Update: Korean Cosmetic Brands & Animal Testing

Good morning! It's Monday again and I hope everyone will have a good start for the week :)

This will be just a quick update. If you visited KARA (Korea Animal Rights Advocates) website, you will also see a list of Cruelty Free brands just like in PETA...Their list is shorter coz they are still starting but it helps customers like us.  To see their list of certified cruelty free brands, click here and here.

I even hope PAWS or CARA can do this too for local products in our country :)

 

I also have contacted KARA too through email to clarify some Korean cosmetic brands that I love but are not on both list and I already have received their reply so I will share them with you. 

Dear Gale,

Thank you for contacting KARA regarding Korean cosmetic companies and our apologies for the delayed reply due to the waiting time taken to hear back

from each company about the inquiry.

Here is a brief answer to your question.

Tony Moly – still in the process of confirmation

Nature Republic – still in the process of confirmation

Baviphat – has not gotten back to our inquiry.

Holika Holika – has not gotten back to our inquiry

Skin Food – refused our request for further confirmation about animal test on ingredients.

Lioele – do test on animals.

When the companies do not reply to our inquiry, we assume that they may carry out animal test on at some stage of the production or they do not care the importance of checking with their individual ingredients suppliers whether they test on animals.  

If there is a new company added to the list, we will let people know through our Facebook page.

Hope this helps you for cruelty free shopping.

Thank you again for your interest and support.

Kind regards,

Korea Animal Rights Advocates 

In addition to this email, here are some locally available brands that are still on the fence (have not received any confirmation from the company) according to the website home page:

1. Missha - Animal testing done on certain products but not all...They use animal by-products too like deer antlers on a certain line of their products. So personally, they are on the DO TEST and NON-VEGAN list.

2. Etude House - Regular staff says it's cruelty free but since Amore Pacific (parent company) is testing on animals, I can conclude Etude House tests on animals too. 

 

Check out Amore Pacific's statement here about their stand on animal testing. According to them, they are still on the process of researching about alternative non-animal testing but for the meantime, they are doing animal testing to ensure the safety of the products. For the complete list of brands under them, click  here 

I actually commend Amore Pacific for being transparent about their stand on animal testing. Just last month, they explained in their website that they do conduct animal testing for safety reasons but they will do research to find alternative methods. And now, they already changed their statement on the website and had given updates on the progress of their research. I hope before this year ends, they will accomplish their goal of finding a good alternative for animal testing and will declare they are cruelty-free by year 2013. But until then, no Amore Pacific products for me. Personally, I will patiently wait for them because they do value their customer and they have the heart to improve the ethics of their corporation :) 

*** If you want to inquire about a certain brand you love you can email KARA through their website. They do reply to your inquiry as soon as they get info on them.

I hope this post is helpful to all of you who cares about animal cruelty and loves Korean brands. Until next time, bye! ^_^

Thank you for dropping by,

Review: Nature Republic Aloe Vera Gel

Hello! I'm back with another product review and this time it is Nature Republic Aloe Vera Gel.

I needed to wait for 2 months before I got this tub. I reserved one because I really wanted to try it due to great reviews that it received..But I didn't expect that it would be that popular locally that I needed to wait that long. And when I reached there at the store (after I received a text that my item is ready for pickup), I saw that some people buy a lot of tubs (I peeked inside the delivery box haha)...as in 4 tubs per person! The SA told me that there's a long list for this product because a lot of people hoard them so the stocks are usually low. All stocks that arrives usually are reserved already so walk in clients won't be able to see buy them.

It is made of 92% Aloe Vera...And if you search online, aloe vera is a plant that had been used for its soothing and moisturizing properties since time immemorial.

There's a label at the back wherein you can see a Korean and English version of the ingredients and product description.

It comes in a clear gel consistency and the scent of fresh aloe vera is really prevalent when you sniff it.

According to the SA at SM North The Block branch, I should finish this whole tub within 6 months after opening because it get spoiled easily. So I just place it in a cool dry place and on the refrigerator now because it's so hot.

PROS:

- This product can be used all over the body. I have used it on my hair, scalp, face and body and it worked great for each of these areas.

- It helps soothe itchiness of skin due to dry skin.

- Great on sun burned skin especially if it's cool. Perfect to bring during swimming for emergency soothing hehe ^_^

- I love how it moisturizes my hair after swimming on a pool (chlorine can dry out hair and make it stiff)

- I use it as hair mask. It makes my hair soft and smelling fresh.

- Dries quickly without sticky feeling...and the scent lingers which is great :)

- It did not gave me any breakouts when I use it on my face every time I feel I need some light moisturizer.

- It has no parabens, no mineral oil and no artificial colorings.

- No allergic whatsoever on me and my family who used it.

- Very affordable...It only cost Php280 (I think) for this tub containing 300ml of product!

CONS:

- It is mostly out of stock at the store...I'm not sure at the present but hopefully they saw the demand for the product and the company sent a lot of stock hehe

- I can't keep it longer. It expires quite easily which is common for products with less preservatives.

- It feels sticky once applied and you will feel sticky for a couple of minutes...luckily, as soon as it dries, the stickiness goes away (even on the hair!)

- Since it comes in a big tub, it is not travel friendly...It can be quite bulky on your kikay pouch..So I suggest that you just transfer some product on a smaller container.

- Again, since the packaging is a tub container, it is not hygienic. I would prefer if it comes in a squeezable bottle like the Tropical Hut Aloe Vera Gel.

OVER-ALL RATING: 4.5/5 - Love this product! It is very multi-purpose so I don't regret buying it. It has not failed me so far. Even though it is just a light moisturizer, I think it is perfect in our weather now because it does not have a sticky oily feel that other moisturizes have on the skin. And of course, you can't beat the price! It's hard to find a product that costs less than Php300 that works great and doesn't cause any irritations :)

WILL I REPURCHASE? Definitely! As soon as I finished this up, I will get myself another tub :)

I believe that this is a summer must-have item! ^_^

Review: Nature Republic Eye & Lip Makeup Remover

Happy Tuesday! I decided to post this review now before I go to work before I forget again...I am crossing my fingers that I can post at least 3 times every week for the whole year...Do you think I can do it? ^_^

So today, I am gonna talk about the Nature Republic Herblier Lip and Eye Remover Water. This makeup remover is specially created for removal of waterproof makeup. It comes in a 110ml plastic bottle and it costs Php460. It has a dual layer of liquid just like the Lancome BiFacil makeup remover.

The bottle looks like this...

And as usual, I can't give you the ingredients list because everything is written in Korean.

When you open the cap, it has a stopper to regulate flow of products.

What I LIKE about this...

- removes waterproof mascara and eyeliner very easily. This is by far the best eye makeup remover I've tried.

- It doesn't leave a very oily feel. Just moist.

- Can be easily rinsed with facial wash and water. No film will be left after washing my face.

- affordable and available locally.

What I DON'T LIKE about this...

- The bottle doesn't seals very tight. I found it lying down on my table and a lot of the products spilled. Not good for travelling.

- It has a plant smell...which I don't mind but others might not like that scent.

OVER-ALL RATING: 4.5/5. If only the bottle is travel friendly, I would give this a perfect score.

WILL I REPURCHASE? YES!!! This is my HG makeup remover. It never disappoints me ^_^

TIPS:

- Shake well before pouring the product on a cotton pad

- Put your moistened cotton pad over your eyes for 5 seconds before gently wiping. It will easily dissolves the mascara by doing this step.

- Transfer in a travel friendly container if you wanted to bring this when you travel.

What about you? What is your HG eye makeup remover? I want to hear it! Post them on the comments section below ^_^

2011 Hits & Misses + a glimpse inside my room ^_^

The end of 2011 is nearing...just a couple more days till the start of 2012. I can't believe that everything flew so fast and that it had been another great year I spent with you guys...I'm really looking forward to new friends that I will meet in the future through my blog ^_^

To end 2011, I have decided to do a HITS and MISSES list instead of my TOP 10 PRODUCTS like last year because majority of my HG products are still the same hehe...I am still in love with the same brushes (Ellana buffer brush, Lumiere duo fiber brush, MAC 217, Loew COrnell 3/8 mop brush) and the same products (Ellana Sheer Velvet powder, Ellana concealer in Cheer, LipIce Sheer Color) so I d on't think it will be exciting to read haha ^_^

I have tried quite a few products and it is quite hard to narrow it down into a dozen products that I loved and can also be included in my HG list...It is also understandable that I did not fell in love with all of the items I purchased like I hoped. So here's a summary of what I loved and what I didn't liked. These products were all purchased by me within the year.

To start, these are the top rookies...I have consistently used these products so much since I got them ^_^

From the back, L-R:

1. Yummy mini cookbooks

I am just starting in my quest to be the best cook...well, that is my dream anyway haha ^_^

Seriously, I just started learning how to cook mid 2011. I love eating but I really can't cook and it makes me feel bad. I always get words from my parents like, "Magaasawa ka na, ano ipapakain mo sa kanila?"...And since I am really gonna get married soon and I don't want my family to eat instant noodles and fried foods forever, I decided to study on my own. And these books helped me a lot. These are very beginner friendly because the instructions are so easy to follow and the ingredients can easily found in local groceries because they are locally published. Affordable too, only Php125 ^_^

2. Samsung Netbook

My new baby...without her, I won't be able to blog, check my mails, watch shows and do my work. It is very handy and the battery life is really good so whenever I bring this to clients, I won't need to bring my charger anymore. Since it is very light and small, I can just fit it inside my bag without people thinking that I have a laptop with me (Iwas snatcher di ba? hehe)..The best buy I did this year..definitely ^_^

3. Fringe holder

I am so in love with this fringe holder. I have 4 pieces in 2 colors (black and blue). I use the blue one when I'm home and the black one if I go out. Whenever I don't want my bangs to get on my face, like when I'm doing something or eating, I just pin my fringe up with this sticky thing. I love the fact that it doesn't tug on my hair like other hair clips and it also doesn't create waves so if I want to let down my bangs I can easily do so.

The only problem I have with this is that it is so hard to find locally and you need to order it. But aside from that, I always get compliments on how unique they are and how effective they work ^_^

4. Tony Moly backstage liner duo in 01

I purchased this because of Brigitte's review. I love gel liners but all of the brands I tried like MAC and Stila dried out after a couple of months. Brigitte said that this won't dry out and it is very pigmented and doesn't smudge so I decided to grab it. I got myself the duo one because all of the available single black are shimmery and not too dark, and I like matte black liners. Plus, I also like the fact that it is combined with a shimmery white liner! I will give an in-depth review of this product soon. But for now, all I can say is that I really, really love this! ^_^

5. Etude House AC Clinic Red Spot Balm

I have been using this product for the last 6 months or so on areas that I have a lot of acne marks. I love this product because aside from the fact that it lightens dark spots, it also has ingredients that help in healing existing pimples. I'm just sad that I don't have before and after pictures to show you guys, but trust me, they work great on marks! I am so gonna repurchase this hehe ^_^

6. Etude House Moistful moisturizer gel

Okay, so this not mine personally but my sister's hehe...I just use it for free ^_^

I use this every day because it supplies the moisture my skin needed. I have COmbination oily skin and I'm so happy that this product works for me even though it is really meant for dry skin like my sister. And it works very well on her too...And the fun part? It doesn't break me out ^_^

7. Nature Republic Eyes and Lips Makeup remover in Pink

I am not sure if I have done an in-depth review on this product, if not, I will post one because this is by far the best eye makeup remover I tried ever. It removes even waterproof mascaras with ease. It is also gentle enough that it doesn't irritate my eyes. And affordable too, I believe it is around Php500 only and available locally.

8. MBM Stemcell Eyecream

I have been using this for a month now and I honestly haven't seen any improvement on my dark circles because I always stay up very very late for the past 2 weeks because of the holidays. BUT I am loving it for it because it give my eyes enough moisture ( I did not get any millia underneath my eyes), it absorbs very quickly, and it is very affordable. I will still do a diary on this like promised, I just wanted to share that I am loving it so far ^_^

9. Tony Moly Nail polish remover

Out of all the nail polish removers I tried, this one removes polishes the fastest. It is also very economical because I can remove my nail polishes using only one cotton ball soaked with the product. It also doesn't contain acetone so it is not drying. It is way better than the Face Shop one IMO ^_^

10. Sofy body Fit sanitary napkin.

This is my HG sanitary pads. I have never experienced any accidental leaks night or day, regardless of activities with this pad. There are times that I need to seat for around 5hours without bathroom breaks and this pad can still contain my flow even if it is so heavy. I am so so in love with this. No irritations too unlike when I use Whisper (I get rashes). I really hope they won't discontinue this brand..

11. Suesh eyeliner brush

This is the first time I've ever used a pointy eyeliner brush. I've always been fond of flat angled liner brushes for applying gel liners because they are so easy to use but this Suesh liner brush is way better! I can create as thin or as thick of an eyeliner I want. It is also easy to line my upper lashline with this because it has the right stiffness to it and I have control in the application. I want to get another one for my white gel liner hehe. It is affordable too, only Php200 ^_^

12. Etude House Missing You Lipbalm in Penguin (not in the picture)

My night lip balm. I use this in exchange of my petroleum jelly at night. I love applying this generously on my lips before I go to sleep and I will always wake up with moisturized lips. No irritations and it gives me enough moisture every time ^_^

Here's my review on the product. Just click here.

13. Nature Republic Nail polishes (not in the picture)

I love how long lasting they are and much cheaper than The Face Shop too! Easy to apply and the shine stays on for at at least 2 weeks. I don't even need a top coat to make it last longer since it does good on its own. I will definitely try out more colors ^_^

14. Imarflex Electric Mixer

This is a Christmas gift from my bf. He knows I love baking and I don't have a mixer yet (I whisk stuff manually by hand haha) so he gave me this to make things easier for me. I am loving it to bits and I have created a couple of things using this already. It is not too heavy and it is very easy to clean so it's all good, plus the fact that it is a gift from my beloved, which made it extra special ^_^

15. Oster Electric Oven

Well, I do love sweets and I was always intrigued if I can bake...well, well, I even surprised myself that after the second try, I already can follow the recipes I found online haha can you say I'm so lucky? Almost all of my baked goodies tasted so good! So this oven is now one of my favorite items in the house and I have used it quite a lot. It cooks evenly and it is very easy to clean. I also love how light it is to carry so I can transfer it from one place to another with ease. The only negative on this product? Well, it's 110V because I got it from an American surplus store haha ^_^

**And now, the products that I didn't like and regretted buying...

1. Tony Moly Intense Repair Live Snail Cream and Eyecream

Check out my complete review on this product why it got included in this list. Overall, it is too expensive and it was not suitable on my skin. I really wouldn't mind spending thousands on a good product but I really felt bad that my money just got wasted because it only made me breakout :(

2. Carmex lipbalm in a tube

I really hated the scent and taste of the product. It keeps on reminding me of Sanity Balm whenever I use iton my lips.

My review on this product here.

3. The Body Shop Born Lippy in orange flavor

I don't know why I don't like this specific flavor but it irritates me. I also don't like the glitters and orangey color it gives on my lips. It so not flattering on me. Luckily, this is just a gift to my mom and she just gave it to me since she also didn't like the scent.

Although I like the raspberry flavored one so it is not the lip balm in general but just this specific flavor.

4. Nature Republic Collagen BB cream

This is a sample size I got when I purchased my makeup remover. I thought I would like it but after using it several times, I don't reach for it anymore. It has a very light coverage regardless of the amount you used. I can't build up the coverage even if I had already done at 3 layers. It is also not long lasting on me. The only thing I like about this is it has antiaging and SPF.

5. Natural Science Herbal Products MFG. Tawas

Okay, I don't usually use deodorant/antiperspirant because I got a phobia when I used Secret when I was still a teenager and it stained my UA. But since I do get sweaty very easily on my underarms and I usually wear sleeved shirts, I decided to try a natural one so I bought this. I thought it can help with the sweat but it totally did nothing except stain my shirts. So useless :(

6. My Phone Dual Sim

If you're my friend in Facebook, you definitely saw my post...I can't seem to operate it. My contacts don't appear, it's so hard to text and I can't seem to read all my messages. It just frustrates the heck out of me. I know it is cheap but I just hoped I got a regular Nokia phone or something. I was unable to text a greeting to my friends and family last Christmas since I can't find their numbers huhu :(

So that ends my HIT & MISSES of 2011! I hope you enjoyed reading them ^_^

And now, for a glimpse of my room...I sleep under the bunk bed and my sister sleeps on top. We share a room so I can't really show you the whole room because I haven't asked permission from her yet hehe ^_^

That's my college graduation picture, my best friend Rachelle and me (the poster was a gift from her), a board where I pin pictures of my boyfriend, and a poster of Jang Geun Suk (a freebie when Nature Republic opened) ^_^

A poster of JYJ, 2AM (I got this during their mini-concert here in Pinas) and Super Junior (This poster is a gift of my sister)

I have plastic containers that hold my novels under my bed. I am now very cautious about termites and water so I decided to transfer them from my bookshelf to these to keep them safe ^_^
And this is my little station. I have huge plastic containers at the back that contains all my photo albums, CDs, cassette tapes, magazines, college books and notes that I love to keep, and other stuff. And this small table is where I do my blogging. As usual, I have a container full of chocolates beside me and my printer underneath.

This is my where I keep my makeup. I have already finished sorting them out and I already gave away the things that I don't use.

and on top of that, I keep my skin care products. And yes, I do wear myobrace when I sleep for maintainance. I used to have braces and I got it removed when I was in college. I had it for 6 years hehe ^_^

So yeah, this will be my last post for the year 2011. I hope you did not get bored! Happy New Year everyone!!!!