Shine Moist Henna Wax Review

Obviously, I love color! (That sounded so cheezy I wanna die! Ugh!)

Finally! After my long search for some alternative to Manic Panic I found this!

Shine Moist Henna Wax Color Treatment

"Specially designed for dull damaged hair. The unique formula is competent to penetrate deeply and protecting the cuticular layer of the hair while the color treatment is processing. Exclusive natural color treatment and rich protein bond nutrients helps give nutrition, leaves hair exceptionally soft plus natural color looking. Henna Wax Color Treatment enhanced by using professional steamer to maximize the potential softness." 

I started testing how to bleach my hair ombre style to prepare it for the color way before I found this.

I initially started bleaching using these products and tools as they were the most accessible ones I can find:

TRIVIA: Prior to finding about Shine Moist Henna Wax, I was so desperate to get a bright unnatural colored ombre that I tried Merthiolate. Yes that chemical you put after a manicure! I did the Kool Aid dip dye method.   

I know, my hair was very dry here. Worsened by the use of Merthiolate!

So back to the review......

Shine Moist Henna Wax in Cyclamen 500ml

Price: P680 (bought at HBC Antipolo)

There are smaller 100ml jars available with price ranging from P178 to P225 (4-5USD). 

These small ones contain free gloves and shower caps!

This is how the product's color looks like.

Cyclamen. 

I learned that cyclamen are actually purplish pinkish flowers. The color varies like shown in the picture below:

Cyclamen Flowers
Photo from: http://mybuzz9.blogspot.com/2012/08/cyclamen-flowers.html

So maybe that's why it smells good!

I think I didn't do any patch test. I figured it's a treatment and I don't have any allergies that I know of. 

I do recommend that you perform a patch test though!

TIP: You can add treatments or conditioner to dilute it if you're after a lighter pink shade!

Pink will only work on BLEACHED HAIR! Otherwise, it will become red or show up on black hair when hit by light.

The Result:

Hot Pink Hair. This was taken early this year and my first time to use it full strength!

 

It was still curly the next day... It has this weird texture when you iron you hair. Feels somewhat like plastic hair! But yeah it's great because it makes the curls last much longer without hair spray. I suggest not to do this often as my hair got dry after this.

For varying shades of pink that you can achieve with Shine Moist Henna Wax in Cyclamen, please view my Hair Journal

Pros:

♥  Great and very affordable alternative for hair dyes like Manic Panic!

♥  Doesn't Damage Hair and actually repairs damaged hair! A 2 in 1 product!

♥  Very good pigmentation

♥  Smells good

♥  Smooth texture and application

♥  Easy to find. (Hortaleza, HBC, Wastson's, and other Salon supplies stores carry it)

Cons:

♠ Can stain skin temporarily

♠ Potentially messy application

♠ Can stain clothes
♠ You can't iron hair a lot or else it will get damaged.

Will I buy again?

Absolutely YES! The 500ml bottle has lasted for almost a year now. I've also used it on other people and they love it too!

Semon Professional Permanent Hair Color Review

I just want to do a quick review of Semon Professional Color Cream.

Today I tested it on streaks of my hair. I've bleached it again to bring the Ombre up to my head in preparation for graying it. The tips BTW are the max bleaching job my hair could take.

Yellowy Brassyness! I'm creeping the Ombre up.

This is my starting color.

I'm going to use Blue and the Clear Corrector.

I bought the Clear Corrector first because I thought it was a toner because it says so on the chart and that it also says "Corrector". I tested it on a strand and nothing happened so I figured that it's something you mix to dilute color. 

I forgot the exact price but I think it was P90.00 for the Clear and it's 120 ml.

The Blue I think is the same price but only 100ml.

 I like that I can see the expiration dates easily.

Judging from the directions 20 volume is just perfect. 

I accidentally almost erased the 20% when I cleaned the bottle with alcohol. It can get really dirty when I run out of mix in the middle of coloring.

I bought this 1000ml for P130 (if I remember correctly)

I was able to get the 20 volume developer from the same brand when the store ran out of my favorite Mondes developers.

What comb? :P

Here is the result! On the first strand(left), I used the blue purely to see how strong the color is. The other one (right) I use 1:1 ratio of Blue and Clear. Pretty nice!

Here I'm just showing the more yellowy parts near the roots. Still pretty saturated! ♥

Now here I used it on my short hair on top which is very brassy and kinda orangey. I just had a lot left over from the blue mixed with clear toner so I tested it here. It turned out grayish! Which is what I really wanted. I just also want to get rid of the brassiness.


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What I like:

• Very Affordable for an uncommon hair color!
• Professional Quality
• Vibrant color
• Doesn't dry my hair out when you just leave it for 38 mins
• I like the packaging. Very neat design. It's not as hard and crumple-y to squeeze compared to Mondes and Bremod brands.
• Aside from the first wash, not very runny.
• Great alternative for brands like Manic Panic if you're after this kind of blue color. 
• Good for streaks if you have warm skin tone.

What I don't like:

• It can stain skin (but it can be washed off after bathing)
• Hair can stain clothes while it's wet.
• The shade on me is not very flattering. (but doesn't really matter because I'll be adding pink to get it ashy, gray, purple and violet. Yes I'd like to get varying hues because it's more fun!)
• Can be a drying to hair when left over the developing time based on the directions.
• The color won't be seen much on black hair like any other unnatural hair color dyes. You'll have to lighten your hair if you want it vibrant.

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I got so excited later that day that I colored my whole hair!

I don't think I should show a picture of it though. :P


Will turn it Purple really soon! Be sure to check my next post if you want to learn how to do it for less than P500! (As opposed to buying P700+ hair dyes like Manic Panic) 



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DIY How To: Make Home-made Vitamin C Serum

DISCLAIMER: I was not paid in any way by the brands or services mentioned on this blog entry. 

I just want to share this DIY Vitamin C Serum formula that I've been using for months now.

I use it every night and it made my skin brighter in the morning after a washing my face. It also helped fade acne marks faster.

Now lets get on with it!

Firstly, you will need a dark container like this. One with a glass dropper preferably. It needs to be dark because Vitamin C reacts to light and oxidizes. It's simply a MUST.

This bottle is actually an essential oil container. The ones for potpourri and that one where you light a tea-light candle underneath and infuses scent? (sorry I forgot what it's called :p )

You can re-use a serum container if you have one.

Next you'll need Vitamin C. Preferably an L-Ascorbic Acid one because it's the one used for the skin. But since I just can't find one here in the Philippines, I just got a Sodium Ascorbic since it's in powder form. It only contain 50% L-ascobic acid according to my research so that will have to do. I've used a couple of brands but this one's powder is whiter than the other. You'll need it WHITE not YELLOW. 

If it's yellow or orangey it's probably oxidized already and won't do any good to the skin! So throw it away!

This one is Alka-Cee and it contain 500mg of vitamin C. Very affordable too. I think it's only available at Generika Drugstore.

Now you'll need a plastic spoon. And here I'm just using the ones you see in parties and ice cream cups.

I added two spoonful of water in the container here. 

Now here is the powder. Sorry I couldn't get a good shot of it but here's just to show that it's white.

Add two capsules of that to the water.

You can see here it turned yellow. Probably because I used alkaline water. My bad. 

I suggest you use distilled water.

Mix until it's dissolved.

Next you'll need to add liquid glycerin. Preferably vegetable glycerin but again this is the only glycerin that I was able to get.

You can get Apollo liquid glycerin from drugstores. I got mine from Watsons in our nearbly SM Mall for I think P120. It's also available in most Mercury Drugstores nationwide. Make sure you say it's for skin asthma because they might hand you suppository instead.

So here I also added two spoonful of liquid glycerin.

This is optional but is really great because it prolongs the shelf life and oxidizing of the serum. Plus it's less sticky to feel and very hydrating because of the hyaluronic acid.

See? So much less yellowy now. :)

Pour everything in the bottle now. 

If you can see, the mixture was able to fill the bottle.

Here is the consistency. A bit more in the watery side which I like.

Smooth that in until absorbed.

 And viola! smoother, brighter skin!

Application Tips

♥ For face. Apply just the right amount. Don't go over board or else you might get a bloated face in the morning.

♥ Store it in the fridge. Never leave it out, Since here in the Philippines, temperatures usually go above 30 degrees. A no no if you want to make the vitamin C serum last longer.

♥ Consume the whole content within a month or less to maintain freshness!

♥ You can also use the serum for your body. I used it on my knees and dead skin came off as I showered the next day. 

The Formula:

♥ 1000mg sodium ascorbic and equal parts of water and liquid glycerin.

♥ Drops of Hada Labo/ hyaluronic acid. (optional)

Uguisu Poo (Uguisu no fun) Nightingale Poop Soap and mask Review

Another Japanese product discovery! It is said to be the secret of Japanese geisha's since ancient Japan! I've heard that this is what they use to keep their skin smooth, clear and young looking. To think that they wear those super thick makeup!

I also heard that Victoria Beckham used this to clear her acne and probably is still using it. Even her hubby joined her in her facial sessions using this.

Another big celebrity (I heard of again) who is using this is none other than the most influential woman in the world, Oprah Winfrey.

This is an awesome article about Uguisu Poo: http://www.womenfitness.net/geisha_pooFacials.htm


What: Uguisu no fun or Uguisu Poo Clarifying Soap and Mask.
Uguisu means Nightingale.
Fun means Poo, feces or excrement. ~Yeah I know. Sounds yucky, right?

A Little Backgorund:

This product has mainly 4 variants which are Illuminating, Clarifying, Hydrating and Calming. It also has cheaper versions which are the Tenitoru Uguisu no Fun Soap and the Beauty Culture Uguisu no Fun Mask. The later is probably phased out since it's always out of stock.

Clarifying Soap:

From uguisushop.com:
Uguisu Poo Soap Clarifying 80 grams.
This soap is produced using the ancient japanese soap making method.
This soap is UV sterilized and is 100% free from dirt and bacteria.
Uguisu Poo Clarifying Soap treats and prevents acne, blackheads and whiteheads. It is made from the feces of Japanese Nightingale Bird which is used by the elite class of Japanese women for hundreds of years to clarify, protect and illuminate their skin.
Our soap is manufactured using the ancient soap making method used during the Edo era around 1600s preserving the
unique authenticity of Uguisu No Fun manufacturing. Japanese nightingale's excrement is rich in guanine and enzymes that dramatically improves the skin.
Using Uguisu Poo Soap Clarifying guarantees a dramatic improvement in the skin tone, pore size, acne, acne scars, discolorations and the overall skin complexion. It kills and prevents bacteria that causes acne for a smooth and clearer skin.


Product description from birdpoopfacial.com:

Uguisu Poo Uguisu No Fun Clarifying Soap is the same Uguisu Poo Clarifying Mask in a Uguisu Soap form ideal for oily skin suffering from all forms of acne with symptoms of papular or pustular lesions (pimples with and without pus) and extensive open and close comedones formation (blackheads and whiteheads). The soap is packed with the best anti acne ingredients that includes 0.6 pH Alpha Hydroxy Acid combined with 2.5 pH Beta Hydroxy Acid buffered by L-Serine, an amino acid known to cause premature apoptosis of acne causing bacteria. This Uguisu Soap formulation produces an unprecedented comedone dissolving action that get rid of whiteheads and blackheads and at the same time treats acne and prevents them from coming back. With the power of Guanine and Proteolytic Enzymes innate with our Uguisu No Fun, expect a brighter and blemish free skin!

Prior to the introduction of Uguisu Soap, Uguisu Poo mask users complained that the mask is very effective on their face but is impossible to be used for the entire body and as such, somebody always noticed that their facial skin looks smoother and brighter but shades lighter compared to the neck and body. This is the reason why Uguisu Poo of Japan created Uguisu No Fun for the body in the form of Uguisu Soap. Uguisu Poo Uguisu No Fun is made from Enhanced Uguisu No Fun, the only one of its kind and is clinically proven to be 4 times more effective than raw Uguisu No Fun. Enhancing a raw Uguisu No Fun means that unnecessary contents such as ammonia and food residue eaten by the Japanese Nightingale Bird like insects, fruits and its seeds are carefully removed to produce the purest form of Bird Poop Facial or Geisha Facial as it is known in high end beauty clinics.

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Price: Soap-P900 Mask-P950 (uguisushop.com and birdpoopfacial.com sells it pricier: Soap- $26.75/$19.95 Mask- $26.90/$25.95)
Where I got it: https://www.facebook.com/tokyobezire

At the time when I was looking for this the only seller
was http://uguisushop.com/ but I would need to pay thru credit card and it's very pricy. That's not really a problem if not for the faulty 
service of the bank where I got my card. I thought I'd just let it pass but then I found a really good seller that I met from a forum.
I just got to rave about her because she's the nicest seller I've ever encountered! The store owner is Nessy I've talked to her a lot before I bought from her 
because her shop is relatively new. Basically, she also loves Japanese products and she has tried and tested most if not all the products she sells.
She also gave me tips on how to use the two products as she also used it before. Then I found that she gets her stuff directly from Japan and she also 
sells is as low as she can unlike some sellers out there. I found  that she has a good heart for not overpricing her stuff. I would know because I also have 
some relatives in Japan. ;) Did I mention that she responds to my every queries very nicely?
The best part is that I got my package the very next day after my payment! FASTEST ONLINE TRANSACTION EVER!!!! To think that I'm
in the province and that it always takes longer for packages to come to our doorstep!

I'm so excited and happy that it came the very next day!

It came with this cute little bag.

Further inside the bag is a box covered with bubble wrap.
I almost thought she gave me a Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler! :p

Initial Impressions of Uguisu Poo Clarifying Soap: 

It's sooooooo hard to cut! And it actually crumbled a bit despite my use of a new blade.

How I Cut My Soaps

Scent: No scent but smells sort of candle waxy(?)
I took the little crumbled pieces and lathered it with a few drops of water and surprisingly, it's like butter as it melted and was very creamy! It's not too bubbly but the texture is really rich and again, creamy! I let it stay on my face for around 3 minutes then rinsed. I noticed the my face felt dry BUT firm and smooth! A different firmness than the one I get from Tokyo Love Soap. TLS's effect is more like a tightening feeling but THIS. It's firm and plump!

Period of Usage: January 29, 2014 - May 2, 2014(present)

Actual Size

So I slapped some makeup on and went to get some grocery then went home and removed my makeup with hada labo oil cleanser and initially washed my face with safeguard pink(with aloe). Then followed with the Uguisu no Poo soap.

I'm really loving the firmness! I noticed as I'm massaging my face with the soap that some white heads around my cheeks were coming off. Nice!

And so here I go with the first try of the mask. So the instructions says to mix a teaspoon of the powder with warm water. Ack! I guess the weather is so cold that the water I boiled was cold after a few minutes but yeah I already poured some on the bowl soo.......I'm really very "matipid" so I kind of used less than the recommended amount. The initial mix is smooth but then I added a bit more and used the just-boiled water that I reheated. It became a bit clumpy since the initial mix was starting to dry. My FAIL!! I also used alkaline water soooo.... I know what to do next time!

This would a a good consistency and amount.

I've put the mixture on my face and at first you can't see it but after some time it dries into a powdery finish. Super soft powder oooohhh! And so I remembered my workmate using a pressed powder that's also bird poop before so I thought. hmmmm...This will make an awesome powder too! But yeah, I used it so sparingly.

Sooo smoooooth!

I've tried using the mask with just lukewarm water and the consistency was so bad and clumpy. Not smooth and it would not get thick.

Tip for using the Uguisu Poo Mask:

1. Asain spoon   2.A clean flat synthetic brush  3. Uguisu Poo Mask

I found that the Asian "soup" spoon is the best small container to quickly make this mask. If the water gets cold quickly, you can put the spoon over hot water to reheat it. ;)

 I use the flat brush to mush it and mix the powder faster as well as use it for application.

Added a bit more water and will add more powder.

This amount is all you need for the entire face. Make sure it gets into a good smooth slippery consistency before you apply!

And so, I've been using this two for a couple of months now. I use the soap most often of course and it's been really really good on my skin. I've observed that I had no need to use pore stips anymore since I don't get whiteheads while using it. I've also just have 0% breakout! As in NADA! HURRAY!!! And I've lost all hope that I'd get clear skin before I got this product! Even if I sleep with makeup on, stay up late have hormonal imbalance, was too tired and lazy to wash my face before sleeping - I DON'T GET BREAKOUTS OR ACNE ANYMORE! ♥ All I'd get (very rarely too) are tiny tiny bumps that go away the next day.

The redness of my acne marks calmed down as well.

The Effects:

January 29,2014

Just for LOLs

My most recent pic as of May 2, 2014

All these pictures are taken on my room but in slightly different lightings depending on the weather and time of the day. :)

I know it's kind of icky too look at but I hope that this can show you how it worked on my skin.

My only problem now is the marks and the slightly deep scars.

Pros:

♥ Made my skin smoother and firmer

♥ Reduced redness of marks -which I thought I'd be stuck with forever!

♥ Removes and prevents whiteheads and blackheads

♥ Prevents pimples! Truly clarifies!

♥ Lasts a long time - I've only used 2/3 of the soap in 3 months!!

Cons:

♥ Not Easy to find.

♥ Pricey.

♥ Has Triclosan 

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Will I Repurchase? 

Yes! But I'd probably try the Illuminating variant next because I've heard wonderful results with it specially for freckles! I hope that could get rid of the marks completely. But we'll have to see because I still have to wait for a long time before I'd need to restock. :)