I have been using the Andalou Naturals Acai + White Tea Oil-free Moisturizer for a week now and am looking forward to using it more until I hit my desired results. You see, ever since the skin started acting annoyingly drier on the cheeks and sides, I knew I needed more moisture to bring more youth and radiance to these dried up areas.

The Andalou Naturals Acai + White Tea Oil-free Moisturizer, 62mL, P959 at Healthy Options


One of my best friends, Mitch, swears by the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Oil and I can attest to how her skin improved from it. I wanted the same, beautiful result she got; the Acai + White Tea wasn't really my first choice, in fact, it was my last! So what won me over? Let me tell you:

• I was already very ready to get the serum from Kiehl's when I stumbled upon its Beautypedia review. It was disheartening.
• In relation to #1 which stated that while Kiehl's can work for dry skin (Mitch had matte, acne-free skin), the oil ingredients in it may be more of an irritant to non-dry skin types. It lists down Coriander, Lavender and Rosemary (oils) as the main irritants to oily skin. Kiehl's could work for Mitch, I can't be sure I can say the same for my combination to oily skin.
• The Oil-Free Moisturizer from Andalou Naturals, categorized under Beautypedia's best products, stood out among a good number of effective but locally unavailable moisturizers on the list. It hailed the moisturizer's list of antioxidants & skin-repairing ingredients.

• Price-wise, Andalou was more inexpensive. Way more inexpensive. Healthy Options tagged it reasonably at P959 (62mL). Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate, 50mL, sells for 3k+php.

The Acai + White Tea Oil-free Moisturizer  is also available in a test size, 12mL, but is part of a skin clarifying set (priced at 900+ too). I would've bought the set if I were eyeing a whole line for the skin beacuse it is such a good deal.

Photo from iherb.com- Andalou Naturals Get started Clarifying Set: Great for Oily and Combination Skin

The Andalou Naturals Acai + White Tea Oil-free Moisturizer can be a mouthful as is the more popular and well-loved Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate. I hope I made the right choice by trying out the more inexpensive one before jumping to the more luxurious brand. Detailed review in the next few months-- wish my skin luck!

No teenager or young adult in his/her right mind would say, "Pimples lang yan". Fact is, pimple growth is a serious problem in the adolescent population that a clinical study links the presence of substantial acne with alarming mental health illnesses (depression & suicidal ideation) and social impairments.¹  One relevant video making the rounds in the health & beauty community confirms this fact:

Like Cheska in the Maxi-Peel video, most people experiencing problem skin are embarrassed, anxious, and depressed. They are socially withdrawn and would voluntarily miss out on the fun things they should be experiencing--- like posing for a photo with their buddies in their biggest smiles!

Say, Cheese!

They say the rest was history when the first Nokia camera phone came out. Over a short course of time, aided by the growing popularity of social media, photography became not just a hobby but a lifestyle-- a dreadful reality for someone who wishes he/she had better skin for the cameras.

In 2012, it was estimated that more than 380 million photos are uploaded in Facebook daily.²  DAILY! So how does a camera-phobe live in these "hostile" times?

We will run out of excuses to avoid the camera and there's not much we can do about stolen shots. Like Cheska in the video, a pro-active game plan should work just right! Everyone deserves their own Bagong Ganda, Bagong Pag-Asa and the best way to get the confidence for the cameras is to take charge of one's troubled skin.

Say... Exfoliate?

Everyday, our skin goes through a constant, natural renewal process which brings about old, dead skin cells on the surface of the skin. These dead cells are notorious for clogging the skin and making it dull-looking. Exfoliation is the process of getting rid of these old cells and thankfully, our bodies exfoliate naturally through a process called desquamation to keep the skin healthy & radiant-looking.

However, over time, desquamation slows down and can result to dull, flaking skin, as well as, you guessed right, the proliferation of acne. This is most likely what Cheska's skin is having trouble with and when this happens, doctors recommend aiding the natural exfoliation process with physical agents such as chemical peels.

Using Maxi-Peel Exfoliant Solution is one good way to step up one's slowed down natural exfoliation process. One of its main active ingredients, tretinoin, is a known powerful exfoliant. Tretinoin effectively promotes proper cell renewal which in turn unclogs pores thus lowering the chances of acne formation.

How Maxi-Peel Works

Bagong Ganda, Bagong Pag-Asa is Maxi-Peel's promise and true enough through Cheska's video, it is possible for the skin to be reborn. The best results are always the ones that give a slow but steady progress and using an effective exfoliant that encourages the skin to undergo the Remove, Renew, Reveal stages is one of the skin's best bet in achieving a better state.

Remove- at the initial stage of use, Maxi-Peel will cause a harmless stinging which signals the skin easing in to the treatment. With constant use, the stinging dies down as the treatment continues to help remove stubborn dead skin cells

Renew- skin redness is also most likely to occur as the skin adjusts to the treatment but will be more persistent than stinging.

When the skin's natural exfoliation process decelerates, it becomes harder for new cells to grow. At the renewal stage, the slow-to-exfoliate skin is gradually sped up so that new, healthy cells start to move up the skin's surface.

Reveal- as with any other potent exfoliator, peeling is expected to happen. Maxi-Peel's reveal stage signals a breakthrough in bringing back the normal pace of skin exfoliation through visible skin peeling. In due time after the skin has thoroughly adjusted, only minimal peeling is expected.

We live in the social media era where everyone is compelled to look their best for the lenses. Heck, "selfie" has been made word of the year by Oxford Dictionaries in 2013 for its international relevance. It's tough to imagine how one covers up his/her reluctance when someone asks for a group shot or worse, a solo pic, just because he/she has bad skin.

Remove, Renew and Reveal--- more and more young adults can break free from the stress brought about by acne and dull skin! With Maxi-Peel's Bagong Ganda, Bagong Pag-asa promise, many can confidently say, "Pimples lang yan!" while smiling their hearts out for the cameras.

¹ Halvorsen, Jon et al. "Suicidal Ideation, Mental Health Problems, and Social Impairment Are Increased in Adolescents with Acne: A Population-Based Study" Journal of Investigative Dermatology 131 (2011): 363-370. doi:10.1038/jid.2010.264.

² Estrin, James "In an Age of Likes, Commonplace Images Prevail" The New York Times, September 7, 2012. http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/07/in-an-age-of-likes-commonplace-images-prevail/

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post.

I have been using the RESIST C15 Super Booster for almost a month now (thank you for the trial size, Paula's Choice Philippnes!) and this tiny dropper bottle has never let me down! It instantly brightens my skin after use which makes up a lot for the other discouraging skin imperfections I wince from-- pock marks and huge pores.

A moisturizer or a serum?

The website does not particularly mention it's a serum (like it does with its other products) but I'd say it is one. It is described as a concentrated, light-as-water liquid treatment product designed to supercharge serums or may be used alone. It is a blend of 15% stabilized vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid) at a pH of 3.0, vitamin E, ferulic acid, and peptides which altogether repairs visible signs of aging and stimulates collagen production for smoother, brighter, and firmer skin.

The wonder booster promises to:

• Quickly brighten the skin
• Visibly reduce brown spots
• Promote firmer-looking skin

                                                 Paula's Choice RESIST C15 Super Booster, trial size 3.5ml- P500

How I Used It:

The 3.5ml trial bottle can last 3-4 weeks despite it being designed for a two-week consumption. Directions for use is to apply once or twice daily after cleansing, toning, and exfoliating & dispense 2–3 drops and add to your favorite Paula's Choice serum, or use alone and follow with moisturizer where needed. 

First week: I used Paula's Choice RESIST C15 Super Booster 2x/day after cleansing & applying clindamycin, my antibacterial toner. I follow with Neutrogena ultra sheer or Banana Boat Sport sunblock in the AM and retinoic acid gel in the PM.

Second week: I cut down use and applied at night only. I observed results were not very far from the twice-a-day habit.

Third week: I've read that this product can oxidize over time rendering it less potent so I got back to using it twice-a-day. I thought I could skimp on this as once-a-day usage works mighty fine as using it 2x/day.

I dot three drops on my face using my fingertips in this fashion:

Little Pain, Big Gain

Two things cringe-worthy about it is that it feels sticky upon application which consequently takes time to get absorbed, and it's not the best-smelling skincare product out there. However, it is able to improve skin clarity in an instant giving the skin a healthy, supple and bright aura. I have not noticed a significant improvement in skin texture in 3+ weeks of use.

I like using the treatment in the morning as it helps face bases look a lot cleaner against the skin. Best news is that throughout the time I've used it (almost a month already!), Paula's Choice RESIST C15 Super Booster proved to be hypoallergenic & non-comedogenic.

Other things I like about it are:

1. It is economical to use, thanks to the dropper. Each bottle can last few more days/weeks than it actually should and that's always a good thing.
2. The bottle and dropper-type cap are specially designed to prevent the product from unnecessary light & air exposure which can degrade Vitamin C and E.
3. Trial size bottle is great for travel!

The trial size was very promising I decided to buy the full size! I'm hoping to achieve a firmer skin texture a few more weeks into this serum.  (List of Paula's Choice Resellers in Manila, Cavite & Laguna, bought mine from Skin Box/Amanda Castilo, free shipping till May 15!)

Paula's Choice RESIST C15 Super Booster, full sixe 20ml- P3000; trial size 3.5ml- P500

What It's Not

It's not a moisturizer, nor a pore shrinker, or a zit zapper. Also, the significant improvement in skin clarity dies down within the day. I would recommend constant use of the product may it be once or twice a day. Trial size is suuuper sulit at P500!

A Quick Note on Ferulic Acid

I stumbled upon the Journal of Investigative Dermatology and learned how ferulic acid can provide additional stability to topical Vitamin C and acts as a photoprotector rendering Vitamin C effective even in the morning. What's even better is that with the right amount of ferulic acid in the solution, thymine dimer formation can be reduced thus lowering the risk for skin cancer!

Final Thoughts

I've always known that with a brighter skin complexion, I can somehow get away with huge pores and acne marks. And true enough, I do. Oral glutathiones have addressed my dull & sallow skin but the weight gain is unforgivable. With Paula's Choice RESIST C15 Super Booster, I'm getting radiant skin everyday and people hardly notice I'm only getting around 4 hours of sleep on a daily basis. I will have to restructure my schedule to be able to get a healthier amount of rest and who knows, I might be able to make the temporary skin brightening effect permanent!

One Super Final Thought on the Super Booster

And because this is a comeback post and especially on a super great product, I won't pass up the chance to get goofy & exciting by doing a follow-up after the final thoughts heading and naming it the super final thoughts section. If that confused you, this won't: I'm giving away a trial size of the Paula's Choice RESIST C15 Super Booster to one lucky reader!!! Jump to the separate post about the giveaway to keep comments in this review a lot less spammy :)

I haven't used anything new for my skin lately except for the Shiseido Ibuki duo that broke me out badly. Now that my skin cleared up and has recovered from the post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from fractional CO2 laser therapy, I'm ready for new skintastic treats before the month ends.

1. Camaru Naturals Amazonian Clay Face Mask - cleanses, detoxifies and purifies the skin for visibly clearer complexion
2. Paula's Choice RESIST Pure Radiance Skin Brightening Treatment - imparts instant radiance, reduces dark spots and diminishes wrinkles
3. Paula's Choice Shine Stopper Instant Matte Finish - controls oil, minimizes pore appearance and smooths-out imperfections
4. Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid - creates radiant and even-toned skin and unclogs & diminishes enlarged pores
5. Paula's Choice RESIST Anti-Aging Clear Skin Hydrator - silky gel-cream that hydrates and firms the skin

I'm thrilled to learn that Proudly Filipino brand Camaru Naturals' has come up with a face mask that contains the very ingredient that makes my fave bar soap from the brand tick, activated bamboo charcoal! Their soap brightens the skin on my body and I can't wait to see how it fares for the face.

And it still feels surreal I'm looking at skincare from Paula's Choice. I'm very excited to find out which of these four my skin will love best!

Disclaimer: This non-paid post contains products sent to me for review purposes

Last October 2, 2013, Paula's Choice Philippines celebrated their formal brand launch at the Manila Marriott's The Den. You can say I was more than excited to finally catch their top acne-clearing products as I once wanted to get hold of their Skin Perfecting line. It was also difficult back then not to get curious about their RESIST Skin Resurfacing System when Trang blogged about how effective it was.

What is Paula's Choice?

Lifestyle & Beauty bloggers were all ears as Paula's Choice Pte Ltd. Southeast Asia Managing Director, Naree Mongkol,  introduced everyone to the brand's role in catering to individual skin concerns. One of the highlights include an apple experiment showcasing the Vitamin C serum, RESIST C15 Super Booster (for brown spots and wrinkles, to be made available in the coming months), as it effectively reverses the rusting of an apple.

Paula's Choice's wide range of effective skincare products originates from its founder, Paula Begoun's, discriminating habit of choosing what she puts on her skin-- a habit formed from a past trauma when she realized acetone was in her skincare staple.

The brand banks and puts emphasis on the science of skincare in coming up with each product, making sure they contain well-researched and proven effective ingredients. Since its creation, consumers worldwide have been drawn to their serums, exfoliants, sunblocks and anti-acne & redness line.

Paula's Choice Bestsellers

The brand's crème de la crème include:

• Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid (P1120/100mL)
• Skin Perfecting 8% AHA Gel (P1120/100mL)
• RESIST Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum (P1420/30mL)

I've had my eye on the BHA and AHA bottles for the longest time as I've read countless great reviews for both. What I appreciate more is that the brand cared enough to get these two powerful exfoliators in separate bottles. Most brands would have AHAs and BHA in one bottle when there are skin types that are highly sensitive to salicylic acid (BHA).

What's exciting is that these two exfoliators are modestly priced at P1,120! I'm definitely getting the BHA Liquid ASAP before others beat me to it. 

Paula's Choice Philippines

Paula's Choice products can be purchased via placing an order on:

• Paula's Choice Facebook page
• Phone: (02) 8410468
• Email: info@paulaschoice.com.ph

Soon, they will also be available via Zalora and Lazada shopping sites.

Special Prescription

After the event, I grabbed the chance to talk to Ms. Naree Mongkol, who I learned was also the Advisor to the World Anti-Aging Academy of Medicine. She coyly confesses she's 41 when I asked how old she was. Naturally, I shot her the how-can-i-get-that-skin? question and she started to examine my face and asked for my skin type.

She noticed some obvious redness (from my previous fractional CO2 laser treatment) and jotted down a two-phased recommendation:

Part I- Anti-Redness:

• Skin Recovery Cleanser
• Clinical Anti-Redness Relief
• Skin Recovery Moisturizer

Part II- Youthful, Lustrous and Zit-Free Skin (after completely addressing redness):

• Hydralight One Step Cleanser
• Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
• Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid
• RESIST Super Light Antioxidant Serum (a lighter, fast-absorbing counterpart of the best-selling serum listed above)
• RESIST Anti-Aging Clear Skin Hydrator

She advises I stick with the products that already work for me and pick out the "new stuff" I'd like to try out in strengthening my skin care. We decided I should go for all those listed in phase 2 minus the Hydralight cleanser.

Before leaving, I had to ask what her top three favorite Paula's Choice products are. And she starts gushing about how she cannot live a day without her three favorites and we find ourselves chatting for another 30minutes!

• Earth-Sourced Cleansing Gel
• Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Lquid
• RESIST Super Light Antioxidant Serum 

I am too excited for words about Paula's Choice coming to Philippine shores! Its unexpected popularity in Thailand and Korea is a good sign that there's something about these tubes and bottles worth trying out. I am now too addicted surfing their website as it offers so much information for each product. If you have any recommendations from the brand, drop me a note so I can finalize my to-buy list!