Review of Olay Total Effects with Cooling Essence

When this first came to the market last month, I was so excited to try it since I loved Olay Total Effect with touch of foundation. I'm looking for non-SPF lotion to use at night, so since this doesn't have any SPF and come from the Olay Total Effect range, this must be suitable on my skin.Price wise, I think its probably has the same price as the Olay touch of foundation (RM32 +). When I first heard about this product, I thought that this might come in gel-creme form since it has a cooling properties. So this is the product description:

" Olay Total Effects Advanced Daily Moisturiser with Cooling Essence fights the seven signs of ageing and keeps skin refreshed all day with an innovative, lightweight formula. It features mint extracts that work together with a burst of cooling water to provide a breezy sensation. Glycerol and age-fighting vitaniacin complex is absorbed deeply in the skin surface, with pigments and emollients that stay on the surface to cover imperfections and smooth the skin"

Actually this come in white color lotion. The lotion has a nice refreshing smell. The smell remind me of the normal version of Olay Total effect. The lotion is lightweight and absorb really well on skin. Even though on their ad, mentioned about this lotion being anti-aging lotion but without an oil. Suprisingly, this makes my skin a bit greasy compared to the touch of foundation. And the most shocking thing is that this has stinging instead of cooling effect. I don't feel any cooling or breeze sensation at all. Maybe they should call this Olay Total Effect with Stinging Essence instead.hehe.The stinging does dissipates slowly. I used this for almost 4 weeks and I don't think this is suitable for my skin. This caused tiny bumps all over my face. I did see how it improved my skin making it more rejuvenated, the same effect like high-end anti-aging creams such as Clarins Multi-active and SK-II Skin signature cream. But all these cream are just too heavy on my skin. I'm suprise that this is marketed for combination/oily skin since this cream does grease up pretty quickly. Maybe this suits people with dry skin and the total effect with touch of foundation suit people with combination/oily skin.

I don't see the hyped on this latest product from Olay. Its definitely a waste. I think they should come out with the night cream version for this range instead. Its available in United States called the Total Effects Night Firming cream but not yet in Malaysia. Actually I preferred the Total Effect with salicylic acid for acne-prone skin but this has been discontinued in Malaysia. All in all, I like the effect of this but definitely not for me.

Dermalogica Review Part 2

Here is the list of Dermalogica products that I hate :

1. Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

This is a gentle physical exfoliant that has rice-based enzyme powder that activates upon contact with water, releasing Papain, Salicylic Acid and Rice Enzymes to smooth the skin and accelerate cell renewal. This product is also part of Dermalogica Brightening system because it helps with pigmentation and melanin production while micro-exfoliating the dead skin layer. This scrub is very gentle but so much hassle to use. You need to dispense about a half teaspoon of the powder into wet hands, and form a creamy paste by rubbing hands together. And you just massage this in circular motions. Personally, I hate this product because its difficult to control how much powder to use and if you use to much water, it will be too watery and you won't feel the exfoliating effect. Pretty expensive too. The price I think is double than Skin Prep Scrub.

2. Dermalogica Active Moist

I love Dermalogica cleanser and mask but I hate their moisturiser. I've used this but this is really not for me. It doesn't absorb well and I look like an oil slick even though it was winter. It doesn't give me any breakout but an oil face is a big NO NO.

3. Dermalogica AGE Smart Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque

After reading Victoria Beckham's rave on this mask as her favourite mask, I decided to give this a try. And I hate it.This mask is yellow in color and has a very thick consistency. It sting a little bit upon application. This mask feels like a thick moisturiser on my face. It doesn't dries up and feel so uncomfortable. If I used this more than 10 minutes, it makes my skin red. I just wanna quickly wash this off. Its very expensive and probably more suitable on dry, matured or photodamaged skin. A cheaper alternative is MD Forte, Skin Rejuvenation Hydra- masque only half the price of this mask.I,ve used this and it has exactly same color, smell and ingredients (AHA, BHA, vitamins) but different brand.

4. Dermalogica Multivitamin Thermafoliant

After reading great reviews on this scrub on Makeupalley.com, I managed to get a sample of this. This skin polisher combines both physical and chemical exfoliants. It has microgranules with Lactic Acid that activates upon contact with water. As advised by the sale's lady, I used this on dry skin and I think its too harsh on my skin. It makes my skin red and raw. The thermal effect dissipate pretty quickly. I only used sample, so I can't tell the long-term effect of this. This scrub is pretty expensive too.

5. Dermalogica Day Bright SPF 15

This reminds me so much of Shiseido White Lucent Day Cream which I hate. First of all,both of this creams make my skin PINK. Seriously noticeable pink. How am I supposed to go out looking like a pink pather. Secondly, both of this does nothing on my skin. No brightening or whitening effect..NADA! Both doesn't cause any breakout but pretty mediocre products considering how expensive these are.

6. Dermalogica Climate Control Lip Balm

I'm pretty disappointed with this lip balm. First of all, it smell and taste like a lemongrass which I don't prefer. And secondly, I used this at night, so I don't wake up with dry chapped lips but this cause whitish stuff on my lips in the morning.Urgghh!!. This product actually enhance the skin's natural lipid barrier. Could the white stuff be lipid? Not sure. It doesn't moisturise my lips that well though. There are so many great lip balm out there but this one is not one of them.

* All in all, I'm going to end my relationship with most of Dermalogica products. I'm going to keep using my Gentle Cream Exfoliant. Definitely a keeper. The price of dermalogica products are more expensive than the price offered by Skincarestore. For example, the price of Special Cleansing Gel is RM15o (AUD 50) compared to AUD38 from Skincarestore. So overpriced (come on dermalogica!). Dermalogica should be aggressive in term of promoting their products in Malaysia because they have such great range of products.

Dine out at Pak Hailam Kopitiam

I've been a bit stress this passed few days. Both physically and mentally.My left bicep is still screaming in pain from having to change gear (why can't we just use automatic gear!!). I've just got my L licence and start my driving class.Yesterday I passed my QTI test (Ujian Penilaian) for my JPJ test. The QTI officer was rude and inappropriate.He was calling my number and then he went out to the office.I thought he call out my number and when he came back, I asked him whether he was calling number 14, which was my number and he replied, "can't you hear what I'm calling? Go start the engine faster!".I'm not sure that he was doing it on purpose or he just want me to feel the pressure of driving but it was inappropriate and definitely made all my stress hormone at its maximum level. All the time during the test, he complained this and that and I just couldn't focus. But luckily I didn't make any huge mistake and he let me passed. Phewwwwhhh!!!


I said to my husband, I need to destress and we decided to have dinner at Pak Hailam Kopitiam at Tesco Seksyen 13. I ordered Nasi Ayam and I was disappointed. I'm not even sure it should be called Nasi Ayam. Who put taugeh ( a lot of taugeh) in nasi ayam? And not even a proper sambal nasi ayam. When I asked for the sambal, they gave I don't know whatever sambal they can grabbed in the kitchen. But I love their pau so much.Made from wholemeal and very cheap too (RM 1/piece). My brother ordered Mee Hoon Tomyam and it was delicious. Definitely different than any normal Mee Hoon Tomyam I had in the past.They put a bit of coconut milk and the seafood was also generous. I've been traumatised with Tom Yam dish lately because most restaurant put way too much onion and too little chicken/seafood in their Tom Yam.








After dinner, we did a bit of shopping at Tesco and let Amir played around the Tesco. Amir certainly look more 'grown-up'.hehe. But he still too lazy to walk by himself.Maybe in a few weeks, I think.




I'm deeply disturbed with today's news in the media about K Hares-varran, an 18 months old toddler who died after he was abused by his neighour. This happened only a few days after Syafia Humairah Sahari, a 3 years old toddler also died after she was abused by his mother's boyfriend. And not to to mention the raising cases of 'buang bayi' in Malaysia. This is definitely the lowest level of inhumanity. May their soul rest in peace. Amin