New Product Alert: Real Fresh Skin Detoxer

Hello loves!

Living in the city can make one feel like time flies so fast. Specially when you're part of the workforce and you have to balance your work, relationships, errands, and other such responsibilities. I personally struggle to keep everything in order and at the same time find time to spoil myself with what I like and that includes giving my skin a bit more TLC! 

I try to get my hands on products that suit my skin's needs from the right cleanser to the serums that deal with my skin concerns. I have a handful of products that I use in a daily basis as well as products that I add to my routine like exfoliants and masks. There's so many to choose from that it can be intimidating when you're new to the world of skincare. Another set back is the time you invest in applying all these some people just don't have the extra time and patience for it. I know some who do want to improve their skin, but gave up midway and even I personally skip some steps once in a while.

BUT I DO HAVE GOOD NEWS to those fellow busy bees out there who also likes to pamper their skin...

Skin Pampering with Leaders Insolution Vita Bright Mask

Hello lovelies!

How was your Christmas celebration? I hope that you were able to enjoy the festivities. After all the Noche Buena, going out late at night with friends and family, and even attending the simbang gabi, we might be depriving our bodies with sleep during the past few days. I'm currently feeling the need to catch-up on my needed rest because during the past couple of days, my sleep lasted for around 10 hours, when I usually sleep for only 7-8 hours.

The 'tiredness' also showed on the skin. Mine was looking dull and I did get some zits (the food and my period probably contributed on this too). That's why I am pampering my skin with...

 Leaders Insolution Vita Bright Mask

A mask is PhP 98.00.

So according to the packaging, it promises to brighten and even skin tone. That's great since I am trying to get back the natural glow of my face. :D

For more info, here's a photo of the product information found at the back of the packaging. I'm glad that it has SOME english labels because many Korean products don't. Unfortunately, many important infos weren't, like the precautionary advice and ingredients list.

The packaging is a bit different from the usual Korean products that I see. It's not cutesy but it still looks eye-catching. Since the packaging is slightly bigger, I thought that the sheet may be bigger. It was a good sign for me because I have a big face.

But as you can see, it didn't reach the end of my jaw. But hey, it fit my face pretty well in terms of the eye, nose, lips, chin, and even forehead areas. I just added some essence from what remains in the container on the sides of my face that was not covered by the mask. Take note that I really have a big face and I think it fits better on majority of people. Haha!

Apologies for the duck face as well. And yes, I'm wearing a blue-green floral daster. :P

I had the mask on for 20 minutes. I really like how it feels when wearing face masks because I feel so relaxed. The mask didn't fell off and I'm happy that it didn't tore when I was unfolding it. Some mask sheets are so thin that when I unfold it after opening, some gets torn off. This one didn't and it held the essence quite well—not much dripping from the sheet happened. 

I also liked how it smelled. It's so mild that it won't become irritating unlike some strong-scented face masks. If I have to describe the scent... maybe it's kinda fruity? I'm not very sure because I'm bad at describing scents (lol).

Hello bare face! Haha! Yeah, I have to fix some redness and some acne here and there... but look at how hydrated my face looks! I also think that my skin looks less dull than before I had the mask on. So yeah, I think it helped brighten the face, but the evening-out the skin tone part, I guess it may show if I continue using this mask for more than once. 

The remainder of the essence I applied on my neck and my arms. My skin felt very soft and I feel very relaxed. It helps if you are in a cool, air-conditioned room. 

I'm definitely satisfied with the mask and I can't wait to try out more from this brand!

If you would like to know more about them, visit their

Facebook: Leaders Philippines

Twitter: @LeadersPH

or the following branches:

STORE BOUTIQUES:
LUCKY CHINA TOWN
FESTIVALL MALL

DEPARTMENT STORES:
SM MAKATI
SM NORTH EDSA DEPARTMENT STORE
SM CUBAO DEPARTMENT STORE
SM CEBU DEPARTMENT STORE
SM DAVAO DEPARTMENT STORE

Cheers,
DAWN

DEWINS Coenzyme Q10 Mask Pack

Hey loves!

When I was on a vacation in Jeju with my family, we went crazy shopping for skincare products. One thing I know about most Koreans is that they take care of their skin very well, thus, I took advantage of being in Jeju and stock up with all the masks I can get because they are much, much more affordable to buy there.

One of the places we went to recommended I try these Coenzyme Q10 Masks from DEWINS. I didn't know this brand to be honest. Actually, even though every couple of years I see a new Korean makeup brand opening here, there are soooo many more brands there that aren't in the Philippines yet. And DEWINS is one of them.

I did check out JSM Duty Free's website and learned the DEWINS is actually a brand under Samsung. It was founded in 2002 so I still consider it fairly new. They started expanding in 2007 and opened their stores in other countries such as Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.

I bought the mask even though I wasn't aware of the brand because they were in a promo. If you buy a number of packs, you get more. I can't remember how many packs I bought... but I bought a lot! Haha! It doesn't hurt that this beauty brand is under a very known brand, which is Samsung. ;)

I'm no expert in skin care. I don't even have a background in chemistry to know what most of the ingredients are about (I just google them). I did find a website, (smartskincare.com), that helped me understand why Coenzyme Q10 masks are popular in Korean beauty skincare. Coenzyme Q10 (Co Q10) apparently has high antioxidants that help fight skin aging. It says, "CoQ10 may boost skin repair and regeneration and reduce free radical damage. Furthermore, CoQ10 is a small molecule that can relatively easily penetrate into skin cells." Our body naturally produces CoQ10 but as we grow older, the amount of CoQ10 goes down as well. So to summarize this, using products with CoQ10 can help our bodies fight skin aging better.

At the box and the back of each sachet, you'll see the product info, ingredients list and the directions on how to use it.

But a more detailed description can be found on their website:

DEWINS Q10 synergistic complex of collagen extracts and ginseng extract has excellent skin nutrients to strengthen the role of reactive oxygen species can reduce damage to the skin, the shape of firmness, elasticity, smooth young skin. With natural plant moisturizing ingredients to soothe and calm soothing moisturizing skin, improve epidermis moisture, giving the skin elasticity and glow shiny clarity, steering the skin to its best.

Soothing moisturizing elastic compaction: Collaborative nano sphere and the role of long-lasting moisturizing ingredients acceleration factor-Q10 and collagen synthesis, can continue to moisturizing the skin, giving the skin tight and elastic

Magic nano sphere Nanospheres production technology, giving you an unprecedented experience beautiful

Carry large amounts of natural moisturizing factor of nano-spheres, its void structure can enhance the adsorption capacity of the active ingredient, so that even long-term gradual release of nutrients that can pay immediate and long-term water supply, and for a long time to maintain a sense of skin moisture

The role of quality ginseng extract essence, soybean plant collagen and Q10 ultra-moisturizing factors, such as multiple components that can be securely lock moisture into the skin while attaining effectively improve the skin dry, rough phenomenon, collagen component can effectively improve the skin fine lines, relaxation aging rapidly restore skin elasticity, strengthens skin firmness, pulling up to show beautiful face

Main Effect

Antioxidant anti-aging, wrinkle moisturizing, soothing, strengthening skin firmness

Usage

After facial cleansing, unfold the mask and put it on the face, to be 15 to 20 minutes to remove the mask and the face of the remaining Essence, gently massage until absorbed. 2 to 3 times per week using

The liquid with the mask sheet is thicker than water, it's a bit slimy but not sticky. It doesn't have a strong smell so the scent would not be an issue. The mask sheet doesn't fit perfectly on my face though, it doesn't reach the end of my jaw area, unfortunately. I leave it on for 20 minutes, but the sheet is still wet after that time, so sometimes I leave it on longer but most of the time I just wipe it on my neck, arms, and legs so that the essence is not wasted. I do that too to the fluid left on the pack. And by the way, I don't experience any stingy feeling, especially on my eyes when I have the mask on.

I actually have a lot so I can use them as instructed. I use them twice a week unless I have a different mask I would like to try. And so far, I am in-love with them! I get it now why the SA's there were praising this product even though they have dozens of brands there (and no, it's not because it's gonna expire soon that's why they want them all sold, you can actually see the expiration date at the back of each mask sachet and it's okay for two more years). I love the feeling of my skin after I use this. It feels smoother, tighter and firmer, perfect for those days that my face feels and looks puffy, mostly due to those tiring, sleepless nights when I'm doing requirements for my grad school classes. It doesn't make my skin as soft as some masks I've used but I think this is one of the best in making my skin firmer and tighter! My face really feels like it's rejuvenated. :)

So what's your current go-to face mask?

Cheers,

DAWN

Better Skin with Leaders Cosmetics

Hey loves!

Finally, I'm back to regular programming... well, I don't think I can post daily yet since I still have some exams to study for... BUT I won't be absent for a whole week like before. :P

Anyway, last week, I received a package containing these four face masks...

At first, I thought that this were new products from a familiar brand, but when I saw the logo, it was a completely different and new brand to me! The brand is called Leaders and it is from Korea and it specializes on skincare products. Here's the brand info from their press release:

 About Leaders Cosmetics

Leaders Cosmetics is a professional cosmeceutical brand found in 2004 by leading dermatologists from Korea’s Seoul National University. The brand’s mission is to bring out the inner confidence in women through beautiful skin. Leaders Cosmetics promises to deliver products that are:

  Professional. All Leaders skin care products are developed by Korea’s top dermatologists.

  Innovative. Leaders Cosmetics continuously invests in scientific research to create unique

cosmetics which will answer all existing skin problems.

  Confident. No mineral oils, artificial colors, or animal-based ingredients are used in Leaders

products. All Leaders skin care products are also dermatologically-tested.

  Reasonable. Leaders promises a reasonable price for all customers by providing affordable

cosmetic containers.

Having oily and troubled skin from acne and scars, I was excited to try this out. I've been focusing on skincare lately to remedy my problems and I'm hopeful that these Skin Renewal masks can help me out. Below are the info of each masks:

Aloe Soothing Skin Renewal Mask (Php 98.00)

Skin that’s constantly exposed to the sun can become dull and looking tired. Rejuvenate your

skin with an Aloe Soothing Skin Renewal Mask. This aloe-based mask instantly relieves sensitive,

irritated, or inflamed skin. It also deeply moisturizes skin with the help of cactus extract.

Collagen Lifting Skin Renewal Mask (Php 98.00)

Experience a non-surgical face lift at the comfort of your own home! The Collagen Lifting Skin

Renewal Mask has hydrolyzed marine collagen properties which offers lifting and moisturizing

effects to the skin. This mask is best for skin in need of elasticity boost and to fight early signs of

aging.

Vita Bright Skin Renewal Mask (Php 98.00)

Bring back that radiant glow with the Vita Bright Skin Renewal Mask! This contains strengthened

vitamin C derivatives which clarifies skin, resulting to a radiant glow. These vitamin-enriched

mask deeply moisturizes and restores vitality to dull skin.

Tea Tree Relaxing Skin Renewal Mask (Php 98.00)

Give your sensitive skin some extra TLC by using the Tea Tree Relaxing Skin Renewal Mask. The

combination of tea-tree and organically-certified extracts soothes and calms skin. This mask can

even be used to relieve sunburned skin.

 I tried the Tea Tree variant first because it says that it helps in soothing and calming the skin. Now that it's summer in the Philippines, the sun and the heat are more intense so I think these masks would be helpful with making my skin feel softer and appear healthier.

Here's my face with the mask on. 

Be careful when unfolding the mask. It's not very thin but it doesn't have the usual plastic separator so that unfolding would be easier. I let it stay on me for 20 minutes, or until the mask is dry. The smell is pretty pleasant, very unnoticeable tea tree scent.

And after taking off the mask, my skin looks brighter and more dewy! Looks good, right? My skin feels incredibly smoother as well and I'm very satisfied with the outcome. I hope that I can get this effect from the remaining four masks. Awesome!

Anyway,

For more information, Like Leaders Philippines on Facebook and follow @LeadersPH on Twitter.

 Leaders Cosmetics is available at:

• Leaders Festival Mall (K214 Level 2, Festival Supermall, Alabang, Muntinlupa City)
• Beauty MNL (www.beautymnl.com/brands/leaders-insolution)
•  ZALORA
•  Lucky Chinatown Mall (Coming Soon)

And oh, I would like to share with you guys that some of my works for my Abstract Art class are exhibited in the Beato Angelico Gallery, UST. Feel free to drop by if you are near the campus! ;) This will run until this Saturday! :D

Cheers,
DAWN

PPS Bonding with The SAEM Global Eco Mask Sheet

Hey dears!

Liz and I (the peachy pink sisters) had a best friend bonding a couple of weeks ago. We had food delivered, watched movies, and pampered our skin with these mask sheets!

The SAEM Global Eco Mask Sheet

I got this from a my friend who went on a week vacation at Korea. She got me two sheets! Yay! The endorser whose pic is on the packaging is G-Dragon. He happens to be a member of Bigbang and my best friend, Liz, is a huge fan of him so I know that she would love to try this one.

So while we were watching a movie in our house, we wore the masks for 25 minutes. The masks were big enough to occupy our faces (and I have a big one LOL). It was a little difficult unfolding the masks because they don't have those separator plastic material. Just be extra careful so you won't tear it.

 The scent is mild and refreshing and I love that it is cool that it really made me feel relaxed. It doesn't have a cooling effect just to clarify. I say that it's cool because we had our air conditioner on and the mask is wet. :P

And here's me...

and Liz after taking the masks off...

Our face looked brighter and so refreshed after a sleepless week of school and work and duty at the hospital! Our faces felt smoother and more supple too. 

We've missed doing this regularly. Before, we see each other weekly but nowadays it's like once a month! Oh well. At least we still make time as much as we can with our busy scheds. Anyway, we loved the masks too and we really hope that The Saem would be available in the Philippines soon! :D

Cheers,

DAWN

Review : Camaru Naturals Amazonian Clay Mask

Hello everyone!

I'm obsessing with skincare right now. I just want to pamper my skin that I used to neglect when I was in my teens. I never had good skin since I hit puberty. As most of you probably know by now, I have oily, acne-prone skin and without proper care then, I now have acne scars and dark spots that I've been embarrassed about. 

So now that I am committed to get my skin looking better, I have invested time (and money) for better products. I make sure that my face is always clean and hydrated once I got home, especially before I go to sleep.

One of the products that I use twice a week is a clay mask. Why you ask? It's because it helps purify the skin from all the dirt and excess sebum on your face which causes acne. It also eliminates the dead skin cells making your face softer and fresher!

So when Camaru Naturals contacted me to try out their new Amazonian Clay Mask, I immediately agreed. I loved using their bamboo charcoal soap (read my review here) so I just couldn't wait to try this new one!

Camaru Naturals Amazonian Clay Mask

This is Php 429.00 and is available at ECHOStore, Sugarleaf and Velvet Rose.

It's housed in a tub that holds 50g of the product.

So let's see what it's all about...

The bottom of the tub has the info you might want to know like the list of ingredients, directions and date of manufacturing and expiration.

They also included a press release to better understand their new Amazonian Clay Mask.

 I'm no stranger to clay masks. I've used ones from different brands. Of course there are times that I hesitated to try something new since it is my skin at risk. But I never hesitated with this one. Besides loving one of their soaps, Camaru Naturals uses ingredients from nature itself (hence the 'Naturals' in the name). Since it's organic, I felt that this is safe for my skin (but do take note if you have allergies in one of the ingredients before using it or any product for that matter). 

 This product is paraben-free, cruelty-free and 100% vegan.

So below is the picture of the mask. It's already used that's why it's almost half empty. Haha! I've had this for more or less two weeks now.

It's black, well, very dark grey. It's something new since most of the ones I use are lighter grey or moss green in color. The only black mask I've used is the one that gets rid of blackheads. :P

I can't really describe the scent. It's not faint—you can really smell it upon application. I actually like the smell... I believe there's like menthol in it. I find it relaxing. 

 The consistency is thick and creamy.

I got a tip to store it on the fridge so that you use it while it's cold and how I loooove how it felt when I was applying it. 

Here's what it looks like when you apply it.

And after 10-15 minutes, it dries like this:

It dries completely that it can be peeled off. But you peel it, you rinse it with warm water. Rinsing it can take a while but the patience you put in the process is all worth it when you see the result!

My bare cheek (hello, acne scars!)

It's all clean now and it doesn't make my skin dry. And it looks fresher too just as it claims to do!

I'm so glad I got to try this. It works great on my skin and I guess it is safe to say that it also works on other skin types, the only thing to consider is how many times a week one can use it. I'm definitely gonna purchase one once I'm out of clay masks.

If you want to know more on Camaru Naturals's Amazonian Clay Mask or their other products, you can check their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (camarunaturalsPH).

Have you tried this before? How about other products from Camaru Naturals?

Do you like using clay masks too?

Which ones do/have you use/d?

Cheers,

DAWN

The Body Shop Skincare Masks

Hey dears!

A few weeks ago, I was surprised with the package I received from The Body Shop.

It contained these:

 I didn't know that The Body Shop has Face Masks!

But yeah, these products are quite new and I'm very fortunate that I get to try them out this early.

Give yourself a home facial with our face mask sachets. Our masks are essential weekly treats. Feel softer and smoother, look brighter and more radiant.

I got two of the three facial masks. I was excited to try this one because it is catered for people with blemishes on their skin....

Tea Tree Face Mask Sachet Php95

This instantly cooling face mask cleanses, soothes and refreshes the skin. It helps remove impurities, absorbs excess oil and soothes skin.

How to Use:

Simply use once or twice weekly after cleansing. Smooth a thick layer onto the face and neck avoiding the lip and eye area, using fingertips. Leave for 5-10 minutes, then rinse with clean water. Mask does not dry.

Ingredients:

Aqua (Solvent/Diluent), Kaolin (Absorbent), Cetearyl Alcohol (Emulsifier), Glycerin (Humectant), Myristyl Myristate (Emollient), Glyceryl Stearate (Emulsifier), PEG-100 Stearate (Surfactant), Ethylhexyl Palmitate (Skin Conditioning Agent), Propanediol (Viscosity Modifier), Alcohol Denat. (Solvent/Diluent), Caprylyl Glycol (Skin Conditioning Agent), Cyclopentasiloxane (Skin-Conditioning Agent/Emollient), Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil (Skin Conditioning Agent), Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil (Natural Additive), Cyclohexasiloxane (Chelating Agent), Xanthan Gum (Viscosity Modifier), Disodium EDTA (Chelating Agent), Menthol (Cooling Agent), Limonene (Natural Additive), Leptospermum Petersonii Oil (Natural Additive), t-Butyl Alcohol (Denaturant), Denatonium Benzoate (Denaturant), Tocopherol (Antioxidant), CI 77289 (Colour), CI 77492 (Colour).

It does feel soothing actually. You got a tingling sensation especially on the problem areas of your face. The scent is just like the other products from their Tea Tree line.

A sachet can last up to 2 uses. I can't really give a review if it does help with the blemishes since I was only able to use it twice. But what I can say is that my face feel clean and soft after using this. The amount of oil on my face lessened as well! :)

Vit E Moisturising Cream Sachet Php95

Sink some antioxidant Vitamin E into your skin. Bring skin back to optimum moisture level with this intensely hydrating mask.

 How to Use:

Smooth a thin layer onto dry, clean skin with your fingertips. Leave for 10 minutes. You may experience a slight cooling sensation. Then simply wipe away with a tissue.

Ingredients:

Aqua (Water) (Solvent/Diluent), Glycerin (Humectant), Cyclomethicone (Emollient), Propylene Glycol (Humectant), Oryza sativa (Rice Bran Oil) (Emollient), Gossypium herbaceum (Cottonseed Oil) (Emollient/Skin Conditioner), Triticum vulgare (Wheat Germ Oil) (Emollient), Glycine soja (Soybean Oil) (Emollient/Skin Conditioner), Diglycerin (Humectant), Methyl Gluceth-20 (Viscosity Modifier), Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer (Stabiliser/Viscosity Modifier), Panthenol (Skin/Hair Conditioning Agent), Phenoxyethanol (Preservative), Tocopheryl Acetate (Antioxidant), Benzyl Alcohol (Preservative), Lecithin (Stabiliser/Emulsifier), Methylparaben (Preservative), Sodium Hydroxide (pH Adjuster), Parfum (Fragrance), Disodium EDTA (Chelating Agent), Butylparaben (Preservative), Ethylparaben (Preservative), Citronellol (Fragrance Ingredient), Isobutylparaben (Preservative), Propylparaben (Preservative), Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone (Fragrance Ingredient), Linalool (Fragrance Ingredient), Geraniol (Fragrance Ingredient), Limonene (Fragrance Ingredient), Citral (Fragrance Ingredient), Eugenol (Fragrance Ingredient), Farnesol (Fragrance Ingredient), CI 14700 (Colour).

 Unlike the Tea Tree one, this is transparent on your face upon application. I used this before going to sleep since I fear that I might get extremely oily while I'm out during the day. This really hydrated my skin and it looked so refreshed the next morning.

The masks are available in 3 kinds.

The last one that I wasn't able to try is from their Seaweed Line. It's a clay mask! How I wish I had that! Haha! :P

Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask Sachet Php95

This revitalising clay mask cleanses skin and controls excess oil. It draws out impurities, clarifying and refreshing.

How to Use:

Apply a thin layer, leave for 10 minutes and rinse off. Use up to twice weekly.

Ingredients:

Kaolin, Aqua, Heilmoor Clay, Glycerin, alcohol Denat., Bentonite, Talc, Lithothamnium calcarum, Maris Limus Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Polysorbate 20, Myristamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phospate, Xathan Gum, Bisabolol, Parfum, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA Zinc PCA, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Benzyl Alcohol, Benyzl Salicylate, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Denatonium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Cl 77289, Cl 42090.

 So do drop by your nearest The Body Shop branch and try their new Skincare masks for only Php 95.00. :)

Cheers,

DAWN