Quirky life of Kim

I've tried mild facial wash, aloe vera, witch hazel, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, retinol, clindamycin, doxycycline, Foreo, Clarisonic, green tea, peppermint tea, toothpaste, honey, Aztec clay masks, apple cider vinegar, chemical peel, monthly facials, and oxygen treatments. You name it, I've tried it just to get clear skin. All these products would work temporarily, but as soon as I was hit with external factors, stress, or that time of the month I would surely breakout. I've already spent thousands just to address this problem. Finally, because of its persistence, my Derma decided to put me on a low dose of Isotretinoin. Since my acne was now mild, I was put on 10mg, 4x a week. So that's 40mg per week. I am using the brand Isonoin. I will post my monthly updates here, and so far I'm on month 2. But first, a little background just to know what we're getting on.

What is Isotretinoin?

This is the only acne treatment that attacks all four causes of acne — excess oil production, clogged pores in the skin, too much of the bacteria P. acnes, and inflammation. One course of treatment generally takes about 4 to 5 months. Common side effects is dryness and severe birth defects. You cannot donate blood or excessively drink alcohol while on this drug.

Monthly Review

1st Month 

Excessively dry lips that no lip balm could calm down. Delayed period. Insomnia, couldn't sleep until 2 am. Got a lot of tiny bumps on the cheeks. Cystic acne were few.

2nd Month

Dry lips have lessened, was able to cure it with drinking lots of water. Delayed period. Insomnia. No more tiny bumps. Only cystic acne. Felt excessive dryness on other parts of the body, like underarms and face. Experienced blurry vision.

3rd Month-5th Month

Still experiencing those dry lips. No more excessive dryness on other parts of the body. No longer get acne even if medication is skipped, ate chocolates, or had a sip of soda. Though I get tiny bumps from time to time especially when the time of the month is near. Never has cystic acne so far. Still having trouble sleeping.

Stay tuned for the monthly updates!

UPDATE:

After taking low dose isotretinoin for more than 6 months acne still emerged. I have consulted my dermatologist, and he has placed me in a high dose prescription. I have been taking 50mg/day for 6 months now and my skin has been clear. No more cystic acne. One thing I noticed is the little bumps, which sometimes leaves marks and go away the next day, still emerges. Since I was done with my dose and I wasn't getting fairly big acne anymore, what I did was to stop taking isotretinoin. I invested in the 'The Ordinary Peeling Solution' and I never got that small bumps I have been complaining about. Even if I sleep late, had that time of the month or drink milk, no more acne. So this is an effective treatment. Finally, I have controlled my acne which I have been dealing with since I was 18. Hope my journey has helped you gain inspiration and believe that the battle is close to over once we start this treatment.

Having dry and chapped lips is a pain, isn't it? You couldn't wear matte lipsticks and your lips are always peeling painfully. I have searched high and low, to solve this problem. I tried using lip scrubs and petroleum jelly. Unfortunately, this were band-aid solutions, once the product was removed I would again experience cracked lips. So I did tons of research on what product to buy, what was the most recommended, and alas, it was the Carmex lip balm. I have already heard of this brand a couple of times, but since it was a U.S. brand I didn't know if it was accessible. The great thing is Watson now carries this item, so I bought one! 

Price 

150.00 

Bought at Watsons

Main ingredients

Claims

Helps to moisture and relieve dry, chapped lips

How to use

Apply liberally and evenly as often as necessary. Especially useful before and after exposure to sunlight, wind, or low temperature. Recommended before and after lipstick applications to preserve and restore moisture.

Time used

1 year +

Likes 

Dislikes

Rate

4/5

I can give so many praises to this product. I have tried many lip balms, and so far this one stands out. I really have dry lips that are so hard to relieve, but with Carmex 1-2 squeeze and problem solved! I would buy this in a swift if I ran out.

So here are my thoughts about this product. I hope I helped you with my reviews.

Leave comments below on any random stuff and what you want me to review. Thanks!

We planned a beach outing, and for months we were enthusiastic until the day before came, where I, unfortunately, got my period! I didn't want to bleed out on all the land trips, and I didn't want the disgusting feeling of a wet napkin. So I tried using a tampon!

Price 

Around 150.00 as of 2018 (8 tampons included)

Bought at Watsons

Can be bought from online shops and Rustans

Not available in Robinsons supermarket, I checked

Main ingredients:

Rayon, Cotton String, Polysorbate 20

Claims

How to use

Click here! (Full tutorial on how to use a tampon)

Just remember to wash your hands before and after application. And if it gets uncomfortable it just means that the tampon hasn't been pushed far enough. So push, push, push!

Time used

1 week

Likes 

Dislikes

Rate

4/5

Even though the cons outweigh the pros I think using a tampon is very convenient. And if I didn't have a hard time inserting it, and if it wasn't so expensive I'd want to use this every time. Imagine the convenience of almost feeling nothing while on your period. Disgusting POV ahead,  it actually looks like a small longganisa when you pull it out, causes the cotton sucks all the blood. I do recommend this if you want to try it out.

So here are my thoughts about this product. I hope I helped you with my reviews.

Leave comments below on any random stuff and what you want me to review. Thanks!

This has raved in Sephora, it has more than 1000 reviews! So many people claiming that it cured their acne, lightened their acne marks, and changed the texture of their skin. Since my skin was clearing up, I wanted to target my acne marks. Indeed this was on the pricey side, but I have tried doing Glycolic Acid treatments in clinics and my gosh, it was worth 1700 per session. Indeed for a toner, this was still on the pricey side, but this was really cheaper than a derma session. But of course, there was the risk of burning your face since this was an acid.

Price 

390 for 15ml/  1050 for 100ml/ 1950 for 250ml (beautymnl, always sold out)

407 for 15ml/  995 for 100ml/ 1990 for 250ml (sephora)

750.00 for 100ml (shopee)

Can be bought in BeautyMNL, Shopee, Sephora, etc.

Main ingredients

Water/Aqua/Eau, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) Seed Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Fructose, Glucose, Sucrose, Urea, Dextrin, Alanine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Hexyl Nicotinate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Biotin, Panthenol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance (Parfum), Caramel, Red 4 (CI 14700). 250ml/ 8.5 fl. oz.

Claims

• Exfoliates and purifies the skin with Glycolic Acid

• Ginseng improves circulation and energizes

• Aloe vera soothes and hydrates

• Refines the appearance of pores

• Gently accelerates cell renewal to reveal a brighter, glowing complexion

• Balances heals and soothes for radiant, healthier-looking skin

• Alcohol-free

• Suitable for all skin types

• Not tested on animals

How to use

It depends on your skin on how well you can tolerate this. 

Ideally, since this is an exfoliant you should use this 1-2x a week. 

But a lot of people have been saying that this is mild enough to be used every day,

if that's the case you should build up the frequency to test the waters.

According to Pixibeauty.com:

• Use: Either in the AM and PM or when needed. 

• Step 1: Cleanse your face 

• Step 2: Saturate a cotton pad with the Glow Tonic™ and sweep across face, neck, and décolletage (avoiding eye area). 

• Step 3: Follow with a serum or moisturizer

Time used

1 month, once a day

Likes 

Dislikes

Rate

3/5

I really could see that I was purging as small pimples would appear and disappear the next day, this went on for 3 weeks. Cystic acne was less. And acne marks lightened in a matter of 2 weeks! Although my face felt oilier I wanted to endure it, believing that this would be a good product in the long run. Unfortunately, when the 4th week came I was experiencing so many little bumps on my face. And for sure this was the culprit since this was the only thing new in my regimen. I already gave it my 4 weeks and I didn't want to continue it any longer since clearly, it was causing irritation. After discontinuing this product the small bumps went away, and everything came back to normal. 

So here are my thoughts about this product. I hope I helped you with my reviews.

Leave comments below on any random stuff and what you want me to review. Thanks!

Joining the hype once again, with this crazed Mamala Whitening Deo. Everybody has been raving about it, getting so many reviews in Shopee, Lazada, and almost all famous online shops you could find. So is it worth the hype? What are the differences between versions 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0? Continue reading below and let's find out!

Price 

350.00 

Bought it on Shoppee

Most concept stores sell this product

Main ingredients

Take note this is version 3.0, and I must say I am not impressed with the ingredients. It contains

such few whitening agents because they wanted to produce a milder formula.

v3.0 ingredients:

Claims

How to use

Use morning and night for best results. Do not use with any other deos.

Time used

3 weeks

Likes 

Dislikes

Rate

3/5

I wanted to love this product as many people were claiming that it lightened there underarm in a span of 10 days. But I guess there are misconceptions, as one they only sell version 3.0 (now) which has a milder formula or milder ingredients, and a lot of people say it isn't as effective as the first formula, which contains a lot of whitening agents. So maybe those 7 or 10-day miracle were possible, but it was due to the first version. There are also some speculations that version 2.0 which contained the blue particles causes dark underarms, so better stay away from that.

So here are my thoughts about this product. I hope I helped you with my reviews.

Leave comments below on any random stuff and what you want me to review. Thanks!

I did my Brazilian Blowout in a salon, I really liked the result and they advised me if I wanted it to last I needed to use after treatment cares. I searched through the internet and saw that iCure is one of the most trusted brands when it comes to keratin treatments.

Price 

380(300mL of shampoo or conditioner)

559(set of shampoo and conditioner)

Bought from Lazada

Can be bought from Shoppee and BeautyMNL(more expensive) 

Main ingredients

Shampoo

Aqua, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Cocamidopropyl betaine,lauryl glucoside, sodium lauroyl, glutamate, zinc pyrithione, polyquaternium-10,parfum, citric acide, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone

Conditioner

Aqua, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Cocamidopropyl betaine, lauryl glucoside, sodium lauroyl, glutamate, zinc pyrithione, polyquaternium-10, parfum, citric acid, phenoxyethanol

Claims

iCure Professional is a US-based brand distributed in the Philippines. It offers products like The iCure Keratin Hair Treatment that can be used for hair reconstruction, volume reduction, and anti-frizz.

   Pregnancy safe

Baby-Safe  

Paraben-Free  

Sulfate-Free

Silicone-Free  

Cruelty-Free

iCure Daily Shampoo after-treatment 300ml

is exclusively designed for Keratin treatment and daily use. It is made from natural fruit extracts that maintain the natural pH balance of the hair. It is non-toxic and it is safe to use daily. iCure daily shampoo ensures to keep the result of the treatment long-lasting, leaves hair strong, healthy, silky, and manageable.

iCure Daily Conditioner after-treatment 300ml

is a fruit rich antioxidant to revitalize hair and deliver super conditioning and prismatic shine to the hair after a keratin treatment. Ideal for making hair clean, healthy, and full of body. Ensures to keep long-lasting treatment results!

How to use

Three days after treatment, wash the hair with the iCure Daily Shampoo and Conditioner to extend the effects of the treatment for a longer period. Apply iCure Daily Shampoo and Conditioner to wet hair, lather, and rinse. Repeat as needed.

Time used

2 months

Likes 

Dislikes

Rate

2/5

I didn't like this shampoo and conditioner. Though frizziness did disappear, it didn't make my hair looked "bagsak", instead it looked dry. I guess I just stuck through it hoping it would beautify my hair in the long run. I do not recommend this product. I'd rather use an all-natural shampoo and conditioner which is also sulfate-free. 

So here are my thoughts about this product. I hope I helped you with my reviews.

Leave comments below on any random stuff and what you want me to review. Thanks!

Witch hazel has been a cult favorite. It has been incorporated in different acne-fighting treatments,

may it be a toner, cleanser, or even a moisturizer. I have been eyeing this ever since but I just couldn't

find the small version in Health Options, so when I had the extra money (I was a student back then) I immediately bought this from healthy options.

Price 

89(59mL) , 250+ (273mL) , 379 (473mL)

Bought from Healthy Options

Main ingredients

All-natural distilled witch hazel, containing natural grain alcohol 14% and witch hazel extract

If you're wondering, how does this make it a good toner when it contains alcohol?

According to an Amazon Q&A " It does not contain synthetic isopropyl alcohol;

but it does include 14% natural grain alcohol.....which is naturally produced during

the fermentation process of grains. If you have highly sensitive areas on your face, 

use it every other day, because if you are sensitive to either ingredient you

will be able to manage the reaction better. "

Claims

How to use

Use daily after cleansing or before applying skin treatments. Moisten a cotton ball or pad and apply to face and neck. For best results, use in the morning and night for naturally soft and beautiful skin.

Time used

6 months(2016)

Likes 

Dislikes

Rate

3/5

The first time I used it I didn't love it. It felt like water and I wasn't sure if it even contributed to helping my breakouts. But as time passes by I saw that my left cheek was getting clearer day by day, so I guess asides from the other products that I have been using it helped control my breakout. And when I decided to stop this toner, my pores were clogged immediately. So it was a really helpful product, though you still have to incorporate it with other acne-fighting treatments.

Update 2018:

I decided to use this again as I was having uncontrollable breakouts once again.I used this for 2 weeks this time. Unfortunately, it gave me a lot of clogged pores. So I will not be touching this product again. Would I recommend this product? I guess it's for you to try. But if you don't have sensitive skin, then I say go for it!

So here are my thoughts about this product. I hope I helped you with my reviews.

Leave comments below on any random stuff and what you want me to review. Thanks!

I have a problem. My lips have been cracking up, and I have tried everything I can to solve this problem. I tried researching and found out that in order to have healthy lips you have to exfoliate at least once a week.

According to nuggbeauty.com

"Exfoliation is an important part of lip care, simply because your lips don’t have sebaceous glands to keep them moisturized. The sebum secreted by sebaceous glands all over your skin and scalp is what keeps them hydrated and nourished; your lips, on the other hand, have no means to keep them moisturized. Plus, since your lips are covered by a very thin layer of skin, it loses moisture fast. Hence, it is wise to keep a lip balm handy at all times."

So this is necessary for the lip balm to moisturize lips effectively. I chose to buy this lip balm because this is one of the affordable and natural scrubs available.

Price 

175.00 (12g)

Brought it at Beauty bar in Eastwood Mall

Available at Beauty bar, BeautyMNL, human nature is also carried out at selected Robinsons supermarket

Main ingredients

Sacharrum officinarum (sugarcane) extract, Helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, Cera alba (beeswax), caprylic/capric triglyceride (vegetable-derived), Mentha piperita (peppermint) leaf essential oil, Mentha arvensis (corn mint) leaf essential oil, aqua (water), gluconic acid (plant-derived), sodium benzoate (plant-derived), tocopherol (Vitamin E)

Claims

A natural exfoliant that smoothens and softens lips. Sloughs off dead skin cells with fair trade sugar crystals from Negros; imparts and locks in moisture with sunflower oil, jojoba oil, and beeswax; gives a cooling, tingling sensation after use

How to use

Exfoliate your lips only 1-2x a week. My own preference is to put on the product while my lips are dry. The product runs down when I put it on wet lips, and it turns into waste.

Time used

3 months (weekly)

Likes 

Dislikes

Rate

4.5/5

I know some may think that this is a waste of money since there are a lot of DIY lip scrubs you can do. I actually tried making my own with honey, sugar, and water, but what I couldn't get right was the consistency and I couldn't get the feeling of rubbing the chapped or dead skin cells since it was so runny.I think human nature lip scrub was perfect it has great packaging, great consistency, very solid, and I love the minty feeling afterward.

So here are my thoughts about this product. I hope I helped you with my reviews.

Leave comments below on any random stuff and what you want me to review. Thanks!

So whitening boosters seem to rave these days. Now, who wouldn't want a whiter complexion

in a span of 7 days! Also, considering that these whitening boosters are so cheap. If you didn't know AHA (Glycolic, Mandelic, and Lactic) cost 1500.00 and up when applied by a dermatologist.

When I heard about these whitening boosters I was so curious and I wanted to try it right away. It is pretty convenient since I don't have to use another lotion or whitening cream, I just have to add

it to the recent products that are already working on me!

Price 

160.00 (30ml)

Bought this at Treats and Pieces, Eastwood

You can buy this online, Shoppee to be specific.

BEWARE OF FAKE PRODUCTS.

Main ingredients

Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) serum combining Glycolic and Lactic Acid

Time used

3 weeks

Claims

(According to a Shoppee store)

The main function is to exfoliate skin or remove dead skin cells. 

Helps to make skin smooth and soft, helps lighten complexion. 

Moisturizing properties repairs sun damage (Suitable for dry skin.). 

It is a water-soluble acid, that gives more moisturizing effects. 

AHA Serum can be mixed with any lotion or body cream. 

It helps the lotion/cream to be absorbed easily by the skin. 

AHA Serum only is used on the body, not suitable for the face. 

AHA serum should only be used at night. 

How to use

(According to a Shoppee store)

Mix 2 - 3 drops of Mimi White AHA Body Serum with any lotion. 

It can also be used or applied directly to your skin. See the results after 2 weeks. 

Likes 

• Easy to buy as it is available in most boutiques

Dislikes

• No whitening effect after 3 weeks
• The packaging was prone to spilling, it's hard to control the amount you want to get
• Since it's in Thai you don't know the ingredients of the formula. I just relied on the Shoppee description regarding the ingredients, I'm not even sure if that is true as there is many types of AHA.

Rate

1/5

I honestly don't recommend this product. I am even disappointed in myself for joining the hype and trying things that might burn my skin, moreover didn't know what it really contains.

After 3 weeks there were no obvious results. Luckily, the area where I applied it didn't darken, but it also didn't lighten. I felt like I wasted three weeks.

But at least I tried. Now I know that this whitening booster wasn't effective for me.

So here are my thoughts about this product. I hope I helped you with my reviews.

Leave comments below on any random stuff and what you want me to review. Thanks!

Cleopatra has so many good reviews about this product. You can see a lot of before and after pictures on their Instagram, showing much improvement after only a few uses. This can also be considered as one of their prime product. A good friend recommended this to me claiming that this solved her problems regarding acne marks. It is also 100% vegan and has no preservatives. So I had to try this.

Price

400.00 (35g)

Will freshly be prepared in front of you

Can be brought from their online store in Instagram

Can frequently be seen in bazaars (Cubao, Market Market, Shangrila, Eastwood, etc)

Smell

Minty

Main ingredients

1300 natural organic plant enzymes, biominerals, trace elements, amino acids, plant hormones, fatty acids, and vitamins

Time used

5 uses (weeks apart)

Claims

• Promotes muscular relaxation
• Powerful ability to naturally preserve skin's youth
• Antibacterial and healing abilities that can help soothe breakouts
• Possesses natural astringent to eliminate bacteria and fight infection

Likes

• I love the minty smell
• Face feels cool
• Does lighten acne marks after a few uses
• Brightens skin

Dislikes

• Broke me out on my forehead
• Expensive
• The sticker at the packaging is not waterproof so it's not practical to put it in the bathroom
• Messy application, you'll need a brush to apply it evenly

Rate

 3.5/5

I recommend this if you're not acne-prone or you've had good encounters with mud masks. It's a real good product, unfortunately, it broke me out so much on my forehead. Though my cheeks remained clear after using this. I did see my acne marks lighten after a few uses.

So here are my thoughts about this product. I hope I helped you with my reviews. Leave comments below on any random stuff and what you want me to review. Thanks!

Earlier this year I was suffering from Bed Bug bites, and I tell you it was such a pain in the ass. It was itchy, it was painful, it left marks and it lasted for a long time. I couldn't solve my pest problem right away, and I was accumulating spots from the bites every day. So as a temporary remedy I asked my Pharmacist best friend what I could use to relieve the itch and pain. She recommended this, Calmoseptine. And my life changed forever.

Price

Around 40 pesos

Can be bought from drugstores

Smell

Fragrance free

Main ingredients

Zinc oxide and Calamine

Zinc Oxide - topical skin product that is used as a protective coating for mild skin irritations and abrasions. It can promote the healing of chapped skin and diaper rash. Zinc oxide works as a mild astringent and has some antiseptic properties.

Calamine - is a medication used to treat mild itchiness. This includes from sunburn, insect bites, poison oak, or other mild skin conditions. It may also help dry out skin irritation.

Time used

6 months

Claims

An ointment that helps heal and prevent skin irritations and promotes healing for a variety of symptoms.

Likes

Dislikes

Rate

 4.5/5

I didn't only use this on bites, I also used this on my frequent hives and acne problems. It is very effective. It flattens my hives after hours of only using it. It dries acne after 2-3 days. Effective on cystic acne also. I bring this every day so I had to transfer it in a small container. I had my fair share of finding my things coated in Calmoseptine because of an accidentally squeezed sachet.

So here are my thoughts about this product. I hope I helped you with my reviews. Leave comments below on any random stuff and what you want me to review. Thanks!

After starting my first glutathione supplement I got hooked with the idea of me achieving whiter skin. So I searched the internet and found Ishigaki! Know for being effective and cheap who wouldn't want to try this supplement.

Price

1000 (850mg,30 capsules)

Bought from Lazada

Smell

Strong rotten egg smell

Main ingredients

L-Glutamic Acid 200mg 

Glycine 200mg 

L-Cysteine (as HCI) 200mg 

N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine 100mg 

L-Proline 50mg 

L-Methionine 50mg 

L-Threonine 50mg

Time used

1 week

Claims

This amino acid blend formula is simply a mixture of the 7 free form amino acids. The purpose of this blend is to make all seven amino acids readily available so the body can make Glutathione as needed. An adequate supply of Vitamin C and B6 should always accompany any glutathione supplementation.

Beautiful skin, firm nails, and shiny hair are certainly symbols for health and natural beauty to delay the aging process, a supply of certain amino acids/nutrients is important. The right amino acid blend acts like repair treatment from within. The importance of amino acid supplies nutrients to nourish the skin, hair, and nails from within the body thus keep the skin luminous white, smooth and elastic, with strong shiny hair and firm nails.

Likes

Dislikes

Rate

 3/5

I've read from numerous articles and talked to my pharmacist friend that glutathione isn't supposed to cause acne. That's why I didn't try waiting for months to see if it will gradually decrease the acne I'm getting while taking this. But overall, if you're not acne-prone, this is one of the supplements I do recommend for those who want lighter complexion in a short amount of time.

So here are my thoughts about this product. I hope I helped you with my reviews. Leave comments below on any random stuff and what you want me to review. Thanks!

this Glutathione supplement. A family member has already been bugging me to take glutathione for skin problems. Since my mom was also interested in trying the supplement, we bought it. Even if I was already satisfied with my whitening soap, I figured it wouldn't hurt to take it since it can help speed up the process of whitening and it is also a maser anti-oxidant that can help detoxify the body. Take note this was also the first glutathione supplement I have taken.

Price

1700 php (120 capsules)

Bought at S&R

Smell

Strong rotten egg smell

Main ingredients

Glutathione(250mg), gelatin capsule(gelatin, purified water, microcrystalline cellulose(diluent), dibasic calcium phosphate(diluent), silica(anti caking agent), magnesium streate(lubricant).

Time used

2 weeks

Likes

Dislikes

Rate

 2.5/5

By the way, I didn't take this with vitamin C, so I can claim that the product was effective even without taking other supplements. The bumps I got weren't that big, but I figured it wasn't worth it. Headaches completely stopped once I stopped using this. I wanted to like this product as I'm a fan of all-natural, sadly it didn't work out for me.

So here are my thoughts about this product. I hope I helped you with my reviews. Leave comments below on any random stuff and what you want me to review. Thanks!

I discovered this soap back in college when I was trying to find a soap that would help lighten those acne marks. I searched for reviews and found a girl that used this and whoa did it transformed her skin! Ever since 2017 I have been using this soap. It helped me pass the morena phase and it took me more than a few shades lighter.

Price 

145.00

I bought this at Watsons 

Claims

Time used

1 year

Likes 

Dislikes

Rate

4/5 (body)

3/5 (face)

Even though it didn't work out on my face, I really Iiked this soap. It has been a staple for me as a body soap. It abled me to achieve my fair and close to white skin. And the most important thing is it stopped my bacne. 

So here are my thoughts about this product. I hope I helped you with my reviews. Leave comments below on any random stuff and what you want me to review. Thanks!