Thursday, April 29, 2010

What's Your Favorite Nail Polish Remover?

Mine is The Face Shop's or Etude House's Nail Wash. But since I'm getting fond of Caronia nail polish I decided to try this:

I searched a long time for this product. It's not available at Landmark, Watson's nor Beauty by SM. I found it at SM Supermarket. It costs P50.

When it comes to nail polish removers, I'm very particular about the scent. I don't like the green local polish removers because they smell really bad. That's why I shell out 95 bucks to have a decent smelling polish remover. Caronia smells okay. You can still smell the acetone but not that strong. The cute color is a plus too. It's quite attractive especially to teenagers. 

The polish remover itself is good. You can compare it to Etude House's Nail Wash. I can easily remove my nail polish, even the thick glittery ones. It doesn't leave a white film on my nails but it kinda dries up my cuticles and the surrounding skin. My fingers peel a little a few minutes after application. 

I also don't like the container. It spills a lot. I was holding it upright the other night and accidentally shook the bottle. The contents spilled on my hand. Good thing I did not have nail polish then otherwise my nails would have been ruined. The amount of spilled liquid was enough to wet one cotton pad. Sayang!  

I may buy this again when I run out of Etude House Nailwash and don't have the time to run to Megamall. So again, what's your favorite nail polish remover?


Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Cheap Chica Find: Cindy Carol Sunglasses


Because I'm too cheap to buy sunglasses, I suffered when we went to Iligan. The heat and light were unbearable. I'm photo sensitive. I can't see beyond 2 feet when the sun is up and shining so bright. I need to hold on to someone to be able to walk properly and cross the street! 

Believe it or not, I still think twice about buying a 300-peso pair of shades. Yeah, I know. Kuripot. So imagine my surprise when my cousins showed me their shades and told me the price - 50 wonderful pesos! 

Lookie here:


See the nice braids? I like!

Here's an inside look:

I love these shades. Because of this pair I am now on the lookout for more styles! I use this everyday when going to work. MB also bought a pair which I really love (and plan on stealing). His pair costs more, around P300 at SM. 

This fits nicely and does its job. You can buy this at Cindy Carol Glorietta, under the escalators and going towards Landmark. They have other colors, shapes and styles to choose from. Ask for new stocks when you buy. Have fun hoarding!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Sunsilk Damage Repair Kit


It finally came! My FREE Sunsilk Damage Repair Kit actually arrived about 2 weeks ago. Well, prior to that, I've been using the conditioner for over a month already. I don't use the shampoo as I am loyal to my Human Heart Nature Strengthening Shampoo

Let's see what's inside:


Sunsilk is quite generous! All full sizes! But I wish they had the serum on too. Even if it comes in a sachet. I haven't tried this yet. I don't think my hair is that damaged. I'm also wary of trying out various hair products as I'm scared to lose my curls. 

I love the conditioner. It costs around P85. I don't use it everyday, just 2-4 days a week, sometimes even less. It reduces my hair volume so when I don't like poufy hair, I use this conditioner. It kinda makes my scalp itch though. Or maybe I'm just too sensitive. But I like the fact that it doesn't ruin my curls. The curls just look different. They're smaller when I use this. I will use this until I find a good conditioner for curly hair. Any suggestions? 


Monday, April 26, 2010

Twilight and New Moon for Sale!


I'm selling my Twilight and New Moon paperback books for only P450. Yes, P450 for two books! I ship via XEND only. Please leave a message if you're interested. 

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day everyone! Today is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. But it's only for the past few years that people have been really aware of what's going on. I'm really glad that we are making steps to help fight climate change. Even the local businesses are doing their share. SM is one of them. The management is doing company wide projects that aim to save the environment. We are all familiar with their green bags. SM has more in store. They're also supporting Al Gore's visit to Manila. If you haven't watched The Inconvenient Truth yet, watch it. It will open your eyes. 

Starbucks is also having a promo. You can get some of their tumblers for only P195. The promo is until April 30 only so hurry! MB bought one tumbler this morning and there was only one tumbler left in the Earth Day tumblers section. You also get P5 off on your drink when you decide to use your tumbler instead of their plastic cups.

Lush is giving away selected bubble bars or ballistics for every P1,000 pre-packed gift set purchase. We all know how much effort Lush is giving to help save the environment. See here for details.

Personally, what do I do? Aside from eco bags, (which by the way, my new favorite is National Bookstore's eco bag) we also recycle in our house. I have one garbage bin for cans, another one for plastic stuff and I dump fruit and vegetable peels, etc. to our pots. I now have a thriving ampalaya (bitter gourd) plant because of this. There's also another plant which I have yet to identify but it's growing really big. Because of this, we only average about 2 medium bags of garbage everyday. More often than not, it's only one. We also avoid buying bottled water. If you follow my food blog, you'd know that I hate wasting food. So whatever leftover food that we have when we eat out, I always take away. 

There are so many fun things that you can do for Earth not only today, but everyday for the rest of your lives. It's not just a hype. It's something real. And you should be a part of that. 

What do you do to help save the environment?


Wednesday, April 21, 2010

ELF Tone Correcting Concealer


I have mixed feelings about this product. I didn't like it on my first week of use. It stings the eyes. I accidentally put it too close to my eyes and it stung like crazy. I don't like the funky smell too. If you use this solo, you have to apply at least 2 coats to completely cover what you're hiding. But I've been using this everyday for the past couple of weeks and I'm starting to have a change of heart. 

I don't use it on my under eye area anymore. I use it only on the spots on my cheeks. Then I apply some Surprise Concealer on top. 

I use my fingers to apply this. I don't use the applicator. I try to keep it as hygienic as possible. 



I swipe some product on a clean finger then use another finger to blend. This shade is Apricot Beige. I think there are only 3 shades to choose from. This costs P129.75 at Beauty by SM. It doesn't give me allergies or rashes. It stays on for a good period of time, like the whole day if I stay in the office.

You can also use this with the E.L.F. Corrective Concealer Palette and/or Awake concealer by Ellana. With Awake, you have to blend thoroughly otherwise the mineral concealer will clump up. 

I haven't made up my mind yet if I'm going to repurchase when the bottle runs out. We'll see...

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Karl for Coca-Cola Light


An early Christmas Wish...


I don't drink Coke but I'm in love with this bottle. It would make a very fine addition to my Coke bottle collection.

Here's the ad which Karl himself shot:


Chanel + Coke = LOVE (Sigh.)

Waaaaahhhhh.. I'd be forever grateful if somebody sends me this. The Karl Lagerfeld for Coca-Cola Light is available through pre-order in France only. 

Monday, April 19, 2010

Cheap Chica Find: Cute Contacts Kits

Disclaimer: This is not a paid advertisement


First of all, I'm so glad that I have perfect vision. In spite of the glaucoma scare, I'm very thankful that my eyes are pretty much okay. I don't use glasses except when I'm having the occasional allergies. Other than that, my eyes are fine.

Contacts are very convenient for people who need help with their eyes. It's very compact, safe and easy to use. But contacts kits are, admit it, quite boring. So what's a chic girl gotta do? Get help from The Lens Project.

The Lens Project offers cute and very affordable contacts kits. See for yourself:

Lavender Egg Contacts Kit

It has 2 levels. The first one houses a mirror and a pair of tweezers:

The bottom one houses the lens case and a bottle


If you're a Spongebob fan, they have something for you too:




And who can resist the ever lovable Ms. Kitty:













Stocks are limited. They sell out fast. I bought a few to give away as presents. For P130, that's a pretty good deal, don't you think? If you're looking for affordable contacts kits, head on over to The Lens Project's Facebook page and get yourself one (or two)




Friday, April 16, 2010

L'oreal Go 360-Degree Clean



Does anybody know if this product is already available in our shores? I can't wait to try this product! Please comment here if you've seen this in the malls. Thanks!

I've read good reviews about this product plus the Oprah team swears by it so that gets me more excited! I think it's also cheaper than the Neutrogena Wave but I really can't tell until the price gets converted here. 

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Looking for the Perfect Summer Getaway but on a Budget?

Guys, girls and gheys, if you're looking for a summer vacation place but don't have the moolah to spend, please take the time to visit my friend, Tuggy's blog here. He offers amazing discounts up to 40% off the ones in the internet. You can choose from Boracay, Cebu, Bicol, etc. Having a great summer vacation need not be expensive. And for travel packing tips, you can read my post here.

Have a great summer everyone!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Kotex Luxe - Finally!

Finally, after months of waiting, my Kotex Luxe sample package arrives. It arrived last Thursday. It's funny though as my officemate was asking about it last Wednesday. She's really an Angel (nagdilang anghel). I had samples delivered to my best girls in the office so we all had a nice surprise that day.

What's inside?
A blurry pic. Couldn't find the right setting for a black on black background. Any tips? I use a point and shoot camera. Still saving up for a better cam. 

The box comes with 2 samples. They're quite generous. I was expecting only one. They also put some flyers about Kotex luxe and a trivia about a woman's body. These two, I accidentally tore up because of excitement. 

Because I hate waiting, I already tried this product in February. I can say that I'm very satisfied. I'm very loyal to Whisper. It's the only brand I use because I'm allergic to the other brands in the market. Kotex Luxe does everything that Whisper does. Sometimes even better. It doesn't give me allergies. It's very soft and it doesn't give me rashes because it doesn't have a plastic covering like Whisper's. It's very absorbent. 

I can't use this for heavy days though. I'm too paranoid. For heavy days, I use Whisper's Night pads. The long ones with wings. I only use Kotex Luxe on my third day. I dare not use it at night. 


For only P33.10 for a box of 5, I've been hoarding like crazy. I buy a box or two every time I go to the supermarket.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Human Heart Nature Anti-Bacterial Pocket Soap


This product is the best! I put it in my weekend bag so that whenever I'm out in the mall I can always use this to wash my hands. Not all restrooms in the malls have soap. This is a great staple product in your bag.

It's non-drying and it doesn't give me allergies. It leaves a faint citrus smell in your hands. It's also economical as a little goes a long way. A pump or two is enough to thoroughly wash your hands. I've had this since January and I'm not even halfway through the bottle!

For P59.75, I will definitely repurchase! You can get this at Human Heart Nature.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Human Heart Nature Sunflower Beauty Oil - Revisited

If you've been following my posts for quite a while, you'd know that I'm allergic to this product. I originally wanted to sell it on ebay and I did post it there for a short while but I changed my mind when I read that it can be used to lessen the appearance of stretch marks. 

Stretch marks are predetermined. If your grandmother and mother have it then you're bound to have it. My mom has it and so I've developed a few during my teenage years. Add to the fact that I was an athlete. I was very active in different sports, one of them, figure skating. Your legs are one of the most used parts of your body when you're a figure skater. It has ups and downs though. Your legs will be perfectly toned but your thigh muscles will be so developed that they will get bigger, thus the appearance of stretch marks. 

I use this beauty oil on those marks left on my legs. I've been using this product for three weeks, not everyday though as I tend to forget but I can say that the stretch marks have considerably been lighter. They're still there (I don't think they've developed a "cure" for stretch marks yet) but they look better. I'll continuously use this product and I'll see if I'll repurchase depending on the end result. I use this at night, after taking a bath. Just put a small amount then rub. I rub vigorously to double as a massage.

You can also use this product for a luxurious body massage, that is if you don't mind feeling oily afterwards. Try it on a small part of your body first, say your lower legs and see if you're comfortable. If not, you can always use this.

The Sunflower Beauty Oil is available at P99.75 at Human Heart Nature online.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Collateral Murder

Warning: This is very disturbing. This is a mass murder of civilians in Baghdad. Among the killed were two Reuters reporters. The US said that there were no innocent civilians harmed during this "battle". You be the judge. Two children were also hurt in the event. The video is from wikileaks.org

This is very heartbreaking.

E.L.F. Corrective Concealer


Because I soooooo wanted to do the bride's makeup back in Iligan, I secretly hoarded makeup. Secretly because I know MB wouldn't approve (hoarding makeup) plus the fact that I wasn't even really sure if I was going there. I was eyeing this concealer palette from Cinema Secrets but ran the other direction as soon as I saw the price - give or take a thousand bucks.  I found this corrective concealer palette from E.L.F. 6 days before we flew to Iligan. Talk about a good sign! (Or so I thought). This was the only thing missing in my makeup arsenal. But you all know how that story ended.

Anyway, it has 4 shades:
Nude and beige shades to conceal problem areas, green shade to neutralize redness (we all know that) and lilac to brighten dull yellow tones. I'm yellow but the lilac is the least used shade in my palette. Yeah, I'm yellow compared to MB.

It's not a good idea to use this product alone. It doesn't give you enough coverage unless you pile it on. I use this to conceal my zit marks from taking too much drugs (hehe ----> steroids). The green shade does the trick then I put on either the beige or nude depending on the intensity of the discoloration. Don't put this under your eyes. It creases. It's also hard to apply unless you use your fingers. It's also not a good idea to put this on the sides of your nose. Same reason - it creases. 

One thing good about this product though is its versatility/flexibility. It can be used with all the concealers in my vanity. It's especially great with the Etude House Surprise Concealer Stick.  You can also tap the Ellana Concealer in Awake over it but be sure to blend, blend, blend. I've also used this with another E.L.F concealer (which I will write about soon) and it still performs well. 

Here's the applicator:
I was really surprised with this applicator! It's the very first applicator (that I found) included in a set that is not useless! That is, if you have the luxury of time to carefully and leisurely apply concealer. The brush head is too small. It takes such a long time to cover up. I use my Charm concealer brush instead. But you can still use this for smaller areas. Or if you're really OC about concealing problem spots.

The price is P249.75 and you can buy it at Beauty by SM. Will I repurchase? YES! The benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Or until I find an alternative.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Maybelline Lip Smooth Botanicals

This is the best lip balm I've ever tried! And I'm not exaggerating when I say I've tried a lot over the years. See here.

The packaging is really cute plus it's green which is my favorite color. The cap doesn't slip off when you put it inside a messy/full makeup kit. 

It gives a nice, faint orange taste which doesn't linger once you put on lipstick. It blends well with lipstick and doesn't wipe off easily especially if you have a good lipstick. It's not shiny. The lipstick doesn't slide off. It doesn't dry out my lips. Absolutely no allergies with this product.

My only problem with this product is:
There's too little of it! I think I have to hoard this product. Problem is, it's too hard to find! It's always sold out. It costs a little over one hundred pesos and you can get it at your suking Watson's.


Monday, April 5, 2010

Elianto Eye Primer 01


This is my first primer so there is no basis for comparison but I will still tell you what I think about it. First, I like its simple but classy case. The very clear mirror inside is a surprise bonus. 

I like the creamy consistency of the primer. It glides easily on my lids and it blends really well into my skin tone. I use my fingers to apply. This is number 1. I think it's the lightest. I always get the lighter shade because my skin is acidic. 

It doesn’t give me allergies – no rashes or redness or bumps. My eyelids look flawless after application. The best part is, my Fashion 21 eye shadows (and all my eye shadows for that matter) stay put the whole day. No need to retouch. I’m grateful because that’s one less load in my very heavy bag. I don’t like bringing my Fashion 21 palette to work but sometimes I really have to. With this primer, even cheap eye shadows would stay put the whole day. 

Price is P299, roughly  USD6.64. You bet it’s worth it! You can buy this at Elianto, Watson's and Beauty by SM. It's my first Elianto product and I'm excited to try their other products. Repurchase? Absolutely!

I’ll also be trying the e.l.f. eye shadow primer next time.   

Friday, April 2, 2010

Gorgeous Getaway? Pack Smart!

I am by no means an expert traveler. I'm not even a seasoned traveler. I'm a 125% city girl. My farthest travels in the city include Trinoma and SM MOA. Seriously.  It's very seldom that I travel because I have motion sickness. I also find it hard to leave the comforts of the city and my room. So if I do have to travel, I make sure that I bring all the conveniences of the city with me to wherever I'm going. Much like a security blanket. 

The following post is how I  packed for my trip to Iligan. 

Let's start with a big sturdy bag that's light enough to carry around but strong enough to store your clothes and shoes.


This bag is from Kashieca. You can carry it over your shoulder or as a sling bag. I prefer to carry it as a shoulder bag. That way it doesn't get lodged into places it shouldn't be in and I'm too paranoid that it might snag and ruin the beautiful material. I purposely used this instead of my stroller because I was worried about the transportation. You can easily check in a stroller when riding a plane. But I didn't want my stuff to get squished in the compartment bin of a bus that's why I decided to bring this. I can easily put this under my seat on the bus and put it on my lap when riding their tiny jeepneys.

A toiletry organizer or in this case, a bag organizer from beabi. I never got the whole tiny bag inside the bigger bag thing but this is really useful for getaways. This is not even full. We already used up most of the toiletries I packed. We were only left with a few things when we went home. Lighter load. Yay! 

This organizer is quite roomy. I was surprised it fit everything we needed.

I packed all my sample stuff in it. You see, whenever I see something on sale that I regularly use, I hoard especially if it comes in a miniature sized container. I keep thinking that one day I'd be able to pack this and make life easy. I didn't buy a lot of mini toiletries. I just took out my stash of samples and freebies. I also bought sachets of shampoo and conditioner. I had my Human Heart Nature Strengthening Shampoo in the small bottle with the bronze cover. I also brought my electric toothbrush and just packed another head for MB. That way, we only bring one toothbrush and one sample toothpaste. I packed some cotton buds, cotton pads and makeup sponge in Zip Locks and stuffed them in the pockets.

For things that I didn't want to buy small versions of like perfume, toner, body butter and hair products, I bought these:

I have to admit. They're still quite big. I bought these at Landmark where it's cheaper. They cost an arm and a leg at beabi.  But maybe next time I'll buy the ones at beabi because they're smaller there. I wanted clear bottles so I'd know exactly what's in them. The white container has hair wax in it. I bought two and put body butter in the other one. Don't forget to buy spatulas to transfer your products. You want to avoid contamination.

Next, I brought along these pouches. The red one is from HerBench. The blue one is from Divisoria, bought about 10 or more years ago. Yes, that's how I take care of my stuff.

I put jewelry in the red pouch and makeup in the blue one. Here's how the denim pouch looks like when opened:

All the large brushes, eyelash curlers, mascara, palettes, blush, etc fit in here. It's amazing how much stuff this thing can hold. 

Not in the picture are my Ylla shoe bags. I brought 2 pairs of shoes plus one pair of slippers which are sosyal enough to be worn out plus I had my apple green Ylla flats on. 

A tip on packing clothes and shoes. Don't pack per number of item. Plan your outfits then take it from there. For example, don't pack 3 shirts, 2 jeans, 3 shoes, etc. Get a pair of jeans and put it on the bed. Then take out a few blouses and shirts and decide what you like best. Then take a pair of shoes that goes with the whole outfit. Next, assemble another outfit based on the same pair of jeans (or shoes, if you like). That way, you only bring one pair of jeans. 

For lighter packing, be creative. Learn how to mix and match. If I didn't need the shoes for the wedding, I'd be happy with just one wedge and the flats I was wearing. The shoes that I had would go well with everything I packed. This follows through to the accessories and bags that you'd be bringing. I used just one bag, my hand-carried shoulder bag for the whole trip. To avoid looking mono/boring, jazz up with accessories and be sure to pack different colored outfits. So even though you're packing only 3 shirts but in different colors and designs, you'd be sure to still look chica by jazzing up the first one with a rocking necklace, the next one with a statement bangle and the third one with drool-worthy earrings. Be imaginative. I was able to fit all my clothes and shoes in that bag above because of this method. I was also able to bring along 2 emergency shirts. I was able to use everything that I packed (except the emergency stuff) and that makes me happy. I used to blindly pack everything thinking that I will be needing it and end up carrying so much stuff that there's no more room left for pasalubong.

This is my shoulder bag from F&H

It folds up into this:


It's light and roomy so my other knick-knacks fit into it.  

You should also inquire about the weather, the people, the roads (trust me, you don't want to be in full makeup only to find yourself in a dirt road), the shops (if any), scheduled brownouts, modes of transportation, etc. and come prepared. I asked MB if we needed a fan for the bus ride but he said that the buses were air conditioned so there's no need for that. Mindanao is having a power crisis right now and there are 3-hour scheduled brownouts everyday. Plus the church where the wedding was held was open air. No aircon whatsoever. MB did not anticipate this. He forgot to ask if Iligan was affected by the scheduled brownouts. So poor me was wishing for a foldable fan all three days that we were there.

Trust your instincts. I should have brought the fan with me. On the day of our flight, I glanced at the flashlight that I always bring in my bag everyday and thought if I'd be needing it. I thought about it for a whole minute and decided to leave it thinking that they surely have flashlights there in case of an emergency. Wrong! They only had one flashlight and a few candles. We were literally living in darkness when the power went out. So, always trust your instincts ladies. 

Lastly, bring an eco tote for your dirty laundry or for your pasalubong or in case your bag strap breaks. MB's strap broke because of the weight of the gadgets in his bag. Luckily this happened in SM CDO so we were able to buy a replacement bag. We had to buy one because this was also his everyday office bag. If this weren't the case, we could have easily used my Human Heart Nature eco tote:

We used this for pasalubong. MB's bag was filled with all the dirty clothes. My bag was filled with all the chargers, some gadgets, shoes, etc. I was really happy that I packed smart for this trip and am longer forward to the next one.

What's your pack smart strategy this summer?

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Iligan Wedding Pics

So sorry, you gals! I was out for a while because my laptop, Coco, crashed. We had a hard time finding a picture editor that's easy enough for me to use and light enough for Coco. Anyway, Iligan was great although everything happened too fast. I hope to go there next time to relax and not be pressured and stressed like the last one. 

Without further ado, here are the Iligan wedding pics:

Here's the bride and groom.


God knows how badly I wanted to do the bride's makeup. Oh, well.... Maybe next time when someone else gets married.

Here's the bride's (and MB's) mom:

Here's the entourage:



Here are my good friends, Engineers K and V. V is MB's brother. K is his girlfriend. 

I took this pic! (Using V's camera)


Almost everybody in Iligan is an engineer... I'm so OP. Does being a Google Adwords Certified Professional count? Haha! Not even close! What's an advertising gal/internet marketer doing in a place full of nerds? Peace, people of Iligan! Especially to these two above. And MB who's also an engineer. = ) Oh, and my good friend Ms. A is also an engineer! Geez... I'm surrounded by cyborgs...

Here are the ninangs:


And yeah, we're naughty like that.

Here's MB and moi at the church:



V's worst nightmare:


Haha! Because we're both city girls (though K was born in Iligan, she's been spending a good part of her life in Cebu now) and we're both suplada and mataray. It's a miracle we jived the first time we exchanged text messages a couple of years back. We've been friends ever since. She's like my sister from another mother. Harhar! 

The obligatory table pic with the newlyweds:




And here's the photo that I like best just because MB is smiling. It's very seldom that he smiles in pictures. Correction, half-smiles.


This means that we're back to our regular programming so stay tuned for product reviews and other interesting articles!

Photo credits: Engineer V and their cousin T. Thanks you guys!






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