The Face Shop Therapy

Since we’re talking about TFS, let me share some of my great finds:

Ineffortan ang gift bag!

One of my best gals and I went to Powerplant one Friday night just to unwind. We needed a lot of catching up to do and it was a good timing as MB was always on OT during that week. We just had dinner at Kaya (where we ordered food good for 4 people and almost finished everything) and went around the mall. The Face Shop was our last stop.

I think this Face It line is new . The colors are really bold and vibrant. I love it! I also got another nail polish for my mom in pink and a red lip gloss for my friend. The SA’s were very nice to put our purchases in a gift pouch. We just had to wait for a few minutes because they only make the pouches upon request. While waiting, I spotted the two Color Nuance eye shadows marked at 50% off. They were now priced at Php147.50 each so I grabbed the pink and lavender ones. Hopefully I can figure out a good camera setting to show you an EOTD using these shades. Swatches and reviews soon.

The Face Shop Professional Make up Base and Foundation

This is also a request from Kitten. So sorry it’s a bit late. You know why. Anyway, on with the show.

I’ve been using these for about 8 years now, if I’m correct. I used the Flower collection before but it’s more expensive and the dispenser is such a waste. This tube is more practical and economical. I’m not sure about the price. It’s around Php355 – Php395.

My skin is a bit yellow, probably from my Chinese heritage so I use the Violet make up base. There’s also a green one for acne prone skin. I consulted the SA about the shades and she picked these two for me:

I’ve been using them ever since. This number 23 foundation is always out of stock. I’m just lucky that whenever I need to buy one, they have fresh stocks on hand.

I was hooked because the make up base really makes makeup application easier. I am able to blend the colors better and the makeup lasts longer. It doesn’t make my skin oily. I never experienced any adverse reaction.

These two can effectively hide imperfections. I apply the makeup base after my skin has absorbed both my moisturizer and sunscreen. I use a sponge to dot both the makeup base and foundation all over my face and just spread with my Charm foundation brush. My face becomes even toned after application, almost flawless. But there are a few stubborn marks on my face and so I use a concealer and just dust some loose powder afterwards.

Here’s how it looks:

Do not apply this with a sponge otherwise the product will just be swirled around your face. Also, the sponge just sucks everything up. It also dries up fast so you won’t be able to blend on time. The method that I use is the best for me. Try whatever works for you. Also, apply just a small amount. That amount on my hand is enough for my whole face.

Because a small amount goes a long way, one tube lasts me about 8 months to one year. Yes, it’s that great!

See how it disappears into my skin!

Here it is with the foundation. There’s not much difference on my hands but on my face, you can really see it. I just couldn’t capture it with my camera so this would have to do:

I didn’t see any difference with the Flower Collection. I absolutely think that they’re the same, the other one is just repackaged and priced more. The Flower Collection is on sale at The Face Shop Powerplant, by the way. It’s 50% off so now it’s around Php400+.

If you’re looking for a way to improve your skin tone, make makeup application easier and make your made up pretty face last longer, I definitely suggest you try The Face Shop Make up Base. I’ve tried it, tested it and definitely keeping it.

Eye Zone

I learned about this product through Kitten. So Kitten, this one’s for you. I found this at Watsons and was more than willing to try it out since I have a very appropriate test subject – MB. He has dark circles under his eyes and he had puffy eyes because of his recent OT’s. I also didn’t mind trying it.

These are crescent-shaped masks that you put under your eyes. Be careful not to put it too close to your eyes as it somewhat stings (I have sensitive eyes). There are 30 sheets in one pack and is so sulit for only Php89.75.

It’s enriched with all these goodies that promises to reduce eye puffiness and dark circles.

I don’t have puffy eyes but there are some areas under my eyes that are a bit dark. On my first use, I immediately noticed the outside area, near the ‘V’, lighten. It wasn’t a temporary thing. Until now, that area has remained lighter. I’ve only used this twice and I can really say that it’s effective. My concealer application on those areas is lesser now.

MB also tried it twice and he was very happy with the results. The puffiness was definitely reduced and the dark circles diminished. He immediately exclaimed that the area under his eyes are whiter after peeling off the mask.

Since I had 15 pairs, I also gave my mom and my sister to try. They are also happy with the results.

We didn’t experience any itching or redness or rashes. We apply this for 15 minutes and then I pat the excess product with a soft tissue. You can choose to leave the excess too. I’m just being careful. There is no strong smell that can irritate the eyes. One downside is, when I woke up the next day, I had a lot of dirt in my eyes. MB also experienced the same but since I have very sensitive eyes, the build up of dirt was enough to keep my eyes a bit shut. It took some effort to clean it up to be able to open my eyes. The second time was not like that anymore. I guess my eyes were already able to adjust.

I think the trick is, if you have really dark circles or your eyes are always tired, you have to use this everyday for maximum results. I’m quite happy to use this about twice a week. MB is willing to use this everyday as long as I be the one to apply. I just hope I don’t forget anymore. Also, take this 15 minutes to lie down, close your eyes and totally relax. Do some breathing exercises if you can. Trust me, you will feel refreshed and rejuvenated afterwards. 

In my opinion, this works better than the Garnier roll on. The results are faster, more noticeable and lasts longer.

Bearberry Yogurt

It’s not something that you eat. This is food for your face. This is the second mask that I’ve tried. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out as great as the Montagne Jeunesse.

At least it’s cheaper. Got this for Php79, I think. It was on promo. Got it from my favorite Avon Lady. The regular price is around Php112.

Packaging is like The Face Shop’s masks. There are four packs in a set. I just hate the fact that I couldn’t open it on my own. I had to ask MB to peel off the top and even he got pissed. On my second use, I just got a cutter because MB was not around.

One pack is good for 2 applications or 1 lavish application. I prefer the one lavish application so that I wouldn’t be troubled with the leftovers.

I apply this all over my face and neck area. Leave for 10 minutes. It promises to whiten your skin. It didn’t whiten my face. It just brightened it up a bit… and made it itch. On my first use, I thought that my face was just adjusting. I applied Celeteque moisturizer to ease the itchiness. On my second application, I immediately applied Celeteque after I washed the mask off and I still had a few rashes so that’s when I decided to stop. I think the trouble were the beads. The two unopened packs will be added to my giveaway.

This mask is not for sensitive skin but I think it will work fine on normal skin. My face was soft until morning. It was a bit oily but that’s probably because of the Celeteque or the combination of both.

The scent is nice. It smelled like strawberries. I’m not familiar with bearberries but a quick Google gave me this:

“Bearberry extract is reputed to have antibacterial and antioxidant properties that may be beneficial for cleansing the skin and improving its appearance.”

It’s not bad to give this a try especially if you have an Avon lady handy. Just wait for the promo so in case it doesn’t work out for you, at least you didn’t pay full price. More masks soon!

Product Reviews x3!

I missed blogging! And I missed all you guys! I’ve been very ill since Sunday. It’s terrible. I haven’t been that sick in a while. I guess it’s the cold and stress (from annoying people) that’s been triggering my PM. I was asleep the whole day last Monday. I only woke up for meals and showers then went back to bed again. On Tuesday, practically did the same although found the strength to go out, see the doctor and pay some bills. I asked mum to go with me as I was very weak. We were out for only a few hours but I felt so tired afterwards. I’ve been meaning to write but lifting my fingers to the keyboard takes so much effort. On days when I have an attack, all my limbs get too heavy (or maybe I’m too weak. hehe) so I just stay in bed to avoid accidents.

Anyway, let me get back to the blogging world by giving you 3 product reviews. Remember that press kit at the Estee Lauder event?

It contained:

Facial wash, Pure Color Lippy, Toner and Pleasures Bloom!

I’ve already finished up the toner. Nothing spectacular there. I was able to use it for a month or so. It’s no different from my Nivea toner. It actually almost smells the same. My skin tone/texture/appearance was still the same even after using it everyday for a month. The appearance of pimples was not lessened. I wouldn’t buy a whole bottle of this as it’s expensive and other more affordable toners work just fine or even better.

I haven’t tried the facial wash yet as the size is so convenient for travelling and we’re going to do just that very soon!

As for the Pleasures Bloom, it’s a nice fruity-floral scent but I think I like the original Pleasures better. According to EL, the Pleasures perfume has been updated to feel more contemporary and playful, more vibrant and carefree.

I personally think that it’s more suited to a mature audience. I think the original Pleasures is more playful and carefree.

I’m glad to say that it didn’t trigger my rhinitis even if I accidentally apply too much. The scent also lasts a very long time, even after I shower and sleep. I can still smell it on my wrist the morning after. It also lingers on my clothes even after washing with Tide! I may purchase a full sized bottle of this and the original Pleasures once my Ferragamo Charms runs out.

As for the lipstick:

Staying power is not great for an expensive lipstick. It barely survives a commute and no trace of color is left once I eat. I don’t lick my lips often because I know they will dry out even more. It’s a nice (very) natural shade though:

No-lipstick lipstick look

I swiped some Nivea Angel Star first to support the color otherwise you wouldn’t see the color at all. The EL Pure Color lipstick doesn’t make my lips dry. It doesn’t taste nor smell weird. It would have been great if it was highly pigmented and stayed longer. I have to layer on different colors for it to show well.

I’m still not 120% better but I’m getting there so you’d have to excuse me if I don’t blog. = ) That just means I’m in bed. On another note, what is up with Sleepasil? Or me, for that matter. I got immune to it on day 2! Day 1 was great, had a nice sleep but when I took it the next day, I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t go back to sleep. I guess I really have a high immunity to meds.

NOTD: Dare to Sparkle

Courtesy of:

Caronia Dare and Platinum Glitter

Shopping: Of Kitty Purses and Avon Addictions

I am absolutely out of control when it’s November to December when it comes to shopping. Oh, and when it’s my birthday month too. And I also feel extra generous this time of the year.

Case in point:



My Avon lady friend who is very nice and very kind (giving me extended installment plans!) surprised me with these last Wednesday.

In the pouch is the Fiona (?) nightwear. It looks like a sun dress but for sleeping . The makeup kit comes with the lipstick and lip liner as a set (Php355). This is my first lip liner in a long time. I don’t use lip liners. The last I used them was when I was a teenager. I also bought my favorite Avon jewelry:

Here’s the pouch:



It’s so roomy and it has compartments inside. Perfect!

And speaking of pouches and purses…

I got Kitten and moi matching kitty purses! I also bought 2 card holders as I go through them like popcorn, harhar! I’m currently using the polka dot one.  I got these last Sunday but postponed blogging about it to surprise Kitten.

Oh, how I love weekday shopping! 

Beyond Natural

This blush was a gift. I’ve been using it since September and it still looks like I’ve only received it last week. It’s so compact.




I love this product! I’m not a big fan of Revlon (I’m a Maybelline girl) but I really like this blush/bronzer duo.



It’s great for everyday use. The bronzer is good for contouring. Here are the swatches:

I don’t know if you’ll be able to see them, especially the bronzer on the right as it blends well into my skin. That is why, this is perfect for the no-makeup makeup look.

Like other Revlon products I’ve examined, this one has a funny smell. The smell used to stick to my brushes even after cleaning with the Ellana brush cleaner. That was when I was still using dishwashing liquid to clean my brushes. Now I use Sunsilk green and the smell doesn’t stick anymore.

This blush/bronzer duo does not irritate my skin. No rashes nor itchiness.

It doesn’t last long on my cheeks especially the blush and I don’t have oily skin. I have to reapply every now and then. I also have to sweep my brush back and forth the product several times to get a sufficient amount of blush or bronzer.

On days when I’m wearing red lipstick, I just use the bronzer. On lazy days, I just combine them to get a healthy flush.

The case is sturdy and does not suddenly open up in my makeup kit so it’s great to bring around. I would also recommend this if you’re going to travel.

I’m not sure how much this costs but Revlon is everywhere so you won’t have a hard time finding out. Will I repurchase? Probably not. This will last me a long time.

Reminder: The Great Samples Giveaway!

Don't forget to join my giveaway! Click here for details.

Enamored

I bought this lipstick on the first of September. I don’t use it everyday but I’ve used it enough to give a proper review. I’ve been a fan of Wet n Wild since I was a kid as my grandmother in the States would send us Balikbayan boxes filled with food, knick knacks and Wet n Wild products. I used to just play with them as they looked like toys. Teehee… That’s why I was so happy when the brand finally reached our shores.

Wet n Wild Lipstick in Enamored

I like pink lipstick. I was drawn to this lipstick because of the pretty pink shade and the silver casing. Plus it’s so affordable at Php299.

From the looks of it, you already know that the extra product will give you problems. That top part does not go hidden inside the case. I knew right then and there that it would break soon. And it did so I got the broken part and put it in my palette.

It’s so sulit  at Php299. Just look at the size of that thing. It’s almost as big as the case.

Here’s the swatch:

So pretty!

I like the shimmery effect. This is the only lipstick that I have that looks so unique. It stands out in my palette.

It lasts for a reasonable amount of time as long as you avoid licking your lips every now and then. When I eat, it still leaves some color on my lips. The only thing I don’t like about this is it chunks up. I have to crush the chunks and spread them out so that I don’t end up with chunky lipstick. It also doesn’t have that weird smell that some lipsticks have.

It doesn’t dry out my lips. I always use a lip balm prior to any lipstick application to protect my lips. Some lipstick brands still dry out my lips even with lip balm.

I don’t bring this with me often as the stick gets cracked easily. So I guess, I’ll be transferring the remaining product to my palette eventually.

I got this at Beauty by SM Makati. Will I repurchase? No. I think lipstick is not one of the strongest products of the brand. Even when I was a kid, the lipstick quality was like that, that’s why I thought they were toys.

Do you have a better experience with Wet n Wild lipsticks?

Sooo not waterproof…

elf Waterproof Lengthening and Volumizing Mascara

I am fascinated with elf cosmetics because they are so affordable and most perform well that is why I was so disappointed with this purchase. My number one requirement when buying mascaras is it should be waterproof as I have very sensitive eyes. I don’t want mascara running into my eyes and smudging everywhere.

Unfortunately, this product did just that – smudge everywhere and made me look like I have dark circles around my eyes. But, in fairness to the product, it did give my lashes some lengthening effect.

It made my eyes itch at times and it smudges with just a little rub. I can remove this with a regular makeup remover, sweat (yeah) and of course, water and facial wash!

What I do love though is the sleek, sexy packaging.

The wand is so, so.

The mascara dries up fast and forms large chunks on the wand. I have to wipe the wand with a tissue to get rid of the chunks.

I only used this mascara thrice. Never again. It costs Php250 and is sooo not a great buy. Maybelline has better mascaras for almost the same price.

My Daily Ritual

This post is for Peepir who asked what my daily skin care regimen is.

I was blessed with nice skin. When I was a teenager, I didn’t break out into pimples nor had very oily skin. I had the occasional zits when it’s that time of the month but they would soon disappear. It’s only when I started taking steroids that my face broke out into ugly pimples.

My mom taught me the importance of having a good skin care regimen at an early age and so I guess that also contributed. I started applying moisturizers when I was 12 or 13.

I have very sensitive skin so I try to make my facial care ritual simple. When I wash my face in the shower in the morning, I use Etude House Cleansing Foam in peach which has a whitening/brightening effect. I will be changing cleansing foams soon as that is going to run out. I use a bubble net to get a nice lather and use that lather to cleanse my face. Twice a week, I scrub my face with St. Ives Olive Scrub. I don’t rub it in nor scrub too long. In between days, I use The Body Shops Face Scrubber.

After bathing, I apply some toner. I use a cotton pad for this. I don’t like using cotton balls as they soak up too much product and they get all over my face. The toner that I just finished up is by Estee Lauder. I will make a separate review on that. Before that, I was using the one from Nivea. You can search the archives for all the products mentioned above, by the way.

I allow my face to dry before applying Garnier Light Moisturizer. I do not use Light Complete because that made me break out.  When this has been absorbed by my skin, I apply Etude House Super Aqua Sun Guard. Then I apply my Face Shop makeup bases and start painting my face.

When I get home in the afternoon from the hospital or errands or whatever, I remove my makeup using Etude House Milk Tea makeup remover. I remove my eye makeup with Etude House Lip & Eye makeup remover (review coming soon). Maybelline’s Eye and Lip makeup remover is great too. Then, I just wipe off the remaining product with a wet wipe. Then when I shower at night, I use St. Ives Olive Cleanser which is really gentle but very effective. On nights when I use the scrub, I apply the Human Heart Nature Night Moisturizer. It makes my face oily in the morning but it’s good so I can live with the oil. I will be trying other moisturizers once I finish this tube. I have to be careful with this moisturizer though. I avoid this when it’s almost that time of the month.

On other nights, I just apply the Celeteque moisturizer. Sometimes I use a face mask. Those are times when I’m really stressed or when my skin looks too dull. I prefer the leave on, rinse off type masks as they are more effective on my skin.

Weekends are a different story. After bathing, I just apply toner and that’s it. At night I just wash my face. I let my skin breathe when I’m at home. I avoid makeup and stay au naturel. Also, when I do go out on weekends, I avoid too much makeup. A simple foundation + blush  + lipstick combo will do.

I think my skin care regimen works because I’ve had several compliments from different beauty experts about how nice/good my skin is. Except of course for those annoying marks left by pimples. Oh, for pimples, I use the spot corrector from Garnier. I also use the Garnier blemish remover to lighten the spots. You can also try Eskinol Pimple Remover. I have a friend who has a lot of pimples and he said that Eskinol works. The Body Shop Scrubber also works well on unpopped/drying zits. Just be very gentle.

If I suddenly break out, I try to isolate the products one by one to know which one is doing the damage. Sometimes I just stop everything to let my skin breathe and heal.

I try to change my routine every once in a while but I’m also very careful with the products that I try. When something doesn’t work the first time, I immediately stop. I don’t want to risk it. I may feel bad because of the money I spent but I know I’ll feel worse if it will make my skin go bad.

So that’s my daily ritual Peepir. I hope this helps you!

This will probably be my HG Face Mask…

I bought this in June and became too lazy to use it. It’s only about a few weeks ago that I was able to try the Montagne Jeunesse Sensitive Skin Masque.

I am scared of trying out leave on masks because I might break out or something that’s why I picked this one for sensitive skin just to be sure.

There are two parts to this facial mask. First is the green mask that you see on the picture and second, the moisturizer that you put after removing the mask.

There’s a lot of product in this sachet. I used the mask 3x and in each time, I applied generously. The moisturizer lasted even longer, about 5-6 applications.

I always use the mask when my skin looks tired. It never failed to brighten up my skin! I seriously ADORE this product! It makes my skin whiter, brighter and it instantly de-puffs all my rashes/breakouts, etc. I like using this when it’s almost that time of the month to prevent or treat the tiny pimples that pop out. It dries up those nasty bumps in no time. Of course, it might work differently on you.

It doesn’t harden up after 10 minutes (application time) but it is quite hard to rinse off as it really sticks to your skin. It’s thick and it will take a lot of water to rinse everything off. You should also protect your hair when you apply this as it’s going to get messy. But after all the mess, you’ll be glad that you did it anyway.

I am not a huge fan of the smell. It’s tolerable but it smells like chemicals especially the moisturizer.

The moisturizer, on the other hand, has a very thin consistency. You only need a small amount to cover your entire face. It is also quickly absorbed by the skin. It doesn’t make me oily and in the morning, my face looks bright and newly washed. Yes, none of that morning oil we usually have.

I will definitely repurchase and try the other variants. Hopefully, they will give me excellent results as well. I bought containers so that next time, I’ll transfer the product and use a spatula to prevent contamination.

This mask costs around Php80 at Watsons and Beauty by SM.

P.S.

Don’t forget to strictly follow the directions on the back as you might have allergic reactions like some bloggers had. 

The Great Samples Giveaway!

Because it’s almost the season of giving and sharing is always good in my book, I’d like to give one lucky girl all these:

I always forget to use/try the samples that I get from magazines and from shopping so I might as well give them to someone who can use them and who will appreciate them.

How to join?

1. This is open for Philippine readers only.

2. Accumulate points. Winner will be drawn via Random.Org.

3. Be a follower of Bits + Treats (1 point)

4. Post this giveaway in your blog (3 points)

5. Post on your sidebar (2 points)

6. Answer this question at the end of your blog post: Why do you want to win all these samples? and why do you deserve to win? e.g. you’re stressed (5 points)

7. Leave a comment with your name/alias, email address, blog link.

8. Contest is open until November 30, 2010.

I Tried…

I tried. I promise, I really, really tried but I couldn’t control it anymore. I tried to fight it.  I’ve been seeing them for a couple of weeks now. I tried to ignore them, I tried to be practical but they got the better of me…


and so I admit defeat.

Lip Ice Haul

Hi, I’m Lady E and I’m a lip balm addict…

Don’t worry, not everything in the photo is mine. Some will be given away as gifts. And speaking of giveaways, watch out for my special giveaway!

More on my therapy…

What’s a shopping spree without a trip to Watsons?



I got another one of those free bags. = )

I also went gaga over:



Soon you will know why the sudden urge to hoard masks.

Today was the second part of my therapy. I went back to Watsons because I forgot to buy Garnier but I also ended up buying these:



We also got this for MB’s shoes:



And it only costs Php165 at Tickles!

Another Tea Cleansing Foam

This is my second Etude House Happy Teatime Cleansing Foam. The first one was milk tea. This is peach. The SA said this is one of their best sellers as it has a whitening effect. True to her word, it does give me a brightening and slightly whitening effect after I wash my face. It also leaves my skin smooth and a little bit tight.

The texture is thick and creamy and is perfect for bubble nets. Put just a small amount in the bubble net then rub to produce a creamy foam.

This is not, however, good for removing makeup. You still need a makeup remover then just use this as a final wash. I use this every morning to prep my skin for makeup and/or moisturizer application. It doesn’t make my skin oily but on really cold days, it does make my skin a bit dry.

The only thing I don’t like about this product is the scent. I find the peach scent too irritating. My allergies flared up on my first week of use. Now, after a few months of usage, my senses have finally adjusted to it.

I will not repurchase because of the smell. I have another cleansing foam to try so stay tuned for that. I may also need to cut the tube in half to get the leftover product. I’m already having a hard time squeezing out the product but the tube is still quite heavy. Hmmm…

The Happy Tea Time Peach Cleansing Foam costs only Php148 and you can get it at any Etude House or at SM Makati.

Therapy

MB took me to therapy yesterday.



Haha! Not everything in the picture is mine. Most are gifts and some are MB’s. I did manage to score some good finds though like these:

These were on sale at only Php499 each! And you know that when I find shoes that fit me, I buy them in all colors that I like. This is tan and chocolate brown. It also comes in black.  MB originally wanted to take me shopping at Zara but all the clothes that I wanted from last week were not there anymore. We went to G5 and found the shoes. MB said that he’ll buy the shoes to make up for the Zara spree. Glorietta was on a crazy Midnight Madness Sale for two nights. They’re still on sale today so if you need some closet fillers, go NOW!

I was also able to buy (or MB rather) some basic tanks at Kamiseta and a striped blouse which I will feature along with some The Emporium finds. Lucky me, I’m an XS so these stocks were ignored by most. Oh, please be careful at Kamiseta. The girl on the cashier line with us lost her wallet. Somebody took it from her bag. You know how crazy these Kamiseta sales can get.

At Penshoppe, MB bought a polo shirt and I got another tank top in peach. I was a bit frustrated with Penshoppe as the top that I got was on the 20% sale section. The other color on the other side of the store was also marked 20%. I even double checked with the SA and she said that it was Php249 but will still be further discounted for 20%. When MB paid, it was only on 10% discount. I asked the SA and she asked the manager beside her. The manager said it was a mistake. I pointed the 20% discount sign on each side of the store where the tops are. She said that people just hang things where ever. I told her that I double checked with the SA and she kept saying that it was a mistake. The SA who punched our purchases said, “Ma’am sorry po. Nabigyan ko naman po siya ng 10% discount so ok na po.” WTF? What’s okay with that? That’s false advertising! I told them that it was false advertising. As if a 10% discount would make us feel better. Pampalubag loob? Consolation prize? And I wanted to buy one of each color! Good thing there were no more sizes on the other colors!

On our way out, the same SA apologized again and repeated the 10% discount speech. This time I was really fuming and snapped at her to fix their stocks and put them in the proper places. It is what it is, FALSE ADVERTISING.

More finds on my next post…

Olive Cleanser

I have no idea why I haven’t posted a review of this product yet. It has been sitting in my archives since August and I’m almost done with the bottle.

I was tinkering with my camera settings that’s why the dark shots

I use this cleanser every night to get rid of leftover traces of makeup. I use my Etude House makeup remover first then my Maybelline eye and lip makeup remover. I take out the oily feel with some wet wipes. The St. Ives Olive Cleanser is my final wash.

I’ve also tried using just this to remove makeup. It’s quite effective, I must say but it doesn’t take out mascaras or eye liners that well. But for foundation, eye shadows and blush, this works nicely.

It’s gentle on my sensitive skin and does not dry me out. I’ve noticed significant improvement on my skin since I started using this cleanser. I no longer get rashes after bathing so that means, my skin is not dry. The spots on my skin are gradually fading. But I believe this is not entirely because of the cleanser. Of course, there are other products that help this cleanser to make my face look and feel better.

The scent is okay. Not great, but okay. I need about 3 pumps of product to thoroughly wash my face. I don’t use this with the bubble net because it won’t foam up as much as say, the Etude House facial wash.

The St. Ives Olive Facial Cleanser costs around Php250 at Landmark. I am thinking of repurchasing unless I find another facial wash that’s interesting.

Pretty in Pink

I purchased this Love & Beauty Mosaic blush a few months ago, the same time I purchased the Charm Brushes. What attracted me to this blush is the mosaic pattern. I bought this from Forever 21 US as I don’t think we have the makeup line here.

This is a very affordable blush that gives me beautiful pink results. I like that it’s a highlighter, bronzer and blush in one. I mostly use it as a highlighter and blush. If I want a simple makeup done, I just swipe/buff this on my cheeks and I’m ready to go. I usually use this on weekends and on days when I’m too lazy to put on makeup. It doesn’t give me a natural flush on the cheeks but a lighter  “girly” pink flush.

Here are the swatches:

Although it’s an affordable blush (I don’t like using the word ‘cheap’), it didn’t make me breakout nor did it give me rashes. It wasn’t itchy even on my first use.  It’s very easy to apply and blend and lasts about 3 hours or so depending on how oily your skin is. Mine is dry right now as it’s cold.

The packaging is not very good though. The cover comes loose at times but it’s okay as my kit is quite compact. I think I bought this for a couple of dollars. It’s not a great blush but it’s quite fine for every day use.