Soul Apothecary Glow Serum

 There are some things in life that just aren't meant to be. And that pretty much describes my relationship with Soul Apothecary's Glow Serum.

It wasn't meant to be. But how I wish it was...

The Face Shop Dr. Belmeur Daily Repair Trio

 During my previous purchases at The Face Shop of a toner and serum, I got this set as a gift with purchase. I didn't end up using it until my face needed heavy soothing, but I've used it enough for review. This set came in a resealable pack, which was already discarded.

The kit is composed of three items:

1. Dr. Belmeur Daily Repair Foaming Cleanser

2. Dr. Belmeur Daily Repair Facial Toner

3. Dr. Belmeur Daily Repair Moisturizer

And here are my thoughts about it.

A Tale of Two Tretinoins: Dermcare 0.025% Gel and Vitacid 0.05% Cream

 Once upon a time, there was a girl on a 0.05 Tretinoin Cream named Retin-A. But Retin-A was so expensive, so she decided to try out Dermcare's 0.025% Gel version. At first, she found that a mixed regimen of Retin-A and Dermcare would work, and for a while, they did work together. But then the girl grew up and, in line with a new sensitivity to topical essential oils, she became unable to tolerate Dermcare's 0.025% Gel on her face, so they had to part ways.

Not only that, but since the girl grew up, Retin-A decided to part ways with her and went to a faraway land. Left with no choice, the girl searched and searched, and one day she met Vitacid 0.05%. They stayed together for a while, but had to part, as Vitacid could not help once tragedy struck....

The Commercial Patches I Buy: Acropass Trouble Cure

 If you've been following, you may know that I recommend using these instead of buying expensive pimple patches since they do the job of sucking out that gunk at a fraction of the price. However, I've long been interested in microneedle patches, but the high price tag really dissuaded me.

Finally, this 2021, I bit the bullet and purchased Acropass Trouble Cure since they were the cheapest of the lot available to me. And I'm already on my second box! But, you have to use it properly....

Review: In Her Element Low PH Rose Gel Cleanser

 Trying out some photo-editing, so things might be a bit wonky for a while. But I'm actually about to finish In Her Element's Low PH Rose Gel Cleanser.

How does it look like? How was it?

Review: In Her Element Petal Skin Rose Clay Mask

 FYI, this isn't technically mine, but I've half stolen this as I've grown to like it.

When I first tried it, I didn't quite like it, but my opinion's changed. And that took a bit of time.

AHC Hyaluronic Toner and Emulsion

 Okay.

This product is super old and doesn't exist out of ebay. But I used it years ago and rediscovered it hiding in my room somewhere and now I'm using it way past when I ought to because:

1. It doesn't look, smell or feel funky on my face.

2. I have no adverse reactions to it.

3. It's still worth using.

Thank heavens for airless pumps.

Anyway, while the toner is a bougie basic, it's not worth splurging on without the emulsion. Which is why it's a good thing it came in a set because. OMG. The texture of the emulsion. Its soft but cream-gel like and smoothens the skin like wow.

In all honesty, you can get the same effect with different products but the experience of hydrating with this is 🙌

I think previous me was savoring this for special times but got lost in the void that is my room.

Still, no wonder AHC's eye cream is the national standard if this emulsion is already so wow for a basic hydrator.

Alba Botanicals Acnedote (Update 2021)

 Five years ago, I blogged about Alba Botanicals' Acnedote and enjoyed the minty, tingly feeling it gave. However, after repurchasing the bottle, I have found myself with mixed feelings about it.

This is why it didn't make it into the 5 things I'm thankful for this 2021. Aside from the fact that I used this new bottle in 2020.

2021: Sunscreens in Review

 With all the hullabaloo about sunscreens in general, and K-beauty sunscreens in particular, I thought it's a good time to look back on the sunscreens I've been using and which ones I'd recommend right now.

Best for daily use would be Nivea's Super Water Gel from Japan. I've reviewed this before and this is still my favorite sunscreen for daily use (even though I don't have one on hand right now). I tried the Biore Aqua Rich Watery Gel, 2019 formulation (and failed to review because I lost the tube too early :P), but I prefer this more since I don't need a mirror to apply and reapply. The latter sunscreen is also a good runner up if you can't find Nivea locally, but you can find it of shopee (but be sure to find a good reseller).

Best for swimming/sports/heavy use would be Shiseido's Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion. I used the one for sensitive skin (light blue bottle). This is part of the WetForce line and really sticks to the skin. Again, I can't do a full review because I lost the tube... again. Honestly, I didn't like how this looked and felt but this really stuck to my skin as a thick, opaque white film. It actually clung more than some of the old sports sunscreens I've tried. With repeated application every 3 to 4 hours, I had no burning/darkening even at a full day at the beach. If ever beach things are a thing again, this would be my bet.

Best local sunscreen would be Belo SunExpert BODY SPF 60. This is expensive if you really use it daily, but it's the best local sunscreen I've tried. And I've actually used this for both face and body without any problems. Slightly sticky but good enough for daily use. While I haven't done a full review, I have finished a tube of this recently.

I've been trying daily body sunscreens, and I've posted regarding Biore and Nivea's offering. I'd use both, with a preference for Biore right now, but I don't have one I'd solidly recommend to be both cheap and effective for summer. I sometimes use the Belo Body sunblock on hotter days but it's not sustainable for me to use it daily as a sunscreen for its price.

Anyway, I'm actually trying one sunscreen right now, but I'm not too fond of it so I'm opening my first K-beauty sunscreen soon. Still, I've been quite guilty of not using sunscreen as often as I should, so my next real sunscreen post should be in a while.

Etude House Color My Brows

Kilay is life, period. This has been true for 2020, and it seems like it'll be the same for 2021. As such, a lot of my make-up spending has been on brow products. Missing a brow mascara, one of the things I've purchased for 2021 is Etude House's Color my Brows in Natural Brown (Number 4). While I've yet to try their popular brow pencil, at least I've given this one a go.

Careline Best Brow Liner in Taupe

 It's been a long while since my last make-up post since I don't use make-up regularly except for eyebrows. For 2020, the most make-up I've used is definitely for the same place, and it's the only one I bother with when going outside the house since I often use a mask and face shield (they're mandatory in the Philippines).

While I'd been using my old eyebrow pencil (more or less with other brow things) until around mid-2020, where my stock finally gave out on me. I promptly bought a new/old pencil by Careline without any googling because it was a kilay-emergency. Did the Best Brow Liner live up to its claims?

The Face Shop Dr. Belmeur Mild Toner

 Ended up buying some stuff from the Face Shop at full price because it was the only place I could buy from. Kind of sad I wasn't able to buy it online, but desperate times!

Originally bought for between Php 750-850 at a physical store, as suggested by a salesperson because I wanted something moisturizing I could layer, and something for sensitive skin. Which, this was.

Product dispensed as a clear liquid that works best by splashing into the hand and patting on. This bottle contained an undisclosed amount of niacnamide, glycerine and some hyaluronic acid. I used one to three "skins" twice a day without any trouble or skin irritation. At that use, one bottle lasted four months so it wasn't bad.

I've tossed the bottle but I think it wa around 150-200 ml? 

I'm a terrible blogger. Haha. I think if I didn't have other things to try, I'd buy this again.

Vita Clear Acne Solutions Cleansing Gel

 Can't believe I finally got around to finishing this bottle of cleanser!

Don't get me wrong, it's not bad. But since I've been using it as a travel cleanser, it's pretty amazing that I've been able to finish it since it IS 2020 right now.

Garnier Light Complete Yoghurt Sleeping Mask

 Bought a bunch of small treats for myself a while back and only remembered to talk about it recently, so I've chucked a fair few. One of the ones I've been able to keep was Garnier's Light Complete Yoghurt Sleeping Mask.

I tried this product because I really liked their clay masks, and as things were getting colder, I thought I could do with a sleeping mask to seal things in at night. A look at the back showed the following ingredients at the top: water, dimethicone, niacinamide, glycerin and isohexadecane. So I was sold with the niacinamide and glycerin combination.

I think it was Php 50-80 for 7 ml, so it was a bit expensive for its price, but I liked the squeeze-tube packaging as it was convenient for multiple use.

The product comes as white cream that blends in as you spread it about. You need to use only a little or get ghost-face, which is what happened to me the first time I tried this.  It smells like a citrus car freshener, but the scent disappears after a while and it dries down quickly enough. Skin looks visibly brighter after use so I'm not so sure it will fare well for darker skin types. Afterwards, there seems to be a veeeery slight mochi feel so while it can be used as a sleeping mask, I think others can use this under make-up for that tone-up effect.

The next day, I wake up with normal feeling and looking skin. Which means it works well enough as I've been using air conditioning at night lately.

I'm going to continue using this. Even if this thing is only 7 ml, I think I can get 4 or 5 uses out of this as I only need to use a little bit at night. However, I won't buy this again as I don't like the scent, and I'd rather get something that won't brighten my skin immediately as I'd rather slather my sleeping mask on.

Revlon Colorstay Makeup for Combination/Oily Skin

Writing about this foundation right as I'm tossing it in the trash.

I bought this foundation long before the rise of L'Oreal's Infallible. Which means this foundation is already over 2 years old. I wouldn't mind normally, but I've started to break out with this so...

Time to bin and buy!

I haven't felt comfortable reviewing it since I use so little foundation. As you may be able to see, I've barely used a fifth of it in the two years I've had it with me. But now that its lifespan is over, I think I can safely say my thoughts about Revlon's Colorstay, a foundation for Combination/Oily Skin.

Osulloc Natural Green Green Tea Essence

Osulloc's Natural Green Green Tea Essence is something I've been using and loving for about over a year. I've only now gotten around to reviewing it since I've been trying to make it last... even if I know that you're not supposed to. But as this is a not so mainstream K beauty product, I've been rationing it since it's so good and I've no idea where to get it again.

Osulloc is a Jeju, Korea based brand that prides itself on their teas. They have a lot of drinkable teas which are way too expensive for me to buy! As for skincare, their masks are their best sellers, but I'm not gonna pay crazy prices for a one use item. Thus, I decided to try this and see where it goes.

Spoiler: I love it.

Espoleur Mascara from Daiso in Purple

Monkey see, monkey do. I've been watching a Chinese drama where the female lead sports blue mascara. And seeing a positive YT review of Daiso's Espoleur Mascara, I decided to buy this baby in purple.

Boy, was that a bad idea.

The Shelf: January 2019

Very boring. Just for recording purposes.

Thoughts below.

Lindsay All-in One Energizing Gold Modeling Mask

The internet said that this existed years ago, but I've only tried it this month. I had been dying to try a rubber mask and this caught my eye because it was on the cheaper side. I'd like to say around P65, but it could have been P110 >_< I bought it a long while ago so I can't find the receipt...

Either way, it seemed a much better deal than the popular Dr. Jart ones.

CosRx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser

Bought this cleanser a long while ago during a CosRx Haul (half of which are still pending review). While I'm not a big fan of their Salicylic Cleanser, how'd I find this?