And Another One! This Time From It's Skin

I have another reco serum/essence/ampoule for those who are just diving into the korean skincare world and it's cheaper compared to the Innisfree The Green Tea Seed Serum.  It's the Power 10 Formula CO Effector with Phyto Collagen from It's Skin.

But of course, this is just based on my opinion and personal experience.  Products that works for me might not work for you.

This is a bit thicker and stickier than the Innisfree but the effect is almost the same.  It's as moisturizing but a half step lower when it comes to nourishing but it makes it up to it by making my skin softer.  And since this serum is thicker, I only need half of the pipette to cover my face and neck.  And because it's cheaper (average $10), I sometimes layer it but not up to 7 times like what I do with the Hatomugi Skin Conditioner.

Serum For First Timers and It's From Innisfree

I was so clueless when I started with skincare.  I thought that I should have an essence, a serum and an ampoule because I didn't know that the three are in the same category.  I also thought that first essence and essence are the same thing but it turns out that I should use the former before toner and the latter after toner.  There's a lot of trial and error, and a lot of money wasted and if I could go back in time, I should have also watch k-beauty youtube channels in addition to my blog readings.

Anyway, if I could recommend a serum for first timers for all skin type, I would suggest the Innisfree The Green Tea Seed Serum.

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum

They say that signs of skin aging starts to show at 30...then why do I see the signs already on my face when I'm only in my 20's (0_o).  I even took the quiz from this website; www.webmd.com, and my skin seems to be already in it's 30's.

Since I rarely show my face in this blog, let me quickly describe my skin:  It's a bit plump and mostly smooth but having a dry skin type there are some dry/flaky spots specifically in my nose area.  I initially have dry skin (but because of continues use of different hydrating and brightening products, my face now looks a bit radiant specially on my upper cheeks area) and my freckles are very noticeable specially when I'm under the sun for too long.  And lastly I have a few faint lines on my forehead, "spidery" lines under my eyes because of lack of sleep, and noticeable laugh line (because I love to laugh really hard :) and I have chubby cheeks).

And I'm most concern with the lines and thought that I already needed to apply an anti-aging product so even if it's over my budget, I still got the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum.

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum

Regular price P1499/$25.99

50ml

Got it from SM Makati Department Store

Links:  Olay website/ Olay facebook page/  Olay Philippines facebook page

I got this stuff at a very good promo (I got the serum plus cream bundle offered by a saleslady) plus I also it at almost 20% off.  I'm still not using the cream so that if there's any changes, I can fully credit it to the serum (since I'm constantly using the same set of products for more or less 2 months now).

It says in the box that this serum is for firmer, smoother looking skin + intense hydration and it's also with hydra-firming complex.  More product info from Olay.com below:

"Concentrated to give you brighter, more radiant skin that’s firmer after just 5 days. The ultra lightweight formula delivers anti-aging ingredients deep into skin’s surface and moisturizes to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in just 2 weeks. 

Younger looking skin without drastic measures.*
• Skin is instantly hydrated and after just 5 days, skin is firmer looking.
• Skin looks brighter and more radiant. 

* Results not equal to cosmetic procedures."

Let's start with the first point of this serum which is a brighter, more radiant, hydrated and firmer looking skin after 5 days.  Except for the the firmer looking skin, the rest can actually be observed in my very first application all thanks to the consistency and the golden color and the gold dust looking substance of the serum.

I hope you can see it in the below picture but it's like the serum is gleaming in gold and there's also specks of gold-like particles in it that makes the skin instantly brighter and radiant in just one application.  The consistency is a bit on a thick side that it scares me at first but after letting this serum set for like a minute, it becomes a bit powdery yet velvety and still creamy on my skin.

Once washed though (on my first day of application) all the effects are gone and these effects and the firming of skin part just became permanent (with continued use) after like a month so the promising 5 days didn't apply on me.  Still, I admire this serum for it's brightening and radiance effect which other products that I used didn't gave me and I can say that my skin is firmer than before.

can you see the golden dust?

Next is the anti-aging side of this serum.  Let me expound/continue the consistency part that I mentioned above:  it's like 70% of the product applied is absorbed deep into my skin leaving the 30% just sitting on the surface of my outer skin locking the 70% part thus moisturizing and keeping the anti-aging ingredients in my skin (I hope I'm still making sense to you) and this observation of mine actually back-ups the description of Olay.  I noticed that the lines on my forehead and my laugh line are less noticeable but not after 2 weeks...it's after a month which again is based only on my observation (I read some reviews that they see the promised results within the promised time).  The lines on my under-eyes didn't budge though even if I religiously put an ample amount on them (I guess what I need is a powerful eye cream or a surgery already, yikes).

mine is made in Thailand

Time for the packaging and scent which I wouldn't tackle much because this post is getting longer.  For me the packaging with it's glossy vivid red plastic bottle and silver and black cap and nozzle is so mature looking.  When the nozzle is pointing at the middle it means that it's open and when it is pointed at the side it means it's closed.  The scent is more on the flowery side, it's like the scent that I smell from posh wedding invitations.

Oh by the way I only use one pump amount of the serum all over my face and neck.  What I do is distribute the product on my finger tips then lightly press them first on my concern areas (forehead, under-eyes and laugh line) then whatever's left on my fingertips, I smooth it in a circular motion all over my face and neck, kind of like doing a quick face massage.

source

The time-frame given by Olay didn't apply on me but with continued and religious day and night application, the effects specially the radiance part which is very noticeable on my upper cheeks (it's as if I'm slightly wearing a highlighter) and the moisturizing and anti-aging promises of Olay Regenerist Micro Sculpting Serum became evident in my face (not equal to cosmetic or surgery procedures of course, wink!).

Thanks for reading. Till then. Bye!

TONYMOLY Fresh Aqua Water Drop Serum

Ever since I heard about the 5 korean skincare regimen, I started to be really curious with the serum.  It's very new music to my ears.  SO when TonyMoly announced their 50% off sale last September, serum is number one in my to buy list.

Fresh Aqua Water Drop Serum
Original Price is P948 for 50ml

Too bad every specification in the box is in korean and I couldn't find the product in any TonyMoly website (maybe this will be discontinued).  So without any idea as to what it can do, I started to use it reguarly; day and night, for 3 months now.

And here's the serum.  Milky in color.  Gel like texture

The smell of this serum is something that is hard to describe: it smells clean but becomes odorless once spread unto the skin.  It's milky white in color and has a gel consistency that melts and turn into something watery once spread/rubbed.

The bottle has a pump though I still keep the serum in it's box to prevent dust and other particles from entering since there is no cap provided.  The bottle looks like it's made of glass but it's actually plastic (almost the same material that is being used to iphones) and it's very simple looking blue and white bottle which is totally okay with me.  But it's not transparent so to monitor the content inside you have to place the bottle in front of a light and you'll see a line which is the end of the pump and that's my indicator as to how much more serum I have.

And here's the pump of the bottle

So I use this serum day and night after toning my clean face.  I use around 2 to 3 pumps per application.  I don't directly put it in my face, I first spread it in my palm then pat it on my face, this way it will make the spreading of the serum more even (and fast too) and at the same time prevents me from doing unnecessary tugging and pulling of my face (which will somehow help in preventing lines and wrinkles).  Because of it's watery consistency, my skin absorbs the serum quickly but I let a minute or two to past before I apply another layer of product.

Turns watery once spread or rub

Instant result after just one night:  My skin becomes softer and smoother than before.
After a week:  Pores become smaller.
After a month:  Skintone becomes more even than before, softer and smother skin.  Pores become smaller (my sister noticed it too) my face is also glowing a little).

After a month there's no further improvement/effect that I noticed from my face so continued use of the serum is more of a maintenance.  My pores generally have become smaller though I need a stronger serum that targets large pores for my cheeks:  my pores in the cheeks area becomes smaller but still noticeable and bigger compared to the other area of my face.

Thanks for reading.  Till then.  Bye!

On Serum

photo from katasher.com

Serum is a thick liquid-like product that targets the deeper layers of the skin which regular moisturizers are unable to reach.  It's a beauty product that has an active ingredients to target specific skin problem like wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots and dullness and some serums also promises to prevent acnes.

In choosing a facial serum, keep in mind the skin type and complexion of your skin and the effect you wanted to achieve or the issues that you want to address or prevent.  For example, look for a serum that has a Vitamin C as it's key ingredient when you are after an anti-aging effect as Vitamin c helps in fighting free radicals from our environment.  For hydration, it's best to have a serum with hyaluronic acid as it helps in moisturizing and improving the elasticity of the skin.

The serum for your skin greatly depends on what your skin needs.

Now let's go to how to apply serum.  Actually it's more of how I apply a serum.  I start with a freshly clean face.  After toning, I quickly spread 2 to 3 pumps or pea size serum to my palms then pat it to my face and neck.  pat a little more to help my skin absorb the serum faster and at the same time provide a light massage to my face.  Then to completely seal the serum, I top with with a moisturizer.  I have dry to very dry skin type so I still need moisturizer to fully hydrate my skin but based on my readings, you can skip to apply the moisturizer.

Here some links/sites that may help you in knowing what serum is best for you but of your course nothing beats your dermatologists

About.com -http://skincare.about.com/od/extraskincaresteps/f/SerumFAQ.htm
wiseGeek.com -http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-face-serum.htm
APIVITA -http://www.apivita.com/new/natural-serum/