To share my blessings as a professional beauty blogger, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family, friends, and followers for their support and for always believing in me. Thank you for reading my reviews and sending me your messages. I really appreciate the thought of you guys spending a portion of your day and sparing some of your precious time to visit my website and to read my articles. It really motivates me to become a better blogger. I would also want to thank the brand companies, PR people, online shop sponsors, blogging networks, and everyone on the Internet for your benevolence and your confidence in me.

And so with no further ado, here's my annual giveaway to celebrate life and give thanks for all the graces I received. I dedicate all my success to Him who never forgets, never fails, never falters, and never forfeits His word. God is good!





Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor!

PRESS SAMPLE

After all the fun in the sun, some tans don't fade as fast you want them to. I, for one, have that kind of skin which takes months and months before my tan completely goes away. So if you're done with summer already and want to move on, there's one thing left to do. So how to whiten skin or at least get back your natural skintone or perhaps even lighter? Easy, peasy. Try The Queen's Essentials Ultimate Peeling Set and Body Whitening Set.

Actually I started using the Ultimate Peeling Set back in April and I wanted to write my review after I have fully tested these products myself.

Used this Ultimate Peeling Set a month ago.

To be honest, I've tried countless whitening products but I have never tried any peeling anywhere in my body. The ULTIMATE PEELING SET contains the following:

• 60 mL green peeling oil
• 30 mL hydrocortisone lotion
• 10 g UA whitening cream (underarm peeling)
• 10 g stretchmark cream (stretchmark removal)
• 10 g cell renewal cream (for dark spots/scar removal)
• 10 g bleaching cream

Half of the bottle left after using them on my arms, back, and legs.

The first thing I applied in order to start my body peeling process was the Green Peeling Oil. I religiously applied it 3 x a day (or night) in 15-minute intervals. When I first slathered it I expected it to be minty like eucalyptus or camphor oil, but it really isn't. Actually it smelled like the plastic balloon I played with as a kid; the one you can buy at your friendly neighborhood sari-sari store. It feels like ordinary baby oil tinged with green upon skin contact. It didn't sting nor hurt my skin. It also didn't leave me looking like a grease ball. It somehow dried up eventually or my skin absorbed it. I did apply it at nighttime an hour or so before I went to bed.

The green peeling oil gets absorbed by the skin and leaves a very slight green tinge.

Also I should tell you that I used this during the Holy Week last April because I figured I may need a couple of days to stay indoors due to the peeling and what better time to do it, right?! You are supposedly only to use it on your upper extremities first and after that, your lower extremities... and not at the same time. But I'm such a rebel and a firm believer of "TIIS GANDA" so I did it at the same time. I also thought that if I am to be peeling any part of my skin, I might as well as peel my whole body!

My hands starting peeling first, followed by the other areas where I applied the green peeling oil.

Honestly, I thought it would take just a few days as most people peel within 3-4 days before starting to use the creams soon after. But my skin is very stubborn so it took well over a week before I really started to peel. My hands were the first to start peeling and soon after it was my legs then my arms and my elbow, followed by my back. I didn't use it for my underarms because I felt I didn't need to because they're fine plus the fact that you are not to use any product (soap, deodorant, etc) during the peeling process made me wary. You can take a bath but don't put anything on the parts where you are to be peeling as per instructions.

It took all my self-control to not scrape them off! I was so tempted to just peel it all! But it's obvious that you shouldn't because then it's just like baking a cake and taking it out of the oven prematurely, or impatiently harvesting a mango when it's not yet fully ripe. Umm, you get the picture. But good things come to those wait... And waiting was just what I did.



Notice I had darker skin from our Summer Starter vacation at Plantation Bay last March. And afterwards, I had my normal skintone back and even lighter with the use of the Body Whitening Set as well. (Review on this on another blog post! Stay tuned!) Also during the peeling process, note that skin becomes super itchy and that's what the hydrocortisone lotion which is included in the set is for.


When my body peeling was complete, it was time to apply the creams. Here they are...


And finally, the results after 2 weeks.

This is my leg with a discoloration from an idiopathic skin condition.

This is my arm and clavicle area with uneven skin and after it looks so much better overall.

This is my back which suffered a lot of sun exposure prior.

I truly believe that skin whitening products will be so much more effective to use now that there's new skin they can work on. My new skin is so smooth, it almost feel like a baby's skin! Even the part on my arms that becomes really itchy when it's cold is absolutely gone! I couldn't figure out why that happened to me but assumed it must have been because of the water right after Yolanda (Haiyan) struck my hometown and we had to find water somewhere else to bathe with. My arms became dry to and even Neosporin creams don't seem to help it. But after finishing the Ultimate Peeling Set from The Queen's Essentials, my arms are a million times better! No more itching and dry skin! OMG! Thank goodness!!! And thank you so much TQE!


The Queen's Essentials offers not only this awesome Ultimate Peeling Set but other beauty and skincare products to address all your concerns. Check them out and add them on Facebook and Instagram.
And before I end this post, I have a giveaway for all of you! You can join via rafflecopter below. Wait for it to load! Rafflecopter Note: There are the initial six (6) mandatory tasks that you need to do, before unlocking the others. Please do them, otherwise your entries will be invalid. Thanks!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
One lucky reader will receive this TQE loot bag. It contains a Pinkish Glow Set and a Body Whitening Set. This contest will end on June 15, 2014. Open to my international readers as long as you have a valid PHILIPPINE address to join the contest so I can ship your prize if you are unable to pick it up. The name of the winner will be announced on my social media accounts. Be sure to follow me on FB, Twitter, and Instagram!


Good luck!


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“Happiness doesn't result from what we get, but from what we give.”

As promised, here I am hosting another giveaway for my birthday! Whopeeeee! And this time I put together a beauty box containing 11 beauty items for one lucky Basta Igat, Sikat! reader. Check out this video below below to find out what's inside the box.



Excited to be the lucky winner? Please join via rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This contest will end on May 31, 2014. Open to my international readers as long as you have a valid PHILIPPINE address to join the contest so I can ship your prize if you are unable to pick it up. The name of the winner will be announced on my social media accounts. Be sure to follow me on FB, Twitter, and Instagram!


Good luck!


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Hello, everyone! I'm back with an eyeshadow feature and a new giveaway! Are you excited as I am? Okay, here we go...



Because one #EOTD isn't enough and I have two eyes, I figured why not do a back-to-back DARK vs BRIGHT makeup look?! Here's a closer look at the two.

DARK EYES:



BRIGHT EYES:







The first one featuring dark eyeshadow colors using the crease cut technique in black and purple is quite daring so it's not really a wearable eyeshadow unless you work nights at a bar or an entertainer or if you're going to paint the town red on a girl's night out. Paired with bold red lips (Avon Ultra Glimmerstick in Brick Red with + MAC Charmed I'm Sure from the Marilyn Monroe collection) and a light pink blush (Colour Collection Color Intense Powder Blush in Rosy Affair), you're ready to go.

DARK  & DAZZLING with black & purple eyeshadows + bold lips

The second look for me is a fresh and dainty one which you can wear during the daytime or if you wanna look like a fairy goddess or something. Either way, this is the kind of look I usually put on using a highlighter (TheBalm Mary Lou Luminizer) and paired with a peach blush (Canmake Powder Cheeks) and pinkish nude lips (Avon Ultra Glimmersticks lip liner in Peach Envy and + MAC Freckletone).

BRIGHT & BEAUTIFUL with white/neutral eyeshadows + pink/nude lips

So which one do you like best? :) Do you like to be DARK & DAZZLING or BRIGHT & BEAUTIFUL? Let me know by joining the raffle contest through the RAFFLECOPTER widget below and 2 lucky winners will get these beauty loots from yours truly and Pretty Angel Shoppe who is also sponsoring this giveaway.
 

This contest will end on April 30, 2014. Open to my international readers as long as you have a valid PHILIPPINE address to join the contest so I can ship your prize if you are unable to pick it up. The name of the winner will be announced on my social media accounts. Be sure to follow me on FB, Twitter, and Instagram!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for reading, hope you'll join my giveaway, and good luck!



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Today I received quite an awesome and totally unexpected grand surprise from Cetaphil Philippines. I happened to start using Cetaphil in 2011 when the NoodleLito's pedia prescribed it to treat his skin allergies because I also found it beneficial for my skin. Then I won even more products from Cetaphil's social media promo earlier this year. So basically I've been using this for a while now and NoodleLito's skin rashes haven't come back since.

Although my skincare regimen alters significantly depending on my skin condition because I get frequent breakouts (which I now attribute to hormones). You already probably know that I have sensitive/acne-prone/oily skin. Ugh. Honestly, if I get those horrible and huge pimples such as when Aunt Flo is about to come visit, I do my Celeteque regimen. I exfoliate like mad after that then I follow this up with a Neutrogena skin routine, and when my face stars to clear up, that's when I use Cetaphil products. It really is a vicious cycle and I wish I could just stick with Cetaphil especially now that I know how to effectively use it. I used to wet my face first but found out that it doesn't do much that way.

Photo taken last March 2013. This photo doesn't look anything like me right now. LOL! You'd think that's a totally different person. ^_^

NOTE: For me, the Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser works best when used without water. The dry route as I'd like to call it. How? Just apply the cleanser generously all over the face then use baby wipes to clean it off. It leaves my face very soft and clean, not dry at all, and moisturizes my face enough for my skin type.

WIN THESE!!!

Just today I was blessed enough to receive a ginormous package from Cetaphil Philippines, so now I am sharing with you some products that I think you might also love if you're not already using it. One lucky winner, who must be a Philippine resident or has a Philippines address I can ship the prize to, will receive a Cetaphil loot bag. All you need to do is join the giveaway via Rafflecopter below (wait for it to load!) and this raffle will promptly end on September 30, 2013. I shall announce the winner on October 1st. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck, everyone!


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Summer is officially here! But apparently, most people had already gone to spend their summer vacations during the Holy Week. As for the rest of us, we are still yet to embark on our tanning escapades, water fights, party nights, and grab our favorite flip-flops to make a run for the nearest beach.

Looking back, I'm blessed to have had the opportunity to visit some of the best beaches in the country with my friends and family. The earliest beach escapade I can remember was back in 1992 when we went to Boracay. There were just a few resorts back then and it wasn't as crowded. I was only 9 years old so there's not much partying for me but just a whole lot of swimming. LOL!

Neon yellow wayfarers were definitely already the thing some 20 years ago!!!

Malapascua (Logon) Island is what we fondly call a mini-Boracay and it was exactly like how Boracay looked the first time I went there. It's probably more developed now but when I was in college, the place felt like our own private white beach.
Santiago Bay Garden and Resort in Camotes Island is one of the places I've been to before a lot of people from all over the country discovered it. It's like one of those setting you read in romance novels and for me it's one of the perfect getaways for couples who don't like overcrowded beaches. I'm sorry I could not provide any photos because during this time I learned a very valuable lesson -- always make back-ups of your hard drive (or at least the My Pictures folder). Damn Sality virus infected my PC and screwed up the entire system. All my files from 2002 were a goner. Boo! :(

The one good thing about living here in the province is that we are near so many beautiful beaches and we don't have to book flights just to get to one! Just like Canigao Island that's just 10 minutes away via pump boat from Macrohon, Leyte.

Because I lived in Cebu for a few years back, going to Moalboal was a given. Then it was off to Kawasan Falls.
Mactan's Plantation Bay Resort & Spa is one of my TOP favorite places to be. Need I say why? Well, you can read all about it HERE.


Panglao Island in Bohol is also another popular destination during the summer. It's the one place to be if you want a white beach getaway and at the same time want to immerse in some history + sightseeing all over Bohol (think Chocolate Hills, tarsiers, old Baclayon church, etc.).

Tangkaan Point in Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte is another one of those hidden gems in the island. Only a few hours away and you don't have to spend thousands to enjoy the beautiful location. You can also do a side trip and check out Gunhuban Falls near Bato, Leyte.

Island hopping is one of the best things to do during the summer and you can even do it in a single day! This is true if you want to explore the islands near Mactan and Cebu. I've been to Gilutongan, Caohagan, and Sulpa Islands. And yet, there's still Pandanon, Talima, Nalusuan, and so many more to explore!!!

Bantayan Island is another place I keep coming back to. If I were to pick one island where I could live the rest of my life in, that would be the place I'd rather be. I don't care if it's at a secluded part of the island (like Maia's Beach Resort) or at the most happening place in town (we stayed at Tristan's). I don't really know why but it just feels like home to me.


And then of course, there's our recent summer escapade at Crimson Resort & Spa which is definitely world-class! For more pictures, you can check it out HERE.


I have yet to go to Kalanggaman Island, which is making big waves in tourism-related news, and I hope to visit there this summer.


And now it's time for my summer raffle... But first let me ask you, are you set for summer? If not, then here's your chance to win some prizes -- a summer loot you can take with you on your next beach getaway! I'll be adding more prizes as the summer sun blazes on before the end of the month. One lucky winner (*must be a resident of the Philippines or one who has an address serviceable by JRS or LBC so I can ship your prize even if you're out of the country!*) will win all these awesome goodies! Contest ends on the 1st of May at 12 AM. I will be announcing the winner on May 2, 2013. All you need to do is the following:

JOIN THE GIVEAWAY VIA RAFFLECOPTER BELOW!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway


Enjoy Summer 2013! And don't forget your sunscreens! ;)

UPDATE 5/6/2013: Our lucky winner has received her prizes/summer loot bag!



Until my next giveaway... Stay tuned!





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