Sun Block Foundation

Rating: 5/5

I think I have mentioned in passing that I am addicted to sunblock. I am, thanks to my mom. Sun block is supposed to be good for your skin as it shields your face from the sun that can give you dark spots and early wrinkles. UVB and UVA rays are harmful and they do not always come with the sun. Even when the sun is hidden there can still be UVB rays so always protect your skin!

I have a Shiseido Sun Protection Compact Foundation SPF 34 PA+++ that was given to me by my mom. However, because when she bought this, I was not with her, it does not match my skin tone. It's a tad bit lighter than my actual skin tone. I need to not go out for months before I can use this and not look like espasol (a Filipino delicacy rolled over something like confectionary sugar). My sister has a lighter skin tone so she uses it. She is not fond of make-up but she does go to cosplays and when she does, she wears make-up. I must say though that the foundation is really nice. It will make your skin look like porcelain except that it has a matte finish. I am not into foundation that much or any tinted stuff I need to apply on my face but this one, I will not mind applying on my face, provided that it matches my skin tone of course.

If you are looking for a sun block and foundation rolled into one that will not cake even when it is hot, and will glide on smoothly on your face, this sun block is for you.

The last time I checked the price of this foundation is more than one thousand but it has been a couple of years so just check it out. If you want to save moolah, you can just buy a refill and then use a compact mirror in applying the foundation. This will save you a few more bucks.

Result: porcelain-like, matte finish and sun protection

Squeaky Clean

Rating: 3/5

I am a big fan of Estee Lauder but I am not a big fan of Perfectly Clean Splash Away Foaming Cleanser because I think their main objective is really to give you perfectly clean face. I feel like it cleans my face too much that I end up with a dry face. I was never a fan of squeaky clean skin. I do not like my skin to make the sound a plate makes when it is very clean.

It has only been two days since I switched back to Shiseido the Skin Care Gentle Cleansing Foam and my skin has improved. I just tried this facial wash because it came free with my Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrate. I have another tube which I gave to my husband because he was getting a breakout for a reason still unknown to us. I asked him to try this for the night and then I applied him some Shiseido SPF 50 PA+++ and the following morning all bumps were gone. Why the sunblock? I heard that this dries your skin too. So I figured without a moisturizer it should help him get rid of the bumps. It might have been a fluke but the following day all bumps were gone!

In any case, the tube is still with him but I have no idea if he uses it still. I will have to ask him later.

Another thing I do not like about this is that you have to use a great amount just so you can have a nice lather unlike with the Shiseido, just a little amount makes a nice lather already.

The plus of this product though is the wonderful scent. You can choose to try it, who knows, the formula might have been made for you. The price of this facial wash is cheaper than the rest of the other Estee Lauder products.

Goodbye Cellulite!

Last time I posted about an anti-cellulite lotion that is effective but a tad bit expensive. Here is a lotion gel that is anti-cellulite, effective but not as expensive. Nivea Goodbye Cellulite. I know, with a name like that how can you even take it serously, but surprisingly, after I gave it a chance, it was able to do its job. I would have to say that Avon Cellu-sculpt offered more dramatic results, but still at more than half the price less of Avon, it's good enough for me. It has a very cool feel to it that can wake you up from slumberland. The smell is better than that of Avon which is good however, the consistency is what I do not like. It is in gel form and you tend to end up using more. I also feel like it turns into something solid/dried glue-like consistency after you apply it and skin was unable to absorb it but this is tolerable.

I have not really kept track of how long I have had the lotion so as to find out if it lasts as long or longer than Avon. I do not have time to slather lotion in the morning as most of the time my husband and I are scurrying out of the house so early in the morning. Putting on lotion means less sleep. Lotion... sleep... Sleep!

I have used three tubes of this product before I got married so I can tell you that this works. I used this on my thighs and abdominal area.

This is all I have to share for now! :)

Cellu-Sculpture

Rating: 5/5

When I saw the Avon Cellu-Sculpt lotion, I thought my prayer has been answered. I guess it is a girl's dream to finally see all her cellulite gone. Actresses like Sandra Bullock have not been spared from the curse of the dimples in the wrong places. What is more sad is that men do not get to have cellulites! Travesty, I know!

I decided to try this product in the hopes that it will work for me. I was lucky because Avon was having a sale when I got my tube and so I was able to get the bigger tube. I used it for more than a month, applying it religiously to my thighs and abdominal area. Lo and behold, it worked! The dimples are not fully gone, but I noticed that my thighs were smaller than usual.

The scent is not good, however. In fact, the smell is terrible! What I like about this product though is that a little goes a long way and it is relatively easy to apply. I would recommend this for people who are obsessing on their thighs. If you are wondering, I have stopped using this product because I simply do not have time to slather lotion in the morning these days. Maybe someday I will get back to the program again. In the meantime, I have to rely on the good old treadmill at the gym. Then again, even treadmill cannot do a thing for the unwanted dimples. I also find that this is a tad bit too expensive especially since there are other products that are cheaper out there. I will blog about these other products soon! :)

Result: Noticeably trimmed thighs and less
dimples
Downside: Funky smell, more expensive than other anti-cellulite creams

Lush Dream

Rating: 4/5
I used to swim 30 laps every other day and while it did wonders for my shoulders and the rest of my body, it did great damage to my skin and hair! My skin was so scaly, dull and dry and so being the beauty gunk addict that I am, I looked for a perfect lotion. I tried the Body Shop's Body Butter first. Since I was looking for dramatic effects, I opted for the Olive Oil Butter. It smelled terrible and the color was icky green but I thought to myself, it might be effective.

Not. It was not at all effective. It did nothing for my skin. My skin was still dry, only now it also stank from the fugly smell of the lotion. So I kept on looking and I found myself reading a catalog of Lush. I know, I must have plenty of time in my hands! It was there that I found out about Lush's Dream Cream. Halle Berry swears by this moisturizer and we all know how smooth, silky and dewy her skin is! In a heartbeat, I was in a Lush Store buying my first ever tub of Lush Dream Cream.

I was not disappointed at all. It did all that it promised. It was also stinky but at least it is effective. It is handmade with no preservatives so the downside is the expiry date. This expires in a little more than six months. Fortunately, I swam every other day so I was really able to consume my tub. You will really feel the difference! It does quench your parched skin!

Now, you might ask me, why switch to Kiehl's Creme de Corps? The smell might not drive me away but my husband can be driven away by the smell! Now that I am married, I find it more practical to stick to Kiehl's. Oh and yeah, this lotion, no matter how humble the container is still on the pricey side.

Result: Smooth, moisturized, dewy, stinky skin :) Hey you take the good with the bad
Downside: Has a quick expiry date

Fee, Fi, Fo, Foam

Raing: 5/5

Shiseido Pureness Gentle Cleansing Foam is very effective for those who tend to have oily skin and even those who tend to have pimples and other blemishes caused by oily skin. This has worked for me in my oiliest of years. I only wished my mom could have discovered this earlier in my life *haha*. My skin was never extremely oily however, it did have its way of making my face shine like an oily pan.




I have used Shiseido Pureness Gentle Cleansing Foam for years until that fateful year when I went to a Shiseido bar in Hong Kong. The sales associate told me not to use the Pureness line anymore as my face is absolutely dry already. I attributed the scaling from the cold winds of March but the woman refused to sell me the Pureness line! (I was shocked and was forced to believe her!) She gave me the samples for the Skin Care line after I also bought the SPF 50 Sunblock (yes the one that I have admitted to being addicted to!) After I tried the Shiseido Skin Care Gentle Cleansing Foam, there was no turning back. I even got to a point where I saved all my points in the SM Advantage Card so I can get myself some of this product for free! Of course the price of this product does not come cheap too. *hehe* Darn these cosmetic companies! :)

The texture of this facial wash is so nice when you lather it up, the bubbles are so small and soft to the skin! I know you might say, aren't all bubbles? But you have to try this to believe it. The scent is really nice too! I am still using this and I really drain the tube up to its last drop because I do swear by this gunk.

And yes, this was my facial wash in the one year that I was preparing for my wedding. :)

Loco for Lotion

Rating: 5/5

I know there are so many gunk for lotion out there. However, I have tried one that actually makes you skin soft as soon as you apply it. There is even a ten-day promise. I cannot vouch for this promise because I was not able to follow the routine religiously for ten days. It's not the lotion, it's me! I am always in a hurry in the morning that putting on lotion is the last thing on my mind. It is nice to use however, for moments when you actually have the time to slather some.

The effective lotion? Kiehl's Creme de Corps lotion. There is a light formula if you do not want the thick one. I bought the thick one just so I am sure I am not getting shortchanged. I want all the moisture the big bottle can offer. The downside? It's a bit more creamy, hence takes a bit more time to get absorbed. You have to let it sit on your skin but it is worth it. You can apply it on dry areas and you will surely notice the difference as soon as you apply it. At least, this is how it is for me.

This is the best body lotion I have tried so far. The scent? Do not ask me about the scent! Haha! It does not have a strong scent, if it even has any at all. Then again, you got lotion so your skin will be softer, if you want to smell nice then you would have used perfume instead. I think a lotion without scent is actually good because this means you will not have to layer your perfume with another scent.

This lotion is more expensive than the usual lotion you can buy in other shops but it is worth it.

Peeling, Nothing More Than Peeling

Rating: 5/5

Like all the other brides-to-be, I was also obsessed with the wedding magazines! I read all of them! In one of the magazines, I saw tips on what beauty products to use at a certain age. One of the products caught my attention because apparently, this product is for all ages. I am 28 already so I fear trying products that can tend to dry out my face. I would like to elude the wrinkles for as long as I can. Knowing that this product is for any age, I was encouraged.

I found a reason to go to Greenbelt 5 *wahaha* to lure my then-fiance *wahaha* and when I got there, I was able to get the bottle that promised beautiful, renewed skin in just one night! I think I got it for more than a thousand Pesos.

Being the girl with no EQ, I immediately tried this when I got home. The directions said I should apply it evenly on my face and let it stay there until the following morning. I should wash it with warm water after wearing the gunk overnight. It did not sting at all nor did it itch, though I have heard other people complain about itching. This gunk is colorless and it peels evenly. The downside of these beautiful features though is that it smells like ammonia.

After one night, my skin was indeed whiter (which I did not particularly like, I am worried I might burn my face under the sun), cheeks were rosy and the pores less obvious. Indications on the product are the following: the product is supposed to help dull skin, hyperpigmentation, dark spots and sensitive to chemical treatments.

It's like you scrubbed your face, without having to scrub. The product says you have to use it every other day but when I tried doing that, I noticed my skin being a bit sensitive to my moisturizer so I used it every three to four days. It was really great.

I would recommend this product but remember to put on enough sunblock all day as this is still a peeling product and therefore, you must protect your skin. I have ended up under the sun for prolonged periods of time (like when we went to Laguna to look for my then-fiance's barong) but thankfully, no maps on my face because I used my Shiseido SPF 50 PA+++ UVA/UVB sunblock.

Happy peeling!

Result: Rosy skin and less obvious pores
Downside: This smells of ammonia so remember to ask the Kiehl's sales associate to let you smell it first. It is tolerable for me though and the effects are all worth it.

When It Rains, It Pores

Rating: 3/5

I was obsessed about my pores for a while and so I tried Shiseido Pureness Pore Purifying Warming Scrub ( I know this sounds so much like the Estee Lauder Idealist)and then the Shiseido Pureness Cooling Essence. The Cooling Essence it to be applied on the pores (avoiding the mouth and eye area, maybe because it's drying) night and day. The Pore Purifying Warming Scrub can be used once a week because this has beads that exfoliates.

I tried this but stopped using it because I did not see immediate effects and also, a few days after I bought this, I got obsessed with Estee Lauder's Idealist Thermal-D Refinisher. It won the Cosmopolitan award then. The Shiseido Pureness line is cheaper than the Estee Lauder's Idealist line.

I still have these, do you think I should give it another try? My concern is that Pureness is a line for oily skin, and I am past the oily stage. I am already 28 so while I have bouts of oiliness at times, most of the time, my skin is parched and in need of moisture. I am just worried it might ruin the balance (as if!) of my skin.

NutriSystem and Acai Berries

Okay, the first time I heard about the name, I thought this was again one of those instant stuff that you put into water and gulp until your mug is empty, leaving an aftertaste of Salmon Shake. I was wrong. This apparently, is not a product inside a can but rather, a service. Yes, you heard me right!

I have long been fantasizing about this, eating healthy food but not having to prepare the healthy food yourself. I have tried 5-day diets and 3-day diets and fat burning soup that in the end, burns me out because of long food preparation and of course, cleaning up afterwards. Fantasy made into reality is what Nutrisystem is.

Nutrisystem is a service that delivers over 100 types of delicious food. Delicious? Let me be more specific, some exampes of these food: Mac and Cheese (I know, is this heaven or what?), Chicken Parmesan (Cheese! Cheese! Cheese! Gotta love 'em), Tacos plus do not think you will have to skip dessert because you don't. Here are some of the desserts available: almond biscotti and blueberry lemon bars. If that is not enough, you will also get to eat not just three times a day but five times a day. Three meals and two snacks! Now how cool is that? So you might ask, how will this make you lose weight.

Essentialy, Nutrisystem offers low glycemic food. Let me translate this to English. Glycemic Index (GI) indicates the effect of carbohydrates and sugar to the blood glucose levels. The lower the GI the slower the sugar and starch is absorbed by the body, the longer the body consumes the food you eat, the longer you feel fuller.

Another concern might be nutrition. The diet contains 55% carb, 25% protein and 20% fat so you need not worry about not getting enough or too much of something. I think you should add fruits though, I do not know if they have enough fiber and other vitamins. A nice fruit suggestion is Acai Berries that will be discussed further on. If you're into exotic and healthy, this is definitely the fruit for you.

Nutrisystem provides different programs for different cases like: females over 60, males over 60, diabetics and males and females specific programs.

Cost of this service/food is 300 USD for a month. That is roughly 10 USD per day. I think that is not so bad at all, if you are living in the states that is... Actually, even if you are not.

Aside from losing weight, another thing that almost everybody wants to do is to look and feel young. One of the ways to do this is to make sure your body gets enough antioxidants. While other people prefer green tea to do the job for them, there is another alternative if you are not into green tea. A product from the Amazon called the Acai (a-sigh-ee) berry has been discovered. They have packaged this now in a form where it is easier to be consumed by us regular people who do not want to get old.

This is one of the top ten products featured in Oprah's Website 10 Superfoods list of Dr. Pericone. If that is not enough to convince you, this also tastes like a mix of berries and chocolate (hmmm... chocolate...). If this is not enough, this is supposed to boost your immune system as well! Remember, earlier I mentioned about lack of fiber in the NutriSystem diet? I think Acai berries will complement NutriSytem beautifully.

My Favorite Shiseido

Rating: 5/5

I started using sunblock a bit late in life because my mom used to believe that sunblock will just make me burn more. Fortunately, Shiseido made her change her mind! She is now a certified sunblock SPF 50 addict and in the process, she has also made me into one.

Now, I can no longer go out of the house without this sun block. Worse, I once tried another formula but the formula was too thick and oily. Shiseido Sun Protection Cream SPF 50+ UVA/UVB for Face is nice because you can easily blend it on your skin, especially when I you have moisturizer on. This comes with PA++ unlike other sunblocks which protects you from aging. It is not too thick and it is certainly not sticky. It has a different smell but it's not bad smelling at all.

Another bonus of this product is that it is waterproof so you can sweat it out and still know that you are protected. I have used this on a very sunny day on the beach, under the glaring heat of the sun while we worked for Habitat for Humanity and it has not failed me yet. I use this with some exfoliating formulas to keep me from having unwanted skin maps on my face.

I love this product so much, that on my wedding day, I put on some even though my makeup artist insisted that I do not put on anything at all. The result? Very nice dewy finish. My make up stayed in tact and beautiful all day! When I say all day, I mean from 8am to 12 midnight!

The packaging is light as it is just inside a sporty blue and orange plastic tube. I never go for overnights or out-of-the-country or out-of-town trips without this thing. As I have said, I too, like my mom, am hooked!

The price of this sunblock is not cheap, I admit that but a tube can last me for several months and I love that it really does its job. It protects my skin round the clock!

If you are wondering how long I have been using this sun block, it has been six years and still counting. :)

Miracle Cream for the Bride To Be

Rating: 5/5
Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Concentrate is indeed a miracle cream. It made my skin glow in just 21 days before my wedding! My then fiance got a great photographer and a great videographer for our wedding and I did not want to waste the money he was investing on them so I wanted to look like the radiant bride I am expected to be.

I did my research and contemplated on diamond peel. However, as I browsed the site of Estee Lauder, I found out about Estee Lauder's pre-wedding program. It comprised of ANR Repair Concentrate and the right moisturizer. I immediately wanted to try this, and so, while this beauty miracle cream is a bit on the pricey side, I took my risk.

I was glad I took the risk because the results were dramatic. I would buy this again if I had too. In 21 days, I was not able to finish it. I only had to apply this before sleeping. I think I have enough to last me another 21 days which I will use 3 months from now. I love this product!

The applicator is a dropper so it's very economical, you do not get to use more than what you need. As any Estee Lauder product, the packaging is also very elegant and luxurious. This is something you want in your cosmetic bag. :)

The price? I'm still glad though that it is not as pricey as La Mer still... Though I have not tried this product. Perhaps someday when I have more moolah to spend! :)

Result: Radiant and glowing skin!

Care for Kissers

Rating: 3/5
I have long been hearing things about Kiehl's lip balm. They say this lip balm is their number one best seller and so when Kiehl's finally got to Manila, I just had to have a tube of their lip balm. I got the one with SPF 15 because I am so obsessed with sunblock. I will share more on that in another post.

I was expecting too much I guess, which explains the tad bit disappointment that I had when I found out that it makes my lips soft only when I have it on. My lips go back to their parched state when it's all gone. It's different from my Ilog Maria lip balm that keeps on working even after it wears off. Plus, this lip balm does not have a pepperminty flavor.

If you are wondering if I still use mine, yes I still do. The only reason I might continue to use it is probably because, it's easier to get than the Ilog Maria lip balm, Ilog Maria is a whole lot cheaper though. On the other hand, it does have SPF15 and Ilog Maria doesn't have any.

Big O

Rating: 5/5
I was listening to the radio when I found out about this new lip gloss called O-Gloss by Smashbox. I have not used Smashbox before but I have to say, this product intrigued me. When you buy this gloss in its pink tube, you can see from the clear colorless transparent applicator that the gel inside is clear. However, once it touches your skin, it turns into another color. In my case, it turns into light pink. The more I apply on my lips, the darker the shade becomes. It's so kewl! The product is said to be able to react to your body chemistry so that the lip gloss shade will always be different for each person. It's like a personalized lip gloss! This retails for 995.00 Php.



A forerunner of O-Gloss is O-Glow which is a clear blush that adjusts to the body chemistry of a person. As a result, the shade is personalized and flattering to the skin tone. This retails for 2,000 Php.

Smashbox products can be bought from Beauty Bar.

Glam Shine

Rating: 5/5

Loreal's Glam Shine really got me hooked. I have been using this ever since this came out. It won a Cosmopolitan award and rightly so because it really makes your kisser shine and sparkle. I like it when the sunlight kisses my lips, it just sparkles like a million diamonds.

This lip gloss is nice because you can do away with lipstick and it still looks really nice. Its formula is not sticky so it's perfect for kissing. :) There are varying shades but my all-time fave is the cherry sorbet 51.

Glam Shine Crystals was the next line that followed Glam Shine. This line is supposed to offer more shine and the applicator for this line is bigger so it's easier to use. However, the shade that I so love is not in this line. I tried one, but the shade is a tad bit too dark for me. I still use it occassionally but mostly it's Glam Shine for me.

This is also more affordable than the other lip glosses around.

Happy glossing!

Honey for My Honey

Rating: 5/5

The best lip balm I have ever tried has a nice peppermint flavor but is made of honey. This balm is made at a honey farm called Ilog Maria in Silang, Cavite Philippines. While it is a bit difficult to buy from the actual bee farm, they provide a convenient delivery system from their web site so you can still enjoy this really yummy and effective lip balm. This does not only work while it is on your lips, it continues to work even when it is off your lips already.

Another bonus is of course, it makes your kisser yummier to kiss. At least that's what my ex-boyfriend told me who happens to be my now-husband. *grin*

The best part about this lip balm is the price, it fetches for 71.50 Php for 16 grams! :)

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Hydra Complete Me

Rating: 3/5
When I bought an Idealist and ANR Eye Recovery Complex, I got for free two jars of Hydra Complete Multi-Level Moisture Creme, one small and one big. This smelled great and felt fabulous on my skin as I apply it. The texture is just wonderful. I wish I could say the same about the long term effect though.

The thing is, it did not do much for my dry skin. When I went to Murad, which I will also blog about next time, to have my skin checked by a resident dermatologist, she said that my skin is a bit dry. I knew that too, since the lines were starting to appear and I just turned 28! Okay, so maybe, partly I am to blame for not drinking enough water...

The nice thing about this product though is that it does not make my face shine like a greasy plate. Plus, it feels like it gets absorbed easily by the skin because the skin does not feel greasy for a long time. I apply sun block after moisturizer and after this, I can almost immediately get the sun block on my face.

I used this moisturizer on my wedding day and my makeup did not melt on my face though it was a really hot day. My face remained dewy.

The packaging is a jar which some people might find unhygienic. There are no special paraphernalia for applying this so essentially, you just stick you fingers into the jar and apply the glop directly on your face.

I did finish up my stock before I switched brands. I actually planned to get the very same jar when I considered the price. *grin* And of course the not-so-dramatic effect. And once more, my expectations were a tad bit too high for reality.

Result: Change was not very noticeable. Skin was not oily at all.