It's now the peak of cold season here in Manila. Well, maybe not as cold as the winter, autumn, or spring weathers in 4 season countries, but if you grew up in a tropical country and experiencing a 25 degrees or less weather is seriously heaven! We joke a lot about our 2 season weather which is hot and hotter.

Cold weather also means drier skin. I'm experiencing my usual skin dilemma which is dry and itchy skin, but a lot worse now. Before, moisturizing lotions and body butters works okay during seasons like these, but for some reason my skin has become more drier now (maybe age became a huge factor). That's why I decided to try body oil and found The Beauty Bakery's All-Purpose Chocolate Oil Mist.



Claims: All-purpose body oil mist absorbs instantly yet leaves a seductive sheen that protects the outer layer of your skin. It contains a generous amount of Cocoa butter and Coconut oil for efficient skin hydration.

Active Ingredients: Cocoa butter, Coconut oil, Seaweed Extract

Size: 200g

Price: Php 499.00 (approx. US$ 10), got it on sale P380.00 (approx. US$ 7)

Where to buy: BeautyMnl



First thing: It smells like vanilla and chocolate, I love it!! I love vanilla scents and I can't stop smelling the bottle when I received the package and I can't stop sniffing my hand when I tried it.


The product is in a glass bottle and plastic spray and spray cover. I just got sad when the spray died after a few pumps. :( So I have to transfer the product in a different bottle.



 The consistency is just like any other body oil products and also takes time for your skin to absorb the product. The smell is amazing. I can't emphasize how I love the smell and that I keep on smelling my skin. The scent stays on your skin but it's not overpowering nor it will irritate your senses. It's just faint and sweet.

As for my skin dryness, it didn't made my skin plump or moist after using it for sometime and still looks rough. But it did help alleviate the scaling, itchiness, and the very tight skin feeling. And though my skin doesn't look (and feel) smooth, I noticed that it has a faint glow. I'm really crossing my fingers that this product will somehow make my dry skin go away in the long run. I'm not actually expecting drastic changes in a short span of time since this is a natural product; as natural products takes time to see the effect compared to chemical based products.
 
Another thing to love is that The Beauty Bakery is a homegrown brand (100% Philippine brand). I love our local brands that makes quality products and sources their raw materials locally. It's a win for everyone.



And since the sprayer died, I used my old Skin Inc serum bottles which has a dropper and I find that it's easier to use this way. And since the bottle is small (only 5ml), I was able to experiment by adding jojoba oil and noticed that the scent became less prominent and the absorption became slightly faster. I'm planning to add sunflower oil next time.

What's your favorite body oil?

This product caught my eye while checking out beauty products in drugstores in Tokyo. I searched it online and found that it was a cult favorite and a must buy when you visit Japan. I instantly bought two tubes without hesitation and even I have no idea if it will work on me or not.

And yes, it did not disappoint me.



Claims:
This face wash featuring AHA and an enzyme-massage effect removes not only impurities deep inside of the pores, but also makeup. Featuring a moisturizing ingredient which washes freshly without dehydrating. 

Ingredients:
Water, Myristic Acid, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Polyethylene, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Palmitic Acid, Glycol Distearate, Lauric Acid, Disodium Lauryl Iminodiacetate, Sodium Peg-4 Cocamide Sulfate, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Juice, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate, Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Fruit Extract, Papain, Polyquaternium-51, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Juice, Etidronic Acid, Peg-75 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Dextrin Lauramide Dea, Malic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium Edta, Propylparaben, Methylparaben, Fragrance

Size: 120g

Price: PhP400++ locally (around US$11)

This is one of the few Japanese products that has around 50% of its ingredients are natural. Unlike Korean products, most of the Japanese beauty products I encountered are usually 75%-100% made from chemicals and alcohol. And it's really hard to buy products in Japanese drugstores because they don't have English translations so you have to trust your instincts. 


And like most Japanese skincare products, the Cleansing Research AHA Wash Cleansing has a very mild to faint scent. This foam wash actually smells like apple though not a real apple but the apples you smell in perfumes and other fragrances (I hope you imagined what I meant). It's not bad actually.



I learned recently that the Cleansing Research AHA Wash Cleansing has 2 variants: the scrub ones (with microbeads) and the regular foam one. I got the one with microbeads (if you want the regular variant, I think the cover is much lighter than this one). 

The beads are really fine and small, you won't actually feel it much when you massage it in your face, it's not abrasive unless you have a very sensitive skin.



And just like any Japanese cleansers, you have to create a foam before spreading it your face. I usually rub my fingers together and create a little foam and apply it in light circular motion.

For it's cleaning power, it removes the traces of make-up and oil and gives you that clean feeling: squeaky clean but not too tight. Though I still recommend using cleansing water/oil/wipes before washing your face just to make sure you'll sleep with zero makeup residue on your face.



I finally understand why Cleansing Research AHA Wash Cleansing became a Japanese cult favorite, it works. As I mentioned in my previous posts that my skin is dehydrated, oily, sensitive, and acne prone, and this didn't give a weird reaction in my skin. In fact, I think it really helped my cleansing game a lot and it helped my acne problem a bit.

Though if you have dry patches on your skin, this won't help removing your patches and using an exfoliating product that works on your skin is still the best solution. I think the microbeads only removes make-up residues, excess oil, and dirt but not actually works as a scrub and remove dead skin cells.

What's you favorite cult favorite cleanser?

If you live in the tropics (like me), you probably have a coconut related stuff in your home: cooking oil, dip, dessert, fresh coco juice, coco beauty oil made by your grandma, bunot (coco shell used to make your wooden floor super shiny), and the list goes on. That’s why I really got curious when I saw Scinic Coconut Cleansing Water while browsing shelves in the department store.



Claims:


Size: 500ml
Price: PhP 580 (roughly US$ 12)

It is tightly sealed with a plastic/silicone in the pump so the product won’t spill and also guarantees you that the product is unopened and unused.

During my Japan trip last spring, I got overwhelmed with the massive skin care and make-up stores in Tokyo. They are literally everywhere. And because of the amount of products that you see, I got curious with Japanese skincare.

First, I asked my friend who could read Japanese (and a bit of kanji) to help me with the labels. I wanted a gel-type moisturizer that I can wear here in Manila. Then I saw a familiar brand, Hada Labo, and asked my friend to help me read the labels. I ended up picking this moisturizer Hada Labo Koi-Gokujyun UV White Gel SPF 50++, since it says that it is a gel-type moisturizer.


Claims:

•    All-in-one moisturizer Gel
•  Sun Protection. It has a patent micro-encapsulation technology to give the highest labeled UV protection.
• Make-up base. This water gel replenishes dry skin with moisture and protects it from the sun, perfectly primed for makeup application.
• Features Vitamin C and 2 types of hyaluronic acids that protects skin from moisture loss.

Ingredients:
Water, Ethylexyl Methoxycinnamate, Isonyl Isononanoate, Dimethicone, Ethanol, Butylene Glycol, Peg-12 Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Polysilicone-15, Glycol Dimetharcylate Crosspolymer, Bis-ethylhecyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hydrolized Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Polysilicone-13, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Titanium Dioxide, Ammonium Acrylates Copolymer, Hydrated Silica, Aluminum Hydroxide, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Methylparaben

Price: around ¥1,500 (roughly PhP630/US$12)



There’s no English translation for ingredients so we have to use google translate to translate what’s written in the box. But as we all know, some of the words came out really funny and weird, but still we bought the product.


I opened and tested the product when I arrived in Manila. The first thing I notice was the smell. It smells like glue and reminds me of my MAC studio fix fluid foundation. They have a similar smell that I totally dislike. The color is actually white which makes Hada Labo Koi-Gokujyun UV White Gel really looks like glue. But I guess that’s why it’s called White Gel.



The consistency of Hada Labo Koi-Gokujyun UV White Gel is a little watery/runny and melts in your skin. It is also on the oily side and takes a while for the skin to absorb the product. If you're on the oily side, you have to use this sparingly.

Happy New Year, everyone! Holiday feast is now over and we're all back to our regular busy schedule.

Since the holiday season is all about parties and eating, re-applying lipsticks here and there is totally bothersome, I decided that using tint is the best way to avoid this but still look awesomely fresh in photos.




I was actually in search for a nude coral tint but most tints in the market are either red, pink or orange. That’s why when I saw the So Coral [BE01] color I totally fell for it.  It’s a nude peach coral that’s perfect for date days or when copping a no make-up look. It really looks sweet and dainty.
The Tomorrow Red [RE02] is also a very nice red. I actually don’t like wearing red lipsticks or tints because I can’t find a nice shade of red that compliment my morena (caramel tan) skin. And most reds either screams red, looks too old, or just too dark. But the It’s My Bong Tint Tomorrow Red [RE02] shade is a hit.  It’s a cherry red that actually compliments any skin tones. It gives you a mix of sexy, vampy but still sweet look. It’s not an overwhelming red for women with red phobia like me. It’s a total love!

Getting the actual color for tints or lipsticks is actually disappointing when you cannot test the product in person. Most of the time it really looks good on screen but when you purchase the product it’s totally different from what you saw and you’ll realize that the color is not actually for you. What’s really nice about It’s My Bong Tint is that the colors you see on screen is really close to the actual color.

I swiped the Tomorrow Red [RE02] once and twice for So Coral [BE01]. Both lip tints are highly pigmented but not overwhelming. It doesn’t scream nor it accentuates the flaws of your lips. It really looks nice and surprisingly hydrating to think that my lips always chap with lipsticks and tints (and even lip balms, ugh!), though I still have to apply my lipbalm before and after tint application.



The Tomorrow Red [RE02] started to fade around 4-5 hours of non-stop eating and drinking, while the So Coral only lasted around 2-3 hours of non-stop eating and drinking. (Ok, I sound like a pig here. But hey! It’s the holidays. It’s a good excuse to test this lip tints! Hahaha)

Both It’s My Bong Tint Tomorrow Red [RE02] and So Coral [BE01] really smells fruity sweet and doesn’t have a weird taste. 

I have a few complaints though: I find cushion tints hard to apply. The tips are really bulky so you really have to be careful when applying. A lipbrush is also a must for precision. It also took me 13 push in the barrel for So Coral [BE01] for the product to come out and 20++push in the barrel for Tomorrow Red [RE02]. I thought both tints are defective that I wanted to cry (there’s a free return, though). Good thing they aren’t. Patience is really a virtue! Haha. I also find the pens a little bulky and long. It’s actually the same size of a sharpie. For someone like me who has a pretty small kikay (beauty) kit, it actually takes a little more space. But that’s just me. I just don’t like carrying heavy and huge make-up kits.

My complaints are nothing to worry about because It’s My Bong Tint is really worth to have.

Price: P280 (roughly US$6) each

Ingredients:

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?