REVIEW : Nivea's Mattifying Toner

Hola! I am back to do another short review about this Mattifying Toner from Nivea. It's my first time to try this and if you could remember it was part of my Nivea haul months ago. I decided to wait first for a couple of months and  tested it out before I would write something like this to really see if it's effective or not. Let's cut the chase and keep going then.

What's it about?   

It is enriched with Ocean Algae and Hydra IQ. It is formulated to tone the skin deeply and removes excess residues. Also, it claims to reduce excess sebum and oil with it mattifying formula.  Plus, it maintains skin's natural moisture balance. 

How to use it?   

Simply apply it on the skin by gently massaging in small circles to the face and neck using a cotton pad avoiding the eye area. 

PROS   

• It doesn't dry out the skin.
• It is very gentle to use. Doesn't sting or anything like that.
• It feels refreshing after putting it on.
• It has a good mild scent to it.
• It removes make up residues especially those that can't be removed by washing the face alone.
• It somehow makes the face shine free but not thoroughly.
• It is mostly effective on controlling the shine on my T-zone area.

CONS     

• So far, I have no complaints about this product. It does the job as expected. Pretty average though. 

MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS 

So far, this is the best toner  ( Western version) available in the market that does its job aside from the good ones which are Korean products.  I like it that it's gentle and really does a good job of thoroughly cleansing the face. The price point is just reasonable also. 

TIP: You can buy and hoard this every time Nivea has their big sale like 50% off on all their products.Catch them and try it for yourself. 

** Hope you find this helpful. If you have some questions,  just leave a comment. As always, thanks for reaching this point in reading this blog entry. Take care and be happy always.

--Belle

FOODIE ALERT: Royal Krua Thai Restaurant

Hello. Shout out to all my foodies out there. I am pretty sure many of us here including myself la-la-love Thai foods. I mean who doesn't right? Let's go ahead and review this quickly.

What's it about?                 
Basically it serves authentic Thai cuisines to all diners. The variety of their dishes ranges from pork-beef-chicken-fish-seafoods and vegetable alternatives as well. Absolutely, the harmony of the different flavors  (salty, sweet, spicy and sour ) is present in every dish. 

Here are some sample photos I took during that time.

**Here is the spread of our table. What a delicious mess.

from left to right -- > pad thai , chicken curry in yellow sauce, pineapple rice platter and their vegetable spring rolls

**I truly recommend this drink, their Thai Royal Iced tea. Tastes like the real thing! 

Where is it located?    

It is located in the Upper Ground Floor, behind Krispy Kreme in SM City Cebu,  North Reclamation Area, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines.

What's the price range?

The price ranges from P150  to P 350.

Estimated cost per  person in a group of 2 is P 300 ~ P 350 per person.

TIP : It's better if you go there in a group of 4 and above.

My Overall Thoughts
DECORS AND INTERIORS : I really like the interiors of the place. It gives us this luxurious Thai experience with all the music, Thai-themed lanterns and even including the utensils you use on the table. Quite an experience I must say.

PRICE: It is pretty decent considering the types of dishes they serve. I must say it's not that expensive but definitely not cheap either. 

CUSTOMER SERVICE: I did have a good time talking to the waiters about my orders. They were polite enough to adjust the flavors and honestly answered if the dishes were big or small in quantity. Also, I appreciate that they really welcome you upon entering the restaurant.

QUALITY OF THE FOODS: I would say it's a hit or miss. Some foods that appear good for 2-3 servings look lesser / much than I expected. Plus, the quality of their pad thai ( knowing it's the signature dish of Thailand) unfortunately failed. 

TIP: It's really better to ask clearly upon ordering to make sure of everything before the dishes are served. There's no harm in asking.


TASTE AND FLAVOR: It is always a winner. The distinct marriage of the different flavors is always an exciting experience.  Plus, the color play of the dishes presented is always  appreciated and loved. Very good to the senses I must say.

WILL I COME BACK? Hmm. That's a good question. I guess not anymore. I'm just disappointed somehow. It's not that excellent like it used to be before. The servings tend to be smaller, inconsistent, and especially not very authentically Thai anymore. Also, it doesn't give me that excitement to go back there again and again like I used to. 

FYI : I have already found new favorites which are Siam Thai restaurant and Mae Krua Thai restaurant. 

** Will just write about them soon. I just need to do about 2-3 visits before I write my honest review. 


That's all folks. How about you? What's you favorite Thai foods? Let's share ideas together and be friends.

Bye for now. Till next time. 
--Belle

REVIEW : Defining Lipliner by Fashion 21 Cosmetics

Good day guys! I have here a short and quick review about a good lipliner by Fashion 21 Cosmetics. Something new and again, an impulse buy at that time my reason is  the color truly attracted my attention. Let's dig in and continue.

What's it about?

** This is a very good everyday color. 

It is a retractable lip liner. The color suits any lip color I suppose. It comes in a sleek black package that indicates the color on the outside for easy recognition. The color pay off appears very nice and subtle. Sadly, there is only one available shade for this lip liner. 

Price: It costs  P100 only.

Texture: Interestingly, it is a combination of creamy and dry texture at the same time. Very easy and smooth to apply on the lips.



WARNING: You have to moisturize your lips beforehand then put this lipliner on to maximize its effect on the lips.



Where to buy?  

You can buy it anywhere in Watson's and any leading shopping malls.

My Personal Thoughts 

As a whole, I like this product. Knowing it's very affordable, the color pay off is really pretty and feminine. It's also very easy to use. Probably the next time you would drop by a shopping mall, test this out. This lipliner is a very good alternative and dupe to any high end product and Korean lip liners available in the market. 

That's it for me today. Thank you reading my blog entry. Enjoy your whole month of September, guys.

--Belle ^ ^