Real Life Sundays, ed. 32

In the famous words of a wise, ancient dragon:

So, hi y'all!  

I am alive and kicking.  But not kicking very high because I am currently sick :'(  I haven't been sick like this- dry cough, cold, swollen sinus- in a long time.  But I have been pushing myself quite hard this semester.  

My life currently involves work for 8 hours, followed by graduate classes on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and I need a weekend from my weekends because I am doing back-to-back ministries helping out a youth group and serving and attending church.  I have never complained, and this is not a complaint, mind you.  I am simply telling the story of my life for the past month and a half.  Despite the strength that I feel in my mind and spirit, my body couldn't keep up.  Plus, there's a bug going around.  So, I am calling in sick tomorrow to shake off the last of this cough and cold.  And that's why I can blog a bit tonight.  :)

I am really excited despite this hectic schedule!  Since I was a wee one, I really wanted to get my Master's long before I'm 30, and that's what I'm working for now :)   

Anyway~~

I am currently in love with this Filipino restaurant that my sister and I have been frequenting, that we would drive for 25 minutes to get to it: Ben N Yan's!!  Slurp!!

Photo time!  

[Insert cliché: don't say I didn't warn ya; get ready to drool; gastronomical adventures (this so deserves a derp face because it's soooo pretentious)]

Clockwise from top left: sisig, crispy pork snout marinated with chili sauce served on a sizzling plate (dis da BOMB!); pinakbet, a medley of veggies sauteed with shrimp paste, shrimp, and pork; and oxtail kare-kare, savory peanut butter based sauce with bokchoy and tripe (dis also da BOMB!); pagkain means food in Tagalog. 

It's a shame that I used to snob Filipino restaurants because apparently, when your mom is a wonderful cook, you think that she's the only cook.  Haha!  But Ben N Yan's has an inviting, presentable interior with delicious food.  (Sadly, some Filipino restaurants look so cheap-o :( )

Another of my food loves is Cookie Spread. ♥♥♥ 

My family and I can finish a jar in a week!  

Stahp it!  Stahp it some more! XD

Didn't watermark it.  Go ahead~  I'm willing to share the love♥

This entry is not only about goodies for the tummy.  I also have one photo of a goody for my face:

SK-II has finally arrived on Guam at the DFS in Tumon.  Heard it had a cult following.  Had to try it.  :) 

And if Ben N Yan's and the arrival of SK-II did not already attract you to Guam, ;)  here is an article by BBC to further peak your interest: BBC Travel: Guam.

Anyway, I do not promise that Guam is paradise.  Some people I know have come and go: had a blast for a year or two but then became bored after that and have been itching to go.  I've always wondered the reason for that...  I am not bored because I am always busy here, although I feel the occasional wanderlust.  I guess this is my home, that's why.  Yes, that must be it: the idea of making Guam home.  

Holika Holika Face 2 Change Liquid Roller BB Cream Review

Wouldn't it be awesome if unicorns were real?

Definitely!

But they are not.  :(

Before you go on and have a meltdown about the unfairness in this world, I will introduce to you something that is pretty awesome.  Not unicorn-awesome, but pretty awesome nonetheless.

It's sleek, slim, and dark.
Its pink accents show that edgy can still be feminine.

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

| 

Meet Holika Holika Face 2 Change Liquid Roller BB

This is the newer packaging to their product with the same namesake.  I cannot say anything about the older version because I haven't tried it, but this one is a keeper :)  

The roller feature is very ingenious and applies the product evenly.  Holika Holika also included a spare, which is super conscientious of them. :)  Thank you!  Oh~ And Cosmetic-Love has been fantastic with sending their merchandises from Korea to Guam!  Please check them out since they're one of the least expensive stores I've ever shopped at for Korean Cosmetics and they always have promos.  :)

Benefits it claims to have:

• UV protection
• Whitening
• Anti-wrinkle

The Good:

• Lightly scented
• Lightweight
• Roller feature gives an even and smooth application
• Decent staying-power 
• Medium coverage
• Build-able for more coverage
• SPF and anti-aging benefits
• Gives significant radiance to skin

The Bad:

• Too fair upon application (but oxidizes to match skin tone throughout the day)
• A bit more expensive than other BBs at $21.51
• Dewy-finish (but can be offset with powder)

Conclusion

After using this BB Cream for a week already, I can honestly say that I am very satisfied with it.  I was disappointed with my last CC Cream review because of it's barely-there coverage.  This one gives me good coverage without making my skin look artificial and cake-y.  It can be worn on its own but because Guam is too hot for dewy finish; I always set it with powder.  Oh!  And I cannot stop raving about the roller, which is detachable by the way, for easy clean up. 

5/5 for WINNER!

 

Blends well into the skin for a natural finish.

Nearly bare-faced and confident.
Anyway, this is my face with only the BB.  Photo is untouched.  I do have a pimple scar above my lip and redness in the corners of my nose.  But you can't tell, can you?  That's what I'm talking about! 

I finish this post with a photo of a happy happy happy me with my awesome BB.  Haha!

This post is NOT sponsored.

Innisfree Real Skin Color Control Cream Review

What's it gonna be?

(not my photo)

I read that it will depend on your needs, however, the difference between BB Creams and CC Creams is very subtle.  Personally, I thinks it's a marketing scheme (how naughty of me!)

According to Sephora.com and from personal experiences, BB Cream provides a heavier coverage whereas CC Cream gives a lighter, more natural finish.  BOTH are for brightening, anti-aging, moisturizing, and sun-protection.

So, here we are, with the luxury to actually try out any one of these products.  And after contemplating of which CC Cream to purchase, I decided on Innisfree Real Skin Color Control SPF 30 PA++ from Cosmetic-Love and is wonderfully affordable at $18.43.

It claims:

"... contained with magic color capsules modifies and adjusts to your natural skin tone on contact, creating a vibrant healthy glow."*

 Other benefits:

• Brightens skin with Jeju camellia ingredient
• Creates a protective veil to moisturize skin all day long
• Protects against UV rays
• Smoothly adheres to skin to create a flawless look**

The Good:

• Reasonably priced at less than $20 at Cosmetic-Love website.
• Light herbal scent- not like perfume
• Very lightweight
• Color changes to match your skin tone
• Significantly brightens the skin, giving off a dewy finish
• No ashiness
• Stays on for nearly the entire day
• SPF and anti-aging benefits

The Bad:

• Its dewiness can look greasy (which can be fixed with powder)
• Very light coverage

Conclusion

My skin has not reacted negatively with this product, such as pimples.  I feel that the ingredients are really natural because it does not smell like perfume and it feels very light on my skin.  Because I am recently not breaking out, I just put this CC Cream on and counter the dewy finish with loose powder.  Update: I am not very satisfied with it, however, because of it's too light coverage.

Left: CC cream goes on white.  Right: Matches the skin tone when blended well.   There is more brightness as compared to the area without the product.

Left: A very naked face- trouble areas are the glabella, dark circles, and redness around the nose.  Right: There really isn't much of a difference because of the CC cream's light coverage but it did make my face brighter and fairer.

To make some sense of my bare, lack-luster face, I put on concealer, loose powder, and a bunch of other potions on my face. :)

I will list down the other products I used here on another post.  Many of them were from my Cosmetic-Love haul. :)

Have a good day! 

Image

BB Cream vs CC Cream

Text

*InnisFree Real Skin Color Control Cream box

**Korea Department Store website http://en.koreadepart.com/item/1365582829/

Bet You'll Love

My package arrived in the mail today fresh from Korea!!

Wahoo-heh! (Yes, I'm a teacher... -_-)

This won't be long but I just had to share this awesome Korean cosmetics site- Cosmetic-Love- because~~~~

• One- they ship to Guam
• Two- the products are less expensive than from the other sites (same famous brands: Missha, Skin Food, Etude House, etc.)
• Three- shipping is FREE!
• Four- Freebies!
• Five- Customer service is responsive ^_^

I hope to review these as soon as I use them and when summer vacation starts.  T___T (I want summer NOW!)

Excited for this new gimmick.  

Freebies and ninja stars ★

I thought my photos are pretty good ^^  Anyway, yes.  Cosmetic-Love is having a sale on sun care products just in time for the summer heat, so be sure to check it out!

Lastly, if you've missed me, here I am~ alive and well.

*This is NOT a sponsored post.

✿✿✿

It's interesting how I thought I would be excited today that I would be able to blog tonight, but I guess I thought wrong...

First Sasa Haul

I was amazed when I stumbled upon Sasa.com.  It was like a shopaholic's dream.  They have a plethora of beauty products; A LOT from Asia!  And the prices are not too expensive, too!

Finally got to order from them last month.  I even bothered my friends who were planning for their wedding because Sasa does not ship to PO boxes  *shame-shame* I felt sooo sorry.  O, the thick face I'm growing to get what I want...  Hehehe!

Oh, I forgot to photograph my My Beauty Diary orders!  

Sasa.com's customer service was good, too.  I like to inquire with the companies I'm ordering from and the Sasa staff was pretty helpful and quickly attended to my questions.  That was cool.  I hope to review some of these products soon, especially the Cosmagic mascara with its interesting wand ^_^  

My Beauty Faves, ed. 2

This is the second installment of My Beauty Faves because I've found some new tried and true products♥

Anyway, some of my beauty foci have changed.  For example, I'm becoming big on eyebrows and thankfully, my facial skin has improved quite significantly, so I don't use BB cream as often anymore.  I just use powder to mattify my skin.  My skin is awfully oily though...  If you have any suggestions/advice as to handle this, I'm calling on you! ^_^

But before I commence with the list, I just want to showcase my BB Cream Boutique haul (once again, I succumb to beauty blogger lingo... -_-)  Service was great as usual: the package came in a week!  They even tried to answer my questions and concerns quickly.  So, super yay! for online shopping.

L-R: Skinfood Red Orange Sun Powder, Etude House Petit Darling Lips Lipstick
in Prudish Purple, Tony Moly Tony Tint in Cherry Pink, Etude House Drawing
Eyebrow AD in Light Brown, Etude House Proof 10 Liquid Liner in BK801
Waterproof Black (new packaging), and freebies.

Mini Review on Tony Moly Tony Tint in Cherry Pink:

Very watery, no oil or other moisturizing agents. 

Very intense color.  I will swatch it on my lips later.

The lip tint does not appeal to me at the moment...  I'm disappointed that it does not moisturize my lips in any way but that's what most lip tints are like, I guess (?)  (As you can tell, I'm quite clueless about this...  :S)  But it's a lovely, bright color and gives off an "I-just-sucked-on-an-ice-pop" look.

Finally, my faves!

Etude House Darling Petite Lip Lipstick in Prudish Purple
What I love about it?
Packaging is the least of my concerns but this one is very cute.  ^^
The color is off in this image but it's a lovely purple pink hue and looks sweet on
my lips.  It's generously infused with glitters- very pretty.  (For better swatches,
click here).

Etude House Drawing Eyebrow AD in Light Brown
What I love about it?
The crayon's shape is genius!  It angles and tapers to conform to the the shape of my
brows, making drawing quick and easy.  It also comes with a brush to make the
eyebrows oh-so-shapely and neat.

Proactiv Solution Green Tea Moisturizer
What I love about it?
You know how some moisturizers are labeled with "non-greasy formula,"
and find out that that's not the case?  Well, this one IS NOT one of those!
Wonderfully light and soothing!  It's my favorite moisturizer, ever!

Sante FX Neo eyedrops
What I love about it?
This is how intense I like my eyedrops!  It's super minty and
incredibly refreshing.  I got it from Japan... too bad I don't
know how to get a hold of it outside of Japan.  *sighs* 

Kose Vitamin C face mask
What I love about it?
I got this from Japan, also.  My skin feels so healthy after I use it.
And with all that Vitamin C on my skin, yay! ^-^ 

Fairy Drops Volume Burst Mascara Waterproof
What I love about it?
I've written a positive review about this, and the longer I've had it,
the more I love it! ♥ It's a must have!

And here's my face armed with these ♥ products

I felt so pretty and witty and bright!  Hehehe!
(Blush is a photo app stamp, ok?)

Real Life Sunday, ed. 17

Thank you for those who actually check out my blog from time to time.  Although my following is really small, I feel very encouraged that when I do check my blog's viewer stats, there are actually people who stop by.  ^___^  Sometimes, I wonder why, especially when I go on my hiatus.  But since you do, I won't wonder so much and simply thank you!  ^___^

I've been writing a lot about my life.  I will try to review a couple of old circle lenses later (hopefully, this weekend or the one following that).  But I do not want to be so apologetic because I work... and I've been working really hard and come home very tired.  When I finally do have the time to blog, it's been a form of therapy to de-stress from my day.  And the easiest topic for me to write about is to actually talk about me and how my day/week has been, although I'm hoping to be more mindful of my viewers but am just waiting for the right time.

That was lengthy...

But it's all ok with you, yah?

I really look forward to weekends to unwind...  Although, I am pretty busy then also, I welcome change.  :)

Last week, I celebrated the birthday of my beloved Korean sister.  I was almost raised by her for seven years but I haven't been seeing her recently.  So, it's nice to get to surprise her. ^_^

Check out those bags!  You can put nickels in them...

Peace out!

Then the following day, my sisters and I tried a new restaurant, En Japanese Restaurant in Tumon.  The food was delicious!  I'm not too much into sushi (because the rice feels so heavy) but En's made me rethink that a bit.

Beautiful paintings!

The restaurant even had quotable quotes hanging on the walls.

This was Sunday:

Ready for church.

Another letter to my dear Syuzi.  I'd like to introduce her to you one of these days.

My holographic nail polishes finally came in.  I will take a photo later.
It was pretty excessive of me to purchase them.

Lastly, dinner tonight: Carmen's Cha-Cha-Cha in Hagatna!

Mole sauce is definitely BOSS!  :9

Until next time, everyone!
Thank you so much again for reading along!  :)