[Review] Juju Aquamoist Vitamin C Toner & Moisturiser

Hello everyone, I know it's been a while since my last review ^_^" I've just been super busy, but I do assure you guys that I have not forgotten this blog. As per requested, in my last "Sasa Haul" I had promised to review the products purchased after testing them out. After using the Juju Aquamoist Vitamin C Toner & Moisturiser in my skin care routine for the past 4-5 months, I can safely say that I have a pretty good gist of how it's affected my skin, and whether or not it lives up to all the "hype". 

I originally purchased it after finishing up my Aloe Vera Toner & Moisturiser, which was also from Juju Aquamoist. I absolutely love Juju Aquamoist's skin care products, and their Aloe Vera line had been a definite HG. My curiosity was piqued after hearing the rave reviews on the Vitamin C Skin Care line. So of course, I just had to try it out for myself. 

First Impression: When I first opened these babies up, the first thing that I noticed was the sleek packaging. It just was of so much higher quality than the Aloe Vera line (since the toner bottle was made of flimsy plastic and felt quite cheap). I think they really stepped up the packaging for this one not only because of the higher price range, but for products that claim to have "Vitamin C" - its 'enrichening' properties can fade over time when exposed to direct sunlight. 

I did not like the cap for the toner bottle however. I really couldn't control the amount of product I was putting onto my cotton pad, unlike the Juju Aquamoist Aloe Vera Toner. After placing it onto my skin, I felt that the consistency was definitely a lot heavier on the skin than the Aloe Vera Toner. The next day, I noticed my skin feeling so much smoother than the night before. By the second month of using it, my skin was visibly more even and brighter. 

I do have to warn you guys that because it is a Vitamin C product, it does contain citric acid. This means it has whitening properties. For people who have more sensitive skin, or if you just don't like the whole whitening idea in general - then steer clear of these two products. As far as its claims of "whitening" goes, then I did notice a subtle difference in my skin.

It definitely became a shade lighter after consistent use (which I not at all disliked, since I suit pale/fair skin). Overall, then I give the Juju Aquamoist Vitamin C Toner a thumbs up :) 

On the other hand, then I was not so impressed with the Juju Aquamoist Vitamin C Moisturiser from the very moment I opened it. For a gel formula moisturiser, it was incredibly liquidy - almost like water, and not at all in a pleasant way. I ended up spilling half of the contents the moment I opened it, since I hadn't expected it to be so watery. 

Moisturise-wise, then I've definitely used better for my normal-dry skin type. Whilst it does hydrate my skin fairly well, it pales in comparison to the Juju Aquamoist Aloe Vera Moisturiser.

What I Like:

+ The toner helped even out my skin, and after using it for 2 months + my skin is visibly smoother and brighter. 

+ The toner definitely allowed my moisturiser to absorb so much better. 

+ The sleek packaging is a great plus. 

+ True to its word, the products really do whiten your skin after using them over a period of time. For me, then this is a great plus (since I like having pale/fair skin). But for those who do not like whitening - then these two products really won't be the ones for you. 

What I Dislike:

+ The consistency of the toner felt a little too thick for my liking, whilst the moisturiser was just far too watery. 

+ Moisturise-wise, then the moisturiser didn't do too bad. Not bad, but not great either. This would be great for oily/combination skin, but not so much for dry skin. 

Overall Opinion: I'm honestly quite "in-between" or "eh" with my thoughts on this skin care line. They're not bad products per say, but they definitely didn't live up to the original hype that I had been hearing about all this time. If I had to choose between the Juju Aquamoist Aloe Vera line and this one, I would without a doubt choose the Aloe Vera. 

I guess in the end it all came down to the Aloe Vera suiting my skin type more so than the Vitamin C line, for I have normal/dry skin. Not only that, but another additional bonus is that the Aloe Vera line is almost half the price of the Juju Aquamoist Vitamin C line. 

Nonetheless, if you have oily/combination skin and you're looking for something to whiten your skin - I would definitely recommend giving the toner a shot. Whilst the moisturiser did disappoint me, the toner did everything it claimed to do. It really is a great toner, and the only downside was the rather heavy/sticky feeling it left my skin with afterwards. 

Would I Repurchase? No, after finishing these two up I'll most likely repurchase my Juju Aquamoist Aloe Vera Toner & Moisturiser :) 

Rating: ★★★

[Review] Biore Triple Action Toner

I remember purchasing this toner out of sheer curiosity, and I actually wasn't planning on the random splurge at all. It caught my interest, as it claimed to "cleanse, tighten & clear" your pores AND reduce surface shine. At the time, I was suffering from large pores around my nose and cheek area, because of a foundation I had used (Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse Foundation). I will also be posting a review of this up in future.  

It was my first time testing a product from Biore, and at the time - I didn't think of researching the product beforehand for reviews. I thought that it was quite a cheap price for 250mL worth of product, and wow do I absolutely regret it now. No price justification whatsoever can convince me to change my mind about this toner. Whilst a lot of people have had good experiences with this, I was not one of them. 

First Impression: I remember when I first used this toner, I was quite shocked - since it left a rather strong, minty scent. Not only this, but my skin felt as though it was prickling and burning. It was my first time using a product with salicylic acid and I merely dismissed it as my skin not being used to the new toner. I remember quite liking the "fresh" feeling it left my skin with, and I noticed that when I placed moisturiser afterwards - my skin absorbed it so much faster! 

Although I wasn't too impressed with the stingy and uncomfortable feeling, I did like how much more effective my moisturiser was - so that was a definite plus for me. I continued using it for another 2 weeks without problems, and my skin had gotten used to the strange sensation.

However, at the beginning of the second week - that was when I saw it had taken a negative toll on my skin. Whilst I wouldn't say I have "flawless" skin, but I do admit that I hardly ever have any break outs. Maybe I'd get a small pimple once every few months, but that's about it. I take care of my skin everyday, and use the same products without problems. 

But with this, at the second week I noticed that my cheek area had become rather dry and patchy looking. Even my mom commented that it was rather strange, since it was the first time my skin did not look smooth and moisturised. The cheek area itself was somewhat flaky, and translucent looking. 

Once again, I didn't think too much of it (big mistake on my part!) since I thought perhaps it's because of the Winter weather, and I simply wasn't moisturising enough. Several days later, my eyelids became extremely sensitive and scratchy. I realised that the skin of my eye area had cracked and was extremely scraggy. 

I was horrified, since it stung terribly so whenever I made even the slightest movement. Luckily for me, I quickly made the connection and stopped using the toner. After an excruciating week with my swollen, puffy and cracked eyelids - it eventually subsided. 

I knew it was because of this toner since it was the only new product I had added to my daily skin care routine. 

What I Like:
+ Helped absorb my moisturiser so much faster.
+ Left a pleasant, fresh and "clean" feeling on my skin. 
+ For the amount of product, the price is super cheap and affordable. It'll definitely last you a long time. 

What I Dislike:
+ The strong minty scent and burning feeling it left my skin with after applying. 
+ It left my skin cracked, dry and peeling especially on my eyelid area. It was a painful experience, and not something I would want to go through again. 

Overall Opinion: This was a definite "no go" product for me, and it left me with a rather bad experience. I suppose I was also partially at fault for not doing better research beforehand, and simply buying it on pure whim. Other reviews (you can find some on makeupalley.com) stated that they also experienced the same reaction on their skin as I did, so I wasn't the only one. 

At the same time, what may have not worked for me, does not mean it won't work for you. I have normal/dry skin, which is probably a good reason why my skin didn't react too well to the product. It contains salicylic acid and whilst it is a good ingredient for lightening dark spots, and exfoliation - it is quite harsh on the skin.

If you have more sensitive or drier skin, it may or may not have the same effect as it did on mine.

Would I Repurchase? No. Like I said before, nothing about the product (even it's low price) can justify such a bad experience. 

Rating: ★