A couple of months ago, I was determined to get a new moisturizer just to try something new. In comes Neutrogena Hydro Boost water gel.

I have to admit, I just started patronizing a couple of Neutrogena products a year ago starting with the Deep Clean facial cleanser followed by their Fine Fairness BB Cream and both of them proved to be effective based on experience. 

This comes in a 50g light blue jar with a twist-off cap. Inside is a reusable plastic lid which prevents the product from seeping through the inner portion of the cap. Overall, I like the way it looks except for the plastic lid that comes off freely if opened carelessly. A fitted inner lid would've been better.

The water gel is translucent and has a fresh scent. The consistency is nothing I've ever seen before in a moisturizer. It's fluid like and more runny compared to Clinique moisture surge. It only takes a little amount to cover your entire face because it spreads effortlessly on application. It easily settels on your skin and gets absorbed almost instantly that you don't have to wait long before applying your makeup.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost water gel upon application

5 minutes after

10 minutes after

Above is a demonstration using an oil control film. Notice how Neutrogena leaves a minimal amount of oil over time resulting in freshly hydrated skin without the sticky feeling.

I've been using this product twice a day for a couple of months now. Though I haven't seen any dramatic changes on my combination skin, it didn't cause pimple break outs, skin irritation or other adverse skin reactions. What I do love about it is that I can proceed to applying makeup almost instantly after using it. I would recommend this to all skin types but I'd rather buy their newly released Hydro Boost Gel with SPF30 once this jar is consumed.

NOTES:

• I bought this from Watson's SM North Edsa at Php 830, quite a hefty tag for a drug store brand.
• All products mentioned in this entry are personal preferences and purchases and are not intended for advertisement.

MAYBELLINE: Clear Smooth BB Stick

In my last post I said something like "BB creams just keep getting better" and I have to say that this product, the Maybelline clear smooth BB stick can attest to that statement.

I wasn't suppose to do another BB cream review just yet but after trying this, 

I couldn't wait another day to rave about it. First of all, I have to admit that the P249.00 tag was the main reason why I bought it without any hesitations. 

I thought the very affordable price wouldn't hurt much if in case the product sucks. 

Luckily, this small wonder is truly a hit for me.

There are 2 shades available, Fresh for fair skin and Radiance for morena skin tone. I got the one in Radiance though I was leaning towards getting the former. Good thing I took the sales rep's advice and swatched it on my chin.

It comes in a stick, making it look like a jumbo concealer and it does work that way. 

It conceals your pores and imperfections in just a swipe. No kidding. At first I thought it would be a little dry, hard to apply and spread all over your face but it's the exact opposite! It has a creamy texture that glides smoothly on your skin. You get just the right amount of product in a single swipe without having to really scrape your face with the stick. It leaves your skin with a hint of moisture and a light powdery finish that doesn't get oily over time. 

Texture upon application

Immediately after blending 

After 1 hour of blending

What I really love about this is you can do away with powder during touch ups. Just a few soft dabs on your face, finished with gentle fingertip strokes can create a freshly made up look. It offers protection from the sun with its SPF 21 PA+++. 

It has a hint of chemical scent if you directly smell the stick but it's unnoticeable on application. This is also perfect for those wearing contact lenses who need to apply eye solution and constantly smudge their makeup with it. The size perfectly fits any bag so it's a good kikay kit stuffer.

Hooray for this innovative product from Maybelline. I definitely recommend this to my friends and I will repurchase once this runs out.

NOTES:

• My blog is turning a year old and I'm so excited of thinking a way to celebrate it. Maybe an anniversary giveaway? Let me know if you have any suggestions.
• All products mentioned in this entry are personal preferences and purchases and are not intended for advertisement.
• What works for me may not work well with others so results mentioned may not be the same with everyone. Individuality, finding what works for you is still the best way to spot a good product.

    

GARNIER: Skin Renew BB Cream, A Must-have for Pinays

     What I love about the BB Cream craze is that a lot of skin care companies have joined in and launched their own versions. One good thing about this is, as the new ones come out, they just keep getting better in terms of formulation, packaging, availability and retail price.

Just recently, I got the Garnier Skin Renew BB Cream with spf 15 in light to medium. I didn't use it immediately since I still have my Tony Moly luminous aura goddess BB cream and I just recently opened L'oreal white perfect BB cream. But a week ago, I gave in, finally tried it and I was in awe at how amazing this product is.

 

It comes in a 75ml squeeze type tube which I think is pretty generous for its tag ($11.99) and a little goes a long way so you can be sure it will last you months and you're getting your money's worth. It has a light creamy texture which spreads effortlessly on your skin. This product, by far, is the easiest to apply compared  to other BB creams I've tried. 

Garnier BB Cream immediately after application.

Garnier BB Cream after blending

I love the way it instantly moisturizes your skin and leaves it looking healthy, fresh and well hydrated. Most BB creams give you a matte finish while others give you just a natural look but Garnier leaves your skin with a soft, dewy finish. It offers light to medium coverage and has spf 15 so you might want to use this with a concealer for darker spots and a sunscreen with higher spf. 

For me, I think this is perfect for normal to combination skin but I'm not so sure it will benefit those with oily skin. I have combination skin and so far, my T-zone doesn't look greasy after a few hours of application. This formula doesn't cake or become greasy over time. Most importantly the shade light to medium goes well with my skin tone. The only problem I have with this product is availability in the local market. Garnier hasn't released this in Manila yet but I do hope they make this available soon.

Over all I highly recommend this product especially to newbies when it comes to BB creams. This is also available in medium to deep for those with morena or darker skin.

NOTES:

• All products mentioned in this entry are personal preferences and purchases and are not intended for any form of advertisement.