Walking on Sunshine: My Top 5 Sunblock

"The main benefit of sunblock is, of course, preventing ultraviolet rays from penetrating the skin. This is important in preventing burns and blistering. In addition, sunblocks can help minimize the "aging" effect sun exposure has on the skin, which includes wrinkles and a "leathery" appearance. Many sunblock products provide a moisturizing effect on the skin. A good sunblock also allows people to spend more time out-of-doors than they could without the protection" -Livestrong.com

Here are my Top 5 recommendations if you want sunblock that's light on the skin but has a high SPF:

1. NEUTROGENA Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock SPF 45
2. NEUTROGENA Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunblock SPF 45
3. AVENE SPF 50+
4. AVEENO Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion SPF 30
5. L'OREAL UV Perfect SPF 50

Just remember that just because you're wearing sunblock, doesn't mean it's okay to expose yourself in direct sunlight. Especially if toner is a part of your daily regimen, it's still advisable for you to avoid direct exposure from the sun.

Hope this helped! Have a great sunshiney day!

Clinique VS. Olay VS. Olive oil

I like my mascaras and eyeliners dark, menacing, and WATERPROOF. So it usually takes forever to take it off and there are times when I have to rub my entire eyelids (and sometimes even my eyelashes) RAW before I can get them off completely. LOL.




I've been using CLINIQUE Rinse Off Eye Makeup Solvent for about a month and I eventually had to stop because it was too strong for my eyelids (it really stung and there was even a time when it hurt to touch my eyelids).

I wouldn't say that I don't recommend this because that sort of reaction might still depend on a person's skin type or sensitivity. What didn't work for me doesn't necessarily mean it might not work for other people too.

I also got to try the OLAY Eye Make-Up Removing Cream, and it actually worked pretty well for me. There were no negative reactions to my skin whatsoever and compared to the previous product I was using, this one was more gentle on my skin and left my eyelids feeling softer.

I was researching online the other day about other makeup removers when I came across this statement:

"I remember someone told me how one of their friends work at Estee Lauder's makeup factory. The person mentioned how the giant bins they use to mix the eye makeup remover formula had to be replaced often because they corroded and disintegrated the bins." -Michelle Phan

I was completely thrown off that I decided to just stop using any eye make-up removers altogether. Soap and water ain't no match against my potent mascara so after doing a little more research, I decided to give olive oil a try.

What do I love about it? It doesn't clog your pores, it moisturizes your eyelids, and most of all- it doesn't cost much. :)

Be sure to put a right amount of oil onto the cotton ball because if you put too much, you might get some of it into your eye and it'll really sting.

Have you guys tried this one too?

**Always remember-- it is a CRIME to not remove your makeup before you go to sleep.

Hope you found this useful! :-)

MAKE-UP Shelf Life

Just thought I'd share this important fact with you girls..

Number 1 RULE: IF IT STINKS, THROW IT AWAY!!

Oil-free foundation: 1 year

Cream or compact foundation: 18 months. Liquid foundation may start to separate when its past its prime, but it usually lasts a good 6 months before you need to throw it out.

Concealer: 12-18 months

Powder: 18 months - 2 years. 

Blush and bronzer: 2 years

Cream blush: 12-18 months

Powder eyeshadow: 2 years

Cream eyeshadow: 12-18 months

Eyeliner: 2 years

Liquid eyeliner: 3-6 months

Mascara: 3 months. (To avoid the death of your mascara, don’t pump the wand in and out of the tube as this pushes air into the tube. Upon pulling the wand out, twist the wand to pick up more product)

Lipstick: 2 years

Lip liner: 2 years

Lip gloss: 18-24 months

Nail color: 1 year. Nail polish will become stringy and/or gooey and hard to apply when it goes bad.

Fragrance: 2-5 years.

Sponge: 2weeks-1 month. Even with cleaning after every use (which you should OFTEN do) because it collects bacteria.

REMEMBER TO CLEAN YOUR MAKE-UP TOOLS/BRUSHES OFTEN AS WELL! If you don't have the solution (which can be bought in Watson's or any make-up store), use water and a little bit of soap. Wash it GENTLY. And make sure to shape it back before you let it dry. AIR DRY only, dont BLOW DRY it. Lol.

Hope this helps!!! Now go on and check your traincases and throw out the junk that you dont need! ;)

50 books to read before you die

I love to read. 
Kids these days spend more time in front of the computer instead of going to the library and reading a book.

Goodbye Encyclopedia/ Brittanica.
Hello, Google.

Can't deny the fact that Google has (almost) all the answers but don't you miss the smell of a new book? I personally find it more fulfilling to see my book all crumpled after I'm done reading it.

Manfriend and I went book-shopping last night and we came across a stainless steel bookmark that had the titles of "50 books to read before you die".

Here's the list (have you read any of these? Watching the movie doesn't count! We all know that the book is always better than the movie!):
1. THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY by J.R.R. Tolkien
2. 1984 by George Orwell
3. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen
4. THE GRAPES OF WRATH by John Steinbeck
5. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee
6. JANE EYRE by Charlotte Bronte
7. WUTHERING HEIGHTS by Emily Bronte
8. A PASSAGE TO INDIA by E.M. Forster
9. THE LORD OF THE FLIES by William Golding
10. HAMLET by William Shakespeare
11. A BEND IN THE RIVER by V.S. Naipaul
12. THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald
13. THE CATCHER IN THE RYE by J.D. Salinger
14. THE BELL JAR by Sylvia Plath
15. BRAVE NEW WORLD by Aldous Huxley
16. THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK by Anne Frank
17. DON QUIXOTE by Miguel De Cervantes
18. THE BIBLE by Various
19. THE CANTERBURY TALES by Geoffrey Chaucer
20. ULYSSES by James Joyce
21. THE QUIET AMERICAN by Graham Greene
22. BIRDSONG by Sebastian Faulks
23. MONEY by Martin Amis
24. HARRY POTTER SERIES by J.K. Rowling
25. MOBY DICK by Herman Melville
26. THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS by Kenneth Grahame
27. HIS DARK MATERIALS TRILOGY by Philip Pullman
28. ANNA KARENINA by Leo Tolstoy
29. ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND by Lewis Carroll
30. REBECCA by Daphne du Maurier
31. THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME by Mark Haddon
32. ON THE ROAD by Jack Kerouac
33. HEART OF DARKNESS by Joseph Conrad
34. THE WAY WE LIVE NOW by Anthony Trollope
35. THE OUTSIDER by Albert Camus
36. THE COLOUR PURPLE by Alice Walker
37. LIFE OF PI by Yann Martel
38. FRANKENSTEIN by Mary Shelley
39. THE WAR OF THE WORLDS by H.G. Wells
40. MEN WITHOUT WOMEN by Ernest Hemingway
41. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS by Jonathan Swift
42. A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens
43. HUCKLEBERRY FINN by Mark Twain
44. ROBINSON CRUSOE by Daniel Dafoe
45. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST by Ken Kesey
46. CATCH 22 by Joseph Heller
47. THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO by Alexandre Dumas
48. MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA by Arthur Golden
49. THE DIVINE COMEDY by Alighieri Dante
50. THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY by Oscar Wilde

Currently reading book #31 on this list.. :)