I hate using this line, but IT'S REALLY BEEN A WHILE!
I slacked through the better part of 2019 and here we are at the start of the second quarter of 2020, seemingly trying to not make it a tradition. 
A month into the lockdown, when things are starting to feel a little calmer (at least here in the Eastern Visayas part), I finally found time to look into the pile of skin care things that I purchased last year. 
I needed to do things to stay off Facebook to stop feeling anxious, hence the decluttering. It also gives me the chance to check out the expiry dates so I would know which ones should I use immediately and which ones should I chuck. 
Hop on as I delve into these things and make a quick comments/reviews. 
L - R: RYX Skincerity Ultra Hydrating Foam Cleanser Refill, Zenutrients Tea Tree Balancing Soap, Celeteque Acne Solutions Acne Cleansing Gel, La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser
Center: Alani Sonic Facial Cleanser and Massager
➤Currently using
RYX Skincerity Ultra Hydrating Foam Cleanser
How Much: Php 95.00 for 50 mL refill/Php 350.00 150 mL bottle with foamer
Where To Buy: Shopee ➧ I was able to use the RYX Skincerity Rejuvenating Set last year and although it didn't turn out to be a bad experience, I must say that I could never get used to the feeling of using something that involves A LOT of peeling. So I purchased this foam cleanser afterwards and I loved it that I decided to get two pieces of 50 mL refills in addition to the full-sized one that I already had. This cleanser is ideal for removing the day's grime, although I always make sure that I double cleanse to fully remove makeup and sunscreen. I love how it gives me a satisfying lather but it doesn't leave my skin feeling dry. It is gel type which I find effective for my oily and pimple prone skin. It contains niacinamide, aloe vera extract, carrot extract, papaine and vitamin B3 among others so it not only nourishes but it also exfoliates the skin. It also has a nice fruity scent. However, it is not readily available locally so I'm not sure if I will be able to repurchase it given the current situation.

Celeteque Acne Solutions Acne Cleansing Gel
How Much: Php 270.00 for a 50 mL tube
Where To Buy: Mercury Drug ➧ I've always recognized the power of Salicylic Acid when it comes to dealing with zits and this is basically the selling point of this product for me. This is an oil-free cleansing gel that purifies and clears skin. It is hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, dermatologist tested, and fragrance free. But I won't say I never get zits when I'm using this ah. Dealing with one's skin is like doing rocket science sometimes; so many factors affect it, sometimes it's the food, sometimes it's hormones, sometimes it's dirt, sometimes it's stress. What's important is that it doesn't go out of hand, and that you are not left with a humongous scar afterwards. Gentle cleansers with acids always help. ;)

➤Coming Up 
La Roche-Posay Purifying Foaming Cleanser
Price: $14.99 for 400 mL from https://www.laroche-posay.us/ 
Where To Buy: ➧ The La Roche-Posay website simply describes it as "a daily facial wash for normal to oily skin foams to remove face and eye makeup, dirt, and impurities. Its refreshing gel formula removes excess oil while maintaining skin’s natural protective barrier and pH. Leaves skin feeling clean and fresh." which reminds me of how straightforward Celeteque's Hydrating Facial Wash is. It contains Ceramide-3, Niacinamide, Glycerin, and La Roche-Posay Prebiotic Thermal Water which will certainly give the skin some good lovin'. 

anti acne soap tea tree soap
Zenutrients Tea Tree Balancing Soap
Php 88.00 for 100g
Where To Buy: www.beautymnl.com  ➧ I intend to use it again when I run out of my current facial washes. Tea Tree is also one of my favorite ingredients when it comes to fighting pimples. I do have reservations when it comes to using soap on the face as it can be harsh. I will update this entry in the future. 

➤Empties
I have emptied several facial washes last year such as the Celeteque Hydration Facial Wash and the Celeteque Hydration Gentle Exfoliating Facial Wash, pictured here with my favorite micellar water. I love how simple and mild they are but they work, are very affordable and are always readily available at the local Mercury Drug.
I also used the Safeguard Derma Sense albeit I was not able to take a photo of it. It also contained Salicylic Acid for made it ideal for fighting the pimples however, I just felt that my skin looked dull while I was using it. 😃 Anyways. When it comes to making repurchases, I'm sure I won't hesitate to pick up Celeteque products over and over again.

➤The Device - If you are curious about the pink, triangular device...
Alani Sonic Skin Cleanser and Facial Massager
Price: Php 450.00
Where To Buy: Kimstore ➧ The Alani Sonic Skin Cleanser and Facial Massager is a cleansing device which is made from safe-for-skin silicone material. It has four brush heads which can be used as cleanser or massager. It is waterproof and rechargeable. It vibrates/pulses upon pressing the power button and it also has buttons for adjusting the strength of the pulses. I have been using mine for nearly a year however, it just stopped working, like it no longer vibrates or sends sonic pulses but it still lights up when plugged to a charger. I dunno what went wrong but anyway, I still use it for cleaning/scrubbing my face even if it no longer has power.
foreo luna

***
And that is it for my facial washes as of this point. 
I will consume them first before picking up new ones.
Next up, I will post about the makeup removers and the toners.

XO,

caSSie ♥️
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Once in a while, Maybelline's Official Store in Shopee sells some of its powders and liquid foundations in sets and luckily, I was able to grab one while they were discounted. I've heard so much about the Fit Me line from various bloggers and vloggers so my curiosity got the best of me. I was also able to purchase the Fit Me concealer from BeautyMNL so when I completed the trio I just knew that someday soon I would be doing a capsule review.
The review took me long enough that as of this writing, the bottle of liquid foundation is already empty and the pressed powder is depleted. I used the liquid foundie and pressed powder combo almost everyday and it took me more than a year to consume them. I still have the concealer because I seldom use it.
So here's my honest review about this set, right after the jump! 

Maybelline Matte Have Bundles 
(Fit Me Matte+Poreless Liquid Foundation 128 Warm Nude and Fit Me Matte + Poreless Pressed Powder Buff Beige 130)
How Much: Php 799.00 but I got it for Php 499.00
Where I Got It: Maybelline Official Store in Shopee

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer 20 Sand
How Much: Php 199.00
Where I Got It: BeautyMNL
Packaging/List of Ingredients
Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation in 128 Warm Nude Ingredients, Details, and Packaging
The packaging of the liquid foundation has been one of the biggest concerns of the consumers because as you can see, there is no pump. The bottle neck gets messy as more and more excess products gets accumulated. It's also hard to control the amount of product that comes out whenever you pour it out.

But worry not! As of this writing, Maybelline has listened to its consumers and the bottle has been upgraded to include a pump.
For the pressed powder, I love the packaging. It has a mirror underneath the pan which also houses the sponge and although it's  bit bulkier than other pressed powders that I have in my stash, I don't mind because I really prefer that the sponge is stored separately from the powder.

The concealer comes in a plastic tube and I love that the doe foot applicator is small enough to fit the inner corners of my eye and it's also very light so I'm able to apply it with a light hand.

Swatches
In Action
Here's sequence of photos to show the difference when I used these products. You can see that for  their prices, they perform well. I didn't use any primer on my face and the liquid foundation was able to brighten up my face and even out my skin color, especially on my dark circles and on my forehead. It has also noticeably minimized my pores. I used a damp beauty sponge to apply the liquid foundation because I have observed that it dries quickly if I just use the traditional liquid foundation brush. The concealer further contributed in covering up the dark circles but to be honest, if I were to use the concealer alone, it won't be enough to brighten my under eyes. 

To top it all is the pressed powder which did really well in locking in the liquid foundation and concealer and further blurring out the pores on my cheeks. I have no issues with the sponge applicator that came with this but I really prefer using a fluffy powder brush so I can apply it lightly and avoid caking.
My Take
One of the biggest deciding factors in determining the success or failure of a base product, be it a liquid or a powder foundation is if it matches your skin tone. For me, Maybelline did well in packing them in bundles as it took out the guessing game if which liquid foundation would go well with which powder. It boiled down to picking the right bundle and Maybelline's official store in Shopee also posted photos on how the bundles would look like on different skin tones. I have a light- medium skin tone with yellow undertone. I'm glad I picked a bundle that matched my skin tone to a T.

I have already discussed how good it made my skin look based on the photos so now I really understand why the FIT ME line has been hyped by beauty bloggers here and there. On top of that they are all light on my skin. Both the liquid foundation and concealer are creamy and the pressed powder has a fine texture. 

My only concern it just their staying power. I have oily skin so by mid day the foundation breaks around my nose area. But really, it's nothing that can't be fixed by reapplying just the pressed powder and again I am good to go. If you want to make it stay put for longer, use a primer or a setting spray. The concealer is my least favorite in this bunch because for me, there's not enough coverage. It became handy though as I use it to highlight the bridge of my nose and my brow bones so it's not a total waste. Don't we all wish that the foundation and the powder had some SPF content? I do. But anyway, as someone from a tropical country like mine, I don't rely on SPF alone so I use a separate sunscreen. 

Overall for me, the liquid foundation and the pressed powder are good buys, especially that I got them for less than Php 500.00. I won't hesitate to purchase them again in the future, especially that the bottle already has a pump. For the concealer, I don't think I will make a repurchase.

Maybelline Matte Have Bundles Rating
Would I purchase it again? Yes
Would I recommend it? Yes
Rating: 4/5

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer
Would I purchase it again? No. 
Would I recommend it? Yes, sort of still. :) Maybe you don't need much coverage and you need something lightweight and not cakey. And it's effective in highlighting certain areas of the face. 
Rating: 3/5

XO,
Carissa
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I was able to get this set from a favorite Instagram seller at a very affordable rate and I knew how lucky I was considering that the individual prices of the full-sized ones are quiet pricey. 
This is a perfect opportunity to try out if which ones in Etude House's wide array of moisturizers and creams would be compatible with me and mine.
For reference, I have an oily, pimple prone skin with big pores. 
I have here four varieties, in sample/travel sized packaging. If anything they all look adorable, don't they? 
I tested them out and you can find out at the end if which one of these four did I like.

Etude House Pink Vital Water Cream
Price: Php 1, 048.00 for 60 ml (www.etudehouse.ph)
Etude House Pink Vital Water Cream
What is it? What does it do?
The vitality-charging moisture cream provides hydrating vitality to the tired, flaky skin with its non-sticky smooth moisture layer.

Ingredients
Water, Propanediol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetyl Alcohol, Prunus Persica (Peach) Bud Extract, Sequoiadendron Gigantea Bud Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Bud Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Beta Carotene, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Dextrin, Dimethicone, Lecithin, Methoxy Peg-114/Polyepsilon Caprolactone, Butylene Glycol, Cyclomethicone, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ubiquinone, Xanthan Gum, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract, Copper Tripeptide-1, Caffeic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Calcium Pantetheine Sulfonate, Cholesteryl Hexyl Dicarbamate Pullulan, Phenyl Methicone, Polyacrylic Acid, Polyethylene, Peg-100 Stearate, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Peg 75 Stearate, Peg/Ppg-20/15 Dimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Millet, Alcohol, Zinc Dna, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance

Etude House Moistfull Collagen Cream
Price: Php 930.00 for 75 ml (ph.althea.kr)

What is it? What does it do?
It is the very protein that keeps your skin looking youthful and bouncy. The Moistfull Collagen Cream is akin to having a jar of collagen in your hand. It is made up of 63% super collagen water to give your skin all-day hydration. Its gel texture is pleasant to apply, and does not leave any sticky residue on your skin. Within 120 hours of continued usage, you will see improvements within your skin layers and an increased level of hydration. The best part? This cream keeps the skin hydrated and supple for up to 12 hours!
Etude House Moistfull Collagen Cream
Ingredients
Hydrolyzed Collagen, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Betaine, Kaolin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Pca Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Stearic Acid, Silica, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Poloxamer 407, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Phytantriol, Ppg-5-Laureth-5, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Alcohol, Water, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance

 Etude House True Relief Moist Cream
Php $ 26.40 or roughly Php 1, 340.00 for 80 ml (www.etudehouse.com)

What is it? What does it do?
Non-irritating moisturizing care for skin prone to dryness and sensitive skin

Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, propanediol, cetyl ethylhexanoate, pentaerythrityl tetraisostearate, cyclopentasiloxane, stearic acid, palmitic acid, behenyl alcohol, white fungus extract, ceramide 3, hyaluronidase Nick Acid, C12-20 alkyl glucoside, C14-22 alcohol, diethylene mechi konol, Butylene glycol, cyclohexanone siloxane, arachidyl glucoside, arachidyl alcohol, acrylates / stearyl Aryl methacrylate copolymer, ethylhexyl glycerin, isostearyl neopentanoate, xanthan gum, tocopheryl acetate, polysorbate 20, polyacrylate-13, polyisobutene, hydroxypropyl bis palmitamide Miai
Etude House True Relief Moist Cream and Etude House Soon Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream

Etude House Soon Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream
Price: $ 19.50 or roughly Php 994.00 (www.etudehouse.com)

What is it? What does it do?
Moisturizing cream to strengthen skin's resistance with protein barrier.

Ingredients
WATER,PROPANEDIOL,PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAETHYLHEXANOATE,CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE,GLYCERIN,HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL,POLYGLYCERYL-3 METHYLGLUCOSE DISTEARATE,BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER,CETEARYL ALCOHOL,PANTHENOL,MADECASSOSIDE,CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT,1,2-HEXANEDIOL,POTASSIUM CARBOMER,XANTHAN GUM,BUTYLENE GLYCOL,DISODIUM EDTA


My Take
Like I mentioned at the start of this blog post, I have an oily skin with the occasional hormonal pimples on my chin during that time of the month. So, as much as possible, I want my face cream to be on the lighter side. Both of the Etude House Pink Vital Water Cream and the Etude House Moistfull Cream have the same bouncy texture and I loved how light they felt on my skin. They both smell nice and I love how my skin felt soft after using them daily. I also didn't get breakouts while using them.

However, I have reservations about products that contain collagen because there are so many articles on on line that say that collagen cannot be absorbed when applied topically because the collagen molecule is too large. Some say that it can be absorbed when it is hydrolyzed or broken down into smaller molecules. And even when it is hydrolyzed there are still so any questions surrounding it. So I decided that the best way to get collagen is by eating protein-rich food and taking Vitamin C so that your body would produce it naturally. Anyway. That's one extra paragraph for collagen talk.

The Etude House Soon Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream and the Etude House True Relief Moist Cream in my opinion would be well appreciated by those with dry skin types because they have rich  and creamy texture and would be great for keeping the skin moisturized. They didn't have any bad reaction on my skin naman, didn't cause any breakouts however, they just felt heavy on my skin type.

So there, based on my skin type and my preference, the Etude House Pink Vital Water Cream is my pick in this bunch.

XO,
Carissa
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It took me long enough but here I am, finally posting about my latest goodies from Sample Room. If you don't already know it, Sample Room is the "Philippine's first and only beauty, health, and lifestyle digital sampling and review website that combines the service of sampling and digital marketing campaigns". To know more about Sample Room and to read about my previous transactions with them, you may click here. Or you can just visit their website and register to get your free products.
Here they are! Drum roll please!

Cream Silk Triple Keratin Rescue Ultimate Color Revive Ultra-Conditioner
Price: Php 259.00 for 300 ml/Php 149.00 for 150 ml/Php 5.50 for 10 ml

What is it?
The new Cream Silk Triple Keratin Rescue Ultimate Color Revive is a sulfate-free conditioner infused with Triple Keratin Complex. It is formulated to replenish lost nutrients from coloring and revive chemically-treated strands to make your brilliant browns, stunning blondes, and awesome ash stay strikingly vibrant.

Triple Keratin Complex is an advanced formula that contains three times the Keratin than regular conditioners to restore the natural shine and smoothness of your hair. It has Keratin Relaxers to tame rebellious frizz, Keratin Serum to revive intense damage, and Keratin Essence to restore extreme dullness.
-details taken from www.sampleroom.ph

My Take
First of all, please forgive me if my Cream Silk bottle looks so beat up in this photo. Sample Room didn't send it to me looking like that. They always send fresh products. I was just soooo excited when it arrived that I decided to peruse it prior to taking photos. By the time that we got to a camera, the bottle wasn't cute anymore. 😆 Anyways.
Cream Silk Triple Keratin Rescue Ultra Conditioner list of ingredients and other details.
This product promises to tame frizz, revive and restore damaged hair with its Keratin content while also maintaining the vibrancy of the color and it speaks to me as I've had those procedures done this year. I used this product around the time that my regrowth (and therefore my real hair damage) was already showing.

After using this, I can say that I just have neutral feeling about it. You know, I don't hate it but I also did not fall head-over-heels about it. My hair feels smooth at the start but as I hit the PM I can see the frizz coming. Knowing that my hair is too dry and too frizzy anyway, it would take a miracle and a hair iron to totally tame it. But I love the sweet smell that it has and that even if the day has passed my hair still smells good and fresh. It also helped maintain the vibrancy of my hair color.

Will I buy this? Maybe not this variant but I will still keep buying Cream Silk conditioners as a whole. They make some of the best hair conditioners in the country after all!

Cream Silk Triple Keratin Rescue Ultimate Ultra Treatment Creme (Ultimate Straight)
Price: Php 199 for 200 ml

What is it?
Cream Silk’s first potent treatment crème infused with our most advanced Triple Keratin Formula that deeply penetrates to treat every strand and instantly transform hair to ultimately beautiful.

With KERATIN RELAXERS to tame rebellious frizz, KERATIN SERUM to revive intense damage, KERATIN ESSENCE to restore extreme dullness.
-details taken from www.sampleroom.ph
Cream Silk Triple Keratin Rescue Ultimate Ultra Treatment Cream ingredients ans other details
My Take
This treatment creme is my favorite in this bunch! First of all, I love the sweet floral scent and how it stays sweet throughout the day. Above all, it really performs well in taming the frizz and taking away the dullness. When I started using this, I realized that for my hair type, I really need something more than just the daily conditioner. I needed something richer to be used once or twice a week to pamper my crowning glory.

Will I purchase this again? Big YES!
Vaseline Healthy White Fresh & Fair Cooling UV Gel Lotion
Price: Php 318.50 for 300 ml/Php 202.00 for 200 ml/Php 116.00 for 100 ml

What is it?
Get all of the fairness and protection without the stickiness with Vaseline’s first non-sticky lotion, Vaseline Healthy White Fresh & Fair Cooling UV Gel Lotion! It comes in a light, non-greasy gel formulation that contains 10x Vitamin B3, SPF, and cooling menthol to restore skin fairness, to protect the skin from sun’s UV damage, and to provide a fresh feel throughout the day under hot and humid climates. It’s also infused with micro-droplets of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, the holy grail of skin healing, to provide moisture to the skin and to help repair the damage deep within.
-details taken from www.sampleroom.ph

My Take
This lotion, being the gel type, is perfect for those who can't take the heavy feeling of having creamy or sticky lotion on the skin. Yes, they exist. :) Thankfully I am just chill about it when it comes to lotions; I can take the creamy type or gel type. However, I want it to be something that is easily absorbed by the skin and something that will keep it feeling soft and smooth. This Vaseline lotion does both of that. I also love the light and fresh scent. It says that it has UV protection however it is not indicated if how much is the SPF content. That's a bummer for since I prefer something that has SPF 15 or more with it. On making the skin fairer in 2 weeks, I also did not notice any changes on my skin based on those claims.

Will I purchase this? I would say no. But there is another Vaseline product that I have used previously and I'm glad that I decided to take a photo of it for reference. It's the Vaseline Healthy White Serum with SPF 30 PA +++. It' s also lightweight but it has everything else that I was looking for in the Gel Lotion like the SPF and the brightening effects. So don't fret Vaseline. You didn't loose a customer in me, it's just a matter of preference. ;)

XXX

To cap things, I'd like to do a little computation again to see how much I was able to save.
Cream Silk Triple Keratin Rescue Ultimate Color Revive Ultra-Conditioner -------              P 259.00
Cream Silk Triple Keratin Rescue Ultimate Ultra Treatment Creme (Ultimate Straight) --   P 199.00
Vaseline Healthy White Fresh & Fair Cooling UV Gel Lotion --------------------------------    P 202.00
                                                                                                                                                  P  660.00
                                                                                                        I spent for Shipping Fee - P  200.00
                                                                                                                             My savings   P 460.00
        See? I'm always a winner when I order stuff from Sample Room. 
Until our next transaction. ;)

XO,
Carissa
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Shirataki Noodles? Hmm... What shall we do with you?
Can I make chika first before delving into the recipes?
Okay folks, this blog o' mine just took a new turn : I'm posting something about food! Kind of. My cooking skills are mediocre at best. Chamba chamba ang timpla (sorry mama, hello husband 😉) so I won't pull off complicated dishes.  But Imma discuss the change in my life in relation to food.
When I decided to cut my sugar and carbohydrate intake last August, I meant just that: to slowly reduce my rice intake and to stop sneaking cookies at midnight or running to the nearest milk tea shop just because.
I did well by the way. I wasn't a fan of soda to begin with so I had no trouble of getting rid of that in my diet. Even the milk tea I was able to cut out. I just had to curb my appetite in the cookies, biscuits and cakes department.
I did well too on that area. I'd imagined it would be a lot harder. But when I imagined the grains of white sugar going into it, I'd be like, nooooooooo!

So, what have I been consuming lately?
Eggs - lots of it. Chicken.Duh. Chicharon (I'm no fan of pork meat, something to do with my upbringing and now that I am an adult it's more of a preference but I am so down for chicharon!)
Fish and other seafoods. Avocado (when it was available). Leafy greens and other vegies.
Decaf coffee/Ricoa Cocoa with Nestle All Purpose Cream as creamer and Equal or Splenda as sweetener. Somehow it got to a point where I didn't even add a sweetener. IKR. Nuts (Almond, Peanuts, Cashews)
At this point, I am not suffering, so don't worry about me. I'm doing the #DirtyLC so they say.
I am not missing rice, thank you very much. I've been eating rice minimally since 2016 anyway so it wasn't hard to let go. It got to a point though when I got bored with eating the same stuff and I just knew I had to explore other ways to get my fix without having to consume too much carbs.

Luckily, my younger brother, another LCIF practitioner added me to a Facebook Group called Low Carb Intermittent Fasting™ and that is how I discovered stuff like shirataki noodles and coconut flour. 

Shirataki noodles are thin, translucent, gelatinous traditional Japanese noodles made from the konjac yam (devil's tongue yam or elephant yam). The word "shirataki" means white waterfall, referring to the appearance of these noodles. Largely composed of water and glucomannan, a water-soluble dietary fiber, they are very low in digestible carbohydrates and calories, and have little flavor of their own. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirataki_noodles

Coconut flour on the other hand is a soft, naturally grain- and gluten-free flour produced from dried coconut meat. It is a natural byproduct of coconut milk production. When producers press coconut for its milk, bits of coconut meat remains. They then dry the coconut meat at low temperature and grind it until it produces a soft, fine powder which is then suitable for baking. Source: https://nourishedkitchen.com/baking-with-coconut-flour/

I bought my shirataki noodles and coconut flour at Shopee, from a seller called Nutrifinds. The coconut flour was Php 98.00 for 1 kl, while the shirataki noodles are Php 85.00 for 200g. 

Here's how I made my Low Carb Carbonara and Pancakes. ;)
Low Carb Pasta Carbonara
Ingredients:
1 200g shirataki noodles cooked according to package instructions
2 tbsp coconut oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 cup chicken breast, chopped
5 tbsp Nestle All Purpose Cream
1 can mushrooms
salt (I use pink Himalayan salt) and powdered black pepper to taste

How to cook:
1. Cook the shirataki noodles according to package instructions. It involves  a bit of boiling and pan fying. ;) Very easy. Set aside.
2. In a pan, heat the coconut oil then saute the garlic and the onion until golden brown.
3. Add the mushroom and the chicken. Cover the pan and let it simmer, until the chicken is cooked.
4. Add the Nestle All Purpose Cream let it simmer.
5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.


Low Carb Pancake
Ingredients:
2 pcs eggs
2 tbsp coconut flour
1 tsp baking powder
a dash of vanilla
1 tbsp Nestle All Purpose Cream
2 sticks of sweetener (but sometimes I don't even use one)

How to Cook:
1. Beat the eggs and add all the other ingredients.
2. Mix thoroughly because the coconut flour tends to get lumpy.
3. Drizzle a bit of oil on a pan so that the pancake won't stick
4. Cook over low fire.

***
If there's anything I learned from doing the low carb diet, it's that you can actually do it if you stop making excuses and put effort to cook your own food, instead of buying it because it's best if you know what goes in it.

I've lost at least 5 kilos (about 10 pounds) since August.
It feels so good, knowing that I have basically quit my addiction to sugar.
I take a bite from cupcakes and bread sometimes, that doesn't make me bad. 
The key is to know when to stop. And not be too hard on myself when I do end up cheating. 😆

XO,

Cassie
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Here's a review of The Ordinary Serum Foundation in shade 2.0 YG. I could remember that once upon a time, there was a hype about The Ordinary products. I caught up on that hype and I purchased this one middle of last year. Now that the hype has died down I'm finally ready for a review. Ha ha. Seriously, I suck at beauty blogging. Anyway, 'ere it is.
The Ordinary Serum Foundation
Shade: 2.0 YG (Light Medium) Yellow Undertones With Gold Highlights
Price: USD 10.90 or around Php 600.00

What Is It?
Serum Foundations are lightweight medium-coverage formulations available in a comprehensive shade range across 21 shades. These foundations offer moderate coverage that looks natural with a very lightweight serum feel. (https://theordinary.com) 

Packaging
The packaging comes in a plastic bottle with a pump. It doesn't have a cover but you can keep the pump secure by turning it a bit counter clockwise to lock it. So far I have not experience accidental spilling in my bag but I admit that if you keep it your bag, the lock can be undone with constant movement. According to the Deciem website, you can replace the pump with a dropper which you can purchase separately from them.

List of Ingredients and Other Details
We all have different skin conditions and preferences. The Ordinary's website have sort of summarized the important attributes of this product for easy reference. This is alcohol-free, oil-free, gluten-free, cruelty-free, nut-free and vegan. Personally, I am concerned about the oil content of any product because I have an oily and pimple-prone skin so I'm glad that this one fits the bill. For those who prefer it, this isn't a  silicone-free product. Here's the ingredients list.
Swatch
In Action
As you can see, my skin is pretty much textured, with pores and dark spots here and there. I chose the problematic side of my face to see how The Ordinary Serum Foundation would hold up. You can see that indeed it renders a light coverage but was able to lessen the reddish areas of my face. My pimples and pimple scars were lightly covered and even my dark circle is noticeably lighter. In real life my skin feels soft to touch and instantly looks brighter and more alive.
For the photo on your left, I only prepped my skin with the Celeteque Acne Solutions Oil Control Toner and Elujai Serum
On the right is my photo after applying two layers of The Ordinary Serum Foundation
My Take
I blindly bought the shade 2.0 YG which is meant for light to medium skin tones with yellow undertones and gold highlights. The mouthful of a description seemed to speak to me and I'm glad that the shade fits me to a T. The big reason why I purchased this because I wanted to try a foundation that doesn't feel heavy and as the description says, it has a "very lightweight serum feel".

As you can deduce from the photo above, the formula is watery, but not too runny. I love applying it with my fingers or with a damp sponge. It applies smoothly and there's no draggy, thick or heavy feeling. Finish is semi-matte. I bet you can also see from my photo that it didn't do well in concealing deep acne scars so if your skin is more on the textured side, this product might not be your best bet. I have huge pores also and I do not blame this product if the pores are visible because I love using a primer for a reason. Even with a powder on top, I start oiling up at around the 2 or 3 hour mark.

For all this talk of this product having a light coverage and not being able to fully conceal my imperfections, I still love it! Wanna know why? Yep, I see the scars, I see the redness, I see the remnants of the dark circles , I see the dark spots, I see the dewiness after a few hours of wear but at the end of the day, I love the glow and the brightness that it brings to my face. I don't look weighed down or haggard or ashy gray after a few hours of wear because some foundations tend to do that.

Would I Buy It Again? Yes! But not at the moment. I would love to try The Ordinary Coverage Foundation just to see the difference in the formulation.
Would I Recommend It? It would depend on your skin type and your preference.

For the look of the day, this is me, sans photo filter or primer, wearing the The Ordinary Serum Foundation in 2.0 YG as base. On the right are the makeup products I used to create this look.
I have enlisted the help of the Clio Kill Cover Highest Wear Pact with SPF 30 PA++ in #6 BO Tan in setting the serum foundation and I know it helped much in lessening the appearance of my pores. These are the other items I used to create this makeup look.
  • The Face Shop Style My Eyebrow in 02 Black Brown 
  • Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder in Bronze-03 (my favorite!)
  • Butter London Double Decker Lashes Mascara
  • Kat Von D Lipstick in Underage Red (sampler)
  • Zoeva En Taupe Palette (although it's not so obvious)
  • Eyeshadow brush from Suesh, spoolie and powder brush
Have you tried any products from The Ordinary?
Share your experience in the comment box below.

XO,
Carissa
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The NARS Orgasm Blush's reputation precedes it. So much so that when I saw that this NARS Orgasm Lipstick was on sale, I immediately jumped the gun and ordered. Before long, I had another lipstick to consume. But seeing the NARS logo on the cap is quiet hypnotizing so I don't regret having it in my collection. I love staring at the shimmers on the tube too, I am weird that way. Ha ha!
Here comes the review...

NARS Lipstick
Shade: Orgasm
Price: $ 26.00 or roughly Php 1, 358.00

What is it? What does it do?
A lipstick in a satin finish and creamy formula that provides rich, luminous color for a polished look. It contains a patented blend of conditioners and antioxidants that hydrate, nourish and protect the lips. The shade Orgasm is described as peachy pink with golden shimmer.

Ingredients
HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE · SYNTHETIC WAX · POLYETHYLENE · DIMETHICONE · DICAPRYLYL CARBONATE · BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-2 · HYDROXYAPATITE · DIISOSTEARYL MALATE · MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX/CERA MICROCRISTALLINA/CIRE MICROCRISTALLINE · HYDROGENATED POLYDECENE · PHYTOSTERYL/OCTYLDODECYL LAUROYL GLUTAMATE · GLYCERYL BEHENATE · SORBITAN SESQUIISOSTEARATE · TOCOPHERYL ACETATE · TOCOPHEROL · PASSIFLORA EDULIS SEED OIL · MORINGA OLEIFERA SEED OIL · CALCIUM STEARATE · SIMETHICONE · ISOPROPYL TITANIUM TRIISOSTEARATE · TIN OXIDE · BHT · PHENOXYETHANOL · FRAGRANCE (PARFUM) · LINALOOL · CITRONELLOL · LIMONENE · [+/- ( MAY CONTAIN): BLUE 1 LAKE (CI 42090) · CARMINE (CI 75470) · IRON OXIDES (CI 77491) · IRON OXIDES (CI 77492) · IRON OXIDES (CI 77499) · MICA · RED 28 LAKE (CI 45410) · RED 33 (CI 17200) · RED 33 LAKE (CI 17200) · RED 6 (CI 15850) · RED 7 LAKE (CI 15850) · TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891) · YELLOW 5 LAKE (CI 19140)] - www.narscosmetics.com
You can see that the packaging has the word NARS written on the cap. Here's whats written in the bottom part, underneath the lip bullet (photo above).  This is a deluxe sized product so it only contains 1.7 g. Most of the time a prefer a mini or a deluxe sized product because I am rarely able to finish a full sized one. Anyway, based on the photos on the NARS Cosmetics website, it is packaged very similarly to the full-sized NARS Lipstick (rubbery black bullet) albeit for the full-sized one the NARS print is on the lower  part of the lip bullet.

Swatch
Here's the swatch of the NARS Orgasm Lipstick which is described as peachy pink with golden shimmer. 

In Action
This shade is really subtle that sometimes I can hardly tell if I put something on my lips. Sometimes I feel like I just put a lip balm with some shimmers because there's barely a hint of color. But when I took this photo to compare my upper lip with NARS Orgasm Lipstick and my bare lower lip, I was like, hey, there really is a very subtle difference.

My Take
A confession here: this is an impulse buy. I wanted to try out the very popular NARS Orgasm Blush  that when I saw the word slapped on this lipstick, I wanted to have it too. I don't have the NARS Orgasm Blush - yet! I am currently on a buying ban, at least until the end of this year because I want to consume all the remaining blushes and lipsticks that I have in my stash. So, laters, Baby. Ha ha! 

Another confession (I am so rife with confessions these days!) : I love my lipsticks matte or creamy matte in bold colors that really pop. That being said,  this product does not tick the boxes.

When I first received it, my first instinct is to always sniff it and I love the faint tangy scent. The golden spackles are very visible on the tube and I was afraid that it would look chunky when applied. Fortunately, the shimmers are very tiny that when you apply the lipstick, the shimmers look well embedded and gives off a lovely golden sheen. Unfortunately, my lips are a bit dark so the peachy pink color does not seem obvious and I can only see the golden sheen.

I'll get it straight: this lipstick won't be everyone's cup of tea, especially for me who loves matte and bold. However, I am also moody when it comes to what particular color or formula I want to wear and sometimes I am in the mood for something like this which is light, sheer and with a hint of shimmer. Whenever I wanna cop Kelsey Merritt's bronzy-just-had-a-photo-shoot-in-the-Bahamas look, I reach for my favorite Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder in Bronze -03 (photographed above with the swatch), dust it all over my face and finish off with this NARS Lipstick in Orgasm. And okay, I also wear it even when running errands, when I want to wear something on my lips but don't want him raising an eyebrow. Sometimes, I use it on top of another lipstick so that it won't look washed out on me.

I have no qualms about the texture or the formula. It applies really smoothly and I have never experienced dryness or chapped lips after using it. I love how it doesn't feel slippery on the lips. Being on the sheerer side, the staying power is not that long and lasted about 2 to 3 hours on me.

Nars Orgasm Lipstick Rating: 3/5
Would I Recommend It? No. Ha ha! Let's just hang out and find a dupe, half its price tag.
Would I Buy It Again? I would skip buying this one, I'll put my money on the NARS Orgasm Blush or Liquid Blush instead because it seems to be everyone's favorite.

Have you tried anything from NARS' Orgasm line? 
Share your experience in the comment box below.

XO,

Carissa
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I know we are all experiencing the bed weather nowadays. Finally! After a long hot summer! 
Funny how we suddenly long for the hotter days when we need to take a shower in the morning. 
Anyway, I was riffling through the photos on my phone and realized that I have not yet blogged about some of the photos during our trip to the island municipality of Capul, in Northern Samar.

I've blogged about alighting at the Abak Beach Resort and visiting the iconic Faro De Capul but I totally skipped about making a  blog post about where we spent the night. So here it is! For future reference, if you happen to visit Capul and are on the lookout for a place to stay.

This place is called the Acapulco Beach Resort. I may have mentioned in my previous post that the island town's name of Capul was derived from the word Acapulco, as in Acapulco, Mexico because this place was a guidepost at the height of the Acapulco-Manila Galleon Trade (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capul). However, the beach isn't just the main attraction here because there's a two story house that can be rented out for various purposes. A friend of mine (we go way back from our Uni days), her family owns the place and I asked her about the rates and they are as follows:

Php 7, 500.00 per day (rent a home, good for 15 to 20 persons)
Php 1, 000.00 per room (good for 2 persons)
  - Add Php 250.00 per person in excess of

First off, here's a panoramic view of the house and the beach. It's a lovely view to wake up to, isn't it?

Werk it baby girl!

That would be me, having my moment. Though, I am saddened by the crappy quality of this photo. 😔

Here's the grassy lawn, right in front of the house. Some of my companions brought along their own tents and decided to sleep under the stars.
I don't have a photo of the interiors but this place feels like a home away from home. You can cook, grill some barbecue, sing the karaoke at the top of your lungs, or party 'til the break of dawn like we did.

The owners were truly very hospitable. There were about 80 of us from the Northern Samar Police Provincial Office who came to have our Women's Month Celebration last March and we basically took over the house that some of us were running out of bed space. We were offered a private room of the proprietor which is situated at the top floor and it had a great view! Here are some shots taken at the top and the exteriors.

All I can say is, when you think of Capul, think of Acapulco Beach Resort.

XOXO,
Carissa
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Early this year I was fortunate enough to be chosen by QUICK FX to receive a PR Package containing their new releases. Aside from the fact that getting PR Packages gets me pumped up, man, it's from QUICK FX! I have reviewed their products years ago and that blog post is the most viewed post here in It's Not Poison. The QUICK FX No Shine Mattifier is a personal favorite so I really had high expectations about their new products. 
Get to know 'em one by one after the jump!
QUICKFX Dewy+ Hydrating Sleep Mask
Price: Php 99.00 for 10g (www.watsons.com.ph)

What is it? What Does It Do?
Delivers ultra hydration to dull skin, replenishing lost moisture to achieve that dewy glow
Contains Snail Extract, Aloe Vera, Licorice Root Extract, Peptide Complex and Adenosine
Quick FX Dewy + Hydrating Sleep Mask Details and List of Ingredients
My Take
One of my readers left a comment on my previous QUICK FX review and she inquired if I would recommend the Quick FX No Shine Mattifier as a sleeping mask. I discouraged her and my reason was that that it  was formulated to serve as a makeup primer and I suggested that for a sleep mask, she should opt for something with more nourishing ingredients. It seems that QUICK FX has filled that void when hey came out with this sleep mask. I already mentioned the benefits and the ingredients above and they are all beneficial for the skin. The product is gel-type and I love how non- greasy it is which makes it comfortable to wear in your sleep. More than the dewy glow and hydration that it brings, I did observe that my skin felt less saggy after using it. It only contains 10g and the thing about sleep masks, at least for me, is that I love to lather it on richly so this size won't really last long. Well, I'm sure QUICKFX is already working on making a bigger size on a tube, just like they did with their No Shine Mattiffier.

QUICKFX Black Clay Mask
Price: Php 99.00 for 10g (www.watsons.com.ph) 

What is it? What Does It Do?
Benefits: Absorbs sebum and skin impurities and refines the appearances of enlarged pores for clear, smooth skin
Contains: Vitamin B6, Salicylic Acid, Menthol and Porous Substances
Quick FX Black Clay Mask Details and List of Ingredients
My Take
Aside from the sleep mask QUICK FX has also released this clay mask for target oily/pimple prone skin, such as mine and that's why it's right up my alley. I am a fan of clay masks because they really help in absorbing excess sebum and unclogging the pores, and this one from QUICKFX is no exemption. Moreover, I also love the cool sensation (because of the Menthol) it brings when I am wearing this, which makes me relaxed and pampered. Take note though that people are sensitive to Menthol so heads up to that if you are sensitive to this ingredient. It also contains Salicylic Acid which based on my experience really does wonder in getting rid of pimples.

QUICKFX Face Masks
Price: Php 89.00 each (www.watsons.com.ph)

They come in assortments namely: Tightening, Sculpting and Hydrating. The face mask lover in me just did triple back flip.

QUICKFX Dewy+ Hydrating Face Mask
Delivers ultra hydration to dull skin, leaving it replenished from moisture loss and dryness to achieve that dewy glow
Quick FX Dewy + Hydrating Face Mask Details and List of Ingredients
QUICKFX Liquid Ice Cooling Face Mask
Provides intense hydration and deep cooling effect which can calm and rejuvenate tired skin from constant environmental stress
Quick FX Liquid Ice Cooling Face Mask Details and List of Ingredients
QUICKFX Sculpt Tightening Face Mask
Enhances skin elasticity with its collagen-producing peptides. It helps the skin appear healthier and younger-looking with continuous use
Quick FX Sculpt Tightening Face Mask Details and List of Ingredients
The Cooling Face Mask is obviously my favorite! Face masks per se bring a cooling effect but this one really brings in the extra! My skin felt re-invigorated and re-energized after using it. Actually, all three of them are good and I won't hesitate to pick them up when I chance upon them at Watsons. They target different skin concerns but all revolve on the common goal, which it to keep the skin hydrated to make it healthy.

Overall, I am happy with these brand new products from QUICK FX. They didn't break me out and they worked really well on my skin.
As always, they combined affordability and quality, and I love their packaging too!!!
Have you tried anything from QUICK FX lately?
Share your experience in the comment box below.


XO,
Carissa
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