We can all agree at this point that 2020 was a hell of a year and got us at wit's end. As we discover different ways to deal with challenges month on month, coping mechanisms arose and enabled us to find our footing one way or another. In my case, I coped by finding ways to pursue my interests while staying safe in my home's comforts. 

Enter my 2020 tech and lifestyle discoveries. These things sparked my curiosity while learning new things about my passions despite the daily struggles we faced last 2020. [Plus!] Add to that the fact that I love me some retail therapy, especially if I've been longing to get my hands on a specific item ever since!

Full disclosure before you read on: Some items listed are gifted while others were bought. Regardless, The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely mine. If I claim or appear to be experts on a specific topic or product or service area, I will only endorse products or services that I believe, based on my expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. 

Love Beauty and Planet Handwash

Dyson Airwrap

L’Oréal 2030 Sustainability Roadmap

As an eco-conscious consumer, I try to conduct a background check of the items I'd like to buy before adding them to my cart as much as possible. Many of you already know I swear by Kiehl's skincare products so much and learning about the L’Oréal 2030 Sustainability Roadmap made me admire this skincare brand even more. (Yes, Kiehl's is under the L’Oréal group!)

Their sustainability roadmap highlights four main things to create a beautiful and sustainable future for everyone–sustainable e-commerce, consumer empowerment, and education through their Green Beauty initiative, and social empowerment via their beauty education program called Beauty For A Better Life.

Also, just last October, Garnier is driving the wheel for L’Oréal’s sustainability endeavors, ensuring products contain more than 90% natural origin ingredients, certified organic product ranges, and vegan formulas. Also, the green beauty brand will be championing sustainable eCommerce through Green Parcel, Green Spaces, and Sachet Recycling with in-store retail partners and will continue to push for the empowerment of consumers through Green Education. 

I did a little experiment to see if the cassava bag that came with my Garnier package is biodegradable. When I dipped and stirred the recyclable bag in hot water, it melted as if it wasn't a parcel bag, to begin with. I observed that the cassava bag may not be as thick and sturdy as the plastic ones, but it can still hold the products well inside as they are also protected with Geami honeycomb protective packaging solution.

Make sure to order from the official Garnier store on Shopee to have your items specially packed using eco-friendly sources and materials to reduce their overall packaging footprint.

As we turn over a new leaf, I'm stoked to see what else L’Oréal has in-store in order to bring sustainable beauty nationwide. 😍

PayMaya Bills Payment

Our daily routine has drastically changed after the pandemic struck the country–down to settling the utility bills month on month. Due to the limitation in kiosks that can accept bills payment, I introduced PayMaya to my parents, only to find out later on that I'll be the designated bill payer moving forward. 😜

Not only that, whether you're planning to pay your PAG-IBIG loan, your passport processing fee to the DFA, or your taxes to the BIR, you can easily settle these with just a few taps on your smartphone. By simply choosing the icon of the government agency you wish to transact within your PayMaya app, you can conveniently pay your fees with any of them. 

My dad's latest favor is actually reloading his AutoSweep RFID account as he still travels to work given the current situation. This puts me at ease knowing that I can do it via the PayMaya app instead of him dropping by a 7-11 branch nearby to reload. 

Since we're already talking about PayMaya, letting you know that they are giving everyone a chance to win as much as 1 million pesos in the Grand raffle draw and an opportunity to help micro-entrepreneurs around the country with their "PayMayaguinaldo" campaign. Users also have a chance to win up to P285,000 worth of prizes to be given away in the weekly raffle draws from today until January 10, 2021.

One can easily earn a raffle entry every time a user #ScanToPay via PayMaya QR at any partner merchant, using PayMaya-registered mobile number when buying items online, or purchasing prepaid load and other treats at the PayMaya in-app shop with a minimum of P100 purchase.

Also, every time a user pays with PayMaya, not only one can earn a raffle entry to win cash prizes, but you also get a chance to help fellow Filipinos as well. With each purchase, you are also giving a PayMayaguinaldo to help micro-entrepreneurs in underprivileged communities as PayMaya will also be donating a P1 million Grand Aguinaldo to Gawad Kalinga to help establish more resilient communities via micro-entrepreneurship around the country.

Fujifilm X-S10

I treasure my Fujifilm X-T10 because (1) it was my first-ever mirrorless camera and (2) it was a witness to all the travels and adventures I've gone through since 2018. However, as the year goes by, my photography and videography needs have evolved over time, thus the need for a much-needed camera body upgrade. 

To my surprise, this was the year Fujifilm introduced the X-S10, a brand new X-system mirrorless camera that highlights professional-grade features and image quality with the small and easy to operate form factor of a compact and lightweight body.

With my plans to create more video content in the near future, saying yes to the X-S10 was an easy decision. I fell in love with its vari-angle lens, customizable dial, and in-body image stabilization. This camera is like the mini X-T4 (Fujifilm's flagship mirrorless camera) in terms of features at a fraction of the price. I'm already looking forward to the day I can whip this camera on my next travel!

With a price of P55, 990 for X-S10 Body and P78, 990 for X-S10 with 18-55mm Kit, the Fujifilm X-S10 is a very compelling product that not only showcases the very best of the brand but also harnesses the very best from photographers, videographers and creatives.

Fujifilm Philippines is also now on Lazada. I suggest you stay tuned to Lazada's next sale to get a good deal! 

Breville Barista Express

The stay-at-home sitch had me thinking about how I can still make a good cup of coffee before starting work. During the first few months of the lockdown, I was using Moka Pot to brew my coffee. I knew I still had to get the Breville Barista Express one day, but I didn't expect I'll be getting it during the Lazada 6.6 sale at around 15% off. I guess the stars have aligned and I was in a good place during that time which is why I was finally able to score my dream espresso machine. 

My main motivation in getting the Barista Express was to learn latte art. However, as I master the art of coffee-making, I figured that there's more to it that excites me as well–achieving the perfect shot, discovering different coffee beans, etc.

I also admire Breville as a brand because not only do they have a fantastic after-service, they also showcase different ways to maximize their home appliances via Facebook. Exhibit A, they recently concluded the Bravo, Breville online event wherein they showcased the different ways on how one can maximize their home appliances when it comes to preparing dishes and drinks during the holiday season. 

Kiehl's Butterstick Lip Treatment

I've never given my puckers attention because I'm a huge water person–chapped, dry lips are almost always not the case. However, this is not the case after wearing lipstick for an extended period.

Right before the holidays, I scored the Kiehl's Butterstick Lip Treatment in Simply Rose to prep my lips before wearing my trusty lipsticks. To my surprise, not only did my lips felt plumpy but it also left a sweet lip stain that can actually replace lip tints. Good thing I bought this variant instead of the untinted one as it allows me to wear this product instead of lip tints/lipsticks during video calls. Apart from that, this lip product has SPF 30, protecting the lips from the sun and extreme temperature.

As this is a limited-edition product, I'm actually planning on stocking up another tube because I really like wearing the Butterstick! Available for P1,250 at Lazada, I highly recommend this lip balm to cap off any skincare routine. 

ASUS VivoBook S14 (S433EQ)

As I venture into video content, my old MacBook Air isn't holding up anymore and makes content creation more unbearable anymore. I knew a laptop upgrade was already due but it wasn't on my list of priority things to buy last 2020.

Enter my recent collab with ASUS, I dared myself to shift to Windows OS by using the new ASUS VivoBook S14 and challenge the saying "Once you go Mac, you'll never go back". After a few weeks of using this laptop, I noticed the learning curve as I unlearn and relearn some things along the way, like hitting the correct Control button. Other than that, everything else felt like second nature because the functions that I maximize in the MacBook Air is also present in the ASUS VivoBook S14–multi-functional touchpad (with Number Pad in ASUS' case), drag and drop feature, etc. 

Available at Php 59,995, the VivoBook S14 is already a good deal as it is run by Intel® Core™ i7-1165G7 processor and with NVIDIA® GeForce® MX350. The pre-installed Microsoft Office Home & Student 2019 was a nice touch as well! 

Jonas, the boyfriend, kept on convincing me to switch to a Windows laptop as it has better capabilities compared to my existing MacBook Air. The day has come and he was right, I'm glad I made the switch after seven years of using a different OS.

Instax Square SQ1 Instant Camera

I love me some instant prints especially during occasions that I want to cherish forever. As a longtime fan of Instax cameras, I'm glad I got to explore the new Instax Square SQ1 camera. It is true that prints look even better on square prints because the photo display is bigger and details are crispier. 

As an owner of the Instax Mini 25, I highly considered switching to the Instax Square SQ1 because of its simple operation. One only needs to twist the lens to turn it on and twist the lens again for selfie mode. It is a full-proof instant camera that can be used by everyone in the family!

Another thing that I admire about this camera is its Auto Exposure feature. I noticed that this unit is smarter when it comes to capturing bright photos in well-lit or dark places without the need to set up.  

If you're looking for an entry-level square format instant camera, I highly suggest grabbing the Instax Square SQ1 camera. With a Php 6,999 price point at Lazada, you're sure to get your money's worth because of the easy usability, camera aesthetic, and photo output that this unit provides. 

Huawei Watch Fit

For the longest time, I've longed to own the Apple Watch because of its face size, watch interface, and seamless connectivity with other Apple devices. However, I cannot for the life of me justify its price which is why I always turn down the idea of getting one. I also thought there's no smartwatch that can come close in terms of the features that I'm looking for until I discovered the Huawei Watch Fit.

For Php 4,999 at Lazada, I highly appreciate Huawei Watch Fit's design and the system alike. It is lightweight, premium-looking, and sports a number of swoon-worthy smartwatch features–standby watch face option, pre-installed fitness courses (with demo), Stress and Sleep Tracker, Menstrual Cycle Tracker, and a lot more! 

Interestingly enough, I noticed how accurate the stress tracker is because I can name the stress-indicator that happened during the time a spike was observed in my stats. Lol I also find the in-built flashlight feature convenient whenever I search for items in dark places such as under my bed or work desk. It's a good thing that the watch has a long battery life, enabling me to enjoy all these features for at least 3-5 days depending on the usage.

To sum up the article, I'd say it was a year of budol because my travel and daily budget were reallocated to be able to score the abovementioned items. No regrets though because these items not only made my lifestyle at home more convenient but they also helped with my sanity despite the pandemic situation that we still face as of this writing.

I wish you a blissful and prosperous new year! May 2021 be your best year yet! 🎉