September 2012 Collective Haul

Before I was on my spending ban with beauty products, I had accumulated quite a bit skincare products that I have not hauled and reviewed. So I'll just do this collective haul and mini review for all the things that I purchased for the month of September 2012.

I went to Watsons and got a lot of sheet masks, my favorite are those pastel colored masks from the beauty buffet. I also got some Watsons sheet mask in tomato and cucumber to try out. I also got Cleteque spot treatment because I had a huge spot on my forehead at that time that I really need to get rid off. The product was just okay but I can't say yet that it is my favorite spot corrector. The other stuff I got are tissues, cotton pads, watsons oil blotting sheet and wax.

I also got this whitening peel off mask that is pretty interesting. I wanted to try a peel off mask for those days that I feel my skin needs major exfoliation and this was the only peel off mask I found. The mask was easy to apply and it has a clear color, but oh boy! it surely was a pain to remove. Literally it hurts so bad when its time to remove it and it looks like I'm peeling a layer of skin which is quite fascinating and gruesome at the same time. It did leave my skin soft and smooth afterwards which I like. Oh the pain we girls have to endure for beauty!

Maybeline crayon liner 

This was on one of those stands near the till and I could not resist picking one up. A girl can never have to many black eyeliner. This liner was smooth and easy to apply but I found that it does smudge on me. As for the claim for waterproof, smudge proof and long lasting, it did not do it for me. It is a good liner for the lids but I can't use this for my waterline.

I picked up this daily scrub because the last time I went for my facial appointment I asked the girl that did my facial for a good daily facial exfoliator and she suggested neutrogena. So far I like it, I use it every other day because I don't want to over exfoliate my skin since I am also using the peel off mask twice a week.

I was browsing the home section of "Handy Man" store and I found this candle which smelled amazing. This candle smell like fresh grass and it is so relaxing. This is perfect for those lazy days at home and especially the upcoming holiday season.

I was so happy that when I was browsing at the SM cosmetics section they were again carrying the LA girl cosmetics. I instantly got a back-up of my favorite concealer since I was already rationing my old one for special occasions. I also picked up a back-up of my ELF flat top kabuki brush since my old one is literally falling apart and I also got a white eyeliner for Everbilena.

I also got a dress, white belt and a couple of beanie. I decided to copy Jen from clothesencounters, she always wear her favorite black beanie.

I was also running low on books to read so I picked up these books by Veronica Roth. I've heard great review about these books and it has a dystopian theme like the Hunger Games Trilogy that I loved.

It may be awhile before I can go shopping again since I'm on my spending ban, but I am looking forward to upcoming holidays so I could shop for gifts. Hopefully my spending ban would be over by then. So until next time!!!

Favorite Summer Nail Polish: Revlon "Tropical Temptation"

 Revlon's Tropical Temptation

It is my most worn summer nail polish, the formula and pigmentation are perfect and the color just screams SUMMER. This beautiful pinky coral color looks good on every skin tone. The color is bright and festive but not quite as bold as those neon polish. 

Nail Combination

Base: Crayon Base Coat

Polish: Revlon Tropical Temptation (1 to 2 coats)

Top: Crayon quick dry top coat (excellent top coat, it dries within 5 to 10 seconds of application)

Shopping my makeup stash

I was browsing my make-up collection the other day and I realized that I have accumulated quite a number of makeup and it will surely take me a long time to use them all up. I found makeup products that I had for several years now and I really need to throw out. Accumulating so much makeup and only using a a few favorite products is so wasteful. So, I decided that I need to go on another beauty spending ban.  First, I took inventory of my makeup and skincare products and after throwing the expired make-up out I still have a bunch of make-up left.  Then, I decided to use my existing make-up first and only repurchase those essential products that I cannot live without. I figured that by doing this I would not waste money and waste my makeup.

(took a picture of my lip products -  it would take me over a year to use this babies up)

(I'm quite happy with the color selection that I have)

So every time I feel the need to shop, I will check my stash first to see if I have similar products that I could use and if I don't, then I can go buy it. It is important to take inventory of your makeup stash so that you will be reminded of the amount of makeup you have. In my case after looking at my accumulated makeup collection, I don't really feel the need to shop for more.

Refusing to get SICK!

We have been experiencing some extreme weather here in Philippines, one minute it is super sunny and humid and the next minute it is freezing cold and pouring rain. For people like me with poor body resistance, I get sick quite easily but with the mountain of things that I need to get done, getting sick is not an option.

I have found my best defense against those nasty colds and flu.  Whenever I feel sluggish and I start having headaches and irritated throat, which are the most common symptoms of cold and flu, I take a vitamin supplement called Berocca. Berocca are tablets that you dissolve in a bottle of water and I usually take it after a meal, once a day until I can no longer the feel those pesky symptoms. Berocca contains Vitamin B-Complex, Ascorbic Acid, Calcium, Magnesium and Zinc. I found this supplement really effective and it gives me energy to get through the day. 

I also take take Strepsils, which are antibacterial lozenges every 4 to 5 hours to soothe sore throat. Two of my favorite flavors are the "Soothing honey and lemon" and "Cool".  I am never without these products and I always stock up on them because I like being healthy and energetic. With these products and drinking lots of liquid and getting enough sleep are my surefire way of staying active and healthy. 

My August 2012 Travels: Kampo De Juan, Duka Bay Resort, Kansilad Resort, Enchanted River and Tinuy-an Falls,

I did a lot of travelling this past month of August and we were lucky that we had a lot of long national holidays here in the Philippines that month.  We were able to schedule two trips to some of the holiday destinations near our city with my friends and for the office family day we were able to go on a overnight trip to a resort about 8 to 9 hours drive from our city.

We first went to Kampo Juan with my friends on the last week of July, about an hour drive from the city. Kampo Juan is a newly opened Nature/Adventure park where you can enjoy Zip line, thrilling walk on the Hanging bridge and paddling the bicycles on a thin line suspended about a hundred feet above the air. The place was so refreshing and it is a  great break from the busy city life.

The whole DBP Office staff together with their families went on a holiday at Surigao del Sur. We chartered a bus big enough for 50 people and went on a 8 to 9 hours road trip. We departed at 12 midnight and we arrived at Kansilad Resort where we are gonna be staying in around 8:30 AM. We then went to the Enchanted River and Tinuy-an Falls for the whole day. The next day we went island hopping in the morning before checking-out at the resort to see the world's biggest crocodile in captivity "Lolong". The land travel was very exhausting but the whole experience was worth it!

Finally, on the week before my birthday me and my friends went on an overnight holiday at Duka Bay Resort, about 4 hours drive from the city. We had so much fun, we ate cake, went swimming, told stories, danced all night and enjoyed our time together.