Zit Free Days with Proactiv

It's the ber months already and thank goodness our weather has become a bit cooler. Yet unfortunately, our humid weather still makes our oily face act up. I know it's challenging but the good news is that we can always turn to Proactiv for our skincare needs! 

I forgot when this was taken but this was during my long hair days so that's like before 2015. :)

I tried to look back at pictures years ago and I clearly remember how my acne really bothered me. I absolutely hated it whenever I would break out and those red angry zits made me feel like all that anyone can see are those zits! 

But Proactiv surely became a lifesaver for me! Do you know that it's been several years already that this acne clearing system's effectiveness in dealing with stubborn acne is available at any Watsons and SM Department store branch nationwide? Yes my dear friends, clear skin is now available at your fingertips! It has worked for me and if you are struggling to find a product that can help treat the whole face, clear problematic spots, and prevent acne before it starts -- the Proactiv Kit is definitely for you. 

Proactiv has a 30-Day and 60-Day Kit system to make it easier for users who find it challenging to create their own skin care routine. What's more, Proactiv is still offering its money-back guarantee for those who are not satisfied with its results. 

So just drop by any Watsons and SM Department store nationwide to get your own Proactiv system at Php 2,495  for the 30-day kit and Php 3,995 for the 60-day kit. Here's to more clear, beautiful skin!

Use Proactiv Green Tea Moisturizer for Dry Skin

Hey Coffeeholics! Christmas is just around the corner. AND you know what that means! It means COOLER weather. Oh thank goodness! There are a lot of benefits with cool weather (which also means its time to whip out those sweaters and cardigans hehe!) but there are also down sides which one of it is DRY SKIN. Ugh. Well here’s some good news to those who have dry skin coz once again our favorite skin care product, PROACTIV, has a solution! Buti na lang!  It’s time now to check out the Proactiv Green Tea Moisturizer for dry skin!

Proactiv+ Green Tea Moisturizer is a lightweight, nongreasy formula contains Green Tea, to help fight free radicals and is rich in mineral and botanical extracts. It has been designed to help soothe dry skin without clogging pores and is the perfect moisturizer for blemish prone skin. So basically, it just means my dear coffeeholics that this product is ideal for MEN and WOMEN with dry skin associated with acne medication because it helps maintain skin moisture and a soft, supple tone.

Proactiv+ Green Tea Moisturizer

Oh and just to be clear, here are the benefits of using Proactiv+ Green Tea Moisturizer:

· Provides relief to dry, irritated skin

· Non-Comedogenic (won't clog pores)

· Contains Green Tea EGCG, a potent antioxidant designed to fight free radicals while helping to soothe and calm the skin

· Features hydration ingredients and minerals and emollients that are designed to nourish and soothe the skin

· Alleviate skin dryness

 

Product Ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Sodium Polyacrylate, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Trideceth-6, Zinc Sulfate, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Alcohol, Allantoin, Propanediol, C12-15 Alkyl Lactate, Polyquaternium-11, Disodium EDTA, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance (Parfum), Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool.

I tried it out myself and loved how cool and soothing the gel like consistency of the product. Not only that, the part of my skin where I had put some of the moisturizer feels supple and smooth, while the rest is dry and well.. DRY. Haha.  You know what I mean! So yeah, it really really works. If you have the Proactiv 3 Step System, this will complement it. You can apply the Proactiv+ Green Tea Moisturizer daily to alleviate dryness. You can also wear it alone or under makeup. Oh and don’t forget, when using the 3- step system, the Proactiv+ Green Tea Moisturizer should be applied after Step 3 – Repairing Treatment.

Photo Credit: Proactiv Philippines Facebook

So if you guys are interested, you can buy Proactiv+ Green Tea Moisturizer at these locations:

a. Proactiv Online Shopping: http://my.proactiv.com.ph

b. Proactiv Door-to-Door Delivery Hotlines: Metro Manila Landline: (02) 729-2222 Globe Provincial: 1-800-8-729-8888 PLDT Provincial: 1-800-10-889-4444 Mobile No.: 0917-801-8888

c. Proactiv Mall Kiosks 

Ground Floor, Glorietta 2 – Contact Number: (02) 512-5885 

2nd Floor, Trinoma – Contact Number: (02) 512-5981

d. Selected Watsons and SM Department Stores:

G/F, SM Cubao Department Store (Beauty Section), Cubao, Quezon City

G/F, SM Makati Department Store (Beauty Section), Ayala Center, Makati City Level 2, SM North Edsa Department Store (Beauty Section), North Ave. cor. EDSA Quezon City

G/F, SM Megamall Department Store (Beauty Section), Building B., Ortigas, Mandaluyong City Level 1, SM Fairview Department Store (Beauty Section), corner Regalado Avenue, Quirino Highway, Quezon City 

G/F, SM Southmall Department Store (Beauty Section), Alabang - Zapote Rd, Almanza Uno, Las Piñas 

G/F, SM Mall of Asia Department Store (Beauty Section), Seaside Blvd, Pasay City 

Level 2, Watsons, SM Megamall 4, Building A., Ortigas, Mandaluyong City

G/F, Watsons, SM Mall of Asia, near Starbucks, Seaside Blvd, Pasay City 

Upper Ground Floor, Watsons, SM Aura Premiere, near Hypermarket, McKinley Parkway, Taguig

Suggested Retail Price:

Php999, 30ml 1fl.oz 

Delivery Fee (Hotline and Online Order):

Php150 – Metro Manila

Php330 - Provincial

***FREE delivery for Online and Hotline order if purchased along with Proactiv Solution Combination Therapy 30 day or 60 day kit!***

Hope this Christmas Season you will beat the "dry skin" season as well with Proactiv+ Green Tea Moisturizer! 

The Truth About Acne and Proactiv

Hey coffeeholics! How is your skin lately? Well I’m pleased to say that the acne on my skin, especially my face, has not been making an appearance that much ever since I’ve been using Proactiv. I haven’t had any major zits for several months already! Well, I’m pretty much sure you wanna know how this can also be true to you! Well here are some things you need to know and realize about the truth about acne.

My BEFORE Pic. Yes I have zits around my mouth area, sometimes on my cheeks, forehead, or my chin area. 

Acne is the most common skin disease and very common to teenagers. Nearly everyone experiences acne at some point in life. Honestly, I’ve been having acne ever since I was in high school! It may last for a few months or a few years. An acne blemish begins approximately 2-3 weeks before it appears on your skin’s surface. So while it may seem you get a pimple overnight, what you’re actually seeing is the final stage of a much longer process. Shocking right? So the saying that you got pimples because napuyat ka kagabi  is NOT TRUE!  It actually starts in your sebaceous hair follicles – the tiny holes you know as pores. Yes PORES. Deep within each follicle, your sebaceous glands are working to produce sebum, the oil that keeps your skin moist and pliable. As your skin renews itself, the old cells die, mix with your skin’s natural oils, and are sloughed off. Under normal circumstances, these cells are shed gradually, making room for fresh new skin. Dead skin cells may block the pores, resulting to over accumulation of oil underneath. Bacteria that live on the skin naturally begin to grow and multiply in this site, triggering an inflammatory response causing a red, angry pore that we may see as pimple already at the tail-end of the acne formation process.  

I guess the next logical question would be – what provokes acne?

Contrary to popular belief, acne is not caused by eating too much chocolates or oily foods, nor does it occur exclusively on teenagers. Acne is a cyclic process that everyone experiences, and can occur at any age. Stress, periods, climate, cosmetic products (comedogenic), drugs and industrial chemical are factors that provoke acne. So maybe one sleepless night doesn’t provoke acne but the stress from sleepless nights can. Lam na!

And now to the pressing question, how to prevent acne?

Nourish - There is no miracle diet to clear acne, but a healthy, balanced diet can help your skin fight acne. Choose fresh, unprocessed foods from all four groups and drink eight glasses of water a day, or more when you exercise. Totoo. Our body is made up of almost 70% water so we need that.

Cleanse - To maintain clear skin, stick to a daily acne-fighting skin-care routine. Gently wash your face with a soap-free exfoliating cleanser twice a day to remove excess oil, dirt and dead skin cells. Avoid over washing, which dries out your skin and causes it to produce even more oil.

Protect - While small amounts of sun exposure may seem to clear acne at first, the sun actually dries your skin, causing it to produce more oil and dead cells, creating the ideal environment for blemishes. Avoid excess sun exposure and wear at least SPF 15 sunscreen every day, even if it's cloudy.

Rest - A good night's sleep (7-8 hours) can do wonders for your complexion and immune system, which helps fight infection to clear acne more quickly. 

Exercise - Your skin benefits from an increase in blood flow and blood oxygen level achieved by exercise. If you are prone to body acne, wear loose-fitting, breathable clothing when exercising, and shower with an acne-fighting body wash soon after. 

Relax - Acne starts inside hair follicles, where your sebaceous glands produce the protective oil that keeps skin soft and supple. Hormones control these glands, and psychological stress affects hormone levels. Too much stress can yield too much oil and trigger the acne cycle. So relax—take a bath, go for a walk, do yoga or whatever you want to make you feel happy and calm. For me, that would mean reading a book!

In all honesty, out of those 6 suggestions, I've only been regularly cleansing and protecting but not so much on the others! I am soooo guilty of not doing the 7-8 hours of sleep. So if you want to promote a more acne-free atmosphere, a good night's rest is definitely a must! But still, I think the most effective way is to use the Proactiv Solution Combination therapy.

This is how Proactiv Solution Combination Therapy stops acne:

1. The Proactiv Renewing Cleanser (Step 1) and the Proactiv Revitalizing Toner (Step 2) works by removing dead skin cells, ensuring that the pores don’t get clogged. The Proactiv Revitalizing Toner (Step 2) removes excess oils.

2. The Proactiv Renewing Cleanser (Step 1) and Proactiv Repairing Treatment (Step 3) kill the bacteria and prevent proliferation.

3. The Refining Mask helps reduce the inflammation and swelling. Proactiv is designed to attack acne “proactively” – delivering the right concentration of medicines and acne-care agents, in the right order and concentrations, to help control the acne cycle before breakouts occur. If you have acne, Proactiv Solution is the key to clear complexion.

Proactiv is safe and effective for almost everyone with mild to moderate acne – healing the breakouts you may have today and keeping your complexion clear by helping to prevent future breakouts. By clearing your skin, Proactiv also helps blemishes from leaving behind permanent scars. Proactiv combines mild concentrations of antimicrobial acne medicine with botanical skin-care agents to gently remove excess dead skin cells and oil (to keep pores from clogging); to kill acne causing bacteria inside pores; and to soothe redness and irritation.

Pimple free! Dark spots na lang.. :P

Try it. Promise, you won’t regret it. My face is now clearer and pimple free ever since. You can check out the Proactiv Solution comes in 30-Day kit (P2,495) and 60-Day kit (P3,995) and is available at all Watsons nationwide.

Proactiv Renewing Cleanser Product Review

Having beautiful, clear, and acne free skin is a wish any girl would have. Well, I've been wishing for that ever since I hit my teens. Now that I'm in my early 30's (huhu yes birthday coming up in several days from now... :P) I had kind of hoped that I will eventually get over the acne dilemma. Ever since last year, I learned so much from Proactiv and realized that the acne doesn't all go away. BUT you can control it with the help of Proactiv. So I was pretty much excited that I was able to personally try out and test their amazing product -- the Proactiv Renewing Cleanser! 

So if you haven't heard about Proactiv yet, well THIS is supposed to be the answer to your acne woes! The Proactiv Renewing Cleanser is an oil free, soap free medicated formula contains advanced micro crystal benzoyl peroxide in combination with mild cleanser that lightly washes the skin. Tiny beads gently exfoliate dead cells and impurities so they can’t clog pores. The benzoyl peroxide penetrates the pores fast while being gentle to the skin. It attacks, kill acne-causing bacteria and reduce the number of acne pimples.

Key Ingredients

Benzoyl Peroxide This is the key anti bacterial agent to fight  acne. The 2.5% concentration is just effective as 10% solutions in controlling the majority of acne cases and much gentler to your skin. This low concentration gives it the acne-fighting benefit of even higher concentrations, but not the side-effects!

Other Ingredients Include

• Sodium Hyaluronate. This mucopolysaccharides act as humectant to draw moisture to skin. Mucopolysaccharides are gel like substances surrounding the collagen and elastin in the dermis layer of the skin. 
• Polyethylene. These small round beads have no sharp edges that can tear and scratch the skin while they gently remove old, dead cells. 
• Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract. A botanical extract known for its soothing properties.

  

I couldn't wait to try out the Proactiv Renewing Cleanser. Of course before anything else, you must know how to use it. Here are the directions.  

1. Use morning and night. Yes like any cleanser, you can use it twice a day. So clean face before you sleep and clean face before you face a brand new day. :)

2. Now as part of my routine, I normally remove my makeup first before using a cleanser. :) Now if you don't use makeup or if you are going to wash your face in the morning, you can skip this step. 

 

I just came from a long day of work and commute. So I've got my makeup on on the LEFT photo there. Yes, it kinda smeared.. coz of the oiliness of my face and well commuting in the heat of the afternoon didn't help either, So the RIGHT photo is after I had used my makeup remover. On the surface it does look a bit clean (less shine on my face) but you and I know that that's not the complete story. It still needs a thorough cleaning so that acne will not populate my face. hehe. 

3. Then apply a small (dime-sized) amount to damp skin and gently massage for 1 to 2 minutes.

So basically that's how much I use on my face. Yes it doesn't look a lot but I tell you, it packs a punch! I mean, it's definite enough for it to make it's magic on my face. While applying the product to your face, DO NOT EXPECT FOAM OR BUBBLES. Yes, don't look for it coz it's not gonna happen. The Proactiv Renewal Cleanser doesn't work like that. And later on this post, I will explain why that's a good thing. 

Here's a tip someone taught me on how to wash my face -- don't use your point fingers. When you wash your face, be GENTLE. And you can achieve that gentle washing by using your last three fingers. Di masyadong madiin ang dating pag ganun. Then what I do is just use upward circular strokes while massaging the Proactiv Renewal Cleanser on my face. This kind of motion helps maintain the firmness of your face. Downward direction will only help in the sagging of your cheeks.. now we don't want that to happen diba? :)

After a minute of massaging, you can definitely feel your face reacting the product. Don't be alarmed. In my case, I could feel a slight tightening on my face. I figured that means.. it's working. YAY!

4. Then of course, rinse thoroughly with warm water. 

5. And finally, pat dry

**Please take note that if bothersome dryness or peeling occurs, reduce application to once a day or every other day. And of course, if going outside use a sunscreen

For me, one of the immediate results that I can sense from the Proactiv Renewal Cleanser is my amazingly super smooth face. YES! I swear my face becomes softer and smoother as compared before any other face cleansing product that I've used. I've never felt this level of smoothness to my face IMMEDIATELY after the cleansing. Kaya pala medyo rough or magaspang yung face ko before is because of dead skin cells. When I look at the mirror, I feel it lightened. (hehe or feeling magaan ang face kasi no more oil.. no more dead skin cells). Now it's all clear!

Well it looks like that indeed, Proactiv Renewing Cleanser is superior than regular cleanser or soap. While it may seem counter intuitive, harsh scrubbing does not unclog your pores any better than 

gentle cleansing, and may actually worsen your acne. That's why ang advise ko, gentle upward circular strokes! Cleansing and scrubbing only reduce surface oils and dean skin cells. Many people use harsh products, laden with alcohol and foamy surfactants (detergents) somehow wash the acne off their skin. However, these actions produce irritation and worsen acne. Now with Proactiv Rewnewing Cleanser, it is possible to gently unplug pores with fine polyethylene beads that gently relieve impacted pores without irritation

Look Ma, no pimples! hehe. Yep, the dark spots are just dark or red spots of where I used to have pimples. As of three days of using, no pimples have surfaced. Hopefully, this will be the good report I will be sharing as I continue using the product. 

One thing that I really appreciate about the Proactiv Renewing Cleanser is that it does not contain any surfactants that can harsh the skin. Proactiv Renewing Cleanser is formulated without the harsh detergents known as surfactants found in many other cleansers. Surfactants, which are responsible for a sudsy foam and lather, strip skin of its essential oils. As a result, the skin barrier becomes damaged and vulnerable to irritation and impaction. That's why when you use the cleanser, you won't see any suds or foam. While massaging it gently on your face, you will feel tiny tiny beads (the Polyethylene) rolling on the surface of your skin. It's not harsh but gentle. If you have heavy acne, then that means less irritation to your skin. :)

So to sum it up, what is the role of Renewing Cleanser in Proactiv Combination Therapy? The Renewing Cleanser help removes dead skin cells and impurities which can clog the pore. The advanced microcrystal benzoyl peroxide in the Proactiv® 3-Step System kill acne-causing bacteria while the glycolic acid and other exfoliants reduce excess oils and dead skin cells. If this just Step 1 to an acne free skin, imagine how much more effective the whole Proactiv Combination Therapy will be to you. I've been using the cleanser for several days already and can feel the results. So far no pimples have surfaced. YAY! I've tried it.. and loved it! I really really recommend this to you if you have acne. Hope you will also feel and enjoy an acne free summer (yes yung weather na natin ay parang summer na! hehe). 

The Proactiv Renewing Cleanser is included in the Proactiv Solution 30-day and 60-day kits. 

Proactiv Solution kits are available at: 

a. Proactiv Online Shopping: http://my.proactiv.com.ph 

b. Proactiv Delivery Door–to-Door Hotlines:

c. Proactiv Mall Kiosks

d. Watson and SM Department Stores (Beauty Section) nationwide

Metro Manila Landline: (02) 729-2222

Globe Provincial: 1-800-8-729-8888

PLDT Provincial: 1-800-10-889-4444

Mobile Number: 0917-801-888

Glorietta, Ground Floor

Trinoma, 2nd Floor

Nicole Scherzinger Sizzles as Proactiv's New Endorser

Hey coffeeholics! Guess whose Proactive's brand new endorser? Well who else but the very lovely Nicole Scherzinger! And well who hasn't heard of Nicole Scherzinger? Her fabulous face and equally wonderful voice is definitely memorable especially when we all found out that she's one of our very own kababayan. Nicole is actually of Filipino/Hawaiian/Russian descent and her charisma knows no bounds. Her international sex appeal needs no translation. Bet you didn't know that her rise to fame and success wasn't always smooth and easy. She was raised in a modest household by her mom and German-American stepfather, her humble upbringing didn’t deter her from pursuing her burning ambition to become a singer. She exploded into the pop scene as the lead singer of the Pussycat Doll. I was pretty impressed with her awesome vocals and she just exuded this aura of exotic beauty and confidence. One of my favorite songs that she has rendered as part of the Pussycat Dolls was Jai Ho. Absolutely loved her vocals there! Then she embarked on a solo career as a recording artist, selling a total of 60 million records. She also has film experience, won Season 10 of Dancing with the Stars and was a judge at the UK and US editions of The X Factor.


Her Proactiv Story

So how did Nicole got to know about Proactiv? It all started with one of her friends in her band. She must indeed be a good friend because we all know that even if someone has radiant, glowing skin like Nicole, you must still work hard to maintain it that way. Her friend had really bad breakouts and blemishes that really scarred her skin. But then her friend discovered Proactiv and blossomed.

“I feel like in my line of work, I’m always under the microscope. It’s quite traumatic when you have an acne breakout and blemishes because you wake up and you’re hoping that your face is clear,” she shares. Fortunately for Nicole, she found a beauty ally, which allows her to emphasize her personal philosophy that sexiness starts from having clear, blemish-free skin. In no time, she grew to be a Proactiv lover as well.

“They say that the eyes are the windows to our souls, right? But when you have an acne breakout, nobody’s looking at your eyes. They’re looking at your appearance. But when you get clear, they can see you for who you really are,” Nicole says. “With Proactiv, I’m empowered now. I can hold my head up higher. I can smile bigger. And I can put the energy on other people.”

Why Nicole chooses Proactiv over other acne medication

 
Nicole chose Proactiv because of the benzoyl peroxide formulation found  in Proactiv’s 3-Step System. It works safely and more effectively than other products claiming to have benzoyl peroxide in the market. The Proactiv Combination Therapy acne management system combines finely-milled, prescription-grade benzoyl peroxide with sulfur and soothing botanicals like allantoin, panthenol, aloe and chamomile. Together these ingredients gently exfoliate your skin, unplug your pores, attack acne-causing bacteria and soothe inflammation.

Here is what Nicole Scherzinger, certified beauty icon, wants you to know about Proactiv:

“What would I say to somebody who has gone through breakouts and blemishes? That there’s hope. That you can take control. That you can do it. That you can change. Proactiv gives you clear skin. It gives you clarity of mind and self and spirit. I would say that you can take charge of your life again. You can be empowered. You can be who you are meant to be.”

So my dears, if you have been lamenting about all those breakouts and blemishes, Nicole herself said it. There is HOPE. :) You too can have clear beautiful skin. All you have to do to get your hands on Proactiv Solutions is to drop by the nearest Watsons and SM Department Stores (Beauty Section). Or better yet, you can order online and have it delivered to you! Just click this link. Have a great weekend!

Be Stress-free and Acne-free this Christmas with Proactiv

Christmas season can be a very stressful time of the year. It’s the time of year when we usually experience a lot of good stress like the excitement brought about by Christmas shopping and family reunions. But we can also experience bad stress such as Christmas rush traffic and year-end business activities. Regardless if good or bad, stress may aggravate acne.

Photo credit - Proactiv Facebook

I've had my fair share of stress and the aggravating acne that comes with it. The increased levels of stress stimulate the body's production of various hormones and trigger different changes in the skin. Sometimes it causes the skin oils to become more viscous making you more acne prone. Stress also reduces your body’s natural immune defense and your skin doesn’t fight off bacteria build-up as well. When these happen, we become more prone to breakouts. Acne begins when oil collects at the base of the hair follicle and becomes trapped by dead skin cells. Bacteria flourish, form a plug and swell beneath the skin. Stress can make acne worse, causing more anxiety, and creating a vicious cycle.

Photo credit - Proactiv Facebook

I for one has been a bit stressed these past few days.Last week was the "last" week in school for the year 2014. Of course we were all happy but still stressed out with all the practices the students had to do to give their wonderful Christmas presentations for their parents and families to see. Trying to squeeze in some Christmas shopping was also a bit stressful.. whew especially with the TRAFFIC oh diba? To top it off, one of my closest cousin just got married last Saturday, and being one of her bridesmaid was fun but I couldn't help but feel a bit stressed with all the wedding preparations and other bridesmaid duties. But the good news is.. I SURVIVED. I had to.. despite all the puyat and pagod. That's because I made sure that despite all that stress.. I had to find a way to "de-stress" coz bawal din ako ma-stress sabi ng doctor ko (more on that on another post).

Here are some of my favorite ways to de-stress

1. Pamper your feet with a foot spa!

Imagine relaxing your feet in that warm bubbly water. :)

2. Have a mani pedi and relax at your favorite nail salon.

3. Have a MASSAGE (my most favorite way to relax!!!)

FYI I did 1-3 the night before my cousin's wedding

hehe.. that's me and my sis relaxing.. syempre the bride had a massage first 

while we had our nails done. 

4. Snuggle in bed and read a book.

5. Or better yet, Use Proactiv Solution Combination Therapy to prevent acne before they begin.

It's better to start early and prevent acne to become more aggravated right? This can be done with the Proactiv Combination Therapy System. It is a 3-Step System that work together to cleanse your skin, fight the blemishes, help stop new one from forming, and gently heal damaged skin.

Photo credit - Proactiv Facebook

Step 1: Renewing Cleanser
This medicated Renewing Cleanser is made with exclusive micro-crystal benzoyl peroxide – featuring smaller, finer particles designed to quickly penetrate pores to start killing acne-causing bacteria on contact. Tiny exfoliating beads gently remove dirt, excess oil and dead skin cells to help keep pores from clogging.

Step 2: Revitalizing Toner
This refreshing, alcohol-free toner helps remove impurities and excess oil so your skin looks and feels clean, soft and refreshed – not tight and dried out. Soothing botanical agents gently balance your skin tone.

Step 3: Repairing Treatment
The repairing acne treatment is a feather-light medicated treatment that gets deep into clogged pores faster but is designed to be gentler on the skin. It’s an oil-free formula that’s safe for your entire face.

Bonus: Refining Mask
Our rich, deep cleansing mask uses sulfur, a proven acne blemishfighting ingredient that reaches deep into the pores, heals existing blemishes, pampers inflamed skin, and softens and refines the skin’stexture.

So this Christmas, have a stress-free and acne-free face by using the Proactiv Solution Combination Therapy. Gift it to yourself or to your loved one this Christmas! Don't forget to take advantage of the ongoing Proactiv promo which is  The Proactiv 60-Day Limited Edition Pack with FREE Proactiv Advanced Daily Oil Control 50ml which is available at Watsons and SM Department stores (Beauty Section) nationwide. Also, don't forget that you can order your own Proactiv Set ONLINE.. just click this link here.

Have a Merry Stress Free Christmas! :)

Proactiv - The Superior Anti Acne Product

Have you ever felt super stressed, and felt the whole world was against you? Then to top it off, you suddenly got super sick, got hospitalized, and suddenly had to do some drastic lifestyle (specifically eating habits and lifestyle) changes to yourself. Then come the bills. Oh joy. Yep that was me last October.

BUT let me encourage you with this good news, life gets better. :)

This past month has really got to be the most memorable month for me this 2014.  I was just recently hospitalized and had to take weeks off work to recuperate. Nothing major. But let's just say it has something to do with my thyroid, high blood pressure, and hormones. Yep. Hormones. Apparently, it's been messed up which in turn messed up my internal system and well.. which could probably explain my acne as well. (Ha yes blame it on hormones!) Now because of everything that happened, I lost weight (yay i lost 15 pounds!!!!) and apparently everyone keeps saying that "blooming" daw ako which was really surprising for me. Life gets better. Thank goodness! Soooo I am NOT worried at all with this pimple on my right cheek. Because I know with Proactiv, it can get better. Proactiv after all is the superior Anti Acne Solution. Buti na lang! :)

Proactiv is a lifesaver!  It's good to know that when it comes to preventing acne breakouts and blemishes, the Proactiv Solution 3-Step System is the right choice. As the leading pimple-fighter, Proactiv treats acne safely and effectively by attacking it at the source where a build-up of dead skin cells and bacteria clogs your pores. It is mild enough to use every day. Proactiv gently cleans and unplugs your pores and kills acne causing bacteria. The combination of medicines penetrates deep into your skin to destroy the bacteria and help reduce inflammation and heals the lesion. Your skin clears without the drying, peeling or chemical smell you may find in other products.

And you know, that's what I like about Proactiv. It doesn't make your skin dry or let it peel. I mean, yeah I have an oily face, but I know that if it becomes too dry well that isn't good either. So its really amazing how Proactiv gently and effectively clears your skin.

The Proactiv Renewing Cleanser (Step 1) and Repairing Treatment (Step 3) contain finelymilled,
prescription-grade benzoyl peroxide with soothing botanicals. Together these ingredients
gently exfoliate your skin, unplug your pores and attack acne-causing bacteria. The Revitalizing
Toner helps remove excess oils and dead skin cells to prevent future breakouts, and the Refining
Mask helps reduce inflammation. When used together regularly, Proactiv not only eradicates
pimples but also importantly prevent future breakouts. Remember.. REGULAR USE will do this. :)

I think I've mentioned about benozyl peroxide before in my "war against acne chronicles" but I'd share it again coz it just must be emphasized how important and effective benozyl peroxide really is. Benzoyl peroxide is a powerful ingredient that is effective against all kinds of acne (blackheads, whiteheads, and big red pimples). It is bactericidal, meaning it kills bacteria, rather than simply slowing down their growth. It also works very quickly improving acne as early as five days after starting treatment. It’s a great first line treatment but it’s also helpful to use in combination with antibiotics for severe cases. It may cause drying, peeling or redness if not delivered in the right amount (too strong concentrations) or surrounded by the right mix of ingredients. Proactiv’s 2.5% benzoyl peroxide concentration is mild, yet powerful enough to kill acne causing bacteria. It is finely milled, with proprietary advanced microcrystals that delivers the medicine without irritating the skin. This benzoyl peroxide technology is unique to Proactiv.

And to provide you with a stronger arsenal to fight acne, Proactiv released a Limited Edition
60-Day Bundle Pack with upsized Refining Mask (2.5oz instead of the regular 1oz) and Free 50ml
Proactiv Advanced Daily Oil Control. These are exclusively available at Watsons and SM
Department stores nationwide. Don't miss out on this special offer! Visit the nearest SM Department store or Watsons ASAP. :) Start your month right. :)

Treat Acne with Proactiv that has Benzoyl Peroxide

Dear Diary (otherwise known as you my dear coffeeholic readers who sympathize with me), Acne has come visiting again. Almost every month I share with you on what's happening with my war against acne. Unfortunately for me, its been acting up again. I blame it on barely sleeping nights, lack of water, aaaaand this month I'm kind of guilty of not being faithful in my skin care cleansing routine. Which is bad coz now I'm reaping the effects of not using it.

Skin care products and medications, especially to treat acne are growing steadily in the market. I totally understand coz who wouldn't want clear, beautiful, acne-free skin? It's crazy how there are so many products out there in all forms, shape, and size. The no. 1 question though is -- do these products really treat acne?

For years now, the gold standard of treating mild to moderate acne is the benzoyl peroxide. This is because it is a topical antimicrobial medicine, an oxidizing agent that specifically kills P. acnes, the bacteria that cause acne breakouts. To a lesser extent, it also helps to unblock pores and has an anti-inflammatory effect. BPO is not an antibiotic, and in 50 years of use, there has never been a documented case of BPO bacterial resistance; it is the cornerstone of prescription and over-the-counter acne therapy.

And Proactiv Solution knows that.

That’s why Proactiv Solution has Micro-crystals (micro-crystal medicine) benzoyl peroxide!
The exclusive form of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) found in the Proactiv 3-Step System’s Renewing Cleanser (Step 1) and Repairing Treatment (Step 3). A crystalline BPO that is finely milled in order to achieve the pore penetration required to control the acne cycle. The Proactiv micro-crystal BPO features exceptionally small and uniform particles—designed specifically to penetrate pores faster and to be gentler on the skin.

OTHER WAYS TO TREAT ACNE

PROACTIV SOLUTION VS SOAP
While it may seem counter-intuitive, harsh scrubbing does not unclog your pores any better than gentle cleansing, and may actually worsen your acne. Cleansing and scrubbing only reduce surface oils and dead skin cells. Many people use harsh products, laden with alcohol and foamy surfactants (detergents) somehow wash the acne off their skin. However, these actions often produce irritation and worsen acne. That happened to me once and it felt like my face burned. Never again! Now, it is possible to gently unplug pores with fine polyethylene beads that gently relieve impacted pores without irritation.

Proactiv Solution does not contain any surfactants that can harsh the skin. This is a relief to know.

Proactiv® Renewing Cleanser is formulated without the harsh detergents, known as surfactants, found in many other cleansers. Surfactants, which are responsible for a sudsy foam and lather, strip skin of its essential oils. As a result, the skin’s barrier becomes damaged and vulnerable to irritation and infection.

PROACTIV SOLUTION VS SALICYLIC ACID
Salicylic acid in a cleanser breaks through the plug but does not kill the P. acnes bacteria, the bacteria that cause acne breakouts.

Acne is caused by a variety of factors that take place below the surface of the skin. That’s why it’s best to gently wash with a medicated cleanser with proven ingredients, like benzoyl peroxide, or sulfur, that can penetrate the skin to help unclog pores, kill bacteria and/or reduce inflammation.

PROACTIV SOLUTION VS. ORAL DRUGS
When acne is severe, dermatologists sometimes prescribe oral drugs like isotretinoin or hormonal pills.

There are studies that support that these methods are extremely effective for severe cases, but because of the nature of these drugs there are side effects that make it questionable if the benefits truly outweigh the cost. For example, there were reports in 2010 linking suicidal tendencies and psychotic behaviors among acne patients on isotretinoin. Hormonal pills, which are mainly indicated as a contraceptive sometimes causes water retention, weight gain, mood swings, and in the long run, even breast cancer.

Proactiv Solution does not have these side effects!

With all these information about the advantages of using Proactiv, then of course my advise to you who seeks relief from acne is to try it yourself. Proactiv is SAFE and EFFECTIVE in preventing acne because of Benzoyl Peroxide. It's gentle on your skin unlike harsh soaps. It is more effective than Salicylic Acid coz it kills the root cause. And much much safer than oral drugs. Go ahead and free yourself from acne problems with the help of Proactiv. 

For more information, do visit the Proactiv Website.

Clear-Skin Summer with Proactiv 15 Day Maintenance Kit

Its the last day of March already! Yes finally, classes are over. Its time to officially say hello to summer with -- what else but a super fun vacation! Can you feel the heat? Whew! Honestly, the sweltering heat is driving me nuts. I can't make up my mind if I should go to somewhere near water (hello beach! hello swimming pool!) or go up up and savor the cool breeze of the mountains (hello Baguio! Flower festival! Here we come!). And I bet you too are making lots of plans this coming April especially the Holy Week where almost everyone either goes back to their respective provinces or to the choice summer destinations in the country. But whatever you choose, one thing is common. We all might end up traveling these next few months. My question is -- are you geared up to have clear-skin ready for summer break?

If you are a frequent traveler, than you know how difficult it is to travel light. Usually the big bulky stuff you end up lugging around with you is your toiletries. Yep that's me! I spend some time convincing myself that I don't need to bring with me my whole morning ritual preparation items. I know there are a lot of cool advices on how to pack and organize things so that you may bring only the essentials. But what about skin care items? I really do not like transferring them to "smaller travel sized containers". It is convenient yes but I feel like the quality and cleanliness of the product is compromised and ends up unhygienic. And if you have spent like how many thousand pesos on that -- all the more frustrating right? So whenever I end up traveling, I end up bringing the big bottles which makes traveling a bit more difficult than it should be. But there should be no worries now for all Proactiv users because Proactiv has made life easier for you and me especially this summer with the new Proactiv 15-Day Maintenance Kit that is now available in the Philippines!

Proactiv 15 Day Maintenance Kit is perfect for travel! First of all it's compact and easy to carry. The kit includes the complete 3-Step System-Renewing Cleanser, Revitalizing Toner and Repairing Treatment-in three 1-oz. take-aboard bottles. Oh and get this, it even comes with a Free Refining Mask! The snap-close pouch is 3.75 x 4.25 x 1.25 inches and fits easily into a backpack, purse or gym bag. This is definitely a boon for those always on the go. The kit makes it easy to maintain your acne-treatment regimen. So yay! No more lugging around huge bottles for your acne treatment! Really though, its definitely a good thing that Proactiv made these smaller sized containers. Coz even if its summer or even if you are traveling, you cannot also have a "vacation" on your skin care regimen if you want to have an acne-free vacation!

Don't forget how Proactiv works on your skin! It intervenes the process of acne-formation therefore resulting to the treatment of your existing blemishes, and at the same time giving you the protection of preventing future pimples from ever appearing again. From the moment you are born, your skin begins a lifelong process of shedding dead cells and producing oil. This process can be disrupted by your hormone balance, which throughout your life. The acne cycle is initiated when excess oil and dead skin cells combine to plug the pore of a hair follicle; behind the plugged pore, bacteria grow and multiply, triggering inflammation and swelling. That’s an acne blemish.

Proactiv intervenes in this process by:
1. Killing the acne-causing bacteria
2. Reducing swelling and redness of existing pimples
3. Preventing pores from being clogged
4. Removing dead skin cells thru mild exfoliation
5. Removing excess oils

And you definitely want Proactiv to keep on working hard to maintain your clear skin during your summer vacation. I mean hello?! Who doesn't want a pimple-free instagram worthy summer vacay photo right? And so you definitely need to use the Proactiv® System every day, twice a day,  as it is critical to maintain that clear skin. The Proactiv 15-Day Maintenance Kit has everything you need to maintain your regimen, no matter where you are. The handy carrying pouch includes convenient 1-ounce bottles (approved for airport security) of your complete 3-Step System: Renewing Cleanser, Revitalizing Toner, and Repairing Treatment. The Proactiv Solution 15-Day Maintenance kit is Php 1,650 ONLY-- available at selected Watsons and SM Department stores nationwide.

All "summer" photos are courtesy from @travelmerchant16 :) Many thanks!

So yep coffeeholics, this summer have lots and lots of fun under the sun and maintain that healthy clear skin. Don't forget to take Proactiv with you wherever you go by using the Proactiv 15-Day Maintenance kit!

Proactiv Skin Care Advisors Answer Your Acne Questions

Hey Coffeeholics! February has been a bit hectic for me because its nearly the end of the school year. Wah. That means a lot of school related/teacher related stuff has been occupying a lot of my time. Wah. Pwede rin mag blog pag may time. hehe.

Photo from funnyasduck .net

Anyway, its been awhile since I've shared about my pimple woes and struggles. Don't you just hate it when zits seem to multiply just when you are about to go to a major event or party? (Sigh.. anong event? lapit na mag bday hihi!). Yes I thought that finally my pimple woes have disappeared but apparently they came back with a vengeance. I have one right now that's super bothering me. And its on the tip of the top on my lip. So not pretty. Very noticeable. Unavoidable eye sore. (uhhhmmm noooo I won't show you a photo this time. haha. nahihiya na ko. :P) Argh. Frustrating I swear.

Well I didn't know what to do but when I found out that Proactiv has Skin Care Advisors ready and available to answer my acne related questions, I immediately got intrigued! Now this is something that Proactiv users and Proactiv-who-want-to-be-users might be interested in, especially if you have pressing concerns or questions about your acne and which Proactiv product is best for you. The Skin Care Advisor program was actually launched last Januaray 2014 and the Skin Care Advisors are technically Proactiv sales representatives who were trained to offer free acne care advice and after-sales support for customers. They went through the same training module created by Doctors Rodan and Fields and are well-informed advisors and knowledgeable to answer questions about Acne and Proactiv. It is their goal to provide customers one-on-one guidance on how to achieve a lifetime of clear skin. Though I have already learned a lot about Acne, asking someone with more know-how is still a wise choice! So I decided to try asking them myself and see if they can help me out.

So earlier, I decided to try and call up the Proactiv Skin Care Advisor "hotline" at Glorietta 2. I don't know about you but sometimes I get nervous when I call up and inquire through the phone coz sometimes the other person on the other end of the line is not pleasant and sometimes sound mataray (snooty). Do you have that dilemma too? Well let me reassure you, calling up the Skin Care Advisor is easy and so not intimidating!

Meet Ms. Gladys Flores - the Proactiv Skin Care Advisor stationed at Glorietta 2. 

I called up the Proactiv Kiosk at Glorietta 2 and Ms. Flores became my Skin Care Advisor over the phone. Here's a summary of my experience of my phone conversation with her:

The Skin Care Advisor was very friendly, engaging, and patient. 
The Skin Care Advisor, Miss Gladys Flores, answered the phone in a bright and pleasing voice. I told her about my dilemma and asked a lot of questions. She was very patient as she answered each question, and all in a friendly tone of voice! The whole time I talked with her, she was very accommodating and it didn't feel intimidating at all. If I'm going to rate her from 1-10 with 10 being the highest, I'd give her a score of 8.5. Let me assure you that you don't need to feel worried that they will snub you when you call. Oh and you can ask in English, Tagolog, or Taglish -- no worries.

The Skin Care Advisor was quite knowledgeable.
Based on how she responded to my questions, I'd rate her as a 9. Yes she answered all my questions very well! And oh did I ask a lot. After hearing my dilemma, she explained how acne was formed, the causes of acne, and how the Proactiv 3 step treatment can work for me. Of course I also asked what most of you were wondering -- how long before it starts working. And she assured me that you can actually notice the difference during a period of 2-3 weeks. There were a lot of other follow up questions and she was able to answer all and in fact even volunteered other related info that would be helpful to know. One tip she advised me for my annoying pimple was to use the Proactiv Refining Mask and dab a little bit of that on inflamed area and leave it on overnight. I've actually started doing that so its good to know that I'm doing the right thing! The Proactiv Refining Mask is indeed one add-on product that I really like from Proactiv (Click to read more about my blog post of Proactiv Refining Mask).

The Skin Care Advisor seems trustworthy. 
When it comes to skincare, we want to be armed with the best information possible for our skin type. And I feel reassured that the Proactiv Skin Care Advisors know what they are really talking about because they were trained well. This was evident even with just that phone call that I made. Miss Gladys Flores came off as someone who was trustworthy enough to be a source of good information for my skincare concerns. I'd rate her with a 9 as well in this area.

All in all, the Skin Care Advisor support through phone was very good! How much more if you get to talk to them in person! I bet they are able to more accurately assess what other Proactiv products would work for you and not only that reassure you that you are making the right decision in your skincare concerns.

Ask your Proactiv Skin Care Advisors for your Acne Concerns!

So Coffeeholics, do you have any acne concerns and want to know more on how to deal with it and also understand how Proactiv can help? Well there are two ways to get in touch with your Skin Care Advisor. First is to see and talk to them yourselves at the Proactiv Kiosks at Greenbelt 2, Trinoma, Marquee Mall, and Watsons. I'm pretty much sure that they are able to answer your concerns. So coffeeholics, do feel free to approach them!

But if you are too busy or unable to visit a Proactiv Kiosk, you can always call them up and get in touch with a Proactiv Skin Care Advisor. Here's the number to call: 729-2222.

For specific branches you can try these numbers:

• Proactiv Mall Kiosk GF, Glorietta 2 (in front of Bershka) at (02) 388-2848.
• Proactiv Mall Kiosk 2F, Trinoma (in front of Reebok) at (02) 380-3801.
• Proactiv Mall Kiosk GF, Marquee Mall (in front of Payless) at (0935) 834-1523

Or you may visit here for more info - http://my.proactiv.com.ph/skin-care-advisors.htm.