Review: Hair Heroes Intense UV And Thermal Barrier Shield

Hello, hello! here I am with yet another hair product review. This time it's the Hair Heroes Intense UV And Thermal Barrier Shield from a local brand Snoe.

I'm completely mystified by Snoe products. kakaiba kasi. they offer so many interesting things na when I see their product displays, kulang mga one hour kakatingin! Yay ^^ ..and their SAs are usually very friendly, hindi ka mahihiya magtanong! e kung nahihiya ka naman, here's their website, check it out: http://www.snoebeauty.com/

*hep, hep. this is not a sponsored post okay? I paid for this product and this is my honest opinion so those of you thinking I review products just because they were sent to me etc etc, go ahead and face the wall and don't forget to wear your cone of shame*

Bonggang bongga ^^

So this little guy here saved me from having uber-dry hair kasi nga nagpadigiperm ako di ba? e medyo shunga-shunga pa ko sa aftercare. I nearly died when I saw *horror* split ends a couple of weeks after digiperm. Sige imagine mo, curly hair + split ends. ampanget lang.

I was looking for something na hindi oily *of course* but super moisturizing and as much as possible, with heat protection *kasi ngaaaa, di ba, tumatakbo ako sa umaga. choz*

Hair Heroes Intense UV And Thermal Barrier Shield 249Php

That bottle lasted me only a week (generous amount when you apply, 4-5 pumps and pls take note, my hair is really really thin) but yep, I noticed the difference naman in such a short time.

BUT, BUT the smell, i don't like too much. A little too strong for me.

I didn't repurchase because:
1. The smell. It doesn't really smell bad, I just don't like the smell, the smell stays strong all throughout the day and once it even overpowered the cologne I was wearing. lol
2. The size. While the size is travel friendly, I don't think I need to tout this around since once (application) is enough for the whole day. I really don't like the idea of going back and forth every week just to buy a bottle of this.

Still, this is just perfect for hair begging to be CPR-ed. It has these two:
Argan Oil, Moringa Extract

Winner!

Just one bottle and my hair was cured! well, not really since I followed it up with OA amount of hair spa treatments. hehe. still, this is a good addition to your hair care regimen if you are trying to revive your dry, porous and brittle hair. Remember that it is also a heat protectant which is important if you style your hair everytime you go out.

so long, talong!

mwaaaah :*

PS our house help told me that if I notice a couple of ipis flying around, it means it will rain some time later. Whatever. rain or not, flying ipis is definitely not cool.

Quick Review: Maybelline Baby Skin Pore Eraser

Just a quick post/review about this pore eraser from Maybelline ~ my very recent discovery. Yay!

Basically this is a primer and if you're in the Philippines right now, make primers like this your BFF ~ it's freakin' hot out there! well, inside our house too. sheesh.

Maybelline Baby Skin Pore Eraser 299Php Watsons

I've been using this since uhm, Monday, and so far no complaints. I've been testing it under various conditions and yeah, still satisfied. It's lightweight, no smell, just soft and silky skin after application. and it does stay that way too for a long time. I even got my primed face wet and it's still there. *oh, just primed, not with makeup, okay? I forgot I already primed it when I decided to wash my face. lol*

My ultimate test for primers is when I take off my makeup before going to bed. There should be a respectable amount of makeup to take off, if not, the primer obviously didn't work right? This one passed.

That one time I wore it under heavy undereye concealer then I had to take it off to test another concealer *brand* (for skintone matching), the kind lady handed me a cottonball with makeup remover and we were both amazed how much makeup/concealer I was able to take off both eyes. I am not going to give credit to the concealer because I'm dumping it. it's useless ~slides and vanishes to nowhere! Gahhh! Only with this primer it was able to hold. But bye, bye concealer, this girl is moving on!

Anyway, selfies are more fun with this primer. bye bye large pores and fine lines. Hello baby skin *even without Camera360's Magic Skin filter* Hah! ^^

so there. give it a try. won't break your wallet too, only 299Php although I recommend skin testing first before buying since this primer has silica in it (just in case you are allergic to it) I'm not, and I'm comfortable using it too ^^

#ineedcoffee.iced.

Current Hair Favorites: Hair Loss Conditioner and Curl Sprays

First off, let me just tell you that I have extremely fine hair {think baby strands} and have been combating hair loss since.. uhm.. childhood? :D this is the reason why I chose to have it digipermed {fine hair part, not the hair loss part}

Honestly, my idea was to have it digipermed *voilà* all my hair woes solved! Obviously I was wrong, since I now have to deal with its aftercare which I would consider as a blessing in disguise since I am now more interested in haircare products than before.

*i still love my curls though. never going back to straight ;)*

minus limp, lifeless hair problem that digiperming was able to solve, my hair concerns now are: hair loss and digiperm aftercare.

For hair loss, I found this excellent hair loss conditioner {NaturVital hair loss conditioner, 495Php} at Beauty Bar just last month. It is a leave-in conditioner and it really does work - I've been using it for 2 weeks straight, applied immediately after washing. It passed my hair fall tests - that being how much hair strands falling when washing and how much on pillow in the morning - so that, for me, is a good enough sign that the conditioner is doing its job. It provides heat protection which I find helpful since I run mornings and it worries me when I expose my hair to the sun too much. I do think this is also a good product for digipermed hair since I didn't lose my curls even when used alone. not sticky at all. very light. i *love*

a friend recommended Pregroe shampoo as she is currently having a success in using it. I have yet to give it a try.

This one from Nature Republic is a hair essence {NATURE REPUBLIC Professional Pro Curl and Volume Boosting Water Hair Essence, 330Php} which I use to freshen up when traveling since it is small enough to fit my travel bag/baby bag. However, this is a bit sticky when worn especially when it's hot and humid outside.

Now my ultimate favorite! Yay! 

Prostyle Fuwarie Curl Styling Mist {Beauty Bar, 450php} is an excellent styling/setting mist. Since it provides heat protection too, it works well with curling irons. I don't really use curling irons, although I am a tiny bit interested in purchasing one, since I have a hubby who nags when I spend too much time preparing myself when going out. So, I just apply this styling mist, scrunch my curls real good then go. Believe me, the curls last all day - and *bouncy, bouncy* too! My curls have this nasty habit that when I leave them alone, they will all be straight by the end of the day, except for the ends which freakishly always flip to the wrong side! gaah! I love that it is not sticky when applied and doesn't weigh my hair down. also, not stiff on hair. Overall, great hold, not stiff, natural looking, bouncy curls. pretty awesome :)

NaturVital Hair Loss Leave-In Conditioner, NATURE REPUBLIC Professional Pro Curl and Volume Boosting Water Hair Essence, Prostyle Fuwarie Curl Styling Mist

#needcoffee.bye.

My Permed Eyelashes :)

My eyelashes must be the most stubborn eyelashes God has ever made! They are stick straight, meaning they don't curl at all and just grow long all going downwards. lol :D  They are thin and sparse and short and barely there. Mascaras don't work. eyelash curlers don't work and if I press the eyelash curlers too hard, my eyelashes tend to break and I end up with shorter-than-ever eyelashes! 

When I heard about eyelash extensions, I got curious of course. and interested. but after a couple of research and inquiries, I felt that extensions are not really for me because they involve some measure of care and maintenance and I'm just not ready for it yet. *I can't imagine not rubbing my eyes esp during allergy attacks and eyelash extensions can be an ugly sight when not properly cared for* so i settled for perming.

This is actually my second time to have my eyelashes permed. The first time was years back, when I was still in SPC. This time, I had mine permed at Let's Face It, Festival Mall branch. LFI gave me LARGE curls instead of medium for a more natural looking curls, as I was told. and indeed they do look like the natural thing after the procedure! I *love*!! :)

Permed eyelashes by Let's Face It

I paid 350Php for the procedure (1 hour and 30 minutes inside LFI, eyes closed and nearly dozing off) and the curls should last up to a month. I'm not really sure if it's okay to perm it again right away or if I should wait for some time. we will see, when we actually get there. for now, I'm enjoying my curls so much and they look best with a coat or two of Etude House Lash Perm Water Proof Mascara. It saves me time too because now I don't have to spend too much time trying to curl my eyelashes before going out, I can now just apply mascara even in the car. Hubby approves too. lol. He must, he hates waiting for me to finish up and almost always drags me to the car with my face half-finished. :D

so that's it for now ladies :)

#hungry.musteat.

Sample Room: Try Before You Buy Is Genius!

¡Hola! The weather is so nice ~ never a sunny person, I love that it's cold but not raining, perfect for a cup of coffee and a good book! Yay! and my other blog is all set! double yay! ..and guess who got a promotion?! Yes, me!! just last week!! so yeah, life is good and this mom is indeed one happy girl nowadays :)

Anyway, enough about me. Let me just share my experience with Sample Room. Last week, I got to try Sample Room and I'm happy to report that it went really well and I won't hesitate doing it again and again :) The best part is, I paid using PayPal and they didn't give me any trouble ~ that's plus, plus, plus for me because I hate going out to pay and PayPal is the most convenient payment method for me.

I've been following their Facebook page even before the website launch; bookmarked their website; subscribed to their email newsletter BUT I missed their first wave of samples (*blimey* I was away) Judging from the number of their Facebook followers vs my slowness to catch up, I figured it's impossible for me to actually get samples of my choice. However, one morning while checking my emails, there it was, Sample Room's newsletter with a new batch of samples! I went ahead and saw that there were indeed new samples to grab and I was so excited because the brands were impressive (I saw Shiseido, Davines etc) I was torn between Laneige and Davines but Laneige won because it's a sleeping pack ~ y'all know I love them ;) and to maximize my shipping fee, I threw in that Ralph Lauren sample you'll see below. Because I don't live in Metro Manila, the shipping fee is 130Php. I paid via PayPal. That was Tuesday morning. By Tuesday night, my account already reflected the tracking number. Impressive!

Hello Thursday noon, hello Sample Room package! Fast! really impressed!

RL and Laneige from Sample Room Ph

I've been asked many times how it works so here's my answer: You sign up with them, give some information about yourself (skin type, preferences, etc) and you get 100 points. Points are used for getting samples. In my case, RL was 25 pts and Laneige was 60 pts so I only have 15 pts now but when I give my review on these products, I get the points back. I think you'll earn points too if you refer a friend although I am not sure how many. 3 samples max per check out. You don't pay for the samples, but of course, you need to pay for shipping ~obviously.

and this is why I think Sample Room is a brilliant idea: It's because it allows me to choose the products I want to test. This is also the reason why I hesitate signing up for subscription boxes, I know I won't feel good if I end up with things I really don't need or will not use or not even interested in.

so there :)

#wannacuddlebutitstooearly

Skinfood Egg White Pore Mask Review

¡Hola! Would you believe, I contemplated about giving this blog a rest ~just for a couple of months ~ just yesterday? I was thinking of putting up a more "personal" blog, meaning less of my *cookiness* and more of things that really matter ~at least to me. lol :D Also, my work load is kinda killing me these days. Gaah! Anyway, I'm up and giddy because I just made my very first checkout at Sample Room! Yey! *fingers crossed* I hope it will all go well because I paid via PayPal and the last time I did that, I ran into a LOT of trouble and I almost died of heart attack [read TRAUMATIZING post here]

So today I'm going to share my thoughts about Skinfood Egg White Pore Mask. As you can see, mine is still in sachets/sample sizes. This one came with my online order as a freebie and I'm just so glad I tried it because I absolutely fell in love with it the first try :) definitely buying a tub of this!

Skinfood Egg White Pore Mask trial size

I'm a sucker for masks but I try to stay away from masks in sheets. It's really just a matter of personal preference okay? Nothing big and serious :)

so basically this pore mask tightens the pores which is exactly what I need right now. My face has decided to turn into an oil mine and I've noticed my pores are now larger than usual. Eeek! damage control is in order. Pronto!

This seems to be a good idea. Egg = firm and tight, yes? When I was in college, I used to break a raw egg, very carefully separate the white from the yellow, put back the yellow in the fridge ~ to my mama's amusement upon discovering rows of cracked egg shells with just the yellow part in them. lol ~ squeeze a little lemon juice into the white and tada! my very own egg mask!

anyway back to Skinfood.. this pore mask has a very thick consistency and white in color. The smell is a little too strong but it was nice *floral-baby powdery scent?* and not at all offending. It takes a little longer to dry than most masks of same consistency. When dried, it feels powdery to the touch.

I'm quite amazed with the immediate result. I can't say much about the blackhead part ~ my blackheads have this uncanny ability to hide themselves upon enemy approach ~ but the pore size was visibly smaller and my skin felt cleaner and of course, tighter. and that is just one time use, just imagine using it for weeks?! Yes, that's right, that's why I'm buying the tub!

However, please be forewarned that the smaller pores result doesn't last a very long time. Two days after, they were back to their original, vengeful size :(( so maybe that's why this pore mask is recommended to use twice or three times a week. Still buying it though! anything to make those unsightly pores shrink and perhaps with prolonged use, the pores will eventually stay small in size!

#sleepy -.-

Mommy's Cheap Thrills: Shawill Blusher #01

Good morning Monday! BV people go away *erm, forever?* :D

You know how it is when you go out and shop and got everyone else in the family a little something only to realize that you didn't get anything for yourself at all and there's only 150Php in your pocket? Story of my life. lol :D

Usually I get myself a bottle of nailpolish and a cup of milk tea just to tide me over until the next payday ~or personal allowance~ but this time I found myself at Shawill's counter and face to face with some gorgeous looking blushers! I was intrigued by the shades they offer. The blushers look "matte" and exactly what I was looking for ~contrary to their eyeshadows which all look shimmery. The blushers look really nice. I decided to go with the ones in black compact instead of the cutesy [cheaper Php99] pink ones ~and I don't know why too!

I was looking for something "orangey" and the testers.., well, I don't know why but, this #01 shade looked orange enough for me when I was testing it but when I came home and opened it, it's reddish. I guess the closest shade to properly describe this would be "Coral" so yeah, I'm still okay with this ~but still eyeing #04, that's the orangey shade according to my research. lol >.<

Shawill Blusher #01 Php138

Shawill Blusher #01 "pan" shot

This blusher is such a revelation! It's smooth to apply and not chalky at all. Looks natural on me and not cheapy, if you ask me. very much buildable and good pigmentation. Shot below is two swipes already so I usually need just one since I have this habit of applying cheek tint underneath. Staying power is decent enough. Use it with a primer and it stays on all through the day but without primer, reapplication by midday perhaps. The amount of product in pan is just right ~as you can see, when you flip the blusher open, there's a free brush underneath so by calculation, there's only a decent amount of product in there but that's okay because I don't want too many of it anyway ~i need it to be almost empty before expiration date, you see. so I won't feel bad throwing it away.

While I'm loving the product itself, I really think the compact [case ~whatever you call it] sucks. lol :D it feels what, flimsy? that's why I don't carry it around in my bag. The brush is almost useless [go see first photo] mas malago pa ang walis ng auto supply! [walis with bangs post] but honestly, for its price, sulit na! Better buy a Z-palette then depot. lol :D

#hurrayforcheapfinds!

Nature Republic Soothing Moisture Aloe 80% Toner Review

I meant to review this a long time ago but my camera sucks so I had to hijack my hubby's phone to be able to get better shots. ;)

This is my default toner because it is very mild and did not trigger my skin allergy. I love the smell too :)

Nature Republic Soothing Moisture Aloe 80% Toner

*lookie! it's almost gone ;)*

Okay, it doesn't do anything special but for me, its mildness is a big plus. My skin cannot stand too strong toners; I won't break out (pimple, acne etc) but as sure as the sun will come up tomorrow, hives will come out - in FULL force!

One word of caution though, people with oily skin, please be careful when using this, as I think it encourages oilies to come out (perhaps it's the moisturizing component of this toner) :( in my honest opinion - and I'm a combi -  oilies will come out in 3-4 hours after application (this is wash-tone-moisturize only). doesn't matter though if you will use it under a mattifier (that is if you prime prior to makeup application)

It's 290Php from Nature Republic Festival Mall branch

so that's it! :)

#mustbemyshortestreviewpostever.

I *heart* Original Carmex Jar!

So last April *hehe.. now you know how late this post is!* Carmex PH sent me a goodie bag for review. I got 2 click sticks, 1 squeeze tube and the original jar as seen here.

Truth be told, I wasn't in a real hurry to try Carmex as I was a fierce Alba Botanica lip balm fan and since I realized, it's not possible for me to go through all four Carmex products within, say, a year, I decided to give one of the click sticks to my BFF mommy T and the squeeze tube to my daughter, for review. lol :D The original jar and the Cherry click stick went straight to my purse. haha.

I really find the original jar interesting even before the goodie bag especially when I heard it works well with insect bites. Mommy mode on, Carmex can be used as antiseptic for minor cuts, burns and insect bites - and that's according to their site: Carmex website

It also claims to work on relieving the "itchies" caused by athlete's foot, for drying your pimples in record time,  and as a cuticle softener. Yeah, works on elbows and knees too. I cannot confirm these claims for now as I'm not sure if I would want to try Carmex on those areas but we will see. Perhaps if I buy a separate pot for body parts since I'm already using my current pot on my lips. *hello? from my lips to your athlete's foot?*

I think I started using this pot early June when I got this nasty sore in the corner of mouth and it was hella painful!! The BFF told me that her Carmex click stick worked well on his son's chapped lips so I gave my tin pot a chance. I'm so glad I did because I instantly felt good after applying it on my lips and to my surprise, it did more than sooth my lips; it definitely made it smoother! think happy, gliding lippie and you'll get what I mean :)

so, yeah, I'm a convert. hehe

In my book, Carmex is a medicated balm so it's definitely not your ordinary balm. I tried it on an insect bite and yes, it did something to it too (the sting disappeared after applying a thin layer on it) I like applying it to my lips before going to bed then a quick gentle lip scrub in the morning while taking a bath. Soft, baby lips the whole day, love! I now use this everyday, this tin pot, and the click stick is sitting pretty inside my bag :)

definitely purchasing another one as mine is already halfway down.

Oh, as it is a medicated balm, expect the "medicated" smell as well, like a Chinese balm but trust me, it's so good, you won't mind the smell. You'll get used to it anyway.

Thank you CarmexPH for this opportunity to get to know your products! I'm loving them :)

#lovingtheweather! :)

A "What's in My Makeup Bag" Post

..err, i think that should be "pouch", not bag. Bag sounds too big for my makeup things. lol :D

Anyway, I'm going to do a really short "makeup bag" post just to amuse my friends who constantly raid my bag - that's what girlfriends do right? This is my on-the-go, everyday makeup pouch and I think I'm only missing my eye brushes here - which may have been mistakenly placed in my other makeup BAG - yeah, she deserves to be called as bag since her size justifies it. ^^

Note that I don't usually bring with me stuff that I'd hate to lose. I'm pretty much known for losing my things when I'm out especially when with the baby. So here it is, the things that made it to my "makeup bag":

E.L.F. Eyelash Curler
Tony Moly Backstage gel liner #11 Diva Gray
Beauty Credit Lovely Eye Color in Hot Pink
Kiehl's Marvelous Mineral Mascara
Etude House Line Nuance Duo #3 Miss Coral and Cubic Pink
Etude House Soft Touch Auto Lipliner 4 Real Rose
Ever Bilena Advance Perfect Eye Concealer C01 Light
NYX Matte Lipstick in Merlot
NYX Round Lipstick in Spellbound
Alba Botanica Terra Tint SPF8 in Blaze
Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals BB Cream
In2It Eyebrow powder
Tony Moly Tony LIP/CHEEK Tint #02 Red Apple

The green mesh pouch, I got as a freebie when I bought Garnier's eye cream (i think?) which unfortunately, didn't work for me. Oh well, at least I got something out of that purchase. lol :D There's an insert in the photo showing how the pouch was able to fit everything perfectly and as fickle-minded as I am, the mesh-part helps a lot when I want to replace a product or two in there.

so there, I hope you enjoyed this post as well. Have a nice day everyone!

#lunch@3pm :(

Etude House Lip and Eye Remover Review

..aannd because I've been lazy, I now have an awesome number of blog posts in draft to deal with. lol :D

Anyway, here below is Etude House Lip and Eye Remover. Yep, that's right, lip and eye REMOVER. don't worry though, it doesn't really remove your lips and eyes but it does a superb job of removing your lip and eye makeup. Waterproof makeups are just one swipe off using this baby.

I'm quite OC when taking off my makeup. I just don't want anything left on my face before I go to sleep, no traces of anything whatsoever. and because I got more experimental with makeup lately, I knew simple face cleaning/washing won't do.

Etude House Lip and Eye Remover comes highly recommended by most beauty blogs I follow - and these are hardcore beauty gurus and some are pro MUA so I have full faith in them.

two-toned pretty ^^

"Gentle, yet highly effective, this double formulated lip and eye remover easily and instantly dissolves all traces of make-up for a soothing and moisturizing effect on the sensitive eye and lip area without any irritation."

shake, shake, shake

pH balanced, oil and alcohol free, gentle enough for all skin types but very effective in removing long-lasting and waterproof makeup.

eeww.. only BB cream on my face and look what I got!

..and here is my little "efficacy" test. From top to bottom:  Kiehls Marvelous Mineral Mascara, Tony Moly Backstage Gel Eyeliner Diva Gray, E.L.F Waterproof Eyeliner Pen Coffee, Wet N Wild: Idol Eyes 691 Midnight Black Retractable Eye Pencil

1. freshly applied eye stuff (either waterproof or long-lasting) 2. under running water 3. two drops of Etude lip and eye remover directly on makeup 4. One swipe and it's all gone!

To use, you just have to shake the bottle well then use cotton pads to apply. It works best if you don't swipe right away. Let the remover-solution dissolve the makeup first, especially if you are dealing with waterproof mascaras, then swipe. :)

It doesn't irritate my skin or trigger my allergy which is really good, if you ask me. and I don't have to rub hard   which is a nice plus too. It smells nice. It is oil-based, making my face a little oily after, so I wash my face then apply cold cream, just to make sure nothing gets left behind (see? OC talaga ^^) but judging from the tissues used for removing the cold cream, I think this last step in my makeup removing routine is really unnecessary. I'm not sure but I think I bought this for 190Php+ but surely no more than 200Php! I think, it's a steal ^^

I am very satisfied with this eye and lip makeup remover so no more trying another brand for me. for now. :)

#yesterday'spost,postedtoday.lol ^^

Finally! Saizen Charcoal Mask Review

After months of trying to get hold of this baby, well, finally, she's here with me!

Lemme just tell you how bumpy the road I took just to have a tube of this: for one, this charcoal mask is only available at Saizen, take note, don't even bother looking for this in any other Daiso store as it is ONLY available at Saizen. I should know, I browsed through enough 99-store racks bearing the name, and/or remotely affiliated with, Daiso, to last me a lifetime.

Then I tried looking for it online but the ones I found are selling it at a very ridiculous high price of 300+Php when it is really only 85Php at Saizen. I mean, even if you double the size, their price is remotely justifiable, methinks.

Then I tried hunting down Saizen's website hoping there would be a "checkout" cart so I could just order online. I almost jumped for joy when I saw them on Multiply, only to be greeted with a note saying that they are not really selling online. lol :D

So, I made it my personal mission to find a Saizen store - and fast! - as I was dying to try their charcoal line and see for myself if it really works. I was also praying that they 're not OOS as I heard they fly off the racks pretty fast. Saizen branches according to their website: Ali Mall, Robinsons Galleria, Marquee Mall (Angeles, Pampanga), TriNoma Mall, Pavilion Mall (Binan, Laguna), Robinsons Abreeza Mall (Davao), ROBINSONS PLACE MANILA, MARKET! MARKET! (Global City, Taguig) I got mine from Trinoma. I got really *kilig* when I saw this:

I bought the masque and the nose thingie (gray tube just beside the cleanser). Although they pretty much do the same thing, I opted to get just these two as I was not really interested with the charcoal face wash and cleanser ( I think it's meant to be used as a makeup remover)

It's black alright, good thing it doesn't stink of charcoal! ..and here is my son's favorite photo of me. lol :D

I'm not brave enough to apply it all over my face as peeling it off is, well, always a teary affair for me ;(( Also, those areas without the mask tend to have dry patches when not moisturized properly. Since this is a charcoal mask (strips off oil and can be drying too), I decided to skip those areas. *weh, palusot*

To use, wash face, steam face *be careful!!* for 5minutes, apply GENEROUS amount, wait to dry then peel off. I use this twice a week.

WHAT I LIKE:

• It's cheap, 85Php for a tube.
• Cleans sides of the nose and chin effectively (these are hard-to-reach areas of the face, btw, and very important to me so that's basically 100 cookie points to this product! Yay!)
• Tightening feel when drying.
• Oil free for 24 hours.

WHAT I DON'T LIKE:

• Takes forever to dry :( 
• Can get really messy when applying
• Involves a lot of work and takes up a lot of time so you really should set aside some time for it. My first time took about an hour to do the whole process.

So there.

#happy10thanniversary,mylove!kisses!

SKINFOOD Black Bean Nose Pack Pore Strip Review

So today I am going to share another one of my skincare staples, The Skinfood Black Bean Nose Pack Pore Strip. Nose pore strips are supposed to remove blackheads, whiteheads, dead skin and other impurities trapped underneath the skin area of the nose. I'm not sure if SF Phils stores have this but I bought mine online for 29Php each. I bought 2 the first time as I also ordered 2 Baviphat Charcoal ones *which i didn't really like. will blog why some other day* along with other brands as I would like to try them all and then choose from there what to buy in bulk.

What it looks like

I know how confusing these Korean cosmetics can be so I'm posting a photo of what the packet looks like when you order.

What's inside. That's the pore strip

Before this, I used to be a fan of Bench Charcoal Pore Strips (of course, available locally) and before that, I used to buy the Pond's ones, that was during my college days (not seeing them anymore) for some reason, both brands were not really effective in pulling out impurities from my nose area when my friends swore by them. I would be able to pull just one or two visible ones (with lotsa tiny hairs like I just gave my poor nose a wax. hu hu) as compared to my friends' strips which were just about bursting of their noses' yuckiness *yep, we did compare, well, you know college girls. lol* I suspect it has something to do with my ever tiny pores. I'm not mighty proud of them as my tiny pores tend to "protect" impurities underneath thus more blackheads and whiteheads and what-have-yous that are harder to reach and eliminate.

Like your generic nose pore strip, after cleansing (do not apply anything on the face yet!!), wet your nose a little *not dripping wet* then with dry hand/fingers, peel off the strip from the clear plastic protecting it, and apply smoother side onto nose like image below. Careful not to move the strip around (now that it is wet), try to remove air bubbles from underneath the strip by smoothing the top from ridge to sides, pushing the air bubbles out. Remember not to move the strip around too much! Press lightly when you're satisfied with its position (lol) for better grip. Now you just have to wait for it to dry.  

Blurry photo :( Pore strip on my nose

It is dry when it becomes concrete hard on your nose, that's about 15 minutes up. Like when you tap it with your fingertip, it would produce a teeny tap, tap sound ha ha. Now you're ready to  peel it off. Peel it off from side to ridge, if you are a masochist and you enjoy pain then you could do both sides at once as peeling the strip off the nose can be @%$#^%$^%! Clean up residue with toner or just plain water.

Sorry, no used pore strip photo on this post. I don't know how to do a macro shot and when I tried taking a photo of it, I could barely see the impurities so it's useless. But believe me, between the brands Ponds, Bench and Baviphat, for me this is the most effective. In fact, I have already bought 7 sheet pack for 170Php (on sale). I only apply once a week, I think the recommended usage is twice a week depending on your skin type. So far, I am satisfied with this brand. 

What I like:

1. Dries faster than other brands.

2. Was able to pull out MORE impurities than other brands, aside from my teeny skin hairs :((

3. the gluey part isn't too runny, doesn't leave much residue after peeling the strip off the nose.

I like pore strips better than nose packs just because nose packs are messier to apply and I'm not seeing enough visual results. lol :D I say pore strips are the most convenient and effective way of removing blackheads. However, try not to use pore strips if your nose area is inflamed, swollen or sunburned as it will only irritate the skin more. 

#fightingblackheadsisnofun.kisses!

The Face Shop Peeling Day White Jewel Review

Lemme just share another peeling agent that I'm using right now. Then a revitalizing ointment further down.

It was an accident when I stumbled upon this product which is now pretty much a mainstay in my skincare routine. A sorry looking tube sitting atop my sister's shower counter got me curious since it has "peeling" written on its label and obviously it was well-used by my sister. lol. I sure was not looking to buy another peeling cream/gel since I just bought Tonymoly Appletox a week before but curiosity got the better of me so i tried a small amount on my hand. Well.. the rest is history.

A tube sells for about 470Php, good for a hundred use. lol :D really, a dime-size of this is enough to cover the whole face and that tube is big enough to last you at least 6 months of 2-3times a week use. To use, apply all over the face and massage for 1-2 minutes then rinse with water. Recommended to use 2-3 times a week. Since I'm still using the Appletox, i opted to use this just once a week, every Monday morning. 

What got me hooked though was the peeling action itself. Similar to how Appletox works, you get white particles when messaged which is supposed to be the pearls sloughing off the dead skin off the face. However, Faceshop's Peeling Day "white particles" are more visible, bigger, and i do detect some brightening effect after washing. According to label, this peeling gel has pearl powder that exfoliates the skin surface and removes impurities for skin that glows like pearls. nice ^_^

cream on skin

when messaged

big chunks of.. eww..dead skin cells?

While the product claims that it is mild, well as you can see from above photo, one could doubt how mild and since, based on my weeks of use, it can be drying on skin, add to that the fact that its smell is a little strong, that is, no-delicate-flowery/fruity-scent-here kind of smell, I assume it's a little stronger than Appletox, hence my decision to use it just once a week. Then followed by a heavy moisturizer. Nowadays, I am using Dr. Jart's V7 Vitalaser from my very recent Ebay haul. 

Dr. Jart V7 Vitalaser sample size, good for 3 full-face uses

This ointment type of skin revitalizer does a good job of moisturizing. As claimed, it has 7 types of vitamins to help smooth wrinkles and at the same time brighten the face. I don't  know about the brightening part and the wrinkle smoothing part as I think that would mean using the product for a long time but I can guarantee its moisturizing effect. In fact, it can be quite heavy on skin when worn that I suspect it won't fit all types of skin, mine is a combination so there were parts of my face that were happy to be applied with the Vitalaser but the t-zone wasn't really happy about it, i could tell. It's an ointment, what to expect? I got this from an Ebay auction for 100Php. I don't think I'm going to buy this again anytime soon.

The Face Shop Raspberry Roots Collagen Eye Patch Review

It's back to back Korean beauty products as I have just applied the last eye patch - still on my eyes while blogging actually - and I don't want to do the review without the package to guide me. So I'll just make this quick and painless. lol.

I discovered this eye patch by accident. Had I known the real price, I probably wouldn't buy it - but thank God I did as this eye patch  is sooooo good! I was at The Face Shop Trinoma for their Peeling Day White Jewel after sampling my sister's tube and was impressed by its peeling action. As I was about to pay, this eye patch caught my attention

Just right on time! I was looking for an eye patch then as I noticed the skin around my eyes - particularly the dark, undereye area - was "desert dry", like there were cracks such that when you apply a cream concealer, it would crack too sometime after, leaving an embarrasing, highlighted fine line just under the eye. I was thinking that a good collagen dose would do the trick. 

A quick read through the description - with the words "hydrogel" and 'hydrates" standing out - got me asking about the price, which the salesgirl graciously answered, "..65 ma'am" so I thought, "hmm, why not? not bad a price considering there are two separate packets." Then she rang my bill, which totaled in the vicinity of 700php, I was flabbergasted! The peeling day, I was sure, should only be 400php-something. I was expecting 500ish only. I didn't want to make a scene so I just paid and quickly scanned the receipt on my way out. The eye patch costed 265php. So there.

Now that I am a proud owner of a 265php collagen eye patch, might as well have a go at it and enjoy, right? 

A packet has two lemon-slice-shaped, slimy eye patches. The semi-transparent one would be collagen patch to put undereye. The white one is for protection, I think, or for easy handling? The collagen patches come in a tray so you just have to slide out the tray, grab hold of the white, non-transparent thingy then pinch out the collagen eye patch from it. This should go straight onto your undereye. 

This I tell you, the first time that collagen eye patch laid itself on my skin, I felt heaven! No joke! It was cool and very soothing and smelled really nice, I almost heard my undereyes holler "Hallelujah!". The eye patch should be left alone for 30-40 minutes, it was so good I pushed for an hour. lol :D

Oh, and it has instant firming feel right after application which felt weird at first - remember that was my first time to try collagen eye patches so I wouldn't know if that is just normal for all other collagen patches - which stayed on  for about two days (the firming feel)

Now I'm keeping an eye for it on Ebay auctions. lol :D

outtobattleundereyewoes!

Cheers! :)

Tonymoly Appletox Smooth Massage Peeling Cream Review

I'm into peeling these days. Remember my battle against the reptilian skin? I've been testing several ultra moisturizing creams but they seem to only aggravate oiliness and not really solve my "scaly-yucky" skin problem. Oily and scaly really sounded gross, if you ask me. Actually, it's my love affair with lulur scrubs that gave me an idea to try peeling agents and see if they would be able to put an end to the reptilian skin.

I understand that peeling of course can be drying, since it will slough off dead skin cells, force them to shed so ultra moisturizing creams are still in order. However I'm quite hesitant to try super strong peeling agents ala "kutis artista" and my foraging through racks of local supermarkets proved to be futile (yep, that localbrand peeling cream from my October beauty on a budget post -  sad to say - didn't work despite the call to "measure nyo pa")

These Korean beauty products got my attention though. Yup they're quite pricey and I'd prolly buy just an item every payday but they are soooo lovely to look at and they never fail to amaze me. Yup, I was definitely bitten by the Korean bug, their BonChon chicken being on top!

Moving on, here's Tonymoly Appletox Smooth Massage Peeling Cream:

Nice packaging :) a bit bulky so I wasn't able to bring this on trips. Notice that I was already missing the leaf-shaped product tag that should be attached to the little "stem": it is because the little boy thought this to be a toy and played with it before I even got the chance to get a picture of it. 

It opens right in the middle, like this:

As the name Appletox implies, it smells of apples. The smell is not too strong, just right, so when you finally apply the cream on face, you'll feel instantly relaxed :)

What I like about this product is that you'll see the peeling action as soon as you apply. I was sold as soon as the salesgirl demo-ed the cream on the side of my hand! 

See the white particles on my fingers? That's what you get after massaging the cream on skin. No joke ^_^

The hubby teased me that it's just the cream reacting to the rubbing motion and not the dead skin sloughing off but I really don't care. I'm having fun using it. It can do circus on my face for all I care. lol :) 

The best part is that you don't need to follow it up with any facial cream since it doesn't feel dry afterwards, it feels moisturized even after you rinse it off. No, your skin won't visibly peel afterwards too (no "naagnas" look, i swear. lol) and I can see improvements on my face after a week - that's 3 days/applications: tone looks a little more even, BB cream working better, and my undereye circles are visibly lightened. My whiteheads were also.. contained? lol. what a word. :D 

Anyway, not so bad at 565php since you'll only need a small amount when applying. Ideally, 2-3 times a week depending on your skin type. Since I'm battling the reptilian skin, I go for 3 times a week. I apply it first thing in the morning while the baby is still asleep just so I won't risk having his delicate skin rub on my treated face. According to Tonymoly's website, Appletox Smooth Massage Peeling Cream contains Green Apple extract, AHA and Papaya extract so I imagine it's safe enough for me to use.

How to use according to their website:

"After daily cleansing, apply an appropritate amount onto the skin and gently massage in a circular motion. Once dirt particles appear, simply rinse off with lukewarm water. Recommended to use 1~2 times a week."

So far I am happy with this product although I'm eyeing their other product, the Tomatox Magic White Massage Pack, priced at 560php. Perhaps on next payday since I have already blown away my Christmas money on Ebay and Facebook auctions. lol :D

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! :)

Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals B.B Cream

I've been dabbling with BB creams since June this year. What triggered my fascination with BB creams was my sister's "dewy" looking skin on our trip to Tagaytay last Holy Week. She was looking all Korean and fresh but I noticed her blemishes were gone. That was the beginning of my love affair with BB creams!

WARNING!! THIS IS MY FIRST EVER COSMETIC REVIEW POST so please bear with this noob! lol :D

This is my first ever BB cream for reasons:

1. It was readily available at SM San Pablo (Watsons) where I usually start my cosmetic hunts.
2. It was reasonably priced (Php 299, i think) and since I was just starting with BB creams, I would like to start with something that won't really make a dent in my budget just in case I won't like it.
3. It was -- still is, I think -- available in one color only so I didn't have to think too much about what color to get. lol. lazy me! :D

Maybelline, since it's a known brand, felt like a good and sensible choice for me so I grabbed it without further ado. Fast forward 6 months, I'm still using it. lol :)

Maybelline Clear Smooth BB cream Php 299

Maybelline BB cream claims to brighten and even out skin. It also covers imperfections, moisturizes and protects with SPF 26. According to label, it should be applied after moisturizer.

Maybelline BB cream on skin

A little dot goes a loooong way so be very careful when dispensing as the consistency is a little thinner than most BB creams! That small amount you see above can easily cover the whole back area of my hand.

Maybelline BB cream blended

Photo above is when you blend the BB cream. The glittery area would be the one with blended BB cream. Don't be afraid of the glittering effect, it doesn't really show like that on face as I applied more than what's recommended on my hand for this photo-op only. lol. I hope you see the difference though.

With and without BB cream

The one with BB cream tube on side would be the one with blended BB cream, the other one is au naturel. I hope you see that the veins were less noticeable with the BB cream on, compared to the hand without.

With and without BB cream lighted photo-op. lol

I tried taking photos of my hands with light and I hope to God I'm not the only one seeing the difference! lol. let me know if my photos are bad, I'll just do another round for swatches. :)

What I like about Maybelline Clear Smooth BB Cream is that it's very easy to blend because of its thin consistency. It brightens, yes, but it doesn't really hide imperfections efficiently as I still have to apply concealer when I use this especially around eye area -- okay fine, eyebags! Perfect when on the go since it feels like you're just applying moisturizer on your face. Perfect too if you are without a face mirror to consult if you did alright applying makeup as it spreads evenly without exerting too much effort. lol.

It's lightweight, would not feel like there's a ton of makeup piled on your face and my skin didn't break out, thank God. Best of all, it is suitable for sensitive skin so it managed to keep my skin allergy at bay and I didn't worry rubbing some on little boy's skin when cuddling. I bring this tube with me when traveling since it is conveniently packed in a small, slim tube.

Cheers! :)

Help me improve this review! Please throw in your questions and requests and I will update this post or better yet, share your experience with this BB cream. Thank you ^_^

I *heart* Purbasari Lulur Mandi Whitening + Vitamin E ^_^

I am making a quick post here about Purbasari Lulur Mandi Whitening + Vitamin E and why I fell in love with it the first time I ever tried it!

Php130 a tub

Just FYI, I was looking for the Asian Secret brand but the said brand is always out-of-stock according to Watsons. I stumbled upon this one and thought, why not?

According to its label, Purbasari Lulur Mandi is imported from Indonesia. Looks good enough for me and the smell is simply divine! - it's Jasmine, btw.

Mandi lulur, according to my good friend Google, means lulur bath. Lulur is a Javanese word which means  "coating the skin". Mandi lulur is a royal tradition practiced by brides from Java. It was said that a bride should be prepped by having Lulur bath for 7 consecutive days prior to the wedding date. That way she'll be all smooth and silky come wedding day. 

Enough of the nerdy talk. Here's what you'll find inside a tub of Purbasari Lulur Mandi:

Oooh, the smell. Pure bliss.. ^_^

scrub on my dry hand

Yesterday I gave this baby a shot while the human baby boy was busy playing with his bath water. lol. While the label says scrub on dry skin, I went for slightly damp as I was worried how my skin would react. I have this kind of skin that when I scrub, even with soft wash cloth, it will instantly become patches of red skin all over so I am really careful about the products I apply on my skin. Sensing no telltale signs of violent skin reaction, I did a full body scrub. The Jasmine smell was amazing, it even stayed strong for full 2 hours after bath!

The most amazing thing about the whole experience is that my skin didn't react as expected. No redness. No itching. There was a silky feel after bath that you won't be needing lotion anymore. I stayed feeling silky for the next 27 hours. Yep, I timed it. lol. ^_^

I braved scrubbing my face with it this morning. While I didn't enjoy it as much as when I did the full body scrub, it was not bad at all. I think you won't be needing a moisturizer if you choose to scrub your face with this. I'm not even sure if it's recommended to use  for face area but I definitely recommend it for full body scrub! I have yet to see if it works with regard to whitening. I heard it's good for stretch marks and underarms. we'll see.. :)

UPDATE AFTER 2 WEEKS OF USE:

I'm happy to report that my love affair with Purbasari Lulur Mandi Whitening + Vitamin E has been a fruitful one. For one, patches of chicken skin on various parts of my body are all gone and they are now noticeably smoother. Groin and underarm/armpit are now lighter and best of all, my stretchmarks, although they are still there, are now less noticeable than before i.e the skin in that area is now lighter too.

I am about done with my first tub and planning to get another one. However, I still have my Asian Secret lulur tub full and waiting and I'm planning to give it a shot right after Purbasari just to see if they really have the same efficacy. Asian Secret smells better, hands down, so I'm really excited to get on with it!

I'm not seeing anything special that Purbasari has done to my face though and I'm still working on my elbow and knees as they are still a little bit dark for my taste.

Cheers!

October Mission: Beauty On A Budget

These past few weeks, I have been growing quite uncomfortable about my skin. I have already blogged about how reptilian it has become since having the baby and as much as I would like to take skin vitamins, I'm also hesitant about its effect on my breastmilk. I know about those websites for lactating mothers however I won't take chances and would rather wait for my son to finally wean off.

Problem is, my sweldo is late this month and I'm just stretching last month's money until this month's pay come through so that makes me a 30something mom on a VERY TIGHT budget!

So instead of visiting my favorite beauty shops, I am now scouring online shops and department stores for deals and quick beauty fixes. Here's what I came up with:

October beauty loot :)

From Watsons: Pantene Night Miracle Leave On Crème Serum about Php260, Purbasari Lulur Mandi- Whitening + Vitamin E. Php129 and Nichido blush brush Php138.

From South Supermarket: Garnier Light Overnight Whitening Peeling Cream at Php99 - comes with a green beauty pouch and 2 Garnier Light Moisturizing Cream sachets.

From Mercury Drug (lol. ikr): Ever Bilena Advance Perfect Eye Concealer - CO1 - Light at Php100.

Total of about Php700 for all these.

Yesterday and last night, I was able to try the concealer stick, Garnier moisturizing cream and overnight cream. I have yet to try the other three. will post reviews soon ^_^

Share your quick beauty fixes here! I would love to hear your secrets!

Cheers!