This 2019, we’ve seen the K-Beauty trend roll in, make its nest, and mark its territory all over the world of beauty even harder than ever before. With each passing month, we at Calyxta discover more and more K-Beauty faves that easily make it to our top shelves; one particular new find that I’ve been dying to review is the Jumiso Have a Good Cream Snail and Centella moisturizer.

Being one of the newer Korean skin care brands to come through our doors, I was immediately curious; with such cute packaging and product names, how could I not be? Without further ado, let’s get into this review!

As someone whose had some trouble keeping acne at bay due to poor life choices (pro tip: do NOT #yolo every weekend and then fall asleep with makeup on—I’m begging you!) and lightening old marks, my skin care-hoarding talons immediately popped out when I read the ingredients list. For those wanting a quick scan, here you go!

Water, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Squalane, Centella Asiatica Extract, Bacillus Ferment, 1,2-Hexanediol, Oicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Oliyate, Dimethicone, Tre-halose, Arachidyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Oliyate, Arginine, Carbomer, CyclopentaslIoxane, Panthenol, Ca-prylyl Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polysilicone-I I, Arachidyl Glucoside, Ethylhex-ylglycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Menthe Haplocalix Extract, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Menthyl Lactate, Disodium EOTA, Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Asiaticoside, Madecassic acid, Asiatic acid, Be-ta-Glucan

While it’s too tedious to go through each ingredient, I would still like to talk about some things that stand out. The Have a Good Cream highlights two ingredients that I love to the moon and back: snail secretion filtrate and centella asiatica, which are both ingredients that are known for soothing irritation and repairing the skin. Snail secretion is naturally rich in hyaluronic acid, which is a wonderous humectant that draws and holds water to keep the skin hydrated. This moisturizer contains 1.05% centella asiatica extract (which is much higher than expected, as the average amount needed for this ingredient to be effective in any skin care product is 0.1%), which works wonders for redness and fighting acne.

While those two are the main protagonists, other notable ingredients are the humectants such as glycerin, butylene glycol, sodium hyaluronate, and panthenol. These ingredients work by attracting water to the surface of the skin while keeping the lower layers hydrated, giving your skin a bouncier appearance. The cream also contains arginine and squalane, which help protect your skin and slow down signs of aging.

Its main claim to fame is its hydrating and repairing effects (as said on the packaging). While I cannot attest too much on how well it repairs pre-existing acne marks, I do notice that my skin is consistently smooth on weeks I top my full nightly regimen with this cream. With each use, I wake up with plump skin that appears livelier and healthier! I’ve noticed a big change in my skin quality over the two months I’ve used it, though I wouldn’t say it alleviated my pimple problem for good. As I mentioned earlier, my poor lifestyle choices win the skin battle hands down—BUT this cream does a good job in helping me bounce back. If you’re the type to enjoy lighter moisturizers like me as opposed to more heavy-duty creams, then I highly recommend this product. You get 50g full of goodness, which lasts much longer than it looks since it spreads so easily that you don’t need to apply too much to get a full face of hydration.

Would I repurchase? Absolutely. Now—add these bad boys to your cart before I buy out all the stocks!

Julia is Calyxta’s resident crazy plant lady with an unstoppable caffeine addiction and an ever-increasing love for glitter eye shadow. When she’s not staring out the window mulling over the correctness of her grammar, she can be found drawing on eyeliner, watching anime, reading books, or petting strangers’ dogs.

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As a child who survived puberty blemish-free, I thought I was invincible. I spent my younger years (“younger years,” says the twenty-three-year-old!) coasting through nights of homework and parties using only the cheapest and, frankly, most ineffective cleansers my allowance-based student wallet could afford. I wouldn’t even follow up with toner or moisturizer—que horror! Now that I’m older, wiser, and in dire need of a better skin care routine, I’m just realizing how much work it takes to regain the prepubescent smoothness that I’d always taken for granted.

I’ve cycled through skin care that just couldn’t give me the results I needed. My combination skin made it difficult choosing products that would both quell the oil slick that was my T-zone while moisturizing the expanses of the Sahara desert on my forehead and chin, all while making sure I kept acne at bay. Add that to the fact that my daily commutes, work stress, (and lack of a love life) made my skin extra sensitive—one wrong move and I’d wake up with a new volcano ready to erupt. Needless to say, I get stressed, sis!

Enter: The Soothing and Calming Essential Skincare Set by SKIN by John Robert Powers!

As a big fan of their lippies, I had high hopes for their skin care line, especially since they’re said to be effective for both combination skin and sensitive skin. Perfect for my late puberty! Their Soothing and Calming Essential Skincare Set comes with the following: Brightening and Moisturizing Facial Wash, Hydrating Toner, Soothing Day Cream with SPF, and Rejuvenating Night Cream.

All of the products are packaged with a similar white-and-pink print with the text “Balance is Beauty. Confidence is Key” writing across—a cute little reminder to start and end the day! Overall, the containers seem sturdy enough, with the creams encased in thick plastic tubs that come with a plastic lid once opened for hygienic purposes. All products have the ingredients, directions for use, and descriptions listed on the back of their respective boxes, so read up!

With the Brightening and Moisturizing Facial Wash, you get a load of great ingredients—notably, the inclusion of hydrolyzed milk protein, allantoin, and niacinamide. Both hydrolyzed milk protein and allantoin are wonderful ingredients for giving your skin that extra hug of hydration and locking in moisture without irritating sensitive skin. Alongside these ingredients is niacinamide (a Calyxta Crew fave!), which helps even out skin texture, improve the appearance of large pores, fight acne, and repair signs of damage such as acne scarring and other environmental damages to the skin’s natural barrier.

Upon use, I noticed that the product doesn’t foam. Instead, you’re treated with a pleasantly thick and milky consistency that leaves the skin feeling soothed and supple. My skin felt silky upon rinsing without the stripping “freshly-dishwashed” feeling that some stronger cleansers tend to have. This product, as well as the other products in the line, contains a little bit of fragrance though. While not an unpleasant scent at all, please use with caution if your skin is hyper-sensitive to products with fragrance.

Putting on heavy creams in the morning was never my cup of tea. Luckily, SKIN by John Robert Powers brings us a day cream that is light, quickly absorbed, and easy to wear throughout the day! Because it’s so light, there’s no need to worry about feeling like you have too much product on if you layer makeup on top of it. It also contains SPF 15 PA++ that protects the skin from harmful rays of the sun and environmental aggressors, all while providing your skin a refreshing boost of moisture. Like the toner, this cream contains mulberry extract, tea tree extract, and hydrogenated castor oil, but has sodium hyaluronate as well that helps the skin retain moisture.

Written by:

Julia Benito

Julia is Calyxta’s resident crazy plant lady with an unstoppable caffeine addiction and an ever-increasing love for glitter eye shadow. When she’s not staring out the window mulling over the correctness of her grammar, she can be found drawing on eyeliner, watching anime, reading books, or petting strangers’ dogs.

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The year 2019 finds us busier than ever. With our time being torn between working our butts off to pay bills, making time for friends and loved ones, pursuing personal passions, and trying—yet failing miserably—to keep a gym routine, it gets hard squeezing in time to relax! That’s why when I was offered to review a device that was said to give you the same diamond peel experience at home, I was more than willing to do it. After all, watching reruns of Brooklyn Nine-Nine in my pajamas while giving myself a facial sounded way too good to pass up—no doubt, no doubt!

Enter: Aesthetique Solution’s Revitalize Microdermabrasion Device. With a name like that, it’s easy to be intimidated, but don’t let it scare you! Beneath its posh chrome exterior, LED screen, and removable doodads lies a straightforward and easy-to-use face-and-body exfoliator that gently treats the skin using tiny exfoliating crystals. Now, with all the skincare products we put on our faces, physical exfoliation seems quite unnecessary, right? Wrong! While piling on skincare is all well and good, having physical exfoliation not only de-clogs pores and removes dry skin, but also prevents in-grown hair, fades dark spots, helps heal blemishes, and promotes blood circulation. Read up on my thoughts on the device below!

WHAT YOU GET:

Opening the box, you get the following: 1) the Revitalize Microdermabrasion Device body, 2) the charging port (with the charging cable), 3) two (2x) exfoliator tips for varied surface area coverage, 4) extra filters, and 5) a cleaning brush. There is also a manual, so don’t forget to read up before use!

HOW TO USE:

To be honest, I thought it’d be much harder to use. This was, after all, my first encounter with a home-facial device in my entire twenty-two years of existence! Upon reading the manual, however, I realized it was quite simple.

After charging the device, placing a filter on your desired tip, and screwing the tip in, you can choose between two settings—automatic and manual.

The automatic setting has timing presets recommended per section of your face, while the manual setting just keeps the device running so you can estimate the duration you’d like for yourself! It also comes in three (3) levels—each one gradually intensifying the suctioning effect for a deeper exfoliation. But don’t just go straight into it! Be sure to wash your face first! Also, keep in mind that you are not supposed to use the device too quickly and are supposed to glide it across your skin in one direction only to avoid irritating your skin.

Much like a traditional diamond peel, it suctions away dead skin that leaves a little bit of redness, but don’t be alarmed! It’s absolutely normal, and goes away quickly. As long as you don’t focus too hard on one spot for too long, you shouldn’t have any issues with irritation or bruising. Wouldn’t want a hickey on the middle of your face, would you?

WHAT I THINK:

There’s a bit of a learning curve in terms of figuring out how to hold the device to your face, as the exfoliator tips are not slanted, but once you get the hand of it, it’s easy! You may have to gently hold your skin taut in some areas to help the device glide better, but that’s not a big problem. I personally prefer using the manual setting, as I feel like the time presets on the automatic setting were too quick—I felt so pressured every time it beeped! I wanted a more intensive exfoliation, so I set it to manual and upped the level to 2. It was much better after that! An episode of Netflix and one facial exfoliation later, I felt so smooth! It was able to suck up the parts of my skin that were flaking and noticed that some bumps from healing acne marks were smoothened. It wasn’t the most visibly obvious right away, but I woke up the next morning with a bit more color and life on my skin! I also felt that my makeup looked much smoother. I even got a compliment from a co-worker! Yay!

It isn’t a magical genie that miraculously gives you Kardashian-grade skin in one use, but with continued use once a week, I feel like this device could really help even out skin texture and brighten dull skin. It leans on the pricey side, but seeing as the parts only need to be replaced after around 5 to 6 months (aside from the filters that need to be thrown out after every use), it seems like a good investment!

For those with no time (or don’t want to exert the effort to get out of bed—guilty!) to get a regular facial, I’d definitely recommend this product.

Julia is Calyxta’s resident crazy plant lady with an unstoppable caffeine addiction and an ever-increasing love for glitter eye shadow. When she’s not staring out the window mulling over the correctness of her grammar, she can be found drawing on eyeliner, watching anime, reading books, or petting strangers’ dogs.

Rain or shine, we at the Calyxta HQ will always, always tell you to never forget to apply your sunblock. It’s probably the gravest of all skin care sins, and if you’re not convinced, read more about why you should be wearing sunblock everyday here.

As someone who has been applying sunblock everyday since I was 12 or 13 years old (I have both my mother and my dermatologist to thank for educating and influencing me that early), I must have encountered dozens of sunblock brands before finding those that made it to my list of favorites. These are usually the ones that are lightweight, non-greasy, and don’t leave a white cast on my face.

“When I read that it was a gel type, I immediately expected it to have a thick and clear consistency. But upon squeezing out the product, it actually had a milkier appearance! It was easy to spread all over my face (as compared to a cream sunblock), and it dried easily. I reapplied again in the middle of the day, and I like that my usually oily face wasn’t shiny at all (some sunblock brands tend to make my face shine, which I hate!)—it just had a nice, healthy glow. Another thing I like about the product? The citrus smell! It’s quite addicting and makes applying it a lot more fun.”

– Anne Concepcion, Administrative and Technical Assistant

“If you’ve ever seen me in person, you’d know I wear makeup daily. I don’t like stepping out of my house without it—my natural zombie skin would never allow me to! That being said, I needed sun protection that was good to wear under layers of product, and Face Republic’s sun gel did not disappoint. While I would say the consistency is thicker than the sun protection I’m used to, it leaves the skin feeling hydrated. Because of how thick it is, I didn’t feel the need to use a moisturizer. I would actually advise against it, as it does lean a bit on the heavy side. Other than that, it created a good base for my makeup, has a pleasantly non-abrasive scent, and didn’t leave a white cast, which are always pluses in my book. A word of advice: it really needs to be worked into the skin. Don’t just slap it on and call it a day! It ends up feeling like it’s sitting on top of your skin. Really massage it in and use the warmth of your fingers to help it absorb better.”

– Alec Alquiroz, Intern

“My initial impression of Face Republic’s Super Screen Sun Gel was that it would just be like any regular sunscreen out there—sticky and all. However, when it came to actually trying the product, it felt runny, and not as sticky on my palms. Upon putting it on my face, I felt like I shouldn’t have put my moisturizer anymore. Unlike regular sunscreen, I noticed that it didn’t leave any white specks or feel too sticky, but instead left a nice highlight, and made my face glow.”

Written By:
Gretchen Gatan
Managing Editor

Gretchen is a writer, makeup artist, and the beauty and lifestyle blogger behind Greta’s Junkyard. Her love for beauty all started when she discovered the wonders of doing her brows with a good eyebrow pen. Despite her girly ways and obsession with skin care, she loves watching wrestling and gets competitive while playing Ultimate Frisbee.

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I noticed reddening in my neck and collarbone area, so I started applying the balm to these problems spots every day at night for a week. Its ingredients include grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, and shea butter, so I had high hopes for the results.

After five days, I was amazed—my skin had calmed down and looked softer than ever!

Just check out this shoot I had, exposing how supple my ex-problem spots look now!

Written By: 

Frances Beltran

BEAUTY CONTRIBUTOR

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ZENUTRIENTS BABY LOVE BABY OIL 100 ML, P149

Walking innocently into the Calyxta office, I was surprised, touched, and flattered (yes, in that particular order) to have been asked to review Zennutrients’ Baby Love Top to Toe Wash. I thought, wow, are my skin and hair so much like that of a baby’s to deserve this assignment?

I basked in this wonderful thought until I soon learned that the top-to-toe wash, while intended for babies, is designed to be used by kids and adults, too. Oops. Meanwhile, here’s how my experience went.

Main ingredients are aloe vera, calendula, and coco honey. Together, these are supposed to gently clean and nourish baby’s scalp, hair, and skin.

Prior to trying this, I have also been using Zenutrients’ Aloe Vera Shampoo, especially on stressful days when I feel like pulling my hair or the hair strands just naturally fall off.

User Experience

Lately, I have slowly been trying to replace my bath products with chemical-free ones, or the less commercially advertised ones. Other than the Aloe Vera Shampoo, I’ve also tried a coconut-based one, and a shampoo bar that’s meant to hydrate and fight hair fall as well! As for soaps, I’ve also been using the oil-based, handmade ones I’ve gotten from friends. So you can only imagine how willing I was to try this!

Scent is the first I notice since I am sensitive to this, and so I’m happy that this top-to-toe wash didn’t have a strong, irritating smell! While in the shower, I feel like it has a nature-y scent to it, as if I’m in the woods. After use, I super love that my hair and skin don’t smell like anything. Simply amoy bagong ligo is the best. Since my hair has been adjusting to different types of shampoos these days, it didn’t make much of a difference with the top-to-toe wash. It was easy to rinse off, and my hair felt clean afterwards, too.

Finally, I love how it feels on my skin, especially after my shower! I have intensely dry skin (one trip to the beach and I’ll immediately feel like a dry fish on land after!) but this gentle formula didn’t make my skin feel tight or flaky. I’m guessing this is how babies feel?!

Recommendations

I have yet to have my five-year-old niece try this, but based on the past weeks I’ve been using this so far, my experience has been positive. I would recommend this to adult friends and family who have dry and sensitive skin like mine, too.

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ZENUTRIENTS TEA TREE SPOT TREATMENT 20ML, P260

Written By: 

Patti Sunio aka Tita Pacita

BEAUTY CONTRIBUTOR

Tita Pacita of www.titapacita.com is a lifestyle, culture, and fashion & beauty writer from Manila. With her wisdom and almost thirty years of life experience, she likes to share what she knows and give unsolicited advice, true to her Tita ways. Her makeup choices are primarily based on instinct, and, believe it or not, K-Beauty.

What are the beauty benefits of Kaolin Clay?

1. Helps with oily skin

Kaolin clay has natural absorbency properties that helps absorb excess oils and sebum on the skin and within the pores. It can help balance the oil production when used regularly.

2. Cleanses and detoxifies clogged pores

Kaolin gently cleanses and sucks out impurities clogging your pores such as dirt, pollution, germs, left-over makeup, and more. This helps prevent pores from getting clogged that may be causing acne breakouts.

3. Natural exfoliant

Since Kaolin doesn’t completely dissolve in water, the crystals in the clay make for a good natural exfoliant that is gentle on the skin.

Where can we get Kaolin clay?

Experience all the beauty benefits of Kaolin clay with Innisfree’s Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask, P800. It controls oil production, exfoliates, brightens skin tone, and cleanses all in one go!

Written by:

Maan Fernandez

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Maan loves her a good brow pencil, mascara, tint, and anything pink! She has combination skin, so a trusty oil blotter is all she needs to keep her t-zone in check. She’ll never get too old for a trip to the amusement park, and a half-dozen basket of Garlic Parmesan wings is the key to her tummy!

In our family, I’m the only one who (thankfully) doesn’t suffer from any uncomfortable skin condition, such as atopic dermatitis or any other allergies. This is why for this particular product review, I decided to use the lotion on my son, Andres, who was born with atopic dermatitis. Some of the symptoms that Andres experiences are: itchiness, susceptibility to flare ups, redness, and occasionally, actual pain and soreness. I applied the lotion on his extremities since those are the areas where he seems to be most prone to breakouts. After he bathed, we applied the lotion liberally, and the immediate sensation, according to Andres was, “My skin feels really soft and isn’t itchy anymore!“

According to Dove, the lotion is “enriched with AminoSilk Complex and powerful moisturizers to instantly soothe itchy, dry skin.” It’s also clinically proven to replenish moisture levels, helps restore your skin’s protective barrier over time, making it one of our best body lotions for dry skin.

Texture:
A non-sticky, creamy formula that spreads with ease—you get a soothing feel for all-over comfort.

Fragrance:
This lotion is fragrance-free which makes sense since fragrance is known to have some harsh effects on sensitive or allergy-prone skin.

Efficacy:
I used the lotion on Andres for three days, and the results have been mind-blowing. He no longer complains of itchiness, and sleeps soundly at night because he no longer feels like scratching. His skin is also visibly more hydrated as it sports this sheen it never used to.

Price:
A bit on the high side but considering its miraculous effects on perennially dry and allergy-prone skin, this one is worth it!

Text by: Agoo Bengzon

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When it comes down to our favorite (and one of our best-selling!) K-Beauty brands on Calyxta, COSRX is definitely a front-runner in this category. Aside from its clean and minimalist packaging that I really love, they have tons of skin care items that targets very specific skin needs depending on your skin’s condition. I swear, their skin care game is so impressive—you’d really feel that so much time and research was put into creating each of their product.

And if you’ve been eyeing on this skin care brand but feeling a bit overwhelmed on which one to try first (you’re not alone, girl, I totally feel you), I went around the Calyxta HQ and asked some of the crew to share their favorite COSRX product and why they love it.

Hopefully this helps you narrow down your choices on which product is best suited for your skin needs!

Marj’s favorite COSRX find on Calyxta: COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balance Essence, P900

“I use this day and night, and I’ve noticed a more even complexion. My facefeels hydrated right after, and my skin looks brighter. It contains reallygood ingredients, too! Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate is effective in moisturizing, brightening, controlling sebum production, decreasing acne,increasing elasticity, and shrinking large opened pores. Plus, I love thatit simply feels like water on my skin when applied. Feels very refreshing.”

Maan’s favorite COSRX find on Calyxta: COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser, P600

“I tried out a new facial wash that was apparently too harsh for my skin. It left my skin feeling so tight and dehydrated. What’s worse is that I suddenly had random dry patches all over my face, so I immediately had to stop using that facial wash. I’ve been hearing about COSRX’s Good Morning Gel Cleanser, but I initially thought that it might be the type of cleanser that’s too gentle for my skin—meaning, it won’t be able to really clean and get rid of dirt and makeup as much as I would like my cleanser to. But this switch has got to be one of my favorite decisions ever. Despite its gentle formulation, my skin feels fresh and clean afterwards without that tight or dry feeling. Not to mention, the dry patches are gone!”

Ming’s favorite COSRX find on Calyxta: COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid, P963

“This was really effective in loosening up the stubborn blackheads on my nose that I’ve been trying so hard to get rid of. I applied this before using my nose strips and to my surprise, I noticed that my nose strip was able to pull off more blackheads than it usually would. No kidding! At the same time, it moisturizes my skin and gives me a nice healthy glow the morning after.”

Gretchen’s favorite COSRX find on Calyxta: COSRX Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Power Essence, P963

“I’ve been using this for almost a year now, and it’s still a staple in my skin care routine. I even bought another bottle from Calyxta already, because I’m scared to run out of it. If you have oily skin like me yet still need that added hydration, this essence is perfect! Hyaluronic Acid is known to be like a moisture magnet. It helps draw moisture into your skin, and at the same time retains that moisture locked in—so your skin doesn’t go back to feeling dry again. I apply this after my toner and before my serum!”

Margaux’s favorite COSRX find on Calyxta: COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50+ PA+++, P666

“Recent years have made me more and more aware about the damage sun can do to our skin so finding a go-to sunscreen for my face has been a priority. Recently I stumbled upon the COSRX Aloe Soothing Sunscreen and hands down, this is by far my favorite. It doesn’t go on oily the way most sunscreens do and it doesn’t have that sunscreen-y scent so I feel comfortable wearing it every day and anywhere. Also, with a busy schedule where I don’t know if I’m going to be out under the sun for an extended amount of time hosting an event, I’m protected since it’s SPF50!”

Sandra’s favorite COSRX find on Calyxta: COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, P882

“I feel like my skin gets extra hydration before I put on my moisturizer when I apply this. I use it even during the day prior to putting on my makeup because even if my skin is oily, I still experience some dry patches in certain areas of my face. Snail mucin as an ingredient is the ultimate hydration booster. It’s perfect for you if your skin is oily (like me) yet needs that boost of hydration since it’s water-based and doesn’t clog your pores. It’ll really help make your skin look brighter and plump with moisture. Plus, this ingredient is also good for visible reduction of redness from acne and scarring.”

Frances’ favorite COSRX find on Calyxta: COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch, P200

“I’ve suffered acne for decades. I’ve tried facials, peels, soaps, cleansers, toners, moisturizers, and even hormones to manage my acne–but I have to say, this COSRx Acne Pimple Master Patch is amazing! First, I washed my face then patted my skin dry. Then I had to restrain myself from using my toner, serum, and night cream because I’m supposed to use this on a clean and bare face. Nothing should be in between the pimple and the patch. Then I went to sleep. The patches really stick to skin so even if you toss and turn at night or sleep with your face on the pillow (don’t do this!), the patches won’t fall off. The next morning, I woke up to drastically minimized swelling and redness! I can see white gunk underneath the patches. When I peeled them off, the gunk went with the patches, and—best of all—my pimples were flattened and non existent! I finally found an acne treatment that’s effective, fast, and affordable. I highly recommend this product!”

Written by:

Maan Fernandez

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Maan loves her a good brow pencil, mascara, tint, and anything pink! She has combination skin, so a trusty oil blotter is all she needs to keep her t-zone in check. She’ll never get too old for a trip to the amusement park, and a half-dozen basket of Garlic Parmesan wings is the key to her tummy!

Lace & Rue is a small local brand created by my dear friend, Krista Pages, in Cebu. Blending her love for spa treatments and working with her hands, Krista has created a number of quality beauty products that will make your skin feel loved and pampered. Her body scrub is one of my personal favorites; I find myself reaching out for it at least once a week in my shower.

Krista started by using the balm on her lips and under her eyes every night and she would really notice how dewy her skin looked when she woke up. Recently, someone also told her that they use a little bit under their concealer (for under the eyes) to keep pigment in place.

Another convert told Krista they use it as a makeup remover! Simply warm the balm in your hands and rub on makeup, then wipe off.

I personally think this is a really lovely product that does what it says it will. I recently began using it on my lips and cuticles at night, and have been waking up to the softest lips and I have become much less prone to hangnails. “I’m just amazed and shocked people are getting creative with it,” says Krista. So if there’s one product you need to get your hands on to start the new year right, it’s this lovely little jar. We highly recommend it!

I got a jar of the new Lace & Rue scrub. It’s a big glass jar heavy with brown sugar, sweet almond oil, honey, and lavender essential oil. When I opened the lid, I was not disappointed. Lying within was a big blob of brown sugar drowned in fragrant oil just waiting to exfoliate me!

I must point out that brown sugar is dense so it feels like opening a tub of Lily’s peanut butter—all that oil on top! So be sure to dig in and mix everything. I used my clean hand to do this because I seriously believed a spoon would bend if I used it. That sugar was packed solid!

A handful is enough for my entire body. Brown sugar doesn’t melt quickly (unlike a salt scrub) so I really had to keep scrubbing my skin until the sugar melted.

A post shared by Lace & Rue (@lacexrue) on Oct 19, 2017 at 6:10pm PDT

Mask nights have become such a huge thing—especially for us beauty girls. Personally, I love scheduling my mask night on a Friday so that when I come home from work and my dinner date, I can give myself a quick pampering session by lathering on my mask of choice, sipping on some red wine and reading a good book, while letting the mask do its work.

Lately, I’ve found myself drawn towards L’Oreal’s Pure Clay Mask—particularly the Anti-Pores one. I initially road tested it when it first arrived, and after just one use, I instantly fell in love with it—so I bought one, and I’ve been using it weekly ever since. The effects are pretty instant—after wearing it for just 20 minutes, I always feel my pores tighten. It even has a slight brightening effect that makes my skin look revitalized.

I asked what the rest of the Calyxta Crew thought of them, and here’s what they had to say:

“I tried the Illuminating variant and I wasn’t really expecting any instant result after one use. I had it on for a good 20 minutes, rinsed it off, and to my surprise—my face did brighten up and looked more refreshed! I thought it was just me, but even my colleagues noticed the difference (since I applied it on during lunch break). It’s definitely my new go-to mask when my face needs some glow!”

–Maan Fernandez, Editorial Assistant

“I used the Anti-Pore variant. For me, I usually get so annoyed by the huge pores around my nose and chin. Whenever I notice the pores, I immediately use the Anti-Pore variant and after 15 minutes, it’s an instant positive effect! My face feels cleaner and pores appear smaller. It’s a quick fix for me. I also like how the clay masks are at a comfortable price point. It enables me to multi-mask versus other clay masks in the market.”

–Karina Robles, Marketing Manager

“The difference of the Hydrating Mask is that it doesn’t dry up—even if you’ve applied a thick layer on your face. It felt more like a thick lotion rather than a clay mask that dried up. When I used it, I had just come from my Hong Kong trip so my skin was completely dry—but when I applied the mask and removed it after 20 minutes, it felt hydrated instantly!”

–Ming Bagaforo, Graphic Artist

Text by: Gretchen Gatan

It’s a given fact that our skin, no matter what skin type, needs moisture. But let’s admit—it often feels like a chore to pile on lotion especially in our humid country. Fortunately, Vaseline heard our complaints and recently invented a unique way to get moisture without that greasy, sticky feeling. Here’s my review on Vaseline Intensive Care Spray Moisturizer!

VASELINE INTENSIVE CARE SPRAY MOISTURE is an aerosol spray that guarantees to infuse nourishment to your skin in just a few seconds.

I have to admit that it initially took getting used to because the first time I sprayed the can, it sprayed continuously for about three seconds whether I liked it or not. But I soon realized that it was just the initial introduction and I could control the spray better from then on. It’s recommended you spray all over your body in a circular motion right after the shower and then quickly spread with your hands.

The actual lotion is very thin and water-based, but as soon as you begin spreading, it turns into intense moisture that dries quickly—leaving you with smoother skin the whole day. It’s also got a lovely berry scent that isn’t cloying at all.