Hey guys! You know how your passion for something can keep you sane even when faced with the most devastating experience? That's exactly how blogging is to me. It has been my passion for 3 years now and it still serves as an effective medium that takes me to a different world far from where I dwell. Anyway, going back to the topic at hand, this is just a short and sweet review on my recent purchase from The Fab Panda, the eos lip balm in sweet mint.

My very first experience with purchasing an eos lip balm was a total let down because I got a fake one! Anyway, you can read all about it by clicking here. Good thing one of my close friends started an online shop selling authentic products that are priced reasonably. So when she restocked her eos lip balms, I just knew I had to get one again. 

I love that the expiration date is shown but I wish it wasn't on the seal that you peel off, throw away and forget. 

There's the familiar round case and pastel color of an eos lip balm. 

The actual lip balm is dome shaped and has a faint fruity fragrance that's over powered by a menthol scent. It has a very smooth texture that glides on your lips easily when applied. I love that it gives a fresh minty feel that's not too strong and doesn't sting. It doesn't feel waxy at all or heavy on the lips. If it weren't for the fresh minty feel, you won't know it's on your lips. This effectively moisturizes your lips and keeps them from cracking. Staying power may not be too impressive because it seems to fade after a couple of hours but I really don't mind reapplying it on my lips every chance I get. Price wise, the eos lip balm is quite affordable because you're getting a lot for just Php 250. You may get this from local online sellers like The Fab Panda. 

Now here's a special treat which came in free, a sample of PRADA Infusion d'Iris. I'm not a perfume junkie but I love how this smells! It exudes a refreshing citrus scent that's not too strong yet lingers for a few hours. Thanks to The Fab Panda for introducing me to this scent, I will definitely put this on my must-haves list. 

Any thoughts on eos lip balms? Do share them on the comments section below. Thanks for reading and have an incredible week ahead!

♥♥♥

BELO: AcnePro

Hey guys! After subjecting my skin to days of sun exposure from a much deserved summer break, I am now back to my usual heliophobic self. I love El Nido Resorts so much that I intend to go back hopefully soon. Anyway, I think I stressed out my skin too much over the past weeks that pimples started showing up all over my face. Good thing I got my Belo AcnePro products from Sample Room just in time to address the problem.

I've been battling acne since my teen-age years and tried a myriad of solutions that didn't seem to work. Good thing it wasn't too late when my mom convinced me to seek professional help. Since then, I've been using anti-acne products from my derma but I still try out other OTC products to see if they work as effectively. This time, I'm putting Belo's new line of skin care products called AcnePro to the test.

STEP 1: CLEANSE

The Belo Essentials AcnePro Pimple-Fighting Gel Face Wash (whew!) comes in a 50ml tube with a flip cover. 

It's a transparent gel that has a very pleasant yet subtle scent. It feels really smooth on application and builds up a thin lather. This gel face wash rinses off easily leaving your skin feeling refreshed. I love that it doesn't sting even when used on active pimples, doesn't dry out your skin and cause skin tightness after every use.

STEP 2: TONE

Next in the AcnePro set is this Treatment Toner housed in a 60ml bottle. 

The cover conveniently flips open revealing a small spout for dispensing the product. This is a clear liquid toner that's unscented and feels refreshing once applied all over your face and neck. I love that it doesn't stain my nails like other pimple-fighting toners I've used. It does a great job of unclogging your pores without causing your skin to dry out.

STEP 3: REPAIR

Last of the three products is the Belo AcnePro Pimple Gel.

This pimple gel comes in a 10g tube with a narrow nozzle for a more precise application. It's a transparent gel that doesn't give off any distinct fragrance. You might feel a tiny sting over active break outs that fades after a few minutes. 

Image courtesy of  skincareorganics.co.uk

The key ingredient of these products is Purified Bee Venom, clinically proven to treat mild to moderate acne and reduce inflammation. I heard about bee venom as an active ingredient in products intended for sensitive and blemished skin about a year ago. It's the latest innovation in skin care introduced by Korean cosmetic companies and I got to try one in a form of a BB Cream from Nature Republic. 

Notice how I didn't rave about this product or even mentioned it in any of my posts? It's just one of those okay products that didn't make an impact and got pushed in the back of my shelf. 

Image courtesy of Sample Room

Learning that Belo came out with a skin care line featuring purified bee venom for acne prone skin made me want to give this innovative ingredient another try. So did it work? Yes it did, most especially on mild blemishes. I noticed how these products effectively dry out pimples and reduce healing time to a minimum. Some of the small bumps becoming unnoticeable the next day while the bigger zits shrink and look less inflamed after 5 to 7 days of continued use. 

(L to R) Belo Essentials AcnePro Pimple-Fighting Gel Face Wash - Php 99.75/50ml tube
Belo Essentials AcnePro Treatment Toner - Php 79.75/60ml bottle
Belo Essentials AcnePro Pimple Gel - Php 149.75/10g tube 

Simply put, the Belo AcnePro line is a decent set of products that you can use to address minor blemishes. It may not be as effective with more serious acne so don't expect a miracle out of it. These are available in leading stores and you can get all three for only Php 329.25! I got mine free from Sample Room and paid only Php 100 for shipping. Last time I visited the site, stocks were all out but you may still want to try other featured products from Sample Room.

So have you tried any of the Belo AcnePro products or other bee venom containing brands? Do share your thoughts by commenting below. Thank you for reading and have a worry-free week!

♥♥♥

CURRENT FAVORITES

Hey guys! How was your summer? I hope you enjoyed yours as much as I did mine. Anyway, I thought of doing a monthly post of my favorite products but I don't think I can really commit to that so I'll just make a "current favorites" entry probably every chance I get, hopefully every quarter. 

(L to R) Shiseido Ibuki Purifying Cleanser - Php 1,495 per 125 ml
Avene Thermal Spring Water - Php 900 per 150 ml
Shiseido White Lucent Intensive Spot Targeting Serum - Php 5,650 per 30 ml

I have so many favorites but I narrowed them down to 3 items per category. So let's start with skin care. The Shiseido Ibuki Purifying Cleanser has been my go-to facial wash since I got it at 20% off a couple of months ago. I love how the fine granules feel so delicate on my skin yet very effective in cleansing my face. A little goes a long way so you only need a pea size and you're good to go.

Next is the Avene Thermal Spring Water and I cannot begin to describe how wonderful this product is. It sprays on like mist and feels so refreshing once it touches your skin. This product has been very helpful in hydrating and cooling my skin especially on hot days. I believe I got this at half the price from my last trip to Singapore but they're available in the local drug stores as well.

Last on skin care category is Shiseido White Lucent Intensive Spot Targeting Serum, an absolute favorite of mine among all the White Lucent products of Shiseido. A very effective spot correcting concentrate that helps hasten recovery time from skin discolorations. It may be a little on the expensive side but it's worth every cent. 

(L to R) The Body Shop Organic Cotton Rounds - Php 150 per pack
UCB Refreshing Body Mist - Php 499 per 250 ml
Physiogel Intensive Cream - Php 575 per 50 ml

Now for other body care products, I am loving The Body Shop Organic Cotton Rounds so much that I've been reaching for them every single time. The textured side is best for removing makeup while the flat side is great for applying your toner. 

I ran out of GAP dream cologne and since they're not widely available, I decided to get the next best thing I found in SM North, United Colors of Benetton Refreshing Body Mist in Arousing Watermelon. It has a fresh fruity scent which lasts for about an hour or 2 after you spray it on. I love that it's priced reasonably and that you can choose from a dozen of floral and fruity scents.

Who could resist a product that offers intense hydration? I know I couldn't which is why I'm so thankful for the Physiogel Intensive Cream I got from  BDJ Box. I love that it doesn't feel too greasy and that the moisturizing effect lasts for several hours. I find myself using this often especially when my skin gets really dry around December and January. 

(L to R) Ben Nye Luxury Powder - Php 900 per 85 g
Max Factor Max Effect Lip Gloss - Php 400 per 13 ml
NYX Auto Eyebrow Pencil - Php 300 per 0.25 g

As for makeup products, I currently adore Ben Nye Luxury Powder in Cameo. I do have the Banana shade but I've been enjoying how Cameo instantly brightens my under eye areas. I also use this to buffer some of my compact powders that appear darker than my natural color. 

The Max Factor Max Effect Lip Gloss is an amazing discovery for me. I got it for free from Miss Shen's 4th Anniversary Giveaway and I misjudged it thinking it's the same as Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Lip Gloss that can only give your lips a subtle tint with lots of shine but I was wrong. This Max Factor Max Effect Lip Gloss in #14 Rubyliscious is highly pigmented and gives just the right amount of shine. It may not be long lasting but I really don't mind reapplying it.

Next makeup favorite is the NYX Auto Eyebrow Pencil in Dark Brown. I raved about this before and I'm still raving about it now. I love that it's an eyebrow pencil and brush in one stick. The pencil is tapered hence no need for sharpening and the brush really comes in handy although you can still use other tools like a spoolie for blending. It glides on smoothly and stays on the entire day.

(L to R) Kerastase Elixir Ultimate - Php 2,260 per 125 ml
Paganini Untangler - Php 149
Goody Metal Clip - Php 299 per set of 3 clips

Now for hair care products, I've been obsessed with Kerastase Elixir Ultimate in the past days. I actually forgot I have it for a while and only got to see it last week when I was decluttering my closet. Anyway, this elixir smells heavenly and feels velvety to touch. It may feel a little greasy on first application but it eventually transforms into a silky finish without clumping your hair strands. 

This Paganini Hair Untangler has been my favorite since the day I bought it. You can use it on wet or dry strands and it untangles hair without hurting your scalp. The blunt bristles feel very relaxing and the big handle gives you a nice grip while combing. 

This hair clip from Goody is an all-time favorite. I discovered this small wonder years ago and they don't make one anymore which is really a downer considering how great this clip is. It comes in a set of 3 and has a small and medium size. This one in particular is small and is best used for smaller pony tails. It looks really simple and very classic. You lock it sideways and your hair is clipped neatly into place without tugging the strands. 

(L to R) Freshlook Dailies Illuminate in Rich Brown - Php 800 per box of 5 pairs
EO Sauflon Comfort Drops - Php 95 per 30 ml
Esprit Sunglasses - Php 7,000 

My eye care favorites include Dailies Freshlook Illuminate in Rich Brown. It comes in a box of 5 pairs and I was able to buy one box but a friend recently wanted to try them and found out you can't buy just one box anymore. They are now being sold as a set of 3 boxes. Anyway, I love that these make your eyes pop but in a natural way. They feel really soft, although I find these a little harder to remove than my regular extended lenses. Freshlook recommends this for one time use but I was able to try using them for 2 days. They were still soft and pretty much intact. On the 3rd day, they felt a little weird so I decided to discard them.

The EO Sauflon Comfort Drops has never left my retouch kit for the longest time. I love that it instantly moisturizes my contact lenses without the sting. It instantly refreshes your eyes and removes any residue. Best thing about this is the very affordable price of less than Php 100.

I was told by my Sociology teacher in college to protect my eyes from sun exposure all the time with shades that offer UV protection. I couldn't relate back then because I had prescription glasses and wearing shades wasn't a good idea. Fast forward to graduate school, after learning how to wear contact lenses, I started enjoying the perks of using sunglasses. My current favorite is this Esprit aviator-like glasses. It may look dark in the image but it's light brown under sunlight. I love how it effectively protects my eyes from the glaring rays of the sun especially in the summer. 

Myra e 400 IU - Php10+ per capsule

Another favorite of mine is the Myra e 400 IU supplement which I started using around 2 weeks ago. I noticed having less breakouts and better skin days since I started taking one capsule a day. I may need to use this continuously to see the long term effects but I guess it's been okay so far. 

So that's it! My current favorites from various brands. I do hope I can keep up with a monthly favorites entry to keep you more updated on what products I love. Do we have any favorite products in common? I'd love to know your thoughts so please share them on the comments section below. Thank you for reading and have an awesome week ahead!

♥♥♥