I've just recently discovered that my skin is sensitive which is why I constantly have minor breakouts. I just want to ask if you have any suggestions for hypoallergenic BB creams? One that is non-comedogenic since I'm on the oily side. Thanks for sharing! - Nina

Hi there Nina! Having sensitive skin can be a nightmare, but as long as you use new products carefully you should be fine. Just remember to do a patch test on the side of your jaw before putting the rest of the stuff on your whole face! If you're allergic to something in the product you'd see a reaction within an hour, but it usually takes a couple of days to know for sure. So, test it on that one area of your skin for a few days before fully committing to it. It's a hassle but this is the easiest way to know how your skin would react to your new find!

As you've requested, here are four hypoallergenic BB creams you can look into. One of them is a tinted moisturizer but it does what a BB cream does so I've included it. ^_^ I've picked them out based on the hypoallergenic reputation of the brands. Of course, you won't know what works best for you until you've tried it out, but at least we have narrowed down the options. Hope this helps!

The Celeteque Dermoscience Multi-Benefit BB cream (P325) has sheer, brightening coverage that should fit light to medium skin. This is great to start with if you're on a budget and is looking for barely there yet enhancing coverage. It's great for oily skin as it sets completely and has a matte finish.

Swatch of the Celeteque BB Cream. It's rather light but it blends on fair-medim skin after a few minutes. 

I loved the VMV Hypoallergenics Skintangible SPF30 (P1,050) for quite a while since it makes my skin look amazing! It's hydrating but doesn't make me extra oily. And oh, VMV is really the best brand for sensitive skin. They're so OC about it that they even created a rating system for how hypoallergenic their products are - don't quote me on this, but I think they're the first skincare brand to do so.

We already know that we need to exfoliate and/or have a facial regularly. All that dirt, oil, dead skin, and makeup builds up on the surface, even if we already use facial wash everyday. It's the same with our hair. We use shampoo whenever we take a bath, right, but we also need to "deep clean" our tresses like we do our face. Not a lot of people know that!

Which begs the question: what should we use to "deep clean" our hair? Answer: clarifying shampoo! This type of shampoo is usually meant to be used only once or twice every week, to remove whatever residue is left by our shampoo, conditioner, and styling products. The formula has more intense surfactants to help wash off the gunk, and has no conditioning ingredients that may deposit even more gunk. 

Love this Celeteque Clarifying Shampoo (P200), it works and it smells nice n' clean. 

A clarifying shampoo can thus feel drying, which is why we should limit its use to once or at most twice a week. It's the same reason we're cautioned against using exoliators regularly.

So! When do you need to use clarifying shampoo? What are the dead giveaways? Here's five!

Ola! It's almost the end of July. Next week I'll be in Hong Kong with my parents, a trip I'm looking forward to! It's going to be my first time there so I'd love to read your advice on where to shop and eat. ;) I'm not looking for makeup per se. I'm more interested in clothes and shoes at bargain prices. 

Anyhoo, today I'll be talking about the latest products from Celeteque. It's been a while since I've used Celeteque, so the level of quality in its products is a surprise to me! The BB Cream and Brightening Body Cream are pretty good, ha. I'll be reviewing them quickly in this post.

The Celeteque Anti-Stretch Mark Cream has elastonyl (to improve elasticity), phyto collage (derived from soybeans, for plumping), alchemilla vulgaris (herb that has medicinal qualities), and shea butter, four ingredients that are said to lessen the appearance of stretch marks. It is recommended for women who just gave birth, to help stop stetch marks in their tracks as the skin tries to regain its elasticity. 

And here is the star of the trio, for me! The Celeteque Multi-Benefit BB Cream (P325) brightens skin instantly and has a yellow-neutral tone to it that should match light to medium skin. It has the texture of a long-wearing face base - it's water-based, a bit difficult to spread, and sets completely in half a minute. It kinda reminds me of the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Foundation (liquid) and Estee Lauder Double Wear Light in terms of texture.