Why I love COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream

I've hyped about COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream to my co-workers and friends multiple times. It's a very good product that I've had three tubs of it already!

I came to know about COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream from Fiddy Snails around three years ago. I wanted a cream that is lightweight and moisturizing at the same time, without the stickiness. This is the perfect product for me since I have dehydrated/oily skin, with some post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) and acne marks.

Before using snail cream, I used the all-time-favourite aloe gel. It's popular here in the Philippines because of its gel and lightweight texture. It suits well with oily-skinned people and non-sticky. It also has a cooling effect against the humid climate, which is perfect. I liked the aloe gel but I don't find it hydrating or moisturizing enough. I experienced getting my face dry in the office with the air conditioners blasted at sub-zero levels. I would get dry patches around my jaws and the sides of my nose. It's very ironic when I have dehydrated/oily skin. That's why I didn't stay with aloe gels.

As I've mentioned, I came to know about COSRX Snail from Fiddy Snails. The COSRX snail line also has an essence, which I initially used alongside with the cream. I both love them! However, I became too wasteful with the essence. I could just pile and lather it on my face and it would not be sticky. It's very hydrating and so light, I couldn't stop using it. LOL 

I kind of stopped using snail for a time before settling in, since I was still searching for a day cream that can also double as a night cream. I wanted my routine to be basic, simple, and answer all of my needs. When Fiddy Snails talked about using the cream as an eye cream, that is when I came around. And I didn't regret it. It made me love snail cream even more! 

COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream 

Why I love snail?

• It's a multi-product. You can use it as an eye cream. You can also use it as a hand cream or a spot cream on any dry patches. 
• It's perfect for the Philippine weather, or in any humid climate. It just sinks in even if you put a big dollop of it on your face. There's no problem using this during the day. Makeup and sunscreen do not slip or pill. Of course, you need to pat, pat, pat, it well so as not to waste any of the snail goodness.
• It's fragrance-free. It's lightweight.  It's perfect for dehydrated/oily skinned people. However, if you have dry skin, you may want to have a heavier occlusive to layer on top of this. 
• Over time, it helped moisturize my dry patches and heal some PIH. Snail cream is also a great supplement with other products.
• A little goes a long way and enough to moisturize my entire face. A 100 ml tub can last me more than six months. It's very economical.

COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream 
That amount can cover my face! Enough to use during the day. 

COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream 
Ingredients List

Recently, the COSRX Snail line has expanded its products with a sheet mask, gel cleanser, dual essence, a separate eye cream, and even a sunscreen. I didn't get any of the new products yet but maybe I will if my curiosity won't die down. COSRX is the only brand I trust when it comes to snail products. XD

Those are my reasons on top of my head why I love snail cream. I don't ever think I can live without it anymore. It's my staple!  

COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream
helped give me that glow <3

I know some of my friends, co-workers, and even one of my aunts are terrified with the idea of putting on snail slime on their faces. But hey, COSRX snail is formulated well to ensure its safety and stableness as an ingredient. Still, your mileage may vary (YMMV). It's best to patch test if you're allergic to snail and/or have sensitive skin. And rest assured, no snails are harmed when their snail goodness are farmed.

Have you tried COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream or any COSRX snail product? XD

Fresh 98% Jeju Aloe Ice UV Sun Block First Impressions Review

I came across Fresh 98% Jeju Aloe Ice UV Sun Block, in one of johnreyslife videos, but I bought the Tomato Glass Skin Sun Gel first because the "gel" got me over. I was also hesitant to buy and try it because it is a sunblock. It may feel tacky and may leave a white cast. 

However, after many times I've used the tomato sun gel, I can't get used to it being a bit tacky sometimes. It's still a good sunscreen, just not to my liking. So, that's why I've decided to give its aloe sister a try. Johnrey's video definitely helped. Can I say #johnreymademebuythis?

Fresh 98% Jeju Aloe Ice UV Sun Block

Fresh 98% Jeju Aloe Ice UV Sun Block comes in a 100ml squeeze tube, contains SPF 50 ++, and it states it can be used for the face and the body. Face, yes, it can last you a long time but not for the body. 100 ml of sunblock for the body may just last a couple of weeks for me. It also states that it is a watery essence with cooling effect, alcohol and paraben free.

Like typical sunblocks, this comes in a white cream. However, its consistency is buttery light, like snail cream. Like its tomato sister, it disappears after application. You won't notice that you've applied something. It dries matte and leaves your skin so glowing. I can imagine putting makeup on would just nicely glide on top of it. 

Despite being a white cream,
it disappears within a couple of minutes of application.

Fresh 98% Jeju Aloe Ice UV Sun Block ingredients list:
Water, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Caprylic/​Capric Triglyceride, Titanium Dioxide, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Niacinamide, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Betaine, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Trehalose, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chlorphenesin, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Fragrance, Carbomer, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Arginine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA

Look at the glass skin effect it gives me!
#nomakeup #nofilter

First impressions:

• Just like its sister, it's very light-weight and non-greasy
• Dries matte but leaves your skin super glowing!
• Does not leave a white-cast, even if it is a sunblock and comes in a white cream
• Has a faint aloe fragrance
• Has a faint cooling effect, not icy cool. Just pleasant cool and it disappears after a couple of minutes

I really like this sunblock! Have you tried this, too? Do you like this or the tomato variant?

Breylee Vitamin C Serum Review

I got myself buying this dirt cheap Vitamin C serum from Breylee in Shopee Mall. Advertisements of this Vitamin C serum is everywhere on the web but I couldn't really find an in depth review of this, except from Miles Poblete Official. I read some reviews from Shopee, Amazon, and BeatyMNL, and some are just raving about the efficacy of this product.

Breylee Vitamin C Serum
You can see the QR code right there
where you can scratch and see its unique code of authenticity.

Breylee Vitamin C Serum out of the box
Looks pristine and classy despite the price point.

Well, the Vitamin C serum is not really an appealing active for me because it can be expensive. If you get the purest form, L-Ascorbic acid, it is very unstable and can be irritating. Derivatives can also be expensive and efficacy vary (YMMV). So, I am not really keen on getting one.

However, curiosity can kill a cat. This serum sells around Php 260 in Shopee and Php 395 in BeautyMNL. If you buy from Shopee, the price can still go lower because flash sales and discount vouchers. Sounds sketchy, right? Sadly, I am a sucker for discounts and cheap prices.

The packaging of this brand is straight-forward. It has its ingredients list, product features, directions for use and storage, and manufacturer information. The box also has a QR code, which you can scan and verify its authenticity from the Breylee website. I checked mine and it's authentic according to the website.

I got my bottle from the Breylee official store in Shopee and it is legit!

I checked the ingredients of the serum in the Breylee website, cosdna and incidecoder. I found it weird because not all ingredients listed in the box are listed in those sites. Perhaps they have abbreviated or used a different term? I'm not sure. I checked each ingredients in the box and found that the they are fairly safe, except for some that may cause irritation, such as parabens. It contains a lot of humectants, that leaves your skin hydrated. It uses 3-o ethyl ascorbic acid, which is a stable derivative of the purest form, L-ascorbic acid.

The box is sealed when I received it.
The QR code can't just be hampered or altered.
I guess, this is legit

First impressions:

• The rubber on the dropper smells burnt, but the product does not smell anything. When I received this, it was warm. Hence the smell?
• The pipette is not the non-drip type so be careful when getting the serum. You may get unwanted wasteful drops
• Has a crystalline-yellow / orangey tint
• Very runny and feels watery. You don't have to wait for a long time for it to be absorbed. No problem when incorporating on a daytime routine
• Non-sticky. You'll just feel a bit of a bounce when applied. If you use Hada Labo Hydrating Lotion, it feels something like that but lighter
• Pores are instantly hydrated when applied
• Actually dries matte, no problem when layering a moisturiser or sunscreen during the day
• No itching or redness whatsoever

Serum is runny and watery.
I like this texture because it means it can be absorbed by the skin immediately.

The pipette is not a non-drip type.
You may see half a drop slighting dripping.

I have a recovering pimple and some acne scars to be some basis for lightening and brightening. Hopefully, it can help lighten them up, as well as brightening the whole face.

That recovering pimple and scars would be my basis for this trial.
I used a toner before the serum, and then snail cream after the serum.

I may use this day and night. Let's see on the coming days how it fairs on my skin. So, good luck to me!

Have you tried Breylee Vitamin C serum, too?

Squeaky Clean Kids Conditioner Bar First Impressions

I've used shampoo bars before but not conditioner bars. Mainly because, conditioner bars are more finicky than shampoo bars. They melt easily compared to shampoo bars. But I've always been curious about them, so I got one from Squeaky Clean Kids during a bazaar. 

Squeaky Clean Kids Wild Flower Conditioner Bar
It has shea butter, cocoa butter, and avocado oil.
If I remember correctly,
this 25g bar retails for Php 100?
Please correct me if I'm wrong. ❤️

Generally, I could say the experience is the same when you use commercial conditioners. It lathers like the commercial conditioners, only that it is in bar form. While using it, it kind of reminded me of using Dove beauty bar on my hair when I was younger. XD

As for Squeaky Clean Kids conditioner bar, it takes a while for you to rinse everything with but it leaves your hair soft. I also noticed there wasn't a lot of uncomfortable hairfall when I was drying my hair. It smells great on the packaging but doesn't translate to my hair. That's okay with me. I don't mind. 

So let's see on the next few days how it fairs on my hair. Hopefully, it won't melt easily, too. Shampoo and contioner bars tend to melt fast if left on a wet/damp soap dish. 

Have you tried using a conditioner bar, too?

Beautylabo Whip Hair Color in Lucent Ash Review

I dyed again! This time it's with Beautylabo Whip Hair Color in Lucent Ash. I guess there's been quite a hype about this hair color recently. I guess the whip hair color line is revamped or strongly marketed here in the Philippines. Though I'm not very sure. There's a lot of reviews and demos out there that have been recently uploaded. So, it's exciting to see a lot Beauty Labo Whip around social media.

If you've been following my blog, I've been DIY hair-dyeing around 2012. Recently, Beauty Labo is my go to brand for hair dyes. A box is very affordable, can cover short to shoulder-length hair, and the color lasts pretty well up to four months. It also covers my gray hairs very well and doesn't become too brassy which I really love.

Previously, I used the Beauty Labo Hair Dye in Candy Apricot, which is in a cream-type dye. It was quite a bright shade of like reddish brown. My hair faded pretty well and wasn't too brassy. This time, I used the whip color hair dye in Lucent Ash.

Beautylabo Whip Hair Color in Lucent Ash

What's in the box of Beautylabo Whip Hair Color 

Beautylabo Whip Hair Color in Lucent Ash

under fluorescent lighting

Beautylabo Whip Hair Color in Lucent Ash

beside the window for natural lighting

What I like:

• Very easy to use! I've seen in demos and reviews posted a year ago that it did not come with English instructions. My box had two instructions. And even if I only had the Japanese instructions, it's pretty straight forward and understandable because it has images in them
• Very easy to apply! It's foamier than the Liese
• Doesn't smell really bad. It may sting if you're sensitive. And don't smell the chemicals right off the bottle because I did that and lessoned learned. LOL

What I'm neutral:

• Hair became really stiff when I was done rinsing off the hair foam dye. You need to use a separate conditioner. The box doesn't come with but there's a leave-on conditioner which you can use when your hair dry

Let's hope that the color will turn out nicely as it fades and as my hair grows. The shade on me turned out quite well. Don't you agree?

Have you tried Beautylabo Whip Hair Color , too?

My 7/15 Shopee Sale Mini Haul

All of my 7/15 Shopee haul are now here and now I'm broke!

My skin care haul!
L-R: Apothekescience Niacinamide 10%,
Skinfood Black Sugar Mask Wash Off,
CosRX  BHA Blackhead Power Liquid, and
Klavuu Ideal Actress Backstage Cream SPF 30 PA++ Sunscreen

It'll be the first time for me to try Skinfood Black Sugar Mask Wash Off and the freebie, Klavuu Ideal Actress Backstage Cream SPF30 PA++ Sunscreen. I'll try to find time to try the cream. As for the mask, it'll be on my very next shower. I definitely need a bit of masking and some physical scrubbing.

It's my second time to purchase Apothekescience Niacinamide. I got a bigger bottle this time. I just love how it hydrates my face. It reminds me of my fave korean brans snail essence. I haven't written about this one yet but definitely, I will now very soon.

And, it's the third time for me to buy CosRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid. It takes me a long time to finish one bottle and I just can't live without it. It really does help clean my pores!

Did you avail of the 7/15 Shopee sale, too? What were your purchases?

Fresh Tomato Glass Skin Sun Gel First Impressions Review

I got Fresh 98% Tomato Glass Skin Sun Gel SPF 50 PA++++ from Watsons PH official store in Shopee because I want an everyday sunscreen that I can just use around the house.

I contemplated on getting the Jeju Aloe sunblock variant but the "gel" consistency won me over. Gel is generally associated with being fast-absorbing, light-weight, and non-greasy.

This comes in a 100 ml tube and is very affordable for Php 299. It claims to have superior protection against the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays. It is packed with vitamins and nutrients naturally found in tomatoes to enhance the skin's natural glow, such as hyaluronic acid. It is also free from dye, alcohol, paraben, mineral, and benzophenone.

Fresh Tomato Glass Skin Sun Gel

Fresh Tomato Glass Skin Sun Gel ingredients list:
Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Extract, Homosalate, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Butyelen Glycol, Carbomer, Niacinamide, Centella asiatica Extract, Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Fragrance, Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Olea europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Macadamia ternifolia Seed Oil, Betaine, Trehalose, Camellia sinensis Leaf Extract, Chlorphenesin, Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, 1.2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Arginine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA

Fresh Tomato Glass Skin Sun Gel on first use.

It has a quality control tape, 

making sure the product does not spill during delivery and 

ensures that you get fresh product upon purchase.

Was contemplating on getting the Jeju Aloe sunblock variant
but the "gel" consistency won me over! ^_^

First impressions:

• Truly is non-greasy, light-weight, and fast absorbing
• Smells like hand sanitizer but nothing like tomatoes as for me
• Moisturizes my face well. I didn't use any moisturiser here but if you have drier skin than me, slather on your fave moisturiser underneath

What is your current sunscreen right now? Have you tried Fresh Tomato Glass Skin sun gel, too?

My Current Skin Care Routine as of July 2020 and Some Reviews

Hi guys! How are you? I was able to go home here in my hometown and I have been very thankful! Now, I'm listing down the skin care products that I am using since I did not bring all of them with me. I left some of them in the work city and some are slowly running out. I am getting anxious just by the thought that I won't have anything to use! Have you ever felt that?

Doing this made me realize that I have products that I'm really hiyang with and cannot live without. I guess you could say that they are my Holy Grail (HG) products. And with the on-going pandemic, this also made me realize that a basic routine really works for me.

Here is my current skin care:

Day Time

1. Water cleanse 
2. Toner: Human Nature Hydrating Face Toner or Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Lotion 
3. Serum: Apothēkē Science Niacinamide 10%. I use this if I use the Human Nature Hydrating Face Toner. Sometimes, I skip this step.
4. Moisturizer: COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream
5. Sunscreen: Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV SPF 50+ PA++++

Night Time

1. Makeup remover: Biore Cleansing Oil /  *Hada Labo Moisture Oil Cleansing
2. Facial wash: Shiseido Senka Perfect White Clay
3. Toner: Human Nature Hydrating Face Toner or Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Lotion
4. Serum: Apotheke Science Niacinamide 10%. I use this if I use the Human Nature Hydrating Face Toner.
5. Moisturizer: COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream or Cleopatra's secret Marigold Skin Brightening Serum
• I use the COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream if I have the serum step.
• If I skip the serum step, I use Cleopatra's secret Marigold Skin Brightening Serum immediately. No need to top it off with a moisturizer.

Exfoliation

• COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid: I use this 2-3 times a week or when I start feeling some small bumps on my face.
• CURE: Natural Aqua Gel: I use this sometimes during the day, especially upon waking up.
• Apothēkē Science Detoxifying Face Mask: I use this once a week because mixing is a tedious task for me. However, my face feels refreshed and smooth when I use this. The after-effect is rewarding.

Here are some thoughts on the products I have been using. I just realized that I have a lot of backlogged posts to create!

• Makeup remover
• Biore Cleansing Oil: I have been using this than more than I can count my fingers. I really like this cleansing oil because it removes makeup really well. I'll talk more about this soon.
• *Hada Labo Moisture Oil Cleansing: I immediately jumped to this when my Biore was all used up. It has the same consistency and quality with Biore. I'm on my last 30 ml refill bottle and I am worried I'll run out soon. I'll more about this, too on a separate post.
• Facial wash
• Shiseido Senka Perfect White Clay: I bought this around February, 2020 and a little really goes a long, long way. It helps if you use a foamer. It's not drying on me even if this is very foamy and has a high pH. I think I'll just finish this up and go back to my go-to low pH facial wash or try a Hada Labo facial wash.
• Toner: I use two different toners depending on my mood actually. Whenever I feel hot, I use the Human Nature one. I prefer using Hada Labo when going to work. Since I'm just working at home, I use this after exfoliation. More notes below:
• Human Nature Hydrating Face Toner: I have purchased this more than I can count. I'll talk more about this in a separate post soon.
• Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Lotion: This toner helps my skin hydrated, especially in a dry, cold environment, such as the office. I'm on my last 30 ml refill bottle. I'm thinking if I should repurchase or not.
• Serum
• Apothēkē Science Niacinamide 10%: I wasn't able to bring the last spritz of this. I'm thinking of repurchasing because I like how it makes my pores look small and my sebum controlled.
• Moisturizer
• COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream: I can say this is my HG cream. I just love how it moisturizes my face and my under eyes. Truly, an all-in-one cream. I'll talk more of this soon.
• Cleopatra's Secret Marigold Skin Brightening Serum: I just recently used this around May, 2020. So far, I don't have any complaints. I'm loving the relaxing, natural, herby scent. It's thicker than the serums I've known. It works more as a face oil. I don't need to top it off with a moisturizer. My oily skin is already okay with it as the last step of my night routine. I'll talk more of this soon.
• Exfoliants
• COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid: Definitely, one of my HG exfoliants! I have repurchased more than three bottles of these already. A bottle lasts me a year and I'm on my few drops now. I have to repurchase! I'll definitely share my thoughts on this.
• CURE: Natural Aqua Gel: This was recommended by my friend. I posted just a mini review of this on my Instagram account.
• Apothēkē Science Detoxifying Face Mask: I use this once a week because mixing is a tedious task for me. However, the after-effect is rewarding. My face feels refreshed and smooth when I use this. Sadly, I've used this all up already and now I'm thinking to repurchase or try other masks. By the way, I've shared my thoughts on this here.

I'm seriously thinking about repurchasing some of the products that I have already repurchased twice. I'm also open to other options, such as for the serum and for the exfoliants. I just have to patient now and wait for the payday sale to avail my necessities!

What's your current skin care routine, by the way?


*[UPDATE] I just realized that I'm actually using the Hada Labo Moisture Oil Cleansing now. Like I mentioned, I have been using Biore Cleansing Oil for the longest time. Maybe that's why I got my self mixed up! Sorry about that guys. Will definitely talk more about those cleansing oils. HG material!

Babe Formula Shampoo Review

Hi guys! How have you been? Can you believe that, today is the last day of the second quarter of 2020, and we survived. Thank God!

If you have read one of my previous posts, online shopping has helped me survive the anxiety and the negativity COVID-19 has brought. Online shopping has also introduced me to local brands that have high-class quality, like Babe Formula Shampoos!

Babe Formula is a local brand that offers two, very fragrant shampoos, two conditioners, and a serum. There's also a hair de-tangler brush if you avail of their babe box. As for me, I only got myself of the shampoos, the nectar (aqua) and Blossom (baby pink) variants, because I bought a big tub of an everyday-keratin-conditioner.

Bought these two sometime at the end of March,
which is at the start of the COVIDity. XD

I have used both but I keep reaching out to the nectar variant rather than the blossom one. The scent reminds me of the beach. I also like the blossom variant but the beach is where I want to be right now (Don't we all?). Maybe on the rainy season, the blossom scent will comfort me. Babe Formula is the only shampoo brand that I have been using, and every bath is such a stress, anxiety-reliever.

It's been three months and it will be gone soon.

Cruelty free and colour safe!

The ingredients list. I
t has hydrolized wheat protein at the top,
which helps your hair soft and manageable.

Not brassy and no disgusting divide!
The shampoo has help the colour to fade gracefully.
I took this photo a month ago, by the way. <3

What I like:

• It's very affordable! A bottle is only Php 249. This is the price for each shampoo and conditioner.
• Both variants are very fragrant. The nectar shampoo reminds me of the beach. The blossom shampoo reminds me of cotton candy. The smell stays long on your hair and sometimes transfers on your hair towel or pillows! Well, I haven't been around polluted areas (such as EDSA), so I cannot say if the fragrance will stay long (and I'm not excited to be outside so... XD). 
• It is colour safe! I like how my hair colour has faded gracefully without turning it to be brassy. My grey hairs are also not that visible and there is no disgusting divide.
• It has made my hair very, very, very soft and not frizzy.

What I don't like:

Nothing!


What I'm neutral about:

It doesn't lather as much as commercial shampoos. I have very thick hair and I need to pour more than the usual peso-size. What I do is mix it with the right amount of water and create a fine lather. Based on the ingredients list, it contains Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) right somewhere down at the bottom. If you're wary on that, you may not like this brand. However, since the SLES is somewhere at the bottom, I didn't mind. Like I mentioned, it is indeed colour safe and made my hair soft with no frizz.


Will I repurchase?

Not yet but I will! My Babe Formula shampoo in nectar is running out slowly and I still have the blossom one to last for another three months, so hurray for great-hair-day-everyday for me. Now I'm wondering, should I get the conditioners, too? What do you think?

Have you used Babe Formula shampoos and conditioners, too? Please share your thoughts about it. m(__)m

Beauty Labo Hair Dye in Candy Apricot Before and After Review

Four months ago, I tried Beauty Labo Hair Dye in Candy Apricot. Now, it has faded into a bit of a brown colour. Not very brassy but a tolerable copper colour. Perhaps the shampoo that I have been using also helped with how it managed my hair.

Four months ago

Look how bright the colour is! These pictures were taken at the office. My station is right under the fluorescent lights, that is how bright Candy Apricot can be. Take note that my hair was previously coloured but my roots were already showing. Definitely, it covered the roots effectively.

I just realized that I think I wasn't able to do my hair colouring properly.
However, definitely covered those growing greys.

Freshly coloured roots! The red is so intense.

Current hair

After four months, this is what my hair has come to be. It became brown. I'd rather not say it has become brassy. It faded nicely. I believe the shampoo that I'm using currently using contributed to how it looks like. It's not frizzy, too.

The colour is still vibrantly brown and not discoloured badly.
I like how Beauty Labo Hair Dye fades this way.

The roots are already showing and grey hairs are popping, too.
I like that it does not make a line from the roots and the part that has still colour on it.
It faded well. 

Will I try this colour again? I think not. It was a fun adventure with such a striking colour. I think I'll go back to my previous hair colour. That would be either Creamy Ash or Pure Beige. What do you think? If you'd like to now more about my experience with those two hair colours, check out Beautylabo Hair Dye in Creamy Ash and Pure Beige Review.

Have you tried Beauty Labo Hair Dye in Candy Apricot, too? Please share your thoughts about it!

Online Shopping in Time of ECQ

Hi guys! How are you? How have you been holding up from all the chaos of #COVID19?

After almost four months of not writing here, I miss writing here! Yes, I did say my reviews will be on my Instagram but I haven't really been actively posting product reviews. I've posted food pictures, instead. That is to hype-up a local bakery and my friend's pastries. Well, in terms of writing about products I've tried, I'm taking my sweet time... or 'being lazy' is the better way to describe me and my blogging ethic. Then again, I miss it here. So, I may just repost what I had posted on Instagram so far.

Anyway.... I'm pretty much hanging on until this time. It's a challenge to go through this pandemic. You have to be calculative on how to consume your necessities, since going to the grocery or anywhere right now takes away a lot of time and patience. You have to deal with long lines due to social distancing and long wait-times on queue because establishments are short-staffed. Shopping online and having things delivered have made it quite easy, I should say. If you are one of my followers, you may have noticed I have done a little bit of online shopping for food and products.

Here are some of the items that I've ordered online.  ^o^

Freshly-baked products from Bread for EveryJuan

This is my first online purchase since the pandemic started. I got to know Bread for EveryJuan through my office friend, Mhoi. I believe she saw them being posted in her condominium's Facebook group or something. Apparently, the bakery is just near, but you can't really go anywhere on a whim right? I ordered from them when I was craving for affordable bread because there was no bread in the grocery when I went on a supply run at that time. I got to try their ube cheese pan de sal, both the regular and special ones, spanish bread, and their loaf bread. I love their spanish bread. Their regular and special ube cheese pan de sal are fan favourites!

Loving Bread for EveryJuan's spanish bread!

Their menu have vastly innovated since. They have nostalgic favourites, too, such as pan de coco and monay. If you want to order freshly-baked products from Bread for EveryJuan, you can send them a message on their social media sites:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BreadForEveryJuan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bread_for_everyjuan/

Lip and Cheek Rolly Liquid Lipsticks from Sooperbeaute 

My no-makeup-buy creed was broken when I took advantage of Sooperbeaute's Buy 3 Take 1 sale sometime at the start of the lockdown. I told my self that purchasing them would be my gift to my self at the end of the lockdown. If you remember at that time, couriers were at a pause and were scheduled to be back to business in the middle of April. Government measures somehow eased up on delivery services after the Holy Week, so I guess that's why my orders were shipped earlier than expected! We're already in the middle of May and still in lockdown, but I got an early gift. XD

I got the shades Baby Girl, Bebe, and Pumpkin, with the take one, Dulzura. I just opened Pumpkin since we're still in lockdown. XD I still have tons of lip makeup just lying around and I don't have much of an excuse to open and use all of them. Maybe a swatch? Let's see.

This is me wearing Sooperbeaute Lip and Cheek Rolly
Liquid Lipstick in Pumpkin

As of today, Sooperbeaute is available to take orders from their Shopee page or shoot them a direct message on their Instagram account.

Babe Formula fragrant shampoos

Curiosity and rave reviews of this well-hyped local shampoo brand got me buying from Babe Formula. The usual feedback is that their shampoos are very fragrant, leaves the hair soft, and make it look like the hair is treated from the salon. Who wouldn't want that right?

It's been over a month since I have used their shampoos. So, I may post what I think about them soon.

Babe Formula in Nectar and Bloom

If you're getting curious, too, check them out on their Instagram account. You may want to buy them, too, I bet!

Comfort brownies From Scratch Pastries

My friend, Mich, has been baking ever since I know her from college. Just around a couple of years or so, she put her love of baking into an empire. However, because of the pandemic situation she put the baking business on hold. It wasn't until recently that she's back to business!

I'm so happy knowing that I could order her scrumptious brownies any time that I want from now on, of course with a one-day lead time. Her pastries have the right amount of sweetness. You'll definitely be comforted. Aside from her brownies, her crinkles and banana bread are to die for. One of my office friends, Drew, can attest to this. ^o^

Moist brownies From Scratch Pastries

Check out her modified product list for the enhanced community quarantine on her Instagram account. Shoot her a direct message there, too.

Marigold Skin Brightening Serum from Cleopatra's Secret Skin Care 

I got to know this brand from the numerous times they participated in Edsa Shangri-la's weekend bazaars. I'm just checking out their products whenever I get the chance to go to their booth, but I never get to buy anything from them. Following them on their Instagram account, allowed me to learn about their products and how natural healing is best for overall wellbeing.

I took advantage of their sale on their Shopee page. I got their Marigold Skin Brightening Serum for a great fraction of a cost, plus a Shopee voucher. How cool is that!

Cleopatra's Secret Marigold Skin Brightening Serum
with a freebie mask in Refreshing Basil and Thyme

I'm now using the serum. I'm still on the test phase. I'll share my thoughts about it after a couple of months, or till I get a solid feel about it. As a preview, the serum calms and relaxes you.

They're usually known for their variety of masks that targets skin concerns, such as acne, fine lines, and aging. They also have a skin care line, body oils, and acupressure tools! Get to know more about them and their products on their Instagram account.

Freshly-cooked meals from The Giving Cafe

I'm listing this at the end because I haven't taken a decent picture of all the food I have ordered from them. It's either I take a shaky picture of it or forget to take a picture. ^o^  The food that I've ordered from them always taste so homey and filling. Their food prices are reasonable, given with the quantity and quality. You won't regret ordering from them, honestly.

I got to know about them when I was browsing Grab Food during Good Friday, and they're one of the few that were open at that time. I got to try their Taiwanese Fried Pork Chop first. Since then, I always check them out when I want a freshly-cooked meal. I like their Buttered Chicken and White Pasta best.

If you'd like to order from them, they're open daily as early as 7 am to 7 pm for delivery and pickup.  They're also available in Grab, FoodPanda, and TheVault.ph. Hopefully, when this is over, I may just go to their cafe in person. <3

Get to know more about them here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGivingCafe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tgcsocialentrep/


Shopping online has kept my senses away from being anxious and my bank account quite depleted. If this is the new normal, I don't know if living like this is very feasible for me. I still prefer going out once in a while, checking and trying out new things. I miss going to the malls without having to worry about getting to close with other people or dilly-dally your way out.

There's recent news going around that the enhance community quarantine will soon be lifted or changed to a general community quarantine. I don't know if that's good news already because I think it's still immature to do so and there's no vaccine.

Well, I hope everything will turn out better soon. Let's hang in there!

This is Not a Goodbye, Just a Different Direction

Over past few months and years, I haven't really committed myself in delivering content here, which kind of saddens me. Though I am not connected or committed to brands or services in any way, I try as much as I can to share what's-what and my experiences on the products and services that I have tried, will try, and want to try in my own pace.

I have made a comparison between blogging on a blog and Instagram on on a previous post and over the course of the last few months of the last year, I have realized that canned, short, and straightforward content works and easier for me in sharing content. Instagram proved to be a good medium for that and works on this realization.

So in this course of the new year and turn of the decade, my product reviews and insights will be posted in my Instagram account. I will not delete or take down this baby. A lot of stuff went through here, you know. ^o^

Kudos to the bloggers who continue to blog in their blog sites despite and in spite of. Writing styles have evolved and I am taking one that really works for me without compromising my creative identity. I am happy and excited for that!

Cheers to the new year!

Apotheke Science Detoxifying Face Mask Review

I have contemplated for a long time whether to get a DIY facial clay mask. I have thought about getting the more popular Aztec Secret, Indian Healing Clay Mask or the more budget-friendly Luxe Organix Bentonite Clay Indian Healing Clay. I think, both have value for money and give out that pore de-clogging feature. But I think, almost 400 grams of clay is kind of too much for me. It may expire on me without using everything.

Thank God, I found Apotheke Science Detoxifying Face Mask when I was browsing around Instagram. Php 149 per 100 g is such a great deal of temptation. Who could say no to that!? Aside from the very affordable price, it also claims the same benefits as you can get if you use Aztec Secret's or Luxe's. It also has activated charcoal that is good for oily/acne-prone skin. After another round of contemplating, I finally gave in.

Apotheke Science Detoxifying Face Mask

What I like:

• It’s very affordable. It’s only Php 149 per 100 grams.
• I like the simple packaging with all information that you need. Ingredient list is also clear.
• It has bentonite and activated charcoal, which are perfect for those who have oily and acne prone skin.
• It does what it claims to do. It’s not drying in fairness. But if you have dry and sensitive skin, you may want to wash it off at the 5-minute mark after application. Do not wait for it to be completely dry, like I do – which I wait for it to be completely dry and become greyscale. Though I already feel itchiness.

What I don’t like:

• It takes a little bit of adjustment to use. If you use too much water, you have to add more of the clay to make a paste. Otherwise, it won’t stick on your face or you’ll end up with a droopy mess.
• It can be messy upon rinsing.
• Procrastination and laziness overtake the process, which is sad. 

Will I repurchase?

Yes, why not? It’s so budget-friendly and does what it claims. Well, it will take me a lot of time to even get a half of tub. The only thing that could get in the way is my laziness. So far, I enjoy using Apothekescience Detoxifying Clay Mask.

Have you tried Apothekescience Detoxifying Clay Mask, too? \^o^/