Product Review: Eyeko Minty Fat Balm

Time for another lip balm review. This time, I will be reviewing the Eyeko Minty Fat Balm. First things first, pictures.

First of all, I find the packaging cute because it is pink but a bit cheap, to be honest. But then if the product inside is good, then I am willing to overlook that aspect. The moment I pulled the cap, I detected a minty scent that was just a bit too strong for my liking. It was as if the scent crawled through my nostrils working its way to my brain. Although it did not trigger my allergic rhinitis, I had migraine.

The color looks really pretty so I took that as a good sign that maybe I just might like the product regardless of the scent. I did not apply it directly on my lips and used a lip brush instead because of the scent. It looked a bit frosty on the lips but it also felt minty, which I thought was a bit nice (I used to dislike minty lip balms but because of Mentholatum Lip Ice, I got used to it). I stayed in front of the fan to help get rid of the scent and since I have this habit of licking my lips, I did lick my lips. It tasted awful, I just couldn't put my finger to it but one thing for sure is that it left a horrible taste in my mouth. And oh, it just sat on my lips which is another bummer.

When I removed it from my lips using a wet tissue, I felt that my lips were smooth and soft. Too bad because it could've been a moisturizing lip balm if it weren't for the scent and taste. That being said, I am not going to buy this product and other variants since it was an utter disappointment for me. Good thing is I got this as a gift from Tweetykat again.

I would encourage those with sensitive noses to give this a sniff or try it (without licking it :P) before purchasing if you know someone who owns this balm. But if you are not that sensitive to scented lip products, you might like this. :)

Just a hand swatch, no lip swatch. Na-ah!

Have you tried this balm? How do you like it?

Happy Monday night, super awesome peeps! :)

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Is Kevin a Beautymaker? Color Correcting Eyelid Primer Review

I have sleeping problems so I've been battling with dark under eye circles for quite some time now. The eye creams I use are helping but apparently not enough for me to go out without concealing my dark under eye circles. I used UDPP on my under eyes to make my Laura Mercier Secret Concealer last longer but I badly need something to help with the darkness. I saw someone from Girltalk selling Kevin Beautymaker Color Correcting Eyelid Primer and I immediately purchased it after reading reviews online that the product works on the under eyes more than it does on the lids. And it's time to review it.

I like the sleek, black, minimalist compact. Nothing fancy and straight on product that tells you "I'm here to do business and not to be an eye candy."

What I like:
- The packaging is minimalist and very sleek.
- The pale yellow shade really does help in color correction. It does a great job in making my dark circles less visible while brightening that area. It works well as a corrector and sometimes, I use it alone as a concealer too.
- Creamy and applies smoothly. I find it quite easy to blend.
- Opaque and pigmented so a little goes a long way. One tap is enough to cover my dark circles but I guess it depends on how light or dark your under eye circles are. But do not use to much as it will definitely cake.
- Unscented. I was expecting it to smell like chin chun su or the Chinese cream churva but it didn't. :D
- Has a shelf life of 24 months. Let's see how long it takes before I hit pan.
- Does not oxidize on me.
- Has not caused any allergic reactions so far and does not irritate my eyes.
- I have a fine line on each of my under eyes and I find that this does not settle on them once blended properly and has been set with powder. Just do not apply too much as it just might settle.
- Although the brand isn't locally available, this, along with other KBM products can be purchased from local resellers like wehaveit143. I think the products are reasonably priced and I want to try other items too.

What I don't like:
- It fails as an eyelid primer on me since consistency is creamy. It easily creases and oils up.
- Since the shade is a very pale yellow, I am not sure as to how it would work on women of color as it might look ghastly or too white.

Overall rating: 4.25/5 Kevin is indeed a Beautymaker with this product. Let's see if he is on other products when I decide to try others.

Will I buy again? I might. It's not everyday that I find a reasonably priced corrector that works as a concealer too.

Directions on how to use and ingredients list

Swatch

Left - with KBM; Right - none

Have you tried this product? What other KBM products can your recommend? :)

Happy Sunday, super awesome peeps! Stay safe too. :)

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Yum Moments: Food Porn

Since the weather is perfect for pigging out while doing movie marathons or tv series marathons, I decided to post random food pictures of those that I was not able to feature on Yum Moments before. Let's start the food porn!!!

Potato balls sauteed in garlic and chili then oven-baked with cheese

Fish & chips

"Bolognese"

Beef pesto

Pita pie

Close up of pita pie

Cheeseburger

Onion rings

Sisig rice

Chocolate chip cheesecake from Chocolate Kiss Cafe in UP Bahay ng Alumni

Buffalo wings in spicy barbecue sauce

I'm now munching on Spicy Asado siopao from 711. :P
Before I started munching on it

Happy rainy Friday and stay safe, super awesome peeps! :P

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Product Review: Kanebo Kate Rouge Ex in BE-18

I know I have been neglecting my blog lately. Been doing movie marathons of 80's classic horror films and the sound effects are awesome! Sound effects + killer's face flashed on screen = O_O super awesomeness! That's why I have been missing from the blogsphere lately. :P Anyway, I'll be reviewing a lipstick that Tweetykat sent me a few weeks ago and that is the Kanebo Kate Rouge Ex in BE-18.

What I like:
- Very pretty pale beige-pink nude shade that is pretty when used on its own (if you want to go for nude lips) and can also be used on top of a bright/dark-colored lipstick to tone it down.
- Quite pigmented, I was expecting it to be sheer just like other Jap lippies.
- Glossy and applies smoothly.
- Non-drying on the lips.
- Unscented.
- Did not cause any allergic reactions.
- No shimmers nor gritty sparkles/glitters.
- Even though Kate is a drugstore brand by Kanebo, the good quality is still there. I think Western drugstore makeup scores zilch against Japanese drugstore makeup. :P
- I think some Kate products are available at Kanebo counters (SM) so this "might" be available locally.

What I don't like:
- On some days, it makes me look washed out when I use it alone and on some days, it doesn't. I find this lipstick quite "moody" because it looks inconsistent on my lips. I just use a tinted lip balm underneath so it won't wash me out.

Overall rating: 4/5

Will I buy again? I need a shade brighter than this so if I see a brighter shade, I just might. :)

Swatch

Lip swatch (Korres Lip Butter Glaze in Pomegranate applied under the lipstick)

Have you tried lippies from Kanebo or Kate?

Happy rainy Thursday, super awesome peeps! :P

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The Oil Control Powder for Less

Who would think that one of the best and most inexpensive oil control powders can be found in the grocery for less than Php 20 each? Sounds impossible right? Thanks to Chel, I, together with a lot of other girls found out about Lewis & Pearl Body & Face Powder. She raved and swears by this powder that I just couldn't resist not giving it a try. Plus, with a tag price that's less than 20 bucks, I've got nothing much to lose, except if I break out with it.

It was unbelievably hot last summer, though it still is, and I didn't dare use liquid foundation on my face. I even didn't feel like putting anything on my face at all but I didn't want to look like a grease bomb so this powder was perfect.

I was hesitant at first to try it because I never really thought something so inexpensive (less than $0.50) can be effective in keeping oil at bay but I am glad I gave in and bought one. The powder's texture is really nice and feels smooth and silky on the face. My face stays shine-free for a few hours, which isn't bad at all, given the weather condition that we have in the Philippines at the moment.

I didn't really break out with it but I did experience some itching especially when it's freaking hot but nothing really major. But those who are allergic to any of the ingredients - Talc, Titanium Dioxide, Methyl Paraben, Propyl Paraben, and Fragrace - should probably stay away from it. If you can't, do a patch test first. The scent bothers me at times, especially when my nose is being extra-sensitive. I wish there is an unscented version though.

Overall, I like this powder a lot. In fact, my mom also got herself one because she thought that the oil control was great. Give it a try if you have combi-oily to oily skin. Of course, don't expect it to have superb oil control powers that'll keep your face matte the whole day. It' just a good, cheaper alternative to Maybelline Dream Matte Powder, Kryolan Anti Shine Powder, and MAC Blot, imo. But then again, to each his own. I wish they'd come up with something in pressed powder form. :)

Have you tried this powder?

Happy Thursday, super awesome peeps! :P

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Ambush Makeover 4

Finally, I got to ambush someone again. :P Earlier today, I did my friend's makeup for her sister's wedding. Since it was a civil wedding, she wanted to keep her makeup to a minimum, just basically enhance her features and of course, not to look too made up. I was told her dress is black and white so we thought that neutral makeup is the way to go.

I forgot to take a "before" picture. Luckily, I found one where she's not wearing any makeup. Come to think of it, she's not very fond of wearing makeup.

And here is the "after" shot.

I used the following:
- Shu Uemura Face Architect Smoothing Fluid Foundation
- Kevin Beautymaker Color Correcting Eyelid Primer for eye lids and as under eye concealer
- Skinfood Salmon Dark Circle Powder
- Kryolan Anti Shine Powder
- Browlash Ex
- Laura Mercier Eyesadow in Topaz and Coffee Ground
- Guerlain L'Instant Precieux to highlight the brow bones and cheekbones
- Maybelline Gel Liner
- Maybelline The Colossal Mascara
- Stila Contouring Trio in Dark and Light
- Kanebo Coffret D'Or Blush in PK-22
- Dior Addict High Color Lipstick in Rose Orgasme/Joy Pink

I hope I did an OK job. :) I just realized there is a white cast. Ugh!

Happy Wednesday night, super awesome peeps! :P

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Yum Moments: Jay-J's Chicken Inasal

Time for another Yum Moments post! A friend and I and Mang B/V had lunch at Jay-J's Chicken Inasal in Timog a couple of weeks ago. It was our first time to have lunch there so we ordered their chicken inasal and a few others.

For starters, my friend ordered chicharong bulaklak for 150 bucks, if I remember it right. I know she has been craving for this for the longest time.

Close up of the cholesterol-high blood-uric acid chips.

Sinigang na bangus belly. I only had the soup which I liked. It tasted a bit sour and I am not a huge fan of sour dishes but I surprisingly liked it. :) Priced at in between 200-300 bucks, Overpriced if you ask me. We only ordered this because when we asked Mang B/V what he wanted to eat, he said anything that has fish in it.

Then we ordered chicken inasal, chicken leg/drumstick parts for more or less than Php 100 each.

I seriously think there isn't anything special about their chicken inasals. I even like the one from Mang Inasal better. Though the chicken was juicy and tender, it tastes just like grilled chicken.

I also ordered pork barbecue (Php 35) just to be able to taste it and out of everything we had, it was the one I liked the most. I could've gotten away with just one stick and a cup of rice. We also thought of ordering 1.5L of Coke but wow, the price is a whopping Php 160!!! We ended up just ordering a can each. The bill was a little over Php 900, around Php 950, I think. I don't think I would have lunch there again. If I want a quick fix of chicken inasal, I'll go straight to the arms of Mang Inasal.

Have you tried eating here?

Happy Wednesday, super awesome peeps! :P

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Product Review: Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in 2 Calypso Coral

For the Nth time, I love coral-pinks and here is another coral-pink product I have been using and loving lately - Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Calypso Coral.

What I like:
- The shade, of course, is a lovely coral-pink shade. I ♥ coral-pink. Nuff said.
- Pretty on the cheeks and on the lips too.
- It may feel a bit balmy but it's not so hard to blend at all. I feel that the tapping motion works best instead of rubbing it on your cheeks.
- Stays for like 5-6 hours on my combi-oily skin which isn't bad at all.
- Works as a really nice base for powder blushes but is also nice when used on its own.
- Pigmented and a little goes a long way. You only need very little amount as you can easily overdo it since it is pigmented.
- May seem expensive at first but considering the amount of product you get and the pigmentation it has, it is fairly priced in the long run.
- Has not caused me to break out yet.
- Locally available at Bobbi Brown counters in Rustan's.

What I don't like:
- Drying on the lips so if you plan to use this on your lips, do not forget to apply lotsa lip balm underneath.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Will I buy again? Maybe, but I'm sure it will take me a long time to finish this up.

Swatch

On the lips topped with a clear gloss

On my cheeks (NC30-35 now because of swimming)

Have you tried these Pot Rouges? What's your fave?

Happy Tuesday, super awesome peeps! :)

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