You x Max Factor Launch

They say that makeup was created to hide flaws and to make someone beautiful to others but in more recent times, the usage of makeup has been changing. Women nowadays put on makeup to feel good about themselves and to look pretty not for others but for themselves.

Makeup used to be really heavy and hot on the face. When you put it on, it feels like there's a new layer of skin that you can't wait to take off at night. These days, that has also changed. Since women have started to accept their flaws and love themselves more, makeup has now become something to enhance how you look, not change it. It's about highlighting what makes you feel better about yourself and not about hiding the flaws.

Max Factor understands this which is why they launched a new campaign called You x Max Factor which is all about loving the life you have and celebrating who you are as a person.

I attended the event bare-faced because I wanted to be able to try out the new stuff they had to offer.

Thankfully, I got a really patient makeup artist who explained to me how to use the compact which was really light on the skin. She also told me that the shade which was perfect for my skin is called NATURAL.

This was the end result. I actually liked it. Thicker brows, contoured face, and shimmery red lips.

We were able to bring home this pouch which was really lovely.

Lo and behold, the shades that I got seemed like tailormade for me.

Of course, there were other shades.

They also introduced Jennylyn Mercado, the first Filipina ambassador of Max Factor. She was absolutely perfect because she's not perfect. She did not have a perfect life and she struggled but at the same time, she kept moving forward which is what every Filipina should aim for in life.

She learned to accept her flaws and embrace it to better herself. This is what a truly beautiful Filipinas should be all about.

Review of Kinotakara Toxin Absorbent

I think a lot of people has seen the Kinotakara Toxin Absorbent around. It promises to absorb the toxin from your body through your foot while you sleep and since we're all about getting rid of toxins and stress, a lot of people are curious if it's real or not. I know I was and so when my Mom got a couple of boxes of the Kinotakara Toxin Absorbent, I knew that I had to try it.

Does it really work?  I decided to give it a try and see how I'd feel after. So this is what's inside the box. There are two packs and in those packs is a foil container.

There are instructions written and thankfully it's quite clear. You need to remove the adhesive and place the foil with the written words facing down. It has to look like the photo below.

Then you need to place it under your heel like this.

Ideally, it's best to put on ankle socks to avoid having it off while you are sleeping.

The next day, my left foot's Kinotakara looked like this. My right foot on the other hand only had 1/4 of this.

It seems that it is the left side of my body that has the most toxins.

So, does it really work? I think you need to continuously use it to see if it actually works. I know that I felt a little freaked out seeing those black spots but I'm also taking it as an indication to live a bit more healthier.

Paradise Dynasty's 4 New Dishes

Anyone who's been visiting my blog for the last few years would know that I am a TRUE BLUE fan of Paradise Dynasty. The Special Dynasty Xiao Long Bao is just a favorite of mine and my siblings. From this set, my ultimate is the Black Truffle, Foie Gras, and Crab Roe.

However, it seems that Paradise is not yet done with us because they just released 4 new dishes and we were lucky enough (yes, LUCKYYYYYY!) to have been invited to try it out.

The first dish we had was the 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽-𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝘂𝗻𝘀 (𝗣𝟭,𝟮𝟴𝟴) which was my absolute favorite among the 4 dishes we tried. I could eat it with the buns and I could eat the duck with rice and it tasted just as good. The crispiness of the duck meat and skin was just SOOO GOOD. Seriously.

This would be the one dish that I would order again and again given the chance.

The 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗡𝘂𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘀 (𝗣𝟭,𝟮𝟴𝟴) is a sweet & sour lapu-lapu. I felt that this had too much sweet and sour sauce and it would have been better having the sauce on the side. The taste though is another thing. It was actually really good. Again, paired with rice and it's amazing.

The Grilled Grouper with Tofu in Mapo Tofu Style (P1,288) was spicy but in a good way. You know how there are spicy foods that make you not want to eat anymore but there's also a spicy food that just increases your appetite? This one is the latter. It was spicy but spicy good, not spicy bad.

The 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗶-𝗦𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘆 (𝗣𝟱𝟴𝟴) is for all pork lovers. For me, I liked the meat part, not so much the fat because I'm just not a fan of fat. What I did was take out the fat and combined this with rice. PERFECT.

I brought my sister with me and we had a lot of fun trying out the dishes. We also had the Charcoal Buns with Salted Egg Sauce which she loved.

Right now, there are only 2 branches of Paradise Dynasty. One is located at S Maison and the other one is in Podium. The great news is they are opening a 3rd branch in SM Aura! YAASSSS!

October 26 is the date so mark your calendars because Paradise Dynasty is invading SM Aura. BURP.

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Ready to #Shop2Give #FortheKids?

They say that shopping is therapeutic? How would you feel then if we tell you that for a day you can shop to give back to the kids? Amazing right?

In a world full of children in need, it will always be a perfect time to share and to give. Thanks to eCommerce, helping these kids would be possible with just a few clicks. When the clock strikes midnight of October 17, a 24-hour shopping event will allow consumers to support disadvantaged children through UNICEF, as Unilever Philippines and Lazada launches ‘Shop2Give’.

For a full day, Unilever will take over eCommerce platform Lazada, quirkily transforming the online shopping giant’s interface. Unilever will revamp images of their products with children’s hand-drawn images, bringing focus to the beneficiaries of the activity. With Shop2Give, the kids are the ultimate beneficiaries.

Shoppers can enjoy up to 80% off on Unilever products when they visit  lzd.co/shop2givePH.  They can even purchase “buy one, give one deals”, a meaningful initiative that treats shoppers to massive discounts, but also donates to beneficiaries of UNICEF.

When purchasing Unilever products on Lazada, online shoppers can use the promo code SHOP2GIVE, or collect vouchers to receive even more discounts on their carts when they check out. A donation will be made to UNICEF that benefits children for every purchase made.

“We at Unilever stand with UNICEF in their mission to save and improve children’s lives. Through the participation of all our leading brands, we aim to make a significant contribution in their programs that improve children’s health, provide access to clean and safe water, enhance sanitation and hygiene,” said Unilever Philippines Chairman and CEO Benjie Yap.

“It’s an honor for Lazada to work with Unilever in saving and protecting our country’s most vulnerable children, especially during tough times. The benefits of eCommerce are limitless – in just a click, we could help in supplying these children’s basic needs, empowering them to reach their full potentials. We’re one with UNICEF in this mission – to protect children's rights and their well-being, expanding their opportunities in the future,” said Lazada Philippines CEO Ray Alimurung.

Recognizing the groundbreaking initiative, activating brands with a purpose to reach more children in need through massive distribution might UNICEF Country Representative Lotta Sylwander expressed their gratitude: She said, “We are fortunate to have champions in our midst who continue to explore solutions #ForTheKids – their needs, and their future. This only strengthens our resolve to reach more children as they will be 100% of our future.”

They also had everyone from the UNICEF and UNILEVER thing changed their profile to a caricature to remind everyone to #SHOP2GIVE. Here's mine.

LazMall Super Brand Day with Unilever on Lazada begins at 12 midnight of October 17. Add to cart, and don’t miss your chance to shop and give back just by clicking!

PS. I already know what I'm ordering and it's already in my cart.

Review of Kiehl's Ginger Leaf and Hibiscus Face Mask

As mentioned in a previous post, we had a night of pure indulgence thanks to Kiehl's. This was last week and we finally had the time to try out the brand new Ginger Leaf and Hibiscus Firming Mask.

I loved the packaging that we got but I believe that this is the media kit so don't expect to see this kind of packaging when you buy it okay? I just wanna be clear on that one.

This is not meant for dry skin. If you suffer from Crepey skin, read this post by esthetics hub instead.

So before we get to the nitty-gritty of things, here's a recommended night time routine from Kiehl's.

Here's also a list of benefits that you can get when you use the Ginger Leaf and Hibiscus Firming Mask.

The question is: DOES IT REALLY WORK?

We tested it for almost a week and here's our assessment.

This is me after my night time shower. As many people know, I'm quite lazy when it comes to skincare so I need something that easily absorbs and doesn't take 18 steps to achieve great looking skin.

I love that the container was almost full. I feel like you get your money's worth because it's not half only of the container.

It wasn't grainy and it was easily absorbed by my skin. It also wasn't sticky which is good because if you live in Manila, sticky skin is the worst!

The entire process took less than a minute. This already involved a lot of massaging my face. It's so absorbent. I LOVE IT!

After 5 minutes, I felt a little heat on my face and then I kid you not, I felt a little tightening on my skin. It was AMAZING!

Formulated for all skin types, Ginger Leaf & Hibiscus Firming Mask has an instant firming effect and an indulgent velvety texture upon application- making it a quick and simple addition to any skincare regimen. With continued use, Ginger Leaf & Hibiscus Firming Mask softens the look of fine lines and unveils a younger-looking complexion.

It is recommended to use Kiehl’s Ginger Leaf & Hibiscus Firming Mask regularly up to 5 times a week after the application of a toner and a serum. Massage the mask onto clean skin at night with an upward motion and feel the formula begin to work instantly. Leave it on overnight and cleanse your skin in the morning to remove it.

Its velvety texture, yet firming and smoothing properties make it beneficial for skin that shows signs of aging; that is dull and tired. Essential Oils add a soothing, calming aroma to the paraben free formula.

To know more about the two main ingredients, here are a few details. 

Botanical Hibiscus Seed Extract

Cultivated in Southern India, the Hibiscus Seeds are separated from their nutshells before being ground. The active fraction, constituted of Hydrolyzed Proteins, is then extracted from the seeds, purified and filtered to solely keep the efficacious benefits. The Hibiscus Seeds, whose flower is known to close during the night to preserve its nectar, provide the formula with instant and overnight firming benefits.


Ginger Leaf Extract

Native to Vietnam in tropical Asia, the Ginger Leaf utilized in our formula has been widely employed for its roots in traditional Chinese and Ayurveda medicine as well as in Southeast Asia as a spice and flavoring agent in the cuisine. Sourced in Hoa Binh and in the Bắc Giang province of Vietnam, and carefully collected by 14 women between March and October, the Ginger Leaves are then ground and their actives extracted before being used in our formula that reduces the appearance of fine lines.

VERDICT: This product is definitely worth your hard earned money. As they say, you really need to invest in your skin so that you can preserve your youthful glow.

You can buy Kiehl's products from Rustans, Lazada, and Sephora App.

Oh My Gulay

For vegetarians, one of the biggest challenge when going into a new place is finding a food establishment that serves vegetarian food that actually tastes awesome. In Baguio, this is definitely not a problem because they have Oh My Gulay, a restaurant that serves vegetarian dishes.



Oh My Gulay opens at 11am but be prepared to come in at 12 noon since this is the time when their staff is ready to serve. If you are hungry, have patience because their food is worth the wait.

We had the Pansit Gulay ni Pepe which is egg noodles, tofu, and vegetables in pansit sauce. This was really tasty and the Asian flavor was strong. It reminded us strongly of oriental noodles.



We also had the Heneral Luna's Punyetang Shitake which is mushroom, bechamel sauce, and cheddar cheese. This was a truly creamy and cheesy pasta which is absolutely perfect for cheese lovers.



However, the real winner of Oh My Gulay is the salad. We had the Bonifacio's Waldofesto. This contained celery, sliced apples, potato, nuts, and garlic mayo pesto which was definitely to die for.



Oh My Gulay is very instagrammable too and the view is amazing because you get to see a bird's eye view of the city from the windows which make for an amazing dining experience.

Oh My Gulay is perfect for families, barkada, and lovers. It has a homey vibe and the place is listed on Baguio's most loved restaurants. It is also perfect even for nonvegetarians because the food is tasty that you can completely forget that these are all vegetables.

Oh My Gulay is located along Session Road. 108 La Azotea Building, Session Road, Baguio.

Night of Indulgence with Kiehl's

Last week, my Mom and I were able to have a glimpse of the Presidential Suite of Okada which just opened to the public. It has its own wing and own elevators. From the moment you set foot inside this particular wing, you just feel the difference. It's more opulent, more upscale, and just gives you that Macau vibe.

I knew that we were about to have a night of indulgence when upon entering, we were given silk robes to wear.

They also had a fantastic photo wall surrounded by lush flowers which reminded me of a Garden of Even theme. After the initial introduction of the product, we were given access to the entire suite and boy was it fantastic.

Here's one of the rooms. As you can see, this has a king-sized bed made to feel anyone who will stay like a king. The contrast between the white of the bed and the red of the pillow also added more to the splendor.

The other room had two queen-sized bed. Yes, queen-sized and not your regular single bed.

They also had on display the Kiehl's Ginger Leaf and Hibiscus Mask. It smelled really good but we'll do the product review on another post.

There were 4 stations that were created for us. We had the massage station, the consultation station, the essential oil stations, and the instagrammable tub.

The first station I went to was the consultation area.

She did a simple test on my skin where I found out my T-zone was normal but my cheek area was dry. Eeeekk.

Afterwards, I went to the essential oil area where we got our own bottle of essential oil. I chose the one that said Cool and Calm because it had lavender and mint. The tub where the session was being held beckoned for a dip and I had to restrain myself from taking one.

3rd stop was the massage area where our backs were given a much-needed respite.

The final stop was this instagrammable tub. I can honestly say I've never posed like this in a tub and it felt really nice to be able to share this moment with my Mom. After all, the one person in our lives who deserve to be indulged will always be our Moms.

It was truly a wonderful way to launch a firming mask. I loved the everything was done just right and the event highlighted the product but did not overpower it.

Can't wait to review the firming mask next!