Happiness is...

...six Coca-Cola Glass Tumblers.

Get a dose of happiness for only Php25 at your favorite McDonald's.

Because...

I'm a sucker for catalogues, magalogues, lookbooks and now:

Beauty Bar Storybook

It has all the well-known brands that Beauty Bar carries such as

Smashbox

The balm

Japonesque

It also features Philosophy, Youngblood and other up and coming brands. I really like this storybook as it includes the price. It's really frustrating when you see something that you like in a catalog only to find out later in the store that you can't afford it. 

I've noticed something with the SA's at Beauty Bar Greenbelt. I don't know if you've experienced this too. Every time I go there to buy small things (think cheap) the SA's just ignore me or don't even look at me. They will just punch the price, bag the purchases and hand it to me. Sometimes they're even nakasimangot  or even annoyed when I interrupt their chismisan for a P150 purchase. But when I buy something expensive, like the Youngblood palette, they were like, "Ay ma'am, kukunin nyo na po? Ako na po ma'am. Dito po tayo sa counter." Prior to that, I asked the SA where the palettes were. She got annoyed with that look on her face that says "can't you see, it's at the entrance". Then when I told her, yes, I know that's why I'm getting one palette, she was immediately all smiles and said the above. When I asked her to change the palette, no simangot whatsoever. Sometimes when I buy they would ask me if they would still wrap my purchases when they can clearly see that I don't have an eco tote with me (I sometimes forget to bring one). Hay, kaloka!

Do you have any experiences like this?

P.S.

The girl on the cover reminds me of Jing. So pretty!

Girls, I Need Help!

I've been trying to take photos of my EOTD for the past few days and my camera doesn't cooperate. What's the setting that you use to take eye makeup photos? My camera is a simple Canon point and shoot but it has the creative settings as well. I tried to take photos without flash, on macro but the colors were too light. I tried again with flash and the colors were better but it still looked very light. It couldn't capture the shading, blending, etc. I know you ladies take fab photos of yourselves so I'd appreciate your help. Thanks!

e.l.f. Blushers

I'm a huge fan of e.l.f. cosmetics because they're very affordable and they work really well on me. I'm slowly building up my collection of e.l.f. cosmetics. I would buy them all but there are just some items that I don't have any use for. I don't like their creme shadows and their lip glosses. Well, I don't really like lip glosses. On the other hand, I'm planning to buy all the shades of their blushers and some other things. 

Here are two of their blushers:

Glow and Bronze

Some bloggers say that Glow is a NARS Orgasm dupe. I wouldn't know because I haven't bought Orgasm yet. Here are the swatches:

I swiped the blushers several times for the camera to be able to capture the shades. These blushers are very pigmented. When I use Glow, I just pat my brush once on the pan then pat it on the back of my hand once then apply on my cheeks. Be sure to blend, blend, blend. Be careful with this shade as it can make your cheeks very pink. 

Bronze, on the other hand, is exactly that. You can use it as a bronzer. I use it when I feel like going neutral on some days. It's a really beautiful bronze color. It works well with our summer heat. You'll look like a bronze goddess, freshly out of the beach when you get to the office, even when you're all sweaty especially when you highlight on all the right areas. 

Price is Php129.75 at Beauty by SM.

I really love these affordable makeup because I can experiment/play with them and screw up and not worry about the price. I am slowly learning techniques that suit me well and so I am slowly going up the makeup ladder too.

What's your favorite affordable makeup brand?

5 Products Under Php200 That Will Change Your Life Right Now!

I love bargains but I make sure that the products I buy are of excellent quality. I don't just buy because something is cheap or affordable. I always strive to make an intelligent purchase. Take these 5 products under 200 pesos that changed my life in an instant.

First, the Kleenex Oil Control Film
Price: Php89.75
Where to buy: The Landmark Makati

My face is not oily but there are times when I need to get rid of some excess oil. This product did wonders for my skin. Because it absorbs all the oil on my face, my makeup stays on longer. I look fairer longer. We all know that when you have too much oil on your face, you look darker. You only need to pat gently to absorb the oil. You can read my review here.

Second, Nature's Gate Biotin Strengthening Shampoo

Price: Php195

Where to buy: Healthy Options

Because of stress, illness and meds, my hair became weak. I used to have falling hair until I discovered Human Heart Nature's Strengthening Shampoo. It worked really well. I had no problems with it. One 500 mL bottle costs P249.75. Not bad but this shampoo by Nature's Gate works just as well but at a more affordable price. As you can see, it's 532 mL but it's only P195. I use a lesser amount on my hair to clean it. One downside of this shampoo is my hair tends to be all tangled up after washing. You need to apply conditioner when you use this. I only shampoo at night and I don't use conditioner. After some time, I think my hair got used to this and there are now less tangles. The Nature's Gate Biotin Strengthening Shampoo smells a bit minty but there's something there that I can't put my finger on. Smell this product first to make sure that you don't get turned off by the scent if you're planning to try it. Don't worry, the smell is tolerable. My hair actually smells nice after I take a bath. The best thing about this is, instant results. I immediately saw results on my first day and it kept on improving on the following days. It's like 5 to 0 hair fall in 3 days!

Third, L'oreal Elseve Re-Nutrition Replenishing Mask

Price: Php19 (or Php29)

Where to buy: Beauty by SM

Who's all out for instant gratification when it comes to your hair? I know I am. I want instant results! My hair felt softer, smoother and shinier after using the L'oreal Elseve Re-Nutrition Hair Mask. It works just like the other L'oreal Hair Treatments. Leave it on for a minute or two, rinse well then see and feel the results. It didn't give me allergies or rashes. Price is very affordable too. If you're satisfied with the sachet, you can purchase the tub for around Php200, I think.

Fourth, another hair product. Nature's Gate Henna Shine Enhancing Conditioner

Price: Php195

Where to buy: Healthy Options

My hair is a beautiful deep black. I haven't colored it...ever. I like it that way. My boyfriend agrees too. I used to have henna treatments whenever my hair became dull. I stopped because the salon I trusted to do that changed management and they just don't do things the same way anymore. I also became very busy so no more time for that. I was so happy when I found the Nature''s Gate Henna Shine Enhancing Conditioner at Healthy Options. I have uber sensitive skin and scalp so I gamely tried this. I used the Sunsilk Conditioner for Curly Hair before but it always gave me map-like rashes after bathing.

I'm so happy that not only did this conditioner worked well with my sensitive skin and scalp, it also didn't ruin my curls! I think my curls actually look better now than when I was using Sunsilk. My hair is also back to its original deep shiny black color. I really looove this conditioner. It smells great too. It's quite harder to rinse out than Sunsilk so you'd have to spend more time with your hair in the shower but it's definitely worth it. 

On the left side is the conditioner for color treated hair. I gave this as a gift to my dear friend Madam Butterfly for her birthday and I'll ask her after about a week for her opinion. 

Fifth, Colgate Plax Sensitive Mouthwash 

Price: Php170

Where to Buy: Watsons, The Landmark Supermarket

Among all the products I mentioned here, this one changed my life the most. I have sensitive teeth and gums. My gums bleed every time I brush that's why I switched to an electric toothbrush. But I only use this type of toothbrush at home. I use a regular toothbrush when I'm in the office. So everyday, after lunch, my gums would bleed. Sometimes when I'm in deep thought and I suck on a tooth or push my tongue on a tooth, I bleed. That's how sensitive my gums are. I tried Colgate Plax Sensitive Mouthwash because I needed help. Sure, there's Sensodyne but it's too expensive and I just don't like it. 

I used this after brushing on day one and on day two, no more bleeding! Seriously, there was no blood whatsoever on the sink! I tried to brush harder on the third day but still no blood. I stopped using this for about a week because of a sore throat. I used Swish everyday for a week and the bleeding came back. Switched again to Colgate Plax on a Monday and no more bleeding on Tuesday. Isn't that amazing? And I only use this once a day! I bought the toothpaste version of this as well a few weeks ago and I have very high expectations. I'll feature it soon. I haven't tried it yet. 

So those are the 5 products that changed my life in an instant. How about you? What are the 5 products that changed your life? Share! 

Adoption Thank You's

Thank you Kitten and Rhian for adopting some of my beauty stuff! I hope my things will serve you well. And a big welcome to the lovely girl with glasses! Thanks for being a part of my blog!

Sample: Eskinol Ageless Night Cream

I just finished this sachet last night after several weeks of usage. It worked really great on the first 3 days of use on my face but I broke out into a rash on the 4th day so I stopped. I used the cream on the parts of my skin with stretch marks instead. This product is quite impressive! It made my skin taut, firm, making the stretch marks less visible. It didn't make me itch nor did it give me rashes on those parts. Just be sure to apply every night, religiously for optimum results.

The cream is light, non-greasy and gets absorbed easily by the skin.

This sachet costs Php20 and Eskinol also has a day cream counterpart. I will not buy this again because I'm fairly satisfied with my Human Heart Nature Sunflower Beauty Oil. If you don't like the feeling of oil, the Eskinol Ageless night cream is a good alternative. 

If you're not allergic to Eskinol and would like to get rid of fine lines, you can try this product or suggest it to your moms. I don't know how much the full sized bottle costs. I didn't bother because I was just trying this out. You shouldn't clutter your brain with information that is readily available. I learned that from one of the greatest minds in history - Albert Einstein. = ) 

So anyway, do tell me how the Eskinol Ageless Creams work out for you. Happy weekend ladies!

Forever 21 Opens on July 2!!!

Oh my gosh! I can't wait! Too bad, our payday is not 15, 30! The first 250 customers will get a complimentary P200 shopping coupon. I really hope I can be there.

Visit their website to list down what you're going to buy when it opens here. Remember girls, budget!

http://www.forever21.com/

Thank You and Welcome!

This shoutout goes to all my beautiful new followers! Thank you for taking the time out to read my thoughts and connecting with me through this world we call the Internet. I love reading your comments and I hope to be able to get to know all of you more in the coming days. So keep those comments coming!

I know I have a lot of lurkers out there and I really hope you will click that Follow button so that I can get to know you too! For all those who have blogs of their own, I love reading your blogs too! Following me is a great way to let me know of your blog. That's how I got to know of Sugar, Rhian and Renay's blogs and now, Lady Mitchelli! 

So girls, thank you and welcome and I hope to get to know more of you as we journey together in the Beauty World!

Hugs to all of you!

Lady E

Lightwater - Repost from 240 Baon + 365 Meals

In this sweltering heat, be sure to keep hydrated by drinking lots of fluids. And what better way to replenish your supply than a bottle of electrolyte-spiked water?

Nothing can quench my thirst better than water. Actually, it's just water. When I'm thirsty, juice or ice tea just won't help. Even after a meal with ice tea or juice, I still need to drink water. During the day, I drink about 4-5 Starbucks tumbler worth of water in the office. After a meal, I can down 3-4 glasses. I've always been a big water drinker but having polymyositis and all the meds that come with it made me an even bigger water drinker. 

Electrolytes are important for you and me. A few years ago, my mom's electrolytes and sodium dropped. She had a heart attack. We rushed her to the hospital and the doctors were saying that they were going to intubate her. That means they're going to stick a tube down her throat to help her breathe. My godfather said that his friends who had their sodium drop hardly recovered. They became isip-bata, child-like afterwards. Thank God my mom is a fighter and she was out of the hospital, normal and strong after only a week. The doctors said that it was indeed a miracle. That's how important electrolytes and sodium are. To read more about water-electrolyte imbalance, let me direct you to Wikipedia.

If you have a kid who's active in sports, pack one bottle in your child's lunch box. If you're stuck in an air conditioned office for 8 hours or more, you need this to hydrate your body and your skin. If you work on the field, then I definitely recommend you always have one bottle handy. 

This isn't a paid advertisement. I just happen to believe in this product. I mentioned that I drink about 4-5 tumblers of water per day in the office. With this, I only drank one bottle plus filled the same bottle again with regular bottle and I was hydrated for the whole day. That's how effective it was for me. I bought a bottle for my mom and she and my sister liked it. The ref is now filled with several bottles. 

And the taste? Very clean, very crisp like water. No weird taste or smell. It's like you're drinking regular water.

One 650 mL bottle is only Php20 at Landmark Supermarket, Php25 at Mini Stop.

St. Ives Apricot Scrub - Revisited

Darn blogger...

Anyway, I used to fool around with my mom's St. Ives Apricot Scrub when I was a kid. I was fascinated with the beads. I tried it when I was a teenager and found it to be very expensive. I was on a student's salary and I really don't like bothering my mom for toiletries. Clothes, bags, shoes, tuition, yes but makeup and cosmetics, no.

I recently tried this new brightening formula of the same scrub. I've been wanting to try it for several months now but was too scared because of my recently turned sensitive skin. I'm glad I did. It really is one of the best facial scrubs out there! 

It didn't harm my sensitive skin. It gives me that brightening effect right after scrubbing and even days after. I even used this on the rashes on my cheek (but very gently) and some of them dried up. 

I guess the trick for sensitive skin is not scrubbing hard. I scrub gently, in a circular motion then rinse immediately. I don't let it linger on my face for more than 2 minutes. Be sure to rinse thoroughly as the beads can be quite a pain to remove. It's great for 'deep cleansing' your nose too!

It's a little less than Php200 and you can buy it at Watson's, Beauty or Landmark Supermarket. I will definitely repurchase!

Youngblood Part Deux

As promised, here's how I open my Youngblood palette:

Thank you, MB!

Hold the palette on its sides then secure each of the top sides with your thumbs. The palette is on the bed in the picture that's why MB's hands are like that but when you're just holding the palette with your hands, your other 8 fingers should support the base. 

Then carefully and gently pull sideways:

It works every time. Even MB had a hard time opening this palette before I taught him how. That's the only thing I hate about this palette. Do manufacturers even test these things out before releasing to the market? And they should test these on girls first not on the men in the company.

Here's a look that I made with the Youngblood Artiste Palette:

I used all 3 colors - lightest as base, medium for the crease and the darkest for the other V. As you can see, the colors are really very sheer, very light. I already put several layers for the camera to be able to capture the colors but it still looks very light. The palette is definitely for a conservative, everyday look.

I had to retouch come lunch time as the colors aren't that visible anymore. Thank God my eyes didn't get allergic to this otherwise I wouldn't know what to do with the palette. 

Read Part 1 for more.

Calling Kitten!

Hi Kitten! Please send me your complete shipping address so that I can send you the Human Heart Nature ++ Set. Thanks for adopting my stuff! My email is esther.avelino@gmail.com.

Youngblood

What can you get for 995 pesos? This:

I'm not familiar with the Youngblood brand. Youngblood reminds me of the local book series and gives me images of vampires. It's the blood thing, I guess. I'm not into mineral makeup that much because it's too messy to keep/apply unless I press them. But that also involves too much work. This makeup brand says that it's mineral. I don't think so. Just look at the ingredients at the back of the box. 

This palette is called Romanticism and comes with 3 lippies, 3 eye shadows and 2 blushers. The other palette is called Expressionism and I don't think that's available here. 

Here are the photos. Most of them were taken with flash.

 

eye shadows

blushers

and the swatches

You can easily distinguish which is which in the swatches. The lippies are on the right, the eye shadows in the middle and the blush on the left.

It comes in a silver case that is hard to pry open. Seriously, even the SA's had a hard time opening the first palette. I say pry because that's what the SA's did.  I told them to just get another one because they might accidentally ruin the makeup and that's going to be a salary deduction right? The palette that I got is better. There's a trick to opening the palette which I will show you in my next post. 

I'm using the colors from the palette today and so far I've had no allergic reactions to all the makeup. There's no funny smell either. Weird smelling makeup turns me off so bad. I'm surprised that the lipstick is holding up so far even though I put lip balm over it. Pigmentation is okay for 995 pesos. The colors are really light so if you're the kind of girl who likes colorful makeup, this might not be for you. This is great for an everyday office look though or if you're a college girl aiming for that no-makeup-makeup-look. 

This palette costs approximately Php1288 over the internet so this is definitely a steal here. At Beauty Bar, they say that this is a Php4,500 value. Sorry, Beauty Bar. I do my research first. I know that some items in Beauty Bar are overpriced. Don't you just hate false advertising? 

Anyway, I recommend this palette for all you neutral loving gals out there. Have you tried other Youngblood products lately?  

Sample: Eskinol Gluta-Milk Whitening Cream

I love samples. For me, it's a very good practice to buy a trial size version of beauty products to test before buying normal sized ones because I have very sensitive skin. It's a great way to save money and choose the best product that suits your skin and your needs. 

I got this sample of Eskinol Gluta-Milk Whitening Cream in the mail and it took a while before I tried it because I'm really not that excited with whitening products. But I thought that this will make my face even toned and so I tried it. If you're on steroids, you'd understand how nasty those medicines are and how they can wreak havoc on your face. 

I never got to test that 1 week claim on the packaging because my face broke out a few minutes after applying this. Not wanting to chuck this in the trash bin, I tried using it on my elbows and knees. 

The whole sachet took 2 1/2 weeks to finish. I didn't notice any whitening effects. But it did make my elbows and knees a bit softer in that duration. Now that I've stopped, they're back to normal. I really think that products like these need to be used religiously and continuously for maximum and visible results. Sadly, I can't with this. 

I don't know how much a sachet of Eskinol Gluta-Milk Whitening Cream costs because I got it for free but you can check out Watsons and Beauty by SM. I've seen this around there. If you've already tried this product, share your experience with me!

FREE CANDY!!!

I love Skittles and gummi bears and chocolates and hard candies and the list goes on and on and on. If you want Free Candy delivered to your doorstep, click here. This promotion is open worldwide! Start clicking!

HG Oil Control Film?

I'm very fond of using oil control films, not that I have very oily skin but I'm too OC. I don't like to put foundation or makeup on a dirty, oily face. I've tried a lot of oil blotters since I was a teenager ranging from cheap to somewhat expensive. I kept changing brands over the years and finally settled for the cheaper ones because I was naive. = ) And needed the money. I thought all oil control sheets were equal. So I settled. But not anymore!

I ran out of oil control sheets and I had my mind set on buying The Body Shop's even though it came with a very expensive price tag. I wanted to try something new. It was out of stock or probably they stopped producing it. So in my desperation, I went to Landmark and was ready to settle for the cheaper ones again but then found this:

I was sold on the packaging without even looking at the price! 

Plus, it's Kleenex!

So chica!

See that white strip in the center? It's tape to make pulling out sheets very convenient. I believe Clean & Clear has this feature too?

One sheet at a time

Lovely, lovely, lovely

You use the plain side to blot. Just pat gently and it will absorb the oil really fast. I was very impressed with this product. I tried it on my damp face last night and it didn't disintegrate like other cheap brands. It retained its shape and it only absorbed the very little oil that was left on my face. I'm not really sure if it absorbed the water too because my face and neck were still damp after using this. So I guess that's a good thing right?

It really lived up to its claim on being the new generation oil blotter and it really does absorb 2x more oil than other oil control films! That's Kleenex, alright! I also like that they really thought about the packaging. It's very pretty and you wouldn't be dyahe to pull this out in public. Kudos to Kleenex for putting the extra effort of designing the oil control film itself. That's a very nice touch and it makes me feel very special that these people made something so trite look so pretty and soshal.

I tried to photograph it with the oil on just to show you how effective it is but it wouldn't show in the picture. By the way, the shade is a nice lavender and the box is pastel, very dainty. The box is just cardboard so you might want to make sure it doesn't get squished in your makeup kit. 

Do you want to know the best part? It's only Php89.75 for a box of 50. Oh, yes! I'm going to hoard!

P.S.

Dear Kleenex, please produce other fabulous colors and designs! 

As Promised...

Here are the close up pics of the Marionnaud N 32 angled blush brush.

Read my previous post for my review.

Marionnaud N32

How was your long weekend ladies? I know I've been out for 3 days but that's because I made a promise to myself that I will rest and no distractions whatsoever can ruin that schedule. I was able to rest because I had an attack and got my period! So much for enjoying the long weekend. But I'm still thankful that I was able to take afternoon naps which I love and which are a must if you have an autoimmune disease like mine. 

So anyway, I got another brush to add to my humble collection and it's the Marionnaud N32 angled brush.

I like the case because it's reusable and it's big enough to put other stuff in it when travelling. I can put my other brushes or lippies in it and I know they will be safe.

What I don't like is that plastic that's supposed to protect the brush itself. The darn thing stuck to the brush like glue! I had to rip it off because it wouldn't really budge. So that's sayang. I threw it away after because it was already useless.

Oh, I forgot to take a close up of the brush. = ) Silly me. I'll post one tonight.

The brush is made of synthetic fibers and made in China. I know, right? Marionnaud is a Paris brand and this brush was from China. Isn't there something that's not made in China? Well, I'd have to say, even with the stigma that comes with it, this brush was pretty good. 

The bristles are very soft, not scratchy at all. It doesn't shed but boy, it bleeds a lot! The first time I washed this before using, it stained my Aquazorb towel. Now the stain is permanent, couldn't get it out. But after a few washes, the bleeding diminished.

I use this brush for contouring and highlighting using my ELF bronzer and highlighter. I can say that this is a very good brush for P169.75. I got this at Beauty by SM but I'm sure you can get it at Marionnaud MOA if you're in the area. There are other brushes in this line which I would like to try. I will write a review as soon as I get my hands on them. These brushes run out fast and so if you have extra money with you and are in need of good brushes, I suggest you buy as many as you need in one go.  

MAC Fabulous Felines: The Run Down

MAC Fabulous Felines Part I: Palace Pedigreed

Palace Pedigreed Quad Eyeshadow Quad, $36
Courtly Life, a frosty light beige (satin, limited edition);
Palace Pedigreed, a deep berry with soft pinkish pearl (satin, limited edition);
Quite Spoiled, a mid-tone neutral mauve (satin, limited edition);
Russian Blue, a deep neutral gray (matte, limited edition)

Superslick Liquid Eyeliner, $18
A new dip liquid liner, which is supposed to offer intense color payoff, a high coverage and a quick and precise application;
Nocturnal, a bright silvery pearl (limited edition);
Smoky Noir, a dark bluish violet with soft pearl (limited edition);
Signature Blue, a dark navy with soft pearl (limited edition)

Pigment, $20
Mauvement, a cool taupe with gold pearlized pigments (limited edition, repromoted from Rushmetal);
Bloodline, a dark dirty browned purple (limited edition)

Plushlash Mascara, $13
Plushblack, a true black (permanent)

Lipstick, $14
Superior, a sheer lavender pink with dazzle pink pearl (Note: This MAY be a new finish called dazzle; limited edition);
Of Royalty, a light creamy blueish pink (cremesheen, limited edition);
Aristo-cat, a mid-tone frosted purple mauve (frost, limited edition);
(Unknown name), a dark berry (limited edition)

Lipglass, $14
Docile, a dirty lavender with pearl (limited edition);
Best of Breed, a light dirty blue with pearl (limited edition);
Lap of Luxury, a dark eggplant with pearl (limited edition)

Cremestick Liner, $15
Beurre, a dirtied plum (cream, permanent)

Mineralize Blush, $21
Pet Me, a light yellowish pink with soft pearl (limited edition)

MAC Fabulous Felines Part II: Leopard Luxe

Leopard Luxe Eyeshadow Quad, $36
Wild by Nature, a mid-tone camel (matte, limited edition);
Style Predator, a frosted mid-tone yellowish orange (veluxe pearl, limited edition);
Notoriety, a mid-tone brown with golden pearl (velvet, limited edition, repromoted from Makeup Art Cosmetics);
Furiously Fabulous, a frosted warm black (veluxe pearl, limited edition)

Superslick Liquid Eyeliner, $18
A new dip liquid liner, which is supposed to offer intense color payoff with high coverage and a quick and precise application;
Pure Snow, a bright yellowish gold pearl (limited edition);
For Glamour, a mid-tone grey with soft pearl (limited edition);
On the Hunt, a true black (limited edition)

Plushlash Mascara, $13
Plushblack, a true black (permanent)

Lipstick, $14
(Unknown Name), a light yellow (glaze, limited ddition)
Drive Me Wild, a mid-tone warm coral with golden pearl (cremesheen, limited edition)
Powerful, a mid-tone bronze with dazzle multi-pearl (dazzle, limited edition)
The Prowl, a creamy dark chocolate (lustre, limited edition)

Lipglass, $14
A Quiet Roar Pale, a white gold (limited edition)
(Unknown Name), a mid-tone yellowish camel with red and gold pearl (limited edition)
Wildly Refined, a mid-tone coral with gold pearl (limited edition)

Cremestick Liner, $15
Creamola, a low-down tan (cream, permanent)
Cremekiss, a clean apricot coral (cream, limited edition)

Mineralize Blush, $21
Utterly Game, a warm peach with soft pearl

MAC Fabulous Felines Part III: Burmese Beauty

Burmese Beauty Eyeshadow Quad, $36
Prized, a pale yellowish beige (satin, limited edition)
Skintone 2, a mid-tone gold (frost, limited edition)
Quite Spoiled, a mid-tone neutral mauve (satin, limited edition, repromoted from Makeup Art Cosmetics)
Burmese Beauty, a frosted brownish green (lustre, limited edition)

Superslick Liquid Eyeliner, $18
Desires & Devices, a sparkling dark green
Definitely Feline, a chocolate brown with soft pearl
Treat Me Nice, an emerald green with soft pearl

Pigment, $20
Gold Stroke, a mid-tone chocolate brown with red pearl (repromoted)
Antique Green, a turquoise green with green pearlized pigments (repromoted)

Plushlash Mascara, $13
Plushblack, a true black (permanent)

Lipstick, $14
Pet Me Please, a frosted light dirty mauve (frost)
To Pamper
Liquid, a light yellow green with dazzle multi-pearl (dazzle)
Kittenish, a deep red berry (cremesheen)

Lipglass, $14
Spree Pink, a champagne taupe
Jealous Light, a dirty green with pearl
Fancy Cat, a dark dirty brown with pearl

Cremestick Liner, $15
Velvetella, a blackened plum (cream, permanent)

Mineralize Blush, $21
The Soft Meow, a mid-tone golden bronze with soft pearl

Source: Karen

Cat Attack at MAC!

I don't own a single MAC makeup because I find them too expensive. I'm still on the experimenting stage with makeup and I'm quite comfortable playing around with cheaper makeup but at the back of my head, I've been planning (and wanting) to purchase something from MAC. This, I think,  may be a sign:

If you're a long-time reader of this blog, you'd know how much I love cats!!! MAC + Felines = LOVE in my book! I have to get these when they come out here in the PH! I'll just ignore the price this once and who knows, this may be the start of a wonderful love affair with MAC. Photos from Karen.

I'll give you the run down next.

Grape Bella-ela, ela...

You girls already know that I hoarded these two products above (Grape Bella Exfoliating Body Polish and Grape Bella Moisturising Shower Cream) when they were on sale at 20% off. I didn't make a review back then because I wanted to use these products a little longer before giving a review. 

Now that I've almost finished a bottle and a tube, I'd like to share with you my experience.

First, the packaging: very nice and sexy. The first time I saw this at Watsons Greenbelt, I wanted to buy it but my sensitive skin made me think twice. What made me try this? Curiosity and I couldn't resist anymore. I just wish they made this a flip-top instead of a screw on type. I guess they were aiming for the wine look.

The scent: Like grape juice and wine that is very pleasing to my nose. I just recently found out that if I don't slather on lotion, the scent is transferred to my clothes when I sweat. Is that crazy or what? My top smells like  the shower cream on my stomach area (where I sweat the most) and not on any other part of my top. I really can't smell the scent on my skin but it's on my clothes alright. Weird...

The texture/consistency of the shower cream: Perfect, just like any other good body wash. You only need to put a small amount in your bath lily to get a really good lather. I made the mistake of putting too much on my first try. I think I've been using my bottle for almost a month now. And I'm sharing this with MB. So tipid!

The tricky part is the exfoliating body polish. You know I have sensitive skin and using scrubs is a surefire way to get it pissed off. Luckily, the Grape Bella Exfoliating Body Polish appeased the gods and didn't make my skin breakout into patches of itchy rash. After soaping with the shower cream, I put the scrub on top. I don't rinse off the cream first. I use it with the scrub. I've used the scrub on the very sensitive areas of my skin such as my neck and decolletage but didn't get any problems. Rinse off and rinse well afterwards.

The best part is, I am left with super soft and super smooth skin after a long luxurious bath. Even my elbows and knees are super soft after I use these two products. These are absolutely perfect for the summer.

I believe this is a limited edition line. I still have a few bottles/tubes left so I guess I'm good until the official end of summer. 

Price: P169 for the body polish and P159 for the shower cream

Another Garnier Review

I love Garnier, isn't it obvious? = )

I think I've tried most of their products already! Here's another one that I've tried:

Garnier Lightening Peel-Off Mask

Peel off masks appeal to me more than sheet masks. Maybe because as a kid, I had fun peeling my Mom's peel off masks. = ) So that's 1 point for this product.

I also like the scent, not too strong. I like the fact that it didn't make my face itch nor gave it rashes. There's also a substantial amount of product in one sachet so you can have very good coverage.

My problem is, it takes too long to dry even with the fans almost near my face. But it did 'illuminate' my face after peeling. Oh, and peeling it off was the fun part! MB and I had fun peeling the mask off my face. 

The brightening effect doesn't last long, unfortunately. After a few hours I noticed my skin getting dark. I think I really have this problem with lemon based products. They make my skin dark. Do you think it's because I'm acidic?

When I woke up the next day, my face was back to its original shade and I didn't have the oilies.

The Garnier Lightening Peel-Off Mask is super affordable at only Php40 for 2 doses. Of course, you can buy this at Watsons or Beauty by SM. I'd give this a 3 out of 5 stars.

Will I repurchase? No. I'm still in search of my HG face mask. Ladies, did you like this peel off mask? Share!

Celeteque Skin Club

So I did my usual 'Beauty Shopping' last weekend at SM. I'm running out of my Celeteque facial wash so I got one. There was a sticker on the box advertising the Celeteque Skin Club. It also says to ask their consultants about it. So I returned the box and decided to go directly to Celeteque's stand where the consultant is.

When I got there, the consultant was busy chatting with the cashier and her checker. It seems they've had a bit of a problem with a customer. The conversation was getting long and didn't show signs of ending so I had to say excuse me to talk to the consultant. I don't have all day for Celeteque whereas they have the whole day until closing to chat about the incident.

The consultant wasn't what I expected. She was not very articulate. She kept saying 'ano' (translation: what. much like how foreigners say uhm mid-sentence when thinking. Filipinos say ano when they can't find the right words.) The Pond's ladies are better. It's a shame I don't use Pond's anymore.

I asked her what the Celeteque Skin Club was all about. Now, I will translate the following conversation in English for easier and better understanding but this conversation happened in Filipino.

Me: What's the Celeteque Skin Club all about?
C: Ma'am ano, here's our card.
Me: Waiting for more response.
.....

She answered me that twice when I asked her about the club twice. She even got annoyed that I didn't get it the first time she said here's our card.

Me: So what does the card do? What are the benefits? Why should I join your club?
C: Ma'am you have to purchase another one first.
Me: What? Tell me first what the club is all about.
C: You will get a special gift.
Me: (Frustrated at this point.) Okay, so how do I join?
C: Just purchase any Celeteque product and I'll give you the card. But Ma'am, you can't use it today because we had a customer who used the card today, the same time she joined the club so the management decided to 'van' it for a while. You can only use this on your second purchase.
Me: (images of a pink van inside my head and people chucking Celeteque products inside) Then I thought, oh, ban. As in management is banning/stopping the promotion for a while. Sheeesh....

The conversation was quite confusing so at this point I just asked her if I can see the card's case and read the contents for myself. This is what it says, summarized:

• You get 10% off for a minimum purchase of Php200 on a single receipt of any Celeteque products at any Watsons or Beauty by SM
• Get exclusive member freebies in 25 selected Watsons/Beauty outlets every weekend. Present the card to the Celeteque Brand Consultant and ask for the Celeteque Member Perk of the Month
• Get a FREE special Celeteque Gift set for every Php2,000 worth of Celeteque products from accummulated Watsons receipt dated April to December 2010.

Then you get a list of participating Watsons and Beauty by SM branches.

The card is nice though. It's sturdy enough. I just don't understand why the consultant wrote the 'bar code' at the back, in the space where you sign your signature when there's already a bar code in front. What's up with that?

Oh, here's the freebie:

It's a foldable shopping bag that folds out into this:

Obviously, the person who designed this isn't doing much shopping. This bag is practically useless. I doubt that it can carry products heavier than Celeteque. Also, if you're just buying Celeteque, you can only fit a few products here. But seriously, when you do your cosmetics/makeup/skin care shopping, do you only purchase one product? I know I don't. You always have to get an extra pack of facial tissues, some cotton, some wipes and what have you. I've been to a lot of expos and conferences and have been given shopping bags as giveaways by smaller companies but they were very useful and were made of durable material. I doubt this one will last. And I don't think Celeteque is a small/poor company either, what with the prices of their products.

And what's up with the locks hanging out like that? That could cause some serious trouble i.e. rips, snags, etc.

And look at this awkward shape/form:

That's how it looks like when you open it. If you're going to put a large object inside, you'd have to ask somebody else to hold the bag open for you so that you can place the said object. 

I believe the main purpose of this bag is for recall and for the person carrying it to be a walking advertisement of some sort. But there is no recall if the product is like this. I definitely wouldn't bring this to my shopping trips even though it's small and convenient to pop in my bag. I'd rather use my National Bookstore bag. It's roomy and good looking.

I can't even take this bag to the market as it might rip. So now Celeteque, here's some unsolicited advise because I really love your products.

First, replace your Beauty Consultant at Beauty by SM Makati. She's annoying and she's somewhat of a snob. She can't relay and explain your message clearly. She's just everywhere. I say that because she was literally everywhere, going this and that way and looking here and there while talking to me. You need someone who has good diction and a fair grasp of the English language. Remember the 'van' thing? She might say some things that are not appropriate because of her pronunciation. Believe me, I've encountered people like this and it can be quite embarrassing. 

Second, think about your freebies. Honestly, I don't know how a shopping bag relates to facial skin care. I just don't see the connection other than one shops for a facial wash. It would have been better had you given away a facial sponge or some special edition Celeteque facial cotton. Now that would have been very useful. Yes, I understand that you want a lasting product, but do you also want a product that's not useful?

Celeteque is a blessing to my sensitive skin and I'm grateful to the people behind it but please, think hard about how you're going to do a promotion next time. You can always ask us, the people who know your products, for suggestions. I for one would be happy if you'd ask me. 

All in all, I'm happy to be a part of the Celeteque Skin Club. I just hope the freebies are better next time.