Product Review: Elf Poreless Face Primer

They say the secret to a long-lasting makeup is by using a face primer before adding your foundation and the rest of your makeup. Today, we're going to review elf's poreless face primer. I got this from Zalora PH for P485($10), it's a pretty cheap price for a primer though.

The packaging is pretty sleek. The product claims it fills in lines and reduces the appearance of enlarged pores. I am more curious about the latter as I have this three enlarged pores visible in my nose from blackheads (kind of gross when I think about it.) lol!

Application:

1. Wash your face and apply moisturizer. I suggest that you let your moisturizer sit for at least 15 mins.

2. Apply elf's poreless face primer all over your face, especially where visible fine lines and enlarged pores. 2-3 pumps are enough. 

3. Wait for 15mins.

4. Go on with your usual makeup routine

I am using this for a while and haven't seen any skin breakouts which is good if you have super sensitive skin like mine. It has a little scent and it's an oil-based primer which takes time to be absorbed by your skin.

As for the product itself, my foundation and makeup works well with it. However, I bought this primer for my enlarged pores and it doesn't improve the appearance of it. It also made my skin shiny and oily in just a few hours of using it.

Have you tried elf's poreless face primer? Did it work for you? Let me know in the comment box!

Honest review: KB Glutathione plus NAC

Most Asians are known to have an obsession with having a fairer skin color. Throughout the years, skin whitening becomes a trend to women but obviously, men these days are getting hook into it as well.

Glutathione is an antioxidant that helps combat free radicals. It is also found in a variety of foods, particularly fruits and vegetables like strawberries, grapefruit, peaches, spinach, squash and many more.

I for myself have tried different ways to whiten my skin, from using natural whiteners like lemon/milk to skin bleaches which lightens skin but ended up having sensitive skin.

I remember, I was in high school when glutathione pills was a big hit. Nowadays, it's still the number 1 whitening compound but it now comes in different forms, you can opt for injectable shots or through IV insertion. Which I guess is painful but tolerable?

What I've tried so far is the KB Glutathione it's affordable compared to other brands out in the market. You can buy a trial pack which includes 10 glutathione capsules and 10 vitamin C or get a package of 60capsules, 30 glutha caps and 30 vitamin Cs which can last for a month. It should be taken at least 30 minutes before meal once a day.

I used it for 5 months to see at least a minimum effect on my skin, but I don't see any changes aside from some not so good side effects on me like headaches and palpitations.

I guess that's how my body react to that product. But I've read for some that it was good, so you can still try it. You wouldn't know unless you try.

Have you tried any glutathione product?

Soft and Supple Lips Naturally

Whether you have a "Goldilocks" lips (not too thin or thick), fuller upper lips, full bottom and upper lips  like Angelina Jolie's lips or whatever the shape of your lips are we should take good care of them.

Having a dry, chapped lips is not so appealing. So, what are the causes of dry and chapped lips?
It could be due to:

• Cold weather
• Frequent sun exposure
• Lack of self-care
• Licking your lips too much

Tips on how to treat dry lips.

• Hydrate yourself by taking 8 glasses of water daily.
• Brush gently your lips to remove dry skin.
• You can also make homemade lip scrub by mixing sugar and a small part of honey.
• Do not forget to use lip balm or other lip moisturizing product specially when you exfoliate.

Remember that you don't need to spend big bucks to have a soft and supple lips. ☺

Oatmeal face mask: Natural, Affordable, Effective

Some of the best skin care product, can be found in your kitchen. A cup of cooked oatmeal is a perfect way to start off your busy day, specially if you don't have time to cook. It's also healthy because it contains thiamine, magnesium, iron, selenium, manganese and zinc. It's a great source of fiber as well.

But, have you consider to use it as face mask? Well, why don't give it a try? I have been using it as a face mask for almost years now. It'll give you a smooth, soft and moisturized skin. But, I suggest to limit its use once a week.

Direction:

1. Wash your face with a mild cleanser and lukewarm water.

2. Steam your face to open pores. To do this, you need a bowl of boiling water. Place your face near the steaming water and drape a large towel over your head to trap the steam. You can do this for 5 minutes and pat dry your face.

3. Get a spoonful or two of oatmeal and add warm or tap water.

4. Apply the oatmeal mask to your face, avoiding the eye area. Leave it for 5-15 minutes.

5. Rinse your face with tap water and pat dry. Done!

You can consider adding honey or lemon extract to your oatmeal face mask mixture.

Have you tried a homemade face mask? What ingredients are you using? Let me know in the comment box.

Turn Old Denim Blouse into Trendy and Stylish Piece

There's always a time that even our most beloved clothes turn out of style. What do we do then? Some of us kept it and never use it again or just give them to others, while others sell it as preloved clothes. 

Upon searching my closet, I found this denim blouse which I haven't worn again for almost 5 years.  

It still looks good, but I don't like to wear it again since I feel that it looks small on me now since I gain a little weight. So, I get a scissor and cut off the sleeves. This is how it turned out:

You can always make something new from your old clothes. You can cut, add embellishments(beads, glitters, buttons, etc) or do anything as long as your gut is saying go for it. :)

Other photos that might inspire you.

Acne Remedy: Get clearer skin in 1 week

"Next time you think of beautiful things don't forget to count yourself in!"

Acne can affect one's self esteem. Good thing there are lots of over the counter acne treatments. You have just got to find which one works well on your skin. I suggest that if you have an oily skin, it's best to use water base gels since it doesn't clog pores.  

Benzoyl Peroxide is known as an acne treatment for a long time. You can buy it in different strengths in soaps, liquids, gels and lotions. It stops acne-causing bacteria from growing and helps to dry out pimple quickly. 

You can get it from your local drugstores.  I'm using Galderma's Benzac AC 10 for almost 2 months now and I see a huge difference. Here are some of the details about this product:

Price: P640 ($13.49USD)

Texture: Water base gel

Where to buy: Local drugstores

How to use:

Step 1

Clean your face with a mild skin cleanser and water.

Step 2

Pat skin dry.

Step 3

Apply thin film of Benzac Gel to the affected areas once or twice daily. Apply only to the affected area since it can dry out your skin.

See improvements in one week! 

Have you tried  Benzoyl Peroxide products? Share your experience with us! 

Acne Facial Wash for Sensitive Skin

“Healthy skin is a reflection of overall wellness.”
~Dr. Howard Murad

What is acne and pimple?

Acne has something to do with the hormonal imbalance that causes severe breakout. While, pimple is a type of acne which is milder that easily goes away after a few days or weeks.

What are the causes?

Dirt

Pollution

Allergens

Clogged pores

Bad hygiene

That's why finding a good facial cleanser is a MUST. Let me introduce to you, Etude House AC Clinic Daily Foam Cleanser that you'll surely wanted to try.

Where to buy:

Etude House

SM Department Stores

Watson's

Price:

Around P400 - 500

Scent:

Love the herbal scent.

Consistency:

Thick.

Will I recommend this to a friend?

Definitely, YES! I love the scent, consistency and packaging of the product. This is also good for sensitive skin as it doesn't have beads that can cause skin irritation. 

Have you tried Etude House AC Clinic Daily Foam Cleanser before? If yes, how did you find the product? Does it make your skin clearer? Let me know your answer on my comment box below. :)

Benefits of Cocoa Butter Lotion

“Don't rely on labels to give you the information you need.
Trust only the ingredient list and your gut.”
~ Yancy Lael, Glowing: Soulful Skincare

Papaya, lemon and strawberry extracts are known to lighten skin. But, did you know cocoa butter is a great skin regime that helps to lighten dark spot and is really good for stretch marks? Do you want to know why? Here are the top 5 reasons why Cocoa Butter lotions are great for you.

Moisturize

It moisturizes deeply without the sticky and heavy feeling. Far from regular lotions that only sits outside the layer of your skin.

Improves scar and stretch marks 

Because it contains vitamin E, it helps to restore damaged skin cell to its normal condition. Except for keloid scars, which requires surgical removal.

Combats skin irritation

Skin itchiness, allergy, eczema, rashes are hard to resist not to scratch, which is actually a big NO-NO! Since scratching the skin can cause infection and scarring. Cocoa butter lotion gives a soothing effect that minimizes the itchy feeling and helping the skin to heal.

Anti-aging

Too much sun exposure, pollution and unhealthy lifestyle can contribute to fasten skin aging. The good thing about Cocoa Butter lotion is a great source of antioxidant which contains higher antioxidant than any other super foods.

So, what is your favorite fruit or super food extract? Share it with us in the comment box below.

Affordable Haircare Product - Keratin Hot Oil Treatment with Mango & Cocoa Butter

The hair is the richest ornament of women.
~Martin Luther

Taking care of our crowning glory has never been easy for women who has dry, weak and posporous hair due to heat, styling and chemical damage. There are so many promising products over the counter but it will take a couple of bucks and time to prove it though. My hair is a little bit dry and weak due to hair coloring  and rebonding. 

I've tried different products, some worked well but I didn't stop to try new products. 

And today, I bought Hortaleza Professional - Keratin Hot Oil Treatment with Mango & Cocoa Butter. It's available at HBC stores and it cost P144 for a 250g.

The packaging is quite simple, it is in brown medium size tub. I love the sweet scent of it and it has thick consistency(please refer to the 3rd photo above) as I'm prone to have breakouts whenever I use hair treatment products that runs off my forehead and it doesn't weigh down my hair.

Here's the directions for use:

1. Shampoo hair. Rinse then towel dry.
2. Gently massage a sufficient amount onto hair and scalp.
3. Process hair under shower cap or steamer for 20-30 minutes. (I leave it for an hour)
4. Rinse thoroughly. 
5. For best results, use once a week.

Have you tried Hortaleza Professional - Keratin Hot Oil Treatment with Mango & Cocoa Butter as well or planning to use it? Please share your thoughts at the comment section below.

Pro's and Con's of Buying in an Online Shopping Store

Way back a few decades ago someone who loves to do shopping must go to the mall to buy whatever he wants or need, but with the help of technology people nowadays can shop at home using their computers or gadgets. I got hooked into this trend where I almost shop everything I need online, so let's check one by one what are pro's and con's of shopping online.

PROS

TIME-SAVING
If you don't have time to go to the mall, buying online would be efficient for you, but TAKE NOTE: it takes about 1-10 days before you receive your order (this depends on your location)

FALLING IN LONG LINE
The peak season is coming and you don't want to fall in line that consumes an hour, when you buy online you can pay them through credit card, money transfer or you can opt for cash delivery TAKE NOTE: Prepare the EXACT amount of your bill so there will be no hassle when the package arrives.

VARIETY
Online shopping store provides different and lots of items that you can choose from, unlike shopping at the mall you'll get tired going from one store to another.

EASY PEASY
Whether you're at home, office, school or cab you can buy online with the help of your gadget, just a few clicks and you're done!

CONS

WAITING PERIOD
It takes about 1 to 15 days before your order arrives.

SOMETIMES WHAT YOU SEE IS "NOT" WHAT YOU GET
BAM! You saw an item that you thought that would be perfect for you and because of the excitement you clicked the "BUY" button right away, and when your order arrives and saw the item personally you feel disappointed. Unlike shopping at the mall you get to see, touch or try the item that you're going to buy.

TIPS:

• Research about the shopping online store if it's legitimate.
• Before buying an item, make sure that you're 100% sure that it was really the item you're looking for.
• Make sure you correctly typed the name and billing address that you provided.
• Please make sure that there is someone that you trust who can accept your order whenever you're not at the billing address that you provided.

Do you have any experiences regarding online shopping? Please share it with us!