The Skin Care Regimen

The weather's been crap and a lighting has just been a short of friendly to take any decent photos. Well, better late than never. Something scheduled for 2016 showed up in 2017. But my skin care routine has always been very slowly evolving and it's quite hard to talk about products when they require such long periods of testing. But I'm quite satisfied with the routine and most of those in my arsenal so I'm a happy camper. Alright, don't think I use all of these at once, even though as much as I'd like to be that girl who has only one of everything, I like to switch things up. And masks will not be included in this post so if would like to see the masks, please go to the Face Mask Collective post.

The Face Mask Collective

Been a bit of a slow month coming up with this post. And now we're coming up to December and kiss its face with all its bankrupting glory. And I see it's finally time to write up my skin care routine again. Why I only do it once a year? Because skincare is definitely a routine set in stone for me unless I add new products, basically same routine just different products, not nearly as interesting as piling on 3 bronzers in one sitting or say, blue lipstick. But I digress, and here is my current collection of face masks. 

Additions to the Arsenal #6

It's sale season and I regret nothing, or so I tell myself. But I finally got my hands on a few things I've been eyeing on for less the label price. 

Face Base Collection

So it's almost the end of the year and I think I've done almost every major round up so far except for Foundation/CC Cream/BB cream and such and such. Well it's safe to assume that this collection won't be updating any time soon since I'm pretty satisfied and this will last quite long i.e. a couple of years

Missha All Around Safe Block Sebum Zero Sun SPF50+/PA+++

Sunscreen, an essential if you don't want to prematurely age or get skin cancer. But I honestly find in irritating to buy one since I'm very picky with their consistencies and how they'll affect my makeup on top and how my skin will react with all its glorious oiliness to them. So I'm constantly jumping around looking for something that'll meet my needs.

Price: P360-P500 Online

The SAEM Cover Perfection Tip Concealer Review

Korean beauty has begun to take over my life again thanks to YouTube and this was a purchase born from their influence. And The Saem is apparently very famous for their concealer formulas, so can it hold up to its claims?

Price: P230-P350 online

Description:

1. Topical area coverage concealer for freckles, blemishes and dark circles.

2. Easy adjusting, convenient tip type concealer.

3. Perfectly fitted to the spots thinly and lightly.

4. Giving brightness and radiance to the skin by covering pores, freckles, blemishes and dark circles.

Canmake Marshmallow Finish Powder in Matte Ochre

I previously reviewed this in another lifetime when my blog was called A secret Beauty Geek. Time has passed and data deleted but here's a little reiteration and perhaps updated thoughts on this powder.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation Review

This is actually my first foundation purchase in nearly two years. Yes, you read that right. I’ve been on a foundation purchasing ban for two years on a vow to make a dent on my existing foundations and base products, to which I am proudly half-ways of my high end foundations. So as a pat on my back, I decided to go for a more luxury selection this time around, so Charlotte Tilbury it was. 

This foundation has been pretty much catching and breaking hearts all around the blogosphere and YouTube. Disappointment? Fulfillment? Read on to find out.

Carrot Health Soap

So if you've been tuning in to any remnant of this blog, I caught the chicken pox on the first week of May. And as chickenpox entails, It left with it a few unsightly spots on my body. So enter this soap I which has been generously sent to me from an Instagram seller, @katrinasclothing.

Price: Currently P69

Availability: here

Travel Skincare (5 Day Trip)

Can you believe I'm writing this at such a last moment? Literally minutes before I'm hailing a cab and heading over to the airport. Not sure about any internet connection where we're staying and honestly I much prefer writing blog posts on the desktop, so this all called for a very last minute post.

Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask

Clay Masks. Perhaps a boon and a bane for oily skin. Boon as it deep cleanses pores and effectively reduces oiliness, bane because it just generally comes with that tightening and drying sensation which leaves skin so parched. But this mask comes along and is just the opposite of these preconceptions. 

Price runs from P500-P600 variably on Shopee

Skin Food Salmon Dark circle Concealer Cream

I’ve gravitated back into the wonderful world of Korean beauty lately and thanks to Shopee, I have my desires sated. And thanks to a little push from a male Filipino YouTuber named Edward Avila in Korea, I had to get this. Though I’ve known about the existence of this little pot years back, I haven’t been convinced to get this back then.

Price: Currently P400+ on Shopee PH
Availability: belaisenares on Shopee PH

Ettusais BB Mineral White Cream

I believe it's been nearly a couple of years now since I've put up a review on any foundation, BB cream or any new type of face base product. Considering that my blog used to thrive on base makeup reviews, and the most popular posts on my blog are currently lip products, I find that to be a Copernican shift.  But I have been using this BB cream for a long time now, and I hope its not past its use by date yet because I am finally writing an overdue review on this.

Price: P1400 on Japanichi

Description:
An all-in-one makeup base, concealer and foundation in cream form that gives coverage and brightens skin by 120%!

Made up of 63% skincare ingredients, this BB cream conceals and corrects skin imperfections. Skin is illuminated by 120% with its Pure-white Brightening Powder, adding a glow and radiance to your complexion! Protects skin from harmful sun rays with high SPF 45 PA ++. 

"So You've Been Wearing Too Much Makeup Lately" Skin Care Picks

So you've been wearing too much makeup recently? A situation I find myself  in a lot because I wear it to work and when skin's gone crazy, I'll need to add extra. But we need skin to breathe and it needs time to heal itself from the abuse, and here are my picks for when skin just needs to relax and lay-off the makeup.

Oil Control Aces

Maybe some of you don't know but I have extremely oily skin. I have never really thought that the T-zone was especially oily because I'm just oily all-over. So if you are one of my kind, you should have also understood the many struggles of the condition. But after a few years of things that could accommodate my skin type, I've discovered a few gems in the pile that truly truly work for the oil rig that is my face.

Banila Co. Clean It Zero Foam Cleanser: The Less Known Sister

I think a majority of Korean beauty and skincare enthusiasts are aware of the existence of the award winning Banila Co. Clean it Zero Cleansing Balm. In fact it's literally everywhere nowadays. But since I wasn't looking for a cleansing balm, but was also curious about Banila Co.'s other offerings, this found itself in my shopping basket.

Etude House Play 101 Stick #Contour Duo (Photo Heavy) Review

I never thought I'd see the day when the Highlighter capital of the world would produce a contour stick.

Price: P 748.00

Description: A creamy contour duo that creates a look of authentic dimentionality of face.

Content: .05oz/1.7g x 2

Happy Skin Eye Need a Miracle Corrector

I have literally been needing a miracle since I started working. I found that my normal concealer just was not up to the challenge of all-nighters. But I found support in this corrector, which at first I thought was unnecessary for me before, but now, my routine can't live without it.

Price: P799

Content: 10ml

Description:

Fatigue under the eyes, scars, age spots, freckles, varicose & spider veins, bruises, and birthmarks. There are some blemishes you can conceal, but some imperfections are for life... Unless you hide them with a corrector, the secret tool that neutralizes bluish undertones and makes our little flaws disappear! This hydrating corrective make-up provides ultimate covering power but gives the finish and feel of lightweight make-up. It has a rich, buildable formula that miraculously melts into the skin. Its salmon hue corrects and covers all types of skin imperfections from minor flaws to major discolorations.

This corrector is specially formulated with Japanese tea extract that moisturizes and fights puffiness. It's also infused with Hyaluronic Acid, a miracle ingredient that increases hydration, instantly smoothening surface imperfections. Its self-adjusting shade provides undetectable coverage across all skin tones.

This corrector comes in a light orange-y peach shade, though it is light, it's honestly not light enough for my skin tone, I find that it is a touch too dark for my under eye circles, in a sense it does not have a brightening effect, hence I would not wear it alone, but with with a brightening concealer. My under eyes are not bluish but it does have a dark browny tone. Which I find the corrector comes in handy for. Happy Skin has a tendency of making one for all skin tone products, which can be a fail at times for more specifically contrasted skin tones, either too light or too dark skin tones, I find that they might suit medium skin tones more. This corrector I find is more suited to medium skintones that can fully appreciate it's corrective appeal. 

But I quite like the formula of this as it's moisturizing, thin and blendable. Ideal for the undereye area. I'm not so sure for other flaws on the face, but I prefer this only on my under eye area. 

No under eye concealer

With Corrector, unblended

With corrector, blended

With a concealer on top of corrector, unblended

Close up of only corrector under eyes

With Concealer on top of corrector, blended

Overall, a nice product, more affordable than the Bobbi Brown corrector or Erase Paste but does its job well. Still on the hunt for a more solid corrector that's affordable though.

Isehan Sunkiller Super Lasting Base SPF50+ PA++++

Forever summer - one of the perks in living in the Philippines or in any tropical country. I once heard that the heat makes people behave more badly. But you know what makes the heat bad? Skin. Literally harmful UV rays on your skin everyday making you prone to skin cancer or melanomas and of course premature aging. Last month I bought two sunscreens since if some of you have read my last post, I am currently working at a hospital 14 km away from me and the commute (through jeepney not taxi) is just scorching. Sure I have it easy if I'm working graveyard but the hot sun on you for an hour is just a no-no. So I have been religiously putting on sunscreen everyday. 

Etude House BB Cream Comparison: Perfect Fit, Cotton Fit & Blooming Fit

Who doesn't love samples? They are a great way of giving you the feel of the product which will save you money and tears if it's disappointing and something to look forward to purchasing in the future if the experience is good. For a long time, stores in Korea have been giving out samples with purchases to give the customers a preview of other items, and if or they have, they'd be great for travel right?

Anyway, a few weeks I received a free BB cream sample from Etude House with 3 variants of their bestselling BB cream: Perfect fit, Cotton fit and Blooming fit. I don't want to purchase any more base products at the moment if possible since I still have a LOT to go through , so I thought this wold be the perfect time to try out samples and give you guys my thoughts, especially for someone who is in need of recommendations. Keep in mind my skin is very oily and acne-prone. The shade from the testers is W13, the second lightest shade, from what I remember.

Description:

Consistency comparison.

My face was recovering from breakouts during that time of the month, though feint in real life, the camera just hates me haha, but none of the red marks are raised, all are healing. But it's quite good, (not for me) as a gauge for you to see the coverage of each BB cream.

My skin is oily all over since the start of puberty, I am the most spotty during my period, and my pores are mildly noticeable.

No photos were retouched and no concealer or powder was used.

Click for fuller size and better view 

Perfect Fit

From what I can remember since I tried out the original Precious mineral BB cream, this is the improved version of the original, or let's say the relaunched version, this is basically the middle ground between Cotton fit which is matte and Blooming fit which is dewy. It didn't smell as strongly as  remember, and less of that grey tone, their shades have definitely gone more beige.  I believe this is recommended for normal skin types as it is not quite matte, and it is hydrating to the skin, lasts well with or without powder, and is overall has a medium coverage, Evens skin tone quite well and covers mild blemishes, but any more prominent ones will need concealer. But it does have that "set" feeling, when it's not so dewy but if you are oily skinned, only the cotton fit variant will be able to cater to you. This variant does have a bit of oil control, at around 2 hours without powder, and depending on your powder it could last longer. 

Cotton Fit

This was a surprising product for me since it launched, I guess a year ago (or was it two?) that Etude released a matte BB cream, because most of their base products promoted that glowy dewy look. I think this also won an award from Get it beauty a while back. This variant has the thickest consistency of the three as you can see from the photo of the three creams on the plastic pan above. And when I saw the three under fluorescent or artificial lighting, this one leaned more to pink than the rest.Though thick it is not suffocate skin, to be frank, it actually isn't that thick at all, I find this is a normal consistency for liquid foundations rather than BB's. It covers just as perfect fit does but a bit more difficult to blend on skin (I used my fingers), since it sets like a powder, you must blend it fast. This holds oil around 3 hours without powder, 4-5 with powder, of course again depending on your powder. This is recommended for oily skin, who steer clear of the dewy finishes. It doesn't have a strong scent as well, reminds me more of baby powder. 

Blooming Fit

The easiest to blend, runny and thin consistency. and very hydrating. The dewiness this cream gives is lovely, I think this would be the variant I'd choose if I was not an oily skinned girl. See from the photo that skin just looks gleaming with this on. Definitely the most dewy of the bunch, made for the extra dry skinned girls, I think this would be most suited for them in Winter, especially if they get dry patches or skin is dehydrated in the cold.  Good for them, but not good for me,I'd oil up in less than 30 minutes with this without powder, and an hour and a half tops with powder on. though I adore that radiant young dewy glow, I find myself likening it to my slick face. Otherwise very good for the dry skinned girls. The smell is almost the same with the Precious Minerals Any Cushion, which I have, i could swear it was the same BB cream in there, but the Cushion BB is just more superior in terms of coverage, oil control and SPF, so it's not the same.

Since all three have the same SPF and same benefits, and they seemingly have the same level of medium coverage, now it's just the matter of choosing for your skin type, Cotton for oily, Perfect for Normal, and Blooming for Dry skin. As for combination, I think it's all learning how large the surface area of your concerns are, and choosing the product that best corresponds to that.

Overall I find all of their variants to be good, and suitable for day time, especially with their SPF, although I for one would definitely use a different SPF product underneath. I wouldn't use this if I know flash photography is involved though, High SPF usually equates to Pale white faces on flash cam photos.

Hope this helped you in choosing what BB cream from Etude House would benefit you the most.