Hey guys! I'm not sure if I mentioned it before but my still-half-filled 500 ml bottle of Bioderma Micelle Solution for sensitive skin unfortunately got thrown away. I literally freaked out when my mom said she thought it was left over drinking water and got rid of it. Anyway, I can't cry over spilled milk or in this case, spilled micelle water. I thought of repurchasing but I couldn't get myself to accept the astronomical price tag it comes with in the local market. Good thing Bioré came out with a more affordable version called Micellar Cleansing Water.

The Bioré Micellar Cleansing Water comes in a 90 ml bottle. It has a flip cover and a narrow spout which makes dispensing easy and spill free. It appears and feels like water, is scent free and doesn't sting even when used on the eyelids. It effectively removes makeup including water proof eye liner and mascara. A lightly soaked cotton pad is enough to eliminate traces of makeup and dirt. I love that it leaves my skin feeling fresh and clean that it's nearly as good as washing my face. 

Overall, the Bioré Micellar Cleansing Water is an effective makeup remover which I think comes head to head with Bifesta, my other favorite brand. Both are so similar in apperance, consistency and feel that you can't easily tell them apart. Although Bioré costs only Php 198 per 90 ml bottle, you still get to save more with Bifesta in the long run because it comes in a 300 ml bottle and costs only Php 419. Bioderma on the other hand still tops my list while Bioré and Bifesta equally rank second. 

So what's your favorite makeup remover? Do share it with me on the comments section below. Thank you for your time and have a great weekend!

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HEROINE MAKE: Kiss Me Jewelry Eye Color

Hey guys! I can't believe we're almost halfway through the year 2015. Next thing you know, we're just an arm's length away from Christmas which is great because I love how cosmetic companies come up with holiday collections. Well, good thing we won't have to wait until December to feast on something new from Heroine Make because they just launched their latest product.

BIODERMA: Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution

Hey guys! Last year, a good friend had a flash sale and I fortunately got first dibs on the items. Out of everything I purchased, my best buy would have to be the Bioderma Micelle Solution for Sensitive Skin. My everyday look is pretty much simple with BB Cream playing the main role. I rarely do a full on makeup so I'm used to cleansing my face with just facial wash at the end of the day. Unfortunately, there are times when I tend to skip my night ritual on hectic days. I know, I know, being busy isn't a good enough excuse so I thought of regularly incorporating the use of makeup remover at all times.

BIFESTA: BRIGHTUP Cleansing Lotion

Image courtesy of Bifesta

Hey guys! I recently scoured the beauty section of Landmark Trinoma and finally decided to repurchase Japan's number one water-based makeup remover, the Bifesta Cleansing Lotion.  

Image courtesy of Bifesta

This cleanser comes in different varieties to target every woman's needs. I have pointed out each type below as described by the manufacturer.

MOIST

"Extra moisture for normal to dry skin"

Contains Ceramide-like ingredient to retain moisture, keeping the skin's natural balance making it protected from any possible irritation.

SEBUM 

"Oil control for combination oily skin"

Contains Green Tea Extract that tightens pores preventing excessive oil formation.

BRIGHT UP

"Removes dead skin cells for brighter, even-toned skin"

Removes dead skin cells that cause dullness and darkening of pores and inhibits melanin production for a more bright, even-toned skin.

AGE CARE

"Rich nourishment to prevent premature skin aging"

Contains Co enzyme Q for deep nourishment and cell renewal. It also protects skin from premature aging due to sun exposure maintaining healthy young skin.

I previously bought a trial size of the SEBUM variety from Singapore not for anything else but because it was the only one available. I loved using it to the last drop which is why I snagged a full size upon seeing it was being sold at 10% off in Landmark. Click here to see my full review.

I was suppose to get AGE CARE but since I've been having blemishes here and there, I opted for BRIGHT UP to address my uneven skin tone due to post acne marks. 

Don't get confused by the name, this cleansing lotion has the consistency and appearance of water. A single pump is enough to soak a flat cosmetic cotton. It has a subtle scent, feels light on your skin and easily removes makeup with a few swipes. I love that it leaves your skin looking freshly cleansed without the greasy finish. I can't remember the exact tag but it's around 400 Php and I got it for 10% off its original price. It's not at all an expensive product but not cheap as well but I can guarantee you're getting your money's worth.


Overall, Bifesta remains to be my staple makeup remover. I do recommend it to everyone and I will repurchase tho other varieties when this bottle runs out. Any thoughts on Bifesta? Do leave them on the comments section below. Thanks for reading and have a sun shiny day!


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BDJ Box Beauty Social, Primp and Prettify

Hey guys! BDJ Box, the country's leading beauty box subscription, held another successful Beauty Social last September 29 at the Skydome in SM North Edsa. I knew there will be a lot of bellas out there so I preregistered and got sure seats for the first 2 talks and a guaranteed loot bag full of goodies! 

Good thing I have a fellow beauty enthusiast, Miss Kleng of all All About Beauty 101, a good friend who was as excited as I was to attend the event. Although the talks were scheduled to start by 1:00 PM, we opted to be there during opening at 10 AM to scan the place.

Image courtesy of BDJ Box

Upon registration, we were given a passport which contains a lineup of activities and a really helpful floor map for a bird's eye view of the whole place. There were a total of 12 booths in the event providing a variety of fun activities and services that promote each brand. 

First booth we visited was that of Cure since they were already entertaining participants by the time we got there. Sorry I really have a hard time remembering names but the one who assisted me was really nice. She showed me how to use Cure Natural Aqua Gel by demonstrating it on my hand. I actually love how it felt as she gently rubbed the gel in a circular motion. In a few seconds, dead skin was beginning to come off leaving my skin feeling soft and smooth without a trace of dryness that other exfoliants tend to do. I also noticed my skin looking a bit lighter with a fresh, clean scent. 

Cure is available in all beauty bar stores nationwide and the full size retails for 1,500 Php, not bad for a 250 ml product that can last up to 8 months! After the demo, we were given 2 sachets to bring home.

 

Next stop, Too Cool for School (TCFS), a fast rising Korean brand known for its cute packaging. TCFS recently hit Manila on the 2nd quarter of 2013 when it opened its flagship store in SM Mall of Asia and was followed by another branch in SM North Edsa 3 months later. I've only tried their BB Cream and loved it to bits. I was surprised with the variety of products they offer. 

Image courtesy of Too Cool for School

One product which caught our attention was the Rules of Pore Magic Pore Balm used to minimize the appearance of pores and wrinkles. It comes in a tin pot, has the texture of a balm but finishes off smooth and powdery. It can be used as a primer to your foundation or BB Cream. 

TCFS also made us participate in a classic Korean game and we luckily won sample sachets of assorted products.

Then we headed to the Cover Girl booth where we took the clump crusher challenge. After repeatedly applying Cover Girl's Clump Crusher Mascara for 30 strokes, I couldn't believe my lashes were thicker and longer without clumping! It was such an amazing product that my friend has claimed it to be her holy grail when it comes to mascara. 

As for me, I really haven't found mine yet but this CG clump crusher is an excellent candidate. Participants were given discount coupons worth 95 Php each and I can't wait to use mine soon.

 

At the Bifesta booth, they gave away different prizes including sachets of Bifesta cleansing lotion and a pink velcro head band. They were also giving free hair makeover using Lucido-L products. Although we wanted a new do, we opted to skip it since the line was already building up and the talks were about to start.

Things were really heating up at the Beauty Social especially when the crowd was getting bigger towards the afternoon. Luckily, Garnier was giving out mocktails for everyone! The lovely ladies manning the booth also introduced us to Garnier Pure Active Fruit Energy Energizing Facial Foam, a refreshing face wash which I'll be reviewing soon.

The staff in the Ralph Lauren booth gave us an idea of which scent best suits our personality and lifestyle. I was given a choice between sporty fresh and fruity floral scents but I prefer the latter since it radiates a more feminine vibe so they handed me a sample tube of Ralph Lauren for Women 3. 

The Celeteque booth was also starting to build a long line for their free skin analysis. Although we wanted to get our skin analyzed, we were told that they have to remove our makeup so we opted to try it towards the end of the event.

Yves Rocher gave us an idea on what skin care products to use for our particular skin type. Of all the different lines they carry, Hydra Vegetal has always been my favorite.

The Shiseido booth offered a free facial and makeover with every purchase of any product from their Ibuki line. They were also giving a free Ibuki Cleanser for every purchase of Shiseido Softening Concentrate and Moisturizer. We were so tempted to avail of the promo but didn't have enough resources to do it. I hope they get to do another promo by the time I saved enough to buy the Ibuki line. 

Max Factor's booth was offering free makeup tutorial while Revlon was offering free hair color application. I was really looking forward to a new hair color but we didn't have enough time to go in the mall and buy the product to be used for the procedure so we skipped that as well.

 

I was preregistered to attend two talks. Get Real with the BDJ Box Beauty Ministry at 1:00 PM was really fun! We got to hear tips first hand from Kate Alvarez, Nicole Romero and Tara Cabullo, members of the BDJ Box Beauty Ministry. The best part was, I got to ask my own question! I asked their opinion on getting facials and if they recommend non doctors performing them. Both Nicole and Tara said it's still best to visit your Dermatologist but it's okay to get facials from a trained personnel under the supervision of a Dermatologist. Both ladies also recommend the Shiseido's Oxygen Lounge for a rejuvenating experience. 

Ready for Anything Skin with Shiseido by Carmel Villongco at 1:50 PM was very informative especially of the newly released Ibuki line. Although I wasn't one of the four lucky ladies who got a full size Ibuki product, I'm still fortunate to try the entire line in sample sizes and will update you soon on the details.

Surprisingly, I was also preregistered for the Parisian Pretty with L'oreal Paris at 3:30 PM. I love how they taught us to wear vibrant colors and balance it at the same time. 

After the talks, each bella was handed with a loot bag containing an assortment of beauty products. Hooray to BDJ Box team for the orderly distribution of loot bags to all participants.

The event, for me, was a huge success! It's the very first beauty event I've been to and I'd like to thank BDJ Box for providing us bellas with such a memorable experience. I am definitely attending BDJ Box Beauty Socials in the future and so should you! Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day!

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BIFESTA: Sebum Cleansing Lotion

Hey everyone! Washing my face at the end of the day has always been a ritual since I started using face products during my teens. In the past years, as my schedule became more hectic especially during residency training, I tend to skip this important step hence leaving my skin prone to pimple break outs. Good thing there are now better ways to cleanse your face without taking much time and effort. One of them is the use of makeup removers like the one I'm loving so far from Bifesta.

Bifesta is a water based makeup remover manufactured in Japan which comes in four variants; Moist for dry and sensitive skin, Sebum for combination-oily skin, Brightup for dull and flaky type, and Agecare for mature skin. 

Since there were no other variants available, I bought the Sebum Cleansing Lotion in trial size at Watsons in Singapore just so I could try it before splurging on the full size. Good thing this baby worked excellently on my skin.

  

I've been using it together with my favorite cosmetic cotton from Sembem and I haven't skipped since then. Bifesta Sebum Cleansing Lotion has the same color and consistency as water. It's virtually scent free and doesn't sting or cause any untoward skin reactions. I love using it with the cosmetic cotton because you only need to dampen the middle and you're good to go. It instantly and effectively removes your makeup without leaving a greasy finish. You may use it before washing your face but its cleansing power is so good that you can proceed right away to applying your serum and moisturizer. 

I think longevity of the product is based on quantity and frequency of use. I've been using Bifesta at night for a week and consumed only a quarter of the 50 ml bottle. So a full 300 ml bottle which costs 400+ Php can last me 6 months! This may not be the same with others since I don't wear full makeup everyday, just BB Cream and a little eye color so my experience can't be conclusive for everyone. 

Overall, I love this Bifesta Sebum Cleansing Lotion that I've decided to buy the full size once the trial bottle runs out. I also recommend it to those who are still looking for an effective water based makeup remover. If you're still unsure, why not buy a trial size from BeautyRx, my budding online shop.  This way, you get to try it without spending too much before deciding whether to get the full size. So have you tried any of the Bifesta Cleansing Lotion variants? Please share your thoughts on the comments section below. Thanks for reading and have a stress-free weekend!

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