WHAT: Eres Tu Always Young & Beautiful Restorative Day & Night Cream
PRICE & WHERE: 99 Php at Watson's

ERES TU is a Korean brand that specializes in sunscreen and skincare products. According to them, their products contain peptide and other active ingredients to help manage wrinkles and reverse the signs of aging.

I've seen a few bloggers buzz about Eres Tu's launching here in the Philippines last year and their initial impressions look promising. When I ran out of my moisturizer last week, I finally went ahead and purchased their Always Young & Beautiful Restorative Day & Night Cream. Here's my review!

ABOUT THE PRODUCT

The packaging. The product comes in a cute 13 ml resealable plastic pouch.
Click the pic to see the full size!

Product Description:
ERES TU Always Young & Beautiful Restorative Day & Night Cream is your "must-have-in-pouch" beauty remedy for all your skin type woes from dryness, darkening, dullness, hyperpigmentation, age & blemish spots, fine lines and wrinkles. Use it day and night. Infused with a rich concentration of herbal extracts from Centella, Green Tea, Licorice Root, Chamomile, Rosemary, Hyaluronic Acid, Multi-mushroom, Korean Flowers, Beta-Glucan, Vitamins B3 and E to whiten, nourish and improve elasticity, moisturize, soothe, tone, minimize pores, reverse photoaging and protect skin from harmful free radicals."

Oh di ba? Bongga ang description. It touches all skincare woes from dryness to whitening to protecting the skin.

Ingredients:
Distilled Water, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG-10 Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root (Licorice) Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Trehalose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ganoderma Lucidum (Mushroom) Extract, Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Rheum Undulatum Root/Stalk/Stem Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Extract, Angelica Dahurica Root Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin/Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Allantoin, Perfume, Tocopheryl Acetate, Adenosine.

The ingredients list on the label has some mistakes in it (like duplicate ingredients, spacing, etc) so I took the liberty of correcting it as I see fit. Anyway, the list is looooong! Out of 31 ingredients, 16 of them are from plants -- rich in herbal extracts indeed!

Adenosine is the peptide they're talking about. I hope it does have an effect on anti-aging because as you can see, it's the last on their list. Other ingredients that stood out to me include niacinamide (for whitening), and allantoin (for skin soothing). Trehalose, glycerin & glycosaminoglycans act as moisturizers while Tocopheryl Acetate (Vit E) acts as an antioxidant. 

The third, fourth, fifth and seventh ingredients (Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG-10 Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone and Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone) are all silicone-based ingredients. They're there for skin-conditioning and to prevent moisture from escaping. They're also the stuff responsible for making skincare products have that smooth, silky feel. 

Here's the Cosdna analysis of the ingredients. If you are sensitive to any of the ingredients, please refrain from using the product!

MY EXPERIENCE

The mouth of the pouch.

The packaging is easy to open and reseal but you do have to be careful when handling the cap. I broke the tiny squiggly plastic line connecting the cap and the pouch together. I lost it a couple days later, haha. 😆 Losing the cap is not really an issue for me because the hole is tiny and the contents are just enough for one week of use. I just kept the pouch in a non-dusty place.

swatches of the product on the back of hand

The cream is a white gel that thins out once spread. However, unlike most gels, this one won't breakdown and get too watery. The texture is like a primer and moisturizer rolled into one. It feels like there's a smooth, silky, slippery film forming on top of my skin when I was spreading it, but at the same time, I can also feel it hydrating my skin, if that makes sense.

The third pic on my swatch above is a couple of minutes after I massaged the cream in. The back of my hand has absorbed most of the moisture leaving the shiny, slippy but non-sticky film on top. Fourth pic is after I let the product settle in for a few more minutes. My skin has further absorbed the cream and the finish looks dewy and not as greasy as before.

Moisture Test = 17% increase in moisture!
(Note: I tested my skin 5 minutes after it has fully absorbed the product)

This product is indeed effective as a moisturizer. My skin feels soft, smooth and hydrated and it's confirmed by my moisture test. There's a 17% increase in hydration as you can see from my results above. I think this will suit people with dry to normal skin.

For its other claims, I don't see notable results when it comes to fine lines and dark spots. One pouch is just enough for twice a day, one week of use and I think I definitely need more than a week to see results in those areas.

VERDICT

Overall, this is a budget-friendly Korean skincare product that does its job as a moisturizer. The spill-free tiny pouch is perfect for traveling. If I ran out of moisturizer again, I'll consider getting this again. You can buy Eres Tu products at Watsons and SM Beauty sections.

Have you tried this cream? How's your experience? 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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WHAT: Chica Y Chico Oil Clear Essence, 40ml

PRICE & WHERE: 560 PHP at Althea

Hi, guys! Here's my review of Chica Y Chico's Oil Clear Essence!

ABOUT THE ESSENCE

The packaging. The product description at the back is written in Korean.

Chica Y Chico's Oil Clear Essence is described as a "blotting paper essence" that helps your face stay matte and fresh all day long. Aside from controlling sebum, other claims include tightening pores, soothing and hydrating the skin.

Ingredients:

Water, Alcohol Denat, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Extract, Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Rhus Semialata Gall Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Arginine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, C12-14 Pareth-12, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance(Parfum)

The essence contains ingredients that are effective for pore tightening. Chica Y Chico calls it their Pore Tannin Complex - it consists of plant extracts from green tea, persimmon leaf, chestnut shell, quince, oak apple, and black tea. Other notable ingredients include linseed extract & sodium hyaluronate for hydration as well as arginine as an added antioxidant.

Alcohol is second in the ingredients list. It may not work for you if have dry or sensitive skin. Here's Cosdna's analysis of the ingredients. Always check the ingredients first and don't use if you are allergic or sensitive to any of them.

PACKAGING

The box packaging it came in.

The packaging is simple and practical. It comes in a white and blue box that reflects the build of the product itself. Except for the product name, everything is written in Korean. There's no English translation of the product description or ingredients list so make sure to do your own research first.

the pump - I use two pumps for my face and neck

The bottle is a transparent blue and is made of plastic. It is well-built and doesn't feel cheap or flimsy. It comes with a pump to dispense product.

MY EXPERIENCE

How to Apply:

After applying toner, pump 2-3 times and pat into skin until it is fully absorbed. It can be used on the whole face or on the oily T-zone only.

swatch

The essence looks like a thick gel but once you spread it, it gets watery and lighter in texture. It gives a cooling sensation when I was patting it in. Regarding scent, it smells like cologne. It's kinda strong so if you dislike fragrances, this may not be for you. The product absorbs really easily and as you can see from the pic above, it dries matte with no sticky feeling!

Moisture Test
Before vs After applying the essence

Even though it's mattifying, it did not dry out my skin. My face would feel really smooth and soft whenever I use this. Did a moisture test and I was able to confirm that the essence is indeed hydrating. After application, my skin's moisture level increased 7.4%. Not bad!

Since the essence is mattifying, I only use this during daytime. I used to apply it at night but that kinda defeats the dewy finish of most of the products in my evening routine. Anyway, the essence does help in controlling oil. I don't blot or retouch as much during daytime. As for pore tightening, I can't really say it helped in that department.

VERDICT

Overall, I like the product. I recommend this especially to people with oily or combination skin. It's effective in keeping the oil at bay for a few more hours while also adding a little bit more hydration. Just remember: don't expect too much on the pore tightening front. 

I got mine from Althea PH but it's currently out of stock. You can find this essence on other online stores like Yesstyle (887.57Php), StyleKorean (12.15 USD) or on Shopee PH (450-675 PHP) to name a few.

Tried this? How's your experience?

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Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I paid for my own Giltbox 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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WHAT: SKINFOOD Premium Tomato Whitening Toner, 180 ml

PRICE & WHERE: 610 Php at Althea PH

Hi, guys. In this post, I'm gonna be talking about Skinfood's Premium Tomato Whitening Toner!

Skinfood is a Korean brand that believes nutritious food is key to healthy, beautiful skin. The brand takes it further by making all their products food-based and by using sustainably grown ingredients.

The toner is part of SkinFood's Premium Tomato Whitening skincare line, which uses high-quality tomatoes grown from a leading farm in Korea. Tomatoes are an excellent source of the antioxidant lycopene as well as Vitamin C and other vitamins and minerals. According to Skinfood, you can have all the tomato goodness because the toner contains 10% tomato extract! It is also contains other Vitamin C derivatives to brighten and lighten the skin while removing excess residue and dead skin cells.

INGREDIENTS (from SkinFood US Website)
Water, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Extract, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Beta-Glucan, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Maackia Fauriei Stem Extract, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance

How To Use:

After cleansing face, apply product using a cotton pad or palms. Pat gently until the toner is completely absorbed.

The ingredient list looks very promising. Great to see the tomato extract as the second in the list! As SkinFood promised, Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is also within the first ten ingredients. The formula also contains an abundant amount of moisturizers and pH adjusters. Here's the Cosdna analysis of the ingredients if you wanna see the functions of the rest of the ingredients. Don't use if you are allergic or sensitive to any of the ingredients.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

the dispenser

The toner comes in a sturdy and very pretty peachy pink bottle with a screw-on cap. The dispenser did not have a seal foil but it did have a white plastic stopper plugging the hole to keep all the liquid inside. By the way, the toner was covered with plastic when I got it, it didn't come in a box.

The toner itself is a clear and watery liquid. It feels light and refreshing. My skin fully absorbed it in less than 30 seconds! Regarding scent, there is a slight tomato smell but it is not really noticeable. The added fragrance overpowers the tomato smell. This might not be for those with sensitive noses.

THE TONER DOING ITS TONING DUTIES

A toner's function is to complete the cleansing of your skin. It removes any dirt left on your face even after washing with a cleanser. It also brings back your skin to its natural acidic state, helping your skin absorb your skincare products better.

I always apply this toner with a cotton pad and it's quite good in picking up any leftover debris, even soap suds from my cleansing foam! As for it's pH-adjusting properties, let's see...

pH Test

SKINFOOD Premium Tomato Whitening Toner pH Test Result = 3.7 pH

Yay! At 3.7 pH, this is indeed a skin-balancing toner! If you are using acids, this toner will be a great help since it is pH-adjusting as well.

Moisture Test

moisture test results

I tested the toner's hydrating properties on the back of my left hand. Before applying the toner, my hand was dismally dry with only 29.3% of moisture. After my first application, the moisture level increased 8%! After applying a second layer, my skin's moisture value got up to 58.4% - a 21.1% increase!

The toner is moisturizing and made my skin feel soft and smooth. I say it's suitable for the 3-skin/5-skin/7-skin method, if you choose to use it that way. You just need a good moisturizer to seal in all the hydration because my skin's moisture dropped a little bit after only 5 minutes.

Brightening/Whitening

Regarding its brightening claims, I am not too sure. I am currently using this facial wash and it is really effective in giving my face a temporary matte and bright look. Whenever I use the toner after washing my face, the brightness would immediately tone down a lot.

When paired with a non-brightening facial wash, I do see it adds a little bit of glow making my skin look dewy. As for its whitening claim, I have used this for more than a month now and so far I don't see any dramatic whitening results.

FINAL VERDICT

Overall, this is a good hydrating and pH-adjusting toner but if you are after the whitening benefits, I suggest you look at other options. It didn't cause me any breakouts so I'll continue using it. I won't repurchase once empty.

I got my bottle at Althea for 610PHP. You can also buy this at other stores like StyleKorean (15.70 USD), Jolse (19.11 USD), and Amazon (13.78 USD) to name a few.

Have you tried this toner? Let me know about your experience! If you have questions or any requests, 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'm still waiting for my January & February Giltboxes so I thought why not share what I got last November? Lol! It's already February now so it may be too late to post about my November haul but whatever, here we go!

If you haven't heard of them yet, Giltbox is a subscription service where you'll get 4-5 beauty samples delivered straight to your doorstep. The items are personalized based on a beauty profile you fill out so theoretically, you're gonna love everything you get from them. Subscription starts at P1,800 for 3-months, P3,300 for 6-months, and P6,000 for a one-year subscription. Check out their website for more info! In my case, I took advantage of Giltbox's limited Buy 1 Take 1 promo so I'll be showing you what I got inside two boxes!

My package arrived on my doorstep during the second week of December. Giltbox being late on deliveries is discouraging but I hope what I got is worth the wait! Let's see!

BOX ONE CONTENTS

Box 1 Contents

I don't remember Giltbox having a special theme for November (e.g. Pretty Party for October 2017) so I guess this is a random assortment of products put together. Who knows? Anyway, let's take a look at each sample.

1) iWhite BB.Holic Everyday BB Cream, 3 sachets, 24.50 PHP each

DESCRIPTION: "iWhite Korea BB.Holic is a multi-tasking BB Cream that provides several makeup and
skincare benefits. It is perfect for everyday use as it is infused with over 10 plant extracts to ensure
 that your skin is taken care of while looking refreshingly beautiful."

I have already tried this product before I even got it from Giltbox. It's cheap and does what a good BB cream is supposed to do - to even out your skin tone in a natural-looking way. I don't mind getting this inside my box because I am certain I'll use it up. On my own, I probably won't repurchase.

2) Esme Stimu-Rub, 10 ml, 150 PHP

DESCRIPTION: "STIMU-RUB roll-on essential oil blend is designed to soothe pain from migraine,
sinus, headache and relieving fatigue and promoting clarity and calm a natural way especially when traveling."

Getting an essential oil blend for headaches is pretty random since this is a beauty box but I do love this! The oil blend is made up of coconut, peppermint, ginger, eucalyptus and spearmint. It smells minty good but not in an ointment-kinda way. I've used this to mitigate headaches but this is a multitasker! It can decongest clogged up nose while also relieving muscle aches. 

3) Vitress Classic Cuticle Coat, 50 ml, 87 PHP

I've been getting Vitress samples almost every month even during Giltbox's Saladbox days. I think I have enough to last me a decade. Lol, just kidding. However, I do hope Giltbox will try harder in curating samples for their subscribers. Getting repeat samples is not fun.

4) Bath Junkies Bath Soap Samples, 2 pcs, approx. 30 PHP each

Next, I got two 20g samples of Bath Junkie Soaps in Tropical Punch and Green Revolution. I got Bath Junkie samples inside my October box too but it's great that Giltbox gave me variants that I haven't tried yet.

Tropical Punch is described as a natural soap that helps fight free radicals with fruit antioxidants while Green Revolution is made with moringa, green tea, and verbena leaf extracts to moisturize and nourish the skin. The 100g full-sized bath soap costs 150PHP each. Each sample should be around 30PHP.

5) Esfolio Green Tea Essence Mask Sheet, 54.95 PHP

DESCRIPTION: "Green Tea Essence Mask Sheet is perfectly made for patchy and dry skin!
With its highly-concentrated essence mask, it helps in keeping your
skin more hydrated and refreshed after a stressful day!"

I'm a sheet mask hoarder and I want to try an Esfolio product so getting this is nice for me. Please wait for my review! 😀

6) Pond's Age Miracle Firm & Lift Day Cream, 2pc 3g samples, 30PHP

DESCRIPTION: "This anti-aging day cream is clinically proven to immediately reduce wrinkles
by up to 20%. Provides strong protection from the sun while lifting your face and neck."

I haven't tried this sample yet and it looks promising. It contains CLA4 and Retinol boosters to speed up the skin renewal process. The 50g full-sized jar is 500 PHP. The samples should be about 30 PHP each.

7) Sartorial Scents Perfume Card

Last but not the least inside my first November Giltbox is this perfume card from Sartorial Scents. The perfume sample smells great but there's not a lot of info to find online.

BOX ONE VERDICT

Not including the perfume card, the total value of this box is around 485 PHP. I guess that's not bad since I got to try a total of 7 products inside. Some of them are repeat samples but eyyyy, I'm trying to be more tolerant this year. Haha. Anyway, Esme's Stimu-Rub is the product that stood out for me.

Is this box worth it? What do you think?

BOX TWO CONTENTS

Box 2 Contents (forgot to include Calliel's Eyebrow Eyelash Serum)

1) iWhite BB.Holic Everyday BB Cream, 3 sachets, 24.50 PHP each

I got another 3 pieces of iWhite's BB Cream.

2) Vitress Classic Cuticle Coat, 50 ml, 87 PHP

Another bottle of Vitress Hair Cuticle Coat. :/

3) Bath Junkies Bath Soap Samples, 2 pcs, approx. 30 PHP each

Peace of Mind - new variant I haven't tried yet!

4) Benefit Punch Pop in Pink Berry, 0.13 sample

DESCRIPTION: "It's a liquid lip color with a pop of juicy color, Vitamin E and shine!"

Glad to have another "not-repeat" sample! Lmao. 

Punch Pop is described as a liquid lip color with a pop of color, Vitamin E and shine. I'm not a lipgloss girl but I really like the formulation. It's hydrating, feels cushiony, applies evenly with a high-shine finish, and best of all, it is not as sticky as the lip gloss tubes of olden days. My hair still gets trapped to my lips when I use this though. Anyway, the 7ml full-sized tube costs 1,100 PHP. Based on price per ml, this sample should be around 20PHP.

5) Sugar x Salt Foot Scrub Soak, 2pc 15g sample, 25 PHP

Winner 😍

OMG, I love this! Sugar x Salt did great when creating this product. It just smells irresistibly goooood! It's a foot scrub x foot soak in one and it's effective in making my feet feel soft and fresh. I have also tried their Rosewater Beauty & The Mist and it's also good. Will be following the brand from now on.

The full-sized 100g jar retails for 160 PHP. Each sample should be around 25 PHP.

6) Calliel Eyebrow Eyelash Serum, 150 PHP

DESCRIPTION: "Calliel Eyebrow and Eyelash and Serum is a combination of natural and cold-pressed
premium oils that improves hair growth, prevents breakage of hair and strengthens hair."

The last item inside my 2nd Giltbox is Calliel's Eyebrow and Eyelash Serum. It is a blend of essential oils to promote hair growth for kilay and pilikmata goals. This local brand even claims you'll see results in just one week of use! There's a mascara wand inside for easy application. I'm gonna be testing this soon, so please wait for my review!

BOX TWO VERDICT

My fave items in this box are Calliel's Serum and Sugar X Salt's Foot Soak. Based on my estimates, the value of this box should be around 440 PHP. Not bad!

WAS MY NOVEMBER GILTBOX WORTH IT?

Hell effin yeah! Value-wise, I got 925 PHP worth of products. Almost double the amount I paid for. Satisfaction-wise, there's a lot of new samples for me to try so I'm one happy camper.

Wanna try Giltbox? Let me know if you have any questions! If you’re already a Giltbox subscriber, I would love to hear about your experiences. Till next time!

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/

Follow me and say hi!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/teptns

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

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I paid for my own Giltbox 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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