More To Mica - Life & Fashion Theme Update

Althea January Loot

• April Skin Magic Snow Cushion 2.0 - P940 (Sale from 1,310)
• April Skin Magic Stone Black - P310 (Sale from 1,150)
• Missha Soft Blending Stick Blusher | Mud Brown - P520 (Sale from 720)
• Missha Soft Blending Stick Blusher | Sugar Glam - P520 (Sale from 720)

Here I go again with another round of face masks. These won't hurt our pockets like the other face masks I've tried and reviewed. I scored these sheet masks from Korcosmetics at the Trendsetters bazaar for P150.00 for four pieces, a piece would cost P40. I saved P10, Yey! Lol.



Lebelage Natural Masks is available in 8 variants; Pearl (the one I have), Green tea, Snail, Vitamin, Royal Jelly, Cucumber, Egg and Charcoal. While Ekel's Ultra Hydrating Mask has 5; Aloe (the one I have), Cucumber, Snail, Royal Jelly and Snake.

Ekel Ultra Hydrating Essence Mask

Sharing my thoughts on Ekel's Ultra Hydrating Essence Mask in Aloe first.



On fine print - the product provides enough moisture and nutrition to skin exposed by stimulation from outside, and its active component forms protective coat and helps moisture not evaporate to moisturize your skin. The moisturizer and softener make your skin healthy, energetic and clean with enough moisture and nutrition.



Yay List:
- generous amount of serum
- affordable
- deeply moisturizes the skin

Nay List:
- the holes were a bit small specially on the mouth area (note: my face shape is fairly small)
- super sticky after use
- sticky til' the next morning
- took a while for my skin to absorb all the product

The nay list weighs more than the yay list. :( It's because of the annoying sticky face I had after using Ekel's Aloe sheet mask. I'm just not a fan of anything that's feeling sticky on my skin. It's an Ultra Hydrating Mask so i think the uber sticky feel means it's giving me a deeply moisturized face but I could't handle the stickiness, I'm so sorry. If you're okay with the sticky feel free to try it. Don't let me stop you. Lol. I feel bad saying this but I don't think I'll be using this one again.

Lebelage Natural Mask Pearl

On fine print - the moisturizer and softner make your skin healthy, energetic and clean with enough moisture and nutrition.



Yay List:
- sheet mask fits nicely on the face
- has just a right amount of stickiness
- smells really good and refreshing
- face feels energized on use
- soft skin after use

Nay List:
- still quite sticky on face but not compared to Ekel's

Lots of positivity for Lebelage's Pearl Face Mask. I absolutely love it, I couldn't really think of any downside except that it's still a bit sticky after use but bearable compared to Lebelage's. I think I've tried a masks with the similar sticky feel before so the slight stickiness is fine with me.. I'm keeping this one in my sheet masks stash.

Bonus: Farm Stay Collagen

This sheet mask from Farm Stay isn't included in the cover but I got this for free with the masks  purchased above. I tried to see if my bargaining skills would work so I kept asking the the saleslady/tindera if she could give me a discount, Lol (cheap na nga nanghingi pa ng discount). Not sure if it worked or if they do really give out a free mask but atleast I got one for free anyway. And it's a good one.



On Fine Print - Containing water-soluble collagen, it controls sebum balance to manage keratin. As the sheet adheres to skin smoothly serum is absorbed to the skin sufficiently to transform your skin translucent.

Yay list:
- Velvety smooth skin after use
- No sticky residue

Nay list:
- The hole for the mouth are is a bit small too

Surprisingly out of the three I liked this one the most. Lol. Doesn't look like this one was the best since there aren't as many positive notes compared to the Lebelage mask  but this mask from Farm Stay gave me the best results after use. My skin was amazingly soft to touch. I'm definitely keeping this one in my sheet mask stash as well.



And that's my thoughts on Ekel, Lebelage and Farm Stay sheet masks. Remember feedback and comments are based on my personal experience. Results may vary depending on your skin type.

Before anything else let me just tell you that I am not obsessed with anti-aging products. Most of the anti-aging products I use are freebies just like these ones from Etude House.



These Etude House goodies were sitting in my drawer before I finally got try them last July 21. I've been applying all three almost every night except for just a few times where I accidentally forgot to use them. The original plan was share the post once I've finished all of them up but it's already been about four months and I have yet to empty the Emulsion & Firming Cream. Meanwhile the softener lasted for roughly three and a half months.




On the label:
Etude House Age Defense Skin Care Kit - Makes your skin firm and smooth with Age Defense Skin Care Kit consisted of 3 Age Defense items that help with total multi anti-aging care.

Directions:
Age Defense Essential Softener - Apply morning and evening after face wash. Spread the skin from the center towards the sides of the face.
Age Defense Essential Emulsion - Spread the emulsion from the center towards the sides of the face.
Age Defense Firming Cream - Pick up a certain amount of cream and spread gently onto forehead, cheeks, and chin. Pat gently afterwards to absorb.



The softener, emulsion & firming cream were different.

The softener had a rather watery consistency and is easily absorbed by the skin. I have to say the softener is my favourite among the three because it leaves my face with a fresh & cool feeling. Well, the reason behind the softener being used up first is because of its very liquid form. I would usually take more than the amount I needed.

The emulsion had a thicker consistency than the softener, it's form is similar to lotions. Getting some of the product out of the bottle was not easy though, since it doesn't pour out like the softener, and the bottle isn't really squeezable.

Lastly, the firming cream. It has a rich and thick consistency but it's not heavy on the skin. I tend to put a thin amount as possible since I kind of feel a bit of greasiness when I apply too much.

All in all, using all three together gives my face maximum moisture. My face was soft and supple even in the morning and it felt good to wash my face. Plus, the scent of these products. Sooo good!



The free kit I got were 15ml for both the softener and emulsion & 10ml for the cream. The original Age Defense products in Etude House stores costs:

Age Defense Essential Softener 130ml - P 1,348
Age Defense Essential Emulsion 130ml - P1,348
Age Defense Firming Cream 50ml - P1,578

There you have it!

Check out: Etude House on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

I have to admit that I'm not sure if I am eligible to be using anti-ageing creams like L'Oreal Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Day Cream. Not to mention, I'm not someone whose into age defense products (yet). Anyway, the moment I got my hands on this one I initially thought I'd give it to my mom but we ended up sharing. Well, I was using it more often... I've been using it for around 3-4 months now. Who knows, I might be able to rip off some anti-ageing benefits.



The day cream is contained in a quite heavy glass jar with a plastic lid to seal the cream in between use. For some reason I couldn't find the plastic lid anymore, Good luck hygiene. Lol.





L'Oreal Revitalift Day Cream has a noticeably yellowish tone but isn't visible on the face. The cream has a tiny bit of a cooling sensation when applied. It's texture is lightweight and a little really goes a long way... I've been religiously using it for 4 months (with just 3 or 4 days missed) but I haven't got the product to halfway even. Ang dami pa talaga.



I'd say I liked using  L'Oreal Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Day Cream. It's SPF is definitely a plus but on my first application I had a really noticeable white cast. So I make sure to apply a thin layer on my face to reduce the white cast.. but I still put a lot on my neck so I could maybe finish off the jar.



I would like to use the cream again but the cream and my oily skin don't quite mix... it isn't helping the white cast either. So I'm sticking to the product that I've been using beforehand which gives my face equal moisture and sunscreen at a more affordable price. But I still suggest you try it if you like or if you don't have oily skin like mine, as these type of creams can actually benefit our skin. The results may not be visible at my age but I do believe that it will do good for my skin, specially in preventing fine lines and wrinkles. I wish I didn't have oily skin so I can keep using the day cream.

Finally getting this amazing nose patch up on the blog! I'm not trying to give too much hype on Dewytree's Blackhead Out Nose Patch but this particular nose patch is by far (I give emphasis to the word by far) the best one I've tried. On the label, it's Hidden Zone care system solves skin problem with up close care. It contains Volcanic Ash and Charcoal that extracts clogged pores and remove blackheads clearly.



The box packaging similar as most nose patch I bought from Watsons. But what caught me was it's design nonetheless. It got me for sure...



I bought the pack from Korcosmetics during the Supersale Bazaar because Patrick had been looking for a nose patch and sadly we didn't find them at Beauty Bar when we were there... Not sure if they carry any nose patches too actually. The box, which is priced at P200, contained 10 pieces of nose patch each packed in a separate packet.



Directions were the same with all the other nose patch strip I've tried.

1. After washing face, dry hands and open packet & peel the strip off  from the transparent plastic  liner (make sure it's free of any cream, lotions & makeup).
2. Wet nose with water sufficiently and then apply the strip to moistened nose with the shiny side facing your skin. (If nose isn't wet enough, strip may not stick or may not be effective)
3. Let the strip dry on skin for around 15-20 minutes. After strip is dried, slowly and carefully peel off the strip starting at the edges, pulling toward the center. If there is residue left, rinse off with water.



Why did I say that Dewytree Blackhead Out Nose Patch is the best one by far?
Well, when I first tried a strip, I was greatly surprised with what I saw... It wasn't pleasant though.... There were so many white heads pulled out. It says blackhead but since it had charcoal in its contents it's a bit hard to spot the blackheads.



I did take pictures of the strip after use but when I shared the photo to Patrick... He said it's a bit disgusting to share. Lol. We shared the the contents of the Dewytree Blackhead Out Nose Patch, five for me and five for him. And I wonder what or how he used it but he told me he wasn't successful because there wasn't any instructions from the packet and he didn't wait for my reply before he used it... His comment was he didn't like the smell. But it was actually fine on my side, and I've used a similar strip with the same smell before. I'm pretty sure the smell came from charcoal.

Anyway, if I get a chance to spot (and have the budget for it) these on the market, I will buy again.

If there's a product you should be taking on your 20's it's collagen. In case you're looking for a collagen supplement that delivers, try the Meiji Amino Collagen. I've finished one 5000mg can and I swear I've seen visible results. I wouldn't buy one again if it it didn't do anything to my skin.

Meiji Amino Collagen is already quite popular and there are a lot of reviews you can read out there as well. So I wouldn't be surprised if some of you have heard or tried this supplement already.



Meiji Amino Collagen comes in two variants... There's the regular one and premium. The one I have here is the regular variant. The premium version is in a beautiful gold packaging containing more skin boosting ingredients that isn't included in the regular variant.

The promise of Meiji Amino Collagen is to give you softer and smoother skin. It's advertised to diminish wrinkles and dark spots plus healthy bones and joints.



Both products (can & refill) were bought and delivered by kind friends who visited Japan. I asked them to buy me one since there is a mark up of P400-P500 when you buy it here in the Philippines.




It's best to get the one in can first so you'll get the scoop that comes with it. You won't get the scoop in refills. In case, you're planning to get one I have to prepare you for its smell. Hahaha... Just to let you know I made people smell it and they all had the same reaction.. It smells off, bad... Haha. The powder came from fish so that's why it gives off a malansa (fishy) smell. Tiis-Ganda sa paginom mga bes.




The descriptions on the can were in Japanese so I went to google to search for english instructions on taking Meiji Amino Collagen. According to the internet just 1 scoop is enough. The powder is easily dissolved in either cold or hot drink. You can mix it with you're favorite beverage before going to sleep. You may drink it any time of the day, but the best time is before sleeping or on an empty stomach.




When I got used to the smell and taste (but with my nose still pinched) I'd usually just take it with plain water. Since I've just started to take the Meiji Amino Collagen again (stopped taking for a month or so because I was preparing the refill for this review) I'm back to mixing it with MILO or other types of juice.



All I have are good things for the product. Yes, even it smells terrible... You'll get used to it. Lol. I wouldn't blog about it if it's no good. I find this far more effective in giving me that glowy soft and smooth skin. There were visible effects in a few days compared to the other product I've tried. I've read from another blog that the powder isn't finely milled but I like the texture of the powder. It's pretty much fine and lightweight.. I enjoy playing and scooping it on and off.. Haha.

Reality in life... Imported products are rather expensive compared to the ones sold at it's home country. Both the can and refill only costs at around￥2,080 in Japan which is appx. P930. So if you know someone in Japan better ask them to get it for you.

In case you don't know anyone who is in Japan you can also opt to shop from Japanichi, the Meiji Amino Collagen in Can & Meiji Amino Collagen Refill is available for P1,390 each. You can also get Premium variant from Japanichi for P2,150, personally though I think you'll be fine with the just the Regular. I've spotted Meiji Amino Collagen on Lazada as well, where the prices for the Regular variant would fall from P1,290 - P2,000 (high prices were shocking though). Just note and be careful when shopping from Lazada coz' you might get something that isn't authentic so be sure to check the reviews and the seller info or something.

Another post backlog! As I've said in my previous blogpost I've been devoured by video games once again... Haha.. Anyway, sharing with you another face mask I've just tried yesterday.

This might be old news for most ladies, but for those who haven't heard  of or haven't tried Collagen. You guys have to start taking these beauty supplements. You may check Benefits of Collagen for Skin and Hair from Wellness Mama and more info about collagen on herbwisdom.

While taking photos for this blog post my mom had asked whether I'm really gonna blog about Neocell Super Collagen. She thought I'd rather keep it a secret. But beauty secrets like these is what my blog is for, it's the reason why I blog... I'd share all the secrets I can to bring out the most beautiful in each and every girl... but of course I still leave some to myself, like how I got my boyfriend to fall madly deeply in love with me (lol, kidding~ frankly speaking, I don't know the answer too.) Anywaaay...



Moving over to the  Neocell Super Collagen +C. Just so you know, this isn't the first collagen supplement I've tried so I kinda have some expectations already and comparisons over this one and the one I've tried before.

The first time I saw this bottle was at a medical/herbal/supplements (i dunno the proper term) kiosk at our local supermarket. Per tablet costs P10 each. A 250 bottle can be bought at P2,400. It was quite expensive for my pocket at that time so I passed. Then one day my mom was asking for help with purchasing a product from Lazada. So before I bought what she needed I searched for some collagen supplements that could come along with her order. Lo and behold, the Neocell Super Collagen +C I spotted at the supermarket was also available on Lazada.



I just wanted to test it out so I ordered 120 tablets instead of 250. The moment our package arrived, Mom had read the back info and she wanted to try the collagen supplement as well. We halved 120 tablets to the both of us... 60 for her and 60 for me.




Suggested use was 6 tablets daily. I told my mom to take the 6 tablets recommendation.. I'll take 4 (coz' I don't think I can swallow that much of meds). But then my mom took 4 tablets instead, saying she can't take that much too. I wanted to see if there's a difference if you'll take less... but oh well. Hahaha.



On the label:

Collagen is a complex structural protein that maintains strength and flexibility throughout the body. As we age, collagen depletion can lead to common signs of aging in the skin, hair, nails, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones. Super Collagen contains clinically studied BioActive NeoCell Collagen which supports healthy collagen formation throughout the body. Using NeoCell's technologically advanced hydrolyzation process, large collagen molecules are enzymatically hydrolyzed into small peptides that are both bioavailable and bioactive in the body.

Clinical Results: NeoCell Collagen has been shown to increase skin hydration by an average of 21% and up to 50%, with 92% of test subjects experiencing increased skin hydration and 60% experiencing firmer, softer skin.



After 15 days of diligently taking 4 tablets a day, except for 1 day where I forgot to take additional 2 capsules... So I took 6 capsules on the next day instead. Here's what I noticed:

First the downside.. it's really not a big deal but I didn't see the same glow I had with the previous collagen supplement (Japanese brand). Also, the capsules were big! Hahaha... It's kinda too much to swallow the recommended dosage of 6 pills a day. That's why I only took 4. I guess, that's just what I wasn't happy about. Actually for it's affordable price of P799 per bottle the cons really don't matter.

There's so much more to like about Neocell Super Collagen +C. The pros outweigh the cons.
1. Whenever my legs would rub onto each other my skin felt softer and smoother. Though my it seems that the softness had subsided a bit a week after I stopped taking the pills.
2. My left elbow, which is probably the driest area on my body had improved so much, no more rough & dry elbow, Wee!
3. My facial pores minimized. Not as small as I've expected but at least something happened.
4. Dark lips looked healthy and pinkish compared to before.
5. I'm not yet sure if Neocell Super Collagen did it but my hair seemed softer and shinier during the time I was taking the pills.



As for healthy joints & bones, I think I should've had my bones check before taking the pills and after. Haha. I do hope it strengthened my bones coz' I badly need stronger bones.

Just so you know, my mom gave her fair share of feedback. Since she gets to get out more than me, people have commented on her skin. She told me that people were saying 'ang kinis ng face mo' (you're face looks flawless). So I guess this supplement can really do wonders to our skin.

Overall, I liked this one and this will most likely be my go-to collagen supplement. For it's price and it's effects, this one's an ace. I would definitely by again. My mom's reaction was the same. Bili na daw kami uli. Haha.

See you on the next post!