Spotlight | Human Heart Nature Hydrating Face Mist with Aloe Vera.

Upon receiving a bottle of Human Heart Nature's new face mist during the last Magalogue Turnover/Product Launch (many thanks to Elaine and the ever-so-wonderful staff of Human Heart Nature Laguna), my initial reaction was, "Oh, cool! This will definitely come in handy when I travel!"

Little did I know that I would get what I wished for sooner than expected. I was admitted to the hospital two days later due to a severe asthma attack and this product was one of the few things that I hurriedly stuffed in an overnight bag, together with some clothes and hygiene basics (i.e. toothpaste, deodorant, bath soap).

Human Heart Nature Hydrating Face Mist with Aloe Vera.

Bringing this along was a wise decision, as this face mist became my skin-saviour during the course of my confinement. Staying in an air-conditioned room for an extended period of time can send the skin's natural moisture out of whack, and you can end up with dry, flaking, itchy skin.

Product description, directions for use, and ingredients on the side of the bottle.

This is where the Human Heart Nature Hydrating Face Mist with Aloe Vera came in handy. I would spritz this on my face whenever it feels tight and dry and boom... instant hydration!

List of ingredients.

This product is infused with aloe vera gel whose benefits to the skin are well-known. Not only does aloe vera moisturize the skin, it also helps remove dead cells. In addition, aloe vera improves skin elasticity and helps prevent the early signs of skin ageing. Furthermore, aloe vera is rich in vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants which can reduce skin inflammation and heal chronic skin problems.

All-natural, chemical-free, cruelty-free.

Aside from aloe vera, this face mist also contains beetroot extract which moisturizes the skin and keeps it smooth and supple. A rich source of iron, vitamins, and minerals, beetroot also has anti-inflammatory properties for healthy, glowing, acne-free skin.

Expiration date indicated at the bottom.

And so despite being confined to an air-conditioned room 24/7 for the next five days, my face was in a much better condition than my lungs. 

100% natural and certified by the Natural Products Association.

It's a good thing that this face mist is lightly-scented and easily absorbed by the skin. Otherwise, it could have triggered another attack and aggravate my condition. 

The spray nozzle.

As much as I love the wonders that this face mist does for the skin, I dislike the spray nozzle. It takes extra effort to pump it, and the nozzle is too difficult to control. Also, the nozzle does not give you a mist, but a rain. A rain!!!

Here's how the product looks like when sprayed on the skin.

This product could have been all-too perfect, if not for the nozzle and the dollops of liquid that it dispenses. But as they say, there's always room for improvement, and I hope they can tweak the nozzle to make it suitable as a makeup setting spray. :)

The Human Heart Nature Hydrating Face Mist with Aloe Vera comes in a travel-friendly 50 mL bottle and retails for Php 250. You can purchase this product at Human Heart Nature branches nationwide, or through the Human Heart Nature online store.

Seoul Searching | My Winter Skin Care Essentials.

Winter can wreak havoc on your skin. I know that for a fact, as my first-ever trip to Korea happened in the winter of 2015. The dryness, the flaking, the itchiness - especially the itchiness! - I know that all too well. Not wanting to go through any of these discomforts again, I came to Korea last December armed and ready with these winter skincare essentials.

My winter survival kit! 

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask.
Laneige's best-selling product for more than ten years running, the Water Sleeping Mask also happens to be my favorite skincare product of all-time. Packed with ceramides, anti-oxidants, and highly concentrated ionized mineral water, this revolutionary gel-type mask moisturizes and revitalizes the skin overnight.

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask, 28000 won.

The Laneige Water Sleeping Mask has been part of my skincare regimen for years now. I started using this in 2012 when it was still branded as the Water Sleeping Pack_EX, and has been a staple in my fridge since. (I keep it in the fridge to enhance the cooling effect on my skin.) It feels wonderful waking up to soft, smooth, nicely-hydrated skin - especially in the dead of winter - and this product does exactly that.

Sheet Masks.
Korean beauty sheet masks have become extremely popular over the years, which comes as no surprise to me. I'm crazy about them myself as they're basically a full-spa treatment in one easy-to-wear sheet. They're affordable, easy to use, and very effective, too. And with almost every Korean beauty brand having their own line (or lines, even) of sheet masks, you're bound to find one that will suit your skin and address your skin issue/s.

Most sheet masks go for as cheap as 1000 won each.

I chanced upon a huge sheet mask sale at The Face Shop counter in eMart - 20 sheet masks of my choice for half the price, plus I get two Calendula sheet masks for free. What a wonderful way to feed my sheet mask obsession! The Green Tea and Olive variants are my top picks - the former soothes skin irritations while hydrating the skin; the latter provides intense hydration and makes the skin soft, smooth, and glowing.

The It's Skin Elmo Mask, on the other hand, I bought mainly for the cuteness factor. How can I resist a sheet mask with Elmo's smiling face printed on it? I could not, of course, and I ended up buying a few pieces of this product even if they cost more (they're priced at 2500 won each) than the regular sheet masks. As it turns out, this sheet mask contains adenosine, which is great for battling wrinkled and dull skin. For an impulse buy, it was actually worth the money. :)

Care Zone Moomin Nordenau Water Mist.
Another skincare product that I can't live without are face mists. If you rummage through my purse at any given time, chances are, you'll find a bottle or a spray can inside stashed together with my asthma inhaler. What the inhaler does for my lungs, the face mist does for my skin.

Care Zone Moomin Nordenau Water Mist, 18000 won.

It's my on-the-go hydrator, my pick-me-upper whenever my skin feels tight and dry. I can spray it on my face anywhere, at any time of day, and voila - instant hydration without messing my makeup.

Super fine nozzle, I love!

A product of LG Beauty (yes, the same group that produces mobile phones and household appliances), the Care Zone Moomin Nordenau Water Mist is a mineral-rich water mist that hydrates and soothes skin. This exclusive product line contains Nordenau mineral water from Germany, regarded as one of the world's greatest 'healing waters'. Although I'm skeptical about the 'healing properties', I love its hypoallergenic, paraben-free formula and the fact that it can refresh and hydrate my skin and set my makeup with just a few spritzes.

It's Skin Macaron Lip Balm.
It's no secret that I'm a sucker for makeup collaborations, all the more if they have uber cute packaging. This special edition Macaron Lip Balm from It's Skin is all that, and much more.

It's Skin x Sesame Street Macaron Lip Balm, 5800 won.

The macaron packaging is adorable as it is, what more if it has Elmo (and other Sesame Street characters) printed on it?

Elmo's flavor is Grape.

With its sweet grape scent and soft, non-sticky formula, this lip balm was an instant hit for me and my son. It does a good job of keeping my lips moisturized and preventing it from chapping.

This collaboration was released in celebration of It's Skin's 10th anniversary.

The only downside to this lip balm is that I have to dip my pinkie in each time I use it. It's not very sanitary, but yeah, the packaging really won me over. Haha!

It's Skin Cookie and Hand Cream.
By now you've probably figured out that I'm a fan of Sesame Street. Is there any kid - particularly those who were born in the 80's - who isn't?

It's Skin x Sesame Street Cookie and Hand Cream, 3000 won.

I won't say more about the packaging, because the cuteness speaks for itself.

There's the 10th Anniversary sticker at the back of the tube.

As for the formulation, I love that this hand cream absorbs easily onto the skin and doesn't feel greasy when applied. It contains tiny black beads which appear like crushed cookies, hence the name 'Cookie and Hand Cream'. Also, it leaves your hands nice and soft, with a sweet chocolate-y fragrance to boot.

Swatched. 

This light moisturizing hand cream comes in a sleek and handy 30 mL squeeze tube which can easily fit in your purse and can be brought in-flight if you're traveling.

Etude House Silk Scarf Hair Treatment.
So here's the thing. I knew that winter can be pretty harsh on the skin and hair. But I had no idea that it could be very unforgiving to bleached hair! Barely 24 hours after I arrived in Seoul, my lovely ash-brown, purple-streaked hair turned into a dry, disheveled mess!

Etude House Silk Scarf Hair Treatment, 7000 won.

I rushed to the nearest Etude House store and got me a tube of the Silk Scarf Hair Treatment, a full-sized version of the hair treatment that comes with every box of the Bubble Hair Coloring.

My hair saver.

Specially formulated with oil complex and floral scent, this highly concentrated treatment restores and reinforces damaged hair, and prevents it from becoming dry and brittle. Normally, I would use this at least once a week. While in Korea, I used this every other day, alternating it with my regular conditioner. If not for this product, my hair would have been a lifeless blob of blonde!

Have you tried any of these products? What are your winter skincare essentials? :)

Spotlight | Innisfree Green Tea Mineral Mist.

After having discovered the wonders of face mists about a year ago, it has become a habit to bring a bottle (or can) in my purse wherever I go. My current favorite is the Green Tea Mineral Mist by Innisfree.

Innisfree Green Tea Mineral Mist.

A brand made even popular by its endorser, the Prince of Asia Lee Min Ho, Innisfree also takes pride in being one of the most environment-friendly skincare brands in Korea with the use of organic ingredients for their products and eco-friendly materials for their packaging.

A product of Jeju Island! :)

Case in point, the 4-Free system, as indicated in this Green Tea Mineral Mist. The 4-Free system means this product is free from these four ingredients are harmful to the skin - ethanol, artificial dye, animal material, and mineral oil.

4-Free System.

Now here's a brief description of the product which I stumbled upon on the web:

"Enriched with Green Tea and Green Complex from Jeju island, Green Tea Mineral Mist revives dry, stressed skin by supplying abundant moisture. Formulated with moisture from our freshly-squeezed green tea, this hypoallergenic and ethanol-free facial mist instantly replenishes moisture to your thirsty skin."

Made with organic Jeju green tea.

Grown in healthy, volcanic soil, the green tea from Jeju Island is known for its pure quality and its richness in amino acids and minerals that help keep the skin hydrated. In addition to the organic green tea water,  this product also contains panthenol which encourages cell growth and the production of moisture.

Green Complex.

To use, hold the can a few centimeters away from the face, then spray with your eyes closed. Afterwards, gently pat your face for better product absorption.

Spritz!

I love the cool, refreshing feeling I get each time I spray this mist on my face. And I love how this product leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth afterwards. It's light and non-sticky, and the scent is amazing, too - fresh and sweet, yet very subtle. 

A spritz or two to get me through the hot summer day.

Spray this on your bare face to give your skin a nice, healthy glow. Or you can spray this over makeup for that instant dewy effect on the skin. And because the product dries quickly, you need not worry about your mascara running or your foundation caking. 

Here's how the product looks like when sprayed on the skin.

And how your skin looks like afterwards.

My only gripe about this product is the nozzle. It doesn't spray as fine as other face mists that I've tried, and the nozzle is a bit hard to control. I usually end up with a bit of white residue on my face, but nothing a good pat (or a dab with a tissue) can't fix.

What I love:

- Handy, travel-friendly packaging.

- Made with natural ingredients.

- Chemical-free.

- Light and non-sticky.

- Easily absorbed by the skin.

- Makes the skin feel cool and refreshed.

- Moisturizes the skin.

- The scent.

- Hypoallergenic; safe for sensitive skin.

- Affordable price.

What you might not like:

-  The nozzle is a tad difficult to control.

- Not locally available, so I purchased mine online.

After spraying my face with some Green Tea goodness. :)
Products Used:
FACE: Etude House House Beauty Shot Face Blur,
The Saem Gem Miracle Black Pearl O2 CC Cream,
Benefit Erase Paste in Medium.
EYES: Shiseido Eyebrow Pencil in Brown,
K-Palette Real Lasting Micro Eyeliner in Black,
Forever 21 Love & Beauty Eyeliner Pencil in Brown,
Missha Viewer 270 HD Lash Curl Mascara.
CHEEKS: Tony Moly Cristal Blusher in Pleasure Peach.
LIPS: Laneige Silk Intense Lipstick in Beige Chiffon.

The Innisfree Green Tea Mineral Mist comes in two sizes - 50 mL and 150 mL. I bought my 50 mL can from Kkochipida for only Php 195. I'm thinking of buying asking the husband to buy the bigger size next time, and I reckon it won't be long before I do he does. I checked the price on Emart, and the 150 mL bottle sells for 11000 Korean won (around $10 or Php 450).

Are you a fan of face mists, too? Which brand is your favorite? :)