March 31, 2013

Sinful Square Cookies

Who said that cookies should be circle???  No one right?  Perfect excuse for me sthen since my cookies became square/UFO (unidentified flat object) and that explains the square  in the name.  Sinful because this cookies have butter and sugar (usual), chocolate chips (still normal) and chocolate-hazelnut spread!!! (original recipe calls for Nutella but found a cheaper alternative for experiment)  Plus to add some more flavor and kick, salt is needed to this recipe).

Warning!  Picture below are...not the usual cookies that you usually in bakery counters but they are really good good good.
my precious~
I got this recipe from The Fat Kid Inside by Erwan (my sincere apologies Mr. Heussaff for not diligently following your recipe).  To be honest I didn't give my full attention when I watched the video, I'm focused reading the ingredients that maybe I missed an important part that can make my cookies perfect (so watch the video, okay?).  But aside from the shape everything is great and mind you I don't have any poper baking background plus I did everything manually so I'm positive that anyone with a happy mind can make these Browned Butter Sea Salt Nutella Cookie (the original Name).  So how good are these cookies?  Let's just say that a cookie monster attacked my cookies, seconds after I put them in a rack.  Just look at the picture below as an evidence.

Browned Butter Sea Salt Nutella Cookie by Erwan Heussaff
text in * are mine

Ingredients:
2 1/3 cup of sieved flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4tsp of salt
1 cup brown sugar
1/4cup white sugar
1 egg
1 yolk
1 tbsb of sour cream
1 cup of mixed milk and dark chocolate chips (*more chocolate chips than milk)
Nutella (*I used Goya)
Sea Salt Flakes (*I used regular iodized rock salt)

Procedure:
Mix together, 2 1/3 cup of sieved flour,1 tsp baking soda, 1/4tsp of salt.
Brown 1 cup of salted butter (or why not maple or bacon butter????) on low heat, you’ll see the butter get brown as you tend to it with a spoon.

Combine 1 cup brown sugar, 1/4cup white sugar, 1 egg, 1 yolk, 1 tbsb of sour cream.  Put in mixer. Mix.
Add brown butter.
Fold in Dry mix.
Mix in 1 cup of mixed milk and dark chocolate chips.
Put in the fridge for about 30mins - 1hour.  (*or longer)
(*the messy part) Form some balls with your hand about 2 inches thick.  Flatten them out, put a tbsp of nutella in the middle and fold the ball over again.  Place on parchment paper.  Bake at 350 fahrenheit for 15mins or until desired texture is achieved. Shorter times for chewy gooey cookies. Full time for nice hard cookies. When done, cool them on a rack with some sea salt flakes on top.

I prefer to bake the cookies for a full a5 minutes since it has more cookie texture but still chewy on the inside because of the chocolate spread the chocolates.

Enjoy!

Thanks for reading. Till then. Bye!

March 2013 Empties: Firs Qtr Done + a little sacrifice

First Quarter of the year:  Done!  And I haven't accomplished anything important in my life booo me.  Anyway I still have 2 quarters left and so are you so we still have time to accomplish our goals.

For March, I emptied a lot of samples and my pocket too hehehe.  I made a lot of online purchases and I still haven't emptied or even used all the products that I bought last year like my Tomatox and Appletox which will expire in May (yikes, must use it next month).

Anyway here are my empties plus to throw *sigh* expired na kasi.  And the photos are a little vintage~gy and I'm loving it!
Add caption
 I was really surprised with the Shieseido because I used it for the whole month and to think it's just a sample so thanks very much to Sample Room.  Reviews can be found here: 1/2/3/4/5
to throw
I also emptied another Nature Republic Aloe Gel.  Before, I used the tub as a container to my abubots (knickknacks) now I'll use it as a money container.  So what's with the "a little sacrifice thing" and how it's related to the tub?  Well I come to a realization that the main cause of my excess fat is sweets.  I always buy sweet, seven days of the week.  This will be a little hard for me since I have a sweet tooth and would rather eat sweets all day than eat a proper meal but it's to make a little change in my life.  Well weekends would still be the same but on weekdays; instead of me buying desserts every after meal, I will put P25 in the tub and if ever that I'll break this rule I'll put P50 instead.  Proceeds will go to a church near us who is collecting donation to feed  the hungry or to my friend who also volunteer to feed the hungry.  I will do this for at least 2 months and I know it's not much but I hope it would still help.  Now, aside from sweets I will also do my best to be early and catch the company van to save fare.  Proceeds to this part will go to my toy camera fund (sorry, I wanted another cheap one) and to the sweet fund.  Hope everything will work out.
I present to you the tub with a not so artistic lettering 
Thanks for reading. Till then. Bye!

March 28, 2013

The Versatile Blogger Award

I would like to thank Eva Nyah of Bunny Kiss and Sally Sayz of Sally Syz for nominating me as Versatile Blogger.  Just let me say my thanks the way actors do in award shows, okay? =)
and the award goes to....Me!!!! thank you, thank you thank you
But seriously, from the bottom of my chubby heart, thanks very much for nominating me guys.  It's truly an honor and inspiration to be nominated especially this time where I feel (I hope it's just a feeling) that no one read my posts (so if you happen to visit my blog for "I don't know how" reason, comment and say "hi", I'll hi back ʘ‿* (wink wink)).

The rules for this award award are:
Thank the person who gave you this award.
Include a link to their blog.
Next, select 15 blog/bloggers that you've recently discover or follow regularly.
Nominate those 15 bloggers for the Versatile blogger award.
Finally, tell the person who nominated you, 7 things about yourself.

First is that I'll start with the last rule, 7 things about me:

One is that my skin has a hard relationship with make-up.  I remember in my graduation pictorial that the make-up artist had a hard time to apply foundation on my face because it doesn't stick even when he applied make-up base.

Two is that I had mixed emotions while in a vacation/adventure in Coron, Philippines.  I felt scared, excited and happy to jump in the middle of the sea to be with different species of the oceans like glow in the dark fish and corals.  The rock formation snorkeling was a great adventure too.  Why scary?  Because I don't know how to swim :P

Three:  I'm allergic to many things.  Think of pancit canton (instant noodles without the soup).  Weird right?

Fourth thing is, I can't make a blog post without writing or making first a draft in a notebook or in a piece of paper.

Number five is that one point in my life, I got addicted to books that I hoarded around 10 to 15 (if you are in the Philippines, this number of books is already  high)  thinking that I can finish them in a month (I finished reading series of unfortunate events in a month with so much effort not to read them but I ended up reading them anyway in a short span of time) and they are now sitting in my bookshelves, untouched.

Six:  Many people label me as weird.  I can't blame them as I love quirky things.

Seven.  And last thing about me is:  I've never been in love (well I've been in love with food and sweets if these two counts)

Additional info about me since two nominated me (thanks again ◕‿◕): my lashes are naturally curled which I love and my classmates thought that I intentionally curl them when I was in first year high school.

So the Bloggers that I nominate are (at random):

Chaitea of Candy Clouds in the sky
Karisa of Ciramisu
Jeany of Behrouz Girl
Jenny of Almighty Turtles
Erika of Erikajjang
Eula of Eulasleeps
Andrea of Little A
Helen of Lucky Citrine
Chelsea of Organized Mess
Andy of Shimmering Thoughts
Lys of Shirayuki's Beauty
Eunice of Laces and Tiaras
Elle of Littlebratontheloose
Rin of One-winged Angel
Misha of The Touch of Yellow

There's already 15 up there but here are some other blogs where I lurk:
http://blessmybag.com/
http://www.jenniepperson.com
http://www.kryzuy.com
http://blog.lovemae.com.au
http://www.thedalagaproject.com/
http://mlovesm.blogspot.com
http://www.pattylaurel.com
http://valerieannchua.com/
http://www.miss17february.com
http://www.projectvanity.com
http://www.dannyst.com
http://80breakfasts.blogspot.com
http://www.themistymom.com
http://bakehappy.blogspot.com/
http://thefatkidinside.com/
http://cake-pie.com/

And some more but I got tired of copying and pasting.  Sorry (✖╭╮✖)

Thanks for reading. Till then. Bye!

TheFaceShop Lemon and Rice Mask

As a continuation of the brightening and Vitamin C series, here's two TheFaceShop masks that I used for the past 3 weeks.
TheFaceShop Real Nature Mask Lemon
A brightening mask sheet containing fresh lemon extract bursting with vitamin c to densely penetrate the skin and brighten dull skin tone while maintaining its translucence
I'm afraid of lemon masks as they one:  remind me of car fresheners that are unpleasant to the nose and two:  a pimple will surely appear the day after used.  This one is an exception:  though it didn't brighten my skin, the smell and lightness of it's essence is refreshing that it puts me to a quick nap (a first for me!).  No pimple outbreak too so this mask for me is perfect for relaxation purposes.
TheFaceShop Real Nature Mask Rice
An exfoliationg/complexion improvement mask sheet to smoothen and brighten dull and rough skin
extract grounded from quality rice 1,000ppm contained
I know what what kind rice was used
Wow, my phome camera can take decent photos (hooray!).  Going back to the mask, among the  ones that I tried from TheFaceShop, so far (I syill have raspberry and pumpkin to try) this is my favorite.  Though  the smell has tiny bit hint of alcohol, the nice clean, a little flowery smell of the essence overpowers it.  This too put me into a quick nap.  I do not know how will this mask exfoliate skin (and I don't expect any exfoliation to happen) but it does really smoothen and brighten dull and rough skin.  My face is glowing after I removed the sheet and the glow stays even after I washed.  Too bad there's only one piece of this rice mask in the 20pieces in a pack that I bought last year (but will have to buy some when I got to Korea hopefully next year!)

Thanks for reading. Till then. Bye!

March 27, 2013

Skinfood Facial Water Vita-C Mist

I feel hot.  Don't get me wrong, it's not my figure that I'm talking about but my skin  (I'm a chubby chix =D).  It's just the start of the summer but the weather is so hot and crazy that rain suddenly poured last week but it didn't subdue the high temperature but this facial mist did!  Well not the weather but my sweating and burning (I'm exagerating) face.

Skinfood Facial Water Vita-C (Mist)
Drink for Skin.  SKINFOOD Facial Water
A facial water mist that fills thirsty skin with the vital hydrating energy of Vita C complex and Alaska glacier water.
145 ml (full size) at $14.89 in amazon
50 ml (miniature) at P195 in bhappywithme
I got mine from bhappywithme (ebay ph) and despite being a miniature, it's miniature is so decent it really sprays mist rather than droplets of water (unlike the others that I encountered).  It's sodecent that just a spray can cover my whole face without looking wet.
full size! photo from http://kimjicosmetics.tarad.com
I don't know exactly how Skinfood source the Alaska Glacier water:  maybe they send a team to Alaska, take a huge chunk of ice from the mountains and bring it to Korea or buy the alaska glacier water that are in bottles sold by a company I chanced upon while searching info for the said water (I'm just joking).  I don't know what's so special about Alaska Glacier Water but it is said that it's one of the cleanest and purest water on earth.  I do not know if it's true but here's Skinfood's take:

[Alaska Glacier Water Story]
Alaska is on initial source of water covered with over 20,000-year-old glaciers. Alaska glacier water is fresh water at mildly alkaline pH, enriched with oxygen, minerals and ions. -source theskinfood.com

So aside from the Alaska Glacier Water, Facial Water Vita-C Mist have Vitamin C enriched berries: Rasberry, acai berry, cranberry and strawberry, that delivers revitalizing hydration.  These fruits explains the citrusy smell of the mist which is really refreshing.

Mist I think is not really necessary in skincare.  For me they are just toners in a bottle with atomizer.  But who can blame a girl who despite wearing a semi-corpo attire goes out of the house fast walking to catch the trains (yes two trains) and run to beat the clock (in order not to be late to work) but still wanted to have a fresh looking face to conceal the sweat all over her body.  Well not me, I can totally understand her =)  Besides; after the unexpected exercise, a quick perk-me-up refreshment for the skin is much needed and this mist in a bottle has it.  Never tried to put this in the refrigerator as I don't want to scare the people in the office but Skinfood suggested that to enjoy a cooling skin treatment, refrigerate before using.  As for me, I immediately spray this mist on my face straight from the drawer and it really refreshes and hydrates my skin for let's say 30 minutes (cooling only last for seconds).  It's hot inthe Phils. so I spray 3 times a day.  An hourly spraying vigil is needed if the weather is extra hot.

Thanks for reading. Till then. Bye!

March 26, 2013

Nivea Body UV Whitening Serum

Lately, I've been addicted to products that has Vitamin C ingredient as it promises to brighten a dull skin.  I have dull skin so that explains my addiction.  I know many people would think it shallow.  I also thought it shallow for the longest time of my life but I realized that it's more of taking care of myself (I have less scratches now, yehey!) but of course being beautiful inside is more beautiful (I'm working on it =P)
Nivea UV Whitening Serum SPF 25 PA++
Vitamin C 95% Purity
Noticeably more radiant and fairer skin within 14 days
For accumulated dull and damaged skin
P219

I'm not into whitening and I doubted this product when I read a post about the difference between whitening and lightening but looking into the list of what this body serum can do I think it was mislabeled for marketing purposes maybe because whitening products are in demand to many Filipinos???  It's just my guess, but I do believe that this product is more for lightening than whitening that my dull skin needed and  my scratches and different kinds of marks from me, scratching my skin due to allergy and skin asthma.  I can't indicate here though watch the difference between whitening and lightening because I can't find a concrete definition in the net.
what it does plus ingredients
I like how light and quick absorbent this serum is that I can used it it even on hot days and it also has SPF.  I hate the smell though: it makes me dizzy for the first week that I'm using it, It took me two weeks to get used to the scent.  It's liquidy and white (but will not cast any white trace in the skin)

I noticed small white particles on the first and second day of road-testing this body serum and I only have 2 conclusion on this case: one is that the serum is removing the dead skin and two the serum is too strong for me.  Hoping it's the former, I continued to use this for 3 or 4 weeks now and I'm loving how it slowly brightens and evens out my skin tone.  It's a slow process but I'm willing to wait, besides the effort and cost is at a minimum level.

Love this body serum, now I just hope that it's always available in the nearby mall.

Thanks for reading. Till then. Bye!

March 25, 2013

The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost

Vitamin C nowadays does not only be taken orally but is now used topically.  Products with vitamin c promises to give brighter complexion and when it comes to brightening dull complexion, I'm alert.  Well not alert enough because again, I got the wrong product.  I wanted a serum but got the Skin Boost instead from The Body Shop.
The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost
Create instant smoothing radiance with a silky smooth finish. It's an ideal skin pick-me-up to enhance your glow and our favorite Vitamin C product!
For Dull Skin
$27
If you want your skin to have a sheer glow effect without the oily feeling, then this probably is the best product for you unless you want to shine like a diamond like the vampires in Stephanie Myers eyes.  It gives a sheer brightening effect without the oily look and effect.  It works well with my sister's oily skin so this is for all skin type.


FULL INGREDIENTS
Cyclopentasiloxane (Skin-Conditioning Agent/Emollient), Dimethicone (Skin Conditioning Agent), Cyclohexasiloxane (Conditioning Agent), Dimethicone Crosspolymer (Emulsion Stabilizer), Synthetic Fluorphlogopite (Viscosity Increasing Agent), HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer (Anticaking Agent), Fragrance (Fragrance), Ascorbic Acid (Antioxidant), Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil (Emollient), Tocopherol (Antioxidant), Glycerin (Humectant), Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate (Skin-Conditioning Agent/Emollient), Polysilicone-11 (Film Former), Linalool (Fragrance Ingredient), Limonene (Fragrance Ingredient), Silica (Absorbent), Benzyl Benzoate (Solvent), Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Water (Solvent/Diluent), Hexyl Cinnamal (Fragrance Ingredient), Citronellol (Fragrance Ingredient), Mica (Opacifier), Titanium Dioxide (Colour).

HOW TO USE
Apply in an upward, circular motion after moisturizing for a smooth base and a healthy-looking glow.
photo from thechalkboardmag.com
According to nyaproductreviewer.com: "Camu Camu; aka Myrciaria dubia, is a tree that is indigenous to the Amazon Rain Forrest.  The red fruit from the Camu Camu has some amazing beautifying properties such as "producing the highest source of naturally-occurring vitamin C – thirty times more than an orange – and ten times as much iron, three times as much niacin, twice as much riboflavin, and fifty percent more phosphorus. It is a significant source of potassium, minerals, and amino acids, and supports your skin's elasticity, reduces pore size, and offers powerful anti-aging benefits."
as applied in my arms
It's not very visible in the picture but it does really gives my skin an instant sheer radiance in person and really smoothen my face every time I use it (I can't help touching my face).

The packaging is compact and doesn't take a huge space in my bag and no spilleage too since it's comes with a plastic cap.  The nozzle of the pump has good quality:  I can totally control the amount to be dispense.  Half pump is enough to cover my face and neck but I would sometimes go for a full pump for that extra glow in my cheeks and forehead.  The smell is also pleasant:  citrusy and refreshing.

The 30ml of this Vitamin C Skin Boost goes a long way, probably around 3 months if use on a daily basis.  I stopped using bb cream (although I'm going to use a bb cream with spf this summer for protection) because even if it doesn't have any coverage, it makes my skin look smooth and I'm satisfied with it's brightening effect.  The SA who assisted me said that this product can also be use as a make base.  Nothing much to complain except maybe for the price, I got it on sale but it's still expensive for an ordinary office employee like me.  Anyway, it's a very good product for me.


Tried any vitamin c based products lately?

Thanks for reading. Till then. Bye!

March 24, 2013

How I Order from GMarket

My second order from Gmarket is already on it's way and I'm so excited to unboxed my package.  With this haul, I became more aware of the discounts and where to find some great deals and I'm just going to share with you how I order (from an "overseas" view).

Since I'm into cosmetics, I always check the Beauty Calendar as I find here sales and promos and events for the month.  You can also find here the $1 dollar deal that Gmarket offers every month.  Haven't ordered any $1 deal because the item always get out of stock but there are other items that will keep on flashing that are also on sale.
Click the Beauty Calendar if you wanted to know what Beauty Shops are on sale or promo
Unsure what to buy and where to shop?  Then check the "Best" part of Gmarket homepage.
the Best Portion
You can find here the Best Sellers, Best Sellers per Country, Best Minishops and best Soho A.  Just click on the link of the picture and you will be lead into a page like below.  I found my bag and shirt here which are both on sale and free domestic shipping in this area.
I always browse here to look into some bargains
You can also go to "Plus Zone" under the Plus ON area to know the deals of the week plus you can also draw some coupons for discounts.
for now it's spring items
Have an item in mind?  Then directly go to the search button.  You will have no problem if you can understand Korean language but if not then you need an online translator like google translate or use the translate option of your browser.  Not all the brand names are in English so you might want to find first the Korean word or words of the item you like.  I type in Hadalabo before and the search engine didn't find any item.  But when I typed 고쿠쥰,  Hadalabo items appeared.  Don't forget to tick the Worldwide shipping.
item, price, domestic delivery if free or you have to pay an additional amount, offers like discount, gift, mileage and stamp, name of the seller and customer rating
Click on the item name to know further details.
Coupon Box?  Shopping Support Rewards?  Yes, you can use coupons or rewards when buying.  How to get them is quite easy.  You can mainly get them in the GMarket Lounge.  Hover your courser to the Plus On, then click Plus Zone Go.
click Plus Zone GO>
Roulette game
I got a 1000won shopping support rewards by spinning the roulette but most of the time I get mileage.
Gmarket Lounge tabs
Now, next to Plus Zone is Special Benefits where I got my 5% discount that I applied in the Laneige product that I got.  Next  is the Discount Coupons tab where you can get different kinds of coupon based on your Membership Grade.  The higher the membership grade, the better coupons you get and you can also exchange (or exchange to draw) your GStamps .  My first draw was a failure and didn't get anything.  Last tab is the Deals of the Week where you can find different items from cosmetics to potatoes and other grocery stuff that are on sale or offers a great deal.  There's also this benefit called "Buy Many?  More Discount!" where you can get additional 20% off on your beauty stuff you buy 50 items or more.
click here to find more
There are also coupons that suddenly pop out or suddenly appear on the bottom part of the screen when you click coupon so don't forget to check them out.  Remember though that not all coupons are applicable to all products.  There are sellers who do not accept discount coupons and rewards plus the coupons have expiration date too.
click, tick then apply

Now that I have different kinds coupons, it's time to use them by clicking the coupon box and ticking the coupon that is applicable or use then click apply (sorry if it's step by step, I sometimes forget to click the apply button that's why).  And voila!
from 74,100 to 69,100 won
Other items that I check are the additional option if I wanted to buy other stuff from the same seller (so that I can ask for additional freebies or discounts) and the Item Info portion where I find the estimated weight and if the item can be be ship to my country.  Scroll down and you can find other details about the product and reviews from the buyers.
look how heavy the coat is
Click the Minishop logo to go the sellers homepage and if you have any questions or you wanted to haggle the price with the seller then click inquiry.  Make sure to add the name or link of the item/s that you inquire about in your message.
inquiry and seller info
If I'm ready to purchase the item, I click add to cart then move on on finding the next item in my list (unless you just wanted to buy one item, then click Buy Now).  I always use combined shipping to save from shipping fee because as the weight gets higher, the fee gets cheaper.  If I already found all the things that I want then I go to the Shopping Cart.
my orders summary
Above is the screenshot of the items that I will purchase listed in a summary.  Price, discount, total delivery, total payable amount, estimated weight and mileage and stamp to be earned are indicated.   If you still have coupons to use,  just click on the coupon box, tick and apply then refresh the page.
EMS is the only courier for Gmarket so it's a bit expensive but fast (well based on my experience).  Select your country to know the estimated shipping fee that you will pay, here's the link to the shipping rates.

I'm okay with my orders so I'll go ahead and click Place an Order to move on to the second to the last stage of ordering which is payment.
payment summary
The payment screen will show you 1. Order Products where the items that I'll be ordering are listed, 2.  Delivery Info for my Address and Sender, 3.  Discount applied and 4. Payment.
payment portion
delivery info portion
Just type in the blanks the necessary information in 2.  My friend and I always think of who will we put in the sender portion (her favorite is GD) and if you have additional memo to the seller like "I want more freebies" then this stage is the time to do it (unless you want to go back to the start).  Don't forget to tick the policy agreement.
discount applied and payment portion
If you have credit card discount from My Shinhan Point, Bl Card, Shinhan Card, Lotte Card and KB Kookmin Card then take time to look in 3.  Discount Applied.  I have a Cash Balance in my last order and applied it here.  The remainder, I paid thru Paypal in 4.  Payment Info.  Just tick what kind of card or other mode of payment that is acceptable to Gmarket that you'll be using to pay for your items then fill up the card info and done!

I just have to wait for the sellers to send my orders in Gmarket warehouse. I check and track  the status of my orders in "Overseas Order" portion of "My Gmarket".  When all orders are in, Gmarket will put everything in a box, weight it then ship it to EMS Korea then it will be ship through airplane to be delivered to EMS Philippines.
domestic delivery done 

Oh, if the fee for the actual weight is greater than the estimated weight by more than 3000won, then you have to pay first your balance before Gmarket further process your order (click here for the worldwide shipping guide).
worldwide shipping in progress
So that's basically it.  I'm just starting so I still do not have enough mileage to convert but once I get the necessary number, I'll share how to use it.
summary on how to buy
PS.  I'm using Mozilla, IE8 or Google Chrome when ordering.  All photos and screenshots are from Gmarket.

Thanks for reading.  Till then.  Bye!

March 22, 2013

Bench Organics Moroccan Argan Oil

Seems like I'm out of energy this week that I only made one post since Monday.  The heat, lack of sleep and obesity makes me tired all day.  *sigh* I must change my habits.

Anyway, here's a product that i use from head to foot when I'm dead tired and wanted to spend a quality time with my bed.
Bench Organics Moroccan Argan Oil
Moisturizing body oil with Vitamin E
P199 for 115ml
(I blurred the pic but I didn't get the effect that I want)
Bench is a local store in the Philippines that offers mainly clothing and apparel, accessories plus snacks when I was younger but as I grow older, expands it's market and now sells wide array of other lifestyle products (you can find the website here).  I got this oils because Argan Oil is quite popular now and this one from Bench is cheap, well it's not 100% Argan Oil!
Argan Tree
photo from wsj.com
According to naturalnews.com, argan oil has an extremely high levels of Vitamin E and 80% fatty acids which is perfect which is perfect for healing healing and protecting the skin from many ailments and premature aging caused by oxidation.  It also have tissue healing, anti-inflammatory, sun protective, disinfectant, anti-oxidant, skin softening effect and can also reduce wrinkles.

Amazing!!!  But I bought the Bench Argan Oil not knowing what I just type above and I'm only thinking of trying it out and it's cheap and I didn't regret taking it home.  It's a top to toe oil for me as I use it to moisturize my hair, my face and body (kulang na lang inumin ko) without the sticky, heavy feeling even if I'm under the heat of the summer sun.  It's amazing how my skin absorbs this oil so well and the smell is really refreshing (a bit flowery) that it passed the meticulous nose of my sister.  Smoothness is a little problem at first and had to top it with a lotion or a body serum.  Since it's not 100% argan oil though, it may not achieved all the benefits of a pure one.
in seconds the oil will seep into the skin
doesn't make skin look oily
It's not 100% Argan Oil but I like how it moisturize and nourish my skin (less itchy now) and the price: it's really affordable that I'll definitely get another bottle when I run out.
here's the full ingredients plus some benefits

Are you using argan oil?

Thanks for reading. Till then. Bye!

March 18, 2013

From my favorite Wasteland: A Small and Smart Haul

Weekend was good:  some bonding with a friend, a family lunch and an unexpectedly small haul.  Went to a mall here in the Metro called Trinoma  with a department store called Landmark and was surprised about a sale (I didn't realized it was payday).  I just wanted to get some cheap shoes but found and got awes with some items.
ribbons????
These two are totally outrageous: they are not in season  but the price are so jaw dropping I wanted to get another pair.  Guess how much are these?  P299 for a pair, even cheaper than bazarre price considering the good quality.
let's bake bake bake
The mall and grocery near my place lack baking supplies.  It was an accident that my friend and I entered the wrong entrance of the department store (we're supposed to directly go the shoe section) but the wrong turn turned out to be a blessing because I got some paper cups (better quality than what I'm currently using) and tools for frosting (although there's something wrong with the name of the packaging) for a very low and sale price!
Bifesta
Another thing to love with Landmark is that when they go on sale, even the products that doesn't and will not go on sale with other department store are on sale!  I don't have any plans on buying a cleansing lotion (I'm not using make-up on a regular basis anyway) but the heat makes me sweat a lot which makes my face accumulate dirt while commuting so this no rinse cleansing lotion is perfect.  Many bloggers like Liz of Project Vanity and Martha of The Beauty Junkie have good commends about Bifesta Cleansing lotion so why not try?

Also got a shirt (for office, boring) and a sunnies (I'm really shocked that I do not have any planned trips this 2013 especially this summer so I just got a sunglasses huhuhu so pretty please share your summer getaway story for me to feel the season) both are from other shops :P

Thanks for reading. Till then. Bye!

March 15, 2013

Naked Cupcake #2: Another Choco

I know, I know the photo below is not appetizing but believe me, these cupcakes the I made are chocolatey thanks to Bake Happy!  Ohh just in case you're wondering why I call my cupcakes naked, well simply because I can't make any decent frosting but I'll try to look for good tricks on how to make some basics and maybe in the future my cupcakes will no longer me naked.
Basic Chocolate Cupcake
To be honest, I thought that my chocolate cupcakes are a total failure, tasting 5 minutes after baking.  But after around 3 hours, they become really moist.  Also found out that a cake flour really makes a difference:  no after taste and cupcakes are fluffier!

Recipe can be found here.  The recipe that Aikko share from her blog Bake Happy is for a cake but I made mine into cupcakes (I do not have a pan for a cake).

Moist Chocolate Cake
recipe from Bake Happy


Ingredients:
2 cups flour (all purpose flour is okay, but you can find cake flour, it would be better)
1 ½ cup sugar
½ cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 ½ cup water
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp vanilla extract

Procedure

1. In a bowl, mix mayonnaise and sugar until smooth
2. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and baking powder. It's up to you if you'd like to sift or dry whisk. Just make sure all four ingredients are well mixed.  (I used the dry whisk method)
3. Add a third of the flour mixture to the mayonnaise mixture
4. Add 1/2 of the water required. Now don't be discouraged if it looks sloppy once the water is added. It'll come together.
5. Repeat #3 and #4 until the flour mixture and water has been added to the mayonnaise mixture. Add the vanilla extract last.
6. Pour into a well greased pan and bake at 350F for 40-50 mins for cakes and 12-15 minutes for cupcakes. Make sure to tap the pans used to let the air out before baking.


Yields 12 medium size and 6 small size of cupcakes.  I added some chocolate bits on the smaller ones to make them more chocolatey~  And don't worry about the mayo ^_*


Thanks for reading. Till then. Bye!

March 14, 2013

My Recent Travel Buddies: Samples Review

I see a good weather from where I am right now and would love to take vacation but of course I have to work for a living >_<  besides I already took some time off from my office desk job last week to visit my mom in the province.

Anyway, traveling is a hassle if you you bring loads of stuff, right?  But who can blame a girl who take lots of products with her on an escapade not just for beauty but for comfort?  Since I started to be aware of the needs of my skin,  I use around 8 to 10 products (cleansers included) that are mostly in bulky container.  I can't bring them all and I like to travel light and so bringing samples is a no brainer.

Let's start with Skin Food Energy Color Kit which comprises Carrot Sun Cream SPF30 PA++,  Aloe Vera Cleanser and Orange & Mint Body Wash.  The cleanser is pearly white in color while the body wash reminds me of Johnson's baby shampoo.  Both gives an ample amount of bubbles and there's no question about their cleaning prowess because they always leave my skin squeaky clean.  Not liking their scents specially the Aloe Vera Cleanser, it just smell so weird to me.  I used these two for around 10 days already and I still have a few left (good for another 3 day vacation I guess).  Next, the Sun Cream which has an SPF30 PA++ which I'm not liking so far but it's already summer here in the Philippines and protection from Mr.  Sun is a must.  I not much into sun creams or sunblocks or sun screen as it gives me a white/grayish cast, sticky feeling and the weird smell and this sun cream from Skin Food has almost the same effect (a little lighter, okay) but it's a protection for my skin so I used it when I'm under the sun, besides applying it is very tolerable I just have to pat and pat the cream plenty of times for the white cast and stickiness to disappear.
1.Aloe Vera Foaming Cleanser 30ml
 This soft, refreshing cleansing foam contains aloe extract that soothes sensitive skin, and cucumber extract to moisturize skin, while cleansing.
* Use:  Foam a desired amount by rubbing in wet hands, and massage gently and thoroughly onto face.
Rinse with warm water.

2.Orange & Mint Body Wash 30ml
 Fine foaming body wash with orange and mint extracts to deliver vitality and energy to the body. 
 * Instruction:  Apply an appropriate and spread onto the shower ball during shower and foam up to massage over the entire body and rinse.

3.Carrot Sun Cream SPF30 PA++ 10ml
  A sunscreen contains the nutrient-enriched extract of organic carrots grown in pure water from Jeju Island and keeps your skin healthy .
 *Formulated without 6 chemicals: Parabens, dyes, alcohol, animal-derived ingredients, artificial fragrances, and sulfates.
 *To use:  After your daily skincare regimen, apply liberally onto your face, neck, arms, legs, and other areas that are easily exposed to UV sunlight.  For best results, apply at least 15 to 20 minutes before sun exposure
Another item from Skin Food is the Fresh Apple Sparkling Pore Serum.  The name kind of confused me:  I thought it would be transparent and liquidy with an apple cola~ish smell but it's not.  It's in cream/lotion type with a white color and a green papaya smell ( I want apple *_*).  This serum takes time to absorb and feels like I used an emulsion (it's a bit heavy for a serum).

Next are some aqua based cream:  Nature Republic Super Aqua Max Moisture Watery Cream (pink is for dry skin) and Missha Super Aqua Ultra Waterfull Cream.  These two are also heavy for my liking.  I'm not sure if it's just the hot weather or because I'm already used to Etude House Moistfull Collagen Cream but these two provides enough moisturize to my dry skin and makes my skin a little plumber (two sachets is not enough to judge their long term effects).  No breakouts two plus I like the smell of the Missha cream.
SKIN FOOD Fresh Apple Sparkling Pore Serum
 ▶ Product description 
-Formulated with unripe apple and soda water
-Provides pore clearing and trouble caring effects simultaneously.
-Removes dead skin cells and makes skin soft, smooth and elastic
-Refreshes and clarifies skin during the day

NATURE REPUBLIC Super Aqua Max Moisture Watery Cream
▶ Type:For dry skin
▶ Product description
 -Formulated with oceanophyte, collagen, hyaluronic acid, MD101
 -Provides moisture and prevents evaporating
 -Maintains watery skin for a long time.

Super Aqua Ultra Waterfull Cream
Highly moisturizing cream activates the moisture preserving ability of the skin to stop the cycle of dryness
Description
1. Ultra moisturizing cream that has been inspired by the moisture preserving ability of desert plants to keep skin moisturized for all seasons.
[Providing ultra skin moisture]
Solution1. Aqua lock
Imperata cylindrica extract creates a protective shield that prevents moisture from evaporating and from skin adapting to harmful elements
Solution2. Aqua Sponge
Adenium extracts absorb moisture like a sponge to increase skin elasticity
Solution3. Aqua Tank
Baobab tree extract activates the moisture energy inside the skin to stop the cycle of dryness
And lastly E'thym O2 Water Balancing Toner and Water Moisture Lotion from TheFaceShop.  The O2 Balancing Toner effectively removed the  dirt residue left behind after washing my face but I'm not liking the lotion because it clumps into white particles.  These two also are quite strong that I feel a little stinging after the third use  (looking at TheFaceShop website, I found out why).  They both have a nice smell though:  clean and citrusy.
E'thym O2 Water Balancing Toner
-For Oily to Combination Skin
A toner that has an aloe extract helps smoothen and moisturize the skin.

E'thym O2 Water Moisture Lotion
-For Oily to Combination Skin
A moisturizing lotion that has a touch of water helps keep the skin smooth and moist.
So that's it (pancit hehehe).  Enjoy the weather and don't forget to relax and enjoy so have a vacation!

Thanks for reading. Till then. Bye!