Product Spotlight: Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in SC-2

 After my recent Fashion 21 Perfect Stick purchase, I told myself I need to invest in an above than average concealer. In short, I got myself another concealer for my under eye circles. This time, from one of my favorite brands, Laura Mercier.

Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in SC-2 is a creamy salmon-toned concealer that is perfect to hide under eye circles. I asked Linda (Laura Mercier store, Glorietta 3) to find an exact match for my previous MAC Studio Finish in NW30. She initially said it's SC-3 but later on decided to try SC-2 on me and it looked more natural on me than SC-3. Take note, SC-2 is not the exact dupe of NW30.

 I like the coverage  and consistency of Laura Mercier Secret Concealer than MAC Studio Finish Concealer because it is more blendable and buildable, hence, less creases for me. Though MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW30 is my exact match in terms of color, Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in SC-2 looks more natural on me as it has just the right amount of salmon (to cancel out dark circles) and yellow (to blend with my skin color, I'm NC30). So no need for me to have 2 concealers, at least for the time being.

Linda also suggested that I get a Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder to set my concealer, instead of my powder foundation. This can help in diminishing the incidence of having cakey concealer that creases throughout the day. I told her I'll try it first and see if it won't cause breakouts for me as well as eye iritaion (as I wear contacts). So, she gave me a sample of the Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder.

The powder has shimmers on the jar, but once applied, I cannot see a single shimmer. All I have is glow! It also made my eyes look bigger and more awake. So I am sure after I finish this jar, I'll get a full size one.

Product Spotlight: Fashion 21 Perfect Stick with Tea Tree Oil

 Remember my previous post on Fashion 21 2-Way Powder Foundation with Tea Tree Oil and how I was satisfied with it? Affirming that post is yet another entry on Fashion 21. This time, I tried Fashion 21 Perfect Stick, still from the Tea Tree Oil line. 

As I was about to finish my MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW30 (gawd! took me 2 years to finish the entire pot, super worth it!), I searched for the next concealer to try. One that is locally available and affordable as I am not yet on a makeup-splurging mode yet. I was about to get Fanny Serrano's concealer in Walnut but it turned out it was not my exact match from the said brand. I continued browsing and there, I saw Fashion 21 Perfect Stick. The packaging looked familiar and when I took a closer peek, I realized it is the "sister" of my Fashion 21 2-Way Powder Foundation with Tea Tree Oil. 

This is available in Watson's and leading department stores nationwide for only Php 185. Cheap right?

I showed the saleslady my MAC concealer and asked her to find a match or at least something near NW30 shade. She recommended Almond Tea. Lighter but it's the closest she can offer. The others are too light or too yellow. Since I'll be using it to conceal undereye circles, I have to stay away from yellow toned concealers and opt for a peach/salmon one. This is to avoid having grayish undereyes that is way too obvious in photos.

Here's the swatch. It's lighter than my MAC NW30 but it is pretty close. 

I tried wearing it the next day and it lasted around 4 hours on me. My only concern is the consistency as it is not as creamy as my MAC one is. Given that, coverage is also not as good as MAC but can pass for everyday use. You have to make sure you set this with a translucent powder to avoid creasing.

Gastronomique: N.Y.Or.K.'s Choco Lava Cake

Anything hot usually clashes with anything cold. Well, N.Y.Or.K's (Not Your Ordinary Koffee) Choco Lava Cake is a different story. Let me tell you why.

N.Y.Or.K's Choco Lava Cake is a moist chocolate cake filled with molten bittersweet chocolate. The best way to enjoy it is by warming it a little in the microwave and putting a scoop (or 2 ) of vanilla ice cream. Try it and you'll see heaven for a second. There, that's the reason why N.Y.Or.K's Choco Lava Cake is an exemption to the Hot vs. Cold rule. No ice cream? Pair it with N.Y.Or.K's Vanilla Velvet Frappe.

N.Y.Or.K Choco Lava Cake is available at N.Y.Or.K (Not Your Ordinary Koffee), Cinema Lobby, N.E. Pacific Mall, Cabanatuan City. You may email Angela at nyork.cabanatuan@gmail.com.

Breathing Fresh Air at the Nurture Spa Village

Tagaytay is popular not only because of its proximity to the metro, but also because of its cool climate throughout the year. It is also a perfect place if you want a quick breather from the toxicities of the city. Here, you can find a lot of boutique and posh hotels and B&B's, as well as plush gardens that will let you bond again with nature even for a day.

Nurture Spa Village is not just a spa nor just an accommodation. It is engulfed in lush greenery and blossoming buds, a perfect venue to relax and breathe some fresh air. 

When we arrived, we were greeted by their staff with ethnic song (Think Dos Palmas) and were given this hot pandan tea. 

Greenery? I mean it! Nurture Spa Village has a hectare of zen-inspired garden situated on a cliff. You need not worry about landslides because the sides of the cliff around Nurture Spa Village was crafted like the Banawe Rice Terraces so as to prevent landslides. This was done by the Ifugaos commisioned by the owner- Ms. Cathy Turvill. The Ifugao huts in the Nurture Spa Village are also authentic ones.

They have a small pool for your dipping indulgence. This is just beside the Dulang Restaurant.

You can read a book or simply bask in the sun by the poolside while sipping some fresh mango shake.

Aside from the authentic Ifugao huts, they also have air-conditioned accommodation like the Pag-Ibig (love) room. This is usually the room they give to the bride and groom as part of their wedding package. 

The Filipiniana-inspired room reminds me of an ancestral house, only more modern.

How modern? Well it has a tub and flat screen TV! The rooms are a bit far from the pool area which gives serenity, especially for couples.

The owners of the Nurture Spa Village is also the man & woman behind the famous organic line of spa products, Amu'in. They have a small souvenir shop beside the reception area where they sell not only Amu'in products but other native products as well.

 They also have an open al-fresco gazebo where you can have your wedding or other affairs.

Gastronomique: Dulang Restaurant at the Nurture Spa Village, Tagaytay City

 During our long weekend Tagaytay spree, we had the chance to pass by the Nurture Spa Village and try some of its gastronomic delights, which I believe deserves its own space in my blog. Why? Not only did we had a great time munching on the food, but I also noticed that what Nurture Spa Village offers are foods that one of a kind. Take for example this one, have you ever eaten Pancit Palabok? In Spring Rolls?

What about Chicken Kare-Kare? No, I mean,  Chicken Kare-Kare made of stuffed chicken breast with eggplant topped with deep-fried banana buds. There, that's unique right? The bagoong here is one of the best I ever tried (with the exception of Sir Bob's Bobbylicious Bagoong).

 Okay, what about suman (rice cake) at mangga (mango)? No, I mean mangga wrapped in suman with a rich tablea sauce? This is a perfect ending to a sumptuous Filipino lunch.

Hawaiian Bar-B-Que, Tagaytay City

 When we are in Tagaytay, the first thing that came to my mind is Bulalo. But since we already had Bulalo a week ago, our taste buds want something new. And since the weather was so unpredictable, we decided not to go out for dinner and just hang out at The Boutique's restaurant - Hawaiian Bar-B-Que.

If you will come from Manila, The Boutique/Hawaiian Bar-B-Que is just a few meters away from Olivarez. So from Olivarez you will see Pamana Restaurant (a sister resto of The Boutique as well), The Theodore Hotel and finally, The Boutique. 

Hawaiian Bar-B-Que belongs to the group of restaurants owned by the Ongpauco's like Barrio Fiesta, Isdaan, Singing Cooks and Waiters, Bento Box and Pamana Restaurant. So given that, you know what to expect - sumptuous food delights that are made from the finest ingredients.

We arrived at The Boutique at around lunch time and the restaurant is so full! As in table turnaround is so fast! So by around 5:30pm, we had the chance to actually have a space in there. 

Hawaiian Bar-B-Que serves, well, Hawaiian-inspired delights, so expect a lot of coconut and pineapple in your dish. The owner, Happy Ongpauco, created this restaurant because she got amazed by Hawaiian cuisine during her stay in Hawaii.

Without further ado, here are some of their specialties:

Hawaiian Shrimp Curry

It's a generous serving of prawns in curry sauce with a hint of pineapple. Between curry and pineapple, the latter is more dominant in terms of taste. So for those who wants that "Indian" curry kick, this may be light for you. But the sweetness of pineapple perfectly complements the prawns.

The Original Hawaiian Baby Back Ribs

A slab of succulent baby back ribs cooked in pineapple marinade. The meat is sooooooooo tender and juicy.  Aside from their bedtime churros, this dish made me want to come back over and over again. It's just perfect.  The next time you visit Tagaytay and you are tired of the same old Bulalo, try this and it's a heavenly as your old-time favorite beef shank soup.

And what is a gastronomic experience without a dessert? Presentamus...... Hawaiian Banana Split! (claps)

Served in half a coconut shell, this one is a perfect ending to your feast. It has scoops of chocolate and mango ice cream (vanilla, but they ran out of stock), mallows, banana, choco syrup and coconut. I am not a big fan of buko (coconut) but this one is an exemption, The coconut is so tender and it blends well with the ice cream. 

So the next time you visit Tagaytay, make sure to pass by Hawaiian Bar-B-Que. Burrrrpppp! (excuse me.)

The Boutique, Tagaytay CIty: Not Your Ordinary Bed & Breakfast

According to Wikipedia, a bed and breakfast (or B&B) is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast. Typically, bed and breakfasts are private homes with fewer than 10 bedrooms available for commercial use. I used to define B&B’s the same way as Wikipedia did, not until I had a unique bed and breakfast experience at The Boutique, Tagaytay City in the Philippines.

 Tagaytay City is the closest coolest place from Manila. In an hour or two, one will be able to have a glimpse of the world-renowned Taal Volcano with its surrounding lake. Because of the increasing tourist demands, a plethora of hotels, inns and B&B’s lined the plateau of Tagaytay City. Among these accommodations, we opted to stay in a B&B simply because we do not want the complexity of luxurious hotels. We wanted our stay to be homey and cozy, with good food, of course.

 Lo and behold, we chose The Boutique Bed & Breakfast along the highway of Tagaytay. It has 7 rooms named after different emotions, not just numbers. No two rooms are the same as each room has its own motif. We opted to stay at the “I Escape” room, among others. They also have a pillow menu where one can choose pillows for different needs.

 

 Our stay was not only homey and cozy, but personalized as well. As we checked in, we were asked to select your own room scent, soap, shampoo, conditioner and lotion from their Pamper Me line. We were also treated to a cold stone facial massage at noontime, and a serving of hot chocolate and freshly-made churros at bedtime. The room also has bedtime nibblers (yema & chips) to satisfy one’s cravings in the wee hours of the night.

Our stay’s highlight is the sumptuous breakfast. In The Boutique, breakfast is served at your own prefered time in bed. There is no need to cue on a buffet just like in other hotels. We were served with generous servings of Gourmet Tinapa (smoked fish) in Olive Oil and Capers, eggs the way you want it, garlic rice, coffee, freshly-made mango juice, oven-fresh breads with jam and butter and fruits in season topped with cottage cheese or yogurt.

Now I understand why people opt for B&B’s nowadays. The price is undeniably affordable and the experience is more mesmerizing and remarkable. Since the rooms are only a few, the owners are able to maintain consistency and excellence in their service, thus, making one long to come back over and over again.

Plus, they gave me a box of chocolates before we left the place. Sweet huh!