Pili Ani is the first Filipino skincare line which is developed by mother and daughter duo Rosalina and Mary Jane Tan. This skincare line that the pili nut as its primary ingredient. The pili oil has been a part of the locals for the needs of skin problems, with few examples of farmers whose 10-year-old psoriases was cleared when he started working on the Pili farm. The pili pulp contains a lot of beta carotene, as well as vitamins A and E which makes it a natural antioxidant. From amongst the five skin care products under the brand, I was sent Pili Ani Natural Radiance Facial Moisturizer Cream (USD $125 excl taxes) and Pili Ani Intense Hydrating Facial Oil(USD $155 excl taxes) for testing and review purposes. The products use pili and elemi oils mixed with active ingredients that aim to solve various skin concerns like dullness, wrinkling, dryness, and sagging. The packaging as you see in the pictures is very beautiful and luxurious. The shape of the jar and bottle is very unique and the colors work very well with the natural and brightening aspects of the brand.
Pili Ani Natural Radiance Facial Moisturizer Cream is a creamy moisturizer which is formulated with a luxurious blend of Pili Ani’s pure Pili and Elemi Oils. Pili and Elemi Oils are clinically proven to be effective vitamins and superfood extracts. This moisturizer cream revitalizes the complexion for an intrinsically lit from within glow. The key ingredients in this product are Pure Pili Oil, Pure Elemi Oil, Vitamin C and White Truffle Extract.
Pili is prized in Asian Pacific region for centuries for its skin nourishing properties. Pili oil is derived from the Pili tree’s pulp and hand pressed to preserve its efficacy. It is rich in essential fatty acids, amino acids, and flavonoids that provide intense hydration and antioxidant benefits along with reducing inflammation. The Elemi oil in the ingredients is derived from the pili tree’s bark and acts as a gentle antibacterial that balances skin’s oil levels and supports firmer, tighter looking skin.
The powerful duo of Pili Oil and Elemi Oil blends seamlessly into the skin for nourishing and lightweight hydration. The papaya extract, white truffle extract, and Centella Asiatica are other key ingredients which form a cocktail to work to inhibit melanin production to improve skin tone and increase overall brightness. The results are smooth, even and radiant skin. It is advised to be gently massaged over face, neck and decollete to lighten uneven skin tone, dark spots, and hyperpigmentation. It is best suited to be used in your night skin care routine.
Pili Ani Intense Hydrating Facial Oil is a natural skin conditioning facial oil that deeply absorbs into the skin leaving it soft and smooth while providing a healthy, natural glow. The key ingredients of this oil are Pure Pili Oil, Pure Elemi Oil, and Vitamin E. The Intense Hydrating Oil boasts an abundance of natural antioxidants and Vitamin E that help protect skin by limiting the exposure of free radicals, helping reduce the signs of aging. The Pili Oil has a high level of hydration and moisturizing properties. It is also known as an anti-aging aid, anti-bacterial and supports firmer, stronger and tighter looking skin. It normalizes the skins oil balance and reduces overly oily skin. It is an anti-inflammatory and has a very balancing, uplifting aroma. The Elemi Oil supports stronger, tighter looking skin. It is advised to be gently massaged over face, neck and decollete to hydrate the skin.
My overall thoughts about these two products are very positive. I have been using them during my night skincare regime since over 3 weeks. Both the products do provide a natural glow to the skin, not the shine but the lit from within glow. Pili Ani Natural Radiance Facial Moisturizer Cream is a nice addition to my night time moisturizers and delivers very well to the claim of providing natural radiance. My skin does look supple, bright and glowy in the morning after using this moisturizer at night. I believe this is a nice treatment moisturizer that does help long term with anti-aging and skin firming. I am reaching my mid-thirties soon and this is a nice addition to my growing anti-aging squad.
The Pili Ani Intense Hydrating Facial Oil first seemed to me just a hydrating oil and that too intense hydrating, means congestion acne for my combination acne prone skin. But no, I read about the inflammatory benefits of the ingredients and I felt safe to use this on my face. And yes, I did not experience any congestion or acne after using this, but my skin felt more supple and brighter, with no new acne. I am a fan of oils and this is a keeper in my face oils collection. Both the products did not leave any residue and never irritated or congested my skin, despite being hydrating. I have been using both during the night and very happy with the results.
Have you heard of the Pili nut and its benefits? Which product would you like to try from this skincare line?
Media samples kindly provided, all opinions are my own
Chemical exfoliators have been a part of my skin care routine since almost last four years and I am very much satisfied with the results I get from them. I have used quite a few chemical exfoliators from various mid to high-end brands which I have posted about on my Instagram a while ago and I am planning to do a more thorough review of those in coming posts. The Chemical exfoliator comes into my skin care routine after cleansing and before a hydrating mist or toner.
For a gentle exfoliator, I can use it in my morning routine but for something that is not very gentle and does some good work when applied on the skin, I prefer to use it during my night time skin care routine. I bought Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner (CAD $38 excl taxes for 125ml) to add to my ever growing arsenal of skin care products. It has been in my skin care stash since more than a year and I use it twice a week in my night time skincare routine.
Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner is described as a fresh, fluid exfoliating lotion that brightens, smoothes and softens skin. It contains tamarind fruit acids to eliminate impurities and dead skin cells and boost cellular renewal and white nettle extract to tighten pores. It can be applied to the clean dry face and neck with a cotton pad avoiding the eye area and then followed with a moisturizing product which can be a hydrating toner, hydrating serum or a moisturizer. The product is packaged in a white plastic bottle with a hole on the top to moisten the cotton pad.
From the collection of acids I have, I have assigned days when I will be using this in a week. I have tried using this every night but I feel it makes my skin more sensitive and a bit dry. So I follow Clarins’s advice and use this twice or thrice in a week. This does make a nice difference to the clarity, softness, and brightness of my skin. When I use this, my skin is softer and clear in the morning.
Using this exfoliating toner as part of my skin care routine helps other products perform well too, like the serum or moisturizer I use after applying this toner, it absorbs better into the skin making it look brighter and glowy. It does contain Glycolic Acid (predominant), Salicylic Acid (a BHA) and Tartaric Acid (an AHA) but it is still gentle and does work without irritating the skin. It is suitable for all skin types as per the official website of Clarins and for my combination acne prone skin, it suits me well. Also, when I use an exfoliant in my skin care routine, I religiously use a sun protection during the day whether it is sunny, rainy or cloudy.
Do you use chemical exfoliants in your skin care routine? What is your favorite product from Clarins?
I have a sensitive scalp and it behaves very differently in different seasons for which I have tried and tested from few of the best luxury brands out there in the last few years. I have few favorites which performed well as compared to the hype around them and few of them which didn’t work well for me. I was a fan of this brand since I bought and used the Christophe Robin Regenerating Mask with Rare Prickly Pear Oil reviewed here. I bought Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt last year and I am a fan of this one too. I bought the small packaging (CAD $24 excl taxes for 2.7oz/75ml) to give it a try and then this full-size big packaging (CAD $67 excl taxes for 8.33oz) was the result of my love with the product.
Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt is described as a Purifying, Hydrating and soothing shampoo for sensitive scalps and oily roots. Sephora describes this as a purifying, moisturizing, and soothing scrub is the ideal detox treatment to remove product buildup and rebalance sensitive or oily scalps. It can also be used as a post-coloring treatment to relieve itchiness and remove chemical residues left on the scalp. Its original formula contains sea salt—a natural exfoliant—which eliminates impurities and supports natural blood circulation. The paste is enriched with a 100 percent plant-derived agent, which offers deep and long-lasting hydration to the scalp even after rinsing, leaving it soothed, rebalanced, and healthy. It is free of Paraben, Silicone, and colorants.
It is advised to be used once or twice a week and I have used this every week for two months. At first, this product seems very different and difficult to use but once you get started, it seems easy and worth when you see the results. The first things I liked about this product is the idea of scrub for the scalp, I do have a lot of buildup from the styling products or when I have dandruff, it is just a mess (i know it is not the right way to describe my own hair but that is true).
I wet my hair, take a small amount, almost a teaspoon of this into the palm of my hand and massage it on my scalp gently. Then I add a very small amount of water and continue to massage gently, it lathers very nicely. Keep in mind the lather does feel different on the hands than the lather from other shampoos and soaps. Then I rinse thoroughly, yes it does take quite an effort to have this all out of hair. I apply a conditioning treatment to the length and ends of my hair. I prefer to use Christophe Robin Regenerating Mask with Rare Prickly Pear Oil as they both work very well together. If not, any other conditioner works well with this. After rinsing the conditioner thoroughly, yes I am done. Just want to mention here that the smell of this product is very fresh and lemony which I like. If used alone without any conditioner afterward, you will feel the hair a bit dry as it is a purifying shampoo.
I have really liked the concept of a scalp and hair scrub and the after-results. My itchy, irritated and sensitive scalp feels calm, my dandruff stays at bay with regular use, and my hair does feel soft and shiny. This has been my second repurchase of this product and I hope to keep sticking to this one for my problem scalp. Also, I notice it does give a nice volume to hair which is a big yes for me.
If you are interested in reading my review about Christophe Robin Regenerating Mask with Rare Prickly Pear Oil, I have linked it in the first paragraph of this post. They do work well together and even separately. It is available for purchase at various international online merchandisers like Net-a-Porter and also at Sephora.
Have you tried a scrub for scalp? What do you use when your scalp is itchy, irritated or have product buildup?
I have been a lover of Vichy since some time now and the newest addition from the brand to my skincare routine is the products from the Vichy Normaderm range. If you are interested in reading more about the products I love from Vichy, I have linked them here and here. Just for your reference again if you are a new reader of my blog, I have a combination skin which is prone to hormonal congestion and that does leaves marks on my face. I try to take good care of my skin but once every month, nothing works and then I start looking for more options that may help my skin and congestion.
I had a facial appointment last month and my esthetician did a lot of extractions and few of them, she didn’t touch as they were tender, I was so clueless again whether it is the weather, hormones or just stress. She recommended me to use something with Salicylic acid and use light products for face avoiding the heavy balms and oils too. I know, I can’t live without face oils, I will use the light one, maybe just a few drops. For the cleansing balms, my Emma Hardie Balm is already finished and the backup is on the way. The Omorovicza Cleansing balm , I have already put in the back drawer until fall arrives.
This press package from Vichy came at the right time. I clicked the pictures of the products first and put them straight on my skincare shelf. I have been using the Vichy Products from their Normaderm range every morning since last one month and few times in the night routine too. I was sent Normaderm Deep Cleansing Gel ( CAD $19.95 excl taxes), Normaderm Skin Balance (CAD $19.95 excl taxes), Normaderm Corrective Anti Acne Treatment ( CAD $29.95 excl taxes), Normaderm Cleansing Mattifying Foam (CAD $19.95 excl taxes) and Mineralizing Thermal Water (CAD $13 excl taxes for full size).
Normaderm’s Purifying Cleansing Gel is formulated with LHA, salicylic and glycolic acid. Salicylic Acid unclogs and deeply cleanses the pores. Glycolic Acid allows gentle peeling and fights with the acne bacteria. LHS gently smoothes skin texture and stimulates skin renewal without irritating the skin. This is a part of the treatment for acne prone skin. It cleanses away excess sebum and impurities, without over drying the skin. It helps minimize the look of large pores, eliminates shine and reduces acne scars while fighting pimples & blackheads.
I am not a fan of foaming cleansers as I feel they dry out my skin but after reading about this range, I decided to give it a try and I am not disappointed. This is a nice gel cleanser and works very well to clean the skin without making it overly dry or giving any irritation. I have used it as a first as well as a second cleanser too sometimes. I did not notice any issues but I felt it worked very well at keeping my skin concerns at bay or it may be that I am using the full Normaderm range which is why it is more effective.
Normaderm Skin Balance moisturizing acne treatment is formulated for oily-acne prone skin. This is a hydrating anti-shine aquagel which mattifies skin, reduces the size of large pores and provides a day-long fresh and clean skin sensation. This is a very lightweight gel and I have been using daily after cleansing and before the Normaderm Corrective Anti-Acne Treatment which is described next in this post. It sinks into the skin fairly quickly and is the perfect base to start moisturizing and then on to the makeup.
Normaderm Corrective Anti-Acne Moisturizing Treatment is formulated with Salicylic Acid and LHA to help minimize large pores, eliminate shine and reduce acne scars while fighting pimples & blackheads. Phe Resorcinol in this formulation combined with exfoliating LHA, reduces acne scars thanks to its de-pigmentating properties. Air Licium is another main ingredient which is an ultra-light aerogel, it helps reduce sebum production and minimizes large pores giving the skin a soft focus mattifying finish. I use this after the Normaderm Skin Balance moisturizing acne treatment and they both do work well with each other. Both these products, i use it on my face and neck area avoiding the eye area.
Normaderm Cleansing anti-shine Mattifying Foam cleanser is suitable for oily, acne-prone, sensitive skin. It cleanses the excess sebum and impurities and mattifies skin. The formula fights pimples, whiteheads, and blackheads. The results are soft and clean skin without over drying and irritated skin. I do not have an oily skin but combination skin, I was not much impressed with this mattifying foam as I am more into the clean, hydrated and dewy skin. Moreover, my skin does not produce a lot of oil that may give a shine to the skin but it is more of hormonal acne which is always my main concern to keep it in control. For the time I have used this cleanser, I did feel it mattifies the skin and would be perfect for oily acne-prone skin types.
Mineralizing Thermal Water is a refreshing mineralized thermal water that is perfect for either a little hydration kick to the skin or for a mid-day refresher in a hot day. I have had this little bottle in my bag since I received this, it feels so refreshing and alive. It has been very calming to the skin when I am traveling or if I am outdoors. It imparts a very pretty glow to the skin.
All the products I talked about in this post are hypoallergenic. I am glad I tried these products from the Vichy Normaderm range and I do feel the difference in my skin in terms of control over my existing and new acne, a great savior for my summer skin.
What are your go to products when your skin is behaving badly? Do you have any favorites when you have a breakout or congested skin?
Thomas Carlyle “Tom” Ford is an American fashion designer, film director, screenwriter and film producer. He gained fame as the creative director at Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. In 2006, Ford launched his own “Tom Ford” label. And after that, he has been everywhere, he is loved for everything he does in his line. Tom Ford White Patchouli is a fragrance created by Tom Ford in cooperation with a perfumer of the house of Givaudan. I bought this perfume a few months back and is my first perfume from this line.
The perfume is a mix of white flowers, coriander, peony and bergamot as top notes, Rose, Jasmine and Ambrette as middle notes, Patchouli, Incense and Woody notes as the base. This fragrance is described as “With its sensuous heart of patchouli, Tom Ford White Patchouli is surrounded by sleek wood notes with luxurious elegant white flowers. The Modern Fragrance with Retro-Classic Influence is a Sophisticated Interpretation of Bohemian Chic.”
First of all the packaging of this fragrance, as you can see in the pictures, is in a very beautiful heavy white glass bottle with a golden plate having the brand name engraved on it. There is also a golden string around the top which looks very elegant on white. This fragrance is a very classic everyday fragrance that can be an approachable option for people who want a patchouli fragrance but are not looking for candy. I can’t think of many other fragrances that provide this option.
It is a beautifully balanced between tradition and modernity. It is a strong floral in a nice way and can be referenced as Fresh, Chic, Subtle, Sensuous, Captivating and Exotic. The longevity of this fragrance on my skin is over 7 hours which is pretty good. It is perfect for all weathers. Again, the combination of the patchouli with white flowers is in a way that does smell elegant and sophisticated and not very girly. It is classified as a women’s fragrance but after using this I think it should be classified as unisex.
This EDP retails for CAD $160 excl taxes for 50ml which I bought and the other option is 100ml for CAD $224 excl taxes. It is available at Sephora, The Hudon’s Bay, Holt Renfrew and other major retailers.
Do you like patchouli fragrances? What is your favorite floral perfume?