Day 3 of My 12 Gifts of Christmas Giveaway: Mischka Derma Secret [Closed]

Three or treat! Yayyy for Day 3 of my 12 Gifts of Christmas giveaway!

Have you always wanted that fair complexion? Worry no more! Up for grabs today is a total whitening beauty package from Mischka Derma Secret. I've recently blogged about their skin care line and how I loved their eco-friendly beauty products especially their whitening products so I'd love that one lucky reader also gives it try. Mischka Derma Secret has all the right answers to your skin's deepest darkest secret. 

What's inside the beauty loot?

• 3 triple whitening soaps
• 1 gluta bleach soap
• 1 120 mL triple whitening lotion
• 1 120 mL advanced whitening lotion
• 1 tub of green papaya body scrub
• 1 tub of face and body bleaching mask

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Deadline of entries is on January 22, 2015, Thursday 11:59 am and open to Philippine residents only. All entries will be checked. Failure to comply with mandatory steps will invalidate your entry. I will announce the name of the winner on my twitter account and through this same post. Failure to respond to the email notification within 48 hours will invalidate the win.

For Metro Manila and Cavite winners: Winners should claim their prizes from me personally. I will advise you of the time, date, and venue in the email notification.

For Northernmost and Southernmost Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao winners: Items will be shipped via Xend for free!

Spread the holiday cheer!

P.S. Take note that 'liking' the sponsor's FB fan page is mandatory. Please hit the 'like' button when you visit. Thank you!

and the LUCKY WINNER is..

Carla Perez

Congratulations! Kindly e-mail me your complete shipping details + cellphone number at tinaelainer(at)gmail(dot)com. Thanks to everyone who joined!

Day 2 of My 12 Gifts of Christmas Giveaway: Browhaus Manila [Closed]

Hey you! It's Day 2 of my 12 Gifts of Christmas giveaway. 

I know just how many of you guys prepare for that great new year look so I'm giving you an extra something to tick off your list-- a brow makeover! Our good friends from Browhaus Manila are giving away a Php 500 gift certificate to two (2) of my lucky readers. 

Browhaus is your one-stop brow and lash grooming salon. If you're caught in a little 'bad' browmance, Browhaus finds the perfect brow shape for you. Join this giveaway now and give your brow a chance!

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Deadline of entries is on January 21, 2015, Wednesday 11:59 am and open to Philippine residents only. All entries will be checked. Failure to comply with mandatory steps will invalidate your entry. I will announce the name of the winner on my twitter account and through this same post. Failure to respond to the email notification within 48 hours will invalidate the win.

The GCs are redeemable at the following branches: Greenbelt, Serendra, Mega Fashion Hall and Lucky China Town. Best of luck, everyone!

Spread the holiday cheer!

P.S. Take note that 'liking' the sponsor's FB fan page is mandatory. Please hit the 'like' button when you visit. Thank you!

 

and the LUCKY WINNERS are..

Glenda Candedeir

Joy Merced

 

Congratulations! Kindly e-mail me your complete shipping details + cellphone number at tinaelainer(at)gmail(dot)com. Thanks to everyone who joined!

Day 1 of My 12 Gifts of Christmas Giveaway: Goods.PH [Closed]

The Christmas season had always been special to me and it's getting close to that time of the year again. Yeyyy! 

From time to time, I lose myself in the hustle and bustle of hospital work, completely forgetting to do my favorite thing-- blogging. Yes, that's how busy the past rotations have been. I've also been on a giveaway hiatus for a few months now and what better way to celebrate my blogging comeback and this festive season than to share blessings to my dear readers for hanging in there. Hehe. 

Each day from now until the end of the month, I will be giving away prizes from different sponsors. Yes, you heard it right-- 12 generous sponsors will be giving awesome presents for you guys. 

For my 1st day of Christmas giveaway, MCiTA partnered with Goods.PH in granting your wish. Goods.PH is an online shopping store that offers a secure and easy online internet shopping convenience in the country with its highly advanced and safe systems on hand. 

We're giving away one (1) Php 1500 eGC which the lucky winner could use to purchase any product of their choice on their online shopping site. 

How to win? Just join through the Rafflecopter app below! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Deadline of entries is on January 20, 2015, Tuesday 11:59 am and open to Philippine residents only. All entries will be checked. Failure to comply with mandatory steps will invalidate your entry. I will announce the name of the winner on my twitter account and through this same post. Failure to respond to the email notification within 48 hours will invalidate the win.

The winner will be contacted directly by Goods.PH. Best of luck, everyone!

Spread the holiday cheer!

P.S. Take note that 'liking' the sponsor's FB fan page is mandatory. Please hit the 'like' button when you visit. Thank you!

and the LUCKY WINNER is..

Diana Beatima

Congratulations! Kindly e-mail me your complete shipping details + cellphone number at tinaelainer(at)gmail(dot)com. Thanks to everyone who joined!

Share the Sweetness This Christmas With Equal

It's exactly 9 nine days before Christmas! Since today is the start of Simbang Gabi, it definitely makes the Christmas day feel nearer than it already is.

I'm sure many of you are still in the process of grocery shopping and gift- buying. But have you planned your Christmas eve menu yet? Yes, that's totally another thing to consider nowadays. 

In the hospital, we would always joke about how many non-communicable cases (hypertensive emergencies and urgencies, stroke, heart attacks) would be rushed to the Emergency Room a few weeks after the holiday season, making our duties more 'toxic' than it already is. All these we attribute to the unhealthy choice of foodstuffs we serve not only during this season but almost everyday.

According to the WHO, obesity now affects half a billion people in the world and it is on the rise on all age groups and particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Our additional free sugar intake is partly to blame. 

Our Alternative

I was first introduced to Equal's sweetener since I was kid. My late grandfather, then, used to enjoy his favorite cup of morning coffee using Equal's low calorie sweetener. 

Equal sweeteners are a low- to no-calorie alternative to your regular white or brown sugar which contains sucrose. The main sweetening agent used in their product is aspartame, otherwise known as APM (L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester). In addition, it is combined with other ingredients to give you that great sweet taste without all the calories.

It is ideal for sweetening not only your favorite hot beverages like coffee, tea and chocolate as well as cold drinks such as frappes, shakes, and smoothies. If you're fond of baking, Equal can also add flavor to your fruit pie fillings, cheesecakes and other baked products.

The Health Benefits

1. Weight management

Since it's a low- to no-calorie sweetener, it's most appealing benefit is in weight loss. If you're trying to lose weight or prevent weight gain, you can opt to switch your higher calorie table sugar to low-calorie sweeteners. 

2. Glycemic control

Equal sweeteners are also considered non-nutritive are helpful in reducing calories and post-prandial glucose increase in diabetic patients. Remember, however, that weight loss remains the important goal in the nutrition therapy of patients with diabetes and this can also be achieved with watching your diet and regular exercise.

The Acceptable Daily Intake

As with any other food or food ingredient, consuming more than what you need may have potentially harmful effects. For years, aspartame had been a controversial food additive due to the mixed evidences on its neurobehavioral and carcinogenic effects. Cross-sectional studies by the American College of Nutrition and the Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, however, have shown that the actual consumption levels of aspartame of 90% of consumers was only between the range of 2-10 mg/kg/day, way below the maximum safety level of 40 mg/kg/day. Careful consumption is the key.

For more information about the product, you may visit the following sites:

 http://www.equalasiapacific.com/

https://www.facebook.com/EqualPhilippines 

With all the excitement and the merriment this season brings, I hope we do not forget to cut on our sugar and watch what we eat. And lastly, to spread the holiday cheer! 

Happy holidays, everyone!

AMG Scents: Something Bright & Bubbly This Christmas

I've been a perfume collector since I was in high school. For the simple reason that I like to mix and match scents rather than jewelry or make-up with what I'm wearing-- like fruity fragrances when wearing floral dresses, for example. And I'm happy that recently, I discovered yet another line of cunning, miniature perfumes. 

 

Ms. Bona of AMG scents shared with me her line of beauty products several week ago and I must say I am completely satisfied with her line of perfumes. There's just a lot of fragrance mock-ups these days at local markets but the scents only lasts for a few minutes or so.

Their eau de parfum, on the other hand, contains 15-25% of quality fragrance oil making its scent similar with expensive designer perfumes. They're pretty long wearing-- lasts up to 8 hours on my skin and almost 24 hours on my clothes. It does not stain on clothes, too, if you might ask.

There are lot of scents to choose from. Most are designer-inspired like this DKNY's Be Delicious parfum I got. Smells like green apple to me. This scent makes me feel much more sophisticated than I really am. And that's an illusion I don't mind keeping. Hehe.

Their charming packaging is also something you will like about this product. You can personalize your perfume with the colors you want. The bottle size perfectly fits my toiletry bag. I can always bring it with me anywhere I go! 

So if you're still looking for the perfect gift to give your loved ones this Christmas, try AMG scents chic daytime perfumes!

Photograbbed from AMG Scents Facebook page

For orders and more information about the brand, kindly visit their social media sites:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/AMG-Scents

http://instagram.com/amgscentsandbeautyshoppe

Disclaimer: All reviews on this blog are the honest opinion of the author. They are not, in any way, affected by sponsor samples.

Discover Mischka Derma's Secret

It's been months since summer 2014 but my skin complexion hasn't recovered yet from several unwanted tanning episodes. I always have this ambivalent feeling of wanting to dip in the water for long hours and hating myself after for getting tawny whenever I visit the beach. For 'morenas' like me, it's quite difficult to win back that 'lighter' skin complexion.

So after receiving a whitening loot from Ms. Michelle Rivera of Mischka Derma Secret, I was just so excited to use them. I've received 2 packages-- the first one was a set of soap and whitening lotion and the other one 3 tubs of hair and skin care products. 

Mischka Derma Secret offers a line of eco-friendly beauty products which are all derma-formulated with maximum supervision of health professionals. The company's mission is to create healthy skin by providing natural and therapeutic skin care formulas rich in antioxidants, vitamins and botanicals. And true to its mission, their product ingredients are all combination of organic materials.

When I opened the package, the products were carefully sealed in bubble wraps. Though not really that fragile, it was nice that they make sure they're  protected from being damaged or cracked. The products are neatly wrapped in plastic and everything you need to know are written on the packaging label.

I've received three different soaps-- one anti-aging, another whitening and an exfoliating soap.

Oatmeal and Almond Soap. An extra gentle exfoliating bar that also soothes and defends skin against dryness and irritation. It is enriched with the best combination of cocoate glycerin, oat, kernel flour and almond extract. 

Calamansi with Honey Soap. A skin whitener with a high amount of alpha hydroxyl acids. Since it has calamansi, it also has deodorizing properties. 

Milky White Soap. Contains goat's milk which help exfoliate dead skin cells while retaining smoother and younger looking skin. It also has lactic acid that promotes skin whitening and acts as an anti-aging agent.

For almost a month now, I religiously used them alternating one with the other. So far I already consumed my bar of Oatmeal and Almond soap. It was my favorite among the 3. I like the milky smell and smoothing feel it leaves my skin. But what I really love is the gentle exfoliating it gives whenever the oatmeal beads rub against my skin.

Recommendations: It might be a little irritating for persons with sensitive skin. It left a mild stinging sensation whenever I leave the lather longer than 2 minutes, which is manageable to me since I'm already used to dermatologist-prescribed soaps like those I've used for acne which leave a stinging sensation. But so far, there have been no other irritations nor breakouts on me. Just a tip for those with really sensitive skin and would like to try the products, consider trying to apply for less than a minute first if it would produce any untoward reactions.

Inside the loot was a Triple Whitening lotion which I use to reinforce my whitening. I's Mischka Derma Secret's advanced formulation that produces triple action-- lightening, whitening and brightening.

This product contains pineapple (bromelain) and papaya (papain) enzymes which help wash away dead skin cells to reveal brighter and healthier-looking skin. Also, these fruits also has high amounts of antioxidants to help fight free radicals that damage your skin cells.

What I love about this product is the light fruity scent  it has when you apply. It lathers too well that it looks sticky on the skin but you almost does not feel it after completely rubbing. Plus, you only need to put an ample amount on your skin so one bottle can last you a month or two. I still haven't emptied mine after 1 month of usage.

Here are my before and after pics after using for almost 1 month. Disclaimer: There's little lighting on the 2nd photo. You can still compare the complexion on my forearm.

As with the whitening process, it's really never easy as 1, 2, 3. Trust me, I've been a morena all my life and I've practically tried most budget whitening products there are in the market-- from soaps, toners, moisturizers, lotion, etc. But remember that a little goes a long way. 

Now, will I repurchase? Certainly!

For orders and more information about the brand, kindly visit their social media sites:

http://mischkadermasecret.com 

https://www.facebook.com/MischkaDermaSecret

http://instagram.com/mischkadermasecret

Disclaimer: All reviews on this blog are the honest opinion of the author. They are not, in any way, affected by sponsor samples.

'Coz I'm Not Your Typical Backpacker at Tune Hotel Clark

This September, we pretty much spent our 2 weekends in Angeles, Pampanga. Yehess! That's 2 weekends. Hooray for minor rotations. Anyway, Kel joined two consecutive duathlon races there and since we're always running on tight budgets, we made sure to look for cozy yet reasonably-priced hotels.

If you have been to Clark, I'm sure you'll realize why it was to me the Hotel Capital of the Philippines. Haha. There's probably no single corner in Clark that does not boast a hotel or an inn. But most of them are a bit pricey for us. 

A year ago, I came across Tunes Hotel on the net when I was looking for budget hotels in Manila. And it has a cool system of "Pay As You Use" back then that is like personalizing your own room (I don't really know if this was obsolete now, but this feature was not available in Clark or they just didn't provide us that option).  When I say 'personalize', the hotel gives you the privilege to set what amenities such as TV, hot/cold shower, A/C you would like in your room and for how long-- 6 or 12 hours? Doesn't really matter. Then, you're charged with the corresponding amount of your consumption. 

So when we returned to Clark during our 2nd week, I told my husband I wanted to try Tunes Hotel in Angeles. Since we were staying with our kid, Kel reserved a double room in advance for us. You surely cannot miss the hotel. It has a signature red and white-colored facade. Apart from this, it also has a convenient location in the city-- near restaurants, convenient stores, spa and the mall. 

 Photo grabbed from Tune Hotels website

When we arrived, we were ushered to the main elevator by their polite reception staff. You cannot get inside the elevator without having your electronic keycard first. At the 2nd floor, we were greeted by their accommodating staff at the information desk and provided us with our keycard. Check-in was hassle-free and they also gave us the password for their wifi before we left. What's also nice is that even if we arrived a little earlier than their check-in time, there have been no problem waiting.

Due to the great amount of guests who booked on the same day prior to the duathlon race, the hotel was almost fully booked at that time. We were given a room instead at the 9th floor, not bit of a problem for me but for Kel who has to carry his bike all the way to our room. Hihi.

Upon entering the room, we realized how this is not the family-friendly type of hotel. It was a bit small for a family of 3 and if the other one's a kid. I say to myself this is probably for the business people and the backpackers. Anyway, I didn't really expect much so I just easily shove the idea off. The interior was modern in brown and white and it certainly looks cozy.

Our room has a soft and comfy matrimonial bed with 2 pillows. By the way, I am very particular with hotel pillows because I don't like lying almost flat on bed. If there was one turn-off for me, it must be the pillows. Haha. I just don't like it too soft that it deflates much when lied upon. Their bedding smells good anyway.

The room has a built-in cable TV and one thing I liked about it is that it's Cignal cable. Haha! It lets you see the shows in line flashed on the screen whenever you switch channels. The room also has an airconditioning system and a ceiling fan probably for those who doesn't want to use the aircon when it's cold. It also has electronic safety deposit box and a pull-down desk for your laptop just beside the bed. There's also a built-in towel and clothes rack to save space-- an alternative to your usual room closet. What I hope was also there, though, was a mini fridge for our food and a telephone inside the room. If you need to phone in an operator, you still need to go the elevator where it is located for communal use.

One thing that is really nice about Tunes Hotel was that even if it was minimally priced, we were given an electronic keycard access, the one that you need to have to gain access into the hotel lobby and your room-- just like those that they use in 5-star hotels so they could limit the number of non-hotel staying visitors. Also, as in many other hotels, you need this to activate your room's electronic power--just a good way of saving electricity for hotels.

The bathroom was clean and all white and the shower was unusually spacious and is separated from the toilet by a glass door, which was nice. Their showers are high-pressure, heated power showers. Me and my little kid can take a bath at the same time. One thing lacking in their bathroom are the toiletries. You really need to bring your own because they will only provide you with a shampoo and soap. Good thing for me-- a hair dryer is available. 

We checked out at past 1pm. The hotel check-out time is at 11 am. We decided we just extend for 2 more hours to rest after the race for a minimum amount of Php 300.

Overall, I'd stay I had a good stay in Tune Hotel. Here's my final verdict:

Value for money:  4/5

Location:  5/5

Sleep quality:  4/5

Staff performance:  3/5

Hotel cleanliness:  5/5

Food/dining:  3/5

Tune Hotel - Angeles City (Clark Airport)
Don Juico Avenue, Malabanias,
Angeles City, Pampanga
Philippines

Tel:+63 45 4590888