My Skincare Regimen

To give you a little background, I have oily acne-prone skin (which started to manifest as early as my freshman year in high school = when I was 13). And yes, I still do get the occasional bumps especially before my period starts. It is a chronic disease for me with remissions and exacerbations (LOL).

I've been visiting dermatologists practically my entire adolescent life! I believe I've tried 3 but kept on coming back to Dr. Judy Evangelista even if her clinic is miles away from my home. Well yes I am satisfied with the results but somehow those pesky cystic pimples keep on coming back (mainly because of GENETIC MAKEUP, stress and hormonal imbalance --- in my case that is). I really have to stress genetic makeup because both my parents suffered from acne during their days. So yeah, a big share of the blame goes to them. Haha! My oldest brother also suffered from major acne. On the other hand, my other elder brother was more fortunate and only suffered from acne for a few years during his teens.

So after all these years, I've grown sick and tired of dealing with pimples, enduring painful acne procedures, and going back and forth to my dermatologist here in Pampanga (while all the while I was attending college in Manila). I really don't care about them that much anymore. And thankfully, they've decided to take the backseat and spare my face from their routine beating.

Here are some majorly stupid theories on this heavenly phenomenon:
(1) Well they probably just got fed up of popping up my face.
(2) My face isn't that conducive anymore for acne growth as it was back when I was a teen (ok this theory is really gross! haha!)

Whatever the real reason is, I have now accepted whatever I have on my face --- oily skin, uber large and visible pores, post-acne discolorations and some minor bumps all in. I just stick to my skincare routine and pray that they finally finally rest their case.

So just like any normal person, I cleanse, tone, and moisturize my face every single day (morning and evening) of every single week of every single year that I have so far been breathing since (LOL).

In addition, I apply sunblock after moisturizing in the morning. I do not reapply throughout the day because... I just don't (haha!). I exfoliate using a mild facial scrub once a week (this is ONCE a week not ONE DAY in a week --- because one day would mean exfoliating twice a week, one in the evening and one in the morning). Why am I being so technical about this? Haha! I also apply anti-acne gel (Adapalene) to my acute cystic pimples just to dry them up a bit faster.

Oh well, I am also planning to add a once-a-week facial mask application to my routine. I am hoping to try Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque which I believe is available at Healthy Options. Another thing I would like to try is a post-acne mark lightening/fading cream. Although I don't have any idea which product to get.

Here are the products that I use as of the moment:
1. Teranex Bar Soap - I divide it into 3 equal parts to make it last longer (can last me up to 3 months).


2. Clean and Clear Toner - any Clean and Clear toner variant works well for me. Before this, I was using the regular one (blue liquid in clear bottle).


3. Olay Total Effects Moisturizer (Blemish prone/oily) - I love it for its salicylic acid (may be a bit drying for certain areas of my face tough).


4. Nivea Refreshing Fluid Protect SPF 30 - does not dry to a matte finish. Not very ideal of oily skinned folks. Will be replacing it as soon as I can.

(photo from kikay.exchange.ph)

5. Differin (Adapalene) Gel - works better than Benzoyl Peroxide (for me at least)


6. Clean and Clear Facial Scrub - I was too lazy to take a picture of my tube so I just got this from the net. It's not the exact variant that I use by the way.

Update: Instead of the Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque, I purchased a Black Charcoal Peel-Off Mask from Saizen.

Hair Care Products that I Use

Hi lovelies! This is going to be a very short post. I just want to basically show you what hair care products I use. If it helps to know, I have naturally coarse and thick hair strands. In addition, my hair is wavy. I think I had my hair chemically treated/straightened for a total of 3-4 times (really can't remember) in a span of 6 years.

Right now my hair is semi-dry and lacks luster but it is slowly going back to its original state. I think this is the result of past hair treatments. After all these years experimenting, I now learned to love my au naturel hair. I really don't mind having wavy hair anymore. I choose that over dry, brittle, and did I mention DRY (haha) hair.

So here are the products I use and some thoughts on them:

(L to R) Shampoo, Conditioner, Hair Treatment, Leave-on Spray

(1) Loreal Elseve Smooth Intense Shampoo - it does a pretty decent job of making my hair squeaky clean... that's what a shampoo is suppose to do anyway. Haha! Nothing really special to be excited about.

(2) Loreal Elseve Smooth Intense Conditioner - makes hair soft. But still, it's just a humble conditioner so don't expect anything miraculous.

(3) Loreal Professionel Absolut Repair Hair Treatment - I think this helps a lot in nurturing my hair back to its original state. I used to have Keratase Masquintense (which is total L-O-V-E) but when I ran out of it, I opted for the Loreal Professionel range mainly because of a more consumer-friendly price. Smells nice by the way.

(4) Loreal Elseve Nutri-Gloss Leave-on Spray - I spray this on after drying my hair. Gives a decent shine to my hair. I really don't get that celebrity "crazy shine" hair from this product but I'm satisfied with the results.

By the way, since my hair is on the dry side, I only wash it every other day (or every 2 days at most) to let natural oils tame it. ^_^

Favorite International Online Cosmetic Shops

I have Odesk to thank for having been able to shop online from international sites. Odesk was my source of income when I resigned from my hospital work way back in early 2009. I earned triple of what I used to get paid for in my previous work as a nurse. It is basically an online platform for freelancers and outsourcing employers.

click to go directly to Odesk

I used to be a web content copywriter for different clients from all over the world (US, Australia, UK, Middle East). To be able to withdraw your earnings from Odesk, you need to have a Paypal account. To cut the long story short, I got my Paypal account (via Unionbank Eon Service) and the start of my international online shopping was history as they say.

Paypal is the preferred payment method of online shopping sites including Ebay (US). Throughout the whole history of my online shopping, I used Paypal to pay for items from Ebay sellers from US, UK, Hong Kong, and Korea. But aside from Ebay, there are two particular sites that I purchase from. These are Strawberrynet.com and Cosme-de.com.

Screenshot of Cosme-de.com

What I like about Cosme-de.com:
(1) Offers FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING.
(2) Paypal is not required for payment (Credit Cards are accepted).
(3) Offers a $5 rebate for new customers (one time use).
(4) Has a loyalty discount program (which is not so customer-friendly since you have to buy so much just to get a discount on your next purchase).
(5) Super fast shipping (6-7 days). They ship from Hong Kong.
(6) Reliable customer service.
(7) Purchased items comes in well-packed boxes complete with bubble wraps and other shock-proof stuff (LOL).

screenshot of Strawberrynet.com

What I like about Strawberrynet.com:
(1) Offers FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING (However, they require an additional 10% charge from the total purchase when buying fragrances).
(2) Paypal is not required for payment (Credit Cards are accepted).
(3) Gives out an automatic 5% discount on your total purchase each time you buy 3 or more items in one transaction.
(4) Customer Loyalty Discount scheme is very reasonable (click here for details).
(5) Offers free stuffs for new customers (and/or other promos with freebies). In my case, I got a free Stila eyeshadow for my first purchase.
(6) Shipping is fast (shortest delivery time was 6 days, longest was 2 weeks). Just like Cosme-de, they ship from Hong Kong.

(7) Well packed items (wrapped as a present in shiny gift wrap) with small kidney bean-shaped styro.
(8) Always has special offers on sub-categories (i.e. Fragrance Super Specials 30-60% off, Bonus Pack Specials up to 75% off)

By the way, both sites not only offer cosmetics but skincare, haircare, and fragrances as well. If you would ask me, Strawberrynet has cheaper prices. However, there are some stuffs that are cheaper and are only available on Cosme-de. Overall, I really like these 2 sites and what they offer. All of my high-end cosmetics are purchased from these sites (mainly because they are cheaper and are not available in the Philippines or anywhere near my place).

My Suesh Mini Buki Brush is Here!!!

As I was about to track my package online, the delivery guy from LBC knocked on our gate. That instant, my heart jumped for joy! My Suesh Mini Buki brush has finally arrived.

I purchased this brush from SUESH last Monday. It was shipped out the next day. But since the seller used Xend, delivery for provincial addresses (in my case, Pampanga) would take about 1-2 days. Xend passes their provincial deliveries on to LBC (which I totally despise!)

my Suesh package

I needed a mini buki brush to bring with me wherever I go (and basically because all I have are full size brushes which aren't very practical to tote around for touch-ups). I was so glad when I stumbled upon Suesh's website. I bought this brush for a total of PHP 330 --- PHP 250 for the brush and PHP 80 for shipping to my place... Not a bad deal at all! This is cheaper than Ellana's which is sold for PHP 300 (exclusive of shipping).

It comes with a silver (almost gunmetal) faux leather case. The case has velcro strips for opening and closing. Half of the brush head is black and the other half white. According to Suesh, it is made from all natural premium goat hair.

brush case

brush head (top view)

It has a hinge on one side enabling it to open up like a book. Again, according to Suesh, the brush may be used for blush application when opened and powder application when joined together. Although I find it hard to imagine using it opened. Haha!

hinge on one side, brush size against my hand

brush when opened

I haven't washed it yet (before full blast use) so I can't say if it sheds or bleeds. However, I tried swiping it against my skin and I must say it is very comparable to my Bare Escentuals Angled Blush Brush. Bristles are soft although not very dense for powder foundation application. I really think this brush is perfect for powder and/or blush application or just for buffing out the entire face after base makeup application to unify your look.

What I Consider When Buying Cosmetics Online

There are a lot of online cosmetics sellers both in Multiply and Ebay.ph. However, I usually purchase makeup from Ebay sellers due to lower prices and high seller feedback. Payment is usually via G-Cash or bank deposits. Shipping is through local courier companies like Air21, JRS, LBC, and Xend (for MM residents).

Online cosmetic shopping has a lot of advantages:
(1) You get cosmetics at a lower price (like 25-70% off as compared to our local market price).
(2) It is very convenient to just browse through the internet (anytime you want of course, and at the comfort of your own home), choose whatever you want, and pay.

However, there are some cons that comes with it as well:
(1) You really cannot check the actual shade of the product or swatch/test it before actually purchasing it. --- But if you really fancy something, I suggest go to your local department store and check first if they carry the same item and swatch it. That way you can be sure about what you're getting. MAJOR CON: You spend a bit more on transportation and/or gasoline. LOL!
(2) Other sellers charge a cash out fee if paying through G-Cash (which sucks by the way).
(3) In addition to that, some seller charge ridiculous and not so reasonable shipping fees for provincial addresses.
(4) Other banks charge a service fee for inter-branch deposits (i.e. BDO).
(5) When it comes to payment, if you do not have an online banking account or available balance in your G-Cash wallet, you still have to go out of the house and go to the bank/Globe center/pawnshop to pay. Ergo, as mentioned earlier, you will still spend some money on transportation or gasoline.

So what exactly do I consider when I buy cosmetics online?
(1) I check to see if the makeup has any manufacture or expiry date (or PAO --- period after opening symbol) printed on its packaging. I do this by directly asking the seller to check for it.

PAO symbol is the tub with 12 M (12 months).

(2) If in any case there are no MFG/EXP date printed (which is most likely the case with drugstore makeup brands from the US like Maybelline), I check the respective brand websites to see if the product has been discontinued.
If the product has been discontinued, there is a big possibility that it is a very, very, very old stock. Even if it's sealed and everything, you wouldn't want to put anything on your face that has been sitting for like a century right? Haha!

MFG and EXP date on my Ever Bilena Blush

In some cases, only the MFG date is printed.
This is my Avon Foundation with a MFG date 19/01/10.

(3) As much as possible, I prefer makeups that come in sealed or carded packaging. Well not all makeups are like this but sometimes, even if the seller claims they were never tested, you still can never tell. So I just opt for sealed products to be 100% sure.

Sealed packaging

Carded packaging

That's pretty much it. I hope you lovelies do take time to think twice before purchasing something online. Do not be in a hurry whenever you see something that tickles your fancy. Do a little bit of research to make sure you get the freshest and safest cosmetics at the best deal. If you would like to know some trusted online sellers that I have purchased from, don't hesitate to message or email me. ^_^