The Spa Day

No matter how stressed out I have gotten, I've never been one to regularly go to a spa for a massage. My mom usually has to force me, and I never know how tense I've become until all the knots have been loosened. Imagine what a pleasant surprise I got when one of my good friends sponsored a spa day for me and my mom. (Thank you very much! You know who you are.)

We made our way over to Eastwood City one sunny Tuesday afternoon for our scheduled spa date. Can I just say how relaxing the ambiance is? I've only been to The Spa one other time, so I'm not sure if each branch has a different theme. The one in Eastwood, however, took on a Greek island atmosphere. It was lovely.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="342"] Reception[/caption]



We were ushered into a Premiere Suite, a private room for one or two that includes a shower, massage bed, faucet, and choice of either a Jacuzzi or steamer.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="356"] Tada! I chose the jacuzzi option[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="516"] The bath was already drawn by the time we entered[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="358"] Faucet[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="359"] The separate WC / toilet was immaculate[/caption]

I love how they went the extra mile. A cup of sweet salabat (ginger) tea and water were provided for each guest before and after the session. There were towels, robes, slippers, bath amenities, and posh magazine to help with the unwinding. Our massage therapists, Susan and Tim, were excellent with our Swedish massages.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="356"] Post-Massage Bliss[/caption]

Having an occasional mom-and-daughter date at The Spa is something I'd try saving up for! They put so much effort into the ambiance and the service that you'll easily associate them with treating yourself to a piece of luxury.

 

Pros:

Good service, well-trained massage therapists, and a soothing ambiance from the reception to the rooms.

Cons:

I wish they had disposable slippers (the thin hotel ones) for hygienic purposes. The robes also looked well-worn.

 

For more information visit The Spa's website here.

Fragrance, Dubai Style

Find yourself a tourist in UAE? Odds are, you'll be ushered into one of the many souks that sell just about anything imaginable. (A souk or souq is a marketplace not unlike the local tiangge that often sells locally-made items. Just like with the tiangge, you must be a master haggler to get a good deal.) Particularly in Dubai, the popular souks or souk-style shops are the gold and spice ones, and then there's the seasonal, carnival-style Global Village with its rides and various country-themed souk pavilions. A common attraction in these small shops, if not the spices, are the bottles and bottles of Middle Eastern perfume that come in 'value sets' and fancy packaging. Oh, and along with them you'll get the annoying vendors who won't stop yelling in your ear and following you around.


[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Global Village[/caption]

However infrequently I shop, when I do end up looking to buy something, the only quality I want out of a sales person is their product knowledge. Answer any and all of my questions, but that's it. I'm sure I'm not the only one who cringes at the vendor who follows the customer around, matching his or her every step in any direction. Furthermore, I don't appreciate the spiel of, "This one is good. Made from blah-blah flower. You buy the set? Very good deal!" every time I examine a bottle. That's why I ended up crossing out perfume from my souq list, though some of them smelled downright fabulous.

If you really want to take home a bottle or five of the local perfume or eau de toilette, especially for giving away as souvenir items, here's my top scent-shopping tip: Don't ignore the supermarkets. Though Carrefour may not have the same exotic vibe as an open-air market, it's definitely not lacking in perfumes and cosmetics. You can take as long as you'd like—undisturbed—choosing the scents that tickle your fancy, and the prices are significantly lower. While the souq may have more unique/unusual blends, the value sets offered at the grocery are truly a steal! Here's what my mom got from Lulu Hypermarket, a grocery store a la Shopwise or Target that sells everything you can imagine:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Jasmine Perfume; this was actually buy-1-take-1 for AUD 20 (PHP 250)[/caption]

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

Nivea Body UV Whitening Serum Review

SPF body lotions are a godsend, aren't they? We have sweltering hot days here in Manila, and there's probably a voice nagging inside your head that you should be doing more to protect your skin from the sun. Apart from the hats and long-sleeved shirts, it's the sunscreen lotions that save the day. My personal skin savior is Nivea Body UV Whitening Serum (PHP 219 for 200 ml, but there's also a smaller size available).

The packaging may be standard Nivea design, but I appreciate that the product is contained in a squeeze tube instead of a bottle. Let gravity do all the work for you. With lotion bottles, I usually have them turned upside down in my bathroom, so tubes are still the best! Also, the dispenser is tiny enough that the serum doesn't spurt out and make a mess. Clever, Nivea. Very clever.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Tube dispenser[/caption]

As with packaging, the scent is typical Nivea lotion. It's fruity-floral but in a womanly way. Personally, not my cup of tea, but I find this type of scent "sellable" in the local market. Besides, what makes me forget that I don't care for the scent is the texture of the aptly-named serum—because it's way too runny to be a lotion! Yet that same liquid quality is what makes it so easy for the skin to absorb without the sticky discomfort of the typical lotion. If you don't notice any whitening, at least the SPF 25 gives more confidence for going outdoors. Bonus points for having a cool feeling once it's rubbed on.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] 10 Promising Properties[/caption]

 

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

The UV Whitening Serum proves that Nivea does their homework carefully. The scent, packaging, price, and advertising are perfect for women from tropical areas who are hot for the whitening craze. Though plenty of ladies are still used to the tiis ganda (enduring hardship for the sake of beauty) thick lotions, the body serum is a skincare trend worth discovering and getting used to.

Jergen’s Lotion, I Owe You An Apology

There are certain products that take me right back to my childhood. Off the top of my head, I can name three and their corresponding memories: First is Nivea Crème, which I often spied my mom using when I was maybe 5 years old. All I knew was that it smelled very grown-up and that the blue tin was off-limits to my pudgy fingers. Second, Clairol Herbal Essences made the list because of the original formulation’s scents that I still associate with clean, fresh, non-overpowering fruity-florals. (By the way, the closest shampoo I could find with that same scent is Avon Naturals’ Black Shine 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner. Affordable, too, so go get it if you’re feeling nostalgic.) Third is most definitely Jergen’s Original Scent Dry Skin Moisturizer that would be slathered on after baths. That cherry-almond scent will always be associated with a lotion that’s been used by my mother and her mother before her.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="475"] Left to Right, Clockwise: Clairol Herbal Essences (new packaging), Jergens Original Scent Lotion, Nivea Creme[/caption]

As with most childhood items, becoming a teenager changes everything. Jergen’s developed a bad rap in my mind when I heard a dumb rumor that using this particular lotion had the unpleasant side effect of growing excess body hair. (Like I said, a very dumb rumor.) I switched to other brands more geared towards the hip teenage market, and that went well for me all the way to adulthood. But what can I say? Sometimes, nostalgia is a good thing.

I found out my grandma still uses Jergen's cherry-almond regularly, so I started jonesing for that iconic scent. On impulse, I bought a medium-sized bottle from the supermarket and have been using it the past couple of nights for my particularly dry areas like ankles, legs, and elbows. I don't remember 100% the 1990's formulation, but I think the old version was slightly thinner in consistency and more opaque that its 2014 counterpart.  Perhaps it's the amount of glycerin in the present day's version, but it also seems to be more moisturizing (or sticky?) that what I can recall. Though I'm not complaining, since it's rich enough to help my elbows and ankles along. The scent, however, seems to have remained unchanged.

I'm happily using up my new bottle of Jergen's, so I definitely owe this brand an apology. It took me so long to rediscover it, but I'm back to loving it and I'll be keeping it close by.

 

*Photos from Kao, Nivea, and Clairol websites.

Quick Look: Vaseline Healthy White Instant Fair Lotion

I'm very skeptical when it comes to whitening products. Seeing that there are hoards of Pinays who are looking for legit lighteners, it pains me to catch wind of some products being marketed at a premium price for their so-called fair-making prowess but aren't actually effective. So when I saw the brand new Vaseline Healthy White Instant Fair Lotion TV commercial, I wanted to personally test it to believe it. Here's what the bottle looks like and what it claims to do:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Ambitious, but is it effective?[/caption]

Earlier this week, when I was at my favorite Watson's branch, I spied the new Vaseline display on one of the lotion shelves. I asked if a tester was available, but there wasn't any. Lucky for me, another branch had a fresh bottle for those who wanted to try. Check out my before and after photos:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] Before: The lotion is on the bottom arm (my left arm), unblended[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] After: Once blended[/caption]

*Sorry for the fneh photos. We were sort of in a hurry, afraid the stoic-looking guard would come over to admonish the photo-taking.

I have skin on the fairer side, but I'd like you to decide for yourselves if it actually worked on my left arm. What I did notice was that, after blending the lotion in, my skin had a slight sheen to it that caught the light. (Nothing shimmery though, so don't be afraid of looking like a disco ball.) Maybe that's what Vaseline means by "microreflectors" There's an illusion of fairness from the sheen, sort of like how Prtty Peaush is supposed to give a quick glow. But if you're looking for a dramatic instant whitening effect, you may be disappointed.

According to Vaseline's Facebook page, the lotion SRP is Php110.00 for 100mL, Php190.00 for 200mL, and Php299.00 for 350mL. Yeah, that's usually the price range of drugstore whitening lotions.

*First photo from Vaseline FB page.

Instant Glow Argan Soap for Face and Neck: The Golden Bar?

With my wonderful experience using Instant Argan Oil, I wanted to see if I could get even more out of the line. The next time I had a free day, I rushed on over to Watson's and got me a bar of Instant Glow Morocco Argan Oil Argan Soap for Face and Neck (PHP 249). I parted with my hard earned PHP 200 +  with the highest expectations from this miracle oil-based cleanser. Now before I get into the actual review, here's what the product looks like:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] A sealed box[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Quite a big bar of soap, as you can see when put beside my 100mL bottle of argan oil[/caption]

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

The packaging is simple but hygienic, with emphasis placed on protecting the bar of soap inside. A sealed plastic wrap on the box gives it a bonus of 100+ points because at least I know that what I've purchased hasn't been pawed by whoever stopped to check the display. Then there's the bubble wrap inside that cushions the soap from getting banged up. Once that's been discarded, there is a final layer of saran wrap separating the precious soap from the elements.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] Bubble wrap![/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Another layer: massive bar wrapped in saran[/caption]

Now for the actual usage of the soap... The gigantic size of this argan soap bar kind of justifies the price, and so does the list of ingredients that include witch hazel and shea butter. Upon first whiff, I got the overwhelming buttery smell of hopia mongo—not a bad thing as I don't mind the scent of Filipino-Chinese pastries at all. A decent lather is created when rubbed with water, though not enough that it feels like germicidal soap.

I was instructed by the sales attendant to massage the lather onto my face and leave it for about 5 minutes, which was impossible for me because I always ended up getting stingy suds in my eyes. After washing my face, I could feel a tightness in the skin. My combination-normal skin might not be 100% compatible with this formula that I find too strong for me. This argan soap also didn't seem to help clear my minor breakouts. However, I've seen the other reviews and my guess is that this soap is better-suited to oilier skin types to really get in there and strip away the sebum.

Because I don't agree with the formula, I've been using this as a body soap instead. I  wouldn't say that it has helped lighten my skin, but it does last a loooooong time before the bar dissolves into nothingness. When the sales girl told me it was matipid (thrifty), she meant it. My recommendation? Find a friend and split a bar, so that you're not left with too much if this isn't a good match for you. The sales attendant herself told me that she slices the soap bar in half with a knife, thereby preserving the other half and prolonging her usage. Hmm... good money-saving tip there.

My Rating: 3.5/5 Bar soaps tend to be harsh, even when they're intended for the face. They'll never really get a high rating from me from the get go, unless I use one that practically defies gravity. Good soap, but a little drying when used on the face. I'd stick to the argan oil instead.

BEAutiful Soul: The Almost Acca Kappa

It all started with an argument... I was going out on an errand and was completing my so-called OOTD with a spritz (or four!) of cologne, which just so happened to be my mom's Acca Kappa Muschio Bianco that day. (I've been known to sneak a few spritzes of the clean-smelling scent when the mood strikes.) Mom was there and got a little upset that I was using her special occasion scent for errands.

Mom: Don't use that. I hardly use it myself, only saving it for when there are big events.

Me: You hoard perfumes, and you totally shouldn't. They either dry up or start to stink.

Okay, I feel a little bad for using her favorite scent for a mall run, so I opted to shop for my own bottle of an alternative instead. That's right, Acca Kappa has an alternative that's very affordable at PHP 348. May I present Kashieca BEAutiful Soul:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Isn't the bottle reminiscent of Givenchy's Dahlia Noir?[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="354"] Dahlia Noir[/caption]

It's been around since 2010, but I've only just discovered it this year because I can be very out-of-the-loop sometimes. I was window shopping some months ago with my mom, and she was so amazed that it smelled exactly like Muschio Bianco. At the time, we didn't bother getting it because she still had a mostly full bottle of Acca Kappa on her dresser. It stuck with me though.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Musky[/caption]

What's nice:

• The packaging is pretty with regard to box and bottle. Like I said, the bottle shape and lid brought to mind a stripped-down Dahlia Noir, while the box is a little quirky but cute. Seeing that it's a celebrity scent for Bea Alonzo, the box design is probably a nod to her.


• Under the lid is a black spritzer which I thought added a touch of class.

What's fneh:

• The bottle size is bulky for small purses, but PHP 348 for 65 mL is a good deal. Okay, no complaints! Thank goodness I'm used to lugging around a sack of a bag.


• On me, it doesn't have much of a staying power. To be fair, my skin makes fragrances with high alcohol content vanish in a jiffy. Even the actual Acca Kappa cologne doesn't last that long. Re-sprays are inevitable.


• Of course, this scent is not a 100% replica of Acca Kappa. You get the clean muschio bianco scent at the beginning that eventually has a dry down of fruity-meets-spicy pink peppercorn.

What's not nice:

• A sticker label on the bottle comes off as a little tacky if you're conscious about displaying it on a show dresser.

Rating: 4.5/5. Nice enough for daily use. I'd personally wear this at home or outside when I don't want a scent that leaves too much of an impression. In short, it's good for a mellow day.

November 2013 Favorites

Is it getting chillier at all? I hardly even feel it! Either way, I get extremely enthusiastic about moisturizing this time of year. Here are my favorites this month:

1. Belo Essentials Skin Hydrating Whitening Facial Wash - Mild, pleasantly-scented, hypoallergenic, and non-drying. Gentle enough to use thrice-a-day if you like a midday refresh session. It's good to have in your stash. (Read my full review here.)

2. Gluta-C Intense Whitening Alcohol-Free Whitening Toner - Despite the fact that the word "whitening" is used in every other phrase on the packaging, it removes leftover makeup gunk without causing the dreaded redness to my skin. It's dermatologist tested and fairly inexpensive. A good deal. (Full review here. )

3. Nivea Baby Smoothy Cream - Another hypoallergenic product that makes my skin happy. I'm addicted to the newly-bathed baby scent! The texture is so mild and silky that I feel pampered every time I use this. (Click here for the full review.)

The common thread to these face products are the milder ingredients. I've been pushing for starting  the use of anti-aging formulas at a young age, but I realized that this is the time when youthful skin is still working to my favor, so I decided to pass on the clinical-strength ingredients this time. As for the rest of the collection:

4. Garnier Light Eye Roll-On - It's for the lazy ones, so I love it!  The roll on applicator is such a cinch to use, while the formula feels cool on the little metal ball and dries non-sticky. Best for using under makeup and fits easily in any purse. This was made for the travel kit.

5. Avon Skin So Soft Silky Moisture Ultra Moisturizing Body Lotion + Argan - Thick and rich but non-greasy, this lotion is ideal for chillier weather in a humid country, plus it's soothing to put on. Not a big fan of the scent though. It smells like a revamped version of those old-fashioned lotions and creams  mom had.

6. Urban Rituelle Cotton Candy Lip Balm - It takes me forever  to finish a tin of lip balm. This contains a bunch of natural oils and some sunscreen, making it handy to have around any time of the year.

 

Sharing what I learned this month, please remember to go easy on your skin! It does get overwhelmed from the rainbow of beauty goods out there. Everyone should have a set of back-to-the-basics items in their loot for when it's time to take a breather.

Avon Only Imagine... Eau de Parfum

I finally cracked and got myself an Avon perfume. The brand is very proud in claiming to be the number 1 scent retailer in the country. That's enough to pique my interest. Right around the time they launched this new scent with Angel Locsin appearing as the face of Only Imagine..., I was sniffing around the rub-and-sniff page of the brochure and thought it smelled nice, very different from their usual scents (ehem, Sweet Honesty, ehem). That's how I came to purchase a bottle. I was also gifted with a free tote bag, by the way. Purple, floral, nothing special.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Box and bottle[/caption]

As you can see, there's a frilly abomination that "adorns" the one-size 50mL bottle. I read from the US Avon reviews that some girls chose to take it out for  practicality's sake. I decided to do the same. After all, it's trickier to hold on to a bottle with a big, frilly thing at the neck.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] After I took out the decor, it looked classier.[/caption]

The wide, curvy bottle shape and the gradient color design made me think of Estee Lauder's Beyond Paradise in a far-off, this-must-smell-like-a-bouquet sense:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="341"] Colorful[/caption]

Scent-wise, it's the love child of Estee Lauder's Pleasures (Only Imagine and Pleasures both evoke in me an image of a field of crisp flowers) and DKNY's Be Delicious (apple). Floral, fruity, refreshing. The top note is an immediate burst of crisp apple that bends into a sweet-ish floral (violets, as the Avon brochures indicate), ending into a slightly powdery drydown. On a general note: It seems to me that most, if not all, Avon scents have a powdery scent base. It appears to be their signature.

I've been using this for over 3 weeks now and my biggest comment simply has to be about the lack of longevity on my skin. Frankly, I don't blame Avon. I know that each person has a different body chemistry with a scent, so it's hard to definitively say that it doesn't last in general. On my clothes, it does. On me, nope, it's gone within the hour. I have to tote the bottle around to re-spritz as needed.

Needless to say, I doubt I'll be replenishing my supply once this runs out. I've come across scents out there that are cheaper and last longer. I'd give this a 4.5/5 because the scent is refined and may last longer on someone else. Just not on me.

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...

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. :)

Nivea Baby Smoothy Cream

The Drugstore-Beauty Addict strikes again! This time, it's for cheapo moisturizer that makes me positively giddy on the savings. If you haven't heard of this yet, it is with great pleasure that I introduce you to Nivea Baby Smoothy Cream.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] Cutie-patootie packaging[/caption]

A few weeks ago, I was in the mall shopping with a friend for decent moisturizers at rock bottom prices. (We've mellowed in our old age...) I remember a cousin recommending *Nivea Q10 night cream, but I just couldn't find it in any of the health and beauty sections. Instead, I reached for Nivea Soft (PHP 160+ for 100mL) as the closest alternative. I read the ingredients and thought, "Yeah, okay. This will do for a no-frills, non-greasy moisturizer."

I was on my way to line up at the till when I passed by the baby products section and saw the Smoothy Cream. At that point, I suddenly remembered something Mela Jimenez—a makeup artist I worked with on one of the numerous shoots for Inspirations—told me, "If it's good enough for a baby's skin, then it's also good enough for an adult's." Now I just had to stop and check out the baby cream.

Intended as a body and face cream for infants, Nivea Smoothy Cream is a hypoallergenic and clinically-tested product. It comes in a 200mL jar for only PHP169. Basically, for almost the same price, Smoothy Cream has twice as much the amount as Nivea Soft does. The tie-breaker was the ingredients list, so I flipped it over and checked.

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

Both had a lot of similar the basic ingredients. The absence of parabens was also quite a relief. The only thing I wasn't 100% on-board with was the Paraffinum Liquidum indicated on both jars, but I ended up "throwing caution to the wind" and going with the Smoothy Cream. Payment-wise, I saved a good PHP100 by using up my SM Advantage points and only shelling out PHP 68 in cash.

When I got home, I hurriedly looked up the reviews for this cream and was delighted to find that beauty bloggers raved about this.  Made me super excited to try it out.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] Love that this thing is sealed![/caption]

The container is hygienically sealed, which I just love. At least I know for sure that nobody's gotten their grubby paws on my moisturizer. Inside, the snow white cream has the shine of The Body Shop's Body Butter, the lightness of body silk, and a baby-appropriate scent that's very comforting. All this without the greasiness of the usual moisturizer.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] Smoothy accurately describes it[/caption]

I've been using it for about two weeks now, but only at night because I cannot live without SPF day cream. It's not whitening, firming, anti-aging, SPF or any other common beauty demand, but I can tell you that it leaves the skin supple. It's so mild that it doesn't sting like Nivea Expert Lift does. In short, it's an excellent BASIC moisturizer. I'd recommend it as a night cream for: A) teens who are just learning to use moisturizers; B) those who have sensitive skin but aren't picky about anti-aging ingredients; and C) those in dial-down-the-beauty-products mode who hate having too many ingredient combinations from the products they slap on.

This 100% value-for-money product is totally worth trying. If you don't end up using it for your face, you can also use it on dry patches of skin around the elbows and ankles—a problem area I also have. Then there's always using it as a hand cream, but I fully intend to moisturize face and neck with this until the jar runs out. It's that nice.

*Turns out, the Nivea Q10 moisturizer line has been discontinued in the Philippines. All they have is the Q10 body lotion.

Have Dropper, Will Travel

Because no one ever wants to lug around heavy baggage while traveling, I'm teaching myself to pack light. I've read lots of packing tips throughout the years. The ones I remember are:

1. Fold clothes instead of rolling them up. Folded garments take up less space because they compress better into each other.


2. Bring only 1 pair of jeans. Wear another pair to the airport.


3. Whip out the multipurpose beauty products, so you won't have to bring one of each kind. (e.g. 3-in-1 lip, cheek, and eye color)

In response to number 2, I don't much like re-wearing anything, so I'd rather bring lots of leggings because the fabric is practically weightless. That's why I tend to plan my outfits according to the leggings.

As for point number 3, I hardly ever follow this because I get excited and end up packing most of the full-size beauty products anyway. Almost always, I end up regretting it. Like I said, the intention was to pack light, so I've been trying to reign it in by going for mini-containers. I found these travel droppers that I went gaga for in Daiso, Busan. For W 1,000 (PHP 38.oo) each for both big and small sizes, these glass vials with droppers are such a good deal!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] 10mL and 5mL droppers are a steal[/caption]

I bought a 100ml pump bottle of argan oil some months back and I've been trying to figure out a way to have it with me while I'm traveling. The tiny 5ml dropper is perfect because a little bit of oil already goes a long way. 5ml is good for over two weeks of use, and I can even have it with me in my carry-on purse.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] Big bottle, small vial[/caption]

Creams are a slightly different story, so I typically bring free samples when traveling or I transfer contents of the full-sized tubs/jars into old eye cream jars. By the way, eye cream jars are also great for busted eye shadow. Due to some rough handling, my eye shadow cracked and turned into dust. Instead of throwing it out, I turned it into pigment. Voila!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] Insta-pigment[/caption]

I love packing less-is-more essentials. It's just a matter of remembering to practice what I preach the next time I have to get a piece of luggage filled. Lol.

Body Wash = Bath Foam

For the last few Christmases, I've been receiving bottle after bottle (or tube after tube) of bath products. It works out great because I love body wash and lotion. Incidentally, I got into the habit of using body wash instead of soap a few years ago when someone gifted me with a bath set. At least, nothing goes to waste.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Possibly half-a-year's supply?[/caption]

I was going through my bath products today, trying to arrange things in FIFO (First In, First Out) order when I stumbled upon some of the older bath sets I've kept for some time now. The reason I haven't cracked them open is because they are full sets of body wash, lotion, foam bath, cologne, and bath fizzies. While I love using matching products, I didn't know what to do with the fizzies and foam baths. I'm not one to soak in the tub, you see.

After carefully pondering, if I should just use the foam baths as a body wash, I decided to check the label to see if the two were similar. Lo and behold, foam baths and body washes are almost identical ingredients-wise. I just always thought that foam baths were more harsh because they're needed to bubble up the tub water.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="504"] Same—with the exception of glycol distearate, an emollient found in plenty of moisturizers[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] Exact, same thing[/caption]

YAY! I just learned that tidbit today. Now I only have to think of what to do with the freaking bath fizzies...

Merry Month of May Beauty Routine: Night Edition

This month, I'm on a quest to eliminate all the old jars/bottles/containers of beauty products that have been in my shelf for far too long. I have to make room for future hauls, don't I? And I'm not the type to waste perfectly good products just because I get new ones. I'm nothing if not practical, after all. Here are my May staples:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="819"] Clockwise from orange pot: Body Shop lip balm, Celeteque mist, Watsons hand lotion, Sewame eye gel, Instant argan oil, and Garnier night cream[/caption]

1. Body Shop lip balm - This is ANCIENT, but there's only a few uses left on this pot. The thing I don't like about Body Shop balm is the texture. I find it too sticky, and the scent/flavor is a bit strong. Next to a waxy-tasting lipstick, an overpowering lip balm really annoys me.

2. Celeteque DermoScience Hydration Hydrolized Moisturizing Mist - The newest member of my collection, Celeteque mist is easy to incorporate into any beauty routine. All you have to do is shut your eyes and spritz 2-3 times. Once dry, layer on your favorite serum, moisturizer, etc.

3. Watsons Grape Bella Nourishing Hand & Nail Cream - Cheapo, but good! At PHP 60+, this hand cream is non-sticky (a must for me!), smells nice, and is handy enough to pop into any bag.

4. Sewame Eye Skin Essence - Gotten from a trip to China, this is a clear gel formula that skin absorbs fast. These days, I'm enjoying gel formulas more and more. I have combination skin, and I don't like sticky, greasy creams.

5. Instant Glow Moroccan Argan Oil - I dab this on when I feel like my skin needs a little extra TLC. It's a non-greasy oil, so I make an exception for this product. I'm still sold on the wondrous effects of argan oil, so I fully intend to stock up on this again.

6. Garnier Nutritionist Night Cream - Again, ancient history, but only a few uses left. It smells nice, but has a very basic moisturizing function. Not bad though.

I've got new stuff coming in this May, so I'll be posting about them soon. :)

I'm a Sample Room Fan

2013 is The Year for internet shopping. Filipino consumers have successfully warmed up to the idea of purchasing deals online, beauty products included. I've read up on sample-dealing sites like Hong Kong's Glamabox and Manila's Glamourbox--Don't know if that's a coincidence or an imitation. Anyway, the concept is to send customers curated samples that match their personalized info, so they get products that are most compatible with their skin-, hair-, and body-type.

It's a good marketing tactic: For a reasonable fee, buyers get to try out sample sizes of premium products instead of having to commit to the full-sized option that may not work for them. I'd like to try it out the local versions sometime, but they always seem to run out of sample boxes. There's a limited pre-order list!

Another sample-dealing site I discovered in December is Sample Room. It's genius! While similar to Glamourbox in that it carries premium/newly-launched samples of beauty products, the curating is left to the user. Upon creating an account, an automatic 100 points are given. Those points serve as the "currency" for the samples to be ordered. Each product has a corresponding "price" (e.g. Celeteque Eye Cream for 35 points, Ahava Cleanser for 60 points, etc.), and the user has the option of choosing however many items will fit into the 100-point budget. Once this is done, there is the matter of paying for shipping. (The samples are free, while the shipping is not.) In a couple of days, the products get delivered right at the user's doorstep. Neat, right?

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] "Try Before You Buy"[/caption]

My first experience with Sample Room was great! I was able to get Celeteque's regular-sized DermoScience Brightening Eye Tuck plus Dark Cirlces Lightener (retails at PHP299), Celeteque's regular-sized DermoScience  Restorative Ultra-Lifting Concentrated Serum (retails at PHP899), and Dove's small bar of soap (retails at PHP25). All for around PHP125. I'm not joking. I had to pay PHP100 for the shipping, as there's a corresponding delivery rate to the total weights of the products ordered. Then there was PHP20+ service charge that Globe Center charged me for use of their G-Cash payment system. That was it.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Sample Room beauty loot[/caption]

Now, here's the 2nd part of the story: Once the points have been spent, the best way to get them back is by writing reviews for those samples. 1 point is the incentive for writing the review, and the spent points are given back upon approval of what was written. Not a bad price to pay for those items.

It's a "bloodbath" though. More and more users have been signing up, so samples immediately run out. I guess the only way to get the most products out of the points would be to obsessively check on the site for any new posts. Here's hoping Sample Room has more samples to give out in future...

Vaniderm White Lotion

Visiting a Vaniderm-sponsored event ages ago, I was able to take home some swag. The "gift pack" contained moringga pills, lavender oil, and VCO body lotion. I only got to test the products recently, since I have so many other lotions stockpiled in my drawer.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Smooth Vaniderm lotion[/caption]

For the record, I'm well-aware that Vaniderm's main line of products are health supplements, but I'm just not enthusiastic about the stuff. No glutathione, thankyouverymuch. But I'm more than willing to try out a lotion that boasts olive, avocado, and grapeseed oils among its ingredients.

Vaniderm White VCO Body Lotion comes in a clear 200mL container with a simple twist-to-dispense pump. The thick, calamansi-scented (Philippine lime) liquid inside is a slightly translucent white that feels cool and pleasant to the skin. That is to say it's neither too creamy nor too runny and gets absorbed well. I find the smell to be invigorating and light, so maybe others would think it better-suited for daytime use. Another factor to consider is the sun block component the lotion bottle is boasting, though it's not indicated what SPF level it has.

I can't vouch for its whitening abilities, since it's not something I consciously watch out for. Moisturization-wise, though, this is a good lotion to keep skin feeling fresh and hydrated in an air-conditioned room. The scent is clean and fresh, so it's a great after-shower product. If you're looking for a non-sticky lotion formula, this is a good bet.

Instant Glow Morroco [sic] Argan Oil Review

Morrocan argan oil is now officially a "thing" in Manila. Three months ago, I couldn't find a bottle for sale in the malls. It was quite frustrating. Now, there's argan inserted into every other sentence.

My discovery of a product stemmed from my own research on beauty products. I saw Josie Maran's argan oil line in Sephora and thought to myself, "Wow, premium oil." Then I went home and read that it was Jenna Dewan's must-have product and, let's face it, the girl has insanely gorgeous skin.

Unfortunately, weeks passed and my quest for argan oil in Manila's big beauty stores were in vain. I eventually found small health/natural beauty boutiques peddling the miracle product for an arm and a leg. But to shell out almost PHP 1,000 for something that would possibly last me 2 weeks?... I don't think so.

Luckily, I was shopping in Watson's SM Megamall when a pleasant sales person approached me and got straight to the point. At the mention of PURE argan oil, I knew I wanted to hear the sales pitch.

The lady led me to the Instant display. --Yes, the brand name is "Instant". It was pretty much the first time I took interest in their products, since the ladies there are usually busy peddling slimming solutions, which I'm terribly skeptical about. She took out  a tester bottle of said oil and dispensed a few drops to the back of my hand.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="388"] 100mL of "Liquid Gold"[/caption]

My first reaction was that of apprehension. I've tested my fair share of beauty oils intended for either body or face. Most are just greasy, and I end up worrying that they'll only stain my clothes. This product seemed no different. The second thing I noticed was the pleasant scent. I read reviews  about how natural oils tend to smell nutty and raw, but that wasn't the case here. Third, and to my surprise, the oil ended up getting absorbed into the skin with minimal greasiness. After a couple of minutes, I was amazed to find that it simply looked and felt like I applied a thin layer of lotion.

For a girl on a budget, PHP1,199 for a 100 mL bottle of Instant Glow Morroco [sic] Argan Oil (or PHP599 for a 30 mL bottle) isn't an easy decision to make, especially considering that this is just oil we're talking about. I gave myself 2 weeks to mull it over and canvas for anything more affordable out there.

Well, after much research and comparison to brands like Josie Maran or The Souq, on a per mL basis, the best deal so far was Instant's 100 mL bottle. (It costs PHP 11.99 per mL, to be exact.) It's even cheaper than the same brand's 30 mL bottle, so I finally gave in and bought 100 mL.

I've been using it for about 2 months now, and my praise goes to its moisturizing properties. I've been hooked on moisturizers since I was 12 (no exaggeration!), and this was the first time I used a product that was not at all greasy! --To think that this is a non-greasy OIL. About 2 weeks in, my mother and aunt started making remarks about my face getting lighter. (Note: Initially, I never told them that I bought and used this product.) When I did happen to mention that I had this oil in my possession, they went to SM and checked out the display.

My beauty-conscious grandma got it as an impulse buy. She used it for a week or two and agreed that her skin did feel much softer after religiously applying it twice a day. My mom and aunt came next, buying 30mL bottles marked 10%-off when Watson's had a beauty blowout sale.

We're all on board about the wonders of its moisturizing effects. Jury's still out on its supposedly miraculous anti-aging properties, but we did notice that some fine lines softened. As for scar lightening, the oil does help fade pimple scars faster, but I'm also big on exfoliation, so that probably had a hand in it as well. If you're in it to get rid of freckles, then you may be disappointed. Finally, don't forget to layer sun block on top of this when you leave the house.

Another find would be Body & Face Thairapy (PHP 1,450 for 100 mL) at Rustan's Department Store, which has the same scent and thickness as Instant Glow.

Overall Rating: Instant Glow Morroco Argan Oil

Moisturization = 9/10

Anti-aging = 7/10

Lightening = 8/10

Eliminating Dark Spots and Freckles = 5/10

Value for Money = 9/10 = At the very least, it's a damn good moisturizer and a simple, straightforward product.

Update: I got to try the new Naturelle d'Argan Pure Argan Oil Elixir (at around PHP 1,400 for 50mL) at Beauty Bar. Their oil is much more liquid than that of Instant's and the scent is more raw and comparable to that of cooking olive oil. I'm guessing Instant's and Body & Face Thairapy's oils have gone through some sort of deodorization process, while Naturelle d'Argan may be more natural.