Ellana Minerals Cosmetics

I received my sample this morning via LBC. Honestly, this is the first time that I've actually signed up to receive a sample of anything from the internet world. It was recommended to me by Hana so i decided to give it a try and now, i really have the free make-up samples!

The free face sampler includes 2-perfect blend foundation, 1-concealer, 1-translucent finishing powder and 1-blush (1/4 tsp each in zip lock bags) matched with my skin color/undertone.  For my skin tone, I received Macchiato and Caramel Foundations, Golden Beige Concealer, Espresso con Panna Finishing Powder, and Lust peach pink Blush.

I'm so excited to try them! Plus, aside from the free samples, they also sent me their product catalogue and I was surprised to see that their prices are affordable.

If you want to get your own FREE SAMPLES, click here.

Skin Care

Invest in skin care first before you invest in cosmetics.

That's what I learned from my personal experience. I used to buy face powder and full coverage foundations to cover up my pimples and skin imperfections. But it only made my skin problems worse. I learned the hard way and after a couple of years of experimenting I finally found that having a simple skin care regimen is the best answer to your skin problems.

Forget cosmetics and make up, invest first in a good yet gentle skin cleanser and moisturizer. You can squeeze in  a toner but you can omit it unless your skin really needs it. There is no one-time or overnight solution. Your skin needs time to adjust and heal before it becomes flawless. Having pimples is a part of growing up, specially for teens. Every beauty magazine article that I've read says that you should NEVER squeeze out your pimples. I did and I regret it every time when it gets inflamed. I say don't touch it if you can't properly do it. The dermatologist extracts pimples and blackheads but they have the proper SANITIZED tools and medication to combat any infection or inflammation.

The skin is the largest organ in the body. If you're taking care of your face, don't forget that your whole body is covered in skin, too. Take care of the rest of your body by using gentle body wash or soap and do not over-exfoliate. Treat your skin nicely.

There are a lot of products in the market that can meet the demands of every person in terms of skin cleansing. You just have to pick one that is best suited with you. Remember that every person has a different skin type so it is not always that what works for your friend would also work well with you. Apply a skin patch test first before applying products. Also, stop using the product in as early as the first sign of irritation is felt (even if it is not yet visible).

And, the most important thing to remember: FOLLOW PACKAGE INSTRUCTIONS. You can never go wrong if you carefully and diligently follow instructions.

Skin Food

I tried two Skin Food products: the Cocoa Whip Body Wash and Milk & Honey Body Lotion.

Cocoa Whip Body Wash was extremely fragrant. Aside from the delicious cocoa aroma which I really love, I can also smell milk, which, in my own opinion, was goat's milk. It doesn't dry my skin and did not give me any rashes or irritation. I am the type of person whose skin would almost always adversely react to new products but this body wash was extremely gentle and great for my sensitive skin.

The Milk & Honey Body Lotion is also a good buy. The lotion is not greasy and it is absorbed quickly by the skin. It is best applied right after shower. Also, it is a hefty 320 ml which is more than the usual content of the available lotions in the local market.

The only disagreeable element in Skin Food Products, for me, are its prices. There's a local Skin Food store in SM City Davao.

What is the best deodorant?

Personally, I have a hard time looking for the best deodorant to suit me. When I was younger, we only had the local tawas in stone or powder form. There are some powder variants which are fine and contains talc and they really smell good. However, these types of deodorants don't guarantee sweat-free underarms.

Most deodorants today are already anti-perspirants. The anti-perspirant-deodorant variants have become widely available in response to its growing demand. More people are switching from the traditional tawas to the commercial deodorants. The best deodorants that I've tried are those of Secret, Rexona, Dove, Nivea and VMV. I've also tried the aloevera-based deodorant of Forever Living but it I didn't like it. Also tried Amway Body Series Deodorant but I wouldn't recommend it.

Secret deodorants guarantee you to be sweat-free. Rexona (pink), so far, is the most fragrant of all deodorants that I've tried. Dove is mild and good for those with sensitive underarms but it does not totally inhibit underarm perspiration. Nivea has a lot of variants which my brother likes, specially Nivea Sport. I've used Nivea Sensitive and it works just fine. But for the other Nivea variants for women, I find their scent too strong. As for VMV, it's a spray-on and it's really good for sensitive skin. I did not experience any irritation while using it. However, you need to let it dry first before putting on you shirt because the product sometimes sticks to the fabric. I'm still using VMV now. It's a little pricey compared to Rexona or Dove but it's also very economical.