Farmstay Grape Stem Cell Whitening Ample

Hello dear readers! Here is another review from me, this time, from a Korean brand called Farmstay. I bought this product last May through BeautyMnl because of all the raves I have read over the internet and from fellow bloggers. I also want to lighten post inflammatory marks left by a recent bout with adult acne. 

My order was neatly packed and arrived the next day. I paid Php 690 plus the shipping fee.

                                                                                                                                                                               

How my right cheek looks like after a month of religiously using the ampoule. Some have lightened but some are still reddish.

The effects are gradual so consistency is key. I have more marks on my left cheek than on my right. I have yet to see the full whitening effect of the ampoule.

What It Claims: 

Due to highly-enriched texture, it softly applies on the skin and grape callus extract and whitening ingredient, Niacinamide, organizes the skin texture, provides an elastic and moisturising solution to manage the time of the skin ages and to make healthier skin.

Pros: 

• You get more than what you pay for. The bottle is heavy and full and may last for three to four months with everyday use.
• The bottle is a dark-colored glass with a matching glass dropper. This will prevent the contents from undergoing oxidation so as not to lose potency.
• It has a milky and watery consistency and leaves the skin smooth and soft upon absorption.
• It did not break me out.
• The scent is mild and reminds me of fresh grapes. This is good for people who are sensitive to strong scents.
• My skin looks bright when I wake up.
• It can be used alone or in combination with a night cream for added effect.
• I can use it under my eyes and on top of my lids and it doesn't sting.

Cons:

• Effect is gradual so consistency is key. 
• I only use this at night 'cause I observed that I get small whiteheads when I use this in the morning.
• It is always out of stock. 
• Available only in selected Ayala malls and online stores.

My Verdict: 

I give this a 4/5. I may repurchase when I run out of this but as of now, I am still on the hunt for a night cream or serum which is much more effective and works faster.

I will continue to finish the contents of my first bottle and will give an update. Ciao!


Update as of July 14, 2017:

As of today, I already finished my bottle of whitening ampoule until the last drop. It really helped in making my skin brighter upon waking up and also made the pimple marks appear lighter. But it also gave me whiteheads when used at daytime especially when I sweat a lot. However, if your main concerns are acne marks and dull skin, I can recommend this.It also works for the under eyes.




Disclaimer: This review is based on my experience and not a paid one. I bought the products with my own money and tried each product for at least a month before making a review. Everybodys skin is different. There are products that I love which might not work for some. Just take it with a grain of salt. To each his own.

Aloe Vera Gel Brands Review (Mumuso, Farmstay, Nature Republic)

Hello everyone! Given our hot and humid weather, body gels and moisturisers are on demand. Personally, I am not a fan of sticky and greasy lotions that leave sticky films or residues on skin. I also have sensitive skin so I am wary of using skincare products with lots of harmful chemicals. However, the skincare junkie in me itches to try out new skincare products all the time, one after the other, hoping that these might work on me. Aloe Vera Gels are now selling like pancakes and of all the brands in the market today, I have tried these three, Mumuso, Nature Republic, and Farmstay. I have finished one tub of each so here's my review.

Mumuso Moisturising Aloe Vera Gel 92%

I bought this 300mL tub for Php 99.00 at Mumuso, Market, Market branch.

Ingredients: Deionized water, Glycerol, Propanediol, Aloe Vera, Trehalose, Xanthan Gum, Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol (Provitamin B5), D-Alpha Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Allantoin, Methylisothiazolinone.

Pros:

• It did not irritate my sensitive skin. I apply this immediately after bath while skin is still damp. I use it all over my body but not on my face.
• You get more than what you pay for with its 300mL tub.
• It contains hyaluronic acid to moisturize the skin.
• It is easily absorbed and leaves a matte and non-sticky finish.
• It has a refreshing effect.
• It is very cheap and effective.
• The scent is mild and dissipates quickly. It reminds me of cucumber.
• It has the least ingredients, the lesser the better. 
• It soothes my eczema when I have flare-ups.

Cons:

• It is always out of stock.  

My Verdict: 

I give it a 5/5. It is the cheapest one that I can find and also works for me. I already hoarded when I saw that Mumuso re-stocked on this. :-)

Farmstay Aloe Vera Moisture Soothing Gel 100%

The first products that I've tried from this brand are the Snail Gel and the Grape Stem Cell Whitening Ample. That time, I bought the snail one instead because the aloe was out of stock. So when I chanced upon this on the shelf and while my favorite Mumuso was still out of stock, I decided to try this.

I bought this at Market, Market Department Store for Php 290.00.

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Carbomer, Polysorbate 80, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Witch Hazel Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Althaea Rosea Root Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance.

Pros:

• Free of parabens, mineral oil, benzophenone, and artificial color
• Just like Mumuso, this one has a mild scent which I like.
• Can be bought online and in selected department stores in Ayala malls.
• It is easily absorbed and feels light on the skin.
• It has the lightest consistency among the three aloe gels maybe because of the alcohol content.

Cons:

• It is the most expensive among the three aloe gels that I have tried.
• It contains witch hazel extract which I think I have sensitivity to, so I don't use this often as it makes my skin itchy at times.
• It contains added fragrance.
• Aloe Vera Gel wasn't the first ingredient in the list so why put 100%? Maybe they are pertaining to the 100% natural aloe vera that was used in the product? This one confuses me...

My Verdict: 

I give this a 4/5. I will only buy this if I run out of Mumuso Aloe Gel.

Nature Republic Soothing and Moisture Aloe Vera 92%

I bought this at Landmark, Makati for Php 245.00




Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract (92%), Alcohol, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, 1,2-hexanediol, Polyglutamic Acid, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Extract, Melissa Officinalis Extract, Carbomer, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Water, Parfum, Disodium EDTA.

Pros:

• Aloe Gel is the first ingredient in the list, so I assume that it has the most amount of Aloe Vera compared to Mumuso and Farmstay.
• It is readily available in malls and online.
• It has a cooling effect after application mainly due to the spearmint content.
• It also has sodium hyaluronate to moisturize the skin.

Cons:

• It irritated my sensitive skin. I developed itchy patches on my skinfold (left arm) and behind the knee.
• It has the strongest fragrance among the three.
• It has the longest drying time and there is still a sticky feeling after a few minutes.

My Verdict: 

I give it a 2/5. Although there are a lot of raves on this brand of Aloe Gel, every skin is different. Maybe I am not "hiyang" on this one or perhaps there is an ingredient/s that triggered my eczema.


Update as of July 17, 2017:

I already finished my third tub of Mumuso Aloe Gel. I tried using it on my hair instead of my usual conditioner because I have read in a blog that it also works on her hair. Sadly, it made my hair stiff and dry after rinsing it with water. But all in all, it works best for me as a whole body moisturiser. I will keep repurchasing.

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored review. I bought these products with my own money and tried each one for at least a month before sharing my thoughts and experience. Everybodys skin is different. This may work for some and not for others. Just take it with a grain of salt. To each his own.