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The more you give, the more you receive.

Yes, and it takes only one book to pay it forward when you join our book exchange. Right now we have so many people getting into this and spreading love and good vibes to all! It's based on a very simple idea. Give one book, find 6 friends to join you, and you get 36 books in return... and even more if you tell ALL your friends about it and let them join in the fun, too!



Curious? Leave your name and email and I'll tell you how it works and how to join. Okay? Trust me, it's very simple.




So if you're a mom, mom-to-be, or a dad or even a grandparent who wants to do something AMAZING for your kid(s), what have you got to lose? Even if you don't get a book back (which I doubt would ever happen!), the thought that you've given just one book to make one kid happy, then that's all that matters.


In this digital age, I think it is our responsibility to teach kids the value of books.


Stay happy!

I'm still on a self-imposed makeup ban but this is an exception! What is? Well, I saw this really nice vanity case by Suesh at http://beautymnl.com while window shopping, or should I say, monitor shopping.


With too much makeup on my table, I've honestly run out of places to stash them. Which I think very well justifies my need to get this... ASAP!!! Also it's very hard to find vanity kits and makeup cases locally, so my best option is to buy online. I know these things are limited in quantity and very much in demand, so I went ahead to order it before it got sold out. Note: That was 5 days ago (if you count the weekend).

Ordering is easy as 1, 2, 3!

You simply add the item in your cart and when you're ready to checkout, you can input your shipping details. They deliver NATIONWIDE. They also have this box that let's you put in an authorized recipient's name and phone number just in case you're not there to receive the package. Awesome added security!


Then you choose your payment method with whatever's convenient for you and there are 4 options. You know what? I've been doing online shopping for a decade now and I seem to have developed a radar to detect legit and scam sites. A lot of my friends come to me before they buy something online and they ask, "Hey, is this site for real?" Even since I got scammed some years ago, I'm always wary of sites that only allow online payment transfers (you know, LBC Pera Padala, Western Union, GCash, Smart Money and the likes). That's a big red flag there. If an online store, in this case BeautyMNL, offers CASH ON DELIVERY or BANK DEPOSIT payment methods, it's a green light for me. Moreover, I prefer paying via credit card or Paypal, so that's a plus for me, too!


Then you get a payment confirmation in your email once your transaction goes through. And you can also track your order under your account at BeautyMNL.


And because I'm geographically challenged, I was expecting my order to arrive sometime around October 1st because of the long weekend, but lo and behold, it's here!!! It arrived today, the 28th of September!


Well, that was fast and I am totally impressed! Great job, BeautyMNL! I think LBC also did a great job packing up my order, so *clap*clap*!


Wrapped like a boss and after inspection, item has no damage! First time buyer here and they definitely made a good first impression. BeautyMNL isn't just an online shop that sells a curated assortment of makeup and skincare products from the most basic beauty staples to the elusive Moroccan Argan oil and Korean snail cream. BeautyMNL has an online magazine called Bloom, that "provides fun and insightful articles tailor-fit to the Filipina’s lifestyle, whether it’s finding a good sunscreen for Philippine weather or the best shade of red lipstick to match your skin tone." With the help of known celebrity gurus, BeautyMNL brings you tips, easy how-tos, and great beauty trends you can actually rock in the tropics.

So yeah, back to my order. It's a Pink Quilted Vanity Case by Suesh. I didn't expect it to be this big actually, even though the website clearly specified the dimensions. I suck at Math... so there! Nevertheless, they actually do have full descriptions of the listed products on the website. Well, I'm very happy with this purchase and here are some photos I took to preserve this unboxing moment.




It's so nice!!! It's perfect for travelling and perhaps I can start doing freelance makeup artist gigs (when I have the time) now that I have this additional vanity case to stash all my beauty weapons. All in all, I'm definitely going back to shop some more at BeautyMNL (soon after my beauty ban is lifted!) and I highly recommend you guys check them out at http://beautymnl.com!

Are you looking for ways to maintain that sunkissed summer glow? How about faking a summer tan? My summer makeup look for 2015 is all about that! With the aid of a reliable bronzer and a really good highlighter, it's so easy to look like a summer goddess. It's very easy and I'll show you how. Watch my video below and check out the makeup products and tools that I used.



Next up are the products I used in the video. I highly recommend these for people who want waterproof/sweatproof/long-lasting makeup. Even those with normal skin can benefit from these because it's really hot and humid this season and honestly, who doesn't want to stay fresh-looking all day?

• Olay Total Effects Pore Minimizing CC Cream in Medium 
• Naturactor Cover Face concealer in 171 and 151
• Pixy UV Whitening Compact Powder Coverlast in Natural
• Pixy Eye shadow in Sorrel Brown
• Heroine Make Long & Curl mascara
• Victoria's Secret bronzer 
• Revlon Highlighting Palette in Rosy Glow
• Revlon Ultra HD lipstick in Geranium
• Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti
• Etude House Color My Brows in Blonde
• Ben Nye Banana and Neutral Set Powder
• Monomola 7days Eyebrow Tattoo

I'm also taking this opportunity to review the Ecotools brushes I got from SissyShoppe. Basically, it's all you need to recreate that sunkissed summer look.


First of all, I prefer using synthetic brushes. I have oily, acne-prone, sensitive skin (IKR!) and my skin seems to react when I'm using brushes made from animal hair. Maybe it's just me and it doesn't hold true for you. Since the bristles of these Ecotools brushes are made from soft, synthetic material plus recycled bamboo handles (hurray for Mother Earth!), I really love them to bits!


My favorite is the Sheer Finish Kabuki brush. Sometimes when I'm in a hurry, I tend to take so much product than I intended to. I love using this with my finishing powders and of course, highlighters. My next choice would be the Airbrush Concealer brush. This one is also pretty flexible because you can use this as a fluffy eyeshadow brush. As you can see in the video, my concealer application was a breeze using this brush. The Custom Buffing Coverage brush is also really good because it picks up just the right amount of powder foundation. It also blends powder products well on my face and it feels super soft that I didn't want to stop buffing my face! LOL! I have yet to try this with liquid foundation though. The Bronzer Brush is really huge so I'm not sure it's the right size for my face. Nevertheless, I also love that it picked up the right amount of bronzer so I didn't turn Oompa Loompa even at first try. The Flat Foundation Brush which is actually meant to be used with liquid foundation is something I prefer to use for setting my under eye with finishing powder. Since it's summer, I'm not really into using liquid foundations because of the extreme heat.

You can get these awesome Ecotools brushes from SissyShoppe. Check out their Facebook and Instagram accounts where you can browse their offerings for affordable beauty products and tools.


If you would like to see more makeup looks or for any YouTube video requests, please do leave a comment below and let me know what you like to see next. Thanks for watching my video and dropping by my blog!

PRESS SAMPLE

#CosmoBeautyCrush

Everyone had already started talking about it in the blogosphere since January and so it definitely piqued my curiosity. What is it? It's no other than PANTENE PRO-V's 3 MINUTE MIRACLE CONDITIONER! Then 2 weeks ago, I received a wonderful surprise from BDJ Buzz. They sent me this BEAUTY MIRACLE!!! Gaaaahhh!

In other news, it's time to make that switch! Everyone's talking about it and soon everyone can also try this. I'm waaaayyy excited to take a shower already and give my hair some extra lovin'! 💗 Time to #MakeMiraclesHappen with @pantenephilippines! Thank youuu @bdjbox & @bdjbuzz for sending me this to be one of the first to experience the #PanteneMiracle before it hits the stores. ☺️ I'll write my review on my blog soonest! ✒️ Stay tuned! #unboxing #bastaigatsikat #bdjbox #bdjbuzz #pantene #hair #instahair #haircare #instabeauty #pinay #beauty #beautyblogger #bbloggers

A photo posted by ✨✨✨✨💖💜MyMaria💜💖✨✨✨✨ (@bastaigat_sikat) on Feb 3, 2015 at 1:36am PST

So naturally, I had to try it and test it out (just finished the whole tube actually!) before I make my full review which you can read below. But first things first, I am writing my honest review based on my own experience and absolutely uninfluenced by anything. Okay, moving on.

#MakeMiraclesHappen

The first thing I noticed about the Pantene Pro-V 3-Minute Miracle Conditioner is that it is a beefed up version of their already awesome Total Damage Care conditioner. I've used Pantene Pro-V on and off my whole life so I'm already a fan of them. Noodle Boy actually prefers this for his unruly mop of hair because it's the only thing that tames his curls. As much as we love the scent of the regular Pantene shampoo and conditioner, we both love the scent of this new 3-Minute Miracle Conditioner even more. Why? Because the combination of fresh wild strawberry and raspberry accord enveloped in a floral creamy heart underscored with warm vanilla is quite addictive! You really must try it yourself to appreciate the refreshing feeling that can only come from a fruity and floral scent combo. It's very delightful to the senses. But that's just my opinion though since I know some people may be sensitive to certain fragrances. You may or may not like it. Either way, you'll have to try it!

#PanteneMiracle

Based on my experience, Pantene Pro-V hair conditioners never fail to give me touchable smoother hair and it just got better! Because now it's got 80% more of the key conditioning ingredient that can be found in the regular Pantene conditioners we've all come to love over the years. This means it performs way much better in transforming your dry and even brittle hair into super soft, beautiful mane. Not only that, but studies also show that 8 out of 10 Filipina women have given Pantene Pro-V 3-Minute Miracle Conditioner high scores when it came to improving hair health, helping repair damage, leaving hair smooth, strengthening hair, preventing split ends, and providing immediate results.

Here... you can judge for yourselves.

Introducing the new Pantene Pro-V 3-Minute Miracle Conditioner.

I don't know anyone who play with their hair as much as I do, so as far as damage is concerned I know where I stand. However, I do use a lot of hair products to keep my crowning glory in optimal shape. But then I tried the Pantene Pro-V 3-Minute Miracle Conditioner and I just had to believe all the hype... because it's the TRUTH! How come? Because it does indeed smoothen 3 months of damage in as fast as 3 minutes! As soon as you apply the creamy but also gel-like consistency of the Total Damage Care conditioner, you'll know and feel the difference immediately. Hair gets insanely soft! I am not kidding you! I must admit I don't know the nitty-gritty about what it is that makes this miracle happen as I am no scientist, but one thing is for certain, my hair has NEVER EVER felt this conditioned before! *Cross my heart!* One can really say it is more than a conditioner, it's simply a miracle.

A photo posted by ✨✨✨✨💖💜MyMaria💜💖✨✨✨✨ (@bastaigat_sikat) on Feb 16, 2015 at 2:29am PST

In order to keep brassiness out of my bleached hair, I have to tone it every now and then. And what better way to do it now than with the use of the Miracle Conditioner from Pantene! Using a semi-permanent dye like Manic Panic's Purple Haze, I now have a revised DIY purple toner.

My home-made purple toner.

Of course, if you only need to tone your hair, don't add in too much purple like I did because you'll end up with purple hair! You only need a little bit of the purple coloring to kill the ugly orange-y streaks. Keep in mind that the longer you leave it on, the more colored your hair will get. There is no exact measurement but to check for the right amount of coloring, you can refer to my previous post about hair toners.

http://www.pantene.com.ph

In conclusion, I have nothing bad to say about the Miracle Conditioner, except that I wish they came in a liter or a gallon! (Because I like buying things in bulk or in volumes!) I do believe that it's already available in the market and you can purchase the Pantene PRO-V 3 Minute Miracle Conditioner in Total Damage Care and Hair Fall Control variants for Php159.00 (180ml) and Php259.00 (340ml).

Take a leap of faith and experience the miracle!


Who wants to win a Mango bag? Watch the video below and join the giveaway!



Here's all you have to do to enter the giveaway:
1) Post on Instagram a photo of your hair after using Pantene 3 Minute Miracle.
2) Follow and tag me on Instagram: @bastaigatsikat
3) Also follow and tag on Instagram: @BDJBuzz
4) Use the following hashtags: #PanteneMiracle #MakeMiraclesHappen
5) Caption your photo with your answer to the question - “Why is Pantene 3 Minute Miracle your newest beauty crush?”

Please follow the mechanics above to qualify. For Philippine residents with a valid Philippine address. This giveaway will end on March 4, 2015. One winner with the best answer will win a MANGO BAG from @bdjbuzz! Good luck!

ADVERTORIAL 

The struggle is real, ladies and gentlemen. As Filipinas (or Asians), we have been taught to love the skin we're in, but in reality, fairer skin just seems more desirable when you're living in the Far East, the Philippines in particular. I tried to wrap my head around it for the longest time but alas, whitening and lightening products are just inevitable as the humidity that hangs in the air. Well, if you can't beat them, just join them, right? Or blame it on Maslow's hierarchy of needs or simple peer pressure.

So it's usually after summer vacation that I go around hunting for the most effective whitening product, when I'm ready for my tan to fade faster. Again, if I haven't emphasized it enough in my previous whitening soap reviews, I don't want paper white skin. But since my skin burns really fast, I always end up with uneven skintone and getting the right powder/foundation shade becomes a burning issue.

When I was in high school, I heavily relied on soaps and lotions to maintain a fairer and more even skintone. Having to stay under the scorching heat of the sun during school activities was not something I looked forward to. We didn't have airconditioned classrooms so we had to open windows, right? Considering vanity as my favorite sin, I have had researched and learned decades ago that even the light that reflects on the concrete pavement was not good for the skin. As much as possible I tried to stay in the shade, but you know there were times where it was simply unavoidable.

Fast forward 15 years later, I've come across 2 soaps that reminded me of what it was like the first time I stumbled into the world of whitening soaps.



Wait, hang on just a minute... what do we have here? These whitening soaps are from OLAY! And they’re very affordable (even for students!) since you can try out the small ones for just PHP15! But take note this isn't like those old school super cheap but apparently harsh bleaching soaps like the ones from C.Y. Gabriel. Check out the ingredients and see if there's anything you might be allergic to.


Some whitening soaps that I've tried, mainly ones that I suspect contain bleach, make my skin itch like crazy. Olay Natural White soap doesn't do that to my skin. I've used Olay products for years, mostly their moisturizers and facial creams and right now I'm actually using Olay Aquaction products which I'll soon be reviewing, too. Since Olay has been around for ages and is actually known as the World’s # 1 Facial Skincare brand, I was excited to try out the Olay Natural White soaps even before summer begins. You know I'm all for trying out all sorts of beauty products but if it comes from an internationally renowned and premium skin care brand which is trusted by millions of women worldwide, it's simply a no-brainer. And do you know that Olay happens to be also #1 in the Philippines?


I've tried both variants already. The one with papaya extract which is specially made for the Philippine market reminds me a lot of those organic papaya soaps I've tried before. It smells so delicious and moisturizes my skin well. I can vouch for the effectiveness of papaya extract after all these years of using products that contain this essential ingredient.


On the other hand, if papaya extract isn't your cup of tea, then the Olay Natural White soap with the grape seed extract (that's 20 x Vitamin C!) is an alternative which smells like a baby's soap, you know almost like the gentle Tender Care soaps if I'm not mistaken. Vitamin C, based on my experience, is also effective when it comes to skin whitening.


So what makes the Olay Natural White soaps so special? I believe it's the TRIPLE WHITENING SYSTEM. Why use different soaps when you can use one that does everything? First, it exfoliates, then it brightens and in the end, you'll have even skintone! And those are exactly the things that I look for in whitening soaps..

Olay Natural White soaps with Triple Whitening System

It's got basically everything I need in a single soap! Why settle for anything less when you can get the best? Oh and I really love how it lathers up and how sudsy it gets.

• Use Olay Natural White soap in the shower twice a day – in the morning and in the evening before you sleep.
• While in shower, lather liberally especially in areas that require extra attention (areas that are rougher, a bit darker in skin tone, or are subjected to friction from clothes or other fabric).  Use a puff for a more indulgent feel. This will also enhance the effect of the exfoliation.
• Treat your skin with care.  Pat your skin dry with a clean towel after shower.  Make sure you don’t scrub your skin to avoid friction which causes skin irritation.

MyMaria Loves Olay Natural White!