Review: The Body Shop Hemp Body Butter

Hi everyone! Hope no one had a hard time adjusting to the DST today. Mondays after a DST change is really a challenge because we lost an hour of sleep. The only positive thing from this is that the sun is shining brighter everyday. Spring and summer is coming! So excited! 

For today, I will be sharing with you all the product that saved my skin from drought this season. As you know, during winter, you will be spending 90% of your time in a dry air environment because all buildings (and even buses) have their heater on 24/7. Dry air can really really make your skin dehydrated quite easily. Even when I was applying lotion everyday after shower, it was just not enough. My skin will get scaly, itchy and bumpy easily especially since I have atopic dermatitis. This irritation leads to cracking of the skin which was never good coz it was painful. 

Last year when I arrived, I just used regular lotions which is enough if I re-apply it throughout the day religiously, but I am too lazy to do that and I don't have the time. In short, I always end up with raw skin especially on my hands because I wash so frequently. Luckily, one of my friend told me about the body butter she uses from The Body Shop which she claims really works for her and it was made from Hemp seed oil which I never heard of before. 

According to The Body Shop website:

Our famous Body Butter with hemp seed oil for very dry skin. Quickly absorbed, it provides round-the-clock hydration. Dermatologically tested.

• Body moisturiser
• 96 hour hydration & protection
• Restores moisture and helps protect ultra dry skin
• Essential fatty acids, Omega 3, 6 and 9
• Community Trade hemp seed oil from France
• Dermatologically tested

Net Wt.: 200 ml / 6.75 oz / 192 g  

*Also available in a bigger tub*

Price: C$ 21.00

Made In Germany

What I liked:

- This is heaven sent for very dry skin. I can just apply this once or twice a day all over my body and I am good. It helped in preventing scaly skin and bumps especially on my legs throughout winter. 

- Not sticky at all. Gets absorbed quite easily but still leaves a thin layer of moisture on the skin as well. Not greasy at all.

- Solid consistency like a balm. Compared to other The Body Shop body butters, this is quite solid and firm. I liked this thick consistency a lot since it doesn't get used up fast.  

  

- Always on sale. The Body Shop here in Canada frequently have a Buy 3 Get 3 promo so it is easy to stock up.

- I did not get any adverse reaction from using this which is a huge plus because I have sensitive skin.

- This Hemp line also has lip balms, face moisturizers and lip balms that works as well as this.


CONS:

- I really am not a fan of the scent. My husband likes it but I really don't. I just got so used to using it that I don't mind it now. So definitely smell it first in stores and if you can get past the scent, I would really recommend you try it for yourself. 

- I don't think the Hemp line is available in all countries. I am pretty sure places that medical Marijuana is not legal will have this banned as well because the hemp plant is related to cannabis.


WILL I RE-PURCHASE? 
Definitely! I have actually finished 5 tubs of this already and will definitely buy some again for next winter as well. 


What about you, guys? What are your favorite body lotions? I would love to hear your favorites so I could try them as well. 😊


Thanks for dropping by!

My Top 5 Most Used Products of 2017

Welcome back fellow makeup lovers!

Today, I wanted to share my top 5 most used products for the year 2017. I have tried so many products this past year that I was able to reach VIB Rouge status at Sephora in 10 months! And that's not counting the drugstore products that I accumulated too since I live near a Superstore (so bad for my wallet LOL 😄). Anyway, these contain mini reviews, but if you wanted swatches or in-depth reviews for any of these, feel free to comment below and I will be more than happy to do so. 

#5 Pixi Glow Tonic

This Glycolic Acid toner helped my skin so much over the past year. It helped me with my breakouts especially during summer and it kept my skin feeling smoother over time. Although this toner is very expensive for something from the drugstore (around $40 CAD!), even with everyday use a bottle will still last you 8 months to a year plus it is effective. Now I know why this is a cult favorite or so many years. 

#4 Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation

This is my go-to foundation since I got this in late 2016 as a gift from my sis when she went to Japan. I could use this on any season (summer to winter) and it will still perform the same. I just need to change my primer depending on what my skin condition is. This is very lightweight (you could hardly feel this on your face!), doesn't break me out even if I use it frequently and it gives the perfect light-medium coverage for everyday use. This also has SPF 25 PA++ which is nice especially since I use Vitamin C on my skincare routine. Shade 213 is perfect for me too which is a bonus since this foundation has a very limited shade range. I don't know what I would do when this run out because it is not available here in Canada.  

 #3 The Balm In The Balm Of Your Hand Vol. I Palette

I know this specific palette is limited edition and that there's a Vol. II now, but all of the items in this palette are in their permanent line so you can get them individually if you want to. This is one of the 3 palettes that I brought with me when I moved here in Canada. I know that I won't be able to bring my whole makeup collection and I knew this would be the best choice because everything I need to create a look is in here. The only item I wasn't able to use much are the lip products and the eyeshadows Lead Zeppelin & Insane Jane. The rest are used on a daily basis even when I have already built a new makeup collection here. These powder products got pigment, staying power and blendability. Consistent good quality performance every time. 

#2 Wet n Wild Megaslick Balm Stains

As you can see in the picture, these are well loved. I have used these lip stains for 3 years now and I keep on repurchasing. They are long lasting, non-drying and very affordable. What more could you ask for, right? If you really wanted a no fuss lip color that you can wear and forget about for a couple of hours, this is meant for you. I never worried about feathering or transferring on my teeth or fading unevenly. That is why this is my go-to lip product if I know I don't have enough time to re-touch and look in the mirror frequently.   

*My fave color is Made You Pink for everyday

#1 Marcelle Micellar Water

I can't count anymore how many bottles I've used up since I came here. This is the best makeup remover I've used! It is so gentle that it doesn't sting my eyes but it is so heavy duty that it can remove even waterproof mascaras. It doesn't irritate my skin or strip it with moisture, no breakouts too. Although this is not cheap compared to other micellar water available at the drugstore (around $20 CAD) but this the only cruelty free brand I can find here and it is so effective that I don't mind paying the price. I just wait for sales and hoard as many bottles I can get haha I never ran out of backups. Love the dispenser too, it makes getting just the right amount of product on the cotton pad faster.

Thank you so much for dropping by today! My next posts would be about my thoughts on the 2017 Holiday Collection/Limited edition releases. I know some of them are already out of stock but there are some that are still being sold at Sephora and on lower pricing too. Please watch out for that, and I will try to upload those in the following days. 😊  

XOXO,

Product Review: Human Heart Nature All Natural Deodorant Stick

Hello everyone! I hope all of you are doing great. Me, not so good because I got sick but I'm getting better now so everything is going well so far. =)

Today I would like to share my experience with this new Human Heart Nature deodorant in stick form. I didn't try their roll on deo before because I don't like having to wait for it to dry before I can put on my clothes. So when this product came out last year, I bought it to try since I would like to switch brands. My previous deo is all natural too that I got from Healthy Options but that one has such a strong scent that I feel like it irritates my underarms.

Price: Php 199.75
Scent available: Powder Fresh

According to the Human Heart Nature website:

12 Deo Benefits, 1 Deo Brand:
1. Tea tree oil fights odor-causing bacteria
2. Instant-dry formula
3. Non-sticky after-feel
4. Sunflower oil helps lighten underarms
5. Smoothens underarms
6. Easy to rinse with no flaky buildup
7. No stains or streaks on clothes
8. No harsh alcohol that can darken underarms
9. No aluminum salts
10. No phthalates (synthetic fragrances)
11. No triclosan
12. No parabens

PROS:

- The scent is mild & fresh, definitely not overwhelming which I love. 

- It didn't stained my clothes.

- All natural & locally made.

- Cruelty free. This is the main selling point for me when I tried this.

- This worked great in smoothening my underarm if I used it with their Sunflower oil at bedtime.

- Easy to wash off during shower, no residue.

- It didn't darken my underarm.

- No irritation whatsoever.

- Easy to apply & dry as it is in stick form.


CONS:

- The deodirizing effect only last for around 6-8 hrs but after that your sweat will start to get some odor. I'm not sure if it's just my body chemistry reacting to left over products at the end of the day or it's because the product has came off & mixed on the sweat on my shirt. Nevertheless, I don't think this will be my product of choice during the humid summer weather. It even made me have a BO at the end of the day which is not nice. I can last a whole day with just a whitening cream on my underarm & I won't get any body odor so I'm pretty sure this deodorant is the culprit. 

- The stick crumbles easily so you better be careful in swiping it.

OVER-ALL RATING: 2.5/5

I love everything about this deo & I would have been happy with it if only it didn't cause me to have body odor. Really, the reason I use a deo is to make sure I still smell fresh after my 10hrs workday but since this product fell short on that, I think I'll continue on trying more brands. I really need one especially now that summer is coming. 

WILL I RE-PURCHASE? Definitely not. Milcu is way better. Even my whitening cream is better than this one in keeping me smelling fresh. I'm really disappointed in this product.

What are your favorite deodorants? Please share them at the comment section below so I can try them out. =)


Thank you for dropping by!

Skin Diary: Vampire Stomp

Howdy! Hope everyone is staying warm in this very cold weather :)

As I have mentioned in my intro last week, my first official post of 2014 is the start of another Skin Diary Series. I have decided to try another procedure to keep my skin acne-free & also to remove my acne scars.
Since I had great results with derma roller a couple of years ago, I chose another procedure that is almost similar in idea but is said to be much better in acne scar treatment. 

This procedure is called Vampire Stomp or Autologous PRP Fractional Micro Needling. It's more commonly known as derma stamping but mine is only done in clinics as it uses a machine & my own blood plasma. I will try to take a picture of the machine next time since I can't find the exact brand that the derma clinic uses online.

1st step of the procedure, the nurse will apply topical anesthesia all over your face & put a cling wrap over it. This step lasts at least 30 minutes. And while waiting for anesthesia to work, the doctor or the nurse will get some blood from you, put it in a test tube & then to the machine to separate the clear plasma from the rest of the blood components. That part of the blood contains a lot of healing properties.

Since I am having a case of congested skin during the time I had the procedure, my skin was actually rough in texture as it has lots of bumps. I was given a cleaning prior to the actual procedure & an injection to my huge acne just to prep my skin.
 
The procedure itself is fast. It can be done by the doctor or the nurse. Mine only took a couple of minutes & it is painless in my opinion. Compared with my experience w/derma roller that you can still feel the pressure from the needles even with the anesthesia, you won't feel anything poking in your skin w/vampire stomp. It is also more even so the redness that my face had after the procedure was okay. I was able to go out of the clinic & commute because it faded fast. And since the needle stamp is quite small, it can cover lots of areas like around the mouth & nose a little better than w/the roller.

My face felt tight after the procedure was done because the plasma had already formed some crusting on my skin. Have you had a wound and then a yellowish clear liquid forms a crust to seal it? That's the same thing used all over my face. If you don't like that, I guess you can opt for the collagen serum instead (that's what I used during my derma rolling procedure) & it will give you the soft moisturized feel. I also did itch a little with the topical antibiotic that was applied after but that is normal for my sensitive skin. 

This is done once a month so my next session will be the 1st week of February. The price is almost the same as w/the derma roller but once you decided to have a lot of session, it would be best to talk to Dra. Manuel so she can give it to you at discounted price. Right now, I am now doing it per session as I am still not sure until when I want to have this done since I think my skin will not need as many session as it used to because I don't have cystic acne breakouts anymore.

I haven't noticed any difference yet and I am still checking if I will continue to do the plasma or I will switch to the collagen serum, but the doctor suggested it would give better results if I used my own blood to heal my skin problems. And since I'm curious about he effectivity & differences I think I'm leaning towards using my own blood hehe.

If you have any specific questions that I haven't addressed here, do feel free to post it in the comment box below or just send me an email if that's easier for you. :)


Thank you for dropping by!

NOTE: I know I'll get asked this so I will put the clinic info here. Do call before you come so that you can talk to Dra Manuel.  :)
MBM Medical & Skin Clinic
2nd Floor Wilcon Builders Building (Near the escalator)
Visayas Avenue, Quezon City
986-6712

Review: Alba Botanica Natural Acnedote Invisible Treatment Gel

Hello everyone! Please stay dry because it's raining hard again and it's quite easy to get the flu.

Anyways, you might have noticed that I haven't been posting a lot of facial products these last few months and I wanted to tell you why. My skin is definitely rebelling right now because I have been breaking out for more than 2 months now. I can't seem to find out the culprit and I am trying to remove the products I use one by one to check if that's causing all these problems. I have also not been applying makeup except for undereye concealer and lipstick because I don't want to aggregate the condition of my skin. The only constant thing I apply on my skin are my basic skincare which are my cleanser, toner and treatment gel.

I have bought the Alba Botanica Natural Acnedote Invisible Treatment Gel at Healthy Options more than 2 months ago to try and test if it will work better than the oil control lotion I tried before from this line. I have read reviews that this is the main treatment from the line and that it works great so I went ahead and got it since it's really affordable at Php300+ only. And I'm really in need of a treatment fix for my skin. I have been using this 2x a day for 2 months now and here's my thoughts on this product.

 *photo credit from the Alba Botanica website*

HIGHLIGHTS:
100% Vegetarian. 
No: Animal Testing, Artificial Colors, Artificial Fragrances, Parabens, Phthalates, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Sodium Myreth Sulfate

INGREDIENTS:

Active Ingredient: Salicylic Acid 2.0 % 

Other Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Glycerin, SD Alcohol 40-B, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (1), Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Lens Esculenta (Lentil) Fruit Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract (1), Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (1), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract (1), Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract (1), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Extract (1), Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Rhizome/Root, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil (2), Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil (2), Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil (2), Citral, Limonene, Linalool (1) Certified Organic Ingredient; (2) Natural Fragrance

MY REVIEW

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE PRODUCT:

- This is an all natural product and Salicylic Acid usually works for my skin.

- It did not cause any allergic reaction to my sensitive skin.

- Very affordable. Just around P300 and it will definitely last you months because you will only need a small amount at a time.

- It comes in a squeeze tube with a pointed tip so controlling the amount of product that will be dispensed is easy.

- No strong scent.

- Spreads easily and dries up fast and clear so it can be used just prior to makeup application.

- Cruelty free, vegan product.

- Available locally in all Healthy Options store.


WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

- Makes my skin dry up and therefore makes it oilier. Although this is a common effect of acne treatment so it's not a big deal for me. I just wanted to share it as a headsup.

- Doesn't do anything. My skin's condition looks and feels the same with or without this in my skin care routine.

- This will definitely not work for active acne because even my pimples can't be treated by this.


OVER-ALL RATING: 1/5

I think this is just a waste of money. It doesn't do anything because it did not treat my existing pimples and it doesn't prevent new ones from appearing.I'm giving up on this. I have been using this 2x a day for 2 months now because I want to give it time to work on me but I guess I need to look for another acne treatment soon before my skin gets worse. I am now starting to have cystic acne again so that's a bad sign.


Can you guys suggest anything? I am eyeing MyChelle products right now because I have been reading a lot of good stuff about them. But they are so expensive here in the Philippines and I am worried that they won't work for me again. If you have trusted acne products do share them with me. Thank you!


Hugs,

Review: Belo Antiperspirant Deodorant Roll On

Hello everyone! This post will be about the Belo Antiperspirant and Deodorant roll on that I have been testing for 2 months now. I have used this throughout summer and I think I've road tested it enough to formulate a review for you guise :)

Before we start, I wanted to give you all a brief background. My underarms were victims of harsh deodorants that were very famous when I was still in high school. I really hated how Secret and Rexona made my underarm darker and they never went back to their natural color even though I had stopped using it long time ago. I was also fond of shaving and then plucking so it added to the darkening and the chicken skin. I really don't have the confidence to wear sleeveless tops because I'm not fond of my underarms' appearance. I have tried a lot of whitening products but I guess I'm not that patient to continuously use whitening creams for long periods of time. Luckily, I underwent laser hair removal last year and it was the first step in dealing with my UA problem.

I also sweat a lot but I rarely use deodorant because I'm afraid my UA will get even darker. My default deodorant was Milcu but it doesn't work as antiperspirant so it's kind of useless when I wear colored shirts. But since I started exercising in the gym, I needed to pick up a real antiperspirant product because I don't want to be smelly haha. I have decided on this Belo product because it's new in the market and it's meant for whitening so I wanted to give it a try. 

NET WT: 25ml
PRICE: Php49.75


MY REVIEW:

YAY!

- It didn't cause any allergic reaction to my skin

- It did a wonderful job in keeping me smelling fresh the whole day.

- It lessened the sweating in my UA. I can confidently wear colored shirts now because I'm not worried I'll have sweat marks when I perspire.

- I felt like it helped in lightening and smoothing my underarms. I can now wear sleeveless tops because using this after I had finished my laser hair removal really did a good job in lightening the darkness of my UA.

NAY!

- I hope it comes in a stick format instead of a roll on. I hate waiting for it to dry before I put my clothes on especially if I'm on the rush. 

- It's hard to totally remove. I need to use either my cleansing water or toner at night before I take a shower so that I will know it's completely off. I really don't like the idea of leaving even a trace of antiperspirant on me when I sleep.

- It's a little pricey.

- I don't know if Belo is cruelty free or not. I had emailed the company to inquire but they haven't replied yet. I am really hoping that they don't test on animals.


OVER-ALL VERDICT: 5/5

I'm totally satisfied on the performance because it withstand the heat of the summer and have kept up with me whenever I go to the gym to exercise. I will continue to use this product unless Belo is not cruelty free.


Thank you for dropping by! Have a great week ahead :)

Review: Purederm Baby Wipes

Happy Sunday!

I'm so happy that I'm feeling a lot better today.. I got sore throat since Friday and it hurts to swallow but now I'm okay and I can post something for the weekend Yay! :)

I wanted to share with you all my favorite baby wipes/wet wipes because it is the best I have used out of so many brands that I've tried -- It is Purederm Baby Wipes with Olive Oil.

BRAND: Purederm
# of SHEETS: 80 pcs
PRICE: Php99.00

INGREDIENTS:

PUREDERM SAYS:

MY REVIEW:


YAY!!!

- I love the quality of the wet wipes. It is so soft that it doesn't scratch my sensitive facial skin (and even baby's skin) and it is durable enough that it doesn't rip quite easily. To tell you honestly, I haven't rip this yet even when I used it for my body.

- I also love the packaging. The sticker seal and the lid keeps the whole pack moist upto the last piece which is great because it saves you money!

- Multi-purpose. Can be used for cleaning babies, wiping pets or for personal use. This is effective in removing face makeup and it's the best tool to use with your eye makeup remover as it doesn't absorb too much product like cotton pads.

- Hypoallergenic. I didn't get any kind of skin problem from using this.

- Contains no alcohol which can dry out the skin.


- Affordable and locally available. 80 decent sized wipes for a hundred bucks? That's a steal!
I got this at Landmark Trinoma which is very near to my place so it's convenient.

NAY!

- As with all wet wipes, this can cause the pH of your skin to change and can cause dryness and irritations. 

- Not enough to be a substitute for washing your face with a cleanser but for times that you are really tired and just want to crash to bed using this is still better than not cleansing at all.

- Easily gets out of stock in stores.


OVER-ALL RATING: 5/5

I can't find a better alternative for this because this brand is the most sturdy wet wipes I have used ever and it is one of the softest and mildest too. No breakouts so far even after almost a year of using this almost every night to remove my makeup.Love this product and will continue using this!


What's your favorite makeup remover? :)


Thanks for dropping by and have a great week ahead!

Review: Hada Labo Gokujyun (Red) Lotion

Happy Hearts Day! ~

Today I will be reviewing the Hada Labo Gokujyun Lotion. Gokujyun is their red line (lifting + firming) which contains retinol as an active anti-aging ingredient. I have been using this 2x a day since the first week of December and I believe I have tested it enough to give a review.

*Lotion - this is the term used for a facial toner that have a gel texture instead of the usual liquid form.

That being said, having a flip cap is the best way to dispense the product because it gave me control on how much to use every time. Also, this very hygienic :)

This product also came with a free face mask from the same line. I haven't used the mask yet so I don't know how it fares.

HADA LABO is a Japanese brand of skin care that is very famous for being mild, simple and yet very effective. The active ingredient in all of their lines is the Super Hyaluronic Acid which is meant to hydrate the skin better than regular hyaluronic acid.


MY THOUGHTS:

YAY!!!

- This did not broke me out like other anti aging products that I have tried.

- No allergic reactions too.

- Very gentle on the skin. No stinging feeling when applied and I can use this around the eyes too. 

- No strong scent. Hada Labo is very famous for having no irritants on their products.

- This tones and moisturizes my skin at the same time.

- Not sticky at all which I am very happy with.

- Dries quickly so I can apply my moisturizer after a minute or so.


NAY!!!

- Not available locally. Buying from local resellers is quite expensive.

- I did not see any anti aging benefits yet even after 3 months. I guess, I should have bought the serum version too so it's more effective since toners are not meant to be treatments.


TIPS:

- Apply 2-3 drops on your hand, warm the product first and then apply it on the skin with patting motion for faster absorption.

- Can be stored inside the refrigerator for a more refreshing feel. 

- Best to be used with other moisturizer as this is not enough even for oily skin.


OVER-ALL RATING: 5/5

I love this toner! This did not irritate my skin and it helps my moisturizer get absorb better. I just hope I can buy it easily since this is quite affordable if bought in Japan.


WILL I REPURCHASE? Definitely! I will probably get the serum too so that it is more effective :)


Have you tried any Hada Labo products? Which one is your favorite? I am intrigued with the shiroyjun (whitening/blue) line and will probably get those next to test out.


Thanks for dropping by!

Review: Kojie San Kojic Acid Soap

Howdy! It's already November 8 today and I can't believe how fast the new year is coming. All we know, we'll just wake up and it's already 2013 :)

Today, I'll be doing a review on a product that I have been using on and off for a year now. On and off meaning... I'll buy a box, use it up, then move on to another product, then after a couple of months buy it again then the cycle continues hehe :) 

KOJIE SAN Skin Lightening Soap (Kojic Acid)

I prefer buying the small one coz it lessen the hassle of cutting the big bar into pieces and this is more affordable for me. This Php50 box contains 2pcs 65g bar of Kojic Acid soap.

INGREDIENTS:

Each piece is individually wrapped to preserve the freshness.

I still cut them into 2 small pieces to prevent melting too much soap coz I only use this for my face anyway so a small chunk is enough to create a lather.I then store the cube inside my empty case of Shiseido Medicated Powder (it fits perfectly!).

PROS:

- I love that this doesn't melt as easily as other kojic acid soap.

- I love the fresh scent of orange.

- Being individually wrapped helped in prolonging the shelf life of the soap. Easy storage too.

- Cleanses my face well.

- This helps in drying out my pimples so I always buy this whenever I get breakouts.

- Regarding whitening, I am naturally fair already so I can't see any difference with this brand. 
BUT kojic acid is guaranteed to make your skin look brighter because I have been using Kojic Acid soap since college and it really helped lighten my skin before. Just be patient with it :)

- Affordable. Only P50 for 130g worth of soap.

- Can easily bought in any supermarket and department store.


CONS:

- Can be drying like with all whitening products so moisturizer is a must

- There's no note where this is made but it is distributed by BEVI here in the Philippines. I just hope there's some sort of information about that.


OVER-ALL RATING: 5/5

I always repurchase this whenever I'm out of option or can't decide what facial wash I will buy next. It's like my go to facial wash hehe. I know I won't get any harsh reaction to this plus it's cheap. What more can you ask for, right? :)


Thanks for dropping by!