2016 Travel Recap

For my 2016 travel recap I will be posting the places I visited and blogged for that year.  I only blogged about 3 places in 2016, because half of the year I am already here in Canada and I did not blog anymore. I did some season recap but I posted it on 2017. 

 

My original travel plan for 2016 was to travel to 2 international countries and 3 local places in the Philippines. Since all my travels are booked in advance, the last 2 Philippine travel that I booked got cancelled because of my move here in Canada. I sometimes regret cancelling those travels because I am not sure If I will still be able to visit those places when I go back home. Those are well planned travels with complete itinerary but I must cancel it because I need to be here before winter start to allow myself to adjust with the weather. I also don’t want to postpone my move until after winter because it would be a very long wait.

 

For 2017, I did not set any travel goals. All my travels are spontaneous and planned on the last minute. By 2018, I will again start my travel goals so I can tick off some countries that I want to visit from my bucket list. In the meantime, let me show you my 2016 Travel Recap.

 

1. PHILIPPINES

Boracay Island, Aklan 

 

2. HONG KONG

A. Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong 

 

B. Nan Lian Garden and Chi Lin Nunnery 

 

C. Wong Tai Sin Temple 

 

D. Hong Kong Disneyland Part 1 

(Main Street, U.S.A, Adventureland, Grizzly Gultch, Mystic Point)

 

E. Hong Kong Disneyland Part 2 

(Toy Story Land, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland)

 

F. Ocean Park, Hong Kong Part 1 

 

G. Ocean Park, Hong Kong Part 2 

 

H. Hong Kong Park and The Peak 

 

I. Madame Tussauds, Hong Kong 

 

J. Around Hong Kong 

 

3. MACAU, CHINA

A Day in Macau

 

 

 

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2016 Event Recap

2016 is the last year that I attended events in Cebu. Attending event is my favorite part of being a blogger because I get to see and try products before everyone else, plus I get to share the experience to my readers who would be interested in checking out the newest happening in the Metro.

 

Big thanks to A-list PR, Events and Advertising, PR executive Emma Villarente, Henny Sescon for inviting me to these events. Here are the recap of the 11 events that I attended from January to August 2016. Click the blog title for complete blog entry.

 

Islands Souvenirs Brings Pop Art Back to Sinulog 2016 with Cut and Style

 

Cut and Style 2016 Fashion Show

 

Sun Life Asset Management: Rise and Prosper in 2016 Press Conference

 

Kipling opens at SM Seaside City Cebu

 

Philippine School of Culinary Arts Open House 2016

 

Cebu Welcomes Professional Skin Care Formula by Dr. Alvin

 

Sfera: Spring/Summer 2016 Collection

 

Cambridge Child Development Centre opens at Gorordo Cebu

 

TOP PICK: Business + Lifestyle + Technology Unveiled

 

Sun Life Aims for 5M Clients By 2020

 

Benefit Cosmetics Opens in Cebu!

 

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GlossyBox September 2017 Review

This is my first subscription box from GlossyBox and I will be giving my honest review of what I think about the product that I received from their September 2017 box. The box arrived on time, so this review is late because it took me a while to try all the products.

Name of the Box: GlossyBox (Monthly subscription box)

Theme: A Little Glamour Goes a Long Way

Cost: $21 USD per month (free shipping to the US, $5 shipping to Canada).

Discount: use coupon code TABLET to get a monthly GlossyBox subscription for only $10 per box for the first 3 months!

What you will get: Subscribers will receive 5 Beauty products, 3 of them full-size, valued at over $69. Each box will contain only the top beauty products from well known luxury brands and up-and-coming niche brands.

I received a pretty black box already, but I was even more surprised to see that there is another prettier box inside. It is a pink sturdy box that can be reused.

Unboxing a GlossyBox is like opening a present. There is a wow factor with the packaging and presentation.

The box also include a leaflet with all the information about the products, its retail value and inspiring message from the President.

 

Here comes the products!

 

Lancôme Paris Advanced Génifique Sensitive Antioxidant Serum Approximately 3ml – $12.32

A dual antioxidant serum boosted with pure Ferulic Acid and pure Vitamin E that is self-activated, mixing automatically inside a soothing base of Centella Asiatica to instantly calm distressed skin and protect against environmental aggressors like pollution, infrared radiation, and UVA rays for visibly healthy-looking skin.

I love this product! This is my favorite of all the items inside. Based on the instruction, you have to press the blue serum towards the clear serum for it to be mixed. Once mixed you can start using the product. For me 3 drops is enough and it already covered the entire face. It’s fast absorbing and doesn’t feel sticky which I like.

 

Lancôme Paris Visionnaire Advanced Multi-Correcting Cream SPF 20 0.17 oz – $8.75

A daily antiaging moisturizer with the added benefit of SPF 20 that improves the appearance of wrinkles and skin texture while providing 24-hour hydration for visibly smoother and plumped skin.

 

This works hand in hand with the Génifique Sensitive Antioxidant Serum during day time. I love how hydrated my face feels after but it’s a bit sticky, so I only use it if sun is out and I will be spending time under the sun.

 

Pureology Clean Volume Shampoo 50ml – $5.60

A silicone- and sulfate-free volumizing shampoo designed for fine, color-treated hair that provides light, airy fullness, flexible movement and cleanses from root-to-tip.

 

Pureology Clean Volume Conditioner 50ml – $6.00

A volumizing conditioner for fine, color-treated hair that infuses hair with light, airy fullness and shine and a signature scent of bergamot, citrus, and cedarwood.

 

I love that this Shampoo and Conditioner combo protects my color treated hair. Most of the shampoo that I use are not colored-hair friendly so it would strip the color off my hair. I always color my hair light golden blonde and after a week or two, its becomes dark blonde. So I was excited to use this product but since this also have a volumizing effect, I was a bit reluctant because my hair is naturally wavy so adding volume would only make it look like a birds nest. True enough, I achieved the Hermoine Granger hair after shower, so I recon, this Shampoo and Conditioner formulation is not for me. I would highly recommend this to people who are looking for more volume for their hair.

 

Manna Kadar GLO Illuminator 20ml (Full Size) – $29

Incandescent highlighter that can be used on the face and body to create a beautiful “Glo”. Glo Illuminator provides a youthful glow and dewy finish. Use on face and/or body and get glowing.

 

I am not a fan of illuminators until I received a strobe cream from MAC on my IPSY bag. It really gives your skin an extra glow! When I received this Manna Kadar illuminator, I was so happy because I got it full size plus this product is top notch! I love the formulation, it gives me pinkish glow and it leaves my skin fresh and dewy.

 

Morgan Taylor Nail Polish in Magician’s Assistant 15ml (Full Size) – $9

Get smooth, even, long-lasting color with a gorgeous professional finish. All pigments are saturated, pure and finely milled for luminous metallics, never before seen shimmers, decadent cremes, stunning sheers and more glistening glitters.

 

I am so done with this color. I got the same color on my IPSY bag from Pretty Woman NYC, so I was able to compare which one I liked better. Just like Pretty Woman NYC polish, I love the smooth finish, it is fast drying and just 2 coats for full coverage. It took 4 days before I noticed that color is coming off, but I was horrified when I removed the polish because it ruined my nails. It becomes brittle and weak, and it’s breaking on its own. This polish has strong chemicals that my nails can’t stand. This is when I realized that I like vegan and chemical free polish. So if you have sensitive nails like mine, go for the organic ones.

 

Freeman Beauty Infusion Charcoal & Probiotics Cleansing Clay Mask 118ml (full size) – $7.99

This serum-infused clay mask instantly clears pores with activated Charcoal that gently draws out oils and toxins without over-drying. Boosted with powerful skin-balancing Probiotics to reveal a fresh, clear complexion. Perfect for all skin types.

 

I love the consistency, it’s thick but not heavy and it feels cold upon application which gives soothing effect. The instruction did not indicate how many minutes should I leave it on, it only says wait until it dries up then rinse, which is what I did. While I was waiting for it to dry up, it gets tighter and tighter, I felt like my face is being squeezed. After I washed it off, my face feel smooth and clean but also dry. I still love it and I will continue on using it, so I’ll just moisturize after.

 

Total Product Value: $78.66 USD/ $98.58 CAD

Amount paid for this subscription: $26 USD ($21 for the box + $5 shipping fee)/ $33.11 CAD

How much I saved: $52.66 USD/ $65.47 CAD

 

As a first time subscriber, I also got a free box when I signed up (it was on promotion at that time). The free one that I received is their August 2016 box.

De Bruyere Beauté After Sun Lotion Monoï 50 ml – $12

Wella Professionals Oil Reflections Smoothing Oil 30 ml – $11.80

Too Faced Cosmetics Mascara Melt Off 0.04 oz – $3

Trifle Cosmetics Lip Parfait Buttery Lip Cream (Full size) – $19

Invisibobble ORIGINAL the traceless hair ring 3 pieces – $8

Borghese Fango Body Refining Polish –  $3.06

 

I was also surprised because received items that are not included in that box in full sizes such as:

Florapy Yarrow Lavender Sweet Dreams Mask – $8

Florapy  Sunflower Lemon Even Skin Tone Mask – $8

Doucce Gloss Wear Lip Gloss in Cappuccino Brown – $24

 

Total Product Value: $98.86 USD/ $123.89 CAD

 

Conclusion: For the September 2017 box, I was able to get a good value of the products that I received. I love everything in that box except the nail polish. For the shampoo and conditioner, it is a good travel size so I am pretty sure it will be useful for me when I travel. I don’t mind the voluminous effect since I always curl my hair when travelling.

 

As for the free box, most of it are not the products that I am using and would be using except for the face masks, but who am I to complain when I got it for free, right? The mascara melt off is an awesome discovery which I love so much because I don’t get raccoon eyes anymore after washing my face. The Trifle Cosmetics Lip Parfait is a disappointment because it broke in half when I received it.

 

Overall, I am super happy with what I got. With the paid box alone, I got more than what I paid for and would not complain for paying $26 USD/ $33.11 CAD for it. If I combine both the paid and the free box, I got a Total Product Value of $177.52 USD/ $222.47 CAD which is way higher than the amount that I paid for the box. I am still winning in life! So if you want to subscribe to GlossyBox, now is the best time because they have a promotion for $10 for the first 3 months which means $33 savings plus you will get a box worth $69 or more per month, just use coupon code TABLET.

 

 

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