REVIEW: Dr. Sensitive Pore Purifying and Sebum Control Pink Clay Mask

Today we will be talking about a new brand that I came across last year when I was browsing through Watsons. I am not familiar with the brand, but there were great reviews about some of their products so I went ahead and picked up this Pore Purifying and Sebum Control Pink Clay Mask from a brand called Dr. Sensitive. I didn't know what to expect, but I just really wanted a clay mask that's easy to use and apply unlike the bentonite clay mask.

REVIEW: Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner

The product we will be talking about today is one of the cult favorites online, and is always raved about by most beauty bloggers - the Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner. I got this from Wishtrend by the way, and it costs $22.00 for a 180ml bottle. This toner is very popular in the AB community for years already, and I've always dreamt of being able to try it out myself. I remember a friend of mine calling this toner as her holy grail, and now that I finally have the chance to use it, I am so excited to share my experience, thoughts and reviews about the product. Does it live to the hype it's been getting for years now? Let's find out.

KLAIRS Supple Preparation Facial Toner - $22

This bestselling hydrating toner is a must-have for both dry and oily skin types. Packed to the brim with moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, panthenol, and aloe, it plumps up the skin’s natural barrier and enhances moisture retention. With a viscous yet fast-sinking consistency, you can apply multiple layers of this toner to make skin look instantly moist and supple. It’s rich in anti-inflammatory ingredients that instantly calm redness and repair damaged skin. With soothing centella asiatica and licorice root extract, it also works wonders in minimizing breakouts for acne-prone skin.

I know most of you have already heard about this product for a while now. There might be a few changes to its formulation and packaging over the years, however it is still very popular among beauty bloggers.

BENEFITS

• Plumps up skin, restores moisture balance, and strengthens the skin’s natural barrier with hyaluronic acid
• Balances the skin’s pH levels to improve overall skin health
• Allows moisture to penetrate the skin evenly and deeply with phyto-oligo and wheat amino acids
• Resolves skin dryness and reduces swelling with anti-inflammatory properties found in centella asiatica and licorice extract
• Creates the perfect blank canvas for the succeeding steps in your skincare routine
• Made with a lightweight, fast-sinking consistency you can layer over and over without greasiness

PRODUCT INGREDIENTS

Water, Butylene Glycol, Dimethyl Sulfone, Betaine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Natto Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Chlorphenesin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Panthenol, Arginine, Luffa Cylindrica Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract, Beta-Glucan, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Lysine HCL, Proline, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Acetyl Methionine, Theanine, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Copper Tripeptide-1

HOW TO USE

1. After cleansing, gently pat the toner on dry face using the heat of the palm to promote full absorption.
2. We recommend multiple applications on dry areas.

The toner itself is transparent and looks like water. However, you can feel that it is more than just water once you start applying it to your skin. It might look like water but it is a bit thicker and just a tiny bit sticky, at least for me, but nothing over the extraordinary. I still find it lightweight and is easily absorbed by the skin. It is said to be good for Dry/Dehydrated/Combination/Oily skin type, but might not be suitable for those skin who is sensitive to essential oils.

After applying the toner to my face, you can see that it looks healthier and moisturized. What I love about this toner and its consistency is that it doesn't seem to dry out my skin after using it, which is common in most toners. I guess this is one of the reasons why it is so popular, because it is hydrating. 

Overall, I am glad I am able to try this toner because it has really helped my skin in terms of hydration. It might not do much for my acne and acne scars, but it keeps my skin hydrated and looking healthy. It is definitely a must on your skin care routine.

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.

REVIEW: Happy Mask Soothing Happy Sleeping Mask (Aloe Vera and Tea Tree)

Hi everyone! Today I am going to post about another skin care product I stumbled upon the grocery counter while trying to pay for my items. Yeah, I'm really an impulse buyer, and upon seeing this on sale I was like, "Oh well, its on sale!" Yay!

This product is from a brand called Happy Mask, and to be honest, its my first time seeing this product. It looks cute and very handy, perfect for travelling. Since it was on buy 1 get 1 promotion, I decided to give it a try and see what is going to happen.

The packaging is pretty standard, but the design is very nice. One thing that made me pick it up was because it contains Aloe Vera and Tea Tree, which, as they say, is good for acne prone skin. The packaging is also very hygienic since you can just easily twist the cap back to close it, and that's another plus.

It also says made in Korea, but to be honest this is the first time I've seen or heard about the brand, so I'll prolly check it out if this is really a Korean beauty product.

HOW TO USE:

1. Apply on cleansed and toned face at night.
2. Massage slightly with fingertips to aid absorption.
3. Leave on overnight and wash off with lukewarm water in the morning. 

Each pack can be used for 2 to 3 times as per instruction, so it is definitely very economical. Also if you are allergic to something, it would be a good idea to test it first on a small area of your skin before using it on your face.

Lol at the graphical representation on how to open and twist the cap haha. It's not everyday that you get to see a product that is packaged this way.

Also at first I thought it is going to be somewhat similar to a body lotion in terms of consistency and color, but it turned out to be transparent. I think it would be best to say it has a gel like texture, which would mean the skin will absorb it easily. Plus since its transparent, you wouldn't have to worry about applying it to your face and end up looking white all over since it is colorless. And the smell? I think I have to thank the aloe vera for its nice scent!

The verdict? Well, I really can't say much apart from my initial reaction to the product since I have only used it once. I am trying to minimize my skin routine right now to just the basics as I am currently dealing with breakouts. But for the price and the amount of product you get, this is definitely a steal and a must try, specially if you like to put on sleeping mask every night.

REVIEW: Beauty Fix Peel-Off Mask (Oil Control and Detoxify)

Today I will be reviewing an item I just randomly saw at Watson's. I think this is a brand commonly available at Watson's so I am hoping it will be a good one. Lets start!

The product is a peel off face mask from the brand called Beauty Fix. This one is called Beauty Fix Peel Off Mask - Oil Control and Detoxify. I bought this a long time ago and have only remembered about it now so I cant recall details exactly but if I'm not mistaken, this has different variants, I think? And I specifically chose the one that said oil control because I am a walking oil machine factory haha.

The packaging is actually cute because of the shape and the design. Maybe that's why I was enticed to buy it because from afar, it looks pretty nice. The item contains 10g of product and in most cases, if its in a sachet, it usually is good for one use, max 2.

On the back you'll see more information about the item..

Product Description: Beauty Fix Peel Off Mask controls oil and detoxifies skin, removing dead skin, clearing up deep seated dirt and other impurities. Loaded with vitamins and active ingredients that will restore the elasticity of skin and combats acne leaving skin glowing and healthy. Suitable for all type of skin.

Directions for Use:

1. Simply cleanse face with warm water then apply Beauty Fix Peel Off Mask generously on the entire face, avoiding hair, eyes, eyebrows and lips.
2. Relax and enjoy for up to 20 minutes or until the mask is completely dry. Face will feel tones and tightened.
3. Gently peel the mask off upward starting from the chin.
4. Use warm water to remove any remaining product. 
5. For best results, use 2 to 4 times weekly.

Now for those who are conscious about the ingredients, I've listed what's on the back so that you can check if there's anything that wont work for you.

Ingredients: Water, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Pectin, Glycoproteins, Hydrolyzed Rice protein, Apple Extract, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Titanium Dioxide, Bisabolol, Xathan Gum, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Charcoal Powder DMDM Hydantoin, Parfum

Disclaimer: Now remember earlier when I said I've had this post in my draft for a while? Yes, I guess its evident with the manufacturing date shown below. I know its just a year away from the expiry, seeing how this was manufactured in 2017, but this blog post is actually long overdue. I've had the content sitting in my drafts for years haha. So yes, I have already sued the item a long time ago, the photos are even from 2 years ago but I only got the chance to finalize the content and post it today, hence the discrepancy with the dates.

It says exclusively distributed by Watson's, so it must be one of those brands that you can only get from Watson's. I know they have plenty of brands under their name so its a bit hard to choose which one to buy..

Now the product comes off as grayish in color, hmm charcoal perhaps? I quite like masks with charcoal because I feel like it can really clean my face after. Isn't that what the charcoal ingredient/variant in most beauty product is for?

Now when you apply it to your face, it also comes off as gray in color! I think the peel off mask from Megan or even the ones from Daiso are a bit darker and more black compared to this. Not that it makes any difference but just for color reference if it helps..

I don't have any photo of the mask when removed because that could be gross but I knew for a fact that I never bought this item again. Why/ I feel like it didn't work for me as a peel off mask. Maybe in cleaning my face yes, but the oil control part? Nope. I remember I was on the quest for the best peel off mask that can really help me specially when it comes to whiteheads and blackheads and I was trying this that. On the contrary, this item never claims to remove whitehead so maybe I was wrong in choosing this item for that sole reason. But still, I didn't see any major difference. It might be good to use once a month, but as a staple in my routine? I think no.

Watsons PH February 2019 Online Shopping Haul

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. All items posted were bought using my own money. 

Hi everyone! Today I'm sharing what I have recently purchased from Watsons PH. This is the first time I am doing the shopping online, using the Watsons App and it really was very easy!

Although I could have easily gone to the physical shop for my purchase, I wanted to do it online mainly because there was a discount promotion if its done only. Yay for discounts! Also I was looking for something that I couldn't find in my local Watsons so ordering online is the only way.

For those of you who hasn't tried it yet, Watsons app or even the website will allow you to place your orders and have it shipped right to your doorstep. In my case, delivery isn't yet available so I opted for shop pick up. I didn't mind though because I was just really about getting that item which isn't available locally.

And now I want to share what I got for just Php 368 only. I was able to score 5 items for that price. Watsons also offers free shipping with a minimum spend by the way so that's another plus too.

Php 368 only!