TRAVELS: Gingerbread House in Tagaytay

We are now nearing to the last stretch (a week) before Christmas. People are busy buying gifts, decorating home for Christmas, Misa de Gallo and of course buying food/doing groceries in preparation for the Noche Buena.

So while all were busy, my family are also busy doing some sort of mini travel :-). Having only seen this place on Instagram and saw how this is so of an Instagram-worthy place, might as well have a day tour of the place and do some of a needed photo shoot wouldn't hurt.

I really love how this place has been conceptualized as a bakery that grown into a must-see place in Tagaytay. Located at Alfonso, Cavite, this place is really pretty in person! More than what we see on Instagram.

This house literally looks like a cookie dough  with some sprinkles and icing on it! As if you want to take a bite and taste the house. haha! Just kidding! My baby is literally giggling as she saw how aesthetically appealing the place is! Actually, inside is like a coffee shop with some pastries being sold so you can just chill and drink your coffee!

So here are the pictures inside :-)

Outside there are also cute play area for the children. I love how this place is really child-friendly.

Entrance is 50 pesos and 40 pesos for Seniors. We tried ordering some breads and it tastes really good. I believe visiting the place also at night is really a must as the place is surrounded with beautiful Christmas lights.

So there you go guys! Go visit this cute and super worthy Instagrammable place. Kids at heart will definitely also enjoy!

How to get there?

You can take SLEX (south luzon expressway) and exit to Sta. Rosa or any exit going to Tagaytay.
Going to Alfonso, Cavite, this is on the right side (if you are coming from Tagaytay). The place is really on the hidden part and you need actually a private car to reach this place. But if you  are to commute, there is also tricycle at the intersection.




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TRAVELS: BAGUIO'S Dinosaur Island

Hi Readers!

Sorry for keeping you all waiting for new posts! Been busy with work and other mommy duties :-) Anyways, me and my family spent 3 days in Baguio last Nov 29 to Dec 1 and that is because we are celebrating our 3rd wedding anniversary.

So expect more travel posts soon in Baguio.

So for the first post, since this is my 3rd time in Baguio, I am looking for not so usual place to visit in Baguio so this Dinosaur Island is new to me. I only get to see this for the first time.

Dinosaur Island located at Tuba, Benguet is a park featuring animal-sized dinosaurs with a nature themed park. Dinosaurs in this theme park were like real life-sized dinosaurs, move and groans like real ones. What makes it more thrilling is you have to climb a couple of steps before you go to the actual park accompanied with a  tour guide. Every dinosaurs has its own characteristics so one differs from one another. An avid fan of Jurassic Park Movie will really enjoy seeing the dinosaurs and relive the moments in the movie!

How to get there?

If you have a car, and this can be seen along Marcos Highway and you can also use Goole Map or Waze :-) just like what we did :-)


Entrance is 350 Pesos each. but since this park also offers other park like the Holy land, you should pay 800 pesos.

So there you go guys! Another must-visit place in Baguio aside from the usual tourist destinations. Kids and kids-at-heart will really enjoy this park plus the beautiful scenery of the place.

Till our next travels!




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Beauty: Becca Backlight Priming Filter Review

Hi Readers!! OMG,, another holygrail product for me. You know me guys, I love dewy skin/makeup. Anything that has "Glow" in it either on the packaging or the makeup itself, makes me giggles. So here's my review on this primer.

Becca is a product known for the "lit from within" products which where those in shimmering skin perfector pressed/poured/liquid. So since this is a primer, I thought  why not? since I love makeup, and would like to prolong my makeup so I tested this one out.

Primarily, the purpose of this product is to blur out imperfections and add up glow on your skin. Once applied after your moisturizer, you can feel that it applies smoothly on the skin without feeling of tackiness. The texture is not "silicone-ish" which is what usual primers is.

So let's talk about the 'G-L-O-W". Yes, it has been emphasized, since this is what makes it different from other primers in the market. Sometimes, I love mixing this with my BB cream for a more glow, and I really love the effect!

Yes, it is glowy but not over the top, you know what I mean? Just check out my swatches below :-)

A pea size amount of the product

So I spread it once

So I spread it more evenly

 I have read reviews, that this primer doesn't really helps with the longevity of the makeup, and I should say, yes its true.  I tried using like 3 pea size on my whole face, and then put on top my BB cream,, I should say yeah, it really makes my makeup intact for like 3 hours. But that's alright given that I am living in a tropical country.

So on my pictures below, I use flash on my camera just to check how this reflects light, as this is a backlight filming primer :-) so it should look good on the camera, does it make sense? :-) just kidding. Anyways, I love how it turns out. Just used, this primer and a BB cream and voila, definitely glowing skin. Some makeup artists would suggest just put this where you want your highlight to be, but for me? Yeah i want it all over my face, but not too much, just to check if it will make my skin luminous (I have dry skin as preference).

Overall Verdict: 
All I am not happy is the price, for $38 dollars, this comes pricey. But if you are a makeup addict like me and you have a budget then go for it. I do have MAC Strobe Cream on my vanity kit, but this one is what I usually reach out for.

That would be all guys! Till next time :-)


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BEAUTY: Becca Champagne Pop Shimmering Skin Perfector® Pressed Highlighter Review

Becca's Champagne Pop Highlighter which is in collaboration with beauty guru/Youtuber Jaclyn Hill has been a serious game changer in terms of the highlighting/strobing in the beauty world. There was this instance when all beauty addicts where super into this product and all I can see was #ChampagnePop hashtags on IG, FB etc. So I finally cave in and voila, here's my review on this super famous highlighter by Becca.

First off, here in the Philippines where Becca is not readily available on our local beauty store, I was really frustrated on how to get my hands on this beauty product. Thankfully there is Sephora.ph wherein we can go shop online on our favorite imported makeups! Yay to that! So for those reading this in the Philippes, go checkout Sephora.ph guys and it was breezy transaction and delivery was that fast!

Anyways, moving on to this little beauty, Champagne Pop were described as peach shade of highlighter with golden sheen. Basically, it caters every skin tone as what it claims to be. I am NC30 in MAC for reference, and has yellow undertone being an Asian, so this really suits my complexion.

CHAMPAGNE POP 

 As you can see on the picture, this is my Champagne Pop. Unfortunately I dropped it while doing touch-ups and it really breaks my heart. I researched online for any solution to fix broken makeup and mixing alcohol with the powder really does the job. So on the picture It doesn't look as nice as before, but it looks decent now :-) So make sure, take an extra care on this little beauty.

HOW TO APPLY?

Well as for me, I reach out to my Real techniques brush from the Core Collection, and put this on my cheekbones, cupids bow, nose line and a little bit on the chin. This gives me that luminous effect as this product catches the light. Just make sure to not over do as this is super pigmented. A little goes a long way which makes it super worth the price, The shimmer is super fine and that's what I love about Becca highlighters as it doesn't scream GLITTERS on the face.

I know, there were a lot reviews online on this highlighter, so might as well just spoiled you with the pictures  :)

Swatch at the back of my hand

      So here's the actual photo of me using Becca Champage Pop pressed.

As you can see, it is super pigmented, I put it on the highest point of my cheekbones and I love the glow! No filter for this pic ladies, this is a real glow :-)

Overall Verdict:

• It is long wearing
• It is super sheen so better be careful not to over do.
• It doesn't have a bulk of glitter, the sheen is super fine.
• A little goes a long way
• Kinda pricey 

There you go ladies, who love GLOW!!

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BEAUTY: Mac Margin Powder Blush. A Review and Swatches

Hi Ladies!! Another beauty post as promised!! I am a blush junkie since I do lack colors on my skin because I am pale. I do love seeing myself having that pinch of color on my cheeks.

Combining my love for dewy and radiant skin makeup look, I was in the hunt for that blush that is not so bright yet gives just the right amount of color on the cheeks. And as I go online hunting for that perfect blush, I found this. Yay! Presenting, Mac Margin Powder Blush.

MAC Margin Blush

This has been my go-to blush for like a couple of weeks now since I bought it. It is sheer, it is not overpowering in terms of color payoff. The color is like slightly pink peach with gold shimmer that is not noticeable. It is decribed as "warm copper with frost finish".It has the right amount of sheen which I love. Most of the bloggers described this as a blush and highlighter all in one. So you have the best of both worlds :-)

So let's take a closer look on this beautiful blush my pretty readers!!

Well it comes in this traditional MAC packaging. It contains 6 grams of product and is made in Canada. At first, the product itself leans towards brownish copper color but once applied, it is more peach gold with shimmer. In terms of application, this glides smoothly on the skin. The powder is not too tacky and it is just so smooth and finely-milled.

Top view of the MAC Margin Blush

 So here's the swatch of the MAC Margin at the back of my hand. See how sheer this blush so you will have no problem in over application. You can build up the color, depending on how intense the color to show off.

So let me show how this look once applied on the cheeks :-) In the photo below, I use mac margin as my blush together with Essence Pure Nude Highlighter (which I am gonna review soon). As you can see, the color is not too bright which perfect for everyday wear. The frost shimmer in it is not overpowering but subtle. The color suits my skin as this one, is more of peach which compliments those with yellow and pink undertone. 

MAC Margin on my cheeks :-)

Pros:

• Glides smoothly once applied
• Subtle glow
• Color payoff is not overpowering
• Good for everyday wear
• Stays intact for 4 hrs
• Not too pigmented so you can build up the color

Cons

• Might not be suitable for oily skin as this gives luminosity on the skin
• Price (but for me it is worth it)

Voila!!! Dewy skin :-)

So there you go ladies. For those who loves dewy makeup look (those of JLo), and wants to look more glowing, this is for you! Go check them out on your nearest MAC Makeup Kioks/Store. Retails  for $23.00 or Php1600.
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BEAUTY: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Luminous Light Review

Hey beautiful readers!!! As promised, here's to another entry on my blog! In this post, I will feature my newest addition to my everyday makeup essentials, Hourglass Ambient Powder in Luminous Light. You know how i love fresh dewy makeup and this has been on my wish list for a long time, and so a friend of mine bought me this in the US and voila, I get my hands on it!

I know, I'm too late. Hourglass became talk of the town I think 2013 and since this is not available in Manila that time, I just get to see this online. But as they say, " Better late than never!!".

As described in Hourglass Website: (https://www.hourglasscosmetics.com)

Features and Benefits:

• Powders mimic six universally flattering light sources, from morning light to candlelight, allowing clients to build a wardrobe of options—not unlike having a personal lighting technician at your disposal.• By manipulating and filtering out harsh light, powders conceal skin imperfections, pores and wrinkles.• State-of-the-art formula delivers a multi-dimensional luminescence to every skin tone, making it appear softer, younger and perfectly lit.• Universal powders make them suitable for every skin tone, while each can be worn day and night.• The finishing powders enhance skin in any type of light, including flash photography.LUMINOUS LIGHT: A champagne pearl powder that creates a soft, incandescent candlelit glow—day or night.


Now, let's take a closer look on this coveted item in the beauty world :-)

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Luminous Light

First off, this is a Finishing Powder. Finishing Powder is different from Setting Powder (sets the foundation to avoid creasing or rubbing off) so let us not be mistaken by these two. Finishing Powder should be applied after your setting powder. This makes the skin more smoother by simply blurring the appearance of pores and fine lines. Thus gives a photograph of "no-filter look" if you know what I mean. So the next time, you take that selfie, you're rest assured you got the most flattering lights that touches your skin.

Close up shot

Let us take a closer look on this baby, shall we??? As you can you see from the picture, It has that soft sheen (not that awkward large glitters) which good for not accentuating large pores on your skin. The powder is finely milled and it literally just glides on your face once applied. And since this is not a Setting Powder (I have to reiterate that), don't expect that it contains color shade as those setting powder. What I mean is, the one that you expect to fully cover the face as what Setting powder does.

Well, I just loved how this gives just the right amount of luminosity on the skin. Not too heavy, just subtle which is a thumbs up! Compared to my Becca Champagne Pop (which I will do a review soon), this is more like on a medium side of highlighting effect.  I just love how this gives me, "hey I'm glowing" look haha! Honestly, some would love applying this on the highest point on their cheeks, bridge of the nose, browbone, a little bit on the chin and on the cupid's bow. But on the days when I'm feeling I need to be more glowing, I use big fluffy blush (the one I used in Real Techniques Blush brush) and buff it all over my face..

It is packaged in a rose gold sleek compact and it is really lightweight. However, I just noticed that the hourglass label fades unlike the my Mac one (MSF Powder). Sorry but i just love seeing labels on my makeup :-)

Another closeup shot 

Should we have the round-up ladies :-)

Pros:

• It is sheen and subtle which is suitable for beauties who loves dewy makeup.
• Powder is finely milled 
• You don't need a lot to achieve that glow you want
• Perfect to apply on where you want the light touch your skin

Cons:

• The price, omg, I can buy a palette of eye shadow with the price tag!!

So there you go ladies, will soon post a picture of me wearing this beauty :-) Till our next beauty session :-)



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BEAUTY: Nuxe Huille Prodigieuse (Multi- Purpose Dry Oil)

Hi Beauties!! Literally, I've been out in quite a lonnnnnggg time.. I miss blogging so much and thinking of re-contruct my blog. Anyways, I have been busy with work and having a kid, but now I am back! I will make sure now, that I'll post more often and be more active on my blog posts!
My love for all things beauty hasn't changed, so now I would like to share with you my not-so-recent discovery since I have been using this multi-purpose oil for like 2 years now.

Presenting Nuxe Huille Prodigieuse (Multi- Purpose Dry Oil)...

As a mom, I gravitate towards anything that is multi-functional. I was once a fan of using Argan Oil, as what you can see on my other post. My love from Face oil has started when I am in 30's. You know anti-ageing skincare has been my priority. I was in the hunt for perfect Multi-purpose oil like argan oil.. Multipurpose in such a way that I can use it on my face, body and hair.

And so I read an online article, and this has been a keeper in most celebrity skincare in the Philippines, and so I ran to the nearest store and grab the 100ml bottle.

First aesthetic-wise, I love the packaging. It's in a clear bottle which helps you see the amount of product you already used. It has a spray so there is no tendency of spill. It also in rose gold packaging which I love!

This is actually my 2nd bottle. I still have the 1st bottle which  I am currently using, and I've been using it for like 1 year now and I can't even finish that off! This shows how super "sulit" (worth it) the product is.

So let me go through the benefits of this product:

1. I used as a moisturizer:

OMG Ladies. I could not believe that I have found my Holy Grail Face oil. Just for reference, I have dry skin, but oily on my T-zone. This has not break me out unlike Argan oil (which I have nothing against with Argan Oil, but I actually had a breakout with that one).

After washing my face, in the morning and before I go to sleep, I use this and oh boy, I am that impressed! It is not greasy as what we usually presume when it comes to putting oil on our face. This oil absorbs quickly by the skin which is great. Also I apply this before putting on my makeup and it helps putting on foundation nicely.

2. I used this on my Hair!!

My friends know how my hair has been damaged by all the Hair Rebond and hair color. I do have a thick hair, and sometime putting oil makes it look like I have been out in the sun for quite a long time and my hair is greasy. But this one, it is NOT! I just use 2 spritz, rub it on my palm, and gently massaged it on my hair. Also, before I go to sleep, I put 2 sprays this on my hair and in the morning, I can see how this makes my hair shiny and manageable.

3. I used it on my baby (yes!), when I am running out of baby oil.

When I can't even see where did I put my baby oil , I used this on my baby. Knowing that this is made of pure and natural oil, I thought why not use it. And it hasn't give rashes or any side effect on my baby's skin. But of course, because of the price tag, I only use this on my baby whenever It is just needed.

4. I use this as hand moisturizer and body oil.

 You know, you're already adulting when you do chores more than you used to, and as a newbie mom, I tend to use my hands in everything I do (bathing my baby, washing the dishes etc) and this dries out my skin especially with all the chemicals from the laundry soap etc.

So this one, surprised me when I used it on my hand and this is like a gallon of water that my skin needs to keep hydrated. For the body, I just put this on my collarbone,shoulders and legs to give me that extra glow.

See how it is not greasy and absorbed by the skin.

I have nothing bad to say about this product. So if you want a multi-functional oil, then this is the right one for you! Retail price is (Php 1600) but most of the time they are on sale (Rustan's, Landmark) so grab one. This is not in anyways sponsored post, I just want to share with you how I love this product.

Till our next beauty session. 

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