Discovering Mary Kay.

Some two weeks ago, my friend Precious came over for a visit. Having been friends for almost twenty years, she comes to my place every so often (and vice versa) to hang-out, bond over food, and play with Yue -who also happens to be her godson.

This particular visit, however, was quite special. Because aside from the usual chatting and laughing and catching up with each other's lives, we also bonded over one of our favorite things - makeup. Precious has become a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant not too long ago, and she came with an array of Mary Kay products for us to play with.

Here are some of the products that she brought over that day.

Clockwise from L-R: Mary Kay Satin Hands Pampering Set (Hand Softener, Satin Smoothie Hand Scrub,
Hand Cream), Lotus & Bamboo Loofah Deo Spritzer, Botanical Effects Formula 3 Hydrate, Timewise 3-in-1 Cleanser,
Compact Pro Color Tiles, Mineral Powder Foundation, Lotus Bleu Nail Polish.

Satin Hands® Pampering Hand Set (Php 2,600)
An easy, three-step system that soothens, pampers, and protects the hands, this set includes the following:
Fragrance-Free Satin Hands® Hand Softener that helps maintain skin’s natural moisture. Use it on hands before washing, or anywhere else skin is dry.
Peach Satin Hands® Satin Smoothie® Hand Scrub cleanses and exfoliates.
Peach Satin Hands® Hand Cream provides instant moisturization that lasts up to 24 hours. It lasts even through several hand washings.

Lotus and Bamboo Loofah Deo Spritzer (Php 1,250)
Freshens and deodorizes the skin with the calming scent of lotus and bamboo. I fell in love with this product at first spritz.

Botanical Effects Formula 3 Hydrate (Php 850)
Formula 3 for Oily Skin provides hydration while helping control excess oil, leaving skin with a beautiful matte feel.

Timewise 3-in-1 Cleanser (Php 1,175)
The TimeWise® 3-in-1 Cleanser combines anti-aging benefits, plus three essential benefits in one product to cleanse, exfoliate and refresh - revealing younger-looking skin. For those who are too lazy to go through the entire cleansing, exfoliating, and toning routine, this product is for you!

Mary Kay Timewise Liquid Foundation + Complexion Corrector CC Cream.

Matte Wear Liquid Foundation (Php 785)
Recommended for combination to oily skin, this product contains special microspheres that absorb oil and control shine without the heavy makeup feel. This foundation makes the pores less prominent and  leaves the skin with a matte finish.

Complexion Corrector (CC) Cream (Php 825)
This lightweight cream moisturizes and brightens the skin, covers blemishes and counteracts redness, and protects the skin from sun damage. Coverage is sheer, but works just fine if you want a more 'natural' look.

Mineral Powder Foundation (Php 850)
For those who prefer powder foundations over the liquid kind, this weightless skin-perfecting product blends easily and provides buildable coverage. It's a great finishing touch to the CC Cream, or you can wear it by itself for a more natural look.

Mary Kay Compact Pro.

Mary Kay Compact Pro (Php 1,500)
An all-in-one compact that keeps your color products and applicators organized. This comes unfilled so yes, the Php 1500 is for the case alone. You have to buy the makeup products separately.

My face became Precious' canvas that day, and here's the final product. Haha!
I now have a growing fondness for bronzers and highlighters, and I'm glad I learned a few contouring tricks from her.

Precious and I. :)

Have you tried Mary Kay products before? What are you favorites?  :)

Create the Playlist of your Life with Spotify!

Hello everyone! How's your weekend so far?
I've been pretty busy this weekend, with the World Cup Quarterfinals, UFC 175, and all. Oh, and I spent a good part of yesterday organizing my Spotify playlist.

Spotify, a digital music service allows you to enjoy all your favorite songs on your smartphone. With this app, can listen to your favorite songs anytime, anywhere, even without WiFi or mobile internet. You can also create your own playlist and share it with your friends and social networks. Spotify also has a feature that allows you to 'follow' your favorite artists and bands. listen to their playlists, and make them your own.

And thanks to the exclusive tie-up between Spotify and Globe Telecom, you can stream your favorite music at pocket-friendly rates.

More ways to enjoy Spotify!

To register, text the keyword of your preferred offer to 8888. When you register to Spotify Premium, you also get 10MB of mobile internet daily that you can use for social media, surfing, and more!

For more information or to start using Spotify, visit www.spotify.com or check out the official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/spotify.

McDonald’s Philippines teams up with KidZania Manila!

Heads up, moms, dads, and kids! McDonald’s Philippines is happy to announce its partnership with KidZania Manila, an educational play city for kids that will open in 2015.

KidZania Manila will feature McDonald’s Burger Shop where kids age 4 to 12 years old will learn the ingredients that go into every McDonald’s Cheeseburger and each step of the process in making it. The training that kids will undergo is the same standard procedure that ensures Quality, Service and Cleanliness delivered to every customer and each meal enjoyed in any McDonald’s around the world. It’s definitely a fun experience where kids develop their skills and teach them the values of responsibility, hard work and discipline.

Kidzania and McDonald's Philippines MOA signing.

This partnership strengthens McDonald’s commitment to children’s wellbeing as it continuously paves ways to provide enjoyable and enriching experience for families, the McDonald’s way.

 “We are definitely excited about this partnership as it strongly adheres to our commitment to Filipino families especially kids, " said McDonald's Philippines President and CEO Kenneth S. Yang. "We have existing programs that are especially designed for our youngest customers such as Kiddie Crew, a summer program wherein kids are trained like a McDonald’s crew and enjoy fun activities and creative workshops. We have Family Fun Days that we regularly hold in-store and the annual McHappy Day that encourages families to go out, play and enjoy a morning of fun run and various activities. Now that McDonald’s Burger Shop will open at KidZania Manila, it is yet another innovative way to have a fun activity for kids which at the same time teach them essential life skills and values. We are looking forward to hear their good stories as they enjoy their experience at the Burger Shop.”

Kidzania Manila - where kids can be anything!

“Like KidZania, McDonald’s is a brand that loves and is loved by kids around the world,” said Maricel Pangilinan-Arenas, Governor of KidZania Manila and President and CEO of Play Innovations Inc. “We’re very excited to have them as an ally in giving children a truly realistic, immersive experience. Our goal is to empower kids in a fun way, by letting them experience how a community works, how to make and manage money, and how to cooperate and work with other people—all of which are necessary for success in the adult world.”

Be sure to watch out for the opening of McDonald’s Burger Shop at KidZania Manila where kids can develop their skills, learn important values and meet new friends while having an awesome time!

Wordless Wednesday #89 | Happy Kid!

Life's simple joys. :)

Fashion Pulse | Lily of the Valley Period Panty.

Oh hai, July! I can't believe we're already halfway through 2014. Before we know it, the 'ber months are here and it's Christmas time once again, haha!

Anyway, today I'll be sharing with you my latest discovery. But mind you, this isn't makeup, skincare, or food. They're panties, actually. Lily of the Valley (LOV) Period Panties, to be exact.

Lily of the Valley Period Panties.

The Lily of the Valley Period Panty (Lilies, as they are fondly called) is a pioneering panty that aims to address the most common period woes. These include napkins bunching, sudden leakage, and staining on clothes.

Photo credit: Lily of the Valley.

As such, Lilies are designed to help keep napkins in place, prevent it from twisting or shifting, and reduce the probability of clothing stains. In addition, Lilies provide relief by minimizing the itchiness, irritation, and skin darkening caused by the rubbing of napkin wings against your skin.

The inside scoop on Lilies. :)

And because the Lily of the Valley Period Panty is a product made by Filipinas for Filipinas, they are designed in a special and unique way. Here are the distinct features that come with each and every Lily.

Click to enlarge! :)

1) Made with sweat-resistant, breathable material.
2) Its multi-directional stretch fabric gives the body a shapely contour.
3) Has a reinforced front panel for 'tummy control'.
4) Its fitted shirring hugs the buttocks, enhances the form, and keeps the pad in place.
5) Double-crotch lining folds in the napkin wings and keeps them from coming into contact with your skin.
6) Leak-proof interlining helps prevent clothing stains.
7) Central core stabilizes the napkin, prevents it from twisting and shifting, and minimizes the bunching.

Mid-rise Brief.

The Lily of the Valley Period Panty comes in two colors - black and nude. They also have two styles available - the Low-Rise Bikini, and the Mid-Rise Brief. As for the sizes, there are three to choose from: Small (24-27 in), Medium (28-31 in), Large (32-35 in). I believe their Extra Large panties are currently in the works.

Mid-Rise Brief.

I own both colors of the Mid-Rise Brief, and I love how this style sits comfortably around my hips. It's made with soft, stretchy material (90% polyamide, 10 % elastane) that doesn't feel itchy on the skin. Plus points for its reinforced front panel, which keeps my tummy from bulging especially when I'm wearing leggings or soft pants. 

I first wore my Lilies as soon as I got my period, and true enough, they were more comfortable to wear than my regular panties. My napkin stayed in place, no twisting or bunching at the back, and no itching from the napkin wings, too. I was able to go about my daily activities - taking my son to and from school, running errands, doing the groceries, etc. - without worrying about my behind.

The best part? I can wear my Lilies even if it's not my period!

Discount Coupon for you!

Lily of the Valley Period Panties are available online, and sell for Php 380 each. But for a limited time, they are being sold at discounted prices. Buy 2 Lilies for only Php 700 (that's Php 60 off), or buy 3 Lilies for only Php 900 (that's a huge Php 240 discount). 

Get to know more about Lily of the Valley!

Visit their website, like their Facebook page, follow them on Twitter and Instagram!