Benefit Cosmetics will be arriving soon! Thanks Thiamere for the heads up on the upcoming Benefit Cosmetics counter in Manila. Rumour has it that the flagship store in Manila will be at Makati.

Get first dibs on this hot scoop by visiting their FB page. You may also get the chance to win free stuff from them by joining their contest.

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Blogger Lay-out Giveaway. If you want some cutesy blog theme on your page, my blogger buddy, Lisa of Shop N Chomp, is hosting a giveaway. Hurry, it ends August 27, 2011, 12:01AM PST.

Big Brother's (UK) Darryn Lyons' Abs. Are you ready for fake abs? I'm totally NOT! I've learned about this from L&C and I was laughing real hard and was shaking my head in disbelief.

But the fake abs surgery was his call and I may be rude to still be laughing at the photos while typing this so I'm stopping.

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Huffingtonpost has the story. Now quit chuckling at the teenage mutant ninja turtle Darryn.

Would you ever want your man to sport this look by the time he gets awfully HUGE? Would love to know...

I used to have a huge span of enlarged, visible pores across my cheeks. Now, after all the painstaking derma trips (I live faaaaar from my doctor's clinic) and the half-awake sessions slathering on creams and gels using my tired hands, I can say that my pores got smaller! It was all worth it. I'm attributing this beauty milestone to Doc Six Foronda's Glowing Solution.

Product Impression

The solution stains cotton pads yellow and can smell chemical-ish when taking a whif of it from the bottle. This strong scent though is absent in fewer amounts like when poured on a cotton pad. 

I do not recall any stinging or burning sensation during the time I've been on it. 

Usage

After cleansing the face at night, dab a small amount of the glowing solution on a cotton pad. Target that you spread ONLY ONE LAYER of the solution evenly on the face while avoiding the following areas: undereyes, sides of the nose and around the mouth.

For acne-prone areas (like my notorious chin which has eventually been cured, thanks to Robaz), swipe on TWO LAYERS.

Product Highlights

This is worthy of it's name, really. I experienced a more youthful glow after a week of using it and eventually, I got improvements with my pore size. This is a cheap product that effectively addresses dull and uneven skintones. It's an added plus that it was able to shrink my pores, too.

Because of the lesser amount of product needed to cover my face, I get a huge bang for my buck for the infrequent need to repurchase the product. A small bottle lasts me 3-4 months.

The Letdowns

Aside from the scent, my biggest gripe about the glowing solution is that it leaves my face a VERY sticky after feel. It takes time before the skin absorbs it so that's more waiting time for me before I hit the sack.

It can also be a pain to be specific about evening out the solution in ONE LAYER. I find that if I put on too much, it can leave my face reddish, flaky and unflattering.

Another con is that this product is compounded by my derma, Doc Six Foronda, so it's not very accessible.  

Limitations

• i've observed that it neither alleviates nor worsens my zits.
• when using this topical, avoid direct exposure to sunlight, wear an effective sunblock
• the solution oxidizes over time (the light yellow tint becomes a rusty orange color)
• i used this product alongside other topicals from my derma (remember the local obagi?) and Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel. I zeroed-in on this product as the greatest contributor to shrinking my pores because it's the only one I've been CONSTANTLY using all these months

Overall, I have lived with the letdowns of the 6F Glowing Solution because of its amazing effects on my skin. Here's an old picture of me (circa 2008) vis-a-vis the photo above (minus the doodling):

Today marks the second month I've been using the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel. Coincidentally, I've been experiencing unusual dryness on the cheeks and on some parts of the nose (way back February) and I'm on the lookout for a good moisturizer ever since I parted ways with my ex-HG, Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. A few months ago at the Neutrogena event, I realized that the lack of a good moisturizer is just the tip of the iceberg. I am actually guilty of a roll of daily skin dehydrating conditions! 

With this problem at hand, the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel has been under strict scrutiny ever since I got hold of it.

The Product's Oath

Combining advanced skin-caring elements that replenish and repair skin from within, Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel constantly hydrates and protects skin from the negative effects of your daily routine. It works two ways to hydrate and rehydrate skin: It increases hydration levels uo to 200% and its innovative "12-Hour Progressive Release System" replenishes hydration all day long (transcribed from product brochure).

Packaging

The 50g moisturizer is contained in a sleek and attractive deep sky blue tub. It's a tad bulky if you'd ask me, but if the brand was going for a high-end look to this new product, I must say they've nailed it.

There are two caps enclosing the tub: the screw cap and some "i-don't-know-what-it's-called" cover. It's a smart move, to put two lids, to prevent the good product from staining the screw cap right away which can get the entire tub messy.

Texture and Scent

If there's one thing that I'll remember about the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel by the time I get senile, it will be its amazing fluid-y texture! The texture is in between that of a gel's and water's. Its consistency is thin, runny and translucent. I'm certain that this is one of the product's strongest points.

The scent, on the other hand, is something I won't, or wouldn't want to remember. It's not that it's terrible, I just prefer my skincare products to be unscented.

Finish and Feel

Because of the remarkable texture, this moisturizer spreads easily even on my driest areas and gets absorbed by my skin rather quickly. With the right pea-size amount, this never leaves my skin feeling sticky and instead, I end up with a well-primed face that's velvety to the touch.

Effectivity

Sadly, I was not satisfied with Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel's hydrating capabilities for my combination-to-dry skin. My cheeks and sides of the nose still flaked a bit and I wasn't thrilled to see that. Perhaps, for those with dry-skin, this product is meant to be used in conjunction with the Hydro Boost cleanser, toner and serum for maximum efficacy.

However, I find that if I use this as a sleeping pack (think Clinique Moisture Surge and Laneige Water Sleeping Pack), it is able to aid in moisturizing my skin better than using it alone. Also, it's an amazing discovery that I am able to use my sticky moisturizers  under the  Neutogena water gel since the latter can improve the finish and feel of the former. I was actually able to cut down on wasted products because of this!

Photo Credits: Clinique Gel, Laneige Water Sleeping Pack, Clinique Moisture Surge

In the span of time I've been using the water gel as a sleeping pack, it has boosted my skin's radiance and suppleness. As a face primer, it did a good job in keeping my tzone less oily, thus making my face base a bit more long-wearing.

Product Highlights

• 50g; P830.00; available at Watson's
• a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer
• cost-effective; the tub can last approx 3 months (or more!), used twice daily
• no breakouts or purging state for my sensitive skin
• versatile: it's a moisturizer that can turn into a sleeping pack or a face primer 
• you only need a tiny amount of the product

The Letdowns

• a bit pricey for a drugstore product
• not -cone-and-parabens-free (i'm on the lookout for skincare minus the -cones)
• i hope they lessen the fragrance a bit
• packaging is too big for travel  

Helpful Hints:

1. use a spatula to get the product off the tub
2. use a small amount of the product (pea-size amount dotted on the forehead, cheeks and chin). it's all you need, really. more than that may just be over the top.
3. if you have dry skin and you have moisturizer you're not using because of the gloopy after feel, use the Neutrogena Hydro boost water gel on top of it (let the sticky moisturizer sink in for a few minutes first) and transform its texture!
4. for travel, scoop some product onto a small pot for more days of skin hydration outside home

Recommendation

I can say that this product is at par with most notable hydrating gels in the market. This is definitely something I'd recommend for oily skin. This doubles up as a makeup primer so that you can lessen the stuff you pack into your skin. For those with dry skin, you may want to skip this OR you can use it as a sleeping pack on top of your favorite night time moisturizer.

Photo Credits: Clinique Gel, Laneige, Moisture Surge

I just hope that the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel can come in smaller, budget-friendly minis. This is quite a pricey product and it's sad that a lot of oily-skinned might be missing on it because of its relatively prohibitive tag.

Happy Sunday, everyone! I know how much you're wishing that Sunday gets more than 24 hours in it, just a little luxury before facing another busy Monday.

Let me tolerate that dreamy and fanciful idea with this set of inspirational dressing table designs: