Review: Hair Heroes Intense UV And Thermal Barrier Shield

Hello, hello! here I am with yet another hair product review. This time it's the Hair Heroes Intense UV And Thermal Barrier Shield from a local brand Snoe.

I'm completely mystified by Snoe products. kakaiba kasi. they offer so many interesting things na when I see their product displays, kulang mga one hour kakatingin! Yay ^^ ..and their SAs are usually very friendly, hindi ka mahihiya magtanong! e kung nahihiya ka naman, here's their website, check it out: http://www.snoebeauty.com/

*hep, hep. this is not a sponsored post okay? I paid for this product and this is my honest opinion so those of you thinking I review products just because they were sent to me etc etc, go ahead and face the wall and don't forget to wear your cone of shame*

Bonggang bongga ^^

So this little guy here saved me from having uber-dry hair kasi nga nagpadigiperm ako di ba? e medyo shunga-shunga pa ko sa aftercare. I nearly died when I saw *horror* split ends a couple of weeks after digiperm. Sige imagine mo, curly hair + split ends. ampanget lang.

I was looking for something na hindi oily *of course* but super moisturizing and as much as possible, with heat protection *kasi ngaaaa, di ba, tumatakbo ako sa umaga. choz*

Hair Heroes Intense UV And Thermal Barrier Shield 249Php

That bottle lasted me only a week (generous amount when you apply, 4-5 pumps and pls take note, my hair is really really thin) but yep, I noticed the difference naman in such a short time.

BUT, BUT the smell, i don't like too much. A little too strong for me.

I didn't repurchase because:
1. The smell. It doesn't really smell bad, I just don't like the smell, the smell stays strong all throughout the day and once it even overpowered the cologne I was wearing. lol
2. The size. While the size is travel friendly, I don't think I need to tout this around since once (application) is enough for the whole day. I really don't like the idea of going back and forth every week just to buy a bottle of this.

Still, this is just perfect for hair begging to be CPR-ed. It has these two:
Argan Oil, Moringa Extract

Winner!

Just one bottle and my hair was cured! well, not really since I followed it up with OA amount of hair spa treatments. hehe. still, this is a good addition to your hair care regimen if you are trying to revive your dry, porous and brittle hair. Remember that it is also a heat protectant which is important if you style your hair everytime you go out.

so long, talong!

mwaaaah :*

PS our house help told me that if I notice a couple of ipis flying around, it means it will rain some time later. Whatever. rain or not, flying ipis is definitely not cool.

Quick Review: Maybelline Baby Skin Pore Eraser

Just a quick post/review about this pore eraser from Maybelline ~ my very recent discovery. Yay!

Basically this is a primer and if you're in the Philippines right now, make primers like this your BFF ~ it's freakin' hot out there! well, inside our house too. sheesh.

Maybelline Baby Skin Pore Eraser 299Php Watsons

I've been using this since uhm, Monday, and so far no complaints. I've been testing it under various conditions and yeah, still satisfied. It's lightweight, no smell, just soft and silky skin after application. and it does stay that way too for a long time. I even got my primed face wet and it's still there. *oh, just primed, not with makeup, okay? I forgot I already primed it when I decided to wash my face. lol*

My ultimate test for primers is when I take off my makeup before going to bed. There should be a respectable amount of makeup to take off, if not, the primer obviously didn't work right? This one passed.

That one time I wore it under heavy undereye concealer then I had to take it off to test another concealer *brand* (for skintone matching), the kind lady handed me a cottonball with makeup remover and we were both amazed how much makeup/concealer I was able to take off both eyes. I am not going to give credit to the concealer because I'm dumping it. it's useless ~slides and vanishes to nowhere! Gahhh! Only with this primer it was able to hold. But bye, bye concealer, this girl is moving on!

Anyway, selfies are more fun with this primer. bye bye large pores and fine lines. Hello baby skin *even without Camera360's Magic Skin filter* Hah! ^^

so there. give it a try. won't break your wallet too, only 299Php although I recommend skin testing first before buying since this primer has silica in it (just in case you are allergic to it) I'm not, and I'm comfortable using it too ^^

#ineedcoffee.iced.

Current Hair Favorites: Hair Loss Conditioner and Curl Sprays

First off, let me just tell you that I have extremely fine hair {think baby strands} and have been combating hair loss since.. uhm.. childhood? :D this is the reason why I chose to have it digipermed {fine hair part, not the hair loss part}

Honestly, my idea was to have it digipermed *voilà* all my hair woes solved! Obviously I was wrong, since I now have to deal with its aftercare which I would consider as a blessing in disguise since I am now more interested in haircare products than before.

*i still love my curls though. never going back to straight ;)*

minus limp, lifeless hair problem that digiperming was able to solve, my hair concerns now are: hair loss and digiperm aftercare.

For hair loss, I found this excellent hair loss conditioner {NaturVital hair loss conditioner, 495Php} at Beauty Bar just last month. It is a leave-in conditioner and it really does work - I've been using it for 2 weeks straight, applied immediately after washing. It passed my hair fall tests - that being how much hair strands falling when washing and how much on pillow in the morning - so that, for me, is a good enough sign that the conditioner is doing its job. It provides heat protection which I find helpful since I run mornings and it worries me when I expose my hair to the sun too much. I do think this is also a good product for digipermed hair since I didn't lose my curls even when used alone. not sticky at all. very light. i *love*

a friend recommended Pregroe shampoo as she is currently having a success in using it. I have yet to give it a try.

This one from Nature Republic is a hair essence {NATURE REPUBLIC Professional Pro Curl and Volume Boosting Water Hair Essence, 330Php} which I use to freshen up when traveling since it is small enough to fit my travel bag/baby bag. However, this is a bit sticky when worn especially when it's hot and humid outside.

Now my ultimate favorite! Yay! 

Prostyle Fuwarie Curl Styling Mist {Beauty Bar, 450php} is an excellent styling/setting mist. Since it provides heat protection too, it works well with curling irons. I don't really use curling irons, although I am a tiny bit interested in purchasing one, since I have a hubby who nags when I spend too much time preparing myself when going out. So, I just apply this styling mist, scrunch my curls real good then go. Believe me, the curls last all day - and *bouncy, bouncy* too! My curls have this nasty habit that when I leave them alone, they will all be straight by the end of the day, except for the ends which freakishly always flip to the wrong side! gaah! I love that it is not sticky when applied and doesn't weigh my hair down. also, not stiff on hair. Overall, great hold, not stiff, natural looking, bouncy curls. pretty awesome :)

NaturVital Hair Loss Leave-In Conditioner, NATURE REPUBLIC Professional Pro Curl and Volume Boosting Water Hair Essence, Prostyle Fuwarie Curl Styling Mist

#needcoffee.bye.

Skinfood Egg White Pore Mask Review

¡Hola! Would you believe, I contemplated about giving this blog a rest ~just for a couple of months ~ just yesterday? I was thinking of putting up a more "personal" blog, meaning less of my *cookiness* and more of things that really matter ~at least to me. lol :D Also, my work load is kinda killing me these days. Gaah! Anyway, I'm up and giddy because I just made my very first checkout at Sample Room! Yey! *fingers crossed* I hope it will all go well because I paid via PayPal and the last time I did that, I ran into a LOT of trouble and I almost died of heart attack [read TRAUMATIZING post here]

So today I'm going to share my thoughts about Skinfood Egg White Pore Mask. As you can see, mine is still in sachets/sample sizes. This one came with my online order as a freebie and I'm just so glad I tried it because I absolutely fell in love with it the first try :) definitely buying a tub of this!

Skinfood Egg White Pore Mask trial size

I'm a sucker for masks but I try to stay away from masks in sheets. It's really just a matter of personal preference okay? Nothing big and serious :)

so basically this pore mask tightens the pores which is exactly what I need right now. My face has decided to turn into an oil mine and I've noticed my pores are now larger than usual. Eeek! damage control is in order. Pronto!

This seems to be a good idea. Egg = firm and tight, yes? When I was in college, I used to break a raw egg, very carefully separate the white from the yellow, put back the yellow in the fridge ~ to my mama's amusement upon discovering rows of cracked egg shells with just the yellow part in them. lol ~ squeeze a little lemon juice into the white and tada! my very own egg mask!

anyway back to Skinfood.. this pore mask has a very thick consistency and white in color. The smell is a little too strong but it was nice *floral-baby powdery scent?* and not at all offending. It takes a little longer to dry than most masks of same consistency. When dried, it feels powdery to the touch.

I'm quite amazed with the immediate result. I can't say much about the blackhead part ~ my blackheads have this uncanny ability to hide themselves upon enemy approach ~ but the pore size was visibly smaller and my skin felt cleaner and of course, tighter. and that is just one time use, just imagine using it for weeks?! Yes, that's right, that's why I'm buying the tub!

However, please be forewarned that the smaller pores result doesn't last a very long time. Two days after, they were back to their original, vengeful size :(( so maybe that's why this pore mask is recommended to use twice or three times a week. Still buying it though! anything to make those unsightly pores shrink and perhaps with prolonged use, the pores will eventually stay small in size!

#sleepy -.-

Mood Matchy Matchy: Fran Wilson Mood Matcher 12 hr Lip Color Review

Fran Wilson Moodmatcher lipstick, you made it worth my mad-dashing to ATC last Monday! lol :D

My BFF is a self-confessed magic lipstick girl while I, I don't know, I just didn't take them seriously maybe because they reminded me of all those Barbie "lipsticks" I tantrum-ed for when I was a kid ~ pretty but useless. lol :D

but you know how endless harping and praising by your BESTFRIEND could get you to, at least, be curious about something right? So when this appeared on my Instagram newsfeed ~ posted by Beauty bar Philippines, I got curious and checked it out on makeupalley (where honest ratings of  makeup-loving ladies go) Whoa! It's 4.7 out of 5. Impressive!   

According to site, its strongest point would be its lasting power, 12 hours as claimed. I think there are 10 different colors to choose from, which are all available at Beauty Bar - ATC! Yey! The most popular ones are red and green. I got orange because according to their website, it turns to *shades of coral*. not on my lips though. it turned magenta-ish on me. lol. not a color spectrum I expected but it was nice. :)

Fran Wilson Mood Matcher 12 hr Lip Color in Orange 195Php

You see, that's the fun part of using magic lippies, you just don't know what you'll be sporting next. One time, I sported a BRIGHT PINK from the same stick. lol :D it was funny. :D

as for the staying power, YES, it stayed on my lips for a long time but definitely not STRONG 12 hours! partly because it's more of a tint (minus the dryness if you use regular tints like Benetint or Tony Moly Cherry tint) than a regular lipstick (say, Revlon lippies?) It feels like gloss on lips but it stains ~ so all good there. Another thing to consider is that it fades on "wetter" areas while the "drier" areas of your lips stay true to its "chosen color of the day". then the faded areas turn to yet another color/shade that it is possible to end with ombre lips if you don't check frequently enough. The plus side though is that it looks really natural on lips so if you end up with ombre lips, people would just assume you have "natural" ombre lips. lol. just kidding :) please do check once in a while. the stick is as fickle minded as me when it comes to color of the day :)

It has a funny smell ~ uhm, "granny lippy" smell? but its tolerable. to take this off, you will need an oil based makeup remover. your plain ol' tissue doesn't stand a chance as it really really REALLY stains the lips. :)

not drying at all which I love, love, love! can withstand eating and drinking. doesn't transfer *hubby approves*

hmm.. what else? ahh, 195Php for a stick. Beauty Bar Philippines has them online and instore. They also come in a box ~ not sure how many inside though ~ which is a little under 1k. Perfect if you are thinking of buying several for friends, etc.

Packaging is a little *bleh*, it looks flimsy but it is sturdy enough to be carried around. and it locks when you put the cap back on so this baby is safe when inside your bag. Careful with the cap as the stick doesn't go all the way down.

Last words? Fun. Natural looking. Cheap. Fun *again* lol :D

#willgetmatchingmoodring.lol :D

Mommy's Cheap Thrills: Shawill Blusher #01

Good morning Monday! BV people go away *erm, forever?* :D

You know how it is when you go out and shop and got everyone else in the family a little something only to realize that you didn't get anything for yourself at all and there's only 150Php in your pocket? Story of my life. lol :D

Usually I get myself a bottle of nailpolish and a cup of milk tea just to tide me over until the next payday ~or personal allowance~ but this time I found myself at Shawill's counter and face to face with some gorgeous looking blushers! I was intrigued by the shades they offer. The blushers look "matte" and exactly what I was looking for ~contrary to their eyeshadows which all look shimmery. The blushers look really nice. I decided to go with the ones in black compact instead of the cutesy [cheaper Php99] pink ones ~and I don't know why too!

I was looking for something "orangey" and the testers.., well, I don't know why but, this #01 shade looked orange enough for me when I was testing it but when I came home and opened it, it's reddish. I guess the closest shade to properly describe this would be "Coral" so yeah, I'm still okay with this ~but still eyeing #04, that's the orangey shade according to my research. lol >.<

Shawill Blusher #01 Php138

Shawill Blusher #01 "pan" shot

This blusher is such a revelation! It's smooth to apply and not chalky at all. Looks natural on me and not cheapy, if you ask me. very much buildable and good pigmentation. Shot below is two swipes already so I usually need just one since I have this habit of applying cheek tint underneath. Staying power is decent enough. Use it with a primer and it stays on all through the day but without primer, reapplication by midday perhaps. The amount of product in pan is just right ~as you can see, when you flip the blusher open, there's a free brush underneath so by calculation, there's only a decent amount of product in there but that's okay because I don't want too many of it anyway ~i need it to be almost empty before expiration date, you see. so I won't feel bad throwing it away.

While I'm loving the product itself, I really think the compact [case ~whatever you call it] sucks. lol :D it feels what, flimsy? that's why I don't carry it around in my bag. The brush is almost useless [go see first photo] mas malago pa ang walis ng auto supply! [walis with bangs post] but honestly, for its price, sulit na! Better buy a Z-palette then depot. lol :D

#hurrayforcheapfinds!

Popoy Approves! Spiderman Lightup Timer Toothbrush

My son has this weird habit of changing names and naming things/people. Just last month, he insisted that we call him "Nani". While I didn't really like it, we went along with it and in no time, everyone in the household referred to him as "Nani". I thought it was that sometimes I call him "Noni" for no particular reason however, the other night, he came up with yet another name to call himself. this time, it's "Popoy"

of course, I was aghast!

then his yayo is now named "Berting" which used to be "Jujun" (his real name is Jun). Please don't ask me how and where he got these names because I really don't know.

Anyway, I saw this blinking toothbrush and decided to get one for Popoy since he's into Spider-man and Batman these days (goodbye Cars!) The light blinks for full 60 seconds which is good since it entertains Popoy while I go deeper into his mouth without risking a bite. With a regular toothbrush, a full 10 seconds would be a miracle already so for me, this is godsend!

has soft bristles and this is very important because I don't want Popoy hurting his gums while brushing his teeth. He's getting good at brushing his front teeth by himself but he gets gigil so I make sure his toothbrush has soft bristles.

According to package, when the light no longer flashes, it is time to change the toothbrush (approx 3 months)

no problem so far in using this toothbrush. That is if you don't count the number of times I had to look for it come brushing time since Popoy took it and played with Spiderman somewhere.

Overall, I'm happy with this lightup timer toothbrush since we're having a huge success in using it. I'm thinking now maybe I should include this into my toddler inaanaks' gift bags!

#excitedforwednesday! Yay! :)

Perfect Lippie Project: N.Y.C. New York Color Ultra Last Lip Wear 405B Blue Rose

I think I found my perfect pink. This. Is. The. One. :)

N.Y.C. New York Color Ultra Last Lip Wear 405B Blue Rose is a really nice fuchsia lipstick with blue undertones. The perfect blue-pink lipstick for me! It has the right amount of pink and blue in it that successfully brightened up my face without coming across as obscene - and even without sleep on my part. lol. What sealed the deal for me was the creaminess of the lippie and yet it settles into an almost matte finish once applied. I was amazed how easy it is to apply considering that it is cheap. One could wear it without a lipliner since it doesn't move around like other creamy lippies do. lol.  It glides, it doesn't tug  or drag and it doesn't emphasize the lines on my lips. Coverage is good too. Didn't chap my lips even without balm over or underneath. It fades evenly, not disappear lip area by lip area, which is good :)

Packaging is sturdy enough for me to confidently let it stay inside my bag along with my valuables. Cap stays put as there are locks on its sides.

There are tiny blue shimmers on tube but it barely shows on lips. as I told earlier, it looks almost matte on lips. I honestly think Barbie would approve!

N.Y.C. New York Color Ultra Last Lip Wear 405B Blue Rose

Okay the cons. 

Doesn't retract all the way down so the top is always peeking. If you're not careful when putting back the cap, you'll surely ruin the stick. Also, while it belongs to the ultra last line, I'm not sure about the "long wear" part. I chew my lips absentmindedly so I'm not really expecting lippies to survive but it sure would be nice if they do.

Another thing to consider would be its availability. I ordered mine online and waited 2 long months - gahhh, just imagine the wait!! I paid 260Php for it and yeah, it's worth the wait. :)

Something's telling me this one will stay inside my bag for a long, loooong time :)

#pinkislove.

In2it Liquid Eyeliner Review

Six months ago, I was begging friends to teach me how to line my eyes. Today, I'm going to review a liquid eyeliner. how's that for progress? lol :D

Truth be told, this is my very first liquid eyeliner after graduating from cream eyeliners - which I would give much credit for my eyelining skills <that's tip #1: practice on cream liners first before attempting to use liquid liners because liquids require precision right from the moment you pull that applicator out of its tube> I'm happy I chose this as my first brand to try because it didn't disappoint and it didn't scare me away from liquid eyeliners *forever* and I find it really easy to apply and yeah, it's pretty, methinks - whereas the second brand I picked up.. well.. but that's another story right? so onto my review :)

In2it Liquid Eyeliner in Very Black and Marine

I got this 2-in-1 thingy on sale for about 380+Php. I was really after the blue one <marine> but they were being sold by pairs so..

Please excuse my uncurled eyelashes. Marine is so pretty, don't you think?

..and since these happen to be the "shiny" variant <they also offer matte>, they dry off "shiny". Marine has some sparklies going on, Very Black has none so it's really nice to wear even if you're just out to pick up some groceries. :) I love wearing Marine when I'm being all lazy to do eyestuff. Doesn't sting the eye. Dries fast.

These babies are not hard to remove. Just give it a good rub and it will be gone in no time. That may not sound too good for some especially if you are looking for a long-wearing one but it doesn't smudge (read: panda eyes, it applies to bad eyeliners too, you know)  and if you don't rub then it stays put *parang sticker lang ang peg pagdry na, peel off din ang drama pag gustong iremove. lol* My lids are super oily, so I'm more concerned on the eyeliner smudging one me than it's staying power. With this liquid liner, I just have to remind myself not to rub my eyes.

swatches - rubbed once - rubbed xxx times

Okay, what I don't like about this liquid eyeliner is the brush. Those stray ones make it a lot harder to apply the eyeliner. If not for that, this would definitely be the best liquid eyeliner in my book but because of it, I'm now looking for something with same finish but better brush :( I sometimes resort to using a brush from another eyeliner brand (the one with good brush but bad finish - washed, of course) but that proves to be a pain especially when one is in a hurry. 

so there.

#hungry :(

Nature Republic Soothing Moisture Aloe 80% Toner Review

I meant to review this a long time ago but my camera sucks so I had to hijack my hubby's phone to be able to get better shots. ;)

This is my default toner because it is very mild and did not trigger my skin allergy. I love the smell too :)

Nature Republic Soothing Moisture Aloe 80% Toner

*lookie! it's almost gone ;)*

Okay, it doesn't do anything special but for me, its mildness is a big plus. My skin cannot stand too strong toners; I won't break out (pimple, acne etc) but as sure as the sun will come up tomorrow, hives will come out - in FULL force!

One word of caution though, people with oily skin, please be careful when using this, as I think it encourages oilies to come out (perhaps it's the moisturizing component of this toner) :( in my honest opinion - and I'm a combi -  oilies will come out in 3-4 hours after application (this is wash-tone-moisturize only). doesn't matter though if you will use it under a mattifier (that is if you prime prior to makeup application)

It's 290Php from Nature Republic Festival Mall branch

so that's it! :)

#mustbemyshortestreviewpostever.

Perfect Lippie Project: Wet N Wild Silk Finish Lipstick in 514A Cherry Frost

So who wants juicy lips? 

Here is a lipstick that made my lips look so much juicier and yeah, fuller *methinks*

Wet N Wild Silk Finish Lipstick in 514A Cherry Frost is crazy pigmented, color payoff is really amazing and it is quite true to its tube color. The swatch below is just one swipe, I don't think I'll need more.

Wet N Wild Silk Finish Lipstick in 514A Cherry Frost 

I bought this for 119Php at SM Southmall. I was looking for Wet 'n' Wild #521A Fuschia w/ Blue Pearl but it was OOS so I just picked this up since its swatches looked good. I wasn't expecting it to be THIS red and I kinda like it. It's my kind of red ;)

This is not a long wearing one, but it's a dream to apply and it stains a bit.

Anyway, WHAT I DON'T LIKE about this product is the packaging. This was the last 514A and I didn't like the other colors available so I took and paid for this even if the cap has a tiny crack :( Also the lipstick itself doesn't go all the way down as seen above, top middle photo, which is very hazardous to clumsy ladies like me. lol :D Just be careful when replacing the cap so you won't mess up the lippie, or if you own a lip brush, might as well, depot ;)

Cherry Frost on me :)

#mustlovered.

I *heart* Original Carmex Jar!

So last April *hehe.. now you know how late this post is!* Carmex PH sent me a goodie bag for review. I got 2 click sticks, 1 squeeze tube and the original jar as seen here.

Truth be told, I wasn't in a real hurry to try Carmex as I was a fierce Alba Botanica lip balm fan and since I realized, it's not possible for me to go through all four Carmex products within, say, a year, I decided to give one of the click sticks to my BFF mommy T and the squeeze tube to my daughter, for review. lol :D The original jar and the Cherry click stick went straight to my purse. haha.

I really find the original jar interesting even before the goodie bag especially when I heard it works well with insect bites. Mommy mode on, Carmex can be used as antiseptic for minor cuts, burns and insect bites - and that's according to their site: Carmex website

It also claims to work on relieving the "itchies" caused by athlete's foot, for drying your pimples in record time,  and as a cuticle softener. Yeah, works on elbows and knees too. I cannot confirm these claims for now as I'm not sure if I would want to try Carmex on those areas but we will see. Perhaps if I buy a separate pot for body parts since I'm already using my current pot on my lips. *hello? from my lips to your athlete's foot?*

I think I started using this pot early June when I got this nasty sore in the corner of mouth and it was hella painful!! The BFF told me that her Carmex click stick worked well on his son's chapped lips so I gave my tin pot a chance. I'm so glad I did because I instantly felt good after applying it on my lips and to my surprise, it did more than sooth my lips; it definitely made it smoother! think happy, gliding lippie and you'll get what I mean :)

so, yeah, I'm a convert. hehe

In my book, Carmex is a medicated balm so it's definitely not your ordinary balm. I tried it on an insect bite and yes, it did something to it too (the sting disappeared after applying a thin layer on it) I like applying it to my lips before going to bed then a quick gentle lip scrub in the morning while taking a bath. Soft, baby lips the whole day, love! I now use this everyday, this tin pot, and the click stick is sitting pretty inside my bag :)

definitely purchasing another one as mine is already halfway down.

Oh, as it is a medicated balm, expect the "medicated" smell as well, like a Chinese balm but trust me, it's so good, you won't mind the smell. You'll get used to it anyway.

Thank you CarmexPH for this opportunity to get to know your products! I'm loving them :)

#lovingtheweather! :)

Tony Moly Clean Dew Lemon Seed Massage Cream Review

I'm having a not so good day today and I'm in bad need of milk tea *can you make that a litre, pretty please?* It's review week at work and someone who is "overly" informed has been having the time of her life marking my work with ugly mistake marks. Mind you, my work is far from wrong, she is not even sure if her information is correct and acceptable, she just assumed. *sigh* :(

Moving on, here below is my favorite cleansing cream from Tonymoly :) I honestly think Tonymoly has the best Korean skincare products available locally, either that or i just got lucky, their products suit my skin very well. I've been testing a couple of brands and I find Tonymoly as the most effective for me. My only complaint is that Tonymoly doesn't have a branch or even a tiny stall anywhere south so basically, if I would like a Tonymoly fix, the nearest would be SM Makati, still a long travel from where I am now - well, thank God, not for long. hihi :)

150ml for only 198Php, not bad.

According to Tony Moly Philippines' official Facebook page:

Clean Dew Lemon Seed Massage Cream


This massage/cleansing cream has a skin brightening effect.


Tissue off Type
Contains Lemon extract / 10-Seed extract
For Oily / acne-prone skin
For people with a dark and somber skin tone
For people who want a light massage cream


Php 198

A squirt of yellow, creamy goodness ;)

I'm not a "whitening" type of person anymore - I once was, but not anymore; I'm more into "brightening" products now as I find them more helpful especially when I'm in a lot of stress - which happens a lot these days. Also, I realized, i like my discolorations too. lol :D

This indeed brightens the skin right after use. You can either tissue it off or wash it off with warm water (not tap as it won't completely come off if tap or cold) The smell is hands down LEMON and it can be overwhelming at first (I was ordered out of the room, the first time the sensitive-nosed hubby encountered the smell. lol) It is very creamy, a delight to apply :) What I super like about this cleansing cream is that it instantly melts off oil in the face. I use this in the morning (I hate morning oilies! nakakabwiset lang -.-) as well as when taking off my makeup because it does a really good job of picking up residues left by the oil-based makeup remover. I would compare this to your good ol' Pond's cold cream, yeah, the smell too.

I'm also digging its packaging. I like that it is in a tube rather than in a tub as it is more hygienic that way. very convenient to bring when traveling. It didn't irritate my skin too. While it is effective in melting and keeping the oilies at bay, it didn't dry out my skin so that would also be a plus for me since I have combi skin. 

Except for the strong smell -which you can get used to after some time - there's nothing I don't like about this product. I highly recommend if you're looking for a good cleansing cream :)

#irefusetobeharassed! :D

Perfect Lippie Shade Project: Nyx Round Lipstick in Eucalyptus

I'm not in a very nice mood today. I'm on a forced diet (got my dental braces adjusted yesterday and it hurts like hell to eat today) and I hate it. -.-

Anyway..

In my never ending quest for the perfect raspberry lipstick, I was introduced to the fun, fun world of fuchsia pinks! I get really *kilig* when I get to use this shade since it's a strictly no-no when hubby is around. lol :D

Nyx Round Lipstick in Eucalyptus

I like that it is bold and bright. It is frosted and of course it has shimmers and even if it looks obscene on me, I love wearing it. It's a grab-and-go lippie, something you should wear when out without anything on (doesn't apply when you're in your birthday suit, btw) 

NYX Eucalyptus is a blue-toned, bright pink lippie that settles into a satin finish. It is creamy and very  much pigmented so it's a delight to apply. Stays on for a decent amount of time (2-3 hours) but transfers easily when you start doing things with your mouth - okay, that doesn't sound right, but yeah, this is something you need to reapply after eating/drinking/whatever. Doesn't fade but I think it stains a bit. I would easily give this shade a 5, I bet it's a Zero if you ask my husband. lol :D

NYX rounds sell for 150Php a piece, online and instore.

#NYXisaddicting!kisses! :)

A Tale of One Costly Accident

The first time iPad2 has been made available locally - that was last year - my husband cajoled me to heavens (or was it hell?) to get one. I was hesitant, particularly because Mac in general, in my opinion, is not as flexible as other OS, and that everything costs something - well, anything that is useful and has point. Okay, that opinion may have slightly changed overtime as I found some really great apps for free, and, let's all admit, it has made computing life a little more convenient especially if you have wifi set up at home. So I gave in to the pressure and got us a 64gb, 30k+ price tag at that time (I wasn't planning to go all the way but I was left with no choice at all since it was the only one left at the store at that time, and my hubby was practically on his knees, begging me to get it)

Then the unthinkable happened. A week after the purchase, the ever precious iPad slipped out of its neoprene sleeves and landed on its corner, the corner where you stick your earphones. There was a HUGE dent but thankfully the screen was not cracked and the earphone jack was still working. NOTE 1, if you do physical damage to your iPad, the warranty is automatically rendered null and void - meaning you can't get it fixed for FREE anymore (Please take note of this, you'll find this reference important later)

We decided to bring it to an Apple service center to get some advice on what to do. NOTE 2, iPad was still working properly at that time, every jack was responding the way they should be, the unit was only dented in one corner. The only advice we got was to go wait until something abnormal happens and pray for that day to not come at all. I was like, "huh?! that's it? you're weird" *mumbling*

Anyway, as we got past the 11-month mark and nothing untoward happened, we got really comfortable. I was impressed, believing it was hard stuff, not to be swayed by a waist-level drop. Until that night I forgot to pray for "the day that shouldn't come".

The day started as usual, the baby harvested his Snoopy Fair coins and my daughter checked out some music videos, then they charged the iPad. After charging, it was my husband's turn to use, only the iPad decided not to wake up from its sleeping state.

There was panic everywhere. and lots of blaming going around. I was left in the middle, thinking of what to do. I did the usual troubleshooting, sticking it to the desktop computer, reset combo, cartwheeling to amuse the iPad - nada. It was dead. Just like that.

If some of you are curious about what exactly happened, let's just say that my beloved iPad went blind - or perhaps got a bad case of glaucoma. The buttons were faintly detectable, and they were still responsive to touch but the screen was too dark, I had to squint to really see the buttons.

Examining the warranty card, we found out that we were days away from expiration. As any normal person would do, we brought it back to where we bought it:  SWITCH - ATC

It got assessed, fondled, caressed, felt all over. I got interrogated, blamed, not given a vote of confidence. We said goodbye to the iPad as it was going to the iPad hospital. We left the store defeated and a little lost.

Long story short, a call came a week later, it was SWITCH and the verdict was in. We were informed that the only way out was to pay the "exchange price" of 16kPhp and in return, we will get a "new" iPad. I was not really delighted with this news. With a very heavy heart, I paid the exchange price, got the "new" iPad wrapped in a bubble wrap, and asked for a paper bag, as I felt they, at SWITCH, didn't have any intention of wrapping up my purchase - they just casually handed the "new" iPad to me without any further ado. They gave me a paper bag made out of scrap magazine. At least it was a glossy mag and I get to keep the bubble wrap - oh, you know, for popping when stressed? I was stressed alright.

Now that we know how fragile - and pricey - an iPad could get, I got really nervous carrying it around inside my bag without anything to protect it but the bubble wrap and that nice, glossy mag-slash-paper bag. I was all "ninja", ready to attack, to anyone walking really close to me. I even had a heart attack when some kid bumped the side of my bag while trying to pass by me.

Then we passed by an OtterBox stall and decided to "Otterize"  our "new" iPad to protect it from any kind of damage. Their iPad's Defender series looks and sounds really nice as it is, according to website and their saleslady, drop-proof and scratch-proof. The catch? Of course, there's a catch! what were you thinking?! iPad Defender is 5kPhp and after fitting the Defender on our "new" iPad, it now has the size and weight of a full-size laptop - okay, that was exaggerating things, a notebook computer would be more apt. A far cry from  what a tablet should be. As for the claims, we have yet to find out. The only guarantee they could offer is that if the case cracks, they will replace it. I thought it would be the iPad they would replace if I get their case cracked but, uhm, no. At least the saleslady was nice and accommodating.

Play hide and seek with the "new" iPad!

Now it's time to pull out your calculators and do the math then tell me why my title is such and why this mom is pissed and ranting on her blog.

So, kids, for today, Teacher Gie will point out a thing or two you should have learned from this story:

• Buy your bumpers, protective gears, gas masks, whatever, BEFORE you even think of buying an iPad. Hell - buy finger gloves, if there's such a thing!
• iPads are very delicate beings. They don't like being dropped, bumped and ironically, TOUCHED.
• Scratches, dents and cracks are the only excuses Mac has, to impose their "exchange" program. Don't expect them to explain further why your iPad died on you. 
• When they say it's "new" iPad, that doesn't mean it will come in a box and a proper paper bag especially if you bought it from SWITCH-ATC.
• Not all Apple Service centers provide excellent service and sound advice especially if you are from the Philippines. Dream on.
• Don't buy 64gb, you don't need that many storage space on your iPad anyway. and if you do, better buy yourself a proper device aka USB or hard drive instead. That way, even if your iPad dies on you, you still have copies of your docs and they can be revived. 
• Apple doesn't do repairs. Either they troubleshoot or they "exchange" so it's basically, for free or for half the original price of your unit. No other way around, José. This is what I was told.
• Your "new" iPad from the exchange program comes with a 3-month warranty. Just. 3. Months.
• Bubble wraps are a great stress reliever.

and if I may, I would like to make this suggestion to Apple: please go an extra mile -or a baby step, if a mile is too much - and include a protective gear with EVERY unit that comes out of your store? so that we don't have to buy it separately and end up with a not-so-fitting one. so when your customers buy them, they will be protected right from the very start and will not look like a costly accident waiting to happen. If this proves to be very costly on your part - providing protective gear with every unit - at the very least, improve your design and make it sturdier? so when we drop it, which is pretty much unavoidable considering how you designed your units, it won't dent so easily? I don't think this is a very unreasonable demand coming from your consumer, we're paying a not-so-cheap price anyway.

and please, please, better training for your service staff? it's quite annoying to be treated like that when I was the one shelling out half-month's worth of salary.

While  Apple-Mac programs are good and indeed their products, innovative, I hate to say this but I'm half a fan now. I think i'll just stick to their MP3s from now on and nothing more than 15kPhp. This way, I won't be hurt and heartbroken and broke when it dies. It's just too pricey of a risk to take. 

#epicfail.

Nature Republic's Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel Review

Ladies and gentlemen, what we have now is yet another late post. lol :D

I've been using this since January and while I'm really impressed with this brand/product, it's only now that I can confidently write a review about the product - okay, okay, I got lazy, that's all. :D

Anyway, as mentioned earlier, I really like using this aloe gel for reasons below.. Nature Republic's Aloe Vera Soothing Gel looks like this:

That clear gel instantly cools the skin. I like using this when my skin allergy is acting up as it has soothing effect. I was not expecting too much from this product as it is relatively cheap at 220Php (tub is big, tbh) but was really impressed when it was able to tame my very angry, very red welts - my allergic reaction to dust. I think this aloe gel is perfect for soothing sunburns too!

According to Nature Republic website:

It contains 92% real aloe that calms the reddened and dry skin stimulated by the sun and provides moisture.

I heard this is Nature Republic's bestseller. I won't be surprised if it really is as the product does wonders to the skin, I can personally attest to that. 

Interestingly, this soothing gel can be used in so many different ways:

I tried it as hair treatment, nail essence, moisturizer and for mild sunburn, and it seems to work as claimed. It's not sticky and has a very pleasant smell. When used on my skin allergies, it kills the itchy feeling at once so no more scratching for me. Not sticky at all when used as hair treatment. While it didn't stop altogether, I noticed it was able to reduce hair fall.

What I don't like though is the packaging. Since it is in a tub, you have to scoop out the gel, dipping your fingers/hands in and out everytime you need to, which is unhygienic, if you ask me. Add to that the fact that its consistency is a little thin/liquidy, making  it doubly hard to scoop out an ample amount in one hand-dip motion. Not really travel-friendly as the tub is huge and really bulky. I think this product is better off in a tube. I'm even thinking of transferring the gel to a bottle with pump so I can bring it with me on travels.

Oh, one more thing, this, i think, is only for mild skin hydration as it wasn't able to entirely combat my scaly reptilian skin. lol :D

yes, I will repurchase, because it is really good. :)

#Fridaybekindtome.kisses! :)

Perfect Lippie Shade Project: NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in San Paulo

I must confess, I am turning into some kind of a lipstick addict. Blogging indeed does things to a person. lol :D

If rewarding myself a lipstick every payday is not an addiction, then I don't know what is.

I would like to think that these purchases are part of my so-called "perfect-lippie shade" project. That's what I always tell the hubby and despite some eye-rolling I get from him, it seems to be working. he he ^^

 You see, I'm looking for the perfect raspberry shade. For me, it should be something that is blue-based, pink lippie with the right amount of redness in it. That should be, not too red, not too pink, just something in between. Confusing right? Yeah, it confuses me too. lol :D Just to give you an idea, fuchsia must be the closest color description.

Funny thing about lipsticks is that they, most of the time, react to your body's chemistry aka change color like a mood ring. :D Now, i don't rely on hand/arm swatches as I am acidic which means a perfectly normal lippie color could transform into a clownish, funny shade a couple of minutes after application. As I am still looking for the right shade that will fit me to a T (I would like to have my own signature lippie color), I'm sticking to drugstore brands for now.

Now, unto my PLS project (again, that's Perfect Lippie Shade project)..

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in San Paulo

as this is my first time to do a lippie review, please forgive my amateurish photos and review. I'll try to improve this in the coming days ^^ I bought this from a tiny, hidden stall up 2nd floor at Alabang Town Center for 300Php.Online, it sells for 270-320Php but I don't really mind since I could swatch first before buying anything. 

This is not my first purchase from that stall. Prior to this, I bought NYX Matte in Merlot which is a lovely, lovely red shade. unfortunately, the hubby doesn't dig, so off I went to look for a muted shade. After an hour of swatching, I chose NYX matte lip cream in San Paulo.

Okay, I really like this shade on me and the hubby approves so I can safely wear it whenever we go out. It's a lovely, wearable warm pink shade but nothing really shocking (see below). Liquid when applied but dries off to a matte finish. Once set, it stays for hours which is good since I usually forget to reapply. lol :D I think I got 5 hours straight without it fading on me, drinks and little bites included. However, I didn't risk it on a burgerfest - that's just too risky for me. lol :D Coverage is good, as you can see, my lips are pigmented so coverage is very important to me. It also brightens the face instantly :)

The only downside is, well, this can be drying on lips. To combat this problem, I use a non-petroleum lip balm so it won't affect the staying power of this lip cream prior to application then wait for a couple of minutes to let my lips absorb the lip balm first. Sans lip balm, you are most likely to end up with chapped lips.

bare lips vs one swipe of San Paulo. Me without makeup -.-

That's me without makeup, just a swipe of San Paulo to give you an idea how the color pops out giving you an instant "refreshed" look so forgive the dark undereye circles and barely there eyebrows. lol ^^

Still, this is not the shade I'm aiming for so..

#nextlippieplease?kisses! :)

PS There is nothing purpley about this shade, shade above must be because of poor lighting. San Paulo is coral-pink in shade as sometimes it looks more coral to me. lol :D I'll try to update this post with a proper picture soon :) 

Okay here it is..

There, closer to real-life shade.

 

Note to self: never take lippie photo in front of the computer. lol :D

Watsons Deep Cleansing Nose Pore Tape Review

You all know that I am a nose pore strip addict right? For me, SKINFOOD Black Bean Nose Pack Pore Strip is still the best however, acquiring it - even in box of 7 - proves to be a little expensive, especially if I don't really have anything else to buy along with it - as I still have to consider the shipping fee which sometimes costs more than the product itself. So yes, I hoard whenever opportunity presents itself but I knew back then, I need something cheaper as an alternative.

A quick browse through racks of Watsons and this is what I came up with:

Watsons Deep Cleansing Nose Pore Tape

To tell you the truth, I'm not really a fan of Watsons products. Yes, I'm impressed with how big their selections are, in terms of brand-product variety - hell, it's like a big department store of all things beauty! - but when it comes to their own products, I always catch myself a wee bit hesitating. Okay, what convinced me to give this a try is the country, written on the label, where these pore strips were made:  Korea. Well, that's interesting enough for me so I bought a box (10 sheets) for 99Php

So, basically it works the same as any other pore strip. It should clean clogged pores and remove unwanted blackheads.

TO USE:  Wash face and towel dry. Wet nose area (ONLY nose area!!) then with dry hands, peel off the white strip off the plastic film then apply onto your wet nose. Smooth out any trapped bubbles from ridge to sides then leave for 10-15 minutes. Wait until it hardens then peel off. Rinse residue with water or clean with toner. Of course, avoid using on broken, damaged  or sensitive skin.

OKAY, HERE'S MY VERDICT.

I like this pore strip as it was able to pull out blackheads as efficiently as the Skin Food pore strip; okay not 100% but 80% maybe, which is good enough for me as I use this twice a week anyway. What I don't like about it is the type of glue they used to make the pore strip. While the glue grips like crazy on skin (ouchy! ouchy!), it creates fuzz-like threads of stray glue on the edges of the strip that tickle the nose (upon application) - can get really annoying! Aside from that, I'm quite satisfied with this pore strip :) so yes, I recommend it. In fact, I'm down to my last pore strip and will buy another box within the week. :)

#grouchyme.ihatemondays.

Ellefar Nose Highlighting Powder Review

Lol. This one I got from Saizen, along with the charcoal mask, for *surprise!surprise!* 85Php! I wasn't really looking for a higlighting powder, in fact, I was considering to buy one that is in liquid form then, but I got really curious about this nose highlighting thing that I figured if all else fails, I end up with a highlighting powder. lol :D

Majolica Majorca-ish tag ^^

This is the gold-ish one, the other one was silver and I figured this is the tamer color of the two. lol :)

sealed. nice ^^

gold dust! ^^

Swatched! 

highlighting powder alright!

This Ellafar highlighting powder means business! It is indeed shimmery and does a good job in highlighting whatever part of your body you would like to highlight. Although I still don't get it, how the "nose highlighting" part fits in the picture. lol :D I tried dusting it ever so lightly on the sides of the nose closer to the tear ducts and another time, on the bridge of the nose, both times were major FAIL :D  Okay, I'm a major klutz when it comes to proper makeup so let me know how this worked for you please :)

Nose or no nose highlighting skills, I like using this highlighting powder on my cheeks/cheek bones, on top of my blush-on. Seems to be working and looks  good on photos. looks natural enough too that I don't get dagger looks from my ever so conservative husband. lol :) However, if your skin is oily to begin with (for some reason, there are days when my face is oilier than normal), better skip this highlighting powder as it will only make your face look oilier. *menolikey* This is also the reason why I put buying a liquid highlighter on the back burner for now, maybe this highlighting thing is not really for me.

#springcleaningmydrafts.kisses! :)

Random Tuesday: Prescription Glasses, Cheesy Bacon, Naan, Kopiccino, Magnum and Double Chocolate Ice Blended!

Yesterday I went to the mall to buy a bottle of green nailpolish; I came back with a pair of prescription eyeglasses. lol :D What?!!! at 895Php, I think it's a deal! and I badly needed one too (I'm 200+ now -.-) It's multicoated, ideal for computer use. so we'll see .. eye checkup included at Ideal Vision :) 

I say cheese and bacon are a match made in heaven, don't you think? I'm happy KFC came up with something like this. Yey ^^

Cheesy Bacon Pasta at KFC

I just love Breadtalk's Cheesy Naan. Good thing too, they opened a branch at Solenad II so it's much closer to me now. Just pop them in the oven toaster then savor the awesome cheesy smell while reheating. Of course, it's "awesomer" to eat it while still warm. lol :D

I'm not really into cappuccino, I prefer mocha, but I got intrigued by Kopiccino from Kopiko that I had to try it! I bought ten sachets and I'm loving it!  lol :D It's foamy and comes with a pack of choco granules.. so divine! :)

Magnum has been making waves since the first time it landed on Philippine shores. I say their viral marketing worked as the first time I saw this on my Facebook newsfeed, I made the hubby run to the nearest 7-11 store to buy me one. It was 60Php at that time, it's now only 55Php but supermarkets are selling them for only 50Php. I personally like Almond. ^^

Speaking of coffee and chocolates, here below is my latest favorite from Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, their Double Chocolate Ice Blended. really really craving for this right now -.-

#i'mcyclops-ladyversion.kisses! ^^