Hello everyone! About a month ago I attended a symposium at Makati Diamond Residences and got to spend the night there with some friends. It's my first time to stay in one of their suites and I really love that it's equipped with everything you need for a staycation but what really caught my attention was the familiar brand of bath products they provided, shampoo and body wash by Shokubutsu Hana.

VMV HYPOALLERGENICS: Grandma Minnie's The Big, Brave Boo-boo Balm

Hey guys! I've been out of wifi range most of my days last week and it felt almost crippling. I know it seems a bit dramatic but I think you'll agree with me when I say that once you're used to having access to the world wide web 24/7 then suddenly gets regulated to just having it for a few hours, you can really feel the huge difference. 

MARIO BADESCU: Buffering Lotion

Hello everyone! February of this year marks one of the best things that ever happened to online shopping and that is because Sephora has finally arrived in the Philippine shores! Now we're just a few clicks away from getting our claws on products we adore without having to wait for a long time. Luckily I was given a complimentary GC to spend on Sephora Philippines. I have to admit it took me days to decide what to get but I finally zeroed in on a product I've been meaning to try, the Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion. 

CELETEQUE: Classified Dermo Mission

Hello everyone! If you've been reading my blog for some time now, you can probably tell that I'm a skincare advocate. This interest dates back in my teenage years and has evolved from acne treatment and prevention, to sun protection, brightening and anti-aging. My skin condition was at its worst throughout my teens and early 20's due to acne. This is why I've always been very careful in choosing what products to apply on my face because most often than not I end up with multiple cystic acne the following day. 

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VMV HYPOALLERGENICS: id Monolaurin Gel

Hey guys! I've been wanting to share a great product with you since I started using it a couple of months ago. I waited a while longer to see how it fairs on prolonged use so stay tuned and know more about my new favorite skincare product, the VMV Hypoallergenics id Monolaurin Gel.

L'ORÉAL: Revitalift Laser X3 Power Water

Just a few days left and it's Valentines! Make yourselves date ready before the big day by sticking to a good skin care routine. If you're the type who wants to keep using products your skin is used to but doesn't mind adding an extra step to your daily ritual, then this post screams your name. 

SONIMART: Replacement Brush Head for Sensitive Skin

Hey guys! I promised a series of reviews to compensate for my silence in the past weeks and here is one of them. If you've been following my blog for a while now (I love you!!!), you'd probably know how I'm wrapped up with skin care. I had a serious case of pimple breakouts in the past that I luckily got out of. Getting over that ordeal inspired me to take care of my skin all the time which is probably the main reason for my obsession on anything skin care related.

Image courtesy of Clarisonic.com

My most favorite indulgence is having a facial which I often fail to do regularly. Good thing my loving husband gifted me with a Clarisonic, the pioneer in sonic skin cleansing since 2004. The downside to owning this most coveted skincare tool is availability of the replacement brush head. If you live in Manila, you can only buy it online which brings me to another con, the price can go way up due to added shipment fee and customs tax. Now there are ways to avoid the hyped price and one of them is to have relatives or friends from abroad buy for you. Want to save even more? You can buy replacement brush heads designed for compatibility with Clarisonic like the ones manufactured by Sonimart. 

CLINIQUE: 3-Step System Package

Hey guys! I'm sort of getting on a roll here with enough time to pitch in another post before the "ber" months come marching in. I was out with friends weeks ago to watch the screening of Fantastic 4 but I got to the mall too early giving me enough time to visit a few shops. I was holding back from making any unnecessary purchases especially related to beauty products but seeing a neatly assembled package of skin care goodies from Clinique at a reasonable price literally shook me. 

See what I mean? There's no way anyone (well anyone who's a skin care devotee like me) can pass by the Clinique counter without noticing what an awesome deal this is! Imagine having the chance to try out Clinique's world famous 3-Step System for the low price of Php 495. 

The Clinique set consists of the Clarifying Lotion #2, Liquid Facial Soap Mild and Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion +. All the remaining packages available have these specific products for dry combination skin and there were no other varieties left. Good thing my current skin condition is more on the dry than the oily combination. 

The Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild comes in a 30ml tube which I'm really loving for travel. It's unscented and clear with a slightly runny gel like consistency. A small amount, about the size of a 25 centavo coin, is all you need to cover your entire face and neck. It gives a subtle cooling feel on application and builds up into a rich lather. It washes off completely leaving your skin freshly clean without any dryness. I've tried tons of liquid facial wash brands but I always go back to Clinique especially during bad skin days. 

The second step features the Clinique Clarifying Lotion #2 housed in a 100ml bottle which again is great for travel. Is it just me or the wash of lilac already looks refreshing? This toner is fragrance free although I still get a whiff of minty scent on application. I love that it gives my skin an invigorating feeling without the sting. It effectively removes the remaining impurities on your face and neck after cleansing. 

Lastly is the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion + in a tiny 15ml tube. Okay, it's disappointingly small for everyday use but look on the bright side, this will barely take up space in your travel kit. I know I'll be enjoying this on my next trip. This moisturizing lotion is light yellow and unscented. It has a very light texture that melts like butter on your skin. It instantly moisturizes your skin without the heavy feeling or oily finish. I love that it doesn't irritate my skin or cause pimple break outs. 

Overall, this travel set of the Clinique 3-Step System rocks! If you have dry combination skin, do drop by a Clinique counter near you and avail of this amazing offer. I'm not so sure if other branches have sets for other skin types but you may still want to check out their other products. Probably the only downside here is availability of stocks. Last time I checked, Trinoma still has 6 of these so don't wait too long to get your own set. Any questions in mind? Ask away and I'll get back to you soon. Thank you for reading this post and have an amazing week!

J ♥ I ♥ N ♥ G

YSA: Post Acne Lotion

Hey guys! I've been having bad skin days with pimples breaking out from all over my face and I really can't tell what's causing it. I was looking over the products I'm currently using but not one is new to my rotation. I eventually concluded that it's not the result of what I'm using but it's actually what I've missed using in the past weeks. If you've read my old posts about my skin care regimen, you wouldn't be surprised to know that I've been using the same pimple treatment from my dermatologist since college days! It's quite unbelievable that I didn't develop some sort of tolerance to any of Dr. Lopez-Nazal's products particularly the Post Acne Lotion which I've been using for over a decade nonstop until I ran out about 2 weeks ago. 

RAVE: Nature Republic Acne Clear Patch

(L) Bee Venom Emulsion || Php 695 / 150 ml
(R) Bee Venom Acne Clear Patch || Php 235 / pack

Hey guys! If you read my last post, you'd know that I recently picked up a few things from Nature Republic. I wasn't suppose to get more than a couple of items but their affordable price made it almost impossible for me to get out of the store empty-handed. Since I've used up my YSA Post-Acne Lotion as well as my Kiehl's Acne Blemish Control Daily Skin-Clearing Treatment, I haven't been using any product to prevent and fight pimples for almost a month now. 

KIEHL'S: Midnight Recovery Concentrate

Hey guys! I hope you miss reading my posts as much as I miss doing reviews at my usual pace. I recently started a new chapter of my life and got so hooked that my blogging days were put aside temporarily. Anyway, this post is all about a skin care regimen I started sometime November of last year. I've been reading great reviews about Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate that I decided to save up for it. Good thing Kiehl's Holiday Collection went out a bit early so I had the chance to grab one that included both the serum and under eye concentrate. 

The Midnight Recovery Concentrate is housed in a 30 ml glass bottle with a screw-on cap which also  doubles as a dropper for dispensing the product.

The dropper looks really fancy being made of clear glass making it easier to see right through and know how much product you're dispensing. 

This is a clear serum that has the consistency of oil but thinner. It has a distinct herbal and subtle menthol scent that's quite soothing yet doesn't linger. The label says to use 2 to 3 drops to cover your face so I apply a drop each on my forehead, cheeks and chin. It may appear and feel a bit greasy on application but it gets easily absorbed by the skin leaving it supple to touch. I love waking up to a healthy-looking skin the next day. I also noticed how this night ritual kept my skin looking refreshed and hydrated. It has totally improved the overall condition of my skin in 2 weeks of continued use.

The Midnight Recovery Eye comes in this 15 ml tube. 

It has a tapered nozzle that works so well in dispensing just the right amount of product.

This eye concentrate is opaque white in color and shares the same scent as the serum. It applies smoothly on your skin and gets absorbed after a while. It's lightweight and gentle on your under eye area that you won't feel a sting. The Kiehl's sales rep suggested to put just a tiny bit (half a grain of rice) on each area so this tube will definitely last. I love having to wake up with less puffiness. Though I haven't seen significant results with regards to reduction of fine wrinkles, I love that it somehow made my under eyes look lighter after a month's use.

Overall, I love both products that I intend to make them part of my night ritual. I recommend it to everyone who wants to improve their current skin condition especially those who want to delay signs of aging like dryness. You may get these wonder products from all Kiehl's branches nationwide. 

Any thoughts on these products? Do share them on the comments section below. Thank you for visiting and have a great week ahead!

DABO: Anti-aging Hand Cream

Hey guys! I recently received gifts from my lovely cousin who's based in Singapore. She knows how I love trying out new skin care products which is why she sends me every new thing she sees on display when she goes shopping. Early this month, she got me a hand cream from DABO, a Korean brand. 

DABO Hand Cream contains Coenzyme Q10 and Shea butter that will help improve skin texture and prevent aging. It comes in a 100 ml squeeze type tube with a screw-on cap which reminds me so much of L'occitane hand creams. This cream is opaque white and has a fresh aloe scent. A pea size is all you need to moisturize your hands. I love that it spreads effortlessly and gets absorbed quickly by the skin. It moisturizes your hands and nails without the sticky feeling. After just a week of daily use, I noticed my hands are kept moisturized the entire day. Also, the rough edges near my finger nails have softened.

Overall, I am so impressed with this hand cream and I don't mind buying another tube once it runs out. I'll try to find out if DABO is available locally and if it is, I highly recommend it to everyone. Any queries in mind? Do share them on the comments section below. Thank you for visiting and have a wonderful week!

♥♥♥

CELETEQUE: Acne Solutions Oil Control Toner and Facial Moisturizer Gel

Hey guys! I've been suffering from a few break outs here and there since last week and my usual regimen doesn't seem to make it any better. Good thing I got samples of Celeteque Acne Solutions Facial Moisturizing Gel from the BDJ Beauty Social I attended last month. It didn't take long for me to decide on getting the full size and check out the other products included in the Acne Solutions line. 

I only thought of getting the Facial Moisturizer Gel but since Landmark was on sale, I bought the Oil Control Toner as well. I also got a silver cosmetic pouch for free since I reached the minimum required purchase of 300 Php. 

The Celeteque Facial Moisturizer Gel comes in this 50ml squeeze type tube. I bought it at 10% off, from its original tag of 335 Php down to 301.50 Php.

This moisturizer is unscented, looks clear and is in gel form as the name implies. It spreads easily, feels a little sticky at first, dries off easily then you will feel your skin tighten a little. I've been using this continuously for more than a week and after running out of samples, I bought the full size without thinking twice. This moisturizer miraculously helped clear my skin. Newly emerging break outs were dried off and halted in just a few days of continued use. I also noticed my post acne marks didn't look too dark the way they used to before I started using Celeteque. Although I'm not a fan of how it feels after application, adding a moisturizer on top seem to help fix it.

Miss Jenny, Celeteque's sales assistant in Landmark, recommended the rest of the Acne Solutions line including the Oil Control Toner. According to her, it can also double as your makeup remover at the end of the day.

It comes in this 125 ml bottle with a flip top cover. This is a clear toner that reeks of alcohol on initial application. I suggest you use it sparingly and dab on problem areas first then swiftly go over your entire face. This toner doesn't sting or cause any untoward skin reactions. I haven't used it on an active pimple since all of mine were already dried by the Moisturizing gel from a week's use. I can't tell yet if this is a good toner since I only started using it yesterday but I promise to get back to you with an update soon. 

Again, I bought this at 10% off, for only 103.28 Php from its original price of 114.75 Php. 

Since my entire purchase exceeded 300 Php, Celeteque threw in a silver cosmetic pouch as a gift. 

I like this small pouch and how it opens up into 2 transparent compartments. I think I can use this for travel or make it my dental hygiene kit.

Overall, I am pretty happy with this purchase as well as the gift that came with it. I love the Moisturizing Gel so much that I urge you to try it too if you have pimple problems like me. Although it may not work exactly the same way with others, still the tag isn't too hefty so you won't be losing much if it doesn't turn out that good for you. I haven't figured out the Oil Control Toner yet but I think it's a really promising product. I will update you soon so do check back in when you can. 

Celeteque is available at all leading department stores nationwide. You may get them at 10% off in Landmark, Trinoma until the end of October with a free pouch for a minimum purchase of 300 Php worth of Celeteque products. So have you tried any of the Celeteque Acne Solutions line? Do share your thoughts on the comments section below. Thanks for reading and have a great week ahead!

♥♥♥

ELIZABETH ARDEN: White Glove Extreme Skin Brightening Overnight Capsules

Hey guys! It feels great to be back. I've been stuck in bed since my surgery and though I wanted so much to work on some pending reviews I couldn't because my wound still hurts. Anyway, I didn't get to do my skin care routine while in the hospital hence my face felt rough and unpleasant the entire time. Luckily, I have plenty of stuff in my stash I haven't tried including this pouchful of Elizabeth Arden goodies from Miss Shen's 4th Anniversary Giveaway so I indulged the moment I got home. 

I went for the White Glove Extreme Skin Brightening Overnight Capsules because they seem appropriate for my week long neglected skin. Forgive me for the display of images, I missed blogging so much that I got a little trigger happy with my Ipad.

I love that they placed the capsules in this elegant jar, small enough to fit in any pouch making it excellent for travel. 

There were seven of these small gold capsules in the jar and one capsule is good for a single use on the face and neck.

To open, just twist the tab around twice and it'll snap off easily. This is my first time to try a product housed in a capsule and I have to say I like it. Capsules are neat for travel, dispensing the product is easier and you won't have to estimate the amount you need each time.

It's translucent gold in color and has the consistency of a thick serum, almost like a gel. Initially I was a little hesitant to use it because there were specks of dark brown grains in the serum and I wasn't sure of the expiration. So I searched online and luckily there were several reviews describing the product and showing actual images of the serum looking exactly the same as mine. 

The serum spreads easily and though it looks and feels a bit greasy on my face, it doesn't really bother me because I only use this at night. It has a subtle cosmetic scent that immediately fades a few minutes after application. I feel like it hydrates your skin throughout the night because you wake up to smooth, supple skin the next morning. 

After using it for three consecutive days, I feel like my skin improved and has become more soft and velvety. I haven't noticed any visible changes with the size of my pores or the fine lines around my eyes but I guess it's still too early to tell. 

Overall, this product isn't so bad but there are other affordable moisturizers in the market with the same effect. This is why I'm not buying it in full size. I do recommend it to those who are looking for something new to try and don't mind splurging on a good moisturizer but if you're on a tight budget, this might not be the best product for you. 

♥ ♥ ♥

June BDJ Box

Hey guys! I hope everyone's finding ways to enjoy the rainy season. I for one have had more than enough time to spend indoors hence do a lot of cleaning and organizing in my room. I've also been free to update my blog hence I bring you this in-depth look of my June BDJ Box.

Inside are the much awaited stickers with this month's mantra "YOU are STRONGER than you seem, MORE BEAUTIFUL than you think". Now that's what you call girl power. 

Seeing the contents made my eyes pop with excitement! Seriously, it will take an ice queen to ignore how wonderful the products are. So without further introductions, here are the contents of the box as described by BDJ.

L'oreal Paris Fall Repair 3x Hair Tonic (90 ml), Php 259

Nourish your scalp with a water based treatment Fall Repair 3x Leave In Tonic. The tonic ingredient makes your hair resistant to external aggressions. Have a fabulous hair finish with the latest hair care set from L'oreal Paris!

L'oreal Paris Fall Repair 3x Shampoo (70 ml), Php 110

Grow your hair stronger from the roots! With L'oreal Paris Fall Repair Shampoo, your hair fibers get restructured as it nourishes your hair from the roots! Its latest discovery, Arginine - an essential amino acid vital for hair growth is the highlight ingredient of this innovation from Paris!

L'oreal Paris Fall Repair 3x Conditioner (70 ml), Php 119

Feel softer and detangled locks with L'oreal Paris Fall Repair Conditioner. Use this conditioner along with the Fall Repair Shampoo to address top 3 causes of hair fall: hair malnutrition, root fragility and fiber damage.

Physiogel Hypo-Allergenic Intensive Cream (50 ml), Php 574.50

This non-comedogenic cream is enriched with Derma Membrane Structure (DMS) technology, ceramide and lipids that mimic your own skin's lipid layers! Apply a thin film once or twice daily. May also be used more often, if necessary. 

Avon Vitaluscious Lipstick (3.6 g), Php 299

No more dry and chapped lips! Make your lips look alive and vibrant as you pose one fab smile with Avon's Vitaluscious Lipstick. This rich and full colored lippie has nourishing vitamins to hydrate and soothe your lips!

Revlon Photoready Kajal Intense Eyeliner + Brightener (2.4 g), Php 525

Get multiple on-trend looks with one dual ended pencil. The dark end's rich color gives you an intense, bold look. The light end brightens and opens up the eyes. Use both ends together for an on-trend smoldering look.

Kinerase C6 Peptide Intensive Treatment (5ml), Php 5,000 (30 ml)

After cleansing and toning, visibly improve your skin texture and tone with Kinerase intensive treatment. It has Argireline - an ingredient that helps reduce the depth of wrinkles by up to 30% in 30 days.

Kinerase Eye Cream (5 ml), Php 3,800 (15 g)

Kinerase's eye cream is a light and moisturizing formula that pampers delicate skin around the eyes with its soothing benefits. It has Coix seed extract and Sodium Hyaluronate that hydrate skin around contours of the eye area.

What I  L♥VE  about my BDJ Box

I actually think of the BDJ Box as my own personal shopper! I don't know how, but they seem to have a way of effectively predicting the stuff I need and want to try each month. Like this month's box, it was a good thing I haven't bought shampoo and conditioner before receiving my June box because they included hair care products from L'oreal. Now I don't have to think of which brand to try next when I restock. I've also been putting off buying an eyeliner (eye liner newbie here) simply because I don't know which one to get. Luckily, Revlon Photoready Kajal Intense Eyeliner + Brightener was included as well. I love that BDJ keeps us updated with new products in the market like Avon's Vitaluscious Lipstick and allows us to experience high end brands like the Kinerase C6 Peptide Intensive Treatment and Eye Cream. Finally I have to say that only BDJ can repeat products and still make it look awesome! Who wouldn't want a tube of  Physiogel Hypo-Allergenic Intensive Cream right?

I used to envy beauty boxes in the US but not anymore since the birth of BDJ Box late last year. If you watch unboxing videos of international beauty subscriptions like Birch Box and ipsy, you'd know how great BDJ Boxes are. In my opinion, BDJ isn't only at par with these boxes, it's actually better! You get more value for your money because BDJ doesn't only stuff their boxes with random things, they give you a combination of well thought of products you can actually use. 

I got my BDJ Box for less then Php 500 and received more than Php 3,000 worth of products! So if you're still unsure, you may want to try signing up for one month and let that one time BDJ Box experience help you decide. Who knows, you might enjoy it so much you'd subscribe for a year! Thanks for reading and have an amazing weekend!