I bought the Muji Cleansing Oil a couple of weeks back and I've been exclusively using it since then to remove my makeup. It works really well for me, and you can't beat the price at only P395 for a big 200ml bottle!

What I love about the product

• Removes face makeup, eyeliner, and eyeshadow pretty well. I get half a pump of oil on my fingers and then gently massage it into my face. It feels oily (of course), but it does a great job of breaking down the makeup without needing to tug or pull the skin.
• It's oil, but it washes off easily with water, leaving the skin fairly clean with no greasy residue. If my makeup is light, I actually skip using facial wash afterwards. But if I have heavy gunk on, I need to soap with Pond's White Beauty Deep Cleansing wash to take out everything.
• No smell or fragrance.

Last Monday I went to the House of Obagi at Greenbelt 5 to check their products and hopefully get a couple for myself. It wasn't a big clinic, but the products we're arrayed neatly in front with informative brochures while the back area is where the treatments are conducted. I was surprised to see an endless stream of people waiting for treatments, new people coming in to book appointments, and others just to inquire about Obagi! One lady asked. "How much for the whole system?" to which the friendly receptionist answered "around P20,000!"

I gasped internally. I knew Obagi was expensive, but I hadn't known it was that expensive. What does Obagi have to merit such a hefty price tag?

The Obagi Condition and Enhance line is clinically proven to lighten, tighten, firm and turn your skin cells over on a daily basis

According to Obagi, they've got skincare down to a science - literally. Unlike other skincare systems that treat your problems at the surface, Obagi is supposed to initiate healthy skin from the cellular level, bringing it back to its baby-smooth state. The brand has lines for skin concerns like acne, eyebags, chloasma, melasma, senile lentigines, sun damage, and visible fine lines and wrinkles.

Now Obagi products are not like other skincare you can buy off the counter. Like any potent medicine, you need a prescription from your dermatologist before you can purchase Obagi. Read on for a short rundown of some Obagi systems as well as what I got from their clinic!

So you've read all the raves for Asian Secrets lulur on GirlTalk and on my posts. Have you ever wondered though - what makes Asian Secrets effective in terms of whitening and moisturizing? Well, some of its key ingredients are green tea, Vitamin E and squalane. They're nothing extraordinary since there are tons of beauty products featuring the same ingredients but together they are an unstoppable force.

Green tea helps with sun protection and aging. It combats free radicals and reduce inflammation instead of blocking UV rays (which is what sunblock does). The result is smoother, more supple skin.

When the kind folks at Pond's invited me to a soft product launch last night, I was wondering: knowing the extensive skincare lines the brand has come up with to address every Pinay skin concern, what else can they possibly have up their sleeves?

The answer is delightfully surprising: gold! I was completely caught off guard. Can it be that something as luxe as real gold be available in drugstore skincare products?

If you're wondering what's new with Clinique, they have another breakthrough hi-tech product: the Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle & Photo Damage Corrector. It's designed to lessen wrinkles and repair sun damage, two major problems mature women have and pay tons of money to fix. Laser treatment is one effective way to combat the signs of aging and photo damage, but how many of us can afford the many sessions and the required healing time?

Clinique introduces Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle & Photo Damage Corrector, a de-aging three-in-one serum uniquely formulated to work day and night to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles, visibly repair photo damage and strengthen skin to accelerate regeneration. Just three drops of Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle & Photo Damage Corrector twice a day and in 12 weeks, achieve a 53% reduction in the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

The price of one bottle is no joke - P3,300 - but it's a lot cheaper than laser treatment. Knowing Clinique, there's a high chance of this product being actually effective (I don't have the product so I can't review it for you, unfortunately). Now, on to pictures of the launch at Society Lounge!

Budit Reyes, Clinique Education Executive explaining the technology behind the new Repairwear

I paid a visit to Makati Wellness Studio after I went to the Paul & Joe private sale. Thanks to Google Maps, I was able to find the place and was delighted to know that the spa is just a short walk from The Prestige building. Once I stood on JP Rizal corner Antipolo St, I got a bit lost as I didn't see anything that looked remotely like a spa. Fortunately I saw a big sign that points to where MWS is - apparently it's upstairs atop Chowking, unmarked except for the sign.

The spa is clean, cozy, and welcoming. The services are very affordable (starting from P119 with the most expensive treatment at only P800), perfect for women on a budget. Of course, don't expect high-class, chic interiors - the floors are made of wood and is quite thin (you will hear every single footstep reverberating) and the treatment room looks a bit crowded.

Feet/leg treatment area

Super comfy chairs

I had the Coffee Facial Treatment (P499), Diamond Peel (P799), and Foot Spa (P299).

I was very dark-skinned when I was younger. My parents and brother are all fair, so it was a mystery as to why I was so tan! Well, I didn't really mind because even at a young age I was taught to be happy in the skin I'm in. Fair or dark-skinned, I still can achieve the things I want to achieve.

Coming up, a LOL high school photo!

Dark in sophomore (?) year

It was when I was in the senior year of high school when my skin started to lighten, apparently all by itself. I used lotions, but they were purely just for moisturizing. Not that I complained! Having lighter skin gave me confidence when I was in college. I just maintained this color until now with a healthy dose of SPF when going out and making sure to stay out of the sun as much as humanly possible.

Take note, I'm not that maputi, but I suppose I'm fair enough to be mistaken as Korean by around 90% of all cab drivers. -_-

So let me segue to a question: should we lighten our skin? On one hand we should be happy with the color we’re born with. On the other hand, we want to feel better and more comfortable about ourselves by having fairer skin.

My answer?

Estee Lauder is an old skincare brand from way back in 1946. The icon, Audrey Hepburn, once said in 1992 when asked what her beauty secrets are: "...health, lots of sleep, lots of fresh air, and a lot of help from Estee Lauder". That's perhaps part of the reason why it's a name associated with elegant, mature women who like to splurge on beauty goodies. However, with its latest products, I think that I can safely say that Estee Lauder is now also catering to a younger (albeit more refined) market. Their latest releases illustrate as much.

I visited their counter in Rustan's Makati to see first hand just what's up with the brand. First off, let's check out the eyeshadows designed by their creative director, Tom Pecheux: the Pure Color Eyeshadow.

The packaging for these eyeshadows is extremely luxe, done in faux gold casing with the logo embossed on the top and side of the case. There's a bit of heft to it.

Watsons is a paradise for the makeup and skincare junkie. They carry dirt cheap to high end products that address specific needs - and actually do a good job of it! I heard from a person who markets a brand exclusive to Watsons that its difficult to get the personal care store to carry your product. Their staff tests it rigorously, and it may take months before it gets approved, if at all!

This is not to say that every single thing in Watsons is gold. It's just that I've observed that this year, the store has brought out a lot of new, unique products for every budget - quite uncommon for competitors and even some department store beauty aisles.

I've reviewed a lot of Watsons products in the past so I thought to compile my best finds from the personal care store. It's this thread in GirlTalk that inspired me to write this post! Take note, most of the products featured here are exclusive to Watsons.

Himalaya Herbals Protein Shampoo with Conditioner

This is my Holy Grail shampoo/conditioner. I am already on my second bottle of this! I love how it makes my hair feel soft and moisturized while minimizing hair fall. 

Finally, my review of Eyliplex-2

Eyliplex-2 claims to lessen your eyebags and wrinkles. Does it work? YEAH! Check out my before and after photos in my review. You have to regularly use it though, like everyday. My bags are bothering me again so I'm using it again. Recently discovered trivia: the day gel is amazing as an eyeshadow primer! It really makes the eyeshadows pop and blend better! However it's too expensive to use as just a primer. ;)

I don't buy magazines. Well, with one exception! I love Yummy because that's where I get ideas for cooking. I mean sure, I can probably find those recipes in the internet, but I buy Yummy because I can tear the pages and bring them to the supermarket. The pictures help me visualize what I'll be making!

As for other magazines like Cosmo, Mega, Preview, I prefer to read them online. It's an entirely different format and there are no editorials but I'm content since I can find those in other sources.

The only time I ever get to leaf through magazines is when I visit my mom's house. She has stacks of the stuff! She loves showbiz so she follows Yes! She gets Cosmo from one of my Titas who lends it to her. Last weekend, I set down my usual routine and started reading some old magazines. Guess what I saw!

I have never heard of lulur before the kind folks behind Asian Secrets clued me in. So what is lulur? There is an ancient Indonesian custom that requires future brides to apply a luxurious body scrub mix 40 days before their wedding.  The lulur is traditionally made from jasmine, ground rice, green tea, scented moisturizing oils, and yogurt. This practice of applying lulur originated from the palaces of Java, and is intended as a purifying, beautifying ritual to prepare brides-to-be for the big day.

Of course, you don't have to be a bride to reap the benefits of lulur! It's for every woman (and man, if they are so inclined) who loves having radiant, soft skin. 

Finally, lulur is here in the Philippines. The brand is called Asian Secrets - apt, if I may add, since this beauty ritual is indeed one of Indonesia's best-kept secrets. It is marketed as a luxe whitening body scrub, formulated to target dark skin areas like armpits, elbows, knees, and the singit. 

Asian Secrets is available exclusively in Watsons and Beauty by SM. 250g/P130 and 135g/P80

What I love about this product:

• It's a gentle yet effective exfoliating scrub. I hate abrasive scrubs that feel like my skin is rubbed raw! The lulur felt light but still left my skin feeling squeaky clean after I rinsed it off. 
• It's creamy and moisturizing. I didn't have to apply lotion afterwards. No kidding. This is a huge achievement for a body scrub. I scratched a fingernail on my arm and look ma, no dry white lines!

I've already shared my first impressions on Pond's latest offerings, the White Beauty Facial Foam and the Flawless White UV Cream. This is my in-depth review of the products after using them for around three weeks.

Pond's White Beauty

Its main ingredient is activated carbon, which is a form of processed carbon that is designed to absorb and neutralize impurities. It is used in different fields - medical, industrial, environmental, and now, beauty. Just 1 gram of the stuff has a surface area of 500 square meters, which according to Wikipedia is 1/10 the size of a football field!

What activated carbon looks like

Left glass contains water purified with activated carbon while the right glass is untouched The dirty water (beaker behind) both passed through a filter.

The product itself is a pearl gray color

It was a lazy Sunday morning a few months back. My mom was slung over the sofa while talking to her amiga over the phone. They went through their usual office chismis - who's fatter, who will get demoted or promoted, who's being a bitch - the works. I love eavesdropping on their conversations. There's so much drama!

After the gossiping, my mom's friend seemed to ask advice about her dating problem. She's a single mom who's nearing her 50s (yes I know the whole saga of her life) so she feels that she needs to step up. My mom then started talking about her moisturizing regimen, how she uses the stuff religiously everyday, and how much her skin has improved. I quite agree with her; her face is whiter and more even now.

Wanna know what she swears by? The Anew 360° White Protective and Vitalizing Creams.

I've tried the Protective Cream some months back since I forgot to bring an SPF face product to the province. It was the only thing my mom had in her vanity table so I had no choice - better have something than nothing! I hate being exposed to direct sunlight with zero SPF on my face at least.

I like that this has SPF20 and has a texture that is lighter than the average drugstore sunblock. It's also beautifully packaged, with a bit of heft on it. The glass jar doesn't feel cheap at all! Makes me feel like a goddess with a secret jar of youth and beauty, lol.

You've probably seen these from the shelves of all major drugstores and department store beauty aisles: the new Flawless White Blemish Prevention UV Cream and the Pure White Deep Cleansing Facial Foam. I've been using the UV cream for less than a week, while I've been washing my face with Pure White for two weeks now (yes, I bought my own bottle before the official launch. I was that intrigued!).

Goodness, it seems that all I've been reviewing lately are skin and body care products. I haven't been buying makeup since I have all I need as of the moment. Also, companies are releasing mostly skincare stuff. That says a lot about what Pinays prefer, I think! They do a lot of research to hit their target market, and I've observed that the trend today is skincare that whitens like nobody's business.

One such product is Avon's latest Skin So Soft variant, the Radiant Glow Whitening. It was only released on August 1. I've been using it spottily since the launch to see how it works for me, so here's my verdict!

What I like about this product

• Has a nice jasmine scent that sticks on my skin.
• It absorbs quickly, within a couple of minutes upon application. It feels cool and light, which I really like in lotions.
• Non-sticky and non-greasy. That's a great feat for a lotion in this crazy weather!
• It delivers the promise of soft skin. My skin feels immediately smoother and more supple upon application. Unfortunately, I haven't used it often enough to validate its claims of whitening when used continuously for seven days. I'm not into whitening to begin with.

I'm lucky to currently live in a place where there's a lot of trees, plants, and space. I used to live in Makati, up until a couple of months ago when I moved into this condo at The Fort. Makati is pulsing with energy and the gears of business, but it's also cramped and almost entirely built out of concrete. The Fort, on the other hand, has a more leisurely feel to it, with an equal mix of greenery and cement. At first I didn't like it here, but I got used to it and now I can't think of living anywhere else!

Anyways. Nature is a good thing to have around us, but unless you're living or working near it, you'll be hard-pressed to commune with it. That is, until Rexona came up with a simple idea of bringing nature to you via the Internet.

Just this week the brand launched Nurture Nature, a Facebook app where you can watch a live garden in real time grow by giving commands to the cute gardeners. It's in line with their latest product called Rexona Naturals Antiperspirants, a supposedly more natural way to take care of your 'pits. It has sunflower seed oil and should not block your pores, thus allowing your skin breathe. I haven't used the products yet because quite frankly I don't need or use antiperspirants (I'm not a sweaty person), but I'll review when I get around to it!

In the meantime, check out the Rexona Facebook app. It's a stress-buster while you remotely take care of all those plants, but aside from that, you can get to ogle the gwapo and super hyper gardeners!

I don't know who this guy is, but damn does he move around a lot!

When I got sick, I ran out of my fave RDL Placenta soap. Of course I couldn't leave my bed, so I decided to just not be picky and use whatever cleanser is in the bathroom. Well, it so happened to be Pond's.

The one I'm using right now is Pond's Perfect Care (the one with the bright green cap). I really didn't like it at first. In fact, I severely disliked it! My face would get bumpy and lose its glow, so I'd keep on stopping after one or two times (which explains why it's in the bathroom shelf). When I used this for a prolonged period last week - completely out of necessity - I broke out along my jaw. But things ironed out eventually after around the 4th consecutive use, and now this facial wash and I are inseparable. I'm well enough to shop now, but I don't think I will be buying placenta soap soon.

I like that my face is smoother and clearer. In fact right now I'm at the office and I just have BB cream and mineral translucent powder on - no need for a concealer or skin-enhancing foundation. Since I've been sick, I've stopped my skincare regimen and only used this cleanser. Yeah, I was too pukey to be vain last week. Good thing the adventure turned out fine.

The kind folks behind Olay sent me these soaps, oh, almost a month ago! With so many things to blog, I have half-forgotten to write about these. That's ironic since I've been using them for a month now.

There are three variants: the Ultra Moisture, Age Defying, and Fresh Reviving. My personal favorite is the Ultra Moisture. It's so creamy that I just rub it on my loofah and then proceed to spread it around just like liquid body wash. Yeah, I'm too lazy to use soap as one normally would! The Ultra Moisture is highly rated at Total Beauty, scoring 9 out of 10.

There are brands that stick with us in our lifetime. Avon is definitely one that is closely intertwined with mine. My first ever makeup (it was a Simply Pretty blush), my first bra (a beige plain one, because my mom thought colored bras were scandalous) - they're from Avon. I'll probably patronize that 123-year old brand until I die! My Lola and my mom are also avid Avon fans.

That's why I like attending Avon events. I like being among the first to know about their products, as well as having first dibs on them. So what's new?

Avon launched three new beauty products last Thursday, July 15, at the Blue Leaf Pavillon. The very gwapo and debonair DJ Eri Neeman hosted the event. 

DJ Eri Neeman

Avon Philippines' President and General Manager Mr. Mike Gudgin welcoming the guests

Three new products were introduced: the Anew 360° White Intensive Correcting Serum, Skin So Soft Radiant Glow Whitening Hand and Body Lotion, and Avon Ultra Color Rich Mega Impact Lipstick.