Does It Work : iWhite Korea Nose Pack

One of my skin problems happens to whiteheads, and occasionally the dreaded blackhead as well! Having combination-acne prone skin can be a nightmare sometimes and it has taken me a couple of misses in skincare to finally find products that work for me and my skin type. One type of skin care product (or as my dad sometimes calls it "KAARTEHAN" products) that I constantly am in a search for are nose strips or nose packs. I've tried a lot from different brands but none really did the trick till I stumbled upon iWhite Korea's Nose Pack in the grocery last year. I was hooked! I now use it twice or thrice a week because it actually works very well in getting rid of my whiteheads and blackheads! Continue reading to know more about this awesome product! What : iWhite Korea Nose Pack Whiteheads & Blackheads Remover with Mulberry & Panax Ginseng plus Aloe Vera Where : Drugstores & Groceries (I purchased mine at MINDPRO CITIMALL) Price : More than P100, less than P200. I honestly forgot! (Bad blogger, I know!) 1.76ox / 50g What is it? "It is a solution that is effectin in removing whiteheads and blackheads, eliminates deep-seated dirt and other impurities. It minimized the pores and excess oil on the nose." WARNING!!! What you are about to see is the iWhite Skin Pack in action, it isn't pretty. It may gross you out. You have been warned! Please do not proceed if you get grossed out easily.

FOREHEAD

NOSE

CHIN

What I Like: Available locally and affordably priced since a little goes a long way. Comes in a sturdy squeeze type tube for easy handling. Packaging has batch #, manufacturing date & expire date printed on it. Is HALAL certified, so it's safe even for our muslim sisters/brothers to use. Effective. Slight menthol-like sensation. Pleasant smell. Adheres well and "moulds" to the shape of your nose.
What I Don't Like: Application can get a bit messy because you need to apply it with your finger. Takes a long time to dry if you apply multiple layers.

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Haulage : Personal Items

After class earlier, I headed over to the local grocery to pick up some personal items that I had been running low on. This might be a boring post to some, but honestly, I like seeing haul posts on "personal" items because it actually gives me ideas on what stuff to try out next, especially when it comes to hair care & skin care products...
I got this medium sized bottle of Biogenic alcohol for P27.75 to refill my spray bottle which I use in disinfecting my makeup (especially palettes). I like the Biogenic brand because of its clean smell that isn't rough on my poor nose.  Next I got a new shaver from Schick in Exacta2 for P30.50 My old shaver's aloe vera pad is super worn out so when I shave my legs (because waxing can get a bit time consuming sometimes) it won't hurt... Colgate Optic White is next. This little tube cost P52.00 Both Cj & I got this because of the hype & advertisements. Call me gullible, but I'm a sucker for whitening products! Also got this AstrinOsol Ice Pure Tri Defence mouth wash to replace my Listerine mouth wash (that I didn't really like at all) because I've been running low. This 60ml bottle cost P49.50 One of my obsessions just happens to be my hair! Now that I got it rebonded again, I have to take extra care of it so I've put my LUSH products on hold and decided to go back to the Dove Damage Therapy shampoo designed to leave your hair "straight & silky". The shampoo cost P192.50. I got the biggest bottle which will last my medium length, thin hair about two months (srsly!) Since I got the shampoo, I also got the conditioner. This cost me P104.50... I really like this conditioner because it truly does keep my hair soft without weighing it down or getting it greasy. Another thing I'm going back to it the Ponds Clear Balance Oil Control Skin Mattifying Facial Foam which costs P137.75 for 100g of product. I'm running low on my Kiehl's facial foam so I've decided to reserve it for night use only and use this Ponds on for my daily daytime routine. Last thing I purchased is this Celeteque Dermoscience Hydration Facial Moisturizer which costs P129.25 for the 50ml tube. I know I've mentioned before that my Kiehl's Oil Free Facial Moisturizer is my ultimate favorite BUT this Celeteque one is a cheaper alternative and I plan to use this for my daytime routine. This is also the moisturizer I prefer to use on my clients.
So there's my small haul of personal items... Do you use any of the products above? What personal items do you usually purchase at the grocery/drugstore? 

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Real Nature Mask Lemon by The Face Shop

I'm on the roll with the product reviews, aren't I?! This post is dedicated to all my friends who have been "pestering" me into trying out face mask sheets. You guys have finally succeeded! *lol* What : The Face Shop's Real Nature Mask Lemon Where : The Face Shop, The Fort branch Price : Less than P60 (I threw out the receipt! *boo*) On my short trip to Manila last year, we decided to hang out at The Fort and while the "oldies" talked over their unfinished crabs & beer, my lil sister and I ventured towards The Face Shop outlet nearby. She stalked the BB creams & foundations while I hovered over to the shelves filled to the brim with different kind of face masks... I've never really been interested in face masks but I heard that the the ones from TFS were good and affordable. So, there I was, looking at all the variants. My head was spinning. Which one should I get? Timidly I approached the SA and asked which mask would be good for brightening the face ( I had been suffering from skin dullness for far too long). She handed me this mask and explained that it was "bursting with vitamin c" and that this had a very fresh citrus scent. I got two packs without even thinking about it. On the back label it says that the Real Nature Mask Lemon has extract grounded from fresh lemon. It is "a brightening mask sheet containing fresh lemon extract bursting with vitamin C to densely penetrate the skin and brighten dull skin tone while maintaining its translucence." It comes with what I assume are korean instructions and an english translation. I highly appreciate the english translation since I know for a fact some korean products don't have that. Another plus is that the english is actually grammatically correct! Since it's my first time to use a face mask (in sheet form) and also my first time trying out TFS I decided to do a bit of research on some of the ingredients listed (yes, I can be weird like that)... Some stood out. Glycerin - humectant, draws moisture from the air which leads to helping the skin retain moisture. Citrus Medica Limonum (lemon) fruit extract - has skin brightening, exfoliating, antibacterials, antiseptic & astringent properties. Sodium Hyaluronate - hydrates deep down to the deeper layers of the skin. Rumex  Crispus root extract - anti-aging & anti-inflammatory. I love that this mask does what it claims to do which is brighten. My skin significantly brightened after using the mask. I also like the fresh citrus scent and that slight cooling sensation I got upon application. Another plus for me is that this mask left my skin feeling really soft and moisturized! In my opinion, the only downsides to this product is that it isn't readily available in Zamboanga (I have to ask friends to ship it to me if I wanna have more packs), it can get a bit pricey if I stock up on them for everyday us and that the fit of the mask is a bit awkward on my face. As you can see in the picture above, the mask is obviously too big even for my big face! *lol* Overall I'd still want to repurchase this mask and add it to my weekly skin care routine because it's a nice addition to my routine. How about you? Have you tried TFS face masks? Which ones and did they work for you?

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Rub Rub Rub, Three Men In A Tub

Hi guys! I know I haven't been posting a lot the past few days and a lot of you have been sending me messages and tweets that you're starting to miss my regular posts especially my reviews. Well, I've finally fixed my photos and am ready to give you my first review of the year!
Anyway, moving on... My first review for 2013 is Lush Cosmetics' Rub Rub Rub Shower Scrub! If you've been following me on Instagram (@jannieology) you must already know that last year I took a short trip to Manila and did a bit of Lush shopping since it isn't locally available in Zamboanga. One of the products I got from lush is this shower scrub that's been my constant companion for about two weeks now. Full review after the photos!


Product : Lush Cosmetics Rub Rub Rub Shower Scrub Price : P650/300g Where : Lush, The Fort
What It Is : "Sea salt shower scrub Run Rub Rub is a bit of variation on the normal shower gel. Sea salt is gently exfoliating, extra cleansing and mineral rick. This new blue scrub is startlingly refreshing, with a dash of lemon juice and the tropical scent of mimosa blossom. Smooth it all over your body; you can even use it as a shampoo."
Love : *Versatility. I love the fact that this product can be used several ways. When I want a more gentle exfoliating session in the shower, I apply it to wet skin and it the grains of salt will slightly melt to leave you with mostly shower gel that feels heavenly on the skin. For days (and areas like heels, elbows & knees) when you need an extra scrubbing, apply it to dry skin and gradually massage it onto your body.   I especially like using this on my tired feet after a long day, just to give 'em a good scrubbing. Plus I use this on my hair too when I want a really deep cleaning. When my hair dries, it really is fluffier than when I use my "normal" shampoo. *Scent. This scrub smells like the sea. And if you know me well, you won't even wonder why I like it so much. I am obsessed over things and products that smell like the sea. It has this really fresh and clean scent that I'm totally in love with. I know some people find it too detergent-y (some even say it reminds them of laundry soap) but to me, it's perfect! Plus it last a pretty long time when I use it on my hair. *Moisturizing. Seriously I can skip body lotion after using this product. Another plus is that though it's moisturizing, it doesn't leave that slimy/greasy feeling behind on your skin. *Packaging. I love the fact that the tub is made from 100% recycled plastic. Talk about "earth friendly". Plus I plan to use it to store little knick knacks like my rings when I'm done with the scrub. * Fresh, Handmade, Vegan, Cruelty Free. Need I say more?
Hate : *Price. P650/300g in my opinion is a hefty price to pay for a body scrub. Especially since there are equally reliable body scrubs out in the market (like another favorite, the Lulur Whitening Body Scrub). IMHO, this product's more for when you want to do some "extra" pampering in the shower. *Availability. Like I said, I had to get this when I was in Manila since there aren't any Lush outlets in Zamboanga. Now if I run out, I'd have to a. order on the online site & pay the whopping $$$ shipping fee or b. ask a kind friend (or my ninang) to purchase this & ship it to me (then reimburse them too!) In short, getting my hands on this again when it runs out will be a hassle. *Packaging. Honestly, I'm taking points off for the packaging (even if I did mention above that I liked it, I'm weird, I know). I have an issue with screw lid tops. Plus I'm iffy about having to constantly dip my fingers/hand into the tub to scoop out product. When I do this with a wet hand, water eventually pools inside the tub. So I have to resort to pouring product carefully out of the tub into my hand. * Drying. On the hair that is. Though my hair feels uber clean & fluffy it also gets a bit more dry than usual especially when I don't use a conditioner afterwards. Lesson leaned, use a conditioner!
Repurchase : Yes, even if it proves to be a hassle to get my hands on, definitely repurchasing this product!
Overall : There are more things to love than to hate about this scrub and I'm definitely in love with it. I recommend using it on  the body than for the hair though. Using this 2-3x a week has definitely improved my skin's condition, leaving it softer and smoother especially the skin on my legs & heels. This is one product I'd gladly repurchase and pamper myself with!

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Review : Red Berries Body Icing Blue Peel Butter Cream

I noticed that most of my readers look forward to my haul posts, makeup tutorials AND my product reviews. Actually, product reviews caught the top spot when I read through most of the comments especially since most of the products I review are locally available or available in Philippine based online stores... So today I'm going to do another review on a product I've been using for the past three weeks already...

Introducing to you, the Red Berries Body Icing Blue Peel Butter Cream... This product was generously sponsored by my lovely friend of Estilo Libre... 

Shipping / Shop Packaging : ★★★★★

I received this butter cream, along with other goodies the day after I was informed that it had been shipped out. Fairly fast shipping when I was shipped this product. It was also carefully wrapped in bubble wrap to make sure it arrived safe and sound on my doorstep. 

Pricing : ★★★★★

The butter cream comes in a 100gram tub and a 300gram one. The one I received for free is the 100gram tub that costs only P280. For something which falls under the "a little goes a long way" category, I believe you get the most out of your P280 and I will definitely repurchase this product once I run out of it at its current price... The 300gram tub costs P630, just in case anyone is wondering.

Design / Effectiveness / Scent : ★★★★☆

At the moment, I still have a love-hate relationship with this product. First because it comes in a tub without a "scooper". I now use a plastic spoon to scoop out product rather than dipping my hand (which I did before) into the tub to avoid "contamination". I would have loved this more if it were in a squeeze-type bottle or tube. Another thing I'm having second thoughts about is how minty it can get on the skin. If ever you try this product yourself, be mindful of the amount of product your rub onto your skin. I sort of went overboard the first time I tried it and rubbed a whole lot of product and in the end experienced a slightly "burning" sensation because of the minty-ness of the product. Setting that aside, I'd like to talk about the things I loved about this butter cream. First off I love how buttery it feels on the skin. This "butter cream" glides on smoothly and feels really luxurious when applied even in small amounts. I particularly love this on the soles of my feet and my elbows because it gives those areas the needed moisture to become softer. Next I am in love with its scent. I am a sucker for minty & floral scents. This butter cream is a mixture of that. It's very pleasant and crisp. Take my word for it, this is one mint-scented product that won't leave you smelling like you took a bath in diluted toothpaste! It claims to have whitening properties, but since I have only been using this for the past three weeks coupled with other whitening stuff, I can't really tell if it does whiten the skin. Maybe I'll set that verdict aside for now... Last thing I love about this product is the fact that it doesn't leave your skin feeling weighed down like some body butters can. It also isn't greasy or oily in any way...

Overall : ★★★★☆

Overall I like this particular butter cream and will definitely use it up rather than chucking it in the trash. I've already mentioned everything that I need to mention above so I won't make this overall impression so long. All I'll say is that I definitely think this is a unique butte cream that needs more recognition. So go check it out at Estilo Libre!

Disclaimer : Product was sent to me by Estilo Libre for review purposes but all opinions stated are unbiased and my own.

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