skin care

3 FAVORITE SUNSCREENS TO BEAT THE OMAN SUN

August 8, 2020 by Little Miss Honey

Summer in Oman falls during June to September months. So yes, it is still summer days here in Oman. If you haven’t experienced hot summer in Oman, you are in for a shock. I know I did and to think I had lived in Saudi Arabia when I was younger. But somehow, I felt Oman sun was way more hotter, way more imposing, way more acrimonious. The temperature can reached to more than 40 degrees Celsius even up to 50 degrees sometimes. The heat would seep through your clothes, feeling like you are in a big wide sauna and your face would tighten from the blaze of the Oman sun.

I am always exposed to the sun here. I would often walk to work with my almost-retiring umbrella and of course, sunscreen to protect me from the sun. It is essential to use sunscreen daily here and any part of the world, I might say, to avoid the following:

the premature signs of ageing
sun damage to skin like uneven complexion, etc
risks of skin cancer
sunburn
reduce appearance of facial red veins and blotchiness

Before, I hated wearing sunscreen because it can cause a white cast on the face and when I apply it along with my cosmetics, it doesn’t blend well as I like it. But good thing, I found 3 sunscreen that I highly recommend to people who hates using sunscreens. I also added 2 extra bonus ones. However , one can only be found in the Philippine and the other has been discontinued, unfortunately.

Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 50PA ++++

Credit: Kiehl’s

I love that this feels very light on the skin. It doesn’t make you look like a Kabuki makeup. It has an advanced UVA/UVB technology and pollution protection which helps defend against UV rays and pollution. It provides all-day hydration and absorbs quickly into the skin. It comes in a 30 ml and 60 ml easy to squeeze container. This can be purchased in their store at Muscat City Center Seeb, Ground Floor.

2. La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL SPF 50 Ultra Light Fluid

Credit: Amazon

I am currently using this one. You can find this in most Muscat Pharmacy branches around Oman. I love the consistency of this sunscreen. It acts like perfect primer to my face. It absorbs well like a moisturiser and is not sticky. It is ultra-light and perfume-free so it is a great sunscreen for sensitive skin like me. It is provides high protection from the sun with spf 50. It comes in 50 ml unique-looking shape container.

3. The Face Shop Natural Sun Eco Super Perfect Sun Water SPF50+ PA+++

Credit: Amazon

When my Body Shop sunscreen run out here in Oman and I was still discovering what are the shops where I can find a good sunscreen or skincare products here, I decided to try out the sunscreen in the only Korean store I found in malls here. They have store in City Center Seeb and Oman Avenue Malls. I always love Korean products. They tend to me more gentle to the skin and I often gravitate to their skincare products. I tried out this sunscreen and it worked well for me. I am happy as long as it is not thick and doesn’t give you a white cast on the skin so this fits the bill. It can be a little runny and too-watery for me than the Kiehl’s and La Roche-Posay which are more in the creamier side. But it I love that it came in a 80 ml plastic bottle which last for months. Though I didn’t like the container which is made of thick plastic. I prefer Kiehl’s container which is similar to my Body Shop sunscreen container.

The 2 other contender for my favourite sunscreens are:

The Body Shop Skin Defence Multi-Protection Lotion SPF 50+ PA++++

The texture, the container and its effects are very similar to Kiehl’s. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find it here in Oman. They have a spray version of this one but I prefer mine to be slathered on my face rather than sprayed on. I don’t trust that spray can protect me enough from the harmful rays of the sun.

VMV Hypoallergenics Armada Face Cover 30 and 45

This is the first sunscreen that I really love. It wasn’t sticky or thick at all. I like that it is hypoallergenic so it is great for sensitive skin. I only got to purchase this in the Philippines. I haven’t used this sunscreen for years. I will love to try this sunscreen again once I get a hold of it.

The important things you need to look for in choosing a sunscreen are:

high spf of at least 30
broad spectrum that protects from Ultra Violet A (UVA) and Ultra Violet B (UVB)
formula that you prefer (gels, cream, spray, etc.)

So layer on that sunscreen and beat that summer sun with a smile. Remember when in doubt, just know that too much sun protection is never a bad thing.

If you have other sunscreen suggestion, do share with us too. It will be highly appreciated.

VOLCANIC EARTH SKINCARE RANGE: ORGANIC PRODUCTS BY INFINICE BEAUZON

August 24, 2018 by Little Miss Honey 908 Comments

My postpartum skin is acting up against the hot Singapore weather. My skin is in desperate need of moisture. I have been particular with the products I apply on my face as I became more aware of the harsh chemicals and ingredients that are often added in skincare and cosmetic products. I now prefer to use mostly organic products that is more natural and friendly to the skin.

Searching for a good skin products can be daunting with the wide variety of products that are out in the market. But I have discovered an organic skincare range that I am happy to share with all of you.

Volcanic Earth Natural Skin Care products are amazing organic, cruel-free and vegan products that my skin is furiously thanking because my skin is feeling healthy, smooth and moisturised. I got the whole range of Cleanser, Toner, Moisturiser and Eye Cream. They are distributed by Infinice Beauzon in Singapore.

Volcanic Earth is located in Port Vila, a capital of Vanuatu, an archipelago of 83 islands in the south Pacific, Volcanic Earth’s special ingredient is the Tamanu Oil. This oil comes from the nuts of coastal Tamanu trees that grow by the shoreline. These trees draw additional nutrients from the coral producing the best Tamanu oil. It is suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin like mine.

Tamanu Oil has a lot of benefits which can help for the skin issues below:

Getting rid of acne fast
Acne scarring
Aging
Burns & blisters
Psoriasis
Diabetic sores
Sunburn
Dry, scaly and sensitive skin
Eczema
Athletes foot
The relief of neuralgia
Sciatica & rheumatism
Foot odor and body odor
Unsightly age spots
Toenail fungus
Insect bites

I have been using the whole range for 2 weeks now and I am so happy with the products.

Volcanic Earth Cleanser

After work, I would remove the junk off my face using my makeup remover cream and makeup wipes. Then I followed it with the Volcanic Earth Cleanser. I feel that it totally removed the remaining dirt and makeup from my face that my 2 step cleansing didn’t do. My skin felt clean and brighter. I am happy to say that after using this for 2 weeks now, I haven’t gotten any zit or pimples. I even tried removing the 2 step cleansing products and just using the Volcanic Earth Cleanser and hurrah, no zits or pimples at all. I didn’t mind going out bareface after removing the junk out of my face using the Volcanic Earth Cleanser. My face just felt refreshed and lifted after using it.

Volcanic Earth Toner

After cleansing, I would spritz the toner directly to my face and it refreshed my skin. I also tried spritzing the toner into a cotton rounds and applied to my face which works perfectly too. So in the morning when I am rushing I prefer to spritz it directly into my face and in evening, I spray it on a cotton rounds. When I wipe my face with the cotton rounds with the spritz of Volcanic Earth Toner, it can even remove some residue of my makeup, really thoroughly cleaning my face well. I also would spray this on my face like a face mist when my skin felt so dehydrated in the office. It instantly moisturised and refreshed my skin. It is a great pick-me up!

Volcanic Earth Eye Cream

I love that this eye cream comes in a roll on tube. It gives my under-eye a cooling massage while distributing the anti-aging effects of the tamanu oil unto it. It have been concerned with the dark circles under my eyes and I am hoping Volcanic Earth Eye Cream would do the trick. I noted that it lightened up the dark circles around my eyes and the skin under my eyes looked plump and healthy.

Volcanic Earth Moisturiser

I would lather this moisturiser generously on my face. My skin felt so supple and nice after application. The nutty and woody scent which is actually coming from the natural scent of the Tamanu Oil can be a bit strong for my sensitive nose. However, with all of its skin benefits and the improvement of my skin texture that I didn’t mind it at all. My colleagues would ask me if I am using any new skin regimen because they noted my skin has brightened up and they noted that I looked more youthful & less tired. So I was happily shared with them about Volcanic Earth products.

What I also liked about Volcanic Earth is their mission which is to help the locals in Vanuatu alleviate poverty. Purchasing Volcanic Earth skincare products can assist them create livelihood opportunities through collections of tamanu nuts, coconuts & other raw products and in turn alleviate poverty. It is definitely a win-win. We achieve a luminous, beautiful skin while helping less advantaged locals in Vanautu. I think that is amazing.

Volcanic Earth has addressed my skin care problems and I am delighted with this discovery. You can try them yourself by checking out the online store, Volcanic Earth Singapore. Check out their Facebook Page.

Volcanic Earth products are also available in Lazada Singapore and they are currently on sale so grab that opportunities now!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Infinice Beauzon. All opinions are my own. Regardless, I only recommend products which I personally believe will be good for my readers.

E-BOOK REVIEW: THIS IS ME, LOVE MARIE

January 25, 2016 by Little Miss Honey 1,714 Comments

Filipino celebrities nowadays started creating books for their fanbase like Liz Uy, Miriam Quiambao and Bianca Gonzales- Intal. Joining these celebrity-cum-authors is the beautiful Heart Evangelista a.k.a. Mrs. Chiz Escudero. I think Heart is one of the most beautiful actress in the Philippines. I love her subtle chinita beauty, her classy elegant style and her impeccable make-up. It is obvious that Heart is a ‘kikay’ girl so it is no surprise that she created a book on makeup and skincare.

I got the e-book with a moderate expectation that it would really be a useful one. It assumed it would be a beauty book showcasing Heart’s pretty face with the usual you-heard-thousand-times makeup basics. I previously bought a hard-bound book of Lauren Conrad about Style or was it Beauty. I am a big fan of Lauren Conrad, unfortunately the book was not amazing enough nor did it gave something new for it to be actually useful. So I was expecting a similar one with Heart’s book but I was so wrong.

I have a Bobbi Brown makeup book on my shelf and I read some other beauty book but if I am going to pick one, I would honestly choose Heart Evangelista’s This is Me, Love Marie on her make-up and skin care secrets as my beauty book guide.

The book started with Heart’s beauty evolution with photos. Then it was divided in chapters for Eyes, Lips, Face and Skin. The basics were introduced with quirky fonts and the lay-out was done in glossy magazine style. The approach was fun, girly and not textbook style or intimidating for makeup virgins. Heart’s gorgeous face was strategically used as a guide for the makeup application instead of the usually drawn woman’s face. Trusting Heart’s makeup choices or rather her glam teams’ makeup choices, it was helpful that the makeup products used were stated in the book.

It is refreshing to see Heart barefaced and her made-up face all over the book. It is also like a lookbook of Heart Evangelista as well as collection of art-like photography of her beauty.

It is nice that throughout the book there are scripted quotes that are worth-remembering and Tweet-able.

There are bonuses in the later part of the book where Heart gets to show ‘what is in her makeup kit‘ in every occasions. She also shared photos of her look during her errands, work, first date, red carpet, reunion job interview, travel and of course her wedding day where she felt ‘her most beautiful’.

Additional behind the scenes photos were added in the book. She even shared her Get Ready With Me music, her favourite movies and other random photos in her glamorous beautiful life.

I highly recommend this book for beauty junkees like me, newbies trying out makeup for the first time and fans of Ms. Heart Evangelista. It is a great reference book, a book of inspiration and a pretty coffee table book. It can be purchased in leading bookstores in the Philippines. If you want to get an e-book copy, you can purchased it through www.buqo.ph.

*all pictures in this post are photo grabs from the actual e-book