DIY SERIES: Organic Cotton Sheet Masks

I’M SO FOND OF USING COTTON SHEET MASKS, because they deliver extra goodness to my skin after a very tiring day. In the beauty stores, there are a lot of variants to choose from, depending on your skin types and needs. Basically, a cotton sheet mask will provide extra moisture and loads of vitamins for your skin to look healthier, glowing, and even firmer. 

But even if I wanted to use a sheet mask every single night, I can’t, because they are too pricey! *cries* I only manage to pull off two good-quality masks every a week (because there are a few not-so-effective sheet masks in the market which I personally don’t like). And luckily, I discovered a very cheap way on how I can enjoy daily pampering without murdering my wallet. I’ll be sharing with you my organic and very economical version of some popular cotton sheet masks. 


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FIRST THINGS FIRST!

You must first secure the most important item in this DIY project: the sheet mask. You can buy them in bulk at Daiso (a Japanese store located inside malls), but in their dry form---with no essence.

COPY CAT FOR REAL

Below are my simple sheet mask recipes, recreating the famous variants from different beauty brands. But of course, our organic sheet masks won’t be as elaborate as those available in the market, but they’ll also bring you excellent results for sure. Let’s get started!

Recipe #1: 

Oatmeal sheet mask [for smooth skin]

Recipe #2: 

Tomato sheet mask [for pinkish and supple skin]

Recipe #3: 

Green Tea sheet mask [for clear and glowing skin]

Recipe #4: 

Honey & Lemon sheet mask 

[for whiter and pimple-free skin]

Disclaimer: If you are allergic to one or some of the ingredients, I discourage you to continue with this DIY project. You can start with a skin patch test first if you’re not sure though. 

Recipe #1: Oatmeal sheet mask

1. Get a small clean bowl and a mixing spoon.

2. Place 3 tablespoons of dry oatmeal into the bowl and pour 4 tablespoons of warm water.

3. Press the oatmeal until it becomes soft and the water turns milky.

4. Strain the mixture, leaving only the liquid portion.

5. Drop the dried cotton sheet mask inside the bowl and let it absorb the liquid. 

6. Stretch the wet sheet mask. It is now ready for use!

Recipe #2: Tomato sheet mask

1. Get a clean bowl and a fork.

2. Place one large tomato inside the bowl (washed, seeds not removed).

3. Using a fork, mash the tomato until it is completely disintegrated.

4. Strain the mixture, leaving the liquid (and a few pulps).

*follow steps number 5 & 6 in Recipe #1. 

Recipe #3: Green Tea sheet mask

1. Get a clean bowl and a mixing spoon.

2. Tear the contents of two (2) tea bags,

3. Place the dried contents inside the bowl and add 2 tablespoons of warm water.

4. Stir until the color becomes dark and let it sit for a few minutes.

*follow steps number 5 & 6 in Recipe #1. 

Recipe #4: Honey and Lemon sheet mask

1. Get a clean bowl and mixing spoon.

2. Place 2 tablespoons of honey inside the bowl.

3. Add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and mix thoroughly. 

4. You can add a few drops of clean water to make the consistency less thick. 

*follow steps number 5 & 6 in Recipe #1. 

TRY THEM ALL!

See? They are all easy to make! Sometimes, I even add a few drops of my face serum, but of course it will depend on your preference. You can actually use a lot of other ingredients that you can find inside the fridge. Below are some of the skin-friendly items for your reference:

1. Coffee

2. Aloe
3. Milk
4. Plant oils (Almond, Castor, Jojoba, etc.)

5. Avocado
6. Berries

Hoping you’ll try all of my recipes and don’t forget to share your thoughts (and pictures!) with us. Comment your suggestions below. Until our next DIY SKIN CARE project!



Stay beautiful,

Weekend Chill: SHIRT + DENIM + SNEAKERS

DRAGGING MY LAZY SELF, I decided to hang-out in Tagaytay for a quick break from work. It is indeed a good place to relax your mind, reconnect with nature and reflect on your crazy life. Of course, I can't let go of the chance to have some snaps taken too! 

Let me share with you my version of this classic style combo which is very comfortable yet stylish---perfect for lazy ladies who would still want to look great on their quick travel photos. 

SHIRT+DENIM+SNEAKERS 

I started with a V-neck white shirt---my fave, that's why it looked abused. I twisted the front end to make a knot instead of tucking it inside the pants. 

The denim is not actually a denim, but a soft-faded-high-waist-jeans. You can replace it with your favorite pair if you'll recreate this look.

White sneakers become a staple item for the stylish wanderlust beauties. Try to experiment with other types, as long as it's white. 

Lastly, I completed the look with a choker-necklace and a brown sling bag. 

V-neck white shirt and high-waist faded soft denim

  

White sneakers

Choker and necklace + Messy hair

Brown sling bag

The Overall look

I think I gained a few pounds already, so please don't hate me if you saw flabs instead of abs *laughs* I'm working-out now, not to please the eyes of those who'll look at my pictures, but just to feel good---for myself.

I hope you enjoyed the post! Follow me on Facebook for daily updates and on Instagram for some outfit ideas :)  

Always fab,

****Thank you to @japsalazar for the photos: capturing and post-processing****

SHOP ALERT: Cool Japan + WeDo + Miniso

HOLIDAY SHOPPING spree is about to cease anytime soon. I bet some of you had run out of cash, or already reached their maximum credit card limit. Don't be sad! At least you've shared your blessings through gifts and even bought great stuff for yourself as well. But if you did spend your bonuses mostly on food, bless your tummy! *laughs hard*


Anyway, I found three cool shops just last week and I want to share them here because they indeed offer some great bargains. 

COOL JAPAN

Cool Japan is a Japanese trend shop which opened in the Philippines last November 2015.

I first saw this shop January of the previous year. But when I came back to visit last week, I am so thrilled to discover that they are now selling GUNPLA model kits! And when I gave them a closer look, I was so shocked because they are selling them for almost half the original price! Wow! So if you are a gundam builder, this is a good place to secure your future kits. 

You can find a lot of Japan stuff here: from accessories, to household items, and even beauty products. If you are also fond of collecting Hello Kitty items, they have a lot of it here. 

MINISO

Miniso was established in Tokyo, year 2013. This Japanese fashion and lifestyle brand promotes relaxed and fashionable lifestyle. It opened last November 6, 2016 at SM Manila and had already expanded to several branches in the metro.

I visited their newly-opened shop at SM Southmall with friends, and I must say, they offer more affordable items than Cool Japan, but somewhat pricey than the items at Daiso. It is a good thing that I discovered this shop because they have a lot of fashion and beauty finds which will all surely fit in my tight budget. Aside from that, there are also useful gadgets that can be bought at reasonable prices, like flash drives, rechargeable fans, connectors/cables, lamps, etc. 

WEDO

I discovered this shop after my visit at Cool Japan at Festival Mall (Alabang). WeDo is a Korean lifestyle shop which offers almost the same products as Miniso (I don’t know if they are related or just getting their supplies from a single manufacturer). Anyway, they arecatering more beauty and skincare items (of course Koreans are very fond of them), but also other cute items like Korean accessories and collectible items (like Kpop socks!). 

If you want to get updates about these shops, you can follow them on Facebook. I hope to see you on my next visit in one these stores! 


XOXO,

GIRL TALK: Why are you so complicated, LOVE?

I’M NO LOVE GURU HERE, but what makes me want to talk about the complexities of this four letter word is beyond just giving love advice, but because I recently experienced one of the greatest trials my romantic relationship ever had. 

I will not share the exact story, because I prefer to keep those personal details in private *wink* But what I’ll be sharing in this post are the thoughts I’ve collected from the heartbreaks and triumphs of my love story’s detour. Before I begin, please keep in mind that in love, in takes two to tango. You can never love alone and never be loved in return. You can go crazy because of love, but in a good way. It can change you or you can change yourself because of it and have a better relationship. 

When you are in a long-term relationship, you can’t go anywhere than forward. Perhaps you can talk about getting married and having kids, or may be doing something that will broaden your take in your relationship even more. You’ll feel a bit pressured because everyone around you already knows what’s next in your relationship, supposedly. But on the other hand, there you are thinking of other stuff, like career advancement or pursuing a long-time dream. It’s not that you don’t prioritize your relationship with your partner; you just want to achieve a few things for yourself, maybe because it’s in your nature. 

Not everyone has this dilemma; I guess some would give in and settle immediately because that’s their preference. I can’t say which one is better, or if the other one is totally just being selfish. I don’t know. Maybe it’ll depend on the couple and their priorities. What’s important in this issue is the understanding between the two of you. If your partner wants to have his or her own personal space to grow, you can give that and still be happy together. However, in return, each must fulfill their role as a partner whatever the circumstances may be. If you can’t give your attention because you’re so preoccupied hitting your goal bull’s eye, you must let your partner go and be happy with someone else. 

CRAZY IN LOVE

Another thing is being crazy in love. You’ll never know how crazy you can become until you experience a turning point in your relationship. The butterflies inside your stomach and the twitching toes when you kiss or cuddle are nothing compared to the brain-racking feeling you’ll experience when you face an unexpected trial in your relationship. You’ll go mad overthinking and overreacting until it consumes you and eventually breaks you into tiny pieces…you won’t even know where to start picking your shattered heart. That’s being crazy in love. After you’ve been pounded, grinded and smashed, you’ll still comeback as if you want to get hurt a little more, as if all the heartaches aren’t enough for you to die…not yet. And this is so sad to be felt once and devastating to experience over and over again. 

And that moment when you can’t even cry because your tear ducts are already dry, that’s when you make a decision: To love yourself and walk away, or to fight for this love because it’s worth it. Either way, the process will be too difficult and can be unbearable, but I’m sure you’ll be happy at the end of it all. 

ON-POINT. Lang Leav can translate emotions into words perfectly...

CHANGE OF HEART

Now, do we really change for love? Can love really change us? Yes. Even if some will start to argue about it, you will definitely be changed by love, in one way or another. A sad truth? No. I’ve been beautifully changed by love. It made me love my flaws, made me conquer my fears, made me realize that I’m a gem and that I’m worth saving. Before, I somehow believe that I was ruined by love. My belief was it prevented me to be the best daughter, sister and friend, deprived me of a lot of good things in life, and made me dependent on the person I am with. These are the negative thoughts I had before. But it amazes me, until now, to realize that it was actually love that rescued me from the pitfalls I had before. It is love that made me stronger and more confident. It is love who changed the insecure young lady into a self-assured woman. 

In the end, no one can solve the complexity of love for you. It is for you to find out. Just remember that love is not generally sweet, it can be a bit sour, salty and even bitter as it grows. You just have to deal with its ever-changing form. Be on guard, but also try to be hurt sometimes so you’ll appreciate its worth. 

Love is complicated, but overall, it is beautiful. 

Fight for it and make it last!

Why 2016 feels like a bad dream

IT’S THE FASTEST, the saddest, and the most forgettable year according to many. I’ve seen a lot of posts in social media and articles in the web elaborating how awful this current year has been. May it be in politics, business, health, and even in relationships, most of us has something negative to say. For me, it’s half and half---partly I am so dead, praying this year would end right now so I can start anew, but as this year comes to an end, I’ve realized how blessed I am for having been turned upside-down by twenty-sixteen. 

I’ve faced tons of challenges, been through a lot of drastic changes and dealt with the hardest decisions I’ve ever made this year. A roller coaster ride won’t even be enough to describe how looped my life has become---it was like a creepy bedtime story with the best moral lesson. I don’t know how it was with other people, but for me, this year had given the greatest of opportunities, together with the worst of failures. Everything happened so fast yet so painful, it makes you want to forget and move on swiftly. That’s what I was doing before, which totally ripped my happy soul apart. 

Most of the time, I would snuggle between my pillows and push myself deep into the creases of my blanket, so I can fall fast asleep and forget how unhappy this year is. I started to lose my interest on the things that I love to do, and just diverted my full attention to the routine that I currently have. Even if I’m a very positive person (just like what those who know me would say), my bubbly personality was drained by all the disappointments piling up over my head. But don’t worry, this was then…and now is totally different. 

I must not forget that my first-ever bloggers event happened this year! It was such a great blessing indeed :)

I personally don’t know the explanation why this year seemed to be a very ill-fated year, maybe not for all, but for some---like me. But I believe those who have experienced the worst in 2016 have gathered the best life’s lesson they ever had so far. This year taught me three great things which I want to share with you: First, a set-back is just a beginning of something grand. Allow yourself to fall and stumble many times so you would be stronger each time you get up. Second, you’ll only fail to achieve your dreams if you stop chasing it. A prize won’t be given as it is, it must be fought for. Lastly, value your relationships, because these are the true source of happiness. If I wasn’t given a chance to experience the worst this year, I wouldn’t be so motivated, as I am right now, to pursue my heart’s desires. I strongly believe that the fruit of all our struggles will be sweeter and more memorable because we’ve been through the bitter phase and survived it. 

It will remain as a bad dream if you’ll look into the wicked things it has brought on your feet. But if you’ll try to turn on the light, you’ll wake up and realize that it is nothing but a beautiful nightmare. 

We shall all have a great year ahead, claim it!

The Secrets to a Pimple-Free skin

PIMPLES. ACNES. ZITS. These are the horrifying bumps that scare us more than horror films. You can’t avoid seeing these red swollen bumps first thing in the morning, but the worst part is these little monsters will surely affect your esteem and confidence. 

I bet all of us already experienced (or still experiencing) this unfortunate product of puberty. I started to have pimples right after the onset of my first menstruation. They disappeared when I was in fourth year college, but managed to reappear again when I started working. They even ruined my self-regard during an interview for a cabin crew position earlier this year! Like most of the girls out there, I’ve done a lot of skin rituals, tried pimple-fighting products and even consulted a dermatologist so that I can finally bid goodbye to these red enemies…but still, they managed to stay, I got defeated!

But nothing lasts forever, especially “zits”, because right now, I am currently enjoying a pimple-free skin! I am absolutely happy to share my simple secrets with all of you and I do hope everyone will start loving their skin more after reading this post and religiously following my tips. HAPPY READING!

Disclaimer: These are all based on the experience of a girl with 

a combination skin type. 

#1: KNOW THE SOURCE

Generally, pimples are attributed to lack of sleep, stress and even excessive eating of nuts and oily foods. I won’t say that these are just myths. Yes, they somehow contribute to the development of zits, but what they produce are not the long-staying ones. There are actually a lot of stuff that can be considered as the culprits of your red and swollen dilemmas. So if you’ll manage to stay away from these practices or products, you will soon say bye-bye to pimples. 

In my case, I have pimples on different areas of my face before: nose, cheeks, jawline and forehead. I simply did some research about it because I was so frustrated to eliminate them once and for all. Luckily, I came across this video in YouTube which explains that pimples popping on different areas have something to tell us about out body’s condition, they are act as “signs”. To resolve these types of pimples, I just followed three (3) simple steps:

1. Eat healthy and avoid processed/instant foods

2. Drink generous amount of water

3. Exercise at least 30 minutes daily 

source: www.DermCheck.com

However, the pimples along my jawline are the most stubborn! I dealt with them for a few years, only to find out that they are hormonal acnes. If you also have them, don’t worry, just avoid eating too much sweets and dairy products (milk and cheese), you’ll see the difference in less than a week! 

Well as you can see, sleeping early was not part of my list, it is simply because I can’t sleep early due to the nature of my job. But surprisingly, even I stayed up as late as 12 midnight and sleep around 2 o’clock in the morning and I still don’t wake up with zits on my face! BUT HOW? It's on the next secret!

#2: STICK WITH A ROUTINE

I already shared two of my personal skincare routine on this blog. But I found my current routine as the most effective. It is divided into two: the after-bed routine (before putting makeup on) and the before-bed routine. 

After-Bed Routine:

Step 1: 

Cleanse your face with a mild cleanser

Step 2: 

Apply a mattifying toner using cotton 

Step 3: 

Apply eye cream and moisturizer all over your face 

Before-Bed Routine:

Step 1: 

Double cleanse using micellar water 

and a mild cleanser

Step 2: 

Use an Oatmeal-Honey mask 

(at least every other day)

Step 3: 

Apply moisturizer generously on your face and neck

Below are the products which I use daily:

TAKE NOTE that the real secret here is the use of moisturizer. You need to invest in an excellent moisturizer because it’ll save your life (I mean it). If your skin is hydrated all-throughout the day, you need not worry about your pores going mad. Sebum production will be controlled, keeping the shine at bay for the entire day. In addition to that, my DIY Oatmeal-Honey mask really helped me in getting rid of my pimples, as well as the scars. 

#3: DEVELOP HYGIENIC PRACTICES

Just keep these things in mind and you'll have a happier skin in no time!

1. Never touch your face with your dirty hands. 

2. Always clean your makeup brushes and sponges. 

3. Never use a towel to dry your face after washing (Use face sponge or square cotton).

4. Regularly change your pillowcases and blankets.

5. Always remove your makeup before going to bed. 

I hope you’ve ingested everything! They aren’t too hard to follow right? You don’t even need to visit your dermatologist twice a month for those expensive and skin-thinning procedures. Believe me, I’ve tried several facial treatments just to solve my hormonal acne problem, but they didn’t work. Thank God I’ve discovered my DIY Oatmeal-Honey mask, positive result in less than a week! But of course, if your case is quite serious, you can always seek for professional help. 

Never let those zits ruin your beautiful face! Makeup will hide them for a while, but it’s always better to get rid of them for good!

Bye-bye zits! Hello lovely face!

Won an invite from CLOZETTE + Preparations for the E! Bloggers Ball

HELLO LOVELIES! I prepared this post because some of you are asking me how did I got an invite for the first-ever E! Bloggers Ball, which was held last September 29, 2016 at City of Dreams Manila. 

To be honest, my hopes are low when I joined the contest, and until now, I still can't believe that my first blogger event will be this grand. If you've been following me since day one, you'll know that my blog is only less that two years old (one year and six months to be exact). Besides, I only have less than 600 Instagram followers and only less than 30K visitors for this blog site. Why am I presenting these figures? Simple, because they matter. As a blogger, your followers and subscribers define who you are. The larger your network is, the greater opportunities will come at your doorsteps. 

But I guess it's simply God's will :)

It was early morning of September 16, 2016 when I received an email from Clozette. Nothing is unusual for me at first because I always receive a mail from their team since the day I sign-up as a member of this fashion & beauty social network. 

However, when I read the content of the email, I got so excited because it's another contest! This contest thrilled me for several reasons like (1) It'll surely be a great opportunity for me to expand my network, (2) I'll get the chance to meet my favorite bloggers, (3) The venue is surprisingly related to me (because I currently work there) and (4) I haven't attended a legit blogger event before, so why not? :)

*The email which started it all...:)*

The contest mechanics was simple, you just need to tell them why you would like to be part of the EBB. According to them, they'll be picking winners based on the creativity of their answers. And so, I composed my piece and submitted it on the 20th (deadline was until 23rd), together with the links they required (blog site, IG and FB page). I've waited for their response in the afternoon of September 23...and voila! I'm in! *throw hands in the air* 

*Confirmation mail from Ms. Amanda of Clozette*

*OFFICIAL INVITATION*

It was a mixture of excitement and fear. Yes I did got a seat, not only for one but for two, however, I'm not totally prepared! The dress? The shoes? Who will do my hair and makeup? OH NO!!! I can't look like a pauper in the middle of the princesses...*shrug*

Absolutely a struggle on my part,  good thing I found someone in the internet who's selling a classy infinity gown. I bought the gown for only 1600 php, while my clutch is only 250 php (sale at Parisian). The rest are just recycled stuff. I did my own makeup and also painted my nails so that it'll match my nude theme. As for the hair, I did a low, semi-messy bun. 

I'm glad that most of you loved my look when I posted it on Facebook :)

There you go, I just did what I can and I pretty much love the result. I chose to be as simple and as classy as possible. No need to show-off because that's really not my thing. Besides, I'm attending the ball in order for me to learn from my fellow bloggers and connect with them. I'm just happy to realize that the look doesn't matter at all, it's always the smile that you wear which will set the deal. 

Again, my huge "THANK YOU" will go to Clozette for opening another wonderful opportunity for me. It has been a great, great experience that I will forever keep in the deepest part of my heart. 

And oh, you may be wondering what is CLOZETTE, you can check them out thru this link: www.clozette.co. Sign-up today and share your #ootd with the other girls in Asia. Don't worry, this community is not only for bloggers, but for every girl who loves beauty and fashion. Who knows, you may become one of their ambassadors!

Hope you enjoyed this post, 'til next time!