It's all about Clarins

I got these samples from the my previous post Thou shall recieve (think haul but x10) and it's going to take me lightyears until I finish doing reviews about all the products. I'm so happy though. Haha

Here is a summary of the products based upon my oily combination skin:

One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser with Orange Extract

I used this and it smells good. It doesn't exfoliate as much as the other exfoliators that I have used but its pretty decent. It also doesn't make my skin go haywire on me. All in all it has a good effect for me. I do think this goes well for me as my skin is hardcore. Haha It might have a different reaction on someone else so try an ample size first.

Extra-Firming Tightening Lift Botanical Serum

I used it a few times and it does make my skin a bit firmer than usual. I didn't break out in this aswell. It made my skin smooth.

Intensive Brightening mask

You may call me crazy, but it did feel that it brightened my face the first time I used it. I think I would have to try it for at least a week to see better results.

Beauty Flash Balm

This to me is like a face primer. It makes the foundation blend easily and you get a dewy kind of application. 

Would you purchase?

Yes, I believe so as it made my skin very smooth and more healthy. I was very much pleased.

Has anyone else used these products? What was your reaction? Do share your thoughts by dropping a line or two below. :)

Thou shall recieve (think haul but x10)

So yesterday, we got our box from mommy Larraine and Alaine in the states. Let me show you what it contained. I was so surprised everything fit in there. :D I'm not gonna go through everything that was included, but I'll cover the health and beauty stuffs over a few posts or else it will be too much for one read.

Here is the stash ever! If you want to have a closer look, just click on the picture.

So, to the health and beauty stuff and I'll choose this one as my first review as it was a birthday present from mommy Larraine. It's my favorite all time perfume, Daisy by Marc Jacobs. :) Yay :)

 It's one of those you can escape to when you want a daily fragrance that doesn't overpower you. In my words, it's just perfect. It smells like fainted flowers. The packaging is so cute that it's lovely to have on display. It lasts the whole day. Trust me, I always feel like I don't smell the perfume but others do even if you don't.

Pros

It smells just perfect and fits for a day to day basis. It lasts practically the whole day. The outer packaging is cute. The perfume itself is a pleasure to look at and it looks good to have on display.

Cons

Others have mentioned that they feel that the scent doesn't last so long. This is correct and incorrect at the same time. The scent is there, but you have gotten so used to it that you can't smell it anymore. Ask others, they will tell you.

Verdict

I love it! Do get it if you like light scented floral perfumes. I'm so grateful I got this and in 125ml too!

See you guys tomorrow!

Beauty Wishlist of 2013

Many, many bloggers have already posted their own list of what they would like to add to their beauty kits. I get so giddy of browsing though thousands and most probably millions of products that are available out there. So finally, I've come up with my own list. :)

No. 1: MAC 187 Duo Fibre Brush, $42

 Which comes off at about Php 1700. Locally, it's worth a whopping Php 2800. Say what?? But still, this is a good brush and the Mac brushes can last for 10-15 years based upon how you take care of them. This one in particular gives you a flawless foundation application. Now who doesn't want that. ;)

Source: Total Beauty

No. 2: Urban Decay Naked 1&2 Palette.

 It's been the talk of the town among beautyholics for the last 2 years. I think it's about time that I add this to my stash too. I've heard that the eyeshadows are very much pigmented and long lasting especially when you use the Urban Decay Primer Potion too. Excited. :) 

UPDATE: Urban Decay online shop is for sale at less 20% off on your entire amount. Gawd.

 

Source: Temptalia 

No. 3: Clinique 3-Step System: Exfoliating Scrub, Acne Solutions Spot Gel, Turnaround Concentrate Radiance Renewer.

The reason why I want absolutely these items is because lately I've been having breakouts on my forehead. I've tried their products before, but my skin lately has been going against me for some reason. I dropped by the Clinique site and took a skincare test for items that would suit my skin the best and voila! You can also take it here.

No. 4: BH Cosmetics 120 Eyeshadow Palette 4th Edition

These eyeshadows have gotten mixed reviews because of the bad and good qualities, BUT with the right eye primer, the eyeshadows last longer and don't crease that much. Thank goodness I have the Urban Decay Primer Potion. :D I really want this set since I'm only a beginner and I'd love to have all of the colors available at hand so I can experiment. 

No. 5: Josie Maran 100 % Pure Argan Oil

This is THE product I really wanna try as several people really can testify that it really works. I checked this link Josie Maran Cosmetics and it states that "Historically, Argan oil has been used to treat acne, stretch marks and skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis!". I even checked their Argan Beauty page and it sounds indeed that it is a wonder product. I'm not sure if it's available locally, but I'd love to test it out!

 I've told you about my favorite products for this year (so far, that is). What are your products that you'd like to try? Have you tried these products already? Gimme your feedback. :)

A real Steal: I ♥ U Tweezers just in time for Valentines

I was at the Grocery the other day looking for a Tweezer because my other half conveniently used my favorite tweezer to rebuild his automizer on his Mechanical Mod (yes, I know how this sounds :).

Picture included for you who have no idea what I'm talking about. It's like an Electric Cigarette but this one has a battery instead. Okay, for short it's used for vaping. The healthy version of smoking. Better for my skin and his skin anyways.

So going back to my hunt in finding a tweezer. I am very choosy when it comes to buying and keeping a good tweezer. I have all of these already and my other half has already included them as parts of his toolkit. Convenient for me as I had have no need for them. I used to have around ten but somehow I always tend to lose them. Am I the only one? O_o

 Look at that tip!

I'm sort of glad he used my tweezer as I found an excuse to get another one. Yay! As I searched through the endless tweezers (as I said I'm choosy because there are many that are not effective) I saw this one cute piece that I just couldn't leave without.
 
Oh boy am I glad because this is the tweezer that turned my world around. I loved the sharp edges and it managed to really grab and hold each hair so tight that even the smalles hairs could not hide from me. Just look at how cute it is in purple! :)

Closer look on the tip.

I have to say, it did not disappoint me. It's just as good and the rubber is amazing and feels better for your grip. It does even more than it's supposed to do. I promise you, this is one tweezer you cannot overlook if you are as OC about your eyebrows as I am.

Where:

I found them at Shopwise. They were in this see through box with a green background (will take a picture when I get back there).

Real steal as they only cost me Php 48 or about 80 cents - 1 USD. These even sell on some websites for at least about 3 USD up. Yay for me!

Love 'em! ^_^

xoxo, 

Anette

The-oh-essential-pressed-powder

Like I mentioned in a previous post, these are my Pressed Powder Foundations.   

 L-R e.l.f. Two - Way Cake Foundation spf 15 Pale Peach, 

Maybelline Clear Smooth Natural SPF 20, 

The Body Shop Extra Virgin Minerals Shade: 205 Rose Vanilla SPF 15

Maybelline Clear Smooth Natural SPF 20 

Here is the one that I use the most and it is closest to my skin tone. 

  Left: Maybelline Sponge, Right: E.l.f. Sponge

Pros:

Natural shade that blends well with my skin tone, mattifying effect, has spf, simple with a regular sized mirror. The sponge that comes with it is very thin compared to the e.l.f. sponge.

It comes off at Php 249 which I find might be a bit overpriced for something you can find in the Grocery and Mercury Drug.

Cons:

The mattifying effect doesn't last long. After a while (now I mean just after about 30-40 mins) the effect will have worn off and you have to retouch again. Imagine, if you've done your whole face and then you have to do it again. Hassle. I'm not so sure if I like the plastic, it feels very cheap. The lettering is now fading as well. 

The sponge that comes with it is very thin compared to the e.l.f. sponge. The coverage is sheer so it doesn't cover much.

Verdict: 

It's okay, I can use the pressed powder on a daily basis.

Will I repurchase?

Probably not. I wasn't that impressed. 

 e.l.f. Two Way Cake Foundation

This is the one that I'm very much satisfied with although I totally bought the wrong shade. It's too light for my skin tone. It justifies its price for as well at Php 249.75 at Landmark Trinoma.

Pros:

 Decent packaging. Looks very sleek. The compartment below the pressed powder has holes so as to lessen the bacteria caused by storing the pad. What I like is that in itself, there is a separate compartment for the pad. The pad is thick and if you want a thicker coverage use the pad and apply it with wather for a long lasting effect. It justifies its price.

Cons:

I can't really think of any.

Verdict:

It is a decent and affordable compact pressed foundation to be used on a daily basis.

Will I repurchase?

Definitely, but in a shade closer to my skin tone. 

The Body Shop Extra Virgin Minerals Shade: 205 Rose Vanilla SPF 15

This  is the one that I haven't used that much since I bought it. When I first applied it, it seemed fine on my skin and it blended well ( I was inside an airconditioned mall). Oh my after a few hours, it made my skin look so oily and greasy. I think this one suits more for dry skin as it moisturizes. It also made my skin break out. I try using this one more as a basic foundation with powder on top.

Pros:

It looks expensive though and I like the packaging although the rubber layer is fading off on the edges. I like that there is also a separate compartment for the brush underneath. 

Cons:

It really doesn't suit my skin texture as I have combination skin and it comes off as this very shiny foundation. That's not exactly what I need. The brush that comes with it is pretty soft actually but I don't use it. If you look closer on the picture of the foundation, you'll see there is a large hole in the middle. This is when I used the brush. I might have to use the brush for something else. Maybe for taking away particles underneath my eyes.

Verdict:

It looks and feels expensive but it's not for me. Maybe someone else will find this better suited for them.

Will I repurchase?

No.

Etude House Sun Precious Mineral Sun BB Cream SPF50+

Hiya everyone! :)

It's been quite busy for  a couple of days now since my first post BUT there's a reason. I've been spending so many days researching online and doing what I  do best, reading. From what I've learned about from many many readers is THE BB Cream. As I kept on reading, I found out that this cream is close to a miracle or lifetime saver and should or ought to be a must-have in every beauty kit.

Being the practical more kuripot person that I am and I know these creams can go for above Php 1000 something, so I bought Etude House Sun Precious Mineral Sun BB Cream SPF50+. Shade No 2 is the one I chose. It might be too light for my skin tone but since I'm acidic, this is the one the MUA advised me to use as it would darken on my skin tone. She was right.

Product description:

 It has coverage, sunscreen and is waterproof at the same time. This cream can be used on an everyday basis instead of pressed powder and foundation.

 

 For me,it works wonders! I do have somewhat oily skin or let's stay safe by saying Combination skin. Usually if I wear a Foundation I have to retouch after a few hours due to shiny areas. When I wear foundation it also feels like there's this heavy stuff on my face. The BB Cream on the other hand feels light on my skin and it does blend well with my skin tone.

Here are some pictures (nevermind the camera phone pictures as I just needed examples anyways. haha)

Picture 1 without flash:

 

Picture 2 with flash:

Picture 3 with makeup:

I can surely agree to the the long lasting effect of this cream as I've used it for 8 hours straight and take note, I also went to the gym and the cream was still on my face as it didn't smudge due to it being waterproof. I still did sweat but the cream stayed put. It felt as if I had another skin.

I know I know, this was a looooong post. But I try to be thorough for you. ;)

Pros:

Light as skin, medium coverage, does not have a cakey feel, has spf so you can wear this during daytime (good for oily skin and humid weather), good as a moisturizer, long lasting effect (skin becomes dewy after a while but in a good way, did not make my skin breakout and last would be that afterwards it made my skin smoother for some reason (does not mention anywhere that it improves your skin, but yay from me then :)

Cons:

You can't really wear this if you're going to take pictures as it gives a cakey appearance. The first picture above shows what it looks like in real life. Did not use the sponge as I think it's better if you use your fingers to apply direct on your skin.

Will I buy another after this one?

Definitely a yes as I use it everyday. :)

Cost: Php 978.