Skin Care Product Review: Hyaluron Boost Concentrate, by Schaebens

I've reviewed a couple of Schaebens products in the last months, and the Hyaluron Boost Concentrate is by far one of the least interesting. It may be due to the relatively impractical way to use it, as it does not come as a capsule whose liquid can be easily taken out, but the liquid is contained in the recipient and it goes out upon applying a little hole in the foil. The result is that very often the liquid is not enough to cover properly the face and the neck.

However, when it comes to evaluate the results of applying the product - I used them for ten days, with a break of 2-days between - I was more than happy with the effects. It operates instantly and not only makes the skin looks fresh and youngish, but also smooth and with a silky texture. Although for the long-term it is not enough, as you need a special daily schedule of drinking liquids and healthy life, on the spot is produces very shining effects. It confirms the description provided by the company, according to which the results of applying the product are visible within 30 minutes upon applying. 

You can better apply it in the evening, allowing the liquid to develop during the night. Otherwise, some of the effects might be diminished because of using make-up and the usual face creams during the day.

Even though I was not very impressed by the product - compared to other similar skin care creations by this company or which I tried before - I can recommend it to busy women on the road, without too much time available for a proper skin care routine. It is more than affordable and can be purchased from the Rossmann drugstore chain. 

The First Skin Care Treatment of the Year: ISANA Hydro Booster

The first ten days of 2018 are already gone but I haven't been idle, with a lot of projects ongoing and blogging idea on their way to becoming reality. Meanwhile, I tried to do not neglect my beauty and skin treatments, but as for now I am pretty busy with baby and business stuff, it is almost impossible to find some proper time for myself to get away of everything and book one full hour of massage or proper skin care treatment. For such cases, there are the many modern investions which make the life of a woman easier and also with a lighter investment. As usual, my favorite beauty capsules are doing their work while I am writing articles or pitches for my next campaigns. 

For the last week, I added to my daily routine a hydration treatment by ISANA - The 7-day Hydro Booster capsules, with ginkgo and vitamin E. Their aim is to increase the level of hydration while it also offers protection against the aggressive sun rays, especially in the summer.

Everything you need for a proper face coverage is included in the small capsule. Compared to other occasions, I realized that the liquid might not be enough to cover the neck properly but otherwise the coverage on the face was more than enough, given that the liquid is pretty oily. I preferred to use it in the evening, to offer enough development time over night. During the 'treatment' week, I did not experience any reaction, allergic or of any other kind. The recommended treatment is of over 2 weeks, for reaching at least a 20% increase of hydration. 

The capsules are available at any Rossmann drugstore near you.   

The Unique Ingredients of Mitomo Masks

I mentioned in a previous post about Mitomo masks that there are some special ingredients used for the creation of the face sheet masks, mostly familiar to the Asian audience. For instance, horse oil, a concept that I haven't heard about before.

My next batch of Mitomo face sheet masks involved a lot of unknown for me ingredients, that for sure, for the European ears and eyes might sound quite unusual. Take, for instance, snail+EGF. Snail stands for snail slime - or mucus and EGF for Epidermal Growth Factor, a protein formed in the body which stimulates the cell growth. The sheet face mask based on those is very wet and after the 20-30 minutes traitment, it gives to the face a completely fresh and healthy look. One of my favorite, so far.

Another creative combination uses placenta and platinum. For a long time already placenta is used as a base for various anti-wrinkle regeneration creams and skin.care products therefore it was not a completely new idea for me. Platinum was though, as the only 'metal' I was familiar with in masks was gold. And I also knew about precious diamonds. Platinum is quite a new ingredient, but which acquired easily a place in the beauty industry. It is assumed to improve firmness, skin elasticity and offer a proper hydration. The combination looked good on my skin as well, with at least 24 hours of happy glowing skin.

As kids, we knew that bee venom is very healthy in fact, despite the harm of the swallowing, as it is supposed to offer a good anti-rheumatism protection. But there are good features of this bee product for the skin care industry as well. The Mitomo mask I've tried combined bee venom with gold, which sounded as a match made in heaven. The been venom is also called the 'botox of nature' and is extensively used by Hollywood stars like Gwyneth Paltrow which are happy with its features: increase of blood circulation, filling the fine lines and wrinkles or firming the skin. 

Last but not least, the last mask I've used from this special batch included another cryptic and first-time read/heard for me ingredient: Syn Ake. It stays for: Dipeptine Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, a substance which prevents skin aging and smoothens and tightens the skin, conferring to the skin firmness. The masks combined this peptide with the previously mentioned EGF. The effect was good on skin, but I experienced a little bit of rush. 

What I also liked about those masks was the glowing special packaging, which makes you think before even using it that you are offered something unique, which is exactly what happens during and after using the face sheets.

With a new batch of masks ready to be used in the fridge, I can't wait to test them and share my impressions. The ingredients are more usual, at least in the everyday life.

Disclaimer: The face sheet masks were offered by Mitomo for review, but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Skin Care Product Review: Night Repair Concentrate by Schaebens

After a couple of weeks of permanent use of various capsules, it seems that I am slowly slowly integrating them into my daily skin care routine. The last week I returned to a brand that I successfully used before, Schabens, with a 5-day cure of night repair concentrate. 

I applied it on the clean skin, usually one hour before going to sleep. The apparently small capsule has enough liquid to properly cover the face and the neck in abundance, and it is a lot left for the night. The transparent liquid is very oily and has a specific smell. I used it instead of a night cream, and worked pretty well, with the morning face shining and deeply refreshed. 

Every small blue pill is made of a mixture of jojoba oil, retinole and ceramid. According to the product presentation, a regular use is aimed at increase the hydration with around 46%, improve the skin elasticity with around 40% and reduce the deep wrinkles with 37%. I didn't experience any allergic reaction and most probably would love to keep using it for the time being, as I've found it perfectly suited for my skin and with visible positive effects.

In Germany, it can be purchased at the any Rossmann drugstore chains, at a more than convenient price.

Overall, a product which I strongly recommend to every normal skin. It is easy to use with visible effects within a couple of days only. 

Skin Care Recommendation: L'Oreal Hydra Active 3

Guaranteeing a minimal care to my skin is part of my early morning daily ritual. Given my busy schedule, I always need efficient products, and it goes equally to deos, skin care creams, make-ups and perfumes, with more than 12-hour protection offered.

L'Oreal Hydra Active 3 was a good choice in this respect. I am using it for more than a month and most probably I will keep doing it for as long as the product will be available on the market. It offers 24-hour active care, with a proper hydrated skin all round the day. The 50 ml. bottle looks simple and can be easily carried for short or long trips. It contains Vitamin E, ceramid and ingredients able to offer UV-protection. The cream doesn't smell and is recommended for sensible skin too. After weeks of using, I personally didn't experience any unpleasant effects.

I prefer to apply it first thing after I am out of bed, and wait at least one hour until applying make-up. The skin looks shining and smooth by touch.

I purchased the product from the Rossmann drugstore chain in Germany, at a very convenient price. 

Overall, I had a very good experience with L'Oreal Hydra Active 3 and I recommend it to anyone looking for a minimal daily skin-care menu.  

The month of Mitomo masks

As I already announced a couple of days ago on Facebook, for the next week I am preparing many reviews of the Mitomo masks, a leader in the beauty products, with a presence of over 10 years in more than 60 countries. My offer of collaboration generously accepted by the company will include a couple of product tests of the best skin care products available right now on the market. 

I am a big supporter of the Asian masks, first and foremosts because they offer a perfect face coverage. The unique ingredients used are also exquisite, many of them innovative compositions completely unknown in Europe. 

What I noticed in the case of Mimoto masks is the attention for the smallest details, from the list of ingredients till the exquisite design of some of the products. My first experiences started with a category of masks using lithospermum essence, to which is added hyaluronic, Q10, respectively colagen. The covers reproduce episodes from the daily life in the old Japan, and for me are one of the most interesting choice of packaging for a beauty product. It looks like you are invited to imagine a traditional story while waiting for the masks to do their work. 

Each of the masks are soaked in liquid, which you have to leave to rest on your face for around 20-30 minutes. After you take it out, massage the skin with the liquid left to maintain the effects for a longer period of time. I haven't experienced any allergic reaction, but as usual in such situations, if you have a history in this respect, you better consult your dermatologist before applying it. The smell is very discrete and does not stay on the skin for longer. 

Lithospermum is a very popular ingredient of skin care products in Japan, made popular on local TV shows many years ago. A root belonging to the Boraginaceae family, it is considered to keep the skin looking fresh, young, healthy and beautiful. After each application of the masks, my skin indeed looked smoothy, fresh and healthy. 

The instructions - including visual directions - for applying the mask, as well as the comprehensive list of the ingredients is available on the package. 

My first experiences with Mitomo masks were very good, with satisfactory results. Every evening, I saved 30 minutes for my skin, which was a great change into my daily me-schedule, which I insist to keep on for the time being. 

Looking forward to sharing more beauty Mitomo reviews in my next posts! Stay tunned!

Disclaimer: The products were offered for review by Mitomo, but the opinions are, as usual, my own

My Experience with Lip Patch by Isana Young

Sometimes you just have a look a bit scary - at least for a while - before looking better. It goes with the Korean masks - when my son first saw me wearing them he was in a shock - or the lip patch. Actually, the lip patch offers visually the Halloween-kind of fun, as it only has the enormous lips shape covering more than half of the face. In the last months, I've read reviews about them and was interested to have my own experience about them. At the beginning of the summer I purchased one bag from Rossmann, produced by ISANA Young and tried it a couple of weeks later. 

If you ignore your own appearance during the 20 minutes requested for applying the patch, the results are impressive. As I suffer once in a while because of dry lips, I am trying to keep them hydrated, in addition to drinking as much water as possible, especially in the summer. 

ISANA Young Lip Patch are suited for every skin type, and were created for Rossmann, at a very convenient price. Actually, ISANA is a good brand if you are looking for toileteries such as shower gel, at very affordable prices, recommended particularly if you travel, for instance. My lips were not only hydrated, but the patch had peeling effects too. The pinky jelly patch contains a liquid which is working outside and inside the lips, eliminating the dead cells and hydrating in-depth. One day after I used them, the lips are still looking and feeling fresh and with a velvet texture.

I didn't experience any allergic reaction, except a bit of itchy and burn, the usual sensation in case of peeling masks, meaning that something good is really going on with and on your skin.  

I personally recommend this product to anyone looking to have normal and healthy looking lips. Although the one I tried is a limited edition, I might look for similar products by other brands.

Skin care review: Bebe young care with green tea

Finding the right face cream for the long winters here is not an easy job. I have a normal skin and therefore I am not very pretentious, but on the other hand, it is quite challenging to pick up an otherwise easy product that should do a good protection job. Some expensive choices can do it right, but not always. I also like to not switch too much the skin care products, keeping up for a long time with products that offer the adequate protection.

Completely by accident, a couple of months ago I decided to try the Bebe Young Care cream with green tea. It is aimed for mixed skin, which is exactly the stage my skin is: overall normal, but not that 100% young and shining. Especially for the winter, it is better that you use this mix as the skin is over exposed to long periods of cold - while outside - followed by longer periods of warm - when indoors.

The cream was offered together with make up removal wet napkins, the kind of removal which I am using regularly for almost a year. The price at Rossmann Drugstore in Berlin was under 5 EUR.

I am using the cream twice the day: in the morning, before using the make-up and in the evening, before going to sleep. The skin is becoming in a very short time matte and it has a different, more pleasant texture by touching. It has a pleasant smell and during the whole period of time I didn't experience any allergic reactions. The 50 ml. small glass can reach for at least three months. 

It serves as a good basis for make-up.

Besides various minerals, it contains a significant amount of green tea, an ingredients which has many valuable advantages for the skin and skin care in general. For instance, it has known antioxidant effects with anti-aging consequences, it protects against acne and pollution. Therefore, every major beauty brand includes lately green tea among the mix of ingredients.

Overall, the bebe young care with green tea is recommended for normal and mix skins. It is efficient and offers the right protection for the skin of a modern woman always under the attack of stress and busy life. Strongly recommended.

Your 15 minutes of skin care: Garnier Skinactive Hydrabomb

Busy people tend to set low priorities for the time spent for themselves only, and for us, women, the skincare routines seem to be the first victims of full schedules and never ending merry-go-round of children care, meetings and house chores. However, the modern beauty industry created many incentives to challenge dramatically such a perspective. Smart and highly efficient products were created, that don't need more than 15 minutes of your time the week. I agree that it is important to take care of your skin every day, but at least for now, it can be a good beginning and the good results are an incentive to keep up the good work of respecting yourself.

In the last three weeks, I tested every week one of the Garnier Skinactive Korean skin masks, each of them promising a full hydration after 15 minutes of use for at least one week. It sounds a bit miraculous, but after I used the first well soaked mask, I was convinced that this could last even more than that. Each of the products were available at the local drugstore chain - Rossmann or DM in Germany - for 2 EUR. each (actually Rossmann may have some even cheaper discounted rates). Given the results, it is also a more than smart investment.

Each of the masks has a special ingredient, besides the hyaluron. The first I used has chamomile extract, which is recommended for sensitive and very dry skin. It works slowly, without even noticing what happened in the last 15 minutes. You will only see when you look yourself in the mirror, at your shining skin. The next one has green tea extract, one of my favorite cosmetic - and food too - ingredients. It has a soothing and relaxing effect - as in the case of all skin masks, my advice is to keep it in the fridge for at least 2-3 hours before using it, as it has also a very refreshing effect. During every of the 15 minutes, I felt as my skin was under permanent water and was a very healthy sensation. The skin was so smooth thereafter, that I felt that I don't need to apply any makeup for the next days. The last mask, with pomegranate essence. Compared to the others, it also has a pleasant smell, as it contains special fragrance. Due to the high percentage of hyaluron, I was able to feel how it was working on my skin. It is very recommended particularly if your face is too tired and dehydrated. In the case of the previous two masks I prefer to clean the liquid from the face, but in this case, I just left it on the skin to work further on.

The conclusion: those products are high quality, with good effects on the skin, that last for at least a couple of days. You can easily take with you in your travel bag too. It is about time to start taking more care about yourself, but take it easy. You can start with just 15 minutes the week. 

Good luck and a happy healthy skin glowing 2017!

Golden mask from Schaebens

Gold is a valuable product not only for the fashion and design industry, or even for the high-end cuisine, but also a valuable ingredient for the beauty products. In general such products are automatically expensive, but as I had the occasion to see in the case of other products created by the German company Schaebens, an affordable price can deliver good quality, although for a short term.

The Luxus Maske is available in a package of two, recommended to be used every two days. I tried once in the evening and once in the morning, and in both situations, I was happy with the results for the skin. All you need is to put aside some ten minutes for yourself and close your eyes and relax while the mask is doing its job. Quite a good job, as after applying it, at least in the first hours thereafter, the skin looks smooth and full of life, not the usual tired look.

Besides gold - which, by the way, is never available in its pure form, but always part of different compositions - the mask contains champagne, caviar and pearls. It really looks as a beauty feast, isn't it? Other ingredients are urea, sodium hyalunorate, water, glycerin. The mask looks as a yellowish gel paste that feels very cold against the skin - in both cases I did not put the mask in the fridge, although it may be recommended, so it was the natural effect of the mask. The first seconds, my face was wrapped in a wave of warm, with some short-lived burning on the side in the last half of the time. After 10-15 minutes, I cleaned it with some clean napkins and warm water.

The skin felt very smooth, although in both situations, the irritation/a bit of rash feeling persisted for at least 10 minutes after. The skin was so fresh that I did not need to wear any more concealer or other cream. 

I was happy with the quality, the price and the effects so, most probably will keep trying more Schaebens products and for sure, at least every month a Luxus Maske mit Gold, because I really deserve it!

Tea tree face mask by Montagne Jeunesse

The Korean-style face masks are one of my favourites, as I am guaranteed a perfect coverage as well as a higher hydration as in the case of the usual skin products. The fashion of Korean masks entered also the German markets, with a variety of products and price ranges, from 2 Euro until 100 - for Shiseido, for instance. For the weekly and daily skin care, I am for low to medium average products and thus, I decided to try a tea tree mask by Montagne Jeunesse. This 30-year old Wales-based company offers cruelty free vegan products using natural ingredients packed in attractive colourful packages at affordable prices. Those are the kind of products to use at least twice the week.

My cloth mask has a mixture of natural ingredients, among which green mint, spearmint leaf oil, algae extract, birch leaf extract and of course, the tea tree oil. It covers perfectly the face and I recommend that before use, to keep it at least 3 hours in the fridge, the refreshing effect is even stronger than when you keep it at the room temperature. 

I tried to create a quiet and pleasant ambiance to spend for at least 10 minutes with the cloth mask on my face. I closed the eyes, deep breath and ready to give myself my personal quarter of an hour of home spa. Even the baby understood that something special is going on and after looking at my funny white covered face, he gave me a little break while playing with his stuffed toys. 

As for me, I went through a variety of sensations, not all of them relaxing. The smell is pleasant and refreshing, an oily mint that it awakes the senses while folding you in a cloud of relaxation. From minute 3, the skin went through moderate to hot fire, with sparkling pinches popping up all over the face covered by the cloth. You should take care to avoid any contact with the eyes, as the mixture is strong enough to burn a bit, although for a very short time. Somehow, the smell balances the strange sensations going on the skin, but I must confess that the last 2 minutes were quite hard, as every minute I wanted to take the mask off and get my 'freedom' back.

The effects on the skin were more than satisfying: the skin looks better and younger and cleaner, the pores are cleansed and the level of hydration was good enough for a couple of good coming days. 

As for now, I am considering to test other masks by Montagne Jeunesse, not only because are made in one of my favourite parts of the world, Wales.

Skin spa from L'Oréal

Source: L'Oréal

I haven't tried too many skin oils because I just prefer to use the right product at the right moment. Right now, after three weeks spent in a relatively polluted part of the world and with a different temperature heights I am back to the chilly yet hot once in a while climate of Berlin. The first victim of such changes is the skin and thus, decided that I should pay more attention and care to it.

Thus, my decision to give my skin a spa for a week with Luxurious oils from L'Oréal Paris. It is available in Germany at any Douglas or Rossmann store, for prices starting with 15 EUR. I used 5 drops each time, in the morning and for the night. The recommendation is to use less for the day, but somehow I decided that I need more soothening. I applied the oil on the entire skin, plus the neck. In the evening treatment, I did a bit of extra massage. 

The overall experience was from good to excellent. It is well absorbed by the skin and I haven't developed any allergy. The skin looked revigorated and shining. The first minutes after applying, the skin is a bit too greasy, but maybe I was too excited about the products and overdid the recommended dosis.

L'Oréal aimed to offer a real spa feeling to the skin, with a mixture of many fragrances among which: olive fruit oil, jojoba seed oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, rosemary, cucumber fruit extract, turmeric root extract, jasmine extract, orange peel, lemon. Unfortunately, the predominant fragrance is lavender, which I fancy the least, so for me, was not the happiest olphactive experience.

The general impression about this product is very good, with a good value for money and visible effects on skin. Recommended, especially if you like the lavender smell.

Beauty review: Anti-Falten Lifting Konzentrat by Schaebens

I used the face masks by Schaebens for a long time with relatively good results, provided at a very good price, but was not too keen to start testing many of their capsule skin treatments. Somehow, the very low price and the apparently little substance discouraged me from trying it. After all, I cannot do experiments with my skin. 

But one of my many resolutions are to try as many new producs as possible and the positive quality reviews of the products branded by Schaebens helped me to go over all the ready made ideas. 

After looking at many of their beauty products, I decided for the anti-wrinkles lifting concentrate. It is available for less than 5 Euro at any DM or Rossmann shop in Germany. It has a big list of ingredients, among which Q10, Peptides, Grape Seeds Extract, hibiscus flower extract, perfume. It includes 7 capsules to be used for 7 days in a row. Other similar products included 5 or 6 capsules.

The little capsule is a wonder in itself. You cut the head and start applying on the skin, especially in the areas exposed to wrinkles: corners of the eye, corners of the mouth etc. The wonder is that the liquid contained is really enough for covering the face and even found more than once that there is even more liquid than I needed. 

I previously cleaned the skin with Hydra Skin Protection by L'Oreal, let to rest and started to apply the liquid with circular moves. At least upon the first application, you will feel some little tickle under your skin within the first 30 minutes, especially in the checkbone area. 

The liquid itself is very consistent, fatty - very greasy at touch - and it stays on the skin for a couple of good minutes before being absorbed by the skin. I followed the treatment early in the morning, leaving it to work for hours before applying any other skin care products or make-up. 

I do not have too many wrinkles due to a very good genetical heritage, but I felt after the first day that the skin looks more natural and glowing. After 5 days, did not see any more some fine lines around the mouth.At the end of the treatment I was really feeling much better in my skin. 

Verdict: It is a product worth the investment, with good result, but if you really have a seriously wrinkled skin, you better save money for something more high-end. 

Beauty review: In Dusch Body Milk with Honey by Nivea

Source: www.nivea.de

I used to be a big fan of Nivea products a couple of years back as our holiday house was close to a factory of the company and as kids, we used to spy a lot around the premices, trying to imagine how to beauty creams are made. I especially liked their hand creams and skin care products, but once in a while I also liked to try their shower creams.

A couple of days ago I discovered a lot of samples of In Dusch Body Milk with Honey and decided to test it for 3 days. 

What I really like about it is that are made for busy people. My shower ritual is to apply the shower gel and after drying to use my special body milk but this takes time usually. With this body milk, after you use the shower gel, with the skin wet, you apply it and keep showering and dry the body. 

I used a 10 ml. sample every time and it was enough. It is free of silicone and artificial substances. It has a strong smell of honey and milk, but on the skin it goes as a natural fragrance. After using it twice for almost a week, the skin looks smooth and fine at touch. It works for both normal - my skin - and dry.

As there are many more In Dusch products, most probably will be tempted to try more samples soon.

In Germany, it is available for 4.49 Euro in most Rossmann and DM stores.

Beauty review: Hydra Active 3 Skin Perfection by L'Oreal Paris

I love the hydration products and I always feel safe when I have at least one into my beauty closet. After going deep into my 30s, I decided to use intensively extra hydration, with the same care I take care to clean my face every day, regardless if I use make-up or not or if I went out of the house or not. I want to keep the skin clean.

This Hydra Active 3 Skin Perfection by L'Oreal Paris is available in the Rossmann stores in Berlin for less than 2 Eur. It is available in a 200 ml. bottle that may last more than one month, used twice the day, in the morning and in the evening. For the evening, I cleaned my face with Balea wet napkins. To apply, I used the big ISANA pads who had the advantage of offering a better coverage of the skin and absorbs more liquid. 

It works for every skin type, and must be applied on the face, neck and decollete. It is parabene free and contains, among others: water, glycerine, fragrance and hydrogenated castor oil. 

After the first 2 days, my skin started to look cleaner, velvet-like by touch, but also a bit too greasy for my taste. The liquid is oily and does have a smell which I do not necessarily fancy to skin products. I did not develop any allergic reaction, but upon applying it does itch a bit as it happends in the case of products with a bit of alcohol - and its derivatives - content. 

What I really find annoying is the impractical system of pouring the liquid. There is no possibility to portion the quantity of liquid on the pad which can lead often to unexpected drops of oily liquid spread where you expect less. 

Otherwise is a recommended purchase ut do not expect wonders unless you use other skin care products.