Still have a lot of empties to mini review(?) Or toss.
In the meantime, here are my often emptied items...
1. Medicated shampoo. Seb derm is real.
2. Feminine wash: lactacyd forever.
3. Mouthwash: colgate. No particular attachment but always have one in my bathroom.
4. Toothpaste: sensodyne supremacy
IDK how people empty so much. I only have one body.
Finished up this really old tub of hair spa. Took me a while since I lost and rediscovered it. Not available anymore, I think. I liked the scent and using it as a lightweight conditioner.
Are there better products, yes. But this was fun and inexpensive.
Just goes to show that you can use the haircare products from Daiso.
Here I am trying to both record all thoughts about and trying to throw away my empty bottles of stuff again. Hopefully, these mean more short reviews.
One of my cleanser empties for last year: KBK Acne Foam Defense Wash
I haven't done a pad post recently, but to update: I have been using a mixture of cloth pads and disposable pads. For the latter, while I still love Sofy pads for security, with the rising cost of everything, there has been 1 undisputed pad for me for 2024: Charmee's All Night Long Pads.
Finally got to watch my first show this year, and to my regret, it was not Miss Saigon. It was the Parokya ni Edgar musical: BURUGUDUY STUN STUGUDUN STUY.
To summarize what I think of this show: It's high value production crack (fiction).
3 Sunscreens I've been using this 2024
I've picked up an order for new sunscreens, but here are what I've used recently and my short thoughts about them:
It's summer again, and I've officially transitioned fully into using cold showers (which I hate 90% of the time), which is a necessity at this weather.
Part of what I do to stay cool is to use an umbrella, shouting out to fibrella - remember to use UV coated umbrellas- as well as seeking out as much shade as I can. I ought to use shades as well but where I currently live, that gives far too much attention.
However what I've used this summer more than any other method to stay cool is to use sheet masks. Yes, I do still consider them as guilty pleasures. But it's really been so hot and I've just been keeping a bunch in the fridge and popping one on at the end of a long day and it does a lot to cool my face and really destress.
I've never been one to sheet mask regularly because of the environmental impact and the impact on my wallet but … it's just been crazy hot. I've been trying to use cheaper masks and those that come in packs to offset but I end up using a mask every 2 to 3 days. The good thing is I'm finally using up some of my super old face masks. The bad is that I'm buying more now.
Anyway, I still wouldn't recommend using an active sheet mask daily - soothing masks are ok unless they're heavy. If I use an active mask too frequently: my face starts to sting. If use a hydrating mask too frequently: bumps from the heaviness. I've found the cheaper daily masks work well enough since my main goal is to cool down and soothe my skin. Added bonus as a lazy girl: just top off with a moisturizer and I'm done for the day.
An old, new find of mine for the year is Ever Bilena's (EB PLUS) Serum Tinted Lip Balm in Naked.
Did I need a new lipstick, no. Did I need a new lip balm, yes. And it seems I got both.
As I was throwing away an empty of a L'oreal Hair Mask, I wondered why I fell out of love with it. I had always had a L'oreal hair mask in rotation for the longest time but didn't feel the need for a restock for a while.
But then I realized : my hair was very healthy- barely bleached and amodimethicone was the key ingredient in these masks. Amodimethicone, a silicone that works very well for damaged, processed hair, was a normal, lightweight silicone for healthy hair. And that was why I felt these masks did nothing for me now.
So for those with healthy hair, you probably don't need this ingredient in your hair care, but YMMV.
This is what's been finished:
Elizabeth Arden Green Tea
Fresh citrusy and clean. I've been using this for more than a decade. Really like this for daily use but it's time to move on after X number of bottles.
Bulgari Omnia Crystalline
Floral to clean on me. I liked this but it's too expensive and doesn't last long enough for me to justify a full bottle.
Fireplace by Scent Therapy PH
Starting my "dupe" journey with this. Compared to the original, this is a lot sharper on the opening but I like the dry down more: it's very warm and cozy afterwards.
I'm only starting to venture into other fragrances and I think I'll be going into clone houses etc moving forward since I can't justify insane prices right now.
Tried out all the variants of L'Or Essenso coffee available in the Philippines. Prices can,vary where you get them and both 8 and 20 stick packets are available. I bought mine for 163 per pack with 8 sachets per pack not including shipping.
Recently came back from a quick trip to Taiwan and this is a short guide of how to speedrun things if you're short of time. For disclosure, this trip from the Philippines costed around USD 1000 per person for two people. Things may become cheaper or more expensive depending on when and where you book your flights and accommodation, and what food you eat. Mine was relatively more expensive given that this was a last minute trip with booking decided less than a month prior to departure on peak season.
Recommendations before going to Taipei:
Listing some of the masks I've used over the year and how I feel about them. I've only saved one of each but I've used most of them several times.
Most of these are already discontinued, I think but it takes me a while to finish and review products now.
