Review: Saizen Black Charcoal Peel-off Face Mask

Ok, I must admit that I only purchased this item because of all the raving from local forum sites. I've also read extensive reviews from a lot of users and most were not really satisfied with it. However, I still got myself a tube because money-wise, I really got nothing to lose. It is dirt cheap at only PHP85. I am fortunate enough that we have a local Saizen here in Angeles City. I think this is one of the only two branches that they have as of the moment. By the way, this is going to be an initial review since I have only tried the product once.

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Product description:
- comes in a squeeze tube with Japanese text
- cap is screw type (not the one you flip open --- I'm sure you know what I mean)
- consistency is rather thick
- mask is shiny upon application and matte when dry
- size: 80g (80ml)
- price: PHP85
- Made in Korea

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How I use it (once a week):
(1) I wash my face with Teranex then pat it dry with a clean towel.
(2) I spread the mask evenly throughout my face with the use of my fingers (avoiding my hair line and delicate under eye area). I also do not apply the mask in the area between my upper lip and nose.
(3) I wait for it to dry.
(4) I slowly peel it off.
(5) I wash off the tiny particles that weren't peeled off with the rest of the mask with my facial soap -OR- I remove it by applying my toner.

What I like about it:
(1) It is dirt cheap --- PHP85.
(2) It is locally available in my place --- Saizen, Marquee Mall
(3) The tube comes sealed.
(4) I like the feel I get when the mask dries --- really tight and hard.
(5) I generally have fun applying and waiting for it to dry --- but the peeling part is another story (Haha!)
(6) Product feels cool upon application.
(7) Face feels smooth after peeling.
(8) Manufacture date is printed in the tube's sealed end.

sealed tube

What I do not like about it:
(1) It did not get rid of my blackheads. All it did was pull off my facial hair and very little whiteheads on my chin area.
(2) The smell is a bit strong for me.
(3) Their is redness and slight burning/stingy sensation after peeling.
(4) Peeling is painful but tolerable for me.
(5) It is not locally available nationwide --- Saizen has only 2 branches as of yet.
(6) Text is in Japanese --- I would really like to know the ingredients, product description, product claims, etc.
(7) May quickly go out of stock --- but not here in my place, at least not yet (LOL)

fine hairs and whiteheads

If the product claims to get rid of blackheads, SO NOT TRUE! If the product claims to dry up pimples, lessen sebum production, shrink pores, whiten the skin, lighten dark spots, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, even out skin tone, etc., the results are still yet to be seen.

This is how hairy my chin is (LOL)

MAJOR CONCERN: Since it pulled out a lot of fine facial hair after my initial use, I am now eager to see what else could it suck from my face on my next use. And what will happen to all those pulled out hair? Will they grow thicker, darker, coarser? Yikes!!!!

Second Saizen Mini Haul

When I say mini, it really is mini. The term "Nano" would actually be more apt for this haul. Haha! So this is the second time I visited our local Saizen in Marquee Mall. Even before this day, I searched the internet about good Saizen finds. On top of the list is of course their Black Charcoal Peel-off Face Mask. Other than that, I really have nothing else on mind to check out.

Presenting the Nano haul! LOL!

So once inside Saizen, I directly went to their beauty and cosmetics section. Our Saizen here in Marquee Mall has tons of stocks of Black Charcoal Mask. I think people here still don't know about the product. And the all-Japanese text on the tube is not helping to up its sales at all. After picking up one tube, I checked out their eyeshadows. I came to like this one "red" palette so I got it as well.

Black Charcoal Mask and "Red" Pearl Eyeshadow Palette

I now have 3 pearl eyeshadow palettes from Saizen. I was happy with the pigmentation of my first 2 palettes and so I gave in with this third one. I do not have any red eyeshadows (that's what it says on the pack) so I got this. I was originally planning to buy matte eyeshadow trios from L.A. Colors (from Metro Department Store) but I didn't like the available shades. I was also particularly looking for a lovely green palette but then again, nothing caught my eyes so I guess I'll just settle with my In2it eyeshadow duo.

"Red" Pearl Eyeshadow Palette

I initially thought the round shadows were in cream form.
Thank God they're powder!

By the way, I was also planning to get Careline Glamour Eyes Eyeshadow Sticks. I think they are local versions of NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencils. However when I checked Metro, there were only 2 available shades and their expiry date are on the 8th month of this year. I didn't get any. I just decided to drop by another local mall to check their Careline stand in their department store. Unfortunately still, they do not have any stocks for the eyeshadow sticks at all! Grrrr!!!

My next target haul would be mini nail polishes in earth tones and some dark reds, purples, and blues. I'll be bringing them to Australia with me. I am sure I will not be able to afford manicures and pedicures there. Haha! I found a really cheap nail polish brand called Klik in Metro. Their mini polishes are priced at PHP14 I think (I forgot to take note how many ml the product comes in but they are not your regular sized nail polishes). If there are any brands cheaper than this, please inform me right away (Oh yes, I love cheap finds! LOL).

We're Two!!! ^_^

March 19, 2010 marks our second year as a couple. RV initially wanted to go to Manila for this day but we just settled with a date here in Angeles City (he is from Tarlac City by the way). RV arrived at my house at around 11a.m. Yep, he is late but I didn't want to ruin the festive mood so I just forgave his tardiness. And coincidentally, today is also our barangay's (San Jose) fiesta.

The two-year-old couple

After a brief chitchat with the parents, off we went to have lunch at Dainty (a Chinese restaurant in Angeles City). Ideally, we should abstain from eating meat since today is Friday and more important to note is that it is the Lenten Season. But our stomachs and appetites got the best of us and gave into shoving this Catholic practice aside (just for today at least). I must admit, I felt guilty. Haha! We ordered Dainty Fried Rice, Ham Foo Yeung, and Fried Chicken. This small batch of order was actually more than enough for the two of us.

When we were almost done...

After lunch, we went straight to Marquee Mall to watch a movie. Before watching, I dropped by Saizen to pick up a few stuff and he checked Cd-R King and got himself a mouse and mousepad. We decided to see Alice in Wonderland (non-3D version). The movie did not have that great of an impact on me since I know the story (from what I've read when I was 7, LOL). I think I would have enjoyed it more if it were in 3D.

Our date movie

After the movie, we swung by Metro Department Store. To my dismay, none of the items I was planning to buy were available. I ended up checking another local mall before heading home. The very unfortunate me still didn't get what I wanted but it was OK. I could always check other malls next time.

RV stayed for a little more while before he bid goodbye and went home. I only have a few days left here in the Philippines to be with him. In addition, he and his family would be going on a Hong Kong-China trip this April which would rob us more of our time together. Sigh! Oh well, I know in my heart that nothing and no one will ever break us apart. See how cheesy people in love could get? LOL!

My Australian Student Visa is Here!!!

March 17, 2010 is definitely one unforgettable date. After exactly 2 months, 1 week, and 6 days of anxiously waiting for the result of my student visa application, Amber (my IDP counselor) called. I knew it was her calling me through my mobile phone because the caller's area code is 02 and I do not get calls from Manila other than those from IDP.

click to go directly to IDP Philippines site

I was not able to answer her first call which was made at around 12 noon (God, I am just sooooo happy that I could still vividly picture what happened that day... which was just yesterday! Duh! LOL). I was busy playing with my 15 month old nephew, Jordan, when my phone rang. I left my phone inside my room. So the moment I heard the phone ringing, I hurriedly picked up Jordan and ran for it. Unfortunately, I was a bit late and wasn't able to take the call. When I checked the caller's number, I was 100% sure it was from IDP.

I didn't want to call back because I do not know exactly who was calling for me. And I was pretty sure that they would call back in a moment or just send me an email or they might just call my mom. Around that time, I immediately texted my BF. I told him that IDP was calling and I am sure it must be about my visa. I started to panic! What if they were calling to tell me that my visa application was declined? Oh the horror! He told me to stop being negative. He kept me calm by saying that it is probably good news.

You see, processing of Australian student visa (for my subclass) takes around 2-3 months. I am actually already enrolled in a certain business school (IIBIT in Sydney) and the start of my classes was originally last March 1. But since my student visa application is still yet to be finalized, my classes were deferred to April 27. This kind of made me happy because it would buy my mom some time for the processing of her Australian tourist visa (which would only take approximately 2 weeks).

I do not want my student visa application declined because:
(1) The application fee of almost PHP25,000 would just go to waste.
(2) After months of preparing all legal documents needed for the application and waiting for the result, I am already in the zone of leaving for Australia. It would really break my heart to be denied of a student visa.

After the first missed call, I brought my phone with me wherever I went inside the house. Just after lunch, Amber called again. This time, I answered the call right away. I pretended to be calm throughout the conversation. And then she blurted it out, "Your visa is here. You may pick it up anytime within office hours. No need to schedule an appointment with me." At that moment, all I can and did say was thank you. It was a triumphant feeling. I texted my mom and BF about the good news right away.

This is how my visa should look like

My mom and I are now planning to go to Makati on Monday to pick up my visa at IDP. And as expected, shopping would certainly be in our itinerary. The excitement! Haha! ^_^

Finally..... it Rained!!!

The summer heat is really rubbing off on me. Actually, it isn't summer yet here in the Philippines (technically speaking). But the heat is just too much to handle!!! If that's the case, how hot in heaven's name will the real "summer heat" be? I just wish weather in Australia would be nicer on me.

I can still remember that fateful day, March 12, 2010. I was at home here in Angeles City. The skies were scary gray and ready to pour down rain. Alas, after a few moments, drops of rain were hitting the ground. The smell of rain hasn't been this good for so long. Haha! Was I happy? I was euphoric! It is something I really was thankful for.

When it's hot here in the Philippines, it is really H-O-T. And when the rainy season kicks in, oh boy, it will surely bring in a lot. I actually have this fear that once the heat is out, there would be tremendous amounts of rain pouring from the skies which may lead again to tragic calamities. Luckily, I didn't experience first-hand the devastation that the past storms brought to my country. But I do have friends and acquaintances that did. And it is not an easy ordeal. I am really praying hard that this won't be the case this time.

I wasn't able to take shots of the first rainfall in months here in Pampanga so I just searched for pictures of UST when it rains. You see, in my experience back in college, even an average rainfall would be enough to submerge the streets of Dapitan with dirty, black rainwater.

There was this one time when my college roommates and I were stranded in our dorm devoid of electricity and bathroom water and are quickly running out of food and drinking water. We literally lunged through knee high flood water just to buy some food in nearby convenience stores and carinderias.

This photo was taken from an overpass in Espana Blvd.
Students are crossing a make shift bridge to exit the university via one of the Espana gates
Photo credit: starfish0514 (pinoyexchange)

And also another time when my building (St. Martin de Porres Bldg. a.k.a. Medicine Building) had flood water up to knee level. Books and stuffs in our lockers were murdered! Haha! I know they are doing something about it, but for me, UST won't be UST without being flooded. (Again people, just my opinion).

"U" and "T" were drowned! (LOL)
Mind you, these are life-size stand alone letters by the way.
Photo credit: Ashley Cristal

UST Main Building and Football field submerged in rainwater

Photo credit: Ashley Cristal