This week I’m obsessed with…

It has been so hot at the beginning of the week. In spite of that, I still had to nap every now and then. One day it was so hot but I still fell asleep out of exhaustion. I usually place a pillow between my legs to make my lower back comfortable (and to avoid sweating too much)  but that day I just dozed off. When I woke up, I realized that I chafed my thighs. They were stinging and I could not walk properly. I did not want to apply lotion so I thought about what I had and decided on the Rosebud Salve. It was a good choice as my skin healed quickly. By night time, my skin has already calmed down but the bumps were still there. I continued applying the salve until the following day after every shower and now my skin has completely healed. By the way, I used cotton buds to get the product and apply on my skin when it was still raw.

I still continue applying the salve just in case I doze off again. Like I mentioned in my previous post, my body has been too tired lately and I need all the rest I can get. No more chapped lips and chafed thighs with this product! = )

Perfect Combination

I’ve been very tired lately. I can only do a few things then I’d have to take a nap. I’ve been taking several naps throughout the day and night (yes, night). I also keep waking up in the middle of the night because of the heat so that’s not helping either. My last checkup wasn’t stellar either so that got me a bit worried for a day or two but I’m okay now. Everything’s going to be fine as they always do.

Anyway, here is another perfect combination I discovered. It’s amazing how much I discover with my makeup collection when I rarely use them.

These are my Shu Uemura BB Mousse and Revlon PhotoReadyFoundation in Cool Beige. I haven’t been using my BB mousse because the shade is too light even for my acidic skin. On the other hand, I bought the foundation for a gig but since I won’t be having any gigs any time soon, I decided to use it. The problem is, the shade is too dark. So one day I had the brilliant idea of combining them. I tested it and it looks so natural on my face. It’s the perfect match! This is the combination I used in my last post (if you’d like to see a reference).

I apply these using my fingers then smoothen it out using my Etude House beauty sponge. It lasts for several hours without retouching. I set it with any of my foundations or my Laneige sun powder.

Without the mousse, the liquid foundation is just not enough. My T-zone becomes oily in just a few hours. I’m really glad that I discovered this combination as I am able to utilize two products that I thought I needed to give away.

This week’s makeup box

I went to the doctor yesterday. I never imagined that I would look forward to hospital visits just so I can get out of the house for a few hours. Anyway, here’s what I used for my makeup.




MAC Fix
Rosebud Salve
Estee Lauder Mascara
Bobbi Brown Brow Shaper
Shu Uemura BB Mousse
Revlon Liquid Foundation
Bobbi Brown Corrector
Bobbi Brown Gel Liner
Bobbi Brown Palette
Too Faced Leopard Love
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler
NARS 15 Palette
UDPP
Etude House Beauty Sponge
Benefit Confessions of a Concealholic
Revlon Bronzer/Blush Duo




I used my Duwop Isla Sirena palette for my eyes and lips. I was really surprised that the lipstick turned out to be very pretty on my lips:



Too bad it does not last long. I had to re-apply while I was still at home and when we got to the hospital my cousin handed me my Carmex. She said there was no more lipstick and my lips were chapping.

May Flowers

Nail polish – OPI for Sephora Urban Ballerina
Stickers – Etude House

Cleo

Tools of the trade:

Things That I Need to Stop Hoarding Now

It’s only now that I’m an adult that I realize that I have hoarding tendencies. By watching all those home makeovers, cleanup shows, etc. I’ve realized that I can relate to some of those people who hoard stuff. Growing up, I didn’t intentionally hoard stuff. It was accidental. The women in my family are hoarders so I know where I got it from. Now that I’ve been stuck at home for several months, I have time to take stock of my belongings and purge. I started earlier this year with my clothes and then my makeup. Here are more things that I’m promising myself to stop hoarding.

Shopping Bags and Eco Totes
I have a really bad habit of hoarding shopping bags and when eco totes became fasyon, I hoarded those as well. I keep the shopping bags because I use them when I give stuff to my cousins. Cousin C also regularly asks for a few pieces to put her stuff in when she goes out or when she has to give something to somebody.

As for eco totes, I also have a ton of them. I use them to send stocks to the store. The problem is they rarely come back and when they do, they are already in a sorry state. I think that’s the reason why I hoarded them.

This year, I vow to only keep the really useful shopping bags. If it’s too small, it goes to the bin.



Beauty products



Although I already purged my makeup collection, I have to say that it’s a different thing when it comes to toiletries. I am guilty of opening one product before I finish the other. Case in point – Bench Sweet Serendipity, Body Treats Hand Cream, Beautyous lotion. I should really finish one product first before opening another. I’ve also decided to stop hoarding stuff from Watsons because they are always on sale anyway plus my husband and I discovered a few really good products this year to replace our Watsons brand products.

Clothes



I had over 200 pieces of clothing before I started purging. I brought it down to 150-ish.  I’d like to bring that number down to a hundred or less than 150.  I already downsized my wardrobe earlier this year and discovered that I have a few missing key pieces. So yeah, I will purge but I will also shop. Simplifying my wardrobe allowed me to discover the areas where I should improve on and the areas where I have too much of.

Accessories

I have a ton of accessories. I’ve always been an accessories girl for as long as I can remember. The problem with me is when I like something, I buy it in all colors. I’ve stopped that habit but I still go crazy when I shop for accessories. I adopted the system of one in, one out and so far it’s working.

Books

I have a ton of unread books. Now that I am on house arrest, I’ve been slowly trying to make a dent to my collection. I’d like to buy e-books but the titles that I like are more expensive than the actual books. Plus, I really can’t replace the feeling of a good old book in my hands. It’s just not the same as reading from a tablet or laptop.

As you can tell, I’ve been doing a lot of improvements in many areas of my life this year. I guess God made me want to stop, breathe and think about my life that’s why I’ve been put on bed/house arrest this year. I’m really glad that I am able to take a breather and re-focus my priorities.

My Tried and Tested Stay-All-Day Products

Thank God it’s Friday! I look forward to Fridays even though my husband and I both have work on Saturdays. Maybe it’s a leftover euphoric feeling from back when I still worked in the corporate world. Or maybe I’m just excited to have my husband all to myself the following day. Whatever it is, Friday is one of the best days ever!

For you other ladies out there, Friday is a time to kick back and relax after work. You meet with your girlfriends or boyfriend and spend a relaxing Friday night. Now if you are going from work to party, I suggest you use stay-all-day products. I love applying makeup but I’m a bit lazy when it comes to touch ups so I always invest in long-lasting products. Here are my tried and tested ones.

Bobbi Brown BB Cream

When my skin is behaving, this product really stays on all day. Usually, I only have to apply powder on my T-zone and that’s it. This is an expensive BB cream that is totally worth the price.




Too Faced Shadow Insurance
My magic potion to make both cheap and high-end eyeshadows stick. If you like buying drugstore eyeshadows, invest in a good primer.





Urban Decay Eyeshadows
Nothing beats the staying power of Urban Decay shadows. Even if you use a cheap primer, you can be assured that they will stay all day.





Urban Decay Eye Liners
These also stay all day. I have tried countless eye liners that are smudgeproof, waterproof and budgeproof but this one takes the cake. It is tied with my Kiss Me Liquid Liner but liquid liners usually have stronger staying power than pencils.







Kiss Me Mascara and Fairy Drops

These are the best mascaras I’ve ever tried. They don’t give me raccoon eyes even at the end of a hectic, stressful and sometimes sweaty day.

Chanel, Bobbi Brown and NARS lipsticks

These products don’t stay all day but they sure last a long time on my lips even after eating and drinking.





If you lead a hectic life, I suggest you invest in products that make you look fresh and feel beautiful all day (and night).

This week I’m obsessed with…

Etude House Jelly Pop Nail Top Coat, Body Treats Perfumed Hand Cream, Bench Sweet Serendipity Body Lotion

I have a love-hate relationship with Jelly Pop. I used to hate it because it did nothing to protect my nail polish. Last week, I put on some nail stickers and decided to put a coat of Jelly Pop over them to protect them. Wow, it worked! My manicure lasted around 3 days and the stickers lasted longer! I’ve been doing some light cooking and washing and I was amazed that the stickers stayed intact. So yeah, I’m using this a lot nowadays.

Next is the perfumed hand cream which is a pain to dispense but I insist on using because it smells so nice and it does a good job of moisturizing my hands.

Finally, Sweet Serendipity again. I mentioned before that I will use this as a hand lotion but one night I was too lazy to get up to get my Sakura Bella lotion and just used this instead for my feet. Oh, wow! It gets easily absorbed by my feet unlike the Sakura Bella. I’ve been using this a lot lately and I think I will stick to making it a foot lotion. I only have 1/3 product left and I’m excited to hit pan. I’ll be finishing this product ahead of Sakura Bella which I am itching to finish!

The Body Shop Cranberry Joy Body Butter

I bought this as part of a set last November or December. I think this is the first thing that I’ve tried in the set.



I think this is also the first time that I’m trying the body butter from TBS. I dunno, I’m not sure. I kinda steered away from the brand for a while. Anyway, I’ve been using this for 2 weeks straight now and I haven’t seen much of a difference in my skin. By the way, my skin’s condition has improved tremendously over the past few weeks since I posted a photo of my arm here in my blog but that’s because of other things. I’m not quite sure if this body butter is working but I certainly love the smell! It’s heavenly! I love cranberries and this is so good that sometimes I want to eat it. = )

It’s not easily absorbed by my skin and in this heat, my skin gets sticky a few minutes after application so I apply it at night. I think I need to use this more, maybe a month to be able to see results but I like it in general. I will definitely buy this again next Christmas.

My Must-Have Products for Women in Their 20’s

I have a lot of student readers and women in their 20’s who follow my blog. I made a similar post for women in their 30’s and I think it’s only appropriate that I address the younger ones. So, here are my must-have products for you 20 something ladies.

Anti-aging

It’s never too early to start taking care of your skin. You want to slow down the effects of aging as early as you can and as much as you can so the 20’s is the perfect time to do this. It’s more of prevention at this stage. Some anti-aging products might be too harsh for your young skin so be sure to test them out first. I’m 31 and I still can’t tolerate anti-aging products so I use them in moderation.

Exfoliating Scrubs
Get rid of all those dead skin cells on your face and body to make your youthful glow last.

Hair tools
It’s also important that you invest in hair tools as this is the time in your life when parties abound. You also get to be invited to a lot of weddings, social functions, etc. so you need to have some handy hair tools around for impromptu events.



Moisturizer or Foundation with SPF

I am allergic to sunscreens so I choose foundations or BB creams that have SPF. Girls in their 20’s have fun in the sun a lot so a good product with SPF is a must.



Face primer
You want your makeup to last long and you also want to cover up those pores. A face primer makes your foundation apply smoothly on your face. It makes the canvass even so foundation looks flawless.



Concealer

Hide those bags and blemishes with a good concealer.



Mascara and Eyelash Curler

As we age, our lashes thin out. You can make your peepers come alive with a good eyelash curler and a matching mascara. They instantly open up your eyes and brighten up your face.




Red Nail Polish

Red nail polish is a classic product that women of all ages must have. Choose your killer shade and swipe some on when you’re feeling classy and sexy.




Your choice of products may change through the years but continue with the skin care and you will still look like in your 20’s when you reach 30.

Midweek De-Stressing

It’s very easy for women to be stressed out. Well, it’s only natural as we do a lot more things than guys do. Aside from our careers, we have to take care of the house, run errands, do chores, handle the budgets, take care of the kids, etc., etc. all while maintaining our beauty and poise. We women don’t have it easy but there are some things you can do to manage your stress. Here’s what I do.

Power Naps

I take naps whenever I can. Aside from my body being weak, a nap helps refresh my mind. A 15-30-minute nap will do wonders for you, trust me.

Set aside some “ME” time

It’s the middle of the week, so how can you get some “ME” time? Simple. Call in sick and spend the day doing anything you like. You can go to the museum, try out that new restaurant, shop a little, anything that will take your mind off of work and stuff.

Get moving

When I’m too stressed, I work out or do some yoga. Yoga helps a lot as it calms my body, my mind and my spirit. If you are not into getting zen, try dancing and high-impact exercise classes instead.

Disconnect
Turn off your phone and your laptop or whatever gadget you are using. Take some time to walk the dog or play with your cat. You can also just close your eyes and start envisioning your goals and where you want to be. Imagine where you want to vacation next. Imagine that promotion. Whatever it is that will put you in a positive mood, do it.

Learn to say NO

I have learned this the hard way. It’s so hard for me to say no especially to friends and family. Through the years I’ve learned that some people will just abuse your generosity and your kindness. It does not mean that you are a bad person if you say no. You are just refusing to become a doormat. Other people should be sensitive of your needs too. They should also take your feelings into consideration.

Eat healthy

Stop it with the junk food and the tub of ice cream already! If your idea of de-stressing is sinking into the couch while watching TV and eating a bucket of chicken wings, you are just setting yourself up for more trouble. If you can’t avoid the munchies, try popcorn cooked in olive oil or some baked potato chips. You can also just have some herbal tea and relax in front of the TV. You can cut that steak in half and pile on the veggies and have some fruit for dessert. If you are healthy in the inside, you can cope better with what’s going on outside.

Tackle the problem

Lastly,tackle whatever it is that is giving you stress. You can’t just sweep it under the rug. You have to find a solution for it otherwise you are just lying to yourself. You are also making things harder by allowing the problem to get bigger. If your work sucks, look for another job. If your relationship is not working out, break up with the guy. Embrace your newfound freedom. If you are in debt, how are you going to pay it off? If you are overweight, start exercising and eating healthy. You have to learn to face reality in order to live stress-free.

Take it easy ladies! Only 2 days to go and it’s the weekend again!

A little help, please?

I have recently rediscovered my Etude House beauty sponge. I stopped using it because I didn’t have the time to wash it after using. I preferred my disposable sponges over it. Now that I have more time on my hands, I use it more often. I do have a problem though. It’s so hard to clean! I’ve had this problem since the beginning.

I’ve tried cleaning it with Ivory soap and my Etude House makeup remover (Bubble Oil, I think) but it still has foundation stains all over. I’d like to continue using it (as it’s not necessarily cheap)  but the stains are really bothering me.

If you have a similar product, I’d like to know how you clean it. Thank you ladies!

Stationery Junkie

Hey, hey! I was so swamped with work yesterday that I was not able to schedule a post for today so yeah, this one’s late. Anyway, before anything else, a huge shoutout goes to Hanny! Thank you for following my blog and I’m glad that you find it useful. = ) Keep the comments coming ladies as I love reading them and learning about you as well.

Aside from being a makeup junkie, I’m also a stationery junkie! I can’t help it, I’m OC and I love making lists and writing down stuff. I don’t have a diary or a journal but sometimes I do write my feelings when I’m angry or sad just to blow off steam. After some time, when I come across those entries again, I tear them up and toss them in the bin. No sense holding on to bad memories.

I’ve been collecting stickers and stationeries since I was a kid. I stopped when I got older because I realized that it was a waste of money because I refused to use them. Now I am slowly making a dent to my huge stationery collection. I used to have 2 large boxes of stationeries. Now they fit comfortably into one small hole in my shelf. One day I would have to go through them to purge. And yes, I am now using them. = )

Right now, I’m fighting off the urge to buy more “grown up” stationery – notepads, notebooks, pens, etc. I still have a lot more to use up. Like a ton more.

I thought I’d share this with you to get a kick start of your working day. I like surrounding myself with pretty things while I work so that I will be more inspired to finish my tasks quickly. Happy Tuesday everyone!

Mint

My Must-Have Products for Women in their 30’s

I’m 31 and as I get older, my product collection evolves. I’m lucky that I learned to take care of my skin at an early age. The only thing that wrecked my skin was my bout with steroids but I’m slowly recovering from it. I’d like to share with you my must-have products.




Moisturizer
First is skin care. If you don’t have a concrete skin care regime yet, you better start now. Anti-aging products are popular during this age but I think I’m allergic to them so I choose my products carefully. A good moisturizer is a must-have and..



Eye Cream
Stress can take a toll on our features, especially our eye area and you need a good product to combat that.



Eye Liners
Women in their 30’s can get away with bold cat eyes so you better have the tools to make them. You can choose liquid, gel or the good old reliable pencil.




Cheek Tint
You need some color in your cheeks and a good cheek tint can give you a healthy flush. It’s also good if you have dry skin.



Beauty Oil
I didn’t realize the importance of beauty oils until I hit 30. I use this on my hair and my skin.

Your Signature Red Lipstick

If you have been scared of red lipstick your whole life, now is the time to try something new. Do not be afraid of red lipstick as it can boost your confidence and make you feel powerful. Women, whatever age they are, should always feel empowered. The easiest way to do that is by swiping a bold red lipstick. Don’t worry, there is a perfect shade for you.

Your Signature Scent

I get allergic to scents very quickly that is why I cannot say this for myself but I do have a collection of perfumes that I come back to every now and then. I think it’s important for a woman in her 30’s to have her own signature scent that when her friends and people around her smell would remind them of her.

I think the most important of all these is skin care. You want to take care of your skin as much as possible so you look young, vibrant and fresh for years and years to come. Oh, and avoid stress. = )

Change Your Life with Positive Thinking

I have been going through a lot since late last year. There were so many problems with business and relationships and now my health. I try to maintain a positive attitude but sometimes it’s just really hard. I am grateful that I find inspiration everyday from so many things. I am at a point in my life when I just want to take hold of the reigns again and just be positive about things. Positive thinking does not mean that everything is okay or should be okay. It is about finding a balance when everything seems to be going wrong. It’s not easy, I tell you but I keep practicing. Let me share with you some benefits of positive thinking.

It calms your mind
How we think affects our daily events. I find that when I receive some bad news at the start of the day, it goes on and on throughout. The only time it stops is when I try to look at things differently. I stop thinking about the negative and start thinking happy thoughts.
Automatic positive thinking takes a lot of practice but it is very beneficial. It helps me calm down and re-focus on my goals.

It’s good for your health
The main reason I practice positive thinking is for my health. It’s very easy for a person with PM to get depressed even for no apparent reason at all. We just get depressed. Negative thoughts increase a person’s stress levels and stress is bad for the health. It is actually one of the reasons for so many diseases in this age. Stress stops your body from healing itself.

Thinking positive thoughts regularly helps the body become resilient. The body also releases neurohormones to fight stress hormones so you can combat illnesses better. You need to keep your immune system up so you don’t get weak and be susceptible to diseases.

It gives you a healthy glow

A smile instantly brightens your face and somehow it also makes you feel better. If you are always stressed, it shows in your eye area, your skin is dull and it just makes you look and feel ugly. I would always hear the more mature members of my family say that the reason why someone is ugly is because of their attitude. Bad attitude = ugly appearance.

Stressing out can also give you acne and eczema. I’m sure you’ve already experienced having sudden skin breakouts after a long night of partying or after a very stressful day in the office. I experience breakouts whenever I’m stressed so I try to stay away from it as much as possible.

It changes the way you see yourself
Positive thinking makes you believe in yourself more. It solidifies and improves your relationship with yourself. You just feel more confident and in control of your actions and your life if you constantly give yourself affirmations. You are in charge of the way you think and feel. When you are kind to yourself, other things just fall into place.

It improves your relationships

Because you feel good about yourself and you are constantly happy, you improve your relationship with your spouse, your family, your friends and colleagues. You also attract positive people. Remember the old saying misery loves company? You don’t want miserable people around you. You want to surround yourself with people who share the same positive outlook and who have the same goals.

My husband has terrible mood swings. Back in the day, I would get mad at him when he gets into one of his moods. I would pick a fight and constantly ask him what was going on because I know for sure that I didn’t do anything to piss him off. Over the years, I’ve learned to just let him be when he’s in a bad mood. He’ll eventually come around. I just stay positive in the hopes that it will affect him. I totally ignore his bad mood and talk to him as if nothing is going on. This way, I don’t get pissed and my world is still at peace. I don’t let it affect me anymore.

I have personally experienced the benefits of positive thinking. Since February of this year, I have gone through a lot in terms of my health. One Sunday morning, I saw a movie that reminded me of all the good things in my life that the Lord has given me. Something inside me snapped and I just let go of all the stress and the sadness and the worries. I just believed that I am okay. The very next day when we went to the hospital to undergo some tests, they finally found out what was wrong and what was causing all these trouble. It turns out, it’s just a minor thing that we don’t have to worry about. It will eventually fix itself. My whole family and even my doctors were relieved. I won’t be a hypocrite and say that I do not worry anymore. I've gone through some traumatic events in the past few months and sometimes I still get scared or worry that it might happen again. What I do is I bring myself back to the now. Because the world is okay now. Now is peaceful. Now is perfect.

I hope I’ve given you enough brain candy to “munch on” this Sunday.  = )

I also hope this post reaches those who need it the most.

My Favorite Multitasking Products

I didn’t realize the importance of multitasking makeup until I got so busy with Hyphen and Table E last year. I now appreciate them and enjoy using them even on days when it’s not so harried.

Here are my favorites:



First is Benefit’s Girl Meets Pearl. This is a highlighter but I used it as a primer before and it gave me that dewy look. I haven’t opened this tube yet because I still have a lot of highlighters to finish.

Next is my Pot Rouge from Bobbi Brown. I only used this for my lips but then one day my cheeks were so dry that I needed a cream blush and this turned out to be the perfect shade. I now use it for my cheeks as well.

I probably won’t be able to stop praising this Stila One Step. I am almost through with this bottle and I will really miss it once I hit pan.

Finally, these two lip and cheek creams from Etude House. They are perfect for everyday use. I think these are limited edition. I haven’t seen any lip and cheek creams from the brand in a while.

Oh, I almost forgot.



This is a foot spray from TBS given by my sister. Aside from spraying it on my tired feet, I also use this for mosquito bites. It’s very effective, I tell you. If I get several bites on my legs, I spray a generous amount and let it dry. The itching will stop. No need to scratch! I will definitely repurchase!

My Favorite MAC products

I only have a few MAC products mainly because I get turned off by their sales people. Most of them are snubs and the are generally not nice. I have only encountered very few nice makeup artists and sales attendants at MAC and sad to say, they have all left the brand.

One of my mentors was from MAC but she left the brand and when she did, I kinda lost interest in it as well. Another problem with MAC is that they only have very few stocks here. Most new collections sell out by Day 1. I’m not too crazy about MAC to go to their boutique at opening time just to be able to buy a few pieces. Also, even if I do that, their sales people will tell me that all their stocks are reserved already. So there is no point for me to wait for the new collections. I buy most of my MAC products abroad where the sales attendants and makeup artists are nice and very accommodating; where the stocks are abundant and where I can just relax and take my time shopping.

Among the products that I have, here are my favorites:



First is MAC Fix+. I used to hate this product because it gave me allergies. My face would look like it was bitten by mosquitoes or ants. I stopped using this for a while but then I discovered one way to use it so that it does not give me hives. I apply my primer, foundation and concealer first then I spray Fix+ onto a brush then dab the brush all over my face. I do this to reduce the appearance of dry skin. I let it dry then set it with loose powder or sun powder (during summer).



Next is Russian Red. I seldom use it because I reserve it for special occasions and “blah” days but this is my favorite red lipstick.



This is Girl Boy and it’s the perfect brow shaper if you have colored hair. I already hit pan with this but there is still some teeny tiny amount of product on the sides and on the wand that is why I’m still hanging on to this tube. Besides, I can’t go out to buy a replacement yet. Also, my hair has all grown out and it’s back to black. It will take some time before I can have it colored again so now I’m using my Bobbi Brown brow shaper which is closer to my present hair color. I will probably never buy another brow shaper brand again because of Girl Boy plus this was recommended by my mentor so I’m quite loyal to it.



My MAC Palette which I haven’t filled up yet because, well, I don’t buy singles here. I buy them abroad. I will probably bring this with me the next time I travel so that I can show it to the resident makeup artist and ask for recommendations.



Finally, my favorite highlighter, Chez Chez Lame. I tend to save my favorite cosmetics. I don’t know why I do that because I can easily replace them. I think it has something to do with them being so special. I rarely use this, only on special occasions. Hmmm.. I think I should use this more often. I think this is a limited edition product. I had a very hard time buying this as the SA first told me that they were sold out. Then he paused for a while then asked his colleague if he should give me the last one on reserve. The other SA asked if his client would come back for it. He said that she was late and has not heard from her so he decided to just give it to me. All that drama…

Anyway, for all you MAC fanatics out there, what other MAC products can you recommend? I’ll be sure to check them out next time I travel.