Blushing Sneakerhead – by Mariah Christhel: Review

Love Beauty and Planet Ylang Ylang Collection (Hope and Repair) for damaged hair review

In today's time, there are so many things you can do with your hair. I have tried a lot of them actually: perming, straightening, coloring and rebonding. All of these did a lot of damage to my hair and as years passed by, I decided to end the cycle. I stopped doing these crazy stuffs to my hair and I started really taking care of it. My goal was to have a healthy, shiny hair.
I tried shampoos, conditioners and treatments on the market specifically designed for damaged hair, but nothing could compare after I tried my current hair essentials, the Love Beauty and Planet Ylang Ylang collection (shampoo and conditioner).

The Ylang Ylang collection is designed to repair damaged hair. This unique collection, infused with organic coconut oil and ylang ylang flower oil sourced from Moheli, that nourishes and hydrates the hair from within.

PRODUCT DETAIL:

Love Beauty and Planet Ylang Ylang Shampoo (Hope and Repair) for damaged hair review

The Love Beauty and Planet Ylang Ylang Shampoo (Hope and Repair) is infused with virgin coconut oil that gives your hair the hydration it needs to look healthy and feel strong. All the shampoos are free of colorants, silicones and parabens. The brand also does not test on animals and are 100% vegan.

Love Beauty and Planet Ylang Ylang Conditioner (Hope and Repair) for damaged hair review

The Love Beauty and Planet Ylang Ylang Conditioner (Hope and Repair) is designed with fast-rinse technology; this conditioner gives your hair light weight conditioning and also speeds up the rinsing process, saving you a lot of water. Formulated with coconut oil, this conditioner gently nourishes and visibly repairs, giving your hair all the care it need to be healthy.

PACKAGING:
The Love Beauty and Planet Ylang Ylang collection is made from 100% recyclable materials. You can drop off your empty bottles in these locations: Marketplace Power Plant, Marketplace Central Square BGC and Rustan's Makati.

MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS:

Love Beauty and Planet Ylang Ylang Collection (Hope and Repair) for damaged hair after use

After using the Love Beauty and Planet (shampoo and conditioner) for the first time, I immediately fell in love with them both ⁠— I already saw results! The shampoo left my hair clean without stripping off its moisture and natural oils. As for the conditioner, it was easy to rinse off, reducing water usage, and it made my hair softer. And with time, I have fallen deeply in love with them more. These duo actually did such wonders to my hair. It made it softer, shinier and healthier. And I love that other people would notice.

PROS:
These are vegan.
These are made from 100% recyclable materials.
These are made with plant based cleansers and infused with organic oil and Ylang Ylang (for damaged hair).
These are safe to use for colored hair.
These are paraben-free, dye-free, silicone free and cruelty-free.
The shampoo left my hair clean without stripping off its moisture and natural oils.
The conditioner was easy to rinse off, reducing water usage.
These made my hair softer, shinier and healthier.

CONS:
These hair products have a strong Ylang Ylang scent which I don't like.
These were expensive compared to other hair products sold at the market, but these bottles will last for a long time since one bottle contains 400mL of product and its effects on the hair is definitely worth it.
(Tipid Tip: Each bottle costs 390 pesos, so always have an eye out for sale, on physical store and online. I got these two at Watsons for only 195 pesos each.)

So there you have it, my current hair essentials! How about you, what are your current hair essentials? Any recommendations for damaged hair?

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Makeup trends come and go, but some makeup products are timeless. We all have our own staples we've fallen in love with over and over again. What's mine? Well, it's no secret I love blushes. And for me, the best one I have tried up to date is the 3 Concept Eyes Take A Layer Multi Pot.

3CE Take A Layer Multi Pot in #cabbage rose Review

3CE Take A Layer Multi Pot Swatch Review

3 Concept Eyes (3CE) Take A Layer Multi Pot is a 3-in-1 makeup product for the lips, cheeks and eyes. It has a cream to powder formula and finishes matte on the skin. There are currently seven shades available, all flattering to different skin tones.

PRODUCT DETAIL:

The 3CE Take A Layer Multi Pot contains shea butter that makes this product easy to blend and to softly care for the lips. It is highly pigmented, enabling it to deliver rich and clear color payoff.

PACKAGING:

The product comes in a small box with minimal design upon purchase (Tip: You can tell whether a 3CE makeup is fake or not through scanning it using apps like "hidden tag"). The product itself, on the other hand, comes in a gold-plated compact with mirror. It displays the model's face wearing the shade of the product (as seen on the multi pot I got #cabbage rose, a deep rose shade). The product contains 4.2g.

3CE Take A Layer Multi Pot in #cabbage rose on fair skin Review

MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS:

I've been using the 3CE Take A Layer Multi Pot on my cheeks practically everyday and I love how natural-looking it is. I also love how it stays on throughout the day considering that I commute a lot, I have combination to oily skin and the Philippine weather.

On the lips, I use it sometimes. It is pigmented, blends easily and does not dry out the lips. Although, reapplication is necessary.

And on the eyes, it really gives that pop of color and just makes your eyes look alive. It does not crease but if you have oily lids, putting powder on top is a must!

PROS:
It has a matte finish.

It really is highly pigmented, one dab goes a long way!

It does not dry out the lips and stays on in a decent amount of time (3-4 hours), although reapplication is really necessary after eating.

It lasts all day on the cheeks, even on oily/combination skin and/or hot weather (6-8 hours).

It is not patchy on the eyes.

It is the best product for girls on-the-go since it is compact and it already is three products in one.

CONS:

It has a mild vanilla scent (which I hate! I hate sweet scents! But the scent disappears in a while so it's okay).

It is pricey, but you can look for cheaper options. You can check out shops in Shopee like "rrkoreanshop1" that sells affordable Korean makeuo products. The 3CE Take A Layer Multi Pot in #cabbage rose only costs around 829 pesos at their shop.

So, how about you girl? What is your best makeup product?

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Kris Aquino x Ever Bilena Makeup Look (Kris Matte Brow Liner and Brow Mascara in Beyond Brown and Kris Matte Mattic Lipstick in Life)

Local makeup brand Ever Bilena, in collaboration with the "Queen of All Media" Kris Aquino, recently launched their first makeup collection, the Kris Aquino Life Kit! Its the first installment of her makeup collections to come, that includes two brow liners paired with brow mascaras and two matte lipsticks.

Kris Aquino x Ever Bilena Makeup Look (Kris Matte Brow Liner and Brow Mascara and Kris Matte Mattic Lipstick)

The packaging of her makeup collection is just these simple black boxes with a touch of Kris Aquino herself, her name on it and a bunch of hearts.

Here's what you need to know about the eyebrow product of her collection, the Kris Matte Brow Liner and Brow Mascara. I got mine in the shade Beyond Brown. It is a dark brow liner and mascara in one. This eyebrow product is also available in the shade Happy Taupe (light brown). It retails for 275 pesos.

Kris Matte Brow Liner and Brow Mascara in Beyond Brown Swatch

PROS:

It is a very convenient product since it is a 2-in-1 product.

The brow liner end is retractable, so there's no need to sharpen it. It also has an almost tear drop-shape, which makes it easy for application.

The brow mascara end has a small wand, which for me is perfect for putting the brow mascara on. It is also ideal for makeup beginners since the wand is very easy to manipulate.

CONS:

The shade of the brow liner and the brow mascara are not identical in color (I'm not sure if it's supposed to be like that, and if it's the same with taupe).

The brow liner is a bit waxy. It does not glide on the skin smoothly during application.

Another product on her collection, is the Kris Matte Mattic Lipstick. I got mine in the shade Life. It is a pink matte lippie in a crayon-like form. This lippie is also available in the shade Love (red). It retails for 245 pesos.

Kris Matte Mattic Lipstick in Life (Pink) Swatch

Kris Matte Mattic Lipstick in Life (Pink) Lip Swatch

PROS:
I love the packaging! a retractable, chubby stick.
The lippie shade range is so Kris Aquino, so if you're a fan of hers' you'll surely love this collection. The pink one (Life) is perfect for a sweet, girl-next-door look while the red one is perfect for a glam, sexy look. But you can also use these lippies on an everyday basis since they are very versatile.
The lippies are also moisturizing and very pigmented.
CONS:
Even though you can use this lippies for an everyday look, I wish they would release nude shades anytime soon (I'm a sucker for nude lippies).

The Kris Aquino Life Kit products are currently available on drugstores and SM Beauty sections nationwide. You can also purchase the Kris Matte Brow Liner and Mascara and Kris Matte Mattic Lipstick on BeautyMNL. Grab yours now!

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Althea Korea Bare Essentials (review + lazy girl's guide on achieving glass skin)

The k-beauty world continues to spark new trends that global cosmetics experts and enthusiasts go gaga for. And currently, another trend is taking over the internet by storm, the glass skin — a fancy term for healthy, evenly toned and plumped skin that is almost translucent, comparable to a "shard of glass". Plenty of skincare routines kept on going viral like Ellie Choi's, an aspiring makeup artist from Los Angeles that revealed her thorough skincare routine on how to achieve her clear, glass skin. Her beauty regimen doesn't come easy because not all has that dedication to do an every step skincare routine everyday. So on today's blog, to simplify her complex skincare routine, I am going to share with you guys a lazy girl's guide to glass skin (My skin type: sensitive, combination skin).

Althea Korea Bare Essentials flatlay (Contour cleanser, primer water, fixer cream)

To achieve the coveted glass skin, one needs to nourish and hydrate the skin. In order to do that, you must have a good cleanser, toner and moisturizer that has properties of other beauty products incorporated into them, like cleanser + exfoliator, toner with anti-aging properties, etc. Lucky for us, it is already made easy with Althea Korea's Bare Essentials. Althea Korea came up with this line consisting of only a 3-step skincare to help simplify our skincare routine while still getting to our end goal, which is a healthy, glowy skin. The Althea Korea Bare Essentials features micro-particles that is quickly absorbed into the skin without irritation. It also provides your skin's needs with these quality products at reasonable prices.

The Althea Korea Bare Essentials consists of contour cleanser, primer water and fixer cream. It comes with a sleek and minimalistic packaging, which I am all up for. And believe me, so does everyone else.

Althea Korea Bare Essentials Contour Cleanser

The contour cleanser consists of micro capsules that pops up with water to gently exfoliate the skin and remove impurities. It detoxifies the skin and create a defined, slim face.

KEY INGREDIENTS:

ICE PLANT - It offers protection from harmful UV rays given off by the sun. It is also very effective in soothing damaged skin caused by too much sun exposure. The active biological compounds present in the plant are also capable of controlling skin inflammation.

VERBENA LEAF - It is gentle on the skin and helps maintain the proper balance of the skin's natural oils. It also has mild astringent qualities that help clean the skin and get rid of bacteria that may cause acne and pimples. The verbena leaf also reduces redness of the skin and its anti-inflammatory properties is ideal for treating puffiness, giving the skin an evenly plumped, contoured look.

PROS:

It has a nice packaging. It can easily be dispensed out of the tube.

It easily foams up, so all you need is a pea size of the cleanser to completely wash your face.

It completely removes dirt and excess sebum.

CONS:

If you have sensitive skin like me, I may not recommend this product for you (although this cleanser is ideal for all skin types). It has micro-capsules that may be harsh on sensitive skin and to be frank, I was never a fan of micro anything on skincare. I prefer regular cleansers any day. But I do like on using it twice a week.

Even though I understand why it's called a contour cleanser, I still do not see the "contour" part happening on my skin (but then again, I have naturally chubby cheeks so I do not blame this on the product).

PRICE: 300 pesos

Althea Korea Bare Essentials Primer Water

The primer water is made with patented dewdrop technology that smoothens and evens out the skin, prepping it for the next step on your routine and leaving a youthful glow.

KEY INGREDIENTS:

SNOW LOTUS - It prevents and eliminates the black spots on the face. It also serves as an anti-aging agent for the skin. The snow lotus also helps smoothen and brighten the skin while evening out its texture.

PATENTED "DEWDROP" TECHNOLOGY - It revitalizes the skin and provides immediate, effective moisture.

PROS:

It tones and primes the skin at the same time - it softens up and smoothens out the skin leaving it with a nice glow.

With its dewdrop structure, you can apply it on the face even without using any cotton pads.

It is easily absorbed by the skin.
It smells nice, but it's not too strong.

It has a plastic bottle type of packaging with a screw cap, which I love so much because it is travel friendly.
CONS:
NONE! This is my favorite product on the Bare Essentials line.

PRICE: 550 pesos

Althea Korea Bare Essentials Fixer Cream

The last product on the Bare Essentials line is the fixer cream. The fixer cream penetrates into the skin for up to 24 hours, giving your skin the hydration it truly needs. It keeps the skin fresh and vitalized-looking all day, which helps you achieve your glass skin goal.

KEY INGREDIENTS:
TREHALOSE - It is a sugar found in plants, fungi and invertebrate animals used as a moisturizer. It is considered useful because of its hydrating properties, as well as its antioxidant powers.

GREEN TEA - It functions as an anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agent.

BAOBAB TREE - It doesn't leave the skin with a greasy residue and is easily absorbed by the skin since it has a silky, smooth texture.

PROS:

It nourishes and moisturizes the skin, leaving a dewy glass skin for the day.

It is of decent amount compared to other moisturizer creams in a jar.

It does not leave any sticky or greasy residue and it is easily absorbed by the skin, making it ready for your makeup routine.

CONS:

I love everything about it, but I wish it comes with a spatula because I find its packaging unsanitary especially on the long run.

PRICE: 640 pesos

Complete your skin goals with Althea Korea's Bare Essentials! Buy the full set on their website Althea Korea and get a 10% off plus a complimentary beauty mirror.

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Nowadays, I managed to get my skin under control. I still get pimples here and there, but my no.1 skin concern has always been post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This type of hyperpigmentation occurs when your skin injury heals and leaves a flat are of discoloration, commonly found among acne sufferers such as myself. I have tried so many products before that targets this skin problem of mine, but nothing had worked. Not until I found my new holy grail skincare, the Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop by Wishtrend! And today, I'll be sharing my insights about this product, as well as if it's really worth the type (My skin type: Sensitive, combination skin).

The Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop by Wishtrend is a calming serum made from pure Vitamin C for an innovative, multi-solution and non-irritating formula to revitalize, maintain and transform the skin. It contains 5% Ascorbic acid, suitable for all skin types, even if you have the most sensitive skin!

PRODUCT DETAIL:
The Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop is made by stabilized manufacture construction method, for fresh and pure Vitamin C with no browning. That Vitamin C is the main ingredient of this product that melts down the rough cells, improve skin tone and tightens widened pores. It is very effective for pigmented, UV exposed skin. When the Vitamin C is absorbed by the skin, it is natural for it to create temporal heat that you may feel due to the difference of pH levels of the skin and the Vitamin C component. You may also experience minor tingling of the skin, but again, it is only temporary.

BENEFITS OF VITAMIN C:
Vitamin C is one of the most potent antioxidants in the skin that helps neutralize the effects of oxidative stress. It has multitude benefits including brightening of the skin and improving the skin's texture and discoloration.
It increases the production of collagen which stabilizes the collagen fibers.
It also decreases the melanin transformation which results in the reduction of the pigmentation on the skin.
It has the ability to decrease inflammation (redness) cause by certain skin conditions.
It also has wound (aka acne scars) healing abilities.

STORAGE AND USE:
The Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop is recommended to be stored in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. For best effects of the Vitamin C, it is also recommended to be used immediately within 2~3 months span after opening the product. If a slight color change occurs, the effects of the vitamin drop will not be influenced in any way.

FOR NORMAL/ COMBINATION TO OILY SKIN:
After cleansing, apply an amount of about half the dropper to the entire face area. Gently massage into the face using the palms and body heat to work it into the skin.

FOR SENSITIVE SKIN:
After cleansing, prep the skin with a toner then apply about 3-4 droplets of the Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop evenly onto the skin. For extra sensitive skin, try mixing a few drops of the Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop into your preferred serum or lotion until the skin is used to the product.

NOTE:
Vitamin C products are ideally used during evenings rather than mornings since it is very sensitive to light. But if you do want to use it on the day, just don't forget to apply some sunscreen. Also, because the skin may easily be irritated, it is not ideal to apply the serum after exfoliators (AHA & BHA products) have already been used in the skincare routine.

Before and After using Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop

MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS:
I've been using the Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop for almost a month now and I can honestly say my skin has improved since then. On my first use, I felt that tingling sensation everyone is talking about. But I also noticed my skin become brighter the next day, which is a good thing of course. And as the days pass by, I also noticed that my acne scars have already faded and lessened (See before and after pic above, after one week of straight use). The vitamin drop did not help with my pimple problem, but I'm not blaming the product because it isn't one of its claims and I know I made some bad choices that may have triggered the appearance of pimples. Another good side of using this product is that my skin brightened so much that resulted my skin to glow naturally.

PROS:
Does not need any conversion to work on the skin.
It does not leave that greasy feel on the skin.
Even though it only contains 5% Vitamin C (normally, effective serums contain 10-20% Vitamin C), it is enough to target the hyperpigmentation of the skin.
It also helps the skin on having that natural glow from within.

CONS:
It comes in a transparent jar, which for me is not ideal for Vitamin C serums (even though it claims it is stable enough to be in such container).

So the big Q is, is the product worth the hype? YES. Would I purchase it again? Most definitely! Me and my sister had been using it like crazy. So! Get your own Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop on the official website Wishtrend for only $23 (1150 pesos)! To know more about the shipping and delivery, click here. If you have other questions, you can click here. You can also visit their other channels Wishtrend TV and Wishtrend Glam.

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Online shopping has grown its popularity over the years. It is because of its convenience to the consumers, not to mention the deals they offer that is well publicized, here and there on social media. And sometimes, due to these awesome deals, shopping had become troublesome to our wallets. So on today's blog, I am going to share with you an online shop that offers affordable products of variant, tosave.com — a site perfect for people who wants to save money while still having the joy to shop.

Tosave.com is an online company that offers tens of thousands of categories-products including consumer electronics, clothing, accessories, makeup and so much more! With the best prices and ready to ship at lightning speed, purchasing from tosave.com has been that convenient! With more 10-70% off than other online shops, you'll be able to spend your money wisely while still shopping. And the best part is at tosave, they offer free shipping! Yes, FREE SHIPPING!

Now moving on to my shopping experience, it was actually pretty good! Although this was a collaboration post, tosave still made me choose the items that I got. And these items were sent to me within 15 days. I was very happy that the package delivered got all the items in it because some online shops tend to send items, one package at a time, which is quite annoying. I also got the package at our Post Office and paid 112 pesos for it. But I ain't complaining because I know I have to pay those taxes.

And now, to my shopping haul...

Crystal Flower Drop Hoop Earring at tosave.com

The first item that I got is the Crystal Flower Drop Hook Earring. I love how fancy looking these earrings are so I got these. I've been obsessing over gold accessories so I went with the silver ones instead for a change in jewelry. This pair of earrings costs $1.26.

The next item that I got is a Women Crochet Beanie Hat. I always wanted to have this kind of beanie hat that is almost a beret looking one, so I got this in pink. You can choose other colors too. The beanie hat costs $1.95.

The next item I chose is the Handbag Replacement Strap in Khaki Plain Basic Mini Short Dress Date Dinner. Thick straps are becoming a trend these days so I, myself, wanted to have one. I chose this pattern because it is quite colorful, perfect with plain color outfits like this. This strap is also available in other designs. The replacement strap costs $3.47.

Granite Marble Case Cover iPhone (6) at tosave.com

The next item I got is a Granite Marble Case Cover iPhone (6) in white and pink. I love anything white and pink so I chose to get this. There are other designs too, if you want something else. This marble case cover costs $2.34.

Another strap that I chose is this simple Chain Leather Strap in black. It reminded me of the straps of a Gucci crossbody bag, and just the simplicity of it dragged me on buying it. Upon using it, I was actually surprised of its quality. It looks simple but fancy at the same time. The chain leather strap costs $4.53.

And the last item that I got is the Knot Bracelet in gold. I'm into dainty jewelry (except for earrings!) and I love how minimalistic this bracelet looks and so far, I also love the quality of it since the color gold hasn't faded yet and I've been using it quite a lot. This bracelet costs $0.86.

OVERALL, my shopping experience with tosave.com is a great one! Despite their website being unorganized, I still were able to purchase cool items for an affordable price. To know more about tosave, you can visit their website at tosave.com.

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