Girl We Love: Gem Muzones — stories by wink

FUN FACT ABOUT YOU:

People know me as part of a traveling couple but I actually love traveling alone. I've been traveling by myself since I was in high school. My first international travel was a solo trip too!

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT TRAVELING?

The sights, meeting amazing locals and experiencing different cultures are a given. What I really like the most when traveling is when plans change due to inevitable mishaps, that's when the adventure really begins! I'm a very detailed planner, I organize everything months prior our trips. So when faced with challenging situations, we're forced to quickly think of solutions and we end up exploring more of the destination, making the trip more unforgettable. Luckily for us, things always work out in the end.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE NOT TRAVELING?

I work at a fun digital marketing company that really gives importance to work-life balance so I get to travel to my heart's content, maximizing long weekends, holidays, vacation leave credits and the best perk, working remotely. Good thing there are plenty of destinations near Manila that we can just drive to every weekend if we're craving for another trip at the last minute.

TRAVEL MUST-HAVES?

Staples in my luggage: microfiber towel, dry bag, packing cubes, GoPro and mirrorless camera, insect repellent, tanning oil, and sunscreen.

FIRST THING YOU DO ONCE YOU REACH YOUR TRAVEL DESTINATION?

Ask the locals where they love to eat! Those are usually cheap but really good food. And I'm always hungry.

APP YOU USE MOST WHEN YOU TRAVEL AND WHAT DO YOU USE IT FOR?

Traveloka for booking cheaper flights and hotels (I love their promo codes) and Evernote to keep track of our expenses and to take notes for our blog writing.

WHAT'S YOUR GO-TO TRAVELING HACK OR TIP?

Stick to DIY. Most people believe they get a great deal when they book an all-in package tour, but what they don’t know is that they can get an even better deal when they do their own planning. Plus, you manage your own time and do whatever you want at your own pace.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT WINK?

Wink understands the needs of frequent travelers. With 7,641 islands in this country, we have so many beaches and islands to explore that we end up getting too much sun exposure. Wink gives your sun damaged skin the TLC it badly needs so you can go to as many beach trips as you want with bare but beautiful skin that's always camera ready.

HOW DOES WINK HELP YOU WITH YOUR TRAVELS?

After traveling for years, my skin got so much sun exposure, especially my face, the part of my body that I'm most insecure about! After my Revlite laser facials with Wink, I got an instant confidence boost because it's done wonders for my skin from treating my blemishes, fine lines, pore size, pigmentation, and dull skin. Now I show more of my face in photos and don't hide behind the camera as much as before.

FAVORITE TRAVEL MEMORY:

The first trip Beep and I went to will always be my favorite. I had an extra ticket to Malasimbo back in 2012 because a friend backed out and out of desperation, I asked random colleagues if they would buy it from me and accompany me to the trip. I barely knew Beep back then but he was game even if it was last minute. We both didn't have money to splurge for the trip so we pitched a tent, got PHP20 showers, and hung out under a shade at the beach realizing how much interests we have in common. That's when our adventure started and we've been traveling together ever since.