Missing the Sun!

It's that time of the year again in my country: Typhoon season. We haven't had a sunny day in weeks and it's really starting to get me down. Even though I generally prefer cold weather to hot, and I avoid the sun's rays, I don't like being stuck indoors, either. 

No big deal, I'm just more aware of how I feel nowadays because I've been reading up on Seasonal affective Disorders (SAD) for work. One interesting (also logical) thing I noted is that Light Therapy is used to treat SAD, as well as some medical conditions. It's also used to treat various skin conditions. Lasers are used in facials to kill bacteria, close pores and also to remove unwanted hair. 

For most of us, we can probably get these types of treatments once in a while, but wouldn't it be nice to be able to do it ourselves anytime we want or need them? We can! Check out Tanda.Com. They have awesome gadgets using light technology like tanda zap for acne treatment, as well as others for teeth whitening, hair removal and many more. Best of all? They're completely portable, so they're not just for using at home. You can take them with you anywhere, so your beauty rituals don't have to be postponed when your on a trip or something. 

Here's a something else I found on that website: A very interesting and informative graphic on the history of skincare. Gonna try those facial toning exercises. Feels kinda silly, but I hope it'll pay off.

Via: Tanda Skincare

Thanks for reading, 

Jackie

A Few New Gets

Got a few things online:

• Lioele Glittering Jewel  Pencil in Brown
• Etude House Color in the lighter shade
• Etude House Touch Touch Cream Shadow Liner in Vanilla
• Etude House Silk Scarf Shampoo and Conditioner
• Etude House Dress Room Sweet Look Body Wash and Sweet Look Body Lotion
• Etude House Petit Bijou Cotton Snow Moisture Body Lotion

The tubes are all minis (30 ml). I love buying minis because full-sized products just get wasted on me. I get tired of using the same old thing for too long and this gives me a reason to buy new stuff right away. ^^

I had a chance to try the Silk Scarf stuff before and liked it. I had a set of the shampoo, condition and hair treatment in sample sachets/envelopes. The products have a nice raspberry smell, but I'm not sure how great they are for regular use. I'll let you know when I'm done with it.

Some samples and freebies:

• Nature Republic Aqua Combination Watery Cream
• Skin Food Quinoa Rich Body Milk
• Charcoal Essence Mask from MJCare (freebie)
• "The History Of" BB Cream   (freebie)
• Innisfree Almond Sugar Scrub   (freebie)

My sample collection's growing. They've become what stickers and stationery used to be for me in my grade school days. (I try not to use the stuff I don't have doubles of, haha.)

I've never heard of the brands of the sheet mask and the bb cream the seller kindly included in my freebies. She put in some other free samples, too but I already had them so I just gave them to my sister (who likes samples as  much as me.)

I promise, I will get around to review all the stuff I've been meaning to eventually.  Just stay tuned!

Thanks for reading, 

Jackie

M2 HP Skin Refinish

The fight against aging starts in our 20's, and products that promise brighter, more youthful and flawless skin like the M2 line Luminaze are choice weapons. I've been dying to try them since I first heard about them.

I heard a lot of good things about M2 skincare products a while back and I recently got the chance to use it. Since I am a new user, I will be sharing my first impression of the product.

About the Product

This is a micropeel product. This line gets its name from the 2 main active ingredients: Mandelic Acid, which is an Alpha Hydroxy Acid or AHA derived from almonds and Malic Acid, which occurs naturally in fruits.

The product itself is a clear sticky dense liquid. I mean really sticky. I think a lot of people would be bothered by the stickiness of it, but I actually think it's a good idea. It keeps the product on my face and doesn't come off even if I sweat and it doesn't transfer to my pillow or sheets when I sleep. Besides, it dries to a kind of shiny film after a few minutes and becomes more comfortable after moisturizer is applied.

This product works fast! There was flaking around my nose and mouth areas the morning after my first use and I saw dead skin on my cotton pad when I applied toner. Also, like with products of this nature, expect a purging stage, where deep seated dirt and impurities come up to the surface in the form of breakouts.

Ingredients for those interested.

It's still too early to say but here are my thoughts so far:

Likes:

- fast results

- Comes in an airless pump bottle which twists up and out to open. No lost caps or parts. Very hygienic.

- A little goes a long way.

Dislikes:

- expensive! (for me, at least. 2K-3K for 50 ml)

- not widely available, (most people just buy online or through dermatologists)

- strong smell

- itching or stinging sensation. Not for sensitive skin.

- Purging stage

Etc.

- When using peeling/whitening products, always wear sunscreen.

- Don't be scared by the purging stage, the product is going to treat those breakouts as well. Just follow through or else you'll be left worse off than when you started.

- For new users, only use this product every other day for the first couple of months so that your skin gets used to the ingredients. (I alternate this with an acne treatment for the breakouts)

Will I buy again?

Undecided. It depends on the end result after 1 bottle.

Thanks for reading, 

Jackie

P.S. I was not paid by M2 to do this review. The product was also bought, not sponsored.

Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask

Hey lovelies! It's been a while but I have news! I am officially a freelancer!
Still busy as ever, though. I'm still not done with Christmas shopping, can you believe it? The holiday rush and all the preparations for the big move next year: packing, trying to unload stuff at home, and all that. But I'm ready to blog at a semi-regular basis again. Wish me luck!

Moving on, here's a product that's been making me happy recently:  Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask

 

image taken from website

Innisfree is another Korean brand I am interested in. Their products are said to be GMO, mineral oil, chemical, alcohol, triclosan, benzophenone and paraben free and most ingredients are derived from nature.The brand, as you can see is endorsed by Yoona of Girls' Generation (SNSD.)

Baviphat Fruits Miniature Gift Set

I've had tremendous luck with the Baviphat Fruit Magic line so when I saw this from one of my favorite online sellers, I could not resist.

 

The gift set incluces 4 miniatures (6 g each) from the "fruit miracle" line:

• Apple AC Therapy Sleeping pack  (click for review)

• Mango Magic Brightening Mask  (Will try soon. Stay tuned!)

• Peach All in One Peeling Gel (my sister gave me hers before, but it dried out before I got a chance to use it. :o_O)

• Lemon Whitening Sleeping Pack (I love this, too!)

First look at Snoe Products and All Glammed Up's October Sale

I am always happy to see local brands stepping up and I try to support them as much as I can. It's been over a week since I got these Snoe Products. I have used them a bunch of times already. It's too early for an in-depth review, but that doesn't mean I can't tell you what I think about it just yet.

Review: Baviphat AC Therapy Sleeping Pack

 

This is a miniature version (6g) which was a part of my minis and samples purchase from eBay.

Baviphat is a Korean skincare and cosmetics brand famous for their "fruit miracle" series and infamous for their suspiciously familiar packaging designs. Some famous spokesmodels for the brand are Beyonce and Korean idol group F.T. Island.

Product Info (taken from seller)
An overnight mask  extract suppresses melanin formation and prevent hyper-pigmentation. Arbutin then hastens skin whitening for a fairer complexion with beautifully even skin tone. Uniformly apply mask on cleansed skin before going to bed. Wash off in the morning. Regular use of sleeping mask diminishes the appearance of dark spots and freckles.

How to use:
After basic skin care in the evening, apply evenly over face. Go to sleep without washing out. Lightly rinse with lukewarm water in the morning.

Use it as a substitute for cream at night. Apply an appropriate amount to face and neck. Then gently massage and tab until thoroughly absorbed. Rinse off in the next morning.

Suitable For:  All Skin Types

My review after the jump.

Adding to the Mix (a series of mini reviews)

Even though I'm pretty set in my ways when it comes to bathing, I still like to try new stuff every now and then. It's always fun to discover/try new stuff and see if they could become a permanent part of my regimen.


A Bonne Spa Milk Salt Shower Formula

I've used the other type of A Bonne Salt Scrub before (the dry kind.) I loved how my skin felt when I used it: moisturized and soft and I loved the milky scent. It was great except for one thing: It hurt like a biotch. Since the shower formula is in suspension form, I'm hoping it'll be milder.

Belo Whitening Facial Wash

I bought a sachet of this before and I liked using it. Now, I wanna see the effects of long-term use. 

Caronia Renewing Foot Scrub
I always have tired achy feet at the end of the day. I really need to take care of them better. Hopefully, this will also take care of the dryness problem.

Careline Body Mist in Joy

I felt like changing my fragrance because I was getting tired of the ones I often use. I didn't feel like spending a lot though, because I'm expecting new stuff soon anyway. I like this scent very much. It's light and refreshing and at least doesn't have an overly familiar VS Garden/BBW inspired scent.

Nivea Express Hydration Lotion

Seen a lot of the blogs give this a thumbs up. I'm happy to say that I like the immediate effect of this and I can't wait to see what it can do after long-term usage.


Bought some nail polishes too.

Bobbie "Adored" from the Foil It Series

I don't usually go for wild, funky nail polishes but this caught my eye.  At the store, I thought this was copper/rust colored but in certain lights it looks pink, too. I really like it.

Caronia Regular Nail Polishes in Joy, Cashmere and Delicate.

I love neutral nail polishes, okay? They look similar in the picture, but Joy is more flesh-toned, while Delicate is more pink. As for Cashmere, I'm looking for a pale lilac polish. This isn't it, but it's still pretty. ^^

We're having bad weather now, so stay indoors if you can. If you do need to go out, be extra careful, loves. 

My Two Cents: The Body Shop Wise Woman Softening Toner

 Toners are a thing of mystery to me. There are as many differing opinions about this type of product as there are types of this product out in the market. Some say that it's merely meant to be a final step to cleansing because it removes traces of soap from the skin. If that were the case, then it's not always necessary especially for those who use non-soap cleansers. Others say that it's meant for treating skin problems and is absolutely necessary and must be used every day and every night.

A friend gave me this trial size bottle of Wise Woman Softening Toner (long name is long) from The Body Shop. It's meant for mature skin (I think she was trying to tell me something.)

Just kidding. It's never too early to start using anti-aging products, anyway.

I haven't heard much about this product before I got it so I did some research online and here is what The Body Shop Website says about the product .

Product Info*:
(*from the website)

Pamper your skin with a lightweight, silky-gel formula that removes the last traces of make-up and grime, tightens pores and softens skin, while preparing it to better absorb moisturizers. Organic Community Trade chamomile water soothes and calms skin. Witch hazel, a natural astringent, helps to refresh skin and reduce the appearance of puffiness. Innovative regenerating complex of skin-enhancing red clover, wild yam, star flower oil and organic Community Trade soy oil stimulates natural cell renewal and helps to maintain collagen levels for renewed elasticity and suppleness.

Sounds good, right? I had to try it myself.

My Two Cents: Himalaya Herbals Neem Foaming Face Wash

Foam is a lovely, fun and effective way of cleansing our faces.

Himalaya Herbals Neem Foaming Face Wash's  formula is much gentler on the skin than facial washes I had been used to. It is soap-free and uses the power of natural ingredients. Neem has been used to treat acne for centuries. It is also known for its ability to keep skin elastic. It is also used as insect repellent, which is a real plus in our country's environment. Turmeric is a popular ingredient for beauty treatments as well. It has anti-aging and anti-microbial properties, and is also used for depilatory purposes. (I know someone who uses turmeric powder on cystic pimples.) The bottle also lists Vetiver as one of its main ingredients, but I think it's mostly for the fragrance.

EH Pink Card + NOTD

Here's a quick haul post just to get the ball rolling. 

It had been ages since I last went to Etude House (since they first got here, I think) but I found myself in SM Megamall recently and was able to pick up some of the stuff I've been meaning to try. Sorry for the crappy pics, I didn't have a lamp.

Proof 10 Eye Primer. This review really sealed the deal.

 

Color Me Nude Lip Concealer. 

Good-bye Dark Circle Under Eye Patch.

They were out of the Collagen Eye Patch I tried before, but I liked this even better.

Petit Darling Nails in BR301. 

I'm in love with this color. I've been lemming for it and staring at pictures of it on the website for the longest time. Even if it costs only PHP 48, finally getting to buy it was like a dream come true.

...aannd since I spent a little over PHP 500, I was able to get the Pink Membership Card, which entitles the bearer a 2% rebate on purchases (minimum of PHP 100) and certain perks. Oh! And this:

Sweet Dream Facial Tissue. 

Is it just me, or has EH been phoning it on the GWP thingy lately? I don't really mind. It's cute and is a nice addition to my kikay kit.

Before I end this post, here are pics of BR301 on my nails.

 

without flash 

with

Thanks for reading!