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?☺

Review: SKIN FOOD Yuja Water Whitening Ampoule in Serum

Yuja Water is one of Skin Food’s releases last year. I was looking for a serum that isn’t too strong and can freshen up my face. I have big hopes for this that it won’t trigger my contact dermatitis. I’m using this for two months now. It’s about time to review it.

Description:
Whitening synergy ampoule. Contains yuja extract and moisturizing yuja oil from uncontaminated Goheung city. Moisturizing whitening synergy ampoule effective for treating freckles. After toner application, massage 1 to 2 drops on the entire face by popping the capsules.

Ingredients from CosDNA:

Pros:
– Affordable, got it on sale for less than 1000 pesos from a korean-based store
– Available through online shops and at their local branches in PH
– A bottle contains 44ml of product
– Lemon scent
– Watery consistency
– Did not trigger my contact dermatitis
– Gives light hydration
– No stickiness
– Quickly absorbed
– Did not cause breakouts
– Brightening effect for glowing skin

Cons:
– Slow in whitening

There’s no ingredients list on the label. I just searched it on CosDNA and the photo above is the result. This is in my Best Products of 2016 for many reasons. First, I love serums with watery consistency. It gives my oily skin enough hydration. No sticky film so it’s easy for me to apply makeup after.

Second, it doesnt break me out. Only few moisturizers do not make my skin irritated. Third, it’s a brightening serum which helps me to get that glowing skin. Expect that it’s slower to lighten dark spots. That’s the only con if you’re dealing with hyperpigmentation. It’s confusing because there’s “whitening” in its name but description on their website says it’s for brightening.

I still think it’s one of the best moisturizers I’ve tried. I rarely finish creams and serums but I’m sure with this one. I’ll use it all up because it does not cause breakouts and gives enough hydration for me. I’d recommend it to normal to oily skin.

Review + Swatches: Maybelline ColorSensational Creamy Matte Brown Nude Lipsticks

I’m trying to keep up with my scheduled posts. This week is for lip products. Nude colors become a trend again. Thanks to celebrities. Main reason has to be Kylie Jenner. Haha. Of course we want to follow what’s “in”. Luckily, Maybelline made their matte shades. They noe have a separate line for these colors called Creamy Matte Brown Nudes. Some colors in this line are quite difficult to get in-stores. We’re glad we got the ones we liked.

Description:
Buttery-soft formula applies rich and creamy; delivers vibrant, opaque color payoff; glides onto lips seamlessly for comfortable wear; long-lasting formula with a shine-free, velvety finish

Swatch on arm (no edits):
Pros:
– Accessible
– Affordable, each lipstick is 299 pesos and weighs 4.2g. Sometimes it’s less 50-100 pesos if on sale.
– Silver and sturdy plastic packaging
– Love the shades
– Does not melt easily
– Creamy/buttery
– Glides on smoothly
– Pigmented

Cons:
– Can be drying

Neutral:
– Doesn’t last long in my experience

Here are the swatches on my lips. I softened the photos below to make them smooth because my lips were dry that time.

Nude Embrace has brownish salmon color. Clay Crush is brownish red just like clay pots. Nude Nuance is dark brown. My favorite has to be Clay Crush. It looks natural in real life. At least for me because it’s the closest to my lip color.

They glide smoothly like butter. They don’t melt easily despite the consistency/texture. They are also pigmented. Nude Embrace is a light color so I had to apply a second layer. I only did one layer for the rest. A down side for this is it can be drying…. Just like other matte lipsticks. Be sure to moisturize before or overnight which is better. Neutral about the longevity. I eat and drink a lot in a day. But it can last as long as I’m not eating yet and that rarely happens because I’m always hungry. It also depends on habits like lip biting.

This is one of the most affordable trendy lines in the market today. I still know other brands that are cheaper by the way. But go for Maybelline if you’re looking for a brand where you can try on lippies right away.

You can get these at Maybelline counters in department stores or online through BeautyMNL. 🙂

Review: Calmoseptine Ointment for Dermatitis

Hi readers. Sorry I’ve not been consistent on posting during weekends. My dermatitis flared up again for 2 weeks now and I can’t try as many products as I used to. I think it was triggered because I always eat lunch late at around 3pm or I’m just emotionally stressed. So we’ll discuss a dermatitis a.k.a. severe eczema relief for today’s review.

How did I find out about this product? I’m a member of a local makeup group on Facebook. They share everything that’s beauty related. Many liked Calmoseptine for acne and itch. I’m glad a sachet of it is only 38 pesos. That’s not even $1 if you convert it. I got mine at Watsons Pharmacy counter in SM Aura.

Description:

Directions & Ingredients:

Pros:
-Affordable, 38 pesos per sachet
-Little goes a long way
-Has cooling effect because of the menthol
-Relieves and soothes itch
-Temporary relief for my dermatitis

Cons:
-To me it smells like paste (glue) at first. It smells like menthol after a few seconds.
-I dont suggest using it under makeup

Now here’s what it looks like:

It’s pink because of calamine

You guys know that calamine is one of my most favorite ingredients. My holy grail cleanser from Lush, Fresh Farmacy is made of calamine, sea salt, tea tree oil, lavender oil and chamomile. It’s really good for calming the skin. Some parents even use it as their kids’ body soap for psoriasis. The popular calamine lotion is used to soothe itch from chickenpox.

This is an affordable alternative for that. It soothes my itchy rashes from dermatitis. It also has cooling effect for added comfort. As for acne, I didn’t see that it’s effective for that. Also, I dont suggest using it under makeup. It’s an ointment so it’s thick. It can make your makeup look cakey. But overall, this is a great product for itch. It can be used for babies and adults. It’s another affordable relief for dermatitis just like Aquaphor.

Oh, I’ll be trying Aquaphor next time. Please leave a comment below if you know anyone or any store in the Philippines selling Aquaphor. I’m in need of that too.

Review: L’OREAL Refreshing Micellar Water

Loreal just released their micellar water in the Philippines this month. It’s the Refreshing variant. I’m using it for almost 3 weeks now.

Description:
HIGH PERFORMANCE, HYPO-ALLERGENIC! Gentle even on sensitive skin type! Micellar Water is highly recommended for OILY skin type. See the magic for yourself with micelle ingredients originated from Europe which acts like magnet to remove all impurities.

Ingredients and CosDNA Analysis by mark791004:

Pros:
-Affordable, 225 pesos, got it on sale on BeautyMNL for 175 pesos
-250ml is huge and can last you for 2 to 4 months
-Few ingredients, oil and paraben free
-Did not trigger my dermatitis
-Did not cause breakouts
-No sting
-Feels refreshing
-Effectively removes makeup
-Non sticky and no film

Cons:
-None in my opinion, but you have to use it all up because it expires in 6 months. It doesnt have paraben or other preservatives. Take note if you’re a hoarder and you like to try other makeup removers

Sometimes I like to skip the toning step because this removes all my makeup. That step only. I still use cleanser, moisturizer and spot treatment. Brands are marketing micellar water as “no need to wash” product. Remember that you still have to do your skin care routine even if it says no wash/rinse. Or maybe that’s just me. I’m paranoid of not cleansing my skin completely.

I minimize swiping cotton on my skin. I’m avoiding wrinkles. It has 8 ingredients only. A great addition to a minimalist skin care routine. I’m using it 5 times per week. 6 months are enough to use it all up. I recommend it to those with normal, combination to oily skin types.

You can get this in department stores and on BeautyMNL.com 🙂

What’s your ride or die makeup remover? 🙂

Review: Quick FX Pimple Eraser

I see sachets of Quick FX and Beauty Fix in most Watsons stores. Sakto, I’m looking for a spot treatment for my recent breakout. As a cheapskate, I always look for cheaper alternative before buying expensive ones. Last month, I bought a sachet of Quick FX Pimple Eraser together with Beauty Fix Nose Pack. This is delayed post again because I needed 3 weeks to fully observe its performance. You guys know skin care products take longer to review than makeup. 🙂

Description:
Helps to dry up and diminish pimples. Reduces dark spots due to scarring, helps protect skin against the sun. With Glycolic Acid that rejuvenates and evens out skin tone. With Salicylic Acid that helps prevent and treat acne. With Zinc Oxide that helps control inflammations and relieves skin against irritation and rash. 

Ingredients & Instructions:

Pros:
-Affordable, 50 pesos ($1) for 10g
-Accessible, available in most Watsons stores
-Sachet-type packaging with cap for no spills
-Did not cause irritations
-No stings
-No sticky feeling
-Has Salicylic Acid and Glycolic acid as anti bacterial while Niacinamide for brightening
-Helps to dry up acne, small or cystic ones

Cons:
-Has lots of comedogenic ingredients like Myristic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid and Cetearyl Alcohol. Mineral Oil and Cetearyl Alcohol are some of its main ingredients

I still included comedogenic ingredients as a con for you guys who are bothered by them. I was skeptical to buy one in the store when I saw its ingredients. Each skin is unique so reactions will vary when using products. Now here’s what it looks like. It’s a lotion-y type spot treatment. No sticky or oily feeling. I apply it as directed. Dab it on the pimple and let it absorb.

I find it effective whether I got a small pimple or cystic acne. I can see progress each day when I apply it. In my experience it usually takes 2 days only for a cystic acne to dry up. To me that’s fast compared to other spot treatments. There are times that it can cause mild peeling and I like it. That’s when you know its salicylic acid is working. It minimizes the risk of getting dark marks. It’s important for my thin skin because I get hyperpigmentation easily. Overall, it’s effective for me aside from that it’s really affordable. I’m glad I came across this great product.

Review + Photo: Beauty Fix Nose Pack

Whitehead and blackhead are difficult to remove unless you get regular facials and if you know how to use comedone remover. I went to Watsons again (dakilang tambay sa Watsons) to buy packet-sized products. I heard some of them are effective including Beauty Fix’s Nose Pack. I got the Oil Control & Detoxify variant.

This was scheduled last week but it didnt do anything when I first tried it. It was a fail because I have a habit of squeezing my nose using my fingers. I needed another week to see if it works. It was so difficult to break my habit. Haha!😅 total testing period is two weeks.

Description:
Controls and detoxifies nose skin,removing dirty looking blackheads and whiteheads. Loaded with active ingredients that will soften and protect your nose skin

Ingredients:
Sorry I did not take a photo. I left the sachet on my bed and it magically disappeared again.😱 I’ll update this part soon.👍

Pros:
-Affordable, it’s below 30 pesos for 5g
-Accessible, available at Watsons stores
-Little goes a long way
-Easy to peel off
-No oily or sticky residue
-Gets those whiteheads

Cons:
-Smells like alcohol. It fades once the pack is dry

There are still some left on my nose as expected. I understand since most of black and whiteheads are deep in our pores. There’s a right tool for that. Overall, I think it’s a good product considering its price. It can be used twice a week according to the instructions. You dont have to spend a lot to pamper and take care of your skin. Thank you drugstore brands! Hihi.😁

BeautyMNL Shopping Experience + Tips

Happy Sunday readers! As promised yesterday, I’ll share my shopping experience on BeautyMNL. I’m from Metro Manila and I included a timeline… So you have an idea about the process. I got shopping tips in this post too.

I placed an order last Tuesday, October 4, 2016. I got an email notification right after checking out. They have order tracking on the website as well. It was easy to check the status of my order. Next day delivery for Metro Manila and 3-5 days for other locations. Of course you have to look into the weather condition and make sure you or someone is at your home/delivery address to pick it up.

I got a text and another email the next morning (Oct. 5) at 8am. Reminding me that it was shipped and on its way already. Since it was raining hard that day, the delivery guy notified me to wait for a few minutes. He arrived at around 4:30pm.

My order came in a resealable bag with paper inside. I’m a hoarder of shopping bags. I’ll probably keep and reuse it. They sealed Loreal’s Micellar Water with tape. Making sure it wont spill while in transit.

I also ordered Detail Mineral Pressed Powder. I was quite nervous since pressed mineral is more delicate compared to other powders. I’m glad it doesnt have any damage. It was packed in thick bubble wrap. Everything was in perfect condition even the other products’ boxes. They’re not distorted and no crumples

Tips:

• Include the name of your authorized receiver when filling up your details if you can’t personally attend to it.
• Check your account and email for updates on your parcel
• Write reviews on their site to gain credits. You can use credits to purchase.
• BeautyMNL has product releases and sale events. Sometimes they’re ahead of store branches. It’s best to subscribe to their newsletter to get the best deals! I receive newsletters at around 8am every day. Did you know the best selling Colourpop lippies are now available on their website? 😉

I’m very satisfied with my whole experience. They offer special freebies too. I got 2 freebies, one full size soap and a packet of shampoo. I wished there was an online store dedicated for cosmetic junkies like me, from drugstore to high-end brands. Finally there’s one that’s based in the Philippines. I dont have to worry about customs tax anymore.👍😀

I’d like to remind you guys that they have an ongoing giveaway. For those who like to take selfies, join their #selfieMNL contest for chance to win a Printster polaroid of your gorgeous face and a PHP200 BeautyMNL GC. Click here for the complete details.