Olay Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System

I did not feel like biting the bullet and springing for a Clarisonic so instead went for the much cheaper Olay Pro-X system instead. Figured it would be nice to evaluate the set - to essentially see if I could stick with it before investing a whole lotta cash in a Clarisonic.

Included in the Olay Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System are the following:-
- the system
- 1 brush
- 2 AA batteries
- sample size of Olay Pro-X Cream Cleanser

Back information

The set went for $24.99 at Amazon.com (or drugstore.com). Each brush head can be used for up to 3 months, so at the same time I bought a pair of replacement brushes for $9.99.

Pro-X Cleansing System set with replacement brush set

I've heard that the key difference between the Olay Pro-X and Clarisonic is that the latter uses vibrations rather than rotating the whole brush head along the skin. Even though the brush may look rough, it is is quite soft and pliable. It feels pretty good on the face too. The brush definitely isn't dragging across the skin like a floor scrubber!

Easy pop on & off brush head, soft bristles

I've used it a few times, once daily in the evenings, at speed 1 (slowest) and since it's only been a few days so I can't quite tell if there's anything magical. The skin feels smoother right afterwards but my skin has always been mostly trouble-free. Although I am at an age where I need to take better care of it. At least while testing out this Olay Pro-X Cleansing System it has helped me keep up with an actual (night) skincare regime. 

Instructions on side

I did not quite like the cream cleanser included and am glad I didn't purchase the full-size version for $15. It doesn't really foam up and just stays on the face like some sort of alien ooze filled with magical granules of unknown origin. Maybe I'm doing it wrong though! Instead I bought the following Olay Regenerist Cream Cleanser at the local drugstore for RM14.50 and am going to experiment with it. I'm not really in the camp of exfoliating daily anyways.

Tips

• read the instructions on the box and then keep it in a safe place as it has all the instructions needed
• installation of batteries is a pain even after reading instructions!
• do not store the brush and system uncovered in the bathroom, brush head has no cap for cover
• detach brush each time before washing, the extent of waterproof-ness is questionable (imo)

Physician's Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush

The Physician's Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush looked really cute - made up of little overlapping hearts of different colors. Besides looking good it's apparently supposed to boost one's mood!

 Description from Physician's Formula about its properties:-

• Ultra-soft and blendable blushing powder features a fresh and vibrant mix of blushing tones infused with a pop of color to create a healthy glow.
• Multi-reflective pearls provide a soft iridescence to highlight contour and add radiance to cheeks.
• Infused with our Happy Boost Blend, featuring Happy Skin and Euphoryl, natural plant extracts which have been shown to promote a feeling of happiness by mimicking the effect of Endorphins and helping protect the skin from environmental stress.
• The sweet scent of Violet provides a feeling of joy each time you apply.

It comes with a psychedelic mini brush and mirror hidden with a lift up drawer under the blush itself.

I cannot attest to the mood boosting properties but think it is a great peachy pink. The blush comes in four different shades - pink, rose, natural and warm.

The Physician's Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush retails for $13.95.

There was supposed to be a 50% off 2nd purchase of Physican's Formula - so I grabbed the Cashmere Wear Bronzer (review to come), but it didn't turn out like that at the till. It was still a great price anyways for a daily wear blush. I would definitely repurchase this item.

Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter, Loreal Color Riche Balm & Maybelline Baby Lips

The Revlon lip butters are much raved about and for good reason. Snagged these on my travels, but of course just as I was away these babies were released back home in Malaysia. Gosh darnit! On top of that I only had about 15 minutes to rush into Rite-Aid to grab as many drugstore cosmetics I wanted so chose these colors at random.

Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter in 070 Cherry Tart, 0.09oz
Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter in 010 Raspberry Pie, 0.09oz

Loreal Color Riche Balm in 218 Rose Elixir, 0.1oz
Maybelline Baby Lips in 25 Pink Punch, 0.15oz

Of course I picked up more than just the lip butters :) Did end up loving all of 'em to varying degrees. If you're going for color, the Revlon Lip Butters do have the strongest colors out of the lot.

(L-R: Revlon 070 Cherry Tart, Revlon 010 Raspberry Pie, Loreal 218 Rose Elixir, Maybelline 25 Pink Punch)

My favorite thing is that each of them does not have a cloying waxy scent. Revlon ones smell somewhat like baked goods, the Loreal (my favorite btw even though it is quite sheer) is very much like strawberries and the Maybelline baby lips seems candy-like .

(L-R: Revlon 070 Cherry Tart, Revlon 010 Raspberry Pie, Loreal 218 Rose Elixir, Maybelline 25 Pink Punch)

Although the one thing I absolutely hate about the Revlon Color Burst Lip Butters is that the cap is almost impossible to remove safely. I take forever to pull the cover off and have already dinged one of them by slamming the cover back on top of it!

Revlon Lip Butter 010 Raspberry Pie

Am I being really dumb as is there an easier way to pull them off? I don't have giant fingers, honest. On the other hand I love the packaging on the Loreal Color Riche Balm. It's like the Loreal lipsticks with the little tab at the bottom to help snap it shut all proper and has a bottom that's twice the size of the Revlon ones so it's far easier to grasp. Sorry I'm being quite nitpicky aren't I? :)

Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter was priced at $7.49, the Loreal Color Riche Balm was $7.95 and the Maybelline Baby Lips were $3.49. They are a tad pricey for what is essentially tinted lip balm but they are quite worth it.

Something puzzling about the Maybelline Baby Lips though. Why is it that the US (or overseas) versions are completely different from the Malaysian ones?

Maybelline Baby Lips (US) in 25 Pink Punch

Maybelline Baby Lips (MY) in Energizing Orange

 US vs MY (Tinted/color vs none)

Soap & Glory New Makeup Range

A little preview of an upcoming review.

Items from Soap & Glory's new makeup range from Boots.

Lil Birthday Haul for Lil Sis

While traveling snagged these items up for little sister's upcoming birthday.

On the right is the Stila Love at First Blush set from Sephora. It includes a lovely 3 gradient blush, made up of little overlapping hearts in a shimmery pink-peach. The blush by itself can be purchased for $14 but this set that includes 2 Stila Lip Glazes (0.05oz) was $20. The lip glazes are in the prettiest pink colors - a soft peachy pink and a shimmery pink. For swatches view this post from Polarbelle (external link).

The other item is a cute Hello Kitty lip gloss set from Marks & Spencer. It was all of £5 and I wished I had grabbed another one for myself! The glosses are flavored in blackberry, cherry and strawberry; and are quite  pigmented.

Perfect for little sis! She loves pink blush and tons of lipgloss. Although she says she now has enough lip gloss to last the year.

UD Naked 2 vs Lancome Absolu Voyage

I was never too keen on getting the Urban Decay Naked 2 despite the fact that the Naked palette has served me well. The shades on the first are mostly unfinished except 2 shades to the left so a similar-ish palette would be a little wasteful. Once the 'new' version is in hand the older one will surely go to the back burner. Completely wasteful.

Then there's that niggling voice that says that while i'm where it's available i should grab one - as it'll be a few months until it gets to malaysia. Pricing is close US$50 vs RM180 so that might not be a point. Though the Naked palette has been my daily staple for months so the Naked2 would get the same mileage.

So confusing! I have heard that lots of us that own the Naked palette are having the same conundrum trying to decide if the Naked2 is necessary!

On the flight in saw this Lancome Absolu Voyage in the in-flight shopping mag. It's a nice sleek compact makeup kit that has everything you might need for a trip - eye shadows, blush, powder, lipsticks, brushes, mascara. This palette is supposedly only sold on flights for US$61 (delta). It's a serious contender now.



Did you get the Naked 2 palette? Are there any other alternatives to Naked 2 palette that you selected instead?

Update - I am so sesat, the Naked 2 has already been released in Sephora Malaysia and comes in at only RM179.