today's necessities

 

All of these, you can probably consider as COVID 19 or the Novel Corona Virus (do we still call it that, though?) protection starter kit. I've been working on collating things like these that are actually Philippine-made because, you know, the best thing to do nowadays where recession is everywhere, is to support everything local. This is the only thing that can keep our countries' respective economies afloat.

I only ever buy made in China things very rarely now. Only when I see there's no other way but to do so. Everything else I go for from everyday necessities like these to skin care and beauty products are all Philippine-made therefore making them Pro-Philippines, Pro-Environment and Pro-Poor. 

Anyway, onto the items on this list:

1. MEDIPLUS Disposable 3 Layers Face Mask 

I think I bought this one at Php 299 but still, it's quite a good price for 50 masks in a box. It's gotten cheaper now since it came out, yes. I got mine for the family from Lazada Philippines because they can now conveniently link your shopping account to your Gcash account, if you have one, and thereby makes it easier for one to purchase anything.

2. & 3. 3 PCS Washable Cotton Plus Organic Face Mask in WHITE, also available in BLACK here 

I'm still contemplating getting this one in both colors. My dad brought home a mask that's of this kind that's made in China for my mom and I sometime ago but I never really used it. So this is something I'd rather get, also for the family. If one at least gets a pack each, that'd be 6 masks in total for the family already. 

Oh, and also, feel free to follow Cotton Plus NCR on Lazada Philippines for more of these great Philippine-made products that keep us all safe from contracting the virus, yes!

4. 10 PCS Sterling Premium Face Shields 

Bought about three of these when news broke out that we're all going to required to use face shields when going outside. It took a while to get to where I am but I was able to get all three so it's all good. Plus it's quite durable and can last a while with multiple uses so it's definitely good value for money.

Sterling is generally known here in the Philippines as a stationery brand. They sell mostly notebooks, paper and more. But that they've turned to making face shields as well and I saw that they now also make face masks, the single use, disposable kind, so well...yeah, they're doing their part to help out more now as well. Might as well support them, too. Their face masks are kind of pricey at Php 390 compared to Mediplus's that's below Php 250 right now but still worth getting if you're thinking of supporting our local producers and makers for these things.

5. Printed Disposable Masks, also available in non-patterned but different colored here 

If you're bored of the usual blue on the outside and white on the inside face masks then you're going to like these in pretty blue and multi-colored patterns and in different colors.

Materials that are used to make this may be from South Korea but they are manufactured here in the Philippines. So if you'd like to support the Filipinos on their team to make these, then go for these. They'd break the monotony of using the using blue and white ones, yes, and make wearing masks less boring outside.

I'm thinking of getting these in pink or yellow next since they're about the same price I got the Mediplus ones in. Yeah, must make the most of the money I have on Gcash.

6. Indoplas, Disposable masks for only Php 99 a box of 50 or so pieces here.

They're in Shopee and I haven't really ordered much from Shopee for a long while now although I have been thinking so for just as long. The thing with Shopee is that I got used to ordering from it using COD (cash on delivery) payment method. I don't think they allow Paymaya or Gcash still, in there. But it seems now, they do allow online bank transfers or so which is good. Credit card payments as well. So let's all see how this goes. It still holds however that unlike Lazada, they still do not have the convenience of allowing customers and sellers alike to link their Gcash accounts, if they have any, to their accounts on site. Where selling and buying is concerned, I've been volleying between using Gcash, Paymaya and online payments more so that I don't have to carry a lot of cash with me. Haha. It's just, much more convenient, to be honest. It's good that we have a lot of options now for online payments than anything, yes. Bottom line, I need to explore Shopee more.

So yes, let's go to Indoplas. Indoplas is a company that makes or manufactures medical tools. So if you go to their Shopee page, you'll find that they have a lot of those. If I'd continued being a nurse way back when I first started college, I'd've had this one bookmarked. But coming from a family of mostly medical practitioners or health care givers, I've had them bookmarked now or followed, I guess, since I discovered them there recently. They usually manufacture medical tools. So given that they are such, it's no surprise they priced a box of their disposable masks at Php 99. It's the cheapest I found on this sort. I'm also sorely tempted to get their electric thermometer or automatic thermometer. It seems to be of Japan quality which is tons better than the China made ones and priced just right...hmn...we'll see.

On a side note, I've thought about 3M products too and was of the impression that some 3M products are manufactured here. I just...happen to not have a lot of information on that one yet but I'll get back to y'all here on that one, one day soon.

Honorable mentions or, more accurately put, some bonus items not on the photo above:

7.  KN95 face masks in 10s, 30s and more

While crafting this post, I looked up DecoPro, the maker of these KN95 masks online and yes, they are Philippines-based. Some of the reviews on the page for this one do not look promising but hopefully, the more people patronize their product, the more they can improve on it. 

If you find the usual disposable, medical grade masks uncomfortable because it does hardly offer the right fit (it's fine for me, though, I only use it for hours while outside anyway) for some and the ear loops can be, well, flimsy for some, you can always go for this KN95 that likely offers better fit.

8. Island Souvenir shirt with free washable mask 

I've already ordered my 3rd washable fabric mask from elsewhere but THIS IS just GREAT value for money. I love Island Souvenir stuff even though they can skew towards the expensive side when one buys them in store. Their t-shirts are of good quality---really soft and light to wear, so, soooo comfortable---and I'm looking to stock up on some, particularly this one on the link on number 8. Cool, minimalist-ish design plus free washable facemask for under 200 Php? Yes, I'd get this one in a heartbeat. Maybe, err...one day soon. I still need to stock up on some white shirts, mostly v-necks since I have a lot of round necks already. I'm not really that much into printed shirts but I'd been easing into them as of late.

And that's it for this post. Yes...please, PLEASE do support local despite China-made products being very sellable these days due to their cheaper, more competitive prices. WE NEED TO KEEP OUR NATIONAL ECONOMY AFFLOAT and we need to support our own Filipino makers, workers and more. Even if one has to spend so much on something that's Filipino-made, keep in mind that it's worth it because someone that's also Filipino had a hand in making it and thereby know that quality we are looking for. 

on everything lazy skin care and beauty...stuff

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My last post was like, two to three months and a few weeks ago. LOL. I'm quite behind on updating. And until now, I have so much to do and a few other posts to catch up on. One is: CLEAN MY CATHARTIC, CHAOTIC MESS OF A ROOM; and two is, yes, a ton of catch-up posts. I have about two including this one in mind. Maybe three. It's already October and I haven't done much outside of instagram, twitter and hanging around discord randomly...oh and fanfiction writing. I've been holed up here in my room and bed just...writing stuff I know I'll never publish, even on my LiveJournal. I've been kind of successful posting fandom stuff on twitter, the fandom tumblr and personal now a tad bit for fandom instagram, though, so there's that. *Insert very brief nervous haha here.*

All that and I think I've relapsed again on hanging around reddit, just mostly lurking...especially on ask reddit's most interesting (to me) pages...err...I'm not a redditor, I just like reading people's answers there to some cute questions. I used to hang out there for more controversial ones way back. LOL.

Anyway, this is supposed to be a skin care and beauty post because it's something that, despite the pandemic, still should remain consistent and constant. Something that, 'til now should be essential as it is a huge part of self-love, self-care and therefore should be an everyday thing. 

I mentioned in my last post that my advocacy at this time is to put everything locally made (also, using local resources, yes!) on the pedestal. Love and patronize local, as most say. At this time, it's the best way we can keep our economy afloat, among other things. And for this one, I've just thought of another post to put in here that's detailing a lot of other, much, much needed necessities nowadays that we still have the global pandemic raging about around us. The thing is, rather the truth is, I'm not really that anal of a being to use only locally made products for self-care and self-love. I'm not a Type A person and I despise Type A's and being one...for one. I use a combination and I use them, local and some international beauty and skin care products interchangeably. But mostly, I do default to Human Heart Nature products, yes. Gotta make use of my being a dealer and a member and an advocate of it, yes. 

So from here, I'll be talking about some products I got from some weeks ago's Watson's (a local drug store here) haul and then some that I'd received in the mail from family among a few others. I currently use them on rotation when I can with the Human Heart Nature and other very local to the Philippines' ones that I love.

Oh and the fun part? (Or is it?) This post isn't sponsored, yes. 

A primer on Watson's

Watson's is prime destination for me and everyone else who love skincare and cosmetics everything here in the Philippines to well, stock up on stuff. And by stuff, I mean, a lot of things. There's one I frequent near my old university my mom works at and my brother goes to Medicine school to and admittedly, I haven't been in there for a month or two now. Reason being that I know I'll walk out with a miniscule haul of maybe worth 200 Php to 300 Php whenever I'm in there. 

It's actually a drug store, cosmetics and skin care store of sorts chain in one here in the South East Asian region. Our version of, say Walgreens or so in the US though I've never been into one of those while I was there. Think, maybe, Ulta Beauty. My cousin made me go to those way back four years ago or so. Heh. 

Watson's is that darn tempting, yes. Like the Filipina or whatever race's girl here in my god-forsaken region of South East Asia before and/or after me, I spend, like, maybe an hour or two in there just to check on the things on the sales racks and the ingredients they have just because... I've been really careful of stuff I get from anywhere lately and prefer to stick to some of my most trusted brands now. It's just less drama and mess into actually getting the wrong kind of purchases where skin care and beauty stuff go. Quality over quantity, as always is and should be key when buying stuff, anywhere including in Watson's, yes.

As mentioned earlier, Watson's can be found everywhere in South East Asia.  I know there are some branches of this peppered everywhere in Hongkong. I've seen some in people's pictures from there. I'm not all too sure if they're in other South East Asian countries, however. I haven't gone around extensively in the few three or so I've been to, namely Taipei in Taiwan last year, Ho Chi Minh years ago with my dad and Bangkok, Thailand with my aunt years and years ago, too, to be able to hunt for their own Watson's...if they ever have this one in those three countries. Should and when I get another chance to make it there again, I'd check if they have this there. We'll see.

Anyway, point being: it's prime destination for people like me who love girly stuff. Mostly, skin care because I'm not much into cosmetics...much. Maybe the only cosmetics I ever get there are the lip pencils from BYS, eyeliners and mascaras from Maybelline and BYS both. One of my favorite Filipina (Aussie-Filipina, actually) celebrities' Anne Curtis' BLK Cosmetics, if it's available here and sadly, it isn't.

On to the new-old stuff on my self care, self love, skin care and cosmetics stash that I hardly use nowadays. With the amount of time I hole myself up in my bedroom doing mostly nothing but reading and writing, sure, I'll one day find more motivation to use all of these up again. One day. It's just that wearing a mask and a face shield while out and about nowadays puts a lot of damper in me actually putting these things into good use. Well...one day.

I WHITE KOREA's BB Holic in Beige, 25mL tube // I WHITE KOREA's BB Holic in Beige, 4mL sachets

I WHITE KOREA's BB Holic in Light, 25mL tube // I WHITE KOREA's BB Holic in Light, 4mL sachets

The BB.Holict in light that have been a constant in my morning skin care and make-up routine before sitting down to work is, yes, a part of a consistent trip to Watson's purchase. I tend to come out with two, two-sachets attached to one another, of this one on my way out of Watson's because although I run out of it maybe on day 7 per sachet, I always feel the need to have it easily accessible even when I go out to get stuff and run errands, maybe, just once every two weeks or so. I'm a homebody, yes, so minor hoarding is key for me especially when it comes to products like this one. It's only 25 Php, half an American dollar, per two sachets per shade so it's quite a good deal. The best, for me, that is.

It's a South Korean brand but I've read from it's ingredients list that it contains nothing harmful so this is a constant thing in my cosmetics bag when on the go. Hmn...I might spring for the tube ones one day because them in sachets seem to only contribute to a lot of waste around here. I'll mull over it.

This comes in two shades: Beige and Light and give zero to very, very light coverage compared to, say, highly pigmented foundation or some other so it's a very cheap, affordable go-to for me day in and day out. Basically one of many reasons why I love this one although it's not really Philippines' made, yes.

I don't really use much primer, foundation, yes. Maybelline's liquid one from a trip to the US, I have tried years ago but I've given up on that and would rather just BB and CC cream at this time. Simple, light, natural is my cosmetics philosophy nowadays. Or maybe I've really just morphed into this lazy someone when taking care of my skin. LOL.

MAYBELLINE Lash Sensational Mascara 

NIVEA Creme, 30mL // NIVEA Cream, 60mL // NIVEA Creme, 150mL

The Maybelline mascara is a constant, it seems, that I get whenever I am at the SM Supermarket. Watson's is actually SM owned here so basically the price of Maybelline products in SM Supermarket is the same as that of Watson's.

Hmn...that reminds me I need to get my SM advantage card renewed and all before next month. Heh.

Funny story about this one is...I used to fancy the yellow one more. It's much more expensive and seems much better than this one but I ate my words and thoughts regarding that when I randomly grabbed my first tube of this at Watson's in Lim Ketkai Mall a few hours before my flight to Taipei City October of last year. This is WAAAYYY cheaper than the voluminous yellow one that was a constant for me way back, at Php 199, and it's handier too. I keep one in stock now but I don't mind really mind using other brands like BLK Cosmetics' that I've been eyeing for a while now, from time to time. Their volume + lash variant is cheaper than Maybelline's voluminous one in yellow so it seems worth the price as well. I'm a huge fan of this local brand---I think they make it or produce it in Taiwan but sell exclusively here in the Philippines---so I figure I'll do a BLK Cosmetics haul one of these days along with some others...hmn... I only ever buy one or two from that make-up and skincare line with every Zalora closet update purchase once in a while now, yes. Like, maybe once or twice a year. LOL. I haven't really bought anything from Zalora as of late. 

Insert the Nivea classic Face Cream/everyday Moisturizer I scored on a random weekend sale of Watson's Ayala Centrio with the FACErepublic's sun gel sachet and BB.Holics'. The blue and white tin design is a classic too and quite an aesthetic touch for a lot of photos including this one so I found it difficult to let go of this when I contemplated my purchases at the time and this was around 50% off. I. Just. Had. To. Yes. I have yet to use this though. I haven't been using much moisturizers, to be honest. I only use face wash and toner nowadays so maybe I should get back to using the moisturizers. I've used quite a few of this in the past and I'm ecstatic to bring it back into the skin care rotation thing? I guess. It's definitely handy for travels, the beach and more. Good score during Watson's up to 50% sale at the time, yes. I forgot when it was. Maybe three or so weeks ago. I'm definitely checking the sales shelves once in a while for things like these again. RIP remaining funds I'm trying to keep for more important things. But skin care and beauty is important too as it has much to do with self-care and self-love. Something we should not also forget or ignore even with the global pandemic still hovering around us. Yes, a constant reminder, this one is.

Face Republic Super Screen Sun Gel SPF50+ in 50 mL // Face Republic Super Screen Sun Gel SPF50+ in 2mL sachet (currently soldout on site, I hope they restock)

The FACErepublic sun gel is a new discovery. I finally found a South Korean sun gel with decent SPF levels that doesn't contain anything harmful in it? Yes? Yes. I have yet to try this one...probably when I can finally go out into the sun again one of these days. Soon.

My reputation as someone lazy on make up and skin care continues with me being currently, really huge on multiple use make-up products and due to that, Human Heart Nature's PerfectFlush Lip and Cheek Tint in rosy is now a constant in my make-up bag to-go. I use it also, all over, as an eye shadow and blush on the weekends. It's such a GOOD pick-me-up for when I want to look fresh and seemingly bare if not for hints of some rosiness on the cheeks and eyelids on lazy Saturdays I have to go out for errands. It's best used with the tinted lip balm in my current favorite shade of rosewood, another multi-use product---until I can figure out where else to use it, of course, other than the lips. Haha. Most of the things I can't live without on my make-up bag to-go are multi-use products from three to four lines I love and am stuck with nowadays: Human Heart Nature (bonus points? the new magalogue now tells you which products are vegan and which aren't), Australia's own BYS, and our own BLK Cosmetics. 

As a fourth, I've lately discovered a line of products that I really like and would love to carry in my Treasure Chest of Sorts instagram and it's attached facebook page store. It's a locally made and manufactured one and I discovered it from Shopee. It's called the Vegan Beauty and they carry two cool shades of highlighters I want to get into so I'll add that in more one day when I finally get a haul of it for the shop and for myself. If you choose to be a dealer of their line of products, apparently you get one free product of your choice per line you'd like to carry which is like, such an awesome perk! Like, how cool is that?! Hmn...I'm not entirely sure yet when I'll be stocking up on this one but watch out for it being launched in my shop/s, yes!

MYRA E Classic Moisturizing Vitamin lotion in 100 mL // MYRA E Classic Moisturizing Vitamin Lotion in 200 mL // MYRA E Classic Moisturizing Vitamin Lotion in 400 mL // MYRA E Classic Moisturizing Vitamin Lotion in 50 mL

Some other, much more recent, new stuff that are definitely not from Watson's (but this can be bought there, too, and other drugstores here in the Philippines) or Human Heart Nature or Zalora or anywhere else I usually buy my skin care and beauty loot: 

I got this from the mom on my birthday (September 17th! and 33 is the new 22, yes!). I love simple gifts that are really useful. I feel like I've been on that train since a few years ago. Lately, I'm just more: give me something I can put to good use! Rather than something I'll just stash somewhere and forget that it actually exists thereafter. I've only used this once so far but I'm looking to using it more somehow. Myra is a local brand and easily found in drug stores everywhere here in the Philippines and my mom gave this one to me because I think, rather, I recall that she received a box of this and more from someone. I'm not sure if she's figured out what to do with the rest. Hah. Anyway, I'll be using this in tandem with either a Human Heart Nature body butter or lotion. Hint: for Human Heart Nature, I love their sunflower beauty oil line as of late. Not just love but I'm really obsessed with it. Heh.

Myra actually boasts of their use of their vitamin E on just about every product they have so if you're a fan of vitamin E or it's more popular form, the vitamin E oil like I was way back eons ago (I used to use the oil from some capsules way back for DIY body scrubs, yes), this is something worth getting into in local Philippines' drug stores. Watson's here carries this brand. 

I'm currently considering the Myra E moisturizing plus lotion next, actually. It's a cheaper alternative to my usual Human Heart Nature stuff although I do get discounts from this brand as a member.

Made in the Philippines entirely, also, so that's worth patronizing and going gaga over. Yes.

 

I'm not much for lip color. I've given up on lipsticks eons ago. I rarely get in the mood for those so I have no earthly idea what to do with this one I received from an aunt so we'll see how this one fares for me.

We'll see if I'll receive more in the mail in the coming few months leading up to Christmas. I do know I'll be stocking up on a lot of things Human Heart Nature because I have monthly quotas to fill to make sure my discounted deals with them continue on. I'm thinking of also doing a haul for this one day since I'm quite interested in some of their beauty line like their eye shadow that come in two sets useful for every day range of 3 shades each and a bronzer of theirs that's on sale today until, I think, next week or so. Be sure to check out the link here for the sale and stock up on your favorite Human Heart Nature essentials while you're at it. I know I'll be doing so tomorrow. As per usual. Yes.

To check out 10.10 sale deals on Human Heart Nature, simply click on the links peppered all throughout the post here! You can also check out Treasure Chest of Sorts instagram shop here as I'll be adding some products of theirs, new and old, along the way and updating you of sales, promos and more of their stuff, too!