Garnier Brightening Eye Roll-On

Yes, yes, I know that the Garnier Brightening Eye Roll-On has been reviewed by different bloggers so many times but I will give you 3 different points of view here.

First, my mom's. She's in her late 50's and she bugged my sister to buy her this. She wanted to erase all those years of OT (and months of Cafe World until midnight) from her under eyes. Well, she got her wish but she's only halfway there. She said that the bags are now thinner and they are less inflamed. I agree. That area also lightened considerably. Mom gives this a 3 out of 5 stars.

Next, a man's point of view: MB. MB has really dark areas under his eyes. If you have a programmer/computer junkie/computer engineer for a friend/relative, you'd know exactly what I'm talking about. The eye bags are not that prominent but they're there. He hasn''t been religiously applying this product but I did notice some results. He said that he still needs to see some results. I can say that his eye bags are gone. The discoloration is now lighter. There's only a small area that's dark. Overall his eyes look brighter now. MB also gives this a 3 out of 5 stars.

Finally, me. Hmmm.... I don't have eye bags because I sleep early. I get enough sleep everyday. But there are times when I don't and I can't and those are the times when I'm sick. My under eye area is a bit discolored. But only on a small area. I've been using this product on and off for a few weeks now. Just when I need it or when I remember to use it. I can say that it does have a brightening effect but I think you really have to have dark eye bags to see a major difference/change. I can say that my under eyes get lighter and brighter the next day prior to application. I wake up with 'well-rested' eyes even when I only had 6 hours of sleep. (I normally sleep for 8 hours).

I only have one problem. There are times when this product makes my eyes itch. There are times when it doesn't. I don't know why. I don't sleep right after application. It's usually a few hours after so the product has already been absorbed by my skin. I think the itching happens when it's hot and I start to sweat. I've noticed that even my face feels itchy when that happens. So, if you have sensitive eyes/skin, use this product when it's cold. We don't have A/C so I rely on the fans and they're obviously not enough. I haven't tried using this in the morning though because I don't need to. Maybe you can apply this after a graveyard shift so that you'd still look fresh. = )

After what I've seen on myself, mom and MB, I'd give this a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

The Garnier Brightening Eye Roll-On costs Php199 and I bought this at Beauty by SM, that mecca for all things beautiful and affordable. 

Another Reason Why I Love SM

I love SM because of my BDO Rewards Card. I just love shopping there to accumulate points and then using the points to shop some more! Heck, even my boss loves the points system! I've even mapped out my shopping list strategically to get the most out of my card. Everything that I can buy from SM, I buy at SM. I especially love Watsons. I buy all my cosmetics and toiletries there. But I do most of my grocery shopping at Landmark because it's cheaper there. Hey, I may love to shop but I'm also a smart shopper. I love bargains that are useful and worth the trip/money/effort. I don't just buy because something is on sale. 

And speaking of sales, don't you just love SM's seasonal sales and year-round promos? I love their buy one, take one promos at Watsons and the occasional discounts. I especially love the freebies. 

Take this for example:

I got this FREE when I purchased Php1300 worth of stuff at Beauty by SM. It' pretty big and durable. It was able to handle the weight of the full sized hand wash plus some other stuff. I'm bringing this bag the next time I'm buying a lot to save on plastic.

Take a look at the print inside:

Sorry about the pic. Does anyone know why blogger keeps doing this? MB said that the picture is too big. I tried resizing the other photos and blogger still published it vertically. This picture is the same size as the one above. I would really appreciate your help on this.

Anyway, my only qualm about this bag is that I can't fold it. It's not really easy to bring around when it's still empty. I can't put it inside my bag as I'm afraid it will get deformed. But I think this will be a very useful travel bag especially if you're just going to put a pillow and a blanket inside or some pasalubong or your dirty laundry. Never put valuables inside because it doesn't have any zippers. It's too wide and too open. 

So, those are my reasons why I love SM. How about you? What do you love about SM?

Are You Obsessed with Washing Your Hands?

I know I am, especially when I'm cooking. I wash my hands every time I change ingredient. And if I'm handling meat, I make sure to soap up before handling the next ingredient. This attitude has lead me to try numerous hand washes over the years. My favorite is the Watsons brand. Not only is it cheap at P179.75 at buy one, take one most of the time, it's effective and doesn't dry out my hands. It smells really nice too. I love the watermelon, citrus, magnolia and lavender scents. There's also this other brand from Watsons which I will show you in the future.

Meanwhile, when these hand washes are not on buy one, take one, I look for alternatives. El cheapo in me just couldn't manage to shell out the same amount for only one bottle. This has lead me to discovering this product:

I don't like the original Bench Alcogel Hand Sanitizer as it makes my hands rough and the gel smells terrible after some time. Since this hand wash is in mint, I couldn't resist. After all, it's a liquid hand soap and not a gel sanitizer. 

This sure was waaaaay different than the hand sanitizer! It doesn't dry out my skin even after several washes. The mint gives my hands a nice tingly feeling after washing. The smell is heavenly as you all know how much I love mint. I had no problems with the dispenser. It's obviously not the cheap ones that some companies use for their products. It gives a nice lather. I only need to squirt once and it becomes all bubbly after a few seconds of rubbing. I've had this for almost a month now and the bottle is still a third full and everyone in my family uses this everyday!

This costs P129.75 at Bench. I'm not going to repurchase once this bottle runs out because Watsons is on buy one, take one mode again and I just bought a couple of bottles of hand wash over the weekend. When the promo is over, I'll definitely purchase the other scent from Bench.

On a side note, see that bottle of Baby Company baby wipes at the back? Avoid that at all cost! Especially if you have a baby! It's cheap at P99.75 for 2 bottles and there's a reason behind that. The material is cheap. It's not soft at all. It's quite rough and feels like rough plastic. I'm sorry I can't describe it accurately. The scent is too much. It's sickeningly sweet. I wouldn't recommend this for a baby. I definitely don't use it on my face. I only use this to wipe my hands free of the Monea. And I'd have to use 2 sheets to do that whereas with Hello Kitty wipes, one would suffice. The container is also cheap as some of the bottles were already leaking. The scent and texture are definitely not for sensitive skin, much more a baby's. Do not use this especially on your baby's bum or to even wipe off poop/pee. Your baby might have rashes. 

Hmmm... I think I'm going to do a separate post on my favorite wet wipes soon.

Garnier Body Light

I love using whitening lotions, not to lighten my skin but because of their 'lightness' on my skin. Whitening lotions have a thinner consistency compared to regular lotions, well in my experience, that is. There may be some whitening lotions out there that are thick that I do not know of. 

Whitening lotions are a must-have for me during summer because I can't stand feeling sticky and oily in the heat. With Garnier Body Light, I still feel somewhat sticky (when at home where there's no A/C) but nothing a good dousing of water can't fix. 

I also like the fact that this is a whitening hydrating UV lotion. I don't like putting sunblock because I hate the feeling afterwards so I just look for products that have UV protection. 

I can't vouch for the lightening effect of this lotion. I didn't observe my skin but I think it became somewhat lighter and even toned after a few weeks of usage. 

This lotion does not make me itch even when I sweat. Some lotions do. This doesn't give me allergies nor rashes. The scent is just right, not overpowering. You can easily cover it up with your favorite perfume. 

It's quite expensive for a 150 ml bottle. It costs P149.75 at Watsons. I bought the small size so that I can test it out first. So far, I'm very pleased with it. The bottle is now only 1/3 full. I'm planning to buy the other Garnier lotion after I empty this. My dilemma is, I still have a few more bottles of lotions from gifts given to me last Christmas but some of them are thick and not summer appropriate. Is that an excuse to buy more?

I'd take this over Vaseline's whitening lotion anytime if I want a whitening effect. I've been using Vaseline for years now but I didn't see any effects. I only continued to use it because it's very light. I also don't like the fact that Vaseline dries out my skin. I still 'shed' no matter how much lotion I slather on. So now I say goodbye to Vaseline. 

So if you're looking for a whitening lotion that does not compromise softness and smoothness, I'd recommend Garnier Body Light. 

New Collection from Street of Jewels

These are all one-of-a-kind, handmade pieces made by yours truly. The beads used are a mix of semi-precious, Indian, faux pearl and plastic beads. 

turquoise and black necklace with Indian beads

Php599

Earth Necklace

Php599

red semi-precious and indian necklace

Php499

(all beads used are semi-precious and Indian)

shades of purple

Php299

turquoise & bronze animal print necklace

Php399

shades of blue

Php699

(made of Indian and semi-precious beads with silver spacers)

I never make duplicates so if ever you own a piece from Street of Jewels, you can be proud that you have a unique necklace.  if you're interested, leave a message here or email me at esther.avelino@gmail.com.

Rags2Riches

First of all, sorry for the following photos. Blogger is giving me a hard time with uploading. The original photos are horizontal and when I upload, they become vertical. So, I apologize.

Last Mother's Day, my sister and I treated our mom and grandmother to lunch at Max's Greenbelt. For every P1500 purchase, you get a Rags2Riches purse/makeup kit. It looks like a small rectangular box when closed

Here are the photos:

Cute as a button

two small compartments inside

top compartment (thanks a lot blogger)

bottom compartment

My mom and grandma decided to give me this kit because there's only one and they said I'd probably be the one to have the most use out of this. Plus it's too bulky to put inside a bag and too small for them to carry their everyday stuff.

This is my second piece from a local designer. The first is my Barba Eco Bag. 

I haven't really used this as the compartments are too small. My makeup and brushes would fit here but the overall purse is too big to put inside my office bag. I also don't want the added weight. Maybe I'll use this when MB and I go out on a date one of these nights. 

The bag is made from the same material used in the production of our local door mats so you can say that this is a sosyal basahan! Read the history and stories of how this purse came to be and you too would be proud of owning a Rags2Riches piece. Read here.

My Project 10+ Pan

I've been somewhat struggling to keep my posts regular because I was on Project 10-Pan since March. In the beginning I told myself that I would go and splurge the moment I reach 10. But seeing my 'empty container collection' grow gradually got me challenged. Why not see how far this will take me? Or how far my strength won't fail me. = )

I'm more into skin care than makeup so that's what I focused on with this Project. Without further ado, I present to you my Project 10+ Pan:

Break it down:

• Palmolive Aroma Therapy Talc
• 2 Garnier Whiten & Protect Moisturizing Cream
• 2 Monea Curl Defining Milk
• Vaseline Healthy White lotion (400 ml)
• Foot Treats Foot Scrub
• Virgin Coconut Hair Spa
• Holy Seat
• Human Heart Nature Exfoliating Facial Scrub
• Johnson's Baby Cologne in Tropical Burst
• 2 Bench Alcogels
• Etude House Clear Polish
• Human Heart Nature Hand and Foot Salve
• Vitress Hair Cuticle Coat
• The Face Shop Blush

17 pans! Not bad, eh? I'm so proud of myself that I was able to resist buying more products for 2 months. That's long for me, believe me. Migraine Boy was even prouder. He kept saying that I wouldn't make it. I have to thank him though. He was very supportive all throughout plus he was my Pan Police. I had to present each container to him then he decides if it's good or not. If it's good then I can add that to my collection. If not, I need to make simot a bit more. Plus, he constantly stops me from buying stuff, saying things like "it's not called Project 6-Pan or Project 8-Pan" every time we're at Beauty by SM and I wanted to buy stuff. All the containers presented are empty. That's our definition of 'pan'.

So finally after a long hiatus, I kinda 'splurged' yesterday at Beauty by SM. It's really great that I was able to do this because of the attitude and self-control that I was able to develop. My original budget was P2000 but my bill was only P1000 and not everything there was for my vanity. Some were actually regular essentials such as hand wash, body wash, etc. So, I'm really happy. I kept thinking twice before putting a product in my basket. I told myself that I'll just get them next time. And that next time isn't until after June 20. I've worked out a budget so I can pay off my old debts and at the same time maintain the status of my credit cards. Things are definitely looking up for me!

Watch out for my new product reviews very soon! And I'm looking forward to my next Project 10-Pan too! 

How about you? Have you tried going on a makeup/skin care diet lately?

Sale Alert!

Get a 20% discount on any Grape Bella product at Watson's when you present your SM Advantage or BDO Rewards Card! Hurry, promo is only until May 31. 

I hoarded these two. I'm planning to buy some more next week. Will give you my reviews very soon. 

The Grape Bella Exfoliating Body Polish costs P169 while the Grape Bella Moisturising Shower Cream costs P159.

Freebie Alert!

Buy any full size Colgate Total Whitening and get a free Colgate Plax, toothbrush or Toy Story Lunch Kit at Landmark Supermarket! Php96.20.

Yeah, I'm a sucker for freebies especially ones that I actually use. 

Kwibi

Remember Christian the Lion? Meet Kwibi the Gorilla

I truly, truly believe that animals are intelligent and are capable of loving. My cats have already proven that to me. Even animals in the wild like Kwibi and Christian don't forget the love of their human masters/friends. I hope we do everything we can to save their natural habitat, ours too. 

A Gentle Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin

You guessed it! What else, but Celeteque!

Regular readers know that I use these for my daily skin care. I added Celeteque Facial Moisturizer about a few months ago to my nightly routine. I love to use this when I'm stressed out or when it's too hot. This very light moisturizer glides on my skin smoothly and is easily absorbed. It doesn't make my skin oily. It doesn't make my face itch even when I sweat. No allergies, rashes or redness from this product either. It's water based and oil free so it's perfect for sensitive and/or oily skin. 

I interchange this with my other products. I use the night cream from Human Heart Nature after my weekly DIY facial scrub. When my face feels fresh and is not itching or is not breaking out, I use the Garnier spot corrector to get rid of the spots left by my steroid breakout. On regular days, I use Celeteque. I don't get allergies even if I use this after my Etude House Tea Time Facial Wash. My skin feels extra soft in the morning after using this. It also makes my face look fresher even when I'm too stressed prior to application.

I don't know how much the regular tube costs as I'm using this tube that's a part of the mini travel kit which includes the facial wash and the toner. This is available in supermarkets, Watsons and Beauty by SM. 

Dove Go Fresh Energizing Gift Pack: Thank You, Phoebe!

This is my first time to win in a blog contest. So a big THANK YOU goes out to Phoebe! Phoebe is one of my favorite bloggers. I like the way she writes plus she takes fabulous photos.

This set includes the Dove Go Fresh energizing bars, deo and beauty body wash. I'm afraid I'm allergic to the bars because of the scrub beads. It's a pity as they smell amazing. So MB gets the beauty bars and my mom got the deo. I don't really mind because the body wash is perfect for me. It's Dove in liquid form! You only need a little to get a good lather. I made the mistake of putting too much on my bath lily the first time I used this. I thought, because the wash was almost cream-like in texture that it won't lather up as much. Big mistake. The lily was still very bubbly and full of the product when I finished taking a bath. I wanted to cry while rinsing it off. You know how cheap I can get with products. So now, I very carefully put Dove on my bath lily because I don't want to waste this expensive body wash. It's around 130-150 pesos, I think. Other body washes cost P150 for a full-sized bottle. This Dove bottle is the smaller one.

If you already use Dove, you'll like the familiar feeling. Although there are some people who don't like Dove because they feel that they're bathing with oil or lotion. If you're one of those people, stay away from this product. 

I love the citrus smell, very energizing. But the scent doesn't stay on your skin for long. It can easily be covered up by lotion. Actually, the smell starts fading once you sweat. 

It doesn't give me allergies, rashes, itchiness or redness. It's quite easy to wash off. My skin doesn't dry up as much. I don't get those white lines when I scratch but I still have to slather on lotion. This is great when I'm just staying home where it's very hot and I avoid lotions. It's enough to keep the itchiness at bay.

Will I repurchase? Absolutely! Now, if someone can suggest a good body scrub for sensitive skin then I'll be happier.

Dove Go Fresh is available at supermarkets, Watsons and Beauty by SM.

Cheap Chica Find: National Bookstore Eco Tote

Yes, I know this is a re-issue but I what I like about this is the metal/velcro clasp so you can fold up the tote and put inside your weekend bag for convenience. I have a lot of eco totes but most of the time I forget to bring them because they're too bulky. They don't fold up nicely. I have to secure them with a band or something. Most of the time I just fold them and either put them in MB's bag or just hold them until I make a purchase. But I hate holding stuff when I'm walking. So this bag is really a blessing for me and for the environment. I found this when my cousins and I had a mall date. I wandered around G5 while R was having her hair done at Ricky Reyes. I found this really cheap bag and of course, bought it and filled it with stuff while waiting. = )

I just had a problem when I bought this. We had to go through about 10 bags to get the perfect one. The first time, I had it changed because the straps were not sewn on properly. When C and I were in the escalator, I noticed that the metal was almost falling off because there was a tear in the fabric so I went back to National to have it changed. Around 8 more bags later, I finally found the perfect bag. The quality of the other bags was just bad. Loose threads, tears, dirty, etc. Even the sales attendants were frustrated and somewhat embarrassed. They promised that they would report it to the higher ups. I hope the quality has improved because I'm planning to buy another one as it's just so useful. 

Here's what it looks like when folded:

It's flat and light and can easily fit into my bag. I love using this when buying stuff at Watsons. I like seeing all my cosmetics and makeup inside this red bag. Even MB likes carrying this bag - on his shoulder! He doesn't really mind even if it's filled with makeup. He's sweet like that. Or maybe he just doesn't have a choice (evil grin).

It costs P65 and you get a P1 rebate every time you use this bag for a P100 purchase instead of their plastic. I know one peso isn't a lot but think about it. If you buy from National every week (magazines, books, etc), that adds up. Plus, you're helping the environment tenfold. This is getting to be quite useful because I'm supporting this project called Project Nehemiah where we're collecting school supplies to donate to students in an elementary school in Nueva Ecija. These are farmers' kids and most of them were victims of typhoon Ondoy. The kids who were able to enroll are lucky. Their moms and dads rely on the harvest to bring in money so you can just imagine the tragedy that some families have gone through. 

Anyway, to inspire you a bit more, 3 pencils cost P9. If I buy from National 9 times, then the rebate buys me another set of pencils which helps 3 students to be able to write. Please tell me you're inspired. This project is ongoing until December so I'm getting enough mileage out of this bag. The rebate is not forever though.

If you're interested in helping Project Nehemiah, leave a comment here or on the CBOX on the right. We need notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons, paper and any school supplies that grade school kids use. 

Saving the environment and helping kids reach their dreams is always chica in my book.

Tea Time For Your Face

I'm very loyal to Celeteque Facial Wash but it's too gentle to remove dirt and makeup, in my opinion. While checking out the products at Etude House in SM Makati, Ellen, the nice manager of Etude House Mega was there and recognized me as a customer in the Megamall branch. We talked a little and she recommended their facial wash, the peach variant to be exact. She said that was a best seller as it has instant whitening effects. I really don't care much for whitening products. I use them just to even out my skin tone at times when I'm exposed too much to the sun. I promised her I would try the facial wash soon. 

A week after I came back but the peach facial wash was out of stock. So I bought the Happy Tea Time Milk Tea Cleansing Foam instead since the makeup remover in the same variant works really well. 

This cleansing foam smells like the makeup remover, like a light baby powder. The texture is like that of Pond's but the product comes out of the tube more defined. It doesn't land on your hands like a blob. It retains the shape of the hole so it comes out like a tiny log. It doesn't look like soap on your face, more like a mask or cream. You can easily rinse this off. It doesn't give me allergies or itchiness but if I use this too much, I do get rashes but only a couple. I accidentally used this one morning and my face broke out into rashes. I use this only at night after removing my makeup to make sure that all the residual makeup and dirt are washed off. I can use any of my moisturizers with this product. I still use Celeteque in the morning for a gentle wash and when I don't apply makeup like during the weekend.

You only need a little of the product to thoroughly wash your face. Even MB likes this. He has no complaints. The cleansing foam will leave your face feeling smooth and a bit tight. One tube costs only P148, cheaper than most brands of facial wash. This will last you a long time so it's definitely a good buy. I will try the peach variant when this runs out.    

Thank You MB!

Just to show my appreciation to MB for buying me this (and to make him stop bugging me to blog about this), I am posting a couple of pictures of this Twilight Saga Boxed Set.

 

Yeah, I know that it's lame that I was only able to finish this a couple of weeks ago but I'm still glad I was able to. I really didn't like how the saga ended. Twilight made me excited but that excitement eventually died down until I reached Breaking Dawn. I think my favorite is Eclipse. Let's see how the movie compares. Didn't like New Moon at all. I found some things in Breaking Dawn totally absurd and sometimes even sick.

The Twilight Saga Boxed Set is available at National Bookstore for P1400.

How about you? What's your favorite Twilight book? And I couldn't resist, are you Team Edward or Team Jacob? I'm on the wolf's side 'cause I always go for the underdog. = )

So, THANK YOU MB!

My New Favorite Foundation

If you're a follower of this blog, you'd know that lately I've been pretty obsessed with ELF makeup. In addition to my growing collection, I recently purchased this:

I've been using this for about two weeks now and I can say that I'm in love with it! I did not get any allergies, rashes, redness or itchiness. It doesn't make my acidic skin look dark. 

The packaging is quite nice. Classic round powder compact.

It has two compartments. The top houses the foundation while the bottom houses the sponge. To open, just press the center button.

It lasts for a reasonable amount of time. I don't know if it will last long on an oily face. You can use this wet or dry. The box says if you want a sheer coverage, use wet. If you want a matte finish, apply dry. I apply this dry and it gives me a nice, clean, smooth matte finish. Even my officemate uses this and after walking in the sun on the way to the office, her face still looks perfect. And she walks quite a distance in this awful summer heat. 

The sponge applicator is nice. It doesn't crumble and doesn't get deformed easily. I like the fact that they separated the sponge from the foundation. The bottom of the compact has holes so that if you wet the sponge, it will dry up over time, though I wouldn't recommend keeping a wet sponge. Bacteria will breed on it. Better to air dry it or use another sponge for wet applications.

The only thing that irks me is that tiny plastic lift you see in the middle of the closure. You lift that up to get the sponge underneath. Now it's not very easy to lift that. You will need a long nail to do that and in the process, you will chip the foundation. It's quite tricky to lift that without ruining the foundation especially on the first few times that you use this. Mine has gotten pretty loose so now it's easier. Sure you can flip the whole thing over but there's the danger of dropping the sponge.

The compact costs P249.75 at Beauty by SM. Even with that small bothersome detail, I'd still buy this again. This shade is beige, by the way. What's your favorite SPF foundation?

Cheap Chica Find: Herbench Makeup Kit

So how was your long weekend ladies? I hope you were able to exercise your right to vote. I know it was very frustrating but the election was a very important milestones for our country. I'm proud to say that ever since I was allowed to vote, I've never missed a single election. Remember, if you did not vote just because you were too lazy, you don't have the right to complain about what's going on in the country for the next few years.

Anyway, let me brighten up your day by presenting this week's cheap chica find:

  

 I've been looking for a makeup kit that has a brush compartment. Found it here:

Those are my Charm brushes. They're too small for the band. I just pulled them up to show how the brushes would look like when strapped. 

My requirements for a makeup kit are simple - not too big but not too small and not heavy. Just the right size to hold my stuff:

It holds my compact, lip balm, lipstick, blush, kabuki brush, blotting paper, mirror. It still has room for a few extras. Here it is empty:

This Herbench makeup kit costs P169.75 and is available in blue, red, white and pink. I bought this about 3 weeks ago. I went to Bench G5 last Sunday and they still had some stocks left. So if you're in need of a new kikay kit, head on over to your nearest Bench boutique!

Cat Eyes

Need I say more? You know what I'm talking about by just reading the title.

I finally bought one in preparation for the wedding we attended last March. Yes, all the raves are true but let me share with you some points from a girl with very sensitive eyes.

The mascara has curling effects. Even if you don't curl your lashes, you will still end up with brighter eyes. The mascara includes a comb wand which is a first for me. 

For my everyday look, I apply one coat. For the wedding, I applied two coats on each eye. I still have to shake the wand when applying because sometimes the product clumps up. If I can't fix it with the comb, I "blot" my lashes on a piece of tissue to remove the excess. 

This is great even if you have sensitive eyes as long as you remain in a cold place. Once sweat gets mixed in, my eyes become itchy. It also kinda "melts" (lacking a better term) when it's hot making my eyes red. I know it's waterproof but my eyes don't lie. It doesn't make the area under my eyes black though so that's a plus. Be careful not to scratch your eyes as you may end up with falling lashes. 

I can easily remove this with my Etude House Makeup Remover then wash off with another Etude House product (which I will tell you about really soon). I remove this immediately when I get home to avoid eye allergies.

The Maybelline Volum' Express Cat Eyes Mascara is always out of stock at Beauty by SM and Watsons so if you want to try this, go buy one immediately when you see it!

ELF Mechanical Eyelash Curler

If you're looking for a cheap eyelash curler that's not crappy, I suggest you try elf's mechanical eyelash curler. I've had this for over a month now and I'm satisfied with its performance. 

I like the fact that it has handle guards to keep the springs in tip top shape. It's also useful when storing. It keeps the curler's shape. 

I've been using The Face Shop eyelash curler for a few years now. It works but the problem is with the refills. They don't have refills at TFS so I chuck one when it's overused already and buy another curler. Not very practical. I've discovered some eyelash curler foams/refills but I've yet to try them out. I'll feature them here if they meet my standards.

Going back to ELF. I've been using this everyday for the past month and I can say that I'm impressed with the quality, what for the price of P129.75? It doesn't give my eyelashes squarish curls. I also don't need to press hard. I just press and walk, press and walk. It doesn't "eat" my lashes and doesn't tug my lids. It's very easy to clean. Just wipe with tissue. I use antibacterial wet wipes.

See that tail on the left handle? That's genius! It gives me more control over the pressure I put on my lashes. My ring finger automatically rests on that tail giving me extra care and hold over the curler. The result is perfectly curled lashes without stinging the eyes, pulling the lids or accidentally plucking eyelashes. 

It's great that the box comes with a refill. I like this so much that I bought another pair for my cousin. I think this will last me a long time. 

Up next, I'll show you the mascara that works great with this curler!

Perfect Summer Nail Color (or Colors!)

I'm getting addicted to nail polish. I change colors every two days! Good thing I have quite a collection. My nail polish are mostly from The Face Shop, Etude House, one from Sally Hansen and a few from Caronia. You've already seen my Caronia collection. If not, you can see it here. I've added a couple more. 

I swore that I will not buy pinks anymore but I couldn't resist especially when the two colors that I've been looking for forever finally popped out a couple of weeks ago. Here they are:

Meet Diva and Posh!

Diva has a magenta-like shade while Posh looks like a toned down neon pink that's glossy/metallic. I don't wear these colors separately. I combine them! First, I swipe some Diva then wait for it to dry. I then apply a coat of Posh. I purposely didn't take a picture of my nails because I want you to find that out for yourselves! I'll give you a hint. The resulting color reminds me of beautiful sunsets and summer tropical punches. = )

Don't Neglect Your Hands!

So how was your long weekend ladies? I did a lot of pampering and relaxing. I finally finished the Twilight Saga (yes, I know. Lame!), had some DIY hair spa and did some de-stressing in the mall with MB and my sister. NO SHOPPING involved! I'm on Project 10-Pan and MB is very strict about it.

I've been trying to care for myself better in the past few months, paying more attention to my skin. A woman's age shows first in her hands. The hands wrinkle quite fast. That's why what you do to your face, you must do with your neck and your hands too. If you moisturize your face religiously, don't forget to include your neck and your hands. 

I've been using The Face Shop's moisturizing hand lotion for a couple of years now. I didn't have any complaints about it but I think it's too expensive, around P300 for a small tube. It's not spectacular so I guess the lotion's performance doesn't justify its price. I'll pay that amount if the product is stellar. 

Last March, I saw a grape line of cosmetics available at Watson's. I decided to purchase this:

GrapeBella Nourishing Hand & Nail Cream

I bought 4 tubes to give as gifts to MB's sisters (when we went to Iligan) and one for myself. I'm so glad I decided to buy one for myself! I love this lotion. It performs better than my TFS hand lotion without the hefty price tag. It costs only P69 for a 75 ml tube. 

The lotion is thick. My TFS lotion is almost liquid like so sometimes too much product runs out of the tube even when I press lightly. Because of GrapeBella's thick consistency, I get the right amount of product all the time. No running. 

You might think that this cream is sticky. I did too. But surprisingly, it's easily absorbed by the skin! It's also great for my cuticles. Lately, my fingers are getting too dry that the skin around the nails are peeling. Just a few applications of the cream throughout the day prevents my fingers from further peeling. 

I love the sweet grape juice scent that has some hints of wine. The scent is not overpowering so you can still wear your favorite lotion or perfume. Since the cream is non-greasy I don't worry about transferring some cream onto my keyboard. I'm on the computer the whole day and having greasy hands will be quite nasty.

The GrapeBella cream doesn't give me allergies nor rashes. I'm hoping that Watson's will produce other fruit lines because this is definitely a must-have.  

Cheap Chica Find: Cute (Anna Sui-ish) Compact Mirror

Isn't that so Ana Sui or Etude House? I've been putting off buying a compact mirror for so long. My cheap alter ego keeps thinking that I don't need one because I already have my compact powder mirror. But you know, I can sometimes be really cheap as I don't throw out my powder compact when I reach pan. I have to use up all the foundation or until the foundation crumbles. That can pose quite a problem when I open the compact in a public place, right? 

This was a lucky purchase. I bought it the same time I bought my cute shades. 

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Sorry for the pic. Blogger is giving me problems. It doesn't want to load my picture horizontally.

This costs only P20 at Cindy Carol! They usually run out but today they have stocks at Cindy Carol Glorietta. So go, go, go!