Farmstay Escargot Intensive Eye Cream

It is said that eyes are the windows to our soul. But how do we maintain its youthful look without the crow's feet, dark circles, and eyebags? This is where eye creams come into play. We apply moisturisers on our face yet we neglect the sensitive areas near the eyes. I am not much into moisturisers but I always make it a habit to slather on eye creams. Just recently, I ran out of my favorite eye cream, which is the Retinol X Anti-aging Eyelift, and I checked all Beauty Bar branches but it is out of stock (sighs)...Anyway, I looked for an alternative everywhere and searched the net for recommendations until I came across this eye cream. 

ESCARGOT, meaning edible snail, is the star in this Intensive Eye Cream from Farmstay. The slime or mucus secreted by these little mollusks is said to contain a potent combination of elastin, proteins, anti-microbials, copper peptides, hyaluronic acid, and glycolic acid, which are known to battle acne, fade scars and pigmentation, and plump the skin, among others.But is it worth the hype, especially when we apply it under our eyes?

I bought this at Metro Market, Market for Php 690.

Unboxing!

The jar is gold in color, fancy and sleek! But heavy, too.

Apart from the jar cover, there is also an extra plastic lid to prevent spillage.

Description:

Functional cosmetic which improves wrinkles. It contains the edible snail extract from clean region, and it gives minimum stimulus on a tender eye rim. Also, it gives tension on skin, prevents it from dryness, and keeps it moist and light.

Ingredients:

Water, Glycerin, Mineral Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Microcrystalline Wax, Polysorbate 60, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Sorbitansesquioleate, Lillum Tigrinum Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Extract, Magnolia Kobus Bark Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Propylparaben, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, CI 19140, CI 15985, Snail Secretion Filtrate(300mg), Fragrance.

How to Use:

Take it with a small amount. In addition, you put several dots and absorb. (This was written in the box). Confusing, right? So what I do is to take an ample amount once (no double dipping to avoid contamination) using my ring finger and tap gently under my eyes and on my eyelids. I only use this before bedtime.

Pros:

• The consistency is like a gel but in cream form. It leaves a cool sensation upon application.
• The cream is easily absorbed and does not sting my sensitive eyes.
• Eye puffiness and tiredness is diminished despite only a few hours of sleep.
• The 50g cream may last for a long time if used nightly.
• Inexpensive compared to other night creams.

Cons:

• It is not travel-friendly. The jar is heavy and bulky.
• It is not readily available. I've only seen this in Market, Market and BeautyMnl.
• It could blur your vision and sting a little if you apply too much.

My Verdict:

I give this one a 4/5 because of the consistency, price, and packaging. I haven't seen much effect because I've been using it for only two nights. I will give an update once I reach my one month target. 

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored review. I bought this product with my own money and tried it firsthand 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.

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.