Morning&Skin Rose Tender Aqua Facial Mask

Morning&Skin is an unfamiliar brand to me, but my sister's friend raved it as the BEST face mask she's ever used, and gave me one to try. Interesting!

 

This face mask contains rose extract, aloe extract, vitamin C, sodium hyaluronate (smaller than hyaluronic acid and is able to move more freely into the deeper layers of the skin), and other hydrating ingredients. Country of origin is China, but this product is really nice (and not scary at all). Haha :D

Pros:

• Sheet was thin but not too flimsy, protected by a plastic backing.
• It does smell subtly like roses. 
• Mask contains 30ml of essence. (Enough to last for over a week!)
• Expires 12 months upon opening (based on the label) - assuming you transfer the essence to another clean container.
• Water-light essence is absorbed instantly and feels like nothing on your skin.
• My skin felt velvety smooth right after I remove the mask.
• Skin looks healthy and more even-toned.

Cons:

• It's hard to find a retailer that sells this product.

Because of my love for facial mask essences, I squeezed out the excess essence from the mask as I took it out of the packaging. Then immediately transferred the content to this small pump bottle I got from Landmark. (I sterilized it first before doing so.) This way, I can make the most out of the product! Just imagine throwing out all these... it would be such a waste. :o

If only this would be readily available in the market, I think this would sell like hotcakes. Until then, I shall preserve every drop until I move on to my next face mask trial.

Love,

Helen

Biore UV Aqua Rich Whitening Essence

One night when I came home from work last month, my Dad told me someone sent me a fruit basket. I was puzzled because I wasn't sick, why would someone send me one... for my birthday? I was amazed to find out that it was Biore's press kit for their new FRUITY whitening essence! :D

The way it was presented made me even more excited to try it. I was thrilled with the sunblock, while my Mom was thrilled with the fruits. Haha!

Whenever I go hiking, I ALWAYS use a separate sunblock for my face and body. I don't fully trust products for the body that says they can also be used for the face. (It's just my personal preference, since I feel that these 2-in-1 product aren't as gentle as the ones especially made for the face.) I hate the heavy sticky feeling and white cast convention sunblocks leave behind, so Imagine how happy I felt the first time I tried this new product from Biore. (It's actually my first time to try a product from Japan's #1 sunscreen brand!)

Biore UV Aqua Rich Whitening Essence gives you the triple benefit of UV protection, hydration, and whitening in one tube:

• Protect: With SPF 50 and PA++++, Biore UV Whitening Essence provides instant and long-lasting protection against the skin-aging UVA and skin-burning UVB rays without the sticky feel
• Soften: The powerful combination of Hyaluronic Acid and Citrus extracts in Biore UV Whitening Essence keeps skin soft and hydrated for a healthy looking glow
• Whiten:  Chamomile, the naturally derived whitening ingredient in Biore UV Whitening Essence helps fight dark spots and freckles, resulting in fairer, more radiant skin whitening essence

I haven't tried other Biore products, so I can't compare. A lot of my blogger friends are head over heels in love with Biore Aqua Rich Watery Essence, so I might just try that once I empty this tube.

It comes in a slim and matte white tube, with 33g of products inside.

Biore UV Aqua Rich Whitening Essence comes in a white creamy formula, but don't let that discourage you since it's actually very lightweight. It feels like water when you blend it on your skin. It spreads easily and is absorbed instantly, leaving your skin with a glowy (but never oily) finish. I love how it wears on my face even on a hot and humid day. My makeup stays put and doesn't slide off with its ample oil control. It has a mild citrusy scent which is refreshing for a sunscreen product, since most of them smell like chemicals. However, I'd like it even more should it be unscented, because fragrance is a potential skin irritant for those with sensitive skin. The first time I used this, my skin felt slight itch, so I paused and gave it another try. I've been using this sunblock for weeks now, so far so good, my skin has adjusted, and I experience no irritation or breakouts. At the end of the day, you HAVE to remove this with a makeup remover since it stays on your face finely all day, and not all traces of it can be removed with plain facial wash. This is a must to prevent breakouts, too.

Biore is distributed in the Philippines by Vibelle Distribution, Inc. and are available in selected department stores, supermarkets, and retailers in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro.

For list of outlets and other inquiries, you may contact Biore here:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/BiorePH

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BiorePHL

Instagram: https://instagram.com/bioreph/

Love,

Helen

Revlon ColorStay Moisture Stain in New York Scene

My friend bought makeup from ebay and since she had three Revlon ColorStay Moisture Stains, we did a makeup swap. I gave her a lip balm, while she gave me this! I've always been curious about this product, but I'm not the biggest fan of lip gloss so I'm not buying it with my own money. LOL! I LOVE of Revlon ColorBurst Balm Stains though.

Revlon ColorStay Moisture Stain (P625)

A new level of glossy wet color. Saturated lips with brilliant shine and vivid color. Available in 12 luscious shades.

• Drenches lips in glossy wet color
• Ultra-light creamy lipstain with Vitamin E and Aloe
• 88% of women felt lips were instantly moisturized without stickiness

I love the rectangular packaging, so I had an easy time taking product shots, since it doesn't go rolling down the table by itself. I'm figuring that the packaging itself is transparent, so it shows you the actual shade that's inside.

It comes with a doe foot applicator, which I had a hard time working with at first because the formula was liquidy and VERY pigmented even at first swipe. I blend and always clean the edges of my lips using my pinky finger whenever I use this lip gloss.

THIS rich crimson red shade is the actual red you'll see when you apply it on your lips. However, it's too heavy for me so I press my lips together and blend it to make it look "friendlier".

And it's the only makeup you need to make a statement using your lips. I actually ended up liking it, since the gloss doesn't feel hot, sticky, and heavy at all.

Bare lips

With Revlon ColorStay Moisture Stain

With Revlon ColorStay Moisture Stain (blotted out)

I'm used to my lips sporting a matte red, so this one's a refreshing take on the classic makeup look. It looks better after a few minutes, once it settles on your lips. Even when I sip on water from time to time at my work desk, a hint of stain is left so I'm not left completely pale. On me, it lasts for about 3 hours. The only thing I don't like about it is that it has the tendency to bleed on my outer lips. (You won't have a big problem when you're sporting a lighter shade of this product.) You can see how it looks like blotted out. Still pretty!

In fairness, I reconsidered and now think that it's one of the lip glosses in the market worth buying. I want more, but in neutral shades for everyday wear. Revlon goes on sale regularly so I think I'll wait for that. Like Revlon Philippines on Facebook for more information.

Love,

Helen

Bubble Tea Tomas Morato Soft Opening + FREE Food Tasting

Every Monday to Friday, I diligently eat my baon during lunch break so I could splurge on good food during the weekend. My Panda and I love trying out new restaurants together. We both love Japanese food, and it's definitely not our first time to dine at Bubble Tea.

I  saw on Bubble Tea Restaurant's Facebook page that their newly-renovated Tomas Morato branch is currently on their soft opening, and they're offering FREE food tasting until September 30, 2015 to those who reserve via Facebook message. Hurry! You have to sign up because it's so worth it!

This is the first Bubble Tea branch with a super cute revamped menu. There are many new food choices, too. Upon being seated, the server informed us what free item we will be getting. No minimum purchase required on this food tasting event, but we will be getting 30% discount on the other items in case we decide to order.

 

Yogi's Poutine Fries (P189 -> FREE)

Crispy fries topped with yummy meat sauce and a layer of melted mozzarella cheese

This order is just like a pasta dish, only the pasta is replaced by potatoes. So sinful! We both LOVED this side dish for its cheesy goodness, so it's something we'll order again.

Shinjuku Wings (P258 -> FREE)

Tasty chicken wings coated with a special blend of spices and Shinjuku hot sauce

I'm not a fan of wings, and the only chicken part I like is legs. For this dish, we both agreed that it lacked flavor and wouldn't survive if it weren't for the separate sauce provided.  The wings were more like "drizzled" and not "coated" with spices and hot sauce. When the server asked us for a short feedback, I mentioned this and he took the rest of what's left of our order back to the kitchen, and came back with this:

AWESOME action. Feedback was immediately taken care of, and we appreciated it a lot. The wings tasted so much better after it was coated with the flavorful sauce.

Caramel Roasted Tea JCC (Medium, P125)

best at 75% sugar level*

JCC actually stands for Japanese Cheesecake Cream. The classic version of this very drink was my favorite. They've recently tweaked it a bit by adding a bit of caramel syrup on top of the cream and decreasing my beloved cheesecake cream. I don't like it this way. Bubble Tea, please add more JCC since this is your drink's unique selling point.

Strawberry JCC (Large, P135)

best at 50% sugar level*

I've dethroned my then-favorite drink to THIS! It's still part of the JCC range, but it's new variant. The strawberry drink itself was sweet but surprisingly light and delicate, with the cheesecake cream on top. More cheesecake cream please!

If you ordered your drinks for takeout, they'll come in this super cute cup! :3

Tokyo Tower (P565)

A towering fusion of flavors and textures consisting of crunchy spicy tuna, ripe mango, kani crab crunch, spicy fruity salmon served on a bed of mixed seasonal greens in balsamic vinegar reduction

The Tokyo Tower looked HUGE on the menu, and for a moment, I doubted if we could finish it. (Of course we could. Hah!) We both love sushi and salmon, and this was a fresh take with all the flavors and textures dancing in our mouths with every bite. Even if this tower of sushi looked really busy with all the things going on around it, it had a balanced taste which we really liked.

❤ Happy date at Bubble Tea Tomas Morato ❤

If you want to join the free food tasting at Bubble Tea Tomas Morato, do message them on Facebook ASAP. Enjoy! :)

Love,

Helen

Watsons Triple Bonus Promo + Haul

I live way up in the North, so it would take a LOT for me to trek all the way to Fort just for an event. When I was invited to the Watsons Triple Bonus Blogger Shopping Day at SM Aura, it was an easy yes! :D

It was funny because I already joined this same promo a few days ago when I bought a makeup remover and some oil blotting sheets at Watsons Fisher Mall, and then I received an email for this event. It's not every day you get the chance to win Apple watches, coupons, and shopping points!

For a minimum spend of P500 (single-receipt) from Watsons or The SM Store Beauty Section from August 27 to September 27, 2015, inclusive of any of the participating brands, you will be entitled to join the e-raffle upon registration and texting of entry.

Participating brands are marked with a red diamond sticker.

The Triple Bonus Promo gives you these exciting deals:

(1) GREAT DISCOUNTS

I had fun looking around! I especially liked these deals from Watsons brand. Super sulit!

(2) E-RAFFLE WITH HOT PRIZES

They're giving away 50 Apple Watches, and SMAC members get the chance to win up to 50,000 Shopping Points.

(3) INSTANT CASH COUPON

For a minimum P1,000 single-receipt purchase from Watsons or The SM Store Beauty Section from August 27 to September 27, 2015, inclusive of any of the participating brands, you will receive P100 cash coupon (GC and not a discount voucher!) which you can use on your next shopping trip.

MY HAUL! :D

Because I'm getting mature and I feel like I've reached the point where new makeup doesn't excite me as much as before... I have this very practical Watsons haul consisting of skin care, vitamins, and everyday essentials! :D

Watsons Cream Body Wash in Green Tea and Strawberry (Buy 1 Take 1 at P229) - I LOVE this body wash. I won't ever buy pricier ones after trying this. I've emptied my Cantaloupe scented one, and is currently halfway through with Green Tea at home, so these are my lovely backups. (Hint: Green Tea reminds me of Elizabeth Arden Green Tea perfume!)

Celeteque Acne Solutions Acne Clearing Facial Moisturizer Gel (P335) is my skin saver! I swear by this moisturizer to shrink my occasional breakouts fast without drying out my skin.

Bioderma Sensibio Eye Contour Gel (P1,248) - I recently ran out of eye serum, and was planning on trying Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye, but chanced upon Bioderma, a French drugstore brand that has reached Philippine shores just recently. I was torn between getting the Bioderma Crealine H2O Micelle Solution with a tiny 2ml tube of this eye cream as freebie attached to it, or this full-sized 15ml tube. So, I went with what I actually NEEDED at the moment. (Micelle Solution, you're next, after I finish all my makeup removers!)

Kamillosan M Spray (P428) is a handy dandy sore throat buster, so I had to have one as backup at home just in case someone gets sick. I'm liking the new slimmer packaging. It used to be stout before. (Heck, I was even tempted to get a tiny Lysol To-Go, just to make sure no germs will survive!)

Berocca in Mixed Berries and Citrus (P265 each) - I'm excited to try these 2 new flavors of Berocca. I missed the event where they launched these, so I bought them instead since I was really so curious on how they tasted like. So far, I'm liking mixed berries! :3

I'm not very particular with the cotton I use for my makeup remover and toner, so I got this one from Purity because it came with free cotton buds. The Colgate Gold Charcoal toothbrush was a pasalubong for my Panda. :D

Shopping at Watsons was, is, and always will be fun! Now crossing my fingers on winning amazing prizes from the Triple Bonus Promo. Visit http://bit.ly/WatsonsTripleBonus and Like Watsons Philippines on Facebook for more information.

Thanks for the invite, Watsons and Nuffnang Philippines!
 

Love,

Helen

Happy List II: "Tastes Like Christmas!" Edition

Time for another Happy List! This time, it's all about PEPPERMINT-flavored things. Chocolate, ice cream, you name it... as long as it's minty, I love it. Haha :D

1. Meiji Apollo Feel Mint Chocolate

What we have here in the Philippines is the strawberry-flavored one. Would you believe, when I was a kid, a blueberry-flavored one existed, too? :D

This box of Meiji Apollo Feel Mint Chocolate came all the way from Hong Kong. (Thanks, Panda!) :3 The foil pack feels a bit sad though, since you can't reseal it.

It looks like green tea, but no! It's mint. ❤ The taste reminds me of Andes Mint Parfait Thins, only smoother and more "melty".

2. Lord Stow's Bakery Peppermint Brownies

If I were to bake my dream brownie, THIS would be it. At first glace, all you see is a regular brownie, but when you bite it, you'll immediately have a taste of Christmas with its strong minty kick. It's balanced by the thick, moist, and oh so fudgy chocolate. I can imagine this being served ala mode with... (see #3 NOW!)

3. Big Scoop Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

I originally wanted to keep this as a secret, because you might hoard when you find out and leave no stock for me. Haha! I've always seen mint ice cream as a rare and special flavor. It's always sold expensively per scoop at malls. Until I found my dear Big Scoop. ❤

 

A pint of this Mint Chocolate Chip goodness is just priced at P95. I'm lemming on the HUGE 2 gallon tub at just P400+. You can purchase from Beyond The Flavors Ice Cream House in Banawe. 

4. Dippin' Dots Mint Chocolate Flavored Ice Cream

Who knew Dippin' Dots had ice cream pouches, too? Now if only they had dry ice to go with it, I would have bought home all flavors.

 

These packets also come in other flavors such as Banana Split (!), Cotton Candy, etc. Each packet is reasonably priced at P100. 

5. Pretty Green Slush from Sandwicheese!

Sandwicheese! by Banapple is located just beside Banapple at Sky Garden, SM The Block. I love their Chicken Pesto Mozza Sandwicheese and this refreshing drink! This Pretty Green Slush is a blend of sweet calamansi, mint, and brewed tea.

Fellow mint lovers, please let me know you exist. :D

Love,

Helen