iWhite Korea Aqua Moisturizer Whitening Vita

Price: 

In Action & My Take

A picture can paint a thousand words and I know that the effect of applying this Aqua Moisturizer Whitening Vita is very VERY VERY visible in these photos. The second photo has not been edited; I swear. My dark circles are very much in place in the second photo but everything else has smoothed like some sort of miracle just happened. Hello pores, where you at? Even the scarring has been minimized. This blue-tinged moisturizer is also very lightweight on the skin and it just melts upon contact. It's perfect for oily skinned gals like me. It's ideal for those "polbo and cheektint" days when you just want minimal stuff on your face. If there's a teensy bit of complaint that I have about this product, it would be the lack of Sun Protecting Factor (SPF).

iWhite Korea The Original Nose Pack

Price: 

iWhite Korea Vitamin Sleeping Gel Mask

Price: 

My Take

This gel mask is packed with so many beneficial ingredients. I would love to be able to use it for a longer time to see the full results but as of now, even when I just used it once, I literally woke up with baby soft and smooth skin, and not the greasy type. 

To Cap Things

After using these three, I think I would be able to say that yet again I found some golden products in the drugstore aisle. Of the three though, I would most likely want to purchase the iWhite Aqua Moisturizer Whitening Vita and the iWhite Korea Vitamin Sleeping Gel Mask based on my experience. I'm also glad to say that none of these products broke me out. I checked Google and I saw that the full-sized version of the Aqua Moisturizer is less than Php 200.00 which is definitely a steal.  Two thumbs up! I hope to try other iWhite Korea products and I will definitely blog about it too.

XO,

Carissa

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored review. The views and statement above are my honest opinion and my personal experience using the product.

Ever Bilena Volume Curl Waterproof Mascara

Price: Php 185.00 

Where to Buy: Ever Bilena counters in department stores nationwide

My favorite drugstore mascara: the Maybelline Hypercurl Volum' Express Mascara recently went beyond it's usable state so I knew I had to pick up a replacement. I was thinking of grabbing another tube  of it but then, while I was at the Watsons Store, I chanced upon an Ever Bilena kiosk and I saw their Volume Curl Mascara. With their black-pink packaging I thought they could be cousins - albeit EB's has a more magenta cap. They're at about the same price point, both *claim to be* waterproof and both are designed to add volume. In my playbook, running out of a certain product is a chance to try out another. So there, I picked up this Ever Bilena Volume Curl Waterproof with hopes that like the Maybelline Hypercurl Volum' Express Mascara I will get a bang for my buck. It turns out, like most products it has its pros and cons. Here's the rundown.

So I obviously love how this mascara curled my lashes. It brings volume, holds a curl and really opened up my eye. The big wand certainly helped in bringing the volume. It's also clump-free as you can see in the photo. I just didn't use it for my lower lashes because the wand is too big and I didn't want to end up with some mess. I also felt like I could poke my eye with it. LOL.

Look at this photo below. I took it at about 5 in the afternoon. That's about 8 hours of wear time already and my curls are still holding up, see? So I really have no complaints about its staying power or its lengthening or volumizing ability.


However, what I don't like about this product though is that there are times that I end up with dark, raccoon-like circles at the end of the day. It happens when the day is hot and my lids are sweaty.  When the weather isn't so humid, there are barely any issues.

This mascara also takes a while to dry up after application so try not to bat your lashes right away because you know what's bound to happen. Waiting a whole good minute will do.

Being a waterproof product it's stubborn to remove with my Micellar water.

Ever Bilena Volume Curl Waterproof Mascara Rating

Packaging: 3/5

Performance: 4/5

Longevity : 4/5

Quality: 4/5

User Friendliness: 3/5

Price: 5/5

Overall: 3.5/5

Have you tried this mascara from Ever Bilena?

Share you experience in the comment box below.

XO,

Carissa

PS. Here's a makeup look I created using this Ever Bilena Volume Curl Waterproof Mascara, along with another Ever Bilena product. Light and simple makeup lang, ideal for the office.

Here's a list of the products I used. Click the fonts in bold if you want to read the review about the product.

Primer: Quick FX No-Shine Mattifier

Foundation: The Ordinary Serum Foundation in Shade 2.0 YG

Concealer: Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer (miraculous coz I have soo much to conceal!)

Powder: Maybelline Clear Smooth All In One UV+Lightening Oil-Control Two Way Cake

Brows: Maybelline Fashion Brow 3D Brow & Nose Palette in Dark Brown (also used the lighter shade in the palette as transition shade for eyeshadow)

Eye Palette: Zoeva En Taupe Eyeshadow Palette (Shade: Handmade - duo-chrome peach that shifts into a subtle gold when applied)

Mascara: Ever Bilena Volume Curl Waterproof Mascara

Blush: Laura Geller Beauty Baked Gelato Vivid Swirl Blush in Cantaloupe (also it doesn't seem so obvious here)

Contour: Ciate London Bamboo Bronzer in Palm Island 

Lips: Ever Bilena Matte Liquid Lipstick in Sexy Nude

A primer on Chocolate Moron - for those who are not familiar with it - it is a Filipino delicacy from the Samar-Leyte area. Chocolate moron is made up of ground glutinous rice also known as “malagkit” cooked in coconut milk, mixed with other ingredients such as milk, margarine, sugar and cocoa. It is wrapped in banana leaves and is mostly served during fiestas.

I have plenty of childhood memories watching the womenfolk make this delicacy but as a kid, I was never really involved in the whole process so I never really understood the magnitude of efforts you have to exert to make this. Well, surprise! It really is very tiring to make and like my title says, it literally takes an entire village to make chocolate moron. And it takes a whole day too! But is it worth it? Find out after the jump!

The Pre-Cooking Process

It all starts with soaking a mixture of ordinary rice and glutinous (sticky/malagkit) rice  in water, preferably overnight. Afterwards, it will go through a grinding process until the grainy stuff is gone and you get this creamy smooth consistency (see photo). Set it aside, 'coz you'll get busy with other stuff to do like...

3 Second Brow Eyebrow Stamp

Price: Free! It was given to me by ig.com/yojjimz, however there are various sellers from Lazada PH and the price ranges from Php120.00 to 150.00

Where to Buy:  Lazada, Shopee and other online shops

The concept of this product, one that promises you perfect and natural-looking brows achievable in three seconds is just very good.  Too good to be true, maybe. I spend at least a few minutes in front of the mirror everyday and I still haven't mastered the art of it. I wanted this product to work because it would be really helpful for a working mom like me but for so several reasons, it just didn't.

Packaging: 4/5

Performance: 2/5

Longevity : 2/5

Quality: 3/5

User Friendliness: 2/5

Price: 4/5

Overall: 2.8/5

I rated high for packaging because it's pretty compact, you can carry it anywhere. It also has a mirror. It's pretty affordable too. But the performance and quality pulled it down.

Have you tried using eyebrow stamps?
Share your experience in the comment box below.

XO,
Carissa

Monday morning found me with red, puffy, and swollen eyes. You know why? I have been crying buckets upon buckets of tears while watching Crazy Rich Asians. Does it even make sense? I watched a Romantic-Comedy movie and I literally cried about 75% of the time while watching it. 

There were many a deviations from the novel but it's quiet understandable since you have to fit four hundred pages into a 2 hour movie. What's important is the main frame of the story is present and the whole production was grand, grand, grand like how I wished it would be.

So there I was, gaping like an idiot at the spectacular-ness that is Singapore.

So amazed that Gemma Chan who plays the part of Astrid, is so chic.

She looks like the girl on the book cover of Crazy Rich Asians, noh? Gemma Chan plays Astrid Leong-Teo, Nick's cousin. *image is property of Warner Brothers*

Wondering how all of those food from the Singaporean hawkers taste like. And the dumplings, oh the dumplings. I wish I had an access to a plateful of dumplings this very instant.

I also mentioned in my previous blog post that I love the comedic timing of the book. I am happy that it translated well into the movie. I didn't know that it could even be funnier when Peik Lin and Oliver Tsien came to life. I was literally laughing and crying at the same time. 

The wedding scene literally gave me goosebumps. I'm still listening to Kina Grannis' version of "Can't Help Falling In Love" on YouTube just to get the feels. In fact, I will visit Kina's YouTube more because I've become a convert. My husband, the guy who spends 90% of his free time playing with games on his phone was quick to point out while watching, "Di ba si Kina Grannis yan?". And I was like, "Kina who?". How the f* is he familiar with this singer and I am not. Ha ha ha. He told me she's a favorite.

Moving on to the next most awaited cameo. Here's the thing though: I didn't tell my husband that Kris Aquino is in the movie. 😀 So when her scene came in, he was like... "Oh, ba't andyan yan?"  (Why is she there?). He sounded really amazed, in a good way. I was proud of that scene too. When the wedding scene came, I knew that Princess Intan, Kris Aquino's character would soon make an entrance. When I first read the book, I imagined that she would be someone like Fiona Tung who lent a very special sapphire necklace to Rachel on the day of the wedding. Of course I was wrong, she didn't play Fiona but I feel that I was also right that Kris will play a part that would one way or another be helpful to Rachel. Indeed, when Nick's mum's posse didn't want her seated in their row, Rachel stroke up a conversation (maybe even a friendship) with "the vicious" Princess Intan and didn't end up feeling so alone during the wedding.

The movie's ending is quiet different from that of the books, although Nick and Rachel ended up being engaged on both. The difference is that in the movie Eleanor, Nick's mum, played by the divine Michelle Yeoh gives her approval and even gives her own engagement ring to Nick when he proposed to Rachel for the second time. In the book version, Nick and Rachel gets engaged without Eleanor or grandma Su Yi's approval and sort of just runs off to New York and looses contact with the family back home.

That's how I ended up saying "Well Played, Rachel Chu" on my blog post's title because she really played her cards well, or rather her mahjong well in the end. Which makes sense because the movie opens with Rachel discussing Game Theory in her Economics class in NYU. I won't discuss Game Theory here, because it's too deep for me, LOL. But I think the message was pretty clear: Rachel beats Eleanor in mahjong and if Rachel had her way, she could beat Eleanor in real life too, because Nick has already proposed to her and promised that he is ready to turn his back on his family if she accepts. But she let her self be beat in real life and rejects Nick's marriage proposal. She didn't want him to turn his back on his family. She also adds that when Nick finds the proper match in the future, she wants Eleanor to understand that the only reason it occurred was because a “poor, raised by a single mother, low-class immigrant nobody” made it possible. This way, Eleanor sees what kind of character Rachel has and finally sees the light of day. Rachel has expressed her admiration for Eleanor Young's giant emerald and diamond ring, an engagement ring given to her by Nick's father when he proposed, during a gathering. She was shocked when she sees that Nick proposed with a different and familiar ring the second time around.

Yes they are. 

They are cuties in the size and in the looks department.

Even if they aren't packaged as luxuriously as their full-sized counterparts, they still look adorable.

I've been on the hunt lately for these pieces and I have a few good reasons to do so.

1. They are mini-mes of the real thing. Admit it, it's not easy for most of us to drop two thousand grands in one go just for a coveted highlighter. Lo and behold! Here's a mini - it basically contains the same ingredients, down to the very last speck, but at a much, much more affordable price.
2. It quenches your thirst for the full-sized product. Like, there's a makeup item that you want sooo bad but you're not even sure if its really worth the hype. Get me a mini, just to see if it's really worth it or yep, you'll stop craving for that product 'coz your thirst has been quenched. 

3. They are perfect for travelling because they won't take up so much space in your makeup kit.

4.  You can actually consume them. I mean, how many products have you thrown away because they're expired or you've grown tired of them. Come to think of it, I've been using this 2.4g mini of the Becca Highlighter since the start of the year and I haven't even hit the pan yet. My point is, imagine if it's a full-sized one, I would be having a harder time to use it all up. So these minis fit my needs because I'm not really that YouTuber nor that beauty guru. I just enjoy the whole process of painting my face. And I intend to use them all up because: refer to item Number 1. They are supposed to be pricey, down to the very last speck. Ha ha!

5. They just look good.

Makeup minis are basically life savers.
Come, it's time to meet them. I got them all for a good bargain.

Just perfect for me because I don't really use a lot of contour. It will probably take forever for me to consume this one. Here's where I assure my husband that I didn't sell an arm and leg just to get a mud-colored powder. I got this for like Php 160.00.

For achieving the fairy-like glimmer. Ha ha. I already reviewed this product and here's the link: Review: Becca Shimmering Skin Pressed Perfector in Moonstone.

This one's like a Barbie Doll pink and looks over the top on the pan (photo below) but looks surprisingly tame when applied. Well of course you can build it up if you like. No I did not have to pay Php 1,300.00 to get this, I think this came at Php 300.00. I've been using this for like 3 times a week since May but I believe there's still so much more product left in the pan. 

I absolutely adore the heart cover and my daughter has already asked me if she can have the empty palette when I run out. Looks like I will run out in 2 years. 

What do you get when you pay for a lipstick that's almost Php 1500.00 pesos? That's a question that has been running in my mind for a very long time. I got my answer, but I payed less than Php 200.00 for the lippie. He he. It turns out the formula on this one seems to hug the lips in a comfortable way. Does that even make sense? And it's a classy shade of red. I will post a detailed review about this one very soon.

Those glitters are just hypnotizing. 

XO,

Carissa

PS. I've only just begun. I'm buying more minis.

I got them all from Instagram sellers, save for the Becca which I got from Sephora. I know some samples are not meant to be resold but hey am actually glad they sell their extras. 

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter

Shade: Moonstone

Price: Php 1, 150 for Mini (2.4g)

Where To Buy: Online at Sephora Philippines (www.sephora.ph)

Sometimes I need to remind myself that I buy makeup to use it and not just to stare at it. LOL. But seriously, fresh, right off the box products are hypnotic. Every single glitter is in place. 

I don't know who made highlighters famous but I was never quick to catch up on that trend. My makeup routine was quiet simple and I never felt the need for a highlighter. I bought a highlighter once just to try it out but the shimmers were quiet chunky so I decided to put my highlighting game on hold.

And then I saw this Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter on SALE at Sephora during the holidays and I was drawn to it because of the raves. I wasn't quick to decide by hey, December is my birth month so I figured, "the heck, why not?". 

So here we are.

They say once you get a taste of the good thing, it's addicting and it's quiet true. I've been using this highlighter almost every single day and I've made a considerable dent on its once immaculate surface. 

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter in Moonstone Rating

Packaging: 4/5

Performance: 4.5/5

Longevity : 4/5

Quality: 4.5/5

User Friendliness: 4/5

Price: 3/5

Overall: 4/5

To be honest, even if I love makeups, I am quiet frugal and if this product wasn't on sale, I never would have considered buying it. The original price for a mini is Php 1, 150.00 and that is a lot. Is it worth the price? Well, for some makeup lovers out there, you don't just pay for the product but also for the packaging and the prestige that comes with owning a Becca. If you are not ready to shell out more than a thousand pesos for a 3 gram product, I'm sure there are some good drugstore alternatives out there so fret not. 
For me, I scored this product for Php 560.00, I'll be using this one for the next two years hopefully so I really got the good end of the deal. 😏

XO,
Carissa

Garnier Skin Naturals Micellar Cleansing Water

Blue Packaging for Oily, Acne-Prone Skin

Price: Php 149.00 for 125 mL

Where to Buy: Watsons 

I love the ritual of removing makeup as much as I love putting it on and Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water has been a good companion in doing such an activity. Here's my proof: a photo of the cotton pads that I used for cleansing with the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water. It takes about 3 to 4 cotton pads to clean up my face. I love how mild this micellar water is - no stingy feeling, almost like water but it feels a bit slippery (must be the micelles) so that when it comes in contact with your skin, the makeup just seems to melt off. 

This is just a personal preference: even if it says that there is no rinsing required, I prefer to not rely on this Micellar Water alone for cleansing since it doesn't leave a squeaky clean feel. Kinda like there's still something left on my skin so I splash on some water and some foamy cleanser. But on days when I really feel lazy and tired, this works just fine. I have observed though that I had some difficulty removing my mascara with this Micellar Water.

If you wear makeup on a daily basis, just like me, it would be best if you pick the bigger sized bottle because you win on the price per mL. Unlike cleansing oils which take only small amounts for cleaning the face, with Micellar Water you have to use at least 4 to 5 cotton pads so a 125 mL bottle won't last very long. However, Micellar Waters have short expiry dates after opening. In this case it's only good for 6 months so yep, you better use it while it's good!

Unlike most cleansing oils, there's definitely no greasy feel while using this Garnier Micellar Water. However, I experienced difficulty in removing my mascara with it. For reference, I am using my favorite Maybelline Hypercurl Volum' Express Mascara.

My skin feels fresh and matte but not dry after using it however I am Miss Oiliness so after a while I oil up again. I didn't experience breakouts while using this so for me it means that it did well in removing the makeup (save for the mascara) and other debris from my skin.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water Rating

Packaging: 4/5

Quality: 3.5/5

Performance: 3.5/5

Value for Money: 4/5

User Friendliness: 4/5

Final Rating: 3.8/5

This is the first time that I have tried  Micellar Water so I really have no idea about how it compares to other drugstore Micellar Waters such as L'Oreal's or Maybelline's. I hope I would be able to try them out soon so I can make a comparison.

XO,
Carissa.

These products caught my eye and thankfully, I had enough points in my account to cover them all. I always prefer ordering stuff that will be useful to my daily life so I got a perfume to keep me smelling fresh, a conditioner for my DDD (dry, dead, damaged) locks, and a controversial piece that will be very useful when that time of the month comes. ;)

Here's a rundown of all the products in my latest Sample Room haul.

Bursts of fruity essence for the woman who uplifts like the sunshine wherever she goes. The opening is fresh with crisp, dewy green notes, blackcurrants and petit grain. This is followed by a lusciously ripe heart of succulent nectarines and acacia honey, all resting on a warm base of vetiver, peach and plums.
FULL SIZE: 10mL / 30mL / 50mL

PRICE: PHP 380 / PHP 780 / PHP 1180
"Each Ladouce Tampon is designed to provide the highest soft and safe absorbency for all users. Mini tampons are best for beginner and/or women who have light menstrual flow. Normal tampons are best for moderate menstrual flow, while super tampons are best for heavy menstrual flow."

It seems like only yesterday when I was writing a blog post about Celestine's Moving Up Ceremony in April and now, here we are: saying hi to June... and July, 'coz this blog post is overdue. :)
In other parts of the world, and even in some schools in the Philippines, June means being close to the end of the school days. But for us, it's only the beginning of the term.

So it's goodbye to sleep ins and hello early mornings.

Goodbye to late night movie marathons and hello homeworks.

Basically, it's goodbye to the chill life and hello stress.

I've also done a bit of parenting stuff at school. Yep, general cleaning. That, plus waking up an hour earlier than what I'm used to. Plus cooking breakfast and making her eat quickly. Why do kids move like sloths in the morning? Plus convincing her to take a bath even if the water is cold. And dressing her up while she thinks of a few more delaying tactics. That's just some of the adjustments I've made. And it's just for one kid. If I had three, I think I would go crazy!

A month into this new routine and I am happy to report that I am doing well. I've adapted, as moms are wont to do. And I am glad that despite all of the stuff that I have to do in the morning, I am never late for work. Actually, I arrive at least fifteen minutes earlier than 8:00 AM. I'm doing well, thank you! ;)

Real life isn't perfect. Nothing ever sails smoothly forever. 

But here I am, putting up a good fight. All because I have a good girl with me and I have made a promise since Day One that I will always, ALWAYS have her back.

It's a delicate balance that moms have to make: we want to always be there for them but we also want to teach them to be independent.

There will be wrong answers during quizzes but hey, that's more reason to work twice as hard.

Now, where's that Momoland stuff and let's start dancing to Boom Boom. :)
Kids these days.

XO,

Mummy Cassie