Ipsa Refiner Water Massage

Contents: 75g
Price: HK$320.00

According to Ipsa's webpage:

A massage cream that changes fatigued, dull-looking skin into healthy, vibrant-looking skin. This product not only massages the skin but also promotes blood circulation. It helps maintain moisture by finishing up the massage with a motion of patting the skin. Furthermore, it firms the skin, leading to smooth skin without visible pores. In addition to its massage effect, it refines the skin's texture through the effects of moisturizing ingredients, helping create soft, bright skin with translucence.

How to use:

In the morning or evening skincare regimen, place an amount equivalent to two scoops of a spatula on five areas of the face (both cheeks, forehead, nose and chin) and massage the skin.

Method of massage
1. Using the entire fingers of both hands, gently stroke the skin in a slow, circular motion.　3 times for the chin, 3 times for the cheeks and 3 times for the area below the eyes toward the forehead in a large circle
2. Lightly stroke outward from the center of the cheeks to calm the skin down.
3. Lastly, pat the skin so that the product blends well with the skin.

My Opinion:

 

The picture above is for the old packaging, this product is still available at the Ipsa's counter but in a new packaging.

 

I got this product back at 2009 and never got around using it, and since I'm limiting my purchase on beauty related products, and this one is about to expire, I had to start to use it.

 

This is one of those gel creams that once you massage into your skin water droplets will form. It's suppose to hydrate and improve blood circulation.

 

I've started to used this according to the instruction, and it takes about 2 minutes for the product to be completly absorbed, and it really does hydrate my skin.

 

I got kind of innovative and decided to massage the product into my skin with Hitachi Hada Crie (sonic massager), I've used the moisturizing mode and it was a disaster, the product got so thick that the gadget was unable to glide over it, so I kept on reapplying more products....

 

For the next trial instead of reapplying more product, I've decided to spray it with water, even though I did not reapply any more product, it stills got thick, and I've concluded that this product works better with your fingers, and I've only been using this as a night treatment, because it feels heavy in the morning.

Ipsa Sun Protector SPF30 PA+++

Contents: 30ml
Price: HKD310.00

According to the package:

Protects against everyday damage, maintain a perfect skin condition following skin care.

Ingredients: Water, Cyclomethicone, Glycerin, Alcohol, Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl ethylhexanoate, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, PEG-100 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Aluminum hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Succinoglycan, Bis-butyldimethicone polyglyceryl-3, Sodium metaphosphate, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Sodium Citrate, Butylene Glycol, Talc, Trisodium EDTA, Silica, Alumina, Citric Acid, BHT, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Syzygium Jambos Leaf Extract

My Opinion:

This is my third bottle and I never had problems with it, but that is because I've only been using it during the winter and have never actually try it during the hot summer days.

It was a disaster to use this during the summer, my face was a grease ball by 10 in the morning, and it took me nearly a week to figure out which product was causing the problem. I guess I'll just keep this for the winter.

Ipsa Skin Beauty Control Base

Contents: 18g
Shade: Yellow
Price HK$200.00

This product has already been discontinued, and the new version is call Pure Control Base, and according to Ipsa's webpage:

A makeup base that controls light to enhance the clarity of skin and a beautiful finish of foundation. A beautiful complexion is created by a good balance of "blue", "yellow" and "red" reflected light. (Yellow) is intended to add "yellow" light to adjust the balance of light in three colors. Softly smoothes on with perfect adherence to the skin and keeps the skin bright and translucent. SPF15 PA+.

Ingredients: Aqua, Cyclomethicone, Butylene Glycol, Octinoxate, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Glycerol, Silica, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyquaternium-51, Lavandula Vera, Spiny Restharrow, Isostearic Acid, Aluminum hydroxide, Aluminum distearate, Trisodium EDTA, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Calcium aluminum borosilicate, Tin oxide, BHT, Tetradecene, vitamin E, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium(IV) Oxide, Mica, Ultramarines, Iron Oxides, Zinc Oxide

My opinion:

I've tried the new version at the counter and apart from the container it appears to be the same as the older version. I had my bottle for ages and the reason why I still have it, is because this base has a very thick texture, and personally I would prefer something lighter.

I can only use this when the climate is really dry, and on those days I do like the effect, it evens out my skin tone with a bit of coverage. For each application you'll only need a tiny bit of product, about half a squirt, and it's kind of hard for me to control the amount because I have it in a pump, but since they have change the container I guess that it would be easier to control the amount now.

I got this in yellow, because at the Ipsa counter they have this computer where they'll test your skin and according to the results I was recommended to get this in yellow. If I had to buy it myself, I would never have got this in yellow, but the recommended shade really did even out my skin tone, therefore, if you are interested make sure you do the test before you get it.

容量： 18g
顏色： Yellow
Price HK$200.00

IPSA Skin Beauty Control Base 美肌調光底霜

• 調節藍、黃或紅光的反射度，使膚色均勻透亮平滑肌膚及令粉底均勻貼服，營造自然亮麗效果蘊含Skin Beauty Powder 美肌粉末及Optical Code Powder光感粉末，有助提昇肌膚的『素肌透光度』，營造柔滑的膚質。
• 具有SPF 15 PA+，保護肌膚免受紫外線的損害。
• 售價：$200/3色

我的意見：

我這支妝前底霜已停產，新版叫 Pure Control Base，而小妹亦於專櫃試過，個人認為除了包裝外，和舊版沒有什麼分別。

這支妝前底霜的質地很厚，而小妹的皮膚比較油，所以只能於天氣很乾的日子才能使用。這支底霜可以均勻膚色而且重有小小遮瑕，效果不錯。每次所需的份量很小，大約按個pump半吓就夠，所以一支可以用很夠。

這支底霜有３個色，粉紅／藍／黃，如果小妹自己選就一定不會買黃色，但因為買之前於專櫃用電腦做了皮膚測試而根據結果小妹才決定要買黃色，如果大家對這支妝前底霜有興趣不防先到專櫃做個測試後才買。

Ipsa Skin Beauty Foundation

Ipsa Skin Beauty Foundation
Contents: 33g
Shade: N3 Ochre
Price: Yen 5,000

This was my first high end foundation, which I don't think is available anymore. The reason why I still have it, is because this is a full coverage foundation which I don't think is suitable for my everyday needs.....

This is a cream foundation with SPF15 PA+, the texture is really thick and I only need half a squirt for each application.

I know that alot of people love Ipsa foundation, and i've really wanted to like it, but I just can't make it work. When I use this foundation on it's own, I have the mask like feeling which I hate, and in order to make it wearable, I like to mix it with my DSW Deep Sea Makeup Fitting Gel (it thins out the foundation).

I'll try to finish this off, but I don't think Ipsa's foundation is for me.

X'mas Haul - Ipsa

This should be my last article on X'mas Haul, after this X'mas I don't think I'll be going shopping again for a long long time.



I was in IPSA today, and did a skin test. According to the results, I had problems with freckles, uneven skin tone and dull skin. The good news was I do not have any problems with dead skin cells (thanks to pretika, and if you are interested check out my previous post)

Sun Protector

It has SPF30 PA+++ (This is my second bottle)

REFINER WATER MASSAGE

Both items are the same thing, the left one was a gift. The lady at the counter said that my lack of luminosity might be due to bad circulation so she recommended this massage cream and told me to massage it twice per week in the evening and that should improve my skin tone and luminosity.

I didn't get much today because I had a really bad experience in Ipsa, I went there because I've wanted to get the Pore Less Foundation, but after being color matched with 101, she told me that Pure Protect Foundation will better suit my needs (I've told her that i needed higher coverage because I've got huge pores around my cheeck area).

She'd tried the foundation on me, and that didn't cover anything at all (I apologize if anyone loves this product, but I've just hated it), I've insisted in having the Pore Less Foundation, it's then that she tells me that my color is out of stock (she should have told me earlier), I've asked her when will they have it restocked, and guess what she said????? "We won't be restocking it, this product is no longer available". I was really irritated (wanted to strangle her), so I've just got the above products, refusing to get any foundation. It is by then that she asks me to leave a number so that she could call me when the Pore Less Foundation comes in.

I used to like IPSA products, but after today's experience, I don't think I'll be going back anymore.

IPSA – Essence for Pore Perfect Clear VS Herb Tea Purifying ACNE Collection

IPSA ESSENCE FOR PORE PERFECT CLEAR

It says in the official web page:

A cream & mask that unclogs pores in two steps. The cream softens and loosens skin to help clear clogged pores. Then the highly adhesive mask thoroughly catches the plug from deep inside the clogged pores. The "oil-sealing effect" of the cream protects skin from damage when peeling off the mask.

Pre-cream 25g Mask 30g ¥3,990 (which is aproximately US$50, I've got mine in Hong Kong for HK$280, which is about US$37)

How to use:

1. Apply Pre-cream to the areas with clogged pores using fingertips and leave on for about one minute.
2. Rinse off the cream with cool or lukewarm water to towel dry, or wipe off the cream with a tissue.
3. Apply the Pore Clear Mask to the fingertips and gently rub into the face until the skin is covered.
4. When the mask dries (for about 10-15 minutes), remove the mask from the bottom upwardly.
5. Follow with your regular skincare.

* Apply on cleansed skin. Use once or twice a week.

Pre Cream - 25g

Mask - 30g

Herb Tea Purifying ACNE Collection

This is a 3 step kit that i got in Taiwan, and it retails for NT$399 (which is approximately US$13):

Step 1 - Herb Tea - Skin Purifying Toner - 50ml

This toner is effecctive to soothe and soften the skin, and removes any excess of dirt and impurities.

Direction: Apply on T-zone area with your fingertips after cleansing

Step 2 - Herb Tea - Deep Purified Mask - 50ml

It contains herbal and tea extracts to draw out impurities from the skin, and prevents formation of black - heads and blemishes.

Direction: Use 1 - 2 times a week after step 1. Apply concentrating on the T-zone area. After it dries completely, gently pull off in an upward direction.

Step 3 - Herb Tea - Skin Refreshing Essence - 50ml

Discouraging skin's oily output and helping to regulate oil secretion. It balances skin's pH and refine the pores

Direction: Spread a thin layer on T-zone area after step 2

After using both sets, I believe that the IPSA set was kind of too strong for my skin, although it might be suitable for someone with really oily skin, but if you have combo skin like mine I would recommend the Herb Tea set.