Spotlight | The Cellin Facial Peeling Essence.

For years, I had been a loyal user of Cure Natural Aqua Gel - one of Japan's most popular skincare products. It's a gommage exfoliator made of 90% hydrogen water, and a cult favorite product in Japan. Exfoliating at least once or twice a week has always been a part of my exhaustive skincare routine, and Cure had always been my go-to brand.

It wasn't until my most recent trip to South Korea when I discovered a cheaper alternative to the Cure Natural Aqua Gel that's equally, if not more potent.

The Cellin Facial Peeling Essence.

Enter The Ceelin Facial Peeling Essence, from the same company that manufactures and distributes the Essence Cushion and Honey Soap which I have previously raved about in this blog. It's a cleansing agent that sloughs away dead skin and dislodges sebum from the pores without stripping the skin of its natural moisture.

It sloughs away dead skin cells, hence the term 'Peeling'.

It's made with fig extract, which is rich in nutrients such as vitamins B and C, phosphorus, and potassium - all essential for boosting and rejuvenating the skin's health. Figs also contain active enzymes which deeply penetrates into the skin to remove layers of dead skin cells and clear sebum-clogged pores.

The tube has an English translation of the product information + usage directions.

Same goes for the back of the box.

The Cellin Facial Peeling Essence also contains natural plant ingredients such as Ulmus davidiana root extract which has anti-inflammatory and photoprotective properties; Centella asiatica which is rich in amino acids and helps improve skin elasticity; Ulmus rubra (slippery elm) extract which eliminates free radicals from the skin; and Amaranth seed extract, known for its moisturizing and anti-aging properties as it contains the highest concentration of plant-derived squalene.

Still sealed.

To use this product, you must 1) first remove all the makeup from your face, cleanse as you normally would, and then pat your face dry. 2) Squeeze a nickel-sized amount of the Peeling Essence onto the back of your hand, then dab it on your face using your fingertips. 3) Spread the essence all over your face by massaging it onto your skin using gentle, circular motions. 4) Once the dead skin cells have come off, rinse your face thoroughly with lukewarm water and continue with your regular skincare routine.

Directions for use.

Now here's how the Peeling Essence looks like. It's a clear liquid with gel-like consistency and a mild floral scent.

Swatched on the back of my hand.

Massaged and spread all over the back of my hand...

And here comes the dead skin!

I love how it effectively removes dead skin cells without leaving your skin dry or turning your skin red and patchy. You don't get that mild tingling as you spread the product all over your face. Instead, you get that creamy, moisturizing feel, as if you're slathering serum on your face.

Dead skin cells near my chin area (click to zoom).

Dead skin cells on my nose and cheeks (click to zoom).

Your face becomes cleaner and brighter afterwards, and your skin feels soft and supple, especially around the cheek area. I've been using this product twice a week for over a month now, and have been loving the results so far. I also use this Peeling Essence on my elbows, and I must admit, my elbows don't look so dark anymore after continued use. :)

The Cellin Facial Peeling Essence comes in a 120 mL tube and sells for Php 880. You can purchase this online through The Cellin Cosmetics Facebook page or their Instagram profile.

Spotlight | NLIHome Honey Soap.

Earlier this week, I raved about the Essence Cushion from an up and coming Korean cosmetics brand, The Cellin. The brand is manufactured by NRCommunications of Korea, a distribution company which has been business since 1999 and the same company which produces and distributes NLIHome products.

NLIHome is a lifestyle brand which carries personal hygiene and home care products made with natural ingredients and eco-friendly materials. Among these is the Honey Soap, one of NLIHome's bestsellers.

NLIHome Honey Soap. 

Hangul text at the back. I reckon these are the product descriptions.

Honey has long been a popular additive in soaps and other skincare products, and rightfully so. For one, it's a natural humectant, which helps retain skin moisture. It also has antibacterial properties, which can help clear acne and prevent future breakouts. In addition, honey is a chock full of polyphenols, an antioxidant that protects the skin from free radical damage.

More Hangul text on this side.

And on the other.

Now aside from honey, this soap also contains propolis, dokudami (also known by its scientific name Houttuynia cordata; a medicinal herb famed in Asia for its health benefits), and snail secretion extract (packed with hyaluronic acid which increases skin suppleness and improves skin texture), among others.

Main ingredients of the NLIHome Honey Soap.

As seen on the NRCommuncation website.

Do note that most of the text in the soap box is written in Hangul, so I had to refer to the internet for the complete list of ingredients for this Honey Soap. Thankfully, I found them on the NRCommunication website, along with other details about the product.

Unboxing the NLIHome Honey Soap.

The NLIHome Honey Soap comes in an 80 gram box. Inside it is an opaque plastic pouch which contains the bar of soap.

The NLIHome Honey Soap, unwrapped.

Although there's nothing fancy about how the soap looks - rectangular in shape, fits the palm of my hand, has the NLIHome logo carved on the center - its scent is quite noteworthy. It has a sweet and nutty scent that's not overpowering but lingers on the skin even after bathing. It lathers quite well and rinses off completely without leaving a filmy residue on the skin.

Fits the palm of my hand.

I've used this on my face too, and I love how this mild and gentle soap cleanses thoroughly without the drying feel. I've been using this product for a little over two weeks now, and I love how this soap 'calms' the occasional red blotches on my face, which acts up whenever the weather is too hot and humid.

That being said, this soap is safe even for those with sensitive skin. Kids and babies can use this soap too, but please do a patch test first just to be sure that your little ones are not allergic to honey or bee by-products. Yue uses this soap, too. He's enamored with the scent and loves bathing with it.

The NLIHome Honey Soap sells for Php 130 each and can be bought online through The Cellin Cosmetics Facebook page.

Spotlight | The Cellin Essence Cushion.

Just recently, I have been introduced to an up and coming Korean skincare and cosmetics brand called 'The Cellin'. I discovered this brand through Mr. Kin Dong Heon, a friendly Korean businessman whom I had a quick chat with while Yue and I were riding the Seoul subway.

According to him, he was in Manila just recently for the Philippine launching of their cosmetics brand and they are on the look-out for people who would be interested to work with them. We exchanged business cards and as soon as I returned to the Philippines, I did my homework and tried to learn more about the brand. The next thing I know, I was making my first purchase of The Cellin products, including the Essence Cushion which I will be featuring today.

The Cellin Essence Cushion - unboxed.

Product details translated in English.

The Cellin Essence Cushion is a brightening, wrinkle-repairing, and UV-blocking cosmetic that contains rosa damascena flower water (hence the rose design on the packaging) which has excellent emollient properties to hydrate the skin. It's also formulated with ADSC-CM, a stem cell-derived essence (hence the name 'essence cushion') which protects the skin from damage and premature ageing and enhances the regeneration of skin tissues.

The Cellin Essence Cushion pact.

Inside each box of The Cellin Essence Cushion is a cushion pact and a plastic pouch which contains one refill. The cushion pact, emblazoned with intricate roses in gold, looks chic, elegant, and very feminine.

Here's how the compact looks like when opened.

The sponge and the tray.

Inside the pact is a mirror, an air puff sponge, and a flip-out tray which holds the sponge and keeps the cushion from drying out.

Underneath is the cushion, still sealed.

Once I removed the seal, I noticed that the cushion has a mild, somewhat floral scent. However it does not appear to be very 'juicy' unlike the other cushion brands that I have tried.

The cushion itself.

Pressed it a bit with my fingers to get the liquid oozing. :)

Apparently, the cushion was designed that way; it's what the brand calls the 'circular sponge type dual cover cushion' which maintains the product's viscosity and allows you to pick up just the right amount of product.

Patented circular sponge type dual cover cushion.

The cushion is available in just one shade - and that's my only gripe about this product - and here's how it looks like when swatched.

The Cellin Essence Cushion, swatched.

Left, without cushion; right, with cushion. Indoor lighting.

Left, without cushion; right, with cushion. Natural light.

It's light beige in color, and would suit those with fair to medium skin tones. When blended, it settles into a semi-matte finish which brightens the skin without looking too made up. Its formula is light and sheer but provides excellent, flawless coverage. I mean, just look at my before and after pictures below! Made me fall in love with the cushion at first use!

Bare skin.

The Cellin Essence Cushion on my face.

This cushion also has an impressive staying power - six hours at the most with little to no touch-ups. It does not cake or patch even after hours of wear. The best part? It also has sun protection - SPF 50 + PA +++ at that!

The Cellin Essence Cushion sells for Php 1840 and can be bought online through The Cellin Cosmetics Facebook page. The Cellin products are manufactured by NRCommunication in Korea and distributed in the Philippines exclusively by NRC Philippines.