Meiji Amino Collagen and Otsuka Collagen Jelly C (Product Review)

I wasn't paid in doing this review. I just have the privilege of having a co-parent at my children's school who uses and sells authentic Japan beauty goodies and I managed to personally try some. I have heard so much of these Japan whitening, skin-firming, collagen, placenta and a lot more few years back but wasn't convinced. So when I met this seller who is now a friend (because I now became a fan, hehe), I asked her so many questions and (honestly) asked for recommendations since she's been taking beauty supplements from Japan for many years now. I even searched on the internet for reviews and articles that tell and sort out details about these Japan-raved skin and beauty goodies. I had a hard time looking for reliable resources because what I want to read was a review coming from a user of a product and not just because they were paid to do it or they were recently given samples to test and try to support a ''positive review''. I want a review coming from an actual user of a certain product I'm looking for and maybe a long time user's testimonial would be much much better.

Allow me first to give an introduction about my skin condition. I have a very sensitive skin prone to blackheads and whiteheads and pimples. I got large facial pores which I got from my father's side though my fair complexion was said to be from my mother's. Pimples started to appear on my face at the age of 13 when I had my first menstrual period and continued until my first pregnancy and giving birth to my twin boys year 2005; but recurred after conceiving my daughter. Since then my adventure in looking for a great product to ease my skin problems began. I don't use make-up. I only have pressed powder and a lip gloss or lip balm including a mirror and comb in my (kikay) kit plus alcohol, hand soap, mint rub for insect bites and a liniment oil (talk about being a Mama). 

I really don't care if my face looks pale and without colors, what's important to me is a clean face! For more than five years (my daughter's now aged 7) my skin condition had been my dilemma. External products: cleanser, toners and creams didn't and maybe really won't work for me at all! What made it more complicated, we transferred from Davao City after living there for more than two years as a family (my husband had lived there longer for more than five years since he studied at Ateneo de Davao University College of Law) to Polomolok, South Cotabato and lived there for more than three years then later on moved to its nearby city General Santos. Thus, causing so much plight on my skin - a change in weather and water adding the pollution and humidity of the surrounding. Those years were really a nightmare to my face - hands up I'd say!

Now, here comes my review. Enter now the dragon. My ''beauty counsel'' recommended the very famous Meiji Amino Collagen. She said if it will work for me then the rest of its kind will follow. I noticed on the first three days after mixing a scoop of the collagen powder to my drinks (coffee, Milo) and even yogurt anytime of the day (at least once a day) the skin on my face near my nose got firm and lifted. My facial pores got smaller and the blemishes becoming lighter. Blackheads and whiteheads - GONE! The skin on my arms, hands and legs got tighter and firmer too. It didn't make me whiter but it did make my skin toned, supple and smooth. I also noticed my hair don't have split ends anymore in a week's time! When my menstruation arrived, my back and abdomen cramps lessened. My teeth that were slightly yellowish became lighter in shade. The powder is tasteless but has a fishy smell but when mixed into Milo, yogurt our soup the smell can't be traced. Meiji Amino Collagen is my collagen supplement until now and it's working well for me. The downside is that my face looks full or should I say I now have chubby cheeks. I might try another collagen that would do the wonders of Meiji yet won't as if add a kilogram to my facial flesh. (*sigh*) No, it won't make you fat, maybe because of the toning and lifting effect of the collagen that's why my face enjoyed it's back to youthful glow as promised by Meiji. (*another sigh*)

Enter the second dragon. I wanted my husband to take collagen too. His skin condition is much worse than mine (more pimples on his back, neck, shoulder and arms) but he disliked the thought of mixing the collagen powder in his coffee and surprisingly his nose could smell the fishy-fishy thing so I sought for help from my counsel and there she was to the rescue with the Otsuka Collagen Jelly C in a box (31 single strips in sachets good for 31 days). With prayers, I let my husband tried one and to my joy he gave an approval. Like Meiji, it tightens the pores on his face and gives him a glow, his complexion is becoming even too. It doesn't make him chubby but it knocks him to sleep after minutes of ingestion which I dislike. But if we are travelling, I replace my Meiji with Otsuka since its single-packed jellies are easy to carry everywhere (minus the can and the scoop) and convenient to consume (without making any drink). My father, brothers and my aunt are also eating Otsuka Collagen because of my recommendation and it is working well for them for two months now. 

There are other collagen brands too like Orihiro, BB, Lotte, Shiseido, Asahi and more but I'm sticking to Meiji and Otsuka for the meantime. I have Orihiro collagen in stock, I might be trying it after my Meiji packs run out. 

For authentic Japan beauty loots and finds visit Kanna Japan Beauty Shoppe in Facebook (Ms. Tin). You can also find the legit shop in Lazada Philippines. Ms. Tin sources her items for sale directly from Japan, she goes to Japan almost every month just to get ''beauty produce'' fresh!

My Salad Dressing

Squeeze out the juice of a medium lemon into a bowl. Add three tablespoons of honey (depends on your taste). If honey is not available, white sugar will do. Add a dash of black ground pepper and 1 teaspoon of extra  virgin olive oil. Mix well.

The honey I use at home for cooking and other dishes or just to sweeten pancakes and breads is guaranteed pure harvested from a beehive found in a forest in the province of Sarangani.

The singakamas I bought from Barangay Saravia in Koronadal, South Cotabato at 80 Php per bundle of string (had 12 pieces medium sized) and the iceberg lettuce I bought from the vegetable stalls in Bukidnon at 30Php per kilo became a good combo. This was my breakfast then this morning. My husband and kids ate with me too.

Apareja's Buko Halo-Halo in South Cotabato

It's one of our favorite stops whenever we wind down along the road. Located at Barangay Saravia, Koronadal (Marbel), South Cotabato; 5-10 minute drive from the city proper of Koronadal or 45 minutes to one hour from General Santos City (plus the traffic and speed limit) is where this very famous buko halo-halo of Apareja can be found.

They just cut a portion of the top of a young buko to make a bowl good enough to hold a serving, the young coconut meat intact and spoonfulls of minatamis na saging (boiled banana in sugar/glucose syrup), candied chewy jackfruit meat, dices of boiled sweet potatoes, a scoop of ice cream topped with leche flan, some nata de coco and kaong sprinkled with corn flakes and garnished with additional grated young coconut meat - ah is love love love love! There's not too much ice. I think they only place half a cup of crushed ice. So what you will be eating isn't the ice but the goodness treat inside the green coconut! Now this is the true halo-halo and not just ice!

Last year, per serving costed 65 Php but as of today or I don't know when did they start hiking its price, it's now 80 Php per serving.

I'm talking about real halo-halo here. Again, not ice! This I highly recommend a must try! Only in South  Cotabato! Only in Mindanao! ^*,

Aside from this buko halo-halo, Barangay Saravia has more to offer. On the sides of its road you can find stores selling singkamas, suka pinakurat, suka tuba, snacks, sweet potatoes, bananas and other farm produce.

It's always fun in South Cotabato!

Kouziena 9505 (kitchen & drinks) REVIEW

My husband requested me to accompany him to Koronadal, South Cotabato to meet his partner in their office. I was supposed to stay at home to arrange our things. Three bags are still unpacked from our December travels. The kids volunteered to just stay at home and our stay-out househelp said she can extend her stay until our return in the aftrenoon so off we went.. I made sure before leaving them at home that my children's mobile phone is just within their reach so they can message or call me anytime and vice versa..

Along the road from General Santos, my husband was craving for the buko halo-halo at Apareja at Barangay Saravia, Korondal but when we entered the town of Tupi driving at 40kph speed limit, Rex suddenly turned right to an establishment and declared,"Ga, let's eat. I'm hungry." I was about to say, "We just had breakfast at home an hour before we left!" but he abruptly seconded, "Masarap dito!" Let the husband lead the way then!

The tarp hanging on the outside says Kouziena 9505 Kitchen & Drinks. According to my husband, he already ate here last October 2015 with his colleagues. I also learned they opened last year's September. I ordered boneless garlic chicken for me and fish balls sweet and sour for Rex. Also ordered green apple drinks and creamy mustard baby potato for the both of us. We were served first with their cream of mushroom soup for free and when the rice meals arrived, they came with fried baby potatoes. Anything with potatoes or has potatoes as long as there's potato Rex my husband finds it with great gusto. The dishes are good. It made me like potatoes more. On a scale of 1 to 10 ranking 10 as the yummiest I'd rate Kouziena 9505 an 8.5. And that's a meal for 380 Php for the two of us.

The ambiance of the place is not that appealing much to one's sight. Simple acacia tables and plastic black chairs. Just plain. Enough to give you a sense of comfort while enjoying your budget meal. Good place for roadtrippers, backpackers and students who like to eat cheap but hearty and could fill a tummy.

Will come back once more and try their other rice meals and to eat again their baby potatoes - a must-eat!