It's A Wrap: August 2016

• Thank God for another year in my life. Thank you to those who remembered and greeted me. I do appreciate all of your well wishes.

• Even though my schedule has been very hectic, I’m happy that I was able to survive my first month at work. I thought I’ll be included in the fall outs but yeah, I’m still alive and kicking. Despite encountering some issues recently, I am really hoping that these are just part of what others may call as “birthing pains” as the account that I’m part of and the people I’m working with are relatively new.

• I received a birthday gift from my new “family” Yay! I appreciate that they gave out small tokens to their employees on their special day. One way or the other, it adds to my motivation knowing that they are interested in creating different ways to make the people working for them  do their best and enjoy their stay.

• I noticed that I haven’t written anything on my planer since I started working again. I guess it’s because my life currently is very predictable that I don’t have to plan ahead. Anyway, I still need to use it so that I can list down my upcoming blog posts.

• I realized that there are some people who are willing to do anything, even to the point of stepping onto someone’s foot just to move up the corporate ladder. Haven’t they heard of the saying “Be kind to people on your way up because they are the same people you’ll meet on your way down.”? I am flabbergasted with their sense of self entitlement as if we owe them anything. I myself doesn’t want to miss the opportunity presented to me that’s why I always try to do my best but I always take into consideration how others would feel if I reacted to or do certain things.

Oh well, this month might not end on a good note because of situations that are slowly unfolding. However, I still want to keep that positivity that I started and just pray that things will be better soon.

See you soon! :)

Unboxing: My Choice Products

I received a package last Saturday while I'm still feeling groggy from lack of sleep because I just finished my last shift for the week. At first I was clueless because I couldn't remember if I ordered something online but later on realized that it was from My Choice Philippines. I was so excited to see what's inside the package that I didn't even bother to take a photo of the actual unboxing so yeah, sorry about that. :)

My Choice Philippines offers a wide variety of bath and body products that are not only affordable but also very effective when it comes to caring for our skin. The company believes that "the most powerful ingredients are sourced from nature". Thus, all the products that they carry are derived from natural sources such as fruits and vegetables.

They are very kind to send me the following products to try and review so that I can also share my experience in using it through my blog. 

 

Goat Milk Line:

My Choice Hand & Body Lotion (100 ml)

My Choice Pure Herbal Soap (100 g)

My Choice Spa Salt (350 g)

I'm quite excited to try this line. It smells so sweet like a milk candy! I love that it has a moisturizing effect since our unpredictable weather makes my skin rough and dry.

Papaya Line:

My Choice Papaya Cream with SPF 20 (4 g)

My Choice Rejuvenating Facial Bar Soap (45 g)

My Choice Spa Salt (500 g)

Papaya is known for its whitening and anti-aging properties so who would go wrong with it? It's also cool that the Papaya cream already has a SPF 20, at least I wouldn't have to wear a separate sunscreen when I try it on.

I'll make a review for each of these, just give me some time to use it so that I can provide an honest feedback about the products. Stay tune in my blog to know how it goes. If you want to know more about My Choice Philippines or if you are interested to try their products for yourselves, please visit and like their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MyChoicePhilippines

See you soon! :)

Product Review: IWhite Korea's BB Holic BB Cream

Good morning everyone! I hope you’ve had a good start to your week. Today, I would like to review another IWhite Korea product (Yes, I love IWhite Korea!) which was recently released. I’ve heard a lot of good things about it and would like to try it out myself. It is the BB Holic Everyday BB Cream.

The product claims to “instantly perfects your complexion, provides natural coverage and protection while it nourishes and enhances your skin through its Aroma Herb Complex formulation. It is also infused with active lightening and anti-aging properties to give you multiple benefits from a single application.” 

I bought the one in beige which I think doesn’t suit my skin tone. Anything beige is okay for me before so I don’t know if it’s just because I got fairer or the shade is too dark for my liking. I should've bought the light shade too so that I could mix it together.

THUMBS UP:

*** Packaging – IWhite Korea is known for its cute packaging but aside from that, the BB Holic sachet was already divided into two parts so you can control the amount of product that you use.

*** Affordability – It is only Php 24.50 and is available in department stores, supermarkets and drugstores nationwide.

*** Scent - It has a sweet floral scent to it that it almost smells like chocolate.

*** Effectiveness - A little goes a long way. The coverage is buildable from light to medium and is good for everyday use. It also does even out my skin tone.

THUMBS DOWN: 

*** Lasting Power - It only last for 4 hours. After that, my face already feel oily and tacky. I didn't use any setting powder though so I guess you have to use one for it to last longer.

*** It emphasizes dry patches so make sure to moisturize first before using this.

      NEUTRAL:

    *** I wish they would make it available in tube so that you can bring it any where.

    *** More shades availability aside from light and beige.


Will I repurchase it? Why not? It's a good alternative for days when you just want to brighten up your complexion though I think this product will be awesome for people with normal skin type. How about you? Have you already tried IWhite Korea's BB Holic? Share your thoughts on the comment section below.

 

See you soon! :)

How to Get an NBI Clearance

Disclaimer: I am not in any way connected with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). I am just sharing my experience and the process that I went through in getting y clearance. All photos were screen captured from the NBI Clearance website.

I recently applied for an NBI Clearance because I need an additional government issued ID and decided to do it online. It is much easier and more convenient than doing manual application so I thought that I'll share with you the process on how to get it as it could be somewhat confusing for first time applicants.

 STEP 1: Create an account at www.nbi-clearance.com by clicking the SIGN UP NOW button.

STEP 2: Choose your application type. If you haven't had your fingerprints taken through their biometric system yet, then you have to choose "NEW" as the application type.

STEP 3: Key in the necessary information about yourself. The page will also ask for your email address so be sure that what you'll input is an active one because you will use it to be able to log-in on your account. Once you completely filled out the form, click the box for I ACCEPT TERMS OF SERVICE then click the SIGN IN Button.

STEP 4: You will be informed that your registration was completed and be redirected to the website's homepage. Click the SIGN IN option on the upper right hand corner of the homepage and sign in using your email address and the password that you nominated on the registration page.

 STEP 5: Fill out the necessary information to complete your profile. There's no need for you to upload a photo since it will be taken once you reported for your scheduled appearance for biometrics. Once you're done, just click the SAVE INFORMATION button.

 STEP 6: A notification will pop up on your screen stating that you have successfully completed your profile and by this time, you will have an option to either EDIT INFORMATION or APPLY FOR CLEARANCE. You will see the buttons for this options on the right hand side of your screen.

 STEP 7: Click the APPLY FOR CLEARANCE button and a prompt will appear asking you to input the identification card that you'll bring for verification on the day of your schedule appearance. Once you've already key in the type of ID, just click on I AGREE button. A prompt reminding you to take note of your reference number will appear. The reference number will be given to you after you selected the payment option and it will also be your gate pass when you go to an NBI Clearance Center. Just click the CLOSE button as seen on the prompt to go to the next step.

STEP 8: First, you need to choose the NBI Clearance Center from the drop down box where you want to process your NBI Clearance, then select from the available schedule on the calendar. It can either be an AM or PM appointment. For the PURPOSE, choose whether it's for LOCAL or ABROAD then select the PURPOSE DETAIL as well. In this case, I chose Local for the purpose and Local Employment for the purpose detail.

Once these has been selected, you will see the amount that you would need to pay. Please note that using this online service will cost you an additional fee of P25.00 pesos. So if the NBI Clearance for Local Employment is P115.00, you'll have  to add P25.00 and pay P140.00 all in all.

STEP 9: Still on the right side panel of the page, you will see your appointment details. Take note of the expiry date because this is the final date where you can process your NBI Clearance on site. If you weren't able to come to your appointment up until the expiry date, your payment will be forfeited.

To complete the transaction, you need to select which payment option is more convenient to you. Just hover your mouse on each button to see the details. Click on the payment option that you've chosen and pay the application fee. There's no need to print the application form and just take note of your reference number.

STEP 10: Go to you scheduled appointment and have your picture and fingerprints taken. If you don't have a "HIT" you'll immediately get your NBI Clearance but if you have, you'll be scheduled to claim it after 3 - 5 business days.

As for me, I was able to finish the whole process after 35 minutes but since I have a "HIT", they scheduled me to claim it after 4 business days. I hope this blog post could help those who are still not familiar with the online process in applying for an NBI clearance.


See you soon! :)

7 Day Sheet Mask Challenge

Do you ever wonder how on earth do our favorite Korean actors or idols keep their skin looking young and fresh? Well from what I gathered, they follow the ten step skin care regimen which involves twice the skin cleansing, exfoliation, skin conditioning or toning, essence, serum or ampoule as a skin booster, mask sheets, eye cream, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Yup, there’s a lot of work right there but then again as cliché as it may sound, “no pain, no gain”. 

Moreover, the thing that amazed me the most is the Koreans’ love for mask sheets. When you go to a Korean cosmetics store here in the Philippines, you’ll be overwhelmed with the variety of mask sheets that they sell. There’s always a corresponding mask sheet for every part of your body and in case you find yourself wanting to go to Korea, they even sell it at 10 x 10. Meaning, if you’ll buy 10 pieces of mask sheets, you’ll get another 10 pieces for free. How cool was that? 

What make mask sheets so popular is because it offers solution to different kinds of skin problems that a particular person may have. It is packed with vitamins and skin boosters that aid in moisturizing, nourishing, whitening, and a lot more. 

This is the reason as to why I decided to try it out for myself and created a 7 Day Mask Sheet Challenge. Everyday within the next seven days, I would have to incorporate the mask sheet application in my skin care regimen and see what it will do to my skin afterwards. I started 27^th of July and ended 2^nd of August. I recorded my progress and will tell you how it goes. The mask sheets that I used are from my Lazada Haul. You can check out my blog post about it here.

Day 1 – Ekel Snail Ultra Hydrating Essence Mask

This mask is infused with snail mucin which is supposed to be good for skin hydration and repair. You have to leave it on for about 20 to 30 minutes then massage the remaining serum on to your face and neck later on.

The mask sheet is thick and fits perfectly on my face. There’s a light herb-y scent to it which is okay. The serum is quite thick to the point that it feels slimy (what do I expect? it is snail mucin!) but is easily absorbed by the skin. After using it, my skin is brighter, softer, and feels more hydrated.

Day 2 - Wizyoung Amethyst Collagen Mask

Who would have known that amethyst is also good for the skin? Well, I know that there is also a gold sheet mask, so amethyst? Why not? This mask has a light floral scent to it and as with all other Wizyoung sheet masks that I've tried, it also fits perfectly on my face. I felt a bit of stinging sensation while I have I have it on my face for 15 - 20 minutes but it is tolerable and I guess that is also one way of telling that the serum in the mask sheet is working its way into the pores of my skin.

Day 3 - Wizyoung Bamboo Collagen Mask

Bamboo extract is said to be beneficial for skin elasticity so I tried this mask sheet. It has a light herb-y scent to it which is pleasant. My skin looks brighter after applying it.

Day 4 - Wizyoung Laminaria Collagen Mask

On the fourth day, I woke up with a couple of breakouts on my forehead, cheeks, and chin so I decided to use this Laminaria Collagen sheet mask. Laminaria or seaweed is said to be great for moisturizing the skin but the package also indicates that it has soothing properties.

Day 5 - Wizyoung Red Ginseng Collagen Mask

On the fifth day, my skin was noticeably clearer and looks healthier. The bumps that developed the other day was almost gone and to keep it at bay, I used the Red Ginseng Collagen sheet mask. This has a strong ginseng scent to it so if you're not a fan, just opt out on it.

Day 6 - Wizyoug Red Vinegar Collagen Mask

This sheet mask doesn't smell like vinegar at all. It actually has a sweet wine scent so don't worry about it.  Red Vinegar is said to help in clarifying the skin and also acts as a moisturizer.

Day 7 - Wizyoung Dandelion Collagen Mask

On the last day of this challenge, I used the Dandelion Collagen sheet mask. It has a light floral scent to it and is very refreshing on the skin.

In conclusion, incorporating sheet masks on your daily skin care routine will really give you a lot of benefits. It doesn't only help in moisturizing and hydration, it also gives you a brighter and glowing skin. In my case, I noticed that my skin is smoother. The dry patches specially on my cheeks and nose area were gone and there were lesser fine lines on my forehead area. 

How about you, have you tried using any sheet masks lately? Share your experience on the comments section below.

See you soon! :)

25 Random Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Me

Hello everyone! I just feel like I haven’t introduced myself properly to you my dear readers so I decided to write this post. I also noticed that almost everybody who has a blog creates some random list and yes, you got it right, I also joined the bandwagon! A warning though, this post might bore you to death! If so, just click the “X” button on the upper right hand corner of your screen, but to those who are interested, get to know me better with these 25 whatevs facts about me.

1. I AM AN INTROVERT. Most often than not, I function properly when I am alone. So yeah, I’m not a snob or whatever.

2. I never had a best friend. I don’t know. I guess I’m not really good at maintaining relationships. 

3. I love reading. I have a collection of books from different Filipino authors, Paulo Coelho, Sophie Kinsella, etc., you’ll be able to find tons of eBooks on my phone as well.

4. I have a very poor eyesight that sometimes I wouldn’t notice you even if you’re already in front of me. Unless of course if you nudge me or say “uy”!

5. When I was younger, my parents thought that I will be a nun. We’re not Catholics though.

6. I am a pluviophile. I love the sound of the rain trickling on the roof. I find it very relaxing.

7. I used to be a heroine when I was a kid. Pink 5 from Bioman, pink mask from Maskman, and pink power ranger. Yes, I love pink back then.

8. I used to be a huge fan of “Ginebra”, a popular basketball team in the Philippines.

9. I only eat fish when it’s fried.

10. I’ve watched It Started with a Kiss and They Kiss Again (Taiwanese RomCom series) for more than 30 times each. Can you blame me? I’m a big ArJoe fanatic.

11. My all-time favorite Japanese Anime is Fushigi Yuugi and Sailor Moon. I’ve watched both of it dubbed in Filipino, English, and of course in Japanese but with English subtitles.

12. I listen to a wide array of music genres from all over the world which sealed my belief that Music is a universal language, you can enjoy it even if you don’t understand one bit of the lyrics.

13. I like tea more than coffee.

14. I love talking to kids. They’d tell you the truth even if it hurts you.

15. I took up Bachelor of Science in Biology in college because in my mind, I want to be a Marine Biologist but later on realized that the specialization is not being offered in the Philippines at that time.

16. I thought of never getting married. I should’ve hold on to that thought.

17. I was never a party addict, I prefer to be at the comforts of my home on a weekend.

18. I am a hopeless romantic, it just doesn’t look like it.

19. Most people would say that I’m pessimistic. Oh well, I beg to disagree. I’m just more into the realistic side of every situation.

20. I used to cry every time my mother wouldn’t allow me to watch Lois and Clark. Haha. Don’t judge me okay?!

21. I have a secret blog where I write my thoughts that I don’t want others to know. It was supposed to be a secret but whenever I post something on it, it will show my name as the author. Geez… I have yet to figure out a way to fix it.

22. My two biggest pet peeves are when I hear someone chewing on their food and when I encounter someone who doesn’t know the correct telephone conversation etiquette.

23. I am not adventurous when it comes to food. I will only eat it if I know what is it, what’s in it, or where it came from. Don’t get me wrong, that’s just the way I am.

24. I love listening to Electronic Dance Music (EDM) but I don’t know how to dance.

25. Finally, I don’t like chocolate flavored caked and ice cream.

So there you have it folks. I did have a hard time listing these items because I never really found myself interesting at all. Anyway, I hope you had fun reading this post.

See you soon!

Lazada PH Haul: What I Bought From My P500 Voucher

Hello my lovely readers! Today, I would like to share with you the things that I got from Lazada Philippines. I recently received a P500 Lazada voucher from one of my online stints so I decided to use it and buy some items that I think I need. I'll make a review for these products as well as a challenge for the mask sheets so please stay tune to my blog.

Lux Perfumed Body Wash in Soft Touch (with FREE Shower Puff)

• Size: 250 ml
• Price: P89.00

WizYoung Collagen Mask Sheets (Set of 5: Bamboo, Laminaria, Dandelion, Ginseng, Red Vinegar)

• Size: 23 g
• Price: P140.00

WizYoung Amethyst Collagen Mask

• Size: 23 g
• Price: P40.00

Ekel Snail Ultra Hydrating Essence Mask

• Size: 25 ml
• Price: P45.00

Clear Nose Gel Hut Mun

• Size: 20 ml
• Price: P185.00

Safeguard Derma Sense Face & Body Bar

• Size: 135 g
• Price: P79.00

It is my first time buying something from Lazada Philippines but I know there are different merchants who are selling on their page and because I bought these items from different sellers, I thought that they'll consolidate all of my orders then deliver it at once, but oh boy, I was wrong. They actually delivered it one item at a time. It's okay though because all of my orders were delivered ahead of its specified delivery time. Anyway, I'm just glad that I didn't encounter any issues with this transaction. How about you? Have you tried ordering from Lazada yet? Share your experience on the comment section below.

See you soon! :)