Review: Marks & Spencer China Blue

I rarely repurchase products based mainly on scent. There's just so much out there to try and it's hard to stay loyal. On my 18th birthday, however (man that was so long ago), I received two bottles of those exquisitely scented Marks & Spencer body lotions--typical gifts, right? One I gave to my mom, and the other... well, let's just say that bottle has long since been emptied and its twins and sisters are now residing in my stash.

From L-R: Hand and body lotion, talcum powder, hand and nail cream

Review: Pure Beauty Cleansing Liquid

One of my favorite brands to check out at Watsons stores is Pure Beauty, which is exclusively available there. I was able to try their Super Brightening toner awhile back, and I'm actually wondering now why I didn't repurchase! Every now and then Watsons holds promos for the brand, and I jumped at the chance to try out the Pure Beauty Cleansing Liquid when it was its turn to have a price break. Originally available for Php289, I was able to purchase it for Php239.

Review: NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream

Tomorrow would mark a month since my last entry! Goodness. The sales conference I've been working on for the past few months finally sprung into being in the first few days of March, and now that's over, I'm refocusing on my daily work tasks and on getting my social life back, haha. Beauty-wise, I had the opportunity to road-test a few products I've had for awhile (e.g. UD Naked!), so expect reviews on those hopefully soon.

One of the products I've taken to using lately are the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams. Prior to these, I have never tried any matte shade, so I was pretty excited when I ordered the Milan shade from Digital Traincase along with my NYX Round Lipsticks. Moving forward, I wanted to try giving red a go, starting with a subtler finish. I was able to purchase Amsterdam from Pure Beauty in Serendra.

Review: Celeteque Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15 and its twin

In my last contest I noticed that many readers, more often than not, use drugstore products. I can't fault you girls and guys on that one, since they're locally and widely available, plus there's more than enough variety to choose from. Today's review is of a product that is not only easy to find, but is an awesome find as well: Celeteque facial moisturizer with SPF 15.

From Plain to Plush: Mary Kay NouriShine Plus™ Lip Gloss

Happy February! It's the month of love! Whether you're spending it with a special someone or a few girlfriends, the important thing is to have fun, and look good while doing it, of course! Here's something new to wear on those nights (or days) out from Mary Kay: the NouriShine Plus™Lip Gloss.

Review: Johnson's Baby Creamy Oil Cocoa & Shea Butter

It is now that time of year where I want nothing more than to bundle up in cozy knits and shawls. While the cool weather is awesome, it does not bode well for our skin as the low temperature tends to strip moisture from the surface. Dryness also aggravates psoriasis, so moisturizing becomes even more of a priority for me. My weapon of choice is Johnson's baby creamy oil, which I first featured in my skincare routine (which I need to update now, haha).

Mini-Review: NYX Round Lipsticks in Fig and Georgia

Adding another review to the plethora of NYX round lipstick reviews! This product is so well-documented online and I am not surprised. It's impossible to find a shade you won't like since they have a dizzying number of colors and finishes, it's creamy, and it's cheap. It does have a distinct scent but you can't smell it on your lips anyway, so other than that there is really no reason to pass on a tube. Or two. Or five.

This will be a mini-review as I've already gone over the formula and packaging in a previous entry, click here to read! I'll be focusing on the shades for this one.

Review: Etude House Happy Teatime Line (Milk Tea)

I love milk tea! I've loved it even before tea shops started sprouting around the metro, but it was rather hard to find. Sometimes the 7-11 I went to back in college would be out of bottled Mineshine milk tea. Now I don't have to go so far to get my fix; I can just use my cleansing cream and facial wash from Etude House's Happy Teatime line. It's a different kind of craving. ;)

Let's tackle them one by one after the jump.

Review: Clinique Superdefense SPF 25 PA+++

Moisturizer is the one skincare product I cannot live without (lipbalm is second). I don't mind going out of the house with nary a trace of makeup on, as long as I have moisturized beforehand. I was able to get a very generous sample size of Clinique Superdefense SPF 25/PA +++ at the Clinique party last April, which I started using around May. I am about to run out of it in a matter of days so I figured it was time for a review.

Description (from Sasa.com):

Clinique SUPERDEFENSE SPF25 Age Defense Moisturizer is the four-dimension protection against the effects of sun, stress and time. This daily moisturizer delivers all-rounded protection to help skin combat the elements that conspire to age skin, Start at the first signs if aging and you can virtually help deactivate skin’s visible responses—lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone. Even enhance the barrier function that keeps skin firm and supple.

It stabilizes sunscreen for protection against UVA (the aging rays) and UVB (the burning rays).

It prompts skin’s defenses into full alert mode, boosting a natural repair response.

It helps skin deflect the visible effects of emotional stress—those fight or flight reactions—that can start a cascade of damage within skin, surfacing as lines, wrinkles, uneven tone.

Price & Amount: Php 2,950 for 50mL

Review: Etude House LUCIDarling Fantastic Sponge BB Cake

Etude House has pretty much established itself in the Philippine market, hasn't it? A year or so ago I had to plot special trips to Megamall to see their small shop, but now that shop has been replaced with a bigger one and I just have to make a quick trip to SM North if I feel like browsing. Their products are fairly marked-up from the original Korean prices and the Pink Card membership allows for instant gratification since every P100 spent gets you 2 pesos back which you can use on your next purchase... ok, maybe that last one isn't always a good thing, but it does save you money at some point.

Today's review is on one of the first Etude products I ever bought, at a time when I didn't know any better about my skin type. Ooh, shiny pretty thing, can I have you? How can you not be intrigued with something that looks like this?:

Photo credit: bbcreamqueen.com

It either belongs in an ancient temple beside tarnished brass implements, or in outer space. Take your pick.

Review: The Body Shop Nature's Minerals Foundation Brush

So sorry for the long absence, guys. This was brought to you partly by the shutdown Blogger had a few days ago and partly because I had an incredibly busy week. Will tell you more about the latter in another entry as I have a few things to finish concerning that. ;) For now, I have another a review post for you all.

The weather these days is such a makeup mojo killer. While I still need to do a full face for work, most of the time I just do away with everything and go for powders with less coverage, but at least they don't feel like they're melting on my skin. The sponge that comes with my Skin Food Carrot Pact applies the powder a little too heavily for my liking, so these days I prefer using brushes. Thankfully I already found my brush best friend (BBF? :p) a couple of years ago:

Photo credit: The Body Shop Philippines

Description: A high-density foundation brush, designed to ensure just the right amount of The Body Shop® Nature's Minerals™ Foundation SPF 25 is captured between the bristles, providing a smooth, even application.

Price: Php1095, available in The Body Shop stores.

Review: Brazen Cosmetics

Around a month back, I was lucky enough to win a St. Patrick's Day-themed giveaway over at Le Gothique and sponsored by Brazen Cosmetics. I was able to pick up the package at the Q.C. Central Post Office, and it was a very calm experience compared to the horror stories I've been hearing about customs taxes and all. Then again, I only received a small bubble mailer, so I ended up paying only 40php. I was so excited that I opened the package in the car, took photos as soon as I got home, and tried a look while watching the royal wedding! (Did you watch? I love Kate's dress!)

Look at all that green. So pretty! Also note that each single pot is sealed, which is one hell of a blessing for 1.) screw-top pots and 2.) internationally mailed packages. And this is coming from an indie makeup company! I am pleasantly surprised.

More pictures after the jump! (You can tell I am trying to improve my photography. :p)

Review: Etude House Henna Fix Proof 10 Mascara

Working in a casual business environment has made me lazy in my makeup routine. When I am in a hurry but I feel like looking a little more presentable, I choose mascara over eyeliner and blush. Mascara opens up the eyes, doesn't make me look too overdone, and mistakes I make with it are easier to correct. I've been reaching for Etude House's Henna Fix Proof 10 mascara for those times. I've used it so much that I've rubbed out the "Proof" label AND left mascara stains on the tube (see picture). Oops. Time to give this product some love.

Description: Formulated with henna extract, Henna Fix Proof 10 Masara supplies precise lash definition and weightless volume with its unique waterproof formula that won't budge to tears or sebum.

Price, Amount, Availability: Php628 for 10g (0.34 oz), locally available in Etude House stores across the country. The shade I have is #1 Henna Black, but there is also a #2 Henna Brown variant.

Packaging: I admit, the packaging drew me to this out of the many mascaras EH offers. The tube has a very girly, Victorian design, and the hot pink color stuck out in a sea of dark-colored mascara tubes.The henna-like design on the box is really pretty too. If you look for this in Etude House stores you might find it in its 2NE1-themed packaging, with the henna-printed box inside.

Review: One of the reasons I bought this mascara is the wand, yet again. I like trying out different kinds of wands to see what effect they give. The wand is a swirly affair, like so:

I like the wand as it does its job in separating lashes, and there is enough product left in between the bristles that you can wiggle at the base of the eyelashes for a bit more volume, even if you blot it with a tissue before application. It's also small enough to maneuver around the corners of the eyes and along the lower lashes without being too unwieldy.

Hello wonky lower lashes

The formula, #1 Henna Black is a nice dark black, which can clearly be seen with the well-defined look the wand gives. It does make lashes longer, but gives only a little bit of volume. You really have to utilize the wand if you want fuller-looking lashes since the formula by itself won't give you that. However, it doesn't clump as much! Two to three coats will still give you reasonably separated lashes, which can be followed up with a spoolie brush if you're still not comfortable with the overall result. I have also read in some other reviews that the formula doesn't hold a curl for very long, but I put mine on without using a lash curler (I forgot) and it still held after 6-7 hours. Long enough for almost an entire workday.

After 6-7 hours. Tired eye, but still-perky eyelashes.

While I did not notice any smudges--the formula is waterproof--I did see a little flaking towards the end. This could also be because the formula is pretty dry, and it shows: this is my newest mascara and a few other tubes I own look better than this one after a couple of months. This does make the mascara less value for money, and chances are high that you'll find better ones out there for a little less. All in all, I do like this mascara and it's a good one for everyday, but I would advise that if you buy a tube use it until you can't anymore since it dries up quickly.

Have you tried Etude House mascaras? If yes, how did they fare?

Review and Comparison: Blemish Balm (BB) Creams

Note: This is a long review. If you are ready, read on!

Blemish balm cream or BB cream: wonder products that promise to give you the world and a cup of tea. BB creams claim everything from whitening, anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, acne healing, moisturizing, sun protection, good coverage, oil control, brightening, scar lightening, to evening skin tone, and honestly, it's easy to get caught up in it. (If you don't need any of what I just listed, can you give me your skincare routine? :D) It's convenience in a tube... kind of like fastfood.

BB creams for me are a type of foundation with added properties, and they may actually be more traditional than most people think. Considering the many virtues extolled by BB creams, they would probably need quite a combination of ingredients to achieve those. But I still... can't... stop... buying... them...

The Face Shop Quick & Clean Oil-Free Blemish Balm: Formulated with our enhanced Quick'n Clear Complex and Malt extract, this oil-free protective moisturizer soothes the skin while providing natural coverage to hide flaws.

The Face Shop Hydro Splash BB cream: Skin tone correcting moisture rich formula protects, soothes and gives natural coverage.

Skin Food Red Bean BB Cream: A hydrating BB cream with red beans that nourishes and moisturizes rough skin while providing natural yet flawless coverage even when applied in a thin layer. (I have this in #2, Natural Beige)

Jump for the review!

Review: Mentholatum LipIce Fruity & Sheer Color

I'm very dependent on lipbalms. My lips crack pretty easily be it rain or shine, and it's not a pretty sight. I always bring one with me wherever I go, especially since I've taken to wearing a lipcolor everyday. Mentholatum came to Philippine shores a few months ago, so read on for my reviews! :)

First up is LipIce Fruity.

Photo credit: Mentholatum

Description (from tube): Lipbalm. Sunscreen Protectant. Cooling, refreshing, relief for dry chapped lips. Apply as needed.

Price & Amount: Php89 for 3.5g

Packaging: Simple white tube packaging that takes some effort to open, which means it's not likely to spread balm all over your things. :) I love the design on the tube, it makes me want to collect them all. Like Pokemon!

Review: This is the proverbial "wind beneath my wings". I slick on a layer of this as part of my skincare routine and by the time I'm ready to put on a lipstick, it's settled nicely on my lips. It applies clear, with a cooling effect that is nice and not too harsh. It doesn't feel thick or heavy but it moisturizes pretty well and keeps it that way for several hours. This also has SPF15.

I think I'd go so far as to call this my HG lipbalm! No need to look for another, which is admittedly harder than it looks. It comes in 5 variants: Apple (blue), Grape Blackcurrant (purple), Strawberry (pink), Lemon (yellow), and Orange Mandarin (orange). I'm thinking of trying the orange and purple ones next. :)

I also picked up a second one to try, LipIce Sheer Color. I read reviews of this online and was curious about the color-changing part.

Photo credit: Mentholatum

Description:

• Changes color to a natural sheer pink according to individual lips.
• A gentle Beeswax formulation suitable even for very sensitive skin.
• Contains natural ingredients of Shea Butter Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Nut Oil, Jojoba Oil and Aloe Extract to keep lips moisturized, smooth and healthy.
• Contains effective anti-oxidants of Vitamin E to soften and protect lips against the harmful environment. 

Price & Amount: Php145 for 2.0g

Packaging: Slim pink and silver lipstick tube. Very cute and easy to tote around!

Review: If LipIce Fruity is the "wind beneath my wings", LipIce Sheer Color is the "lady-in-waiting". Sometimes I forget to bring a lipstick, or my lips are in just too bad a condition. Sheer Color looks similar to LipIce Fruity in that it's a white stick of balm, but it adjusts to a nice pink color depending on the lips of the wearer. It saves me the trouble of worrying about how my lips look after a long day, which I normally would do when I use lipstick. I'm assured of a bright, glossy pink that lasts 'til I eat--it stays put through drinking--which I don't mind because it's super easy to reapply.

I picked the Strawberry variant but there's also a fragrance-free option. The Strawberry one smells like Fruit By The Foot, a candy that I love to this day. :D And just look at that color:

Highly recommended, yes? Yes!

Review: Maybelline Hello Kitty X Volum' Express Hypercurl Cat Eyes Mascara Waterproof

Description: Now get stylized lashes with 5X the volume and not a single clump. Our waterproof Curl Lock Formula sets to a seductive 75-degree*** curl. For 18 hours of savagely sexy lashes clump-free.

Price: The HK-themed tube is Php499 while the regular is Php449. Try waiting for sales to get it even cheaper!

Packaging: Metallic hot pink tube with Hello Kitty prints. Very fierce-looking.

Review: Beauty bloggers have been singing praises for this mascara since it came out. I had been waiting for a sale (haha), but when I saw the Hello Kitty packaging in Watsons Megamall, I didn't hesitate and got it right away. Now I have a cute mascara in my stash!

The wand is scary-looking. It's two rows of spiky teeth that I promise will hurt you if you flinch during application, which I have done practically everytime I use this. (In fact, I flinch everytime I use mascara and I have to clean up bits of it from my lids afterwards. The things we do to look pretty...)

This is not to say that this is not a good mascara. It is. It's the most dramatic one I have and I go for this everytime I have a formal event to attend, or on days where I feel like adding more drama to my no-makeup look. It defines my lashes and makes them look thicker. Lengthening power isn't much for me, but then again this isn't a lengthening mascara to begin with, and I've been thankfully blessed in that department. It holds a curl (prepped with a lash curler) and wears incredibly well.

L - no mascara; R - with mascara (and a made-up eye).

Application is tricky and requires a bit of practice when you're not used to wielding a comb-type wand near your eyes. Instead of wiggling them up the lashes like you would normally do with a brush-type wand, you simply swipe it upwards. I do a bit of wiggling at the base for added volume to what the formula already provides and swipe the rest. It's clump city at the second coat, so I always have my spoolie from Marionnaud at the ready for added maintenance. Using the same lash comb (wiped down) should do the same thing, and a mascara guard always helps if you're used to it.

You can see the curl here. Sorry for the dead look! Need to learn how to "smile" with my eyes ;)

With the waterproof formula, you can expect this mascara to be a pain to remove. While it seems like I've removed everything using just cleansing oil, I can usually get a stray bit or two on my lower lids the next day. It's best to use a separate eye makeup remover (I use L'Oreal's) then use cleansing oil to clean up the rest. I'd probably repurchase this, but I'm thinking of keeping the wand when it's is dried up and try using it on other mascaras that I own to see what happens.

Now I'm eyeing that mascara with a wand that looks like a morning star... ;)

Review: MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Crème In Your Coffee, and a dupe!

Photo credit: MAC

Description: Colour plus texture for the lips. Stands out on the runway. Simmers on the street! What made M·A·C famous.

Price & Amount: MAC lipsticks cost Php950 (~$22) for 3g and are available in their stores in Glorietta, Shang, Rockwell, Mall of Asia, and Trinoma. However, I bought mine from Duty Free where it's Php750 (~$17). In the U.S., I believe these go for $14.50.

Packaging: Easily recognizable bullet-shaped lipstick with the M.A.C. label printed on the cap and tube. Has more heft than my drugstore lipsticks and closes with a more reliable-sounding click.

Review: When I first approached the MAC counter in Duty Free with the intention of buying a lipstick, I didn't really think about the finish. I was more interested in getting something that I'd use everyday, to get my money's worth from spending so much on a small tube. I first looked for Twig, which I've read from various beauty blogs as a good everyday shade, but it was out of stock! I decided to go with my gut feel on what looks nice and ended up with Crème In Your Coffee, which is a creamy mid-tone pink brown. On my lips the pink shows up quite nicely!

CIYC as seen on the MAC website.

Crème In Your Coffee is a cremesheen finish. I found this description from scandalousbeauty: "Ultra sheer and uber moist, it features flat pigments and a creamy high shine finish to lips." I wouldn't say CIYC is sheer, because I find that I get a healthy amount of color from this lipstick. The shine doesn't hurt it either. It is very creamy and easy to apply. Best of all, it wears comfortably and looks beautiful on the lips for a much longer time than any of the lippies I've tried so far. I often exfoliate my lips in the middle of the day because for some reason it already looks a bit bad by then, and it's harder to prep them for a reapplication of whatever shade I'm sporting that day. The freshly applied shade looks uneven and unappealing. This lipstick is the only one that doesn't do that. 

Etude House LUCIDarling Lipstick in No. 10 (L) next to CIYC (R).

My other everyday lipstick (before my NYX ones) is noticeably sheerer in comparison, but both have high shine that looks very pretty on the lips. It's noticeably pinker in the swatch above than in the shade from the website, which is a more accurate rendition of how it looks when I slick it on. Crème In Your Coffee wears better as well, of course. Either there is a reason why good lipsticks are expensive, or I'm just really impressed with this finish. This shade is a good introduction to MAC lipsticks, especially when you can't find the more popular shades in-store. Highly recommended!

However, if you're just after the shade, strapped for cash or can't get MAC where you are, might I suggest an alternative?

L-R: EH LUCIDarling No. 10, NYX B52, MAC Crème In Your Coffee

NYX's B52 is a close dupe! Less shine, more color, and just as pretty.

Review: The Body Shop Flawless Skin Protecting Concealer

When I started to get more into makeup, I first had a Body Shop phase. I would save up my allowance so I could spend the minimum of getting my voucher stamped every time I bought something. It didn't hurt that their makeup is of very good quality and that their choices were not as dizzying as their skincare ones :p I still count myself lucky, though, that all the makeup I've ever gotten from them has worked wonderfully for me. I first shared the All-in-One Face Base with you girls (click here for the review), and next up is their Flawless Skin Protecting Concealer.

Photo credit: The Body Shop UK

Description: A stylish cream-to-powder concealer enriched with baobab oil, naturally rich in vitamins and moisturising agents to care for your skin and zinc oxide to help combat impurities. The product features a sophisticated delivery system with clear active essence suspended in a special core structure.

Price & Amount: P695 for 2.3g. The Body Shop has regular sales, though!

Packaging: Shiny silver plastic stick with the TBS logo on top and a sticker with the shade number and color at the bottom. The case is very fingerprint- and scratch-prone, but it clicks closed pretty well. I've never had problems with this accidentally opening in my bag.

Review: This concealer is available in four shades and I have it in shade 01, which is very yellow-based.   The concealer comes in stick form and is moulded around the "clear active essence", which I suppose is the medley of moisturizing ingredients meant to help your skin. The core reminds me a bit of a glue gun stick, haha :) There is a bit of a crayon/wax-like smell, but isn't very strong and is hardly noticeable once applied.

Concealer swatch (L) and how it looks when blended (R). Click to enlarge!

The concealer is creamy and easy to use, though it tends to dry up if I've left it in an airconditioned room or when the weather is cool. For times like these I roll the stick between my palms several times to warm it up. Coverage is light to medium. Putting more layers or a thick layer all at once might look a little too patchy, so gentle patting/blending is a must. To apply, I first make a thick layer at the back of my hand (this warms it up as well) and use my finger to pick up some of the product. This allows me to control the amount used. When I'm in a hurry and the concealer doesn't look too dry I dab it straight on and pat it in. I find this a little too drying for the undereye area, but it does a decent job of covering blemishes and redness.

Writing this entry made me remember why I like this concealer so much. :) The combination of this plus the Face Base gave me a flawless, matte look that held up well throughout the day. I recommend this, but I also recommend moisturizing very well before applying the concealer. This will allow a smoother, more even base for it, and hopefully that will help you avoid the patches. You will only need a little at a time as well, so the price is pretty fair.

Review: NYX Round Lipsticks

Photo credit: NYX (cropped by me)

Description: A velvet-textured lipstick formulated with mineral oils to provide moisturizing benefits and rich colors. NYX's top selling lipstick, the Round Lipstick offers long-lasting, non-smudging color.

Price & Amount: Amount is 4 g./0.14 oz. This retails for $4 from the NYX website. Locally, this is available for P299 in Pure Beauty in Serendra & Beauty Cocktails in Glorietta 4. I was able to buy this for P160 from Digital Traincase, though prices by online sellers can go as high as P250.

Packaging: Black and white plastic tube with a clear part at the bottom that shows you the shade, which is quite helpful considering the rest of the packaging. It looks and feels cheap, but hey, it is cheap. The locking mechanism when you twist the lipstick down for storage is more obvious and reassuring here compared to the other lipsticks I own (MAC, Maybelline, Etude). I found this to be true for all but one of the lipsticks I have, which is really loose on the other hand. Inconsistencies in packaging perhaps, or just bad luck.

Review: When I received the NYX Round Lipsticks from Sol of Digital Traincase after coming home from work, I had to resist using them right then and there because I wanted to experiment with taking product pictures during daytime. The next morning I snapped so many pictures and used two cameras, so forgive me for the trigger-happy entry.

My general thoughts:

• Wide, overwhelming selection of shades and finishes. Swatches on the website, however, may be rather inaccurate and give no indication of the finish. Best to Google around for a particular shade that catches your fancy to see how it would really look on the lips.
• Very pigmented and creamy. I find that they stay put until I eat or drink, at which point it disappears. The creaminess of the lipstick means I have to exfoliate thoroughly beforehand or it catches onto any and all dry patches. Settles into fine lines a bit as well, though it's not as obvious with the darker shades.
• Synthetic scent and taste, but something I can live with. The scent could cause headaches if you really sniff it (which I did for testing purposes, haha).
• They are also drying, and cause trouble for my already dry lips. I slather on more balm and have to give it time to settle before applying the lipstick, or else it will just slide.
• The price (depending on where you buy) allows you to indulge without fear of wasting money. Thus, I ordered a couple of bold shades to try next to the everyday ones I really wanted.

Jump for photos and swatches!

Review: Etude House Magic Enzyme Pack Peeling

Photo credit: Etude House USA

Description: Gommage treatment with enzyme & yogurt to exfoliate and nourish complexion and remove oil, dirt and excess.

Price & Amount: I bought this for P628 for 115mL. It is locally available in Etude House stores in the country. 

Packaging: Hefty glass bottle in cute pink and lavender colors. It is a bit hard to get product out through the top (similar to my problem with The Face Shop's toner), also party because of the bottle itself. However, you only need a bit of product per use.

Review: Peeling packs are nice alternatives to scrubs because they're purportedly more gentle on the skin. Scrubs work to physically remove dead skin cells, while peeling packs use chemicals. The "gommage treatment" claim on this particular peeling pack sounded interesting but a little confusing, so a bit of Google-fu was in order.

The word "gommage" reminds me of rubber, and I guess it was a close enough guess: gommage is from a French word that means "to erase". They're commonly found in spas as treatments for either the face or the body. It comes in the form of a paste or cream which is applied in a thin layer over the skin, left to dry for a few minutes, then gently massaged away. The gommage usually has ingredients that help dissolve dead skin cells, such as enzymes. The rubbing action of the massage helps to slough off the dead skin cells, leaving smoother skin. Essentially then, peeling packs and gommage treatments work the same way.

Etude House's Magic Enzyme Pack Peeling, however, is a milky liquid with a thin consistency. No creamy/paste-like stuff here. I know some peeling packs are thin in consistency, so the gommage treatment part comes in through the yogurt ingredient I think. It has a nice floral-citrus scent, and it took me some time to rack my brains on this one but it smells like Clean & Clear's Clear Fairness moisturizer.

After a few tries I found that the best way to use this product is to take a good amount and constantly rub the skin with it until it balls up. The instructions on the bottle say to leave it to dry but since the product is very thin, it would dry up fast and take a good amount of rubbing before it balls up. It's painful for areas with fine hair. :( The result is lovely smooth skin, though, with a bit of a brightening effect. I decided against using this on my face and now use it on my knees and elbows instead. It works quite well in those areas. :)

Do you need this? No, not really. It was a fun product to try, but not something I'd feel like repurchasing in the future. Plus, one bottle will last you quite awhile.