iWhite Korea 2 Minute Whitening Miracle: Review

I noticed that a lot of beauty bloggers and youtubers have been going on about this iWhite 2 Minute Whitening Miracle and although I wanted to jump in on the bandwagon sooner, I couldn't find this particular product in the nearby supermarket and Watsons in my area. Last month, I dropped by Megamall to get my prizes from a video contest I joined and I chanced upon this product in the beauty section of SM Department Store.

Mise en scene Perfect Repair Treatment Pack and Serum: Review

I  started having hair troubles from October, last year, when I had my hair permed. Sadly, after having my hair permed, I suffered with dry and unhealthy looking hair. Because of this, I have been religiously taking care of my hair. Thankfully, my Memebox Global Box  #15 had products that helped me with my problems. 

Aside from conditioning my hair everyday, I now apply hair mask twice a week and apply hair serum every single day. Specifically, I use the Mise en scene Perfect Repair Treatment Pack and the Mise en scene Perfect Serum.

 The duo. I got the full size for both. Yay!

Travel Seoul: Olleh KT Wifi Prepaid Card (How-to)

Let us all take a moment to take in the fact that 2 months of 2015 have already passed. So fast, right? I know! I know! I have the same thoughts! I can't believe January and February flew by just like that. However, reality is here and we can do nothing but embrace the month of March, which just arrived.

On one of my travel posts, I mentioned that one of the first things we did when we arrived in South Korea was getting our T-money loaded (for easy commute on trains, buses, taxi, etc.) and grabbing an Olleh Wifi prepaid card. Both of these things can be done in GS25, which is a convenience store that we saw nearby the bus station.

The thing about Korea is that there are a lot of Olleh wifi networks all over Seoul. There are networks in most tourists spots and subway stations. The only down side is that most of it are password protected so if you don't have the pin, you won't be able to access them. This is frustrating especially to those who want to update their social media real time or maybe if you just didn't bother to get roaming since messenger apps are used by everyone nowadays. (Raise your hand if you can relate.)

One cheap solution to this is getting the Olleh KT Wifi prepaid card. At first, I didn't know if I should make a separate post about this but since one of my readers, Claudine, wanted to know about it, I thought making one would be worth it.

Olive Young Half False Eyelashes (Crisscross Type): Review

One thing that I actually forgot to consider when I was in Korea is how people there actually took care of themselves and cared how they looked. Not that I didn't bring makeup or anything, but whenever I'd go out, I'd see people withtheir barely there makeup and be amazed. Most Koreans have flawless skin! I find comparing myself to them most of the time and I'd lose confidence with my skin condition. So I got myself false lashes. You may be like, "What??!!". I know, I know. It may seem like my thoughts are incoherent but they are. Just read on.

It may seem like buying a pair of falsies has nothing to do with losing confidence on my current skin condition but the thing is, while I was in Korea, I couldn't do anything about my skin. One quick way (that I thought of) to at least increase my self confidence is by buying this pair of lashes. I thought, if I can't make my skin better during my trip, I'd rather just make my makeup look better.

Suitcasers Hostel: Review

Planning your own South Korea trip wouldn't be complete without booking a place to stay. If you can afford to book 5-star hotels, then good for you. But if you're in for an affordable place to stay, Suitcasers is the way to go.

 

 The polaroid shots we left on the board as appreciation. :)

While waiting for our visa to get approved, we booked a reservation through the Suitcasers website. We first saw this hostel through agoda. We actually reserved through agoda but decided to just cancel and contact the Suitcasers staff directly as their mode of reservations suited our taste better.

Bulgogi Brothers: Food Diary

Bulgogi Brothers is a restaurant that I've heard more than once, twice or thrice from my good old 'chingu' (Korean for friend), Lyle. We're both Korean culture fanatics and we try a lot of Korean stuff just for appreciation. For a little over a year now, she's been raving about the restaurant saying small Korean restaurants we've eaten in so far doesn't compare to Bulgogi Brothers. Today, is just going to be a simple post showing you some of the food we ate while having lunch at the said restaurant.

I've never blogged about food and I don't think I have enough adjectives in my vocabulary to fully describe how the food tasted all in all so I'll just leave the photos to hopefully speak for itself. (Like it would. LOL)

Innisfree It's Real Red Cabbage Mask: Review + Wishtrend Black Friday Sale

I noticed it's been quite a while since my face last received TLC with the use of face mask. The last time I had it was when I used this one from Innisfree. I have a good reason for skipping on face masks though (This is another story.).

While looking through my blog photos folder, I noticed this one from the lot and I realized I haven't made a post about it yet so here I am!

This face mask, supposedly, is made to give vitality and energy to your skin. Whatever may that mean, this face mask just functions like any other face mask I've tried out there. What's different, for me, is only the variant, which is Red Cabbage. I haven't tried it before so it was something new.

Performance wise, it was pretty much just the same as any other road shop brand face mask. It didn't break me out, made my skin soft and feel supple. Frankly speaking, it was nothing out of the ordinary. Don't get me wrong, though. I would still recommend this product to anyone who's interested in trying out face masks especially those who wants to try the 'One Mask A Day' skin treatment and wants different variants.

On another note, which is completely different from the product mentioned above, I would just like to inform you that Wishtrend, home of great Korean skin care and cosmetics, is having a Black Friday Week sale. For those who are interested, feel free to visit their website here:

I normally don't post stuff about these stuff but I went to the site and saw great deals so I couldn't resist sharing it with you, guys. If I had extra money, I'd definitely grab the chance to buy one. The only thing stopping me is my pending trip to South Korea (December 2-7), where I plan to spend the little money I have left with me.

With Love,
Anna Luisa

South Korea, I'm Coming for You: Korean Tourist Visa Application

Let's see your list. You are a K-Pop fan? Check. You love Korean dramas? Check. You want to shop for Korean beauty cosmetics straight from where it's created? Check. Or you're just a traveller at heart? Check. Whatever your reason is, I'm sure your goal is to get to visit the beautiful land of South Korea. But if you're a Filipino citizen like me, the very first thing you have to do is get your visa.

 Credits to Korean Tourism Organization

Now I'm not sure if I told you this before but right now, I am in between jobs. I am a nurse by profession and I used to be an ICU nurse. I already got the experience I needed and I resigned from my position due to reasons I will not stipulate in this post (Say no to dramatic post). Anyway, I decided to explore my opportunities abroad but it won't be until next year as I have a lot of papers to process and frankly speaking, I'm not yet ready emotionally. So in summary, I am currently unemployed. I will be an english tutor soon but I don't think it will have any bearing at all right now. The problem of Korean visa application now comes in.

Etude House Bling in the Sea Proof 10 Bling Eye Stick (#05 Bling Wave): Review

It's time for another Korean trend post/review. One of the popular trends in Korea nowadays is creating/highlighting one's aegyosal. If you didn't already know, aegyosal is the bag that forms under your eyes when you smile. They believe that highlighting this area makes one look youthful. A good product to make use for this, in my opinion, would be eyeshadow sticks like the Etude House Bling Bling Eye Stick I previously reviewed. But for a more subtle aegyosal definition, I like to use this Bling in the Sea Proof 10 Bling Eye Stick in #05 BL601 Bling Wave.

I've actually had this product with me for a year now. It was given to me as gift by a good friend of mine, (Ma'am) EJ. (Thank you!) She was my manager and one of the few people at work who also liked Korean cosmetics. You can only imagine my excitement when she handed me this product when I came back from my birthday leave last year. I don't really know why it took me so long to post a review on it.

Anyway, it's very much reminiscent of the Bling Bling Eye Stick I previously reviewed. With almost the same packaging (this one is slightly bigger), they both function as an eyeshadow stick. This one, however, is just a white stick with bits of bluish purple glitters in it. Also, I personally like this packaging better because it looks girlier with the pastel blue color.

One swipe

2-3 swipes

To be honest, I didn't know how to use it properly the first time I used it so noone noticed its presence on my lids. If you're gonna use it for your aegyosal, most people won't notice it unless you really pack it on, which I often do. It just leaves a nice shimmery touch on the bottom lids that makes people nearby notice and take a second look.

A better way to make use of the product is by layering it on top of a smudgeproof eyeliner. I prefer using liquid liners as gels and pencils stains and transfers to the the actual shadow stick. Since I always use it on top of a black eyeliner, the glitters stand out and becomes a lot more noticeable while still being wearable.

It could be because it's a cream form or maybe just because it's glittery, it is quite long wearing as I don't feel the need to reapply during the rest of the day. This is a good thing especially since I have oily lids and most products just tend to slide off my lids over time.

It's also very easy to use because it's in a stick form so you save a lot of time during the application process. So yes, no need for brushes! ^^

If you're looking for a nice, straight to the point, subtle eye makeup accent, then I definitely recommend this one from Etude House. For more information, you can like their Etude House Philippines' facebook page over here.

Etude House Oh! M' Eyelash Curling and Clean Mascara: Review

It doesn't come as a surprise that I absolutely adore mascaras that are volumizing. Having long but stick, straight and thin lashes, I really need volumizing mascaras to make my lashes noticeable. Really, it doesn't matter how long your lashes are if they're super thin and almost invisible.

There are times, however, when I feel like I just want my lashes to appear a little bit more made up without looking like I slapped on a ton of products on my eyes. This is usually when I am just casually going out, maybe for a class or at work (if I still had one), because really, I don't consider these two activities to be of much importance that I have to bring all my guns out. At times like these, I just want to sport minimal eye make-up and for those moments, Etude House Oh! M' Eyelash Curling and Clean Mascara is the way to go!

 

 

At PHP 198, this is a very reasonably priced product from a trusted Korean brand. Easily the cheapest mascara Etude House has to offer, this particular product is perfect for college students out there and working girls on a budget.

The packaging is very simple with a black tube and a very typical curling wand but the name sounds so unique and witty. "Oh! M' Eyelash" is pronounced as "Oh my lash", right? Cool beans!

Initially, I didn't really expect much from the product because I rarely buy mascaras that aren't made for volume but since this was a part of a set that I bought, I really couldn't replace it with the volume variant.

It was a blessing in disguise, though, because this particular product was well used and abused during my nursing days. (Yes, I used to be a nurse before I quit my job.) It's the perfect subtle, not in your face, not over the top mascara that you can comfortably wear when you go out for everyday activities.

 

As you can see from the photo above, the mascara was able to make my lashes noticeable without overdoing it. The best part? It was able to hold the curl of my stick, straight lashes! Also, I only had to apply one coat and I'm done.

I would definitely recommend getting this particular product in the nearest Etude House boutique near you. I got this one from Etude House in SM Sta. Rosa. For more details, you can visit Etude House Philippines' facebook page.

THEFACESHOP Brow Powder Duo: Review

Back when I was in college, I didn't know much about makeup and the few things I put on my face are just powder and lip color. Occasionally, I would add in a blush or an even rarer addition of eyeliner. I almost have all the basics except for one important point-- EYEBROWS!!!

Admittedly, I didn't know the importance of having a well defined brows. For years, I didn't even care about trying to groom my brows. Imagine my surprise when I learned about the wonders of having well shaped and well defined brows, especially in photos. It came as a huge discovery that I made sure to put to heart.

 

If you didn't already know, my dear readers, our eyebrows frames our face. This is the very reason why beauty gurus aren't joking when they say your eyebrows complete your look. It can not only improve your everyday appearance, but can also transform your look depending on how you would shape your brows.

 This is the old packaging.

Personally, I just follow the natural shape of my brows. I don't shape my own brows as I have it done in Lay Bare (most of the time) and Benefit counters when I have extra cash. I like the straight and defined look but recently, especially in the Korean beauty community, thick, straight brows tend to be the trend as it can make you look youthful in an instant. But then again, no matter what brow preference you have, you still have to make sure your brows look polished before stepping out of the house. I swear, it makes all the difference.

A product that I like to use on a daily basis would have to be the THEFACESHOP Brow Powder Duo. I actually got this particular product over 2 years ago but I only started using it a little over a year ago.

It is called 'duo' because as you can see, it has two shades of brown. Usually, I just use the lighter brown shade but when I want more definition, I try to use the darker shade.

The swatches aren't extraordinary, in my opinion. However, I never felt the need to change my brow product because I am very much satisfied with the results this gives. The applicator proved to be useful to me for about 6 months but after buying a separate brow brush, I never touched the applicator it came with. Frankly speaking, I may have even lost it somewhere in my makeup stash.

 

This is a highly recommended product and thankfully, if you also live in the Philippines, there are a lot of THEFACESHOP stores in leading department stores nationwide. Oh, and before I forget, if you want to see how I use this particular product, you can watch my Nature Republic Botanical Eyebrow Mascara Review + Demo (How I Do My Brows) video which also showcased this particular item. Enjoy!

Tony Moly Berry Berry Magic Lip Tint: Review

Hi everyone! There's only a day left to join my international giveaway. It's totally easy to join so be sure to enter and get the chance to win a Japanese Bubble Hair Dye called Palty Foam Hair Dye in the shade Milk Tea Brown!

Moving on to the real post, I am here to share with you one of my most favorite makeup items ever. It's the perfect everyday lip color for me. The photos were taken a while back when I got this as a present for my birthday last year but I only got the chance to review it now. Do note that this is the old packaging and as you go through this post, I will also be sharing its new packaging so you don't miss it out in stores. The product is called Berry Berry Magic Lip Tint from the Korean brand, Tony Moly. Why magic, you say? Read on and find out! ;)

The product comes in a sturdy plastic packaging that's just a little bit bigger than a 5 peso coin. It's very handy and fits into my makeup bag very well. Contrary to most Korean brand packaging, its appearance is quite simple. There are no printed designs, no artwork embossed nor drawn. The shape isn't anything special either. However, I don't mind this because it definitely delivers more than it presents.

Manufacturing date is written at the back! :)

I got this in the shade #1 Strawberry. I swatched all three colors (before) and initially, I thought this was the lightest of the three. This is the very reason why I didn't get this for myself. I got the Green Apple one (which I haven't opened yet) for myself. Thankfully, a good friend of mine (Thanks Dana!) decided to give this to me as a present. It turns out, this particular shade comes out brighter on me than the other two.

As you can see, the product itself is clear. It just looks like a regular lip gloss in this small container. This is where the term 'magic' comes in. When you first swatch the product, it delivers a very light pink shade that reacts to your skin chemistry. A few more seconds later, it transforms into a brighter shade of pink that looks really complimentary to my medium light skin tone.

This has been a staple in my makeup bag for months and months and I remember being fond of using it as an everyday work lip color. I got a lot of compliments whenever I wear it and the best thing about it is that it's super easy to use.

I used to work as a nurse and everything seems fast paced and activities happen one after another that it's really hard to maintain and retouch your makeup within the day. This particular product, on the other hand, makes it easy to do so because I can easily reapply this even without the use of a mirror.

Even though I don't use it as often as I first tried it, this still remains as one of my most reached out product especially when I can't decide on what lip color to sport. My sister also particularly likes to 'borrow' this because of its versatility and outstanding performance.

I would highly recommend this product to any girl out there! Just know that this is already marketed as the "Tony Moly Berry Delight Magic Lip Tint" and it has four different shades. According to some other bloggers, the Strawberry (clear) and Green Apple (green) still has the same shade but the other two are new ones.

 

Make sure to get one when you drop by a Tony Moly Philippines counter/ boutique near you! Also, let me know about the two new shades as I don't have them in my collection (yet).

Tony Moly Dr. Tony AC Control Spot Patch: Review + Haul

Before I go on with the formal content of this post, I would like to invite everyone to join my ongoing giveaway. I will be giving away a hair dye from the Japanese brand called Dariya Palty in the shade Milk Tea Brown, which happens to be one of the popular shades they have. It is open internationally so everyone is encouraged to join. :) (You will probably see this introduction in most of my future posts up until the giveaway is over. I hope you don't mind the post by post plug. ^^)

When one suffers from acne, there are so many things to experience and consider. For one, there's redness and pain. There's 'the bump' and flaky skin (surrounding the blemishes). There's also itchiness (sometimes) and of course, that big blow on one's self esteem. The list could go on but I want to mention this particular one because for me, this is one of the hardest things to conquer-- 'doing the forbidden'.

As a rule of thumb, one must never (Notice how 'never' is underlined for emphasis.) touch the problem areas a.k.a. zits/acne. Our hands are probably one of the dirtiest parts of our body and touching these areas might cause further infection and 'aggravate' the problem. I know this by heart but sometimes, I act without thinking. When one thing itches, I scratch. When I feel a bump, I have an urge to assess its size through light palpation. So before I get to process my reflex actions, I realize that I'm already too late. I already subjected my skin to unidentified germs! It doesn't happen all the time, but when it does, I like to spank myself (in my mind).

Recently, I found this spot patch from Tony Moly and it helps to remind me not to touch the area. You might be wondering what this particular product is. Fret not, I am here to brief you on it. A spot patch is basically a spot medicated patch that you put on top of your problem areas. It looks like a small circular colorless sticker which claims to provide relief of troubled areas and prevents dead cell build up. It contains salicylic acid (a common property of acne medications), tea tree oil and grape seed extracts. It has softening and moisturizing effects and can be left onto the skin for 8-12 hours.

Although the packaging says it is best used overnight, I like to use this particular product during day time. Unlike the THEFACESHOP Clean Face Clear Away Spot, I can use this during the day as it is not noticeable when placed on the spot because the patch is colorless. Surely, one might notice it if they look a you very closely but a normal interaction probably wouldn't even grab any attention towards it.

I also like to think that since the patch is covering my acne, it is not exposed to dirt outside and is protected from harmful agents when going out. Also, when I unconsciously touch the area, I am reminded that I shouldn't because I feel the presence of the patch. It silently slaps me on the face (of course, just through my imagination) and asks me to stop placing my dirty fingers on my face.

The best part, of course, is that once the patch is removed (8-12 hours after), the redness and swelling is reduced. I highly recommend this product. I forgot how much it costs (please comment down below if you have any idea) but it definitely  wouldn't hurt your wallet. There are 12 patches in one pack so you get a fair amount of product for its price (definitely below PHP100).

Have you tried this particular product or any other spot patch? How was your experience?

Before I formally end this post, I would just like to share this haul that I did last February so I can delete the photos from my hard drive. I've actually already reviewed some of the products here so you probably already saw them. :)

 The main reason why I wanted to blog about this haul in the first place is because I wanted to brag about my SJ-M poster featuring Zhou Mi, Donghae, Eunhyuk and Kyuhyun (Left to right) from Tony Moly. ^^

 Tony Moly Cats Wink Clear Pact, Nichido High Definition Lipstick in Pretty Tulip, Bangle Set, Tony Moly Face Mask

 Belt from SM Department Store and Ring from The Landmark Makati

 Tony Moly I'm Real Broccoli Mask Sheet: Vitality

 Bangle Set from The Landmark Makati