Tony Moly Intense Care Galactomyces First Essence 94.5%

What's all the rage in Korea? SK-II copycats, that's what! It used to be that when you thought of yeast cells, what came to mind instantly was wine, bread, vinegar... or infection. These days, beauty products are manufactured to contain concentrated amounts of miracle ingredients found in the most unexpected of places. Since I can't afford the legendary SK-II, I'm perfectly happy with scouting for a dupe to take its place. Behold, Tony Moly Intense Care Galactomyces First Essence 94.5%.

I'm not much of a loyalista when it comes to Korean beauty products, so I still get confused with their elaborate product lines. There are essences, lotions, serums, and emulsions, and it's so hard to keep track of what to use first. I usually end up not bothering to purchase the whole line, instead choosing what to get according to what I need. From my understanding, First Essence = Toner, so that's what I sprung for.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="504"] Ingredients[/caption]

It's not the usual alcohol-based toner, so it's preferably poured (a couple of drops) onto the palm or fingers and lightly massaged onto the face. At least, that's how the Tony Moly sales staff instructed me. That way, you keep wastage to a minimum. On the other hand, if you prefer a cotton pad/ball, then that's fine, too.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] I put it in one of my dropper vials, so that I don't have to fiddle with the big bottle. I only just use a few drops at a time.[/caption]

It looks like water, pours like water, but has a slight stickiness once it dries up. Methinks it's the Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, the main ingredient to this essence. Another notable sensation is a slight warm, tingling feeling on the skin. It's only temporary though. I've been using this for a month now and it looks like the supply is going to last me at least 3 months.

On the effects department, I wouldn't say that this made my skin glow, unlike with the phenomenal reviews for SK-II. For me, it was mostly an added bit of moisturization. No dry patches for me, but also because I've paired this with a serum and a finishing moisturizer. (More on that later.) This is ideal for those who'd like to start using toner, but don't want something too strong like an astringent. If you don't mind the sticky feeling, then go for it.

Will I be stocking up on this? I don't think so. In this humid country, the last thing I want to feel is even more sticky. When you buy toner, you generally expect a refreshing feeling. This is not that. I've had the opportunity of trying SK-II (the real deal) on the back of my hand (in two or three different occasions) from department store counters. It doesn't feel sticky.

Rating: 3.5/5

Pore Cloggage

I've been trying out a slew of new products this week, as well as alternating old products so they get equal mileage. Well, I guess it was inevitable that I experienced a breakout. Perhaps that also had to do with the late nights, but I digress. The culprits are:

• A) This freshly purchased bottle of serum I've started using


• B) A 'natural source' toner I've started using regularly (whereas I'd only dab it on occasionally before)


• C) My old 'new' foundation powder that's only been used a handful of times

I decided to stop using the 3 altogether and went back to my surefire clear skin toner, my overnight miracle that's cheaper and much more effective than Mario Badescu drying lotion (pffft). Like I said, it worked like a charm and the breakout subsided by 40% overnight, then my skin gradually healed itself the rest of the way. Meanwhile, I started reintroducing the products again to my regimen, albeit one at a time, to see which one caused the breakout.

Was it the serum? No, I don't think so. I'm aware that serums are more concentrated, so their 'stripping' properties may be more potent and thus possibly causing irritation. I was even warned by the sales woman that breakouts the first week of usage are commonplace, since the skin needs to get used to the new treatment. However, resuming its use didn't cause any problems. Ditto on the toner. Aaah, so it was the powder foundation all along. J'accuse:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Eeeek! Sephora Compact Foundation is bad for me[/caption]

How ghastly! It was clogging my pores all along. To think this cost me an arm and a leg back when I only had my allowance to spend. It only goes to show that a ridiculous price tag is not always synonymous to quality. Same goes for imported products: Just because it was manufactured in some far-off location—in this case, Italy—doesn't mean it won't give you a mother of a breakout.

I am now searching for a decent powder compact.

The Perils of Blogging

I've probably been in a funk lately. After reading a post written by a friend about her musings on the meaning of life, I took a little step back. I've been blogging since high school, when it wasn't as much of a mainstream thing. I was blogging before all the food and beauty bloggers did nothing but review products and places and re-post press releases. In short, I was blogging before it became the next big business decision to professionally blog.

It only took me a few minutes to think back to how I started. My first home on the internet was in Blogspot.com. It was during this time that I got interested in writing. I eventually moved to Livejournal where it was a bit more social with other LJ users, hence a lot more fun. At this point, I did a couple of reviews but mostly stuck to writing about the goings-on in my life. When the ownership changed (and so did the system), that's when I got into Multiply. For a while, Multiply was great because all my friends had their own pages. I was able to do a bit more reviewing, but there were also the photo albums to fill. Then it was purchased by another company and the site became jeje. *shudder* I stopped blogging for a while after that, but eventually found Wordpress. Here I am.

The lesson? When the website starts to go south, it's time to migrate. Aside from that, I was able to realize how my blog has matured over the years. Right now, I'm not particularly happy that I've mostly limited my writing to reviews. Whatever happened to just sharing my thoughts without them needing to go behind a product? No wonder I've been experiencing the burnout. Thoughts don't always have to be categorized into grading systems. I was just caught up in the excitement of it all, seeing some bloggers prosper and turn their writing into a business opportunity.

Honestly speaking, I don't think I can compete with that. I'd rather do this for the enjoyment and as a way to channel my stress and frustrations into a positive effort than to be obligated to mete out a satisfying review. Reviews are fun—as are increasing followers—but having my sanity intact is definitely more useful to me. I'm glad to have written this entry and to share my thoughts in earnest this time.

Crazy, Nutty Beauty Secrets

Sometimes, when we say 'Beauty Craze', we actually mean it. I read this article on the unconventional beauty practices some famous actresses do to maintain their good looks. Some are a little on the hippie side, while others sound downright absurd. While I personally wouldn't try most of the stuff these famous ladies have, I do respect their efforts in the name of vanity. I mean, girls the world over have probably—at one point or another—tried a walk on the wild side, beauty-wise. If I had to lay my cards out on the table, I'll admit that I've tried the following:

• Oatmeal Mask

It involved quick-cooking oats and some fresh milk. I was a high school freshman then, so cut me some slack. The milk was warmed, the oats were thrown in, I waited until the soft mixture cooled down a bit, then I did the deed.

Result: It dried up and hardened on my face. A damp face towel does the trick to remove it, but what a mess I made when the oat bits clogged the drain. Mom also got a bit upset at the waste of food. My face felt a bit firm afterwards, but that's probably just from the dried oats.

• DIY Foot Blush

This is something anyone can try at home, so I seriously wonder why people still buy foot blush from the stores. Get an empty spray bottle, fill it with mineral water, add a few drops of red food coloring, add a scent if you'd like, then shake well to mix. Test it out to see if you've put enough red food coloring in that it gives the desired rosiness to the soles of your feet.

Result: Honestly, I have no patience for this sort of thing. After two days, I basically stopped caring what the soles of my feet looked like. As long as my feet and toenails are free of dirt, then I'm a-okay.  The spray has been left unused for several years and I've had to dump it in the end.

• Sugar Scrub

It started with the Christmas bazaars. Back in 2007, our family regularly went to the countless Christmas bazaars that took place annually around the metro. Beauty product vendors were always a staple and they had a host of homemade-looking goods. Why spend so much on a sugar scrub that looked like it was easily cooked up in someone else's kitchen? I took matters into my own hands and raided the pantry. While I don't remember oh-so-clearly what went into that mix, I do recall that toasted coconut oil (a present from an aunt who came from the province) was the main ingredient.

Result: Oh yes, what a sweet and sticky mess this turned out to be. It smelled alright, but I stopped using after I found ants feasting on the residue that got left behind in the shower. Duh, it was the sugar.

• Chocolate Lip Balm

Again, another bazaar find. I loved the scented and flavored lip balms out in the market, so I crafted my own out of fabulously scented Ricoa chocolate syrup, a few drops of olive oil, and Vaseline.

Result: Delicious lip balm if used sparingly. The problem? Maybe too delicious. A friend heard of my experiment, asked me to make her a jar, and she ended up eating it. True story. I retired soon after that.

~~~

Whew! It seems I did a lot of crazy beauty stuff in my time. Wonder what everyone else has done in the weird vanity experiment department...

Going The Way of Kohl

With the sheer number of makeup brands housed in our leading department stores, we don't really need to go so far and wide to find the product/s we need. Admittedly, it takes a bit of the fun out of hunting for the next must-have item, but the convenience is unbeatable. Personally, I don't mind shopping around until I find the brand or product that will truly capture my attention. (Hey, it's part of the process.) My latest re-discovery of a non-department store brand just so happens to be Avon.

You may be thinking, "What the...?! Who still uses Avon?" As it turns out, I do. Don't knock it 'till you've tried it. The way I see it, all the brands in the world (high-end, low-end, or mid-range) and all their existing product lines are easily broken down to ingredients and their benefits. If it's a dupe for a premium product that also happens to be affordable, then I am all for it!

Today, I'm going to do a review on Avon Kohl Liner in Brown as part of my Avon review series.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Ingredients[/caption]

This eyeliner is new on the Avon brochures, what with it being at an intro price of PHP129 and all. Regular price is PHP199, by the way. It's packaging is in the old crayon-style of kohl liners, meaning the amount you see is also the amount you get without needing to sharpen or twist the tube. That's 1g of product for you, a reasonable amount for the price.

For those new to kohl, all you have to do is apply it like you would your regular liner. This type of liner is slightly creamier than the average pencil-type, so that smudging for softer definition is a possibility.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Pre-Smudge[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Post-Smudge[/caption]

I love no-sharpen eyeliners because I hate the little shavings that are inevitably produced by pencil-types. My biggest complaint about this is that you have to take extra care in removing the clear plastic lid from the pencil lest you accidentally break or deform the soft content. Applying it is fairly easy as it glides on smoothly. You just have to keep it slanted at an angle, so as to maintain the pointed shape of the kohl. Then you can smudge away.

The color is a rich, dark bronze. It may look shimmery on the packaging and in the brochure, but that doesn't really make it onto the lashline. The staying power was pretty good when I wore it the whole day, with gradual—yet minimal—fading that partly depends on how neatly you smudge it.

Needless to say, a steady hand is a requirement for some precision smudging. If you are like me, pasmado (having shaky hands), then a smudger, soft brush, or Q-tip is most definitely recommended.

I'd give it:

4.5/5 - Good value for money at PHP129, but deduction for the inconvenience of needing to very carefully remove the cap each time the kohl is used.

Following Fall 2013 Shows

Since I'm not into the local TV teleserye scene, I really look forward to fall in the US for all the latest seasons and new show premiers. This year, I've stuck almost exclusively to comedies, with just a smidgen of horror and drama. (I don't like emotional roller coasters, even in fiction.) My returning picks are:

Modern Family

Loved it since the first episode of the first season, and I still love it now. They keep the storyline simple, funny, and realistic. The situations depicted on that show has probably happened to someone, sometime. No confusing arcs. Straightforward comedy. Of course, the bigger the family, the crazier it gets. That's a fact. What's not to love about this show?



Parks and Recreation

The incorruptible Leslie Knope would've been boring in theory, but this is Amy Poehler we're talking about. She gives it her all, even when she looks downright silly. I genuinely enjoy the heart-warming moments the parks department has because their dynamic is so good. Even though there's always something complicated going on, it doesn't ever get too bad. *SPOILER ALERT from here* Sad to hear that Rashida Jones and Rob Lowe are leaving. Wonder how that'll pan out...

Community

This season, I'll be watching with trepidation. Troy and Abed are my favorite characters, so I was bummed to read that Donald Glover is leaving.



The Mindy Project

I'm seriously waiting for Mindy and Danny Castellano to get together. It's almost exactly like New Girl, what with the waiting for Nick and Jess to finally be together. (And you know it's only a matter of time!)



American Horror Story: Coven

I couldn't be bothered to watch the first season of American Horror Story because it seemed too weird, but the second season was good. Apart from each season being an entirely different story, Jessica Lange is the main reason I watch. Sinner or saint, she does it fabulously.



Glee

Frankly, I could do without already. Since last season, I've been fast-forwarding through song numbers because they seem to take too much time without telling much of a story. Because I started with the first generation gleeks, I'm still more interested in Rachel Berry's batchmates than the newer kids on the show. It's horrible, but I'm mostly interested to see how Finn gets written off the storyline.



How I Met Your Mother

Am I the only one who thinks this show has been milked for all it's worth? They've held off introducing "Mother" for as long as humanly possible. While HIMYM is still very funny—largely because of Neil Patrick Harris—it's already started to take on that tired edge because it's been progressing at a maddeningly slow pace. You know who else does that? The Philippine show, Please Be Careful With My Heart.



Supernatural

The main arc of the story is boring to me, frankly. It's too big with their run-amok angels and whatnot. I liked the first few seasons because of the one-shot stories. Those were wonderfully satisfying and they kept things interesting. Hope they have more this season. It's one of those shows that you just want to see through to the end since you've already gone 8 seasons.

~~~

The brand spankin' new shows that look promising are:

Super Fun Night

Another example of giving it her all in the name of comedy is Rebel Wilson. It reminds me of Ugly Betty in that it's a comedy about an underdog with a moral compass. Cute.

The Crazy Ones

Two things: Sarah Michelle Gellar and Robin Williams. I was obsessed with Buffy, and I saw Mrs. Doubtfire about a thousand times. I'm happy to see SMG not doing something as angsty as Buffy or The Ringer. I'm also glad to see Robin Williams doing comedy again vs. those creepy films like One Hour Photo. Ick.

Witches of East End

I was a huge fan of Charmed, up until Prue's death and the annoying Balthazar storyline that made me quit watching altogether. The first episode of Witches is reminiscent of Charmed, with Jenna Dewan-Tatum portraying the beautiful but slightly awkward Freya in a way that reminds me of Alyssa Milano's character, Phoebe. Joanna Beauchamp (Julia Ormond) makes for a hip witchy mom.

 

*Posters and screenshots are from IMDB.com

Pore Pack for Your Thoughts

The first time I ever heard about nose pore strips was back in the 90's, when my college-level cousin would often be found with one stuck to her face. She used to lament about how it made her pores too big, so I shied away from it for a while. Eventually, the distaste for whiteheads/blackheads got the better of me, so I relented and bought some. It worked wonders and didn't make my pores any bigger than usual (so long as it's used just once a month). Pore packs ended up becoming a dermatologist-free way of doing 'major renovations' to my face.

As far as brands go, I haven't been very adventurous. I prefer the pre-cut white strip-type that sticks to a wet nose like tape as opposed to the type that comes in liquid for that you have to layer over the skin yourself, because those never come out clean. My latest buy comes from Biore, a brand I've known and trusted since I was a kid:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Biore Aroma Collection in Jasmine[/caption]

What drew me to it was mainly curiosity. seeing the pretty packaging and the different scents. (I remember there being a rose-scented one as well.) This line seems to be limited edition as I can't find it in the official Biore site.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Ingredients[/caption]

Previously, I've had bad experiences with black nose strips in that they tend to leave gunk on the skin after the strip is removed. Getting this was really just an impulse buy on my part.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Individual pack inside[/caption]

It's the same as the usual pore strips, shape and all. Same instructions: Wet nose, stick it on, let dry for 10-15 minutes, then gently peel off.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Textured outer part[/caption]

What I find remarkable is the scent that sets it apart from all the others. Because it's part of their aromatherapy collection, the strip had a  Jasmine scent that wafted out strongly immediately after I tore open the pack. How to describe the scent... As a veteran drinker of Jasmine tea, I can definitively state that this doesn't smell much like the tea. Instead, there's a sticky, sweet Jasmine scent that reminds me of Jasmine Tea-flavored mochi. Definitely more cutesy than aromatherapeutic, but I didn't mind.

I'm not going to post any photos of me using this or the resulting dirty strip because that's all very gross. Instead, I'll just post the "After" photo:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Still some gunk left, but minimal[/caption]

While Biore's cleansing oil was a clear, eye-stinging miss for me, their pore strips are great! The best part about the black ones are for when you want to see if the blackheads really do come off—and, boy, do they come off. Just be ready to wipe off some gunk after, especially when you're using a black strip in hot weather.

Intimate Cocoa Butter Lotion

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the country that celebrates the Yuletide season way too early. The -Ber months have descended upon us here in the Philippines, and the air is—almost imperceptibly—drier. Because of that, I'm whipping the richer lotions out for maximum moisturization. Next to the joy of already having a nice lotion at home is finding one for cheap. Look what I found at the dollar store:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="462"] Intimate Cocoa Butter Lotion is almost the same size as my Vaseline Cocoa Radiant Lotion[/caption]

For PHP 99, I got a bottle of 590mL of cocoa butter lotion made in the US. The price is tempting, but products like these have been around for ages. What really won me over was the scent. I took a whiff—just for fun—to see if it smelled anything like my Vaseline Cocoa lotion. What I got instead was chocolate buttercream frosting, and it blew my mind. Now, usually I don't like lotions or soaps that smell too much like baked goods. Fruits? Yes. Baked goods? Not really. But around the Christmas season, it just feels right, so I make that once-a-year exception.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Back Label[/caption]

The thing with a cheapo lotion is you can't expect the moon and the stars from it. It's highly unlikely to have the same quality as say... The Body Shop's Body Butter. However, if you want a basic lotion that slathers on without feeling sticky in our climate, then this thing's a go. The consistency is just right, so it can be "piped" onto the palm while maintaining its shape. It's easy to apply and doesn't go sticky or greasy afterwards. Again, I'll have to say that the scent is heavenly if you love your chocolate cupcakes. No need to worry about ants though. The scent that stays on the skin is very, very subtle.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="378"] Shiny and light lotion[/caption]

Recommended for: Hot climate, summers, people who hate rich-feeling lotions.

 

Can't wait to see what other gems I'll find at the dollar store. :)