Ever since its inception three years ago (can you believe it has been that long?), Althea Korea has been my go-to website for all things K-beauty. They ship directly from Korea straight to your doorstep so you are assured the products are authentic, they carry a LOT of brands, the prices are cheaper compared to other resellers, and they always hold the best sales and promos! 

And now, they are turning three!

Happy birthday, Althea Korea! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:・ﾟ✧ I am happy and proud to be part of your journey since Day One!

And I am even more privileged to be an Althea Angel!


I was handpicked to be part of Althea's Beauty Ambassador Community, and that means I get first dibs on their newest releases so I can share my thoughts with you. This is so exciting for me because I love trying new products AND I love blabbing about and recommending products that work to my friends and to anyone who would listen! I received my Welcome Gift (including the Althea Angels hand mirror in the photo above) a couple of weeks ago...


... and I love everything! I love the Althea Angels box, the Althea Angels hand mirror, the Althea Angels pouch, the special Althea Turns 3 tote bag, the Birthday Books (that Tiffany and Chloe were using in the first photo on this post), and the new Real Fresh Skin Detoxers in Rose (Refining) and Green Tea (Purifying) in collaboration with Get It Beauty!


I have tried these already and I will share my review on my next post. Spoiler alert! I LOVED the Rose variant!

So many things to unpack here, but the main point of this blog post is that I am happy that Althea Korea is staying strong as our number one K-Beauty resource and that I am happy to be an Althea Angel. ♡

Are you in the mood to do some K-Beauty shopping now? No other day but today because Althea is doing another Fly Me to Korea contest when you shop anytime between today and August 31! You can read the full details and mechanics here.

And because Althea Korea is feeling a lot more generous on their birthday month, you can use the code ALTHEATURNS3 and get 10% off your orders! The coupon is valid until the end of September of this year so shop away! I already did and my purchases are scheduled to arrive this week! I can't wait!

See you on my next post for the review of the Real Fresh Skin Detoxers! ;)

I used to try so hard. In school, in friendships, in relationships, in the way I dress and present myself to the world, I used to think that I wouldn't be liked if I did not exert extra effort. It did not actually result to anything lasting; it only made me tired. Now that I am older, I am much more relaxed, and I'd like to think this has resulted to more genuine friendships.

This also shows in the way I dress myself. I still like cute dresses and add one or two to my shopping cart every once in a while, but I try to dress more for comfort these days, wearing age-appropriate attire. My go-to brand for these pieces is UNIQLO.

My favorite sampling site, Sample Room, recently partnered with UNIQLO to give out free samples of clothes from their AIRism line. You can choose among the Camisole, Seamless Short Sleeve T-Shirt, Sleeveless Top, and Seamless Sleeveless Top. I used my points to get myself a UNIQLO AIRism Camisole for free! (Each Camisole costs Php 590.) I live one block away from Century City Mall so I popped there after work the day I got my voucher in the mail.

I chose Heather Light Blue. Maybe it's just me but I felt choosing Nude or White will make it look like I'm wearing underwear outside, heh. Not that there's anything wrong with that! You do you.


The UNIQLO AIRism line employs comfort conditioning technology; it understands that changing seasons and environments can be tough on our skin so it offers a soft, comfortable, and lightweight way to layer. This smart and breathable base layer releases heat and moisture and adapts to any condition under outfits.

Upon taking my new UNIQLO AIRism Camisole from the packaging, I already noticed how soft it felt. When I put it on, I was amazed at how light it felt, like I was wearing nothing at all. It was soft to the touch, super comfortable, and best of all, it felt like second skin!


Dressing for comfort is especially important for me nowadays because I walk 30 minutes to and from work every day, and I don't want to be weighed down by my clothes. This is the perfect work day top because even with the air-conditioner on full blast in our perennially cold office, I did not feel cold at all. Meanwhile, I barely broke a sweat walking to and from the office. I also like that it fits me like a glove, ensuring that it doesn't ride up. Sexy, comfortable, and age-appropriate. Ticks all the boxes!

Offering free samples of our choice from the UNIQLO AIRism line is a great idea by Sample Room for people like me who are already fans of the brand but have never tried anything from the line yet. Now that my AIRism Camisole has won me over, I am convinced to get more colors and more styles! 

I think I will get the Seamless Short Sleeve T-shirt next.

Have you signed up to Sample Room yet? Register now if you still haven't done so, a wonderful world of sampling awaits you! Also make sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram to get regular updates on what samples you can get for free!

If you're looking for a book that will keep you up until very late at night that it's early, you should read Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. Yes, the same writer of Gone Girl, the book that made me want to throw my Kindle against the wall right after I finished reading it. Days later, I realized I loved the book and looked forward to the movie. I even took half the day off from work to see the first screening on its first showing day!

Four years after reading Gone Girl, here I am reviewing Sharp Objects. My interest for the book got piqued because I heard about the TV series starring Amy Adams as the protagonist Camille Preaker.


Lending support are Patricia Clarkson as her mother Adore and Eliza Scanlen as her half-sister Amma.

I purchased the ebook and wow. What a trip.

Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, reporter Camille Preaker faces a troubling assignment: she must return to her tiny hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls. For years, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed in her old bedroom in her family's Victorian mansion, Camille finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Dogged by her own demons, she must unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past if she wants to get the story—and survive this homecoming.

The night I finished this, I intended to go to sleep by 10 PM and only read one chapter before I turn in for the night. But then I had to read another chapter, and another, and another. Just one more. How about another one? Oh look, I'm almost at the end. Oh. Before I knew it. it was 2 AM and I was done. I was alone in the condo that night and was too unnerved I couldn't go to sleep! The slightest sound from the neighboring units frightened me and I couldn't stop thinking about how great a writer Gillian Flynn is.

I am a cutter, you see. Also a snipper, a slicer, a carver, a jabber. I am a very special case. I have a purpose. My skin, you see, screams. It's covered with words - cook, cupcake, kitty, curls - as if a knife-wielding first-grader learned to write on my flesh. I sometimes, but only sometimes, laugh. Getting out of the bath and seeing, out of the corner of my eye, down the side of a leg: babydoll. Pull on a sweater and, in a flash of my wrist: harmful. Why these words? Thousands of hours of therapy have yielded a few ideas from the good doctors. They are often feminine, in a Dick and Jane, pink vs. puppy dog tails sort of way. Or they're flat-out negative. Number of synonyms for anxious carved in my skin: eleven. The one thing I know for sure is that at the time, it was crucial to see these letters on me, and not just see them, but feel them. Burning on my left hip: petticoat.

If you consume books to escape from the harsh realities of life, do not read this book. This book is gruesome, real, raw, dark, and terrifying. Flynn's writing is so effective in that it stays with you long after you have finished reading; it has been days after I have read Sharp Objects and I am still affected by the characters.

J and I have started watching the TV series but only two episodes have been released so far. Netflix has spoiled me so. The two episodes I have seen are worth the wait though, as each one feels like a mini movie. I'm glad I heard about Amy Adams playing the role before I read the book so it made it easier for me to visualize Camille and how everyone says she was the prettiest girl in Wind Gap when she was young. Props also to Sophia Lillis who plays a very convincing young Camille. She could've been a cloned younger Amy in real life!

I am looking forward to seeing the rest of the show, but I am almost scared to read Dark Places. Maybe I'll wait for another four years. 

Prepare your wallets, folks, we have new game-changers here!


Following the success of the Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick collection earlier this year (you may check my review of the shade Believer here), Maybelline brings in ten new gorgeous and ultra-wearable nude shades, dubbing them the Superstay Matte Ink Un-Nudes!

Maybelline is generous enough to send over all ten shades; there was collective excitement in the office when this package arrived. My friends in the office and I tried a different shade per day, and here I am to present our notes and my swatches!

Are you ready to stay nude all day? You bet I am!

Like the first wave of Maybelline Superstay Matte Inks, these liquid lipsticks are housed in a durable plastic tube and have arrow applicators that allow you to take the right amount of lipstick. The goal is to use the tip as a kind of liner for precise lines and then fill it in with the thick part of the applicator. Since the Superstay Matte Inks became instant cult favorites when they were launched, the Un-Nudes aimed to use the same unmatched Maybelline-patented “Elastic Ink Technology” [completely having zero clay] formula that allows intense pigmentation with one easy and precise application lasting up to 16 hours. Aside from being long-lasting, it also promises to be water-proof and deliver a non-drying and ultra-comfy matte finish.

Aaand udging from these swatches alone, the Un-Nudes are definitely anything but boring!

Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Un-Nudes from left to right: Driver | Poet | Seductress | Amazonian | Fighter | Ruler | Protector | Huntress | Visionary | Philosopher

Seductress was quite popular when I posted this on my Instagram although I didn't veer towards it initially because I thought it looked too similar to a couple of Happy Skin Liquid Lipsticks I own. It's a different story when I applied it on my lips, though. And that is why it's really better to test lip colors on your lips.

Here are ten photos of myself on ten different days wearing ten different Un-Nudes.

Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Un-Nudes Collection in 55 Driver

Driver is a soft light beige that I stalled in using (it's the very last shade I picked up and tried on me) because I was afraid the color would wash me out. When I finally put it on, it actually brightened up my face! It's an insta-pretty color—provided I do the rest of my face—and I'm sure it will reach out for it often.

Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Un-Nudes Collection in 60 Poet

Poet is a beautiful soft pink beige but I find that these peachy shades don't really flatter me. (I'm still digging this photo because of my hair here, though. Heh.)

Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Un-Nudes Collection in 65 Seductress

Seductress is a dusty rose beige that is very flattering. My friend Jean liked it so much that she purchased a tube after trying mine on. As I mentioned, I initially dismissed it because I thought the swatch looked too similar to other liquid lipsticks I already own, but it's now one of my favorites!

Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Un-Nudes Collection in 70 Amazonian

Amazonian is a rich caramel brown that looks like the liquid lipstick version of the Maybelline Creamy Matte Brown in Clay Crush. It's the first color I picked out from the bunch and it did not disappoint.

Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Un-Nudes Collection in 75 Fighter

Fighter is a rich gingerbread brown that is just a tad darker than Amazonian. You can skip this to be honest because the colors are almost identical.

Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Un-Nudes Collection in 80 Ruler

Ruler is a beautiful marsala red, kinda like a muted cherry red. It's a pretty, unassuming color that is unique from all the other red lipsticks I already have in my extensive collection.

Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Un-Nudes Collection in 85 Protector

Protector is a deep burgundy-brown perfect for fierce lewks. It's my least favorite from the bunch only because I don't do makeup looks that require this lip color often.

Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Un-Nudes Collection in 90 Huntress

Now THIS is a unique color. Huntress is a dusty medium gray that is like the color of wet cement. I am half kidding, but that is actually what this lipstick reminded me of! It's a pretty color, though, and I am happy to wear this on casual days out.

Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Un-Nudes Collection in 95 Visionary

Visionary is another interesting color that I am excited to add to my collection. It's a unique purple-gray hue that gives a modern and sexy yet mysterious vibe.

Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Un-Nudes Collection in Philosopher

Philosopher is another color that I didn't think would flatter me, but I guess it depends on how you do the rest of your face. It's a pale dusty lavender and it's the only lavender lipstick I have.

I have Pioneer and Believer from the first wave of Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink, and even though I really liked those liquid lipsticks on me, I loved the formula of these Un-Nudes even more. I felt they hugged my lips better and the shades are more sophisticated and chic.

True to its promise, the new Maybelline Superstay Un-Nudes deliver excellent pigmentation and matte finish without leaving your lips parched and cracked. I have never tried these on without slapping on some lip balm first though, although my friends apply these without lip balm and they still perform the same. You only need one swipe for most but for lighter colors like Poet and Philosopher, you will need to wait for a few seconds for them to dry before applying a second layer.

As the name Superstay suggests, they do stay for a long time and you will need makeup remover at the end of the day. Hurrah for wearable lipsticks that don't require regular touch-ups! At only Php 299 a pop, that's a BIG deal!

I am so excited for you to find your perfect Un-Nude. And because Maybelline is feeling extrrra generous, you can get Php 500 off when you purchase the whole set at Lazada if you use my code UNNUDEKRISSY! Note that this is a non-affiliate link meaning I won't earn anything even if you click on the link and use my code. Just sharing the love to y'all. So choose your favorite shade/s, round up your friends, and purchase a set OR buy the whole set for yourself. No judgment here. ;)

What's your favorite Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Un-Nude shade? Let me know in the comments or tweet me! It's always nice to hear from friends. ♡ 

Not all heroes wear capes. Sometimes they are at the DC Super Heroes Café Philippines.

I love themed everything; theme parties (I had a How I Met Your Mother-themed party for my 28th birthday!) perk me up and make me more excited to go. If it's a theme party, you bet I'll be exerting a lot of time, effort, and money to dress accordingly.

My boyfriend J has been raring to visit the newly opened DC Super Heroes Café Philippines at the Mega Fashion Hall but we waited to see the hype die down a bit first. We have been to the DC Comics Super Heroes Café in Singapore and if it's anything like it, we wanted to be able to enjoy our first visit and not be overwhelmed by huge crowds.

Last weekend, he called them to make a reservation for us for Sunday lunch. It was so cute how he did a critical analysis of what toys he would bring to take photos of. In the end, we decided with the sassy DC Bombshells. He also brought a couple of The Flashes with him.


The DC Super Heroes Café Philippines is located at the 4th level of Mega Fashion Hall in SM Megamall. As expected, there was a line outside. There was a bit of confusion about our reservation until we were finally given a booth at the Hall of Justice.

The menu as displayed outside the restaurant

All the reviews we have read said only good things about the food, so we came in with high expectations. All the names sound delicious so we had a difficult time choosing which ones to get. From the descriptions alone, you can already tell that they thought of everything thoroughly.

The menu looks like a copy of the Gotham Gazette

While waiting for our orders, J played with my rivals [for his attention, heh].




Here are our orders:

The Belly Buster (Php 380) 1/3 lb angus patty served inside a brioche bun with cheddar cheese, lettuce, and our own awesome sauce. Inspired by Big Belly Burgers Our own take on the multiversely popular Burger from the Flash, Arrow, Supergirl, and DC's Legends of Tomorrow TV series

Deep Cacao Milk Chocolate Smoothie (Php 190) Rich milk chocolate smoothie with fresh cacao and deep dark chocolate topped with our signature whipped cream

Buttermilk-Fried Chicken Wings (Php 380) Buttermilk fried chicken wings served with rice pilaf topped with pomodoro sauce and honey mustard

Strawberry Trifle (Php 240) Layers of vanilla cake, strawberry jam and whipped cream topped with chocolate soil, a macaron, and sour vines Poison Ivy not included, heh.

The verdict: the food is really good and we love everything we ordered! I thought there was too much pomodoro and honey mustard on the Buttermilk-Fried Chicken Wings judging by the appearance alone but each spoonful is a perfect symphony of savory flavors. The Deep Cacao Milk Chocolate Smoothie is also not sickly sweet, it's just right. It's also served in a huge glass! There were two of us but we almost couldn't finish it. I also liked that customers can bring the plastic emblems home, but they ran out of Flash for The Belly Buster so they substituted it with Superman. Meanwhile, the Strawberry Trifle is moist. Aside from the nice way it is presented, it's the perfect dessert to cap our meal.


I also think the pricing is just right. Your tummy gets filled with big servings of delicious food while your eyes are also satiated with beautiful visuals. Every inch that the huge space the restaurant occupies is DC-themed and DC fans, whether hardcore or casual, will definitely feel right at home.


There is also a lot of official merchandise that doubles as display. After eating and you have moolah to spare, you might want to go shopping, too.

My only comment is regarding the service. J had to call more than once the day prior to reserve a table but there was still a bit of a confusion when we arrived. We also had this feeling that the staff were rushing us to finish our food, maybe because they wanted to accommodate the other people waiting in line. I get that it's easy to get flustered when you're dealing with hungry people who want to be seated but I just feel that there's a better way to do it than taking our plates and serving our dessert before we were completely done with our main course.

Notwithstanding this incident that most probably was a birthing pains blunder, we were satisfied with our visit and we will definitely go back again. J is a huge DC universe geek and I'm a Bat-Fan and it's great that a restaurant that caters to our appetites and interests exists.


Next time maybe we'll also have a Barbie-themed restaurant here? A girl can dream.

The Lord knows how much I tried to resist getting this, but my blush-loving heart is weak. And so, after lemming for this for almost two months, I am now a happy owner of the limited edition Benefit Blush Bar "Cheeks on Pointe" Cheek Palette.


And oh look, a perfectly fitting Gift with Purchase! I got this purse because I have the EQ of a pillow I also got a Benefit Hello Happy Soft Blur Foundation in my shade. (I also got a Hello Happy Sponge for free, yay!)

The Benefit Blush Bar "Cheeks on Pointe" Cheek Palette also comes with a thin booklet of Signature Tips and Tricks so you can make the most out of your Blush Bar.


The shades included are GALifornia, the new Gold Rush, Dandelion, Hoola, and Rockateur. The palette costs Php3,600, which is the cost of two Benefit Box o’ Powders if you buy them separately. Five blushes for the cost of two?? That's the main reason why I finally decided on getting this for myself. I have minis of GALifornia and my favorite Rockateur but unfortunately I misplaced the latter. (We were in the process of moving from Navotas to Valenzuela and then I moved to a condo in Makati. Half the time I don't even know where my stuff are.) Since I intend to get a replacement anyway, getting this was a sound decision.


So pretty. I can admire this all day! Smells great, too! I like smelling grapefruit on my cheeks whenever I swipe any of these colors on.


GALifornia is a bright, medium pink-coral with a barely-there, golden sheen. It is such a summery color, perfect for when you want to inject a happier color into your look. The new Gold Rush is a light peach with warm undertones and a barely-there, golden sheen. I use this on top of my cheeks for instant highlight. Dandelion is a soft, light-medium pink with warm undertones and random, gold sparkles strewn through the powder. I love using this a subtle finishing powder. Hoola is a medium brown with subtle, warm yellow undertones and a matte finish. I actually use this for contouring. Finally, my favorite Rocktaeur is a soft, peachy coral with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. This is my go-to, insta-pretty blush.

Swatches of the Benefit Blush Bar "Cheeks on Pointe" Cheek Palette From the left: GALifornia, Gold Rush, Dandelion, Hoola, and Rockateur

I used the Benefit Blush Bar for this look

My favorite combo is using Hoola on the hollows of my cheeks, Rockateur on the apples, Gold Rush on my cheek bones, and Dandelion all over.

Since I succeeded in not getting a single lipstick all 2017, I resolve to do this challenge again. I vow never to purchase another blush until I hit the pan on at least three of these. Wish me luck!

The Benefit Blush Bar is available in Benefit stores, Sephora, Lazada, Zalora, and wherever Benefit Cosmetics are sold. I got mine from Rustan's The Beauty Source in Glorietta. I spotted fakes when J and I were walking around Greenhills yesterday so it's best to get from authorized retailers.

This palette cost me a pretty penny but I don't feel a pinch of regret. I love love love this palette!

This blog post is three months too late—there was a moment there that I couldn't muster up enough interest to write, but here it is now, and I am glad to be back.

As you may know, I started collecting dolls again last year. With my boyfriend's help and the bustling doll collecting community here in the Philippines, I slowly but surely built my doll collection, and one of the highlights since I began is being invited to the office of Richprime Global, Inc.! 

You are seeing just a portion of the Barbie collection of Miss Myrna Yao, founder of Richprime Global, Inc. here. These glass cabinets as well as Richprime's storage room gave me a peek to the most Barbie dolls I have seen in one day!

This visit wouldn't have been possible without Rue's kind invitation. We met at a Sample Room event years ago and it's so nice to cross paths with her again!

My boyfriend J accompanied me to the Richprime Global, Inc.'s office towards the latter part of March this year. I have been on bed rest for more than a month following my myomectomy and I was itching to go out of the house. It still wasn't easy for me to walk then but seeing all these Barbies in person energized me!

I was a given a peek at the newest Barbie dolls and play-sets released locally, some of which I either have already, or ended up purchasing after. No regrets. Hee.

Barbie Made to Move Martial Artist and look, a Barbie Made to Move Dancer like the one I have!

Barbie Fashionistas Dolls with additional outfits and accessories

Barbie Career Dolls

Barbie Crayola Color-in Fashion

And oh my gosh, I love this assortment of Barbie Career Places!

Art Studio

Grocery Store

Science Lab

And these other sets that provide endless hours of imagination and play!




But oh my word, my heart is beat-beat-beating for these Silkstones. I want to fill a display shelf with them!

Fiorella Silkstone Barbie

Fashionably Floral Silkstone Barbie

You may remember J giving me my first Silkstone Barbie as a Christmas gift. I named her Barbara Kristy and she is as pretty as ever. She's a Classic Camel Coat Doll and you may get your own here. I also want the Classic Cocktail Dress Barbie and the new Elegant Rose Cocktail Dress Doll, and I dream to have the Bride Silkstone Barbie when I get married.


Thanks again for your very kind invitation, Rue! J and I had a great time perusing the rows and rows of shelves and adding more dolls to my never-ending wish list! So many other pop culture dolls I want to include in my collection! The Jennifer Lopez Barbie, the Tomb Raider Barbie, the Jurassic World 2 Barbies, and the iconic Day-to-Night Barbie! I also recently got the new Curvy and Tall dolls from the second wave of Barbie Made to Moves, and I want more so I can re-body some of my dolls.


And because Kids Company is generous to us kids and kids-at-heart, they gave me a code I can share with you so you can enjoy 15% off your regular-priced purchases from Kids Company (except Shopkins, Hatchimals, Happy Places, and Pikmi Pops) until the end of December 2018! Just enter KRISSYFIED upon checkout to enjoy this discount.

Thank you for reading, and tweet me or email me in case you were able to use my code successfully because I want to live vicariously through your toy purchases! ❤