Review: Happy Skin Shut Up & Kiss Me Moisturizing Lippie

I don't like to hoard on make- up. I tend to stick to what works for me. With that said, I have to find the right lipstick that can work for any occasion, day to night. After more than a year, my Krave Cosmeceutical Lip & Cheek Salve finally had to retire this week since I already reached the flat bottom. So once again I was on a hunt to find the perfect lipstick.

Oh, did I mention that I am extremely picky when it comes to my make-up's ingredients? I'd always go for the organic and chemical-free. However, here in Davao it's hard to find that perfect make- up line. It's a pain having to order online and paying the shipping fee.

I ordered Virgina Olsen in Lazada but it was almost 3 weeks since my order. I got tired of waiting and resorted to what's available at the malls.

After hours of research (yes, I do research before I make a purchase), I stumbled on a review of Happy Skin Shut Up & Kiss Me Moisturizing Lippie. I remembered that Abreeza's Chimes had this, so decided to give it a try (honestly I just got tired of hunting for the right lipstick).

This costs Php 499. 00. Net weight: 2.7g

I got mine in 'My first time'

So this product claims:

This lippie offers three- fold "lip- service": the shine of a gloss, the pigment of a lipstick, & the hydration of a balm! Spoil yourself with Shea butter & Collagen to keep your lips in lip- lockin' shape!

Ingredients list 

There are still ingredients that I don't even know or can't pronounce (red alert!) but there's no paraben in it, which is nice.

Swatch

(very dark pink to red)

Thoughts: After I paid for this, I immediately went tot the ladies' room and tried it. It's got good coverage but I was surprised it felt matte (despite its promise). I actually liked the matte finish. I'm not so sure about the hydrating part. I thought it would be buttery and soft but it felt dry. It also wasn't glossy like your regular lip gloss. As I went home, my lips felt dry.  For the dry issue part, a little lip balm would fix it.

• The product reminds me of those jumbo crayons in preschool. I think this will last for a veeerrryyy loooonnnggg time (no lipstick reviews any time soon).
• It also doesn't have any scent (a plus for some maybe?).
• It's pigmented alright. A few light dabs is perfect for a casual everyday look. A full on swipe will give a classy full color perfect for formal occasions or romantic evenings.

Yay :)

• Very pigmented- a few light dabs is enough for an everyday look.
• Lasts you a long time = value for your money

Nay :(

• Makes your lips feel dry

Overall, if you want a lippie that will give you a full color even with a few light dab, then I say go for this! :)

Tagaytay Trip '14

The year- end holiday is the perfect time to go out on an adventure vacation. We aren't one for a luxury vacation with the pricey hotels and packaged tours. We like to backpack and freely go around- experience the locals' culture and everyday life. We're also on a tight budget, making the most with the least expenses.

We chose to go to  Tagaytay for this adventure vacation. The cold, windy weather is perfect for the Christmas season. I purposely did not bring my jacket and only depended on my scarf and sweater for warmth. (I asked my boyfriend how cold Tagaytay was. He said it was like in Eden Nature Park. I thought I could endure it since it wasn't that cold there anyway. I also wanted to fully experience Tagaytay's cold weather)

Once we arrived in Manila, we went to Coastal Mall and hopped on a bus going to Tagaytay City. The AC bus costs Php 80. We went out at 4:00 am to avoid traffic. 

The first breeze made me slightly regret that I did not bring my jacket.

The first photos I took of Tagaytay's streets. 

After we had our breakfast at McDonalds in Olivarez, we walked all the way to Picnic Grove (take note- WALKED). 

Entrance to the Picnic Grove is Php 50 for adults and Php 30 for kids. There were a lot of people there- families enjoying potluck meals, kids flying kites and rolling on the fields.

There are shops where you can buy souvenirs. Shirts costs Php 120+ (depending on size and color). There are also jackets, sweaters, and cardigans (Php 300+) . Other smaller trinkets include keychains, and pouches (Php 20+), bonnets and furry hats.

We just grabbed our rain covers to sit on, chewed on some chocolate, and enjoyed the view.

Cottage rentals is at Php 150

Stunning view of Taal.

We took a jeep back to Olivarez and we realized how far we walked. It was actually 5km! 

From Olivarez we took another jeep to Robinsons for lunch. We tried Ted's Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy.

Extra super La Paz Batchoy

Quick look at their menu.

After lunch, we were so dead tired that we decided to go to our inn to rest. While we were waiting for the check- in time we fell asleep on the bench.

After we finally got some rest, we went back to Olivarez for dinner. We tried Papa Prito near Olivarez's rotunda.

Noodles = Php 65 

Chicken = Php 85

Chopsuey = Php 80

Second day- we initially planned to go to People's Park in the Sky but we had a hard time catching a jeep. So, we impulsively decided to go to Taal Crater Lake instead.

When you're in Tagaytay, a number of tricycle drivers holding small signs with 'Boat Trips' painted on them will approach you (though the city government does not promote this kind of practice). They will offer to take you down to the resorts on the other side of Taal Lake where the boats are docked.

We approached the closest sign-holding tricycle driver to take us down to the boat ride area. The road going there was full of curves and 'Danger. Landslide Prone Area' signs *gulp*

Finally, after about 40 minutes we arrived at a resort. You have to pay Php 200 for the tricycle fare, and Php 1,500 for the boat transfer

The boat ride is around 30min. I thought the water was calm but I was sorely mistaken. The waves were crazy strong! We were so not prepared to get wet. I was just thankful that it wasn't salt water that was splashing on our faces. The boat driver offered to let us use a tarpaulin to protect us from the splashes.  

There are lots of horses that can be rented for Php 450 to take you to the top of the mountain. Adventurers as we are, we hiked the 8km trail.

It was really dusty (you will literally bite the dust), especially when you come across a group riding horses.

The hard trail and blazing sun were worth it when we reached the crater lake. It was breathtakingly beautiful.

After our Taal adventure and getting some rest, we went to Sky Ranch. It's an amusement park where the tallest Ferris Wheel in the Philippines can be found- the Sky Eye.

Entrance fee to Sky Ranch is Php 80/pax. Sky Eye ticket is Php 150/ pax. It's only good for one turn.

View on top of Sky Eye.

Third day- we went back to Manila and took a quick trip to La Mesa Eco Park. This is a perfect place to escape the crazy Manila concrete jungle.

A quick run down of our expenses (Tagaytay):

• Bus (Manila- Tagaytay = Php 80 for AC and Php 60 for non-AC)
• Meals: You can have a decent meal for a Php 100 budget in Papa Prito or Robinsons
• Transportation: Php 8. 50 for jeepney (I highly suggest you take jeepneys to get around the city) ; Php 60/pax for tricycle (btw, they refer their tricycles as taxis)
• Picnic Grove entrance: Php 50/pax- adult ; Php 50/pax- kids
• Taal Lake: Php 200 going down to the resorts where the boats are docked ; Php 1, 500 for the boat transfer ; Php 50 for the 'bridge' (yes, you have to pay for the little wooden bridge from the boat to the lake's shore so you won't get wet) ; Php 500 for the tour guide's fee ; Negotiate for Php 250 for the tricycle ride going back to Tagaytay (some will charge you Php 300)
• Accommodation: 1st night: Php 1, 500 (Dzone Backpacker's Inn) ; Php 1, 100 (Our Melting Pot Tagaytay)

Overall, our Tagaytay trip was certainly an adventure where we experienced a mix of cold and warm weather, nature's beauty and man- made amusement.

Give your feet some lovin'

I didn't care about my feet before. How I managed my nails was a stark contrast to my feet. I didn't give it regular trims (I would only cut my toenails if it got too long, started to rub against my shoes and it would start to hurt). No foot spas and massages. Then I started to notice how bad my toenails looked and my feet felt painful.

It was just recently that I felt sorry for my feet and started to give it the TLC it deserved.

Your feet carries the weight of your body for countless steps for many hours and sometimes on unforgiving terrain. Pampering it will lessen the possible woes it might suffer later on in your years.

So how do you exactly take care of your feet?

photo by noblesvillefootspa.com

1. It's always a nice idea to go to a spa and have a luxurious foot massage and scrub. I do agree with that but sometimes it can get expensive if you do it so often. An affordable alternative would be to soak it 2-3x a week (just my personal preference- I wouldn't do it everyday. You know how the oldies threaten you with pasma and varicose veins). Just pour some soothing liquid soap or foot soak in warm water and let your feet bask in it.

2. Give yourself an easy and cheap foot scrub (exfoliate!). Grab a a half cup of salt, olive oil, and your favorite essential all. Mix it all together and gently scrub your feet. Trust me, your feet will thank you.

3. Before going to bed, wash your feet and give it a good massage using a lotion. Not only will you moisturize your feet, minimize calluses but also give your feet relaxing pressure.

4. A very quick and easy foot massage is to roll a tennis ball under your feet. This is great especially if you're sitting at your office for long hours.

I'll be sure that my feet get some relaxing time in my next pamper routine.

Shine Moist Henna Wax

I have always wanted to add a hint of color to my jet-black hair but I'm not that brave enough to change it to bold colors. I was considering buying those bubble coloring thingies from Palty or Etude House or go with Revlon or Loreal hair coloring boxes. However, those can damage the hair and I don't want it to destroy mine. I remembered a classmate back in college that always had her hair in a vibrant color but I would always see it as shiny, not damaged. So I asked her what she was using and the told me it was Shine Moist Henna Wax.

I looked for this in every Watsons store that I visited but I just can't seem to find it. I read from other blogs that you can buy this from Hbc. So Hbc in Gaisano Mall I went and finally found it. It costs Php 199. 00 :)

Shine Moist Henna Wax is a hair cellophane- type of coloring. It conditions your hair, giving it a hint of color without having it endure harmful and smelly chemicals.

I chose Dark Brown (they only had black and the violet one) because I was still a bit scared of going for light colors.

My hair story:

If there was such a thing as a Virgin Mary hair then that would be the perfect description for mine. I rarely have salon treatments (even hot oil or cellophane). I haven't tried rebonding or perming it. No harmful chemical have touched it. I sometimes have a love- hate relationship with my hair. Black and straight can get really boring, and for times when I'm feeling this I capriciously decide to do something (cut or color it). Anyway, having it colored is really a challenge for me because it seems that my hair doesn't absorb any type of coloring.

When I arrived home I immediately tried the product. Upon opening the box, I got the vial, gloves, and a showercap. After following the instructions (shampoo hair and dry it to 75% (?). I applied it like I was applying conditioner. 

For coloring my hair, this was the wrong product for me. However, this is a great cellophane treatment that can really make your hair soft and smooth, so kudos on that. I felt like I just stepped out of salon :)

Maybe if I chose a lighter color it would show on my hair. I noticed that when I washed my hair streams of brown would flow with the wash.

In summary:

Pro:

• It will make your hair smooth, I guarantee it.
• It does give your hair a hint of color, I just chose the wrong one this time around.
• It doesn't damage or make your hair dry.

Con:

• It can get messy when applying it, especially if you have long hair.
• The color that this product gives is short-lived. I'd give it 2-3 weeks tops.

Will I repurchase?

Maybe. I'll choose a lighter shade of brown next time.

This Christmas give the gift of hope

I always believe that Christmas is about selflessness and sharing the love- a commemoration of the epitome of those values which is Jesus. I just cannot fathom the idea that while we are busy with decorations and preparing for parties, that we lose the very essence of why we are celebrating Christmas in the first place.

If your conscience is nagging you to do something worthwhile and really want to grasp the essence of Christmas, you can share the love by becoming a ninong  or ninang to a cancer survivor from The Kids of Hope. Kids of Hope is a non- government organization that responds to the needs of young cancer victims in Davao City and the rest of the Mindanao Island. On December 8, they will be celebrating 'Survivor's Day'.

The kids have their wish list and all you have to do is make it come true!

I'll be shopping for my inaanak ;)

For more information on how you can give your gift, you can contact Kids of Hope through their Facebook page: Kids of Hope or you can visit their website http://www.kidsofhope.org/.