Found a very interesting tool to clean the nose area from future painful breakouts! Goodbye blackheads and whiteheads!

nasal comedone removal is now a specific part of my skincare regimen!

What I love:

outrageously cheap @ P30+
travel size
bristles go gently on the skin
easy to clean; but may need to disposed of after several uses since there is no way of sterilizing it

Blackhead Remover, Ever Gotesco Beauty Section, ~P 30 (less than a dollar)

I love how fresh my nose area feels after using this (+my cleanser). Not sure if I'm getting a placebo cleaning, though. Will be able to tell probably after a month. So far, I love using it every other day!

a tiny bluish purple beauty tool made of flexible plastic

haha, this is absolutely cool!

Do you hate blackheads growing on the nose, too? How do you make sure that area is all clean? Would love to know!

The first time I got my hands on Asian Secrets Lulur, I got so excited that I forgot to read the label.  I used it on my damp skin and was not too happy with the results.

My skintone went surprisingly darker after bathing.  I suddenly questioned why so many raved about it, but then I thought I shouldn't judge too early.

Asian Secrets Lulur Whitening Scrub, 135g tub

Lo and behold, the label read, 'best applied on dry skin'.  And the rest is history.  It's now among my staple beauty products and I eventually discovered the best way it can work for the skin.

If you want to experience the best of what this product can offer your skin, here are some tips:

• If you are gaga about whitening soaps, creams and lotions, then you should exfoliate the skin at least twice a week to get those expensive products working.  Asian Secrets Lulur is the best way to go because it is safe for daily use (I do it every other day though because I don't want to run out of it so soon).  Imagine all those papain, arbutin and other bleaching ingredients seeping through your skin optimally.
• Use the product on DRY SKIN. Many have used it after wetting the skin, myself included, and the results weren't as thrilling as when applied before bathing.
• Use a spatula (or a teaspoon) in scooping the product out.  I noticed my small tub turning sour since I just dip my hands to get the product.
• Scrub per body segment instead of randomly slathering the product to your body.  This is crucial to make sure you are not missing out a spot on your skin (ha, I'm so OC!).  Think: (1) shoulders and arms, (2) upper leg, (3) lower leg and dorsum of foot, (4) low back and butt area, (5) chest and tummy.  Put this body map in your head when scrubbing and you're in for a serious brightening treat. It seems a lot at first, but when you do it often, it'll be a breeze, really.

Body diagram edited from this page

• Scrub the skin well till almost all the beads melt into the skin.  You'll know it's time to move on to the next segment if you start seeing flaky white remnants of the product.

nope, that's not the 'flaky, white remnants yet'
 if you still see this much product on the skin, you're at least 10 scrubbing strokes away from completion

• Use Asian Secrets Lulur generously on the skin.  Generously. (that's why I feel that the tubs aren't cost-efficient. i can finish up one small tub in 5 whole-body scrubbing sessions)
• Let the product seep through the skin for a few minutes.  You'll know it's time to wash off when you feel the skin growing warmer (approx 4mins).
• If you have decided to stock on the product, grab the bigger tub.  You save more by doing this.
• It isn't necessary to use this daily.  Results are carried over within 2 days post-scrubbing.  It's best to use this 2x-3x a week.  

Some users claim that they can work with the product better with the skin damp, while majority agree that the best effects are seen when Asian Secrets Lulur is used as a dry brushing agent.  The above tips are drawn from how I've been using the product to achieve a nicer and more radiant skin, but it is not limited to these.

You can try experimenting with your Asian Secrets Lulur scrub and see what works for you!

The title must have given it all already.  By now you must've guessed that I'm giving this product a two-thumbs up rating with the tagline inclusion, "the greatest exfoliation experience".  Well, Asian Secrets Lulur is simply that.  For those who are looking for a skin brightening experience that's easy on the pocket, this might be the tub you'll need to stock up on.

Asian Secrets Lulur Whitening Body Scrub, 250g and 135g
available @ Watson's Beauty Store, 130php and 80php respectively

This exfoliator, unlike the Abonne milk spa salt scrub I reviewed earlier, isn't harsh on the body.  Submaximum scrubbing can be done since the beads are finer and easier on the skin.  We all know how beneficial dry scrubbing is to the skin, and Asian Secrets Lulur elevated this essential primping procedure to a higher level.  

Why so?  Because the skin feels nothing but regal with the Tommy girl floral scent it leaves the skin (and it sure does linger!).  Adding to that is the radiance the skin gets after washing the product off the body.

you'll definitely leave the bathroom smelling like you've put on Tommy girl

Asian Secrets Lulur Whitening Body Scrub is a beauty treatment inspired by a most luxurious Javanese ritual called Lulur. The ritual was originally intended for the bride-to-be in order to beautify, smoothen, and whiten her skin before her wedding day. Lulur originated from the royal palaces of Java, Indonesia and products inspired by this traditional treatment are still used by Indonesian women today.

An Indonesian royalty ritual rolled in an inexpensive tub?  Sounds real promising, huh?  And here's more.

Asian Secrets Lulur Whitening Body Scrub claims that:

• It gently exfoliates the skin and removes dead skin cells to soften the skin and give it a radiant glow.
• Frequent usage reduces skin pigmentation and evens out skin tone by getting rid of dark patches, especially in areas prone to darkening such as the elbows, knees, armpits, and the area between the thighs.
• It contains Vitamin E and Green Tea extract, powerful antioxidants that protect your skin from free radicals to keep it healthy and young-looking.
• It also contains Squalene and Olive Oil that help maintain moisture on your skin.

I've been using this product for more than a month now (hence, the purchase of a new and bigger tub).  I loved the way the scent lingers on the skin.  It's like you've spritzed on perfume after bathing (but if you hate Tommy girl's scent, you might be better off with Abonne spa milk salt scrub).

I noticed how it evened out my skintone every after scrub like there's no dark film masking the radiance of my skin.  However, if you skip dry brushing using Asian Secrets Lulur 3 days in a row, you'll see how the skin's radiance diminishes.

The available tubs are not cost-efficient for me, though.  They should come up with bigger packaging (I will not hesitate to buy a pail of Asian Secrets Lulur, seriously) because this product is a keeper.  I finished off the small tub in a span of 7 whole-body scrub sessions.  I have yet to gauge how long the 250g tub will last me.

Asian Secrets Lulur whitening scrub, 135g --- perfect for giving the product a shot

Now, the big question is if it's worthy to be labelled, "whitening body scrub".  In a month's time, I can attest that it is, coupled with a moisturizing lotion (I use Revlon Aquamarine) and a whitening soap.  It has the power to really brighten the skin and make it look relatively translucent to your previous skintone that's why I'm claiming that it can whiten.

In my opinion, its whitening effect can be best appreciated with NC30 and lighter skin tones.  Application of whitening products, say a whitening soap bar (I use Likas Papaya soap), can help hugely to appreciate Asian Secrets Lulur's contribution to a brighter skin.  I've tried using just Likas Papaya soap sans scrubbing for a week and the whitening regimen just doesn't look and feel the same without it.

Check out what Pammy, Kira and Maria had to say.

Significant whitening results are not achieved using this product as a sole source for whitening.  

Inside the tub: Asian Secrets Lulur is white and creamy!

I will be posting the best ways to maximize this scrub to achieve optimum effects tomorrow, so stay tuned.  Try it for yourself and tip me off if I'm right about Asian Secrets Lulur being a cheap yet effective whitening product!

As promised, an outfit post on what I wore during the LG P500 Sale Fiasco.  If only I had a longer black cardi, the entire outfit would've improved, don't you think?

OOTD:

Forever 21 woven top
Topshop black cardigan that fell a little short :(
thrifted denims skirt
Landmark gray ballet cap toe flats
Landmark coral shoulder bag

The cute flats aren't super comfortable when I first used it several weeks ago, but I'm glad that it got tad roomy after 2-3 uses and housed my feet just fine during the long hours of standing in line.

Landmark gray ballet cap toe flats, 500 (~$10)

Also, I'd like to think that my newfound skin products are working for my skin!  I'm more than a week old on my local obagi set from Doc Six Foronda (weeee! no tocino-ish redness!) and a month and a half old on using Asian Secrets Lulur body scrub.

I love this product because of the wonderful milky scent it gives my skin after baths.  A Bonne Spa Milk Power Salt Scrub is so cheap at 80+php, you wouldn't think twice about buying a product that's both whitening and firming!

A Bonne Spa Milk Power Salt Scrub, 300g, 80+php (~$1.50)
available at Watson's and in most supermarts

Directions: Apply gently to wet skin in circular movement.  Leave on for 3 minutes, and then rinse off with water.

The product boasts of a powerful triumvirate that works to keep your skin fair and firm: Allantoin that scrapes off impurities, dead skin cells, and helps in blood circulation; Milk Proteins that keeps the skin smooth and moisturized; and Dermawhite that leaves the complexion bright, refined and evened out.  Collagen extracts are also present to fade out visible lines and wrinkles.

A Bonne Milk Power scrub contains micronized salts that will help you exfoliate the skin well.  I just had a problem applying this product on its own because of its unrefined salt crystals.  It was too "sharp" for my liking.

A Bonne's Spa Milk Salt Scrub crystals

The antidote is to mix this with a liquid soap (try Johnson's baby milk bath just to reinforce the creamy, milky scent).  Scrubbing is less painful and you are able to give yourself optimum exfoliation.

What I love about it:

• the scent is just so addicting
• delivers well in exfoliating the skin, and as a result, a brighter-looking skin
• cheap and locally available
• skin feels soft and supple after scrubs
• value for money - 80 bucks for 300g

Uh-ohs:

• can hurt the skin without other diluting agents other than water
• the pretty scent does not linger long on the skin

Tips:

• before bathing, get a handful amount of salt into a plastic bowl to avoid wetting the product (also, this is where you can mix the salt with the Johnson's baby milk bath)
• avoid getting the product over wounds or popped zits --- it can sting

I'm halfway through the bottle and I'm still not seeing significant whitening or firming effects.  But it is too early to tell.  As of now, I'm wishing that Abonne's Spa Milk Salt Scrub has a more lingering scent.  You'll understand what I mean if you get to come across this product.

I've done a little experiment with dry brushing to check if it truly deserves an additional few minutes to my already long bath time.

I tried dry brushing for a week.

And then another week sans the procedure.

And then this past work week with it in my routine again.

The verdict: it's a must in my bath routine. Why? Primarily because I noticed how my skin looked softer and noticeably fairer when I combo-ed it with my fave moisturizing products. Dry brushing CAN boost my kikay products' effects!

Related effects of this healthy pre-bath procedure includes:

• Removes dead skin cells allowing you to see a finer skin texture
• Results to firmer and more radiant skin since it stimulates microcirculation beneath the brushed areas.
• Ample amounts of blood distributed in these areas via microcirculation will mean more oxygenation. Imagine how much spas and salons charge us for oxygenation procedures!
• Can serve as an adjunct to an alkaline diet program + regular exercise to ward off ghastly cellulites.
• Stimulates the detox process that stimulates the lymph canals to drain toxic muccoid matter into the colon.

You may want to check how I do dry brushing.