Cure Natural Aqua Gel Review

Hi Gals!

I'm baaack! It's time for my review of the Cure Natural Aqua Gel from Japan. 

Cure in Beauty Bar stores

So, where did I first know of this product? I actually read about Cure from different skincare blogs. I got really really excited to buy this product immediately after I learned that this product can exfoliate skin and remove dead skin cells. 

I have some acne scars left on my cheeks because when I was in high school, I was very stubborn and did not heed the advice of my parents to not scratch off my pimples. So, I am now paying the price of having acne scars that are hard to get rid of. I have been on the lookout ever since for any product that can remove my acne scars.

After hearing that Cure is now being sold in Beauty Bar branches, I immediately set off to buy a bottle. Okay the P1,500 price tag is kind of heavy for a 250g product, but thinking that Cure may be the solution to my skincare problems, I felt that the price is very much worth it. No need to go to the dermatologist anymore that will cost hundreds and thousands of pesos every visit. See how much you will save in the long run?

Front view

Back View

Cure is said to be sold in Japan every 12 seconds! Wow, that good eh? I'm not really sure how accurate that phrase is, but if it really works that well, I'm sure customers like me will repurchase again and again.

How is Cure used anyway? You just put a pea-sized amount of product into your palm and then use your finger to rub it into your face. You will see white particles coming out as you start massaging your face. These are actually dead skin cells, and they kind of look like "libag" which is kind of gross, but actually the old skin from the upper layer of your face is being removed. The new skin is very soft and smooth like baby's skin. You can even use it on your lips, arms, neck, cuticles or anywhere you feel that you have rough and uneven skin.

Instructions on how to use

What I like about Cure is that the formula is very mild, and it doesn't hurt my skin at all. The texture is just like water, and when you rub it into your skin, it dissolves just like water and all you have to do is to keep on rubbing your skin to get the dead skin cells out. The packaging is also very simple, but quite effective as the pump is very sturdy so the product will not leak out. There is also a small stopper near the nozzle, so that you won't get to accidentally press the pump and waste the product.

See the white particles?

Stopper near the nozzle

Of course, this product should not be used everyday on the face. What I do is I use it after every 3 days. As indicated in the package, the ideal usage is twice every week and it will last about 4 months. I guess it will vary upon usage. Everyone in my family (4 of us) actually uses it, and 1/3 of the product has been used up already, and I just bought this product 1 month ago. 

The Verdict: After 1 month of continuous usage, I have observed that my acne scars have lightened considerably. They have not totally disappeared yet as the change is gradual. I should be religious in using this product, and I'm sure after a few more months the scars will totally fade away.

So, what do you gals think of my review? I hope you'll find my review useful. Do give me feedback also once you get to try out the product as well. :)

Note: This is not a sponsored post.

Ciao!

Kat <3

Artdeco Eyeshadow Anyone?

To start off this post, I would like to share to you gals that I am currently addicted to eyeshadows. Blame it on the Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes (will have a separate review on this) which I bought just last week. After buying that particular eyeshadow stick, I have been obsessed with checking out different eyeshadow colors and brands. When I went to Beauty Bar at Lucky Chinatown, I happened to chance upon this German brand called Artdeco. There were so many different eyeshadow colors on their shelf, and each color is labelled with a different number with samples displayed as well. I'm not sure if this method makes it easier to remember the colors you like, but I guess it would also be hard to name all of these since there are already 500+ different colors.

Eyeshadow colors on display

I can't believe my luck when the SA told me that there were some eyeshadow colors on sale. It was at 65% off! What a steal!!! Each eyeshadow color costs P350 at regular price, but I got mine at only P122.50 each. This sale lasted the whole July. I'll keep you posted when I have news of another sale again.

I bought 2 colors to try out first, numbers 57 (green with a hint of gold) and 247 (blue silver). Then, I asked the SA if they had palettes for these eyeshadows. The individual eyeshadow cases are quite small and I feel that I could easily lose them. Okay, no sale on the palettes booo, and they cost around P295 to P425 depending on the number of colors you can put inside the palette. No way was I going to buy a palette more expensive than the eyeshadows I just bought!

Green and Blue Eyeshadows

Not one to give up so easily, I tried going to Beauty Bar in Greenbelt 5 to check out the other colors on sale, and if there were any palettes on sale. Wow I'm so lucky again, the palettes in that store are 65% off as well, and it's the limited edition designs too! So, from the price of P425, I got it at P148.75. 

Artdeco limited edition customizable eyeshadow palette (mirror and magnet inside)

These Artdeco palettes are really cool because they are customizable. You can put in 4 eyeshadows inside the palette. There are magnets at the back to attach it to the palette. You also have the choice to put in 1 blush and 1 eyeshadow, or 1 concealer and 2 eyeshadows. 

Magnets at the back of the eyeshadow

Well now I had 2 colors missing, and my palette is still incomplete. I just went back to Beauty Bar Lucky Chinatown to buy 2 more colors. Numbers 97 (light pink) and 83 (dark purple) were my best choices as these colors are easy to match to any outfit. 

Pink and Purple Eyeshadows

So yay, my customized palette is finally finished, and here's how it looks like! I just put in a sample eyeshadow brush that I got from Beauty Bar also. There is no brush included in the palette either. So, instead of shelling out P1825 for the whole thing, I only paid P638.75. Talk about big savings!

My customized eyeshadow palette!!!

Of course, I would also like to give you a review on how these eyeshadows fare when put on the lids. The colors actually look really nice when applied, and you can even mix and match or combine the colors to make a more unique but still workable look. Since the colors are all quite light, it will be easy to blend any of the 4 colors together. Even the hint of shimmer is just right, not too glittery on the lids. As I observed, the colors stay on for only about 4 hours. After 4 hours, you will see that the colors are somewhat faded. Just a little retouch will solve this, or you can also use an eyeshadow primer before applying the eyeshadow to make the colors last longer than 4 hours. If you're not planning to stay outside for a long time, this eyeshadow palette will surely come in handy.

Swatches from L-R: Nos. 83, 97, 57, 257

There you have it, I hope you all enjoyed reading this review. What's your favorite eyeshadow brand and color? Just leave me a message if there are some eyeshadow brands that you want me to review. Thanks for dropping by!

Note: This is not a sponsored post.

Ciao!
Kat <3

Wedding Makeup

Last Sunday was my cousin's wedding, and if there's a wedding, there is surely makeup involved. Who doesn't love weddings? You would get to dress up and feel all glam for a day. Of course, one of the primary concerns for us girls would be finding that perfect makeup artist who would let us feel that we are at our prettiest. Luckily for me, my friend Anna Co, is this upcoming makeup artist who has a good deal of experience in makeup and hair styling during wedding events. Why not check out Anna Co's photography portfolio, and book her for your next wedding event? I surely felt all chic and dolled up that day!

Ciao!

Kat <3

A Trip to the Ecopark

One of the nice places to go to in Antipolo is the Pacem Ecopark. There are a lot of sights to see here in the ecopark. It is as if nature has been preserved in this small haven. Inside, you will see butterfly and shell collections (picture taking is not allowed here hence I will not post any pictures), a green house, an aviary, a wildlife sanctuary, an orchidarium, and a lot more. It's definitely worth it to visit a place like this, and even more worth it to preserve something as nice as this. How about you, any interesting trips lately? :)

At the entrance of the Ecopark

Ooh.. a wishing well (I wonder if my wish will come true)

Just outside the orchidarium

Outside the butterfly collection

The peacocks and the peahen

The Endangered Cassowary
World's Most Dangerous Bird

Cross the bridge to get to the treehouse

Thank goodness for nice comfy shoes during the walk

This caterpillar looks like Caterpie from Pokemon haha

Inside the Green House

P.S. Hope you guys can visit this great place too! :)

Ciao!

Kat <3

The Katsudon Experience @ Yabu

I have never really loved katsudon in particular before. Must be because of the way the tastes differ mostly from one restaurant to the other. Sometimes, there is too much breading, and other times the meat is just too hard to chew. I always thought that I would never be able to love eating katsudon, let alone order it. However, lo and behold, I have found the perfect katsudon, and it is just at the Megamall Atrium. I am very pleased to say that "Yabu: The House of Katsu" simply took my breath (or my taste buds) away with their super soft and delicious "katsurestsu" or cutlets in short.

There are a wide array of katsudons to choose from in Yabu, with mostly chicken or pork as the main type of meat. I was able to sample three delicious tonkatsu meals on my first visit to Yabu. My friend ordered the Premium Tonkatsu Set (Kurobuta Pork Set), and this is the most expensive of all the katsudons in the menu being priced at P515. The softness of the pork was really a surprise, and the taste was just divine. Even with this price, the taste of the tonkatsu really did it justice.

Of course, let us not forget the Katsu sauce. It should be mixed with sesame seeds (I forgot to take a picture of the sesame seeds wahh) to be able to achieve the full effect of the sauce. Then, dip this sauce along with the sesame seeds into your tonkatsu, and the taste will become even more flavorful.

I ordered the Rosu Katsu Curry, which is made up of pork cutlets. This set is priced at P295. I am a big fan of Japanese curry, and the taste of their sauce was really that of authentic Japanese curry. The spiciness of the curry can also be chosen from mild, regular, to hot. The curry sauce really blended well with the tonkatsu, and it can be said that this dish is also superb in taste.

Another one of my friend ordered the Chicken Katsudon, priced at P260. This is the dish normally seen in other restaurants. This dish tasted a bit different from the first two dishes because there is a special sweet sauce put on top of the tonkatsu, making the flavor of the tonkatsu sweet as well. The tonkatsu is also topped with two eggs. To be quite honest, I love this dish. Maybe I am a little biased because I really love sweets, but this dish really changed my opinion on katsudons. The second time I ate again at Yabu, I couldn't help but order this dish again(yummy!!!).

 All the set dishes comes with miso soup, a bowl of fruits, and a bowl of cabbages. The cabbages are unlimited by the way, and when mixed with the sesame dressing it is to die for! Even if you are not a veggie lover, I am sure that you would appreciate the very flavor of the cabbages mixed with the sauce, and the fact that something healthy is unlimited.

With all the food that comes with the set dish, you would surely get your money's worth (affordability combined with happy tummy)! This is one restaurant that is surely worth trying out. I cannot wait to sink my teeth into those soft tonkatsus. The comics poster is not kidding when it says that: "So soft it melts in my mouth!"

Ciao!

Kat <3

Street Food Galore

The street food in Taipei is just the best! No need to eat lunch or dinner in an expensive restaurant if you are on a food trip on one of their street markets, whether during the day or night.

First stop is in Gongguan where you can find the stall of the Best Bubble Milk drink in Taiwan which is named Chensanding. Take note that this is not a milk tea drink, as the drink consists only of milk. The line is really really long, but the crew are very efficient so you would need to wait in line for only a few minutes. After drinking a sip, I realize that the taste of the pearls are different. They are made from brown sugar, which is why it has a different sweetness to it. The pearls are still hot when mixed with the cold milk, and the combination is simply to die for. Also, the price is really affordable, costing only NT30. Definitely a must-try!

Next stop is the Jiufen Old Street, where there are a lot of different kinds of food being sold from left to right. There are also cute souvenir shops where you can buy gifts to take home for friends. To be able to go around touring this place, we can only set out on foot. Cars will not be able to fit into this tiny street.

The busy Jiufen Old Street with quaint teahouses at the sides

The stinky tofu, one of the local cuisines in Taiwan. It was my first time to try it, and not only was the smell stinky, but also the taste! However, you will realize that the more you eat, the more you would want to keep on eating. Weird huh?! I guess that's why it's one of the delicacies in Taiwan haha.

The Stinky Tofu!!!

Continuing on, you would get to see black sugar flavored and fruit-flavored candies. The black sugar flavored candies are so cute as they are shaped into popular cartoon characters. Do you see Patrick Starfish and Sergeant Kero? Then, you can also buy takoyaki from the takoyaki stand.

For drinks, there are also different selections to buy like Iced Coffee and Almond Tea.

There is this one snack that our tour guide treated us that was really something that we have never tried before. It was covered in lumpia wrapper, and there was peanut powder inside, but it was mixed in ice cream. It tasted really nice, and we would have ate some more, but there were still a lot of food to try out.

At the end of line, there were gross-looking snails that were almost twice as big as the ones we see in Seaside. Our tour guide prompted us to try some, and la-dee-da since we were very obedient tourists, we quickly bought a bowl. I couldn't believe it, but it was the best tasting thing snail I had ever tasted. No kidding! Add to it the best tasting chili sauce, and it was a great combination. Yummy!!!

Beside the snails were some squids being cooked, and it tasted great as well, and the chili sauce would also give it great justice, so don't hesitate in giving it a try as well!

For food to take home to friends and relatives, there are also lots to choose from, like seaweed crackers, tea, and grape concentrate used to make grape juice and grape yoghurts. 

So, this was the end of our Jiufen street tour. However, before we left, our tour guide treated us to one last dessert that Jiufen is famous for. I'm not sure about the name, but they are composed of different colored glutinous balls that really had no taste, but are quite fun to chew. You might want to buy a bowl to try it. :)

Next stop is the Raohe Street Night Market. There are a lot of stuffs here that can be bought at an affordable price. Almost everything you want to buy can be found here. You name it, they have it. There are clothes, shoes, cellphone cases, dog clothes, pillows and bedsheets, and of course street food!!! The street food consists of sausages, squid chops, chicken chops, noodles, and fruits! Just thinking about it again makes me hungry(drool). 

Big sugar-apple (atis)

Strawberries with condensed milk and squid chops

Last stop is the Shilin Night Market. The most recommended street food here would be the Hot Star Fried Chicken. One must simply not miss this experience. Something to look forward to during every visit to Taiwan. 

Well, that's it for the street foods of Taiwan. They're all definitely very delicious, and it would be a shame not to be able to try most of it. So, that's it for now!

Ciao!

Kat <3