Embracing the Green: My Avant Garde Makeup Entry to the Beautynomics/Minute Maid Contest!

This is my entry to Beautynomics and Minute Maid's "FRESH LOOK" contest. I chose to create a fresh makeup look in the avant garde genre, using colors that were every bit as bright as the sponsor's was. I'm a huge believer in color theory whenever I paint, and this carried over to how I applied my makeup. After all, what better way to show my Minute Maid inspiration then by using strong oranges and greens? ;)

The Concept
I wanted the eyes to be the focus of this 'look', so I used very strong reds/yellows/oranges that branched out to a lush, vibrant green. I made my lips almost nude with just a bare hint of color in the inner lip area, skipped the blush, and used a gold tone eyebrow mascara to dull my naturally brunette eyebrows. Again, this was all designed to draw the viewer's attention the eyes, and the subsequent asymmetrical leaf appliques and orange rhinestones.

The Technique

Though I've had quite a bit of experience wielding a brush, I've got to say that there are some fairly jarring differences when your canvas is your own face! It took me countless practice sessions to get the blending right... This was the first time I used the foiling technique, and I practiced blending the eye shadow on the inside of my wrist, the back of my hand, and finally my thigh! Lol.

Eventually, though, I decided it was time to practice on my actual canvas: my face. Foiling is actually much harder than it looks. I mean, you think it's just as simple as mixing water in with your pigments, but the consistency, the balance of light and dark pigments (if you're mixing), and then the overlaying dry highlights on top of it need to be measured carefully.

It was pretty much what brought the vibrancy that I needed for this look, and as horrible as my camera was, shooting with the lovely afternoon sun streaming through my apartment window did the trick.

Some of my tools!

The Process
Base- I used Skin79's Intense Classic Balm with a thick layer of Ellana mineral foundation in "natural beige ochre" on top.

Eyes- I used Ellana mineral eyeshadow in "dream" (a pure white shimmer) as my base, and I quite literally put it everywhere. I spread it on my lids, the bridge of my nose, and the sides of my face. Basically, I put it everywhere that I thought I'd like my "mask" to touch. I then followed this up by mixing several of my pink, red, peach, and gold mineral pigments into a small cup and foiling it onto the middle part of my eyes. Three shades of green followed this (2 Ellana mineral pigments, and 1 from my Glitz Impressionist palette), which I applied dry after the red/orange pigments had set. A light dusting of olive green (from the Glitz palette) in important highlight areas was the last step in eyeshadows. Followed this up with KATE liquid black eyeliner and Artistry's waterproof black mascara. (I was supposed to add these really thick lovely false eyelashes as the final step, but I had San-San lashes that completely fell apart as I was placing them! D:)

Lips- I wanted my lips to be the same shade as my face, so I used Artistry concealer in Medium to fill everything in. I then stained just the very center with San-San's lip gloss #03 (it's a bright red stain) to create the illusion of thinner lips.

Finishes- The final makeup step was to carefully dab some highlighter cream (I used the stuff that came with my Skin79 Diamon Crystal Pearl BB Cream) on the bridge of my nose and my upper lip. I used a forest free to contour my nose, and the crystal pearl highlighter really complimented the shade. (And this information will probably never be useful to anyone doing normal makeup, haha.)

Decals- I put together the leaf collage from a packet of individual leaf stickers and some orange rhinestones. This was probably the easiest part of the look, except for the part during the shoot where the green leaf stickers kept peeling off. :P (I attached the rhinestones using eyelash adhesive.)

I learned a lot from creating my entry to this contest, and I guess I realized just how much I still have left to learn about this wonderful art. Here's hoping I get the chance to study even more! ;)

Summer Sunnies: Eyewear for the Season!

With summer right around the corner, it's important to keep your peepers protected with some trendy shades. If you're like me and have dozens of styles, then you're not going to be able to find a single pair that suits them all. There are tons of cheap shades around, and over at wholesale sunglasses, there are great deals that let you save 20% on each pair.

I personally have deep affection for classic brown shades with ornate sides, and I have tons of sunnies that mimic this look:

Absolutely gorgeous!

This pair goes for a mere $25, though if you buy a bunch (in various colors, of course), you get $5 off on every pair! I'm a *huge* sucker for sales like that... I simply can't resist them!

Another pair that caught my eye were these adorable lilac sunnies:

Isn't it a great gift for your little sister/niece/cousin? I personally love to play with my nieces, and they're such little princesses who love to dress up. I can totally see them prancing around in these.

What style of shades do you prefer? Do you have a bunch of trendy ones or just one classic pair? :)

Shopping on Amazon with Johnny Air Shipping = 2 Gorgeous Dresses!

As my Christmas gift to myself last December, I decided to treat myself to a couple of new dresses from Amazon.com. I'd heard of this new shipping company called Johnny Air that shipped US items to the Philippines, and I was dying to try it out. Since most online stores only ship within Canada and the US, I've always had a bit of a sore spot in regards to buying clothes online. I'd spend hours drooling over the gorgeous clothes on fashion TV but never had a hope of wearing them (or even the cheap knock-offs, lol!).

With Johnny Air, however, all that has changed! :D Amazon had a huge After-Christmas clothing sale and I was able to snag a couple of lovely Ramapage dresses! (The sale is still going on up to now, but the two dresses I purchased are all out of stock now! Sorry, ladies.)

Rampage Juniors' Belted Dress w/ Tiered Skirt $13.80

Rampage Juniors' Printed Tiered Dress (multi-colored) $15.80

Yes, at 5 feet 5 inches, I am a mere Juniors' size Medium in the US! I love it, hahaha. I sometimes have trouble fitting my bust into Adult Mediums/Larges in Philippine sizes, so the fact that I'm a Junior Medium in the US just makes my day.

Since this was a clearance sale, both dresses I got were super cheap. I think they were going for about 75% off or something... talk about a bargain! I bought those dresses plus a video game, and the whole parcel cost me Php1,059 to pick up from Johnny Air. If I had purchased this through the ridiculous Philippine Post Office, they would have charged me that shipping fee plus another Php2,000++ in customs fees! I'll never forget the day my Amazon package of books arrived a few years ago-- I had to go all the way back home and get money because they charged me almost Php3,000 in customs fees. It was like having to pay double for my books... crazy!!

I haven't had the chance to wear these beauties yet,
but I'll be sure to document it when I do.

(Also: I hate you, chicken pox. I really, really hate you.)

In any case, I highly recommend using Johnny Air to purchase all the stuff you've been dying to get online. My experience with them was pleasant enough, and the items arrived undamaged and their fees were fair. (It takes about 1-2 weeks for parcels to arrive).

Here are steps you must follow when using Johnny Air's services:

1. Shop at any online store as per usual. Upon checkout, enter this shipping address:

Attention: Analyn / “your name here”

Johnny Air Retail Corp.

69-04 Roosevelt Avenue, Woodside, New York 11377

Telephone: 1(718) 672-7080

2. Pay for the item (paypal, credit card, etc.) and wait for them to send the delivery receipt and/or invoice via email.

3. Forward this invoice to: sol@johnnyair.com or johnnyair_sol@yahoo.com. Indicate your name, contact number, and the Johnny Air branch that you wish them to forward your package to. (I had mine sent to Megamall).

4. Wait a couple weeks for them to call you. Your package should be ready for pickup in no time! :)

You can contact Johnny Air to get a copy of their deliver fees and process over at sol@johnnyair.com or johnnyair_sol@yahoo.com. I've copy/pasted the contents of the PDF they sent below, though this was for December, 2009 and there may be some slight differences in the fee structure. :)

----------------------------------------------------------

Johnny Air Shop Online Service: Air Parcel Service from the U.S. to the Philippines

Fees - Metro Manila:
Personal Effects $6.00 / lb (Minimum of 2 lbs.) (3 to 5 days) transit time
Electronics and Other $7.50 / (3 to 5 days) transit time

Fees - Province: 
Personal Effects $7.00 / lb (Minimum of 2 lbs.) (5 to 7 days) transit time
Electronics and Other  $8.50 / lb (5 to 7 days) transit time

*Minimum of 2 lbs.
*Above rates are inclusive of customs duties and taxes. Additional minimum of $5 handling fee may apply for small high value items. Chargeable weight is whichever is greater between volume weight and actual weight. Volume weight formula: Length x Width x Height (inches) / 166.

--------------------------------------------

For further inquiries, you can contact Johnny Air at: 817-0781 / 817-2854 / 750-3820 or email them at sol@johnnyair.com or johnnyair_sol@yahoo.com. You may also text them for updates at 0917-526-2863.

SMilDS.com: The Newest Online Mall To Hit Asia

What's the scoop on the latest online shopping mall to hit Asia's interweb? SMilDS.com is a brand new online store that aims to go up against e-commerce giant Amazon.com. As a hub that boasts the efficiency of going to a shopping mall, it connects hundreds of online stores and features easy payment gateways (Credit Card, G-Cash, Smart Money, etc.) within easy reach.

If you frequent multiply sellers, ebay, and the variety of small online stores out there, you'll be happy to know that patronizing this site will allow you to hit all the stores you love at the same time. I'm particularly pleased with SMilDS because it exposes products to all sorts of customers and searching for the items you need is as easy as pie.

Furthermore, sellers purchase their online space and the use of SMilDS' payment gateway and services, so you won't get random, bogus sellers like on Ebay. SMilDS' holds your money and won't release the funds until the product is delivered to you, which makes for worry-free shopping! Make no mistake, these are  serious entrepreneurs who are willing to put their money where their mouths are, and it's this professionalism that makes SMilDS well on its way to being of Amazon caliber.

To become a SMilDS seller, on the other hand, you must choose from one of their 3 packages (ranging from 25k to around 600k per year). Your package level dictates how many products you can put up at a time, and the level of customization you can do, so small to medium business owners can easily avail of their basic package.

I envision the various Multiply and Ebay sellers moving to this platform, simply because it will allow for easier searching of their products, access to a worldwide audience, and easier shipping. SMilDS has partnered with some various professional couriers (Xend, DHL, etc.) and these partners will pick up from your home and deliver your products directly to your clients. No more running to the local post office whilst loaded down with packages-- SMilDS makes everything so much simpler.

If you're a certified shopaholic and interested in checking out what SMilDS has to offer-- head on down to their site and start shopping! If you're an entrepreneur looking to check out the various SMilDS packages, give them a ring at +632-886 6190 or contact them via their comment form here. You can also check out their twitter account here.

Event Management and Planning 101

As someone who absolutely loves going to events, I've always been interested in what goes on behind-the-scenes. Bloggers usually see the polished, finished product-- whether it's a huge party celebrating a product's launch or a formal affair showcasing a new fashion collection, we never really get to appreciate the effort that goes into the events we go to.

I'm personally fascinated with events planning, as I used to dabble in this back when I was in college. We'd hold various competitions and meets for our sports organization, and each one required quite a bit of planning. I always had such a hard time because I was more or less flying blind-- I didn't have any idea how to go about getting the word out, looking for sponsors, and finding a suitable location. It's a good thing we didn't end up having tournaments in the parking lot, haha!

In any case, I found a great site featuring free event management courses. It's got everything from simple event planning tips to steps on how to create a promotional campaign.

For my lovely lady readers out there, they've got a comprehensive wedding planning checklist-- save yourself the hassle of hiring a wedding planner and DIY! Planning your own wedding becomes as easy as pie when they've done the checklist, listed the budget down (all you have to do is fill in the actual prices), and created a step-by-step timetable that lists every reservation and order that you need to make!

If that's not enough, they also have a huge forum that's perfect for networking. You can ask events professionals from all over the world for advice, tips, and even trade secrets. It would have been awesome if this was around when I was still in University-- it would have saved me a lot of tears! Still, I'm glad that such a useful site is freely available now... if I ever need to plan an event again, I know where to download my checklist.

Have you ever experienced planning an event? How did it go?

A Series of Unfortunate Events (A.K.A. reasons for my week-long hiatus from the Blogosphere)

So last weekend started innocuously enough. I had had a prior dentist appointment the Saturday before, and my dentist had given me the go signal to have my impacted wisdom tooth (bottom right) removed. It would be dental surgery, so I would have to have anesthesia because he would be essentially cutting open my gum, drilling holes into my wisdom tooth until it broke apart, and then extracting the pieces. Sounds painful, right?

Right.

Unfortunately, I'd had my two top wisdom teeth taken out years ago by the same dentist, and I was convinced that it would be that easy. Never mind that those teeth had already come out of the gum, and that it was just a simple matter of pulling them out. He actually gave me the teeth as a souvenir, which I have kept all these years because I love silly things.

My top wisdom teeth.

Needless to say, I had this crazy notion that my dentist would be able to cut open my gum and extract my bottom wisdom tooth whole and that I'd get to add a third tooth to my collection. Wow. I couldn't be more wrong.

What was supposed to be a 60 minute surgery took 3 excruciating hours. It was crazy because I had to keep asking for more anesthesia, (the limit is 7 shots, I had gone up to 5), and he finally gave up and left half the tooth still inside my mouth. He then sewed up the cauterized remains of my gum over the segmented tooth, told me to eat some ice cream, and let me go home.

By the time I got home, the anesthesia had worn off and I thought I'd die of the pain. (I kid you not-- this was *painful*). I couldn't swallow, couldn't talk, and the damn thing wouldn't stop bleeding. This pretty much meant that I was drooling blood, crying, and whimpering in pain for about 6 hours. At about 10:00 pm, I woke Josh up and told him to take me to the E.R. (finally!).

While there, they told me that there was pus in my throat, and why oh why did I have surgery when I had a sore throat? Flabbergasted, I told them that I didn't know I had a sore throat and that I'd been on antibiotics 2 days prior the surgery (SOP). Since I couldn't swallow, they gave me antibiotics and painkillers through an IV... but not before making 2 rather horrible mistakes whilst trying to find a vein. This was the first time I'd ever yelled profanity out as some moron intern made mistake after mistake trying to find my vein and flush it with water.

Luckily, my father arrived earlier on and he was also there to make sarcastic remarks at the annoyingly cheerful Ear, Nose and Throat doctor who attended me. Josh held my hand throughout the entire thing, and said that he'd never seen an intern (or was it nurse in training?) so inept as the first one who tried to find my vein.

Some pretty flowers to get your mind off of my horrible bloody teeth.

We all crawled to our respective homes well after 1 am, (I went home with my dad), and the next few days were spent drooling blood and eating mush. I'm not exaggerating when I say mush, by the way-- our housekeeper had to stick congee in a blender, for god's sake! I couldn't even get mushy wet rice grains down my throat. -_-

Anyway, so the antibiotics the doctor prescribed were much stronger than the prior ones, so I was pretty much up and about (and no longer bleeding, finally) by Tuesday. I went back to work, (though I still couldn't eat anything too challenging), and some abdomen pains started on the left side of my stomach. I went to a dinner event in the evening, but by the end of it I was already holding my stomach and groaning.

I've been hospitalized for my gastritis before, so I thought it was just that acting up because the antibiotics were so strong. I started taking omeprazole for it, but it didn't get better. By Wednesday, the pain was constant and intermittently punctured with slightly sharper pains. I asked my doctor/cousin over the phone if he could recommend stronger gastritis meds, and he put me on mucosta (which is supposed to coat the lining of your stomach). After going into the office for a meeting, I crawled home to work some more and pretty much wanted to die.

I saw Josh later on in the evening, and showed him some rashes I'd gotten which I thought were because I was allergic to the new antibiotics. By Thursday, the rashes had multiplied, were extremely painful, and my stomach pains had gotten worse. I called my cousin up and asked if he'd see me after clinic hours because I got off work at 6, and he was kind enough to agree. By that time, he was also wondering why none of my gastritis meds were working and wanted to see me physically for a check-up.

After getting into a tangle at work about doing OT (because I'm a designer and not a programmer, and we really need to hire a programmer to troubleshoot stuff because THIS ISN'T MY JOB), I finally managed to get myself to my cousin's clinic in Roosevelt Ave. Traffic was ridiculous, of course, and I got there at 7:30.

The examination was quite quick-- he told me to show him my rashes and when I obliged, he said "Well, that explains why your gastritis meds aren't working. You have shingles."

ARG. Shingles (medical name Zoster) pretty much explained the intense localized pain and the rashes (which weren't rashes but actually spots like in chicken pox). He said he was surprised at how someone so young had gotten it, but he said that anyone who'd gotten chicken pox when they were a kid is likely to get Zoster as an adult. Many things can cause Zoster, most notably stress (i.e. perhaps from the botched dental surgery? the idiots at the e.r.? a billion things to do at work?) and just being plain unlucky.

So he finally (finally!) put me on the right meds (anti-viral plus yay!painkillers), and now I'm finally able to function like a human being. The rashes are spreading and I'm highly contagious to people who've never had chicken pox, but at least the constant stomach pains are gone! And I've slathered calamine lotion all over my spots, and he informs me that they should be gone in 2 to 4 weeks.

If you'd like to read more about Zoster, please head over to the wikipedia entry here. Most people get it during middle-age, but if you're unlucky and stressed like me, you could get it when you're young. :P

Stay healthy, ladies! I hope this isn't an indication of my 2010 health. -_-

The Pepper Kids: Art for Children, Designs For All

I've always thought that children are molded at a very young age, and materials that we are exposed to as children are a huge part of what shape us later on in life. For example, I probably wouldn't have gotten interested in art if my mother hadn't read tons of picture books and comics to me when I was a little girl. I had quite the fairy tale library when I was a kid, and I developed a great appreciation for the arts right from the get-go.

Over at Pepper Kids, this concept is well conceptualized and executed. Their collections of quilts, curtains, bedding, and various decor are designed to inspire young minds into creative fervor.

The image to the left is from the Oopsy Daisy Fine Art collection; a charming series of paintings mounted on small canvases designed to adorn your child's walls. Aside from the fact that I am absolutely delighted with the 'picture book' style of the art, I love that each painting's theme is some whimsical flight of fancy. There are princesses and fairies and castles for the girls, sailing and sports and circuses for the boys. Not only is it a great way to encourage creativity in a child, it also provides a lovely little decoration for their favorite nook.

Aside from their art collection, Pepper Kids also has a lovely assortment of quilts and bedding. Each piece is designed with exquisite detail, and some of my favourites are found in The Chandler Collection.

This lovely floral and green quilt popped out at me because it's visually light and easy on the eyes. I find pastel colors to be particularly restful, and unlike some rather garishly bright sheets and quilts aimed at children, I find this to be quite classy.

Of course, no collection would be complete without the essential pretty princess quilt. Check out this lovely piece from the Whistle & Wink Bedding gallery:

I find it completely adorable because it's got individual scenes on each patch, just like the more classic quilts I'm used to seeing. It's a perfect comforter for the little girls who dream of being princesses...

I remember being seven years old and wanting all my clothes and hair clips to be pink, and it got so bad that my mum bought my a pink blanket and a pink toothbrush! I would have loved to have a pretty quilt like this when I was a kid, and it would be such a sweet touch to any little girl's room.

All in all, I'm an advocate of peppering a child's bedroom with lots of interesting visuals. Children often make up little stories about whatever random imagery they see, and I'm a firm believer in fostering creativity.

What about you, ladies? Do you believe that introducing art through various mediums could boost your child's creativity? :)

B.B. Cream Review: Skin79 Hot Pink Super+ Beblesh Balm (A++)

SKIN79 Super Plus BB Cream Hot Pink 40g, SPF25 PA++

Php900 from ebay seller Sun Kim

Okay, so it took me hundreds of pesos and becoming a regular at a Korean gal's ebay store before I finally found the perfect BB cream for me, but I HAVE FOUND THE ONE!! :D The winner is none other than... Skin79's Hot Pink BB cream! It matched my color perfectly, had exactly the amount of coverage than I needed, and (omg!) it finally provided enough oil control to last me the day! Whew. :D

I have to admit, I never really thought I'd find the perfect BB cream for me. I kept reviewing the ones I had because I'd bought no less than 8 creams in the last few months, and I really just wanted to finish testing them all out. Since I wasn't too impressed with the everyday usability of Skin79's Diamond BB cream, I wasn't really expecting much from 'Hot Pink'. I mean, the bottle was a bright metallic shade of pink, so I expected it to be crushed gems like 'Diamond' was.

As it turned out, I couldn't be more wrong! Check it out:

Isn't that a completely wearable shade? :D It's got better coverage than Skin79 Classic did, and it was absolutely thick enough to cover my undereye circles. No gems, no sparkles, no overdone party-only glitters. This was pitch-perfect!

Pros- Can I say everything? Lol. One thing I'm particularly happy with is the price, since Php900 for a whopping 40g is a huge deal for BB creams. The SkinFood BB cream was Php1,550 for 50g (appalling, I know), and while there are some cheaper creams available, I really love how Skin79 products handle. Remember, if your skin tone is similar to mine (tan with gold undertones), and you've got combination/oily skin, this is the BB cream for you!

Cons- It's a bit thicker than most creams, but I didn't have much trouble spreading it. As with all other brands, I just put small dollops of it on my forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin and spread it with my fingers.)

 As always, Philippine-residents can snap this up from ebay.ph seller Sun Kim. She has incredibly reasonable prices (cheaper than the ones on Multiply by a couple hundred pesos), always gave me a bunch of freebies with my purchases, and ships super fast. :D

International buyers can snap some up from Amazon or any of the Korean sellers on ebay international. If you buy only one BB Cream in your entire life... buy this one. You won't be disappointed.

I'll be putting up a master list of all 8 BB Creams shortly; it'll include prices, shades, and a handy comparison chart. Til next time, ladies! Stay beautiful. ;)

Check out my other BB Cream reviews:
SkinFood Mushroom Multicare, Skin79 Diamond Crystal Pearl Lightning 3D, Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals BB Cream, LACVERT Live Natural Dual BB and Shimmer Balm, Skin79 Intense Classic Balm, Tony Moly Crystal BB Cream in 'Natural'

The WINNER for "Start the Year Right: SkinFood Planner Giveaway!"

I'm terribly sorry this took so long, ladies and gents, but I had dental surgery last Saturday and I was pretty much bleeding and weeping throughout the weekend. I can barely open my jaw to talk and/or eat, and most of my diet the past few days has been soup, oatmeal, and banana mush. :P

In any case, I think you've waited long enough for the results of this giveaway! The winner of the planner is none other than...

HIDBURN!

Congratulations, dear. I'll be emailing you for your address shortly. :) And to the rest of you ladies-- don't worry! We have monthly giveaways that will run from the first to the fifteenth of each month, as well as numerous first-commenter-wins giveaways (like the Kotex giveaway).

Good luck and stay beautiful! ;D

Valentine's Day and YOU: Gift Suggestions for Guys

Well, it's that time of the year again, and as my obligatory pre-Valentine's Day post, I'd like to discuss gifts. Last year's posts were about how to spend V-Day if you're single or in a couple, and they still pretty much apply to this year. (After all, getting smashed and braving the singles clubs is always in style. ;))

Still, the boy and I have been together more than a year and a half now, and to celebrate our awesome togetherness I'd like to pick out the bestest present ever. Thus far, my top 5 picks are...

1) Candy Canes and Gummy Bears made into a diorama of the Battle on the Ice Planet Hoth (i.e. the awesomest battle in the Star Wars saga). This actually may be more for me than him, but I'm sure he'll love the fact that he's got a year's supply of gummy bears and candy canes.

2) A nice watch. Nothing beats watches as Men's jewelry, and I can tell by the fact that he's no longer wearing the little leather necklace I gave him that he's outgrown the college fashion phase. (Considering he's turning 30 this year, this would be a Good Thing. ;P) As far as good watches go, Citizen Eco Drive Men's Watches are top of the line. They've got absolutely exquisite three-dial, silver-and black watch faces, and is pretty much the exact watch I'd get for my guy... if I was making wads of cash. Maybe next year? :|
 
3) A mix tape, because nothing says "I love you" better than Bon Jovi's greatest hits.

 "I want to lay you on a bed of roses
For tonite I sleep on a bed on nails
I want to be just as close as the Holy Ghost is
And lay you down on bed of roses"

...wow. What does that even mean?

4) A ride on a pony/take him to the zoo. While this gift may sound a bit childish, let me stress that we go on zoo dates, aquarium dates, and let's-stand-in-front-of-the-bouncy-castle-and-make-sad-faces-because-we're-too-big-to-be-let-inside dates. I have no doubt that if I were to find a better zoo than the ones in Avilon (10 minutes away from my house, yo), he'd enjoy it immensely. Sadly, there are no better zoos in our immediate vicinity.

5) A pampered hotel stay. Well, this is probably the most grown-up way to spend Valentine's day, and it's probably going to be the one we go with. After all, nothing says "I love you" like some other person's hands massaging your partner's naked flesh and-- hey, wait a minute!!

Well, it's a good thing most swanky spas have couple massage rooms. :P

What about you girls? What do you plan on doing with your significant others on Valentine's Day? :)

B.B. Cream Review: Skin79 Intense Classic Balm

Skin79 Intense Classic Balm 43.5g, Premium BB Cream

Php850 from ebay seller Sun Kim

Skin79 is widely touted as *the* brand for BB Creams, and it's pretty much the only Korean Cosmetic Company certified by ISO9001, the international quality control standard. (The company's products are also all approved by KFD.) This is why I keep trying out variants of their BB Creams, and it's why I didn't drop the brand after the so-so reaction I got from using Skin79 Diamond. I'm just an optimist, I guess! ;)

In any case, because I was so surprised at all the sparkly, shiny bits in the Diamond line, I decided to go completely in the opposite direction by purchasing Skin79's classic balm. This could practically be used by a guy-- the packaging was so simple and the actual balm was devoid of those crazy shiny particles! I figured that if any cream was for everyday use, it would be the Intense Classic Balm.

Oh happy, happiness! Great under the sun, too! ;)

Pros- I feel like I'm getting so much closer to the BB Cream of my dreams! This had great coverage, matched my skintone, and had decent oil control. At Php850 for 43.5 g, the price was very reasonable. (I know, I know-- I should stop slamming Skin Food's ridiculous mall price, haha.) This cream goes on matte, and the color made my skin look really nice and golden under the sun.

Cons- The lovely tan color got a bit iffy under white fluorescent lights (hello, Achilles heel), and I just can't bring myself to stop my search even though this is the closest I've ever gotten to a perfect BB Cream. :P The whitish cast actually came out quite clearly when I did a face check under harsh bathroom lighting in the evening, though I think this may be the result of slightly acidic skin. Bah! Also, it was tiny bit difficult to spread because it was so thick.

Despite its flaws, I'd say Intense Classic Balm is one of the best creams I've ever tried. The color, coverage, and oil control outweigh the fluorescent light problem, and it's affordable enough to be used for everyday outings. I'd definitely repurchase this, and I highly recommend it to girls with the same skin tone and type (oily/combination) that I do! :D

Check out my other BB Cream reviews:
SkinFood Mushroom Multicare, Skin79 Diamond Crystal Pearl Lightning 3D, Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals BB Cream, LACVERT Live Natural Dual BB and Shimmer Balm, Tony Moly Crystal BB Cream, Skin79 Intense Classic Balm

KOTEX LUXE Ultrathins Giveaway to the first 15 commenters! - CLOSED

NOW CLOSED!

2010 means a bunch of new products coming out, and one of the handiest is Kotex Luxe's new Ultrathin pad with wings. It's got crazy-cool dry net combined with your fav cotton feel (this is a must for me), and it's absolutely awesome!

As a special gift to my readers, I'm giving away 1 Kotex Pack each to the first 15 commentors on this post!

To qualify for this contest, you have to:
1) Be a FOLLOWER of this blog (check the Google Connect widget on the sidebar), so please hit that follow button!
2) Drop a comment stating why you want to try Kotex Luxe, and leave your email address so I can contact you.
3) This contest is only open to Philippine residents. :)

And that's it! Good luck, ladies! May the fastest commentor win! ;D

The Perfect Apartment: What Do You Look For?

I'm the type of person who constantly needs to be surrounded with order and beauty, and every six months or so I crave an apartment makeover. Last Christmas, my parents were kind enough to buy new sheets and a lovely set of curtains for me, and after having them washed and installed, I can honestly say that my apartment looks a whole lot cheerier!

My new curtains!

I'm not the kind of person who can really spend years staring at the same thing, so I often rotate the paintings I display on my walls and put up a new bit of furniture every now and then. Still, little changes can only go so far, and I'm a little relieved that the coming of the new year means my lease is ending soon. After two years in my little apartment I finally feel like I'm ready to move on!

When I first went apartment hunting in 2008, the price was the number one factor. This was followed closely by the safety of the location, accessibility to my work place, and ironically enough, the view. (The latter is no longer the case; in the year and a half that I've been here, I only glanced out the window once or twice. I usually keep my curtains drawn.)

Still, with my career advancements and job stability, I now have a bit more elbow room when it comes to the rent and I'll be keeping an eye out for a bigger place. Living in the city pretty much means that there's always a mall or convenience store nearby, so location isn't as big a deal as it once was. I do enjoy living in my area right now, though, and will be looking to move nearby.

When it comes to homes for rent, what do you guys look for? Aside from the price of rent (or mortgage), what is the most important factor? Is it the commute to and from your place of work? The neighbors you would potentially have? (I think I've met only maybe one or two of my neighbors in the past couple of years, as condo living generally means keeping to one's self. I guess it just depends on the person, as a polite nod and smile will usually do.)

All in all, I think my upcoming move will be much easier than the first. I now know exactly what my priorities are, and hopefully finding the perfect place will be a snap. Wish me luck, girls! ;)

B.B. Cream Review: Tony Moly Crystal in 'Natural'

Tony Moly Crystal BB Cream

"Natural"

My mum, who is currently living in South Korea as an exchange professor, recently sent home some Tony Moly BB Cream for me. This brand is nearly impossible to find in both local and international Ebay, so being able to review this is such a treat! (Thanks, mom! Stay strong and healthy. :D)

Since she knew that I'd been looking for a BB Cream that was dark enough to match my tone, she made it a point to go to the mall and skin test several kinds. She said that Tony Moly was the darkest she could find (I'm 2 shades darker than her), during her swatch tests.

Pros- I found that Tony Moly had a very nice consistency-- not too thick and not too watery, and it spread and covered my face quite easily. It also matched my skin tone quite well, and I was quite happy with the coverage it provided. It says that it provides abundant moisture, and that it enhances the silky feel of your skin. (Or at least I think it did, considering it was written in Korean English and was a little difficult to understand, haha.)

Similar to the Lacvert cream, it claimed to have crystal properties but I was happy to note that it only brightened my face and did not make me look like a Twilight vamp. (I still can't imagine why anyone would want to have a completely glittery face, as was the effect of Skin79's Diamond. :P) The oil control was excellent, and it required no retouching for the duration of my work day. (I did blot my nose with a bit of tissue, but even then the color stayed right where it was supposed to.)

Cons- If this was readily available, whether internationally or locally, I'd say this was the perfect cream. As it is, it's incredibly difficult to get a hold of it. :(

All in all, I really liked this cream. Since matching my skin tone is a must for BB Creams, this already had 50% of the other creams beat, lol. I can't say much about the cost since it's not available on any online stores, but if you're able to go to S.Korea, then you should definitely keep an eye out for this one. In terms of its repurchase factor-- I'd have to say that if it was more easily accessible, I definitely would buy it again. It's a huge 50ml tube, so I figure it'll take me six months at least to get through it!

Have any of my readers tried out various BB Creams? If so, please share your experiences!

Check out my other BB Cream reviews:
SkinFood Mushroom Multicare, Skin79 Diamond Crystal Pearl Lightning 3D, Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals BB Cream, LACVERT Live Natural Dual BB and Shimmer Balm, Tony Moly Crystal in 'Natural'

Craft Time: How-To Make Your Own Black Rose and Pearl Chain Necklace

I'm a sucker for black roses, and since I couldn't find any charm necklaces that I particularly liked (they're usually made of cloth and/or on bib-type necklaces), I decided to just make one myself.

I used Polymer clay in "pearl" to shape the rose (baking time approximately 2 and a half to 3 minutes), and then painted it with a lovely black lacquer to make it shine like an actual black pearl. :D I used liquid Sculpey to attach it a flat metal disk (which I procured by destroying one of my old earrings, haha), but you can use anything from wood to large buttons to flat Sculpey disks.

I used a chain in antique gold and attached some pearls for the asymmetrical look that I love. Perhaps my favourite part of this necklace is the single pearl drop in the center, which I attached by cutting another length of chain in half and making a faux double necklace look. (This was achieved by linking the chain to the middle of the necklace rather than the clasp).

I really liked this design, and I think I'll be making a similar one for the site's February giveaway.

I think I'm getting much better at shaping Sculpey, and even though I have talon-like nails right now, I was still able to get the rose-petals the way I envisioned them in my head. Does anyone have any colors they'd like to suggest? :D

Polymer clay and liquid sculpey purchased from the sculpey man trading!

B.B. Cream Review: LACVERT Live Natural Dual BB & Shimmer Balm

I guess good things come in small packages, because LACVERT Live Natural BB cream was a wonderful find! It's a lovely BB Cream that brightens your face and has excellent coverage, and it goes realy well with pinkish blush and shiny red lips. :D

Like most BB Creams, a little goes a LONG way with Lacvert. It's the thickest cream I've ever tried, and it didn't spread as easily as the others did. Of course, a thick cream means great coverage, and I definitely see using this during my pimple days.

It says it's got shimmer, but thankfully it was nothing like Skin79's Twilight vampire shimmer look. I think it actually just brightened my face a bit, though as with most creams did NOT match my skintone. Lol.

LACVERT Live Natural Dual BB and Shimmer Balm 20ml

Php250 from ebay seller Sun Kim

Pros- The price is pretty excellent. Php250 is about $6, and for a whopping 20ml of product, that's an excellent deal. The coverage is great, the oil control is fairly good for a BB cream (4 hours before needing a retouch), and the brightening appeal made my under-eye circles less noticeable.

Cons- Your pay a price for the coverage you get, and that is the lack of spreadability. I really had to work my fingers into it, unlike Skin79 stuff where just two fingers will do. I used three fingers on both hands to spread this evenly, and this was on a clean face (i.e. no primer, no moisturizer).

All in all, I'd give this a 3 stars out of 5. I would probably buy it again if/when I ran out, as there are days when I need better coverage than most BB creams can afford. :D
 
Check out my other BB Cream reviews:
SkinFood Mushroom Multicare, Skin79 Diamond Crystal Pearl Lightning 3D, Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals BB Cream, LACVERT Live Natural Dual BB and Shimmer Balm

Roadtesting REVLON's Midnight Swirl at Let's Go Sago's Blogger Pool Party!

I had such a busy day yesterday! I went to the dentist at noon, stopped by the REVLON Clearance Sale in Makati Cinema Square, and went to Let's Go Sago's blogger pool party!

I picked up Midnight Swirl Lip Lustre in Reddish Fetish from the Revlon sale at Php525 (usual price Php875) and immediately decided to try it out. I'm such a huge fan of pinkish/nude lippies, so this New Year I've decided to go with a more daring, bold red!

Midnight Swirl did not disappoint in the color department (as you can see in the first photo; I took this in the car on the way to the party, so it's freshly applied), but sadly it was *quite* sticky. I'm not sure if this is because it was on clearance and thus slightly old, but stickiness in lip glosses is a *big* No for me. :P

In terms of staying power, it proved quite good though. I was on my third cup of tea before the color started fading, and I actually only had to reapply once during the four-hour party. :D All in all, I'd give Midnight Swirl an "A+" for color and staying power, but a "C-" for comfort (down with stick lipglosses!).

Interested ladies can check out the REVLON clearance sale at Makati Cinema Square, Ground Floor Walkway (in front of Dunkin Donuts). I just stumbled across this sale because my dentist's office is near this mall, haha. Talk about lucky!

Here's a few shots from the pool party!

Josh and Me. Sadly, no swimming for us because
Josh had a cough and didn't want to pass it on. :(

Posing with the beautiful Joy from Pink Monster!

Jonel, the blogger behind LetsGoSago.net was

our gracious host (he's the guy in orange).

There were tons of giveaways and lots of food, and Josh and I hung out with old and new blogger friends. Around 30 people came, and I wish I had a copy of the group photo at the end! Can anyone pass it along to me so I can put it up? :D

It was awesome seeing everyone again. Til next time, guys and gals! :*

Louise Galvin: Carbon Natural Beauty "Sacred Locks"

My thick, curly locks are suffering from the serious heatwave we've been having lately, and I'm totally going out of my mind trying to find a better shampoo. Natural and Organic hair care (and skin care, for that matter), is all the rage nowadays, and I'd love to get my hands on bottles of Louise Galvin's Sacred Locks products.

They boast salon hair care in a bottle and promise minimal carbon footprints in the production of their line. Most importantly, their brand is free of SLS, parabens, polymers, and other chemicals that could harm you and the environment.

They've also got hair type-specific products, and they've got collections that cater to everything from Fine Hair to yours truly's Thick and Curly. :D Of course, since my locks happen to be oh-so-chemically treated, I was overjoyed to discover that their Thick and Curly products were designed to treat colored (check), damaged (check), and frizzy (a HUGE check) chemically-treated hair.

Sacred Locks = Class All the Way

On paper, these products sound like the Most Awesome natural product every made! :D And the best part is that they look absolutely fantastic... Gorgeous ivory bottles with pastel curlicues are about as classy as you can get, and I don't know about you girls, but I can't stand to see unpretty things on my bathroom shelf!

Their hair products are around £7 each, which is completely reasonable because you get to look great and save the world at the same time. ;)

Jinkee Pacquiao Makes the Preview Cover as Hubby Manny Pacquiao Fights Mayweather

Jinkee Pacquiao hits the cover of PREVIEW magazine as husband Manny gears up to fight Floyd Mayweather. I thought Jinkee looked absolutely stunning after her latest makeover from Preview, and she looks totally confident that her guy is going to win his next big fight.

The Mayweather fight tickets cost a pretty penny to purchase, but if I had the means to get them, I totally would. After all, with Pacquiao's winning streak, chances are that Mayweather may give Manny a run for his money.

I admit that I haven't been too interested in Pacquiao's bouts because he's had several pretty decisive wins, but this opponent is quite good in his own right. I (and I'm sure many of you) appreciate close wins, as they make for a more thrilling match. Of course, I don't actually think Mayweather's going to win, as my money is on Manny all the way!

VOV: SHOWCASE Love Cheek Blush in "Bebe Pink" Review

V.O.V. Love Cheek Blush in #1 Bebe Pink

Php450 from ebay seller Sun Kim

It's rare that I'd do such an in-depth review for a single makeup item, because unless it's got a lot of features that need to be discussed (such as BB creams and various skincare products), capsule reviews will usually do. That said, I really felt the need to dedicate a whole post discussing V.O.V.'s Love Cheek blush:

Simply Adorable!

Isn't the packaging gorgeous? It's made of very sturdy plastic and comes with the most adorable (and useless) powder puff! I literally sighed with joy when I opened it up and saw the little pink bow that topped the puff, though after a few minutes of wrestling with it realized that its only use was a stopper for the balls. :P

It's quite impossible to get powder from the balls to rub off on the puff because they move around too much to actually get a good grip! The best way to pick up the pigment is to use your regular soft large brush (I use Ellana's standard blush brush). Don't use anything too hard or dense, or you'll get too much color and end up looking like Strawberry Shortcake.

I've been crazy to try out this ball-type makeup since I caught a glimpse of Guerlain Meteorites (pictured on the left), but they were just so insanely expensive that I couldn't bring myself to buy them. Even without thinking about the cost of shipping, a hefty $50+ isn't something I'd want to spend on some blush.

I'm so happy I found a wonderful alternative for a mere fraction of the cost. Other beauty bloggers who reviewed Guerlain Meteorites would often say that there is so much of it that it practically lasts forever! Since I personally lose interest in shades very quickly, I appreciate the fact that the V.O.V. blush comes in a smaller size and thus can be sold much cheaper.

When applied, this blush has the loveliest, sweetest pink shade that has as much (or as little) highlighting as you want. Rubbing your brush over the pink balls will yield a pinkish result, while passing them over the baby blue and pearl balls will give you some absolutely *wonderful highlights*. Check out the results:

My boy and I smiling for the camera! ;)

As you can see, I went with about two pats of pink on each cheek. I concentrated my brush on mostly the pink balls, while picking up just the tiniest bit of pearl color on my last stroke. I absolutely love this blush, because it's like buying three or four shades of blush in one go. Simply ingenious!

If you have trouble finding this brand (my ebay suki actually sold out of this), other similar brands you can look for are J&R Color Match Ball Powder: Finish Pearl Blush, and Skin79 Star Glow Ball Powder. Both are popular Korean brands that have similar ball color mixes. :)

Stay beautiful, ladies!

Skin Care: Pore-Smoothing Peach Base from Etude House

FOTD: The Natural Look

(I Love Korean Skincare! :D)

Since I've discovered the joys of Korean skin care, it's like I've entered a whole new world of cosmetics. My beauty routine used to be quite simple: cleanser, moisturizer, and makeup were my best friends. Now, however, my eyes have been opened to the joys of toners, moisturizing cleansing creams, facial mists, and pore-minimizers.

With the amount of product that goes towards perfect skin, I'm now completely unsurprised that Korean women have gorgeous complexions.

With the recently opened ETUDE HOUSE in SM Megamall (ground floor, near Toy Kingdom), it's never been so easy to get hold of these wonderful products. (I buy my products from an ebay seller because I already know what I want, but for those who want to sample the creams, it's best to go to Megamall.)

My latest skin care favourite is undoubtedly Etude's Pore Smoothing Peach Base in "Mint". It's actually a very thin mint-colored cream, but spreading and blending it onto your skin yields a lovely shade slightly paler than your original complexion.

Etude House Pore Smoothing Peach Base 50ml
Php588 from ebay seller Sun Kim

This product also has a tiny hint of iridescent sheen that makes your skin absolutely glow, and the mild coverage lightens dark under-eye circles and blotchy complexions. I find that this is perfect for days that I have wonderful skin, as its light coverage lets my skin show through. (This is actually meant as a makeup base, but I find that it works just as well on its own.)

1) Cleansing Dream: Perfect Cleansing Cream,
2) Aqua Sherbet Ice Toner;
both from Etude House Megamall branch
3) InnisFree Green Tea Mineral Mist 50ml;
Php264 from ebay seller Sun Kim

The above products are what I regularly use to keep my skin smooth and blemish-free. The cleansing cream is a perfect makeup remover and moisturizer, and I just can't stop raving about the Ice Toner. (I can't actually remember how much it was, but they were definitely less than Php500 each). The cleansing cream works just like Pond's facial cream cleansers do, except for the fact that it doesn't feel oily at all! (This was my biggest complaint with Pond's, so I'm really happy with this.)

The Aqua Sherbet Ice is a little different from your average toner. It comes in a spray bottle so you have to use cotton pads to apply it. I tried using cotton balls, but I missed it on the first try and ended up spraying my hand. :( In any case, after spraying into the pad, you wipe it quickly onto your skin. If you're too slow, the products dries up and you're left with nothing but air. When applied, the toner comes on incredibly cold and light, and I could practically feel my pores closing as I used it. The oil control factor was incredible, and it's perfect base for your favourite BB Cream.

 The last product I use, the InnisFree Mineral Mist, goes on after applying makeup. I usually use it to set my mineral makeup, because it's a lovely moisturizing mist that feels great on your skin. You can skip this if you use BB creams or tinted moisturizers as your foundation-- only powder-based makeup would benefit from this. :)

So there you have it! My pre and post makeup rituals seem to be getting longer and longer, but I have to say that it's all completely worth it. I don't think I've ever had skin this smooth, haha. Korea may be my new cosmetics-buying destination!

B.B. Cream Review: Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals BB Cream

Maybelline BB Cream 10g

Php299 from Watson's Health and Beauty

Great things come in small packages, and Maybelline's Clear Smooth Minerals BB Cream is no exception. This lovely, extremely affordable cream comes in a handy purse-sized squeeze tube that's priced at a mere Php299. Considering I've spent more than Php4,000 on a handful of Korean BB Creams, the price alone makes this BB Cream worth a try!

As with all BB Creams, this comes in a single shade that promises to blend into your skin. I don't know if I finally lucked out or if this cream's blending was just good at delivering what it promised, but yes, this actually did blend right into my skintone! It took about 2-5 minutes for it to settle, and after that I just threw on some blush, lipgloss, eyeliner, and I was ready to go. :)

Finally! A cream that matches my skintone!! :D

Pros- It's cheap, it comes in a handy purse-size, and it blends very well. The coverage is medium, so if you're having a good skin day, this is the cream for you. It also claims to whiten your skin, though not as radically as the other creams I've reviewed. I actually like the fact that it's not so aggressive with the whitening aspect, as after a week's use I've only gotten a smidgen lighter (which is great). The more expensive Korean stuff made me quite a bit lighter (even after a trip to the beach), so much so that my arms were no longer the same color as my face and neck. Lol.

Cons- Unfortunately, oil control isn't as great as I would like, so expect to have to retouch once or twice throughout the day. :P I solved this problem by applying my Etude House Aqua Sherbet Ice Toner before applying my cream, though, and it worked like a charm. (The ice toner basically closes your pores and tightens your skin, so you end up not being oily throughout the day).

This cream is easily purchased at any Watson's drug store for a mere Php299. It's too bad that it doesn't come in bigger sizes; this is the type of BB cream that would be perfect for everyday use! :D

*International readers may purchase this product from the many online Maybelline retailers here.

Check out my other BB Cream reviews:
SkinFood Mushroom Multicare, Skin79 Diamond Crystal Pearl Lightning 3D, Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals BB Cream

Start the Year Right: SkinFood Planner Giveaway! -CLOSED Winner has been announced!

Hello, ladies! It's time for another giveaway at "I Draw For A Living", and this time we're going with a gorgeous SkinFood planner. It's hardbound, has lovely thick cream pages, and different illustrations on each page. It's also full color and absolutely lovely! :D The planner is also 6"x4.25", which means you can carry it around in your purse with little trouble. :D

This contest is open to both local and international readers, so everyone is welcome to join! To enter the giveaway, you must:

1) Comment with the answer to this question: "What is your favourite skincare product and why?" (Don't forget to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win.)
2) Follow this blog using Google Friend Connect! (Click on the "follow" button on my sidebar to the right).

If you want to double your chances at winning:
*Tweet (or plurk) about this contest and drop another comment with the URL of your tweet (or plurk!).

And... that's it! I'll be picking the winner using random.org on January 15, 2009, so hurry and comment now!

NOTE: Ladies, please remember to *follow* this blog as well as comment. No follow = your comment entry doesn't count.

LizzBuenaventura.com's Christmas Giveaway Winners Revealed!

Winners Revealed!

Many thanks to everyone who participated in the Christmas raffle! I used random.org to pick out the winners and they are (in order):

1) Torque
2) Liezl (haha, we share the same name!)
3) SilverLilac

Congratulations, girls! You get to choose which of the three gift packs you want (HBC beauty set, My Handmade Accessories set, or the Bobson Giftpack), though we go in order of the draw. That means Torque gets first pick! :D

I'll be sending you all an email shortly, so please check your inboxes. Thanks, girls!