Say the word travel and you’ll immediately see me smiling from ear to ear. I consider myself blessed because each journey I took in the past years had etched a beautiful mark in my soul. Because it's been the longest time since I last traversed a mountain, I looked forward to adrenaline rush on our morning climb to Mt. Nagpatong in Tanay, Rizal. Little did I know that this hike will never make me react to the word ‘travel’ the same way ever again.

At the peak of Mt. Nagpatong in Tanay, Rizal

The first thing I look for in a phone is how it can keep up with my daily multimedia demands. Next is its longevity because I often rely on my handset (whenever I’m bored or avoiding awkward convos, LOL). Different phones in the market offer one or the other, but not with the new ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M2. This latest unit from the brand's renowned "Battery King" line champions both battery and performance.

The ZenFone Max Pro M2

Starbucks Siren's Island at SM Mall of Asia Music Hall

I am not new to trying different hairstyles in the past. I didn't find contentment with my boring, straight hair which is why I switched to different hairdos through the years. It was fun experimenting with hair color, fringe cut, and perm until I got the looks of misunderstanding and judgments. All thanks to my friends because they helped me realize that self-expression should prevail more than anything else.

My different hairstyles through the years

One of my goals for this year is to practice self-care, the right way. I thought I was acing it by scoring myself things that sparked me joy. (Hello food trip, how are ya?) I want to have a head start this 2019 and learn more about taking care of my health, the holistic approach.

Luminisce Skin Innovations at BGC, Taguig

I’m treating my last visit to Luminisce Skin Innovations as a jumpstart to this resolution. Things started aligning after hearing their latest treatment called the PicoPlus. This is a non-invasive laser treatment that responds faster to skin pigmentation problems. This is a US FDA-approved laser that's perfect for:

PicoPlus works in high powered, 450-picosecond laser pulses to make the elimination faster. This produces more visible results in every treatment and allows for shorter sessions.

I got to see the before and after photos of clients who have already tried the PicoPlus. It was surprising that most of them are able to achieve the best results in as fast as 3 – 5 sessions only. Usual laser treatments take at least 5 sessions to get rid of skin pigmentation. Be mindful that this is still on a case-to-case basis.

(L-R) One of Luminisce's procedure rooms, A PicoPlus handpiece

The consultation happened in one of Luminisce's elegant procedure rooms. The assistants were kind to offer me any refreshments before my consultation with Dra. Kaycee Reyes started.

My current skin troubles

I got shy at first in talking about my skin insecurities but Dra. Kaycee reassured me by listening to all my concerns and told me the cause and effects of my skin problems. The patchy area beside my nose bridge and the area between my eyebrows bothers me the most. Next in line are the dark spots on my face and the hormonal acne on my forehead. Add to that the uneven skin tone in my underarms caused by shaving cuts and scratches back in my teens.

Dra. Kaycee Reyes discussing the benefits of PicoPlus

I swear Luminisce gave me the most relaxing makeup removal experience ever. The staff removed my makeup little by little while massaging it at the same time. My eye makeup didn't budge during the process, hell yeah!

Next up is the Skin OXYglow treatment for my face. They have a pen-like tool that emits cold air and puts a light pressure on my face. The treatment improves blood circulation while encouraging collagen production skin deep, at the same time. All thanks to its Vitamin C and Ceramide!

It's now time to try the PicoPlus laser treatment! I put on the protective eyewear before the session commenced. Dra. Kaycee first used the Focus Dots handpiece for toning and skin rejuvenation. She used this handpiece both for my skin and underarms. Before she rotated the handpiece all over my skin, Dra. Kaycee first asked if I'll be able to handle the hotness of the laser. It was close to zero pain which is why we proceeded shortly. It was a light and breezy 15-minute for this laser treatment on my face and underarms. 

This is not the same case with the Gold Toning+ handpiece that came after. The zap in this handpiece, that treats post-acne redness, was more evident. The intensity level was at its lowest already yet I still had to brave every sensation.

My face may look horrifically red after the laser treatment but all the zapping pain is gone as soon as it ended. There's also no downtime after PicoPlus. Meaning I can proceed to my next appointment without wearing a mask or feeling uncomfy midway.

My face was all red after the prickling session. The staff treated the red areas and applied my *favorite* Luminisce tinted sunblock after. All thanks to this, I won't get second looks from people because my face looked like a ripe tomato. 

A PicoPlus treatment may come at a hefty price but this trusty laser treatment is a 100% great investment! This service promises high effectivity to the troubled pigmented skin compared to topical products in the market. I would definitely save up for this so I can say a permanent bye-bye to my annoying skin concerns.

Get to try the PicoPlus laser treatment only at Luminisce located in BGC, Podium and soon in Alabang! To know more about this, you can visit Luminisce's Facebook page here. 😊

So 2019 just kicked in and while many are focused on working towards their own resolutions, I'm here thinking about my travel plans for the whole year round. I was able to book my tickets to Taiwan and Japan already but I'm still thinking of adding one more flight to complete this year's personal travel goals. With Singapore Airlines (SIA) holding its annual travel fair at the start of the year, I might just book my first SIA flight because of the exclusive travel offers that come with their discounted fairs.

After two exhilarating days in Batanes, the day has arrived for us to visit the southernmost island municipality of the Batanes island group - the Sabtang Island. We had to wake up extra early on this day to catch our 7 am boat ride. Ate Jane, our tour guide from Bisumi Travel and Tours, was early as usual in picking us up at Nathaniel's Lodge.

Here's an array of Anker to choose for your family and friends: 

A cable’s toughness is typically measured by its “bend lifespan” or the number of times its tip will be bent before it breaks. Typical power cables only have 1,000 to 3,000 bend lifespans while Anker PowerLine cables can withstand being bent up to 12,000+ times along with any knocks, drops, twists, or yanks you can throw at it.

Add to cart this Anker PowerPort 5 here!

Add to cart this Anker SoundCore Liberty Lite here!

Here's a gift that keeps on giving! I am giving away an additional 10% off to any Anker products purchased in Shopee until December 31, 2018. Use the code:

Just keep in mind that only the first 60 users can take advantage of this code and this is valid for orders to be delivered via Integrated Couriers only. I personally love my Anker items which is why I loved the idea of sharing with you this promo code! 💖

I've been a silent fan of honestbee for quite a while because of its various food options on the website, their on-the-dot delivery service, and their responsive customer representatives. I've always been a sucker for new solutions that champions efficiency and this food delivery service answered my "hangry problem" even if I can't leave the office to grab my comfort food and drink.

Just imagine how glad I was in joining them on a fun, spooky, viewing of The Haunting of Hill House back in October. I'm meeting the fam for the first time plus I get to binge again my favorite thriller series at the moment!