Review: Boost Balm Skin Barrier Cream

Storytime with Sarah

Just when you thought you know your skin - it betrays you.

As shallow as it may seem, I only recently discovered and observed that my skin changes in tandem with my cycle. I'm not a science student nor a science graduate hence matters regarding the magical world of science, I'm most of the time - puzzled.

Here are the things I noticed:

Week 1 & 2 of the month, my skin would be at its best behaviour. Clear plump skin, cheeks like peaches which is a heaven-made canvas for makeup. As vain as it sounds, I would gush every time I see a cakeless base with a beautiful glow. I would confidently and foolishly think I got my skincare routine all figured about. Imagine that hair flip for me, would you? Thanks.

Then come Week 3 & 4 of the month. Like an indecisive, little piece of sh*t - my skin decides to flip its 'table' on my skincare routine. Now, imagine a house on fire and I'm running in circles. It is as if those products that used to work wonders decides to be utterly useless when I needed them most. Reminds me of my current WiFi. My skin would experience clogged pores/ closed comedones, pimples with no heads (they're the worse!) and whatever makeup I used previously that looked good - looks like I got run over by a bus or as if I had not slept for a week.

So how did I heal my skin?

Thanks to Boost Balm Skin Barrier Cream.

What is Boost Balm Skin Barrier Cream?

It's a 20ml black, solid gourd-shaped bottle with a pump that is priced at RM120. Its opacity helps stabilise the ingredients, extending its shelf life. It was initially heavily marketed as a primer and they still do but over time, it is introduced as a skincare product because of its healing properties. Here's a snippet of information from their website:

Primes Makeup stays for more than 10 hours post application!
Fills pores, 100% natural & suitable for Oily, Dry and Combination skin.
Protects Patented technology of film forming invisible mask once applied.
Creates a breathable film on your skin so any cosmetic products applied above it will adhere to the film and not your skin! So you now need not worry about NOT wearing makeup products due to sensitive skin, as it will not have direct contact with your skin!
Heals Rich in Anti-ageing properties such as Phytosan K to prevent premature ageing. Bearberry extract is incorporated to create supple, brighter looking skin.
Geranium extract is incorporated to battle combat with any sensitive bumps!

I won't discuss the ingredients because it isn't my forte. I will leave that to the experts but I will share with you the list of experts I follow and learn from in another post. But here's the ingredients list:

Ingredients:Water, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate (and) Glyceryl Stearate (and) Stearyl Alcohol , Octyldodecyl Oleate (and) Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate (and) Polyhydroxystearic Acid (and) Octyldodecanol, Lauryl Laurate , Alpha Arbutin, Glycerin, Salix alba bark extra, Persea gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Olea europaea (Olive ) Oil, Bellis Perennis (Daisy) Flower Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Taraktogenos Kurzii Seed Oil (and) Nigella Sativa Seed Oil (and) Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil (and) Potassium Lauroyl Wheat Amino Acids (and) Palm Glycerides (and) Capryloyl Glycine (and) Magnolia Grandiflora Bark Extract, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Adansonia Digitata Pulp Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Xanthan Gum, Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium ) Oil, EDTA.

Review 

This may read like a paid advertisement and I do wish that I was paid to write reviews but alas no. The truth is that my journey with this Skin Barrier Cream was not a smooth one. I started using this product circa late 2017. By the end of 2018, I finished three bottles and wasn't satisfied with the results. So I decided to take a break from it and went about exploring various skin care product, seeking the holy grail. Slowly and expensively, I soon realised that there is no holy grail. It all boils down to knowing your skin and study about ingredients as much as possible. 

Early this year, my skin was behaving pretty well. Occasional, annoying breakouts but nothing too serious. But then around March/April, I started to experience breakouts that take longer than usual to heal. I had two pimples that do not have a head, felt like bruises and doesn't seem to go down despite using my usual creams. It went on for about a week or two and I was at my end's wits. Nothing worked. Lo and behold, I reached out for this Skin Barrier Cream again and decided to put it to the test. 

During the testing duration, I made sure to use products that focus on hydration and calming my skin. I stopped using actives such as Vitamin C, Retinol, AHA and BHA. The products I used are listed below. 

Night skincare routine: 
1. Hatomugi Skin Conditioner
2. Origins Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion
3. The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum
4. AMPM Super Triple HA Lotion
5. Boost Balm Skin Barrier Cream

Day skincare routine:
1. Hatomugi Skin Conditioner
2. Origins Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion
3. AMPM Super Triple HA Lotion
4. The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum

5. Origins Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Advanced Face Serum

6. Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Soothing Face Lotion
7. Innisfree Perfect UV Protection Cream Triple Care SPF50+ PA++++

I stuck to this routine for about a week plus and my skin improved tremendously. I had pimples that weren't fully formed and it 'revealed' itself after a few days of application as seen in the pictures below. The ones that have broken were healed within days. If that's not a miracle cream, I'm not sure what's called - hence, the tagline: 'Pegasus Blood Edition'.

Sidenote: I think if I hadn't taken the before and after pictures, I wouldn't be able to tell the massive difference. It's honestly difficult to take a before and after pictures with a phone because of the change in lighting, etc. Do share or recommend cameras that will be good for this kind of work and can also be used for tutorials. I would really appreciate it! 

As you can see from the pictures above, the improvement is jaw-dropping. The Skin Barrier Cream did help heal and strengthen my skin. It's not as sensitive as it was previously. I'm happy and grateful that our very own Malaysian brand has outdone itself. I didn't need to look far and wide. 

Using it on its own may not be hydrating or moisturising enough. Like my skin, I had to use hydrating products and seal everything with the Skin Barrier Cream. I also incorporated Paris B's Moisture Sandwich technique and my skin loves it. I have used this as a primer but I found that I love it more as my night cream during my skin's troubled days. As the saying goes, "One man's meat is another man's poison." So what may work for me might not work for you but take comfort that you will find your sweet spot. It takes time and lots of experimenting. 

Not all is a bed of roses with this Skin Barrier Cream. I am at my fifth or sixth bottle now and I have consistently faced issues with its packaging. The pump is problematic and I end up having to remove the pump and scoop the product surrounding the tube every time I use it. I have shared this issue with the owner of Boost Balm and she has taken note of it with the assurance that they are looking at improving the packaging which is comforting to know. 

I wished this cream came in a jar because of its thick, creamy consistency. The jar that is of the same quality and material of the current gourd-shaped bottle would be ideal. By doing so, I will be able to see the remainder of the product and I can scoop up every drop. Even more so, it would be great if they have a recycling program where used bottles can be returned with a reward system. I would be encouraged to continuously use the product. 

Summary

The product works for me and I'd recommend it to everyone who suffers from acne and you're at your ends wits. Sometimes it's just your skin barrier needs some TLC. Overwashing, over-exfoliation and over-introducing new products can stress your skin out. If you're experiencing serious acne issues, please do visit a specialist. Remember that your hormones or diet can also contribute to your acne problems. 

If you're interested in purchasing it, you can get it directly from their website (Boost Balm Skin Barrier Cream) or their registered agents.  Or if you're not from Malaysia, they are now available on Amazon UK.   

You can follow them on these social media channels for the latest updates:

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/BoostBalm/ 

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/boostbalm/?hl=en 

Website    : https://boostbalm.com/ 

This post does not contain any affiliate links nor it is sponsored or paid by Boost Balm. I purchased all 5-6 bottles with my own money and was personally moved to share my experience with this product. I wasn't prompted or forced to write a review. If a product works or doesn't, I share about it at my own time. I need facts and to be very certain about what I think or feel about the product before I write as you can see, writing takes up a chunk of my time and effort. More practice needed. 

So that's it, folks. Until next time. Thanks for taking the time to read!

Stay beautiful always, 

Sarah :) 

[Skincare] Current Night Skincare Regime

If you have been following me on Instagram, I shared a snap on my Instastory about layering my moisturisers and hoping it won't cause my skin to breakout. So here's a post about it. 

So these are the products I used on the 03.04.18 and I'm happy to report that I woke up to a not-so-irritated skin despite using AHA and retinol. 

As usual, I did a "little" manual extraction to physically remove closed whiteheads and blackheads. To clean and calm my irritated skin, I cleaned my face with cotton pads soaked in Cosrx Clarifying Treatment Toner (RM45; 15ml). After the toner, I applied Innisfree Jeju Lava Seawater Boosting Ampoule (RM89, 25ml) with Cica and Firming Effector (RM23 each; 7ml) to hydrate and prep my skin (functions similarly as the Innisfree Green Tea Serum). I'm happy to report that the ampoule does not leave a sticky residue and it is absorbed into the skin in less than a minute. 

To hydrate my skin further, I tone my face with cotton pads soaked with Innisfree Green Tea Balancing Skin (RM62; 200ml). After this step, my skin looks and feels plump. To keep my closed comedones in control, I apply Cosrx AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid (RM56; 100ml) with my finger focusing on areas where I have pimple/acne scars and breakouts. This powerful bugger does sting and the scent isn't exactly enjoyable but heck, it works and that's all that matters. Once I have applied AHA, I will let it sink in for about 20 - 30 minutes before continuing with my next step. 

After 20 - 30 minutes, I continued with First Aid Beauty Retinol Serum (RM278; 30ml) - focusing on areas where I have fine lines such as my forehead, malar area and nasolabial folds. I would try to apply a thin layer on my marionette lines (near the mouth) because that's the area I tend to experience dry patches, which shows prominently whenever I use foundation or powder. Based on my current experience, retinol or actives tend to leave my skin feeling tight and sometimes a sharp, stinging pain if I don't hydrate or moisturise sufficiently. To counter that, I sealed my skin with a layer of Innisfree Green Tea Balancing Lotion, which cools and leaves my skin oh-so-plump. 

Not taking any risks, I add another layer of Innisfree Bija Cica Essence (RM118; 50ml), which contains bija oil and D-panthenol that helps reinforce and rebuild weakened skin barrier - something my skin desperately needs. After using this essence for about 2 - 3 weeks, I noticed that whenever I remove my sunscreen and powder/foundation at the end of the day, my skin does not feel taut and uncomfortable. So I'm guessing this essence does help rebuild my skin barrier. Will definitely do a thorough review when I have finished it.  

Since I used AHA and retinol, I added Innisfree Bija Cica Balm (RM106; 40ml) to my layering but I only applied on areas where I needed more moisturising such as the forehead, breakouts, malar area and marionette lines. I might want to switch to Innisfree Bija Cica Intense Balm once I have finished using this. 

After following @makeupbypapot for some time, I learned more than a thing or two about "sealing" your skincare. She does a great job of simplifying and explaining complicated stuff, especially when it comes to ingredients or skincare. To seal in my 'hard work', I used Bobbi Brown Hydrating Gel Cream, which retails for RM200+ (can't recall the exact price, will update once I have referred the receipt). I initially planned to use it as a day cream but since my night cream (Innisfree Green Tea Balancing Cream) finished, I decided to use it as my night cream instead. I have been using it for about 1-2 weeks now and I was expecting breakouts and a whole load of drama on my skin. To my surprise, I woke up to a hydrated skin with my pores minimised and plump-looking skin all the time.

YASS (* o *) 

As for the Stratia Liquid Gold, I purchased it at RM125 (60ml) from @makeupbypapot. This was my second time using it and since I did not experience any adverse reactions from the first use, I thought - hey, why not layer on top of my Bobbi Brown Hydrating Gel Cream? I mean, what could go wrong? Right? Ehehehe. So with crossed fingers, I layered it on top of my first moisturiser and prayed. Guess what, NO BREAKOUTS! HAH. Might try this again and see how it fares in a long-run. Will update this post if I'd ever breakout from this combo. Heh. 

For my eyes, I have been using this duo combo for a month now and I'm liking the results. I discovered this Clinique All About Eyes Serum during my honeymoon last year when I was oddly experiencing extremely dry under eyes. Retails at RM157 (15ml), it's pretty steep for me but I am glad I took the plunge because it does help de-puff my eyes, especially in the morning. It's not sticky or oily and it absorbs into the skin fairly quickly. The roller does leave a cooling sensation, which helps to reduce the puffiness. I use this mainly to help with the puffiness, not fine lines or dark circles.  

I don't believe in eye creams/serums that claim to reduce dark circles. If you read up about it, dark circles are caused by:  

• Allergies 
• Atopic dermatitis (eczema) 
• Contact dermatitis 
• Fatigue (lifestyle/sleeping patterns) 
• Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) 
• Heredity (genes) 
• Pigmentation irregularities 
• Rubbing or scratching your eyes 
• Sun exposure 
• Thinning skin and loss of fat and collagen 

Source: Mayo Clinic

So until you have narrowed down exactly what causes your dark circles, try to hold back from splurging on creams that promise magical effects on dark circles. However, I do believe a good eye cream/serum can help with fine lines. After much research (googling lah), I decided to lay my hard-earned money on Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Concentrate Matrix. This luxurious-looking bottle retails for RM315 (15 ml), which was why I held back for so long but as I was desperate to rid of the fine lines under my eyes - I took the plunge. I have been using it for about 4 weeks now and I can feel and see a difference. I am planning on reviewing this eye cream with before and after pictures, so keep your eyes peeled. Or simply, you can just follow me on Instagram for the update.  

Welp, that all for now. Toodles!