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An at home Pore Cleaner that actually works? It’s science, not sorcery.

Before you reach the end of the article to find out...Yes, it works. And it’s both safe and effective.

We were so kindly sponsored by GearBestPH to test out one of their electronic beauty products and naturally, we gravitated towards one that was geared towards skincare. 

So as you may or may not know, both of us have ridiculously oily skin, so having a less painful and a less expensive (*cough*DERMA*cough*VISITS*cough*) method of cleaning out our pores would honestly be a dream. We’ve always had our eyes out for some magical method that didn’t involve pricking, scraping and tugging at the skin. I personally have only ever used those scary, two-sided “blackhead metal extractors” from the drug store or the ever disappointing “pore nose strips” that only pull out the hairs from my face. 

So with someone who is as desperate and as impatient with their bumps as we are, this may be the answer to your pores’ prayers.

Dani: The product arrived at my door two to three days after I had ordered it, which is very reasonable for a gadget or device (and during the christmas-newyear-limbo season at that!) It was securely packed in a compact box, inside a plastic mold that housed all the accessories for the device including (1) suction device, (2) 4 other changeable heads, (3) a packet of foam filters and (4) a charging adaptor. 

Here’s a close look at what the device looks like when it’s switched on. 

Dani: The left of the screen shows the level of intensity of the suction, so using the (+) button increases intensity and the (-) button decreases it. The right includes the battery life and a minute timer while the device is on.

I’ve only ever had to use the device for about 5-10 mins to extract whiteheads and blackheads all over my face, so the battery still hasn’t needed any charging for the last month or so that I have been using this device! (a gift that keeps on giving!)  

Dani: Let’s talk a little bit about the accessories. You get 5 heads in total, and the kit comes with a little manual that mentions the functions of each. I can’t say I need all of these, but it’s nice that you get options. Some are for skin tightening, others are for targeting areas. My personal favorite is the “small round head” for all my whiteheads and blackheads. 

My skin tends to look pretty blotchy after I use this device, but it’s just because of how easily my skin gets rosy, which can happen when I exercise or feel too warm. It’s normal for the areas that you use it on to get a little puckered and red because of the suction. 

I typically use this device during my evening skincare routine, so I don’t worry about the redness too much. It usually disappears by the time I wake up, so it’s never a problem. 

Because this was a sponsored post, we thought to include some details about the sponsoring online shops, Gearbest and Stylebest

Here’s what you need to know about them: 

1. They have Cash on Delivery (COD) as a payment option 

2. They have a  bonus for the new customers.(1)Coupon code: 2019NEW  Over 40 minus 10,Over 60 minus 15 (2)Free shipping. Free priority shipping over $49.99

3. They have a lot of products under 10$!

If you guys are interested in these sort of beauty gadgets can up your beauty/ skincare game, check out more stuff on GearBestPH. They have a range of choices and prices, so you will probably find one that suits your budget, and in any case, an investment like this will have long term effects for your skin. No more scary or disappointing at home pore extractors! Satisfaction of Dr. Pimple Popper, without her being there to pop them!

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Illustration inspired make-up: Conrad Roset

Make-up look inspired by the bright and colorful muses of Conrad Roset

Follow and view his works on Instagram

The second piece for our Illustration inspired make-up series. Conrad Roset is actually one of my personal favorites that I look up to when it comes to illustration, so creating a look inspired by one of his works really got me excited. I didn’t recreate exactly how his illustration looked like Dani’s ( mostly cuz they’re usually all naked women LOL) but instead chose to do a look inspired by his use of bright watercolors. Picked one with pink tones on it since I wanted to give a bright pink look a try.

Products used for this look:

BASE/FACE:

Suesh green concealer

Skinfood soy foundation (W1 Warm Light) + L’oreal True Match foundation (Gold Beige)

Flormar full coverage concealer (Medium Beige)

BROWS:  

IN2IT Waterproof Eyebrow Powder

EYES:

Ever Bilena blush (Honest)

Miniso eyeshadow palette (no.01) - lower right color on palette

Pinkies Collection (purple)

Maybelline black gel liner

Bourjois Paris volume on the go mascara

CHEEKS:

Ever Bilena blush (Honest) - applied very lightly

FS single eyeshadow (Glamour Peach) - as highlighter

LIPS: (mixed 4 shades to get the bright pink color that I wanted)

Colourpop lippie stick (She Bad) - To “conceal” my lips

Maybelline creamy matte lipstick in Clay Crush

Colourpop lippie stick (Bootie + Ellaire) - mixed to get the bright pink color)

EXTRA - NAILS:

Nature Republic rose gold nail polish (no.48) + glitter topcoat (no.42)

And of course, here’s an outtake. Imagine holding that squat for minutes. The struggles! haha

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Illustration Inspired Make-up: Artist Zipcy

A make-up look inspired by the sensual illustrations of korean illustrator, Zipcy. View her beautiful illustration work here:  http://www.grafolio.com/zipcy  https://www.instagram.com/zipcy/?hl=en

Shy and I have always wanted to do a make-up series inspired by illustrators. And so we went ahead and recreated two pieces from two different illustrators. 

Zipcy’s most recognized work at the moment is from her “Touch” series, featuring intimate portrayals of her and her husband. I love how her style uses very smooth, curvy lines and a consistent, soft color palette. 

Recreating this look focuses mostly on soft, flawless looking skin, and a simple, clean eye look. Learned that it’s more “dramatic” to look wistfully at some one with a long, clean line on top of the lashes and orange shadow right under the eyes. 

These are the products that I used for this look:  

BASE/FACE: The Faceshop Air Cotton Makeup Base (01 Mint), Innisfree Longwear Cushion (023), Clio Kill Cover ProArtist Liquid Concealer, Nyx Concealer palette (in Light) BROWS: Essence Make Me Brow (in Brown) EYES: Absolute New York Icon Pro Palette, Bobbie Cosmetics Baby Doll Eyes Bold Liquid Liner LIPS: Lanolips 101 Ointment Multibalm, Tony Moly Liptone Lip Get it Tint (in 07 Oh My Rose), Nichido Lipstick (Nude Pink) 

Of course, we included at least one outtake each. 

If you want a full, detailed tutorial of this look, please let us know! And if you have any suggestions for future posts, throw them in our askbox or message us on IG @prettyiiish 

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Morning Skincare Routine

We may not have pristine and perfect skin, but we do take care of our skin the best way we can!

We finally (FINALLY) have our Morning Routine’s down to a tee. So here’s what we do to wake our skin up. 

MORNING SKIN ROUTINE:

1. Cleanse: Removes dirt and grime

SHY: CosRX Good Morning Low PH Good Morning Gel Cleanser (wew that was long)

I have very oily skin but my skincare still involves a lot of moisturizing, mostly at night, and using products that are on the balancing and hydrating side. I pretty much dislike products that can dry out my skin.

Gel cleansers are the best way to go for oily skin. This cleanser is a favorite of mine because it has a PH level of 5, meaning it’s pretty much good for all skin types especially for sensitive skin because it won’t dry out and irritate your skin after cleansing which is what you could possibly get from other higher PH cleansers that leave your skin squeaky clean after. 

You skin produces natural oils to keep your skin from getting dry and that’s why it’s important to use cleansers that don’t leave your skin dry after because you’ll actually end up with more oil!

Side note: Don’t rub the towel on your face! Just dab the excess water off :D

DANI: Gentle gel cleanser: Cerave Foaming Facial Cleanser

The reason why I opt for this type of cleanser is because it doesn’t dry out my skin, and it still does the job of cleaning my skin. Expect that your skin can accumulate dirt while you’re rolling around in bed, so don’t skip washing your face in the morning.  

Side note: Give yourself a bit of a facial massage. 

2. Toner: Balances the skin’s PH after washing and primes for other products

SHY: Human Nature Balancing Toner 

If you follow us on IG and have seen our stories, you probably have seen me spazz over this toner. I tag this as my holy grail toner because it’s alcohol free but it moisturizes and helps balance my skin’s oiliness and still helps get rid of the excess dirt on my skin. The usual routine is I first apply this using a cotton pad then second, I pour a few drops on my hand and pat it on my face. It smells and feels great too!

DANI: Moisturizing toner: Etude Moistfull Collagen Facial Toner 

This was included in Shy’s giant Christmas gift box for me last December. And it has lasted me more than half a year! I was really looking for double function type of product. One that would balance my skin’s PH and return some moisture into my skin after washing. So I now tend to look for a thicker type of formula, and it hasn’t let me down yet.   

3. Additional Skin Enhancing Serums/Essences: Improves the condition of the skin by targeting key concerns based on skin types (moisturizing, pore tightening, anti-aging, skin refining, etc.)

SHY: CosRX BHA Summer Pore Minish Serum

I use this product everyday to help manage my pores. It doesn’t really do as much as reducing the size of my pores but it does help keep them clean and I’ve noticed that I get lesser breakouts when I use it compared to when I don’t. 

DANI: Origins Original Skin Essence

If I have time in the morning, I layer on a serum as well. Serums are designed to target a specific concern, so this one is to help with any texture (weird bumps and things). I don’t know if it made a huge difference in the texture but it made my skin smell good and adds an extra layer of moisture and bounce.

4. Treatments: Targets specific concerns 

Acne Spot Treatment: Nazal MD Erythromycin For stubborn or “rising” spots, I dab on some of this on the irritated area with a cotton bud. But only every so often, because the chemicals in this are pretty strong.  

Eye Cream: Kiehl’s Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Eye Cream I started noticing little lines under my eyes, so I’ve become more conscious about patting on some eye cream in the morning too. Remember not to tug on the skin by using the ring fingers to pat the product on. (P.S. Also, this product was a gift from my aunt. I don’t think I’d buy anything from Kiehl’s unless I was earning big bucks hahaha.) 

4. Sunscreen: Protects skin from the sun’s harmful UVA/UVB rays, which in turn, prevents skin from early signs of aging and wrinkling

Biore Watery UV Essence Sun Block

Shy: Still our favorite sunscreen even after trying out so many. Sunscreen also doubles as moisturizer during day time and I think as long as you don’t skip sunscreen (after cleansing of course), you should be good to go for the day.

Dani: Though I have been trying out different types of sunscreen (for a later post about the importance of SPF), but this has been the best daily sunscreen by far. (sorry, threw in a mini review there). Also, after reading up on product texture and consistency,  I now realize that physical sunscreens double well as moisturizer for oilier skin types. Most of them are a cream/get formula, so I don’t use moisturizer in the day time anymore.

5. Lip care: keeps lips soft and supple: (SHY) Zenutrients Cherry Lip balm

Y’all know how obsessed I am with lip balms. I probably have 10 different lip balms but this is one of my favorites, not just cuz Dani got this for me for our Christmas exchange gift last December but because not only is it a really good product, it’s locally made too! I really like the cool mint feeling and the red tint which makes it perfect if you don’t plan to wear any lipstick for the day. And like I always say, lip balm before applying lipstick! 

Simple enough right? Once you’ve found a good and dependable products, you’re all set. Only throw in one new product at a time, and don’t get too crazy. But have fun and experiment. 

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Happy Mother’s Day! -Dani

While I am just prettyish, my mom is NOT... ...Because s-she's absolutely gorgeous! 

And that's why I chose to write up this entire post about the woman who continues to influence and inspire me (and my beauty beliefs), MY MOM!

To give you an idea of how my mom is, combining all her qualities, I'd say she was a snow leopard (Sorry if you’re reading this, mom. I know you don't like cats, but that's what I think is most fitting) 

They’re rare, stunning, reserved and gentle creatures, just like her. (A stark contrast to an awkward blue sloth, eh?) 

My mom is one of those effortlessly beautiful ladies that always looks put together and just exudes confidence. I'm pretty sure everyone says that about their mothers. But I know I'll always believe them, regardless if I have or have not met them. Because all moms are equally lovely!

Since this is a beauty blog (almost slipped my mind there), I think I should mention that mom influenced a lot of my “beauty ideologies”, namely:

1) Keep it simple.  2) Enhance and don’t cover up.  3) HEALTH IS BEAUTY. 

My mom never put boatloads of make-up on, even when she was working in a huge corporate office. She did the bare minimum and I could only ever tell she had make-up on because of the lipstick and the mascara.

…But on special occasions, she can easily transform herself into a GLAMZONIAN. A DIVA. A GODDESS. I may be exaggerating a little bit, but damn does she know how to clean up good.  One thing was always clear though, no matter how she did her make-up, she always looked like herself. That's what I wanted to learn, apart from every other thing she had to teach me. 

I think mom always assumed that I would dive into the world of beauty one way or the other, but when I was in my "could-care-less-I’m-going-out-without-anything-but-powder-and-lipbalm" phase (which actually, was not too long ago), she never forced anything upon me. She let me just be me. Worry free, fuss free…me.

And she would always tell me how pretty she thought I was, and she never pointed out my unibrow or crooked teeth or man legs, but when I would bring these concerns and insecurities up, she would do everything in her power to make me comfortable and happy with myself. 

I think some of my favorite memories with her involve her doing my make-up and fixing my hair. (Which then, in turn, made me also love putting make-up on my sister. It’s a make-up chain!) It always excited me. 

This leads me to believe that my reasons for feeling so giddy, were because having her fix me up meant I could radiate the same beauty and confidence she had. The events that followed the prep work, as special as they were, never took away how special these moments with her were.

What is pretty funny to realize now, is that since getting into beauty and make-up, I’ve taught her a few things as well. And recommended products and small things that she has adapted into her routine. Mom listens to me intently, even if I ramble about the benefits of an ingredient or a product. And I know it’s a measly thing, but I’m happy to think that I can finally somehow “return the favor” after seeing all that she’s done for me. 

I know I made this post about my mom, but I’d like to dedicate it to all moms, they need more appreciation! You mommas are always radiant and flawless in our eyes! Happy mother’s day, mom! I love you!

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Happy Mother’s Day! - Shy

To my first and original beauty influencer. 

The mother who taught me the basics of drawing and art was also my main beauty and fashion critique.  She would always say: “You should ALWAYS look presentable wherever you go” may it be for an event, or just simply going to the grocery, you must always look presentable cuz you will never know who you might bump into. Taught me the importance of self grooming. She was THE makeup artist for all my special events until I finally learned how to do it myself. And even though I used to complain at how thick she would make my eyebrows look (pretty much just cuz I wasn’t used to it), eventually I learned and realized that, yes… I needed them eyebrows!  She would constantly remind me that “yes dear, you ARE pretty” whenever my insecurities would come slapping me in the face. Reminded me that confidence is part of what makes you beautiful. Mother, with her non stop reminders, criticisms and words, led me to who and how I am today… SUPER KIKAY.  And I have no complains cuz it’s FUN Thank God for Mother. What would I do without you?  Happy Mother’s day to my mom and of course to all mothers out there :D I/we love you!

I did my best to capture mother’s beauty. She was always the “EYELASHES” woman. It was always the eyes. Though she loves her pink blush and the occasional pink lipstick, I believe her signature look would always be long, almost spidery lashes.  My illustration probably doesn’t do her real life beauty any justice but I tried my best.  I hope to age as gracefully as her one day. :>

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Can you give rice water a try? Does it really do anything?

We will definitely look into that! Thank you for that suggestion!

We also hear from a lot of sources that rice water is beneficial for the skin, but we’ve never tried it. Hopefully, we’ll find a way to incorporate it with our current skincare routines and note down our observations. 

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Samples (and why they should matter to the beauty industry)

If you’ve ever bought anything from a korean road shop brand like Etude House or Tony Moly, you know that buying one item is already, somewhat, a shopping spree.

Why? Because you know the massive amount of samples involved.

Samples are not a revolutionary marketing technique. We see them everywhere. But it seems the beauty industry has realized the value of samples and how much they can affect their consumers.

The k-beauty industry realized early on, that customers would not be looking to purchase more products from just an in-store tester. Especially if it’s a skincare product. 

No, they needed something that would bring the products back to mind.

That’s where, what we have come to call “samples hauls”, come into play. Wherein a customer is gifted a HUGE amount of samples from purchasing even JUST ONE ITEM from their brand.  

And true enough, western brands are taking it to another level with the creation of beauty box subscriptions. These subscriptions offer mini or “travel-sized” versions of products for their subscribers to test for themselves. Some even offering FULL SIZED products for a small monthly payment.

Here in the Philippines, all of this has yet to catch on, and most local brands (even counting korean beauty franchises) noticeably scrimp on the samples. 

Now, they aren’t doing anything wrong, but we hope that they realize *coughcough* a little extra cost to produce samples can totally influence the buying behavior of their market. (ohh~ business strategy realness)  

WHY DO THEY MATTER? THEY’RE TINY!

Well, as consumers ourselves, we have our reasons as to why samples convince our future purchases. 

These are just a few of them:

A) Purchase of items we think are too expensive can be justified, if the experience with the sample was good enough (The brand/product is in our good books and becomes one to recommend to friends)

B) The product is from an unknown brand (therefore, not something we would readily purchase because we have “trust issues”)

C) We didn’t think we needed it (products we might want to add into our routines)

D) Opportunity to introduce us to a new line that the brand has in season (seasonal collections are hit and miss, but when it’s a hit, it’s a HIT)

HOW WILL YOU KNOW THAT A SAMPLE IS ANY GOOD?

Yes, in most cases, you won’t instantaneously see a big difference from one time use of a product, especially when the samples are skincare products. But that’s another reason why we don’t appreciate “cultural stinginess”.

If you have ever been to Korea or have seen “hauls” and reviews by those who have been there, you would know that they readily give a LOT of samples. 

You could walk into a store, buy one thing and come out with more than your money’s worth of products, because they are so generous with their samples.

Dani: When we visited Korea, my sister and I were making small talk with one of the Etude House cashiers, and even if he had already thrown in some samples. After he handed us our receipt, he looked at us and asked ”...More?”

And then he made it RAIN…SAMPLES. Good man. Coincidentally his name was “Bi” (Rain in Korean) LOL.

But truthfully, the best kinds of samples are those you can get a good “one time use” out of, specifically cleansers, sunscreen (because a little goes a long way) and make-up items like bb creams (texture and tone alone will already tell you enough).

Things that take a week to see the “full effect” of like serums, toners and essences are more difficult to evaluate. Other than texture and fragrance, you wouldn’t know if this is an accurate reaction to the product, so you wouldn’t know if you should purchase a full sized version.

In short, samples are the make-it-or-break-it bomb that can tell you if something is worth it, and won’t leave you with products you “regret buying” on whim. 

So, beauty brands, time to get with it. 

BRING YOUR PEOPLE THOSE SAMPLES. 

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Sheet mask 101: What the sheet?

Sleepover. Skincare. Selfies. 

It doesn’t take a genius to know that these lead up to one thing, SHEET MASKS.

We know you have questions, that’s why we’ve simplified things and gathered the nitty gritties (well, based on a mix of information taken from books/web/experience) about this magical and mysterious ritual. 

FAQ -- or at least what we think you would want to know.

What do people use sheet masks for? And when do you use one?

Sheet masks claim to have different skin-affecting functions (depending on the serums they hold), but generally they are the “cherry on top” of your skin care routine. They’re that extra something that spruces up your skin. 

EDIT: For oilier skin types, you might want to make this your last step. But for drier skin types, you might want to add a moisturized to seal it all in after. 

Sheet masks add an extra moisturizing layer/barrier for your skin. Some even have additive ingredients in them that help with brightening the complexion or soothing any skin irritation.

Dermatologists, aestheticians and make-up artists think that sheet masks are a great way to prep your skin for an event or give stressed-out or dull skin an extra boost when you have some time to relax at home.

Are sheet masks necessary?

No, but people love them anyway (and we do too). It’s just extra skincare step that makes your face look and feel 10 times plumper and 10 times more radiant. 

We also treat it as a “small reward” for ourselves at the end of a long, stressful week. (Who doesn’t want to pamper themselves?)

Why are there so many kinds?  

Well, we will go into the details on the factors to consider when you’re buying a sheet mask in the next section. But we know that it can be overwhelming to look through rows and rows of sheet masks. Different colors and brands, with different acids or fruit concentrates, or specialized formulas. It’s quite a doooozy.

We don’t know ourselves if all these different ingredients are really functioning as they claim, but rest assured that it should be doing your skin some good if it’s locking in some extra moisture. Extra moisture is never a bad thing for your skin, no matter what skin type you have!

When will I see the effects?

Almost immediately, you will notice how supple and soft your skin is, and it should stay that way for a few hours(?). 

But the truth is, you’ll only really see visible and lasting effects on your skin if you use sheet masks DAILY.

Which makes sense, because it’s like how your skin should already reaping benefits from your everyday routine. The addition of a sheet mask is basically another layer of essence/serum. And it’s entirely up to you if you’d want to add in that extra step more often (and if you have the budget for it).

Factors to consider when buying a sheet mask:

1. Texture/Material

Most common sheet masks are made of cotton fibers. There are also a handful of jelly type sheet masks in the market that claim to hold more serum and retain more moisture. But it’s not to say that the common cotton sheet masks aren’t as effective or any less moisturizing. 

Not all cotton sheet masks are made equal though. Some sheet masks are a lot thinner than others, and look more transparent when applied. While others use a thicker layer, that is slightly heavier on the face. 

Pros of a thinner mask are that you can easily walk around, sit up and do whatever you want with it on. Pros of a thicker mask are that it can hold more essence that can be squeezed out later on.

So it’s really more asking yourself: Are you multitasking / getting ready for something? or do you want to relax / just settle down for the night?

2. Serum contents

You might want to consider reading up on the serum used for the sheet masks. Those who have allergies or are sensitive to specific ingredients may want to watch out, as serums may contain things like Bee Venom or fruit enzymes. 

Most korean roadshop brands carry masks that have the same standard ingredients and they are labeled accordingly. The most common ingredients being: honey, rose, grapefruit (or some acidic fruit), berries, snail, green tea and aloe.

3. Uses 

If you aren’t looking to get a sheet mask for your face, that’s no problem at all. 

There are all sorts of masks in the market right now that cover other areas of the body or more specific areas of the face. It isn’t uncommon now to find all sorts of foot masks, hand masks, eye masks, lip masks (even as far as boob masks HAHA). 

But their function is generally the same: refresh, tighten or moisturize these areas of skin.

4. Price

Typically sheet masks can go for as low as P55, but as high as P200 for the high-end brands or the “better formulated” products. 

If you’re in korea/taiwan/japan and you’re buying in bulk the prices might be brought down during sales or when there are special deals. And a lot of the time, all the brands are aggressively competing with each other using their sale prices as leverage. (Which is great news for skincare addicts like us.)  

Don’t be surprised to see masks being sold in sets of 10 - 50 pcs. A lot of women use masks more often then you might think. 

5. Brand

Not that we’re the “overly brand conscious” types, but we do usually stick to brands that we have tried and tested, have had a generally positive feedback from the beauty community or were referred to us by friends/family. 

Some brands are known for specific “ingredient focused” skincare lines. Like Too cool for school with its Pumpkin / Egg Cream line (with available masks), Laneige’s Waterbank line, or Leader’s famous brightening amino acid mask.

If a brand carries an item for a long enough time, and not just for a seasonal collection, then it means that they might have been able to create a good, stable formula, and the product might be worth testing.

Additional Tips:  

1. When storing your sheet masks, try not to position them upright. If you lay them flat, they can better absorb all the essence stored in the packaging. 

2. DO NOT fall asleep with the sheet mask on. Let’s make it clear, it DOES NOT function like a sleeping mask. It could actually pull the moisture out of your skin if kept on too long or be a birthing ground for bacteria. 

3. You can opt to store them in the refrigrator, if you want an extra cooling effect or want to calm down a swollen/bloated face. (note: Not the freezer...or you will have to thaw it out).

4, Try to save some sheet masks for extra drying/dehydrating environments like an airplane or vacation spots that have a drier climate. They’re also really good for times when you’re detoxifying with a clay mask, which are notorious for drying your skin out. 

5. Don’t forget to maximize the mask by rubbing all the extra essence on your body. Most especially your neck and chest area.

Our Recommendations

Shy: Like I haven’t mentioned it enough, I love snail masks! It’s the first thing i look for from most any brand. But if they don’t have it, the next thing I look for is anything with Honey. Tony Moly’s snail mask is actually my current go-to and most trusted face mask. I’ve got some trust issues, so when I feel like I can’t afford to have my skin react, this is the first thing I pick up, because I know that it won’t fail me.

Shy’s Current Top 3:

Tony Moly Pureness 100 Snail Mask Sheet

Nature Republic Royal Jelly Real Nature Mask Sheet

Nature Republic Tomato Real Nature Mask Sheet

Dani: I think sheet masks, more then anything should be moisturizing, so I like to stick with the ingredients that I know brands can’t mess up. Aloe Vera is pretty sustainable and easy to extract, so there’s no way they can find a way to ruin it. I also like snail and green tea, but if I’m just “testing the waters” with a brand, I get the aloe vera.

Dani’s Current top 3:

Tony Moly Pureness 100 Snail Mask Sheet

Beauty Diary Bird’s Nest Mask - from Taiwan 

Sur Medic Hydro-Hyaluronic Acid Mask 

Hope you all learned a lot! 

Send us comments or questions if you have any! 

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I love your tumblr blog so much! ❤ Keep up the good work 😊

Thank you so much! 

Let us know if you have any suggestions for the content you want to see on the blog! We’d love to hear what you have in mind! 

<3 Dani and Shy 

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Colourpop Brand Review

Ah, Colourpop. The brand that shook up the internet in 2016. Creating a cult following within months and drawing beauty junkies with their incredibly affordable line up and massive array of... colors (OBVIOUSLY).

We bought into the hype ourselves, and since Dani’s very cool aunt from the States was kind enough to send them over via M-mail (def. when mom visits a country and comes home with goodies), we got our hands on a few of their products (with our individual color preferences, of course).

Colourpop Lippie Stix  

From lightest to darkest: (1) She Bad (Light Honey Beige that’s almost concealer), (2) Topanga (rosey pink), (3) Chichi (bright, florescent orange), (4) Bootie (bright, florescent red-orange), (5) Ellaire (Deep cool red), (6) Chateaux (blackened red-violet), (7) Nevermind (blackened purple) 

The pigment is pretty close to the color shown on the packaging, and there’s no doubting the product’s pigmentation. If they’re BOLD colors. THEY ARE BOLD.

Lasting power is decent and reapplying is fuss-free because of the shape and size of the bullet, but expect the product to transfer to cups and other things.  

Other than a kind of cringe-worthy name (who wants to say they’re using a “lippie stick”), our only real gripe is that they TASTE AWFUL. But what’s great about that is that you never want to accidentally lick your lips and dry them out. If you get past that, it’s a decent product with great pigmentation.

RATING

Colourpop Ultra Matte Liquid Lip

Highlighter Swatch: (1) Smokin’ Whistles (rose gold) 

Ultra Matte Liquid Lip Swatches: (2) Platform (Light nude that’s again, almost concealer like), (3) Bumble (Dusty Rose pink, that we thought was more of a terracotta shade), (4) Avenue (Dark Red with a Fuschia undertone -my fav one)

SHY: I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with the ultra mattes. The pigmentation is GREAT, but the formula might not be ideal for everyone. 

Being the type of girl who likes mixing her lip products, I like that with the smallest amount of product, you are able to get a lot of pigment for east blending/mixing. This way, the product won’t feel too dry on your lips (literally a little goes a long way). 

BUT... if you’re someone who likes to full on apply liquid lipsticks straight from the applicator. I’m not sure if you’ll enjoy it as much. 

It can feel too drying, and at some point, the product starts crumbling off your lips. Also, know that the nude colors will completely conceal your natural lip color, because of how strong the pigmentation is.

Now with regards to staying power, sure, it’s a matte product, so it’s expected to last long, right? Not the case.

Though you are dealing with powder dry lips, as soon as the slightest amount of oil touches your lips, say goodbye to that bold lip. The nudes might be a little bit more forgiving, but nothing can save the darker shades. Also, re-application doesn’t look pretty, unless you completely wipe everything off before applying again. 

I still plan to use mine until I’ve finished them. And though the colors were lovely, I’m not sure whether I’d want to repurchase. Trying these made me want to stick with ordinary matte lipsticks (like Maybelline’s Creamy Mattes)

RATING:

Colourpop Pearlized Highlighter

DANI: Colorpop boasts of their “buttery” powder formulas, so I wanted to give the highlighters a shot. 

It’s not the most natural looking highlight, but looks beautiful for special events. If you want to look “shining, shimmering, splendid”, I think this highlight is great for that.

I got mine in “Smokin’ Whistles”. On the website it claims to be more “pink toned”, but because it has silver shimmer in it, it just looks like a regular champagne highlighter. Not that I was expecting any of the pink pigment to show up. I was actually also eyeing one called “Highly Waisted”, which has more of a peach undertone, but I went with my gut and got something safe.

It looks very similar to the Face Shop highlighter beam base, which I also have tried and enjoy a lot, but this is more shimmery, which means it can be layered on for look that is less glazed donut and more bionic woman.

The formula is very nice. It’s extra soft to the touch and can easily be applied with fingers or with a brush, so although I am a sucker for more natural highlight, I dig that this is stuff is fuss-free. It’s buildable too!

RATING:

Colourpop’s Ultra Satin Liquid Lip 

DANI: (Sorry we couldn’t include Shy’s hand with the swatches for comparison. I got this much later, and I still wanted to include it in the review.)

I got the shades Echo Park (pink nude color) and Tulle (deep red color). I got these two colors specifically because I wanted to see how well two very different shade from this range worked. I think it helps gauge how well the actual formulation is in my opinion. A nude and a bold lip are always a good call too.

They last a decent amount of time on the lips, with some drinking and snacking involved. Most people get iffy about how they leave stains, but I since that’s how regular lipstick is...I don’t mind as much. 

Reapplying isn’t too fussy either. I heard the matte lip was a nightmare, so I stayed away from it altogether, because I like reapplying my lip products mid-day. 

I just have to warn the girls who are looking to try the more bold and pigmented colors. The pigment looks much darker on your lips then the tube, but being a girl who doesn’t mind a vampy lip, I wasn’t as disappointed in it as I could have been.

RATING:

OVERALL RATING:

Colourpop has a very youthful and fun vibe, no doubt. And the price point is really alluring for the number of products in each line. But like any brand, it has its strengths and its weaknesses when it comes to the product’s formula. 

If you want variety and playfulness, Colourpop delivers. And you will go mad. Just make sure you check out the swatches out on different reviews and do not just refer to the colors on the website. (Trust us, it’s much darker or lighter than expected) 

Also, decide if you would want to test each product type to know which of the formulas you prefer. Once you’ve got that sorted, you should be fine and dandy! 

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Maybelline Creamy Matte Lipsticks (Brown Nudes Line)

Where do we even start? This product was practically heaven-sent.  

So before all this, lip tints were dominating our worlds. 

Well, for the most part, the “milky/glossy” lip products were what caught our interest more than any of the mattifying products. Lipsticks were not foreign to us, but we generally kept away from anything “mattifying”, fearing that they would give us desert-dry lips.

“I was skulking around the beauty section of the department store with my mom, and she said she was looking to get herself a new lipstick. I remembered that a lot of people were raving about Maybelline’s “touch of spice” lipstick shade, so when mom picked out her shade in “divine wine”, I sheepishly asked her to throw mine in with her purchase. And well, here we are.” - Dani

“Dani was the first to try just ONE shade. She told me the formula was impressive and the next thing you know, I bought myself 3. HAHA.” - Shy

We’ve tried and tested them long enough to let you all know that YES, the hype is real and these are one of the best drugstore lipsticks out there. Maybelline, you have outdone yourself. Pat yourselves on the back.   The Creamy Mattes came out with their “improved” formula just last year(?), and they had various store promotions for the “then in-trend shade line”, the Brown Nudes. 

Since it had shades that fit both of our tastes (Shy for Terracottas and Warm Nudes, and Dani for Mauves and Burgundys) we were sold on the hype (and the deals!)

But what sold this product most to us, was that dreamy formula. Smooth, creamy, light-weight, long-lasting and best of all, NON-DRYING. It totally changed our perspective on what a “matte” lipstick was going to be like. 

Shade descriptions (bear with us, we’re just starting out here): 

Burgundy Blush - “Deep burgandy color, a warm-violet shade that’s vampy with sophisticated flair.” - Dani 

Touch of Spice - “Claim to fame. Pretty much a universally-flattering mauve.” - Dani 

Clay Crush - “Basic everyday muted lipstick, that's a bit on the more on the warm-toned, orange side. It suits most skin tones. My “most hoarded” one.”- Shy

Nude Embrace - “Definitely a “pale nude” shade for lighter skinned girls, but a bit too light for me. But it's good for toning down darker shades, which I like mixing it with.” - Shy 

The verdict: 5/5 stars

Final words on the product:

“HOARD THIS.”-Shy “They’re a drugstore gem and I’m glad I thought to pick them up. I hope mom’s just as pleased with hers.” - Dani

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Pretty-ish Ranking System

A short break before our irregularly scheduled posts.

This probably isn’t typical of a beauty blog (or is it?), but we think a full post dedicated to the pretty-ish girls’ ranking system is necessary (because we’re just a little bit EXTRA when it comes to those details). And it’s not as technical as it sounds, we just want to talk a little bit about how we intend to do our individual and brand product reviews, because posts about these things are coming up shortly.

We’re going with a standard 5 star ranking system, but we’re adding our own twist.

The number of stars equates to a single, honest comment. No fluffy stuff, we’ll be savage if we need to, and we’re not going to beat around the bush. We know that most blogs have several ratings for price, finish, lasting power, compatibility with skin type etc, and that will probably go in the text, but if you just want a single, solid rating, you can scroll down the post to see our FINAL VERDICT.  *dundundunnnnn*

If it works on us, it works on us. If it doesn’t, we’ll tell you. Our skin profiles and preferences are readily available on the about page, so consider that we will and can only be viewing it from that standpoint.

So if you want to know if a product is worth spending money on, worth the effort of finding, and worth a second glance and repurchase…*whispers* all you need to do is to look to the stars. *wink*

Lasty, we want to introduce you to our mascot, ITCHY the EYEBALL (not enough that we already had character versions of ourselves).

Isn’t she the cutest and grossest thing? We both like eyeballing details, from textures to pigment to packaging, so she’s a perfect representation of what we value in a product.

She’s also featured in our Pretty-ish Seal of Approval: which goes to products that we both LOVE or have the HOLY GRAIL status in our hearts (and make-up pouches).

And that’s all, look out for the ranking system in action with the product and brand reviews that are coming up in succeeding posts!

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10 Beauty Resolutions we all need to make this 2017

To welcome 2017, we’re kicking things off with a list of BEAUTY RESOLUTIONS that we (hope) to follow. It’s time break some of our bad habits in lieu of new and better ones.

(We know that we’re guilty of at least one or two things listed here. :>) 

1. DRINK MORE WATER The most basic human need. It’s by far the simplest and most important skincare habit, but we still forget to get our 8 or more glasses a day. Keep yourself hydrated and your skin and body will thank you for it. Tip: Drinking water first thing in the morning contributes to weight loss, so keep that bottle of water by your bed. so you don’t forget! 

2. APPLY LOTION + BALMS ALWAYS Putting on lotion all over your body can seem really time consuming, but it doesn’t take more than a few minutes. Applying once, or at least every night before going to bed, is a good practice. 

Tip: Make sure to apply on your knees, elbow, thighs and tummy! Prevention of stretch marks and discoloration early on is better than trying to salvage scraps later on. Then If you’re an everyday lipstick person, make sure to moisturize your lips. Lip balm at night, Lip balm in the morning.

3. ADD NEW PRODUCTS GRADUALLY Trying products in moderation by introducing products one-by-one into a routine, is the best way to see visible results (or ACTUALLY see any results).

Tip: We know it’s hard to resist, but don’t get too excited about your recent purchases! You might confuse and damage your skin instead of helping it.

4. TRY MORE LOCAL AND ORGANIC PRODUCTS This means supporting local businesses as well as agricultural livelihood! (Check and mate!) 

Tip: Sometimes commercial self-care products like shampoo are the culprits for breakouts or allergic reactions, so it wouldn’t hurt to try out organic and worry-free products. Also, these products might be cheaper in the long run.

5. CHEMICAL OVER PHYSICAL EXFOLIANTS We know all those bumps and spots are annoying, but we need to learn how to be patient with our skin and give it time to heal and fix itself with just a little bit of help. Chemical exfoliants can do just that. 

Tip: check our ACNE CARE post for more info. 

6. SHARE INVESTED PRODUCTS It’s good to invest in good skincare, but if the price tag is too much for your pocket, split the bill with a friend. You save money and also get to see the effects and notice results from two people! WIN-WIN SITUATION! 

7. AVOID RUBBING / TUGGING YOUR SKIN I am 100% guilty of doing this especially with the towel after taking a shower, but no matter how good it feels, I need to stop doing it! Doing so will only irritate my skin and contribute to more wrinkles. *cries* - Shy 

8. STOP SCRATCHING YOUR EYES We know most of us are guilty of this. Scratching any part of your body, especially your eyes can be really satisfying, but do your best to avoid doing so. 

Tip: One cause is dry eyes, so we recommend you use eyedrops instead to relieve the itchiness and save your eyes from all those potential premature fine lines.

9. TRY NEW MAKE-UP LOOKS Nothing wrong with keeping the same makeup look everyday, but it’s good to have fun with it! Experiment with new colors, textures and looks. Go simple or go bold. We will try to do the same! 

Tip: Check youtube for inspiration. 

10. DO NOT OVERCOMPLICATE YOUR ROUTINE Just like #3, take it easy with the products.  We need to learn to keep our routines simple, especially during weekdays, when we’re mostly in a hurry. Save the “longer pampering routine” for the weekend.  Tip: Write your weekly routine on a sticky note and place it by your mirror or skincare stack, so you can stay on track with special days (like to remind you to exfoliate). 

BONUS RESOLUTION:

Learn to love and accept the way you look. If you have imperfections, it’s okay. It’s not the end of the world and you’re still alive. Don’t worry, we appreciate you for how you are. Imperfection is beauty. :D

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Beauty Trends of 2016

With every passing year comes a wave of new trends in every industry, and the beauty industry does not shy away from innovative and interesting products and looks. We took note of some of these trends and listed down the most notable (both good and bad) trends of 2016, based on our observation and research.

NOTE: These are all OUR personal preferences, if you loved some of the things we didn’t, we won’t take it against you and we aren’t trying to start a fight. We get that experimenting with makeup is all about having fun, so do as you will. You do you, gurl. 

1. The Instagram Eyebrows 

We take the philosophy of “eyebrows being sisters, not twins” VERY seriously. Also, perfectly sculpted brows don’t exist, so this trend doesn’t make any sense to us. The gradient towards the beginning of the brow doesn’t mimic brow hair at all.

It also looks like it takes up a lot of time with concealer and multiple brow products involved, so it’s a resounding “NO”.

2. Baking

We hate dark eye bags as much as the next person, but adding even just a little concealer goes a long way. You don’t have to top it off with ridiculous amounts of powder. The under eye skin is thin and baking just feels too dry and dehydrating for us that it might cause more wrinkles. So unless you’re trying to look like a powdered donut, we’re begging you…don’t do it. Instead of looking like one, use the money to go buy yourself that powdered donut and stop wasting product.

3. Extreme Highlighting 

Everyone loves a good highlighter here and there, but there are those that just take it to new heights. And by new heights, we mean you are looking a lot like the sun. (And not in the fluffy, cheesy kind of way, but because it’s obnoxiously bright and blinding. Only it’s your face.)

4. Over-lined Lips

This is in conjunction with the hype of the Kylie Jenner Lip Kits and Kylie Jenner Challenge. We find her a little overrated and the vicious fans pretty ridiculous all-in-all. Those who could not afford actual lip plumping (to show loyalty to their queen bee, Kylie) would opt to take the easy route and just draw “a little over” their natural lip line.

You are not Kylie Jenner, you will never be Kylie Jenner. Let go of that lip liner.

5. Griege Lip (Gray-Beige Lip Shades) 

Nothing upsets us more than colors that dull down a person’s features (skin tone, eyes, lips, cheeks, etc.) Dark lips are great as contrast, nude lips are great for subtlety, but “Griege” (or whatever you want to call it) is not flattering on anyone. Let’s not take the term “fresh to death” too literally.

1. Glowy/Dewy Skin

If there’s one thing we love about the popularity of K-beauty, it’s for bringing back the importance of skin care. They are obsessed (as are we) with “dewy skin”, not simply achieved with a mere highlighter, but being extensive and detailed with taking care of your skin and giving it the proper care, hydration and moisture that it needs.

Like the folks of glossier say, “Skin first, make-up second.” 

2. Rise of SNAIL products

Honestly, we loved a lot of the ingredient focused product lines that came out or got popular this year, but one that really stood out was the addition of SNAIL in a lot of skincare products.

Snail was probably one of the most talked about ingredients this year. And contrary to most, who were grossed out with the idea of putting snail on their skin, we were really excited to try it (We’re kinda weird that way). And we were not disappointed! It did our skin so much good, especially when our skin was at its worst. WE ARE BOTH DEFINITELY OBSESSED.

“I was OBSESSED with everything snail for a while that it was the only thing that came out of my mouth and would pick up anything that had the word ‘snail’ on it” - Shy

3. All the Make-up Collaborations (Missha x Line, Face Shop x Kakao, etc)

Yes, we gladly fell for the hype. It was too adorable to pass up.  But then again, we really only invested in the cushions. 

Why you ask? A) they are a good benchmark for the quality of a brand,  B) they are a conversation starter AND C) who doesn’t want to carry around adorable cushions?!

4. Red-Orange/Peach EVERYTHING

Pink is now starting to lose its appeal to us, since Orange tints continued to make major waves this year. Orange went unnoticed for a long time, and not until recently did it become a star.  

It’s just as bright, bold, and beautiful as most any shade of red and pink. And we’re hoping it will be given its due attention for a looooong time.  5. Korean Straight Brows

Another big trend from Korea, the allure of straight brows (or as we fondly call them, they “Shiba eyebrows”) was something we took notice of. And we’re not talking about the cartoony-straight brow, but the straight arch that adds a youthful charm. It also makes a world of a difference with facial features (i.e. softening the features of those blessed with the resting bitch face like Shy. YAS.)   

We can’t wait to see what’s to come for 2017!  Keep the innovations going, but don’t get too crazy, beauty industry. 

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Attack of the Acne (PART 2)

DISCLAIMER: Let’s get one thing straight here. We are not experts, or practiced/licensed dermatologists. But we have TRIED and TESTED these methods. And we will discuss each product in detail as best as we can. Hopefully, without boring you. So don’t come crying to us if your face gets blotchy or irritated, we warned you.

This is a continuation of our post (which you can read HERE) on acne fighting products, what they do to treat it. In this post, we’re focusing on the actual popping process and caring for your skin “post-popping trauma”. We also have some suggested methods as well as products you can test out if you are looking at adding one of our suggested methods to your routine.

Without further ado, onward we go, brave souls.

If your pimple is on the verge of bursting, you can either opt to:

Option 1: Leave it alone, and keep up the medicated treatments. Option 2: Pop that SUCKER.

For those who choose to POP THAT SUCKER, here’s how to (carefully) pop your pimple:

Pre-popping prep Dampen a towel or a thick cotton pad with warm water, and leave it on the area for a few minutes or until the towel/pad cools down. This should help open up your pores and soften the skin to make it ample and ready for the pimple-poppin’ action. In some cases, this step is enough to actually pop your pimple. (Good for you!

Reach for the comedone extractor. You have probably seen dermatologists use this on you if you have ever had a facial, and though it looks a little intimidating, it’s a lot cleaner than using your fingers.  You may opt to go ahead and just forcibly push the pus out from your pimple with the looped end (though we highly discourage this, as it can expand the pore’s size) OR first, prick the surface AND THEN push it all out. (we think this is better and less painful) It’s okay to leave the pore to bleed a little bit, just wait until a clear solution surfaces out of the skin and you’re home free.

 Post-popping ritual Apply an Ice pack or a cold mask on your face or the affected area. This should stop the bleeding, calm the redness and close your pores. Also, IT FEELS AWESOME.

Once the pimple has been banished to the underworld, consider preventing future break-outs by adding to or editing your nightly routine:

Use a mild facial wash Cleansing is a very important step if you’re trying to keep acne at bay. Be diligent, but gentle with how you scrub your face. A product that is too harsh may or may not be the cause of your acne, so be cautious of those harsh ingredients.   Recommended Products: + Cetaphil gentle cleanser (available in leading drugstores)  + Senka Perfect Whip (similar to the Shiseido Face Wash available on BeautyMNL or Beauty Bar)

Choose a chemical exfoliation over a physical exfoliation Physical exfoliation often times can aggravate the situation, but because exfoliation is necessary, a chemical exfoliation is an option that can allow you to reap the same benefits (and more!) Chemical exfoliation not only removes the surface layer, but it can reach deeper into the layers of the skin, preventing future break-outs from surfacing. *sci-fi keyboard noise* BHA products can reach deeper into the skin than AHAs. But they typically use Salcylic acid (which as we mentioned is really STRONG, and is used in intense chemical peels. It’s best to test both and see which works better with your skin’s chemistry. Always remember to moisturize after applying an AHA or BHA product, as it can cause skin to get severely dry or peel. Recommended Product: Cosrx AHA Power Liquid (available on BeautyMNL and Althea Korea)

Incorporating Clay Masks Clay masks have different functions (depending on the color and type of clay) but generally they are a sort of “detoxing” agent for your skin. They are said to tighten pores, control oil production and brighten up skin. Clay masks come pre-mixed or in a powder form, and can be mixed with apple cider vinegar for a stronger “pulling and tingling” sensation. Expect a strange pulsing feeling in certain parts of your face, and try not to smile or move your face to avoid any mask cracking. Also, take note that you should avoid using metal when mixing or storing this product, apparently it messes with the “magnetic pulling properties” of the clay. The product we’ve recommended below has a reputation of also bringing impurities to the surface of the skin. So it can cause a few break-outs to arise here and there. But don’t fret, as it’s part of the cycle and it should clear up in a few days. Those with drier skin types might want to leave it on for only a few minutes and not let it dry out completely, and those with combination skin types may want to just target the oiler spots. But most any skin type can benefit from a clay mask. Ancient people who slathered their skin with this stuff were probably flawless. Recommended Product: Indian Healing Clay (available in Healthy Options Stores)

“Whitening” or Brightening products For those dread the look of leftover dark spots and hyperpigmentation, the words you want to look out for are “whitening” and “brightening”. In the language of K-beauty, these products are NOT FOR BLEACHING your skin, but they simply even out your skin tone and getting rid of any dullness. If you’re looking to make your skin’s overall appearance more vibrant, don’t shy away from these words. They are not just meant for pale folks. Recommended Products: + Its Skin Vitamin C Serum (available on BeautyMNL and Althea Korea) + Brightening Face Masks: Strawberry, Pearl, Lemon & Snail (available in most any korean road shop brand)

Pore minimizing/tightening products Pores naturally secrete sebum and continuously absorb dirt and dust when exposed to all sort of elements. It’s unavoidable and a pretty gross picture, but it’s a natural thing that we all have to deal with. (sadly)  With a cycle like this, pore tightening and oil control helps a lot with the hassle of clearing pores of excessive dirt and debris. Note that these types of products are more suitable for oilier skin types or for those with enlarged pores. Thankfully, there are a lot of pore tightening and oil control products in the market, so there’s a multitude to choose from. And each is specific for a different step in the skin care routine or used from beginning to end (cleansers, toners, essences, serums, and everything! YAY). Recommended Products: + Cosrx BHA Summer Pore Minimizing Serum (available on BeautyMNL and Althea Korea) + Human Nature Balancing Face toner (available on BeautyMNL and Robinson’s/Rustan’s department stores & supermarkets)

Regenerating/Healing products        Acne popping often requires puncturing or damaging the skin, so it’s just as bad as a scratch or a wound. And knowing that, it should be taken care of properly, which includes treating it with ingredients that hasten the healing process. For healing products, it’s good to get something potent. Meaning a serum or an ampoule type product with highly-concentrated ingredients. Some of our favorite natural healing ingredients include the likes of Honey, Aloe Vera, Rose Water, Collagen and Snail Secretion (Don’t hate it before trying it. Snail stuff is AMAZING.) Recommended Products: + Skin Genie Aloe Vera Gel (available on BeautyMNL) + Bath Origins Rosewater Mist (available in SM dept. stores)  + Nature Republic Honey Serum (Nature Republic)

OTHER TIPS:

Try a face massage - Massages help with blood circulation and flow, so it proves to be a method that is beneficial for any part of your body, your face included. And the best part about it is, you don’t need to purchase any fancy tools, all you need is your hands!  While washing your face you can already start massaging by doing circular movements. Later on, when you start applying your moisturizer (with just a bit of slip), you can do a full facial massage. You can find videos of facial massage methods all over youtube. That’s how we learned.

Incorporate Skin Care into your diet - WE KNOW IT’S CLICHE. YES. But most every health-related problem can be traced to an improper diet. That includes skin. Working on eating a balanced meal, along with proper nutritional snacks is beneficial to your skin just as well. Avoid the fried, oily, and overly sweet stuff when you can. And don’t forget to drink water! Keep not just your face but your whole body hydrated. What goes in, shows up outside, so be aware of that.

FINAL REMINDERS:

1. Evaluate the cause of your acne – hygiene stress, diet, activity, facial/hair products and even your toothpaste can be the cause for this, so knowing the source helps avoid it all together.

2. Leave that scab alone  - Popping your pimple will of course cause it to bleed and will become a scab. As much as possible, avoid scraping or peeling it off to lessen the chances it leaving a darker scar. Be patient and just let it naturally fall off! 

3. MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE – Special shout out to the oily skin types who are scared that it will make the acne worse, it won’t. You just need to make sure you’re not using products that are too creamy or oil-based. If anything, a moisturizer makes your skin appear healthier, and it makes application of any cover-up make-up of any sort glide on like a dream. So don’t forget about it!

That’s all for now folks! We have a lot more methods and products to try, but we’ll keep you posted. Our current skincare routines should be up next year!

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Beauty Exchange Gift Ideas

The holidays are here, and we know can be a really stressful time for every one. Especially those who HATE shopping. 

Thankfully, we don’t hate it as much as most people. If only because of crowds and the occasional “noisy, unruly shopper” and annoying kids, we’re kind of alright with the chaos because...The holidays are also a great time to indulge and pamper yourself, or better yet, give that gift to other people that you love!

We, the girls of pretty-ish, are all about making people appreciate discussing/learning more about all things beauty related. So we’ve decided to have our christmas celebration a little early, and in turn, we exchanged gifts early!

Needless to say, our gifts for each other can give you guys some ideas for some last-minute christmas purchases for your friends/family. Beauty junkies or not, no one can say no to cute packaging or a nice pocket mist. (But just to be clear, we really thought of each other when we bought these, thus requiring us to create a whole “gift rationale” for each item.)  

DANI’S GIFT FOR SHY

So before starting my shopping spree for shy, I told her that we would settle on a budget. We settled on a maximum of P 1,500.

Here’s what I got her (listed from most expensive - cheapest):

“She-wouldn’t-buy-it-for-herself” Gift - Holika Holika Honey Sleeping Mask (Calendula) (P 550, SM Dept. Store)  This was the big ticket item that I knew she always wanted, but didn’t want to get for herself unless there was a major mark down in price or a savage 3-day sale. It claims to be good for most skin types, and knowing that she’s super into anything with the word “Honey” splattered on the packaging, I knew she would be excited use this.

“Restocked” Gift - Zero Sebum Powder (P 390, Etude House PH) As Shy had mentioned in our previous post (Empties), she dropped her first one and it spilled its guts all over the bathroom floor. This she fully expressed on messenger as “a sad, sad day”. I knew she wasn’t going to go out and purchase a new one for a good while after the said incident, so I went and got her a new one. No more tears (and excessive oil hehe), Shy. 

“The Internet-Recommended” Gift - Jordana Matte Lipstick (in Milan)   I know that she was getting into warm-red orange/terra cotta shades, so I went and got her a lipstick from a brand that had a lot of positive feedback online . Jordana is one of the drugstore brands in the states that youtubers and bloggers mention every so often in their favorites.

“Twinsies” Gift - Face Shop Designing Eyebrow Pencil (P220 for 2, Face Shop PH) A couple of friends recommended Faceshop for their “good brow products”, so while I was there specifically to look at the 2-for-1 deals for gifts for other friends, this was a great find+great deal. I bought the “brown” shade for Shy, and a “brown gray” for me, so I could try it myself. (Yes, I am guilty of getting myself something while shopping for other people, but it’s kind of unavoidable. So sue me. LOL) Shy takes the longest on her eyebrows (probably willingly because she likes putting make-up on), so I thought getting her something that would cut her make-up time down would be nice. And true enough, she loves it. (As do I. *grins*) 

“Current Obsession” Gift - Lip balm in Cherrymint (P100, Zenutrients)  If anyone knows of Shy’s “hoarding complex” well enough, it’s me. If I hear her mention that she loves a product, I’m going to find out a few days later that she already purchased several more versions of the same thing. Her current obsession is lip balm, so I thought I’d get an organic and local addition to her growing collection. And this one is said to leave behind a “cooling, minty” feeling, which I think she might like. 

“Bonus” Gifts - “I like my eyelashes as black as my heart” Maroon PouchB V-Organics Tomato Mini Bar Soap, Honey Face Masks As a bonus, I gave all these products as a “set” in a cute pouch with a message that speaks to Shy’s soul. Bless whoever thought of printing this on a pouch (a maroon one at that), I just picked it up at a random bazaar stall a while back.  The mini bar soap was a sample product of one of the local brands I worked with on a project. The owner and founder herself told me that it was good for controlling excess oil and can help brighten the skin, so I thought it was something Shy would want to try.   Honey Face masks were a no brainer, and the bazaar was selling them for P50 pesos for 2, so threw that in as well! 

SHY’S GIFT FOR DANI

We did set a maximum budget for this but I kinda got too excited and let’s just say I have no idea how much the total was HAHA but hey it’s Christmas and I was lucky to be shopping during SM’s Beauty sale! #excuses I got her mostly my recommended products, ones that I’ve pretty much tried and tested and oh boy this one’s going to be a long ass list…

“The skincare package” Gift - Celeteque Hydration Traveler’s Basics (P149, Watson’s) Let’s start with the easiest one and my current go to gift for not just Dani but other friends as well. I’ve probably given this same package to 2 or more people because I think it’s the perfect start up pack for people new to skincare or for Dani’s case, I really wanted her to try out Celeteque’s Hydration line because if you have read our empties post, you’d know that I LOVE their products especially their moisturizer and it’s one product that I highly recommend. True enough, Dani did like the moisturizer and that makes me very happy. ehe

“The travel friendly” Gift - Watson’s Cleansing Facial Wipes (P45 for two packs) I’ve been loving this product lately given that I’m one to sleepover a lot because of work (it’s like my mini form of traveling but instead i sleepover haha) and I found these wipes in Watson’s one time because I forgot to bring some cleansing oil to remove my makeup. This one’s really cheap and even though It doesn’t remove my mascara as easily, it does a pretty good job in removing everything else. Dani doesn’t wear as much makeup as I do and she doesn’t care much for mascara so I thought this would be perfect for her.

“Current Obsession” Gifts - MISTS Bath Origins Rosewater Mist (P200, Bath Origins) Being the obsessive hoarder that I am, I support Dani’s little obsessions that’s why I got her two mists to try out. We’ve both been loving Rosewater and I remember trying a smaller bottle of this a few months back and thought to myself “OH Dani’s gonna love this” so I added this to the package and YES! I’m glad to find out that she did love it :> Celeteque Hydrating Moisturizer Mist (P150, Watson’s) Like the moisturizer gel wasn’t enough, get the same thing but in MIST FORM! Do I even have to explain myself. You can’t hate this =)) (I like overdoing things. Someone stop me.)

“Let’s both try these out” Gifts - Real Nature Aqua Gel Mask in Canola Honey & Pomegranate (On sale, P100,  Nature Republic) We both saw these Aqua Gel Masks one time during our spontaneous Sunday shopping and seeing “Honey” on the masks, plus the word “SALE”, I immediately hoarded some (for the both of us, she had no idea ke ke ke). I remember Dani getting curious about the Pomegranate one so I got that one for her as well.

The “Please try these colors out” Gifts - Ever Bilena Matte Lipsticks in Toast of New York and Dusk (P169, SM Department Store)  I was lucky that the Ever Bilena Lipsticks were on “Buy 2 take 1” sale so I got one for each of us then the “free one” for Dani. So let’s just say these two were just worth P169 :P Toast of Newyork is my go to everyday #2 lipstick (cuz I mix two shades all the time if you guys are still not aware hehe) and I wanted her to try out warmer shades. Dusk is like a darker shade of Toast of New York but a little more on the cool side and looked like something Dani would wear since she likes dark lippies. I really just wanted to try out some more Ever Bilena matte lipsticks cuz I love them and I couldn’t stop myself from getting her even more things. 

“You need this” Gift - Pure Beauty Silky Touch Super Sheer Sunscreen spf 30 PA++ (P130, oh man that’s a really long product name) If there’s one thing Dani almost can’t leave the house without, it’s sunscreen. She recently came across a pretty bad sunscreen from another brand and needed a new one to replace it cuz let’s just say the product was so bad, she just couldn’t finish it anymore. (Then I tried it out and hated it as well). I love Pure Beauty’s CC cream so I thought their sunscreen would be just as good. Plus it’s cheap so if ever she doesn’t like it, she can just throw it away without hurting any feelings haha. We both prefer watery and easy to blend sunscreens rather than thick creamy ones that clog your pores and Pure Beauty has that consistency we need.

“You also need this” Gift - Quick FX Sunblock SPF50 PA+++ (P90, Watson’s) I know I already got her sunscreen but here’s another one in a smaller package that’s just as good. I used this during my trip to Batangas with my friends and I was pretty happy with the consistency and how it felt on my skin. Also, it surprisingly  has some good ingredients like Zinc Oxide (to soothe redness and help with pimples) that both Dani and I love, and more.

“I got curious” Gift - Quick FX Eyelift Cream (P50, Watson’s)  I honestly really just got this out on impulse so we could both try it out. We both like Quick FX products anyways haha.

“For your Nails” Gift - Girl Stuff in Sophia (P100, Girl Stuff) My HG nail polish brand and color. Ever since I tried out Girl Stuff’s nail polishes, I haven’t used any other brand since, especially expensive ones. Their polishes are very opaque that 1-2 coats are enough, they dry fast, and they don’t stain your nails and being affordable is always a huge plus. It’s also perfect for those who don’t really care much about doing their nails and don’t want the hassle like Dani so this one’s perfect for when she feels like being a bit fancy. (She actually started painting her toes after she got it haha)

“1 year supply of concealers!” Gift - Flormar Full Coverage Concealer (P299, SM Dept Store)  Dani likes her concealers and though she already owns one in liquid form, I felt that she needed a cream concealer for some scars that might need more coverage. We all know by now that I highly recommend Flormar’s concealer so of course I got her that.

“Supporting tool” Gift - FS Travel Eyeliner Brush (P80, SM Dept Store/Watson’s) Of course I can’t just give her a cream concealer without what I think is the perfect tool to apply it. An Eyeliner brush. It’s a tiny brush that she can bring around along with the concealer. I also found out later that she actually wanted one because it was so small and cute. I almost forgot that Dani has a thing for small and compact brushes :))

“Hair Care” Gift - Nanny Rose’s Gugo & Lawat Anti-Hair Fall Shampoo (P99, Watson’s) Dani’s starting to get a bit concerned about her hair fall even though her hair is way thicker than mine (I have really thin hair). She has already tried this before but I wanted her to try it out again, this time with me since I also just recently tried using this so it would be nice to observe our results together. This shampoo smells really nice and reminds me of Avalon Organics’ shampoos.

“Di ako natahimik hangga’t hindi ko nabili” Gift - Etude House Moistfull Collagen Toner (P790, Etude House) This was out of stock in a lot of branches that I was actually thinking of not adding this to the list BUT I found one last minute, and I immediately got it. This is probably the most expensive one in the list but I was just “I don’t care if I go over budget it’s Christmas!” (Cue in crazy Shy) Dani is obsessed with toners (and I support it) and she’s been wanting to try the Moistfull Collagen line so of course I had to get it XD

“2nd Hand” Gifts - (These don’t add to the budget!) Catrice Camouflage Cream Concealer Catrice’s concealer is just as good as the Flormar one but I got one in a shade too light for me so I threw it in the package as well. Human Nature Cleansing Oil I really didn’t like this because it was just plain thick sunflower(?) oil and needs a ton of facial wash to get rid of unlike my Biore cleansing oil that washes off with water. BUT Dani got a small bottle of this and found some good use for it so I decided to give mine away since I think I’ll never finish it.

“Bonus Gift!” - Mini Pug Planner (P20-P40, Papemelroti) Because the planner she got for next year is the kind that doesn’t have dates + she loves pugs. mehehe

Dani’s “gift set” came in a box I got from Papemelroti that she can reuse since she’s more of a “Containers girl” while I’m the “Pouch girl”. I also added sticky notes on each and every product with letters on why I got them.

To be honest, I really thought everything was going to fit inside… but nope.

Hope our gifts gave you guys some ideas for those last-minute, post-christmas reunion purchases! (Or if not, go ahead and treat ‘yo self). 

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!