My encounter with Niacinamide happened by chance. My cousin was telling me about wanting to try a Vitamin B3 serum, I got curious and read the research and journals to see what's good about it.

Turns out it seems to be really suitable for me as it calms inflammation, redness, and promotes skin barrier function - pretty much what I think I need as I notice my skin being thinner and more sensitive over the years. It turns red very easily from temperature fluctuation, get tiny little bumps that itch if it is irritated, and what I dislike the most - gets blotchy and rashy.

The serum my cousin got is extremely expensive in my books, about USD35 for 10ml (at 13% concentration). I did some searching on iHerb not having much hopes, but I found something within my price range!!



The InstaNatural Niacinamide Serum goes for USD14.03 for 60ml. It has a concentration of 5%, which is the recommended level for therapeutic effects to take place without causing too much irritation to the skin. Considering my skin is already more vulnerable, I thought a lower concentration works well for me, as 13% is an overkill, and might even cause more harm than good on my skin.



They do have a warning on the side of the bottle that if it causes any irritation, you should stop using it. But did that stop me? Hell no! In fact, the first few days I used it, it stung my face a little bit. That is when I realize it's still too strong for my face - or my face is too fragile for it. Solution? I mixed in 1-2 drops into my facial cream, mix well and applied onto my face. No more issues after that.



There's also suggested directions on the bottle. The gist is to apply it onto clean skin so maximum absorption. The serum actually absorbs pretty damn quickly so you don't have to wait forever before applying your moisturizer. Or you could do it like me, mix it with the moisturizer! Genius! BUT doing that will definitely lower the concentration of the Vitamin B3, so probably don't do it if you can tolerate the 5% concentration, and want results fast.



The serum itself is whitish in colour. Spreads and absorbs quickly. Yada yada. Nothing special about it's texture, however I'd like to highlight it has a soft lavender scent which I really enjoy. It's very soft and nothing offensive or long lasting.

Apologies as I do not have before and after photos. I can only tell you over the 2-3 months I've been using it, I noticed a slow but slight improvement in my face. It's less blotchy, less rashy, and less red in general. The good days are longer and bad days relatively shorter. I still have a long way to go though!

I can't be sure if it's just because of this B3 serum alone, or the combined effects of using the Avene Skin Recovery Cream, but I like it enough to repurchase it because I believe in it. USD14 for 60ml is a very reasonable price and I'd like to keep it in my routine until I find something better.

Definitely gonna be a repurchase item.

Oils are just like teenagers: misunderstood.

Now that the climate is a little dryer (assuming you're in a temperate region), it's time to whip out the extra nourishing stuff to pamper your skin. Well, if you sleep in an air conditioned environment, this applies to you too.

Oils are truly versatile, and probably the most misunderstood product thanks to misleading marketing in the past (where they blamed external use of oils for oily skin). You can use oils to remove makeup, massage, nourish your hair and body, and as the last step of your skin care routine to seal in all the moisture.

Not only are they a gift to people with dry skin, they might be able to help you rebalance your oily and dry skin too! Since overly oily skin is sometimes caused by dehydrated skin. I'd say it's the one product that EVERYONE can use.

Here are 5 products that are pretty popular in Japan (according to my little birdies over at @cosme), and an similar alternative (that cost less) to it because not all products are readily available worldwide.

Disclaimer: some of the links are affiliated links! 

HABA | SQUALANE | 30 ML | USD28.5

Derived from shark liver oil. Squalane is naturally present in our skin, but due to all sorts of internal and external factors, one might need a little outside help to boost it's concentration in our skin. It's absorbed quickly into the skin to restore soft skin.

VERSUS

LIFE FLOW HEALTH | PURE OLIVE SQUALANE OIL | 60 ML | USD 15.84

Derived from olive oil. Technically speaking both compounds are similar on a chemical level. If you're vegan, this plant based squalane oil might be a better option for you!

MUJI | JOJOBA OIL | 100 ML | USD 27

This purified jojoba seed oil is colourless. Since Jojoba oil is very similar to our own lipids in our skin, it penetrates our skin well and leave it hydrated and nourished.

VERSUS

NOW FOODS | ORGANIC JOJOBA OIL | 118 ML | USD 9.93

Organic jojoba seed oil. I actually tried this before! It smells a little nutty, and is somewhat thicker than sweet almond oil. My skin drinks it up and it stays supple for quite some time! Takes about 10 minutes for it to sink in, similar to almost all the other oils I've tried.

MELVITA | ARGAN OIL | 50 ML | 3500 YEN (about USD 35)

Every oil has it's time to shine, and argan oil had its 15 minutes of fame a while back when the Moroccan hair oil was hyped. But just like any other oil, it can be used on evey other part of your body. Supposedly rich in vitamin E - a good antioxidant that can lighten scars and reduce appearance of lines, if it doesn't actually lighten up your scars, you will be at least guaranteed with skin that is more elastic and soft.

p.s. I can't find any American websites selling it, so I can't get an official price. Loosely converted the currency to arrive at USD35.

VERSUS

ACURE ORGANICS | MOROCCAN ARGAN OIL | 30 ML | USD 11.05

This is also organic, but it's actually available worldwide thanks to iHerb :D And I've done the math: the per 50ML price (only USD 18+ for 50ML) is lower than Melvita's.

TRILOGY | ROSEHIP OIL | 45 ML | USD 39.90

Packed with natural vitamin A, the rosehip seed oil has been found to decrease the appearance of scars and fine lines over time. Something to do with the faster cell turn over perhaps?

VERSUS

LIFE FLO HEALTH | PURE ROSEHIP SEED OIL | 30 ML | USD 5.76

If you don't wanna spend a bomb for basically the same thing, then the one from Life Flo gives you the best bang for buck. I'm on my second bottle now. Don't think I'll ever go without it. I can't say anything about reduction of scars or pigmentation, nor fine lines since I don't have them yet. But I can vouch for its lightness (using 3-4 drops for the face and neck) and how supple my skin the nexft morning. Also, I like its slight nutty aroma.

KNEIPP | BIO OIL | 100 ML | USD 19.25

Formulated with a blend of safflower oil, olive oil, and sunflower seed oil, it is fragranced with the refreshing grapefruit essential oil. Meant to be used as a massage oil, it can also be used to treat extra dry skin, as well as preventing stretch marks.

VERSUS

WELEDA | WILD ROSE BODY OIL | 100 ML | USD 19.97

This rose scented oil blend consists of jojoba seed oil, sweet almond oil, and rosehip seed oil. I picked this out of the other massage oils I've seen because of the nourishing blend of oils. Definitely "better" than safflower and sunflower seed oil, but that's just personal preference! Also, who can resist a luxurious rose scent?

Ending thoughts:
I'm a huge lover of oils. Maybe because I have dry skin to begin with, venturing into the realm of oils is a natural progression for me that isn't filled with the fear some of you might have. Most people fear oils making their skin more oily, or making them grow milia seeds on their faces. As far as I know, milia seeds grow because of some metabolic issues pertaining to the individual, which may or may not be exacerbated by the content of the oils they use. With that said, the fear is real since milia seeds can be a pain to get rid of.

Anyway, I am not the type who gets milia seeds, so there's really no stopping me in swimming in a pod of oil if I can because my skin loves it that much! They do a good enough job to moisturize my eczema patches without irritating it, so that's the peace of mind I get when using natural oils. The lesser ingredients the better!

If you've never used oils on your skin before, fall/winter is a good time to give it a try because the dryer climate will make things less messy for you. Since most oils can be used everywhere, you can experiment on your body before using them on your face.

Just remember to give your skin some time to absorb stuff before laying in bed. Some where around 10-15 minutes is a good estimate I'd say! I don't know about you but I don't like the idea of smearing oils over my bed and blanket.

Image credit: @cosme, iHerb.

It was hard to pick just 5.

I'm almost running out of ideas on what I can possibly share at the moment because I haven't been using a lot of skin care lately due to the state of my skin. Also, my belief of skin care and whatever I use on my skin is starting to shift towards the natural side lately, so it's only appropriate to share the affordable and awesome products I found on iHerb with you all.

I have been a loyal iHerb shopper for several years because of their unbeatable low prices and their huge variety of supplements. Their prices are really competitive compared to local Singaporean stores, and shipping to Singapore is usually free (for orders more than USD40), it's really a no brainer for me to shop from iHerb.

On top of supplements and healthy foods, they also carry a huge selection of skin care, as well as bath and beauty products. I like that most of the products products IHerb carries are closer to nature, aka, organic and natural.

Here are 5 tried and tested products that I love.

NOW FOODS | ORGANIC JOJOBA OIL | 118 ML | USD 9.93

There is also a non organic version, but they cost the same and I prefer having a peace of mind that I'm lowering the toxic exposure to pesticides and chemicals. This jojoba oil is absorbed relatively quickly into my skin as it has a similar chemical structure as human sebum. It's very nourishing in my memory, and doesn't turn rancid easily. What matters to me is that it doesn't leave my clothes with an oily stench like some other oils do. I use this as a base for my essential oils.

NOW FOODS | SWEET ALMOND OIL | 473 ML | USD 9.93

As you may have noticed, the price of the 118ml organic jojoba oil is the same as a 473ml sweet almond oil. Since I use these oils for my body, I could use the extra volume and savings! I have tried the apricot kernel oil too, but found that to turn rancid quickly even though it's a pretty lightweight oil. It left my clothes with a stench over time that I'm not fond of. The sweet almond oil on the other hand doesn't have this problem :) Absorbs pretty quickly too, and is light weight in general. I use this all over my skin!

NOW FOODS | ORGANIC LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL | 30ML | USD 17.58

There is also a non organic version that cost a fraction of price, but I have this idea that essential oils are the essence of the flower, any herbicide or pesticide used will also be concentrated within the oils extracted. I'm not sure how true this is, but I rather play safe.

I'm also not sure if lavender oil is supposed to smell like this, it's soothing when diluted but it has a funky smell when I take a whiff straight from the bottle. I use this for anti microbial and anti inflammatory properties. Also it just smells nice :)

I also use their organic tea tree oil and peppermint oil, both of which smells legit. The peppermint oil is amazing because it has a cooling sensation on my skin! Perfect for soothing an itch!

LIFE FLO | PURE ROSEHIP SEED OIL | 30ML | USD 5.96

I've mentioned this many times before in my videos! It's a golden oil with a nutty scent, very rich and nourishing. Absorbs within 10-15 minutes. I love using it before I sleep! I just "gently" massage it onto my face and neck and let my skin soak up the goodness (if you saw my GRWM video, you'll know that I'm not really gentle at all hahaha). People tend to use this for aging skin as it's high in retinoic acid? I didn't notice any spot fading or anti aging effects (but I don't have them at the moment so.. :P). Many have commented that it's exactly the same as the Trilogy Rosehip Seed Oil, but at a fraction of its price. This product really won my heart for the unbeatable price and good quality.

AVEENO BABY | ECZEMA THERAPY MOISTURIZING CREAM | 141G | USD 11.50

Other than oils, this cream has been a saviour for my super dry skin. Aveeno products is infused with oatmeal extract, which has a soothing property on itchy and dry skin. This particular one is formulated with ceramide, so it feels extra moisturizing than their daily moisturizer. It decreases the appearance of dry skin pretty well, which is part of the reason why I enjoy using it on extremely dry spots. A little goes a long way as it's very spreadable. I tend to use this on particularly dry spots as a spot treatment.

If you're interested in trying some of the products, AND if you're new to iHerb, using the code SUG844 will give you $5 off your first purchase!!! That means the Life Flo rosehip seed oil is almost free!

So here are my top 5 skin care products I found on iHerb. Let me know if you found something you like! I always love sharing a good deal!

Welcome to my stash, I've heard a lot of great things about you.

some months ago in april, i was restocking my oils on iherb as usual when i suddenly noticed there is an additional 20% discount off my order. I'M IN LUCK! so i quickly placed an order for the real techniques brushes which i've been eyeing for a while.

real techniques was recently made available in singapore, but the price is almost twice the price of that online.. with the 20% discount, i only paid USD$14.39 for the your eyes enhanced starter kit, a whopping 56% off the retail price in watsons. (it's retailing for SGD$40, while i paid SGD18.7 after conversion!) *fist pump*

i picked up the setting brush because i wanted a small brush that can fit under my eyes perfectly. the elf complexion brush is fine but a tad too big for times when i want to set the concealer under my eyes. as for the your eyes enhanced starter set, it seems the most comprehensive and value for money since a stand alone shading brush cost USD$5.99 each.

real techniques setting brush

the name of the brushes are printed on the metallic handle of the brush. the black part is a slightly rubbery material. the brush is pretty light weight in general.

top, side, and front view of the real techniques setting brush.

the brush has an oval shape when seen from the top. you can picture that in your mind with the help of the photo right? this shape utilizes more surface area of the brush, unlike a kabuki brush where only the top part is utilized.

the brush is fluffy  but not very soft, partly due to the shorter bristle length.

the gripping power of the brush is surprising, you'd think that the smooth bristles can't pick up too much products, but i've been proven to be wrong because the amount of powders that gets picked up is pretty decent.

size comparison of the real techniques setting brush with elf studio complexion brush and powder brush.

the length of the brushes are about the same, the only difference in the size and visible bristle length. also, the ferrule of the real techniques setting brush is also much longer as compared to the elf brushes. no more loose ferrule (which happened to my elf powder brush) situations!

real techniques your eyes enhanced starter set.

a set of 5 brushes, it comes in a black foldable case for you to bring it on the go. each brush is held tightly by a black elastic, which proves to be quite an ass when i tried to put the brushes back into it.

brush cover can be transformed into a brush stand.

if you fold along the crease in the previous photo, you'll get a stand that can be held in place by a string and stopper (in the background of the photo, being blocked by the 4th brush).

real techniques deluxe crease brush, base shadow brush, accent brush, fine liner brush, and brow brush.

this set can pretty much satisfies all your eye looks, since it takes care of eyeshadow, eye lining, and your eyebrows too!

i have tried using all but the fine liner brush as it looks too thick to be considered "fine" to me.

comparison of the deluxe crease brush and base shadow brush.

as you can see, both of them differ in size and shape. the deluxe crease brush is a round brush with a dome top, while the base shadow brush is oval in shape and has a more tapered end.

since the brush density of the deluxe crease brush is higher, it's a little stiffer than the base shadow brush, making it wonderful as blending out harsh edges or to buff small sections of the skin. i tried using it under my eyes and it fits perfectly, allowing me to buff powder on my under eye area.

the base shadow brush is a lot softer and works super well in sweeping colour over my lids. i also use it for blending out harsh edges. it's kind of multi functional and i really really like this brush.

side and front view of the base shadow brush

the tapered design of the base shadow brush allows me to pick up shadow easily with the sides of the brush, which may contribute to the beautiful diffusion of colours when i apply it to my eye lids, as opposed to a concentrated spot of colours. i've been looking for an eyeshadow brush that does this forever, ever since i lost my first eyeshadow brush a decade ago. none of the current eyeshadow brushes i own is able to deliver a gentle and even wash of colour across my lids because they're all too stiff.

i've used the accent brush in applying brown eye shadow on my lower lids, as well was to highlight the inner corner of my eyes. the small size allows it to fit onto those parts precisely. it also picks up powder very efficiently. another of my favourite brush from this set.

as for the brow brush, it's dense, thick, but a little too soft for my liking. the lines it creates is too feathered. while it may be perfect for filling in the brows, i still prefer using my stiffer angled brow brush (which i converted from an old eyeliner brush) to sketch on a more definitely brow tail. i've found another use for this brush though: contouring my nose. the soft lines it creates allows me to add shadow to my nose before blending it out with another brush. if the brush is too stiff, the lines will be too dark and compact, making it harder to blend out later on. i don't want to have harsh lines on my nose!

and those are just a first impression so far because i only got to use it once or twice! do expect a full review in time to come. hopefully i would have used the fine liner brush by then to note down my thoughts about it.

if you're new to iherb, you're in luck because you can get $10 off your first purchase (must be over $40). that's 25% off your first purchase! anything below $40 and you'll get $5 off! just use the code SUG844 to shave $10 off your order! or you can click on this link to shop these products right now!

Beauty Delivery To My Doorstep This Week

i guess if you are a beauty freak like me, sigma wouldn't be foreign to you.

full disclosure: i recently joined their affliate program! as a result, i was sent a welcome package. i've always heard so much good stuff about sigma, but the price tag really stopped me from venturing into their brushes. moreover, they're made from natural hair, something i'm not very confident of maintaining. now i have a chance to try them out before deciding if i want to invest in more of their products.

read on for a 10% coupon code!

since i can't do videos yet, the next best thing to an unboxing video is an unboxing entry.


i was surprised with a splash of hot pink after i opened the black box.
speaking of inner wildness!
all the goodies are wrapped in black paper.


i was sent the sigma spa express brush cleaning glove, a set of brushes and cosmetics, and a little gift for joining the affliate program.


a closer look at the brushes and cosmetic products (from left to right):

powder blush (heavenly)
eye shadow (notre dame)
lip base (indulgent)

3DHD kabuki brush
3DHD precision brush

buff and blend E39
medium sweeper E54
eye shading E55

(this mini size brush is a beauty affliate special i think? it looks so cute!)

i did a quick swatch of the lip base and eye shadow, and i am surprised at how smooth and even the lip base is. the pinkish brown/coral/nude shade is a winner for me :)


wearing the sigma lip base in indulgent.

the eye shadow is kind of a mysterious colour to me as i do not know how to describe it just yet. once i'm able to swatch them on my skin, i will.


pray hard that my skin will heal really soon so that the swatches can be up here ASAP! currently working on some first impression blog entries which should be up in the coming weeks :D

from now till the end of september 2015, you can use the code INNOVATINGBEAUTY to get 10% off your orders!

What's a CC cream, and how is it different from BB cream?

in my very honest opinion, both BB cream and CC cream are old products with new names. in my previous entry, i explained what a BB cream is and how it differs from a foundation. a CC cream is harder to define as its formulation highly depends on the brand itself.

i wanted to link to the products to other online retailers, but i found cheaper deals on amazon.. therefore, some links are amazon affliate links!

BANILA CO it radiant CC cream SPF 30 PA++ | NATURE REPUBLIC super origin complete control cream (brightening) SPF 25 PA++ (click here for my swatch and review!)

PRIMER? MAKEUP BASE? MOISTURIZER? SUNSCREEN? TINTED MOISTURIZER?
some brands produce CC creams that are meant to be a makeup base. as such, they perform multiple functions including moisturizing, sun protection, and may or may not be tinted at all. the untinted ones are usually just to brighten up your complexion, while there are also CC creams that have enough coverage for it to be considered a light coverage foundation (with the addition of skin loving properties).

WHAT DOES CC STAND FOR?
the acronym CC seem to have no standard definition too. some says it means "colour control", while others claim it's "colour correction".

COLOUR CONTROL THAT ADAPTS TO YOUR SKINTONE?
going along the "colour control" definition, i believe it started out as a "colour control" product because of its ability to change colours upon application. of course it's just gimmicks to make you think that it actually changes colour to match your own skin tone! all they had to do is to encapsulate colour pigments within small droplets suspended within a white base. once you rub it into your skin, the droplets break apart to release the pigments, resulting in that colour change from white to skin tone.

ETUDE HOUSE correct and care CC cream (silky) SPF 30 PA++ | INNISFREE real skin CC cream SPF 30 PA++ 

as for the "changing to suit your skin" part? you can water down any foundation or BB cream that you currently have, it will easily match many different skin tones simply due to its sheerness. (i'm sorry for being such a spoiler if you don't already know this..)

WHAT ABOUT COLOUR CORRECTION?
as far as "colour correction" goes, it really is another way of saying "brightening". at least, that's what i observed from korean CC creams, which tend to give me a very subtle brightening effect. it doesn't correct any unevenness of my skin tone. sorry to break it to you, but that brightening effect is most likely due to the physical sunscreen in the product (such as zinc and titanium oxide). technically speaking, you can get the same brightening effect from a regular sunscreen.

ETUDE HOUSE magic any cushion

well, to be fair, there are some CC creams that have been tinted to either green, lavender, or pink to actually correct discoloured skin tones. then you ask me, isn't that what a makeup primer does? that's precisely my point - CC creams act just like a makeup base/primer to moisturize and protect your skin from sun damage before you layer on your foundation, with or without the added benefit of colour correction (by colour correction, i mean using colours from the opposite side of the spectrum to counteract discolorations on the skin).

information obtained from official website here and here.

IN A NUTSHELL
with all that said, it seems like the BB cream and CC cream doesn't actually have too much differences. if a BB cream is a watered down foundation, then a CC cream is a watered down BB cream.

most CC creams tend to boast their skin care benefits because they are supposed to contain more skin care ingredients as compared to BB creams. perhaps you're skin will feel more hydrated and moisturized, but don't bank too much hope on other benefits you can get from standalone skin care products.

DO YOU NEED A CC CREAM?
should you invest in a CC cream? if you fall into one of the below categories, your answer is a yes.

1. you do not currently own a sunscreen
2. you need an all in one product that will moisturize and provide sun protection before you apply your foundation
3. you skin tone is even so you don't need any coverage

otherwise, i don't think there's a need for a CC cream. unless you want it, that is. :P as always, i also suggest deciding on a product based on your needs that has to be addressed (such as uneven skin tone, pore problem, dehydrated skin etc).

if you are still confused about the BB and CC cream saga, leave me a comment so i can improve on my entry next time!