Of all the exciting new skincare methods I've discovered, sheet masks were something I've always seen but never tried. So this time, I've decided to skip the DIY masks and acne-centric products and tried out ready-made Korean skincare sheet masks instead. And what better way to start my sheet mask journey by trying out drugstore brands that are not only attractive to the eyes, but to my budget as well. Check out my PureDerm Animal Sheet Mask review right here:




Sheet masks are face-shaped fabric masks with cut-outs for the eyes, nose, and mouth. These masks are doused in vitamin-rich serums inside tightly sealed packets. Best known for their easy-use feature, sheet masks eliminates all the needed time and effort people use on making and applying DIY masks or. One can simply take it out of the packaging, apply, leave on for 30 minutes, and then dispose of once the mask has dried out. Easy! And this is exactly why the market for this kind of 3-step facial treatment is widely popular and used because not everyone has the time to spend on doing the latter themselves. 


Disclaimer: Before I start discussing my personal experience with the Purederm Animal Sheet Masks, I would like to make it clear that I am by no means a licensed medical or dermatological practitioner, nor am I a manufacturer of these products. I am simply a blogger who buys, reviews, informs, and tries to market these products in the best and most creative way I can. Also, NO FOXES, PANDAS, SEALS, AND PIGS WERE HARMED DURING THE MANUFACTURING OF THIS PRODUCT NOR THE CREATION OF THIS REVIEW. 

Quick Overview

Originating from South Korea, sheet masks have made its way to influence different continents around the globe. Many brands have created their own version of this product, especially American and European brands. But for the purposes of this review, I'll be focusing on a South Korean brand that I see a lot in the Philippines' Watsons branches: Purederm. Purederm is a South Korean brand that creates easy and effective skin solutions since 2002. Being a trend-leading company in the beauty industry, Purederm creates and launches hot item skincare products that fit the ever-changing lifestyles of both men and women across the globe. 

Among their revolutionary skin products are their animal sheet masks that aim to brighten and whiten facial skin. Here is my review of each mask from the range:

The Purederm Fox Brightening Argan Sheet Mask 

Argan is a known natural remedy for dry skin because of its ability to moisturize and soften skin. It contains fatty acids and Vitamin E that helps give skin a more natural look and feel. Other great features of this ingredient are that it doesn't feel oily, nor does it irritate skin. 

I was especially delighted with this one! I've seen this in an Instagram post before and is definitely snap-worthy! 

The Purederm Seal Brightening Argan Sheet Mask

Unfortunately, this sheet mask made my skin break out a little bit after using it. Not a lot of argan oil in this one, I guess? Plus, this variant is the least of my favorites. The print resembles Doraemon more than a seal if you ask me.

The Purederm Pig Whitening Collagen Sheet Mask

Collagen is a natural protein in our body that is responsible for repairing skin and nails. It's abundant in every part of our body such as our digestive system, skin, muscles, blood vessels, and even in our bones. You can look at it as a sort of glue that binds our skins, muscles, and tendons together. This ingredient is usually found in skin repair products such as lotions and oral supplements which help with combatting wrinkles, problems with cartilage, signs of aging, bad skin, and signs of aging. Added to a sheet mask such as this, you'll surely see the difference when it comes to damaged skin due to allergies and hormonal imbalance. 

The Purederm Panda Whitening Collagen Sheet Mask 

Among all the sheet masks in the range, I can definitely say that this mask is my absolute favorite. Not only did it have the cutest print, but also because I didn't break out. Nor did it dry my skin out like the fox mask did. It could also be that the panda variant had more serum soaked in the sheet, unlike the first few ones I've tried.

Pros & Cons

What you'll love about it

What you won't be a fan of

✖ The top part dries out easily (possibly because there's not much to stick onto. In other words, my forehead isn't wide enough of a canvas)
✖ Sometimes you could get breakouts from using it (in my cases, I did)
✖ It can get messy especially if the packet you bought has more serum
✖ It can take some getting used to especially during application where the serum drips from the mask and you're struggling to position the holes right
✖ The seal mask doesn't look to me like a seal at all. I mean... They could've stuck to gray. I don't know any blue seals

Q&A

Q1: Where do I buy this mask?
A1: You can buy them at Watsons outlets in or out of SM branches.

Q2: Is this mask safe for children?
A2: Like any skincare product, I think it's best not to let children use it. They're far too young and their skin might react differently to serums addressing adult skin concerns.

Q3: Would you repurchase this mask?
A3: Definitely! Especially the Panda and Fox Variants!

Final Notes

Trying out sheet masks for the first time was definitely thrilling for me! I'm actually quite excited to see the other sheet masks variants that Purederm or any other skincare brand has yet to offer. I'll probably look around Watsons or several department stores to try and see what they've currently got in store for avid skincare fans like me. 

So for now, do check out their Animal Sheet masks line and if you have enough time, do tell me what you think about it as well! 

Before I forget, here's a link to my freshly-created Facebook Page for this blog! Please feel free to hit like, follow, and share the exciting posts you'll find there. Hope you'll continue supporting this blog as well as the new content I'll be posting on the Facebook Page. Thanks!

Click here to visit Soraya Left Manila's Facebook Page!

Tarot Card Reading. It's fun, intimidating, yet enlightening. It's not for everyone, but it definitely is for someone. And today, that someone is me. Through this blog, you'll discover how modern tarot card reading is done in the Philippines through the words of an expert in the field as well as my own experiences. 

Photo from Unsplash

Tarot cards are something I've always been curious about. To date, this isn't my first time consulting the paranormal for advice. My first encounter with fortune telling was in my last year of high school. A substitute teacher once invited a few of my classmates over to her desk, claiming that she had the ability to read palms. Like any human afraid of the unknown, I second-guessed extending my arm. The fear was supported by so many scary stories I've heard as a child about experiencing tremendous misfortunate circumstances once you've had your future told. I remember my granny telling me that having your fortune told could bring you and your family bad luck by some invisible, natural force on Earth (which, of course, I never believed in, but silently feared). 


Disclaimer: Before I start discussing my personal experience with tarot card reading, I would like everyone to know that this post is not sponsored in any way. I was not given any form of compensation for the creation of this blog post. I am simply a blogger who tries, experiences, and reviews products and services in the best and most creative way I can. 

Photo from Unsplash

Quick Overview

The practice of Tarot or Tarocchi dates way back from 13th century Europe. Records say that the original use of these cards was not clear, but it later appeared that they were used as playing cards for a game called, "Triumph" before 17th-century occult followers discovered them. The symbolic photos on the cards inspired the occult members to turn it into a divination tool, aiding them in their pursuit to build the occult's original philosophy.

Tarot Card Reading is just one of the many ways people conduct fortune telling. Juxtaposed to palm reading, psychic reading, and astrological birth chart interpretations, tarot card reading differs by way of its use of 78 special cards with unique meanings. Each deck consists of 22 Major Arcana cards and 56 Minor Arcana cards (wands, swords, cups, and pentacles).

Where do you find a Tarot Card Reader? 

As much as I would like to say that I found Leshara, I would say she found me. On one of my late night Whisper (the app) visits, I chanced upon a post written by a lady who was asking for the contacts of a good tarot card reader. Having the interest in the very depths of my consciousness, I messaged her to ask if she found any leads. Fortunately, she did! She sent me Leshara's Facebook contact and I continued to add and eventually message her on her official business page to book an appointment. 

What happens during a Tarot Card Reading session? 

I don't have any past experiences to compare my Tarot Card Reading session to, but here's how my experience went: 

• Before I started the session with Leshara, I created a list of 15 questions I wanted to ask the cards. 1-hour sessions with her include unlimited questions, but she estimates roughly 15 questions can be answered per session. I was asked to make my questions specific, so I did my best to provide as much clarity as I could without giving too many details away.
• We started the conversation via Messenger. I sent her the list of questions and waited for her (as well as the cards) to reveal the answers.
• After working her magic through the cards, she sent me a photo of what the cards had revealed for every question. Here's an example of 3 of them (I would like to show you guys more of the results, but some of the questions I had are too personal to discuss) :

Will I ever be truly happy?

How can I attract more positivity in my life?

Will I ever get married? (Because what single woman doesn't want to know?)

• After answering all my questions, interpreting the meaning behind the cards, and thanking each other for this wonderful session, we bid goodbye. 

Photo from Unsplash

Q&A with Leshara Onandia Maniego (The Tarot Card Reader)

I wanted to get to know Leshara a bit more as well as her craft, so I figured I could ask her the following questions which I've been utterly curious about as well as to get rid of my doubts (and others') once and for all.


Q1: Please tell me a bit about yourself (a brief background)? Also, did you require any kind of training?

A1: I was actually on my way to becoming a simple English Teacher. Then in January of 2014, I had a significant spiritual awakening that deepened my journey. I don't like to get into specifics but let's just say I found out about where my soul originated and I also discovered some of my gifts. Don't get me wrong, I'm still learning every day and I try my best to empower people through teaching that everyone is capable of discovering their own gifts. My forte is Violet Flame Invocation for spiritual healing which I discovered on my own. For Reiki training, my lineage comes from Ms. Sarah Salcedo-Rubin and my Tarot career sprung from my scholarship from Mysterium Philippines under Mr. Robert Rubin. There, we are taught to use our intuition. We actually throw the brochure that comes with the deck on day 1 relying only on our own intuition.


Q2: What drew you to Tarot Card reading?

A2: I have been interested in New Age arts since I was a young girl, about 5. I remember our family had weekly trips to National Bookstore with my cousins and New Age section was the first I went to. I never understood the weird looks I got from family because I kept asking them about topics in that area which no one really knew about. SO I was already interested in Tarot, Palmistry, Astrology and such from a young age. The career, however, was divine intervention. I am blessed to have met Mr. Robert Rubin; a past life connection I guess to him and his wife. They played a big role in me being able to discover my career path and making it possible.


Q3: In your own words, can you explain what Tarot is? What are its benefits to people who invest in readings? Is there a point when it becomes dangerous?

A3: Tarot Reading is a form of divination. Simply said, it can give you an overview of your past. present and future. You can peek into past lives, connect with the living and the dead, and have an objective view of what is happening around you. It is an important tool for self-discovery and empowerment and at the same time, as a reader, this is what I offer to my clients as well. 

It is not dictating you fate as some see it, rather it gives you options on how to take control of you life and even avoid certain negative events in the future.


Q4: What are your insights about modern, store-bought tarot cards? About tarot card readers in places like Quiapo?

A4: Well first of all, almost all our decks are store bought. They can be easily available and there are many to choose from. It is important though, not to rely on the booklet too much because it takes away your gift of intuition.

Tarot Readers in Quiapo; I believe that some could be legitimate readers. Like I said, psychic gifts are available to anyone who is willing to access it by spirituality and connecting with the Divine. But some can just put on a show, so better to approach trusted readers for you. It's a personal preference.


Q5: What are the struggles you face in your profession? What are its best parts?

A5: Struggles for me, I would say now, there are none. In the beginning maybe in establishing a reputation in the field. Best part is when clients come back and give you stories about what has happened. I feel honored to have helped them in their own journey.


Q6: Can you please explain what goes behind the scenes before, during, and after a tarot card reading?

A6: I don't have any special ritual, but I try my best to do shielding (closing your aura) before a session to not absorb the negative baggage of the client. Others orchestrate some elaborate ritual, I don't do that. I connect with the Divine in my own simple ways.


Q7: How often should a person consult a Tarot Card Reader?

A7: How often depends on the need. I always tell them there is no ideal time frame as long as you think you need it and if there is a significant development in their life or a certain issue, then it's okay.


Q8: What message would you like to impart to people who have conducted spiritual/Tarot Card reading/other types of sessions with you before?

A8: I often encounter people who are going against what their life purpose really is. They tend to put their passions aside and the fact of the matter is, that is where things go out of line. Follow their heart and understand that whatever their passion is, is what will bring them financial stability even if it is not what the norm is.

Emotional issues come from that as well. If you feel depression, lack of drive in life. It means you have to rediscover yourself and do what makes your soul happy.

Your biggest dream is often literally what you should be doing.


Q9: What message would you like to impart to people who are skeptical about fortune telling as well as those who aren't very accepting about the trade?

A9: To skeptics; I don't care if they don't believe it. To each his own. There is no need to explain to them, I know first hand that those who believe in magic are those who experience it. The truth is, TO BELIEVE IS TO SEE. Not the other way around. People have just been heavily conditioned by limiting beliefs and society.


Q10: What other services do you provide? And how can potential clients reach you other than your online accounts?

A10: Reiki Healing (chakra balancing with aura assessment), Aura Viewing (color and state of your aura) . Photo Readings (reading based on your photo or other's photo the info varies on what is shown to me like past life, personality etc..), Tarot Readings, Feng Shui Consultation, Prayers and Rituals Consultations, and Psychic Coaching. I also make charm bracelets (crystals and gemstones) and also Orgonite devices.

They can reach me through the following:

Personal Facebook page: Leshara Onandia Maniego
Professional Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ascensionvortex1111 
SMS/Viber: 09159106168
Email Address: shariemaniego@gmail.com

Aside from my spiritual work, I write for a broadsheet as a contributor in The Manila Times and I also do English Tutorials.

Interested in trying out Leshara's spiritual services? 

Final Notes

The experience I had with Leshara definitely eliminated every speck of doubt I had with the art of Tarot Card Reading. It helped me understand how negatively I've been thinking about my life recently through the answers she explained with the help of the cards. I've noticed vast changes in my life since our session ended. I've been taking care of myself more both physically and mentally. I now handle menial problems better by examining them closely and juxtaposing them to the things I have that I can be thankful and happy about. 

I sincerely hope that more and more people can get into this kind of experience. Sure you can have your doubts about it, but it wouldn't hurt to try and get a tiny peek into your future and learn more about yourself in the process, would it?

After a few arguments I've thrown to and from my fickle self, I've finally decided to make this kind of blog post an annual thing. I thought, "Maybe this could benefit people? So why not make them rethink their goals for the year and maybe let them add a few more from your own list?". And that, my wonderful readers, is what I'll be doing starting today :) 


Here goes...

1. For people not to give in too much to societal pressures

I know it's hard. I give in to societal pressures every now and then, too. But if the pressuring will make you think and feel any of the following, then it's probably a bad idea to give it the upper hand:

a. Broke
b. Unhappy
c. Unsatisfied
d. Weak
e. Less confident about yourself and your abilities

2. For people to help do something about the environment

Because like every 20-something-year-old in a quarter life crisis, neither is nature getting younger. 

Here's something simple you can do: Schedule trips to the supermarket and make sure to bring the right amount of cloth bags with you. This will help lessen your consumption of paper products. Yes, I know brown bags are mostly recycled paper. But every little bit counts, you know? Less demand, less production, less destruction to Mother Earth. It's all related!

Speaking of climate change, I've read recently that climate change can affect the gender determination of green sea turtles. Let's not rob them of opportunities to actually find someone of the opposite gender to make clones of that other green sea turtle next door, shall we?

3. For people to be more careful of what they say

"You're pretty, but you need to lose weight."
And you need a lesson on social etiquette. I don't need your opinion on my body. There's a reason why it's not yours. 

"You're too picky. Do you really want to die old and alone?"
It's called standards. I refuse to settle for less. 

"You rant too much on your blog."
It's called, "Soraya Left Manila" and not "(Your Name) Left Manila" for a reason.

"You work from home. How are you considered a professional?"
Every time you open your mouth, you're inviting people to sucker punch you. I just thought you should know that because I almost RSVPed. 

And yes, those are all conversations I've made with myself in the past.

4. For people to be more considerate of others

It's not easy even for me, but taking the high road for others does more good than damage most of the time. But if you're already very considerate, please learn from your mistakes. It pays to break off from the cycle of bad decisions. trust me.

NOTE: Also, if people (especially adults) can stop doing this at supermarkets, I might just live longer:

Fresh produce + 2 bags of fresh meat left to rot in an abandoned shopping basket. This day, the mall was open until 12 AM because of the Christmas rush. All the staff was busy hustling so this would probably have gone bad before they can get to return it. How many people do you think were deprived of sleep that day because of the extra task of returning these? How many mouths could have been fed by those meats and veggies left to rot? Yes, the staff was being paid to do that. But could it have been prevented? The answer is YES.

I might sound like a middle-aged woman with this rant, but the children (especially yours) are watching, you guys! They think this animalistic behavior is okay. News flash: it's not.

5. For people to actually love themselves more as well as those who should matter most to them

Because time and again, no one else will do it for you but yourself. #KnowYourWorth

6. For people to recognize mental health problems in themselves and in others

During the first 2 weeks of December last year, I was hit by yet another panic attack episode. It was different from my past episodes because it let me see things in another perspective. I realized that:

a.) I was distancing myself too much from people (so I moved back to my old room which I used to share with my sister).

b.) I was too invested in my career (so I separated my personal life from work by not hanging around too much in my home office).

c.) I lacked and possibly missed human interactions (so I took time to actually go out and be a human who likes sunlight).

d.) I was setting aside all the opportunities to seek professional help for my depressive tendencies (so I sat my Mom down, made a few jokes, and opened up about it for the first time. Baby steps). 

e.) As much as I didn't want to be bothered by my body type and skin problems, I became a little more aware that I wasn't making enough effort to resolve them for the whole year (so I searched for a meal plan, scheduled a solid morning exercise routine, read about and bought new supplements to cure my acne from the inside, and revamped my daily schedule to fit all of that in).

In the end, I realized that I did all this because I want to be able to either embrace my tendencies or defeat them at some point in my life. 

I'm staying. 

7. For people to make better life choices

Final Notes

Of all the acne prevention products I look forward to trying, facial toners are what get me the most excited. Why? Because they get to bond with my facial skin far longer than any other product. The same reason applies for when I search around local personal care shops and online skincare sections for products that adhere to my skin type. Luckily for me, there are tons of products on the market today that cater to sensitive combination skin (oily yet dry skin prone to acne). During one of my online searches, I discovered a highly-rated facial toner that's known very well around the acne self-help corners of the internet: Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol-Free Toner. And today, I'll tell you all about my experience with this acne prevention superstar!




Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol-Free Toner comes in different varieties and scents: Rose Petal, Lavender, Lavender Mint, Lemon, Cucumber, Original (Astringent), Unscented, Medicated (Topical Pain Reliever), and Peach. At first, I was confused on which scent to purchase first. 355 ml is a lot for 1 bottle of toner and I wasn't going to buy tons of scent varieties at first try without knowing if it was a good fit or not. So towards the end of my search, I opted to purchase the Rose Petal scent instead. A Buzzfeed writer tried and reviewed the Rose Petal variant, so I thought, why not? Plus, I didn't have much to choose from during my Shopee search where sellers were also retailing this toner in smaller portion bottles. 

Disclaimer: Before I start discussing my personal experience with the Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol-Free Toner I would like to make it clear that I am by no means a licensed medical or dermatological practitioner, nor am I a manufacturer of these products. I am simply a blogger who buys, reviews, informs, and tries to market these products in the best and most creative way I can. 

Quick Overview

The Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol-Free Toner is a gentle skin toner has been around since 1989. This natural US-made product has been used by several generations as an alternative for astringent (alcohol-based) facial toners as alcohol can trigger some acne breakouts. Among its many uses include pore tightening, skin smoothening, acne prevention, and the elimination of itchiness, oiliness, puffiness, and redness of the facial skin.  

Witch hazel is a known natural remedy for combatting the negative effects of acne including enlargened pores, as well as red, itchy, and dull skin.

Highlights

Here are the Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol-Free Toner's listed ingredients:

• Organic and undistilled witch hazel and aloe vera
• Vitamin E and Thayers' proprietary Witch Hazel extract
• Purified Water
• Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Certified Organic Filet Of Aloe Vera)
• Glycerin (Vegetable)
• Fragrance (Natural Rose)
• Hamamelis Virginiana Extract (made from Certified Organic Witch Hazel)
• Rosa Centifolia (Rose) Flower Water
• Citric Acid
• Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract 
• Natural rose fragrance

Pros & Cons

What you'll love about it

What you won't be a fan of

✖ It helps control redness, but unfortunately, it doesn't prevent acne breakouts at all.  
✖ It can't promise to dry out any active acne either.
✖ It won't be a perfect match to everyone with skin. Because like any product, this toner is compatible with some people and not with others. Fortunately for me, I got my money's worth and found that it worked fine with mine. 
✖ It won't give that stinging feeling that some people find very satisfactory with common astringents.
✖ They're not sold in smaller bottles. I've looked through the Thayers website and saw smaller bottles, but they weren't toners, but face mists. I'm not sure if they'll ever come up with smaller bottles though. But then again, like I've said, it's more expensive than other toners, but you still get what you pay for. 
✖ It won't magically remove whiteheads or blackheads.
✖ It won't give you rosy skin, but only one that's moisturized and clean (Wow, that rhymed!)
✖ It won't shrink ALL of your pores.
✖ It won't lighten scars or dark spots on your facial skin.
✖ It's not the type of toner that covers everything to the point where you don't have to wash off your makeup or your skin in general. Washing your face is still key to making the product work for you. 

Q&A

Q1: Where do I buy this toner?
A1: It depends. For people in the US or countries with Amazon services, it won't be hard for you to get this. You may find this at your local drugstores, Walgreens, or on Amazon itself. But for people like me in the PH who have no Amazon service, you can either try Lazada, Shopee, or through my online store! 100% guaranteed! ✓

Q2: Do I need to ask my dermatologist before I try this toner?
A2: It's always best to ask your dermatologist first before you try out anything outside of his/her initial recommendations. 

Q3: Can I use this product together with acne prevention medicines or creams?
A3: I'm actually using this toner together with my The Body Shop Tea Tree Facial Cleanser, BIOAQUA Acne Rejuvenation Cream, AcneCare Acne Drying Lotion, and my Puritan's Pride Zinc for Acne tablets. But of course, I've researched all of these before trying to use them all together, so maybe seek professional help first or do your research before you do/use the same things/products I did.

Q4: Does this product help eliminate acne?
A4: Unfortunately, for me it didn't. I feel like my acne drying lotion and my Zinc for Acne pills are doing more of the heavy lifting here. I still got acne breakouts here and there, but this toner definitely helped minimize the inflammation and the redness that came with them.

Final Notes

I often feel guilty whenever I post new products I'll be reviewing on my Instagram and Facebook feeds. This is because I know how so many of these products are on a queue and are still waiting to be photographed, used, and reviewed. I know I've said this over and over again on every single one of my reviews' final notes section, but I'll really try my best to post and review stuff as much as I can. I'll probably be able to post more during the holidays since I have more time for myself (I'm off work for 2 weeks courtesy of the best boss ever!). 


Comments? Suggestions? Questions? Is this post borderline TL;DR? (I tried to cut this to a 500-word post, I promise! 'Tried' being the operative word in this sentence). I would love to hear from you guys! Please feel free to share your ideas in the comments section below and I'll do my best to get back to you as soon as I can. As always, thank you so much for all the support and for reading (or skimming) through my content!  


How are everyone's holidays going? Happy and filled with food, gifts, and warm hugs, I hope? Merry holidays and a fantastic New Year to all of you!