Banila Co - Clean It ZERO Radiance

You may have heard on the awesomeness of this product... Banila Co - Clean It Zero! There are four variants under this category;

• Clean it Zero Classic in Pink
• Clean it Zero Radiance in Silver
• Clean it Zero Purity in Cyan
• Clean it Zero Resveratol in Green 

See picture below

I choose to buy Radiance variant because of my personal preference.
What is this product?
Banila Co Clean it Zero is "a sherbet form cleansing balm". It cleanses stubborn make-up, dirts, and oil without drying your skin and without leaving any greasy residue.
It comes in 100ml plastic tub that looks like frosted glass. The classic one comes also in 180ml limited edition tub packaging (see picture below), according to the store assistant at MD Ranking.

Apologize on a bad picture, I got this off the internet.

Clean It Zero Radiance

Ingredients:
Mineral Oil, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, PEG-10 Isostearate, Polyethylene, Butylene Glycol, Water, Rubus Suavissimus (Raspberry) Leaf Extract, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, Viscum Album (Mistletoe) Leaf Extract, Angelica Polymorpha Sinesis Root Extract, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Malpighia Glabra (Acerola) Fruit Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Leaf Extract, BHT, Butylparaben, CI 16255, CI 15985, Fragrance.

How to use:

• scoop out appropriate amount with the spatula
• place the balm on the back of your hand or your palm
• start melting the balm with the heat of your finger
• apply it to your entire face
• massage gently for few minutes until all make-up colours start to smear
• do not get surprised if your face is all black
• just rinse with luke warm water or wipe it off with facial cotton

I used Marc Jacob Highliner Blacquer & Plum (Age) & applied Banila Co Clean it ZERO Radiance

You can imagine picture no 3 (bottom left) on your face, but do not panic. Once you rinse with water, it will go away.
The thing I love about this product is, it doesn't leave a greasy feeling at all. I feel fresh just like using a foam cleanser.
This product also removes impurities without drying out your skin and the best thing is it gives brightening effect.
Another plus point is, it's the best product for travelling. Since it comes in a balm-form, I don't have to worry about spilling it in the suitcase.

Where to buy: MD Ranking for approx. AUD$30 - $35

CoB Heart Beat: 10 out of 10

It's a must item in your bathroom sink!

3CE Nursing Cream

3CE Nursing Cream 45ml

Winter is here.... brrr.. very cold in Sydney! 
I get very dry skin during winter, especially on the edge of my nose because I rub it all the time in the morning. Can't help it... no matter what I do, my nose is dripping like a leaking tap in the cold weather. Sorry.. too much information. I'm not writing review on my dripping nose,... thank GOD!

Hence, today, I'm going to review on one of  my new purchases of 3CE product called Nursing Cream -- not Nursing Home! <-- even tho, I feel like I belong there sometimes in this cold weather. ^__^ Ok Ok.. serious mode-on please!

This balm-like cream comes in a glass tub with a spatula to scoop out the product. The texture is very rich & thick. (see picture below) The surface of this balm is more like a fondant cake frosting, but it melts quickly once it hits body temperature.

It's 100% ECO certified, no preservative, no artificial colours, no artificial scent.

Contains:

• Argain Oil
• Olive Oil
• Palm Tree Seed Butter

If you use this cream at night time on dry areas like face, elbow, hands, back of your knees, etc you will feel your skin is very moist in the morning. You may want to mix it with other cream to lighten up the texture.

How to use:

• Scoop a little amount (pea size) 
• Place it on your finger tip or palm
• Melt it with your finger
• Dab it on the dry area(s) on your face or gently massage for your other body parts

Korean women love a dewy glossing look on them, so they apply this cream before makeup. They apply on the areas that reflects the light such as on your cheek bones & side of your temples.
I'm not a fancy on this look, because I look like I just got out of a sauna. But it's a personal preference and you can always try it. If you do want to try it, I suggest apply a little amount on your palms and dab your palms on your targeted areas, then get a tissue to dab off the access oil.

Where to buy: www.stylenandaen.com for USD$43 or you might want to check MD Ranking in Sydney City if they have this product.

Checkout Style Nanda website for more information. My blog is just a simplified & summarized version of the information from Style Nanda.

CoB Heart Beat: 9 out of 10

My Skin Care Regime

all products are property of codeofbeauty

Finally, after few years of considering, this is my very first blog post I've made.
I choose this topic because I get few questions from my close friends on what skin care products I use daily. Maintaining skin takes a bit of an effort and time, but in my humble opinion, the time invested in maintaining your skin properly will give you a reward in your older age. ^__^
Of course that's not the only benefit, healthy skin makes the makeup application easier. We, women, who don't like to put on makeup? Even powder is considered a cosmetic. 
As you can see in the picture, I use a lot of skincare products. I'm not trying to sell any brands nor asking you to follow my regime. Again, the purpose of my blog is to provide information based on my own personal experience. These are all my favourite products, the ones less favourite, they won't make it to my post. ^__*
Let's start with my cleansing routine & I'll mention the product(s) I use. I use different products in any different days depending on my skin condition & weather;

1. Remove eye & lips makeup (this is at nite time only) - Laneige eye & lips makeup remover or Banilla Co Zero it, or Johnson & Johnson makeup wipes fragrance free
2. Cleanse my face (I use foam in the morning to clean the oil produced at nite) - The Face Shop, or Dr G and I use oil cleansing at night - Sulwhasoo Cleansing Oil or Laneige Oil Cleansing
3. Exfoliate every 2nd day - Skintitute Gycolic Scrub
4. Face Mask - The Face Shop, Etude, Innisfree, Scinic, Laneige
5. Toner - SKII Treatment Essence or Skin Food Kiwi Toner, or Avene Thermal Spring Water
6. Vitamin C day & nite - Ole Henriksen
7. Serums - Dr G Whitening Serum, The Face Shop The SMIM, Skin Food (targeting different issues. I go crazy on this step and I don't have a particular order on which serum goes first.
8. Moisturiser or Sleeping pack for night application on every 2nd night - Dr G Water Pack, Skintitute Dry Skin, The Face Shop Gold Silk Sleeping Pack, Skin Food Miracle Food 10 Solution Cream
9. Eyecream - The Face Shop Ginseng Eyecream
10. Sunscreen SPF30++ and above - DrG
11. Lipbalm - I use my favourite product of all time - Lucas Paw Paw Ointment

I believe that if you spend 30mins applying makeup, that's the least amount of time to cleaning it.
I use a lot of Korean Brands because for me, they're very subtle, some of them are natural products and they definitely work.
You may use different brands that suit you too to follow this routine.
I'm a mum of two, work full time with tonnes of activities, so no excuse for you girls to say "no time for this".
Remember the rewards, girls!!! You harvest what you sow. ^__*

On my next posting, I will give review of some of these products. Keep my fingers crossed that I can do it asap. My little daughter keeps talking beside me while I'm typing. Lucky I didn't type her chattering. ^__^

Hope you enjoy my first posting, and please feel free to drop some comments or questions. I'm not a beauty expert but I will try to help giving as much information as possible based on what I know.
Till next time... ^__^

3 Concept Eyes - 3CE

products owned by codeofbeauty

I found a new love for cosmetics in a Korean brand named 3CE. They are very creative playing with their colours. The product range is huge especially in lips category, you get confused picking the colour you want, because you want all of them. Well, in my case, that's how I feel.
From all the products I bought, some work and some don't, but majority of them are awesome. I will give 3CE a review under product review menu.

I bought 3CE product from Stylenanda website. They are the official webpage for 3CE products.   
The shipping  fee is as per follows;
USD$20 Shipping for spend less than $100
USD$10 Shipping for spend $100 to < $200
Free Shipping for spend $200 & above
But please check their website in case there's any change in their shipping fee policy.
http://www.stylenandaen.com
Be careful of imitations when buying from other online website.
MD Ranking store carries few of 3CE products, not a complete range, but the price is comparable to if you buy it in Korea.
Happy Shopping... !

Disclamer: I'm not trying to sell any brands nor I get commissions from any parties. I only review products that I have used & purchased on my own expenses. So this is all based on my personal experience and opinion.

If you want me to review product(s), please leave a comment and I will consider it. ^__*

Banila Co - CC it Radiant Brightening Cream & CC Cream

Radiant Brightening Cream & CC Cream (Banila Co)

This is my first product review and I choose to review the most popular CC Cream in Korea right now!

Yupe, it's Banila Co CC Cream. I also include Banila Co CC It Radiant Brightening Cream as its companionship.

Now.. let's start with the Banila Co Radiant Brightening Cream.

It comes in a transparent gel (see second picture above). It's very light in texture, so it won't give heavy feeling on your face. You only need a small amount to use on your face.

This cream (or it's a gel in my opinion) as it says on the tub - it's moisturising, whitening, and brightening.

Now coming from an Asian background where 80% or more women want to have fair skin, this line is like a bait. 

Look at me, I bought it!

Does it really work?... Yes!

It does moisturise & brighten up the skin, but of course the whitening is a temporary effect. When you apply the cream, you won't notice the effect yet. Once you apply the CC Cream, give it few second, you will see the colour change on your skin (see picture below). I applied the radiant brightening cream & CC cream on the bottom half of my hand. More to the really bottom of my hand actually.. sorry I'm still no expert in taking nice picture. I promise I'll get better by few more product reviews. ^__^

The skin colour change to a shimmery pearly effect which gives you glowing complexion.

Where to buy: I've seen this cream at MD Ranking Store (Sydney City) for approx. AUD$33 or you can always buy online (I will post another blog on where to buy Korean products online).

Let's move on to Banila Co CC Cream.

This CC Cream is very very light compared to my other CC's. It only comes in one shade - a light pinkish peachy colour. I tried to take a picture of the CC Cream last nite, but failed. Apologize I can't provide you with solid evidence of the colour, but please trust my words. ^__*
 

This cream is easy to apply & it comes with SPF 30++

Me, personally, I don't mind using this cream, but it's not the best CC Cream I have tried. Sorry girls if I disappoint you, please don't "boohoo" me. 

If I have to rate this CC Cream, I'd give it 8 out of 10. Not bad, but not the best (for me).

Where to buy: MD Ranking for approx. AUD$28-$30.

The good news is the Radiant Brightening Cream can be used with other CC Cream (other brands), it's not necessarily used solely for Banila Co CC Cream. This product is CC Cream enhancer.

When I use Banila Co Radiant Brightening Cream with my other brand CC Cream, they gel well. I get compliment (at work) all the time.

I've tried using it with BB Cream, it doesn't maximize the brightening effect, but it's still OK. ^__*

Before I end my review, there's one thing I would like to reiterate here, let's be realistic girls, if we're born with Olive skin (aka tanned skin), we need to choose the face products that do not give "too much whitening". Because your face skin would have different colour to your neck skin. I've seen some girls applying "too white" products and in my personal opinion, it doesn't look nice. ^__*

Aim for glowing & brightening look and these products only help cosmetically. The most important thing is of course our lifestyle -- good eating habit, good sleeping habit, and great relationship with our Creator. Peace of mind gives better glowing complexion on your face and it lasts FOREVER.

Disclamer: I'm not trying to sell any brands nor I get commissions from any parties. I only review products that I have used & purchased on my own expenses. So this is all based on my personal experience and opinion.

If you want me to review product(s), please leave a comment and I will consider it. ^__*

CoB Heart Beat
Radiant Brightening Cream: 9 out of 10
CC Cream: 8 out of 10

Hope you like my first product review and find it useful.

Bye now.... 

BB Cream, CC Cream or Foundation?

products owned by codeofbeauty

Confused... ?
Don't know which one to use.. ?
I had this problem when BB cream was introduced. Back in those days, we were only using foundation (liquid, cream or compact). 
Nowadays, we have BB, CC and now up to DD cream. 
I have not tried DD cream yet, maybe I will soon. ^__^

I'm not going to explain in a great detail, because there are plenty of blogs out there explaining this already.
I'm touching base a little just for the completeness of my Cosmetic Bucket. ^__*

BB stands for Blemish Balm. It has thick texture to cover blemishes but not as thick as foundation. This is basically tinted moisturiser with some good stuffs added into it, such as aloe vera, rice bran, sunflower extract, SPF, etc etc. Different brands have different ingredients.

CC stands for colour correction or control. It covers redness or sallowness on your skin. It has light texture in nature.
For everyday use, I personally use CC cream for natural look, but sometimes I use BB cream especially when "my-time-of-the-month" is coming where my unwanted friends start to pop-out. I need to cover them from the world. ^__^

Foundation is the thickest amongst the three products & it gives full coverage makeup. I use foundation for special occasions only. 

Now... which brand? 
Unfortunately with BB & CC cream, you have to try several brands & types until you find the "one(s)" for you. Because not only both BB & CC creams only come in limited shades (even one colour fits all sometimes!)so it may be too light or too dark on you, but also, some comes with fragrance (you may be sensitive to fragrance) or it may be too thick or too heavy for you. 
I'm talking more from Korean BB & CC Creams perspective.

The best way to save money is to join army with your besties to buy different ones and swap them until each one of you find the most suitable one. *just an idea* ^__*

Happy hunting!