The Face Shop The Skin Extra BB Cream SPF 20 PA++

As I previously posted, this is the 2ml sample that I got from fr3b.com. =)

I chose to this sample because I have read so many raves about TFS BB Cream. It is known to have very good coverage and suits darker, yellow undertone skins, which means it will suit my skin colour. =)

The Face Shop The Skin Extra BB Cream SPF 20 PA++

Available: The Face Shop Outlets, and some blog spree sites.

Volume: -

Star Properties: Smart 3-in-1 cream the nourishes protects and correct in just one easy application.

TFS Skin Extra BB Cream, picture courtesy of fr3b.com.

Cream Colour
It is beige, like all other normal BB Cream. But I think if you have tried quite a few BB Creams, you will notice that TFS BB Cream is on the darker and browner side.

As all the other reviews have reported, this cream is indeed very well suited for darker, yellow undertone skins like mine! I don't feel like a powdered-face, Barbie doll wannabe.

Cream Texture
The texture is very good, very thin, easy to apply, and all. After application, it feels pretty much weightless, not sticky or oily. It's really super thin and wouldn't disintegrate into powder feel like SilkyGirl's one.

Fragrance
I wouldn't call it fragrant. haha. It has a very weird herb smell. And sometimes, I even think it's smelly. I can still smell the weird smell on my face after application. But of course, after a short while, it wears off.

Coverage
I think coverage is the second most important attribute of a BB Cream. This is because, if BB Cream is to be used as a makeup base + foundation + loose powder substitute, it has got to have good coverage, wouldn't oxidise, and best, some concealing properties.

And I am so glad to say that TFS BB Cream is very good in this aspect! Very good such that I have so convinced now that I should never ever use foundation ever again. Except maybe for mineral foundation.

The reason being, I have hypersensitive skin, and normal liquid foundation, powder foundation or two-way cake, make me breakout.

Healing Properties
This is the No. 1 attribute that I feel a BB Cream should have.

In the first place, BB Cream was made for patients who have undergone face peel, which is a very mild cosmetic surgery that uses laser to remove the top layers of skin, so that the perfect baby-like skin underneath can grow out.

This skin regrowth procedure is said to be able to remove scars, acne black or white marks, and of course also means that besides smoothed skin, the patient will suddenly have soft and supple skin.

And after sessions of peeling, the patient will be given BB Cream to apply day and night, fall healing and protection, as the skin after laser treatment will be hot, itchy, and weak. (IMO, something like doing a mild burn on your face.) In addition, the patient will also have to avoid the day time sun (which explains SPF in BB Creams), such as stay indoors, use umbrella etc.

And because of how amazingly BB Cream has helped patients recover from the peeling, BB Cream shot to fame in the (Korean) mass market, as something like miracle all-in-one cream for problematic skins.

Okay, anyway, that's basically the story...

As for TFS BB Cream, I do feel the healing effects. If you remember, I broke out after using the chemical sunscreen from L'oreal UV Perfect. So while I was on TFS BB Cream, I really saw my pimples being soothened over the week. I wouldn't say it is exactly a pimple cream that will give me total cure, but I am happy with the results from TFS. =)

Sensitive Skin
Last but not least, no allergic reaction! I keep reading reviews of how BB Creams clog pores, give some people breakouts and all. I am so glad TFS is fine. Just remember to use makeup remover.

Price
If I am not wrong, TFS BB Cream is around $40. Pretty high mid-range. Considering nobody dares to price BB Cream higher than BRTC's $50.

I think I will feel the pinch if I decide to get the full tube. But currently, I am still abstaining from foundation, only using loose powder. Plus, for BB Cream, though it says with SPF, one should only use about 1-cent coin amount, should be enough to spread. 5-cent if you think you have a bigger face. Thus, 1-cent coin amount each day should stretch the full tube to at least a good 3-5 months. =) This makes my heart not so painful. hahaha.

It is recommended that one refrains from using BB Cream as a substitute to sunscreen, as this would mean you are going to have to use 1/4 teaspoon of it per day. This will almost definitely lead to clogged pores. Just imagine piling on that much of liquid foundation or powder.

I love it: 4.9 hearts!

Besides the slightly steep price, I think TFS BB Cream is worth it if you are looking for a BB Cream right now, really SiCk of liquid/powder foundation, and have more tanned yellow undertone skin.

Fun With Ingredients

This is my first try at deciphering the ingredients of a cosmetic product.

I am not that into all so natural, all so organic products. I wouldn’t be too particular, even though I have really sensitive skin that is allergic to common off-the-shelf brands, such as J&J, Neutrogena, Olay, Clarasil, and Shokubutsu. I feel these brands are generally more oily and potent. Unless I know that a particular ingredient is very obviously horribly poisonous, I will not try all means and search high and low for replacements.

But I just think that this would be a fun exercise.

I am using Laneige’s Professional Makeup Remover – Refreshing Cleansing Oil (for normal to oily skin types), as my example.

Ingredients:

Pentaerythrityl tetraisostearate, C12-15 alkly benzoate, Isopropyl palmitate, Pentaerythrityl tetraethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated C6-14 olefin polymers, Peg-20 glyceryl triisostearate, dicaprylyl carbonate, Peg-8 isostearate, Betula alba Bark/leaf extract, Vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, Glyceryl linoleate, Glyceryl linolenate, Glyceryl arachidonate, Fragrance.

Pentaerythrityl tetraisostearate – Nothing wrong reported.

C12-15 alkly benzoate - an emollient ester provides light conditioning with a silky-soft after feel. Use in shampoos, body wash, lotion sprays, body mist, body oils, massage oils, lotions, and creams. Perfect for use o­n sensitive skin or in baby products. Non-toxic, non-sensitizing, non-comedogenic and odorless. It is supplied as a clear, thin, slightly oily liquid and used at a typical use level of 1-15%.

Isopropyl palmitate - a palm oil based emollient, moisturizer, thickening agent, and anti-static.

Pentaerythrityl tetraethylhexanoate - an emollient, binder, skin conditioning agent, and viscosity increasing agent. Further research reveals that it can be vegetable derived ester, and is a slightly yellowish liquid with good emulsification stability.

Hydrogenated C6-14 olefin polymers - film-forming agent, emollient, thickening and viscosity controlling agent.

Peg-20 glyceryl triisostearate - an organic compound used in skin care products to aid in stabilizing oil-in-water mixtures. It is also a skin conditioning agent that acts as a lubricant on the skin surface, which gives the skin a soft and smooth appearance.

Dicaprylyl carbonate - A soild, plant-derived fat. Sometimes referred to as the trademark name Cetiol® CC. A skin conditioner and emollient that works by providing a protective film and enhancing the skin’s lipid layer. It’s often categorized as a “dry emollient” because of its ability to moisturize the skin, making it feel soft and smooth without leaving a greasy residue behind. It has excellent spreadability, and leaves a dry, velvety feel to the skin similar to how a silicone would. Furthermore, it emulsifier easily and, has long-term emulsion stability and facilitates the application of slow spreading ingredients. For this reason, it’s often used in sunscreens containing ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, an ingredient that is notoriously difficult to spread over the skin. You can find this ingredient in various personal care products such as facial moisturizer/lotion, sunscreen, anti-aging treatment, rosacea treatment, eye cream, baby oil and cleanser.

Peg-8 isostearate – is probably a natural self-emulsifying polymer.

Betula alba Bark/leaf extract - Used as an infusion, decoction, extract and tincture. For chronic or severe skin problems, a decoction of birch bark is sometimes used as a wash or bath additive. The inner bark contains an oil which is sometimes substituted for wintergreen in liniment.

Vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil - has a fine texture and is almost odorless, light in texture and is easily absorbed by the skin. It has great emollient properties, making it an ideal skincare and cosmetic ingredient, without leaving any tacky or oily residue on the skin. It has mildly astringent qualities, which help to tighten and tone the skin, making it a good cosmetic ingredient for anti-aging products. It is a light and finely textured oil and is non-comedogenic. Grape seed contains proanthocyanidins, which are very potent antioxidants; helpful for diminishing the sun's damaging effects and lessening free radical damage. Proanthocyanidins are also helpful in wound healing.

Glyceryl linoleate – seems to be a human irritant. An emulsifier.

Glyceryl linolenate – a solvent

Glyceryl arachidonate – emulsifier

Fragrance – read that all fragrances are “wrapped” by Pthalum, a mineral oil.

Verdict: All ingredients are as of current, found to be very safe.

In fact, I think this uses more emollient, which are ingredients that makes your skin soft and smooth, than emulsifiers. I am a little bit surprised, as this is cleansing oil, and is primarily supposed to have more emulsifiers, which in this case, only appear towards the end of the list.

No wonder I find it so good! I really like the clean and soft feel on my skin after rinsing it off.

Here are my references: (I hope they are reliable enough, as I have not yet gone through each of them thoroughly.)

This looks like the Materials Safety Data Sheet that I will need for FYP. It provides straightforward scientific information about cosmetic ingredients. http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/ingredient.php?ingred06=700898&nothanks=1

This looks like a site for you to explore cosmetic ingredients, so that you can formulate you own potions.
http://www.thepersonalformulator.com/wvss/product_info.php?products_id=441

Seems like an all-rounded information site on body care and beauty, which is more user-pleasant. Looks good to visit again… …
http://www.truthinaging.com/ingredients/pentaerythrityl-tetraethylhexanoate/

This is another user-friendly site that investigates cosmetics ingredients. This site seems to have already evaluated the ingredients in all the common products. Looks like a MUST go back to read.
http://www.nvwah.com/p_shiseido_benefiance_revitalizing_cream.html

This shows some common cleansing oil ingredients.
http://mannatechscience.org/home/products/cleansing-oil

Makeup Remover

Suddenly have the mood to write on this.

My first encounter with makeup remover was 3 years ago, when I bought my first set of makeup and skin products from The Makeup Store.

Then, I already know that cleansing milk is good for removing makeup, and that it's extremely important to remove makeup thoroughly so that our pores will not be clogged, and develop bad skin.

I don't think I'll be doing my reviews in a formal fashion, feels like a robot.

My First Encounter
Deep Cleansing Milk

It appears that The Makeup Store is not selling this product anymore. I would say, it's okay only. Requires a lot of effort to remove the eyeliner and mascara, although the after feel is not bad due to the milk. I don't really like it, and my skin is slightly sensitive to it, so I totally stopped using it after 5 times. The whole tube wasted.

My Second Encounter
Rosewater Cleansing Water by Sasa Cosmetics

Absolute failure. It comes in a half water half oil mixture, so I have to shake it everytime before pouring out. Totally does not remove eye makeup, even though it reads "eye and face".

I bought it after checking out several brands, and Sasa's was the cheapest per unit volume.

My Third Encounter
Professional Makeup Remover for Normal to Oily Skin by Laneige

This comes at a hefty $63 per bottle after taking into account the exchange rate. It is recommended to me by my beautician, and as she has contact, I always get my Korean brand products directly from Korea, and flown over.

WOW! This is really unbeatable. I am still on the lookout for cheaper alternatives to it.

This cleansing oil cleans my makeup off so well. Just one press, the normal facial cleaning movements and tadaa! All the makeup is gone! All, including my super stubborn Maybelline gel eyeliner. =))) And the best part? It leaves my skin soft and smooth, no oil film at all!

The plus point of this wonder oil is that it comes in a clear bottle, so that you can see how much you've used. And also, it's press out, not squeeze out or pour out, which I really don't like.

100 golden marks to Laneige!

My Fourth Encounter
Fasio Point Eye Makeup Remover

The parts I don't like about it is that:
- it really doesn't works on wet skin at all,
- I need to pour a lot! and really soak up the cotton pad, for it to be as effective as it claims.

Other than that, the effectiveness is pretty good, and the price is very affordable too.

Click for my full review =)

My Fifth Encounter
Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil

A print screen off the ad video. Credits to Fancl.

haha, this one is funny. I got a mini sample packet from a magazine. About enough to last me 6 times. Not bad right? Just so little little bit in that pack, I can use so many times.

Yea, that shows that Fancl's new creation is good!!

It comes very, very close to Laneige. And the only drawback, and maybe critical losing point for some people, is that it leaves a film of oil on my face, and I have to use my cleansing gel to wash again. (In the first place, one SHOULD use daily facial wash to wash again after cleansing off makeup. haha. But I am still quite particular towards this point.)

But it's much cheaper than Laneige. So for people whose top priority is the price, then Fancl is the best choice.

99 marks to Fancl!

******

I'd like to link an article from My Women Stuff. It's on Kao-Biore's Cleansing Oil, as shown below:

Print Screen of Biore Cleansing Oil and description off Kao's website

Due to its launch slightly after Fancl's launch, I was tempted to buy it and try, because I know that Biore's stuff is generally cheaper. But all reviews after I googled it shows one thing - DON'T BOTHER.

Here's the review from My Women Stuff: Biore Cleansing Oil

ookie dooekie! That's all for now.

Verdict: For makeup removers and cleansing milk/oil, stick to the pricier ones. This is really one thing that is 一分钱一份货. And for sensitive skin, I think sticking to oil form is better. Milk forms tends to make me itch.

PS: I've not tried, but heard that Shu Uemera's Cleansing Oil is a cult favourite. However it's triple digits price, still not within my ability.

=)