Review: Belo Essentials SunExpert (SPF40, Face)

I love taking care of my skin. Our skin is the first thing people see and, whether we like it or not, our skin's condition makes an impact to the people we meet. But aside from wanting clear, beautiful skin, I'd also like to stay cancer-free. Did you know that at least one person dies form melanoma every hour? (from Skin Cancer Facts)

Photo: glogster

But wait, why am I talking about sun and skin cancer in August?! You must be thinking, "Hello! Tapos na ang summer diba?! Ano ba naman tong blogger na to!" But that's where you're wrong. There's a big misconception that you're only at risk of melanoma during summer when the sun is always up and shining brightly. While it's true that the sun is strongest in summer, the dangerous UV rays do not disappear just 'coz it's the 'ber months or typhoon season.

To protect my skin from the UV rays, I wear sunblock every day. Yes people, we have to wear sunblock even if it's not summer and a trip to the beach isn't part of our calendars. Why? Because according to Dr. Mehmet Oz, "UVA rays can penetrate glass windows, meaning you're at risk while sitting close to a window, whether in a car, at home or in the office. Also up to 80% of the UV rays can pass through clouds."

Did this surprise you? You're not alone; I was surprised too! When I became aware of my skin's needs, I dedicated a lot of my time to search for a really good sunblock. The sunblock I use at the beach is too thick and heavy for everyday use. It also leaves a bit of a white cast, which is acceptable at the beach (because it disappears after taking a dip), but is a huge no-no at the office. Another requirement for me is an SPF of at least 15, which is generally recommended for everyday use.

After a few misses, I finally found a perfect sunblock for me and I'd like to share this with you. Introducing, the Belo Essentials SunExpert (SPF40) for the face.

Photo: uptowndowntownsite

Product description. "This moisturizing facial sunblock effectively provides broad-spectrum protection against harmful UV rays. Lightweight and non-sticky, it also gives superior cell protection against sunlight and pollution. Sun Expert strengthens the skin's defense system, maintaining healthy skin while simultaneously preventing accelerated premature skin aging." It's water-resistant, fragrance-free, hypo-allergenic, dermatologist-tested, and takes effect immediately. To know more about this product, please visit their Facebook page here."

Here are various hand shots for your viewing pleasure. Or not. lol.

left: no product. right: with product - no difference, no white cast!

left: you only need a small amount because it's sooo easy to spread. right: when spread out - silky, liquid-ish texture

Rating: ★★★★★
Pros:

• Not heavy, sticky and oily
• Very easy to apply
• My skin takes on a healthy, dewy glow after application (NOTE: I have normal/dry skin so I'm not sure how this will hold up for oily/combination skin)
• SPF40 PA+++ - it has a high SPF so it's also the same sunblock I use at the beach. I just re-apply more often. I find beach sunblocks for the body too harsh for my face and I'd end up getting pimples after
•  Hypo-allergenic and non-comodogenic - no break-outs!
• Water-resistant
• Takes effect immediately - most sunblocks instruct you to wait for at least 20 minutes after application before exposing yourself to the sun

By the way, it has a mild scent, but it doesn't really last long (there you go, all you scent-averse people haha!). Scent or not, I don't really mind. I just find it weird since it says fragrance-free in the packaging.

Cons: nada!

I cannot stress enough how much I love this product. I really recommend it to all my friends. This only costs P229.75 for 50ml at Watsons and it will last you for months. Usually, I do my groceries at Cherry Foodarama in Congressional 'coz it's cheaper there, but I couldn't find this. Not sure if it's out of stock or they really don't carry this.

How about you? Care to share your favorite sunblock or sunscreen?

Photo: wellsphere

Miranda Kerr

My friends know how much I looove Miranda Kerr. I love her face, style, body... She's just perfect! I even love her adorbs son, Flynn! I'm just sad the she seemed to have had breast enhancements. This observation is just based on her past and present photos, but I'm not sure... Nothing wrong with breast enhancements, but she's been such a strong supporter of "loving yourself" and all things natural that the enhancement somehow contradicts? Anyway, here's a collage of some of my favorite photos of her, gathered from various celebrity websites.

I've got more of these photos, but I don't wanna creep anyone out. Teehee. :) Aside from these superficial factors, I also like that she's into organic food and skincare, and really breathes holistic wellness. She created her own brand, KORA Organics, a certified organic skincare line made in Australia. It's quite expensive, but being the fangirl that I am, I went ahead and bought myself the Exfoliating Cream worth AUD54.95. Convert this to Philippine Peso, add the taxes, and shipping and customs costs, and you get a whopping P5,681.58. For. Skin. Care. Wow. Not one of my smartest buys, I know. Here's my take on the product.

Photo: KORA Organics

Product description (taken from KORA Organics website). "KORA Organics Exfoliating Cream contains a unique blend of organically grown Oat Flour and Bamboo to gently buff away dead skin cells helping to reveal a smoother, softer complexion. KORA Organics gentle and effective exfoliant is filled with Essential Oils to nourish and cleanse the skin and is gentle enough to be used on all skin types including sensitive skin.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Pros:

• Smelled good
• Nice texture with lots of granules
• My face was glowing after use. It felt really nice and soft
• Very gentle
• Lasted me for about a year because I only nedeed a very small amount to cover my face, neck and chest area. I exfoliate 2x/week
• Certified organic with great ingredients

Cons:

• Expensive!!!

Would I recommend this? For girls like me with financial limitations, probably not. It's great and effective but it's just way too expensive. :(

So far those of us who can't really afford to buy designer goodies and expensive skincare... Well, I've put together my top 3 tips on dressing up and taking care of your skin. Hope these help!

Style:

1. Dress for the occasion. If you look at Miranda Kerr's photos online, you will see that she's always dressed appropriately. She may be ultra glam in events, but when shopping or taking out baby Flynn, she's always in casual outfits. Casual doesn't necessarily mean drab. You can make your casual look stand out by injecting color or using accessories like a necklace or scarf.

2. Dress for yourself. Don't follow trends blindly. Know what works for your body type and wear clothes you are comfortable in. People might be sporting animal prints or cropped everything, but if you're not comfortable, might as well not join the bandwagon. Wear what you like. Even if other people say what you're wearing is so last season, if you like, go flaunt it. It's your life after all.

3. Confidence is key. In anything you do, confidence makes a big difference. You may not be the most stylish person in the room, but if you're confident, all eyes will zoom in on you. It all boils down to how you carry yourself. Nasa nagdadala yan, hindi sa uso o sa presyo o sa dami ng accessories.

Skincare:

1. 4-step process. Cleanse-tone-moisturize-exfoliate! You expose your skin to harsh elements every single day so you have to take extra care of it. It's your biggest organ after all, and at the end of the day, no matter what you're wearing, if your skin's bad, sayang lang ang designer get-up mo.

2. Be reliious. Never, ever miss out on item 1, even if you get home at 3am.

3. Drink water. It's very important to be and stay hydrated the whole day. Try to tearget at least 8 glasses of water in a day.

4. Apply sunblock. Yes, even when you're not going to the beach.

There you have it! Holler at the comments section if you've got other tips you wanna share. :)