Friday, April 19, 2013

Summer Feber Forever21

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I'm at home luckily and I can really really feel the summer amidst all the chaos I'm doing at home. I am very much aware that this is a beauty/health blog but I just feel like infusing it with a bit of fashion. I have yet to get my pay but I'd love to go on bargain hunting. Yes, clothes, baby. I need to get more summery clothes! LOL Excuses, excuses but what the heck

I've got a few inspirations already and these are from Forever 21. I so love this set and the colors are just so me!


This set is so lovely too.


This set is a bit simple yet I love the bag and the silver shoes. It feels so alive. Perfect for summer! :)


And of course since this is still mainly a beauty blog, I would do this makeup so that it goes with all of the outfits above. :)


This post set me in such a good mood like I got purely good vibes from it. It's all good then. Next, shopping!





The IT looks for spring 2013

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Today, I'll be taking on the looks for 2013. Being the more experimental person, I felt so excited and I'm taking them all on! First, I'll be starting off with a basic natural "clean" face. That is actually the trend, to keep a clean face. Not so good looking skin? Well, we can always cheat with the right foundation, pressed powder, tinted moisturizer or BB cream. :) Here I am with just foundation and pressed powder and a super light moisturizer for my lips.


No flash by the way.

Another must have look is thick unruly eyebrows (I choose thick, but I simply cannot do unruly lol).

Still no flash.

How about some neon colored lips to keep things playful? I didn't use flash for this and my lips don't look neon but in person they truly are.



Instead of shading the upper lids, how about doing the opposite and shade the lower part instead? Keep hair messy or in a bun. This is the grunge look.


How about some bold eyes with effect? With this look, to keep things low key do keep a low key hairdo and nude lips so as to make the eyes more dramatic. Basically this is eyeliner galore. Just draw the entire upper and lower lids. Very simple yet dramatic.


So there you go. Do let me know if you have any other variations. I'd love to see 'em. :)



Thursday, April 18, 2013

The scarlet letter from Pond's

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When I was little I used to love all the packages I got in the mail and I loved to open them. Now that I'm older, I don't get so many packages anymore so when I saw this one at my front door, I was excited. At first I had no idea what it was because I didn't notice the "Pond's" logo at the front of the letter. I do apologize for not having posted anything lately, because I've been so busy with work BUT I'm back with a vengeance!


I opened the letter and I was surprised to see who it was from. I already made a post about this previously here, but it had already been like a month or even more so I forgot all about it. For some reason, I so loved that they actually wrote down my name and address (I blurred that out of course :) rather than printing the address on a piece of paper and paste it on the envelope. Kudos for that Pond's!


This is the front page of a little booklet that came with the letter. Again, handwritten. I love it! :)


So here is the content of the booklet. It represents products that you can use from the Pond's Age Miracle Line. Personally, I don't have any skin problems right now except for some wrinkles but I'm sure glad to receive freebies to use and try. Who wouldn't. :)


A leaflet that was included as well. Here it states that if you buy Pond's Age Miracle or Gold Radiance worth P500 = 1 raffle ticket or P1000 = 3 raffle tickets at Watson's, you get the chance to win a designer bag. So, for all you fellow Pond's users out there, I guess the chance is now to grab another Pond's item. Who knows, you might actually get the designer bag too!


And finally, the goodies. You might be thinking that these are plainly just the sachets that you get from the magazines and wherever but I got 5 of them and I'm not one to really lather it all on my face. I just use a little or enough so I know this will definitely last a month for me. What they are you say? It's the Pond's Age Miracle Cell ReGEN DAy Cream SPF 15 PA++ for normal/dry skin. Perfect! 


So to just summarize everything, the simple scarlet letter made my day. It didn't contain gold nor was it a love letter but I liked the thought of it. It definitely managed to bring out a smile on my face.

I'm all Pond's! Always have and always will be.





Friday, March 29, 2013

Makeup 101: Clean Canvass

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Braze yourself for my longest post. EVER. 

Before applying the actual makeup, it is best to figure out what skin type you have: oily, dry, combination, sensitive or normal. One should also make sure to have a clean face before adding on makeup so you won't clog the pores and prevent blackheads, whiteheads and God knows what more. :o

Below is just a general guideline on how to take care of your skin. I'll suggest only a few affordable products that I've tried myself and have worked for me. Do try several products yourself to see what suits your skin type the best. We all react differently to products.


Acne prone skin

For this skin type, I can't really have a say on this as I have never experienced this personally. Rather than referring you to a professional, I'd like to refer you to someone who has had a first hand experience with acne. I have found the most extensive read that you can find on the Internet locally, and if you click on this link, Donya Poorita, I'm sure that it will help you girls/boys out when it comes to your skin. 

Based on rave reviews, I'd like to recommend Clinique Clarifying Lotion 4 as a moisturizer as it really prevents acne from occurring.


Oily

You have an oily face if you wake up in the morning and your face is rather shiny.

Do exfoliate on a general basis and use a facial scrub. I do recommend St. Ives Apricot Scrub and personally I this every other day. It makes my skin smooth and clear.

The best toners for oily skin are those with alcohol in them and has Salicylic acid. Some brands that I have tried are Neutrogena, Celeteque, Pond's Acne toner (my fave) or Godiva.When I used these products I could easily see on the cotton pad that the toners really stripped my face of all the grime even after wash and they would really lessen my pimples.

Moisturizers to go for would be those that are oil-free. On the local shore for me would be Pond's facial cream (it really makes my skin matte), Clinique Acne Solutions Clearing Moisturiser and Cetaphil DermaControl Moisturizer. The one I get the most is from Pond's but the one from Clinique is really good too.


Dry

If your skin is tight and sensitive after wash, before applying moisturizer that is, you have dry skin. Should you have red patches on your skin do remember to drink lots of water to keep yourself hydrated as these are signs you lack water. Bottoms up!

Do use a cleanser that does not dry your skin and keeps it moisturized. You can try using the Neutrogena Facial Deep Clean Facial Cleanser. This did not dry out my skin and kept it moisturized, but since I have combination skin, this one would suit dry skin better.

The thing with dry skin is that it might be too sensitive for a toner. There was even a time that my skin could not handle a toner and it felt as if my skin was burning up. Should you still choose to use one, get the Dickinson's Witch Hazel Toner at a whooping prize of Php 55 at Healthy Options. Beat that! Best to transfer the contents to a different container. You'll know why when you buy it. Another product to try out is the Physiogel Cleanser. It isn't harsh and it takes away the grime.

Pond's Cold cream or Olay Total effects are your best friends. A cream is the way to go if you want your face to be less dry. It feels cold on the face when you apply it. I used to use these before when I was living in Norway because I had dry skin back then due to the cold weather. They worked wonders on my skin.


Combination

For combination skin it is best to use gel or foam cleansers that will cleanse your skin but not make it dry out at the same time. A good cleanser I've tried is the Cetaphil Cleanser but a personal favorite of mine is still the Pond's Clear Balance Line. It never fails.

As for oily skin, it is good to remember to exfoliate as well to prevent product build up and pimple causing bacteria. Products to keep in mind are ST. Ives Apricot Scrub Cleanser and Netrogena Deep Clean Daily Scrub.

Tone afterwards still as there always is grime left even after cleansing and even for combination skin, it is still best to stick to the routine. Do try out the Pond's Facial Cream, Clinique Lotion No 4 and the Celeteque Moisturizer.


Sensitive

 When I had sensitive skin, I always thought it was really difficult to find anything that wouldn't irritate my skin. I did though come to the solution that any mild cream would calm my skin down. Eventually my sensitive skin would go away. Cleansers to take note of are Liguid Neutrogena mild cleanser, Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, Cetaphil Gentle Antibacterial Gentle Cleansing bar and also the Physiogel Cleanser.

Of course like the ones above, even sensitive skin has to tone but sometimes if you feel like not toning and you think it will set your skin on haywire, just drop it and go directly for the moisturizer. Use the Dickinson's Hazel Witch Toner as it is mild on your skin. Another option is the Human Nature Nourishing Facial toner.

For moisturizing, do go for Olay Complete All Day UV Moisturizer for sensitive skin. Keep in mind that yo have to choose a moisturizer that is not cream based but use a light water based that doesn't include any greasy ingredients.


Normal

If your skin is not too dry nor too oily, then you have normal skin.
Luckily for the normal skin type, you have a wider range of what products to buy so you can just do trial and error. Items for you are as follows, Dove beauty moisture facial cleanser, Neutrogena Deep Clean facial cleanser, Cetaphil Cleanser and the list goes on. Lucky you. :)

Most toners and moisturizers will do really. Just go for the normal skin products to be safe as skin also changes according to the weather, stress and other factors too.


A few last words no matter what skin type

  • Do remember to keep yourself hydrated at any cost.
  • Use products with SPF. 
  • Don't sleep with makeup on.
  • Stick to your skin care routine: cleanse, tone and moisturize.
  • Use a maske once a week to add to your beauty routine. I love the selection they have on affordable masks on Watsons. Don't forget to add the cucumber eyepads for a cooling effect for your eyes!
  • Do make sure to get enough Beauty sleep as most of the times when people have less sleep, the skin tends to breakout more.
  • Stick to a well balanced diet and don't forget to add on the greens for better skin.
  • Eat less junk food.

Personally, I've just added more ater to my daily routine and less junkfood as I've chosen to go the healthier way. I am and will forever be a foodie. It is certainly hard, but I'm also stubborn and goal oriented.

'til next time.







Friday, March 22, 2013

Makeup 101: Back to basics

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I've got a request on how to do basic makeup. First, I'll start with this post which will practically be about what you need to do your makeup.

Color

First of all, I think color is the most important to decide as this is what people wil see when they look at your face. Rule of thumb is to choose the opposite of what is on the color wheel. Or if that confuses you, just remember that if you already have a strong eyeshadow, go for a more pale lip shade and vice versa. You can pair a warm color with a cool color. I'll show you below.


You don't necessarily have to totally follow the color wheel but it's the basics for you not to look like you've got the rainbow on your face. :) I've tried mixing colors and it just didn't work for me. Hope that helps.

Brushes

When I started out I just bought the most affordable set that I could find as I was a bit confused what to get. I don't use them now since I got the e.l.f. Studio Line brushes.
 

These are the basic brushes that I use and I'll categorize them for you so you'll get an idea of where to actually use them:

Powder brush - in the name itself, it is used to add pressed powder to your face. I used this one when I want to lessen the shine on my face.
Complexion brush - this for me is a dual brush as I use it for contouring (I'll explain further later) and for adding blush to your cheeks.
Fan brush - I use it to remove loose particles/eyeshadow from below my eyes.



For my Eyeshadow, I use these brushes (insert from a previous post My beloved brushes):

Concealer brush - I use this one to blend my eyeshadow at the upper lid.
Small angled brush - This one I use when I want to be precise with my eyeshadow C-line.
Small Smudge Brush - I use it to blend out my eyeliner pen. 
Small precision brush -  This one I use for more precise strokes like adding eyeshadow to my upper and lower lines on my eyes.
 
Next post will be about what products I use that you can use too and how to apply them.
 
 




Thursday, March 21, 2013

Fun under the sun

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As requested by my mentor/writer/fellow MegGurl, Veronica Inoturan, I'm going to show how to survive wearing makeup under the heat of summer. I'm sure we all are very much drained by energy nowadays because of the intense sun rays. Even though it's hot, there is always a way to look good  without sacrificing how you look.

Best thing to avoid is actually any liquid foundation or, yes, even the beloved BB Cream. It really tends to melt off. Trust me, I've been testing out my EH BB Cream and even though it does state that it's good for outdoor activities in the sun, sadly it can only take so much. 


Hence my surprise when I used the Pond's Pinkish White Day Cream. Cream tends to melt off but on the contrary, this one stays. I don't use it because it actually lightens my skin (I don't think it does anyways) but at least it makes me less oilier than usual. I also love the facial wash because it's perfect for my skin type as it totally cleanses my face and gets rid of excess oil (always good to have a good skin routine before adding the makeup ;). Going back to the Pond's Day Cream, it actually mattifies my skin and I'm very satisfied with it and I've been using it religiously since I came here back in 2001.


As you can see above, my items are really simple. I also like to use e.l.f Two Way Cake Foundation  on top of my facial Cream because it eliminates shine and makes my skin even. Powder foundation is the way to go now as the weather is so hot. Still, you have to do retouches and also use blotting paper or plain tissue will do.

For the lips, I don't really recommend using lip gloss for example because it makes your lips really sticky. Best way to go for me is the Nivea Lip care stick as it gives me just enough moisture and color and it doesn't dry my lips.

For the eyeshadow, I do suggest you use a primer so that the eyeshadow stays put. I hid my Urban Decay Primer Potion (it's totally divine) in the background because you can clearly see it has been used so many times. You'll be amazed at how long your eyeshadow stays put so make sure that what you do is right as it is hard to correct it afterwards.

So to summarize it all:

Do's

Use a good facial moisturizer so that it stays put or even choose a tinted moisturizer.
For a finish, do use Pressed Powder as it stays longer and lessens shine.
Remember to blot with a blotting paper. 
Use a lip care balm for the lips. 
One thing I have not mentioned is that you can also get a Face primer to set the makeup and make it last longer.
Wash your face and then redo your makeup instead.
Powder blush is the way to go.
Use less makeup than usual.
Use waterproof mascara and eyeliner

 Dont's

 Avoid any liquid foundation or facial lotion as it will most likely make you look like a drenched cat as the day goes on.
You shouldn't use lip gloss for example as it makes your lips sticky and awkward.
Don't use a mousse blush on as it won't last long in the hot climate.
Use pencil eyeliner as it will smudge off.
Don't wear lipstick as they have a tendency to melt in hot weather.

Just additional advice, go for a bronzed look as it turns you into a sun kissed goddess in the hot weather. 

Last advice is to go for mineral makeup and always think less is more!

If you have any suggestions or would like to add anything yourselves, then be my guest. By all means. Hope this helps though :)



Wednesday, March 20, 2013

My beloved brushes

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I've noticed people have been asking me about what brushes I use and which ones I prefer. Well, since I'm only starting out, I decided to invest in an inexpensive set as I am only experimenting for now. I did my research and finally I decided to get my hands on the e.l.f. 11 pc. Studio brush set. I was so excited because it's inexpensive and their brushes are pretty much decent. 


I got this set from ebay and you can also get them here
as I have yet to see them in their stalls. Let me know if you've seen them because I need to get another for my giveaway. :)


Above is the box and it looked nice to me as this is my first brush set. I've heard it's not good to buy sets, but I need one for practice. Below is a picture of how it looks opened. There is still spaces left for additional brushes. I'm very much pleased about the casing as it is waterproof as well. I'm sure it's not totally waterproof but somehow is fine by me. :)


This is my favorite brush in the line, the Powder Brush. It is soft to the touch and it doesn't make me wanna itch. It gives me a pretty even finish. I usually use it for my pressed powder as I just add liquid foundation with my bare hands. Doesn't feel right if I use a brush. 


This is the complexion brush which comes 2nd in line to my Powder brush. My main use for this one is for my blush on actually as I find the size perfect for my cheeks and it gives a natural blush finish.
 

Below is the Blush Brush. To be honest, I don't really use this one that much as I find the size too small for its purpose. 
 

I'm not a fan of brushes to put on liquid foundation because I feel that it gives a streaky application. This Angled foundation brush is sadly not an exception. I don't use this one that much either.
 

This is also one of my favorites in the line, Fan brush. Actually this fan brush is rather sparse but maybe that's okay so it won't leave any traces when I use it. I use this one predominantly underneath my eyes to take away any fallouts from my eyeshadow. A few brush sweeps and I don't see any fallouts.
 

My favorite for Eyeshadow, Contour Brush. I use this one actually as a blender for my eyeshadows. It really picks up the eyeshadow very well.
 

From L-R
Concealer brush - I use this one to blend my eyeshadow at the upper lid.
Small angled brush - This one I use when I want to be precise with my eyeshadow C-line.
Small Smudge Brush - I use it to blend out my eyeliner pen. 
Small precision brush -  This one I use for more precise strokes like adding eyeshadow to my upper and lower lines on my eyes.


Yes, I guess by now you have noticed that there is actually one brush missing and it is the C Brush. I must have left one at our family house as I can't find it anywhere. I did a makeover on my mom! :) It's a nice brush actually and I use it for blending my eyeshadow.

Overall, I'm very much satisfied and I use all of my brushes. I do wanna make additional purchases but maybe from other brands too so I can compare.

Just a suggestion, if you want to get brushes from e.l.f., I do suggest the Studio Line as you get more for your money than by getting the regular ones.

 

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

A take on the L'oreal 2013 S/S look

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I got the news not from media but from the one whom I used to look up to (still do actually) when it comes to writing, Veronica Inoturan. You might know her as one of the better freelance writers of  Meg

I've always loved the Smokey look as it really does put emphasis on your eyes and makes them stand out. Although that look is great, I'm also very much excited about the L'oreal S/S Makeup look as it is quite the opposite of the Smokey eyes. It takes on the lips as it's main focus and has less focus on the eyes. 


As excited as I am, I give you my take on this look.



As I understood it, the look for me is almost pinupish. I managed to use a new product on my eyes called Nichido Gorgeous Eye Pencil.



What to do:

1. Put foundation all over face.
2. Add face powder afterwards.
3. Prepare the eyebrows (I use a brown mascara to make mine look stronger but natural).
4. Add eyeshadow primer on eyelids.
5. Put black eyeliner at the edges of the eyes (except for upper and inner eye corner)
6. Draw white on the upper and lower inner part of the eye (follow the whole lower line to create a smudgy effect, use sponge).
7. Curl lashes and add the mascara.
8. Add the lipstick.
9. Add blush.
10. Do some contouring (add some light blush powder at the jawline, temple and on the nose).
Hope it helped! Tell me what you like to do.