Showing posts with label skincare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label skincare. Show all posts

My Top 20 Beauty Brands in 2020

Wednesday, December 23, 2020




2020 might not be everyone's favorite year right now. There was so much sadness throughout this year, but I can't help but to still be thankful. Along with everything that happened are some great realizations and discoveries for me. And although it might be a little early to say this, I will claim it already:
 "Hey, I am still alive and ready for 2021!"

But before we leave this super dramatic year, I would love to take this opportunity to mention the top 20 beauty brands that made my 2020 a little better. Shall we start?


1. PixiBeautyThis brand would be my number one on the list. If you read my previous posts, I never failed to mention PixiBeauty. Not only because I am on their PR list, but also because all their products are honestly incredible. So if you haven't check this affordable brand yet, you should start checking them out and see their wide range of skincare and makeup products. You might find a new favorite brand come in 2021. See my dedicated post for this brand here.


2. Good Molecules. Although I have only come to know this brand this year, it has quickly become one of my favorite. Their skincare worked so well for my skin and they have become a staple to my skincare routine. My wonderful 2020 skincare journey would not be the same without this brand. Learn more about them in my previous post here.


3. Fresh Beauty. This might be one of the most expensive brands I included in this list, nevertheless, they do deserve this spot because they have remarkable products that work. You can find something you will fall in love with from their variety of skincare, body care, and fragrance products. 


4. Rituals. Looking for something affordable but luxurious beauty products? This brand is for you! Their body care set is phenomenal. And I can't wait to try their perfume, skincare, makeup, hair care, kitchen essentials, and clothing products. Yes, they have it all.


5. Innisfree. Are you a k-beauty fan? This Korean beauty brand should be on your list this coming new year if you haven't already tried it. Aside from their cute packaging, you'll love their skincare, makeup, body, and hair product line up. 


6. Filorga. I have only tried two of this brand's products yet I might say they don't disappoint and it made me want to try all of their products. I am not even exaggerating. This brand is also on the pricey side but it's for a good reason. Their products are effective!


7. Kiss / Impress Manicure. I am not a fan of fancy acrylic nails but who doesn't like pretty nails once in a while? That is why I came to love this press-on manicure brand. Besides having a gorgeous line of beautiful nail designs, they are also easy to apply and are great for last-minute party calls. Yes, even the zoom parties.


8. Amika. What is beauty without beautiful hair, right? This brand has some astonishing hair care products. I personally love their Flash Instant Shine Mask. I didn't even have to comb my hair, let's leave it at that.


9. Eva-NYC. Let's talk more about hair care products. There's nothing more satisfying than a good hair day on quarantine mode. Ever since trying out their dry shampoo, this brand easily becomes one of my favorites.


10. Laneige. One of the keys to beauty is well-hydrated skin and lips. This is where Laneige comes into the picture. They have hydrating skincare and lip products that can make a difference in your beauty routine. 


11. First Aid Beauty. I was first introduced to this brand this year and I couldn't be happier. FAB created products for all skin types but has a specialty for dry skin. Their Ultra Repair Cream is a best-seller and is also a game-changer for me. Their products are one of my winter must-haves.


12. I Dew Care. This is a fairly new brand to me but swiftly became a favorite. They have adorable and fun packaging and their products are exceptional. They had me with dewy and glowy skin. Most of the time, that's all I wear.


13. Spongelle. Bath has been extra enjoyable with Spongelle products! Their body wash-infused buffers are my favorite. All of their products from body and bath, hand care, feet care, and candles smell heavenly. Need a bath? Make it extra with Spongelle.


14. Hum Nutrition. Would you agree that beauty also comes from within? I do! I was gifted some of Hum Nutrition products that help me look and feel good inside and out. It has been a very great help for my skin as I have noticed I don't experience troublesome breakouts like before.


15. Merci Handy. This brand has been a ray of additional sunshine amidst the pandemic. Not only do they have very fun packaging (and some lovely jokes to smile about), they also have a charming hand, body, and hair products.


16. L'oreal. This year won't be complete without some L'oreal products. To tell you honestly, most of my lipsticks are from them and who doesn't love lipsticks? It's my favorite makeup. Now that I stay home and do not wear masks, lipstick is the only color I wear on my face most of the time.


17. Pop Beauty. This is a rather new brand that brings a pop of color to the beauty world! Their products have interesting names that will certainly get your attention. They bring you "uncomplicated" skincare and "unapologetic" color through their quality products.


18. Buxom Cosmetics. They offer a variety of beauty products and my favorite was their plumping lip glosses. The shine of their glosses are gorgeous and provides that refreshing and cooling sensation. Let's keep that until 2021 and the years to come.


19. Joah Beauty. If you are looking for an affordable K-beauty and drugstore brand, this is a brand you should start looking at. You can find it at your local CVS and there are so many products to choose from. Take your pick.


20. 310 Nutrition. You might think, this brand is not a beauty brand and you might be right. But hey, beauty comes from within, remember? 310 Nutrition has been part of my health and wellness journey throughout my 2020. Their protein shake powder and collagen powder are something that I can say became part of my beauty journey. Their collagen powder helps support healthy skin, so that counts as part of beauty, right?



Thank you for making it at the end of the list! I hope you found some new brands to try this coming 2021.

What are your top beauty brands this year? Did any of mine made your list too? 


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How to start a skincare routine from scratch

Wednesday, September 9, 2020


Disclaimer: I am in no way a skincare professional or expert. All information in this post is based on my own combined research and personal experiences.

Are you new in the skincare world? Are you looking to start a skin care regimen that will work for you? Let me share how I started so you can get an idea of where to begin! 

First off, what is skincare? 

According to Wikipedia, Skincare is the range of practices that support skin integrity, enhance its appearance, and relieve skin conditions. They can include nutrition, avoidance of excessive sun exposure, and appropriate use of emollients.

So when do we supposed to start to have a skincare routine?

Let me tell you this, I started a skincare routine when I am already past 20. But according to an article I read from the Essential Wholesale and Labs, at age 14-20, skincare is supremely important since teenagers often develop chaotic skin. Experts say that it's never too young to find and start a routine that works for you, and as the old saying goes: "Prevention is better than cure." Starting a skincare routine while you are young will help you out, in the long run, to put off the effects of advancing years for much longer. 

But what if you are past your teenage years? Don't worry! It is not too late to start a routine. This remains true: our basic skincare needs to stay the same - cleanse, moisturize, and protect. But as we grow older, our skin needs more attention, and adding some steps are sometimes necessary, like toning, exfoliating, adding some special serums, and/or prescription treatments. But let us start with the basics.

When I came here in the US, I discovered that there's more to skincare than just washing your face with soap and water. In all honesty, I started off with only blindly using every skincare product I can get a hold for free, which I can definitely tell you were not a good thing.

You should know your skin first. Do you have a normal skin type? An oily one? Or maybe a combination or sensitive skin? That is something I did not really pay attention to when I started using skincare products.

How can you determine your skin type?

Tatcha has mentioned two great ways to do it:

The Bare-Faced Method - is where you cleanse your face thoroughly with a mild cleanser and gently pat try. Leave bare for 30 minutes and examine your cheeks, chin, nose, and forehead for any shine and after another 30 minutes, evaluate whether your skin feels parched. If your skin feels tight, your skin is likely dry. If there is noticeable shine on your nose and forehead, your skin is most likely normal/combination. If there is shine on your cheeks in addition to your forehead and nose, you most likely have oily skin.

The Blotting Sheet Method - is where you gently pat a blotting paper on the different areas of your face. Hold the sheet up to the light to determine how much oil is visible. If the sheet picked up little to no oil, you most likely have dry skin. If the blotting sheet reveals oil from the forehead and nose areas, your skin is normal/combination. Finally, if the blotting paper is saturated with oil, it is incredibly likely that you have oily skin.

Let's dive in deeper to each skin type:

Normal - blessed you! You have a well-balanced skin which is not too dry or too oily. Your skin is not prone to breakouts or flakiness.

Oily - this is when your skin always looks glowing, but its because it has excess oil, especially on your T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin). Your skin tends to feel greasy, and this is the type that is often prone to blemishes and breakouts.

Dry - this is the opposite of having an oily skin where your skin feels and looks dehydrated and dry. It can be noticeably rough, flaky, and itchy.

Combination - this is when your skin is oily in certain areas and dry in others. Usually, the skin is oily in the T-zone and dry or normal on the cheeks and the rest of the face.

Sensitive - this is usually characterized by visible redness, frequent rashes, and bumps, with patches of dry, flaky, and irritated skin. This skin type is more likely to quickly get irritated when trying new makeup or skincare products.

Give yourself some time to really understand your skin type and, along with it, give some thought of what your skin needs. 

Now that you know your skin type, what's next?

Let's talk about your skin's BASIC needs.

As we have already mentioned, our skin's essential needs consist of cleansing, moisturizing, and protecting.

Cleanse - it is essential to wash your face morning and night. By cleansing, you are getting rid of dirt, sweat, sebum, and makeup from the skin's surface. 

For normal skin, most cleansers would basically work, but it's always good to find mild cleansers that can remove dirt and grime but will also preserve your natural sebum. 

For oily skin, oil-free foaming and gel cleansers tend to be the most effective. Look for cleansers that contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to help with breakouts.

On the other hand, oil, milk, and cream-based formula that contains shea butter, honey, lipids, or ceramides work well for dry skin type. Avoid cleansers with irritants such as perfumes, alcohol, and other harsh ingredients. 

For combination and sensitive skin, an ultra-gentle cleanser is your best choice. Look for fragrance-free, paraben-free, and soap-free cleansers. A gel or micellar cleanser that contains aloe tends to be a good choice. 

Of course, choosing the right cleanser for your skin can sometimes take some time. Whatever cleanser you picked, make sure you take the time using it right. It is recommended that you apply your cleanser with your fingers in gentle, slow, circular motions for at least 30 seconds to a minute. After washing your face, gently pat it dry with a towel and avoid scrubbing it to your face. This is something I also learned late from the game. I used to scrub the towel on my face instead of just patting it gently. 

Moisturize - this is an integral part of the skincare routine since it hydrates and softens the skin while sealing moisture. Like finding the right cleanser for your skin, it might also take time to find the right moisturizer for you and may take a trial and error method. But be patient, you will definitely find a match! 

For normal and combination skin type, choose a simple, neutral, light, and non-greasy moisturizer. 

Oily skin usually does great with lightweight oil-free moisturizers that contain hyaluronic acid and glycerin.

Dry skin, on the other hand, can benefit from a richer and denser cream that contains shea butter, jojoba oil, or coconut oil.

For sensitive skin, always go with fragrance-free formula and moisturizers labeled hypoallergenic, and that contains aloe or chamomile.

Protect - it is vital to apply sunscreen that is at least SPF 30 and broad-spectrum to protect your skin from developing skin cancers and also prevent the development of fine lines and wrinkles every morning. It is recommended that you apply your SPF 30 minutes before going out and re-apply it every two hours. You can use a daily moisturizer that already has a built-in moisturizer for a simpler routine. 

It won't be necessary to use SPF at night. You might opt-in using additional skincare products instead, like exfoliators or acne treatments that specifically target your skin problems.

But if you are only starting to build a skincare routine, it is always better to start with the least products as possible. You also have to give your skin some time to get used to your routine. Do not be discouraged if you have not seen any results overnight. It can take up to six weeks to actually see results. Consistency is the key. 

And also, don't forget your lips! You can use a lip scrub once or twice a week and apply lip moisturizers every night.

On my next blog post, we'll dive into a more advanced skincare routine.

I hope this helps you start a skincare routine that is best for your skin! Do not hesitate to leave a comment or question below if you have any.

If you are looking for a skincare brand to start with, check out my Good Molecules post here.








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Review: Benton Cacao Moist and Mild Toner

Monday, May 21, 2018




Hello everyone! I am here with yet another Benton Cosmetic product review - the new Cacao Moist and Mild Toner.  Like the Cacao Moist and Mild Serum, I am currently loving this product! Read my full experience below.
I have been using this toner for almost 2 weeks now. I avoided using any other products but Benton while using this toner to fully see the results. This has the same simple yet cute packaging of the Serum with its pink color. It has a tall, 150 ml bottle with a tiny hole to dispense the product.




This Cacao Moist and Mild Toner claim to hydrate the skin, leaving it smooth and with a balanced glow. Its main ingredients include Cocoa Extract, Cocoa Flower and Seed Extract, and Sodium Hyaluronate




The product is transparent in color, almost viscous but still drippy. It has a light-formula with a non-sticky texture and I love that it absorbs fast.  I also love that it's fragrance-free and alcohol-free




After using this product, my skin felt hydrated, nourished and with a healthy glow. Some red patches on my face also calm down. So far, my skin loved all of the Benton products I've tried. It did not cause me any breakouts but actually calms my skin down which I love!



This toner is recommended for oily skin that needs a light-hydrating product and dehydrated and dry skin. Like the serum, it is also suitable to use for all seasons. This toner is used as the first step of the skin care routine after cleansing.

This Cacao Moist and Mild Toner is currently available on eBay with a 25% off discount - from $18.00 to $13.50. So if you want to try it, go ahead and check it out now.

Here is the list of the complete ingredients:


Would you be interested in trying this toner? What's your favorite toner as of the moment? Comment below!

#Benton, #bentoncosmetic, #CacaoMoistAndMildToner, #cacaotoner, #cacao, #toner, #alcoholfreetoner, #skincare, #naturalcosmetics, #7skinmethod, #Kbeauty, #koreanskincare

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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Review: Cacao Moist & Mild Serum

Monday, April 23, 2018



Hello ladies! Here's another PR product from Benton Cosmetics. I received their new product - Cacao Moist and Mild Serum and so far, I am loving it. Read on to know why.

I have been using this serum for almost 2 weeks now and it complemented well with my minimalistic skin care routine. I love the powder pink packaging where the box tells you everything you need. It has a dropper style bottle which I found strategically design, however, it seems that the dropper is slightly stiff and I actually had a hard time using it the first time where I struggle getting the product in the dropper. But as I used it regularly, I got used to it and it became easier.








This Cacao Moist and Mild Serum claim to hydrate, nourish, and provide skin protection. Main ingredients include Theobroma Cacao Extract that provides strong moisture and nutritive benefits and Sodium Hyaluronate that provides hydration to the skin.




The serum has a transparent and viscous consistency but it's very lightweight and non-sticky at all. I also loved that it's fragrance-free and absorbs fast to my skin. I actually have a slightly dry skin with dry patches in some areas but after using this serum, I noticed that the dry patches went away and my skin looks moisturized, hydrated, looking and feeling smooth and supple and more radiant and healthy-looking. 



This serum is recommended for dull and dehydrated skin with a poor water-oil balance. And it's worthy to note that it's suitable to use for all four seasons - Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall!

Benton Cosmetics has always been known to presents healthy ingredients and freshly made products and this serum is just one of them.




This Cacao Moist and Mild Serum is currently available on eBay with a 20% off discount - from $17.00 to $13.60. So if you want to try it, go ahead and check it out now.

Here is the list of the complete ingredients:



Would you be interested in trying this serum? What's your favorite serum as of the moment? Comment below!

Disclaimer: This product was sent to me complimentary by Benton Cosmetics for testing and reviewing purposes.  All opinions are my own.
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Mediheal Dress Code Masks Review (Black & Violet)

Tuesday, January 16, 2018


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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Swanicoco Shining Luminous Mask Pack Review

Thursday, December 7, 2017


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 masks2GF 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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