Etude House Wonder Pore Freshener

Price: P798 for the 500mL bottle

Availability: Online stores, EH boutiques and counters

Content: 500 ml

Description:

1. Deep cleanses pores. 

2. Maintain ph 4.5 +1

3. Control a large amount of the sebum

4. Minimize appearance of pores

5. Refine the skin tones

6. Keep the elasticity of pores

7. Moisturize inside and outside of skin

So I actually first discovered this through a Youtube guru named Nayoung (Oiseau88). She featured this as one of her skin care staples and I was very interested when I learned of its promises

In my original review I raved about this but after 2 years I decided to renew my thoughts on it. 

It's a nice toner, a very gentle almost water but refreshing kind of feel. It says its suitable for all skin types but I can't vouch for that. I have oily acne prone skin and this was my first toner, all I know is that it didn't cause any bad reactions for me, nothing worse nothing better. I really liked it back then and but I can't say I can recommend it with as much glee as before. It's an average product for me. 

But notable points on this product is that it doesn't dry out your skin, subtle scent, and feels like water.

If you love Etude House, go ahead, but if you don't, then better pass on this product for something more suitable for your skin, like right now my toner has AHA for acne before I had Clindamycin + Retinoic Acid toner. 

Hadalabo Shirojyun Arbutin Whitening Lotion

Price: P750

Availability: @BeautigramShop on Instagram Japanichi.com.ph

Description:
Contains Arbutin to fight dark spots. Smoothes & clarifies to optimize skin’s radiance & translucency.
Vitamin C helps skin recover from accumulated sun damage while reducing the appearance of dark spots to give clearer, fairer skin.
Contains Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate intensely, keeping skin soft & supple.
Skin pH balanced. Low irritation.
Free of fragrances, mineral oil, alcohol & colorant.

Directions
Use twice a day after cleansing face. Apply on palms and gently pat onto skin until thoroughly absorbed.

Search Japanese skin care on Google and Hada Labo will definitely pop up. It's just that popular, it's world famous for their quality products, so popular that bottles of their lotions get sold every few seconds.

I am pretty much contented with my skin tone, could go a touch darker I guess, but my main problem is hyperpigmentation, that's actually the main reason for the many many many whitening products in Asia, not really for whitening skin tone, more on banishing dark spots.

This lotion is NOT a toner, there is a very big difference between the two please refer to this article for the whole explanation.

So assuming you've read that article, this lotion is not meant to be swiped with a cotton pad, but can be used to be a mask by soaking a cotton pad. It is a scentless, slightly whitish liquid that feels just like water on skin.

I use this after toner to prep skin for all the moisture that I'll be bombing on my skin. I think it does help a bit with my dark spots, but as of this moment I am using a lot of brightening products it can be quite difficult to determine which one is actually working.

There are other lines from Hada Labo, this lotion isfor all skin types, for dry skin, you might want to check out the Goku-jyun line. You might want to give this a try if you have dark spots but I guess to fully appreciate the benefits, you might want to buy the whole Shirojyun line.

Etude House Face Designing Brightener in Wannabe Face

Price: P648

Availability: All EH stores

Description:

Let me get to the bottom line: This is so good I never fail to include this in my makeup routine. Basically that's all you need to know about this product. But if you want to know the finer details why, read on!

As you all know, I am an oily-skinned girl. And as an oily-skinned girl, I tend to hate looking oily but especially since I don't just oil up in my t-zone. I'm talking my whole face. Like North, West, South. East. So I have always kept my complexion matte when it comes to makeup, but somehow I always yearned for that youthful dewy look but without feeling the GREASE.

This highlighter has everything I wanted in a compact. I first saw on Stylesuzi's YouTube videos. She expressed that she never liked highlighters but this definitely changed her perception and it has also changed mine about shimmer.

Not Applied

Applied on nosebridge and cheeks

The finely milled shimmer makes your skin looks like it has perfect lighting. Glows where you want it to glow. I use it on my cheekbones and nose bridge and I love the effect.There have been other shades but I found them looking to "cool" and since I have a warm tone, I chose Wannabe face which is a yellowy color. I have read other reviews like from Shimmerjjang Andy that this cakes, not cakey looking but the product itself on the pan cakes and hardens. Now I have found that mine does not do this, maybe a contributing factor as to why it cakes is that if you use the same brush on your wet base products and this. I use the Real techniques contouring brush in applying this and it has never caked.

I am absolutely in love with this. And did I mention it also smells divine? It has a fruity floral smell that is so addictive, I just find myself sniffing it, excuse my weirdness.

The lasting power of this product varies with your base products. Since I am oily, if I just use this alone without anything under, it will fade in 2-3 hours especially if I must blot, but if i use a long-lasting foundation, it stays put all day, this was pointed out by my friend.

I would recommend this to everybody who wants to glow.

Overall great product, would recommend to anyone but of course you are free to choose any undertone it comes in.

Etude House I'm Blooming Sebum Control Mist

Price: P528

Availability: All EH stores

Description:

This sebum control mist thoroughly hydrates thirsty skin while controlling oil and shine, providing soft powdery skin.

With ingredients that strengthen skin's natural vitality, this mist helps maintain fresh, blooming, healthy skin.

Contains 95.9% of early summer green tea extract (Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract) that balances out skin's moisture level for a moist inside with a soft, powdery outside.

How to use
Frequently spray evenly onto face whenever skin care is needed.
Leave at least a 20 cm distance from face when spraying.
Content: 150ml

Ettusais Puru Puru Serum

Price: P1400

Availabilty: Japanichi.com.ph

Content: 47g

Description:

Limited Edition Release

Instant moisture yet feeling that it is not sticky, a moisturizing effect that is sustained for a long period of time. The 5 concentrated beauty ingredients makes it highly effective in moisturizing in one one drop (hyaluronic acid · W collagen, royal jelly, glycerin, moisture keep oil). Can be used on all skin types for day and night.

I've actually had this for quite some time now, late last year I was nuts for Ettusais products. And the moment I saw this was on shelves I pre-ordered it.

It is very intriguing, I mean a serum in a form of a scrub like substance. But it's no scrub, it contains little balls of highly moisturizing ingredients, (give up on the topical collagen ladies, its chemical structure is to big to enter pores). And this is actually my first serum for anti-aging purposes, yeah yeah, I'm too young blah blah, but prevention is better than cure and moisture equals youth. And though I'm oily I find my skin is really thirsty for moisture after washing my face, even with a mild cleanser.

Heads up on this guys, it can be used as a primer since it has that dimethicone feel to your skin, but it's a bit difficult to spread so i mix it with my VMV Oil free moisturizer to make it spread better and melt in better. I use this sparingly since a bit packs quite a punch of moisture. Overall decent product, but the smell might be a bit off setting, but the delivery system is quite niche for a serum.

Might buy again if I find more real need for it, I recommend this for drier skinned ladies who might notice a little or two fine lines creeping up.

The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder

Image from thebodyshop-usa.com

Price: P1000+ But I bought mine on sale at 50% off!

Description

Give your skin an even, bronze matte finish with a honey-enriched pressed powder.

Even matte finish

Convenient compact

Content: 11.5 g

Image from thebodyshop-usa.com

It's hard to look for a good matte bronzer for fair skin in the Philippines and if there were any they'd be on high-end expensive side. But thanks to several recommendations from YouTube, I've come across the Body Shop. But when I checked out the price at the store, it was too steep for me. But as chance would have one fateful day I saw that they had a sale with products at 50% off! A steal! And thank goodness not many people are into bronzers here. I have mine in No. 2 Fair Matte a good match for girls with NC 20-30 skins, buildable pigment at your discretion.

2 swipes at my cheek and side of my forehead and nose

 I am very pale, sometimes almost too pale for my own good, ghostly you might say, and bronzers just add that warmth back into the skin. Dimension as well. It is a nice matte brown and not orangey like most bronzers, that serves its purpose well. Plus 11.5 g is a lot for a bronzer! You can see this in my collection for a long time. I don't use a contour brush for this either I use my elf blush brush and blend it well into my skin, I find that it just blends it better and it will have a softer look than using my real techniques contour brush. It looks great in flash photography too!

I'm sad that the bee hive brood embossing has already faded with my repeated use. But I just love it so much. And if I run out of it I'm going to swallow my pride and buy it in full price if i have to, it's just that good. Not too powdery but just right for my brush to pick up the pigment.

For people out there that have qualms with contouring and bronzers that make you look muddy or dark or too harsh, you just haven't found the right formula yet! I thought I'd never get into contouring until I found a good solid bronzer that can cater to my skin! 

Ettusais BB Mineral Cream Review

The award winning Ettusais BB mineral Cream! Got this from an Instagram store who sold her extra tube for P1000 pesos, the closest price I've seen to the original yen price which is 1800 yen, other stores sell this for Php1300-1500 which saddens me.

Price I bought it for: Php1000

Availability: Japanichi, Kawaii Holic online