I didn’t lack sleep anyhow. I must have slept at most 7 hours, albeit I woke up late already. Anyway, I hope I can make up for the lost time later.

I got to test Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate for the first time. It has a watery-oily consistency. I felt wary at first about using it on my face because of its oily consistency (my face is very oily and breakout-prone btw).  I was relieved after finding out that it’s easily absorbed by my skin, leaving a just-right moisture on my face thereafter.

I’m still having second thoughts on this though. Maybe I just find it ominous, should I say. But, let’s see what it does together with getting a good night’s sleep in the succeeding days.

On the other hand, I enjoyed trying Etude House AC Clinic Acne Foam Cleanser for the first time last night. I love how it smells, and leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean after wash! Yes, this Korean brand is available in SM Megamall in the Philippines. I got a mini haul which includes AC Clinic red spot balm, AC Clinic pink powder spot (consider it a cheaper alternative to Mario Badescu Pink Drying Lotion) and BB magic mist.

I’ll make a comprehensive review on them soon. I’ll start with the cleanser first!

Here’s an interesting skincare entry to start our tropical summer right!

The surging temperature has been bothering me recently, aggravated by the killer El Niño phenomenon. Now, I’m missing the cool, refreshing months brought by the holiday season, as I’m painstakingly bracing the crazy heat both indoors and outdoors—not to mention, I’m amid doing yoga which requires me to stay in a heated room for about a couple of hours!

The sudden temperature change is taking quite a toll on my skin. I’ve been experiencing breakouts especially on my chest and back since the heat starts rolling in. Now, even my face is kind of breaking out, which is something that I really, really don’t want to happen ever again!

This provokes me to grab a tried-and-tested acne regimen to answer my zit woes. Murad Acne Complex Kit has been proven by some friends of mine that it really works. Well, it could have worked on those who mainly have mild to moderate acne. So, I did not hesitate to grab a starter kit in pronto and give it a try, hoping that this will be perfect for my current skin condition. Moreover, it claims to clear skin in just 4 weeks—guaranteed!

Murad Acne Complex Kit is a three-step regimen (Cleanse-Treat-Hydrate) that must be regularly used twice a day. The set includes:

Murad Acne Complex Kit – (L-R) Murad Clarifying Cleanser, Murad Exfoliating Acne Treatment Gel, Murad Skin Perfecting Lotion and Murad Acne Spot Treatment

Cleanse

Murad Clarifying Cleanser is an antibacterial gel cleanser that promises to kill 99.9% of surface bacteria without causing skin irritation.

Treat

Murad Exfoliating Acne Treatment Gel is a gel-like serum that helps heal existing blemishes whilst preventing new ones from forming. It penetrates deep down into the pores, and eliminates skin cell-buildup.

Hydrate

Murad Skin Perfecting Lotion is an oil-free moisturizer that keeps your skin well hydrated, as well as calms skin’s redness and irritation sans clogging your pores.

Plus, I also got Murad Acne Spot Treatment that stops a zit from brewing like crazy, while reducing redness and irritation. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the Clarifying Mask, though you may get one should you order directly from their website.

I’ve been religiously using the complete set for three days in a row. So far, I haven’t noticed any adverse reactions, such as purging, caused by these products. I’m happy, on the other hand, as my skin momentarily stops breaking out even more! I still got around 27 days left, so let’s see how it is going to perform after a month!

The Inside

Regular intake of fruits and vegetables really help in slowing down the aging process. Many claim that tomatoes help a lot in making your skin glow and look youthful.  Thanks to its lycopene, a pigment normally found in red fruits, that has both antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. Antioxidants prevent aging-causing components from further damaging our skin. It also helps battling out other bodily toxins that can cause cancer and other grave diseases.

Avoid smoking. Smoking produces harmful toxins that hastens our aging process.

Most importantly, always take time to smile. Frowning gives our skin more stress to it, which can cause premature wrinkles in return. Plus, having a sunny disposition in life makes as feel better and younger!

The Outside

Sadly, pollutants in our environment as well as the harmful ultraviolet rays take a toll in our skin. They make our skin look tired and old. That’s why, it is highly recommended to religiously practice a skin care mantra. Protect your skin by means of a daily skin regimen with anti-aging properties that suits your skin type perfectly. This serves as our armament to keep those harmful skin pollutants at bay. It is basically composed of the following: cleanser, toner and moisturizer.

One to try

Cleanser

Have a smoother, brighter and more refined skin with L’Oreal Revitalift Radiant Smoothing Cream Cleanser. It nourishes your skin while gently exfoliating and removing all traces of dirt and makeup.

Price: about $9

Toner

L’Oreal Derma Genesis Toner has Pro-Xylane and Hyaluronic Acid that help create new cells as well as fight against wrinkles for visibly younger looking skin.

Price: Php 360/about $7

Moisturizer

Moisturize your skin during the day with L’Oreal Revitalift Day Cream that comes in a pump bottle [to get the right amount of product with ease]. It has Pro-Retinol A that stimulates skin regeneration, visibly reducing wrinkles. It’s also enriched with Elastin that makes skin firmer and more elastic.  Do not worry exposing yourself to the sun, as it also belts a Skin Protection Factor (SPF) of 18 that fight against harmful UV rays that triggers premature aging.

Price: Php740/about $15

(For Derma Genesis Toner & Revitalift Day Cream SPF18) Available nationwide at SM Department Stores and Watsons Beauty Stores, PCX, The Landmark, Robinson’s Department Stores, Shopwise, Mercury Drug Stores, Gaisano Metro Department Stores*

*Ph Stores

L’Oreal Paris gives you L’Oreal Men’s Expert, a custom skincare range especially made for gents, depending on the  skin type. Hydra Electric boosts skin’s energy levels, making it feel lively and  invigorated. White Activ has whitening properties that keep the skin radiantly fair and bright. Vita Lift diminishes the effects of aging with its anti-wrinkle and anti-sagging capabilities. Lastly, Pure and Matte has clarifying benefits to the skin, keeping it oil-free and naturally glowing.

Best of all, you can get them at dirt-cheap prices. Prices for cleansers range from Php 195-225 (about $3-4.50), while moisturizers go from Php 375-795 (about $ 7.50-16) only!

Check the complete skincare line information  as well as its prices after the jump!

To know more about your skin type and the best L’Oreal Men’s Expert line for you, visit  http://www.lorealmen.com.

Cleansing is a vital part of our daily beauty regimen. That’s why, it’s very important to choose a gentle yet effective facial cleanser to get rid off stubborn dirt and reveal a clean and fresh skin which makes it easier to breathe.

Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple, a 2007 Best of Sephora awardee, is a one-step facial cleanser that removes oil, dirt, makeup and debris effectively. Its special formula dissolves them completely leaving your skin with no trace of dirt at all! You can use it alone or pair this up with your favorite facial wash, along with the rest of your beauty arsenal for maximum cleansing. It also suits all skin types.

Philosophy says you need this product if:

you need this product if…

you’ve tried a lot of cleansers but never found one you loved
you crave deeply cleansed skin
you want a cleanser that will multi-task for you
you wear a lot of makeup
your skin is congested

Price is at $20 per 8 oz bottle, $32 per 16 oz bottle and $40 per 24 oz bottle. Check this website to shop now and for more details.