THEFACESHOP Lovely me:ex You & Face Blusher (01 Pink Glow): Review

Strobing is in, definitely. However, not everyone is into loud highlighting. If you want a highlighted look without looking overdone, I've got the perfect product for you. What's great about it is it's super affordable!

South Korea Beauty and Skin Care: Haul

Hi guys! Today's post is just going to be a very simple haul post. Remember I went to South Korea last December? Here's the haul I got during that trip. I honestly restrained myself from buying too much products in Korea, and I feel that I did a good job by resisting the temptation of buying every single cosmetics there. Hehe!

Frankly speaking, buying cosmetics in Korea is so much fun since most Korean brands offer good quality makeup for drug store prices. If you didn't know, I am a huge fan of Korean cosmetics. Before going to South Korea, I did my research and listed the things I needed and wanted to buy. I tried my best to stick to that list but of course, there were unnecessary purchases that I didn't plan ahead. In my defense, I think I still did a good job during my shopping spree so I request my readers to please give me a pat on the back (if you read this). ;)

2014 Beauty and Nonbeauty Favorites

This post is long overdue but I just finished uploading videos for both my beauty and nonbeauty favorites today. I thought it was a good idea to just make a single post for both so that you can see what are my favorites for the past year on a single post.

This post will mostly focus on my beauty favorites. I'm gonna list them all down below but I will also embed my nonbeauty favorites for those who are interested in what my favorites are in the anime, k-pop, drama, book, apps, etc. category.

THEFACESHOP Backryuncho Wrinkle Stop Eye Cream: Review

If there's a product I always rave about, it's this. My skin care changes from time to time, but my favorite eye cream doesn't. I admit to have tried switching to different brands a couple of times before (twice last year) but I always find myself going back to this brand. No other eye cream has surpassed the satisfaction I have with this Wrinkle Stop Eye Cream from THEFACESHOP.

I've been using this product since 2011 from the original Abyssine variant. Now, the formulation has changed with its key ingredient changing from abyssine (as mentioned) to backryuncho extracts. Nevertheless, both performs as good as the other.

THEFACESHOP Raspberry Roouts Fitting Up Essence: Review

My first post for the month of October! Oh, how time flies. I haven't been posting much for two reasons: 1.) I'm lazy. 2.) I've been tweaking my blog design. Yesterday, I just applied my new blog design to my blog. It took me a whole week to get this done although I'm pretty sure it would just take one hour for some people out there. I'm pretty happy with the results of the design template and I would sincerely be thankful if you give me your feedback in the comment section below. Okay, so enough about my excuses.

For 8 years now, I've been a fan of Korean movies, dramas and music. Because of this, I've grown fond of the Korean culture. One of the things I've grown fond of in the Korean culture is their beauty routines. Korea is well known for being forward when it comes to beauty trends and I can say that I fully trust them with this because based from my observations, most Korean women (and men) have great skin. This could also be because they have good genes and they've mastered the art of skin care.

I'm not sure if you're aware of this but Korean skin care routine is definitely longer than the usual Cleanse-Tone-Moisturize routine that most people know of. They also have a wide range of skin care products such as essense, serum, booster, ampoule, etc. In this post, I will be talking about an essence that I've tried before from the Korean brand THEFACESHOP.

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.

THEFACESHOP Brow Powder Duo: Review

Back when I was in college, I didn't know much about makeup and the few things I put on my face are just powder and lip color. Occasionally, I would add in a blush or an even rarer addition of eyeliner. I almost have all the basics except for one important point-- EYEBROWS!!!

Admittedly, I didn't know the importance of having a well defined brows. For years, I didn't even care about trying to groom my brows. Imagine my surprise when I learned about the wonders of having well shaped and well defined brows, especially in photos. It came as a huge discovery that I made sure to put to heart.

 

If you didn't already know, my dear readers, our eyebrows frames our face. This is the very reason why beauty gurus aren't joking when they say your eyebrows complete your look. It can not only improve your everyday appearance, but can also transform your look depending on how you would shape your brows.

 This is the old packaging.

Personally, I just follow the natural shape of my brows. I don't shape my own brows as I have it done in Lay Bare (most of the time) and Benefit counters when I have extra cash. I like the straight and defined look but recently, especially in the Korean beauty community, thick, straight brows tend to be the trend as it can make you look youthful in an instant. But then again, no matter what brow preference you have, you still have to make sure your brows look polished before stepping out of the house. I swear, it makes all the difference.

A product that I like to use on a daily basis would have to be the THEFACESHOP Brow Powder Duo. I actually got this particular product over 2 years ago but I only started using it a little over a year ago.

It is called 'duo' because as you can see, it has two shades of brown. Usually, I just use the lighter brown shade but when I want more definition, I try to use the darker shade.

The swatches aren't extraordinary, in my opinion. However, I never felt the need to change my brow product because I am very much satisfied with the results this gives. The applicator proved to be useful to me for about 6 months but after buying a separate brow brush, I never touched the applicator it came with. Frankly speaking, I may have even lost it somewhere in my makeup stash.

 

This is a highly recommended product and thankfully, if you also live in the Philippines, there are a lot of THEFACESHOP stores in leading department stores nationwide. Oh, and before I forget, if you want to see how I use this particular product, you can watch my Nature Republic Botanical Eyebrow Mascara Review + Demo (How I Do My Brows) video which also showcased this particular item. Enjoy!

THEFACESHOP Clean Face Clear Away Spot (Cystic Acne Remedy): Review

You would think nothing's worse than pimples. Four years ago, I used to think the same. Up until I faced one of the most disgusting and most painful skin problems of all-- cystic acne! Yes, it is similar to pimples, clogged pores and inflammed with redness that screams "Look at me!". But while pimples scream at 80 decibels, cystic acne shouts at 100 decibels! It obviously has deeper roots and it definitely is (always) much more painful. As if all that isn't enough to drive you insane, it is also harder to treat. Good thing I came across THEFACESHOP Clear Away Spot!

 Top view. Just because I feel more creative, taking one. Hehe.

 When the instructions say, "DO NOT SHAKE!" in upper case letters, you know they're seriously asking you not to.

 Active ingredient: Tea Tree Extracts

 It's a cute little bottle of miracle!

Before I continue, I would just like to clarify one thing. I'm no skin expert. Yes, I have a background around health but my skills are mostly critical care nursing and I don't have enough knowledge about dermatology for me to be considered an expert. I am, however, very experienced with this topic as I have been struggling with the problem (on and off) for almost four years now.

The main problem, in my opinion, is the nature of cystic acne. It is deeper within the skin that is why topical creams don't reach them (I think). I used to think that the only solution to this is pimple injections from time to time whenever I get my monthly facial. I get mine from Skin 101 SM Muntinlupa. They do the job pretty well as acne will significantly decrease in size in a matter of hours. The problem, however, is maintenance. Honestly, I don't have the time and money to go get a facial at a two week interval so it really is hard to deal with cystic acne, especially when it forms just days after the facial. But now, I know better. And because I want you to be happy like I am, I would love to share a solution to this problem.

I first got a bottle of this product through Kkochipida for only PHP 300+ when it was on sale early last year. I didn't expect much as I've always had sensitive skin and I really didn't know much about the product. Nevertheless, I still purchased the item out of curiosity. I'm glad I did!

You don't mix it because you aim to get the powder below the solution.

THEFACESHOP Clear Away Spot from their Clean Face line is in the form of pink powder. I'm pretty sure you've seen a product similar to this. One famous product would have to be the Mario Badescu's Drying Lotion but Etude House and Nature Republic also carry a similar product. I've never tried the other ones, though. This is because I'm super satisfied with the one I already have.

As the name suggests, it is a spot treatment. If you keep the bottle still (Don't shake it! I'm not even kidding.), the pink powder will settle at the bottom of the bottle. You then dip a q-tip and get an ample amount of product to your liking. You then apply it on your spots. You can apply it over your cystic acne or on normal zits. The liquid evaporates and the powder sticks to the spot where you placed it. Some say this product dehydrates that spot, reducing inflammation within the area. I'm not entirely sure about this fact but one thing's for sure-- it really does shrink zits fast!

I usually use this at night as I don't really want pink dots all over my face during the day. I sleep on it and magically, all my zits appear smaller when I wake up! It doesn't matter if the zit is so big, that it can already be considered as my secondary chin. Once I apply this product, I am confident that I will see improvements the next day.

With small pimples, it dries up fast. With cystic acne, I notice that it brings the acne out on the surface then dries it out in a few days, if you know what I mean. It also helps in lessening the pain from the inflammation.

This is my holy grail spot treatment and I've never seen any other product work better than this. I am currently on my second bottle, which I purchased from THEFACESHOP boutique in Festival Mall Alabang. I will definitely buy another one once this runs out. So if you have cystic acne problems like me, then I suggest you try this one out. The price is reasonable at PHP595 at THEFACESHOP Philippines boutiques. If you don't have one near you, you can definitely order from Ms. Charm of Kkochipida!

Beginner Nail Art (Leopard Print) featuring THEFACESHOP, Caronia

I've never been an expert at nail art. I mean, some of my friends like the way I do my nails (at times) but I think that's only because only a few people in my circle sport the same thing unless of course it was done professionally where nobody but the nail artist gets the credit. Otherwise, DIY nail arts seem to be quite amazing for them. And I feel the same way too! DIY nail arts are amazing. With a creative mind, you can glam up your nails with different designs for different occasions. Sadly for me, though, only my imagination is creative. My hands/fingers can't seem to keep up with the designs I have in mind so I always end up messing up a nail design.

Two weeks ago, however, I decided to look through beginner nail art tutorials in youtube and I found one with leopard prints. To be honest, I want to link the specific video where I learned it from but there are so many leopard nail arts out there in youtube that it somehow got lost in the pile. But anyway, I was afraid of doing it on my own as it may look weird but thankfully, it didn't. Here's the finished design. I only had it in a couple of nails because I'm lazy like that. :p

 It doesn't look perfect but I'm quite proud of it. :)

I used different nail polish colors (as you can see) and I would like to take this opportunity to share them with you just so you have an idea of the swatches. I can't find the black nail polish I used for this so it's not pictured below. But I believe it is from the brand called Sassy Colors.

 Caronia Nail Hardener and Base Coat

 THEFACESHOP Nail Polish in GR501 (Thanks Lyle!): Leopard Details

 THEFACESHOP Nail Polish in PP401. (Thanks Iris!): Middle and Pinky Finger

 Caronia Regular Nail Polish in Pink Lilac: Design Base Color

Caronia Fast Dry Top Coat

That's all for now! If you have any easy nail art suggestions, please comment down below and I will try to have a go at it. Thanks!

THEFACESHOP Flebeaute White Crystal Diamond Peeling: Review

Let's face it. Not everyone can afford diamond peel on a regular basis. It could be because we don't want to spend money or we don't have the time to do so. But the thing is, diamond peel is really good. I don't know about you but diamond peel has been a part of my monthly routine now, along with a good old classic facial. Not only does it help remove dead skin cells, but it also helps in keeping my skin free from blemishes. I noticed that when I don't go for a diamond peel in so long, I get cystic acne and suffer painful bumps on my chin. This is probably because dead skin cells tend to build up and dirt and oil get stuck inside the pores and eventually gets infected. I used to get the treatment done twice a week but ever since I got ahold of this product- THEFACESHOP Flebeaute White Crystal Diamond Peeling, it has been reduced to once a month. This saves me money, time and effort.

This is just a sample bottle but it also has a foil seal. :)

THEFACESHOP Flebeaute White Crystal Diamond Peeling is a product that I got for free after spending a certain amount in THEEFACESHOP boutique in MOA last year. They gave me this small tube and it has been with me for quite some time. I'm not sure how much it costs if you buy the regular size. I know I've asked a saleslady before but I just can't seem to remember. If you do know, then please be a doll and comment down below.

Anyway, what exactly is it? Here's what the short description says: Exfoliator with fine powders of diamond and natural mineral buffs away old flakes and debris. Translation? It's basically a face scrub which claims to have diamond powder in it, hence its name.

How do you use it? Instruction says you have to apply it onto dry skin, and massage it for about a minute or so. The diamond powder is so fine compared to a regular scrub so you don't actually feel it as much as the beads on a regular scrub. I like that because it doesn't feel as abrasive but after a few seconds, the product would start to get dry and massaging gets a little bit tougher. This will then start the actual exfoliation. I always follow the instruction to massage it for a minute, even if the scrub has started drying up. After which, I rinse it with water. I feel that even though I used an exfoliator, my skin doesn't feel dry at all. Also, I feel that it brightened my face and smoothened my skin surface. I use this product once a week, except on the week where I would actually get my diamond peel. This routine works for me in removing dead skin cells and avoiding oil build up that causes my cystic acne. I would love to recommend this product to people looking for a good exfoliator. If your face isn't that problematic, this product may even replace actual diamond peeling! How great would that be, right?

THEFACESHOP 더페이스샵 Face It Aura CC Cream: Review

Hi everyone! I'm back with a long overdue post. I had this item up in my youtube account more than a month ago. The clips were filmed back in December and the video was edited and uploaded mid-February. I don't know why I kept on procastinating this written item review. It was one of my 'most precious' beauty purchases last year (2013) and I was really excited to use it. I am still using this very product to date but I don't know why it took me so long to write my review down.

Anyway, I won't be dwelling much onto that since I am, in fact, ready to share my thoughts on this product. To be honest, I have been more active in blogging. I write down a review every other day which means I write about 3-4 posts a week. But even though I write as much as that, I still have a lot of back logs. Many photos of different items are still stored in my hard drive and it's driving me nuts! Anyway, I just really hope I get to keep this up. Oh, and I'm also restarting my Asian drama/music blog called Yoboseyo-Asia. You might wanna check it out if you're into Asian (Korean, Japanese, Thai) dramas, movies and music.

So there goes my off-topic paragraph. I'm sorry I had to mention those. Anyway, I am here to review my THEFACESHOP 더페이스샵 Face It Aura CC Cream in #2 Natural Beige. It has SPF 30 and PA ++. I got this from an online store called Kkochipida (http://shop.kkochipida.com/) with Ms. Charm. I got it for cheap at PHP795, compared to the commercial local price of PHP 1,595. If you're in a tight budget and you're into Korean cosmetics, I highly recommend that you get your stuff from Kkochipida. The link directs you to their site. Just to let you know, though, I purchased this particular product with my own money. I was not sponsored and all the things that I will be writing down are all my honest opinions derived from my experience of using the product.

Although I did get the product in mid-August, I only got to start using the item in December, shortly before my visit to Japan. It was winter then and I wanted to get an item that I can use to keep the moisture locked in my skin even under the cold winter weather. It was a battle in between my two other BB Creams and this. But since CC Creams are known to have more skin care benefits than BB Cream, I opted to bring this along with me.

Below would be my thoughts on the product in different aspects.

PACKAGING:

This could actually be considered a skill. Within a few minutes after opening the product, I immediately messed the sponge with a smudge of the actual product. Product photo op fail! Sorry!

One of the most interesting things about this product is the packaging. It comes as a fairly thick compact as opposed to other products that comes in a tube. I personally like how it looks like and the puff that comes with the product also works pretty well. Aside from that, the compact has a mirror so you don't have to worry about on the go touch ups.

COLOR:

As I've said, I got it in the shade #2 Natural Beige which is a good match for my skin. Unlike other CC Creams, this particular product from THEFACESHOP comes out as a beige tone cream, instead of the usual white ones that changes color upon blending onto the skin. I actually like the color of this CC Cream as opposed to other CC Creams I've tried in counters before.

COVERAGE:

Since CC Cream is known to provide more skin care benefits as opposed to BB Creams, coverage is not really their forte. This item, however, is an exception. It has light to medium coverage and can definitely even out skin tone and hide redness and light blemishes on the skin. Although if you have bumps on your face caused by pimples, I suggest you cover it up with a nice concealer.

CONSISTENCY:

As expected, the product is a little thick but creamy. I prefer to apply it using the puff, as opposed to my fingertips since it blends better with the puff.

FINISH:

It has a slightly dewy finish so I always set it with face powder. To be honest, I don't use this product when I know I would be outdoors since it's very humid here in the Philippines. I only use it when I know I would be using it indoors where air conditioning is expected. It has, however, served me so well during my stay in Japan last December 2013, during winter season.

LONG TERM EFFECTS:

Since I stayed in Japan for 3 weeks, I expected to have dry patches here and there throughout my stay. But that didn't happen. Aside from my usual moisturizer, I feel that this product helped contribute to that.

Now, before I end this post, let me share a demo/ overview video of me using the product with the use of both my fingertips and the sponge that came with the product (comparison).

Collective Haul: Kkochipida, Watsons, Landmark, Forever 21

Hi everyone! It's my last week of being on leave so I might as well make the most of it. I will be sharing with you a collective haul. These are mostly stuff that I bought and got ahold of for the past week, starting last Saturday. I didn't really buy a lot but I did buy more than I usually do. I'm not sure if I told you this before but I'm not really a spender.

Last Saturday, the package I have been waiting for has arrived. I bought some Korean cosmetics online from a store called Kkochipida and had a really good experience. After settling my dues last Friday, I informed the store owner and she immediately replied that she will be shipping my orders on that same day. The next day (Saturday), my package arrived! I was super happy! She even gave me some freebies! Yay!

 Package came via JRS Express

 Holika Holika All That BB Cream and THEFACESHOP Clean Face Clear Away Spot

Freebies: Skin 79 Hydrating Gel and Fluid Sample. Yay and thanks! :)

If you're planning to buy Korean cosmetics, this is one store that I would recommend. :)

Last Sunday, however, I got my regular acne control facial from Flawless and had the chance to drop by Watsons afterwards. I saw a post regarding this product over some blogs and wanted to try it out so I bought one for myself.

Gluta-C Intense Whitening Underarm and Bikini Skin Whitening Gel

Then came Tuesday and I had to drop by Makati to settle something from work so I strolled around Landmark and got ahold of these lovely babies.

Just some random Landmark accessories. Really affordable.

Last Thursday, I had to go back to Makati for my scheduled check-up and dropped by Forever 21 afterwards and got this top. This was actually a top that I tried on the day before (Tuesday). I didn't buy it since I was shopping alone and I kind of wanted an 'okay' from a trusted person before I actually bought it. I ended up just taking a picture of myself while wearing it and left. That night, however, I showed the photo to my mom and she absolutely loved it. I came back for it last Thursday and immediately bought it. Good thing they still had my size available (last piece).

Not only do I like the tiger print, I also love the studs on the shoulder area. I was not able to take a photo of the actual product because they already washed it earlier and is now our for drying.

So yeah, this wraps up my haul. I'm not sure if these kinds of posts are interesting enough for you guys but then I really just wanted to share these products with you. If you want reviews on some products I've showed you, just comment down below.