Double Review: Tokyo Love Soap Premium and Original

It took me a while to write this review haha! I've been too busy with school and work that I haven't been able to just sit down and think about what to write.

FIRST: TOKYO LOVE SOAP PREMIUM

I used up the Premium version of TLS for a month or so; once in the morning and once at night. I cut the soap in half so I could use one half on my face and the other half for my body. Here's what I think:

Pros:

• Subtle rose-y scent
• Minimizes pores on my face
• Makes my skin smooth (both face and body) and feel moisturized
• clears away blackheads (temporarily? since I get blackheads again the next day)
• lathers nicely
• doesn't melt easily (is melt even the right term? hahaha) so it lasts a long time

Cons:

• VERY expensive
• after a month of using, it didn't make me a shade (or even half a shade) lighter as promised
• it gave me a little breakout in the first few days of using it

OVERALL: I like the Premium version of the soap. Though it did not make my skin lighter and it gave me a bit of a breakout in the beginning, I am still willing to use it (if I have money for it haha) because it really does stick to its other promises.

SECOND: TOKYO LOVE SOAP ORIGINAL

After I had used up the Premium, I immediately started using the Original version of TLS. I did the same thing; cut the soap in half, 1/2 for my face and the other half for my body.

Pros:

• Subtle generic soap scent (not the floral kind of scent. just that...soap kind of scent)
• clears away blackheads (temporarily? since I get blackheads again the next day)
• lathers nicely
• doesn't melt easily (is melt even the right term? hahaha) so it lasts a long time
• made my skin feel kind of supple like a baby's? (but that's just it. supple; not moisturized)

Cons:

• After using it for only TWO days, it gave me a really really really major breakout! Like, 2-3 big zits on my cheek and another 2-3 big zits on my forehead so I had to stop using it on my face
• VERY expensive
• after a month of using, it didn't make me a shade (or even half a shade) lighter as promised
• it made my skin dry and patchy. I was hoping it'd make me a shade lighter since I'm shedding but nope, no lightening here

OVERALL: I would not want to purchase or use the Original version ever again. But remember, this is just my personal experience, you might want to try it yourself.

For more info on prices and other details, check out Tokyo Love Shop by clicking HERE!

REVIEW: Etude House Precious Mineral BB Compact Bright Fit VS Dream On Pact Slim and Cover

Etude House vs Etude House!

Okay, you may be wondering why I'm mostly reviewing Etude House products... the main reason is because Etude House is a budget brand and I'm a budget barbie hahaha! To be honest, this brand doesn't give high end results (go figure, it's a budget brand so you get budget results as well) but you could say it does the job.

Moving on, I'll be reviewing two different compact powders from EH, the old Dream On Pact Slim and Cover and the recently released Precious Mineral BB Compact Bright Fit. I don't really have fair skin so I opted for the 3rd color swatches (Precious Mineral BB Compact Bright Fit W13 Natural Beige and Dream On Pact Slim and Cover No. 03 True Beige).

Princess-y packaging

Etude House stays true to its princess-y promises with its packaging. Both pacts look very cute but Dream On Pact looks more princess-y for me (not that I'm the princess type; I'm pretty boyish). 

I think the Precious Mineral BB Compact swatch I bought is one shade (or just half a shade?) lighter than my Dream On Pact even though I carefully picked out the third color swatch/shade to make sure they're the same shade.

Okay so both are a tad too light on my hand (I dunno, I guess my hand is more exposed to the sun than my face) since both do offer "non-darkening" err whatever that means. You know how we Asians go gaga over porcelain skin so I guess that's what "non-darkening" is for. Anyway, I like the Precious Mineral BB Compact more because it gives a more silky touch after application while the Dream On Pact leaves me feeling cake-y and I can actually see that there's powder over my face (like, powder particles are sticking out of my pores hahaha). With the Precious Mineral BB Compact, my face looks more natural after application. 

note: GREEN means pros and RED means cons

Precious Mineral BB Compact Bright Fit:

• has SPF 30
• simple yet cute packaging
• silky finish
• lasts for up to 6-8 hours in my experience with little sebum appearing on my T-zone
• only light coverage
• too light on my light tan skin
• a little expensive..(?) for a budget brand [retails at 848php or 19 USD)

Dream On Pact Slim and Cover:

• has SPF 25
• princess-y gwiyomi (lol) packaging
• VERY matte finish (makes me look cake-y)
• lasts up to 4-6 hours in my experience and makes my T-zone very very oily
• only light coverage
• closer to my skin shade
• still a little expensive but I'm okay with the price (I guess lol) [retails at 648php or 14.52 USD]

Overall, I like the Precious Mineral BB Compact Bright Fit more. This review is based on MY experience with both compacts, so, the results using both on your skin may not be the same as mine. You may like the Dream On Pact better than the Precious Mineral BB Compact.

I'll try to post a photo of me using both pacts on my face, instead of my hand (haha), next time! ^__^b

REVIEW: Tokyo Love Soap Professional

Hey ho! Finally! I'm posting a review on one of  the Tokyo Love soaps I was able to receive a few weeks ago to review.

So I asked my friend who has acne to try out the Professional version since, according to Tokyo Love Shop's website, it's a medicated version and is for people with oily and acne-prone skin. I asked my friend to try it out so I'd know if it really works. Here's her review:

Took me a while to write this down but I finally sat down, stopped procrastinating (just a bit) and wrote my review for TOKYO LOVE SOAP PROFESSIONAL. *APPLAUSE* 

To start off, let me describe the type of skin I have. I have oily and acne-prone skin. It gets worse and it gets better depending on…hmm. I’m not even sure on what. I just know that my face gets oily a few hours after washing it and sleeping late even for just one night means waking up to new acne when the old ones haven’t gone away yet. 

Moving on….Let me just enumerate the Tokyo Love Soap Professional experience based on an 18-day use. 

* SIZE – It was bigger than I expected for a “sample.” I had to cut it in half because it wouldn’t fit in the soap holder I am using and after using only half of it for more than two weeks; it’s still big enough to hold with one hand!

* SCENT – I personally prefer facial washes and soaps that have little to no fragrances at all and I’m happy with this soap’s subtle scent.

* EFFECT ON THE SKIN – I love how this soap is very mild on my skin. Unlike my old soap that dried up my skin, this one leaves my skin soft after a wash and I noticed that my dark spots have turned a tiny bit lighter with this soap. My pores also seem smaller after a wash.

* EFFECT ON ACNE – So far the soap has not aggravated my skin condition and although it has not completely made my acne disappear, since it also lessened the oiliness of my skin, I get less acne than I used to have. 

The downside for me though is it’s not as accessible compared to other soaps since only resellers from other parts of the country sell these and they’re a bit pricey compared to other facial soaps.

For more detailed information on how the Professional version is different from the other version of the soaps, visit Tokyo Love Shop by clicking HERE. 

REVIEW: Etude House Drawing Show Brush Liner Pen vs IN2IT Brush Liner Pen

It's a battle of eyeliner pens!!!!

For me, the eyeliner is the most handy and useful type of make-up. Putting on eyeliner can change your look in an instant!

So far, from all the "affordable" eyeliner pens I've come across, I like the Drawing Show Brush Liner Pen from Etude House the most. A few months ago, I just discovered that IN2IT also carried brush liner pens and I was kind of curious since it was cheaper than the one from Etude House. By the way, IN2IT is a cosmetic brand based in Hong Kong and owned by Asia Pacific Cosmetics Corporation (but they claim that all their products are made in Japan).

Since my EH brush liner was running out of ink, I decided yesterday (I sneaked out while I was shooting a bridal show with my local photographers' league heehee!) that I'd buy myself an IN2IT brush liner! Hence, this battle! 

Let's start!

ROUND 1: PACKAGING

Photo not mine! I threw out the box ages ago :p

Plastic box from IN2IT

Tadaaaaaaa~ 

Verdict: ETUDE HOUSE DRAWING SHOW BRUSH LINER PEN WINS THE FIRST ROUND!

Reason: The box looks really adorable and the pen looks simple yet sleek. IN2IT's packaging is tacky and just.. cheap-looking.

ROUND 2: BRUSH TIP AND PACK SIZE (WEIGHT?)

Brush tips for both pens~

VERDICT: TIE!

Reason: I think they both have the same fine brush tip and both have a pack size of 0.55ml-0.6ml.

ROUND 3: PRICE, QUALITY AND PROMISES (lol like being waterproof and smudge-free)!

I patted my hand with a piece of wet tissue and smudged it lightly with my thumb

VERDICT: IN2IT WINS THIS ROUND!

Reason: As to price, Etude House's Drawing Show Brush Liner is locally sold at 498php (11.50USD) while IN2IT's brush liner is sold at 399.75php (9.23USD); no doubt IN2IT wins the price challenge. Regarding quality, I prefer EH over IN2IT because it's more solid, a bit thicker and more black (blacker, blackier, blackiest? HAHA). As to being waterproof, both are resistant to water, however, EH smudges more easily than IN2IT's (edit: I just learned  that EH's Brush Liner is not waterproof).

OVERALL CHAMPION: BOTH? 

But if I had to choose, I'd go for Etude House because it's thicker even though it's pricier and not waterproof.

I got a new TOY from Zaki's Gadgets and Gizmos!

WARNING: LOW QUALITY PHONE PHOTOS & UBER LONG REVIEW COMING YOUR WAY :P

Okay okay it's pretty obvious I'm into online shopping (I own two online shops). For the past 5 years, I have had this sin hehe! This wonderful experience started way back in 2007 at Multiply, then moved to Ebay, and finally to Facebook.

These're my online shops by the way:

Tofu's Ulzzang Shoppe - this one is mainly for preorders; we cater to Korean and Japanese fashion items.

The Ragdoll Chronicles - this one is my bargain page; kinda like a virtual garage sale. 

Moving on, I will be reviewing my online shopping experience with Zaki's Gadgets and Gizmos! It's an online shop that, well... (the shop's name says it all) that sells gadgets and gizmos (lol) like DSLR units and accessories, Apple products, Samsung products and many more. Check out their facebook page to browse their catalogue.

I ordered a Nikon D7000 body to replace my old entry-level DSLR, a D3100.

At first, I had wanted to buy the unit at the mall. I know, mall prices are pretty jacked up but I was gonna chew and swallow that ugly fact because I only wanted security. The mall price for a D7000 body only is at 49,990php with a free 8gb SD card. Hard to swallow (HAHA). I was really really certain on buying it when I remembered Zaki's Gadgets and Gizmo's. I checked their price and I was like, "SERIOUSLY?! WTF?! 34,500php?!" Too good to be true right?! But I personally know one of the owners and I instantly knew this shit was for real (I'm cursing to show you all how serious I am, like, movie-serious). Their price is pretty normal for people in Manila but for someone like me who always has a hard time getting awesome deals which can compete with Manila prices here and now in my city, it's a real catch!

Ordering gadgets online isn't usually my thing. I get so paranoid with a lot of "what if" questions when it comes to that. I mean, gadgets do COST a lot. A LOT (unless you're a billionaire, which I am not. Boohoo.).

What if it gets damaged when it's shipped out?

What if the gadget's not as it was described?

WHAT IF I GET SCAMMED?

So why did I push thru with this transaction? 1. The owners are actually based in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental (this is where I live. Hooray!), so I can meet up with them; 2. I am already acquainted with one of the owners; and 3. The shop owners only let me pay half of the full amount first to order the unit then I'll pay the balance when it's arrived and when I'll be able to pick it up.

Tada! My order with its etc etc and my freebiiiiiieeeeeeessssss!

The shop was promoting a 5% discount on all Nikon and Canon DSLRs when I ordered (and they currently still are! Order now! :P). Unfortunately, there's a catch. Either you avail the discount or ignore it to get freebies. I chose the latter because I needed a bag and a new SD card.

Our transaction went smoothly. I sent my first payment by depositing it to one of the owner's bank accounts, they then ordered from their supplier in Manila. I waited for 1 day and poof! Surprise mother father! The unit's here! Nyahahaha! I kept spazzing! I actually just met up with the owners this afternoon to get the unit and pay the balance.

AND GUESS WHAT??? Not only did I get freebies, Zaki's Gadgets and Gizmos was able to give me the 5% discount as well! *spazzing* I love them to bits!!!

D7000 body, viewfinder cap, battery, charger, and charger plug

Freebie: 4gb SD card ||| Sling strap, charger cord, HDMI cord, tether cord

Freebie: Camera bag ||| Manual, Warranty card, ViewNX2 CD installer

*spazzing* COMPARTMEEEEENTSSSSSSS

Freebie: Nikon brand clip-on protector *spazzing over and over again*

 ABOUT THE UNIT:

• It's as described by the shop
• Brand new, sealed, and well-packed
• AFFORDABLE!
• FREEBIES!!!! Aside from the 4gb SD card and bag, I got a free clip-on screen protector! An original Nikon branded clip-on screen protector at that!!
• All the freebies are brand new too (in case you were all wondering lol)
• It has a one-year store warranty

ABOUT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE:

• 10/10 service! They update me constantly, transactions are done in a jiffy!
• The owners are a couple by the way and are one of the coolest couples I know! They're witty, knowledgeable on every item they sell and very accommodating (heck, they even ordered a frappé for me when I picked up my order this afternoon). They're the kind of people I'd bask with sweets and party invitations ever so often if we were neighbours!
• The owners are willing to teach you the basic how-to's in using the gadget/gizmo you ordered
• They feel for their buyers; they know how to price an item right and are willing to go the extra mile for the satisfaction of their buyers (like the surprise discount I got!).
• They're honest and open about how they price and market their items! You don't always find gadgets sellers like that!
• Aside from meet ups, they can also ship your orders via LBC

All in all, I absolutely love my shopping experience with Zaki's Gadgets and Gizmos! In fact, I am already planning what to buy from them next when I have extra moolah for my expensive hobby hehehe!

If you're planning on buying gadgets, make sure to visit their online shop first before you run to the mall with your fat wallet! They'll surely save you from being officially broke and will even make you smile from ear to ear when you get your order!

Zaki's Gadgets and Gizmos:
https://www.facebook.com/ZakisGamesGadgetsAndGizmos?fref=ts

HUEHUEHUE!

REVIEW: Milk Essence Whitening Beauty Series Lotion

Nyaro! I'm back with another random review! ^_______________^b

This time, I'll be reviewing the lotion from the Milk Essence Whitening Beauty Series which I bought from NekoMimi Place. This is commonly known as "Magic Milk Lotion". I have actually encountered this product back in 2009 (or was it early 2010?) when Multiply (google!) was still a blossoming shopping community. If I remember correctly, it was being sold at 900php per 100ml bottle. Now, it's being sold at 200php per 100ml bottle. AMAZING. I congratulate myself for being disinterested about the product during those days hahahaha! 

Anyway, this type of lotion has been the talk of the town, especially for cosplayers, models, and Korean wannabes (No offense! Take it as a compliment! :D). The lotion promises to give you INSTANT PORCELAIN WHITE SKIN in a matter of seconds.

Packaging! I kinda like how simple it is.

It has English at the back! Okay-English at that! o_oa

I am the type of person who is skeptical about products that have bad English translations (especially with Chinese products. No offense, I'm part Chinese but you know how shady some stuff from China are), and by bad I mean, incorrect use of grammar. It kinda turns me off and it's like telling me this thing is not safe for my body/health/face/etc. Fortunately, this lotion's english translation at the back of its packaging was A-Okay so it made me feel a bit more at ease trying it out! ^u^

Behold! The lotion's bottle!

I actually find the bottle cute hahaha! XD Kinda reminds me of the old wine bottles my dad collects butttttt.... that's irrelevant to the review. Let's get back to the main topic now.

Left photo: Lotion |||||||| Right photo: left side: with lotion || right side: without lotion

Ha! I was stupid enough to forget to put captions on the photo so you'd be able to clearly distinguish the difference in color; I am also lazy enough NOT to edit the photo and place the captions HAHA. I think you can see the difference without me pointing it out anyway.

So, does it make you instantly white? YES, yes it does. Btw, what you see on the left photo is the only amount I used on the left side of the right photo; the right side of the right photo didn't have any lotion spread on it (there! I pointed it out!)

Pros:

• makes you instantly white
• has this generic perfume smell usually found in lotions (i actually like it)
• you only need a little bit to rub on your skin (unless you wanna look like a ghost, go rub a handful over your whole body)
• dries quickly
• long-lasting (kinda like 6-8 hours from my experience?)
• good for photoshoots
• I can understand the English translation found at the back of the packaging! :D

Cons:

• when your skin gets wet and you wipe it with a towel or tissue, say bye bye to your temporary fair complexion
• the lotion's runny and feels sticky when you apply it
• E-F-F-O-R-T. You need to make sure you've spread the lotion evenly all over the skin.
• It doesn't give you a pinkish-glow which is always an after effect of having fair skin, so i don't think it would look too well on really dark-skinned people.
• If you have un-waxed arms (I mean, there are hairs visible on 'em), this lotion would make the pores look visible. VERY visible.
• may make you feel sticky when it's really hot and humid.
• it doesn't have a list of ingredients printed on it (scary, but i'll give the product the benefit of the doubt)

Contrary to popular belief, the lotion doesn't instantly go away when you get wet or when you wash it out. Your fair skin only disappears when you rub on your skin after it gets wet so I recommend lightly (very very lightly) patting it dry to avoid any scary discoloration when you're out for a shoot, a cosplay event or just a casual stroll in the mall.

Do I recommend this product? Yep! But just make sure to keep in mind the cons I've shared so you won't have a hard time. ^3^

You can buy the same product HERE. The owner was nice to me and even sent my a jar of nourishing cream for FREE (i bought the foundation+lotion set) even though I wasn't supposed to get any hahaha! XD

Now I am off to play videogames and look for some other random thing to review! Till next post! :3

WIG REVIEW! TSN, VRC, Kyouko brands

Yep, I am not a stranger to wigs. Wanna see me wearing wigs? Hahaha! XP

(WARNING: Photo-heavy post)

During a promotional shoot for my shop~

Meh. Just bored at home.

Just... alskddhslkfhalhr;L

OKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! Enough of my face. Let's continue with the review.

I will be reviewing 3 different wig brands in one post. Why? I'm too lazy to create one post for each brand. I mean, I have to think of sassy awesome lines for you to read so you won't get bored. You know it's true!

I will be reviewing 3 wig brands, namely, VRC, Kyouko and TSN. For VRC, I have a 100cm black wig; for Kyouko, I have a 60cm 3-toned fashion wig; and for TSN, a 100cm grey wig.

Because I'm awesome, I give you photos! XD

lookie teh colorzhzhz~

FIRST WIG BRAND: VRC

VRC stands for VOGUE ROYAL COSPLAY. This brand is based in the Philippines. It has the same supplier as Alice/Ywailisi from taobao. They offer wigs that are good for cosplay, gyaru, harajuku, lolita and ulzzang. They also sell Lolita and Punk apparel.

 Here's a collage of the stock photo with close-up photos I personally took of the 100cm black wig; 2nd photo without flash, 3rd photo with flash.

Vogue Royal Cosplay 100cm Black Wig

Softness: 8.5/10
Thickness: 6.5/10
Anti-shine: 8/10 (LOL I don't know what word to use. I'm actually rating it's non-shiny-ness)
Manageability: 9/10

Overall Quality:  8/10

Comments:

• The first thing I noticed was how not-so-thick the wig was. It's not thick but it's enough to cover the lace net inside. Plus a super long wig with average thickness can be more manageable than a thicker one. 
• It's shiny but not SUPER shiny; like, commercial shampoo and conditioner shiny. I mean, it's black so I guess it's supposed to give off a natural kind of shine. If it wasn't shiny, people would say your hair/wig is dead lol!
• They said it was 100cm. It's only 95cm actually (I MEASURED IT!!!). :)))))
• The wig looks thicker in the stock photo
• The wig is cheap and affordable. Normally, very long wigs tend to reach around 1,500+php (35+USD) but I bought this one for 950php only ^3^
• Customer Service is good, they respond very quickly and they ship items ASAP.
• Anyhoo, I like VRC hahaha! ^_________________^b

If you want to check VRC out, you can take a look at their available designs at Vogue Royal Cosplay.

SECOND WIG BRAND: KYOUKO

Kyouko is a budding wig shop in taobao. It currently offers harajuku and lolita wigs and is slowly adding more cosplay wigs to their list of for sale items.

Here's a collage of the 60cm 3-toned wig's stock photo and the close-up photos i personally took; 3rd photo without flash, 4th photo with flash.

Kyouko 60cm 3-toned Harajuku Wig

Softness: 9/10

Thickness: 8/10

Anti-shine: 7.5/10 (LOL I don't know what word to use. I'm actually rating it's non-shiny-ness)

Manageability: 9/10

Overall Quality:  8.4/10

Comments:

• First and foremost, they don't accept paypal payments. Well, they did, for me because I insisted. But that was a HUGE mistake on my part because the transaction was such a hassle. I had to wait for more than two months to get my wigs from them (because they kept moving the date of shipment) and one of the wigs was out of stock (which I didn't know about until the package arrived). They can't speak English and I kept relying on google's Chinese translator.
• The wig's bangs part has less of the blonde fibers and more of the brown (yes, i'm particular with stock photo designs hahahaha! I want to get what I paid for; who doesn't right?)
• Fortunately, it's soft!
• It looks very natural in natural lighting but it has the HQ wig shine when it's hit with flash and when it's hit with indoor lighting at night :<
• The price for this wig is around 1400php (33USD), international shipping and tax included. 
• I'd still want to buy another wig from Kyouko but I think I'll stick to buying via taobao agent instead of personally going thru a transaction with them again.

Check out their Taobao Shop, Kyouko Wigs.

THIRD WIG BRAND: TSN

TSN stands for The Second Nachname. For Spongebob's sake, what does Nachname mean??? Is this some kind of german word for something sweet? I don't get the brand name. Because I am a technical freak, I googled it and YES IT IS GERMAN! It's German for "surname/last name." THE SECOND LAST NAME. So it's your middle name. I still don't get it. They mostly offer cosplay wigs, wig tools and a few small cosplay props. Anywaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay, here's the stock photo of the wig I recently and personally bought from them and close-up photos I took; 2nd photo without flash, 3rd photo, with flash.

TSN 100cm Grey Wig

Softness: 7.5/10
Thickness: 9/10
Anti-shine: 9/10 (LOL I don't know what word to use. I'm actually rating it's non-shiny-ness)
Manageability: 8/10

Overall Quality:  8.4/10

Comments:

• THE COLOR. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY SENT ME THE WRONG COLOR OR THE STOCK PHOTO IS JUST TOO CONTRASTED. I know, I know, there's what you call "different monitor settings" but man. The one that arrived is just a tad too light than the one in the stock photo. It's more of a silver-white rather than a silver-grey. Not what I expected. SAD.
• It's VERY thick. Seriously. It weighed about 1.1kg and I had to pay for shipment which was almost the same price as the wig.
• It's not shiny at all! Well, except when you point your camera's flash closely at the fibers then it would show shiny-ness.
• You can comb it easily however, I'm having a bit of trouble because it's really long and really thick.
• It's not as soft as the other brands. ;3;
• It's not 100cm. It's 105cm! (YES, I MEASURED THIS ONE TOO) :)))
• Customer service representative was nice and helpful. ^u^ Oh and they accept direct paypal payments! Hooray! \^_____________^/
• The price. Ugh. This brand is expensive but the quality is worth the price though (and it may have been expensive because I paid for express shipping for 1 wig only). It cost me around 1,900php (45USD) for just ONE wig, shipping and tax included. But then again, local resellers of this brand place this at the 2200php-2600php (52-62USD) price range.

If you wanna check their wigs out, you can visit their Taobao shop, The Second Nachname.

WOOT! This post is alarmingly long. ;A; I hope I helped you guys in one way or two with this mashed-up reviews of VRC, TSN and Kyouko wigs!

REVIEW: Maybelline New York's Baby Lips Lip Balm

Have you ever had trouble with dry chapped lips? Well, for the past 8 years, I've been dealing with them! I am a metal mouth (it means I wear braces XD) and it is so darn hard to keep my lips supple and moisturized what with all the metal inside my mouth.

Today I'll be reviewing one of the cheapest yet effective lip balms in the market; Maybelline New York's Baby Lips Lip Balm!

It comes in four different flavors:

photo credit: google

I bought the relieving menthol because I like menthol :DDDD

This product promises to give you baby lips in one week.

Here's the product information from Maybelline New York:

INSTANT 8HR MOISTURE REJUVENATED LIPS IN ONE WEEK

Enriched with Centella Essence

The next generation of Lip Balm is Born, from Maybelline New York.

Adult strength care for baby soft lips.

Instant 8H Moisture

Shed away rough dryness for supple, smooth and cushioned lips all day long.

In one week rejuvenated lips

It’s Proven: Centella Essence increases cell turnover to literally transform your lips:

• fine lines reduced
• elasticity increased
• suppleness increased

So what do I say about this product? TOTALLY WORTH IT. There is nothing I do not like about it! It has spf 20, roughly costs only 2 USD (79php), it has centella essence, it keeps my lips hydrated for most of the day, and it gives an instant baby lips effect on your first swatch!

Do I recommend this product? ABSOLUTELY.

Will I buy again? YES OH YES :D

REVIEW: SNOE BEAUTY MAGIC APPLE WHITENING S-RUB

Have you ever wanted to have instant fairer skin especially around your knees and elbows at a very affordable price? Well, I do and I have been looking practically in every mall I have gone to for an item that would suit my need!

Last April (I think?), I found several reviews from Manila fashion and beauty bloggers about a certain Snoe Beauty product that fit the bill. It's called Magic Apple S-rub and the Ate (as in, big sister) bloggers had given it positive reviews. They said it lived up to its promise and etc. So I researched about Snoe Beauty and found out it is a Filipino skin care and cosmetic brand established just last 2010. Pretty awesome for Filipinos to be taking the next step right? :D Spazzing with excitement, I ordered a tub for myself thru their website (http://snoebeauty.com). Snoe Beauty Magic Apple S-rub is priced at PHP179.00. Perfect for someone who's on a budget! I was ecstatic when I got the package because they also sent me samples of their Snoe White beauty bars!

Anyway, according to their site, the Magic Apple S-rub promises to make skin lighter and silky in an instant. Also, they say the best part is that you don't have to rinse the product off.

Here's the item:

So... I don't think I need to key in the ingredients since it's there already. The directions for using this item, taken directly from their website:

Massage on dry skin, Apply particular attention to dry and flaky areas elbows, heels and knees. Then leave on for 5 minutes and rub till product is sloughed off from the skin. Product will go from white to gray and even brown, depending on how much dead skin is removed.Use on face and dark areas of your body.

PROS:

• I LOVE THE APPLE SCENT
• The package itself is BIG!
• Cool minty feeling when you leave it to dry
• Silky touch after use
• Paraben free

CONS:

• Unfortunately, the tub is not full; more like 3/4 filled with the product
• MESSY! When you try to rub the dried cream off your skin, it tends to be very messy and your skin turns red
• DRIES OUT SKIN
• Unhygienic; you have to scoop the cream out with your fingers or etc

I'm a bit embarrassed to say that I may be the only reviewer online that has given this product NEGATIVE feedback. *hides from everyone* After using this product for two weeks (twice a week), I noticed the areas where I applied the product on started getting flake-y even when I applied moisturizing lotion. On my third week of using the product, my skin was so dry, it didn't even need any effort to show other people how dry it was!! DX< I can't attest to the "lightening" promise from Snoe Beauty because after that incident, I stopped using the product.

So, do I recommend this product? No because it dried out my skin!

Will I buy again? Sorry, No :(

REVIEW: ETUDE HOUSE MILK SCREW #1 LIME MILK

I will be reviewing Etude House’s Milk Screw! I’ve been wondering for awhile now WHY it’s called MILK SCREW. So far, nothing comes to mind except for the twist-thing you do with a screw and screwdriver which is basically what you do to use the product. Twist it around (like lipstick) till the part of the product sticks out of the packaging hahaha!

There are 5 different “flavors” and namely: 

#1 Lime Milk

#2 Apple Milk

#3 Berry Milk

#4 Coconut Milk

#5 Mango Milk

I wouldn't exactly say flavor? Fragrance might be the best term since it basically has no flavor when I lick my lips. It is priced at PHP198.

According to Etude House, Milk Screw is:

Lip Care & Tint Combination Lip Balm 

“Lip Recovery”

Before buying, I rummaged through several reviews to find the suitable # for my lips because I have slightly dark colored lips and is probably because I have light-tanned skin. NO, I HAVE NEVER SMOKED IN MY WHOLE LIFE. -_- And so, I discovered that it “does” contain those magical tints which stick to your lips. I finally decided on #1 LIME MILK. I bought it last September 2011.

When I tried swatching the product twice on my hand, it gave out a very light orange-peach tint. I tried swatching it 5 times and after a few seconds, lo and behold, an orange-pink tint came out. I added 2 more swipes making it 7 and it just turned shocking pink, like lipstick hahaha!

What I like about this product:

• Lip tint and Lip Balm all in 1 product
• Packaging is simple but cute
• The smell has a hint of lime like the name suggests
• Staying power of tint can last up to 6 hours
• Really does moisturize the lips
• Affordable

What I don’t like about this product:

• The tint can go too pink if you swipe it several times
• NO SPF :(
• Plastic packaging is too thin that it might easily break

Do I recommend this product? YES I would still recommend!

Will I buy again? YES if it’s still available in the market :3

Review: Etude House Happy Tea Time Green Tea Cleansing Foam

Hello hello! I will be reviewing Etude House’s Happy Tea Time Green Tea Cleansing Foam (wow, that was long haha).

I bought this when I visited the store last January 2012. It’s priced at PHP149. The Happy Tea Time Line has other variants and the ones I can remember are the Lemon and Peach (sorry XD).

I have combination-type skin with an oily T-zone and dry cheeks.

It has a faint fragrance of Green Tea which I find soothing and pleasant! The tube is big and can last for around 4-5 months; till now, I think I still have 2/5 left and it’s already May! The packaging is cute but unfortunately, you can’t see how much is left of the product.

It is easy to spread around the face and neck and there are lots and lots of bubbles! It doesn’t sting when I cleanse my face with it. After patting my face dry with a towel, my face feels refreshed.

The downside of the product is that it makes my cheeks and the areas near my mouth dry (and worse, sometimes flaky :\) so I make sure I use moisturizer and essence/serum after my toner. BUT! It doesn’t make my T-zone dry at all.

So do I recommend this product? YES if your skin is the OILY TYPE.

MAYBE if your skin is the COMBINATION TYPE and you’re ok with a bit of drying.

Will I buy again? MAYBE. I like its price, the fragrance and the refreshing feeling I get after using it but I don’t like all the drying

Review: Etude House Moistfull Mask

I recently bought a lot of namnam stuff at the Princess’s Castle aka Etude House. I was expecting to get a mini brush or a pair of slippers for free but all they gave me were 2 moistfull masks. bummer. :| Still, they’re freebies so i should be happy anyway~~~~

(OOT: In strict english, you should always use ’s even if the proper noun ends in s unless you’re using a historical or religious figure’s name. And here we’ve always been taught that it’s wrong!)

Ok, so back to the mask hahahaha XD

Photo credits: http://www.musingsofamuse.com

The packaging is all pink like the store itself. Unfortunately, everything found at the back is in korean.

The mask had this OK smell, kinda like generic perfume but you could also smell a hint of alcohol. -_- It was soaked in a combination of lotion and serum which the brand guarantees to leave even the most dry area of your face moisturized and feeling fresh.

How to use:

1. Wash your face and pat dry.

2. Put on the mask and leave for 10-15 minutes.

3. Peel off and lightly rinse the residue off your face with water (the rinsing is optional XD).

Note: Wash your face with mild soaps or facial cleansers (foam or scrubs) before using this mask!

I wash my face with either Kojic Acid Soap or Innisfree Juicy Apple Cleansing Foam. When i placed the mask, it gave me a very cool feeling X3 but then my face stung after a few minutes! T__T I bet it was because of the alcohol in the mask reacting to the Kojic Acid Soap I used to clean my face beforehand! -sigh-

After 15 minutes, I peeled off the mask and threw it away (of course, masks are good for 1 use only~). While I was washing off the residue, I was so surprised because it felt like I was touching a baby’s skin while I was gently rubbing my face~! XDDD

I towel-dried my face and I was all the more surprised when I saw my face become a tad fairer than usual. When I woke up in the morning, my face was still soft and silky~ X3

So do I recommend Etude House Moistfull Mask? DEFINITELY :D

Will I buy? YES unless it’s another freebie for the month :P

Moved from my other blog: http://stalkertofujjang.tumblr.com