Hey guys! I'm happily ending the year by featuring my favorite skin care products of 2016. Since I've been following the Korean 10-step skincare routine for about a month now, I might as well let you in on the products I've been using to stick to this regimen. Needless to mention that items included in each category are the best ones I've tried so far. Let's get it on shall we?

BDJ BOX ELITE: Celeteque DermoCosmetics+ and DermoScience+

Hey everyone! Just to give you a background, I've been a patron of Manila's leading beauty box subscription, the BDJ Box, since it debuted in October of 2014. I remember eagerly awaiting what I'd get each month and being happy every single time my box arrives. This month, I'm reminded of the same feeling when my December BDJ Box Elite turned up filled with goodies exclusively from Celeteque. Read more to find out which products are included.

OLAY REGENERIST: Miracle Boost Youth Pre-essence & Micro-sculpting Cream Moisturiser

If you look through my blog entries, you'd notice that majority of my posts are about skin care products. This is because I was introduced to them quite early to treat the most dreaded skin woe every teenager in the world goes through, acne. I remember having to put on five different products twice everyday without fail or else I'd go back to the day when every millimeter of my face is occupied by a zit. Up until today, I still follow a skin care regimen more tedious than before only this time, it's to address skin aging.

LAURA MERCIER: Discounted Shopping Haul

Hey everyone! We're just a couple of weeks away from Christmas and I have yet to fulfill my shopping list. I've covered everyone in my workplace as well as close friends and relatives but I just had to see other stores to check out holiday promos. Since I was given a gift card from Rustan's, I went ahead and checked out their branch in Gateway. I haven't been there in months so I was excited to see what's new in their collection. Good thing I went because I got to try out products I've been longing to have from Laura Mercier.

MINISO: Shopping Haul

Hey everyone! Since Christmas is just around the corner and parties are getting near, my mom and I took the time to haunt for gifts last weekend. Good thing my brother took us to MINISO in SM San Lazaro. If you haven't heard of or been to Miniso, you're not alone because I only got to know about it recently.

Apparently, Miniso is a Japanese designer brand focusing on providing excellent products and advocating genuine goods at a fair price and exceptional quality. This is why I am ecstatic that Miniso has finally landed the Philippine shores. There are currently three branches open, Robinson's Manila, SM San Lazaro and SM Manila. I just hope they get to open soon in Quezon City!

ESTEE LAUDER: Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup

Hello everyone! I'm ecstatic to share with you another rave on a product I've known and heard of from one of my YouTuber favorites, emilynoel83, the Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup. I dreamt of owning one a couple of years ago but since I wasn't into using foundation on a daily basis back then, buying one was never a priority until today. My skin hasn't been in tip top shape since my melasma started to appear. This is why I eventually transitioned to using products offering more coverage so it only made sense to finally get my hands on this highly coveted foundation.

COTY AIRSPUN: Loose Face Powder

Hello everyone! I've been seeing a lot of makeup "baking" with loose powder on YouTube video tutorials in the past months. Apparently, this technique has been around for a while and is actually used by makeup artists, theater actors, even drag queens to keep their makeup in place. Seeing how good this technique works on others, it got me really curious but a bit doubtful that I can pull off the same budge-proof look everyone's raving about. Most loose powders used by beauty gurus aren't budget-friendly but thankfully, some of them recommended an affordable yet good quality loose powder, the Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder. 

My Updated Travel Essentials

Hello everyone! I really enjoy taking time off especially when I feel saturated with work like in the past weeks. Fortunately, I was invited to an event at the Conrad Manila and got to stay there for 2 days. If you're not yet aware, allow me to inform you that I'm a skincare junkie and I don't mind taking an army of products with me when I'm away from home.

SHISEIDO: Perfect Whip Foam

Hello everyone! Early this year, a good friend of mine went to Japan for a family vacation and gave me a very thoughtful gift when she returned home, the Shiseido Perfect Whip Foam! I've seen and read about this most coveted facial foam for some time now. Sadly though, this product is not locally available but can be bought from online sellers. Read more and find out why this product deserves your attention. 

JIMMY CHOO: Blossom Eau de Parfum Spray

Hello everyone! Have you ever been in a situation when you only have a few minutes to shop and you're amidst tons of wonderful stuff on display? That's what happened to me about a month ago at the Shipol Airport in Amsterdam while waiting to board. Note to self, if you have to get a tax refund from the airport before you leave any country, make sure to be there at least 4 hours before your scheduled flight. 

SHOKUBUTSU HANA: Shampoo and Body Wash

Hello everyone! About a month ago I attended a symposium at Makati Diamond Residences and got to spend the night there with some friends. It's my first time to stay in one of their suites and I really love that it's equipped with everything you need for a staycation but what really caught my attention was the familiar brand of bath products they provided, shampoo and body wash by Shokubutsu Hana.

VMV HYPOALLERGENICS: Grandma Minnie's The Big, Brave Boo-boo Balm

Hey guys! I've been out of wifi range most of my days last week and it felt almost crippling. I know it seems a bit dramatic but I think you'll agree with me when I say that once you're used to having access to the world wide web 24/7 then suddenly gets regulated to just having it for a few hours, you can really feel the huge difference. 

CLINIQUE: Even Better Compact Makeup SPF 15

Hey guys! I've always been a minimalist when it comes to makeup. Most of the time, I prefer using tinted moisturizer or BB Cream and reserve the use of foundation on days that I need more coverage. This is why I don't stock up on foundations and just make do with what I have until I find one that I can't resist to try like the Clinique Even Better Compact Makeup with SPF 15. I got this little baby from an online seller for half the price thinking that it's a compact powder foundation but I wasn't too disappointed to find out that it's actually a compact cream foundation. 

MISSHA: Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence

Hey guys! It's September and I'm so excited to share with you another skincare review of a Korean product I've been meaning to get since forever! I've tried SK II Treatment Essence in sample size which pretty much lasted for a month. Though I wanted to continue the regimen, I've always been hindered by the expensive tag. Shortly after, I tried looking for a dupe and came across 2 Korean products having the same main ingredient as that of SK II. One is the Tony Moly Intense Care Galactomyces Essence and Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence. Both are Korean products and contain fermented yeast similar to SK II. They're also locally available but the problem here in Manila is they're always out of stock. Good thing Althea Korea debuted in the Philippines just when I was about to buy either product and I was lucky enough to get the Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence for 41% off its original price, from Php 2,295 down to Php 1,350!

My US Tourist Visa Interview

Image courtesy of www.educationusa.state.gov

Hello everyone! Today's post is about my US Tourist VISA application experience. I thought of sharing it with you here in Q&A form hoping you can get essential tips from what I went through that can help ease your worries about the interview.

VMV HYPOALLERGENICS: Illuminants+ Cream

Hello guys! I've been planning to get a diamond peel for months but my schedule doesn't seem to cooperate. If you're wondering why I need to have one, it's because my melasma is acting up again  mainly on the lateral areas of my forehead and cheeks. To be honest, I never had any idea what melasma was years back but in my early 30's I started to notice the sides of my forehead getting a bit darker than the rest of my face. I wasn't bothered at first since I can always even it out with foundation or BB Cream but the discoloration was getting more obvious during midday especially in well-lit places that I had to do something about it. 

PIXI: Book of Beauty Minimal Makeup

Hello everyone! If you were able to visit my blog a few weeks back, you'd know that I subscribed to the Perfectly Pixi Glamourbox and if you haven't read the post, you may click here to see my unboxing. I have yet to do a review on each of the items included in that box but for now, since I'm getting questions about the Book of Beauty Minimal Makeup palette, I might as well start with it here. 

BIODERMA: Sébium H2O Micellar Solution

Hello everyone! Micellar water has truly invaded the beauty industry and now we have various brands coming up with their own version of this miracle water that promises to remove even the toughest waterproof makeup. Since I don't usually wear makeup daily, I used to prefer washing my face at the end of the day with a cleanser and my trusty clarisonic. It wasn't long until I got hold of Bioderma Sénsibio H2O Micellar Solution and fell head over heels for it. 

THURSDAY THRIFT: Beauty Formulas body & face cooling mist

Hey guys! If you haven't noticed, I decided to make Thursday Thrift a permanent segment on my blog to feature the products that work really well however don't cause a dent on your budget. These aren't necessarily dupes of expensive brands but they simply perform yet don't cost too much. In today's post, I'm featuring a cooling mist by Body Formulas.

GLAMOURBOX: Pixi by Petra

Hello everyone! I've been on a roll here with my posts since July started and I'm feeling great that I'm catching up on my writing. I still have a lot of product reviews in line for you guys so stay tuned for them but at this point I'm here to do an unboxing of the Perfectly Pixi Glamourbox. 

ESSENCE: An Exclusive Haul

Hello everyone! I'm pretty sure the past weeks felt like heaven for all you shoppers out there because of the great promos and discounts happening in leading malls around the metro. I didn't want to get in the hype but I couldn't resist trying out a brand I've been eyeing for months, an affordable makeup line called essence. In 2002, essence was launched in Germany by founders Christine Oster-Daum and Javier Gonzalez. Since then, essence has spread across the globe reaching as far as North America, South Africa, Middle East and Asia including our dear homeland the Philippines!

JOHNSON'S: Healthy Skin Meter

Hello everyone! It's the first week of July which marks the second half of 2016 and though I know it's cliche to mention, I still think that time flies so fast don't you? I actually have a love and hate relationship with the midyear season. I'm fond of the cool breeze when it rains, the change of fashion from fresh summer clothing to layers of comfy fabric, even the drizzle at the end of the day gives me a sense of delight. But the downpour can get so heavy that I sometimes wish it's summer all over again. I also notice my skin getting dull and flaky especially when the air gets too cold. This is why I keep track of my skin condition and make a few tweaks on my skincare ritual as the season changes.

MARIO BADESCU: Buffering Lotion

Hello everyone! February of this year marks one of the best things that ever happened to online shopping and that is because Sephora has finally arrived in the Philippine shores! Now we're just a few clicks away from getting our claws on products we adore without having to wait for a long time. Luckily I was given a complimentary GC to spend on Sephora Philippines. I have to admit it took me days to decide what to get but I finally zeroed in on a product I've been meaning to try, the Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion. 

THURSDAY THRIFT: Maybelline the Hypercurl Volum' Express Waterproof Mascara

Hello lovely readers! It's Thursday once again and you all know what that means, it's Thursday Thrift time. But before I plunge into my featured product, I would like to say a few words about life in general. I recently witnessed one of the best wedding ceremonies I've ever attended and when you see genuine happiness from all your friends and family you get to realize how beautiful life can be. So spread love and kindness whenever you can! To our good friends JB and Mai, we wish you a happy life together. Stay in love as always. 

CELETEQUE: Classified Dermo Mission

Hello everyone! If you've been reading my blog for some time now, you can probably tell that I'm a skincare advocate. This interest dates back in my teenage years and has evolved from acne treatment and prevention, to sun protection, brightening and anti-aging. My skin condition was at its worst throughout my teens and early 20's due to acne. This is why I've always been very careful in choosing what products to apply on my face because most often than not I end up with multiple cystic acne the following day. 

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THURSDAY THRIFT: Nichido Lip Pencil

Hey guys! This is my second post under the new segment Thursday Thrift and today I'm excited to share with you one of the few drugstore products out there that I'm totally obsessed with, the Nichido lip pencil in the shade rosette. 

NIVEA: Sun Kids Moisturising Sun Spray SPF 50+

Hello everyone! Summer is definitely at its peak and by now I'm guessing most of you have gone outdoors with friends and family or probably planning to hit the beach anytime soon. Just recently, we had a family outing in a private resort and being the skin care advocate in the group, I felt responsible for making sure everyone is protected from the harmful rays of the sun. Good thing I got hold of the Nivea sun kids moisturising spray spf 50+ when it was half price off last month. You might be wondering why I didn't hord on this but that's another story I'm telling next time.

THURSDAY THRIFT: Fashion 21 Two-Way Cake with Papaya Extract SPF 35+

Hello everyone! I recently posted on Instagram that I'm planning to create a segment where I can feature hidden gems of drugstore brands including makeup and skincare. This way, we can still look our best without spending too much. My debut entry is a recent discovery by a dear friend, the  fashion 21 two-way cake with papaya extract, SPF 35+.

NAIL TROPICS: Gel Manicure-Pedicure

I don't frequent nail spas as much as I want to which is why I enjoy every single minute when I'm having my nails done professionally. I just had an express mani a couple of days ago but it went bad as soon as I got home. So when a good friend  invited me over at Nail Tropics to get a mani-pedi at 50% off, I couldn't possibly say no. 

GUERLAIN: Orchidée Impériale Cream Foundation - SPF 25

Hey guys! I recently got hold of another great product from Guerlain that I've been aching to share with all of you since day one. I'm talking about the Orchidée Impériale Cream Foundation with SPF 25. If you read my recent post about the Guerlain Meteorites, you're probably aware that I just started inching my way into using this brand. So without further introduction, I give you my thoughts on yet another emerging favorite on my list.

GUERLAIN: Météorites Perles Du Dragon Illuminating Powder

Hey guys! I am uber excited for today's post because I'm featuring a product that's been on my wish list for the longest time, the Guerlain Météorites Perles Du Dragon Illuminating Powder. This most coveted beauty product costs Php 3,600+ which, in my opinion, is a pretty steep price to pay. Good thing I got this for a great bargain thanks to my cousin who made it happen. 

L'OCCITANE: Citrus Verbena Summer Fragrance Perfume

Hey guys! When I was in high school I remember liking a scent worn by a friend in class. I can vividly recall the fresh citrus fragrance which I always look for each time I test out colognes and perfumes at the mall. I never got to find one that closely resembles it until I got a whiff of L'occitane's Citrus Verbena Summer Fragrance Perfume.

VMV HYPOALLERGENICS: id Monolaurin Gel

Hey guys! I've been wanting to share a great product with you since I started using it a couple of months ago. I waited a while longer to see how it fairs on prolonged use so stay tuned and know more about my new favorite skincare product, the VMV Hypoallergenics id Monolaurin Gel.

L'ORÉAL: Revitalift Laser X3 Power Water

Just a few days left and it's Valentines! Make yourselves date ready before the big day by sticking to a good skin care routine. If you're the type who wants to keep using products your skin is used to but doesn't mind adding an extra step to your daily ritual, then this post screams your name. 

K-PALETTE: Essence in Shadow Liner

Hey everyone! I've been trying to sport a new look with my eyes using a liquid eyeliner and I now have a newly found admiration for those who can apply it perfectly. Two weeks into it and my hand is still shaky every single time but I think I'm starting to get the hang of it. I've been using the liquid eye liner from Heroine Make and it's a miracle that it hasn't dried out yet considering my countless mistakes! Afraid of running out of eyeliner to practice on, I decided to get a new one to torture next. I haven't thought of which eyeliner brand to get until I saw a friend's gorgeous eye makeup using just one product, the K-Palette Essence in Shadow Liner. 

MOLESKINE: 2016 Starbucks Planner

Before anything else, allow me to greet you a happy new year! Thank you for always taking the time to visit my site and reading my posts. I may not know you personally but I would like to think that we are somehow connected in thoughts via the world wide web. Today, I'm starting the year by featuring the Starbucks 2016 Planner by Moleskine.

Image courtesy of starbucks.ph

I love organizing my daily tasks and see to it that everything I do or missed doing is well accounted for. I started using a planner in high school and the first few ones I owned came from my parents' respective offices. I really loved the big ones with their glossy wide pages because writing on them with my "Apache" ballpoint pen felt so sleek and luxurious. Back then, only a few young people were into it and I never thought it would turn out to be a common thing for almost everyone today. Good thing we now have a lot of types to choose from and one of my favorites is the Starbucks planner.

Happy New Year!

On the night of December 31, 2015 at around 6:00 PM, I wrote:


"In just a few hours, I'll be saying goodbye to 2015 but not to everything that came with it. The valuable moments spent with family and friends, places traveled, fears conquered, goals attained and lessons learned from mistakes and failures will all be part of who I am and who I'll be. I will cherish every piece of memory that lead me up to this day."

"A fragment of who I've become is reflected right here at My Kikay Stuff (MKS). I have to admit that initiating a blog was a cinch with all the tips and traded secrets about it revealed on the net but keeping it wasn't duck soup either. There were times when my mind went blank that I couldn't write a decent entry. Good thing my love for story telling unfailingly prevailed each time."