Have you heard about Shopee PH? It's a relatively new shopping app/website here in the Philippines. It's very user-friendly plus there are lots of sellers and official shops to discover! The part I love the most? FREE shipping if you spend Php 500 above! Ang baba lang ng threshold, di ba? No kidding when I say it has easily become my favorite online shopping portal!

In case you're wondering, I'm telling you all this because Shopee has rekindled my interest in Thailand products. I have tried a few items before but I moved on since it's not readily available here. Anyway, through Shopee and its free shipping (lol), I have recently hauled a lot of Thai products. Expect to see them in my upcoming posts but for now, I'm gonna give you my review of this Grape Gluta Mask from Marin Skincare!

About The Product

What: Grape Gluta Mask, 50g
Price & Where I Got It: 95 Php from a Shopee seller
(prices vary depending on where you get it)

Claims:
🍇 evens out skin color
🍇 reduces dark spots/scars all over the body
🍇 skin becomes shiny and smooth
🍇 works especially on elbows and knees

🍇 refreshes the old skin

Ingredients: 

AHA extracted from Grapes, Vitamin E, Collagen concentration, Whitening. AHA, Vitamin B3, Vitamin E, Glycerine

How to use:

Apply mask over your body and leave it for 15-20 minutes and rinse with clean water. Don't use on face.

the back of the box

Apparently, this is the #1 best-selling whitening mask in Thailand. It is made from a mixture of fruit acids and grapes. It claims you can get whitening results in just one use! 

I'm kinda skeptic but the drastic before-and-after pictures make me wanna try this at least once. Let's see, shall we?

My Experience

Inside the box is this plastic pouch.

The instructions say you have to test it on a small area first so I decided to do it on the back of my hand. The texture is like a very light lotion, but unlike lotions, the mask just sits on top of my hand instead of getting absorbed. It doesn't dry out.

I waited 15 minutes then washed it off. Results? See for yourself.

Oh my gosh! Such an incredible, unbelievable result!

Look again and you'll see - WALA! As in, nothing! The lighting has changed (sorry about that) but you can definitely see na wala talaga!!! Haha, kaloka!

There's still a lot left inside the pouch so I decided to give it another chance. I used the rest of the mask all over my arms and legs, and this time, I left it on for 20 minutes.

So.... did it finally deliver? Nope! Wala pa rin. Nothing, nada, zero, zilch.

Unlike wash-off face masks that make my skin feel soft like a baby's butt, this one made my skin feel very dry. It's a double nope.

Will I Repurchase/Recommend This Product?

NO. Save your money. It doesn't work.

Like I said earlier, I'm a bit skeptical about this product. I have very low expectations. I'm not expecting a dramatic before and after just like the "testimonies", but I did hope for at least a tiny bit of result. It did not live up to its claims. Needless to say, I won't repurchase again.

Have you tried this product? Did it work for you? This is a fail but that won't stop me from trying other Thai items. Let me know what items I should check out next!

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Note: This blog is written based on my own experience and opinion. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa. This is not a sponsored post. I bought the featured item with my own money.

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I am a shampoo and conditioner only type of girl but even so, I thought I knew enough about basic haircare. I have used hair oils/hair serums/essences/masks before but did you know there are "scalp scaling programs" too? Apparently, they are a staple in AB haircare!

It's the first time I have encountered a "scaler" so I got myself a couple of this Scalp Scaling Program from Rire. Without further ado, here's my review!

About the Product

WHAT: Rire Scalp Scaling Program, 15ml tube
PRICE & WHERE I GOT IT: Php 200 at Althea Korea

For those who are new to the term like me, scalp exfoliators (or scalers) remove dead skin cells, dirt, and product buildup from the scalp in order to promote hair growth and reveal healthier scalp. Unlike the usual haircare products which focus on the hair strands alone, scalers are made specifically for the scalp.

This Scalp Scaling Program from Rire claims to protect from alopecia, increase hair thickness, clean & relieve itchy scalp and control oil production! That's a lot of promises, so call me intrigued!

Because this claims it can prevent hair loss and strengthen hair, this is classified as a quasi-drug. My sister thought it means "fake drug" - you know, like when you say "quasi-scientific theories" but no - it's not like that. Quasi-drugs are products that are considered borderline medicinal. In Korea, quasi-drugs have to be permitted by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Good to know this is safe and certified by the Korean government!

Ingredients & Packaging

I tried my best to get the actual complete ingredient list but can't find it offline or online. The writing and description in the box are all written in Korean (except for the product name and blurb).

product packaging (click to zoom in!)

According to the product page (from Althea), this contains:

Houttuynia cordata - known as a medicinal herb good for the scalp
Perilla frutescens - for scalp calming and detoxification
Green Tea - good for alopecia and increasing level of immunity; rich in Vitamin C
L-Menthol - for refreshing scalp and tightening pores
Dexpanthenol - effective for skin moisturization; transforms into pantothenic Acid and Vitamin B5 after absorption into body
Salicylic acid - for acne, blackheads and pores

the product itself

The scaler is in a 15-ml plastic tube. It is dark eggplant in color and the design is very minimal, just like the box it came with. The applicator has three roller balls on it for a scalp massaging effect. This is supposed to stimulate blood circulation to encourage hair growth.

locking mechanism

The tube and the cap is strong and sturdy. I worried about spillage at first, but there's no need to worry. Once the cap is closed, the part where the liquid flows through is squeezed. Even if you put pressure on the tube, it will stay locked. Promise, this is totally spill-proof!

How to Apply
1. Press the tube to make the contents come out.
2. Apply it on scalp with a gentle rolling motion.
3. Gently rub until absorbed. Massage the scalp with fingers using a circular motion.

Note: Scalers should be rinsed off 5-10 minutes after application. Apply shampoo and/or conditioner, as usual. Use once a week.

My Experience

trails of the product on the back of my hand

I tried rolling it on the back of my hand first because I was curious how it would apply on my scalp. Looks like it is dispensed evenly enough. The product is very easy to apply. Just part your hair and work it in section by section.

So, results?

Whenever my scalp feels itchy, applying this results in immediate relief. The itchiness would totally disappear! No kidding! Just remember to wash it off with shampoo after 5-10 minutes.

During the first few times, I didn't know I'm supposed to do that. I used to apply it at night before sleeping and when I shower in the next morning, my scalp would feel like it's wounded. This is a scaler - it will remove dead skin cells. Leaving it on overnight probably made my scalp thin. So yeah, wash it off, guys!

pic taken during the first few times I've tried this

This claims it can protect hair from alopecia and increase hair thickness too. I have very fine, very thin hair and I have already used up one whole tube but I don't think there's any difference in hair thickness. Maybe I have to use it for a longer time.

I did notice that it did great in reducing oil production! I can go up to 3-4 days without shampoo (I still cowash every day). I used to shampoo every other day.

Is this worth it?

Let me be honest. After using up one tube, I thought this was just so-so? I love the itch relief and it's oil-reducing properties but I felt like it was still missing something. I just saved the other tube for later use. I'm glad because my opinion did a complete 180 when I got actual dandruff flakes!

As you can see from the pic above, I have a clean scalp. No dandruff anywhere. I don't know what happened but one day after showering, I looked at my hair and was surprised to see flakes! It's probably because I recently switched to another shampoo brand.

I got out my new tube, applied it on my hair, waited for about 5 minutes and then washed it off. Voila! No flakes in sight! It's like magic. One minute it's there and then suddenly it's not. I'm really impressed. See for yourself. This is just one wash!

results after one wash

Will I repurchase?

Yes! I thought this was just so-so but after I saw it in action, I take it back. I'm gonna repurchase this again!

I can't verify its claims in protecting from alopecia and increasing hair thickness but this did really well in controlling oil and cleaning & relieving itchy scalp. If you have dandruff, you may want to try this. You only need to use this once a week. Very convenient!

Have you tried this product? Know other effective scalers I should check out? Let me know!

And that's it for my review! Hope this helped~

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Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. The item featured is bought with my own money. This review is based on my own experience and opinions. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa.

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Last March was International Women's Month, and to celebrate it, the people over at Saladbox curated samples that will make women stand out! This box contains products that will "surely make men (and even women) do a double take when they see you!" Okay, got it.

For the uninitiated, Saladbox is a beauty and lifestyle subscription service. You pay a fixed amount and they will deliver assorted beauty finds on your doorstep every month. Their subscription plans start at P1,800 for 3 boxes. If you want to learn more about them, click here.

 First Impressions

The March box design is minimalist compared to the previous boxes. I honestly don't dig it, but meh, it's just a box, no big deal. What matters is the loot inside and you know what, this month's box is possibly the heaviest I've ever had! For reference, this is my 8th box out of a 12-month subscription.

This was delivered to me during the first week of April. I guess, it's not that late but I wish it arrived on the month of March itself. And yes, this unboxing is overdue - haha. Let's check the items inside!

March Greeting Card from the Saladbox team

What's Inside

Look at all the goodies. I got 8 full-sized products!

The stuff inside looks like a full skincare routine so I'm just gonna walk you into how I imagined the Saladbox people wants me to use it. Will post full separate reviews for the items but for now, I just added first impression/mini reviews.

1. Dove Gentle Exfoliating Body Wash, 400mL, ₱180.00

Product Description: "Dove Gentle Exfoliating Body Wash combines gentle exfoliating beads with
NutriumMoisture - our unique blend of Technology that nurtures new, glowing skin. It nourishes
deep into the surface layers of the skin, helping maintain  the skin's moisture barrier as you cleanse."

First of all, we have this body wash from Dove. This is what made my package heavy, it's gigantic at 400 mL. Gotta start the day clean and fresh, right?

It managed to cleanse away all the dirt and gunk on my body and I can confirm that it's very gentle and moisturizing indeed.  However, dun dun dun duuun I will not purchase this myself UNLESS they remove the "exfoliating beads." These beads are made of plastic and it's environmentally unsound.

Google up how microbeads affect our environment. A few countries have already banned the use of it and I know most companies are actively phasing out microbeads (or they switch to natural ones) in their products so I don't get why Dove isn't following suit. I don't wanna sound preachy but why Dove, just why?

Anyway, moving on, we have...

2. Vaseline Healthy White Serum SPF30 PA++, 70mL, ₱99.00

"Extra protection for even-tone fair skin"

Now, this is easily my fave in this box.  This body serum claims to have SPF 30 to block 96% UVB rays and PA++ for extra UVA protection. It also contains Vitamin B3 to lighten and brighten skin. You apply this after cleansing.

I usually see this in the mall or in supermarkets but I haven't really tried this product yet. I'm pleasantly surprised with my experience. It is non-greasy and leaves no whitecast. It's like a very light lotion but with added sunscreen properties. This is my go-to item whenever I do short errands outside. Will repurchase this!

The next two products are from Pond's Acne Clear collection. It promises it will eliminate acne at the root, for smooth clear skin in just three days!

"Formulated with the world's first Active Thymo-T Essence, Pond's Acne Clear uses unique
Lock + Clear Technology that works in 3 days to eliminate acne at the root, for smooth clear skin."

3. Pond’s Acne Clear Facial Foam, 20g, ₱85.00

This cleanses well but it gives me that squeaky feeling. I used it for a week and so far, I didn't get any breakouts. They say it works best when paired with...

4. Pond’s Acne Clear Leave-on Expert Clearing Gel, 20g, ₱180.00

I used this by itself on a lone pimple on my forehead day and night. After three days, I didn't notice any effect on my pimple. No shrinkage whatsoever.

Both products are meh for me. However, I don't really have pimples right now so just take my word lightly. I will try this duo again in the near future.

Saladbox also included two products from Pond's Age Miracle Line.

Product Description: "Ponds introduces the NEW Pond’s Age Miracle, with Retinol-C Complex that
works 24 hours non-stop. It helps reduce wrinkles, for a youthful glow."

5. Pond's Age Miracle Wrinkle Corrector Day Cream, 10ml, ₱99.00

This promises to repair wrinkles rapidly and boost youthful radiance. It has SPF 18 PA++ for added protection.

I used this to replace my moisturizer for a few days. The texture is like a rich cream but thankfully, it's not heavy on the face. It's not sticky too and can easily be blended. However, it leaves a very slight white cast. I can't tell if it has any effects on wrinkles since I just used it for a very short time, but my first impression is good.

6. Pond's Age Miracle Wrinkle Corrector Night Cream, 10ml,  ₱99.00

This cream also helps protect the skin against premature signs of aging. This is designed for night use. I find this more moisturizing than the day cream. This has no SPF in it so it doesn't leave any white cast.

Like the day cream, I only used this for a short amount of time. Will do a more thorough review once I finish both tubs!

7. Pond’s White Beauty Day Cream for Normal Skin, 20g, ₱70.00

Product Description: "New Pond’s White Beauty Cream is a cream that goes deep inside your skin, to
whiten from within; and UV filters that protect your skin from the damaging rays of the sun, for
a rosy white glow outside! It also leaves a powder finish that you can instantly feel."

Another cream but this time it is made for people with normal skin! It's designed to lighten sun spots, pimple marks, dull skin, and acne scars to reveal spotless, pinkish white skin on the outside. I just swatched once so I can't confirm it's lightening benefits but so far, I like it!

The texture is moussey. It depuffs once you spread it. It's easily absorbed by my skin, it's very hydrating and the finish is matte. It's not greasy and it's lightweight so you can layer makeup without any problems. One thing to note - it leaves white patches if you don't spread it evenly. Just blend it more to get rid of those.

8. Pond's Flawless White BB Cream SPF 30 PA+++, 8g, ₱149.00

After applying all those skin care products, it's time to put on some BB cream!

Pond's Flawless White BB Cream is a lightening cream and a lightweight foundation in one. Unfortunately, I got the shade LIGHT which is too light and looks greyish on me. I only swatched once but  as far as I can tell, it is not sticky or greasy. I'll probably get the shade BEIGE and see if it matches my skin tone better.

9. StyleGenie Coupon,  ₱300 value

The last item inside my March Saladbox is this StyleGenie coupon worth ₱300 off on their Surprise Me Deluxe Trial boxes.

Style Genie is a styling service. It's like Saladbox, except for clothes. You take a Style Quiz and their stylists will build a box based on your preferences. Their boxes are currently available in three price points: (1) Basic Box starts at ₱899 for 2 new clothes (2) Deluxe Box is ₱1899 for 5 new clothes and lastly, (3) Premium Box retails for ₱3699 with up to 10 clothes inside!

I checked out the site and while StyleGenie is certainly interesting, I'm just gonna wait on it for a little bit. If you wanna try StyleGenie, go ahead and use the code on my coupon! Let me know about your experience!

Thoughts on this Box

Out of the 8 full-sized products inside this box, only one is makeup and everything else is a skincare/bodycare item. I do love skincare, but I wish Saladbox added more makeup in the mix. Having nice, glowing skin is great but if you say "Double Take," the first thing that comes to mind is transformation and I associate that with makeup.

I'd be amazed about your nice skin but I won't do a double take tbh

While we're talking about titles/labels, I expected getting something more from Style Genie. After all, this is a Style Genie box! I'm not expecting a whole outfit (because that's unreasonable) but maybe an accessory, a little trinket or something else?  Honestly, I probably won't even use that  ₱300 coupon and that's ₱300 wasted. An accessory is more useful and will give subscribers more idea about what to expect from their boxes. Think chokers, pins, patches, etc... The possibilities are endless!

Another thing - whatever happened to the special monthly VIP exclusives? If you don't know what I'm talking about, Saladbox promised that VIP subscribers (those who got the 12-month subscription) will get an exclusive item/coupon/event pass/etc every month. I haven't received a VIP item in my last 4 boxes. :/

Worth It?

Minus the coupon, the total value of this box is  ₱961.00. I pay ₱500 monthly for my Saladbox subscription so I got almost double the amount I paid for.

Satisfaction-wise, I'm conflicted. I'm happy I got 8 full-sized products (that's a lot!!!) but all these products are grocery items, something that I can easily get everywhere. While that's not really a bad thing, I've signed up expecting to discover new brands. I mean, if you live in the Philippines, who's not familiar with Ponds?

Also, can I just mention that I already got Pond's Age Miracle Day Cream and Pond's White Beauty Day Cream before receiving this Saladbox? I got it FOR FREE at SampleRoom! When I saw that both items are included in the March box, I was like, oh noooo duplicate

Final Verdict

I think this box was just okay. It didn't blow my mind but it's not bad. Except for the body wash, I can actually see myself eventually using all the items inside. My personal fave is Vaseline's Healthy White Serum and that will be a definite repurchase.

Are you a fellow Saladbox subscriber? What do you think of March Saladbox?

Check out Saladbox:
Website: http://saladbox.ph/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/saladboxph
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Saladbox
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/saladboxph

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Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. The item featured is bought with my own money. This review is based on my own experience and opinions. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa.

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Hi, everyone! I spotted these masks on Watson's K-Beauty aisle. Aren't they funny and colorful and cute? I usually pass on character masks because they look ugly on me and doesn't suit me, but I just can't let this go!

I later found out that they're based on a popular Korean webtoon/tv series called The Sound of Your Heart. I watched a few episodes on Netflix to get a little background and it's hilarious! Check it out! You won't regret it.

Anyway, back to these masks. SNP released 4 variants based on the characters of the show: Aebong Aqua Mask, Choseok Brightening Mask, Buuk Soothing Mask, and Sensation Wrinkle Mask. My skin is dry at the moment, so I thought I'll try Aebong first. Let's go!

About the Product

What: SNP The Sound of Your Heart Aebong Aqua Mask, 25 ml, 1 sheet
Price & Where I got it: Php 149 at Watson's

Product Description (at the back):
"Aqua mask that cares moist and soft skin by filling a water energy to dry and rough skin."

Ummm, there are translation mistakes but I think it's understandable. They're saying that this mask will make dry and rough skin moist and soft. Good enough for me 😂 Btw, sorry about the lighting. The packaging is made of shiny plastic and I can't take pics without getting some glare. It's not so bad in person.

Zoom in to read writing!

The back of the packaging. The upper part is written in Korean while the bottom part has the English translation.

How to Use: 
After cleansing your face, tone skin and apply the mask to the face evenly centering around the eyes and mouth. Leave on for 10-20 minutes, and peel the mask from face. Pat gently any remaining essence to skin.

Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Juice, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Water, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Trehalose, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Betaine, Polysorbate 80, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, Alcohol, Ethyl Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance

The essence is full of moisturizers that are good for dry skin. Here's an analysis of the ingredients from Cosdna. The ingredients in red are potential irritants and acne trigger while the ones in orange have a safety rating of 3-5. Of course, check the ingredients first and avoid if you have any allergies.

For me, my skin doesn't agree with coconut oil. Seeing coconut fruit juice and coconut water as the 3rd and 4th ingredients make me apprehensive. However, I don't think it will be clogging since it's not an oil. Aside from coconut, there's a lot of plant extracts included (Japanese knotweed root, baobab seed, Indian lotus flower, pomegranate, Korean chestnut). I don't think I have tried most of those but here's to hoping I'm not allergic. Let's see, shall we? 😂

My experience

This is Aebong, the female lead. I wish I know what she's saying.

I opened the pack and I'm happy with the amount of essence. There is 25ml inside and it's enough to drench the mask while still having lots of essence left. I used the extra to soak a compressed sheet mask the next day.

I saved the extra for use the next day.
The extra essence was enough to soak a compressed sheet mask.

The mask is highly scented. It smells very floral. Still tolerable though. The essence is clear and flowy but it's thicker than water. Texture is kinda slimy and slippery.

A little sneak peek of how the mask will look when it's on the face.

Me wearing the mask. I don't look like Aebong at all 😂
I think my skin looks glowy after I took the mask off.

The mask is made of thick material. It's soft and clung nicely to my skin. This is probably one of the best-fitting masks I've ever used if not for that irritating crease in the mouth area. That part kept coming loose.

I wore this for 30 minutes and then took it off. I'd actually like to keep it longer but the mask was almost dry and it just naturally falls off by itself. I patted the essence on my face until it got absorbed. It left a slightly tacky finish.

Results?

The design is good but it doesn't really translate well on my face ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

You guys... I really didn't expect the glow it gave me. My skin looked like it's lit from within! It really brightened up my skin a lot! The glow lasted a couple of days too.

Now, let's talk about moisture. I have some dry patches on my cheeks and this helped soften those rough areas. The moisture lasted til the next day (about 15+ hours) but after that, the dry areas felt rough again. While that's longer than most sheet masks, I'm not really blown away because I had used masks before that gave me 2-3 days of softness. It's still good though.

Did it clog me? I'm in comedone city during the time I used this mask and thankfully, this didn't aggravate my skin or made me breakout. 🙌

Final Verdict: Will I Repurchase?

It didn't break me out, the scent is ok, the fit is great, but for a hydrating mask, I think its moisturizing results was just slightly above average. The character design is hilarious and it's better than regular sheet masks, true... but, I'm so-so about this. That glow though! That was a very welcome, lovely surprise and I would probably repurchase just to get that glow again. Overall, 3.5/5 - May Repurchase.

Hope this helped~ I have three remaining masks from the Sound of Your Heart collection. Which one shall I try next?

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Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. The item featured is bought with my own money. This review is based on my own experience and opinions. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa.

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