Review: Dove Sensitive Beauty Bar

I was browsing BeautyMNL’s website to find cleansers suitable for sensitive skin. You know that fragrance should be avoided if you have sensitive skin. I’ve read reviews on this Dove variant. Some use it on the face, body and some even use it down there. Their dermatologists recommend this because of its fragrance-free formula. My doctors recommended Cetaphil and Physiogel which did not work for me. I had to look for another cleanser. It’s less than 50 pesos. It wouldn’t hurt to try, right? I’m using this for almost 3 weeks now and I’m ready to share my experience.

Description from Dove’s website:
This sensitive skin bar brings you the classic Dove cleansers and ¼ moisturising cream in a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic bar that’s gentle enough for sensitive skin. Suitable for daily use, it helps protect skin’s natural moisture and can be used on your hands, body or face. Get the gentle skin care for sensitive skin that you deserve – try Dove Sensitive Beauty Bar.

Ingredients:
Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Sodium Palmitate, Aqua, Lauric Acid, Sodium Isethionate, Sodium Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Zinc Oxide, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Alumina, CI 77891

Here’s CosDNA Analysis (link here):

Pros:
– Affordable, 47.75 pesos only at Mercury Drugs
– Accessible
– Fragrance-free
– Gives enough lather
– Doesn’t leave a slimy film
– Easy to rinse
– Multifunctional
– Glowing skin every after use
– Did not cause breakouts
– Did not trigger my contact dermatitis

Cons:
– Has that waxy feeling
– Not really for heavy cleansing

Neutral:
– Doesn’t prevent breakouts

I’m using this alternately with Althea x Get It Beauty Masks. I really do not like the original Dove because it leaves a film but this sensitive variant doesn’t. I rinse it off with water for 10 seconds. I just don’t like that it gives waxy feeling which has been an issue for me with their bars. But despite that and me having oily skin, I did not experience breakouts. This isn’t intended for heavy cleansing. This won’t remove makeup and won’t prevent breakouts. My main concerns right now are moisture and avoiding contact dermatitis. I prefer to use other cleansers after working out. Make sure your cleanser matches with your activities. I use this when my skin’s irritated and/or I had a day without intense sweating, commuting or cleaning the house.

This is very accessible. Most of the supermarkets, department stores and drugstores have it. Eliminating fragrance whether natural or artificial can really make a difference for sensitive skin. This has the same lather as their other bars. As I said above, it’s multifunctional. You can use it for face, body, “down there” and for moisturizing purposes. I also noticed that my skin’s glowing from the inside when I’m using this. Similar to “glass skin”. Best of all, it did not cause allergic reactions.

It seems like Dove’s releasing new products. Have you tried anything from them lately? By the way, I’ll make a list of cleansers for sensitive skin. Please watch out for that!

Review: Nichido Powder Plus Foundation

This is the second local product I bought last month. I’ve been choosing between Fashion21’s powder and this one. I preferred Fashion21 because of the reviews. But their shade range is too pink and too dark on me. I got this instead and I must say I’m pretty impressed.

Description:

Ingredients:

It comes in a box and a little pouch. Its packaging is matte which easily gets makeup on. I always clean it afterwards. It looks classy for 238 pesos though. It has mirror and a separate compartment for the sponge. I like that for hygiene purposes.

Here are some pictures where you can see its exact shades under the same white LED incandescent lighting but different rooms. First photo was taken in the bathroom with all white walls. Second one is in a closet surrounded with different colors.Let’s discuss the performance. For me, it has light coverage if used as powder. That’s because I have many dark spots. Depending on your skin, it can be medium and full if used wet. It lasts for a few hours on my oily skin without setting. But it stays on the whole day if I use their setting spray. There’s a little flashback but it’s not bothersome as long as your liquid foundation is sunscreen-free. It oxidizes on me which turns darker than the original shade. That’s the only down side of this powder

Review: By Wishtrend Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water

It’s been a while since I collaborated with Wishtrend. I got excited to receive a mail from them again. This time, they gave us the chance to try their own brand’s newest product. It’s By Wishtrend Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water.

Now what is Mandelic acid? According to Hira, a resident pharmacist from Skin Store, it is an alpha hydroxy acid derived from bitter almonds. It’s gentler than glycolic acid. My dermatologist recommends mandelic peel for sensitive skin.

Description:
Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water is a hydrating and nonirritating exfoliant that can be used daily. Formulated with Mandelic Acid, which can be used without any irritation even on sensitive skin, the Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water is an exfoliating treatment that improves the skin tone and texture while boosting the effectiveness of other products.

How to use:

1.  Before the toner, gently wipe and pat the product on your face using a cotton pad.
2. Limit the use of this product depending on your skin type. (For sensitive skin, we recommend 2-3 times a week)
3. For morning use, please make sure to apply sun-lotion after using the product.
4. We recommend not to use this product with other facial scrubs, AHA/BHA, and Vitamin C products.

Ingredients:

Pros:

• Huge bottle, 120ml
• Fairly priced, $22
• No spillage
• Fragrance-free
• Dries/sinks in quickly
• Doesn’t sting except for open wounds/breakouts
• Non-sticky
• Skin did not get red while using this
• Mildly exfoliates skin
• Can help with minimal pigmentation

Cons:

• I was bothered by castor oil at first

Personally, castor oil in products bothers me. It was one of the culprits of my past breakout. But I tried this Madelic Acid and didn’t have a problem. It’s probably because castor oil is at the bottom of its ingredients list. Bottom part = less amount. Since this is an acid, I do not apply this on areas prone to contact dermatitis. It can sting for open wounds/cuts like breakouts.

It expires in 12 months after opening. That’s enough time to get you through a 120ml bottle. There was no spillage even if I turn the bottle upside down. It has watery consistency. It doesn’t feel sticky unless you apply more than enough. It’s fragrance free. A plus for those who are sensitive to scents like me. It smells like COSRX’s AHA BHA Toner which is also fragrance free.

There are two ways to apply it. Gently pat on with your palms. Or if you want more exfoliation, gently swipe it on skin using cotton pad. I prefer cotton pad because it’s more effective and helps other products to absorb.

It doesn’t irritate or cause redness unlike my acid-based products in the past. I use this twice a week and will build up to 3 times a week. Ideally at night. It will help to lighten spots with continuous use. I dont think it’ll be enough for deep spots though.

Exfoliating is important. It removes dirt, excess oil and dead skin cells. This is mild and won’t overpeel skin. Dont worry, there’s no flaking. It’s only a micropeel. You wouldn’t notice it.  I’d recommend it to all skin types as long as you dont have dermatitis or eczema. Apply by palm if you have dry skin. The rest can use cotton pad. Follow with a moisturizer.☺

Review: Olivarrier Fluid Oil from Jolse

Oils are popular in the beauty community lately. One of them is Squalane. It’s being recognized because of its non-oily feel. It’s used in many cosmetic products for its moisturizing properties. There are different types of Squalane. The traditional is derived from Squalene (mostly made of shark liver oil). The other one is plant-based which is more preferred now.

Many have claimed that it doesnt feel like oil at all. It made me curious and I wanted to know if it’s true. I’ve been also adding pure ingredients in my routine. Luckily, Jolse gave us the opportunity to try Olivarrier’s Fluid Oil. I’d likd to thank them.

Description:
The freshness and quick absorption provides enough moisture for any time of the year, keeping the skin smooth by making the dead skin cells elastic without blocking the pores. The ingredient similar to the skin will improve the dryness and the roughness of the skin safely. The colorless, odorless, and harmless plant squalane is the only ingredient contained in the product. The single ingredient oil will soothe the tightness of the skin, dry eyes and lips, rough hands and nails, damaged hair, sensitive and weak skin of expecting mothers and babies.

Ingredients:
100% Squalane

Pros:
– 30ml of product
– Nice packaging and has dropper applicator
– Plant-based, ethical
– Chemical free and no additional ingredients
– Multifunctional
– Feels light
– Sinks in the skin
– Doesn’t feel oily
– Instantly moisturizes dry skin
– Did not cause breakouts
– Did not trigger my dermatitis

Cons:
– Quite expensive, $42
– Has level 1 comedogenic rating

Let’s discuss the cons first $42 is quite expensive for me. The brand is not in the drugstore category. So that explains the price range. It’s level 1 Comedogenic. Although it has that rating, I didnt have breakouts while using this.

The pros: I prefer oils in dropper bottle like this. There’s no leak so it’s safe for traveling. The best thing is it’s plant-based. It’s ethical and we didnt harm anything. I’m impressed with the texture and performance. It feels like oil at first. But once you apply it on the skin, it sinks in really well. Photos show the before (immediately after applying Fluid Oil) then fully absorbed after a few minutes.

It does not feel heavy unlike other oils. It moisturizes dry patches immediately. I focus on the undereye, cheek and mouth area to avoid wrinkles. It minimizes the appearance of wrinkles. It’s great to use under makeup if that’s your concern. It has a subtle glow which makes skin look healthy. Not the oil slick look.

Overall, I’m satisfied with Olivarrier’s Fluid Oil. I recommend this for dry skin or if you’re feeling dull. Also, the bottle looks gorgeous. It’s minimalistic and chic. This could be added to your skin care collection.

You can get this on Jolse.com. It is currently discounted for $35.70.☺❤

Review: Benton Cacao Moist and Mild Cream

I browsed Benton Cosmetics‘ website many times before. I know almost everyone in the K-Beauty world knows their famous Snail Bee High Content Essence. They are more than that. I must say all their products have few ingredients making them concentrated. Two months ago, I had the opportunity to apply as their reviewer. Luckily I was picked!☺ I’m happy to introduce to you their latest product, Cacao Moist and Mild Cream.☺❤

Few years ago cacao became a popular ingredient in Korea. It’s rich in antioxidants and its oil and butter are good at moisturizing skin. Benton released this product as a light moisturizer for the summer. Im using this for more than a week now and I’m ready to share my thoughts.

Description:
Benton’s Cacao Moist and Mild Cream is a lightweight cream made of healthy ingredients. Having a light texture, even a generous amount of the cream does not leave skin heavy. Cacao extracts and hyaluronic acid help to replenish dry skin, leaving it dewy and vibrant.

Ingredients:

There’s a foil that you have to remove. It’s paraben free so you have 6 months to use it all up after opening.☺

Pros:
– Affordable
– Simple tube packaging
– 50 grams of product
– Little goes a long way
– Few ingredients
– Fragrance and paraben free
– Cruelty free
– Feels light
– Instantly hydrates skin
– Hydration lasts throughout the day
– Makes skin dewy, soft and plump
– Did not trigger my contact dermatitis

Cons:
– Might be heavy at day time for very oily skin

Let’s talk about price, packaging and ingredients first. It’s $16 for 50 grams. Its plastic tube comes in a box. The box contains all the information you need to know (description, content, manufacturing & expiration dates). Very detailed indeed. The tube makes it easier to control the amount of product. There’s no leak so it’s okay for traveling as well.

For the product performance, it looks like a lotion-y type of cream. It only takes a few seconds to be fully absorbed. Little amount goes a long way. I just need a pea size to cover all the areas I want. This came just in time because my cheek, nose and chin areas were dry. My skin felt instantly moisturized once I apply it. It feels light but gives intense hydration. I didn’t know cacao can actually do that. It also gives off that dewy plump look in real life. It keeps my skin hydrated throughout the day. I’m very sweaty so I wipe my face often. I still feel moisturized even if it gets wiped off with my sweat or even with water. That’s surprising. It really sinks in the skin.

Overall, I like it and I’ll continue to use in my daily routine from now on. Good thing it did not trigger my contact dermatitis/eczema. That being said, it’s safe for sensitive skin. If you have oily skin like me, I suggest applying this at night as an intense nourishment. You can use this to spot treat dry patches too. I’d recommend this for all skin types.

Have you tried anything from Benton or what are you planning to try? I personally would like to try their Snail Bee High Content Essence and Fermentation Essence. ☺

Review: MINISO Lemon & Aloe Cleansing Wipes

You guys know that I have tried Mumuso’s wipes before. All these shops are popping up. I hopped in the bandwagon again.😅 This is my intro review for Miniso. I roamed around and the first thing I noticed was their lemon cleansing wipes. It’s so big and I love products with lemon extracts. The aloe variant was just an impulse buy.

ALOE WIPES

Pros:
– Affordable, 99 pesos for 30 sheets
– Each sheet is in a plastic pack
– No breakouts/contact dermatitis
– Great for traveling

Cons:
– Contains citric acid

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LEMON REFRESHING WIPES

Pros:
– Affordable, 99 pesos
– 80 sheets
– With hard plastic seal
– Thick sheets
– Sheets are bigger compared to others
– Moist enough to remove makeup
– Removes all my makeup (bb cream, concealer and powder foundation)
– No breakouts/contact dermatitis

Cons:
– Contains citric acid

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As you can see from the pros and cons, I prefer the Lemon Cleansing Wipes. Great price for the amount of sheets. The hard plastic seal will keep them moist. It completely removed my makeup. Aloe variant is more for freshening up. Carry it in your bag and/or wallet. They’re individually packed so it’s ideal for traveling. It wont take up much space in your bag.

I’m liking Miniso’s big paper bag for every purchase. It’s giving me Uniqlo and Muji vibes. Ooh fancy!😛 I’ll try more of their products soon. I’m on the waitlist for their bestselling Rose Toner. That one is hyped here in Manila. Let’s see if it will meet my standards.

What do you recommend from this brand?☺

Beauty products used by the Titas of Manila

I grew up with my titas (aunts) around me. I’ve seen the products they were using 15 years ago. They all made me curious but I never had the courage to try them before. I decided to post this to reminisce my childhood with you guys and introduce these products to our foreign readers.☺

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Chin Chan Su

This little pink container was always on my tita’s vanity table. She applied this daily and  it has instant whitening effect. Its texture and look reminds me of a stick concealer. You should apply it in small amounts to make sure your face will still match with your neck’s color. You can get this at Mercury Drugstore for less than 20 pesos.

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Perla

A dual function soap that’s available at supermarkets. It is originally marketed as a detergent bar for clothes. It’s also widely known as face and body soap. People claim it has mild formula because of the coconut base. I remember we made soap sculptures using this in primary school (elementary).

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Eskinol Facial Cleanser

This is a toner applied after cleansing and before moisturizing. I started to use the anti acne variant when I was 15 years old. My aunt has the whitening variant. That one has powder at the bottom. You have to shake the bottle first. Gently swipe it with a cotton ball/pad. This is a staple for some. I can still see titas buying this although it’s marketed for younger generation (teens to early 20s) now. This is available at supermarkets and drugstores. 75ml is 30 pesos, 135ml is P50 & 225ml is P70.

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Calamansi

“What should I use to lighten a part of my body?” Our aunts would say “calamansi!”. This fruit is used for cooking, sauces, drinks and skin care. It has a good amount of Vitamin C. This is ideal if you’re on a budget and you’re patient. You can see results gradually if you’re consistent. Cut it in half and gently rub it on the desired area. Leave it on overnight or for a few minutes if you have sensitive skin.

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Johnson’s Baby Oil

It is commonly used as baby’s moisturizer. There’s a warm feeling after application which is great after bath. It’s made of mineral oil with a little bit of fragrance. Grown ups are also using this specifically for hair treatment. It locks in moisture which makes the hair softer. You can apply this all over or on the ends of your hair. Leave it on for a few minutes or overnight then rinse in the morning. Mineral oil has a chance of blocking pores so change your pillow case after. It’s available at supermarkets and drugstores.

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I used Eskinol and calamansi before. I’m still skeptical with the rest. Are you familiar with any of these? Which one would you like me to try? Comment down below your favorite classic products.

My Top 5 Makeup Removers

I’ve been doing reviews since this year has started. Honestly, I’m already getting tired of it. So we’ll do the Top 5 series this week. I’ve tried a lot of makeup removers since I got into skin care. I have extremely oily and sensitive skin that’s prone to breakouts. I’m skeptical to use new products. Most of them are okay and some became my favorite. For the past six years, here are the products I’d gladly repurchase.

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Skinlite Make-up Cleansing Tissues

I’m using this for 2 years now since I couldn’t find Purederm’s Acne Cleansing Wipes. It has green tea, chamomile, sage,  lavender, rosemary, aloe, ginseng and allantoin for cleansing. Its size, texture and performance are the same with Purederm’s. No breakouts too. I usually get mine in the beauty section of Landmark Makati. 30 sheets for Php 89

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Etude House Every Month Cleansing Tissues

This has many cleansing ingredients too. It’s packed with broccoli, tea tree, garlic, camellia leaf, apple, rice bran, aloe, avocado, blueberry, oatmeal, spinach, cucumber, walnut & wine extracts. What I like most about it is its size. It’s bigger compared to other makeup wipes. One sheet is actually big for my full face makeup. I could get the most out of it and remove everything. Available at your local Etude House branches and kiosks. 15 sheets for Php 128 / 50 sheets for Php 248

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Purederm Acne-Cleansing Wipes

I think this is phased out already but this was my first ever favorite. The cloths are moist enough to remove my full face makeup. It had no specific scent in my opinion. I was using this when I had many breakouts. It did not aggravate my acne. I remember this was under 100 pesos too.

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Loreal Refreshing Micellar Water

My first micellar water. It has minimal ingredients. It really feels refreshing while you’re wiping off makeup. It feels like I’ve already washed my face. No sticky feeling. It says no need to rinse but I still proceed to my face wash and other steps because we can’t skip those. I didn’t break out while using this. This is good for 6 months use after opening. 250ml for Php 225

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Etude House Real Art Cleansing Oil – Moisture

Cleansing oils are for heavy duty makeup. I’ve only used one and it’s from Etude House. I followed the instructions after I posted my full review on this. The results were better. My makeup melted away plus it foams up when rinsed with water. It added moisture to my skin. A great prep step especially if you’re using a drying face wash. Little goes a long way. It has a light lemon scent. It did not cause breakouts. 185ml for Php 848