Lush NEW Shampoo Bar

Hi guys! I apologize for being MIA. I was busy for the past couple of days but now I'm back for another product review.

I picked up a Lush shampoo bar since I couldn’t contain my curiosity about them anymore. The sales assistant suggested this New shampoo bar since my concern was hair fall at the moment. When I first smelt this at the store, I didn’t really quite like the scent so I was hesitant to buy it. Anyway, I ended up purchasing it. The New Shampoo Bar costs Php425 for 1.9g. It’s pretty pricey if you ask me but I guess the price of curiosity is expensive.

Lush New Shampoo Bar is a stimulating spice shampoo. It has:

Clove and peppermint oils to motivate tired scalps.

Help treat hair loss with cinnamon, clove and bay oils. When stress or life goes to your head, this shampoo will encourage hair growth and stimulate scalps. It's intense, but works a treat on irritated scalps or hair that's thinning.

Herbs for softness.

Rejuvenate hair with rosemary and nettle to make hair shiny and soft.

Nettle and peppermint

Nettle and peppermint stimulate the scalp and the hair follicles.

Eventually upon a couple days of use, the scent just grew on me and I didn’t have anymore issues with the smell of the bar. I love that it lathers oh so well. I enjoy rubbing it on my hair and massaging it on my scalp. It does a good job in cleaning the hair however it is really drying. After use, a heavy conditioner is a must.   I probably got carried away and over do the shampooing as I enjoy the lather of the shampoo bar. I feel like my current conditioner is not enough to bring back the lost moisture of my hair after shampooing so I might try a new conditioner after I finish the one I currently use. Or it could be that this shampoo bar is really harsh and not suited for every other day use. It did help me on the hair fall but it didn’t really stop my hair fall completely. I still have a couple of strands falling out here and there.

***

I had my sister use it recently and she also said that it was too drying that it took her numerous applications of conditioner to make her hair soft again. She said it is like an overly priced detergent (a.k.a. bareta).Hmm I don’t think I would be repurchasing this when I run out which would be a very long time from now since I have a lot left of this shampoo bar.

Etude House Color My Brows 02

It's weird to not have matching hair and eyebrows.


 Since I've used the Etude House Hot Style Bubble Hair Color Natural Brown, which made my hair quite lighter than it was before; I needed something to match my eyebrows. I was thinking of getting the MAC brow set but luckily, I chanced upon the Etude House Color My Brows mascara which only cost Php328, a fraction of the price of the MAC one.  It comes in 2 colors- one that's for a darker brown color and another for a lighter shade of brown. I got the 02 which is the light brown and I believe it perfectly matches the 03 shade of the hot style bubble hair color.

This product is easy to apply. It's just like mascara for your brows. Here's how the applicator looks like:

The mascara has some shimmer to it but it looks pretty natural when applied on the brows. Here's how it looks like on my brows.

L-without; R-with

I love it so much I even got myself a back up. This is the very first time I have a back up of anything make up wise. 

Just a tip that might be helpful (I’ve read this somewhere though I haven't tried it out myself but here goes :)
You can get a few more uses on a mascara by standing it in a glass of warm water or by heating it up with a hair dryer. 

I hope this is included on the Pre-holiday sale of Etude House happening on September 15 to October 15! :)

The Body Shop Guarana Berry Volumising Conditioner

I picked this up during the Festive at 15 sale event of The Body Shop since I was running out of conditioner at that time. Instead of paying full price for this 250ml conditioner, I got it for only Php 178.50 not bad since the original price per bottle is at Php 595 which is pretty pricey for me. I would not have dared picked it up if it wasn’t on sale.

Here are some of the ingredients and functions of them according to the Body Shop website: 

• Guarana berry extract helps to stimulate the scalp.

• Wheat and soy proteins coat each hair fiber, expanding the hair shaft, while adding moisture and gloss to hair and protecting it from heat damage.

• Volumizing polymer with natural actives provides extra body and volume for fuller hair.

Well let’s proceed to the good stuff about this product, shall we? I really like the subtle but sweet scent of berries in this conditioner. It's consistency is light but it can moisturize the hair quite well. However, I’m kinda disappointed with it because it didn't volumize my hair at all. So for a volumizing conditioner, it doesn’t quite get the job done. But one good thing about it is that it doesn’t weigh the hair down and leave it greasy. Will I repurchase? Probably but if only it is on sale again. But in the meantime, I got to move on and lookout for that volumizing conditioner.

elf nail polishes

I love that elf nail polishes are now available locally however I'm not digging how much it is. Local elf prices are a rip off as they sell for Php129.75 each for the essentials line. Though I know they're not too expensive but considering that they sell only for a dollar each in the US that makes it three times as much as the local retail price when converted.

elf nail polishes are of pretty good quality. They come in cute packaging too, very reminiscent of the nars nail polishes. They are formulated without Toluene, Formaldehyde, and Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP). They also come in a variety of colors from nudes, to reds, to even bright colors. I own 12 elf nail polishes so far (chocolate, lilac, black, punk purple, smoky brown, dark navy, fire coral, plum, light red, nude, fluorescent pink, and mod mauve). I love them all but if I were to choose my favorites, it will be smoky brown and lilac. I've had my elf nail polishes for over eight months now and I'm happy to say that I can still use them as they haven't dried up yet. They have pretty long shelf life which makes them oh so worth it. Another plus is that elf nail polishes don't have a strong nail polish scent. It doesn't hurt my nose or give me a headache unlike other nail polishes I've used in the past. The nail polishes are thin and a bit sheer so 2-3 coats would be needed to achieve the color on the bottle. 





***elf nail polishes sell for $2 dollars now. Oh well but at least the essentials line are still a dollar each. 

Pregroe 4-in-1 Thickening Shampoo

Php200 for 250ml

I have thin limp hair and I wanted my hair thicker and with a little oomph. I saw this on the shelves of Watsons and I bought a sachet to sample the product. It's a 4 in 1 shampoo which claimed to cleanse, thicken, control, and revitalize hair. I liked it after one usage so I decided to buy a big bottle.

I really liked how the shampoo smelt and how well it lathered. Based on the scent alone I would definitely repurchase BUT instead of making my hair thick, I experienced hair fall with it. How would my hair be thicker if my hair keeps falling off my head, right? It just doesn't make sense. I wanted to love this product unfortunately it just wasn't for me. 

I don't really have much luck with hair products. I haven't found my HG shampoo yet. Oh well on to the next shampoo I guess. 

Lush Silky Underwear

I've been really curious about Lush ever since my cousin told me how great their products were. She especially loves their shampoo bars. To add to the curiosity, I've also seen YouTube videos about reviews. I've even browsed their website an take a mental note of what I'd like to try out.
After sometime I finally gave in and visited a nearby Lush store. I was trying to be a savvy shopper at the time and took note of the stuff that I  still have with me before proceeding to the store. I still had 2 bars of soap so Lush soaps would be a pass, I still had 3 bottles of shower gels so it's also a pass, I still have a bottle of shampoo, conditioner, and treatment so they're all a pass. FinalIy I still had 2 bottles of lotions too so again another pass. (it looks like I wouldn't be able to buy anything at Lush at the moment but it hit me I don't have any dusting powder of any sort so I wanted to get one). I already have the Silky Underwear in my list of things I'd like to try from Lush.

It was $11.95 on the website and I honestly didn't know how much it was in peso when I went there. It turns out that Lush Silky Underwear retails at Php495 and you get 100g of product. That's really pricey for me to think that the main ingredient of this product is cornstarch but I ended up buying it anyways.

What I love about this product is the scent. It has a jasmine scent and I love florals however the scent seems to fade away quickly. I would have loved it if the scent lingered longer (it would have at least justified the price a little). Another thing I like about this is that it has cocoa butter. The shop assistant told me to apply this on my legs if I have difficulty pulling up skinny jeans.... I was skeptical but nonetheless I put some on my thighs and legs then tried to put on my skinniest jeans and lo and behold it went on without difficulty, amazing I tell you! I also love the packaging it looks so sleek and modern.
I love that it reduces the greasy appliance of the skin if I overapplied Oilatum.
I been putting this on after I lotion my body in the morning and at night. It's all good since I didn't have any bad reaction slash allergy with the product. What irks me a lot is the messiness leaving white traces of powder on the floor on my clothing but of course that should be expected since well it's powder.
I have to say it leaves up to it's name. My skin felt so silky that I sometimes mindlessly touch it because of the silkiness it brings. (I don't know if ordinary powder can also do that since I've not tried that yet)

Overall I really liked it but I wouldn't probably repurchase. I don't see this as a necessity  it's actually more of an indulgent product to have. The price is basically the main prohibitive point. (though I'd probably repurchase this if it were on sale for 50% off :)

I'd like to try out other Lush products in the future. What lush products do you like that you can recommend me?

St. Ives Blemish and Blackhead Control Apricot Scrub

picture taken from the St. Ives site

Product claims
Oil-free - 2% salicylic acid • dermatologist-tested • 100% natural exfoliants • 100% natural extracts

I've been buying this product even before it's packaging had changed. This is my favorite face exfoliator. It's inexpensive and lasts for ages as only little amount is needed every time. It's pretty abrasive so I suggest using this on your face with gentle circular motions as I bet you do not want to end up scrubbing your face raw. I use this scrub twice a week and I think it really helps my skin. On the label, it says that you can use the scrub 3 to 4 times a week for best results. This is an indispensable product on my skincare regimen together with the Benzac wash and Benzac gel.

I don't limit the use of this scrub on my face alone though as I also use it on other parts of my body --particularly the chest, back, and the bum area. These areas of the body are prone to pimples too and I think the salicyclic acid in this scrub helps those nasty blemishes under wraps. I use this on my body once a week or even more sometimes.  :)

Iwhite Whitening Pack

I haven't posted anything for the past couple of days in this blog as I've been a little bit busy. For today's post I'm doing a review on the iWhite whitening pack. I was inspired to write a review about them while I have the mask on at the very moment I'm writing this. 

Old iWhite packaging

Php 20 a piece

Iwhite whitening pack removes deep seated dirt, whiteheads, blackheads, dead skin, and other impurities as it whitens to reveal a radiant, glowing, younger-looking skin. Especially formulated with Morus Alba root extract to whiten dark skin and evens out discolorations, Panax Ginseng root extract to revitalize and improve skin condition and vitamins A,C,E and B5 to prevent premature aging.

The Story

After trying out and loving Iwhite Skin Whitening Vita Aqua Moisturizing Cream, I wanted to try out more products from iwhite. Since I already ran out of my Neutrogena Fine Fairness Mask, I went in and bought the iwhite mask. Keep in mind thought that the Neutrogena mask is a sheet type mask whereas iwhite is a peel off mask.

The Verdict

It smells a little weird. I was expecting the same scent as the iwhite cream but it’s not a major deal breaker as its not strong or irritating at all. The mask has a thick consistency but its not hard to apply on the face though its quite hard to wash off your fingers after applying the mask. The mask takes about 30 minutes to dry. Some may not have the patience for that but I don’t really mind it as I usually just let it sit on my face as I watch some random tv show. Once the mask is hard it is easy to peel it off the face. I was even able to take it out in one piece. It removed some of my facial hair (the ones in the sides of my forehead) Don’t ever put this near your brows unless you want them yanked out. My face felt smoother afterwards especially on the nose area. It can definitely take out whiteheads. 

They had changed their packaging quite recently. To the left is the old packaging and to the right is the new ones.  

Monea Powedose Hair Repair

Following my disappointment with L'oreal Powerdose, I chanced upon the Monea ones on Watsons. I figured what the heck and just give it a try since it's inexpensive at only Php190 for 250ml. Monea Powedose comes in three variants and I purchased the one that's for hair repair. The bottles come in bright and eye catching colors. They would definitely stand out in a sea of  different hair treatments but too bad these babies were placed on the bottom shelves of Watsons.

I don't like the scent of this product. I can't even describe the scent of it but it's really weird. There's also a bit of a problem with the packaging as it's hard to get the product out but storing the bottle upside down solves that problem.

Well onto the performance ofthe product, shall we?this product does make my hair soft. It doesn't make my hair greasy unlike other treatments I've tried before. After consuming a bottle, my hair was still in the same condition-still  brittle on the ends with split ends.  But overall it's a pretty decent hair treatment for the price but I reckon there's better hair treatments out there. I'm still on the lookout for my HG hair product. 

Etude House Hot Style Bubble Hair Color in Natural Brown #3

I’ve never tried bubble hair dyes before and as a person who loves beauty products, naturally I got curious about them and wanted to try one out. I’ve been checking out Prettia and Palty on the internet and thought about ordering online but then I found out that Etude House also carries bubble hair dyes so I just went to the nearby Etude House store and got myself a box. I got lucky at that time since the stocks for the bubble hair color runs out fast. The Hot Style Bubble Hair Color by Etude House only comes in 4 colors, namely: Deep Black #1, Dark Brown #2, Natural Brown #3, and Wine Red #4.   The hair dye cost Php378. It’s pretty cheap compared to other bubble hair dyes out there which cost around Php650-700. The box contains the usual things that come in a DIY hair color kit except for the pump bottle, I guess.

It was fun to apply the dye on the hair. I love pumping out the foam from the bottle. I have medium length hair and there was more than enough of the hair dye to cover it. I left the dye on my hair for about 40 minutes (although on the box, I think you’re supposed to leave it for only 30 minutes). I washed the dye off my hair after and I kinda panicked when I felt how stiff my hair was but the treatment conditioner that came with the dye restored my hair back to its normal condition and even made it soft. Plus I loved the smell of the conditioner too.

I was really impressed how it lightened my black hair. Home DIY hair dye kits I’ve tried in the past didn’t really lighten my hair and colored my hair evenly. When I tried Revlon, it only managed to color the roots of my hair so the rest of hair was still dark. With the Etude House Bubble Hair Color, my hair lightened from roots down to the tips!

Here’s how my hair looked after I dried my hair. I looked haggard in this picture so that’s why I blurred out my face. You need not see my face here since this is a hair product review anyway. 
      

**Product pictures taken from etudehouse.co.kr

Elf Endless Eyes Pro Eyeshadow Palette

This palette retails $10 at the elf website but I got it at a local multiply store for Php800. Not bad, right?

This elf palette has an awesome array of colors from bold ones like pinks, blues, and greens to neutral ones like browns and blacks. There are a lot of colors for everyone's preference. Aside from the variety of colors, the eye shadows also have a variety of finishes-there are matte and shimmery ones.

 
The eye shadows on the palettes are a combination of hits and misses. There are ones with good pigmentation like this and there are of course blah ones. (there would be no photo for that as it would just be a waste)

Overall, this palette is a good one to have if you're new to eye shadows like me and would like to practice your eye shadow application skills and experiment with a variety of colors. 

          

St. Ives Skin Firming Lotion

It was March then and I was on the lookout for a product that would help me make my stomach and thighs look firmer and more toned just in time for the summer so that’s how I stumbled upon this lotion. St. Ives Skin Firming lotion claims to deliver visibly firmer skin in 2 weeks. Furthermore, it claims to have exclusive Nutrifirm Complex of seaweed extracts, green algae and collagen and elastin proteins which help visibly improve skin elasticity and restore skin firmness. The huge 18 fl oz pump bottle only costs Php220 which is pretty darn inexpensive compared to the same sized bottle of Aveeno which costs around Php850. St. Ives Skin Firming Lotion is formulated without parabens and pththalates.

The lotion has a fresh and light scent to it which I love. It’s consistency is neither too thick nor runny. It spreads easily on the skin and leaves a cool feeling after applied. For a firming lotion, it does a decent job in moisturizing the skin but is nowhere near the moisturizing properties of Aveeno. (I know, I’m such a hardcore Aveeno fan). Anyway what I’m after for this lotion is the firming part and not the moisturizing part of it. How does it fair on that department you may ask? Well I was disappointed with it since I’ve seen no visible firming of my stomach and thighs. I’ve applied this lotion twice a day for the past four months and my skin looked like it did prior to using this lotion.         

L'oreal Powerdose Mega Supply

My hair has been through a lot and sadly it is showing signs of damage. I've read all over the Internet regarding the Powerdose treatment by L'oreal and how awesome they were.  It comes in 4 variants and the mega supply is supposedly for damaged hair. I went to my local salon and found out that they sell it for Php750. It's not cheap since one vial contains only 10ml. You'd probably need more than 1 vial if you have long or thicker hair. So instead of buying the Powerdose  and having the treatment done in the salon, I scoured the Internet for online shops selling it for a cheaper price. I happen to find one through multiply. With Php750 I was able to by 2 vials. I can't remember the name of the store since I bought my Powerdose last May. 

I followed the instructions on the internet since this product did not have any instructions written on it. I had really high expectations from the product since a lot has been raving about them. But sadly I was disappointed as it didn't do anything for me. It did soften my hair but my regular conditioner would do the same job at a cheaper price. This product is supposed to be so potent that you only need to use it once a month and so I used one last June and the next one last July but I didn't notice any significant difference in my hair. I'm beginning to think that  maybe I bought a fake one since I've read that there are fake L'oreal products online. I don't know. The scent of the product is very reminiscent of the L'oreal Absolut shampoo that I used before that was supposedly for very damaged hair. 

Girls what do you think?  If ever you know a store selling L'oreal Powerdose that's not over Php400 a piece let me know as I'd like to try it again. 

Neutrogena Fine Fairness Deep Whitening Mask

Price Php990 per box which contains 5 pieces of mask

Size 30g per mask

Price Breakdown Php 198 per mask

The Story

     I have always wanted to try this product because of the many raves of beauty bloggers both here and abroad however I find the price too prohibitive to actually purchase one. There’s always the risk of this product not working on me and that’s a little less than Php1000 down the drain (and that thought makes me cringe). How I just wish that we can purchase it per piece instead of committing to buying a whole box to see whether it works for us or not since Php 198 is less cringe inducing that Php 990 anyway.

     So I went to the mall, went to the Neutrogena counter and picked up a box. The funny thing is that I put the box back to the shelf not once… but twice. I tried to distract myself by checking out the other beauty products but I find myself going back to the Neutrogena counter picking the same box and putting it back on the shelf then doing the same routine again until I finally headed down the cashier. Bottom line, I ended up buying it otherwise this review wouldn’t be made possible.

     I’m pretty happy with my Aztec Secret healing mask which costs less than Php500 a tub and lasts about half a year or more on me. Though I know that Aztec Secret and this Neutrogena mask are different since well the latter is a whitening mask whereas the former is a deep cleansing mask.  I haven’t tried any whitening masks before so curiosity got the best of me.

The Verdict

     15 minutes have passed but I decided to let it stay for one more minute. The mask felt so good on my face that I wanted to sleep with the mask on. After another minute, came the big reveal. I took the mask off and massaged my face. I took a good look at my face on the mirror, there wasn’t any major change in terms of skin tone but my skin felt really hydrated and fresh. I’ve read on other reviews that after the night they’ve put on the mask, their faces would be glowing the next morning. True enough when I woke up the next morning, my face was indeed a little brighter and hydrated however the effect didn’t last for the whole day. I guess this product is good to use when you have a date or an event to go to as after all this mask leaves the face a little brighter (don’t expect the mask to do anything drastic) and well hydrated for the day.

I’ve used up the whole box already. I used it once a week. I definitely liked the product but I don’t think I would shell out that much money for it since adding a little more amount to your Php198 can afford me a basic facial at the salon already. I would happily buy it if it were 50 bucks a piece though. I know I’m such a cheapskate but that’s the most I can shell out for a mask. 

Dove Go Fresh Energizing Beauty Body Wash

There’s nothing I don’t like about this Dove Go Fresh Energizing Body Wash (and no, I’m not being paid by Dove). This body wash has grapefruit and lemongrass scent. The scent is a faint smell of a lemon car air freshener to me. I don’t know if that is a good thing or bad thing to you but I really like it. I usually use this every morning when I need a pick-me-up and it never fails to perk me up. I also like that it lathers really well. I love to squeeze some on my shower ball and scrub away while enjoying the scent of the body wash. It is not drying because it has ¼ hydrating milk which all other Dove bath products have. What I love the most is the price! It's down to Php85 for 200ml. I love price cuts. Now Dove bath products are made more affordable. 


What are your thoughts on Dove Body Washes?

Purederm Deep Moisture Hand Mask

I got this hand mask at Watsons weeks ago since they were buy one get one free. Normally, a piece would cost Php79.75 but since it’s on promotion a piece would only cost less than Php40. I would not have bought it  if it weren’t on promo as I find it pricey and I’m pretty satisfied applying my Aveeno lotion on my hands whenever I need some moisturization. Anyway, I went and purchased 3 and got myself 6 pieces. Yey!

Here’s what Purederm has to say about this Deep Moisture Hand Mask:

The Purederm Deep Moisture Hand Mask Almond is an intense moisture treatment that restores suppleness to dry, rough, overworked hands. Enriched with Shea Butter, Sweet Almond Oil, Camellia Japonica Oil,Opuntia Tuna Extract and other natural antioxidants and emollients, this newly designed sheet type hand mask penetrates quickly & deeply to protect, nourish, and moisturize skin. After just one use, you will feel dramatically improved skin tone and texture!    

Directions on how to use the hand mask as printed on the back of the packaging:

1. Wash your hands with warm water
2. Open the pocket and wear hand masks
3. Wear vinyl gloves over hand masks
4. After 20-30 minutes put off the vinyl gloves and hand masks

I recommend preparing the vinyl gloves first before putting on the hand mask since it would be hard to put the vinyl gloves when the hands are already soaked with the essence of the hand mask. Trust me, I wasn’t able to put on the vinyl gloves at my first use since my hands are already soaked. Oh well at least I’ve learned the trick for my 2^nd use.

The mask had a faint smell of almonds which I like as it was very soothing. The tapes that came with the mask are very practical. It secures the hand mask and gloves in place so you would be assured that it wouldn’t slip off your hands. You can multi-task by typing on your computer or reading a book with the hand mask is on.  The Purederm hand mask can be a great D-I-Y hand spa treatment at home. You can try to use your favorite hand scrub first to exfoliate and put this mask on next. Then, afterwards you can apply your favorite hand cream/ lotion but you can probably skip that since this mask has really great moisturizing properties. It really does make a difference after one use on the moisturization department though don’t expect anything about the improved skin tone part. I’m amazed as I wasn’t expecting much from the mask. My hands were moisturized for the whole day. It would be great for pampering yourself or for use during special occasions like going on a date, perhaps? You wouldn’t know if you’d be holding hands with your date after all.  You better be prepared and leave a good impression, right?

Oh and this hand mask is also a great treat for moms since they do a lot of household chores. Their hands need all the TLC they could get. I gave one to my mom and she loved it as much as I did. 

Veet Sensitive Skin Hair Removal Cream

I have been using this product for a long time already that I've lost track of how many tubes I had consumed. I am balbon and I prefer to be hair-less as skin appears neater and smoother looking that way. Veet hair removal cream has three variants and I use the one for sensitive skin since I have that skin type. The 100ml tube lasts me for a month and I use it once a week for my arms and legs. I apply it first on my arms and then on my legs and leave it on for about 8 minutes then take the spatula that comes with it to remove the cream.  Veet for sensitive skin can be left on for a maximum of 10 minutes. The 100ml tube costs Php224.75 while the trial sized one costs Php99 and has 25ml. If you're new to the product I suggest picking up the 25ml tube to test whether you like the product or not but if you're already a regular user of veet then buying the regular sized product is a much wiser option as it is more cost effective.  With a little bit of math, it only cost around Php56 per usage to get rid of unwanted hair. That's pretty inexpensive IMO. Though it is made for sensitive skin I still get some red spots in my arms or legs after using the product however fret not as it disappears by itself after less than an hour. I suggest not using any scented lotion after using this as it may irritate the skin. I love that this doesn't give me chicken skin or ingrown hairs. However, I find the scent is weird. It doesn't bother me much than before though because I've gotten used to it.

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay

Price less than Php500 (I can’t recall the exact price since the last time I purchased this was last February)

Size 1lb

     I found out about this product through a random video I have watched on YouTube. I got curious about it thereafter and started to search reviews for it on the internet. All reviews I’ve read seem to be raving about this product so I immediately wanted to try it out for myself.  To my surprise it is even available in our country! So I went in to the nearest healthy options store to purchase one. (This review is long overdue as I am on my second tub already!  And btw a tub lasts for more than 6 months on me. This is such a good deal.)

The Verdict

     I have been religiously using this for more than a year and I think it really does a good job at deep cleaning the face. I love how the mask feels on my face especially when the mask starts to harden (that’s the time when you really feel like your face is pulsating). I use the mask twice a week and leave it on until it’s completely dry. I really don’t know how long I leave it on since I watch TV or tinker with my computer while I’m on it.

     According to the directions written at the back of the tub, use a non-metal bowl and utensil. I use a plastic spoon to scoop product out on the tub and put it on a plastic bowl to mix it with water to form the mixture that I put on my face. Usually I scoop out a tablespoonful of clay and mix it with about 2 tablespoons of water. The consistency should not be too thick or too watered down otherwise it would be difficult to apply.  I use the e.l.f. foundation brush to apply the mask on my face. I apply a thicker amount on my nose and cheeks as I feel that those areas need more deep cleaning than the rest. Washing off the mask can be messy and difficult.  It’s hard to get the whole mask off with just water alone so I use St. Ives Apricot Scrub to scrub off the bits and pieces that’s left on my face and as well as to help remove the blackheads and whiteheads. There might be slight redness after use but it will disappear in no time. The final result: I am left with soft and smooth skin.        

Olay Total Effects Ultra Nourishing Shower Cream + Body Butter

Price:Php 250  BOGO
Size: 295ml
The breakdown
Php 0.42 cents per ml




     We live in the tropics and when it's summer time we experience twice the heat. Our skin suffers from the scorching heat making our skin extra dry. My skin is no exception so when I went out and saw this bottle of Olay marked with ultra nourishing I immediately grabbed one as my skin needs the nourishment and it's also a good deal considering it's buy one, get one. 

The smell
     I can't describe the scent but all i can say is that It smells divine. 

The consistency
     It has a thick cream consistency with a bit of sheen to it. Definitely not your ordinary shower gel. Oh yeah that's why they call it a shower cream plus body butter, no less. 

The verdict
     It's rich and thick and at the same time it lathers pretty well. I wasn't expecting that but anyway it's a plus for me since I like my products to lather well.  This product did nourish my skin as my skin did not feel tight after having it washed out.  I love it! I gave the other bottle to my mom so she could test the 7-in-1 anti-aging claims of the product. Heck even if this doesn't have any anti-aging claims, it's still worth buying. It's perfect for the summer and for people with dry skin. But even though summer is already over, I still continue to use this body cream to pamper my body. 

Final thoughts

     My only gripe with this product is that the printed year in the bottle is 2009 and I'm hoping that this is the manufacturing date and not the expiry date otherwise I would have used an expired product (that is, assuming that the product's shelf life is two years) maybe that's why they have it on buy one take one promo.

Oilatum Shower Gel

My other aunt sent a couple of tubes of Oilatum Shower Gel for me to use for my eczema a couple of months ago. The main ingredient of this product is light liquid paraffin and it is supposed to soothe and moisturize skin all the while relieving it of itchiness and irritation caused by eczema. I think you can also use this too if you have dry skin. It’s fragrance-free and can be both used by children and adults.

To use this shower gel, first wash up using the regular soap that you use. (In my case, I just use the good ole Dove White Beauty Bar. I’ve been using that soap since my high school years. I do try other soaps when I get bored with Dove but I always go back to using it anyways). Then after doing so, use a small amount of Oilatum Shower Gel onto the dry areas of the body or parts affected with eczema and massage it for a bit. Rinse the area/s, pat dry, and you’re good to get out of the shower. This is a non-foaming shower gel. I find it a bit weird because of course I expect shower gels to lather up. I’m not going to complain though as it keeps my skin from flare-ups. (Hmm I guess non-foaming washes are effective on me. First, Benzac for my acne and now Oilatum for my eczema!) I would suggest taking it easy when it comes to application since too much of the gel can make your skin look and feel greasy. A little goes a long way and a tube would last a couple of months. I’m currently on my third tube now.

I don’t know though if this shower gel is available locally but I know we have Oilatum soap here. I have also tried the soap in the past and it is a good product too.

If you’re looking for something that would help you with eczema or dry skin, this product might be of help to you.