THEFACESHOP Natural Sun Super Perfect Sun Cream: Review

It's hard to believe that over half of my good friends don't use sunscreen on a daily basis. Living in Philippines, a tropical country that people regard as the place where summer never ends, would make you think people here have the best knowledge about sun protection. After all, sun is almost always present here. But lo and behold, majority of the people here take sunblocks for granted.

I'm pretty sure for most people, the depleting ozone layer was discussed at least once in class. People are also noticing that the sun is becoming more and more intense as time passes. This observation is no joke. The blazing heat not only causes burnt skin but also contributes to premature wrinkles. That is why if you want to preserve your youthful self, make sure you equip yourself with a good amount of SPF to protect your skin.

 THEFACESHOP Natural Sun Super Perfect Sun Cream

I guess it comes as no surprise that I was tempted to buy this product although this was easily a few hundred pesos more than my previous sunscreen (Celeteque- to be reviewed soon). Firstly, this is from a brand called THEFACESHOP and so far, THEFACESHOP delivers the best skin care products in the market. Also, who would say "no" to a product that has "Super Perfect" as a part of its product name? I know I wouldn't!

It comes in an orange sunrise gradient packaging befitting its purpose. It is in a typical squeeze tube packaging which is something that I'm not particularly fond nor resentful of. What I like about it, though, is the nozzle tip. It certainly helps in controlling the amount of product you want to dispense.

Something that I'm particular with when choosing a sunscreen is its texture. Since this will be on top of all my skin care and will be the layer before my makeup, I prefer it to be nonsticky and light, which is what it exactly is. On the other hand, the amount of SPF doesn't matter much. As long as it doesn't go below SPF 30, then I'm good to go. PA protection is considered a plus factor to me. Thankfully, THEFACESHOP Natural Sun Sun Cream has SPF 50 and a PA of +++ which basically means it offers both UVA abd UVB protection.

So far, this product is the lightest formula I've tried which is similar to a regular emulsion consistency. Usual sunblocks I've tried are pretty hard to spread and blend. This one isn't. Also, other sunscreens leave a noticeable white cast on the face but this gets eaten up by the skin thoroughly with almost no trace of its existence.

After getting absorbed

Over all, I'm pretty satisfied with this product. If I had to choose my favorite commercial sun cream, I would easily choose this over other brands. Admittedly, I'm not using this at the moment because 1.) I already used this product up. 2.) I'm currently using a product that's a part of a prescription set. Otherwise, I would definitely buy another tube with no second thoughts.

As you might have guessed, I highly recommend this product. For more information, feel free to visit THEFACESHOP Philippines' facebook page.

Note: This is not sponsored. I bought this with my own money.

PS- My Disqus is going crazy. I don't know what to do. T_T

THEFACESHOP Rice Water Bright Cleansing Water: Review

I don't exactly recall what drove me to buy this cleansing water from The Face Shop. I'm guessing I came across a review, went to the boutique and had a good saleslady talk me into getting it. Well, actually, the good saleslady bit is the part that I'm sure of. She convinced me to get it because she said cleansing waters are better for oily skinned people. I'm not really sure if it is true but during that time, refusal was not an option so I gave in and bought one. Of course, I used my Bench card for some points. (Just a tip for those who didn't know they can use their Bench card for The Face Shop boutiques. I know there's a sign right at the counter but not everyone takes notice so I'm taking the time to type it down. ^^)

Rice water is a natural ingredient known for its whitening properties. Hence, the "Bright" in its product name. During that time, I had so much acne scars that I felt the need to buy a makeup remover that can brighten my skin on top of the whitening/ acne scar fading products I was using as part of my skin care.

Sadly, however, after finishing the whole bottle I really didn't see any revolutionary brightening effect on my skin. I'm not sure if it was just too gradual for me to notice but really, I didn't think it gave drastic results (if it did have any).

What I like about this product, aside from the brand (because I am a The Face Shop skin care lover), is the fact that it has a pump. I don't know about you but when a product has a pump, it's already halfway into convincing me it's worth buying.

As the name implies, the product is very watery. Well, maybe a little more viscous than water per se but definitely drippy. I used to pump an ample amount onto the palm of my hands and lather it onto my face without the use of a cotton ball. This is another thing that I like about the product. It conserves cotton balls/pads. After lathering, I just directly wash my face using my usual facial soap and I'm done with double cleansing.

The only problem with this is that I can only use this on days when I don't use waterproof mascara because it's not ideal for that. For other types of cosmetics, eyeliners included, this proves to be good enough to be used.

I was able to finish it until it was all used up but I didn't repurchase it because I didn't really find its results to be mind blowing that I needed a second bottle. So the question is, would I recommend it? Hmmm, not really for people like me who likes to play with makeup from time to time and for people who can only depend on waterproof mascaras. But if you're a person who just enjoys light makeup and wants a very mild makeup remover, then this is the product for you.

It is available in The Face Shop boutiques. I bought mine in Glorietta but for more information, you can visit their facebook page here.

Loreal Infallible Eyeshadow (607 Blinged & Brilliant): Review

There simply are days when I just don't feel like wearing much make-up. Good for me if I have nothing special scheduled for the day. But sometimes, it's such a pain when there's a get together with friends whom you know will dress up for the occasion. The struggle is real as you're too lazy to do your face but your pride won't let you attend without preparing yourself. This particular product is perfect for that.

Loreal Infallible Eyshadow in Blinged and Brilliant is my trusty eyeshadow for situations similar to what was shared above. As you can see, it's a very neutral apricot shade that's perfect for everyday use. Frankly speaking, I have several eyeshadows in this shade because it's my go-to everyday lid color. But what sets this particular brand from the rest would have to be the finish.

Even though the color is very neutral, it has a nice sheen finish on it that's quite noticeable even at day time. But the thing is, it's not overpowering and I wouldn't really call it glittery. I guess it's a little frosty with fine sparkles that doesn't feel awkward to wear as an all over lid color.

I like to wear this alone with a nice winged liner for that effortless pretty effect. As I've said, whenever I don't feel like applying much makeup or if I'm pressed for time, I always reach out for this because it never fails to make a statement without taking up a lot of time and effort.

This is definitely a highly recommended product for neutral fanatics out there. I got this through jcam168 of ebay.ph for the price of PHP 129, which is not bad.

Have you tried other Infallible Eyeshadow shades? How was it?

Nature Republic Color Waltz Nail Polish (Mint Sky and Hot Pink): Review

One of the most affordable products in Nature Republic would have to be their Color Waltz nail polish collection. It is priced at PHP 55, which is definitely budget friendly. They have a wide collection of nail colors and if you get them in boutiques, they have testers for each shade so you can try it out before buying one.

I got mine as a gift from Kristine (Real Asian Beauty). I joined her meet and greet last March and she gave some goodies for the attendees which was really sweet. I got this pair of nail polishes, which I absolutely love! The colors are super bright and eye catching.

Perfect Spring/Summer Colors

BL507/ Mint Sky

PK214/ Hot Pink

The Color Waltz collection has a flower design up on top of the handle (applicator).

My favorite of the two would have to be Mint Sky just because I find that the shade is more unique compared to the Hot Pink one (although my favorite color is pink). Combined, the two creates a really nice fun nail art, just like the one I did for a K-Pop inspired nails below.

Hyomin- Nice Body Inspired Nail Art

All in all, I am very satisfied with this nail polish. I find that most nail polishes these days, no matter what brand it is, chips off easily but this one happens to last longer on my nails. It has a semi-glossy finish so technically, using a top coat is not necessary although I highly suggest applying one on top to seal it and maximize its longevity.

For more information, you can visit Nature Republic Philippines facebook page.

Etude House Face Color Corset (#6): Review

What are the things you take note of in a bronzer? Is it the brand? Packaging? For a heavy handed person like me, I like my bronzer to be not so pigmented. This is because in my case, applying bronzer to contour my face is essential and it is one of the most crucial part of my face makeup. For me, it's super easy to mess up contouring because too little shading will not yield to one's desired effect and too much would make one look muddy. But if I had to risk one over the other, I'd rather have too little.

 

It's easy to build up color little by little but once you apply too much, it's harder to fix. That is why I have nothing but praises for Etude House Face Color Corset in Shading Sexy Fit. It is the perfect contouring shade that looks natural on my medium to light skin tone. I love how it subtly defines my face without making it seem like I applied anything on my skin. It has a nice matte finish that I prefer.

The packaging is also cute with printed hearts up front and lace design embossed on the actual product.

Here's an old photo of me, using the Etude House Face Color Corset in Shading Sexy Fit

This was my first ever matte contouring shade and I highly recommend it for anyone out there, especially for beginners.

Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover: Review

Removing makeup is a part of my evening routine that I simply cannot skip. There's just no way for me to sleep with my makeup on. My body system just can't take it. For some reason, when I doze off with makeup on, I wake up in the middle of the night to realize this fact and I immediately drag my butt to the bathroom, no matter how sleepy I am, to cleanse.

Before my basic routine of cleanse-tone-moisturize, I use a good makeup remover to completely remove the products I have on my face. Just like choosing good skin care products, choosing a good makeup remover is a must because not all types of makeup remover suits all types of skin. In my case, since I have sensitive acne prone skin, cold creams usually don't mesh well with me. It effectively removes makeup but breaks it out the next day. I don't know if it's because of the richness of most cold creams but I find that going with cleansing lotions and oils are better suited for me.

 

These days, I've been loving Clinique's Take The Day Off Makeup Remover. I've used this particular product, on and off, since 2012 and time and time again, I get satisfied with its results. Clinique products' formulation usually sit well with sensitive skin like mine. It doesn't break me out and it does the job pretty well. I like to wear waterproof mascara and because this is an oil based product, it easily and gently removes stubborn makeup on the face.

While Bifesta Cleansing Lotion (Sebum) remains to be my favorite face makeup remover, Clinique has got to be my favorite lip and eye makeup remover. I use it mainly with products that are really hard to remove like mascaras (as mentioned), eyeliners and lip tints.

Normally, I wouldn't buy this product as I can only assume it has a hefty price tag but thankfully, I have an aunt who showers me with these good Clinique stuff from time to time. She's also the same person who gave me the Clinique 3 Step Skin Care system. (Thanks Tita! ^^) So if you don't mind shelling out money and if you have really sensitive skin, I highly recommend this makeup remover. I swear that it's a product that surely won't disappoint.

Nature Republic (BB Cream, Powder, Mask Sheets, etc.): Haul

My love for Korean beauty and skin care products has been established over the last 3 years but my love for Nature Republic didn't shine through until late last year, when the models were changed to SNSD's Taeyeon and EXO. Fangirl at heart, I couldn't resist the temptation of buying products from the brand because both models are my favorites.

I now have my membership card! Card no. smudged, of course. ;)

A little over a month ago, while strolling around Festival Mall Alabang, I passed by the Nature Republic boutique and decided for myself that I would finally purchase enough products to get myself a membership card. To get a membership card, you must have a single receipt purchase of at least PHP 1000.

Nature Republic By Flower Powder Pact and BB Cream

 

My sister was in need of a new powder pact so I got one for her and I threw in this BB Cream from the same line, with the intention of giving it away as gift. But just so you know, the BB Cream is still with me and I'm still contemplating whether I should give it to my friend or not. ;p

 Nature Republic Given By Nature Orange Mask Sheet

Nature Republic Given By Nature Green Tea Mask Sheet

I also bought a few face masks because I'm such a sucker for them. Of course, I didn't forget about my favorite Orange Mask Sheet. I also got the Green Tea variant because the saleslady said it's the best choice for oily skin.

And because the things I bought weren't exactly on the high end lines, the total price didn't reach PHP 1000. Good thing I was shopping with a friend and she got a few stuff like (more) mask sheets and the Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel. She knew I wanted a membership card so she just had her purchases punched together with mine to reach exactly PHP 1000! Yay!

Just like any other Korean brands, they gave me some freebies to try out. I got a (Not for Sale) Argan Oil Mask Sheet with an EXO print and a sample sachet of the Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream.

 

Now, I only have one problem left. I can't bear opening the EXO face mask! Hahahaha! I view it as a collectible so I highly doubt the product to be of use anytime soon.

To end this post, let me leave you a random photo of my nails using a Cherry Picnic design that I got from elle & ish. I know my recreation is not even half as good as the original but I'm fine with it. ;)

Chromastix Hair Chalk Neons: Review

I don't know about you but something that I've always wanted to do but never had the guts to do so is to color my hair with bold colors like blue and pink. No, I'm not trying to be rebellious or anything but ever since the ombre trend surfaced all over, I've always been curious as to how I would look like if I had a nice ombre with a bright color.

Thankfully, I don't have to dye my hair permanently just to try it out. I mean, even if I had the chance, I probably wouldn't permanently dye my hair with those colors. No offense to people who sports bright colored hair though. I think you, guys, are cool for having enough confidence to rock them. (The only reason why I wouldn't go for it is because I don't have the courage to do so.)

It's been a year since I found out about hair chalks and I've always been curious about the product but I never got one for myself just because back then, only BYS had hair chalks in my local drugstore and they never stock on the color I want (which is pink) so I never bought one. I know Tony Moly has one but during that time, the hair chalk line wasn't released in the Philippines yet.

A few days before my birthday, however, I came across this very affordable hair chalk set from Chromastix. I thought I overcame my urge to buy a hair chalk but when I looked at the price, I was so surprised to see that it was fairly cheap at PHP99.

And so I looked through the collection of colors and I noticed that this particular set had all the Red Velvet (K-Pop girl group) hair colors in it which are green, orange, blue and pink. This pushed me to buy the product so I can do a hair and make-up tutorial for their debut song called "Happiness".

 I love all the colors in this set: green, orange, blue, purple, yellow and pink

Instructions 

To view how I used the hair chalk, I made a short tutorial on my youtube channel. It's in my Red Velvet Happines Hair and Makeup Look video. Just click the click to open the said video. For your reference, the demo starts at around the 3:14 mark.

Honestly, the hair chalk didn't do as well as I thought it would. It wasn't as pigmented as the other brands I've seen over the internet but it still works and I guess for the price, I really can't complain.

 A photo of me with the hair chalk on the ends of my hair. I used the blue one.

Just a reminder to everyone who's thinking of using this product, make sure to wear a shirt that you don't really care for while coloring your hair because it transfers onto clothing materials really easily. The good news is that it washes off quickly too. I just wouldn't want you to ruin the very same shirt/ dress that you were planning to wear outside so I suggest you wear a temporary top prior to using this.

Apparently, I broke the blue one while using it. Haha.

So would I recommend it? Yes, sure! I don't see any reason why one should not try it. I think it's fun and a very affordable way to try out a new look, or shall I say new hair color. :)

Korean Beauty and Skin Care Birthday Haul

It was my birthday last week and because of the said celebration, I got a few gifts from some of my good, old family and friends. A few days ago, I filmed a haul video featuring the products that I got for myself a few days before my birthday and the gifts I received as well.

 

My head hurts like hell right now so instead of creating a long post, I'm just going to share this video link with you. Most products featured are Korean brands ranging from Etude House, Tony Moly, Nature Republic, The Face Shop and Skin Food but I also put in some drugstore products from NYX and ELF.

To view the video, click on the link HERE.

Etude House Oh! M' Eyelash Curling and Clean Mascara: Review

It doesn't come as a surprise that I absolutely adore mascaras that are volumizing. Having long but stick, straight and thin lashes, I really need volumizing mascaras to make my lashes noticeable. Really, it doesn't matter how long your lashes are if they're super thin and almost invisible.

There are times, however, when I feel like I just want my lashes to appear a little bit more made up without looking like I slapped on a ton of products on my eyes. This is usually when I am just casually going out, maybe for a class or at work (if I still had one), because really, I don't consider these two activities to be of much importance that I have to bring all my guns out. At times like these, I just want to sport minimal eye make-up and for those moments, Etude House Oh! M' Eyelash Curling and Clean Mascara is the way to go!

 

 

At PHP 198, this is a very reasonably priced product from a trusted Korean brand. Easily the cheapest mascara Etude House has to offer, this particular product is perfect for college students out there and working girls on a budget.

The packaging is very simple with a black tube and a very typical curling wand but the name sounds so unique and witty. "Oh! M' Eyelash" is pronounced as "Oh my lash", right? Cool beans!

Initially, I didn't really expect much from the product because I rarely buy mascaras that aren't made for volume but since this was a part of a set that I bought, I really couldn't replace it with the volume variant.

It was a blessing in disguise, though, because this particular product was well used and abused during my nursing days. (Yes, I used to be a nurse before I quit my job.) It's the perfect subtle, not in your face, not over the top mascara that you can comfortably wear when you go out for everyday activities.

 

As you can see from the photo above, the mascara was able to make my lashes noticeable without overdoing it. The best part? It was able to hold the curl of my stick, straight lashes! Also, I only had to apply one coat and I'm done.

I would definitely recommend getting this particular product in the nearest Etude House boutique near you. I got this one from Etude House in SM Sta. Rosa. For more details, you can visit Etude House Philippines' facebook page.