Haul: Repurchases for 2019

It's the end of the year, meaning... next year is just around the corner. And funnily enough, for the first time in a long time, I'm back to buying things I know work for me instead of new products I want to try. What's somewhat surprising is that I've already stashed for 2019 instead of buying as I go since I've previously been trying my best to de-clutter. But then my favorite Safeguard cleanser was discontinued this year and I'm having anxiety issues that the same thing will happen to some of my favorites, unlikely though it is. So here we are.

While not all HG status, here's a list of some of the things I've found worth stashing for 2019:

Hada Labo Gokujyun Light Lotion

When you know you love something, you don't let it go (unless it's discontinued, in which case 1. Hoard 2. Cry). One thing you'll have to pry from my cold, dead hands is Hada Lab's  Gokujyun Light Lotion.

I had heard a lot about the Hada Labo hyaluronic acid line for the past few years, but I was hesitant to try it out since it was so expensive once it reached the Philippines (more than double its price).  Still, I finally bit the bullet and bought it. How much did I like it?

Mediheal WHP Shower Capping Pack

Watsons had some sort of mask + pack promo, which lead me to try Mediheal's WHP Shower Capping Pack. Since I already knew that I like Mediheal sheet masks, what could be the harm in trying?

Famous last words... for me.

Metro Savers at Tayuman LRT Station

Found this little gem(?) at Tayuman LRT Station

These are knock-off face masks of popular brands :O

I am too scared to try it but OMG, they are here and I'm not sure if some people are aware that these are knock offs of actual brands.

Has anyone tried these?

Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask

Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask has been popular for a long while, but I've only recently gotten to try it. Why? It's not locally available in store. It is available on Althea Philippines for P550. Take note that there is also a Super Volcanic version.

Edit: This post has been in my drafts folder for such a long while. I've been using it for over a year! However, since Innisfree just launched in the Philippines, it's okay to post?

Hehe.

Althea Petal Velvet Sunaway

20% off a Php 480 sunscreen? I'm sold! So I bought the Petal Velvet Sunaway without thorough research.

I didn't look when I leaped, and this is where it got me.

Fall Lips 2018

You know how my last post was all about lips? Well, it's because I've been using more lip products recently. But I always seem to keep coming back to this killer combo this fall...

This is a lip balm and lip topper (for me) together.

Lip Tip: How to Solve Chapped Lips

The weather's turned cooler, and that, along with an unfortunate allergic reaction a month previously, have made my lips a dry, flaky mess that no amount of my DIY lip scrub could fix.

So what to do about it?

New Nails with Chic Nail Color in Mod Beige

It's already November, and while my face and wardrobe are transitioning to darker shades, my nails are still nude. I've just been loving Chic's nail polish in Mod Beige and I still don't want to go for berries and golds right now. Nudes aren't really seasonal anyway...

This nude was found at Watsons after nearly 30 minutes of comparing shades without the benefit of swatches and having sales ladies stare at me for taking so long to pick a polish that was only Php 35 (~80 cents).  But honestly, I was in the market for a nude and most colors available in the drug store are always so frickin shiny (pearls or metals) and I just wanted a plain cream that blended into my skin without being too dark, too pink or too cold.

Anyway, I heart this color and it is the only shade of polish I've bought this year so it's been well used. Since this is a light shade with a cream finish, I'd have wanted a thicker, wider brush as these are very fiddly for a noob like me (as you can see that I had some trouble with my middle finger). But with this price point, I really can't complain.

Edit: Chic Nail Color has new packaging. Mod Beige is still available for Php 38.

Lip and Eye Make-Up Removers: L'oreal vs Lancome vs. Nivea

I now have 3 Lip and Eye Make-Up Removers: L'oreal's Gentle Lip and Eye Make-up Remover, Lancome's Bi-Facil and Nivea's Daily Essentials Double Effect Eye Make-Up Remover.

From the names, Lancome's short and sweet Bi-facil takes the cake, but which one is the best over-all?

Life Tip

As someone who cannot afford daily sheet masking (especially as I haven't found a mask less than Php 50 worth using), and as someone who is concerned about their environmental impact, I often do not mask more than once a week.

However, there is one occasion in my life that I am a big believer in these masks:

Use a hydrating sheet mask right after drinking an alcoholic beverage!

You can use a cooling pack or any other item with a cooling effect (ice cold glass of water, anyone), but a cooling sheet mask that gives a dose of hydration makes your skin less horrible the day after (especially if you have sensitive skin), after that tall glass of water.

I am partial to Mediheal's NMF mask (blue) over Leaders' option but will be trying Dr. Morita this upcoming holiday myself.

Please make sure your face is clean before masking. Some hand-eye coordination required.

Revlon Eyes, Cheeks + Lips Palette in Romantic Nudes

If you know me, then you know I am not that in to make up, so when someone gifted me the Revlon Eyes, Cheeks + Lips Palette in Romantic Nudes, I mostly ignored it until this year.

How did this cosmetics noob find it?

Sunplay Super Block SPF 50+ PA++++

Cray Cheap (for today's prices) and Cray Protective, that's two things Sunplay's Super Block does for me!

However, this is not a perfect product by any means.

Bubbly Clean Eco-friendlt Toilet & Kitchen Sink Bombs

Okay, I have no idea where these came from so IDK how much they cost, but I really love these toilet bombs.

Well, these Toilet & Kitchen Sink Bombs from Bubbly Clean.

Not a bomb joke!

Snoe Beauty Shoo-zit Dip and Dry Acne Drying Solution

Real life has been getting in the way lately... and part of real life for me is zits. However, it has been a decade since I've found the need for a dedicated drying lotion... until now.

Thankfully, the world has changed and we are left with more choices than the old but effective Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. I loved it in the past (thank you mother for supporting your pimply faced child), because it really did work. But this pimply faced adult cannot afford it.

Thus, we go for newer, less expensive versions/dupes.

Snoe Shoo-Zit Drying Lotion (compared to EOS lip balm for size)

I originally thought about buying the K version of Etude House, but when I found that a Filipino brand made their own, I immediately snapped one up!

Peripera Airy Ink Velvet

My first lip ink! I think this has been around for a while, but I've been using Peripera Airy Ink Velvet in #05 Elf Light Rose for less than a year.

Tetley Super Green Tea

Decided to try some Tetley's instead of the usual Twinnings Green Tea with Lemon. I'm trying to decrease my coffee intake and I don't like Green Tea by itself (unless it is super thick matcha or the good tea leaves).

Anyway, this costs around P500 for 2 boxes at Lazada so it's decently priced. Love the pineapple flavor/scent as a summery drink, even though it's getting cold. This tastes great both hot and on ice, so it has decently held off the temptation of buying those expensive da.u.de blends. Whew.

Might try a few more flavors here, as I want to taste the mango version... or Twinnings berries for fall. We'll see. Only problem with this is that it comes in non-individual tea rounds, which is better for the environment but means you need a dedicated tin to store.

Yays:
Healthy - 2 cals, some vitamin C content
Sweet and delicious
Ethical Tea Partnership

Nays:
Storage - needs dedicated tin, needs to be finished soon after opening (not a problem for me).

Will probably purchase this range again. Costs around 12.5 pesos/bag.  Use a large mug, not cup, to accomodate the rounds.

Quick FX Pimple Eraser

They say insanity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting different results.

Welp. Our skin changes over time, so sometimes you do get different results with the same product. But this product?

I was insane to buy this again :(

Spotted: Falsies in the Convenience Store OMG

I don't often browse non food items in convenience stores (because I find the mark-up ridiculous!). So I've only recently seen this on Philippine shores:

FALSE LASHES now available in select convenience stores OMG. At P40 for a basic pair, people who have an emergency lash situation can rejoice!

Lash glue not included. IDK if available in store, but still amazeballs.

Hair Paint MNL Purple Shampoo and Conditioner

I am finally at that hair level that requires purple/silver shampoo :0 It took quite a while to tak the leap from blonde-ish (brownish with blonde highlights) to blond proper since my hair is quite damaged but I've been blonde for a few months now.

But legit question: what is the threshold for blondeness?

There is probably a better way to measure it, but I know I've hit legit blonde since my hair looks like a broom without special shampoo. It doesn't look good at all  の 。の

I was wondering what to get to tone my hair and ended up with Hair Paint MNL's Purple Shampoo, Purple Conditioner and Keratin Mask.

Nivea Extra White Serum

Can I just say how happy I am that Nivea finally decided to give the UVA rating of their Extra White Serum!!

The pink one.

CosRx vs Safeguard Cleanser

This is a short post, but two similar products for me are the CosRx Salicylic Acid Daily Cleanser and Safeguard's Dermasense Facial Cleanser for Oily Skin.

They are both salicylic acid cleansers for acne prone skin. I've seen the hype  for the former, but not for the latter when it first came out in 2015.

I don't understand it.

One is obviously better than the other!

CosRx Galactomyces Whitening Power Essence

This is the first of my CosRx (COSRX? Cosrx?) products to review. Finally, after all the hype has died down, I've started using and reviewing them.

As you can see, I've been using this for quite a while. Only around 1/3 is left....

And probably will be left behind...

Sickness Starter Pack

I hate leaving home when I'm sick, but sometimes I really have no choice. So here are the things I tote around when I have a cough and cold.

VMV: ReReview: Superskin 3 Toner and Moisturizer.

If you backtrack my blog through the years, you'll see that I've been a fan of their products... but not their prices. Such that though it pained my heart, I stopped buying since it hurt my wallet.

However, during one of their sales ages ago, I decided to buy again during one my bad face days....

And some things change, some things stay the same.

UCC Variety Pack Review

Whenever someone in the family travels, I am grateful when they return with a new drink for me to try. Last family member who travelled came back with a UCC variety pack.

Naturally, when I saw there was a piece of blue mountain coffee, I tore into it and claimed it for myself.

Belo Sunexpert Tinted Sunscreen

I have been using this product on and off for the past 6 months, granted more off than not. Last month, I saw it exploding across youtube as a possible foundation... and since it IS tinted, then you can probably use it as a foundation with sheer coverage (idk why that was even a question).

However, can you really use it as a sunscreen (as its name so blatantly states)?

The Shelf: June 2018

Sans the face stuff, this is basically what I've been using for my body...

Not the best things in life, but not bad either.

Travelling Tip: Leave On Conditioner

I've seen people recommend bringing Leave On Conditioner in lieu of styling products. But if you are a lazy girl like me, consider bringing it INSTEAD of your ordinary conditioner!

Am  I crazy?

The Daily Look: Ellana Lip in Luxe Love is Noble

The daily look this June 2018:

I've talked about my brow products before. I've been using Snoe's What's Up Brown in Khaki and The Face Shop's Designing Eyebrow Pencil in 05 Dark Brown.

What's basically changing in my routine is my lip. Now that it's constantly raining, I've found myself using a darker, matte lip. Right now, I'm using one of Ellana's liquid lippies in Love is Noble.

Shady Brand Alert: Triquetra

Trawling thru BeautyMNL and I found this:

Can you see the shady thing?

Travelling Tip: Shampoo and Body Wash

I am not the only one that does this, but it deserves some consideration in this era of super specialized products. When travelling, consider using the same shampoo and body wash to save the hassle of packing a lot of stuff!

I do this for both long trips away from home and short ones. For the former, I use a bottle of shampoo I know to be good at cleaning but not stripping to the hair and body and smells good. For the past year, I have been using both the red and purple versions of Hana shampoo. This is the purple one, Garden Blooms and Lychees.

It is even better for short trips with sachets. I use one a day and it's great because I don't like keeping them for later use. Using 1 sachet for the whole body is better than 1 sachet for 2 and 1/2 uses as shampoo of some sort.

Of course, I just buy the bottles which come with sachets as part of the purchase since I am not much into purchasing sachets. :D The price of 200ml of product is around P150-180 and usually can be found with a lot of sachets as a freebie.

Personal Care Acne Control Treatment Pads

Currently out of town and I realized that I just emptied this without talking about it!

So before I throw it out, here are my thoughts regarding these pads:

Nivea Sun Protect & White Whitening Sun Protection Face Cream

I'm sorry, I tried my best to like you but I really can't.

Maybe it's you, maybe it's me, maybe we're just not meant to be.

Massive Sun Protection Post

Since it's summer, it's only right to post a lot about sun related products and reminders. This is one of the latter: Guys, regarding sunscreen, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends 3 things:

1. SPF 30 or higher
2. Broad spectrum
3. Water resistant

But why and what else?

FYI, you can just end here (check out the beautiful infographic by informationisbeautiful).

An Empty and a Bit: Bare Lotions in Rosemary and Green Tea

A long time ago in a post far, far away from the top, I reviewed a conditioner by Bare, which I enjoyed. Better than that though, is their key product:

LOTIONS!

I actually reviewed a lotion mix by Bare before this but this is a bit more in depth.

Banana Boat Ultra Protect Faces Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50

Last week, I posted on why I disliked Beach Hut's sunblock. I was glad that I wasn't a complete leech and brought my own facial sunblock! Banana Boat's Ultra Protect Faces Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 was the sun protector I used during my last provincial trip and this is what I've found.

Short Rant on Online Shopping

I don't do a lot of online shopping because in order to save money, I like to experience the physical pain of giving cold hard cash instead of the ease of card usage. I do use other methods such as gcash and dragonpay, but that sometimes involves lining up...

However, supplied with my phone, I do a lot of online window shopping. But I sometimes get a little frustrated with certain retailers. Why?

Beach Hut Max SPF 100 Sunblock

Store pic because I didn't buy this. It was my friend's sunblock and I tried to use it on vacation. I actually wasn't going to post about it but I've been seeing a lot of Watsons related posts for the summer which included this as one of the brand picks.

IMO, if you're thinking of buying this, don't!

Acne Patch Alternative

Half dinished another article before realizing I cannot post about it due to reasons. Hayz. Instead, here is my alternative to those expensive acne patches!

DIY Lip Scrub

Ya know, there was a time in my life where I really wanted those bullet type exfoliating lip scrubs (around the time matte liquid lips became en vogue) but they seemed so expensive just for the price of convenience of having it in stick form. And I wasn't a big fan of matte lips anyway so I shelved that thought. But as liquid lips became the norm, I found my lips getting chappier (there was a shortish period where I stopped balming it up because I am very very lazy) until I decided to get a lip scrub. And got sticker shock again. I mean, P200-400 for an edible lip scrub? NO WAY!

I can make my own without spending any extra money, thank you. Here's how:

Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert 2018

Is just ok.

A mostly strong supporting cast (hello pharisees :D) but balanced with a lukewarm Mary Magdalene and a weak Herod and Jesus. Seriously, Jesus.

Everytime I look at you I don't understand... if you are having an asthma attack. Or if you understand your character that well. Poor Judas.

Staging isn't bad either but pretty rushed and static with regards to the leads. No flow, no interaction with the main character...

You are still much better of watching the 1973 or 2000 version. I haven't seen 2012 so I can't compare.

Sensodyne Repair & Protect Toothpaste (First Look)

GUYS, I AM SO EXCITED OVER TOOTHPASTE I HAVEN'T EVEN TRIED THAT I AM IN CAPSLOCK!

Forget about salt, baking soda and charcoal. They clean your teeth... but the best thing has always been fluoride with a little something extra for sensitive teeth... until this decade.

Watsons' Smith&Crawford Hand Lotion in Sea of Petals

Darn my stupid last in and last out tendencies, but I finally got to try a hand lotion I got last year...

Watsons' Smith& Crawford Hand Lotion in Sea of Petals!

Sun 2018

Life has been busy lately so I wasn't able to stop by Watsons' sun event. Which is a good thing, in a way, since I still have 3 body blocks good for daily use.

These are, from left to right: Nivea Extra White Whitening Body Serum, Silka Premium Whitening Body Lotion, and Vaseline Healthy White SPF 30 Serum. All three are decent for everyday use, but I would NOT bring these to the beach. All of them are SPF 30 and above but not one is labelled as a true Sunblock. They do vastly differ in terms of scent and texture.

Mia Care Acne Patches

No pictures, because I accidentally finished both day and night patches without taking any.

The mia care patches come in day and night versions both as singles and in combinations. I bought the day and night as a combination in watsons and it costed around P220 (I think?) For 18 patches. The singles cost P160 for 12.

Day patches are very thin and you can put it on when going out, as long as you aren't under acrutiny and you change it as soon as the patch gets soaked. You have to change this often as 1. Gross 2. The patch doesn't absorb as much as its night counterpart.

Night patches are thicker with good sticking power. They absorb more, but are very visible.

With how accessible these are I will probably by them again. The day patches are cosmetically acceptable and the night patches stick well. I wish though that they had good sizing options.

The Nexcare patches I tried before seems a bit better with pus absorption and it has 2 sizes, though the smaller ones sometimes move at night. It is also harder to find.

I will either try the CosRx option or try to math out which patches are cheaper in the future!

The Face Shop Rice Ceramide Moisturizing Toner

Nearly empty! It has lasted quite a while and it will probably last me through the month. You can't really see it but only around  fifth is lefth of the toner.

If you want yourself some quick, cheap hydration, you might want to take a look at this!

Cloud Cosmetics Pore Refresher

Short post because.... I have sadly lost the bottle! But I really liked Cloud Cosmetics Pore Refresher Spray Mist.

Huhuhu. Why is it gone?

Balanga, Bataan

If you haven't been to Bataan, then you should! I, myself, regret not being able to spend more than a night in Bataan (details later), but I would definitely go back again if it were possible.

Chinese New Year

Happiness is a tub, a mask and a beer. Happy long weekend!

The Face Shop Designing Eyebrow Pencil

After I first bought this product, I thought it was just ok since while it was packaged well, it isn't a lot of product at 0.3g compared to eyebrow pencils.

Boy was I wrong.

Mumuso Perfume Hand Cream in Avocado

The full name of this product is really long: Mumuso Natural Avocado Soothing Pefume Hand Cream Avocado. This was given to me, as the like was really popular last Christmas because it's cheap, cute and very useful.

Unfortunately, as I didn't go that route, I don't know how much this costs, but I know it's very affordable, probably a bit less than P100 for a duo or trio.

Ballet: Don Quixote

From February 9 to 18, Ballet Philippines will be staging a shortened version of Don Quixote at CCP's Main Theater. This version is very short and palatable, divided into 3 acts with two intermissions such that even newcomers will enjoy.

The show boasts a solid cast, from the ensemble to the leads. Both male and female leads, Joseph Gatti and Candice Adea performed very well both during solos and pas des deux. Honestly, during the performance I watched, the former shined a bit brighter than the latter due to the seeming effortlessness of the male. Then again, it's hard to be a girl on pointe shoes!

The set was unexpectedly lavish, windmills available. Costumes were par for the course. All in all, a visual treat. Music was done by the Manila Symphony Orchestra - enjoy the interludes between acts.

I do not know how other performers will fare, but I do recommend watching the Gatti and Adea performance.

Rexona Motionsense Antiperspirant

I don't know what it is, but wow, Rexona's Motionsense antiperspirant really lasts over 24 hours.

Masters Oil Control Max Facial Scrub

While I had no power, I ended up at my parents' and ended up using one of my dad's facial washes: Master's Oil Control Max Facial Scrub.

Though I did have a small sample I used nearly a decade ago, I forgot how the smell was. Very man cologne. Men would not object.

Updates

Life is hard when you have no water.

Life is expensive when you need a plumber.

Parts and labor are separate things.

Can't live without it.

Goodbye to my wallet.

The Shelf: January 2018

The Shelf.