Sample Room is Heaven-sent Since 2012

I have been a proud member of Sample Room for as long as I remember.  Okay, it wasn't that long but it felt like I was with this family forever!  Sample Room started 2012 and it has been 3 fulfilling years of Trying Before Buying!  If you have been a long time reader of my blog, you'll know how much I wished ALL BRANDS to give consumer (us) chances to try their products before we buy full-size!

And my prayers were answered with Sample Room came about.  With the commitment of empowering consumers through an interactive online community, us, consumers get to find the perfect match when it comes to skincare, cosmetics and other beauty and wellness domains.

Just some of the "happiness in a pouch" I receive every now and then...

Easy Makeup and Skincare Tips To Achieve Perfect-Looking Skin

Hi AMW Friends!  Today is make up tip Friday!  I am sharing some of the make up transformations I've done in the past and share tips and tricks.

How to Cover Minor Pimple Marks

You have probably seen my post on how to cover Dark Spots and Acne Marks on "a large surface" 

This time, I am sharing tips on how to cover random pimple marks that are so pesky they stay with you forever!  (I have one on my left cheek by the way!)

After photo photographed by: Mark Lao of Trio Photography

Olay Regenerist Miracle Duo Initial Review

I've said it before and I'll say it again, to have a perfect make up look, you have to have a good canvass.  Having a good canvass means having good skin!  

I really got serious with my skincare routine during my late twenties!  I'm glad I didn't scrimp on skincare because I can honestly see the difference of my skin today than a decade ago!  All thanks to my constant application of the right skincare products meant for my skin type.

I always get email queries like: "What is the best brand of skin care product?  Which particular skin care brand do you swear by?"

For the past 8 plus years of constant testing and trying out products, my answer is still: "I can't tell!"  Skin care products are very personal, to, to make a particular skin care product work for you, those products have to target what your skin lacks or needs.

All I can do for now is to help guide you to grab the best skin care product for you ---

• Know your skin type - Oily, Dry, Normal, Sensitive or combination?
• State your skin concern - Obvious pores?  Fine Lines and wrinkles?  Oily skin?  Dry and Flaking skin?

From there, you can choose products based on your requirements, and trust me, it won't be that overwhelming!

Just as blogger with so many skin care products to try and review.  I only choose those that are meant for my skin type and skin condition and for the rest?  I maybe have my family members to try them for me!  

Recently, Olay launched a Miracle Duo that seems worth to try.  I have to admit, I have tried past Olay products that seems not to work much on my dehydrated and dull skin!  So this line is actually exciting for me!

Olay Total Effects Available at SampleRoom!

When Sample Room have new samples available in their website, I can't help but have this tiny butterflies inside my stomach!  Yes, I receive a lot of press samples every now and then but seriously, knowing consumers can really "try before they buy" is a totally different story!  I am really a proud Sample Room Partner because of that! 

Recently, they launched Olay Total Effects products on their site!  Here is one thing I have to say about trying out products!  I mentioned this to my co-Beauty Blogger friends in the past and I still stand by to my decision --- Olay Total Effects Day Cream does not work for me 10 years ago so I am not giving this a try!  Funny thing though was that same 10 years ago, I purchased Olay Facial Masks from Hong Kong and they worked like magic on me!  It must be the age, the weather, etc!!!  BUT, keep in mind that if a certain product does not work for me doesn't mean it will be the same for you!  Like I said in my past posts, skincare is indeed very personal!  You have to try out samples or take a plunge before you know which brand works for you or not!

Upon receiving my samples, I immediately thought of my sister!  (Yes, I have an older sister who looks like my age! -- love you sis!)  I may be forgetful but I totally recalled our old text message about how she loved Olay Total Effects because it works for her!  She actually purchased and repurchased this a couple of times so I'm definitely going to be a Santa Clause and share these goodies to her!

• Olay Total Effects Pore Minimizing Toner
• Olay Total Effects Day Cream
• Olay Total Effects Anti-ageing Night Cream
• Olay Total Effects Pore Minimizing CC Cream in Light and Medium

What Olay Total Effects promises are the following:

Come Join Me During Olay Body #MoistureThatLasts Swap Promo

It is funny how I travel less when Kyle turned into his "toddler and super active" stage!  I don't stay out  under the sun as much as I used to!

Photo taken during my US trip

Since I'm staying mostly at home, I get more comments from friends on how much fairer I get!  And you'd think that is a huge compliment I've been waiting for?  Well, only I know how my skin condition is!  Yes, I look fair but my skin looks and feels dry as ever!  It is very embarrassing when my friend once mentioned how "white" my legs look!  When I looked closely, the "white" legs she saw was actually from skin flaking!  #CanYouRelate ?

I Wonder: Are You A Body Wash or Soap Gal?

I used to raise one eyebrow up (or shall I say, Tried to raise one eyebrow up) when my friends tell me they are Body Wash users, I mean...seriously... SOSYAL MO! 

But when I turned into a Blogger who does a lot of product reviews, I can't help but go to that route, that "evil" and sosyal na Body Wash route!  And guess what?  Once I did, well, I do look back to soaps still but wow!  My bathing experience is really amazing when I use body wash!  Let me tell you why....

• My very dry skin loves the extra moisture most body washes give.
• They really smell good and can seriously turn any mood to #GOOD !
• Scent stays longer than most soaps.
• Did I mention I feel really good?

 One beauty product that I easily "hit the pan", I would say, are body washes!  I finish one up in less than a month and I am actually looking forward to try other brands!

Recently, I got a package from my Sampleroom family to try out the new Olay Body Washes!  I've treid Olay soaps and they are surprisingly hydrating (considering they are soaps) so even if I have a couple of body washes inside my bathroom, I can't help but give one tube a try! (spell #ATAT)

Cover Girl + Olay Concealer Balm (Medium) Review

Covergirl, ah, the brand that brought me back to so much memories!  Some would say Maybelilne or L'Oreal, but for me, it was Covergirl that started it all!  (Thanks to the friendly SA years ago at SM Sta. Mesa branch)

Now I have to admit, I haven't tried any of their concealers and I never even thought they have one!  Not until when I ran out of my favorite "stick concealer" from Revlon, I was on the lookout for a similar "lipstick" type of concealer and found this!

Covergirl + Olay Concealer Balm

Initial Thoughts: Olay Natural White Bars

The road to flawless fair skin has been around for decades!  I used to laugh at my colleagues (when I worked part time in a distributing company that distributes whitening soap) when they react how painful it is to try to whiten their skin.

I don't need all the drama just to whiten my skin and in the first place, I don't like to lighten my skin!  Fast forward to today, I find myself using these whitening products like soaps and lotions NOT because I want to appear lighter and whiter than I am today but instead I want to even out my skin because being fair ain't easy when you have dark patches here and there!  (mas obvious pag maputi ka)

Thankfully, there are so many skincare products using natural whitening ingredients such as papaya and vitamin C which aids in "lightening" and brightening your skin minus the pain!  I recently tried Olay Natural White in Vitamin C.

Olay says ---

• It’s Triple Whitening System Exfoliates, brightens and evens skin tone, so you can get All-in-One Fairness
• Makes skin feel soft & smooth
• It contains skin cream ingredients from Olay, the world’s # 1 skincare brand
• Fresh & Clean Scent
• Help reveal your skin’s natural radiance and glow

Initial Thoughts: Olay Aquaction line

My fellow Bloggers would immediately point at me when you want someone who has dry skin.  Yes, I am the dry-skinned Blogger who literally has to slather my face with hydrating moisturizer night and day!

When I received Olay Aquaction line, I usually set skincare products aside as I am not the type who changes my skincare regimen in an instant.  But after reading the product description from the box...and the mere fact the name is called AQUACTION, I knew I had to give it a try.

And just recently, I was telling my fellow blogger friend Angela how my skin isn't as dry anymore.  I was telling her how much stress I'm getting and it must be the stress that's secreting more sebum ... I wish!  I realized...it was the Olay Aquaction line and mind you, I only used it for a couple of days!  

This is not a complete review but an initial thought post just in case you're interested to know if "PUMP PUMP BOUNCY SKIN" is indeed possible!

I got to try 3 out of 5 products from Aquaction ---

Olay Aquaction Intensive Treatment Mask

Olay Aquaction Hydration Gel

Olay Aquaction Sleeping Mask

September BDJ Box

"You Are the Fairiest of Them All"

That is what September BDJ Box is trying to tell everyone.  With this month's box, you will indeed feel like a princess with all the goodies perfect for pampering!

Excited to know the contents inside?

Something New: SM Beauty Box

How's your midday?  This is a quick post on what I recently got from SM!  It's the SM Beauty Box!  I am so excited to share this to you I immediately grabbed my camera and took shots!  Please forgive me for the unclear shots as I have an active baby (almost in tears out of boredom) next to me as I gave these products a well deserved shoot!  Yes, you guys are so important I have to share this news so you get to be armed and ready comes August!

What's inside this huge pink box?

AMW Reviews: Olay Body

I have been a soap user for almost all of my life!  Most bar soaps I've used strips off the natural oil from my skin thus my skin condition is dry and flaky.  Finding the right soap bar is difficult, though I prefer using them especially when I'm' on a rush!

Recently, I got Olay Bars from Olay Philippines and Yehey!  I was a bit hesitant as I've seen and used so many bar soaps in the past that has "moisturizing" written all over but none of them actually work!  But a test is a test, they smell too good to resist anyways!  I can always depend on my trustee Neutrogena Body Oil after shower.

Olay Body says ---

3 Variants:

OLAY Age Defying Bar. Each bar is formulated with creamy, OLAY lather.

OLAY Fresh Reviving. It goes beyond cleansing, delivering OLAY deep moisturizers to the skin while helping to wash away dry surface cells. So after you dry off, all that's left is skin that feels clean and revived.   

OLAY Ultra Moisture is specially formulated with creamy, OLAY lather and Shea Butter. It goes beyond cleansing, delivering OLAY deep moisturizers to the skin while helping to wash away dry surface cells. So after you dry off, all that's left is skin that feels clean and petal soft.

AMW says (for Ultra Moisture and Age Defying)---

Pros

• scent is really good and addictive, not too strong
• skin feels smooth and moisturized
• can actually survive without body lotion
• does not melt quickly, one 120g bar soap lasts for almost a month (daily use)
• body feels clean without dryness
• texture is really smooth
• inexpensive

Cons

• none at the moment

Overall

I've finished up the Age Defying and Ultra Moisture variant and both did not fail me. I will actually start using the Fresh Reviving variant tomorrow.  What I like about the Olay soaps is that they don't melt fast as compared to other moisturizing soaps and they are very smooth on skin.  Texture feels like butter and it does makes my skin soft to touch even without body oil or lotion.

Of course at this early stage, the Age Defying can't be seen instantly, as the effect of most products come in long term.  But I have a positive feeling with this :D

Tips

• if your skin is super dry or gets exposed to air conditioner the whole day, always follow up with your favorite body lotion 
• do not forget to use sunscreen to protect your skin
• use a soap dish and make sure to keep it dry AT ALL TIMES to prevent soap bars from melting fast
• alternate all 3 variants so you won't feel bored with the scent of your body soap
• if you plan to use this for your face:  test it on one cheek only to see if you are allergic to this, sensitive skin can be allergic to the fragrance of the soap
• you can store the soap bars in your dresser for your clothes to smell clean and  good!

Will I repurchase?
Yes!

Where to purchase and how much?
At leading department stores and groceries for Php45.00 (approx $1.00) for 120g bar.

After finishing the 3 variants from Olay, I actually have other bar soaps to try and finish up!
But this product did not fail!
Have you tried this bar soap?  Like it?  Hate it?

Keep smilin'

Stay happy!

Get Your Olay Total Effects Trial NOW!

** Thanks to the Beautynomist Sophie for this heads up...

Thank goodness one company do understand the importance of trial/sample!
I swear! Almost all my HG products I've found by using their samples or trial packs!
So...to my Philippine readers? Yay to all of us!

Olay is giving away one free Total Effects 8g sample and one P100 voucher to each person who registers over at the Olay Official Website.
You get to choose which Watson's branch you're going to take this freebie!
I chose mine at the SM Megamall!
I got mine! Now it's your turn!
What are you waiting for?

Smile and
CLICK CLICK!