Happy holidays, everyone! Finally found time to squeeze this last post for the year. It's quite busy juggling work, holiday shopping, family events, meeting up with friends, and holiday traffic too! Ugh!</End Rant>.

Since the holiday season started, everything really went hectic and you have to do things fast⏤including your skin care.
Claims: Iceland Hydrating Soothing Gel contains 98% mineral water from Iceland and contains other botanicals that penetrates deeply and supplying ample cool and rich moisture in the skin. It also contains mineral-rich seaweed and plant extract from Iceland, which is abundant in minerals that help in maintaining healthy skin.

Ingredients:
Mineral Water, Phenoxyethanol. Polysorbate 20, Carbomer, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Disodium EDTA, Glycerin, Betaine, Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Extract, Butylene Glycol, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Lactic Acid, Propylene Glycolm, Cetraria Islandica Extract, Sorbitol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laminaria Japonica (Seaweed) Extract, Water, Fragrance

Size: 150ml

Price: PhP 320 (roughly US$ 7) in Althea
The Saem Iceland Hydrating Soothing Gel has now become my to go body moisturizer. It’s so easy to use and apply because the consistency is like gel to water. It’s like ice melting on your skin. Compare to regular lotions, it only takes a few seconds to apply and dry the product.



The packaging is also cute and ergonomically made. It’s easy to hold and dispense the product. It really works when you’re on the go.

It has a lemon scent, which I actually don’t like. It’s like the lemon in car perfumes and not the real lemon. Since I was a kid I always get dizzy whenever I ride cars with lemon perfumes in it. But that’s just me. If you like (or doesn’t mind) this kind of scent you’ll definitely like Iceland Hydrating Soothing Gel. Though the scent fades after a minute or two.

I tried using this as a face moisturizer but I got small bumps after few days of use and my face became so oily that I have to blot several times. I think it has an ingredient(s) that my face is sensitive at or it’s just too hydrating. So I tried using it in my body and it worked fine. The Iceland Hydrating Soothing Gel penetrated quickly in the skin and it feels like a skin serum/essence afterwards, no sticky and oily feeling. It’s actually a perfect day body moisturizer for humid and hot weather. But if you live in a cold and dry place, I don’t think this will work. And when I say hot and humid it’s around 34-38 degrees Celsius with around 70-98% humidity.

But for overall hydration, if you have a dry skin like mine, it’s still not enough. You can still see dry patches in your skin minus the tight, tingly and itchy feeling. You have to use a more moisturizing product at night to protect and prevent your skin from further dryness.

The Saem Iceland Hydrating Soothing Gel is a good alternative for aloe and bamboo gels if you live in a tropical country like me. It really saves you from that icky feeling during the day and still gives you a nice amount of skin moisture.

What’s your favorite Soothing Gel?

I went to a dermatologist several years ago to consult my acne problem. She asked me what are the products I’m using and I mentioned that a toner is part of my skin regimen. She again asked me “what’s the toner for” and told me that it’s a useless product—and the consultation ended with her selling her own products but didn’t buy everything and it turned out what she sold me didn’t work at all. I tried different toners from different brands and derma house, but nothing really helped my problem. Then I removed toner from my skin regimen ever since.

Fast forward 2016, I was actually just browsing and checking on new Korean skin care products in the internet (with no intention of buying) and ended up clicking the page on toners. While reading all the description I learned that the new Korean toners doesn’t just remove excess grime or makeup, they now play a big role on how your skin care products work. I was considering an AHA or BHA toner from CosRx or Benton but it was out of stock in my trusted local online store. I looked up and read every single toner description that I think can help my skin and found A’pieu Stone Peach Pore Less Freshner.


A'pieu Peach Stone Pore Less Freshner claims:
Free of the 3 additives: Parabens, Mineral Oils, Benzophenone

Description : A mild acid toner that keeps the pH balance of the skin refreshed and healthy. It contains stone peach extracts, peonies water, and pink clay that help soothe skin and minimize pores.

Size: 250ml

Ingredients:
Paeonia Suffruticosa Flower Water, Water, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Prunus Davidiana Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Chrondus Crispus Extract, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, PEG-60 Hyrdogenated Castor Oil, Octyldodeceth-16, Ethylhexyglycerin, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Arginine, Kaolin, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance

I decided to give it a try it a try because it’s mild acid toner but was hoping that it’s not as drying as AHA/BHA toners, aside from it’s half the price of the CosRx BHA toner that I was eying at.
Like most toners, the consistency of A’pieu Stone Peach Pore Less Freshner is watery and clear, and you can apply it by either patting it with hands or with cotton. It has a very mild sweet flowery smell. I’m quite sensitive with fragrance and I love that this toner has no overpowering scent. I also think this has a very low alcohol content because there’s no sting in your eyes, nose, and skin when you’re applying the product.


What I actually love about A’pieu Stone Peach Pore Less Freshner is that it’s doing its job. It removes the excess grime, dirt and makeup in your skin that your makeup remover and face wash didn’t. It also preps your skin for your next skin care product.

I'm quite surprised that after using this for less than a week, I noticed that my face is quite soft and bouncy whenever I’m washing my face in the morning. I’m quite sure that it’s because of A’pieu Stone Peach Pore Less Freshner because this is the only thing I added in my regimen. I guess it not only exfoliates your skin but it actually boosts the effects of your skin care regimen. I’m using it with CosRx Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence and Mizon Black Snail All in One cream (I will do a separate review on these two) in the evening. I’m using the two products prior to purchasing A’pieu Stone Peach Pore Less Freshner and it was okay and doing their jobs as well. But it was after I added the Stone Peach toner to my night regimen that I saw a dramatic result with my snail products. I also noticed that I have less visible blackheads and whiteheads in my face and nose area, and the pores in my nose area were also smaller. 

Though I still wanted to try the toners from Benton or CosRx, the A’pieu Stone Peach Pore Less Freshner is on the top of my list now and the price is a total steal (Php410 or roughly $9 in Althea).

PS: Since this is a mild acidic toner, don’t forget to wear your sunscreen!

What's your favorite toner?

Bees are heaven sent, so as the W-Lab Propolis Soothing Booster.

I google(ed) what proplis is and this is what I found: “a red or brown resinous substance collected by honeybees from tree buds, used by them to fill crevices and to seal and varnish honeycombs.”

So what exactly is W-lab Propolis Soothing Booster? According to the description found in Althea: “It is a multi-booster that contains propolis extract and vegetable ingredients to soothe, nourish, and vitalize the sensitive skin. It is a new conceptual multi-booster applied with hot-gelling melting technology and therefore makes good skin condition and smoothes skin texture so as to give synergy effect when wearing make-up or applying other cosmetics.”
I was originally planning to get the W-Lab Propolis Vital Energy Ampoule because my skin is really oily but flaking and it has red patches that looks like rashes, aside from the pimples I have in my jaw area. Ugh. But for some reason I changed my mind and got this one instead maybe because it’s a little cheaper. And I never regretted that decision.

When I opened the product I’m glad it’s sealed with foil.


The smell is like honey with medicinal herbs in it. If you find that kind of smell unbearable, just don’t breathe for a few seconds. Hahaha. The smell gradually fades after you apply the product and goes away after a minute or two.


The texture is like cold honey. It’s yellowish and thick but glides easily when you apply and it doesn’t leave any “film-coated” feeling. Just use a pea size and pat the product all over your face and jaw area when using as a primer. It creates a thin layer in your skin where it seals all the nutrients you put before this booster.


 Unlike before I always get small bumps at the end of the day because of makeup, though after using this for a month I still get pimples but it’s not as bad as before. I think this product creates a thin barrier where it also protects your skin from harmful chemicals. My skin is seriously much much better than it was last month. Though the W-Lab Propolis Soothing Booster doesn’t give you a good oil control, I noticed that my makeup doesn’t slide, doesn’t look cakey and lasts almost the whole day—well maybe you want to do a little retouch during your afternoon break.


Through experiments I found out that the W-Lab Propolis Soothing Booster can also be used as:

• Overnight sleeping pack. Just apply a pea size then pat on your skin. Let it sink for about 30 sec then apply a second layer. Maybe you can do a third layer if your skin really needs nutrients.
• If your pimple suddenly popped in the morning before your makeup, you can use it as a spot treatment. Just let it dry for a few seconds before applying your make-up.
•  If you feel like there’s a threat of a ginormous pimple coming out, apply a thick layer on the pimple and let it dry overnight. Though it doesn’t work like an emergency pimple treatment, it actually helps soothe the redness and inflammation.
• After derma treatment. If you or your derma/aesthetician popped your whiteheads/and blackheads, you can use this product to help soothe the redness in your skin as well as prevent any further irritation or inflammation.
• Moisturize dry elbows or knees. Though I haven’t tried using this as a heel moisturizer (because I don’t have a cracked heels).

W-Lab Propolis Soothing Booster Ingredients list:
           Propolis Extract (74.4%), Honey Extract (5%), Royal Jelly Extract (5%), Portulaca Oleracea Extract (5%), Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder (10,000ppm), Arginine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Saccharide Isomerate, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Extract, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Cyamopsis Tetragonolaba (Guar) Gum, Agar, Potassium Chloride, Glucose, Allatonin, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Illicium Verum (Anise) Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Caramel

 If you’re allergic to bees, propolis, or any bee by-product, or have sensitivity with any of the ingredient, do a patch test first before using this. We all know allergies are nasty!

W-Lab Propolis Soothing Booster is definitely one of my HGs and will be part of my staples until I find something better! I’m really happy I found this product and it worked with my problematic skin.

First post! (Yey, finally!)

I was looking for a light, oil-free day moisturizer for my face, since most of the available moisturizers in the market are giving me either a painful break out or a horrendous oily face. Looking for a day moisturizer is really challenging especially if you’re living in a country where it is very hot, humid, and polluted. And having an oily, dehydrated, and very acne-prone skin makes things even worse.

While I was doing my research—Google(ing) every product that I think will work—I found Innisfree Aloe Revital Soothing Gel in Althea. I was actually skeptical at first because this aloe gel is not made specifically for the face but it is actually a multi-purpose aloe gel like most aloe gels in the market. But still, I decided to give it a try since I can use it in my arms and legs if it will not work in my face.








Innisfree Aloe Revital Soothing Gel is also perfect as a body moisturizer because it’s a gel and not a lotion or cream, so it will never give you an icky feeling throughout the day. Trust me, this really works in Manila’s scorching hot and sticky humid weather. Since I always stay under the heat for work—though in shade—my skin usually gets drier and red but this product also helped my exposed parts moisturized and less irritated from the sunburn. FYI: this is not a sunblock and will not protect your skin completely from UV. So always wear your sunblock. ;) I also noticed that I itch less now from my dry skin and whenever I scratch my skin (I know it’s bad but I can’t help it sometimes *sigh* ) I don’t see that white scratch marks anymore.

 Innisfree Aloe Revital Soothing Gel product info:
According to Innisfree: “Contains 93% extract of Jeju organic aloe flesh. Aloe gel-like flesh inside the leaves contains more amino acid and moisture than its leaves and any other parts of aloe, which helps soothes the skin damaged from UV rays and heat while providing intensive moisture to the skin.”

 Ingredients:
ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, MADECASSOSIDE, CITRUS UNSHIU PEEL EXTRACT, ORCHID EXTRACT, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, CAMELLIA JAPONICA LEAF EXTRACT, OPUNTIA COCCINELLIFERA FRUIT EXTRACT, MENTHOXYPROPANEDIOL, SODIUM POLYACRYLATE, WATER, CARBOMER, TROMETHAMINE, PHENOXYETHANOL



 Other use for Innisfree Aloe Revital Soothing Gel:

• If you don’t like sticky hand creams or lotions, you can make a DIY hand gel. In a small tub, mix a drop or two of your favorite moisturizing essence/serum and Innisfree Aloe Revital Soothing Gel. Mix it well.
• If you have a dry hair ends, you can apply it to the dry parts. It’s like a hair essence without the stickiness. Though you need to brush it several times.
•  If you have a mild rash, aloe can help soothe the redness.
• And many more. Just research what aloe can do for your skin. ;)

 Have you tried Innisfree Aloe Revital Soothing Gel too? What are your thoughts?