REVIEW: IRÉN Start Afresh Daily Enzyme Powder Wash

Hello everyone!

You might have heard of the infamous multi-step skincare regimen popularised by South Korea but let’s be honest – who has the time for that? More often than not, I would find myself even dragging my feet to the washroom after a long day at work to shower because I am just that dead beat, let alone going through a thousand and one steps to prep my face for bedtime. Thankfully, a local beauty brand, IRÉN, heard my silent cries for help and decided once and for all to put a stop to these unnecessarily superfluous routines and created products which bring back the joy of skincare.

IRÉN… er, who?

Founded by local entrepreneur, Eric Tan (also the founder of Singapore’s first traditional Japanese onsen spa), IRÉN was conceived out of his love for his wife (hence the name IRÉN because that’s Irene – his wife’s name – in Hungarian – awww 😍) who had been struggling with breakouts and eczema. When the many non-comedogenic products she had tried proved to be futile in calming down her skin, the loving husband decided to delve into the arcane world of skincare in search of a solution which led to his partnership with a skincare researcher from A*STAR. Together with the researcher, he formulated a serum without harmful chemical, synthetic fragrances, and BPA for his wife. From there, they developed seven concoctions and started IRÉN with the aim of providing busy women like his wife a straightforward solution to common skin ailments, backed by scientific facts and research.

Launched in December 2017, the serums come in 7 formulations for wrinkles and deep lines, acne and oily skin, dehydrated skin, sensitivity, pigmentation and uneven skin tones, sagging skin, and clogged pores. Shown here are just 3 types of serum to be used with the Skin Vaporizer, a device that nano-sizes the serum to swiftly and efficiently feed the nutrient-deprived skin. If time permits, I will do a more in-dept review on this.

Launched in December 2017, the serums come in 7 formulations for wrinkles and deep lines, acne and oily skin, dehydrated skin, sensitivity, pigmentation and uneven skin tones, sagging skin, and clogged pores. Shown here are just 3 types of serum to be used with the Skin Vaporizer, a device that nano-sizes the serum to swiftly and efficiently feed the nutrient-deprived skin. If time permits, I will do a more in-dept review on this.

More than a year after their signature serums made public appearance, IRÉN comes up with yet another innovative product – a cleanser in the form of powder.

Introducing: Start Afresh Daily Enzyme Powder Wash

IRÉN Start Afresh Daily Enzyme Powder Wash (S$35 each)

IRÉN Start Afresh Daily Enzyme Powder Wash (S$35 each)

Made in Japan, the Start Afresh Daily Enzyme Powder Wash is a gentle daily powder wash with triple cleansing action to remove dirt, sebum and old keratin, and is suitable for all skin types. Vegan and cruelty-free, it contains Japanese Rice Bran, a natural ingredient with soothing enzymes and antioxidant properties which effectively resurface and gently exfoliate the skin to reveal a healthy glow and smoother complexion. On top of that, it also has Sorbitol and Hyaluronic Acid to help retain moisture whilst skin is thoroughly cleansed. This is in contrast to other brands of powder wash which tend to contain talc (which causes irritation and dryness to sensitive and inflamed skin), SLS/SLES (which gives cleansers the foamy, bubbly consistency but at the same time, removes the skin of its natural oils and trigger skin irritation), non-fatty alcohol (or drying alcohols which may harm the skin’s protective surface and worsen oily skin), and fragrance.

Truth be told, I had never heard of powder cleansers until the launch last month so naturally, I was very intrigued and bewildered by it, to say the least. Isn’t powder a lot harder to work with? Won’t powder scatter and cause a mess (and this is the main reason I avoid loose powder foundation like the plague)? Like, who actually asked for cleansers, in powder form? Is this another marketing gimmick? I was sceptical. That was, until I tried and tested the powder wash myself.

As it turned out, it was actually pretty easy to use!

WATCH: Live demonstration by a staff from IREN. Notice just how much powder is needed for the wash?

The bottle is also designed to dispense just the amount required (about 1 teaspoon) for each wash, hence minimising wastage (no more oh sh*t! moments). Once the powder is poured onto the palm (and the fine-grained texture feels sooooo soft like icing sugar 😍), slowly mix it with some water and lather into a creamy foam. Then, gently massage it onto the face for 15 seconds before rinsing it with warm water.

WATCH: If you’re terrible at remembering how much 1 teaspoon of powder is, fret not! Just dispense the powder from the bottle only once.

But how effective is this powder wash in removing makeup?

WATCH: Swiped Colourpop Lippie Stix (in Fab Five) once on my hand. Let’s see how much it is removed at the end of the wash!

The (disappointing, I must say) result after a pretty rigorous wash

The (disappointing, I must say) result after a pretty rigorous wash

My verdict?

From this little experiment, it is safe to say that the Super Gentle Daily Powder Wash is only great as an everyday cleanser that is best used on bare face so do remember to take your makeup off completely before arriving at this step!

That said, apart from the skin benefits of this powder wash, it has other major advantages too which jet setters can relate to – you won’t have to check in your cleanser (yay to washing up on long-haul flights!) and you won’t feel like you’re piggybacking Snorlax with something so lightweight in your hand-carry baggage. Be careful not to repackage it in a way that would raise suspicions, though. You definitely don’t want to be wrongfully detained like this lady here.

What are your thoughts on this product? Let me know what you think in the comments below or take a quick poll! 😊

Thanks for reading!

IRÉN Start Afresh Daily Enzyme Powder is now available at Face Shower Bar by IRÉN, on IRÉN SKIN and SHOPEE.
PRODUCTS WERE SUPPLIED BY IRÉN FOR MY EDITORIAL CONSIDERATION. ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE MY OWN.

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REVIEW: K-Palette Futae Labo Real Double Eyelid

Hello everyone!

Regardless of where we are in the world, there are bound to be specific sets of beauty norms that we are supposed to subscribe to. In Asia in particular, large almond-shaped eyes are prized for their exotic appearance while double eyelids are favoured over monolids as the latter causes eyes to look small, disinterested (or sleepy, for the lack of better words) and lacklustre.

Having been on the receiving end of criticisms about my less-than-ideal facial features for most of my life, the pressure to get a permanent fix has always been there. But the thought of going under the knife for non-medical reasons (especially for superficial ones like this) does not sit well with conservatives like me. Thus, I had already resigned to the fact that I would never be able to achieve well-defined eyelid creases, and that no matter how much effort is put into creating an elaborated eye makeup, it would ultimately be tucked away beneath my hooded eyelids 😑

Eyelids: Now you see me, now you don't

Eyelids: Now you see me, now you don’t

That is, until Futae Labo Real Double Eyelid by K-Palette – a weightless formula which promises to create natural-looking eyelid creases – burst into my life. Unlike the many double eyelid products that you might have seen in the market (most of which are adhesive tapes which, in my opinion, do a terrible job of being discreet), this product comes in the form of liquid.

Hmmm… that’s just eyelid glue, isn’t it?

*finger wags* 

This is heaps better than your usual eyelid glue. This is a game-changer.

K-Palette Futae Labo Real Double Eyelid (~S$18)

K-Palette Futae Labo Real Double Eyelid (~S$18)

Over the years, double eyelid glue has gotten a bad rep for being a pain to use (higher chance of messing up the application and having to reapply), turning white upon contact with water or flaking off a few hours into wear so I would be lying if I said I wasn’t sceptical about this new product at all. Fortunately, none of these happened during my tryout and it was surprisingly easy to apply even for unseasoned users like yours truly!

For the uninitiated, K-Palette is a Japanese beauty brand best known for its highly-rated 1 Day Tattoo eyebrow liners and eyeliners so I think it is safe to say that you can also expect comparable performance from their latest addition.

K-Palette Futae Labo Real Double Eyelid

K-Palette Futae Labo Real Double Eyelid

Without any indication of what the product is sans its pretty hexagonal-looking see-through packaging, the unassuming design of the tube could easily be mistaken for a varnish of sorts, so it’s advisable that you label it if you don’t intend to keep the packaging. Like most nail polishes, this comes with white nylon brush attached to the cap as well for application on-the-go, and it’s perfectly sized to fit the smallest of purses. Also included is a Y-shaped fork which helps to reinforce the double eyelids.

K-Palette Futae Labo Real Double Eyelid

K-Palette Futae Labo Real Double Eyelid

As with many other foreign products from non-English speaking countries, essential information, such as the ingredient list and instructions (there are pictorial guides, but those aren’t sufficient for me), is written entirely in Japanese on the packaging so the onus is on the user to find out how the glue should be applied online (or using Google Translate? Ain’t nobody got time for that 😶).

But lucky for you, I’ve done all the necessary homework so you needn’t have to! And I strongly believe this step-by-step guide doesn’t just apply to this product, but other eyelid glues too 😉

For starters, you’d need to decide on the location of the new creases. If you have hooded lids like mine, I would advise against forging the crease too far away from the upper lash line because it will look very unnatural (and your eyes may end up looking smaller and more tired than before because the hooded lids would be pushed down, if you get what I mean). I opted to have mine somewhere in the middle of the crescent, which is slightly above my natural crease line. Then, gently mark the lines with other sharp end of the Y-fork so the lids would crease more naturally after the glue has been applied.

Application

Application

The recommended number of coats by K-Palette is one for each lid, but being the kiasu person I am, I reckon my brush went over about thrice which took about three minutes in all to dry down completely. So yup, in the interest of time, stick to one or two coats at the maximum. Do ensure that the eye is fully closed during the application process because any slight bunching of the lid could ruin the whole thing.

Before and after glue dries down

Before and after glue dries down

The "Y" side of the fork is too daunting for me. I prefer using the other side 🤣

The “Y” side of the fork is too daunting for me. I prefer using the other side 🤣

Each swipe renders a white semi-viscous layer of glue which dries to a clear semi-matte finish. There would still be a sheen to it but it is only noticeable at a close distance (or not if you have sparkly eye makeup on). Once the tackiness is gone (very crucial as the creases may stick to each other if the glue is still tacky and you will have to start all over again), hike up the lids again with the Y-fork as you open your eyes and ta-dah! Double eyelids! 😁

DOUBLE. EYE. LIDS.

DOUBLE. EYE. LIDS.

Not perfect yet as this was just one of the first few trials

Not perfect yet as this was just one of the first few trials

As a novice in using eyelid glue, I had one burning question which, for the record, no other websites had touched on (like, seriously? So everyone uses the glue on bare lids, aye? 🙄) – how should it be applied with eye makeup?  After a few rounds of trial and error, I can conclude that it should only be applied on top of your eye makeup, or as the final step. The drawback of this is that your bristles would be stained by the makeup though, so be sure to give them a little rinse under the tap before the next application.

With eye shadow on and I SWEAR I DID NOT MTXX (OR PHOTOSHOP) MY EYES. The world of difference eyelids make to the eyes! Now you know my eyes aren't actually small - they've just been overshadowed by my hooded lids >:(

With eye shadow on and I SWEAR I DID NOT MTXX (OR PHOTOSHOP) MY EYES. The world of difference eyelids make to the eyes! Now you know my eyes aren’t actually small – they’ve just been overshadowed by my hooded lids 😡

What about eyeliner? Well, this depends on how budge-proof your eyeliner is (Kat Von D Tattoo Liner FTW!). I personally line my eyes after applying the glue because I’d be simply too lazy to redraw them 😂

Sorry for the potato quality.. Taken with my S9 at night, about 12 hours into wear!

Sorry for the potato quality.. Taken with my S9 at night, about 12 hours into wear!

Having worn the glue out on several occasions already, I must say I’m extremely impressed by how long my double eyelids held up. In fact, it lasted the whole day without any of the flaking nonsense. And because the formula is also waterproof, you can cry your heart out at the movies without having to worry if the glue would turn white and fall off midway 😶

B-but how do I remove it at the end of the day?  Oh no, you don’t. It’s permanent! Isn’t that what we all want? MUAHAHAHA.

I kid (sigh!). Your makeup remover should do the trick 😉

Is this something you monolid/hooded lid people would consider getting to enhance your appearance? Let me know in the comments below or take a quick poll!

Thanks for reading!

K-Palette Futae Labo Real Double Eyelid is now available on Lazada and Japalang Store.
PRODUCTS WERE SUPPLIED BY K-PALETTE FOR MY EDITORIAL CONSIDERATION. ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE MY OWN.

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Centrum® Women: The All-In-One Multivitamin Specially Designed for Us!

Hello everyone!

Many people would agree that turning 21 is the biggest milestone in life. After all, it’s the age of majority in Singapore, our gateway to adulthood as we finally meet all age requirements at the cinemas, polling station and not forgetting – if you’re a Singaporean – for receiving the annual GST voucher (this was the greatest deal to me, man! But being born in November meant that I’d only usually be eligible for anything in the following year 😒).

*cough* You know, I know

*cough* You know, I know (source)

Sadly, life also starts going downhill from then on. From the increasing prominence of  dark circles and saggy jowls to declining energy levels and metabolic rate, my body has been inevitably experiencing a multitude of degenerative changes as I inch towards my 30s. Even without looking at the mirror, I can already feel age creeping up on me as I squint my eyes more often than not to get a better view of things (crow’s feet very soon?) and notice how brittle my nails have become.

Granted, we can’t play God and stop the ageing process, but we certainly can slow it down by eating a healthy, balanced diet that promises all the essential vitamins and nutrients we need. But seriously though, who has the time (and money) for that? The last thing I want to do after a hard day’s work is to fret about what should be on my plate instead of indulging in the food I love (which more often than not are practically void of any nutritional value 🙊 *cough* bubble tea and fried chicken *cough*). And honestly, I don’t know how some people do it but damn, it takes an insane amount of discipline to resist all the temptations in a food haven like Singapore!

That's not to say that I condone unhealthy lifestyle habits but there are times when we need to give ourselves a pat on the back, y'know? Like today, I wrestled with my dog just so that I could brush his teeth. Surely I deserved a bowl of laksa as reward?

That’s not to say that I condone unhealthy lifestyle habits but there are times when we need to give ourselves a pat on the back, y’know? Like today, I wrestled with my dog just so that I could brush his teeth. Surely I deserved a bowl of laksa as reward?

And while doing so, how do we ensure that we still meet our nutritional needs? That’s when multivitamins like Centrum® come into play!

Centrum for Women

Centrum for Women

A household name to even the least health-conscious Singaporeans *raises hand* (I mean, they’re not lauded as the world’s number 1 multivitamin brand for nothing!), Centrum® may have been around for as long as I can remember but it was only recently that I started taking the multivitamins (all the HPB infographics have definitely gotten to me). Unlike many other brands I’ve seen, Centrum® does not seem to take a one-size-fits-all approach – they have multivitamins catered to the various needs of each gender and age group (i.e. kids, teens, adults, elderly) specifically. Therefore, if you’re pushing 30 like me, Centrum® Women would be the ideal choice.

NEWSFLASH

Dear 90’s kids, you are old. 

What is Centrum® Women all about, though?

Simply put, it is the complete multivitamin (A-Z!) that helps fill the specific nutrition gaps of women below 50 (hit the golden age? Here’s something else for you!).

Double the protection layer! Child-resistant caps and a protective seal which was a pain to peel in its entirety 😅

Double the protection layer! Child-resistant caps and a protective seal which was a pain to peel in its entirety 😅

Since men and women have different body compositions and nutritional needs, it would be ludicrous if we shared the same dietary supplement.

Since men and women have different body compositions and nutritional needs, it would be ludicrous if we shared the same dietary supplement.

So what’s in it for us? Based on the latest findings in nutritional science, Centrum® for Women has more Calcium, Magnesium and Vitamin D, as well as over 20 other important nutrients* to support optimal health for modern women from the inside out. Besides fostering a healthy immune system and maintaining bone strength, the multivitamin is also made up of the essentials that keep our eyes (great for OLs who need to spend hours in front of the computer screen), nails (hear ye, manicure addicts!), skin and hair functioning strong. Never seem to get adequate rest no matter how early you hit the sack? Perhaps the B vitamins (e.g. Vitamins B6, B12, and Folic Acid) and iron present in each tablet would be the answer to your tiredness and fatigue!

TL;DR in colour for you (you’re welcome!)

Let’s not forget the fact that women in my generation would also be in their childbearing years now. Getting enough of Folic Acid can greatly reduce the chances of neurological birth defects too!

*be sure to check if you are allergic to any of these vitamins or minerals
The so-called "ingredients"..

The so-called “ingredients”.. Sorry for the terrible lighting. Click here for the full list!

The other side of the packaging

The other side of the packaging

Each bottle contains 60 tablets which would essentially last you 2 months. And don’t you hate it when you miss your dosing schedule? Well, this hardly happens to me with Centrum® Women because there isn’t a strict regimen to follow per se. Pop one tablet a day with (optimally) or after any meal (but I usually take it with breakfast or lunch because kiasu) and you’re good!

If only these are grape flavoured!

If only these are grape flavoured!

Having only been on Centrum® Women for a month thus far, it is still too early to tell if it has improved my overall health (I’m not really in poor health to begin with lah.. I think.. hahaha hope I’m not jinxing myself). But one thing I know for sure is that my energy level has restored quite a bit. I guess that’s a good sign, eh? 😁

If you’re fortunate enough not to feel the effects of ageing yet (yet hor!), it won’t hurt starting on some of these multivitamins because it’s never too early to power up your life! So watcha waitin’ for?! Visit your nearest Watsons, Guardian or Unity Pharmacy outlet now!

Thanks for reading!

This post was done in collaboration with CENTRUM SINGAPORE.

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