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After trying out Skinfood's very popular and best-selling product, Black Sugar Mask (loved it but it needed help to remove stubborn blackheads), I decided to test the other variants to see if they would work just the same.  And between the other two, I didn't hesitate to pick its twin (almost) for starters.

They added strawberry and created an even sweeter version.


A lot of people who have tried both said that this one's less abrasive than the original Black Sugar, but I don't agree.

IMO, this one is capable of more "scrubbing" action because aside from the sugar granules, there are also strawberry seeds.

Both are packaged in the same tub.  Labels and design are very much alike as well.


Once you open it, it's like strawberry wonderland!  The sweet scent is reminiscent of yummy strawberry cupcakes, candies, jam and all of those pink sweet treats you can think of.  Whenever I use it, I always tell myself "no, you cannot eat it".  HAHA!

Here's how I use it.

I do my exfoliation two to three times a week (unless I forgot).  I also make sure that I've cleansed my face already before applying this mask wash off and same as before, I use lukewarm water.


Look how much I've used up already!

Both black sugar scrubs have the same consistency and formula, well except for the added strawberry goodness obviously.  The product kinda melts off once you massage it on your skin and you can really smell the sweet fruity fragrance, which for me is an added treat.  HAHA!

You'll instantly feel the sugar granules and seeds as they buff the skin's surface.


Overall, I'd say this strawberry mask works just the same as the original black sugar one.  Their performance?  Equal.  However, this sweet baby gives a bit more moisture.

Skinfood's sugar masks help create baby smooth skin after application.  But again, for the stubborn blackheads, you may need to do additional steps and use additional products.

So, who won my heart?

Both!  These two are the facial scrubs I would love to use interchangeably.  I won't mind owning pure black or strawberry!  They are both welcome to my bathroom sink.  HAHA!


A few tips!

If you feel that the scrub is too harsh as you massage it on your skin, add some more water.  That would help melt off some of the granules.  

Don't bother exfoliating your pimple when it's on the it's-about-to-erupt stage because doing so might irritate it even more.

Concentrate on the center of your face especially if you have normal, combination or dry skin.  You just need to target the areas where the skin gets very clogged and dull.  If you have very, very dry skin, you'd need a very, very gentle exfoliator.  


What do you think?


Next one to try, the Rice mask!

Like Skinfood Philippines on Facebook.



your sweetest drug,


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I'm back to regular programming!  Expect a series of product reviews in the coming days.

Let's start with a freebie I got months ago.  Perfect timing because the Canmake one I owned broke and I badly needed a face powder to combat the oiliness during the blazing summer days.



Fairydrops is a Japanese brand known for their unbeatable mascaras.  I've seen their shelf long ago at Beauty Bar shop and even though I'm not an I-love-all-things-cute type of person, their packaging still enticed me to take a closer look at their products.

This is called Vanilla Puff Mineral Powder and I got the shade Dark Ochre.  On their website, there are 3 other shades.

At first, I thought it would be too dark on me but as it turned out, it perfectly suits my summer skin color.  HAHA!  And besides, I don't prefer face powders in light shades so it's all good.


You need to stack the pieces like so.  I find the packaging very unique because typically, loose powder comes in a container with a sifter on top.  That's one reason why some people are not fond of them since they tend to be messy and we sometimes end up wasting most of the product.


There's also a mirror on top, which I really do appreciate.  Handy-dandy.

When you open the cap, you'll see a chubby, soft puff.  Then, if you take off that part, you'll see the several holes.  That's where the powder goes.

There's also cap which you can make use of to control the amount of powder that goes out.



I still can't say if this type of packaging is really efficient or not.  Truth is, I'm afraid to take off that cap permanently because I think all of the powder will just come out as I tap it on my face.

So what I do is, I tap it once or twice without the cap, then I open the lid every so gently and lastly, I put it back on.  So far, it seems to be working.  Lesser waste I guess.


Another thing I worry about is how dirty the puff would get over time.  But of course, I can wash it anytime.  I'm still thinking how though.

The powder is finely milled, not chalky.  It blends nicely even with just a patting motion using the puff.  I've also tried using a brush and it still spreads out evenly.


And oooooooh!  I love the scent!  It's like dabbing a marshmallow on your face.  HAHA!

There's no creasing, no powder in the fine lines, just a smooth surface.  However, the lasting power is something I'm neutral about.


The coverage is also good.  Definitely not the sheer, translucent kind.  It covers pores very well, but for other blemishes, you'd definitely need help from your concealer or foundation.  Nevertheless, it's still something you can rely on if you want a no-makeup look but still need a little bit of coverage.

Here I have primer on the center of my face and concealer on my eye area and pimple marks underneath the mineral powder.


Finally, here's what you're most interested about (I assume)... oil-control.

My t-zone usually starts to get shiny after 4 to 5 hours and there's no significant difference when I apply this powder.  I still re-apply once or twice throughout the day.  But since it's so convenient to use, I'm all good.

Even when I put on layers, it still doesn't look cakey and my skin can still breathe as it's very lightweight.  It also looks nice on top of BB cream and foundation.

sorry for the difference in lighting


Maybe I can re-use this packaging if ever I buy another loose powder in the future.

Any tip on how I could clean the puff?  :D


What do you think?

Like Fairydrops Philippines on Facebook.



your sweetest drug,





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Have you ever tried sleeping without washing your face?  I know we all had a moment when we're just too exhausted (or maybe drunk), we could barely move and all we wanted to do was to drop everything and crawl into bed.  Next thing we knew, a pimple popped up.  Kind of a reminder saying "hey, seems like you had a tough day" and like a here's-what-you-get-by-skipping-the-sink-last-night surprise.

I guess that's one reason why makeup remover wipes were invented.

There are tons of facial cleansing towelettes out there and you can get them in different sizes and scents too!  Most of them are very inexpensive so I don't see any reason why you shouldn't keep one. If you prefer big bags of wipes and you want something natural/organic, this one's definitely for you.


I'm talking about Burt's Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes with White Tea Extract.  The brand offers various types, all infused with your choice of natural ingredient and suitable for your skin type.  Though I'm not sure if everything is available here locally.


This size which costs 495 php contains 30 pieces (175 php for 10 pieces).  Just the pack you need for a month, if you intend to use it every day.


It claims to remove makeup and dirt and at the same time, tone the skin.  Key ingredients include white tea, cucumber and aloe extract.

I don't think that it's drying.  It just gets rid of excess sebum.


Each towel is not super soaked.  There's just a right amount of moisture.  You will also surely appreciate its softness and quality.  It's made of natural fabric and you can really tell that it doesn't easily break.


Even though it has great cleansing power, I still don't use it alone.  Just my personal choice.  I still make sure to wash my face as per usual. #doublecleanse


It can remove oil and makeup without rinsing but for super waterproof ones and some clumps of mascara, maybe you'd need a little help from a separate eye makeup remover.


I sometimes use it when I have no makeup on but decided to put something later in the day, since by that time, there could already be oil and dirt on my face.


My only gripe is the overpowering scent.  Yes, it smells like tea in a way but distinctly perfume-ish fragrance.  Aaaaand it bothers me since it stays for a couple of minutes.  Good thing, it's not something that my skin would react to.  No irritation, so we're good. *wink

What do you think?

Are you always a double-cleanse type of girl?  


Like Burt's Bees Philippines on Facebook.  Here's their website as well.

You can also find them at any Beauty Bar store.


your sweetest drug,

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Today's featured product is not new but surprisingly, it's still popular in the drugstore.  That's actually one reason why I bought it - to see what's the real deal.

Quick fun fact - this is the first ever primer I've purchased.  I was not into them so much because I thought of them only as an extra step in my makeup routine.  However, things changed after watching so many Youtube beauty videos and seeing how these bases made a huge difference to the appearance of their skin.  Some of the good ones available in the market can even improve a foundation's lasting power and coverage.  Astonishing.

I thought of trying a drugstore brand first before traversing to the "high-end" side of the makeup street.  So yes, here's a very familiar and cute tube you can find in any Maybelline counter.

299 php for 22 ml

It's called Baby Skin Pore Eraser, a silicone-based primer that claims to give a flawless and poreless face.


What I love about it

  • nice everyday primer for the price
  • a little amount goes a long way - just concentrate on the center of the face 
  • very lightweight


  • my skin can still breathe with it on
  • no troubles spreading the product on the face
  • makes the skin softer
  • no weird scent


  • blurs out fine lines
  • nice tube packaging - you can easily control the amount of product
  • makes my BB/CC cream less sticky
  • makes the skin look a little matte



There's always a BUT

  • you need to wait for it to set before applying foundation because if not, the two will just mix
  • it doesn't work as a pore eraser completely, I'd say below average
  • it cannot blur medium to large pores


  • it does not minimize the appearance of bumps and dark spots
  • there's no brightening effect
  • the fact that it contains silicone could be an issue for some, luckily, I'm not sensitive to that so no breakout


  • it does not make the foundation to last longer
  • no oil-control

Overall, I don't really see any significant difference "when applying it" versus "when I don't have it underneath".  In my opinion, people with lesser skin/pore issues would appreciate it more.  

The pore-erasing effect is very subtle and minimal but good thing, it works on fine lines.  For me, it's more of a blurring primer so I guess, it's still good to use if you just want to use a primer to make the skin smooth prior makeup application for easier blending.  


One tip!


When I apply a tad bit amount on my brows, they're so much effortless to groom and fill-in (that's when I use a brow crayon/pencil).  Try it!

What do you think?

Have you tried this before?  If yes, did it work on you?


Like Maybelline Philippines on Facebook.



your sweetest drug,

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Everyone has been talking about dinosaurs and a shocking season finale lately.  Both are all over my news feed, and let me just say, the GoT spoilers annoyed me big time.  Ugh!

Anyway, I'm planning to finish a few drafts before our Cebu trip this weekend.  After this one, I have four product reviews lined up then, next week, I'm thinking of filming a skincare routine video.

Today's post features facial mask, my cheap yet oh-so-great skin booster fave.


I got two last Christmas from Kris' sister (thanks Ate!!!).  They are from The Face Shop's Real Nature mask line, which offers various key natural ingredients.  Actually, most facial sheets like so are made of things we normally see at home or the organic ones.


Blue-Very Wrinkle-Free

They don't just sit prettily and look yummy on top of cheesecakes.  They are also known as super-charged anti-oxidant which promotes anti-aging and regains skin's suppleness.


I also used it on Kris and he loved it.  There's a similar scent but only perceivable when smelled from the pack.


Rice Bright!

Rice offers skin benefits too!  They're known as brighteners and have been used for centuries for cosmetic purposes.  If you have an uneven skin tone problem, this one's your best choice among the other masks.


I'm pretty sure you can recreate this at home. I've seen a tutorial by Michelle Phan showing a DIY so go check that out.

Yes to Mask Time!

I loved both - so hydrating, so refreshing on the face and they were effective in shooing the dullness away.

For those who want to try it, one thing to watch out is the tacky feeling after application.  But I think that's normal for facial masks.  It's nothing uncomfy though.  Not the type of stickiness that would make you get up and rinse your face.

Lastly, avoid Real Nature if you're sensitive or allergic to any skincare with fragrance.  


What do you think?

What's your favorite facial sheet key ingredient?


your sweetest drug,



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Moving forward, I'm gonna feature multiple samples in one post for this series.  I thought that talking about one little sachet is not substantial enough, and I don't want to keep that kind of quality so here's a change.

As a start, here are two impressive products by Tony Moly.


The blue one is called Aquaporin Moisture Cream, a gel-type, water based moisturizer.  It's a part of the line below.


From the looks of it, this is made for normal to dry to very dry skin, but I think this is also appropriate for oily skin and also perfect during summer season because it's super lightweight and it's not on the creamy side.


Would I go for the full-sized version?


Yes!  I loved it.  It's really hydrating and fast-absorbing.  No stickiness whatsoever so I'm pretty sure others would love it as well.

I only have two qualms - the perfume-ish scent that lingered while waiting for it to completely dry, which was like a minute, and the hefty price tag.  I saw a tube version of this online though I don't know if that's the Super Size, which is listed in their local website.  In any case, it says this costs 1,578 php.  Ooh.  

Next, Luminous Goddess Aura BB Cream.

left side without BB cream | right side slightly blended

It only comes in one shade and unluckily, it's too light on me.  But thanks to my current face powder, it helped tone down the brightness.

The product's color reminded me of Missha's Perfect Cover BB Cream as there's a tiny bit of grayness into but it didn't oxidize too much on me.


Would I go for the full-sized version?

Yes again!  The coverage was excellent considering it's only a BB cream - close to full, almost like a foundation.  The redness and veins did not peek through one layer.  On those 3 days when I used it, it set beautifully and sat well on my skin.  

On the photos below, my pimple bumps are still visible but that's okay.  I think it's really hard to conceal them with just a face base makeup.  I also loved how it evened out my skin tone and diminished the appearance of pores even without primer!


By the name itself, it's for those people who want a dewy finish.  On me, it's not drying.  The glow was nice and just right even underneath powder.

bronzer also helped darkening the shade a bit

No troubles blending it as well.  The consistency was creamy just like any foundations or BB/CC creams.  One watch-out though is the stickiness.


It smelled like soap or lotion but still pleasant.  

In terms of oil-control, I didn't notice a significant difference.  And as for the lasting power, it would not budge unless you really wipe it off or something.

For me, this one has a great chance of standing out when compared with other Asian BB creams.  


What do you think?

Btw, I could not see it in Tony Moly's website so go visit their stores to inquire.  Like them on Facebook too!



your sweetest drug,

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Short hair again after 5 years!  No regrets.  Loving it.  Though I still have no idea how to style it.  I want to create a tousled, messy, just-got-out-of-bed look but I always fail.  Maybe I need hair tools?

Anyway, I thought I'd share my experience at Vivere Salon, SM Megamall branch.



I asked for a full hair color and haircut.  My budget was at 2,000 php (or slightly above) but I ended up paying 3,000++ including tip.  Oh well.  They did a good job so the damage was a bit neutralized.  HAHA!


So, they washed my hair and chopped it off before applying the hair color.  The salon is using Schwarzkopf Professional, a German brand.

I didn't feel any extreme irritations on my scalp and there's no overpowering scent as well.

I chose a dark brown color because I wanted to stay away from light borderline blonde kind of shades.  Besides, it tends to lighten overtime so I think it's a better option.

The whole thing took almost 2 hours.  The staff who assisted me was nice and perky so I got very comfortable, but of course, during the process, I was so nervous because I wasn't sure how the color would turn out.

I wanted to copy Jenn Im's hairstyle, the short, chic one she had before, but Sir Hector, the senior stylist recommended some layers.

Here are the before and after photos.

after my haircut in August 2014

before 

after

one week after

most recent

Overall...


  • I love the quality of color.  It hasn't lighten yet (hopefully it would stay that way for a looooong time).
  • I'm neutral about my haircut.  I had this same length and almost same style years ago so I got used to it very quickly.
  • Sir Hector did a good job at making the color even.  I had lighter sections before, which looked like highlights but the intensity of the new color on that area does not look different at all.  I remember them applying the color mix by sections - top part minus the roots, ends and roots.  I think he used varying color levels or tones (not sure what's the correct term for that).


  • It didn't cause drastic damage to my hair.  No dryness.
  • It bled after a few days of washing.  Poor towel.  
  • Hair color at Vivere Salon starts at 2000 php.  Adding another (or more) tube would cost you more and most of the time that's the case especially for long to super long hair length or if the exact color you want is a bit complicated.  



That's that!  Just a breathe of fresh life to my hair!  

What do you think?



 Like Vivere Salon on Facebook.

Happy long weekend, everyone!



your sweetest drug,

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Hi! I'm ICHI.

Hi! I'm ICHI.
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