Nivea Visage Q10 plus & Sparkling White - Skincare diary

YAY!!! :) I recieved these products from Nivea Phils. for review.

Left to Right - Nivea Q10 plus Day Cream, Nivea Visage Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream and Nivea Visage Q10 plus Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream. 

As I previously stated, I wanted to try out these products out in a blog entry here. To read more please refer to this article.

My skin is still in the process of healing, because I have broken out a few weeks ago. Still I have decided to try some of the products, and integrate a few to my skincare routine -I do have high hopes for these products. 

Thinking: better skin without making the wallet nor piggy bank cry. Ok, that definitely makes everyone and everything happy! LOL! :D

Nivea Visage Sparkling White - Whitening Cleansing Foam and Nivea Visage Sparkling White Day Cream.

PS: I have misplaced the Sparkling White day cream. :/ I know people don't misplace jars but I do! :P It's just here somewhere and I know it. I shall find it soon!

Initial Thoughts:

Now, I have been using the eye cream for day time as I use a different one at night. I have previously stated that I may not be the best person to consult when it comes to eye creams as I don't have eye bags and dark eye circles. I just like using a separate moisturizer for my under eye area and this seems to be doing a good job at keeping the said area hydrated.

Consistency - It's a cream but does not feel as heavy as other eye creams, although it also isn't the lightest I have tried. My other eye cream has a gel-like texture. Clearly, I am not fond of products that feel sticky and heavy on the skin.

It takes about a minute or so for it to be fully absorbed by the skin. I have not tried wearing this under makeup, though I think it won't affect makeup worn over it, as long as one waits for it to fully settle in before makeup application.

Scent - Has a very mild scent that's reminiscent of the Nivea cream that comes in Blue tin cans.

Price - Affordable and won't make your wallets cry. :)

It has a very long product name, hence we shall refer to it as a cleansing foam! :)

Product claims:

1. Cleans into pores to remove dirt and oil.

2. Acne reduction Technology helps prevent acne.
3. Skin Nutrient Formula helps lighten dark spots and blemishes.
4. Minimizes appearance of pores.
5. Smoothens skin without dry feeling.

WOW! If all of those are true I will forever love this cleansing foam hahaha! :) I have been using it since I got it and so far these are my observations:

- Did not break me out.
- I have been using Tretinoin and while some facial cleansers may prove to be too harsh this has been gentle on my skin.
- Has a nice scent.
- Removes makeup although it won't remove stubborn eye makeup. (I have yet to use a cleanser/foam which completely removes eye makeup.)
- Silky to the touch and feels nice when applied on the face.
- Foams and lathers up well. I have tried to use this on its own and with my Sigma Cleansing and Polishing Tool and it works just great!
- Affordable! The 50ml tube only costs Php75. :)

I hope you find the initial reviews helpful and should you want to see a more detailed review of any of the products above, just let me know in the comments below.Thank you! :)

NOTE: The products above were sent for me to try out and review. This however does not influence the integrity of my post, and what is written above is my honest opinion.

iWhite Korea Nose Pack - Whiteheads and Blackheads Remover

Some weeks ago, I was invited to attend the iWhite bloggers event. While I normally get posts of events and those sorts of things in a day or so, I forgot to bring my camera with me on that particular day so I do not have pictures to share. Yes, something like that can probably only happen to me.

Moving on....

All bloggers who attended the event received full sized products to try out.

From Left to Right: Facial Cream, Facial Wash , Whitening Pack, Aqua Moisturizer and Nose Pack. 

Product Prizes for reference:

Facial Cream Tube (65ml) - Php 169.00
Facial Wash Tube (70ml) - Php 139.00
Nose Pack Tube (50g) - Php 189.00
Whitening Pack (95g) - Php 199.00
Aqua Moisturizer Sachet (6g) - Php 20.00
Facial Cream Sachet (10ml) - Php 20.00
Facial Wash Sachet (10ml) - Php 18.00
Nose Pack Sachet (3.5g) - Php 17.00
Nose Pack Sari-Sari Pack (2.2g) - Php 9.00
Whitening Pack Sachet (8g) - Php 20.00
Whitening Pack Sari-Sari Pack (4.6g) - Php 10.00

 I will be reviewing the Nose Pack which I have already tried and used before I was invited to the event. I first came across this product in 7-11 and thought I should just give it a go. I bought it in a sachet because I was bored and it was cheap. My little sister also uses this product religiously because according to her it works wonders for her nose.

As you can see, it comes in a black tube with their logo on it. 

Opened.

The consistency is putty like. If you don't know what putty is, I will tell you that it is somewhat kind of similar to Elmer's Glue. You need to apply this quickly as it will dry after a few minutes and will be harder to spread.

Before applying, remember to clean and cleanse your face.

TIP: You may want to steam your face to open the pores or just wash it with warm water to open up your pores for maximum effect. My guinea pig however refused to do either.

You may apply the product with your fingers or use a brush like this one. This is a masque brush -I use it to apply masques, packs and whatnots to my face.

Today's model is my little brother, Bubi:

Apply an ample amount and evenly coat the nose like this. If you noticed, I specifically applied a little bit more on his right cheek. This is so that I can pull off the mask a bit easier when it dries. :)

Leave it on for 15 minutes or until it dries. It may take longer than 15 minutes; it depends on the amount of product you applied. If you applied a thick layer, it will dry after more than 15 minutes. A thinner layer may take 15 minutes or less.

Peel gently as you do not want to pull or irritate your skin.

According to the tube you should peel it from the base upwards to get maximum results. My brother requested that I do it this way.

Peeled off masque/pack. Please do not look at it if you're easily grossed out.

You be the judge if it works. 

PROS:

- Affordable.

- Locally available.

- Did not break out my nose nor my brother's nose.

- Does seem to get stubborn blackhead off. (Let's be realistic here. Your nose won't be squeaky clean like newly floor waxed floor or anything like that on the first use, but continuous use will get rid of the blackheads and may result to a more blackhead free nose.)

CONS:

- Sticky. Well, it could just be me but I'm not that crazy with sticky products.

- I'm not sure if this is available in other countries.

- Another added step to your skincare which lazy people might find a bit bothersome.

NEUTRAL:

- This product has a scent. I do like it but I'm not sure if everyone will. 

- May pull off facial hair which may hurt a bit.

OVERALL:

Unfortunately, my brother Bubbi is not too keen on getting his face published on my blog so you cannot see how clear his skin is. He actually has the clearest and most radiant face among us. I would like to point this out so you can consider if the pack does work.

Overall, I think that it does a pretty good job for the price because I usually expect less from products that are affordable. For this particular product, it exceeds my expectations and performs quite well. 

Among all the products that I received, this one is my favorite. Reason being why this review is up now. :)

A special thanks to iWhite for being such a generous and awesome host.

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you found this helpful.

If you are curious and want a review of any of the products above, please let me know in  the comments.

For more information on iWhite Korea, please visit the following links:

official website

Facebook Fan Page

Twitter

Paul & Joe Pearl Powder in 04 After Glow

I remember asking Marlon, the SA at Paul & Joe Rustan's what he was wearing because his skin had a lovely sheen to it and he was glowing. He then showed me this powder. 

This lightweight shimmer powder will add an extra twinkle to your eyes and delivers a gorgeous sparkle. Achieve a soft, subtle effect when applied dry, or experience radiance when applied wet. Unwrap your wild side and experiment with these tinsel-tinted colors! 

Description taken from this link.

I picked up the shade Afterglow (04)

Picture taken from http://www.polyvore.com/paul_joe_beaute_pearl_powder/thing?id=9665580

A feminine pink that leaves a lasting afterglow

Swatch

This is pink when applied to the cheeks. It gives a very lovely glow. I know it kind of looks a bit purplish here but it's a pink and just makes the skin look more radiant.

I was told that this can be used as an eyeshadow, highlighter, blush and can also be used for the lips. :3 So it's an all around product.

TIPS:

- A little goes a long way since I think these is a pigment.

- Be careful not to spill the product as it might get everywhere.

- I just use a brush and dab it on the lid of the pigment then I tap it once to get rid of the excess.

- Mix it with a clear/sheer lip gloss and you'll get a very lovely shade of lip gloss.

- Apply it to your cheeks for a lovely glow.

PROS:

- Long lasting. 

- You get a lot of the product.

- Very pigmented.

- It is an all around product.

- Powder is finely milled and there are no chunks of shimmer on it.

CONS:

- Availability. Paul & Joe products are hard to find and only a few countries have a branch. There's only one in the Philippines and it's located at Rustan's, Makati.

- As much as I love the packaging I would love a sifter on the jar because there is a tendency to get the powder spilled all over.

NEUTRAL:

- There's a lot of product so this isn't that expensive but isn't cheap either. This costs 1,150Php or around $25.

Happy Easter Sunday everyone! (0:3

Do you girls collect pigments? What are your favorites?

Etude House - Princess Jewelry Finish Pact (Review)

I was asked to review this product a bit more comprehensively by some of you lovely people. =)

My previous review can be found HERE.

Yes, this pact will bring back memories of Sailor Moon.

So pretty and princess-like.

According to Etude House Phils.

- This is a finishing pact that gives pore coverage, brightening and promotes natural glow with sheer texture.

- It may be used as a highlighter.

Product in the pan.

This is a baked powder. It is rough when touched while in the pan however

the texture is fine and feels like silk when applied to the face.

After two weeks of use.

This really reminds me of MAC's MSF.

One downside of this product is it cannot stand alone without toppling over for obvious reasons.

The brush which I find flimsy. :/

These are the brushes that I use to apply the product.

How I use the product:

- I apply it on top of foundation/bb cream using any of the 3 brushes above.

- I apply it to my temples, t-zone, upper part of the cheek and chin.

- Then I use whatever is left of the powder on my whole face to blend everything together.

Swatch.

 I tried swatching it at the back of my hand but the color just blended in so well. 

Swatch - This powder is translucent and gives a beautiful radiant glow once applied on the skin.

Prepare to be scared by the pictures! RAWR!!!~ ("\(O__o)/' ') LOL! 

All pictures were taken with indoor lighting.

with flash. 

Hello ginormous pores... :/ The problem with a good camera is it tends to show pores which normally aren't visible in real life. >o<" As you can see my skin is not perfect but this powder does seem to diminish the appearance of my pores.

without flash. 

Yes, I look way too tired here. I had the powder on for four hours.

But yes, you can see that my skin sort of has a glow or maybe that's just me imagining it.

PROS:

- Soft & velvety texture will not irritate the skin.

- Covers and does not emphasize pores.

- Gives a subtle glow hence the skin will look healthier.

- I noticed that my skin isn't as oily as it was before I used this product. 

- Did not break me out.

- Affordable and way cheaper than MAC's MSF.

- Can also be used as a highlighter but the glow it gives is quite subtle.

- Pretty packaging (Both a pro and a con). xD

CONS:

- The pact cannot stand on its own! It keeps toppling over because the lid is too heavy.

- The brush is flimsy and cannot be used to apply the product.

- While it minimizes pores, it will still not completely hide them. No miracles here, ok? Let's be realistic.

I hope someone finds this review helpful. Thank you so much for reading!

Review: Etude House - Cloud Bubble Oil

Random picture I grabbed from the net.

Please note that this product is supposed to be used with Etude House's Bubble Foam, but I use the Etude House Baking Powder Cleansing Foam. 

Sorry for the bad picture. This was taken with the old camera when the product was still new.

I think there's only 1/4 left of the product now.

Back

Foam!!! So bubbly.. :3

NOTE: The product(oil)  is dispensed as foam. 

Various makeup products which are hard to remove.

1. Swatches of various products.

2. Bubbly foam applied and left for about 20 seconds.

3. Rub x3 

4. Squeaky clean! x)

Ease of application/Packaging:

- The pump is easy to use and you can control how much product you want to dispense.
- The nozzle can be turned to open and close it - I find this really convenient.
- Comes in a yellow see through plastic bottle. You can tell how much product is left inside.
- It is mild enough for everyday use but will sting the eyes if it gets in.
- I like foam over oil in its pure form simply because I don't like the sticky-greasy feeling I get from oil cleansers.

Is it effective in getting stubborn makeup off?


Yes, it is quite effective however, you may need to re-apply this and one pump may not be enough. There are certain makeup items such as waterproof mascaras and eyeliners which this does not effectively remove. Overall, I'd still say that it's a good makeup remover. It gives my face a squeeky clean feel but the raccoon eyes I get from the mascara is another story.

Scent: I like the scent of this product. It has a faint smell which reminds me of baby powder and tissue..? LOL! It smells clean so I like it. :3

Price: This is around 400+Php - Not cheap but not expensive either.

Will I repurchase?
No, I want to try other foam cleansers till I find the perfect one. I like this product but I don't love it. :3

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub Review + Lush min haul

What Lush says - Our fabulous lip scrubs are here to keep your kissers sweet. This one will make your lips smell like our best-selling Snow Fairy shower gel. Bubblegum is made with exfoliating castor sugar and our delicious vegan flavour to gently scrub away rough skin, keeping your lips smooth and kissably soft. Simply rub it over your lips when they're feeling the need for some sugar.

Directions - Rub a little gently into your lips to scrub them

smooth and soft.

Ingredients: Castor Sugar  (Sucrose), Organic Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia chinensis), Flavour,  CI 45410, CI 45380. *Occurs naturally in essential oils Vegan

Soooo pink!! I love the smell. It smells like Bubble gum and snow cone - I have always been addicted to anything that is Bubble gum flavored e.g. icecream, cotton candy, scents, and the list goes on...

Kind of looks like snowcone, no?

Swatches below are done on the back of my hand just because I got overly excited and overscrubbed my lips. And no, it wasn't Lush's fault. x) I was scrubbing my lips for like 15 minutes non stop. I kind of resembled a duck afterwards. So no lip pictures ok? :3 LOL!

Not greasy or oily. It's rather dry and is very gentle as long as you don't overdo it.

PROS:

1. Gentle on the lips. As long as you don't over scrub like I did.

2. Not greasy. 

3. Edible.. I'm not sure if this is a pro but I'm listing it down here anyway because it's quite yummy.

4. Scent is super nice!!! Lovex3! <3

CONS:

1. It's kind of expensive, but then again you are getting a lot of product with this jar.

2. Can be too dry for other people. I know some people prefer their lip scrubs to be a bit more spreadable or to have a creamier consistency.

3. The jar is kind of a bother. :/ I don't know why cosmetic companies always put their products in these jars but one who does not want to contaminate the product will find that a cotton bud or a small spatula is needed to keep the jar free from germs. x)

Of course I wasn't able to resist and had to pick up some soaps too---

YAAYYYY!!! x)

Pretty packaging. :3

Open--

Another gift box

Honey I Washed The Kids, Porridge Soap, I think the unlabeled soap is Snowcake.

I do like Lush soaps. The only problem I have with these soaps is that they melt easily... :/

Do you also like Lush products? Do you have dry-chapping lips like I do? :/

Upcoming Reviews:
- Etude House Cloud Cleansing Bubble Oil, GEO Xtra series, Kose - Fasio Gradation Eyeshadow (Brown), Etude House Moon Crystal Power Glosses...
Help me choose which ones you would like to know about first.
Thank you! :)