My Best and Worst Product Purchases in 2009

I have been inspired by fellow bloggers' posts about the best products they have purchased and used in 2009 so I decided to come up with my own. So here are the best and worst products I have bought and used for the past year.




Let me start with the worst or probably the products I regret to have purchased and used.

The 10 Worst 2009 Buys: (in no particular order)

1. Dickinson's Witch Hazel Toner - Yellow Variant
- This product made my skin look dirty and I broke out with it.


2. Charcoal Soap from Saizen
- Dried out my skin and made it flaky and gave me red marks and dried out my cheeks so bad.


3. Garnier Light Cleansing Foam
- Broke me out in the past, I should've known better instead of repurchasing this year to once again give it a try


4. Skin 79 Diamond Collection Star Glow Cheek
- This has to be the worst smelling blush/highlighter ever! Smelled like beans and greens and worse, smelt like a rotten one that I can't stand using it.


5. ELF Sunkissed Bronzer
- It broke on its own after less than 24 hours upon purchasing it so I was not able to use it.


6. False Eyelashes & Glue from Saizen
- The glue stung my eyes so bad and the pair I got was so hard to work with.


7. Olay Regenerist Cleanser
- Olay's supposed to be a good product but I am one of those unlucky bunch who broke out with Olay products.



8. Sunsilk Straight & Sway Shampoo & Conditioner (Green ones from the picture)
- Made my hair brittle and dry. I couldn't touch my hair as it feels annoying.


9. The Soap Factory Tomato Soap
- Broke me out after just a couple of washes.


10. A few more mineral make up
- I know mineral make up breaks me out but I decided to give it one more shot but still, I broke out no matter how nice the finish is and regardless of how long it stays on my oily skin.


The Top 14 Best Purchases of 2009:

1. NARS Blushes
- Being a blush girl, I do not and I don't think I will ever regret buying NARS blushes as these are a few of the best investments I made when it comes to make up. The product is so worth it for the price.


2. Kryolan TV Paint Stick
- The only foundation in a non-powder form that really works for me. Didn't break me out and for PHP1250, I could never go wrong. Beats all the powder foundation I have when it comes to staying power and its ability to conceal my blemishes.


3. Kryolan Anti-Shine Powder
- This kicked MAC Blot's behind when it comes to keeping oilies at bay. You get so much product (30g) for only PHP1350 which will most likely last you for years.


4. Chanel Joues Contraste and Irreelle blushes
- The most I had to spend on a single compact of blush but definitely worth it as Irrelle In Love is my current HG blush.


5. Saizen Charcoal Mask
- Made such raves and became one of the most wanted products in girltalk that it was always out of stock on the first and second waves of raves. Now, there is a lot of stocks at Saizen so feel free to go there and grab a tube or two.


6. PureDerm Strawberry Yogurt Pack & Dual Wellbeing Pack
- Inexpensive yet very effective products. These two are now officially part of my favorite products.


7. MAC 187 and 188 brushes
- MAC 187 haunted me in my dreams and I knew then that I had to have this brush. The most expensive single product I have purchased so far for PHP2950 back then and PHP3050 now, if I remember correctly. Very versatile as this can be used on foundations, powders, and best of all, blushes. :P
MAC 188 is the smaller version of 187 and I use it only for blushes and is priced at PHP2050.


8. Etude House stippling brush
- The most abused brush in my brush stash. Made my 188 and 187 kept in the brush box as I use this pretty much on everything. Works best with NARS blushes.


9. ELF Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzer Duo
- Because of this, I don't have to buy a NARS Orgasm/Laguna duo. Cheap yet a good product.


10. MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner - Gentle Coral
- This has to be my favorite tinted lip balm and is now my HG lip balm. I use this more than I use lipsticks and lip glosses. I use it every single day.


11. MAC Amplified Creme lipstick in Cosmo.
- This has to be my best nude-pink lippie ever! :P


12. EcoTools Brushes
- Talk about cheap with good quality and eco-friendly tools.


13. Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap
- My best friend in deep cleaning my brushes. Makes brush cleaning easy as a breeze.


14. BRAGG Apple Cider Vinegar
- The best and cheapest toner I have tried. Not the best smelling product though. Smells like Tequila.



* I would've also added Aztec Indian Healing Clay as one of the best prods but I have not purchased one as I am using the sample I received form Japjap. :P*

So there you are. My best and worst picks in 2009. I would've added more but I can certainly go on and on and on and this might be a very long post if I do. Plus I already forgot everything that I purchased this year.

Happy New Year, everyone. Wishing you all the best for 2010!

xoxo,


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Back with Hauls! Warning: Picture Heavy

I'm back! And I am so excited to share my latest haul! I did splurge on this one. I was supposed to be on a no-buy mode but I couldn't keep myself from buying anything after depriving myself for almost 2 weeks. So I decided that a no-buy won't be best for me but rather a control over whatever I am going to spend on. I should start shopping wisely instead. So I promise this is the last of my impulsive shopping. :P







The Soap Factory Tomato and Halo Halo Fiesta Soaps
- Each soap costs 99


Chanel Blushes - Joues Contraste in Tea Rose and Irreelle Blush in In Love




Chanel Joues Contraste Tea Rose
- A pretty pale rose/pink shade with very subtle shimmer.
- Buildable
- May be a little too light when swatched but looks very pretty and natural when applied.
- Got this from my mom's makeup stash.
- SRP PHP2350






Chanel Irreelle Blush in In Love
- I am definitely In Love with this blush!
- I cannot really describe it but I think it is a coral-pink shade with subtle shimmer.
- A little more expensive than JC, I got it for PHP2500.





Swatches: In Love and Tea Rose





Kanebo Coffret D'or Foundation Refill
- Since Revue was phased out, I was told by the Kanebo SA that Coffret D'or replaced it so I thought I should give it a try as I really like Kanebo foundation. This is 100 bucks cheaper than Revue for PHP2000. Shade is BE-C, same as my Revue shade.

Stila Lip Glaze in Starfruit and Stila Lip Color in Pixie


MAC 188 Brush
- Got it for PHP2050 due to the price increase.
- bought it mainly for blushes.




Garnier Brightening Eye Roll-On

Alba Botanica Terratints in Bloom

Maybelline Volume Express Black Mascara

L'oreal Blush Delice Shimmer of Hope & Milani Glimmer Stripes in Bronze Glimmer



Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap
- I forgot the exact price but is costs in between PHP300-PHP400 at Healthy Options for a small bottle.
- It effectively cleaned my brushes. :P

Shawill Blush No. 3
- A cheap blush I got for PHP138 at Watson's.
- Quality is good for the price.
- Pigmented and pretty blush.





Missha Cleansing Oil + M Signature Foundationm (freebie)

Zen Zest Martini

4U2 Magic Blushes
- BOGO for PHP424




VOV Show Case Ball on Cheek
- Got this for PHP450 on eBay
- I read somewhere that this is the cheaper and Korean version of Guerlain Meterorites but I really can't tell since I do not have the latter and I do not intend to purchase it. :P




Random purchases:
- Garnier Light facial wash
- Cetaphil cleanser
- Pantene 3-Minute Miracle Treatment
- Off Insect Repellent Spray
- Vaseline lotion
- Caronia clear nail polish
- Colgate 360 toothbrush (pink)
- Kleenex Tissue pack
- Cleene cotton balls
- J&J Baby Milk Bath refill
- Charmee feminine wipes
- Time of the month necessities
- Schick razors

Saizen Goodies

Foundation
- A must-buy from Saizen!
- Review to follow ;)

Charcoal Soap
- Review to follow ;)

The Face Shop Nail polish Remover (Bubblegum) and Pack Brush

Fanny Serrano Silky Coral Blush
- The blush is a pretty pink-peach on its own. But I hate how it tried to look like the Chanel Irreelle blush.


See what I mean?


Fanny Serrano Foundation in Mocha and True Light Liquid Lipstick in Light Berry

Foundation in Mocha
- I first used this when I was still in college, a freshman or a sophomore perhaps and I remember liking it.
- I like that it has a matte finish and matches my skin tone really well.
- I like that it provides heavy coverage.
- I find myself liking it again. :P



Now the lip color is weird because this is the first time I ever encountered a lip gloss that has a light on.

See what I mean?



I find this lip gloss a little runny and staying power isn't that great but this is perfect if you want nude lips with a hint of pink. :P

So there you have it. My recent haul. :)

I hope you like it! I'll be back for reviews. Ta!

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