A 5-minute Facial Using Only 2 Products

In this day and age, living in it comes with a lot of demands such as school, playing catch-up with old friends, focusing on your mental health, trying to eat healthy, budgeting the money that sometimes isn't enough for everything and updating your social media accounts so your family won't miss you so much. A day isn't enough for everything, sometimes a week isn't as well. Doing the things I mentioned lacks parts that I often forget to do or really don't have the time doing anymore such as getting enough sleep, exercising, checking for new products like makeup or clothes at the mall, having time for a new hobby, doing my skin care routine on a daily basis or (what might've caused all of this:) managing my time. Plus the things outside that contribute to how our moods will go every day like the weather (harsh sunrays) and pollution.

Now, I'm not complaining, I'm very blessed to have a life where I am able to do all these things with the hours, days, weeks, months and years that I have because I'm still so young. But I'm also not gonna deny that it does take a toll on me, number one: on my skin.

First, my skin goes through phases wherein I'm really oily on my whole face, and then it switches to having an oily t-zone and very dry parts on my face. Not to mention I have sensitive skin and is very acne prone. Also, I'm one of those people who stresses out a lot. Whether we like it or not, it contributes a lot to achieving healthy and young looking skin. I'm not saying "young" too lightly, being young comes with a skin with an elasticity which helps the skin always looking good as new!

Not gonna lie, I love watching and blogging about my skin care routine, but like I said, I don't have the time nor the patience to do it every single day. I have searched high and low for amazing products. I've jumped on bandwagons for face masks and toners that didn't really work that good on me as everyone said it did on them. I just wanted products that I don't have to use every single day that would still make my skin look amazing. Just in time though, Fresh came out with their new products for their Lotus Youth Preserve line. They added in their Lotus Youth Preserve Rescue Mask and their Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream.

PS: My lips have been very dry these past few days and you'll likely see them here but I'm taking care of that now.

fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Rescue Mask Seaweed Radiance Facial


The very first thing I noticed once I opened the packaging was the scent. It smells so fresh (no pun intended) because of its natural ingredients. It consists of a blend of kombu seaweed, red algae, and lotus seeds that gently refines the skin's texture. Fresh also claims that this mask is a multi-benefit, 5-minute facial in a jar that rescues, revives and recovers tired and overstressed skin from daily stressors back to its radiant and youthful complexion. I mean, it sounds like everything that we could ask for right?

So, it's talked about that this product gives instant results. Based on Fresh's survey:
97% said it minimized the signs of daily stress, including dull, rough and dry skin.
97% said it preserved their youthful-looking complexion.
100% noticed it created a clean, smooth canvas.





















On the back of the packaging, it says that you need to apply this on your face in circular motions and to let it work for 5 minutes.

The feeling that I experienced as I was applying this was first the scent was instantly relaxing. It helped a lot to make my mind chill as I was gently rubbing it on my face. It does sink into my skin quickly so I kinda use a lot of it. It also kinda tingles on my skin after applying but it would disappear in a few minutes so I just let my skin calm down before I apply more products after.

I would say that after I used it for a few times, it helped a lot on the dry parts on my face since it was kind of like a scrub because my face felt instantly softer after and made the dry patches disappear. This product also made my face feel so smooth and feel so clean. The cleanliness felt like it lasted the whole day even if I was out and about.


fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream with Super 7 Complex

Okay, I expressed my love for the face mask, but this face cream, I love it just as much (maybe even more). I mainly use this as a moisturizer. I use this product a few days in a week after I use the face mask, cleanse and tone my skin or before I apply my makeup on. Even if I go a few days without using it and dry patches start to show on some parts on my face again, I just apply this and it moisturizes my skin which helps to get rid of the appearance of the dry patches on my face. My face just feels hydrated and soft for a long time in a day or two.

Usually, I apply moisturizers only at night because the weather in the Philippines makes my oily t-zone look oilier than usual, and sometimes the moisturizers I used contributes a lot to the oiliness. This product did not exaggerate the oiliness on my face, it is not sticky and is very lightweight. It also dries up on the face faster or rather, it sinks into my face quickly, sucking up all the moisture this product gives with ease. The oiliness on my face still shows but it doesn't look out of control or excessive.

Applying this face cream before I apply my makeup provides a smooth canvas for my foundation and concealer. It does not make my makeup look patchy and my skin still feels so soft and smooth even after I applied my full face of makeup. So basically, it is something that is perfect to use to prep my skin for makeup.

This face cream claims to minimize or reduce the early signs of aging and like the face mask, and it boosts the skin's radiance. Being at a time where I could really feel the stress of the day to day activities, it is good to have something that would at least help me to still look presentable whenever I need it so much. Using this helps my skin to kind of like repair itself from all the lack of sleep, sometimes not eating healthy food enough and stress. The only thing that this product didn't help me with were the red spots on my face. I think it was just how it was, it never turned redder as I was using this product nor did it get lighter.

Would I recommend?

You might have checked these products out while reading this, and I know that these may cost a lot of money but something that I learned and is still trying to apply in my life is to not be cheap with myself. Having to do and work with a lot of things deserves a reward or treatment by the end of the day. The reward not only has to be something that reminds you of your hard work but would also help you with taking things slow and relax for you to concentrate on yourself and nothing else. Taking care of yourself is the best thing that you could reward yourself with. As long as you could afford it, I would recommend for you to check these out.

Also, if you are for whatever reason finding a late mother's day gift like me, then this would be one of the perfect ones to give for your mom and you to have a pamper session together in the comfort of your own home. Belated Happy Mother's Day to all the lovely and hardworking moms out there!




Disclosure: This was a collaboration with Sephora. I was not paid to say anything I mentioned about the products or the brands. Everything I wrote was based on my own experiences and what I found out from research on these products.

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Happy Skin Express Gel Polish Review (Dreamer)

These days, I've been addicted to gel-like or gel-shine polishes. I don't really feel like getting actual gel polishes on my nails because from what other people told me, they cost a little bit more and requires a little bit more effort to maintain the polish and your natural nails as well. About a month ago, I found this at BeautyBar in Shangri-la and decided to test it out.

Price: PHP 249

2-in-1 base + color

No UV lamp needed

I actually feel bad that you guys are seeing my nails before I actually get it cleaned at the Salon, (I'll get it cleaned in 2 weeks or so I promise!).


Description Breakdown:

• ✔  - First of all, I cannot compare this to an actual gel polish because I personally never tried it, but I would say, this product isn't exactly chip-resistant, but it does last longer than a regular nail polish on my nails. I chip my nail polish a day (or even in an hour sometimes) after I get it done or if I do it myself. I felt like this nail polish felt thick once it fully dried so it could last me a few more days than what a normal, drugstore polish would offer. There are some few chips here and there but it would usually be at small spots on my nails. The shine finish does last long on the nails even if it's been a few days since I applied this nail polish on it. 
• ✖ - This really varies on how "quick" your quick is. For mine quick is like 15-20 minutes max. I often check my nails 15 minutes after I applied nail polish and for me, this polish did appear dry, but it still easily smudged when I lightly brushed it into a clothing piece or if I need to grab something, and it took me 30 minutes or so for this polish to really be dry on my nails even if I didn't put a thick layer on. Note that I didn't do anything special to get it to dry on my nails, I didn't use a UV lamp (because I don't own one and it doesn't need one as it claims), so I just let it air dry as I watch some youtube videos. This really doesn't have much difference with a regular drugstore nail polish in terms of drying speed for me. 
• ✔ - I'm the type of person who has naturally weak nails, I break them almost every second of the day. I wouldn't say that my nails turned uber strong when I used this polish, but my nails did not feel as weak as it did when I didn't have this nail polish on. My nails felt like it kinda thickened and it doesn't bend as much, so most likely, it's due to the Hydrolyzed Keratin ingredient in this nail polish. 

Additional Notes:

The smell of it is pretty much the same as any other nail polish, although it isn't as strong or what I would call would stink up the room, you could only smell it if you lean really close on the product. The 1st layer is a little bit thin so I tend to put at least 2 layers on each nail. The finish is shiny that it resembles a gel polish finish. The stains on the skin left by the nail polish can easily be removed by putting some acetone on a cotton swab and lightly rubbing it on the skin around the nail. The removal of this polish on my nails doesn't need any special technique or whatsoever, just the regular cotton pad and acetone and it's gone. Overall the color and the finish does look great, I do like those two factors a lot.


Honestly, PHP 249 is a bit steep for a nail polish price if what you're considering is the overall nail polish look. This nail look could be achieved with a similar shade on a regular polish and a really shiny top coat. The thing that I am liking about this product is the Hydrolyzed Keratin ingredient added to it. Like I said I have weak nails that break on a daily basis, so I need all the help that I could get.







*I am in no way sponsored by any of the companies or brands mentioned. I am stating my own opinion based on how I observed my experience using the product. 

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Beauty Run at Watsons & Beauty Bar

I don't know about you, but for whatever reason whenever I'm out at the mall and doing some shopping, I always leave out the necessities aka basic things that I need everyday. So, I made a beauty necessities run at Watsons and Beautybar a few days ago. I then realized that I want to share what I typically get whenever I go to these shops, plus the new things I wanted to try out.

• Carmex

PHP 149.75 Watsons

I recently emptied out my Carmex lip balm which I use whenever I feel like my lips are chapping. It does its job whenever I put it on, it moisturizes and helps my lips restore itself to make it look and feel smooth. It's an easy solution for me whenever I'm having a hard time managing my chapped lips, so I just keep grabbing a new one whenever I empty the one I've been using. 

• Kojie san sleeveless READY deodorant

PHP 99.50 Watsons

I haven't really found a staple deodorant that I like or stick to, so I'm just trying out new things here and there. That time at Watsons was the first time that I saw this product, I'm familiar with the brand because I always see their soap but I never saw a deodorant. It says that this deodorant offers anti-perspirant, anti-bacterial, lightening and has 48 hours odor and wetness protection. This product smells a lot like soap that isn't overpowering and it feels lightweight on my underarms, like it isn't sticky at all. I would have to test it out a few more times to see if I really like it.

• Gatsby Powdered Oil Clear paper

Watsons

This one I feel like is a no brainer for me. I depend a lot on my oil control sheets every time I'm out of the house. I usually go for the normal oil control sheets of Gatsby but when I saw this which is the "powdered" version, I just wanted to try it out. From what I experienced based on the three times I used it, it isn't powdery but when I pat this on my face, it looks like I applied a really small amount of baby powder and it prevented my face from getting oily again for a few hours. So far I like it but then again I would have to test it out more just to make sure.

• St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Cleanser

PHP 199 Watsons

I was browsing through the face section of Watsons because I needed a new cleanser but I wanted to try something new and I was surprised to see that St. Ives has a cleanser. I didn't hesitate to get it for myself because the St. Ives apricot scrub makes my skin look and feel really smooth. When I got home, I did realize that this cleanser has some beads in it and it says on the back of the product that it is recommended to use for 3-4 days in a week, so this wouldn't really be an everyday cleanser. I've used it once and so far it made my skin really smooth, but I'll be using it a bit more just to make sure if I do like it and decide when I'll be using it.

• Penshoppe Sexy Shimmer Body Spray

PHP 199 Watsons

 Okay, so maybe this wasn't really a necessity but I like taking random photos and I have some ideas that may involve me needing this product. I have yet to try it and I'm excited to see how it will turn out in photos and in person. Nothing really much to say about this other than I am kind of obsessing with shimmery, dewy looks so we'll see if this product would let me achieve that. 

• Hollywood Fashion Tape

PHP 650 BeautyBar 

I am always struggling with my clothes not staying in place. I have used countless of pins, hair ties or whatever I need just to keep my clothes from revealing too much than what I have wanted. I get that I could just change and wear something different if I have such problems with the clothes that I wear, but sometimes I just need or really want to wear something and feel 100% confident and safe in it. I feel that this would help with that, so I picked it up and I will make a more in depth review of this so stay tuned for that one. 

• Happy Skin Express Gel Polish

PHP 249 BeautyBar 

In the past few months, I have not changed my nail color. I always choose my 2 go-to nail colors and I feel like I wanted a change of shade so I tested some gel nail polishes from Happy skin because they look really pretty and can be used without having to have a UV lamp. The shade I picked is Dreamer and it still kinda looks similar to what I typically wear, but still different. Also making a review of this soon but here's a sneak peek:

What are your go-to beauty necessities that you always pick up and restock on?


Disclaimer: I am in no way sponsored by any brands or companies mentioned in this post.

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Two Things From Too Faced

For years of being a beauty junkie, I have always heard of the brand Too Faced. It is currently being known for its incredibly cute packaging and having a range of amazing quality beauty products to go with it. People have been raving on Too Faced products left and right that it could get overwhelming to choose which one to get first. I have to admit that the packaging of each product made me want to get every single one because other than me using it on my face, it would work so well as a vanity decoration (they are seriously so cute!).

Since there isn't any physical stores near my place, I browsed through Sephora PH and read about people's experience with each product to help me decide which one I should get and try out. Took me a little while but I decided to get 2 things from there.

Too Faced Chocolate Bar
PHP 2,928

It does smell like chocolate! When I first heard about this product smelling like chocolate, I was a bit skeptical because how could a product actually smell like that? Not gonna lie, I found myself popping this open whenever I see it just to get a whiff of the chocolate scent (Shh!). I do like that they finally included the name of each of the shades on the actual palette rather than having to keep the paper where you'd have to place it back on the palette to figure out each shade's name. It seriously bothered so much people that I'm glad they listened to their customer's requests.

For the actual product, the shades are all neutral which is quite easy to pair up with almost any look that you're going for. The colors are a mix of warm and cool tones, each one looking good with the other that you'll most likely be using every single shade. The pigmentation is good since you won't have to worry on going too overboard when you try to build up the color.

Some personal favorite shades of mine would be "Salted Caramel" because it looks so peachy that it almost looks natural whenever I apply it on my eye lid. "Triple Fudge" looks amazing when I smudge it on my eyeliner on the top and bottom because it makes it look softer around my eyes. I like to add "Marzipan" right in the middle all the time because it makes my eyes look bigger and more awake.

Too Faced Sweethearts Bronzer
PHP 1,618

This bronzer is both a shimmery cool bronzer and a shimmery warm bronzer. You could use either one but mixing them both on your brush really does create that very natural looking flush to your skin which makes it look radiant. I like how this looks subtle on the skin that when someone looks at you, they realize that you did something to your look but can't pinpoint what because of how glowing it makes your face look. The only shade that they do have at the moment is Sweet Tea which I think is the perfect shade for fair skinned people like me.

Unlike the Too Faced Chocolate Bar, this doesn't really have a scent to it other than what I feel how bronzers usually smell like. The packaging is a teal colored heart which I am so obsessed with since it gives my vanity that extra touch of decoration,  although I do feel like it is kinda too bulky for traveling purposes.  The longevity isn't really a problem for me which impressed me considering I live in such a humid place where makeup could practically melt off of your face at any minute. It stayed in tact without me having to retouch it.

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Chanel N°5 Eau Première Perfume Review

Last March, I went to Duty Free to do some tax free shopping for me and my mom and brother. It is kind of a thing that we always do yearly when my mom comes home to the Philippines. We visit the Duty Free Fiesta Mall because if I'm not wrong, it's the biggest one here in the Philippines. Anyway, I have always wanted this perfume but I always backout when I reach the counter to get it because it does cost a lot of money (because of course, it is Chanel). When I got the chance to get it tax free, I just went ahead and got it.

Price: $109

What do I think about it?

I had a different expectation for this perfume since everybody keeps saying that it is more on the sexy side. This made me think that this must smell a bit strong but I found out that the stronger scent was the original one (the 1st one). I saw this Eau Premiere and came to find out that this is a much more muted or lighter scent, or what I would call the little sister of the original.

The scent is what I would call timeless. It gives off the old fashion or early years kind of vibe elegantly. It still has that sexy, sophisticated statement, but at the same time very modern with the clean, powdery scent that you could use on a daily as your signature scent.

If you are expecting the kind of "what is your perfume? It smells so good" kind of reaction when you wear this, it won't happen most of the time because someone would have to be really close to you to be able to smell this perfume on you.

The thing that I don't like about this is the longevity. It doesn't really last very long on your skin, just mostly about 2-3 hours and you'll need to reapply again.

The bottle is very simple, vintage and very minimalistic that pretty much focuses on the product inside and nothing more other than a little Chanel label here and there. Not really the 1st thing that people would notice when they peek at your fragrance collection, but hey, the simple ones are always the ones who are colorful inside.

Is it worth the money?

Yes, if you want to get started with buying high end or at least, Chanel type of perfumes, then I would recommend starting with this one. It is a classic perfume that again, like I said, is timeless. It is worth it if you want something that would smell amazing in whatever time it is.

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Weekend Essentials ft. The Versatile Weekender Bag

It's the weekend once again! I wonder, how are you guys gonna spend your weekend? Well, whatever it is, let's get ready with these essentials that we should have to have no matter how we spend these days. 

• Wallet / Money

Let's face it, we can't get anywhere without it especially when you are about to deal with transportation fees, food and water. Include here your ID's or cards that you think you may need.

• Phone

A way to stay in contact with the people you are about to meet or you are leaving behind and for searching information on where you are about to go.

• Extra shirt

You'll never really know how much you'll need one until you actually need it. Just bring a lightweight and neutral colored one in case of emergency or if you just need a change of clothes.

• Book

The weekend is the best time to catch up on some reading, no distractions and you won't have to worry when you get too invested on the story.

• Journal / notebook

It's not everyday you get to spend your time like this so, when you take a break, you can write down your thoughts and your experiences no matter how good or bad because it's a nice remembrance of the moment.

• Sunglasses

This is a must have for me since I live in a place where we have humid weather. The sun is always shining (except for rainy days of course) and a good pair is a way of protecting your ways from too much sun. And it comes in handy when you are having one of those weekends where you don't want to put makeup or anything on since you look like you've tried even if you didn't.

• Necessities (Makeup, Hand sanitizer, alcohol, deodorant)

Basically everything you think you may need when you are out and about, staying somewhere else or your friend's house. Packing up everything saves you the time and the money instead of heading out to buy things that you'll probably only use for a day or two. 

• Weekend Bag

A good spacious bag is the way to go if you plan to bring so much things without the hassle. It's capable of carrying everything you'll need and would still match your outfit. Mine is the Versatile weekender black bag and I got it from oh my bag ph. It's worth PHP 599 and if you guys aren't familiar with oh my bag ph, they sell bag care products like bag and shoe stuffers (depending on which size of bag you have), dust bags, bag shapers, bag raincoats, base shapers and handle wraps. So bag lovers out there, do check them out to prolong the life of your bags in an inexpensive way. Like for real, I am totally eyeing their bag raincoats at the moment. 

A little sample of what they have (screenshot from their website): To see more, click HERE

Hope you guys have a fun weekend! And tell me, what are your weekend essentials?

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Disclosure: The versatile weekender black bag was sent to me by oh my bag ph to review. All opinions / statements made were based off on my experience towards their product. 

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Calvin Klein IN2U Her Perfume Review

This is my first Calvin Klein Perfume that I own and tried. I never usually go to their stall (especially in the Philippines) where it's a little over my budget. But I got this recently so I'm excited to review it so let's get started.

Price:

This was given as a gift for me and as I search through the internet, I'm not quite sure how much exactly is it but reading through amazon, it is  £13.80 for the size that I have which is 50ml. 

What do I think of this product?

The packaging is very simple, very sleek but still makes a statement with the clean white and gold combination with "ck IN2U her" labeled around the white area. 

For the scent, as you spray it, you could instantly smell the citrus scent and you would think that it would overpower the other ingredients or scents placed on this product. It does stay like that for awhile but it then fades into a vanilla scent which has this sweet side into it but not too sweet. I would say that I did smell this scent before but I just can't pinpoint where so I wouldn't say it is the most unique scent out there but it is still quite nice and not too harsh on the nose.

For longevity, it lasts me quite awhile after I sprayed it on my pulse points, roughly 6-7 hours. 

Is it worth the money?

If you are looking to have a scent that would last you for awhile or throughout the day, then this would be nice for you if you are also a fan of the scent. I suggest you give it a spray test first before purchasing this because as I describe above, it does fade into a different scent after you spray it on you. 

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Disclosure: I am in no way sponsored by any of the brands or companies mentioned in this post. All opinions or statements made here were based off on my own experience.

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Versace Bright Crystal Perfume Review

Today is my first ever perfume review and in here you will see me attempt to describe scents! So, let's see how that goes..

Price / Where did I get it from?

This was actually a gift from my mom last Christmas (To see the full list of things that I got during Christmas click HERE). But on Versace's online shop the 50ml size costs £ 51.

What do I think about it?

The scent for me is a little fruity and fresh, a little hint of floral and something that makes it bright and girly but not too overpowering. It gives off the very clean feeling and perfect if you wanna go out with practically a ponytail and no makeup because it totally makes up for it. 

For longevity, it doesn't last long at all on me and considering I already spray it on my pulse points, it lasts for about 2-3 hours and it's totally gone with no trace whatsoever left from where I sprayed it. 

The packaging is breathtaking. It has a gem like cap that has the Versace logo detailed in the middle. It's transparent which lets you see how much product have you used and how much you have left which is a plus for me. The label is (Idk how else to describe it) almost like printed into the bottle because it is pretty scratch proof and won't be removed even if you grip onto it everytime. 

Is it worth the money?

With how amazing this smells and if you are the type of person to collect perfumes, this is what I would say will be worth the money. The longevity is the only issue I have on it but the thing that I like about it most is every time I wear this, I got someone telling me I smell great and asking me what perfume do I use. 

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Disclosure: I am in no way sponsored by any of the brands or companies mentioned in this post. All opinions or statements made towards the product(s) are all based off on my experience. 

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