December Finds

My last post on this series for this year! Aaaah time flies so fast! Anyway, here are the things I got to try for the first time this month:

Daylong Sunscreen. After finishing the sunblock I got from my dermatologist, I decided to try something else. I was torn between Neutrogena moisturizer with SPF 15 and Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Complete UV Waterlight Lotion SPF 50 but I end up with this. LOL! I have been using this sunblock for almost a month already and so far I am loving it.

Ellana Minerals Lip Scrub. I read good reviews about this so I decided to get one for myself. I think this is ideal to those who loves to use matte lipsticks.

Glysolid Cream. My cousins who are based in Abu Dhabi usually bring home a few tin cans of this. I am using this on my underarms every night hoping that it will help lessen the chicken skin which I really hate.

Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream in Istanbul. This is my second shade from the soft matte line and I’m loving it so far. It’s warm pink and is one of the MLBB (my lips but better) lipsticks I have.

Review: Neutrogena SkinClearing Mineral Powder

Face powders and foundations are not as important to me as lipsticks. I can go to work or meet up with friends with just moisturizer and sunblock on my face but I can’t do the same without applying lipstick. I feel incomplete without that hint of color. Probably because of my lip’s discoloration, my confidence to go lipstick-less vanished. Since powders and foundations are not that important to me, I rarely buy them and I would just often throw old or expired ones that are half or barely-used. However, there are times when I want to look a bit more polished so I would go hunting for a good face powder.

My latest catch is this Neutrogena SkinClearing Mineral Powder. It’s my first time to buy a Neutrogena make up (I have used Neutrogena skin care products before) so I’m quite excited how this one fares…

Product Description

Neutrogena SkinClearing® Mineral Powder is the first and only gentle powder to blend soothing minerals with MicroClear® technology that cuts quickly through oil to speed the delivery of maximum-strength acne medicine straight to the source of breakouts. SkinClearing Mineral Powder works quickly to treat and help prevent breakouts blemishes without the dryness or flakiness of other acne treatments.

• Oil-free
• Non-comedogenic
• Gentle, non-irritating
• Dual-sided applicator gives the perfect level of coverage

Review: Gran Tierra Suites Cebu

After our three day escapade in Bohol, we went back to Cebu for supposedly a bit more adventure. But since it's already around 8pm when we arrived in Cebu and yours truly got sick, we decided to just stay in the hotel for more R & R and just wait for our flight back home the next day.

Three months before our trip, I already booked our hotels and that includes this hotel in Cebu - Gran Tierra Suites. I booked through TravelBook.ph as they were having a promo at that time. I paid php 541 only for a room that is supposed to cost Php 883 per night. Gran Tierra Suites is located in Don Mariano Cui corner Don Jose Avila Capitol near the Osmeña Circle. I chose this hotel as it is near the hot spots but unfortunately, we weren’t able to spend the night outside because “someone” needs to rest. (Note: some taxi drivers do not know this hotel so better give the exact address as well as some nearby landmarks)

Gran Tierra Suites Double Room (credit:grantierrasuites.com)

If you have read my TravelBook.ph post, there is one comment there (made by someone who also booked through TravelBook.,ph), that they had problem during check in. It took almost one hour waiting time before they were accommodated and allowed to get in their reserved room as the hotel staff has to verify with TravelBook.ph if a booking is indeed made. Upon reading the comment, I immediately contacted the hotel directly to verify if there is a booking made under my name. Fortunately, they replied with a yes.

When we got there, I gave them my booking confirmation and after signing some receipts, etc, we were ushered to our room. I am thankful that we didn’t encounter any problem, thanks to my blog commenter.

Review: Dickinson Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner

I have always wanted to get this since a long time ago but I can’t find one anywhere because there is no Healthy Option outlet nor seller in Iloilo. When I shopped online for our organic shampoos, I discovered that the seller also carries this and many other organic products of various brands. So without further hesitation, I added this to my shopping cart and got my hands on it a couple of days after.

I started using this around the time my acne problem is 90% healed. If I got this earlier, when my acne is still at its worst, I might have hold off using as I do not want to sabotage my treatment. I know this Dickinson Witch Hazel Toner is natural and has lots of good reviews but I am just cautious to prevent those pesky pimples from ruining my face again. So is it causing my pimples? Find out...

Product Description

Since 1866, our original formula is still the only gentle, non-irritating, oil-controlling skin care product made with Original Witch Hazel. Our natural facial toners gently remove excess oil and impurities without overdrying, leaving your skin soft, smooth and naturally balanced.

• Refines Pores
• Removes and controls oils
• Soothes irritation
• Locks in moisture

Review: Panglao Regents Park Resort

It’s been a month since our trip to Bohol and I have not finished working on my posts yet. I might be able to publish all of them next year. :D Anyway, for this post, I will be talking about our home while we were in Bohol - Panglao Regents Park Resort. We were there for three nights and we didn’t have any trouble all through the duration of our stay there (except for me getting sick, I guess).

Panglao Regents Park Resort, frequented by foreign tourists, is in Ester A Lim Drive though can be easily accessed from the highway as it is only just few meters away. Given the location, the resort is obviously not beachfront but the famous Alona beach is just walking distance.

We arrived at the resort past six in the evening through commuting. When we checked in at the front desk, we were accommodated by friendly and competent staff. Since I booked online through booking.com, I was asked for the credit card I used. After confirmation of my credit card, we were then reminded of the hotel’s rules, which for me I think is necessary to avoid conflicts later on.

Main building

The standard room I reserved is in their annex just across the street (that’s the cheapest deal when I made the reservation). The annex building has only three floors and we are on the third. They do not have elevator or escalator but that wasn’t a problem to us. We are kind of used to it already as our office is also on the third floor and we do not have elevator or escalator either. A little exercise won’t hurt! Besides, they also offered to carry our bags but my husband refused since the staff taking us to our room is a girl and we only have one trolley bag. It’s nothing to a man who tries to lifts weights everyday. :D

Review: Milea Calamansi Soap

The use of organic soaps is not new to me. In fact, I have tried a few kinds already and all have varying effects. One thing I love about organic soaps is that they are made of natural ingredients like papaya, calamansi, milk and many others. Recently, I tried Milea (All Organics) Calamansi Soap because I was attracted with its deodorizing claims. I was on the process of switching to natural underarm deodorant at that time and I was thinking that with the help of this soap, I may skip using any deodorant during less active days and still feel confident that I won’t stink.

Photo credit: milea.ph

Find out how Milea Calamansi Deodorizing Soap fares...

Product Description

The Calamansi extract in Milea's Organic Calamansi soap is particularly useful in eliminating strong and harsh odors, especially the distinct smell that accompanies fish that may linger on hands or a cutting board.

Milea's Calamansi soap can help wash away dull and dry skin and also help with acne.

Commuting from Cebu to Panglao, Bohol via Tubigon

Traveling is one of the activities that makes me really happy. Being in a new place gives me that unexplainable kind of high. However, traveling can be damaging to the bank account if you are not resourceful enough to find cheaper routes, modes of transportation, hotels and the likes. That is why before we travel, I always plan ahead of time. Our itinerary (and sometimes our hotel reservations) is made months prior. Doing so made me confident that everything will go smoothly although that is not the case always.

During our recent trip to Bohol, I made a thorough research as to how to make our trip smooth-sailing without spending too much. My first trip to Bohol was a couple or so years ago and we reached the province via Tubigon (through chartered van though). It felt just right to go the same route this time so I decided that we take the Cebu - Tubigon ferry. Additionally, reading lots of blog posts that commuting from Tubigon to Tagbilaran is easy and cheaper confirmed that it’s the best thing to do.

Review: Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream

A new lipstick makes my world go round! LOL! But yes, owning a new lipstick, especially a shade that is not in my arsenal, is making me really happy. The recent addition to my humble collection is this Nyx Soft Matte. This isn’t my first product from the brand as I have a few shades of Nyx Round Lipstick before and one Nyx Matte Lip Cream. I think the Round Lipstick is one of the factors that got me hooked to shades outside the MLBB (my lips but better) shades. If only, the formulation of this one is better, I might have stuck to it. Anyway, this time around, I will be reviewing the Soft Matte Lip Cream from Nyx.

Product Description

Neither lipstick nor lip gloss, this matte lip cream is a new kind of lip color that goes on silky smooth and sets to a matte finish. Soft Matte Lip Cream is surprisingly durable and, unlike some matte lipstick formulas, also moisturizing.

My Christmas Wish list

Christmas is just a couple of weeks away. And while I already did a little Christmas shopping for myself, there are still a few things that I want to get. Hence I am sharing my Christmas wish list hoping that Santa go techie and decide to read blogs and chance upon mine. :D

For beauty and fashion, here are the things I have been lusting for:

Ellana Mineral Primer. I know this shouldn’t be on the Christmas wish list as it isn’t even that expensive. However, I can only get this online and they are out of stock in Zalora. This product is available in Ellana.com.ph but I prefer buying from Zalora as there are other items I want to buy from there aside from make up. So yes my point is, I want to save on shipping and I am not that uber make up addict to lust a lot of products that would cost Php 1600 which will entitle me to free shipping. :D

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Striking. This is another thing I can easily get from a friend who sells authentic US brand makeup cheaper than that in the malls but I am banning myself from buying any new lipstick until I have used at least 50% of the ones I already got. I know a girl can never have too many lipsticks but I am also a frugal one so I am torn in between. :D

MAC Lipstick. A stingy girl like me buying a MAC lipstick is an indication that I have already reached the stage of ultimate addiction. I know it isn’t much compared to others but this is me. :D I have been lusting to get one for a couple of years already and I am sooo close to the edge. If ever I decide to get one (or two!), maybe I’d get Ruby Woo, Russian Red or Dark Side.

Complete Skin Care from a reliable brand. The problem with this is, I don’t know what brand is reliable enough to deliver its claims and most of all, will not trigger another acne breakout. Ever since I had that breakout which lasted for more than half a year, my confidence in trying new products diminished. I have been sticking to products recommended by my dermatologist for months now and things can get boring sometimes. :D I miss the fun of trying a new product for the first time. Also, I know that I am not getting any younger and I am seeing the need to add something to my skin care regimen to slow down aging, if not prevent it. What scares me in buying such products is that they will trigger my acne. Isn’t it annoying when an expensive product causes you negative skin reaction? Ugh! Ultimate pet peeve.

Review: Human Heart Nature Natural Strengthening Shampoo

My hair used to be my big beauty problem until acne took over. During the time that my acne is difficult to control, I changed so many things in my regimen including my hair care products. I switched to natural hair care products hoping that it will hasten the improvement of my face but it didn’t only helped me with my acne problems, it improved the health of my hair too. The product I am referring to? Its Human Heart Nature Shampoo and Conditioner from the Strengthening line. Since I have reviewed the conditioner months ago, I will only be reviewing the shampoo.

Product Description

96.4% Natural | SLS/SLES-free

Save your hair before it’s gone! Our Natural Strengthening Shampoo is infused with hydrolyzed protein to fortify your hair, and Philippine coco nectar, a revolutionary ingredient that bursts with amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Our breakthrough CREAMFoam® technology acts like a lotion to moisturize your hair and scalp, leaving you with hair so much stronger, healthier, and shinier!

For silky strong hair, follow up your shampoo with our 100% Natural Strengthening Conditioner.

Available in Cool Peppermint and Soothing Aloe scents

Did You Know? Enjoying that foamy lather you get from chemical shampoos? It’s usually from chemical surfactants such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). Sure, the lather feels nice but do you ever wonder what happens to all that foam after you rinse it off? It goes back into our rivers and oceans, where it is very toxic to the ecosystem.

In addition, SLS/SLES has been reported by the Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org) as a moderate hazard to human health. It’s been linked to skin irritation, cancer and organ toxicity.

Bohol Itinerary and Travel Expenses

Our recent Bohol trip is one for the books. Not that it’s extraordinary or something but it is because I got sick during the trip and we needed to go to a hospital in Tagbilaran (we were staying in Panglao) to see a doctor. Thankfully, it didn’t ruin our schedule… only our budget. :D

Anyway, I am sharing to you our itinerary and summary of expenses  for future reference.

Day 1
Time	Destination/Activity	Expense	Cost/Pax	Price for 2
09:30 - 10:00	SM City Iloilo to Airport	Van	70	140
12:10 - 12:50	Iloilo to Cebu via Cebu Pacific	Plane		1250
		Terminal	200	400
	MCIAA to Cebu Port	Taxi		194
02:00 - 03:00	Cebu to Tubigon Port via Starcraft (Economy)	Ferry	220	440
	Port to bus terminal	Tricycle	10	20
03:15 - 04:30	Tubigon to Tagbilaran	Bus	50	100
05:00 - 06:00	Tagbilaran to Panglao	Jeep	25	50
	Panglao Regents Park Resort			1500
Total Expenses for Day 1		4094
Day 2 Island Hopping (Dolphin watching, Balicasag Island and Pungtod Island)
Time	Destination/Activity	Expense	Cost/Pax	Price for 2
05:45 - 06:00	Assembly time at Alona Beach
06:00 - 06:30	Travel to dolphin watching area	Boat rent		1500
06:30 - 07:00	Chased the dolphins
07:00 - 07:30	Travel to Balicasag Island
07:30 - 10:30	Snorkelling, swimming at Balicasag	Entrance	50	100
		Guide	150	300
10:30 - 12:00	Rest, lunch
12:00 - 12:30	Travel to Pungtod Island
12:30 - 02:00	Pungtod Island
02:00 - 02:30	Travel back to Alona Beach
	Panglao Regents Park Resort			1500
Total Expenses for Day 2		3400
Day 3 Supposed to be our beach-bumming/chill day but I had to be brought to the hospital. I will not include our hospital expenses here since it isn’t supposed to be here. :D
	Panglao Regents Park Resort			1500
Day 4 Countryside Tour (Tarsier Conservation Center, Loboc Ecotourism Park, Chocolate Hills, Loboc River Cruise, Blood Compact Site and Aproniana Souvenir Shop) I lost track of the time here since it easy to do so when you are having fun. :D With that, I just included our expenses.
Time	Destination/Activity	Expense	Cost/Pax	Price for 2
08:15 - 04:15	Countryside tour	Car rent		2000
	Tarsier Conservation Center	Entrance	50	100
	Loboc Ecotourism Park	Cable car	250
	Loboc Ecotourism Park	Cable car/ zipline combination	350
	Lunch of driver (optional)			100
04:30 - 05:50	Tagbilaran Port
06:00 - 07:45	Tagbilaran - Cebu via Weesam (Tourist)	Ferry	375	750
	Cebu Port to Gran Tierra Suites	Taxi		150
	Gran Tierra Suites			550
Total Expenses for Day 4		3650
Day 5
Time	Destination/Activity	Expense	Cost/Pax	Price for 2
10:00 - 10:45	Hotel to MCIAA	Taxi		220
10:45 - 01:00	Waiting time (flight is supposed to be 12:30)
01:00 - 02:00	Cebu to Iloilo (heavy air traffic)			1250
02:00 - 02:30	Airport to SM City Airport Shuttle Terminal	Van	50	100
Total Expenses for Day 5		1570
Total Expenses for the WHOLE trip		14214

Notes:

• I didn’t include the amount we spent on foods as it varies per person. For us, we usually pay not less than Php 500 for lunch and dinner (for two persons) and usually lesser for breakfast. Maybe we spent not more than Php 5000 for food for the whole trip.
• For tours like island hopping and countryside tour, you can join other tourists (group tours) to save on costs/rent but we opted not to join so that can do whatever activity we want or go to spots we are only interested in without having to consider other tourists in the group.

November Finds

It’s the time of the month again! I can’t believe November came by so quickly and we are now approaching the busiest time of the year. Aaaahhh! I am stressed with all the activities, personal errands and workload this month and I do not even want to think about what is in store for me this December. Can I buy a clone? :D

Anyway, for my monthly finds, I have gotten but only one product this month:

 

Neutrogena Skin Clearing Mineral Powder. I got this because I wanted to look a little bit polished without loading on foundation. This one has sheer to medium coverage that is perfect for everyday use. It’s a bit expensive for a powder but I think it is worth it. Review of this product will be posted soon.

So there goes my one and only purchase. I’m afraid it will be the same next month as I don’t intend to get any new beauty products since I am planning to buy a new pair of kicks. :D

Review: Deonat Mineral Deodorant Stick

I am not the type of person who changes my deodorant as often as I change my lipstick or even powder. I just find it difficult to build a trust on a new product when underarm smell is concerned. I am very particularly when it comes to protection my deo gives me. I just couldn’t afford to smell like I have a bad underarm odor even on just one occasion. For me, I’d rather have ugly underarms than a smelly one. But if I can have both pretty and odor-free, then why not?

I have been using Dove Ultimate White Deodorant for years but using the same product for such a long time can get boring at times. Besides, I am slowly switching to using natural products so while I was at the Human Heart Nature store one evening, I picked up their Premium Deodorant out of the blue. I have been reading not-so-good reviews about it but then, I believe that what did not work for others may work for me so I went ahead with the purchase. However, after a few days of use, I have proven that the product is not really for me so I went to look for other alternatives. Then I came upon this Deonat Mineral Deodorant Stick. Actually, this is not the first time I use a product from the brand because I loved their Natural Mineral Deodorant Roll-on before so I am somewhat hopeful that this will not fail me.

Keep reading for my review...

Product Description

Deonat Mineral Deodorant Stick is safe and effective deodorant made from ammonium alum and contains no colouring, preservative or any other additive that could irritate the skin.

It reduces perspiration, leaving the skin it touches dry and comfortable.
It prevents the bacteria that cause body odor.
It provides protection all day long.
It does not stain clothes.
It does not leave any filmy residue.
It does not block pores, and whitens the underarm area naturally.

Review: Human Heart Nature Premium Deodorant

Ever since I switched to Dove deodorant, I stuck to it for years because it has been giving me great results. The results I am getting may not be perfect but they are good enough to make me use the product for years. But sometimes, no matter how great the product is, there’s a possibility that they are ditched because the user either wants something more effective or is simply bored of using and buying the same product again and again.

One evening while shopping to replenish my Human Heart Nature favorites, I decided to add their Premium Deodorant to my cart. I have read lots of reviews about this product and some says it is good while majority do not find this product effective at all. My decision to buy a new product greatly depends on reviews from bloggers but sometimes I am feeling adventurous thus made me decide to get this.

So is it worth the risk?

Product Description

100% Natural
 
Why take a risk when it comes to your deo protection? Switch to natural goodness with our Premium Deodorant! It gives better odor-masking and longer deo protection that can last all day so now you can stay active without worry.

Get 10 deo benefits in 1 deo brand:

• 100% natural
• No body odor
• No dark underarms caused by chemical alcohol
• Helps lighten underarms
• Smoothens underarms
• No aluminum
• No phthalates (synthetic fragrance)
• No parabens
• No triclosan

Review: GT Bleaching Soap

I am not obsessed with whitening products. In fact, I feel a bit sad for those who are not contented with their skin color and chose to spend loads just to have that fair skin just like their celebrity idols. I may sound hypocrite for saying this as the topic of my review is a bleaching soap but I got this soap in the hopes of evening out my skin tone, not whitening my skin in a major way. When I bought this soap, I was actually looking for exfoliating soap but somehow I wind up to this. LOL! This is my first time to use a bleaching soap so I’m writing this review in a first timer’s point of view. :D

Product Description.
Nature's way to beautiful skin.

 

October Finds

 

It’s already nth day of November and I’m posting my October finds just now. With my husband being sick a couple of weeks ago, never-decreasing workload and the Halloween activities in the office (which for us is a month-long effort), I rarely have time to fart. LOL! Anyway, last month’s finds were mostly organic/natural including:

1. Deonat Natural Mineral Deodorant. It is not my first time to use a Deonat product but first time of this type. Yes, I am serious about switching to natural products so I made a gamble with this. Gamble because for me, deodorant is one of the most risky hygiene products to replace. You cannot be sure whether or not it will give you the protection you need and I will definitely die of embarrassment if someone thinks that I have body odor.
2. Dickinson Witch Hazel Toner. I have been wanting to get this for the longest time ever but I can’t find one in stores near me. However, I learned that an eBay seller from which I get my husband’s organic shampoo also sells this product so I added this to my haul.
3. Ilog Maria Royal Jelly Facial Oil. I decided to include this to my haul after reading that it can be used as night cream and rejuvenate and restore aging, dry and sensitive skin. Not that I need something for aging but more like I want to prevent its effects. And I failed to realize that this one is good for dry skin, which is of course not recommended for me since I have oily skin. I am now using this on my neck and sometimes underarms hoping that it can help with my chicken skin.
4. Milea Tea Tree Shampoo. I got this from the same eBay seller I mentioned above. This is not the first time I use the shampoo from this brand but first time with this variant. I read that this is good for dandruff and though I no longer suffer from it, I want to prevent the problem from ever coming back so I added this to my haul as well.
5. Milea Calamansi Clarifying & Deodorizing Soap. This soap claims to have deodorizing effect, something I find ideal when you are trying to switch to natural products. With this soap, I am hoping that I can skip the use of deodorant on less active days.

I am using all these products regularly except for the Ilog Maria Royal Jelly (once a week only… or whenever I remember) and I will be posting my reviews in the coming days.

Review: Epilady Speed

I have always wanted to buy an epilator. But given that I live under the rock, I can’t find it in any store near me. So when I was given the opportunity to have it, I didn’t look back. Yes, I still live under the rock but I bought the epilator from Amazon through a friend whose business is buying from abroad, have it shipped here and sell it to people who are also living under the rock like me. LOL!

Kidding aside, I am just glad that I get to use this after just looking at it in the internet for a looong time. :D

Epilady Speed 810-44

Product Description. The Epilady speed is a corded epilator, specifically designed for fast and easy hair removal. The speed is small and compact, but delivers full power and efficiently removes hair all over the body for up to 4-6 weeks. The speed is equipped with the perfect angle guide, which puts the user in the perfect angle for epilation for great results the first time. Removes hair safely from the arms, legs, underarms, bikini and face (do not use around the eyes). Smooth, quiet and efficient, the speed is one of our fastest epilators yet! Kit includes adapter, perfect angle guide, cleaning brush, and instruction manual.

Review: Sophia Birth Control Pills

DISCLAIMER: I am not in any way associated with this product nor have medical background about this matter. I am simply a blogger who decided to share my experience with this product. If you are confused about the dosage, schedule, etc., better consult a doctor to be safe.

Though I expected that I might use this product somehow, it never crossed my mind to review and post it here. But when I searched for reviews of this product after my Ob/Gyne prescribed this to me, I learned that there isn’t much written about this in the web so I decided to write about this in order to share my experience to other new users. Actually, this is not a new drug but maybe not as popular as the others hence the lack of review.

Since we are planning to delay the coming of our little bundle of joy due to a couple of trips we already booked, one for next month and the other for March next year, we decided to go for birth control. Initially, I wanted the injectable method to keep me safe for three months but upon the advice of my co-workers who went through the same route, I changed my mind and went for birth control pills.

I went to my Ob/Gyne to ask for prescription and advice as to the proper use since I am a first timer. She gave me this particular drug as she has some samples available.

Use.

My monthly period came on the 14th September and I went to see my Ob/Gyne on the 16th, a Tuesday. Since birth control pill packs should start on a Sunday, she advised me to take the Sunday pill on the 16th (night), Monday and Tuesday pills on 17th (Wednesday, one in the morning, one at night) and Wednesday and Thursday pills on 18th (Thursday, one in the morning, one at night). This is to catch up for the missed days which I am supposed to be taking the pills. The next day, I started taking one pill everyday (every night).

Side Effects.

This pill isn’t without its side effects. First week into the pack, I felt dizzy, a bit nauseous and I experienced few palpitations. I also woke up to a terrible headache on one of the days during the first week. And being a paranoid migraine-sufferer that I am, I decided to just stay in bed for fear that things may get worse when I am in the office or worse, when I’m on the road.

Review: Wet n Wild Megalast Lipstick

Ever since my pimples got worse, I started avoiding putting on makeup including foundation, powder and blush on. I apply the stuff mentioned only when really necessary such as during special occasions. However, if there is one makeup I can never avoid, that is lipstick. I apply lipstick almost every time I go out of the house except when I go out to jog. But despite that, I once banned myself from buying new lipstick because I still have a few bullets around and I want to finish those before buying new ones. Frugal girl here!

However, there are times when the pull of those pretty lip colors are stronger than my desire to be frugal so more often, I give in and make me feel good about myself by wearing new (and often bright!) lip colors. My latest purchase is a testament of how much I love bright colors in matte. Presenting… the Wet n’ Wild Megalast Lipstick!

I’ve got a couple of colors (for now) namely; Red Velvet and Pinkerbell. I originally wanted to get Stoplight Red but it wasn’t available so I got the Red Velvet instead. My quest for that classic red lipstick is still on, by the way.

So without further ado, here’s my review…

Philippine-Based Forums for Women

Lately, I have become addicted to online forums to the point that I visit my favorite forums almost every day, sometimes every two hours. Forums give me that sort of freedom to express my opinion without the fear of getting bashed, or at least not by people I personally know. From beauty tips to married life, recipes and even finance matters, I always get my daily dose of information from forums.

Whether you want to get tips about anything under the sun, want to give advice to other forum (and problematic) posters, want someone to talk to or just want to look around and read other people’s stories, here are some forum sites you may want to consider:

Girltalk

This forum is under FemaleNetwork.com and is my favorite forum right now. I check this site often than my work allows. LOL! One thing I love this post is that it covers various areas including finance, beauty and fashion, family life, relationships, health, travel and entertainment.  If I am allowed to access only one forum in a day, this would be it. My favorite sections are Savings and Investments, Let’s Primp and Prettify and recently, Married Life.

Fun Fearless Forum

I am not a member of this forum and I only visit the site rarely (like once a month or once every quarter). While this is under the umbrella of one of the country’s most popular magazines, this is not as updated as Girltalk.

So far these are the only forum I know catered for women. Of course, these forums have male members as well but majority of the members are female. Also, there are many other popular Philippine-based forums but they are not specifically created for women thus I didn’t include them in this list. If I miss something which you think should be in here, please let me know in the comment section.

Start Christmas Shopping Now with Nordstrom

Christmas is still a couple of months from now but with the demands of our everyday lives, we sometimes forget that time flies so fast and before we know it, it’s Christmas already. And with parties, celebrations and events here and there during Christmas time, we tend to cram when it comes to shopping for our loved ones, or even for ourselves. When cramming happens, we sometimes end up settling for something that is available rather than something that is what we really wanted.

But why cram when you can shop now? No need to wait for holiday sale and promos. Nordstrom, a leading fashion specialty retailer offers compelling clothes, shoes and accessories for everyone at pocket-friendly prices all-year round in addition to using Nordstrom promo codes. What started as a small shoe shop in Seattle is now the leading fashion retailer today with 117 full-line stores in the United States and one in Canada, 155 Nordstrom Rack locations, two Jeffrey boutiques and one clearance store. Shoppers living in areas or countries without Nordstrom store or rack need not feel sad because the company also caters to online customers from 96 countries through Nordstrom.com.

Customers do not only have easy access to fashionable items through the company’s e-commerce site Nordstromrack.com but they can also acquire such pieces with considerable savings especially if they make use of Nordstrom coupon code which they always give out for customers to enjoy.

September Finds

No, you don’t have to wake me up! I’m wide awake the whole month of September. LOL! To those who do not get it, that is in reference to Green Day’s Wake Me Up When September Ends.

Third quarter of 2014 is over and we’re approaching the last quarter which is also the busiest (at least for me). The months of August and September were busy enough for me so what more when October, November and December come? I may not have time to fart anymore. LOL! Anyway, since it is the end of the month once more, it’s time for another "finds" post. Below is the list of my September finds:

1. Glamworks Charcoal Nose Strip. This isn’t my first time to use a nose strip and not even a first time to buy Glamworks since I have used the classic/original variant in the past. I find this charcoal variant intriguing so I went for it this time.
2. Epilady Speed Epilator. I have always wanted to get an epilator since waxing at home can be quite tedious. But finding an epilator in my city is almost like finding a needle in a huge pile of hay so it took me a long time to get one for myself. LOL! I had this for a month and have been using it almost every week.
3. Hair Fix Keratin Straight. I rarely use stuff such as this now because my hair have become less frizzy ever since I switched to natural shampoo and conditioner. However, I wanted to look a bit polished during the wedding of a friend so I got this hoping that it will make my hair more manageable.
4. Shawill brush. I wanted to buy a retractable brush for hygienic purposes (especially when I travel) but somehow wind up to getting this. I have used this less than five time only and I am not sure whether I love this or not. :D
5. GT Bleaching Soap. I was looking for an exfoliating soap but I also wind up to getting this, somehow - one of the many moments wherein I planned to buy something then end up buying a different thing.

Quote of the Month: Death and Regrets

Death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it. - Haruki Murakami, Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman: 24 Stories

This quote is just fitting with my current situation right now. No, no one in my circle died recently. It’s just that it’s my only brother’s birthday tomorrow. He died almost five years ago. He was 25 when he died and is supposed to be celebrating his 30th tomorrow.

The pain of his sudden death was devastating that until now, I feel that I haven’t completely gotten over his passing. What is making me sadder is that, we had a little argument a couple of days before he died and we haven’t talked much since that day. I didn’t see this coming, no one in the family did. He was completely healthy and nothing seems off about him or something. He was his old self but all of sudden, my mother woke up to him snoring louder than usual and that’s it. He was rushed to the hospital but declared DOA (dead on arrival).

His death is the most painful event of my life by far, more painful than not winning that journalism contest I have been preparing for in high school, more painful than not passing that government scholarship in college and even more painful than cancelling my planned wedding and asking refund from the church and reception venue. I was devastated and mad at myself for not talking to him days prior to his death. I believe that is what made it more painful for me. That, at the last days of his life, I wasn’t able to make it better for him. I failed at letting him feel that I care about him.

TravelBook.ph and Booking.com: A Comparison

In one post, I talked about booking a hotel through TravelBook.ph and in separate post, I talked about booking through Booking.com. In this post, I will be comparing the two booking sites but I will only be talking about value for money, not the ease of booking as I already touched that area in each individual post.

It is normal for both sites to claim that they offer the best value for your money and that makes it confusing to most people including me. At first, I was torn between these two sites as I wanted to book through one site only. But the hotels in my shortlist are not available for booking through one site only so I didn’t had a choice but to book through two sites; TravelBook.ph for our overnight stay in Cebu and Booking.com for our 3-night stay in Panglao.

I am happy and satisfied with the booking I made with TravelBook.ph as it is indeed evident that I availed a discount. Let’s say the rate of hotel A based on the hotel’s website is Php 1000 for a standard room. TravelBook.ph offers 35% discount for that particular hotel/room so the cost is supposedly 650 but you have to pay for the 12% tax which is Php 78 (12% of Php 650) so the total amount that will be charged to my credit card is Php 728. Indeed, when I checked my account online (and also when the paper bill arrived), the amount stated when I made the booking is what appeared on my bill.

Whereas with Booking.com, they make you believe that you are getting a good deal but in fact, you will be charged with the same amount the hotel will charge you when you book with them directly. Take for example the hotel I booked with them. In the hotel’s website, my preferred room costs Php 1500/night. So for three nights, I will be paying Php 4500 (including taxes) if I book directly with the hotel. When I booked with Booking.com, my total room price is said to be Php 4017.87 (less discounts already). However, I failed to see the small text below the total room that says “VAT (12%) not included”. Being the first timer that I am, I proceeded with the payment only to realize later than the amount reflected on my credit card bill is “drum rolls”... Php 4500. The same if I booked with the hotel directly.  I felt bad for the confusion and felt worse when I tried to check TravelBook.ph for the same hotel a couple of weeks after. Check the comparison below:

Hotel rate via TraveBook.ph

Hotel rate via Booking.com

Booking with Booking.com

Before I booking our hotel for our Cebu trip this coming November, I already booked our Panglao hotel through booking.com. Prior to this, I didn't consider booking our hotel through booking.com much more consider Panglao Regents Resort as our home for our three day-stay in the island of Panglao. I later realized that the booking was my spur of the moment decision as I was swayed by the “discount” that can be availed through the site.

Like with TravelBook.ph, I didn't have an account with Booking.com so I created an account with them first prior to making my booking. Also, it is mandatory to confirm your email address before confirming any booking. Reserving your hotel with Booking.com is pretty straightforward.

First, you have to enter your trip details such as destination/hotel name, check in/ check out date and number of guests in the search box. After hitting the “search” button, you will be given the list of hotels available for booking through them. You can then categorize the listing by recommendation, prize, stars, location and review score. With the stars and review score, it isn’t difficult to determine whether the potential hotel is of good quality or not.

List of hotels that can be booked through Booking.com

Uses of Baking Soda… for me!

Ever since I discovered the many uses of baking soda, I haven’t been without it. I have used it in more ways than I expected and I’m gladly sharing it here:

For the hair

Dandruff. Back in the day when dandruff is ruling my world, I used baking soda to wash my hair and scalp after soaking them on calamansi. It lessens dandruff and prevents itching for up to three days.

Clarifying Shampoo. Each time I feel like my hair is suffering from product build up, I use baking soda to wash my hair instead of shampoo. Hair feels clean after washing.

For the skin

Exfoliate. I admit my skin is not as smooth as I want it to be and when I see the need to exfoliate, I prefer using natural remedies whenever possible. I add a pinch of baking soda to my facial wash/soap to exfoliate my face and a little more when exfoliating my body like my underarms. Given that it comes in small particles, it is less abrasive compared to other exfoliating products with huge beads/granules.

For health.

UTI. We all know that girls are prone to UTI given our body’s structure. I do not suffer from it often but there are times when I feel like it is about to develop. Each time I get the early signs of the infection, I would usually take a glass of water mixed with a teaspoon baking soda. The mixture taste awful but for me it is better alternative to taking antibiotics for 7 days. It gives faster relief too! A couple of hours after taking the baking soda and water mixture, I no longer get that burning sensation during urination and I no longer feel the need to urinate every five minutes. Just make sure to drink plenty of water after taking the mixture to encourage urination and eventually cleanse your bladder. One dose is enough to stop the infection from progressing, however if you are already suffering for days, it is best to see your doctor for proper medication.

For cleaning.

Combs and makeup brushes. Shampoo or lactacyd baby bath mixed with baking soda.

Household appliance. I mix baking soda and dishwashing liquid to clean our oven, refrigerator, etc.

Bathroom, sink and toilet bowl. I usually let baking soda sit for at least 30 minutes before brushing.

Stain remover. Some of our plastic wares have stains from green leafy vegetables so I sometimes soak them in water, dishwashing liquid, calamansi and baking soda mixture. The mixture may not leave our wares spotless but at least it lessens the stain and it is a better alternative to using bleach.

Odor-remover. I sometimes sprinkle our trash can with baking soda to lessen the smell.

Apparently, baking soda is an all-around household stuff for me and I’m thankful that it is not difficult to acquire. It can be bought from various grocery stores and not expensive either. Hurray for natural remedies! :D

Do you also find baking soda useful?

Dandruff be gone with Lactacyd Baby Bath

I started suffering from mild dandruff early this year. Since it is mild and I'm not a big fan of expensive chemical-filled products, I decided to treat it with natural remedies. During weekends, I would usually massage my scalp with calamansi and let it soak for at least 30 minutes. Afterwhich, I would rinse it with water mixed with baking soda and then finish it off with conditioner as baking soda is very drying to the hair. With this remedy, my hair remains itch-free for at least three days so in other words, I need to do the procedure twice a week to ensure that my scalp remains itch-free throughout the week. That is not convenient to me given my workload so I started looking for something else. I have tried using a couple of organic shampoos (Nanny Rose’ Gugo & Lawat Shampoo and Lauat Herbal Hair Treatment Shampoo) available in department stores but seems like they are not enough to help me with my problem so my search continues until I remembered reading the label of Lactacyd Baby Bath that it is recommended to those with seborrhea (dandruff).

I bought a small bottle and put it on trial right away. I ditched my shampoo and wash my hair with this paying attention to my scalp. I let it stay for around a couple of minutes, rinse and then apply conditioner while avoiding the scalp. Take note that this is not a miracle cure so result may not be seen after one use. The result is actually gradual. It takes a few washes before the result is seen and it even took more than one small bottle before I became dandruff-free.

Hotel Booking through Travelbook.ph

Since the first time I traveled in which all my reservations and bookings were done online, I became hooked; both to traveling and booking everything with the help of internet. Every year from then on, I make it a point to travel to at least one city or province or major tourist attraction in the country. Of course that doesn’t include a few weekend getaways to neighboring islands or towns. I just love how a lot of things can be done online and that includes booking for a flight, hotel reservation and tour packages. It isn't even impossible to tell if a hotel has good reputation or not due to lots of reviews available online.

And being one of the group’s trip organizers (have experienced organizing a trip for 17 people); some would expect that I am expert when it comes to this and must have tried various booking sites, apps and the likes. But that is not the case with me. It was only recently when I started using sites such as booking.com and TravelBook.ph to book my hotel. I check these sites from time to time to read reviews and compare rates but I haven’t booked through them as I prefer booking with the hotel directly.

TravelBook.ph homepage

August Finds

August! You ended too fast! I just love that this month is over, not because it is deemed as ghost month but because this month has been overwhelming for me. A couple of my major life’s milestones took place last August thus explains my busy-ness. Additionally, I never thought that I will be trying new stuff this month because I never had time to shop around but when I shopped for some essentials, I found some that caught my attention. Here they are: 

1. Human Heart Nature Strengthening Shampoo. Actually, this is not an impulse purchase as I have been thinking of buying this since I love the conditioner from the same line. I have been using this for a little over a week already and so far it’s working ok.
2. Human Heart Nature 100% Natural Premium Deodorant. This is the first impulse purchase. I have read a few negative reviews about this but being a stubborn girl that I am, I decided to give it a try since it isn’t expensive anyway.
3. Human Heart Nature 100% Healthy Lotion. I found this near the counter while paying for the other stuff I bought. It’s on sale at that time so I immediately grabbed a bottle and include it in my purchases. Watch out for my review in the coming days.

Quote of the Month: Love and Opportunity

“Tell him yes. Even if you are dying of fear, even if you are sorry later, because whatever you do, you will be sorry all the rest of your life if you say no.” - Gabriel Garcí¬a Márquez, Love in the Time of Cholera

This may, or may not teach anyone life lesson of some sort but I chose this quote because it really fits my situation now. I’m not sure if you have read it here before but I am sure I have mentioned once or twice that I am getting married and that happened just three days ago.

The quote describes exactly how I feel during our courtship stage. When I agreed to be his girlfriend, I had mixed emotions. My heart was filled with happiness and love at the same I was a bit doubtful about him and how our relationship will turn out. But perhaps what I see in him and my willingness to give him a chance to share his life with me emboldened me to give this relationship a go.

Four years after, I said “YES” to him again complete with documents and ring. LOL!

I may be doubtful during the courtship and early stages of our relationship but I am glad and thankful now that I said yes to him when I did. It is one of the decisions I never regret making and I thank the Lord for that decision.

Four Years and Forever

When you love someone, you’ll do everything to keep that person; in sickness and in health, in richer or poorer… naks! I did just like that. Proof? I and my significant other are celebrating our 4th anniversary as a couple today.

Today should have been our church wedding as well and the blog title must have been our tagline but due to some family emergency, we decided to cancel the church wedding and have wedding through civil rites instead.

I am just thankful that I accepted him to my life four years ago. Our relationship isn’t without its ups and downs or good and bad days but we managed to get through everything because of one thing - our love for each other. Naks again! :D Because of love, we learned to see each other beyond our individual imperfections, accepted that no one person is perfect and respect each other. We may not be like other couples who lavish each other with material gifts (because we are practical like that) but that isn’t a problem to us. Instead of material gifts, we instead spend on creating experiences and memories together like going on trips during our anniversaries and birthdays. To each its own anyway. :D

Tomorrow, we will be exchanging “I do”... oh not really. I mean I’m not sure if exchanging of “I do” is part of a civil wedding ceremony but I’m sure that today is the last day that I will officially use my own family name. I’ll be a Mrs. tomorrow. :D

I know this post is not of significance to others and I am not even sure if I’m making sense here but I’m posting anyway to commemorate our relationship. My senses will be back next month! LOL!

Review: Human Heart Nature Strengthening Conditioner

Having dandruff with dry and frizzy hair is not easy. It greatly affects my self-confidence and often leads me to having my hair in ponytail to conceal such less than desirable sight. But for someone who believes that giving up is not an option (LOL!), I am always on the lookout for hair care products that can help me address my problem.

When pimples started attacking my face, I decided to switch from formula hair care products to natural/organic and mild products hoping that it will lessen my skin problems. I first tried using Nanny Rose’s Gugo & Lawat Shampoo then changed again to Lauat Herbal Hair Treatment shampoo however, the two shampoos failed to give me something that I need so I switched again to lactacyd (blue). A short while of using lactacyd as shampoo, I started switching my conditioner to Human Heart Nature Strengthening Conditioner in soothing aloe variant. I first bought the smaller bottle then bought the bigger one later on.

So what made me buy the bigger size? This review will tell you why…

Review: Sunskeen Protech Sunblock

In a tropical country like ours, sunblock should be used all-year round. Fortunately, health and beauty stores as well as grocery stores are teeming with products claiming to protect the skin against the harmful rays of the sun. The challenge, however, lies in choosing which product is right for your skin type.

I, for instance, have oily skin hence choosing a particular sunblock that will not make my skin oilier and my acne worse can be challenging. It’s always a trial and error method for me until my dermatologist suggested a product she approves.

Keep reading to know the product…

Product Description:

• Hybrid. Physical and chemical properties
• Versatile. UVA/UVB protection
• Elegant. Less viscous formula
• Enduring. Stable under the sun
• Affordable. Less peso/g protection
• Non-irritating. Minimally absorbed by the skin

Pay for Nothing with PLDT

I will not be talking about new services offered by PLDT or its sister company Smart, instead, I will be ranting how this company created new wrinkles to my already pimply-face. (This is one of the longest posts I have written so please bear with me.)

Actually, the accounts (yes, there are two accounts involved here) I am having problems with are not mine (thankfully, mine is okay). The first one is registered under the name of my cousin who is based in UAE together with his wife. Internet connection is very important to them because it is one of their ways to communicate with their eight-year old son who lives here in the Philippines with his grandparents, my aunt and uncle. They have been a subscriber of Smart’s 999 plan for five years already.

The second account belongs to my other cousin who works as seaman. Like the first account, internet is very important to him as well because he wants to communicate with his kids and wife.

Given that my aunt and my cousin’s wife are not really knowledgeable when it comes to ISP’s and various matters regarding to it, they would always ask me to check their internet and laptops each time they cannot connect to the internet or if there is something wrong with their gadgets.

Since they were not able to connect to the internet, they asked me to check their laptop and since I cannot fix it or connect them to internet myself, I DMed (direct message) @pldthome and @pldt_cares about my concern on July 23. Since I have not gotten any reply, I messaged them again the next day, July 24, then again on July 25. Their first reply came on the 26th. Yes, it took them three days to reply! For a company whose stock market price per share is the most expensive in the country, they can do better than that I think!

Their reply to me was nothing helpful at all since they only asked me for the account number which I have sent them along with our address on my first message.

New Series: Quote of the Month

I love reading quotes. I even gather those I find meaningful and in which my life can relate and I would usually read them when I’m depressed or feeling emotional. Just recently, I came up with the idea of adding a “quote of the month” series to;

1. improve my writing. Though my current job designation is content writer, I haven’t been writing much recently, spare for the curated article I need to produce once a month. My task nowadays is mainly email support so I feel like my brain is getting blunt from answering those common questions. I want to learn non-product review, non-travel and non-rant writing. LOL
2. inspire others. I know there are others like me who turn to articles or other written media for strength and inspiration during the darkest times of their life. By sharing what I went through and how I got by, I am hoping that they, too, can overcome and get out of the hole they are currently into. Well, I won’t be writing my autobiography here but I’m eyeing to share life lessons other people may find useful.
3. keep me grounded. I see this post as a sort of reflection. By reliving what I went through in life, I will be reminded of my humble beginnings and be grateful for what I have now.

I originally wanted it to be a weekly post but I am not sure if I can keep up with the frequency considering my workload, other articles for this blog and other activities of a sane person hence the monthly choice. I decided to post every last Sunday of the month so my first post will be on August 31. I still have lots of time to write! :D

Rural Dame is Moving!

No, not this blog! This blogger is the one who is moving to what would be her home for at least a year… or two. Actually, I moved yesterday. The rural dame is now city girl, at least for now. :D

With this move comes an important milestone that will greatly affect my future. I am getting married! Although our original wedding plan didn’t come into fruition due to family emergency, I am just glad that we pushed through with the wedding and make do with what we have at the moment. After all, for us frugal couple, it’s not the wedding that really matters but the marriage; our commitment and love to each other.

Starting from couple of months before the move, I have been quite busy with many things. We went scouting for apartment in the city, met the apartment’s administrator, scouted for household stuff and the likes. Moving to a new place is not that easy I tell you. Plus the fact that I haven’t made a big move before and with a family nest I’ve come to love since forever, leaving makes me feel a bit sad. But then, thinking of a new life I am going to build together with the man I am with for four years makes it all worthwhile. I look forward to the future we are going to build together and it just thrills me that finally… we are together most of the time (since we work in the same company, for now). *heart heart* LOL!

So there, moving gave me mixed feeling but beautiful feeling nonetheless.

Before the move. (Sorry for the crappy photo)

So what will happen to this blog after the move?

Wheat Nuts: The Nut-free Nuts!

Ever since my dermatologist gave me a list of foods I need to avoid, my man took over the role of implementing it. Each time I’m craving for something I’m not supposed to eat, he would usually make me choose between clear skin and that food in question. And of course, looking back at the time when my face is at its worst and my self-confidence is zero, I immediately shun the thought and make myself feel better by thinking that I’m doing this to avoid another massive break out.

Actually, the dermatologist’s list is just short but since I spend at least 10 hours a day in the internet and read various health and beauty information during free time, the list became longer. And although the list didn’t specifically mention nuts, I decided to avoid them for some reason.

I’m okay with this diet but I admit, I miss eating foods I used to eat without reservations (because I don’t get fat no matter what I eat!). So when my “guardian” told me that he has eaten wheat nuts bought by a co-worker and that we should buy one so that I can try it, I became quite excited.

Wheat Nuts, the crunchy-good nutty-tasting snack, that is what the bottle says. I couldn’t agree more with the line. They indeed taste like nuts and in fact more delicious than the baked peanuts I have been craving for. They are a bit salty with texture and crunchiness the same as peanut. Aside from the taste, they are also less sinful as they are made without hydrogenated vegetable oil, have no cholesterol and of course, nut-free! It’s like beauty and brains in women standard. LOL!

July Finds

The month is ending once more so this post is in order. Like in the previous months, I didn't get much this time. Here they are:

1. Sunskeen ProTech. This is recommended by my dermatologist which I also got from her. Prior to this, I alternate Nivea Daily Face Fluid Immediate Sun Protection and Myra Daily Sun Protect but my dermatologist said she is not sure what those product contains or if it contains something that could aggravate my pimples so she switched me to this. Been using this for almost a month already and I will post a review soon.
2. Human Heart Nature Strengthening Conditioner. It isn't my first time to use an organic conditioner nor my first time to use one from Human Heart Nature however it's my first time with this variant. That's a lot of first time in one sentence! :D I am seeing a longtime relationship with this and I am excited to review this baby.
3. Wet n Wild Megalast Lipstick. The shades I got are Pinkerbell (968) and Red Velvet (910D). I originally wanted Stoplight Red but it wasn't able so I got this instead. If you read my blog on regular basis, you will know that I am on a quest for that affordable classic red lipstick with that vintage feel. I have been thinking of buying a shade from MAC but the frugal in me will not approve. Will this red end my quest for that lipstick I have been looking for? Watch out my review for it...

Review: Epiduo Anti-acne Gel

After weeks of zero low self-confidence, I finally visited my derma hoping that she can put an end to all this misery. As usual, she prescribed oral medication but this time, she put me on Tetralysal (Limecycline) instead of doxycycline which she prescribed me twice in the past. She also prescribed Epiduo Anti-acne Gel along with the anti-acne bar (with salicyclic and tea tree) and clarifying liquid. Both the anti-acne bar and clarifying liquid are her own formulation while the Tetralysal and Epiduo are from Galderma. The latter is the one I will be reviewing in this post.