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.

I have a confession to make: I cringe internally whenever I receive skincare products to review. Why? Because each new product holds a potential for breaking me out, and sometimes, I have so many to review that my face does not have time to rest or recover from the most recent pimple spree. It's not all negative though. Sometimes I hit the jackpot and find a product that works so well, so perfectly, that it alone is worth all the reckless product sampling that came before it.

I've already mentioned a few times that I am in love with the Pond's White Beauty Cream (in the tube). It evens out my skin, moisturizes it without the oiliness, and gives me a visible glow that I don't see in other products of its sort. I've been using it for two years now and it has been consistent in giving me nice skin.

Little did I know that its more expensive sister, the Flawless White Visible Whitening Day Cream, is even better!

I've been enjoying good skin lately. I like to think that it involves three products that I have been using consistently as of late: the Dr. Jart BB creams for SPF and light coverage instead of foundation, Pond's Flawless White cream (the more expensive one in the jar - will review that this week), and the Clinique Moisture Surge.

I only received the sample jar from Clinique, so these pictures will have to do!

"Moisture surge" sounds scary, doesn't it? If you're oily like me it does! The last thing oily ladies want on their skin is extra moisture, as we tend to stick to the idea that moisturizing creams equals more oil. Well, if the cream or lotion that you're using is oil-based then the problem may be aggravated, but products like the Clinique Moisture Surge, which is gel-based, should not.

I was hesitant to use this at first because I didn't want to disrupt my skincare routine, but I try to use everything that has been sent to me at least once, just in case something's awesome! And oh boy, was I glad that I did.

When I wrote that there is no good drugstore moisturizer, my readers were quick to correct me. The folks behind Myra (Innovitelle, under Unilab) generously sent me a pack of Myra products, of course not forgetting to include the intriguing Myra Vitaglow Tinted Moisturizer!

I've been using the product for a week, and surprisingly, it's good! It's super cheap at only P135 (hardly more than a one-way cab fare or a cup of overpriced coffee), but the best thing is that it delivers well in terms of feel, texture, and coverage.

There are only two shades: Beige and Ivory. Beige is more for morena skin with, well, beige undertones, while Ivory is for fairer skin with yellow tones. I can actually use both shades since they blend in with my skintone (light-medium, NC30-35), but my preference is Ivory. I made a video on how I apply Ivory, so you can see how it improves my complexion nicely.

Why I like this

• Good coverage. It won't cover blemishes or eyebags, but it does a great job of evening out my skin.
• Feels light. The texture is kind of watery, which I prefer versus oily liquid makeup.

Hi Liz! I've been following your blog for quite some time now. I really like reading your posts because they are so helpful to me in so many ways. I really like and appreciate that you care about affordable beauty!

So, I have really oily skin. As if that isn't enough, I also sweat rather excessively. Which is really frustrating because I am still a student (who walks around the campus a lot, under the scorching heat of the sun). My skin breaks out a lot too. By a lot, I mean I always have a big nasty zit or two on my face. They never go away! I don't really know where I've gone wrong. I try to clean my face as regularly (not excessively) as possible, but it seems like I would never be able to have clear skin.

I know that you also have oily skin too, so I thought it would be a good idea to ask you about these things. I'd really appreciate if you recommend me any product (for oily skin) that you swear by. Thanks a lot!

Also, I just like to tell you how I enjoy reading your blog, and that your posts are so helpful. More power, Liz!

Hi Honey! Thanks so much for following my site. It really makes me day when I hear from lurkers! So, about your problem. I'd like to recommend my Holy Grail product - Burt's Bees Garden Tomato Toner. It's labeled as good for troubled and oily skin, and yes, it does help clear my face of pimples and it helps lessen the oiliness.

I would also recommend the Skin Hour Mattifying Day Gel. Lauren and Kira are such fans! They've both given the product rave reviews, and they are perhaps the oiliest people I know (no offense to you guys lol). I haven't tried the product personally, but it looks extremely promisin

I'm the sort of person who is not easily moved by fancy schmancy ingredients that's supposed to give me the beauty of a goddess. I tend to gloss over them because in my mind, it's all just sales talk. Unless we use the products personally, we really have no way to find out if something works or not, no matter how hifalutin' its ingredients are.

That's why I take products like Eyliplex-2 with a bit of apprehension. It has too many ingredients - all 124 of them - I have never even heard of, plus it's quite expensive at P2,600. I can't just recommend something like this to you without making sure that it does its job, which is to lighten dark circles, lift eyes, and reduce fine lines.

The night cream on the left, day gel on the right

I've had this product for two months now but within that span of time I've used it irregularly. I'm simply too lazy. Which is why, to my surprise, I actually saw results! Here are pictures of my eyes two months ago, second week of May:

See the fine lines near the inner corner of my eyes? They're a major problem.

Part of my job in the beauty industry is finding the latest news about products, events, and trends. One of the things that I have constantly heard about is BB creams. Frankly, I'm not a believer in the hype about these cream's power to give me perfect skin, but I am a fan of them as tinted moisturizers. They make for great makeup bases if you have the right skin type and coloring for them.

Anyway, when I read about BB creams, one name always pops up: Dr. Jart. Dr. Jart BB Creams promise you a lot of things - coverage, anti-aging, healing, and general skin improvement. I'm sure you'd like to know: are they worth their steep price tags? That's really the most important question, isn't it, when it comes to products like this.

I've used each one of these creams for almost two weeks. I can now finally deliver my verdict!

The Black Label is my favorite. It has light, buildable coverage and serves as a good makeup base. Out of all the Dr. Jart BB creams, this is the one that makes my skin feel the best! It makes my skin feel smoother and I noticed that my skin looks less dull - that must be the detox healing working. It has SPF 25.  SRP: 50mL - P1,940 / 15 mL - P845

If you've visited a Watsons lately you have probably seen this suavely packaged line - the GrapeBella range. They come is sophisticated-looking, dark purple bottles that really catch and hold your attention if only to make you intrigued about what they are. If you didn't know better, you'd think you're looking at bottles of fine wines!

The Watsons GrapeBella product range is the latest innovation from Watsons, which provides a total solution for perfect skin. Truly, it is the new secret to a more youthful beauty.

It has been proven by scientific researches that grapes have antioxidant benefits to provide nourishment to the skin to keep it soft and smooth. 

Dr. Jart (the brand name comes from Dr. Jung, the company's head of dermatology + art of skincare), one of the biggest and most popular BB cream brands in Korea has finally arrived in the Philippines! I'm pretty excited because I've gotten my hands on the whole line, so I can review each one for you guys and make recommendations.

It's funny how the products that actually make it into your daily routine are the products that you forget about. Case in point, my Nivea Angel Star Lip Balm! I haven't taken a photo of it, so you just have to spot it here:

It's the small pink tube on the right side!

This Nivea Angel Star line is targeted towards tweens who are just starting to become self-conscious about their appearance and body. One of the products released is a lip balm that has a slight pinkish tint with a frosty-gloss finish.

Why I like it:

• My lips are evened out by a light, pinkish tint. The finish is frosty, with a hint of gloss. I don't need a mirror to use this so it's very convenient.
• Moisturizing! It really helps my chapped lips in this heat.
• Non-sticky and feels light on the lips.

I have a dirty confession to make: I have never used a face mask before now! This is embarrassing for a beauty editor and blogger, haha. Anyway, the reason I'm not into face masks is because they require a lot of time (25 minutes at the least) to put on and remove. I also thought they were unnecessary and redundant. In any case, there's always a first time!

I've had this Montagne Jeunesse Chocolate Masque pack for more than a month. Now that I've finally used it, I regret that I didn't get around to it sooner. 

What I like about the product:

• It has a heavy milk chocolate aroma. I love it! Several bloggers have sworn that it smells deceptively good enough to eat. I heartily agree. The yummy smell stays on your skin for a long time.
• It has a thick, creamy texture that's easy to spread all over your face. It feels very luxurious once applied.
• A pack has a lot of product (20g); you can slather it on generously without feeling stingy.
• Super cheap! It's only P78/pack at Watson's. It's skincare that's right up my alley.