September Favorites!

Heya! This is the first time I will be doing a favorites post though I have been planning to do so since July buy have never gotten around to doing that. So these are my September favorites!

PureDerm Acne Wash Cleansing Tissues for removing my makeup and an instant facial cleanser.

Dove Intensive Cream for keeping my skin hydrated and moisturized - this works best for the driest parts of my body (elbows, knees, ankles, hands).

Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals BB Cream - works like a tinted moisturizer for me. Feels so light on the face with minimal coverage. Perfect for hot days and when I don't feel like wearing makeup.

MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation - rediscovered my love for this product. Never broke me out and gave me the coverage I needed.

Shu Uemura Glow On Blush M Pink 30 - my go to blush. I reach for this blush almost every day since I got it and I barely made a dent on it. Seems like it's bottomless! Perfect for daytime or everyday makeup.

Chanel Joues Contraste Blush in Tea Rose -  I have recently made a revisited and reviewed post for this blush. I have finally learned to appreciate sheer blushes. Another go to blush.

ELF Studio Line Eyebrow Kit in Light - my brows never looked better! Makes filling my brows easy as pie!

Nivea Fruity Shine Pomegranate Tinted Lip Balm - moisturizing with a hint of color. I sometimes skip lipstick or lipgloss with this lip balm.

MAC Satin Finish Lipstick in Twig - another MLBB lipstick that is perfect for everyday makeup.

Adorned with Grace Ingenue Dual Fiber Brush - perfect for blending concealer especially on the under eye area. helps concealer blend well with the skin to avoid the cakey look.

Clinique Lash Power Mascara - my lashes but better. Smudge proof and holds the curls very well. I have not experienced any clumping at all, no spider legs either.

Maybelline Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Concealer in Ivory - I like using this on my under eyes and even in covering up blemishes on my face. Blends easily and doesn't cake as long as it is blended well. Works well with the AwG stippling brush and MAC 188.

L'oreal Paris Total Repair Deep Repairing Mask - made my hair healthier, smoother, softer, and more manageable. My hair no longer feels dry and damaged.

L'Oreal Paris Total Repair Repairing Shampoo - saved my hair from total destruction.

So these are my favorite products for the month of September. What are your favorites?
Happy Sunday! :P

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What's In My Bag?!

I have always loved reading posts about what's inside people's bags. I guess the curious cat in me wants to know what other girls bring and if the stuff in my bag are too much or not. Or it could be my sneaky side? Haha! Anyway, I finally decided to do a post like this so here are the stuff in my bag! I'm telling you now, this post is picture-heavy!!! There you have it. The stuff inside my bag and a coupld of random stuff. Happy weekend! :P

Kenneth Cole Reaction teal bag

Cancer sticks and lighter (I'm trying to quit the vice), pen and notebook, wallet, book, pouch

Big Lancome pouch which can be used as a wristlet

Stuff inside the pouch and a Clinique pouch

Inside the Clinique pouch - Marionnaud Slanted Blusher Brush, EcoTools baby kabuki, Nivea Pomegranate tinted lip balm, Clinique Happy in an empty VS perfume container, MAC lipstick in Twig, ELF Studio Line Eyebrow Kit, Shu Uemura Glow on Blush M Pink 30, Shiseido Supplist Poreless Powder Foundation, Chanel JC Blush Tea Rose, Marionnaud eyeliner and spoolie brush

 

Hand sanitizer, Holy Seat toilet seat sanitizer, a pack of Kleenex, Charmee feminine wipes, Lander's Cocoa butter housed in an old Lush helping hands bottle, and Seretide for my asthma (yet I smoke!)

Kenneth Cole Reaction wallet (Do you think I love Kenneth Cole?)

A cute pink pen and a really cute handy dandy notebook with made of pink leatherette and a teddy bear design for doodling stuff  (I got it from SM department store for only 70 bucks!)

Cute pages of the notebook

My handy dandy battery operated fan which I got from Saizen. Perfect for hot humid days.

Rosary from my mom

 

Game Boy Advanced SP - I like it old school

What I've been busy with lately - books! My friend told me he didn't know I was such a nerd! :P

Look who's here?!! I found her in my room 2 weeks ago and she was homeless and pregnant. Since I'm not allowed to have cats or dogs due to asthma, she was adopted by the neighbor. She came back that night but they didn't let her in the gate :( and this morning, I saw her in my room! But she had to leave and go back to her new home after staying and playing with me for 3 hours.

A shot I took from the window a couple of days ago. Life is beautiful.

 There you have it! The stuff in my bag that usually doesn't change except for make up and a couple of random stuff. Happy weekend, everyone! :)
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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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