WHAT: Daiso Collagen One-Week Mask Pack
PRICE: 88 pesos at Daiso PH

Hi, everyone! I always frequent our local Daiso because they have a lot of things to offer. During my last visit, I saw one-week mask packs of their Collagen & Q10 Coenzyme sheet masks. Can you believe this is only 88 pesos? For seven masks?! That's very cheap! If this turns out okay, I can sheet mask every day without spending a lot!

Read more to see how it performed!

About the Sheet Mask

Product Description:

"This intensive care face pack can be used once a day for a week. Absorbs easily, makes skin smooth and flexible. Contains collagen."

Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Carbomer, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Fragrance, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract

how the back looks like

The One-Week Mask Pack comes in a pink plastic pouch with a zip-lock. All the masks inside are sticking together so you need to clean your hands first before taking a sheet mask out of the pack.

My Experience

According to the package information, the sheet mask is made of rayon and polyester and is soaked with 105 ml of essence. I think that's not enough. If you think about it, each sheet mask would only get about 15ml each!

Look at the mask near my ears. It's already falling off after a few minutes.

The material feels pretty standard and it sticks to my face just fine as long as it's wet. Since it's not that drenched in essence, you can imagine that it dried pretty quickly. After 5 minutes, it's already falling off. I can stretch it up to a maximum of 10 minutes if I just lay down and do nothing.

The essence is clear and watery and has a faint floral scent. It has a little bit of slip to it which I think probably comes from the snail filtrate. After removing the mask, I patted in the extra moisture. It dries a little bit sticky.

Results?

The mask added a pretty basic layer of hydration but my skin does not feel as soft and as smooth like it usually does when I use "regular" sheet masks. I think it would perform much better if they added more essence to increase the masking duration.

I saw this mask being sold in individual packs of three for the same price. If I recall correctly, each pack contains 25 ml. I might try those the next time to see if it makes a difference.

VERDICT

For the price point, I think this is a steal! I mean, you get seven masks for only 88 pesos! It is definitely not the best mask I used but if you just want to add a basic moisture boost to your skincare routine, then this will do fine. I will repurchase and will also try Daiso's other sheet masks!

Have you tried daily sheet masking? How's your experience? 

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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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WHAT: Rorec Nourish Honey Mask
PRICE & WHERE: 79 PHP at BeautyMNL

Hi, everyone! I picked this up during a recent BeautyMNL haul. This was on B1T1 promo (and looks like it still is) so I thought I might as well try this. Read on to see what I thought about the product!

About The Sheet Mask

The back of the packaging.
(click to see the full-size)

CLAIM TO FAME:
A healing mask infused with honey propolis to moisturize, repair, and protect skin

FAST FACTS:
Helps speed up the skin’s natural healing process; reduces the appearance of wrinkles; purifies with anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties; promotes a blemish-free complexion; relieves skin irritation with avena sativa extract; smoothes and repairs skin damage with vitamin-rich sesame oil extract

The packaging looks very, very familiar. 👀 There I said it. 😂 I'm not sure if this is a Korean brand but the information at the back contains a Korean snippet while the rest is in Chinese. There is no English translation available.

My Experience

I opened the pack and honestly, the similarities of this mask to P.R. ends at the packaging. The pack contains 30g clear essence but it is so watery, it might as well be pure water. No traces of honey scent at all! Booo!

sheet mask material

The sheet mask is made of a material that reminds me of baby wipes. It is not very absorbent. It's drippy and left a lot of extra essence in the pack. About the essence, it has a generic perfume fragrance. I can't smell it once on the face. It gives a cooling sensation even with no refrigeration.

After freeing the nose material lol

The cut of the mask was pretty weird. The nose part won't lay down and it was flying in the air until I cut it down. I think it's probably due to the tiny eye holes. It was circular before I cut it.

The nonabsorbent material coupled with the watery essence is not a good combination. As you can see, the adherence was not so great. Only 5 minutes (5 minutes!) and it was already dry and falling off. I removed the mask shortly. The essence on my face got absorbed pretty quick and dried with no tackiness.

Results?

Since this was on my face for only a few minutes, I don't think this did anything. My skin was briefly wet from the liquid but that's it. It doesn't feel soft or properly moisturized.

Verdict

Won't repurchase and won't recommend. At the price point, you can find a lot of better honey masks than this. Save your time and your money!

Tried this? How's your experience? Any questions or suggestions for my next blog? Just let me know!

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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, guys! I got this Rire Pore Tightening Fresh Toner inside my Althea's Pore Care Box and that seems like ages ago. I only have one-eighths left so here's my review before I finish it all up!

ABOUT THE PRODUCT

WHAT: Rire Pore Tightening Fresh Toner
PRICE & WHERE: 360 PHP at Althea

Rire's Pore Tightening Fresh Toner claims to have 7 effects in one bottle: (1) Blackhead Removal, (2) Sebum Removal, (3) Pore Tightening, (4) Balancing Sebum, (5) Relaxing Skin, (6) Moisturization and (7) Nourishment. This is recommended for people who are concerned about blackheads, whiteheads, excessive sebum, widened pores, oily and lifeless skin.

Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Silica, Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea tree) Extract, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Resveratrol, Coffee Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Brain Extract, Volcanic Ash Extract, Zinc Oxide, Kaolin, Betaine, Allantoin, Sodium Chloride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Panthenol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trideceth-9, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, and Fragrance.

According to Rire, this toner has a 3-step pore care process. First, the Amazon White Clay and the Volcanic Ash Extract will absorb blackheads, whiteheads and various wastes in pores resulting to clean pores. Second, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract and Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract will tighten empty pores once the wastes are cleared. Lastly, Tea Tree, Aloe Vera Leaf, Green Tea and Lavender Extract will supply nourishment and moisture while also calming sensitive pores. Interesting.

This toner is classified as an anti-wrinkle and whitening cosmetic by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. It is also certified as being free from phenoxyethanol, triethanolamine and 6 kinds of parabens (methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, isopropylparaben, isobutylparaben). This is also free from talc, mineral oil, silicon and artificial dyes.

the box it came with (click for full-size!)

It comes in this gigantic 300-ml clear bottle with a white and blue design. The box packaging also has the same color scheme.

seals

I like that both the box and the bottle has safety seals in them. Guaranteed fresh and no spills on the way to your home!

My Experience

According to Rire, you can use this as a toner and as a calming pack. You have to shake it up before use because the ash and white clay would settle down at the bottom. It smells pretty artificial and perfumey but I can deal with it.

pH Testing results = 5.1

From my tests, this toner has a 5.1 pH. It should be able to balance your skin if you are using a stripping facial wash. It's pretty good in removing residue. It can pick up makeup and any dirt left after washing my face. It's moisturizing too so I think you can even use this for the 3-Skin/5-Skin/7-Skin Method. As for pore tightening, I don't think I've noticed any results.

I've been using this for more than 3 months now and during the first few weeks, I noticed that I would get bumpy skin and pimples whenever I mix the solution. I think the ash and clay may be clogging my pores? I stopped shaking the bottle and only used the clear liquid. Sure enough, I got no more pimples after doing that. I think not shaking the solution affected it's pore minimizing powers so keep that in mind. Personally, I'd rather not have breakouts so I only used the clear liquid onwards.

VERDICT

Will I repurchase? Probably not. I don't love it enough and I still have a lot of toners to go through. Even so, I don't think this is a bad product. It is skin-balancing and moisturizing and those are the qualities that I usually require from toners. It doesn't have any harmful materials and it's affordable too. Will I recommend it? As a skin-balancing toner, yes. If you're looking for pore tightening results, no.

If you wanna try Rire’s Pore Tightening Fresh Toner yourself, you can get it through Althea for only 360 PHP.  If you're new to the site, you can use my referral link to sign up and get an additional 200 PHP discount!

And that's it. Thank you for reading! If you have any suggestions, inquiries, or want collaborations, just let me know. Til next time!

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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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Finally tried a Papa Recipe mask and it's lovely AF! Without further ado, here's my review of the Papa Recipe Bombee Honey Mask!

About the Product

WHAT: Papa Recipe Bombee Honey Mask, 25g
PRICE & WHERE: 95 PHP from Shopee seller @dnsemae

Product Description (back):
"The Bombee Mask nourishes and moisturizes the skin with honey and propolis extract."

What a no-frills description. Gotta love Papa Recipe. 😂 For those who haven't heard of the brand, Papa Recipe is established in 2012 by a Korean doctor. His daughter had troublesome skin so he started to develop natural skin care products to help her. So sweet, right?

I've only "discovered" this brand through the rave reviews it gets from people on #abcommunity. Those who tried it liked it and some even go so far to say that Papa Recipe masks are their holy grail. Of course, I wanna see what the fuzz is all about!

INGREDIENTS:
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Honey Extract (1,000ppm), Propolis Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, PVM/MA Copolymer, Trehalose, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Panthenol, Carbomer, Arginine, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Schizandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Acorus Gramineus Root/Stem Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Fragrance

Directions:Remove film and apply mask over cleansed face. Leave on for 20-30 minutes. Remove gently and tap with fingertups to absorb the residue.

The ingredients look very promising. This mask contains honey which is moisturizing and propolis extract which has healing and antibacterial properties. Great to see them within the first 5 ingredients! Other ingredients that caught my eye include allantoin for anti-inflammatory function, sodium hyaluronate for moisture, green tea plus the gazillion of plant extracts. Here's the Cosdna analysis of the ingredients if you want to see the rest of their functions. Most of them have moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties.

My Experience 

clear thick essence

The pack contains 25g clear thick essence with a yummy delicious smell. It's on the strong side but it didn't bother me at all. The scent is very pleasant and calming. There's still a lot of essence inside the pack (around 2-3x the pic above) but since the texture is gel-ish, I don't think it's suitable for soaking a compressed sheet mask. I just applied the extra on the mask, the rest of my neck, arms and etc.

The sheet mask is made with a soft, stretchy, very thin material that is super absorbent. It was fully saturated with the essence. Since the mask is thin, it comes with a plastic backing for easier application. I definitely needed it. If it was not there, I'm pretty sure I'd have stretched/torn it after taking it out of the pack. It's so thin you can even fold the edges and it won't feel chunky.

The soft thin material combined with the thick essence made this a very a clingy mask. This is one of the few masks I've tried that stuck veeeeerrry close to my skin! The eye/mouth corners keep lifting up, but other than that, it's almost like a second skin! It's also not quick to dry. Even after an hour, it was still moist and clinging nicely.

Results

Zombie tep. Look how thin the material is! Pimple marks are visible!
Arrow is pointing at that puffy nuisance on my neck.

I think the results vary depending on the condition of your skin when using this mask.

I first tried it on Monday morning. I was a zombie from doing two consecutive all-nighters. My skin was dry, I looked haggard and I was really tired. I also had this cystic pimple on my neck that got inflamed because I kept touching it (I can feel a bump so I can't resist lol). After washing my face, I just put this mask on and snoozed away. Woke up around 2PM and I was surprised because my skin felt and looked normal! That's probably not very impressive to read but really, I look well-rested! Aside from that, the puffiness of the pimple on my neck subsided and formed a head. Amazing.

To make sure I'm not imagining stuff, I immediately used another one on Tuesday night. The essence felt tacky when I was patting it in but thankfully, it faded a little bit after 15 minutes. I don't like sticky stuff, but trust me, my face was so soft and hydrated I don't mind at all! The propolis and all the healing ingredients also worked their magic overtime. The puffy pimple on my neck got even tinier the next day and as of now, it has fully healed. I'm really impressed because I've been waiting for that cystic pimple (which I got from patch-testing Cosrx AHA btw) to die for more than a month now. 😍

VERDICT

I can totally see why this gets a lot of love. Papa Recipe's Bombee Honey Mask made my skin moist and bouncy plus it also helped in soothing and calming skin irritations. The price is very reasonable considering the results mentioned.

Of course, it's not perfect. Apart from the tackiness, another con is its availability. The product is not readily available in local malls and you need to get it from an online seller. Personally, I don't really mind both. I think t's worth the hassle.

9/10! Approved and will enthusiastically recommend! I think those with damaged skin will benefit from this mask the most, assuming you're not allergic to the bee stuff.

Have you tried any Papa Recipe products? Really wanna try their other sheet masks now!

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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! Sharing with you what I got inside my September Giltbox packages! If you're not familiar with them, Giltbox is a subscription service where subscribers will receive a personalized box full of beauty samples based on their answers to a survey. Giltbox subscription starts at 600 per month (see their other rates here).

My Giltbox loot arrived last Saturday which is pretty late. When will Giltbox actually arrive on the actual month, hmm? 😑 Anyway, I have two boxes because I took advantage of Giltbox's B1T1 promo when I renewed my 1-year subscription. Without further ado, let's see what I got! 

SEPTEMBER GILTBOX #1

contents of Box #1

Benefit Boi-ing Airbrush Concealer replacement (properly sealed yay)

First thing I noticed is this Benefit Boi-ing Airbrush Concealer. I'm not gonna include this in my total box valuation because I'm sure this is the replacement I asked for. In case you missed it, I received an Airbrush concealer inside my July 2017 Benefit Box. However, it was already used when I got it. I connected with the Giltbox team and they said they'll send a replacement inside the next box they'll send my way. Thanks, Giltbox! Moving on...

1) Kolours Dual Conditioning Hair Color in Shanghai Mahogany, 256 PHP

This was not inside any of the boxes so I'm gonna stick it with Box #1. Not sure how to feel about this because I already got this in a past Saladbox (July Unboxing). I have already reviewed it here. Maybe Giltbox decided it's time for me to recolor my hair again, who knows? 😂

2) Cebu Pacific GetGo Rewards Card

Getgo membership card.

This greeted me when I opened the box. I have already received a GetGo card in a previous box so I'm a bit dismayed tbh. Two repeating samples already and I'm just getting started.

3) Exceptionnel Cosmetics Blush and Kiss Potion in Possession, 150 PHP

Nope, I did not get two samples this month. I got the other one just last month!

Another repeat sample! I already received this inside my August 2017 Giltbox. Giltbox says the boxes are personalized but why am I getting exactly the same item in the same shade? In case you wanna know my thoughts about this product, you can read my review here. 

4) Vitress Solenn Cuticle Coat, 30ml, 80 PHP and
5) Hygienix Hand Spray, 55 ml, 39.50 PHP

I'm just gonna stick this two in one picture because...

You guessed it right! More repeat samples! Did Giltbox ran out of samples to give or something?

6) VMV HypoAllergenics Armada Sport 70 Sunscreen, 4g sample

Now, finally a sample that I haven't received yet from Giltbox. Armada Sport 70 is not new to me and I absolutely adore this sunscreen. I wish I got a bigger sample. VMV Armada Sport 70 is available in two full sizes: 1,865 PHP for 85g and 2,565 PHP for 185g.

7) Features & Shades BB Cream Sachet Sample

Another new sample to me. I've already tried this BB cream but the sample is only enough for two uses. I think it's not sufficient for a full opinion but from my overall first impressions, it's not bad. The full sized product is worth 350 PHP at BeautyMNL.

BOX #1 VERDICT

Excluding the concealer replacement, the GetGo card which you can get for free and the two tiny sachet samples, the total price of this box is 526 PHP. Not a bad value for Box #1 but even so, I was not satisfied. Seven samples inside and only two are new to me. 😑 I know some samples are bound to be repeated but getting five repeats is just ridiculous! Not happy at all with this one.

SEPTEMBER GILTBOX #2

1) Cebu Pacific GetGo Rewards Card

Another Getgo Membership card. How am I going to use all these GetGo cards? I already have a total of three. And can you see that Vitress bottle peeking out? 😒

2) Vitress Solenn Cuticle Coat, 30ml, 80 PHP and
3) Hygienix Hand Spray, 55 ml, 39.50 PHP

More repeat samples. Another bottle of Vitress Hair Cuticle Coat and another bottle of Hygienix hand spray. See the label on the Hygienix bottle? I promise you, this is a completely different shot from the one above.

4) Thierry Mugler Alien Perfume Sample

I love the scent but I don't really appreciate paper samples like this. They only have one spritz inside them (if you are lucky) but most of the time, it has already evaporated. Like this one. Also, I already received this from a past box so I'm just meh.

5) Glamglow PowerCleanse Daily Dual Cleanser (1.5g per side)

Finally, a new face! Haven't tried this one yet but I always like Glamglow samples. The 150g full-sized product is 36 USD (1800PHP) so this 3g sample should be around 36 PHP.

6) Don Organics Robusta Coffee Scrub, 150g, 180 PHP

"Don Organics Robusta Coffee Scrub is an all-natural face and body scrub
that helps to reduce appearance of cellulites, stretch marks & skin imperfections."

Last but not the least is Don Organics Robusta Coffee Scrub.

Hell yeah! Another new face! I love the coffee scent but mind you, I don't really like coffee scrubs. They get very messy, they don't dissolve (think of your poor drainage!), they are basically coffee grounds, etcetera, etcetera but I'm so unhappy about my GiltBox #2 that new stuff is always welcome. I'll try to write a fair review regarding this scrub. Check out Don Organics on Facebook!

And that's it for Box #2!

BOX #2 VERDICT 

Not counting the Getgo card and the dried-up perfume sample, the total value of this box is 336 PHP. I got six items inside but they are not satisfying at all. What is this half-assed curation, Giltbox!?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

OVERALL SEPTEMBER 2017 GILTBOX SUMMARY

Super tempted to use Trump's fake news meme lol. Here's Mr. Evil instead.

Box 1 = 526 PHP

Box 2 = 336 PHP

I'm pretty sure Buy 1 Take 1 means you get one regular box + another regular box. Well, I may have gotten two boxes this month but the total value of the stuff I received is only 862 PHP! Very disappointing because it's just 262 PHP above the 600 PHP I paid for. Not even double the subscription price!

Price aside, why give subscribers supermarket items? Nothing against those brands but it's just frustrating for me especially since I got repeating items over repeating items. I'll be happier if they gave me all those handmade soaps/scrubs instead. (Note: Saladbox team, don't actually give me soaps. I have a lot of soaps but I hope you get my point.)

"You will receive different brands" - I guess this is just empty words, huh?

I actually asked Giltbox if I can receive different samples since I'm the only person receiving the B1T1 boxes. They said they'll make sure I get different brands inside. I was hopeful because the boxes are "personalized" but honestly, it looks like they just stuffed whatever random samples they had in two boxes and called it a day. Hopeless, if you ask me. I sincerely hope my October boxes are not as lacking.

Overall Verdict: not worth it.

On a different topic: have you heard about Giltbox Luxe? For 980/month, you'll get an exclusive box from one of their beauty partners (like Benefit, to name one). Here's more info from Giltbox.

a fellow subscriber asking Giltbox about future boxes

Giltbox launching a Luxe plan means regular subscribers (promo included) will not receive exclusive boxes anymore. Boo. Giltbox insists subscribers will still get one Benefit sample but it's definitely not the same. Yikes.

What do you think about this change?

Check out Giltbox:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/giltboxph

Twitter: https://twitter.com/giltboxph

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giltboxph/

Website: http://www.giltbox.ph/

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Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I paid for my own Saladbox subscription. This review is written based on my own opinion. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa.

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Hi, guys! I got an Exceptionnel Cosmetics Blush and Kiss Potion (Shade #4 Possession)  inside my Giltbox subscription last month. (You can read my August unboxing here.) I've already tried it out a few times since then. Here's my honest thoughts about the product!

WHAT: Exceptionnel Cosmetics Blush and Kiss Potion (Possession), 10 ml
Price: 150 PHP 

Product Description:
"A water-based and hypoallergenic lip and cheek stain that contains natural ingredients. Its very pigmented and easy to blend formula gives off a natural effect to your lips and cheeks.

#4 Possession is a chocolate brown hue that may be used three ways: on your lips, as your blush, and AS CONTOUR. The brown shade is a perfect "just went to the beach" blush for Morena Filipinas but works well with fairer skin tones as well. It leaves a pleasant choco-nutty flavor and smells DIVINE!"

Exceptionnel Cosmetics (a proud Philippine brand) claims that all their Blush and Kiss Potions lasts up to 12 hours and will past the wash test. Aside from that, they claim that they are organic and cruelty-free.

rollerball packaging

I can't find an ingredient list anywhere so we can't really verify the organic, natural, cruelty-free, and hypoallergenic labels. Use with caution and patch test first to avoid allergic reactions.

Anyway, the lip tint doesn't have a box but it's safely sealed with thermoplastic. It's a pretty typical 10-ml rollerball tube but I do like the black and gold color scheme they have going on. It looks pretty chic and sophisticated. Now, let's do some swatches!

How Possesion Looks Like

Yellow mid-afternoon sunlight. No edits except for the watermark.

Possession is described as a chocolate brown suitable for morenas. From my paper swatch above, it does look close to the description. It smells so good - like chocolate! No bitter taste too like most lip tints! It's sweet.

Before I show you how it looks like on my lips, let me just put out a quick disclaimer: lip tints have never worked for me. I've tried a lot of tints (I reviewed a few here: 1, 2) but they would usually just slide off my lips and settle on the center. Aside from that, my lips have very dark edges and they're not compatible with sheer tints. If the description says "pigmented", I want to actually get that pigment.

So, did it work?

swatches in mid-afternoon sunlight

No such luck. The shade does suit my skin but as you can see, it settled on the center of my lips immediately. Note that I have moisturized and exfoliated before the swatches. It just isn't for me. 😂

To be fair, the formula feels moisturizing. It added a little bit of shine making my lips look healthier. It's not very pigmented but the shade is buildable. After 4-5 swipes, the dark edges of my lips are covered a little bit. You can apply a few more swipes to pack on the pigment. Since it only settles on the center of my lips, it doesn't look good no matter how many swipes I layer on. If your lips are similar to mine, better try another tint, girl!

how it will look like if used as a blush

As a blush/contour, I needed at least two layers for it to show up on my skin. It adds a sheer and natural-looking pop of color on my cheeks.

About its longevity, I tried doing the wash test myself. I placed my hand swatch under running water for about a minute. Results? It looks like it's waterproof. It didn't budge at all. However, even if it's waterproof, it didn't last as long on my face like the 12-hour claim. Four hours in, the blush on my cheeks has faded and I have to reapply. The tint on my lips have disappeared even earlier.

Verdict

If your lips are like mine, I don't recommend this because the formula will only settle on the center of the lips. As a blush, it's okay but it doesn't last very long. If you don't have mutant lips like me and don't mind re-applying, then this product is not too bad. I think it's good for barely-there everyday makeup look. I'll continue using this as a blusher but will not repurchase.

Any lip tints that have wowed you? Share it to me and I'll check it out!

Check out Exceptionnel Cosmetics:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/exceptionnelcosmetics
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exceptionnelcosmetics/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/exceptionnel_co
Shopee: https://shopee.ph/shop/15221293/search/?shopCollection=3086029

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Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I got the item inside my Saladbox subscription which I paid for myself. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa.

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What: Alada Soap, 160g
Price & Where: 300 PHP at @mariasonlineshop

Hi, guys! Here's my review of the popular Thai beauty soap called Alada!

I got the soap as a freebie from @mariasonlineshop (Shopee link) when I spent a certain amount during a Shopee promotion. Depending on where you buy it, the soap normally retails about 300-500 PHP. So pricey! I've finished the whole bar already so read on to see if it worked for me!

About the Product

ALADA claims to remove acne, freckles and pimples for clearer and finer skin complexion. It promises to nourish, moisturize and whiten your skin, keeping it smooth and young looking.

I can't find the complete and full ingredients online but Alada claims that the soap is made with 100% organic ingredients. According to the product description, the soap contains Carambola extract and natural fruit acids to help reduce scarring and to remove dead skin cells. It also has White Ginger Extract which has antibacterial properties to prevent the formation of bacteria. Collagen will soften, moisturize, and brighten skin naturally. Algae Extract for protecting the skin's moisture balance and for preventing the loss of water under the skin. Lastly, it has Arbutin which inhibits the production of melanin for fairer skin.

Instructions:

For Face - Wash and rinse off.

For Body - Wash and leave for 3-5 minutes then rinse off.

First Impressions

sparkly box

Apparently because of its popularity, this soap is imitated a lot! Alada released new soap packaging to combat fakes. You should look for a holographic box with an embossed logo.

The back part is also holographic. Look at those sparkles!

The back contains information written in Thai but thankfully, the instructions are in English. There's also a Line QR code in it and if you're wondering, it directs to the CEO's LINE account. If you have questions, I guess you can contact her directly.

New packaging! The soap inside comes in a printed plastic wrapper with a holographic gold sticker.

The brand's logo is stamped on front.

The bar of soap is huge at 160 grams and looks like a regular papaya soap. If you have doubts about the authenticity of your soap, you can check out Alada's Official Thai Facebook page. They have a lot of tips on how to spot fake Alada.

My Experience

The soap is described as strong and not for people with sensitive skin. I totally see what they mean but I love it!

During my very first wash, I lathered up and left the suds as long as I can. My face felt tingly after 2 minutes (like when you leave kojic acid on for too long) so I washed it off first. For the rest of my body, it was around 6 minutes before I felt the stinging sensation.

If it was harsh, why do I love it?

Well, after washing away all the suds, I massaged my skin gently in a circular motion to exfoliate. I was only using my fingers but so much dead skin fell off! Too much information? Haha sorry but I was really surprised by the amount I was able to remove. I exfoliate regularly (at least once a week) but somehow, Alada managed to loosen up all the dead skin cells I never thought I had! Sofia's Glutathione Soap had similar exfoliating powers but I find Alada to be 3 times more potent.

Too much exfoliation is a bad thing so I only do the process above every three days. For the rest of the week, I leave the suds on my body for two minutes then rinse it off. I use a lesser amount of time for my face.

I'm not sure how to describe its smell - it's kinda weird but still tolerable. Don't worry because after rinsing it off, the smell goes away too. By the way, expect micropeeling even after removing all those dead skin cells. I apply lots of lotion after to keep my skin soft and moisturized.

Results

I used Alada once a day and I applied it very generously. The soap was a big bar but it only lasted a total of 15 days for me.

1st pic - Before using the soap (daylight, near window)
2nd pic - A few days after I finished the bar (bathroom lighting)

I suck at taking progress pics and this is not *exactly* how my skin looks like, but as you can see, I was tan and darker in my BEFORE pic. In real life, the reddish cast disappeared and I got at least 1.5 shades lighter. (Note: The AFTER pic above looks much lighter because of the lighting). I have obvious tan lines on my upper arms. It faded a little bit and it blends with my skin tone now. Not a bad progress for only two weeks of usage!

Verdict

Alada is great for exfoliation (three thumbs up for that 👍👍👍) and it also lightened my skin in just a short time. I think you'll definitely achieve a fairer skin tone if you use the soap continuously. Biggest downside is the price. It's expensive at 300PHP per bar but I think it's still worth trying. Because of fakes, make sure you buy from a trusted seller!

Overall, I highly recommend this soap. I'll definitely purchase this.

Tried this soap? Let me know about your experience!

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Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I got the soap as freebie but I was not asked to write a review. Everything here is based on my own experience and opinions. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa.

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