Thursday, May 28, 2015

Ellana Mineral Cosmetics

I first heard about Ellana Mineral Cosmetics when a friend suggested their brush cleaner. Then I found their site and I just can't resist buying their beauty bundle.

899 for 1500 worth of products (40% OFF)
Make It Last Liquid Primer - PHP499
Ruby Lip & Cheek Gel - PHP299
Multipurpose Eyeshadow in Halo - PHP199
Multipurpose Eyeshadow in Brillance - PHP199
Pumpkin Pie Late Finishing Powder - PHP350
Crease Brush
Total:  PHP1546 not including the Crease Brush
I bought this set for PHP899. So I saved PHP647 and a crease brush!

I also bought the Brush Cleaner PHP400 and Blush in Bliss PHP153.
I got the complete set of mineral foundations too for free!

Mineral Powder, Eyeshadow and Blush
I love the packaging. They are so cute and neat.

Pumpkin Pie Late Oil Absorbing Finishing Powder. 
This is actually for neutral skin tones but it works for me. 
It belongs to their Surreal Blend which is for Oily/Acne Prone Skin.

Bliss Blush with an Earthy Terracotta color

Multipurpose Eyeshadow in Halo (an iridescent pink color)
It actually looks white but it's a pinkish glow when you apply it.
Multipurpose Eyeshadow in Brillance (bronze frost color)

Let me just say I love their powders! From the finishing powder to the blush and eyeshadow. The eyeshadow especially. I love the colors. they are very rich and pigmented. I was quite clueless at first on how to use mineral powders and they are messy but I love it!

Free Samples
I was quite disappointed to find they are all Intensive Blends (for Combination skin).
I was hoping to get samples of their Supreme Blend (for Oily skin).
But they're free so...

Brush Cleaner, Primer and Lip&Cheek Tint

Brush Cleaner in Action
I used the Pumpkin Pie Late Finishing Powder with the Multitask brush.
Then I sprayed some Cleaner on the tissue and swirled the brush in it.
Before and After
Works like a charm. I'd never have to worry about cleaning my brushes in a hurry. :)

Primer. It's the first time I've used a primer and I didn't like the smell. It smells like oil in wood I don't know.

The lip and cheek tint has a nice ruby red color but for some reason it only colors my lower lip. XD I think my upper lip is too dark and I don't even smoke.

I know I'm quite the impulsive buyer but I didn't regret purchasing these products. Their website is really nice and informative. They will help you determine your skin tone and type and recommend the perfect blend for you. I also like that they have a wide range of colors both for every skin tone and type. The colors are so nice and looks natural on the skin. I've been using these for a week and no breakouts. I don't think the oil-absorbing properties were much help though. I still have to blot every now and then but I like the finish. It blends really well on my skin. Would I repurchase? The brush cleaner, blush and eyeshadow, definitely yes and maybe the finishing powder too. The primer and lip&cheek tint not so much.


Thaipan


Thaipan is located at Tomas Morato, Quezon City. Obviously, they serve Thai food :p

The ambiance was really nice.

Menu

 





 Appetizers

 Roti Bread with Curry Sauce Dip PHP198
I believe this is Indian but whatever it's on the menu and I missed eating Roti.

 Chicken Satay PHP250
5 sticks of chicken satay for PHP250, hmmn it's good but for PHP50 per stick?...

Soup

 Tom Yum Kung PHP380
I'm not really a fan of Tom Yum because it's a bit sour and not the type of sinigang sour that I like.

Main

 Soft Shell Crab in Curry Sauce PHP398
This was good. Must Try!

 Thai Chicken Curry (Green) PHP328

 Pad Thai
I didn't like the Pad Thai because it's also a bit sour. The presentation was great though. I don't know but Pad Thai in Thailand is different and something I could actually eat.

 Bagoong Rice
This is also good. Better order this than a plain cup of rice for PHP60

Dessert

 Durian Ice Cream
I never liked Durian and it's after taste, it's too intense for me. But some people love it.

 Pandan

Mango with Sticky Rice
Ripe Mango, Sticky Rice (like bico) and gata seems like a weird combination but it actually works.

The ambiance was nice and the food presentation was picture perfect but I think it's too pricey. Our bill was around PHP4000 and we were just 6. We could have eaten on a buffet for that price.

Monday, May 25, 2015

Bohol Tour Highlights

After swimming with the whale sharks in Oslob, we headed to Tagbilaran City, Bohol. Bright and exciting day ahead of us. Ferry from Cebu to Tagbilaran costs PHP520 one way and PHP800 back and forth via Ocean Jet. Travel time is around 2 hours. You have to be at the port at least 1 hour before your departure.
We rented a multicab to tour us around for PHP2000.

Tarsier
Tarsier known locally as Maumag

Entrance fee is PHP50. The last time I went to Bohol, the tarsier place we went to is just like a souvenir shop along the road. This time it was more like a closed sanctuary. For a small creature they are extremely fragile and violent at the same time. The care taker told us tarsiers are territorial that's why they only have 8 tarsiers in a pretty big sanctuary. They fight each other to death for territory. They are nocturnal creatures so it's not really advised to disturb them during the day because they commit suicide when stressed. No wonder they are getting extinct.

Man-Made Forest

A bunch of trees on the side of the road. The air is cool on this side of the road and it's fun to take pictures and play patintero with vehicles passing by.


Jump Shot! 1..2.. 

MAY TRUCK!! MAY TRUCK!!
 
Iniwan nila ko sa ere literally hahaha XD

Chocolate Hills Adventure Park
My first time to try the bike zipline PHP400 back and forth. It was scary at first <nakakalula (>_<)> if you look down. But the view was really nice. You can see the chocolate hills from up there.

You don't need to balance the bike it is quite stable. The pace depends on you. You can get 1 hard copy of the picture and soft copies for PHP100 (bring a storage device).

They provide hair masks for sanitary purposes and they spray something on the hard hat from time to time but I can still smell sweat from the hat (-_-) There are also other zipline and rope course activities here. (Perfect for team building.)


Chocolate Hills
 (wrong focus XD)

The old view point located at the highest hill was destroyed by earthquake but it was already rebuilt (around 215 steps). There is another view point at Adventure Park which I think is better for panorama, too bad I didn't have my camera with me and I didn't want to go back and forth its 250 steps just to get it.

Loboc River Cruise

We didn't really go here. I've tried this before, It's a buffet on a river cruise and there are stops where locals perform a song and dance number. At the end of the cruise there is a mini falls where your boat turns around and back.

Panglao

A Bohol trip is not complete without going to the beach. For our second and last day in Bohol, we stayed at Panglao to chill at the beach.
sunrise

 chillax


 white sand


There are a lot of seaweeds and some parts with rocks and corals but once you get past that powdery white sand awaits. Don't get too far though because there are also sea urchins.

night view of the shore

my first ever milky way shot. I have to start at something right? 
<looking at wide angle lenses (>_<)>

until our next adventure! (^_^)V