Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector (Review)

Product Blurb: Dermatologist-developed to be safe, comfortable. Yet in clinical trials our serum was comparable to a leading prescription ingredient in creating a more even skin tone. A verified 53% improvement in skin tone. For all ethnicities: See results starting in as little as 4 weeks. At 12 weeks, see a visible reduction in dark spots, age spots, and traces of acne past.

Price: $49.50

(via Sephora)

Lately, my face has been stuck on this rut that I can't seem to shake of. It's been looking a bit dull, and not to mention I began breaking out once again. I'm getting horrible flashbacks of the horrific skin I had a couple of years ago. Ugly acne and acne scars were becoming something familiar on my face once again. I needed a fix. Stat.

Then, I heard about the new Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector (say that ten times really fast). This probably wins the longest product name (that I've used up to date) category, but too bad it didn't win my love.

So I did the whole she-bang. Used it twice a day, morning and night religiously. Used it for 4 weeks before even writing this review. A week into using the product, I did notice that my skin was much brighter. I looked like a million bucks (minus the pimples of course). I was pretty happy it was helping my skin look much more alive compared to how it was before. It wasn't lightening my acne scars, but I figured that it's been only a week and I can't expect any miracles yet.

A few more weeks went by, and my ugly acne scars were still there. Staring at me. And it was making me sad and uncomfortable. I also noticed that I was breaking out more than I like, but I wasn't sure if my breakouts were correlated with my usage of this product.

So I decided to stop using it after week four. And a week later, my face started clearing up again. Obviously, less breakouts is a better trade off than a brighter skin in my case. Yes, my skin looked brighter, but it kinda defeats the whole purpose of getting rid of dark acne spots when I'm popping up new ones. I also didn't see a noticeable difference when it came to lighter acne spots. So I had to bid adieu. Sorry Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector, but I'll have to say good-bye.  

Rating: 2 out 5 (womp womp)

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Top 10 Products I Can't Live Without

If these companies ever stop production on any of these items, I know all hell will break lose! Why would they discontinue such amazing product anyway? Here are my current top ten products that I'm just currently in love with (in alphabetical order).

1. Eyeko 3 in 1 Cream: The best highlighter in the world. I would choose this over NARS Coppacabana any time of the day for my highlighting needs. It's inexpensive. It's not insanely shimmery. And, most of all, it's easy to apply and blend on your cheeks. And it doesn't hurt that the packaging is so cute! It's definitely a face saver when you want to fake an awake look (Buy it here and Enter Code E122 for a free gift).

2. MAC Blacktrack Fluidline: My favorite eyeliner for my upper lashline whether it be a thin line or a cat eye. With or without a base underneath, fluidline doesn't crease on my oily eyelids like most eyeliners do. It's better than liquid eyeliner in my opinion.

3. MAC Rubenesque Paint Pot: The base of my choice. It keeps it from creasing and my eye makeup pretty. Nothing is worse than an eye makeup being salvaged by oily lids.

4. Mandom Cleansing Express Cleansing Lotion: Like I have mentioned before, I could've sworn these are unicorn tears in a bottle. This makeup remover will wipe your makeup clean off your face with two pumps. It's amazing what this product can do. I especially love this stuff on my "lazy" nights where just getting to the sink to was your face is an impossible mission. It will get you in bed as soon as possible (Buy it here).

5. NARS Lip Gloss, Rose Gitane:
My favorite lipgloss shade! Can give you a that stain effect look, or just lick, lick juicy lips. It looks dark on the tube but it's perfect on my lips.


6. Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque: This literally saves my face from breakouts. Breakouts don't stand a chance with this mask. It's the cheapest yet most effective mask that I ever bought in my life. It really does what it promises to do, and this is one of the products that has definitely brought my face back to clearer state.

7. shu uemura Brightening Cleansing Oil 15.2 oz: Great cleanser for oily skin. Picks up any dirt or makeup debris and give you a clean and squeaky feeling without the tight and dry feeling.




8. shu uemura Eyelash Curler ($19): It's practically the holy grail eyelash curler of everyone in the beauty community. The only eyelas curler that didn't seem such a torture device. Self-explanatory why this made the list.




9. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, Zero: My kohl eyeliner of choice for my lower lashline or waterline. It doesn't smudge or budge. It stays put the whole day until you have to take it off. The pencil is super soft that it glides during application, and won't tug your eyes


10. Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream 2.75 oz Jar ($24): Despite of the camphor smell (aka Vick's Vapor Rub smell), this works wonders on dry and chapped skin. It moisturizes your had without the greasy feeling, and only leaves it nice and smooth. It doubles as a lip balm as well and it really moisturizes your lips.

What makes up your list?

Product Review: ROHTO Mentholatum Acnes Gel

Product Blurb: ROHTO Mentholatum Acnes Gel is a medicated type face gel that helps protect your skin from acne. Contains Vitamin E and B6 protect your skin from dead skin and dryness. Contains glycyrrhizin acid and resorcinol extract for protect your skin from burning and tanning.

Size:18g

Directions: 1. Apply good amount into finger and foam onto acne.

Price: $19.99

Available at: Ohayo Store and Ohayo.com

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5





Quick Rundown

PROS:

reduces the size of the pimple within the first use

doesn't sting, burn, or any adverse effects

OK to use during the day (doesn't leave a white cast after
blending)

CONS:

has that sulfuric smell

not readily available (if you're not from Japan)

a bit pricey for a tube

Thoughts? This is definitely my pimple arsenal. I recently picked this up when I made a trip to Ohayo store in Puente Hills (Buy it here!). Although I don't breakout as much as I did before, I still get occassional pimples here and there (mostly on my forehead). And when I get them, they come in massive sizes and they hurt! Sometimes they linger around for weeks, just because I let them be meaning I don't touch, pop, or put anything on it.

I was a bit skeptical when I first bought this though. First of all, I don't understand a lick of Japanese as mentioned in my previous post, so like any other acne cream that comes in a small tube, I simply just used it as a spot treatment. I'm not sure why the Ohayo website says that it foams when it clearly isn't meant to be a face wash (at least I don't think it does).

Anyway, so I applied this at night before I went to sleep (minus the Ly-na cream). And the morning I woke up, I noticed that the size of my pimple have been reduced to a significant size. The pimple wasn't in-your-face-waving-hello type of thing. I also noticed it also reduced the redness of the pimple.

By my third use, my pimple is no longer hanging out on my face. It also didn't leave a nasty scar (granted I didn't pick on it as well) by the time it went bye bye.

I also like how the cream doesn't sting at all. I noticed that most spot treatments have that burning sensation once it gets contact with your skin. I also didn't experience any peeling or flakiness where I've applied the cream while using it.

The only thing I don't like about this product is the smell (it's always gotta be the smell). You can definitely smell sulfur in it. So if you're allergic to sulfur, I probably wouldn't recommend this. The smell does linger even though the cream applies clearly on your face. So if the smell does really bother you, I suggest to just use it at night.

This cream is also a bit pricey for a small tube. It's $20 a pop although you only need a little cream just to cover the pimple. So depending on how often you get your breakouts will determine how long this product will last you. It's also hard to locate this in a store. You'll probably get a better luck just buying it online. Although I'm not too sure if this might be available at Marukai or Mitsuwa.

Final Verdict: Overall, I love this product despite of its sulfuric smell. It's gentle enough for me that it doesn't cause a burning sensation when I apply the cream, and I definitely saw results after the first use. But please, don't expect a miracle that it'll vanish your pimple right on the spot, because it wouldn't. The results are gradual, but it definitely shortened the time of the pimples' presence on my face.

Product Review: PureLuxe Soothing Calamine Facial Bar

Alongside my Ly-Na Pearl Cream, PureLuxe Calamine bar was a major part of my skin regimen during my acne days.

What they say about it: This soap is excellent for troubled skin. Full of beneficial ingredients all designed to aid and soothe. Made with premium oils such Shea Butter and Emu Oil. Calamine powder (zinc oxide & iron oxide) for its soothing effect, chamomile and hibiscus for soothing anti-inflammatory properties and mild astringency, rose geranium essential oil to help balance sebum and to keep skin supple. Tea tree essential oil for its anti-bacterial and anti-acneic effects, and chamomile essential oil to help soothe irritated skin.

Ingredients: olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, water, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, calamine powder, ricinus communis (castor) oil, bytospermum parkii (shea) butter, sodium hydroxide, emu oil, matricaria recutita (chamomile), hibiscus sabdariffa (hisiscus flower), anthemis nobilis oil (chamomile essential oil), melaleuca alternifolia oil (tea tree essential oil), pelargonium roseum asperum oil (rose geranium essential oil), sodium lactate, silk fiber

Price: $1 (sample) or $6 (full-sized bar) +S&H

Available at: pureluxecosmetics.com

(Photo Credit: PureluxeCosmetics.com; Source)

PureLuxe Soothing Calamine Facial Bar

Quality: 5 out 5

Price: 5 out of 5

Packaging: 3.5 out 5

Overall: 4.5 out of 5

What I like about it: PureLuxe's Calamine Facial Bar was very gentle on my skin. It never left my skin feeling dry unlike some other facial cleansers do. It only left my skin clean and refreshed with each use.

When I heard about this wonder soap, I was a bit skeptical how it claims that it helps troubled skin (i.e. acne). But much to my curiousity, I went ahead and bought a sample of it for a dollar. Since then, I was very impressed. This soap did wonders on my skin within a couple of weeks. Prior to this soap, my face was probably not in the best shape it could've been. I had major acne problems (don't believe me? click here).

The soap really cleanses my face (squeeky clean) without stripping away oil that can leave my face dry. I use this soap to wash my face day and night. It also has kept my breakouts to a minimum or none, and has gotten rid of the pimples on my cheeks that I thought would not go away (ever). The soap also has helped control oil production, in my opinion, that I started noticing my face isn't as oily as it was before.

I also love how it smells. It has that light, fresh smell.

This soap and my Ly-na cream were definitely responsible in getting my skin better.

What I don't like about it: I don't like how it is in soap form. It can be unhygenic in a sense since it is exposed to all kinds of dirt (so I make sure I keep mine in a soap container). However, if your soap container doesn't have holes to drain the water out, the water will really shrink the size of your bar. I wouldn't recommend using this to take off your makeup, especially eye makeup because it will not completely get it off your face (although it does pretty ok with removing eyeshadow). What I usually do is use a makeup remover or wipes to remove any eyemakeup. When I do use mineral makeup, it does a pretty good job in cleaning my face, but I can't say the same thing for liquid foundation (since I don't use liquid foundation). Other than that, I can't think of anything else!


Would I buy it again: YES! I owe it all to this bar of soap. Everytime switch cleansers, I always find myself coming back to this especially when I realized that the new cleanser is breaking me out. Although I'm not breaking out anymore (maybe one or two during the time of the month), I still use this as my preventive acne measure in case my face decides wreck havoc again. I just love, love, love how this makes me face feel and look.

How To: Apply Ly-Na Pearl Cream

I know it sounds silly that I'm even doing this post, but I do have people ask me how do I apply Ly-Na Pearl Cream on my face. I've decided to do a picture post of what I do. It's really simple and there's really nothing special that I do except for what I've mentioned already.



By the way, I also blocked my eyes in some of the pictures where I start to look silly. With or without the black bar, yes I am fully aware that I look ridiculous in the pictures with the cream on! Please hold the giggles :).


None of the pictures are photoshopped! Except for the text added, watermark, and the cropping of the pictures. Images are clickable to enlarge.

*ALWAYS, ALWAYS, wash your face before putting it on. Make sure all the dirt and grime have been washed off with a good cleanser. You'll run the risk of breaking out if you don't clean your face properly. Make sure to also keep your hair out of your face. So pony tail it, use a headband, bobby-pinned your hair... whatever gets the hair off your face. No, I don't have foundation on in this picture. No, I didn't do any photoshop editing on my face. No, I am not 15, 16, 17, or 18 years old. I'm actually 21 almost 22. Yes, those are ginormous pimples... imagine those pretty much all over my forehead and cheeks... that would be me a year ago. But right now those pimples are ok since it's that time of the month.

* I use Nivea Visage because it's just super gentle on my face and it doesn't sting upon application. Not to mention it smells good too.




*See the difference with and without the Ly-na Cream. Ly-na will give you a pasty white face so it's highly suggested that you only use this as a night cream. And don't slap too much of the cream because it can clog your pores.

* See what I mean? Compare my face and neck? I'm 10 shades lighter. Make sure you apply a thin and even layer on your face.

*I just do this to use up my MAC Fix+, but it does kinda give you a refreshing feeling. But I don't think it has any additional benefits in doing this.

I hope this helps and clear up any question about how I do it. This is how it has worked for me and how I keep doing it every night. Who needs La Mer or any other expensive brands when you have Ly-Na Pearl Cream. Don't let the packaging fool you!

Related Posts:
Skin Dilemma: Skin Timeline Pt. 1
Product Review: Ly-Na Face Pearl Cream

Side Note: For the beauties attending the Lipstick Pow Wow on August, I'm planning to bring a Ly-Na Pearl Cream as my item for my Yankee Swap. Yay or Nay??? Should I bring something else? Am I suppose to tell what I'm bringing anyway??? LOL.

Reader Question: What happened to your scars?

I had a question from Diana from my previous post about fighting acne.

Her questions was:
could you post what you did with your scars? im pretty sure if you had alot of cystic acne wouldn't you get pock marks? :X i have alot now too but they're not that deep :]

First of all, I was fortunate enough not to get pock marks. The pock mark that I probably still have on my face that never went away was from my chicken pox day from constantly scratching it. Because of that I never scratched anything itchy on my face.

When I was on a breakout havoc a few years ago, I made an attempt to NEVER touch or scratch my pimples. Let alone pop that sucker out til it bleeds (sorry for the graphic detail). I'm not sure if it's just me, but just the idea of popping pimples grosses me out. Scratching or popping anything on your face will aggrevate your skin hence why it leaves a scar (to remind you not to do it again :]). So left my pimples alone til they pop on their own. That's how I have at least prevented really bad pock marks on my face. It's probably the first step in treating acne. Do not touch your face or pop that pimple no matter how tempting it gets (again it's beauty common sense but we seem to forget it everytime).

As far as scarring goes, I used few different products to help lightened it. The condition of my skin has improved, and I have minimal visible scarring left on my face which are slowly but surely fading. Remember that these things takes time and patience. If you want your scars gone right away, start saving up and investing on a laser treatment.

The most effective product that has really lightened my scars is the Ly-na Face Pearl Cream (Click here and here for related blog entries). It's a great product if used right. I've also tried Scarzone, but I didn't think it was as effective as the pearl cream. I switched later on into using a product by Sewame Paris called Spots-removing & Trace-Free Essence (refer to picture on the left) that Sasa.com carried . I actually recommended this product to a friend of mine, but it's either Sewame discontinued this product or Sasa.com is currently out of stock because I can no longer find it on the website. Anyway, Sewame also helped a lot in fading my acne scars. Initially, I didn't think that the product was going to work and thought it was a gimmick. But, overtime I saw results. What I liked about it was it was very light and it quickly absorbed in my skin (I will do a formal review on this).

Using sunscreen also helps fading acne scars. By protecting your face against sun exposure, it helps minimize the pigmentation of your scars. Sun exposure makes your scar more apparent because of UV-radiation that makes it darker. I use Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion for Face and Body SPF 55 and it has done wonders for me. It's definitely one of the factors that help my face clear up. It didn't break me out and it doesn't leave a white, pasty mask on my face.

Lastly, exfoliating once a week promotes skin turn-over because you're shedding off the bad layer of your skin. If you're face is sensitive, a great scrub is simply mixing sugar and honey together. It'll leave your skin nice, soft, and glowy.

Skin Dilemma Pt. 2: Fighting Acne

The second part of this post.

I know some of you have been wondering how and what did I do that helped me fight my acne problems especially with the amount of grossness I had on my face previously. There's no secret to it really. It's what you're mom has been telling you (at least what my mom has been telling me), old fashion remedies, and just plain beauty common sense. So don't be surprised if what I'm going to be listing is nothing new or exciting to you.


For a couple of years, I had to deal with painful and not to mention ginormous cystic acne on my forehead and cheeks. Bare Escentuals Mineral Foundation is the root of it all. Yes, to some people it might be the best thing since sliced bread. Flawless skin within minutes with minimal caking and no streaks on your face. But for some reason it just won't agree with acne-prone skin. Why? Because of this ingredient they have in it called Bismuth. It makes your face flare up with acne, yet you end up using more products on your face to cover up the same blemishes which really only makes it worse. Bare Escentuals was probably the very first foundation I've ever used and it broke my heart... and face. All because of their marketing line: "So pure you can sleep in it." And so I did... numerous and countless times. Dumb move I know to fall for it and everyone knows that you're not even suppose to wear makeup to sleep. But when you know nothing about makeup and with the sales pitch they're feeding you (besides it's mineral makeup so that must mean natural right?), chances are you will believe what they say. And the hype that was surrounding it just increased the chances of falling for it.


But, enough of the sappy story. I should've been smarter than that. It took me a good two years before I actually recovered from all that insanity. After testing every possible products that I can think of that you can buy at the stores, all it really takes is self-control, finding the right products, and beauty common sense. So here are the things I've learned throughout this whole ordeal and how I dealt with it:

1. Know your skin. At least get a pretty good idea what type of skin you have and the ingredients you might be allergic to. It really helps to know so you know which products to avoid and use.


2. Do some research. It's usually not enough just asking your BFF what product she uses to maintain her always great looking skin or it's the latest hype that everyone and their mom and neighbors are using it (*ahem* BE *ahem*). She can be using a bar of soap and it'll just work out fine for her. But remember that everyone has different skin and different reactions to certain products. Try not to get drag along with the hype. Be smart and at least Google some product reviews or ratings from a third party perspective or go to makeupalley.com or any other forums that offer this service. Try to avoid testimonials from the company's website because we all know that only the good ones will be posted there. Also, be familiar with the product's ingredients.


3. Do NOT overdo things. I admit I was guilty of this in the beginning. I used to wash my face at least four times a day because "I am cleaning it whenever my face feels dirty" thinking it'll minimizing my breakouts. Well too much of a good thing is a bad thing. Overwashing your face can strip away your face's natural oils. As well as over-exfoliating can make your pimples bleed. Wash twice a day only - morning and night - with the exception that you probably were sweating in your workout. Just don't wash because it 'feels' dirty or just because you feel like washing your face. Exfoliating should only be done once or twice a WEEK, as well for masks.


4. Do NOT evaluate the product's quality based on the price. Just because it's more expensive doesn't mean it will work or if it's cheap and it's not going to be effective. Most of my skincare items are actually inexpensive. I probably have ONE item that cost me over $20. There are really cheap yet good products out there that actually works. But if it works for you then keep it even though costs you an arm and a leg. (What I use: Cleansing - Pure Luxe Calmine Bar Soap $6; Moisturizer - Jojoba Oil $7)


5. Use sunscreen/sunblock before heading out the door! Make it a habit before you walk out of the door. Skipping the sunscreen makes your acne scar pigmentation darker. It's just like when you go tanning: You get darker easier when you don't have sunblock or sunscreen on (What I use: Shiseido - Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion SPF 55 PA+++ $37). It'll also prevent wrinkle formation in the future.


6. Try to skip foundation every other day. For some people this might be a hard thing to do and would not be caught dead without foundation or concealer, but I made sure I wasn't wearing foundation everyday to let my skin breathe. If you really can't avoid it... use mineral makeup at least instead of liquid foundation.


7. Do NOT use all your new skincare products at the same time. You will disturb your skin's balance. Introduce any new products at least a week later and introduce it to your skin by using it once a day in the first few weeks. I know you're excited to try out that new moisturizer, cleanser, and spot treatment, but by using your new products one by one can help pinpoint which product broke you out in the event that you (then you can toss that product forever!). This includes foundation and concealers.


8. DRINK WATER! This is probably the greatest beauty advice that people don't follow. Keep your skin hydrated. Water also helps flush out the bad stuff out of your body. Drink at least 8 glasses a day and notice the difference. Also drinking green tea helps and improve the look of your skin because of its anti-flamatory properties. So have a cup every morning at work.


9. Stick to a routine. If you already have a skin regimen that works, stick to it. Why fix it when it's not broken?


10. Don't touch your face. No matter how tempting it can be. Just keep your hands off your face.


11. Wash your face EVERY night before you go to sleep. You've been out and about the whole day. Pollution, makeup, and other gunk that you got from a day's worth is on your face. No matter how hammered or tired you are, get up and wash your face. Lazyness doesn't pay off. Think about that pimple you'll get the next day when you don't. Big, fat, red pimple. Not pretty.


12. Avoid products that contain alcohol in it. It takes a few minutes to check the ingredients of what you put on your face. Check if it contains alcohol.


13. If a product stings or itch, TOSS it. Or return it as long as you don't use it anymore.


14. Wash your face brushes. Do this at least once a week. Your brush is harboring bacteria already and it's getting on your face AND makeup.


15. Avoid scratchy brushes. Usually synthetic hair are better than animal hair. Using face brush that scratches your face everytime you use it will cause micro-tears on your face making your pores larger which makes it easier for bacteria to get in (hence why you need to wash your face brushes and keep them clean).

Those are only some of the few things that I religiously lived by when I was dealing with my acne problems and even til now. It's really no secret and there's really no miracle to it. It's about having self-control. If you're still breaking out, you're probably doing something wrong and your face is retaliating. Don't take your face for granted because it WILL show!

What do you do to keep your skin healthy?

Check out previous entries that relate to this post:
Product Review: Queene Helene Mint Julep Masque
Product Review: Ly-na Pearl Cream
Product Review: Desert Essence Jojoba Oil
Scarzone vs. Pearl Cream

Skin Dilemma Pt 1: Skin Timeline

***WARNING: This post contains visuals that may not be appealing to the eyes. None of the pictures where Photoshopped except for the cropping and text. Also, please note that this entry is based entirely on MY experience and opinion, and what has been effective for ME. I'm NOT in any way a skin expert, aesthetian, or dermatologist. I never had extensive knowledge about the skin. Please REMEMBER that different techniques and products have different effects on people. Before you try anything that you might get out of this post, be aware of the ingredients you might be sensitive or allergic to.***

This post will be a two part series: Part one will show you few stages that my skin had gone through for an introduction, and part two will be tips, recommendations, and steps that I did in order to get to how my skin looks like today.

When we were younger, pretty much everyone was all blessed with clear skin. The type of skin we always want: no pimples, blackheads, or whiteheads. Just a nice clear and soft skin.

But then, we hit puberty or just get older, and sometimes things just don't work out like we want to. We notice a pimple here and there. What about the blackheads on your nose that never seem to go away? But some of us just have it really bad. Bad to a point that your acne takes a toll on your self-esteem. It might seem to be in a shallow end, but acne does change how your visually and mentally perceive of yourself. I know because I've been through it and experienced it

Here are some pictures of what my face has been through in the span of 3 years.

Trust me. I'm really embarrassed to even show half of the following pictures.

Click on the images to enlarge:

This picture was around the end of my freshman year of college. I never really needed any foundation or concealer to cover up any pimples or scars. Never wore any makeup except for eyeliner. My face was really that clear, and it's not Photoshopped (Aww, look at the symbol of my rebelliousness. I was so bad ass with my nose ring heehee).

Now fastforward to a year later. After using Bare Escentuals (I swear that's the work of the devil!), My face insanely brokeout! At this point I've met with my dermatologist twice already. I was prescribed Tazorac, had a facial, and steriod injection to help minimize the size of a huge, stubborn pimple on my left cheek (which was really composed of four small ones. I know gross). I swear that pimple never went away for the longest time. Anyway, in high school my usual breakout area was my forehead, but after using Bare Escentuals I started getting them on my cheeks. Big, red, ugly pimples. You can't even really see all of them. There's more of them somewhere but the picture is a bit blurry and my angle hides most of them, I've also tried Proactiv for the first time.

Sorry, I had to block out eyes and my mouth because I really had a silly expression. Anyway, my skin was not getting any better. I actually had foundation in this picture. It didn't really do much covering since you can still see the pimples. At this point, I've tried out Proactive AGAIN, Neutrogena, Clean&Clear, Clinique 3-step Acne Solution, Shiseido Pureness, and some other things I can no longer remember. Not to mention I've always made it a habit to to put foundation and concealer on to cover my acne.

Very minimal breakouts. But my previous acne problem left horrible scarring on my cheeks. My skin has actually improved. The Lyna Pearl Cream has faded most of the scars and prevented the cystic acne. The Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque minimized the breakouts. I was actually able to go out bare face most of the time.

And, my bare face as of today (the scar on the left picture was from my chicken pox days). Scarring almost gone, and been breakout free for about a month now. I haven't really used foundation. Seriously.

So, how was the last picture even possible? Stay tuned for Part two!

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque (Review)

What it claims it does: Deep cleans and gently exfoliates the dull surface layers of your skin.

Helps dry up acne pimples
Rinses away blackheads
Helps shrink large pores

The original natural home treatment, developed by a dermatologist, that will actually dry up acne pimples, rinse away blackheads and even help shrink enlarged pores.

Simply apply Mint Julep Masque to your face and neck. Within minutes it firms and hardens, as its suction action draws out waste matter from the pores. Minutes later, rinse the masque away with warm water and a washcloth. After the masque is removed your skin will feel clean...refreshed and smooth.

Even for people who are fortunately free of skin problems, Mint Julep Masque is a refreshing facial treatment that relaxes tired muscles and eases tension lines on the face and neck.

Ingredients: Distilled Water, Kaolin, Bentonite, Glycerin, Zinc Oxide, Propylene Glycol, Sulfur, Chromium Oxide Greens, Fragrance, Methylparaben

*Source (drugstore.com)


Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque Report Card:
Quality: 4 out 5
Price: 5 out of 5
Packaging: 3 out 5

Overall: 4 out of 5


What I like about the product: It's a great mask for a cheap price. For less than $4, you're doing your face a big favor (mainly if your oily/combination/acne-prone). Your face really feels refreshed and clean afterwards. It really dries up my pimple like what it claim it does. See, I get these monsterous pimples once in a while. They're red and angry, but after using this, my pimples have been reduced in size. Please don't expect a miracle that it'll completely vanish it, but by using this, I found that it reduces my chances of getting acne scars where the blemish is and redness. Also, you will definitely feel your pores tightening after slapping this on. I only use this once or twice a week, depending on how my skin feels. If I know there's a pimple waiting to happen, I slather this thing on my face and I know it'll work its magic. The blackheads in my nose are also gone thanks to this product. It's very easy to use. Put it on after cleansing your face, and then leave it on for a few minutes while doing other things and rinse it after the mask hardens. And you're left with a soft, smooth, and glowing face.

What I didn't like about the product: Because the masque comes in a tube, sometimes I have difficulties getting the product out. The masque smells like toothpaste, so sometimes I feel I have toothpaste on my face. I probably wouldn't recommend this for people with dry skin since it might get too drying. The packaging could be better, and it can make people iffy because of its appearance. Since the mask is minty, people with sensitive skin might not like the tingling sensation or how it feels when the mask hardens (your pores will feel really tight). I didn't really experience any burning sensation after using this product, but I've read that some people have.

Overall: This product has become a staple item in my skin routine. It definitely delivers great results and very affordable.

Reader's Question: Scarzone vs. Pearl Cream

Question from lovethatlook

hey anne,

i think my skin is just like how yours used to be! I used to never get acne on my cheeks and then wham, there they are. Now I'm dealing with the scars AND new acne still rising there. How long should I use Scarzone till I switch over to the pearl cream?



yummiebitez says:

Well, I initially used ScarZone specifically for the scar/infection mark from my nose piercing in the hopes that it'll make it less noticeable (I had a nose piercing before and it got infected. I'm sure ya'll prolly thought it was a mole on my nose.. but it's not. But that's another story), and not for my acne scars. Then I read somewhere (and of course I forget where) that ScarZone also helps with acne scarring too. I just started using it again since it was just sitting there for a while since I stopped using it for my scar on my nose, and didn't want it to go to waste. And at the time, my face was starting to clear up, and I was pretty much looking for a remedy to help with the acne scarrings. I used ScarZone every night and morning for about a month, and I must say it did help minimize the appearance of my acne scars on my cheeks. However, I stopped using it after a month since I noticed that I was starting to get tiny bumps on my face where I applied it, and I felt that it wasn't working on me anymore. That to me was a signal for me to stop.

Then I would say about a few weeks later, I decided to try the pearl cream. I was a bit hesitant about it since I've never heard about it, and the packaging wasn't just appealing to me (I know, just because the packaging sucks doesn't mean the product doesn't work). But after reading reviews and seeing results from Anna and Fei, I decided to give it a shot and went to the closest Asian market to buy it. Since then I just started using it every night, only because it makes you face looks white and pasty.

Anyway, to answer your question, I suggest that you use one or the other. You don't necessarily need to try both of them in my opinion. The reason I made a switch was because I was merely trying to find a product that works out for me the best. I feel that the pearl cream work better for me since I actually saw results within a week and with less application, whereas ScarZone took about a month with twice a day application. But if you want to try both of them, make sure you stop the previous product you're using for at least a week before introducing a new one, so that you're skin has that time to rest. It'll also help you determine whether or not the new product is working for you.

As for now, I'm still using pearl cream, but just every other night. I don't want to get overzealous in using it every night because it does make your face lighter. It is pretty much a whitening cream. But, I did pass on my ScarZone tube to my friend. She's been using it and she's very much grateful for it because she said it really works, and now she got her roommate to use it too. It just really depends on your skin and how it will react to it.

Some tips for when using pearl cream:

I'm not sure if all pearl creams have the same consistency, but the one I'm using is pretty solid that you kind of have to wet your hands so you can get some on your fingers. I suggest dampening your fingers a bit with toner to help. Pearl cream is also pretty thick, so try to apply it as thinly as possible to your face. Last time I did this, I got a zit the next day. If you put on too much of it, it can and will clog your pores. So again dilute it with toner. I suggest that you use a non-alcholic toner (make so sure of it that it doesn't have alcohol in its ingredients!!). Try Nivea Visage Moisturizing Toner.

And I hope this helps.

Clinique Acne Solutions Spot Healing Gel (Review)

Clinique Acne Solutions Spot Healing Gel
Rating: 4 out of 5

According to Clinique.com:

"Helps reduce blemishes, promotes healing. Fast-drying, clear gel. Invisible under or over makeup.

How to Use:Dab on blemishes AM and PM. Using other topical acne drugs at the same time or right after use of this product may increase dryness or irritation of skin. If this occurs, only one medication should be used unless directed by a doctor."

My take on it:

IT WORKS! I was actually surprised because I had little expectations for this product to work. I tried similar products but different brands such as Clean & Clear and Origins. I never really believed in spot treatments. The only reason why I purchased this was because the pimples that were living on my forehead would not go away even after a week use of the Origins spot treatment gel. So, I exchanged it for this one instead. Anyway, I was pretty much looking for a quick fix because the pimples were bothering me (and they were growing too!!). I mean I hardly get pimples now (thanks to my daily skin regimen), but when I do get a pimple... they're pretty big. It's like my skin is compensating for the times I didn't have them. I usually get them "at that time of the month."

Back to the product, I was just happy to see results in four days after using it in the day and night! Relative to when I was using Origins for more than a week and I didn't see any improvements at all. If anything, it seems like my pimple got bigger using Origins :[. But after using Clinique, my pimples are almost gone. It really reduced the size (we're still talking about the same pimple pre-Origins hehehe) by the second day and now fifth day of using it and it's almost non-existent. I was actually skeptical when the SA at the Clinique counter at Nordstrom said "it definitely works, and you'll see results in days." I thought it was a line to get me to buy it, since that's what the lady at Origins said too. But, she was actually telling the truth!! So for me, this product is definitely a keeper. Stash it in your makeup bag for those unexpected surprises.

Why 4 out of 5? Minus one for the price. It's pretty expensive for a small bottle, $13.50 at Nordstrom. I swear, the price and the work we pay for to stay pretty.

Disclaimer:
The results are based on my experience, how my skin reacted, and my daily skin routine. These and other factors (such as any allergic reactions to certain ingredients) do play a role on the effectiveness of certain products. Not everyone reacts to products the same. I have a combination and acne-prone skin.