Being an adult: Romantic relationships.

As mentioned in my entry post for this series, when I was younger, I wanted to be married by 26 and have my first kid by 27. Well I am 26 right now and I am not married nor am I pregnant. I have been with my boyfriend for eight years now, and while we have discussed that we want to get married (to each other) someday, that’s not really possible right now.

I met my boyfriend (let’s call him Daniel because that’s his name) back in junior year college. He was in a class with some of my friends while I had that period free. I was hanging around the class because there was this guy I had a crush on (not Daniel) in the class with them. The instructor was really nice though and he let me sit in with the class and even made me participate in the discussions. Of course the guy I liked didn’t give me the time of day, and I was okay with that. I told myself during that phase of my life that I didn’t want a boyfriend. I was having a nice time, I was with my friends and it was my favorite subject.

One day I was sitting with this one friend, whispering to each other and she pointed me to this guy who she thought had a nice smile. I looked over and the guy (it was Daniel this time) did have a nice smile. He was this tall, lanky kid with glasses who looked like a nerd. He always had a Rubik’s cube in hand so he was (still is) most definitely a nerd. But he also always had this really warm smile whenever I saw him. So like a true child of the internet, I stalked him through social media the instant I got home that day. I saw on one of his profiles that he liked this band I also liked so I took the chance and messaged him and we got to talking online almost every day.

Benton Papaya-S Sun Cream: A Review

This product has been kindly provided by Benton for free in exchange for an honest review.

Claims: Benton’s Papaya-S Sun Cream is Benton’s second physical & chemical suncream designed for outdoor activities. Papaya-S Sun Cream has the highest sun protection factor available in Korea, SPF50+ / PA++++. Mixed with chemical and physical sunscreen agents, the suncream effectively blocks both UVA and UVB, and helps to protect skin from external stressors. Also, niacinamide and adenosine in the formula help to achieve a bright and smooth complexion.

Ingredients: Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Water(43%), Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Zinc Oxide, Octyldodecanol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Aqua (Water), 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Magnesium Sulfate, Beeswax, Aluminum Hydroxide, Dimethicone, Propanediol,Hydrogen Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Carica Papaya Seed Oil(5000ppm), Glyceryl Caprylate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Panthenol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Beta-Glucan, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract(750ppm), Xanthan Gum, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Adenosine, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Bud Extract, Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate, Papain(100ppm), Algin, Glucose, Geranium Maculatum Oil

First impressions about this product posted on my Instagram.

Anyone even vaguely familiar with the Philippine skincare game know that papaya is the MAIN ingredient in whitening products since forever so I was kind of surprised to start seeing it in more international products recently.

The Benton Papaya–S Sun Cream SPF50+/PA++++ has 43% Carica Papaya Fruit Water, Carica Papaya Seed Oil, and Papain.

I’ve always had trouble with sunscreen. Those I’ve tried that seemed okay for even months at a time will suddenly break me out. I’m always on the search for my HG sunscreen. When I got chosen to review Benton‘s new suncream, I was excited but also wary because of a few ingredients that I’m on the lookout for. The full ingredient list is found above, if you want to run it through cosdna.com, but I have been using skincarisma.com purely because of it’s better aesthetics.

I bought a menstrual cup: an update.

It’s been about five months since I got my menstrual cup, about five cycles I have been using it. I thought it would be nice to give an update on my experience and what I’ve learned about this whole thing.

I feel like this has been the best decision of my menstruation-having life. Let’s take it back when I was still using pads and the occasional tampon.

My period rarely starts on the same date each month. It could be early a few days but more often late a few days to even more than a week. I use a period tracker app but my actual period likes to be a jerk. This uncertainty meant I had to constantly be on alert on the onset of my PMS symptoms because I would never know when I would start bleeding. I start getting stabbing pains a few days before my period actually starts but that could still mean right the fuck now or five days from now. Wearing a pad prematurely was a regular occurrence when I was so sure but still got nothing. But with the cup, I could just slip it in when the stabbing pains start and not worry about it. Most of the times I don’t even notice that my period already started because I don’t feel anything, which leads to the second thing.

Blog Update: Mid 2017

Hey what’s up? I thought I’d make a chatty post before the first month of the second half of 2017 ends. I also wanted to formally launch my new profile photos and banners for all my social media [ Facebook | Instagram | Twitter ] as well as in this blog, a commission from @sociohat on Twitter.

calacatia Facebook page

calacatia Instagram profile

calacatia Twitter page

And in case you don’t see it, here is this blog’s version:

Now that’s done, I would like to duplicate something I posted on my Instagram, a tag that has been going around the skincare community. It’s twenty very random facts about me, to let you know me a bit better, the faceless blogger. Here we go, friendos~~

Holika Holika Pig-nose Clear Blackhead: A Review

Claims: This is a 3-steps kit perfect for pore control.  The first step opens your pores which allow for removing blackheads easily.  The second step removes blackheads.  The third step to minimize pores.

Ingredients:

Step 1 – Water, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Viscum Album (Mistletoe) Extract, Juniperus Communis Fruit Extract, Arctium Majus Root Extract, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Saponaria Officinalis Root Extract, Hypericum Perforatum Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Illicium Verum (Anise) Fruit Extract, CitrusMedicaLimonum(Lemon)FruitExtract, Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, RosmarinusOfficinalis (Rosemary)LeafExtract, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, ThymusVulgaris(Thyme)Flower/LeafExtract, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract,   Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, CitrusAurantiumDulcis(Orange)FruitExtract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Fragrance(Parfum)

Step 2 – Water, PVP, Dimethicone Copolyol, Kaolin, Titanium Dioxide, VP/VA Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Methylparaben, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, CI 17200

Step 3 – Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Erythritol, Trehalose, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Illicium Verum (Anise) Fruit Extract, CitrusMedicaLimonum (Lemon) FruitExtract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance(Parfum)

[ source ]

What people most commonly refer to as blackheads or whiteheads, often concentrated on the nose, are actually sebaceous filaments (SFs), tiny collections of sebum and dead skin cells around a hair follicle, which usually takes the form of a small hair-like strand [source]. SFs are normal features of the skin [source]. Blackheads (open comedones) and whiteheads (closed comedones) are the result of a clogged pore that may include dead skin cells, dirt, impurities, cosmetics build-up, and sebum [source].

TL;DR: SF = normal skin feature, blackheads/whiteheads = acne.

However, on oily-skinned people, SFs can be very noticeable because of the amount of sebum produced. These have been a problem for me ever since I hit puberty, even before I had proper full-blown acne when I turned 19/20. I have been very wary of nosestrips since I went down the /r/SkincareAddiction hole. Physical extraction (through nosestrips and squeezing) could break capillaries underneath and stretch out pores, and contrary to popular belief, pores cannot shrink, back to it’s original size once stretched out or be smaller that what your genes assigned you.

Okay, after all of that, let’s get to the actual review. Again, I got these on sale for PHP58 each (from PHP98 each) from one of Beauty in Seoul’s [ website | Instagram ] sales.

Sleek Makeup Matte Me: A Review

Claims: Matte Me is a matte finish liquid lipstick that glides on in one smooth application, with no need for a second coat. The light as air texture provides you with comfortable wear for hours, that doesn’t cake, flake or dry out, ensuring long lasting colour all day.

Ingredients:

(For Birthday Suit) Isododecane, Mica, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Alcohol, Dicalcium Phosphate, Aqua (Water), Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Tin Oxide, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77492 (Iron Oxides), CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 15850 (Red 7), CI 15850 (Red 6), CI 42090 (Blue 1)

(For Velvet Slipper and Fired Up) Silica, Bentonite, Isododecane, Cyclomethicone, Polycyclopentadiene, BIS-Diglyceryl, Polyacyladipate-2, Trifluoropropyldimethyl/Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, MAY CONTAIN: CI 77891, CI 42090, CI 15850, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 19140, CI 45410

[ source ]

Liquid lipsticks has all been the rage for a couple of years now. Sleek Makeup [ PH Facebook | PH Instagram ] was having a sale late last year, in conjunction with SM’s mall-wide sale. I also remember coming to SM from a very bad haircut so it was a bad combination for my credit card. I sad-shopped my way around the cosmetic section of the SM Store and hauled a bit from Sleek’s counter.

Matte Me had been going around the social media circuit as a perfect dupe for the Kylie lipkits. I haven’t owned a matte liquid lipstick so I was especially looking forward to trying this out. I think each tube was at PHP450 for 6ml of product.

The shades pictured are (top to bottom) Birthday Suit, Velvet Slipper, and Fired Up. I think these are a perfect selection for me: a nude, a dark plum-y shade, and a deep red.

Skin Watchers Green Snail Hydrating Gel: A Review

I grabbed the chance to buy this at a discount from one of Beauty in Seoul’s [ website | Instagram ] sales because Skin Watchers prices normally keep me away from their products that I really want to try.

Claims: The Skin Watchers Green Snail Hydrating Gel is a refreshing and lightweight hydrating and soothing gel formulated with Snail Secretion Filtrate without any stickiness. It is also formulated with Hyaluronic Acid, Broccoli Extract, and ten other types of herbal extracts to boost the moisture levels of your skin. The Allantoin calms irritated skin, Gluconic Acid helps balance the skin’s sebum, and Collagen and Elastine manage the skin suppleness and hyration.

This product does not contain any artificial colorant, alcohol, paraben, paraffin, talc, phenoxyethanol, benzophenone, or mineral oil.

Ingredients: Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Niacinamide, Apium Graveolens (Celery) Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata (Cabbage) Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit/leaf/stem Extract, Brassica Rapa (Turnip) Leaf Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Arginine, Carbomer, Allantoin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Parfum

[ source ]