The Shapeshifting Cat: Review

Product Review: Esfolio Anti-Wrinkle Collagen Daily Essence

Collagen is one of the few skin care ingredients that make me want to buy the product. It is a kind of protein that helps to moisturize and revitalize our skin. As we age, our collagen levels start to decline at a rapid rate and when it does, it causes the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines on the skin. So I make sure that I incorporate it into my skincare routine.

As you may have read in my previous post, I'm trying to complete my shopping list for my 10-Step Korean Skincare Routine and for the essence I decided to purchase the Esfolio Anti-Wrinkle Collagen Daily Essence.

It's been already a month since I first used this product so I feel that I can now give my review of the product's effect on my skin.

So let's begin.

Esfolio Anti-Wrinkle Collagen Daily Essence is a skincare product from South Korea. According to their website, it contains collagen peptide and hydrolyzed collagen that effectively improves skin elasticity and revitalizes the skin. It soothes and comforts the skin from deep within, together with the sea grape extract and codium fragile extract.

Where To Buy:
I bought mine at BeautyMNL but you can directly order from their website as well.

Size: 120ml
Yes, it's big! Been using for a month now but still a long way to go before I consume it all.

Price: ₱999.00

But I got mine for only ₱700.00 because it was on sale at the time I was shopping at BeautyMNL.😊

How to use: After cleaning your face with facial cleansing foam and applying toner, just take an adequate amount and apply to the face evenly. Use it day and night.

Ingredients:

Water, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Dimethicone, Palmitic Acid, Diglycerin, Sorbitan Olivate, Peg-100 Stearate, Vp Copolymer, Stearic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Clyceryl Stearate,Hydrolyzed Collagen, Codium Fragile Extract, Milk Protein Extract, Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Phenoxyethanol, Ehtylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Fragrance, Disodium Edta.

Esfolio Anti-wrinkle Collagen Daily Essence Review The Shapeshifting Cat

Product Packaging:

It comes in a pump bottle that keeps the essence bacteria-free and hygienic. The container is an air-tight bottle which uses pressure to dispense the product out of the bottle. I love how you can easily control the amount of product dispense without the mess. The cute print on the bottle doesn't hurt as well. It reminds me of a Sanrio character that I used to love as a kid, Zashikibuta. 😊

Esfolio Anti-Wrinkle Collagen Daily Essence for 10-Step Korean Skincare Routine - The Shapeshifting Cat

The Product:

The essence has a light formula with a gel-like texture. It goes smoothly when applied and absorbed quickly by the skin. I love how it does not leave my skin looking oily but just the right amount of moisture to give my skin a healthy glow. The smell reminds me of The Skinfood Black Raspberry line, which surprisingly, does not smell anything like berries at all. More like, a bunch of herbs. Which is sad but this one is much milder in terms of fragrance.

Esfolio Anti-Wrinkle Collagen Daily Essence Sample for 10-Step Korean Skincare Routine - The Shapeshifting Cat

Will I Repurchase:
YES!

Overall Thoughts:

I think I found my HG essence to date. It's non-comedogenic, I never experienced breakouts since I used the essence. I have seen a great improvement in my skin's texture and the skin on my face is brighter, more supple and well-moisturized than before. I used to have dry patches on my nose and no amount of moisturizers I've used made them disappear but Esfolio Anti-Wrinkle Collagen Essence made that happen. That's amazing, right? Sometimes when I get lazy to complete my 10-Step Korean Skincare Routine, I just make sure that I wash, tone and put essence on my face because this routine still gives me a healthy glow when I wake up in the morning. For the anti-wrinkle claim, I don't have plenty of visible fine lines except a few around my eyes (nooooo!) but I still have to give it a few more months to see if there will be improvements. If it does not revert the fine lines, I just hope it prevents the appearance of new ones. And because I love what it does to my skin, I just might purchase a few more products from their Collagen Line.

Have you tried Esfolio Anti-Wrinkle Collagen Essence? What are your thoughts about it? Let me know in the comments section below.

**This post may contain affiliate link/s. If you decide to make a purchase, I will earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank
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Until next time!

2/22/2018 07:12:00 AM
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A Guide to 10-Step Korean Skincare Routine

guide

10-Step Korean Skincare Routine

Koreans are known for youthful and glowing skin so why wouldn't I want to achieve that, right? They focus on layering moisturizing creams, essences, ampoules, and serums. For a girl with dry skin, this may be the answer to my skin concerns. Of course, I'd like to focus on anti-aging products as well because having dry skin is more prone to premature aging.

After watching and reading several skincare product reviews, I decided that I want to try the famous 10-Step Korean Skincare Routine. I have always been curious about it and at first, I felt that it was too time-consuming and overwhelming. I mean to use 10 products on your face? That's quite a lot. My daily skincare routine includes facial cleansing, toning, moisturizing (1 cream and 1 serum), and the occasional face mask. So if I am going to try this, I'd be adding 5 more products to put on my face.

The products I am listing here are what I have gathered from different reviews that match my dry skin type. Now, I haven't tried all of them yet and most are still part of my shopping list this year. Most of the products I have were purchased at Althea Korea. By the way, if you decided to sign up for their membership program, by using this code we'd both get a 200php discount on our next purchase. :)

Step 1: Balm Cleanser

This one's new to me since I do not double cleanse as my skin tends to dry out easily but I learned that using a balm cleanser will not (hopefully) do that. One product I found that claims to effortlessly removes makeup, residue, and impurities without stripping off your natural oils is the Heimish All Clean Balm. Since I do not regularly use makeup I am still deciding if I'll purchase this but based on reviews it does the job well. I suggest skipping this cleanser in the morning since you'll wake up with a bare face.

Heimish All Clean Balm by The Shapeshifting Cat

ph.althea.kr

Step 2: Foam Cleanser

After using a balm cleanser, next step is to use a regular cleanser to wash away leftover make-up thoroughly. Make sure to use non-drying cleanser to help your skin keep its natural moisture. COSRx Good Morning Gel Cleanser has a low pH level of 5, which makes it perfect for any skin type. It's also infused with BHA and Tea Tree Oil, a magical mix of ingredients that rids of dead skin cells, dissolves impurities deep within pores, and controls sebum, leaving skin glowing. This cleanser is very popular with beauty bloggers and I plan to buy this one on my next shopping.

CosRx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser by The Shapeshifting Cat

beautymnl.com

Step 3: Wash-off Scrub

The key to achieving clear smooth skin is to exfoliate dead skin cells. Use this 1-2 times a week to help clear out clogged pores and reveal a brighter complexion. My choice of product is Skinfood Black Sugar Honey Mask Wash Off. Its main ingredient is black sugar extract which is full of minerals to provides skin with nutrients and moisture.

Skin food Black Sugar Mask by The Shapeshifting Cat

beautymnl.com

Step 4: Toner

I always prefer alcohol-free toners because it's gentle to the skin. My current toner is a local brand, V&M Naturals Happy Pores Witch Hazel, it is alcohol-free so it prevents my skin from drying any further plus the witch hazel extracts helps to heal the skin and fade acne blemishes. It's gentle enough to use every day. For Korean brand, I recommend COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner. It helps prevent blackheads and whiteheads to give you a clear complexion.

CosRx AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner by The Shapeshifting Cat

ph.althea.kr

Step 5: Serums and Ampoules

Ampoules are super-charged serums and best used at night since it is more concentrated than essence and serums. Ampoules with anti-aging properties are a good way to keep your skin looking youthful, use a product that contains propolis (the ingredient honey is made from) like W-Lab Propolis Vital Energy Ampoule, it has super moisturizing properties to relieve the skin of dryness. For serums, choose a product that targets your concern. If you have really dry skin and premature aging is your concern, you'll definitely want to use products with Coenzyme-Q10 like It's Skin Power 10 Formula Q10 Effector. It promotes regeneration of skin cells so that you have a supple, radiant complexion while preventing skin dryness. Or if you aim for brighter complexion use products with Vitamin C like It's Skin Power 10 Formula VC Effect because it enhances collagen synthesis which promotes a fair complexion.

It's Skin Vitamin C Serum by The Shapeshifting Cat

beautymnl.com

Step 6: Essences

Layer another moisturizing product with whitening properties onto your skin and use Skinfood Premium Tomato Whitening Essence. Tomato contains a large amount of the antioxidant lycopene. Lycopene prevents skin aging by removing free radicals that accumulate in the body, along with its buddies, Vitamins A, C, and E. I really love Skinfood Tomato Line because it's effective in lightening up my pimple marks.

Skinfood Premium Tomato Whitening Essence by The Shapeshifting Cat

theskinfood.us

Step 7: Sheet Mask

This is my favorite among the skincare routine because there a lot of masks available in the market depending on the needs of your skin. I buy multiple sheets in different variants and use them as needed. Just like the wash-off mask, it is advisable to use mask 1-2 times a week. My favorite is Innisfree It's Real Squeeze Aloe Mask. Because it contains aloe, it gives a cooling effect that I need after a long day. Not to mention the hydration it provides my skin.

Innisfree It's Real Aloe Vera Mask by The Shapeshifting Cat

beautymnl.com

Step 8: Eye Cream

Don't neglect your eyes! The skin around the eyes is the most sensitive part of the face. It is the most prone to skin aging so don't forget to moisturize it with eye cream like Laneige Perfect Renew Firming Eye Cream. Delay the first signs of aging with eye cream and regularly apply it day and night. Make sure to use your ring finger when applying the product to lessen the pressure onto your skin.

Laneige Perfect Renew Eye Cream by The Shapeshifting Cat

ph.althea.kr

Step 9: Face Cream

When you thought you had enough moisturizers on your face but nope! Use a lighter moisturizer if you feel that you already have too much on your face. Since I like to maintain my youthful skin I prefer Etude House Moistfull Collagen Emulsion. It's light and gets absorbed by the skin easily.

Etude House Moistfull Collagen Emulsion by The Shapeshifting Cat

etudehouse.com

Step 10: Sun Cream (AM) / Sleeping Mask (PM)

The last step differs on day and night. For daytime, use a sun cream like It's My Sun Cream to protect your face from sun damage. At night, apply a sleeping mask like COSRX Aloe Vera Oil-Free Moisture Cream. It's in gel formula making it light on your skin but also provides intense moisture because of Aloe Vera.

CosRX Aloe Vera Oil-free Moisture Cream by The Shapeshifting Cat

beautymnl.com

And we're done! Phew. Now that the list is complete, I just need to fill my shopping cart and try this routine. Once I get my hands on these products, I'll create a before and after comparison here on my blog.

Until next time!

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A Guide To Korean Skincare Routine By The Shapeshifting Cat

2/15/2018 03:09:00 AM
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How to Achieve Silver Grey Hair at Home

DIY

Disclaimer: I am not a hair stylist or professional. I am just sharing the process I did to achieve this color and my opinions about the products I used.

Silver hair. Grey Hair. Granny hair.

This has been my go-to hair color for when I take a break from dyeing my hair.
It's neutral yet eye-catching, so why not?

I've read so many blogs and watched too much Youtube videos on how to achieve this hair color and now I am sharing the process and the products that worked for me. And I am also including in this post all the dyes, toners, shampoos and conditioners that are available here in the Philippines.

Let it be known that this hair color needs a high upkeep and requires your full commitment. So before you dye your hair, make sure you do your research and you do it well.

Let's begin.

The first step in this process is to set your hair goals.

Do you like it ombre (like mine pictured above), light silver or dark grey?

I began looking for inspiration on Pinterest by pinning them on my board so I can use it as a reference.

Here are some hair inspiration for you.

Images are from Pinterest

Now that you have your hair idea on the shade that you want, the next rational thing to do is to have seconds thoughts. Really. Do you really want to do this? Are you ready to damage your hair? Because I won't sugar coat anymore. It does damage your hair. But of course, you can do something about it. Like I said earlier, you just need to be committed with the upkeep.

BLEACH. BLEACH. BLEACH.

You can hire a professional stylist or do it DIY. I chose to do it by myself but I would recommend that if you have not done this before, go to a salon and make sure it is a decent one. It costs more than doing it yourself but a professional can save your hair from unnecessary damage from DIY bleaching.

I have been bleaching my hair for years now and yes, I had my share of boo-boos.

I got too eager to lighten my hair because I want to dye it pastel but one thing I learned is that you have to have PATIENCE. Especially if you have thick black Asian hair like mine, you will never achieve that Level 10 or that super pale blonde hair that you need to get to achieve that granny hair. Wait for at least a month before bleaching it again. It's a long waiting game but totally recommended to help your hair bounce back to its healthy state. I can write about my bleaching process in another post, but for now here are my tips before you start bleaching your hair.

At least a month before:

♡ Avoid heat-styling your hair

♡ Try not to dye your hair in any color

♡ Condition your hair every day

♡ Make time for weekly hair treatments

A day before you bleach:

♡ Do not shampoo your hair. You'll need that extra grease to protect your hair!

♡ APPLY VIRGIN COCONUT OIL ON YOUR HAIR

♡ Pray that your hair can tolerate the torture :P

After bleaching:

♡ Continue on your weekly treatments

♡ TONE THAT YELLOW/ORANGE/BRASSY HAIR

♡ Use purple shampoo and conditioner to keep that hair from going brassy

♡ Wait at least a month before bleaching again
♡ Try bleach bathing instead of doing the full bleaching process

Finally, let your hair breathe.

IS YOUR HAIR READY?

Did you achieve that perfect blonde?

After 3 months, I think my hair is now ready for it. I kept the roots natural to achieve the black and dark grey ombre I am going for. Here is the blonde I had before I went grey.

Excuse my thirsty, dry hair.

TONE THAT BANANA HAIR!

It is a must to tone your hair to get rid of those yellow hues to make grey dye work.

You can use a toner like Wella Color Charm - T18 Lightest Ash Blonde.
To apply this product, you need to mix it with 10/20 volume developer. I suggest using 10 instead to keep you from damaging your hair further.
If you want, you can also opt to use semi-permanent dyes like Manic Panic's Virgin Snow or any blue/violet based semi-permanent dye that you will mix with white conditioner. It's not damaging and smells good too.

IT'S TIME TO DYE.

I have searched high and low for the perfect dye to achieve this beautiful color.

Here are some of the products I tried and a little description on what it did to my hair.

iON COLOR BRILLIANCE
SEMI-PERMANENT HAIR COLOR IN TITANIUM

♡ No need for developers, can be used alone or mixed with conditioner

♡ Last up to 4-6 weeks depending on your shampoo ritual

♡ 2.5 oz a tube (You'll need more if you have long hair)

♡ Bought it at 550php per tube

I don't fancy the smell of this of product though, it smells a little chemical because it's not a vegan product, unlike other semi-permanent dyes. Take note that it is a blue-based dye. Make sure you have almost white blonde hair unless you want your grey dye to fade into greenish color.

Yellow hair + Blue dye = Green hair. You get it, right?

Wella Color Charm
050 Cooling Violet

♡ Violet-based toner

♡ Lasts for at least a month

♡ Fades into white if your hair is very pale blonde

♡ Not made with natural ingredients

♡ Bought it at 600php with developer included

It's actually a toner! So you can skip the toning part. :)

However, it is made of chemical ingredients and of course, it will damage your hair if you keep on using this product. I also find the smell irritating to my nose because it's too strong.

Lolane Pixxel
very light ash blonde

♡ Permanent hair dye

♡ Easy to apply

♡ Not made with natural ingredients

♡ Smells bad like full of chemicals

♡ You need to buy a pair of gloves, mixing bowl and brush

♡ Around 140php

I like how it's easily available, got mine in Robinson's Department store's beauty section. The shade is an ashy grey with violet undertones. It turned my hair a little violet but after another wash, it left a beautiful slightly dark grey color. What turned me off was the awful smell, it was so strong that I need to open up all the windows to keep my room well ventilated. But overall, I think I will stick to this dye because it's permanent, which means less maintenance!

THE RESULTS

Here are the results of the 3 products I used. Can you notice the difference?

In the first photo, I used the Ion Color Brilliance, if you're trying to achieve the silver hair then this is for you. I used Wella Color Charm for the second photo, I liked the result but it left my hair dry.

The last one, I used the Lolane Pixxel dye. I think it's the most neutral shade among all of them.

I think it looks a bit on the brown side in this picture because of the lighting, but in person, it's a true grey shade.

THE UPKEEP

You did it. Now, what?
You cannot just let all the hard work go to waste! Maintain that beautiful grey hair.
Keep it from turning to ugly yellow or green. Uggh.

MY RECOMMENDATIONS

♡ Purple Shampoo. Try Bleach London's Silver Shampoo!

♡ ROUX FANCI-FULL TEMPORARY HAIR COLOR RINSE - TRUE STEEL

♡ Dove Dry Shampoo. Avoid Shampooing your hair everyday, instead use dry shampoo to freshen up your locks! And it smells nice too.

Whew!!! What a long post. What do you think about my silver grey hair process?

I really hope I gave you an idea of how I achieved it at home. Just remember, what you need most is a good canvas. So, take good care of your hair after bleaching. The dyeing process is easy, there's so many ways and products to achieve this color, the biggest challenge is to get a pale blonde hair.

If you want a more detailed review of the products I use for my upkeep, just drop a comment below and I will write about it.

xx

10/22/2016 03:27:00 AM
1 Comments

Sooper Beaute Haul + Review!

beauty

Today I will feature a Filipino brand that I discovered lately while window shopping in BeautyMNL, which is my current favorite online shop for make-up and skin care products. Anyway the brand I'm talking about is Sooper Beaute.

According to their website, their products are 100% Filipino and are made with natural ingredients. These claims convinced me to try out their products. I have been using these for 2 months now and I think I have given enough time for the products to prove their claims.

Before I share my review, I'll give you an idea of my skin type. I have dry skin with morena complexion. I can say that my skin is clear but I have days when a pimple pops out of nowhere, especially during that time of the month. Uggh.

So, what did I purchase?

The Skin Heroes

(Photo credits: Sooper Beaute FB page)

The Set Includes:

Skin Perfecting Night Tonic

Skin Beautifying Day Tonic

Skin Brightening Cream

Wonder Cream

Cell Renewal Cream

Kojic Papaya Soap

It retails at 977 php but I was able to purchase the set on sale at 725 php. What a deal!

Let's begin with the review.

Skin Perfecting Night Tonic

What it claims: An evening toner that addresses blemishes.

My thoughts:

♡ Smells like melon

♡ Absorbs make-up residues and dirt that my facial wash leaves

♡ My skin feels tight and clean after use

♡ It slowly lightened my dark spots

♡ Might sting your skin if you have break-outs

♡ Good for oily acne-prone skin

Regular price for a bottle: 280 php (60ml)

Will I re-purchase? Yes

Skin Beautifying Day Tonic

What it claims: A powerful yet gentle anti-aging toner for daytime use.

My thoughts:

♡ Yes, for anti-aging!

♡ Light floral scent

♡ The pores in my nose area are now less prominent

♡ Contains Vitamin C so it helps lighten dark spots as well

♡ Does not make my skin dry

Regular price for a bottle: 280 php (60ml)

Will I re-purchase? Yes

Skin Brightening Cream

What it claims: A powerful lightening cream that inhibits melanin production.

My thoughts:

♡ Very gradual lightening effect

♡ Can be used on face, underarm and bikini area

♡ Adds a little moisture to my dry skin

♡ Gentle fresh fragrance

♡ Has SPF 15

Regular price for a pot: 180 php (10g)

Will I re-purchase? No

Wonder Cream

What it claims: A multi-tasking cream that blurs imperfections and keeps the skin fresh.

My thoughts:

♡ Has powdery finish

♡ Tinted and provides light coverage

♡ Emphasizes very dry patches on my skin

♡ Hard to blend on dry skin, I mix it with serum to blend it evenly

♡ Has SPF 20

Regular price for a pot: 100 php (10g)

Will I re-purchase? No

Cell Renewal Cream

What it claims: An exfoliating cream that restores skin-radiance.

My thoughts:

♡ Gently exfoliates dead skin without too much shedding

♡ Helps to eliminate dark spots and promotes skin regeneration

♡ Skin looks radiant and fresh after use

♡ Tightens and refines pores

Regular price for a pot: 180 php (10g)

Will I re-purchase? Yes

Kojic Papaya Soap

What it claims: A beauty bar that brightens skin, tightens pores, and targets blemishes.

My thoughts:

I have not tried the product yet because I am still using my current facial soap so I cannot give you a review on the product. :)

Regular price for a bar: 65 php (90g)

Will I re-purchase? TBD

Overall, I think they make good products specially designed for Filipina skin. In a span of 2 months of using these products, I noticed how my skin improved in terms of its texture and appearance. I rarely rarely (stressing the word as much as I can) had break-outs and if I did, it's almost gone after a couple of days. I also noticed that I did not have any dark spots whenever I get those pesky pimples. My favorites from the set are the toners - I like how they have night and day kinds. And also, the cell renewal cream - it does its job well for me.

Additional Item

Sooper Beaute So Matte Lip & Cheek Therapy

Shade in Astra

(Photo credits: BeautyMNL)

So Matte Lip & Cheek Therapy

What it claims: A double-duty color cream that can be used on the lips and cheeks.

My thoughts:

♡ Cheek and matte lippie in one!

♡ Provides soft matte finish

♡ Gives a MLBB (My Lips But Better) shade

♡ Looks natural on cheeks

♡ A bit pricey for the size of the tube

♡ Light-weight feel on lips

♡ Does not last all day and a bit drying on the lips

♡ The smell might not be appealing to all

Regular price for a tube: 380 php (10ml)

Will I re-purchase? No

So yeah, there you have it. My first product review on my recent purchase. Hope I helped you get an idea of the Sooper Beaute products I've tried. Please note that the product may or may not work well on you because of skin type differences and many other factors.

Till next time.

10/15/2016 10:37:00 PM
0 Comments

Product Review: Esfolio Anti-Wrinkle Collagen Daily Essence

Product Review: Esfolio Anti-Wrinkle Collagen Daily Essence

Have you tried Esfolio Anti-Wrinkle Collagen Essence? What are your thoughts about it? Let me know in the comments section below.

A Guide to 10-Step Korean Skincare Routine

10-Step Korean Skincare Routine