Ambush Makeover

Hi everyone! Weekend's finally here! Anyway, it has been a long time since I ambushed someone and this time, I did a makeover on our company nurse/medical assistant. The makeover was done in 15 minutes since we did it during our lunch break but I still managed to pull it off, I guess. I only did her makeup and she did her own hair style. Without further ado, I present to you Goldi.

Before and after shots...

I didn't have to do much. Her skin is good with just redness and a few spots here and there but overall, I think she only has very minor skin problems. I only had to focus on concealing her under eyes. When I did her makeup, I wanted to make sure that it's not too much for office wear and I only wanted to enhance her natural features. She has a nice set of prominent cheekbones so I didn't need to do a lot of contouring.

These are the products I used:

• Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief
• Giorgio Armani Face Radiance 2
• Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer
• Kryolan Anti Shine Powder
• Skinfood Choco Powder Eyebrow Wood Pencil
• ELF Mineral Eyeshadow Primer
• Laura Mercier Eyeshadow in Topaz and Coffee Ground
• UD 24/7 eyeliner Zero
• Maybelline the Magnum Volume Express Mascara
• Benefit Cha Cha Tint
• ELF Mineral Blush & Bronzer Duo
• Muji Pink Lip Liner
• Kiehl's Lip Balm 1

I hope I did well on this ambush makeover. :)

What do you think?

TGIF, super awesome peeps! :P

Cheers,

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Les Fards a Joues - Blush Swatchfest

Hello everyone. I have previously featured a post on swatches and mini reviews of my foundations so I thought of doing the same with something prettier and what else could be prettier than blushes? Well, it's the blush, at least for me. Anyway, here are the swatches and the mini review or perhaps just a description of each shade.

In order of swatches:

1. Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric 5 - while this looks dark and scary, it turns to a nice berry flush on the cheeks that fair-light skinned individuals may easily overdo. I think those with medium-tan-dark skin tones may find this to work better on them.
2. Paul & Joe Bambi from the Disney Collection - this is such a nice coral-orange shade which would look nice on summer. These are balls but I crushed one so the pigment will show up better.
3. Shu Uemura Glow On P Pink 30 - one of the more pigmented pink blushes that I have. This appears as a blue-based pink on me though it looks peach-pink to some. Applies with a beautiful sheen and gives a nice glow on the cheeks.
4. Kanebo Coffret D'Or Cheek Color PK-22 - prior to loving pink blushes, I very much prefer coral and more pigmented ones. This made me appreciate and eventually fall for the beauty of sheer pink blushes. This is a no-brainer blush for me which I grab on days when I can't decide which blush to wear. It also does not hurt that this is by far, the best texture in a blush I have ever tried - the silkiest and most finely milled that applies very smoothly on the skin.
5. Becca Cosmetics Mineral Blush Flowerchild - I have long given up on NARS Orgasm, Deep Throat, and such shades but this blush, I have to say, is like a hybrid of both Orgasm and Deep Throat, only with a better texture and a prettier subtle, golden sheen to it. It's not as shimmery as both NARS blushes too. If this is without shimmer, this would look like how I naturally flush.
6. Burberry Beauty Light Glow Blush 04 Peony - while I was utterly disappointed with Burberry Blossom, this one made me want to shriek when I first saw it. This is such a delicate and feminine pink that makes me feel girly-girl every time I wear this. I also could not stop swatching it because it is such a beautiful shade of pink - one of the prettiest I have ever seen. This may not entirely be a unique shade but I love it.
7. Chanel Joues Contraste Tea Rose  - this is the oldest blush in my stash and my first ever blush from a luxury brand as well. This is a nice peach-pink blush that turns to a nice rosy pink shade once on my cheeks. The texture isn't the silkiest but I like how it blends beautifully on my skin. It is also a no-brainer blush for me. I'm happy to report that it is no longer dome-shaped and it's getting flat, which only means that I have been using it a lot.
8. Laura Mercier Baby Pink - this is one of my least-used blushes because it's pretty bulky to bring along since this comes from the Colour Classics Face Palette with six eyeshadows and another shade of blush. It is a pretty pale pink shade which I finally got to appreciate ever since my affinity with pink blushes started. Will try to use this more often.
9. Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric 2 - it's almost the same as the Blushing Fabric 5, only a tad lighter and has more pink in it. Same great texture, feels nice on the skin but if you're allergic to silicone, you may want to test it out first. It reminds me so much of the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer but this does not break me out which is odd but good. This lasts for hours on my combination-oily skin too. 
10. Becca Cosmetics Beach Tint Guava - a gorgeous coral-pink shade that smells nice too. It just requires a lot of shaking as the pigment tends to separate from the oil but once blended, it's a nice product to use. You get only 7mL in a tiny tube so you may want to use it sparingly. Other than that, I like it a lot for my cheeks. On the lips, it is really drying so it somehow comforts me that I would use less of this product and the mini tube will last me a few months. :)
11. Shu Uemura Glow On M Pink 30 - a nice matte pink blush with a strong peach tone in it which still gives a glow on the cheeks. Chalky at first but with a little blending, you get a lovely colour on the cheeks that can go well with any makeup. 
12. Skinfood Sugar Cookie Blush Winter Cherry - I was expecting a darker shade because of the word "cherry" but I assume that winter made it pale; thus, the light shade that is very reminiscent of NARS Orgasm (again and it baffles me why most companies come up with shades that look like Orgasm), only lighter. Texture is kinda hard and does not blend very well on the skin. As I type this, this blush is no longer with me but I thought it'd be fair to include a review of this since there is a swatch of it.
13. Benefit Cosmetics Bella Bamba - I really wanted to love this watermelon pink blush from Benefit but in as much as I dig the colour, the shimmers are just too much for my liking. And if I have to dust powder over it just to get rid of the shimmers, which will take a few seconds up to a minute to buff it, then it's not something I am willing to deal with on an everyday basis. But really, this is such a pretty shade and if shimmers are your thing, you might very well like this blush.
14. Guerlain Blush 4 Eclats 05 Rose Plein Vent - this is the blush that took me 4 months before I finally used it simply because it was too gorgeous for me to ruin the design. Then again, I purchased a blush that I can use and not simply stare at so I ended up using it. When you swirl the four colours together, it gives you a nice peach-pink shade with just a tad hint of beige with a very fine gold sheen. It is so smooth to the touch, it almost feels like butter that melts on your skin. It has a strong scent so those who are sensitive to scented blushes may want to give this a sniff before heading to the counter.
15. Shu Uemura Glow on K6 from the Aya Takano Reindeer XXXX Kiss Palette - another pink shade for me! It is a sheer medium pink shade with blue tones that looks really pretty and dainty on the cheeks. Just like the other glow ons, it imparts a natural and lovely glow on the cheeks. Unfortunately, I don't get to use this much because it is in a palette with 3 eye shadows and 2 creme products but I promise to use this more often so I decided to bring this whenever it is scheduled for use.
16. Laura Mercier Plum Blush - this is the least used blush in my stash. It is also in the compact together with Baby Pink and this also happens to be the least flattering shade on me. I appear like my cheeks have been slapped several times and bruised. Plum just isn't my colour. I just couldn't get rid of it since it is in a palette. Others may like it but it's definitely not for me.

I can say that with these blushes, I am a happy camper. I am pleased with the shades I have, though most are pinks, and I get to finally use them all! I enjoyed making swatches and I hope you ended up liking something. :)

I hope you're all spending a good time with your family this Holy Week.

Cheers,

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Yum Moments: Dee Coffee House

A Yum Moments post again after a long time! Perfect time to post this because it's already lunch! Last Wednesday, a co-worker and I decided to have snacks before going home. We were thinking of eating either at Cafe Lidia, Boyong's, and Mama Chit's, which are all within Marikina but ended up at Dee Coffee House. It happens to be right next to Mama Chit's. We wanted to try something new as we were already getting our Hungarian sausage sandwich and/or grilled chicken with pesto sandwich fix from Boyong's almost every night. Will post  separate entry for those one of these days. We were welcomed by a small, cozy, place which makes you feel at home because the tables are in their small garden which I assumed was turned to a  cafe. We were handed a menu with just a few selection of sandwiches, pasta, and nachos.

 

This is what welcomes you the moment you enter the gate.

I was set on ordering the chicken quesadillas but was informed that it wasn't available at that time so I settled for the Mexican Taco instead and a can of Coke.

Cheese overload! I wasn't expecting much because it looked so simple but eyes went huge after taking my first bite because it was good! I had to voice out how yummy it is to my co-worker. The salsa was perfect - not too sweet, not too sour. Just right. And the meat wasn't overwhelming and tasty on its own too. The taco was perfect with hot sauce. I ended up ordering another one for dinner. It's fairly inexpensive too at Php 60.

My co-worker was going to order the American Chicken Bacon Burger but again, it wasn't available so he ordered the cheeseburger instead. He said the burger was good because the patty on its own is already tasty and flavorful enough and the lettuce was fresh. Overall, he liked it. And for the yummy burger, Php 75 isn't bad at all.

Overall, it was a good experience for us, everything was freshly prepared and worth the wait. The next time we come back, I plan to order their pasta which received good reviews from other bloggers who have dined at this coffee house.


DEE COFFEE HOUSE (Since 1960's)
280 J.P. Rizal Street, San Roque, Marikina City, Metro Manila
Tel. No.: (02) 646-8549 / 09179130009
Open Mondays to Saturdays, 2:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.


Til the next Yum Moments post!

Have a blessed Holy Week, everyone..

Cheers,

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Updated Makeup Stash

Hello everyone. As some of you know by now, I have been doing a lot of de-stashing since early this year and I am mighty proud of myself for letting go of items that I no longer get to use and not holding on to them simply because I think I can use them again someday. In the process, I have come to realize which among the products I have I deem as keepers and which ones I really use. I never really had a lot or a huge number of makeup to begin with so you'll see less on this post. These are the items I rotate so I can use them everyday. :)

I'll start with the lippies...

L-R: Kiehl's Lip Balm | Vaseline Lip Therapy | Caudalie Paris Lip Conditioner |
Kanebo Coffret D'Or RD-167 | Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter Tutti Frutti |
MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick Ultra Darling | YSL Rouge Pur Couture Rose
Dahlia | Chanel Rouge Allure Comedia | Guerlain Kiss Kiss Stick Gloss Corail
des Mers | Natasha Beauty Lip Gloss Better Bare | MUJI Lip Pencil Pink |
NYX Color Lip Balm Sukriya | Models Own Lip Balm Tangerine | Kanebo
Coffret D'Or Lipstick Sampler | Korres Lip Butter Pomegranate

Base Makeup...

Kanebo Coffret D'Or Beauty Lasting Liquid UV BE-B | RMK Liquid
Foundation 102| Shu Uemura Face Architect Smoothing Fluid Foudation 974
| Giorgio Armani Face Fabric Second Skin Nude Makeup 2 | YSL Matt Touch
Foundation 02 Blond

Powder Foundations, Pressed Powders, Loose Powder..

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural Light | Kanebo Coffret D'Or Silky Pact
BE-C | Shiseido Supplist Poreless O00 | Kryolan Anti Shine Powder |
MAC Blot Powder Pressed Medium | Kanebo Coffret D'Or Beauty Lasting
Pact BE-C | coming soon (this week) - MUFE HD Powder

Concealers..

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Double Face Perfector Fair | Laura Mercier
Secret Concealer 2 | Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer Cream

Mascaras...

Maybelline The Magnum Volume Express Mascara | Kiss Me Heroine Make
Impact Frame & Curl Mascara | Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume & Curl
Mascara 

Eyebrow Makeup, Eyeliners, Eye Primer

Maybelline Gel Liner | Browlash Ex Water Strong W Eyebrows | Skinfood
Choco Powder Eyebrow Wood Pencil | Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner Zero |
Nichido GNO white eyeliner | ELF Mineral Eyeshadow Primer | Revlon
Brow Fantasy in Brunette | ELF Eyebrow Treat & Tame Ash

Random samples of foundations and pigments...

Guerlain Lingerie de Peau | Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua | Pigments from MAC &
Kryolan | foundation samples (I forgot which brands)

Eyeshadow and Blush Palettes...

Laura Mercier Colour Classics Face Palette - 2 blushes (Baby Pink and Plum)  |
Shu Uemura Aya Takano Reindeer XXXX Kiss Palette - 1 glow on (K6)

And my favorites... Le Blushes!

Kanebo Coffret D'Or Cheek Colour PK-22 | Burberry Light Glow Blush 04
Peony | Guerlain Blush 4 Eclats 05 Rose Plein Vent | Chanel Joues Contraste
Tea Rose | Shu Uemura Glow On P Pink 30 | Shu Uemura Glow On M Pink
30 | Becca Mineral Blush Flowerchild | Skinfood Sugar Cookie Blush Winter
Cherry | Becca Beach Tint Guava | Benefit Bella Bamba | Giorgio Armani
Blushing Fabric 2 | Sample of Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric 5 | Crushed
orange ball from Paul & Joe Bambi from Disney Collection

*I forgot to include my teeny single gorgeous green eyeshadow from Wet n Wild which is Envy.*

There you go. That's all the makeup you'll find in Sparky (my traincase) and that's how I am able to show each product a little lovin' lately. And my new rule in makeup: 

Go for quality over quantity. Be a minimalist.

I'll go for the products that I have proven to work fantastic on me than have tons which would include some items that I would not get to use at all. See, I used to think that the more makeup I have, the better it'll be for me if I want to continue being a beauty blogger. But as time goes by, I think I have come to realize that no, I don't have to have a huge collection of makeup and I need to be practical. If I find that a product isn't good for me, I have to let it go and who knows, the person who will adopt it can make that product work for her, instead of keeping it, waiting for the right time to use it, and before I know it, it has already croaked. I get to appreciate every single piece that I have and slowly, my lemming for new makeups is easier to control. 

I also know that sometimes, it's not just about the quality; it's how you make a product work for you. But there are really some products that'll never work no matter how hard or how much you try. That is basically the risk we take when buying products, right? We are all armed with the hope of that product working wonderfully on us. So when it's already hopeless after several attempts to make it work, move on.

One more thing - I know that I'm aiming for products with really good quality but it does not mean they have to be from high end brands. There are gems in drugstore and mid-range brands. And as long as I am spending within my means for those quality products, then I am good. 

I am not getting all preachy here but I only wanted to share how I was able to settle for the good ones and how I did not hold on to those I have let go of. I do encourage you to figure out which products work for you and are worth keeping and to let go of those you don't get to use often, either by giving them away or by selling them. You'll be able to hit pan on one of your blushes before you know it and it is pretty exciting because that means it's time for you to buy a new one! Kidding! But seriously, I am about to hit pan on my Kanebo Coffret D'Or blush as I have made a huge dent on it. I am pretty excited, really! Well, I still buy, of course, but I need to make sure that I am not breaking my pact of letting go of something to make room for that new purchase. :)

I hope this post can help you in a way. :)

Happy Monday, everyone. :)

Cheers,

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Es te quiero, Benefit Bella Bamba?

Hola, mi amigos y amigas! Como esta usted? Anyway, before my brain cells die from trying to recall the things I learned in Spanish class way back in college (if I ever really learned anything at all) I'd like to get back on topic and that is a blush. Since Bella Bamba was released by Benefit Cosmetics, I could not really make up my mind if I want it or not. Sometimes I do, and other times, I don't. While the swatches and reviews of Bella Bamba tempts me to go ahead and get one for myself, I could not bring myself to buy it. Oddly enough, I never really thought of it as something I really wanted. Then I would wake up one day wanting one and the uncertainty goes on for a while. It wasn't until I saw a mini or sample size of it at 3g being sold online that I finally decided to give in and buy one - at least it's just a small one and not a full size. After having it for a few days, I am now sure of my feelings towards this blush.

Benefit says that Bella Bamba is...

...a 3D brightening pink face powder

Amplify cheekbones and create the illusion of sculpted features with this 3D watermelon blush. Laced with shimmering gold undertones, bella bamba takes eye-popping pretty to the third dimension...you'll never use traditional blush again!

Here is a Beauty Tip from them:

Accentuate the curves of your face with our 3D technique: Sweep on a ‘3’-shape starting at your temples, curving in toward the apples of your cheeks and curving out and down to your jawline.

--- interesting but I wouldn't dare do such a technique with shimmer-induced blushes. :D

Pammy says.....

What I like:

• Whoever described Bella Bamba as watermelon pink is so spot on! It's a gorgeous shade that adds warmth on the skin.
• The golden shimmers diffuses light, making the skin/cheeks appear so smooth and flawless instead of accentuating the pores.
• It smells nice. I really like it, it's somewhat fruity that isn't overwhelming at all. I lost count as to how many times I smelled it.
• Between this and Benefit Coralista, this one is much more packed with pigment and could work with different skin tones more.
• Staying power is pretty good. 
• Brightens the face, making it look more healthy and radiant.
• Now locally available in Manila! :)

What I don't like:

• A little too shimmery for my liking. I prefer subtle shimmer or just sheen on my blushes. I am not getting any younger and pronounced shimmers on my cheeks are no longer my thing.
• Pretty expensive for a full size at Php 1600 or $28 but hey, you get a lot of product. I, on the other hand, get easily bored with huge pans of blushes. 

Overall rating: 4/5 Really a pretty blush even though it is not "the blush" for me. It's a matter of personal preference. Even though it isn't for me, it's still generally a nice blush. 

Will I buy again? While I find this blush to be super pretty, it's not something that I would reach out for very often. I honestly do not find anything special with the blush at all and the shimmers were a little too sparkly for me. So yes, I would not repurchase. Glad I only got the sample size.

A closer look at Bella Bamba

Swatch

Have you tried Bella Bamba? How do you find it?

Have a blessed Holy Week, everyone. :)

Cheers,

P.S.
Feel free to correct my Spanish. :) Read more...