Fractional CO2 Laser from DMV Clinic - 1st Session Review and Experience

Today I'll finally be sharing the results of my first CO2 Laser Session from DMV Clinic. I ahd the session last January 15, 2021, however I only got the chance to write down my experience and everything today so this is a bit late but these are the photos and my experiences during the first week of the CO2 Laser procedure.

Warning: Post is quite long and is picture heavy, wherein photos are a bit awkward but I'll put it out here for reference so anyone who wants to do the same thing will have an idea as to what's going to happen.

For starters, this is my bare face before the procedure. I think the active acne form last week has dried up so I am now left with the scars, plus the old scars I have on my face, specifically on my cheeks and on my nose.

My DMV Clinic Acne Journey - January 2021 Part 2

This is actually posted a bit late, but here's an update on my skin after 1 week of using the products prescribed to me by the doctor. If you can remember, this was how my skin looked like a week ago: first blog post here https://whenthreeisacrowd.blogspot.com/2021/01/my-dmv-clinic-acne-journey-january-2021.html

Now its been a week since I used the products prescribed to me and this is how my skin looked like now. I cant see any change but I did notice the pimple I had last week has now dried up (see second photo)

My DMV Clinic Acne Journey - January 2021

Hi everyone! It's already 2021 and we're still stuck at home because of Covid. But the good thing is that we are now able to go out for important things. Yesterday I went to a derma clinic to have my acne checked. I originally planned to do CO2 Laser for my acne scars, however I still have active pimples so I had it checked first, and the doctor prescribed some stuff for me to use. I will be sharing my journey from today until I get the result I wanted.

REVIEW: Dr. Sensitive Acne Clearing Pads

Today I'm gonna be reviewing a product I've started using recently. These are clearing pads from a brand called Dr. Sensitive, which I chance upon Watsons last time. Although I only started incorporating this product in my daily routine for a few days, but I will be giving out my initial impressions about this product.

I got 2 packs of these clearing pads to try out. I am using it every morning, just right after my cleanser and before I apply my toner. Please let me know if I'm doing it wrong, but I figured I would rather apply this after cleansing to make sure my face is clean before I apply my toner and serum.

Dr. Sensitive Acne Clearing Pads 30 sheets - Php 49.00 (Watsons)

The product is actually affordable for the price and quantity, plus it is also handy. I've been meaning to buy those clearing pads from CosRX but its a bit pricey, and I'm not sure if its going to work out for me so having this instead is like a trial for me. Plus, it contains salicylic acid which is good for acne prone skin and this product claims to clear and help prevent acne.

Product Description: 

Dr. Sensitive™ Acne Clearing Pads has a gentle exfoliating action that unclogs pores and helps prevent acne. Contains salicylic acid

Caution: This product contains alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) that may increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun. Use a sunscreen, wear protective clothing and limit sun exposure while using this product. Avoid contact with eyes. Keep out of reach of children. For external use only. Do not flush

Ingredients:

Aqua, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Isopropyl Myristate, Ethyl Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Decyl Glucoside, Methylparaben, Bronopol, Citric Acid

How to Use: 

Use on clean skin; dab on pimples or blemishes. Can also be used all over the face to help exfoliate and unclog pores. Avoid lip and eye area. Start with one application daily and increase gradually to two to three times a day. Reseal tightly after use.

The packaging reminds me of those facial wipes and wet tissues, albeit this is smaller making it really handy. I reckon I can bring this with me anywhere due too its small pocket-able size, and could possibly be an alternative to washing specially if I'm out and about. I only paid Php 49.00 or about $1 for 30 sheets already. A pack can easily last me a month with once a day use, or 2 weeks if I use it at least twice a day!

Since this is my first clearing pad, I can't compare it to other brands, but here are my observations though. Feel free to comment if there's anything that I might have missed out.

Pros:

• Light weight, easy to carry and handy
• Cheap
• Value for money in terms of price vs quantity

Cons:

• Cotton is thin
• Cotton is not that moisturized

As you can see, the pad is actually thin. I don't know if clearing pads are really supposed to be this way, or maybe this is just the case for this particular brand because of the packaging. I feel like those from CosRX are thicker like those round cotton because of the tub packaging.

Also another observation is that the cotton pad is not that moisturized or I felt like its a bit drier that what I was expecting? Maybe it's because this has been stored for 2-3 months due to the lock-down and this is just an old stock? I'll try to pick up a new one that's recently manufactured and compare if its still the same.

Overall, I am quite pleased with this product. It's definitely great value for money, and an alternative to facial wipes or cleansing wipes since this is specifically for acne prone skin. I will continue to use this daily and hopefully it won't give me any break outs. Aside from the two cons I've listed about, I don't have anything to complain really. Repurchase? Yes, specially if I'm going back to work again or if I will be travelling. 

May Purchases Part 2

Hi everyone! Hope you're all doing good despite the pandemic that we're all experiencing. I haven't posted any reviews for a while apart from my purchases, which is what I'm going to be posting today as well. We've been quarantined for almost 2 months now, and even though the rules have been less strict since yesterday, it still is hard to go out and I still can't go back to working. I thought this would work out in my favor as I've been focusing more on skin care and haven't been using make ups at all as I'm just at home, but unfortunately I currently have a lot of acne on my cheeks, jawline and even my forehead! I'm not sure what exactly happened but I'm still trying to find a cure to thus dilemma. Anyways I've been using the products I purchased last time on a daily basis for 2 weeks now, and although I am not sure if it worked or if it made it worse, but I'll continue using it until next month and post a review by then to see how it goes.

Anyways, since the rules have been less strict and the mall has opened, I was finally able to go to Watsons for the first time in 2 months! I have been practicing social distancing and wore my masks and washed when I arrived at home so I hope it should be all good. I don't plan to go out again anyways unless its really urgent. I have been doing some reading online while on quarantine so when I got the chance to go to Watsons again, I knew what things to buy. Here are some of the things I have recently purchased.

Hada Labo Hydra & Whitening Face Wash - Php 295.00 (Watsons) | Dr. Sensitive Acne Clearing Pads - Php 49.00 (Watsons) | Nacific Fresh Herb Origin Serum - Php 605.00 (Shopee)

This is my first time to try Hada Labo's facial wash and I am so excited. Its a bit pricey compared to my usual facial wash (Cathy Doll) but it is understandable as this is a brand from Japan. I have other products from the brand which I got from Japan last year and they were really cheap, so I am really hoping this pandemic will end so that I can travel again. The acne clearing pads from Dr. Sensitive is something new to me, as I've been meaning to try clearing pads online but I am unsure if it is worth it. When I saw this product, I instantly purchased it just to try it out and see its worth it. I have started using it yesterday so I will probably post a review by next month.

Now this lip tint was in impulse purchase online when Club Clio had another sale on Lazada! I mean, who can resist 50% off right? Plus, I really love their velvet tints so I am so excited when I can finally use them again. Also, they are having another sale right now but I am not going to let myself be tempted again :3 Good thing the items I got from them will expire by 2022 so I still have plenty of time to use them, but for now I am keeping them safe in my fridge.

Peripera Ink Velvet Tint #04 - Php 225.00 (Lazada)

This product is very popular right now and some even called it Jun Ji Hyun serum as it is said to be her holy grail! So here I am joining the bandwagon too haha. Actually I've seen this product years back, when it still was called Natural Pacific, together with its old packaging. At that time it was still expensive for me so I couldn't really get my hands on it, but now that it was on sale, I finally purchased one. I've been using this in the evening for a few days already, together with my The Ordinary Glycolic Toner, so hopefully it will work for me. I'll be doing a review maybe next month to give time for the results to show, if there's any.

Nacific Fresh Herb Origin Serum - Php 605.00 (Shopee)

The seller from Shopee was kind enough to include a freebie - Innisfree Green Tea Seed Cream. I'm not sure what this is for but I haven't used it as well.

And that's it! I am really hoping for the best for my skin after this quarantine ends as I have been strictly following a routine with my The Ordinary products and have recently started using the Nacific Serum. I've been taking pictures of my breakouts for comparison and I will be uploading it on my blog probably next month.

May Purchases - Skincare Products

And just like that, its May already! We are still under community quarantine, but at least some things are still available, like online shopping ^_^ . Today I'll be sharing the first package I received for this month - skin care products. I was actually thinking that since we can't go out and if we can, we still have to wear mask, make up wouldn't be practical so why not invest in skin care instead right? 

I bought 4 items online from Shopee PH. Its from a seller of Korean Products. To be honest, I have a few sellers whom I purchase from, but this particular seller sold them for a cheaper price, plus the reviews were also great so I decided to buy from them. Seller was also kind to include a sample freebie :)

L-R: Apieu Nonco Tea Tree Spot Patch, CosRX Acne Pimple Master Patch, The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Freebie: Etude House Baking Poder Pore Cleansing Foam Sachet

I've tried The Ordinary products before, specifically the Niacinamide one. I purchased 5-6 products from them 3 years ago, and I can't recall what exactly happened. But I do know I wasn't able to finish all bottles which was such a waste. I've been seeing a lot of reviews online again about how effective they are, specially the retinoid and peeling solution (which I also purchased years back), so I wanted to try them again and this time make sure to commit to use them properly and continuously.

I only got 2 products this time as I don't want to overwhelm myself with a lot of items at a time. I'm not really familiar with layering of skin care products, so for now I am trying to follow a routine wherein I use the Niacinamide in the morning and the Toning Solution at night. I try not to layer anything else after using them as I wanted to see if it works or if its going to give me any breakouts, so I'm trying to hold back on my other products for now aside from my usual cleanser, peeling gel (a few times in a week) and my acne lotion.

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution 240 mL - $11 (Deciem) | Php 720.00 (Shopee)

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% 30 mL - $7 (Deciem) | Php 510.00 (Shopee)

I also included some Acne Patches, just in case we get to go out in the real world. I purchased about 5 boxes of pimple patch last December in Seoul but I've already almost used them up so I bought some extra in case. The patches were really sticky and nice and cheap too! Once things are better and we are now allowed to travel, I will definitely buy a lot of those patches.

Apieu Nonco Tea Tree Spot Patch - Php 25.00 (Shopee)

CosRX Acne Pimple Master Patch - Php 130.00 (Shopee)

So that's it for now. I'm still on my 5th day of using the bottles I've purchased and so far I haven't had any major break outs apart from what I already have T_T. I am really hoping that these items will do wonders for me as they're a bit pricey, otherwise I might have to resort to different products again.

BeautyMNL Haul - SkinPotion Products

Hi! Today I'm sharing my first ever BeautyMNL Haul. Yes Facebook, I finally gave in to the ads you've been showing and bought stuff. Aside from the endless temptation called ads that I see everyday, the main reason why I chose to visit the website and see whats in store is because someone on Facebook posted a mini review of a particular brand available on the shop and said it really did wonders for her acne skin conditions, so I figured, eh why not? So I did.

Since this was my first purchase, I got free shipping too. Hurray! I chose two items from SkinPotions by the way, and Im too excited to see if it will do wonders for me too :)

This was the packaging I received. Pink!! Yes, I just love pink. And this one is a pretty pastel color too.

Now the items I bought were actually placed inside another plastic bag with the shop's name written on it. Cool.

The products were carefully wrapped in bubble wrap to make sure it will arrive safe, which I really appreciate.

And here's what I got myself. Two of their most popular items which seems to be quite the talk of the town as most of the reviews I've read says these items have healed and sorted their acne problems. Of course, I have to see it for myself so off I went and added them to my cart.

Shop SkinPotions at BeautyMNL: https://beautymnl.com/brands/skinpotions

Today is actually Day 2 of me using both prodocust. Its too early to say anything but I am really hoping for a positive result. Will be posting reviews once I see anything significant, but for now, here are some more info about the items I got and where to get them.

Snowberry Cream - ₱465.00

CLAIM TO FAME: A multi-benefit cream that targets acne, spots, scars, and stretch marks

FAST FACTS: Lightens to minimize the look of dark spots and hyperpigmentation; helps treat acne to banish breakouts; smoothens and reduces the appearance of stretch marks; soothes insect bites; can also be used as a makeup primer and pore minimizer; protects with SPF45; formulated with papaya extract, bearberry extract, licorice extract, snail filtrate, whitenol extract (mix of potent natural whitening oils), acerola cherry extract, rice bran oil, titanium dioxide and essential oils; leaves a matte finish

PERFECT FOR: Smoother, fairer skin on the face and body

Tomato Serum - ₱295.00

CLAIM TO FAME: An all-natural essence that targets common skin ailments

FAST FACTS: Formulated with natural tomato and aloe vera extracts; brightens skin for a radiant, glowing look; helps restore skin’s natural pH balance; minimizes the appearance of enlarged pores; reduces irritations and inflammations such as acne; relieves and heals sunburnt skin; fights free radicals with an antioxidant powerhouse that includes vitamins A and C, lycopene, and proteins

PERFECT FOR: Dull and blemished skin

REVIEW: Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem Face Wash

So I dropped by Watson's earlier looking for things for my hair when I finally chanced upon this product. I've read a few reviews about this facial wash and thought maybe Id give it a try.

I chose this variant as it claims to help prevent pimples, which is a plus for me. I've always been going for facial washes that claims to help prevent pimples and the likes because of my acne prone skin.

I got this for Php 89 pesos and it contains 50mL of products inside. Not too bad considering the price and the content of the item itself. I've been eyeing Himalaya products for a while now but since I still have a lot of things as well I didn't bother with buying anything till now. Also, I only saw this product at Watson's just now so maybe its really popular as it seems out of stock most of the time.

On the back of the packaging, the ingredients are written down. I'm not too bothered with ingredients as I dont think I am sensitive to anything. For as long as it doesn't give me any break outs then I'm good.

Packaging of the product comes in the usual tube type. Still hygienic if you ask me. Plus this is the small travel size bottle so its easy to carry around specially during trips.

The product itself is gooey and is green in color. It isn't watery so I dont have to worry about it dripping from the palm of my hands. Application is also easy.

REVIEW:

The product smells good and lathers easily as well. I was happy during day 1 of using this as I felt so clean. But then at night I saw some breakouts already. They weren't full blown pimples or something but whitehead looking with puss inside and I'm sure its because of this as I haven't used anything new except for this.

So on day 2 I didn't use this and went back to my usual facial cleanser and after treating the breakouts everything seems good, so on day 3 I still used my old trusty face cleansers. And because I really had high hopes for this product I went on to use this again on day 4 and... another breakout!! :((

I really dont think this will be useful and its such a shame that I have to let this go but I also cant risk the breakouts if I continue to use this.

VERDICT:

Repurchase? No. But then again this is just based on my use. We all have different skin types and this may work for others, but for me, nah. Im still sad that I have to throw this away.

REVIEW: Scinic Perfect Peeling Gommage Gel

Today I will be reviewing a Korean beauty product that I've had for quite a while. I actually neglected this product but with time, I have come to realize that its actually a very good product. We all know Koreans have their million-step nightly routine and the most basic of which is cleansing. So now I am very particular when it comes to cleansing the face before applying the next product.

This product is a peeling gel from Scinic and is called Perfect Peeling Gommage Gel. I got it for $6.88 online (Php 350). Since I've been using this product religiously, its now almost fully consumed.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

- gently cleanses and soothes your skin with natural ingredients

- feel clean and fresh after use

PACKAGING

Packaging is very simple and I like how it looks like. It comes in a plastic tube bottle, which tends to be messy when it comes to application (see photos below) but otherwise, I have no complaints about this.

Everything is written in Korean and I cant read it, but the label does say it has to be consumed within 12 months after opening. Also its quite huge at 120 mL so its really gonna last for a good 2-3 months depending on how often you use it.

Remember when I said it tends to be messy? Yup. Haha. But nothing that I cant clean though so its really not bothering me.

Now here is how it looks like when applied. Its a bit watery so you have to be careful with the application, otherwise you might find the product dropping everywhere. Its white and looks like lotion.

Now since this is a peeling gel, you just have to rub it in whatever motion is preferable for you. You can also gently massage your face with this product on to stimulate blood flow.

I am testing this on my hands for this review and it was really weird how it took me a good 5 minutes just to have these sort of dead skin like particles show up. I swear on my face it only takes a couple of seconds before these starts to show up. So maybe my face has more dead skin? Nah. I'm not even sure if these are dead skin or just the product drying up? You be the judge. But still, I really really like the after effect of this product on my face!

Here I have applied it to my face and yes, literally just seconds after application when I tried to rub it in to even out the application I started to see the dead skin like particles already. Way faster compared to the swatches of the product on my hand.

And with a few more rub here and there, product no longer seems to be watery on my face as the white particles started to form~

And then I got tired of rubbing so I washed my face and there you go! Clean bare face. My skin felt so smooth after and I really felt so clean.

I really cant explain how satisfied I am with this peeling gel as it always gives me smooth skin after using it. Skin is also softer to touch (but I am acne prone and have scars and pits so it still doesn't really matter).

Overall, I am very happy with this product. It delivers (at least for me) good results and I can see myself continuously using a peeling gel in the future. Repurchase? If this brand goes on sale then I don't mind. But if I just want the effects of a peeling gel, I think I can find many cheaper alternatives though.

February Haul - Skin Care

Ovale Facial Mask - Cucumber

Ive never heard of this brand before but seeing the picture and the label saying its cucumber mask, I decided to pick it up. Ive been doing facials at Flawless and they end the session with a green mask which could either be Avocado, Cucumber or Seaweed? Haha I cant decide what it is but maybe I'll ask next time. For now, I'll see what this mask can do.

Ovale Facial Mask - Cucumber