My Favorites: A Food, Travel & Product Review Blog

A friend once told me that the best tart he’d tasted in his entire life was that of Pie & Tart’s in Hong Kong. I was a bit skeptical as tarts in Hong Kong are the pandesals/ensaymadas of the Philippines, just about every bakery has its own version which is as good, probably even better, than that of the last bakeshop you’ve visited. My point is, it’s hard to choose the best. As I frequently go to Hong Kong since my sister and brother-in-law are based there, I promised myself that I’d make it a point to drop by a store in my next visit. I was surprised when my sister told me that there was a branch of it in Granville Road, a short walk from Rosary Church where we’d usually attend mass on Sundays. And ever since I first tried their pastries, a trip to Hong Kong would not be complete without a visit to Pie & Tart! Just to give you a bit of background, Pie & Tart was established in 1998. Its official website states that it currently has thirteen (13) b...

I was able to try this product after my sister gave me her unfinished tube due to its not-so-good effect on her. She said that, while this is one of the best sellers in Hong Kong, it made her skin dry after a few days of use.  While I’m satisfied with my regular facial wash, I have never shied away from trying others, hoping to find a better alternative. So, after reading mostly good reviews online about the product and the claims in its packaging (i.e., it helps achieve brighter skin, lathers away impurities and makeup, and leaves skin brighter, sooth, supple and radiant), I decided to try it! This cleansing foam has a thick, creamy texture. It doesn’t have any distinct smell and is almost scentless. This also takes a while to foam up and what I’d usually do is squeeze in a substantial amount so that it would foam up easily.  I read a tip somewhere that you have to first lather the product into a rich foam before applying it on your face. Rubbing it on your...

If you are looking for a cheap and effective anti-ageing product, sunscreen should most definitely top your list. When I was first exploring skincare products, I distinctly remember my dermatologist telling me, after enumerating the various expensive products that he would like to me to try, that the one thing that I should never ever forego is the daily application of sunscreen . Not applying sunscreen is literally and figuratively a deadly sin in skin care! In my five years of using sunscreen on my face, I have already tried several brands but I always end up returning to my first sunscreen love: Biore UV Aquarich Watery Essence SPF 50 + PA++++ (“Biore Aquarich Sunscreen”).   You probably know the saying that you never realize the importance of what you have until you’ve lost it. In my case with Biore Aquarich Sunscreen, my love for this product is reinforced every time I try other sunscreens. I always end up disposing the other sunscreens that I’ve tried (some ...