Gold!

When my Tangle Teezer came, I realized that I have an undeclared inkling for gold. Look:

First, the Majolica Majorca SkinRemaker porecover.  I bought it then for the simple reason that iI found ts golden case really pretty. Aside of course from its intricate design, the gold makes the compact really classy.  Infact, i have been repeatedly asked what it is when I make touchups! In addition, the powder itself is <3 <3 <3!  Although I use this mainly for touchups, I find the Skinremaker Porecover to do a great job of mattifying my skin for up to 4hrs! Best of all, the sponge that comes with it is very efficient! :)

Then, there's Max Factor's Colour Elixir.  I was primarily drawn to its very classy golden bullet rather than the lipstick itself! Lol! On the otherhand, this is a very good buy! I find the lipstick matte and long wearing! It has a very subtle buttery smell and I guess its what makes it creamy enough to apply.  So yes, the case doesn't just impress me, the over-all product does!

And lastly is my new love: Tangle Teezeer Compact Styler.  It's the best thing I've ever splurged on recently!  I did alot (and I mean alot!) of reading first before I was convinced to get one. It's the kindest thing I've ever ran through my hair! It detangles my hair very easily! Bonus, the unique compact design makes it easy to bring along in my purse anytime!

So my golden products are not just eyecandies.  In fact, each of them is a "golden" find being efficient, effective, and yes, worth every penny. :) 

Wishful Thinking

To be honest, ever so often,

I find myself wishing I could go back to the time

when my life seemed so much simpler..

and getting ready for work in the morning

didn’t entail so much fuss.

I wish I didn’t have to groom my brows

because mine were always fine,

or to color my cheeks

because I always blushed,

or to apply lipstick

because I was never pale without it,

or to conceal my pores

because they always seemed invisible,

or to tuck myself in a girdle

because my curves were always in place!

I am old, and always in a hurry! 

How can I waste this much energy?

But you see,

makeup makes me giddy! 

When I get a new makeup, outfit, or whatchammacallit,

I feel like a kid with some candy! 

And those bedtime rituals with creams and serums

make me most pretty!

I may have aged, yes, but deep in me,

I am just a girl trapped in a woman’s body.

So please bear with me. Heheh! 

Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation

I am a fan of blawgger Donnarence and in one of her posts she mentioned liking this foundie so much.  I was so inclined to getting one for myself but sometime in the not so distant past, I promised myself I ain't getting a new one 'til I've used up atleast one of my current ones.

But this one got too hard to pass.  Afterall, the sale price is waaay much cheaper compared to the online price.  So I yielded -- just because it was on sale.

The jar was hhheeavvy! Tis made of glass! I never bothered even checking the real thing on Revlon cpounters before because I wasn't planning on getting one not until, like I mentioned, I've used up my any of my current ones.  I got it in Buff (thinking it was my shade only to find out upon coming home that my other Colorstay is in Sand).  Anyways, the SA even persuaded me into getting a back-up simply because the thing is on sale.  I politely refused. Heheh.

I was told the coverage is light to medium unlike the liquid one which, according to the SA, can double as a concealer.  Anyways, I thought maybe this could be a good alternative.  So once opened, I was kind'v disappointed because I was hoping (don't we all?lol!) it was filled to the brim.  Whipped cream it was!  The texture was light and fluffy and ssslight----ly goopy!

It looked delish in the bottle but my major frustration right away was the fact that the thing looked better untouched.  The glass was big and getting the foundie meant having to dip my fingers into it everytime!

Good thing I kept my Ponds spatula.  It was just what I needed!

So yes, this is how it looks.  The Ponds spatula was perfect.  It allowed me perfect control of the product since I can only take as little as necessary without contaminating the whole thing.

So this is me sans make up.  Just plain Ponds Gold Radiance Serum and Olay Day Moisturizer.

And me two hours after at the office. =)

The Good:

Lightweight.

Stays put for hmmm 4hours onthe oiliest part of my face.  Longer for the rest.

The Bad:

Like the Liquid Colorstay version, its very tricky to apply.  I tried setting it with Fanny Serrano Two-Way Foundation powder but it does tend to cake up on some areas (my nose in particular). The rest of my face nevertheless stays matte -- for nope, not for long either.  

Overall, it ain't a bad substitute for my usual BB creams so I ain't complaining. ;-)

Sooo Into....In2It

Yes, I am sooo into In2It.  It started with these lippies.

I was looking for an orange lippie for the longest time.  Ten years or so ago, someone gave me an orange Avon lippie.  It was matte and really orange.  Not very popular then but I always got alot of compliments when I wore it.  The thing prolly got discontinued.  I never found any lippie close to that Avon shade I came to love.  Always, when I'm at Watson's I still check out if they have something orange I'd like.  And alas, one day the SA gave me Orange Pepper.

Twas love at first sight.  Even when I haven't swatched it yet.  The color was radiant and glaringly orange.  i thought it was sooo pretty.  And I was not mistaken.

The color payoff was truly impressive.  And since this belongs to their long-wear range, the color lingers for up to four hours.  Yes, it does survive eating and drinking with very minimal fading.  Which is what led me to asking me for their next popular shade:  Pink Alarm.

I'll let the pictures do the talking now.  Each is swatched just once.

Bright Pink vis-a-vis Bringht Orange

Chic stainless case embellished with lace/swirly pattern.

The color on the tube is exactly as is when swatched.

See? Ahh-mazing color pay-off aren't they?

What I like About:

• Very pigmented.
• Affordable (costs around PhP379(approx) each )
• Moisturizing (label says its a "moisture intense lipstick")
• No fragrance
• UVB protection, SPF 15
• Long lasting (up to 4-6hrs)
• Buildable (and since its moisturizing, i can easily make it matte by blotting it off with a tissue)
• Doesn't smudge or budge

What I don't like:

• Limited colors (not more than ten) so I don't intend to try out the other colors anymore since I don't find them pretty for my liking anyways. =)

Proofs of my being soo into In2It to follow in my coming posts. I'll talk to you then. =)

What's Making me Smile...recently.

I once read a story about a queen who always felt lonely because the people around her made her feel ugly. She announced that whosoever could make her beautiful would receive a great price.  Folks from far and near came to accept the challenge. One changed her hair, another did her make-up, and still another did her a beautiful dress...but none of succeeded in making the queen beautiful.  Until one day a rather old but pleasant looking beggar woman came knocking at the palace door, claiming that she holds the key to the queen's happiness.  Once they met, the woman offered the queen a rather plain looking ring with an odd looking stone.  The stone didn't sparkle like a real diamond should because indeed, it was not a real diamond but an ordinary gem! However, the old woman claimed it was the ultimate solution to the queen's problem and that she is not asking for any reward in return.

"What will I do with this ring and how certain are you that this will indeed cure me of my misery?"asked the queen.

"Yes your highness, I am certain it will.  Just promise to smile at it once every hour. After ten days I shall come visit you and find out how the magic of this ring has enhanced your beauty."

So the queen did as she was told.  Every hour every day, she took time to smile at the ring on her finger.  Having to smile repeatedly, she would sometimes forget if she was able to smile already at the ring, so much so that she would have a smile pasted on her face all the time to ensure that she will get efficient results.

True enough, after only several days of wearing the ring, everybody in the palace has already noticed the gradual change in the queen's aura.  She began to look more radiant, less old, more cheerful, less anxious, her wrinkles seemed lesser, her over-all image seemed so much brighter.

On the tenth day, the old woman came back.  The queen was more than glad to welcome back the woman who gave her the ring.  Pleased with the results, the old woman revealed to the queen that the ring she gave her was not magical at all.  The real magic, she confided, was in the queen's smile and that she did not need any ring at all to exude the beauty that was already within her.  The queen laughed at the revelation and thanked the woman for her revelation.

From that day on, the queen smiled even more.  As a consequence, she indeed became more and more beautiful, radiant, and best of all, happier.  All these became possible because she smiled a lot, not just on the ring that was once on her finger, but to everyone around her.

So here's what is making me smile alot recently...

Unlike the queen's, mine are real (albeit tiny). Heheh.  I am not certain if these already succeeded in making me "more beautiful" like the queen.  But since I got these, I've been smiling alot.  As in.  I don't know. I guess there's just truth to Marilyn's declaration that diamonds are a girl's best friend.  And in my case right now, my instant beauty regimen? =)

HK Day 1: FOTD & OOTD

Quick breakfast at McDonald's where we only had some bland burger and eggs.  Oh yes, at least they had  warm coffee. =)

FOTD: Pure Beauty Jasmine Water BB Cream, set with Revlon Colorstay Powder Foundation, Christian Dior Travel Studio Palette (on eyes and cheeks), In2It Eyebrow Palette (brow), and Revlon Pink in the Afternoon (on lips).

OOTD:  Everything thrifted! (And I say that with pride! ;-)  woolen blouse (PhP100), skinny stretch jeans (PhP250), UGG Classic Tall in Chestnut (PhP120).

Note:  Mid-December in HK was cold. Temperature ranged from 10-20 degrees Celsius.  Twas cold and I found out HK folks loved to really dress up.  I shopped from thrift shops on purpose  because I knew it'd save me a lot of moolah.  Months of searching for the perfect winter coat though went to waste.  I ended up buying from the SM Surplus Shop.  And must say, twas a great choice! =)



Post Note:  I was soo lucky to have found the thrifted UGGs.  I would have never survived HK without it.  They were the comfiest pair of shoes I've ever worn  ever.

My Lucky Planners for 2013

Alright, "lucky" is a predisposition i am adapting for this year. I would like to believe this is the year where many great things will unfold for me which is why I call this my LUCKY YEAR.

While this is now the techie age and many opt for digital devices to organize their lives, i am by no means to be dissuaded from sticking to my old school method of keeping track of my life. So i got my planners to be sure i stay organized.

Planners yes. I have two. One is a mainstay in my handbag and the other on my desk.

It's the New Year! I've a New Hair!

It's the new year! And yes i've a new hair..haircut actually.

Left topmost, me with my long hair. Middle and bottom pics, last pics with my lengthy locks.
Right, my new look. =)

The last time i wore my hair this short was maybe ten years ago. I'm not sure why i decided to chop my again. I had a rebond treatment just a few months ago. Looking back, i could only chuckle at my rather hasty decision to cut my hair short for the new year.

Lotsa things have been said about why women decide to suddenly get a new hairstyle. Speaking from experience, i recall wanting to do something about my hair almost too suddenly whenever i suffer from a failed romance. (**chuckling**) Which is not the case anymore right now. I cut my hair just because. =) Lol.

When i went in for a haircut on new year's eve, there were long queue at the salon. Really. Couldn't help but wonder if its jut coincidence or people really think its imperative to get a new cut to usher in the new year? I kind'v felt that way since 2013 seems very promising to me. Truth is, i craved for a drastic new look!

While long locks, i admit, exude feminity, short hair on the hand can be liberating. It feels lighter, cooler, and less fussier. I only comb it using my fingers. I don't blow dry.. just air dry it after spritzing on Pure Beauty Treatment Essence Water and applying Professional Touch Salon Styling Mousse evenly through my hair. Then i'm good to go. I liie sporting a tousled up do. But since my hair is naturally thick and i stick use a mousse to volumize it, i look like salon made. Yup. In my opinion. Lol.

So its been days now. Most of my friends and family still could not quite come to grip with my new look. Many say it becomes me. A few are quite dismayed. And me, i am just enjoying my short hair. Really. =)
So would you consider having a very short hair too? What are your thoughts?

The Yearning I've been Longing

Today I finally had the chance to own something I've always hoped to have. It's almost funny how common things such as this get neglected -- or perhaps simply taken forgranted? Anyways, may I have the pleasure of introducing my newest toy-- my portable sewing machine. =)

It's been years since I yearned to own -- and I mean OWN as in POSSESS my very own sewing machine. I am no expert in sewing but its been something I've always wanted to do. I can painstakingly sew Halloween costumes, table cloths, and even curtains by hand. And modesty aside, I've earned many compliments too for all my handiwork. Why my hand-sewn handiwork never seemed like hand-sewn at all!

I like this for being portable. It's so tiny and light that it can easily be stowed away when not used. I also like that it has several stitch patterns and can be switched from being electrical to being battery operated. Best of all, it came with a one-year service guarantee free! In addition, if any of it's parts breaksdown (which I sure hope won't happen anytime soon), I can easily check out any Ace Hardware or SM Homestore outlet for replacement!

Oh I feel soo giddy imagining all the projects I could make with this machine. When I will have accomplished a project,I'll most certainly share again my thoughts about this baby. For now, we'll just try to get to know each other better. ;) More thoughts coming soon!

Ey, ain't this Kyut?

There's a lot of reason why many people like going to a thrift store like Daiso. I like going there before it's really a grown-up's version of a candy store. From the wide array of candies (literally), make-ups, home stuffs, stationery, and other quirky things one would not have been able to conceptualize, this little store has so much to offer.

On my most recent visit, here's something really cute and quirky that caught my interest:

 Nah, it's not a cookie cutter. It's a sandwich cutter. Isn't this ingenious?

Trying it out on a wheat sandwich gave me that result. Not impressive. But ain't bad either for a non-cook, neophyte me.

Truth is, I got it mainly because I liked it being pink. Heheh. 

How much? 88 bucks. Like the rest of the items in the store. Can't wait what I'd discover next. =)

Summer Blooms

Ditch Me Baby -- or One More Time?

I know the title sounds funny.  But That's what immediately came to mind as I was looking through my file of pictures for my blog. I saw this old pic of what initially seemed like a fabulous retractable brush.

When I got it, it was very soft and fluffy, pretty much like the fab brushes by Marrionaud and Suesh.  But my admiration literally started "falling apart" after the first wash. =((

The bristles started shedding like crazy and worse, everything just fell apart.

Oh well, what could one expect when I only paid a measly 75 bucks for this?!  Compare that with the 400-700PhP brushes sold by other local brands.  Indeed, there is soo much truth to the adage: you get what you pay for.

But then again, 75pesos is still something.  I most definitely refuse to just throw away my hard earned moolah just like that.

See? Ain't this a beauty?

And isn't this cuter?

Lush and fluffy! Or so it seemed!

But that's all there is to it. =((

So do I ditch this baby? Or give another one a try?