Back with A Vengeance

O-M-G

Three years! Really?

Three years of being MIA from the blogging world...and three years of no skincare routine?!?!

Okay, I don't want to dwell on the details, so again....HELLO!

I would like to start again with my skincare routine. I actually have none since I gave birth 3 years ago. Now, I am very interested into going back to pampering myself. These wrinkles, dry patches and occasional zits are very disturbing. I again researched and find myself being drawn to Asian (especially Korean) skin care.

For the past months, I am only using Biore Uru-uru foaming facial wash but I think I need to revamp my whole routine if I want to have clear skin. I am now in the process of building my 10-step routine. So far I am trying some products I bought online last week.

Cleansing
Banila Co. Clean It Zero
Biore Uru-uru foaming facial wash (daily)
Skinfood Black Sugar Perfect Scrub Foam (3x a week)

Toner
The Face Shop Rice and Ceramide Moisture Toner
Laneige Power Essential Skin Refiner

Moisturizer
Cosrx Ultimate Moisturizing Honey Overnight Mask
Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream

Sunscreen
The Body Shop Skin defence Multi-Protection Essence SPF50


I will review these items and update this list every now and then.

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I'm B-A-C-K!

After years of not posting (well not really, just a year and 2 months), I am now finally trying to find the time to write again and update this blog. A lot has happened since I last posted here, I got preggo and gave birth last May to a very beautiful baby girl!
Since I got preggo, I veered away from using cosmetics and used my usual natural/organic stuff so there is nothing really new to make a review about (aside from the lotion I used to avoid the dreadful stretchies). Now my baby will be turning 6 months so it's safe to say that I am now trying new products and would happily share it with you luvvies!


Here's a list of products that I will post a review, hopefully in the next few weeks:

Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream (in Antwerp and San Paulo)
Naturactor Powder Foundation (in 252)
Naturactor Cover Face (in 151)

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Review: Foot Appeal Foot Peeling Mask

Warning: Some photos might be too eeekky, not for the faint-hearted ;)

I've been very busy this couple of months and had no time to blog (excuses!). So let me end that three-month long hiatus with this zombie-gore-fest yet every-girls-secret-weapon foot beautifier! Ha!

Ok, we all know guys love a pretty face and of course sexy body..but they are also very keen on well-manicured, pretty feet! Too bad,  not everyone have the time and money to splurge on nail salons and foot spas, so what's the best way to do than to start fresh, like baby fresh skin on your feet. C'mon, peel it!

Foot Appeal Foot Peeling Mask

This Foot Appeal Foot Peeling Mask (399-499php) is so easy to use. Here's what I did (you can also read instructions written on the box):
1. Open the box, pull off 2 socks-shaped plastic.
2. Cut the plastic on the dotted line.
3. Wear as socks, make sure to tape ends so as not to spill contents (better if you wear fitting socks outside)
4. Wait for 60-90 mins.
5. Remove fitted socks and the medicated plastic socks.
6. Wait for 2-3 days. Feet will start to peel, do not pull!
7. Wait for a week to complete the peeling process.
8. Voila! Callous-free, whiter feet!

After 3 days, feet started to peel on toe areas.

eeeek day 3

After 5 days, major peeling! Some peeling on the top of feet also.

eeeek day 5

Ok enough of the gore-fest! It took around 1 1/2 to 2 weeks for the whole feet to peel but no need to worry because it is not painful, just a bit uncomfortable :D You can buy this at: First Aid Greenbelt 3, Shopwise, Unimart...for me, I just asked my friend to get me one hehe :D

Enjoy!

*check their facebook page here

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M.I.A!!!

I've been MIA for a couple of days (or weeks) because I was busy with my surgery and just got out of the hospital last week and still recovering. Yep, I did undergo the knife..(or tubes) but I really have a good doctor, Dr. Chiaoling Sua-Lao, so everything's ok. If you ever want to know more about this surgery or my doctor, just drop me a line and I will try to answer your queries.

Soooo...yep I missed a lot and that's also equivalent to zero mall hopping!

As I am now a prison here at home, I've got nothing else to do but sit, read some Anne Rice, play Sims 3 etc..and shop online yay!

So what did I buy? I got Hairagami Total Hair Makeover Kit, Salon Express Nail Stamping Kit and some items from Monkee Business (still waiting for these items to hit my doorstep)

the hairagami and salon express nail stamp kit

I do get to go out today because of my check-up, so I made sure to drop by Watson's and got me some nail polish from China Glaze (I got the Stellar and Diva Bride).

I also got the time to try that Foot Appeal Foot Peeling Mask. So that's a lot of products to try and review (plus the lip sticks I got the last time).

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Review: Benefit's Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow! Foundation

I've been lemming for this foundation for weeks! And as you can read from my last haul post, I bought this first week of April. So, let me get started with my review as I am very much excited with this product.

Let me give you a little background on my make-up habit: NONE. Ha!

I don't know how to use a foundation, a sponge, how to pick the right blush, how to use eyeliner, basically I know nothing about make-up! So I try to watch videos, read forums and buy stuff to try. I got interested with Benefit's Hellow Flawless Oxygen Wow! because I read that it's so easy to apply, just like some tinted moisturizer...and true enough it is!

(dreamy...haha) 

I bought this at their Greenbelt 5 boutique for 1900php (not cheap!) and got the color in beige (as suggested by the SA). As for the scent, I don't think there is any so no problem with that.

(a free sample of Porefessional Pore Minimizer inside the box :D)

I then searched for a way on how to apply foundation over at Youtube, and figured that a penny size is enough!

(taken with  a flash, a bit of a white cast but still ok :D)

I tried to use my fingers, it blends well but I read somewhere that using a wet sponge will provide a more flawless finish. So I bought some cheap sponge (I'm a cheapskate hehe!) and tried to wet it and voila! It really is easier and the finish is dewy. As for the coverage, I think it is buildable from light to medium to heavy. But I would rather stay with the light-medium range, I hate looking too made up so I still got some spots uncovered (I think a concealer will do the trick for this)

So here it is!...Gaah I'm soo excited. Note: Camera used is only a camera fone (yep, no P&S camera yet)..no flash just bright living room light 

(too light coverage, see that spot on my chin, ok don't mind the mole on my lips hehe)

Ok, so I road tested it last weekend on a wedding I attended in Tagaytay (not as hot as Manila) and after four hours, oil started to build up on my t-zone. So yeah, lasting power is not that much, but hey, I still love it to bits :D

(road tested it when I attended a wedding last weekend)

How about you? Have you tried this foundation?

Scent - 5/5

Value - 4/5

Effectiveness - 4/5

Repurchase - Yes!

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Review: Snoe's Here Comes the Sunblock

Summer heat is getting verrrrry hot with each passing day! We all know how harmful these UV rays are, and I don't want to give a lecture on this one again (we all hear these things anyway e-v-e-r-y-d-a-y even if it's the rainy season). So let me give you a review on one of the sunblocks I have tried from Snoe, the Here Comes the Sunblock.

(photo from Snoe Beauty)

From the Snoe website, this product claims to moisurize, whiten (and instantly whiten), and protects skin from damage. It has anti-oxidants, is non-greasy, and paraben-free. This product contains:

• De-ionized water
• Dimethicone ( Cetearly Dimethicone)
• Cethyl Alcohol
• Prophyl Alcohol
• PPG, Cropolymer
• Bengkoang
• Papain Enzyme
• Glutathione
• Allantoin
• Sodium ascorl Phosphate
• Tecopherol
• Phenoxyethanol
• Zinc Oxide
• Titanium Dioxide
• Neheliupan BB
• Ascorbate
• Beeswax
• Aloe Vera Extract
• Lycopene
• Fragrance

Ok, Here Comes the Sunblock is SPF 45 (that's a good one). Unlike other sunblocks, this one is non-greasy(point!) and the fragrance is pleasant (for me anyway, another good point) or tolerable for some.

BUT...it claims to instantly whiten the skin and it does in a very mediocre way. I mean, don't expect that your skin will really be fair instantly. After applying, your skin will only get this whitish chalky cast which for me, is really not good!

( see how hard it will be to get an even BODY skin tone everytime? you have to blend really good!)

Of course I don't want to look have this uneven white patches on my skin! I mean really, this is hilarious. Ha!

Scent - 4/5

Value - 4/5

Effectiveness - 3/5

Repurchase - No (because of the "instant white effect")

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Holiday Haul! Make-Up Starter

I've been MIA this whole holy week, mostly because of the work-ups with the doctor and I just needed really to take a break (it's emotionally draining, really). So I went on mall hopping and got me some retail therapy!

Ok, I've been thinking what to buy if I wanted to start my make-up kit. I already bought some brush (and mineral make-up) from Ellana when I TRIED using mineral make-up last year. I think that will do for now, I just have to clean them as they are gathering dust in my closet.

After some magazine reading (at the doctor's office) and people watching (or staring) at Greenbelt, I then realized that the best facial enhancer is a good lipstick.

As I am really a beginner at this, I tried first the most affordable brands. So I bought:

• Avon Ultra Moisture Rich in Deep Pomegranate
• Avon Ultra Moisture Rich in Barely There
• Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Lollipop

...and then, as it is already April and if you read my lemming post, I am reeeeaaaaalllyy looking forward to grabbing this Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow! foundation...sooo....I got one in beige yay!!! I also tried to get some affordable lip and cheek tint, so I got the In2It L/C tint in peach.

Will post a review as soon as I tried everything on. I am sooo excited! Is this a nice make-up starter or what?

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