"You're still on your adjustment period." I always tell myself when this phrase when things don't go my way after I moved out of my parents' house. There are just too many things to think about all at the same time—work, maintaining the household, taking care of a dog, and blogging. 

That fine morning where I ride a bike to Alabang wearing the Huawei Watch 3

I'm at that awkward learning stage again where I had to deal with keeping up with my to-do list all at the same time without snapping. My realization? The past four months of quarantine-ing alone made me think that I can continue to enjoy the things that I love doing if I keep moving. As they say, physical activity is not only good for the body but is also good for the mind.

 Whether we realize it or not, most of us tend to be brand loyalists whenever we go shopping on or offline. Once we find certain brands we like, we stick to them. 

Brand sukis, don’t miss out on the biggest deals from your favorite brands at the 10.10 Brands Festival, Shopee’s biggest brands sale of the year. Aside from big discounts, you can also enjoy branded giveaways, exclusive deals, and the best entertainment on Shopee. Check out this handy guide for all the things you can look forward to at Shopee’s 10.10 Brands Festival:

As we continue to deal with the changes brought by the pandemic, I easily knew I had to go easy with myself, step back, and think of ways to maintain a positive mindset. Now that I was finally able to juggle the solo-living-slash-pawrenting sitch, I realized it's time to overcome the exercise relapse and release endorphins. What better way to kickstart this by equipping myself with the new Huawei Watch 3 and Scale 3 Pro. I already shared my first impressions here, but you can read on for my full review of these devices! 

Looking back, I'm glad to start #skinvesting as soon as I discovered Luminisce Holistic Skin Innovations in 2016. I was one to follow skincare fads before with the hopes of having better skin, only to not get my desired results later on. It was through Dr. Kaycee Reyes and her team who made me realize that my major breakout last year was because of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and encouraged me to check with an OB-GYN while having a skincare regimen on the side to take care of the existing pimples and inflammation.

Dr. Kaycee Reyes | Luminisce Holistic Skin Innovations in BGC

Before and (a few months) after my Luminisce treatment and medications

They also adapted through the times and innovated holistic products in these uncertain times: Skincare-At-Home Kits, Glambox and Innosense. Despite the clinic's limitations due to COVID-19, they found a way to help their skinvestors get the best at-home skin and body remedies.

Luminisce's Glambox and Innosense

As Manila's premiere boutique skin clinic marks its ninth year as one of the leaders in the beauty and wellness scene, they're giving back with their grandest anniversary promo ever—nine amazing deals for nine days beginning October 8, 2021!

All offers below are valid only during the inclusive dates.

• Buy 9, Get 9! Receive nine surprise gifts when you buy any nine of Luminisce’s products in-store or online. No minimum purchase required.

• Spend 9k, Get a FREE Facial! For every P9,000 worth of services, you are entitled to one FREE facial.

• Refer 9 friends, get a FREE Facelift! When you bring or refer nine friends to Luminisce, you’re entitled to get one Facelift Tite treatment for free.

• Book a facial at 9 a.m. for 20% off! Enjoy a 20% discount on your facial treatment when you book as early as 9 a.m.

• Book a laser treatment at 9 a.m. and get a FREE facial! You’re entitled to one free facial when you book a laser treatment as early as 9 a.m.

• Get 9 Glam Boxes for FREE when you avail of a 9-month Glam Pouch subscription! You are entitled to nine additional glam boxes with every 9-month subscription.

• Get 9% cashback for treatments worth P90,000! Get your money back with a minimum accumulated spend of P90,000 within the promo duration.

• FREE shipping on Luminisce RX orders! For clients who prefer to maintain their regimens at home with Luminisce’s comprehensive array of at-home treatments, kits, and products, you can enjoy free shipping for purchases worth P3,000 and above—valid anywhere in the Philippines.

• Get 9 FREE sessions when you avail of 9 signature treatments! Clients can combine at least three of their favorite treatments (availing of three sessions each), and Luminisce will match each with three more sessions for FREE.
  
  For example: When you avail of 3 Full Radiance Facials + 3 Lustrii Laser + 3 Exilis, you will get 3 free sessions of each selected service for a total of 18 treatments in all. These are consumable within one year, allowing you ample time to maximize the benefits.

After opening its doors in 2012, Dr. Kaycee Reyes also just launched her own YouTube channel called Luminisce by Doc Kaycee where she'll be talking about health, wellness, and all things beauty. Her first feature? It's a 3-part series with our favorite celebrity family, the Legaspis—Mina, Zoren, Cassy, and Mavy. 

In case you don't know, they're longtime skinvestors at Luminisce and it started when Carmina was looking for a treatment for Mavy's severe acne back in 2015. After Dr. Kaycee was able to treat his acne scars through her trademark holistic innovations, the rest of the Legaspis followed suit and trusted her as their skin doctor.

Already thinking of booking an appointment at Luminisce? You may contact them at (0977) 804 4601 or visit their website here. You may also message them to order their products through their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram. 

For in-clinic consultations, you may set an appointment at any of the Luminisce Holistic Skin Innovations branches: 

• Luminisce BGC: 2/F Mercury Drug Bldg., 32nd Street, 4th Ave., Fort Bonifacio Global City
• Luminisce The Podium: 4/F The Podium Mall, 18 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City
• Luminisce Alabang: Unit 5 Bldg. 8 Molito Lifestyle Center, Madrigal Avenue cor. Alabang Zapote Road, Alabang, Muntinlupa City

Exercise relapse is real with the current pandemic situation. There are many things happening (or not happening) that kind of derailed me from my goals—to be in a better headspace as things remain uncertain and focus on the things that I can control. To achieve this, I've got two new powerful flagship devices from Huawei to help pace myself back in the habit of working out—the Huawei Scale 3 Pro and the Huawei Watch 3. Read on to know about my unboxing experience and first impressions on these devices!

Huawei Scale 3 Pro and Watch 3

Huawei Scale 3 Pro

Unboxing

Similar to other Huawei devices, one can see right off the bat the product name and how it looks in front of the box. While the back part showcases a sample of the analysis report that the Huawei Health app generates after one's weigh-in. The packaging also breakdowns the device's other features like 8-electrode, dual-frequency, and Wi-Fi & Bluetooth connection capabilities. 

The Huawei Scale 3 Pro's front and back packaging

Also, both Android and iOS users can benefit from the device as long as the Huawei Health app is installed on the phone. It also states that all fitness data is for reference only and not intended for medical use.

The Huawei Scale 3 Pro packaging once opened

The package contains the Huawei Scale 3 Pro, warranty card, and a plain booklet (not sure why this is included lol)

Exquisite Aesthetics

Setting up

As soon as it's paired, I got a notification saying that I can connect the device to Wi-Fi so that the data will be easily synced to the Huawei Health app. Setting up was quick and easy that it only took me less than five minutes to configure and set up the scale.

How to Use

On the Huawei Health app, click the "weight" option and then the "measure" icon on the lower part of the screen afterward. It will then ask you to step on the scale barefoot and pull up the handle. The device requires you to stand straight with your arms out and feet comfortably apart as the scale analyzes the data. The total process of taking my weight, body fat rate, and heart rate took a total of 32 seconds. The smartphone also gets a notification indicating the final weight and body fat rate.

Professional Health Management

After the quick weigh-in, there's an option on the Huawei Health app to render a body composition analysis report to summarize the data that it had gathered comprising of body composition, skeletal muscle, fat, key indicators, and other indicators. This data is readily available for download as soon as you head to the "Analysis Report" option at the lower part of the screen.

Huawei Watch 3

After having an overview of my body's current state, it's now time to put in the work with the help of the Huawei Watch 3. Aside from being all-around health and sports management tool, it also can help elevate one's lifestyle through its plethora of features.

Unboxing

The Huawei GT2 Pro Watch and Huawei Watch 3 unboxing experiences are similar given that they both are housed in a premium-looking box with a photo of the device in front. Once opened, the two compartments welcome the user—one for the watch and the other for the Charger, User Guide & Quick Start Guide, Safety Information, and Warranty Card.

The first thing I noticed after taking the wearable out of its box is its round-shaped edge and two buttons on the side, with the up button being a fully rotatable crown. Because I have the Active Edition, the watch came with a black silicone strap that's perfect for sweating out. There's also a gap between the strap and the watch face allowing air to seep through the skin. 

Setting up

Once turned on (by holding the rotating crown button), I was welcomed by the Huawei logo and the HarmonyOS logo. It's the first time I saw the latter on a Huawei wearable because Watch 3 is the first watch from the tech giant with HarmonyOS 2 that creates a new smart interactive experience on the wrist and turning the smartwatch into an interaction, smart and health center. 

It was a breeze pairing my Huawei Nova 7se with this wearable. I only had to place them beside each other and wait for the prompt signaling the pairing. After a minute or two, the watch appeared in the phone's Health app indicating 25% battery left. 

First Impressions

The Watch 3 felt chunkier with the watch face a tad smaller than my GT2 Pro. On the other hand, the silicone strap felt familiar because it's also the same strap as the GT2 Pro sans the embossed watch model on it. 

The AMOLED color screen is evident at first glance given the vibrant color of the watch face down to the icons on the menu. It also supports full-screen touch operations, including swiping, tapping, pressing, and holding. Thanks to Harmony OS 2, there's a stark difference on the frames per second versus the GT2 Pro, making the navigating experience on the Watch 3 quick and seamless.

The Griddy watch face (default one) gives a glimpse of the all-around professional sports and health management capability of Watch 3. One can click on any of these apps just by waking up the screen: V02 Max (maximum rate of oxygen consumption measured during incremental exercise), Stress Rate,  Steps, Heart Rate, Weather, and Call Logs apps. 

On to the side buttons, I found it thrilling with the many functions the home button (rotating crown) and side button can do. I was surprised when I learned that the Watch 3 has the option to organize the apps via a grid—a feature that wasn't in previous Huawei wearables. To navigate, one can use the rotating crown can maximize or minimize the display or swipe on the screen to locate a specific app.

As for the service widgets (shortcuts apps when you swipe left), I noticed that new apps are present like the skin temperature and the wallet apps. Yes, this watch can detect skin temperature and know right away if it's higher than usual. How cool is that?

The Huawei Watch 3 also comes with different watch faces and corresponding always-on displays. There are 30 pre-installed watch faces to match the user's preference. I already have my go-to workout and minimalist watch faces depending on my daily activities. There's also an indicator if a certain watch face is low power or power-intensive, giving the user an idea of which watch face to go with depending on the watch's current battery percentage.

Verdict

Snacking has always been a staple at home. My parents would bring home our requested go-to snacks for merienda. We'd also request the same snacks for other unforgettable moments like field trips. C2 is always on my baon list just because I'm obsessed with this tea drink ever since it was launched back when I was in high school. 

It's just now that I've realized that most of them happened to be Universal Robina Corporation’s (URC) variety of food and drinks. Let's get to know more about these delightful goodies with these interesting facts!

Picture this: The lockdown was just announced and a few months after you got a sudden food craving. This was me last year when I wanted a Salmon Sashimi for my birthday after working from home for three months straight. Almost all restaurants in food delivery apps are closed until further notice that I had to order my seafood fix all the way from Cubao even if I live in Cavite. (The things I do for food lol) After trying Salmon HQ's Premium Salmon Cake, I would've gotten that instead for my simple birthday celebration with my family at home.

My Salmon HQ order: Premium Salmon Cake and Sushi Bakes