Ahoy, me Hearties!!! What do we have here?

#FoundItOnGalleon

Do you know what the biggest issue is for smart online shoppers who want to go on retail therapy? It's that most of the best and high quality products are sold overseas... in the US specifically. Plus at times they're cheaper there, too, what with all the discounts and the sales. But when it comes to shipping them, be prepared to pay for fees that cost twice as much as your order! Blimey!

It's a simple process really. Just login to www.galleon.ph, shop til you drop then pay for it (in PESOS!), and wait for your package to get shipped!

Recently I wishlisted some stuff I will be buying for myself (ahem, birthday gifts!). So I usually buy my arts and crafts stuff, diet and fitness gadgets and gizmos, and even some beauty and personal effects from the US simply because they are NOT AVAILABLE here in the Philippines.

1) Prismacolor Premier Soft Core Colored Pencils (132 Colored Pencils)

The only ones you can find here are 12, 24, and 48 pencils and even those are very rare commodities. The big sets are nowhere to be found! Although some 3rd party sellers offer the huge sets, they cost an arm and a leg. I'm better off ordering it direct from the US. The price is fairly reasonable and even if I have some friends or family in the US who I can simply ask as a favor to purchase them for me, I wouldn't want to put someone through all the trouble of carrying this bulk and to cause the excess baggage.

2) Nutri Bullet by Magic Bullet


This is the real, authentic, and original Nutri Bullet. For health issues, I really don't want to risk buying from online sellers who sell grade A or replicas. They might even give you some type of guarantee but I've read too many horrific stories about these cheaper copies blowing up due to quality control issues. Better get authentic products from the US for peace of mind! Sure it might be triple the price compared to the ones being sold by some third party sellers, but hey, this is ORIGINAL!

3) Tampax Pearl Plastic Triple Pack (50 Count)


Of course, because I'm far from being menopausal, the dreaded monthly visit from Aunt Flo just becomes less annoying with tampons. It really bugs me why this isn't mainstream in the Philippines yet. Are we too conventional? I don't know, but I've used this for over a decade and I just can't live without it. This is not just your regular tampons. Sometimes like an elusive rainforest animal, you could spot a tampon or two at some specialty shops but those are with cardboard applicators, and I only use the Pearl Plastic ones! You know, whenever we watch old classic movies or those set in certain time periods during date night, I always ask my husband, "Do they even have sanitary napkins back then?" much to his chagrin.  But I digress.

So back to the topic, sure you can order directly from online sites in the US, but again, you need to deal with ridiculous shipping charges on top of the hassle that Customs impose and/or argue with couriers. Scallywags! Don't even get me started on that. It's really not worth the stress. Retail therapy is supposed to be a fun, enjoyable activity!


Here's why it's better to take the Galleon PH route.

The last feature is just amazing. I mean, a balikbayan box too expensive or too big for just one or two items? Galleon PH got you covered! You can still shop at your favorite US online stores and ship individual items to the address of Galleon PH in the US and they'll be the ones to ship it here to the Philippines with all-in shipping charges and customs and duties via Air or Sea! (Still confused? Read HERE.)


Yo Ho Ho! It's like finding a buried treasure! It's the gem of all online shopping sites, as far as Philippine buyers are concerned. Best of all, you don't have to leave your home. The Galleon PH website is very responsive. You can be on your computer, your phone, or your tablet. Don't worry about having no dollar$ nor doubloons, you can pay with ₱esos with dozens of payment methods... so from Aparri to Jolo, you can shop til you drop!


Oh, and did I mention they have a commendable customer service? Aye! Their chat support is super helpful! Shiver me timbers!


Avast ye! So next time you want to go on retail therapy, come on-board, matey! Join me and let's embark on a swashbucklin' shopping journey across the Seven Seas at http://www.galleon.ph!

Weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen!

I wasn't always the most organized person in the world. In fact I was "The Greatest Slob of All". But all that has since changed... just like I predicted back when I was young and seventeen.



Eventually life takes you down a path where you have to stop and take a good look at your life and think about how you can make it better. You don't need to wait for life to throw lemons at you to make lemonade. Why? Because every day we have a choice to make one if we want to. So yes, life is what we make it. That's the real truth.

So the question that I am recently faced with is “What do you do 2x a week to keep you feeling clean and sexy?” That's a no-brainer. I'm vain and I know it and because of that I have a routine I'd like to share with you and this really helps me to boost confidence and even feel sexy. It's all about the attitude and discipline. Take a look at my weekly routine below and as you continue reading my blog, you'll see why #IDoItTwiceAWeek.


For me, the formation of habit is really important. Once I'm set on a routine, it's just automatic. You don't have to drag yourself once you get the whole thing dialed in. My weight gain/loss journey is something that's a rollercoaster ride but no matter how much I'm tipping the scale, I always feel sexy. How so? Because sexy is not your vital statistics. It is how you feel when you're comfortable and confident in your own skin. Here, let me explain it some more.

Cleanliness is next to Godliness. 

While cleaning is still not my strongest suit, there really is a huge difference when everything is spic and span. There's just more positive energy flowing and you get to do things quicker and more efficiently because you don't waste time looking for stuff you've misplaced or forgotten. My husband's belief of a having "a place for everything" has rubbed off on me. So glad I married a neat freak. Although I don't have time to clean stuff up everyday, #IDoItTwiceAWeek.(Saturdays and Sundays)



Three decades and more of existence has taught me one very important thing -- the power of your mind. Remember that dude, Rene Descartes? I totally agree when he said, "I think, therefore, I am." Cogito ergo sum. This is open to many interpretations but it doesn't change the fact that when you stop and think, breathe and reflect, focus and concentrate... your purpose becomes clearer and life just gets better. Try it. #IDoItTwiceAWeek (Tuesdays and Thursdays)

Everything starts from within, right? That's why I love my coffee with grass-fed butter and MCT oil because it just clears my head and lets me think straight. But we also need to take care of our body externally and we can do this by sweating the bad stuff out, ergo, exercising.

I'm no longer gym rat because honestly, I don't have time for that. But I am a fan of high intensity interval training and circuit training. You can do them without a gym membership, in your own time and place. (Wednesdays and Saturdays for me.) Another favorite of mine is a quick nature trip and ending with some earthing or grounding to neutralize all my energy and feel like new. And yeah, #IDoItTwiceAWeek. (Tuesdays and Thursdays)


As mentioned, vanity is my weakness and even though most people really can't be bothered with exfoliating their skin, I am one who actually does this... like religiously. If you don't do this, you're missing out a lot and if you've got skin problems like me, this is your golden ticket to achieving healthy and glowing skin. That's why #IDoItTwiceAWeek! (Tuesdays and Fridays)

You are what you eat! So even if I cheat a lot, I am determined to eat clean and eat healthy as much as possible and if I can't because I'm only human and I get tempted to eat all those unhealthy food, I always make it a point that I get to eat my servings of fruits and veggies and #IDoItTwiceAWeek! (Tuesdays and Fridays)

Juicing has done me a lot of good and I'm always happy to share my juicing experience and recipes to anyone who wants to lose weight and just feel healthy overall. I mostly do it for cleansing nowadays and it's always effective and has nothing but good side effects. That's enough reason for me and #IDoItTwiceAWeek! (Mondays and Wednesdays)

As a woman who gets crazy periods and hormones enough to drive me to the brink of insanity, I am particularly interested in relieving every kind of feminine discomfort. I mean, who can stand irritations down there? Not to mention the possibilities of infection! And it's not very easy to hide this feeling of being self-conscious, distracted and simply un-sexy. You know, that's why prevention is always better than cure. Fortunately, BETADINE® Feminine Wash is here to help. That's why Clean is the new Sexy and #IDoItTwiceAWeek! (Mondays and Thursdays)

Join the #SexyCleanRevolution and use BETADINE® Feminine Wash TWICE A WEEK to stay clean down there and feel confident and sexy always.

No more worrying about odor for that extra confidence boost especially when Aunt Flo comes to visit during RED DAYS. BETADINE® Feminine Wash is a Povidone Iodine 7.5% antiseptic feminine wash that offers protection from common germs which is the cause of feminine discomfort. Mothers are often prescribed this product by medical doctors after giving birth. Do you know it ranks #3 in the Feminine Wash Category? Yup and it’s also #1 in Liquid Antiseptic Feminine Wash Category.


I believe that all of us women need to take care of ourselves and we can always start by staying clean in our intimate area to harness our inner sexiness. *wink* 

Remember, Clean Living... Clean Mind... Clean Body...

because CLEAN IS THE NEW SEXY!

ADVERTORIAL  

I've been trying to do some mid-year financial management stuff to be a more responsible adult (*ahem*) when I chanced upon this great news from PSBank. Based on the news here in my town with all the ATM skimming and sudden deactivated card concerns, this is a terrific update and one I couldn't be more happier to find out and tell you about.


Philippine Savings Bank, more commonly known as PSBank, aims to deliver new products and services this year that provides a seamless banking experience for its customers. I'm a huge fan of technology, even if my folks raised me with the conventional way of balancing books and using a checking account. I find that using an online system and computerized money management gives me an edge, and not just because Math is the bane of my existence and it has never been my strong suit. And besides, with my precious work hours, I don't have time to visit banks always or wait 48 years in line for my turn. Tee hee! Having online access really is the best thing that ever happened to banking.

So with that being said, I am super pleased to know and share with you that PSBank is launching ATM Lock, a mobile-based service that allows clients to lock their ATM cards from use for as long as they prefer and unlock them when needed. Isn't that awesome? I mean, it adds great security for people concerned about ATM theft and having a peace of mind knowing that deposits are safe in ATM accounts.

The ATM Lock feature protects us further from fraudulent withdrawals from our ATM deposits. This is a wonderful action taken by PSBank. But why should you use ATM Lock? Here's two reasons:

1. It is CONVENIENT because you can closely monitor the status of your ATM cards anytime, anywhere.

2. It is SECURE because the lock system provides an additional layer of protection to PSBank ATM cardholders from ATM loss, theft, and skimming.

So if you are one of those people who unfortunately had a bad experience with ATMs, the time for worrying is over. Fret no more! PSBank is saving us a lot of trouble with their new ATM Lock. This is a really practical tool that can prevent those awful situations from happening ever again.



Now isn't that what clients and customers really need? Yes! And PSBank has delivered it!

For assistance and inquiries, call PSBank’s 24-hour Customer Experience hotline at (02) 845-8888, chat with us at PSBank LiveChat via www.psbank.com.ph, or visit any PSBank branch.

 

ADVERTORIAL


Just when I thought things couldn't get any better, the Belo Authority releases and offers us the additional intensive whitening body cream and face and neck cream to their already proven and highly effective Kojic Acid + Tranexamic Acid Intensive Whitening soap bar that I first tried back in July of last year. I just finished trying this set for 2 weeks, so read on for my review.

BELO INTENSIVE WHITENING KOJIC ACID + TRANEXAMIC ACID SOAP BAR (SRP PHP 59.75)


It comes as no surprise that there is magic happening here. This Belo Kojic Acid + Tranexamic Acid soap bar alone can lighten your skin as fast as a week. (See my before and after photos in HERE.) We know that the magical combination of kojic acid + tranexamic acid works because it is very effective in inhibiting both the production of melanin (you know, the substance that's responsible for dark skin pigments) and tyrosinase (the enzyme that controls melanin production). The 65g soap bar lasts about 2 weeks of use. So I suggest cutting it in half to get more out of it.


The Belo Kojic Acid + Tranexamic Acid soap bar exfoliates skin like no other. In fact, I was using an exfoliating body wash prior to using this soap . Even after first using it, I found that I still had dead skin and the soap was able to exfoliate some more! Wow! Now some people, especially those with sensitive skin, might find this soap strong and I did find that it does sting a little bit as it gets rid of my dead skin. The good thing is that it isn't drying compared to other kojic soaps I've used in the past.

BELO INTENSIVE WHITENING KOJIC ACID + TRANEXAMIC ACID BODY CREAM with SPF 30 (SRP PHP 199.75)


You see, this is why I said things just got better. Because now we can be further protected from the sun's harmful rays with the SPF 30 of Belo Kojic Acid + Tranexamic Acid body cream. It's essentially a moisturizing lotion that is easily absorbed by the skin and keeps it moisturized throughout the day.


The product is pretty thick like regular sunblock but without the greasy feel. It has the same scent as the bar soap which is actually quite strong as I would have liked. The fragrance does not stay long, however, to my relief.

BELO INTENSIVE WHITENING KOJIC ACID + TRANEXAMIC ACID FACE & NECK CREAM (SRP PHP 249.75)


Of all the facial creams I've tried, this is the most hygienic one! Why? Because, look! It comes with a spatula and you don't have to dip and re-dip your fingers all the time. We all know bacteria breeds like there's no tomorrow on moist environment, so this is quite a lovely surprise from Belo Kojic Acid + Tranexamic Acid face and neck cream. Again, the scent is pretty much the same as their body cream which is quite strong for my liking but it eventually goes away. It is a rich cream that is absorbed by my skin quicker than I anticipated and leaves my skin really, really moisturized. I could skip my BB creams or foundations with this. And what's even better? The SPF 30 has got you covered... like literally, from the sun. Woot!


And now to the fun part... let's take a look at my BEFORE & AFTER PHOTOS of using the Belo Intensive Whitening Kojic Acid + Tranexamic Acid soap bar, body cream, and face & neck cream.

Before and After using Belo Intensive Whitening Kojic Acid + Tranexamic Acid soap bar and body cream

Ta-dah! On my arms, it may not look super substantial compared to my old blog post but since I hadn't been under the sun lately, my skin color isn't as dark as it was prior. Also you can notice that the yellowish pigment of my skin seems to have lessened. It is a subtle but still obvious effect.

Before and After using Belo Intensive Whitening Kojic Acid + Tranexamic Acid soap bar, body cream, and face & neck cream

On my back, it still has the same effect. I didn't turn into an albino (thank goodness!) but if you click on the photo to make it larger, you can see that my skin's pores have tightened and it looks more radiant than it was and with less yellow pigment. Take note that this is only with 2 weeks of use; now imagine doing this for a month or more. That's definitely going to do a lot of skin whitening!

Before and After using Belo Intensive Whitening Kojic Acid + Tranexamic Acid soap bar and face & neck cream

The photo above shows how significantly it managed to lighten my neck area. You know I never really paid much attention to it before and I just realized that my neck is the area that gets exposed a lot. And again, it is the yellow pigment that seems to have been targeted by these products and now I have a lighter and more radiant skin after using Belo Intensive Whitening Kojic Acid + Tranexamic Acid.


I can only imagine how fast skin whitening can be after all the summer fun in the sun. If you're looking for ways to fade that summer tan quickly later on or even just to lighten any dark spots, remember that Belo Intensive Whitening Kojic Acid + Tranexamic Acid can surely help you with that.

You can get this set in all Watsons, Mercury Drug, department stores, groceries, Amazon and even from Lazada.com!

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!