metamorph-me

i've been trying retinol serum from local brands to compare them. i've tried somethinc and now i'm moving on to avoskin. i wanted to try FSS too, but since i don't quite like their vitamin c serum, i'm a bit hesitated now. anyway, i've heard good things about avoskin one, so i do hope that it works as well as somethinc one.

this is the description from their website: after success with several innovative products and best sellers of avoskin, this time avoskin presents the latest products that focus on dealing with premature aging. premature aging of the skin can be delayed by the use of proper skincare and a healthy lifestyle. avoskin presents miraculous retinol series containing actosome retinol which contains 0,09% active retinol and peptide which are useful to trigger the production of natural collagen in the skin. actosome retinol, peptide, and natural extracts - this series consists of miraculous retinol toner and miraculous retinol ampoule with superior ingredients actosome retinol, peptide, vitamin e, niacinamide, and natural extracts such as camellia sinensis (green tea leaf), raspberry, and pomegranate. handling premature aging skin - miraculous retinol series is the latest skincare series from avoskin which focuses on anti-aging skincare with the main function of helping to delay the process of the appearance of signs of premature aging of the skin. this ampoule contains retinol, peptide, vitamin e, with green tea extract and raspberry that work optimally to stimulate regeneration of new skin cells thereby increasing the production of natural collagen in the skin. serves to diminished fine lines, maintain skin elasticity, and brighten the skin.

the box

description on the sides of the box

ingredients list: water, propylene glycol, phenoxyethanol, carbomer, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract, methyl methylcrylate crosspolymer, polyglutamic acid, tetrasodium EDTA, retinol, hydrogenated lecithin, ethylhexylglycerin, cholesterol, biosaccharide gum-1, tocopheryl acetate, rubus idaeus (raspberry) fruit extract, BHT, punica granatum (fruit) extract, butylene glycol, phaseolus radiatus seed extract BHA, avena sativa (oat) meal extract, palmitoyl hexapeptide-12.

ingredients list

the seal on the box

the packaging: it comes in dark brown box, with description in indonesian and english on the side and ingredients list at the back of the box. they seal the top and the bottom of the box to make sure you receive a fresh product. the bottle is a dark brown glass bottle that has similar vibe with the box. if you have tried their miraculous line before, it is totally the same packaging as the refining ones, so you have to read the text carefully so you won't pick the wrong product. there are refining ones and retinol ones, so make sure you pick the retinol one. they use dropper to dispense the product and so far the dropper works really well. it comes in 30 ml which is standard size for serum.

the bottle

the dropper and the serum inside

the scent: this doesn't have added fragrance which is good especially if you have sensitive skin or you are sensitive to fragrance. it does have subtle scent probably because of the ingredients, but nothing funky or anything.

how the serum looks like on my hand

after blending it

the product: it is a cloudy white serum, quite viscous but still easy to spread around. i usually use half dropper for my whole face and neck. i started using this every other day (i don't feel the need to test this once a week then upgrade to twice a week before using it every other day mainly because i've tried retinol products before, so i know what i need to do to counteract the effect) before trying to use it daily. after being absorbed, it doesn't leave tacky feeling or anything. it doesn't pill under or over other skincare products that i used. if you're wondering about what kind of retinol in this serum, it's a special mix for avoskin. they call it actosome retinol 3% and they explained that it means 0,1% active retinol, 0,1% hexapeptide and vitamin e. so compared to the ordinary and somethinc, this is probably very mild. since this is a watery serum, i use this after toner.

left: after using it every other day for about a month
right: after using it every day for two weeks then dial back down to every other day again for two weeks
the glow came back to my face (notice the glow on my forehead)

the result: as i've said, i just start using this every other day. during the first two weeks, i start to see result on my forehead. it starts to glow just like when i was using somethinc retinol. then i start using it daily. around the same time, i changed my serums to axisy ones because i had to use them in order to write a review within time limit. i also used BHA as well. after about two weeks, my skin started to react negatively. i started to get acne here and there, and my pores clogged and i notice more skin texture than i used to have. so i started to dial down both retinol and BHA to every other day and i alternate the BHA and retinol so i don't use them in the same day. both axisy serum were gone so i'm back to using one hydrating serum and one anti aging one. now i start to see the glow on my forehead, my acne starts to diminish, though i still get acne popping here and there. so this definitely not working for preventing acne. but this works to speed up acne healing, especially for cystic acne. combined with foreo ufo, my acne shrinks faster.

progress on my right side
there were new acnes popping out but it started to fade away

progress on my left side
again, i picked my acne so it just started to heal but you can see my skin is a more glowing than before

i have to say compared to somethinc one, i notice the result from somethinc faster than avoskin. i can use somethinc daily without any problem as well, but back then i haven't used any BHA, so the result may be different now. but considering this is milder than somethinc, i think it would be suitable for people who just start using retinol. it also comes in bigger bottle than somethinc and the price is quite affordable, so if budget is one of your consideration, then this is more affordable. as for me, i still have other local retinol brands to try before deciding which one is my favorite. i have bhumi and elsheskin in my list for now. do you have any local retinol favorite? please tell me in the comment..

base makeup is something that i have difficulty to find. mostly because i don't know what my undertone is and how to find the perfect match for my shade. especially for local brand. somehow i'm too fair for local brand base product. but lately, local brand has been upping their game. either in liquid foundation form or in cushion form. anyway, somethinc launched their cushion some time ago, but at first it were only three or four shades, and none was fair enough for me. so i waited. now they added more shades and even more darker shades, so i finally have something for myself. i was torn between perle or bijoux, but since i don't know what undertone i am, i was confused even more. luckily, they have their cushion shade as one of their filter, so i try it and decided to try perle.

this is the description on their website: we go together like copy & paste. take your complexion to the next level. introduce you to the #1st local hybrid mesh cushion in indonesia! specially created for indonesian skin tone and humidity of tropical weather. with breathable technology, non-comedogenic certified (it won't clog your pores), long lasting, and lots of skincare benefits, d*mn.. our friendship will last forever!

finishing: morning healthy glow finish. coverage: medium, buildable, featherlight, and smooth.

perle: light - pink undertone (cool).

the box

back of the box

the packaging: it comes in greyish box with "somethinc" text as background pattern. you can see the shade name and color on the top label and description at the back of the box. the cushion is square, which is something new, since most cushion comes in round pact. it's also grey as well similar to the box. inside the compact, there's a mirror just like other cushion. also a square puff. the puff is placed separately just like other cushion. underneath, the cushion is covered by sticker as always. but once you peel it off, you'll see mesh cushion, and not ordinary sponge cushion. i've seen mesh cushion from korean brand, but this is the first from local brand. and it has magnetic closure. it's quite new for cushion product, and i think it's a good thing. somehow it makes it like a luxurious item.

shade name

the cushion

the shade: there are 12 shades from now, ranging from fair to dark. it might not be as diverse as western brand, but for local brand, this is quite an achievement. i pick perle which is for light skin and pink undertone. the shade is a match for me fortunately. anyway, if you're confused like me, try their filter, it totally helps.

left: the sticker on
middle: mesh cushion
right: the puff

the square pact, the mirror and the puff

close up on the mesh

the product: it's easy to push the mesh cushion and get the product to the puff. the coverage is medium, so i don't need a lot to cover all my face. i think it's buildable but i don't like super high coverage base, so i rarely double dip my puff. this cushion has added SPF, but it's only SPF 33 and you would need a lot of amount to use it as sunscreen, so using separate sunscreen is wiser. anyway, it comes in 15 grams, which is the usual size for cushion.

hand swatch

it clings onto dry patch around my nose

you can see that it has medium coverage

the result: the shade is a match for me, and it has medium coverage. it evens out my skin tone and covers redness on my face. however, it's not covering my acne scars completely, but i'm okay with it. however, it gives dewy finish. too glowy for my liking. i have to set it with powder. but i always set my base with powder anyway. as for longevity, i can't say for sure since nowadays, i only stay at home, so i don't use makeup as long as i've used to be. all i know that after two to three hours, my makeup still stay put. i don't see any creasing around my nose or anything. it doesn't look cakey as well even though i put powder on top of it. however, this clings onto dry patch around my nose. so if you have dry and flaky skin, be sure to exfoliate and to moisturize it well before using this cushion. this cushion also has added SPF, but it doesn't look weird on me. but if you have darker skin than mine, you need to look for more information before buying.

it can cover acne scars as well

here you can see it covers some spots as well

anyway, i have to say i'm very happy to find a local base makeup product that match me completely! i don't care even when it's too dewy for my liking. i like how it has medium coverage but still buildable and probably long lasting as well. and can we talk about that magnetic closure? if you're looking for a base makeup product and prefer cushion rather than regular liquid foundation, then you should try it. the price is still affordable and somethinc often has sales. it's easier to get since it's a local brand. anyway, regarding the shade, i know that 12 shades wouldn't represent everyone, but somethinc has added more shades since this cushion was first launched. and i have to say that somethinc is a brand that listen to its customer, so i bet they would add more if people demand it. for now, i guess you'll have to choose either to wait like i did, or pick whatever shades closer to yours. as for me, i will definitely purchase the refill.

i always want to try something else from TBS other than their body care. but i have no luck with their skincare. last time i bought one of their serum but ended up re-selling it. they are so pricey so until they have it in travel size, i'd probably won't try anymore. so, i decided to try their makeup products. i've tried the lip and cheek and i liked it, but i have so many in my stash, so base makeup is the only option to choose from. i don't use foundation regularly, so i decided to try the tinted moisturizer instead. i don't know what shade i should be, so i pick the lightest one hoping that it would be okay. last time i bought their base makeup, the BA at the store told me that their lightest one would be too dark for me.

this is the description on their website (i translated it since there's no similar product in the US website): ultra lightweight formulated BB cream that helps even out skin tone and diminishes pores. feels lightweight and fresh on the skin. enriched with vitamin e, community trade marula oil, and organic aloe vera that helps moisturize the skin.

the tube

back of the tube

the packaging: i bought it straight from the store, so it comes in just the tube. there's only sealing on the cap. it is a silverish gray plastic squeeze tube with black screw cap. there's description at the back of the tube in indonesian and ingredients list in english. there's a color label at front to indicate the shade, but they also put the shade name and number as well. this is only 25 ml which is an odd size for base makeup. usually foundation would come in 30 ml size.

the spout

the shade: i don't know how many shades there are, but i'm guessing just 3 or 4. mine is 01 fair, the lightest one. there's medium in the web, so i'm guessing there's a light shade and maybe a dark shade as well. shade wise, it's not enough for all skintone, but considering this is just a tinted moisturizer, it's understandable. if you're afraid you can't find your shade, you should considering trying their foundation. their foundation has better shade range.

hand swatch

after blending it

the product: it's quite thick and creamy. compared to my previous foundation, this one is thicker. though still creamy and still easy to spread around. the color came out not as fair as i thought it would be, but after a while, it sinks in nicely and blends quite well with my skin tone.

full face

the result: i've tried using this with various method, finger, brush, and sponge. with sponge, i like how it blends seamlessly to my skin. but as usual, using sponge means less coverage, so it's not ideal if you're hoping more coverage. with brush, it's not easy to blend since it's quite thick and creamy and the brush leaves streak marks so it takes time to blend. however, the coverage is more than using with sponge. with finger, it's easy to spread the product around and it's fairly easy to blend since there is no brush streaks. however, i think it looks too thick, it doesn't look natural that way. the coverage is similar to using brush, so i guess it's time saving to just use your finger. as for coverage, this has sheer coverage. it only evens out my skintone, and covers a bit redness. it doesn't cover redness around my nose area and acne scars obviously. it gives semi matte finish, but i still set it with powder.

right side - it only covers a but redness but not acne scar

left side - it covers some of my dark spots

i don't know if i ever tried other tinted moisturizer than this one. so i have no comparison in my mind. compared to foundation and cushion, obviously this has less coverage. if you're hoping for a natural look, sheer coverage that only evens out skin tone, without covering any flaws like redness or scars, then tinted moisturizer might be a good option since it can be used with finger so it might be fast to use in the morning if your morning is pretty hectic. but if you're hoping for more coverage, then skip this one. i'll try joylab tinted moisturizer and compare it with this one. but until then, i'll try to finish this ASAP. price wise, i think it's still reasonable, but i think local brand is more affordable than TBS one.

since using retinol regularly, now i use two type of serums in my routine. i have to make sure that i have hydrating serum and a richer one in my routine to balance the effect from retinol that might be drying for my skin. i love ariul glow serum so much, but i don't want to repurchase it yet because there are so many hydrating serums out there that i haven't tried, so this time i decided to try benton one. i saw this some time ago, but never get the chance to finally buy it. my skin loves benton snail bee serum, so let's hope this one is good as well.

this is the description from their website as well as the bottle/box: benton's cacao moist and mild serum is a lightweight and hydrating serum. with cacao extracts and hyaluronic acid, this serum replenishes moisture to skin. various botanical extracts in the series further help to keep skin smooth. cacao mineral and hyaluronic acid provide fresh moisture, dewy and glowy skin solution. rich nutrients of cacao ingredients and botanical extracts enable healthy skincare, nourishing solution. allantoin and madecassoside, skin protection patented ingredients help skin preservation - skin protecting solution.

theobroma cacao (cocoa) extract helps to make your skin bright and clear with rich nutrients.

hyaluronic acid - manage skin balance by attracting moisture to make the skin moist and elastic.

madecassoside soothe and protect your skin.

make your skin healthy by giving it elasticity and vitality with ingredients nourishing and moisturizing unbalanced skin. it refreshingly moisturizes even oily skin and teenage skin, managing oil-water balance solution. by hydrating the skin from the inside, the skin becomes brighter and smoother. not heavy during the summer, keep your skin firm in winter. nourishing serum for all seasons. smoothly moisturizes the skin by managing the oil-water balance and supply abundant nutrients and moisture.

ingredients list: theobroma cacao (cocoa) extract, butylene glycol, aqua (water), dipropylene glycol, 1,2-hexanediol, pentylene glycol, sodium hyaluronate, centella asiatica extract, scutellaria baicalensis root extract, polygonum cuspidatum root extract, glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extract, camellia sinensis leaf extract, shamomilia recutita (matricaria) flower extract, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed extract, salix alba (willow) bark extract, salix nigra (willow) bark extract, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, theobroma cacao (cocoa) flower extract, madecassoside, allantoin, zanthoxylum piperitum fruit extract, pulsatilla koreana extract, usnea barbata (lichen) extract, betaine, panthenol, carbomer, arginine.

the box

description in korean

the packaging: it comes in pink box made with recycled paper with the picture of cocoa plant at front. there's description on the box at front in english and a lot of korean description on the side and back. however, since i bought this from sociolla, it has added sticker with indonesian description. inside, the serum comes in a transparent plastic bottle covered with label that has the same design as the box. but there's a little space so you can see the remaining product inside. the bottle has pump head covered in opaque white plastic cap. it comes in 30 ml, but somehow the bottle looks tiny. even smaller than ariul one. i bet it would be gone in a flash. they seal the bottle cap so you can be assured that you receive a fresh one as long as the seal is intact.

added label

ingredients list

the scent: it does have a hint of cocoa scent if you sniff it really close. but once you put it on your face, i can barely smell it. there's no added fragrance in the ingredients list as well, so if you pick any scent, it might be from the natural ingredients.

the bottle

the seal on the cap

the product: it's a transparent gel type serum, similar to ariul one. however, i think this is slightly more runny than the ariul one. it's easy to spread around and leaves watery traces. i use two to three pumps for my whole face and neck.

the pump head

the result: after being absorbed, this one doesn't leave tacky feeling. it's hydrating but sometimes i feel that it's not enough. however, it's just as described, a lightweight serum. after completely absorbed, it gives matte finish. if i have to compare it with ariul one, i'll instantly pick ariul instead of this one. as for soothing, i was using other serum that also has soothing properties as well, so i can't say anything about it

the serum on my hand

after blending it in

i have to say that this is an ordinary one. however, it's not completely a waste though. it works just like described. lightweight and hydrating. however, if you have dry skin, you might want to scratch this from your list. i would say the cosrx snail essence is a bit more hydrating. i guess if you have oily skin or you live in hot and humid weather, this might be a good option. anyway, the price is quite affordable, but since benton is on sale frequently on sociolla, it's even more affordable. as for me, it's a pass. won't repurchase this one.

i always wanted to try colourpop eyeshadow, but every time i like a palette, there's several shades that i know i wouldn't use in the palette. and then it would be a waste since i won't use the whole palette. plus, colourpop releases a lot of eyeshadow palettes, and some of their color scheme are similar. that also makes it more difficult to choose which one to pick. until i saw this palette. usually colourpop produces 9, 12 or 16 shades per palette, but suddenly they release big palettes up to 30 shades. and there's neutral option (the other two are more colorful). but i'm hesitant because the last time i bought 20 pans eyeshadow palette, i end up decluttering it because it's too big, i became confused about which shade to use, which one to pick. but i've become better in using eyeshadow thanks to watching a lot of tutorials from youtube, and i think i should try this palette. so i decided to give it a try.

the box

shade name at the back of the box

this is the description from colourpop website: say hello to your new bff. our new 30-pan shadow palette will change your makeup game forever. 30 new shadows in buttery mattes, rich metallics, and blinging glitters in the most wearable shades ever, this baby is a necessity. create any look from your everyday look to a sultry glam look, you won't put this palette down. this 30-pan neutral palette will change your makeup game.
pressed powder shadow: highly pigmented shadow that applies evenly and feels ultra-velvety and silky. this long wearing formula contains a unique combination of softer powders which adheres easily to the eyes, gives a soft focus effect, and blends smoothly and evenly.

both the palette and the box looks similar

another shade name at the back

the packaging: the palette comes in a pale pinkish cream textured cardboard envelope with the big name of the palette written on it. once you open the envelope, you can slide out the palette and it comes in similar color as the envelope. though it's a big palette, it's considered smaller than other brand. i can still hold it in my hand. at the back of the palette as well as the box, you can see all the pans inside with the shade name written on it. fortunately, they also printed the shade name at the side of each pan as well, so you don't need to flip the palette not the box to see the shade name. however, there's no mirror inside. i do wish they put a mirror as the palette is quite big. it would fit a mirror big enough so i can use it to do my eyes instead of looking at the real mirror. i bought this online from a local online shop, but unfortunately, when it came, the black pan was smeared around the pan. and it was difficult to clean up since the palette has light base color. anyway, you'd see later why they shouldn't came up with lighter background palette.

all 30 pans inside

close up look

the colors: all 30 shades are in the neutral spectrum, ranging from light cream colors to dark black. it has warm tones and cool tones, but mostly warm tones. if you like cool tone schemes better, you should check the stone fox palette. they came up with it after this one. it looks awfully similar except it has strong cool tones vibes. they arrange the palette starting from the light colors to darker one from top left to the end. i guess it makes it easier to use that way instead of scattering it around. here are the shade names and descriptions:

- idol hour: warm ivory with a pale peach sheen.

- in the buff: neutral pale pinky beige

- silk teddy: metallic nude champagne

- on holiday: matte soft beige

- rumored: metallic silvery taupe

- banter: cool toned stone

- full exposé: creamy vanilla

- tease me: pale creamsicle with gold flecks

- the talk: champagne peachy gold

- hustler: light peach

- complicated: warm rust brown with gold pinpoints

- crack on: chestnut brown

- hot gossip: toasted nude

- designer duds: rose gold pink

- spree: rosey blush with gold flecks

- act a fool: dusty mid tone mauve

- cufflinks: rosey purple with pink sheen

- haute: terracotta with copper flecks

- fuzzy: true red copper

- tabloid: deep caramel

- genie: golden bronze

- dutch process: plum brown with silver flecks

- velveteen: tawny brown

- prix fixe: antique bronze

- stiletto: warm deep brown with soft gold pinpoints

- revel: deep red brown

- baubles: deep cool toned brown with silver flecks

- spy glass: deep true black.

arm swatches from first 3 rows

the last two rows swatch

the product and the result: this is my first colourpop palette though i've heard a lot about them before. i've heard people complaining about the powdery shadows, but even some high end brand are powdery as well, so i don't think much back then.but when i received it, i got the black one smeared around the pan already. and whenever i tried them, the matte ones have pretty much kickback. the metallic and the shimmery works really well. i even surprised to see how good silk teddy is. however, the one with gold pinpoints or gold flecks are weird ones. on the pan, they have those gold flecks or pinpoints, but when applied on my eyelid, i don't see it translates to my eyes. a part of me relieved, because i might look hideous with glittery gold on my eyes. most matte ones are powdery, but still pigmented. though you have to apply more that usual to get the intensity that you'd want. but the shimmery and the metallic one, you only need one swipe to get high intensity. i prefer to use my finger instead of my brush. as for longevity, i don't use makeup as long as before. i bought this one right before we got into lockdown, so i never got the chance to use it usually like before pandemic. as for the color schemes, you can get various look. from basic neutral, peachy, more toward orangey, bronze and even mauvy colors. so even though this is a neutral palette, you can get many looks with this palette. the way they arrange the color also help you to get ideas easier compared to my previous palette.

left: inspiration looks from messijessi
right: on me

more looks on my right eye

more looks from my left eye

ABOUT ME

SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW

POPULAR POSTS

Categories

Advertisement

Contact Form

Total Pageviews

Translate

Archives