Dear, Klairs Kit Review: Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop and Supple Preparation Toner

Jal jinaess-eoyo (How are you), my loves? I'm back with another exciting skincare review! If you saw my Instagram post a week ago, you already know that I accepted a skincare challenge from my Mama Angels at Althea Korea, yahoooo!

I was actually so ecstatic when I received the products, since it will be my first time to try this brand (I've been eyeing them on Althea's website for quite a long time). And finally, am now ready to spill my thoughts, so please start scrolling down!

Just a little background...

The products that I'll be reviewing here are from Dear, Klairs, a popular Korean beauty brand, which pride itself on gentle, cruelty-free and vegan-friendly products. I haven't tried a single product from this brand yet, but I am absolutely expecting a lot, since beauty and skincare enthusiasts pretty much love them and are always raving about their holy grail items.

For the challenge: I was asked to choose one among the three available Dear, Klairs kits, and because I'm a lover of clear and bright skin, I picked the second kit: The "You Glow, Glen Coco" (I know most of you remembered this fictional character from the movie "Mean Girls": You go, Glen Coco!). 

The kit contains the following products:

Toner Mate 2 in 1 Cotton Pad

Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop

Supple Preparation Facial Toner (Travel Size)

I used the products for one week, as part of my daily skincare routine; skipping my essences and serums so they won't interfere with the result. So basically, my routine for a week followed below sequence:

*Cleansing using a mild soap

*Toning with Supple Preparation Facial Toner

*Applying Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop

*Moisturizing with an eye cream and gel moisturizer

Before we jump into the result of the challenge, let me first share the details of each product:

Toner Mate 2 in 1 Cotton Pad

The box contains two types of cotton pads. There's an opening at the lower part so you can easily pull out the cottons. But unlike the normal square cotton pads, these pads were specifically designed for skin toning, and they actually compliment the Supple Preparation Facial Toner. 

You may ask why there's a need to use two different cotton pads for toning (that was also my question), but after using the pads, I got to say "Oh yeah, so that's what proper toning feels like!"

The compressed cotton is suitable for wiping, because of it has less fluff, as compared to regular cotton pads. It also aids in clearing off the skin to increase its absorption. The sponge cotton on the other hand, is perfect for toning since it has the ability to hold the product and transfer it to the skin effectively. Indeed, the combination of the two cotton pads is essential to maximize the goodness of the toner.

Supple Preparation Facial Toner

This is probably one of Klairs' popular products, which have gone several improvements over the past years. It underwent reformulation (replacing the artificial fragrances with natural perfumes), and can now retain moisture 20% longer.

If you are a sucker for supple and glowing skin, then this product is definitely your match. Unlike the usual toners, which are watery, this one is slightly viscous, like a water gel. It has a faint fragrance, like lavender, and doesn't cause sting on the skin once applied. Overall, it made my skin look so moisturized.

It has Sodium hyaluronate, Centella asiatica extract, Licorice root extract as the active ingredients.

Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop

At last! I got to try a serum with pure Vitamin C! If you don't know, Vitamin C has a very low stabilization, and gets easily spoiled due to a lot of external factors. That's why most of the serums that contain Vitamin C make use of the so-called derivatives, which are less effective. Now this one here is absolutely PURE!

I was so thrilled to use it that I emptied half of the pipe onto my skin on the first use! But then I noticed something different. I got a little scared because the liquid felt warm (like heated) on the skin, and a little stingy. Using my fingers, I tried patting my skin, though it seems not to be effective. So I just rubbed it on and it was perfectly absorbed after a few strokes. In the next days, I still experienced the heated sensation, but it starts to fade as soon I rub the product on my skin.

It has no scent, yet the liquid is somewhat oily. But as it gets absorbed, it leaves the skin with a beautiful shine. It contains L-Acsorbic acid, Centella asiatica extract, Citrus junos extract, and Brocolli extract as its main ingredients.

So what happened after a week?

As what I've said, my expectations are really high, though I know that there wouldn't be drastic changes on my skin in a week's time. But honestly, these products left me in awe after a week, and here are the reasons why:

• Better skin texture. There were lesser rough skin situation, especially along the forehead and jaw lines. My skin obviously look and feel smoother.

• Brighter skin tone. Though I have a fair skin, my face appears to be a bit dull when it's bare (without make up), and I cannot go out without putting on CC cream. Now my skin is more radiant and glowing.

• Improved skin condition. My occasional skin irritations were no longer dropping by when I started using this kit. Plus, my oil production was surprisingly controlled; leaving me with just the right glow at the right places.  

In general, the products are mild and non-irritating; perfect for those with sensitive skin. And as I continue using these products, I am looking forward to seeing my dark marks disappear---totally! I hope it will also delay the appearance of some age marks on my face (yikes!). I will update you again after a few months :)

Will I recommend these products? 

YES, of course! I really admire the brand for a lot of things: their eco-friendly packaging, their advocacy to be cruelty-free and almost 100% vegan-friendly, and their dedication to provide high-quality products which will fit our skin's ever-changing needs. The products in this kit are simple, yet can deliver powerful results. 

If you got intrigued and would love to see the effect for yourself, check out Althea's website and ADD these items to your cart. Make sure to share your experiences and thoughts with me too, comment them down below :) Will see you again on my next review/challenge! What brand should we try next?

Don't ever let anyone dim your glow!

Love Local: Prima Sassy Belle can be the next health and beauty haven

With their aesthetically pleasing packaging and princess-like brand name, your attention will definitely be caught by Prima Sassy Belle---and what more if you get to try their products? Oh, we'll see about that.

So for a little background, Prima Sassy Belle is a 100% Filipino-owned Direct Selling Company which dedicated itself in providing top-notch beauty, health and wellness products. The company's product line consists of slimming coffee and juice, healthy beverages, cosmetics, fragrances and whitening skin care products. 

I've received some of their products a few weeks ago, now it's time to share my thoughts about them!

They sent me two perfume and one face serum. For the first impression, I appreciate how "detailed" their packaging is, and the fact that the designs are so 'girly'. Overall, I would say that they did well on the aesthetics---making the products look elegant and pricey, but actually affordable. 

So let's start with the perfumes. 

Their fragrances were inspired by famous scents, and has 25% oil concentration. I got Amedee (inspired by PF5 Sweet Pea) and Thea (inspired by Jo Malone Nectarine). 

I opened Amedee first, tested it on my left wrist and was surprised that it did smell good (just like the real Sweet Pea!). Though you won't appreciate it that much on the first spray, since its top note is more like an alcohol scent, but its "dry down" (or the 'remains' of the fragrance after a few hours) is surprisingly captivating!

I honestly didn't expect it to be long-lasting, though they claim and state that on the box, that's why I was really amazed because it managed to stay on my wrist for hours. Especially when I finally sprayed Amedee all-over my body---it almost lasted for the entire day! And have I mentioned that a bottle costs PHP320 only? Yes, for a 60 ml (2.03 fl. oz.) eau de parfum, that's a great deal already. 

Moving on, I also get to try one of their newest products, which is the Sheer-C serum. Referring on the box, this product contains Vitamin C (not stated if it's pure or derivative), Alpha Arbutin, Rosehip Oil, Aloe Vera, Witch Hazel and Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) extract. 

On the first try, I noticed that the serum has a more fluid consistency and a little oily. It smells citrusy on the bottle, then become a bit different when I applied on my face (I cannot describe exactly, but something similar to Ferrous sulfate or Iron). But oh my gosh, it made my skin so soft, smooth and glowing right after the first application!

And so I tried it every night for a week, and immediately noticed a different glow on my skin. With 2-3 drops each night, I always woke up with a tighter and less irritated (no redness) skin. I love it! Now the question is, will it make the dark marks and fine lines disappear? Well I still need to continue using it in order to find out. But this 15 ml serum, which retails at PHP340, is surely worth the try. 

Alright! Hope you like this short review. I would love to try the other products of Prima Sassy Belle, especially their health and wellness products (and lipsticks!). I also confirmed that the brand is proudly Halal and PH FDA certified, plus cruelty-free! Now if you're interested to try the above products too, check them out on Facebook (Prima Sassy Belle) and Instagram (@primasassybelle), they respond really quick!

What do you think of this new blog series? Will feature more local brands and products here, so make sure to stay tuned and #supportlocal!

A sass a day, keeps the basics away...

My First Gel Nails at Sundrops Day Spa

"One thing you can get into shape without exercise, are your nails"

I just felt the need to share this experience, since it was my first time to try gel nails. Well this might not interest you (especially if you wear gel mani or pedi on a regular basis), but I'm sure you'll learn something from this post *wink*

So what are you waiting for? Read on!

It was a very fine afternoon when I decided to have my nails prep up at Sundrops Day Spa (SM City Bacoor), in preparation for the Skinpotions Dream Party. Not really in my plan to try an expensive nail treat, however, the manager caught me off guard with her beautiful spiel---so I gave in. Next thing I knew, I was already scanning a board full off fake nails, in different color. 

Okay, so I opted for a package deal: gel manicure + gel pedicure + foot spa, for only PHP1500. For me, it was already a good deal, because most nail salons would offer it for a higher price. 

My session started with the foot spa, which I absolutely enjoyed (and I know they had a hard time with my overworked feet!). After that, two ladies started working on my nails; one on my hands and the other one on my feet. They both gently cleaned and prepared my nails, and made me forget to take more photos! (sorry) 

I chose two colors of gel polish: a nude pink and a glittery pink (not sure if that's correct). A base coat was applied first, then followed by the first coat of the gel polish. I noticed that after each coat, they would place both of my hands (and feet) under a nail lamp. It was after a total of 4-5 coats before they brushed a top coat on my nails, and I'm done. 

And oh girl, I love the result! It was so shiny, so polished, and so dry! (overacting, again) Because usually, I must wait for at least 15 minutes before I put my slippers on and leave; or else I'll ruin my fresh polish. And when I observed it closely, my nails become so hard, which is pretty much a good thing because I will no longer worry about them getting chipped. My gel nails lasted for at least 3 weeks, though the manicure gave up first (due to constant washing, soaking, etc.). Overall, I was so happy I even told myself "You must wear gel nails forever!"

But that changed after a few weeks. 

Gel nails are definitely stunning, really. However, when I saw the condition of my nails and cuticle after the removal of the polish, I got so scared. My nails looked brittle and my cuticles were dry. From there, I decided to have my nails cleaned only, and skipped nail polish for at least a month *sigh*

Now, will I try it again?

My answer would be YES.  I have done a little research about it, and here are some tips that I can share with you:

• Do it occasionally. Like all good things, you must learn how to enjoy gel nails moderately. Use it as a reward, or just for a special event. Because aside from the fact that it may weaken your nail beds and cuticle, it can also be quite pricey (which is not practical unless you are a Crazy Rich Asian). Also, frequent exposure to UV (the drying process make use of UV lamp) can be dangerous to your health (make sure to apply sunscreen).

• Look for a trusted nail salon. And when you find one, stick to them. Don't be shy to examine their gel polish brands (look at the ingredients, some may contain harmful chemicals like dibutyl phthalate, toluene and formaldehyde) and ask questions. You may also want to watch closely on how they remove gel polish. Remember: It must not be scraped.

• Take care of your nails. I know your nails are "dead" to begin with, but your nail beds and cuticles are alive, thus need extra care. So better invest in a tube of nail cream, ASAP. 

I know how to clean my nails and apply polish, well most girls (even boys) do! But I'm no longer doing this stuff on my own, since I know that professional nail care is always better, based on experience. But, we must also be careful in trying out new things. That's why it is always good to read, research and ask first. These nail salons will definitely encourage you to try their services, but shall never educate you on the pros and cons. So be smart!

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this post, sorry it has to be this loooong again! Please do share your gel nails experience too, or some questions if you haven't tried it yet. And oh, I did love the aesthetics of Sundrops Day Spa. They have great staff and awesome packages! Will definitely visit again soon, who wants to come with me? :)

Life is not perfect, but your nails can be!

Thai Beauty: Testing beauty and skincare products from Jellys Thailand

If you are fond of Asian beauty and skincare products, this brand is probably familiar to you. Jellys is one of the popular skincare brands in Thailand, that has been recognized in many other countries as well. 

The brand's tag line "Skin Care is Healthy" only implies that they promote natural and healthy skincare products. So for this post, we shall get to know more about their best-selling items, and reveal which of them is/are worth trying.

Let's start! 

I received these products for free from an online seller on Facebook. Not my first time to try Thailand-made beauty products (because if you remember, I've already reviewed Mamala Virgin Deo), but indeed my first time to try products from Jellys. Honestly, I cannot give you the most detailed review yet, since I must test some of the products for at least a month or two, so that the results will be reliable. 

So for now, I will share with you my first impression and one-week review, just to give you an idea if these products are worth trying, because maybe, they are all what you need to complete your skincare routine. 

Jellys Pure DD Cream

This DD cream here has a shocking SPF 100 PA +++ (crazy!). DD stands for "Daily Defense" and yes, this product will surely act as a stubborn shield against Mr. Sun! Though do not be mislead by the number; will talk more about sun protection soon :) 

Took me just a couple of minutes to try and test if this one really works, and let me tell you, it's one of my fave!

The cream is pure white in color, and has this kinda strong perfume scent (like Victoria Secret body lotions). I tried it on my arms, and it felt so smooth; not sticky and dries really quick. But when I applied it on my left leg and compared it with my right leg, I saw the jaw-dropping difference...

We have an "instant flawless skin" situation here! (Oh forgive my dirty feet...please)

Jellys Pure Face Sunscreen Cream

Still not over with the DD cream, but we have to move on to the second product, which is another sunscreen! I always consider the SPF when it comes to makeup bases. Not really a fan of face sunscreen, because most of them are sticky and heavy on the skin. But this one, it's totally different.

It is one of the best face sunscreen that I've ever tried, promise. The cream has a mild scent and blends well on the skin. After applying, you'll wonder if you did applied enough, since it is so lightweight and doesn't feel tacky. I even tested it for hours with makeup on, just to see if I'll oil up, but I didn't! I can even wear it alone, with just my 'kilay' (eyebrow) on :)

I also love that it contains honey, snail slime and Aloe Vera extract, which are all good for the skin.

Jellys Pure Underarm Cream

Had a really hard time testing this product, since I'm a loyal user of Mamala Virgin Deo *sigh*. I cannot really tell if this one works, but I am currently testing it on my elbows instead, and will let you know the progress *wink*

But for my first impression, the cream has a very mild scent (almost none), and is easily absorbed by the skin once applied. However, unlike Mamala, this underarm cream is for protection and whitening only; it doesn't have deodorizing or anti-perspiring properties.

Jellys Pure Face Mask Power Soap

This soap boasts 7 natural ingredients (Witch Hazel, Tea Tree Oil, Aloe Vera, Honey, Ginseng and Lemon). But did you noticed something? Yup, there are only 6 instead of 7, and I already scanned the entire box. The missing ingredient must be the 'secret' of this power soap...mmmm.

The soap comes with a net, which you will use to create a whipped foam. Generally, it has a citrus smell (which I really love), but melts quite fast. After using it, my face felt super clean, with less visible pores. Though it somehow failed to give me that 'glow' which I was expecting, it seems that my face did not produced much oil than what it usually do (even after hours...awesome). 

Jellys Pure Soap

Now we're down to the last product, and I'm actually intrigued by this one. It contains concentrated Glutathione, and claims that its magical effect can be seen (obviously) in just one wash! It contains Coconut oil, Alpha hydroxy acid, Glutathione, Tocopherol, Rice milk, and Vitamin E.

After my first wash using this soap, I immediately noticed that my skin became a bit brighter, felt smoother, and smelled like coconut. No drastic changes or mind-blowing improvement, though I've seen testimonial videos which shows how the skin of several users became 2x lighter in an instant. Still, I love this soap because it's making my skin really soft, wash after wash :)

AND THAT'S IT! I'm sorry for another lengthy review, but I do hope you like it! :) If you'll ask me to pick at least two Jellys products that I would highly recommend, I'll be choosing the Pure DD Cream and Pure Face Sunscreen Cream. They are both superb! As for the other three, they are also worth trying. Who knows, they might be your skin's soul sistas *wink*

My unwavering gratitude goes to Ms. Michelle Wood, for sending these products and letting me share my honest thoughts about them. She owns and manages the Pink Candie Shoppe on Facebook, so if you want to purchase these products just simply LIKE her page and shoot a message! :) Til our next review, thanks for dropping by, my loves!

Don't be jelly, just be jolly!

Yes, I'M ENGAGED!

After three months (almost), I am now ready to spill the whole story about this particular event, which happened last July 1st, and has changed my usual life into something special...

Okay, you've already read it on the title.

Nah, don't deny it, you already know what I'm talking about.

YES, I GOT ENGAGED! *trying to hide the "kilig"*

Disclaimer: If you're expecting for an extravagant proposal or sweep-off-your-feet narrative, well you can stop reading from here. We are just a simple couple, and this is a simple proposal. My purpose of sharing this to everyone is simply to inspire and impart some life's lesson. Okay, let's start?

So we are about to celebrate our twelfth anniversary last July 1, 2018, and I was the one eager to plan something special. We booked a flight to Bacolod on the second week of July, since there's a beautiful island somewhere in Cadiz Viejo, where we can celebrate our more than a decade of being a couple (here's my post about Lakawon Island). But of course, that would mean that we won't be celebrating on the actual day of our anniversary. 

But luck hit us. I was fortunate enough to receive a free premium accommodation at one of the hotels in City of Dreams Manila, plus a buffet brunch for two. Very lucky indeed! So I immediately booked June 30 (with the help of a good friend, since the date was almost full at that time), and we were set to celebrate our special day in a Forbes 4-star hotel, The Nobu Hotel Manila. 

We checked in late, because I still have work that day. (I think we arrived at around 5PM). When we saw our room, I was so happy because they gave us the city view and also arranged something nice for our celebration. At the back of my mind, I was thinking of silly thoughts already, like "will he propose later, or maybe tomorrow?", but t idea was immediately set aside because I just looked forward to a relaxing stay---and good food!

In the evening, we decided to check out the pool area, and of course dip for an hour or two. Then after that, we had our lovely dinner at Red Ginger (still located inside City of Dreams Manila). With full tummies, we head back to the hotel and the next thing that happened was...surreal. 

We were on the comfy bed when he reached for a white paper bag. He said that it contains all my fave chocolates and I was so ecstatic! But he didn't allowed me to take the entire paper bag from him (which was weird), instead, he gave me the chocolates one by one and arranged them in an order.  After he has given all 12 sweets, he instructed me to take the letter from their names based on their "order" (so the first letter for the first chocolate, the second letter for the second chocolate, and so on...). 

And I figured it out. 

Yeah I know, it was a crazy way to propose! Before I even blurted out the phrase, he took a white box out of the paper bag and opened it...and there's the ring. 

I am actually not hearing anything at that moment, though I know that he was saying something to me. When I came back to my senses, he was looking at me, totally confused. Took me a while to realize that I haven't responded to the question yet. So with a weak voice, I said...YES!

I cried happy tears while staring at the ring on my finger. "So this is what it feels like" I said to myself. I was nervous, excited, worried and delighted at the same time...it was like an emotional whirlwind. He then teased me, saying that I was really expecting for it, but honestly, it was far from what I expected.

Okay, so we all do have that "expectations" in our romantic relationships. So for a proposal, our ideal would probably be something unique and memorable, something similar to what we see on TV. Well I also have dreamed of experiencing those things, like walking on a pathway adorned by rose petals, or having a candlelight dinner. But reality would slap me and say "hey, you're not in the movies!". And it's true, though I would be dismayed if this proposal happened a few years back, when i was still so quixotic and impractical. Looking at it now, I did appreciate the intimacy of our special moment---no fuss, no add-ons, just the two of us. 

I had to go inside the bathroom so I can have a moment for myself, to be able to stare at the ring and contemplate (so me, haha!). I realized that the ring is just a ring, it only symbolizes the fact that I am about to get married. But even without it, we are still getting married anyway. For the past twelve years, we have experienced the best and the worst. We have gone from being immaturely in love, to a couple who are already planning for their future. I have no regrets that we've waited for such a long time before getting engaged. The years that we have endured together made us stronger and more mature. And yes, I am proud to say that I am engaged to my first and only boyfriend :)

Oh let me insert this, it was so funny because I've written this post last year (Why is everybody getting married?!) and I didn't even realized that I'll be sharing my engagement story the year after (hahaha!). Well, it's about time for us, I guess...though the wedding won't happen this year yet. I'm pretty excited for another chapter in my life! And it's good to be able to share the details of it with all of you.

Apologies for this long post, but I do hope that you enjoyed it! Would love to hear your thoughts and engagement stories too---comment down below so we can talk about it :) As for the wedding preparations, we haven't formally started yet. It was kinda postponed because we are trying to focus on a secret venture, which I'll be sharing once finalized. 

From your soon-to-be blushing bride,