Philippine Fashion Week 2012 was quite a busy time for me; but along with that experience is "one thing" that I was doing "behind the scenes". If you know me I've been a vain person and what perfect way to test out some products for men than now. When you are pressured and acting a little stressed, there's no way you are going to keep that fresh feeling you have right after a shower. When you're done fixing yourself you want to retain the moisture on your skin but when you go through traffic and a humongous crowd on these events, you kinda fall into that category called extreme haggardness... and you feel like you've aged 10 more years after that.
Good thing I had some L'Oréal Men Expert products in my stash and got results after using them for a few weeks. I wanted something that would make my skin look fresh and clean throughout the day; so let me tell you about what products we got and how they fared.
L'Oréal ® Paris - Men Expert
HYDRA ENERGETIC
Skin Awakening ICY CLEANSING GEL
First of all, you and I probably know that there are only a few brands available in the market that's got a line dedicated for men. You are not alone, I went through a phase where I had to actually use women's products just to get my skin taken cared of. I went through that same experience where my face became whiter when I only needed to have it moisturized and nick free. It's not manly to say the least and the effect actually became a little humiliating when my face became so white that it left my neck and other extremities darker. People noticed so I stopped that. Today brands like L'Oréal ® Paris - Men Expert responds to the need for it; I tried out the HYDRA ENERGETIC Skin Awakening ICY CLEANSING GEL first.
Right after growing a beard for 3 weeks I decided to carry a cleaner look by shaving it off on the first day. I usually stay away from harsh soap products because it leaves my face dry later on. I used an almost neutral water based soap and after patting my face dry with a towel I applied the L'Oréal ® Paris - Men Expert HYDRA ENERGETIC Skin Awakening ICY CLEANSING GEL. I didn't use quite much, maybe a squirt of two pea sizes. I got it on my palm and made a lather. I used a thin layer of it first on my T zone. That's where you usually get the oiliness and dirt on your skin. If you are fond of getting your photos taken, this is usually the one that shines on your face. The gel itself isn't too thick and doesn't feel sticky. I left it on my face for a few minutes. No stingy feeling, it just feels a little refreshing. I rinsed it off with water lightly, pat it dry then I just let the wind dry my face. As observed it didn't leave anything uncomfortable, you feel so clean.
That's a definite plus on my books because the last thing you would want before you go out is something like that... just imagine the smoke and dirt in Metro Manila. If you get that on your skin before you even get to the office or event, that's just humiliating! I wouldn't want to get caught with that. The part I shaved off that day too had been handled quite nicely with this gel. Since it felt cool, my pores and skin kinda felt a little tighter. It had my skin moisturized as well. I guess that's what they wanted to actually do in the first place... and for me they just achieved that. I still felt quite clean after a couple of hours at work. Imagine that!
L'Oréal ® Paris - Men Expert
HYDRA ENERGETIC
Skin Reviving Moisturizing Gel
with Vitamin C + Caffeine
To tell you honestly, I'm a skeptic about the health benefits of coffee and vitamin C, more so if it's applied externally. This time though they are using it in the L'Oréal ® Paris - Men Expert HYDRA ENERGETIC Skin Reviving Moisturizing Gel. There have been several studies in the US that the benefits are real and there are 3 remarkable things that it can do when applied externally according to this. First, it reduces inflammation. Second, it gets rid of those circles under the eyes and third... it eliminates formation of cellulite's. Doesn't it sound like a dream cure for ladies? Well Men definitely have a lot of things like that too. If you work at night like I do those eye bags are but a normal thing. You kind of age a little, you'll look tired and pretty soon you will feel the stress. It's no joke to have your skin go through that; til it becomes unrepairable. So it is better to take care of it now and there is no doubt about that!
Vitamin C as applied externally can be absorbed by the skin. Though you may need quite an amount for it to have an effect, ascorbic acid is necessary for the production of collagen. If you basically lack this particular ingredient on your diet or daily regimens; you'll have scurvy, bleed and have your joints weak. This isn't the ideal condition any man would want to maintain that physique they've always wanted. How can a guy get to ooze with machismo with his body bleeding and weak like that?! That's exactly the point why these two are now in the L'Oréal ® Paris - Men Expert HYDRA ENERGETIC Skin Reviving Moisturizing Gel. You get to love your skin just the way you like it!
When I got to finish washing my face the second day, I then proceeded to open this Skin Reviving Moisturizing Gel with Vitamin C + Caffeine. Before I went to shoot in the BENCH Show for Philippine Fashion Week I applied a tiny amount of this on my face. It was sunny and scorching outside, not a great time to perspire or dry up like a prune because of the heat. Since I applied this on my face I still felt a little cooler than usual on the face whilst other parts of my body were almost dripping in sweat. The consistency of the gel is like lotion but it was NEVER greasy. It was not too cold like the latter but basically had the moisturizing job done. I felt it was absorbed quite quickly by the skin because a few massages on the face with it that almost turquoise gel vanished. The smell was very nice too because it could probably be compared to some of the best aftershave/eu de toilette brands out in the market though I felt this wasn't alcohol based either. It's a good thing Men would smell like men with this product. Women practically would be turned off if you smell like a girl LOL! I applied it again that evening and when I woke up; I still felt fresher than ever! This promises to eliminate the possibilities of me having skin dryness, fine lines and wrinkles. I'm quite optimistic that this product will deliver on the sun and age damages too!
L'Oréal ® Paris - Men Expert
HYDRA ENERGETIC
POWERED WATER
with Vitamin C + Caffeine
Just like the last one this bottle of "POWERED WATER" was used a little later on in the day. I didn't want to carry around the first two bottles and had this while I was busy shooting the runway. In between shows I hurriedly went to the Men's room and took this out. After washing my face with water, I poured a substantial amount of this on my palm and was a little surprised about it's consistency. It definitely looked like water. It was quite different from the previous ones and probably good for maintaining that freshness I carried around early in the day. The scent was quite similar with the gels and it did feel that effect with it though lighter. Maybe this is our version of a "retouch". It's quite a quick, no nonsense, no frills or thrills way of maintaining the freshness you had when you just got out of the shower. Plus, it smells good too!
The time of the day when you need something to perk you up. When you feel haggard and stressed, this is your quick fix. You don't have to have thick goo on your face just to look good. You just need a splash of this L'Oréal ® Paris - Men Expert HYDRA ENERGETIC POWERED WATER with Vitamin C + Caffeine.
L'Oréal ® Paris - Men Expert
HYDRA ENERGETIC EYE
Do you ever feel like people are looking at you weirdly because you look like your girlfriend's Dad? Uncle? or worse Grandpa?!! Okay guys, I know this is the least of your worries. But let's face it, who in this world wants to look old?
You always say that the eyes are the window to one's soul... so what would you do if your eyes look drowsy and haggard? Think about it. Maybe it's not too late to take care of this! I'm sure when you get to see yourself in the mirror you'll try and tell little old you that there's still hope. What are you going to do about it?!
This particular part of your face right beneath the eyes is a problem area for men and even photographers like us. Why? It doesn't lie.
This part underneath your eyes spell the things you are going through. If it's too dark, then you are sleep deprived. If its too puffy, then you sleep too much. If it has lines, you are too old. It's as simple as that. If you retouch a photo, this is where you usually do it. If you remove some of the lines here via Photoshop, the model will instantly look younger and fresher. Now how are you going to take care of this? That's where L'Oréal ® Paris - Men Expert HYDRA ENERGETIC EYE comes in.
This small pen like contraption packs a punch because it promises 2 things.
1. Anti Eye Bags - Since it has some of those Vitamin C and Caffeine ingredients which we discussed early on, the same effect will go to the main areas you need this to be. Rolling this cold metal contraption on the line itself underneath the eyes; both the massage and cold effect will hasten to tighten skin leaving the fine lines to contract and later on make your eye bags flattened.
2. Anti Dark Circles - You definitely don't want to look like an Owl on your first date, or that special event in your life. Continued use of this pen aka Icy Roll On Eye would actually eliminate those dark circles that you have. It's active ingredient called Peptido-Complex helps eradicate those areas that made you look like you have a black eye. It's already an eye sore to have eye bags but more if you've got dark circles underneath it. It's not flattering at all.
I used this one for a couple of days and it feels tighter underneath the eyes. I have been blessed not to have those dark circles and I'm glad I got something that would simply help for me not to have that at all.
Comparing this particular line with the ones I used previously it's way better! Looking good takes effort, more so if you are NOT (like me! LOL). It takes special care and if you are still using your Mom's creams and cleaners I suggest that the next time you go to the store and purchase it think about something that was made for you. You are a man after all, go and get yourself some L'Oréal ® Paris - Men Expert Hydra Energetic skincare range because you deserve to be taken cared of too! Because Filipino men are worth it!!
And as for me... I'm ready for my next shot!
Capisce?!
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Director Jose Javier Reyes was so animated in telling us anecdotes about how this movie was made. He also told us about his views on a lot of things about the Philippine Movie Industry, life and love.
What irked him was the amount of government support the people in the industry is getting and how it compares to other countries.
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