It's been a while since I've done a product review. To be honest, I recently managed to stop splurging on new beauty products and have been successfully able to stick to the products that work for my skin. However, every now and then, I allow myself to have "cheat days" but only when I need (e.g. I ran out of a product that is essential to my routine, say a cleanser, and decide to try another brand) or really want to (when there's a really good deal).

Well today, I'm going to review the Milk Cleanser with Dead Sea Minerals & Plant Extracts by Kedma Cosmetics.

Who is Kedma Cosmetics?

Kedma Cosmetics has been around for a while now. What makes it stand out among the other beauty brands is the Dead Sea minerals content in its products. It also takes pride on being paraben-free and cruelty-free.



Benefits of Dead Sea Minerals

You've probably heard of the Dead Sea, right? Yes, it's that salt lake located in the Jordan Rift Valley. Its water has a very high content of salt and its mud is rich in minerals, both of which are known for having several benefits, including skin benefits.

To name a few—improves psoriasis, helps treat acne, fights against aging, among others.

Review of Kedma Cosmetics Milk Cleanser with Dead Sea Minerals & Plant Extracts

If I'm going to be really honest with this review, then I have to tell you at this moment that this product was given to me by Kedma for testing purposes. However, before they sent me this product, I was contacted by a skin specialist who asked about my skin concerns. That is so they know which product would be best suited for my skin.

I told them my major skin problems are clogged pores and hyperpigmentation. They told me they would give me an update about the product that I'd be getting. A few days later, someone from Kedma was knocking at my door with a paper bag.



Prior to using this product, I was on a rejuvenating skin treatment for two months (which I will write about later). Instead of using the soap that came with the maintenance set because my skin reacted to it, I decided to use the Kedma Cosmetics Milk Cleanser instead.

It comes in an 80ml pump container. Once opened, you can use it for up to 12 months. With its white and gold color scheme, the packaging looks sleek and high-end.

In addition to the dead sea minerals, it also contains aloe vera leaf extract (a plus for me because I love aloe!) and olive fruit oil. Both of these provide numerous benefits to the skin including anti-aging, moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties, among others.



This is not your typical foam type of cleanser. In fact, it is comparable to Cetaphil cleanser (which I personally love) because they both don't lather when applied to the skin.

Kedma is also very specific in its directions of using the product: Apply the cleanser onto the skin massaging it gently over the face and neck. Remove residue with cotton pad. Use day and night as your first-step skin care treatment.

It says to use cotton pad, but I prefer to use facial tissue instead. Just look at how effective it is at removing makeup, and I only used two pumps to get this much dirt.


Cleansing wise, it works wonders!

Clogged pores? When I used this, I didn't have clogged pores to begin with because of the rejuvenating skin treatment I was on, but I'm still grateful that this product didn't clog my pores or trigger breakouts (which is a huge deal because my skin easily reacts to new products).

Hyperpigmentation? I've been using this cleanser for a month, and my acne scars are still there, although they did lighten a little. However, I cannot assure if that's because of this product or the maintenance toner and cream that I'm using, or neither. Hyperpigmentation fades over time, but perhaps somehow my skincare routine, which includes this product, has helped speed up the process.

Where to buy?

The Kedma Cosmetics Milk Cleanser with Dead Sea Minerals & Plant Extracts can be bought from Kedma Cosmetics' website for 50 USD or roughly Php2,500.

Update as of May 2020: Would you believe if I told you that this product only ran out last February? That's almost a year! And yes, I love it! I never had breakouts or any adverse reaction while using it. Hope this info helps!

Disclaimer: This product was sent to me for testing and reviewing purposes but all thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own and not influenced by the company and/or its affiliates in any way.

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Clear skin doesn't happen overnight. Religiously following a skincare routine is the mantra for most people who successfully achieved clear skin, but it's not as easy as many make it out to be.

I'm not gonna lie, whenever I buy new products, I get really excited to use them. During the first few days, I never skip doing my routine without even trying. But as days pass by, it becomes more and more difficult for me to stick to my routine. Yup, guilty! Some days I'm just too tired to do it my body can't get up from bed, some days I'm just feeling extremely lazy. However, I NEVER EVER skip my routine when wearing makeup. It's just totally gross and a sacrilegious beauty sin, if you ask me.

Recently, I've been trying really hard to fight my stubborn self and decided to come up with solutions to my not sticking well to my skincare routine. After a mix of research and brainstorm, the skincare gods finally answered my prayers and helped me come up with these two easy solutions!

#1. Use fewer products

News flash: You don't actually need all those viral 14 step skincare routine, for Pete's sake! Give your skin a break and lessen the products that you use. If you feel like a certain product isn't really doing its job to the fullest or it's making any change to your skin, then it would be better for you to bid it goodbye.

Personally, I do not use a lot of products. I used to, but not anymore. I just find most products unnecessary so I cut down my routine to just a few steps, five to be precise. If you're a minimalist like me, this may work for you too!

If you can't let go of any of the products you use, I don't blame you. Sometimes, those long ass skincare routine just works wonderfully for your skin, and you don't want to put yourself at risk by eradicating some products, right? Well, fret not! Just read on and see the next step to take!

#2. Track your Skincare Routine

Being systematic can help you accomplish a lot of things, and that includes your skincare routine. If you have a daily skincare routine tracker, it will help you be productive and accomplish your routine step-by-step. It will also inform you of the times when you fail to do your routine.

Personally, having a skincare routine tracker has helped me become more motivated in sticking to my routine. It just itches my eyes seeing unchecked boxes in my tracker and reminds me that I'm giving my skin a bad deal. It's pretty ugly, tbh.

Sunkissed may be in, but protection from the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays is still a total must! If you're looking for the best sunscreen for face, then you've come to the right place. Here, we listed some of the top sunscreens to choose from the market based on customer reviews, all priced below Php700!

But first, here's an important question—why should you use sunscreen? Many of you may already know this, but in case you're still wondering, here's why. The sun emits ultraviolet radiation which is harmful to the skin.  It damages the DNA of skin cells which promotes ageing, and thus, wrinkles will start showing up or get more noticeable. It is also found to be a contributing factor for skin cancer. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes ultraviolet radiation as "carcinogenic" to humans.

Given this fact, with the right sunscreen, your skin can get protected from these harmful UV rays. Yes, you read that right! So without further ado, here are some of the best sunscreens in 2019.



Face Republic Sun Gel SPF 50+ (P499)

Need sunscreen for oily skin? Face Republic is an up-and-coming brand, and it takes pride on its "Korean brand made for Filipina skin" tagline. I have seen how it progresses in a one year span, and I admit it's impressive how it's already making noise in the beauty industry in such short period. Anyways, one of their bestsellers is the Face Republic Sun Gel SPF 50+.

A non-sticky, non-greasy, lightweight gel, it is formulated with SPF 50+ and PA+++ to effectively shield your skin from the harmful sun rays. It also claims to soothe the skin, leaving you feeling fresh and radiant. I have seen a lot of user reviews saying that the Face Republic sunscreen gives you the dewy, glass skin look and there's barely need for foundation when using this, so I guess it really gives you the Korean skin vibe.



Belo SunExpert Tinted Sunscreen (P450)

Belo has already established its name in the Philippines so it's not surprising that their products are raved about by many beauty enthusiasts. Among their lines though stands out the Belo SunExpert Tinted Sunscreen.

This Belo sunscreen is one of the first tinted sunscreens in the Philippines and it has a whopping SPF 50 and PA+++. It claims to provide extreme sun protection while giving a no-makeup makeup look. It is designed with Tone Adapt Technology that helps even out skin tone, conceal fine lines, wrinkles, and other imperfections. Plus, you can use this sunscreen as primer! It also defends the skin from premature ageing through Cell Protect®. Indeed, Belo has come a long way in the beauty industry that it's in the forefront of utilizing the most advanced technology when it comes to skincare in the Philippines.



COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50 PA+++ (P690)

COSRX is a very popular Korean skincare brand. Many beauty enthusiasts and influencers have attested to the effectiveness of its products, and among the topnotch in the line is the COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream.

Infused with  aloe vera leaf water, this sun cream claims to effectively soothe and hydrate the skin while giving intense sun protection from UV radiation and other environmental damages. I am actually intrigued by this product because I love aloe vera, and you just can't resist a product that hits two birds with one stone, right? I think it's definitely worth the hype!



Althea Petal Velvet Sunaway (P480)

Althea has established its name well in the K-beauty industry. With aesthetic so quintessential in the Millennial era, it's no wonder many have come to love its products.

The Petal Velvet is a rather popular line of Althea, but the Petal Velvet Sunaway blows away its users with its undeniably marvelous claims. Infused with SPF 50+, PA+++, and damask rose extracts, this lightweight sunscreen promises to protect the skin from the sun's harmful UV rays while ensuring that your complexion stays fresh and hydrated without any streakiness or white cast. Living up to its name, it contains micro-powder particles, leaving you with smooth, petal-like complexion.



Bath Junkies Sun Kissed Sunblock Gel (P170)

Bath Junkies is a locally-curated bath and body brand, and the good thing about it is it's organic! I just came across this brand actually while browsing through BeautyMNL, and the cheap price and lots of user reviews caught my attention.

Bath Junkies Sun Kissed Sunblock Gel has a non-sticky formula like most sunscreens do nowadays. It also has anti-aging agents that block out the sun's UVA and UVB rays. Probably the downside about this sunscreen is it only contains SPF 15 which is why you have to apply it from time to time throughout the day. One tub also contains 20g of the product which I guess will only last you a short time, but I heard a little of this product goes a long way. For its price, I guess it's totally worth the shot.



Lauren & Co. Beauty Bare Skin Facial Sun Mist with SPF 70 (P299 / P499)

If you're not a fan of cream and gel formulated sunscreen, this is probably your best shot. Lauren & Co. is an independent locally owned business developed specifically to suit the Filipina skin and the Philippine's weather. It is geared towards championing healthy skin habits among young women.

The Lauren & Co. Beauty Bare Skin Facial Sun Mist comes in a spray bottle container. It leaves a sheer, dewy finish and its SPF 70 provides potent sun protection. It's also lightweight, non-greasy, and doesn't leave a white cast which is why you can use this as substitute to your makeup setting spray.



Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel (P532)

Biore is one of the most trusted brands in the beauty and skincare industry, which originated from Japan. Since Japan is in the forefront of technology advancement in the whole world, it's obvious even its beauty products used top-notch technology.

This Biore sunscreen is one of the most talked about products under the brand. The Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel contains unique Aqua Mico Capsules with UV block ingredient to effectively provide SPF 50+ and PA++++ sun protection. It has grease-free, weightless finish that gives you a fresh and radiant skin without leaving a white cast. Indeed, Biore remains among the most competent brands in the global beauty scene.

So what are you waiting for? Slather than sunscreen on and never be afraid to get kissed by the sun!

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