My Skincare Shelfie [2018]

It's been a while since I did a skincare routine post. These are the products I'm currently using. 😊

#Shelfie

Cleansers

For my makeup remover, I'm using Simple Micellar Water.  I used to think that all micellar waters are the same. I've used up Maybelline, then switched to Garnier because the formulation is almost the same but for some reason Garnier is cheaper. Simple is the third micellar water brand I've tried, and I like it the most because it's very gentle but powerful. It doesn't have alcohol and perfume in it, yet it removes my makeup fully with no dryness or irritation. It contains skin-brightening Niacinamide and also German chamomile extract to relieve inflamed skin and calm sensitive skin. I know micellar water brands claim to not need rinsing after, but I always double cleanse.

For facial cleaners, I alternate among three Althea brand exclusives: Contour Cleanser (though this one is not for dry skin as it's a tad drying) and Real Fresh Skin Detoxers AKA 10-second wash-off packs that also double as bubbly facial cleansers. I use the Rose variant during the day, Green Tea at night.

Toners

I have this (bad) habit of opening several bottles of toners just to try them out. 😑 I'm trying to correct that now, and as of press time I only have 2 left (Swanicoco and Althea). Good job, Helen!

Swanicoco A.C Control Care was from my Althea Trouble Breaker Box last year. I'm just using it up because it's expiring soon. I've used up 2 bottles of Snow Pore Minimizing Toners already, it's my cheapie thrill. It feels so minty on my skin, and it really prevents breakouts from even happening. Shiseido White Lucent Luminizing Infuser is super GOOD but expensive at P3,950 for a full-sized bottle. Althea Primer Water is not like all my toners; it has a thicker consistency (almost like an emulsion), and it feels so hydrating. I like using it during the day and I apply it using my hands in a patting motion. Sometimes, I sneakily skip moisturizer when I use this.

Serum & Eye Cream (THE BODY SHOP!)

Say hello to my first (brand) love! 😍 I haven't been blogging much about them since all I do is repurchase my favorites and that would feel repetitive to write, but right now, I'm still using The Body Shop's Wild Argan Oil shower gel, Olive body butter, Strawberry Lip Butter, etc... and of course these babies!

The Body Shop's Drops of Light Pure Healthy Brightening Serum ALWAYS works for me and never fails to make my skin better. It's a skincare investment at P1,895 for a small bottle, and I'm praying for a flash deal to happen again this year so I can hoard this good stuff. Haha! Whenever I religiously use this at night, even just once a day, I am able to maintain clear skin even if I wear makeup every day. Whenever I stop using this... HALA! Basta, it keeps my skin clear and healthy. The Vitamin E Eye Cream I just got because it was on sale then. I never expected it to work wonders, but one day after I used it, I was told na "lumiit eyebags mo". OKAY, SOLD!

Moisturizers

I currently alternate between these two from Althea and The Body Shop. I use the Althea Fixer Cream on cold(er) days and nights because it has a thicker formulation. It's also what I use whenever I plan to wear my Fenty Beauty foundation since that foundations needs a heavy duty moisturizer to work. I discovered The Body Shop's Vitamin E Gel Moisture Cream from my friend Monica. She LOVES The Body Shop, too! She gave me a sample of this moisturizer in a tiny pot, and I liked it enough to buy my own tub. (That's the power of sampling!) I got mine at 50% off a few months back when they did a moisturizer swap deal. 👍 This one's 100% vegan, and contains no mineral oil and paraffin. It's made for normal to combination skin, and I like how it's instantly absorbed by my skin. It's a gel cream, but sometimes it feels warm on my skin and I don't know why, but so far so good, no breakouts. Since it's not exactly made for oily skin, do not expect oil control from this product. It also has a strong fragrance to it. For me, this is an okay moisturizer, but I don't think I'll be repurchasing just because I'm into trying out new products.

So that's the rest of my 2018 Skincare Shelfie! Whew. Care to share yours? 😉

Love,

Helen

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Snow Crystal White Tomato

Confession: I am not a fan of sunscreen lotions since I find them too sticky for my daily commute. The most I'd use is just sunscreen for my face underneath my makeup, but that's it. That's the reason why I have uneven skin tone on my arms and feet. I do use my umbrella though when I can't take the heat. 😓

What if I tell you that we now have a natural sunscreen in the form of a pill? Would you take it?

I would, but not without doing my research first!
 

Snow Crystal White Tomato is a new innovation from Vida Nutriscience (the makers of Snow Skin Whitening and SnowCaps L-Glutathione Capsule). The products sent to me to try were the Snow Crystal White Tomato Skin Whitening Soap, Snow Pore Minimizing Toner (which I have reviewed before), and the main star - Snow Crystal White Tomato (Food Supplement). I've been using these products consistently for 2 weeks as of press time.

Snow Crystal White Tomato Skin Whitening Soap (P299)

Snow Crystal White Tomato Skin Whitening Soap is probably one of the priciest whitening soap I've tried. It costs P299 per 135g bar. However, just one look at its ingredients list and the cost is immediately justified. First four items on the list are glycerin, salicylic acid (much to my surprise because this one's my skin's best friend in keeping breakouts at bay), aloe vera extract, and niacinamide (for skin brightening). The other ingredients all work together to nourish and brighten the skin, and this one's no joke at all because results can be seen in as early as 1-3 days. As in, immediate brightening! My thighs are darker than my sisters', and after using this soap and without putting any lotion, mas maputi na agad ako. She immediately asked me what magic I used. Haha!

What I also like about this soap is that doesn't contain unnecessary colorants or fragrance. It actually smells like nothing. LOL. It creates a creamy lather on my skin. It rinses of squeaky clean, but it doesn't leave my skin parched. You can leave it on for 3 minutes before rinsing, but I ain't got time for that. I just wash and go. I only use this on my body, so I can't vouch if it may or may not sting on the face (which is more sensitive). Since it has salicylic acid, it can help clear out bacne, too. One bar will probably last me 1 month.

Snow Pore Minimizing Toner (P149/100ml)

Snow Pore Minimizing Toner is my current favorite toner. It smells strongly of alcohol so those with dry skin might not like it, but it works nicely on my oily skin. This one feels like ice water on my face, even if it has just been sitting in my room (and not in the refrigerator). It takes away ALL the leftover dirt and makeup on my skin so I've had less breakouts since I started using this last September. My face always feels fresh with this one! I will repurchase once I run out. (You can read a more detailed review of this toner here.)
 

Snow Crystal White Tomato (P2,985 per 30 capsules)

Snow Crystal White Tomato is a natural sunscreen that gives our body natural protection from UV rays. How it works is actually interesting. You take it in a pill form and it works from the inside to prevent your skin from burning from the ever present UV rays.

Snow Crystal White Tomato is a combination of PhytoflORAL (800mg), L-Glutathione (500mg), and Bioperine. 

• PhytoflORAL or Colorless Carotenoids (800mg) provides the body with a natural protective shield against UV rays. Ever heard of the skincare advice where you drink carrot juice to make your skin glow? Beta carotene is a pigmented chemical, and excessive intake may cause a yellow or orange discoloration on the skin making you look tan. What's nice about colorless carotenoids is how it provides natural sunscreen, inhibit melanin synthesis to whiten the skin, reduce the melanin in dark scars and spots, and act as an antioxidant. 
• Kohjin L-Glutathione (500mg) is the main ingredient in SnowCaps. Glutathione is proven safe and its main function is detoxifying the liver, and its side effect is skin whitening. I have written about why I take glutathione despite having fair skin to begin with here. 
• Bioperine (Powdered Black Pepper Extract- Pipernigrum L) increases the body absorption of the two main ingredients (PhytoflORAL and L-Glutathione) for faster results.

The recommended dose for Snow Crystal White Tomato is just 1 tablet per day. It's a huge tablet and it has a strong smell, but I'd still take it since that's only a minor tradeoff for the many benefits that it can give my skin. Compared to the other brand (containing only PhytoflORAL) priced at P5,900 to P6,900, Snow Crystal White Tomato (containing both PhytoflORAL and Kohjin L-Glutathione) is made more affordable at P2,985 per 30 capsules.

Snow Crystal White Tomato products are available at all leading drugstores nationwide starting July 2017.

Facebook: Snow Skin Whitening

Instagram: @snowskinwhite7

Love,

Helen

 

Let's keep in touch!

For quick updates or any questions, just message me on IG! 😗

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Capsule Review: Snow Skin Whitening Skincare

Ever since my work schedule was changed from 8AM to 11AM earlier this year, I am now a fan of whitening products. I don't aim to be paper white, but my skin burns easily so I'm left with very uneven skin tone that I want to fix. Think: the part where my slacks and ballet flats don't cover, it's brown there, and the rest of my feet is really fair. It's a sad sight, and my loving coworkers bully me for it. LOL

Snow Skin Whitening products aren't really new in the market, and some of their products are admittedly pricey for drugstore products. Do they really work? I've been using their products for a month now, so it's about time for a capsule review!

I was sent 4 Snow Skin Whitening products to try: Soap, Pore Minimizing Toner, Cream, and Lotion. I've been using these products consistently for 4 weeks as of press time. Yup, I edited my skincare routine for these.

All Snow Skin Whitening products are sealed for your protection.

Snow Skin Whitening Soap

This is the first product that was released in the Snow Skin Whitening range a few years back.

 

Each bar of soap weighs 135 grams, and I've been using my bar for a month now and I'm just halfway through with it. I think each bar will last up to 2 months as long as you take it out of the bathroom after using so it won't melt.

Snow Skin Whitening Soap is made of natural ingredients. It makes use of Gigawhite (7 plant extracts from the Swiss Alps) that promotes skin lightening - reducing melanin formation and age spots. It also has ACE-B3 - a potent combination of Aloe vera extract, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Niacinamide B3. It also contains salicylic acid to reduce/treat breakouts, and glutathione is also seen at the bottom of the ingredient list.

Snow Skin Whitening Soap is almost scentless. If you're looking for a fresh or fragrant bath soap, this is not it. It doesn't lather to abundant bubbles, but it lathers creamily on the skin which I like. I leave it on for a few minutes (when I have the luxury of time) before washing it off, and it never gave me tingly or itchy skin. I only use this for my body though, so I can't tell how it works on the face. Upon washing it off, my skin feels squeaky clean. There are days when this soap feels drying that even the palms of my hands are on the verge of peeling, while there are days I can skip lotion and my skin looks radiant and healthy. What I noticed is that this soap makes my skin exfoliate faster. As in my dead skin cells shed off while I bathe with only minimal rubbing. I'm actually liking this one, since it helped my feet turn not just one, but several shades lighter. The partition of my sunburned feet aren't too evident anymore, so it's on its road to healing.

Price: P149 per 135g bar

Snow Skin Whitening Soap Ingredients

Snow Pore Minimizing Toner
 

I currently have 4 toners in circulation (not proud of it since it feels rather wasteful), and this one's what I've been using consistently for the entire September so 1/5 of the bottle is already gone by now. I was initially afraid to use this one since Alcohol is listed second on the ingredients list, but I'm relieved that it didn't dry out my skin at all. (I have oily skin.)

This toner has 7 functions:

• Removes dead skin cells
• Whitening and anti-acne solution
• Skin conditioning agent
• Anti-bacterial toner
• Moisturizes and smoothens skin
• Paraben-free
• Balances pH level

My favorite part is how this toner feels so cool on the skin. It literally feels like ice on my face and is so perfect for hot days. My skin always feels so fresh whenever I use this. It also takes off my makeup residue like a boss. I wear makeup everyday, and just when I thought that I've thoroughly cleansed my skin via cleansing oil and foaming cleanser, I use this toner and it reveals more yellowish gunk left. Using this consistently has also prevented my skin from breaking out, so I'm very happy with it!

Price: P149 for 100ml

Snow Pore Minimizing Toner Ingredients
 

Snow Skin Whitening Cream

Snow Skin Whitening Cream is the most expensive product in the skincare range at P1,499 per 50ml. It targets hyperpigmentation including dark spots, age spots, acne marks, old scars, uneven skin tone, and melasma.

I love the innovative seal it came with! Do not accept if hair is missing. It's so cute! 😍 However, the seal left a sticky film on the packaging and dust sticks to it.

Snow Skin Whitening Cream and Lotion both contains these ingredients:

1. IBR - TCLC - unique anti-oxidation capacity
2. IBR - Snowflake - delays skin aging process
3. Alpaflor Giga White - brightens and evens out skin tone
4. Melfade - effective means to depigment skin
5. Alpha-Arbutin - evens out skin tone
6. Beta Glucan - reduces intrinsic signs of aging
7. Resorcinol - reduction of melanin

It comes in a thick creamy texture with a slightly beige tint, and it makes my skin look better and the spots less evident after just one use. However, it has a strong floral musky scent that I am not a fan of. It also feels slightly heavy on my oily face during the daytime, so I only use this as my night cream. What I've noticed is that it made the post-inflammatory acne marks on my neck disappear. I'm amazed because it works fast, but I mean it has to work since it's expensive. To be honest, I prefer light gels as face moisturizer, and since my face is already whiter than my neck, I'm going to continue using this on my neck.

Price: P1,499 for 50ml

Snow Skin Whitening Cream Ingredients

Snow Skin Whitening Lotion
 

Last but not least is the Snow Skin Whitening Lotion. Since I'm a sucker for body care products, this one's my favorite among the 4 items I've tried. It comes in the same airless dispenser as the face cream, only this one's taller. I like the packaging because it's very hygienic and it keeps the product fresh for a long time. This lotion also reminds me of the post conditioning cream I use after every treatment at Beauty Lab Whitening. The only thing I don't like about the packaging is that I can't see how much is left inside and I can only judge by how it weighs.
 

Just like the Snow Skin Whitening Cream, the box also unfolds into an informative infographic on the active ingredients of the cream and lotion.

Snow Skin Whitening Cream and Lotion are both paraben-free and hydroquinone-free. Hydroquinone is a skin-bleaching agent that's potentially carcinogenic in very high doses. With Snow Skin Whitening products, there is no risk.
 

The lotion has a very light texture that is absorbed well by the skin. (It has a lighter texture compared to the face cream.) It goes beyond whitening as it also works as skin protection and cell repair. My flaky/scaly legs usually heal only with thick body butters particularly from The Body Shop, but Snow Skin Whitening Lotion heals my flaky legs well despite the light texture. It makes my legs look radiant "legs legs legs mo ay nakakasilaw" levels, so it's a must for me whenever I wear shorts! I also concentrate it on my uneven toned feet, which is healing. YAY! And actually on the rest of my body. I like the fresh green scent of this lotion. Using this lotion has made my skin feel softer and look healthier, too. I enjoy using it everyday.

Let me share with you an actual before and after shot of Snow Skin Whitening Lotion at work. This is my teammate's arm. (Btw, he looks like Coco Martin, but no picture para may mystery.)

Snow Skin Whitening Lotion gives an instant white effect that looks natural, but long term use will further improve the skin's texture and appearance. The texture of the lotion is also never chalky or thick unlike other more inexpensive brands.

Price: P799 for 175ml

Snow Skin Whitening Lotion Ingredients
 

Snow Skin Whitening products are available in Mercury Drugstores, Watsons, 360 Pharmacy, and other beauty outlets and drugstores nationwide.

Facebook: Snow Skin Whitening

Instagram: @snowskinwhite7

Have you tried any of Snow Skin Whitening products? Do share with me your experience on the comments section below. 😊

Love,
Helen
 

Let's keep in touch!

For quick updates or any questions, just message me on IG!

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AcneCare Skincare Regimen + GIVEAWAY

Growing up, I experienced acne myself. It was during my puberty years when my skin acted up, and  it went on until college. My skin has relatively cleared up since then, but I still do get adult acne around my U-zone once in a while. (Ugh. Signs of aging.) I remember an old classmate and I met one time while I was wandering around the beauty aisles inside the mall. She asked me how I made my pimples disappear, because she remembers that I had a lot during my college days. LOL. I'm fortunate that I get to try a lot of products, and I am glad that now there are a lot of options on how we could treat acne, without needing to resort to painful pricking and injections.

AcneCare sent me 2 sets of their expanded skincare range - one to try and experience for myself, and another one for my dear reader! :D (Yes, you can win a loot worth almost P3,000, just in time for Christmas.)

Let's get to know AcneCare's new products!

AcneCare Soap (P149 for 135 grams)

The first step to clearer skin is always clean skin - free from dirt and excess oils that can clog the pores. AcneCare Soap has an innovative and revolutionary mix of potent acne busters while still being skin-friendly. It contains antibacterial Tea Tree Oil, Bio Sulfur, and Ace-B3 which stands for Aloe vera extract (to moisturize and protect), Vitamin C (to prevent photodamage caused by UV rays), Vitamin E (to fight against free radicals), and Vitamin B3 (or niacinamide to clarify and lighten the skin).

This soap helps dry out pimples faster compared to the usual facial wash I use. I also use it to treat bacne, and it works. It has the tendency to leave my face feeling tight though, so I always follow with an oil-free moisturizer.
 

 

AcneCare Acne Drying Lotion (P299)

At last! I've been searching for a more affordable alternative to the famed Mario Badescu Drying Lotion, and here it is! AcneCare Acne Drying Lotion is a mix of sulfur, salicylic acid, and witch hazel extract. My skin cooperated with me because a small zit literally popped its ugly head when I got this in the mail. This one's easy to use. I just dip a clean cotton bud into the bottle to get a small amount of product,and just dab it on my pimple. I felt a slight stinging sensation (similar to when I use an alcohol-based toner on the zit I just picked on), but it goes away in seconds. The solution dries to a pinkish "crust", so it's advisable to use this product only at night or when you're at home during the day, or else you'll be spotted with pink spots on your face. When I woke up, my pimple didn't exactly disappear like magic, but it did become smaller. It took 2-3 days for the small pimple to completely dry up, which is workable for me. It's worth trying if you're looking for an alternative to benzoyl peroxide.

Remember: Don't' shake it! The pink sediments need to be compact at the base of the bottle for the formula to work. Also, this type of formula works better on pimples with visible pus, compared to the painful ones you can feel underneath your skin.
 

AcneCare Lactoferrin (P885 for 30 capsules)

For those who aren't iffy about taking supplements, this one's AcneCare's original (and most popular) product. AcneCare Lactoferrin takes care of the skin from within, where topical products can't reach. Just take 2 capsules before bedtime. Each bottle is good for 2 weeks, and there is no side effect.

Now, it's giveaway time! This gift pack is a collaboration between AcneCare and Snow, both brands from Vida Nutriscience, Inc. - so you'd get perfect skin just in time for this years festivities and beyond.

The Prize:

• 2 AcneCare Soaps
• 1 AcneCare Lactoferrin (30 capsules)
• 1 AcneCare Drying Lotion
• 1 Snow Skin Whitening Lotion

Just follow the easy instructions on the Rafflecopter widget. All steps are mandatory. Contest will run from December 13-20, 2015, and 1 winner will be picked randomly. I will ship the prize to the winner. :) Should the winner not respond within 10 days, the prize will be forfeited.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

God bless you! Advance Merry Christmas, dear readers! :D

 

AcneCare is available in Lazada.

Love,

Helen
 

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