MAYBELLINE White Superfresh Liquid Powder [Review]

CAN YOU FEEL IT? Yes! It’s the summer air! The weather is now getting hotter, I’m quite sure of that because I start to sweat a lot. I usually heat a pot of water before bathing every morning, just to survive the freezing water flowing out of the faucet. I basically mix them together in a large pail. And since the water become more bearable again, my dilemmas are not on washing my hair now, but on controlling the oiliness of my face.

I’m always using BB creams, especially at work, and it seems to be not a good option for the season of sun. So when I emptied my bottle of BB cream, I hurried to a local beauty store to try out some new products which can replace it for the meantime. Luckily, I found one ^_^

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Product Name: 

Maybelline White Superfresh Liquid Powder

Product details: 

25 ml, SPF 50 PA+++, N6 Nude

Description: 

Unique powder-in-water formula provides an all-day white, fresh and matte look with a lightweight feel.

Claims: 

Perfectly natural complexion without the cakiness and stickiness. Pores, fine lines and imperfections are instantly minimized.  Skin feels soft, smooth and moisturized

Price: 

349.00 php

From: 

Watson's, SM Store

The product is contained in a white bottle, which is more or less 3 ½ inches in height. You need to twist the cap 180 degrees to open it, basically it’s spill-proof. There is a sticker at the back containing the product details which should be peeled–off to bear the direction and ingredients.

It has a narrow opening to avoid uncontrolled discharge of the liquid powder. Shaking of the product is necessary before dispensing its contents on your fingertips. Be careful! The liquid is so runny so you must be very quick in applying it to your face.

FRONT

BACK

HOW TO USE

GOOD POINTS: True to its claims, the liquid really turns into powder, with a very matte finish once applied on the skin. I love how it improves my skin tone and hides my blemishes, and even dark circles! After application, it really feels like I applied nothing at all. It complemented my liquid concealer because it sticks better with this liquid powder as the base. Plus, a few drops is all that you need to cover your face.

BARE HAND with a drop of the liquid powder

*You can notice the difference in tone. The part of the hand with the liquid powder appears to be whiter and more refined.

AFTER SPREADING the liquid powder using my fingertips

BAD POINTS: It is not that easy to handle after dispensing, you’ll probably need the help of a beauty blender, because with just your fingertips, it can get a bit messy. Moreover, I guess it can’t cover those proud zits and blemishes that much (I mean if you have a lot), you still need to pop on a few dots of your favorite concealer. 

The video clip below shows how "runny" the product is. 

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HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! I absolutely encourage girls with oily skin to try this product because it’ll surely save you a lot of blotting paper, Haha! But seriously, this is a good product, affordable yet effective. I pretty much love it as compared to Maybelline’s BB cream. Lastly, those with dry skin will also benefit from this product because it won’t cake just like with a powder foundation. 

I'm wearing Maybelline's Liquid Powder :) shine-free skin---achieved! 

‘til my next product review! Will be doing a lot of this, PROMISE!

Welcoming summer,

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More of my BEAUTY blog posts! 
HIT A LINK below :)

Etude House EASY BROW PENCIL [Product Review]

JANUARY FAVOURITES

Maybelline MAKE UP SALE

All-natural skincare regimen [Human Nature]

HELP! I'm Procrastinating!

THESE PAST FEW WEEKS, I’ve been using this term excessively. Yes. I completely turned myself into a procrastinator. I’m not sure yet, but I believe that this thing changed my forever-enthusiastic self into an I-will-do-this-later person.

I tend to be overly conscious with everything that I do; I would always beat deadlines days ahead before it rings the bell, I would organize my schedule every time so I could accommodate more things and accomplish more. I am a freak when it comes to self-evaluation, I don’t settle for good, but only for the best. And how come these things happen? How come I became a lazy bed potato, ruining everyday with my idling tendencies?

Of course, after being splashed with cold water, I woke up from this dream of never-ending deferment, which led me to a journey of finding the solution.

I googled the term (though I already know the meaning of it) hoping the search results will show me helpful articles about it. Besides, the best strategy to deal with an enemy is by being familiar with its roots and everything related to it. So the definition came up, which basically tells me that “yes, you are really procrastinating because you tend to delay doing what is needed and focuses on something that is less important.” Then, articles about “How to stop procrastinating” and “Why you procrastinate and How to stop it” showed up. Then I decided: it’s time to flush this thing out of my system and regain the usual me, again.

But the great question is: Why do we really procrastinate? Simple, we get too overwhelmed by the tasks on-hand that we resort in doing something which will allow us to forget about the stress embedded on those tasks. If I am required to finish a report or a presentation, I will often open my Facebook account and browse endlessly. Yes, I was able to escape that brain-racking moment for a while, but at the end of the day, I would drag myself again to accomplish those tasks. What is the bad thing about this kind of routine? I don’t really get rid of the burden, because I’m just adding weight to it.

And so, I decided to do some readings and follow the tips laid by different people. Luckily, I’m now starting to bury my “procrastinating-self”: six feet under, cold ^_^

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Let me share these quick tips on how you can stop procrastinating and be more productive!

1. Create a detailed TO-DO LIST and stick to it

It is very important that we guide ourselves as we work and accomplish different tasks. Organizing things will allow us to focus on each task one at a time, thus, making the work less stressful because the tasks don’t pile up. This technique will also allow us to monitor our undertakings and manage our time so that we can still enjoy some “free time”. Always beat the clock and stick to the deadlines!

2. Heavier tasks first, lighter tasks later

Our energy has its limitations. So whenever we fell like finishing a pretty hard task, we should give our utmost energy on it. You need to stop rescheduling a difficult errand and putting the simpler ones first on the list, because this will surely eat up your energy. First things first!

3. Turn off interruptions

Don’t be too busy doing things that you don’t need to do in order to avoid the things that you supposed to do. Stalking your favorite band won’t help you if your goal is to prepare for an exam. If you need to accomplish something that involves your computer, don’t open your social networking accounts, like Facebook and Twitter, they will surely diverge your attention. If the music being played on your iPod makes you groove and sing-a-along, I don’t think you need it, especially if you’re beating a deadline. Focus on the track, no detours please!

4. Select a procrastinating-free environment

If you are too comfortable working while lying on your bed (I’m guilty of this crime), get up and go somewhere else, because tendencies are you’ll be too relax to mind the things you need to finish and end-up sleeping, or you’ll allow your mind to wander off and get trapped. Be comfortable enough to let your mind and body work at its best, but not to forget that you are on a race with tick-tock.

5. Involve other people

Let others know what you’re up to. Involve your friends and family; tell them what you’re working at and what you’re trying to accomplish as of the moment. In this way, you’ll be forced to give them some updates, thus, pushing you to work harder and faster. Sometimes, all we need is someone who will monitor us, especially if we lack the initiative.

6. Evaluate yourself before the day ends

Lastly, see to it that you’ll track your progress. This will challenge you to do better each day, because you’ll be able to see how productive you are. Don’t forget to reward yourself of course!

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You don’t need external motivation. All you need to have is a routine which will allow you to develop the habit of perseverance, hardwork and initiative.

So next time that you feel like you're going to procrastinate again, just remember these tips and think of how precious your time is! 

Ooops! I still need to do some office works, tehee! bye!

JANUARY FAVOURITES!

WHAT'S UP my beauty buddies! I don't have much for the month of January though, especially if you're expecting to see new makeup products. I'm currently sticking with my old makeup brands (Etude House, TonyMoly and Maybelline), but still experimenting on different skincare products, especially Human Nature products. 

So for this list, I'll be featuring only six products which I fell in love with this first month of 2016! ^_^

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First on the list is this life-saver beauty gadget! 

Heart-shaped Cleansing Pad (from Daiso)

If you are using foam cleansers, it'll be more effective with a cleansing pad. It may look like a scrub but it won't hurt your skin, I promise! It provides soft and gentle cleansing which will scrub off dirt and impurities on your skin. Say goodbye to whiteheads and blackheads, say bye bye to pimples! This can also be used in smoothing chapped lips ^_^ 

Where can you find one? Only at Daiso, Japan store, for only 88 php. Affordable huh? *wink*

~Cleansing Pad~ I use this everyday, especially when I cleanse my face in the evening, it feels so good to sleep with a very clean slate :)

Who won't love a free item? Got the second product for free (if you've read my post: "Skin Test at Deoproce") and it is a very unique item indeed!

Aqua Treatment Triple Lips (from Deoproce)

What made this lippie a cut above the rest? It has three different effects on the lips. On the first application, you'll notice that it'll just give you a light pink tinted glow. But for the second swipe, it will be replaced by a glossy look. The third application is the best because it will give your lips a nice pink color, which stays for hours. 

Good thing I got this for free because it costs 599 php at Deoproce! (a korean brand)

~Aqua Treatment Triple Lips~ It is my first time to encounter such kind of lippie and I love it!

The next three products are all from Human Nature :) I can't hide the excitement to share how excellent these products are.

100% Natural Purifying Facial Scrub (from Human Nature)

I've been in a long-term romance with St. Ives apricot scrub before I finally gave it up and replaced it with this. So what's the difference? A lot! It doesn't leave my skin dry even after scrubbing. It also has this sweet strawberry smell and very delicate scrub beads, which guarantees me a light but thorough cleansing. 

This 50 g tube is only 99.75 php, I guess it can last for 2 to 3 months :)

100% NATURAL HAND & FOOT SALVE (from Human Nature)

I already featured a hand cream from The Body Shop for the last month's fave list, and I become so addicted to hand creams since then. 

This hand & foot salve is the best gift you can give to your hardworking hands and feet. I use it everyday, but more generously at night. Aside from the deep moisturizing it gives my hands and feet, I really love the sweet smell of strawberry it gives off whenever I rub it on my skin :)

50 g of this salve is only 174.75 php!

~Hand & Foot Salve~ It is thicker than the usual hand and foot creams, but it won't give you that sticky feeling. 

100% Day Moisturizer (from Human Nature)

And the best day moisturizer for me, so far, is this! yey! Very light and non-greasy, plus, it also smells really good. I apply it on my face everyday, using quick tapping motion, and it is easily absorbed by my skin. I'm so impressed with this product because I can now achieve the "dewy" look, even without a makeup primer. 

A 50 ml bottle costs 149.75 php :)

~Day Moisturizer~ Infuse your skin with 15 Vitamins and Minerals !

Last on my list is this pressed powder from Revlon, given to me by my friend, Henry :)

Revlon Colorstay pressed powder 

I'm not a huge fan of pressed powder, because I'm not also a fan of matte skin. I always want my skin to look healthy, dewy and glowing. 

I like this product because it's very fine and it controls oil just enough to let your skin breathe at the same time. It blends well, especially when I apply it using a powder brush. It's compact and handy, perfect for quick touch-ups!

~Revlon Colorstay~  It also comes with a soft puff applicator inside :)

That's it! Hoping to share more products for the month of February! If you have any suggested products, you can comment them below :) 

'til our next fave list! A beautiful day to everyone!

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I'M DONE, I QUIT!

How many times have you recited this line “I can’t take this anymore, I want to quit!” For my case, I guess a hundred times. Though I’m not a quitter (yes, I’m not), whenever I’m so stressed out, I will often curse life and declare that I will abandon the mission. But often than not, I will end up finishing the task on hand and overcoming another struggle. I’m honestly curious about the outcome “if” I do really quit in the middle of a pursuit, what could’ve happened? I really wonder.

But what makes us quit? And what can we do to retreat this idea? Can this be somehow useful on a different scenario?

I must have quitted a hundred times if not for my belief that “quitters will never be winners”. It is one my guiding principle. However, because I’m only human, I’ve also quitted several times in my life, most of them, I deeply regret until now.

In college, I would quit after finishing halfway through the chapters that I need to read, for a final exam the following day. I do that because I’m just exhausted and I felt the urge to enjoy a deep slumber. Of course, I will regret that, knowing I would have gotten perfect scores if I only sacrificed my sleep. I also quitted my passion in drawing anime characters, simply because I’m not being supported by my parents enough, because they would rather buy me books instead of drawing materials. Though my creative side was never forgotten, I am just slightly resentful of the possible outputs I might have created. I have a lot more inside my bag of memoirs, but each situation boils down to one question: “What if I didn’t quit?”

~A doctor someday~ A dream that will never be a reality for me is to become a medical doctor someday. Though I've quitted a long time ago, I still find a way to realize this dream by taking up a master's degree in biology, and hopefully a doctorate degree in the future :) 

If you would talk with smokers and ask them why they started smoking and if they really liked it, I bet each of them has a unique story to tell. One may tell you it was because of being young and curious before. The other may say that it is simply because of peer pressure, wanting to be accepted, just to look cool in front of their friends. But for some, it is more of a choice. They may also share their plans of quitting their bond with cigarettes, and again, that will be a different story---and these stories will show us that quitting is not purely disadvantageous.

What am I pointing out on this? Quitters come in different forms and the result of their actions may be a priceless experience, an awful regret or just a hang on a cliff. I strongly believe that one must encourage himself / herself not to quit in the midst of the toughest situations, holding on to the faith that after every storm is a beautiful rainbow. However, we can’t neglect the fact that sometimes, we should also learn to let go, even in the middle of a race, especially if that’s the best thing we can do for that moment.

We usually quit when times get rough and if the situation becomes unmanageable. Most of the time, if our car goes off track, instead of pulling it back to the right lane, we choose to go out and leave it behind. But it’s the decision-making part that we take-for-granted the most, questioning ourselves “should I quit or not?” Once we felt that the burden is too much, we quit. Whenever the scenario becomes dark and unfamiliar, we quit. If our ideals were shattered and there’s nothing much to believe in, we quit. We resort in “quitting” because we are burnt out, stressed, unhappy, unmotivated, unloved. But what is our basis for quitting? Is it our emotions? I think that reason is too shallow. To quit is to end a game. And since it has a huge impact on one or more aspects of our lives, it must be done after carefully looking into options, weighing pros and cons, seeking for advice and reassessing the situation. It is not a decision to be made overnight.

After graduating last year, my sister started working as a Human Resource recruitment officer for a large mall franchise in the Philippines. She was already a regular employee this year when she decided to quit the job. But what made her leave this very decent job, with tons of benefits and possible promotional opportunities? Simple, it’s because she was unhappy. I won’t divulge the details, but I guess satisfaction is not merely on the material things a career can offer you, because it is the in depth experiences which will truly matters.

To quit is to gamble. You don’t know what will happen next, unless the outcome is already definite, just like in quitting smoking or drinking. If you are already sure what will happen next after you retreated, that’s good for you, but if not, then it’s either you think twice or just face the consequences. It’s not easy, I know, but what I would like you to get from this post is an open mind and an open heart. Be willing to take a second glance before turning your back. Perseverance is one of the keys to success and it takes determination to set aside the thoughts of giving up. But still, it also takes a strong will to let go and let your destiny unfold.

~Entering a new life~ This is the first photo I posted on my personal FB account when I got hired to teach at DLSUD. I quitted my job from a beloved institution in exchange for great opportunities here at La Salle---until now, I'm hoping I made the right choice.

It may be confusing for you, but at the end of the day, with God’s guidance, everything will be clear. Don’t be afraid to share your thoughts to someone, especially to your family and friends, they will be of great help for sure. I’m currently in a state wherein I’m also deciding if I should quit or not, and I tell you, all you need to do is to seek for God’s will, know what His plans are because you’ll never go wrong with it. And I guess now, I’m pretty much decided ^_^.

Thank you for reading, I know this is quite long, but I hope this somehow enlightened you in your pursuit for change, happiness and satisfaction.

More of my thoughts for the days to come! Have a great day ahead!

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Weekend Getaway: Exploring LOBO Batangas

I JUST ASSUMED that it was a weekend escape from work and school though, but it’s not. However, the experiences I had was beyond relaxing, because at the same time, it was self-renewing.

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Last weekend, I joined my graduate school classmates for our two-day field work in Lobo, Batangas. We were tasked by our professor, Dr. Tadiosa, to document different species from the terrestrial and aquatic habitat of the said place, which is hailed by scientists and explorers as the center of the center of marine biodiversity.

MAP of Lobo. See how far the place is from Cavite?! -_-

According to my research (prior to our trip), the municipality of Lobo in Batangas is a coastal town that faces the Verde Island Passage (VIP) Marine Corridor. This strip of water is approximately 1.14 million hectares, which stretches in between Luzon and Mindoro Islands. The Lobo Mountain, on the other hand, is covered with dense forest, which is historically significant to Philippine history because this served as the hideout place of Gen. Miguel Malvar before he surrendered to the Americans.

So last January 30 (Saturday), we hit the road at exactly 6 am and traced the path leading to this not-so-popular, but interesting place. It took us approximately 4 to 5 hours of long and nauseous drive, but when we reached the location, everything was nothing but breathtaking.

The stunning view of the beach

~A peaceful place indeed~ Locals are living simple lives in this world-class place.

We settled our things at Lawas Seaside Resort and enjoyed our lunch at 12 noon. After changing our clothes, we immediately set ourselves inside a boat to start our sea exploration. It was an enjoying experience riding a boat and dipping a hand into the waters, feeling the cool rush of the waves and the heat of the sun.

~Boat ride~ I am still bewildered by the complexity of the sea.

~Under the sun~ We are still smiling despite the scorching heat of the sun, looking for fishes!

~The Sea~ Look how clear the water is!

After exploring the sea, we went near the coast to search for sea grasses, sea urchins and sea stars. However, our efforts proved futile because the tide is already high. So we went off the boat and into Lobo’s vast mangrove forest. Honestly, this was one of the most tiring moments in our field work, as we walked for kilometers on a bamboo bridge, while moving our eyes through the line of mangrove trees. But it was my first time to be lost in the middle of a mangrove forest, and also my first time to climb a very high tree house ^_^.

~Sea grass~ You can only enjoy the view of it when it's low tide. 

~Into the forest~ This bamboo bridge extends more than a kilometer across the mangrove forest.

We went back to the resort and rested our bones for a while. Of course we can’t let this opportunity slip away, we must enjoy the beach! So on our swimming outfits, we raced down the sea and enjoyed the sun set while submerged in the salty waters. Together with my close buddies, we played a game which made the non-swimmers appreciate the beach better than before. Then the rain suddenly poured which signaled us to retreat the waters, wash our hairs and enjoy the dinner.

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Rise and shine for Day 2! Our group split into two: one explored the mountains and fields, while the other (to which I belong) searched the sea for the species assigned to us. I, with my partners, started to be doubtful if we can find species of sea urchins and sea stars that morning. It is extremely difficult to see underwater because it is very salty, the water seeps into my goggles. But of course, we don’t lose our hopes. We transferred to the neighboring resort, and after hours of searching and asking for help from the locals, we found them!

~A sign of good luck~ This was the first sea star that we've caught (actually it was the bantay dagat volunteers).

~Blue Starfish~ This is me holding a live blue starfish!

~Sea Urchins~ These are one of the two species of sea urchins we've documented. 

~Up-close and personal~ According to locals, this sea urchin is edible, it actually tastes good!

It was tiring yet fulfilling. We ended the day with a sumptuous meal again and exchange amusing stories about our quest in documenting different species. I thought this trip will be filled with work alone, but no, it was filled with new experiences which made me appreciate the lovely creations of God. Allowing yourself to be close to nature once in a while isn’t just for the sake of beautiful photos, but most importantly to strengthen your beliefs and be willing to take part in caring for the environment.

~Fulfilling a dream~ I wish I'll be given a chance to work on more marine researches in the future.

But of course, I can’t let this pass without posing for some IG-worthy photos ^_^ Thanks to my friend / personal photographer, Ms. Myrrh, for the stunning shots!

~FLYING HIGH~

~ON THE ROCKS~

~TREE HUGGING~

If you are planning for a weekend getaway, please include this place on your list. You won’t regret visiting this place for sure.

I guess this would be my last field work for my MS degree, looking forward to more research-related explorations in the future! 

~The Biodiversity class of Dr. Tadiosa~

Thanks for reading!

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Photo credits: Myrrh Dalisay, Rachel Rios, Marielle Trinidad and Dennis Perona (My classmates!)

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