Cheap Find: Bag Organizer

When I did my What's In My Bag post, you'll see that I bring a large pouch and another small one. It can be quite bulky so I sometimes skip the large pouch and just put everything inside my bag. And when I need something, I have to dig inside and it takes a little while before finding it. To better describe my bag - it was disorganized and messy. So while walking around Landmark last Friday, Arg spotted bag organizers and I couldn't resist it. At first I was a bit hesitant but then I just couldn't resist the price tag - PHP79.75. I was choosing between pink-purple and gray-khaki then decided to go for the latter. Much to my surprise, it was on sale with a 10% discount and the price dropped to PHP71.77. I have been checking out bag organizers on eBay and they sell for more than PHP150 each so this is really a good bargain. I chose the one without the base but it still does the job of organizing my things. Here are pictures. :)

Originally, I made a silly mistake of thinking this is how it's supposed to look like. But later on realized that it's not.

And I got it right.

How it looks like inside my bag. Better, right? :)

Even though I don't know my way around Trinoma and it awfully reminds me of Glorietta (which I really hate going to since I think it's like an octopus and has many alleys which isn't good for people with no sense of direction like, ehem, me) I think I should start going there more often because of the great bargains at Landmark. :P

Found anything cheap but fab lately? :) Happy Halloween!
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LUSH Colour Supplement Swatches

I have been seeing blog posts and reviews about this product by Lush and some reviews made me want to go grab a jar of this. So when I went to Lush (Trinoma) with the cute Arg of The Beauty Bin yesterday afternoon, I took the chance to swatch them and see what shade suits me.

Here are the swatches.

No flash - Light Pink, Dark Pink, Light Yellow, Dark Yellow (extra: their tinted lip balm)

With flash- Light Pink, Dark Pink, Light Yellow, Dark Yellow (extra: their tinted lip balm)

I was matched with Light Pink based on the swatches but once I blended Light Pink and Light Yellow, they looked pretty much the same on my arm. I really had the intention of buying one but decided not to when they started forming something that somewhat looks like cement or "nagbubuo-buo". Plus my arm got a little itchy after I removed them. Initially, the consistency was creamy and I liked the texture but it dries so easily. The itchiness was the deciding factor and the lemming was gone. And I knew the jars were going to be small but I wasn't expecting them to be THAT small. I thought PHP525 was pretty cheap since you can use these alone or mixed with your moisturizer. I'm glad I did not purchase it and that my arm itched after a few minutes; otherwise, it could've been my face that's itching by now. :)

Happy Saturday, super awesome peeps! :)


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Product Review: EcoTools Kabuki Brush from the Mineral 5-pc Bamboo Brush Set

If you love make up, you will agree with me when I say brushes are essential tools. Though people have preferences when it comes to the materials brushes are made of - synthetic and animal hair - it still boils down to the fact that brushes are important. I noticed that I haven't been reviewing much the brushes that I love so I will start reviewing them one by one. I'll start with the kabuki brush that is included in the EcoTools Mineral 5-pc Bamboo Brush set. I've had this for a year and a half and have been using it for that long so I will give it its well-deserved review.

I personally prefer brushes with synthetic bristles over those made of animal hair. I find animal hair scratchy and they shed a lot. I want something smooth and soft, without having to worry that the bristles will irritate the skin. So almost all my brushes are synthetic except for my stippling brushes with partial animal hair. And please, love the animals, not make them bald!!! :P

What I like:
- This brush is unbelievably soft and not in any way scratchy.
- Bristles are made of synthetic taklon and recycled tin (for the base) so this is eco-friendly, thus, the name EcoTools.
- I mentioned I have been using this for over a year now and it has not shed a single hair. I never experienced having tiny stray hairs on my face with this brush. Absolutely no shedding.
- It does not bleed every time I wash it.
- Picks up and deposits powder evenly (of course, by buffing it) and provides light -medium coverage depending on your desired coverage.
- Not as dense as other kabuki brushes and therefore ideal for light dusting of powders. Can be used to have lighter coverage from those foundations that are heavy.
- The size of this brush is really cute and can easily fit in purses since this is small - around 2 inches.
- Can be used on foundation (pressed or loose), blushes, and finishing powders (some even use it for bronzers).
- Has never irritated my skin the way brushes with animal hairs did (Yes, I have used a couple of brushes with animal hairs when I was starting out with makeup).


What I don't like:
- The top of this baby buki has become flat (could be that I buff too hard?).
- Be extra careful with this brush as it might break off just like what happened to Nikki's. :(
- Cannot be purchased individually as this is part of a set. However, if you want just a kabuki brush from EcoTools, you can try their retractable kabuki which is denser.
- Not locally available at malls but you can buy them from resellers.

Overall rating: 4/5

Will I buy again? Yes but I don't need an entire brush set so I might try baby kabuki brushes from other brands. I have been itching to try the Charm mini kabuki and I might buy one soon so I can have something to alternate this brush with.

Size compared to a MAC lipstick.

Really cute and small. My hands look bigger when holding this brush.

What's your favorite kabuki brush?

Happy Thursday, super awesome peeps! :P

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Product Review: Skinfood Peach Sake Pore BB Cream (#1)

After having my faith restored in BB Creams, thanks to Maybelline and Purederm, I decided to try other brands and tested them as well. I know I have already mentioned a couple of times that the reason I did not use any for 2 years is Skinfood Mushroom Multi-Care BB Cream as it gave me such negative results. But being hard headed, I tried another variant from that brand - Skinfood Peach Sake Pore BB Cream. I got the lightest shade again which is #1 and I gave myself almost a week (or probably even less) to test it. And here are my thoughts on this product.

Description at the back of the tube:
Containing Peach extract that soothes oily, troubled skin and Sake that controls excessive sebum secretion, this light-textured blemish cream effectively conceals skin impurities and gives a natural coverage for a flawless complexion.

What I like:
- The scent. It smells really good (like peaches), one of those very few scented face products which I can actually tolerate the scent.
- Shade #1 matches my skin tone very well.
- Thick and creamy and applies smoothly on the skin, without the heavy mask-like feel, providing light coverage which can cover minor blemishes (see swatch below)
- It has SPF20 PA++.
- Locally available at Skinfood stores and online resellers (which, by the way sells this for less than half of the store price).

What I don't like:
- It oxidizes on me. It initially matches my skin tone but give it a few minutes to turn dark on me and it will.
- It's supposed to be good for oil control but it makes my skin look not oily but rather greasy and dirty - the same exact experience I had with their Mushroom variant.
- It gave me 3 pimples after using it for less than a week, probably 3-4 days.
- It emphasizes my pores and the dry patches on my skin.
- My face gets red spots looking like mosquito bites that are itchy a couple of minutes upon application.
- The pump is annoying, don't even get me started. Alright, it doesn't give me the control I need when pumping out a product. The first time I pumped it, a little product was wasted as it shot across the room. It wasn't that much though, probably a pea-size that would've been enough to cover the entire face and neck. The amount of product it gives you is inconsistent. I mean I really do not get the point in having a pump in a squeeze out tube.

Overall rating: 2/5

Will I buy again? No. I give up on Skinfood skin care/face products. They just do not work for me even though they work for others.

Swatch

Blending it

Blended, see how it somewhat concealed the freckles and sunspots on my hand?

Have you tried this BB Cream? :)

Happy Tuesday! :P
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Blush: IN2IT Sheer Shimmer Blush in SB 04 Peach Pearl

I can't remember the last time I purchased a blush. I'm pretty sure it was during the first or second quarter of this year but I really forgot. So when I saw this blush for sale, I immediately MINE'd it and now it's with her sister blushes. To show you how pretty this blush is, here are photos.

I actually like the packaging. It reminds me of Shu Uemura's compacts only this one is square with silver flower prints and less flimsy. This one's pretty sturdy and thick. The dome-shaped blush, on the other hand, reminds me of Chanel Joues Contraste blushes. But I'm pretty sure this one isn't baked.

Close up of the gorgeous peachy coral blush.

As with all Japanese blushes, this one is no exception when it comes to texture. It is finely milled and goes on smoothly. It also applies sheer but it is in a way pigmented (not the NARS type of pigmentation though). The pigmentation of this one is somehow a hybrid of Shu Uemura Glow On P Pink 30 and Shiseido Majolica Majorca RD255. But when it comes to shimmer, this will definitely win without a doubt. This is so soft and silky and has very fine silver shimmers that doesn't scream shimmers as it's more of a pearlescent glow. I guess that's why it is named peach pearl. It is definitely not chalky nor powdery. The only prob I have with this one is the lasting power, which I think is 3-4 hours tops. I applied it this morning at 10am and it was gone by 2pm given that the temperature is not as hot as it usually is. I'm thinking, can this withstand the normal humidity when summer comes? I'm not that confident about that but nevertheless, this is a really pretty blush and I would recommend this for those who wants to try Japanese blushes at a lower cost since this is incredibly cheaper as compared to other brands like Shu Uemura, Shiseido, and Kanebo.

Swatch - I only swiped my finger once and I was able to get this enough pigment.

Remember I mentioned earlier it reminded me of Chanel JC's? :)

By the way, I watched the movie RED. It rocks! I <3 Bruce Willis! :P

Happy Sunday, everyone! :)
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Product Review: Skinfood Rice Concealer Tip #21

This is the second installment of my concealer reviews. I have been using this concealer since 2008 (but of course, not the same one I had back then) and I really like it a lot. I remember raving about this on GT until I crossed paths with MAC Studio Finish Concealer which became my HG for quite some time. But since the NC30 shade is now dark for me, I started using the lighter ones for my under eyes and blemishes. So here is the review it deserves.

 

  

 

What  I like:

- The scent. I won't mind using this over and over because it smells really good.

- The consistency is thick and creamy yet it dries to a powder finish.

- Applies smoothly and blends well with the skin.

- Provides medium coverage. 

- I like how it brightens my under eyes making them appear as if they were well rested.

- The shade I have is #21 and although it appears a tad light upon initial application, blending is the key to make it look more natural and right for my skin tone.

- Staying power is good and lasts for hours.

- I would recommend this to those who have oily skin.

What I don't like:

- Since it dries to a powder finish, it has a tendency to cake when too much is applied.

- It dries quickly so you have to be quick in blending.

- Although it gives medium coverage, I find that this isn't enough to conceal my dark circles. 

- Oxidizes even on my under eyes. It turns ashy gray after a couple of hours.

- Tends to be a bit drying, thus, the caking and settling on fine lines especially on the under eye area.

In between: Although the doe-foot applicator is easy and convenient to use, it will become not so hygienic if you dip the wand and apply it straight on your skin then dip it once again to get more product. For it to become hygienic, get the product from the wand using a concealer brush and make sure you get enough so no double dipping for you and use the brush to dot the concealer on your face.

Overall rating: 3/5

Will I buy again? Since I used this mainly for the under eyes, I'm actually not sure if I would repurchase because I was reunited with Skinfood Salmon Dark Circle Concealer Cream  which I find works better for the under eyes (see my review of Shade #1)and this time, shade #2 suits my skin tone perfectly. And I will review Shade #2 once I receive its matching Skinfood Dark Circle Powder. :P

Swatch

 

Blended

  

Happy Saturday, super awesome peeps! :P

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Mini Haul for the Week

I haven't hauled in months. Well, I've been buying products every now and then but I haven't posted a collective haul at all. Now this isn't really a "haul" haul but a mini one. These are the stuff I bought for this week.

1. Pure Beauty Pomegranate Antioxidant Eye Cream
2. Shiseido Sheer Mattifying Compact Refill
3. Shiseido Sheer Mattifying Compact Case
4. L'egere White Multi Blemish Balm Cream
5. Skinfood Peach Sake Pore BB Cream #1
6. Skinfood Salmon Dark Circle Concealer Cream #2
7. IN2IT Sheer Shimmer Blush SB 04 Peach Pearl

Not much but yeah, it is a mini haul! :P Happy with my purchases still. :)

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Product Review: Purederm 3 in 1 Beauty Magic BB Cream

A lot of multifunction skin care products are becoming more and more readily available in the market. Since it is of utmost importance that we take care of our skin, having everything we need like moisturizer, sunscreen, and anti-aging products in one tube is so convenient. There is no need to slather on a lot of products on the face, layers after layers, making the skin unable to breathe and making you feel as if you are wearing a mask. So BB creams made its way to consumers who are so much into skin care, though these were originally for those who underwent surgery or other facial procedures that has made the skin raw and vulnerable to the harmful rays of the sun.

I mentioned on my review for Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals BB Cream that I think BB creams are nothing but mediocre products and are just glorified tinted moisturizers due to my bad experience with Skinfood Mushroom BB cream. But Maybelline made me want to give other BB creams another chance to work their magic on me.

I was checking out BB creams on eBay and looking for reviews about each brand that I encountered along with their different variants when I received an email asking if I would like to try Purederm's latest product in the Philippine Market which is the Purederm 3 in 1 Beauty Magic BB Cream. With all excitement and enthusiasm, I replied with a yes!

So after almost a month, I received a black box with pink ribbons and a Purederm gift tag. When I received it, I felt like I was once again a little girl who was handed a Barbie doll. I almost jumped with joy. :P Anyway, after more than a week of testing, I am finally reviewing this product. I would normally take my time in testing out a product before giving it a review but when I really like something, I would review it the soonest possible time so enough blabbing for me and on to the review.

When I was doing my research on reviews about BB creams, the most common problem I found was the color match. Some BB creams only have one shade and does not fit all skin tones as opposed to the usual claim that one shade fits all. For most Filipinas, having a shade that is warm enough to suit the Filipina skin is a problem. Some are either too light or too dark or does not have enough yellow in it and leans toward the pinkish side more. When I read reviews about this having a shade that will suit Filipina skin tones, I was even more excited and true enough, it has enough warm tones in it.

 

What I like:
- Let me start with the packaging. It is in a hot pink tube with a silver cap. I can't get enough of the color. It is pink and really pretty and so girly! :P
- It is really warm toned making it easier to match most Filipina skin tones.
- I was a bit hesitant when I first squeezed out a product from the tube because I thought it would be dark for me. But once I started spreading the cream at the back of my hands, it eventually blended well and adjusted to my skin tone.
- Scent smells like a typical liquid foundation. Thank goodness it doesn't smell like granny make up (once again, apologies to the grannies but I can't help it).
- It has SPF 30 PA++ and blocks both UV B and UV A rays which I find good since I won't be needing to wear sunblock underneath as it would be too much if I apply both.
- It provides light to medium coverage. It helps even out my skin tone though it does not fully cover the redness on some areas of my face.
- It feels light as if I am wearing just a tinted moisturizer.
- Spreads easily and blends well with the skin and it does not oxidize on me.
- Lasts for about 6-8 hours on my skin if I don't sweat a lot especially on more humid days.
- No whitish cast on pictures.
- It did not make me break out!
- It does not dry out my skin and does not emphasize dry patches on my cheeks.
- It makes my skin brighter and does not make my skin oilier than the usual. Of course, I set it with foundation or loose/pressed powder for a somewhat matte finish but when my T-Zone starts to oil up, I get a rather dewy look than an annoying oily and greasy face.

What I don't like:
- Although it claims to be waterproof and sweatproof, I once went out wearing this and it was pretty hot that day. When I got home after 4 hours, there wasn't much left although there are still traces of this product on my skin.
- The consistency is a bit runny. I really hated it when I opened the cap and the product came pouring out from the tube and landed on my bed sheet (and I did not squeeze it at all). It happened a few times now so I make sure my hands are always ready for the catch every time I use this. So I have to be extra careful in using this so it won't make a mess.

Overall rating: 4/5

Will I buy again? Yes, I will purchase one (since it is available at Watson's and SM department stores for PHP699 if I remember it correctly) when I run out of this and the other BB creams I have.

Swatch

On me

Close up, set with Kryolan Anti Shine Powder, no concealers at all so you can see my under eyes. :P

By the way, Maybelline together with this one has restored my faith in BB creams. So this is what I have been into lately after my lippies phase.

P.S.
Thanks to Tiff for sending me this product along with other Purederm stuff. :)

Happy Thursday, super awesome peeps! :P
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The Nu Skin Experience

Lately, I have been into skin care products since I believe it is important to have better skin than a lot of makeup. No matter how expensive or awesome your makeup is, if you do not take care of your skin, then I honestly believe everything else becomes pointless. Yesterday, I was able to try several Nu Skin products and I am really excited to share my experience with them.

First off, I arrived at the venue with minimal makeup - just moisturizer, bb cream, setting powder, and lip balm. I did not put much because I knew I had to take them off anyway.

So the first thing I was asked to do was wash my face with the Nu Skin 180 Face Wash. I tell you, even if the cleanser was not foamy and sudsy and bubbly, I can tell it was able to totally clean my face without the squeaky dry clean feel. My face instantly looked brighter and instantly felt refreshed. They showed how this product really cleanses the face and removes all dirt and impurities using the Betadine test. On a small cup of water, they dropped an ample amount of Betadine then stirred until it was diluted. Then added a pea size amount of this wash on the solution and the Betadine-colored water became clear again as if it was never there. Then a few drops of Betadine was added again while continuously stirring and it was once again clear. It was explained that after it has cleansed the face, it will continue protecting the skin from all the other harmful elements like dirt.

The next product was the Nu Skin pH Balance Toner. I am honestly not sure what it did but my face felt fresher in an instant. There was another test conducted to show that this is devoid of alcohol. On a metal spoon, they put different toners and cleansers (popular ones in the market I won't name as they might sue me! :P) and lit every single one of them using a lighter. There was a blue flame in every single one of them. But in this one, there was no flame at all.

After that, I thought it was going to be the moisturizer since the normal process would be cleanse-tone-moisturize. But I was wrong. For Nu Skin, it is cleanse-tone-NOURISH-moisturize. So on the right side of my face, the Nu Skin Epoch Glacial Marine Mud was applied. There was a bit of a minty feel and it felt like Aztec Indian Healing Clay Mask to me. Same color and dried to the same texture.

On the left side of my face, a mixture of the Face Lift Powder and Face Lift Activator was applied giving me an instant face lift on that side. It has egg in it and I was able to feel my skin being stretched and tightened. On my nose, a small piece of tissue was applied together with the face lift mixture. After both products dried, the tissue was lifted from my nose and it extracted whiteheads and there weren't any blackheads at all. They said that I have a healthy skin so I actually felt good about it. Haha! Then there were bubbles and lines. I was told that the bubbles are on the parts of the face with damaged skin. Of course, blame it on the harmful rays of the sun! The lines are where wrinkles and fine lines will appear 20 years from now. I had 2 major lines on my cheek. I'd be 46 by then so I have to do something to keep those lines from showing at an early stage.

After those things were explained, I washed my face with tap water (no need for lukewarm water for the mask as opposed to Aztec). Then I guess the best treatment was saved for last - the Nu Skin Galvanic Spa treatment! It was explained to me that since there will be negative and positive ions working on my skin, he had to hold my arm or hand. I dunno the logic behind that, I should've asked. Anyway, the gel with the negative thingies were applied on my face. The tool was pre-set for 2 minutes. I did not feel anything except the gels and the tool going around my face. I only knew it was working because of the beeping sound as I was told. After that, I wiped my face then it was time for the positive gels to do their job on my face with the same procedure. After a few minutes (I think it was more than 2), we were done and after wiping the gel off my face, I was able to see the difference the products made on my skin - Clearer, Brighter, Cleaner, more Radiant and Glowing. I must say I am satisfied with the results. I mean, it was the first time I was able to try those but the effects are instantaneous! I am really amazed. Although the products are quite costly, I think they would be worth it and I am seriously considering buying something from them in the future.

Oh, it didn't end there. The last product I was able to try was the Nu Skin Nu Colour Tinted Moisturizer. The shade was a tad dark for me but I tried it just because I wanted to. It glided effortlessly and seamlessly on the skin and it has a dewy finish. It did not feel greasy nor oily. I think I want one! But it's expensive!!! I think it's around PHP1750 bucks or so. BB creams will do for now.

Before going home, we dropped by a friend's house who was celebrating her daughter's birthday. We had a quick meal and chatting and she said that she noticed how huge the difference on my skin was, without asking her if there was anything about my skin that changed. When I got home, my mom also agreed that my skin looked waaay better than it was before. So overall, I am a happy girl! CLICK HERE TO SEE A PICTURE OF MY SKIN. It's far from being perfect but I am really satisfied with it. :P

Happy Monday, pretties! :P

P.S.
If you are interested in trying out these products for free or in purchasing them, please email me at greenappletini28@msn.com. I am NOT in any way affiliated with Nu Skin, I am just helping out a friend who is an official distributor of Nu Skin. Even though a friend had me try these products, everything I stated on this post are exactly how I feel about the products. My judgment was not in any way influenced by my friend so I can guarantee that everything here is 100% true and based on my very own experience.


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Product Review: Dermplus Moisturizing Sunblock SPF 35 (Unscented)

It is imperative that we protect our skin from the harmful rays of the sun. If we don't want our skin to age faster than it should, then we must use sunscreens or sunblocks. I was never really keen on using sunblocks since I thought it was just like an additional task when it comes to primping myself before going out. But after reading a lot of stuff on the Internet as to how the sun damages our skin, I started using products with SPF. Even my trusty ol' Shiseido foundations have SPFs which I thought was enough to protect my facial skin.  But it wasn't. I noticed a couple of sun spots or freckles on my cheeks. They may not be too obvious as they are really light but knowing how my skin looks like without makeup, I noticed them. One more reason why I never used sunblocks is that I had this notion that they make your skin look and feel greasy, and being someone with combi-oily skin, that is a big no-no. But I had to wear one so I just chose between aging faster due to sun exposure with my face unprotected or blot more often while having something protecting my skin. I chose the latter. So when I was at Watson's one day, I saw this product - Dermplus Moisturizing Sunblock SPF35 - in sachets. I thought that was really smart so consumers get to try their product without having to purchase the full size and money won't go to waste in case they're not happy with what they bought. In other words, I bought one and chose the unscented variant. I have been using it for a week now (or probably a bit longer than that) and I guess it's time I should give this a review.

What I like:
- Unscented. Well, I chose the unscented variant because I am not a huge fan of scented face products.
- Easily absorbed by the skin.
- Dries to a matte finish and does not make my face oilier than the usual.
- Easily blends well on the skin.
- I am quite happy with the SPF level. I do not know a lot about SPF's but I know this is a pretty good level.
- No whitish cast on pictures.
- Although it dries to a matte finish, it does not dry out my skin.
- Non-greasy and non-sticky.
- What made me really happy is that it did not break me out at all! Normally, my skin will have allergic reactions in as early as one day but not with this product.
- A little goes a long way. I only need a pea size amount to cover my face. Plus a little more for my ears and neck.
- Locally available at Watson's and department stores nationwide.
- Inexpensive but effective product. One sachet costs around PHP39 and will last for more than a month (in my case).

What I don't like:
-None, really.

In between: SPF35 may not be enough for those who are exposed to the sun pretty much the whole day like those working on the field.

Overall rating: 5/5


Will I buy again? Yes! But I am off to try another brand but if that does not work for me, I will definitely repurchase this.

The product

On me. (Celeteque Moisturizer, Dermplus Sunblock, Purederm Magic BB Cream, Kryolan Anti Shine Powder, Nivea lip balm)

Happy Saturday, super awesome peeps! :P
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Product Launch: Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle & UV Damage Corrector

Last September 22, 2010, Clinique launched its latest product from their skin care line at the Society Lounge of The Atrium in Makati Ave. Most of the attendees were beautiful women of all ages. How the sun affects and ages our skin was discussed together with how this product works. So this is the product.

 
 This product promises to lessen fine lines and wrinkles, reduces signs of aging, and combats photo damage in as early as 12 weeks. It's pretty much similar to having laser treatments but without having to pay a lot for it. Although this bottle is quite costly at over PHP3000, it is still cheaper as compared to having laser treatments. And you can do this at the comforts of you own home. How the harmful rays of the sun badly affects the skin was discussed by dermatologist Dra. Angel Camagun and the technology behind this new product was discussed by Budit Reyes from Clinique.

So this is how it works (screenshots taken from Clinique Website).

 The people who made this product launch possible - the Clinique Team and Dra. Angel Camagun.

(photo from Project Vanity, click on the picture to link back to her post)

There were familiar faces and I know some of them were bloggers but I never got the chance to meet any of them as I was too shy and came alone. My friend agreed to come with me but didn't make it. So sad. :(

Bottomline is it is never too early to start battling the signs of aging for a younger and healthier skin. :)

Happy Saturday! :)

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