The truth about Milk of Magnesia as a primer

You may have heard from a friend or read in a blog somewhere that Milk of Magnesia can serve as a cheap face primer for people with oily skin.  As far as my research goes, several bloggers in the Philippines have also tackled this matter talking about how the product has worked for them.  I, on the other hand, do not own a bottle of Milk of Magnesia.  What I will talk about today is whether using MOM for this purpose is safe and effective.

The original purpose of Milk of Magnesia

MOM was originally intended to neutralize the pH in our stomach.  If you find yourself having stomach ache, excess burping, burning sensation in your mid-region, heartburn and a sour taste in your mouth then that means you have excess acids in your stomach.  Taking MOM will relieve these symptoms because it counters or neutralizes the acidic pH in your stomach.  However, it will not address the main problem as to why you have gastric discomfort, it will only take away the pain.

MOM is also a laxative (helps you poop).  When the Magnesium ions dissociate from the complex they are not fully absorbed by the intestinal tract and so it absorbs water from the surrounding tissues.  The increased water in the intestinal tract will help to soften the stool and make it more "passable."

One other ingredient that can be found in Milk of Magnesia is Sodium Hypochlorite, otherwise known as bleach.  These are in very low concentrations and mainly serve to disinfect the product making sure there will be no bacterial growth (unless of course the product is expired).

The attributes of Milk of Magnesia that make it applicable for skin care

A medical journal was published in which the authors performed tests with different forms of magnesium on their ability to separate wax esters and steryl esters (basically oil) and they found that magnesium hydroxide (the form found in MOM) performed best.  They furthered their study and tested it on wax esters and steryl esters (again oil)  from the skin surface lipids of humans, rats and monkeys and they found the oils were separated completely.

Also the other ingredient, le bleach, is a strong oxidizer and can cause chemical dissolution of surface lipids resulting in less oil on the skin.

The good (above) and the bad (below)

Because it was originally intended to neutralize the pH of our gastric environment, Milk of Magnesia is quite basic with an overall pH of 10.5.  Furthermore, the bleach found in MOM produces Sodium Hydroxide when it reacts with water.  And Sodium Hydroxide has a pH of 14 making it even more basic.

The estimated natural skin pH is below 5 making it acidic.  When this pH is followed, the normal flora (resident bacteria) on our skin stays attached to the skin.  Now don't go "eewww" and "yucky" on me.  We actually need these resident bacteria on our skin.  They're not freeloaders on your face, they actually serve a purpose.  First off, the normal flora on our skin are good bacteria much like the lactobacillus shirota strain in your yakult.  They don't cause pimples or harm your skin, that's why they're called NORMAL flora.  Also, they serve as guardians and protectors of our skin.  When the normal flora on your skin is present it fights off other forms of bacteria that can be potentially harmful.  It competes for space on your face.  Now when the pH levels of our skin rise (above 5) we actually disperse the normal flora on our skin lighting up the "vacancy" sign and making it a playground for other harmful bacteria.  In using MOM, which is a very basic product, we actually increase our pH level making our skin more basic and warding off our friendly, protector bacteria.  (You still with me?)

So Now What?

The whole point of this post was not to discourage you from using MOM as a primer for oily skin.  You may if you really want to.  I just want you, le reader, to be fully informed about the things you apply on your face. There are reasons why products not intended for the face are now being considered for skin care and I want you to properly understand why instead of just taking your best friends word for it.  I suggest, however, that should you try this use it very sparingly and on alternating days so as not to completely disrupt your skin's pH level.

"So if I can't use MOM everyday, what would you suggest?"  Glad you asked.  A ton of products are being made with the specific purpose of priming the face before makeup application.  It's all about collecting and selecting which one works best for you.  I know that sounds expensive but this is your face we're talking about.  No expense should be spared on putting your best foot forward.  Once you find your HG primer, you will begin to save because your spending will be limited to just that.  To start off your collect and select process, here are a few I would like to recommend.

(Note:  I do not own any of these primers.  This list is a product of research and accumulation of a lot of reviews on primers for oily skin)

1. Ellana Minerals Make It Last Liquid Primer

I've actually swatched this primer and found that it glides on very smoothly and dries fairly quickly.  With regards to it's oil controlling power, mixed reviews have been made but those that actually recommend it say they got really great outcomes.

2. NYX HD Studio Photogenic Primer

  

According to several reviews, this primer is great at oil control.  Most users got at least 8 hours of no retouch on this product.  However it may be hard to blend and because of the white color it can produce a white cast if too much is applied.

3. Krave Mineral Oil Eliminator & Skin Hydrator

If the 2 claims of this product, which is oil elimination and skin hydration, become true for you then this would be the perfect primer.  The two properties would work hand in hand because if you will remember (i discussed this on a previous post) oil is produced as a defense mechanism when our skin thinks it's become too dry.  So when the Krave Mineral powder hydrates the skin it removes the excess production of the oil and because it has oil elimination properties it can also get rid of the surface oils.  I will be ordering this soon so stay tuned for the reviews.  Order here.

If these 3 don't work for you, there are a ton of other products out there waiting to be tested.  God bless your search for the right one.  :)

Product Review: Ultra HD Eshiko Face Powder

In my other blog I talked about online shopping skills and used there as reference my online purchase of the Ultra HD Eshiko Face Powder.  I got it for a steal at Php 600.00, from the original Php 1,300.00 plus shipping, at Ensogo.  I will be honest.  I've used this product only twice but the results were phenomenal that it warranted an immediate review.

from the website:

ESHIKO™ is a transparent hydrated silica face powder reduced to a size of 10 nanometer, the size of a single particle of smoke. An ordinary face powder has a size of 10,000 nanometer. Due to its size, it easily glides to the skin leaving a layer of protective light absorbing nanospheres that makes the pores smaller ang gives a smooth and radiant look in an instant. It is also translucent which means it does not make your skin pale white even after excessive application, it enhances your natural skin complexion and is suitable for any skin color or tone.

ESHIKO™ absorbs oil and sweat 15 times its own weight. It is perfect for people who wants to have the perfect skin complexion even after a hard days work or a workout at the gym. It is perfect on its own or as a finisher after your usual make-up. It is great for people with oily, combination and dry skin as well. We believe that ESHIKO™ is the best translucent face powder in the market today, If you disagree, we will return your full purchase within 100 days after purchase. Try ESHIKO™ risk free!

The powder, which the packaging claims is 10g, came completely sealed.  There was a sticker on the outside of the case, a tape on the rim after you've removed the cover and another sticker on the inside.  Because they claimed the powder is so small (read above: 10 nanometers in size) they had to take extra precaution hence the abundance of stickers and tapes.  Just to give you a reference - the thickness of the cell wall of a gram-negative bacteria is 10 nanometers - and you can't even see bacteria with your naked eye, let alone it's cell wall.  The particles of the powder are that small.

Another thing about Eshiko is that it claims to be composed of transparent hydrated silica.  This form of silica is safe to use for cosmetics lest you be worried about the scientific mumbo-jumbo.  A study on the cosmetic properties of hydrated silicas was published on the Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists.  There the author states that the oil absorption property of hydrated silica was related to the structure and amount of water inside the silica. The most oil-absorbing form of which is the very high structure silica which is the form of silica that has the most amount of water in the particle.

Now I know what you're thinking, "If the product is that small, won't it clog my pores?"  Yup, thought that too.  The makers of this product claim that it is noncomedogenic which means that it won't block your pores.  Although noncomedogenic is a loose word that is thrown around these days because it makes the products seem very well-researched and tested there is still evidence that Eshiko's claims are true (read on if you want to find out or you could just skip to the next paragraph).  Comedo, from the phrase non-comedogenic, means a hard plug (that blocks your pores) composed of sebum and dead skin cells or bacteria.  These are your blackheads and whiteheads that can lead to acne.  Now because the hydrated silica is proven to be oil-absorbing it will absorb the sebum or oil on the surface of your skin and not create the hard plug that will become your whitehead or blackhead.  So it can't treat your current pimple problem but it MAY prevent future breakouts.  (I said may because I don't want y'all blaming me for your pimple problems.  This is just one of the causes for pimples, there are many more that have nothing to do with blocking of pores.)

I had just had my monthly visitor and so my skin wasn't at it's finest.  It looked dark because I had no glow, I had several blemishes and my under eyes were quite dark.  I used the Eshiko Face Powder alone on top of my moisturizer because I wanted to obtain results from the using the product alone.

The first time I used this I applied it with a regular kabuki brush and the powder felt absolutely light as if I had put nothing on.  I dabbed back into the pot about 3-4 times and kept swiping and swirling the brush on my face.  Initially there was no difference, I still looked like my gloomy old self.  And then I looked down and checked my phone and when I turned back to the mirror again I was shocked.  My face was bright and glowing!  I cannot emphasize how different my skin looked after that 5 seconds that I looked away.  I was floored!  My face looked lit from within and the dark circles were gone.  After the initial shock of how I had "changed" after a couple seconds I did a close inspection and found my blemishes were still very much visible but the darkness or gloominess of the "Curse of Eve" had melted away.  If you check the website of Eshiko they have pictures of people with severe acne and their pimples were completely covered.  My blemishes are the dark brown ones so I can't be sure if it can cover up the red acne.  I decided to experiment and applied concealer after I had put on the powder and it did not work.  The concealer looked dark against my glowing skin and even applying the powder again on top of the concealer didn't fix the problem.  But I didn't care!  I walked out of my room, blemishes visible but with glowing skin, completely happy and smiling.

You thought I'd end there but no.  Of course I have to report the longevity of the product.  I started to become oily (the kind that is not dewy) after 5.5 hours of walking around under the sun.  If you ask me, that's pretty good.  Another test I did was to apply the powder again without blotting my face.  The website claims that Eshiko works best with water and oil on the face so there's no need to blot.  And try that I did.  With this claim, I think they have failed.  There was no "glow after 5 seconds" that I had earlier experienced and my oiliness wasn't reduced.  So I whipped out my blotting paper and just did it 'old school.'

Price: $29.50 for 10g + Free Shipping (but they only accept PayPal)
Coverage: very light, not buildable
Longevity: 5.5 hours
Packaging: Sturdy, but because the particles are so small I'm still very cautious when opening the product
"No Blot Reapplication" claim: Fail
"Glowing and Flawless Look" claim:  So Much Win!!! (9gagers will know)

So if you are on the market for a good loose powder that you can use on it's own and if you have few blemishes but your skin looks flat then this product is for you.  Actually, no.  Scratch that. I recommend this to everyone!  Dry or Oily, Dark or Light.  I am completely inlove with this powder and I want the world to know it.  Now go to the website, order one for yourself and learn to be patient.  "Great blessings come to those who wait."  Or in this case, "a great powder (that can really make you glow) will come to you if you wait."  :)

Product Review: Pencil Liners

Eyeliners define the shape of the eyes and adds intensity to the whole eye makeup look.  For someone who doesn't really enjoy using pencil eyeliners, I have quite a few.  So in case you're on the market for a great eyeliner you might want to check these out.

1. IN2IT Waterproof Gel Liner in Very Black and Khaki

They have an on-going promo at Watson's where you can buy two gel liners for Php499.75.  The first time I used this was at a Christmas concert for one of our choir's partner church.  The eyeliner held pretty well until after the concert.  It withstood the harsh stage lights and my profuse sweating.  I only used this on my eyelids, though (the Very Black one).  After the concert was a different story.  Being tired and all I didn't use makeup remover and went straight on to wash my face (bad, I know).  Afterwards when I checked myself in the mirror I found that the eyeliner from my top lid had traveled down to my lower lid creating this really thick black line.  Raccoon eyes?  No.  Dark Shadows bride?  Yes.  If you swatch this on your hand it will seem like the line won't be going anywhere, even after continuous rubbing.  But this product is intended for the eyes and it can be quite oily as compared to our hands so I suggest you use a mighty good eye primer to keep the line on your eyes.  Also, I found this product too soft that it inhibits me from creating a really thin precise line and because of the softness I sometimes find that if I'm too rough or in a hurry to apply I end up with little globs or chunks on my eyes.

2. Stila Kajal Eyeliner in Topaz

Because of my chubby cheeks, my eyes tend to look small.  So what better way to open them up than with a bright eyeliner on the waterline?  You would read in other beauty blogs and see in makeup tutorial videos that white eyeliner is used to open up the eyes.  I prefer to use peach because it looks more natural and it's still bright that it can serve the purpose of the white eyeliner.  This Kajal eyeliner is not easy on the pocket at Php 799.00.  But I wanted a peach eyeliner so I gave in and shelled out the money.  This works perfectly on the waterline as it deposits a good amount of color that is very visible.  It is very soft like the IN2IT eyeliner but I prefer that because of the specific purpose I bought it for.  The staying power, however, is not too awesome.  It is visible for around 2-3 hours and then you won't even find a trace that it was there.  But I don't mind reapplying because I love this eyeliner because (as far as I know) it's the only matte peach eyeliner in the market.

3. L.A. Colors Jumbo Eye Pencil

Ok so it's not really an eyeliner but it can serve the purpose.  I use this mainly as an eyeshadow base and even with that you have to be really careful.  You won't notice that you've applied too much until it begins to crease cos you won't even feel it pressing against your eyelids (again, another soft product).  So use this sparingly and always blend after every swipe.  I'm partial to purple eyeshadows so I particularly love this color.  As an eyeliner, it won't last you long but as an eyeshadow base it performs very well.  The only real beef I have with this is the stall where you can get it.  Somehow in every SM Deparment Store I go to the Wet n' Wild and L.A. Colors stalls always look like a hot mess.  Everything is  or has become a tester even those that are not marked because customers just open everything.  When you ask for a new stock of any item the saleslady (if you can find her) will say all stocks are out.  I dunno whether the point of these stalls are to sell or just give a makeup playground to the customers.  And I forgot to mention, this retails for Php 349.75.

4.  Fashion 21 Defining Eyeliner in Grayish Blue

This eyeliner is my favorite.  It's inexpensive (Php 100.00) and the color that is almost black but not quite lends a mysterious look to your eyes.  Like, "her eyeliner is dark but it doesn't exactly look black."  This also deposits well on the waterline and not too heavily.  When I'm wearing a blue or orange outfit, I use this in lieu of black eyeliner and I feel like my whole look is tied together.  If you're edgy but not over the top, trust me, you need this in your makeup collection.  You won't even feel bad getting it cos it costs just as much as your milk tea.

So there... I bid you happy liner shopping if ever you want to try any of these out.  See you in my next post and Avidazen! :)

Swatches! 

Product Review: Snoe S Skin SPF 30 Stem Cell Sunblock Cream

I posted this item in my previous post "a LOT of makeup."  Here is my in-depth review on the product.

There's not much information written on the product itself.  I wish they would have put down the recommended usage just cos I like seeing it there.  As for the effect...

I've been using this product for 2 weeks - the first week only during the morning and the 2nd week also before going to bed.  My skin is combination to oily meaning I have a few dry areas and because I have my monthly visitor, my skin appears dark because of the lack of glow.  This was remedied by the Snoe S Skin.  After a week of using it both day and night my skin appears glowing and clear, though it did not take care of my blemishes.  Emphasis on the clear part.  The oiliness of my face was also kept at bay.  Usually when I get ready in the morning I have oilies creeping up before I even step out of the house.  But with this product, the oils started to appear after 3 to 4 hours which is actually good enough for me.  I don't really want a product that will keep me matte the whole day.  That would just be weird and rather uncomfortable.

The product, when applied to the face, has a matte finish that doesn't feel too dry that you feel like your skin is pulled from all directions.  I put this to the ultimate test in the past 2 weeks I've been using it.  I would only use this, top it off with an oil blotting powder, lipstick, contour and blush and I'm out of the house in 10mins. As previously mentioned I only "shone" (oils started to appear) after a couple hours.  And it's not even really that oily.  Just the dewiness that would actually be perfect for flash photography.  You know the kind of shine they fake on pictures to add dimension to the face?  Yup.  That's what I'm talking about and that's what I get with this product.

So if you're asking if I'd repurchase, I definitely would.  Though I can't say I would stick to just this because my Olay Total Effects still holds a very dear place in my heart.  Also, I think the product would last fairly long because I've been using it for the past 2 weeks and I haven't even touched the top layer (I'm using up the ones that stuck to the cap.  I'm Ilocano and I'm matipid that way.)

On a side note, one of the best things I love about this product is that it's Filipino made through and through. While chatting with the Snoe salesladies at Trinoma I asked where they had their packaging made hoping for an answer like the US or China or Japan or some other place off shore.  She said their packaging was made in Laguna which made me feel mighty proud.  I really like and favor Filipino brands and products because that means there are more jobs for Filipinos.  Another reason is because it showcases the talents and ingenuity of the Filipino people.  Yes, I'm very patriotic.  You should also see the owners of the brand.  My goodness!  37 and 40 years old but they don't look a day over 20.

Because I liked the S Skin so much, I bought more products and am in the process of testing them out.  I also sent a few over to my Makeup Swap-mate Emily Smith.  Will post pictures of those soon.

Price : very cheap for Php 169.00 for such a good Filipino-made product
Where to purchase : Landmark in Trinoma but they have other shops all over the country
Where to find online : Snoe Facebook fan page

Oily Solutions: Oily Skin

Crappy title, I know.  Trust me, I've thought of worse ones.

So... oils for oily skin.  Kinda sounds icky and redundant.  I know you're about to close this window but bear with me for a minute as I try to explain why this is good for you.

The skin is one of the smartest organs in your body, not to mention one of the largest because it covers you head to toe.  In order to preserve it's elasticity (see? your skin is actually fighting for your youth) your skin needs to be moisturized and one way it does so is to release oil that will lock in or seal the moisture.  So you see, oily skin is a defense mechanism that your skin uses to avoid it being dry.  So when you take out too much oil by washing your face with harsh products or using harsh astringents, you're actually begging for your skin to produce more oil.  See how smart your skin is?  When you take out something (le oil), it not only replaces it but produces more of it to compensate for the loss.  So now the solution is not to take out the oil in your face but to replace out with another oil that can hydrate your skin, keep dirt at bay and not cause you to break out.

Enter the Grapeseed oil.  I have done research on this and many other people say other different things.  But I found this gem and read up (a lot!) on it and now I have something to share with you on why I think this is the most ideal for oily skin.

First, of course, it's available locally.  You can go online and find resellers in multiply or sulit.  You can also try going to the Generics Pharmacy and ask if they have grapeseed oil gel capsules.  That should cost you about Php350.00 to Php400.00.  One more benefit!  It's way cheaper than your drugstore serums.  Smells good too if you're into that.

Next, Grapeseed oil is like Olive Oil on crack.  It's got all the benefits of olive oil times 10.  So if you already like olive oil on your body or your face, grapeseed oil should work better for you.

Another reason why I like this for oily skin is because it is easily absorbed by the skin, goes on smoothly and penetrates deep into the layer of your skin meaning it won't sit on top of your skin and create an oily film layer.  The viscosity and consistency is very ideal to be applied on your face.  It goes inside, does it's magic there and shows you the result of its hardwork with the suppleness and less oiliness of your skin.  This moisturizes the inner layers of your skin which will trigger a stop in production of oil because your skin is hydrated.  When used as a toner, it can penetrate blocked pores and cleanse breakouts.

Fourth reason is Grapeseed oil is rich in antioxidants which fight free radicals.  I won't go into much detail on this because I've already discussed it very thoroughly on my previous post (Skin Nutrition).  Main point, it helps keep your skin's elasticity and glow.

You ever heard the saying an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure?  With grapeseed oil you can do both.  For the prevention part, it can prevent acne break outs because it is an anti-inflammatory and as previously mentioned can unclog pores.  For the cure part, it can reduce wrinkles and scars because it contains beta carotenes and vitamins C, D and E which, if you read my post on Skin Nutrition, you'll know are the vitamins that perform well when applied on your skin.

Still not convinced?  Take it from Emma Stone who professed to style.com that her beauty secret is grapeseed oil that she gets from the grocery.  She applies it after she showers and uses it throughout the day and night.  And we all know how gorgeous and oil-free Emma's skin is.  Another faithful user is a youtube guru who goes by the name "Faces of Omega."  In one of her videos she shows a picture of her 21 year old self and declares that she is now 53 but her skin is still taut thanks to grapeseed oil.  She admits that there were still some lines but all in all her skin does look great (the lines are probably from her talking too much, her grapeseed oil video took almost 13mins! but she's very entertaining and honest).

Now I'm pretty sure you're a convert and can't wait to try this out.  What you may do is put 2-3 drops on your palm or fingers or cotton ball and spread or apply it over your face.  You can also add this in with your regular moisturizer.  You can do this process at night before you go to sleep or if you're a bit experimental, you can also do this during the day.

If you have oily skin and want to try this, tell me how it goes.  I'd love to hear from you. :)