Showing posts with label Naruko. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Naruko. Show all posts

Friday, February 8, 2013

Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Balancing Serum Review

WHAT IS IT: Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Balancing Serum


THE PRODUCT(S):

Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Balancing Serum: Designed for normal to oily skin, Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Balancing Serum is an an invisible oil absorbing sheet designed to stop the production of excess oil while keeping the skin moisturized. The Balancing Serum forms an invisible barrier to keep oil away and helps skin function normally by immediately increasing the skin's metabolism by absorbing excess oil and moisturizing the skin. It is a refrshing serum that helps to keep away acne and blackheads.



This Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Balancing Serum comes with a pump nozzle, ensuring the product stays hygienic, even if you have to share it with family and friends.



The serum is actually milky-white with a watery serum-based consistency and texture and I love the scent of it.



It gets absorbed instantly and doesn't leave any greasy nor oily feeling and neither does it make my pores feel clogged at all.


VERDICT: First of all, I cannot stressed how much I love the scent of this Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Balancing Serum, it's just heavenly. And I personally have a soft spot for anything minty, especially if it has Tea Tree in it. And this serum just hit the spot for me. I love how the texture is watery serum-based and it actually comes with a pump nozzle, which ensures that the content inside the bottle doesn't come into contact with germs that easily. And one pump is actually enough for my whole face too.


Personally, I do love moisturizing my face but despite using a facial moisturizer all these years, I always failed to find one that actually works well with my combination/oily skin most times. And yes, it can get really frustrating to have to keep trying different facial moisturizers to keep those unwanted acne and pimples at bay. And one time, I got a little over zealous and used pure Tea Tree Oil on my face, only to result in a breakout of pimples on a really regular basis and those pimples are really stubborn to the point where it cannot decide whether it should fade and go away or just simply ripen.


Until finally less than 2 weeks ago, I finally chanced upon this Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Balancing Serum while browsing at Watsons. Prior to buying and using this serum, I was constantly using facial masks on a nightly basis to help tame my ever stubborn acne and pimple issues and I do realize that it is almost impossible to depend on facial masks alone. But ever since buying this serum from Watsons, I've been using it diligently day and night every day and I am glad to say, I definitely do see a decrease in pimple flares already.



Image Source: Naruko Singapore


If you are thinking of using this as a anti-acne or anti-pimple serum, I'm afraid to inform you that it doesn't work like that. In fact, this serum should be used as a facial moisturizer. Yes, facial moisturizers need not come in cream-based version, if you do not know. It can come in serum-based, just like this Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Balancing Serum. Using a facial moisturizer or serum actually helps to hydrate your face, preventing your skin from overproducing facial serum, which will in turn leads to acne and pimples. If anyone ever tried to tell you that people with oily skin do not need moisturizing due to the excess sebum, kindly feel free to whack that person on the head and send in a complaint, I mean feedback letter to their respective company they work for, as it definitely looks like someone is working in the wrong industry.


I personally stopped using my previous facial moisturizer in preference to this balancing serum by Naruko and mind you, I have never tried any retail-sized Naruko products before and this is definitely my first purchase on a retail-sized bottle, instead of a sample. As I tend to have stubborn acne and pimple issues as previously mentioned, I immediately felt that this would be a great product to use in place of my old facial moisturizer and damn, am I correct on that. As so far, I can see my blemishes looking a little tamer instead of darker. Acne and pimples aren't that crazy and stubborn now, if not, I can just outright say that I do not have a single acne issue or pimple ripening on my face from the time I started using this until right as of now.


What I like about this balancing serum is that, my pores looks reduced especially around the cheeks area. My blackheads do not look so obvious now, but prior to using this, you can see little black dots on my nose even from a great distance. And that is how scary my face condition used to look like, way before I ever heard of Naruko or even this product. It's not like I've never tried any pore minimizing or reducing serums before, it's just that they promised but never delivers and my only recourse would be via facial masks, which honestly isn't going to do much as our skin ultimately needs daily moisturizing and nourishment.


Don't get me wrong, it's not that facial masks aren't good to use. It's just that, in my own personal opinion, facial masks should be to pamper your skin, whether it's daily or a few times a week. Not to be used in place of actual facial moisturizers, no matter how easy it is. And despite hearing that this balancing serum is good for hormonal acne and pimple issues, I would dare say it's working for my skin on a really good basis. My opinion? Naruko should have this product line out a good decade ago, as it would have helped me to prevent unneeded acne and pimple flares which seems to have a mind of it's own.


VERDICT: ✓✓✓


WHAT I THINK: Highly recommended, especially from me with stubborn acne and pimple flare issues in which my pimples cannot decided whether it should go away or ripen.


WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Didn't really see sample redemption exercise on Naruko Singapore Facebook page, however, this is one facial serum I am definitely loving despite not being able to try a sample. In fact, I wish I could kick myself for not going down to Watsons earlier to check it out.


Why not like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PuNiaosProductReviews to be informed of latest samples I found, which is duly updated? Also includes updates to contests that I've sourced out for you to join. It will definitely save you the trouble of having to hunt them down :)


Saturday, January 26, 2013

Samples Received/Redeemed: 21 Jan - 25 Jan 2013

Well, well.. Another week of samples redemption in the mail and a little splurge at Watsons (Unfortunately, it isn't a haul since discounts were on items I didn't really fancy. While things I actually need weren't on any type of discount. Sigh..) But ultimately, 1 or 2 freebies is still better than nothing at all, don't you agree?



Well, I recently got to know about AmethyStory having a sample redemption exercise, no doubt thanks to the wonderful friends I had recently been adding to my FB list of friends. And of course, I was pointed to the right direction by them too, so sweet~



The sample actually came in a booklet form, although the email I received hinted that the sample is courtesy of The Sample Store o.O



The sample sachet is 5ml worth, and if we are supposed to use gels such as these to remove dead skin cells once a week, I reckon this sample sachet should last 2 uses. Provided we use it once a week on our face only. However, this can be used on underarms too and it is just as effective.


WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Go over to AmethyStory Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/amethystory, Like the page. Next, look for the link that says Free sample, click on it and follow the prompts. Now, you wait for the sample to arrive in your mailbox :D




Also the same as the AmethyStory sample, was referred to the sampling exercise by a dear FB friend. Although I find it weird that I requested for both within minutes of each other, but the AmethyStory one arrived 2 days earlier than the Bio-Essence one. Hmm.. The email is also from The Sample Store too.



Hong Kong Artiste Linda Chung is the official spokesperson for the Bio-Essence series :D



This sample also came in a booklet form, and the sample is 2ml each as there's 2 small sachets inside the booklet. Well, it's either 1 sachet at 4ml - 5ml or 2 sachets at 2ml each, I suppose. Samples consist of:
  • Snail Secretion Repair Serum x 1 @ 2ml
  • Repair & Smooth Cream x 1 @ 2ml


If used sparingly, each sachet should last at least 2-3 days at most.


WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Go over to Bio-Essence Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bioessence.sg, Like the page. Next, look for the link that says Free sample!, follow the prompts, fill in your details and wait for the sample to arrive in your mailbox.


As of late, there seems to be some sort of internal error within the app itself, so I'd recommend checking it everday. And in the event it gets fixed, you can quickly request for your own sample too. No news on how fast the fix would be done for the app itself though,



And so, after a month or so, I went "trolling" around Watsons just for some look-see and ended up with these 3 purchases. Let's just say that one of the item was an un-intended buy, no matter how I look at it. But more details coming up with the corresponding photo :D



So, I waddle all over Watsons for a good 1 hour despite the shop being not that particularly huge and unfortunately along the way, grabbed a conditioner instead of a shampoo. Only realized that when my hair was dripping wet, I was nekkid in the shower and the supposed-shampoo refused to ooze out of the bottle. Only to look and realized, "Aw crap! I got the conditioner by mistake..".


It's an Avalon Organics Scalp Normalizing Shampoo that I decided to get to combat my mild-severe dandruff problems. Some days, it's tame and some days, I scratch myself into agony like some deranged monkey :/



This Brand's Innershine Marine Collagen Essence Strip is supposedly up for sample redemption on Facebook. Catch is, you have to invite/share with 10 friends to get it. Let's just say, after filling in my details, the Continue button refused to work. It just stayed on the screen, looking woefully at me.


This pack here costs S$9.90 and consists of only 3 strips in there, while the box version costs S$30 and consist of 10 strips. Recommendation is to take 1-3 strips daily, so if I were to nom on 3 strips on a daily basis, 3 strips multiply by 30 days is equal to 90 strips. S$30 for a box of 10 strips, and that would amount to S$270 a month just for beautiful skin... Too expensive, I think D:



And this Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Balancing Serum is what I intend to use in place of my usual facial moisturizer for now. Although my skin is really allergic and sensitive to pure Tea Tree Oil, other variations of Tea Tree Oil such as toner, facial cleanser, serum, for example luckily doesn't aggravate my acne/pimple issue. That I am definitely thankful for :D


WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: For the Brand's Innershine Marine Collagen Essence Strip sample, you need to go to Brand's InnerShine Singapore Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BrandsInnerShineSG, Like the page. Next, look for a link that says Brand's Innershine Marine..., click on the Redeem Now! button and invite 10 friends (or more if you prefer or in the event some aren't online on a daily basis, so whichever 10 first answered your invite still nets you the free sample). Once done, a new popup window will appear and you need to fill in your details and follow the prompts.


Unfortunately for me, I just can't seem to get my request for the sample done. So, I'd probably had to be content with paying cold hard cash for it as I am using a PC, not a smartphone to access the app..



Why not like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PuNiaosProductReviews to be informed of latest samples I found, which is duly updated? Also includes updates to contests that I've sourced out for you to join. It will definitely save you the trouble of having to hunt them down :)


Friday, July 13, 2012

Naruko Narcissus Defense BB Sunscreen SPF50 ★★★★ Review







So, I diligently checked my mailbox and saw a package. It simply said Naruko Singapore at the back with their office address. I happily opened up the envelope and saw this cute little tube of BB cream being cushioned with bubble wrap ( ❤❤❤ Awww, I just love it when products are so lovingly handled with use of bubble wrap, it makes the product look so precious and fragile ❤❤❤) and instantly put it to the test.

WHAT IS IT: Naruko Narcissus Defense BB Sunscreen SPF50 ★★★★


THE PRODUCT(S):

Naruko Narcissus Defense BB Sunscreen SPF50 ★★★★: This BB sunscreen uses state of art sun shield - Suncat to provide SPF50 sun protection. A revolutionary color diffuser evens skin tone and leaves flawless skin condition all day long. It is a perfect solution to conceal, treat and protect. It's best for all skin types too.


VERDICT: First thing firsts, I tend to like to "sniff" my products before trying or using them. Weird personal trait of mine, but well... This BB cream smells nice, unlike regular or other BB creams that you come across with the typical "cosmetic" smell that is always being associated with. I almost kept sniffing it and forgot to do a product test with it

Upon testing a small amount on the back of my hand, it gives my hand a "dewy" complexion. I decided to put it to my ultimate test. Apply and leave it on for a few hours while taking notes on and off.

A few hours later after application, it doesn't irritate my skin at all and trust me on this, I have sensitive skin and good products like these are absolutely hard to come by. (And I always make sure to try a good decent amount on the back of my hand to test for allergic reaction or irritation.) The smell isn't over-cloying after a few hours later and the "dewy" look looks settled instead of shining like a overcharged light-bulb that screams "Look at me!"

The best part of it? I totally forgot I had applied it and even went to bed with the BB cream still on the back of my hand. When I woke up the next morning, there were no smears on my face, pillows or bedsheet at all. Wicked!!

PRODUCT RATING: ✓✓✓

WHAT I THINK: Sweet dreams are made of these~~~

WHERE TO REDEEM A SAMPLE: So far, I can't recalled where on earth I got this redeemed from. And I can't seem to find out where I got it online either. But I do know for sure I did not buy it in the first place. So, maybe Naruko Singapore was kind enough and decided to hunt down my particulars to send a free sample over (Fat Hope! lol But then, it doesn't hurt to wish for it again)

WHERE TO KNOW MORE: Check out Naruko Singapore's Facebook page via https://www.facebook.com/narukosg

WHERE TO BUY: Go to Naruko Singapore's Online Shop at http://www.naruko.sg/shop/index.php?route=common/home to get your hands on their awesome products, including this Naruko Narcissus Defense BB Sunscreen SPF50 ★★★★ I just reviewed. It's just simply amazing and a definite must-have!!.

15 July 2012 EDIT: I recalled how on earth I got this sample. For Liking Naruko's Facebook page, I was supposed to be entitled to Raw Job's Tears Supercritical CO2 Whitening Mask x 1 pc. However, I was a little "late" in finding out about their Facebook page. But Naruko Singapore appreciated that I still followed them despite being "late", so as a token of their appreciation, they sent me another sample via mail. And I got the awesome BB suncreen. Lucky!