Review: Skinfood Black Sugar Mask

Hello everyone! I rarely blog anymore but I would like to blog about this Skinfood Black Sugar Mask. I was on the hunt for a good physical scrub that both me and my husband could use (since we are both vain! haha). I remember reading good reviews about this scrub back then, so I did more researching and was finally convinced to buy it. At P645, it's not too expensive (I also used a BDJ coupon to get an additional 10% off).

Product size: 100g

I took a picture of the ingredients.

Description: A mask that contains mineral-enriched Brazilian sugar, and promotes smooth, glowing skin.

To use: After cleansing, massage onto damp face, avoiding the eye and mouth areas. To minimize irritation, add water or toner while massaging. Leave for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water.

The scrub is composed of mostly brown-colored sugar. It has a citrus-y scent (not sure how to describe it) which I like because it's not too girly so my husband will enjoy putting it on his face, too! I applied a little bit of the scrub on my hand to show you how it looks like.

Once I start massaging the scrub onto my skin, the sugar starts melting, as you can see on the picture below.

I like how this doesn't contain any hydrogenated castor oil. I tend to stay away from that ingredient since I have extremely oily skin that can break out from that. Keep in mind though that this is not an oil-free product (for gals that need their products to be oil-free). The scrub can be a little bit abrasive on the skin, which is why it is best to follow the instructions and dilute it with something else. Nevertheless, after washing, the scrubbed part of my hand felt much smoother than the un-scrubbed part. Yay!

I tried this also on my face and noticed similar results. My face was smoother after I washed the scrub off. My face also seems brighter when I use this regularly in conjuction with my other favorite skincare products. My hubby enjoys using this too and he can't wait for a few days to pass so he can scrub his face again!

So to sum up:

PROS

• Skin feels smoother and softer even after one use
• No parabens and no hydrogenated castor oil

CONS

• May be unhygienic for those who prefer their products in a tube
• Not oil-free

TIPS

• For those with sensitive skin, do not use this undiluted and/or use only once a week.
• Try not to get water inside the tub. I have a feeling that a little bit of the sugar can melt if it gets wet

Will I repurchase? Yes! It's nice to have something affordable that both me and my husband can enjoy.

I'm Back!

So everyone, I haven't posted in forever so I'm not sure if anyone is actually reading this. I have been absent from beauty blogging for more than two years, although during that time, I still read some beauty blogs from time to time. 

So let me explain what has happened to my life since I last blogged. I stopped blogging when I decided to pursue a master's degree in the US. Preparing the paperwork for my departure was hasty and took a lot of my time. When I arrived in the US, I became very preoccupied with my studies, and I didn't have a lot of money to buy makeup. I stuck to a very basic makeup arsenal and my fondness for reading beauty blogs fell by the wayside.

During that time, my skin started breaking out. I lost my relatively pimple-less skin, which made me depressed about my appearance even more. I went through a phase where I stopped wearing makeup altogether. I eventually started wearing a little bit of makeup, and I even started wearing eyeliner often. Eyeliner is such an important part of a woman's routine (at least in the part of the US that I lived in).

The biggest change in the beauty department during my hiatus is definitely my hair. For the longest time, I had my hair rebonded because I absolutely abhorred my curly hair. When I was in the US, I had no choice but to grow out my natural hair. By the time I chopped off my previously rebonded hair and that was left was my curly locks, I learned to embrace my hair.

So here is how my hair looks like now:

I actually like my hair now more than my previously rebonded hair, but I have to admit that it is definitely more high maintenance. I will write a separate post about what I put on my hair to help control the frizz.

The biggest event in my life, however, is that I am getting married! Yes folks, I am a month away from becoming a missus! We are having a simple ceremony, because we want to be practical and save money that could be used in starting our life together instead. So there you have it. I hope you follow me as I embark on a new journey.