whitening at Home
~Image Source: 123RF Stock Photography~


If we do have extra money to burn spend, we can always visit a dentist for a quick whitening treatment. But let's face it, no matter the economy, we either don't have the extra money or even want to spend that extra money on teeth whitening. Unless we're earning S$10,000 a month from our jobs, that would have been a different story though. And this is one of the few reasons people start getting creative and looking in their own pantry for household products that does the job, but for a mere fraction of the price.


Cheap Ways to Whiten Teeth

DIY teeth whitening is one of those beauty treatments that sounds like it involves science and seemed rather hard to do, but honestly, it really isn't all that difficult to grasp and do note, no matter what your budget is, it will never ever burn a hole in your pocket and wallet for that. But be aware that if you are a regular caffeine drinker (coffee, black tea) or a regular smoker for years already, this DIY teeth whitening method might not be enough to restore the former whitening glory of your teeth. Maybe only just a little, in fact, these DIY tips are better suited for you if you just want your teeth to be a few shades whiter as it does not totally eliminate and get rid of severe stains.


Basically, you only need 2 products: Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda.


Yes, Hydrogen Peroxide is mainly used for cleaning cuts and scrapes, but surprisingly it works. Unsure still? Next time when you are out shopping in the supermarket, look at the ingredients in teeth whiteners and quality toothpastes as most times, hydrogen peroxide and/or baking soda is included in the ingredients list as well.


Hydrogen Peroxide as Mouthwash

Swap out your normal mouth rinse with hydrogen peroxide or mix it with a ratio of half cup mouth rinse and half cup hydrogen peroxide. Swish liquid (not gargle) around your mouth for at least a full minute before you spit it out. You can rinse your mouth again with plain tap water to get rid of the weird taste too. Just don't forgo the plain water mouth rinse please.


Baking Soda as Toothpaste

Make a mixture using a tiny amount of toothpaste (roughly the amount you need to brush your teeth with) in a small container, add in 1 teaspoon of baking soda and half a teaspoon of plain tap water. Once the mixture is thoroughly mixed and resembles the consistency of toothpaste, use it to brush your teeth for a full 2 minutes gently like how you would brush your teeth on a regular basis. Spit out and rinse your mouth thoroughly with plain tap water. Check your reflection in the mirror, does your teeth looks as if you've treated it with those expensive teeth whitener and expensive toothpaste products?


But please be aware that this is only recommended for a once weekly usage until you get the desired shade of white you want for your teeth while at the same time cutting down on teeth-staining food and drinks. If you must have these, at least do rinse your teeth with plain tap water and brush gently without toothpaste after consuming teeth-staining food and drinks to prevent your teeth from getting stained again. Once your teeth is in the shade of white you desired, limit the baking soda treatment to only once a month to maintain the whiteness.


Because if you use the baking soda treatment on a regular basis, it will gradually wear down the enamel on our teeth and make your teeth more susceptible to cavities. Basically, while you have a megawatt white smile, you'll at the same time suffer from sensitive teeth and cavities, which is worse than having teeth discoloration in the first place. Without overdoing this simple DIY, you can have a beautiful smile full of clean white teeth while saving hundreds of dollars to the dentist for professional teeth whitening. Because if you realized, I doubt dentists will ask you to go back for a weekly teeth whitening session.


First time round, they'll whiten your teeth as much as they possibly can without trying to do much damage to the enamel in your teeth. The rest is up to you on whether you want to take care of it or not. If you don't, you're just giving the dentist extra money on a monthly basis for teeth whitening.


Sunday, April 24, 2016

The Face Shop Raspberry Roots Sleeping Mask Review

WHAT IS IT: The Face Shop Raspberry Roots Sleeping Mask
The Face Shop Raspberry Roots Sleeping Mask


THE PRODUCT(S):
The Face Shop Raspberry Roots Sleeping Mask
The Face Shop Raspberry Roots Sleeping Mask: Drawing on the pure and natural strength of the Himalayas, extract of Himalayan raspberry root tones and lifts skin for refined facial contours.

Skin problems? Try sleeping on it with this overnight beauty mask and wake up to porcelain smooth skin. Himalayan Raspberry Roots and Grain Extracts optimize elasticity and tighten pores while thoroughly hydrating and replenishing skin of lost nutrients. Additions of plant extracts in the formulation promote the natural secretion of pleasure-inducing beta endorphins and stimulate the formation of collagen for more youthful skin.



It comes in a cloudy gel form that spreads like water easily without much hassle, although it leaves a layer of shine and sheen on my face after application.


VERDICT: I got this trial/sample version while on my previous a.k.a last The Face Shop haul for hair products, I really had no intention of getting a sleeping mask from Korean beauty shops as I believe most of them are somewhat overhyped. But for their shampoos, it's a different story as it's under-hyped but reliable, trustworthy and useful. Anyway, despite the sales staff in getting me to buy a sleeping mask, which I politely reject, they gave me this trial/sample tube instead so I can try out while reassuring me that it's a really good product that gets rave reviews and is really popular among their clientele.


This sleeping mask has a wonderful fruity smell that is clean and fresh, kind of reminds you of walking through a field with nothing but beautiful sweet smelling fruits as far as the naked eye can see. Just don't ask what fruit though as my sense of smell can be quite bad sometimes, so it's a little hard to differentiate scents sometimes, but this fruity smell isn't overpowering nor cloying at all. And the scent actually dissipates upon spreading it on your skin, which I think is rather great. It's better than trying to struggle with a sleeping mask that smells weird and puts you off in using it, huh?


Unfortunately, I think it's a over-hyped product that doesn't quite deliver as compared to "how popular it is with our clientele", which I quote the SA saying to me. Maybe it's my skin problem, maybe it's not me but them, I don't know. But I can assure you that after dutifully using this for close to a year, I don't really see much improvement in the pore tightening claim it has. Skin elasticity-wise, there might be some improvement, but it isn't that obvious to tell at first glance either. Kinda like a "Meh!?" to me, to be truthfully honest.


A quick way to know if you have dry overnight skin upon waking up is to look for bedsheet lines on your face. If you see it, your skin is losing moisture when you sleep at night. But if you don't, that means your skin is doing okay.


Hydration wise, it's a little hydrating as my skin doesn't look too dry and taut when I wake up in the morning. Let's just say, my skin doesn't have bedsheet lines showing when I check with the mirror in the morning, it didn't help that I toss and turn like a human burrito when I sleep, so it's definitely going to leave bedsheet and pillow lines on my face and I am also prone to lying face down when I sleep. It's just that I fall asleep and sleep better than I lie face down instead of face up, yeah, I'm a weird sleeper alright LOL


However, I find that after applying this sleeping mask, my face tend to look a little greasy and oily and mind you, I don't put that much products on my face before bed. I literally followed the application instructions to a T as I don't like having my skin feel "heavy" with products just before bedtime. I only apply sparingly, but a quick check on my face seems to suggest that I overload the products instead. But the saving grace is that it doesn't make my skin feel oily upon application as it's a gel-like consistency and texture that spreads easily and evenly on my skin, just that it makes my skin looks oily and greasy though.


Thankfully, it doesn't make my skin look red nor make it feel itchy after a night of application. And the best part is that it doesn't trigger my sensitive pimples that I might have on certain days too. But the ultimate gross part? It has parabens in it, so how it got popular among Singaporean females amazes me. If it's a sample sachet, I don't mind the parabens as it is just one-off. But to have to use a product that contains paraben on a daily basis or even twice weekly is enough to make our skin go astray in the long run.


PRODUCT RATING:


WHAT I THINK: It's actually a good product for me as it doesn't irritate my skin or even irritate existing pimples on my skin, but it's the presence of 5 different types of parabens that make it a turn-off for me. If it's just 1 type and it's a product that is recommended to be used once a week, I still find it acceptable. But because my skin tends to suffer from dehydration overnight, I tend to use it up to 3 or 4 times a week to combat the dryness of my skin at night, which makes it a bad product to use on a long-term basis.


WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: I think The Face Shop should have sample sachets for buyers to take home and try. I got this small tube due to a $100+ purchase.


Why not like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PuNiaosProductReviews to be informed of latest samples I found, which is duly updated? Also includes updates to health, beauty & lifestyle tips regularly. It will definitely save you the trouble of having to hunt them down :)


Monday, April 18, 2016

Benefits of Green Tea: Your New BFF

“A cup of tea would restore my normality," Douglas Adams once wrote in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. And he was definitely onto something healthy and good. Turns out that regularly drinking green tea can do lots and lots of wonders for your body and health. Here are 7 easy ways the drink gives you a much needed health boost:


Green Tea
~Image Source: Shutterstock~


#1. Green Tea is good for your bones

Everyone from our mothers to health experts used to say "Milk is good for your bones", although personally, I don't find myself growing any taller all these years. But according to a study published in the journal Nutrition Research, green tea can help slow down the process of age-related bone loss and at the same time help to decrease the risk of fractures caused mainly by osteoporosis. Especially women who made the effort to drink at least 3 cups of green tea per day have a 30% chance to lower the risk of osteoporosis-related fractures, most noticeably from the hip.


#2. Green Tea prevents cancer

If we are to take a look at Japan for example, cancer rates are actually lower there, because green tea is the number 1 go-to drink. While researchers cannot be absolutely sure that just consuming green tea alone is responsible for low cancer rates, we do know that tea contains chemicals EGCG, EGC and EC, which are highly known for their antioxidant activity. These chemicals help protect our cells from DNA damage, which is one of the first steps in growth cancer cells. Also, the properties in green tea can help protect your skin from UV damage which is also a leading cause of skin cancer.


#3. Green tea to lose weight

Not only does green tea helps you to maintain a healthy weight when taken on a long-time regular basis, it can also help to reduce body fat at the same time. According to a 12-week study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, green tea extracts may also have the power to help decrease obesity and obesity-related illness, like diabetes to quote for example.


#4. Green tea lowers your cholesterol

Green tea has been linked to lower levels of LDL which is known as the "bad" cholesterol, according to a paper published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. In short, tea drinkers have slightly lower levels of LDL compare to those who do not drink green tea at all. So, load up on all that green tea.


#5. Green tea gives you healthy gums

Those of you who drink green tea on a regular basis would have realized that their gum-tissue and gum bleeding problems doesn't happen that much, as compared to the rest of us who probably don't even touch a single drop of tea at all. According to researchers at a Japanese university, the more tea their test subjects drank, the fewer symptoms of periodontal disease are displayed, so drinking more than a cup of green tea a day is definitely the way to improving your oral health. Psst! It's not just about the specific brand and type of toothbrush and mouth rinse anymore huh?


#6. Green tea helps your heart <3

According to Harvard Medical School, drinking green tea daily can help you to lower the risk of heart disease. Reguar tea drinkers also showed a 26% lower risk of dying from a stroke or heart attack in a Japanese study of over 40,000 participants. And to further back this up, all these 40,000 participants consumed at the very least, 5 cups of green tea on a daily basis. So, do drink up on your green tea.


#7. Green tea gives you energy

Those of us (me especially) who are trying to cut down on caffeine can also reap the energy benefits of green tea as well. One 8-ounce cup of green tea contains at least 24 to 45 miligrams of caffeine, as compared to 95 to 200 milligrams in a cup of coffee, tea itself offers a boost of much-needed energy with the chance of a lower risk of headaches, shakiness and nausea that comes complimentary with caffeine overload. And that healthy jolt of caffeine in tea can boost exercise endurance, according to a research published in the American Journal of Physiology. So it doesn't matter whether you're an athlete or just a normal person looking for a quick and healthy instant pick-me-up, it definitely helps to go the path of green tea.


Friday, April 15, 2016

Innisfree Bija Anti-trouble Skin with Torreya Seed Oil and Green Complex Review

WHAT IS IT: Innisfree Bija Anti-trouble Skin with Torreya Seed Oil and Green Complex
Innisfree Bija Anti-trouble Skin with Torreya Seed Oil and Green Complex


THE PRODUCT(S):
Innisfree Bija Anti-trouble Skin with Torreya Seed Oil and Green Complex
Innisfree Bija Anti-trouble Skin with Torreya Seed Oil and Green Complex: Natural originated salicylic acid, natural originated alcohol presents you with a clear complexion as it exfoliates dead skin cells that cause skin trouble and removes impurities left inside pores. A toner made from natural Jeju torreya for treating blemished skin! The outstanding healing effects of the torreya seed oil help troubled skin. Contains natural salicylic acid for exfoliation and blemish care. The naturally fermented alcohol soothes skin. 100% Natural essential oil: The scent of pine, juniper berries, and the forest comforts your mind and body.


Innisfree Bija Anti-trouble Skin with Torreya Seed Oil and Green Complex
Despite the bottle looking all blue on the outside, this toner is actually a clear liquid instead of the blue we expect it to be.


VERDICT: Scent-wise, there's a strong scent of alcohol with a hint of herbal tonic in it although the herbal tonic scent is more towards lemon grass scent. For those of us who are sensitive to the scent of alcohol or whose skin is sensitive and allergic to alcohol, this product might actually do more harm than good. Although funnily enough, part of the product describes this product having the scent of pine, Juniper berries and woods and most reviews for this product I have come across have a varying difference when it comes to the scent. And at the same time, it's a toner made from natural Jeju torreya, which means it should smell more like torreya instead. But personally, I don't find the scent too "dramatic" in terms of the difference in scent.


Upon using this toner, it gives a refreshing and clean feel to my skin after using it. And to be honest, a toner is essentially a liquid that delivers beneficial ingredients directly onto the skin after cleansing. And depending on the formulation of the toner, it can also "close" or minimize pores and smooth the texture of the skin, ready for the application of moisturizer and/or makeup. Although toners containing alcohol can be somewhat controversial towards certain toner users as alcohol can be drying. But at the same time, the drying part can actually clear the skin of any excess sebum on the spot to ensure sebum doesn't mess with the moisturizer that follows soon after.


For me, this toner helps to control oil and sebum on my skin without making my skin feel too dry after using and luckily for me, the toner doesn't irritate my skin too much especially when pimples are present. And upon using, I can feel and see my skin brighten up a little although I doubt it helps in the whitening department though. I mean, I haven't heard of any toner that whitens complexion. Complexion whitening tend to be products in the serum or moisturizer range, as far as I am aware. And personally on my skin, it actually feels a tad hydrating instead of the usual dryness I encountered when using other brand toners.


Sometimes, when my skin feels too oily and shine-reflective, I just use this to clear off the excess sebum on my skin. But I don't recommend continuously using the toner throughout the entire day repeatedly just for the sake of getting sebum off your face though. I tend to use it only when my face and skin actually feels "heavy" from the serum and I want a quick refresh on my face to feel better. It does help dry out the whiteheads, on a side note. As I've noticed less whiteheads showing up on my skin after using this product for the past 1.5 years.


PRODUCT RATING: ✓✓✓


WHAT I THINK: Although this toner contains alcohol, I personally find that it doesn't over-dry my skin at all. In fact, my whiteheads are noticeably lesser after using this toner. It hydrates and also reduces the amount of sebum on my skin as my skin condition is of the combination type. Whitening wise, I don't really see much difference but it actually brightens up my skin a little after using.


WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: You can pop by any Innisfree outlet and enquire for sample sachets to bring home and try it out before committing to this product on a permanent basis. Or alternatively, there should be opened sample bottles in their outlets. But I still recommend asking for sample sachets that you can bring home and try instead.


Why not like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PuNiaosProductReviews to be informed of latest samples I found, which is duly updated? Also includes updates to health, beauty & lifestyle tips regularly. It will definitely save you the trouble of having to hunt them down :)


Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Six Amazing Beauty Hacks

It is with no surprise that beauty has now fast grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry over the past few decades. And as most us women know, the multitude range of hair products, various skin potions, and wonderful cosmetics available at any drugstore or mall is just enormous to count with just a calculator. In this infographic below, the kind folks at Ogle School reveal 6 amazing beauty hacks that you can instantly and easily raid your pantry and kitchen right about now and get gorgeous instantly.


Get Gorgeous Now: Six Amazing Beauty Hacks
Courtesy of: Infographic Journal


I don't know about you all, but out of the 6 featured in the infographic I posted above, I am currently following all of them except for the Vaseline one. How about you all pretties?


Tuesday, April 12, 2016

The Face Shop: Herb Day 365 Cleansing Foam Peach Review

WHAT IS IT: The Face Shop: Herb Day 365 Cleansing Foam Peach
The Face Shop&#58 Herb Day 365 Cleansing Foam Peach


THE PRODUCT(S):
The Face Shop&#58 Herb Day 365 Cleansing Foam Peach
The Face Shop: Herb Day 365 Cleansing Foam Peach: A natural hydrating facial foam wash-Formulated with peach extract & nine kinds of herb extracts-Penetrates deep into pores to remove impurities & buildup that can cause clogged pores & blackheads. Provides moisture & nutrition to skin-Leaves skin soft clear elastic & youthful looking. Perfect for all skin types. To use, simply apply a moderate amount & massage onto wet face. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water & follow with daily day or night skincare regimens.


The Face Shop&#58 Herb Day 365 Cleansing Foam Peach
Personally, I like the fact that most Korean beauty products almost always comes with a foil seal. In the event I only start using this after buying, for example 3 months ago, the foil seal ensures the product doesn't get contaminated in any way. Useful and helpful for folks like me who likes to sniff existing on-hand beauty products every now and then.


The Face Shop&#58 Herb Day 365 Cleansing Foam Peach
As you can see here, the cleansing foam itself comes in a light pink pearlescent color that shimmers a little here and a little there when you tilt your hand left and right. That shimmery feeling~


The Face Shop&#58 Herb Day 365 Cleansing Foam Peach
It suds up rather decently and have this wonderful peach scent that isn't too heavy. In fact, it's actually light and mild only before you apply it to your face/skin to use.


VERDICT: Let's start with the scent of this product in slightly more detail. The Face Shop actually has 6 more scents/flavors to this range, but I think Peach is probably more of a better choice in terms of scent. I can't remember what the other range smells like, they were't that bad to be honest. But Peach just smells gentler and warmer, if you get what I meant here. The scent is really light and mild, instead of overpowering, to quote for example, Tea Tree which distinctively has this menthol-minty scent to it, making it obvious what exact scent or product it is. The scent slowly dissipates upon contact with the skin, without lingering on obsessively.


Anyway, I was browsing around The Face Shop at Bukit Panjang Plaza, wandered into The Face Shop roughly 2-3 weeks after it opened solely for the main purpose of being able to shop or browse in peace without pesky humans gushing over everything and ending up not buying anything. (They take up a lot of standing space by just standing at the same spot going "Ooh!" and "Aah!") Anyway, the sales staff who attended to me was patient in hearing me describe my skin woes and problems and lament on not knowing what products to correctly use for cleansing my skin. I think most sales staff probably will cut you off right after the very first sentence you said to them and immediately start recommending. Or maybe I just luck out and encountered a patient sales staff or probably because I said the next sentence fast enough so she can't "cut" in, I'm not sure though ^^


I was in the market for at least 2 different types of cleanser, 1 for day and 1 for night usage. I wanted a cleanser in the daytime when my skin is a little more prone to showing bedsheet marks after getting out of bed, while at the same time being gentle without making my skin feels overly cleansed which some cleansing products always managed to do. I like that this cleanser cleanses my face well without making my skin feels taut and dry after using. And it also leaves my skin feeling soft and the best part? When I do have pimples, it doesn't irritate the pimple as it is a really soft cleanser. It's just a matter of not using too much force when cleansing your face.


To be honest, this is one of those few and rare cleanser products that I've been continuously using for the past year without changing it. But be warned, no copious amount of "foam" nor "foaming" was noticed when using this. It actually feels and behaves more like a cream cleanser instead of a foam cleanser, it just lathers up nicely only. And the "herb" part in the product's name hints at the 9 different herbs it contains:

  • Marronnier - Tightens pores
  • Soapwort - Cleansing
  • Lady's Mantle - Anti-aging and astringent
  • Sage - Anti-aging and helps clarify skin
  • Rooibos - Antioxidants
  • Camomile - Reduces redness
  • Borage - Moisturizing
  • Centaurea Cyanus - Astringent and antioxidant


Sure, this product isn't exactly a heavy-duty cleanser like those that comes with micro-beads for exfoliation. But as my skin is liable to angsty moments with pimples like a teenager denied fast food and junk food, I personally like that my skin feels so clean and fresh, and SOFT LIKE A BABY'S without the usual tightness, dryness and tautness I mostly get with other facial cleansers. I also noticed that because it is a soft and gentle cleanser, if you do take the time to slowly and gently massage into your skin, it still gives that clean, fresh and gentle feeling to your skin. Unlike other brand's facial cleansers that seems to work against what it promises if you attempt to massage and cleanse your skin slightly longer. Maybe it's just me who appreciates facial cleansing and shower times, but I do assure you, it is what I described above.


PRODUCT RATING: ✓✓✓


WHAT I THINK: Gentles on your skin even when pimples are present, cleanses quite well and leaves your skin feeling soft, cleansed and clean. And sometimes I wear light makeup, I find that this product is able to cleanse off the light makeup I have on my skin and once again, no tightness, no tautness nor drying sensation observed on my skin after cleansing. Still that clean, gentle and soft feeling.


WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: No sample for redemption. Not that I've encountered any samples for the other scents in the range I didn't buy. But I believe you are able to give this product a try right at their retail outlet, just ask if you can. And also, each scent/flavor is meant for different skin problems, but most of them are suitable for oily to combination skin.


Why not like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PuNiaosProductReviews to be informed of latest samples I found, which is duly updated? Also includes updates to health, beauty & lifestyle tips regularly. It will definitely save you the trouble of having to hunt them down :)


Sunday, April 10, 2016

Product Reviews versus Sponsored Reviews

Honestly, I really wanted to put up a product review today. But in light of this peculiar comment I received during my past year hiatus, not once, not twice, but 3 times about a Sponsored Review post (Peripera Peri's Lip Tint Crayon in No.1 Fruit Pink [Sponsored] Review]) I had done in February 2014. And considering the fact that her comment showed up last year in 2015, set my mind into working and thinking. Thankfully, not the unthinkable but more of the unfathamoble. And I believe every and any blogger who has a blog and have at least 1 or many sponsored reviews should write about and place it somewhere on their blog as a permanent link to deter such weird commentators from asking even weirder questions. But just a quick update before I proceed: I deleted all 3 of her comments so I definitely have nothing to show to back up this post, but as this is the first time I received such a ridiculous comment, I am bound-by-beauty-blogger duty to actually talk, discuss and share about it, in the event this girl (or a boy in disguise?) decided to comment once more.


Product Reviews versus Sponsored Reviews
~Image Source: iHomeschool Network~


I logged into my Blogger account on the 7th April this year sometime just after 12 noon, intending to focus on the topic about Singapore bloggers receiving letters from IRAS, "requesting" (request sounds better than demand lol) to pay taxes for doing sponsored reviews on their blogs and the big hoo-ha brewing around this topic. And I noticed I had 4 comments, in which 3 of them were all from the same person commenting on that one single post. A closer and detailed look at her comment just sort of had me bursting out in laughter for a good 5 minutes and wondering, "Did this person just returned from another planet to Singapore last year?"


In her comment which I had since deleted on the 7th April, she sort of "demanded" to see a proof of receipt to prove the sole fact that I "bought" the Peripera Peri's Lip Tint Crayon in No.1 Fruit Pink from Tampines to review. All sorts of things went through my mind all at once, ranging from:

  • Doesn't she realized it's a "Sponsored Review"?
  • Does she even know what the phrase "Sponsored Review" mean?
  • Is she even legally an earthian to ask such a weird question?
  • What the heck receipt she is talking about?


I Feel Confused
~Image Source: Shutterstock~


By now, most of you my dear readers and fans are probably thinking the same thing as I am thinking? Seriously? Is she for real?


I mean, it isn't that hard to try and Google for the differences between Sponsored Reviews and Non-Sponsored Reviews or a.k.a Product Reviews. Really, it isn't that hard? Uncle Google is just a URL link away on your desktop. And the answer is just a sentence away as well, it's not that hard, isn't it? And before I go on even longer than I need to, here's a short introduction on the differences between a Sponsored Reviews and Non-Sponsored Reviews or a.k.a Product Reviews.


What is a Sponsored Review

A Sponsored Review or a Paid Post is when you write a blog post and you get remuneration for it, in other words, you are paid for writing something and the rewards is either money or the product itself. Or more specifically, a Sponsored Review is when a company send you a product for you to try, test, review and then write about it on your blog, thereby generating buzz, activity, interest, pageviews and whatnots to both your blog and that company's blog. While a Paid Post is when either the company contact/request you to write a certain topic or you reach out to the company to request for an opportunity to write about something that company endorses and at the end get paid a small (or big) amount of money depending on how popular or unpopular your blog is.

What happens in a Sponsored Review is that, the company decides your blog is a good fit for their company's product that they are intending to launch and hence you (and probably a few more other bloggers) are mailed their soon-to-be-launched product to test it out, try it out and then write about that product on your blog. Pro? You get to keep the product after testing, trying and reviewing it, hence the "Sponsored" in Sponsored Review. You don't need to return it back. Besides, who wants a lipstick back after you have used it for a week at most? The only thing companies can do with the used product is mostly disposed of, due to hygienic reasons or in the rare case, get sent to a retail outlet as a sample piece for interested shoppers and browsers to swatch on the back of their hands. But I personally stick to "disposing of", because Ewww!.. Do you want to use a lipstick that I have used for almost a full entire week already? Nope? Neither would I..


Peripera Peri's Lip Tint Crayon in No.1 Fruit Pink


And in the course of writing a Sponsored Review, bloggers are not necessary needed to list out the various shades of that particular product that they are reviewing, only the actual product that they were sent for reviewing. For example, to reference the (Peripera Peri's Lip Tint Crayon in No.1 Fruit Pink [Sponsored] Review]) post. This lip tint crayon comes in shades of 3 only, namely:

  • No. 1 Fruity Pink
  • No. 2 Fruit Orange
  • No. 3 Fruity Mint


As personally, I have really dry cracked lips that bleeds on sight when lip crayons, lip tints, lip sticks are involved, applying one means a rather arduous process of applying and re-applying moisturizing lip balm on my lips continuously within a span of 30 minutes until my lips feels and looks sufficiently hydrated before I can proceed to apply whatever lip product I need to, have to or want to. Therefore, it's impossible for me to request more colors (or flavors) or even remotely buy the "missing" other 2 shades for the sake of being able to review all 3 products in the same range, but under different color shades. However, if a blogger loves the product upon trying the sponsored product and wants to give some love and shout-out to the company for giving them the chance and opportunity to review their products. Moi? I'm just thankful and honored that Lifestyle Post - Brand Advocates Network gave me and my humble blog the chance to write a sponsored review for them and I still cannot thank them enough, even now.


Cons? Despite being given a sponsored product to review, try, test and blog about, bloggers on their side have to introduce the product as best as they can with their own personal viewpoint on it. And at the same time, inform their readers where they can purchase or swatch the products if they are interested in it despite probably never going to the locations stated where said product can be purchased. No where in my Sponsored Review did I anyway state that the sponsored product itself was purchased or gotten from the purchase locations listed at the bottom of the post. And because it is a Sponsored Review, bloggers who are selected to try, test and review about it need not have to pay a single cent as the company itself mailed out the product to the respective bloggers for reviewing. Hence, the "Sponsored" in Sponsored Review, get it?


In accordance with FTC regulations you should always mention that it’s a sponsored blog post, usually at the end of the post with a byline such as:

“This blog post is sponsored by (Name Brand Here).”

Even if you are not legally bound to disclose that you’ve been paid to publish a post, you should. Trust and authenticity are important and your readers will soon become disillusioned and jaded if you mislead them, whether intentionally or accidentally.


What is a Paid Post

As the heading above states, a paid post is when you are being paid a measely few cents to a measely few dollars (I'm talking about less than USD2.00 here, mind you!) to even worse, *gasp!* a few measely points for writing a blog post on a topic they want you to write about. The thing with Paid Post is that, beggars can't be choosers when so many millions and billions of bloggers want a share of that Paid Post pie that companies dangled in front of them. They're paying only a few cents and that's the only Paid Post assignment you can get from them, nothing more and nothing less. You of course grab that chance or opportunity, and as the saying goes, little goes a long way. In fact, way too long to get the big dollars. That's why I prefer Sponsored Reviews to Paid Post, as I get to choose the products I want to test, try and review instead of having to write about something I probably have no interest or no clue in. And take my word for it, don't ever do Paid Post blogging unless you have too much time to spare when you could have used that same amount of time to write up quality content that you are more adept and comfortable with.


Now, if a company approaches you to do a write-up promising monetary gains, that's a whole different story altogether. As depending on your blog stats and such, you can easily negotiate say, USD5.00 or SGD10.00 (if you are trying to be a humble Singaporean blogger) for a blog post consisting of a fixed amount of words-per-count. If you are a famous blogger, walala~, you can easily ask for up to a few hundred dollars to blog whatever the company wants you to blog. But if your blog is in the vicinity of virtual unknown entity, just be glad that you are able to get at least bwtween SGD5.00 to SGD30.00 at most. We all want to be as big as XX or BQQ, don't we all? Sigh...


To sum it up, if you're a nobody blogger, you're just risking the chance of underselling yourself and your blog because companies can and will do that. I've learned the hard way from my main blog before and it was years before I even managed to reach a miserable USD20.00 in my PayPal account (-_-)"


In accordance with FTC regulations you should always mention that it’s a sponsored blog post, usually at the end of the post with a byline such as:

“This blog post is sponsored by (Name Brand Here).”

Even if you are not legally bound to disclose that you’ve been paid to publish a post, you should. Trust and authenticity are important and your readers will soon become disillusioned and jaded if you mislead them, whether intentionally or accidentally.


What is a Product Review

As stated on the World Wide Web, a Product Review in electronic commerce terms meant that product reviews are used on shopping sites to give customers an opportunity to rate and comment on products they have purchased, right on the product page. Other consumers can read these when making a purchase decision.


Kindly allow me to break it down further for you, if you're a little unsure or a first-time blogger to the world of blogging.


Bliss Fabulips Foaming Lip Cleanser


Say, Riih randomly went window-shopping and jalan-jalan into Sephora because she was feeling bored and wanted to look-see around at some girly stuffs to feel upbeat and energetic once again. Window-shopping turned into a actual shopping-for-something mood, and Riih decided that she wants to buy a Bliss Fabulips Foaming Lip Cleanser because she is tired of wiping lipstick off her lips and causing her lips to bleed and crack and dry up. After buying and using the product, Riih realized "Omigosh!! This product is sho aweshome!!!!" and therefore decided to write about this wonderful product on her own blog or website, sharing a good find with her readers and fans.


The above scenario is what dictates a Product Review. I buy something with my own money, liked and loved the product so much that I want to talk about it and share my buy(s) with people I care about, in this case, my readers and fans. As the product is not sponsored by Sephora nor Blissful, but bought with my own money, therefore, it is just simply as it is called, a Product Review. Along the way, I will include (necessarily) where I bought the item and (not necessarily maybe a receipt to prove that I didn't borrow it from a friend or acquaintance just for the sake of reviewing. Besides, if anyone is reading that post happened to be in JEM Sephora, they can simply pop inside and see for themselves whether the product is there or not, another way to "prove" I didn't lie about purchasing or not purchasing it.


And lastly, before I sign off this post, I would also like to clarify something else as well.


Peripera Peri


The Peripera New Peri's Tint Water No. 1 Cherry Juice (left, small bottle) and Peripera New Peri's Tint Marker No. 3 Pink Stain (right, marker-looking) was bought with my own money around a week AFTER I reviewed the Peripera Peri's Lip Tint Crayon in No.1 Fruit Pink product and paid with a credit card, I don't keep receipts because I throw them away but I still remember which credit card I used to pay for these 2 above-mentioned items at Takashimaya Watsons.


Saturday, April 9, 2016

Samples Received & Redeemed: January - March 2016

Before I started this off, a little bit more information on this long-awaited post. The reason why it's dated January to March 2016 is because towards the start of this year, I know I need to put up this post. But at the same time, I am still a little unsure how soon I will start blogging back on this space, although hopefully, I don't wish to take too long either. It's also partly because, as I have already mentioned in at least a post back that sample redemption seemed to have taken a back burner sometime from when I went on a un-announced hiatus and I was rather confident the samples I can get my hands on for the first 3 months of 2016 is going to be little by comparison to the samples I first got my hands on when I first started blogging here.


And because the samples I can get my hands on for the start of 2016 is rather little, chances are that, I will and definitely forgot exactly when I got them, so simply put, I'm just going to label this post as samples collected from January to March 2016 instead of the usual monthly. But rest assured that next month onwards, I will get it back to a monthly sample acquired post or as we all know it, the monthly sample ritual. And before I start, I would also like to clarify that most sampling activity featured for the samples in this post will most probably be over. But honestly, less talk from me and onwards to the sample which everyone is long waiting for~


Kustie Lavender Shower & Bath Gel
Kustie Lavender Shower & Bath Gel @ 100ml

I first saw this in it's full retail size glory in Watsons last year, but then, I didn't wanted a big bottle of shower gel back then as I've never tried this before, especially shower gel that claims to have flower petals in it. So, I sort of bypass this. But a year later, Watsons came up with a travel-size version of this and I instantly grab a small bottle of the Lavender one without any hesitation. Lavender has the benefit of treating insomnia, nervous stomach, and anxiety. And at the same time, Lavender can be used as a treatment for flatulence, colic, and depressive headaches, and many modern herbal practitioners use the herb to treat migraines in menopause.

The most important part of Lavender? It has a long history of use in natural remedies and as a natural scent and perfume. It’s calming scent makes it soothing to the respiratory system and it is often suggested to be diffused to calm coughs and colds. Many massage and beauty products use lavender for its scent and its supposed ability to promote relaxation and stress relief, though this has not been well studied. In alternative medicine, use of lavender essential oil or lavender salves is sometimes recommended for muscle pain or aches or to promote restful sleep. (As quoted from Wellness Mama)

Besides, how many shower gels have boasted of real hand-picked flower petals? Not much from my personal encounters and experiences, so it's like a small travel-size luxurious treat I can have without burning a hole in my pocket. Not that Watsons stock up much expensive products in the first place :D

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: No sample for redemption. However, small travel-size versions of shower gels tend to get snapped out rather quick at Watsons (at least the one at my heighborhood), so good luck if you intend to find the same exact travel-size version. But hey, the actual retail size version isn't really expensive too, might as well get the big one and treat yourself lavishly to the wonderful scent of Lavender and flower petals.



Kleenex Moist Toilet Tissue
Kleenex Moist Toilet Tissue @ 8 sheets in a pack


Kleenex Moist Toilet Tissue
Kleenex Moist Toilet Tissue - Contents of Sample Pack

When I first saw this commercial online (I haven't watched television in like, 4 years+. So, I cannot confirmed nor give a date on when it should have appeared on the television), I was a little mystified in all senses. I mean, I understand the part where after the shampoo session, none of the shampoo were washed off. It's more like, how does a human's head get compared to a human's butt all in one context is the entirety that baffles me. In my humble opinion, they should use a scene from a baby's diaper changing session to better reference this new product.

The real actual method to promote this product is to have a baby diaper changing scene where after wiping a baby's bottom with toilet paper, the second final step is to use this moist toilet tissue to ensure the baby's bottom is thoroughly wiped clean as the human eye is prone to over-looking parts of a baby's poo poo. It's just typical human nature to over-look this part. Then, the final step to dust a layer of baby powder on said baby's bottom to ensure dryness until the next poop session progresses. This, I would have understand at the first video outlook that it is a product made for human butts.

To be honest, from when I first saw the video until I received the sample version of this product and opened it up to take a peek at the usage instructions, I was still very convinced it's a lie that it's for human butts. I kept thinking its actually for when you decided to wash your hair with shampoo, but got tired and lazy from washing off the shampoo and hence, decided it's a good idea to wipe off the shampoo with this product. Sorry Kleenex, you did the commercial wrong. Or rather, Kleenex, please fire the person who came up with the commercial as that person doesn't understand your products in the first place T_T


WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Sampling activity is over. However, take note this is a product meant for human butts instead of human heads when purchasing the retail version.



Summer' Eve
Summer' Eve sample product kit


Summer' Eve
1. Summer's Eve Feminine Wash for Normal Skin @ 5ml
2. Summer's Eve Feminine Cleansing Wipes for Normal Skin @ 1 Wipe

Sometimes, I think Summer's Eve is a much more better cleansing wipe product for our female bits then other brands, cos Singapore is "Summer" all year round and the "Summer" in "Summer' Eve" really reflects that well. Plus, it's mostly "summer" in our female bits most of the time too, not that I want to emphasis this part -_-


WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Sampling activity is over.



Moist, Diane
Moist, Diane featuring Hebe as it's Spokesperson. I like that Moist, Diane products looks so luxurious but yet affordable at the same time.


Moist, Diane
Moist, Diane Shiny Shampoo Extra Shine @ 10ml
Moist, Diane Shiny Hair Mask Extra Shine @ 10g

The first time I saw Moist, Diane was inside Tokyu Hands, it was a off-day from my ex-job and I had also received my bonus. So I was thinking of splurging myself a litle on Japanese products to feel pampered like a princess although I ended up only buying a cute-looking makeup remover and pore peeling pack. Too much "feast" for my eyes and senses, literally as the "princess" in me wants everything there while at the same time, I don't want everything there as not every product is suitable for me to use LOL

Anyways, I would gladly purchase the Conditioner and Hair Mask instead as my hair and scalp has gradually gotten used to another hair care brand and I really don't want to mess it up by using another brand new product until my hair and scalp condition has settled down.


WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Sampling activity is over.



John Frieda
John Frieda Full Repair Strengthen + Restore Shampoo @ 50ml
John Frieda Full Repair Strengthen + Restore Conditioner @ 50ml

John Frieda was originally conceived by John Frieda a.k.a Alan Howard Frieda, a British celebrity hairstylist and founder of hair salon and hair product businesses. The hair product business was acquired in 2002 by Kao Corporation, Japan. So essentially, the pro-Japanese wave personality in me is ecstatic that Japan has another product. despite not originally conceived by them, but yet has another award-winning product up their sleeves. Take that, Korea! But on a serious note, this product does sounds like it has a really long history with hair and has also established itself with fashion magazine cover shoots, judging by the glamorous Caucasian model photos I see on their FB page.


WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Sampling activity is over.



Que Origin
Que Origin samples I received.


Que Origin
Que Origin Lavender Shower Bath @ 10g
Que Origin Lemongrass Shower Bath @ 10g

I first got to know about Que Origin via FB, subsequently joined one of it's contests and promptly forgot all about it. Until just a few months back while browsing around and saw that one of my favorite beauty blogger (her link is listed in my "BLOGS I ♥") had this post on Que Origin. And being Singapore, contests kinda gets known by us simply because we love to share the news of new sampling activity and contests. And when I checked my email, I realized that I was really a few hours away from redeeming my so-called complimentary Que Origins shower bath sets.

All went well at the check-out page, until I realized that although the website and email received claimed that it is "free", I still have to pay for shipping costs. Now that my friends, is not free no matter how you look at it. If you say it is free, it means free shipping as well. If I have to pay for shipping, then it's not entirely free, isn't it? And besides, they held the contest and picked only that many winners, not the entire country. Hence, I am really sure that it wouldn't kill them to do a little good by forgoing the shipping charges for the folks who supposedly "won" in their contest.

Needless to say, I simply forgot about getting the so-called free complimentary shower bath gels when I still have to "pay" for something. In return, they ended up sending another email urging for my mailing address so they can send me the sachet samples instead, which conveniently comes free without any shipping. In other words, they are sort of "cheating" with the tagline "free" when it isn't :(


WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Sampling activity is over.



Nivea
Nivea sample, which I belived I have redeemed from The Sampling Store


Nivea>br> Nivea In-Shower Skin Conditioner Whitening x 2 sachets @ 10ml each

Honestly, I really hate and detest the current The Sampling Store sample redemption procedure. I don't even know if there's any more free samples left to redeemed. The old platform was easier and relatively simply to look at and understand. The current platform is more like a "Request" and/or "Redeem" button that you click on that doesn't let you know if there's still samples remaining or exactly how many samples remain. It's like, for all I know, there's only that final sample left and subsequently, I didn't know there are at least X amount of people logged in at the same time as me and all of us clicked that horrid button at the same time. How ah?

And besides, the not-so-clear "Fully Redeemed" button at the top left of the image is so easily over-looked that it may take a few pages until the person trying to redeem the sample finally sees it and realized "Wow! Waste of my time requesting so many things only to realize there's nothing left because it's fully redeemed"..


WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: I believed it's also fully redeemed since they had so many fully redeemed samples. They should at least remove images for samples fully redeemed to save us the grief from thinking there's something left only to find out nothing is left. Or at the very least, slap the "Fully Redeemed" image right across the product itself, which will make seeing it even clearer.



Physiogel
I got to know about this sampling activity on Facebook.


Physiogel
Physiogel Hypoallergenic Calming Relief Gentle Cream Cleanser @ 10ml
Physiogel Hypoallergenic Calming Relief Face Cream @ 5ml


Physiogel
Pamphlet detailing various Physiogel products in it's range and a Contest sticker thingy

Luckily, my skin doesn't get red most of the time. But when pimples are about to show up, the red spots are the tell-tale sign, so let's hope it works for me before the pimples decides to make a special appearance.


WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Go over to https://freeinmyskin.com/sg/sample.aspx and fill in the form. Wait for sample to show up in your mailbox. As the page is still working at the time of this post's release, I think the sampling activity is still on-going for now.



Why not like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PuNiaosProductReviews to be informed of latest samples I found, which is duly updated? Also includes updates to health, beauty & lifestyle tips regularly. It will definitely save you the trouble of having to hunt them down :)