Sample Room Haul

I was able to shop for toiletries for cheap without even having to leave home. How?

Sample Room! 😀

I almost forgot how fun it was to order from Sample Room! Last Thursday afternoon I woke up extra early so I thought of just browsing the site to see what's new. I spotted some nice bundled Palmolive samples to try, so I added them to my cart and paid Paypal (using my debit card). I used to line up at the bank and send a photo of the deposit slip via email (hassle), but when I discovered I could use my debit card, never na ko lalabas ng bahay. Chos! I was able to complete my order at 8:30AM last Thursday, and the next day my orders arrived! SO FAST! 😍

Try before you buy 💙
 

I loved the pretty paperbag! All my orders were taped and bubble wrapped so they arrived in perfect condition. (Thanks for the care, Sample Room!)
 

My haul 👍

Palmolive Naturals White+Milk Body Wash & Soap
 

Palmolive Naturals Healthy & Smooth Shampoo and Cream Conditioner
 

Céleteque DermoScience™ Sun Care Matte Moisturizer SPF 30
 

Because I've been with Sample Room for quite some time, I was able to earn points from my previous orders. (This one's my 13th! You can backread my previous blog posts about them here.) I only paid P130 shipping fee for everything! 🙊 SUPER SULIT!

Palmolive (Body) - P108.75

Palmolive (Hair) - P189

Celeteque (Face) - P69

TOTAL SRP: P366.75 - P130 (shipping fee) = P236.75 SAVINGS 😆🌟

Super love it! I'm excited to use the Palmolive White+Milk Body Wash! While the Palmolive shampoo and conditioner duo is not new to me, we've been purchasing it for years. I'm also looking for a new face sunblock, so the tiny Celeteque tubes are a delight to have. They're so cute! 💛

Thank you, Sample Room! 💋 Visit their website, guys! You might find something you'll like. 💝

Love,
Helen

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Céleteque DermoCosmetics Long-Wear Eyeshadow Palette

The eyes are the windows to the soul, so make sure they always look gorgeous! I'm admittedly lazy with eye makeup and I can't be bothered with doing it everyday just for work, but on the days that I do, I feel more confident! 😁 I'm a fan of the neutral eye look, so I was thrilled to see the shade range from the new Céleteque DermoCosmetics Long-Wear Eyeshadow Palettes. The palettes come in 3 very wearable shades - Pink Orchid, Warm Brown, and Smokey Grey. Today, I'm going to swatch and review two of them for you!

Céleteque DermoCosmetics always has a unique feature with their products and their Long-Wear Eyeshadow Palette is no different. Each palette contains a lightweight primer, 3 complementary neutral eyeshadows, and a dual-ended applicator.

Because the brand is all about fusing skincare and makeup, this product contains Shea Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), and Evening Primrose Oil to help the eyelids retain moisture for a smooth texture and easy application.

This palette is easy to use, even for makeup newbies. Just apply the primer all over the lid. Sweep the lightest color across the entire lid from the lash line to the brow bone to create an even base, define the lids using the medium color, then use the darkest color to contour and create dimension.

Pink Orchid (with primer)

Pink Orchid (when worn)

While I usually gravitate towards browns, the Pink Orchid palette came off as a surprising favorite. The last time I loved pink eyeshadow was during my college days, but this palette has a romantic combination that can be used for bridal makeup. I'm loving how the mauve shade tones down the light pink eyeshadow, resulting to a natural look. This one's perfect for work and date nights!

 

Warm Brown

While I expected to like the Warm Brown palette more, I found the medium and dark shades too warm (reddish) for my light skin. (This would look lovely on morena skin tone though!) Because I'm boring, I loved the lightest shade. Haha! It's a nice skin tone base that makes me look like I'm not wearing makeup, but it brightens up my eye area nicely.

The eyeshadows are smooth and easy to blend, but they can be powdery, so I advise using this with a brush or the applicator that comes with it (and not fingers). The primer is a nice touch, as it makes the eyeshadows more vivid, but on my oily lids this product didn't hold up the entire day. It was intact for about half a day before it began to settle around my crease. On dry to normal skin, I don't see this as a problem though.

Price: P725

Available at all Watson's stores nationwide

Facebook: Céleteque Dermo

Instagram: @celetequedermo

You may backread my Céleteque DermoCosmetics reviews here! 💙

Love,

Helen

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Céleteque DermoCosmetics CC Micro-Hydrating Powder

While I love my long-wearing matte liquid foundation to bits, I prefer a lighter (as in more lightweight) face base for everyday use. I wear makeup everyday at work, so I make sure to pick one that's skin-friendly.

Céleteque's new addition to their makeup range is this CC Micro-Hydrating Powder which comes in a unique packaging. At first glance, I thought it's a cushion makeup, but it's actually powder with an autogrinding technology. Twist it clockwise, and it dispenses off just the right amount of powder you need. What also got me curious was it being a hydrating powder.

Céleteque DermoCosmetics CC Micro-Hydrating Powder hydrates the skin while controlling shine at the same time! It has SPF 30 for added protection. This powder contains hyaluronic acid to help the skin retain moisture, silica to reduce excess oil, and vitamin E to nourish the skin.

 

The packaging is simple just as how their entire makeup line is. I appreciate that the manufacturing and expiry dates are indicated on the base of the packaging. The downside is that it's bulky to carry around, and you won't know when you're running out of powder since you can't see the amount of product left.

This powder comes in 3 shades: Light Porcelain, Classic Natural, and Deep Beige. The one I have is Light Porcelain, which is a seamless shade match for me!

It comes with a mirror and a soft puff, which can be handy with preventing some excess powder from seeping out of the container. The puff works well, but I just prefer to use a brush to apply the product on my face.

Light Porcelain

The powder has a soft and creamy texture and it is really easy to blend.

 

Wearing Céleteque DermoCosmetics CC Micro-Hydrating Powder alone

Céleteque's CC Micro-Hydrating Powder makes my morning makeup routine easy because I get the light coverage I want with just a few swipes. I wear it alone (over moisturizer) since it looks nice as it is, but during the days I wear my matte liquid foundation, I also use this to set my makeup. My skin is generally shiny, but sometimes I get rough patches on my cheeks. I've been told that my skin's not actually oily, but dehydrated, hence it overcompensates for moisture by producing more oil. I think this powder helps, because it keeps shine at bay without drying out my skin. Retouch is necessary by lunch time, though, so I won't count this as long-wearing. I'd give it around 2-3 hours of wear. (You can try Céleteque DermoCosmetics 24-Hour Photoready Matte Primer to extend your makeup's freshness!) True to the brand's promise was that my skin never broke out with this powder, so I think I'll be using this up.😀

Pros:

• Innovative autogrinding technology
• Soft and lightweight feel
• Creamy texture
• Very easy to blend
• Light and natural coverage
• No detectable/strong scent
• Skin-friendly, zero breakouts!
• Doesn't dry the skin
• With SPF 30
• Comes in 3 shades

Cons:

• Expensive when compared with other drugstore brands
• Bulky packaging
• Not enough oil control - just 2-3 hours

Price: P930 for 10g

Available at all Watson's stores nationwide

Facebook: Céleteque Dermo

Instagram: @celetequedermo

Love,
Helen

Let's keep in touch!
Lucky Citrine on Facebook
Lucky Citrine on Instagram

Benefit POREfessional DUPE at Half the Price!

Céleteque is undeniably famous for their skincare. My favorite has to be their AcneSolutions products, which I still use until now. They came out with makeup a few years back, and being a skincare brand, they've marketed their makeup as skin-friendly. (All their products are dermatologically-tested and hypoallergenic.) I'm loving their Matte Lipsticks, and because it's safe for the skin, my lips won't get dark with it!

Over the holidays, the brand sent me their newest makeup releases which I was very excited to try! I've had enough time to try most of their products, so do watch out for a series of reviews in the coming days! One of the products that instantly caught my interest was the Céleteque DermoCosmetics 24-Hour Photoready Matte Primer because of it's tone and texture, which reminded me very much of Benefit's POREfessional Face Primer. (I was pleasantly surprised with this, since I was expecting it to be white or colorless.)

The Céleteque DermoCosmetics 24-Hour Photoready Matte Primer (P825) helps your makeup look flawless for longer, thanks to its silky weightless formula that minimizes the appearance of pores and fine lines and reduces shine for a smooth, flawless look.

The packaging is very basic and simple. This is the case for their entire makeup range, but I wish it could be more informative. (Well, at least it has the manufacturing and expiry dates printed on the tube.) The tube comes with a slim nozzle, and because of the product's texture, it doesn't spill.

It contains 4 key ingredients:

• Polymethyl Methacrylate to minimize pores, fine lines, and wrinkles
• Silica for oil control and to give your skin a silky-soft and matte look and feel
• Dimethicone and Dimethicone Crosspolymer, which work together to form a protective barrier on the skin and helps your makeup last longer

Let's see the primer in action! I've used it side by side with Benefit's POREfessional to compare.

Céleteque vs Benefit

Both primers come in a nude shade which doesn't really alter your skintone. Céleteque's primer initially is harder to blend compared to Benefit's (which has a smoother glide), but once it's completely blended and settled on the skin, the finish is the SAME. The ingredients of both primers are kind of similar, only Céleteque has added Marula oil into the mix for hydration.

When worn:

Céleteque

bare skin, with Céleteque primer, with Céleteque primer + powder 

Benefit

bare skin, with Benefit primer, with Benefit primer + powder

During my wear test, I did half of my face with Céleteque and the other half with Benefit. I topped them off with Céleteque DermoCosmetics CC Micro-Hydrating Powder in Light Porcelain (which is my exact shade match). With both primers alone, there is no drastic difference. Céleteque's primer instantly mattified my skin post-sunscreen, and my skin felt velvety smooth. After 5 hours, the side with Benefit was starting to get shiny especially around the nose and cheeks, while the side with Céleteque only had slight sheen and my makeup still looked intact. (I asked my sister to confirm which side was shinier, and she had the same feedback as I did.) Both products didn't break me out. Overall, Céleteque's primer is a nice dupe of Benefit's POREfessional primer at half the price! 😊

Price: P825

Available at all Watson's stores nationwide

Facebook: Céleteque Dermo

Instagram: @celetequedermo

Have you tried Céleteque's DermoCosmetics products? :D

Love,
Helen

Let's keep in touch!
Lucky Citrine on Facebook
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Céleteque DermoCosmetics Matte Lipsticks (New Shades!)

Céleteque has been a household name for years with their skincare lines catering to all skin concerns. My favorite is their Acne Solutions range, which I've been repurchasing since I first tried it way back 2013. (You can backread my review here, and also check out my 2016 anti-acne skincare update!) Céleteque DermoCosmetics was launched just last year, which is the brand's dermatologist tested and hypoallergenic makeup line.

The most beautiful curve on a woman's body is her smile. -Bob Marley

Because the holiday season is fast approaching, Céleteque DermoCosmetics has come up with 3 new matte lipstick shades. (I AM SO EXCITED!) They've put much research into developing these lipsticks to make sure they're flattering and healthy at the same time. Each lipstick is co-created with dermatologists and infused with dermo-grade ingredients to make it safe and gentle even for the most sensitive lips.

It comes in a metallic silver and purple box that's difficult to photograph. Haha :P

Ingredients:

Céleteque DermoCosmetics Matte Lipstick 2.4g (P595)

Céleteque Matte Lipsticks give your lips the alluring touch of a long-wearing formula that lends lips a vivid matte color finish. It glides on easily and leaves the lips with no waxy feel. Céleteque’s lippies have Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) that moisturizes lips, Bisabolol that reduces flaking and restores suppleness, as well as Candelilla Wax that nourishes lip skin.

The boxes come with a sticker seal on one end, and a shade sticker on the other.

These lipsticks come in a chubby crayon form, and I find the minimalist packaging design too simple for my liking. Also for its price, it could look a bit fancier. However, I like the placement of the shade sticker, because I used to store all my lip crayons downwards so I could find the shade easily... until one of them (from another brand) melted and the entire bullet of lippie dropped to the cap. Huhu. I immediately checked everything and stored them upright. So I really like how easily I can spot the shade I want, and also the entire packaging is white so it stands out in my makeup stash.

Swatches:

Now on to the exciting part: Swatching! :D I also love the shade selection, as I'm not fond of pinks. When I did these lip swatches, my lips were dry to begin with. These lipsticks didn't glide as silkily, but I appreciate that since it's bound to be long-wearing that way. (Lipsticks that glide on like butter tend to slide off easily, based on my experience.) They didn't aggravate my already dry lips, but instead, my lips felt better having them on. On good/normal lip days (where my lips aren't dry), the lines aren't as visible, and the lipstick looks smoother.

Nude is a brown-tone neutral that can match any skin tone. I bet this one will be the most popular one, since nude/brown lipsticks are trending! One me, this one looks peachy nude and it looks very youthful. My younger sister was already calling dibs on this one the moment it arrived our doorstep, and it has mysteriously made its way to her kikay kit. She even proudly proclaimed that all her makeup are from me. Ano ba! Haha :D

Ruby is a statement-making party-ready crimson. It's a beautiful bright red shade that I would pair with nude eyeshadow and black winged liner. Because almost everyday is my lazy day when it comes to makeup, I only need powder and THIS lipstick, and I'm ready to go! It's actually my favorite among the new shades, and it's the most flattering one for my pale skin. (It's Snow White's lip color!)

Wine is a deep mauve that gives the wearer a grounded, regal look. This one's a cousin of Ruby; it looks red but with more blue in it. I wish it came in a deeper, darker purple hue though. (Mas sosyal!)

All three shades are very matte, even from the first swipe. They live up to the long-wearing claim. They stay put and don't transfer to my teeth. Also, they don't even come off when I snack or drink! (However, like any long-wearing lipstick, you will need to retouch once you have a heavy/oily meal.) These lipsticks also have no scent and feel very lightweight, so you'll forget you even have them on. Céleteque Matte Lipsticks are your perfect kit companions for your upcoming holiday events, and I look forward to discovering more from their makeup line. (We're off to a good start!) :)

Céleteque Matte Lipsticks are exclusively available in Watsons for only P595.

Facebook: Céleteque Dermo

Instagram: @celetequedermo

Love,

Helen

Let's keep in touch!
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Tried and Tested Anti-Acne Products Under P350!

I've had a bout of bad skin days (think: whiteheads on my entire face), hence I wasn't confident enough to write about makeup and skincare during the time being. They didn't show up much on photos, but my face felt really bumpy all over. I did a makeup and skincare detox, and overhauled my skincare regimen geared towards anti-acne. Now, I'm back and the bumps are finally gone! I'll share with you the products that have saved my skin during the process. Icing on top is that everything is P350 and below - all Asian cosmetics, too!

Operation: Save My Skin!

Cathy Doll Foam Cleanser (P18/6ml sachet, P299/100ml tube)

Origin: Thailand brand, Made in Korea

First up would be cleanser. I was initially saving these cute sachets for travel, but my skin needed everything "anti-acne" so I used them one after the other. Each sachet lasted me for about a week, which gives ample time for a proper review.

Cathy Doll Acne Solution Serum + Foam Cleanser has 6 functions as indicated in the packaging: anti acne, for sensitive skin, oil control, brightening, spot remover, and tea tree serum. It contains tea tree leaf extract and apple extract (which has anti-acne, anti-aging, and skin brightening properties). Both cleansers are white and foamy with just a mild scent, but I find this variant to give me a thorough, squaky-clean finish.

Cathy Doll Aura Whitening Serum + Foam Cleanser has 6 functions as well: whitening, bright toner, anti dark spot, anti blemish, soft & smooth, and glutathione serum. This one contains apple and papaya extract. It gives my skin a really soft feel afterwards, which was nice!

Between the two, I found the green one to give a more thorough cleanse, while the pink one leaves my skin soft and supple. I'd recommend them both depending on your skin concern. (For now, I'm leaning towards the anti-acne one because it's what I need. Plus, it was out of stock when I wanted to repurchase it at SM Makati.)

Check out more Cathy Doll products here. You may also backread my reviews. :)

Celeteque Acne Solutions Oil Control Toner (P75/65ml)

Origin: Philippines

 

I had a love-hate relationship with this toner in the past. That's why it took me months just to finish the tiny 65ml bottle. It has a strong alcohol scent and it stings my face where there are wounds (self-inflicted ones from picking comedones/pimples). The first time I used it months ago, my face felt so dry that I ignored it afterwards. When my skin felt hopeless, I reached for it again and WOW now I love it. When I use a gentler toner, my skin would feel soft but not totally clean. This one show me all the dirt that was left on my skin after cleansing by turning my cotton ball into a yucky yellowish shade (probably from the makeup I wear). As long as I moisturized right after, there was no more dryness. I believe this aided my skin clearing process, and I'd repurchase as it's now empty.

PS. I only use this at night. Ain't got no time for a long skincare routine in the morning!

Celeteque Acne Solutions Acne Clearing Facial Moisturizer Gel (P335/50ml)

Origin: Philippine brand, Made in Thailand

 

I've already done a review for this way back 2013, and fast forward to 3 years, I still go back to this one whenever I need it, and it always works. I used to have tons of cute little deluxe samples of this, which I distributed to my colleagues so they too can experience this little wonder. I love this moisturizer because it's gel - the perfectly light texture for my oily skin. It contains my skin's BFF, salicylic acid, so a few weeks into using this, the bumps are gone. This doesn't leave my skin soft and plush though, just normal, but I love it because it heals!

PS. I also use this only at night, as makeup doesn't adhere to it smoothly. Also, salicylic acid makes my skin more sensitive to the sun. Read more Celeteque reviews here!

Ellana Intensive Blend Mineral Powder Foundation in Chai Tea Latte

Ellana Supreme Blend Loose Mineral Foundation/Concealer in Cheer

(starts at P350 each for the refills)

Origin: Philippines

 

Last but not the least is my all-time favorite local makeup brand - Ellana Mineral Cosmetics! I never believed in mineral makeup until I tried Ellana's way back 2014 - since then, it has been my go-to powder because I never ever break out from it. (This brand caters to combination, oily, and even acne-prone skin!)

I visited their website just recently and I'm liking the makeover. Anyway, I have 2 types of powder with me. Chai Tea Latte is my exact shade match and it makes me look poreless! I use this more often compared to Cheer (which is the concealer version of Chai Tea Latte). I only get to use Cheer for my dark circles, and sometimes I skip it when I'm too lazy to open another jar. LOL

This one is the state of my Chai Tea Latte pot. It's the second one I'm about to empty, and it used to be filled up to the brim. Each refill packet 6g costs only P350, and it lasts me so many months, I lost count. (Next time, I'll count so I can inform you guys!) Ellana is promoting love for the environment so you can purchase either just the refill or if it's your first time to try this product, you could get the refill + empty refillable jar for only P499. I love it!

Hope you found this post useful! :D

Love,
Helen

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