Egyptian Magic Cream Review

Hello ladies!

I have recently been lucky enough to come across this product, the Egyptian Magic Cream. I've been using it for a couple of weeks now, and I'm so glad I tried it.

Egyptian Magic Cream

Image taken from: https://beautyarmy.com/egyptian-magic-skin-cream

Apparently, there's been a lot of buzz about this product, and it's been endorsed by top celebrities like Madonna and Kate Hudson. To be honest, I only heard about it when my *soon to be* mother-in-law asked if I've tried it already. She then gave me a generous sample from her 4 oz jar purchased in the States.

I was really hesitant at first, because the words "magic cream" have a very negative connotation for me. Most of the time, these products are loaded with steroids or mercury or other scary ingredients, including hydrogen peroxide (agh!) that make them effective skin lighteners but VERY toxic and harmful.

I decided to learn more about it online, and although the labeling looked kind of weird to me, I learned that the ingredients are all natural:

 Olive Oil ( Olea Europaea oil), Beeswax, Honey, Pollen, Royal Jelly and Propolis Extract 

Here's the product description:

Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream, the People's Choice, is a phenomenal healing balm with legendary powers due to its unique mixture of all natural ingredients derived only from living plants and organisms. Egyptian Magic All-Purpose Skin Cream, The People's Choice, has been on the market since August 1991 with a solid track record, a loyal word of mouth following, and twice the healing power for half the price of conventional skin creams.

Suitable for all skin types. 100% natural.

This miraculous all-purpose formula will amaze you. This non-greasy blend of all natural ingredients serves an astounding variety of purposes. Use it on your face as a night moisturizer and eye cream. Apply as a split end mending hair conditioner and defrizzer. Try it as a lip balm and as a healing nail and cuticle conditioner. May be used to smooth rough areas and treat conditions like eczema, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Egyptain Magic All Purpose Skin Cream has antibacterial properties and contains no toxins, making it a perfect stretch mark prevention cream for use during pregnancy. May also be used to soothe redness, fade scars, and even heal blemishes. 

And here's how to apply it:

For Best Results: Take moderate amount and rub in your palms until it takes the form of oil. (It helps the skin absorb effectively.) Apply over your skin gently. 

AGAIN, and I cannot emphasize this enough, ALWAYS be careful when you try new stuff, especially if the brand is unknown to you and if they contain words like "MAGIC" or "SUPER" or suspiciously say "PLUS" or "MEDICATED". If you can't read what it says, like if its all in chinese, stay away from it. A lot of chinese creams are loaded with mercury.

Hydroquinone is a pretty strong steroid, and though steroids can be used on the face for eczematous conditions, it is used sparingly, for a limited time, and the least potent steroids are prescribed by doctors. They should NEVER be used as a skin care product because steroids cause thinning of the skin and will permanently damage your skin! You'll know it's a steroid when you stop using it and you break out. It will also eventually cause permanent pigmentation and darkening of the skin. If you suspect you've been using a steroid containing product, go to your dermatologist to help you.

Mercury is TOXIC to your skin and to your kidneys and other organs. I can't even imagine how these people can sleep at night after deliberately putting POISON in their products!

Here's a site with a pretty concise list of products containing these harmful chemicals. I'm pretty sure there are more out there not listed here. The rule is, if you're not sure, don't put it on your skin! Like anything else in life, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

After all the research and the endorsements I've read from celebrities and beauty magazines, I decided that the Egyptian Magic Cream was safe and worth a try. Here's how my sample looks like:

Another warning: there's a lot of fake Egyptian Magic Cream products going around especially online, so be careful where you get your product.

As you can see it is light yellow and very thick. It is more of a balm than a cream actually. Some people have compared it to petroleum jelly. That's where the similarity ends. Petroleum jelly stays thick and greasy, and is pretty much used only as a barrier to seal moisture into the skin. This product melts in your hands (as you can see above), especially when you rub it on your palms. It does feel quite greasy initially but it doesn't feel heavy on my face at all. Unlike petroleum jelly, it is slowly absorbed into the skin.

The product smells like cooking oil. Don't worry if you find this unpleasant, because it's not very strong and only smells that way in the jar. In my hands, I couldn't smell it at all.

I incorporated this product in my routine by substituting it for my nightly moisturizer. After applying my retinol and anti aging product, I apply a layer of it all over my face, including my under eye area and lips. I saw an immediate effect on my skin the first time I tried it. When I woke up, the product had been completely absorbed. My skin felt soft and very smooth, and it looked as if my skin was glowing. Other people noticed this too, and I got the exact same comment for one of the pictures I posted online. It gives your skin this natural sheen without using makeup. I had a stubborn sun spot on my cheek and I noted that it has lightened after only a few days. I even notice that I need less concealer for my very dark under eye circles. I had a few acne scars and they are GONE completely.

I love, love, super love it. If I were stuck on an island with only one product, I would definitely choose this. There are so many ways that you can benefit from this cream. It heals scars, soothes burns, moisturizes the roughest patches. People with eczema say it works wonders for their condition. You can even use it on your hair. It is safe enough to use on babies! When I get pregnant, I'll use this stuff to fight stretch marks.

A little product goes a long way and I think I have a couple of months to go before I run out of my sample, but I will definitely be purchasing more before that happens!

Have you tried the Egyptian Magic Cream? How did it work for you? I'd love to hear your thoughts :-)

Thanks for reading this!

ARTDECO Invisible Lip Liner

Hello Ladies!

I realize I've been posting more about beauty products and not much about makeup so here's one item that I really want to rave about: ARTDECO's Invisible Lip Liner.

I've been into nude and light colored lippies lately and I've been using nude lip liners until I discovered this one. My complaint about lip liners in general is that they are never quite the same shade as my lipstick. It becomes even more obvious when you use nudes and light colors. ARTDECO solves that problem by coming up with a colorless liner. It just helps you outline your lips, keeping your lipstick edges sharp and defined, without changing its color.

ARTDECO is made in Germany but their products are now available at the Beauty Bar. I'm not sure though if they sell this particular lip liner here, but you can always try your luck via online purchase.One thing I like about German products is that they adhere to stricter standards in product safety, and they never test on animals.

ARTDECO Invisible Lip Liner

Here's how it looks like. As you can see, the liner is wrapped in plastic when you purchase it, so you're sure no one has tried it before you. Another thing that I absolutely love about it is that it's twist-to-release and you don't have to sharpen it. It bothers me that there's a lot of wastage when you use sharpener. Plus it's messy and the tip easily gets blunt and soft. Up to this day, I wonder how other girls sharpen their liners so perfectly.

The color is soft pink but when you put it on, it's absolutely colorless, just like wax but lighter and more matte. It stays put for a long time, is easy to apply, and basically just fool proof even for makeup newbies like me.

Here's a sample of the product. I made a thick line in the middle and applied a very light pink lipstick around it. As you can see, the boundaries are outlined very well, and is completely transparent. If you look closely, the liner also fills in the little lines on the skin, and some have used it as a lipstick primer successfully. As for me, I just really use it to outline my lips, especially for softer and lighter shades. It really makes my lipstick look better, even professionally done, and it never bleeds out and fades on the edges anymore.

I really hope they start selling this here soon, before I run out, because I will definitely repurchase. It's a makeup must have for me!

Have you tried ARTDECO Invisible Lip Liner? I'd love to hear your story :-)

Thanks for reading this!
 

Beauty Drops Vitamin E Beauty Oil

A quick post on something that I tried recently. I was looking around Greenhills, and chanced upon this product in one of those shops selling imported beauty products. When I got home, I looked it up in and saw good reviews in Make Up Alley.

In the States, you can get it for 99 cents, but the shops here are retailing it for P200 (over $4). Quite a mark up, but still not that bad, considering you only need a bit per application.

Beauty Drops Vitamin E Beauty Oil 

It's a 29.5 mL bottle of essential oils from Grapeseed and Saffllower, plus Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E).

Vitamin E is an antioxidant which promotes better capillary circulation and skin regeneration, giving it anti-aging and skin healing properties.  From the reviews online, the users claimed that Beauty Drops Vitamin E Beauty Oil gave them softer skin, lesser fine wrinkles, smoother complexion and diminished hyperpigmentation.

I used a small amount, warmed it in my palms and gently rubbed it all over my face, including my lids, undereye area and lips. It was pretty light, considering that it's pure oil, but it still felt a bit heavy on the face. Most of the stuff gets absorbed into the skin (or rubbed off on your pillow, if you're not careful), so it's barely noticeable when you wake up. In the morning, I was so happy with how soft and smooth my skin felt, and with continued use, my sun spots were gradually fading. My lips were so smooth without any flakiness, which happens to me a lot, even when I use lip balms generously. The dark circles and fine lines around my eyes were lessened too.

Why did I score it as a MISS then? A couple of days after, I noted that my pores were getting prominent, I began to developed white heads and black heads on my nose, and I got three stubborn pimples. IT CLOGS MY PORES. This is the danger of oils, not all of them, but I guess this particular preparation does that to me. I remember using sunflower oil on my face, and I broke out too.

When they are blocked, pores accumulate dirt and debris, making them appear bigger and darker. This also predisposes to acne, which is an inflammation and infection of oil glands on your face. I put quite a lot of products on my face, but I don't use new stuff all at the same time so I know which product is causing what problem. That's why I'm pretty sure the Beauty Drops is the culprit here.

I'll probably continue applying it on my lips and under my eyes, but other than that, the rest of my face is now off limits. I can also probably use it on my hair, but right now I'm using a serum on my hair that really works, so I really haven't tried it for that purpose.

This makes me really sad, because this stuff really works, and it's quite cheap too.

Have you tried this product? How did it work on you? I'd love to hear your story.

Thanks for reading this! :-)

Best Sunscreen: La Roche-Posay SPF 50 Antihelios XL Melt In Cream

Hello ladies! As I mentioned in my previous post, good skin care consists of effective cleansing, moisturization and protection. Today I want to talk about the third part of that routine: skin protection. 

When I was younger, the only time I'd slap on some sunscreen is when I'm about to hit the beach. I hated that heavy, greasy feeling that made me break into sweat, not to mention that thick white cast it leaves making you look like a kabuki lady. 

Nowadays, though, sunscreens are a requisite to delay aging and to protect my extra sensitive skin, since I have been using retinol and AHA's. 

UVA and UVB

So what do you look for in a good sunscreen anyway? To answer that, you have to understand what it's meant to do. Sunscreens should keep the sun's ultraviolet radiation (or UV rays) from reaching your skin. There are two types of UV rays, UVA and UVB. Both cause premature aging and increase the risk for skin cancer. 

UVB rays are the ones that cause sore, red skin after prolonged sun exposure, or what we call sunburn. Most sunscreens offer only UVB protection. UVA on the other hand penetrates the skin more and cause wrinkles and leathering of the skin, predisposing to premature aging due to prolonged sun exposure. They also cause sun spots and photosensitive skin allergies. 

Sun Protection Factor (SPF)

Another important consideration is the sun protection factors or SPF. What do these numbers mean anway? That number tells you how long it protects your skin from turning red, which also depends on how fast you react to the sun. For instance, if it only takes you 10 minutes to get sunburned, multiply that with the SPF and that's (theoretically) how long you can stay in the sun before getting red, in this case, 150 minutes or about 2.5 hours. If it takes longer for you to get burned, then the protection lasts longer. 

You can also think of SPF as percent of UVB rays filtered. SPF 15 filters 93%, SPF 30 97% and SPF 50 98%. If you notice, we're talking UVB rays here, and SPF says nothing about UVA protection. 

Picking your sunscreen

Knowing all these things then, you need to pick a sunscreen with BOTH UVA and UVB protection. If it just says SPF, then you're not getting enough UVA protection, which as I mentioned is the culprit causing skin aging. You may not be getting red, but your skin cells are definitely still affected by that sun exposure.

If you're just staying indoors most of the day, experts say an SPF of 15 is usually enough. Primers or moisturizers sometimes contain this amount of SPF, so you may not need an extra layer of sunblock. For longer periods out in the sun, pick sunscreens with a higher SPF. 

Do you need sunscreen even if you're just in the office all day? Experts say yes, you do. Glass windows usually filter only UVB and let UVA rays through. Even fluorescent lights emit a considerable amount of UV radiation. So unless you're working in complete darkness, don't skip the sunscreen. 

Of course, there are also other considerations when picking sunscreen, including sheerness or finish, hypoallergenicity, fragrance, water resistance and staying power. These factor differs between brands, and it could be frustrating to find a sunscreen which fits all your preferences.  

La Roche-Posay Sunblock

Now I want to talk about my favorite sunscreen, sometimes described as the holy grail of sunscreens, made by La Roche-Posay. This one is La Roche-Posay SPF 50 Antihelios XL Melt In Cream. This company hardly spends on advertisement because the product really speaks for itself. Since it's made in Europe (France) it adheres to stricter standards in terms of product safety, and is not tested on animals. 

If you visit their website, here is their product description:

Very high, broad, photostable UVA/UVB protection.
Optimal SPF 50+ protection reinforced against UVA rays (stricter than the European recommendation) thanks to patented filtering system Mexoplex® combined with La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water, soothing and antioxidant.
In a new, more minimalistic dermatologically-tested formula: fragrance-free, paraben-free, lighter in chemical filters*, nickel tested (nickel levels guaranteed lower than the threshold for allergic reactions in sensitized subjects), non-comedogenic.
- Luxurious, moisturizing, ultra-comfortable texture. Easy to apply. Suitable for dry skin.
- Very high water resistance.

And here's the list of ingredients:

AQUA / WATER

C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE

GLYCERIN

ALCOHOL DENAT.

BIS-ETHYLHEXYLOXYPHENOL METHOXYPHENYL TRIAZINE

TITANIUM DIOXIDE

PENTYLENE GLYCOL

BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE

STYRENE/ACRYLATES COPOLYMER

CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE

PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAETHYLHEXANOATE

PROPYLENE GLYCOL Here's how the sunscreen looks like:

The color is whitish with a very pale beige tone. It's very light, glides and spreads very smoothly, and is not oily. I saw one blogger test the product by placing an drop over a blotting paper, and no oil "bled out" into the edges. Like all sunscreens, it still had that "clay like" smell, but was very mild. No other fragrances added.

After spreading it out evenly and letting it set, you can see that it's very sheer, and no white cast is left. My skin just looks moisturized. It leaves a matte finish, non greasy like other sunblocks, and serves as a decent primer.

On hot and humid days, this sunscreen doesn't increase my sweat like other brands. Because it is water resistant, it stays in place even when I perspire and doesn't "run".

I love that it is very sheer and goes well with my makeup. It is also hypoallergenic and doesn't clog pores. This is a big plus for me since a lot of my previous sunscreens tend to cause me to break out. It just lets the skin breathe. It's also probably because of this that it doesn't cause my face to sweat more than usual.

What are the cons of this product? In itself, I'd say it's almost perfect and I am definitely sticking to this brand. Unfortunately, it's quite expensive and isn't widely available. Mine came from a french pharmacy when my boyfriend did a European tour. It's available online though, and I hear some dermatologists sell it in their clinics, so you can ask yours.

What is your favorite sunblock? Have you tried other products from La Roche-Posay? I'd love to hear your thoughts :-)

Thanks for reading this!

Beauty Basics: Glycolic Acid Soap

When I was in my 20's, I didn't have a strict skin care regimen. I basically did the toner-moisturizer routine and that was it. I didn't even use sunblock then. Now, I realize that I need to take better care of my skin, and I did a little research on the basic skin care regimen as advised by dermatologists.

It's really quite simple. Good skin care consists of cleansing, moisturizing and protection. However, when you consider the amount of available skin care products out there, it can get quite complicated. It really is overwhelming just to figure out what products to try. Thank God that we live in the age of internet, and all the information we need is readily available to us!

As we mature, we also need to exfoliate to encourage skin renewal. Exfoliation can be accomplished by physical methods such as microdermabrasion or chemically, using alpha hydroxy acids or AHA. Glycolic acid and lactic acid are examples of AHA. Glycolic acid is derived from sugar cane, and penetrates the skin more readily than lactic acid. However, this also makes it a bit more irritating to the skin.

What this substance basically does is it dissolves the bonds between dead skin cells, removing them and stimulating cell turnover and renewal. This allows newer skin to surface. Because you are exposing new layers of skin cells, it is particularly important to use sun protection when using AHA's. Otherwise, you will end up with hyperpigmented and irritated skin.

I decided to try out a glycolic acid soap, which I found at the local drugstore.

Teranex Gentle Exfoliating Beauty Soap is a product of Innoderm, which also produces hypoallergenic cleansers and baby soap. You can check out their range of products here.

Here is the product description from the website

Limiting the effects of visible skin ageing is a troubling task that mature women are faced with everyday and young ones should take precaution of because it’s never too young to fight skin ageing. 

Although we have to face facts and we can’t stop nature, we can lower its visible effects with the help of InnoDerm’s anti-ageing soap, TERANEX. 

TERANEX’s active ingredient is glycolic acid which is derived from sugar cane. Glycolic Acid is a natural skin defoliant and removes the “glue” that holds the damaged skin to the surface and results to a much-smoother skin and a more youthful appearance. 

Fighting wrinkles as well as blemishes and acne marks, TERANEX is intended to be your partner in protecting your skin from the effects of skin ageing. 

The soap is relatively inexpensive, and really lasts a long time. It is remarkably clear, and is unscented. I use this only once, at night time, to remove all the dirt and grime accumulated during the day. I lather it onto my face, and leave it while I take a shower, then just wash it off with cold water. It leaves my face feeling fresh and squeaky clean, without irritating it. I have been using this soap for almost a year now, and it has never caused any skin irritation or redness.

After starting on this soap, I rarely have breakouts and black heads, and my skin has a more even skin tone. As a cleanser, I think it does a remarkable job as well. Even my mom has started to use this soap, after seeing the results on me.

This is one very basic beauty product that I intend to keep around for a long time, at least until I find something better. I've been doing some reading and it seems that a lot of people prefer lactic acid, and that it is more effective as a whitening agent with the additional benefit of hydrating the skin. I will definitely be on the lookout for a good lactic acid containing product out there :-)

Are you also using AHA containing products? I'd love to hear your experience with them!

Thanks for reading this!

Home Made Remedy for Falling Hair: Coconut Oil and Castor Oil

I recently made a post mentioning one of my hair troubles: falling hair. The main culprit was rebonding for so many years. Initially, my hair was so thick that I didn't really mind all the hair loss until I noticed that my hair was beginning to thin out. I really freaked out! I didn't want to go bald. I decided to stop having my hair chemically treated, and began to look for a way to grow back my hair.

I did a lot of research, and found out that there are a lot of natural cures to fight hair loss. I guess this wouldn't be as effective for those who really are genetically predetermined to lose hair, ie alopecia areata. However, since my hair loss is due to chemical exposure, I figured that some TLC would help.

I came across tons of blogs about homemade cures and remedies for falling hair, but I decided to try out two ingredients which were readily available to me.

The first ingredient is virgin coconut oil. I bought one made by Prosource from the local drugstore and it was quite cheap. There are so many ways to use virgin coconut oil. It is used topically for hair and skin care, and can also be ingested to improve blood cholesterol levels. It's so convenient to have a bottle around, to rub on very dry skin, remove stubborn makeup, and just pamper your skin before taking a bath.

Virgin coconut oil is very mildly scented, and does not make me break out. It is a definite must have as a beauty staple.

Speaking of Prosource, I also LOVE their Virgin Coconut Oil Soap. I have been using Dove for years, because I have sensitive skin, until I tried out their soap. It is much more gentle than Dove, less scented, but it bubbles up really well and it made my skin sooo soft and supple. I really feel the difference after bathing with this soap. Downside is, it's a bit more expensive and gets used up faster. But it is still so well worth it. You don't even need to put lotion on when you use this soap. That's how good it is.

If these products are not available locally where you are, you can check out their site here.

* Prosource product images taken from http://www.hktdc.com/manufacturers-suppliers/Prosource-Int-l-Inc/en/1X07QK93/)

The other ingredient I used was Castor Oil. I just bought a small bottle from the drug store. It is very cheap, and a small amount goes a long way. Castor oil is known to promote hair growth, and is also popularly used on eyelashes and eyebrows. I dab a little along my lash line and over my eyebrows before I sleep. This stuff is sooo sticky but is odorless, and has not irritated my skin. Like coconut oil, it is also being used in oil cleansing methods. I prefer to just keep it on my hair.

I started using castor oil when I had a "grooming accident" on one eyebrow, and I was desperate to grow it back quickly. I decided to try it on my lashes too. My eyebrow filled in quickly, and I notice that my lashes are fuller now, with new growth on parts that were bare before. I just use my pinky finger for this, but you can use a cotton bud. Some even use washed empty mascara tubes, but I'm just too lazy to wash all that gunk off my used ones.

I mix 3 parts virgin coconut oil and 1 part castor oil in a small atomizer, give it a good shake, and spritz it onto my hair. I use a thin comb to part my hair in small sections, to make sure that stuff gets into the scalp. You don't really need a lot, just enough to cover your scalp. Then I give myself a good scalp massage, wrap my hair up in a bandana, and leave it on overnight. When I wash it off in the morning, my hair feels healthier and invigorated. Downside is, it takes two washes to get all that oil off.

For good measure, I also used hair fall repair shampoos and conditioners by Dove and L'oreal, just to minimize possible hair fall caused by hair care products. To tame my unruly hair, I used Lauat Leave-On Hair Conditioner from Watson's.It contains lauat, gugo and virgin coconut oil, all herbal ingredients which are traditionally known to promote hair growth. They also have a shampoo in this range of products, but since I already had two brands of hair fall repair shampoos, I decided not to try it anymore.

I'd give this product a 4 out of 5 since it did help control my frizzy hair, and didn't weigh it down so much.

I did this VCO + castor oil routine about 2-3 times a week. Within 2 weeks, I noticed that my hair loss was reduced significantly (I would say more than half AT LEAST). I also noticed A LOT of baby hair growing within a month. That's why I decided that it was finally okay for me to go back to the salon and have my hair straightened again, this time with a less harsher method.

I've stopped doing this routine since then but I'm really happy with the results. If you decide to try this, I hope it works out as well for you :-) I think the best thing I did was to stop the chemical rebonding altogether. All this work will be futile if you keep subjecting your hair to what caused it to fall in the first place.

Have you tried other methods to control hair fall? I'd love to hear them :-)

Thanks for reading this!

Drug Store Find: Hollywood Style Whitening Peel Off Mask

Just a quick post on something I found at Watson's. I occasionally drop by to buy face masks especially when I feel stressed and need extra pampering. What's amazing about drugstores is that you constantly find good stuff stacked away somewhere at a bargain price. The downside is, when everything's so cheap, I tend to buy stuff that I never get to use. I have a big box of products stashed under my dresser exactly because of this.

I was looking for a pack of face mask one afternoon when this caught my eye: Hollywood Style Whitening Peel Off Mask

It doesn't indicate the amount of product anywhere in the label but I'm guessing there must be around 250mL inside. For a bit over P200, I figured it was worth a try.

Here's a shot of the back for the product description, directions and ingredients:

They're not kidding when they say it's extra strength. As you can see in the ingredients list, it's got denatured alcohol, salicylic acid and kojic acid. All pretty strong stuff. I recommend skipping this product if you have very sensitive skin or you're particular about alcohol containing products.

The good part that I like is that it's also loaded with extracts from fruits and plants like mulberries and licorice. It also contains arbutin, which is known to lighten skin and remove pigmentation.

Here's what the stuff looks like:

It's actually almost like transparent glue, in consistency and smell, and that's how it dries up too. Initially, there is a sting from all that alcohol which goes away in a few minutes. You have to put a lot on your face, to make an even layer so that it all comes off together when you peel it. Waiting time is around 20 minutes. When it dries up, it becomes shiny and really tight, like you're looking at a plastic version of your face. When I use this product, I sometimes think "so, this is how Botox feels like". Hehe.

The results are amazing. My skin feels so fresh and looks so bright and clean. It's an instant pick me up for dull skin. After using this twice in a week, I got rid of all those tiny black dots on my nose. It really helps to get rid of that layer of dead skin cells and impurities on your face.

I now use it less often, because I don't want my skin to get used to it. That kinda happens to me with really good products which is a bummer.

So in spite of that alcohol sting and those strong products and the glue like smell, I'm rating Hollywood Style Whitening Peel Off Mask as a HIT :-) For the price, this is definitely a steal. You just have to use it in moderation because of all those strong ingredients. I would buy another bottle as soon as I run out.

What are your favorite masks? Do you have amazing drugstore finds that you want to share? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks for reading this! :-)

Must Have: Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

More than makeup, I am a big sucker for skin care products. I think good skin is better than layers and layers of makeup. That's why I fell in love with this product instantly. 

I really haven't heard about the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm until a relative from abroad sent it as a gift, along with a few other Clarins products. The packaging was very simple and I wasn't very excited to try it at initially. However, when I looked at Makeup Alley reviews, I was surprised to find so many users raving about it.

Here's the product description

What it is: 

A balm that instantly moisturizes, brightens, and tightens facial contours so skin looks rested and relaxed.  

What it is formulated to do: 

The ultimate pick-me-up for tired, stressed skin, this radiance-making product helps eliminate signs of fatigue in a flash. A great 10-minute "energy" mask, its non-oily formula prepares skin for perfect makeup application and hours of luminous wear.  

What else you need to know:  

Formulated with olive extract, this ingredient helps to smooth the skin's surface, diffusing the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Bisabolol soothes, softens, and helps restore skin's youthful glow. Clarins' most popular radiance booster, this product is sold once every 20 minutes worldwide. It is allergy-tested and non-comedogenic. 

And here are the Ingredients: 

Aqua/Water/Eau, Propylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Oryza Sativa Starch, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Stearate, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Triethanolamin, Carbomer, Bisabolol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Hamamelis Virginiana, Algae, Sodium Citrate, Methylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Propylparaben, Potassium Sorbate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Coumarin, Benzyl Salicylate, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hydroxycitronellal, Citronellol, Geraniol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Eugenol, Limonene, Isoeugenol, CI 15985.

This is how the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm looks like. It's a bit heavily scented (parfum on the ingredients list), which I don't really mind. It is light yellowish to flesh colored, light in consistency but not watery or runny, and glides onto the skin very smoothly. It sets almost instantly after application, after which it is becomes matte and non greasy. It feels a bit heavy on the face, so I tend to skip the moisturizer before application, especially on hot days. You also need to use sunblock, I prefer to use it under the Beauty Flash Balm, since it has no SPF.

As you can see on the picture above, the product is transparent when it sets, but it leaves a lovely sheen (although I didn't capture it so well) on the skin. The promise of this product is to moisturize, brighten and tighten facial contours, but it really does so much more than that!  My face does look brighter and fresher, with lesser pores and a healthy glow. I absolutely love how it makes my skin look dewy but not oily. I felt like it even minimized the oiliness in my T-zone. It also did not irritate my skin or cause any break outs.

The proper way to apply the Beauty Flash Balm is to get a pea sized amount and just smooth it on the face without rubbing it in excessively. I just use my fingers for this. It's not meant to be absorbed into the skin like moisturizer. Instead, it sits on top of the skin, so if you're a bit on the dry side, a moisturizer should come before this. As soon as it sets in, it is recommended to apply makeup immediately. For me, it works really well as a primer (I use liquid foundation and powder), and prolongs makeup wear. My makeup looks so much better since I started using this product.

On good days, when I feel like I have good skin, I just put on this product without foundation, with just a bit of blush, and have received compliments on my skin. People can't seem to place what the difference is, but it really is the Beauty Flash Balm. You can also mix a bit of the balm with some foundation and it works like a tinted moisturizer, but with a lovely glow.

The balm can also be used as a mask, by applying a thicker layer on and leaving it for 10-20 minutes. Personally, I think that's a total waste of the product and haven't tried doing it. For $38 a bottle, I want to get more mileage out of this baby. Once I run out, I will definitely buy a new bottle.

What do you think of this product? Do you know of a less expensive alternative to the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm? I would love to find out!

Thanks for reading this! :-)

Human Nature Beauty Haul

At my age, I realize I have to seriously start taking care of my skin. That means eating well, getting hydrated, and sticking religiously to a skin care routine.

I was looking for a new moisturizer to try, and I'm a bit picky with the products that I use because my skin is quite sensitive. I develop itchy rashes soon after I use a product that my skin does not agree to. My rule of thumb is to try anything new on my arm first and wait a couple of hours. This has saved me from a lot of anguish. 

A friend of mine with equally sensitive skin told me that her dermatologist has been recommending the Human Heart Nature moisturizer. I've been hearing about this product for a while, and I received a bottle of makeup remover for Christmas a few years ago, but since I didn't wear makeup that much, I regret I wasn't able to use it until it expired. 

I got curious and decided to check out Human Heart Nature's website. I discovered that they had a wide range of products aside from skin care such as mineral makeup, hair care, products for kids, home care products, and even some food items like food and chocolates. 

Their "pro-phillippines, pro-poor and pro-environment" slogan was a definite come on. As I mentioned in my previous post, a market for organic and natural products has been increasing and more people are now interested when you mention these words. 

Unfortunately, this brand is not easily accessible, and I had to search the net for their nearest outlet store. There were some malls which had Human Nature stalls, but none were close to where I lived. They do take online orders, but I have never been fond of making online transactions. It was a pleasant surprise then to find out that their main outlet store was very near my place. I decided to check it out one weekend, and it was worth it. The place was very nice and the smell was heavenly inside. There was even a small cafe inside where you can sit and order their all organic products. I found that this was where the retailers bought products for reselling and I was in line behind some customers with carts full of products. The cashier was very friendly though and offered to accommodate me first since I only had a handful of things to buy. 

So here are the stuff I purchased:

Human Heart Nature Beauty Haul

I only intended to buy a moisturizer but everything was so cheap! I could have bought more if my mom wasn't waiting for me.

I actually ended up buying two bottles of moisturizers, the Moisturizing Day Fluid and the Moisturizing Night Cream. I'll discuss these two first.

Human Heart Nature Moisturizing Day Fluid

Human Heart Nature Moisturizing Night Cream

I bought the 100mL bottles but they are also available in a smaller size (50mL). I figured it would be worth the buy since it's so inexpensive at P250 each. The 50 mL bottle costs P150.

In terms of consistency, I didn't notice any difference between the "fluid" and the "cream". Both were watery and easy to apply. However, on application, the night cream felt heavier and a bit greasy. Both had the same smell, not fragrant but not unpleasant as well, at least to me. The best way I could describe it is the scent of freshly crushed leaves. I'm not very particular with smell, and it didn't bother me at all, and some would even appreciate how they did not use artificial fragrances in their product. I really don't get why people put fragrance as a priority when they evaluate makeup and skin care products. To me, if it works, as long as it doesn't smell unbearably awful, then it's a good product.

Left: Moisturizing Day Fluid
Right: Moisturizing Night Cream

Here's the product description of the Moisturizing Day Fluid with 15 Vitamins and Minerals

How many vitamins are there in your current moisturizer? Just one? Our 100% Natural Moisturizing Day Fluid has 15 vitamins and minerals that give your skin the nutrient-boost it needs to start the day looking fabulous!

Plus you get an extra dose of Vitamin E, nature’s richest antioxidant, to help reduce the risk of sun damage.

15 reasons to switch from your chemical moisturizer: Vitamin E • Vitamin C • Vitamin A • Vitamin B1 • Vitamin B2 • Vitamin B5 • Vitamin B12 • Vitamin D • Selenium • Lecithin • Magnesium • Calcium • Potassium • Iron • Zinc

Another claim is that this moisturizer contains no petroleum by-products like silicone and dimethicone which makes other products feel nice and smooth but also clog pores and cause break outs.

How did it do? I liked that it did not irritate my skin, and I kept imagining those 15 vitamins and minerals nourishing it. My skin does feel more moisturized, a little bit too much, in fact, that I tend to skip application when I feel that I'm getting too oily. It does feel a bit greasy, and I noticed that my face sweats A LOT after application, so I avoid using it when I plan to go out on a hot day or if I'm going to wear lots of makeup. But as a day to day moisturizer, it really does its job. Another thing I noticed is that it has no SPF, and it might be because this might affect the absorption of the moisturizer. So if you're going to use this outside, don't forget to put on a layer of sunblock on top. Sadly, Human Nature has no sunblock in their range of products. I wonder why. I also apply a generous amount on my neck and hands, and having such a big bottle of the product makes me feel like I can pamper myself more.

Will I repurchase this product? I think so. This one's a keeper, especially at such a low price. The long term benefits of the vitamins and minerals are a big come on for me.

As for the Moisturizing Night Cream with Plant Collagen, here's what the site says about it:

Skincare magic… while you sleep! Your skin absorbs the most nutrients at night, so let our 100% Natural Moisturizing Night Cream with plant collagen renew your skin while you’re enjoying sweet dreams. With a host of other skin-essential vitamins and minerals, our night cream erases all signs of fatigue and tired eyes as you wake up to smoother, suppler skin!

Cap off an active day by getting ready for the next adventure with our 100% Natural Moisturizing Night Cream. Replenish skin with essential vitamins, nutrients and plant collagen that help regenerate skin cells for a refreshed healthy glow! Great for erasing all signs of fatigue and tired eyes, you can be sure to wake up with hydrated, soft skin!

The promise is skin cell regeneration, which I need. I found it a bit greasier than the day fluid, but since I'm going to bed anyway, it doesn't bother me so much. In the morning I find my skin softer without the greasiness. No break outs or allergies either. I think this one is also a keeper, and I feel like I'm really pampering myself when I put on this product. I apply it on top of my retinol/glycolic acid cream and it really takes the sting out.

Will I repurchase? Yes. Same as with the day fluid, I feel like I found a product that I can finally stick to, long term. I just hope they don't mark up the price in the future.

I also ended up buying the Hydrating Face Toner with Moringa Extract for Dry or Mature Skin

Complete the natural switch through and through when you use Hydrating Face Toner! Gentle and refreshing, it gives your skin the hydration it needs.

Brimming with moringa (commonly known as malunggay), a powerful ingredient that has 7x more Vitamin C than oranges, 4x more calciumthan milk and 4x more Vitamin A than carrots, it doesn’t just help replenish lost moisture, it preps your skin for what should come next – moisturizing! The end result? Luminous, astonishingly soft and beautiful skin!

You have DRY or MATURE skin when you experience at least three (3) of the signs below:

- You wake up with lackluster, flaking or pink skin
- Your pores are not visible at all
- After washing your face feels tight and sensitive
- Your face usually feels rough and dry
- You get chapped lips often and you’re always slicking on lip balm

If you experience the above, you need to hydrate your skin to keep it clean and healthy!

Human Heart Nature Hydrating Face Toner

On hindsight, I should have really bought the Balancing Face Toner instead because I have combination/oily skin. I used this toner anyway and found that unlike the moisturizers, it has a really lovely and refreshing scent. It does sting a bit though, and when I use it, I feel like there's a lot of dirt and residue left behind so I tend to use two applications just to make sure I get everything. I would recommend this for those with dry and mature skin. As for me, I would probably try the Balancing Face Toner next time. I am scoring this as a hit though, since it did not irritate my skin, and it did feel like it nourished my skin after. I would probably be using more of this toner soon, come Christmas season when the weather is cold and dry.

They also have a Nourishing Face Toner, probably for those in between dry and combination/oily skin.

Another notable thing that I like about these products is that the expiry dates are clearly printed on the bottles, down to the exact day.

The last product I bought was the 100% Natural Tinted Lip Balm which was available in 3 shades, Pink Orchid (pink), Flame Tree (Red) and Island Kiss (Coral). I chose the Flame Tree shade because I think it's the one that looks most natural on me.

Human Heat Nature Natural Tinted Lip Balm in Flame Tree

I have had a bad experience with lip balms before, because instead of moisturizing my lips, I notice that they seem to be drier and more chapped than before, just like when you use petroleum jelly on your lips. With Human Nature, the lip balm was made of castor seed oil, sunflower seed oil, beeswax and other natural ingredients and I really felt the difference. My lips are more nourished and I wake up in the morning with pretty and plump lips. I also love the shade, it looks like "my lips but better", and I could definitely go out with just the lip balm and no lipstick. There's a hint of mint there, and I tend to stay away from any minty lipbalm but it wears off in a few minutes anyway. Will definitely repurchase. It is such a steal for the price!

So there you go, that's my second review. Took me all afternoon but I enjoyed it.

Have you tried other Human Heart Nature products? I am curious about their line of mineral makeup and will probably try it out in the future. I'd love to hear your thoughts, especially if there are other products that you like :-)

Thanks for reading this!

Hair Troubles: Rebonding versus Keratin Treatment

My hair is my greatest downfall and my biggest source of insecurity. I live in a country where women are known for their long, straight, gorgeous hair. It comes naturally to them like breathing. I walk around the mall and just stare at girls with envy.

My hair sucks. It really does. I was born with curly, unruly hair. It's absolutely schizophrenic. Even if I treat it with care, wash it with the best shampoo and conditioner, nourish it with oil and hair serums, it still is just plain ugly. So I end up just tying it all in a tight bun.

When rebonding was first introduced, I was ecstatic. I've been having my hair rebonded for more than 10 years now. My only blessing, hair-wise, is that my hair strands are fine so that it looks gorgeous and natural when rebonded. However, I've been noticing a lot of hair fall since my last session so that I panicked and stopped having my hair treated altogether. Again, I was stuck with no other option but the tight bun.

Since then, I've been trying to be kinder to my hair and give it time to recover. I changed my hair care routine, rubbing a mixture of coconut oil with castor oil in it to encourage hair regrowth and stop further hair fall. I changed by shampoo and conditioner to the Dove Hair Fall Rescue range. I was quite satisfied with the results, since I noted lesser hair fall when I washed my hair and more baby hair growing. Downside was, this routine made my hair more poofy, especially as the regrowth started to get longer.

Now that I had healthier hair, and due to the insistent demands of my boyfriend, I decided to find another way to straighten my hair. I mean, geez, it's been more than a decade, we must have something out there other than rebonding. I read about Steambonding using L'oreal Kerastase products but unfortunately, the only real difference it has from the old school rebonding is the steam iron. This means that they use almost the same chemicals, which I really want to stay away from. Another disadvantage is that it costs more than rebonding. Results wise, I'm not sure how it's any different from the original type of rebonding. I'm willing to wager that steambonding won't be such a big hit. But it's been out in the market for only a couple of months, so we'll just have to wait and see.

I must admit that I am no expert in hair care, or styling, aside from the rebonding which I've gone through a gazillion times. I decided to consult with someone who was, and that's when I learned about nuNaat keratin treatment. I asked if there was something in the market that wasn't as chemical based as rebonding, and she told me to try out this range of products.

I decided to do a bit of research and found their site very helpful.

Ultra Keratin Touch Kit

                                           from http://www.nunaat.com/productline/ultra-keratin-touch/

According to this site, the benefits of nuNAAT Ultra Keratin Touch are the following:

• Smoothens frizz, curls and waves
• Reduces volume
• Great for all hair types
• Exclusive Green Keratin formula seals in nutrients, and retains flexibility and shine
• Lasts up to 30 days
• Compatible with chemically-processed hair
• Formaldehyde and sodium chloride free

It seems like natural and organic products are slowly but surely making a strong footing in the market, whether it be in the food or cosmetics industry. After years and years of chemical rebonding, it's time to go natural for me :-) The only question is, will it be enough to straighten my stubbornly frizzy hair?

I went to Profiles Salon in Katipunan, where nuNAAT is available. Upon evaluating my hair, I was told that I needed something more than the keratin treatment to straighten it. My heart sank and I was really disappointed, but since I was already there, and my mind was so set on having my hair done, I asked what my options were. They were very helpful and emphatic and listened to my concerns, and told me that what they could do was apply a chemical (huhu) used for relaxing hair (Schwarzkopf, I think), just for a couple of minutes, and then they can use the nuNAAT keratin treatment. This works well since the the keratin also minimizes the damage caused by the chemicals used.

I was hesitant at first, but I just decided to bite the bullet and trust them. The stylist took extra care not to apply too closely to my scalp and then let the treatment sit for a couple of minutes. After rinsing the stuff off, they went on to do the keratin treatment, which was so much faster compared to rebonding. I used to sit 8 hours to have my hair straightened. This took less than 3 hours!

The treatment smelled pleasant compared to the rebonding chemicals, a bit like coconut oil. Another upside that I learned was that you can color your hair after the keratin treatment, which was not an option after rebonding since it already puts your hair under so much stress.

The results were surprisingly good, but keep in mind that they also used the chemical relaxer on my hair. In terms of straightness and smoothness, rebonding does a much better job. In terms of shine, my hair seems to be shinier now than after any rebonding session. One problem that I've always had with rebonding was that
my hair always fell flat and limp, so that later on I needed volume rebonding if I wanted shorter than shoulder length hair. Now my hair has retained some volume which gives keratin treatment major plus points.

Downside to keratin treatment? Fine print says it lasts 30 days. My stylist says to expect my hair to be okay for the next 3 months, provided I use these:

NuNAAT Deep Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner

Won't be able to try these out until 2 more days (just like rebonding), but they smell really nice and it's supposed to protect chemically treated hair so I'm a bit psyched about them.

I will make an update on how it all goes, and how my hair looks like after a couple of days. 

Thanks for reading this! :-)