I used to wear a full face of makeup when I step out of the house. But now that I’m settled in with powder as my daily base, I find how blushes and bronzers do their magic when you only have 15 minutes to look put together.

Although these makeup aren’t new in the beauty community, it was my first time trying out these products, especially the ones from NARS. Keep on reading if you’re curious about my new bronzer and blushes!

It's so hard to resist buying new makeup, especially if you consider yourself as a beauty enthusiast. I’ve told myself time and time again that I don’t need to buy a new lipstick or blush, but that didn't stop me from testing out these beauties. Heck, I've even strongly written it down on my NY’s resolution that I'm only repurchasing makeup that I've already used up, but nothing happened (LOL!).

With so many brands and products in the market, it’s difficult not to get enticed with the new product offerings, especially when they are being so raved about by your favorite beauty vloggers. In the past year, I’ve collected a total of 33 42 new makeup which I think will be my go-to essentials for 2019.

From drugstore and Philippine local brands to high-end products, I’m giving a rundown of my new collection, beginning with base makeup!

The Louis Vuitton Agenda PM refills aren’t exactly budget-friendly. Although they fit in the LV small ring agenda cover very well, not everyone is willing to spend much on these planners. That’s why I scouted for an alternative refill that's more affordable, but still functions like the LV ones.

Here in Singapore, I found a stationery and gift store called kikki.K. The stylish gifts and paper products of Scandinavian designs got my attention as I was walking around VivoCity. Some of their newly-released products are still pricey, but they often have discounts.

Have you thought about getting a Louis Vuitton PM agenda refill for 2019? January will be over soon, but some of you might still be unsure whether to get this year’s LV agenda refill or not. I personally prefer last year’s design and concept. However, I’m already used to the layout of LV refills, so I decided to give this one another try.


The theme for this year’s refills revolves around the journey of the Alzer, Louis Vuitton’s iconic hard case suitcase trunk. The Alzer was born in the 19th century, a legacy that the brand imprinted in the history of luxury travel.

I’m currently at NAIA Terminal 1, waiting for my flight back to Singapore. Since my move to The Lion City in June, I’ve been home thrice and the time spent there is always never enough. I know OFWs who live farther miss home so much more than I do – but in reality, I still do. Even if the flight time takes only 3-4 hours, I still get enthusiastic thinking about going home, seeing family, friends, and familiar faces, and lying in my own bed!

But don’t get me wrong. I appreciate the convenience that Singapore brings, three of which are the high-speed internet, convenient means of transportation, and almost zero crime rate. However, there are things I just miss about Manila that I didn’t think I would.

I can’t believe there are only 44 days left before Christmas! I’ve been very busy lately, mostly because of work. To be honest, it saddens me that I don’t get to travel right before the holidays, but I just think about going home for Christmas and that’s something I’m super thankful for.

After more than four months of working in Singapore, I don’t think I’ve ever treated myself to a massive shopping haul (except that time when I went crazy with Playdress' dresses and my need for a Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro. Lol!). I did some shopping recently, but that’s when I bought Christmas presents for family (75% done!). For myself? Nothing yet.

This season is a season of giving and it’s not all about material things. Even if I don’t get 5/6 of these for Christmas, it doesn’t matter. It just feels nice to do a bit of retail therapy after a stressful season of work.

So what do I have in mind for Christmas 2018 and New Year 2019?

Before I got into the K-drama wave, I was already an avid user of Korean beauty products for years. I don’t remember what my first K-beauty product was, but I believe it was a BB cream from Nature Republic. And although my relationship with BB creams is short-lived, there are still plenty of products which remained loyal to me. Mind you, I don't have the best skin in the world (and I blame genetics for that, lol!), but my skin has improved tremendously over the years.

Trust me: I’ve gone through so many bottles, tubes, and jars of western and Korean beauty products, but I have an affinity with the latter’s formula because it’s best suited to Asian skin. And I’ve got to say, I already knew which ones benefit my skin the most. I wasn’t born with the best skin but I saw the improvement after regular use of these products. Now that I understand what my skin loves, I always restock on my 14 holy grail beauty stash whenever I set foot in Korea.

Korea is one of the best places in the world to shop. Not only are the products affordable, but they are of good quality, too. Staying in Myeongdong, Seoul this 2018 allowed us to access so many shops within walking distance from our hotel.

When I shop in Korea, I usually spend a bigger percentage on skincare items because I use them daily. Although Korean fashion is so cute and feminine, it’s usually focused on trendy pieces which can go out of style quickly. Being the basic human being that I am, I skipped on clothes. Nonetheless, I still got myself a few items on a whim! After all, I was only in Seoul for four days.

Other than my usual must-buy in Korea, I also picked out new things I’ve yet to try. So what have I spent my money on? Keep reading to find out!

Sunnies Face is another business venture of the Sunnies company, popular for their line of sunglasses, optical wear, and cafe. Now introducing their makeup line beginning with matte lipsticks called Fluffmatte, the well-known brand in the Philippines has been raking in sales for their new product. Affordability and millennial style are the brand’s strongest edges, but we shall see if these new lipsticks are worth the hype or just another local lipstick brand.

I swear by my Longchamp Le Pliage bags as durable, everyday work bags where you can throw in anything and they will stay strong for years. Because of its quality, I thought of owning the Le Pliage cosmetic case as well. Fast forward to three years later, my everyday pouch has stood the test of time in every bag that I carry.

I got my Longchamp Le Pliage Cosmetic Case at Duty Free Fiesta Mall, which was around Php1,800-2,000 at that time. I picked it up because the size was roomy enough to carry my cosmetics and other essentials, but small enough not to consume a huge space in my bag. The most important thing: it’s lightweight.

I cannot let my LA vacation pass without shopping at Ross and Marshalls! A trip to these discount department stores is worth it, especially if you’re looking for new items to purchase. The first ever item I bought in Marshalls is a Ralph Lauren button down shirt from two years ago (around $25) and I’ve been using it until now. From Ross, I still have my Ralph Lauren backpack which I bought in Guam last December.

My agenda in checking out these stores was to get some small stuff I need and items I can share with my friends after my trip to the US. Each item here is only less than $7 (before sales tax). Without further ado, here are my 5 purchases from Ross and Marshalls.

I recently discovered my love for Grendha sandals and it’s timely that I found tremendous discounts during the Great Singapore Sale. With GSS ending on August 12, I thought I’d share with you some of the pairs I bought from Royal Sporting House, and maybe you can get your hands on these, too!

Grendha is a Brazilian brand of sandals from the company Grendene that manufactures stylish and elegant looking footwear, made from the highest quality materials. The brand is commonly seen at SM Department stores in the Philippines, but I never paid attention to it before. I no longer see the practicality of purchasing rubber slippers (i.e. buying Havaianas like I used to) and plastic sandals that’s worth more than Php 1,000 a pair, when I can purchase formal and classic flats for only Php 300. In addition, my previous job required me to wear business attire and closed shoes everytime I had to meet with clients. There was no purpose of me buying such sandals with expensive cost per wear.