Colour Collection Vitamin E Lipstick (Sheer) in Pinkish Nude: Review

Originally priced at PHP 330, I got this full size, 4g lipstick for free from Sample Room. Sample Room is a website that allows you to sample a variety of products ranging from beauty, skin care to other things like fitness, etc. If you've never visited their site, I suggest that you do. You won't regret it. :)

Last year, I got this particular lipstick from there. Believe it or not, I was surprised to see that I don't have a separate post for this particular product. I really thought I already reviewed it but after going through my folder of review back logs, I saw these photos and I realized I haven't done a proper review yet.

I chose this color because I thought this would be a great shade to use for everyday. True to my expectations, its color is one of my most favorite shades to sport on a regular day outside. It is a pinkish coral shade. I know the shade name is pinkish nude but it really doesn't appear nude-ish to me. It actually brightens up your lip color without overdoing it.

When I was still wearing this to work (back when I was still working in the ICU), a lot of my workmates complimented this particular shade because it was a really nice everyday pink shade. Also, it is quite moisturizing as it contains vitamin E and it's sheer enough that I don't have problems applying it without a mirror.

These are swatches, just in case you wanted to see how it looks like. I apologize for the low quality photos for this post as this was taken using my old camera. But the color is pretty similar, especially the first swatch above. I just decided to include the poorly taken second swatch because I would like to emphasize that this particular shade is a bit glossy when worn. :)

I really love this product. It's one of my most favorite products from Sample Room. The only negative thing I can think of is the scent as it has a very lipstick-y scent. It's hard to explain but it smells a bit waxy. However, this doesn't bother me that much since this waxy scent disappears within the minute you apply it on your lips.

Colour Collection products can be bought through dealers. Personally, I haven't bought one as I don't know any Colour Collection dealers out there. If you are one, please comment down below and leave us your contact details so we'd know where to get Colour Collection products from.

Belo AcnePro and Hygienix (Sample Room): Review

Another Sample Room haul! Yay! I don't know about you but I always feel like a winner whenever I chance upon available samples that I like from the Sample Room website. For new readers out there who haven't read any of my Sample Room posts before, click on this link to enlighten you on what the site is all about.

 

Even after about more than a year of sampling, I only have limited amount of Sample Room points. How I wish I was a partner blogger or a VIP! But despite that, I am still able to get samples that are quite useful, not just for my blog content, but also for my day to day life.

My most recent snag before this was a cosmetic product, a lip product to be more exact, from the brand called Colour Collection. This time, however, I jumped on and tried this new skin care revolution from the brand Belo. I got both the face wash and toner. And with the little number of points I had remaining, I also got a handy dandy sanitizer spray from Hygienix, all included in just one shipping. Yay!

I was very excited to try this out as my previous post about Belo has got to be one of my most viewed posts. While I tried hard not to expect so much from the products (my previous review didn't exactly sing on a positive note), the promise of this bee venom technology that I only used to see in Korean skin care sets made me walk on blind faith. Without having any experience on any of the products from this line, I claimed that this product would be nothing but epic! I was convinced that this was the cheaper alternative to the organic skin care set I'm using or the dermatologist prescribed products I was using before. With many good reviews and being the editor's pick of the month (of Sample Room), I was very excited when the delivery man dropped this package off our doorstep.

 

 

I thought it was love at first use. I particularly liked the scent, the consistency and how it left my face after lathering/applying but my oh my, the disappointment it has caused in the form of acne. It started at the edges of my eyebrows and at first I thought it was the result of an unresolved hormonal imbalance from a previous monthly visit. But the more I used the product, the more pimples it creates. Yes, it does have a little bit of a calming effect-- to the person not on the zits! You see, the scent is just oh-so-divine. It's the perfect combination of powdery and flowery scent. I simply love it. But you know how they say "Sometimes love ain't enough."? I think I may have solved the mystery behind it by the use of this.

This product hates my face as much as I love its scent. While I would normally not give up after just a week of usage for a particular skin care set, I will make this an exception as I already had a not-so-good experience with the brand before. I don't want to linger on this set when I know my organic skin care takes better care of my skin.

To be fair, however, the line didn't dry up my skin. In fact, it left it soft and well moisturized. The only problem was it was causing more troubles than relief. And so I have decided to just let this go, just like Elsa's song. I passed both products (face wash and toner) onto my sister who offered to continue using it. If I get the chance to, then I might go back to this entry and update you guys with what happened to my sister's skin.

For now, I would say that this is a good product. A good product for someone else. For an acne prone, oily, sensitive skin person like me, I wouldn't recommend this as it broke me out like no tomorrow.

As for the sanitizer spray, I don't really have any complaints whatsoever. I like that it's compact, easy to use and gets its job done. Other than those, I have nothing more to say.

Have you noticed that most of my posts recently are skin care related? Haha. I'm not sure why but I have so much skin care stuff left for review. My next skin care post will be about a product that works well for cystic acne so be on the lookout for that! In the mean time, watch out for my next post, which will most probably be a makeup or hair product, just for a bit of a change.

SoTrue Lavender Oatmeal Castile Soap: Sample Room

Okay, so I'm not really scheduled to have a post today but since I am feeling extra diligent today, I'm writing down a simple post to cut down my long list of back logs. I'm writing this down on a Friday so I might as well do a "Flashback Friday" post today.

I got this particular product almost exactly one year ago from Sample Room. I got it along with other Sample Room products, I'm just not sure exactly which one. I only needed 20 points to get this so I took advantage of the situation and sampled this too.

Timing couldn't be more perfect because during that time, I was having some skin troubles. I was diagnosed with Acute Urticaria and I couldn't just use any commercial soap. I was advised to only use oatmeal soap as it is best for irritated and dry skin. So aside from the fact that it only costed 20 points, I was being a good patient and followed my doctor's orders.

I feel that this product helped me get over with my skin problems as it was very gentle on the skin and very moisturizing. I'm really glad I came across this product.

Normally, since I already made my point, I would end the post by encouraging you/ discouraging you to purchase this product. But since I want to catch up with my drawn-out back logs, I will be squeezing in a face mask feature. Don't worry though, as it is just like any other Korean face mask I've tried and I already made a thorough post on that over here so you won't have to read through it again (if you already did). The problem, however, lies if you haven't read that post yet. Well, I guess it is still your prerogative, if you want to read it or not. Am I right? ;)

 Tony Moly Essential Mask Sheet Pack- Cucumber

 PHP58.00 from Watsons

I Want To Be Part of Sample Room's Bloggers Circle

Try before you buy. How great would it be if you were given the chance to try out items for free before actually buying the product? Not just for beauty bloggers like me, but also for other people out there who doesn't want to waste hard earned money. Well, wish no more! Sample Room makes it possible for us! You might wanna ask, "Sample Room? What is that?". Read on and find out!

Sample Room is a website that allows registered members to try out specific products of different brands for a limited number of samples. I've been a member for a year now and my experience with Sample Room has always been great! There are a few steps to follow and this is basically how it works:

1. Register.
2. Get free points upon registration.
3. Choose your sample.
4. Checkout.
5. Receive your samples.
6. Post a review at SampleRoom.ph
7. Get points by reviewing, get a new sample to try.
8. Buying of points.

Last year, for the first time, Sample Room opened their Bloggers Circle to partner with certain beautiful, passionate and inspirational bloggers out there. I was aware of the requirements and even though my blog was already more than one year old during that time, I didn't submit an entry because I didn't feel like I'm good enough to be a partner. I know! Low self esteem really doesn't help anything at all! This time around, Sample Room is in search for more members for that circle and I don't plan to let the opportunity go for the second time! I really want to be a part of that circle and I hope I get chosen to be a partner blogger this time.

Wish me luck! :)

SoTrue Lavender Skin Repair Balm: Review

Summer is almost over here but I can still feel the heat linger on. You would, too, if you're living in the Philippines. It's been months since the summer season has taken its toll on us but the heat is still all too overwhelming for me. I feel like I survived numerous near-heat stroke moments for the past two months. Aside from that, I've also been experiencing dry lips caused by who-knows-what. It's a good thing, however, that I got this Skin Repair Balm as a part of my second haul from the Sample Room.

I thought long and hard before deciding on how I'm going to use the product. Judging from the description I've read off of Sample Room, this particular product has many uses to choose from and I decided to use it as a lip moisturizer/lip balm. The sample packaging helped me decide as it already looked like a regular lip balm.

Sample room says, "Use it on your lips, your elbows, knees, heels—just about anywhere your body needs some moisturizing TLC! SoTrue Skin Repair Balm packs a moisturizing punch with olive oil and pure beeswax to knock out dry skin. Leaves skin feeling soft and smooth unlike any other lotion you’ve tried."

The sample product is a regular cream colored stick. The smell doesn't bother me although I sense a mixture of mint and herbal scent. It's really creamy, spreads easily and moisturizes really well. This could be the best lip balm out there (at least for me).

I love using this product after I apply my everyday lipstick (EB Matte Lipstick in Viva). Matte lipsticks tend to dry my lips but whenever I top it off with this product, my lips get its moisture back with no difficulty. The only problem is that I have to reapply it after 2-3 hours.

Now would I recommend this product? Yes, I would! This is very moisturizing and does everything a lip balm should.