I like these

By Zsarlene B. Chua
Reporter

IN the past few months, I have practically overhauled my skincare routine save for a few staples because there have been a lot of good releases this year. So unlike my other reviews that usually contain products I liked and products I don’t like, this one is focused on the new products I have incorporated in my skincare routine.

Do note that I now do take longer when it comes to reviewing skincare products more than color cosmetics because, in my experience, two weeks is not enough to see tangible results and decide whether I like the product or not. Several times I liked a product for a few weeks but then it didn’t work for me in the long run. So the products here are those that I have been using for at least a month, some even as long as three months.

Another thing that’s important to note: I am 25 years old and my skin is currently cycling between normal and dry, and while I do have hormonal flare-ups before my period, I have generally unproblematic skin though I do am sensitive to pollutants and dust and usually have to combat dry patches. So what might have worked for me might not work for you depending on your skin type and skin concerns, so please use discretion and if you are able to, try to buy or get sample sizes first to try out before buying a full size.

AHC’S THE REAL PURE EYE CREAM FOR FACE (P920 FOR 30 ML)
AHC is a Korean brand that started in high-end aesthetic clinics in 1999. It became so popular that in 2017 it was acquired by Unilever. The brand is known for its The Real Pure Eye Cream for Face, an eye cream that is said to contain over 90% natural ingredients and is so effective it can be used on one’s entire face as a daily cream.

It entered the Philippines in September, and is currently available in Watsons stores and in various online stores.

I was given the Real Pure Eye Cream for Face (such a mouthful) during the launch that month. Now, the thing about eye cream is that it can be an optional step in one’s routine (it is said to be gentle enough for the thin, sensitive skin around the eyes) and there’s not really a hard and fast rule on how to apply it — some suggest applying it only on the undereye area and some prefer doing the entire eye socket. I prefer doing the latter and even extend until the brow bone just to ensure full coverage — but to each their own.

I’ve been using the cream for more than a month now and I found it frustrating that the packaging is in Korean and thus I did not know what really makes the thing work — so I sleuthed around for the ingredients list and found it. It is said to contain glycerin (a humectant which limits moisture loss in the skin), algae extract (for skin elasticity and hydration), coconut water and oil, centella Asiatica (a plant that has antioxidant properties and soothes irritated and compromised skin), and Hyaluronic Acid (another humectant), among a host of other seed oils and fragrances.

It has a spreadable but not-so-thin-it’s-watery texture that allows one to glide the product around the eyes. It does have a fragrance so people who are sensitive, please take note, though the smell is mild and herbaceous.

It is also very hydrating and softened fine lines and dry patches that have started appearing around my eyes. Did it help with the mild discoloration of my undereye area? Not really, it did not lighten my eyebags but the area is hydrated now so it looks softer.

I use it day and night, though I use less in the day time because if there’s a gripe I have about it, it takes time to set. I understand there’s a The Real Eye Cream for Face (without the “Pure”) variant that’s supposedly lighter in texture, so people who don’t want a heavy consistency might want to consider that.

This is not a budget brand so I only use it around my eyes because I want it to last longer and, by my reckoning, it will take me a solid year to get through an entire tube.

Will I purchase this if I run out? Probably because I really do enjoy it.

GOODAL CAMELLIA MOISTURE BARRIER LINE (CREAM, TONER, AND AMPOULE);
GOODAL CAMELLIA MOISTURE BARRIER TONER (P1,000/200 ML);
GOODAL CAMELLIA MOISTURE BARRIER CREAM (P1,400/50 ML);
GOODAL CAMELLIA MOISTURE BARRIER AMPOULE (P1,450/12 ML)

I got these products in July when Luxasia, the brand’s distributor in the Philippines, brought samples during a roundtable interview. It wasn’t available in the Philippines until a few months later, but now it’s available in the Club Clio stores and in Lazada and Zalora.

Goodal is a Korean skincare brand by Club Clio and is known for its Green Tangerine line and is said to merge Korean traditions of fermentation alongside natural products making it “good for all,” hence the name.

I love these products and I’ve been using them for three months now. I mentioned before that while I have unproblematic skin, it can get really dry and irritated due to pollution and the line really helps my skin combat irritation and dryness because of ceramides.

Again, it rankles that the packaging is only in Korean but I did some research and it has ceramides that help for the skin’s moisture barrier do its thing: it’s the outermost layer of one’s skin and protects from too much moisture loss and environmental aggressors. Ceramides also soothe irritated skin.

The cream, which I use only at night, is a bit thick and is suitable for drier skin types. For oilier skin types, there’s a water gel version so you may want to go for that.

It has a faint smell of flowers and herbs — it’s not nauseating but it’s there. It smells stronger than the AHC eye cream. I am not a fan of the smell but I am all for the product.

In the morning, I use the toner and the ampoule. The ampoule is thicker than serum and is said to have a higher concentration of active ingredients. It usually comes in smaller 20 to 30 ml bottles so a 120 ml ampoule for P1,450 is a steal but still an investment.

The toner has a thin watery consistency unlike my other ceramide toner from The Face Shop — the Ceramide Moisturizing Toner (P390/150 ml) — which has almost a gel-like consistency. The thinner consistency makes it perfect for daytime use because it sinks in faster.

The ampoule has a thick consistency and a small amount is enough to cover the face. I suggest that you let the product sink in for less than a minute before applying your creams because, in my experience, creams work better when the skin is damp (not wet) not bone-dry.

In two months of consistent usage, I noticed that I have fewer flare-ups and faster recovery time. My skin is also plumper and more hydrated than before.

I would probably buy the ampoule again because my skin really loves it, and I would also consider the cream if I don’t find something better at a lower price. The toner, while I did like it, I might have to pass on it once it runs out because I have a cheaper alternative in my Face Shop toner.

NEUTROGENA DEEP CLEAN BRIGHTENING FOAMING CLEANSER (P239 FOR 100 G) AND SENKA PERFECT WHIP FOAM (P440 FOR 120 G)
Here are two facial washes that I would recommend because they check all my requirements: foamy enough despite using only a really small amount; adequately removes residual makeup and dirt as my second-cleanse; and do not dry me out in the short time between leaving the bathroom and commencing my skincare routine in the bedroom.

Note that at night I double-cleanse, first using Calmia Oatmeal Therapy Cleansing Oil (P570 for 200 ml) that I bought online from Althea Korea, followed by a foaming face wash.

(In the morning I do a gentle cleanse with Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser at P1,280 for 200 ml. I got it several months ago in an Avene event.)

The two facial washes were given to me during press events and they are available in leading drugstores and online.

The Neutrogena cleanser is glycerin-based with mulberry extract for brightening. I liked it because it’s affordable and my skin tolerates this variant so much better than the classic version which dries out my skin despite being supposedly hydrating. Did it brighten my skin? Not a lot but I did see some changes — my hyperpigmentation on my left cheek lightened and it balanced my skin tone despite not using any other brightening products.

Those struggling with oiliness and acne, Neutrogena also has an Acne Control variant.

Meanwhile, the Senka Perfect Whip Foam is something I use when I want a deeper clean — which is a bit ironic because Neutrogena is supposedly meant for a deep clean, but I feel that this product lifts away more dirt and is perfect for days when I’m out all day and use heavier-than-usual makeup.

Senka is a Japanese diffusion line from Shiseido and the crowd-favorite Perfect Whip Foam also contains glycerin and lauric acid for a deeper clean. A small, pea-sized dollop is enough to foam the whole face. Word of caution though, it does not hydrate the skin and it does dry the skin but not enough to bother me.