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!

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! :-)

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!