Korean Beauty Products Review: Carenel Sleeping Lip Mask Lime Version

My last review was about Innisfree Green Tea Seed Cream and the other reviews I did in this series were all about facial care. This time, it's about Carenel Sleeping Lip Mask in lime flavor. The other variety is berry, which I think would have been better for me. Unfortunately, it was sold out so I could not buy it.

Unlike the other products in my previous reviews, this one is not a sample even though it is so small. But 5 grams can be a lot even if you use it daily.

Who is it for?

If you have dry, chapped lips, this may be the product you are looking for.

Is it good?

There are two reasons why I bought this sleeping lip mask. One, I thought it would make my lips look pinkish so I do not have to wear lipstick or balm or anything. Two, I just like the idea of sleeping masks. And even better that it is for the lips.

When I tried it though, I was not really impressed with the effects. Maybe because I don't really have chapped lips. I don't plan to use it often because it doesn't really have an effect on me. I love the smell though. It has a true lime smell and I like how it makes my lips feel moist. Overall, I don't think it is impressive like the what other reviewers say. I was disappointed because I thought it would help make my lips look pinkish, but it is not the product's fault. I did not read the description thoroughly. My bad.

Will I buy it again?

I don't think I will repurchase. I don't know but it seems like a Laneige copycat. Even the packaging looks so similar. I even thought they're the same. I don't research on these products unless I really like them or want to know the how-tos so I'm not sure if they are affiliated with each other. If they are not, shame on the copycat. I don't know which copied which though.

Where did I buy it?

I bought the product from the Shopee shop above: jaimmietan. I bought it with the Carenel Water Sleeping Mask, which I will also review when I start using it. Together, they are priced at P150, which I think is more affordable. I loved my shopping experience with the shop above. Compared to others, it had more affordable products. For example, here at Beauty MNL, this Carenel product was P140. You're just P10 away from getting the water sleeping mask. I highly recommend buying at the said Shopee store. And no, I am not affiliated with them.

Tips for Using

If you will buy this product, here are my tips for you:

• Apply generously. 5 grams is a lot for a lip mask so even if you use it nightly, you will still have more left. Probably good for three months of use even for nightly users.
• Use every week or twice a week. Unless you have really bad chapped lips, I don't think you need to apply this every night.
• Use before sleeping. Exactly before sleeping. If you will apply it before going to bed, you might have to drink water or even have some midnight snacks. If you do, you will have to reapply. Also, it makes the water taste weird LOL.
• You can use your finger. I don't know about you but I think applying it with a Q-tip is weird. Be sure you wash your hands well though.

Does it work?

I believe this product does its job for getting rid of dry, chapped lips. My daughter had chapped lips and I let her use it. With just one use, her dry lips were gone, so I guess it is effective.

It has natural ingredients so it is safe to use for everyone, except for babies i guess. My daughter is almost four years old next month and it works great. She used it twice already. I also have a one-year-old baby but I would never let her use it. I don't think they get dry lips anyway.

Korean Beauty Products Review: Innisfree Green Tea Seed Cream

After testing the Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam and the Innisfree Bija Cica Essence, I also tried the Innisfree Green Tea Seed Cream. I used all three and incorporated them in my regular skincare routine but I ended up regretting that. After just a few minutes, my skin started to get itchy. I thought maybe it was just because I added new products to my routine. Unfortunately, I could not pinpoint the culprit.

Initial Impression

I really like how it looks. The sample is only 1 mL so it may not be enough to determine whether or not it will work on my skin. I only bought one sachet, which is stupid LOL.

When I first used it though, I immediately noticed the smell. I LOVED IT! It smells like something natural, like grass or something LOL. But I love it. I want to keep using it because of that smell. It is refreshing and calming as well.

What It's Supposed To Do

According to Innisfreeworld:

Deep moisturizing cream infused with pesticide-free Jeju green tea and green tea seed oil that instantly provides intense hydration to replenish the skin with moisture and nutrition 

Fresh green tea makes the dry skin moist, and green tea seed oil gives water-retention effects to trap hydration deep in the skin for highly-moisturizing and highly-nourishing care. 

2. Freshly squeezed green tea - green tea energy that delivers deep moisture and nutrition 
Freshly squeezed Jeju green tea rich in abundant minerals and amino acids makes the skin's texture watery. 

3. Dual moisturizing with fresh green tea and green tea seed oil 
Green tea seed oil provides deep moisture for dry skin, and forms a double moisture shield to retain intense hydration deep in the skin. 

4. Green tea EGCG for a powerful antioxidant moisture effect 
Highly antioxidant green tea EGCG with watery, soft cream-like texture forms a nourishing & hydrating shield for smooth, moist skin.

To summarize, it is best for those looking for a moisturizer that deeply penetrates the skin. It also hydrates the skin, which is one of the things I like about it. I did feel the hydration effect. My skin did not feel dry anymore, especially after I used the Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam, which seriously dried up my skin.

For best results, it should be paired with the green tea oil from Innisfree, which I did not do because I don't have it anyway.

Will I keep using it?

Yes, definitely. I think I will even buy more samples because I kinda like it. I will know in after few more uses.

Where did I buy it?

Once again, I bought it from the classytwinshop. And no, I am not affiliated with them or whatever. I bought the samples with my own money. I bought it at P12 but upon checking, it is now only P11. Sad life.

Korean Beauty Products Review: Innisfree Bija Cica Essence

I am still on the hunt for the best products for my skin and one of those that I am currently trying is the Bija Cica Essence from Innisfree.

It is a sample so it may not be enough for me to review it thoroughly but I will still try. If I like it, I might buy another. As I have mentioned in my first Korean Products Review post about Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam, I should have bought at least two each.

First Impression

I already know this sample is so tiny but I was not expecting it to be THIS tiny and with almost nothing inside HAHA. Well, yes it is only 1 mL anyway.

I have only used it once and I do not feel any difference. I don't think it's that impressive but I will keep using it until I run out. The whole sample is probably good for three to four uses.

What It's Supposed to Do

According to this website, the Innisfree BIja Cica Essence will make your skin feel moist after use. It is best for dry/combination skin. So, if you have oily skin, there's a variety that is made for you called the Special Cica Essence.

I bought the daily essence, which is for those with dry or combo skin.

I still don't understand what essence is for though. I think it is for targeting problems on your skin. So if you have pimple marks, you can use a speciifc essence for it. Correct me if I'm wrong. I might have to look into that.

How to Use

In your essence skin care step, use the product. It should feel moist since it is easily absorbed.

Will I Buy It Again?

Yes, I think so. I will add it to my list of things to try even though I have already tried it.

However, I don't think I'll buy the bigger one, which is 50 mL. I think it is too expensive especially since it is used daily. I will run out really quickly LOL. If it is great though and helps my skin, I'll think about it.

Where to Buy

I bought the sample from classytwinshop for only P12 and there is even a wholesale price. Buy six pieces and you only have to pay P10. I should have bought more but I don't think I'll buy six LOL. 1 mL is seriously so small though. I recommend buying at least 2 -- 3 if you really want to use to use an essence lotion.

Korean Beauty Products Review: Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam

Here is a confession: I am addicted to makeup and beauty products. I don't care if they are fake, as long as I can afford them, I will buy them.

So I have bought some Korean beauty products on Shopee because I am searching for the right ones for my face. I want to have whiter skin, especially my face. My body is lighter than my face which bothers me a lot.

I bought some samples to try and unfortunately, I only bought one each. I'm really stupid LOL. I should have bought at least two so I can really figure out which ones work best for me. One of the first samples I tried was this Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam. I tried it with other Innisfree products, the essence and the oil, which I will also review.

It was too late when I learned that I should only try one new product at a time. That way, I will know if it really works and I can pinpoint which is causing a reaction if any.

After I tried all three products together, I felt itchy. The problem is I do not know which among those three caused it. So I am starting over and I will use them one by one. First, I will review this cleansing foam.

Initial Reaction

It was really small!

The sample was only 4 mL but it is actually bigger than most of the samples, which are only 1 mL in size. Of course, it's small though. It is a sample after all.

One of the things I like about this product is that it smells really good. I love it. It smells so fresh and clean.

I did feel some super tiny beads in the product when I first took a small amount but the second time, there were none. It kinda baffled me and I wondered if it should have those beads or not.


The Supposed Effect

According to this website, this cleansing foam has the following traits:

• can absorb sebum
• can purify pores
• uses natural ingredients like volcanic scoria that has the same pH as humans so it's good for the skin
• has no impurities

The site also gives directions on how to use the product:

"Apply a small amount of foam into your hands and work it into a rich lather. After massaging your face with the foam, rinse it off with lukewarm water."

What I do not understand from there though are the following:

*Pore cleansing foam vs. Pore scrub foam 
-Pore Cleansing Foam: Daily Pore Cleansing--Removes dirt from pores 
-Pore Scrub Foam: Pore Cleansing (1-2 times a week)-- A gentle scrub foam that removes dirt and dead skin cells from pores.

I do not know where to find those symbols or maybe it is just stating those things. Anyway, I don't think they're important.

Second Use

I just love the smell. I used it today and I love how clean it smells. It smells like something you would use on a baby. It's pleasant and does not irritate my nose. Unfortunately, I think it is the only thing I like about it.

I don't like how it dries up my skin I need to tone right away to get rid of the dryness. My toner has moisturizing effects so it helps. However, the cleansing foam from Innisfree alone makes my skin so dry. Some people may like that because you will really feel that your skin is like getting tugged, like a free treatment such as Botox or something. Personally though, I do not like it. I don't want to feel that my face is dry and not hydrated.

Another thing that I don't like is that I feel like it is not suited for sensitive skin. It stings. There are some areas that feel like they burn. Thankfully, no redness or other signs of irritation appeared. For now.

Summary

Pros

• It comes in a 4 mL sachet. Other samples are usually in 1 mL sachets.
• The smell is really good.
• There are beads (if you are into that)

Cons

• It dried up my face really bad.
• It stings.
• I think it is too strong for my face.
• Not suitable for those with sensitive skin.

Will I Recommend It?

No. Especially for people with already dry skin. Also if you are the sensitive type, I think you should not use it.

Yes to people who like to feel the "clean" effect after washing their face. Also, maybe to those with oily skin.

Will I Continue Using It?

Yes, until I run out. Surprisingly, there's still a lot left. I have already used it three times (two for me and one for another person with dry skin) but there's still more in the sachet. I think it is good for at least 5 uses.

Next time I use it, I will follow the direction which is to rinse with lukewarm water LOL.

Will I Buy It Again?

Definitely not! I think the big tube though is quite affordable, compared to other Korean beauty products.

I bought this sample for only P14 pesos from the classytwinshop. 

I love this store. There are lots of Korean products and I am planning to buy most of the them (there are over 800 LOL) just to try them out.

Weight Loss Capsule Review Update: Pretty Model

I'm back with an update! I want to give an update every week about the Pretty Model capsule. I am a day late though...

Anyway, it has been more than a week since I started taking this weight loss capsule. I took the first pill last Sunday night and the next dose was in the morning. There were no significant effects. In fact, there were none at all. However, the next day, I started feeling the effects and I was no longer getting too hungry. I would only eat one cup of rice a day when I used to eat at least two cups.

Before I get into more detail, some bad news first:

• The first few days, perhaps until the third day, I was suffering from headaches. If you are sensitive about this (I know some people who are), I do not recommend this product. The headaches that you will get are truly painful that you will not be able to do anything. The lights seem blinding and all you want to do is stay in bed - at least for me.
• Another big complaint is mood swings. I would be okay one second but just a small thing can annoy the hell out of me. Noise would make me angry and I would take it out on someone else. I would even start a fight with my boyfriend because I would be so angry. Small things would upset me and I would feel down for an hour or so. After that, everything would be fine. I cannot really blame this pill entirely because I have always been like this. However, I do think it exacerbated my mood swings.
• My biggest complaint though is that I would get really, really, REALLY thirsty. I would drink a tall glass of water, almost 500 mL just to satisfy my thirst. And that is just one whole drink. I would keep drinking like that throughout the day. It gets worse because I drink coffee. I think I drink about eight 500 mL at least in one day. But drinking is not my problem because I'd rather drink than not drink. I know water has tons of benefits. In fact, I think it helped clear my skin. I used to have big pores, oily skin that gets really dry when it is cold, and all other problems. But after drinking lots and lots of water, I saw a HUGE difference. Now back to the bad thing here, drinking water means I have to pee. And I pee a lot to the point that it is disturbing my sleep. Also, I pee for more than a minute. It takes so long to sit on the toilet. I usually pee early in the morning right when I am having a good rest.
• Because my sleep is disrupted, I noticed that the bags under my eyes are getting worse. They have become darker than normal, especially before I started taking this pill.
• Another big problem is that my right side is a little painful. It does not hurt a lot but it does get worrisome. I am talking about the part near my stomach. It goes away when I drink a lot of water though.

I think I have covered all of the negatives. If I remember more, I will update this post.

Now, onto the good news:

• I did lose weight!

When I first weighed, I was 62.8 kgs. My waistline was around 31 inches and I felt really fat. But after taking the pill consecutively for 6 days, my average weight loss is 1.3 kg in just a week. I even started feeling sexier. This weight loss occurred even when I would eat a lot of food and not exercise. Last time I weighed, I was around 60.6 kgs. My lowest this week was 59.9 kgs. I got quite excited and unfortunately, I started eating too much again.

• There are not a lot of side effects.

I used to have a headache almost daily but it was only bad on the first day. The next days, they were tolerable. I did not experience other side effects except the mood swings. 

• I poop daily.

I had trouble pooping before I took Pretty Model. I would actually not poop for days and it would make me sick. But with this capsule, I would poop every day, which makes me happy LOL.

Update on Intake

I have not been taking Pretty Model for two days now. I stopped on Sunday but I plan to continue with some slight tweaking. I want to lose weight but I keep eating a lot. I am back to my old habits and I have noticed that I have gained weight again. I am afraid to weigh myself because of this. It is why I have decided to up my game. It is Tuesday tomorrow and I will take two capsules in the morning before breakfast. After that, I will exercise and stop pigging out. I hope I have better news next week.

I have already ordered three boxes of the pill, which should be good for a month. If I do not lose weight or get close to my target weight, I will probably move on and try another pill.

See you next week!

Last weigh in: February 9, 4:12 PM

Weight: 60.6 kg

Starting weight: 62.8 kg

Lowest weight achieved in six days: 59.9 kg

Intake: One capsule at least 30 minutes before breakfast, one capsule at least 30 minutes before dinner

Weight Loss Product Review: Pretty Model Slimming Capsule (Yellow and Green)

So long ago, specifically back in 2013, I tried the Pretty Model Slimming Capsule. I wrote a review about it in my very old blog. Here is the link: http://allaboutmoiapf12345.blogspot.com/2013/04/pretty-model-slimming-capsule-review.html

At that time when I reviewed it, I was not very happy with the results. It was only a week I think. But I kept using it and I was not able to write more about it. I want to try it again because it was really effective. When I wrote that old review, I lost weight after taking the pill. From waist size 30 to 28, it was actually good since I wrote it after seven days of taking the product. What was interesting was that I  I am back to using it now because after giving birth, I got really big - and I mean BIIIIGGGGG. I was around 89 kg. Yikes.

This will be a series of reviews since I will keep trying the pill for two to three months. I have already started last January 30th. Here are some facts about me:

Height: 5'3
Weight before I took the pill: Approximately 72 kg
Bust: 40 inches
Waistline: 34.5 inches
Hips: 40 inches

Before I wrote this review, I actually started taking Pretty Model, probably in July or August. It was not truly successful because I was not serious with it. I got sick so I stopped taking it but I saw some slimming effects, which makes me want to keep trying. So I'm back to taking this pill and hopefully, this time it will work. I recently weighed myself, which was a day before I took the pill and here are my numbers:

Weight: 61.9 kg
Bust: 38 inches
Waistline: 32 inches
Hips: 39 inches

As I have said, I already started taking PM before the end of January. Last time I took the pill was a day ago LOL. I missed one dose but I promise I will start taking it seriously. Here's why I want to keep going: I think it really works. I did not write about it in my previous review, but I got really slimmer. From 30 to 26 in just two weeks!

Taking the Pill

What I am quite curious about is when to take the pill. I have no definite answer. I tried researching and I got different results:

• Take one pill 30 minutes before breakfast and another 30 minutes before dinner
• Take one pill 30 minutes before breakfast
• Take two pills 30 minutes before breakfast
• Take one pill after dinner, before going to sleep

I don't know which one to choose though. I will reread the box but I don't think it has anything about taking it the proper way. Currently, I am doing the first option which is one pill before breakfast and dinner, so two pills daily. One box only has 20 caps so the whole pack is good for 10 days only. I bought mine at the Shopee app from seller hazelpascua. I bought the 300 pesos per pack plus shipping, which is 380 pesos.

If you want to save on the shipping fee, you will need to buy more from the same shop until you reach 500 pesos worth of items. I usually wait for shipping discounts from the app, like the latest one, which was the 2.2 sale where the minimum order for a shipping discount was 199pesos. I only paid 20p for the shipping.

Side Effects

Before, I used to complain about headaches when I wrote my old review but this time, I did not have any major headaches. What I did not like though is that I am having trouble sleeping. I do not know if the capsule has something to do with it though. I did read from another online review that she had a problem with it as well and even had that "nangangalumata" look. I'm not really sure what it means but from what I understand it is when you look tired or fatigued and have dark circles under your eyes. I have always had that problem but I think it intensified when I started taking the pill. I am still in search for a good concealer and a treatment for that so hopefully, I will find it. 

And because I would stay up at night, I had to eat midnight snacks because I would get hungry. I think that is a bad thing too. It stops me from losing weight.

Another problem I have encountered is mood swings. I would be okay one second and something would instantly annoy me and I would snap. It is frustrating because I am trying to be nicer LOL. I also poop regularly, which should be good because I am constantly constipated anyway. However, one issue I have with this is that I do not just poop once. I would go to the bathroom at least twice and almost within a few minutes apart.

Perhaps the most problematic for me is that I am always thirsty. I drink a lot of water already but this time, I am always thirsty. I have never been this thirsty! I would drink like 500 ml of water and I would still feel like I did not drink at all. The issue I have with that is I would have to get up each night just to pee. I am already struggling with sleep so getting up just to pee is a nightmare. And it does not happen just once at night. Usually, I would pee twice so I wake up twice because I am not used to holding it in till the morning. Anyway, that's bad so I'd rather get up to go to the bathroom.

For now, those are the only side effects. I do not have other problems and those side effects, for me, are just minor. I will continue taking the pill and will update about it. If it does not work after three months, I will stop and look for a better product.

Today's weight as of 9:35 PM: 62.8 kg 

Bust: 38 inches

Waistline: 31 inches

Hips: 39.5 inches

Back to Blogging

Hi everyone!

I have decided to go back to blogging despite having lots of things to do. I just like writing about stuff, especially new stuff that I have recently tried or would want to try.

Over the past several months, I have been shopping online using the Shopee app and I have tried several products, which I want to share. I also want to list the things I want to buy in the future and perhaps seek help or advice whether or not a certain product works.

Before I start, I will probably just blog every week but I will always try to post at least twice, although I am still unsure because my only free time is on Sundays.

Anyway, hope this will be regular and I hope I don't get negative comments LOL.

Happy reading!