Dawn's Journal

My One K Global Peace Concert in Manila Experience

So we woke up at 6 AM, to prepare, have breakfast and all and then we travelled at around 09:00 and arrived at SM Mall of Asia at 11:00 AM. We went out to search for freebies and banners then we got in line for the strapping because we have this perk called the arrival party where we get to greet our bias groups as they arrive at the venue. That's the main reason why we got up early is to make sure that we get the best sight of our idols.

After the strapping, we went straight to the arrival party venue at around 01:00 PM. The arrival party is said to begin at 02:00 PM. It was already past 03:00 PM and nobody was arriving. There were cars passing through the venue and the fans were screaming but it was only the staff members. So at around 04:00 PM, one of the organizers announced that those who have the soundcheck party should fall in line so that they won't be late for the soundcheck party, it means that there might be a chance that the idols won't arrive there and only two groups will come out. We decided to just fall in line for the SVIP lane so that we can get the best sights for the concert.

This is the place where we waited for our idols to arrive, doesn't look like a party at all. The Arrival Party perk was so misleading. (This photo was captured by one of my fangirl friends, Joy

Photo captured by Joy <3 td="">

We tried to go to the help desk to try if we might get the soundcheck party perk because we waited for THREE HOURS just to wait for the idols to arrive, not knowing that they already arrived at the venue long before we got there. What they did is they let two groups out, SHINee, and I'm not sure what the other group was. Surprisingly, the staff members of All Access Production were not aware of what's happening at the arrival party. Some staff members listened but the one who was supposed to help us just ran away, pretending that she was doing anything so we never got the soundcheck party perk. It was so tiring. Running, standing for long hours, waiting, we were really frustrated.

So we just waited until the guards could let us in, when we got inside, we had to wait until the doors finally opened. We went inside at around 06:30 PM, and the show was supposed to start at 07:00 PM. The fans were so hyped while they play the music videos but as time goes by, they kept the music videos on repeat until 08:00 PM and to be honest, I lost all my energy already, my head is beating like hell.

The program started at 08:00 PM, with a video about the Korean war and how the Philippines participated on it which showed that since then, Korea and the Philippines has this huge connection already.

It started with a formal event where the international delegates were introduced, Cesar Montano was also there, and to launch the Global Peace Concert in Manila 2017, they released dove balloons as a sign of peace. I forgot to mention that One K Concert is a part of the week-long event, Global Peace Convention 2017 which is an international movement aims to promote peace and good relations with Korea. Manila is their first stop for 2017.

After the formal event, the concert started as Choi Minho of SHINee and Seolhyun of AOA hosted the event. I cried by the way when I saw Minho cause it was my first time seeing him. Hehe.

B.A.P was the first act where they sang Skydive, One shot and No Mercy. Now, I was so happy with B.A.P, they are one of the groups whom my heart holds dearly. I was so happy that Zelo and Youngjae, my bias and bias wrecker were so close to me. Zelo saw me and Youngjae, even though they might not be aware that they saw me eye to eye. It's okay.

followed by B1A4, who performed Beautiful Target, What's Happening and Baby Goodnight. They were so cute and fresh and lively! I've been a fan of B1A4 for 6 years now and seeing them perform live for the first time, gosh! It was a dream come true. Baro was always on our side of the stage so I got the chance to have an eye to eye moment with him.

Then special stages performed by Choa of AOA, Sandeul of B1A4, then B.A.P's Daehyun and Youngjae singing the most popular OSTS of the most loved Korean Dramas in the Philippines. After that, AOA performed followed by BTOB, wherein the arena was filled with screams as Sungjae who played Deok Hwa at the famous Korean drama Goblin introduced himself. After that, a special stage performed by BTOB's Eunkwang and Hyunsik performing Anak by Freddie Aguilar together with Cesar Montano.

The stage was followed by CN Blue wherein Yonghwa's fan service was so extra. He even said that Manila is so sweet like Vanilla. His cheesy pick-up lines was so funny. It was so intense.

Now for my long awaited act, SHINee. I cried and sobbed so hard when I saw them up close. My eyes couldn't believe what I was seeing. They were so angelic. I kept asking myself if I was really there. They were the highlight of my evening.

And as usual, they devoured us with their great vocals and energetic dance moves. It was an emotional night for us shawols, most of the fans that were caught on camera were either crying or screaming their lungs out. It was intense.

The last performer was PSY where he made everyone emotional by his song, father and also made the whole arena dance to his most popular songs like Gentlemen, Gangnam style and etc. His performance was followed by the artists and the producer coming out of the stage and sang the theme song for One Dream, One Korea.

At first, I hesitated to go for VIP standing because I know my level of tolerance for long events like these plus we stood for how many hours waiting for our idols so throughout the day, we were mostly standing and I only had less than 2 hours of sleep. So the adrenaline saved me and gladly, I survived, I would definitely go for standing again as I've made so many eye contacts with the idols and they were very close to me. I'm glad I went for the standing lane, I had no regrets at all!

Anyway, we've all read the news about what happened that night but it's still not over after weeks, even after a month, the fans are still crazy about it including myself.

Me and my new found friends talk about the event almost everyday because we couldn't get over it. It was such a great experience for fangirls like me. This is also one of the best concerts I've attended so far but Coldplay is still on the number one spot. :D

Anyways, these are my thoughts about the event. How did you spend the concert and what did you do after it? I also want to hear your experiences on the comments below. :)

Note: All of the pictures above were taken by me so please repost with proper credits.

12Comments

, by Dawn Flores

[Review] Beauskin Invisible Pore Foundation

This is a foundation perfect for Filipino/Tanned Skinned Korean Makeup fans who can't get the right shade.

Hi everyone! It's been a while, and I'm so excited to share my review of The Beauskin Invisible Pore Foundation. First of all, I would like to thank SaeliYuriMelissaLee's all about Korean makeup and skincare group for allowing me to join and get my hands on the best Korean Makeup and Skincare products that are hard to get. And to my first angel, Cheryl Love for adding me to that group, and of course my current angel Angiela Layug for patiently answering my queries. I'm really glad I was able to get a hold of this product. You can also get this at Lazada but at a higher price.

This foundation has been causing a lot of hype in that group and I was really intrigued and been eyeing this product for a while, because I've always loved Korean Cosmetics but it's really difficult to find the right shade for me because we all know that Koreans have lighter skin tones, and top makeup brands usually has only three shades, and the darker shades are still lighter for me. I'm sure a lot of Filipino Korean makeup fans can relate.

So let's start our review.

Description:

This product is known as the perfect cover foundation. The vegetable oil ingredients such as avocado oil and olive oil is included to supply moisture and nutrition on the skin and due to fine silicon powder, the foundation completely covers fine lines and pores. This facial foundation lasts for a long time even under sweat and moist. Also, it helps in controlling sebum and helps in preservation of soft skin.

How to use:

How to use: After using the make-up base, take an appropriate amount of the foundation and apply evenly along the skin texture from the large areas of the face then gently tap of finish.

Swatches:

Bare Face (used Real Kill White as primer)

As you ca see the color of the product is slightly yellow toned and it's a different shade compare to my skintone

When blended

With powder. See, this product is really good at faking that you have great skin. LOL

Pros:

Covers your fine lines and pores

Matches your skin tone

Light on the face

Has organic ingredients

Gives you a glowing look

Very affordable (but the original price is more expensive but the results are worth the penny)

Perfect for no makeup look

Provides medium coverage

Gives you that glowing dewy finish

Cons:

I'm not a fan of the smell

Not travel friendly

Only has medium coverage cause it's not too thick

Rating:

I would give this product a 5/5. Seriously.

Final Verdict:

So why did I give it a 5/5? To be honest, I couldn't find any flaw to the product it self. It's very light on the face and the coverage is so natural. It gives you a glowing look and you'll notice that your skin feels smoother. I love that the coverage is not too matte so your face doesn't look like a dry desert, but it's not too greasy as well. It's a bit oily I must say after a few hours but it's not greasy or heavy like other makeup brands. So yeah, this one is my current favorite so far.

Also, if you feel like your waiting too long for your skin care routine to take effect, this is a good product to fake your skin. HEHE. It's really looks good on your photos, gives everybody an illusion that your skin is nice.

The lasting power is up to 4-5 hours based on my experience, it does comes off on most parts but after few hours, I still look fresh, you can simply do a retouch with powder, or best if you use a primer so that the makeup would stay longer.

If you haven't seen the long-term effects of your skin care routine and you still have skin issues, this is a good product to cover those because its ingredients are very light and it won't cause any breakouts. For me, it didn't.

I actually prefer this product over L'oreal True Match Foundation which I also posted a review so check it out. It's lighter, and it doesn't get darker.

That's it! If you want me to try and make a review for a product, please feel free to contact me. You can get my details on the About Me page. And if you have questions, please go ask! I love question and answer portions! LOL. :D

6Comments

, by Dawn Flores

In Dawn's Advice, Personal

Five Awesome Reasons Why You Should Be Waking Up Early

Before you make the assumption that I’ve been an early riser all my life, let me stop you there, as this was definitely not the case. In fact, I had spent most of my late teen years and early 20’s “thriving” by constantly burning the midnight oil. I was convinced that sleep was overrated, “I can sleep as much as I want when I’m dead“, I thought to myself. And as a result, I was getting by with as little as 3 to 4 hours of sleep every night.

Perhaps it’s the inevitable effects of aging but these days, I can’t even fathom a night without 7 to 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Though the transformation from a night owl to an early bird was hardly a walk in a park, knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t have it other way.

Whilst being an early riser may not be for everyone, through my own experience, I have found that the early bird does catch the worm. With that, here are five reasons why I personally believe it truly pays to be a morning person:

You’ll have a calm yet invigorating start to the day

By waking up at least 2 hours prior to getting out the door in the morning, you give yourself enough time to indulge in your morning rituals instead of having to rush through your morning.

Depending on your preference, you may use this ‘free’ time for a peaceful meditation session, plan for the day ahead, have an indulgent 20-minute bath or perhaps, if you wake up early enough, all of the above!

By setting aside ample time for the things that give you joy and serenity in the morning, you are bound to start the day fully recharged with a spring to your step and ready to take on the world by the time you walk out the door.

You’ll be able to catch one of nature’s greatest shows

One of my all-time favorite things to do is to watch the sunrise and the only way one can catch a glimpse of one of nature’s greatest feat is to wake up early enough to see it!

Each beautiful sunrise is different from the next but never fails to mesmerize. Whenever I watch the sunrises while breathing in the crisp morning air, I am once again reminded as to how truly beautiful the world is and how fortunate we all are to be living in it. It makes me sincerely grateful to be alive and instills a sense of gratitude as I go about my day.

You’ll have time for a proper breakfast

I love having an indulgent and healthy breakfast in the morning along with cups of my favorite elixir, coffee. Breakfast is also a time when I set aside time to chat with my loved ones and/or catch up on the latest news and happenings before I’m off to seize the day.

As cliché as it may sound, it’s been scientifically proven that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Hence, it is surprising that many still insist on skipping it, mainly because they have no time to eat in the morning! By making time for a proper, hearty breakfast, you provide your body (and your brain) with the nourishment that it needs to help you be on top of your game and keep you energized – at least until lunch time rolls around.

You’ll become more productive

Whenever I have some tasks that I was not able to complete during the work day, instead of opting to burn the midnight oil, I make a point to do them in the following morning instead. I’ve come to realize that I am much more productive and focused after a restful slumber than if I were to force myself to get it all done the night before.

If I am anticipating an insanely busy day ahead, I would use my morning to get a head start on the day’s tasks. This way, I am able to lessen the work load for the rest of the day and prevent myself from becoming too overwhelmed or burning out in the long run.

You’re likely to make time to work out

For most of us, by the time we step out of the office, the last thing we want to do is hit the gym or do ANY physical exercise. Personally, I much prefer to use my time in the evenings to relax. Whether it’s checking out a new restaurant, hanging out with friends or watching my favorite TV shows, I usually block my evenings for some downtime before hitting the hay.

Knowing that I would make plenty of excuses to get out of working out in the evenings, mornings make the perfect time to squeeze it in! So, use this time for a refreshing run or a yoga class. As you may already know, when we exercise, we produce endorphins aka our body’s “happy” hormones that make us feel more energized, lift our mood and help us to tackle whatever challenges the day has in store for us!

The reasons above are so true, there were times that my insomnia attacks so sometimes I sleep at 08:00 in the morning, which is something I'm trying to break and I believe I'm doing a great job lately. I try my best not to sleep very late cause the reasons above are my motivation to wake up early.

So there you, to those who love to sleep very late, I hope this encourages you to sleep early and wake up early to have a productive day ahead.

Looking for a great morning ritual that have plenty of benefits? Go on a meditation and yoga retreat where you’ll learn to instill great habits that will help you to make the most of each day!

Original Post: https://www.bookmeditationretreats.com/news/benefits-of-waking-up-early

6Comments

, by Dawn Flores

In Dawn's Advice, make-up

A Lip Tint That Stays (April Skin Fxing Tint, Worth The Hype, Or Nah?)

Hi Everyone! It's good to be back. You know how lipsticks or lip tints are so important for us ladies, especially for someone like me who looks like I chugged a bottle of vinegar because I'm so pale. I own a lot of lipsticks or tints in the same type of shade.

I found this fixing lip tint online because I've been seeing a lot of Korean beauty bloggers making a video review of how it stays even after eating oily foods, even if you try to erase the tint using your lip tint, it still stays. That's almost like a miracle for us ladies because it's always annoying how we have to do touch ups after eating or even after a few hours.

April Skin has been making a huge hype on social media because of its good products. I managed to get one of their best sellers through a friend, you would wanna check their page if you're interested in Korean Makeups -> Le Tote Cebu

So, let's start the review.

Let's start with the packaging:

I love the packaging cause it's pink, of course, I love pink. I love how it's travel friendly cause it's plastic and I love how simple it is but it says something.

I love how the wand is bendable, it makes it easier for the product to apply and blend. Though people might find it hard to use cause it's bending but turns out, it's actually very convenient.

The shade that I got is Tomato Lady, which is somehow orange but somehow reddish. It's corally (I just made that up) so it suits my morena skin really well. So I applied this on and I tried smudging it but it didn't smudge at all. It stays the same.

Let's talk about the pros and cons of this product:

Pros:

Lasts long
Travel-friendly packaging
Has SPF 10
It doesn't cause cracking on your lips cause it's a bit moist
It does stays even after eating
Non-transferable
Smudge-free

Cons:

It's too sticky and uncomfortable when you eat
It doesn't have so many shades to choose from
It's too pricy
Hard to blend cause it dries too fast

The final verdict:

I would give this product a 3/5. Over all, it's a good product but I will always consider the comfort and this is not a comfortable product to wear all day, simply because it's really sticky so I would prefer to remove it before eating because it's irritating. (LOL) but overall, it's a really really good product and I would love to try the other shades as well.

So if you're planning on buying this product, consider your comfort, consider if the price is worth it. So I would still recommend this one if you desire to have a long lasting lip tint.

You can actually wear this product in two different ways, you can wear it in a lip-bitten way, or you can apply the whole product to your lips so your lip would really pop. Here are some of the ways I wear this tint.

Lip-bitten style

Lip bitten style is easy, simply put the product on the upper part of your lower lip and the lower part of your upper lip. I'm sure you understood what I just said. Haha. Just simple blend them downwards for it to look more natural.

As you can see on this look, I didn't put too much product so it still looks light and it's not popping.

This is how I would wear it on a daily basis

If you want it popping, this is how it would look

So you can say that this shade is quite versatile depending on how you use it so hooray for it!

So there you go, thank you so much for taking the time to read this, I hope it helped you in every way. If you have questions, please feel free to ask.

Have a lovely day!

0Comments

, by Dawn Flores

In Dawn's Advice, skin care

The Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is perhaps one of the most misunderstood of all the edible oils. Coconut oil can help with weight loss, skin and hair care, increase immunity and boost energy levels while also helping strengthen bones and promote a healthy digestive system.

Coconut oil also very stable at high temperatures so is ideal for frying as it doesn’t easily break down to create harmful byproducts like most of the common polyunsaturated vegetable oils do.

The human body carries normal levels of a substance called monolaurin. This substance assists in increasing our immune system by warding off harmful bacteria, fungi and viruses. Monolaurin levels in coconut oil help improve a compromised immune system while also increasing the body’s proper nourishment and energy levels. For that reason, using coconut oil is one of the best health tips you’ll ever receive.

Lauric Acid as a Healthy Oil Alternative

Monolaurin derives from our body’s natural production of lauric acid. Coconut oil’s main component is lauric acid, which is among a group of medium-chain triglycerides in the saturated fat group. Unfortunately, because of the negative publicity of saturated fats, the wonderful benefits of coconut oil have been widely overlooked.

A common misconception about coconut oil is its association with weight gain when in fact the opposite is true. Coconut oil consists of 50% lauric acid, which is a medium-chain triglyceride. Also included is myristic, caprylic and palmitic acid. The presence of these acids helps to reduce appetite while increasing proper function of the thyroid. This does not mean they are an appetite suppressant, but rather they allow a healthy level of food consumption and provide longer time durations of feeling full.

The increase in metabolism and thyroid function assists in our body burning fat calories rather than storing them. The presence of medium-chain triglycerides in coconut oil allows the rapid digestion of these acids before they reach the intestinal tract whereas other oils contain slow digesting long-chain triglycerides. These particular long-chain triglycerides also trigger the body’s fat storing function ultimately resulting in weight gain.

Hair and skin can reap the benefits of coconut oil because of its high level of antioxidants, which effectively combat free radicals. Free radicals promote the bodies aging process by weakening skin tissue, whereas antioxidants work to combat free radical levels. In addition, a natural derivative of coconut oil is Vitamin E. This vitamin strengthens skin tissue and hair follicles while retaining skin and hairs optimum condition. The antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties in coconut oil (lauric and caprylic acid) ward off skin infections such as acne and blemishes as well.

I personally love coconut oil, my scalp is known for having dandruff and it is indeed one of the most effective way to clear and calm your scalp, plus it also makes your hair shiny and healthy in a natural way.

Looking to take advantage of the coconut oil benefits on a detox retreat? Go to BookDetoxRetreats.com and find the ideal one among the most comprehensive list of retreats online!

Original Post: https://www.bookdetoxretreats.com/news/the-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil

1Comments

, by Dawn Flores

In Dawn's Advice, Personal

1 month left to make 2016 awesome!

Hi, everyone! Am I the only one being dazzled by how fast the days go by. I mean, it’s literally just 2015’s new year’s eve, and now only a month to go before 2017. This is crazy.

Well anyway, there have been a lot of talk on social media that 2016 is probably the worst year ever. With the elections, legendary stars dying, 2ne1’s disbandment (haha!) and more. This year for me is actually a mix of the best and the worst.

This year, my grandfather from my father’s side died, also my grandmother from my mother’s side, I still feel the pain just by thinking about it actually. When I think about 2016, those were definitely the worst happenings. This is going to be our first Christmas without them.

This year I also attended my favorite artists’ concerts. Yay! And I also got tickets to see Coldplay and met a new set of a family because of the fandom.

We only have a month to go to make this year great and this is the only tip I could give you, live it to the fullest. Most people would set goals, plan things, that’s great, I also do that sometimes. But the best memories are those that are unexpected and unplanned.

Meet with your friends you haven’t seen in a long time, go to local concerts, watch movies, do the little, simple, special things because, for me, the little moments are not little. Make these little moments special every day until the end of the year and you can make this year great again. LOL.

Also, look at the brighter side of things. I may have lost two of the most special people in my life, but their loss was not taken in vain because I saw the changes from my family. We always make sure to get together all the time, our support for each other have grown and we were more appreciative of each other’s presence.

It’s all in the mind. If you believe that this year was a mess, that’s not because it was a mess, but you just simply thought it was a mess.

If you think it was a mess, then change it.

That’s all for today, I’m sure Christmas and New year will be here any moment. :D

Let me know your best moments this year. Bye!

0Comments

, by Dawn Flores

In Dawn's Advice, make-up

How I got into makeup (my makeup journey)

When I got interested in makeups, I didn't know what products to buy, what specific tools or whatever.

People love the way I draw my brows, but believe me, my eyebrows were a mess and I was always asking for my friend's help to put my eyeliner, I wasn't good at makeup.
For this post, no matter how embarrassing this is, I will be sharing the transition to when I started learning how to do my makeup up to now.

This is to encourage everyone that are not YET good with something they love to do.
I started using makeup when I was in college because I had to. Everyone was pretty and I don't want to look haggard or "dugyot" that's how we call it in the Philippines.
I had a liquid foundation, a mascara, powder foundation and lipstick. Those were the first items on my pouch.

Eyebrows weren't that big of a deal before. LOL

Say hi to my photobomber. :D

I seriously look like an alien without eyebrows T.T

After a long time, I finally decided to learn how to do my eyebrows and how to put an eyeliner, it was messy at first. I didn't know how to properly draw an eyebrow and I hated looking at photos during the times when my eyebrows were poorly drawn.

Look at my freaking eyebrows :(

The eyeliner is just.. I have no words for it

After some time, I finally found the best product for my eyebrows, I decided to take them seriously. I also upgraded the brands that I use. I practiced how to properly blend foundation, I watched too many tutorials so that I could get it right.

After so many practices, I haven't mastered the art of eyebrows yet but at least they were decent looking.

See the improvement of the eyebrows. Hihi

After some time, I learned the importance of moisturizing my face first before putting any makeup. I also started practicing on how to properly draw an eyeliner. I started with the basics, I also started taking care of my skin cause that's very important.

It wasn't perfect but it's getting there

After so many attempts

Then I started practicing how to do my eyeshadow, how to contour, I basically tried to upgrade my skills.

Everything wasn't perfect at first, but then I on kept trying. I always try to figure out what's wrong, what's good and how to improve it.

The first photos were really embarrassing but that's how I know I really improved. A LOT! :D

The secret to improving is to never ever be contented of your skills. Explore, learn, practice. Don't stop watching tutorials. Don't stop learning by yourself. Don't be discouraged if someone says your eyebrows look bad, your contour should be blended, or you didn't blend your foundation right but use that as a step to improve.

Just be passionate and you'll learn, you'll improve.

Lately, I've been doing experiments, I know I still have a lot to prove and to learn, but for now, I'm really happy of how I improved.

It's a never ending process, there's always something to learn, something to improve. Don't just stop there, if you love something, whether it's blogging, makeup, games, or whatever it is, never ever stop doing what you love.

I hope you were encouraged by my embarrassing photos. Haha. Thank you for seeing my progress, thank you for allowing me to share my experience.

Let me know what you think in the comments below. Have a nice day!