Current Favorites

Hello everyone! I'm really sorry for not updating my blog often. I tried to but I've been really busy lately and to make matters worse, my hard drive crashed! Ughh. So anyway, I've accumulated so much stuff already that I rarely purchase anything anymore. My room is sort of like a little Watsons already, so I really have to use up what I have before I purchase even more. So for now, I'd like to show you my current favorites among the things that I'm using. 

Current favorite cleansing oil: Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil Fresh

Whoa that's a long name. I've seriously tried all the variants of the Shu Uemura cleansing oils, and I feel that this one is the best for my skin type. The makeup removing properties are just okay, but this helps make my skin less oily, so I will keep repurchasing this until I find something that works as well but more affordable and will not break me out.

Current favorite evening product: M2 Skin Refinish 20% (formerly Mama Lotion)

I'm currently on my second bottle. It has a high price tag, but my first one lasted me at least six months. This is very good for my uber oily skin. It helps keep breakouts at bay and is an anti-aging product as well.

Current favorite foundation: Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup

This is my favorite liquid foundation! Its staying power is superb, and after I oil up I still look good.

Current favorite body scrub: Asian Secrets Lulur Whitening Body Scrub

I still haven't found anything to replace this. I haven't seen any whitening effects (which I'm not really after) but it's affordable, exfoliates without being too abrasive, not to mention it smells good!

How about you? What are your current favorites?

Acne Problems? This could help.

A few days ago, I got asked about my acne routine, so I decided to make a post about it. First off, let me start off by saying that my skin is extremely oily and acne-prone. It's really a lot of work maintaining my skin. If I feel too sleepy and decide not to wash my face, then I'll surely have a zit or two by morning. So it's really important to be diligent with your facial routine. For oily, acne-prone gals like me, sticking to your routine can make a huge difference.

It's really important to have a cleanser that is specifically for acne. One thing I noticed (at least in my case) is that no matter how many acne products I have, if my cleanser is not anti-acne, then I will still get zits. For my case, Skintel Pimple Clearing Soap works well for me. And the best part? It's super affordable at P75 only!

Using makeup? I believe in the oil cleansing method, oil-removes-oil. I use Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Fresh, which is specifically for oily skin. Read my review HERE

I've been using M2 Skin Refinish for a few months and so far it's been good. Read my review HERE

Good ol' fashioned tretinoin works well for me too. It's available at your nearest drugstore. Just be sure to always wear sunblock.

Things that could be adding up to your acne that you might not be noticing:

• Makeup: Use something that's oil-free or non-comedogenic. I still believe that mineral foundation is the best for everyday use.
• Vitamins: Oily-skinned gals really should stay away from the natural Vitamin E. Instead, look for water-soluble vitamin E from stores like Health Express. Even small doses of natural vitamin E found in multi-vitamins like Centrum give me more zits, so it's something that you should think about too :)

Product Review: M2 Skin Refinish 20% Lotion (Formerly MaMa Lotion)

Hello everyone! I'm sorry I know I've been neglecting my blog recently but I've been very stressed and very busy lately. I'd like to ask you guys to bear with me for a while. Hopefully, things will look up and then I'd be able to blog more.

So now, I'd like to share with you something that I've been using and I'm sure that there are a good number of people who are curious with this product. This product has been creating a buzz for a while ever since it was still called MaMa Lotion. Now, it's been reformulated and changed its name to M2. The problem is, it's only available in Derma offices and the price hike is not easy on the pocket.

:Luckily, I was able to purchase this from skincarerx.com when they had a sale a few months ago, and I was really looking forward to trying it.

Product Description:

Eliminate all your skin care woes with one easy-to-use serum. This multi-purpose facial treatment uses a high-potency combination of Mandelic and Malic Acids to rapidly even skin tone, reduce breakouts, and soften wrinkles. (Previously known as MaMa Lotion)
1.7 fl. oz. 

Ingredients:

DI Water, Mandelic Acid, Malic Acid,Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Acrylate/ Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Dimethylacrylamide Crosspolymer, Isohexadecane,Polysorbate 60, PEG-8/SMDI Copolymer, Algae Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Hyaluronic Acid, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Coenzyme Q10, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Tetrasodium EDTA

What I got was the strongest concentration which is the 20%. It's made up of 10% Malic Acid and 10% Mandelic Acid.

I've been using this only once every two days, as directed for the first two months. Right now, I've been using it for more than one month, so I can make some observations already :)

Here's what I'm finding:

PROS

• Aside from Malic and Mandelic Acid, it has other ingredients that are beneficial to the skin too like CoQ10, Hyaluronic Acid and Aloe Vera.
• The packaging is nice in idea, but in reality it was flimsy
• With prolonged use, I've noticed that my face is not so oily anymore (yey!)
• My skin definitely feels softer
• My skin is less clogged

CONS

• During the first few uses, this can really sting, much like during the first few uses of tretinoin.
• There can be visible peeling during the first week
• It has a strong smell and a sticky texture
• Like I mentioned, the cap is flimsy. It broke off a few days into usage.
• Expensive

NOTES AND TIPS

• Gals with sensitive skin might want to try a lower concentration like 15% or 10% since this could really sting at first. 
• Wait for 10-15 minutes before putting moisturizer since it needs time to be absorbed by the skin

Where to buy and how much? Online at $48. Locally, in derma offices for about P3,500.

Will I buy again? Only if it's on sale or I get it for less than $48. Hihi