I thought for once that forever is with you
But now I am tired thinking of what to do
Because now you’ve left me all alone
Forever is gone, no comfort zone.
I’ve tried my best to be okay
So that people around me will have nothing to say
I’ve tried my best to put a smile
But often times I see myself cry.
I am frustrated knowing that
Everything’s finished – all that we’d had
I feel like I can go no more
But still here I am, opening up that single door.
I miss, I missed… and I am still missing you
Desperately hoping that you are feeling the same way too
I am trying my best to let you go
Because consistencies and possibilities are getting low.
I always wanted to go back...
Back when you are filling all the things I lack
I always wanted to hold your hand
But it seems like right now I can’t.
Now I know, that maybe this is the time to let go
I hate it, this fragility and weakness I show
Till now… I am holding on to that single thread
Continuing fighting, even if the light shouts red.
(originally published in another platform on April 20, 2013)
Miss, Missed, Missing You
Under the Pavilion
I saw you standing under the tree,
I see no one but you, I’m happy
As you hold my hand I feel eternity
As I stare at you, time becomes an infinity.
“I’ll see you later, I love you”, he said
Under the pavilion where the sun rays were not shed
I gave him my sweetest smile as I said, “I’ll wait for you”
and see him go as i said to myself “…and I love you too”.
It was 5 o’clock and I bid my friends goodbye
Then I went outside as I see the sun slowly die,
Rain poured slowly, I feel the sense of misery,
Then all those were gone when I saw you waiting for me.
There it goes your blue umbrella, soaked in wet
“I wish time would go slow”, as I said in my head…
We were under the pavilion, letting and seeing the rain pour down
You were holding my hand… I realize that I’ve got the luckiest crown.
We were like this everyday, feeling the bliss
When everyone’s not available, I knew I got you, at least.
We laugh together and shed some little tears
I believe we’ve got the greatest cheers.
But everything were quickly gone,
Believing that all has been said and done.
You left me broken and scarred
Exaggerated as it may be, I feel that my whole life was barred.
Everyday I feel numb
Without you here for me, I feel dumb
It seems like I’ve lost half of my life
Nevertheless, I’m planning to kill my soul with a knife.
Last night I looked at myself in the mirror,
I was horrible, I can’t even see my spirit soar.
Thinking about you, about everything, about us
I was crying, “I’ve done everything”, it is not just.
I was living a ‘new’ life, so to speak
I am rebuilding myself, happiness is what I seek.
I began learning how to smile
And not to isolate myself and socialize, even for a while.
It was 2 o’clock in the afternoon,
As I see that the sun is not shining anymore soon
There I find myself under the pavilion, waiting.
Then afar I saw a man with a blue umbrella, walking…
(originally published in another platform on April 20, 2013)
I see no one but you, I’m happy
As you hold my hand I feel eternity
As I stare at you, time becomes an infinity.
“I’ll see you later, I love you”, he said
Under the pavilion where the sun rays were not shed
I gave him my sweetest smile as I said, “I’ll wait for you”
and see him go as i said to myself “…and I love you too”.
It was 5 o’clock and I bid my friends goodbye
Then I went outside as I see the sun slowly die,
Rain poured slowly, I feel the sense of misery,
Then all those were gone when I saw you waiting for me.
There it goes your blue umbrella, soaked in wet
“I wish time would go slow”, as I said in my head…
We were under the pavilion, letting and seeing the rain pour down
You were holding my hand… I realize that I’ve got the luckiest crown.
We were like this everyday, feeling the bliss
When everyone’s not available, I knew I got you, at least.
We laugh together and shed some little tears
I believe we’ve got the greatest cheers.
But everything were quickly gone,
Believing that all has been said and done.
You left me broken and scarred
Exaggerated as it may be, I feel that my whole life was barred.
Everyday I feel numb
Without you here for me, I feel dumb
It seems like I’ve lost half of my life
Nevertheless, I’m planning to kill my soul with a knife.
Last night I looked at myself in the mirror,
I was horrible, I can’t even see my spirit soar.
Thinking about you, about everything, about us
I was crying, “I’ve done everything”, it is not just.
I was living a ‘new’ life, so to speak
I am rebuilding myself, happiness is what I seek.
I began learning how to smile
And not to isolate myself and socialize, even for a while.
It was 2 o’clock in the afternoon,
As I see that the sun is not shining anymore soon
There I find myself under the pavilion, waiting.
Then afar I saw a man with a blue umbrella, walking…
(originally published in another platform on April 20, 2013)
👀 Disclosure: I have normal to combination type of skin; please duly note that what works for me might not work effectively on you.
Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm (Original)
Ingredient Highlights: Acerola Extract, Spring Water
Probably one of the things that I learned about the Korean skincare routine is to double cleanse using an oil-based and water-based cleanser. Since then, I always make sure that even if it has been a tiring day (or even when I'm sick!), I would still try my best to do the double cleansing method. Double cleansing is definitely a game-changer specially if you're using the correct products.
This balm to oil cleanser claims to effectively remove makeup and other oil-based products which include sunscreen. That's why it is still important to use cleansing balm (or any oil-based cleanser) even if you're not wearing any make-up at all. Prior this, I'm using the Heimish All Clean Balm but I switched back to Banila Co. since it is now cheaper and they have reformulated the ingredient list and changed the packaging. Key ingredients include acerola extract which is rich in vitamin C and spring water which contain minerals to soothe and hydrate the skin.
Neogen Real Fresh Foam Cleanser (Green Tea)
Ingredient Highlights: Green Tea Leaf Extract, Morninga Seed Extract,
Papaya Fruit Water, Orange Fruit Extract
I'm a sucker for anything green tea, so I'm always in the lookout for any green tea variant skincare product in the market (so long as the price is justifiable and with good reviews). The Neogen Real Fresh Green Tea Cleansing Stick make it to my best of 2017 skincare, now it is the foam type from the same line and brand which made it to the cut!
The Real Fresh Foam Cleanser is packed with fermented green tea extracts which help cleanse the pores, making the skin moisturized and smooth. The smell of the foam cleanser is more subtle than Neogen's cleansing stick. After using two foaming cleansers (the first one was Innisfree's Green Barley Bubble Cleanser), I realized how much more convenient they are because I don't need to cut the packaging in half to consume the product and it makes the second step much easier since one pump would already make a rich lather.
Aritaum Ginger Sugar Lip Scrub
Ingredient Highlights: Shea Butter, Ginger Extract, Fine Sugar
Although I have been using my favorite lip balms from Nivea and Carmex everday, lip care has been my least concern. I never purchased any lip sleeping masks or scrubs until the last quarter of 2018. Initially, I was skeptic into buying this because my lips might smell like ginger given that it is the main ingredient. Surprisingly, it does not tastes or smells ginger at all! This lip scrub has a thick consistency and truly exfoliates and removes dead skin cells, leaving the lips plump. It contains shea butter which is in charge of giving nourish and moisture and ginger extract which creates a protective layer on the lips.
Ingredient Highlights: Centella Asiatica Extract, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide NP (Ceramide 3)
A brand that's famous for their gauze peeling pads, Neogen Dermalogy released another kind of pad that offers gentler exfoliation and can be used daily. The real cica pads consist of a concentrated formula that is not just effective for sensitive skin, but also for normal or combination skin type like me! It has centella asiatica extract which aims to soothe and hyaluronic acid which retains the moisture of the skin. The pads are also formulated with polyhydroxy acids (PHA) which is considered to be one of the gentlest acids.
In 2017, my favorite exfoliating pads were from Neogen and so when they released this product, I was just very excited because I know that just like their peeling pads, they have formulated this very well... True enough, they did not disappoint. It glides onto the skin very smoothly, every single pad is equally filled with essence and I personally think that this could be a toner and essence at the same time. A single pad might look thin at a first glance, but it never easily tears (I've tried tearing it so many times LOL) and it's just amazing how it can hold a lot of formula and yet the essence does not drip from the pad! These pads saved me from those lazy nights where I almost didn't want to do any skincare (after double cleansing) at all.
V&M Naturals CPC+G Oil
Ingredient Highlights: Calamansi, Papaya, Camellia Japonica, Grapefruit Extract
The only local product which I considered to be my favorite and also a game-changer for 2018 is V&M Naturals' CPC+G Oil. V&M Naturals is a Philippine brand established in 2008 which advocates beauty and wellness through all-natural products and essentials.
I learned this product from a Filipina Youtuber, Raych Ramos, who claimed that this product in particular helped lighten dark spots on her face and suggested that this could be a cheaper alternative of the Klair's vitamin drop. In 2017, I tried Klair's Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop as it has been raved by a lot of my favorite Youtubers. But honestly, after months of using, I noticed little or no significant difference in my skin at all, especially the dark spots on my right cheeks. Now, I'm on my second CPC+C bottle because I love it and I attribute the lightening of my dark spots with this product. Though it is an oil packed with a lot of brightening extracts, it is lightweight in formula and smells way better than that of Klair's.
Nature Republic Real Nature Mask Sheet (Green Tea)
Ingredient Highlights: Camellia Sinensis Seed Extract
Need not any introduction to this one because if you have been following me on my Instagram account and also happened to read or scan some of my skincare-related blog posts, these masks from Nature Republic has always been my all-time favorite. Out of the variants that I've tried, the green tea one stood out the most because it does not leave a sticky feeling after removing the mask and its natural green tea smell. Not to mention that they've offered the 10+10 promo for a long time that's why I also stocked up a lot of these. Currently, they have a new packaging (which really reminds me like that of Innisfree) and offers only the 10+5 promo with quite a higher price.
I love sheet masking and trying out new types and brands of sheet masks, but I always go back to this because it is such a steal for its quality and price (especially if you hoarded their 10+10 promo years ago! Hahaha).
Innisfree Jeju Orchid Eye Cream
Ingredient Highlights: Orchid Extract, Caffeine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract,
Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract
After almost two years, I finally got to purchase this ever-famous eye cream from Innisfree because Althea Korea offers it at a lower price compared to other online sellers and even to Innisfree's physical store here in the country. I'm very happy that they've considered opening a physical branch here because they offer a wider range of products, although it really is much more expensive.
Anyway, upon using this for the first time, I figured out why my favorite Youtuber, Joan Kim, raved this product years ago... It has a thicker consistency but is not heavy around the eyes and makes it look firmer too. The product mainly consists of orchid elixir, which has anti-oxidant benefits and makes the skin healthier by reducing wrinkles and increasing elasticity.
Nature Republic Soothing & Moisture
Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel
Ingredient Highlight: Aloe Vera Leaf Extract
Just like their sheet masks, this one from Nature Republic has been my holy grail ever since I started my skincare routine. It has a lightweight the formula and is fast-absorbing, plus it also provides a very refreshing feeling to the skin. Although this multi-purpose product contains alcohol, I’m still keeping my loyalty because it never breaks me out and dries my skin and is one of the cheapest moisturizers out in the market... oh aaaand not to mention that they're endorsed by my favorite Kpop band, EXO!
Nature Republic Soothing & Moisture
Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel Mist
Ingredient Highlight: Aloe Vera Leaf Extract
Face mists are probably considered to be one of the most underrated products in the world of skincare. I myself only started to appreciate its importance upon the emergence of another hyped product from Nature Republic, their Aloe Vera Soothing Gel Mist. It has the same formula with that of the gel, but only in the form of mist. Given that it's only 150mL, you can carry it around almost everywhere and spray liberally onto your face to maintain that moisture and feel refreshed throughout the day. Face mists can also set and blend your make-up.
I mainly use face mist more often in the office (as our skin gets drier in a cooler temperature), before and after applying cushion foundation, and even when inside the house so long as I needed to have a spritz of extra moisture.
💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙
2018 has been filled with a lot of challenges, but nonetheless here I am, still able to share with you my favorites for the year because #skincareisLIFE 😂. But kidding aside, doing skincare routine is part of my self care and whenever I'm doing it, there's just that sense of serene amidst all the stress and worries the day may have brought me... and I know that you're nodding and agreeing with me too. 😉
Cheers to more quality skincare products in 2019! 🙌
Abby 💗
CCTO
Written on 3 February 2019
There are a lot of things that I wanted to do over the weekend such as continue reading Ikigai, claim my passport at SM Manila, meet with Kevin to celebrate his promotion, and share my 2018 best of skincare blog (which I shall be posting hopefully before February ends!). Yet I am stuck at home because I need to do chores such as laundry, iron clothes, clean the house, and wash the dishes... It's not that I'm complaining though (I have always been a homebody haha), but being in-charged in the house was challenging; obviously, given the time constraints, I wasn’t able to prepare much for us; I only prepped a breakfast and dinner once, on weekends I do the easiest breakfast – buttered toast and scrambled eggs 😆. Most of the time, binibili lang namin sa labas or canned good yung kinakain namin every dinner. I wasn’t also able to do my full skincare routine at night (lalo na yung sheet masking, *sobs*), but at least I have been double cleansing naman. LOL. Nonetheless, I was still able to find joy in doing mundane tasks and though I always feel tired, it was fulfilling because at the end of the day I know that I have been productive.
After heading outside for lunch (and our weekly dose of milk tea), we went home early as I needed to iron clothes and fold the remaining laundry because I don't want to finish late. That same day, naglaba rin ako ng uniform ko from (church) service, so sinampay ko muna siya sa rooftop before ako magprepare para magplantsa. It was less than 2 hours lang naman, I listened to Ali and Victor’s The Linya-Linya Show podcast (Episode 17: New Year Special) to keep me company (their podcast is so funny, you might want to check them out) and also sakto naman, after the podcast, naglive naman si Chanyeol sa Instagram and he was listening to indie songs (uhhhh I really like his choice of music 💚). Almost 6pm ako natapos magplantsa and I went back to the rooftop to get my uniform kasi ipapasok ko na siya sa loob… and it was just less than 30 seconds from opening the wooden gate to the rooftop and hanging my uniform inside where I have this thought,
“Sana bata na lang uli ako.”
Who would have thought that I was able to realize that very randomly?! But seriously, it was kind of nostalgic for me as I came to process what I just thought. Probably the reason why it crossed my mind again was because of a sudden flashback many years ago, around 2007 – our house was newly built back then – when my cousins (from mother’s side) would come here and hang around with us, it was noisy, messy, and fun. I particularly miss my ates, Ate Jack and Ate Chat; they would sometimes interrupt me from studying and either magbi-bike kami sa labas, tatambay sila sa sala, sa kwarto ko, or sa rooftop… maglolokohan, kwentuhan, tawanan, takutan, at minsan iyakan… basically that rooftop has always been filled with a lot of memories.
Both of them have their own families already. Ate Jack lives in Batangas while Ate Chat – although magkalapit pa rin kami ng bahay – we didn’t get to bond as much because she’s also working and of course it is understandable that her weekends are dedicated to rest and to spend time with her family. I’m happy for both them as they grew to become responsible mothers, samantalang dati ako pa nga ang nag-aakay sa kanila papuntang simbahan, LOL. ✌
There are a lot of things that I wanted to do over the weekend such as continue reading Ikigai, claim my passport at SM Manila, meet with Kevin to celebrate his promotion, and share my 2018 best of skincare blog (which I shall be posting hopefully before February ends!). Yet I am stuck at home because I need to do chores such as laundry, iron clothes, clean the house, and wash the dishes... It's not that I'm complaining though (I have always been a homebody haha), but being in-charged in the house was challenging; obviously, given the time constraints, I wasn’t able to prepare much for us; I only prepped a breakfast and dinner once, on weekends I do the easiest breakfast – buttered toast and scrambled eggs 😆. Most of the time, binibili lang namin sa labas or canned good yung kinakain namin every dinner. I wasn’t also able to do my full skincare routine at night (lalo na yung sheet masking, *sobs*), but at least I have been double cleansing naman. LOL. Nonetheless, I was still able to find joy in doing mundane tasks and though I always feel tired, it was fulfilling because at the end of the day I know that I have been productive.
After heading outside for lunch (and our weekly dose of milk tea), we went home early as I needed to iron clothes and fold the remaining laundry because I don't want to finish late. That same day, naglaba rin ako ng uniform ko from (church) service, so sinampay ko muna siya sa rooftop before ako magprepare para magplantsa. It was less than 2 hours lang naman, I listened to Ali and Victor’s The Linya-Linya Show podcast (Episode 17: New Year Special) to keep me company (their podcast is so funny, you might want to check them out) and also sakto naman, after the podcast, naglive naman si Chanyeol sa Instagram and he was listening to indie songs (uhhhh I really like his choice of music 💚). Almost 6pm ako natapos magplantsa and I went back to the rooftop to get my uniform kasi ipapasok ko na siya sa loob… and it was just less than 30 seconds from opening the wooden gate to the rooftop and hanging my uniform inside where I have this thought,
“Sana bata na lang uli ako.”
Who would have thought that I was able to realize that very randomly?! But seriously, it was kind of nostalgic for me as I came to process what I just thought. Probably the reason why it crossed my mind again was because of a sudden flashback many years ago, around 2007 – our house was newly built back then – when my cousins (from mother’s side) would come here and hang around with us, it was noisy, messy, and fun. I particularly miss my ates, Ate Jack and Ate Chat; they would sometimes interrupt me from studying and either magbi-bike kami sa labas, tatambay sila sa sala, sa kwarto ko, or sa rooftop… maglolokohan, kwentuhan, tawanan, takutan, at minsan iyakan… basically that rooftop has always been filled with a lot of memories.
Both of them have their own families already. Ate Jack lives in Batangas while Ate Chat – although magkalapit pa rin kami ng bahay – we didn’t get to bond as much because she’s also working and of course it is understandable that her weekends are dedicated to rest and to spend time with her family. I’m happy for both them as they grew to become responsible mothers, samantalang dati ako pa nga ang nag-aakay sa kanila papuntang simbahan, LOL. ✌
The second photo was quite a struggle since we wanted to take a picture of just the three of us, but unfortunately no matter how hard we try, these kids just always wanted to be in the frame 😅
It was during these times that I’m still amazed at how
time runs so fast. Before, I cannot wait to graduate college, get a job,
earn money and buy the things I want. Now... almost four years after, I feel like
I just wanted to go back to the time where all I’m worried about are the next
day’s assignment, recitation, project, and all other school-related stuff. Gusto
ko na lang din bumalik sa mga panahong naghihintay ako dumating sila ate sa bahay para masaya lang, kahit na istorbo sila sa mga ginagawa ko dati to be
honest haha (out of the three, I’m the most studious, they can even attest to
that!), I just wanted to go back when life was not as complicated and harder
than this.
Admittedly, I think I’m at the point in my life where I feel
lost and I don’t know where to go next. My mind is starting to clutter and I’m
thinking of a lot things that I wanted to do, but I feel lost as to where to
even start... or maybe, just maybe, I’m just afraid because I have always been
in my comfort zone the whole time and that I was not able to explore much as I
have told myself otherwise years ago.
I miss the times where all I think about were simpler
things… but then again, what’s the point of getting out of my comfort zone if I
continue on dwelling to those times, right? And so probably, I needed to stop wishing frequently if I
could just turn back time to my worry-free childhood and instead little by
little, find the kind of person I was when I was young, start picking myself up
and try to be that confident again and be more mature and stronger to be able
and willing to take the succeeding risks because life will always be about
getting through it all and moving forward.
Afterall, I’m still in the process of finding my
ikigai. 🙏🌻
In reference to EXO’s latest single, Tempo *with Chen’s
high-pitched voice*, I CAN’T BELIEVE that 2018’s over! It’s funny how there are
times when I just wanted 2018 to go by much faster, now here I am, struggling
between finding time to wrap up my year with a blog and cleaning my room.
Just like any other year, 2018 has been filled with a lot of great memories with my friends and loved ones… So many that I can barely write them in one sitting (also, I am cramming as of the moment, haha!) So let me just share with you my monthly highlights for this year. 😉
Just like any other year, 2018 has been filled with a lot of great memories with my friends and loved ones… So many that I can barely write them in one sitting (also, I am cramming as of the moment, haha!) So let me just share with you my monthly highlights for this year. 😉
JANUARY
I’m excited when I found out that we would be visiting Roxas
City again after 7 years for our family reunion. I’m glad to see Papa with all his
siblings and Lola Lilia; it was a good time to bond with my cousins as well.
Papa’s ancestral home really gives me a sense of relaxation; with the short
period that I have, it has given me a peace of mind away from Manila (and my
work haha). It was too bad that we don’t have enough time to explore other
parts of the city (although we went to Santa Monica Church in Panay, which is
considered to be the largest bell in Asia). Nonetheless, that weekend was
priceless because we were all able to find time to take time off from our daily
grind from school and work for a much needed family time. 💖
FEBRUARY
We’re not the type who gives each other expensive gifts,
dine at fancy restaurants, and even travel together when it’s our anniversary.
Just the company of Kevin on our special day is enough. Our anniversary date fell
on a Monday, so we decided to celebrate it on a Saturday. We ate early dinner
at Kko Kko, it was both our first time eating to that restaurant,
unfortunately, the food is not really that delicious 😢 and the melting cheese was
just overly hyped, I love the ambiance though. After which, we went to get our
photos done at Fujifilm. Admittedly, I’m hesitant to get our photos taken at a
professional photo studio because I don’t really like to pose hahaha, ang awkward kasi LOL. But he insisted and good thing that I went along with it because the photos were beautiful. 💛
MARCH
Keene, Eunice, Shalee, and I rarely bond given our ever-conflicting
time schedules 😆, although we were able to squeeze in some time to meet
last January for our post-Christmas party and gift-giving. This month, we bonded
again over watching I Remember a Boy, a play where Shalee is part of the cast.
The story is about a group of friends who reunited at a café and recalled how
their friendship came together, how they fell in love and fell apart. It also
features the music from classic Original Pinoy Music (OPM) hits from ‘70s to
the ‘90s. I love the story and is very relatable as well. Shalee and the rest
of the cast were just as equally good and fitting for their roles.
APRIL
Last April 2017, I was fortunate to have bought tickets
(thanks, Globe pre-selling event) for Jassy and I for Coldplay’s A Head
Full of Dreams Tour in Manila. It was my first-ever legit concert with my
favorite band, and it truly was an awesome night. A year after, on the same
month this year, Jassy and I attended our first ever K-Pop concert at the Mall
of Asia Arena, together with other EXO-L trashes, Jenica and Jia, for EXO’s ElyXiOn
in Manila Tour! 🙌 We were at the queuing line at around 2:30pm; Jia and Jenica
were able to secure good spots, it is just that the fans were surprisingly
wild, I was not able to anticipate it. I thought that I will not survive the
craziness and rudeness of some international fans (even PHIXOS, sadly), but I
guess it is just mind over matter, LOL. Nonetheless, even quite a number of
casualties happened in the VIP mosh pit section, I’m very happy to see all of
them up close and perform live! They were all just equally handsome and oozing
with appeal… special mention to my bias, Oh-Sehun 😍 HAHAHA!
MAY
Patrick is my closest guy friend from late grade
school to high school, but we kind of lost in touch eventually when
he moved to Japan. Thankfully, after 6 years, we were able to meet
again and he introduced us to his wife, Roxy. We ate our dinner at Yellow Cab
while reminiscing all our GS and HS moments. After Yellow Cab, we proceeded to
The Pad and had drinks, I was surprised when Patrick sang for open-mic a
6Cyclemind song 🎤, it feels good seeing him happy and carefree.
JUNE
It was June 15
when I was able to finally meet my soul sister again. We ate lunch at Barcino (the pasta’s good!) while catching up on a lot of things, drank
coffee at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf while using the SNOW app to take cute
selfies 😋, and sang for an hour at Karaoke Hub at SM North EDSA while remembering
our “music sessions” in college just like the old times. It was also a good
timing because prior our meeting, she called me for a great news that she was
granted a scholarship by the National University of Singapore!
JULY
We visited Batangas once again as we had our little
celebration and (sort of) reunion because Kuya Eric and Ate Joan arrived here
in PH after almost 5 years of residing in Canada. Kuya became emotional when we
arrived, he’s just very happy that we’re almost complete. The following week,
they visited us in Malabon and stayed in the house a little bit then went to
the cementery to visit Lolo because they weren’t there during the burial. We
went to SM North EDSA and treated them lunch at Barrio Fiesta (because every
balikbayan would always crave for Filipino food upon arrival here for sure
haha). We also went to the Venice Grand Canal because they haven’t been there
and they wanted to take pictures, luckily the weather was fair and we were able
to take lots of pictures and selfies (special mention to Ate Joan’s iPhone X!) 📷
AUGUST
I have been a Korean skincare junkie since early 2016 and so
when a skincare products retailer, Go Bloom and Glow opened applications for
part-time content writers, Jassy and I immediately applied. Luckily, we both
passed and it was just an achievement for us as we get to write and impart our
thoughts and knowledge on Korean skincare to a different platform other than
our respectively blogsites even just for a while. The experience made me feel
like I was a professional content writer, especially the exchanging of ideas and
revisions. It was also a breather for me because my nature of work includes
writing financial analysis and this opportunity from Go Bloom challenged my
writing skills as the content is different from what I was used to.
SEPTEMBER
Eunice, Keene, and I have always been planning on an out of
the country trip together, good thing I Eunice and I were able to book a promo
flight. We decided that our travel dates coincide that of Keene’s because she
already booked a flight (with Rods) which is also bound for Taipei. We arrived
during lunch time, left our baggage after checking in and met Keene, Rods, and
his friends where we ate at the Modern Toilet (it was a little bit pricey and
the food isn’t that good as well). We went to Longshan Temple and the Sun-Yat
Sen Memorial, the following day we booked a day tour care of KKDay going to
Jiufen, Yehliu, and Shifen. Unfortunately, it was raining hard so we don’t have
many pictures. 😢 Then upon arrival to Taipei Main Station, we went to the Shilin
Night Market. On our last day, we just went to 288 Peace Memorial Park,
Chiang-Kai Shek Memorial Hall, Taipei 101, bought cakes at Sunmerry and oolong
tea from Ten Ren, and stroll around the Ximending Youth Shopping District. I
wish there was more time to explore Taipei but I still enjoyed it. I love how
clean the surroundings are and how effective their transportation system is.
Cannot wait to go back! (P.S. Do not miss eating ramen at Ichiran!)
OCTOBER
I don’t know why but I suddenly find myself holding back my
tears during some moments during my brother’s commencement exercises. Hahaha. I
tried so hard not to cry even for a second because I was embarrassed because
Mama might tease me! I guess I’m just overfilled with joy and proud to see JR
graduate and awarded with best thesis. His years of studying finally paid off. 🎓
NOVEMBER
There are two things that I am grateful for this month, first
was EXO’s comeback! Really loving EXO’s new album, Tempo, which was out last
November 2. Luckily it was a holiday and so I was able to get crazy with the
EXO-Ls around the world as the music video was almost simultaneously released
with EXO’s live comeback performance in Music Bank. Finally, drought’s over! 🎶
Second was my birthday, of course (which I’m just as equally
grateful for as EXO’s comeback LOL). I took a day off from the office to
celebrate my birthday at home with Mama and JR. Mama cooked my favorite dish,
sinigang for lunch and bought a black forest cake and ice cream. Kevin also
visited home later that evening and brought Domino’s pizzas. It was a simple
celebration with my most treasured ones and all I wish is for God to give me more years to live so that I can serve Him more. ☝
DECEMBER
Besides December 25, the 23rd was probably the
highlight for this month because Papa was home for Christmas 🎅 We thought
that he will not be coming home but thankfully he was able to celebrate this
festive season with us. I’m happy that we will also welcomed the new year
together. These moments spent with my family will always be priceless.
〰
〰
I have been in constant
struggle of trying to look for what I really want to do. Last March, I was
diagnosed with bell’s palsy (BP) and still am not fully recovered as of
writing. Having diagnosed with BP has never been easy for me especially during
the past few weeks, I became more conscious with my face, I lost my appetite,
and I barely talk to people. I was devastated. I have been filled with
self-doubt.
Probably the greatest thing that I learned this year is to be grateful despite the challenges that come your way. God reminded me that despite of me having a condition and battling against my own struggles, I must not forget to be grateful that I have my ever-supportive family, friends, and cherished loved ones who never fails to be there for me and support my decisions. Looking back to all the things that transpired in my life this year, I know that God taught me not to dwell into negativities but instead try to look into the other side of things, ika nga ni Catriona Gray, to the “silver lining”, kumbaga.
Praying that this 2019, I will get better, hustle more, and strive to put extra effort into the things that truly matter… ultimately praying that this year, I can get what I truly deserve. 🌈
Probably the greatest thing that I learned this year is to be grateful despite the challenges that come your way. God reminded me that despite of me having a condition and battling against my own struggles, I must not forget to be grateful that I have my ever-supportive family, friends, and cherished loved ones who never fails to be there for me and support my decisions. Looking back to all the things that transpired in my life this year, I know that God taught me not to dwell into negativities but instead try to look into the other side of things, ika nga ni Catriona Gray, to the “silver lining”, kumbaga.
Praying that this 2019, I will get better, hustle more, and strive to put extra effort into the things that truly matter… ultimately praying that this year, I can get what I truly deserve. 🌈
Let's all continue to aim for our goals as we embrace 2019!
Abby 💗
During the first few months since I have been diagnosed with BP, I’ve
been less dedicated on spending time doing my evening skincare routine as I
always allot more time in doing facial exercises and massages to stimulate my
facial nerves (#priorities). Now, several months later, there are still days
that I don’t follow my full evening routine due to the same reason and also
because I simply just wanted to rest and sleep more (because honestly, skincare
routine in general can be time consuming). It’s been more than a year since I
posted my evening skincare routine, so I’ll be sharing my updated and simplified
evening routine. 💜
Step 1: Oil-based cleanser
Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm (Original)
Oil-based cleansers help remove all
oil-based products in our skin such as make-up, excess sebum, sunscreen, as
well as pollutants. This step is also for those who don’t wear anything (make-up)
on their face at all! It is best to consider a mild yet effective oil-based
cleanser in removing makeup and dirt without causing irritation.
Currently, I went back to the
first-ever oil-based cleanser that I tried which is the Banila Co. Clean It
Zero (Original). I was curious because they have repackaged and reformulated
the product. The scent is still the same and it still does not sting my eyes or
give me irritation which is pretty much the same like the Heimish All Clean
Balm, but the only thing that I noticed is that the Clean It Zero texture
glides onto my face more smoothly.
Step 2: Water-based
cleanser
Neogen Real Fresh Foam Cleanser (Green Tea)
Water-based
cleansers eliminate water-based impurities such as sweat and dirt. It is also
worthy to consider using a water-based cleanser that is SLS (sodium
lauryl/laureth sulfate)-free, a foaming agent which may cause skin irritation.
I LOVE
GREEN TEA and NEOGEN. The Green Tea Real Fresh Foam Cleanser is just like their
cleansing stick just that it is in liquid form. The Real Fresh Foam Cleanser is
packed with fermented green tea extracts which gently cleanses and refreshes
the skin. I personally prefer foam
cleansers after using the one from Neogen because – just like gel and stick
cleansers – I need not to cut the packaging in half just to consume the product
entirely (which I normally do with cream-like cleansers). It also makes the
second step much easier to lather since it is foamy already.
Step 3: Moisture
pads
Neogen Real Cica Pads
As previously mentioned, I LOVE
NEOGEN (hahaha! 😆) and as much as possible, I wanted to try all their products because it is no doubt that they didn’t compromised the quality, although some of its
products are quite expensive for me. However, this specific product was just
within my budget and I immediately ordered it upon its availability here in PH
because my favorite skincare enthusiasts loved it.
The Neogen Real Cica Pads was recently
launched by Neogen in early 2018. It is a skin-calming pad soaked in cica (aka
centella asiatica) essence which smooths and soothes the skin and PHA
(polyhydroxy acids) which is a peeling ingredient but less than irritating than
the AHA’s and BHA’s (if you want to know more about it, check my
co-junkie’s related article here). This makes the product safe to use
every day because of its gentle properties. I love how the cica pads really
take out excess dirt after I double cleanse, not to mention that a single pad
is really soaked with rich essence such that I can wipe it across my face for a
couple of more minutes without drying faster than using a regular cotton pad
and toner.
Step 4: Eye cream
Benton Fermentation Eye Cream
I have naturally dark circles
and crow’s feet around my eyes, yet after learning and incorporating the Korean
skincare routine, I would still always try to remind myself to religiously use
eye cream every night to help reduce the dark circles and puffiness in a way.
The Benton Fermentation Eye Cream contains bifida ferment lysate and
galactomyces ferment filtrate which help repair skin damage. Ceramides,
hyaluronic acid, aloe, and panthenol also complements the fermented ingredients
resulting to a deeply hydrated skin.
I love how it comes in a tube
for hygienic purposes, although one thing that I just noticed recently is that
when your eyes tear up* a little bit, the eye cream tends to sting around the
area. (*Shout out to Along With the Gods:
The Two Worlds for it was the reason why I cried! LOL)
Step 5: Moisturizer
Nature Republic Aloe Vera
92% Soothing Gel
The Nature Republic Aloe Vera
92% Soothing Gel is the only constant product in my whole skincare routine
since 2017 and I always make sure that I have an extra of this because you cannot
run out of the A/S gel! While some moisturizers have thick consistency, this
one is lightweight and not sticky. What's to love more about this product is
that it is multi-purpose as well! It can be used as a body lotion, hair mask or
soothe allergies and sunburns. While the product has an alcohol content, I
really don’t mind because my skin is not drying out and/or experiencing any
irritations and breakouts because of it. Not to mention that it is also one of
the cheapest moisturizers out in the market and endorsed by EXO! 💙
Step 6: Lip balm
Nivea Med Repair, Carmex Classic Medicated Lip Balm
Lip balm
is really not included in the Korean skincare routine but a lot of skincare
enthusiasts incorporate it because lip balm protects lips from getting dry and
chapped (specially on cold nights). It also provides extra moisture on the lips.
Currently, I am using two lip balms namely the Nivea Med Repair SPF 15 and
Classic Carmex Medicated Lip Balm. Whenever my lips are chapped, I would always
reach out the one from Carmex because it feels like an ointment for the lips
because it contains camphor and menthol to soothe and protect flaking lips.
💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
While you may think that six steps might still be a little bit overwhelming, maybe you can stick with steps 1 to 3 followed by 5. Personally, I advise that you follow steps 1 and 2 which are collectively called as the double cleansing routine as these steps are the ones you cannot skip!
Gomawo!
(probably) one of the frustrated Song Hye Kyos,
Abby 💗
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
