Mediheal Dress Code Masks Review (Black & Violet)

Time for another mask review complimentary from Skin18! My Blogger Level is now 3, which means I was able to receive 3 masks. (Happy Dance💃😁)

I was sent this Mediheal Dress Code Masks in Violet and Black. Let me share you my experiences on both.

Let me start by saying that this line of masks from Mediheal made masking a lot more fun with its very unique and cute masquerade design!

I was sent two Dress Code Black masks and one Dress Code Violet mask. The first one I've tried was the Dress Code Black.

Dress Code Black - (Jewel Stone - Whitening Care)

✨Claims: Brighten and Whiten Skin

✨Main Ingredients: Niacinamide, pearl powder extract, sea buckthorn extracts and other natural herb oils.

✨Sheet Mask Details: As I have said, this mask was so fancy and festive! The masquerade design added to the fun of using this mask. Plus how cute are those small red stones?! The sheet mask fabric is relatively thick and easy to put on the face although the eye holes are quite big. But it definitely fits and adheres well. I can still actually sing while wearing it😂 It holds quite an essence which has a nice faint smell that does not linger.

✨My experience: I left it for about 30 minutes and it was still wet when I removed it. It absorbs pretty well but left my face tacky. Brightening wise, I was not impressed since I've tried a couple of masks before that has a more powerful brightening effect than this. But hands down to the hydration it gave my skin, I felt refreshed after a long day outside. 

✨Full Ingredients List: Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Trehalose, Betaine, Sea Water, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Adansonia Digitata Leaf Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Squalane, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract, Methylparaben, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Beta-Glucan, Allantoin, Triethanolamine, Polysorbate 80, Adenosine, Fragrance.

✨Price - $20.99 - 10 pcs/pack at Amazon

Dress Code Violet - (Berry - Tone-Up Care)

✨Claims: Skin Toning, Revitalizing and Moisturizing

✨Main Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, several high-quality berry oils and extract that effectively brighten and revitalize the skin. 

✨Sheet Mask Details: This mask has a cute masquerade design too but unlike the Dress Code Black, this one has no stones accent to it. The scent was nice but doesn't last long. I love the details of this fun to use masquerade masks by #mediheal! 

✨My Experience: I left this for more than 30 minutes when it almost dry. I like how it instantly lighten my skin tone. My face looks so fresh and moisturized. It left my skin looking smooth and soft.

✨Full Ingredients List: Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collage, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Trehalose, Betaine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Water, Hamamelis Virginlana(Witch Hazel) Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Ficus Carica Citrifolia Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract, Methylparaben, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Beta-Glucan, Allantoin, Triethanolamine, Polysorbate 80, Adenosine, Fragrance

✨$19.39 - 10 pcs/pack at Amazon

I really enjoyed using these two Mediheal Dress Code Masks! How about you? Have you ever tried any of these masks? Share your experience below!

Disclaimer: This product was sent to me complimentary by Skin18 as part of their Reviewer/Blogger Program for testing and reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

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How I Got Rid of My Acne Breakouts: My Differin Gel Acne Treatment Journey

As an adult in her late 20s (almost 30), the last thing I wanted to have other than an aging skin is a face with breakouts.

But it was inevitable with this changing weather and all such factors. Fortunately, I was chosen for a Smiley360 mission to try the most talk about over-the-counter acne treatment - Differin Gel Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment for 60 days. I was sent a full-size 45 g tube that can be used up to 90 days. 

So what is this Differin Gel Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment?

It's an oil-free and fragrance-free acne treatment that contains Retinoid Adapalene. It used to be an acne treatment prescription for more than 20 years but was approved by the FDA  for over-the-counter used without prescription in 2016. It is the first and only OTC product to contain a full prescription-strength, acne-fighting retinoid — adapalene. 

And what is this Adapalene ingredient?

As you may have noticed, Differin Gel's main active ingredient is Adapalene. It is a kind of retinoid specifically used for clearing acne. It treats acne deep in the pores at the source, prevents new acne from forming and restores the skin's natural texture and skin tone.

How long does Differin Gel take to work?

Differin Gel starts working immediately and results will be seen within 2 to 3 weeks. This acne treatment requires commitment and long-term relationship. It may take some time to see significant results but the key is to stick with it. With continued use, you will definitely see the notable results! To give you an idea, it has been proven from a clinical study that patients reported a nearly 60% average decrease in acne after 12 weeks of use.

Are there any known side effects?

Although Adapalene is known to be the most gentle among other retinoids, you may still experience dryness, redness, irritation and burning/stinging (I felt the stinging and experienced the dryness for about 2 weeks). But these are all part of the retinization - where your skin is trying to adapt to the retinoid. The irritation usually lessens after four weeks of continued use. So do not give up! Just stick to it and your skin shall be rewarded after. It is also good to note that not all experience retinizaton - how fortunate these souls are.

How to use Differin Gel?

Differin Gel should only be used once a day - preferably at night. You only need a pea-sized amount to apply to your face.

Unlike spot treatments, this gel is meant to be applied to the entire face. To make it easier to cover the entire face using this small amount of product, I found it useful to dab tiny amount of the product to my cheeks, forehead, and chin, then spread it evenly to my entire face.

My Experience with Differin Gel

Let me begin by showing you how my skin looks like before using the Differin Gel.

A little gross, right? This was really a bad breakout for me since I usually have a nice smooth skin. Noticed that I have tiny bumps spread all over my right cheeks and some big chunks on my left and forehead too! Not a happy face at all.

Then I began using Differin Gel at the beginning of October 2016. It is usually a 3-step process: Cleanse, Treat and Moisturize. But I do add some steps in between.😊First, it is important to use a gentle, non-drying cleanser when using this product, so long before I received the product, I did some research for a perfect mild cleanser to pair it with. Differin gel actually offers a Balancing Cleanser and a Balancing Moisturizer, however, I read not-so-good reviews about them so I refrain from using both. I decided to go with Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser, it's fragrance-free, non-drying and non-irritating. And it did work well with Differin Gel. After cleansing, I use the Mario Badescu Aloe Vera Toner. It is also gentle, alcohol and fragrance-free that is ideal for a dry or sensitive skin. Since using Differin Gel makes the skin drier than usual, this toner is also a perfect match with Differin Gel. Then I apply a moisturizer as a buffer and to reduce irritation. I used e.l.f. Daily Hydration Moisturizer - a lightweight and nourishing moisturizer. It is not required to apply a moisturizer before applying the Differin Gel, it was my own way of making sure I do not get the irritation at it's best which for me actually worked out. After my moisturizer, I will finally apply the acne treatment. In the first week, I only used the Differin Gel every other night to build up my skin's tolerance and to slowly adapt to the new acne treatment. After the acne treatment application, I then moisturized again with my e.l.f. Daily Hydration Moisturizer. However, in the past couple of weeks, I tried different moisturizer (some PRs and free) which I believe work well too. I am currently using Swanicoco Life Time Saver Bio Cream (which I received as one of the products in my Swanicoco PR package) as a moisturizer and the final step of my night time skincare routine.

Surprisingly, I did not see any side effects on my first week of using the Differin Gel but instead, I noticed that my skin was loving it and the pimples on my face were drying fairly quickly.

After the first week, I started using the Differin Gel every night. Then my face became a little sensitive. Some products will make my face suffer from a tingling effect when applied to my face and I started to notice that more acne is coming out. This did not worry me since I know that the treatment is beginning to work on the surface of my skin to reduce the acne-causing clogs and it will subside after using it continuously for 2 more weeks.

See my results of using Differin Gel for the first 2 weeks below:

My breakouts are still clearly visible but the pimples are drying slowly. I continued my routine while trying to minimize the use of other new skin care products and makeups too. But from time to time I incorporate my masking addiction to my routine - after applying the Differin Gel and before my final moisturizer. I even joined a November masking challenge which I think my skin loved!😀😁

So after 4 weeks (a month) of using Differin Gel, below is a comparison result:

A huge difference indeed! I still have pimples coming out every now and then but they are tiny, unlike the big, painful ones I used to have in the before photo. You can clearly see that my breakout was finally tamed.

After the 60-day Differin Gel challenge, the results are in. And here's mine:

Yay for the amazing results! I still continue regularly using the product and I am not planning on stopping it as it is truly effective in keeping my acne at bay. Here are some photos from December of my current skin state:

And here's the most recent photos taken just a few days ago:

I still have pimples coming out every once in a while, especially when I have my monthly period (like now), but I can confidently say that I do not have any more breakouts since I started using Differin Gel continuously. The only left to treat now are my annoying acne scars. They are still visible and looks like pimples in the photos.😩

Overall, I am convinced that I found my holy grail. And this thing is very affordable retailing at $28.88 for the 90-day supply tube and $10.88 for the 30-day supply at Wal-Mart. This is also available to all your local stores such as Target, Walgreens, and CVS. My journey on getting rid of my breakouts finally came in to close. But my journey to a healthier skin is still on-going.

Some takeaways:

• always choose a gentle cleanser
• do not use more than one acne treatment product. Differin Gel works better if used alone.
• avoid products containing alpha hydroxy acid or glycolic acid as it may worsen the irritation.
• always use SPF if you are going to be exposed to sunlight.

How about you? Have you found your perfect match in terms of treating your acne? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Disclaimer: I received this product complimentary from Smiley360 to test and review but this article in no way sponsored by Smiley360 or by the brand. All opinions are my own and based on my personal experience.

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Review: Revlon PhotoReady Face Products

I've been MIA for quite a long time, I know! Life caught up with me, but anyway, here's another exciting makeup review! I have been trying the Revlon PhotoReady Face Products I received complimentary from Crowdtap. How awesome is that?!

Let me just start by saying Cowdtap is still on my top favorite site where I get free products. I received a lot of amazing stuff this year! And I am happy to say that almost all my branded makeup came from this site. So, if you are not a member yet, what are you waiting for?

The most recent Sample Mission I had with them was with Revlon's PhotoReady Face Products Collection. I received the following:

• Revlon PhotoReady Insta-Filter™ Foundation
• Revlon PhotoReady Prep, Set, Refresh™ Mist
• Revlon PhotoReady™ Color Correcting Pen
• Revlon PhotoReady Galaxy Dream™Palette

So in this blog, I will be reviewing each one of them. Let's start with the Foundation.

Revlon PhotoReady Insta-Filter™ Foundation

Claims: Flawless Finish, Built-In Blender, All Day Wear, High-Definition Filter technology captures and transforms any light to blur and soften flaws

I received the Natural Beige Shade which I think was great for my skin tone. I actually have high hopes in this foundation and thought that the applicator was great the first time I saw it. However, it was actually hard to control how much product to get from the applicator. 

Also, this doesn't cover much of my skin's imperfections like my acne scars. So it ended up with a medium coverage for me. The finish was great - not cakey. The product was easily blendable but it only stays for a few hours. Also, if you have a dry skin, keep in mind to always moisturize your face first before applying this foundation as it tends to make your face more dry.

Retail Price: $17.99 at Ulta

Revlon PhotoReady Prep, Set, Refresh™ Mist

Claims: Hydrating, Weightless, 3-in-1 use, High-Definition Filter technology captures and transforms any light to blur and soften flaws

I love the smell of this mist! The subtle scent was so refreshing to me. As a primer, it helps to freshen up my face and makes it easy for me to apply my makeup. It sets my make up pretty well too giving it a silky hydration. I always have it in my makeup bag and I love freshening up with this spray mist. Very handy and works great for me!

Retail Price:  $12.99 at Ulta

Revlon PhotoReady™ Color Correcting Pen

Claims: Neutralize color imperfections instead of covering them, Soft precision brush allows you to target your problem zone for easy application anytime, anywhere

This color correcting pen works well. It covers the redness as promised and it's blendable, although the formula could have been thicker. The packaging doesn't really impress me. At first, I find it hard to get the product out then it became harder to control how much product to get using the applicator. But it does the job.

Retail Price:  $10.99 at Ulta

Revlon PhotoReady Galaxy Dream™Palette

Claims: Easy to Blend, Universally flattering shimmer shades, silky smooth powder format

Next to the Prep, Set, Refresh Mist, this palette is my favorite. I love all the beautiful shimmering colors. It is so pigmented, blendable and easy to apply. It goes along perfectly with other makeups too. The color is not that blinding but it will definitely give you a subtle glow, perfect for an everyday look!

Retail Price: $14.99 at Ulta

What do you think about this PhotoReady Face Products Collection from Revlon? Yay or Nay? Drop your comments below!

Disclaimer: These Revlon PhotoReady Collection products were sent to me complimentary by Crowdtap for testing purposes. All opinions are my own.

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Swanicoco Shining Luminous Mask Pack Review

This is my third mask review series I have for my PR from Swanicoco. Today's mask review is for Natural Bio Cosmetic Dr.Syul Swanicoco Shining Luminous Mask Pack.

This mask is one of the 5 masks I received from Swanicoco. To check the other masks and other skin care products included in my PR package, you can visit my blog post about it here.

About the brand:

Swanicoco is a South Korean Beauty Brand that is known for their naturally-based, fermented and safe beauty products. They become the top natural cosmetics company in the Republic of Korea for their ceaseless bio development research to create a natural biosystem. Interestingly,  the word “Swanicoco” means that they pursue the elegance of a “swan” (feminine), and “coco” means “coconut” (as they offer botanical natural cosmetics).

Mask Claims:

• Whitening / Brightening
• Firming
• Improves Hydration
• Improves Elasticity
• Regulation of secreted sebum
• Helps in Collagen production
• Stimulates the synthesis of hyaluronic acid
• Maintains the acid-base balance of the skin
• Supports skin-regeneration processes

Key Ingredients:

• Collagen Amino Acids - helps to prevent anti-aging effects
• Ascorbyl Glucoside -  helps to provide skin radiance and allows for a natural, healthy skin glow.
• Copper Tripeptide-1 - Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant
• Pentapeptide-20 - helps revitalize skin’s building blocks
• Niacinamide - improves the appearance of enlarged pores, uneven skin tone, fine lines, dullness, and a weakened skin surface

Experience:

It smells like a herbal root of some sort. The mask is drenched with essence but not drippy at all. The sheet mask was a bit big for my face and adherence was just okay. I left it for 20 minutes. My skin felt a bit sticky but not too much. My face felt moisturized and hydrated. However, I did not notice a great brightening effect. My face was left with a slightly dewy finish.

It retails at $2.00 here.

Here is the full list of ingredients:

You can also check my reviews of other Swanicoco masks, 2GF Bio Mix Mask Pack and Swanicoco Golden Time Leap Mask Pack.

Disclaimer: This product was sent to me complimentary by Swanicoco as part of their Project Swans 2.  All opinions are my own.

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Benton Dear My Best Friend Bar Review

I was fortunate enough to receive another skin care product to test and review. This time, I was selected by the brand Benton Cosmetic to review their Dear My Best Friend Bar.



About the Brand:

Are you familiar with the movie 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'? The one who gets younger with time since he was born already looking old? That's the story that inspired the name, Benton. The idea of the brand is to restore the skin back to its original, healthy condition with healthy recipes instead of harmful ingredients. Remember Daisy? Benjamin Button's love interest? She could have wished to turn back time and be young again like her boyfriend. So that's where the concept of this brand came from.

About the Dear My Best Friend Bar:

Are you curious about the name of this soap like I am? Well, if you are a skin care enthusiast like me, you consider your body and face as your best friend. And that's how Benton considers it too. They said that the soap is a letter with their heart to their consumer's best friend - their body and face.

Benton's Dear My Best Friend Bar (aka BF Bar) is a naturally-derived soap for both face and body. It's Benton's first natural soap made with vegetable oil base and various botanical ingredients, which enable moisturizing and cleansing. 

Claims:

• Helps improved blemish skin
• Moisturizes Dry skin by removing dead skin cells
• Smoothes bumpy and rough skin
• Cleanse skin gently that can also be used for sensitive skin

Key Ingredients:

• Coconut Oil
• Palm Oil
• Olive Fruit Oil
• Tea Tree Extract
• Propolis Extract

Full List of Ingredients:

Packaging

The packaging is simple but unique box packaging and an extra plastic packaging inside. I love that it comes with a foaming net for best storage. It's very handy and keeps my soap in its best condition.

 

My Experience and Thoughts:

I have been using this soap for almost 3 weeks now and so far I am loving it. But I will be honest, I do not really like the smell. It smells like dead meat to me (sorry!) I am not a fan of fragrances but at least maybe make it non-fragrance? Anyway, the smell is bearable and doesn't linger at all and thinking that it was derived from natural ingredients, I cannot really complain since it's good for my skin. Plus, the effect is greater than the smell itself.

I like that it bubbles easily but it is also easy to wash off.

At first, I am afraid to use it on my face since I really have a sensitive skin and I had troubles breaking out. But then, I started using it on my face everytime I shower and did not feel any harsh effect. It is indeed gentle to the skin!

 I have tiny red spot rashes on my left hand that I do not know what causes it and before I used the BF Bar the redness is so visible and it's itchy most of the times. Unfortunately, I accidentally deleted my before photo of it. 😌😏😑😓 Anyway, I noticed that with the continuous use of the BF Bar, the redness slowly calms down until I can barely see the red spots and it doesn't itch anymore. Yay!

Almost 3 weeks of using the BF Bar result. You can still see some tiny spots but believe me it was worst before. 

Also, I love how soft and moisturized my skin is after every use. This is the kind of soap I would like to stock up for this cold and dry season. It is a soap that the whole family can enjoy!

Disclaimer: This product was sent to me complimentary by Benton Cosmetic for testing and reviewing purposes.  All opinions are my own.

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