Spotlight | The Face Shop Mango Seed Skin Care Line.

Sometime last year, my husband sent me a bunch of goodies from The Face Shop. And in that haul was a box of miniatures from the Mango Seed Skin Care Line, which was the latest release from The Face Shop during that time.

Mango Seed Skin Care Line from The Face Shop.

This box came as a freebie, and inside was a 30 mL bottle of the Mango Seed Silk Moisturizing Lotion, a 30 mL bottle of the Mango Seed Silk Moisturizing Toner, and a 10 mL jar of the Mango Seed Silk Moisturizing Facial Butter. This is one of the many reasons why I prefer to shop for Korean cosmetics in Korea. Aside from the affordable, at times even dirt-cheap prices, the shops in Myeongdong are pretty generous when it comes to giving away freebies and samples. Thank goodness I have a husband who works in Korea AND buys me makeup, haha!

Yes, practically everything is written in Hangul.

Anyway, here are some key features of the Mango Seed Skin Care Line, as well as the product benefits.
- It contains Mango Seed, a seed made of 100% natural vegetable butter. These seeds are concentrated with healthy nutrients that are good for the skin.
- Addresses 5 skin solutions: dryness, puffiness, itchiness, redness, poor elasticity.
- Locks in moisture for more than 24 hours.
- Made of natural ingredients.
- Free from alcohol, formaldehyde, ammonia, silicon, sulfate, parabens, and other harmful chemicals.
- No animal testing.
- Fair trade.

Now here are the products up close.

Mango Seed Silk Moisturizing Toner.
(Full-sized bottle is 145mL, priced at 16900 Korean Won)  

The Mango Seed Silk Moisturizing Toner is different from the other toners that I use/have used before. This one has two layers - the water layer, which replenishes moisture; and the milky layer, which smoothens and nourishes the skin. This two-layer feature reminds me of Face of Australia's Makeup Remover, which has a dual phase formula as well. Don't forget to shake the product before you use it!

Used with a cotton ball, of course.

Meanwhile, here is the Mango Seed Silk Moisturizing Lotion. No, it's not a hand and body lotion. You use it on the face, just like your usual moisturizer.

Mango Seed Moisturizing Lotion.
(Full-sized bottle is 125mL, priced at 16900 Korean Won)

It has a lighter consistency, typical of most emulsions. It does a great job of keeping your skin soft and supple, and it smells like real mangoes, too.

Ready to rub! More like, apply and pat. :)

Finally we have the Mango Seed Silk Moisturizing Facial Butter, a 'new concept facial butter' that contains 100% mango seed. Its creamy, buttery formula melts into the skin to completely replenish the skin and improve its elasticity. 

Creamy, buttery goodness!
(Full-sized jar is 50mL, priced at 22900 Korean Won)

This product boasts of keeping your skin moisturized for up to 36 hours, and I can pretty much attest to that. The mango scent is sweet and subtle, and lingers on your face for quite a bit. My only gripe is that in comes in a jar, and you very well know that I have a love-hate relationship with products that come in tubs and jars. 

All in all, trying these samples from the Mango Seed Skin Care Line have been a pleasant experience. I love that they're made from natural ingredients, cruelty-free and chemical-free, and they do exactly what they claim to do (ergo, moisturize the skin and make it radiant and glowing). Best of all, they're safe for sensitive skin (like mine). 

Will I go full size? Perhaps.

Let's just say there are bigger chances of me buying full-sized Mango Seed products here in the Philippines than me getting full-sized bottles of these. :)

Spotlight | BYS Smudgeproof Waterproof Eyeliner.

A good friend of mine came to me the other day, asking for help. She had to be all dolled up for her son's Commencement Exercises, and she needed a good, inexpensive eyeliner to use.  I asked her to try the BYS Smudgeproof Waterproof Liner which can be bought at Watson's, and sells for Php 249 only.

BYS Smudgeproof Waterproof Eyeliner.

Yesterday, my friend gave me a call to tell me that the product I recommended was a winner. For someone who's not too adept with liquid eyeliners, she didn't have much difficulty using the product. Plus it withstood the unbearable, unforgiving summer heat. Feedback like these make me really happy - all the more because I was able to help a friend in need. Haha, the dilemma of us women.

I can personally attest to the greatness of this product, as I've been using the BYS Smudgeproof Waterproof Eyeliner for about a month now. I bought this on impulse during the last 3-Day Sale at SM San Pablo. It was on sale for Php 199 only and I just couldn't resist adding it to my shopping cart. But this baby turned out to be a really good find so I don't regret buying it on a whim. 

This one's in black, obviously. :)

Made in Australia. Not tested on animals. 

The BYS Smudgeproof Waterproof Eyeliner comes in a sleek 4mL bottle. I can't remember if there are other shades available, but this one is Black. Its rubber tip applicator is stiff and very thin - great for creating fine, precise lines. It feels a bit scratchy the first time it comes contact with your eyelids, but you'll get used to the feel of it eventually.

Super thin!

One swipe of the BYS Eyeliner on the left, two swipes on the right.

Its formulation is dark and opaque, it's not runny, and it dries quickly, too. Best of all, it's as smudgeproof and waterproof as it claims to be, even without a primer on.

Rubbing it with water.

Rubbing it with Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser.

Rubbing it with Face of Australia Makeup Remover.

What I love:

- Sleek packaging.

- Highly pigmented, buildable color.

- Opaque formulation; not runny.

- Dries fast.

- Easy to use.

- Great for creating fine, precise lines.

- Smudgeproof, waterproof.

- Can last throughout the day.

- Cruelty-free.

- Non-irritating.

- Affordable price.

What you might not like:

- Brush feels scratchy on the eyelids.

Of course, here's the customary Face of the Day. Witness the BYS Eyeliner in action, haha. :)

FACE: Majolica Majorca Skin Lingerie Pore Cover, Benefit Erase Paste in Medium,
Missha Wrinkle Filler BB Cream #21.
EYES: Ever Bilena Eyebrow Pencil in Brown, BYS Smudgeproof, Waterproof Eyeliner in Black,
Majolica Majorca Lash King Mascara in Black.
CHEEKS: Tony Moly Lip & Cheek Tint in Cherry Pink.
LIPS: EOS Lip Balm in Vanilla Wonderland, NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Milan.

Have you tried any BYS product? Let me know which ones are good so I can try them, too! :)

Spotlight | Face of Australia Gentle Makeup Remover.

I'm a huge fan of waterproof mascara. They stay on your lashes for hours, can withstand tears, sweat, or perhaps even rain, and prevent you from getting raccoon eyes. My only gripe about the waterproof kind is that they can be very difficult (if not impossible) to remove, especially if you're just using soap and water. For the most stubborn mascara, you have to have a makeup remover that can get rid of all that gunk on your face.

One such product is the Gentle Makeup Remover by Face of Australia. It's a dual phase cleanser that works its magic once you shake it. It's a must that you shake it, as it wouldn't work otherwise.

The presentation may be a bit bland, but this baby works like a charm.

It contains cornflower extract, an ingredient well-known and popularly used for its antioxidant properties and  whitening effects. Its pH is compatible with our tears, which makes it safe and suitable for all skin types - including sensitive ones like mine.

Check the label! :)

Best of all, this product is oil-free and paraben-free. And they don't test on animals, too. Yay, for this cruelty-free brand!

Tear-compatible, sensitive formula.

Now take a look at its dual phase formula. Here's how the product looks like before you shake it.

The liquid has two phases, haha!

Shake, shake, shake until both phases have combined. 

Let's volt in!

Apply the liquid in a cotton pad. You won't need much for this product to work. Four or five drops would be just enough. Afterwards, wipe gently over the face beginning with closed eyes. Make sure not to rub makeup into the the eye area.

Pardon how gross this looks like.

And here's a tip - if you love wearing falsies, you will love how this Gentle Makeup Remover gets rid of the lash glue on your lids in a breeze!

The back of the cotton pad has even more eeewness factor, haha!

What I love:

- Gentle formulation.

- Great for sensitive skin, and all skin types.

- Fragrance-free.

- Non-greasy.

- Non-drying.

- Removes makeup really well - even the most stubborn, waterproof mascara! 

- Affordable price

What you might not like:

- Not available at physical stores here in the Philippines. 

BUT you can purchase them online via The Updated Trends for only Php425!

Thank you Ms. Smile for giving me the chance to try this genius of a product! :)