Pretty Secret Black Detox Mask (Charcoal, Honey): Review

It has been a while since I sat down and wrote a blog post. Lately, I have been too focused on my youtube channel that I have ended up neglecting my blog. Today, I decided to give my blog some attention and create a blog post regarding a product that I highly recommend.

While looking at new items in Watsons, I chanced upon this black detox mask sheet. It wasn't available in the Watsons in my area so I was really surprised to see this on the rack. (I got this in Watsons Salcedo Street, Makati City.) I have been looking for black detox mask sheets ever since it was featured by some of my favorite Korean youtubers. 

iWhite Korea 2 Minute Whitening Miracle: Review

I noticed that a lot of beauty bloggers and youtubers have been going on about this iWhite 2 Minute Whitening Miracle and although I wanted to jump in on the bandwagon sooner, I couldn't find this particular product in the nearby supermarket and Watsons in my area. Last month, I dropped by Megamall to get my prizes from a video contest I joined and I chanced upon this product in the beauty section of SM Department Store.

Mise en scene Perfect Repair Treatment Pack and Serum: Review

I  started having hair troubles from October, last year, when I had my hair permed. Sadly, after having my hair permed, I suffered with dry and unhealthy looking hair. Because of this, I have been religiously taking care of my hair. Thankfully, my Memebox Global Box  #15 had products that helped me with my problems. 

Aside from conditioning my hair everyday, I now apply hair mask twice a week and apply hair serum every single day. Specifically, I use the Mise en scene Perfect Repair Treatment Pack and the Mise en scene Perfect Serum.

 The duo. I got the full size for both. Yay!

Tresemme Keratin Smooth Masque: Review

Today's review will focus on a favorite product of mine for the year 2014. I got it on the last quarter of the year but I still consider it as one of the bests I've tried last year because, well, it is. The product I'm talking about is the Tresemme Keratin Smooth Hair Masque.

   
If you didn't know, I make it a habit to deep condition my hair at least twice a week. My usual schedule is Tuesdays and Saturdays. I don't have a preferred product to use for that because frankly speaking, my hair was healthy. Yes, it was. Past tense. It was healthy until my perming experience. if you want to know what happened, just click here.

After getting the perm, I noticed that my hair is a lot drier and it feels a lot more coarse than before. I was using my Monea Power Dose Hair Supplement then but since that hair treatment wasn't exactly fit for permed hair (It weighs down curls), I decided to try the Tresemme one instead.

Tony Moly Changing U Magic Mask Sheet Box: Review

There are times, when I roam around drugstore beauty sections or boutiques, I stop and ask myself, "Which face mask should I buy? Should I get the Aloe one or the Green Tea one?" After a long pause, I choose one over the other and end up buying two more variants lying around the display. It sounds stupid but the dilemma is real, at least on my part.

Just as I previously said about face masks and face packs, I rarely find significant result differences in most face masks/packs of different brands and of different variants. They just moisturize my skin and leave it soft and smooth after application. That is why whenever I look for a new face mask to try, I like to experiment with new variants I haven't tried before or I just randomly get whatever catches my eye. Bottom line is, I like the variety. It's the main reason why I was happy when I saw this face mask set box from Tony Moly Philippines.

Innisfree It's Real Red Cabbage Mask: Review + Wishtrend Black Friday Sale

I noticed it's been quite a while since my face last received TLC with the use of face mask. The last time I had it was when I used this one from Innisfree. I have a good reason for skipping on face masks though (This is another story.).

While looking through my blog photos folder, I noticed this one from the lot and I realized I haven't made a post about it yet so here I am!

This face mask, supposedly, is made to give vitality and energy to your skin. Whatever may that mean, this face mask just functions like any other face mask I've tried out there. What's different, for me, is only the variant, which is Red Cabbage. I haven't tried it before so it was something new.

Performance wise, it was pretty much just the same as any other road shop brand face mask. It didn't break me out, made my skin soft and feel supple. Frankly speaking, it was nothing out of the ordinary. Don't get me wrong, though. I would still recommend this product to anyone who's interested in trying out face masks especially those who wants to try the 'One Mask A Day' skin treatment and wants different variants.

On another note, which is completely different from the product mentioned above, I would just like to inform you that Wishtrend, home of great Korean skin care and cosmetics, is having a Black Friday Week sale. For those who are interested, feel free to visit their website here:

I normally don't post stuff about these stuff but I went to the site and saw great deals so I couldn't resist sharing it with you, guys. If I had extra money, I'd definitely grab the chance to buy one. The only thing stopping me is my pending trip to South Korea (December 2-7), where I plan to spend the little money I have left with me.

With Love,
Anna Luisa

Monea Hair Supplement Power Dose Hair Repair: Review

About a month ago, I won a giveaway hosted by Kris Lumagui, a fellow Filipina beauty blogger and youtuber. I totally didn't expect to win so when I recevied the notice that I did, I was ecstatic. When I received the package, I found out that I won this Monea Hair Supplement Power Dose Hair Treatment. It came in timely because I just finished the hot oil treatment I was previously using.

Every Tuesdays and Saturdays, I get this excited feeling whenever I go and take a bath. This is because it's the day scheduled for my home hair treatments. I have chemically (color) treated hair so I make it a point that I do hair treatments at least twice a week. It helps keep it shiny and manageable.

Holika Holika Holiday Vita B Daily Mask: Review

Here in the Philippines, most people would be satisfied to just look at the product description and instructions when choosing a product for themselves. In Korea, they go as far as looking at each of the product's ingredients as they are very familiar with each of them. They're very meticulous when it comes to skin care. This is the very reason why I trust Korean skin care trends. If South Koreans are very careful on choosing products that they apply on their skin, then that means I can trust their routines.

One of the trends that they follow would have to be the "One Mask A Day" routine. This is a trend that was popularized by Korean actresses and was revealed to be one of the secrets as to how they keep their skin youthful and glowy.

Personally, I was hesitant to try this trend. I do apply face masks but only once or twice a week. I never go more that that because I'm afraid that everyday mask sheets would be too rich for my oily, acne prone, sensitive skin. That's why I never tried it out until I bought this Holika Holika Holiday Vita B Daily Mask.

This product is actually a pack of 10 mask sheets that you can use for 10 consecutive days. It claims to be a product that would help make your skin clean and clear. I got this from a Korean online store called Kkochipida for the price of PHP195. There are other variants for this line too. If I'm not mistaken, there's an 'A' and a 'C' too. But because I am plagued with a lot of blemishes, I felt that the 'B' description fits me better.

 Once opened, the product expires in 3 months.

I used this particular item for 9 consecutive nights in replacement for my serum and moisturizer. So after washing my face and applying toner, I immediately applied the mask sheet and left it on my face for about 20 minutes. For storage, I like to keep the pack inside a cool place (refrigerator) just so it gives a refreshing feeling when I finally use it.

To my delight, it yielded to the same face mask results that I was expecting. It made my skin soft, moisturized and it helped to calm down some of my active breakouts. Now that I've tried it out for myself, I find it funny that I was previously scared of trying it out.

I would definitely repurchase this if Kkochipida restocks on this. I'm not sure if this product is available here in the Philippines as there are no nearby Holika Holika boutique near my place but fret not, because you can just order it online like I did!

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. ;)

Etude House Blackhead Gassoul Clay Sleeping Paste: Review

Hi guys! I simply cannot believe that it's already August, my birth month! Time really flies quickly. In a couple of days, I will turn 25 and honestly, if you tell my 16-year-old self that I would be turning 25 without me noticing, I probably wouldn't believe you. But here I am, clueless as to how I got through all those years. Everything's a blur and no matter how I try to stop myself from aging, I am continuously doing so. Nevertheless, it's proof that I'm still alive and I can only be thankful for that.

So enough about me. Today, I'm going to be talking about a product that I've tried about 2 years ago but never got to review. I'm not sure if you're aware but I'm trying to clean up my hard drive with all these photos of products to review that have accumulated over the past two years. I know I can just delete them to make my life easier but I feel that that move is not a smart move. So yes, instead of deleting them, I'm trying to catch up by trying to blog about all those products as much as I can.

Today's product feature would be from the famous Korean brand, Etude House. The product is called the Blackhead Gassoul Clay Sleeping Paste. It's basically a clay sleeping pack. It's a treatment product that helps with blackheads. As the name suggests, it is a clay product that you leave on your skin while you sleep.

 

Box information says it's a "sleeping pack to clean sebum to take care of blackheads". To use, you apply the product on your forehead, nose and neck area and wash off with warm water. It is recommended to be used 1-2 times in a week and has a total shelf life of 12 months after opening.

 

The product is a thick paste (clay) in white. You definitely cannot pull this off in the morning when you go out unless you're aiming to look like a geisha of some sort.

I know this photo emphasizes my large pores. (Sigh, the things I do for my readers.) Haha. But that's okay. At least you have an idea of how it looks like.

Sadly, I don't really think it can solely take care of blackhead situations just because when I washed this off, I can still see my blackheads. On the other hand, it does tighten my skin and I feel like it reduces oiliness overall.

This is priced at PHP528 and I got it in an Etude House boutique in SM Sta. Rosa. I'm not sure if it is still available in stores but it is still pictured in the website. For more details, you can ask Etude House Philippines by yourself by visiting their facebook page or twitter.

This is not a sponsored post. I bought this with my own money.

Etude House It's Real Pack (Carrot): 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. ^^)

 

So you would think after I made all the fuss about the general post regarding face masks and face packs, my posts regarding these kinds of products would lessen but here I am with, yet again, another face pack post. This one is from the Korean brand called Etude House It's Real Pack (Carrot): Brightening Care.

To be honest, the after result isn't anything exciting as one would expect. The container did say brightening but it didn't really do much of that, in my opinion. I actually didn't want to create a separate post about this but I did mention (in the post linked above) that if there was something different about a mask/pack I've tried, then I will be doing a separate post on it. To keep my word, I am now in front of my laptop typing a blog post.

So let me tell you more about the product. As stated, the end result wasn't really anything new. It left my skin soft and moisturized but it didn't stay true to its claim, which is (supposedly) to brighten complexion. One reason I can think of is because I only have one of this face packs (It was a freebie from an online purchase. I really want to give my thanks to the seller but I forgot which seller gave me this. But dear seller, if you are reading this, please send me a message so I can at least link you here.  ^^) so I was only able to use it once. Maybe you have to use it regularly to see brightening results, but frankly, who am I to conclude that? I can only vouch for its immediate results since as I've said, I was only able to use it once.

What's different about this product, though, is its thickness and consistency. I've tried many wash off face packs before and this is by far the thickest type I've ever used. It's very creamy, almost chunky with a little bit of an oatmeal feel and because of this, it is pretty hard to wash off after 20 minutes. Nevertheless, I didn't hate the product. On the other hand, I also wasn't particularly fond of the item.

To sum it all up, my thoughts on this product are just so-so. It didn't strike as a must-have skin care item for me so I guess it's safe to say that I wouldn't be buying myself one of these (I'm not even sure if it's still in the market) in the future. Although, if given the chance, I wouldn't pass on trying it out if I didn't have to pay for it. In short, I think it is an okay product but not worth shelling out money for.

Tony Moly Tomatox Magic White Massage Pack: Review

I'm not sure how long you've been reading my blog but previously, I talked about having so much back logs. Today, even though it's not a Thursday and a throwback post  is not the trend, I will be talking about a product that I used over a year ago.

 I'm so sorry I forgot to adjust the opacity when I placed my watermark and saved it over the original shot. Mian~

Even though it's been quite some time since I used this particular product, I can still remember my impressions of this particular product. I bought this from SM Watsons Makati because I've heard a lot of good things about it and the sales lady said it's their best seller.

I think the most interesting thing about this product is the packaging. I think it's super cute as it is shaped like tomato.  It also has a  spatula, which I like, because I can then be assured that handling this particular cream type product would be hygienic. It is, after all, contained in a tub/jar packaging. 

I basically wanted to use this because I know it gives an almost-instant result of brightening the face and during that time, I was struggling with a lot of acne scars and hyperpigmentations. Also, as I always say, my skin tone is very dull, if not managed properly.

I use this at least once a week as part of my weekly face pack routine. It is a white cream type product, with a thick consistency. Normally, I stay away from thick products but I feel the opposite when it comes to face masks/ packs. I have this feeling that the thicker the product is, the more concentrated its active ingredients are. I know this is not an absolute thing but it's just something personal.

 

 

I especially like the fact that it smells good and provides instant brightening results. I would definitely recommend this product for those with dull complexions and those who wants to go for a whiter skin tone. I don't only use it on my face. Sometimes, I apply some onto my elbows and my underarms as well.

Let me know what your thoughts are if you've tried it. If not, then I suggest you try this one out!

Nature Republic Given By Nature Orange Mask Sheet: Review

Using face mask/ face pack as part of your regular (weekly/daily) routine will help your skin condition to improve/ maintain its health. Personally, I agree with that statement. Although not a part of my daily routine, I see to it that I use it at least once every two weeks (if I'm super busy) or weekly (whenever my schedule is more forgiving). I actually want to use it more frequently but sometimes I just get sleepy too early that I don't get to.

For almost two years, my favorite face mask has been the Etude House Pearl Extract Sheet Mask. Just a little bit better than the other face masks I've tried and described here, my love for that particular product lasted longer than expected. That was all until I came across this face mask from Nature Republic. I bought this from their boutique in Festival Mall. Yay!

I first tried it about a month ago. I chose the orange variant because I knew that citrus variants tend to be brightening and true to its description, it does a good job in brightening the skin tone!

I actually didn't expect much from this particular product because it didn't look anything fancy. Truth be told, I just bought this mask because I wanted to buy something from the brand that EXO (I know all about the galactic distress that has been happening lately. I hope EXO, SM and Kris gets through this and gets the best result suited for every one.) and SNSD's Taeyeon endorses. (Check out my mini haul here!) It looked just like any other face mask and was priced at par with other brands, below PHP100.

After leaving it onto my skin, I noticed immediate brightening effect. I'm not sure if it was psychological but I've tried countless brightening face masks before and it was the first time I actually felt my skin brighten noticeably. I was really pleased with the result as I almost always struggle with dull skin tone. Also, the usual moisturizing and softening effects did not disappoint me.

Now the best part of my story is the fact that I've been in love with this face mask ever since then that I decided to use it today, the day before the 2NE1 AON Manila Concert! Yes, I will be attending. And yes, if you're able to read this then that means today is the concert day, as I am writing this post last night (if you get what I mean). Do you want me to create a post for it?

The particular sheet mask I'm using is the gift that Kristine of RealAsianBeauty gave me as gift when I joined her Meet and Greet last March. She gave me my favorite mask! And no, I didn't tell her that. It was just a lucky coincidence on my part. Oh, and she gave me other Nature Republic stuff as well and I'm not even sure why I haven't posted about it yet.

Anyway, I have to hit the sack so I will just see you guys soon! (Maybe in the concert scene? Don't forget to say hi!)

Purederm Clean & Bright Oxygen Bubble Mask (Bluuberry): Review

Happy Labor Day everyone! Since it's a holiday, I know most of you are enjoying this day to rest. I say "most" because I know for some, like nurses and other health professionals, they don't have the leisure of the holiday concept. But regardless of what you may be doing today, I still hope you are enjoying it with your family/ friends/ colleagues.

Yesterday, I had the chance to visit my favorite drugstore, Watsons, and found a new (to my eyes) product! It's a mask from a Korean brand, Purederm. I know you guys are already familiar with my fascination with Korean skin care and cosmetics and you can just imagine how excited I was to see this new item in store.

Some of you may already be familiar with this brand but for those who aren't, it is an affordable Korean brand that I usually see in Watsons. I've tried several products from this brand, mostly different variants of face packs and masks. Today, I was fortunate to try out their bubble mask.

Bubble mask? You might wanna ask. Yes, bubble mask. It's also a new discovery for me. I've tried Whipping BBs and Foam Hair Dyes but I've never tried bubble masks before. I'm not sure if this brand is the so-called innovator for this particular product, but kudos to whoever invented this.

 Initial lather

 Foam

More foam

And more foam

Foam dissipates

True to its name, once the product is lathered on the face, it foams up. To use it, you must apply a generous amount on your dry face with your dry fingertips. I stress on the word dry because according to the instructions, it won't foam up if one of the two is wet.

You are only to leave the product and lather for about 30-60 seconds. I, on the other hand, did not follow the instructions. I'm not a good role model, I know. I left the product for about 5 minutes before rinsing it off.

It doesn't offer anything new. It makes me feel fresh and makes the skin clean without stripping off all its moisture. Actually, if it wasn't for its foaming properties, I wouldn't do a separate post for this and I probably would have just linked the product to my previous post about face masks/ face packs. However, since it is my first time using a product like this, I'm making an exception.

There is another scent/ variant for this one. It has peach in it and personally, I'm not a fan of peaches (both its taste and smell) so I didn't bother buying one. But if you want me to try it out, leave a comment down below and I would be willing to buy it and probably include it in my future posts. For now, I hope you are satisfied with my review of the blueberry variant.