Meow! I see you not.
My eyes are. 
I am not blind, but I might as well be. Ha ha. 
Okay, why am I sounding so grim about this when in truth I am not?
My vision has been malabo for as long as I can remember. As far back as high school?
My hobbies were all very damning to my eye sight, which included reading (mostly in the dark), learning to type on an old school typewriter, and cross stitching. 
Taking care of my eyes was just one of the many things that I took for granted as a teenager.
My mother got me a pair of prescriptions glasses in college. I lost them in a few months.
I didn't have the heart to ask her for new ones. 

Now, I broke my eyeglasses (again; twice for the past year). 
Impeccable timing, too.
I actually planned on getting new ones in Tacloban. Not happening. A taga-Burauen who traveled from Northern Samar and who passed through crucial parts of Samar. I'm sure they would shake. 😝
I thought about taking a jeepney to Catarman, with its skyrocketing fares. 
But I'm not sure if the optical clinics are open.
I didn't want to go home empty handed.

There is an optical clinic in my town tho that I have previously overlooked. 
Probably because it didn't look so appealing back then.
But the clinic has been recently repainted, the interior revived.
Why go far when you have one down the road?
They now have a digital eye examination equipment and the owner was very chatty and accommodating.
Some don't even bother. 

I just found out that my left eye is worse than my right. 
Left is -4.00, Right is -3.75.
I am nearsighted and again my friends, I can't stress this enough.
If you see me in public from a distance and I am not wearing my glasses,
don't expect recognition. 
I CAN'T SEE YOU.
Doctor said that I don't need to wear my exact grade because they would be too heavy on my eyes.
We tried different combos but settled on -3.50 for each eye.
unbreakable eyeglass frame, durable eyeglass frame
Fresh.
I splurged this time, with my husband's encouragement. I kept getting cheaper frames that easily break apart. 
Why not get something more durable?
Now, I got me a pair of eyeglass that I can literally flex. The lenses are blue light blockers too. But I didn't go all the way to get transitions....too expensive! 😆
I kept looking for a website for this brand, S7 ILUVU, so that I can find out more about it. 
There is no official site. All I know is that they are  ultra-light, screwless glasses made of polyamide66.
And they're uber cool.
How do I understand these icons? I can wear these while doing sports? Well, I don't do sports. It can withstand those temperatures? It's not like I'll boil or freeze them. Is that cross medical-related? And I can whack 'em with a hammer? Whoa.
I paid upward of six thousand grands for a new pair of glasses.
If you ask me about my hazard pay for reporting to work three times a week during Community Quarantine, you know where the money went.
And if that amount is not enough to remind me about being mindful of where I put these babies then I don't know what is.
I pray I don't loose them because they are really good. They're weightless. They don't hurt despite the all day wear.
They don't break, but I am not putting them to the test. The color and design is very simple. Very me. 
The good doctor stretched the glasses in front of me and I just stood there slack-jawed. Point taken, doc. 

I was broken, but now I am whole again. Maybe the wallet got broke(n) a bit but this is all worth it. 
These glasses are literally extensions of my body and I should take care of them too.
I see clearly now. I have learned my lesson.
With these fresh lenses everything seems brighter. (Even the future!)
Like deeyyyyymn. I feel like I can see through your soul.
And I wasn't squinting when I wrote this blog entry. 

I feel like a million dollars right now, baby.
XO,

caRissa ♥️
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Hey!!! Last time, I did a skin care roundup involving my facial cleansers/washes. 
This time, I've rounded up all the makeup removers in various formulas currently in my stash. I also mentioned my empties, just because they were good and are really worth the mention.
Once upon a time, I didn't bother with makeup removers. I just washed my face with whatever, maybe with a facial wash that was not pH balanced. Yikes! Never again. I've reaped the benefits of being careful with what I put on my face and I am never going back. 
I've learned about the pre-cleansing stage because of the Korean Skin Care Regimen. Although I don't do the full ten steps, I believe that the first and second steps are really necessary. 
So here are the pre-cleansers or makeup removers that I bought last year. I will try to consume them all first before moving on to other products. 
Hope you enjoy reading the quick reviews!
L-R: 2 bottle of Pond's Brightening Micellar Water, Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover, Klorane Waterproof Eye Make-up Remover, Drunk Elephant Slaai Makeup-Melt Butter Cleanser with the Bamboo Extract Charcoal Powder.
Bottom: Banila Co. Zero Clean It Cleansing Balm
Currently Using
➤Pond's White Beauty Brightening Micellar Water/Price: Php 99.00 for 100 mL/Where To Buy: Mercury Drugs
I think I am currently on my fourth bottle of this micellar water. Needless to say, I think I am pretty much "hiyang" with this product. Personally, I am okay with my micellar water being just that: something for removing makeup, no frills or extra functions needed. Pond's micellar water gives us something extra because it is infused with Vitamin B3, commonly known in skin care jargon as niacinamide which brightens the skin and tightens pores. It effectively removes makeup and my skin feels clean and fresh after using it. I think I do at least 3 passes before I get a satisfying clean. What else do I say? I will keep repurchasing it, especially that my other favorites, the Garnier and Nivea Micellar Waters are nowhere to be found in my locality atm. 
pond's micellar water ponds micellar water ingredients
Pond's Brightening Micellar Water ingredients and other deets
➤Klorane Waterproof Eye Make-up Remover/Price: $16.00 for 3.3 floz /Where I Bought: My favorite seller on Instagram
This product is quiet pricey and I am glad that I was able to try it out with this travel sized bottle which I bought on Instagram. What do I say? Hmmmm. This product actually reminds me of the Nivea Daily Essentials Double Effect Eye Make-up Remover. They both make use of cornflower extract, they both have plant based oil and the same blue tinge. Most of all, they are both great in melting down waterproof eye makeup with just the slightest force of swiping in the eye area. If you can't afford the Klorane one, then there's always Nivea. ;)

Coming Up 
I have not yet used the following products so I can't really give a feedback for now so I'll just give an overview. They're both part of the Sephora Play! Dessert Island Essentials so they are just minis or travel-sizes:

➤Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover/Price $19.50 for 125 mL (clinique.com) 
"Dissolves and "lifts away" long-wearing makeup, even waterproof mascara. Non-irritating, non-stinging. This product is free of synthetic colors, gluten, denatured alcohol, SLS, SLES, talc. It’s also vegan."

➤Drunk Elephant Slaai Makeup Melting Butter Cleanser/Price: $34.00 for full size (drunkelephant.com)
"Slaai™ is an innovative cleansing balm that melts all traces of dirt, makeup and sunscreen from skin. Gentle enough to be used around the eye area, it quickly transforms from oil to milk upon contact with water. Skin compatible Slaai™ effortlessly removes even water-resistant formulations and is free of PEGs and essential oils." 

Empties
➤Banilla Co. Clean It Zero Original/Price: Php 995.00 for 100 mL, but this one I have here is a mini so I bought it for a tiny fraction of that price/Where To Buy: www.beautymnl.com
The Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm in Original
This is a balm-type cleanser and I love how it melts into oil upon contact with my skin. It easily dissolves makeup, even hard to remove mascara. I also love the light floral scent. I get a small amount of the product and massage it on my entire face. Then I wash it off with lukewarm water to get rid of the oily feel together with my preferred facial wash for my second cleansing. No tight and dry feeling after using but instead, it keeps my skin soft and supple. Sometimes I just can't help touching my face.

➤Estee Lauder Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion/Price $30.00 for full size (esteelauder.com)
The Estee Lauder Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion
Here's another pricey product that I was able to try out because of my fave IG seller who sells travel/mini sized products, be it drugstore, mid-range or high end. All I can say is...some pricey products are pricey for a reason. This one is a gem. It is lotion type but it feels oh so light on the skin. You only need a small amount of the product to work. There is no greasy feel, and on the contrary, it leaves a cooling effect. Upon application, I really felt that the makeup was coming off without struggle. Ha ha. I could only wish that I can afford to get the full sized one. Until then, I will just make tambay on IG and wait for the next sale. Baka after the lockdown pa. 😆

***
If I were to make a rating, I would definitely give the Estee LauderTake It Away Makeup Remover something close to 5/5. The Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm is somewhere behind with a 4.5/5 above rating. All the micellar waters are 4/5+++. The Klorane Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover was so-so for me, as I have tried a similar one from Nivea that works just as well.

I know I made quick blurbs about these products and there could be some details that I have skipped so if you have any questions about any of them, feel free to drop a comment down below. ;)

Stay safe. Wash yo' hands. Wear face masks. Stay indoors.

XO,
caRissa ♥️
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I've been gifted this Vice Cosmetics Good Vibes Matte Lipstick last year by an office mate and I have been meaning to review this for so long.
Here it is!
Hush hush, baby is sleeping! ;)
Vice Ganda Good Vibes Matte Lipstick
Shade: Pak Ganern
Price: Php 195.00, but it was gifted to me
Where To Buy: www.vicecosmetics.com, Shopee, BeautyMNL, Lazada and department stores nationwide

My Take
For the past three years, various celebrities have come up with their own cosmetics brands. I couldn't keep up but told myself I would like to try them all, in time. I had a pile of lipsticks that I wanted to go through first so I wasn't buying anything new, no matter how tempting.

Lo and behold! My colleague arrived from the city and he gave me this one! Of course I was overjoyed! Finally, I would be able to try out The Unkabogable Vice Ganda's lipstick without shelling  out some cash. I asked him why he picked this shade and he said that it flatters me and I can recall that I frequently wore the Jouer Cerise Noir in the past so maybe that was his reference.

This lipstick is pigmented, has a creamy matte texture, leaves a full coverage and has a demi-matte finish. It has a light scent on the tube, which I could only describe as vanilla-coconut but once you are wearing it the scent is barely noticeable. It applies smoothly and is lightweight when worn on the lips. I honestly thought that it would transfer heavily because it's creamy matte after all but to my surprise it does not transfer once it's on! It has a relatively good staying power, unless you've had a full meal which would definitely require a touch up. At Php 195.00, they are such a joy to have! Vice made her products affordable for the Madlang People but she made sure that she won't scrimp on the quality. What's not to love?

Packaging
Here's a close up look at the tube. This pulls a reddish brown on this photo but let's discuss the shade later with the swatch below. The tube comes in an eye-catching magenta. Hard to miss, just like it's creator. But let me tell you this: the packaging doesn't look and feel cheap nor flimsy and it has a considerable heft to it.

Ingredients
Dimethicone/Vinyltrimethylsiloxysilcate/crosspolymer, Ozokerite Wax, IsononylIsononanoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Carprylic/Capric Triglyceride, TridecylTrimellitate, Cyclomethicone (and) DimethiconeCrosspolymer, Microcrystalline Wax, Synthetic Wax, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), 2-Phenoxyethanol. May Contain +/- Iron Oxides (CI 77492,CI 77499,CI 77491), Red 6 (CI 15850), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Red 27 (CI 45410), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985). - as indicated in www.vicecosmetics.com.ph

 Swatch
Vice's website describes this shade as mauve brown. Again, this might look reddish brown in this swatch but IRL, I love the mauve tone.

Vice Cosmetics Good Vibes Matte Lipstick in shade Pak Ganern on my lips
In Action
...and this is me, wearing Pak Ganern, wearing just a hint of smile because "pak ganern din ang muk ap game ng lola mo" hahaha. I love wearing brown lipsticks. It's a recent discovery that brown flatters me. The first brown lipstick that I tried was the Maybelline Creamy Matte Lipstick in Nude Nuance. I am actually reminded of their similarities but Nude Nuance was on the rosy brown side. Another favorite is the Jouer Long-Wear Lip Cream in Cerise Noir which is a cool black cherry. You can click on the bold links to read a review of those products.

Vice Cosmetics Good Vibes Matte Lipstick "Pak Ganern" Rating: 
Packaging: 4/5
Quality: 4/5
Performance: 3.5/5
User Friendliness: 4/5
Overall Rating: 3.87/5

Would I purchase it again? Yes
Would I recommend it? Yes

Have you tried other Vice Cosmetics products? How was your experience?
BTW, as I write this, there is an ongoing Summer Sale at www.vicecosmetics.com.ph. I bought some backups of their Duo Finish Foundation (will review that one too!). The order will be fulfilled upon lifting of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon. 
They say good things come to those who wait.
So I'll. 

XO,
caRissa ♥️
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Somehow I stopped counting the days - how far along are we in this Community Quarantine, I am not sure. I just know that it's been a little over a month. 

I was anticipating this moment. How will the situation be a month after the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon? A month after the exodus from the National Capital Region. How will Allen, Northern Samar be? A town that has three ferry terminals; the gateway to Eastern Visayas. In truth I was preparing for the worst. What are the chances that an asymptomatic COVID19-positive person would be coming home to Region 8? Huuuuge!

But as of this writing, Allen, the town I've called home for 5 years now is COVID19-free. I hope it stays that way. We are breathing easy, but are still cautious. During the first and second weeks following the declaration of the Community Quarantine, I was feeling paranoid. It didn't help that I hung out on a daily basis with frontliners: policemen who manned checkpoints, control points and highways. Thankfully, family and friends here are all doing fine. Wearing face masks, washing hands and physical distancing, among others is the new normal. We're on our toes. 

Now, it would have been nice, if it didn't turn out that the 5th recorded COVID-positive case in Region 8 was from my hometown of Burauen, Leyte. That moment when your brain goes what, why, how, and why. How'd the virus end up there? That's the thing about COVID19, you won't know that you're carrying it until it's too late. You could be spreading it without your knowledge. That is why it is important to follow the protocol for quarantine if you have travel history. 

Well, my annual sojourn with Celestine during the dry season across the San Juanico Bridge has been canceldt indefintiely. Our latest vacay to Leyte was also fraught with perils. What was the name that bagyo again? Well, between this and that, we truly live in interesting times. Thankfully, technology allows us all to stay connected. My siblings are balls of energy, I bet they are bouncing off the walls as I write this. But they love staying in too, much like me so I bet they're not feeling cooped up. My mother loves doing groceries in Tacloban every weekend, bet she's missing that. I heard my father just finished reading Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Wow! And they also watched the movie.
Under the tunnel of lights. Christmas 2020 infront of the Burauen Municipal Hall.
Looking at the current statistics has kept me hopeful. Around this time, the total number of recoveries has exceeded the total number of deaths. The daily recovery rate also outnumber the daily death rate. The daily confirmed positives though still run on the 200s and I hope it goes down until we can finally flatten the curve.


This is the screenshot of https://endcov.ph/dashboard/ and these were the numbers at around 10:00 PM of April 20, 2020. These days, I frequent DOH's Facebook Page as well as this site. Graphs have a way of putting things in perspective.

The question hangs thick in the air. How much longer are we going to be under community quarantine? It has been extended once, as of this date. We wait for the president's announcement. If we are to consider the trends predicted by scientists, the quarantine could be extended several times. All for the best.


I live day to day.
Every time I open my eyes in the morning, I feel grateful.
Early morning sunshine makes me feel stronger.
My lifestyle is very sedentary, I am making an effort to move my lazy ass every now and then.
Every time my daughter hugs me I feel like 5 years get added to my life. 😄
It is common knowledge, but it has been affirmed further during the quarantine that my husband cooks better than me. 😀
I am scared of weakening my immune system further, so I TRY to sleep early.
I have stopped drinking all sorts of tea concoctions, they triggered my acid reflux and I wasn't breathing properly at night, I thought I had COVID19.
Water is still the best.
Look, my skin is clearing up.
I should get off Facebook to stop feeling anxious but it is also my main source of the latest news.
I read posts about recoveries.
I read posts about deaths, especially about the medical front liners.
Both make me ugly cry, I am a mess.
I don't know how to pray but I am sure God can hear the jumbled words coming from my heart.

Keep washing your hands.
Stay at home if you can. Follow health protocols.
 Help the front liners.

XO,

caRissa ♥️

Reflections - 04.21.2020

by on Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Somehow I stopped counting the days - how far along are we in this Community Quarantine, I am not sure. I just know that it's been a ...
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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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