BITS OF JOYCE: beauty

My BeautyMNL shopping experience: Korean skincare haul for acne prone skin

A lot of skincare products are all over the market promising us with effective blemish free and radiant skin. But does it really work for your skin or skin type? What works for you may not work for another person. So finding your holy grail skincare products can be quite tricky. Especially for me that I have PCOS or Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome, and unfortunately it comes with hormonal breakouts. I've tried almost everything I can find at the drugstore and malls here in our city but I still haven't found "the one".

Lately, I've been craving to try out Korean skincare products because a lot of YouTubers go crazy about it, also because I'm a fan of K-dramas and I always envy their flawless skin. But the thing is I live in a small city so my options are limited. Thank goodness for online shopping, I can buy the things that I need (and want) at the end of my finger tips.

BeautyMNL's 5 Products That Help Control Hormonal Breakouts story got me curious and I decided to try it out. And also because I'm itchy to try out Korean skincare products.

So here are the products I've got:

Natural BHA Skin Returning A-sol by COSRX

It controls oil and clears recurring pimples with natural BHA, it also removes dead skin cells and acne-causing sebum buildup.

Pure Skin Egg Essence Mask Sheet by Esfofio

It is a kind of mask that moisturizes and energizes the skin. It also tightens and minimizes the pores.

Pure Skin Volcanic Ash Essence Mask Sheet by Esfofio

This mask lifts away dead skin cells, dirt, and oils with volcanic ashes.

Blindspot Healing Stick

It's an organic product that helps dry up pimples and lighten dark areas.

This is a local brand/product, the only non-Korean product that I bought. I chose this because of this story from the Bloom The Magazine and of course from the reviews.

Here are the pros and cons of my shopping experience on BeautyMnl site:

PROS:

It's very convenient. You don't have to go out to shop for the products that you need!
Options are endless. There are tons of products to choose from and the categories are organized. If you're looking for skincare treatment, organic products, or makeup, it's just one click away.
Informative! I love that each products have information like the best skin type for that certain products, usage, etc. There are also a lot of honest reviews to help you decide.
Fast delivery. I live in GenSan, southern part of Mindanao Philippines and I'm really surprised how fast I received the products. I got them after 5 working days only!
Bloom The Magazine. I'm so thankful for this that I found the skincare products that is right for my hormonal breakouts. Also, I had fun reading different stories and learn a lot of tips and tricks with makeup and skincare.

CONS:

Based on my shopping experience, I only had a small glitch with entering my address but it was resolved by refreshing the page. Nonetheless, the rest was smooth process.

Other stories from Bloom The Magazine that I like:
4 Local Products That Save Pimply Skin
Essences, Serums, and Ampoules: What's the Difference?
Watch: 6 Products That Shrink Pimples Before Anyone Notices
Watch: The 7-Step Anti-Acne Routine by CosRX

So far, I'm still testing out the products but I'll try to make a review maybe a month or two of using it all. Anyway, thanks for reading!

6 comments

, by Joenah Joyce

beauty

Support the local: GT Cosmetics Papaya Lotion

GT cosmetics, GT papaya lotion, GT bleaching soap, GT papaya soap, GT carrot soap

Since I started working and earning I've gone serious in the matters of skin care and makeup. I've tried different lotion products, experimenting what works best for my skin type. So just when I was planning to try another different product, GT Cosmetics sent me some really cool stuff.

One of the products they sent me is the GT Papaya Lotion with SPF 40 which i'm beyond excited to try! But before giving you a review of this product, allow me to tell you something about GT Cosmetics.

GT Cosmetics is a Cebuano brand manufactured in Liloan, Cebu. Surprised? Yes! This brand is Philippine made and as their tag says "Proudly Cebuano". This brand started from the kitchen of Engr. Leonora Salvane and it became a full blast business as years gone by. Also, the best part is GT products are Halal certified! When I saw the Halal logo I was even more excited to use the products. *insert happy dance* This is great especially for me and the hijabi community.

The GT Papaya Lotion is the newest product of GT cosmetics. It is a 3-in-1 lotion that instantly whitens, moisturize, and protects our skin. It is also a sunblock with SPF 40 that protects our skin from the harmful rays of the sun. It contains collagen which is a skin vitamin that helps reduce signs of aging and leaves our skin looking fair and healthy. And of course, the product has enzymes from pure papaya extract to exfoliate the skin and reveal newer cells thus making our skin whiter, smoother, and younger looking.

I've used this product (and the bleaching soap as well) for a week now and though it's too early to know if it really works, so far I really really like it.

What I love about the product:

All of their products I believe are organic.
The smell. I really love the combination smell of papaya and milk.
Though it's quite thick, I don't have that sticky feeling whenever I apply it on my skin.
It keeps my skin soft and smooth through out the day.
Lastly, it gives you an instant white skin. Yes for real!

What I didn't quite like:

It gets cakey if you'll not spread it evenly. So just make sure you have the time to spread the product evenly in your skin.

A reminder tho: if you're already using it or planning to, remember that you must not stay too long under the heat of the sun.

Overall, I like this product! If you want to have that instant white skin, you must try this out. I also recommend this product to all Muslimahs who are in need of or looking for Halal certified skin care products. A big thumbs up cos this is made in the Philippines which is something we can really be proud of. And I think it's time that we give our all time support to local brands like GT Cosmetics cos hey mahalin ang sariling atin. Right? From the packaging to the formula of their products it truly can compete with other international skin care products and companies.

Where to buy:

Watsons, SM Malls, Robinsons Supermarket, Mercury Drugstores, KCC Malls, Gaisano Malls, Metro Dept. Store, Shopwise, NCCC Mall.

Visit GT Cosmetics' website for more details: http://gtcosmetics.com.ph/

Disclaimer: The product was provided by GT Cosmetics but all thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are all mine and were not influenced by my sponsors.

22 comments

, by Joenah Joyce

beauty

A few of my favorite things

I'm a huge fan of A Beautiful Mess and I always wanted to do or try their A Few of my Favorite Things segment for the reason that I love sharing the things I love from make up to books or anything that I fancy.

Lately, I've been hoarding a lot of skin care and beauty products. Having an oily and pimple prone skin, I grew up with a lot of insecurities. I still remember during college, I promised myself to really spend and focus on taking care of my skin and beautification when I land a job. And now that I'm earning, every now and then I spoil myself with beauty and skin care products. #TiisGanda

SNOE CONCEALING ME SOFTLY CUSHION COVER CREAM

I've been eyeing some SNOE products ever since my cousin mentioned it to me and she was telling nothing but good reviews for it. So I bought a few of their products. I bought the Concealing me Softly Cushion Cover Cream for Php 999. It's really pricey but so far I like it, the only problem is the shade i bought is a bit darker for my complexion.

SNOE SHOO-ZIT! OUTZIT BEAUTY BAR

I have an oily and acne prone skin so i'm very picky with the products I use in my face. I've been using this soap for about a month now and I can see that pimples barely popped in my face. This bar soap costs Php 199.

SNOE SHOO-ZIT SPOT ON SPOT OFF ACNE FADING GEL
I apply this gel after washing my face using the Shoo-zit bar. So far i'm liking it though it takes a week or more for a zit to disappear. I bought this gel for Php 399.

REVLON LIP STAIN
I've been eyeing Revlons's lip stain collection for too long and luckily when I was at the beauty department of the mall, they were on 50% off. So I didn't think twice, I immediately purchased one for only Php 289. I use it as my every day lipstick.

FX NO-SHINE MATTIFIER
This product is similar to Maybelline's Baby Skin Instant Pores Eraser but only cheaper. Surprisingly despite its cheap price (Php 79 as far as I remember) it covered my pores pretty well and it lessen the oiliness of my skin for about 5-6 hours. As for me, 1 sachet lasts for a month or so. I would really recommend this one. And just recently I purchased the FX Pimple Eraser so let's see if this also works out for me,

So these are my current faves. How about you? What are your favor things lately? And if you know some skin care products for oily skin that you'd like to recommend, please share it in the comment box below. Thank you!

22 comments

, by Joenah Joyce

beauty

Gwapaha Medical Spa Experience

Ms. Kate of the Gwapaha Medical Spa invited the SOX Bloggers to experience their services. Imagine my excitement when Sir Avel sent me a message! But before I tell you about my experience, let me tell you about Gwapaha Medical Spa.

Gwapaha Medical Spa is the first luxury medical spa in General Santos City offering state-of-the-art beauty and wellness treatments (non-surgical, surgical and therapeutic) founded and managed by Dr. Teresita Rerrariz, FPDS, FPSCS Board certified, Internationally trained dermatologic/cosmetic surgeon. Gwapaha Medical Spa offers the latest in international dermatology, cosmetic surgery, spa and aesthetics services.

They represent the best Filipino spa and cosmetic medical expertise set in tasteful Filipino interiors. They aim to enhance the natural beauty of their clients, boost their confidence, and bring about a change for the betterment of the life of their clients so that not one person needs to be sad about their physical attributes.

THE EXPERIENCE / REVIEW

When I arrived there, Kyrie (my spa buddy) was already there, I was greeted by their friendly staff, they were so friendly and accommodating. We met Dr. Ferrariz and she suggested some procedures that suits us, and that's Glycolic + Facial (Php 1,500) for me since my face that time was bursting with pimples and impurities due to stress and lack of sleep. Afterwards, Ms. Kate gave us a tour around the spa...

If you want to have a relaxing private time with your partner or group of friends, this room is right for you. It has everything! From Jacuzzi to hot and cold shower to comfy massage beds. Also, the room smells heaven!

The room (refer to the photo above) is where the magic happens. Hahaha. Yes, this is where facials and other procedures are done. The room is very clean and the bed is actually comfy. Also, Ms. Kate assured us that all the materials and tools they're using are clean and sterilized. So you don't have to worry if you're an OC kind of person.

We then started the procedure, the facial therapist made me lie down and explained what I might feel during the procedure. I just wish she included what the procedure is all about, the advantages, the do's and don'ts and etc so that I can fully understand it all. Nevertheless, she was nice and gentle all throughout the procedure, when a tear dropped from my eye she told me "sandali nalang to ma'am, tiis ganda lang po" so that made me laugh. When it's all done, she showed me what she "harvested" in my face and gave info's on what will happen for the next few days.

The procedure lasted for an hour if i'm not mistaken. Overall, I really like Gwapaha Medical Spa. They're a bit a pricey if you compare them to other spas in the city, but not that bad considering the quality of their services and their high end equipment.

The photo above is their waiting room where you can watch TV or read magazines while waiting for your turn, plus they give their customers free tea! :D

Gwapaha Medical Spa is located at 2/F JMP Arcade, San Miguel St., General Santos City. You can contact them: (+6383) 552-2002.

If you have tried Gwapaha's services, please don't hesitate to share your experience in the comments below. I'm sure your thoughts will be a great help to those who are interested with their services.

2 comments

, by Joenah Joyce

My BeautyMNL shopping experience: Korean skincare haul for acne prone skin

Support the local: GT Cosmetics Papaya Lotion

A few of my favorite things

Gwapaha Medical Spa Experience

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My BeautyMNL shopping experience: Korean skincare haul for acne prone skin

Support the local: GT Cosmetics Papaya Lotion

A few of my favorite things

Gwapaha Medical Spa Experience

The Blogger

Instagram

Blog Archive

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