SaladBox : Review

 Hi Guys! I was supposed to do my review but I was swamped with reports and deadlines to meet. So anyway as promised and as I am in my WEEKEND mode :) Here it is! My first box from Saladbox!

I made a post about saladbox before. Basically it is a subscription box. Each box contains sample or full size items that you can enjoy straight to your doorstep! The boxes are 500php a month but costs less depending on the subscription. I got renewal / monthly subscription to test it for a few months. There has been a number of beauty boxes popping in the Philippines like crazy. One in particular is GlamourBox which I also want to out try soon.

So anyway, my much awaited box came this Wed. I was at work and my mom texted me that a box came. When I got home, I went straight to opening it.

Behold, a very minty green box. I find it very sophisticated but rather small.

I have been watching some unboxing videos in youtube from different countries and this is quite smaller as I have expected. But again,big things also come in small packages! :)

Opening the box, I can already smell something nice. It's like entering a store  and the smell of wrappers and scents gives you a feeling of shopping in the mall. When I opened the box, a card sits on top of the white parchment.

Under the top cover shows a neatly looking logo.

Tadaaaan!!! here are the items cradled in pink paper. 

 If you are wondering what's on the back, it gives you detailed information about the products included in the box.

Tadaaan! First item, Sakura Foam Hand Sanitizer!

Reminds me of the Etude House Bubble Hair Coloring kit.

Peeking at the bottom of the bottle, its just liquid.

And once you give it a pump, bubbles come out!

Smells really nice too! I honestly think I'll use this over alcohol :)

While others got a charcoal soap, I received pillow mist in Relaxing Mint.

I love going to spa and I love Mint and this can be very relaxing. I would love to use this on my pillow and on long travels. This came in full size by the way!

Next, Ive got 2 Virginia Olsen Mineral Eyeshadow. I was really happy with the Plum but not really sure with the Gold Bars. But again very happy since I would love to try more mineral makeups.

Up close on Gold shimmering eyeshadow.

Plum - Lovin shade

Lightly swatched. Not bad. Just glittery for me.

Black Beauty Shampoo.

I'd love to try this brand. My grandmums send us bottles of Mane and Tail.

Let's see how this will go with my hair. :)

I forgot to take a picture of the last one which is a room spray of fig and spiced tea. I have to say I'm not a fan of it.  What I also noticed is that not all of the boxes are giving the same items. I was hoping of getting the soap by the way. They also mentioned that there is like a beauty profile but I haven't seen anything on the site. So I'm kinda afraid that they maybe sending me cosmetics that may not compliment my skin color/undertone.

Overall, (in  my own opinion) I have expected more considering that this is their first box. More cosmetics, because that's what most of the subscribers want. But I'm happy with the pillow mist. =))

I'm still giving it another try.

Until the next SaladBox!

xx

My Salary Haul : Confessions on an addict

 Happy Monday! Salary came too early and I promised myself that I'll buy nothing fancy until November. But then, just this Saturday I had my 2 dogs groomed. I arrived at the pet shop around 2:30 I think and there were a lot of dogs on queue. By the way I have 8 dogs in total :) 5 Shih Tzus, Chihuahua, Doberman and a Retriver Mix. But these furry creatures have like the most expensive type of maintenance tho it will take a while before I need to have their fur cut.  Anyway, this is Leila. She's my spoiled dog. She barks and I follow. =)) Look at her all caged up in queue for grooming. In this picture she is barking at me to release her. HA! Prisoner!

 And yes I spoiled her to much. So this is what we did since she wanted to be out the cage. STARE AT THE ROAD and WATCH CARS PASS BY.

 Now this is Lira. My sweetheart. The most lovable of all the 5 shih tzus. :) She just sits and waits for her turn. I love her to bits. She always kisses me and be with me wherever I go.

So I went to the Baking Supply Specialty shop and got myself some piping bags and tips. I planned to make some macarons but then there was no almond meal there.  So next, I went to lay bare first and had some threading and waxing done. I got myself some Milk Tea and headed to have some lunch. When I got back to the pet shop they are still in queue. So I just waited and they started at 6pm. OH MY GOODNESS... goodthing Im not in a hurry or so.

So this is what they look like after. This is my princess Leila all comfy on her bed. 

 Anyway, afterwards, BB picked me up and the dogs and headed home. But then he told me that there is a party in the compound and we have to get a gift or something.  TRUST ME, I was trying to stay away from the mall. But HECK. I just tried to reason out to myself that I really didn't get anything nice for my birthday (because I didn't want to spend at all until December) except for a flat iron. So Yeah... tragedy! These are stuff I got.

 I love everything natural now. I am staying away from what is thought cancerous or so. My mum was diagnosed with breast cancer early this year and thank God that she is now A-OK! :) I was searching for things to be aware of like food and products that is believed to contribute in causing breast cancer. Anyway for cosmetics, I stay away from anything that has paraben. So I have some stuff from human nature like balm tints and so.  Now this time I found a really amazing product from Body Recipe (which is like Human love Nature).

Like every woman in this planet, I am too lazy to get whitening stuff on clinics. Of course it costs some bucks and a lot of patience. I used the underarm deo from a bazaar which costs around 180php for 100ml. It has a sticker with "Florence" on it. The seller said it was made by the nuns. I did use it and notice a wonderful change on my u.a. Great huh! so I was going to buy like 3 more and found it expensive. One day, I went to HBC and found Calamansi Tawas Facial cleanser. I used it on my face and the dark spots were removed and tried it on my u.a. Amazingly, it brought the same results as the florence one. It became whiter from the plucking. So I ditched my Nivea deos and used The Body Recipe one. I tested it on a high performance level. I went on a Pole Fitness Class (YES I DID! After a year of persuading from my friend! maybe next blog or so) and my u.a didn't smell funny or anything at all. The best about it is that its all natural!Another plus for this because I spent 100 pesos for the facial cleanser and roll on.

 I picked up a dupe for Denman fine tooth comb. Sturdy one indeed and grip is awesome! 2 pcs of bangs holder. (the one you stick on your hair to prevent the bangs from falling and a cheap facial oil control film.
 

I had my how many years old brush from Pagani retire and bought a new brush from Pagani again. Cute color like blue ish green. An atomizer to place my facial wash on and stuff from Fanny Serrano.

A lot of Guru's are raving about Fanny Serrano cosmetics. Most specially the 2 way cake. I am an NC25-NC30 in MAC. I was really looking for a compact foundation and the trust me, the sales assistant in the department stores are totally giving the wrong shade. For example. I got myself an HD cream foundation from Ever Bilena. It was just too white for me. I had to put another yellowish powder to like neutralize it. But THEN, I found Fanny Serrano in Duchess just right. The Sales Lady did a great job. It did match my skin tone although not exactly like MAC. But cheaper and just great.

 I got a shade in Duchess and it does really work good. I made some searching over the net and the packaging seems to be different compared to the compacts the made before. Now it looks like MAC.

 It has a sponge when you lift the pan area.

 Since I spent like over 500 pesos I got a free Liquid Lipstick. What's so cool about it is that it had LIGHT.

Of course, my ever so waited item in my bucket list, GEL LINER.

Now this one is from Sophie Martin. In Iced Pink. It has always been sold out. I loooveee this color like one of my NYX and Forever 21 lippies. I am a Pink and Red Lipstick addict. Trust me im a sucker for lipsticks. They instantly flush your face made up.


So I guess that's for now. I'm gonna make some more entries in the next few days. Watch out I made Malaysian Chicken Rendang! :)

Break Out: Day 7

Hi you guys!  I know I made an entry back in July I think about breakouts and stuff like that. So yes let me give you an update.  I bought lots of products and I was really impatient. So the next day I had to go to the dermatologist to get a shot of cortisone. It did subside faster and dried up in a few days.

It was a killer picture moment for those huge zits. But anyway its there and all I have to do is just be patient that it goes away. By the way, when I went to the dermatologist, she gave me some prescriptions which I didnt buy. I did regret it tho because the month after I was having the same cystic problems. So last week I finally bought what was written in the prescription. I made sure to research first on the products and reviews. Some gave different feedbacks and I ended up "what the heck! Ill just try it for myself"

So here it is. I started last Wednesday and it has been a week that I have been using these products.

First Day:

Sorry Im just using my phone to take a pic. But here it is the red patches near my jaw which appeared.  Just huge!

So in the morning, I have Benzoyl Peroxide where my zits are and where I happen to have my zits before.

This does't feel like Panoxyl. I don't know but Panoxyl doesn't work for me for some strange reason. 

This costs around a little below 300 pesos for a 15g tube. It doesn't feel that mentholly (you know that cold sensation)

Every night after washing my face and doing some facial cleanser, I put on a think layer of Stieva-A. I was prescribed on a .25%.  After that I just pray it works.

In the morning I wash my face again and put on Benzoyl and Moisturizer.

So today is exactly one week.

There it is! :) I also have my hair up most of the time. It is still along way to go :) Im giving it 3 months to see the results.

What I have noticed that has happened:

-The pores along the sides (between my eyes and nose) have gone smaller.

-Blackheads in that area has been removed!  :)

-Skin peeling (more like flaking) along the nose and sides of my cheeks. That's why you should put moisturizer in the morning.

-Smoother and softer skin.

-Blackheads on my nose has reduced.

I'll blog again after a week and we'll see. :)

SaladBox!

Hoooray! I signed up for SaladBox and I am still waiting for a confirmation on to when they'll be sending me a link for my plan options. If you don't know what SaladBox is, it is the Filipino version of GlossyBox! You get samples for different skincare and beauty products for only 500 pesos a month! Ain't that neat?! Anyhoo We'll see if its worth it :) I hope so. Just excited for my first box!

Get your own box now! :)

http://saladbox.com.ph

Break Out : Day 1 Review

Hey guys! I know this is sort of my food blog but I can't help but blog about other things too. :) So yes I am going to take reviews and post some other girly girly stuff here from my monthly hauls. But for now, let me focus with what every girl has to go through... Breakouts! I honestly have alot of purchases and research about what the best acne spot treatment or cleansers there is. Since I work in Eastwood, Watsons is my sort of heaven.

This is the week that I am starting to break out. I tried to lay off the chicken which I think is one of the biggest contributor to my break outs. And I can't miss PMS which is another factor. Whats horrific is that it only appears on the left side of my face. Just like any other girl, I sorely wish that this will disappear overnight. I have gone through some spot gels that worked a bit and alot of astringent and even TOOTHPASTE I tell you.

But here I am making myself as guinea pig (lol!) to see if things would work. I dont have alot of bucks to spend for a dermatologist. But so I heard, diamond peel does a great job with smoothing out the pores. Anyway, today during my lunch break. I went to Watsons to grab a few stuff.

I love Celeteque.  My first purchase is the acne toner early this year. I have super sensitive and oily skin which means I am prone to acne/pimples. I dont know but I also blame the radiation from the computer screen :) (hey it's just me!) I tried to use it and it was able to fight pimples form comming back. I also feel that my face has this smooth texture but rubbery (pardon my description that's the closest that I can think of!).

My second purchase is this eye brightening cream for dark circles which amazingly works well for me. I have included it in my must have's!

                                             

So to begin my test (this is day 1) and I have finished my night routine. I like changing from one product to another that works. Because there were a few products that works in the beginning but you become immune in the end. My current favorite facial wash is by Eskinol.  It's not the soapy type like bubbles and everything. Faint medicinal smell too by the way. So yes, step 1.

Since I have the toner (half the bottle already) my step 2 now is dabbing toner on cotton balls and apply it on my face. You can really see the dirt left and will give you a matte feeling.

I apply the Acne Clearing Facial Moisturizer Gel.

What I rant about moisturizers is that my face ends up super oily and you feel that there is something sticky on your face. But this one... I have to say... makes my face feel matte and moisturized. And as I type this, I tried to feel my skin and it is smooth and not greasy at all.

Last step.

Acne Spot Corrector Gel.

I applied to the affected areas and the first feeling is that it has a cooling effect on the skin.

I'll check tomorrow if the bumps has subside.

And that leaves us with day 1. I'll monitor and see how it will go by tomorrow. My concern is to have the bumps subside. I'll be on a week long vacation and wouldn't want pictures to have bumps in it lol!

But again, to prevent such, we always have to watch what we eat.

By the way, when I mentioned about switching from one product to another this is how our dresser look like. My mum and I share it :) Need to get get organized.

See you day 2.

xx