An ode to Quina Skin Tonic

If Bedak Sejuk prevents oiliness for 4-6 hours then this product prevents oiliness the whole day!!!! Yes! Oil free face!

I was in a Bangkok Supermarket looking for some stuff to bring back home when I saw a bottle almost hidden away in the shelf of the beauty products aisle. I read the back portion and it says that it brightens and enhance skin radiance. Used as facial foundation to control oil and reduce acne... etc.. For 18 THB (around .50USD) I might as well try it.

So when I went back home, I immedately tried it. And whhhooooooaaaaah! Im warning you, it will sting a lot I dont know if it's the alcohol or its just very cold once it touches your skin.. Im not sure but it is worth the pain because once it dries up you can immediately feel that you skin becomes smooth and matte! I didnt apply moisturizer after that (But im sure It's not recommended) I just went on and applied the liquid foundation with the bedak sejuk and powder and boy no traceof oiliness whatsoever... IT IS THAT GOOD!

But of course if you have low tolerance for anything that stings then I advice you not to use this product. Just to give you an idea, its like putting ice on you face for 2 minutes and then it will start to sting you skin.. thats what it feels like when you apply the Quina skin tonic, but the sting will last for 5 seconds..

So it's still all up to you...:D

Bedak Sejuk (cold powder)

I never heard of this product until my husbands colleague introduced this to me. She explained how it prevents oiliness and acne on her face. At first I didn't believe her, in fact I didn't even paid so much attention to what she was trying to say.. it was over dinner in one of my fave restaurants in Bangkok and I'd rather eat than listen to her lecture. And well, I was still focused at that time on how to get milk of magnesia for my face since I read a lot of good reviews unfortunately it's not available in Malaysia.

Anyway when we went back in KL, husband passed on to me a small jar of Bedak Sejuk with an instruction on how to use it. I decided to try and took just 1 piece and added 2 -3 drops of water.. it turned into a paste and I applied it on one of my acne... the next day its gone!!! well not gone but the acne has dried up. And so the following night I used it as a mask, took 2 pieces and added 5 drops of water and applied it on my face, I didnt rinse it off and just let it stay there until the next day. Well it is very impressive because the oiliness on my face became extremely less...

And so I decided to use it on my make up:

2 pieces of bedak sejuk dilluted in 3-4 drops of water (paste like consistency or until the powder dissolves)

Then add 2-3 drops your favorite liquid foundation and mix it well.. (I normally use q-tips as a mixer, just remove the cotton)

You will be oil free for 4-6 hours, if you want to last longer then add 1 more piece of bedak sejuk.

I really love bedak sejuk and I will definitely use this for a loong loong time. The only problem is its not easily available in KL, but I saw this shop in Midvalley just outside Carrefour that sells local beauty products and she sells bedak sejuk.

Oh and by the way, Im trying to make bedak sejuk just in case we need to transfer again in another country. Hopefully I can make it right.

IMPERIAL PALACE WATERPARK Resort and SPA in Cebu review

Beware of this hotel.. if you are not a foreigner then expect to be treated like shit. If not, then good for you.

Check in:

1.We Arrived at 7am, and so I checked in:

Receptionist: You're room will be ready at 2pm (trying to smile.. FAKE smile!)

Me: oh..(sad face) 2 pm.. is it full today?

Receptionist: No

Me: hmm is it ok if we can we have an early check in coz we have a kid that is really tired and very sleepy. (sweet tone)

Receptionist: No ma'am I'm sorry (no more smile and looks irritated)

Me: oh.. is it really not possible?

Receptionist: No if you really want to have an early check in then it is possible but you need to pay the half day rate

Me: Whaaaat? I mean I know the policy of hotels but I've been to hotels far better than this hotel who lets us have an early check in. And also we stayed at Radisson Blu in Cebu City a few weeks ago with the same early flight that we took today and they let us have an early check in and at that time there were already so many people in their lobby that gives me the impression that the hotel is nearly full (but they still accommodated us) while you confirmed it yourself that this hotel is not full and not a single guest loitering. (Still trying to be calm)

What irritated me was her answer

Receptionist: Excuse me ma'am (with a raise in her voice and this time looks really irritated) that's not possible (pertaining to what Radisson Blu did, as if having an early check in is a criminal offense and very impossible for other hotels to offer it.)

Me: I think it's not right to argue with a guest especially if you can't provide them with what they are asking. We will just go back at 2pm.

Receptionist: (She apologized but you can see that it was a half hearted one) Here are some welcome drinks for you and your companions.

2nd incident: (3rd day)

We were 5 in our group and since my brother went to the beach super early he told us that he will just follow us in the buffet area. Receptionist gave us a table for 4. We said that we are waiting for my brother to join us but she just ignored.. so when my brother arrived, he doesnt have any chair... they just looked at us and did nothing. So we called up one waitress and asked if we can now transfer to another table. She left us and informed us that they will look for one.. When she came back she told us that there is an available table but its located very very far from the main breakfast/buffet hall, in fact it is literally in another restaurant with connection with the main one. And since we dont have any other options, we agreed but I already noticed that there were so many other tables available in the main hall.. So on our way to the table that they offered, there was this waiter who asked them why they are taking us there (referring to the other restaurant).. let them sit here pointing towards a table located in the middle of the place... yaaaay! and so we sat there... but here's the catch, I saw how hesitant the two ushers were to let us sit on the table suggested by the waiter.. they even looked at each other and talked in cebuano dialect and sounds like they were pissed off.

3rd incident: (3rd day before check out)

At 9 am, I called the front desk ans asked if we can have a late check out.. I know what their answer will be but I'm just hoping that they will at least make up for the first day.. But as expected the answer is no, they said we should be out by 12 noon. Fine. I didn't argue anymore.

And so at 11:45am the phone rang, from the front desk:

Front Desk: Ma'am we would just like to remind you that it's already 11:45. Check out time is ar 12 nn. So you need to check out soon.

WHAT THE FUCK!?????? First hotel ever to remind me to leave the room ASAP!

Me: (really annoyed voice) Yes, I know that already.

Front Desk: (Sensed that I am already annoyed) offerd this-- Would you like us to send someone to help you with your luggage?

Me: No, we can manage!. Bye!

Good points:

1. If you are a foreigner (especially Koreans) then you will enjoy this hotel because 90% percent of the guests are from Korea.

2. Water park is fun.

3. The room is clean.

4. Amenities are great.

5. They offer so many choices in the buffet breakfast.

Bad points:

1. Very poor customer service!

2. Although there were so many choices in the Breakfast buffet, the tastes really is blah! Even the mangoes are so sour!!! shame on you for giving the impression to foreigners that Philippine/Cebu mangoes are not good! If it's not sweet then don't offer it at all!

3. Beach is so small, you really can't do anything.

4. Very far away from the city, it will cost you around 300 pesos to reach ayala center.

5. Most of them are VERY RUDE!

Overall experience- BAD! Why? Because no matter how nice your hotel is, if you lack customer service then it will leave a bad impression to your guests. Take for example the check in incident we encountered, if the receptionist at least assured us that she will do everything to make it earlier than the 2pm check in time, it will make me feel more important and valued. But since she argued with the guest instead, she gave me the impression that the hotel is all about the money and so I will definitely not recommend the place.

There were already 12 people who asked me how the Imperial Palace was.... and I told them my experience and that 12 people I know will tell another 12 people they know about my experience and so on. I just cant get it why they cant accommodate us when there won't be any loss for them because:

1. Hotel is not full

2. Techinically, the available room is already our room for the whole day.

3. They will not clean the room twice anyway so why not let us use it.

And also, the nerve to remind us to vacate the place at exactly 12!!

I have never experienced this kind of treatment in any hotels I visited... and modesty aside I visited a lot, from 2 star to 5 star hotels in different countries. For the price we paid, we should have stayed in Shangrila Mactan, it's just that there were no available room on our second night.

But anyway, this is based only on our experience. It may be different from yours so if you want to try them then by all means.

But I will definitely not recommend it to my friends and loved ones.. :)