Sample Review: Laneige Pore Tightening Essence

Happy Easter Sunday to y'all! The long weekend is about to end :( Tomorrow is the beginning of another stress-week. Ugh! It will definitely be a busy week ahead. Anyway, today I'll review a product which I got to use for like twice only. Why?!? Well, it's just a sample and it's worth mentioning it here :)

Laneige Pore Tightening Essence

Essence that forms tightened and soft skin by pore tightening effect.

• Paekjain, licorice and clove buds extracts control sebum secretion to provide pore tightening effect.
• Powder ingredient absorbs excessive sebum and prevents greasy skin.
• Silicon polymers provides silky texture with invisible pores after use.
• Milk protein forms elastic and healthy skin.

My say:

Performance: 4/5 stars

Packaging: 3/5 stars

Pricing:  3/5 stars

I so love this! Just like the Water Bank Essence, this product works wonders on my skin. With this one, my skin feels a bit tight and matte. Yes, no oil feel after and it is excellent in combating oiliness. My skin stayed oil-free for longer hours. Though my T-zone were a bit oily then but they weren't that usual greasy at all. Paper blot is enough for them. My skin were less oily! Definitely an excellent essence for oily people. No allergies nor new bumps :) However, I think this isn't moisturizing enough for my combi skin :( I still need a good moisturizer. I think this packaging comes in a glass bottle pump-type. I can't really say much until I get my hands on it. I think this is sold more than Php1000 in local Laneige store. Though I have only used it twice since it's just a sample, those times were enough for me to be convinced to get the product soon.

Happy egg hunting! :)

Sample Review: Laneige Water Bank Essence_Ex

Hello Monday! Work has just ended :) Good thing my boss wasn't around for he is sick. Get well soon sir :) (this is sincere! kekeke!) Today I'll review a skincare product that I have used over the weekend. Yes, I only used this over the weekend because it is just a mere sample. 

Laneige Water Bank Essence_Ex

Snow crystal clear and hydrated skin with Snow water science

My say:

Performance: 5/5 stars

Packaging: 3/5 stars

Pricing: 3/5 stars

I got this sample from my sister when she made a purchased from the local Laneige store. I thank her for giving this to me because this essence is good. It is easily absorbed by my skin. No allergies, reaction and new bumps :) I really did like it! Moisturizing enough for my combi-skin. My cheeks didn't experience any dryness at all :) It's power in keeping the oil at bay is just average. My T-zone were oily after a couple of hours. But it's okay since they were not really that greasy plus there is always my favorite mattifying powder  and sunblock around ;) Since this was made for all skin type, it doesn't have any heavy moisturizing feeling. There was a slight cool feeling upon application. The texture is a cross-combination between gel and water type. I think the regular packaging comes with a glass-type bottle. I can't really much say yet until I get hold of it. For the price, Laneige is considered to be a mid-range cosmetic. So it can still be expensive but not much. I think this is priced at Php 1000-2000 here in the local Laneige store. I'm not sure since I haven't really visited any Laneige store in the country. This is retailed at 27,000KRW in Korea. I might checked this out from my local suki store or wait for any sale from Laneige (hehehe!).

Monday ended good :) Hopefully the rest of the week will be the same ;)

Skin Food Peach Sake Pore Serum

Monday madness today! Work are piling up and are getting crazy. I need some time-off for awhile. Whoo! I want to end this day stress-free at least :-/ When stress is here, my skin goes nuts! I need to prevent that from coming or else it will be a stressful week ahead :( So a good skincare to rescue is much needed then. One skincare item that help me get through this is the Skin Food Peach Sake Pore Serum.

Skin Food Peach Sake Pore Serum

• a special pore care for sebum control
• enriched with Vitamin C, peach and sake extracts. Controls excess sebum and tightens large pores effectively, leaving the skin smooth and clean.

My say:

Performance: 4/5 stars

Packaging: 3.5/5 stars

Pricing: 3/5 stars

Who doesn't love a peach scent?!? Not me! But how about peach and sake combo scent?!? I was so curious as how this scent will come out. Sake on your skincare?!? Oooh, that's the first time. The scent is sweet and nice. The texture is a bit watery and gel-like. It just has the right consistency that it is easy to apply on the face. Absorbed by the skin fast and leaves a powdery smoothness after. A little goes a long way ;) No irritation nor breakout at all. Helps in minimizing the oiliness of my skin. This promises to help in minimizing pore size however it didn't deliver in that area :( This is a good moisturizer for oily babes. This works in keeping the oiliness at bay but not shrinking the pore size. This comes in a glass-pump-type bottle. This lasts for more or less two-months with twice a day of usage (morning and night). I think I got this at around Php550 at my local suki store. Overall this is a good product in combating the oiliness. 

Enjoy the week ahead :)

The Face Shop Clean Face White Post-Acne Brightening Serum

I was looking at my skincare stuffs earlier when I realized I haven't thrown a lot of it that were already empty. Then I realized I haven't shared my thoughts of it! Yikes! So I'll be reviewing some stuffs that I'm already done using for awhile. First in the list is the Face Shop Clean Face White Post-Acne Brightening Serum (whew!).

The Face Shop Clean Face White Post-Acne Brightening Serum

• helps control blemishes and restore healthy skin tone
• gentle brightening formula effectively fades post-acne marks
• oil-free serum with patent blemish control ingredient gently exfoliates old flakes and reduces excess sebum that can clog pores and lead to breakouts. Brightens and evens out skin tone for quick recovery from post-acne dull skin tone. Gentle formula appropriate for daily use.

My say:

Performance: 3/5 stars

Packaging: 3.5/5 stars

Pricing: 3/5 stars

Honestly, I bought this thinking that it will help lighten up those post acne marks that I have. Though I read some good reviews, it didn't really end up good on me :( It didn't meet my expectations after using this for almost two months. It didn't help lightened up those ugly marks nor improved my skin condition. It didn't even gave me any brightening effect. But on the good note, it didn't break me out :) I used this every night before I sleep. It comes in a white glass, pump-type bottle. You can't see the serum inside so you wouldn't know how much of the product you have. It comes in a light, liquid, white texture that is easily absorbed by the skin. Though it's oil-free, it didn't help much in the oily skin issue I have. I bought this at around Php500 (I think!?!) at a local Face Shop store. I think this is cheaper if bought directly from Korea. I have no plan of buying this again since it doesn't work for me.

Happy Wednesday :)

Shine Keeper: Etude House Pore Diet Essence

It's Friday once again :) How fast time flies by!?! I'm already on weekend mode (hehehe!). I can't wait for the time to strike 5pm. Before I'll submit myself to work, let me share to you a product that I'm very much loving in terms of controlling my oily skin. Let me introduce my current moisturizer, Etude House Pore Diet Essence.

Etude House Pore Diet Essence

Slim Pores with Skincare Diet

Formulated with botanical extracts to constrict pores, essence moisturizes and clears up complexion.

My say:

Performance: 4/5 stars

Packaging: 4/5 stars

Pricing: 4/5 stars

This is my current moisturizer. I used this twice a day, morning and evening. It comes in a very light white gel/cream which is absorbed easily by the skin. In a few seconds it will give a matte finish. Bye-bye shine ;p It's a good make-up base also. No irritation nor brake-out :) However, no significance difference in my pore size after a month of usage. I love the packaging except that it comes in a glass type bottle which means I have to be extra careful that I won't drop it :-\ With the price, I think it is okay (Php 578) but this is cheaper if bought in Korea. Overall, a good moisturizer for oily babes like me :)

Take care guys :)

Acne Killers

I've been fighting pimples since I could remember. It seems like it will be with me forever. No way! When will I have that flawlessly no bump skin?!? That is why I'm always on the look out for acne killer. I just call it that way since I need something that can eradicate the acne I have (lol!).

I have been using the Skin Food Tea Tree Essence as my moisturizer and acne killer. But when that day I run out of it, I have to look for an alternative one to use before I could get another one of it. Since I don't buy at the local Skin Food store (overly-priced) so I have to wait from a pre-order spree which takes a month :( Good thing my good friend Jacque gave me her Johnson & Johnson Clean and Clear Active Clear Acne Control Speed Gel.

• The 4th step in the JnJ Clean and Clear Active Clear Acne Control Kit regime and it has powerful spot formula that penetrates deep in the pores to help visibly reduce acne symptoms fast.

• Oily- free and non-comedogenic

My say:

Performance: 4/5 stars

Packaging: 4/5 stars

Price: 2/5 stars

I have been using this for almost two weeks and I'm happy to say that this help in reducing my acne. But it does not work overnight. It took 2-3 days to flatten my acne. It does dry out the pimple and keep them from growing back :) On the sad note, it gave me flaky skin around the infected area and it sting :( A bit of itchiness but not that much. This come in a 5g tube. Yeah it's small but since it's for those bumps only I think it will last long unless of course you have many bumps to take care of like me. My problem with the packaging is that the product can splurt out. It can mean some wastage :( This is part of the Johnson & Johnson Clean and Clear Active Clear Acne Control Kit. This is not sold separately (I wish they would).

But when I ran out of my JnJ spot gel, I needed another one. Since it isn't sold separately, I looked for another brand. Good thing I spotted Eskinol Dermaclear C Overnight Pimple Gel.

• It has Dermaclear C that fights pimple-causing bacteria
• It contains Salicylic Acid that dries up pimples fast.

My say:

Performance: 4/5 stars

Packaging: 4/5 stars

Price: 5/5 stars

I spotted this when I was doing my grocery. I have always known this but I think I always snob it back then :( Good thing I came to my senses and gave this a chance in my beauty arsenal for this works :) Same like the JnJ it does dry out pimples, takes also 2-3 days to flatten it, gives my flaky skin around the infected area and it sting also. However this really makes me itch like crazy on the same area. But it will subside after a few seconds. But no skin rashes or irritation overall :) Same packaging and problem as well with the JnJ. But the price is a total knockout! Php 99 for a 10ml tube. It is indeed a great buy for me :)

Both really works great on drying out my pimples. But they can be irritating upon application but after a few seconds the irritation will subside. Initial reaction perhaps. These are good acne killers. And both contains salicylic acid as their main ingredient :)

So what's your acne killer? Hmmm... Happy weekend :)

VMV Hypoallergenics

Who says that Filipino products cannot compete with world class products?!? They might not met VMV Hypoallergenics. A skincare line made by a Filipino dermatologist, Dr. Vermen M. Verallo-Rowell. It's been in the industry for two decades now. This brand has been raved by a lot of Hollywood stars like Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Garner. It is recognized internationally :)

There are two products that I have tried in this brand. They are the Id Sweat Acne and Overall Antibacterial Monolaurin Gel and Id Soap with Apricot and Salicylic Acid. First stop is the Monolaurin Gel.

I run out of my Skin Food Tea Tree essence. I also thought to stop using the essence since I finished up three bottles of it already. I need to change my essence/moisturizer since it doesn't anymore working well on me :( Good thing Kay had a blog sale on some stuff she doesn't necessary need. One of stuff that were on sale was this Monolaurin Gel. I did some research regarding this product before I bought it. There were a lot of positive reviews on this product. 

Description:


This unique, skin-safe, coconut-derived monoglyceride is superbly simple, but packs one powerhouse of a skin-protective and therapeutic punch. Treats the fungus that causes sweat acne, and is an impressive overall, broad-spectrum, topical anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-yeast, antifungal, and anti-protozoal treatment.

Ingredients:

Active Ingredients: Glyceryl Laurate - 2%


Other Ingredients: Alcohol, Water, Glycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Citric Acid.

My say:

Performance: 4/5 stars

Package: 3/5
Price: 5/5

I did love this product. It does help in calming and soothing my irritated skin. It also helps in healing and drying my pimples. It really does work! Even though alcohol is  in the ingredient, it is not drying to the skin and no break out for me at all :) My only problem with this is that it really does smell of alcohol. I wish the package comes in a pump-type bottle. It can really be messy sometimes and you can't control the amount coming out of the bottle. The price is reasonable enough for me. I got it on a steal price for Php 250 but the original price is less than Php 600. This is way cheaper compare to the price online (US) :) I'm not yet planning to buy one soon since I have bought lately the Skin Food Tea Tree essence. Probably after I finish the essence than I buy this again. After all, I don't stick on one product since it won't work on me forever. Changes is always happening in my skin care :)

(photo taken at http://www.vmvhypoallergenics.com)

I was hunting for a soap that can help minimize some issues on my body like back acne, chicken skin and the likes. Good thing I met Id Soap. It's an anti-acne, anti-inflammatory and exfoliating soap to reveal a smooth and clear skin :)

Description:

Skin-Buffing, Clarifying Soap

Ingredients:

Ingredients: Coconut Oil, D.I. Water, Castor Oil, Palm Oil, Pure sodium Hydroxide, Cocodiethanolamide, Mineral Oil, Glycerin, 2-Hydrobenzoic Acid (Salicylic Acid), Titanium Dioxide, EDTA, Apricot Kernels.  

My say:

Performance: 4/5 stars

Package: 5/5
Price: 3/5

I also got this soap on a steal price. 50% off on the original price of Php 300 via ebay. This soap is indeed expensive but way cheaper compare to it's online (US) price. I like this soap though since it dries up my back acne. And I love to use it as my shaving cream. It really does help in minimizing the hair growth in my legs and no small red bumps at all :) I used to use regular soap in shaving my legs and the next day the hair will grow right away and there were red bumps all over my legs. My legs then become really itchy. Unlike with these soap, no itchy feeling and no red bumps at all! The soap easily melts so it's better to cut the soap in half  and use it  half-at-a-time. I also love the package. It really packed like a ready-to-give gift. So cute! I would love to buy this again but the price is keeping me away from it (hahaha!). I'll just have to wait for sales then :)


I hope you could also try these wonderful products. I hope it will also works on you :)

take care guys!

Skinfood Tea Tree Essence Review

So how's your long weekend? Mine was indeed relaxing! Movie weekend with my friends (I'll give my movie review on my next entry)‚ beauty rest (wohoo!) and it′s my parents 30th anniversary. Wow! My parents are living together for 30 years now and they are still going stronger! Wish for another 30 years for them :)

While having my beauty weekend session‚ I discovered that I still have my moisturizer for the past 5 months. I thought that this deserve a review after all it had a space in my beauty heart (yes! my heart have space for my beauty addiction, lol!) This moisturizer is Skinfood Tea Tree Essence.

I′ve been using this moisturizer for 5 months until I met Garnier. I remembered reading a site that says our skin change after 3-4 months and because of that we should change the products we also used. That is why I'm using another product now (Garnier to be exact).

This moisturizer is of gel-type. This is perfect for oily, acne-prone skin. A small amount of it goes a long way! Too much of it ends up to be quite sticky :( This does not only work as a moisturizer, it also helps in figthing my enemies lol! It does help in minimizing them.

My verdict:

Package: 5/5 stars
Performance: 5/5 stars
Price: 3.5/5 stars

The package is really hygeinic. It comes in a 30ml cute pump bottle. The price is expensive around Php 900 at Skinfood stores. Though it is much cheaper in Korea around half the price here. So it depends where you bought or buy this. I know someone who sells this half the price than the store price :) Her site is: pickmeuponline.

Wanna greet my parents again a happy 30th Anniversary to them :)

Love yah Mom and Dad! Mwah!