Collective Haul: Soaps and other Skin Care stuff!

If you're my mom, don't read this. Coz I know you'll get mad at me for this! If you're a person who loves to see hauls, go ahead. If you think hauls are way of bragging, you may stop reading now and go on your merry way. For me, a haul means sharing the products that got your attention and you believe it's worth trying. So here, let me show you some interesting stuff :)

1. Beauty Buffet Facial Masks in Repair & Refine and Smooth & Supple. I just can't resist the cute packaging! Too bad it's not on sale. 44php/each at Watsons

2. Glamworks Charcoal Nose Pore Strips. Check my review here! 99php/box of 12strips ast Watsons

3. Wedge Sponges from Japan Center. 88php/pack

4. Lolane Natura Hair Treatment. Been using this a lot lately! 10php/sachet at Robinson's Dept Store/Supermarkets

5. Shine Moist Ionic Keratin Treatment available at David's Salons for 100php/sachet. I already used this product before, and will try it again :)

6. Hortaleza, M.D. Glycerin Soaps in AcneSol, Illuminous, and Puressence from HBC at 63 to 68php/each

7. Schwarzkopf Hair Treatment available at David's Salon for 145php/tube

8. Asian Secrets Lulur Body Scrub. It's on sale at Watsons! Grab one now! The expiration is still on March 2014.

9. Zenutrients Organic Softening Mangosteen Soap at 75php/bar

10. Cyleina Organic Rice Bran Soap at 65php/bar at Watsons. I've tried Cyleina soaps before when they're not yet available in Watsons (Coffee, Peppermint, Tomato, Carrot/Pineapple, Seaweed, Strawberry). I bought mine online.

11. Olay Oil Control Cleanser. Gifted from my bf's sis, puchased in HK.

12. Celeteque Dermoscience Hydration Gentle Exfoliating Facial Wash. 142php/Watsons

13. Erth Origins Papaya & Pearl Whitening Soap. I remember my mom using this soap when I was in my early high school days. Their packaging back then was white and they even have the shower gel version. I just love how the scent brings back memories. I'm planning to buy Maxi Peel soap again as well. I got this on sale at Watsons, 59php/2bars

14. Zenutrients Glycerin Soap in Strawberry. Bought this because it's soooo cute! Kill me now lol. Great for traveling! 50php

15. Malakas at Maganda Moringa Peppermint Soap. Available at Kultura/SM Dept Stores. 105 or 110php/bar


Like I said, I'm in love with soaps and bath products more than make ups. I hope I'll have the wisdom to stop purchasing any more bath products this year aside from the Maxi Peel soap and this (Human Nature Balancing Facial Wash):

I want it! Been eyeing this baby for a long time now. Available at Sesou and Beauty Bar. Good thing I stopped myself from buying it right away coz I still have facial washes to use and of course, check its reviews.

If I didn't posted any reviews about a certain product, mostly it's because I feel like it didn't do much on my skin or I grew tired of using it or I'm simply lazy blogging it. I also don't talk about products I don't like. But if I hate it, most likely I'll mention it haha! Cheerio!

Glamworks Charcoal Nose Pore Strips Review

When I was in high school, nose strips are such a big thing. I remember my classmates use the Bench brand back then. I'm always hesitant when it comes to peel off masks because I'm wary about the pain. In fact, I decided I would never try nose strips at all. I'm worried that they will clog and leave my pores staring back at me. Lol that's an exaggeration of course. Okay. I know. I'm a little bit late for this! But hey, I only tried this because my boyfriend said I have to do this for him coz it's his birthday. How could I say no? Well, I said no. But he pressured me into it and he won using his charm.

photo from Google

 He told me to wet my nose and he applied it carefully to make sure everything's covered. We let it sit for 20minutes.

I braced myself for the pain when it's time to remove the strip. To my surprise, it's not really painful at all! I'm guessing it's because I have less facial hair unlike my boyfriend who shed a tear when he removed it. Haha. He got tons of hair in it, gross haha! I'm impressed with this product. Didn't even clogged my pores. Curious about how much dirt it removed from my nose? Warning: gross pictured ahead!

Ugh! I can't even bear to look at it too long. My boyfriend's obsessed with it, he even zooms it on his computer lol.

Price is at 99php at Watson's. Definitely a repurch! You may check my Daiso Natural Pack review as well!

Having an Acne-Prone Skin

Some friends may be wondering why I’m so obsessed with beauty, skin and hair care products. I’m not much of a beautiful person to start with. I admit I don’t have the perfect skin, proportioned body, or even healthy hair but I know I have my own beauty and I have a lot of love ones to remind me of it.

Have you been through a phase where in your physical appearance is taking its toll on you? Well, I have. Having this problem really affected my self confidence. During my college days, for some reason my skin is really acting up. Pimples were erupting every now and then. Thank God that at least, it’s not appearing on my cheeks that much. My forehead isn’t as lucky though. It came to a point where I’ve been jumping from one product to another, turns out that not because it’s pricey means it’s going to be effective. Also, I’m not as educated as I am right now with regard to what you should use and what’s not.

From Eskinol which is okay but it’s still not enough to remove those pimples (ugh!) to Ponds which is my absolute enemy. Every Ponds product that I try will break me out save the Pinkish White Cream. Belo is bearable but broke me out as well, to Maxi Peel which has been my best friend for almost a year. I’m using Maxi Peel Exfoliant Soap (green box with Marian Rivera on it) in my face and body and it helped me keep the pimples at bay. But of course, women have crazy hormones especially when it’s that time of the month! Months after I turned 18, that’s when I decided to have Acne Treatments.

I was in third-year college when I first had it, I’m 18 years old back then so I thought my skin is “pwede na” for Facials. My first stop is at Skin Perfect, I had my Acne Treatment (575php) twice (monthly interval) there and deep inside I’m cursing how painful the procedure is. Imaging they’re pricking those zits? Ugh! Every time I have treatments or facials, I’m always crying until now.

I had my Acne Skin Care Set (seaweed soap, clyndamycin solution, dalacin bleaching cream, sunblock gel) provided by Skin Perfect which cost me almost 2000php. You see, I was still in college and during those days, I’m saving my own money! Skin Care is such a burden you know? My next facial cleaning is at Let’s Face It, though it’s just a regular facial, I had an antibiotic soft mask after the procedure. Let me show you my nth acne pricking session haha. I believe I was in fourth year college already here. You see, I’ve been doing treatments all the time because my acne is sometimes Cystic type. Google it if you have to. 

Warning gross picture:

 Let's Face It. (was crying the whole time lol)

Since then I’m very picky with what I use on my skin, I prefer mild products but I also try strong ones. I also realized that I was sort of ripped off by Skin Perfect (okay, just a bit) because I can make the toner myself! (eskinol + dalacin c or clyndamycin). It’s a try it in your own risk drama. Oh c’mon, we don’t have broadband internet back then that’s why I can’t do my research lol. I became obsessed with everything, from Tea Tree Oil to Yogurt to Salicylic Acids. And every product that I try is either a hits or miss. I still do facials if I have to.

 After doing Yogurt Mask, clearing up

I even used my boyfriend as my Guinea Pig coz he has stubborn acne marks, a session with Skin Perfect plus Eskinol with Dalacin C plus local sunblock plus Let’s Face It Whitening Cream. My heart sank when I saw that his face was infected after a few days but he assured me that the antibiotic properties of the solution will fight it off. He’s not a Dermatologist but he’s a Nurse, so okay.

My obsession became a passion for taking care of my skin, maybe it runs in the blood as well? My big sis and mom are huge skin care addicts as well haha! One thing’s for sure though, fruit of labor. My skin is still far from perfect but I’m happy that somehow, my acne prone skin is not like before with the help of right skin care. Celeteque Hydration Line is the one who helped me most in maintaining my skin, yeah it’s not targeting acne but one major thing that we must know, too much dry skin is also one reason in having break outs.

    

My current problem? My skin is becoming oily, I’m thinking it’s because of St. Ives Green Tea Gel Cleanser plus Yves Rocher Hydra Seve combination. I’m still using St. Ives but for the moisturizer, I’m using my samples of Bioderma Moisturizers. Maybe I should change my skin care regimen again.

Here’s my boyfriend and I’s latest pictures, I’m absolutely not wearing any foundations or BB cream there, just powder.

Every time my skin is acting up, I’m having that dreadful feeling once I know I need to have a treatment again. It’s the pain! Kudos to Cassandra Bankson of YouTube for being so brave, she’s my inspiration with regard to this matter. At least it’s better now. How about you? How do you take care of your skin?