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.
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| 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.
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| 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!
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
Heartleaf is the "trending ingredient" for skincare in Korea and one of the most popular products containing it is the Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil. It is so famous that I can't go by a day that I did not see the review on this product especially on Tiktok. As a weak human (aicehh), I am tempted to try it and I think it's a great opportunity to test it out since I have whiteheads problem that I couldn't solve for so long.
|| ABOUT THE BRAND
Anua is a vegan South Korean brand that is formulated with the organic ingredients that focuses on relaxing your skin. Keeping it simple, Anua uses minimal ingredients in their skincare range and they also highlight the importance of taking care of your lifestyle and mental health too. Besides that, they also promote sustainability in both ingredients and packaging used.
|| ANUA HEARTLEAF PORE CONTROL CLEANSING OIL
Anua Heartleaf Pore Control cleansing oil claim to have non-comedogenic formula that makes it safe to use for acne-prone skin and even sensitive skin. What makes this cleansing oil very popular is the ability to remove blackheads and whiteheads, while still be gentle on your skin.
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| pump head |
Just like other cleansing oils, this cleansing oil comes in a pump bottle and the packaging is very simple too. Even the box design is simple but chic, I really can't throw it away (hoarder issue hahah!)
|| THE INGREDIENTS
The ingredients listed is pretty simple and the packaging also states that color loss may occur depending on the storage, due to no artificial color used in the product.
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyl Avocadate, Fragrance, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Melia Azadirachta Bark Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Key ingredients:
Heartleaf extract - to prevent skin irritations
|| TEXTURE AND HOW TO USE
The texture is just the same as other cleansing oil - it is oily haha. It's not thick and quite runny, not heavy or overwhelming, colorless and its scent is like flowery and almost smells like baby oil.
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| consistency |
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| time to test it out! |
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| melts everything |
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| after wiped off, there's still some residue of the liquid eyeliner but it came off right away when I use foam cleanser afterwards |
How to use:
1. Squeeze 1 to 2 pumps to your dry hand
2. Apply to dry skin and massage in circular motions
3. Wet hands with water and continue massaging until the cleansing oil on face turns milky in color
4. Rinse with lukewarm water
5. Proceed with facial foam
|| MY REVIEW
My skin type: Dry, sensitive
Tbh, I had high expectation of this cleansing oil, but my skin broke out after first use, especially around my lips and nose. Other areas of my face were not affected, similar to when I did the patch test. It does remove my most stubborn whiteheads between my lips and chin, and since my skin didn't break out in that area, I decided to give it another try. I mean, I tried so many ways to remove those whiteheads including using nose patch, clay masks and so much more but it does not budge but one use of this cleansing oil clear them ALL away. Maybe I used it wrong or too long the first time?
Unfortunately, my skin still broke out after second and third use, even when I use it with different facial cleanser afterwards. Luckily, the pimples are tiny and pops right away, it's not obvious unless you stare at my face 😅
After scrutinizing the ingredient list and do some online research, I discovered that Ethylhexyl Palmitate, one of the ingredients, has the potential to cause clogged pores. I also learned that my facial cleanser might be too mild, failing to effectively remove the remaining cleansing oil on my skin (though this never happen with cleansing balms). With this info, I clean my face with warm water after using the cleansing oil (as instructed), pat dry my skin, and I use micellar water to wipe off my face but unfortunately, my skin still breaks up afterwards.
Pros:
🌿 Lightweight
🌿 Not bad at removing makeups (but not the best)
🌿 Does not sting my skin
🌿 Removes my whiteheads effectively
🌿 Love the packaging
Cons:
🍂 I don't fancy the scent
🍂 It clogs my pores
🍂 Not suitable to use with my facial foam
Price and where to grab?
RM 75.00 for 200ml at Shopee
I tried really hard to love this cleansing oil but it ruined specific areas of my skin especially around the lips area. So nope, not gonna use this anymore.
Till then, thank you so much for reading!
hn
|| ABOUT THE BRAND
|| BENTON FERMENTATION EYE CREAM
|| INGREDIENTS
Galactomyces Fermented Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Collagen FermentedFiltrate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetylethylhexanoate, Queensland (Macadamia) Nut Oil, Purified Qater, 1 ,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Oliveate, Pentylene Glycol, Bifida Fermented Lysate, Ceramide NP, Sorbitan Olivate, Sorbitan Stearate, Propanediol, Betaine, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Vera Leaf Extract, Althea Rosea Root Extract, Beta-Glucan, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-11, Hexapeptide-9, Tripeptide-1, Allantoin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Isopentyldiol, Arginine, Sucrose Palmitate, Sodium Surfactin, Adenosine, Caprylyl Glycol, Grapefruit Extract, Tocopherol, Schisandra Chinensis Extract, Perilla Leaf Extract, Calamus Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
- Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate - enhances skin elasticity
- Bifida Ferment Lysate - for hydration and elasticity
- Ceramide NP - reinforce the skin barrier and prevent trans epidermal water loss
|| TEXTURE & HOW TO USE
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| tried to squeeze it & make zig-zag pattern but it's thick & refused to cooperate for the sake of the picture. hahah! |
|| MY REVIEW
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| expiry date stamped on the tube |
