In the seven months (and counting) that the Philippines has been placed on strict quarantine measures and people have been forced to hold all their meetings online, I cannot tell you how many times I've been told, in the many online meetings I've had, how my skin is always impeccably clear, even without any makeup on.

I'm not a beauty, skincare, or makeup expert and I won't claim to be one, but let me tell you the four (4) simple things that I do to make sure I always look fresh in online meetings:

1. SLEEP. I'm the type of person who will not be able to function and think well if I don't get a (well-deserved) good night's rest. Even prior to the pandemic, I have always been getting at least 6 hours of sleep on a regular basis. When the pandemic started, my sleep hours became longer as I did not need to drive to work (or anywhere else for that matter) anymore!

One thing that I've noticed though is that the quality of my sleep has become better ever since I introduced essential oils in my life. My gift to myself for my 30th birthday was a starter kit of Young Living essential oils, which totally jumpstarted my oilbularya journey (and, you know what they say, there's no going back once you become an oilbularya!).

I diffuse essential oils twice a day: when I wake up and start working and before I go to sleep and call it a day. My favorite diffuser blends for sleep are:

• lavender + Stress Away

• lavender + peppermint (I also mix lemon sometimes)

• lavender + clary sage

• lavender + frankincense

• peppermint + stress away

• peppermint + Thieves

Since I got my kit and started researching about the health benefits of essential oils, I realized that I have become (semi) dependent on oils!!! I'd love to hold your hand and walk you through the world of essential oils too! My Young Living Member Number is 24101588 if you wish to be an oilbularya as well and join our amazing group of oilers!

I swear it has honestly changed my life huhuhu. I would have specific diffuser blends for specific purposes, and I have integrated essential oils into my skincare routine! And speaking of skincare...

2. SKINCARE (not makeup!). Being in lockdown has freed up extra time to do extra steps for skincare, but I've never really deviated much from my usual cleanse-tone-moisturize routine. What I've been doing though is that I switch and alternate my favorite products every now and then. This has worked for me so far.

As for products, these have worked very well for me:

• Cleanser: Neutrogena Deep Clean Brightening facial wash, Clean & Clear Foaming face wash, Foreo micro-foam cleanser

• Toner: Fresh Skinlab Tomato Glass Skin water drop cream, Celeteque Advanced Anti-aging Toner, and Flawless Age Defy Toner

• Moisturizer / Serum: Fresh Skinlab Tomato Glass Skin soothing gel lotion, Celeteque Hydration Facial Moisturizer, Foreo Serum Serum Serum, Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream (day), Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate (Night)

My best quarantine discovery though is the FOREO UFO smart mark device and the FOREO LUNA 3 cleansing device, which is a totally worth it upgrade from my previous Foreo Luna M (like super first-gen Foreo device!). Both devices are safe (and actually recommended) to use every day for regular cleansing. I literally start and end my skincare routine with a Foreo!

Here's how my once-a-week all-Foreo skincare routine looks like:

1. Cleanse with my Foreo Luna 3 device, using the Foreo micro-foam cleanser

2. Apply my toner of choice (Or sometimes I skip this and go straight to putting on the Foreo Serum Serum Serum)

3. Treat my skin to TLC with the Foreo UFO device, with the Foreo UFO-activated mask (which, don't tell anyone, I kind of learned how to hack because the UFO mask is super expensive!!!)

Everything is controlled via the Foreo app, which makes this tita feel the techie bagets vibe all over again hehehe. Sharing with you below how I have "hacked" the many uses of the Foreo UFO device and how I use it for other things I need it for (not just the face -- that's why it's so sulit):

1. I use the ordinary face sheet masks with my Foreo UFO device: I either massage my face with the device while the sheet mask is on, or sometimes I use it directly on to the skin using the leftover serum from the sheet mask pack.

2. The pulsations are gentle and so good, I use the Foreo UFO all over my body to ease muscle fatigue after my workout sessions

3. The Foreo UFO is actually also good for firming my tummy area, and the warmth feels good too!

Let me tell you though that Foreo products are not cheap, but I will attest to how these are really good investments for luxurious skincare. The very first FOREO device I had was purchased directly from the FOREO website, for around USD 100 I believe. But the device has been with me for like two years already!

I got the Luna 3 cleansing device for PHP 11,800 and the UFO smart mask device for PHP 16,320. The micro-foam cleanser is at PHP 2,651 for the 100mL tube and the serum is priced PHP 3,630 for the 30mL bottle. Everything may be purchased directly from the Foreo Flagship Store in Lazada.

I surely take good care of my skin to make sure I look fresh even when just at home and even when I don't really put on makeup, but I cannot stress enough that what you put inside will manifest on the outside.

My next two (not so) secrets are all about caring for our mind and body.

3. EXERCISE AND EAT GOOD FOOD. Another gift to myself as I turned 30 this year is that I got myself a personal trainer who would help me wih my fitness and weight management goals. Coach Chel of Fitroverts has been extremely helpful in training me to be disciplined with my time for workouts, the food that I eat (she makes sure I get at least one serving of vegetables daily), and my overall health habits (she reminds me to sleep early, like your puppy love in high school haha).

Since June, I have been working out three times a week, religiously, no fail! (Except possibly during those few days when I was so lethargic from work, I couldn't even find the strength to take a shower before bed.) To be honest I haven't really lost weight, but people have noticed how much more energetic and glowing I've been since -- I could attest the energy you have inside translates to people you meet online, even if you're bound by screens!

4. THINK HAPPY THOUGHTS. This pandemic has, unfortunately, brought out the worst from many of us, but I have always been someone who would always choose to look at the positive side of things. The grass is greener where you water it, they say. A lot of things happening right now are out of our control, but amid the crazy pandemonium of things and circumstances, there is only one thing we can fully control -- our thoughts. Choose to be happy, choose to be kind, choose to be understanding, and choose to be loving.

Love always! xx