Some New Loves from Jurlique: Purely Age-Defying Skincare and Rose Silk Finishing Powder

If you live in the UK or Australasia and you're into skincare, the name Jurlique is probably not new to you.

Born in 1985, the credo of the company has always been centered around natural, eco-friendly, organic plant-based beauty, and today, they have a comprehensive range of skincare and body products targeted at different skin issues and concerns.

The bestselling Purely Age-Defying range is targeted at fighting visible signs of aging; namely those who are starting to see fine lines, some slackness and loss of elasticity, and some unevenness in skintone. So I wanted to start my Jurlique journey with some of the cornerstone products in this series.

First there is the key item in any skincare range, and the item that I usually advise most people to invest in. Far better to skimp on a basic moisturizer and invest in a good serum, because they usually contain a concentrated amount of active ingredients, are formulated to penetrate faster and deeper, and also work quite well with most lotions and creams you want to put on top.

Purely Age-Defying Firming and Tightening Serum (SGD$137) is targeted at smoothing wrinkles and improving skin clarity. It contains:

• Oat Kernel extract - anti-inflammatory and soothing; as we get older our skin starts to react more easily to environmental aggressors and hormonal imbalances, and anti-inflammatory ingredients are critical to keeping everything balanced and well-behaved, which is a key to reduction of oxidative stress in the skin.
• Beech Tree Bud extract - extracted from a plant that lives for hundreds of years, beech tree bud extract contains a lot of flavonoids and peptides, things which counteract oxidation and help strengthen your epidermis structure.
• Tapioca starch - this sounds strange but actually it's a great humectant and can help to hold water on the skin surface longer.

And if these are not enough, the serum also contains all the most popular skin protectant/repair ingredients like Licorice extract, yeast, algae, and squalane. The best thing is despite all these nourishing ingredients, it sinks in quickly and doesn't leave a heavy film on the skin, so even if you have oily acne-prone skin, this can fit nicely into your existing skincare routine.

Purely Age-Defying Mist (SGD$76) is one of those face mists we all love and can't get enough of.
This is an alcohol-free, glycerin-based hydrating and antioxidant mist (for those of you who want to avoid all alcohol in your skincare), and key ingredients include:

• Beech Tree Bud extract
• Rock Samphire - also called sea fennel, this is a rare plant whose extract helps to soften and condition dry skin
• Licorice extract
• Ascorbyl Glucoside - Vitamin C is a powerful topical antioxidant which has been proven not just to even out skintone, but also to fight effects of aging and photo-damage. Ascorbyl Glucoside is a stabilized derivative of Vitamin C (non-stabilized Vitamin C starts to degrade the moment it is exposed to light and air, so before you invest in any Vitamin C products make sure you ask if it is a stable formula)

I'm not a fan of mists that are just "spring water". If you're going to use a mist, make sure it contains plenty of other good stuff, because it's a convenient way to deliver extra hydration and antioxidants to your skin over the day, especially if you're wearing makeup and going in and out of dry air-conditioned environment and hot humidity.

And this particular one contains tons of "good stuff". It has a slight herbal scent that's not offensive, but the mister does spray quite a bit of liquid out with each pump, so just aim properly and hold the bottle some distance away so you don't drench your face. (Or simply spray in your palm and press it on gently.)

P.S. the glass bottle is just beautiful, but if you want to travel with this you might want to decant it into a plastic bottle as it's quite heavy.

Pure Age-Defying Firming Face Oil (SGD$106) is my absolute favorite product of the lot. Hands-down. You might not be surprised since I'm a bit of an oil-junkie. I love how calming face oils are, and how they can help balance oil production with regular use, while helping to condition the skin without additional fillers and chemicals that can sometimes cause reactions in sensitive skin.

This product is based on safflower seed oil, which means it is very conditioning and emollient, and contains lots of essential fatty acids that help to repair and protect skin barrier. If you have thin, dry or fragile skin that is prone to mild sensitivities, safflower is a pretty good option, although it's not all that commonly used compared to jojoba, grapeseed and sweet almond. 

Other than safflower, this also contains a lot of other conditioning and antioxidant extracts including:

• Sunflower Seed Oil
• Macadamia Seed Oil
• Rosa Canina (Dog rose) Oil
• Avocado Oil
• Black Currant Seed Oil
• Rock Samphire extract
• Buriti Oil
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin A
• Licorice extract

What stands out to me are the Vitamin A and Buriti which contains beta-carotene (a Vitamin A derivative). If you haven't heard, Vitamin A is a powerful wrinkle-fighting ingredients which also helps cell turnover. Retinol and Retinoids are all Vitamin A derivatives used to fight fine lines and hyper-pigmentation.

Of course, some people are sensitive to certain oils, so make sure you try a sample or do a patch test (as with any skincare product). This is not a comedogenic formula so I don't see it being problematic for most people, but you might still find it feels a little too nourishing for you if you are very oil-prone. You can get around this by changing your method of application.

TIPS FOR FACIAL OIL APPLICATION:

1. Press it on over clean-skin, BEFORE serum/lotion. The lighter product you massage on top of the oil helps to emulsify and increase absorption of the oil. This is my favorite method for application because I find everything absorbs faster and I can apply makeup over it.
2. Add a few drops in your palm, spray a pump or two of the face mist over it, and mix between your palms to emulsify before pressing over your face. This turns everything into a light milk which you can use in place of a regular moisturizer if you don't want too much product on your face.
3. Mix a couple of drops into your regular oil-free lotion or cream and apply together as the last step of your skincare. This boosts the nourishing effect of your lotion or cream.

You can use a regular cream in the day and leave the oil for night, but I personally have slightly combi/dry skin and apply this anytime of the day. It leaves my skin feeling comfortable and smooth for hours, and really helps my makeup to glide on. In fact, it's calmed my skin down so well that I didn't even have a breakout when I was PMS-ing recently, which hasn't happened for a long while.

One last note on facial oils - Jurlique doesn't have a ton of preservatives in the formula and the oil is not mineral-based so you do have to store the product in a cool dry place and try to finish it within a year (6 months is best) so it doesn't go rancid, which is the same for all plant-based oils. If you store it in the fridge, you can extend the shelf life quite a bit as well. Just a tip!

Lastly, a cult classic. Rose Silk Finishing Powder (SGD$63). 

This is something I've been meaning to try for years (ever since I saw Lisa Eldridge talking about the Citrus Silk Finishing Powder, which has sadly been discontinued), but kept forgetting about. Well I am very glad I finally did because it's gorgeous. I want to bathe in this stuff. This is a translucent mattifying powder that balances the skin and subtle evens out skin-tone without looking like makeup. 

It contains Sage and Rosemary extracts to help naturally reduce surface oiliness and also Daisy, luxurious Iris (Orris Root), and even Witch Hazel for a refreshing and cooling feel on the skin. My skin just feels smooth and silky, not powdery or overly-matte and cakey looking.

And did I mention the divine smell? Dust it on and you immediately feel like you're sitting in a 1920's boudoir in your beaded gown, powdering your nose with a luxurious, delicately rose-scented French powder, before going out for an evening at a jazz club. It's a beautiful thing.

A round-up of some new (and evergreen) skincare, makeup, fragrance, and fashion loves!

Now that I've given Jurlique products a nice test-drive, I'm keen to try more of their face oils and masks.

The range is pretty extensive, and they have a number of items for sensitive skins which I am very curious to check out next. So far I haven't been disappointed with any of the items I've tried, which is not surprising given their focus on effective, simple, but elegant formulas made with pure ingredients, many of which are grown and harvested on their own biodynamic farms in Adelaide, Australia.

Highly recommend swinging by a store if you haven't already taken a look at their range!

Jurlique is available in Singapore at Ngee Ann City #B1-56, TANGS Vivocity Lev 1, Raffles City Robinsons Lev 1, Robinsons Heeren Lev 1. 

You can also stay posted on any promotional news and updates on their Facebook page and Instagram @jurliquesg!

Estée Lauder Nutritious Vitality8™ Collection

Estee Lauder's Nutritious Vitality8™ Collection is inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine, which is focused on achieving beauty through balance and equilibrium. By fighting free radicals, maintaining moisture levels, and calming/soothing the skin, the objective is to free skin up to perform all its natural repair and regeneration processes at peak levels.

The "8" in the name comes from 8 key things designed to help promote more radiance:

• Pomegranate
• Soapberry
• Mangosteen
• Berries
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Antioxidant booster
• Mineral water

The original Nutritious line contains Pomegranate extract, which is concentrated in antioxidants and other nutrition. I remember purchasing their very first product, an Energy Lotion which you splash on as a pre-serum to help your skincare work better.

The upgraded collection will include an Overnight Detox Concentrate serum, a Moisture Creme, and two new products that are really interesting:

The first is the new Radiant Dual-Phase Emulsion, a dual-phase liquid and creme that you have to shake up and pat on like a very light lotion. This is great for oilier skins, and also for a quick refresher if you don't want to weigh your skin down.

There's also the new Overnight Creme/Mask, whichis like the sleeping packs and sleeping masks we are so used to here in Asia. You can apply this over your skincare or on its own (if you have oily skin) to help promote radiant skin in the morning. The texture looks quite thick and fluffy, but it sinks right in and doesn't feel greasy or heavy on the skin.

The Nutritious Vitality8™ Collection launches July 2015 in Singapore, and prices start at SGD92 for the Emulsion and Cream, to SGD106 for the Mask, and SGD116 for the concentrate.

Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Foundation demo and review

Bobbi Brown's new Intensive Skin Serum comes in a black glass dropper bottle that might remind you of a volatile oil foundation.

But it's not.

Unlike those silicone-y, fast-drying, lightweight liquids, this is a thick luxurious feeling skincare cream foundation more similar to those that come in jars than in dropper bottles. 

Created based on Bobbi Brown's Intensive Skin Serum, this foundation amalgamates skincare and coverage, and contains Cordyceps Mushroom extract, Bamboo Grass, and Lychee extracts for antioxidant, soothing, hydrating, and anti-aging skin benefits. What it aims to do is to provide a plumping and smoothing effect to the skin.

I think the first thing you will notice most about this formula is how hydrating it is compared to typical foundations. The dropper bottle dispenses a single pea-sized amount in a squeeze, which should be sufficient for spreading over most of your face if you want lighter coverage. 

This foundation is buildable, but you need to let the first layer set a bit first. Otherwise the creaminess might end up dissolving and sheering out the first layer. Spread out with fingers or a brush, it acts almost like a tinted moisturizer with higher coverage. The sheen and hydrating texture only adds to that effect.

To build up more coverage, take a bit more product on your hands after letting the first layer set a bit, then dab a bit more where you need coverage and pat - don't rub - the product until it evens out and blends in.

This foundation gives the effect of clean, moisturized skin. It looks so real that I almost look like I have no makeup on in the "After" image. But you can see the little mole on my inner cheek is almost not visible. The little veins around my lower cheeks are also hidden. 

But you WILL need to set this foundation with powder because even if you have dry skin, it can still crease a bit around laugh lines and under the eyes. As mentioned earlier, this feels quite like a traditional cream foundation for normal to dry skins and doesn't set completely, even though it's not oily. The dewy sheen can also emphasize pores around the inner cheek area, so it's always a good idea to powder around those areas.

Otherwise, if you have oily skin or live in a humid climate, it can start to feel a tiny bit rich on the skin. 

Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Foundation after powdered

Though Bobbi Brown states this foundation is suited for all skin types, I still believe every foundation works better on some skins than others. And this is not one that I think oilier skins would enjoy. It might not be oily or comedogenic in formula, but it can still feel a bit heavier compared to other options on the market.

My recommendation is that if you have normal to dry or more mature skin that needs the plumping and smoothing effect, and you like fluffy cream foundations like Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation or Clinique's Dermawhite, this would be a nice option to consider.

Base makeup notes:

• Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Foundation 3.5
• Marc Jacobs Re(marc)able Concealers in 3 and 4
• Clear Last Face Powder (medicated)
• The Balm Bahama Mama powder for subtle sculpting
• MAC Mineralize Skin Finish powder in Lightscapade on cheekbones

This is pretty much what I do daily for my base routine even though I switch the products in and out. And sometimes I'll keep it simple and just keep the focus on my lips.

Super-nude makeup look with just an intense lacquered red lip

• Givenchy Ombre Couture 1 Blanc Satin on lids - nothing but tiny diamond sparkles
• Physicians Formula Organic Wear mascara - don't like this mascara in the original formula; I'm just using it up!
• L'oreal Color Riche Lipstick in RW512 Bloody Mary - a deep dark cherry-toned red
• Shu Uemura Laque Supreme in RD 02 - cherry-toned cool scarlet gloss stain

Belif Peat Miracle Revital Range

Belif Peat Miracle Revital Range

Belif is a popular Korean herbal skincare brand which is well-known for its adherence to 5 credos:

1. True Ingredients - only carefully selected natural herbal ingredients are used
2. True Formulas - the brand uses traditional extraction methods and processes to preserve natural ingredients
3. True Benefits - quality of the products takes emphasis over packaging
4. True Safety - no synthetic preservatives, colors, fragrances, mineral oils or animal derivatives are used in their formulas
5. True Timelessness - they stay away from fanciful fad ingredients and use herbal formulas that aim to stand the test of time

Peat Miracle Revival range is one of their newer anti-aging, skin rejuvenating lines.

If you've never heard of peat extract, it's a rare extract harvested from unpolluted earth deep under the surface in a few specific geological areas of the world. The "magic ingredients" created by fermentation of diverse organic matter are humic substances, including humic acid, which is not only antibacterial but also anti-inflammatory, and believed to be beneficial to skin regeneration. In fact, it's being studied for AIDS treatment. But I do need to point out that the exact benefits for skincare are still being studied so I steered away from reading too much marketing copy from Belif, because I wanted to try it for myself and see what it was really good for.

After using the products for about a month straight, this is what I think!

Peat miracle revital serum concentrate

The peat miracle revital serum concentrate is a viscous, clear, cooling gel which feels a little like hyaluronic acid. It absorbs quickly and doesn't leave any greasy residue.

If you have oily skin, this is one of the key products in the range you should start with because some of the other products are heavier in texture and possibly not that fantastic for oily skins, even though they aren't greasy per se. It's quite a refreshing and soothing product.

Belif Peat miracle revital cream

The Peat Miracle Revital Cream is cream with medium thickness but it does absorb into my dry skin quite well and the hydration lasts for a few hours. It's actually not a greasy cream at all. Good if you have normal to slightly-dry skin. I'm not too certain if those with oilier skins would enjoy something of this texture in the day, but it could work at night, in air-conditioning or in colder environments.

And the fresh herbal smell is just beautiful. I really enjoy the texture and scent every time I apply it.

Peat Miracle Revital Eye Cream

 The Peat Miracle Revital Eye Cream is meant to stimulate collagen production. In my month of using it, I can't really see any big change in skin texture and tone but that's normal with any topical product. Don't expect miracle results in a month, whatever the name says.

It does do a pretty good job of keeping my parched under-eye area hydrated and supple, without causing any milia seeds or clogs. 

If you have combination skin or oily skin but a few dry areas, I'd suggest getting the serum and the eye cream. Like the face cream, this has that same fresh light herbal scent.

Peat Miracle Revital Mask

Now here's one of my favorite products from the range. This was actually one of the last products I tried (I used the rest of the range about 3-4 weeks before I even popped this out, as I'm not someone to use clay masks regularly due to my drier skin.)

But I love it.

It works like a non-drying clay mask and cleans the skin, but it doesn't cause my skin to sting, and it doesn't dry it out. How's that for a good alternative to the usual masks that suck the moisture right out of your skin?

Then again, this is probably the reason why it might be a good option for normal to dry or mature skins, but not for very oily and congested skins. Not that it would do any harm. You just wouldn't see as much of an effect.

Final Verdict?

I'd say it's a great range for people who want skincare for first-signs of aging, who are experiencing a bit of dryness/dullness, some fine lines and slight slackness. Not so much for very mature skins or advanced signs of aging.

This is a good affordable alternative to expensive skincare if you're in your late 20s to mid-30s, if you don't have special needs such as acne or extreme sensitivity.