Sophie Lipstick in Summer Pink, Velvet Nude and Red Pepper: A Review

Are you in a hunt for an affordable but quality lipstick? Try this Sophie Martin lipsticks! They only cost Php79.00 and you can get them from any Sophie Martin dealers and outlets nationwide. You can also check Sophie Martin PH website for full list of their products.

Glamourbox Unboxing: November 2012

It's finally here! After several months of waiting and constant asking, I finally received the November box of GlamourBox!

"Don't judge a book by its cover", the famous saying states. But OMG! From the box itself, I felt excited when I opened it!

Krave Detox and White Minerale Mud Masque: A Review

I just recently updated my skin care and another Krave product was added. It is the Krave Detox and White Mineral Mud Masque. To break the record, this is actually the first ever face mask that tried.

10 Beauty Secrets Every Woman Should Know (Sited from Ehow.com)

Hi everyone! It's Friday and I thought of something new and beneficial. I read an article online and I found it helpful so I wanted to share it with you.

The article was written by Joe Crosby from eHow.com.

SECRET 1: Your skin cleanser is making things worse (maybe).

Photo from google

Cleansing can irritate even healthy skin, never mind sensitive or “problem” skin, and many cleansers are guilty. How then should you best cleanse without further irritation? The solution, regardless of skin type, is to look for a gentle cleanser that dissolves dirt and excess oil without leaving the skin feeling tight or tingly — nothing with detergents, alcohols, fragrances, irritants or ingredients that block pores. Think that means going natural? No. Among the list of irritants are lemon, mint, cinnamon and essential oils.

Ever Bilena Mini Haul

I am in search of cheap but quality products that are accessible. We sometimes neglect these products because there are many high-end products emerging like mushrooms in the market. 

They say that there's no harm in trying. And I so agree. :) Ever Bilena is a local brand found in any department stores here in the Philippines. You can also check their website and online catalog HERE.

Checking on their catalog, I found interesting products that are usually raved about online. I got two matte lippies and HD waterproof liquid eyeliner with 2 free eye pencils inside. How cool is that?

Krave Moisture Souffle Night Cream: A Review

Moisturizers are our skin's best friend they say, and I totally agree! Having a combination to oily skin needs thorough and careful treatment. According to beauty experts, they are actually the hardest skin type to manage. Every skin type needs to be moisturized, even the oily ones. Our skin tends to be oily because they produce more oil to compensate with our skin's dehydration. So like out throats, we have to let them drink.

I have found a new brand of organic skin care and cosmetics through the internet. Basing on the experiences of others, I decided to try it to. And now, my skin loves Krave Minerale Cosmeceuticals makeup and skin care!

One thing that I am loving is the Krave Moisture Souffle Night Cream. I got it for Php320.00 for a 20-gram cream.

According to Krave's product description:

MOISTURE SOUFFLE night crème infused with GAPBAS (Green tea, Apricot, Papaya, Banana, Aloe vera & silk)

NO IRRITATING CHEMICALS
NO HARMFUL PRESERVATIVES

This is the most luxurious moisturizer you will ever find. We encourage you to enjoy the yummy scent of this product because of the many essential oils infused in it, unlikeother expensive brands that obtain their product’s scent by using chemically based preservatives & perfumes. You know how we hated those harmful & irritating chemicals. Moisture Souffle night crème smells luscious & feels incredible when applied. Replenished with 6 organic botanicals high in Vitamin B complex, folic acid, Vitamin C, vitamin A to help detoxify, supplies skin with sheer hydration & stimulate cell growth. Perfect for super dry skin that lacks moisture & balance, for the reduction of fine line & wrinkles & to even out skin tone. This moisturizer like soufflé will keep your face looking healthy & more radiant. 

SKIN BENEFICIAL KEY INGREDIENTS:

1. GREEN TEA contains a cocktail of potent antioxidants called catechins, which help fight damage caused by free radicals. Helps soothes and revives dull & lifeless skin.
2. APRICOT eliminates skin blemishes & treats damaged skin. It is useful for maintaining skin clarity, suppleness, and elasticity.
3. PAPAYA exfoliates the skin revealing a healthier, whiter & glowing skin. Rich in antioxidants such as vitamin A.
4. BANANA composed of tissue-building elements, protein, vitamins including vitamin C, minerals & anti oxidant properties.
5. ALOE VERA It makes the skin smooth and glowing, hydrates the skin and relieves heat on the skin caused by sunburn. Excellent skin moisturizer.
6. SILK deeply stimulate the muscle tissue, retain the skin's natural moisture, preventing dryness, while absorbing excess sebum. For the acne prone, silk even contains anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.

APPLICATION:

Apply evenly on your face & neck. Do not over apply, little amount is always enough. Massage gently in an upward motion. Best to use after using CUPINE ALOEPA facial wash & FRUITTIE PORELESS toner spray. Gentle to use every night and even before applying your make up. 

It is in a plastic container with a twist-open cap and another cover inside. The packaging is like the other creams, nothing so special about it. 

The cream is thick but it doesn't bother me. It actually gives me an assurance that the consistency actually helps lock in the moisture and I was right. It feels heavy on the skin at first, but wait til it dries and absorbed by the skin. My skin feels so soft and supple when I wake up. My skin doesn't look dull rather it gives it a healthy glow. 

One thing I love about it is the scent. It smells like ummmm.. close to Bath and Body Works' Warm Vanilla Sugar. It's so yummy, like I want to taste it. Haha.

 This is how it looks on the back of my hand. So thick and opaque.

After applying it evenly on the skin, it doesn't look like you have something on it. But the skin is soft and super bango!

I also use this as my morning moisturizer. Since it is intended to be a night cream and they do not have a day moisturizer  I first asked Krave's specialist if I can also use this as an alternative. Gladly, it was okay. But I still requested them if they can formulate a day-moisturizer. So I apply a lesser amount on my face in the morning. The effect was good. But since it leaves my skin a little shiny, I apply Krave Skin Hydrator and Eliminator (REVIEW) as my powder/ primer/ finishing veil. After that, everything was perfect! And for maximum results, I use Cupine Aloepa Facial Wash and Fruttie Poreless Toner.

• HITS: Scent | Consistency | Moisturizing effect | Can be purchased online (Krave Minerale Cosmeceuticals or Women's Little Pleasures)
• MISSES: The packaging: I wish it will be in a pump container or in a tube (for hygienic purposes) | Price: Quite expensive
• RATING: 4.5 out of 5.

Do you have an oily-combination skin like me? If yes, what moisturizers work perfectly for you? Kindly share your facial routines, it might work for me as well. Thanks!

Etude House Easy Brow Pencil No.2: A Review

A woman's crowning glory! That's our hair and I believe that the eyebrows are included there. This small area of hair growth is very essential to accentuate one's facial features. Thus, like our hair, our eyebrows should be groomed to be presentable.

I do not have sparse eyebrows. Actually, my eyebrows are thick, long and dark. I guess it comes along with the fact that I have thick hair as well. 

When I was younger, I didn't mind if my brows are bushy, as in sabog talaga and kalat kalat. Until I came to reality that I needed to trim and groom them. I didn't know how to do it myself then so I regularly go to the salon for eyebrow shaping and threading. Oh my, threading was a lot of pain. But comparing it to just shaving, the hair grows slower.

It's just this year that I took the risk to shape my own brows. I read articles and watch youtube gurus how they do it. And guess what, I am more confident to do it by myself now.

Anyway, the eyebrow grooming is not complete without filling it. Even if my brows are thick, there are still spaces that needs to be filled in. This is my first eyebrow pencil and I am loving it. Just keep reading to know why.

I bought this at Etude House for Php138.00. They have two shades of this. I got the darker one to match my dark eyebrows.

What interests me when I first saw it was it is double-ended. It has a brow brush on the other side of the pencil. Well, nothing too fancy but I find it practical and space saver.

I was surprised at first when I saw the pencil because it was color gray. Haha! I even asked the sales lady if it is really like that, she said it was just the coating. LOL. 

The brush is like other brow brushes. It is soft, just enough to blend the product on the brows and remove the excess.

So here's how it looks on my brows. I love it because it looks so natural when blended properly.

Here's a full look of it on my face. During the days when I don't feel like wearing heavy makeup, I only groom my brows and use my Krave Oil Eliminator and Skin Hydrator (read review HERE) and I'm good to go.

• HITS: Packaging | Color | Creamy | Easy to blend | Can be purchased in almost all leading malls nationwide
• MISSES: Price | Limited color choices
• RATING: 4.5 out of 5

Insights? Do you think I gave this product justice? 

Ellana Minerals Free Sample

Mineral cosmetics are in hype these days because of its safer properties than usual makeup brands. They provide quality results PLUS being friendly to your skin. They do not have harsh chemicals like other makeup brands.

I have stumbled on this brand, Ellana Minerals and I was amazed that they have a lot of products. They have complete makeup products. 

One thing that caught my attention was their free sample offer. You will be directed to a part where you fill in what your skin tone and skin undertone is. From there, they will be sending you free samples that is best suited for you depending on your answers.

I have filled in the information. Skin Tone: Medium-Light. Sin Undertone: Warm/Yellowish. 

After receiving confirmation about my request, I submitted my shipping details and paid Php90.00 for shipping here to La Trinidad, Benguet.

I claimed the package from LBC. The package consists of a brochure and the sample pack. I enjoyed browsing through the brochure because first, the lay out is very nice. Please don't mind me, I really get easily attracted with nice things. The brochure is complete with product lists and some makeup tips that are very useful.

The sampler includes two shades of mineral powder foundation, one finishing powder, one powder concealer and one powder blush. They are packed in a small zip lock container.

(L-R) Powder concealer in Radiant, Powder foundation in Hazelnut, Powder foundation in Caramel, Finishing powder in Espresso con Panna and Powder blush in Bunny

Powder Concealer in RADIANT. Light golden beige for neutral skin tone.

Powder foundation in HAZELNUT. Medium light with warm undertones.

Powder foundation in CARAMEL. Medium with warm undertones.

Finishing powder in ESPRESSON CON PANNA. Gold tones with sheer finish.

Powder blush in BUNNY. Pale peach with rosy pink shimmer.

You can also try it yourself by checking their website HERE. Follow their TWITTER ACCOUNT and like their FACEBOOK PAGE for more updates.

Please don't forget to follow me via GFC to get updates about these products.

Simple Tip: Determining your Face Shape (with Pictures)

Have you ever wonder why one hairstyle looks fab on someone but looks lousy on you? Or how a similar shades/ eyeglass looks stunning on someone else but awkward on you?

There may be several reasons behind it but one factor that affects it is your face shape.

Here's how to determine what face shape you have. All you need is a mirror, measuring tape and a pen and paper to jot down the measurements. But you can skip the pen and paper if your memory is sharp to remember those numbers. So let's get started:

Measure across the top of your cheek bones. Place the end of the tape measure just past the outer corner of your eye. This is the start point. Then carefully lay the tape measure in a straight across the bridge of your nose to just past the outer corner of your other eye. This is your end point of measurement. The tape measure should be resting on the top of the apples of your cheeks, or just on top of your cheekbones. Record your measurement.

Measure your jawline. Measure across the widest part of your jaw to the center of your chin. Multiply the measurement by two and again, record it.

Measure your forehead. Place the start point of the measuring tape on one side of your forehead at the widest point (usually halfway between your eyebrows and your hairline). Run the measuring tape along the forehead until you come to the same point on the opposite side of your head. Record down.

Finally measure the length of your face. Start at the middle of your hairline. Run the measuring tape down your face, over your nose, to the tip of your chin.

From your notes, you can now determine your face shape as follows:

• Round face: Your face is as wide as it is long. This may vary a little but generally the measurement is close.
• Oblong face: Longer than it is wide.
• Heart face: Narrow at jaw line, wide at cheekbones/ and or forehead.
• Square: The face is as wide as it is long but more angular than the round face. The jawline may also be sharper.

Basing on these numbers, I have an oblong face since my face is longer than it's width.

Have you discovered what face shape do you have? I would love to know what the results are through the comments below. 

Tired of the Usual Eyeliner Style?

Are you tired of the winged eyeliner look? Or tamad-tamarang (lazy) eyeliner look? I confess that I usually do the lazy eyeliner look. I just swipe my eyeliner over my lash line and that's it! But here's a fun way to try eyeliners, and who knows, you'll see a technique which suits you best.

Photo from google

What's your favorite eyeliner look?

This may not work for every human eyes (because of the eye shape and sometimes the eye color) but there's no harm in trying. Get your favorite eyeliner and try them one at a time!

Here's a guide on what eye shape do you have, you may start from here:

Please share your thoughts.

Stay Oil-Free with Krave Oil Eliminator and Skin Hydrator

I finally got a hand on this raved about product from Krave Minerale Cosmeceuticals, the Oil Eliminator and Skin Hydrator with Pearl Powder.

Product claims:

HYPOALLERGENIC
NON- COMEDOGENIC (won’t clog pores)
NON-ACNEGENIC (won’t cause acne break outs)
NANO PARTICLE FREE

We highly recommend Krave Minerale’s OIL ELIMINATOR and SKIN HYDRATOR not just for oily gals but for all make up users out there.

OIL ELIMINATOR and SKIN HYDRATOR is translucent so it won’t interfere with other mineral makeup colors you are wearing. Plus, it is specifically formulated to virtually erase the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles & large pores when applied.

SKIN BENEFICIAL KEY INGREDIENTS:
Our formula includes 2 of the healthiest ingredients:

1. PEARL POWDER that aids in healing, skin brightening, anti-wrinkling, and sun protection. It also exfoliates the skin and promotes new cell regeneration.

2. SODIUM HYALURONATE the world’s powerful skin hydrator which brings balance to your complexion & keeps your make up application fresh all day long.

Who wouldn't want an oil-free face? So I told myself I have to try this one and test it on my super oily face. It costs Php285.00 for 3g of product. Not bad right?

The container may cause a bit mess on your vanity tables since like the other loose powders, it is in a plastic container and a twistable cover. There is a plastic semi-cover with holes in the middle. Sorry, I am a noobie when it comes to packaging but you know what I mean right? Haha! It also has a powder puff inside however I was not able to take a photo of it since I am not a fan of powder puffs. I discarded it immediately and used a powder brush to apply it on my face. (I guess I have to work on that to give a more detailed post.)

Not blended.

Slighltly blended.

What I love about this is this is not an ordinary powder so it does not give your face a cakey look after applying it. I guess it's because of the pearl ingredients in it. It gives the face an instant matte finish without adding any colors on the face. Since I am not mestiza, this works perfectly for me. I don't have to worry about my face looking whiter.

I personally use this as a primer and a finishing veil. Whether, a liquid foundation, a BB cream or a powder foundation, I apply this first after my moisturizer and use it to set my face base concentrating on my T-Zone.

And the product is true to its words. Before using this, I usually gets oily after an hour of two, can you imagine how oily my face is? But with this, my face stays oil-free for almost five hours. Less touch-ups are thumbs up!

I am definitely going to stick to this one. I have also started using their skin care product which are also organic and helps reduce face oiliness.

You can get this amazing product at Krave Minerale Cosmeceuticals or Women's Little Pleasures.

Have you tried this or tried an amazing product like this? Please share through the comment box.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Loving My Skin: My Current Facial Routine

My skin problems:

1. Oily skin
2. Large pores
3. Red discoloration around the nose
4. Pimple marks
5. DARK under eye circles
6. Warts around my cheeks
7. Black heads

Whew! That's a lot! I know many girls can also relate to some of these problems. I have done researches on how to fix these problems. I found many blog posts and reviews about several products. So I decided to try them as well, it might also work for me. 

So here are my current skin care products that I regularly use:

L to R: Krave Moisture Souffle, Krave Fruttie Poreless Toner, Celeteque Brightening Eye Tuck plus Dark Circles Lightener, Cupine Aloepa facial Wash

KRAVE CUPINE ALOEPA Facial Wash. I love this facial wash primarily because it is made from organic products. With Mulberry leaves, Cucumber, Pineapple, Aloe Vera and Papaya.

 KRAVE FRUTTIE PORELESS Toner Spray. Like the facial wash, this toner is also organic. With watermelon, Cucumber and Aloe Vera.

KRAVE MOISTURE SOUFFLE Night Cream. Even if it states that this is a night cream, I still use this as my day moisturizer, just a little however. With Green Tea, Apricot, Papaya, Banana, Aloe Vera and Silk.

CELETEQUE DERMOSCIENCE BRIGHTENING Eye Tuck plus DARK CIRCLES LIGHTENER. With Eyeseryl Tetrapeptide Complex.

I just started with this regimen few days ago so more detailed reviews will follow.

Do you find these items interesting? You can find the Krave Minerale Cosmeceuticals products at their website or you can visit Women's Little Pleasures on Facebook (for Baguio and Benguet clients).

What's your daily skin care routine? Please feel free to share and comment.