Hey guys! September went by too fast and now I'm stuck with so many amazing products to review. I haven't been blogging in the past 2 weeks due to a tight schedule. Good thing I developed the habit of taking pictures of newly acquired products and drafting them here so I won't miss anything. Enough about that, let's go to my recent skin care find from Za Cosmetics.

Za Cosmetics, I have to admit, is a brand I'm not familiar with since I'm a late bloomer in the field of skin care and cosmetics. I also learned that Za, like Majolica Majorca, comes from the makers of Shiseido, one of the leading beauty companies in Japan. Good thing Za was relaunched this year and is now locally available to cater to every Pinay.

I'm a sucker for all things PINK, so when I found out Za was giving away a pink pouch for a minimum purchase worth 1,000 Php, I instantly jumped right in and looked for products I could get. 

Since I've been breaking out several weeks before, I was looking for a whitening toner to lighten my pimple marks so I got a bottle of the True White Prismizer. 

How cute is this? I love the slim yet sturdy and elegant bottle. 

This retails for 545 Php which I think isn't so bad for a 150 ml bottle. 

Notice the expiration date label on the box? I really like it when brands do that to serve as a guide for their consumers.

Another thumbs up for the sealed bottle cap.

What I love most is the narrow spout which enables you to dispense just the right amount of product and avoid wastage. 

The Za True White Prismizer has a pleasant scent that doesn't come on too strong. It has a liquid consistency and looks clear. Just a small amount can cover your entire face so it's pretty much economical to use. I like that it doesn't sting or cause your skin to visibly peel. This toner didn't irritate my face or cause dryness and pimple break outs after almost 2 weeks of use. In terms of whitening, it did help even out my skin tone and lighten post blemish marks around my nose and chin in less than 2 weeks which normally takes longer.  

Another Za product I bought and have been using religiously is the True White Cleansing Foam.

It comes in a 100 g squeeze type tube with a flip cover to easily dispense the product. It also has a pleasant scent but a little more subtle than the Prismizer. I actually used way too much of the product the first time but I'm happy to say that a pea size is enough to thoroughly cleanse your face. 

This cleanser has a creamy texture with a few not-so-microbeads just enough to feel your skin getting scrubbed here and there. It surprisingly builds up into a generous lather and rinses off easily leaving your skin feeling refreshed and clean. I love that it doesn't completely strip off your skin's moisture and how soft your face feels after every use. I also believe this cleanser worked synergistically with the Prismizer to even out my skin and lighten my pimple marks in less than 2 weeks.

Okay now this has got to be the best part of the deal, getting a bright pink pouch along with my purchase. I've actually seen this promo from a few months back, good thing it's still running when I decided to buy their skin care products. Anyway, my purchase didn't reach the required minimum amount of 1,000 Php, it was through my friend Tet that I got to avail the promo because she bought an eyeliner (thanks so much caffeine buddy!). 

Nothing really fancy, just a synthetic leather and a top zipper closure. The pouch is lined with soft fabric without any added pockets inside. 

I love the etched sign on the front but most of all, I love how spacious this turns out to be! You'll see in my future post of what's in my cosmetic kit how roomy this pouch is. 

Overall, I love both products individually and in combination. I do think they work better together to deliver significant results in a reasonable amount of time. I can't conclude if you will get the same results when used individually since I started using both at the same time. I do recommend it to those of you who want to even out your skin's blemishes without shelling out too much. I will continue using this combo and will repurchase until a better product comes along. 

If you're on a limited budget, you might be interested in buying just the Prismizer and combine it with your present facial wash. I bet it will still yield favorable results so let me know how it works for you by sharing it on the comments section below. Thanks for reading and have a stress free weekend! 

❤❤❤

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!

❤❤❤

SKIN79: Super Beblesh Balm

Hey guys! Don't you just love it when the sky is clear? I admit to having a love and hate relationship with the sun. I love a sunny day but I also hate the sun's harmful rays which is why I never leave home without my umbrella and sunblock. Thank heavens there are so many products in the market that offer protection from UV rays like BB Creams. 

I've tried different brands like Shu Uemura, Clinique, Dr. Jart, Neutrogena, Missha, Tony Moly, L'oreal, Garnier, Too Cool for School, Maybelline and Celeteque (wheh!) but the BB cream I've always wanted to try is Skin79 Hot Pink. I've read a lot of great reviews on Skin79 but because this brand is not widely available in Manila and there are so many fake versions being sold out there, I never got around to buying one.

Several months ago, I came across Suesh Cosmetics' website and saw that they're selling Skin79 BB creams in full and trial sizes. I've been to their Trinoma outlet countless times but trial sizes were always out of stock. Last week when I met a friend for coffee, I tried my luck for the nth time and dropped by their stall. When the sales rep said they have trial sizes of the Skin79 BB Plus (orange), I asked right away what makes it different from the Hot Pink variety. She said the only difference is the higher SPF. I really didn't need much convincing since I've been waiting too long to try it and besides, the tiny tube was only 150 Php so I finally bought one. 

The Skin79 Beblesh Balm trial size comes in a small orange tube with a twist off cap. 

The back of the tube shows that it has SPF 50+ PA+++ for protection against UV rays.

I actually like the squeeze type tube with a narrow nozzle to carefully dispense the product and prevent wastage. I also like carrying this around in my bag for quick touch ups.

The Skin79 Plus BB has a creamy texture and a very subtle scent that's almost undetectable. It spreads easily and the formula seems to melt immediately upon application. It gives you an instant pearly white finish which I guess is expected of products with high spf. Although it initially gives off a white cast, it blends eventually with your complexion giving you a healthy glow. It may appear a bit shiny but you may balance it off with a finishing powder. 

Image courtesy of lifelittletales

Remember, when using BB creams don't slather a generous amount in a single application. Instead, squeeze out a pea size, dab it around your face using your finger tips then spread either  in a swiping or patting motion. You can layer it if you think you need more coverage but be careful not to overdo it. Chances are you will achieve your desired look without the ghostly cast if you do it this way. You'll notice being oily after about 2 hours of use but a little finishing powder is all you need to control it. Staying power is quite disappointing with obvious fading after 4 hours. 

Now let's see how the Skin79 Plus BB fairs compared to my all time favorite BB creams, Tonly Moly Luminous Goddess Aura and Clinique Age Defying.

In terms of color and consistency, Skin79 is more similar to Tony Moly Goddess Aura, both having a subtle yellow undertone and creamy texture unlike Clinique which gives a rosy white hue and has a runny consistency. All three spread effortlessly with Clinique drying off the fastest followed by Skin79 and Tony Moly. As for the white cast, well I've come to realize that it actually depends on the user's complexion and the amount of product used. 

All three don't give out a ghostly cast when used sparingly but I have to mention that Skin79 seems to appear the fairest. It also appears as dewy as Tony Moly unlike Clinique which has a matte finish. All three offer light to medium coverage while oil control is best when using Clinique followed by Skin79 and Tony Moly. In terms of price, Tony Moly is the most affordable at 748 Php/45 ml tube followed by Skin79 which retails for 1,000+ Php/40 gm bottle and Clinique which is around 1,850 Php/40 ml tube. 

Image courtesy of Skin79

Overall, I really like the Skin79 Plus Beblesh Balm and I will definitely buy a full size bottle when the tube runs out. I do recommend it to those who want to try a really good BB cream. If you're on a tight budget, I suggest you go with the trial size and decide whether to get the full size later. You may buy the trial size at any Suesh outlet store or if you're from Q.C. and have time to spare on October 4 and 5, go to Il Terrazo, Tomas Morato, Q.C. and restock your beauty essentials at the Beauty Fair 2013 from 12NN to 9PM. Thank you so much for reading and have a beautiful day! 

❤❤❤

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! 

❤❤❤