TheFaceShop Real Nature Mask Red Ginseng

Relax, relax it's Friday.  Let's end the weekday with a mask!

THEFACESHOP Real Nature Mask Red Ginseng

Finally a TSF mask that I love! Surprisingly, this Real Nature Mask Red Ginseng has no alcohol smell that I always complain about whenever I use a mask from TheFaceShop (bravo, clap clap).  Instead, it has a little herby, minty scent that is light and refreshing- nothing irritating.  The essence is colored brown! And not sticky yet patting is still necessary for quick absorption.

I tried putting the essence in a white shirt and it stained, can be remove by washing with soap and water though

Now for the effect:  My face looked revitalize though I noticed that my pores on my cheeks gone bigger good thing they went back to their normal state (how I wish they shrink) when I wash my face.  My skin also still feels moisturize even after washing and looks healthy up to 3 days (with diminishing effect of course and moisturizing cream is still needed).

Thanks for reading.  Till then.  Bye!

DIY Green Tea Mask

Here's a refreshing mask that I tried this week.  I derived this DIY green tea mask from lifeandbows.com and made some modification to suite my taste and the ingredients that are present in our kitchen.

half cup of green tea, a tablespoon of brown sugar, half tablespoon calamansi and six cotton pads

Mix green tea, brown sugar and calamansi.  Stir until the sugar dissolve then soak the cotton pads to tea mixture then stretch and apply all over the face.  Leave it on for 15 minutes.  Rinse then moisturize.

Why Green Tea?
Because green tea is good for the skin.  It has polyphenols; an anti-oxidant that possess anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effect which is beneficial in treating inflammatory skin conditions such as acne and eczema.  Polyphenols can also reverse the signs of environmental damage, such as exposure to the sun and cigarette smoke and can  protect the skkin against free radicals-source: livestrong.com

Thanks for reading.  Till then.  Bye!

TheFaceShop Real Nature Mask Pomegranate

"A lifting/radiance mask sheet containing pomegranate extract rich in vitamins B1 and B2 and minerals to improve resilience and provide moisturized radiance to the skin".

Real Nature Mask Pomegranate
Extract grounded from fresh pomegranate 1000mg contained

Lots of healthy stuff in a mask huh?  Let's google them!
So from www.acne-vitamins.com:
Vitamin B1 or Thiamine - "aids digestion in the process of metabolizing food. A proper balance of vitamin B1 can help your body to better absorb other vitamins. B1 is also an antioxidant that rids your body of toxins, enhances blood circulation and assists in energy production"
Vitamin B2 or Riboflavin - "Vitamin B2 deficiency can be a cause of acne. B2 is essential for healthy skin, hair and nails. B2 also plays a role in growth and energy release. Along with vitamin A, vitamin B2 works to improve and maintain the mucous membranes in the digestive tract, aiding in digestion and preventing the buildup of bacterial waste"
And from livestrong.com:
Minerals - "mineral in addition to vitamins, also help skin rejuvenate and appear healthy"

i hope you can still read the ingredients

I like that the essence of this variant is lightweight and not sticky and is quickly absorbed by my skin.  A bit itchy while the mask sheet is on my face but goes away once I removed it.  The strong smell of alcohol is really annoying and irritating but got used to it after 5 minutes.  The moisturizing effect is just okay especially if in a tropical country but needs to apply moisturizers when in a cold place.  It gives my face a natural sheen maybe because of the minerals but disappears immediately after just washing my face with water.  Resilience?  I guess one time use is not enough to judge this aspect.

TheFaceShop Real Nature Mask Pomegranate for me, is just okay:  it doesn't gave my face any extraordinary effect but thank goodness there's no breakouts!

Thanks for reading.  Till then.  Bye!

DIY Moringa Mask - a succesfull experiment

moringa grass

No you don't need a trunk of moringa to make a mask, just the leaves hahaha and sorry for the quality of the pictures I,m just using a vga camera.  So while in the province, I decided to experiment on this grass because one I remembered my friend's idea, two is that we have a lot of this grass in our backyard and three is that we also have lots of stones to pound the leaves (we do not have mortar and pestle) so running out of materials to use is not a problem.

1/2 cup of moringa leaves + 1 teaspoon of clamansi juice or lemon juice

Pound first the leaves then add the juice.  That's it! So easy right?
Apply the mask all over the face and neck and leave it around 5 to 10 minutes. It doesn't matter if the leaves fall off as long as the extract is in your face.  Then rinse with water.

the end product~moringa mask

My mom was suprised to see that my face looked whiter and smoother and laughed when I said that I applied moringa grass on my face.  But really, this mask made my skin instantly brighter and smoother and squeaky clean yet still a little moisturize too.  Maybe I'll use olive or sunflower oil next time for full moisturization effect.

Let me know the result if you happen to try this mask.

Thanks for reading.  till then.  Bye!

TheFaceShop Real Nature Mask Aloe Vera

Finally, my facial masks online order just arrived.  I have 20 masks from TheFaceShop so expect a lot of facial mask reviews from the said brand.
I'll start with aloe since I need something that will hydrate and soothe my sensitive skin because this crazy weather is giving me skin asthma.

TheFaceShop Real Nature Mask Aloe Vera
A soothing/hydrating mask sheet containing aloe extract, which hydrates and soothes the skin with a rich sense of moisturization, to provide instant care to puffy and and sensitive skin

CAUTION:  Use with caution if you have allergy to adhesive tape.  Do not use on broken or abraded skin.  Discontinue use if signs of irritation or rash appear.  Keep out of reach of children.  Keep package sealed until use.  Avoid contact with eyes, rinse immediately with water

The words soothe and hydrate were mentioned twice in the short description so I really hope this will provide enough moisture to my thirsty skin.  It has 1000mg of extract from grounded fresh aloe so that's only 10g of essence.  Hmmm  I usually use mask that has at least 20g of essence.  Here's how to use:

Directions:  1.  Pull out a sheet 2.  Unfold and place a sheet on a clean face after cleansing and toner stages 3.  Remove the sheet after 15~20 minutes and let the residue get absorbed deep in the skin

The facial mask itself has 12 cuts, is horizontally elongated that it almost reached my earlobes and is neither thick nor thin.  It doesn't cover the mouth and nose area well.

As for the essence, it smells like a real aloe though it also has a strong alcohol scent when I opened the mask packet.  Good thing it goes away after a minute or two after placing it on my face but can still be irritating for those with sensitive nose.  The essence is oily for me; it's like a dry oil though it's not sticky.

When I take out the facial mask from the packet, it's not dripping wet just okay wet (??? what a term) and there's not much essence left for me to apply on my face for the whole week.  After 10 minutes the outer area of the facial mask started to dry out so I applied all the little extra essence left from the pocket.  You'll know when 20 minutes has elapsed because the mask will start to fall out of the face .

When I removed the mask sheet, my face doesn't feel sticky and heavy and my hands glides easily because the essence is really like an oil.  I have to wait around 15 minutes before my skin fully absorbs the essence and take note, I am in front of a fan.

I woke up with a moisturized face though I am a 50~50 on the soothing part, my pimple on my forehead is still angry in red.  Don't ask me about the puffiness part because I don't have a puffy face to begin with (ahahaha my face actually needed some puffiness, just a little though).

Thanks for reading.  Till then.  Bye!

TonyMoly Hanbang Mask Sheet Pack Poria Cocos

And here's my mask of the week which I got on sale from TonyMoly.  I hope they have another sale on December which will be the time that I will lift my haul ban.


Hanbang Mask Sheet Pack (Poria Cocos) Chinaroot Greenbrier Rhizome
Provides highly enriched nutrition and intensive moisture on your skin with cotton cellulose (fabric)
"This Hanbang mask pack effectively makes the Hanbang (Korean traditional herbal) ingredients penetrate into the skin and maintain moisture in the skin for a long time. Use this mask 2-3 times a week to clear out skin troubles. In the summertime, keep the pack in the refrigerator to enjoy a more refreshing effect." TonyMoly Global Website

Unlike TONYMOLY Natural Pulp Essence Sheet Mask, this one has thicker mask sheet.  The essence is also light and not sticky and more refreshing and is as if my whole face is tingling.

back of the mask is in korean
Adhere to the face after facial wash for 15~20 mins. Remove gently and tap with hand on your face for absorption of product.

My face is really hydrated (in a smooth way, not the oily way) especially my nose area which suffered from dryness because I always wiped it for the past few days (I have colds/flu).  Funny how this zap some of my tiny zits and lessen the redness to some of my bumps (although not all) since it's a hydrating mask (probably my breakouts is due to dryness since I sometimes skip putting any moisturizer on my face).  Well, that's what I thought until I read something about Poria Cocos from http://www.naturalwellbeing.com/learning-center/Poria_Cocos

"The Poria cocos is known in traditional Asian medicine to treats dampness, which is beneficial for people who are suffering from Insomnia. The Poria cocos is well known in more traditional Korean folklore as a medicinal herb which is a blessing from the Gods." -naturalwellbeing.com
"Poria cocos is a mushroom which is used in traditional Chinese medicine and has been widely accepted in modern medicine as a treatment for inflammation and as a central nervous system depressant."- naturalwellbeing.com

So that explains the lessening of the redness but how about the hydration?  Here's another site that can maybe help us to understand about the hydration part http://www.gmaherbs.com/pcm.html

"Poria cocos is shown to have anti-inflamatory activity both when taken orally as well as applied topically. Recently, two patents have been approved for the use of Poria cocos in skin treatment creams, one for the treatment of oily skin and acne; the other for sun damaged skin.

In much the same way as with Reishi mushrooms, the women of the Imperial Chinese court used Poria cocos in skin treatments to moisturize, nourish, help prevent pimples and to promote "radiant "skin. Poria cocos is also thought to help prevent dark spots and wrinkles. " -gmaherbs.com

Seems like Poria Cocos is a wonder mushroom, well for me! (hahaha)

Thanks for reading.  Till then.  Bye!

DIY Cotton Mask

Last week while reading and watching Etude House Philippines website and Michelle Phan's vblog, I decided to recreate their DIY masks.

Mask 1: 2 ingredients

a freshner + at least 6 cotton pads

peel and place the soaked cottons pads all over the face

Soak the cotton pads in freshner (a kind of toner that is a little thick than normal).  Here, I used my Etude House' Skin Mal:gum in Deep Moist.

Mask 2: 3 ingredients

toner + emulsion + at least 6 cotton pads

combined the toner and emulsion

Unfortunately I don't have a skin conditioner so I improvised.  I mixed 1 part of toner and 1 part emulsion.  Mixed well then soak the cotton pads then stretch, peel and apply all over the face.  Here, I'm using my Etude House's Skin Mal:gum in Smooth and Nature Republic's Aloe Emulsion.

The result is lovable as it made my skin soft, smooth, bright and refresh.  If you have been given with different kinds of toner and emulsion samples from your purchases, then I think it's the perfect time to use them with this DIY masks.  I'm going to use The FaceShop freebies next time.

Thanks for reading.  Till then.  Bye!

MOTW: Saizen Coenzyme Q10

Part of my random haul that I posted last week is Saizen's CoenzymeQ10 Face Mask which I think is a winner deal since I got to take home 3 masks for the price of 2.

front part

back part with japanese and english instructions and caution

The box container doesn't have full english product description just the words "For moist skin".  I went to their website http://www.daiso-sangyo.co.jp/english/products/products.html and this one too
http://www.daisojapan.com/search.aspx?SearchTerm=coenzyme but unfortunately found nothing.  So I will just refer to livestrong.com:

"Coenzyme Q10 is a fat-soluble vitamin that also works as a coenzyme in your cells' production of energy. Although much of the vitamin is made naturally in the body, it can also be found in many foods, such as spinach, salmon and soybeans. As you grow older, the levels of coenzyme Q10 naturally begin to diminish from your skin cells. To combat this loss, the vitamin is commonly extracted from natural sources and used in anti-aging skin care products."

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/81950-coenzyme-q10-skincare-benefits/#ixzz27irIhxLm

Skin energy production, anti-aging and blocking free radicals are the main words to describe Coenzyme Q10 or Vitamin Q so it's perfect in delaying the signs of aging and protecting the skin from further damage making our skin looking energized.  While searching, I also found out that some take CoenzymeQ10 supplements in capsules.  To know more about Vitamin Q or Coenzyme Q10, you can go to this site http://www.drjoetoday.com/why-your-skin-needs-coenzyme-q10/

Now on with the review.  Here's a closer look/view on the mask's instructions and cautions:

~fresh from the refrigerator~

Hahaha, yeah I store my mask in the refrigerator for a more refreshing and soothing effect.  The mask is thick       and is horizontally elongated that it almost reaches my earlobes.  Perfectly covered my forehead and cheek area but not my chin and jaw part.  The mask don't have the flaps in the eye area so don't be fooled by the first picture of this post.  It is not indicated how much essence the mask has but my estimate is 20ml: 20 ml of Coenzyme Q10 that is a bit sticky at first but tapping and massaging for around 5 minutes would help the skin absorb the essence.  Quite glad with the results because skin is Super Moist and even if I've only slept for 4 hours, my face somehow look energize.  My legs likes it too, they became soft and smooth my hand glides easily when I touch them.

Not bad for P28.33 a piece!

Thanks for reading.  Till then.  Bye!

Mask of the Week: Vitamin C & Neroli

Another great mask from the cute cloud:  Beauty Buffet Vitamin C & Neroli Facial Mask.

revitalise and brighten

Indulge in a sumptuous feast for your skin!  This Beauty Buffet Mask's unique's recipe is made up of L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) - an anti oxidant to help stimulate collagen regeneration and defend against free radicals & pigmentation, as well as soothing Neroli to help boost skin regeneration, and Glycine to help retain moisture.  Skin becomes more refined, clearer and revitalised with a healthy glow.  Naturall botanical extracts - Algae, Aloe Vera and Cucumber alsoo help to moisturise and nourish skin.  Enjoy!

This mask is refreshing and I felt a tingling sensation all over my face.  It feels sticky at first but goes away after massaging and tapping my face in front of the fan.  My skin became smooth, it's like I have BB Cream and a little Volumer on.  It does brighten my face.  The smoothness and brightness faded once face is washed even when the excess essence is applied nevertheless this is now part of my favorite Beauty Buffet Mask.

Thanks for reading.  Till then.  Bye!

Mask of the Week + Random Haul

For this week's Mask of the Week I used Nature Republic's  Brightening Mask Sheet in which I already made a mini review here.  I think it's not for sale in stores and I just got the mask from my previous purchases when Nature Republic are still very generous with GWP.  Since I already did a review on this, I'm just going to share with you what I do with the excess essence from the masks that I've been using and my random mini hauls this week.

Aside from massaging it on the face and neck, I put the rest of the essence from the mask on my feet and legs and recently I store it in clean container like the picture below and use it as a regular daily essence.  Maximizing resources and cost cutting saving money at the same time, right?  Wondering where I got the cute container?  From Landmark at P15 for two (if I'm not mistaken)

excess essence good for one week

Still discovering the wonders of Snoe so I visited the nearest kiosk and got an oil and an s-rub.  Too bad, I didn't the free sample of their item of the month.  Better luck next time Arya!

let's see what these babies can do!

And thank goodness for Sesou, I finally got ahold of Strip it.  Cheers!!!!

hope this will not give me lots of ouchies

Also, I'm so excited to visit Tony Moly and Etude House this weekend for their 50% sale on selected items of course!  Check these facebook pages for the list of the sale items:  TM and EH.

Thanks for reading.  Enjoy Shopping.  Till then.  Bye!

Mask of the Week: Elegant Pearl

Want instant bright skin?  Why not try Pearl!

TONYMOLY Natural Pulp Essence Sheet Mask Pearl
Natural Pulp Essence Sheet Mask made of 100% Pulp Fabric locks moisture on face and provides better absorption for skin for a longer period of time with its silky texture. Contains Pearl extract rich in Amino Acid to effectively help to keep the skin fully hydrated and healthy with no irritation.

Pearl is said to stimulate cell regeneration when topically applied and protects cells from free radicals. Pearl Powder has also been shown to enhance activity of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), a powerful antioxidant enzyme that scavenges free radicals and slows aging. Studies testing Pearl Powder’s ability to impact skin hydration demonstrated that it enhances the water-holding capacity of the skin.
~source: the international dermal institute

directions+ingredients+caution

Here's some directions from TONYMOLY

Directions

On perfectly cleansed and towel-dry skin, unfold the sheet mask and apply it on your face. Leave it on for about 15~20 mins. Remove the mask and gently pat the remaining solution left on the skin for better absorption. Recommended to use 2~3 times a week.

Cautions

For external use only. Do not apply to areas of the skin where sores, Eczema or dermatitis occur. Do not swallow and avoid contact with eyes or on skin which is sensitive to bandages or pad cloth. Discontinue usage and consult a dermatologist if signs of skin irritation and/or rash appear. Keep out of reach to children and store product away from direct sun exposure.

The mask sheet is thin yet strong so it doesn't tear up easily and with the 21ml of essence, it's almost translucent.   Since I put the mask first in the fridge before using, the feeling is refreshing and I didn't feel the stickiness of the mask which is by the way bearable (just massage your face for around 3 minutes and let the essence settle which takes approximately 30 minutes).  The result? Of course brighter skin!  Even if I washed my face the following morning, it still look bright, moisturize and supple well, except for my nose.  The mask didn't cover my whole nose (not just TonyMoly's but all the mask that I tried) so I'll just apply the excess essence in this area.

I guess if you have the means, it's better to use this mask every other day to keep your face looking brighter.

Thanks for reading.  Have a great weekend ahead.  Bye!

Mask of the Week: CO Q10 & Yogurt

Beauty Buffet is one of my favorite brand when it comes to facial mask.  Aside from it's affordable price,  Beauty Buffet also offers wide variety of flavors (flavors?).  This week I tried CO Q10 & Yogurt Facial Mask.

Indulge in a sumptuous feast for your skin.  This Beauty Buffet Mask's unique recipe is made up of Co Q10 to help firm skin & reduce fine lines,as well as Yogurt to help dissolve dead skin & minimise pores, and Glycine to help retain moisture.  It rejuvenates skin so that it appears more elastic and smooth with a radiant glow.   Natural botanical extracts - Algae, Aloe Vera and Cucumber also help to moisturis and nourish skin.

Like the green variant of Beauty Buffet mask, this is now one of my favorites as it's not sticky and heavy to the face.  Just thinking about firming the skin and reducing fine lines and dissolving dead skin and minimising pores together with retaining the moisture makes me think that this is the ultimate mask for me. 

description + usage

~thin facial mask~

Aside from reducing the fine lines part which I think will be achieve in a long run use, this mask did an amazing job to my face.  It instantly brightens and whitens my face making it soft, smooth and supple.  I'm actually thinking of cutting the next mask into pieces and use them into an eye mask to help my eyebags.

Put a little care though in handling the mask because it's thin it breaks easily.  Try not to pull and tug the mask when already in place.  But because it's thin and have just the right amount of essence, I can walk around the house with it as it sticks to the skin.

Thanks for reading.  Till then.  Bye!

Mask of the Week: Anti-Aging Facial Mask Lycopene Extract

You probably think I’m silly if I tell you that when I first use this mask, I thought the essence would be in red (hehehe) because of the tomato ingredient.

Watsons Anti-Aging Facial Mask Lycopene Extract

This specially formulated mask contains lycopene (naturally found in tomatoes) and gingko extracts. Rich in antioxidants, they help to protect your ski from environmental damage and the signs of aging. Leaves your skin silky smooth and reduce the appearance of fine lines.

~thick mask with 6 cuts and slits on the forehead, nose and chin area that fits perfectly on my face~

Although this mask leaves my face sticky, I still grab one whenever it’s available in Watsons. It makes my skin moisturize and silky smooth (not sure with the reducing fine lines part though) and it’s affordable too, cost P39 each with overflowing 30ml essence. I just splash some water on my face after using this mask to remove the stickiness. As for the excess essence, I use it on my feet.

Hope everyone is safe and survived the flooding here in the Philippines. Stay strong and pray, everything will be alright soon.

Thanks for reading. Till then. Bye!

Mask of the Week:Cucumber Essential Mask Sheet Pack

For the past 2 months, I never fail to use a face mask on a weekly  basis (although some use face mask on a daily basis, are you one of them?).  Anyway, I use sleeping pack instead almost every other day for economical reason.

And so I decided to have a new segement....segment???.  Okay not really a segment, but on a weekly basis, I will share /post the mask that I used for the week.

For this week, I tried TonyMoly's Cucumber Essential Mask Sheet Pack.

front"This essential mask sheet pack has been made with our new approach to create change in the ordinary mask packs sold today. This unique mask pack temporarily blocks air out from skin while efficiently transferring the necessary nutrients and moisture deep into the roots of skin. Applying this mask 3-4 times a week will help to fully nourish the skin and keep the skin constantly supple. Cucumber extracts nourish skin and make the skin look bright and clear. Also this mask pack calms the irritated skin and provides moisture the skin lacks. "

~all in Korean~

~illustration on how to use the mask~

Usage: Adhere to the face after facial wash for 15~20 mins. Remove gently and tap with hand on your face for absorption of product.

~blurry, used Ipod camera~

1.  no plastic around the mask 2.  soaking but not dripping wet 3.  thick and strong mask sheet 4.  a total of 9 cuts

I can't smell any cucumber on the essence or mask sheet, the scent is more on the powdery side.  Felt a tingling sensation on the nose and check area of my face and after 15 minutes the the mask started to dry out, I have to press it against my skin in order for it not to fall.  The essence is sticky and feels warm that I want to wash my face after removing the mask sheet.  But I don't want to waste the goodness of the essence so I just let it stay overnight.  The following morning my face feels well moisturize (although still a bit sticky) and looks healthy: bright, clear and supple.

It delivers it's purpose so I'll try this mask again and will just have to bear with the essence's stickiness (good thing it's tolerable that I have slept like a baby).

Till then. Bye!