VMV Hypoallergenics Red Better Flare-Up Balm

Introducing VMV's answer to crimson flare-ups, something like Avene's Skin Recovery Cream, the Red Better Flare-Up Balm. 

The Red Better line is specifically addressed to those with rosacea or hypersensitivity, but this salve can also be used as a quick fix for sudden redness. 

The product is clear and a bit gooey; a little goes a long way. It doesn't really substitute one's moisturizer, but acts more as a treatment. The ointment is quite tenacious, leaving a film on the skin until morning. 

This contains a milder form of azaleic acid, which is used to treat/calm rosacea. I find it does help with reducing and calming redness somewhat. 

Overall, ok to have on hand for skin emergencies, but for persisting, acute redness, I'd still recommend a dermatologist.

Frederick Fekkai Silky Straight Ironless Shampoo and Conditioner

Oh, Frédéric, how many dull hair days did I have to contend with as a sulky teen without your Full Volume shampoo? Fekkai introduced me to the world of specialty shampoos -- those that target certain results. Volume's yellow goo lifted my roots and infused bounce to every strand; not to mention the divine scent it imparted. 

Now that the bottles are redesigned and reformulated, and curious about sleek straight hair, I pointed my claws to the Silky Straight Ironless series (thank you 二姐, for these). 

Top view.

Product description.

Ingredients. 

The shampoo gives moisture to hair, thus reducing some stray bits. But it does not give a straightening effect that one would expect from a flat iron. The conditioner can weigh fine hair down, as it is moisturizing. Otherwise, it is an excellent conditioner for normal to dry hair types. The scent of both formulas are of a soft chemical aroma commonly smelt in salons. Overall, fairly excellent hair products, but I'd tweak the label from 'Ironless' to 'Moisturizing.'

Aknicare Lotion

At the doctor's clinic one day, I found myself sitting in front of my dermatologist and she saw a mass of breakouts on my chin. She just came back from Spain and would have me try a new product -- Aknicare Lotion.

The font looks like Greek hieroglyphics to me -- clinical with a twist. May I say, it is a Greek brand, although this pimple killer is made in Italy. 

It comes in a 25ml glass bottle. I haven't encountered this type of liquid pimple medication before, except maybe clindamycin, but that is another genre.

It comes with a plastic stopper to keep the liquid from spilling. The product can be used by replacing the stopper with the porous net it comes with.

Using the net/mesh, apply directly to breakouts or pimply areas. 

Beware, this yellowish concoction smells strongly of alcohol. In fact, a huge part of it is made of that. Do note the flammable diagram. 

Overall, this requires continuous use for effective results. I agree that it works primarily for large areas of breakouts, rather than the occasional spot (for that, Klenzit is still my bet). With about a week of nightly application, it can decrease those big pimples that are hiding under the skin waiting to surface (you can feel it) and remove them thoroughly. The solution does burn my skin a little, leaving red patches, but they are nothing that a few days of healing can't take care of. This unique lotion is quite effective and I would recommend it for people who would like a quick and sure fix for those monster pimples that sometimes decide to pop out of a large surface area.

Introduction to Aknicare. 

More info and ingredients. 

The brochure provides a comprehensive explanation on the brand's product's contents. It seems to be geared toward medical practitioners in particular. 

Ingredients list. 

Last hurrah. 

DHC After Bath Hair Treatment (Oil Type)

DHC, or Daigaku Honyaku Center, you may be surprised to know, started in Japan as a translation center. The company is more famous now for its ventures into cosmetics, vitamins, and healthy food. See the US website here for more fun facts. As it is hard to find DHC brick and mortar stores even in Asia, I chanced upon their UK website when in England and saw a discounted offer on this popular hair serum. (Thank you S, for this.)

The After Bath Hair Treatment Oil is a hair conditioning serum enriched with virgin olive oil, squalene, and shea butter. It promises to add shine and tame frizzy hair without weighing it down. The sturdy box it comes in is so beautifully done I kept it with me for quite some time to admire. The font and colors are well-coordinated, adding a dreamy quality to the packaging. The shining stars, seemingly dancing and twinkling, give off a magical effect to the overall design.

Neither did the plastic bottle allow itself to be upstaged. A pale pink lotus encapsulates the body which rounds itself up again at the bottom. I'd say this must be my favorite DHC among all its products.

The directions state to use one to two pumps of the oil and massage on clean hair (dry or damp). I personally only use this oil on the lower half of my hair. Half a pump is sufficient, as I found one full pump to be too heavy for my fine hair to handle. There is a light scent to it; nothing to fuss about.

Since I don't have time to wait for my hair to dry in the mornings, I use this mostly on wet hair. It does not feel oily or weigh my hair down as long as I am careful with the amount used. When my hair has dried, I do feel like it has an extra bounce and softness. It is also a tad shinier than when I do not use it. Sometimes it tames the frizzy strands, but most times it doesn't. It can't give the sleek-straight effect a good blowdry does. On the occasions which permitted me to, I found this best used on damp or dry hair, where the good effects were multiplied, and hair was actually less frizzy. Overall, this hair serum is a hair vitamin foremost, and a tress-defrizzer next. Hence the name -- Hair Treatment.

Peering into the box. The heavily-padded carton makes sure the item is shipped safely and arrives intact.

Soap & Glory Sit Tight Special Lower Body Firming Formula

Leave it to Soap & Glory to churn out products that combine fun and functionality. (Thank you S, for this.)

Sit Tight is a formula that addresses fatty tissue on the lower body by firming and draining them using caffeine.

It is recommended to be massaged vigorously on the thighs for a healthy dose of blood circulation.

It comes in a grey tube container with a flip-top cap. I find the product's design to be very effective in convincing that it is a serious product, at the same time the somewhat industrial style doesn't compromise Soap & Glory's feminine mark. 

The product is a form of a gel/cream that leans more toward cream. It is easy to spread on the buttocks and thighs. A few seconds after application it starts to react with the body. My skin feels like there is something simmering on it and the warm sensation the product imparted was the first I ever encountered in a body product. The warm, minty kind of feeling lingers on for a good 5~10 minutes, and is prolonged when I sit down. Given I haven't been using this every day, I can see immediate results after using this product. I can't say much about the disappearance of cellulite, but I do see that my thighs are smoother and firmer looking after application. 

It's best to let the product absorb for a few minutes before putting on undies.
 
The chemists at Soap & Glory recommend sitting down after application for more effective results.

Overall, a good product that is better than Nivea Goodbye, Cellulite! The heating sensation and immediate results make this product worth a try.

Clarins Skin Beauty Repair Concentrate

There was a time when I was battling bad breakouts because of certain toxic skincare products (Vitacreme B12, hear?). I was also stubborn enough to plough through with my own skincare "remedies," but nothing seemed to work. After some intensive research, Clarins Skin Beauty Repair Concentrate seemed to be the best bet on my skin woes at that time.

I received this tiny miracle as a generous gift (thanks S), and it is one of the best skincare products I've encountered. I've actually stuck to Clarins skincare for a good few years and found it to be effective, but strayed at one time or another because of the innumerable temptations on the beauty market. I remember how my skin felt the first time using this product. It felt softer and calmer than ever. This feeling of a product working is more pronounced when skin has been suffering for some time. 

It comes in a white 15ml glass bottle. It is surprising how little product there is, but since it is oil, I only ever use one pump for the entire face. This oil does not feel greasy as it would normally be imagined. In fact, it settles quickly on the skin and dries comfortably. While this did not cure my then skin problems, it definitely set my skin in the right direction. After visiting my dermatologist and being diagnosed with rosacea, this is one of the only two products that she retained on my skincare list.

Now, I use this twice a week as maintenance. I can really see the difference the next day when I use this product. My skin feels softer and is subtly more radiant. One complaint is that the pump lacks a "springy" quality, which can make it hard to maneuver and if I'm not careful, the oil can splatter all over when it's pushed down. This can be avoided with extra care.

Overall, this is a great staple treatment to use on any one's regimen, especially for sensitive skin. I have oily, breakout-prone skin suffering from rosacea, and this product is like a vitamin for it.