Archives for August 2014

Review: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Complete UV Moisture SPF 50

August 20, 2014 by Tina Lee 2 Comments

I love a good sunblock and for me, Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer Dry Touch is a go-to especially when I am on the beach. But I find that the name “Ultra Sheer” is a bit misleading because this kind of sunblock is pretty thick so it’s not ideal to use under makeup especially when you live in the tropics like I do. Not like I didn’t try to make it work. Several times, I used the Ultra Sheer Dry Touch and my skin felt sticky all day, like I have a mask of greasy mess on my mug! So, I decided to skip wearing sunblock altogether and turned to moisturizers with sunblock (bad choice, I know but I rarely ever go out). And I went on like this for years!

I have been very, very lax about sun protection mainly because I never see manifestations of my own carelessness. So fast-forward a couple of weeks ago, I started noticing that my forehead freckles seemed to be multiplying! Holy schnitzel! I literally tripped all over myself looking for a sunblock after that.

Of course, being a long-time Neutrogena user (I started using Neutrogena moisturizers when I was 18), I went to my local Watson’s checking out sunblocks from the brand. I wanted something light, nourishing while also offering great protection from the sun. I almost jumped on the Ultra Sheer Dry Touch but thank goodness I found two lighter alternatives, the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Complete UV Moisture and the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Sunblock. Both offers SPF 50 and come in similar packaging though the latter comes in a smaller bottle.

I asked the sales rep the difference between two products and she said the former is meant to be a sunblock/moisturizer while the other is just plain sunblock. I actually thought about getting the smaller bottle because I was mainly looking for a sunblock, not a moisturizer but changed my mind at the last second, opting for the more nourishing formula. God knows these dry patches around my mouth need to disappear, pronto!

I was hoping it’s as lightweight and sheer as Neutrogena claimed the product to be. Because let’s face it, Ultra Sheer Dry Touch is anything but! The next day, I busted out the Ultra Sheer Complete UV Moisture. The product itself is somewhat watery and milky and if you spread it evenly on the face, it sheers out. Although it’s not marketed as a primer, I use it as such. But to get the best possible results, you need to let the product sink into the skin before applying your foundation. Why? Foundie will either pool into little lines on the face and will look cake-y or makeup slips and slides.

This does not spread easily on the face so I suppose you can prep the face with a light moisturizer prior to using Ultra Sheer Complete UV Moisture. But frankly, I don’t use a day moisturizer when I use this sunblock. When you live in the tropics, you want to use as little face products as possible or you end in a sticky situation (sorry!) by mid-morning.

Spreading the liquid can be taxing too because if you’re starting with clean face, you’ll tug your skin, the liquid does not smooth out without a fight, hahaha! So yeah, watch out! I use Ultra Sheer Complete UV Moisture under my BB cream or liquid foundation and I buff everything in evenly so there’s no weird patches. I’m happy to report that it is as sheer and lightweight as Neutrogena claims it to be. This could be the most lightweight sunblock I have the pleasure of wearing! It can get uncomfortable during warmer season but I just bring my MAC blot powder to take off the shine on my T-zone.

I love this stuff! I read that some felt the product is pricy because it’s only 30 ml. for PhP450 but I think it’s priced reasonably. Also, I have a feeling this is an Asian exclusive because I didn’t see any reviews of the Ultra Sheer Complete UV Moisture from western beauty bloggers. Don’t quote me on that though. My only gripe is: I wish this came in a bigger bottle. I’m totally re-purchasing!

Review: theBalm Mary Lou-Manizer

August 15, 2014 by Tina Lee 2 Comments

I really didn’t think much about highlighter because I want my face 90s matte. I dunno, I like how models from magazines looked with their dewy skin but in real life, I don’t want to look all slick and glowy. I felt that shiny looking skin doesn’t suit me at all. My sister introduced me to the idea of using highlighters when she took home a highlighting stick by TopShop called Prizm. But for more than a year, the tube of highlighter was left sitting in the bottom of my stash, untouched, unloved, unappreciated.

Ironically, after my sister left, I tried it out. I’ve watched enough YouTube tutorials to know the right places to add the highlighter and I gotta say, the subtle gleam on the high points of my cheeks is flattering! It wasn’t long before I developed the habit using the highlighter as part of my makeup routine. But the thing was, the stick was in cream form and to me, it seemed like it never sets to powder. Don’t get me wrong, the subtle sheen it yields stays on for hours but I get an icky feeling whenever I accidentally touch my face and feel how “wet” the product was, and how it just sits there.

So, I decided to check out powder highlighters, did a bunch of research on the subject and eventually decided to give the theBalm Mary Lou-minizer a try. One of the reasons that made me pick up theBalm Mary Lou-minizer was Christine of Temptalia’s raves about said highlighter.

I read somewhere that those with warm skin tone will look best with gold or champagne highlighters. theBalm Mary Lou-minizer is a true champagne powder highlighter and it complements my skin perfectly. I love how you only need a whisper of the stuff and how gorgeous it looks on the skin! It does not emphasize my pores at all and it’s fairly affordable. I really cannot find any fault with the formula. theBalm Mary Lou-minizer stays on my skin for hours until I take it off.

When applying Mary Lou-Manizer, I use a fan brush, dipped ever so slightly on the pan. I just lightly dab the highlighter on my cheekbones and cupid’s bow and blend out the harsh lines. Voila, love the overall effect! Best of all, it doesn’t look and feel like the highlighter is just sitting on my face. It imparts a lit-from-within glow! A word of caution though, it’s easy to overdo highlighters as it is but this one requires a light hand in application.

With a fantastic formula, a fabulous glow and tons of product in every pan, theBalm’s Mary Lou-minizer is a total must-have! I know this highlighter will take me years to finish up but I’d gladly purchase again and again!

Review: Braun SE7681 Silk-épil 7

August 5, 2014 by Tina Lee Leave a Comment

When I was younger, I used to envy my sister and cousins because instead of dark, coarse hairs growing on their legs like mine, they have light, almost-invisible fuzz that made their legs look hairless. During my early 20s, I used to shave my legs, then I started using hair removing creams like Veet. I loved how my legs looked and felt after another sesh with Veet but I never looked forward to the mess. Veet is nice but it can also be expensive but it was the only solution I knew when it comes to removing unwanted hair.

Then, my sister came back from Kuwait and showed me her Panasonic Epilator. She encouraged me to try it. I was super freaked out at first because of the scary sound and the nasty-looking rotating teeth. Eventually, I tried it. I remember how scary it was to ease the rotating teeth near my delicate underarm area. I was surprised at how painless the whole thing was! I was scared for nothing!

Epilators changed the way I remove unwanted hairs. Unlike the old days when I would buy tubes of Veet or stock up on razors that dull after a couple of uses, I just epilate and I’ve never been happier! My legs and underarm stay hairless for weeks. Even after my sister went back to Kuwait, taking her epilator with her, I knew I couldn’t go back to simple hair removing creams and razors, so I decided to get my own epilator.

As you know, I can get quite obsessive about something so I did a lot of research before choosing an epilator. The thing was, I saw a lot of epilators being sold in malls but I wanted to make an informed decision. I wanted the best, as usual! Initially, I wanted a Panasonic epilator in the latest model. But after several searches, I found out that Braun, a German label, makes the best epilators in the world. The choice was obvious. I wanted a Braun SE7681 S Slik-épil.

At first, I checked out Braun Philippines if they carry the model I wanted. Unfortunately, they don’t, they only had the more affordable models. I checked out Rustan’s at their suggestion. The Braun epilator at Rustan’s retails for PhP11,000 which was hilarious considering this thing is less than $104 in the US. I wanted to order the thing from a trusted online store but she couldn’t guarantee the warranty thing since it will be shipped at her US address so that’s another problem.

Finally, I heard that my cousin is heading back to the US for a two-week vacation. I asked her if it’s okay that she hand carry the epilator for me and she said YES! She got my epilator from Walgreens, where the Braun Epilators run a bit more expensive than at Amazon. Since it’s the nearest place to access the thing, I relented and just paid PhP500 bucks in addition. Overall, I paid PhP5,500 for the epilator and it arrived two weeks after I asked my cousin to get it for me. A far cry from the PhP11,000 that Rustan’s want for it or the PhP7,000 that my online seller wants for it.

And now that you know about to sordid tale of getting the epilator that I wanted, let’s proceed to the review. What I noticed when I held the Braun epilator for the first time is the heft. It’s heavier than the one I was accustomed to. That’s not really a deal breaker but for those who wanted something lighter, this might not be it.

It’s pretty sleek with its compact design, its glittery crystal-aesthetics but the actual window of the epilator’s teeth (composed of tiny tweezers that pull hair strands) is huge. Charging time takes an hour or less. I can get about three to four uses in one charge.

I chose this specific model because 1) it was the latest and bestest epilator available in the market then 2) the epilator can be used in the shower too. It’s 100% waterproof just like my Clarisonic Mia 2! 3) It’s got plenty of add-ons and 4) you can use it to remove facial hairs. How’s that for versatility?

Trying it on the legs takes a while to getting used to. I’ll be honest, yanking off hair is painful and no new-fangled thingamajig can change that. But oh boy, using this epilator to epilate my legs hurt like a biiiitch.

The Panasonic one, pain is very minor but this thing, Sweet mother… I can feel every strand being pulled on my poor legs. I’ve already used this like, four times to epilate my legs but so far, still not used to the pain. If you have a tattoo, then you know the sensation: like getting pricked by tiny hot needles on the surface of the skin. You will dread it, there may be tears, it will hurt.

But I have to admit, I’d rather go through this kind of pain twice per month or once a month rather than spreading cream or dealing with razors ever again. Also, I do get ingrown hairs from using an epilator, as opposed to using hair removing cream that’s why I exfoliate my legs thoroughly after each bath.

Overall, this is a fantastic investment for people like me who hasn’t got the time nor the effort to get rid of unwanted hairs using depilatory cream or ye good ol’ razor. It’s expensive yes, getting it when you’re not based in the US is a challenge and using it may turn you into a crumpled heap of tears and snot but you know what? It does work. My only gripe is I’m not sure Braun PH will honor its 2-year warranty but I’m hoping they can at least repair it once it conks out on me. Fingers crossed!