The year 2019 finally brought me to the Faro De Capul! Yahoo! It's been a long time coming! 
I could refer to this place as Parola ng Capul or Capul Island Lighthouse but I love the Spanish ring in Faro De Capul so I used it instead. :)

Some people travel because they want to look at the scenery or some of nature's wonders. Some do it to experience sports like surfing, hiking, zip lining, etc. Others do it to put their buns out in the sun. That's not me children, that's not me. I'd rather be trapped inside a library, a museum or other historical structure. It's always amazing to be in a place that helped shape the lives of people. Anything ancient calls to me. But ghost stories freak me out, okay, so let's stop right there.

The Faro is one of those places that I've been wanting to visit ever since I set up camp in the North. I experienced this place under the heat of the 2 o'clock sun and boy oh boy was I out of breath while descending those steps. But first, I thought this place would just be close to the town's center. News: it's not. The Faro is located at the northernmost tip of the island. We took a habal-habal ride for what seemed like forever. And we're not talking about a smooth ride huh. It was bumpy with a lot of ups and downs and good views of cliffs. Yikes! I'm aware that the manong driver is a pro went it comes these winding roads, but still!!! Anyways.



According to the inscription, this lighthouse has been guiding seafarers passing through the San Bernardino Strait since the 1890's. That's a lot of history there, and lot's of lives saved too, since judging from the strong current, this strait isn't an easy breezy place to navigate. The recognition from the National Historical Commission declaring it as a National Historical Landmark in 2013 is well-deserved. You can read the rest here. ⇩



And because of that, I couldn't resist my daughter's wish that we climb up the lighthouse tower. I forgot I had a fear of heights; I was curious too. Regret came raining down on me as soon as we were on the  third step of the spiral staircase, but my daughter was oblivious to it. Climbing the stairs was the least boring thing she'd done all afternoon. It was a short climb but it got steeper and steeper towards the top and I swear to God I thought we were going to fall off! 


We emerged to this breathtaking view but I only took a few seconds to appreciate it because fear of heights finally struck me. Moreover, I also had to worry about our way down. Jeskelerd! My mind was like: #NeverAgain.


If there's a view from the top, I also have here the view from below. Again, I was out of breath during the descend. I forgot to count how many steps there were. 

⦿Guys and gals, make sure you keeps yourselves hydrated when you come here, especially during the summer. Bring your own bottle of water. 


From down here I got a clearer view of the sea and the rugged coastline. I bet it would be a lovely experience to walk around the whole place if the sun isn't burning up. Sunset, anyone?


There's is also this rock formation on one side which seems to resemble a huge foot. In fact, it's locally known as the Big Foot. My daughter believes it's a giant's, just like the ones from Giant Country in BFG.


Despite the challenges: from the bumpy habal-habal ride to the scary steps in  the spiral staircase, this visit was an enjoyable one. And if I ever get a crack at that lighthouse tower again, I'll try to relax more and just leave my daughter out of it. Ha ha. Seriously I was scared enough for two persons there because she was oblivious to the danger.
Kids!

XOXO,

Carissa
Here's a review of some Wet n Wild products which I got from a set called Holiday Eye Candy. Loves, I know how far away we are from the holidays such as New Year or Christmas but, holidays come back and happen every year so I just figured I'll post this review anyway. 😀 
So hustle up, buttercup and let's get this show on the road. 

Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Palette
Shade: 738 Comfort Zone
Price:

The palette contains eight pans of eyeshadows which are color coordinated. Wet n Wild even goes as far as embossing on the shadow if which one is for the browbone, etc., which comes very handy during application. For this palette, called Comfort Zone, the pans on the left side go for the bronzy hues, while the shades on the right bring in the variety, especially with the olive green color and that definer shade on the bottom right which when swatched is a duochrome of brown and blue.


Take a look at the swatches. The brown hues look something like I would wear on any normal, office day and not really on a holiday. I love the duochrome on the bottom right. It really adds the drama.

Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Palette In Action
Here are some eyeshadow looks I created using this palette, my kid being the willing model. Honestly I can't say that this is what I'd wear for a holiday makeup. More like nature fairy makeup because of the green and earth tones and all of those spackles.

My Take/Ratings
All of the shadows have shimmers and pearly satin finishes which might not sit well with some who prefer matte shadows. No transition shades here. The shadows feel buttery soft and pigmentation is also great. However, they do fall out and the staying power is not very great. The glitters/shimmers look chunky on some of the shades too. ❤️❤️❤️/💜💜💜💜💜

Wet n Wild Photofocus Eyeshadow Primer
Price:

I have the travel-sized eyeshadow primer here which contains 5 mL of product. I wasn't able to take a photo of the product itself but it is tinted beige with pasty consistency. The tint is ideal for cancelling out the darkness on the lids. *See photo below*


My Take/Ratings
I was very excited to try this one out because I have never tried and eyeshadow primer before. I ended up being disappointed however. Yes, it cancels out the darkness of the eyelids and renders a smooth canvas for application of eyeshadow. However, have you heard of the line "Don't let anyone dull your sparkle"? Because that is what exactly came to my mind when I applied an eyeshadow on top of this primer. The shimmers seem to get lost and the color looks flat (see photo above). It does however extend the wear of the eyeshadow, I'll give it to them. I even tried running some water over it and it really stayed put with minimal fading. But I wish that along with extending the staying power it also intensified the color of the eyeshadow. ❤️❤️/💜💜💜💜💜


Wet n Wild Color Icon Kohl Eyeliner Pencil
Price:

My Take/Ratings
The shade selection for these too kohl eyeliners is meant to correspond to the left and right shades of the eyeshadow palette. I wasn't too interested with these two kohl pencils that they were actually the last ones I tried out in this bunch. But they ended up being my favorites in this set. Because, look at the swatches. They are lovely and translate well when applied. Yes there was a little bit of tug at first when I used them but I tried applying them first at the back of my hand to warm them up and then they just glide on smoothly. Sometimes I even skip the whole eyeshadow thing and just smudge these liners on my upper lash line. I also love applying the bronzy one my inner eye corner it just instantly brightens up the area.  ❤️❤️❤️❤️/💜💜💜💜💜

Wet n Wild Color Icon Kohl Eyeliner Pencil In Action

List of Ingredients for the the Wet N Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Palette in Comfort Zone//Wet N Wild Photofocus Eyeshadow Primer// Color Icon Kohl Eyeliner Pencil
Have you tried any of these Wet n Wild products?
Share your experience in the comment box below.

XO,
Carissa

I think I've said it before, and I'll say it again. When it comes to product sampling authority in this country, Sample Room is an institution. The membership these days is thousands strong and I'm glad that I was able to join in the early days because now I've got 200+ plus points that I can utilize in ordering sample products. And it's not just the ordering process that's enjoyable for me but also the feeling of finding products that work for me after trying it out for free. "Try before you buy" is Sample Room's mantra after all. 


Last year, I've gotten busier due to work and mommy-hood commitments that I've only been able to order once. Sometimes it takes me a while for me to post a review at the Sample Room site so I can't replenish my points. But no matter how far I "stray", I will always come back anyway. 

I decided to order products from one brand: Derma-C. I go them last January, so its been a while and I've really had enough time to try them out. Read my impressions/quick reviews after the jump.
Derma C by Poten-Cee Brightening Serum Face Mask 

What is it?
A face mask that contains Natural Vitamin C, Camu Camu fruit extract and Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) that will help reveal your skin’s natural glow. It is also infused with 7 natural oils for an increased moisturizing effect and is also packed with Hydrolyzed collagen and Vitamin E to nourish and hydrate your face, leaving it irresistibly smooth and soft. Lots of good stuff in here, huh! It is formulated by Korean skincare experts, Derma-C Serum Face Mask is hypoallergenic and has been dermatologically tested for all types of skin.

Price: Php 75.00 for a pouch that contains 1 sheet mask
Ingredients and other details of the Derma C Brightening Serum Face Mask
My Take
So, its hard to really make a full review about a product if you've only used it once. So let's just say that this is rather an impression about the product. I'm a big fan of Korean face masks and I have always observed that most of the time there's a good amount of extra essence inside the pouch which I love to apply liberally on my face and neck. There isn't that much extra essence on this pack but there's no love lost really because I liked this mask. 

The sheet is thick, mind you I have experienced using mask sheets that easily break. I loved the sweet-tangy scent of the essence. It always feels refreshing that way. Vitamin C naturally brightens so its no surprise that it will have a nice effect on dull skin. Add all those oils, Vitamin E and collagen and your skin is really in for a nice treat. I felt so refreshed and pampered after using this. Will I repurchase this? Of course I will!

Derma C by Poten-Cee Brightening Soap Bar

What is it?
Derma-C Brightening Soap Bar also contains Natural Vitamin C, Camu Camu Extract, and Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) that naturally whitens and brightens your skin. It is infused with 7 natural oils for an increased moisturizing effect: Sunflower Oil, Jojoba Oil, Sulfated Castor Oil, Avocado Oil, Olive Oil, Sweet Almond Oil and Grape Seed Oil. It has Collagen and Vitamin E that nourishes and moisturizes your skin, leaving it smooth and soft. Formulated by Korean skincare experts, Derma-C Brightening Soap is hypoallergenic and has been dermatologically tested for all types of skin.

Price: Php 112.00 for a 90g bar

Derma-C Brightening Soap Bar Ingredients
My Take
Just like the face mask, this soap also contains Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Collagen and natural oils. However, I found this soap too drying on my face that I decided to just use it on my body. It didn't cause breakouts on my face naman but I just prefer to use something gentler on my face. I also didn't experience whitening effect so if I will be asked if I would purchase this I would probably say no since I have another favorite body soap. It's also quiet expensive for me at Php 112.00.


Ascorbic Acid Poten-Cee Forte

What is it?
Poten-Cee Forte is a 1000 MG Ascorbic Acid tablet in an 8-Hour-Time-Release formula for a whole-day Vitamin C protection. Poten-C Vitamin C gives the benefit of Immunity + Healthy Skin because it not only helps boost immunity, it is also essential in collagen production for a healthy skin and hair.

Price
Per tablet- Php 9.75/ 30s tablet - Php 292.50 / 100s tablet - 975.00

My Take
I got this product in January and I don't know if you can still recall just how cold the first two months of 2019 was but it's still very fresh in my memory. Needless to say, my immune system took a hit and I had colds. Thankfully, I remembered that I had several Ascorbic Acid tablets from Poten-Cee. I drank just one tablet per day and with that my body was able to fight back and the colds didn't turn into something worse like flu.

***
Let's do some Math and find out the total price of these items that I was able to get for free.
Ascorbic Acid Poten-Cee Forte - Php 292.50
Derma-C Brightening Soap Bar - Php 112.00
Derma-C Serum Face Mask -  Php 75.00

Total - Php 479.50

I only spent Php 150.00 to pay for the shipping. Nice!

Looking forward to my next order from Sample Room.

XO,

Carissa
How many times have I wanted to go to Capul Island but never really made it? Countless, I would say. And it's not like its very far from where I live: just an hour's boat ride. Wait up, maybe that's the key word there: BOAT RIDE. I'm not afraid tho, it's just that I don't know how to swim and I easily get seasick. Let's not put two and two together for they are lame excuses, I know. Which is probably why I finally decided to throw 'em away this summer and took the chance since life gave a golden opportunity. 

The island municipality of Capul is located in Northern Samar, about 45 minutes away by boat from the ferry terminal at Allen. There are four island towns in Northern Samar, namely: San Antonio, Capul, Biri, and San Vicente, respectively. I was already able to visit San Antonio in 2016 and since then I have been wanting to reach the other island towns too. Finally it happened this year and I couldn't be happier.


The first spot that we visited was actually where our boat docked. The place is called the Abak Beach and it's breathtaking. You know what I felt when I saw the place? I felt like I made the right decision to get on the boat, waves and seasickness be-damned. Totally worth it. Celestine was with me and I was so sure that she would have a blast. 

A little tidbit from Inquirer.Net: Originally, Capul was called Abak. According to folklore, its present name was derived from “Acapulco.” During the galleon trade between Manila and Acapulco during the Spanish colonization, many boats would drop anchor at Capul, waiting for the current to flow outward to the Pacific Ocean before they start their long voyage to Acapulco in Mexico.

Capul has a unique language called Inabaknon, instead of Waray-waray which is widely used in the Samar area. I tell you guys, Inabaknon is a league of its own. I'd very much like to learn it but it's not like Cebuano, or Bisaya which shares similar words with my Waray-waray. Due to few speakers, the language is highly endangered.

So, now we know where this place got its name. Anyway, on to the exploration.

First on the itinerary is the picking of shells. *cough cough* This must be the reason why our baggage was heavier on our way home. Full of seashells and other knickknacks. 


It's a bummer though that my camera malfunctioned when we got to the island and I had to settle with my phone's camera. All of my shots looked washed out. :( The weather was mighty fine when we went there so just imagine the sky to be so much bluer than that. With this calm and quiet, this is the perfect place to unwind. There's no internet coverage here, and it's hard to catch cellular signal so can really disconnect.

P  A  R  A  D  I  S  E

Check out this arch. Doesn't it make you feel like there's a different world on the other side? Like an enchanted place is waiting for you. My silly child didn't use the arch because of the ten peso fee. 😃




Our party was hosted by the Local Government Unit of Capul so we were able to use the cottages free of charge. I believe the fees are minimal naman, won't cost you an arm and a leg. I suggest you bring your own hammock, order a buko fresh from the tree and just while the hours away. Read a magazine, take some zzzzzzz's. Whatever. You deserve it. ;)




A post shared by Cas Posion-Ramosa (@itsnotpoisonblog) on

XO,
Carissa

PS: I will be posting more stuff from my Capul trip so stay tuned. ;)

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