FCC

Today, I had my first encounter at the Facial Care Centre.

I went there because I wanted to have my warts removed. Last year, I went to Bioessence. I am not sure if I already blogged about that experience, it was really okay, I just wanted to try out a new place this time around. Bioessence's service was good, what I did not like was the place, it was rather cramped so this year, I thought I would try Facial Care Centre. My mom suggested the place last night as she was trying to dissuade me from getting my warts cauterized.

I called up their hotline and they booked me for an appointment. They sounded pushy but I did not mind since I was really planning to get my treatment at FCC.

I got to the Makati branch an hour earlier than my appointment. Parking btw is available at the GT Tower, 9th floor. Parking is free if you are a client but I digress. I asked if I can make my appointment an hour earlier and they allowed me to do this. During the consultation I was asked what products I was using. After that, the consultant asked me to sit in a chair (just an ordinary chair) and she got a light (the ones used for facials), inspected my face and noted the warts that I wanted removed along with a fatty deposit thing that I thought was a wart, this was the main reason why I really went. Anyway, she started talking about not the wart removal procedure but the facials. I told her I was not planning on getting facials before I get the warts removed. She said that I need cleaning first before the warts are removed. My eyebrows, involuntarily went up.

When you have warts, you have to be careful not to make them bleed because they will spread this way. I let her continue. She went on with diamond peel saying that I need it. I told her I am not comfortable with the idea of peeling my skin. She still tried to make me agree with her but I stood my ground. She then offered me with laser tone. She said it will heal my wart scabs faster. I knew this was not true but I really wanted my skin to be more toned so I agreed with this. She gave the wart removal treatment for free but in lieu of the wart removal payment, I had to pay for the laser tone treatment. The price was more or less the same as Bioessence.

The place was nice and comfortable. The facial was okay, of course the cleaning was painful but things do not come easy I guess. The laser tone did not feel a thing. There was just a wand that was going over my face, that was it.

As for the results, I really do not know because I have nothing but scabs right now. I hope to be able to see the results soon.

I have a laser tone treatment again tomorrow at 1330. They say it will make my scabs heal faster. I just want my skin toned.

Revital Review

Rating: 5/5

I used Shisedo Revital EX 1 as I would a toner. I used it after cleansing and then after which I applied my Night Moisture Recharge of Shiseido The Skincare line. I liked that it is very light (like applying water). Also, This got absorbed by the skin quickly and so I did not have to wait a long time before I applied my night moisturizer. There is no scent so it does not layer with my moisturizer's very subtle scent. The packaging is rather heavy as it is in a bottle and also, it is not very economical since you just poured the liquid out, there is no dispenser. Also, the lack of economy is partly my fault because I do not like using cotton, I just directly apply the "lotion". The term lotion is a misnomer because it is not thick at all, its consistency is that of hmm... water. :)

I felt my skin more taut and firm as I used this product. Sadly, I am out of this product and it is a bit on the pricey side. I got mine free from Hong Kong's Lane Crawford boutique. Wish they gave me more though...

I asked from Shiseido boutiques here in the Philippines and was surprised that they actually have the Revital line. I was scolded however because the sales associate said I was too young to be using this. I was looking for they Shiseido Revital Eye Mask which I will blog about next time.

Cell Tech

Rating: 5/5

I tried using a new moisturizer called Advanced Celeteque. I tried it because it claims that Filipino women used it and said 90% of their lines disappeared. I know this is too much of a promise but I am a sucker that way. Anyway, I got this at only less than 500Php because it was on sale at Watson's. There was a beauty sale of some sort. I was fresh out of my Shiseido The Skincare Day Moisturizer with SPF 15 anyway so I thought I would give it a try.

There is no overpowering scent, if there is any at all. I really cannot smell anything. :) It is virtually scentless which for me is a good thing as I am not a fan of layering scents. It glides on smoothly on the face. I like that the container is very light and it does not spill. I have travelled with mine going to Thailand, Japan and Hong Kong and it never spilled. I like that it comes in a pump dispenser so it is very hygienic and economical. Speaking of economical, because it glides on really well, a little goes a long way. This however, does not come with SPF so I still put on sunblock after putting on the moisturizer, which I do anyway even with the moisturizer with SPF. I am just sick like that. :)

I still have lines but I think as an ordinary moisturizer it is still good, given that the price is also so much cheaper than Shiseido. I am still undecided if I will get another bottle or if I would try Estee Lauder's Time Zone. This is really on the pricey side but then again I have earned rebates from Rustan's CitiGold card. It will be like 50% off! I know... why am I obsessing... I just feel like I am aging already. Of course all the running is not helping firm up my skin. Running makes the skin sag but running makes me feel so darn good too... Hmm...

I have been using other products as well but this is all I have to write for now.

Gloss to the Max

Rating: 5/5

I just realized how far behind I am in my blogging here. I have tried tons of products already since I last posted here but I have been very busy, shopping was one of the things on the list of things but most of it was work. Seriously!

The product that I cannot get enough of is the Max Factor Vibrant Curve Effect Lip Gloss! It is made in France, it has the most fantastic scent, it is not sticky, easy to apply, nice light container and I got a nice bright pink shade that can be used with or without lipstick. I like to put this on after my Murad Lip Balm so that my lipstick can glide on easily. Yes, I wear lipstick again. :)
This costs under 500Php if my memory serves me right and not only that, I have been using it for months and it is not even half empty yet. Believe me, I use this a whole lot! :)

I like how it makes my lips look really curvy. I think this really delivers. This is the only Max Factor product that I have tried in my life and I love it! :)

In case you are wondering why I did not get my usual L'oreal Glamshine, it's because they stopped making the shade that I liked. Boo.

Seer uhm...

Rating: 2/5

I tried this for three days and ended up getting a breakout. Now, I do not know if it was because of the excessive eating of mangoes because a Vietnamese friend said mangoes is a "warm" fruit hence, eating so much can cause you pimples, or if it was because of soh much stress in my previous trip that I got so much pimples. They were just popping everywhere. I stopped using this after three to four days I think.

Something that might have also caused it is the other serum that I used it with. You see, I ran out of my day moisturizer so I thought I could be a smarty pants and experiment and use the two moisturizing serums together. You must be saying what a dumb thing to do that was, so to be fair I plan to give this serum another shot. I am just gathering up my courage again. :)

This is a very light serum, it does not feel greasy at all, if anything, it really feels like water. The skin absorbs it right away. After which you can apply your moisturizer. It has no overpowering scent, it is virtually scentless or my olfactory sense is not working anymore. Packaging is very optimal, it does not even have a cap. It has a pump that you can lock so this will allow you to travel with it. It does not spill as well. Because it's a pump, it's pretty economical, just be sure that when you pump it the bottle is angled otherwise the serum drips all over the place. :)

My Murad derma recommended this to me two years ago, when she said that my skin is dry already from all the swimming that I was doing. I did not try it two years ago but bought the product and decided to try it just now. This is very pricey. It cost me 2K++ two years ago. *gasp!* I know, what was I thinking?!

I am not trying it out in the next 21 days though because I just got in to Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Concentrate and I do not want to get in the way of its wonders.

Yesterday, I bought two beauty products. One of which, I am very, very happy with. The other, I will get to try today. I will be writing about them next time though as I need to get moving. Gotta work. :)

Moist-a-nite

Rating: 5/5

In my last trip to Duty Free when I came back from The Netherlands I bought many bottles of Shiseido Sunblock for the face and body and Shiseido Sunblock for the Face all SPF 50. I swear by their sunblock and my mom does too. We are both addicts and so I stocked up when I found out that Duty Free sells them cheaper than the Shiseido boutiques in Manila.

I digress... My topic for tonight is my Shiseido the Skincare Night Essential Moisturizer. I love how it is not greasy and goes on light on my skin after using my Shiseido Skin Softener (toner). It has a nice smell like the ones in the Skincare line. It gets absorbed easily and mine has been around for months now.

I like how my skin looks, Shiseido does not perform miracles but it does help my skin I think and so I will buy myself another bottle surely after I empty my moisturizer. This is better than the Olay Regenerist Night Time Moisturizer that I tried in the past. Or am I just biased? No. I will not try Olay on my left side of the face and Shiseido on the right side of my face. Not for vanity and not for Science.

Tone Deaf No More

Rating: 4/5

I have not used toner before. In fact, I do not believe in the effects of toners. I do not get why I have to put on toner before my moisturizer but...

Shiseido The Skincare Hydro-refining Softening Lotion is the toner that I am using after cleansing with my Shiseido The Skincare Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam. It is supposed to prepare my skin for the moisturizer that I am using. I have no complaints about it. It is not greasy and is easy to apply ( I do not use cotton pads *hehe*). I do not know what it is doing but days into using this and the Shiseido The Skincare Day Moisturizer, people were giving me compliments about my skin. I do not get that anymore, I am assuming I have plateau-d :) or as we say in the Philippines, "todo na 'to!" *hehe!*

I am yet to finish the bottle that I bought last December or was it November? So I am happy that it has lasted for more than three months already. I hope it will last for more than six months so I can justify to myself the price. :) I am getting old and I have to take care of my face... seriously. I can see age creeping in... boo!

I have bought other bottles of gunk from my recent trip to Duty Free, they sell cheaper Shiseido there so if you can, stock up! I will share that next time.

Shisei-dewy Finish

Rating: 5/5

After ten million years I am back.

I have run out of the Olay Regenerist Day Moisturizer and while I was really planning to get a new tub of Olay I decided against it and opted for a more indulgent *thwaps self!* Shiseido The Skincare Day Moisturizer with SPF 15 *wahaha*! I got an unxpected bonus okay?! I have been using this for three weeks already and I am loving it!

This is not the first product from The Skincare line that I have tried. I have been using the Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam for years now and I still love it to the last drop. I have also tried the Purifying Cleansing Foam from the same line but I think the scrub is too harsh for my skin so I stay away from this. The Day Moisturizer has the same lovely scent of the cleansing foam so my face smells lovely in the morning... up until I put on the Shiseido Waterproof Sun Block SPF 50 *paranoid!!!*. I like how it leaves my skin dewy and not oily. I have tried this brand years ago when I was still in college and it left me super oily. Gosh, this means I have aged and my skin is drying up! My oil field is dry! *wah!* It is very easy to apply and I find the formula very light. Also, I think it gets absorbed easily as well.

This costs 1,300Php at Shiseido. I am not sure how long the bottle will last though. It has a very hygienic dispenser so you will not be grossed out *hehe* I feel this way when I have to put in my fingers in the tub of gunk. I feel like I am contaminating the contents. *eww...* I also think *or am I delusional?!* this product has softened my laugh lines, the curse of the people who love to laugh. :)