The Beauty Experiment

Pop Beauty: Cat Eyes Eye Crayon

2011-09-25T17:37:00.002+08:00

Cat Eyes is the perfectly formed eye crayon - it is the essential tool to help you create a sexy cat eye with no effort. This liner makes the perfect flick at the end, which is key to perfecting the look. Go from I don't know how to MEOW!

JUMP for review!

I love the cat eye look and I have been adding a flick on my eyeliner application every now and then. Honestly, it is quite difficult (at least for me) doing it especially with a regular eyeliner. Sometimes they are not even and I have to redo them over again.

That's why this eyeliner caught my attention. I got it in the shade Black Onyx (#1). It's black with a silver/gunmetal sheen to it.

This eyeliner has a slanted tip. You can use it either vertically or horizontally, depending on how thick or thin you want your eyeliner to be.

It's very pigmented, creamy and it goes on smoothly, reminds me of my Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on pencil. The slanted tip makes application super fast and effortless. And my flicks look even. It definitely made life easier for me.

My only gripe about this is that it kind of smudges easily and I don't like applying it on my waterline because of that. So I always make sure that I prime my eyes first just to help make the eyeliner last longer.

Rating: Good Kitty!

Kat Von D Adora Train Case

2011-09-18T17:31:00.002+08:00

I got this train case about a month ago. Ordered it online and I was so excited to finally have it on my hands! I wanted to post about it as soon as it arrived but I have been busy for the past weeks. *sigh*

JUMP!

I fell in love with the design when I saw it online. It truly is a work of art. I also thought it suits my personality. I've seen a pink train case before and I almost bought it, just because I've been really wanting to get me a train case. My bf didn't like the pink train case and told me it's because I'm not a pink person (which is true lol). But when I showed him this Kat Von D Adora train case, no second thoughts he told me I should get it.

It's made of good quality. I think it's made of wood and the black lining on the sides are made of some sort of metal. Unlike other train cases I have seen, they are usually made of plastic... It is kind of heavy, but I don't really mind because it's big and it has a lot of space.

Make up can be messy. I want to keep this train case clean as much as possible (because I love it so much lol), so I have placed an orange cloth in each section.

Keys are included. Forgot to take photo of it. :D

I used to have all my make up on my dresser. It's been looking all disastrous for months. Palettes piled up everywhere. I'm glad I finally have this train case. I have more space for my make up. I still have some on my dresser though, especially the ones I use everyday and bigger palettes that wouldn't fit the train case.

Rating: Excellent Kitty!

Etude House: Soft Touch Auto Lipliner + a message to Hope (my Sigma winner)

2011-08-28T19:46:00.000+08:00

I have a few lipliners and most of them are in the neutral/nude shade. I have a couple of non-neutral ones but I thought I'd add more. I especially got excited during the 20% off sale of Etude House. I found the Soft Touch Lipliner and I thought it was freaking cheap. Regular price was PHP 98.00 and I got it 20% less.

I only bought one. I wanted to hoard more honestly, but they only had two shades left. And the other one is yet another nude shade. So I opted for this one instead.

JUMP!

I like the packaging of the lipliner. I think it's cute but not too overly cute or girly. It is retractable so there is no need to sharpen it.. It is dirt cheap but I discovered that the amount of product inside is just about an inch long. It is refillable though. You can get refills for only PHP 48.00 each.

I like the creamy texture of this lipliner. It is indeed soft and it goes on my lips smoothly. It doesn't tug or dry my lips. It is very pigmented. The staying power is okay, not super amazing but for the price, it definitely surpassed my expectation.

I remember buying a lipliner from Sephora. It was expensive and it wasn't creamy at all. It hardly gave any color to my lips. Comparing it to this one, definitely EH Soft Touch Lipliner is way better plus it's cheaper!

I think this lipliner is worth buying. For the price, the quality is more than what I expected it to be. I wish they come up with more shades, though. Definitely gonna buy more.

Rating: Very good kitty!

Just a quick message to my Sigma giveaway winner, Hope.

Hi Hope! I thought I'd do a quick post here because we're having trouble sending and receiving email from each other. I have already sent your address to Sigma and they have confirmed that your package has been sent. Please let me know once you have received it. You can just comment on my blog, because I might not get your email again. Thank you! :)

Laneige: Sun Block Oil-Free SPF 35 PA++

2011-08-22T15:31:00.000+08:00

I wasn't so sure if I was gonna tag this post as Men Solutions or not. But since the product isn't really labelled FOR MEN, I decided not to.

The thing is, my boyfriend is the one who uses this product. I also tried it myself for more than a week to see how it'll work for me.

To start with, my boyfriend's been looking for a sunscreen that won't irritate his skin. He's been on a hunt for quite a while now, and he's tried a lot of products that didn't work for him. He's tried so many different brands and they usually broke him out, which is not good at all. He almost gave up and he didn't want to use sunscreen anymore because of the pimples. But I still convinced him to keep trying, telling him that sunscreen is an important part of our skin routine because it serves as a protection from harmful rays that can cause sunburn, skin cancer and pre-mature aging.

JUMP!

Luckily, I had with me a sample sachet of Laneige Sun Block Oil-Free SPF 35 PA++, I asked for the sample when I bought the Multiberry Yogurt Peeling Gel because I really wanted to try it first and see if it does not irritate me before I buy full size.

I still have my Anessa sunscreen (which I like), so I gave the sample to my boyfriend for him to try and see if he likes it. I kind of thought that it might work for him because it's oil-free. And he usually hates sticky sunscreen so I thought it was another plus that it's non-greasy.

I think the whole sachet lasted him for a week. And when he ran out of the product, he wanted to purchase the full size bottle.

According to Laneige:

- Oil-free formula gives matte touch without oily or shininess giving a light usage feeling.
- Silicon polymer ingredients hide pores and silky powder with excellent sebum absorptive power absorbs sebum, maintaining sleek and refreshing skin tone.
- Clove oil and herb extracts control sebum secretion and soothes skin tone, leaving skin feel clarified and healthy.

I like the packaging. The nozzle is hygienic and it's easy to control the amount of product that's coming out of the bottle.

How it worked for HIM

No breakout. He is currently pimple free. He likes that it doesn't turn his face into a grease ball. He does not mind the price (PHP 1250) either. He's had it for about 4 months and a lot of product is still left.

Definitely worked so well. He wouldn't be purchasing the full sized bottle if he didn't like it, right? :D

How it worked for me

I only transferred a small amount in a jar for me to try. I was able to use it for more than a week.

The product has a light scent to it. It's not like the same old sunscreen scent and it goes away after awhile so it does not bother me. The texture is kind of watery. I like that it's lightweight and how it absorbs quickly into my skin. It's non-sticky and it almost feels like I'm not even wearing sunscreen. Just the way I like it! Oh and no breakout for me either.

I think this is an amazing sunscreen. I just wish it had a higher PA... But when I run out of my Anessa sunscreen (and if I can't repurchase it anymore since it's not available from where I live), I'd definitely go for Laneige Sun Block Oil-Free SPF 35 PA++ .

Rating: Almost Excellent Kitty! (I would rate it Excellent if only it had a higher PA. But other than that, hands down to this sunscreen!)

The Body Shop: Vitamin E Hand and Nail Treatment

2011-08-18T23:06:00.002+08:00

A few months ago, I came across this Vitamin E Hand and Nail Treatment at The Body Shop. It was on a 50% off sale if I'm not mistaken. So instead of paying PHP 595 for it, I got it for around PHP 200+ only.

JUMP

According to The Body Shop:

An easily-absorbed moisturizing hand and nail treatment cream that helps to protect, condition, and soften the hands, nails, and cuticles. Ideal for everyday use.

I have another hand cream that I leave at home. I got this so I can throw it in my bag and carry it around with me everyday. This is a 75ml tube. It's kind of bigger compared to the usual travel size hand cream. But I don't mind.

It's pink and it smells like the rest of the Vitamin E line from The Body Shop. It's not sticky and it moisturizes my hands pretty well. Sometimes when I am at home, instead of reaching for my "home" hand cream, I use this especially when my hands are feeling dry... Lately, I noticed that my hands feel softer.

I also like that it's a nail treatment at the same time. Sometimes when I remember to, I even apply this on my toe nails. :D Seems weird but I think it helps keep both my hand and toe nails stronger.

Wouldn't leave the house without it!

Rating: Very good kitty!

DHC Eyelash Tonic

2011-08-15T20:35:00.000+08:00

The DHC Eyelash Tonic conditions and nourishes for a stronger, longer and fuller lashes. I've had this for quite a while now and I have been using this for around 5-6 months. I am almost running out of it, so I thought it's time for a product review.

JUMP!

According to DHC:

This conditioning gel nourishes lashes prone to breakage and encourages a more robust lash line. Aloe, watercress, and comfrey seal in moisture for greater elasticity. The curved applicator brush helps you distribute the gel evenly from lash root to tip. Use it under mascara during the day and as a bedtime treatment.

The photo above was taken 2 months ago. As of today, I only have a little left of the product.

I was in a DHC store when I saw this. I remembered it from other blogs and websites that I visited sometime ago. Honestly, it was the only DHC product I am familiar with aside from the cleansing oil. I bought this product out of curiosity and have religiously used it for months until now.

I used this day and night before. But I stopped using it in the morning because my eye makeup tends to transfer to the brush. Thus, contaminating the entire bottle. Making it look gross (as you can see from the photo above).

The product smells like Japanese something. I don't know really. But it reminds me of something Japanese. Like sake, maybe?

Anyway, this does not irritate my eyes. And if you ask me if it lives up to its promise of fuller and longer lashes? My answer would be YES.

Unfortunately, me and my sisters weren't blessed with long and full lashes. We have short ones and are barely even noticeable. I used to have a difficult time curling my lashes, because they were too short. After using this product for months, I really noticed that my lashes are longer and thicker than they were before. I am amazed!

One more thing. I know it's not advisable to use waterproof mascara all the time as it can be drying and can cause damage on eyelashes. But I am someone who prefers using waterproof mascara. I think the DHC eyelash tonic is a great nightly treatment for my lashes because it conditions and nourishes, making them stronger.

This product works and I'd like to continuously use it as a nightly treatment for my lashes. I'm going to repurchase!

Rating: Excellent Kitty!

Sigma travel E25 giveaway WINNER!

2011-08-12T19:16:00.000+08:00

Hello girls! My Sigma Travel E25 Giveaway has ended yesterday, August 10.

There were a total of 71 entries.

Find out who won after the jump!

1.) I used the Online List Shuffler to randomly reorder the entries.

2.) I went to Random.Org to draw the winner.

3.) And the winner is.......

Entry #58 - Hope

Congratulations Hope! An email has been sent to you :)

Just like my first mini giveaway, this has been really exciting and fun. Thanks to everyone who participated. Hopefully, I will be able to do another giveaway in the future. :)

Get your own Sigma E25 blending brush here!

Jergens Soothing Aloe Relief Body Lotion

2011-08-08T20:36:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone! Here's a super quick post about Jergens Soothing Aloe Relief body lotion. A soothing body moisturizer with natural aloe, cucumber and eucalyptus.

JUMP!

Accdg to Jergens:

Skin Comforting Moisturizer with natural aloe, cucumber & eucalyptus.

Hydrates & Relieves

Experience all the ways the Jergens® collection of moisturizers give skin a subtle allure that captivates.

Moisturize into soothed skin.

Indulge in a body lotion with a soft heart for tired skin. Jergens® Soothing Aloe Relief Skin Comforting Moisturizer will be there to help reliever dryness from head to toe when the wind, cold and sun get under your skin. Enriched with aloe, cucumber and eucalyptus, it is as much a physical relief for dry uncomfortable skin as it is an instant, all-dry rescue form environmental stresses. Used daily, skin looks healthier, feels softer, and behaves better with increased moisture content.

Made with natural Aloe, Cucumber and Eucalyptus, know to help soothe, heal, relieve and refresh dry skin.

I rarely like the scent of body lotion because they usually smell of flowers, which I don't really like. But I have to say that I like the scent of this one. Aloe, cucumber and eucalyptus truly smells refreshing. It's soothing and somewhat relaxing. Definitely my kind of scent!

It also absorbs quickly and moisturizes my skin well. It does not feel greasy, so I really feel comfortable applying this all over my body.

This huge 500ml bottle costs PHP 229.75 (USD 5.39), I think it's pretty affordable. If I'm not mistaken, I think this is already my 3rd huge bottle, although I have purchased smaller bottles before. I prefer getting these big ones because I think I save more money and the pump dispenser is great.

Every now and then, I may get curious and try other body lotion, but I always find myself coming back for this one. Definitely going to repurchase another huge bottle in the future!

Rating: Excellent Kitty!

Shiseido: White Lucent Brightening Spot-Control Base UV

2011-08-03T18:43:00.004+08:00

Here's Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Spot-Control Base UV. A brightening spot control, sunscreen and base in one tube!

I got this from SM Watson's during their promo sale about 3 months ago. I thought it was the best time to buy because let's face it, Shiseido products aren't the cheapest. Anyway, most items were on discount and this was on a 20% off deal. From the original price of PHP 1,998. I was able to purchase it for only about PHP 1,600. Good deal, isn't it?

How did it work for me? JUMP!

From the Shiseido website:

A multi-functional color control pre-makeup base that protects skin from the harmful effects of UVA/UVB rays, including oxidation. Reduces the appearance of spots and dullness while providing exceptional brightening benefits.
･Formulated with Spot Concealing Powder* to minimize spots and freckles while providing broad spectrum protection from UV rays.

This product comes in 3 shades:

Ivory - corrects uneven skin tone for a natural bare look.

Green - reduce redness.

Pink - for a more vibrant look on yellowish skin tone.

I like the nozzle. It's very hygienic and you can control the amount of product that comes out of the tube.

I have yellow skin tone, but I chose the Ivory shade instead of the pink one. I'm afraid how pink would look like if I apply it all over my face, but somehow I'm curious about it that I'm wanting to try it too. Anyway, the shade Ivory is a bit light for me, but the tone adjusts once I apply my powder foundation over it. So it looks fine. I think it does give a natural glow on my face.

I apply this using my fingers or using my ELF flat top powder brush.

Aside from the spot concealing and brightening effect, I love the fact that this makeup base has SPF 35 and PA+++. Definitely a major plus because I don't have to use a separate Sunscreen when I use this. I also like that it's non sticky. But as most Shiseido products, it does have a bit of a floral scent to it. I wish it didn't but it's okay, I guess I already got used to it.

I've been using this for 3 months and so far, no breakout or allergic reaction.

Rating: Excellent Kitty!

Kate: Eye Makeup Remover

2011-08-01T21:15:00.003+08:00

I am new with Kate products, but I think I've heard about it before. Kate is a brand under Kanebo and it carries a wide range of cosmetics that are priced lower than Kanebo and is specifically targeted for the younger market.

I got me this bottle of Kate Eye Makeup Remover from a Donki store when I visited Japan. I got it because we transferred from Osaka to Tokyo and they had to ship our luggage. Unfortunately, I forgot to carry my make up remover. But I was lucky enough to have spotted the Donki store and found this.

As you can see, Kanebo is printed on the upper part of the bottle.

I like that it doesn't have a heeeuuuge opening. I can control the amount of product that comes out from the bottle.

The day I decided to take photos on how this makeup remover works, I had my MUFE Aqua Eyes waterproof eyeliner on my upper lid and my Maybellin Vollum' Express Magnum waterproof mascara.

Before I removed my eye makeup.

I shake the bottle and soak up a cotton with the makeup remover.

After lightly pressing and letting the cotton sit on my eye for about a minute, you can see that it melted off my eye makeup.

I gently pat on hard to reach areas to thoroughly remove all makeup. With a light patting motion, I wipe it off with tissue.

I like this makeup remover. It melts off my eye makeup pretty well and it does not leave any oily residue. But I noticed that sometimes, it stings my eyes a little bit but it doesn't bother me that much. So it's okay. The bottle has a price at the back and it costs 900 Yen, although I got this for a cheaper price because it was on sale that time.

Tips on removing eye make up:

Be as gentle as possible. Avoid tugging and rubbing vigorously on your delicate eye area as this may cause damage and loss of elasticity.
You might think soaking up a cotton is wasting a lot of product. But IMO, it works better that way. It melts off your makeup better without having to rub your eyes, hence avoiding pre-mature wrinkles.
Try reducing the size of your cotton, so you won't have to soak up too much. Less product usage.

Rating: Good Kitty!

Mario Badescu: Drying Lotion

2011-07-28T20:49:00.002+08:00

I get occasional acne on my T-Zone area, usually on my forehead. I don't get a lot, just a few here and there. But just like a girl scout, I like to be ready and prepared. That's why I always make sure that I have an emergency spot treatment all the time.

I've been using Clinique Acne Solution for years and it works fine. But I've heard so much about Mario Badescu Drying Lotion and out of curiosity, I went ahead and tried it.

Find out more after the jump.

From the Mario Badescu website:

The Drying Lotion is a fast acting, effective acne spot treatment. Formulated with salicylic acid, calamine and other quick-drying ingredients, this product will shrink ugly whiteheads virtually overnight while you sleep. While other acne spot treatments can irritate and dry delicate or sensitive skin, this product is safe and effective for all skin types.

How I use it (night time)

1.) After cleansing, toning and moisturizing, I dip a Q-tip inside the bottle down to the pink sediment.

2.) I directly dab the pink sediment on my acne, and I let it dry.

3.) I wash it off in the morning.

The first time I used this, I was overwhelmed with the "sulfuric" scent. I am a bit bothered especially when I apply it on my nose area. The good thing is, it does not sting like my Clinique Acne Solution. It's not such a huge thing to me because I have a strong pain tolerance, and the stinging from the Clinique Acne Solution does not really bother me.

MB Drying Lotion also does not peel off the skin area where I applied it.If you ask me if it's effective. Well, it helps. But it does not work like magic. It won't make your acne go away overnight. It actually takes days. I somehow feel that it actually takes longer than my Clinique Acne Solution. And I kind of like that the Clinique one peels off the dark skin patch that the acne left behind. So what I like to do is apply my Clinique Acne Solution in the morning and my Mario Badescu Drying Lotion at nighttime.

Tips

- Do not shake the bottle.

- Once the liquid part is gone, it's time to get a new one. Don't try mixing or adding water.

- If you decide to use a cotton swab, try taking off as much of the cotton as possible. This will prevent it from absorbing too much of the liquid.

- This can also be used to stop the itch from mosquito bites.

- Drying Lotion not working with cystic acne? Try Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion. I think that is specifically targeted for cystic acne as it penetrates deeply into skin.

Price: PHP 1095 (Around USD 25) from Rustan's

This product works fine and it does not irritate me. Although, I guess I'd pick the Clinique one over this. But if you're someone who can't take the stinging of other acne solutions, this is a good alternative.

Rating: Okay Kitty.

Maybelline: Volum' Express Magnum Mascara

2011-07-25T23:03:00.001+08:00

I think I've been kind of lucky with every makeup that I've been trying lately. I know I've been mentioning a lot of Holy Grail products in my last few posts. And now I tell ya', here is yet another product that made it to my hit list! The Maybelline Volum' Express Magnum Mascara (waterproof)!

I have stubborn lashes that points straight downwards and most often than not, at the end of the day, my lashes would point back down even if I have curled them. In all honesty, I've never been really that crazy about mascaras. I guess it's because I don't really see such a dramatic difference when I apply it and nothing seems to hold the curls up. I have tried mascaras like Covergirl Lashblast. It didn't hold my lashes up either. I know that it worked for so many other girls, but sadly it didn't work for me.

I chanced upon Maybelline Volum' Express Magnum Mascara (waterproof) during a sale. And even if I was on a shopping ban, I got it on a whim because it was on a 10% OFF promo and from the original price of PHP 399, I got it for PHP 359 (around USD $8).

I also thought I needed to get a waterproof mascara for the wedding I'm going to attend to. Just because I wasn't really satisfied with the current one that I am using, which is the Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara. Aside from not being able to hold my curls up, I also felt it wasn't waterproof.

Find out more after the jump!

As you can see it has a slightly curved brush. It's a little bigger compared with other ordinary mascara brushes. And the bristles are quite long, too. I like it because it makes application easy and it separates my lashes pretty well.

I love how this mascara volumizes and lengthens my lashes. And no matter how stubborn they are, it holds the curl up ALL DAY. I'm definitely blown away by that. No other mascara has done that for me, honestly. It is also waterproof so it does not smudge at all, but it's not so difficult to remove either. It melts off easily with a mascara remover. It does not have a strong scent and it does not sting or irritate my eyes.

Here are before and after photos:

bare curled lashes

Applied one coat of Maybelline Volum' Express Magnum Mascara (waterproof)

Applied two coats

Applied three coats

bare curled lashes VS three coats of mascara

Such a huge difference, right? I can finally appreciate mascaras! LOL.

After a month of using this, I noticed that it's starting to dry out a bit. It does not bother me, though. Because it hasn't started flaking or anything yet. Still works just as good.

I hope Maybelline does not discontinue this product because I am definitely repurchasing!

Rating: Excellent Kitty!

EOTD: Neutral Burgndy-ish Purple

2011-07-22T09:40:00.000+08:00

Here's a quick eye look using my Urban Decay Book of Shadows Volume 2.

I was supposed to call this EOTD as "Neutral Purple" only, but it seems to me that the eye look have a hint of burgundy in it. So yeah. :)

JUMP!

I applied Two Faced Shadow Insurance on my lids before I applied the eyeshadows.

1.) Smog - Applied on the lower area from the inner corner to the 2/3 of my lid.

2.) Suspect - Applied on the upper area from the inner corner to the 2/3 of my lid. I also applied it on the inner 2/3 of my lower lashline.

3.) Psychedelic Sister - Outer corner of lid and carefully blending it inward on my crease.

4.) Rockstar - Outer corner and crease to deepen the look. I also applied it on the outer thirds of my lower lashline.

I used my Make Up For ever Aqua Eyes eyeliner pencil in black on my my upper/lower lashline and also my waterline. I also winged it out a bit.

I then curled my lashes and applied a coat of Clinique Lash Doubling mascara.

And here's the finished look:

So that's all. Hope you enjoyed this post. Have a great weekend ahead!

TAGGED: Top 10 Award

2011-07-21T11:03:00.001+08:00

Here's another blog award from MissGennD! Thank you for tagging me, I really appreciate it :)

Here are the rules:

Link back to the person who tagged you.

List your 10 Favorite Skincare/Beauty Products.

Pass it on to 10 bloggers.

1. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel - my staple moisturizer

2. Clinique All About Eyes - my staple morning eye cream

3. Laneige Multiberry Yogurt Peeling Gel - my current favorite face scrub

4. Nars Orgasm Blush

5. Urban Decay Lipstick in Gash - this is definitely my fave deep red lip color.

6. Urban Decay The Black Palette

7. Shiseido Anessa Perfect Essence Sunscreen SPF 50 PA+++

8. Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes eyeliner

9. MAC fluidline in Blacktrack

10. Maybelline Magnum Waterproof Mascara

Can I pick more than 10?! *sigh* I had a difficult time picking my faves. I'm not even sure if these are top faves among my faves. I just have so many favorites. lol.

I tag the following lovely ladies:

Make Up For Ever: Aqua Eyes (Black)

2011-07-20T07:13:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone! I couldn't wait to do a post about the MUFE Aqua Eyes eyeliner. I know that this product have been reviewed a lot, but I thought I'd still share how it worked for me.

I got this at Sephora from my last Singapore trip. It was quite expensive (couldn't remember the exact price) but I purchased it anyway because I've been wanting to try this for soo long. And me being someone who can't live without eyeliner, I couldn't resist.

Jump!

To start with, this eyeliner is super creamy. The shade I got is in Matte Black. It is very pigmented and it's smudge proof.

I apply it on my upper/lower lash line and waterline. It goes on really smoothly. It doesn't tug my skin or anything.

Lasting power is unbelievable, seriously. I live in a hot and humid weather and I wear it all day. It doesn't smudge or melt (Well maybe a little, and depending on how long I wear it). It stays on even on my waterline. Sometimes... no wait scratch that. Oftentimes, I don't even have to retouch throughout the day.

PHOTO BELOW: 1.) I swatched it; 2;) I rubbed it once; 3.) After I vigorously rubbed it. As you can see, my skin is red from all the rubbing.

Seriously, I think this is HG material. This is probably the only eyeliner pencil that didn't smudge on me like crazy. I have tried Revlon Colorstay before, and I thought it was good because it's the only eyeliner pencil that didn't smudge as much as others. But I guess I found a better and probably the best eyeliner pencil. I know there are others who does not like it, but it works for me. It is pricey, but it won't stop me from repurchasing. :)

Rating: Excellent Kitty!

NYX Eyeshadow Trio

2011-07-18T13:33:00.002+08:00

This is currently my only NYX Eyeshadow Trio and I think it's amazing. I love all three colors. They're all neutral and are very wearable.

All of the shades are pigmented and I like how creamy and smoothly they go when I apply them with my eyeshadow brush.

From L-R: Frosted Flake, Slate, Luster

And of course.. the swatches! Upper part: without Too Faced Shadow Insurance (eye primer). Lower part: with Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

L-R: Luster, Slate, Frosted Flake

Just a slight difference of color pigmentation when applied with an eye primer. But still, I think it's already pretty pigmented even without a primer.

This trio is worth every penny. You get such good quality for an affordable price. I might actually get another palette if I get the chance to.

Rating: Very Good Kitty!

Crying Before Sleep: How to Reduce Puffy Eyes in the Morning

2011-07-15T09:36:00.007+08:00

Who hasn't cried before? No one. Well, crying is a normal thing. It's an expression of one's emotions and feelings. It can either be sadness, anger and frustration. Sometimes we even cry when we're happy.

Photo taken from a Google search.

I know that at least once in your life you have cried... all night. Either you were scolded by your parents, conflict with friends, or even breakups. It could be the most dreadful situation to have ever happened in your life. But the trouble doesn't stop there. What's worse than sulking on a pillow in your bedroom all night?

Well, for me it's waking up in the morning with HUGE puffy eyes. I guess we've all been there. And of course, it's embarrassing to come out and let people witness your humongous eyes that look like they've just been stung by a swarm of really pissed off bees.

The question is... How can you avoid having such horrific swollen eyes in the morning?

Find out after the jump!

First of all, DO NOT go straight to sleep after crying. The swollen part on your eyes are extra tears. Going to sleep right after crying isn't going to help, because the lids holding the tears will not be moving and so they won't be able to rinse off and clean your eyes.

Try doing some of these methods to avoid puffy eyes in the morning:

As much as possible, avoid rubbing your eyes as it will irritate the skin and cause redness and more swelling.
Wash your eyes with water. It'll help flush and clean the extra tears away.
Cold compress. You may use ice cube and gently compress it around the swollen eye area.
Apply a slice of cold cucumber on both eyes. Let it sit for about 10 minutes.
Apply eye cream that specifically targets puffiness.

Rest and give your eyes a bit more time before you sleep. Drink lots of water. And once swelling starts to subside, you may hit the sack and have a good night's sleep.

Etude House: Petit Darling Eyes Matte #1

2011-07-13T09:28:00.001+08:00

Hi everyone! Today, I will do a quick post about Etude House' Petit Darling Eyes Matte #1 (Cream Eyeshadow). I grabbed this in a whim during the 20% OFF SALE Promo last June. Just because I thought it's pretty and inexpensive.

I like how velvety this eyeshadow feels. It isn't chalky and it goes on super smoothly when I apply it.

This eyeshadow actually reminded me of my all time favorite eyeshadow highlight, Heaven, from my Too Faced Natural Eye Shadow Collection. It's matte and cream colored, too!

Here's a photo of both eyeshadows swatched at the back of my hand. As you can see, Heaven is a bit more pigmented and is a bit more cream-colored.

I've been using it a lot lately and I like it although I feel that it doesn't totally beat my love for TF's Heaven.

Minus the 20% discount, I only paid PHP 118.40 for this eyeshadow. Super affordable that's why I didn't even think twice about getting it. I think it's a pretty good deal. So if you're looking for a cheaper matte highlight color, this is a good guy!

Rating: Good kitty!

Sigma travel E25 + GIVEAWAY! CLOSED

2011-07-11T10:11:00.002+08:00

Hi everyone! I have heard so many good things about Sigma brushes and I'm so happy that I finally got to try one of their many brushes. A few days ago, I received a package and got their Travel E25 blending brush. I was ecstatic!

This brush has been compared to MAC 217 a lot. I haven't tried MAC so I wouldn't really know.

Jump for review, photos and giveaway!

Honestly, when I opened my package and saw this brush, I thought it looked too big for my eyelids and I thought the bristles were kind of stiff looking. But like they always say, "Do not judge a book by it's cover"... I have tried this a couple of times already and I am in awe. I honestly thought my ELF blending brush is good enough, but this is just amazing. Works well when applying eyeshadow on my lid and it's super easy to blend. I also noticed how nicely it feathers out the edges. It saves me time.

I checked online and this is a lot cheaper than MAC 217 which costs around $20. While you can get the full size Sigma E25 blending brush for only $9 here.

You can also join my current giveaway sponsored by Sigma and you'll get the travel E25 blending brush!

So if you're someone who loves Sigma brushes or someone who's been dying to try Sigma, here's your chance to win the travel E25 blending brush.

How to Join:

- You must be a public follower of this blog. (+1 entry)

- Post this giveaway on your blog and link it back to this post. (+2 entries)

- Post this giveaway on your sidebar and link it back to this post. (+2 entries)

- Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway, mentioning @catmare09 (+2 entries)

Comment below with your GFC ID and Email. If you did any of the additional entries, do mention them in your comment as well so I can check. :)

Rules:

- Open to International readers.

- Sigma will send the prize directly to the winner.

- Must be 18 years and above, if not, please ask your parents permission first.

- I may not be held liable for any loss, damages or injury associated with accepting or using the prizes.

- Winner will be randomly picked and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not reply within 72 hours, a new winner may be selected.

Giveaway will end on on August 11, 2011. Good luck!

Make Up For Ever: Face and Body Liquid Make Up

2011-07-07T14:57:00.000+08:00

According to MUFE:

The secret is all in this top-selling formula. This waterproof, ultra-light, water-based gel contains no emulsifiers and provides a totally natural, satin finish. Ideal for normal skin-types as well as for fine lines and large pores. Gives skin a uniform tone without accentuating imperfections. A makeup artist's favorite.

Well... Did it work for me? Find out after the jump!

I shake the bottle before I pump the product out or else the product inside would separate. The texture is liquidy and gel-like. When applied, it goes on smoothly, feels so lightweight and it gives a light to medium coverage. It doesn't make your skin look fake or cakey, instead it leaves a nice dewy finish. It does have a scent though. Kind of flowery, which I am not a fan of.

I have it in the shade Alabaster Beige. It's what the SA recommended. At first, I was skeptical. I thought it might be too light for me. I must be honest, this foundation is kind of expensive, and I didn't want my money to go to waste. Good thing I was with my reliable bf. The SA applied Alabaster Beige on one jaw and Honey Beige on the other, just to see which matches my skin. Honey Beige definitely looked dark on me. My bf told me that Alabaster Beige matches perfectly, I thought so too. And I ended up purchasing it.

I'm very OC with my foundation, because I am scared of looking like Sadako especially in flash photos. I've used this for quite a few times already and it does match my skin perfectly. I apply it using my fingers or a flat top brush (I'm using ELF Studio flat top brush). And after applying, I lightly dab a sponge to avoid getting streaks. And then I set it.

I like how it evens out my skin tone and how it blends naturally. It's super light on my skin, makes me feel like I'm not even wearing any makeup. Staying power is good, does not transfer, keeps you looking fresh all day. It does not irritate or break me out. Other than the scent, I like everything about this foundation. I can say that out of all the foundations I have, this one is my favorite. Definitely HG material.

I got this for PHP 2,400. It's quite expensive but with it having all the qualities I'm looking for a foundation, this is definitely worth what I paid for.

Rating: Excellent Kitty!

Caronia: Seafoam Green Nail Polish. (Are you in?)

2011-07-05T09:08:00.004+08:00

I am currently in love with this color. It actually reminds me of the Incubus song, Are You In. :)

It's so much easier

When sea foam green

Is in fashion

You you, oh

Are you in?

That song brings me memories..

Anyway enough about Incubus for a while and on with the review... This is my first Caronia nail polish. I got this a few days ago from the Department Store and even if I was on a shopping ban, I still went ahead and got it because it's super affordable.

JUMP!!

I actually saw this first from Aya's post and I fell in love with the color. I've been eyeing an almost similar color from OPI's Pirates of the Caribbean (Mermaid's Tears), but I can't get it and I think this is a good and a cheaper alternative.

I like that it's not too pastel and not too bright. The consistency is not that thick. I think it's more on the liquidy side, which I like because it makes application so much easier for me. Another good thing is that it dries faster compared with my other nail polishes.

The brush had a few fly aways, though. I don't know if it's a usual thing with Caronia polishes or if I was just lucky enough to pick the wrong bottle. =/ You also need a good top coat, because I also noticed that it kind of chips easily.

Overall, I am impressed. To think that I only got this for only PHP 30. That's let's than 1 USD (maybe around .70 only). It's definitely a steal!

Rating: Very Good Kitty!

Oh btw, Incubus concert this July 28 at the Araneta Coliseum. Who's watching?

Olay Body: Quench Plus Firming Body Lotion

2011-07-04T08:28:00.000+08:00

I have just finished this huge bottle (400 ml) of Olay Body Quench Firming Body Lotion and I thought it's about time I do a review about it.

From Olay website:

Quench Plus Firming Body Lotion offers intense moisture that plumps and lifts surface skin cells. Enriched with a concentrated vitamin complex and ginseng extracts, it leaves skin visibly firmer in as little as three weeks.

Add it to your skin care routine to:

• Moisturize skin

• Help skin reacquire its youthful firmness

JUMP!!

I found out about this because of my Mom. We were on a trip and I forgot to bring my body lotion so I asked some from her. She handed me her Olay Body Quench Plus Firming Body Lotion, I used it and I liked it. I ended up getting me my own bottle. I bought one from Metro Supermarket and I didn't realize it was kind of expensive until I was already paying for it. It costs for about PHP 400+ (almost 500, I think). But then again, anti-aging products usually costs more. I like anti-aging products and it's one of the reasons why I got this.

This lotion has a florally soapy kind of a scent to it. I'm not a huge fan of floral smelling skin products but this didn't bother me so much.

I was actually skeptical at first if I should use this. It had the label "firming" on it. And honestly most body lotions that are firming or anti-aging are usually thick and heavy on the the skin. But surprisingly, this is non greasy. That's another reason why I liked it so much. It's an anti-aging body lotion that moisturizes so well without the sticky feeling (which I think is amazing).

The lotion does have gold specks in it, giving you a nice healthy glow. After applying, you will definitely see gold specks on your skin if you look closely. It didn't really bother me because I only use this at night.

This lotion is really good. It's kind of a bit more expensive than my usual night time body lotion but I like it and I probably am going to get myself a new bottle on my next visit to the Metro Supermarket.

Rating: Very good kitty!

Eye Brow Stencil from Saizen

2011-07-01T11:37:00.003+08:00

I found this eye brow stencil from Saizen a few days ago. The stencil consists of four shapes: Elegant, Classic, Delicate and Glamorous. I wasn't exactly convinced at first if I should get this or not. I didn't know if I really needed it in the first place. And it costs PHP 85, which I thought was expensive for a piece of plastic.

My bf was with me that time and I asked if I should get it or not. He told me it could be useful and that I should just get it. And yes, I bought it and I have tried and tested it for a couple of times already.

JUMP!

Like I mentioned earlier, I honestly didn't know if I actually needed this. I mean, I have my brows threaded every once in a while and I just follow and fill in the sparse areas with my brow pencil/kit. It's not really difficult. But on a day like today, when my brows have started to grow back, it is kind of difficult because my brows start to lose their shape. And so I thought this stencil could help.

My eye brows have started to grow already. It's been more than a month (I think) since my last threading. So as you can see, brows started to grow everywhere. Here's how it looks like right now. Sorry if my hair is everywhere. I didn't notice when I took the picture. :D

Among the four stencils, my brow shape is Delicate. I carefully positioned the stencil on my brow using one hand. With the other hand, I filled my brows first with my Maybelline Brow Pencil and then I topped it with darkest shade from my Etude House Brow Kit.

See how nice it looks! This may look too harsh for some of you. You have the option to brush it as much as you like to make it look more natural.

After brushing, here's how it looks.

Here's how the other patterns look like. I didn't brush these on purpose so you can see the precise shape of each pattern.

Elegant

Classic

Glamorous

(my brow started to grow back and it's currently thicker than the pattern)

So far, I am in fact loving the stencil that I got. The only downside I can think of is that it's kind of difficult to fill in your brows with a brow pencil. It gets caught on the edges and it kind of ruins my pencil.

I thought before that it was useless and that I didn't really need one. But now, I think it's a must have. I am actually thinking of getting another one just because I'm afraid it won't last long or it might rip apart easily because it's just made of plastic. IDK yet. I'm still thinking if I should. Something at the back of my head still tells me that PHP 85 is a bit expensive for a piece of plastic. Haha! What do you guys think?

Rating: Very good

Butterfly Award

2011-06-30T22:51:00.000+08:00

First of all I would like to thank Jackie for giving me the Butterfly Award.

Rules: Write something about yourself and link it back to the one who sent it to you and then pass it on to 7 people.

About Me:

- I guess I've said this before and I'll say it again. I am a cat person. I just love cats. I have two cats at home. Both are adopted. I also collect anything that has a cat in it. Figurines, collectibles, etc.. But I do like dogs, too.

- I like to eat a lot at night. Chips and chocolates. I don't know but this is what usually happens. I crave for something sweet, I eat something sweet. After eating something sweet, I crave for something salty, so I eat something salty. And after that I'll crave for something fruity or maybe sweet again. lol. It just goes on and on.

- I love the cold and gloomy atmosphere when it rains. And when it does, I like to stay at home. Just lazying around watching or listening to music that reminds me of my younger years. lol.

So I guess that's all. I would like to pass this award to 5 bloggers:

- Codename Aya
- Kitten
- Sugar
- Debi
- Jessy

Thanks for reading :)

The Body Shop: Spiced Vanilla Hand Cream

2011-06-30T08:29:00.002+08:00

I got this little hand cream as a gift last Christmas. I actually finished up the tube but I didn't throw it until I get to make a review. And finally, here's a long overdue post about this hand cream!

JUMP!!

I have used this right after I ran out of my Bliss High Intensity hand cream. I wasn't really expecting much at first, because I thought nothing would compare with my amazing experience from Bliss. But to my surprise, I think it was almost as good. I honestly didn't like the scent at first, but I got used to it and learned to love it. IDK if the texture is similar to Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream but it doesn't have that same old creamy texture like most hand creams do. It feels light and sinks into my skin without that greasy residue.

Sadly, this one's a limited edition. I don't know if you can still get it somewhere but the last time I went to the store it's not available anymore.

Rating: Good Kitty!

Cat's Closet: Gloomy Sunday

2011-06-28T10:42:00.002+08:00

It was still raining last Sunday. The weather was cold and it made me lazy. I wanted to stay at home and roll on my bed all day, but I had to get up because I had to leave that afternoon and get something from the mall. Also had family dinner afterwards.

So here's what I quickly threw together and wore that day.

Jump!!

My cat was following me when I went out of my house. He even sat next to where I was while I was taking photos. Haha! He won't leave me, he is sweet like that. So yeah, today he's going to be a part of my OOTD.

I wore my dark blue cardigan over a cream tank top (I love the heart design!), dark blue jean skirt, cream peep toe flats and a cream bag. And for my accessory, I just put on this cute red bow ring.

So that's for my OOTD. I heard another typhoon might hit the Philippines. Keep safe everyone!

EOTD: Using NYX Smokey Look Kit (Part 2)

2011-06-27T09:38:00.003+08:00

Here's another attempt in creating a smokey look from my NYX Smokey Look Kit. It's much darker compared to my previous look.

More photos and quick tutorial after the jump!

For a more vibrant appearance, I applied Too Faced Shadow Insurance all over my lid. This will also help keep my eyeshadow from creasing or melting.

After my eye primer has set, I applied the following shades of eyeshadow on my lid. #3 was also applied on the outer three quarters of my lower lash line.

To finish the eye look, I lined both my upper and lower lash line (including my waterline) with a black eyeliner. I'm using Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Pencil in Zero. Then, I curled my lashes and applied Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara.

And the finished look...

*sigh* the lighting when I took the photos is not even the same. lol.

So that's another smokey look! Hope you all liked this mini tutorial. Have a great day ahead!

Etude House: Miss Tangerine LuciDarling Fantastic Rouge in Coral Tangerine #13

2011-06-23T10:15:00.004+08:00

Summer here is over. But in other parts of the world, it's just beginning. Today, I will be doing an orange lippie post from Etude House. It's Miss Tangerine LuciDarling Fantastic Rouge in Coral Tangerine #13.

JUMP!!

The packaging is made of plastic. Honestly, I'm not a huge fan because I feel that it looks kind of cheap. But if you like cutesy girly things, then you might like it. This lipstick has a citrusy scent to it, I would prefer if it was fragrance free. But nonetheless, it's okay it doesn't bother me.

Here's a swatch of the lipstick

The texture, I can say it's quite creamy. It's not that opaque, which I actually like. I know there are some who are afraid of putting a solid orange color on their lips, so I guess this is good because you can apply a little first and then build it up. As for me, I like to dab a little of this on my lips. I like how it instantly brightens up my face. I do build up the color as well and wear it alone, and sometimes I top it with my Smashbox lipgloss in Aura.

So far I am loving this lipstick. I was afraid of wearing orange before, but I guess this one looks okay.

You can get this at Etude House for PHP 478. I got mine during the 20% off sale. :)

Rating: Good kitty!

Palladio Mineral Loose Foundation

2011-06-22T08:41:00.004+08:00

I haven't used loose mineral foundation for quite a while. I liked the one from Everyday Minerals but because they no longer ship to the Philippines, I can't repurchase their product anymore. By chance, I received this Palladio Mineral Loose Foundation as a gift last Christmas.. I just opened it recently and started using it.

More info and photos after the jump!

Product Benefits:

- Free of Talc, Oil, Fragrance and other skin damaging chemicals

- Provides flawless coverage

- Safe for all skin types

When you open the jar, there's a brush that comes out when you twist the cap. I find the brush to be small, rough and scratchy. Not saying that the brush is completely unusable, I still use it sometimes when I forget to bring a separate brush. Although, I would prefer a fluffier and softer powder brush.

I love that the sifter has a cover. You can remove it and put it back after use to avoid product spillage.

The shade that I have is in Ivory, which I think is a bit light for my skin tone. If you're someone who likes a nice luminous finish, then you might like this powder. It's not matte but it's not super shiny. I think it just gives the right amount of glow. I have used this alone all over my face. And sometimes, with a light hand, I dust this over my foundation to set it.

I love that this powder is truly fragrance free. Lasting power is okay, I had to retouch once throughout the day.

Here's a photo of the product applied and blended on the bottom half of my hand (Top: without flash / Bottom: with flash). It might look a little too shimmery, that's because I have put a lot as you can see from the photo above.

This powder has been working well for me. I use it on the days when I want to have that nice dewy finish. It's been nice to my skin, too. No breakouts so far. I might actually repurchase this, but with a shade darker to suit my skin color.

You can get this at Beauty Bar (that is, if you're from the Philippines). I'm just not sure how much it costs as this was gifted to me. :)

Rating: Good kitty!

Etude House: Vitamin E Face Mask

2011-06-21T08:59:00.002+08:00

Yet another Face Mask post! I'm really loving face masks. I never thought I would, but I do now. Anyway, I had another face mask and this time I tried Etude House' Essence Mask Vitamin E.

Jump!

From the packaging it says:

Essence mask for anti-wrinkled and moisturized skin with Vitamin E and Algae extract.

This face mask gave me the same tingly sensation once applied. It has a refreshing scent that is so relaxing. I like that it's Vitamin E. Definitely good for the skin. I definitely noticed how it made my skin super soft and supple in the morning. And there's no irritation.

I have to say, this is yet another favorite from Etude House's face masks! I have tried three so far. And this is currently on the top of my list. Definitely going to repurchase soon! :)

Rating: Very good Kitty!

Etude House Haul

2011-06-18T09:09:00.001+08:00

I took advantage of the ongoing sale at Etude House. All items 20% off! So here's a quick haul post.

When I first heard of the sale. I was kind of sad because I've been spending a lot lately and I promised I won't be buying makeup stuff for a while. All items 20% off is tempting. So I was torn between hauling and not hauling... Well, I asked my bf for advice. lol. And he told me to just limit myself with a certain amount that I can spend. I thought he was going to stop me, but I think his advice was good enough. He is very understanding of my shopping habits. Haha. Anyway, I decided I will not spend more than a thousand pesos.

Did I overspend or not?

Jump!

Here are the things that I got

- Vitamin E Face Mask (46.40)

- Missin U hand cream (222.40)

- Soft Touch Auto Lip Liner (78.40)

- Miss Tangerine LuciDarling Fantastic Rouge in Coral Tangerine #13 (382.40)

- Petit Darling Eyes Matte #1 (cream color) (118.40)

Total of PHP 848.00 (already subtracted the 20% from the prices) ... I almost overspent because I wanted to try their mascaras and gel liners. But I stopped and told myself that I still have mascaras so there's no need to buy yet. So yeah, I'm quite happy that I didn't spend a lot.

That's it for my haul. If you guys want anything from Etude House, now's the time to get it! Their ongoing sale is until June 21. So be sure to check them out to avail of the 20% off. :)

Have a great weekend!

Neutrogena: Oil-Free Acne Stress Power Clear Scrub

2011-06-17T09:35:00.003+08:00

I have been using this for about a year now and I can definitely say that this product love. I have combination skin and I sometimes get acne ( usually on my T-zone area). I might not have a lot, but I like to use this product as my exfoliator and as acne prevention.

JUMP!!

This product is a cream type. It does not foam.. I was never a fan of cream facial wash before because I always thought that foamy facial wash leaves a much cleaner feel. But this is an exception, it may not lather up, but it does leave my face feeling clean and FRESH! I had to caps lock the word FRESH because I just love how refreshing it feels.

I love the minty smell and the nice cooling sensation. After using this, my skin feels soft and smooth without feeling tight or dry.

I would love to repurchase this product but sadly it's not available from where I live. :(

Rating: Good Kitty!

Sunsilk Co-Creations Weather Defense Shampoo

2011-06-15T08:01:00.002+08:00

I am super excited to let you all know about this new hair product that have been working so well for me. I know I have told you guys before that I've been having problems with shampoos lately. No matter what I use, I always end up having greasy hair. And worse, acne. I even started to have whiteheads on my back.

I don't know why but I've never had problems with shampoo before. My friend suggested that I use Suave Clarifying Shampoo and I was glad it worked. My hair didn't grease up and my acne started to go away. It was good. But every once in a while I try a new shampoo from our local counter hoping that I'd find something else that would work. I like the Suave one a lot, the only thing is that it has a very light scent. Sometimes I feel that it doesn't totally give me that clean smell. So my quest for a local shampoo continued.

Until I found Sunsilk Co-Creations Weather Defense Shampoo. Learn more after the jump!

Sounds interesting, right? But did it work for me? Here goes my review...

First of all, I like the scent of this shampoo. It doesn't smell flowery but it has this nice watermelon scent to it. The shampoo has a nice thick texture. I only use a little bit, like about the size of a five centavo coin. And it lathers up really well. My hair feels and smells super clean after every wash.

After using this shampoo, my hair feels super soft. I hate shampoos that make my hair look flat, but I noticed that this doesn't weigh down my hair at all. My hair does not frizz and it doesn't grease up either.

I am also glad to tell you all that this shampoo didn't break me out either. Hooray for that! lol.

I still use my Suave Clarifying Shampoo, though. I use it alternately with this. So far, it's been working so well for me. I am definitely going to repurchase this when I ran out of it.

Rating: Excellent kitty!

Cat's Closet: Going to the beach before summer ends!

2011-06-13T18:08:00.001+08:00

Summer's over but the weather's still hot. A few weeks ago, my cousins and I went to the beach and here's what I was planning to wear.

A cropped top, a striped tank top, shorts and a pair of red flip flops. I also wore a couple of bracelets that I mixed together.

Jump!

The photo above was the original plan. But I ended up changing a few pieces at the very last minute. lol. Anyway, it's no major change, just a little.

The look is pretty much still the same. I just ended up changing my shorts and my flip flops. I carried a red bag with me and wore my Ipod Nano as a watch. I still had my bracelets but you can't see them in the photo above, because my other arm is not showing.

So that's all for today. Hope you all had a great summer!

Nails: Etude House LuciDarling Fantastic Nails Glittering Jewel Coral

2011-06-12T12:36:00.001+08:00

A quick nail polish post from Etude House!

More info and photos after the jump!!

I got this months ago from Etude House. I wanted to try non-dark nail polishes and this cute heart shaped bottle caught my eye. Honestly, I am not sure what color this is. The bottom part of the bottle is in Korean and I don't really understand Korean. But it has this label 03 so I googled for it and found a few names from their LuciDarling Fantastic Nails line. There were other number 3's but the closest one would be the "03 Glittering Jewel Coral". So I'm guessing that this is the one. Please, correct me if I'm wrong.

This nail polish has a nice neutral corally color to it. It has tiny little glitters in it not chunky ones, which I like. I also love how clean and pretty your nails look when this color is applied.

I'm not sure but there's something about the brush that I don't like. I think it's kind of stiff or something because it's quite difficult to apply and I get streaks if I'm not careful enough.

I think Etude House LuciDarling Fantastic Nails is pricier compared to their ordinary nail polishes. I think the price is around PHP 100+. I can't remember exactly.

Rating: Okay Kitty

Men Solutions: L'Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Detoxifying Foam

2011-06-10T08:12:00.002+08:00

One day me and my boyfriend went shopping for skin essentials and he told me he needs to get himself another tube of facial wash because he's already running out of his current tube. He got the L'Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Detoxifying Foam and told me he likes it and would like to continue using it.

Today I will do my first product review for Men. Just to let you all know, I am a lady so I didn't test this product personally. My boyfriend did. I asked him some questions and he told me how this product was for him.

Read the rest of the review after the jump!

According to the product:

Fatigue, stress, Lack of sleep and exposure to pollution after a while, skin lacks energy and become dull. Dead cells accumulate. Take Action!

Hydra Energetic Detoxifying Cleansing Foam instantly detoxifies skin.

Action #1 Instantly detoxifies and deeply cleanses the skin
Its refreshing foamy texture deeply cleanses and instantly removes impurities and excess dead cells giving radiant and energized skin. With Detoxyne, a combination of powerful anti-oxidants, it helps to detoxify and clarify skin. Softens and prepares skin for shave.

Action #2 Reinforces the skin's natural resistance
ADS™ Active Defense System, a powerful soothing active ingredient helps reinforce the skin's natural resistance against daily aggression.

This product has a light clean citrusy musky kind of scent. It's not very overpowering and it goes away in a few minutes. It has a nice thick texture that foams up into a lather. You don't need to use a lot, a little goes a long way. There is no tight feeling after washing, instead it makes your skin feel soft and smooth.

Here's the best part. Prior to using this product, my boyfriend have had problems with acne on his forehead and a few on some parts of his face. His acne won't go away. And for some time we thought they were getting worse.. But ever since he used this product, it seemed like his pimples stopped coming out of his skin. And as of today, I could attest to it that he is currently pimple free. He may have one pimple appearing every once in a while but that rarely happens now.

100 ml of this product costs for PHP 195 (USD $4.50) only. One tube lasts for about 5 months so it's really inexpensive if you think about it. My boyfriend is currently on his second bottle and I'm guessing he's definitely going to repurchase. :)

Rating: Excellent Kitty!

Maybelline Eyebrow Pencil by Eyestudio (Part 2)

2011-06-08T09:36:00.002+08:00

I did a review about Maybelline Eyebrow Pencil by Eyestudio here and I was asked if I could do an FOTD using the brow pencil.

Today, I will show you how I usually apply my eyebrow pencil. I will post photos of how it looks like when I apply it alone and also when I top it with my Etude House Perfect Brow Kit.

More info and photos after the jump!

First off, here's how my bare brows look like. It's quite embarrassing because my eyebrows are almost invisible. lol. But for the sake of this post, I will show you so you'll see the difference. :)

I usually prefer a natural look especially for everyday. Here on this second photo, using a light hand I applied Maybelline Eyebrow Pencil by Eyestudio on the sparse areas. Then I brushed my brows using the brow brush from my Etude House Perfect Brow Kit to help make it look more natural.

And lastly, I sometimes like to top my brow pencil with the dark shade from my Etude House Perfect Brow Kit. I think it helps make my brows look more defined. After applying the dark shade on top of the brow pencil, I brush it using the brow brush to make it look more natural.

So that's all. I hope this post somehow helped you and gave you an idea of how these brow pencil and kit would look when applied. Thanks for reading! :)

Men Solutions and Haul for Men!

2011-06-06T12:26:00.004+08:00

Hi everyone!

Today, I'm going to begin a new segment on my blog that is targeted for men. There are a lot of products in the market that are made for their different needs. Acne, anti-aging, whitening, and the list goes on. I personally think that men should also be conscious and aware about their skin and the products they are using.

More info and haul after the jump!

Lately, I noticed that our local counter have been filling up with a lot of men products. There's Nivea Men, L'oreal Men Expert, Dove Men, and I think Vaseline has a line for men now too. My boyfriend have been using some of the products from these lines. And I just thought it would be great if we could also share his experiences with these products. I told him my idea and asked if it's okay to bug him with questions every once in a while about the products he's using. I'm glad he agreed and he was more than willing to help me. :)

There might be a few men readers out there who might be interested, or even ladies who are thinking of what skin care products would be good for their boyfriend, husband or brother. So every now and then I will be posting reviews and maybe even hauls for men. And it's going to be labeled as "Men Solutions"

To start with, here's my boyfriend's mini haul. lol! :)

He got some stuff from Watson's:
1.) L'oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Detoxifying Foam
2.) L'oreal Men Expert Pure & Matte Bright Charcoal Black Foam
3.) Dove Men Care Deep Clean Body and Face Wash.

If I'm not mistaken, the L'oreal Detoxifying foam is already his third tube. He likes this facial cleanser and I told him I want to do a review about it so I asked him a bunch of questions. lol. So if you're interested, watch out for that upcoming review. :) The other two products are both new to him and he wanted to try them.

And because the Etude House Happy Teatime Green Tea Cleansing Foam is not available at the mall near my place, he checked the mall close to his office and look what he found!

Yay! I'm glad he got this for me. Can't wait to try :)

So that's it for today. I hope you guys enjoyed this post. And I hope my upcoming "Men Solutions" post will help guys out there. I'm very excited about it! So yeah that's it for now, have a great week ahead!

Skin Food: Black Raspberry Youngyang Serum

2011-06-05T12:29:00.002+08:00

I purchased this about a month ago. I have never tried Skin Food skin care products prior to this one, so I was curious. I thought I'd give it a try. And after weeks of using it, here's what I think about it.

Know more after the jump!

From Skinfood website:
This moist, high-nutrient herbal medicinal serum contains revitalizing black raspberry extract, and jayangboeumdan (滋養補陰丹) and cheongyeondan (淸連丹) extracted from 12 kinds of oriental medicinal herbs, to provide nutrition and deep moisturization to skin.
Use: After toner, apply desired amount and press gently to absorb.

Aside from medicinal herbs this product also contains anti-oxidant which is good for the skin. I've read so many times that antioxidants are good to keep your skin healthy and prevent premature aging. I've asked people on what's a good anti-aging product and they always tell me to look for something with antioxidant. So I thought this is worth a try.

As for the packaging, it's really cute. The bottle itself is made of glass while the cap is made of cardboard. It's also nice that it comes in a pump bottle, it's hygienic to use than dipping your fingers in a jar.

The product smells like Chinese ginseng? It might bother you but honestly it doesn't bother me at all. I prefer it than floraly scents. Well, the truth is, I actually love the scent! Might be weird of me. IDK why. But I like it.

The texture is kind of like a lotion, and it takes a while before it sinks into my skin. But after it does, my skin feels smooth and moisturized. Just to let you know, I only use this at night after my toner.

This didn't break me out or anything. So for it's been nice to my skin. Currently loving this so much :)

Rating: Very good kitty!

TAGGED: Blogger Award 2011

2011-06-03T07:28:00.000+08:00

1) Make a post containing:

• Say thank you to someone who give you this award
• Write about someone who give you this award
• Write about yourself
• There's a banner award and code
• Give this award to your 9 blogger-friends (blogends)
• Don't forget to leave a messages in their chatbox

2) Use this banner award on your blog sidebar, without change banner's code.

First of all I would like to say thank you to Tiffo for giving me this award. I truly appreciate it. Well, what can I say about her? Honestly, I don't know much about her yet. We're new to each other as of now. lol. And I am also new to her blog. Aside from the obvious that she likes beauty things, on more thing that I can say is that everytime I see her, she reminds me of a sweet girl. I don't know, I guess it's her cute smile :) .. So keep smiling Tiffo.

And about myself... Aside from beauty things, I like weird things too. "Weird" music, weird little figurines, and other weird stuff. IDK but sometimes people get surprised when they find out how much I love and appreciate things like goth or metal music.

I won't give this award to anyone in particular. I'd like to give this award to my fellow beauty bloggers. I guess everyone in the beauty community deserve this award. :)

Urban Decay: The Black Palette

2011-06-01T13:59:00.001+08:00

Products with nice packaging always gets my attention. I sometimes end up getting stuff that I don't even know if I will ever use. But anyway, the same thing with this Urban Decay: The Black Palette. I got it because of the packaging. How it's all black, dark and edgy looking. I was skeptical before I purchased this. I thought I won't be able to use this palette that much because I usually go for neutral colors when it comes to eyeshadow. But then, I reasoned out to myself that I can use this too. Like if I go to concerts, and other events. :D So I went ahead and got it.

More info and swatches after the jump!

This palette is amazing. I love the shades and I love how pigmented they are. Black Dog is super black and the texture is kind of like silky. The rest of the colors are amazing, too. They all seem to have blackness in them, which I like.

And the swatch with and without flash (Upper area of my arm: without Too Faced Shadow Insurance / Lower area of my arm: with TFSI)

I know I mentioned earlier that I wasn't sure if I was even going to use this at all. But honestly, I noticed that I have been reaching out for this palette everyday. Well aside from doing occasional smokey looks with it, I always use this to set my eyeliner. It helps keep my eyeliner from melting and smudging. I actually prefer this than using my NYX eyeshadow in black because I noticed that this palette actually stays on longer, it helps prevent smudging better and it's definitely so much more pigmented.

I usually just do eyeliner/mascara for my eyes everyday. Sometimes I just use Black Dog. But other times I also use the colors to give a pop to my simple eye look.

Nice isn't it? I don't regret getting this palette at all. I never thought I'd use it this often, but I am. Definitely happy with this.

Rating: Excellent Kitty!

Collective Haul

2011-05-31T08:47:00.002+08:00

Hi everyone! I'm going to share some of the stuff that I got these past few days (or maybe weeks. I can't really remember. lol). This haul consists of beauty and non-beauty things. :D

First off, here are the things that I got from SM Department Store. I was just looking around and found these. I couldn't resist so I got them.

See my haul after the jump!

I got this organizer thing that you can fold up or hang. I got it in red, the color actually is what caught my attention. lol. I thought it would be great to store my accessories here because as of now I only store them in boxes and jars.

It's divided into four parts. I think it'll be a great way to store and organize my accessories here and it's also gonna make it easy for me to find the accessory that I would like to use.

I got this brown bracelet. I think it looks nice. I was asking for a new stock but this was the last piece so I got it anyway.

And of course, because I love cats, I got this cat necklace!

I picked this shampoo a few days ago. Currently the only shampoo that works for me is Suave Clarifying Shampoo. The rest I've tried are breaking me out. IDK why. I've never had problems with shampoo before. *sigh* Anyway, I thought I'd get this Sunsilk Weather Defense shampoo. It smelled really nice and hopefully it'll work for me.

And because I like red, I finally got myself an iPod Nano in red. Been contemplating for a while if I should get it or not. But finally I have decided to get it. I love how small it is. You can carry it or clip it anywhere. Oh! I forgot to take a picture but I also got a watch bracelet for this so I can also wear it as a wrist watch. :)

And lastly, a few items from Etude House. I was originally going to get the Tea Time Facial Wash in Green Tea. I gave one to my friend a few months ago and she kept raving about it. So I wanted to get it for myself, too. But sadly it was out of stock. So I ended up getting Fresh Nail Spa (which I think is a nail polish remover) and a grey colored nail polish.

So that's all for my haul. I hope you enjoyed!

Mini Giveaway Winner!

2011-05-30T19:02:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone! My mini giveaway has ended last May 28 and I am super excited to draw the winner.

There were 18 entries. From number 2 to 19.

Find out who won after the jump!

Used Random.Org to draw the winner

The winner is lucky number 9!

Congratulations to Charina! An email has been sent to you :)

This mini giveaway has been fun and exciting for me. I hope it was for you, too. Thanks to everyone who joined! Til' next time!

Maybelline Eyebrow Pencil by Eyestudio

2011-05-28T01:04:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone!

I would like to do a post about my first eyebrow pencil. I've never used pencil for my brows before so I can't really compare it with other pencils. But I'm going let you guys know what I think about it and I'll also include a swatch.

(Sorry if this photo is not as clear as the others, I quickly took a photo with my phone because I just realized I don't have a photo without the cap.)

Know more after the jump!

I have used 2 eyebrow kits before I purchased this pencil. One from ELF and the other from Etude House. Just to give you an idea, I have black hair and yellowish warm undertones. The ELF palette that I got was in dark but it did not work for me. The shade was off, it looked red and I didn't like it.

Then I got myself the Etude House Perfect Eyebrow Kit. I actually love this kit and I've been using it everyday. I use the darker shade most of the time. I know that the palette's in shades of brown but me having black hair, I sometimes feel that brown doesn't look that natural on me. And there are times when I notice that my brows are brown. I don't really hate it. I actually like it but I realized that I'm not that satisfied.

(This photo was taken when it was still brand new.)

One time I saw my friend grooming her brows. She applied eyebrow pencil on them and I thought the shade looked nice. I asked what she was using. It was MAC eyebrow pencil in Taupe. The shade was like greyish brown. I wanted to get one as soon as I swatched it on my hand. When we were in Singapore, I was in one of the many department stores at Orchard Road. I saw a Maybelline counter and saw the Maybelline Eyebrow Pencil by Eyestudio. I looked at the shades but the shades weren't written on the packaging so I just asked the SA and she told me that the one I picked is in the shade grey. I thought it looked almost the same as the MAC Taupe that I was planning to buy. I got super excited so I purchased it.

So far I am loving it. I sometimes use it alone but I usually use it along with my Etude House Perfect Brow Kit. I apply this first then top it with the dark shade from my Etude House kit and then I brush it. I love it because my brows look so much more natural. I think it looks perfect with my black hair. The only thing is that it doesn't last especially on a humid weather, so you may need to retouch. I'm okay with that because the pencil is pretty small and you can carry it anywhere. :)

I got this from Singapore for about SGD $6. I'm not quite sure, though. It's been a while but that's what I remember. A few weeks ago I was at Watson's and they have it as well. It only costs PHP 120+ or 160+, I think. So if you convert the SGD price, it is so much cheaper here.

Rating: Very good kitty!

By the way, my mini giveaway ends today. You still have until 12:00 midnight, though. I'll draw the winner tomorrow. Good luck!

EOTD: Using NYX Smokey Look Kit (Part 1)

2011-05-26T09:37:00.002+08:00

Here's my attempt in creating an eye look from my NYX Smokey Look Kit.

It's simple and easy. Read more after the jump!

First I applied Too Faced Shadow Insurance. This will help my eyeshadow last long and make the colors more vibrant.

And then I applied the following shades from my NYX Smokey Palette.

I lined my upper lashline and waterline using my 24/7 Urban Decay Glide on Pencil in Zero (black). Then I just curled my lashes and applied Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara.

And here's the finished look

So that's it!

I will be posting more EOTDs using this palette soon. Watch out for part 2. :)

Have a great day!

Mini Giveaway Ends on May 28!

2011-05-24T08:32:00.002+08:00

Just a reminder. My mini giveaway will end on the 28th of May. So if you haven't entered yet, please do and get a chance to win these prizes.

Click HERE for more info.

Good luck to everyone! :)

The Face Shop: Cyan Blue Nail Polish

2011-05-23T11:04:00.003+08:00

Hi everyone! Just another quick nail polish post!

Know more after the jump!

I got this nail polish from The Face Shop and it retails for PHP 95 (USD 2.21). It's in the shade BL606. I really like it, such a fun color.

I usually stay with the deep dark colors when it comes to nail polish. But this is an exception. Probably the only non-dark polish that I really like wearing as of now. I applied two coats of this on my nails.

Rating: Good Kitty.

Urban Decay Lipstick: Gash and Voodoo

2011-05-20T12:10:00.002+08:00

I love red lipstick! I actually prefer it than wearing nude or neutral colors. I feel like a red lip instantly brightens up my face.

Today I'll share two lipsticks I own from the brand Urban Decay. I have them in the shade Voodoo and Gash.

Read more after the jump!

I am the type who's really crazy about cute packaging. With Urban Decay, the first thing that caught my attention is their unique packaging. I guess we all know that about Urban Decay.

See how cute the packaging is? I love the dagger and the print.

Like I mentioned, I love red shades when it comes to lipstick. The first Urban Decay lipstick I purchased was Gash, because I've always wanted a really deep dark red lipstick. And this is exactly what I was looking for. It's a full coverage deep bloody red color, which I really love. I often use this when I do neutral eyes. It's a matte lipstick so it can be drying. But what I usually do is apply lip balm before this to avoid dryness.

Because I was so pleased with Gash, I decided to get Voodoo as well. It's a dark pinky red shade with a bit of sparkle but it's not as opaque as Gash. It's actually kind of sheer but the color is buildable. I also like this shade. I noticed that I've been using this as my everyday lipstick in the past couple of weeks :)

Swatch without flash

Swatch with flash

The staying power is good.

I got Gash for $22 in the US and I got Voodoo in Macau and I can't exactly remember how much. They are quite pricey. But with such a pretty packaging and lasting power, it's a good buy. Hopefully I could get more shades soon. :)

Rating: Very good kitty!

Foot Appeal

2011-05-19T11:06:00.001+08:00

Do you want a softer and baby-like feet? I do! That's why I went ahead and tried Foot Appeal: Foot Peeling Mask.

"Foot Appeal Foot Peeling Mask is a self-indulgent at home foot treatment that safely removes ugly dead skin with just one application. No extra effort. No extra time. No mess. Painless"

Read my review after the jump!

Honestly, I was a bit hesitant to try this at first. The thought of thick dead skin peeling off scared me. I was worried that it might hurt or that I'll end up with damaged skin. But the product promised a painless peeling. So I thought I'd give it a go.

The product comes with a pair of plastic "socks" that has this watery solution inside. You just have to wear them and tape them to fit your feet. Then wear cotton socks to secure and make sure it's in place. I left it for 60 minutes. And then I washed my feet with soap and water.

My feet started peeling on second day until the 10th day. It was painless but it was a bit itchy. The peeling took a while but the result was good. It peeled off my callus and my hard flaky heel.

I provided a photo below showing a portion of my feet peeling off, just so you have an idea how the peeling was. I hope it does not gross you out. =/

Every part of my feet peeled off... like crazy! Crazy in a good way, because it got rid of my dead skin. And now, I feel like I have a brand new pair of soft feet. I love this product. It might be a bit pricey though. It retails for PHP 599.

I might repurchase again, when I need to.

Rating: Very good kitty!

EOTD: Smokey Blue

2011-05-18T11:44:00.004+08:00

Hi everyone! I mentioned before, I am not really a makeup expert but I'm learning. A few days ago, I went and gathered my blue eyeshadows and decided to do a smokey blue look. I did a few attempts before but I never uploaded them because I always end up with a messy and fugly result. But with my recent experiment, I think I like how it turned out.

I'm hoping it's good enough to share. lol. I know it's not the best but I'm quite happy with the result. So, here it is!

More after the jump!

First I applied Too Faced Shadow Insurance all over my lid and also on my lower lashline. This will help make my eyeshadow last.

And then I applied a black base on my lid using NYX Jumbo Pencil.

And for the eyeshadows, I thought I'd use a couple of blue eyeshadows because I wanted a gradient type of look.

1. On my lid, Sabbath from Urban Decay Black Palette (blue black color). This will deepen up the blue especially on the outer corner of your lid.

2. Sea Blue from Elizabeth Arden Palette (IDK how to describe this color but it's like a muted blue/green color)

3. Cobalt from Elizabeth Arden Palette (I think this color is between royal and navy blue)

4. Haight from Urban Decay NYC Palette (aqua blue color).

For the highlight on my brow bone, I just used Heaven (a matte cream eyeshadow) from my Too Faced Natural Palette.

Then I just lined my upper lash line and waterline with a black eyeliner. And lastly, I applied my Clinique lash doubling mascara.

And here's the finished look:

So that's it for now. Hopefully I can do more EOTDs in the future. Thanks for reading! :)

Cat's Closet: How do I wear my belted paperbag waist skirt?

2011-05-16T12:16:00.006+08:00

From my previous Topshop haul, I was asked if I'm going to show how I'd wear the paperbag waist skirt that I got.

I wasn't really sure if I was going to, but today I decided to get some pieces from my closet and put them together. And here's what I came up with.

See the complete look after the jump!

Oh. I just want to say that I'm no fashion expert. So please don't laugh at me. :)

I just wore it with a blue sleeveless top and a cream colored lace vest. For the shoes, I'm wearing this cream colored flat peep toes. I also added some accessories to finish the look.

Here's how it looks at the back. I love this lace vest. I got it from my last Singapore trip. It's probably my current favorite clothing piece. I love the bow behind. I think it looks super cute and sweet. :D

So that's all for this post. Have a great week ahead!

Skin White Whitening Hand and Body Lotion Classic SPF 20

2011-05-15T23:26:00.000+08:00

I think I'm a total skin freak. So when it comes to my skin, I really want it to be protected from the sun's harmful rays. It's kind of difficult to find a body lotion that has a high SPF. Mostly, they are made for sports/outdoors so they tend to smell like what traditional sunblock do and they're also sticky and uncomfortable to use for everyday. Good thing there's Skin White Hand and Body Lotion Classic SPF 20.

Find out more after the jump!

I am not really after the whitening effect. I am not the type who wants a whiter skin. I just prefer my natural shade for as long as it's clear, bright, glowing and healthy. But what I like about this body lotion is it's SPF 20. I think it's the highest SPF body lotion (for everyday use) we have locally. It provides protection from both UVA and UVB rays.

And the best thing about product is it's non-sticky formula. So there's no icky and uncomfy feeling. Perfect for hot and humid weather.

It has a flowery type of smell to it, which I am not a fan of. But I guess I just got used to it. This has been my staple morning body lotion and I have been using this for more than a year already. I can't really count how many bottles I have repurchased already.

Retails for PHP 126.00 (USD 2.93) only. Definitely going to repurchase again!

Rating: Very good kitty!

The Face Shop: Pale Yellow Nail Polish

2011-05-14T20:39:00.002+08:00

Hi everyone! Just a quick little nail polish post! :)

More photos and info after the jump!

I got this pale yellow nail polish from The Face Shop. It's in the shade YL703. It retails for about PHP 95 (USD 2.21).

I like how light and fresh the color is. Very summery! But the sad thing is it streaks and it's not opaque enough, so you need at least 3 coats.

Rating: Okay Kitty.

Clinique All About Eyes

2011-05-10T14:13:00.003+08:00

Clinique All About Eyes comes in two variants: All About Eyes and All About Eyes Rich. I believe the first one is on the lighter side and the latter is thicker and richer (hence, the name). I've never tried All About Eyes Rich, but I have been constantly using their All About Eyes variant. I am already on my 3rd jar and I am still very happy with this product.

Find out more after the jump!

What I like the most about this product is how lightweight it is. It's perfect when you live in a hot and humid weather because it's not sticky or greasy when applied. It immediately sinks into my skin leaving it well moisturized throughout the day.

I use this during the day and apply makeup over it. It helps me avoid that dry patchy look under my eyes especially when I apply concealer or liquid foundation. And like I said, it's not greasy so you don't have to worry about your makeup slipping and sliding.

This eye cream is fragrance-free and it does not irritate my skin or my eyes. I'm definitely going to repurchase this again! If you're looking for a basic lightweight eye cream. You might like this too.

Rating: Very good kitty!

Mini Topshop Haul

2011-05-09T11:35:00.005+08:00

Hi everyone! I went to the mall last Saturday. And I bought a few things that I liked. I haven't really done a clothing haul before. But I thought I'd do a post about the stuff that I just got from Topshop. I'm just really excited about the shoulder bag so I thought I'd share it with you.

Haul after the jump!

First of all, I got this cute skirt. I've been wanting to get this. 2 weeks ago, I went to a different Topshop branch and I fell in love with this skirt. Sadly, my size was not available. Then last Saturday, I went to another mall and found this skirt at Topshop. They only had 2 of these left, and luckily one of them is my size! :D

And here's another one that I got, a cute cream colored shoulder bag. I love the design so I went ahead and got it as well.

I only bought two things from Topshop. There were a lot of other pretty things but I had to stop myself cos I didn't want to spend a lot. So that's my mini haul. Hope you enjoyed :)

Blogger Luxury Award

2011-05-08T20:13:00.002+08:00

Happy Mother's Day! I hope you're all having a wonderful day.

Here's a quick blog award post. Thanks to Tiffiefum for this. I truly appreciate it. :)

RULES:

1. Link back to the person who passed you the award.
2. Share 7 random things about yourself.
3. Award 15 blogs.
4. Drop them a note and tell them about it.

SEVEN (7) RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME

1. I love cats! And anything with a cat in it.
2. I like metal and goth music. But I also like other genres.
3. I used to watch WWF/WWE all the time before. I remember watching it when I was like about 5 years old til the HBK/DX era.
4. I'm a lazy texter! I prefer calling or just chatting on my computer.
5. I eat a lot of junk food at night.
6. I can't sleep with the lights on or with any noise.

7. I've been blogging since the late 90's. But it was just a personal blog not beauty related... Remembering those days is kinda nostalgic.

Honestly, almost everyone that I wanted to pass this award to have already been tagged. So I am just gonna go ahead and tag every beauty blogger who's reading this! :)

Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream

2011-05-06T10:20:00.002+08:00

I am very particular about my hands. Months ago, I noticed that my hands are starting to get kind of rough because I give bath to 7 of our dogs! Imagine 7! That's a lot. But actually they're just chihuahuas. So they're not that big. But still, I think all the water and shampoo are drying up my hands... Good thing I had Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream!

"Supreme softening and surface smoothing make this ultra-rich hand balm a bestseller. Silky but grease-free, it smoothes rough cuticles too."

This is probably the best hand cream I have ever used. It worked so well for me. It definitely made my hands super soft and smooth again. It had a slight lemon scent to it. Which I liked because I prefer that kind of scent instead of the floral ones. I also liked how silky smooth it felt, definitely no greasy or sticky feeling after application.

The tube I got is just the "to go" size (1 oz) and it costs $8. Quite pricey really, but it worked wonders for me so I believe it's worth it. Sadly, I already ran out of the product. If I could repurchase, I would. But sadly, my bro-in-law who used to get me stuff at Sephora is no longer in the US. :( I'm hoping I could acquire this again soon.

Rating: Excellent Kitty!

Fashion 21: Eye Shadow Brush

2011-05-04T08:46:00.000+08:00

Here's a review of a nice inexpensive brush that is locally available in the Philippines. It's the Fashion 21 Eye Shadow Brush. They have two sizes of eyeshadow brush and I got the bigger one.

More details and pictures after the jump!

This brush is soft and it does not scratch my skin. I use it mainly for my brow bone highlight or as an all over eyeshadow brush. It works and it blends my eyeshadows well.

I have an Elianto eyeshadow brush (smaller than this) that I have purchased long ago and as far as I can remember it costs PHP 100 to PHP 200+. I think the softness of the Elianto brush is comparable to this brush. But the Fashion21 brush is actually denser, which is good.

The only sad thing about this brush is that it sheds a little. But for the price, I guess it's not that bad. This brush costs PHP 85 (USD 1.98).

Rating: Good Kitty

Etude House: Green Tea Face Mask

2011-05-02T15:08:00.000+08:00

I liked the Pearl Face Mask (from Etude House) that I tried last time so I thought I'd go and have another Face Mask weekend. But this time, I'll be trying the Green Tea Face Mask that is made for stressed and fatigued skin. :)
The moment I put on the mask. It felt cool and relaxing. I love the refreshing smell of this one. I actually prefer it than the Pearl Face Mask. I still felt the same tingly sensation I felt with the Pearl Face Mask. And the cloth, like I mentioned before, is thick and durable.

I didn't get any bad reaction from my skin after using this. I liked how soft it made my skin the next morning. I'm really loving Face Masks! So far, I have only tried two and both are from Etude House. I'm thinking of making this my weekly regimen. :)

Rating: Good Kitty!

Laneige: Multiberry Yogurt Peeling Gel

2011-04-30T14:56:00.001+08:00

Hi everyone! I just thought I'd do a post about Laneige Multiberry Yogurt Peeling Gel. I don't know if I can rave enough about it. This product is just amazing.

Product info from Laneige:

* Soft yet powerful exfoliation
- Natural Konjac (Mannan) beads gently exfoliate dead skin cells and impurities with short time of massage.
- Recoverine from Chestnuts extracts promotes turnovers of horny layers to remove dead cells for vigorous
water supply and sleek skin texture.

* De-oxidating and calming effect for healtier skin
- Sogurty™, a specialized fermented yogurt, has anti-inflammatory effects to soothe skin from skin troubles.
- Multi berry complex (various berry extracts from raspberries, blueberries, wolfberries, cranberries,
and strawberries) delivers abundant nutrition and antioxidants to eliminate harmful free radicals.

My review after the jump!

I went to Laneige a few weeks ago and I my plan was to get the Strawberry Peeling Gel. But I found out they've changed it to Multiberry Peeling Gel. The SA told me that this one has finer beads than the Strawberry one before.

I got this because like I mentioned on my previous posts, I noticed how my skin have become dull looking lately. I really needed something that will help me brighten and give me that glow again. It costs PHP 1250. Seems pricey but I have to say this is one of those products that I'm really glad I tried. Because it works!

I've used this a couple of times already and was excited to do a review. I use this once or sometimes twice a week, after I do my facial wash... So here's what I think about it:

First of all the smell, I love it. I want to eat it. Really, it's yummy!
The texture is kind of thick and it has tiny beads in it (definitely not harsh for the skin).
I don't know if it's just me but everytime I use this, I can see how it brightens my face afterward.
I love how soft and supple my skin is after every use. No tight feeling.
This product didn't irritate my skin.
And the most amazing thing: From the product info, it says that it has this fermented yogurt that has anti-inflammatory effects to soothe troubled skin. IDK if this only happens to me, but I think it instantly gets rid of my whiteheads (some not all)! I don't have a lot of whiteheads to start with, but I have some every now and then. Anyway, this may gross you out but I noticed that after I have used this and I am about to apply my toner, I see a hardened whitehead come off my face (just one thought cos like I said I don't have a lot of whiteheads). I have noticed it happen 2 times already (out of the 3 times that I have used it). No other exfoliating wash gave me that effect before.
I also love that it has antioxidants that's good for the skin. It's one of the things I look for in anti-aging products.

Rating: Excellent Kitty!

The SA also recommended me to get the Multiberry Yogurt Repair Pack. But I didn't want to go crazy and buy everything all at once, so she gave me a sample first. I have used the sample once and I think I like it. Makes me want to get the full size of the product. I will also do a separate review about it. I'm just gonna try and use more before I review it.

So that's it. I hope this review helped. :)

My Ecotools Retractable Brush Broke!

2011-04-29T22:40:00.002+08:00

I've been using this brush for more than a year now. We've been through so many ups and downs together. Lots of memories shared, and I am already very much attached to it... But I guess it finally gave up on me. It broke days ago and I tried to fix it with Mighty Bond, it didn't work. I also tried rugby and just after a few days it broke off again...

What a sad sad situation... I will try to fix it again. I love this brush so much, probably one of my faves. I can't just let it go. :(

Mini Beauty Giveaway! CLOSED

2011-04-28T11:02:00.005+08:00

Hi everyone! I've been blogging on and off before, but lately I noticed that I have been posting regularly again. I hope it lasts, though. I'm happy and excited about something :)

I thought I'd do a mini giveaway. There's no special occasion or celebration behind it, just a simple thank you to my readers. I don't have a lot of followers. But still, I'm really hoping you guys will enter. I think it would be fun. :)

The prizes!

- Karma Beauty eyshadow palette in Natural Beauty
- Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Luminous Shadow in Miami Ice
- Aziza nail polish in Lust
- Vaseline Aloe Fresh Hydrating Lotion
- Strawberry that converts to a mini bag
- Heart earrings
- Polka dot cellphone strap

It's not much but I'm hoping you guys will like them :)

How to join after the jump!

How to join:
- Just comment below and include your name, url and email so I can contact the winner immediately.

Rules:
- Open to Philippine readers only.
- Only one entry per person.
- Must follow this blog.
- Must be 18 years and above, if not, please ask your parents permission first.
- I may not be held liable for any loss, damages or injury associated with accepting or using the prizes.
- Winner will be randomly picked via random.org and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not reply within 72 hours, a new winner may be selected.

The contest will start today April 28, 2011 and will end on May 28, 2011.

So that's it. Good luck!

NYX Smokey Look Kit

2011-04-26T14:27:00.011+08:00

I don't do Smokey Eyes that often, but I thought I still have to have this one. I like how sleek and compact the packaging is, it's so convenient to carry around.

See more photos and swatches:

It comes in 9 shades of eyeshadow and 2 lip colors. This palette is so versatile. I like that it does not only let you do smokey eyes, but you can also create your daytime neutral look with it.

And here's a swatch of the 9 eyeshadow shades.

Upper Part: without Too Faced shadow insurance

Lower Part: with Too Faced shadow insurance

See how pigmented that is? I can barely see a difference from the ones with TF primer. Love love the colors. Smokey but still neutral. <3

I got this from a store called Donki (I'm not sure) during my visit in Japan. I can't really remember for how much. I think the price is on the back info of the palette. I'll check it out later and update this post, but from what I remember I think it's more expensive than the US price.
EDIT: Price on the back info is 1,953 Yen.

Rating: Good Kitty!

Nail Polish: Aziza in Lust

2011-04-24T14:10:00.006+08:00

I love red! And for nail polishes, I probably wear my red polish most of the time (aside from black. they both are my faves!). A few days ago, I found this gorgeous deep red polish and I thought it was love at first sight. It's not just plain red though, it has sparkles in it. I actually prefer plain ones instead of glittery ones but this just caught my eye. The sparkles were tiny, not chunky and glitter-like. I think it looked pretty.

I love the formula. Not thick, it's almost liquidy. I like that kind of texture because it's easier and smoother to apply. The only thing is, you need about two coats of this to get that deep red color.

So far, it's my current fave nail polish. :)

Rating: Good kitty!

Tag: 10 things I love

2011-04-24T13:05:00.003+08:00

Thanks Aya for tagging me!

1. Sleeping - I just love to sleep a lot. On weekends, I'd usually wake up at around 12 noon already!

2. Music - I just love listening to good music. I enjoy a lot of genre. Be it rock, pop, metal or goth. I especially like what other people might think as "weird" music. I like how deep and meaningful the lyrics are. They just inspire me. Sometimes I wish life had a background music just like in the movies. :D

3. Shopping - I like to shop. Clothes and beauty stuff. There are times when I like something and I'm not sure if I should get it. Then I decide I'll think about it first and once I leave the shop and I'm at home, I can't help but think about it all the time and regret why I didn't buy it. And when I go back for it and they don't have my size anymore, it makes me sad. =/

4. Clothes, Shoes, Bags and Accessories - LOVE! IDK but I feel like I spend most of my money on these things.

5. Computer and Internet - I just can't live without them.

6. Chocolates - I have to have chocolates. I always crave for them.

7. Traveling - I just love to travel and explore new places and cultures. And of course, shopping while traveling. lol.

8. Makeup - I wasn't into makeup before. I was already out of college when I applied my first eyeliner. But now, I just love it and I can't live without it (eyeliner especially. lol)

9. Skin care - I love to pamper and take care of my skin. There was a time when I hoarded on a bunch of anti-aging skin care products because I felt like I was getting old.. Haha!

10. Cats! - I love my pet dogs, too. But there's something about cats that I like. I have two pet cats and they're both adopted. I feel they just need an extra care. :) I also like to collect things that have a cat in it. :)

Here's a photo of some of my cat collections. I like all kinds of cats. From cute and cuddly to really weird ones. :)

Here's my first adopted cat. His before and after picture. That's how he looked like when I found him first. He was so small, cute and dirty. lol! I find that photo of him on the dog dish really cute and funny. I guess he was looking for a bed to sleep on. lol. And on the right side, he's now all grown up. :)

And that's about it. I'm supposed to only tag 10 people but I'm also tagging anyone who would like to do this :)

- Jbreezy Baby
- MissKatV of Beauty Straight Forwards
- Thiamere of Beauty Stuff and What Else's
- Kitten of Inside a Cat's Mind
- Donnarence of My Lucid Intervals
- Coffretgorge
- Sugar of Whimsical Whatnots and Whatever
- Krischia of Kawaii Gothic

- JesRoque of MakeUPLove
- VintageMakeup

What you need to do:

Thank the person who tagged you.
List 10 things that you love.
Tag 10 other bloggers to do this tag and let them know about it by leaving a comment on their blogs.

Happy Easter everyone!

Shiseido: Anessa Perfect Essence Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA+++

2011-04-21T23:35:00.001+08:00

Hands down to Anessa Perfect Essence Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA+++ (Shiseido). This is probably my favorite sunscreen of all time. I found this little baby on our way home from our trip to Japan. I was looking around the Duty Free area and saw this sunscreen. They come in three variants. The yellow one was for outdoor sports, the white one has pearl effect and this blue one is for everyday use. Well, that's what the SA told me. I asked her because I couldn't understand what's on the packaging cos it was all Japanese. I only got the small travel size one because I wasn't sure if it was gonna work for me. I have sensitive skin, and a lot of times I get red bumps from skin products. So I thought I'd try the small bottle first, cos it might irritate me. But now I regret! This sunscreen is just amazing. How I wish I can go back and get the big bottle and maybe even 3 more backups. lol.

I love the packaging, it won't spill if you carry it on your luggage. It's also very hygienic and you can control the amount of product coming out of its nozzle. You have to shake it first before you use it.

And here's the best part: it's lightweight, non-sticky, fragrance-free, and it did not irritate my skin! I love love love the texture, it's almost watery. And when I apply it on my face, it feels silky smooth and no white cast. It's like I didn't even apply sunscreen. My skin can breathe.

This is just the perfect sunscreen for me. I'd definitely repurchase! But sadly, it's not available locally... I wonder if I can find a sunscreen as good as this one. =(

Rating: Excellent Kitty!

Mini Collective Haul

2011-04-19T10:13:00.000+08:00

Here are some beauty related things I got these past few days. I promised myself that I will try to ban myself from buying makeup for awhile. But then I noticed I've been hauling quite a lot of skin care products lately. =/

First one I got is Skin Food's Black Raspberry Youngyang Serum

Here are the other stuff I got: Laneige Multiberry Yogurt Peeling Gel (and samples of SPF 35 sunblock oil-free, multiberry yogurt repair pack, water bank essence_ex, snow bb cream spf 41), Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Spot-Control Base UV and Sally Hansen Double Duty.

I'm excited to try these!

Etude House: Pearl Extract Face Mask

2011-04-16T09:26:00.003+08:00

I finally decided to try the Etude House Pearl Extract Face Mask that I purchased 2 weeks ago. It's a first for me, I never tried face masks before. So I was excited!

I wanted to try Pearl Extract because lately, I've been going out in the sun a lot. I feel like I have so much dead skin right now and my skin looks dull. So I thought I'd get this one because it's what I needed. Pearl extract that promotes natural skin glow. I never really thought pearls had something to do with brightening your skin, but it's worth a try! The mask was pretty affordable, as far as I can remember I think it was only PHP 58.

The cloth was soaked and I can say that it was good quality because the cloth is thick and durable.

I placed the mask on my face for about 20 minutes and at first I could feel a slight tingly sensation. I was actually afraid to try masks before because I was worried that my skin will get irritated or something, but glad to say that I didn't get any bad reaction from this.

The only thing I didn't like so much was that, my face was kind of sticky after I removed my mask. As for the brightening, I didn't really notice any major change, I've only used it once anyway. Maybe if I use it continuously... But I'm sure it helped. Other than that, I really liked how it made my skin so soft and supple in the morning!

Rating: Good Kitty!

Sunscreen

2011-04-14T09:02:00.000+08:00

Hello sunshine!

Summer's here! So I thought I'd make a post about sunscreen.

Honestly, I don't know much about sunscreen before. I just always try to get the highest SPF I can find. But later I became a bit more conscious about my skin and aging. I went on and researched about it, I found out that there's so much more about sunscreen than SPF. And today, I'd like to share some things I learned.

According to Wikipedia:
"Sunscreen, also commonly known as sun block, sun lotion or suncream,[1] is a lotion, spray, gel or other topical product that absorbs or reflects some of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the skin exposed to sunlight and thus helps protect against sunburn."

If there's one thing I've learned from all my research, it's that sunscreen is probably the most important thing for our skin, aside from being moisturized. It protects our skin from the sun's harmful rays that could cause sunburn, early aging and even skin cancer.

I'm no science genius but I will try to answer the most common questions about sunscreen, from what I know and what I understand.

What is UVA/UVB?
UVA rays are the one responsible for accelerating aging. It can also cause skin cancer. They can penetrate deep into our skin that causes damaged collagen which causes early aging. These rays are always present, even on a cloudy day. So it's important to always apply sunscreen all year round. Cloudy or sunny. Whatever the weather is.

UVB rays causes sunburn and also skin cancer. It can also cause early aging, but not as much as UVA rays.

What is SPF?
SPF is the rating that shows how long your sunscreen protects from UVB rays (which causes sunburn). From what I read, multiply the SPF rating to 10 and that's how long you are protected from the sun's UVB rays in minutes. If the sunscreen is applied correctly.

SPF 15 x 10 = 150 mins. (so the higher SPF, the better)

I guess it still depends if there's sweat and water involved. And if you also put the right amount or thickness of sunscreen.

What is PA+++?
I'm only used to seeing the SPF rating on sunscreen before. But now, more and more sunscreen products are including the PA rating. This PA rating actually shows how much protection you're getting against UVA rays (which causes aging). The more plus (+) sign rating, the better. I think the highest rating for PA is PA+++.

What's the difference between a chemical and physical sunscreen?
Chemical sunscreen absorbs UV rays before they can harm the skin. Some common ingredient of chemical sunscreen: avobenzone (butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane) and octyl methoxycinnamate.

Physical sunscreen blocks or reflects UV rays. Most commonly known physical blockers are titanium dioxide that protects from UVB rays, and zinc dioxide that protects from both UVA and UVB rays.

Tips
- Apply sunscreen everyday. Rain or shine.
- When purchasing a sunscreen, choose a product that protects you from both UVA and UVB. Or look for the "broad spectrum" label.
- Higher SPF is better, but it still depends on your preference. I noticed higher SPFs are thicker in texture. I always choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 to 50. I prefer lightweight and oil-free ones that don't have that sunscreeny smell.
- Higher PA is better to protect your skin from early aging.
- Some sunscreen can cause yellow stains on your clothing! It happened to me before. I read a long time ago that chemical sunscreen can cause this (when the ingredient avobenzone is washed in water that contains iron). This is one reason why I prefer physical sunscreen. But I recently read that zinc oxide (which is a physical sunscreen) can also cause stains. I'm not so sure, though. But so far I haven't got any problems with it.
- Don't mix your sunscreen with anything. Not your body lotion, not your moisturizer, not even with another sunscreen. The ingredients could counter each other and weaken your sunscreen making it less effective.
- Sunscreen should be the last step of your skin regimen. Wait for your skin to absorb your moisturizer before you apply your sunscreen.

I think we're lucky these days. We have so many sunscreen to choose from: Lightweight, non-greasy, oil-free, no horrid smell, better protection... Gone are the days when most (if not all) sunscreens were so thick and heavy, that awful smell that makes you think "beach", and of course that obvious white cast!

So I guess that's all. I hope this post helps.

Sunscreen everyday keeps the harmful UV rays away!

What's in my Make up bag?

2011-04-12T10:07:00.001+08:00

Hi everyone! I just thought I'd share what's inside my kit. I don't really carry so much. Just a few basic things I use from day to day. My lip products and blush changes daily depending on what I feel like wearing. :)

My makeup bag! I got it from Sanrio Puroland when I visited Japan. So cute. :)

Currently what's inside

What's inside:

1.) Shiseido lash curler
2.) Ecotools brush
3.) Nars blush in Orgasm
4.) Sephora lip liner (Natural, I think)
5.) Nars lipgloss in Pillow Talk
6.) Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Zero
7.) Lolita perfume sample
8.) Softlips cherry
9.) Mac Studio Fix NC40
10.) hair pins
11.) black rubbers

I always make sure I carry some hair pins and black rubbers with me. Because there are days when my hair just won't cooperate so I just tie it or something. :) So yeah, that's all. Hope you enjoyed!

Clinique Superfit Makeup Foundation

2011-04-09T10:56:00.000+08:00

"High-performance makeup. Stays smooth all day, come stress or high humidity. Wears 8 hours. Oil-free."

I like the hygienic squeeze bottle.

Swatch: Clinique Superfit in Cream Beige.

This foundation has a medium coverage. The texture is not too creamy, almost watery I think. I like how light this foundation feels and I like that it doesn't break me out or irritate my skin. This foundation is great except that the shade is just a little bit light for me. I dunno, I guess I'm just that OC when it comes to my foundation shade. But other than that, this foundation is good. Sad to say I think this product is already discontinued. But maybe you can still purchase it at Ebay or somewhere else.

Rating: Good Kitty

Etude House Haul

2011-04-08T21:41:00.006+08:00

This is just a quick mini haul post. I just thought I'd share it with you guys. I dropped by Etude House today and bought a few things for a friend.

I got the cleansing foam and some masks. I also thought of getting a mask for myself. I never tried one before and I decided it's about time I did. I also got a free pen for spending over PHP 500. It's cute! I'd love to keep it but I'll just give it to my friend as well.

Anyway, I'm really excited to try out the mask. Hope it works for me! :)

Have you guys tried masks from Etude House? Are they good? Any other brands you'd recommend?

New found love: Bobbi Brown Corrector and Concealer Kit!

2011-04-06T20:34:00.008+08:00

I have dark under eye circles and I've been on a quest for the perfect concealer. Have you ever had a picture taken (especially with flash) and the concealer on your eye area appeared too white or ashy? I have always been afraid of a concealer appearing like white mask on my eye area. I prefer something that would just look natural. So most of the time, I'd just settle with my foundation. Because I have tried different kinds and brands of concealers for my dark circles (like Fashion21, Maybelline, Sonia Kashuk, NYX concealer in a jar) and I haven't found the right one for me. Until now. My new found love, Bobbi Brown Corrector and Concealer Kit!

At the Bobbi Brown counter (in Takashimaya Singapore), I asked the SA which shade would suit me well. He applied it on. First the corrector (peach), then the concealer (beige), and finally he set it with the yellow powder. I've seen how my dark areas were gone like magic. But honestly I was hesitant at first. I was afraid the the Beige concealer might be too light for me. I thought of getting the corrector first. But as I walked around the department store, I looked in the mirror and it actually looked perfect. I my brother and my sister and everyone I was with if it didn't look too white. And they said it actually looked really well blended on my skintone. I also asked them to take a flash photo so I can see if it'll look white. It did look a bit white. Just a tinsy bit. Like it only brightened the area. But I think it actually looked nice. So there, I finally decided to get the concealer as well.

Here's a photo of me. Clean and moisturized without any concealer or foundation on.

1.) Peach Corrector
2.) Beige Concealer
3.) Yellow setting powder

I just used my Ecotools concealer brush for this application. I also tried it with my fingers and it works just as fine.

Applied the Peach Corrector using my Ecotools Concealer brush.

Gently patted it with my ring finger. The corrector and concealer have a light/almost liquidy texture. Kind of melts on my skin. I actually like it that way because it makes blending easier. It does settle on my lines when first applied with the brush, so I make sure that I pat it and let it blend on my skin.

Applied the Beige Concealer with my Ecotools concealer brush.

And again, I gently patted it with my ring finger to let it blend on my skin well. Then I set it with the yellow powder.

See the difference? :)
You can always build it up if you want more coverage.

And here after I finished my makeup, I turned the lights off my room and took a flash photo.

Love the effect! It covered my dark circles without making it look like I have a white mask on. I think it kind of brightened my under eye area but still it looks natural.

I bought the corrector for $41 SGD, while the concealer kit for $59 SGD. It's a bit pricey but I think it's definitely worth every penny.

Rating: Excellent Kitty!

Haul from Singapore

2011-04-03T22:39:00.006+08:00

Hi everyone! I just thought I'd make a haul post of the beauty stuff I got from Singapore. Mostly they are makeup stuff. I kind of regret not getting any skin care product (aside from the Neutrogena facial wash). I won't be posting the clothes I got from my trip because they all are now in the laundry.. Anyways here they are!

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Mousse Cleanser - a gentle hydrating cleanser. Rich, cushiony lather effectively foams away impurities, while a special hydrating agent adds back moisture so skin remains clean and soft.

Maybelline Total Clean: Express Makeup Remover - makeup removal and immediate softening. (I'm not sure if we have this in the Philippines, but I haven't seen one before so I thought I'd try it.)

Maybelline Eyebrow Pencil by Eyestudio - in grey

Bobbi Brown Corrector - in peach

Bobbi Brown Concealer Kit - in beige

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Pop Beauty Cat Eyes - go from I don't know how to MEOW! lol.

Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes - in black

My mom bought some things from Lancaster and the nice lady from the counter gave her a lot of samples. She also gave me these 3 Lancaster samples. Revolcanic deep moisturizing gel, Revolcanic Eyes deep moisturizing anti-fatique eye care, Eye Makeup Remover Soothing & Non-Oily. I have never tried any Lancaster product before so I am really excited to try these samples. :)

Got this cross connector ring. I love it.

And because I love cats and anything with a cat on it...

Puss in Boots from Universal Studios

Cute cat keychain from a store that I don't remember.

That's all. Hope you guys enjoyed this post. Hopefully, I could do a review about the stuff I got soon. Have a great week ahead!

Singapore

2011-04-03T01:26:00.003+08:00

Hi everyone! I just came back from my Singapore trip. The weather was hot and humid. I felt like I was going to be dehydrated from sweating... But putting that aside, it was good. I had fun, and hopefully I can go back again one day.

They said that the merlion statue had been closed for 2 months already so we just settled for the baby merlion.

Universal Studios Singapore is smaller compared to the other studios. Even smaller than Japan's. We went there on a weekday and it was still crowded. Here's a photo of their Water World show.

We also watched the Songs of the Sea at Sentosa. It was nice.

Our hotel was at Orchard Road, and because of that I got to shop a lot! Malls were everywhere! Lots of clothing and beauty shops.We stayed there for four days and I honestly think it wasn't enough. Not enough time to go through all the malls they had.

I bought a few clothing items. It was kind of a drag because the lines were long in the fitting room. Also got myself some makeup and skin care products.

I was surprised to see Sephora in Singapore. I never thought they had it there. Before my flight, I went to Sephora.com to check if they had a store in SG, didn't see it on their list. So I wasn't expecting to see it inside Takashimaya. So when I got in there, I was just overwhelmed that my brain suddenly seemed to have blacked out or something. lol. I just couldn't remember what I wanted to purchase from the store. I wish I was more prepared so I could've made a list of what to buy. I kind of regret it now cos I finally remembered what I wanted to get but didn't cos I forgot. *sigh*

And that's it. I am excited to do a review about this product I got from SG. I've used it a few times and I am loving it. Hope I'll get to do a post about it soon.

Have a great day!

TFS: Neutral Nail Polish

2011-02-15T21:14:00.005+08:00

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's day!

I just thought I'd share my new nail polish from The Face Shop. :)

You see, I prefer deep dark colored nail polishes but today I spotted this neutral colored one from TFS! It's in the color PP402. I'm not sure how to describe the color but it's kind of pinkish, mauvy-ish, old rose kind of color. I tried it on at the store and I fell in love with it that I just immediately bought it without thinking twice! I got it for PHP 195.

I think it makes my fingernails look simple and clean.

I've also been looking for a gray nail polish. Something plain, not metallic and no glitters. Suggestions?

January wedding!

2011-02-10T21:20:00.008+08:00

Ok wait! I didn't get married! It was actually my cousin's wedding last January. Anyway, I used to be worried about attending weddings and other formal occasions, because I'm usually worried of who will do my makeup. But about 2 years ago (if I'm not mistaken), at my friend's wedding, my passion for makeup began. At first, I wanted to get a makeup artist to do it for me. But the makeup artists I trusted the most were already booked. I was afraid to try out other artists that I didn't particularly know because I'm afraid that my makeup would look clowny.. It happened before and I definitely do not want it to happen again. So yeah, I thought I'd just do it myself. I was scared at first because I've never put an eyeshadow my entire life. I didn't know how and was afraid of it. lol. But I researched and watched Youtube gurus do it. And that's where it all began. I wouldn't say I'm an expert now but I can say I learned. I wouldn't say my makeup is perfect but I can say that I can now do it without being afraid. Of course, I am aware that I still have a lot to learn.. I was pretty excited about my cousin's wedding because I can do my makeup again. So I thought I'd share a photo of what I wore that day and how I did my makeup.

For my makeup, I didn't really do anything crazy, I just did a neutral look with deep red lips. I just redid my makeup for this closeup photo because I forgot to take one that day. :/

As far as I can remember, these are what I used that day. Everything except for the Etude brow kit and my gel liner, which I forgot to include.

And here's what I wore that day. A black tube bubble dress and a pair of red peep toes. I love the colors black and red. I love matching them together. :)

I had to crop my friends away. lol.

And that's it. I hope you guys enjoyed this post. Happy Friday!

Japan Trip and Haul

2011-02-05T01:32:00.011+08:00

Hi everyone! Here's a little peek on my Japan trip plus haul.

My trip to Japan is just awesome. I love the place, it's super clean and beautiful. I love the people, they are all very courteous. We joined a group tour and our schedule was tight. It was tiring but still fun. I just wish we had more time to shop. Before I share my mini Japan haul, I'd like to share a few photos with you guys from my trip. It's memorable and I'd love to visit Japan again!

This one's from Kyoto. The temples are just so beautiful.

Shin Sai Bashi-Suji, Osaka. Taking my opportunity to shop outside our hotel even if I'm dead tired.

This is me and my nephew somewhere in Universal Studios Osaka. We were so tired and the weather was freezing cold.

Fuji-ten ski resort. You can see Mt. Fuji on the background behind those trees.

We also went to DisneySea and Sanrio Puroland in Tokyo. Here's Hello Kitty!

Crazy Harajuku street on New Year's day! Unfortunately, I didn't see any Harajuku girls/boys that day. The place was too crowded.

And guess what, most (if not all) of the hotels we stayed are carrying Shiseido products on their toiletries. From Shampoo, body wash, to facial wash. Everything's Shiseido. Amazing isn't it?

And now for the haul, I didn't get to buy a lot. We were always in a hurry and we didn't have enough time to shop. It felt like we were in the Amazing Race or something... Anyway, I decided that I'm just going to include the makeup and skin care products I bought. I'd love to share some of the good fashion finds I got from Japan but most of them are in the laundry bin because I have already worn them. So yeah, here they are!

1.) Clinique clarifying lotion #2: My staple toner. I needed to restock because I was running out of it.
2.) Clinique long last glosswear SPF 15: I got three in Bonfire, Knockout Nude and Goldspun. The pack came in 5. I gave the other 2 to my sister.
3.) NYX Smokey Look Kit: A mini palette that contains 9 shadows and 2 lip glosses.
4.) Kate BB Makeup Base: Kate is a product of Kanebo. It is targeted for the younger market, I think. This has SPF as well but I forgot how much SPF. It was on the box but I threw it already. As far as I can remember, it was around 32 or 35.
5.) Kate Makeup Remover: Forgot to include this in the picture. But I bought this because there was this one time when we had to move from Osaka to Tokyo via bullet train and our luggage were shipped. Our stuff didn't arrive until the next day and I forgot to carry with me my makeup remover, lucky enough there was a store that had beauty stuff and got a hold of this.
6.) Shiseido Anessa Perfect Essence Sunscreen SPF 50 PA+++: I was looking for this sunscreen, unfortunately I don't think they carry it in Japan. The SA recommended this to me. They came in three kinds. Waterproof (for heavy duty use I think / for sports or swimming), Pearlized one that gave a pearly effect on your face, and the one I got which is for everyday use.
7.) DHC peel off pack: I just though I needed to use some mask for my face. I never tried one before so I thought this would be a great try.
8.) DHC Eyelash Tonic: It's supposed to make your lashes thicker and stronger. I've been using this for weeks and it seems to be working! I seriously love it.

I wish I researched about DHC before I went to Japan so I know which items I should get. They seem to have a whole lot of amazing products but I don't understand what's written on their boxes. It's quite difficult to guess what they are for lol. But the SA's are nice enough to really try to explain what they are for. I also wish we had more time to shop so I can concentrate on my shopping. You know how difficult it is to shop when you know you're running out of time. lol.

So yeah. That's my haul from Japan. I will do more in depth reviews on these items once I have used them for a while. Have a great weekend everyone!

Mini Haul

2011-02-05T00:43:00.007+08:00

Hi everyone! This is just going to be a quick post on the stuff I got starting from Christmas and items I just bought recently. I decided that I'll just do a separate post for my Japan haul, which I will be posting soon.. Anyways, here's my mini haul!

Starting with the Christmas goody! I didn't really receive so much beauty stuff last Christmas, I only got one and its this Palladio mineral loose powder. As you can see, the seal is still intact. I haven't used it yet so I can't really tell my initial impression about it. But I am very excited to try it out.

The other two things I got are from Urban Decay. The NYC Book of Shadows and The Black Palette! I know, the packaging is cute, definitely one of the reason why I was convinced to get these two. I wanted to get the Naked Palette as well, but decided against it. Just because I've already got the Too Faced Natural Neutral Palette, and thought that they might just be the same. But anyways, so far I am loving the NYC palette. Love the color payoff. I have used it a couple of times. And I am especially loving the color SMOG. The Black Palette, I haven't used that much yet. IDK why I even bought it (Yes! Because of the packaging and the name!) I rarely wear eyeshadow and if I do, I usually just stay on the neutral natural look. But I thought someday I could use this, when I attend concerts and stuff. Yeah maybe. Hopefully that will be soon! I did swatch it though, and I think it's very pigmented and the colors are nice for a smokey effect.

So that's my mini haul. Hopefully, I can do more in depth review or maybe tutorials with these items soon.

Have a great weekend!

Happy Chinese New Year!

2011-02-02T23:30:00.004+08:00

Hi Everyone! I'm sorry I haven't posted for sooo long. So much have been going on.. But I am back with a new layout and a collective haul perhaps. Hauls from Christmas, stuff I've bought from my last trip, and stuff I just recently got. So yeah. I will be posting my collective haul soon.

It's nice to be back. :)

Help! RE: Setting Powder

2010-09-20T11:53:00.002+08:00

Hi everyone! I've just purchased a MUFE Face and Body Foundation in #32 (alabaster beige). I'm a MAC NC40 and if you would research over the internet MUFE Face & Body Foundation in #34 is what they would usually suggest for NC40s... I have tried #34 but I felt that it was too dark for me. So I got #32 and I think it's the perfect shade.

MUFE Face and Body Foundation has a dewy finish so I'm thinking of purchasing a setting powder. I actually tried setting it with my MAC Studio Fix and MAC Sheer Select but they were kind of cakey when I apply them.

So I was wondering if you guys could suggest a good setting powder that I could use. I would really prefer something that wouldn't cake and is invisible. I would really hate it if a setting powder would leave my face white (making me look like a ghost). So if you guys have any suggestions. Please do leave a comment. Thanks!

My Hair Routine (Oily Hair)

2010-09-03T22:46:00.001+08:00

My hair used to be dry. Because of that, I started to use hair products that would moisturize my hair. And IDK how, but my hair just stopped being dry. It was so much softer and smoother. I would even use different shampoos (but I often go back to Head & Shoulders especially when I feel that my hair is starting to feel oily) and still my hair would look and feel fine. I don't use shampoos like Clear, Vaseline or Pantene because they make my hair and scalp oily. And I really hate that.. So yeah, everything was fine until I started noticing that my hair was becoming more oily. Each day, I am excited to take a bath and rinse off all the oiliness on my hair. But after every wash, just after a few hours my hair would start to feel sticky again. ugh. IDK why, as far as I can remember, my hair used to be dry. And then it became normal. And then what.. OILY? ... I really hated having oily hair. It wasn't comfortable and it felt dirty. So anyway, I wanted to get rid of the oiliness so I stopped whatever hair product I was using. But it's taken too long already and nothing's working. I even went back to using Head & Shoulders but it didn't seem to work either. I went ahead and asked my friend what I should do about my oily hair. She said I might want to try Suave or White Rain's clarifying shampoo. I went ahead and read reviews. And based on reviews, Suave Daily Calrifying Shampoo seemed better. So I went ahead and purchased one from Watson's.

According to reviews, some people would use it just 1-3 times a week because it might be too drying. Others say it's fine to use it daily. My friend told me not to use it too often and I took her advice. I used it only 3 times a week. I use Head & Shoulders during the days when I'm not using it.. First time I used it, WOW. My head, scalp, hair felt really refreshed. I definitely noticed my hair feeling lighter without all the gunk and oiliness. I was impressed. Although I noticed that it really made my hair like "squeaky" clean when washing. Meaning I think it didn't moisturize at all. Because you can literally feel your hair squeak against your hands after washing. lol. So yeah, I only used it 3 times a week. But then, I noticed that the days when I'm not using it, my hair felt gunky all over again. So I tried using it every other day. And still, the same feeling on the days when I'm not using it. My hair was oily. So yeah, I am now using it everyday. And yep, I'm not having any problems with it at all. I guess there's a reason why they'd call it a "daily clarifying shampoo". I really think it's okay for everyday use. So far, I am loving the results. Been using it for months now. And I don't have oily hair anymore. It didn't dry out my hair either. It's just great. I love it.

Aside from Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo, these are some hair care products I use and love.

1.) Dove Body & Lift (Volumizing Mousse) - I have long, straight, black hair. But I don't like my hair looking limp, lifeless and flat. I apply this product while my hair is still damp in front of an electric fan. Yep, electric fan. Believe it or not, I can't blow dry my hair. IDK how other people do it. One hand with blow dry and the other hand with a brush. It's just too difficult for me work on my own hair. And my arms just get too tired easily when I raise them up to blow dry my hair. I'm really amazed at people who can blow dry their own hair. Can you guys give me tips? Heeehee... Anyways, back to the product. This mousse really helps me with my dilemma. It lifts and gives body to my hair (just like it says on the bottle). It doesn't grease up or flake. It has a nice clean scent as well. Nothing too strong and nauseating. I'm really loving this product.

2.) The Face Shop (Volumizing) Stylist Wax - One day, I had these stubborn portion of hair that wouldn't go to the direction I'd want them to. I asked my brother if he had gel. And he gave me this wax. He said I can have it cos the product is meant for girls and he's already bought another wax for himself anyways. So yeah, it wasn't even used that much and I was happy that it's even meant to "volumize". I dipped my finger on the jar and got a bit. I rubbed the wax in between my fingers then I applied it on my hair. Love it! It definitely helped me tame those stubborn hair. What's better was it didn't make my hair flat or look wet. It looked natural. Just how I want it to be.

So that's it for my current hair routine. Hope you enjoyed this post. =)

The Beauty Experiment

Pop Beauty: Cat Eyes Eye Crayon

Kat Von D Adora Train Case

Etude House: Soft Touch Auto Lipliner + a message to Hope (my Sigma winner)

Laneige: Sun Block Oil-Free SPF 35 PA++

The Body Shop: Vitamin E Hand and Nail Treatment

DHC Eyelash Tonic

Sigma travel E25 giveaway WINNER!

Jergens Soothing Aloe Relief Body Lotion

Shiseido: White Lucent Brightening Spot-Control Base UV

Kate: Eye Makeup Remover

Mario Badescu: Drying Lotion

Maybelline: Volum' Express Magnum Mascara

EOTD: Neutral Burgndy-ish Purple

TAGGED: Top 10 Award

Make Up For Ever: Aqua Eyes (Black)

NYX Eyeshadow Trio

Crying Before Sleep: How to Reduce Puffy Eyes in the Morning

Etude House: Petit Darling Eyes Matte #1

Sigma travel E25 + GIVEAWAY! *CLOSED*

Make Up For Ever: Face and Body Liquid Make Up

Caronia: Seafoam Green Nail Polish. (Are you in?)

Olay Body: Quench Plus Firming Body Lotion

Eye Brow Stencil from Saizen

Butterfly Award

The Body Shop: Spiced Vanilla Hand Cream

Cat's Closet: Gloomy Sunday

EOTD: Using NYX Smokey Look Kit (Part 2)

Etude House: Miss Tangerine LuciDarling Fantastic Rouge in Coral Tangerine #13

Palladio Mineral Loose Foundation

Etude House: Vitamin E Face Mask

Etude House Haul

Neutrogena: Oil-Free Acne Stress Power Clear Scrub

Sunsilk Co-Creations Weather Defense Shampoo

Cat's Closet: Going to the beach before summer ends!

Nails: Etude House LuciDarling Fantastic Nails Glittering Jewel Coral

Men Solutions: L'Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Detoxifying Foam

Maybelline Eyebrow Pencil by Eyestudio (Part 2)

Men Solutions and Haul for Men!

Skin Food: Black Raspberry Youngyang Serum

TAGGED: Blogger Award 2011

Urban Decay: The Black Palette

Collective Haul

Mini Giveaway Winner!

Maybelline Eyebrow Pencil by Eyestudio

EOTD: Using NYX Smokey Look Kit (Part 1)

Mini Giveaway Ends on May 28!

The Face Shop: Cyan Blue Nail Polish

Urban Decay Lipstick: Gash and Voodoo

Foot Appeal

EOTD: Smokey Blue

Cat's Closet: How do I wear my belted paperbag waist skirt?

Skin White Whitening Hand and Body Lotion Classic SPF 20

The Face Shop: Pale Yellow Nail Polish

Clinique All About Eyes

Mini Topshop Haul

Blogger Luxury Award

Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream

Fashion 21: Eye Shadow Brush

Etude House: Green Tea Face Mask

Laneige: Multiberry Yogurt Peeling Gel

My Ecotools Retractable Brush Broke!

Mini Beauty Giveaway! *CLOSED*

NYX Smokey Look Kit

Nail Polish: Aziza in Lust

Tag: 10 things I love

Shiseido: Anessa Perfect Essence Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA+++

Mini Collective Haul

Etude House: Pearl Extract Face Mask

Sunscreen

What's in my Make up bag?

Clinique Superfit Makeup Foundation

Etude House Haul

New found love: Bobbi Brown Corrector and Concealer Kit!

Haul from Singapore

Singapore

TFS: Neutral Nail Polish

January wedding!

Japan Trip and Haul

Mini Haul

Sigma travel E25 + GIVEAWAY! CLOSED

Mini Beauty Giveaway! CLOSED