Nature Republic Real Nature Mask Sheet in Aloe

On An Aloe Vera Kick! Just a month ago, I went on about Aloe Derma's Aloe Gel. I liked it so much, I decided to give other aloe products a go.

During Nature's Republic's last sale, I picked up a tub of their Aloe Vera Gel and one of their sheet masks in Aloe. I got a small sample of their Green Derma mild cream as a gift with purchase.

Starbucks Sapphire

Starbucks Reserve at Sapphire St., Pasig City is like your normal Starbucks, but a bit more.

Budget Instant Coffees: Nescafe Original 3in1 and Great Taste Original 3-in-1 Coffee Mix

When I said that Kao Shong was expensive, I was comparing it to these:

Twin Pack: Nescafe Original 3in1 (left) Great Taste Original 3-in-1 Coffee Mix (right)

Both Nescafe and Great Taste offer twin packs that cost P9 for 2 packs, or P4.50 a cup ($0.10).

Now, that's a price that's hard to beat.

My Everyday Makeup

In reality, I'm just amazed that I do use some form of makeup regularly now.

From 0 to 1 to 2….

Nichido Tinted Brow Gel (Top) and Ever Bilena Advance Perfect Eyebrow (Bottom)

Yep. That's literally it. And the second's just 'coz my hair is too light to live on 1 alone.



Total cost = P310 ($7)

Shopping Reminder

Snapped a shot of this just to remind myself, and you guys should too.

Christmas is coming! And with that, a serious amount of cash flow.

Make sure to use your old bills by December 2015. Try not to accept the old ones unless you're fine with adding an extra trip to the bank.

Now what to do with those commemorative anniversary bills?

Kao Shong Smooth and Creamy Thai Coffee

Kao Shong Smooth and Creamy Thai Coffee at P44.50 for a pack of 5 sachets is a bit steep for a 3-in-1 coffee.

Looks good, but is it worth buying?

What I like? Each 20g packet is labeled with the percentage of ingredients, something most Philippine 3-in-1's lack. It also has explicit and easy to understand instructions. In other words, the packaging is quite good.

This variant contains 7% coffee, 51.42% non-dairy creamer, 40% sugar, 0.98% skimmed milk. I'm not sure what the 0.6 percent left is, but I would guess some sort of contaminant which is found in most foods.

Since this is mostly sugar and creamer, it is mostly sweet and creamy, but not enough to overwhelm - making it very easy to drink quickly unlike some other brands that I find are too sweet to drink quickly. What makes it special? It has an earthy, rich undertone different from other instant coffees (around the same price point) in the Philippines. Like most 3-in-1s, the caffeine dose is low but the sugar is high and it gives as much kick as its counterparts.

Will I buy it again? Yes! While it's a bit on the expensive side (more on 2 for P9 coffees - good for the wallet, bad for the body and the environment), it's worth having as an occasional instant coffee on rotation.



On a side note, I wish brands here in the Philippines would make more 3-in-1 variants in jars instead of sachets. While I understand their use here in the Philippines, I'd like a for home alternative that doesn't impact the environment as much.

Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Facial Serum

Oh my, I've almost finished the bottle and I've yet to talk about it.

Lazy me, once again.

Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Facial Serum

And that's not because it's bad, in fact, it's quite the opposite!

The Body Shop Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet

Want a light moisturiser for hot weather? Try the Body Shop's Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet.

Body Shop Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet

It's a light pink gel with a candy floral scent that absorbs quickly with a cooling effect. I usually use it once daily in the morning as my moisturiser to leave my skin soft and hydrated. On the days I do use make-up, this doubles as my primer.

However, this is probably not for everyone since it contains some possible irritants/pore cloggers.

Aloe Derma Pure Aloe Vera Gel

I'm on an aloe vera train right now, kickstarted by Aloe Derma's Pure Aloe Vera Gel.

It's 99% organic aloe vera juice that can be used for burns, bites and beauty purposes! What makes this  different? In the case of active plant ingredients, the plant and processing can really make a difference. Aloe Derma boasts of a quality product that can be used medically:

Want! Face Paint: The Story of Makeup

I'm not really into makeup, but I adore looking at the history and meanings of different cosmetics, attire, etc… which is why I'm really hoping to grab myself a copy of Lisa Elridge's Face Paint: The Story of Makeup.

I don't know if and when this will happen, but until then, here's her vlog entry of make-up looks throughout the ages. Warning though, this may push you to throw your money at it so watch at your own risk.

Still not convinced? Try to see what she says about it.

Sigh. I'm really hoping it won't be too expensive here in the Phil.

Edit: I've looked at the 3 major bookstores in the Philippines and only one has it in stock at a location far from where I live at a price that's P500 ($10) more than it's amazon price.

Coffee Shops in Ortigas

Ages and ages ago, I posted a tiny little thing about Subspace Coffee House, a coffee shop of a different breed from Starbucks long before the term "Third Wave" hit the country. Since then, I've tried different cafes without fully committing to any, cards not withstanding. I haven't been back in the shop for the past few years until recently. Ortigas, in particular, has a lot of coffee shops without even including the Kapitolyo area. Some notable sources of caffeine:

• Craft Coffee Revolution at Podium*
• Starbucks Reserve at Sapphire Rd
• Mr. Parks Bread and Cake at Garnet Rd
• Subspace Coffee House at Emerald Ave
• The Breadery at Emerald Ave
• Tully's Coffee at Exchange Rd
• Toby's Estate at Ruby Rd

*While Craft is located inside a mall, which is major minus points for me, it has very good coffee.

This used to be a longer post with a little something about Subspace Coffee House. I've since decided to split and link my previous Ortigas coffee shop posts here instead.

Rainy Day Exfoliation Session

When it rains, I prefer to sleep in and relax with a hot beverage, but sometimes I get a strange urge to do otherwise… Sometimes, I like exfoliation. Why is this strange? Because exfoliation, by the very act of scrubbing, is an invigorating activity that makes me more alert and ready to meet the outside world. Something that doesn't usually happen, period.

As I am a slothlike creature, I am not a regular exfoliator by any means, but when I do, this is how it goes.

Psyllium Fiber: Fibrolium vs Watsons Brand Supplement

In an attempt to kill the urge to eat between meals, I decided to try 2 pysllium fiber supplements and settled on Fibrolium and Watsons brands because they were the cheapest and most expensive brands available in my local, well, Watsons.

Fibrolium Psyllium Fiber Supplement

Psyllium is a fiber whose foremost effect is to help you do the number 2. It helps with water absorption in the colon, creating softer stools while stimulating those pipes. It helps retain a feeling of fullness without flatulence and can help with those cholesterol and blood sugar levels. In supplements such as these, only the ground husks are used.

Watsons Psyllium Fiber Supplement

How did they match up?