Holika Holika Egg Soap Special Set: Review

Happy Easter everyone! I may not have easter eggs to show off but I have this- Holika Holika Egg Soap Special Set. Holika Holika Philippines was kind enough to send me this for review. I've tried some Holika Holika makeup but not skin care. I figured it's about time that I do so which is why I wholeheartedly accepted the offer.

They have an ongoing promo where a purchase of any egg soap product, whether 2-pc or 4-pc, will get you a Jelly Cleansing Puff which retails for PHP165 until supplies last.

I searched online for existing reviews on this line and surprisingly, it has good reviews. This set comes in four variants- white egg, green tea, red clay and charcoal. The white egg soap is for pore tightening, green tea is for moisturizing, red clay is for removing dead skin cells and charcoal is for sebum control. I have oily, acne prone sensitive skin and we all know that April is the start of summer here. The temperature gets warmer and warmer plus the humidity makes us sweat more than ever. This is the reason why I chose to try the charcoal soap first.

Neutrogena Deep Clean Revitalizing Ultra Foam Cleanser (Grapefruit): Review

My love relationship with foaming products doesn't only revolve around Bubble Hair Dyes like the ones from Palty and Prettia. It also doesn't stop with the Innisfree Mineral Whipping BB Cream nor the Purederm Bubble Oxygen Mask. Neutrogena also has a product I've been particularly fond of the first time I used it.

I've always had oily, acne prone skin. Pimples and blackheads are almost always problems I have to deal with. There are times, however, when my hormones are behaving quite well and I experience 'better' days of no breakouts whatsoever. During these moments, I try to take advantage of this and wean myself off of products made especially for acne.

I'm not really sure if this happens to everyone but I feel like if I only use one type of skin care continuously, my skin develops tolerance to its active ingredients until I reach a point where the products don't help me with blemishes anymore. Because of this, I make sure that when my skin is being cooperative (and is blemish-free), I make use of regular skin care products that has no active acne fighting ingredients. One product that I loved using was this Neutrogena Deep Clean Revitalizing Ultra Foam Cleanser.

I bought this particular product after being encouraged by my sister. This is because my sister likes to share some of my skin care products and she really wanted to try this product out. Being the good sister that I am (excuse my self praise. :p), I bought one for the both of us.

There were two variants during that time, a pink and a purple (brightening), and we chose this pink one which is the Revitalizing Grapefruit. We chose this with the ever-so-helpful saleslady of Neutrogena in SM Makati Watsons. She told us that this particular product has anti-aging properties that helps reveal younger looking skin and that it would be more suited for my sister and I.

It came in this nice plastic packaging with a distinguished dispenser that releases the foam. During my first use, I really was fond of the foam that came out of the nozzle. It was probably one of the most exciting foam cleanser dispensing experience I've ever had. I know it sounds childish but I was really into the concept!

I also really really liked the smell. To be honest, I liked the purple's smell better at first but after a couple of uses, I got used to its scent and I actually prefer this one now.

Performance-wise, this particular cleanser did a good job, especially if you don't have problematic skin. I personally don't use this on days when my skin breaks out but it does a good job cleansing my face. From my experience, this product works well with my sensitive skin without causing further problems in the form of zits.

This particular product is available locally at Watsons so you probably won't have a hard time trying to get your hands on it. It is priced at PHP 309 which is fairly reasonable for the amount of product you're getting.

Have you tried this product before? Let me know in the comments section below. :)

Skin 101 (Diamond Peel, Facial, Pimple Injection): Review + Giveaway Winner!!!

I don't know if you guys are aware but I've been struggling with breakouts recently. One of the main culprits would be my hormones but another notable cause would have to be my encounter with Belo AcnePro. I've stopped the said product for about one month now and my skin hasn't broken out as much although there are still few zits here and there. You may have read about my love relationship with THEFACESHOP's Clean Face Clear Away Spot. And just as I said in that post, that small bottle is a container of miracle skin goodness. However, topical products such as these are sometimes not enough. I have to get a facial cleaning to help clear up the skin.

Personally, I've tried so many options out there. At first, I was a loyal patient to a local dermatologist and she was the one doing all the extractions needed. The problem, however, was the cost. Having to deal with professional fee and all the medications, my weekly routine has become too expensive for my budget. I, then, decided to try out different facial spas. I've tried Flawless, Let's Face It, Ysa's Spa and Skin 101. I can talk about my experience with each of them but that would take forever to write so I'm just opting to write about one. (If you want me to write about the other facial centers, just comment down below.)

For about a year now, I've been a loyal customer to Skin 101, thanks to its affordable packages and the nice staff in SM Muntinlupa. My very first encounter with Skin 101 wasn't all that exciting. I was just roaming around the center with a friend when I decided to get a pimple injection on a whim. A few days before that, I noticed a cystic acne forming around my lip area. It was so big and painful that smiling was actually a form of torture on my part. Any movement done by my lips, speaking included, made the spot throb with pain. While looking through the different shops, I confessed my dilemma to my friend (who I was shopping with) and asked her if I could just drop by a skin clinic for a quick remedy. Being a good friend that she is (Hi Vei!), she agreed.

I knew what I wanted and needed-- pimple injection! I've been getting them from Flawless before so the concept isn't really anything new. The only problem I had then was the fact that there were only limited skin clinics around the place and Flawless was not included in them. I struggled to choose where to get it done but not all clinics offer pimple injections. To my delight, when I went into Skin 101, they told me they had it.

In Flawless, it costs about PHP100 per injection so I was expecting the price to be within that range but lo and behold! It is so much cheaper in Skin 101! For the same price, you get to have 3 injections. However, if you just want one spot to be treated, then they'd charge you PHP50. Not as big savings compared to the 3 shots package but it is still half the price of one injection in Flawless! After the treatment, they informed me that if, by chance, the acne does not subside within 3 days, I can go back for a follow-up injection for free! Now that's quality service right there! Honestly, though, I've never gone back for a follow-up injection because they always subside within 3 days. :)

Just to try it out, I went back for an Acne Control Facial. But after some time, I decided to go with their diamond peel package (PHP1000 for 2 sessions/ Buy 1 Take 1). Ever since then, I've been getting this treatment on a regular basis. During the days when my skin is just plainly covered with blemishes, I try to go back every two weeks or so. But if the situation isn't that bad, I go every month.

Needless to say, I switched to Skin 101 and haven't felt the need to go back or switch to another skin clinic ever since. To sum it up, for more than a year now, I've been extremely satisfied with their services. In fact, I just availed of their diamond peel (with glycolic) plus facial services two weeks ago and I plan to go back in a week or two from now. (Even my sister is on her way to the place right at this moment for her appointment.) I highly recommend this place! Let me know if you've tried Skin 101 before. :)

And for those who missed it, my Palty Bubble Hair Dye giveaway winner has been announced and the said winner has already responded. Just to let you know, here's the selection rafflecopter made for me.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For those who didn't win, don't be too sad as there will be more opportunities in the future. Who knows, I may be hosting one again soon, right? Anyway, thank you so much for showing your support in my giveaway and my blog/youtube/social media. It really means a lot to me and I hope I can keep in contact with you guys. I really love it when you guys leave comments or send me messages either through e-mail or social media. :) 

St. Ive's Green Tea (Naturally Clear) Cleanser and (Blemish Control) Scrub: Review

There's only 3 days left to join my ongoing giveaway! I will be giving away a hair dye from the Japanese brand called Dariya Palty in the shade Milk Tea Brown, which happens to be one of the popular shades they have. It is open internationally so everyone is encouraged to join. :) (You will probably see this introduction in most of my future posts up until the giveaway is over. I hope you don't mind the post by post plug. ^^)

Hi everyone! Once again, I missed a post yesterday. This is due to the fact that we've been out of electricity for more than 12 hours yesterday. From 3AM to approximately 8PM, we had no electricity, no internet, not even water! There was a typhoon that hit the Philippines and the strong winds caused damages that took quite a while to fix. By the time the electricity was restored, I was in no mood to write a review up. But I feel all hyped now so I'm writing one now.

One of the products I've tried to get rid of my acne is this duo from St. Ive's. It's from their Green Tea variant which is formulated for acne prone skin. It claims to clear breakouts and reduce redness. It contains salicylic acid and green tea, ingredients that are known to help battle acne.

Honestly, I've had high expectations of this product because before buying one, I read a lot of good reviews regarding it. A few beauty gurus I follow also include this in their skin care routine so there was really no hesitation on my part when I decided to get these from the Watsons shelf.

My sister was particularly happy with the purchase as she was very fond of its 'green tea' smell. I personally don't think it smells exactly like green tea. It's definitely more fragrant but with a green tea (or leafy) aroma. Anyway, I got both the cleanser and the scrub because my sister pushed me to buy both.

Unfortunately, neither of the two proved to clear my breakouts and reduce redness. It didn't do anything much on that area but it does cleanse and scrub well. It didn't break me out either.

I use the cleanser as an everyday face wash and the green tea scrub twice a week for gentle exfoliation. There was really nothing different about the cleanser. It lathered really well and came in a really nice pump packaging.

The srub, however, I found to be quite nice. The beads were very fine, giving me a more subtle approach whenever I scrub my face with it. It doesn't feel as abrasive as other scrubs I've used and proves to deeply cleanse my face.

Although it didn't do much with breakout control, the duo still proves to be nice products, especially if you don't have that much of a problematic skin to begin with. The smell is nice and performs well as a gentle face wash and scrub. I got both from Watsons in SM Sta. Rosa. The cleanser was priced at PHP 224 and the scrub was priced at PHP 187.

I wouldn't recommend it to people with moderate to severe acne. But for those with just mild conditions, I think this product would suffice.

Have you tried this product before? What are your thoughts?

Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream (Rinse-Off Formula): Review

Before I go on with the formal content of this post, I would like to invite everyone to join my ongoing giveaway. I will be giving away a hair dye from the Japanese brand called Dariya Palty in the shade Milk Tea Brown, which happens to be one of the popular shades they have. It is open internationally so everyone is encouraged to join. :) (You will probably see this introduction in most of my future posts up until the giveaway is over. I hope you don't mind the post by post plug. ^^)

Can anyone guess who the handsome guy in the background is?

Clue: ******* (Winner gets bragging rights, of course. Comment down below if you know the answer!)

What happens when dead cells build up on our skin? That is the question. Sadly, not everyone is aware of the answer to that. For people who took time and effort to search and 'study', they know the horror that follows after such event.

A little over three years ago, I had no interest in beauty related things. Surely, I use products that are advertised to cater to my acne prone skin but I never really understood the science behind them. During that time, I didn't even know the importance of facial scrubs. I initially thought facial scrubs are just the same as face wash, only more intensive as it scrubs away deep seated dirt. I was really unaware why other people had to use them. I know the reason is not complicated but I was young and (that) oblivious. Thankfully, I grew to love beauty related things so now I know more about different beauty products like makeup and skin care.

To simply answer the question above, I will use this particular paragraph. It won't take long as the answer won't even exceed three sentences so allow me to take a few seconds of your time. When dead cells build up, it clogs your pores and causes oil (and dirt) accumulation beneath it. When this happens, normal face wash cannot remove the impurities fully. This, then, causes the formation of what we call pimples and blackheads. And that, is the very reason why we need to use scrubs.

With the use of facial scrubs, one is able to remove the unneeded (dead) skin cells by sloughing it off through friction. Do take note, however, that anything too much is not good. So one must be cautious in choosing a face scrub. I like to choose ones that have enough beads to get the job done and remain not abrasive and harmful to the skin. I've tried a couple of scrubs like these before but so far, the best would have to be Clinique's.

This rinse-off 7 day scrub cream from Clinique is the perfect product for my acne prone sensitive skin. It functions well as my skin feels nice and clean after its use. It isn't harsh on the skin and in fact, makes my skin soft, supple and moisturized afterwards. It doesn't have any smell and is gentle enough to be used everyday, hence its name. But despite that claim, I don't use it 7 days a week. I only use it for about 2 times in a week and I'm good.

It has really helped me maintain my 'better' skin condition and I'm really glad I got this tube from a package that my aunt sent me. (Thanks Tita!) I highly recommend this product to everyone out there. It is suitable for all skin types so you need not worry. :)

Watsons Green Tea Antioxidant Oil Control Facial Toner: Review

Hi guys! Another review from me! Yay! It's been so long! Today's review, however, is not a good one. Last month, I bought this toner at Watsons called Watsons Green Tea Antioxidant Oil Control Facial Toner. What lured me to buy the product is the nice scent and of course, the reasonable price of (around) PHP89.00. This toner smells really refreshing but it BROKE ME OUT! U_U

At first, I thought the whole acne drama was all because of my period and my hormones. I stopped using it, had my  facial and waited for my face to clear up. A few days ago, after my face has fully recovered, I decided to  try it again just to see if it really was the product that made me break out or if it was just a coincidence. Sad to say, it wasn't. I just used it for two consecutive days and it broke me out so bad. My forehead is now filled with huge red zits all over. I feel really ashamed to go outside (especially at work where I'm required to tie my hair up and put my bangs away from my face). I would take pictures just to prove it if it didn't embarrass me so much. Yes, that's how bad the situation is right now. Sad to say, I won't be recommending this product for other people to use.

To its defense, my sister uses the product for herself and it did not cause her to break out. In the end, I just gave her the product.

Pros:
- nice smell
- reasonable price
- easily accessible
- doesn't leave skin dry

Cons:
- BREAKS ME OUT like there's no tomorrow!

Now is it worth it? For me? NO!