Monday, March 17, 2014

Aquafresh Whitening Toothpaste

Aquafresh Whitening Toothpaste Directions and Ingredients
I'm in search of a good toothpaste and so far, I haven't met my HG toothpaste yet. In the meantime, one toothpaste i've tried is  Aquafresh Whitening. It has a nice minty taste and with a Fluoride content of 1450, it isn't bad at all. However, it really doesn't whiten my coffee-loving teeth (or even prevent darkening with 2x a day brushing) so I guess this one is kind of meh. I'm actively trying to cut down my coffee consumption but I do want a toothpaste that can keep up and improve my teeth without damaging it.

I'm starting to think I'm probably going to need to have 2 on hand: a specialized toothpaste to remove stains which is harsh on the teeth (and should not be used long term) and a standard whitening toothpaste.

One semi-good thing about this toothpaste is that it has a twist-cap which prevents toothpaste spillage/exposure which I'm very picky about. I took points of because of something you can see in the picture below:

Aquafresh Whitening Toothpaste Cap

While it's fine while there's a lot of toothpaste inside the tube, something happens once you start using it - there's a gap between the cap and tube and some parts of the inside are exposed :(

I don't think I'll be buying this again, even as a standard toothpaste, because I have mixed feelings about the cap.... HG toothpaste, where are you?

Friday, February 21, 2014

Seoul Garden Hotpot

Last weekend, I was at Robinsons Galleria where Seoul Garden Hotpot was having a promo. A set meal for 2 for P499 with an optional dessert to share for an additional P39.

I'm not a big fan of Korean food but I liked the generosity of their serving (to share!).

Free Appetizers

I was already hungry so I already ate some.

Seoul Garden Hotpot Bulgogi
Bulgogi
Lettuce
 As you can see, it had a lot of oil but the beans and lettuce (and onion option) balanced it out. It's very messy to eat since you have to wrap it yourself. Definitely not first date food.

Seoul Garden Hotpot Bibimbap
Bibimbap
Raspberry Peach Iced Tea
 I love iced tea, and this had a peach slice already. It would have ended the meal well but...

Vanilla Mango Ice Cream
I've been craving ice cream, even now.

I think the promo lasts until the end of February. I might eat there again before the month ends.


Seoul Garden Hotpot is at the 4th floor of Robinson's Galleria.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Kose Softymo W Hyaluronic Acid Facial Wash

Kose Softymo W Hyaluronic Acid Facial Wash
After a billion years, I've finally managed to reach the 90% mark of this tube! I'm trying to finish all the stuff I have before buying new things (which is why I probably won't get to try anything new for a while), and I'm really happy about my success at sticking to a product :))

Anyway, this is a basic cream cleanser that I got 2 years ago in Japan when my skin was drying out. It helped then, but here in the Philippines, it hasn't exactly been my problem - so even if I could repurchase this product, I probably wouldn't.

How to use: apply a small amount on damp hands and rub together to get a creamy lather. Massage it into an equally damp face. Wash of immediately.

No frills. No fuss.

10% to go!

Monday, February 3, 2014

Kolours Caravan: Oriental Ruby

I am a bit of a redhead again. How did this happen? Well, I was shopping around Robinsons craving sugar when I saw a Kolours caravan smack dab in the center of the mall. I was hesitant to try it but friend S encouraged me to try Oriental Ruby, their newest, reddest shade ever.

Process:
1. Buy the dye. One box was P250, I was vacillating between 1 and 2 boxes for my long hair. I finally decided on 1 box since I didn't know how it was going to turn up and it could be made to fit.
2. Fill up an info sheet and waiver. Theoretically, you should go for a patch test 48 hours before the actual event EVERYTIME you try a dye on. I was banking on the fact that I used to use this brand a few years ago without any adverse effects (my hair didn't color well though, which is why I gave up on it years back). Also, on a side note, how come no box dyes ever come with a patch for patch testing?
3. Application. Mine had to be done in 2 steps since my roots weren't dyed but my ends were. Cling wrap and a blow dryer were used. Since I didn't have a watch, I have no idea how much time I spent there.
4. Shampoo, condition and blowdry. Not a relaxing experience, but worth it to see my new hair for the first time!
5. Tip. Always tip, guys :)

Yays

  • Inexpensive: salon applications are way more expensive.
  • Good application: You can still see the junction between virgin and treated hair  up close but it blends relatively well
  • Red! (not like the picture, but with red-copper tones) It's a big difference from Kolours' usual rich browns.


Nays

  • Needed a blowdryer for the color to show (not for stubborn hair like mine, if it's for home use unless you're very patient or very experienced: I would never get this result on my own).



I'm very satisfied with it. Since red hair is hard to maintain, I won't feel too bad once it starts fading (though I might change my mind if it turns orange). I wouldn't buy this if I had to put it on my own because it's way too much effort for my hair type (it needs a lot of peroxide for a color to show up properly). However, I might be tempted to buy again if I were not the one doing the application (2 boxes will probably be needed next time). I'd actually recommend this product to those with hair that dyes easily and don't want to spend on a bubble dye (I've tried a few of their other shades and was particularly fond of Zen Auburn years back).

I'll see how this color holds up in a few weeks.

Monday, January 27, 2014

Tea Rock at UP Town Center

Tea Rock is probably the only place at the UP Town Center where you can hang out and study - most of the places there are actually for eating. I originally wanted to go somewhere else (to try a certain girardelli drink), but it was full to the brim.



Tea Rock

Tea Rock has a giant menu, including dinner items. It's very difficult to read it from the wall, but the prices are standard milk tea shop prices (unlike most shops in that area, which I find cray-cray for something with UP in it).


It doesn't use the more common (nowadays) coaster buzzer.




 A drink each for my friend and I. Tiramisu M (P90) on the left and Raspberry Cocoa L (P100) for me. It tasted fine, not spectacular, but not bad either. The pearls were chewy in a good way but were relatively tasteless, so it's kind of meh.


Physically, the store was well lit and decorated, but the music was a bit loud (tea ROCK?) so it wasn't a great study spot. However, this is probably one of the best places for students to hang out (since most other places here aren't really student friendly).

I probably wouldn't go back here soon simply because both traffic and parking at this area is insane. :(

Friday, January 24, 2014

McVitie's Dark Chocolate Digestives

I like biscuits, I love dark chocolate and I always seem to end up buying a pack of M&S Dark Chocolate Digestives. 

This week, I found this at the grocery and couldn't help snagging a box.

McVities Dark Chocolate Digestives
McVities Dark Chocolate Digestives
What I like about this is that important information like this is written in front of the box, so I am reminded of how many calories I put into my mouth everytime I get a cookie (it sure stops me from eating half the pack in one go). Also, that this does come in a box covering the plastic packaging, it makes storage much easier.

The biscuit itself is coated on one side in a layer of dark chocolate, around a quarter of the height of the biscuit itself. Unfortunately, it doesn't taste quite as dark chocolate-y as expected.

I end up eating 2-4 of these at a time- they're a bit more filling than the M&S ones (I end up eating 4-6 of those at a time).

The weather is still pretty nice and it's nice to pair with a cup of hot coffee, or even tea.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Shows in the Philippines

It may not be the most wonderful time of the year (that's Christmas-New Year, fyi) but with the weather being as it is, it's a pretty nice time to be in the Philippines.

What's great about this season is that there are a lot of shows going on. For those who like musicals, there's Wicked showing at CCP. There are also some pre-valentines shows to look forward to.

For me, I love the fact that a lot of concerts are held from January to March - for free! It's graduation season and end-of-the-year recitals are common. Admission is usually free (solo recitals), and you get to support some budding young talent. After all, occupied halls are better halls ^^

Check out the universities near you, especially ones you are alumni of. Chances are there are posters in the local music department.

It's a great way to start the new year :)

Friday, January 17, 2014

Pizza Hut Cheesy 7 Pizza

Pizza Hut  Cheesy 7 Pizza

I don't know if it's still available right now, but this was my favorite pizza last Christmas break - no wonder I packed a few pounds at the start of the year. It really is a cheesy fantasy! Although the flavors of the different cheeses weren't that distinct (I would have preferred a stronger bite), they still worked well together, especially with the cream cheese on top. Spread the cream cheese around to get a thin layer all around so the creamy sweetness doesn't overwhelm the other bits.

Time to diet now.

Friday, January 10, 2014

Review: Schwarzkopf Gliss Ultimate Repair Shampoo and Conditioner

Okay, I haven't been able to take care of my hair lately, so I decided to give this product a go:

Schwarzkopf Gliss Ultimate Repair
Schwarzkopf Gliss Ultimate Repair

Take note that these bottles weren't bought in the Phil and were instead made in Germany. You can find this product at department stores around, but the bottles I've seen here are made in China. I'm kind of torn if I should try the locally available products because on one hand, it's cheap Schwarzkopf... but on the other. It's a german brand, and might as well buy something that came from there.

The shampoo is a bit runnier than expected for it's semi-opaque, shiny color. It lathers well and is easy to remove. I don't feel squeaky clean when I use this - as compared to a clarifying shampoo- but I don't feel that there's any residue left behind either. The conditioner looks standard, and is pretty easy to rinse off. I love the scent: it's like a chocolate-coconut that stays long in both my hair and in the shower.

While my hair at this length and without any damaging treatment is generally manageable, it still needs a bit of help with a comb and the occasional smoothing product and deep conditioning. With Schwarzkopf Gliss, my hair is smoother, softer and frizz-free with just shampoo and conditioner. As long as I let it air or towel dry, I don't have to worry about a bad hair day.

The best thing I've found about this product is that I don't need to brush my hair anymore! Finger coming everyday is enough as it's a good detangler on it's own.

Will I buy this product again? If I can find one from Germany, Yes. Though I might cave and buy a small size of the China made one when I run out.

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Volume Discrepancies

I was drinking with my friends when I noticed the difference between two unopened bottles of Tanduay Ice Peach:

Tanduay Ice Peach
Now, I really like this flavor out of all the Tanduay Ice flavors. It's on par with Gilbey's Premium Strength in terms of cheap alcoholic beverages I like to drink. However, I noticed that the bottle on the right has a significant amount - around one mouthful - more than the one on the left. Is the one on the right overfilled? Is the one on the left underfilled?

Either way, it made me question quality control because of failure of standardization. Or is it normal for bottles to be filled this way? It won't stop me from buying my next bottle - for now. But it does bring to mind other things...

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Mr. Park's Bread & Cake

As someone who's always in a coffee shop, I like finding new places to try. In the newly constructed  ETON Emeral Loft building in Emerald Avenue is this bakery-coffee shop beside Highlands Coffee and Chatime. 


I did like how this place looked like, but I didn't take any pictures because I was distracted with my drink. And not in a really good way. But that's for later. What I liked: comfy chairs, many outlets.  While there were people studying, it's mostly a place to eat and socialize. Service was on the meh side and there was a time when there was no one manning the counter. I did not try their WiFi.

I ordered a mint choco frappuccino:

Mr. Park's Bread & Cake Mint Choco Frappuccino P170
First of all, they do not accept credit card payments, so that's a minor inconvenience. Second, there is no whipped cream on top :( While the drink itself was fine, pictures on their FB site led me to believe that there would be decent presentation at the very most, and whipped cream at the very least. I was very underwhelmed - which is a bummer. I like eating whipped cream.

This place is actually situated near Subspace, which may have fun latte art but fails in the presentation of cold beverages as well. While I probably won't buy any cold drinks from Mr. Park's, I am still interested in trying out some of their breads -maybe with hot coffee.


Monday, October 14, 2013

Review: Slice's Sir Francis M. Bacon Cupcake

Slice: Sir Francis M. Bacon

Stopping by at Slice at the Podium, I acquired myself a vanilla cupcake topped with cream cheese and candied bacon. It's rich without being too much as the different flavors tend to balance out (nothing too sweet or savory). At P90 a piece, this ain't cheap. But I prefer sharing this with a friend since it's a rather tall cupcake - so it's not bad at all. I wouldn't eat this regularly, but once in a while - it's nice to have bacon for dessert.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Review: Bench So In Love Shower Gel and Lotion

Bench So In Love Shower Gel and Body Lotion


I've finally gotten around to using one of the bath sets my relatives give me. I don't even think this is still around, but here it is - finally in use.

What I like about the body wash is that while it's flowery and sweet, it's so light, but it lasts long on the skin. Like shown - it's a bit on the watery side and comes off easily in the shower. I tend to use more than I ought, but don't have problems with washing it off after.

With the lotion, it gets a bit stronger and lasts a good bit longer - for more than 10 hours outside. The lotion absorbs equally easily. The downside is that the lotion is in a pot, so I'm usually a bit wary of double dipping.

While I'm not in love with this product, I am in like. I probably wouldn't buy it for myself since I have a whole slew of bath products to go through, but I think some people (especially those in their late teens or early twenties) can appreciate this product better than I can.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

The Magical Music of Disney

If you're a fan of Disney like me, who was raised on Disney movies, then I'd recommend that you watch The Magical Music of Disney, a Disney Concert performed by the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra under Maestro Gerard Salonga. Show times are 3pm and 8pm on September 28, 2013!

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

On Miss America

A few days ago, I heard about the extremely negative reaction of some people regarding the coronation of Miss America.

All I can do is give a giant facepalm.

It is not just that these people have accused a person based on her name and skin tone as a terrorist. It's also the fact that they never bothered to learn that there are many different "races" which are non-caucasian in color and name.

Also, the fact that they have posted their misplaced ire over the internet when a quick search would have easily given them the truth.

I do not watch beauty pageants, but the furor over this event has shown me that people place a lot of importance on these, and that some are more ignorant than I thought possible.

Skin does not equal race - get a tan if you don't believe me.



A name is not a person. A person is not a group.

It's 2013. How long will it take us to learn this?

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Have you gotten a Starbucks Card?

I went to a Starbucks in Makati recently and bought the Frap below. It's sad because Makati has this thing against plastic so even iced drinks are served in paper cups. While it might be better for the environment, it's hard to get used to. I like seeing how much I have left, thanks very much.



Anyway, for those who spend a lot on Starbucks's beverages, there's the Starbucks Card introduced just this month.

How to use:
1. Buy the card for P300 - it has P300 usable load.
2. Use the Starbucks card to earn stars.
3. Reload with P100 increments when desired.

12 stars = 1 free grande beverage

Decent, when you consider that CBTL swirl cards give you around half that value. Then again, internets!

There's a time and a place for either :)

If you're into the Starbucks thing, consider registering your card at their site, you can get:
1. 1 free beverage upon registration
2. 1 slice of cake on your birth month (upon purchase of a beverage)

Mind you, their network both online and in-store is still kind of buggy. Also, if you value your privacy, this might be more invasive than you'd like.

If you do get a card, remember to keep it in a safe place since it does have money inside!

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Highlighters

How OC are you about highlighters?

I never thought that there would be a day when I would become so particular about the highlighters I used. A few years ago, I thought that pink was pink and it didn't matter what brand I used. Now I'm trying out different highlighter brands. I've realized that some of the things I like in a highlighter are:

1. Shape - how I hold my highlighter differs if it's fat or skinny, cylindrical or box-like, long or short. It also helps to identify the different brands. Some might find it better to have highlighters all of the same shape, so they'll all be held the same way. Plus they look nicer since they're more uniform. Some might prefer to have different brands because of the different properties of the fluid.

2. Color - including consistency (especially if the paper you use is thinner), it is important to use a color/colors that you feel comfortable with. You have to think about how the shade you choose will show up on the paper you use. Different brands have different shades, with color changes that will sometimes happen depending on if it's on the early or late part of it's life.

Below are 3 different brands of pink highlighters at different parts of their lifespan. You can see that aside from the shade, in general, the evenness and thickness can differ. Note also that the brush might fray easily :(

Highlighters. Left, Artline. Middle, Faber Castell. Right, MG.
Also note that if you use more than one shade, remember to find colors that you feel are most suited to your learning style.

3. Longevity - it sucks to buy a highlighter that dries out early if left for a few moments, or one that has little ink in the first place. You might want to try brands that last longer, or those that can be left out for longer periods of time.

4. Price - some highlighters are really nice, but are super expensive. You might end up spending a lot of money in the long run.

I do have my preferred brands, but I'm always on the lookout for new ones. I also like to experiment on different colors with my own preferences for different texts :)

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Review: Giselle by Ballet Philippines



Watched Giselle, performed by Ballet Philippines on opening night (August 16, 2013). Giselle is the first ballet of the 44th season of Ballet Philippines. It was definitely an experience after a nice dinner with M. The First Act was a bust: ballerinas twitching all over the place, you could see the strain; danseur's failing to synch like a bad DL. While the Giselle wasn't bad, she wasn't spectacular. On the other hand, the Duke had a bit of trouble.

The Second Act was gorgeous: Very coordinated Willis! :) The Duke, Giselle, Hilarion and - especially- Myrtha performed wonderfully.

My advice: snooze through the first act (you're not missing anything) and see the second.



Extra: For those who are interested, CBTL is having another open house this Sunday (August 18, 2013). Happy weekend!

Friday, August 16, 2013

Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe

Warning: Picture Heavy

A few weeks ago, I went and ate in Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe, in Mall of Asia - near the IMAX Cinema - a couple of times.

Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe offers free Wifi, though I didn't use it. The place is cheery and there are a lot of tables. It's really cold though, and the menu is intimidating, so it's hard to decide what you want.


Steamed Spare Ribs With Black Bean (P100)
 This was the first time I've had this, actually. And it was pretty good, except it had bones (which I hate :)) ).

Udon P195
 I don't remember if this was pork of beef since it was a while back. The serving was big, for P195, and from what I remember, the noodles by itself was delicious, the meat was ok.

Lychee Ice Blended P70
 This drink tasted like lychee, as promised. It also had 3 pieces of fruit inside, which I liked. Very nice for the price.


Yin Yong Snow Ice P135

 While this serving of snow ice was huge (good for 3-4 people). It's basically ice, so I'm not impressed. It tasted like really cold milk tea, with red beans hiding at the bottom.

Macau Iced Coffee P75
 A bit too milky for my taste, but I liked the fact that the ice had flowers inside.

Cheese Baked Rice with Black Pepper Beef P245
 This was the best dish I've tasted there: because I love cheese and beef. This might be share-able but not for me! Best enjoyed by hungry self.

Chicken Bulgogi with Rice P195
The meat was a bit dry, so it wasn't that enjoyable.


Will I return? Most probably yes, if I'm in the area, since the servings are big and sometimes even good for sharing.

Monday, August 5, 2013

OKF Coffee


I've been trying out different types of coffee, since I'd like to leave some chilled in the fridge and those P99 Starbucks glass bottles really hurt the pocket. I recently spotted these in the grocery and bought one of each since they were P22.50 a pop
OKF COFFEE VARIANTS

Bought four variants:

1. Caffe Mocha
2. Cappuccino
3. Caffe Latte
4. Caramel Macchiato

I'm not quite sure which one I found totally unpalatable - either the caffe mocha or the cappuccino. There was something about it that tasted off - like alcohol - not the good kind... However, the last two were fine.... It's only the Caffe Latte that I think I'd like to buy again though. For some cheap coffee in a can, it ain't bad at all.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Disappointment

I've recently made a post regarding Shine Moist Henna Wax. Since I had some delayed concerns - should have thought about it before buying, actually - I wanted to contact the company so I went on their website to try and contact their HK email (both e-addresses): both bounced back.  Should I take that as a warning?

That was extremely disappointing, especially since I've already had a second purchase - a bottle, this time - and now have to think about whether to chuck it or not.

*sigh*


Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Review: Vitress Hair Polish (Sun Polish)

Vitress Hair Polish (Sun Protect)
Ever since my dye job, I've had drier hair than usual. So I looked into my stash and found this! It's an old bottle of Vitress, as you can see. It's a white cream that comes in a screw cap tube. Anyway, while this claims to protect your hair from the sun, I doubt it could be adequate protection, because you don't need to cover your hair that much unless you want your hair greasy (and sunscreens only really work if you're slathered in it).

You don't need a generous amount, but there's no need to scrimp either. This is small, cheap and travel friendly so it's nice to bring around. I might buy a new tube sometime in the future, but I'm looking into oils and other methods of correcting the dryness. Don't be fooled into buying this because of its "sun protect" label, but don't be afraid of trying it out either.

Monday, July 15, 2013

The white ideal: origins?

I've recently had a chat with some friends of mine where we ended up talking about the Filipina desire to have light skin; hence the ubiquity of whitening products. While I do admit that a large part of this desire to be fair probably came from the colonial mindset of Filipinos, I believe that this want has been a part of our culture, and others', for a long time.

For example, our East Asian neighbours also express an ideal of a woman with pale skin. This is probably because the white or pale skin indicated wealth as these women did not need to be out in the sun. Incidentally, current trends seem to promote an "Asian fairness" instead of a Caucasian type.

I believe that in the Philippine's past, further than the Spaniards, the fairer sex of the tribes of the Philippines probably aspired to be - well - fairer than the rest. I do think though, that during that time, they would have found Caucasian skin alien instead of appealing. I wonder if there is any proof that that is so, or otherwise?

Whatever the reason for this preference, I do not believe it will be going away soon.

Friday, July 12, 2013

Review: Pacific Rim

This movie came out yesterday (Thursday, July 11). Like the nerd I am, I watched it immediately. This movie, directed by G. del Torro, is actually the first mecha movie I've liked (sorry Transformers, you sucked). Giant robots controlled by humans and glowing aliens - my inner geek was pleased. In addition, hot guy (with pan de sal!) mollified my girl-perving.

However, my inner nerd actually cringed at this -because like most hollywood movies, the science was unsound.

My advice, suspend your disbelief and enjoy the ride. While it's no Avengers, this is one movie to watch on the big screen. I wouldn't probably watch this again (or crave watching it) but it is a visual spectacle, especially for those who like mecha.

Rating: 8/10

Friday, July 5, 2013

Nescafe (Instant) Cappuccino

Have you tried the new Nescafe Cappuccino drink? It's only P8!


Nescafe Cappuccino sachet
 One of the things I like about this product is that it has choco sprinkles attached!

Nescafe Cappuccino sachet (back view)
 Anyway, it says on the sachet that it's 25.5g, but according to the Nescafe Philippines Website, a serving is only around 18g (+200 ml water). I don't know if would taste as good when diluted into the recommended dose, since i used around 8 oz. (240 ml). At this dose, I do like the taste of the Nescafe Cappuccino.
Nescafe Cappuccino with Sprinkles


Yes, the product does froth, and the choco sprinkles added to my enjoyment of the drink. You could probably use this and serve it to guests in a nicer cup :)) It is a sweet drink, with 12.5 g CHO (9.7g sugars) in a serving (and the sachet is good for 1 1/2!) and contains a lot of coffee creamer.

While I wouldn't recommend drinking this regularly, I will buy this again as an occasional cheap treat. Because I love coffee.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Review: Shine Moist Henna Wax Color Treatment in Cyclamen

 Hi Guys! Remember that a few weeks ago, I went and colored my hair? Well, red is a total b*tch to maintain. So, aside from special shampoo and conditioner, a great way to preserve your color is to give it a cellophane treatment! But I don't want to go to a salon, since - well - poorness after the original salon visit. So I bought this instead. This costs P215 for a 100ml container. I heard that you could get it at HBC stores for less than P200, but they weren't in stock and I needed it ASAP.



WARNING: PICTURE HEAVY!!!

Shine Moist Henna Wax Color Treatment in Cyclamen (100ml Box)
Now, red hair is really difficult to maintain. I'm not 100% sure why, but the color I came out of the salon with wasn't the color I had 1 week after after 2 washings. Here's how my hair looked pre-treatment:

Red Hair Pre-Treatment

Red Hair Pre-Treatment

This is how my hair looks when I use the webcam. you can see a lot of purple in there. My color is actually a bit more red in the sunlight, but looks like this without natural light. I went into the store and the saleslady recommended Cyclamen.

Shine Moist Henna Wax Color Treatment in Cyclamen (Container w/ Gloves)
A good thing about the small size product is that it comes with gloves. If you open the container, the wax-to-cream-like product is a bright purple color. I forgot to take pictures and didn't remember until I took the gloves on. Anyway, I used a tinting brush to apply it on my hair in sections. It was a bit messy, so I suggest you line your floor with newspaper, or take out anything you don't want getting stained. I then placed myself under a steamer for 20 minutes before rinsing it off.

Cyclamen and Pre-treatment Hair

Post-treatment Hair

It was difficult to rinse off; As you can see, I missed a spot. My hair turned out a bit darker than expected. :( Though it did still glowed rather nicely in the sun but less girl-on-fire and more girl-drank-wine. It still looked quite nice after a few washes. It looked like this after a few washings:

In some light
But I liked it so much I did it again!




It's definitely a bit darker and more purple than my original color, but it's brings out the best in the original color, I think. It's very flattering! When I wash it out, it ends up a bit darker at the ends for some reason. I'm going to try it in Ruby next, but I think Cyclamen works for me very well.

Sigh. I love my red hair, even if I hate maintenance. I have a lot of this to look forward to; Then I'll have to make the decision on whether to re-dye it once my roots grow out... 

Yays

  • Inexpensive compared to a salon visit
  • Makes my hair smooth and shiny
  • Gives a nice glaze
  • Smells nice

Nays

  • Super messy, I mean really messy
  • Rubs off when wet - yes, anytime it gets wet
  • Irritates my skin - I break out if I don't rinse it out well (even after the initial wash)

Hays

  • Sleep with a towel on your pillowcase if you don't want stains on your sheets
  • Don't let anything touch your hair if it's wet unless you want it to get stained
  • Wash your hair seperately
  • Wash your hands everytime you touch your wet hair

Note: I did this even before the original treatment so the tips may only apply for dyed red hair only

Okays

  • For people with red hair, or those with lighter hair who want red-ish purple hair. If you have black hair and want a red tint, I'm not sure how well this will show up.

Buy Again? Yes. Because I have made a commitment to red hair!!!

I may try adding this to my conditioner so I don't have to reapply every other week.

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Review: Quizno's + Dakasi

As I am writing this right now, I am trying to drink a Dakasi Bubble Milk Tea. While the servers were cheerful and accomodating - plus points for using forceps to give me tissue - the waiting time was long and the milk tea was very disappointing. They used powdered milk, and boy, did it taste like it. Rather than milk tea, it tasted like a powdered milk drink with pearls. I don't think I'll be able to finish this drink, which is quite a shame as it costs P100. Wish I had bought from Serenitea instead.

On a longer note, I visited Quiznos in Shangri-la Mall!

Quiznos Storefront: Shangri-la

It's a bit small and located at the basement, near the food court, so it's easy to miss if you don't normally stop by that level.

Inside Quiznos: Shangri-la
We came at a slow hour, so it was mostly empty.

Quiznos Sub Sizes
Quiznos' subway sandwiches come in 5", 8", and 11". It's nice to have a visible guide as to how big your order is. Also, they show you their actual bread sizes if you ask. ^^



Ordering at Quiznos
 The menu they've mounted is hard to read. Better read the one on the table.


5" Classic Italian
I ordered a 5" classic Italian for P125- I think. It was much taller than I expected.

5" Classic Italian - Sideways 
And it was really yummy! Unfortunately, it didn't fill up this sloth >.< Wish I got a larger size. I think the 5" is still a snack size. the 8" would be perfect for a meal and 11" for super-hungry times.

Quiznos Trash
Their subs come in these speech bubble shaped trays (I like the fact that you have something to hold on to). You're supposed to drop the contents in the hole after eating and leave tray. Unfortunately, in the Philippines, most people just leave their trays on the tables.


Quiznos Snacks

While I didn't buy any sides, you can buy these as additions to your meal, like in the more familiar Subway. While my sub was delicious, it was a bit pricey - especially since Subway often has promos. I like the subs here more though and will probably eat here again if I have the chance.