Dr. Organic: 100% Organic Aloe Vera Body Wash

i know i know… wat’s up with the purple background, right… LOL

 

 

Sometime ago, I bought this whole range on promotion!

=)  <– cheapskate smile

They have got the Body Wash (as shown here), the Deodorant & the soap bar (which I will post up later).  Berry Mii is berry busy with her new job now.  *sad puppy dog face that resembles Hush Puppies*

I read up on “Polysaccharide Rich”.  And seems that when it is used on skin, it acts like an antioxident & is a good water-binding agent.

 

 

The scent doesn’t really appeal to me.  i thought aloe vera is kind of scentless, but this has a ‘grassy’ scent.  A little like freshly cut grass but holding back on the ‘fresh’.

I also did not like the texture.  It is very… glue-like.  The shower gel is very thick & doesn’t dilute well with water.  It took me a few splashes of water & a lot of rubbing/scrubbing to get it to foam nicely.

Good thing is that it doesn’t leave my skin feel too tight or dry.  But I still need to slap on body moisturizer to make my skin feel great.

Ingredient wise, they look… okay.  Not exactly chemical-free, but I’m not THAT fussy.  I love the fact that the aloe leaf juice is ranked at the top, but then aqua is right beside it.  hmm… oh well. 

 

 

I will not be getting this next time…  unless it’s on a ridiculously cheap promotion again.

=p

Nature’s Farm: Pycnogenol (The Review)

I am such a procrastinator.  But thank you for reminding me that I should be doing an update on the Pycnogenol RX GOLD Super Strength which I have bought awhile ago (ok, not really AWHILE… actually quite some time back).

I have already finished the 2 bottles which I bought during a promotion at Nature’s Farm.  I took it regularly, one tablet a day.  After about 1 week, my bowel movements seem more regular… managed to poop everyday.  But then after a few weeks, it became irregular again, so I’m not sure if it’s the Pycnogenol or my diet that helped with the regular bowel movements before.  LOL… ok a bit gross to talk about bowels.  Let’s move on.

For the hefty price tag at SGD$323 a bottle (for regular price without promotion), I honestly do not think it had showed that much of a result.  I mean, for that kind of price, I would expect to have at least 2 of the following improvements:

1)  Soft dewy glowing skin that even babies will envy it

2)  Strong healthy eyes that won’t get tired even after watching 12 hours of tv

3)  Not have any other aged spots on my body

4)  Regular periods that are pain-free

… but sad to say, I didn’t see any visible improvements.

It could be that the 2 bottles of Pycnogenol are not enough for it to work, but come on… … … the price is heavy, so I would expect it to give me some good results even after ONE bottle, rightttttttt.  Besides, it’s RX GOLD Super Strength lehhhhh~~~~~ and it costs $323 a bottle at regular price… so it better be good.

Well, I guess the Pycnogenol has been very hyped up by advertisements & the internet, etc.  Just becuz some random French maritime pine bark extract got scrutinized by some researchers doesn’t mean that it will work for everyone.  And so wat if it has some kind of international patent… … *moody moody*… (ok, getting a bit sour here becuz I spent over 300 dollars & did not get supermodel-worthy glowing skin or have pain-free regular periods).

After I finished the 2 bottles of Pycnogenol, I had very disgruntedly decided to try out other kinds of supplements… like Aloe Vera Gel, Flaxseed Oil, Vitamin C, Cranberries, etc etc.

And you know what???  They are CHEAPER & more effective!  Plus, I can purchase like… 5 bottles of other supplements with the 300 dollars.  LOL  (sounds so cheapskate, but for a better cause)

I’m also wondering if any of you have tried this Pycnogenol as well?  If so, did it give you any results?  Or am I the only unlucky one.

So for those of you who have been curious about this product, at least now you know that it did not work for one person in this world.  Me.

*gravitates into a dark corner to emo a bit*

disturbing…
that tuff of hair looks like it’s coming out from his nostrils…

Final Update: BSY Promotion & other nonsense ramblings

Well, you already know that I am busy with year-end closing at work… nothing new there.

I have also been addicted to this online game that my bf force-installed onto my iPhone.

Omg… fans of KAW are so going to have wet dreams with this photo later…

 

 

 

And now, I have 3 weeks of late nights playing KAW (Kingdoms at War), which resulted in a mini skin breakout.  I must stop.  I must.

Regarding the BSY promo, I have already sent out most of the packages to those who have ordered.  Now it is down to the final batch.  Once I have received all the last few payments, then I will send out the soaps all at one go & that will probably be early next week.  So those of you who have already paid, please be a little patient as Berry Mii has to work in her day job & co-ordinate deliveries at the same time, so I would rather compile batch by batch & make a trip to the post office to mail all at once.  So sad, nobody wants to do self-collection.  LOL.  Except for Sheryl.  *wet kiss for you*

Since I am a person who basically has no self-discipline (i dunno who to blame for this genes, both my parents seem to be responsible people), I have decided that next year 2011 will be a special year for me.

I have decided to set some goals for myself to achieve by the end of 2011.  But first, I will need to reflect on year 2010 in order to set goals for next year.

So, people of the cyber world, Berry Mii will work on a blog post to reflect on certain events that happened in 2010 & set a New Year’s Resolution for next year.  Skincare tips may be included.

Boy: Did I read Berry Mii correctly???
Girl: A New Year’s Resolution??? IMPOSSIBLE!!!

 

…

Why even kids don’t believe me… =\   And I thought they are supposed to be gullible.

But it’s true.  I will set my resolution/s  and stick to it/them.

Bush: Stick to it?!?!?!?!  NO WAY!!!!!

 

 

…

You’ll see, Mr Bush.  I will make you so proud because I am patriotic (makes no sense for so many reasons, but it just felt so right to say it).

ohhh, say, can’t you seeeeeeee~~~
by the dawn’s early light~~~

 

 

 

 

… even Mel Gibson came to support me…
but, erm, Mel, people who are balding should not be wearing hats…

 

…

I better get started on my resolutions for next year.  Or I have a feeling I might not be able to keep them.  hahaha…. Peace.

p.s – omg I just found out that my office is on a ½ day on New Year’s Eve!  Yay yay!  This day is looking brighter already.  I want to sing to birds & fluffy forest animals now.

faa la la la laaaaaa~~~~~~!!!

 

 

 

And then… … … … …

EAT THEM FOR BREAKFAST!!!!!!!!GOD I AM SO HUNGRY RIGHT NOW!!! 

NOM NOM NOM NOM NOMMMMMMM~~~~~!!!

 

... lunch time is in another hour's time...
come on, clock.... MOVE FASTER!!!

Promotion: BSY Noni Facial Soap Bar

As mentioned in my previous blog posts, I first discovered the BSY facial soap at my bf’s house.  They were having  house gathering & at the end of the night, my face was feeling so icky that I was willing to grab just about anything to wash my face.  Usually after cleansing my face, my skin would feel so dry & tight around the mouth area PLUS the corner of my lips would keep peeling off & a few red weird bumps would appear… … BUT this soap did not do anything weird to my face.  So I continued to use this & on the 4th day, my complexion cleared.

My 1st BSY soap…
It’s a miracle!!!

…

…

So then began the search for this BSY soap, but somehow it was not being publicly marketed so I didn’t know where to get it.  Until a reader found a local store selling the BSY soap at SGD$20, but after corresponding with this lady via email, she told me that she doesn’t have a store.  Hmm.. maybe she had asked the store to put her contact alongside their office address.  But anyway, she could not really help me with my questions, so I thought of looking for other sellers.

Then another reader knew someone who sells the soap as well & got that seller to contact me.  This lady also doesn’t have a brick-and-mortar store so she also thought that it would be a good idea to sell the soaps thru Berry Mii.  And of course I suggested for her to offer it to me (or us) at a lower price.

So here it is!

The 2nd seller told me that the profit margin for this soap is already very low, so she could not really offer such a huge discount, but BETTER THAN NOTHING, right????????

Here’s the final deal and this will end on 31 Dec 2010:

First, I have to let you know that 1 bar of soap can last about 6 months.  So if you divide the cost of the soap over 6 months based on SGD$18.50, it is only like SGD$3.08 per month.  I think it freakin worth it lah.

*jumps for joy*… YIPPEEEEEE!!!

I have received some email enquiries from readers about the ingredients of the soap.  I have asked the lady but she also has limited information from the distributor, but she tried her best to find out for me.

I was told the the soap “contains Noni & is made of natural ingredients, no harmful ingredients like SLS“.  I am pretty ok with this because my ultra-sensitive skin didn’t have any negative reaction unlike other cleansers.

And that is why…. I took advantage of the 1 box promotion at SGD$105.  There are 6 bars of soap in 1 box.  So divide the cost out again, each bar of soap costs only SGD$17.50 for me.  Tee Hee!

And because 1 bar of soap can last so long, I don’t want to hold on to all the soaps or else they will be very close to expiry date.  Therefore, I am giving 1 to Gigi because she has young acne skin that is prone to oiliness.  1 to my bf so he can use it for face & body.  1 to a friend who has eczema, hoping that the soap can help her too.

…

…

*Fresh out of the oven!*

…

…

Am I bothered by the limited information on ingredients?  Honestly, I am a tiny bit curious.  Partly because I have already developed the habit of looking at a product’s ingredient list.  But on the other hand, it is scentless & gentle on my face, so at least I know that this BSY soap does not contain synthetic fragrances that can irritate my skin.  On top of that, this soap really did improve my complexion.

So, my decision is that I will still use it.

…

…

*Just rub the soap between your palm to create a rich lather then wash face with the foam!*

…

…

*individually packed with plastic cling wrap*

…

…

What is Noni & how is it good for us???

I did some research over Google & this is what it has to say about the magic of Noni.

The Noni plant has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal components which may assist the body in the restoration of healthy skin cells.  The fruit has been shown to cleanse the body & eliminate toxins, increase cellular repair and regeneration.  All these are to promote healthy skin cells!

Research has shown that its seeds are rich in linoleic acid, which is an essential fatty acid for skin hydration and health.  This is important to prevent dry skin, ease skin trauma & allows the skin to rejuvenate.  Mixing the fruit & seed together can improve skin health if you suffer from skin eruptions and rough, irritated skin.  This essential fatty acid is also vital for the healthy functioning of the body’s cell membranes, and to boost healthy nerve cells.

…

…

Here are my Before & After photos.

I am truly pleased with this soap because it delivered its results to me & I am taking out my time to introduce this soap to you because I hope that it can help you like how it helped me.  =)

But first, let’s take a trip down memory lane.  When I first started out this blog, I was plagued with cold sores & eczema + some kind of weird red rashes around my mouth area.  And yes, I was depressed for a long long long long long time.  See photo below:

SEE THOSE UGLY COLD SORES + ECZEMA + WEIRD RASH?!?!?!?!?!
Oily shiny skin…
Bumpy spots around the sides of the nose & chin…

…

…

Then I discovered natural/organic skincare & it improved my skin condition, but there were still moments when it will relapse.  Still, it was much much better than before.  See post HERE on the post about my 2 cyborg eyes.  Or you can just see photo below:

Ignore the PMS acne breakouts, you can tell my complexion cleared out by switching to natural/organic skincare.
But still has a tiny bit of skin problems left behind & sometimes will still relapse.
Not so oily & this was taken in the middle of the day without cleansing face.

…

…

Now the following photos are the results of the BSY Noni Soap.

I have kept the external conditions the same while taking these photos, such as:

–  taken by the same camera: Sony Ericsson Satio hp (sorry lah, that time I don’t have a good camera yet)

–  taken in the same room with the same lighting

–  taken after I get home from work without cleansing face

–  no photoshop or anything, photos are posted in raw form.  Anyway, my photoshop skills are crap.  LOL.  That’s why I always post photos which I find from the internet instead of making my own.  hahaha!

…

…

The following photos are all close up shots.  Ugh.

The Before photos were taken AFTER the use of natural/organic skincare, but BEFORE the use of BSY soap.

The After photos were all taken about 1 week AFTER the use of BSY soap.  You can judge the results for yourself.

Less oily on my T-zone.
Reduction in bumpy spots.
I think skin redness has gone down a little as well.
Awesome.

…

…

Yay!  Weird rash around my mouth has subsided after 1 week!
Actually the skin around that area started to peel off a little, then it slowly started to regenerate skin & now I am enjoying smooth skin.  Awesome x 2.

…

…

T-zone definitely reduced oiliness.
Lesser bumpy spots.
Another thing that improved was the reduction in blackheads!  You can’t tell from the photos because I’m not using a super duper powerful camera.  My skin started to flake slightly around my face & at first I thought that it was getting dry.  However, it doesn’t feel dry at all.  After a few days of flaking, my complexion just miraculously became better.  It seems like the soap was getting rid of dead skin.  Awesome x 3.

…

…

Awesome x 4.

…

…

Pretty amazing, huh.

Recently, I even persuaded my bf to use the soap on his back because it was full of rashes & weird red spots (i dunno what they are called).

I took a photo before he used the soap on his back, then took another photo 5 days after.  See below photos:

Can’t believe that is the same back, but it is!
Awesome x 5.

…

…

ok, it’s like 1:59am & I am super sleepy now.  Please pardon any typos or grammar mistakes because I am too tired to vet thru my own work.

To end this post, please let me know if you are interested in getting this soap & send me an email at berrymii@hotmail.com by 31 December 2010.  Please also read HERE for more information on the payment / delivery / collection / any other stuff.

And of course, a big ass Berry Mii stamp for the BSY Noni Facial Soap!

Busy Bee Busy Mii

I haven’t been updating my blog as you know… … year-end… … super busy at work.

I should be freed up after Christmas.  omg CHIRSTMAS!  I am so happy!

This post is going to be short & sweet.

First of all, thank you to those who have emailed me regarding the BSY soap.  I have gotten the promotional price from the BSY lady, but I shall post it up in my next post over this weekend.

And no, I am not the one selling it.  I am a consumer just like you.  I am just being kind-hearted & generous & offering a lower price to the world since we are buying in a larger quantity.

But who knows, if this is a lucrative business, then I might take over & do it as freelance.  Then everybody will enjoy great discounts for every purchase from Berry Mii!!!  hahahaha!!  omg just thinking about it makes me feel tired.  I can foresee a lot of work in being a seller & I am so lazy.

Secondly, a lot of you have asked how to transfer money to me.  Well, I am not running a business so I’m sorry but I can’t accept payment thru Paypal because I will be charged a fee (if I’m not wrong).

So, please kindly do an ATM transfer to me.  I have various bank accounts & bank details will be given via email after you place your orders.

If you want to suggest any other payment options, please feel free to email me about it at berrymii@hotmail.com

Lastly, I can send the products to you via registered mail but you’ll have to bear the postage charges (don’t complain or bargain ok because I have to take out my personal time to go to the posting for you & I’m not earning a single cent from you leh!!! LOL!).

I can send via normal mail, but… … … what if the mail gets lost?  Then how?  =\  hahaha.  Berry Mii cannot send you another soap as replacement because she is already a very kind person who has done everything else for free.

Another option is to meet up with me – Suntec area (during office hours), Hougang Mall (during weekends or after work) or Outram MRT (but subject to availability).  Don’t be shy / scared, I am very small & twiggy.  It might be awkward during our 1st meeting, but it will definitely not be scary.  Come on, don’t be shy.  There’s always a 1st time.  p.s – you can tell that I prefer meeting up so that I don’t have to go down to the post office.  LOL!  Ok but seriously, I don’t mind posting to you.  I do prefer meeting up though.  haha!

Final Lastly, some of you are worried that after paying, I will run away without sending the products, but seriously why would you think that???????????????? x 10000000 more ???s.

I am so hurt that people will think that I will run away with that little money.

Besides, I have a bf who can take care of me financially so I can just sponge off him.  WHY WOULD I RUN AWAY WITH JUST A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS????????  ARE YOU MAD.  hahahaha!!!

Jail time is definitely not for me.  How to take care of my complexion if I’m behind bars???????  Confirm my eczema & cold sores will come back one lor.  If you’re talking about a few billion dollars, then maybe I will run away lah.

You all very cute one lor… … can think of this kind of things.

…

Ok!  I have to get back to work.  Lunch time is almost up.

Peace.

p.s – why am I so Singlish today… must be because Christmas is coming.  Tee Hee!

Quick Update on BSY soap

Hellew!

Regarding the mysterious BSY soap, a reader – CaramelPretzels – has left a comment under that post & told me where to find the soap!  Thanks for the tip!  *BIG HUGZ*  It IS the same soap selling for SGD$20.

The other good news is another blog reader saw my blog post on the mysterious soap & she happen to know this lady who sells BSY products!!!  This lady then contacted me & we are now in the midst of discussing for a lower price.

I am so excited!  My complexion has improved leaps & bounds from that BSY soap.  I no longer feel self-conscious now.  And now, I even get to buy it at a discounted price.  This is… … … … so good.  so so good.  *wipes a happy tear away*

The internet is a marvelous creation.  It is an amazing tool.  How can this be happening.  It’s like I strike Toto twice.  LOL!

UNLIMITED CYBER POWER!!!!!
MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

 

p.s – i WILL let you know what the outcome is with that BSY lady… before Christmas, so if you’re interested, watch out for it here!  Or drop me an email at  berrymii@hotmail.com if you are interested in getting the soap, so I can place an order & we all can get a better discount.  =p

By the way, I know I told some of you that I will be posting up Before & After photos after using the BSY soap last weekend, but things happened… … like, weekend shopping & then my period came which gave me a badass cramp.  I bled so much I felt so lethargic the whole day, so I laid in bed watching TV & did not move except for food & water.

I will still be doing it!!!  Please give me a little more time & I will post it up by this week.

Peace.

Chagrin Valley Soaps (1st Order)

My 1st order from Chagrin Valley arrived a few months ago.  It consists of 3 soap bars, 3 shampoo bars & a 0.5 oz whipped shea butter.

I have read so many raving reviews on the soap & shampoo bars that I just had to try it for myself!

I used their flat rate envelopes that can carry 7 bars of soap or the equivalent.  1 bar of soap costs about SGD$11 to SGD$11.50 (inclusive of shipping costs).  It is a little pricey for a soap that melts so quickly.

Note:  The soap bars melt quicker than the shampoo bars.

On the brown paper bag, it stated that The Chagrin Valley bar is 6.2 to 7.2 oz which is quite a huge chunk.  I find it quite hard to handle in the shower, so I decided to chop it up into 4 portions.

Like I mentioned, the soap bars melt quicker & is rather soft compared to the shampoo bars.  1 portion of a soap bar can last me about 1 week, so I am guessing that 1 whole bar can probably last about 4 weeks for me.

I do like the fact that they are using organic olive oil that is cold-pressed & organic shea butter that is unrefined.  When an oil is cold-pressed, it retains all its nutrients as they are not lost thru heat.

Unrefined shea butter has high Vitamins A & E with fatty acids that can help to nourish & moisturize your skin.  It can help with the treatment of rashes, dry skin, eczema, stretch marks, wrinkles, scars, burns & even the dry frizzy ends of your hair!  Just take note that there are a lot of cosmetic grade shea butter out there that has been refined, processed & treated with chemicals, so they do not retain much of the natural properties that are good for your skin.

Virgin Unrefined Shea Butter
– photo extracted from Chagrin Valley

 

…

As I have cut 1 bar into 4 portions, I gave 1 portion to my bf for him to try out.  He has been skeptical about natural products all these while, even after I told him how my eczema & cold sores got better from using natural/organic skincare, he just seems unconvinced.

Since I have read so many reviews about how Chagrin Valley soaps can treat rashes, eczema, acne, dry skin, etc, my bf would be the perfect candidate for testing out the soaps because he has a persistent problem with his back rashes.

On to those soaps!

Coconut & Shea Soap Bar

This is the 1st soap that we tried out.

I am very very very amazed to say that in just 3 days, my bf’s rashes have reduced SIGNIFICANTLY.  I will not say that they are permanently gone, but I can tell you that it has reduced to only a few dots of rashes.  His back is practically this   |—-|  close to being smooth!  Amazing.  Truely amazing.  We never expected the results to be so fast, so we did not take notice of the rashes until I realized that my bf did not ask me to help him to apply the rashes cream.  So I pointed it out & he was actually surprised that his back does not itch anymore.

As for myself, I do not have much of a body skin issue except for dry skin, but I have been applying body lotion after every shower so it is hard for me to tell if there is any improvement in that area.  Still, I do have some ugly tiny spots on my chest.  If I use my fingernail to pick at them, whiteheads will come off.  =\  Gross, right.

After using this coconut soap, even my unsightly whiteheads have gone away after a week.  And I mean, completely gone.  I no longer have to be self-conscious whenever I wear a lower-cut top & constantly wondering if my whiteheads are peeking out, saying hello to everyone.

This soap is scentless & really really soft as it melts quickly in the shower.  It lathers gently, rinses off quickly & leaves behind a waxy kind of film, but my bf identifies that feeling as ‘squeeky clean’.  I just know that it is not one of my favorite feeling.

I tried using this Coconut Cream & Shea soap bar on my face, but it seems a little too dry so I stopped.  And as it was too dry for my face, I did not bother to try it on my hair.

But among the 3 soap bars, this one cleared up my bf’s back rashes the quickest!  Same for the gross whiteheads on my chest.

So I am torn between the waxy film feeling & the quick results… hmmm.

Rating:  3.5/5 (minus points for waxy feeling)

…

Cornmeal & Honey Soap Bar

I like the scent of this bar a lot!  I can’t describe it, but looking at its ingredient list, I would guess that it is the rosemary & lemongrass that dominates the scent?

This is a very exfoliating bar with finely ground cornmeal.  I rub the soap directly on my body & it is really very scrubby, so I paid more attention to those hard rough areas like the soles of my feet, elbows & knees.

I used this right after I finished the Coconut & Shea soap & I can feel the strong difference!  This Cornmeal & Honey soap lathers more than the Coconut & Shea.  It rinses off with a smooth moisturizing feel.  No waxy film.  I love it!

I tried to be brave & washed my face with the soap, and yes, it is a little too painful if you use it directly on the skin.  So I tried to rub it between my palms first to create a lather.  It feels nice, but I still will not use this that often on my face as it is still a little drying.  What’s up with my dry U-zone, right???

It also helps to get rid of the chest whiteheads but not as quickly as the Coconut & Shea.  Hmmmm.

Rating:  4/5 (plus points for its moisturizing feel & might still buy this in future)

…

Shea Rose Clay Soap Bar

As this is for the face, I cut it up into even smaller potions.  I leave a tiny bar at work so I can wash my face with it before I head out to meet my friends for dinner.  I bring one in my handbag for just in case.

I like the gentle scent of rose on this bar.

This Shea Rose Clay is listed as one of the complexion soap bars from Chagrin Valley.   So I used this on my face & on some days, I think it cleanses just nice, but on certain days when my face feels super duper dry, I felt that it was a tiny bit drying around my mouth area, but I’ll just apply 1 drop of rosehip oil & it’ll still be ok.

In the end, I ended up using this as a body soap & it leaves me feeling all girlish & smooth.  I like the texture of this soap.  Very smooth & slippery.  LOL.

Rating:  3.5/5

…

Nettle Shampoo Bar

I don’t know how to describe this scent.  I think it’s a combination of Nettle & Rosemary???  The first whiff left me feeling so confused, but then it grew on me after a while & now I kind of like it.

The only thing is I have to get used to that odd feeling of using a bar on my hair.  It is rather difficult to work this bar into a foamy lather.  What I do is rub the soap on my palm to get as much foam as possible, then massage the foam onto my scalp.  A little too troublesome for me.

After I rinse off the foam, my hair feels dry.  I could not even run my fingers thru my long hair.  It felt like I desperately need conditioner.

HOWEVER, I do not use a conditioner because the whole point of using the shampoo bar is to get rid of the residue in your hair.  So I did that Apple Cider Vinegar rinse that people talk about on the internet, but it stinks so bad.  So so bad.  I used Bragg’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar which others claim that it is the best because it has ‘The Mother’ in it.  But it not only stink up my hair for about 3 hours, but it made the whole bathroom stinky too.

Despite the smell, I am loving the results that the Nettle bar gave me.  It made my hair light & airy & surprisingly smooth after it dries.  Even my permed curls are loving it & they twirl around my face beautifully.

But!  But if I use this bar a few days in a row, it makes my hair feel drier & drier so I tend to alternative this with the Summer Sunshine Shampoo Bar.

This Nettle bar is probably more suitable for people for limp, flat or oily hair.

Rating:  3.5/5 (minus points for dry feeling with continuous usage)

…

Summer Sunshine Shampoo Bar

This bar smells like… … … F&N Sarsi.  LOL!

This is the 2nd shampoo bar which I tried after the Nettle one.  The difference between the Summer Sunshine & Nettle is that this SS bar is more moisturizing, which is perfect when I alternate it with the Nettle bar.  And it has more foam which is great for a good scrubbing on the scalp.

When I use this SS bar alone for a continuous of a few days, my hair feels thick & full, but also a bit heavy.  Whenever I use this bar, my hair takes a longer time to dry.  The end result is that I have a head full of thick hair, but my curls are not bouncy like when I used the Nettle bar.  It weighs down my curls.

Rating: 3.5/5 (I might try another shampoo, but if I do get this again, I will still alternate it with the Nettle bar)

…

Mud & Clay Shampoo Bar

This doesn’t smell like mud at all because of all the essential oils.  BUT, it is the most soggy / mushy bar of all the 6 that I bought!

After just one usage, the whole bar becomes super soft & it really does resemble mud.  =\  I didn’t like this on my hair at all because it somehow made my hair a little too oily, but my bf loved it & said that it rinses squeaky clean.

I think the magic is in the foam.  Somehow I can never make the shampoo bars foam enough for my hair so I apply it directly on my head.  But my bf has really short hair, so he was able to rub until it was super foamy.

Rating:  2/5  (least favorite among the 3 shampoo bars)

…

Whipped Unrefined Shea Butter

A nice lavender + rose scented butter!  Sometimes I open the container just to breathe in its scent.  So so relaxing… ~~~ ahhhhh…

I saw from the Chagrin Valley website that its whipped shea butter is fluffy & soft.

looks exactly like cream!
photo extracted from Chagrin Valley

 

But when it reached me & it looks like a block of margarine.  I guess it is the changes in temperature that changed the consistency of the whipped shea butter?  *shrugs*

Even so, I think this works great on my dry body skin.  The after feel is so so so smooth & I smell wonderful, like I just got out of a Cleopatra flower bath.

The only problem is I can’t use this on my face.  It broke me out around my ultra-sensitive area which is around my lips.  Tiny pus-like zits foamed around that area whenever I applied this shea butter.  =(  *HORRORS*…

I guess it works better on my body than my face.

Rating:  2.5/5

…

I probably will still try out other soap / shampoo bars from Chagrin Valley.  So far, the soap bars are leaving a better impression than the shampoo bars.  Or maybe I just prefer shampoos that foam & are easy to apply onto the hair.

Peace.

Garden of Wisdom (Part II)

I am finally done with trying out all of the GoW products that arrived at my place early October this year.

Read Part I HERE.

I am just going to do a really really quick reviews on all these because the products did not leave a good impression with  me.  Maybe it is due to all the raving good reviews that GoW has gotten over the internet & that led my expectations to be way way up.  Then when I really tried the products, I find that it was just so-so & so I have got nothing much to say.  INSTEAD, I think I shall just tell you what I did with them in the end.

=/

…

1)      Oats, Milk & Honey Cleanser
2)      Almond Milk & Papaya Enzyme Cleanser
3)      Jen’s Green Tea & Shea Butter Cleanser

I did not like any of the cleansers.  =(  I was a little super disappointed.  They all left this waxy feeling on my face.  The Oats, Milk & Honey Cleanser left the most wax & it clogged my pores & made me broke out in tiny pus-like zits.  UGH.

In the end, my bf helped me to finish the cleansers & he did not like it as well.  He said the Jen’s Green Tea & Shea Butter Cleanser smelt the worst, like there was an overwhelming scent of gum.

…

4)      Clarifying Toner

This is mediocre for me.  Smells like vinegar.  It stung my face a little when my mouth area was flaky.  In the end, I mixed a little of this toner up in my rhassoul clay + Avene Thermal Water to use as a face mask.

I did not feel any great love for this toner.

…

5)      Strawberry Hydrating Mist
6)      Honey Hydrating Mist
7)      Promegranate Hydrating Mist

Nothing fantastic on the hydrating mists either.  They smelt really really great, but I didn’t like the slightly sticky feeling it left on my face.  Maybe the stickiness was supposed to be some sort of hydrating film, but… it just made my face feels uncomfy!!!

Am I being too picky?????  But but but, that sticky feeling on my face… … it made me feel like my face wasn’t clean.  I don’t know what is wrong!

I REALLY TRIED TO LIKE THE PRODUCTS!!!  I REALLY TRIED MY BEST!!!!  I REALLY DID GIVE SOME TIME FOR MYSELF TO ADJUST TO THE NEW PRODUCTS!!!!  I… I… DON’T KNOW WHY EVEN THE HYDRATING MISTS WERE NOT WORKING FOR ME… … I… I…

GOMENASAI!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Anyway, I ended up using them to mix into my rhassoul clay mask as well.  I swear that clay can solve all my problems without me seeing any unused products go to waste.  It’s like, “oh this does not feel good on my face“… *mix with rhassoul clay*… “oh this is too rich & breaks me out in zits“… *mix with rhassoul clay*…

And when I mix them with rhassoul clay, it works fine.  SO SO STRANGE.

…

8)      Mandelic Acid 5% without alcohol & without seaweed

This is supposed to refine my pores & complexion, but it does not seem to do anything great after 1 month so now it is lying alone in my cupboard.  This is probably the only thing I cannot mix with rhassoul clay, so if anyone is interested, I can give this away for free, just drop me an email.  I paid US$6.25 for this.  Click HERE if you need more product information on this Mandelic Acid.

…

9)      Concord Grape Serum
10)    Camelia Oil
11)    Argan Oil
12)    Emu Butter

I usually mix 2 drops of oil/butter on my palm + 1 drop of that serum.  But somehow my face doesn’t like it & it gave me clogged pores + blackheads, so I have ended up using this as a body moisturizer AND MY BODY LOVES IT.

For my body, I mix 5 or 6 drops of oil/butter on my palm + 2 drops of serum to rub on each portion of my legs or arms or tummy or butt and my skin drinks it all up nicely & keeps my body soft under the cold harsh air-conditioning at work.

The Camelia Oil feels the lightest & absorbs quickly.  The Argan Oil is a little more moisturizing.  And the Emu Butter is just plain weird & is my least favourite.  I’ve seen Emu Oil before & it is a translucent slightly yellow color, but this Emu Butter is white.  And its texture feels more like Hazeline Snow rather than butter.

I remember my mother used to put Hazeline Snow in the fridge & it is so cooling when you apply it on your face.  But I would think that Emu Butter should be more like… … shea butter + emu oil???  I dunno.  Maybe it’s just my own thinking, but it will be great if the Emu Butter is in that combination, right?

…

13)    Minty Fruity Meow Meow Facial Lotion

This lotion is okay, but maybe a little too light for me because I have really really dry flaky skin around the U-zone.  So if you are not allergic to mint & you’re interested to try this out, I can give it out for free.  I paid US$5.90 for this.  Click HERE to view more information on this facial lotion.

…

14)    Put Da Lime in Da Coconut Cream After Bath Conditioner

FINALLY, we have come to the one & only GoW product that I absolutely LOVE!!!  Initially, I felt that I was more of a body-lotion kind of person, you know like… Cream vs Oil, I would prefer cream.  I did not like rubbing myself with the body oil after my shower.  But I have to say that I grew to love it.  It moisturizes my whole entire body without giving me clogged pores & the fine lines on my legs have become so so so so so minimal.  It also absorbs quickly, so I do not have to remain in a standing position for a long time.  haha…

As I’m a person who is very attracted to pleasant scents, this bath oil probably gained  more mental points with me.  When I read that there is lime + coconut in this after-bath oil, I was feeling really doubtful because I never liked the smell of coconuts.  But it turned out to be DELICIOUS!!!  It smells like I’m in the tropics & I can almost hear the hawaiian music play at the back of my head.

CAN YOU SMELL THE HAWAII ON ME?!?!?!?!
*sniffs her own pits*

 

I never knew it could smell so HEAVENLY!!!!  (referring to the lime + coconut scent, not her pits).

…

To sum it all up, will I buy GoW finished products again???  Err… no.

But will I buy their raw ingredients (eg: shea butter / essential oils / carrier oils)???  Maybe, if I cannot find any cheaper source in Singapore.

Why are there so many raving reviews over the internet for GoW???  Well, I guess it works on *ang moh (caucasian) skin better?  Maybe my face cannot take too many products at the same time???  I don’t know the answer for sure.  But I will keep trying to find my HG (Holy Grail) of skincare one day.

Peace & have a good weekend.

DIY Facial Mask – Moroccan Rhassoul Clay

I read that Moroccan Rhassoul Clay can be used as a soap, shampoo, facial  mask & skin conditioner.  But so far, I have only used this to DIY my own facial mask.

This red clay contains a higher percentage of silica, magnesium, potassium & calcium than other clays so even the finest spas currently utilize it for its therapeutic benefits.  This means that I am giving myself a great nourishing facial each time I use this clay.  =D !!!!!!!

I bought mine from Milagro Trading, previously known as Whoopee Kiddies.  You can read more about it on their website.

There were even studies done on this clay that shows it is effective in reducing dryness, improving skin clarity / elasticity & even removing oils.

AMAZING!

Plus it’s not expensive either.  I got the 1 oz jar (as shown in photo below) for only SGD$5.50 and it can surprisingly last quite a long time.

The first few times I made my rhassoul clay mask, I used Chamomile Roman Hydrosol to mix with the clay as I was having dry flaky eczema skin at that time.

The very 1st time I mix my own clay mask, I did not know how much clay to use & how much hydrosol to mix it with.  I got a little over-enthusiastic & used 1 tablespoon of clay then added hydrosol until it formed an almost watery texture.  There was so much facial mask that it was more than enough for my face, neck & chest!!!  Oh well, this clay can be used as a body mask anyway.

After a few more tries, I managed to get the right amount which is 1 to 2 teaspoons (depending how thick I want the mask to be).  Then I add hydrosol to a smooth thick consistency (as shown below photo).

And this is how Berry Mii does it:

1)  Wash my face with cleanser, but I add a little baking soda in that cleanser so it turns into a mild scrub.

2)  Mix my clay mask & let it sit.

3)  Steam my face for 5 mins with a towel over my head.

4)  Pat dry & apply the clay mask.

5)  Leave it on for about 10 to 30mins, depending on what kind of mask I make.  If it is clay + honey, then I will leave it on for longer as it is more moisturizing.   

Point to note: when the clay mask dries up on your face, it can get very tight.  People with dry skin should avoid leaving it on for too long.  You can turn it into a moisturizing mask instead by adding honey like what I do.

6)  Time’s up.  I pat my face with warm water.  As the mask softens, I do a little face massage & it is quite exfoliating as well because the clay bits will scrub my skin.

7)  Rinse off with cold water to close pores & tighten skin.

The result is clear bright skin.  No joke.  The result is instantaneous.  The bumpy whiteheads on my temples are immediately smoothen out.  Blackheads & enlarged pores are visibly lesser.

I. IS. AMAZED!

 

 

Now that I am more confident about mixing my own clay mask, I add other stuffs into it as well like honey / essential oils / serums / green tea / apple cider vinegar / raw fruits or vegetables.  It really depends what my skin needs at that time & I love experimenting!

But so far my HG (Holy Grail) at this moment is Rhassoul Clay + Manuka Honey + a dash of cinnamon.  Remember I had the 2 cyborg eyes (huge red acne) on my face?  I did a little research on Google & decided to make this mask combination for myself.

Holy Moly, it is fabulous.  I love it.  It is deep cleansing, but so moisturizing at the same time.  It left my face feeling so so smooth & clear.

Of course it did not get rid of the 2 cyborg eyes immediately, but I dare say the mask calmed them down a lot.  On top of that I dab on some manuka honey & leave it on for like an hour (or even the whole night if you like) before washing it off.  It has amazing HEALING powers!!!  The honey managed to smooth out the acne spots & reduce the red hot inflammation.

Hmmm… my bf has this gigantic acne on his right armpit that he has been complaining about for a few days.  People get acne in all the weird places!  LOLOLOL!!!

He is so unwilling to try DIY stuff, but I think I should go Operation Armpit Attack on him & force slap some of my DIY acne formula (manuka honey + cinnamon) tonight.  For a week.  Yes, a week because that damn thing is SO HUGE like the size of my thumb.  SERIOUS!

My 2 cyborg eyes took about 3 days of manuka love to cure them.  So his should need treatment for a week or so.

Maybe give that armpit a little spa love as well & apply some of the rhassoul clay.

Everything feels so wrong, but right at the same time.

Ok, now I am excited for some strange reason.

Berry Mii stamp of approval for the Moroccan Rhassoul Clay!

Simmons PawPaw Salve

Previously, I had mentioned about getting the Simmons Pawpaw Salve HERE.  And as I mentioned, shipping cost from Australia is ridiculous!  But after many days of persistent research (i hate research), I found a local seller & ordered it online.

They have other brands of Pawpaw ointments, but I decided to go ahead with the Simmons Paw Paw Salve because I saw that it contains 51 mg/g of fresh fermented pawpaw.

wait a minute, how can fermented be fresh? hmmm...

It has the highest amount of fermented pawpaw & contains no petrochemicals.

I paid SGD$8.50 (includes shipping cost) for a 25g tube of Simmons Paw Paw Salve.

Pawpaw is actually papaya & my family loves eating it.  It is a delicious fruit that has antioxidants which can help boost our immune system with Vitamin C.  However, if you are allergic to latex then you should be aware that the unripe papaya contains latex fluid.

The pawpaw ointment can be used for boils, bruises, minor burns, pimples, eczema (yes!), dry skin, heat rash, insect bites & itchy mosquito bites.  Some websites even state that it can treat ringworm, whitlow & open injuries.  Nursing mothers can use it for dry cracked nipples (oh god that must be painful) while breast-feeding their newborns.  You can even use the ointment on babies to prevent diaper rash or treat it.

The Simmons Pawpaw Salve is a very thick hard balm.  I find that I need to exert some force to squeeze it out of the tube, or maybe it’s just my weak twiggy fingers.

If you play with it between your fingertips, it appears quite sticky.  But why would anyone want to play with it, right?  I dunno.  Just thought it would be fun.

I bought it because I wanted something to soothe my eczema that appears as a flaky patch at the corner of my lips, but I hardly find it useful.  It did provide some comfort with the dryness, but the eczema is still there & sometimes, it gave me a small zit.  And other times, it appears to have developed some bumps over that area.  =\   When I stopped applying the ointment, the bumps went away.  I think the bumps were rashes, but I thought this product is supposed to treat rashes & not create them?

I also tried it on my bf’s heat rash on his back, but no improvement after a week.

I applied it on my zits as well & while they did not go away, I think the paw paw made it easier for me to pop it.  hahaha… ok, I shouldn’t have done that.

However, I find that it works extremely well as a lip balm!  I was suffering from the worst kind of dry cracked lips from the cold air-conditioning in the office.  It was so dry that it was peeling off my lips & it was so unsightly that I tore out the flabby skin & it results in some bleeding.  (-_-)  Anyway, I cannot put on any other lip balms because that would probably activate my cold sores & no amount of water binging could take the dryness away.  Out of desperation, I took out the Simmons Pawpaw Salve & applied sparingly over my lips (trying to avoid touching my skin in case the bumps & zits came back).  By the end of the day, it was no longer chapping, cracking or flaking and my lips are happy, soft & smooth once again.  Just 1 application is all it takes & it lasts with not much need to reapply the pawpaw unless I wash my mouth.

I also tried to rub the pawpaw on my hands, feet & other dry areas like neck.  It works great as a protective moisturizer if you can ignore the slight stickiness, but it will sink into your  skin after a while. And because it does not smell girlish, I stuck to my Jurlique hand cream which I have reviewed HERE.

I have no idea why the ointment did not work as well as it should for my skin as zits & bumps appeared each time I used it.

Ingredients:
fermented pawpaw (carica papaya), water, Rhus Succedanea wax (Japan Wax Tree), glycerine, canola oil, hydrogenated castor oil, beeswax, corn starch

Everything looks ok.

So at first, I thought it would be that my skin reacts to the wax.  But upon further research on the internet, I realized that it could be the corn starch that caused those bumps on my skin.

Paula Begoun says “Starch obtained from corn and sometimes used as an absorbent in cosmetics instead of talc. However, when cornstarch becomes moist, it can promote fungal and bacterial growth.”

That is what I managed to find out.  It could still be the wax as people can be allergic to it.  Maybe it is the cornstarch reacting in our humid weather after I applied it on my skin.  I wouldn’t know for sure at this point.

But for it’s amazing performance as a lip balm, it deserves a Berry Mii stamp.