Happy Skin Express Gel Polish Review (Dreamer)

These days, I've been addicted to gel-like or gel-shine polishes. I don't really feel like getting actual gel polishes on my nails because from what other people told me, they cost a little bit more and requires a little bit more effort to maintain the polish and your natural nails as well. About a month ago, I found this at BeautyBar in Shangri-la and decided to test it out.

Price: PHP 249

2-in-1 base + color

No UV lamp needed

I actually feel bad that you guys are seeing my nails before I actually get it cleaned at the Salon, (I'll get it cleaned in 2 weeks or so I promise!).


Description Breakdown:

• ✔  - First of all, I cannot compare this to an actual gel polish because I personally never tried it, but I would say, this product isn't exactly chip-resistant, but it does last longer than a regular nail polish on my nails. I chip my nail polish a day (or even in an hour sometimes) after I get it done or if I do it myself. I felt like this nail polish felt thick once it fully dried so it could last me a few more days than what a normal, drugstore polish would offer. There are some few chips here and there but it would usually be at small spots on my nails. The shine finish does last long on the nails even if it's been a few days since I applied this nail polish on it. 
• ✖ - This really varies on how "quick" your quick is. For mine quick is like 15-20 minutes max. I often check my nails 15 minutes after I applied nail polish and for me, this polish did appear dry, but it still easily smudged when I lightly brushed it into a clothing piece or if I need to grab something, and it took me 30 minutes or so for this polish to really be dry on my nails even if I didn't put a thick layer on. Note that I didn't do anything special to get it to dry on my nails, I didn't use a UV lamp (because I don't own one and it doesn't need one as it claims), so I just let it air dry as I watch some youtube videos. This really doesn't have much difference with a regular drugstore nail polish in terms of drying speed for me. 
• ✔ - I'm the type of person who has naturally weak nails, I break them almost every second of the day. I wouldn't say that my nails turned uber strong when I used this polish, but my nails did not feel as weak as it did when I didn't have this nail polish on. My nails felt like it kinda thickened and it doesn't bend as much, so most likely, it's due to the Hydrolyzed Keratin ingredient in this nail polish. 

Additional Notes:

The smell of it is pretty much the same as any other nail polish, although it isn't as strong or what I would call would stink up the room, you could only smell it if you lean really close on the product. The 1st layer is a little bit thin so I tend to put at least 2 layers on each nail. The finish is shiny that it resembles a gel polish finish. The stains on the skin left by the nail polish can easily be removed by putting some acetone on a cotton swab and lightly rubbing it on the skin around the nail. The removal of this polish on my nails doesn't need any special technique or whatsoever, just the regular cotton pad and acetone and it's gone. Overall the color and the finish does look great, I do like those two factors a lot.


Honestly, PHP 249 is a bit steep for a nail polish price if what you're considering is the overall nail polish look. This nail look could be achieved with a similar shade on a regular polish and a really shiny top coat. The thing that I am liking about this product is the Hydrolyzed Keratin ingredient added to it. Like I said I have weak nails that break on a daily basis, so I need all the help that I could get.







*I am in no way sponsored by any of the companies or brands mentioned. I am stating my own opinion based on how I observed my experience using the product. 

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Beauty Run at Watsons & Beauty Bar

I don't know about you, but for whatever reason whenever I'm out at the mall and doing some shopping, I always leave out the necessities aka basic things that I need everyday. So, I made a beauty necessities run at Watsons and Beautybar a few days ago. I then realized that I want to share what I typically get whenever I go to these shops, plus the new things I wanted to try out.

• Carmex

PHP 149.75 Watsons

I recently emptied out my Carmex lip balm which I use whenever I feel like my lips are chapping. It does its job whenever I put it on, it moisturizes and helps my lips restore itself to make it look and feel smooth. It's an easy solution for me whenever I'm having a hard time managing my chapped lips, so I just keep grabbing a new one whenever I empty the one I've been using. 

• Kojie san sleeveless READY deodorant

PHP 99.50 Watsons

I haven't really found a staple deodorant that I like or stick to, so I'm just trying out new things here and there. That time at Watsons was the first time that I saw this product, I'm familiar with the brand because I always see their soap but I never saw a deodorant. It says that this deodorant offers anti-perspirant, anti-bacterial, lightening and has 48 hours odor and wetness protection. This product smells a lot like soap that isn't overpowering and it feels lightweight on my underarms, like it isn't sticky at all. I would have to test it out a few more times to see if I really like it.

• Gatsby Powdered Oil Clear paper

Watsons

This one I feel like is a no brainer for me. I depend a lot on my oil control sheets every time I'm out of the house. I usually go for the normal oil control sheets of Gatsby but when I saw this which is the "powdered" version, I just wanted to try it out. From what I experienced based on the three times I used it, it isn't powdery but when I pat this on my face, it looks like I applied a really small amount of baby powder and it prevented my face from getting oily again for a few hours. So far I like it but then again I would have to test it out more just to make sure.

• St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Cleanser

PHP 199 Watsons

I was browsing through the face section of Watsons because I needed a new cleanser but I wanted to try something new and I was surprised to see that St. Ives has a cleanser. I didn't hesitate to get it for myself because the St. Ives apricot scrub makes my skin look and feel really smooth. When I got home, I did realize that this cleanser has some beads in it and it says on the back of the product that it is recommended to use for 3-4 days in a week, so this wouldn't really be an everyday cleanser. I've used it once and so far it made my skin really smooth, but I'll be using it a bit more just to make sure if I do like it and decide when I'll be using it.

• Penshoppe Sexy Shimmer Body Spray

PHP 199 Watsons

 Okay, so maybe this wasn't really a necessity but I like taking random photos and I have some ideas that may involve me needing this product. I have yet to try it and I'm excited to see how it will turn out in photos and in person. Nothing really much to say about this other than I am kind of obsessing with shimmery, dewy looks so we'll see if this product would let me achieve that. 

• Hollywood Fashion Tape

PHP 650 BeautyBar 

I am always struggling with my clothes not staying in place. I have used countless of pins, hair ties or whatever I need just to keep my clothes from revealing too much than what I have wanted. I get that I could just change and wear something different if I have such problems with the clothes that I wear, but sometimes I just need or really want to wear something and feel 100% confident and safe in it. I feel that this would help with that, so I picked it up and I will make a more in depth review of this so stay tuned for that one. 

• Happy Skin Express Gel Polish

PHP 249 BeautyBar 

In the past few months, I have not changed my nail color. I always choose my 2 go-to nail colors and I feel like I wanted a change of shade so I tested some gel nail polishes from Happy skin because they look really pretty and can be used without having to have a UV lamp. The shade I picked is Dreamer and it still kinda looks similar to what I typically wear, but still different. Also making a review of this soon but here's a sneak peek:

What are your go-to beauty necessities that you always pick up and restock on?


Disclaimer: I am in no way sponsored by any brands or companies mentioned in this post.

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Cathy Doll Picks!

Lately, I've been discovering more and more products that I love from Cathy Doll. I always loved using Korean products because they probably give the best results for my skin. Whether we admit it or not, Koreans (atleast, most of whom I've seen) has amazing skin, so why not try out products that are Korean inspired?


To start things off, I am in no way sponsored or have been sent these products to review or test out. I purchased all of them with my own money due to curiosity and in need of a new skin care product and makeup.

• Acne Solution Serum Foam Cleanser

PHP 299 at SM Megamall 

I've been using this product the longest out of all of these so I could definitely say that it has worked wonders for me. I started out using the sachet version because a) I wanted to test out the product first if it would irritate my skin or not and b) because they didn't sell the larger or tube version at first. I bought like 3 of the sachets to use for 2 and a half weeks just to see a hint of results, by then I felt that my skin has been feeling and looking okay with this and at the same time, they started selling the bigger version so, I immediately bought it. The saleslady that was assisting me at that time told me that this is a cleanser and toner in one, so I wouldn't have to worry about using an additional product as a toner after using this.   

• So Happy Berry Yogurt Peeling Gel

PHP 499 at Robinsons Department Store in Robinsons Antipolo 

This was actually a product that I was kind of iffy about buying due to its price and how fast I'll probably go through it. So again, I tried using the sachet version which I bought from the same place, it costed about PHP 49 (more or less) for a single one. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the sachet is good for one use only since it doesn't exactly have a seal and it doesn't contain a whole lot of product inside. 

So, when using it, you apply it all over your face by doing a circular motion with your hands. This tends to remove some inactive skin cells from your face (you will actually see and feel it falling), and this happens quite quickly so I'd rather you do it on the sink in your bathroom to avoid the mess it's going to make. After that, you just rinse it and your done. After using it, you would notice that your skin looks brighter and feels smoother. I would say that it is worth the price since you only need a small amount every time and I only use it twice or a maximum of 3 times a week depending on how my skin feels.

• 99% Aloe Vera & Snail Serum Soothing Gel

PHP 199 at Robinsons Department Store in Robinsons Antipolo 

I'm not exactly sure if this is a new release, but I haven't really seen this before. If I did, I probably skipped it due to the fact that snails actually give me the creeps but hey, curiosity lead me into buying this when I first saw it. But anyway, my skin has been going through a weird phase wherein sometimes I have really oily skin, but then a few weeks later, I'll suffer from very dry skin. To be honest, I don't know why, probably due to my diet or lack of sleep, I've yet to find out. Due to my experience with the 2 skin care products from this line, I decided to browse through the Cathy doll stall again and I saw this which wasn't really there when I last visited. It says that this product can be used as a skin moisturizer anytime your skin is feeling dry. So, that's what got me interested, since I needed a decent moisturizer and my skin was definitely feeling dry at that time. Also, the price isn't all that bad compared to the last 2 that I bought. I now use this for my face all the time because I could actually feel that it's working, like my skin is definitely moisturized and the stickiness of this product after putting it on your face lasts only a few minutes until it sets in and gives a smooth finish. I only use about 2 pea size amounts on my face so, I guess this would last me a little bit longer than expected.

• AA Matte Powder Cushion Oil Control SPF 50 PA +++

PHP 449 at SM Megamall

*Price not exactly sure since I keep seeing different prices online, but yes I only bought it for 449 a few weeks ago.  

This is the newest product that I decided to try on their line. If you're a beauty junkie like I am, you've probably heard of this cushion foundation that almost everybody is trying out. Seriously though, it is quite a trend since it's practically a foundation, concealer and powder all in one because it has coverage and sets by itself. Also, it has SPF which means you don't have to worry about putting on sunscreen especially when you're a person who is practically always on the go. I have been researching about good cushion foundations and have decided on trying out some other brand, though I was going back and forth if I should buy it or not especially when the price range is above a thousand pesos (what if I won't like it right?). I again, browsed through the Cathy Doll stall to see more products that they have and I stumbled upon this. First of all, I like that it said Matte on it because my skin honestly handles being dewy on its own most of the time so, matte has been a perfect choice for me. It also says that it is an AA Powder cushion. On the box, it says that this product includes the 9 effects of AA which are auto aura, whitening, moisturizing, covering blemish, cooling, sun protection, oil control, quick step using, tone correcting, that are all of which, what most of us are looking for when buying products similar to this. Second, the price was what I considered reasonable since comparing it to the other brand that I first saw, it is a lot cheaper.  

Top: No makeup, Bottom: With AA Cushion Powder (Just used my Cathy Doll Eyelash Curler, more details below)

So, I tried it and I have to say that it covered all of my insecurities and problems on my face. I have spent less time doing my makeup due to this because it means less time for blending, concealing and setting. It didn't fade throughout the day as I feared that it would, but even if it did, I wouldn't really have a problem of reapplying it since it doesn't crease or have signs of product build up. I also noticed that I don't feel my face getting all greased up in the middle of the day when I use this, so I could definitely say that this is perfect for people who has oily skin. 

• Eyelash Curler

PHP 179 at Robinsons Department Store in Robinsons Antipolo.

Okay, I get it, some of you may think that Eyelash curlers are easy to find since they're practically everywhere which are much cheaper or more expensive. Hear me out, I've been using cheap eyelash curlers for awhile and I always experience pressing into my eyelashes too much that my lashes either breaks or falls out. I never really looked into that too much, but I decided to pick this one up since I thought that I may need a new one since I lost my extra curler a few weeks ago. I could definitely tell the difference from my PHP 18 eyelash curler that I got at a store near my place. This one from Cathy Doll felt like I wasn't pressing into my lashes too hard and I didn't need to do it over and over again for my lashes to follow. Another addition to that is, I haven't experienced my lashes falling out like I've witnessed from using my cheap curlers. This also includes one replacement rubber pad for when you want to change the ones that are already placed into the curler. 

What are your favorite products from Cathy Doll that you would recommend me to try out? Don't forget to tell me what other lines of products that you're interested for me to give my top picks on down on the comment box.

Check out more of Cathy Doll HERE.

Disclaimer: These are my personal picks from this brand that are based on what I've tried so far and what I would actually recommend people to test out themselves. But please do remember that our skins are different, some things will work for me and maybe not so much for you and vice versa, so I would also advise you to do your research first if you are curious about a certain product. 

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Mini Haul [Drugstore & Etude House]

Today me and my brother had an unexpected errand and after we were done with that, we thought why not go to the mall since we are already going that way anyway. So we went to SM Masinag and just walked around and kinda picked up some things we need. 

At the Department Store:

So SM is having a Mid Year Clearance Sale so most of the good stuff are all sold out. Kinda broke my heart to know that I wasn't able to grab a Revlon 24 hour Color Stay Foundation that was on sale so I just got my BYS Kohl Eyeliner Pencil in the color 31 Sky Blue. (P169 or $3.75) I picked up this color because I've been looking for something that would be kind of the same with Hanna Marin's eye make up (on the show Pretty Little Liars). I seem to notice that her eye liner came abit blue rather than black at some parts and decided I wanna try out that look, so I got this and hopefully it'll be an awesome product. Review about this product shall be made soon!

Etude House:

Ofcourse whether I deny it or not, it is pretty obvious that I love this store so much. I repurchased my Color My Brows (Eyebrow Gel) in the color #2 (P378 or $8.39) because I always use this on the go and it lasts me all day. Have been repurchasing this countless of times already and I should probably try out other eyebrow gel brands which I will pretty soon, but for now I just always tend to reach for this product whenever I do my brows so yeap an all time favorite for me.

Another one is a manicure, #25 from the Play collection. (P128 or $2.84) I raved so much about my #42 on (It was on my May Monthly Favorites HERE) and I hope that this will do me wonders too. It did kinda remind me of my Stila Liquid Lipstick in Patina since it is almost the same shade, Muave pink color, really beautiful.

I was tempted to buy some more stock for my Tea tree face mask (P58 or $1.29) that I've always been using a lot but I decided to just finish up what I currently have for now so as I was paying for my items, the lady said that I have a free mask and then I saw it was the Tea Tree Mask. I felt like I jumped from the inside because it was such a nice coincidence. I made a review about this product HERE.

Another Free product:

This was from a magazine that I bought for my brother and it is the Syoss Moisture Intensive Care Shampoo and Conditioner, 2 pieces of 10 ml each. I always walk past this product whenever I shop for a new shampoo because I haven't really seen that much reviews about it. But now, since I got these babies, I might as well try it and who knows they might end up to be a holy grail product.

So those are the products that I got today and it was actually very budget friendly compared to my past craziness at the mall, I'm a shopaholic, I'm not gonna lie. I'm really excited to try most of them out and maybe be added to my list on "must repurchase when it's all out". Hit the comment section below if any of you guys have already tried these products and did it work great or not for you and also if you got any recommendations for products that are much better or worth to try, I love it when you guys do that!

Thanks for reading! Until the next blog.

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