Yves Rocher Pure Algue Ultra Fresh Cleansing Gel

Seeing as the Philippines is currently in the midst of an El Nino drought, it looks like “Cruel Summer” isn’t just a catchy song for us Filipinos. And according to the news, it isn’t even that hot yet. It gets worse around April and May. Thus, I’m already preparing for the heat wave by switching up my skincare to the lighter stuff, starting with the Yves Rocher Pure Algue Ultra Fresh Cleansing Gel (SRP P795 for 125ml).

Yves Rocher Gel Cleanser

Ingredients: Water/​Aqua, Glycerin, Decyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Centaurea Cyanus (Cornflower) Flower Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum/​Fragrance, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Fructooligosaccharides, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Inulin, Maris Aqua/Sea Water, Tetraselmis Suecica Extract

SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion

If you’ve always wanted to try famous luxury skincare brand, SK-II for the Pitera content but you don’t like the sticky feel, I highly suggest the SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion Travel Size (P650 for 2 X 30ml bottles).

SK-II Facial Treatment Toner

Quick Specs: made in Japan

Ingredients: Water, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate (PITERA), Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, PEG-150, Cellulose, Gum, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Malic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Methylparaben

Ellana Gentle Milky Oil Cleanser and Makeup Remover

I have been a longtime cleansing oil user, and I think it’s well-documented in this blog. So here I thought that the Ellana Gentle Milky Oil Cleanser and Makeup Remover (P249 / 60g) would be more of the same… But I don’t quite know where to place it. And therein lies its unique features.

Ellana Milky Oil Cleanser

Quick Specs: made in the Philippines

Ingredients: Aqua, Caprylic/ Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-75 Stearate, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylgylcerin, Panthenol, Olive Glycerides, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Propylene Glycol, Rosa Canina Extract, Allantoin, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride 

Mentholatum Sunplay Skin Aqua UV Watery Essence SPF 50

Creature of habit that I am, I have used the same Biore sunscreen since 2014. But my stash has been running low, and a similarly marketed option was on sale at the time. So is the Mentholatum Sunplay Skin Aqua UV Watery Essence (P465 / 50g) a convincing enough dupe?

Sunplay Sun Aqua SPF50+

Quick Specs: made in China

Ingredients: Water, Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, C14-22 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Disodium Phenyl Dibenzimidazole Tetrasulfonate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Silica, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Xanthan Gum, Fragrance, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Citric Acid, Ectoin

Etude House SoonJung ph 5.5 Relief Toner

If you’ve read the last couple of reviews here, you might’ve noticed that I don’t focus so much on the latest products. It probably has to do with age and the number of products I’ve accumulated, because I’m still steadfastly trying to use up my stash and seek keepers rather than jump on the latest trends. (No shade. I just can’t keep up!) And in the process, I enjoy finding products that have been around forever yet are still formidable. Just like the Etude House SoonJung ph 5.5 Relief Toner (around PHP 647 / 200 ml )

Etude House Relief Toner

Quick Specs: made in Korea

Ingredients: WATER, PROPANEDIOL, GLYCERIN, BETAINE, PANTHENOL, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, POLYGLYCERIN-3, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, DISODIUM EDTA, CARBOMER, MADECASSOSIDE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS ROOT EXTRACT, TOCOPHEROL, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT