JBL and Harman/Kardon Ayala Fairview Terraces Store Launch

     I've grown up with a cool and hippie dad. He's a music lover in nature but rarely sings. What he loves doing is to set-up our sound system at home. Me and my oldest brother have witnessed the evolution of our "mini" home theater and saw different brands of speakers. One of the speakers that made special occasions and parties at home amazing are the JBL speakers. 

     So when I was invited to the store launch of Harman/JBL Ayala Fairview Terraces branch, I immediately said yes. The brand brings a lot of childhood memories and I'm excited to spread the news to all music lovers that they've finally opened a store for Northern residents of Quezon City. Scroll down to see the highlights of the event please :)

JBL and Harman/Kardon Ayala Fairview Terraces Store Launch
L-R: Lauro Secreto (Harman International) Hans Tan, Jenny Sy, Sebie Tan (Beyond Innovations) 

   The JBL / Harman Kardon showroom houses a number of the known Harman brands including JBL, AKG, Harman Kardon, and Infinity among others catering to clients residing within the Fairview area and north of the metro. Its lineup of products, which includes portable and home speakers, soundbars, audio/video receivers, and headphones, is unmatched in terms of sound quality and award-winning design. 

JBL and Harman/Kardon Ayala Fairview Terraces Store Launch
L-R: Twinkle Nava-Rafael, Lauro Secreto (Harman), Hans Tan, Jenny Sy and Sebie Tan (Beyond Innovations)

     The new store is located at the 3rd floor of the mall and has already been in operation since March 2015 but the launch happened only last May 30. During the launch, the store had exclusive discount raffle prizes for the patrons.

JBL and Harman/Kardon Ayala Fairview Terraces Store Launch
Janine Gutierrez with Harman/Kardon Soho Wireless Headphone srp 11,995

     Ms. Janine Gutierrez was there to witness the launch. She enjoyed looking at the speakers and sound system that the store has to offer. I've heard that she's looking for a sound system and it looks like JBL and Harman Kardon's high-end audio products like the colorful JBL headphones caught her attention. Talk about style and function in one headphone!

JBL and Harman/Kardon Ayala Fairview Terraces Store Launch
L-R: Harman/Kardon and JBL Home Theater, Esquire (Php 11,995), Onyx (Php 22,995), and Wireless Soundsticks

   So what's the difference between Harman/Kardon and JBL? Well, based on my observation the first is perfect for the executives while JBL is for the young, wild, and free :) But of course, both brands cater to all music lovers. The Harman/Kardon home theater system is perfect for you dream house together with the more sophisticated speakers like Esquire, Onyx, and Soundsticks.

JBL and Harman/Kardon Ayala Fairview Terraces Store Launch
L-R: JBL Flip, Horizon, and Pulse (Php 9,995)

     If you like colorful gadgets and likes to make your room or house color coordinated, then JBL is your best bet. The JBL Flip, Horizon, and Pulse are stylish and functional so no need to worry if you're the type who always do the matchy-matchy thing-y :) Look at my photo below, those headphones, I know! I want to bring one home. There are different colors to choose from like the one in black, white with gray and orange accents, plus I saw blue, purple, and yellow.

JBL and Harman/Kardon Ayala Fairview Terraces Store Launch
Thank you so much Jen Maslang of shopgirljen for this photo :)
JBL E50 (Php 6,889)

     Thank you so much JBL and Harman/Kardon for having me. Lots of audio and visual products to choose from. So to all audiophiles, musicians, and entertainers from the North visit their store now.  It is the latest showroom to open, along with other branches in SM Megamall, SM North EDSA, TriNoma, and Bonifacio High Street. Offering actual hands-on demos of various products and setups, all showrooms provide optimum experience to customers wanting to get the most out of their audio-visual entertainment. Located at the 3rd level of Fairview Terraces, for inquiries you can call the store at 958-5600.

Good Times!~

About HARMAN

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and enterprise automation solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson ® and Revel®, the Company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 16,600 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $5.6 billion for the 12 months ended September 30, 2014.

LG G4 Smartphone Launch

     Last May 28, I was very privilege to attend the launch of the most ambitious smartphone to date- the LG G4. It officially landed on Philippine shores and I'm one of the few who got the first dibs to “See the Great, Feel the Great”. The event was held at The Theatre- Solaire Resort and Casino. Since I've already saw what this smartphone looks like, I was intrigued about the specs and how far it will go against the competition. The phone is very stylish. Chose from hand crafted leather case or Ceramic White with 3D patterns, artisan-forged Metallic Gray and lustrous Shiny Gold. I presume you're already curious about LG G4's key specifications so I will just make this intro short and let's get started!

LG G4 Smartphone Launch

     The great Philippine launch The prestigious event was hosted by Asia’s Next Top Model mentor Joey Mead-King; and graced by a number of prominent personalities such as Anton Del Rosario, Mika Lagdameo, LA Tenorio, Troy Montero, Aubrey Miles, Marie Lozano and more. The LG G4 was highly praised by award-winning photographer Niccolo Cosme as he talked about his collaboration with LG through the CSR project entitled “See the Greatness in You”.

LG G4 Smartphone Launch
Joey Mead-King hosted the event with prominent personalities such as Anton Del Rosario, Mika Lagdameo, LA Tenorio, Troy Montero, Aubrey Miles, Marie Lozano, Alvin Patrimonio, Gwen Zamora, Niccolo Cosme, and other celebrities.

     Since I'm not a tech blogger, I will just introduce to you what LG G4 has to offer. During the launch, LG Philippines Product Marketing Manager Faith Mijares proudly presented LG G4's astonishing features that's first in smartphone technology.

LG G4 offers these amazing set of unique smartphone features:

One-of-a-kind design 

• The design of the LG G4 is so unique that's luxurious and environmentally-friendly, 
• Available in full-grain leather which is hand-crafted at the rear cover. 
• Other material options are pure Ceramic White with 3D patterns, artisan-forged Metallic Gray and lustrous Shiny Gold. 
• The comfortable elegance of the LG G4 is a refreshing change from the uniformly flat, full metal designs that have been become standard across the industry. 
• The LG G4’s design is defined by the Slim Arc, which runs along its entire body, highlighted by a display with a subtle curvature. 
• More than just a design accent, Slim Arc offers more durability than a flat smartphone in face-down drops and gives the smartphone a more comfortable and secure feel in the hand. 

LG G4 Smartphone Launch

Exceptional visual experience 

• LG designed the 16-megapixel camera in the LG G4 to capture stunning images even under less than ideal lighting conditions. 
• The camera module features an industry-first wide F1.8 aperture lens that allows 80 percent more light to reach the sensor. 
• LG improved low-light performance even further with OIS 2.0, which doubles the performance of the OIS+ by expanding the range of image stabilization from one degree to two degrees on the X- and Y-axis and adding a third axis for the first time.
• LG G4’s Manual Mode allows experienced photographers to exercise more artistic expression by directly controlling the focus, shutter speed, ISO, exposure compensation and white balance for every shot. 
• Advanced photographers can also save their photos in RAW format, in addition to JPEG, for more precise editing with no loss of details. 
• The advanced camera in the LG G4 is complemented by Color Spectrum Sensor (CSS), the first feature of its kind to find its way into a smartphone. CSS improves color accuracy by precisely reading the RGB values of the ambient light in a scene, as well as the infrared light reflected from objects. And for selfies good enough to frame, LG included an industry-leading eight-megapixel front-facing camera for sharp, detailed portraits and group shots.
• LG G4 is the first smartphone to use LG Display’s new 5.5-inch IPS Quantum Display, which offers 20 percent greater color reproduction, 25 percent improvement in brightness and 50 percent greater contrast. This new display is calibrated for DCI (Digital Cinema Initiatives) standards for color expression, championed by top Hollywood studios. 
• The G4 is equipped with a high-capacity 3,000mAh removable battery, a rare feature in today’s high-end smartphones.

LG G4 Smartphone Launch

     “The LG G4 has finally arrived in the Philippines, and we couldn’t be more excited to introduce our newest innovation to our local consumers,” LG Mobile Philippines Vice President Jay Won said. “The LG G4 is set to not only revolutionize the smartphone industry, but also add substantial value to consumers’ lives. It is the most ambitious phone LG has ever created, promising world-class performance and optimal greatness.”

     The LG G4 is now available in the Philippines in genuine leather (black, brown and red), ceramic white and metallic gray and shiny gold. The ceramic and metallic variants retail for P31,990 while the leather variant is P32,990. Kindly refer to Key specifications below :)

LG G4 Smartphone Launch

Key Specifications:

Chipset: 1.8 GHz Hexa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 Processor 

Display: 5.5-inch Quad HD IPS Quantum Display (2560 x 1440, 538ppi) 

Memory: 32GB eMMC ROM, 3GB LPDDR3 RAM / microSD slot 

Camera: Rear 16MP with F1.8 Aperture / OIS 2.0 / Front 8MP with F2.0 Aperture 

Battery: 3,000mAh (removable) 

Operating System: Android 5.1 Lollipop 

Size: 148.9 x 76.1 x 6.3 - 9.8 mm 

Weight: 155g Network: 4G / LTE / HSPA+ 21 Mbps (3G) 

Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac / Bluetooth 4.1LE / NFC / USB 2.0 

Colors: Metallic Gray / Shiny Gold / Ceramic White (Genuine Leather) Black / Brown / Red Other: Manual Mode / Gesture Interval Shot / Quick Shot

*Specifications may vary depending on the market.

To discover more greatness in the LG G4, visit www.lg.com/ph

 Like them on Facebook: LG Mobile Philippines

Follow them on Twitter and Instagram: @LGPhilippines 

Good Times!~

Uratex Premium Mattress Collection Launch

     How do you define a full night's sleep? For me, a sound sleep should be at least six to eight hours and there should not be disturbances in between. If you drink a full glass of water or two before going to bed, chances are you'll be waking up in the wee hours of night to take a pee, right? After this call of nature, is it easy or hard to fall asleep again? For me it's hard! Since we are discussing about sleep and sleeping pattern here, let me share with you the highlights of Uratex Premium Mattress Collection event last May 28 at Mega Atrium.

Uratex Premium Mattress Collection Launch

Product Review: Biore UV Bright Perfect Face Milk

     Hi dearies! Sharing with you my thoughts on Biore UV Bright Perfect Face Milk SPF 50+ PA++++ that I've been using for more than a month now. Yes, it's been a month and I'm loving the effect of this Japanese sunscreen on my face and in my photos. I veered away from sunscreen before because I find this skin care product icky sticky. I resort to bb creams and face powders that contains high spf. I've learned that spf from bb creams and face powder is not enough to shield my face from the damaging rays of the sun.

     I've tried a few brands of sunblocks and sunscreen before but after finishing a bottle, I feel like something is still missing. Not the high spf number but the lightweight feel and other added ingredients to boost skin health while giving maximum sun protection. I've known Biore way, way back but haven't tried their sunscreens. Biorè UV is the no.1 sunscreen brand from Japan*, (* Source : Intage SRI research, suntan UV in unit sales, period: 12/2011-11/ 2014) so when I received an email that Biore wanted to send their best-selling sunscreen for me to try, I immediately said yes. I'm happy that Biore UV is already available here in the Philippines. See my thoughts on Biore UV Bright Perfect Face Milk below and why I highly recommend this brand :)

Product Review: Biore UV Bright Perfect Face Milk 

Reasons why you should have Biorè UV products in your skin care and makeup stash:

• Biorè UV feels light, comfortable, and smooth. 
• There is absolutely no waiting time because it is easily absorbed by your skin after application. 
• With SPF50+ and PA++++, Biorè UV instantly provides you maximum protection from UVA and UVB rays which cause skin darkening and skin aging. 
• Biorè UV is sweat-proof and works as a make-up base as well!

Product Review: Biore UV Bright Perfect Face Milk 

     

This variant that I'll be reviewing is from the Biorè UV Perfect series. The products in this series are:

• Ultra-light and non-sticky with a matte or powder finish. 
• Skin feels comfortable and smooth while enjoying maximum UV protection. 
• They are all sweat and water proof and works as perfect make-up base. 
• ontrol oil and shine on your face for long hours! 
• Perfect Face Milk contains sebum-absorbing powder that controls oil and shine. 

Product Review: Biore UV Bright Perfect Face Milk 

size: 30 ml

price: 380 php (Around $8.50+)

place bought: Free

Watsons Makati DS, Watsons Megamall DS, Mall of Asia Mall 2, Mall of Asia 3, Watsons SM Aura Premier Mall, Watsons SM North Edsa Main, Watsons SM Clark, Watsons SM Sta. Mesa, Watsons SM Southmall, Watsons SM Manila DS, Watsons SM San Lazaro, Watsons SM Cebu 1, Watsons Ayala Center Cebu

Landmark Supermarket – Makati, Landmark DS Makati, Landmark Supermarket – Trinoma,

Robinsons Supermarket:

Galleria, Magnolia

Cash and Carry: Makati

Makati Supermarket: Alabang

PCX Personal Collection:

Rockwell, Greenbelt 3, Alabang Town Center, Ermita

Coming soon: 

Rustans Supermarket:

Shangrila, Rockwell, Makati, Ayala Center Cebu, Centrio Cagayan De Oro

instructions for use: Shake bottle well before use. Smooth on skin evenly after moisturiser and before applying makeup. Avoid the eye area. As with all sunscreens,cleanse thoroughly with a makeup remover.

caution: Keep away from high temperature and direct sunlight. Not recommended for babies. If irritation occurs, discontinue use.

ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Water (Aqua), Alcohol, Zinc Oxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Lauryl Methacrylate/Sodium Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Talc, Methicone, PEG-12 Dimethicone, PEG-3 Dimethicone, Polysilicone-9, PEG-32, Styrene/Stearyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Alumina, Silica, BHT, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben

Product Review: Biore UV Bright Perfect Face Milk 

What I like:

• The scent- it is unscented.
• The packaging is cute, handy, and travel-friendly.
• The tube has a nozzle tip that dispenses the right amount of product.
• A little amount goes a long way.
• It has SPF 50 + PA+++ which is one of the highest numbers in terms of SPF next to 100. It filters about 98% of UVB (according to popsugar.com)
• This sunscreen is really water-proof.
• Biore UV Bright Perfect Face Milk is non-sticky.
• Applies velvety smooth and absorbs quickly on my face. 
• It is great as a makeup base too.
• No allergic reactions, irritations, breakouts, or whatsoever.
• It doesn't make my skin look and feels oily.
• There's no ugly white cast on photos.
• There are batch, manufacturing, and expiry date.
• It's now easily accessible. No need to go to Japan or to ask a relative or a friend buy this product for you.
• There's an English translation of product information.

What I don't like:

• The price can be a bit high for students and budget-conscious individuals but if you'll do the math, it can be cost-effective especially if you use it every day.

Will I repurchase? Yes but not for now because I also have the Biore UV Aqua Rich variant that I'll also be road testing soon.

Recommendation:

     I give this a 4.75/5 rating. Now I know why my friends from Japan highly recommend this brand of sunscreen. Biore UV Bright Perfect Face Milk is lightweight and feels velvety smooth on the face right after application. Always remember this: Do not stay too long in the sun, even while using a sunscreen product. Over-exposure to the sun is a serious health threat. The use of sunscreen is one way to reduce the danger of sun exposure.

What's your favorite sunblock? Thanks for sharing! Have a great day ahead :)

For information and other inquiries on Biorè UV products:

Like them on Facebook: BiorePH 

Follow them on Twitter: @BiorePHL

Follow them on Instagram: @bioreph

Good  Times!~

Product Review: Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

     Hi dearies! Weeks ago I accepted Kiehl's Philippines #WokeUpLikeThis challenge. I posted a photo of my bare face on my Instagram account @Kathneko. That photo was taken upon waking up, I can say that my skin was dull and a bit oily. I have a fair skin tone and there are times that I look pale and sickly. I've been searching for a skin care product that will restore moisture and make my skin glow even without makeup. To tell you honestly, I'm shy to show you my bare face photo. Yes, acne and other skin impurities are not visible already because of organic soaps and current skincare routine but the healthy glow is missing.

     This product is a cult fave and been raved by beauty bloggers worldwide. It's also in my lemming for the longest time not until Kiehl's Philippines sent me this bottle. I've been using this product for more than two weeks now and I can say the texture of my skin is different and it's glowing when I look in the mirror first thing in the morning! More information about the product below, scroll down please :)

Product Review: Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

The Sorcery to Skin Recovery

     Wake up to younger-looking skin with the Midnight Recovery Concentrate. Look like you’ve had 8 hours of sleep despite only having 4 with Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate! It is a powerful concentration, specifically formulated to biologically replicate skin’s natural lipids, optimally programmed to best absorb active ingredients, typically between 12 midnight to 4 am. With its ingredients – the Anhydrous Squalane, night-blooming Evening Primrose, therapeutic Lavender, Coriander and Rose Hip Seed Oils, and other nourishing oils, the Midnight Recovery Concentrate is your elixir to the restoration of youthful skin in the morning.

Product Review: Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

• Concocted with a unique blend of essentially nourishing oils that enhances the skin’s nocturnal functions that help reduce visible lines and wrinkles
• Repairs and fortifies the skin’s barriers making skin firmer and resilient to damage
• Gives the skin vital nutrients when it is most, rendering the skin’s radiance and improving its smoothness

Product Review: Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

size: 30 ml/ 1oz

price: 2,895 (Around $64.00+)

place bought: Free

Visit their stores at Alabang Town Center (02) 823-2425, Ayala Center Cebu (32) 401-1542, Greenbelt 5 (02) 728-9561, Power Plant Mall Rockwell (02) 621-6295, Shangri-la Plaza East Wing (02) 477-3916, SM Aura (02) 955-2274, SM Makati (02) 893-7968, SM Mall Of Asia (02) 659-7698, SM Megamall (02) 696-7009, SM North EDSA (02) 351-3620, TriNoma Mall (02) 576-4893

instructions for use: Apply 2-3 drops on cleansed skin. Gently press fingertips to cheeks, forehead, and chin to evenly distribute the application before gently massaging it into the skin. Can wear alone or under moisturizer

ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Squalane, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Coriander Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Lavender Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Linalool, Rosemary Leaf Oil, Citronellol, Geraniol, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Cucumber Fruit Extract, Turmeric Root Extract, Limonene, Citral, Sclareolide, Rose Flower Oil, Jasmine Extract, Sunflower Seed Oil

Product Review: Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate
The texture is runny

   
     Here's a photo of moi after 14 days of using Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate every night. No bb cream, face powder, and eyeliner. I used my favorite eyebrow powder to fill in my brows. You can see a more healthy skin, even though I have eyebags I'm not shy to show a selfie of my bare face. I don't have flawless skin. You can still see the freckles on my cheeks. It's all the glow and the radiance that's why I highly recommend this product :)

Product Review: Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate
Selfie no filter :)

What I like:

• The scent- even though it's herbal-like I can tolerate it. This one smells lavender.
• Made from natural extracts and beauty oils. See list of ingredients :)
• A little amount goes a long way, as in a long way. I only need 2-3 drops for my entire face. I think this 30 ml bottle will last for a year!
• Very handy and travel-friendly bottle.
• Kiehl's MRC is easily absorbed once applied.
• Non-greasy and I don't feel the oily texture once the concentrate is absorbed by my skin.
• There's a soothing and calming effect after application.
• The glow is really obvious in the morning after waking up.
• Made my skin soft and smooth to touch.
• It made my face brighter.
• Easily accessible.
• Batch and manufacturing date printed at the bottom of the packaging.
• Free from paraben, fragrance, and mineral oil.

What I don't like:

• It gave me a small cystic pimple on my chin.
• It will be expensive for budget-conscious individuals.

Will I repurchase?: Yes but not for now because this bottle will last me for a year. 

Recommendation:

      I give this product a 4.25/5 rating. This serum is one of the best skin care products that I have tried to date. Even though it gave me a small cystic pimple on the first 3 days of use, the glowing skin is what I'm aiming for. I can live with one cystic pimple because I know it will heal in the next few days. I have a spot treatment for that so I'll just leave the pimple and concentrate more on what this product is meant for- healthy and glowing skin with fine lines/pre-mature wrinkle eraser on the side.

     I've been hearing positive reviews about it even before I started blogging so this one is on my skincare wish list for a very long time as what I've mentioned above. I'm glad that Kiehl's Philippines sent me a full-sized bottle to try. I'm crossing this on my wishlist but will definitely not crossing on my next skincare essentials shopping list :) I highly recommend this product. It's also an anti-aging regimen so if you're on your late 20's, you might need this to start your anti-aging regimen early.

For more information about Kiehl's visit their website: http://www.kiehls.com/

Like them on Facebook: KiehlsPhilippines

Follow them on Twitter: @kiehlsph

Follow them on Instagram: @kiehlsphilippines

Good Times!~

DISCLAIMER: This product was sent to me by Kiehl's Philipines for their #WokeUpLikeThis Kiehl's Day to Night Challenge. The views expressed here are my honest opinion about the product. We have different skin types. What works for me may not work for you or vice versa.