That pic though, lmao!
Hey guys! In case you missed it, I was recently featured as Sample Room's August Roommate of the Month!  I'm really honored and consider this as a major beauty blogging milestone! I still think of myself as a newbie to the blogging scene and I'm sincerely flattered that the lovely folks at Sample Room noticed me and my little blog. 💓 You can check out my full interview here.

If you haven't heard of them yet, Sample Room is a product sampling website here in the Philippines where you can "try before you buy." Every product on the site is free, you only need to pay for the shipping!


What is “Roommate of the Month”?

Every month, Sample Room will choose a “Roommate of the Month” out of their 55,000 roommates as a way of saying thanks to the people that have supported them all these years. The Roommate of the Month will be chosen based Sample Room activity and posts on social media.

What does the Roommate of the Month get?

1) blog and social media features on Sample Room
2) additional 25 Sample Room Points in your account
3) a surprise gift!

Wanna know what I got? Tada!
my Sample Room Loot
I got this about a week after my interview article was launched. I know they mentioned the Featured Roomie will get a surprise gift, but I didn't expect to get this many! Thank you so much, Sample Room!

Interested? How do you become a Featured Roommate?

You only need to show off your Sample Room haul by using the hashtags #SampleRoomPH, #SampleRoomSpotlight and #RoommateOfTheMonth in your Instagram posts. Keep on posting so that Sample Room will notice you! You can see the full mechanics here.

Good luck to everyone! Tried Sample Room already? What's your favorite find?






Check out Sample Room PH!
Website: http://www.sampleroom.ph/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/sampleroomph
Twitter: http://twitter.com/sampleroomph
Facebook: http://facebook.com/sampleroomph

Follow me and say hi!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/teptns
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teptns/

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I was not paid to write this article.
Unboxing My Pretty Party Giltbox (October 2017)!
Hi, everyone! Got another Giltbox unboxing to share with you all!

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 P1,950 for 3-months, P3,300 for 6-months, and P6,000 for a one-year subscription. Check out their website for more info!

Last October, Giltbox's theme of the month is "Pretty Party". The box contains items that will give us a little more confidence, just like how a small beauty pep talk from our friends will motivate us.
Unboxing My Pretty Party Giltbox (October 2017)!
this month's loot
I really like the cheerful yellow print. It conveys optimism and positivity to me which I believe is what Giltbox was going for. Anyway, I got my loot last week and I had time to play with some of the items. Read on to see what I got!

BOX ONE CONTENTS

Unboxing My Pretty Party Giltbox (October 2017)!
Box 1 in all its glory. Let's break it down!

(1) Esfolio Aloe Vera Gel Samples and (2) Bath Junkies Bath Soap Samples

Unboxing My Pretty Party Giltbox (October 2017)!

First of all, I got three 5-ml sachet samples of the Esfolio Aloe Vera Gel. It's a soothing gel that can also act as a night or day cream, hair moisturizer, body lotion, callus skin softener, and sunburn treatment. Aside from that, it claims it can brighten dark spots or uneven skin tone, stretch marks and scars. The 300-ml full size jar retails for 350PHP so each sample should be around 5-6PHP.

Next, I got two 20g samples of Bath Junkie Soaps in Happy Haze and Days of Summer. I haven't tried them yet but they smell so good! Happy Daze is described as cleansing, nourishing and brightening while Days of Summer is described as brightening, skin-clarifying and nourishing bar. The 100g full-sized bath soap is sold for 150PHP each. Each sample should be around 30PHP.

3) Sartorial Scents Holiday Perfume Card

Unboxing My Pretty Party Giltbox (October 2017)!
"It's nature scented fragrance explore herbal extract blended with aromatic essences. Best for daily use."
Next, I got a perfume sample from Sartorial Scents. This particular fragrance smells great! The perfume is oil-based and lasts long. I wish there's more info on their instagram page. According to my Giltbox product card, the full-size is 180 PHP.

4) The Porefessional Pore Minimizing Makeup, 0.3g Sample

Unboxing My Pretty Party Giltbox (October 2017)!
Product Description from Sephora:  "The POREfessional: pore minimising makeup covers imperfections without
settling into pores or clogging them. The weightless, long-wear formula instantly mattifies and controls excess
surface oil for 8 hours, and contains mushroom extract known to reduce the appearance of pores."
My Giltbox product card says I'm gonna get the Porefessional Face Primer (the balm) but I got Benefit's Pore Minimizing Foundation instead. I'm not complaining! Haha. I love this! It's effective in covering up pores and making my skin appear smoother in texture. The 15-ml full-size is 1,900 PHP at Sephora PH, meaning this sample card is around 40PHP+ in value.

5) Brown Belly After Sun Spray, sample value: P200

Unboxing My Pretty Party Giltbox (October 2017)!
Product Description: "A soothing after-sun mist that hydrates and refreshes."
This aloe vera mist is the first product I've tried from Brown Belly. And omg, I love it! It is made of aloe vera, lavender essential oil, chamomile essential oil and purified water. It has a pleasant smell, it's cooling (perfect to use if you just came back from outside) and also leaves your skin soft and hydrated. No kidding, I think this is way better than the Evian Facial Spray (which is just plain water)!  I'm interested to buy this again, except for its one con: why is it so small?! The 60-ml full size spray costs 280 PHP. I still recommend this though!

6) Boi-ing Brightening Concealer, 0.05G Sample

Unboxing My Pretty Party Giltbox (October 2017)!
Product Description: "Brighten up tired eyes, hide dark circles, and conceal imperfections with Boi-Ing
Brightening Concealer. This full-coverage, creamy concealer has melon undertones to camouflage
discolouration. The easily blendable cream concealer colour corrects and leaves a radiant finish."
The last sample in my first Giltbox is Benefit's Boi-ing Brightening Concealer. I haven't tried it yet but if you are interested, the 4.4g full-sized product retails at 1,300 PHP. Estimate value of this sample is below 50 PHP.

BOX ONE VERDICT

Based on my own calculations, this box is more or less 400PHP+ in value. I'd be disappointed if I was a regular subscriber but since I got this on Buy 1 Take 1 promo, I am not too upset. The Brown Belly After Sun Mist is a great discovery and that makes it up for me!

Let's see what I got inside my second Giltbox!


BOX TWO CONTENTS

Unboxing My Pretty Party Giltbox (October 2017)!
Box 2 Contents

1) Esfolio Aloe Vera Gel Samples and (2) Bath Junkies Bath Soap Samples

Unboxing My Pretty Party Giltbox (October 2017)!

Inside this box, I also got 3pcs 5-ml samples of the Aloe Vera Gel as well as 2 samples of Bath Junkies Soap. This time, I got Minty Groove and Pink Party. Minty Groove is made of goat's milk, organic oatmeal and spearmint essential oils making it a mood-lifting bar while Pink Party is a zesty, skin brightening and nourishing bar with arbutin and aloe. Out of the four variants I got, I love Pink Party's scent the most. Will try them asap!

3) Sartorial Scents Holiday Perfume Card

Unboxing My Pretty Party Giltbox (October 2017)!

Another perfume card like in the first box.

4) Benefit Punch Pop in Watermelon, 0.13ml sample

Unboxing My Pretty Party Giltbox (October 2017)!
Product Description: "It's a liquid lip color with a pop of juicy color, Vitamin E and shine!"
Punch Pop is described as a cushiony and creamy lip color with a high-shine finish. I'm not a lipgloss girl but I really like the formulation. It's hydrating, applies evenly and best of all, it is not as tacky as the Juicy tubes of olden days. I admit I still find my hair sticking to my lips when I use this though. Inescapable lip gloss hazards, I guess? Anyway, the 7ml full-sized tube costs 1,100 PHP. Based on price per ml, this sample should be around 20PHP.

5) St. Joan Skincare Whitening Body Lotion, 120 ml full-size, 250 PHP

Unboxing My Pretty Party Giltbox (October 2017)!
Product Description:  "It instantly whitens your skin upon application and has an extra
whitening and moisturizing power that nourishes your skin in every use."
Last but not the least is this full-sized body lotion from St. Joan. I haven't heard of the brand so I immediately tried the lotion. First impression: it is moisturizing and very rich. Can't say anything about it's long-term whitening benefits yet but it does have that instant-whitening effect. I look 1-2 shades lighter immediately after applying this. Since the lotion is thick, I recommend applying it little by little for easier blending.

BOX TWO VERDICT

In this box, my fave is the Benefit Punch Pop lipgloss! I wouldn't mind getting it again in my future boxes. *hint hint* I really like the St. Joan lotion too. Based on my calculations, estimate price of this box is around 400 PHP. 


IS THE OCTOBER GILTBOX LOOT WORTH IT?

The total value of my loot is around 800PHP+, a couple hundred pesos more than what I paid for. Honestly, it is not that amazing price-wise. If I was not a B1T1 subscriber, I'll probably feel disappointed. That said, I think this month's loot is an improvement from what I got last month. The Brown Belly Spray is such a good find!

Seriously hoping that November's boxes will be able to blow my mind away completely!

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!






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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.
Dr. Young Nourishing Rain on Dry Skin Mask (Geumsan Ginseng) Review
WHAT: Dr. Young Nourishing Rain on Dry Skin Mask (Geumsan Ginseng), 20g
PRICE & WHERE: 127 PHP at Althea
Hi, guys! Sheet mask time again! I recently tried a Dr. Young mask and it went well (read my review here!) so I decided to try another variant ASAP! Continue reading to see my thoughts about their Nourishing Rain on Dry Skin Mask!

About the Sheet Mask

Dr. Young Nourishing Rain on Dry Skin Mask (Geumsan Ginseng) Review
the back of the packaging
Dr. Young Nourishing Rain on Dry Skin Mask (Geumsan Ginseng) Review
closeup of the English translation
Product Blurb:
"Your Skin Forecast today: We have a great news for dry skin! We are expecting some nutritious rain containing ginseng from Geumsan, Chungcheongnam-do, the heart of Korean ginseng. Additionally, we have shea butter and various herb ingredients that will moisturize and embrace our skin in comfort."

5-Free System:
No mineral oil, animal ingredients, artificial coloring, triethanolamine, sulfate surfactant

Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Paeonia Albioria Root Extract, Prunus Persica (Peach) Leaf Extract, Gingko Biloba Leaf Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance

This is a moisturizing sheet mask recommended for dry skin. The main ingredient is ginseng which is very popular for its anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and brightening benefits.

I'm surprised it's actually pretty high in the ingredient list (6th out of 27 ingredients) because ginseng is expensive. As they mentioned, there's also shea butter and loads of plant extracts. Don't use if you are sensitive or allergic to any of the ingredients. Here's the Cosdna analysis of the ingredients if you wanna see their general functions.



My Experience

Dr. Young Nourishing Rain on Dry Skin Mask (Geumsan Ginseng) Review
opening the pack
According to the product page, this is a 3-layer mask (the essence is sandwiched in between a cellulose layer and a silk layer). It's not transparent like the Dr. Young Damyang Bamboo Mask but it's still thin and super absorbent.
after 20 minutes
The pack contains 20ml of white, thick and creamy serum. The mask is not drippy when you take it off the pack but it is fully saturated with the serum. I'm only pressing my finger lightly in the pic above but a lot of it got squeezed out. Take note the pic is taken after 20 minutes! Very juicy!
Good mask coverage. The material is fine and closely woven.
Because it was saturated, it can be a problem when you need to adjust the placement. Just imagine pressing the eye and nose area! In the pic above, you can see some of it got in my hair hahaha. It's just a minor inconvenience though, no big deal.

The mask smells very earthy which is perhaps from the ginseng. It also contains a mild perfume scent that smells artificial. Once on the face, I can only smell the ginseng and it is faint too.



Results

I took the mask off after 40 minutes. I was kinda worried that the white, thick serum will leave a white cast or a residue of some sort but my face drank it all! No oily finish like the Damyang Bamboo mask and the next morning, there's no trace of the milky serum when I was washing my face. My skin felt really firm and hydrated! I did not experience any kind irritations too so that's a plus.

Verdict

This is a moisturizing mask and it did its job fairly well. Overall, I like this and may buy it again.

Con: I got this from Althea but looks like they stopped carrying the Dr. Young brand. It is still available on other online beauty stores but they're not very convenient for me. If you can get this, I think it's definitely worth trying out!

What's your HG mask? Let me know and I'll check it out if I haven't tried it yet!






Follow me and say hi!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/teptns
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teptns/

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.
Dr. Young Refreshing Spring Showers Mask (Damyang Bamboo) Review
WHAT: Dr. Young Refreshing Spring Showers Mask (Damyang Bamboo), 20g
PRICE & WHERE: 127 PHP at Althea
Hi, everyone! Here's what I think about Dr. Young's Refreshing Spring Showers Mask!

About The Mask

Dr. Young Refreshing Spring Showers Mask (Damyang Bamboo) Review
The back packaging. There's Korean and English information.
Dr. Young Refreshing Spring Showers Mask (Damyang Bamboo) Review
closeup of the English translation
Product blurb:
"Your skin forecast today: Clear Bamboo Wind from Damyang refreshes up the skin atmosphere. There is also some rain in the forecast from the rain clouds of Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract and Adansonia Digitata Leaf Extract, keeping skin moisturized and healthy."

Ingredients:
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Alcohol, Trehalose, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Adansonia Digitata Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance

This mask claims to refresh, soothe and moisturize the skin. The main ingredient is the bamboo extract which comes from Damyang province in South Korea.

The ingredients look good but note that there is alcohol in this mask. It's high up the ingredient list and it even comes first before the bamboo! 😶 While not necessarily bad (it aids in penetration of beneficial ingredients, it helps thin out the formula, etc), please refrain from using this if you are allergic or sensitive to it (or the rest of the ingredients). I don't think I am so I went ahead with my masking. We'll see!



My Experience

Dr. Young Refreshing Spring Showers Mask (Damyang Bamboo) Review
so fine and thin!
According to the product page, the sheet mask is made up of 3 layers (cellulose > essence < silk). It's thin and sheer and super absorbent! It feels spongy from being saturated with the thick essence. There's only 20 ml inside so the mask is not dripping wet.
Dr. Young Refreshing Spring Showers Mask (Damyang Bamboo) Review
Pretty good fit
I have a wide face and the mask was able to completely cover all sides with a little extra above my forehead. The mask is clingy but I just wish it is a tad bit softer so I can perfectly mold it to my face. As you can see, my eyebrows and the corners on my eyes and mouth are lifting up. 😅

Recommended wearing time is 10-20 minutes. It was still moist after 30 minutes but I can see dry white spots forming on the mask already. I removed it after a total of 35 minutes so that it won't completely dry and suck back all the essence.

Results?

After taking the mask off, it left behind a thick and oily layer. I look wet and very greasy. 😅 The leftover essence took a really long time to get absorbed completely! After 5 minutes of patting it in, I still looked like a greaseball. Since the leftover essence is oily, I thought it would be perfect for a face massage. I spent the next 10 minutes doing a tanaka face routine. (Btw, google it guys! It's supposedly good for skin firming and face contouring!)
Dr. Young Refreshing Spring Showers Mask (Damyang Bamboo) Review
oil layer before and after 15 minutes
See the difference above? After a total of 15 minutes, I was finally satisfied about its absorption. There's still a dewy sheen left but it looks natural, it's not sticky and I don't feel greasy anymore. Best of all, my skin felt really plump and supple! I currently have dry skin and my skin felt deeply moisturized but not in a waterlogged kind of way. The next day, I did not experience any breakouts at all and my skin still feels firm and bouncy.

VERDICT

Noticed no soothing effects but I would buy this again for its moisturizing benefits! Just make sure your skin completely absorbs the essence! It took a while but my skin felt greatly nourished after. I think people with normal to dry skin will like this.

Con: I got this from Althea but looks like they stopped carrying the Dr. Young brand. It is still available on other online beauty stores but they're not very convenient for me. If you can get this, I think it's definitely worth trying out!

What's your favorite mask? Let me know and I'll check it out if I haven't tried it yet!






Follow me and say hi!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/teptns
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teptns/

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.
B&Soap My Secret! Glacial Water Mask Review
WHAT: B&Soap My Secret! Glacial Water Mask, 20g
PRICE & WHERE: 41 PHP at Althea
Hi, everyone! Feels like such a long time since I last wrote here. I got buried with work. Anyway, got another sheet mask review for all of you! Here's my thoughts about B&Soap's My Secret Glacial Water Mask!

About the Product

B&Soap My Secret! Glacial Water Mask Review
the back of the packaging
According to Althea's description, this is a mild and calming mask that contains Alaskan Glacial water to soothe and hydrate deeply. What makes it different from regular water is that it contains 6 natural minerals (they did not indicate what).

Other highlighted ingredients include: Hydrolyzed Collagen to revitalize and condition skin, Witch Hazel Extract for pore tightening, Aloe Vera Gel extract for skin calming and Betaine for deep moisturization. Here's the full ingredients list:

Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glacier Water, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Allantoin, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Triethanolamine, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance



My Experience


The essence is clear and thick in texture. It reminds me of aloe vera gels except it won't get watery. It has a perfume-y scent. It's generic tbh; it doesn't smell like lavender, aloe, cucumber or anything that I would associate with the ingredients. Good thing it's not overpowering and it disappears once you put the mask on your face.

There's only 20g inside but the sheet mask was fully saturated. I thought it would dry out fast but it was still moist and clinging tightly after 30 minutes. I removed it shortly because I wanna sleep already. 😂
overall good cut for me but the eyebrow area would always puff up lol
The sheet mask material is thin and finely woven. It's not as pliant as I want it to be but that's okay because again, the adherence is good! Recommended wearing time is 10-20 minutes but I think you can even stretch it up to 40 minutes if you want!

Results?

This took around 5 minutes to get fully absorbed. Finish is dewy and there's a tacky film left but my face felt soft and moisturized. My skin was plumper and my pores looked smaller from the hydration. The next morning, I can still feel the smoothness of my skin.

VERDICT

Not sure about the calming effects but it gave me pore tightening and moisturization. Overall, I like this mask. I'm not in a hurry to restock but I would definitely repurchase!

Tried this mask? How's your experience? Let me know about your fave masks and I'll try them out!






Follow me and say hi!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/teptns
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teptns/

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.
Daiso Collagen One-Week Mask Pack Review
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

Daiso Collagen One-Week Mask Pack Review
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!
Daiso Collagen One-Week Mask Pack Review
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? 






Follow me and say hi!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/teptns
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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.