okay, before we start this review, let me apologize for not being a good beauty blogger. i usually take picture right after i buy the product and right before using it. but last two months have been up and down for me. i've been busy with the kids graduation events, all that practices and stuff. then after that we went to singapore for a long holiday, and afterward, the kids took turn getting sick and i had no helpers aside from my nanny for two weeks, while hubby was already get back to work. and i completely forgot that i haven't take any picture of this sunscreen and i had used it up while on vacation and i threw the bottle away while cleaning up! oh well, i hope you guys forgive me... now let's move on to the review.

this is the description from their website: the power of oriental herbal extracts, for skin with a snow-like smooth translucency. a gel-type everyday sunscreen with a refreshing texture. washes off easily without special cleansing products. compound beauty formula: coix seed extract, loquat leaf extract, licorice leaf extract and glycerin.
little trivia: i just found out that there are two brand name, sekkisei and sekkisui. the one that's more pricey, considered high-end in japan, is sekkisei (with E). but the other one, sekkisui (with U) is a sister brand that's more affordable since it's made exclusively to be sold at 7-eleven. no wonder i only found kose products in 7-eleven!

the packaging: it comes in plastic pouch. at the back there's a description in japanese, but they put another sticker label on top of that and it has english description as well as ingredients list. the sunscreen comes in blue plastic squeeze tube with white plastic screw cap. it comes in just 50 g, pretty small for sunscreen. it doesn't have the usual spout to dispense the product.

the scent: straight after opening the tube, it would smell like alcohol. but it diminishes after being used regularly.

the original packaging

the product: the sunscreen is a white gel-cream that's slightly runny. perhaps almost similar to biore uv gel. it's easy to spread around but it takes a minute or two to be absorbed.

the result: after being absorbed, it will give you a white cast but after awhile it will subsidies. it's not absorbed as fast as biore but a bit faster than skin aqua essence. when i said it smells like alcohol, it's no wonder because alcohol is second in the ingredients list, but luckily it doesn't break me out. but if you're concern about the alcohol in the ingredients, then you should skip it. it does leave semi-matte finish, but if you're super oily you might not like it as it's really hydrating.

i have to say 50 ml feels like nothing! it's gone within one month (if not under.. i'm not counting anyway). it would be fine if you have dry skin, as this one is really hydrating. but if you have super oily skin or living in a hot humid weather, then you might not like it when it's super hot. i tried this when the weather is hot, but my kids were already halfway to holidays so they're not going to school full time, so i was only out in the morning. anyway, i still prefer my biore sunscreen, and perhaps the skin aqua if i'm running out of any japanese sunscreen as it's available in singapore. this one is considered affordable and you could only pick this up in 7-eleven. have you find a good biore substitute ever since they're changing the formula? let me know in the comments.

i was running low on my powder stash (that's before i went to singapore and bought all essence powders) so the body shop birthday discount is a right time to buy something new. apparently, there's also a discount for makeup. so i had to pay separately for makeup items. i tried this matte clay powder since the lightest shade seems okay for me (the previous powder foundation even the lightest shade is still a shade darker for me). so let's see whether it's a match or not.

this is the description from their website: smooth over imperfections and achieve high coverage with our new breathable matte clay powder available in 6 different shades. enriched with community trade tea tree oil, this powder provides a high coverage matte finish for a clearer looking complexion. wear it alone or on top of foundation for a flawless and even finish.
full coverage, matte finish. 100% vegan. skin appears more even, oil absorbing properties. ideal for any skin type, ultra lightweight. breathable all day coverage. suitable for sensitive skin.

the compact case

the packaging: it doesn't come in any box, it's just the powder pan. it comes in black plastic compact case with transparent plastic window at front so you can see the powder pan from the outside. there's a label at the back indicates the shade number and name. there's two sticker that secured the pan, one on the opening clasp and unfortunately, the other one on the side is the one that's got the expired date on. so if you rip the sticker off, you can no longer see the expiry date anymore.

label at the bottom

the scent: this one is definitely scentless.

if you can see, there's a sticker mark that has the expiry date on

the product: the powder pan is really plain, no pattern whatsoever. i have the 101 peruvian lily the lightest shade and it looks like okay for me. not as light as the canmake one, but not too dark either. it's finely milled but sometimes i think the canmake one has softer and tinier particles.

the powder pan

the result: this definitely gives matte finish and helps keeping my sebum at bay. it's lightweight, more lightweight compared to canmake. i don't know about breathable all day coverage, but i don't think it has all day coverage. i don't use makeup that long anyway to check the claim. but i don't agree about full coverage claim. i think canmake is more high coverage than this one. but on the plus side, it's not as cakey as canmake one.

on my hand

for now, i'm quite okay with this powder. it gives me the help with sebum, although these days are not as hot and humid as it's used to be. so perhaps it might not be enough for hotter days. and if you're looking for high coverage powder, i think canmake powder is more high coverage than this one. but it might get cakey if you use slightly too much, while this one is safer. so far it doesn't break me out, so probably it would work even if you're having a sensitive skin. i do hope that it has transparent option as it doesn't have so many shades to begin with. if you're paler than me, then definitely the powder will be too dark for you. and if you're super dark, i don't think there's a shade for you. and for the price, although it's not super affordable, it's still acceptable. i'm glad there's a body shop face product that works for me. do you have any favorite face powder? let me know in the comment below.

i remembered looking at foreo ads years ago, when i haven't got any children. i thought i would save my money and bought me that device since i didn't like clarisonic despite it being more popular at that time. i remembered i was sold because foreo got antibacteria silicone bristle that you don't need to replace while clarisonic head needs to be replaced every 6 months or so. which means more money. fast forward, i had 3 kids and no job, and i compeletely forgot about foreo until i saw some beauty instagrammer promoting foreo again. apparently foreo is now available in sephora indonesia so there are several beauty instagrammer chosen to promote it on their instagram. and then there's stash challenge. there's an entry about beauty gadget and some people has and love their foreo. i became more obsessed in getting one. i read more about it and i was intrigued. i want to try the luna 2 because of the anti aging side, but it's super pricey. i thought perhaps i should get the luna go because it's the mini version of luna 2. but people love luna mini as they said the anti aging feature is no use, so i was torn. i asked my hubby's opinion and he stated that the original product is the best one. obviously they made the mini version so it's more affordable but minus the anti aging. luna go is the same but in much smaller size. he said it would be troublesome to use that tiny device in slippery condition. i was annoyed because my saving will be all gone to buy that. and luna 2 has 4 types according to the user skin condition, normal, oily, combination and sensitive skin. i used to be combination but now toward normal, and the normal one comes in pink while the combination is blue. so i'm torn about that too. then he told me to check each sephora brand in my town to find out which one got the ready stock. turned out there's a normal version available at sephora GM so he drove me there and bought it for me! he told me that it was christmas, valentine and my birthday present all in one, hahaha... oh well, i'm not complaining. so, obviously i've tried and used it for more than enough to gather this review, so let's see...

this is the description from their website: facial spa massager for cleansing and anti wrinkle result. the revolutionary luna 2 delivers enhanced T-sonic facial cleansing and anti-wrinkle system designed to minimize the appearance of blemishes while effectively addressing concerns related to aging skin. luna 2 is now available in four varieties, so you can select the one that is tailored to your skin type.
indulge in a gentle 2-minute daily skin care routine and uncover a more luminous, refined and youthful look. luna 2 goes beyond standard facial cleansing by delivering skincare results that you-and everyone else- will notice.
luna 2 gently exfoliates dead skin cells, unclogs pores and removes up to 99,5% dirt and oil that can contribute to adult-onset acne breakout. advanced anti-aging massage. its reverse side uses lower-frequency pulsations to massage the face, visibly reducing fine lines around the eyes and mouth, and leaving the skin looking firm and lifted. the anti-wrinkle mode of the luna 2 also improves the absorption of your favorite skincare products.
unprecedented cleansing efficacy: 8000 T-sonic (transdermal sonic) pulsations per minute at 2x the power. delivers the deepest cleansing possible while staying gentle on your skin.
optimized new design: 50% bigger head for more efficient cleansing and facial massaging. longer touchpoints extend reach and enhance softness. plush silicone body for greater comfort and performance.
extra gentle & hygienic: even softer touchpoints are extremely gentle on the skin. ultra-hygienic silicone is nonporous to resist bacteria buildup. 35x more hygienic than standard nylon cleansing brushes.
turn back the clock: lower-frequency pulsations massage wrinkle-prone areas. smoothes and firms the appearance of the skin.
a skincare investment: no replacement parts needed. 2-year limited warranty. 10-year quality guarantee.
designed around your life: 100% waterproof to use in bath or shower. 12 customizable intensities for tailor-made skincare. 450 uses per full charge.

the packaging: it comes in a white box. okay, i have to make a comment about the sealing because they only put the seal sticker on one side. i could slid my fingers inside and grab the device without breaking the seal. so yeah.. if you're worried that someone might use it before you, then you should check whether the sealing is secure or not. inside there's a slider that place the device, the charging cable, a soft pouch and a little leaflet.

the product: the instruction says to charge your device before first use, and it will only take about an hour to do so. before buying this device, i've read people commenting on an instagramer's post about foreo and someone made a comment that she left the device overnight and it ruined the battery. so clearly don't overcharge it. one charge should last for about 5-6 months depend on how often you use the device. the device itself is made of silicone. since mine is the normal skin one, it's pink! (like i've said, blue for combination, green for oily, and purple for sensitive skin). it has quite weird shape, which people often refer as egg-shaped, but it's slightly oval on top and flat bottom. it's flat on one side and curvy on the other side. the flat side has silicone bristles which has different pattern according to the type and near the bottom there's the on/off button as well as the + and - button. for normal skin type, it has small bristles almost all of them and only a slightly bigger bristles near the pointy edge. (for combination skin, it has three sizes of bristles and the biggest bristles has slightly wider area. for sensitive skin, all of the bristles are small and super soft. for oily skin, the biggest size has rectangular-shaped bristles all over). the curvy side has semi-angular patterned-ridges that acts as massager. then near the bottom there's a charging hole which is waterproof. and at the bottom, there's a light that indicated the battery. it will be blue to show you that it's still going strong when you use it, and it will turn yellow to indicate that you need to recharge it.

the box

how to use: for cleansing, you have to wet your face with water and also wet the cleansing surface. then you can put the cleansing soap on the cleansing surface or put it all over your face and massage it a bit before going in with the device. i'd like to use cleansing foam (as i don't need to foam it again beforehand) straight on the device and put it on my forehead, cheeks, chin and nose and then turn the device on. the device then will start the cleansing period which lasts for 2 minutes, in 30 seconds-interval each. you're supposed to clean an area within 30 seconds in circular motion, and then the device will vibrate once to indicate that you should move to other area and after the whole 2 minutes, it will vibrate 3 times to indicate that the cleansing session is finished. you should push the power button again to put it on standby. now, it will automatically turn off if you leave it in stand-by mode for more than 3 minutes. but if you push the button once again, you would go into the anti-aging mode. the idea is you put your skincare stuff then use this mode to massage your face, especially that wrinkle-prone area. the massage mode lasts for 1 minutes, 15 seconds each. so the suggested area to massage is between your eyebrows, your crow-feet area, and your smile lines area. the website doesn't clearly stated how you should massage your face. the instructional video on their youtube channel only shows to put it on one place for the whole 15 seconds, but i've seen people move it around like any other massager. clearly there's no exact way to use the anti-aging mode. and just like the cleansing mode, it will vibrate once every 15 seconds and vibrate 3 times at the end of the mode. you need to push the button once more to turn it off. you should clean it afterward with a bit of cleansing soap (i use my face wash) and water and pat it dry with towel. you can adjust the strength of the pulsation. for the cleansing mode, once you've found the right setting, it'll continue at that power setting next time you're using it. but for the anti-aging mode, it will always start on strongest power.

the device and the travelling pouch

the result: i've used this for almost 6 months (i was away at 5 months mark and i was afraid that it might loss its power while i was away so i charged it before we went to singapore because we're away for a week) so now it's still in full power. i use it almost every day. at first, i read people's concern about over exfoliation when it's being used daily, but since it's very gentle, i notice i don't have any problems using it daily. but sometimes i skip if i don't use heavy makeup. and i really like the result. the first time using it, i could see my skin is brighter and smoother and softer. i'm quite surprised seeing the result. even my husband (which i forced him to try it) really like the result (i know we're not supposed to share the device, but he bought it for me and i always clean it afterward, so luckily no bacteria exchange here). that's why i bring it along with me during my holiday. some people mention that it helps with blackheads, but i don't have much blackheads anymore, so i can't say for sure. i wanted to try it on my husband, but he's so hard to be pushed to use it regularly, so i can't comment on that. and now the anti-aging mode. i've tried it on and off, and honestly, i can't see the difference. but i will keep using it to massage my face regularly since i don't see any wrinkle yet, so it might be working.

the anti-aging ridges behind and the charging hole

clearly i love this device. so, if you have skin concern and you want to try the anti-aging mode, you should buy luna 2. but if you don't care about skin types and just want the cleansing mode, then you should try luna mini. if you're on the go and you have bony face, you might like luna go or luna play plus (the one that need battery). my only con about this device is i have bent nose, and it's a bit hard to use on my nose since it's so big. but my husband has short and "cauliflower" nose and it works okay for him. it's easy to clean area around his nose with the device. so if you have boney feature, maybe smaller size might work for me. on the website, there's a luna fofo which you can connect with your phone, but it's not available here in indonesia, so for indonesian, you can only choose luna 2, luna mini 2, luna play, luna play plus and luna go. again, choose wisely according to your budget. as for me, this is a good investment for my skincare and i super love it. but i'm curious, are you a clarisonic person or foreo person? let me know in the comment...

i was having my birthday last march, and as usual, i will have my birthday discount from bodyshop. usually i will only stock up on my body butter, but since i already have so many, i decided to try some other products. i was curious about their skincare line. i've tried their seaweed, although it's not a failure, it's just okay and i wouldn't repurchase nor recommend it. then i heard about their drops of youth line. as someone who is in their 30s, anything that promised to delay aging sounds interesting. as this one. it sounds promising as it's said to be a youth enhancer. i've read several good reviews about it too, so i do hope that this will work well on me.

this is the description from the website: target the first signs of ageing with your youth-enhancing concentrate. this refreshing gel-like serum is infused with three plant stem cells, and leaving skin feeling instantly smoother and replenished with moisture. skin unveils a healthy luminosity and a youthful bounce.
99% ingredients of natural origin. 100% vegan. enriched with community trade organic babassu oil from brazil. enriched with three plant stem cells: edelweiss form italian alps, criste marine and replenished sea holly from the brittany coast. easily absorbed. skin texture looks refined, lines appear smoothed, pores look refined. dermatologically tested, non comedogenic.
and this is a bit description from the leaflet i picked up: a quickly-absorbed non-sticky concentrate, that leaves your skin feeling instantly softer.
stem cells are the "renewal engine" of a plant. making it thrive and renew, they are one of the strongest regenerating powers in nature.
edelweiss: known for its protective properties. sea holly: known for its firming properties. criste marine: known for being a skin-renewing champion.

the box

description on the box

the packaging: it comes in a white box with description on the box in english. inside, there's a green glass bottle with dropper head and there's a small card looped around the bottle's neck with a bit of description as well. the bottle really looks fancy. looks like some kind of high-end products. which considering the price, i think it's in high-end price side. there are two sizes, the regular 30 ml and big 50 ml. mine is the regular 30 ml.

another description

ingredients list

the scent: it has noticeable scent, which probably a bit floral but not too fragrant. i can't say that it might be from edelweiss because i never smell one. a bit fresh ocean-y scent too.

the bottle beside the box

label on the bottle

the product: it's a transparent thick serum, which also feels a bit like gel. it's a gel-like serum that's spread easily, change into watery traces. then after it's completely absorbed, it leaves matte finish. it does feel a bit tacky at first, but it's gone after awhile. it's said to use 2-3 drops for the whole face. so, i've tried this 3 times. the first time, i didn't read the instruction so i use a drop for each of my face area. and since i failed the first time, i decided to use 3 drops the second time. then it's another fail. so i decided to use 2 drops and it still fails me. so i'm super disappointed that this one didn't work out for me.

little card attached to the neck bottle

the serum inside the dropper

the result: okay.. now it's the time to explain all those failures. i didn't read the whole ingredients list while i'm browsing it. and i also didn't read it while in store. and that's my biggest problem. it has "alcohol denat" probably the third or fourth ingredients. and it's common in natural skincare products that works to dilute the ingredients and making it fast absorbed, hence the matte finish afterward and super quickly absorption time. and it breaks me out! i thought that if i put soothing products and skin barrier protecting products underneath, it might works, but no matter what i put under it, it didn't work! it does feel very moisturizing, almost as rich as my huxley oil in essence, but since this is fast-absorbing and leaves matte finish, somehow it feels a bit lighter than huxley. the first time, i use it for 3 days and then went overnight to singapore, so i thought perhaps the flight changed my skin. so i take a rest and then try it again. i used it for 3 days and the next day, i got pimples popping all over my face again. so i stopped again, even put it for sale. but it's so expensive i want it to work out for me. so i try again the third time and this one it only takes 2 days and i only have one pimple and i said enough. this is not working.

the serum on my hand

after blending it in

so, fair warning, read your ingredients carefully! i felt stupid for not reading it carefully. usually i check the ingredients especially this year. i decided to avoid certain ingredients and also opt for cruelty products if possible. so since i thought the body shop is a cruelty free and stuff, i became careless and just read and believe positive reviews. oh well. if your skin is quite resistant to alcohol denat and you're concern about anti aging stuff, then you could try this one. there are people out there who love serum so it might be working. but it's very expensive, so perhaps you would want to try it during sale season.

if you've been reading my blogs for some time, you might find out that i hunt lululun masks everytime i go to japan. not that they're super best, but it's very affordable and it's a very quick and low maintenance sheet mask that i can use when i want to use a quick masking session. and i've tried almost all of their bulk mask (i've just bought their new green bulk mask), and i've come across their lululun plus mask which is newer. there are two different categories, the essential oil one and the aroma care one. the essential oil masks are easier to find when i found them the first time. i got to try all variants at once, but the aroma care is different story. i end up buying a whole set (probably it's a gift set) so i can try all the aroma care masks. i've tried the rose and the clary sage so this is the third one to try.

this is the description from their US website: stress relief- blend of yuzu essential oils from japan. yuzu is an excellent source of vitamin C and other essential nourishment. the refreshing citrus aroma of yuzu strikes hope in uncertain hearts and soothes daily stress. yuzu ceramide nourishes the skin for a bright and vibrant complexion.
yuzu, a hearty citrus fruit resistant to cold, provides a refreshing scent that gives hope to anxiety and troubled hearts. yuzu ceramide gives moisture and leaves the skin with a bright and smooth luster.
mugwort was prized as a versatile medicine in ancient times. in traditional chinese, it was called "queen of herbs". mugwort extract contains tannins that provides the skin with moisture and smooth away roughness.
ginseng abundant ginsenoside. ginsenoside is extracted from ginseng which has been used for essential health and nourishment for centuries. ginsenoside is also useful for promoting natural beauty as it smooths rough skin and leaves the skin with a healthy-looking gloss and glow.

the packaging: it comes in yellow sachet with yuzu pictured at front. there's description at the back and as usual, everything is in japanese. the packaging is similar to other types from this line. it's also color coordinated according to the type, so if you have several types from this line, you don't have to read the name, just pick the right color.

the packaging

the scent: as expected, it has fresh and fruity scent, but not super citrusy. since this is an aroma care mask, the scent is stronger than usual, but it's not super strong that will make your head dizzy. but if you are sensitive to fragrance or has sensitive skin, you might avoid this one.

the product: the mask is similar to the other mask in this line. it is made of thick but soft material that will adhere well to your face. however, the fit might not be the best. it is wider on the temple and it has weird inner eye tear. it has long nose flap (appreciated it), and a bit long for under chin area but it doesn't cover my lower jaw. it has clear essence and it's very generous. there's some excess in the sachet. the essence is very runny too. it dripped all over my neck when i roll it with jade roller.

left: before middle: mask on right: after

the result: i put it on for about 20-30 minutes and it leaves my skin hydrated and i feel fresher. even though yuzu is described as a source of vitamin c, the mask doesn't brighten my skin that much compared to other masks that i've tried before.

again, lululun line is something that would feel ordinary compared to those juicy taiwanese masks. but if you're looking for affordable and decent japan sheet mask, i'd definitely recommend this as it's affordable and easy to find. i also think it would suitable for all skin types. as for me, you'd already known that i haven't bought any single lululun masks twice, perhaps because there are so many of them that i haven't tried. but if i could choose, i wouldn't repurchase the aroma care line because the scent is stronger than what i usually like. but if you like scented sheet mask, then you should check this out.

if you've read my review about antipodes serum, you might notice that sometimes i'd compare that to ordinary vitamin c serum. i understand that it's not a good comparison since the antipodes one is non vitamin c serum, but both works as brightening serum, so i'm curious about the performance. especially since antipodes one is quite pricey. so let's dive in!

this is what antipodes claims: this water-based serum helps correct dull, blemished or uneven skin. the revolutionary antioxidant vinanza grape & kiwi helps minimise the appearance of facial redness. exfoliating enzymes from the superfruit kiwifruit and soothing vinanza oxifend from pinot noir grapes leave skin gloriously glowing. meanwhile, mamaku black fern and reishi mushroom of immortality boost healthy cell renewal for true, fresh-faced beauty.
vinanza grape & kiwi is clinically shown to improve skin cell membrane integrity by decreasing trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) by 16%, improve skin elasticity by 16%, decrease skin redness by 7% (erythema), and lighten skin by 3,5% (melanin content).

antipodes apostle serum ingredients: aqua (walwera artesian water), aloe barbadensis (aloe vera juice) extract, cyathea medullaris (mamaku black fern leaf) extract, gluconolactone, sodium benzoate, amigei (scleroflum gum), vitis vinivera (vinanza oxifend pinot noir grape) extract, caprylyl/capryl glucoside, dehydroacetic acid, benzyl alcohol, xanthan gum, actinidia chinensis (vinanza kiwi kiwi fruit skin) extract, rubus idaeus (raspberry seed) oil, vinanza grape & kiwi (vitis vinifera/grape seed & actinidia chinensis/kiwi skin) extract, gandoderma lucidum (reishi mushroom) extract, sodium hydroxide, pure plant fragrance of green apple & cardamom, benzyl alcohol, cinnamal, citral, citronellol, geraniol, component of essential oil.

full face progress (no noticeable difference between my left and right face right?)

this is what the ordinary claims (on beautybay website): an antioxidant solution to visibly target dullness, uneven tones, and signs of ageing. with a light serum texture, this high-potency blend of pure vitamin c applies smoothly to the skin, delivering antioxidants that help to brighten and reduce signs of aging by stimulating collagen synthesis and inhibiting melanin production.
- ascorbyl glucoside: a water soluble derivative of vitamin c, meaning it has high-stability and is comfortable to use.

ingredients: aqua (water), ascorbyl glucoside, propanediol, aminomethyl propanol, triethanolamine, isoceteth-20, xanthan gum, dimethyl isosorbide, ethoxydiglycol, trisodium ethylenediamine, disuccinate, 1,2-hexanediol, caprylyl glycol.

as you can see above that there's only two similar ingredients between those serum. the aqua is not completely the same though.. the antipodes one is from special source water from new zealand, while the ordinary's water is just regular water. but they put ascorbyl glucoside which is its main ingredients second after the water, while the antipodes one, the main ingredients (the grape, kiwi, mushroom and the black fern leaf extract) is placed all over the ingredients list. but you can clearly see that the antipodes one is large on natural extract ingredients, which supports its claim being vegan and organic and stuff. so if you are concern about cruelty free, organic and natural skincare, you should pick the antipodes one.

the ordinary progress i use three drops for half-face notice the acne scars on my cheek is lighten within a week

as for the packaging, both comes in cardboard box and dark glass bottle with dropper. it's a usual standard packaging for antioxidant serum which is usually sensitive to sunlight and should be keep in the dark and cool place. 

antipodes progress i also use three drops for half my face notice that the acne scars near my ears are not that quickly disappeared even after several weeks

the serum itself though is totally different. the vitamin c serum is almost clear while antipodes gives me quite a fright with being super dark. turns out it's its normal color. phew! as for application, both spreads easily all over my face, and takes a couple of minutes to be completely absorbed. but, i have to say that with the ordinary one, you have to be careful about layering it. some people reported that it pills on them. i never experienced one though, but i don't have that many product to use daily to begin with, so if you are big on skincare cocktail, you might want to try the correct product to layer with it. 

top is antipodes bottom is ordinary you can see both doesn't work on my dark spots, but the ordinary one works better in terms of reducing acne scars

now, the result time. as i've said in my antipodes review, i said that it works okay for some non-vitamin c serum. it's hydrating but not that much. and it doesn't help with my dark spots, but considering that i'm only using this for a month, probably it just need more time. in reducing acne scars, you can see that the ordinary works better and a bit faster. so if you're like me, which is inpatient in seeing progress result, i suggest you pick the vitamin c serum as it works a bit faster. as for the price, the ordinary one is lot cheaper than antipodes, but there are other vitamin c serum that's as expensive as antipodes one. if you ask me, i'd pick the ordinary one over the antipodes, but not based on the performance. i like it better for giving faster result and cheaper. but i might try other vitamin c serum other than the ordinary.

i was going for an overnight trip with my husband to singapore. since we didn't bring any kids along, i had the time to stroll around the drugstores and bought some things. and apparently, at that time, there's a promotion at guardian. i got a pouch and some travel size items to try as bonus for my purchasing. i've tried the cetaphil cleanser years ago, but the rest is new to me. one of the product that immediately caught my eyes is the antipodes serum. i've heard good things about antipodes, but the price is stopping me. and i didn't know that there's a travel size for their product! oh well, at least i got one right now, so obviously it's the first one i tried among all other things.

this is the description from their website: this water-based serum helps correct dull, blemished or uneven skin. the revolutionary antioxidant vinanza grape & kiwi helps minimise the appearance of facial redness. exfoliating enzymes from the superfruit kiwifruit and soothing vinanza oxifend from pinot noir grapes leave skin gloriously glowing. meanwhile, mamaku black fern and reishi mushroom of immortality boost healthy cell renewal for true, fresh-faced beauty.
vinanza grape & kiwi is clinically shown to improve skin cell membrane integrity by decreasing trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) by 16%, improve skin elasticity by 16%, decrease skin redness by 7% (erythema), and lighten skin by 3,5% (melanin content).

the box

the packaging: it comes in a green-patterned and white combination box. there's a bit description on the sides of the box. this one is only 10 ml while the full size is 30 ml. the bottle is a dark brown glass bottle with dropper to dispense the product. it has white label that also has a bit description on it. the dropper works okay until it's almost gone. it can't reach the bottom of the bottle even when i tilt the bottle.

the bottle

the scent: this one has fruity or acidic scent. possibly because it has several fruit extract in its ingredients.

back of the bottle

the product: i have to admit, i'm quite surprised to see the serum color. since it's a brightening serum, i thought it has some sort of vitamin c in it, which is supposed to be clear or bright and if it turned brown or dark, then it's already bad. now when i try it the first time, it is a dark orange almost brown in color. i thought it's already bad! but i checked their website and other review. it's the real color.. it's not bad. phew... and i thought since it's quite thick in the dropper, it would have the same consistency as my ordinary vit c serum. but after i spread it around, it turns watery instantly. it spreads easily and leaves watery traces.

the serum inside the dropper

the result: although it leaves matte finish, it leaves slightly tacky feeling. it's hydrating but if you have dry skin, you might need to add another nourishing serum as this is quite lightweight to be used on its own. i don't see any changes in my dark spots, but it's okay since this is a non vitamin c serum, so i'm not hoping much on that aspect. i have to agree though that it helps with redness on my skin. the whole bottle is enough for one month half-face comparison (i use three drops on half of my face) and i only have two days uses for my entire face.

serum on my hand

after blending it in

i have to say i'm pretty pleased with my first try. although, checking the price again i'm pretty sure that i won't buy the full size. it's way too pricey for my collection. i'd better buy another affordable vitamin c. i can say that this is suitable for any skin types, but for dry skin, you might want something else to layer on top since this one is not too nourishing. it layers well under my other skincare, so you can definitely layer this with something else. if you have the budget and you're all into vegan or organic skincare, then antipodes is something you might be interested on. it's worth the price. but if you're on tight budget like me but still want some antioxidant and brightening skincare, there are other vitamin c serum on the market that you can try. as for me, i'm glad i could try the travel size. i think guardian singapore is selling the travel size as well, but correct me if i'm wrong. the travel size price is more affordable, so it's entirely up to you whether you're willing to plunge the full size or committing to travel sizes or picking something else.