Hey everyone! I'm back from an extended US vacation which kicked off in Orlando followed by a staycation in Disney World, stop over in Georgia, Kentucky and a road trip back to Chicago. Needless to say, we got more than a few things along the way leading to this post. I'll be publishing a series of haul by categories like makeup, skincare, gadget, stationery and miscellaneous. This way, you can just choose to read the categories that interest you. Let's start off with what I'm most interested in, skincare!

MISS UNIVERSE 2018: Catriona Gray's Nightly Skincare Ritual

Video taken during Miss Universe 2018

Hello everyone! A couple of weeks ago, Miss Philippines Catriona Gray made us all proud by representing our country and bagging the Miss Universe 2018 title. She dazzled us with her beauty, even more so with her performance from the iconic lava walk down to her heartfelt answer during the final Q&A.

2017 FAVORITES: Skin Care

2017 is about to conclude in a few hours and now is probably the best time to round up everything that made this year worth reminiscing. Over the past years, I've shared with you my favorites in skincare and makeup but this time I thought of adding more categories like body/hair care, tech stuff and travel. This way, you can just choose to browse a category you like instead of going through tons of products or information that don't really interest you.

NEUTROGENA: Revitalizing Lip Balm with Sunscreen SPF 20

Hey guys! A week ago, hubby and I went to Walgreens and the variety of beauty products on display blew my mind off! One long aisle that stretches from the entrance down to the back of the store is solely dedicated to makeup and accessories alone. I wasn't planning on adding more stuff to my growing stash of drugstore makeup and skin care products so I ended up getting just two, one of which is the Neutrogena revitalizing lip balm sunscreen SPF 20.

2016 FAVORITES: Skin Care

Hey guys! I'm happily ending the year by featuring my favorite skin care products of 2016. Since I've been following the Korean 10-step skincare routine for about a month now, I might as well let you in on the products I've been using to stick to this regimen. Needless to mention that items included in each category are the best ones I've tried so far. Let's get it on shall we?

NEUTROGENA: Wave Duo

Hey guys! I was fortunate enough to try out a new (to me at least) skin care device without spending a single centavo. I'm talking about the Neutrogena Wave Duo bought by my cousin for half the price in Guardian, a popular store in Singapore. 

The device has an oval shape with one end serving as handle and the other having a flat velcro-like base for attaching the cleansing pads.

I forgot to ask my cousin if the cleansing pads were already included but based on Neutrogena's website, you get 2 weeks supply of cleansing pads as part of the kit. 

The cleansing pads are cottony in texture yet very sturdy. 

To start, just attach a disposable pad onto the velcro end of the device.

Notice how the mid part of the cleansing pad looks moist? This is because each pad is presoaked with foaming cleanser. Just wet the pad under running water to activate the cleansing pad.

Turn on the power button and select your desired speed. Speed 1 is for gentle daily cleansing to remove dirt, oil and makeup while speed 2 is for deep-pore cleansing to give your skin an extra boost. Gently massage on your face in a circular motion. 

Remove the used cleansing pad and wash the device under running water to remove any remaining residue.

PROS

What I love about the Neutrogena Wave Duo? First thing is its handy size which is comparable to a small computer mouse hence very suitable for travel. It's also easy to use and is more affordable than other cleansing tools. Being battery operated also makes this stand out from the rest. 

NEUTRAL

This cleansing tool doesn't have a built in timer so it doesn't shut off on its own. The length of cleansing time relies on how long you desire to use it which can be quite tricky on my part since I tend to get lost when using it because I love the way it feels on my face. 

CONS

There are a few things that I'm not loving about it. First is the flat cleansing pad which makes it really hard to reach the sides of your nose and the areas around your eyes. Being battery operated can be a burden sometimes especially when you run out of extra batteries. It also limits your choice of face wash since the pads are already presoaked with moist-activated cleanser. 

Image courtesy of Neutrogenawave.com

Good thing Neutrogena came up with different varieties of cleansing pads to suit your every need. The Gentle Exfoliating Pads with microbeads to sweep away pore-clogging impurities, Foaming Pads (included in the Wave Duo kit) that promises to help clean your skin 10x deeper than traditional cleansing, and the Shine-Free Blemish-Free Pads that help absorb oil quickly and remove blackheads.

Overall, I like the Neutrogena Wave Duo but not that much to purchase one for myself. Although it's more affordable than other cleansing tools, still it's not a cheap buy considering you need to purchase cleansing pads every month. The device costs $16.99 plus $6.49 for a month's supply of cleansing pads, that's almost $78 a year on cleansing pads alone! I'm also not too crazy about the fact that I don't get to use other brands of facial wash unlike with the Clarisonic or Olay Pro X but then again, it's like comparing apples and oranges. 

Image courtesy of Neutrogenawave.com

If you're open to try and add something new to your skin care regimen, then I guess it won't hurt to get a Neutrogena Wave Duo. If you're on a limited budget, you may get the original Neutrogena Wave instead. It's the cheaper version which doesn't have speed options and is being sold at around $10.99. But honestly, I think you're not really missing out on anything big if you don't get either of them. 

How about you? What do you feel about home cleansing tools? Have you tried any of them? Which do you think stands out? Do share your thoughts on the comments section below. Thanks for reading and have an amazing week! 

❤❤❤

NEUTROGENA: Hydro Boost water gel

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.

All About BB Creams

          We've all heard of BB cream's evolution and how it conquered the makeup industry. Blemish balm cream, more popularly known as BB cream, was originally formulated in Germany and was initially recommended by dermatologists for post laser surgery patients. It made its way to Asia and instantly hit worldwide stardom when Korean telenovela actresses swore by them. Now most skin care brands, from drugstore to high end, have BB cream in their product lines.
       
          When I first heard of this most raved about cream, it didn't really interest me much since I wasn't a fan of tinted facial products even the ones from Olay (my most favorite brand of moisturizer). I never got to try it until last month when I was on a look out for a decent facial sunblock. The facial sunscreens I saw in different stores didn't have matte finish on their labels. So I thought of trying BB cream since it boasts of high SPF protection in a matte, nonsticky finish. I finally had a good enough reason to buy my very first BB cream so I searched the net for reviews of different brands and found several that are locally distributed. I narrowed the list to these three items based on the reviews I got from other users:

Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream (50 mL)
(Missha SM North Edsa P1,600)

          This is the very first BB cream I purchased but is actually my least favorite among the three. Though this seems to be the most talked about and highly acclaimed brand by beauty gurus in youtube and blog sites, I must say I couldn't just agree with them on some things. The texture is thicker than I expected making it more difficult to blend with your skin. It takes more than a few gentle strokes to really spread this all over your face. The pigment I got is no. 23 as recommended by 2 Missha sales representatives from different branches. I was quite disappointed with the way it made my skin look. It gave off a very noticeable grey undertone which made my complexion a shade or two darker. I waited for the product to settle on my face before freaking out but nothing really changed. I have no issues with having a darker skin that looks natural but this one really didn't do me any good. It did give full coverage and a matte finish with SPF 42 but the odd color was really disturbing. Maybe they recommended the wrong shade and the other one will look good on me but I decided not to try it.

Tony Moly Dear Me BB Cream (30 gm)
(Tony Moly SM North Edsa P328)

          When my first attempt on finding the best BB cream failed, I became more determined to find out which among the locally available brands will suit me. I read good reviews of Tony Moly's Dear Me BB cream so I tried it next. It has a slightly thinner consistency thus application was quite easier. They only have one shade which complimented my skin without the grey undertone I noticed with Missha. It initially looked a little fairer than my complexion but it eventually blended well with my skin. It gives good coverage which lasts the entire day with a natural and matte finish that doesn't cake or appear powdery. It comes with SPF 30 and is way cheaper (P328) than most other BB creams in the market. Needless to say that this became my instant favorite.

Neutrogena Fine Fairness
BB Cream UV (30 mL)
(Watson's The Block P720)

          They say that the best BB creams are the ones formulated in Korea so this one didn't make it on my list initially. I eventually found out that it's made in Korea as indicated on the label. What also kept me from trying this was the lack of SPF info on the box as well as on the bottle so I thought it didn't have any but Neutrogena confirmed that it has SPF 24. I wasn't really planning to try another brand but I was lured into trying this when I found out it only costs P720 which I think is a reasonable price for a product made by a reputable brand. This cream has the perfect consistency (comparable to a runny lotion or serum) and is the easiest to apply and spread all over the face compared to the other two. It can instantly lighten the skin upon initial application and eventually blend with your complexion. I also love that it feels light on my face and it leaves my skin moisturized without the sticky feeling. It offers good coverage over uneven skin tone but doesn't totally conceal dark pimple marks. This product has won my heart and is my current favorite because it surprisingly matched my skin color with a naturally moisturized and healthy look which I now prefer over a dry matte finish.

          For you to find a BB cream that will work best to your advantage, I think your choice should be based on what your skin needs. If you need full coverage with maximum SPF and you're not tight on your budget, Missha might be good for you. Just make sure to swatch it directly on your face to get the best match.  If you have oily skin and want a BB cream that leaves a matte finish, has good coverage and SPF without having to spend much, Tony Moly's Dream Me BB cream is a good choice. But if you're like me who doesn't need much coverage or loves to have natural looking, moisturized skin without the heavy and sticky feeling or if you don't get too much sun exposure and an SPF 24 is enough to keep you protected, then Neutrogena is best for your skin.

NOTES:

*All products mentioned were personally bought and not intended for advertisement.

*I was suppose to include Tony Moly's Aura BB Cream in this review but there were none available in the 3 different outlets I visited.

ADDENDUM:
*I finally got to try Tony Moly Luminous Goddess Aura BB Cream, click here to see my review.

CURRENT FAVORITES

         2011 is done and I have to review my skin care and make up products since I've accumulated more than I can actually use. This sort of thing usually happens every year because I love trying new things and unfortunately forget other products when new lines or better versions come along. So I decided to look up every stashed product I own and I'm quite surprised at how many of them I still have but forgot since they have been pushed to the farther end of my storage space to give way to my current favorites. I have yet to decide on which ones I will try using again. I have to really go through them so no product gets wasted.Well anyway, I'll be writing a separate blog about them but right now I feel like sharing the products I've been using a lot lately and are actually my current favorites.

FACIAL WASH: Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser 

(Landmark)

          I can't believe it took me years to finally give this product a try. I've heard a lot of good things about it but I shied away from trying it since I had a good cleanser working for me. I finally gave in this year and I am very pleased at how this product seem to prevent my skin from breaking out. I've been using this for a while now hence the nearly empty bottle. Of course I started using this with the Clarisonic Mia but even so, I still think that it works well on my skin.

TONER FOR ACNE PRONE SKIN: YSA Post Acne Lotion

(YSA Skin Care Clinic)

          I cannot even begin to explain how I truly LOVE this product. I had a bad case of acne in my freshman year in college and this amazing product has saved me then and still does until now. The term lotion might be a little confusing but this is actually in a clear liquid form like a toner or an astringent. It doesn't have a certain scent and it feels quite refreshing on your face. I've also used this for several times to prevent and treat pimples. Just soak a small piece of cotton with this then leave them on the pimple overnight and you will be surprised the next day with a smaller and less inflamed pimple. It works so well that some of them are totally gone in the morning.

MOISTURIZING SERUM: OLAY Total Effects 7-in-1 Anti-ageing Serum
(Landmark)

          This serum has revolutionized the modern approach to skin care. I've used this since it was first launched and never missed a day applying it. It feels a little oily on your skin for a few seconds after application but as it gets absorbed it leaves your skin very supple, moisturized and not at all greasy. With continuous use you will see a big difference on your skin's texture. In terms of reducing fine lines, I can't say for sure that this product has that effect on me since I started using this in my mid 20's and I wasn't at all that conscious in monitoring the fine lines on my face. Though I can say that now in my 30's, I can appreciate fine lines especially around my eyes but they don't bother me at all which I guess is a good sign.

SUNBLOCK: OLAY Total Effects Day Cream, Normal with SPF 15

(Landmark)

          Again Olay bags this category. The non greasy feel with just the right amount of moisture that this product offers is simply amazing. It gives your skin an instant glow with a dewy finish. Other benefits range from UV protection, anti-ageing and skin whitening.

CONCEALER: THE BODY SHOP Tea Tree Concealer
(The Body Shop, Trinoma)

          I wasn't a fan of concealers way back because I didn't know how to really work them on my face and I can't seem to make them blend with my skin. I felt like there were blotches of the product on my face. So instead of concealing the imperfections I was making them more noticeable which was a bad thing. Though I've seen others who swear by concealers, I for one haven't really found the right one for me until I got this product. This has the most manageable texture I have ever tried and the color really matches my skin. Another good thing about it is that it has tea tree which is good for pimples so it works both as a concealer and pimple treatment. It visibly reduces redness and imperfections. Although I still have trouble blending it on my under eye area, I still favor this one over the others.

EYE SHADOW: THE BODY SHOP Shimmer Waves
(The Body Shop, Trinoma)

          This product has been my ultimate favorite since it was introduced. The colors are very wearable and the texture is so unique that you only need a few strokes to really get them on your brush. Staying power is equally good and they only give off a reasonable amount of shimmer so it can be used for everyday look. The lighter colors can be used for highlighting as well.

BLUSH: SMASHBOX O-Glow
(Beauty Bar)

          I love powder blushes like my Physicians Formula happy booster in blush and L'oreal true match super-blendable blush in neutral but recently I've been reaching for my Smashbox O-glow cheek stain. It looks like a translucent paste but can be easily applied on the cheeks giving them just a hint of blush that looks natural, dewy and fresh.

LIP BALM: MAYBELLINE Baby lips, Anti-oxidant Berry
(Rustan's)

Maybelline Babylips lip balm I was so impressed by the formulation that I use it everyday. It feels light on your lips and keep them moisturized without the sticky feeling. It's best used to prime your lips before application of any lipstick.

TINTED LIP BALM: REVLON Lip Butters, Cherry Tart
(SM North)

          These are the best tinted lip balms I've ever tried. They glide smoothly on nude unconditioned lips and give you just the right amount of color that's more sheer than a lipstick and less sticky than a lip balm. They come in a wide variety of shades that will truly match your every mood. I love this product so much that I wrote a separate blog about this just recently.

LIPSTICK: MAC Amplified Lipstick in Double Shot

(Duty Free)

          I was never a fan of lipsticks simply because I feel like my lips weren't cut out for it. I have creased lips (I swear I've never seen on anyone else) that any lipstick would look awful on them especially the creamy ones. It was only after I realized I can use them over lip gloss or lip balm that lipsticks became an essential to my everyday look. I love MAC Amplified lipstick in double shot. It has a rich creamy finish that glides on smoothly. I can't really describe the shade but it looks like a lighter shade of brown, almost like a neutral shade but less sheer.

FACE POWDER: CLINIQUE Derma White Brightening Loose Powder

(Trinoma)

          This product has won me over since the first time I saw and bought it at a Clinique booth in Trinoma. I remember having second thoughts about getting it beacuse I was quite overwhelmed by the price but after trying it on my face I knew why they had to charge quite an amount for just a face powder. The quality of this product is something I have never seen before in other brands. It feels light and soft on your face. It has a sheer and translucent coverage and it immediately brightens your complexion with just the right amount of shimmer. What's really unique and amazing about this is that the powders are water-encapsulated and release a cool, soothing sensation on application. The technology behind Clinique derma white loose powder plus the quality and quantity (20 grams) make this product stand out from the rest. I really do need to mention that I have been using this everyday since I purchased it in 2011 and I haven't even consumed much, probably just 1/4 of the container since a little goes a long way.

          Well, that concludes my "Current Favorites" which is basically the products that I use everyday and are at the top of my list. I was tempted to include runners up but that would only make this entry longer. You may have noticed I didn't include foundation to my list. This is because I don't use any for my everyday look. I only get to wear foundation during special occasions done by make up artists. I have yet to master the art of blending foundation with my skin in the future.