Review: Borghese Fango Active Mud

Ever wonder why people slops on mud on their face and body? Well, known for its numerous benefits, mud mask is one of the luxurious pampering and inexpensive (some) method to get that nice skin! I've got the change to use Borghese Fango Active Mud when it was on sale one day. So I said to myself, why not? It can be use on face and even on body!

These are the pros commonly when mud mask came to thought:

1. Nutrients.
Natural mud masks contains nutrients and minerals that is used by our skin to maintain a healthy cell. In addition, mud also has the property to detox! Isn't it great to be able to remove those bad toxins away from the body as we feed our skin with these natural minerals and nutrients?

2. Skin tightening.
If you have trouble with pores, mud can help to minimize it. How? As it dries on the skin, it tighten the skin as well as removing oil and impurities. Followed by toner and moisturizer steps later, the skin will be able to absorb the product better.

3. Cleansing.
It is able to do a deep clean the pores because it has the property of absorbing impurities and oil. A whole day of make up and exposing ourselves to the pollution around us, there's definitely a lot of build up. Cleansing with mud as it draws up all the toxins within the pores will also help to reduce blemishes which are mainly caused by the build up of excess sebum.

So with all that benefits said, let's talk about this particular product. What are my thoughts on it after trying it on few times.

The jar looks cute (and heavy - depending on what size you bought it at) . There's a 212ml and 430ml version. The one I got was the 212ml one. What lures me to buy it was because of the sale! It was less than RM20!

What I like about it was that it's able to use for face and body. My body needs some pampering too. But when I open the jar, there is a smell that I don't like. The smell of natural mud. It smells too... green. Well, given the benefit of doubt, it smell natural.

The texture is soft. like mud, but you're able to dig into the jar and scoop up the "paste" of mud and apply it to the face/body. To use, after cleansing the face/body, pat dry then apply it on to the desired area. I went all over my face, leaving the eyes and mouth area just like how other apply on mask would be. I also apply it on my neck till the shoulder. I didn't go all over my body. Wait for it to dry for about 15 minutes. You'll start noticing the color changes to lighter, drier texture. Some may experience irritation; wash it off immediately and do not use on broken skin.

After that, wash off the mask. I like to exfoliate my skin while washing it off. Bear in mind, it's a little messy when cleaning it off. Wash your face thoroughly to make sure you're able to remove the mud completely. After cleaning it off, apply on toner and moisturizer for better absorption of the product to keep the skin moisturized.

Overall after the application, my skin feels softer. Not sure if my pores are tighten as I don't have sample of big pores to compare to.


Summary:

Effectiveness: Yes! (3/5)
Price: Fair.... (3/5)
Re-purchase: Maybe no...

Review: RapidLash

I have always been annoyed with my lashes and brows. They're short and sparse. I would have to put on eyeliner and eyebrow make up on every time I walk out of the house, otherwise I felt like I don't have any eyebrow on. In fact, it actually made me look pale.

I never knew about eyelash serum until my make up artist suggested me about it. She too has the same problem as me but it got better after applying it over time.

Obviously the quickest way would be going through eyebrow embroidery and eyelash extensions. But I'm just worried that it might not look natural and they are quite costly for one transaction even though the result may last for weeks or months maybe.

I went to cosmetic shop and was recommended to try this brand, RapidLash.

Besides eyelash, it can also be applied on to eyebrow! I am so happy with it because it's 2 in 1. Kinda solved my problems of both. It was priced RM 13x .. I forgot the exact number.

Application is very simple. Just apply to eye waterline just like how you would apply eyeliner for eyebrow, just apply over it. Only apply on evening before bedtime. If you have missed it on the night, just apply on the next night. Don't have to apply it the next morning.

It lasted me for 3 months.

First time application

After 3 months

My eyelashes and eyebrow indeed got darker and slightly longer.

It isn't as rapid as it says obviously you don't expect instant result right on the next day. It takes some time. My lower lash did grew more too. I'm satisfied!

Summary:

Effectiveness: Yes! (4/5)
Price: Fair.... (3/5)
Re-purchase: Yes!... (5/5)

Review: Laneige water sleeping mask

A little profile before I start my product review; I have always sleep late - A little googling will tell you that having not enough sleep will result you with dull skin. As an office worker, I'm always under the cool - sometimes too cold air conditioned. Back home, I'm sleeping with the air condition too. So I'm always exposed to cold air that will dehydrate the skin moisture.

On my lazy days, I'd like to keep my skin hydrated especially while I'm asleep! I put on the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask.

To me, sleeping mask is a work of genius! Whoever introduce this idea of mask, I LOVE YOU!!

See, I have been using sheet mask before I was introduced to sleeping mask. I almost ALWAYS fall asleep while having it on. That's probably because I always put them on at night before bed time. So my excuse was, "It's alright, just let my skin absorb fully all the serum from the mask while I was asleep. That way I can even make full use of the mask!"

WRONG!!!

I was told by my beautician that we should not leave sheet mask longer than the prescribed time. "Why? The mask still has its serum and it's such a waste to throw them away while it's still wet!", the question marks on my head were popping one after another after I heard the warning.

The reason was that, when the mask was wet and your face is dry, your face is absorbing the serum from the sheet mask. That is how we want it to be. After we left it for 15-30 minutes(the normal prescribed time), your skin has fully absorbed all the needed moisture or serum from the mask. You should remove the mask by now. If you leave it longer and as the sheet gets dry, it'll be its turn to absorb moisture back into the sheet. The moisture it could get from is from your skin. The sheet sounds like a moisture-drinking monster here.

Believe it or not, that was what my beautician told me.

Alright, let's get back to the product;

This product comes with a small spatula as shown in the picture above. As soon as I open the aluminum lid behind the cover, there is a tinge of fragrance. Not sure how true, but I've read elsewhere that fragrance in beauty product should be taken with cautions for people who have sensitive skin. So far for me, I didn't (I hope I wouldn't) get bad reaction from it. I actually like the scent. Apparently the scent can help to relieve stress according to the instructions and helps you to sleep better. I don't know how it would help because I still couldn't get to snooze earlier.

The texture is somewhat gel-like. I felt a little cooling sensation when applied to my face. It can also be applied to the neck area.

The application is very simple. Just take an appropriate amount(2.5cm in diameter is recommended), mark on nose tip, cheeks, forehead and chin area and enjoy the scent for about 3 seconds (Ohhmmmmm~~ Must relieve stress after a long day of work~~) 
Then gently spread over the face from inner to outer part along the skin texture.
Then go to sleep! Leave it on till the next morning and wash it off.

It says to use it once or twice a week on the instructions. But on its product explanation, it says "Every night before going to bed, apply lightly on skin and leave it on overnight without washing it off".. Someone please let me know if I should apply it once or twice or EVERY NIGHT?

Photos are captured with phone camera. Please don't mind the bad quality.

After applying, my skin does feels more hydrated, plumped and softer the next morning. I like the smoothness feeling that it leaves on my skin.

I guess the main concern about applying sleeping mask is if it is sticky and how fast does it "dries up" so that it wouldn't smudge over the pillow.

The answer is: Don't worry! It dries up after a while and it's not sticky. Yet, it still does its job and leaves you to more hydrated skin the next day!

Tips: This would be great to slop it on to the skin on a long distance flight to keep the skin hydrated.



Summary:

Effectiveness: YAY! (4/5)
Price: Uhmmmm.... (2/5)
Re-purchase: Likely (3/5)