TOPAZ HORIZON

Okay, so a few weeks ago, I got this mysterious box and when I opened it, I squealed! Hada Labo products!!! The Hada Labo Gokujyun Hydrating Lotion is the No. 1 facial lotion in Japan for 13 consecutive years. I've always wanted to try it. And now I finally can. YOU finally can!

So what's Hada Labo? 

Hada Labo is a beloved Japanese skin care brand that infuses skin with intense hydration. It uses Super Hyaluronic Acid, a substance naturally occurring in the human body, to bind water to skin. Skin is plumper, smoother, and soooo moist. And if you're a middle-aged woman like me, faced with drying skin and fine lines, moist is a very good word.

I'm really excited to use the Gokujyun Hydrating Lotion (Php 195 for 30ml, Php 685 for 170ml). It has FOUR kinds of Hyaluronic Acid. Is that a bit much? No. When you want dewy skin, you want that much! And yet this lotion is not thick and icky. It's lightweight and is quickly absorbed into your skin, which becomes so deeply moisturized, it becomes pillowy soft with a clear, almost translucent effect that it kinda looks like a mochi cake. That's why Hada labo skin is known as "mochi skin." 

Now, Hada Labo doesn't have just one star product. It has a whole range of skin-caring goodies. Meet the facial washes:

The Hada Labo White range or Gokujyun range has three face washes for different skin types. 

1. Hydrating Face Wash, Php 385 for 100g - fragrance-free and gentle for hydrated and refreshed skin

2. Hydra and Whitening Face Wash, Php 295 for 100g - Brown Algae Extract and Resveratrol help brighten skin

3. Deep Clean & Pore Refining Face Wash, Php 295 for 100g - Japanese Green Tea extract helps control and remove excess oil while Bentonite Clay absorbs dirt and impurities from pores

Hada Labo also has moisturizers to seal all that water in: 

1. Hydrating Light Cream, Php 850 for 50g - ingredients like Aloe Vera and other moisturizing natural botanicals deeply nourish skin while the Aqua Oil Volume Matrix technology helps prevent moisture loss and boosts skin hydration. 

2. Hydrating Water Gel, Php 850 for 50g - an ultralight gel with a watery feel, perfect for those who just want a light moisturizer. This has Ceramides to protect and nourish your skin barrier.

What I like about the Hada Labo system is it's a simple regimen only - face wash, hydrating lotion, and moisturizer. No 10 steps to follow! It's in keeping with the brand philosophy of "It's Perfectly X Simple" – a skincare range that brings beauty back to the basics. Hada Labo emphasizes simplicity in its skin care process, not just by keeping their product range basic but also by keeping its ingredients pure. No unnecessary additives, colorants, fragrances, and mineral oils. So whatever your skin type, it will love Hada Labo! 

Well, at least that's my hope. I'm going to try Hada Labo! I'm currently doing a 10-step routine now so I'll rest my skin for a few days and then I'll use the Hada Labo products I got. Then I'll update this post with a review after a month. Exciting! Mochi skin, here I come!

By the way! You can try Hada Labo products at up to 10% off on March 27, 2021. That's this Saturday, on Lazada's 9th Birthday Sale. HBD, Lazada!


To find out more about the Hada Labo White range, like their Facebook page.

I like that there's a separate sitting area from the living room. Although I'll probably make this a library and, because of the pandemic, we need a dedicated place for homeschooling our kids, too.

Cute and compact kitchen!

Look at that! A vending machine! How fun! And what a great idea. I should do that so that my kids won't eat us out of house and home! Growing boys eat so much!

Okay, this area looks like a home office. Is that a desk on the left? And then another smaller office beyond? Perfect for my husband and myself since we both work from home.

Love the deep navy and the bright yellow color combo! That's what's so nice about MCM. No shying away from bold colors!

 

The one thing I didn't expect from blogging was the influence part. When people think of how to be an "influencer," they think it's as simple as peddling products. It's more than that since sharing your life has the incredible power of compelling people to change their minds. I had to be convinced my platform can be used to sway people's opinions. In my mind, I'm just telling my stories. But many of you have written me telling me I've helped you decide on career, love life, marriage, friendship, motherhood, and household issues. From shallow to profound. That scared me. It still scares me. Every time I blog, I'm always mindful of my message. I'm also still in the process of editing, even deleting, blog posts from years and years ago because I know I'm different now. I have to be careful every time I tell a story. 

Dream #3: Work from home.

As my blogging world grew bigger, another impossible dream was realized - I can work from home! And to a new mom, that means the world! I could work and be with my kids 24/7. I never thought I'd be able to do this since I was (still is) in media and media people are notoriously married to their work. It was difficult for me to choose between my work and my babies back in 2010-2012. Then fate decided for me when I was laid off (internet killed magazines). I could've looked for another job but the most lucrative blog topics I featured here made it possible for me to just be a mom. I will always be grateful I chose to do this blogging business!

Dream #4: Become a businesswoman.

Yes, my blog was the reason I became a businesswoman! For this blog to work as my main source of income, I had to attract bigger clients and a big way to do that was go legit. I registered as a business offering writing and editing services. For a good long while, my business was just that. But in recent years, I've eased more and more to influencer marketing. I realized my professional experience as an editor, writer, and blogger made me especially good at managing influencers so that both brand and influencer are happy. I had insight from brand and agency side and from the influencer side, too. It's really been good for business and I'm so happy my blog made this possible.

Dream #5: Publish a book.

Fifteen years after my first blog post, I have now given birth to a book. A real book with pages you can smell! This blog became a book and I still can't believe this last and biggest dream has come true. I remember praying about it in September and just one month later, a publisher emailed me saying they loved my blog and could I write a book for them. And so I did! Please email me at frances@topazhorizon.com to grab a copy of Not Invisible!

Five dreams. Now all real. Time to dream new dreams then! And thank you - ALL OF YOU! - for making these dreams come true. God bless you, dearest Loyal Readers! Love you all!

GUEST POST - Health is wealth for all living beings, but our health starts to deteriorate as we age. Furthermore, there are times when we don't take proper care of ourselves, which makes us more susceptible to developing various diseases. One of the leading health complications is suffering from pain and inflammation.

While there are several drugs that can help you deal with this condition, there is a new treatment for curing severe pain and inflammation. This therapy is known as PEMF, and we have gathered all the information you will need regarding this latest technique.

What is PEMF Therapy?

PEMF means Pulsed Electromagnetic Field, and it's performed using PEMF devices. These devices use electromagnetic waves of various frequencies to encourage your body's innate healing process. While most electromagnetic waves are harmful to humans, these devices use small bursts of electromagnetic waves that have a very low frequency. This technique is entirely safe, and it's one of the best treatments for pain and inflammation management.

How Does It Work?

As mentioned before, PEMF therapy is performed using a device that uses mild bursts of electromagnetic waves. These pulses can be targeted to heal your bones, tissues, organs, and cells. They work by promoting cellular growth and development that also leads to improved recovery. However, using a low frequency is key since high-frequency usage might lead to genetic alterations.

Therefore, it means that this device uses safe pulses that help your body recover independently without the use of any drugs or invasive treatments. This procedure can help manage sleep complications, treat bones and tissues, depression management, promote optimal blood circulation and overall immunity that helps manage intense pain.

Different PEMF Devices

There are various types of PEMF devices that deal with numerous diseases and health complications. Each device has been designed to deal with specific health conditions, and they all look very different from one another. For instance, you could opt for a PEMF mat, coil, PEMF portable device, or a big machine.

That being said, the main difference lies in the way they work rather than their structural appearance. However, these differences are less significant than the differences in how they work. Therefore, let’s have a look at the various distinguishing features of these devices.

The first one is the strength of the electromagnetic waves. Mild pulses usually don't affect you that deep, and you might end up needing various treatments to get good results. However, the required strength also depends upon your medical condition. The more serious the issue, the higher the pulse strength will be.

The frequency of the device matters a lot as well. However, your disease will again be the deciding factor to help you understand your required frequency. A mild frequency would be ideal for mild complications, but you'd need a bit higher frequency for something serious.

However, you can never exceed a set limit of the frequency range; otherwise, it might damage your DNA. The shape of the waves is also another factor, but it still requires some research.

Who Should Try PEMF Therapy?

PEMF therapy is ideal for anyone dealing with pain, injuries, or joint inflammation. This is a non-invasive treatment that treats you without using drugs as well. Moreover, there aren’t any known side-effects of this therapy either. That being said, it’s always best to consult your doctor before trying any new treatment.

PEMF therapy is a non-invasive and drug-free treatment that helps to provide instant relief against pain and inflammation. It's performed using a device that emits low-frequency electromagnetic waves, and it has proved to be a safe and effective treatment so far.