I recently went to Baguio with my friends to witness the annual "Panagbenga" flower festival. It's been scorching hot since February started, so my first concern before going there was skin protection from sun exposure. 

          Though I know that an ideal facial sunblock should contain at least SPF 30, most of my moisturizers only come with SPF 15. So after several days of scouting for a moisturizer with higher SPF, I finally bought Nivea Sun Whitening Face Cream SPF 50.

          I bought this over other brands for several reasons:
1. It's specifically formulated for the face so I felt safe trying it on mine.
2. It has a higher SPF content.
3. It's in a 15ml tube, which I think is very convenient for travel and just enough to last you a few days.
4. It's only P165, which is actually the most affordable sunblock I saw in different stores.

          I was also thinking that this product wouldn't be too much waste of money if ever I don't like it and decide not to use it. But after trying this product for 3 days under the sun, I must say I'm highly impressed with it that I will continue using it. I love that this product doesn't feel heavy on the skin. I was expecting a thicker consistency but it's more comparable to the texture of a runny lotion rather than a cream. It blends easily and it only takes a small amount to cover the entire face and neck. It has a whitening effect by reducing melanin production and anti-aging properties by protecting skin collagen. It's also water resistant, so you don't need to reapply it after exposure to water. Though it smells like a usual sunblock (which is quite unpleasant), it doesn't bother me at all since the scent wears off eventually. I didn't have redness or any type of adverse reactions to this product and though we were always under the sun for 3 consecutive days, I noticed my skin didn't darken or dry up. It leaves your skin moisturized but quite shiny so I always top it with powder for a matte finish. Overall, I love this product and I highly recommend you to try it.

NOTES:
          I used the Nivea Sun Whitening Face Cream SPF 50 with the following:
* Olay Regenerist Cleanser
* Erythromycin and Acne lotion from YSA (before the sunscreen)
* Olay Total Effects blemish prone 7-1n-1 anti-ageing cream (on top of the sunscreen for a matte finish)
* Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Perfecting Mineral Concentrate mixed with Clinique Derma White Loose Powder (I need to tell you about this in another blog)
       
           Products I mentioned above are all personal purchases and preferences. As I always say, those that work for my skin may not work for you as we have different skin types. You may use this with your regular regimen and find out for yourself how they are when combined.

Hair Care by DOVE

          I have long, straight, black hair and I don't get hair treatment procedures often. I have only done hair rebonding once, hot oil treatment twice and hair color treatment thrice in my lifetime hence I do think that my hair is fairly normal without much damage. But even so, I love using hair care products for damaged hair thinking it would be better to prevent hair damage early before they set in. 

          I am not very particular with the brand of hair care products I use but I do love to mention and recommend the ones that truly stand out. All of them, the best ones in my opinion, bear the same brand, DOVE.

          In my childhood, I saw Dove as a common "pasalubong" of relatives from abroad who usually stuff them in duty free bags together with corned beef, tooth paste, lotion and towels. Sure you can buy Dove products at Duty Free, Landmark or S&R, but it was only recently that Dove hair care products were launched locally in leading stores nationwide. Now, you can avail of these products from your local malls and grocery stores. 

          My top hair care products from Dove are as follows:

Dove Daily Moisture Therapy
Replenishing Mist
(273 mL)

          The Dove daily moisture therapy replenishing mist is the very first hair care product from Dove that I was able to purchase in a local supermarket last year. It is intended for dry, rough hair and is used mainly to restore its natural moisture. What I love about this is that it can be used daily on wet or dry hair so you can use it anytime before styling or when you need to retouch. It easily detangles your hair making it more manageable for easy styling. It gives off a clean scent that doesn't overpower your cologne or perfume and it only takes a few sprays to leave your hair looking soft and smooth.

Dove Damage Therapy
Daily Care Shampoo
(250 mL)

          Dove daily care shampoo was one of the products launched locally this year. I love the packaging and they come in different bottle sizes to suit your needs and budget. They are also available in 10 mL sachets that are actually more economical than buying the bottled ones. This shampoo, though a little more expensive than other locally made shampoos, actually gives you your money's worth. It only takes a little amount to work up a lather and clean your hair so this will last longer than your other shampoos. It leaves your hair feeling clean, light and well moisturized. 

Dove Beautiful Care Conditioner
(355 mL)

          This Dove beautiful care conditioner for normal hair was purchased as a buy 1 take 1 promo from S&R. I shared this with my friend Rochelle so it's like buying one at half the price. After trying it the first time, I immediately told my friend we should've bought more. I have never tried a conditioner that leaves my hair soft, smooth and light. Aside from the ergonomically designed container, I love the fact that you can use ANY shampoo before this and it will still manage to give the same result. You will be left with a noticeably healthier and moisturized hair.

Dove Damage Therapy Conditioner
Straight and Silky
(180 mL)

          When my first Dove conditioner was all out, I was really disappointed for several months. I went around trying out other conditioners that didn't meet my expectations the way Dove did. Luckily, Dove damage therapy conditioner for straight and silky hair became available locally. I have to admit that I just bought this recently and I've only used it for a week but I can confidently say that this product is as amazing as the first Dove conditioner I tried. A small amount goes a long way. You will feel immediate results upon rinsing. Your hair will feel soft, smooth and light. The scent is an added bonus, it will leave your hair smelling clean and fresh. 

          In conclusion, I am truly taken by these Dove hair care products. They all work well both as individuals and as part of a hair care system. Good thing these amazing products are now locally available in retail stores nationwide. 

NOTE:

*All products mentioned in this blog were personally bought. 

**The descriptions used are originally from the author and are based on direct observation or experience and are not intended to advertise the products being reviewed.

***As with other products, those that work for me may not give the same results with others as we have different hair types.

ADDENDUM:
* You may have noticed that the pictures in this blog have watermarks on the left lower corner. Credit goes to  W Batch Photo Watermarker which I downloaded for free from http://www.easysector.com/

Getting ORGANIZED... finally!

          Let me start by saying I'm not the obsessive compulsive type when it comes to the things I carry around in my bag. All I do is stuff my bag with the "essentials" and make sure nothing gets left behind. This is partly the reason why I love big bags and prefer using them over smaller ones. But certain problems come with this practice. Sometimes it's hard for me to switch bags that I end up using the same bag everyday. Not that I don't like using the same bag over, I just make sure to rotate them once in a while to lessen the wear and tear. Also, there are times when I really need to switch bags to suit the occasion which takes a lot of time deciding what things to bring with me. Sometimes my bag is so cluttered that I find it hard to get my phone when it rings or get my wallet to pay for something. In short, not having an organized bag SUCKS. So I actually went on a hunt for the best bag organizer. 

          I first saw the "Kangaroo Keeper" on ebay but I wasn't comfortable about buying it online without seeing the quality. I remember seeing different styles of generic bag organizers in Trinoma last month so I went there instead. But I was so disappointed to see that they only had one style left. At first I thought I hit jackpot when I saw the display from far away because the organizers looked like the "Kangaroo Keeper". Up close, the quality was disappointing. It was made of very thin nylon and the stitches on the corners weren't too appealing and looked unsturdy. I wasn't expecting perfection for a P99 worth of bag organizer but I decided to get one that will last even if I have to pay for more. 

          Good thing I stumbled on "beabi" at SM North Edsa yesterday. They have a wide selection of style, color and sizes of bag organizers. What also impressed me was when the sales assistant asked which bag I intend to use with the organizer. I couldn't answer right away 'cause I didn't know what bags to mention. She might have noticed my silence and suggested the large size fits a large Long Champ perfectly (the bag I was using then). So I ended up buying it which costs P395.

The front has 2 outer compartments,
1 of which has a zipper closure

It has side pockets and handles on both ends.

The back has an outer pocket

More compartments of different sizes inside

Stitches were neatly done.

          I didn't have second thoughts of buying because I was so happy with the quality. It was made of thick nylon and the entire bag was padded. The stitches were perfectly done and it came with compartments of different sizes.

          Above are the usual things I carry in my bag. They look like a real mess inside any bag and small things tend to get lost underneath the clutter. But with the bag organizer, everything looks perfectly stacked and easy to find.

          This bag organizer is so spacious that it can hold even big items like an Ipad, planner or wallet. It can also house oddly shaped objects like ear phones, contact lens case, perfume and lotion bottles. They also have compartments for small things like lipstick, lip gloss, eye makeup palette, oil control film, hair brush, tweezers and pens. Though I love carrying an extra pouch that contains all my "kikay" stuff, I still gave this organizer a try and I must say I'm very impressed that it doubles as a cosmetic bag. 

This is how the organizer looks inside my bag.

It fits perfectly in a large Long Champ Le Pliage 

          Since the day I used this organizer, I noticed how easily I can reach for the right objects I need. If you hate having to go through a cluttered bag just to find your car keys, cellphone or gloss and if you want to preserve a neatly shaped bag, or if you like switching bags often but hate to transfer each stuff from one bag to another, then this is a must have for you. Like me, you only need to use it once to realize how amazing this product is. 

NOTES:

*Where to buy: beabi shops located at Trinoma, SM North Edsa, SM Mall of Asia and SM Fairview

**What to buy: It depends on what bags you have, you may ask the assistance of the sales representatives if you're not sure. If you still end up buying the wrong size, try returning the product within 7 days and they should replace it with the size you prefer (Consumer Act of the Philippines on "No Return No Exchange" policy). It would be wise to bring the desired bag you wish to use the organizer with. In terms of color, I suggest you buy what you like and not necessarily the color of your bag.

***How much to bring: The large size is P395 and the smaller ones are a little cheaper but just to be sure, if you're buying one then bring at least P395 and add on if you wish to buy more.

****Why buy one: Having things organized saves time and energy hence you become more productive.