Product Review: Adorned with Grace Minerals Ingenue Dual Fiber Brush

I have been on the lookout for a dupe of MAC 188 since I don't want to use mine as I'm afraid the MAC logo/label will rub off if I keep using it and the white bristles might get stained just like with my MAC 187. I was browsing eBay for stippling brushes when I came across a listing for this. Before placing a bid, I looked for reviews online and most of the reviews I found are positive so I gave this brush a go. When I finally received it, I was really surprised to see how really tiny this brush is. Really a mini. At first glance, it is like the little sister of MAC 188. I have been using this brush in blending the concealer on my under eyes for a couple of weeks now so it's time for a review.

See how small this brush is? It's just an inch or two longer than a tube of MAC lipstick.

What I like:

- The size of this brush is handy and can easily fit in a purse.
- Since it is short, it allows you to get as much control as possible when it comes to application of makeup.
- It looks sleek and resembles MAC brushes. (See picture below with MAC 187 and 188)
- I use this to blend the concealer on my under eyes and it blends like a dream. Less caking and the concealer does not settle on fine lines since it blended well with the skin.
- Cheap. I got it for only PHP285 + 50 shipping on eBay (a little over $7 inclusive of shipping and at least I don't have to wait for a week to get my hands on this if I ordered it from AwG directly).

What I don't like:
- This brush sheds like crazy! Every single time that I use it, I get tiny strands of hairs on my face. I've had this for a couple of weeks now but it still sheds. I have to remove hairs from my face and it's not funny having to do that all the time.
- I've washed this thrice and it still bleeds!
- I tried using it with a pigmented blush - NARS Taos - and it looked really blotchy so I guess this will stick to concealers.

Overall rating: 4/5  I still gave it a 4 because it delivers and performs the job I intended for it to do very well and that is blending the concealer on my under eyes. However, I still hope that it will stop shedding! I think that this may be a good substitute for MAC 188.

Will I buy again? Maybe. Though I think this will last for a few years since its task is really easy. And I hope it doesn't lose all its hairs by then.

MAC 187, MAC 188, AwG

 Happy Thursday! :P

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Revisited and Reviewed: Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush in 56 Tea Rose

I have always loved how blushes add a flush of color to my cheeks and I know most of you know how much I love blushes. You have seen my blush collection grow from 10 to 50 and eventually downsized to less than 20. Having fewer blushes have made me appreciate and love whatever's left and my desire to keep buying more and more blushes eventually decreased and now, I just love looking at them when I go to the mall and swatch them every chance I get but can't actually bring myself to buy one more compact. It's either I want to use everything I have or my interests have shifted from blushes to lippies - that I am not really sure of. Haha! But either way, I have grown to love every single blush I have and have led me to revisit each and every one of them. I know I have reviewed most of them but being able to use them after a long time of being simply stored in my make up box made me learn new things about them, thus, the revisited and reviewed post. I was so into pigmented blushes like NARS and MAC but it has gradually shifted to liking sheer blushes over time. And here's the recent blush I have revisited - Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush in 56 Tea Rose.

It comes with a velvet pouch that protects the compact from scratches and dirt.

It's a very pretty pink-peach shade.

The tiny brush! I find this brush a bit scratchy but I actually like it when applying this blush.

This blush has a luxurious and velvety feel. The texture is very fine and smooth. Being a sheer blush, the colour is buildable depending on your preference. What's good about this blush is that you can hardly go wrong with it since it applies sheer. It hardly shows up when swatched at the back of my hands so I needed to apply 4 or 5 layers just so you can see it on the swatch but on the cheeks, it's an entirely different case. After applying one layer, it seems that it won't show up because it's really light but give it a few minutes and it will show up as a  lovely rose-pink coloured blush. I think this will suit warm skintones better since it has a hint of rose in it. I have had this for almost a year now (I remember I was able to get my hands on it after Ondoy and the anniversary is today - sorry for being off-topic) but the texture hasn't changed at all. Our helper saw it and asked if it's new and I guess it still looks fairly new because I haven't used it in such a long time. Overall, I really like this blush. My only beef about this blush is the rose scent. It still smells the same like when I first had it though I wish it will eventually fade but as long as the scent is there and hasn't changed, I guess it's still safe to use for a longer time, probably even years. :P

I will definitely buy another Chanel blush but that won't happen any time soon. Probably in a year or two, IF I can control the urge and besides, I still have In Love too. :P

Happy Sunday, super awesome peeps! :)

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Product Review: Pond's Pure White Deep Cleansing Facial Foam with Activated Carbon

Going to bed with a clean face is essential since we all want clear skin. Washing our faces with a cleanser that effectively removes dirt, oil, and make up is of utmost importance and should be part of our daily ritual. There are facial cleansers that come in different forms but with the same promise and that is to simply clean our  faces and get rid of those impurities. When I saw advertisements and bloggers starting to review this product, I really got curious and thought I should buy it since almost all the reviews are positive. I have been allergic to Pond's products since I don't know when - it would work for a day or two but it will eventually leave me with pimples so that was the only thing that held me back at that time. But still, curiosity got the better of me and in order for the product to stop bugging me, I bought this in sachets. And of course, time for the review.

What I like:

- Effectively cleanses the face. When I normally apply toner on my face, I would still see dirt on the cotton pad even though I just washed my face. With this one, there isn't much dirt on the cotton pad. 

- It removes even my waterproof eye liner and mascara.

- My face feels smoother and softer and squeaky clean too after washing.

- The scent isn't too strong or overpowering.
- My face is really squeaky clean but it doesn't feel tight that it might break into pieces any time.
- I find it a bit moisturizing.

- I only use a really small dollop of this cleanser for my entire face and neck. One sachet lasted for more than a week.

- This is relatively cheap and locally available at all department stores and drugstores.

- I like the packaging. It looks pretty sleek in a black tube with pink letters. :P

What I don't like:

- I got a couple of pimples after continuously using it for a couple of days. Told you, I am not "hiyang" with their products. There's something about Pond's products that just doesn't work for me.

Overall rating: 4/5 If only I didn't get pimples from this.

Will I buy again? Maybe. I still have a couple of sachets left and I am finding ways to make this work for me since I really like it. 

I started using this again but this time, every other day. I only use this at night then to somehow combat the allergic reaction and to prevent getting zits, I immediately follow it up with my toner - Apple Cider Vinegar - and I still haven't had any pimples yet. I hope that using it with intervals won't break me out too. 

Happy Saturday! :P

P.S.

How do you find the new format for posting and editing entries? I miss the old one. Maybe I just need to adjust with this new one.

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Product Review: ELF Studio Line Eyebrow Kit - Light

They say that eyebrows frame a person's face so it is important to have a nice set of brows. There are those who are lucky to have been blessed with nice, fuller brows and only need a little plucking or waxing every now and then. Unfortunately, I am not one of them because my eyebrows are kind of sparse and needs grooming and my right eyebrow has a gap due to a scar. Thank God my eyebrows aren't thick and full so the scar is less noticeable. But still, I can't just survive with my shaped eyebrows alone as they barely show on pictures taken from a studio. So I use products to fill in my brows. I have been using In2It Eyebrow Shadow, which was the old version that only have 2 shades, for years now but I am getting tired of having to touch up on my brows everytime I go out so I decided to look for something with wax. Then I chanced upon Styli-Style Eyebrow Pencil in Espresso, which I was having a hard time working with because I end up with darker brows that really look weird on me. I have been checking out the ELF Studio Line Eyebrow Kit since it came out in the market but only bought one a few days ago (finally!) and have been using it since then. So here is my take on this product. But of course, pictures first!



Wax on the left and brow powder on the right. The brow powder is somewhat like taupe which is ideal for eyebrows. Well, I guess for brunettes. I have been reading and hearing everywhere that if you are a brunette, your eyebrow color should at least be 1-2 or 2-3 shades lighter and if you are blonde, it should be like a shade or 2 or 2-3 shades darker or something like that but you get the drift. Lighter for brunettes and darker for blondes.

What I like:
- The compact looks really sleek and neat and not that cheap or flimsy. Still resembles NARS compacts but has the tiny window.
- Has applicators that work. I use the angled one for the wax and the other one for the brow powder just as instructed on the box.
- The wax doesn't feel gooey and messy nor sticky but it works well in keeping the brows together.
- The brow powder's shade is just right since my hair is naturally brown and it's so easy to apply.
- Lasts for hours on my eyebrows that I no longer need to touch up at all. And I have combi-oily skin to begin with so it is really a good product for me.
- A little goes a long way so I am certain that this will last me for a long, long, long, long, long time.
- Locally available at all ELF Counters and relatively cheap for PHP249.50 (which is still expensive if compared to the US price of $3 and on sale most of the time but I can't complain).

What I don't like:
- NONE

Overal rating: 5/5 I may stick to this one.

Will I buy again? Definitely!

Tip: Use a spoolie to comb the eyebrows together so they won't be all over the place.

My bare eyebrows

With the eyebrow kit

I am on a drugstore makeup roll! You may see me using more and more of them each day. I used to be kinda snobbish back then and ignore drugstore brands but I have come to appreciate them more so the snobbish attitude is gone! :P
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Product Review: Purederm Acne Wash Cleansing Tissues

I make it a point to always take my makeup off my face the moment I get home. I remember being told to not immediately wash my face without letting my eyes rest for at least half an hour. But I hate the feeling of knowing that my face caught a lot of dirt from outside so I resorted to using makeup removers but it is more convenient to use facial wipes that can also remove makeup. And here's the review for what I have been using lately.



What I like:
- My face feels moisturized but does not look oily and greasy after using this.
- It's refreshing and my skin looks clean.
- It effectively removes makeup but may need to concentrate more on waterproof eye makeup.
- Smells nice, nothing really annoying.
- It has salicylic acid, tea tree oil, and aloe vera.
- Did not break me out!
- Comes in a resealable package that is housed in a box.
- Cheap. 30 sheets for only PHP99.75
- Locally available at Watson's and SM Department Stores
.

What I don't like:
- It takes a while to remove waterproof mascara and gel liner.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Will I buy again? Definitely! I am on my second box and I already have a back up. :)

See the dirt from my face? Not a good sight, I know. :P

Happy Tuesday! :P
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Yum Moments: Homemade Onion Rings

After seeing Madz's post about her onion rings, I decided to try doing it myself. I love onion rings. I'd choose them over fries anytime of the day. I love how crispy and sweet and juicy the onions are. I even love hearing the sound when I slice them, except when they bring me to tears. So here's my version of onion rings. I did not follow everything on the recipe and used other stuff.


Golden brown rings. Yum! :P


What I used:
- 1 big white onion
- 1 egg
- 1 spoonful of cheese whiz dissolved in water and added a little sugar (used to replace milk since we're out of it)
- all purpose flour mixed with garlic powder and a little pepper
- bacon bits (added to the flour mixture)
- bread crumbs
- vegetable oil for deep frying


Close up

Yummy! I made more than 20 rings with just one big onion and it was all gone in just a few minutes. It's not just me who ate everything. Haha! :P

Happy Sunday :P
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Product Review: Myra E Vitaglow Tinted Facial Moisturizer

On really hot days, I prefer wearing very light makeup as much as possible as the heat will just melt the makeup off my face and I don't want to look like a grease ball when that happens. So when I started reading raves from girltalk and local bloggers, I decided to give Myra TM a try. Though I have also read about some complaints regarding the shimmers, I still gave it a go. And here's what I thought of this product.



What I like:
- It has light coverage and all I need to do is set it with loose powder or a very light dusting of powder foundation and I'm all set.
- It gives my face a healthy glow.
- It doesn't make my face oily but once my face starts to oil up, it looks rather dewy than oily.
- Cheap. Around PHP130 bucks or so, I forgot the exact figure.
- Locally available.
- Shade Ivory matches my skintone though it gets a tad darker once it oxidizes on me.
- Claims to have minerals and has Vitamin E.
- It has SPF 15 which is pretty okay.
- Dries to a somewhat matte finish but the shimmers are very evident.

What I don't like:
- The shimmers!!! I like it on my cheeks but not on my entire face.
- Gave me whiteheads and red spots a couple of zits.
- My face gets itchy a few minutes upon application though I just shrugged it off back then.

Overall rating: 3/5

Will I buy again? No. I stopped using it and when I applied it again earlier today, my face got itchy once again. But if they come up with a formulation without shimmers, maybe I would.


Have you tried this product? Do you like it or do you not? :P

Happy Sunday, super awesome peeps. :P

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Here, Twiggy Twiggy! (MAC Satin Lipstick in Twig)

I like the natural look so I go for neutrals or nudes when it comes to lip color. In as much as I would want to go out wearing bold and bright colors, I cannot really muster up the courage to do so as I don't want to get the same kind of look I usually give when I see people wearing something outrageous, more so, with make up. Anyway, enough blabbing. So here's the latest lipstick addition to my mini mini lippy collection - MAC Satin Lipstick in Twig. Pictures!!!



It's a pretty warm neutral pink-brown shade that looks very natural - another MLBB. It's kinda similar to MAC Amplified Creme Lipstick in Cosmo, only this one has more brown and Cosmo is pinker. I'm not sure if I'd like the Satin formula in as much as I liked the Amplified Creme one as it is drying, based on most reviews I read on MakeUpAlley but I always apply lip balm before any other lip product anyway so I haven't experienced any dryness so far. No chapping or flaking as of yet. This color is great for everyday makeup and looks prettier when topped with a gloss. It complements my warm skintone and doesn't scream I-am-wearing-lipstick and looks really natural. It's like my lips only with a little more tint. My mom agreed that it works very well for my skintone and said it's a pretty lipstick too. Overall, I am liking it so far.

Swatch

Lip swatch

Uneven application on the upper lip, I know. :P It looks dark on the hand swatch but turns to a pretty warm pink-brown color once on the lips.

I am a happy girl. But gah! When will this lippy phase ever end?

Happy Saturday! :P
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DIY Project: Homemade Brush Spot Cleaner

I am almost out of my Smashbox brush cleaner after having it for more than 2 years now. The 120 mL bottle lasted that long. After watching videos on YT, I decided to make my own spot cleaner but I did not follow recipes which had detergent because they make my hands itchy. Moreso if I use a brush cleaned with it on my face. I used only 3 things - water, shampoo (I used L'Oreal Total Repair Repairing Shampoo) and Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap in Lavender (which I use for deep cleaning my brushes). I mixed them all together and placed the mixture in an empty spray bottle. I must say it cleaned my brushes pretty well and I'll show you how it did.


The dirty brushes

Eyeshadow and gel liner dirt

Prestige 103 blending brush

MAC 194SE concealer brush

And the clean brushes! :P

I hope you can tell the difference. I am so glad this worked I will continue using this until I have decided which spot cleaner to buy. I'm thinking either MAC or another one from Smashbox or other cheaper alternatives. Plus this one smells good too. :P I hope this post helps. :)

Happy long weekend, gals! :P
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Product Review: Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals BB Cream

This is the first time in two years that I used BB Cream. The first one I had was Skinfood Mushroom Multi Care BB Cream and it broke me out way back in 2008. It gave me the impression that bb creams are mediocre products that are quite costly so even though people were raving about them, I never once again dared buy another one. But last week, I saw the glaring PHP200 marked down price of Maybelline BB Cream so I decided to once again give it a try - I am after all trying out different drugstore brands, just like what I mentioned on my An All Drugstore Makeup Look post. I mean it's waaaay cheaper than what I had to pay for the Skinfood one which is around PHP1.2-1.5k since pre-orders were not yet available here at that time for that brand. So after trying it for about a week, I guess it's time for a review but as usual, pictures first.



What I like:
- Comes in a small cute greenish tube, which I really like. It's light and handy and can easily fit purses or makeup pouches.
- I actually like the squeeze out packaging as I can control the amount of product I get but it's kinda hard with this one because of the texture.
- I find this more like a tinted moisturizer as it provides minimal coverage. Perfect if you feel like going out kinda without makeup but not totally barefaced.
- It has SPF26 which, I think, is okay considering that my moisturizer doesn't have any.
- The scent isn't bad. Nothing that triggers my allergic rhinitis.
- Easy to spread and blend on the face.
- Skin easily absorbs it.
- No whitish cast on pictures.
- No shimmers or glitters.
- Locally available.

What I don't like:
- Texture is watery or runny.
- Each tube contains only 18mL and I kinda find it expensive for the srp of PHP249 and you get only a little amount of product.
- The box states that "One shade fits all". I beg to disagree. This will work better for those who have fair-medium skin but how about the other skintones? This will look a little off for our golden-skinned sisters.
- This is more like a tinted moisturizer rather than a bb cream so this may be a con or for bb cream users.
- Very minimal coverage so you can't expect it to conceal blemishes and undereye circles so there is absolutely no way this can work as a foundation either. Well, unless you have perfect skin to begin with and you barely put anything on your face.
- Gives a rather dewy finish than matte. I like a matte finish when it comes to moisturizers.

In between: I broke out on the testing phase. But I would like to believe that it is due to hormones or the weather. I get red spots on my face when the weather is too hot like it has been the past few days. I'll try it out again since I sort of like it.

Overall rating:
As a bb cream - 1/5
As a tinted moisturizer - 3/5

Will I buy again? Maybe, I kinda like it as a tinted moisturizer. I still like my Celeteque better. Maybe I'll just leave the tint to my powder foundations.

Swatch

Spread at the back of my hand

Blended

Disappeared right on my skin.

On me, topped with Kryolan Anti Shine Powder. (Forgive the messy hair, please. I was right in front of the terminator fan when I took this shot.)

Have you tried this? Do you like it or not? :)
Happy Thursday, guys! :P
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Product Review: L'Oreal HIP Jelly Lip Balm in Ripe

My favorite lip product has to be tinted lip balms and my HG is MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner. But since I am out of it, I decided to look for cheaper alternatives. I read really great reviews on MakeUpAlley about L'Oreal HIP Jelly Balms and saw swatches as well. I wanted to get Ripe since it's corally based on reviews and swatches. When I saw it on eBay, I immediately clicked on the Buy it Now button with high hopes for this product. Now let's see if it met my expectations due to all the praises and positive reviews.



What I like:
- I find this moisturizing. I remember applying this at night and woke up with moisturized lips.
- Smells good. Not overpowering.
- I like the glass packaging.
- Looks pretty on the pot.

What I don't like:
- It's part of the HIP (High Intensity Pigments) line but where the heck is the pigmentation here? It's almost like a clear gloss. I honestly have no idea how it looks sooooo pigmented on the swatches at MakeUpAlley because even if I piled on like more than 5 layers on my lips, there just isn't much color. Please refer to the swatch. I already layered it 5 times and that's the best it can get. My lips are kinda pigmented but I expected more from this since some of those who reviewed it claimed they have pigmented lips and said the color showed up.
- A little sticky and gooey to be a lip balm though it is moisturizing. But of course, it isn't as sticky as MAC lipglasses.
- It was kinda expensive for PHP350.

Overall rating: 2/5 (2 for the moisturizing property and for the packaging) as it was an utter disappointment for me.

Will I buy again? A big NO! Since I got frustrated with it, I did a little experiment since I do not want this to go to waste. I mean, I paid for a little less than half of the cost of one MAC TLC so I should at least be able to use it.

THIS is how it looks like now!


Remember my diy tinted lip balm project last year? I did it again! I cut the remaining MAC Marisheeno lipstick from the tube then a little of Revlon Colorburst Soft Rose (since it already melted) then half of my Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lip Balm and melted them altogether on a big metal spoon with the stove benetah it. And check out the swatch.


It now has the pigment I was expecting it to have. But of course, it is no longer L'Oreal HIP Jelly Balm. I am happier because it smells better - smells like cocoa butter, and is now kinda pigmented. :P

Anyway, happy Tuesday! :P

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