It feels like only yesterday when I started experimenting with bleach and embarked on my Blonde Ambition journey, but it has been almost 3 years since and I've never looked back. People ask all the time how I do it and how I survive all the damage to my hair... what with all the bleaching and coloring. I'm gonna tell you how.


First of all, I don't get it done professionally, so I save up on costs. It's imperative to do your own research if you want to go the DIY route. I buy my own bleach powder (in tubs) and do all the processing at home. Honestly, I ask for help from people at home with the application because I don't have eyes at the back of my head and thank goodness they're more than willing to help me out in my hair projects.

Another thing I would like to point out (and this comes from experience!), do not ever try to bleach your hair consecutively. You're already killing it the first time, so you have to give it some time to rest like I said in my last Blonde Ambition post regarding how I bleach my hair. Previously I used to think having slow-growing hair was a curse, but now I count it as a blessing because my roots don't show up for some time, meaning it takes a while to warrant any touch-ups. So yay!

Again let's review... So usually after bleaching your hair, you get to a level 6, 7 or 8 depending on your hair color. You will be tempted to bleach it 1-3 more times to get to a 10. DON'T DO IT! I repeat, DON'T DO IT! Bleaching it again right away will damage your hair significantly. And I mean you'll get broken strands, itchy scalp, super dry hair... it's going to be a nightmare! So you need to wait at least 2 weeks to bleach it again in my opinion... and maybe do a 9% instead of a 12% developer. But then again, I'm no expert, just a hair color enthusiast. You can take my word for it... or not.

BUT WAIT... THERE'S A SHORTCUT!

If you can't wait to get to a 10... then by all means, go ahead and try to tone your hair!

Bleached Hair vs Toned Hair

How to do that? It's simple... just use a purple shampoo or a DIY hair toner. What I love about making my own is that I can treat my hair with KERATIN at the same time. It is very important to do so after bleaching. And I mean, it's a MUST!!! Now I'd like to share my most recent bleaching and toning experiment.

Available at Pretty Angel Shoppe

I used the CELLOshine Henna Wax Color as a treatment for my bleached hair then mixed with the purple semi-permanent color to create my own hair toner. Just like this:

Home-made purple hair toner

Apply this to newly bleached hair to tone down the brassiness (that yucky orange color!). Leave it there for a good while. How long? I don't know. I just leave it on 'til it hardens on my head. LOL! It's up to you really.

Do-It-Yourself Hair Toner by MyMaria

It's that easy!

But if you're like me and blonde doesn't excite you as much anymore, then it's time to level up to GREEN hair! With level 10 hair, you can even use food coloring and it works... for a day or two. But I want something more semi-permanent that would last a week or more. So onto the next step...

Available at Funky Streaks

So maybe it's not green-green but I wasn't planning on becoming Joker. I was aiming for a more mermaid-ish color and Manic Panic recently came out with this new refreshing minty green shade called Sea Nymph that was just perfect for what I wanted to achieve. So yeah... what do you think?

That moment when you take a mirror selfie and all you see is #Tatsumaki staring back at you... 💚 as always, don't be deceived by looks... I may look well, but there's nothing like receiving your x-ray results with a confirmed diagnosis of pneumonia on your birthday. 😌Still very thankful for another year of life and blessings because if there's anything that a disease will remind you, it's that life is precious and you got only one! Gotta take care of this vessel so I can live a looooong and good life. Happy double 3 to me! 🎉 #bastaigatsikat

A photo posted by ✨💖💜MyMaria💜💖✨ (@bastaigat_sikat) on Apr 18, 2016 at 7:25am PDT

Photos above were taken indoors. And here is how it looks under natural light.


When sporting colored hair, I find that shampooing hair will allow the color to fade quicker so instead, I use the Keratin Hair Reconstructor One-Minute Treatment for Sensitized Hair which I got from Pretty Angel Shoppe at every wash to keep it smooth and healthy. Only when my hair is super flat and sticky, then I would wash it with Pantene Pro-V Aqua Light Clean Rinse Shampoo followed by the CELLOshine Henna Wax reconstructive treatment.


After a week of vacationing with sun, sand, and saltwater, I wanted to turn my mermaid hair project up a notch. And so it's time to cool down with a nice BLUE shade, hence, my favorite Manic Panic Atomic Turquoise came to the rescue!


The outdoor photo in natural lighting (above) vs the photo taken indoors (below) seem to look the same and not much of a difference in color. What do you think?


What about you? Are you planning on changing hair colors for the summer or have you done so already? If you have (or haven't yet), don't forget that using Keratin and other reconstructive treatments for the hair is VERY IMPORTANT... or you'll end up with dry and damaged hair. There are many affordable products out in the market that you can buy and use at home. You don't even have to go to the parlor to maintain a healthy, shiny... and beautiful colored hair!

I admit. I am a sucker for anything Limited and Special Edition. With Missha coming out with the super cute Line Friends designs, no doubt I was all over it. Hey, I use Line Camera for their kawaii stamps and frames! So anyway, I got the makeup cosmetics with Brown (bear) but there's also the ones with Sally (yellow chick) and Cony (female rabbit).


I've been meaning to get Missha 4D mascara for a while now but with my current stash of mascara, I keep putting it off. But this I just had to get... and boy, it is surprisingly good! Really good considering that I have non-existent lashes to begin with (hello, Asian genes!)


Benefits:
• Containing natural wax for soft application without clogging.
• Hypoallergenic formula.
• Long-lasting without smudging, as forming protective coat.
• 4D Brush Effect

💕 Tip: Curl your lashes first before applying and if needed, you can curl them again when the mascara is dry. It's amazing how it opened up my eyes. Lashes from zero... to hero in seconds! Ooh, how I wish I had those fuller, thicker lashes. Maybe I should get lash extensions? But for now, this will do.

Moving on... We have the Bloody Wine Matte Lip Rouge Lipstick that's supposedly matte but I found it really moisturizing and not the dry type. So maybe it flaked by the end of the day, but the color is super vibrant and even made my thin lips look full... and kissable. ;) Wa'y mopalag!


Benefits:
• Has SPF 17
• Clear HD pigmentation.
• Strong & Comfortable wearing with a single touch.
• Lightweight soft fit, matte texture spreads out lightly.
• Argan oil, and rose hip oil included.
• Airish Fitting Formula, Even Color Formula, Skin Conditioning Complex
If you're looking for a rich lipstick without the annoying shine but leaves your lips feeling supple, then this is something you need to try! It smells awesome, too! Something I can't quite place but definitely a good type of thing.

And then lastly, I got the Missha Water-Full Tint, Special Line Friends Edition, in Orange Juice. Okay, honestly I'm not the lip/cheek tint fan but this one swayed me just because it's perfect for those casual/daily errands where it's just ridiculous to be on full makeup buying groceries or withdrawing from an ATM. Can you spell F-R-E-S-H?

So many islands, so little time. Cuatro Islas consists of 4 islands (as the name implies) which belong to the municipalities of Inopacan and Hindang in Southern Leyte. The most popular and most visited by tourists among the four is Digyo Island.

Digyo Island, Inopacan, Leyte

The last time we went to Digyo Island in 2013, we stayed at a "private" area which is currently being disputed over between the municipality of Inopacan and individuals claiming to own the place. For this trip, our tour was arranged by Fran-Con Viaje International in cooperation with the Tourism Council of the Municipality of Inopacan so we stayed at the "public area". Our island-hopping tour package includes the following:

Visit www.viajeintl.com!

You might be wondering why sometimes it's called Tres Islas. It's because Himokilan Island, the fourth island to compose "Cuatro Islas" actually belongs to the administrative jurisdiction of the Municipality of Hindang. So if you're planning to go there, you'll have to basically depart from Hindang, which is the next town after Inopacan.




The 70-kilometer travel from Ormoc City to Inopacan will take 45 minutes to 1 hour and if you wish to rent a 14 to 16-seater van, it will typically cost around Php3,500/day. The trip from Inopacan to Digyo Island, which is the smallest island in Cuatro Islas, takes about 30-40 minutes via motorized pumpboat depending on the water and weather conditions. A 20-seater pump boat ride to and from the islands costs around Php3,500 generally. If you're lucky, you could spot dolphins and plenty of flying fish swimming around these parts.

The name Digyo came from the Cebuano word, "digyot" which means tiny.  You can basically walk around this uninhabited island in just 20-30 minutes.

You've got to love the fact that the beach here is still pristine and I hope with the influx of tourists, people will be responsible enough to dispose of their garbage properly. Compared to the more organized Kalanggaman Island tour wherein the authorities impose the wearing of life vests during the boat ride and handing you a big black garbage bag to put your wastes in, some Digyo Island visitors still need to be reminded seriously about safety and environmental issues. Let's just hope that this unspoiled gem will be preserved for future generations.

Cottage rental is PHP200. Entrance fee per pax is PHP30.

Because there are only open cottages in the island, it is recommended to bring your own tent if you want to spend the night there. They already have lamp posts installed so it won't be pitch black come nighttime. A restroom is also available (with salt water for flushing); however, no fresh water can be utilized for showering. Yikes! I would suggest bringing extra water for washing up along with lots and lots of mineral or bottled water for drinking because the summer heat truly is unforgiving this time of the year. And don't forget to wear sunscreen!

You can contact Fran-Con Viaje International for Glamping Tent rental.

It took 3 grown ass men to pitch this tent but twice the number of them to take it down and keep it! LOL!

And since it was my birthday, I get a cake and with candles, too! Here's wishing for more island trips and beach getaways because life's a beach!

Celebrating life but failing a handstand at Apid Island.

The next island we hopped to was Apid Island where mats and hats are woven by hand. Local women are trained at a very early age to do just that. The entire process of creating one full size mat takes up to a month (gathering raw materials, etc.) with weaving done in about 2 days. And wanna guess how much they're selling it? Only PHP300! Oh my! And to think people actually buy it at twice the price at the marketplace.

Mat weaving at Apid Island.

It is a humbling experience. One that made me realize that I should not feel sorry for what I've witnessed because these people are happy. They are pretty contented with their lives. So once more, I am assured that happiness is not about how much you've got, but how you enjoy living your life!

Catch of the day! And my father bought it for only PHP350!

By the time we sailed to Mahaba Island, the tide was really low so we didn't get to see the gorgeous lagoon this time. But during our previous visit to Cuatro Islas, I was able to take a photo of it. This was taken in 2013.


In addition to that, this photo below is the now so-called private area of Digyo Island, which has one the best sand bars I've been to. It's just sad that we're not allowed to go here anymore though. Tsk!


And last but not the least to comprise Cuatro Islas is Himokilan Island. Also it was too bad we weren't able to go with our friends when they visited it earlier this summer. But here's hoping someday soon we will get to see its beauty up close and personal, too.

Photo by Marven Lagado

For me the best thing to do is take a day trip to visit Apid Island then spend the night at Digyo Island, head out to Mahaba Island the following day to splash around the lagoon, then finally hop to Himokilan Island and watch a glorious sunset. So the next time you're itching for a cool summer getaway, remember that Cuatro Islas in Leyte awaits!

At last! After two months of officially using this daily, I think I've had enough time to test the product out to finally write my full unbiased review of Octard Cover Foundation by the Japanese-made beauty brand, Meiko Cosmetics, who are the makers of the famous Naturactor Cover Face. This particular product is hard to come by but I finally got to score some from PrettyAngelShoppe. So what is this Octard Cover Foundation and what's the difference between this and Naturactor Cover Face? Lemme show you.


They are both 20g and physically, the only difference is the color of the container. Naturactor in white and the Octard in salmon. Judging by experience, the Naturactor Cover Face product which I had used almost daily has lasted me more than a year. It's super sulit!


The formulation between the two, however, is very different. You've probably heard about it so I'm going to confirm it yet again. Octard will give you a matte finish, while Naturactor Cover Face will give you that dewy, soft focus finish. Frankly speaking, I prefer a matte finish because I have oily skin so I'm not fond of dewy looks.

Octard Cover Foundation S52

I got the Octard S52 shade because it's darker than my Naturactor 151 and I was initially planning to use it for contour. But it's actually just a little bit darker than the Naturactor 151, so on some days I can even get away with using it on my entire face then just setting it with a light powder. The actual equivalent of Naturactor 151 is S51 for the Octard line. It is creamy, just like Naturactor, however, it dries fast! So you need to speed up your application plus using your fingers is a pretty good idea because it will warm the product up. Once it sets, it would be hard to move it (and remove it!). Is that good or bad? For me, it's a good thing because just like the MUFE Aquabrow, once it sets, it will really stay there. With that said, make sure to use makeup remover or wash your face thoroughly at night.

Octard Cover Foundation S71

I also got the Octard yellow concealer in the shade S71. Now you've seen the 171 green concealer from Naturactor that I use for my acne and red blemishes. So this yellow concealer, on the other hand, is meant for brightening up dark under eye areas as well as for highlighting the face. Think: Ben Nye Banana Powder. What I did before was use the Naturactor 151 and set it with the banana powder (which is yellow). This time, I don't have to do that because the Octard S71 does exactly that. Now I only need a colorless or translucent powder to set it. Take note: Concealers need to be set with powder.

Using Octard S71 for dark under eye circles in an inverted triangle technique.

For a more detailed and step-by-step process, play video/see photos below.

PRESS PLAY ▶️ // I wish I always wake up looking like a million bucks but alas, sleepless nights are here to stay. Now that I subsist on heavy doses of caffeine and energy drinks, there's nothing like a hot damn foundation-concealer routine to keep my sanity further intact and make me look like a normal human being. 😋 tee hee! For anti-zombie effect and to banish dark circles, I highly recommend #Octard by the makers of the famous #naturactor cover face. I got these Japanese goodies from my favorite IG seller @prettyangelshoppe. 👍👍 The S71 yellow concealer is for highlighting and I use it to hide Panda eyes then the S52 is perfect for my blemishes. Et voila! Instant perk me up, absolutely no caffeine needed! 😊 For someone with oily/combination skin, I'm very happy with Octard because it leaves a matte effect versus the dewiness of Naturactor. Full review and comparison between the two will be featured on my blog soon. So stay tuned! ✨ #bastaigatsikat #makeup #instamakeup #asian #look #meiko #fresh #face #nomakeupmakeup #beauty #bbloggers #beautyblogger #cosmetics #review #demo #prettyangelshoppe #feedback #fotd #eotd #muotd #motd #lotd

A video posted by ✨✨✨✨💖💜MyMaria💜💖✨✨✨✨ (@bastaigat_sikat) on Jan 17, 2015 at 1:13am PST

See? It's super easy to use with guaranteed amazing results!


Most of the time, I simply set it using the Naturactor Silky Lucent loose powder, but you can use any powder you like. Other times I will use a powder foundation over it if I will be out for long. To be honest, without primer and setting powder, both Naturactor and Octard will not last very long. Although Octard does last quite longer due to its matte properties. But when primed and set properly, you can get a full day's use without hardly re-touching it, just simply blotting oils if you have oily skin like me but absolutely no need to add more products on your face. It's that convenient, I tell you!

Say hello to my 5-hectare forehead. 😂 I used to be so insecure about this and wore bangs a lot back then but fuck that, I conclude bangs give me pimples. The more I keep my hair away from my face, well, apparently no acne!!! So I'm gonna stick to the belief that a high forehead indicates intelligence and portends good luck. ☺️ Office #FOTD for today's travel training session. Using @revlonph Colorstay foundation, #Naturactor and #Octard concealers from @prettyangelshoppe, @anastasiabeverlyhills dipbrow pomade in blonde, @urbandecaycosmetics eyeshadows, @heroinemakeph mascara, @nyxcosmeticsph soft matte lip cream and wonder pencil, @pixyphilippines blush, and #FannySerrano two-way cake for contour. #bastaigatsikat #muotd #motd #lotd #eotd #makeup #instamakeup #beauty #bbloggers #instabeauty #beautyblogger #pinay #nyx #revlon #pixy #heroinemake

A photo posted by ✨✨✨✨💖💜MyMaria💜💖✨✨✨✨ (@bastaigat_sikat) on Jan 26, 2015 at 6:57pm PST

TIP: Whether you have normal, dry, or oily skin, it is wise to moisturize first before applying makeup products. If you have eye creams, use that!


And you know something else? This is probably the best thing about Octard Cover Foundation for me. After 2 months of using it, I DID NOT HAVE ANY ACNE FLARE-UPS! Yessssssss!!! Automatic HG product! *cartwheels*


If you pay really close attention, you can see the yellow highlight using Octard S71 under the eyes and on my T-zone. You can also spot my contoured nose on the sides and my cheekbones with the Octard S52. But who does that? Would you really stare at someone's face to see if she used any highlighter or contouring product? No, don't do that! That's just rude. Tee hee! But seriously, at first glace, it really does give the first impression of just having a really nice and bright face. I mean, as a highlighter, the Octard S71 does a really effective job at it and as a concealer for blemishes and/or contour, the Octard S52 simply excels! Hands down.


With Octard, it's so effortless to look flawless from all angles! I can't get enough of its matte effect! Now I resemble a human being and not a zombie anymore! ^_^ If you're a fan of Naturactor, you're gonna love Octard! And if you have oily/combination skin, you are going to dance for joy! ^_^

To sum up this review, go for Naturactor Cover Face if you're happy with a dewy skin effect or if you have normal or dry skin. But if you have oily/combination skin and want to steer clear from looking like a grease-ball, then by all means get OCTARD COVER FOUNDATION! The active ingredients are hyaluronic acid, royal jelly extract preparation, and honey. I don't know anyone who might be allergic to those things, but just FYI. By the way, Octard is fragrance-free so not to worry, it is really non-irritating. Trust me, I would know. :) In comparison, the ingredients of Naturactor are listed as jojoba oil, mica, and Tocopherol (Vitamin E).


You can get your own Octard Cover Foundation from Pretty Angel Shoppe under their current promo for only PHP 700 with FREE SHIPPING! (Click links to inquire on Instagram & Facebook!)