Kahi Wrinkle Bounce Multi Balm

Okay, okay… This is one of those times when product placement actually got me. I saw the Kahi Multi Balm (prices vary, but some sellers offer at around USD 42, while I got mine at around PHP 1,275 for 9g) being used by Kim Go-eun on The King: Eternal Monarch all over her face, OVER her makeup, and on her lips. I was instantly curious.

Quick Specs:  made in Korea

Ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Candelilla wax, Shea butter sweet almond oil, Pyrus Malus (Apple) seed oil, Octyldodecanol, Microcrystalline Wax, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Oil Soluble Licorice(Glycyrrhiza) Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Candida/Garcinia Cambogia Ferment, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Germ Oil, Schizandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Canola Oil, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Carrot Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Tocopherol, Adenosine, Purified Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-hexanediol, Beta-carotene, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Soluble Proteoglycan, Sodium DNA, BHT, Fragrance, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Benzoate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronelal, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream

It’s funny how, despite being one of the all-time bestsellers of a brand that’s been around forever, I’ve only now come to realize why the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream (PHP1,850 / 50ml) has the status it has. And it even took me four other Kiehl’s products to finally get to this one!

Quick Specs: made in USA

Ingredients: Aqua/Water, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Squalane, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sucrose Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, PEG-8 Stearate, Myristyl Myristate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethlhexanoate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernal Oil/Apricot Kernal Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Persea Gratissima Oil/Avocado Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetl Alcohol, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil/Rice Bran Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil/Olive Fruit Oil, Chlorphenesin, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil/Sweet Almond Oil, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil/Soybean Oil, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Myristic acid, Hydroxypalmitol Sphinganine, BHT, Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid

In Her Element Rose Radiant Moisturizer

At this point in my life, I have come to accept that I am becoming a creature of habit. When I find a product I really, really like, I am more inclined to repurchase rather than replace it with something else. Unfortunately, you can’t control discontinuations by the brand that forces you to move on. *shrugs* And that was the case with trying the In Her Element Rose Radiant Moisturizer (PHP 695 / 30 g) after being such a fan of the brand’s Rose Gel Serum Moisturizer.

Quick Specs: made in the Philippines

Ingredients: Aqua, Sodium Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer (and) Hydrogenated Polydecene (and) Lauryl Glucoside, Dimethicone (and) Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Rose Extract (and) 1,2-Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract (and) Butylene Glycol (and) 1,2-Hexanediol (and) Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,3-Butylene Glycol, Boron Nitride, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol (and) Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin (and) Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (and) Aqua (and) Cetyl-PG Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide (and) Hydrogenated Lecithin (and) Ceramide NP (and) Cholesterol, Glycerin (and) Larix Sibirica Wood Extract, Dimethicone (and) Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Tetrasodium EDTA, Parfum

L’ESSENTIAL Triple Cream

On hot summer days like this one, I find myself thinking of those folks ice swimming in Finland, breath fogging the air and cheeks getting rosy. Ok, so I may be switching to extremes. But I still get the same mental image when I peer into a jar of L’ESSENTIAL Triple Cream (PHP 1,169 / 50ml from Shopee).

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Caprylyl Methicone, Glycerin, C30-45 Alkyl Dimethicone, Propanediol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Guaiazulene, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer,Tromethamine, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Musa Sapientum (Banana) Fruit Extract,Rose Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Pyrus Communis (Pear) Fruit Extract, Prunus Domestica Fruit Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Cucumis Melo (Melon) Fruit Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract, Hedera Helix (Ivy) Leaf/Stem Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Plankton Extract, Madecassoside, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Arginine Ferulate, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract

Purito Centella Unscented Recovery Cream

Though received as a skincare set, the Purito Centella Unscented Recovery Cream (USD 20.50 for 50ml) deserves a separate review from its serum counterpart. It is its own wonderful experience, and that’s what makes it a joy to use.

Quick Specs: made in Korea

Ingredients: Centella Asiatica Extract (50%, strengthens skin-barrier), Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (skin-conditioning agents), Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil (occlusive), Squalane (occlusive), Butylene Glycol (humectants), Cetearyl Alcohol (emulsion stabilizers), Glycerin (humectants), Niacinamide (brightening), 1,2-Hexanediol (stabilizers), Potassium Cetyl Phosphate (emulsifying agents), Behenic Acid (emulsifying agents), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Extract (skin-conditioning agents), Betaine (humectants), Tromethamine (pH adjusters), Palmitic Acid(emulsifying agents), Hydrogenated Lecithin (emulsifying agents), Stearic Acid (emulsifying agents), Caprylyl Glycol (emollient), Tremella Fuciformis (Mushroom) Extract (skin-conditioning agents), Sodium Hyaluronate (natural moisturizing factor/ humectants), Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract (skin-conditioning agent), Beta-Glucan (skin conditioning agents), Carbomer (viscosity increasing agents), Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil (emollient), Xanthan Gum (viscosity increasing agents), Hydroxyethylcellulose (viscosity increasing agents), Sodium Carbomer (viscosity increasing agents), Adenosine (strengthens skin barrier), Spent Grain Wax (skin-conditioning agent), Asiaticoside (strengthens skin barrier) , Asiatic Acid (strengthens skin barrier), Phytosphingosine (skin-conditioning agent), Ceramide NP (strengthens skin barrier), Madecassic Acid (strengthens skin barrier), Myristic Acid (emulsifying agents), Arachidic Acid (emulsifying agents), Tocopherol (antioxidant)