My grandest splurge: CRÈME DELA MER (Crème Type)

The most expensive moisturizer I’ve tried so far: CRÈME DELA MER (Crème Type)

I’ve been holding my review for this product coz I really wanna see its pros and cons and not to be bias by equating expensive to efficacy.. Im using the crème type. There’s actually 3 variants of this (1)crème type – for dry skin (2) gel type – lighter version, and (3) the lotion type – with oil absorbing property. I searched MUA for review. It was a mixed review, 50%++ approval rating only.. But as I was reading, the consistent comment was you should know how to properly apply it for it to work,.

What is La mer:

We all know by now that it was discovered by Dr. Max Huber and was bought by Estee Lauder Company.. It is basically a moisturizer with high potent Miracle Broth (sea kelp, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, lecithin, Vit. C, E, B12, oils of citus , eucalyptus, whe at germ, alfala and sunflower) The Sea-kelp is harvested twice a year only and takes 3-4 months of bio-fermentation processing. Sea kelp also is said to have anti-bacterial property so a little amount of preservative is needed. Each jar is hand filled to sustain its balance (or potency)… Claims to give skin a softer, firmer look, makes it creaseless. Makes aging lines and pores less visible. Heals dry skin and soothes sensitivities

Ingredients

• Seaweed (Algae) Extract
• Mineral Oil
• Petrolatum

• Glycerin
• Isohexadecane - thickening agent and emulsifier
• Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Extract
• Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina) - commonly used thickening agent
• Lanolin Alcohol

• Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil
• Eucalyptus Globules (Eucalyptus) Leaf Oil - anti-bacterial
• Magnesium Sulfate
• Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seeds

• Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa)

• Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seeds

• Prunus Amygoalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) seed meal

• Potassium Gluconnate

• Copper Gluconate

• Calcium gluconate

• Magnessium gluconate

• Zinc Gluconate

• Paraffin
• Tocopherol Succinate – most effective form of Vit. E
• Niacin
• Beta-carotene
• Decyl Oleate - emollient
• Aluminum Distearate - emulsifier
• Octyldodecanol - emulsifier with emollient properties
• Citric Acid - used to adjust the pH
• Cyanocobalamin - Vitamin B12
• Magnesium Stearate - thickening agent
• Panthenol - humectant
• Limonene - Oil derived from the peels of citrus fruits
• Geraniol – part of rose oil, anti oxidant
• Linalool - A floral fragrance
• Hydroxycitronellal - floral fragrance
• Citronellol: fragrance
• Benzyl Salicylate - fragrance
• Citral - lemon fragrance
• Methylchloroisothiazolinone – tongue twister,. I mean.. preservative LOL..
• Methylisothiazolinone - preservative
• Alcohol Denat

• Fragrance

How to use it:

Dip the spatula (yes it comes with a spatula) and get a pinch of it, that’s 0.5cm from the tip (half a pea size, never use more, it’s the culprit why some users break out with this. It is really a heavy cream). Warm it between fingers in circular motion (you’re like praying here), The SA said count upto 6, I count upto 15 then the color will slithly lighten and the consistency will will become less thick. Then pat it in your forehead, cheeks, nose, chin,. Then spread lightly and evenly by tapping some reviewers say don’t spread it, but push it to skin, I do so by tapping it to my entire face.,. Do so in neck area.. When putting it in my eye area, I warm the cream in my ring finger then pat,. Warming the cream is important otherwise it will again just sit on top of skin Another way of warming it is to rub it between palm, I think part of product here is wasted since Im feeling that my palm is absorbing it, but its very effective in warming the cream especially when my fingers are cold..

My skin condition: Prone to dryness especially when cold (in airconditioned room and during christmas season when it tends to get cold).. When its hot my nose area tends to oil up but the rest of the face is still dry and so the tendency for my make-up to cake.

So here’s my take:

I only use this at night. Though my skin usually absorbs the cream, during humid days the cream have the tendency to sit just sit on top of the skin so it feels sticky..

Upon first application, I felt tightening effect on my skin and im not kidding!.. I felt it working,. Ok, it might be psychological coz I really don’t wanna waste my hard-earned bucks on this jar.. I was on a training when I was road-testing this hence the high-stress and less sleep,. But my skin didn’t act –up,. My skin usually break-out when im stressed.. My skin wasn’t greasing-up.. And to top it all, my wo-workers says im blooming (hiyang sa training as they term it).. At first I was developing bumps on forehead (noticeable only when I insanely look closely in the mirror).. I thought maybe my skin is just getting accustomed with this heavy cream.

A month after, I was loving this baby, made my skintone even, no red spots. My skin just feel supple and well moisturized, its really radiant in the morning.. My skin usually gets dry during cold season hence the dry patches and obvious peeling but with La mer, I don’t have to deal with these anymore..I don’t think it have exfoliating factor but my skin feel renewed. So it does heal skin conditions, I like my skin now even without make-up, it’s glowing..

Now the scent, I dunno why others hate it,. Its light floral scent is calming for me, It’s not as strong as OTE’s scent.. Its ok for me, I like it.

Rating: 4/5

Why? * It’s so expensive.. need I say more?...

* I would have love it more if it’s in pump bottle. So I wouldn’t have to wash the spatula each time I’m gonna use it

* sometimes hate the warming part, paid a lot for this miracle cream and yet it’s tasking. There are nights that I'm just too tired so I want to keep my night rituals really short,. I hope they will come up with a version that will make application a breeze

* But efficiency wise, it delivered for me…

Will I repurchase? Hmmm… There are other moisturizers waiting for me to review,. In fact sitting in my counter now are Estee Lauder Advance Night Repair and Hydra Complete Multi Level Moisture Cream, all waiting for me to finish my bottle of La mer and Olay TE so I can start with this and give fair review. After this I’m bound to give Shishiedo a fair shot.. But I’m glad I did try La mer, I wasn’t disappointed at all… I might resort back to Crème de la mer if others wont work for me,..

Suesh Duo-Fiber Stippling Brush

If you get yourself a High Definition Finpow, It is a must that you get yourself a Duo-Fiber Stippling brush too..

So I bought myself a Suesh Stippling Brush (from world trade Bazaar too),. I don’t have any Stippling brush so I cant compare it with MAC, Charm or Lumiere)… But this brush is plush soft.. Delivers HDFP perfectly all over your face,. For only Php900.00 It is a definite steal… I wish I bought 2 pieces outright,. Nweys, maybe I’ll get myself charm stippling brush next time,. still cant convince myself to splurge on MAC..

Rating: 5/5

Ellana Mineral Make-Up

During the last World trade Bazaar , I got myself some Ellana Loot… Though Im not into their foundie since I find the colors more on yellow/warm/golden undertone, it also tends to get dark on my skin,..

Here’s my Loot…

Sheer Velvet High Definition Mineral Finishing Powder (HDFP)

ING: Silica, Silicone microspere

Comes in a huge jar, See how bigger the jar is compared to my Full size bare Essential Jar?.. It’s also taller.. Its filled to the brim so you’re getting a lot of the product here.. And for Php380, this is pretty cheap, plus you don’t have to pay for shipping in dollars and no long time of waiting since this is proudly Filipino, It’s available locally,॥

How can you not love this product,. Upon application it left my skin a smooth and velvety smooth (due to silicone),.. It did make my skin look poreless,. Didn’t itch my skin either,. No allergic reactions,. Some girls are allergic to silicone, good thing I’m not!..I just hope they will come up with Dewy Look, glass like (Like Elegant Mineral’s HDFP) formula, coz for gals like me who’s skin tends to get dry, the finish will look totally matte

Rating: 4/5

Concealer in Awake

CLAIM:

Our Mineral Concealers are lightweight, long lasting powder concealers that is used to achieve a smooth and impeccably flawless look, to cover up imperfections, especially dark spots,fine lines, wrinkles, redness and acne while gently soothing moisturizing and healing them with added Allantoin, Zinc Oxide and Vitamin E। Our specially formulated concealers has a unique creamy blendable finish.

VERDICT:

True to claim! I’ve already consumed my Ocean Mist Saffron so I bought this baby,.. I was hesitant at first so I just bought the sample jar,. Geesh, there’s life after OM Safron,. While OM leaves a white cast undereye in photos, tends to dry my eye area and gives a noticeable lighter shade on undereye, Awake concealer just did the job better,। Blends on my skin tone,hides dark undereye circle and didn’t emphasize the lines! Makes undereye smooth to touch, its not drying at all!

RATING: 5/5

LIP SCRUB

Claim:

Our Lip Scrub contains loads of natural moisturizers and oils to exfoliate hard and flaky lips. Keeps your lips baby soft pink and smooth. Simply rub it on to your lips gently and wipe with a tissue. contains NO petroleum. (available in Vanilla Bean & Strawberry Kiss)

Good for removing lipstick stain or aiding flaky lips,. Tastes sweet and leaves a baby pink tone on lips,. I haven’t been using mine a lot, Im not so into it but will still keep one staple in my kikay kit since my lips sometimes act up and tends to dry, rubbing it with tissue alone leaves tissue fiber on lips that’s hard to remove,. I prefer to wash it off with water than simply removing it with tissue coz I hate how tissue paper leaves white residue on lips.

Verdict: 4/5

Earthen Glow Minerals

I received my samples and road-tested them right away..

See how neatly they pack their samples, I comes in a mesh bag॥

I’m loving their foundations.. The youth Glow is perfect for outdoor activities since it gives a very natural finish (no make-up look) skin just seems to be rally glowing,. The cover me foundation I say is perfect for office, since this gives heavier coverage and tends to give that made-up, creamy, polished look.. just perfect in making you presentable in meeting clients..

OMG I was planning to buy FS of AL foundie, but am now lemming for EG foundries….

The finishing powder lends a shiny finish due to tiny shimmer (not sparkles) , while the soft focus givers the porcelain finish.. while the HD Pro. (whicj I haven’t used yet) says have oil control power, gives a glass-like, poreless, soft focus finish (nice on the ears, huh..),..

Blushes are pigmented. Staying power is more than average, say a good 5-7 hours… You will need to re-apply if you still have night activities…

Eye shadows are pigmented and last long enough (I never retouch my ES anyweys..)

Too bad i was on MIA when they had their BOGO sale on all items (what’s running now is a BOGO sale on eye shadows only).. But next time they conduct this, im so getting myself their foundations and finpows..

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

I so want Shu Uemura cleansing oil, but got interested with DHC oil when I read this:

DHC's Deep Cleansing Oil will gently strip away the toughest of make-up and excess oils in your skin while removing dirt and impurities from your pores.

This particular product is one of DHC's best selling items in 2007. It is immensely popular with Japanese women, many of whom swear that its make-up removal capabilities are second to none!

One of the secrets to this product's cleansing power is the combination of natural components such as Virgin Olive Oil, Rosemary extract, Licorice extract, and Vitamin E as part of its formula. The combination of these ingredients makes for an effective make-up remover and also general skin cleanser.

Directions of Use
As a Cleanser

1. Make sure your hands and face are dry, then apply approximately 2 presses worth of Deep Cleansing Oil into the palm of your hand.

2. Lightly rub your hands together to evenly spread the oil, then lightly apply the oil to your face.

3. Gently massage the oil into your skin using upward circular motions where possible, for approximately 1 minute, then thoroughly rinse your face with luke-warm water.

Note: Massaging the oil in a heavy-handed manner, for a long time (longer than one minute), using with wet hands or face may result in lessened effects of the Deep Cleansing Oil.

As a Make-up Remover

1. Apply a small amount to a cotton puff or appropriate make-up removal cloth.

2. Gently but firmly wipe away your make-up, taking care not to rub or be too firm. Use long fluid motions, going over the same area as required.

3. To remove mascara, you may find it useful to use the cotton pad in conjunction with a cotton bud with some of the Deep Cleansing Oil applied to it. Place the cotton pad beneath your lashes and starting at the base of your eyelashes, wipe the mascara off gently.

4. Thoroughly rinse your face with luke-warm water.

To help treat blackheads and the build-up of impurities

1. After having completed the make-up removal stage (if applicable), place a warm towel over your face for approximately a minute or so. This will open up your pores and allow the Deep Cleansing Oil to more effectively clear out your pores.

2. Follow the steps to using this product as a Cleanser to reduce and prevent blackheads from forming.

I immediately went to MUA to search for some feedback. I realized im late to discover this and many gals worldwide has actually tried this. The rating was fare enough at 78% rating of approval (some prestige products get as low as 40% rating).. I read the comments most common negative feedback is that they brokeout coz they find it greasy and leaves oily residue. I think what’s wrong with their routine is not soaping their face after. They just rely on DHC then rinse it off, then that’s it.

What I do is after rinsing it off with water (running h2o not luke warm) I still use cyleina Black pearl after but this time I soap my face once only. I always soap my face twice before (Cyleina BP and other cyleina variant that I feel like using) , I use heavy moisturizer at night anyways (La mer).

VERDICT:

The oil is nice to lather on face, no oily feeling like VCO. It saves me cotton balls (I use with VCO) and tissue (to wipe off excess VCO before rinsing). I also save on soap since Im down on using Black pearl solely. After rinsing with water, skin feels soft and supple that im tempted not to soap my face anymore. I think I can stop here but im really OC.. LOL…

It melted off mascara no, stain the following morning, I intentionally use my fashion21 brown mascara since this always smudge on my undereye the following morning no matter how I rub VCO on my lashes.

No bad reactions, amazing I’ll say.. There’s this one testimony in MUA that says at first it did fine with her but after a week of using it she had breakouts, enlarge pores and her face got irritated.

I’ll get back to you a week later to prove it myself..

RATING: to follow..

Second Chance…

Been MIA for a long time,. Something unforgettable came up. I had my second athma/anxiety attack last Nov. 28 and was rushed to the hospital. I almost didn’t made it. My air passage closed and I was out of breath, I felt like my heart is being strangled,. I was hyperventilating, my whole body was numb and cold already. The massage therapist in our office was pounding my chest to force air to my lungs. He was working hard to revive me. I hear my officemates crying for they see me really struggling for my life. On the way to the hospital I was praying ‘Lord please bata pa ko (im still young)”.. I was exhausted and my body felt weak already, I saw it coming, I felt that was it for me,. I started to rest my mind, stop struggling for my breath and think of my parents, wishing they were there by myside during my last minutes.. I was thinking it will be really hard for them coz im their only girl and was young to die. I think of my beloved one, I was praying he’ll be able to accept what happened and that I prayed that he’ll find happiness even without me.. I didn’t heard the honking of the car as the brave driver (whom I didn’t even know, he was a client from other division, we don’t know who’s division it was too, they we’re all panicking that they forgot to ask him) speed its way to the ER.. It was dark inside the car but all of sudden things turned bright white,. Im not seeing things anymore but white, the noise disappear, im not hearing anything, im not feeling anything. And I said this is it . I see myself dying and said “Lord I now accept my destiny , just please let me spend my eternal life with you in heaven” .. After saying that, I felt myself calmed and I opened my eyes. I saw them getting me out of the car going to the ER , my forehead bumped into the ceiling of the car (which left a tiny lump)but I didn’t felt a thing, they laid me on the hospital bed. I was hyperventilating again, I was struggling for my breath again that I cant answer the doctor when he asked me what happened. My whole body was cold and I was chilling/trembling so bad.. They gave me oxygen mask and injected broncho-dilator on my left arm. It was painful. The pain extended to my left chest.

But I made it! I am thankful I made it, I really thought that
i will rest in peace at age 28.

Days after that my chest feels weak and painful, I cant go up and down our stairs or walk around much, im out of breath, feels tired immediately and I feel chest pains. I cant sit in front of my PC and go surf the net long, the longest will be like 5 to 10 mins. only after that im exhausted already. I feel my lungs and my heart was battered badly.

I’m doing better now, but I still cant exhaust myself and im still having chest pain whenever I walk around long and fast or whenever I get excited or too happy. I intend to have it checked by a cardiologist if it won’t subside till end of Christmas.
There was one time that I was tired from work ( I get tired rather easily now) that I felt my arms numbing again and I was out of breath again but it subsided, I learned to control it now. Hopefully.. coz the doctor said I should learn it coz it will be dangerous for me to have another attack,. Perhaps because no one might be around to rushed me to the hospital.

So what made this entry to my beauty blogg?!!.. the whole experience left me with a raccoon and panda eyes. They are swelling, puffy, and dark. Tiny vessels erupted in my undereye (yes they are really visible.. I have like 4 on each eye) they have stipes now. Tiny vessels on my eyes erupted too.. I have red eyes now especially when my eyes gets tired. My skin got dry, my hair was dry.. etc…

So what’s a beauty blogger to do॥ Its time again for some serious shopping!!! First stop.. I need a very efficient EYE CREAM!!!!