Happy Wednesday! How's your week so far? I'm in the midst of rushing for my (sorta) last assignment. This super busy sem is gonna end soon, can't wait!
My final year project this sem involves making handmade soap to sell. We totally did not expect it, but all our soap were SOLD OUT! Super happy. I actually got the idea of doing handmade soap for our biz project after visiting
Soap Gallery at KSL City at the start of the year and the review was what inspired me to learn how to make handmade soap.
After learning about the benefits of handmade soap, I have been using the soap that I got from Soap Gallery the last time, daily. Contrary to the name, Soap Gallery does not only carry soap but has recently launched their handmade skincare range as well! After seeing the effects of the handmade body soap, of course I wanted to try the skincare range when Kim approached us!
The types and brands of skincare in the market is getting more and more diverse. And apparently, the more effective and popular ones often comes with a hefty price tag. But then again, you never really know how much chemicals go into making your skincare products, do you?
******Foaming Facial Cleanser******
Soap Gallery Foaming Facial Cleanser is sulfate and paraben free and not to mention, free from animal testing! It does not contain SLS/ SLES, synthetic colours, animal fat nor preservatives. This 120ml cleanser is very gentle and suitable for normal to oily skin. This cleanser is non-comedogenic which means that it will not clog your pores nor irritate your skin, and makes it perfect for everyday use. It claims to moisturise and have oil balancing properties. It contains no oil and removes all impurities such as oil, bacteria, dirt and more. Your skin will feel refreshed and rejuvenated after using this product!
Ingredients: Aqua water, gromwell root infused olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, grapeseed oil, rice bran oil and lavendar essential oil.
It comes with a pump nozzle and somehow I really like pumps cos it makes me feel more... idk, expensive? Lolol. However, this pump is a bit hard to use and I can't pump with one hand. So yea, it's a bit hard to control the amount you want with a hard-to-press pump.
To my surprise, the foam is really firm and dense, not watery like I imagined.
When lathered with water, it becomes quite creamy and smooth, just like whipped cream!
Before we go on, I need to let you know my skin type first because what works for me, may not work for you and vice versa. I have combination skin which means that it is oily around the T-zone and normal/ slightly dry on my cheeks. My skin has its mood swings, sometimes being good and sometimes there'll be "volcano eruptions" aka pimples, especially on my forehead. It gets even worse during stressful periods. I don't follow a strict sleep routine nor have a super healthy lifestyle. K and I admit I don't like to drink water! >< I have my own night-time routine to apply toner, serum and moisturiser before bed and use sunscreen and BB creams on a daily basis. Not very good, I know, but I can't find the courage to go out without makeup sometimes..
This was my skin condition last month. It was 11/4 and I remember the date cos it was my monthsary w the bf XD This was with makeup on and you can tell that there are obvious bumps and pimples all over my face. It also looks very dry and dull.
Directions for use:
This is my face nowadays, with BB cream applied. I didn't know I looked so fair...
1. Apply a small amount of product and apply to face with fingertips.
2. Cleanse in a gentle circular motion.
3. Remove with warm water.
Caution: Use as directed. It is not suitable to remove eye makeup with this cleanser. If it comes into contact with the eyes, rinse eyes thoroughly with water. Keep out of reach of young children. If discomfort or sensitivity occurs, discontinue use and consult a physician.
Results:
After washing, I used a toner to wipe off the excess makeup and to my delight, the cotton pad comes off clean! Ok lah there were a teeny bit of BB cream left but I don't think you can see it on camera. Shows you just how well the cleanser does its job!
Thoughts:
Note that I've used this cleanser without any makeup remover or cleansing milk beforehand. Simply love how CLEAN it feels! My skin feels quite taut (in a good way), fresh and moisturised. The cleanser is so gentle and comfortable on my skin and I love the calming lavendar scent it gives off. Not to mention, I love foam cleansers cos they're so fun to play with! XD I've been using this cleanser for exactly a month now and I have to say, my skin condition has really gotten better (photos at the bottom of the post), with the exception of a few spots. My bf has tried this cleanser too and he has really oily skin which gets very dry after washing, but he said that with this cleanser, his skin doesn't feel tight and the oil-balancing properties are quite good, although it doesn't last very long.
I have actually been using less BB cream lately and on some days, I don't even have to apply anything on my face, except sunblock and some undereye concealer, to go to uni. The other day someone also commented that my skin looks a lot brighter now, yay. Not sure if any of my friends realised this but having "well-behaved" skin really helps to save a lot of products and money lah.. xD
So are you amazed yet? I myself am too as I was quite skeptical if the cleanser would work on my skin. A little worried at first actually, cos it's handmade and I was quite worried about the quality control. Boy, was I wrong. If you're interested in getting this too, it retails at
RM 29.90 or RM 26.91 for Soap Gallery Soap Card members. It's very affordable to me and I might just continue using it after this, since it's about the same price as drugstore brands or even cheaper. You can find it
here on their website.
******Rose Hip Moisture Lotion******
Moisture lotion? Hmm basically it's a moisturiser lah XD I received a sample size to try out, so please pardon the humble packaging. It'll definitely look nicer when you purchase the full sized lotion from the shop! I think it will be in a pump bottle.
What's so special about this tiny tub is that Soap Gallery's moisture lotion are TOTALLY CUSTOMIZABLE! The lady boss, Perris, was sweet enough to cook this up for the
Ma Cherie JB bloggers :)
This lotion is specially made for all skin types and can be used for the face and body. The main purpose of this moisturiser is that it is good for whitening. It contains rose hip oil and wheatgerm oil, which is similar to the human skin sebum. In the water phase, rose water was used due to its soothing effects and nice fragrance. The lotion also contains aloe vera for its antibacterial, anti-fungal and skin repairing properties.
Ingredients: Rose hip oil, wheatgerm oil, safflower oil, witch hazel dope, hyaluronic acid, areginine essence, vitamin E, aloe vera gel, emulsifier, grapefruit essence oil, lavendar essence oil.
After doing my handmade soap project, I have become a fan of all-natural products so I was pleased to know that the lotion is actually so full of goodness! To get a glimpse of how the lotion was made, you can view the process
HERE.
It contains no preservatives, hence there is a short shelf life of only 2 months from the manufacturing date.
The sample size comes in a small tub with a screw cap. Good for travelling purposes but sometimes this whitish-yellow lotion spills easily from the tub and leaves a mess on my dressing table -_- The consistency is nothing like a lotion cream nor gel. I think that it is too watery, kinda like a serum already. It can be a good thing though, as it makes it easier for your skin to absorb the nutrients!
There is also a soothing herbal/ floral smell which I like, but some people may not be able to tolerate. Audrey says it smells like grass lol, but it's alright for me.
Directions for use:
Use it after toner as a moisturiser. Just scoop out a few drops of the lotion with your fingers or a spoon made for moisture creams and put a few dots/ drops on your face. Massage it in gently and pat gently. And you're done!
See, it's so watery that you can see it dripping from my cheek. Not sure if the retailed lotion is of this consistency..
Results/ Thoughts:
Only a tiny amount is needed for the whole face due to its consistency. I would prefer if the moisturizer came with a spoon or something as it is unhygienic to keep dipping my finger into the lotion. For the whitening part, I don't really notice a difference.. Apart from that, I really like this moisturiser cos it really does a good job of hydrating my skin. I sleep in an air-conditioned room and my skin doesn't feel dry at all after applying the moisturiser. I'm really pleasantly surprised because who would've thought something so pure and natural works as well as the big brands in stores? Also, the lotion doesn't feel sticky at all after application. My skin is sensitive towards fragrances so the natural essence oil not only smells good, but doesn't stimulate my skin as well.
And besides, Soap Gallery custom makes the lotion according to your skin type. You can tell them your concerns and they will try their best to come up with the perfect facial lotion for you, all for a price of only RM 40 - 60 (80g). What's not to love??
Basically, this is how my skin looks without makeup now. hashtag #nofilter LOL. Please stay this way because I really love clean and clear skin!! Who doesn't right?
I have nothing bad to say regarding all the products that I've tried from Soap Gallery, honestly. Minus the fancy packaging, you actually pay to get more of the natural and good quality products. If you're interested in getting these products but can't make a trip to their stores, fret not! Soap Gallery does online retailing as well and for me, it's even more worth it to purchase online especially if you're a Soap Card member, cos you get 10% discount and get the products delivered right to your doorstep.
Visit their website and Facebook page for more updates!
Soap Gallery & Marketing (HQ)
Address: 25, Jalan Molek 2/1,
Taman Molek,
81100, JB, Johor.
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm
Branches:
KSL City (LG-15)
Address: 33, Jalan Seladang,
Taman Abad,
80250, JB, Johor.
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun, 10am-10pm
Sutera Mall (East Wing L4-027)
near the newly opened library
Address: 1, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/4,
Taman Sutera Utama,
81300, JB, Johor.
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun, 10.30am-10.30pm
Love,
Carinn ♥
Disclaimer: Even though the products are sponsored, the review is based on my personal thoughts, experiences and preference after trying out the products.
I received the travel-sized 50ml cleanser from the RA8 starter kit and is lightweight and mini enough to carry around. The bottle also comes with a pump nozzle which I like! However, I have to comment that I really dislike the bottle design because it is quite unstable and the screw cap and nozzle actually comes apart quite easily -.- I've spilled the contents so many times, so wasted! 
