M Artisans

Beauty 101: Kojic Acid

Posted on August 8, 2017May 22, 2018 by M Artisans

What is Kojic Acid?

Kojic Acid – is derived from several species of fungi and is known to limit melanin production. A fungus – “aspergillus oryzae” which in Japanese named as “Koji”, hence the name Kojic Acid. It is a by-product in the fermentation process of malting rice, for use in the manufacturing of sake, the Japanese rice wine.^[1] It is a mild inhibitor of the formation of pigment in plant and animal tissues, and is used in food and cosmetics to preserve or change colors of substances.

A fungus – “aspergillus oryzae” which in Japanese named as “Koji”, hence the name Kojic Acid.

There are many uses of Kojic Acid, here in the Philippines it’s a widely known component of whitening soaps. Other uses of this acid include; prevention of oxidative browning on fruits during cutting and production, to preserve the red/pink colors of seafood, and as antibacterial and anti-fungal. These useful benefits aside from naturally lightening the skin only prove that Kojic Acid is indeed a wonderful discovery from nature.

here in the Philippines it’s a widely known component of whitening soaps

Let’s discuss the side-effects of Kojic Acid, these “side-effects” maybe beneficial for some but harmful for sensitive and irritated skin.

this acid is a peeling agent and should be used with caution. It assists in skin exfoliation to remove dead skin cells, oil, dirt and debris from our skin
penetrates deeply into the skin and remove the outermost layer of the skin
As the outermost layer is stripped off, new skin is exposed. Kojic Acid enhances cellular turnover to compensate for the lost tissue during exfoliation. Your skin now has clean, soft, smooth, flawless, and fair skin
Kojic Acid, as an acid and may alter some of the skin’s normal flora. According to Material Safety study by Oxford, it was found out that Kojic Acid – as purely unprocessed Kojic – is a dangerous substance by itself so it’s better to read product labels, go for the organic and natural ingredients before putting anything to your face

kojic soap — *we recommend – Organic Kojic Gold Soap. Click this photo for details.*

After exfoliation, the new skin underneath is more sensitive. The new, fresh skin is more sensitive to sunlight, pollution, radiation, and to other harsh products. It’s a must to apply sunscreen with SPF 20 or higher especially when going out to avoid further damage on skin. Sun Protection

The skin is now also at risk for dryness so apply a generous amount of moisturizer or lotion while using Kojic acid.

: we also recommend a variation of Kojic Soap with the addition of Papaya to whiten and moisturize the skin. Click this photo for details

Kojic acid is an important product in skin whitening but should be use with caution and ample product knowledge. It’s always best to go for natural and organic.

hope this helps 🙂

much love,

life, places, travel

when in Seville

Posted on July 22, 2017July 22, 2017 by M Artisans

Seville or Sevilla

— is the capital and largest city of Andalusia – a province of Spain.

Aside from having a very accommodating and considerate tour guide here in Seville, we also had an amazing trip from its historical cathedral, parks and architectures to its traditional and entertaining dance known as “flamenco”.

I begin with the largest gothic cathedral in the world the – “Catedral de Sevilla” or “Seville Cathedral”. Its grandeur is undeniable and endowed with Seville’s remarkable history.

All throughout our trip, I typically start by snatching free pamphlets or fact sheets of the place where I’m in. And my multi-tasking is at its peak when I’m travelling as I listen to our guide, I’d write down notes and take some artistic snapshots of every corner, view and angle, and be mindful of my steps and the road 😉

Historical facts about the cathedral;

1184 – 1198 Construction of the main mosque of Seville and its minaret. (Spain was under the Muslims) Parts are conserved in the Orange Tree Courtyard and lower sections of Giralda tower, that I will post separately.
1248 After the “reconquest” of Spain by Ferdinand II, the mosque was consecrated as a Cathedral.
1434 – 1517 The construction of the Gothic Cathedral.
1528 – 1621 Construction of some parts continued including the completion of the bell tower – Giralda tower.
1618 – 1758 The Baroque phase of the Cathedral (my favorite period)
1987 Seville Cathedral was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO

The cathedral’s construction lasted for more than a century. Our tour guide told us that when they were planning to build this, church elders declared, “Hagamos una iglesia tan hermosa y tan grandiosa que los que la vieren labrada nos tengan por locos.” (Let us build a church so beautiful and so magnificent that those who see it finished will think we are mad). Well, maybe 🙂 but this church is really wonderful!

hiking the Giralda tower and took selfies of course 😉

Giralda tower is the bell tower of this cathedral, said to be the symbol of Seville. This minaret is 76 meters in height and was originally constructed by by the Moors in 1184.

one of the main attractions in the cathedral is the tomb of Christopher Columbus. Added in 1892, it has four bearers representing the four kingdoms of Castille, Leon, Aragon and Navarra.

The tomb of Christopher Columbus with its gigantic bearers

Beautiful Cathedral windows like this one with written date 1683, the year when it was added

Another beautiful stained glass window with 1777 as its date

to be continued,

❤️mp

Riquewihr

This pretty village in France is the perfect fairytale setting and classified as one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in France.” My favorite town as you may have noticed, I wrote about it in my previous post → Alsace France

Riquewihr a medieval town in the heart of the vineyards of Alsace, France. The charming half-timbered houses were built between 15th-18th century and with a Dolder that was used as a defense/gate from the 13th century.

Posting below the photos taken from this pretty village. This is where “Beauty and the Beast” got their movie inspiration. And you’ll see in these pictures why ❤️ Some I have posted already in Instagram 😊

img_2288-2 — houses are decorated with beautiful & bright colored flowers in spring/summer

img_2294-1 — Riquewihr almost looks as if it has just dropped out of a fairytale book

the best way to explore this town is by foot, and there are little museums which feature their wine and cheese making, old postal history, etc.

19875628_10209801565576283_1157098774682631457_n — one of the tiny streets in Riquewihr

Fairy/angel figurines from a souvenir shop

IMG_20170713_220248_152 — Posing for a quick photo in her fave trinket shop

IMG_20170713_221431_386 — another “Beauty and the Beast” inspiration is this quaint fountain

19985092_687192684787176_2279791842130132992_n — the winemaker’s house, dates back to 16th century

Riquewihr, like their wine, gets better with time

Indeed, Riquewihr is a very charming village. It has preserved its tradition and beauty, still unchanged even after 400 years.

♥ mp

Riquewihr photo gallery

travel, trip

Highlights of Granada Spain

Posted on July 6, 2017July 7, 2017 by M Artisans

I’ve recently posted some photos from our trip to this beautiful place of Granada, Spain. Because of it’s Moorish historical background, a particular area in Granada is called Alhambra which in Arabic means reddish walls («qa’lat al-Hamra’» Red Castle). My daughter got a book – “Tales of the Alhambra” as her souvenir that I’ve used for research and information…

Because of it’s Moorish historical background, a particular area in Granada is called Alhambra which in Arabic means reddish walls («qa’lat al-Hamra’» Red Castle)

Alhambra is strategically located with a view of the whole city. The first historical document dates back as early as 9th century. The castle of Alhambra was built around year 889, and this castle became a military fortress because of its location. It was until the arrival of the first king of the Nasrid dynasty, Mohammed ben Al-Hamar (Mohammed I, 1238-1273), in the 13th century, that the royal residence was established in Alhambra. This event marked the beginning of Alhambra’s most glorious period. This sprawling hilltop fortress complex encompasses royal palaces, serene patios, and reflecting pools from the Nasrid dynasty, as well as the fountains and orchards of the Generalife gardens. (Sorry, no pictures from inside the castle 😦 we weren’t able to get our tickets)

It was until the arrival of the first king of the Nasrid dynasty, Mohammed ben Al-Hamar (Mohammed I, 1238-1273), in the 13th century, that the royal residence was established in Alhambra. This event marked the beginning of Alhambra’s most glorious period.

Then the Catholic monarchs came and parts of the castle were destroyed to give way for a new palace and the onset of Catholicism.

Below are the pictures taken from our trip, with the above intro and its spectacular sights, this is by far one of my favorite cities in Europe 🙂

img_3055-1 — Ornate ceiling/details of the Alhambra Palace

19756377_10209744695034555_4286111891584900605_n — inside the beautiful Hotel Alhambra Palace 😍all corners, from ceiling to floors and stairs are intricately designed

19511396_10209726210772460_8352130491872778371_n — breathtaking sunset and the view of the whole city from our dinner in the Alhambra Palace

more to come 🙂

mp ♥

Catholic faith, faith, prayer

Ave Maria de Lourdes France

Posted on June 24, 2017April 14, 2022 by M Artisans

On our fifth visit to Lourdes France, we were able to participate in the nightly rosary vigil. It starts at 9 pm and lasts for about an hour. Peace and hope enveloped me as we sang to the hymns and recitation of the rosary. Chanted with various languages I may not know but familiar and heartfelt. The procession is more than a ceremony that for devotees like me – is a time of prayer and grace.

I’d like to share the hymn – “Ave Maria de Lourdes” in French. As seen on a short clip I recorded below.

Ave, Ave, Ave Maria!
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria!

O Vierge Marie, le peuple Chrétien,
à Lourdes vous prie, chez vous il renvient.

Le fond de la roche s’éclaire à l’instant:
la dame s’approche, fait signe à l’enfant.

“Venez, je vous prie, ici, quinze fois,
avec vos amies entendre ma voix.”

Avec insistance la dame,
trois fois, a dit: “pénitence”
Chrétien, c’est pour toi!

“A cette fontaine venez et buvez;
dans l’eau pure et sainte
allez vous laver.”

“Je veux qu’ici même,
au pied de ces monts,
le peuple que j’aime
vienne en procession.”

much love,

mE

holiday, travel

Alsace France

Posted on June 3, 2017June 4, 2017 by M Artisans

Dreams do come true.

Alsace is a historical region in northeastern France, bordering Germany and Switzerland. It’s filled with beautiful small villages like one particular place called Riquewihr.

This old town is the perfect backdrop setting for fairytales i.e. Beauty & the Beast. Humming Belle’s song as we walked through this picturesque village. Charming and colorful houses, each has a unique theme of it’s own. And I even found the lovely fountain in this scene of Belle where she sat to read her book. The old town from the 16th century still feels the same until today and for me is the most beautiful village I’ve ever seen. I didn’t like to leave.

“Riquewihr – les plus beaux village de France”

Photos will be uploaded when I get back home, I promise 🙂

We stayed in Colmer, another quaint town in Alsace. Its cobblestone streets lined with half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings. The gothic 13th century St. Martin cathedral took 600 years to built and stands tall in the central Place de la Cathédrale. The area along the canals is known as the La Petite Venise (Little Venice). You can take a boat ride to explore the old fishermen’s district.

Strasbourg. The capital city of Alsace. Being in the border of France and Germany, it was enriched with a unique combination of German and French influences. Its enthralling past gives this city a distinctive and endearing history.

We took a boat tour after visiting the gothic Cathédrale Notre-dame that houses the astronomical clock.

More to come so please like and follow 🙂

much love,

mitch

travel

travel essentials

Posted on May 23, 2017May 23, 2017 by M Artisans

We are going on a trip yay!

It’s been 3 years since our last vacation and looking forward for a whole new perspective, visit places, meet people, discover their culture and the best part is to taste their food (Spanish tapas – yum!)

Here’s an accustomed checklist of mine improved through time & designed for long trips with young family members, kids and also elderly having special needs.

passport (VISA if applicable) – first on the list, obviously you can’t travel without it 😉
itinerary – unless you want to be carefree with your trip, be adventurous and just visit the places you’d like to see in your own time.
airplane tickets – internet made everything so easy and convenient. From buying to check in. Hooray for internet!
book your room – for me this is very important, it’s your home away from home. There are several sites that will help you choose the best hotel that suits you. Below are direct links for legit and safe – hotel booking sites ↓ you’re welcome 🙂

medicines – the basic over-the-counter medicines, in no particular order; pain reliever, anti-diarrhea, for motion sickness, for dyspepsia, maintenance medicines for our elder companions (anti-hypertensive, anti-cholesterol, etc), anti-histamine for allergies and first aid kit.
neck pillows – because sleep or even quick nap is a must!
shawl/cap – to keep you warm & cap for sun protection
clothing and other accessories – if fashion is your statement
vitamins and supplements – to support our immune system as we are exposed to a different environment when we travel
camera and extra memory cards – to store priceless selfies and memories
phone chargers, cable and adaptor – across the world, there are varying power outlets that may be different from your plug
powerbank – as we take a lot of selfies, our phone’s/camera’s batteries drain faster than usual
a good book
traveler’s notebook and pen
toiletries

And the rest is all up to you 😉

travel essntials

food, recipes

Baked cheesy salmon (super easy)

Posted on May 19, 2017May 19, 2017 by M Artisans

Pardon the photo, my family couldn’t wait to eat before I could snap some Instagram worthy photos. I’m sharing with you the recipe for this super easy and no fuss – baked cheesy salmon.

ingredients

2 lbs salmon fillet, boneless, with or without skin
2 large garlic cloves, grated
lemon juice
ground black pepper and salt to taste
1 cup cheese, shredded (I used monterey jack, cheddar and parmesan cheese)
parsely, finely chopped (optional)

procedure

preheat oven to 450 degrees F
line a large baking tray with parchment paper or a layer of cooking spray on a square baking dish will do
place the fillet with skin side down (if any) on the baking tray/dish, squeeze some lemon juice, rub garlic, sprinkle and rub salt and pepper then top with cheese
bake uncovered for 15 minutes
garnish with parsely if desired
serve warm and enjoy!

try this recipe today, it took me only 20 minutes to cook and about 5 minutes for my family to finish it 🙂

Image may contain: food and indoor

much love,

mitch ❤

Catholic faith, faith, prayer

Our Lady of Fatima 100th anniversary

Posted on May 14, 2017September 13, 2017 by M Artisans

Intercessory Hymn to Our Lady of Fatima

Dear Lady of Fatima, We come on bended knees.

To beg Your intercession, For peace and unity.

Dear Mary, won’t You show us, The right and shining way,

We pledge our love and offer You,A Rosary each day.

You promised at Fatima,Each time that You appeared,

To help us if we pray to You, To banish war and fear.

Dear Lady, on First Saturdays. We ask Your guiding hand,

For grace and guidance here on earth,

And protection for our land.

Intercessory Prayer to Our Lady of Fatima

O Most Holy Virgin Mary, Queen of the most holy Rosary,

you were pleased to appear to the children of Fatima and reveal a glorious message.

We implore you, inspire in our hearts a fervent love for the recitation of the Rosary.

By meditating on the mysteries of the redemption that are recalled therein, may we obtain the graces and virtues that we ask, through the merits of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer.

Amen.

beauty and wellness, health and beauty, makeup

Tips for fighting Oily Summer Skin

Posted on May 5, 2017May 22, 2018 by M Artisans

During hot summer days, our skin tends to be more greasy, problematic and attention-seeking. Yes, it was one of my greatest concern too!

Makeup lasts a few hours till we notice that our foundation is breaking apart, melting down and that eeww feeling as we watch in horror how our investment on makeup is going to waste.

Lo and behold, I have my tried and tested tips for Oily Summer Skin.

Tip #1 – Use Moisturizer! stick with oil-free types.

And it may be helpful to opt for products that are specifically made for oily, acne prone skin. If we don’t moisturize our skin becomes thirsty, it will then produce more oil and the sebaceous glands will be crazi-er.

Tip #2 – Apply Sunblock.

My holy grail product next to moisturizer is sunblock or sun creams. Don’t skip applying a teaspoon-amount on your face just because it’s cloudy. Most harmful rays still get through those clouds and hurt your beautiful skin. Study also suggests that sunblock helps control oil and shine.

Tip #3 – Choose BB creams or Tinted Moisturizers.

Wearing cream foundation is heavy on skin and may even block pores which may lead to more skin problems like blackheads or acne.

Tip #4 – Exfoliate.

It won’t be part of Korean’s 10-step skin routine for nothin’. Exfoliating at least two times a week is the way to have smooth, clear, & oil-free skin!

Tip #5 – Detoxify with Masks.

I have a few recommendations; try masks with Green tea like this budget-friendly mask from Baroness, a popular Korean brand. Or a vitamin enriched one like Baroness Vitamin C mask. They also have Aloe Vera to soothe tired/sensitive skin, & Collagen Masks for anti-aging. Other Korean brands like Innisfree, The Faceshop and Petitfee have fruit infused masks to revitalize and deep cleansed the skin.

These masks will do wonders on your skin while you relax 🙂

Image result for baroness face mask

Hope these tips will help!

much love,

mp ❤

What is Kojic Acid?

A fungus – “aspergillus oryzae” which in Japanese named as “Koji”, hence the name Kojic Acid.

here in the Philippines it’s a widely known component of whitening soaps

Let’s discuss the side-effects of Kojic Acid, these “side-effects” maybe beneficial for some but harmful for sensitive and irritated skin.

this acid is a peeling agent and should be used with caution. It assists in skin exfoliation to remove dead skin cells, oil, dirt and debris from our skin

penetrates deeply into the skin and remove the outermost layer of the skin

As the outermost layer is stripped off, new skin is exposed. Kojic Acid enhances cellular turnover to compensate for the lost tissue during exfoliation. Your skin now has clean, soft, smooth, flawless, and fair skin

After exfoliation, the new skin underneath is more sensitive. The new, fresh skin is more sensitive to sunlight, pollution, radiation, and to other harsh products. It’s a must to apply sunscreen with SPF 20 or higher especially when going out to avoid further damage on skin. Sun Protection

The skin is now also at risk for dryness so apply a generous amount of moisturizer or lotion while using Kojic acid.

Kojic acid is an important product in skin whitening but should be use with caution and ample product knowledge. It’s always best to go for natural and organic.

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much love,

mE

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Dreams do come true.

Alsace is a historical region in northeastern France, bordering Germany and Switzerland. It’s filled with beautiful small villages like one particular place called Riquewihr.

Photos will be uploaded when I get back home, I promise 🙂

Strasbourg. The capital city of Alsace. Being in the border of France and Germany, it was enriched with a unique combination of German and French influences. Its enthralling past gives this city a distinctive and endearing history.

We took a boat tour after visiting the gothic Cathédrale Notre-dame that houses the astronomical clock.

More to come so please like and follow 🙂

Share this:

We are going on a trip yay!

It’s been 3 years since our last vacation and looking forward for a whole new perspective, visit places, meet people, discover their culture and the best part is to taste their food (Spanish tapas – yum!)

Here’s an accustomed checklist of mine improved through time & designed for long trips with young family members, kids and also elderly having special needs.

passport (VISA if applicable) – first on the list, obviously you can’t travel without it 😉

itinerary – unless you want to be carefree with your trip, be adventurous and just visit the places you’d like to see in your own time.

airplane tickets – internet made everything so easy and convenient. From buying to check in. Hooray for internet!

book your room – for me this is very important, it’s your home away from home. There are several sites that will help you choose the best hotel that suits you. Below are direct links for legit and safe – hotel booking sites ↓ you’re welcome 🙂

medicines – the basic over-the-counter medicines, in no particular order; pain reliever, anti-diarrhea, for motion sickness, for dyspepsia, maintenance medicines for our elder companions (anti-hypertensive, anti-cholesterol, etc), anti-histamine for allergies and first aid kit.

neck pillows – because sleep or even quick nap is a must!

shawl/cap – to keep you warm & cap for sun protection

clothing and other accessories – if fashion is your statement

vitamins and supplements – to support our immune system as we are exposed to a different environment when we travel

camera and extra memory cards – to store priceless selfies and memories

phone chargers, cable and adaptor – across the world, there are varying power outlets that may be different from your plug

powerbank – as we take a lot of selfies, our phone’s/camera’s batteries drain faster than usual

a good book

traveler’s notebook and pen

toiletries

And the rest is all up to you 😉

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

During hot summer days, our skin tends to be more greasy, problematic and attention-seeking. Yes, it was one of my greatest concern too!

Makeup lasts a few hours till we notice that our foundation is breaking apart, melting down and that eeww feeling as we watch in horror how our investment on makeup is going to waste.

Lo and behold, I have my tried and tested tips for Oily Summer Skin.

Lo and behold, I have my tried and tested tips for Oily Summer Skin.

Tip #1 – Use Moisturizer! stick with oil-free types.

And it may be helpful to opt for products that are specifically made for oily, acne prone skin. If we don’t moisturize our skin becomes thirsty, it will then produce more oil and the sebaceous glands will be crazi-er.

Tip #2 – Apply Sunblock.

My holy grail product next to moisturizer is sunblock or sun creams. Don’t skip applying a teaspoon-amount on your face just because it’s cloudy. Most harmful rays still get through those clouds and hurt your beautiful skin. Study also suggests that sunblock helps control oil and shine.

Tip #3 – Choose BB creams or Tinted Moisturizers.

Wearing cream foundation is heavy on skin and may even block pores which may lead to more skin problems like blackheads or acne.

Tip #4 – Exfoliate.

It won’t be part of Korean’s 10-step skin routine for nothin’. Exfoliating at least two times a week is the way to have smooth, clear, & oil-free skin!

Tip #5 – Detoxify with Masks.

These masks will do wonders on your skin while you relax 🙂

Share this: