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A candle with a purpose is one thing that comes to my mind when I think about Saint Candles by Ira Dewitt. Ira first started this brand of candles during one of her friendโs trying times. Nowadays, Saint Candles has become a unique philanthropic candle that supports St. Judeโs Childrenโs Research Hospital.
Each saint candle comes in two sizes: the regular 11 oz, which costs 65 USD, and the mini 2.5 oz, which costs 25 USD. Also, each candle comes with a prayer coin to the patron saint, which is advised to be read out loud before you light the candleโs wick. The prayer coin can be kept in the wallet, purse, car or buried in your yard to bless your entire household or family.
Saint Candles come in different unique scents with varying names of saints. I can say that each candleโs fragrance is nothing like I have ever experienced or sensed before. They never smelled like any other candle brands or any candles I have sniffed at my local candle stores. Therefore, this brand of candles is news to me and a breath of fresh air due to the uniqueness of the fragrances and way of use, not to mention the intention and purpose behind each candle that corresponds to each patron saintโs name.
My favorite Saint candles are the following:
Saint Dymphna: Saint of Stress, Anxiety, and Mental Health โ An Irish saint known to comfort and cure the ones afflicted with nervous disorders. She is the saint of mental illness and has miraculously cured people afflicted with such health issues at her burial site in Gheel.
This candle has a top note of cherries and a base note of amber. The middle note is vanilla. The candle overall has a perfect blend of cherry and vanilla that seems sweet at first but then dissipates into a powdery amber scent as it burns halfway. I would not call this a strong scent, but more of a moderate oneโa great transitional scent between Summer and Fall.
Saint Raphael: Saint of Healing โ The patron saint of the sick, nurses, doctors, and travelers. Although I love all the saints of the world, Saint Raphael is my favorite and my second-best favorite scent of all the saint candles reviewed in this post. This candle has iris as its top note, bergamot as the middle note, and vanilla as a base. I find this candle to be quite a heavy floral scent. The blend of iris and vanilla makes for that aromatic floral wintry vibe. The dry-down becomes light over time but lasts for days.
Saint Jude: Saint of Impossible Causes โ As described, Saint Jude is the patron saint of lost causes and desperate cases. When all things go wrong, choose faith over fear. This candle is for those who remain steadfast despite the impossibilities of their circumstances. As for the scent, this candle is quite similar to Saint Raphael but heavier. The heavy notes of Turkish rose overpower my olfactory senses in a good way. There is also geranium, with a dry down of oud (my brother Allanโs favorite scent :-)). This candle is perfect for the fall and winter.
Saint Padre Pio: Saint of Healing. Italy Special Edition โ Padre Pio had the gift of stigmata and bilocation. Yes, you read that rightโStigmata and Bilocation (the ability to teleport). I wish I had those gifts, too. But the closest I can do is daydreaming and wandering :-). Seriously, Padre Pio was also known to cure the sick and make miracles. Thus, he is also a patron saint for the sick and the saint for healing. In other words, he is a rock star in the catholic world.
The scent of this beautifully packaged candle is unique. A powdery-sweet-floral candle that is complex yet surprisingly simple. Complex as it is hard to discern which flower drives the top notes, and simple as it is pleasing to the senses. According to Saint Candles, the top note is gardenia, the mid note is white exotic flowers, and the base note is Rose Absolute. A pretty interesting blend, huh? I suggest you try this candle ASAP. This will be ideal to light in any season.
These are my favorite Saint Candles of the moment. If you have not heard of Saint Candles before, I truly suggest you try this brand. Each candle looks luxurious, smells fabulous, holds a religious value, and has a heart and a purpose. Think about every purchase you make from this brand and its proceeds that will help the children at St. Judesโ who deserve to live a normal life. So, grab yourself a Saint Candles and offer a prayer to them or anyone you know who is suffering, struggling, trying to make it, or barely getting by.
This post is dedicated to Kween Konna. I miss you forever, my friend.
Hello, you all makeup enthusiasts! I am sure we have all heard about this wonderful makeup brand I am about to review. Many of you raved about their IG cult-favorite flush balm. But perhaps many of you, as well, have not tried their other โexceptionalโ products.
The Merit beauty products are a staple in many influencersโ makeup trays, and there is a big reason why. Their products are multi-purpose, easy to apply, and easy to love with their various shade ranges. Not to mention the clean ingredient philosophy that the brand boasts about their products.
I had the opportunity to sample a few Merit beauty products, and here are my top favorites:
The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick in Cream โ This multi-use concealer, which can also be used as a foundation, depending on the application, is just perfect in every way. The texture is just right. Not too creamy and not too dry and stiff. The formula blends well on the skin upon contact, giving good coverage day and night. I find this to be the perfect concealer for the undereyes because there is no caking or cracking, and it does not get runny under extreme humidity or sweat. The product is easy to apply with its twist-up application, and the packaging is well-designed and looks very luxe.
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Brush No. 2 Double-Sided Eyeshadow Brush โ I may have found the right eyeshadow for my small lids. I love this brush so much because it has two sides that can cater well to those with dainty lids and regular ones. I find that I can apply my eyeshadows better with this brush, and it picks up the right amount of powder or cream eyeshadow so well. The bristles are soft, and the brush is not too long, which is ergonomic for those with tiny baby fingers.
Flush Balm Cream Blush in Persimmon โ Warm coral copper. This is the perfect all-in-one blush and lip color for fall. The persimmon shade is so pretty and will work with any skintone. Ever since my first experience with the Merit Flush Balm in Cheeky, reviewed HERE, I have been hooked. I would love to have this product in different colors because the formula glides effortlessly on the skin. It is not too shiny or matte but more satin-like, and each color is just so downright stunning.
Solo Shadow Cream-to-Powder Soft Matte Eyeshadow in Viper โ Matte olive green. This is the first time I tried Meritโs eyeshadow, and I am impressed. The lasting power of the solo shadow is just out of this world. I tried the viper shade, and the color lasted more than 24 hours on me. Even after wiping the shade out, I could still see traces of it. The eyeshadow is creamy and so easy to blend and apply. I find that the product works well with the Merit Brush No.2 above.
Clean Lash Lengthening Tubing Mascara โ This plant-derived vegan mascara works well to curl lashes for hours and hours. I do not think I have found an excellent vegan mascara as good as this. Most of the vegan all-natural mascaras I have tried before are just meh. They never lasted long on me until I tried this. Apart from the staying power of this mascara, I also love that it does not irritate my eyes. Therefore, no eye-itchiness with this, no clumps, just beautiful, long, well-curled lashes.
Bottom line, Merit beauty products will be a staple on my desk and vanity table. I love their products because of their amazing shade range and impressive formulas. Each product released is well-curated and worth every penny. Therefore, I highly recommend them.
If you want more Merit products reviewed in this blog, check this post HERE.
Product samples are sent by Merit. The review and opinion in this post are by yours truly.
It is almost the end of summer and the beginning of fall. If you are starting to feel that summertime sadness, you are not alone. Best know that the feeling will pass, and soon, we will be swooning for fall.
It is still feeling like summer out there, though. The weather is still warm, and the daylights are still long. So, we might as well enjoy the last couple of weeks of summer, right?
As promised, this long overdue post is the second part of my skincare favorites this summer and the end of it (read part 1 here). Some of these favorites will carry over to the upcoming fall. Many of the products that will be featured are geared toward fighting skincare issues during the said seasons. Here are the products I have been using and are recommending:
Face Cleansers
Murad
I can rely on Murad cleansers to keep my skin clean every day. I also love the price of their cleansers because it does not break the bank.
Clarifying Cleanserโ A gel-like acne control Salicylic Acid and Green Tea face wash. Great for hormonal skin that is prone to breakouts.
Essential-C Cleanser โ The scent of this is always fresh and just so good to the senses.
AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser โ This is my favorite of the three Murad cleansers mentioned in this post. I love the exfoliating feel of this.
Dior La Mousse OFF/ON Foaming Face Cleanser โ I have to say, I never knew what a great cleanser was until I used this. A little bit of this mousse creamy cleanser turns into a very foamy wash that cleanses the skin deep down. I realized that most of the cleansers I have been using are never as foamy and deep cleansing as this. So, I highly recommend keeping this as your daily reliable face cleanser. Given this cleanserโs hefty size and affordability, this has to be a holy grail product.
Kate Somerville EradiKate Daily Cleanser with Sulfur Acne Treatment โ I really like this sulfur-based cleanser when my skin breaks out like crazy. Mind you, my skin breakouts often during summer, at the end of summer, and even at the beginning of fall as our skin transitions into another season.
OleHenriksen 10% AHA Lemonade Smoothing Scrubโ โ This cleanser has the perfect scent and texture for daily face wash and exfoliation. Yes, this is an excellent alternative to the now-discontinued OleHensiksen Walnut Scrub, but there is something that we need to know about this cleanser. Please, do not buy this in small size, because the small size packaging does not contain much product. I only had 3-5 uses of such size before it ran out. Therefore, buy it in a large size. Otherwise, this is an excellent daily facial wash exfoliator.
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Facial Cleansing Device
PMD
I like PMDโs facial cleansing devices due to their ergonomic feel and the gentleness of how their products work on the face. The soft silicone knobs exfoliate dead skin cells away without being too abrasive. The vibrating feeling of their device is not dizzying and never loud.
Clean Pro Rose Quartz โ This device has two sides: one is for cleaning and exfoliation, and the other is for serum warming and application. Throughout my usage of this (2 years now), I have only charged the battery twice. That says a lot, right?
Clean Mini โ Because one PMD device is never enough. I have to have a mini for traveling. This version runs on an AA batteryโno need to charge. You can have this version in different colors, too.
Dermaflash Dermapore Ultrasonic โ I used to โnot likeโ this device. It gave me mixed feelings. The reason mainly is I was not quite sure how to use this with my skin. I gave this another try, and I have been enjoying using this since early this summer because the device exfoliates my skin. This is a great alternative to the usual in-clinic dermaplaning. The device vibrates gently, and you simply have to rub it softly on the skin and let it exfoliate the dead skin cells and any roughness on the surface. Youโre going to need a magnifying mirror to get a precise usage of this.
Facial Oil
Since last year, I have become a big fan of facial oils. Not that I love to slather my face with oils. I mainly use facial oils for lymphatic drainage massage (LDM). I have been learning to do the LDM, and I really enjoyed it. The activity is so relaxing, and it helps with vagus nerve relaxation and improving jugular vein flow (say what now? :)). I have narrowed my favorite facial oils down to three:
Sunday Riley U.F.O. โ My most favorite face oil so far. This is just so good and so reliable. There is Salicylic Acid and BHA that are meant to combat acne-prone skin while remaining hydrating at the same time. I use this product almost every day to help with any bumps on my face or neck. I find that this product always calms the breakouts after one use. Highly recommend.
Bio-Oil Skincare Oil โ A great facial oil that has it all: Affordability and quality. This oil is easy to find and buy and contains beneficial ingredients meant to feed the skin. This is literally vitamin E in a bottle. The great Dr. Hep recommended this because this product helps prevent skin scarring, improves the appearance of stretch marks, and improves the skinโs overall appearance and healing.
Herbivore Lapis Blue Tansy โ This is my second most favorite face oil. There is something nostalgic and earthy about this productโs scent. On top of that, this a perfect face oil for skin prone to breakouts and looking for something more natural as a remedy.
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Face Creams & Treatments
I have been on the quest to find some good skincare treatments that really deliver what they are supposed to. Summer has wreaked havoc on my skin due to sweat and clogged pores. Not to mention, the remaining skin hyperpigmentation from harmful UV rays, which my gazillion sunscreens could never reach nor remedy, is still present.
Peter Thomas Roth Max Complexion Correction Padsโ My staple to combat any blackheads and whiteheads that could lead to pesky breakouts. This product unclogs the pores, dries any pimples, and overall prevents acne. A perfect summer skincare product to have and to use all the time. The only drawback is the strong alcohol scent. Other than that, this product is a holy grail. Will continue to use this for the summer and the fall.
Sunday Riley
I can rely on Sunday Riley to consistently deliver quality products that work well for the skin.
C.E.O. Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer โ My current favorite moisturizer and will probably remain as one for a long, long time. I will no longer use plain moisturizers since my skin needs more than hydration. I prefer my moisturizers to have some added benefits. One of them is vitamin C. This moisturizer gives me that. This may be on the oily side, but I like the brightening effect this product gives me. Plus, the hefty jar container is worth it, given the price. So, I highly recommend this.
C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum โ The more vitamin C, the better. This serum has an incredible concentration of vitamin C and does not make the skin look โagent orange.โ Also, there is no weird root-like, soil-like, grassy scent. The texture is so smooth, just like a semi-creamy moisturizer, and never greasy, staining, or runny. I also love the fruity, orangey, citrusy scent, which is really good. This is my preferred vitamin C serum out of all the C serums I have tried.
Good Genes AHA Lactic Acid Treatment โ What can I say? Not all of us are born with good genes. Some of us may have certain genetic predispositions. But so what, and who cares? It does not define who we are. Let nobody else dictate you. It is not about the cards we are forced to deal with, not even the circumstances that happen. It is how you make do with what you have given your predispositions and the dictations of your environment. It is not about the โbecause ofโ but โdespite ofโ (life lesson from yours truly :-)). And besides, who needs good genes? Good genes are overrated. You can always buy Good Genes in a bottle from Sunday Riley :-). It has AHA and lactic acid that helps exfoliate dead skin cells on the surface to give you a smooth baby, AKA glassy skin. You will have renewed and revitalized skin forever. It beats real good genetic composition, eh?
Saturn Sulfur + Niacinamide Spot Treatment Mask โ The answer to any pimple problem is more than just champagne :-). You may need champagne for those ugly crying days when the pimple spurts at the wrong place and time. But, I believe a solution to any pimple problem is Sulfur. Have you got bumps? Sulfur. Any redness with that bump? Rub some sulfur. Any pain? Still sulfur. Pain with pus? Put even more sulfur. Sulfur is the ultimate holy grail for me for fighting any form of breakouts, and the Saturn Sulfur from Sunday Riley is the perfect product for all my sulfur needs. It contains Niacinamide to help fight and prevent even more pimples from occurring and disrupting. I rely on this product a lot, and this always works. The only drawback is this product had shrunk into a smaller tube while remaining pricey and sold out most of the time. Also, a word of advice. Sulfur has a distinctive asphalt cement-ish and rotten egg-slight smell. You may not like it because the scent can haunt you for days. But I find that this Sunday Riley Sulfur does not have that extreme sulfur scent. Still, best to be mindful of the smell and always wipe it out whenever you leave the house. If you do not mind the smell and can tolerate it, then your pimple problem is solved. Just dab on some sulfur:-).
Body
These two products for the body are the current standouts for me:
Sol de Janeiro Beija Flor Elasti-Cream โ Lovely scented body lotion/cream with collagen and squalene. I have not noticed any increase in elasticity on my skin as I use this. I guess those things are something we will never know or seen for sure, as collagen works in the body deep down. I mainly use this product for the lovely scent and whatever collagen it can add to help my body build more collagen because it is hard when you are Monkey D. Luffy in real life (Gum Gum :-)).
Verb Body Wash โ My favorite body wash since this summer is the refreshing body wash from Verb. I like the clean scent of this gel-like product, and the way it foams and lathers is so relaxing on the skin. The scent is not overpowering or dullโjust a simple, fresh scent. The product never dries the skin and never leaves any oily residue. A few drops work well for cleansing, and the packaging dispenses the product well. I highly recommend this if you are looking for a straight-up good body wash that can be used not just for the summer but for every day and all seasons.
These are the products I enjoyed this summer and am still loving now that fall is fast approaching. I will most likely continue to use them in the coming winter since they are so good on the skin.
What about you? What are the skincare products you have been loving lately? What products do you want to try for the coming fall and winter?
