November 30, 2015

Mini Haul: ETUDE HOUSE and SNOE

Had a little skin care shopping the other day! Though I would love to splurge more, I still have enough skin care products back home to last me for a month or two.

Start with SNOE first:


I wrote a review about this product a year ago. It's SNOE's Extra Strength Glutathione Whitening Powder Mask [Php349]. Here is the link to my review in case you haven't read it yet. It is a whitening mask you apply on areas on the body where you want it to lighten. I have tried it and always been coming back for this every time I feel like I like to lighten some uneven areas in my body.


This is one soap from SNOE that I always feel like I'm a little apprehensive of. I didn't know which soap I should buy: the EAU LALA SEED SERUM NATURAL BEAUTY BAR or their EMU.CLEANSE CREAMY BEAUTY BAR. [ Read my review here. ] I read at the back of the packaging the benefits of both soaps just to be sure I'd be getting a soap I really need. It was recommended by the sales person that I should try their EAU LALA SEED SERUM NATURAL BEAUTY BAR [Php399] when I told her I got a dried up rash in my body that I needed to lighten. And so I bought it. It is a bit expensive, and I'm crossing my fingers.


Next, ETUDE HOUSE:

I got their HAPPY ESSENTIAL FOAM in COLLAGEN (pink) [Php248] because I love it so much as well as their HYALURONIC ACID (blue) facial cleansers! It is creamy and smells divine whenever I wash my face with this. I always keep coming back for this every time! Collagen is that "glue" that keeps our skin together keeping it look fresh and young. You can read my review here.


I bought 5 sheet masks [Php58 each]: ACAI BERRY (antioxidant), SNAIL (smooth firming), PEARL (bright complexion), POMEGRANATE (smooth & energizing) and COENZYME 10 (tightening & firming). I had to pick an each of my favorite masks to give my skin variety whenever I feel like I need a little boost after a long day. Have you noticed I never post reviews on sheet masks? :)


They also gave me a freebie! Since I spent over Php500 worth of products. (It depends what freebie you'll be getting if you reached a certain mark). I got two sample sizes of their ZERO SEBUM clear gel which is perfect for me because I have oily skin. I'll let you know what I think about it in a few days.

Have you also bought any skin care items you want to share? :)

xoxo,
Chloe

November 29, 2015

Human Heart Nature Body Wash Sweet Orange

I've always loved Human Heart Nature's berries body wash scent, but I think I'd rather go something different and try their SWEET ORANGE for a change. Oranges are one of my favorite fruits and its smell always revitalizes my senses before I start my day.

Human Heart Nature Body Wash: Sweet Orange 200ml | Php159.75
99.78% Natural -- Lather up to soft, clean skin with moisturizing touch of Human Nature's Body Wash. Rich with natural glycerin and aloe vera, it effectively cleanses away dirt and grime while being gentle on the skin.  
Spruce up every shower with a lush of bouquet of Sweet Orange or Gentle Berry scents.

How to use:
Pour and lather onto a bath sponge or directly onto your body, then rinse thoroughly. Because our natural body wash has coconut-derived ingredients, it may thicken in cold temperatures. If you find it difficult to dispense, simply warm the bottle under how water for 30 seconds.


This orange scented natural body wash is amazing! It is a natural product; Paraben-free and SLS/SLES free. I love how my skin feels every single time. My skin wasn't irritated. It is moisturizing, and leaves skin soft. It lathers well and a little of it goes a long way. It was surprising to find that the body wash was slightly thick, translucent and smells great! I love it! It's probably their new formula.

Human Heart Nature is all about being proud and celebrating the skin we are in. Everywhere nowadays are whitening skin treatments left and right. For us Filipina with morena skin (and every skin tone from all over the globe!), it is all about loving and seeing the beauty the skin we all are in. I am happy this is one Philippine product that doesn't introduce whitening infused products from their soaps, creams or lotions.

I think I would try the GENTLE BERRY scent when I ran out of this. I wish they would come up with more scents like chocolate or vanilla!

xoxo,
Chloe

November 21, 2015

How to Lighten Dark Underarms

Dark underarms are embarrassing. It happens when the skin is exposed with chemicals like deodorants with whitening properties as promised or constant friction of clothes, or because of a medical condition called Acanthosis Nigricans which is often the result of insulin resistance, obesity, certain medications and hormonal disorders. Other causes of dark underarms are shaving, accumulation of dead skin cells, too much scrubbing, and regular use of removal hair creams. If you are still doing any of this, do stop because they are so bad for our underarms.

Here are tips to help lighten the dark underarms:

1. Remove the hair at its roots. The hair is one culprit that makes the underarms look darker. By removing the hair from its roots, it would take time for the hair to grow. It's the subtle hair peeking through will seem look like a shadow. I would not suggest to tweeze because it will lead looking like chicken skin (Have you seen a chicken's skin when its feathers are plucked?) A waxing kit or an epilator (electric hair removing device) are excellent ways to remove the hair and keep underarms look and feel smooth. Waxing the underarms also helps in exfoliating. An epilator may look and sound scary at first, but you will soon get the hang of it and remove unwanted hair with breeze!
2. Exfoliate. Like how we exfoliate our face, our underarms also need a nice exfoliation. With regular exfoliating it removes dead skin cells. Make a paste mixing a tablespoon of baking soda and water. Gently scrub in circular motion.
3. Make your own natural deodorant. There are recipes online on how to make one at home. It is healthier for our body because we know what's really in it and what we put on our body. I've tried one deodorant and just days after using the product, I felt a slight pain on my lower back. I soon felt a little weak and I knew why it was happening and I threw the deodorant immediately. Eating a healthy diet and drinking lots of water will also help keep the body odor at minimal.
3. Use safe and natural whitening soaps and creams. There are creams and soaps out there that will help lighten underarms with regular use. There are only, however, some are high in Mercury which are bad for the body or parabens or aluminum in it. Please see to it it is safe and organic. Do a patch test first to see if you are allergic to its ingredients. If rashes occur, let it heal on its own. If it feels itchy, do NOT scratch... ever!
4. Peeling oil. This is the kind of oil that helps peel the 'old' skin and reveals fresh skin underneath. Most women I know use it for their body. Pour some oil on a cotton pad and apply it on dark areas for 3days (depends on the instruction sheet) you wish to get rid of the body such as the underarms. Wait for the skin to peel on its own. Do NOT pull the 'old' skin while it is peeling. If in case you feel itchy, do NOT scratch it. Let the skin heal.
5. Underarm Detox. The skin is the largest part of the body. Like our organs, we detox when we feel like we had a lot of consumption of junk food. Detoxing our underarms is a breather from the toxic we apply on our underarms from conventional deodorants. Imagine all those years of chemicals we put on our armpits! Most people say they noticed less odor and less sweating.

   Ingredients:
  • 1 tablespoon bentonite clay
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1-2 tablespoons of water
  Instructions:
  1. Mix all the ingredients in a glass bowl (do not use metal) with a wooden or non-metal spoon until smooth.
  2. Spread an even layer over the armpits and let it sit for 5-20minutes. Start slow and let your body adjust till you can let it sit it for a longer period. If it hurts or painful on your skin, remove immediately.
  3. It will cause redness because of an increase of blood flow to the area, but it will go away. Wash it off with warm water in the shower.
  4. Do this daily or as needed until the underarm odor goes away and has adjusted to the natural deodorant.
   ***Drink plenty of water to help stimulate the cleansing process.


Below are natural whitening skin ingredients you can find in your kitchen. These have natural lightening properties that can also help with the dark armpits.

1. Apply lemon juice on your underarms for 15minutes and wash off.
2. The potato has a lightening enzyme called catecholase. Rub a potato slice on your underarms and let it sit for 15minutes and wash with warm water.
3. Mix sandalwood powder and rose water to make a paste. Spread on the underarms for 15minutes and let it dry. Wash it off with soap and water.
4. Make a paste using gram flour (chickpea flour), plain yogurt, lemon and turmeric. Leave it for 30minutes on your armpits and wash off with warm water.
5. Apply coconut oil on the area before shower. Leave in for 15 minutes. The coconut oil has Vitamin E to help lighten the underarm. It is also a natural deodorant as well.

Lightening the skin takes time. Do not overdo these because it could cause more harm than good. Be patient. You'll be raising your arms with confidence in no time!

xoxo,
Chloe