I'm feeling down and not in the mood to blog because I have horrible skin right now. It's a bad mix of pre-period hormones, stress, heat, and possibly comedogenic products I've tried recently. It's driving me nuts! 

My skin is a seething mass of stupid acne right now. Makeup is a lifesaver. Whoever said makeup is useless and dumb doesn't know what he or she is talking about.

Some things that I am doing to remedy the situation:

1. I am using a Clindamycin 2% and Tretinoin 0.05% mix to dry my pimples ASAP.

I read Jill's post on blogging burnout this morning. It's a topic close to my heart because I have experienced that many, many times in the past - you know, that feeling of weariness and futility of what I do. But each time I snap out of it. I truly love makeup and colors and how it can transform a person. There is always something new to discover, as well, and that keeps me going.

Recently, Shu Uemura gave me some of their latest products to try. I am so freakin' excited, I swear! The brand just recently released their spring collection called Celestial Garden, and I am loving the fresh themed look and relatively innovative products.

First off, they have a new blush called the Creamy Dome Blusher. It reminds me a lot of the popular EOS Lip Balm! If you think about it, the idea is so simple but elegant. Perhaps other brands have come up with a cream dome blush but this is the first time I've seen one locally.

I'm not very choosy when it comes to body wash. As long as it's soapy and smells good, I'm good! It's not like I'm going to leave it on my skin for more than a couple of minutes. Also if I ever get really really dirty, I might as well use detergent. Right? :P That's why I prefer NOT to spend a lot of moolah on body washes and soaps.

I thought I'd share my body-washes-of-the-moment. They're from Avon. I know I talk about Avon a lot, but what can I say - the brand offers some pretty cool stuff! The ones I review make it to my daily routine, so I make an effort to write about them and show my appreciation.

Out of the two, the Skin-So-Soft Soft & White Whitening Body Wash (P330) is my favorite.

After reading comments from readers day in and day out, I realized that few people actually know about proper skincare. That is, they don't know much beyond what TV advertisements tell them about their skin problems and how to solve them. Make no mistake - Filipinas are serious about skincare in the sense that they try a lot of products in their quest for healthy skin, but they're not informed enough to decide when to quit experimenting and to just see a professional.

I should know. I used to think I can solve all my skin problems myself. It was only after my visit to a derma that I realized I just can't! Now I'm not saying I have perfect skin, but it's definitely a lot better after I had it treated. The best thing to do is to go to a dermatologist and ask for advice, but other than that, read up! Here I have Dr. Frank, the brand endorser of GoodSkin Labs, answering three of my skincare questions from New York. ;)

What is the quickest way to calm red, inflammed acne at home?

Dr. Frank: To calm red, inflamed acne at home is to place a cold compress over the spots to help alleviate some of the pain. If the pain persists and the blemishes aren’t going away, visit your dermatologist to best determine how to treat.

I was checking out Beauty Bar in MOA last Sunday when I saw a new brand called Formula 10.0.6. Well, it's not actually new new since it apparently has been around since 1933, but I think it's newly arrived here! According to the website, the brand excels at perfecting troublesome young skin with ingredients that work. "Troublesome young skin", that's me alright.

I bought a sample sachet of the Formula 10.0.6 Deep Down Detox Ultra Cleansing Mud Mask (P120) knowing absolutely nothing about the brand. :P I liked how they packaged their products, so even though the price is quite reasonable, I got the feeling that the stuff is hip and expensive. It's just my luck that I bought what seems to be the most popular product of Formula 10.0.6, with a 4.2/5 rating at Makeupalley.

Ok ok I'm dithering. Deep Down Detox is a great mask! I got it because I am waaay overdue for a facial and I needed something quick to clean up my face. Well, this mud/clay mask didn't clean my pores as well as I hoped, but it helped with the oiliness extremely well. It's been three days since I used it and my face is noticeably less oily! 

"Proof, not promises," says Elizabeth Arden about their flagship anti-aging cream, the Prevage Night Anti-aging Restorative Cream (~P5,000/ $132). So what is it? Basically, it's a night cream that has a powerful anti-oxidant component to battle fine lines and dullness.

...an intensive overnight moisture cream with advanced Idebenone technology that was specially formulated to work during the night in synch with the skin’s sleep cycle, as it’s the time our skin is most receptive to treatments.

My Shu Uemura cleansing oil is still the best for me, but there are quite a lot of affordable alternatives available in the market now. They're basically the same - mineral oil-based makeup removers that take the gunk off effortlessly. Their difference, I find, lies in the smell, the residue left over after rinsing, and how skin-friendly they are. 

For not all cleansing oils are created equal. Even though they are made of the same stuff, some ingredients may cause pimples. Some are too thick and leaves a film of oil even after you rinse it off. Some, like the Revlon Absolute C Radiance Moisture Cleansing Oil (P550), has a very distinctive scent.

The first thing you'll notice about the Revlon cleansing oil is the overwhelming citrus smell. Now I'm not particularly sensitive to perfume in skincare, but this one is too much for me. I wish they'd take it down a notch, no, several notches. It claims to have Vitamin C but I don't think they have to prove it with the strong orange smell. We get it.

That said, it's quite effective at removing makeup with only a small amount of product.

It's been a month since I started using the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrate. And how was it? Amazing, really. It helped my skin get that nice glow and smoothness, feats that few other products can do consistently. Unfortunately, I had breakouts in between from trying out new products, so I feel that the ANR hasn't given me its best shot yet. 

Here are my pics and weekly reviews! Check them out to compare.

I know I promised to show Avon's Valenine's offering today, but I haven't done the swatches for the new lipsticks yet so that will have to wait tomorrow. Today I'll just be showing you some of the brand's new releases last January!

They have new variants of the uber-good Skin-So-Soft Lotion, plus body washes in that range. I love the body washes - they smell clean and girly without being overly drying. The jewelry, on the other hand, are in Avon's signature classic style. 

Here be photos and pricing info!

Skin-So-Soft Signature Silk Replenishing Hand & Body Lotion 250 ml. This body lotion works two ways to provide the most sensual, touchable skin. Price: Php 290.00

This stuff is the bomb. The real deal. After three weeks of using the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrate, I can honestly say that this is one of the best skincare products I've ever tried - up there with my Clinique Moisture Surge, Clinique Liquid Facial Wash, and Burt's Bees Toner. 

Observe:

Being an independent adult is terrifying. Aside from paying all the bills yourself, there are also the decisions you have to make everyday about your career, your relationships, your own well-being - it never ends. On one hand it's cool that your parents don't manage your life anymore, but there's also the risk of making a grave mistake and having no one else to blame but yourself. 

Morbid thoughts for such a pretty Thursday morning, I know! It's actually a good, no, awesome day for me and I am in a merry mood. Just scribbling.

Anyway, I just want to share something new from Avon - their newly repackaged and reformulated Avon Naturals skincare line. There are three variants, namely Rose & Rose Hips, Tea Tree Oil & Green Tea, and Honey & Milk. Here's the product info and prices for your reference!

Formulated to deeply nourish the skin and leave it feeling soft and supple all day long, Avon Naturals Milk & Honey Nourishing Skin Care products bring together honey extract and milk protein that smoothen rough, dry skin, and provide long term moisturizing benefits—all wrapped in a sumptuous honey and milk scent.

Last Christmas, Tony Moly sent me a package that contained one of their best sellers: the Tony Moly Appletox Smooth Massage Peeling Cream (P525), cutely nicknamed as the Appletox. I've never used it until last night mainly because I'm anxious about breaking out. I've never used a Tony Moly skincare product before so I really took a chance here!

Since I had a bit of free time last night and needed to get rid of some dry skin anyway, I decided to try the Appletox. It's supposed to be a face mask-cum-exfoliator as it dries into flakes you can rub off. 

How to use the product. Apply a light layer all over your face. Wait for it to dry, usually in 10 minutes or so. After drying, gently massage the mask off your face to get rid of deep-seated dirt and peeling skin.

Okay so, I've been using the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrate for a week now. And these are my observations!

• My skin is incredibly smooth right now. The roughness from dry patches, blackheads, and random bumps are very much reduced. 
• Skin is more even and has a glow, so I tend to use less makeup.

There is a dizzying bevy of anti-aging products out there, with extraordinary claims to bring back your skin's youth. How do you find out what actually works? Simple, you try them! After some research on reviews and ingredients, of course.

That said, I want to give you a bit of information about Avon's latest anti-aging product: the Anew Genics Treatment Concentrate (P1,799). It claims to help skin look ten years younger with the help of the brand's patented YouthGen Technology. It is supposed to re-activate one's "Youth Gene", that genetic component in our cells that keeps skin elastic, wrinkle-free, and glowing - young, in other words. 

Sounds too sci-fi? Perhaps, but it is quite intriguing. Promises aside, the quality of the serum itself is pretty good.

When Liz of Estee Lauder asked me if I wanted to try the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrate (P4,800), I was like, "Fug. Not another anti-aging product!" in my head. I am up to my ears with anti-aging products - and I'm only 23! I am extremely reluctant of using one for four weeks tbqh, but since I like Liz, I thought I'd give it a chance.

So that's the challenge: use the ANR serum for four weeks and write about it once a week during that period. I just got to try it last night because I broke out last week plus I was sick, so I don't have much in the way of a review just yet. I will however share my first impressions for now.

Not an anti-aging product LOLZ

Okay. First off, the ANR serum is technically not an anti-aging product (read the description). I just assumed it was, on first glance, which is very careless of me but it is admittedly a common misconception. Estee Lauder is associated with mature women after all!

Thanks for the well wishes, guys, I am feeling much better now. I have a horrible croaky voice though...not cool because I need to be at my best tomorrow. Good lord. This week will be crazy, again.

Anyway! I just wanted to talk about the Snoe White Beauty Bar (P139), particularly the Exfoliating Oatmeal Beauty Bar. It's what I've been using in the shower lately since it's pretty good. Let me tell you why!

• Has this nice oatmeal yogurt scent that's very relaxing. Doesn't smell too chemical.
• Incredibly sudsy and slinky.

I am so sick today. -_- Was trying to write a proper blog post but couldn't bring myself to concentrate. Anyway, Kira will be sharing her review for now!

Who suffers from an extra active t-zone? I do! And although I know that there's no product can permanently make pores disappear (they say it's virtually impossible since we're born with it!), I am still on the lookout for pore minimizing solutions no matter how temporary or pricey they may be.

It was timely that Liz asked me to review this little product as I've been battling with big pores on my nose and and oily complexion (blame it on stress and this schizo weather we're having). It's called Z-Pore (P1,600)!

Z-Pore™ combines special silicone polymers and optical diffusers to instantly reduce the look of pores and provide a soft matte finish to the skin. This water-, sweat-, and humidity-resistant formula lasts all day."

What it is:

A lightweight, nude-colored cream that resembles the consistency of mousse cream.

How to use it:

After my usual skin care regimen (wash+tone+moisturize), I just apply small dots of the GSL Z-pore on my problem areas -- my forehead, nose, chin and the cheeks near my nose.

Moisturizers are your first line of offense against your skin's basic issues. Dryness, dullness, and oiliness are some of the things that moisturizers should help you out with. You leave 'em on your skin 24/7 so they should be nothing less than amazing.

Thus, I'm a little leery of trying out other moisturizers, especially from a brand like Benefit which isn't singled out for its skincare products. So many things can go wrong.

Well, none of that sort happened when I started using the Benefit Triple Performing Facial Emulsion (P1,500)! I've been using it regularly for two months now so I can confidently say that this is a pretty good match for my combination skin. Here's why!

What I love about the product 

• Ultra light and oil-free, it is easily absorbed by my skin. It doesn't trigger extra oiliness during the day.
• Leaves an instant glow and silkiness on the face. I love how my face feels like after using this. It also showed improvement over the first few weeks I started using it.