The Shelf: June 2016

I can't believe it's rainy season again! Here's my current shelf, still geared towards the summer.

I've been using a lot of more "natural" products right now. Not sure if I'm going to continue this but we'll see.

Human Heart Nature Pure Rosehip Oil

Late one night, as I was moving from one room to another, I dropped my bottle of Human Heart Nature Overnight Elixir... and it broke! There was still around a fifth of product left so I was very disappointed. Luckily, I already purchased my next oil.

Human Heart Nature Overnight Elixir (left) and Pure Rosehip Oil (right)

A photo before that fateful night.

Big and little, side by side.

Altcheck Glycolic Renewal Pad

Finally got around to posting about Altcheck's Glycolic Renewal Pads.

Why did I buy? A long while back, I had finished my latest retinol serum and couldn't seem to find one that I wanted to try (within my price range). Lacking the desire to go back to my basic retinol cream, I decided to give more glycolic acid a go as I was also considering Pixi Glow Tonic's popularity. I chose these because they were easiest to access at time of purchase and because I'd already tried the brand's cleanser and was satisfied with it.

Altcheck Glycolic Renewal Pads Box

Altcheck claims to be for preventive and corrective purposes as part of anti-aging skincare. Does it really?

Conditioner Only

Popular for individuals with short, short hair, shampooing without conditioning is a hair care method that is something of a rarity for those with longer hair types.

I currently have bra-length hair and I tried living without (in-shower) conditioner for two weeks.

Yes, it is possible!

Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask

Gosh, I'm getting a bit sidetracked: I've been wanting to do my review on the Altcheck Glycolic Renwal Pads but I've lost my pictures. While I get the energy to show them to you, here's Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask.

In case you're wondering, got this for around P500 ($10)sans shipping costs on Althea Philippines. I'm not sure where to find this IRL. Shipping took a while but I finally got it!

Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask Box

I don't know why the name has a pig in it, but the cover piggy is cute and the mask lives up to its name.

Overpriced Coffee: La Lola Churreria

Not all coffee is created equal. Factor in its processing and its presentation and you get very a very different experience: sludge or liquid gold.

I'm not that picky, and I like to drink coffee, period: My liquids can range from 3-in-1s at home to specially prepared roasts and fancy coffee shops. However, when I do go to the latter places, I admit that I expect more from it: taste doesn't just come from flavor after all.

Which is why I am extremely disappointed with La Lola Churreria: their service in general and their coffee in particular. While I admit that this is a churreria and not a coffee shop, they do sell their Iced Mocha, Large for P130 - which is what I ordered.

Here are the three strikes.

Nichido Tinted Eyebrow Gel

I have previously spoken about my current make-up regime that takes all of 2 products, because it's all about the brows. On of these was Nichido's Eyebrow Gel in Salted Caramel that's sold at around P250 for a cool 7 ml of product.

Nichido Eyebrow Gel in Salted Caramel

So what can I say about this bit of drugstore make-up?

Nothing!

Something to See: Les Miserables

Do I even need to talk about this? Les Mis is awesome.


WATCH IT.


Les Miserables will be at Solaire until May 1.

Nichido Minerals Precise Liner

It's quite a few years after its launch, but I bought Nichido Minerals Precise Liner in Black at a local drugstore for a cheap P150 ($3) last year. It came in a small bottle that houses 2.5 ml of liquid and is meant to be disposed at 9 months.

Nichido Minerals Precise Liner

How did it fare?

The Beginner's Set to Pour Over Coffee from Daiso

Want to try switching to real coffee instead of that instant stuff?

Don't have the cash to shell out for a machine or those other fancy stuff?

Well… you don't have to.

A starter set for pour over coffee can set you back as little as P88-196 only (sans actual coffee).

Altcheck DePuff Eye Pads

A recent purchase from Altcheck came with a few freebies: their cleanser (which I already own) and their newest offering, DePuff Eye Pads.

Altcheck De Puff Eye Pads

I've already reviewed the cleanser, but how did these pads fair?

Something to See: 50 Shades!

I've finally found something to like about 50 Shades of Grey.

It's 50 Shades! The Musical Parody.

As someone who has just wiki'd the story, I'd expected to be a bit lost, but virgin viewers will still have a blast!

Altcheck

Life has been so busy lately,  but here are some of the things I've been using this month,  rather, last month. All from Altcheck! I've already reviewed the cleanser. 

Altcheck Products (clockwise from left): Daily Exfoliating Cleanser, DePuff Eye Pads, Glycoli Renewal Pads

Altcheck Daily Exfoliating Cleanser

Altcheck Glycolic Renewal Pads

Altcheck DePuff Eye Pads

Hua Mulan: Peachwood Comb

Or why I started using a wooden comb.

Hua Mulan Box

Looks pretty fancy!

I didn't actually mean to buy a Hua Mulan Comb. I was just looking for a wooden comb. Why did I want one?

Nature Republic: 92% Aloe Vera Gel

Remember when I posted this pic when I posted about the Aloe Sheet Mask? Well, I'm now a bit more than halfway done with the gel!

Nature Republic Mini-Haul: 92% Aloe Vera Gel (left) Aloe Sheet mask (right), Green Derma Sample (bottom)

I really didn't expect what I would use it as, but here we are.

Sanitary Pad Comparison: Modess vs Charmee vs Sisters vs Sofy

It's that time of the month every month, so I decided to haul a bunch of sanitary pads to see how they perfomed. Because why not?

As you may have noticed in a previous post, where I was excited by the entry of a pad, I like them long. Thus, each brand in the supermarket with a pad length greater or equal to 30 cm, winged and without an "ultra thin" designation was bought.

In this comparison:

Clockwise from top: Modess, Charmee, Sisters, Sofy

1. Modess Cottony Soft All Night: 30 cm and P43.50 for a pack of 4
2. Charmee All night Plus: 32.5 cm and P21.25 for a pack of 4
3. Sisters Overnight Dry: 34 cm and P24 for a pack of 4
4. Sofy Body Fit Comfort Nite: 35 cm P77 for a pack of 8

Sad, right? Other brands actually have long pads (Whisper Cottony X-Long/Skin Love and Kotex Soft and Smooth Overnight) but only the 28 cm versions were available and will not be included in this comparison.

I'll compare them after the jump. Criteria: Price, Wear, Experience

On Pigs on Facebook

A few days ago, this post appeared on my FB wall:

And I found it horrifying.

Would you buy things meant for a different gender?

I just bought a pair of shoes at a certain shoe  store because I had a pressing need for comfortable footwear. At first I browsed the women's area and found a decent pair.  But then I found myself wandering over to the men's section and found a cheaper pair of theda Anne type in my size. 

Of course,  as seen,  in the picture,  I bought them. 

It got me thinking though,  how many would buy clothing, toiletries etc marketed towards the opposite sex?

RF on Face

Just a short post since I finally got to try RF on my face…. and while it's not something that I'd use regularly (NOT being in the target age group, yet), OMG, visible results:

My face was quite visibly slimmer, though I wouldn't say tighter. No need for contouring, effects lasting at least 24 hours. I'm too excited to delay this post any longer since I first saw myself.

I think if I ever went to a big event, I'd like to try it again. It's no wonder brides like to use this as part of wedding prep.

Ped Egg

With all the fuss about Scholl's foot file thing on the Internet and in real life,  I've found myself  having a renewed  appreciation for my old and neglected Ped Egg.

Asian Secrets Lulur... a second look

Something i've stocked on and off since college is Asian Secrets Lulur Scrub. Its cheap its effective and it smells so good.

Unlike what the instructions say, I put a generous amount on WET skin and scrub. This gives me just the right amount of exfoliation, seeing the dead skin sloughing off my legs, and I smell great afterwards.

The only down side I saw previously ... it tended to leave my shower floor a gritty mess. Thus, I tended to buy a jar and just use it for those really lazy days when I need a good bit of exfoliation and when I was too lazy to use lotion.

But something else haunts me now.

Shampoo Methodology

Shampoo has existed for a really long time and there are many different kinds available today,  from mass produced, jumbo sized synthetic cheapo bottles to its exact opposite.

Regardless of its many varieties, I know but 4 standard methods of head cleaning.

1. Shampoo only - usually done by those with uber short hair, this is the quickest way to clean your head. I've used this method when my hair is short, I'm feeling too lazy to condition or I've done a deep conditioning mask a day before hand.

2. Shampoo then conditioner - the most common way a girl washes her hair, as inundated by a ton of beauty products and ads. Unfortunately, it also takes way too long to clean my hair sine I'd have to do do a rinse for both shampoo and conditioner. I reserve this method for deeper hair cleaning sessions and dirtier surroundings such as after extensive labor.

3. Conditioner then shampoo (Reverse 'Poo) - not quite as common as the ones above and below it, I prefer this method since it cuts my shower time by at least 20%.

4. Condioner only (No 'Poo) - gained in popularity a couple of years ago, but not too much in hot, humid and polluted surroundings like Manila. I've tried this method a couple of years ago when I was on break and had to give up on Day 5, even without a heavy workload. It just doesn't feel as good or clean as using something with shampoo.

Which way is best?

The Shelf: January 2016

Golly, time flies when you're having fun. And the holiday season just flew by!

Now, in the middle of the daily slog, I'd like to reflect on the products I've used (and am still using) this year.

So I'll start off the year with this month's Shower Shelf.



Because it's always nice to make lists.