Sunday Makeup Haul

This has got to be one of my biggest makeup hauls in my life. I don't buy a lot of makeup. It's only recently that I discovered the joy of experimenting with it... especially on other people. Harhar!

Most of the products here, I used on my cousin for her prom yesterday. E.l.f. is a really good makeup brand for me. Why? It's cheap and it meets my expectations. Plus it doesn't give me allergies. I won't list the products down anymore because you can clearly see what they are. I will have reviews for each one though. I already started with the Nichido Juicy Lips in my previous post.

P.S.
I bought these 2 weeks ago.

Nichido Juicy Lips

I've only used this a couple of times but I can say that I like it. This product (or brand) gets mixed reviews from everybody. It seems women my age tend to like it whereas teenagers complain that this makes their lips darken. I've read several reviews regarding Nichido's lipsticks at a teen discussion board and their verdict was they didn't like it. I've also read some makeup artists' reviews and they said that they like this. So, trusting on the wisdom of the ages, I bought one for P88 at Beauty by SM.

This shade is Hawaiian Punch. It's highly pigmented. I only apply a small amount on my lower lips and blend it out with a brush or just press my lips together.

See how much color that is? I only applied this very lightly. I'd say this is even better than my Dear Darling Lipsticks. They also have the same shades as the ones I bought from Etude House and at a fraction of the price.

I can't really say if it dries out my lips as my lips tend to dry up really fast nowadays regardless of the brand of lipstick that I use. Dunno if it's weather/climate related or what. I also don't get breakouts and allergies with this product. 

It doesn't do well in heat though, as you can see in the picture. This was taken one night when it wasn't that hot yet. My other lipsticks were not melting. This one was.

I plan to buy all the colors in this line! 

Do you have any good/bad experiences with Nichido? Care to share?

Oooops, She Did It Again

Then...

and Now...

It is not known if this was accidental or what. Surely, being a top model, she very well knows the revealing glare of paparazzi flashbulbs.

Afterwards, she covered herself up with a folder...

Read the store here. Photo credits from Mail Online.

I Heart Sam Tsui

Remember the 2 Chinese Boys or Backdorm Boys? They were internet sensations during the early part of 2000. These two other guys, Kurt Schneider and Sam Tsui are on a whole new different level. They rock is an understatement. What started as a dorm room fun turned out to be a 5 million view (and counting) video.

One evening, Sam was supposed to record a duet with a female but the girl flaked out. Instead of cancelling the whole thing, Kurt suggested that Sam sing every part separately. Then they put some digital magic to piece it together and this is the result. 

Fashion 21 Color Set

It's only recently that I've discovered my fascination for makeup. I find myself reading more on makeup via blogs, tutorials, etc. That fascination led me to my first palette - the Fashion 21 Color Set. I originally wanted the dollface palettes but changed my mind when I saw this at Beauty by SM. Priced at P375 for 48 colors. I'd say that's a good deal especially for a newbie like me. 

I'm going to hold off purchasing the dollface palettes until I get the hang of blending, contouring, mixing and matching. For that price, I think this is perfect for my practice arsenal. 

The colors are shimmery and the pigments are good. I say good, not great. I have to apply a couple of times to make the light colored eyeshadows visible. Staying power is good. I wore this yesterday to church/mall and today in the office. I didn't need to retouch. But I brought my Maybelline Quad E/S just in case. 

It also didn't give me allergies, itchy eyes or rashes and bumps. Ever Bilena does. I was surprised that the packaging doesn't look too cheap. This comes in a black velvet pouch. The cover is actually silver plastic. It comes with a mirror inside the cover and 2 useless applicators. Bravo to the local makeup industry. I guess the quality is good because Fashion21 is partners with Fanny Serrano who also has his own makeup line  under the same company. For international readers, Fanny Serrano is a famous makeup artist here in the Philippines. He's the preferred makeup artist of Sharon Cuneta and has been around for decades.

Without further ado, I present to you the swatches:

From top row to bottom.

Thanks to MB and mom for modelling the swatches!

I'm going to use this on my cousin for her prom on Saturday (which is also my birthday). I'll take pictures and show you the results. 

Is it worth it? Absolutely! Will I repurchase? Not for a long time. = )

Update: Monea Curl Defining Lotion

Reader a asked a question about Monea Curl Defining Lotion. I do apologize for the very late reply. You can get Monea at Watsons or Beauty by SM. To read my original post on this, click here.

An Open Letter

Dear Friends and Beloved Readers of this blog,

I am a writer. I've had several essays, articles, short stories, etc. published in different newspapers and magazines since I was 6 years old.  Now I'm not boasting. There is a reason behind this so please stay with me.

I have a background in journalism, half of it comes from school and the other half comes from my sister, who, among other things is an accomplished journalist, editor-in-chief and an award-winning writer. Most of the things that I've learned and applied to my position as (ex) editor-in-chief/writer of different publications came from her.  I myself have won several writing competitions during my days as an active writer.

Now that I've built up my credibility as a writer, let me say this again. I AM A WRITER. I am a writer first, then a blogger second. I say this because I know some writers who are irked by bloggers who are self-proclaimed writers. Just because they have a blog, they immediately claim to be writers. I am not one of those bloggers. I am a writer and a blogger and I am not perfect. I accept checks, criticisms and opinions about my writing with open arms. They make me better after all.

Though I didn't get on the blogging bandwagon right away, I've been blogging since 2005 via a private blog that I still have. It's no longer updated but I keep it for memory's sake. This new blog was put up as an extension of myself, of the things I enjoy and sometimes hate. This is my online diary. This is a small glimpse of my very private and personal life. I blog because it's fun. I blog because it makes me happy. I blog because I am able to share my two cents worth on things and people actually find them useful. I blog for me. These are my opinions, feelings and ideas on products, events, current issues and people poured on the pages of blogspot. The products/restos/places/services that I review are not paid advertising. These are all for my self-satisfaction. These are based on what and how I feel about something during a particular time. My rants are based on what I feel about something and believe my opinion to be  just. Since this is my diary, no one has the right to censor me on what I should and should not write about. I believe I do not cause damage to my family, friends, community, work, environment, business, colleagues and clients with the things I write here or on my other blog. After all, I blog about fashion, beauty, food and issues that catch my interest. If you feel hurt, offended or scandalized about anything I say/said here, you are welcome to express your opinions to me and not to anybody around me. If you want to rant and blow off steam, I suggest you put up a blog yourself. Again, this is a personal blog and no one is allowed to censor my actions as long as it is not damaging to others. There is such a thing called freedom of expression. But I also know that with that freedom comes great responsibility. I have learned that many years ago as a young journalist that's why I put it into practice every single time I write.

My personal life is separate from my work life is separate from my business life is separate from my artist life is separate from my hobbyist life. You get the drift? There is Lady E outside the blogging world and a Lady E inside the blogging world. And never the twain shall meet.

If you are negative, defensive and angry, this is not the place for you. If you don't have anything good to say or do, if it is not for the betterment of your peers, your community or your country, then I suggest you keep it to yourself. You are not welcome here! Life is too short and there are too many wonderful things around us to deal with negativity even for just a minute. Oh, malicious and judgmental people are not welcome either.

On the other hand, if you are happy, positive, empowered and looking for a good read, why, you're more than welcome to browse through my blog and enjoy these things that I feature with me. 

I know it's a bit trite but smile and be happy! 

You know you love me...

XOXO,

Lady E

Ornusa Cadness for PETA

Rawr.

It's no secret that I love cats so yeah, boycott zoos!!!

Nichido Pinks Palette

Nichido is a local brand that works well for my skin. I've been using their foundation for years now. It's affordable and it doesn't make my acidic skin dark. Rule of thumb for me, I always choose one shade lighter than my skin tone. When I walk out of the house, the foundation blends well with my tone so I don't end up looking like a kabuki doll.

The palette comes with 7 eyeshadow shades, 2 blush shades and one useless applicator. Here are the swatches:

I had to apply a lot of the lighter shades - from white to the last pink. The last two shades and the blush are nicely pigmented though so one application is enough. 

I use this for day wear (as if I go out at night...). The lighter shades of pink are nice to use as base and highlights. The dark ones are great for that outside V part of the eyes. I sometimes use the darker pinks in the middle for contrast. As for the blush, I apply a small amount with my fingers and blend well using my kabuki brush. I don't regularly use the blush because they're too pink for me. 

This palette works great with Fashion 21's earth triple shadow and my Maybelline eyeshadow mini palette. The palette costs P188. Isn't that amazing? Will I repurchase? No. This will last me a long time. Plus I'll be buying another palette soon. 

Nail Love

I'm seriously loving these nail polish from Caronia. I used to avoid this brand because of the quality. The nail polish just lasts a day. It's so frustrating to see your nail polish chipped off in the morning. But I guess with brand rebuilding comes better quality. 

These are the colors that I carefully picked from their brand. Most of my polish come from The Face Shop. 

From left to right - Golden Sun which reminds me of sunflower fields, Goddess which is my absolute favorite from the bunch. It's a nice mermaid green. The third one is Purple Punch which I'm wearing right now and which also chipped this morning. I applied this last night. This was one of my first purchases from last year. So maybe the quality wasn't that good yet. Next is Silver Platinum which has been around for some time. I used this in December. Then we have Copper Rock which is a beautiful shade and complements my hand color really well. And Blue Velvet which I saw in a Cosmo ad and fell in love with immediately and lastly Orange Pop for days when I want to be loud and rockin'.

For international readers, yep, they cost only P24.75. That's roughly 53 cents in USD. I'd like to hear from my international readers. What's your favorite local (and cheap) brand of nail polish?

Let's Talk Baby Wipes

Aside from my Etude House makeup remover, I regularly use baby wipes to remove makeup especially on my sensitive eye area. I regularly use Hello Kitty baby wipes. The pink one. We were at Baby Company, Powerplant last week, looking for a gift for the new addition to the family in Iligan and I spotted this. It costs P69.75 for 72 sheets. I thought it was reasonably priced so I gave it a go. 

I have mixed feelings about this. It's scented, which I don't like. I think the scent would be too much for a newborn. The sheets are small compared to the Hello Kitty ones. Because of that, I need at least 2 to wipe my hands and/or remove my makeup. With the HK, I only use 1. But this effectively removes my makeup. Just be sure to wipe gently as I find that this hurts my skin. I exert the same amount of effort with the HK wipes but that doesn't hurt. This hurts. Now I'm wondering if this is really safe for babies. 

Another interesting find are the cotton buds which are packed like Q-Tips and cost only P69.75 so I bought that too. Will see if it's any good compared to The Face Shop's and the Watsons brand.

If you want to try the HK wipes, buy them at Landmark supermarket. Don't buy them at SM or Watsons because they cost P98 there. At Landmark, they only cost P79.75. P20 is not a joke, you know. 

Confessions of a Lip Balm Addict

Hi, I'm Lady E and I'm a lip balm addict. To which you answer _____. = )

I love lip balms because my lips get too dry due to all my meds. I've always been fascinated (and obsessed)  with lip balms ever since mom gave me one when I was a kid - an orange lip balm from Avon. I like buying lip balms more than buying lipstick. I guess it's because of the colorful, creative packaging (just look at the ones from Maybelline) and they're waaay cheaper than lipstick. 

The York and Junior Mints are from Gourdo's. Yes, Gourdo's Greenbelt. They once had this huge selection of flavored lip balms based on popular chocolates and sweets and I asked MB if he could buy everything for me. Teehee.. of course he didn't so I settled on these two.

You already know about the Human Heart Nature Lip Balms which I featured on a previous post.  And the Ilog Maria lip balm featured here which I use every morning before applying lipstick. 

I have yet to review the ones from Maybelline. The problem is, I don't want to open them! They're just too cute for me! But I will let you know as soon as I do. So what's your beauty obsession?

Etude House Dear Darling Mini Lipsticks

The first thing that I notice in makeup is packaging. If the packaging is blah, I ignore it. So it's obvious why I was drawn to this product even though I'm not a hearts girl.

These are the mini versions and cost around P278. I think this is the P278 and not the blush in the earlier post. Still, the blush costs less than P300.

With flash...

Without flash...

These are not highly pigmented. As a matter of fact, you have to swipe them on at least 3x to get some color. I especially swipe more than 3x because I always apply lip balm before applying lipstick and this product just glides on the lip balm without leaving any color.

Swatches...

Notice the difference in photo quality? The pictures above where taken a month ago when I went shopping at Etude House. The swatches were taken a few minutes ago. (Yes, I'm home sick...again.) And I've been tinkering with my camera, adjusting settings and all that and this is the result.  All my photos are not Photoshopped. I don't know how to use the darn thing. I only use Fireworks to create a watermark and to resize my photos. That's it.

I'm clasping MB's arm here as my arms and hands are still shaky because, well, I'm sick.

From Left to Right - PK003, BR301, PK002.

These lippies don't harm my sensitive skin. They don't give me enough coverage. Obviously it doesn't last long. You have to reapply every once in a while. Heck, it all vanishes whenever I drink water! Also, my lips felt dry when I applied it without the lip balm base.

Repurchase? Absolutely...NOT! Not worth it. I'd rather wait for Maybelline to go on sale then hoard as much lipsticks as I can. After all my reviews on the different products of Etude House, I'd give the brand a 6 out of 10. I still have the nail polish to review but I can definitely say that The Face Shop WINS!!!

Etude House Dear Darling Blush

I can't tell you exactly what shade this is as it doesn't say on the packaging. Or maybe it does in Korean. Anyway, if it helps, here are the codes written in English - CH004 C91020.  

This costs around P278. Sorry, I lost the receipt. But it's definitely way cheaper than The Face Shop's blushes. 

As for pigmentation, I'd say it's okay. It's not rockstar great but for that price, it' okay. I applied the blush 3x to get the shade on my hand. Of course, I only dab my finger once on the pot then stroke my finger on my cheeks then blend it with a Kabuki brush when I'm using it for everyday wear.

The shade is a nice peach-pink with a bit of shimmer. I like shimmery makeup. I don't like matte because it doesn't jive with my skin. But I use matte products every once in a while.

It also suits my sensitive skin. No rashes, redness whatsoever. It also lasts until half a day. 

Will I repurchase? Yes! But only when I'm in Megamall. I don't want to trek all the way there just for a pot of blush. Price of one blush + transpo = The Face Shop Blush. Little Miss Practical Me.

Bath and Body Works Freshwater Cucumber Body Lotion

The first time I used this lotion, I absolutely hated it because it smelled like salad. I didn't want to smell like cucumber salad the whole day! Immediately after applying I thought, "sorry, sis. I'm blogging that I hate this". Good thing, I was so busy that day that I forgot to blog about it. I applied this on my lower legs. As the day progressed, I keep smelling this faint whiff of flowers. It smelled sweet. I thought it was one of my officemates' perfumes. When I got home and took off my pants to change, it smelled exactly like the sweet flowers that had been with me all day. This wasn't so bad after all!

After about a week, I used this again and this time slathered it all over my arms and legs. Oh my... I didn't need perfume anymore! It smelled nicely the whole day and night even after taking a shower. And when I decide to spritz some perfume, it complements my Ferragamo Charms perfume nicely. It also works well with Bench Baby Me so long as you don't put too much. 

The downside is, it still can't beat my scaly skin. At the end of the day, I am still left with chunks of dried skin cells. Haaayy....

I won't be able to give you the price because this was a gift. But you can just go directly to the Bath and Body Works website. This was on sale last January. I hope I can find this here locally. If you know where I can get this, please leave a message. I'd really appreciate it!

The Queen is Dead

Alexander McQueen committed suicide, following the footsteps of his friend, Isabella Blow. Read the story here.

What's going to happen to all those edgy, exciting, avant-garde shoes? Lady Gaga's going to be sad... 

Etude House Fresh Nailwash

I didn't bother researching (or asking) about the scents of these two. But I do know for certain that I don't like the smell of the pink one. It has this lingering smell that I can't quite put my finger on that just doesn't jive with my olfactory system. Will I finish the bottle? Of course! It's worth P75. The blue one on the other hand, I used this morning to hurriedly remove my chipped polish which I forgot to remove last night. Big mistake. Never use this when you're in a hurry. It took me a little over 5 minutes to remove polish on all 10 fingers! With The Face Shop's nail polish remover, I can do this in 2 minutes. I like the scent of the blue one though. Not too strong. And it doesn't linger. 

Aside from not doing its job quite well, these removers are not economical. I used up 4 cotton pads this morning whereas with TFS, I only use 1-2. You also have to put a lot on a pad to be able to get rid of all polish on ONE finger. So you have to pour some more for your second and third and so on fingers.

Do I repurchase? When I saw this I was so happy to find a cheaper alternative to TFS but with these results, my answer is a big NO. I'm going back to The Face Shop after I use these up.

Real-Life Sleeping Beauty

A girl with Sleeping Beauty Syndrome or Kleine-Levin syndrome naps for 13 days! Watch here

Incompetency is a Disease

What do you when you're surrounded by stupid, incompetent people? How do you blow off steam? Me, I go to the bathroom, apply makeup and take a deep breath before I go back to wherever it is I'm supposed to be. Then blog about it. I need to write in order to calm myself. Does that sound weird? Perhaps. But you see, if you watch Grey's Anatomy and know Arizona Robbins, I'm like her. When she's angry, she cries. My eyes water up immediately when I'm frustrated and mad, like really, really mad and I can't let it out because of some stupid rule or out of respect for somebody or because I don't want to make a scene and make the other person appear really stupid (which by the way, he/she is) in front of everybody. 

Incompetency is a disease. It's contagious. It's especially bad if it can be found in the workplace, in customer service oriented shops and companies of any size. I find it unbelievable when I encounter managers who blame their staff, worse, their subordinates, for their stupidity and incompetency. And I especially get mad when those managers put the blame on you. Or release their frustration on you when all you're doing is asking for a better service when you're bereft of the kind of quality of service that you deserve. Or when the thing that you're asking for is vital for the completion of a project. And the bad thing about this is, they pass on their incompetency to their subordinates. How many times have you been frustrated with your internet provider at work or at home? And how many times have you felt that the CSR is only giving you a memorized spiel to 'help you feel better'? How many times have you been frustrated at work because the internet or your computer is not working and the tech guy ignores you because he finds Facebook more interesting? Or when his boss pretends not to hear you then suddenly yells at you telling you it's your fault that your equipment is crap or gives you a really stupid suggestion because it's the least troublesome thing to do? Aaaaaaaarrgggghh!!! 

I have absolutely no idea why the older generation of Filipinos tolerate stupidity, laziness and incompetency. Maybe because they're like that and so seeing younger people do the same is okay with them. They normally say, it's okay because they're still young without consciously taking into account that they are the same, just 20 years older. I thought with age comes wisdom. With the behavior that I observe around me, I dare say with age comes laziness and stubbornness. Yes, it's hard to teach old people because they think that they know it all. I am appalled by this thinking especially when I meet old, brilliant people who constantly thirst for knowledge. Old people who are not afraid to make mistakes and who admit their mistakes and then do something to improve themselves. I don't want to stop learning. I try to absorb as much as I can while still young. When I'm older, I will constantly find ways to better myself. I don't want to be like some of the people who surround me.

I hope this younger, newer generation won't fall prey to the ways of these old men. Change is good. Incompetency can be cured. You just have to have the heart to admit it. And the willingness to improve yourself.

So how do I look now? Fabulous. I spent 15 minutes washing my splotchy face and applying makeup using my new Nichido makeup palette (which I will show you in a few days). And if you're frustrated right now, why not go to the powder room and try out a new look. Oh, if you're a guy, grab your PSP and spend 10 minutes playing inside the cubicle with earphones on, of course so you won't get caught playing hooky.    

Dear Darling Eye Shadow in Lavender

I have mixed feelings about this eye shadow. It's not as pigmented as I'd hoped it would be. It doesn't last long. But it lasts longer than the local made ones. It's gentle enough for my sensitive skin and eyes. The packaging is great. It locks securely into place. This shade is PP994 if I'm not mistaken. This costs P148, I think.

Here's how it looks like on my skin.

That's the only thing I applied. It took me about 3-4 swipes before I got this enough color on my skin. Hmmmm.. Not very economical, yes?

I'm not sure if I'll repurchase. I'm planning to buy palettes instead of single pot eye shadows for convenience and cost.

My Private Army for Skin Protection

Here is my private army for fighting all those bad things that we don't want on our skin. Regulars of this blog already know that I use Celeteque facial wash. I also use their toner. I use the one with the blue cap but I saw this yesterday at Watson's and so I decided to try it out because of these two words - 'alcohol-free'. I used it this morning and I love it already!

I use Human Heart Nature Night Moisturizer with Royal Jelly and Aloe Vera after washing my face at night. Of course you already know about my Etude House makeup remover which I use prior to washing. I use this night moisturizer when I don't have spots to get rid of or when my face is very dry. It works wonders for my skin. I apply this on my face, neck and decolletage. 

Meanwhile, I use this triple threat from Garnier to A. Moisturize my face (right). B. Lighten dark spots (left). C. To lighten eye bags (middle). I use the moisturizer in the morning and the other two at night.  

For once a week exfoliation, I use Human Heart Nature's Exfoliating Facial Scrub with Super Fruits and Black Rice. I have to warn you about this product. It stinks! It smells really awful, like puke! But I use it anyway as it's gentle enough to remove dead skin cells on my very sensitive skin. I don't rub this in. I use light massaging strokes while holding my breath. I'm not kidding! Then I rinse everything off as fast as I can. I skip this part when my face is too dry. But really, these products from Human Heart Nature are really great! Proudly Pinoy Made!

What about you? What's your secret to soft, smooth skin?

Human Heart Nature Luxurious Goat's Milk and Cocoa Body Butter

I would have liked it to be more luxurious. It's not as luxurious as my Victoria's Secret Champagne and Strawberries Body Butter which is absolute bliss when applied, by the way. This body butter feels like thick lotion. It's not as thick as my Simple Pleasures Hope Lotion though. Let's see, I think it feels like softened butter. You know, butter that you take out of the ref and wait to soften because you're going to use it for baking. Then you mash the butter and mix it with sugar and eggs. That's how this body butter feels without the grainy feeling of the sugar. It's not gross mind you. It's just that I benchmarked it against VS. 

Let's talk merits. I like the fact that it gets easily absorbed by my skin. I don't have to rub it in so hard so it takes less time for me to get ready in the morning. I've been applying this on my legs for a few days now. It's only this morning that I tried applying it on my arms. I was scared to get that sticky, yucky feeling. I'm surprised it doesn't feel like that at all. My skin is soft and smooth. Let's see what happens when I get out of my igloo. I probably won't use this when it's sweltering hot. You can use this if you're staying in a cold office then go out when it's cool out already. If you're on the road/field too much I suggest you get a lighter lotion to avoid getting sticky. 

I chose the non-perfumed version. I'm not particular with smells. I like layering or using one scent at a time. This is great when I want to use my perfume. I'm a spritz/eau de toilette/cologne kind of girl. I don't go for heavy perfumes. The only perfumes that I like are Clinique Happy, Cool Water and Ferragamo Incanto Charms. 

This doesn't help much with my very dry skin. My legs are still flaky and shedding in spite of applying a generous amount of body butter. I believe it will help heal my legs but not as quickly as I would like it to. 

The website says it's perfect for preventing and reducing stretch marks. We will see....

For only P79.75, this will be one of my best cheap thrills!

To purchase click here.

Sexiest Vegetarian Over 50

Now, that's amazing!

Etude House Happy Tea Time Milk Tea Cleansing Cream

Whew! That's a mouthful!

I never liked cleansing creams and makeup removers. But the price (P189) and packaging of this cleansing cream was practically screaming, "try me! try me!" And so I did. And I'm glad.

The direction says to apply on the face then wipe off or rinse off the leftover with water. On my first try, I wiped the cream off with some tissue. Hmm... Still some makeup there. On my second try, I wiped it off with a cotton pad. Better results. On my third try, I wiped it off with the cotton pad and rinsed off with water. Hmm.. Not much of a difference there. 

And so on my next try, I decided to apply the cream all over my face. I rubbed it in, like I'm using a facial wash then rinsed off with water. I then wiped my face with some cotton pads. Bingo!!! It was a success! I got rid of all the makeup plus mascara. So that's how I use this now. 

You might think that that's too troublesome. But see, I don't like the feel of cleansing creams and the after effects it has on my face. That's why I don't use them in the first place. But because of this method, I am able to tolerate this cleansing cream by Etude House. I don't get that icky, oily feeling after removing the cleansing cream because I already rinsed it with water. I feel as though I just had a facial wash and that's always nice in my book. I get nice, soft skin afterwards. 

The cream has a lovely milk tea smell. Kinda reminds me of Johnson's Baby Powder but with a fainter scent. I will definitely repurchase and try the other scents. 

On my next post, I will tell you about a killer combination of products for soft, supple skin that lasts. (Wink!)