Face

REVIEW: SK-II R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Cream

/ Fiona Seah / 4 Comments
SPONSORED

Hello everyone!

Many years ago when I was lurking around a male-centric forum, I came across a quote along the lines of, “If you want to know what a girl will look like in 20 years’ time, look at her mother.” Before you shrug it off, let’s just say that there’s indeed some truth to this statement (unless you’re not your mother’s biological daughter).

To set the record straight, I absolutely adore my mother and we both share the same interests in food. But much as I respect her, I wished I hadn’t genetically inherit her physical traits. Back then, I was slightly on the plump side (no thanks to my hormonal imbalance that caused my sudden weight gain) and I was so worried that I would become rotund like my mother in years to come. Determined to rewrite my fate, I went on an extreme diet to put myself back on the lower end of the weighing scale. While it was relatively easy for me to shed some weight, there are still issues that can’t be resolved with just a snap of the fingers. At 57, my mother has very dry skin and an obvious naso-labial fold. Upon closer inspection, you’d also be able to see enlarged pores and fine lines too.

Now that I’ve taken a sneak peak of my future self, of course I would want to take preventive measures to ensure these won’t occur when I hit my 50’s. But what would be potent enough to win my fight against these face monsters? Without a doubt, SK-II (one of the top brands in the world when it comes to anti-aging products) comes to mind! In my previous post, I talked about the first half of the new duo from SK-II which I thought was already pretty impressive on its own. But in order to reap the full benefits of the Radical New Age Complex technology, it has to be paired with the R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Cream!

R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Cream (50g, S$149)

R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Cream (50g, S$149)

Upgraded with the aforementioned groundbreaking anti-aging technology, this cream (which functions as a moisturiser) addresses not just your most severe aging concerns, but holistically treats all 10 signs of aging including loss of firmness, dryness, fine lines and wrinkles, sallowness, lack of resilience, visible pores, sagging skins, lack of radiance, roughness and loss of tightened facial contours. When used in tandem with the essence, all these 10 signs would be improved, and the firmness you regain would be greater than the firmness you lose over 15 years.

R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Cream

R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Cream

R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Cream (protective cover)

R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Cream (protective cover)

R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Cream

R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Cream

R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Cream

R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Cream

Like the essence, this velvety cream is also formulated with a light and muted natural olive fragrance. You don’t need to apply a lot of the product on your face for it to work its magic too. All you need is a teeny-weeny amount of the cream (about 1cm in diameter) on your palm followed by a dot on the forehead, cheeks and chin. Lastly, gently massage the cream all over the face until absorbed. If used appropriately, a small 50g tub like this is definitely going to last you a long time.

Dotting my face

Dotting my face

R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Cream

R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Cream

However, due to its thicker and creamier texture, this would leave the skin with a slightly tacky and slick finish (you can tell from the soft shine on the forehead) even though it does help to keep the skin hydrated. But if you could ignore this minor aspect of the cream, this product actually makes a brilliant addition to your skincare regimen. The first time I wore it, I could feel the cream penetrate my skin. No waiting time is required as the effect is immediate. How awesome is that? And apparently, this cream helps to tighten the naso-labial fold (at least after four weeks of use) too!

Nonetheless, as with other SK-II products, the R.N.A. Power series do not come cheap. But if you can afford them, I’d really recommend you to go for the smallest options first to see if they suit your skin. I’m sure you’ll love them as much as I do!

Remember, it’s never too early to begin your battle against wrinkles!

What do you think of this product? Share your thoughts with me in the comments below!

Thanks for reading! 🙂

The SK-II R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Cream is now available nationwide at SK-II counters at S$149 (50g), S$219 (80g) and S$234 (100g). You can read more about this product here.

REVIEW: SK-II R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Essence

/ Fiona Seah / Leave a comment
SPONSORED

Hello everyone!

Age is just a number, or is it? While it is easy to work out someone’s chronological age from their birth year, it does not necessarily reflect the true biological age of their skin. Hence, some people tend to look older than they are and vice versa. It’s no secret to anyone that the key to having youthful and radiant skin is to eat well and lead a healthy lifestyle. But very often, we would also need the help of anti-aging products to give our skin that extra boost to stay young.

Call me paranoid but as I inch closer to my 30th birthday, I’m beginning to pay very close attention to the every single detail of my body. Lately, I have noticed the loss of elasticity in my skin. Although not very visible from a distance, I could feel the weight of my cheeks when my face is at rest. To top it off, I would also see the outer corner of my eyes crinkling into little crow’s feet as I practise my smile in the mirror. As a result, I had tried not to smile too excessively lest more wrinkles developed (perhaps that’s why Victoria Beckham doesn’t smile?). Furthermore, to make the matter worse, I was called “auntie” (a term of respect for any older women in Singapore, but can be a derogatory one for those not that old) on several occasions by young kids 😥 I’m barely 25 goddammit!

So instead of letting nature take its course and allowing age to ravage my youthful looks, I decided I had to do something before it gets costlier to reverse the damage (with botox and whatnot). And honestly, when it comes to combating and repairing aging skin, no brand does it better than SK-II.

Introducing the all-new SK-II R.N.A. Power line!

Introducing the all-new SK-II R.N.A. Power line!

Evolving from stempower technology to the latest innovation in anti-aging technology, SK-II ushers in a new generation of anti-aging skincare with the Pitera x R.N.A. (Radical New Age) Power boutique. It targets the multi-controller of firmness to achieve lengthwise-crosswise firmness by rejuvenating skin cells and promoting structural protein synthesis in every cell, all layers of the skin.

This new lineup sees the reformulation of the brand’s best-selling moisturiser (which will be covered on the next post) and essence (toner) to better cater to the beauty needs of consumers.

SK-II R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Essence (50g, S$149)

SK-II R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Essence (50g, S$149)

SK-II R.N.A. POWER Radical New Age Essence

SK-II R.N.A. POWER Radical New Age Essence

SK-II R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Essence

SK-II R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Essence

SK-II R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Essence

SK-II R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Essence

SK-II R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Essence

SK-II R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Essence

For weeks I had been experiencing enlarged pores on my nose and cheeks due to hormonal changes partially caused by my menstruation. These large pores caused a lot of inconvenience to my makeup regimen because the bumpy surface made it much more difficult for foundation to be applied evenly. The problem persisted for a while even after my period had ended and it would usually take days for my face to recover.

Read more: Tighten Pores with the Right Tips and Products!

But after using the R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Essence for the first time, I instantly felt my skin almost reverting back to its original state. The change may not be obvious to the naked eye but you can definitely feel the difference! Apart from the reduction of the pore visibility, my skin had also become smoother after application, allowing makeup to be applied with greater ease. I noticed my hyperpigmentation had somehow lightened a bit as well.

SK-II R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Essence

SK-II R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Essence

Using the provided dropper dispenser, release 2 full droppers of the essence into the palm and smooth over the entire face after cleansing. However, I like to dot my face with the essence and then smear it with my fingers out of habit but it is definitely advisable to use your palms instead so that more product would be absorbed into more parts of the face at the same time. You can also add extra drops onto specific areas of concern, such as on the outer corners of each eye or laugh lines. Otherwise, 2 drops should be more than enough for the whole face.

The essence has a rather milky and lightweight texture with a semi-thick consistency. It has a mellow scent of plant fragrance (can’t quite figure out what but it really smells awesome and calming) and it absorbs into the skin quickly without leaving a sticky residue behind. You know how some cream comes off like sweat or dirt-like playdough when you rub against your skin? Well, this certainly does not! This essence gives my skin a soft healthy-looking glow (even at the T-zone) rather than an awful greasy shine. Therefore, I was truly impressed with the results! 🙂

Essence spreads evenly across the skin, leaving no unsightly residue. Picture depicts first-time use

#NOFILTER: Essence spreads evenly across the skin, leaving no unsightly residue. Picture depicts first-time use

Application

Application

In order to experience the full effect of the product, I had tried it for at least a week (alongside the R.N.A. Power cream) before penning down this review. By the end of the trial, my face felt a lot firmer and looked – dare I say – flawless with a bouncy resilience. It actually regained my confidence in heading to school without makeup (which is a big deal considering how I had never gone to school with a bare face since my first year, even if it was only for a 1-hour lecture). This product is definitely a worthwhile investment despite the cost.

Skin isn't as rough as before after very first application

Skin isn’t as rough as before after very first application

What say you, ladies? Is this something you would lay your hands on? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Read more: Learn how you can better utilize your SK-II products in this Japanese skincare routine.

Thanks for reading!

The SK-II R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Essence is now available nationwide at SK-II counters at S$156 (30ml), S$224 (50ml) and S$308 (75ml). You can read more about this product here.

Therapeutic Dermatologic Formula #2: How to Treat Oily Skin & Acne

/ Fiona Seah / 1 Comment
ADVERTORIAL

Hey everyone!

Despite taking special care of my complexion, my skin is bound to have a major breakout at least once every month due to hormonal shifts (ladies should know what I mean). These are unlike my usual zits as they are typically cystic which mainly occur around my cheeks, chin, jawline and hairline/scalp (mainly at places which are out of sight). They are headless bumps that hurt to the touch and because popping them is close to impossible, they take weeks to heal! They can’t be concealed with makeup entirely too since the bumps would still be very obvious especially from the side. Furthermore, they often leave awful hyperpigmentation when they subside to remind me of the painful experience. Gosh, why is it so hard being a woman?! :\

Another issue I have during my menstrual cycle is the sudden influx of oil on the skin (also the cause of my breakout mentioned earlier). My face becomes a virtual oil slick and it melts down my makeup even when I stay indoors the whole day. I don’t have the habit of carrying oil blotting sheets with me as I had read that they would only lead to more oil production. Therefore I would try to avoid being photographed although sometimes it can’t be helped.

But the condition seems to have improved quite a bit ever since I started using Therapeutic Dermatologic Formula (TDF) products for oil control and acne care last month. From the the same range as the ones I had featured previously, I feel that these products serve as a corrective to oily and acne-prone skin rather than a preventive – very suitable for people who are already battling oily skin and acne. So if you’re looking for ways to deal with the shine and the unsightly pustules (or even cysts like mine), look no further!

(from left) Acne E-Rase, AHA Oily & Acne Solution & Clay Mint Mask from Therapeutic Dermatologic Formula

(from left) Acne E-Rase, AHA Oily & Acne Solution & Clay Mint Mask from Therapeutic Dermatologic Formula

Do note that these products work best as supplements to the 3-step beauty regimen (cleanse, tone, moisturise) I wrote about in the first TDF feature and should only be used when necessary or (as advised by an aesthetician) daily until the skin gets better otherwise you may risk having your skin dried up.

1. Control

For those with severe acne, normal cleansing alone won’t be enough to rid them. Therefore you’d need this to be part of your routine:

AHA Oily & Acne Solution 8 (100ml)

AHA Oily & Acne Solution 8 (100ml)

AHA Oily & Acne Solution 8 (100ml)

AHA Oily & Acne Solution 8 (100ml)

AHA Oily & Acne Solution 8 (100ml)

AHA Oily & Acne Solution 8 (100ml)

AHA Oily & Acne Solution 8 (100ml)

AHA Oily & Acne Solution 8 (100ml)

Immediately after cleansing and drying my skin thoroughly with the Deep Acne Facial Wash (a stronger cleanser for my menstrual acne, brief review on Facebook), I applied the AHA Oily & Acne Solution 8 liberally on my face twice daily, morning and night. This formula helps to control breakouts and clear up complexion and prevent blemishes from forming by clearing clogged pores, correcting enlarged pores and removing excess oil or other lipids present on acne-prone skin. When used regularly, the skin becomes smoother and shine is kept under control.

AHA Oily & Acne Solution 8

AHA Oily & Acne Solution 8

AHA Oily & Acne Solution 8

AHA Oily & Acne Solution 8

AHA Oily & Acne Solution 8

AHA Oily & Acne Solution 8

The solution is a colourless lightweight and runny liquid (like water) that rapidly absorbs into the skin with just a few gentle pats on the face. The excess evaporates like water and does not leave a tacky feeling on the skin.

Recommended sequence:

Cleanse* (AHA Facial Wash/Deep Acne Facial Wash) → Control (AHA Oily & Acne Solution 8) → Tone* (Mild Astringent) → Moisturise* (Ultra Light Hydrator)

*Compulsory

2. Correct

Pimple treatment gel/cream is one of my must-haves for bad skin days because it dries out and flattens specific pimples fast enough before an important event. They are my emergency breakout fix. But from my years of using various acne gel, most of them work better on regular pus-filled pimples and not the cystic ones. They also generally do little to stop the development of zits that have not surfaced. Isn’t it frustrating to be able to feel an oncoming pimple and yet feel helpless about it? Well, now you can!

Acne E-Rase (20ml)

Acne E-Rase (20ml)

Acne E-Rase (20ml)

Acne E-Rase (20ml)

Acne E-Rase (20ml)

Acne E-Rase (20ml)

Acne E-Rase (20ml)

Acne E-Rase (20ml)

The Acne E-Rase is a blend of advanced deep exfoliating ingredients (Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid) that control the most common concerns associated with acne by regulating the sebum production.

The exfoliant helps to slough off dead skin cells that clog pores which can then cause a breakout. Salicylic Acid, for instance, is both an exfoliant and an anti-inflammatory which effectively reduces inflammation and relieves pain. It’s a lot less irritating like Benzoyl Peroxide (my nemesis – gave me a terribly swollen and crusty face on both occasions that I used it) so allergy level to this product should be relatively lower for those with sensitive skin.

Therefore, besides treating existing blemishes, breakouts and blackheads, this acne treatment gel is capable of addressing future blemishes before they even appear as well without over drying the skin.

Acne E-Rase

Acne E-Rase

Acne E-Rase

Acne E-Rase

A pale-yellow light and pellucid gel, the product flows out of the tube uncontrollably when I first removed the cover so do make sure you open it with the tip faced upwards. The Acne E-Rase is to be used after cleansing and drying the skin thoroughly and should be applied on the affected acne spot twice a day (once a few minutes before makeup to allow sufficient time for it to dry, and another before bedtime for me) until they are visibly reduced.

However, because acne treatment gel tends to be drying on the skin, you have to use a moisturiser (the Ultra Light Hydrator makes a great choice!) on top of it to prevent your skin from flaking. Basically, the general skincare rule is to apply the thinner product first so that the thicker one above can “lock in” the one below. Of course, the sequence varies according to different skin types and conditions. When in doubt, consult your dermatologist!

My pimple had clearly shrunk and dried out after application!

My pimple had clearly shrunk and dried out after application! (obviously I didn’t put on any moisturizer because I was too lazy)

I was way past my menstrual period when I took these pictures so I didn’t have any cystic acne (not like I wished there were!) to demonstrate the product on, but I did have some stubborn pustules. The result was quite amazing as I could actually feel that my zit had subsided and the small oncoming ones around it had also dried out completely. They could all be concealed entirely with tinted foundation by the following day.

Recommended sequence:

Cleanse* (AHA Facial Wash/Deep Acne Facial Wash) → Control (AHA Oily & Acne Solution 8) → Tone* (Mild Astringent) → Correct (Acne E-Rase) → Moisturise* (Ultra Light Hydrator)

*COMPULSORY

3. Mask

Facial sessions are the perfect excuse for you to relax on your couch/bed and do nothing (though I still use my phone sometimes hehe eh, don’t act like you don’t) so I am always looking forward to them. Not only are face masks easy and hilariously fun to use (who hasn’t scared anybody with their face mask before?!), it also delivers noticeable results after a single use.

Clay Mint Mask (60g)

Clay Mint Mask (60g)

Clay Mint Mask (60g)

Clay Mint Mask (60g)

Clay Mint Mask (60g)

Clay Mint Mask (60g)

Clay Mint Mask (60g)

Clay Mint Mask (60g)

Clay masks are normally recommended for oily skin because of the drying and tightening nature of their natural clay substances. The Clay Mint Mask combines natural earth clays – kaolin and bentonite – for intensive pore-purging and elimination of impurities. It decongests clogged pores by drawing out dirt, excess sebum and other cellular debris. Weekly use of this mask detoxifies the skin to unveil a clearer and more refined complexion.

Clay Mint Mask

Clay Mint Mask

Clay Mint Mask

Clay Mint Mask

The greyish-green product comes out of the tube like a toothpaste but it’s rather structured in a way that it does not break off easily from it so it won’t cause as much of a mess as the AHA Oily & Acne Solution 8 or the Acne E-Rase.

After cleansing

After cleansing

The picture above was taken at night, hours after applying the AHA Oily & Acne Solution 8 and Acne E-Rase illustrated above! Can you tell that the pimples (on the forehead especially) had reduced quite substantially? Their redness were now a light-pinkish.

With Clay Mint Mask

With Clay Mint Mask

Close up

Close up

To use, apply desired amount (the thicker the better but I’m prudent when it comes to using beauty products) of mask to cleansed face and neck (skipped this area because I didn’t want to wet my body) with finger tips or brush. The mask spreads evenly and hardens completely within 2-3 minutes. Leave on for 15-20 minutes and then, rinse it off with lukewarm water and pat the skin dry with a soft towel. As the name describes, the mask gives the skin a very therapeutic minty sensation (even more shiok in an air-conditioned room!).

Prior to this, I used mainly peel-off masks because it’s less time-consuming. But subsequently I realised that they are not as absorbent as clay masks and certainly a lot messier. Some experts have advised against applying mask after shower as they feel it would be too drying for many skin types yadda yadda (well, there’s always the other side of the coin ¯\_(ツ)_/¯) but I prefer to apply nighttime beauty products on a squeaky clean face and then conveniently head to bed thereafter. Furthermore, the facial pores would also be enlarged after a hot shower so the mask would definitely be absorbed into the skin more rapidly!

Recommended sequence:

Cleanse* (AHA Facial Wash/Deep Acne Facial Wash) → Mask (Clay Mint Mask) → Control (AHA Oily & Acne Solution 8) → Tone* (Mild Astringent) → Correct (Acne E-Rase) → Moisturise* (Ultra Light Hydrator)

*COMPULSORY

Now that I have managed to keep my pimples under control, the next step is to treat the hyperpigmentation left behind by my past acne! If you are trying to get rid of your stubborn hyperpigmentation as well, stay tuned for the next installment of my TDF skincare series! I have more tips and product recommendations in store for you 🙂

Hope this guide has been useful to you and many thanks for reading! 🙂

To find out more about my beauty regimen for oily and acne-prone skin, click here for Part 1!

ALL TDF PRODUCTS ARE EXCLUSIVELY SOLD AT ALL CLINICS, NATIONAL HEALTHCARE GROUP POLYCLINICS, SINGHEALTH POLYCLINICS, HOSPITALS AND PUBLIC/RESTRUCTURED SPECIALIST CENTRES. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PRODUCT AVAILABILITY, CLICK HERE.

Therapeutic Dermatologic Formula (TDF)

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