Mascara Review: Prestige My Biggest Lashes

I don't really buy a lot of mascaras because they dry out quickly so when I see that I am about to run out, I start looking for something new to try.  The most recent is from Prestige.

Prestige has 2 kinds, My Biggest Lashes (pink container) and My Blackest Lashes (silver container).  I wanted to try both but I figured since my lashes are already black I don't really need a mascara that will make it blacker.


I was so surprised at the effect of My Biggest Lashes.  It was truly volumizing and lengthening!  It has a sort of dry consistency and comes with a big brush.  The only thing I don't like about it is that it is not waterproof.  So what I do is I first apply the Prestige and apply a second coat of the Maybelline Hypercurl Volum' Express.  I only apply it on my upper lashes because my lower lashes are too short.

Available at Beauty Bar for around Php450.00+

Alternative to T-shirts 2

The 3rd is similar to the 1st blouse but it has a bat-wing like sleeves and the hem is diagonal.  This shirt is cinched at the hips so it still gives you shape.

Lipgloss Review: NYX in Perfect

I won this lipgloss at a shower I attended a couple of weeks ago. What a treat right? but I was really happy to have won it because it just happens to be my GO-TO gloss as of the moment. When you open it, there's that candy smell that I just love. It's on the pinkish side but hardly noticeable because it also has that "shiny" particles that make your lips pop. The name of the gloss says it all. It can be worn day or night. Price is just PERFECT. :)))

New Stuff! 9/20/2011

Yey!

I recently went to Rustan's in Alabang because I was meeting some friends.  Since they were running late I decided to look around.  I ended up at the Dior counter and ....

So here are some of the things I got.

1. Diorskin Extreme Fit Foundation in 30
2. Dior Nude Pressed Powder in 30
3. Serum de Rouge in 710
4. Phyto Hair Straightening Balm ( yup, I know this is not Dior but the Phyto shelf was next to the cashier) :)

Reviews on these items to follow!

An Alternative to the Ordinary T-shirts

Most of my clothes consists of shirts....mainly round neck t-shirts.  So whenever I would go out I feel like I don't have anything else to wear aside from shirts which is a bad thing since I am almost 40 yrs. old!!

So here are some alternatives that I found.

The 1st is like a shirt but more feminine.  It still has that round neck and short sleeves but has a satin-y neckline and a ribbon.

Monday Skincare: Origins Youthtopia Face Serum

I have read in numerous articles how a face serum can enhance the effectivity of your moisturizer.  So I started searching for a nice and affordable one.

The one that I am currently using is the Origins Youthtopia , an age correcting serum with Rhodiola.  According to Origins, this is best for firming, lifting and tightening lines and wrinkles.

I wanted to know more about Rhodiola and how it helps our skin so I googled it.  What I found was that it helps fight depression, stress and helps prevent the damaging effects of oxygen deprivation.

The color maybe a little off-putting ( has a brown shade which reminds me like melted caramel) but it feels nice on the skin.  I noticed that my skin absorbs it quickly, around 5-10 seconds so I am able to apply my moisturizer right away.  The best part, it didn't break me out.

Most Reached for Makeup Brushes

Although I have an addiction for makeup brushes I don't really use all of them.  Here are some of the ones that I favor the most.

1. Foundation - For liquid foundation I usually use Real Techniques Buffer Brush.  It is synthetic but soft and very easy to clean; For powder foundation I normally use a Kabuki brush
2. Eye shadow - For loose powder shadows aka pigment shadows I use the MAC 242; for the regular powder shadow and it is a light color, I prefer using the MAC 239 but if it is a dark shadow I grab my Sigma 239 because it has a dark brown bristle.  For blending I haven't found any that is as good as the Sigma 224
3. Blush - I use my Bloom Blush Brush.  It is not as expensive and soft as the MAC 116 but I feel that it does its job pretty well
4. Bronzer - Lately I have been grabbing my Real Techniques contour brush but  my favorite to use is my Sigma 150
5. Contour - I alternate between my MAC 109 and the Real Techniques Contour Brush
6. Eye Brows - I use Fanny Serrano Small Angled Brush because the handle is long and it is synthetic
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Wish List September 2011 Edition

1.  I have recently hit pan on my favorite bronzer, Laura Mercier Illuminating Mosaic Powder and it is a limited edition item so I am already looking for a replacement.  And I think I found one or two :)) It is the Guerlain Terra Inca Mosaic Powder or the Guerlain Terracotta Four Seasons Bronzer (shade 01).

Monday Skincare: Benefit b.right! Skincare Line

I bought some makeup from Benefit recently and as part of their promo I received the b.right! Radiant skincare intro kit for free!

This kit comes with a facial wash, an eye cream and a moisturizer.  Here are my thoughts on the products.

1. Foamingly Clean Facial Wash - the first thing that I noticed was how smooth it felt on my skin when I applied it.  The 2nd thing was the scent.  It smells soo good (reminds me of the Ralph Lauren light blue cologne); flowery but not over powering like a cologne.  You don't need much to cover up your whole face and it lathers quickly.  Once I washed it off, my skin felt so clean, and not just your ordinary clean but really clean.  It was able to remove my waterproof makeup as well, which is a big deal
2. It's Potent Eye Cream - this particular eye cream has a rather thick consistency but it doesn't sit on top of your skin.  My skin was able to absorb it after a 20 seconds
3. Triple Performing Facial Emulsion - this moisturizer has the same scent as the facial wash which I absolutely love.  Has a very thick consistency and you will only need a pea-sized amount to cover your entire face and neck.  This moisturizer has an SPF 15 PA++ so you may use it in the day time. For those of you who are living in a place with a hot climate, you might want to use this moisturizer at night.  I tried using it in the morning and it felt like I had cake icing on my face.  Also, this broke me out so I'll probably just use it on my neck

Makeup Review: Max Factor Smoky Eye Shadow

This is a cream eye shadow in a pencil form.  It is dual ended, 1 is a lighter shade compared to the other shadow.

I was really excited because ever since I started using Urban Decay Primer Potion, cream eye shadows have been holding up.  And cream shadows make powder eye shadows become more vibrant.

Unfortunately this product did not agree with me.  Even though I applied a primer potion this still creased on me.  Plus, you can't really blend it once applied because you run the risk of removing the shadow on your lids.  I tried applying it with a brush which didn't exactly transfer, a finger which rubbed off the product and the shadow stick which gave me a thick color but definitely unblended.  I also applied a powder shadow over it to help it be more vibrant. At first it looked nice because I could actually see the color of the shadow but it creased immediately on me.  Since I live in Manila (where it's hot all the time) that added to the  creasing.

I really wanted to like it but...

Makeup Review: Foundation/Face Powders

I use Face Powders when my skin is cooperating or when it is too hot to wear a liquid foundation or when I am pressed for time and lastly, when I am being too lazy to even bother.

I have a few and here are my thoughts.

1. MAC Studio Fix Powder - a powder foundation that gives a matte finish; I apply this with a large buffer brush or a kabuki brush for an faux airbrush look


2. Laura Mercier Foundation Powder - this particular pressed powder has a sheer coverage compared to the MAC Studio Fix but also gives a matte finish; staying power is not as long as the previous powder mentioned

Monday Skincare: Origins Starting Over Moisturizer

In this day and age we can never have enough moisturizer.  I bought 1 recently and I am already half way done with the bottle.  But, not to worry, I have a new moisturizer waiting to be used.

It is the Origins Starting Over Moisturizer.  It is an age-erasing oil-free moisturizer with Mimosa.  My favorite part is the Mimosa.  It really smells soo good that you might be tempted to taste it...but don't :)

I specifically wanted this moisturizer because it has Argan Leaf and Green Algae that helps build natural collagen, repair visible lines and improve skin texture and tone.  I do hope that it's all that and then some.

Unlike most moisturizers I have seen, this has a beige tone so don't think that it has gone bad.  It has a smooth and light consistency that it doesn't feel heavy on my skin.  I don't have to wait too long before it is absorbed fully onto my skin and it doesn't give me a sticky feeling after.  This particular moisturizer also comes in a regular formula, one that is not oil-free for those who have dry to normal skin.

Unfortunately this is not available here in Manila, and the closest place you can buy this is in Hong Kong.

You can buy it from Amazon, Origins and where Origins products are sold.

My latest Beauty Buys....

I recently went on a mini vacation with my sister to the ever dependable Hongkong, I bought 2 BB creams. Yes more BBs for me hahaha. One is the Revlon BB moisture cream and the other is the Missha BB perfect cover. I also ordered a new foundation from Peter Thomas Roth from Amazon and it's called the Un-Wrinkle Foundation.