Assalamualaikum and hi everyone!

Did anyone else see the video of Han So Hee using SKINFOOD Carrot toner pads on her live? Since her skin always looks sooo good, people were going crazy over it and dang, I have never purchased anything faster than this HAHAH. I was actually thinking of getting myself a toner pad, but still haven't decide between several options I shortlisted. And when I saw that this carrot toner pad is great for dry skin, the positive reviews, plus THE Han So Hee (HAHA! she's THE MAJOR influence in my decision), I was sold.

||     ABOUT THE BRAND                  

SKINFOOD was founded in South Korea back in 1957 and is a well-known brand for K-beauty lovers. This brand focuses on skincare that is based on food, as nutritious food results in healthy and beautiful skin. This is also why you can find their products being named sugar mask, egg white cleansing foam, rice toner, peach jelly soothing gel, pineapple peeling gel and so much more. It's all food! 

Btw, they also have a huge range of vegan products and most of their products are safe for us Muslims to use too! (just dont buy the sake ones, and always make sure to check the ingredients first ya)

||     CARROT CAROTENE WATER CALMING PAD                  

This toner pad is designed for people with sensitive skin that needs soothing and hydrating, and it contains B-carotene derived from natural carrot seed oil. This toner also claims that it is vegan, helps instantly cool down redness, brighten skin tone, safe for sensitive skin, dermatologically tested and against animal testing. Plus, this toner pad has won Beauty Awards for a total of 18 times as of this day.

What sets this toner pad apart from others is that it is 1.5 times thicker and can be split into half to be used as facial mask. It's like you get to enjoy the privilege of using sheet mask on your cheek daily but with a portion of the price.

There are also 2 other varieties of toner pads that you can try if you have other skin concerns:

||     THE INGREDIENTS                  

WATER, DAUCUS CAROTA SATIVA (CARROT) ROOT EXTRACT, GLYCERIN, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, BETA-GLUCAN, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, UNDARIA PINNATIFIDA EXTRACT, SODIUM HYALURONATE, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM PHYTATE, ALLANTOIN, SODIUM CITRATE, HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, MALTODEXTRIN, C12-14 PARETH-12, SACCHARIDE HYDROLYSATE, DAUCUS CAROTA SATIVA (CARROT) SEED OIL, OLEA EUROPAEA (OLIVE) FRUIT OIL, POGOSTEMON CABLIN OIL, LAVANDULA HYBRIDA OIL, SALVIA OFFICINALIS (SAGE) OIL, ARTEMISIA VULGARIS OIL, CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) PEEL OIL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN

Key ingredient:

B- Carotene - contains antioxidants, antibiotic, anti-aging

||     TEXTURE, PACKAGING, AND HOW TO USE                  

This toner pad can be used anytime, especially when you need instant soothing relief. The pad has waffle-like texture, very soft, 1.5 times thicker and it is also larger in size compared to normal toner pads. I mean it when I said this toner pad is sooo soft, it's undoubtedly the softest toner pad I've ever used. Since the size is pretty large and can be split into 2, it is more than enough for the whole face. However, I often encounter difficulty retrieving only 1 toner pad from the jar as it kinda stick to one another, so I often damage the other pads while taking 1 out 😅

them sticking up together against me hahah

The pads come in a huge, tall jar and it is the biggest jar of toner pads I own. It is a simple jar with a twist cover, and nothing special about the design but it does its job in keeping the toner moisturized and preventing it from spill. But despite it being in a huge, tall jar, the pad on the top is still very moisturized and contains a lot of essence. 

See all the juices? it's a lot!

size is huge

u split it like this

and ta-daaa~

How to use this toner:

1. With clean hands and face, split the pad into half and apply it onto cheeks or wherever your face needs soothing relief

2. leave it on for 5-10 minutes

3. Remove pad, gently wipe off your face, avoiding eyes area

4. Gently pat your face to help essence absorbed to the skin

||     MY REVIEW                  

Disclaimer - I buy the product using my own money and my reviews are of my own, not sponsored. Keep in mind that my skin type is dry and sensitive, and each product works differently, depending on your skin type.

Pros:

🥕   Very moisturizing

🥕   Absorbs well

🥕   Huge pad

🥕   Each pads contains lots of essence

🥕   1 pad is sufficient for the whole face

🥕   Can be used as face mask (just 1 pad is needed)

🥕   The pad is very soft

🥕   Full with essence

🥕   Vegan formula

🥕   Alcohol-free

🥕   Doesn't feel greasy and heavy

🥕   Doesn't sting my skin

Cons:

🔮   Didn't see my skin getting fairer as the product claims but I don't really mind

I honestly think that this toner pad is great but it would be better if it comes with its own tongs to make it easier to pick up the toner pads. This definitely helps in soothing and calming my skin but it's not the best toner pad I've tried. Regardless, I still give this one 8 out of 10.

Price and where to grab:

RM71.50 per jar (60pcs) at SKINFOOD official Shopee.

I am very excited to be a returning customer as I was too focused on new brands I forgot I always love their Black Sugar wash off mask. Should I try their Strawberry sugar mask next? 

That's all, thanks for reading!

hn

Assalamualaikum and hi everyone!

I am very excited since it has been long since I last write food review (even though food is the original reason I started this blog haha). So, my husband and I went to St Giles JB for the breakfast buffet last month to celebrate his birthday and we went again on another weekend with our friends. Our friend recommended hi tea at the same hotel at first, but we would love to try out their breakfast buffet since it has been very long since we had one, and heyy breakfast buffet in Malaysia is top tier okay!

||     THE CAFE & BUFFET          

This hotel is actually relatively new and it is located at the Mid Valley Southkey Mall in Johor Bahru. Since it is new, the ambience is of course so nice, everything is still sparkling new and in a very great condition. The breakfast starts at 630am to 1030am on weekdays and to 11am on weekends but if you are not the hotel guest, please make reservations first as they will prioritize hotel guests (details for booking are at the end of this post).

I was actually surprised at how big the dining cafe for the breakfast buffet is but more surprisingly, there were lots of people even though we came early, on WEEKDAYS! And the crowd gets bigger especially from 9am onwards. Update: we went again on weekend and as expected, the crowd is bigger compared to weekdays.

Well, well... if it isn't another toner. I am sorry but I am obsessed with toner and I really go out of my way to try new ones (except this one, this toner is not new at all!). Soon Jung toner has been the holy grail for dehydrated skin for so many years and correct me if I'm wrong but it was there since 2017!

||     ABOUT THE BRAND               

I think Etude House is a brand that needs no introduction. They were founded on December 1985 and has been going on strong ever since. This is one of the first korean skincare brands that I know, mainly because their commercials are too cute! I remember Girls' Generation being their ambassador, but my favorite commercial was still the one with Sandara Park and all Shinee members. Ah, how I miss the old times!

I think it's very hard to miss this brand especially if you go to Korea as I personally think that their shops are the easiest to recognize especially with the pink decorations outside the shop and all. Oh yeah, since this product has been on the market for so long, they also come out with new packaging recently. The one I am using is still the old packaging, and the new packaging is simpler and they even sell the refill version of this toner. I mean, I love that!

||     SOON JUNG PH 5.5 TONER               

This toner is created especially for sensitive skin, and to restore your skin condition. It contains skin-calming ingredients that heal damaged and irritated skin including Panthenol and Madecassoside, plus it has slightly acidic pH level.

It's also free from animal-derived ingredients, mineral oil, polyacrylamide, imidazolidinyl urea, triethanolamine, synthetic pigment, silicone oil, paraben, fragrance, and PEG surfactant. 

Secured packaging. You gotta remove the seal first before use.

||     THE INGREDIENTS               

WATER, PROPANEDIOL, GLYCERIN, BETAINE, PANTHENOL, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, POLYGLYCERIN-3, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, DISODIUM EDTA, CARBOMER, MADECASSOSIDE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS ROOT EXTRACT, TOCOPHEROL, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT

Key ingredients:

1. Panthenol - strengthen skin barrier and soothes dry skin

2. Madecassoside - soothes irritated skin and protect skin from external stimuli

||     TEXTURE & HOW TO USE               

This toner is a very watery toner and for these kinds of toner, I always love to use them with spray bottle. You can use your hand to apply it but since it's watery, its gonna literally goes to your elbow more than your face hahah. It is also colorless and have no scent so it's almost like water.

You can use it in various way:

1. As toner - Pour an adequate amount on your hand and pat on your skin

2. As toner or face mist - put in spray bottle and just spray it all over your face anytime it feels dehydrated

3. As sheet mask - soak cotton pad with the toner and place it on your skin for 10-15 minutes. 

I put my toners and essence in spray bottles for easy application

||     MY REVIEW               

My skin type is dry and sensitive, and for disclaimer, I bought this product using my own money and the reviews are solely my experience from using the product. Please keep in mind that all skin are different and it is best to find the review from people with same skin type as you before tying out a product.

Pros:

💧   Simple packaging

💧   No scent

💧   Does not feel heavy at all

💧   Can be used throughout day and night

💧   Hydrating

💧   Does not feel heavy when use before makeup and sunscreen

💧   Does not cause my skin to breakout

💧   Does not clog my skin

💧   Really helped to get rid of my skin flakes due to being dehydrated

💧   Very minimal ingredients

💧   Great for dehydrated skin, especially when used with Soon Jung emulsions

Cons:

None so far!

Price and where to grab?

RM 50 for 200ml but I got it for RM37.00 for from Marshear Beauty!

I am looking forward to try their Cica version next time. 

That's all, thanks for reading!

hn

Have you guys ever heard of lip milk? I don't! The lip products that I know includes lip balm, lip mask, lip gloss, but not lip milk. So, I was very excited to try this product as I love lip care products as much as I love skincare products. For me, healthy lips are just like halthy skin - the smoother the lips, the better the makeup application, and we can all agree that crusty lips won't only make the whole makeup look bad, the lips bleed easily too. 

JUNOCO has just launched their lip milk, a 2-in-1 lip product that promotes to nourish, soften and brighten your lips. As you guys know, I tried their Clean 10 Balm and I love it so much (click HERE to read the post). So naturally, I am curious about this lip milk and after going through the ingredient list, I decided to give it a try!

||     ABOUT THE BRAND          

JUNOCO is founded by Kyle Jiang who grew up exposed to the beauty industry and since he witnessed wasteful consumption, careless formulations and standardized models, he decided to join force with a beauty start-up veteran, Mira Torres, and create JUNOCO. If you go through the background of the brand, you will see that they highlight sustainability, minimal ingredients and also real skin campaign.

JUNOCO originated from South California and it is one of the few brands that I love that does not originate from SoKor as their ingredients are simple yet effective. You should definitely check them out!

||     JUNOCO LIP MILK          

This lip milk is the new addition to JUNOCO product range and it boasts a unique formula, different from traditional lip balms. It can be used both day and night, serving as quick fix for your chapped lips and as prep for a very smooth lipstick application, or as an intensive overnight lip mask. 

It also claims to provide hydration without the sticky and greasy feel. It has the consistency where it looks thick but its not, white in color and has tiny pink beads. The pink beads are actually the Jojoba Oil and will melt to the lips when applied. 

It also comes in a tube packaging and easy to apply with the ceramic applicator. I must say I was surprised when I first applied this product as the applicator makes my lips feel cool and it really does make the lip milk easier to apply. If they launch eye cream in the future, I hope they use the same applicator as this is absolutely divine if used under the eye!

||     INGREDIENTS          

Water, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diisostearyl Malate, Sorbitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Dextrin Palmitate/Ethylhexanoate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Polysorbate 60, Arachidyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Phytate, Malpighia Punicifolia (Acerola) Fruit Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Glucose, Arginine, Carbomer, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil

Muslims friends, worry not. Aside from JUNOCO being a vegan brand, Both Arachidyl and Behenyl Alcohol are listed in list of ingredients that is exempted from mandatory halal certified as it does not contain haram materials and not in contact with it. You can click HERE for the list provided by the Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs. 

Key Ingredients:

1. Squalane - Softens and smoothens skin, supports natural skin barrier

2. Jojoba seed oil - hydrates, nourishes, and provides antioxidant protection to the lips

3. Acerola Cherry Extract - rich source of antioxidants & polysaccharides for hydrating

4. Vitamin C - brightens, fades hyperpigmentation, boost collagen production

||     TEXTURE & HOW TO USE          

I was expecting it to be a little greasy but trust me, it's not greasy at all. In fact, this is the lightest lip mask I have ever used. Its texture is actually closer to lightweight water-based moisturizer.

see the pink beads?

after application

As mentioned earlier, his lip milk has a dual purpose which are as lip treatment and lip mask and can be used throughout day and night. Here's how:

Use as hydrating lip treatment / lip prep before using lipstick:

1. Make sure your lips are clean (wipe / cleanse your lip first)

2. Apply thin layer and done!

credit: JUNOCO website

Use as Lip Mask at night:

1. Apply generous amount all over lips

2. Firmly press beads onto lips

3. Leave on for 5-10 minutes and wipe, or leave it on overnight

||     MY REVIEW          

Disclaimer: JUNOCO reached out to me to send their PR in exchange for a blog post but all of these reviews are of my own opinion and experience from using the product. 

Pros:

🍒   Simple packaging

🍒   Ceramic applicator makes it easy to apply & cool on lips (love, love, love it!)

🍒   Size is small enough to fit in bag and bring everywhere

🍒   Surprisingly, super lightweight. Just like applying milk to your lips

🍒   Not greasy at all

🍒   Very moisturizing

🍒   No funny scent (scent is very, very light)

🍒   Really does its job 

🍒   Can be used day and night (don't need 2 separate products)

🍒   Makes lipstick application smooth

Cons:

🥛   *can't think of any. this is my new favorite lip product!

love the applicator!

cute pink beads

In addition to having dry skin, I also have dry lips that needs constant hydration. I use lip mask at night and the brands I've tried so far are waaaayyy thicker than this but surprisingly, this works just as good if not better. I was pleasantly surprised at how healthy my lips look in the morning especially when I don't even apply as much as what recommended for overnight use.

Price and where to grab?
RM 77.00 for 10ml on JUNOCO Website

I think it's a steal as it's around the same price as the lip mask I used AND it can be used 24/7. I definitely recommend this lip milk for you to try!

That's all, thanks for reading!

hn