Product I’d like to endorse

Hehe, this title feels like I’m a celeb of some sort (feeling lang)!
Warning: This is long but this isn’t paid advertisement.

Anyway, I just can’t help but laud Olay Total Effects.

First, my history. I have known this product for quite a long time already – but I NEVER used it before. I was brainwashed by one of our readers, who got to try the product for free during its trial stage here in Manila years ago, that your face can have an allergic reaction to it. I got scared since we almost have the same facial complexion and texture. That time, I was loyal to a certain brand and didn’t want to try it. So even if we had free bottles of Olay here before, I didn’t dare to try it.

But my younger sister who had been a loyal user finally convinced me. It’s quite ironic, I was the one who introduced this product to her. I gave her my free bottle because I didn’t want to use it. When she got to work at P&G, manufacturer of Olay, she divulged to me that it’s the product that they didn’t scrimp on ingredients. It’s really one of their premium products. She egged me to buy the new version, Total Olay Effects with a touch of foundation. I wasn’t that convinced yet, but after two weeks, I got my own bottle of Total Olay Effects with touch of foundation, again for free, courtesy of a presscon. My current moisturizer that time was almost empty so I decided to switch. And here are the things I found out about this product:

Compared to a very gentle moisturizer, this feels a bit oily on your face. But that sheen is what actually makes your skin look radiant. Since when did shiny (or oily) face translate to radiant, glowing skin? Well, since the marketers said so.

Your pimples don’t get angry as before. Pimples can become red, quite itchy and pop out with a vengeance – sometimes, even if you put anti-acne creams at the first sign of one pimple. But if you continue using this product even with a pimple on, it doesn’t worsen. If you’re lucky, the pimple subsides within 2 days.

Your face feels supple and softer to touch. I know a lot of moisturizers have that effect. But this has a long-acting effect compared to other moisturizers. If you use it consistently then decide to take a break one night (perhaps you may have a kissing spree that night and don’t want to feel greasy with moisturizer hehe), you can still feel the suppleness of your skin.

It really looks like you had a primer or foundation on. How can I forget that part? You get to put a concealer for your blemishes. To minimize the sheen and downplay the tone of the foundation which is natural beige, I put on sunblock afterwards. I just can’t go out without putting my favorite VMV Baby Face Armada SPF50. Besides, I feel SPF15 contained in this product is quite low for me because I usually go out and bask in the sun.

Blemishes can lighten a bit. But I have yet to prove this. My dark spots are still there but they did lighten a bit.

Eye puffiness can diminish, but eye bags remain. I have yet to say goodbye to my eye bags. But warning, warning, you shouldn’t put too much near your eyes. I wear contact lens and my eyes get irritated. I also have yet to try Olay product especially made for eye bags. But they say fine lines, which are usually found near the eyes, can decrease with this product.

So there. If you want to try this product, you may want to swap your non-Olay product for this. Check this out, http://www.olay.com.ph/LM/news~inner_news/nid-1248228304535/read_more.html

Why I want Cory Aquino to live a bit longer

The Philippines is praying for her. To most, Cory Aquino symbolizes democracy, patriotism, woman’s power. Amen to these. But though I may be a bit patriotic, I didn’t find my own personal reason to pray for her.

Until I heard my grandma’s voice on the phone. Like her, she was diagnosed with colon cancer, perhaps, a few months earlier than Cory. She was asking me to reconcile with a person I thought I have forgiven. With everything that she said, the thing that struck me most was, “malapit na ako…nararamdaman ko.”

I believe only the cancer-stricken patient himself or herself knows what truly goes on with his or her body. That even though I wanted to comfort my lola that time, I cannot. I feel ounces of truth in that statement. And yet… I think Cory’s health has something to do with this. The news that Cory isn’t getting better, but just comfortable in the hospital, can make grandma lose hope. Here, a powerful lady like Cory gets all financial and moral help and millions of prayers. And yet, she isn’t getting any better?

I want Cory Aquino to have hope and strength so lola will also have the same hope and strength. I want Cory to still live because I want my lola to live a bit longer. Not live too long that she suffers in so much pain. But not live too short that she won’t be able to see and carry her first grandchild. Not too short that she won’t be able to witness reconciliation and forgiveness in our family.

Cory Aquino, you cannot die yet. Not now. More than everything, you symbolize faith. Not just with my grandma. But in each person praying sincerely for you, crying out loud to heaven for a miracle. Cory, you can teach people to surrender to God’s will – not yet. Now is not the time. Show this nation first that God answers prayers.

Some things I learned and re-learned from hubby

*random

1. Cook nilaga. No brainer pala hehe, just drop everything in the boiling pot.

2. Cook adobo that tastes like patatim (gosh!)

3. Patience is indeed a virtue. Your kindness isn’t enough when your patience is limited. The more you try to be patient, the more that patience is put to test – and the more that you lose it. Solution? I have yet to master this.

4. Do not measure love, it is frustrating, and really, there’s no point. If you love someone, you do not ask why he loves you less, instead, ask how you can love more. Do not ask him to love you in a way you want to be loved, ask yourself how he wants to be loved.

5. Girls are always late, but guys will always wait.

6. You don’t wait for God to drop something in your lap. You go to Him. He’s God, not you.

7. Don’t talk to the one driving if he’s in the middle of something. Middle of the road, duh, and the hullabaloo on it. But be talkative when the driver is sleepy.

8. You can train guys to ask questions and directions for help on the road. Only when you got lost for the hundredth time. And when your common friends reacted already.

Yan na muna. I have to work na!