In The Limelight: Models Own Lip Balm in Tangerine - A Product Review

Corals and oranges and other bright colours are in during summer! While I did not intentionally jump into the bandwagon, I was drawn into corals and such shades and it's not yet even officially summer. The shades of lip colours I have purchased lately are in the coral and orange family. Anyway, as I have mentioned over and over again on this blog, I have an unending love affair with tinted lip balms and I have discovered one that I can say is the perfect coral on me and that is the Models Own Lip Balm in Tangerine.

There isn't much information about this product on the Models Own website except for the ingredients which should prove helpful in checking out if there is a certain ingredient you might be allergic to. Here are the ingredients:

Polyisobutene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Paraffin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cera Microcristallina, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Montan Cera, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylparaben, parfum, Mica [+/- CI 77891, CI 77861, CI 77499, CI 77491, CI 45410, CI 42090, CI 19140, CI 15985, CI 15850]

What I like:

• The shade is a screaming bright orange that is almost neon on the jar but it can be sheered out for a nice tint or layered for a more intense colour on the lips. I love how it instantly brightens my face.
• For a lip balm, this is outrageously pigmented. So pigmented that it can pass as a lipstick even when worn alone. I would like to think of this as a moisturizing lipstick in a pot.
• The texture is nice - not too gooey and not too waxy either.
• The product smells pleasantly of citrus. My nose is quite sensitive but I surprisingly like how it smells. Others may find it overwhelming but I surprisingly don't.
• It has great staying power for a tinted lip balm. Stays on my lips for at least 2 hours with a few sips every now and then and leaves a very nice tint behind.
• It is moisturizing. It definitely reminds me of MAC TLC, only a tad more pigmented and more orange.
• For those who are having second thoughts on wearing bright and bolder colours, this is a nice shade and product to start with as you can layer it to suit your desired brightness and intensity.
• The packaging is pretty sturdy. Being the klutz that I am, I have dropped this a couple of times and it remained intact - no dents and no cracks.
• Contains 6g of product that has a shelf life of 12 months. Not bad for the price I got it for which is Php 400 inclusive of shipping.
• Has not caused any adverse reaction on my lips and on the surrounding areas.

What I don't like:

• Given how hot it has been lately, it melts on my fingertips. Yes, I use my pinkie to apply it provided that I sanitize my hands and do not lend it to others.
• Not locally available in Manila but it is available in the UK since Models Own is a drugstore brand there.

Overall rating: 4.75/5

Will I buy again? If I see a local reseller selling this again, I would. :) If not, I'd have to settle for eBay and do the waiting game.

Makeup: Pore Serum Gel | Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief |
YSL Matt Touch Oil Free Foundation | Maybelline Dream Mousse
Concealer | MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Light | Browlash Ex
Water Strong W Eyebrows | Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume & Curl
Mascara | Chanel Joues Contraste in Tea Rose | Models Own Lip Balm

So how do you find corals and oranges?

Have  blessed Sunday, everyone! :)

Cheers,

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In The Limelight: Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric Second Skin Blush 2 - A Product Review

If you have combination-oily skin, have you ever found a blush that lasts for a at least 8 hours on you despite your skin type? I thought it was far from possible given how all the raves were for a certain blush that lasts a really long time on a lot of girls yet I was ultimately disappointed with it because it was the other way around for me. Even the cute pink Benefit Posie Tint never lasted that long on me either. Anyway, when I first got my hands on Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric 2, I decided to never expect anything awesome as I might end up disappointed again but lo and behold! It has become a favourite in just a couple of weeks. I guess you have an idea how this product fared with me so I won't further blab and go on with the review.

According to Giorgio Armani, this is what this blush is about:


A new color “cosmetic textile” by Giorgio Armani.
Inspired by the finest couture fabrics which delicately dress skin in soft airy veils of color, Blushing Fabric wraps skin in an all over nude color flush.
The new nude blush by Armani.

A new approach to color
Cosmetic textiles become color. 
Complexion is magnified with a harmony of vibrant yet sheer hues. 
To enhance the natural glow of the skin, 3 soft and delicate translucent shades. A coral to enlighten the skin, a strawberry pink for a fresh and luminous glow and a pale pink for a touch of spring on the cheek bones.


Nude color: the illusion of skin kissed by nature
Blushing fabric is like a colored layer of air formulated with a Microfil™ 3D technology. An ultra sensorial texture to apply on the cheeks and more if affinity… Complexion is radiant and luminous by the presence of lacquers that bring more translucent and intense color.
At the contact of this infusion of nude color, skin becomes light, supple and soft as velvet.

What I like:

• I'll start with the color. 2 is a gorgeous vivid pink shade with the tiniest bit of coral tones to it but less noticeable once on the cheeks as it gives a very natural flush. 
• The texture is velvety and glides on very smoothly on the cheeks. It is somewhat reminiscent of Smashbox Photo Finish Primer sans the break outs I get from using it. It's such a pleasure to apply.
• A little goes a long way and I mean it. I only squeeze out a little product from the tube (see swatch below) and that is seriously all I need for both cheeks. I am definitely not pulling your leg.
• It lasts for at least 8 hours on me. Incredible, isn't it? :) You don't think I'm serious? Well, go get yourself one and you'll remember this time that you doubted what I said about its staying power. :D
• It blends easily with the skin. Unlike cheek tints, it does not leave a nasty stain because you were a little slow in blending. This does not necessarily mean, though, that you should be a slow poke. It could still possibly stain if it takes you more than a minute before you blend it out. 
• Works as a nice base, too, for powder blushes.
• Even though this has silicone in it, it never caused me to break out nor has it caused any allergic reactions on my skin.
• This has a shelf life of 24 months which is pretty cool for a gel blush.

What I don't like:

• Giorgio Armani Beauty products aren't locally available though rumor has it that there is a possibility that this will finally be made available in the Philippines. (I am keeping my fingers crossed on this one.)
• It is pricey for Php 1742.87 based on the conversion on the Nordstrom website but provided that you only need very little each day, I doubt that you will use everything up in a whole year even with daily use. Unless you apply it all over your face, it'll take you forever to finally come up with an empty tube.

Overall rating: There is always a first time in everything. I'll give this a 5/5! :) That is how happy I am with this blush! 

Will I buy again? This is the perfect non-powder blush for me. I have my eyes set on shade 1 though I was told that they are pretty similar, only 1 has slight shimmers to it. Of course, I have to use up or let go of something else before I do. And unless I feel like giving myself a birthday gift on August. :)

Swatch

And on me

Products used: Pore Serum Gel | Clinique Moisture
Surge Extended Thirst Relief | RMK Liquid Foundation |
Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer | MAC
Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Light | Browlash Ex
Water Strong W Eyebrows | Maybelline Gel Liner |
Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume & Curl Mascara |
Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric Second Skin Blush 2 |
Models Own Lip Balm in Tangerine

Have you tried this blush? 

Have a wonderful week, everyone! :)

Cheers,

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Current Favorites

How's your weekend so far, guys? Mine was pretty nice - had a company Valentine's Day party last night - which I think is cheesy - that was filled with dancing and singing and is quite fun. I still think it's cheesy, though. Anyway, I thought of just sharing with you my current favorites. You might notice that some of the products on this list were purchased just recently but were included because I've been using them everyday since I got them and are have become instant favorites. So without prolonging the agony (I hate the waiting game), I present my current favorites (and those I think will become favorites in a long time).

RMK Liquid Foundation | Kanebo Coffret D'Or Beauty Lasting Liquid UV |
Pore Serum Gel | MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural |
Versace Bright Crystal

For the face:

RMK Liquid Foundation 102 - I initially wasn't that pleased with this foundation but it works perfectly well with MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Light. It feels light on the skin while providing a really, really, really nice natural finish that does not turn greasy when my T-zone starts to oil up. The shade also perfectly matches my skin tone.

Kanebo Coffret D'Or Beauty Lasting Liquid UV - please refer to my review.


MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Light - feels light on the skin and the texture of the powder is also very nice. It makes my skin look glowing without making it look nasty or oily.

Pore Serum Gel - rescues my skin when it acts up, making it less oily. Works as a fab mattifier too!

The little lost soul - Versace Bright Crystal - I am definitely not good in describing scents but this one is so feminine and smells gorgeous! It also doesn't hurt that the bottle looks exquisite.

Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric 2 | Guerlain Blush 4 Eclats 05
Rose Plein Vent

For the cheeks:

Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric 2 - this little baby provides a very natural-looking flush. It feels velvety as it glides on the cheeks and lasts for at least 10 freakin' hours on me! That is absolutely a first for me.

Guerlain Blush 4 Eclats 05 Rose Plein Vent - the blush is such a beauty! It's a gorgeous peach-pink shade which works really great with Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric 2.

Chanel Rouge Allure in Comedia | MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in
Ultra Darling | Models Own Lip Balm in Tangerine

Lips:

Chanel Rouge Allure in Comedia - when I feel like using something luxurious on my puckers, this is the lipstick I instantly grab. It complements any type of blush that I wear without competing with it. Such a wonderful subtle pink lipstick for me.

MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Ultra Darling - such a pretty coral-pink lipstick that has a very nice texture which is not drying on the lips at all.

Models Own Lip Balm in Tangerine - this has got to be the most pigmented tinted lip balm I have ever tried. This screams red-orange on the jar but looks very lovely on the lips. It instant brightens the face plus it's moisturizing and smells great.

Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume & Curl Mascara |
Kiss Me Heroine Make Impact Frame & Curl Mascara

And lastly, mascaras:

Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume & Curl Mascara - for natural looking lashes with added volume, this is the one for me. I also like that it can be easily removed.

Kiss Me Heroine Make Impact Frame & Curl Mascara - this definitely knows how to make an impact by making your lashes longer with extra volume that insanely holds the curl for hours. Only hard to remove, though.

So these are my current favorites. What are yours?

Happy Sunday, super awesome peeps! :)

Cheers,

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The Pact

Some of you are probably wondering why I made such a pact with myself when it comes to my purchasing habits. It's not like that happened overnight but it also needed a little work. Now I know that if I tell you the reason, it might bore you but I'm doing so anyway. I'll tell you how my life has changed in the past few months. 

In the last quarter of 2011, when I was taking a little time out from blogging, I was busy at work, getting shocked and eventually getting used to it. And most importantly, I was doing a bit of reflection. See, from the corporate world, I made a drastic shift when I accepted a job offer from a cooperative, which is pretty much the same as credit unions. I won't tell the specific cooperative I am working at but it is pretty much known in the whole Philippines. Anyway, here's a little flashback on my first month at work.

It was a culturally-shocking first month for me because it is so much different from the corporate world, more so, the people are so much different. These people are so simple. So simple that anything more than Php 250 (less than $6) is already expensive for them. Why? They definitely know the importance and value of money. With the little pay they get because a large portion goes to paying off their loans from the coop, I know that every little cent counts. 

I remember the first time I did the payroll and made a mistake (her salary was short by Php 18 (less than $0.50), she called my attention and wanted to know where it went. That's when I realized that every single cent do count for them. I also remember when I was computing their overtime pay when I noticed that some of the security guards do double shifts even on their supposed rest days. For what? To get an extra earning of Php 2000 (less than $50). At that moment, I had to excuse myself and go to the bathroom. That hit me hard and made me realize how materialistic I have been over the years. How selfish I was to complain that what I was earning wasn't enough when it was actually more than enough for someone else's family. Yes, it wasn't enough only for my material wants and not even needs. I felt guilty that I spend that much on just one single foundation when someone does not get enough sleep for a day just to earn extra money so he can feed his family. 

I felt bad because I also wanted to help them but knowing that I cannot do much is even more frustrating. And I cannot believe how annoyed I was at first when they keep checking out my things and keep saying "Mahal siguro yan" (that's probably expensive) and "Mayaman ka kasi" (because you're rich) and I am not. I think it was pretty normal to get annoyed but the moment you understand why, you'll realize it's nothing really annoying. 

So I asked myself, "What if I want to try something and my lemming's really strong?". That's when I thought of making a pact. Instead of buying and buying, I should let go of something in exchange for that new item. So instead of spending the extra money I have, I can use it to help others instead. I'm helping two people from work who are both old enough to be my parents. When they no longer have money left even for fare, they come to me and I'll give them something. It's an arrangement I made with them. I don't care if they use it somewhere else but all I know is that I am doing that in good faith. 

Yes, these people are so much different from the people I used to work with. They don't care much about material things. They'd rather spend their money on their family than buy something for themselves. Most of them are from the provinces. Most of them only finished high school. But that does not make me any better than them. They are the simplest people I have ever met. The ones who made me realize the value of money. They are the ones who taught me that we can be happy even without having too much material things. That I have been selfish all along. That I can live a minimalist life. They helped me become a better person and appreciate what I have. 

Then I realized another thing.. Maybe there is a reason why I keep quitting my jobs back then even if they pay really well. And that is for me to be able to work at this company so I can be a better person.

That, my friends, is how my life has changed in just a span of a few months. Of course, I am still a work in progress but I am getting there. I am not the same impulsive buyer that I am. I now know how to eat at turo-turos, and best of all, I have quit smoking (hey, I wasted a lot of money on cancer sticks). My mom even said that I'm no longer as snobbish as I used to be. Yey!:) Anyway, you might not have finished this post out of boredom but a huge thanks for bearing wit me. 

Please do note, however, that this post isn't meant to insult anyone. I am only sharing my story.

Have you realized anything lately?

Happy Thursday, super awesome peeps! :)

Cheers,

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Goodies Goodies!

People come and go. And so does makeup. Since I am trying to curb my spending habits, I made a pact with myself that for each makeup (or two) that I buy, I have to let go of something from my stash, to somehow feel less guilty about buying. One replaces the other - that will be the cycle unless I really like something and decide it's a keeper that I won't let go of. I have recently done a little de-stashing and have let go of most of the items I barely use and here are the replacements I have acquired since last week (and maybe a little bit longer than that for the mascara).

1. Clinique Happy Heart 100mL

2. MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural Light

3. RMK Liquid Foundation 102

4. Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric 2

5. Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume & Curl Mascara

6. Kanebo KATE High Coverage Pressed Powder UV

7. Models Own Lip Balm in Tangerine (which I am absolutely in love with at the moment!)

8. Avon Ideal Oil Control Pressed Powder

9. Covergirl Clean Pressed Powder

10. Covergirl Tru Cheeks Blush 1

11. Covergirl Tru Cheeks Blush 5

12. L'Oreal Volume Perfect Lipstick in Fawn

13. Colour Collection Vitamin E Lip-Eye-Cheek Color in Rich Apricot - a little local lovin'!

14. Lilo & Stitch plastic jars for samples

15. More cosmetic jars

16. Make Cleansing Pad

17. Dove White Beauty Bar

18. Dove Intense Repair Conditioner

Not in pictures:

19. Herbal Essences Hydralicious Shampoo

20. Dove Intense Repair Shampoo

21. Colour Collection Moisture Intense Lipstick in Autumn Glaze

22-23. Tupperware Brand Jellies Glossy Tints in Apple Glaze and Tropical Punch

I have a lot of reviews coming up. I only need the drive to get back to blogging regularly. Anyway, I hope you're all having a wonderful week so far.

Cheers,

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In The Limelight: Kanebo Coffret D'Or Beauty Lasting Liquid UV - A Product Review

From being an avid powder foundation user, I slowly switched to liquid foundations. I thought the latter isn't suited for my skin type - combination-oily - so I avoided them at all cost. It was only until the last quarter of 2010 that I have started using liquid foundation. I must say that I liked it better because it looks so much more natural than powder foundation, of course, still depending on what formulation and coverage you prefer and how and how much you apply. I prefer sheer-light because I don't like the mask and cement-like feel some liquid (and cream) foundations give, not to mention how heavy it feels on the skin which possibly does not allow my skin to breathe.

Anyway, I realized just recently that Japanese brands of liquid foundation work best for me because I have let go of those Western brands (I'm still talking about foundation) in my stash though the last one standing is YSL Matt Touch Foundation which I will be reviewing pretty soon. As some of you know by now, I adore Kanebo and my HG powder foundation is also from the same brand. So I couldn't pass up the chance to own the liquid version of the Coffret D'Or Beauty Lasting variant that was being sold online which is the product in the limelight for this post.

Huh. I really do tend to blab.

According to Kanebo Coffret D'Or, this is what Beauty Lasting Liquid UV is:

Formulated with Pure Proof Powder
A soft, dewy translucency. For truly pure skin that lasts.

Liquid foundation that offers a more lush and soft touch than ever before, creating skin with refinement. Covers textures and pores, while comfortably blending with skin and freshly applied elegant finish that lasts for hours.

What I like:

• The packaging looks wonderful without the heavy feel. The cap, however, can be used to get your fingerprints in case the cops suspect you of something bad.
• It has SPF 26 PA++. Though this can never be a substitute for sunscreen, I like that it already contains such especially on days when I am in a hurry, which I usually am.
• The texture is kinda watery which makes it easy to spread on the face. However, it can get a bit drippy so make sure that your face is ready to catch the foundation.
• It feels very light on the skin, as if I use just a tinted moisturizer.
• Dries to a matte finish while still allowing your skin's natural glow to show.
• Scented but it isn't something that bothers me, given how sensitive my nose is to scents.
• Stays on my combi-oily skin for a long time though I need to touch up every 4 hours, which isn't really that bad for me.
• Once it mixes with the natural oils on my face, my skin looks dewy and not disgustingly oily.
• Does not oxidize on me. The shade BE-B matches my skin tone well. Though on flash photography, my face looks lighter than my neck which could very well be due to the SPF in it.
• No break outs, no allergic reactions either.
• I think it's still locally available on most Kanebo counters nationwide.

What I don't like:

• It only contains 25mL
• Pretty pricey for $39.5 or Php 1685 if purchased in HK but that's still much cheaper than if you purchase this locally as I'm pretty sure it costs more than 2k.
• It dries easily so you better be quick in spreading and blending it on your skin.
• If you prefer full coverage, you might not like this as it provides light coverage. You still need to use concealers for dark circles and blemishes.

Overall rating: 4.75/5

Will I buy again? If I run out of foundations and if this is still available, I would, but only online. I remember mentioning in one of my posts that the Coffret D'Or line is being discontinued according to the local Kanebo SAs, but seeing the Coffret D'Or website being still up, I'm keeping my hopes up. :)

Have you tried any Kanebo foundations?

Have a wonderful second week of February, everyone! :)

Cheers,

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Giveaway for the Glamorous!

Apothica is nice enough to let us know about their ongoing Valentine's giveaway and allowed us to share with you guys so you can get a chance to win their Giveaway for the Glamorous! They have put together some of their best-selling products to come up with the prize for the winner. To enter the giveaway, you just have to go to their Facebook page and take it from there. Here is a sneak peak of their fab prizes:

So seriously, what are you waiting for? Go to their Facebook page and join NOW! :)

Happy Thursday, super awesome peeps! :)

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