My Beauty Kikay Kit!



When you get to your 30's, sometimes you want to maintain that age by having your daily beauty regimen. As technologies evolve, beauty products also evolve for our convenience. And come to think of it, if you wanted to look good in your profile picture, either you can have your picture filtered or edited in photoshop or might as well post the picture unedited, natural and no filter at times you'll never be contented. But as long as you have all the beauty gadgets on your side, expensive or not, you can achieve the real beauty inside and out. (inside mean, includes being humble). They say make up makes you look older, but not for me. When I was struggling to look older, I would put on light make up so that I would not look young. Most especially when I was looking for a job, they said they can't hire an underage and high school grad. Argh!

When I first came here in South Korea, I got more exposed to some new "beauty kikays". I must say, here is heaven to me! And I just can't get enough of them. Here are some cosmetics and beauty kikay must-haves that I wanna share, although some of them may not be available in our country.

FACE

I don't wear heavy bb creams or foundation. For my everyday make-up at work, I use face powder from Mac Studio Perfect NC40 shade and some of the following eye makeup that gives a very light and nude effect on my face.

Tony Moly Perfect Eyes Eyeliner

The Perfect Eyes Eyeliner is the product of Tony Moly. I don't really use eyeliner on my lower lash line, I only use the liquid eyeliner for my eyelids from In2It which until now I'm still using it. But what I love about this eyeliner is the soft pencil that you can easily glide on your lower lash line which really gives a perfect eye bug free look :)

Etude "Drawing" Eyebrow Pencil

This eyebrow pencil from Etude has a very good consistency when you draw this  on your brow. It is very easy to use because of the angled shape point of the pencil. So if you're the busy type of person like me who is always on the rush in the morning to apply make-up, this one is just perfect.

MAC Pro Long wear Concealer

I guess concealers are my BFF's for life. A day without it when I'm outside will be the worse day of my life. I finally found the perfect concealer for me when I was shopping (actually just window shopping, i don't remember well) at the Mac Cosmetics inside Lotte Department Store. Well, they tried it on me and I told them I was using the Mac foundation powder in NC40 shade so they gave me the NC35 shade. Should be one shade lighter than your powder or same shade is ok. The 9ml or .30 fl.oz would probably last around 8 months to 1 year depends on how much you use it but should be applied with just a very small drop on your eye area. The one I have is almost 8 months and the bottle is almost half, I assume it will take more 5months for me to consume.

Faceshop "Face it" Maxx Mascara

Faceshop is not really my favorite brand but I guess their mascara is the only one that I can't live without. I bought this product twice already, the other is the purple one which is for more "volume" but the one that I prefer most is the blue one which is for "long lash".  When you use this mascara there's no need for the eyelash curler which at times I am scared of using (you know what I mean), and it definitely give a long lash effect!

Burts Bees Lip Balm

Before applying lipstick I moisturize my lip first by applying the lip balm from Burts Bees. This has a moisturizing effect that doesn't dry and has a cooling effect (like mint) on my lips. 

HAIR

I have a stubborn straight hair. Yes not wavy or curl, and sometimes I wish I was born with natural curly hair so I won't curl it everyday. I bought curling iron which often times the curl won't last, after around few hours my hair will still be straight. So I decided to get digital perm which cost me around 120bucks. But then again after 2 months or so, the straight hair is showing some signs again. So I have no choice but to buy the curlers which I put every night, so in the morning I will have bouncy curly hair and it last for a day in fairness.

4040 Style Curling Essence 2X



This curling essence by Amos Professional is what they are raving most in here in Korea for those who are so obsessed with styling their curls like me.  I guess you can only buy this in hair salon and I haven't seen this one displayed in some department store. My hairstylist here recommended it and its really good for wavy hair. It controls rough and frizzy hair which gives my hair a smooth and good polish. Before I put on my rollers, I apply a small amount of this on the ends.

Strawberry Sponge Hair Curlers

My new found discovery at Olive Young is this pretty and foamy curlers. Yes I bought this for my convenience so I can sleep on it. And it is very comfortable to sleep with using this soft sponges in your hair and in the morning you will achieve that curly and bouncy hair you ever wanted. You just need to apply a small amount of that styling lotion of your choice, then put those curlers on. You can watch videos on youtube if you want to know more on how to use it like what I did.

Shiseido Tsubaki Head Spa Conditioner

I can use any shampoo for this conditioner from Shiseido and it perfectly works for my hair most especially when its winter. I had this intense conditioner last year, and I still have more of it now. I think 1 gallon would last a year for me because I don't really use it everyday. I also recommend the shampoo of this Japanese brand, although both are a bit expensive.

Biosilk Silk Therapy Hair Mist

Biosilk brand from Farouk Systems is very popular with their silk straight serum for frizzy and dry hair. I've used that before but then I have to apply a very small amount so that it would last for around a year or so. A bit expensive though but for tropical country like ours, when you use silk therapy leave on serum you won't probably see the effect. This works best on winter when my hair gets dry, I bought the hair mist so I can use it also on summertime and its much cheaper compared to the serum. Hair Mist is good for straight long hair, and you can see it truly shines all day. This is around 7-9$ here in Korea, but you can find cheaper deals in Amazon.

BODY

Epilin Hair Remover

Looking for a good hair wax remover for you legs or underarms? Epilin wax from Watsons or SM is a good find and I truly recommend it because the wax easily dries in less than a minute and pulls all the the hair with its roots that doesn't leave a chicken skin effect. A good find, effective and very affordable at around P100-200 depends on the size.

Epilator

My alternative apart from waxing, is using the epilator. If I'm in a hurry or travelling, epilator is the one I can always rely on. For first timers it will be freakin' painful but as for me, been using it several times especially for my legs, I guess I already have endured the pain. You can use any brand but branded  ones are more effective and durable.





Tony Moly Shiny Foot Peeling Liquid

Foot Spa here in Korea is a bit expensive, (around 30-50 bucks) so at times we need to think of other ways yet effective way to have a smooth baby feet. We tried this foot peeling a year ago and I still use it 'til now. I love the effect and it really makes my feet smooth and silky. It removes all dead skin of your foot, after a few days. It will only take one hour of your time soaking your feet inside the foot bag with liquid as it also exfoliates the entire part of your foot. This is one of my favorite "must-haves" here in Korea but I guess if you will buy this in the Philippines, you'd think you will just go to your favorite foot spa or salon. It's around 7-8 bucks here but footspa is i think around P250-500pesos. But we're not even sure if they could really remove all of your foot's dead skin.  


Burts Bees' Miracle Salve

One of my travel buddy because of it's usefulness for moisturizing your hair, hands and body. Yes, it's all in one package :) It doesn't leave greasy or oily thingy on your hands because of the natural ingredient made from 100% natural beeswax. I love it, i don't need to bring body lotion, hair styling or hand lotion whenever I travel. I can easily apply on some dry parts of my skin, from head to toe! :)



Sometimes we have to invest in some beauty products especially when you are in sales, marketing, banking, academe and other profession that would require you to be presentable and neat. (at least) 

The Pope in South Korea

Upon the announcement last March this year that the Pope is coming in August, I was ecstatic! Now I am relieved I didn't include Rome during my Paris trip last January. Anyway, my friend Leck revealed the news to me because apparently the Pope will be visiting their place in Seosan. As the date come nearer, I was already making early reservation for my bus trip because Aug.15 was a national holiday here in Korea and I got paranoid of mass exodus during holidays here you know, the traffic and everything.  The schedule of Pope Francis was hectic one from day 1 until day 5. He went to visit Daejon with over 10,000 people in the stadium to attend the opening mass for Asian Youth Day. On the next day he went to Gwanghamun in Seoul with again a very huge crowd flooding the area for the Beatification Mass in honor of 124 Korean Martyrs.

The one I attended was the Closing Mass for Asian Youth Day in Seosan. I travelled around an hour and a half to get to Seosan. A small province in Korea with a laid back lifestyle compared to Seoul. When the event was about to start, we saw the pope's car (of course he was there inside) together with his aides and Korean bodyguards paraded through the shrine. And the rain began for almost 3 hours. We were soaking wet in the field where he will commence the Holy Mass. At exactly 3pm the rain finally stopped as he was scheduled to go on the motorcade in the area at around 3:30 and the scheduled mass was 4pm. A miracle indeed, because in the morning the weather forecast was 100% rain from 1pm-6pm. We were convinced that we will attend soaking wet while the pope will officiate the Mass, we don't care. But when pope arrived in his mobile, dark clouds began to disappear slowly while the latter moves along and the skies becomes clear on every lane as passes towards the stage. You can see the pictures below so you'll know what I mean.

I took this picture unaware of the dark clouds moving towards as the sky goes
clearer while the Pope and his mobile is going to the stage where he will celebrate mass.

This was actually grabbed from the video I took, I was like 3 steps away from him! I went through the gates near the media men where I found a nice spot and very near the lane to be able to see the Pope.

It was raining hard before the Pope arrived, the disposable raincoats are very helpful.

The Closing Mass for Asian Youth Day, interpreted in different languages of Asia.

The only way I could touch his face! :)

Mini Series

Lately, I have been so hooked up with TV Mini Series, which I almost stopped watching since, I think 2003 the time when "Friends" was so popular. Filipino and Korean drama (dubbed in Filipino) were my previous obsession but this year I think I almost finished like around 11! Oh no, I am now officially TV series addict. Thank heavens to the super fast internet here in Seoul. Yes, I watch the online streaming plus the super bass sound of my bluetooth speaker, thanks to my sponsor- my hubby.

Here are the reviews of my favorite mini series which I have invested in my sleepless nights and eye bags!

The Blacklist

It's a Crime Drama that revolves around the mysterious life of a father-daughter relationship.
The daughter, Elizabeth played by Megan Boone who is a detective and investigator solves and polishes the crimes as foreseen by his father, "Red" played by James Spader who was once connected to the most wanted people otherwise known as "Blacklisted Criminals". Their working relationship will put them to test in protecting each other and other mysterious revelations about his husband.

I haven't actually finished the series because I got distracted with "How I Met Your Mother" Season Finale. But this crime drama has absolutely heart stopping action and suspense thrills especially on the mid episode of season 1. Season 2 will start airing this September.

Mr. Selfridge

Mr. Selfridge is a British period television drama series about Harry Gordon Selfridge and his London department store, Selfridge & Co., set in the 1900's. This series is my one of my personal favorite which inclines me to go to London! I love the story, It's about family and integrity. I admire how Jeremy Piven (Harry) plays the role of a father, a husband, a businessman and a friend in this series. He was so natural and his relaxed aura showed how he struggled to put up his business and the sacrifices he went through with the support of everyone around him amidst the problems in his family. Every episode had a great lesson and I am truly amazed by such a brilliant writer of this series.

House of Cards

This is actually an adaptation of previous BBC mini series of the same name and is based on the novel by Michael Dobbs.

I'm not a fan of Kevin Spacey, but I do think the acting gave justice to what is an American dirty politician. The series would not be complete without the scenes of Freddy's  barbecue joints and Robin Wrights' mysterious dual personality.  Seemingly ambitious and aggressive Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) wittingly manipulated the people around him and no one could ever stop him to simply achieve what he wanted - to become the President of the United States of America. And he will do everything whatever it takes. For me, he's the bad guy here. Let's just wait for the next season what's going to happen in this so-called good karma.

Game of Thrones

What more can I say, everyone is raving on this HBO mini series! The fantasy drama set in medieval times written by the ever genius George RR Martin was creatively crafted and re-enacted to satisfy the thirst and hunger of readers and viewers. I didn't read the books, obviously I would rather watch and write about it. But the story itself interweaves several plot lines and I would simply say-- it's a battle for thrones. Ambitious characters were brilliant and surprisingly realistic. And I can't wait for he next season next year. By the way, my personal favorite? It's Daenerys (Khaleesi) and Tyrion Lannister!

Once Upon A Time

It's a modern day fairy tale with a mixed feeling of Deja Vu that I would personally wish I once lived in a fairy tale land. The show takes place in the fictional seaside town of Storybrooke, Maine, whose residents are actually characters from various fairy tales transported to the "real world" town and robbed of their real memories by a powerful curse. Episodes typically feature a primary storyline in Storybrooke, as well as a secondary storyline usually from another point in a character's life before the curse was enacted. I love how the "evil queen" portrayed a role of being good and bad. I could say the people behind this idea and story seemed very creative in aligning the scenes of the past to present. Next season (and I hope not final) will air next month with the Elsa, the ice winter princess of another fairy tale story, Frozen.

The Good Wife

An American TV legal and political drama series with it's lead star, Julianna Margulies who plays "Alicia Florrick", the good wife. This is a story of a wife who struggled to become a reputable lawyer to prove to her cheating husband that her life will move on amidst their dying and broken marriage. Surrounded by people who is supporting her career, made greatest challenge to prove her worth to them not only as a good mother, wife and lawyer. I personally admire how the story is written and the casting was made. Julianna portrayed well on her character as a lawyer and she truly deserve another Emmy for this. I was just quite frustrated when Will Gardner played by Josh Charles, died in the story. Alicia and Will resembled a beautiful "love story" together which really moved me.

Suits

Where have all the heartthrobs gone! I love the lawyers' wit, humor and tactics in this series. The mistaken identity of the intelligent and fraud, Mike Ross takes up the whole story which revolves around his senior associate and the firm's name partner, Harvey Specter. Ok so being a Harvard graduate is such a biggie in their firm, and I do get why in reality, most companies really wanted an employee who graduated in a prestigious university. Going back, I only got interested on the first 12 episode of Season 1. There were more thrills and exciting episodes which tested not only the friendship of Harvey and Mike but other characters in the series as well, not to mention the very funny and sometimes annoying, Louis Litt. The last season this year was kind of boring for me. It was when Mike transferred to another company to be able to move on with a new job not worrying of being a fraud.

Beauty and the Beast

You'll fall in love all over again with Vincent and Catherine. With a powerful soundtracks engineered per episode is such a "feel-good series" like i felt, I went back into my high school days, watching the older version starring Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman, remember them? But this new version is totally different version, a more creative and thrilling plot as all ends in fighting for their love and relationship.

Catherine Chandler, (Kristen Kreuk) a detective, witnesses her mother being shot the same night she is saved from her mother's murderers by a supposed beast. Nine years later, a case leads her to discover that Vincent Keller, (Jay Ryan) an ex-soldier believed to have been killed in action during military service, is actually alive. As Catherine gets to know him, she starts finding out more about her mother's murder and about who (and what) Vincent really is. At the same time, they get to know one another and eventually fall in love.

And by the way, Jay Ryan (Vincent Keller) is really hot! The six pack abs is "a looking-forward to" every season :) 


How I Met Your Mother

Ok, I think almost everyone knows about this sitcom series. Well, I didn't really watch the whole season since, If I remember it right, the first season was born after "Friends" debuted another finale season. And I think the whole story is just basically about Friendship and Love. Friends in love, friends in marriage but the real score here are the funny and awkward moments of their relationship. Ok, Romantic Comedy as they say. The series explores many storylines, including a love triangle between Robin, Ted, and Barney; Marshall and Lily's relationship; as well as the careers of the characters. 

So, if we really stick to the title, it will be "How Ted Met Tracy" or "How Ted met his Wife".  We were all expecting it will be Ted and Robin in the end, but it really is. The thing is, there was the wife (Tracy) before Robin. They had children together, and Tracy dies, Robin divorced Barney and became single again, and why not, give another chance for the widower...:)

Desperate Housewives

When I got married in 2006 I started watching this, because I got so curious with the title and  maybe I got paranoid I could become one. I bought DVD's of the whole season from 2004, and my husband didn't complain about it.

The main setting of the show was Wisteria Lane, a street in the fictional American town of 'Fairview' in the fictional 'Eagle State'. The show followed the lives of a group of women as seen through the eyes of a dead neighbor who committed suicide in the very first episode. The storyline covers thirteen years of the women's lives over eight seasons, set between the years 2004–2008, and later 2013–2017 (the story arc included a 5 year passage of time). They worked through domestic struggles and family life, while facing the secrets, crimes and mysteries hidden behind the doors of their — at the surface — beautiful and seemingly perfect suburban neighborhood.

Modern Family

I love how the actors here portray their respective roles as modern family of today. I like Gloria and the gays :) I can see myself in them as parent someday..maybe. What I also love about this comedy series is the bonding of the family, no matter how many "shallow" difficulties they encounter, they support each other as one big happy family.

On wearing JCI LO Shirt

"Promotion is present through everything the organization does, from wearing JCI T-shirts, to how your members present themselves in public." -- JCI Local Action Guide (Marketing Plan)

I was scanning local training manuals on JCI branding but I couldn't find more emphasis on wearing JCI shirt, so i thought of writing this in my blog.. Nowadays new members are not aware of it but I have been there. There were times that I felt there is NO need for it, but suddenly one day, there a lot JCI shirts scattered in the trunk of my car during the days when I was an active member and officer of JCI Naga Carinosa. In our chapter that is always our rule, whatever activities related to JCI, we must wear one regardless of what color is available in the trunk of our car! 

 

Now why is it important? Let us go back to basic. (Don't tell me you have never worn a uniform in your life since kindergarten!) According to Wikipedia, a uniform means a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. People generally wearing uniforms are armed forces, police, emergency services, schools and workplace. Uniform means to be the same, and without difference. As Gen Wright express this: Uniforms depict solidarity.

So why is it that we need to wear our JCI LO Shirt?

1. Wearing it tells your audience about your product. This is very important especially--- most especially, when you are a JCI TRAINER. You are the bearer of the product or a service or whatever you are representing. I guess this is so self explanatory. During my days when I was trainer, I never failed wearing one, even as participant. 

2.  Uniform as a Perk. In some organization, it is considered as an honor and a kind of perk to receive a uniform. Some chapter sell the uniform, but for other generous chapters they give it for free. 

3. "We belong together". If the organization have uniforms in whatever function they attend to, they share a feeling of commonness and belonging which otherwise gets very difficult to achieve.

4. Equality. Our LO Shirts brings everyone to the same platform, no matter which class of society you've come from and thus inculcating a feeling of equality.

5. Mutual Growth. Our shirts are very important and fosters traits which are very necessary for a person as an individual and an organization as a whole to thrive and prosper. After all, the area of opportunities in JCI calls for every individual to BE BETTER in everything you do for your community and beyond.

JCI Naga Carinosa during the JCI Week Celebration (2014)