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Best of Beauty 2018: Makeup Edition
Best of Beauty 2018: Makeup Edition
Yes, this blog is not dead! :p
Before the year ends, I just want to do a quick roundup of my favorite makeup products (aka where my money went) this year. I’ll be listing them down in order of application, but to note, not all categories will have a favorite.
So without further adieu, here they are:
1. [Foundation] Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup
My shade: Buff / Sand
This…
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Rachel Chu : Don't you want Nick to be happy?
Eleanor Young : It's an illusion. We understand how to build things that last. Something you know nothing about.
Rachel Chu : You don't know me.
Eleanor Young : I know you're not what Nick needs.
Rachel Chu : Well he proposed to me yesterday.
Rachel Chu : He said he'd walk away from his family and from you for good.
Rachel Chu : Don't worry, I turned him down.
Eleanor Young : Only a fool folds a winning hand.
Rachel Chu : Mm no. There's no winning. You made sure of that. 'Cause if Nick chose me, he would lose his family. And if he chose his family, he might spend the rest of his life resenting you.
Eleanor Young : So you chose for him...
Rachel Chu : I'm not leaving because I'm scared, or because I think I'm not enough - because maybe for the first time in my life, I know I am.
Rachel Chu : I just love Nick so much, I don't want him to lose his mom again. So I just wanted you to know: that one day - when he marries another lucky girl who is enough for you, and you're playing with your grandkids while the Tan Hua's are blooming, and the birds are chirping - that it was because of me: a poor, raised by a single mother, low class, immigrant nobody.
Get in shape during the Holiday season with Taiwan Excellence premium-grade gym gear
As Filipinos, the holiday season kicks off as early as September. It is a time of festivities, parties, and wonderful reunions with family and friends. In these times, keeping up a consistent gym schedule can be tough. Fortunately, the Taiwan Excellence is introducing its state-of-the-art exercise equipment to tone and buff up during this frenetic time. Burn the unwanted calories from that leche flan with the Johnson Health Tech. Co., Ltd.’s Upright Bike-Matrix U50. It has a Comfort Arc Seat that is designed to provide comfort while regulating perspiration, improving calves and hamstrings, and strengthening abdominals. This sophisticated stationary bicycle has an ergonomic design, and provides an easy step-through access. It also has an Exact Force feature to let fitness enthusiasts adjust the resistance of the pedal depending on his stamina. If you would rather look for adventure outside, the Tern Taiwan Ltd.’s Verge X20 is worth checking out. This portable bike can be easily folded as it weighs only 9.9 kilograms. Moreover, the Verge X20 makes biking more exciting as it is equipped with Kinetic Pro X wheels. This rubber hoop can strengthen muscles and improve aerodynamics to make you go faster. It also helps condition your metabolic rate. Fitness fanatics can couple these bicycles with Unite Creative Design Co., Ltd.’s Compression seamless bike sports pants. Compared to others, this innovative elastic apparel is made with environmental friendly materials. Aside from providing protection, it also helps on reducing blood pressure and improve heart rhythm. Finish your look off with sports goggles. First Rank Co., Ltd. offers JET-S58, a stylish set that has a double-coating technology that enhances the durability of anti-fog performance. This helps users see when swimming, and guard eyes from water or chemicals. While it is great to celebrate Christmas, it also important to tone up and improve endurance. Say goodbye to holiday weight and take home these smart, functional, and stylish products for a stronger physical health. These innovations are carefully evaluated and sealed by TAITRA with the guidance from the Bureau of Foreign Trade to promote Taiwan’s revolutionary products. For more information about its accredited products, visit www.taiwanexcellence.org or like Taiwan Excellence on Facebook.
Taiwan Excellence unveils the best home companions for the wet season
More often than not, the rain gets a bad rap because it cancels plans, makes everyone at work sleepy, and obliges you to bring a heavy umbrella that doesn’t match your outfit. But staying in doesn’t have to be upsetting. Despite these inconveniences, Taiwan Excellence premium-grade devices are great companions at home.
Craft your own relaxing haven
Daqi Concept Inc.'s JinGoo Wireless Audio Light
Set your mood at home with Daqi Concept Inc.'s JinGoo Wireless Audio Light. Masquerading as a bird in a cage, this audio player produces beautiful light and sound to drive gloominess away from your home. You can enjoy music, ignore the harsh sound of the rain, and read your favorite novel throughout the day. Its wooden cage base is a powerful subwoofer to make sound more natural. This allows music to reach every corner of your abode without taking too much space.
Tokuyo Massage Chair
At night, eliminate stress with Tokuyo Biotech Co., Ltd.'s massage chair. The unique egg-shaped seat helps you sleep soundly and deeply while massaging the back of your calf. This is also equipped with acupressure and air massage, effective for those who suffer from headache, ocular, toothache, and throat pain.
No excuses to skip the gym
You work hard to get fit, whether by having killer runs or striving for a new personal best in your bench press. Don't let the rain make you skip a workout. Johnson Health Tech. Co., Ltd. has its cutting-edge treadmill. This beautifully simple equipment is designed to fit any contemporary living space. Moreover, its easy-to-access console can help you conveniently utilize the whole fitness rig.
To make exercise more productive, couple it with the SINGTEX Industrial Co., Ltd. top gear. It provides you with great comfort while running in the treadmill as it is crafted with natural raw materials such as recycled coffee grounds combined with biodegradable wood pulp for the fabric components. It has an odor-control function that can absorb moisture and unpleasant body smell twice as much as others so you can stop worrying from getting your sweat all over the place. With its slim-shape cuts, this apparel can be used for yoga, hikes, aerobics, and even work.
Catch up on your favorite shows
Optoma's UHD65 4K Home Cinema Projector
Queue feel-good movies using Optoma's UHD65 4K Home Cinema Projector to make a small theater in your entertainment room. This 4K UHD Display brings accurate, razor sharp, high quality images. Enjoy the whole film even during dark scenes as it has brighter whites and deeper black levels. Moreover, you'll never get distracted while binge-viewing your favorite TV series. This projector is the quietest high-grade home cinema device ever created. Its noise is only at 25 decibels; that is softer than a whisper, allowing you to hear only the audio of the movie.
Warm food for cold days
One of the most important things to have during the rainy season is a hot and hearty meal. Tatung Co. releases its Fusion Cooker Plus. It is a flexible kitchen device that can be both a cooker and a pot to serve meals and warm your tummy. The cooker is designed to have a powerless heat preservation plate that can warm rice or food for up to two hours. This allows you to save more energy and electricity. Moreover, it has a 3-millimeter thick inner pot with DAIKIN non-stick coating that offers conduction and storage. This way, you can preserve your food a little longer. Deal with the wet season with these industry-leading gadgets.
These breakthrough innovations are carefully tested and sealed by TAITRA with the guidance from Bureau of Foreign Trade to promote Taiwan’s revolutionary products.
For more information on Taiwan Excellence-accredited products, visit taiwanexcellence.org.tw or like Taiwan Excellence on Facebook.
Globe, Disney spearhead “Time Please” nationwide volunteering program
Partners promote sharing acts of kindness among individuals, organizations
Leading telecommunications firm Globe Telecom and The Walt Disney Company, Philippines, announced a major collaboration to promote volunteerism among Filipinos.
The two companies partnered to launch “Time Please,” a nationwide volunteering program that encourages and empowers Filipinos including companies, organizations, employees, families, and friends to provide volunteer activities or participate in existing volunteer programs. Time Please supports the telco’s commitment to nine (9) of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and appeals to the Filipino strong culture of volunteerism rooted in the bayanihan spirit to collectively contribute to social development.
Through the volunteer matching portal www.timeplease.ph, developed with Globe Future Maker iVolunteer Philippines and the volunteer portal of Gawad Kalinga, Time Please strives to match individuals or groups of volunteers with various volunteering opportunities around the country. Companies, organizations or groups with existing volunteer programs can also enlist their volunteer activities in the platform and get their volunteer hours registered in this initiative.
“We look at Time Please to extend Globe Telecom’s purpose-led culture to our customers. With the help of technology, we wish to make volunteering more accessible to many Filipinos, thereby, making it easier for our partners and customers to contribute to nation building,” said Ernest Cu, President and Chief Executive Officer of Globe Telecom.
“Disney VoluntEARS are committed to supporting and inspiring communities by dedicating our time and skills to help kids and families in need. Time Please is a unique platform that allows kids and families to spend meaningful time together for social good,” shared Veronica Cabalinan, Country Manager of The Walt Disney Company, Philippines. “We believe that it is our collective responsibility to be at the service of the community where we live.”
Globally, the Philippines ranked 7th for the highest number of people volunteering their time with 25 million Filipinos volunteering in 2016 (Charities Aid Foundation [CAF] World Giving Index 2017). Volunteer activities are mobilized by various sectors, such as non-government organizations (NGOs), government agencies, companies usually through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) departments or corporate foundations, the academe via school activities such as Brigada Eskwela, and the private sector.
Time Please provides a robust menu of volunteering activities and unites the volunteering ecosystem by connecting the volunteers to volunteer organizations using a simple, convenient and easy to understand web platform. Through any device with online access, individuals from all regions in the Philippines can now sign up for free and form groups to join volunteer activities enrolled in Time Please.
Time Please will run from May 25 to August 19, 2018 and is open to individuals willing and capable to do volunteer work. Each group should have a minimum of two (2) and a maximum of four (4) individuals to be able to join. The group should also nominate a Team Leader who is at least 18 years of age with an active Globe or TM number to register the group.
The group with the most number of volunteer hour credits at the end of the program will win an all-expense paid trip for 4 to Hong Kong Disneyland.
Globe customers, partners, and other organizations are invited to register and volunteer at www.timeplease.ph and at the volunteer portal of Gawad Kalinga.
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For more information, please contact:
Yoly C. Crisanto
SVP, Corporate Communications
Globe Telecom, Inc.
Email Address: [email protected]
Globe Press Room: http://newsroom.globe.com.ph/
Twitter: @talk2GLOBE │ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/globeph
Best of Beauty 2017: Skincare Edition
Upon welcoming the new year, I tried contemplating on 2017 in a deep way (LOL) but all I saw were my skincare and makeup products. HAHAHA. I’m not even kidding. I got tempted to be sad about it, but hey, I feel like I actually ended the year much happier than when I started it. No harm done!!! Anyway, my precious love affair with skincare in particular started when my friends and I visited Korea…
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While working on our Taiwan itinerary, I realized there aren’t as many available travel tips and guides online about the country, as there are for Hong Kong, Japan and Korea. So upon getting back from my trip, I figured I should let my experiences be learning grounds for your future travels here. And without further adieu, let me present to you Taiwan (or Taipei) in lists of tips, tricks, hits and misses.
Flight: AirAsia
Very cheap roundtrip flights from Manila to Taipei– PHP 3,000 without check-in baggage and PHP 5,000 with 20kg of check-in baggage. Both include (strictly) 7kg carry-on allowance. Travel tax excluded.
AirAsia flights to Taiwan is only once a day apparently. Took the 11:15 PM flight out and the 1:45 AM flight back to Manila.
One of my fastest check-ins ever, especially during departure. Finished everything in 15-20 minutes! Way less people compared to Cebu Pacific which had super long lines heading to Taipei at the same time.
Flight was comfy, and the plane was nice and clean. Leg room, as you can expect, is quite limited, such that when I’d cross my legs, my knees would hit the next seat.
No blankets for lending!!! You’d have to purchase their AirAsia-branded blankets at PHP 500. Not cool! Or should I say, too cool because I was nearly freezing?!
For in-flight meals, you have to pre-book them if you don’t want to take chances. Pretty cheap, at around PHP 150-200 a meal.
Weather in August: H-O-T!!!!
August is Taiwan’s hottest month. Clearly we didn’t research prior to booking! Can go as high as 38 degrees Celcius!
Recommendation: Don’t book in August so you can maximize your stay! We got tired too easily due to the debilitating heat.
Money
Their currency is New Taiwanese Dollar.
Conversion from NTD to PHP is 1.7.
For money exchange, you have to do it at the airport upon arrival or at the banks. They don’t have FOREX stalls everywhere like in Hong Kong. So carefully plan your exchange in advance.
For pocket money, average spend a day (given our itinerary — available upon request) would be at around PHP 3,000-4,000 excluding shopping.
Accommodation: Meander Hostel
Definitely a place I’d recommend if you’re traveling on a budget! It’s a hostel but with private rooms.
Got the Triple Room with 1 queen bed and 1 double bed–comfy. Spacious enough. Looks new and clean. Has minimalist design.
Had troubles with the air conditioner–wouldn’t get cold enough for a day or two!
Shower area is more than sufficient, and heater works great! I could take showers for hours. Jk.
Total cost for 4 nights was at PHP 17,000 but thanks to Agoda Rewards, we got it for PHP 15,000. Just PHP 5,000 per head! So affordable!
No windows in the room; could use better lighting = Not very ideal for girls who spend a long time putting on makeup!!!!
Has a common room at the G/F. Very cozy and you can mingle with fellow travellers. You can also bring food and eat there. Has free-flowing water and wintermelon tea. Also coffee, milk tea, bread and fruits in the AM for breakfast.
Not allowed to bring outside shoes in. They give you slippers to use. Not sure if that’s hygienic but I think they sanitize it after every use. The upside is that you don’t have to bring your own slippers anymore.
Location is a-ok! Just 10 minutes away from Ximending on foot. You just have to walk one straight line/street so you won’t get lost. Also has nearby convenience stores.
Transporation
From Taoyuan International Airport, we shared a cab going to our hostel since it was late already (2AM) and it was cost-effective given that we were 4 people.
Getting around is mostly thru their MRT which is super easy to understand. We didn’t have to buy stored value cards since buying single tickets was always a breeze. Never a line! MRT is also very clean and not so crowded.
Most frequented line is the blue line–Bannan. That’s where Ximen is located right smack at the middle. This is why I recommend you choose a hotel in Ximen, since it’s close to the many areas you’re likely to visit as a tourist.
Going back to airport, we asked help from our hostel and they booked us a 9-seater van for just NT 1700. Not bad! From Ximen to Taoyuan, we only took 40 minutes.
Advantages of Taiwan over Hong Kong
Much, much friendlier people.
Less fast-paced so you can travel more calmly.
Cleaner, especially the toilets!
Generally cheaper.
Shopping
For international clothing brands, they have H&M and Uniqlo in Ximending (more expensive though) and GU, Pull & Bear, ZARA, and Bershka in Taipei 101 area.
They also have the usual sports stores like adidas, Nike, New Balance, and Jordan in Ximending, but I never entered. Hihi.
Speaking of Ximending, they say that’s Taipei’s counterpart of Myeongdong in Seoul. While I still managed to have fun (because I will always, always find a way to shop successfully), I recommend not expecting too much. I found that there aren’t as many interesting stores, and even their food offerings were underwhelming.
Highlight for me was the skincare variety. They have super cheap sheet masks, so better hoard! Go for 86 Shop and Paris Strawberry, as they have better pricing. More on this here.
For Taiwanese delicacies (pasalubong alert!), buy from the corner/semi-hidden stores that don’t look fancy. The well-lit and nicer-looking ones have higher prices. For instance, I got salty yolk cookies for just NT 120 a pack while at the better-looking stores, they were selling it to me for NT 180. Nonetheless, they all provide free tastes so you can make sure the goodies are yummy before you buy them!
Re: Supermarkets, I’m not sure if I was just blind but there weren’t so many. I only found Jason’s Marketplace in Taipei 101 and in Ximending (near Exit 1 of Ximen Station). My favorite purchases were the frozen fried rice–huge variety (salmon, sausage, hawaiian, kimchi, smoked pork, etc.) and super cheap (NT 48–definitely more affordable than the Spam kimchi fried rice packs in Korea). Note: Put in carry-on because it’s not allowed for check-in baggage.
Food
Gudetama Cafe in Zhongxiao Dunhua is super cute! But, food could be better. I say don’t go there starving. Just get snacks or desserts there for Instagram purposes. Do note that you have to reserve in advance. I did thru eztable.com, and they require advanced consumable payment of NT 200 per head.
Yong Kang Street has a lot of restaurants and stalls you can try out: Scallion Pancakes (yum!), Smoothie House (line too long), etc. They also have the first ever Din Tai Fung there but waiting time is usually about 45 – 75 minutes. Personally, I find that it tastes the same as those in HK and SG, and nothing more.
Mala Hotpot!!!! Best hotpot buffet ever!!!! Their beef cuts are so generous, premium and lean! Soup tastes heavenly! They also have unlimited Haagen-Dazs ice cream with about 12 flavors. Unlimited canned drinks, too, and free-flowing coffee and tea. YUM YUM YUM! Per head: NT 598 for lunch and NT 698 for dinner and weekends. Note: Must call ahead of time for reservation.
Chose Raohe Night Market over Shi Lin because they say it’s less crowded there. Didn’t regret it. Place isn’t packed, and has good variety of food stalls. Do come with friends though so you can share food and try a lot of different things. My faves from there include the Walking Steak Cup and the big-ass chicken. Oh and the candied strawberry, too, for dessert!
7-Eleven is also close to my heart because they have this microwavable packed Spicy Chicken similar to KFC’s Hotshots that taste so yummy! Also very cheap at NT 38 if I remember correctly.
Mos Burger (originally from Japan) is also
Milk tea!!! If you’re not watching your sugar and dairy intake closely, go all out!
Attractions
Taipei 101 is a must-visit because it’s a key attraction in Taipei. It also has many stores from fashion to food. The Observatory is another thing. You pay about PHP 800 and the lines are excruciatingly long (maybe because we went on a weekend) and the view is meh. The outdoor viewing was also closed when we visited so that added to our disappointment.
Visited Huashan 1914 Creative Park for the “Hello My Name is Paul Smith” exhibit. I found that it was a breath of fresh air from the usual Taipei scene. Very artsy place! The exhibit was funky and colorful as expected. You’d leave the place with very nice pictures for sure. The entrance fee is not bad either at NT 280 for foreign visitors, and exhibit is set to run until September 3, 2017 only. [Note: Clearly, I published this too late.)
Joined KKday’s Day Tour from Taipei at USD 33 each, inclusive of bus transfers starting from Taipei Main Station but exclusive of entrance fees and food:
First stop: Yehliu Geopark for the rock formations. Very unique but also very hot. Remember to wear sunscreen–we forgot!!! Good thing this was first in the agenda, otherwise we’d have no energy to go around given the vast place and the hell-like heat!
Commercial: Be wary of the time. If tour guide says meeting time is at 11:00, she really means it. Otherwise, you’d get left behind just like our friend. Hahaha! It’s funny now but it was stressful at the time it was happening.
Second stop: Shifen Old Street for the lantern flying and lunch! For the lanterns, you can buy based on what you wish for (i.e. Wealth, Marriage, Happiness, and the like) and they cost at NT 200 a piece. You also get to write and draw your wishes on it usng a chinese pen (mopit), and take photos/videos as you let it go up in the air. They do this along the railway. As for the food part, I say it’s one of the best! We had Yakult slushie, barbecued chicken wing with rice inside, fried cuttlefish, and peanut ice cream roll. Gooda gooda in mah belly! ❤
Third stop: Shifen Waterfalls — underwhelming to be honest! I don’t know, maybe we were exhausted at this point but walking all the way to the falls didn’t feel worth it. It was smaller in person than in the photos. 😦
Fourth stop: Jiufen. If you’re a fan of the movie Spirited Away, be sure to visit! But if not, I honestly didn’t find it that interesting. It’s just an old alley that’s uphill–so many steps. We kept grumpling because we were so tired and sweaty and I was having allergies from my sweat and sunburn from Yehliu. We wondered how come the oldies have more energy than us. Hahaha! Highlight: Cute cat shops. There are about three!
Things I’d Do If/When I Go Back
Elephant Mountain because a pretty Canadian girl we met at the hostel recommended it for its view — you can see Taipei skyline including Taipei 101; I realize the skyline is only nice when the tower is in sight.
Cat Village because nobody wanted to go with me 😦
Mala Hotpot because it’s the bestest!
Meander Hostel because I miss their sofa :))
National Palace Museum because the hostel people said it has interesting treasures from China. Hmmmmm.
IKEA because apparently Taiwan has one!
Ichiran because apparently they just opened there, and we were plain oblivious.
[Long Overdue Post] A Roundup of My Taipei Trip While working on our Taiwan itinerary, I realized there aren't as many available travel tips and guides online about the country, as there are for Hong Kong, Japan and Korea.
Since it’s annual tradition and I really like nice things, here is my Christmas wishlist this year:
Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser
I knew I was going to include this in my wishlist the moment I tried it, loved it, and then realized it was quite pricey to keep buying!
A mini review: I LOVE IT. I like that it’s super gentle but still cleanses well. In fact, it contains the same cleaning agents found in contact lens solutions! This proves that it’s both thorough and safe! It’s also said to have good PH levels for your skin! Not to mention– the packaging is the best. Minimalistic but still so pretty (at least for me) and the pump works fantastic! Good design that’s very functional! I am clearly super sold. HAHA.
Products from Makeup Brands I’ve Never Tried
My dream (LOL I’m mababaw) is to be able to try all the makeup brands there are in the world!!! These include but are not limited to: Charlotte Tilbury, YSL, Tarte, Jouer, It Cosmetics, By Terry, Kevyn Aucoin, Chanel, Marc Jacobs Beauty, Hourglass, Giorgio Armani, Dior, Bite Beauty, etc. <33333
Pajama Sets
Can you believe that my favorite purchase from my recent Japan haul is a plain silk pajama set I bought from GU? I swear it is the most comfortable sleepwear ever!!! I would wear it every night if I could!
Pink Suit (and Other Pink Clothing Pieces)
*preferably cool-toned
Super in love with this!
Leather Cardholder
For the times I am stuck with a small bag and cannot fit a wallet in it.
(Basically, I just really appreciate nice things. Hehe.)
(Also, photo is just for representation only.)
Two-Toned Watch
For the times I cannot decide between silver and gold.
(Again, the photo is for representation only.)
Insulated Water Tumbler
Gotta stay hydrated in style!
*** end of wishlist ***
Christmas 2017 Wishlist Since it's annual tradition and I really like nice things, here is my Christmas wishlist this year:
Make Christmas Exciting with TAITRA’s Special Promo Treats
Taiwan Excellence is making Christmas even more special with awesome promotional prizes. As the holidays approach, take part in their exciting lineup of activities and enjoy a chance to take home top notch products bearing the Taiwan Excellence seal.
The Taiwan Excellence campaign promotes Taiwan’s superior-quality products and encourages technological innovation. Along with TAITRA, the initiative is sponsored by Taiwan’s Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).
For the Christmas Treat promo, buy at least Php 2,000 worth of participating products in a single transaction from PCExpress and receive one raffle coupon. Purchase more items and receive more coupons! Entries will be accepted until November 30, 2017, and winners will be drawn on December 8, 2017, 4PM, at PC Express, Gilmore Plus.
Here are the prizes up for grabs: 1TB ADATA External Hard Drives and Transcend 310 32GB Flash Drives for storing your extensive movie, photo, and file library; ASUS Zenfone Live for taking glamorous selfie videos live; TRANSCEND DP50 DrivePro Camcorders for capturing moments on the road; and SUPER Z 125 KYMCO Scooter for giving you a ride in comfort and style.
But don’t worry if your name wasn’t drawn. Be on the lookout for three online mini-games that Taiwan Excellence will be releasing on their Facebook page this November. Help Formosa Bear navigate through the busy streets of Taiwan and shop for the perfect gift items, and you may get a surprise. Participate in these activities and don’t forget to like and share Taiwan Excellence’s Facebook page.
For more information, visit https://pcx.com.ph/taiwanexcellencerafflepromo/ and Taiwan Excellence Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/TaiwanExcellence.ph/.
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About Taiwan Excellence
The symbol of Taiwan Excellence honors Taiwan’s most innovative products that provide tremendous value to users worldwide. All products carrying this symbol have been selected for specific Taiwan Excellence Awards based on their excellence in design, quality, marketing, Taiwanese R&D, and manufacturing. Started by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), R.O.C. in 1992, the symbol of Taiwan Excellence is recognized by 101 countries.
Sponsored by Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT), MOEA The Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), R.O.C. implements policies and regulations governing foreign trade and economic cooperation. Established in January 1969, the BOFT's role and position adjusts regularly to meet the needs of the ever-changing international economic and trade environments. The BOFT has been guiding and working with the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) in numerous promotional trade projects and activities both internationally and domestically. Having worked with TAITRA for many decades, the BOFT continues to commission TAITRA for various critical government projects relating to business, trade, and investment, while promoting Taiwan internationally.
Organized by Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) Founded in 1970 to help promote foreign trade, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) is the foremost non-profit, semi-governmental trade promotion organization in Taiwan. Jointly sponsored by the government, industry associations, and several commercial organizations, TAITRA assists Taiwanese businesses and manufacturers with reinforcing their international competitiveness and in coping with the challenges they face in foreign markets. TAITRA boasts a well-coordinated trade promotion and information network of over 1,200 international marketing specialists stationed throughout its Taipei headquarters and 50 overseas offices worldwide. Together with its sister organizations, the Taiwan Trade Center (TTC) and the Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC), TAITRA has created a wealth of trade opportunities through effective promotion strategies.
Having stayed at a hostel that’s just a 10-minute brisk walk away from the Ximending shopping area allowed me to do several rounds of mini shopping sprees, despite my pretty short stay in Taiwan. This way, I got to compare prices, weigh my options, go back for any missed must-buys, do some rebuys because I am a hoarder, and do researching in the in-betweens!
Ximending, as you may know, is very similar to Korea’s Myeongdong, just a bit smaller. They have lots of girly stores (PRIORITY) like Cosmed, Watsons, Tomod’s — Taiwan’s counterpart of Sasa and Bonjour in Hong Kong.
While these three are the bigger chains, I personally had more fun going to the humbler boutiques, such as 86 Shop which has highly competitive prices for most products, and the pretty obscure Paris Strawberry which btw isn’t available on Google Maps so thank God for blogs that gave me directions to find it!
Directions for Paris Strawberry: Look for Uniqlo which should be on your left, then turn to the alley on your left side and look for a girl character wearing a strawberry hat. Store is on the 2/F so you have to take the stairs.)
Anyway, since I just got back home yesterday, I haven’t tested out many of the products I’ll be sharing with you just yet. Nonetheless, please know that I’ve done my fair share of googling, reading and YouTubing, and have found that these are the brands to watch out for! 🙂
DHC Cleansing Oil
My bestfriend, Diane, was first to go crazy over this DHC Cleansing Oil. She got introduced to it by the hotel she stayed at in Tokyo. (Gotta give it up to Japan hotels for providing top-quality toiletries!) She said it prevented her from breaking out from traveling, and made her skin so nice!
A few months later, we started seeing one rave post about it after another from trusty online sites. All of a sudden it’s everyone’s holy grail. I’m pretty sure it’s been famous ever since, though, but it was only recently that it rang a bell.
Fast-forward again to Taipei, while I wasn’t really keen on trying out the product just yet, I ended up buying one. Just one at first. I got the 70ml since I thought it was fairly cheap at NT 249 as opposed to its resale price here in Manila (i.e. Lazada – where Diane got her 70ml at PHP 750). Exchange rate from NT to PHP is around 1.7, in case you’re wondering.
The product is primarily made of olive oil, and is rich in vitamins and antioxidants. I liked it at first try, and loved it the second, third, fourth time around. It’s powerful at taking off makeup, such that you can really see the oil getting colored with foundation as you lather. The scent is okay as it is pretty mild–smells like olive oil. It’s not my favorite scent in the world as I like it fruity, but I feel like my skin likes it because it’s fragrance-free. And I don’t know if it’s just placebo effect, just because the product site says it so, but I feel like it truly nourishes my skin as it cleanses it! It makes it supple, and healthier in appearance. Also, no residue!!!
This led me to buying again, and this time, the bigger size at 100ml. It sells as low as NT 499-599, and while all beauty stores have this product in stock, not all can sell it this cheap. I got it at NT 599 in 86 Shop, and then an hour later, saw it on sale (!) in Sasa at NT 499!!! I hate not getting the BEST deals, so even if it doesn’t make sense, I bought another 100ml bottle just because I could not miss out on this deal. (My boyfriend lectured me when I told him about this story. So I am aware that’s not normal. But… HUHU.) (Also, please follow @dendendeals on Instagram if you love good deals as much as I do! LOL!)
Anyway, this is taking longer than intended. Verdict is, it’s a really great product! While I’ve only used it for a few days so far, it holds a lot of promise to the extent that my Banila Co Clean It Zero might take a backseat in the meantime. The only possibly negative thing about it is that it seems to run out fast. I use it at the rate of 2-3 pumps at night to remove makeup, and I could already see a significant emptied space in the bottle for just about half a week into it. (Luckily, I got two big bottles more.)
Sheet Masks!!!!!!!!!!
If there’s one thing you can buy plenty of in Taiwan, it’s definitely the sheet masks! Surprisingly, their masks are even cheaper than in Korea. Not all, of course. But they do have some of the lowest price points ever– from NT 9 and up!!! So I bought a total of 50! :))
Here are the mask brands you should look out for:
My Scheming
I was able to try the Gudetama ones, thanks to Diane who gave it as pasalubong last year when she went to Taipei. Initially, I got bummed that it was a plain white sheet mask inside, and not a Gudetama face. (I wanted to look like Gudetama!!!!) 😦 But, it has a nice moisturizing effect on the skin. I’d say this is one of the better ones I’ve tried so far.
LoveMore
This is a Korean brand but it seems to be more popular in Taiwan.
Sexy Look
They currently have Disney-themed masks. The ones I got are the villains because I thought it was funny, plus it’s cheaper at NT 39 a mask as compared to the princess ones at NT 69.
Beauty Diary
This is one of the most famous Taiwanese mask brands, and I just fell in love with their packaging. Would you look at those beauties!!! I got to try one already and it seems promising. My only gripe is that the mask is too small for my big face. Still, I would repurchase. I get so much satisfaction just by staring at the lovely packaging, I’m not even kidding.
Annie’s Way Jelly Mask
Here’s another Taiwan homegrown– Annie’s Way. I’ve seen a couple of posts about it when I looked up “Taipei Skincare Hauls” and I knew I had to try it!
This got me so tired, though. It was exceptionally hard to find!!! It wasn’t available in all the big stores, and eventually I found one at Paris Strawberry. That’s how I discovered that shop, by the way. Unfortunately, they only had it this variant (Charcoal Black) at NT 450 (same SRP in the website). So even though I wanted the others more (i.e. the bestselling Arbutin + Hyaluronic Acid Brighteing, and the Aloe Anti-Acne), and after all the searching and walking and sweating that I did looking for this brand, there was no way I’d leave empty-handed!
How to use: After cleansing, apply 0.3-0.5 cm of product on the face. Leave it there a while, then once skin is softened, scrape off impurities using the spatula provided in the box.
They say results are instant and quite amazing, so I can’t wait to dive into this one soon!
Pimple Patches
To be honest, pimple patches can be costlier than, let’s say, pimple creams. However, I’ve grown fonder and fonder of them over time since they can be super effective in healing pimples pretty fast especially for those with instantly emerging ‘heads.’
Acnes and Nexcare are good brands for this product.
Hada Labo Goku-Jun Super Hyaluronic Acid (Light)
I saw MUA Tamara Pineda post this on IG Story a couple of weeks ago, and managed to screenshot it. So the moment I saw this familiar bottle in store, I knew I had to get it. I didn’t even know what it was for at first, because there wasn’t any English descriptions written. But Tamara explained it was Hyaluronic Acid (see benefits here) and that’s like a magic word in the skincare world, so viola! Purchased!
I’ve been using it for a few days now and so far so good! No bumps, no new pimples, and skin feels generally nourished. I could attribute that to this, or to the DHC Cleansing Oil, or perhaps both!
Rating on Makeup Alley is great, too. It’s at 4.2!
Lapcos Beauty Sponges
Now, makeup! Sadly, I didn’t get to buy a lot because IDK maybe there weren’t really many attractive options to begin with. They carry a lot of Korean brands such as Lapcos but mostly for more expensive prices than how much I got in Korea. But these sponges were an exception because 1.) I didn’t find this in Korea, and 2.) 86 Shop had testers and even a sink so I was able to try it wet and it was great!!! It has a flat surface, colors are cute, and for 2 sponges you only have to pay NT 286. Good deal!
If I were to rank the good beauty sponges I’ve tried, below would be my ranking — 1 being the best:
EcoTools
Beauty Blender
Lapcos
Real Techniques
The fact that they’re second to the best ones ever says a lot already!
3CE Mood Recipe Lip Color Mini Kit
3CE is also another popular Korean makeup brand. I visited their shop at Style Nanda in Seoul before but everything seemed pricey at that time. For some reason, this set retails pretty cheap at 86 Shop (yet again) at only NT 888. That’s cheap because when I went to another Taiwanese store (Little 3) the price for the exact same set is at NT 1400! Ridiculous!!!
Long story short, I bought it because it was a good deal. HAHAHAHA. I’m really a sucker for good deals, and that’s an understatement.
Another reason for buying is because I fell in love with Colourpop’s Parker lippie stix. Shade is similar to these. More on the brown/peachy side, and it’s my new default lippie that matches whatever eye makeup I’m wearing. So I figured I should buy more similar shades. Hence, these. Hehehe.
***
And this wraps up my beauty haul! Looking back, I realize I didn’t shop THAT much. So, good job to me! ❤
Taipei Beauty & Skincare Haul Having stayed at a hostel that's just a 10-minute brisk walk away from the Ximending shopping area allowed me to do several rounds of mini shopping sprees, despite my pretty short stay in Taiwan.
My Almost 10-Step Korean Skincare Routine
My Almost 10-Step Korean Skincare Routine
I’ve been a fan of Korean products for quite a while now, especially since Althea Korea was made available here in the Philippines. It’s just so convenient and so affordable to shop there, that it has been so easy to test one product after another! Still, for the longest time, my skincare routine had been pretty basic. Thorough, yes, but it won’t be more than 4-5 steps at the most. That’s until I…
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February Favorites
1. Lush Tea Tree Toner Water I always break out on PMS days, and my recent skin outrage went worse than usual. I was getting pimples even after my period was done. Thankfully my fascination over beauty vlogs brought me to discover Lush’s Tea Tree Toner Water. It was recommended by my new favorite YouTuber, Elanna Perchele, and the day after I saw her post, I immediately bought one for myself and…
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January Makeup Favorites
Too Faced Sweet Peach Eye Shadow Palette Photo from Too Faced The Too Faced Sweet Peach Eye Shadow Palette has officially dethroned my favorite eye shadow palette from last year—the Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics. It’s actually kind of sad because its thunder only lasted for so long in my life. Nowadays even if I try not to, I end up reaching for my Sweet Peach palette almost everyday partly…
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Top 10 Favorite Makeup Products 2016
Top 10 Favorite Makeup Products 2016
I have never been as in love with makeup as I am now. I think I owe this infatuation to YouTube, actually. Watching vlogs creates one want after another, and it never ends!! I suddenly cannot have too many palettes, lippies, brushes, and so on. And the thing is, I realize it’s not just about wanting to look pretty–that’s why girls love makeup, but it’s the whole process of learning about it and…
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My Christmas Wishlist 2016
My Christmas Wishlist 2016
I always say I’ll skip blogging about my wishlist for the year but I always end up taking it back (for instance – 2015), because it has been tradition! Plus, I never run out of things to want (which is bad but it also makes me happy in a giddy kinda way). :p So without further adieu, my 2016 Christmas wishlist begins… 1. Beautyblender Original I don’t know why I still haven’t bought this. Oh…
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THE BALI DIARIES: Transportation & Accommodation
THE BALI DIARIES: Transportation & Accommodation
Going to Bali this September, Diane and I flew Philippine Airlines since they were one of the very few that offered direct flights from Manila to Bali (aka Denpasar, Indonesia). We got our tickets on sale at around PHP 7,000 each, exclusive of the PHP 1,620 travel tax which you can pay at the airport upon check-in. The PHP 7,000 is already a good rate for a relatively good airline. The downside,…
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De'Longhi's PrimaDonna Elite Launches in the PH
De’Longhi’s PrimaDonna Elite Launches in the PH
There was a time when coffee was just one of my occasional cravings. Those days, I would just go to Starbucks, and after getting my fix, I wouldn’t crave for it again for a couple of days at a time. But that was long ago. Nowadays, it’s different. Adulthood got me needing coffee every single day. Almost always, coffee comes first. Before work, before breakfast, before anything. Basically, before…
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