Dermalogica

I'll be turning 34 this year and I have been noticing increase in amount of visible lines on my face.  What's a girl to do?  Research and buy!  Yes, research on products that can help erase years from the face and buy the products that are backed by research.  A dermatologist friend of mine says that the only proven treatment to minimize and prevent fine lines is retinoic acid treatment.  I tried using pure tretinoin before, however, I developed redness and irritation as well as flaking of the skin.  Apparently, I was using a very high dose of tretinoin.  It got so bad (my skin developed 1st degree burns from avid use of scrub, toner and daily tretinoin...yikes!) that I had to seek consult with a dermatologist.  She said that if I am very particular with minimizing and preventing wrinkles, I should use commercial products that have tretinoin or retinol in low concentration.  So my Google search began.  After 1 week of research (total of 3-4 hours...hehehe), I short-listed my list to the following: (1) Dermalogica Age Reversal Eye Complex; (2) Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Deep Wrinkle Serum; (3) RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream and (4) Murad Age-Balancing Night Cream.  Out of all the products that I short-listed, only 2 products (Dermalogica and Murad) are available in Manila.  I went to the nearest department store and only Dermalogica is available.  I was really intent on buying the full size 15-ml tube of Dermalogica Age Reversal Eye Complex, however, it was not available.  What was available was their special offer AGE smart kit which was composed of: (1) Age Reversal Eye Complex; (2) Overnight Repair Serum; and (3) Super Rich Repair.  So, I grabbed it (worth P 1500, which was a good deal considering that I just wanted to try the AGE smart first).

The good Dermalogica counter lady also gave me 10 pieces of skin perfect primer to try out (oh goody!).  And she also gave me a squirt of age reversal eye complex in a little circle container.  I was a happy shopper that day!

 

I have tried the skin perfect primer and the age reversal eye complex, however, it is too early (3 weeks of use) to give my review.  But, so far so good...

 

I need to try the product for a few more weeks to give my final review.  I'll update you regarding developments in another blog post.  Stay tuned!

Just Thai

Out of all the cuisines in the world, one of my favorites is Thai cuisine.  I'm so happy that a Thai restaurant is near my place of residence.  I can satisfy my craving for Thai food anytime (if budget allows).  Let me introduce to you Just Thai.  This restaurant has great interiors and the food is superb!  Eating here brings me back to my vacation days in Thailand.  Let me show you around...

The price range is just right.  Considering the quantity and quality of the food, you really get bang for your buck.  We ordered the following entrees...

Seafood in Chili (P 280)

Beef in Red Curry (P 480)

Bagoong Rice (P 250)

I love love all the dishes we ordered!  Every dish was well seasoned, delicious and of good proportion.  Each dish can easily feed 2-3 persons.  There was only 2 of us and we finished all the food.  We were both very full, so we weren't able to order dessert.

I will definitely go back to Just Thai and try their other dishes.  When I go back, I'll be sure to leave space for dessert.

That's it for today.  Thank you very much for dropping by!

BC Fragrance

Hi everyone!  A few weeks back, I was reading Preview Magazine when I chanced upon a very small feature on an online shop called BC fragrance.  I say very small since it occupied probably 10% of a full page in the magazine.  BC Fragrance started as an online shop in Multiply and has since branched into their very own online store (www.bcfragrance.com).  I was intrigued since the magazine feature said that they personally customize fragrances for their clients.  I went to their online site and was a little disappointed to find out that they really don't customize fragrances.  Either you buy from their pre-mixed fragrances inspired by perfumes/colognes from different well-known brands or you can buy materials for you to make you own fragrance.  You can personalize your own bottle, though.  But that's about it.  Anyways, I can't pass up the opportunity to try their "inspired" fragrances at P20/each for a 1.5-ml spray bottle.  So, I bought 15 kinds of perfumes/colognes.

When they say "inspired", they really mean inspired.  The fragrances do not really smell exactly like the originals but it sort-of/kinda smelled like the originals.  All in all, there were a few good ones and a few bad ones.  Majority of the fragrances were okay.  The ones that I liked were the following: RL Polo Sport, Creed Silver Mountain Water, Bulgari Aqua, D&G Light Blue, Clinique Happy, Creed Love in White, Bulgari Omnia Amethyst, and Bulgari Omnia Crystalline.  So, that's 8 out of the 15 that I bought.  Not bad.  The 1.5-ml spray bottle lasted me for 2-3 days (application twice a day).  The scent lasted for around 4-6 hours.  Maybe I'll buy from the site once I finish my current perfumes. A 60-ml bottle will set you back around P500/bottle.  It is a really inexpensive way to smell good.

Thanks for dropping by!  I'll talk to you next time!

 

 

P.S. Bernadette from BC Fragrance contacted me regarding their Bespoke perfumes.  Read all about it here. 

Proof of Heaven

Good day everyone!  Surprise!  I get to blog today.  Yey!  Starting today, I would include books in my usual reviews.  I love love books!  When I was a kid, I would usually spend my free time in the library instead of the playground.  I love books and I love reading.  When I was younger, my uncle would gift me and my sister Nancy Drew books every Christmas.  Do you remember those?  What about the Sweet Valley High series and the Babysitter's Club?  Hihihi...those were the days...  Back to the present, my brother gave me gift certificates from PowerBooks for my birthday last year.  Fast forward 7 months from my birthday, I still have the certificates.  So, one day, I decided to use them.  I googled the New York's bestseller list and this is what I got.

The title and subtitle says it all.  The book is very straight forward and a good read.  This book gives us hope that there is life after death.  It gives credibility to out-of-body experiences since the author is an academician and a neurosurgeon to boot.  I don't want to be a spoiler, but if you are searching for a good read and a non-fiction story, grab Proof of Heaven and you'll never be sorry.

I recommend this book for everyone.  I'm actually thinking of buying other books with regards to this topic.  Maybe next time when I have the time to actually read them.

That's it for now.  Thank you very much for dropping by!

Goody Hairband

Hi everyone!  Sorry for the long absence.  I've been very busy lately and it seems that the only products/experiences I have been documenting are from restaurants.  So here is one that is not a food review.  I have been on a look-out for thin headbands that doesn't slip so that I can use it for everyday and for swimming.  I was doing my grocery shopping and chanced upon the Goody No-slip headbands.  It was actually a pack that came with 2 pieces of headbands (I bought the black and brown headbands).  I had high expectations for these 2 headbands, being Goody and all (as well as being priced at P499/pack...gasp!  It was really pricey.).  Well, I was disappointed with the performance of these headbands.  The black headband was lost in a matter of days (less than 2 weeks to be exact).  And the brown headband...

Well, it broke in the middle the first time I tried it on.  Haaaay...I will definitely not recommend the Goody No-slip 2-pack headbands.  Save your P499 and stay away from the Goody No-slip 2-pack headbands.  When I checked the Goody website, I wasn't able to find the pack I bought.  Maybe it got discontinued already.

That's it for today.  Talk to you guys later.  Thanks for reading!

Sun Coral Cafe

Hi everyone!  Another restaurant review for today.  Let me tell you about the Sun Coral Cafe.  This cafe is one of the restaurants situated in the Pico De Loro Beach Club.  Since it was a Lenten friday when we ate there, we ordered a medley of seafood dishes.

Shrimp pasta in white sauce

Fish fingers

Crab cakes

Salad with fried fish

The dishes were very well plated.  The best dish was the crab cakes.  The other dishes were good and the prices for these were not expensive at all.  The only problem is the service.  There was only 1 waiter roaming around the outdoor area of the restaurant.  And since it was a Friday, there were a good number of people dining in the restaurant.  I had to walk up to the waiter for orders.  Anyway, aside from the hassle, everything was okay.

All in all, I had a good time at Sun Coral Cafe.  That's it for today.  Talk to you soon!  Thanks for droppping by!


Human Heart Nature 4

I really can't get enough of Human Heart Nature products.  So, here's another review of their products.  You can read my other reviews here, here and here.  Human Heart Nature is close to my heart because I'm a "closet environmentalist".  I don't go out and shout to the world my love for trees...I don't even join reallies and parades for the environment.  I must confess, I haven't even planted a tree or joined any tree-planting activity for that matter.  But being a "closet environmentalist", I try to protect the environment in the best way I could.  I recycle paper, I donate used/old clothes, and I try to use products that are environment-friendly.  That's why I have a deep affinity with Human Heart Nature.  Their products are environment-friendly (mostly 100% natural) and made by people from Gawad Kalinga.  Hence, their products are pro-environment, pro-poor and pro-Philippines.  Also, their products are affordable.  What's not to like?

Let me start off with 100% natural moisturizing day fluid.  This product has a pleasant smell and you really need just a little (the amount of 1 pump) to moisturize your whole face.  It gives your skin a smooth and soft feel.  Forget about shine and a sticky feel to your skin, this product doesn't have those icky characteristics that other moisturizers have.

This lip balm is the bomb!  Not only is it made from natural ingredients, it smells good too.  By the way, it also is a good balm to keep your lips soft and kissable.

Lastly, the body cream.  I like the scent of Berry Bliss Body Butter Cream.  Like the body butters from Body Shop, this cream makes your skin ultra-moisturized.  I love this product because it keeps my skin soft, it has a great smell and it won't break the bank.

 

I suggest you drop on over to any Sesou shop to get your Human Heart Nature products.  Or better yet, head on over to their website at www.humanheartnature.com to check out their stuff and their story.

 

Thanks for reading!  Talk/write to you soon!

Bulgogi Brothers

Hi everyone!  Another, what's for dinner tonight post.  Well, it was dinner a few weeks back.  We ate at Bulgogi Brothers Restaurant.  Bulgogi Brothers is a Korean restaurant that specializes in, you guessed it1  Bulgogi!  According to their website, Bulgogi is a term for all meats cooked with seasonings over a fire.  Well, in the case of the resto, the raw meat is served to you and you can cook it over an induction stove.  Each table has an induction stove.

These are the on-the-house appetizers that they serve.

And this is what we ordered...Noon Kkotdeungsim.  The meat is ribeye portion.  The meat is tender and tastes good.  It doesn't need any seasonings because once cooked, it's tasty on its own.

These are the condiments that come with the beef.  You can either use red sauce (sweet), salt or spicy sauce.  As I have said, the beef can stand on its own.  It tastes good even without the spices.  But if you want an extra zing to the beef, you can dip it in the spicy sauce.  Yum!



And of course, the requisite bibimbap.  Bibimbap is "mixed rice".  It has vegetables, beef and the tasty sauce.  It's not spicy even if they put in the red sauce.  It is really good!  The bibimbap is a meal by itself.

We did not order dessert since we were already full after the meal.  The servings are big and true to the waiter's estimation.  Our waitress said that our order of bibimbap and beef were good for 2-3 persons.  Well, she was right.  There was 2 of us and we finished all of it.

All in all, I had a good time at Bulgogi Brothers.  The food was good and the staff was knowledgeable about the menu and efficient.

If you want Korean food, then head on over at Bulgogi Brothers.  Thanks for dropping by!