Review: LUSH American Cream Conditioner

Happy Saturday!! I'm pretty sure everyone is happy because it's a rest day today. I actually spent my day lounging in my room reading a book while playing with my pets (and Sims!). I'm more excited for tomorrow though, coz Sunday is always a family day for us so we will go out together after church in the morning :)

For today, I have decided to share my thoughts on the Lush American Cream Conditioner that I use together with the Ultimate Shine Shampoo Bar that I reviewed the other time. I always use them together every time I wash my hair. I have been trying this out for more than a month now and I am now ready to give my thoughts on this hair conditioner.

LUSH says:

"American Cream is our dreamy, medium-strength for soft, shiny and bouncy locks. Softening honey, scalp clarifying lavender and fresh oranges make a conditioner suitable for all hair types to soften rough ends and keep hair calm. Not to mention the absolutely delectable strawberry vanilla cream scent. Mark was inspired by a vision of 1950s US milk bars, where teenagers would meet and drink frothy, creamy milkshakes. He concocted our best-selling conditioner to soften and control, all while evoking memories. No wonder it remains such a customer favorite year after year!"

FEATURES
- Smells like teen spirit: Suitable for all hair types, just about anyone can enjoy soft hair scented with gorgeous strawberries and vanilla.

- Double your pleasure: Our medium-strength conditioner leaves your hair calmed, softer and transformed.

- Fresh is best: Strawberries are rich in vitamin C and have cleansing properties.

Source: Lush website


INGREDIENTS:

PRICE: Php375.00
NET WT: 100gms

YAY!!!

- This smells so good! I really love the scent of this - Vanilla with a hint of something else. 

- The scent lasts until my next wash (I wash my hair every other day) which is awesome!

- Makes my hair softer and manageable.

- This doesn't weigh down my hair like other conditioners I've tried before.

- I love the packaging as the cap gives you control on how much product you want to dispense.

- This is cruelty free and vegetarian friendly :)

NAY!

- Quite expensive. It costs Php375 for the smallest bottle that contains 100gms of product

- If you have very dry hair, this won't work for you as it is very light. There are days that this won't help that much when I'm having a bad hair day.

OVER-ALL RATING: 4.5/5

Although I hope this is more moisturizing, I really love the clean vanilla scent that it gives my hair plus it lingers for 2 days which is the best thing. Even my sister loves this because her bf complements her whenever she uses this hehe boys love the scent of this too. The only problem I have is the price.

WILL I REPURCHASE? Definitely! Although I might be checking the other conditioners first because I'm a product junkie and I can't resist trying out new stuff even though I found good products already haha :)

What's your favorite Lush conditioner? Do share them with me on the comment section below. I wanted to get some recommendations from you all on what I should try first :)

Thanks for dropping by!

Review: LUSH Ultimate Shine Shampoo Bar

Happy Thursday! How's your week so far? I hope it went well for everyone :)

For today's post, I will be doing a review on my current shampoo which is from Lush Cosmetics called Ultimate Shine. It is another solid shampoo like my previous one (Soak and Float) because I really think I can get more use with these ones compared to their liquid versions, plus it's great for travelling.

WHAT LUSH SAYS:

"Our beautiful, glamorous solid shampoo does exactly what it says; it gives you gloriously softened locks with Ultimate Shine. How do we do that? It's simple; each gently cleansing bar is filled with exotic essential oils to promote a happy scalp and shiny hair. Fragrant ylang ylang makes dull hair gleam once again; to boost your shine even more we add in golden glitter for a subtle shimmer. Floral violet leaf decongests, and gets things moving on your scalp again and toning elemi oil cares for your scal and calms nerves. Wash away and be left with gorgeous, shining stresses."

Features:

• Shine on: Ultimate Shine makes your hair super glossy without the need for a conditioner.
• Beautiful and effective: Our violet-infused bar cares for your scalp, keeping it clean and oil-free.
• Double duty: Aromatherapists use uplifting ylang ylang to treat stress and depression but it is also effective for balancing the scalp and hair.

INGREDIENTS: 
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Perfume, Elemi Oil, Ylang Ylang Oil, Violet Leaf Oil, Gardenia Extract, Golden Glitter, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene, Linalool

source: Lush website

What it looked like:

NET WT: 100g
PRICE: Php425


YAY!

- Gives my hair volume. 
It really removes dirts and oils that weighs down my hair so I don't really need to use a separate clarifying shampoo.

- It cleanses my scalp and hair very well but gently. 
Very minimal hair loss (maybe 3-5 strands only) whenever I shower which is great.

- I love the light fresh scent too. Very mild and not overpowering. 
This shampoo can be combined with any conditioner as it won't clash with other scents.

- This lathers up really well. 
I just need to wet the bar a little and rub it between my hands to create enough lather for my medium length hair.

- As with all the solid shampoos from Lush, 1 bar is almost equivalent to 3 bottles of a liquid shampoo because this can provide around 80 washes or more depending on the length of your hair and how you store it.

- Perfect for travelling as it saves space in your kit and you won't worry about any spilling during the trip. 

- This doesn't melt quite easily. I love that I know I'll be using this for months and months before I need to repurchase again.


- Lush is a cruelty free brand :)
NAY!

- It might look pricey to some people as 1 bar costs Php400 and not everyone would like to shell out that much money for one product.

- This is not as hygienic as shampoos in a bottle.

- Can be drying if you let the product stay on your scalp/hair for more than 5 mins. 
If you let any shampoo stay on your hair for a long time, it will become a clarifying shampoo and remove everything. 


- This has sulfates and some people don't like products with SLS. TIPS:

- Keep in a dry place. I store mine in an empty tub of moisturizer so that it won't melt in the shower.
- Create a lather on your hand instead of directly on your scalp to prevent hair breakage due to friction.
- Always follow up with a good conditioner to make your hair softer as this can be drying sometimes.


OVER-ALL RATING: 5/5

I really love this shampoo! Even though it is not moisturizing, I love the fact that it cleanses my hair and scalp perfectly without making me lose my hair in the process (I'm prone to hair loss). I wash my hair every other day as suggested by hair experts and I'm happy to announce that my second day hair is not greasy at all. It actually looks and smells fresh until my next shampoo! I really recommend you try this one when you do drop by at Lush.

By the way, I just received a text from Lush that they are having 50% off SALE for all their Christmas products until the end of January so do visit their stores to check out their items =)


Thanks for dropping by!

Review: Alba Botanica Natural Acne Dote Oil Control Lotion

Hello! First of all, I want to say keep safe to all of you who are gonna go on a trip this long weekend for the All Soul's Day. I might be going to Nueva Ecija (like always) tomorrow with my family because that's where our love ones are buried. SO yeah, I'm not sure if this is gonna be my last post or I will post again tonight for a Halloween makeup look. This will depend if I like the result of my makeup haha :)

Okay, now, let's go to the review! 

BRAND: Alba Botanica
LINE: Natural Acne Dote
TYPE: Oil Control Lotion (Maximum Strength)

NET WT: 57g / 2oz
PRICE: Php359

 INGREDIENTS:

This comes in a white tube. I actually liked the packaging because you can easily control the amount of product you will dispense and also this is very hygienic :)

I got this last October 2 and I have been using this twice a day ever since :)

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS:

- As I've said, I liked the hygienic packaging. I hate dipping my fingers in the product.

- This is an anti-acne, oil-free/mattifying and moisturizer in one. If I can save time by using only one product instead of 3, then I am happy.

- This contains 2% Salicylic Acid that is said to be naturally derived from Willow Bark Extract to combat acne. We all know that the less chemicals we use the better.

- It didn't aggravate my acne-prone skin. I also didn't experienced any itching or allergic reactions.

- This is a very light moisturizer and perfect for oily skin. This gives enough moisture for me coz anything heavier will cause my skin to over produce oil.

- It absorbs very quickly so you can apply makeup right after. I just need to wait for a minute or two and it will be totally absorbed :)

- Very easy to blend/spread on the skin  so you just need a pea size amount of product to be used all over the face and neck. I think this will last me months.

- This does not have unnecessary ingredients that causes irritations like:

- This is 100% vegetarian and cruelty free. It has a Leaping Bunny logo too to prove their cruelty free status.


WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

- Others might hate the medical scent of this moisturizer. It has a very strong salicylic acid smell.I don't mind coz I'm used to it already from the many years I've used SA to treat my skin.

-  This did not prevent any future breakouts nor treat the existing ones. I still get pimples on my forehead because I get oily there the most and I was hoping this would work in that area, but sadly, I still have bumps until now (1 month of use). I guess you will need an additional product for spot treatment to clear your skin.

- It is not good if you have very dry skin. The skin around my nose became drier with this moisturizer. I also can't use this on thin skin like around the eyes and mouth because it will sting.

- This does not mattify the skin as the label suggested. I still get so oily at the end of the day. The mattifying effect will only last for less than 4-5 hours and never long term.


OVER-ALL RATING: 4/5

 I bought this for acne solutions but this disappointed me in that aspect. I then moved on to the mattifying claim, but that disappointed me too. Now, why am I giving this a 4 if I got disappointed? It's because this works great as an oil-free moisturizer that doesn't aggravate my skin. It is quite hard to find good moisturizers for acne prone oily skin so I am definitely happy in that regard. PLUS, this came from a brand that is natural and cruelty free which makes me happy.

WILL I REPURCHASE? Probably not in the near future. I am the type of person that loves trying new products so I will probably end up getting another one haha :)


Thanks for dropping by! Have a nice long weekend :)

Pet Review: NutriPet Active Soft Jerky in Lamb and Cheese

Hello everyone! Here's another product review on dog treats :)

I went to True Value to check out their doggy stuffs early this month and I saw that they have pet food on sale. I frequent True Value coz their items are a lot cheaper than pet shops and they have a wide variety too. After checking out the ingredients of each dog treats, I have settled on NutriPet Active Healthy Natural Soft Jerky in Sandwich Lamb and Cheese :)

As you can see in the logo, this is made by NutriPet which is a Korean brand that uses natural ingredients on their dog foods. I have bought at least 3 kinds of doggy treats from this brand and I posted a review on the first item I got from them (You can read my review here). I like buying from them because 1) they are made from natural ingredients and 2) they are very affordable.

PRODUCT INFO:
NET WT: 100g
PRICE: Php178
FLAVOR: Sandwich Lamb + Cheese  

Can you see the cheese sandwiched between the lamb meat?

INGREDIENTS:

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT:

- My furbabies (dogs and cats alike) love this! Even the picky eaters loved eating this because it is really made with lamb meat :)

- I believe this is their favorite one from all the treats I got them because of the taste and smell of it. They can never have enough.


- This is the right size to nibble especially for the small dogs.

- Made from natural ingredients so I'm not worried about giving too much just in case.

- The ingredients list is short and there are no chemicals on it PLUS it has English translation

- This treat is infused with vitamins and minerals and can substitute for dog food in case you run out

- This is a low fat, low sodium treat so you can give this more frequently. It also has some ingredient to help the liver and digestion.

- This line have a lot of flavors to choose from. I am excited to try the vegetable ones next.


WHAT I DON'T LIKE:

- So far so good. I have no complaints with it :)

OVER-ALL RATING: 5/5

I think I made the right decision of getting this. I will definitely continue to buy from this brand :)

DO I RECOMMEND IT? Definitely! To all pet owners out there, you should try this treats. It is the real deal and I guarantee that your dog will eat it :)


Thank you for dropping by!

Review: Ellana Clean It Up Oil-Free Brush Cleaner

Hello everyone! ^_~

Today, I will be reviewing an oil-free brush cleaner from the brand Ellana Minerals Cosmetics. As a makeup enthusiast, I use a lot of brushes on a daily basis. It is actually quite hard to wash them everyday so I needed something to quickly clean them in between washes and so I ended up with this brush cleaner.

Ellana Clean It Up Oil-free Brush Cleaner

INGREDIENTS: Cyclomethicone, Tea trea oil, Triclosan, Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT IT:

- Does a good job of spot cleaning the brushes in between washing.

- The brushes dries quickly so you can use the brushes again after a couple of minutes.

- It is mild enough so it doesn't damage the bristles of the brushes.

- This contains tea tree oil that fights bacteria. 

- This comes in a pump/atomizer type plastic bottle and it's great in controlling the amount of product you will use for each brush you clean.

- Affordable. This 60ml bottle costs Php170 only and the 120ml is Php320.

- Available locally and is made in the Philippines.


WHAT I DON'T LIKE:

- I hate the scent! It is so strong and it stays on my brushes for quite some time until I need to wash them with baby shampoo. I learned about this when I used this cleaner on my kabuki brush =/

- I don't think this is meant to sanitize face brushes because the fragrance can cause irritation on sensitive skin.


OVER-ALL RATING: 3/5

I can't use this as frequent as I want because of the scent. I am in search for a better brush cleaner.


WILL I REPURCHASE? Definitely not. I can't even finish a small bottle because I can't use it. 

What's your go to brush cleaner? Please share them at the comment section below. I would love to know which brand works great for spot cleaning. 

Thanks for dropping  by!

Review: Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Toner

Howdy! I spent my Monday morning calling all the BENCH branches I can find on the net just so I can inquire if they still have tickets available for the Lee Min Ho fan meet next month...Guess what? They're sold out on the first day (October12)! So when we went yesterday, Upper Box B tickets were the only available ones. Me and my sis still got them but I am crossing my fingers that I can still find Patron Seats ticket or even Lower Box tickets soon :)

Anyway, let's go back to the purpose of this post. I am gonna review my current toner which is actually very famous all over the world -- Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner (yellow label).

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
(front)
non-drying - for all skin types
gently cleanses + conditions pores to maintain clear, smooth and balanced skin
100% natural formula

(back)
Pore Perfecting Power that's non-drying and perfectly gentle.
-Refines pores
-Removes and controls oils
-Soothes irritations
-Locks in moisture

INGREDIENTS:
All natural Witch Hazel, containing natural alcohol 14% and Witch Hazel extract

NET WT: 2 fl.oz / 59ml
PRICE: Php75

MY REVIEW:
I have finished 2 59ml-bottle of this toner and I have used it 2x a day for almost 2 months now so I think I can give my two cents now ^_^

PROS:

- Works great in removing left over residues (soap, dirt, makeup) that were not totally removed after washing my face.

- It is non-drying which is good.

- This sanitizes my skin using natural alcohol. I have acne prone skin so this is helpful in keeping the bacteria at bay.

- No irritations whatsoever.

- Affordable. This small bottle only costs Php75 and the big one costs Php250 (I think). There's 3 size available locally.

- Readily available in all Healthy Options store. 

- This also comes in an astringent form (blue label).

- Cruelty free brand.


CONS:

- I use this up quite quickly because there's no stopper and you can accidentally spill the content.


OVER-ALL RATING: 4.5/5

If this have a better packaging, I will give this a perfect score.  It's just not meant for clumsy people like me hehe so I'll probably transfer it to a pump bottle or something :)

WILL I REPURCHASE? Definitely! I will get the biggest bottle once I've finished up my current bottle so I won't need to buy frequently.


Thanks for dropping by!

Review: Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen in Green Tea

Happy Thursday everyone! I am feeling so much better now! I am back on the track again hehe :)

Today, I'll be reviewing Alba Botanica Natural Hawaiian Sunscreen in Revitalizing Green Tea SPF 45 (broad spectrum) ..Whew! that's a very long name for a product :)

You guys know that I am addicted to sunscreens. I have fair skin and I tend to get dark quite easily especially since I use whitening products to remove my blemishes. I am also paranoid that since I am fair, it would be easier for me to get skin cancer since I live in a tropical country. I love the outdoors so I use products that have at least SPF30 PA++ everyday PLUS all my makeup base should have at least SPF15 too. I even use sunscreen during the night too hehe. Anyway, I have been looking for an everyday sunscreen that can replace my Etude House Sun Guard and my main consideration is that it must come from a cruelty-free brand.

So I decided to go to Healthy Options to search for some local brands available and then I went back home to do some research. I learned that Alba Botanica offers a great sunblock so I went back and bought one.

BRAND: Alba Botanica
LINE: Natural Hawaiian Sunscreen
VARIANT: Revitalizing Green Tea
SUN PROTECTION: SPF 45 (broad spectrum) - water resistant
NET WT: 113g / 4oz
PRICE: Php ? <-- sorry I lost my receipt and I can't remember the exact price..but I'm 100% sure it's below P600


WHAT I LIKED ABOUT IT:

- No irritation or breakout

- In a very hygienic container -- squeeze tube

- according to the label, this is paraben free and water resistant for 80 minutes

- This is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation to be used everyday

- It is 100% Vegan and cruelty-free

- All the ingredients are certified natural/organic

- It gives enough moisture to my combination skin. My oily forehead didn't oil up too much and my dry skin became normal looking :)

- It gives a sheen to the skin that makes it look healthy. 
I really like putting this sunscreen under powders (mineral makeup foundations, pressed powders, etc) because it gives me the most natural healthy glowing skin.

- not sticky and greasy like other sunblock I tried. Just use enough product and let it set for a couple of minutes before applying makeup

- I liked the scent of this Green Tea variant. It smells fresh and not too strong.

- It is easy to control the amount of product you want to dispense because you can just squeeze the tube and the texture of the sunscreen is a little thick so it doesn't run like those with milky consistency.

- Available locally at Healthy Option stores

- Affordable compared to other sunscreen brands.


WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE

- This is not travel friendly. It is too big and since it has a soft packaging there is a chance it will spill all over if it accidentally get squeezed in your bag.

- You can't apply to much unless you are going swimming. This can grease up big time if you used more than a pea size amount.

- Did not indicate how many PA rating it has.


OVER-ALL RATING: 4.5/5

I love this sunscreen and I would definitely recommend this to everyone and to all skin types.

WILL I REPURCHASE? Definitely! But I will probably try the other variant just to check which is the best for my skin type :)

Thanks for dropping by!

Review: LUSH Soak & Float Shampoo Bar

Happy Monday everyone! I hope all of you had a nice weekend like me. My family and I spent the whole Sunday in our place at Tagaytay with some family friends for my dad's birthday.. I really enjoyed eating a lot of delicious foods :)

For today's post, I decided to do a product review for LUSH Soak and Float Shampoo Bar. I have read and watched a lot of good reviews for this shampoo that it is great for itchy flaky scalp. I have been having problems with my scalp for a long time and I can't find a shampoo that works...I decided to try this because 1) I haven't tried a shampoo bar and 2) this is made by Lush and is popular among Lush fans.

Ingredients/Description from LUSH.com
- Antibacterial dandruff prevention -

"We’re just going to say it upfront: this shampoo bar smells like tar and campfires. A rather pungent shampoo bar, Soak and Float is incredibly effective at fighting flakes and dry scalps. Cade oil is what gives Soak and Float its distinctive smell, and works wonders against the microbes that cause dandruff, and it also works to alleviate bothered scalps that are dry and itchy. Lavender oil helps to improve the smell, and works its magic with marigold petals to soothe and clear up dry and irritated scalps. Don’t be ashamed, if you have dandruff all you need to do is Soak and Float."

WHAT I LIKED:

- cleanses my hair and scalp really well. 

It made my hair feel lighter since it removes all excess oil that weighs down my hair. I really love the clean feel I get after every wash.

- Helped in lessening the itchiness of my scalp. 

There's definitely improvement in the condition of my scalp.

- A bar of this shampoo is said to last 80 washes. It's a really good deal for the price.

I think this can be true because it doesn't melt easily. I have used mine for a month already and it still looks the same as when I bought it.

- Lathers really well for a shampoo bar.
You just need to run it under water and rub your hands with it to create enough lather to coat your scalp and hair.

- LUSH is a cruelty-free brand that uses natural ingredients which is always a plus in my book.

WHAT I DON'T LIKE:

- I hated the smell.

It really smells like smoke just like in the description. I love sweet smelling shampoos so this is a sacrifice for me. I don't like the idea that I smell like I've been sitting near a campfire when my bf is hugging me.

- It didn't totally helped in removing the flakes.

I used it very consistently and though it helped with regards to the itchiness, I still have flakes on my scalp.

- It dried up my hair and increased hair fall. 

This shampoo definitely needs a conditioner as a partner. The ends of my hair are so dry and tangled because this doesn't give any moisture to it. Also, I noticed a lot of hair falling whenever I shower.

- You can't use this directly on your scalp because it will break the strands.

I did this the first time I used it and I had a lot of hair falling due to breakage. It is really best to lather it on your hands and then apply it on your scalp.

OVER-ALL RATING: 3.5/5

This is a good clarifying shampoo. It definitely leaves your hair and scalp feeling light and clean after every wash. I just wish it works as great as what the reviews says with regards to dandruff treatment.

WILL I RE-PURCHASE? No. I wanted to try other shampoo bars from Lush once I've used this up...maybe Seanik or Godiva.

What is your favorite shampoo from Lush? Please share them with me so I can check them out too :)

Thanks for dropping by!

Review: LUSH Fresh Farmacy

Happy Tuesday! 
Finally! I was able to take some pictures for my reviews using the DSLR of my sister...it was so hard to operate compared to my point&shoot digital camera. So please pardon me for the quality of the photos (until I get a new digicam or until I get the hang of this cam) hehe I really don't know what I'm doing ^_^

I have been using the LUSH Fresh Farmacy facial soap 2x a day for more than a month already. I have chosen to try this because it had garnered a lot of raves from acne prone skin people all over the world and also LUSH is part of the cruelty-free brands available locally.

Here's a close up look of the label so you can see the description of the product, ingredients and the price.

 

PRICE: P395 per 100g.

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: Calamine and Chamomile

I had mine cut into smaller pieces (about 2-3 inches cube) at the store so that I can keep them fresh a lot longer and to prevent them from melting all at once. The SA at SM NORTH was so nice because she even wrapped them individually with paper :)

WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE PRODUCT:

- It helped in calming my skin. My breakouts was also lessened -- I believed this because I don't have any acne treatment on my skin care regimen now.

- I liked the scent of calamine and chamomile. It makes me feel like I am putting some good quality natural stuff on my face which won't aggravate my skin condition haha ^_^

- This lathers really well. It's not bubbly/foamy like regular cleansers but at least it lathers enough for me to feel like I am cleaning my skin. I am not a fan of cleansers like Cetaphil because it doesn't lather at all.

- You can use everything up to the last melted soap to clean your face. I just scrape the container clean with my fingers :)

- Great for traveling. You won't need to worry about spilling anything on your bag because this is a solid soap.

- This product is 100% cruelty-free!


WHAT I HATE:

- It melts so fast! You really need to place this in a dry cool place because it melts quite easily. A small piece of soap can last me 2-3 weeks depending on how I store my used soap.

- This made my skin a lot drier. Now, I have oily skin and my face feels taut right after washing my face. I can't imagine people with dry skin using this.

- This is unhygienic. I prefer soaps in liquid form because I hate the idea of dipping my fingers and contaminating the rest of the product.

- I think it's a little pricey for some people especially if you're not used to buying higher end brands of skin care products.


OVER-ALL RATING: 4/5

It works great on oily, acne prone and sensitive skin. I just hope it doesn't melt that easily.


WOULD I REPURCHASE? Maybe. I am the type of person who likes trying new stuff so I'll probably buy something different once I used this up. I only have 2 more cubes and I'm done.

What's your favorite LUSH product? Do share them with me so I can check them out. I am definitely gonna try their other stuffs :)


Thank you for dropping by!