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.

Better Instant Coffee for 2021? Try G7 Coffee

 You know there's something wrong in the instant coffee world when the cheaper option is so much better than the expensive one.

Take this for example: G7 Coffee Ca Phe Thu Thiet tastes so much better than Starbucks' Via Instant Colombia.

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?

Katinko

One of the most unglamorous things you can have in your medicine chest is something you may consider investing in is Katinko.

To those who don't know, Katinko is one of those counter-irritant products full of menthol and camphor that is popular in the Philippines, like Tigerbalm and Icy Hot for muscle pain. But this is different. Special.

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.

L'Oreal Elseve Hairfall Resist Conditioner

 Okay, I bought this product because it was BIG. At 325 ml a tube, I was sure that I wouldn't run out anytime soon since I didn't want to do a monthly conditioner shop (because plastic and effort). And at Php 220 for that much product, I think it was a win all around.

Mind you, tubes of these do exist for other brands, but they're a bit harder to find where I'm from.

What I liked about this was the scent, sweet but not overpowering, in contrast to the previous mask that may have conditioned well enough but brought no joy to use.  I also liked the way it conditioned my hair without weighing it down. It's supposed to have arginine to prevent hair fall, but I doubt it'd do much good at the tips. I also liked that this lasted nearly three months on my long hair so that's 2 less tubes to buy in a year.

Sadly, I don't think i'll be able to get the last of this out though as I can't cut through the plastic and there seems to be a good bit left. Kind of wasteful. Still not an optimal solution.

I enjoyed using this, but I'll probably try new ones now. Or go back and try old favorites. 2020 has been a year of revisiting old likes, so not much excitement for now.

Suncare 2020

 I seem to have misplaced my Biore Aqua Rich Watery Gel this past month, so this picture isn't complete but this is what I've been using aside from that.

1. Belo Whitening Sunscreen - does the job well enough but I need to blend this in so I need a mirror to apply. Also do not use near the eye area.

2. Belo Body Shield SPF 60 - not quite beach level but really good for sunny days. It' expensive to use daily so this has been around for a while.

3. Biore UV Body Care Serum - Extra Moist - Really have been enjoying this as an everyday lotion (Even more than Nivea since its a good bit easier to spread). Do not use while out in the sun for long periods of time.

Good morning!

Reusing some very good products I've talked about before.

CosRx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser  - forgot how good this was at cleaning my face in the morning.

Sensodyne Repair and Protect - used a different, minty brand for a change and while that made me happy, this is the one that made me feel safe.

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.

L'Oreal's Elseve Deep Repairing Mask and Cream Silk Triple Keratin Rescue Ultra Conditioner

 Finally writing about these. Net connection has been so bad that I can't post. But I really want to throw these away so here we are.

I haven't been able to write so my finished products have been piling and discarded, but I hung on to these for quite a while. I've finished both a tub of L'Oreal's Elseve Deep Repairing Mask and Cream Silk's Triple Keratin Rescue Ultra Conditioner.

It's been so long but I think the Cream Silk retails for less than Php 200 per 150 ml and the L'Oreal less than Php 400 for a 200 ml tub. I finished the tube in a month or so of daily used. I finished the tub after 6 months, I think? Both dispense a white, opaque cream with the mask being a heavier consistency.

The Cream Silk tube is highly fragranced, in a nice floral way. It's a joy to put on as a daily conditioner. It leaves the hair soft and shiny without weighing it down. Sadly, I have no color on so I can't see its color reviving properties, but I would recommend it for damaged hair.

The tub, on the other hand, smells meh? It's not a product I look forward to using but it definitely deep conditions. I only use it twice a week, else it leaves my hair too oily the next day. It does work the way it ought to, so I have no complaints.

I like trying new products so I won't repurchase for a while. However, for those on a budget, I'd recommend the Cream Silk Triple Keratin Rescue line for those with damaged hair, especially if you want a hair treat at the start or end of th day.

Skincare Routine: Covid Edition

 I'm keeping this short and sweet, like my skincare routine!

Anyway... skincare in the time of Covid isn't one size fits all so you have to listen to your skin.

If you're using cloth masks/surgical masks that tend to stick to the skin, you probably need to hydrate, hydrate and seal because having the mask stuck to the face tends to leave the skin clogged and dehydrated.

If you're wearing N95s/respirators, you probably need to hydrate a little, and occlude only the parts that are meant to be sealed since the long wear makes the mask environment super humid.

Once size doesn't fit all.